Issue 3 Volume 53

SPECIAL FEATURE

An uptick in student discipline issues and the newly implemented PSIB plan to resolve these issues, has caused tensions in several areas of the district.

Meet The Staff

From the Editor

Issue three is finally complete. That means that every jpeg, text frame, and font size is finally set in stone. The cultivation of this issue required a profound amount of time and energy. However, the thought provoking content that lies within these pages compensates for the lost hours of sleep.

Inside of this binding, you will discover stories that are controversial or provocative. As a magazine staff, our goal is never to offend, but to provoke thought and interest. With that being said, we want to cater to our readers, not offend our readers. If any story provokes uncomfortable feelings, I recommend skimming to the feature section for more light hearted content.

I must admit, this issue brings me great pride. Not just over our success, but over the

hard work and brainstorming that my staff has put into this. With that, I thank every single staff member (who you may view to the left of this page). We work together and we work well. In fact, this magazine would be simply unfeasible without them.

Branching off of the “controversial stories” section, I request that you are mindful of which section you are reading. If you view a controversial story that ignites your flame, know that the story in question is most like an opinion story. That being said, everyone is entitled to their own opinion.

That’s enough with the technical talk, so let’s talk business here. The biggest thank you I have to give is for my advisor with endless

wisdom, Mrs. Orman. Since entering room 201 as a freshman in 2020, I knew exactly where I wanted to spend the rest of my time in high school.

Orman, not only do you inspire me to be strong and true to myself, but you inspire me to improve on a daily basis, and work as hard as I can. You help me keep my priorities straight and my head up high. So again, thank you so much.

I hope this issue sparks joy and plenty of thinking. Also, definitely check out the story about exotic pets!

Photo courtesy of McGee Creative.

Table of Contents

Special Feature

STUDENT & TEACHER TURMOIL

By Liz Eike & Nadia Warren

THE FUTURE OF IPAD KIDS

By Annemarie Wilhite & Savannah Summers & Morgan Brownson

SAYING

COMPOSER ON THE RISE By

Sophie Webb

BREAKING THE SILENCE By Alley

Ackerman

BREATHE IN, BREATHE OUT By

Zhana Owrey

CLUB RECAP By

Madison Turner

EATING OVER OR UNDER

By Aubree Sims

A CLASH OF READERS

By Alex Walsh

A QUICK CHANGE

By Brooklyn Collins

FROZEN LEARNING

By Ireland Kelsey

FEATURE

EMBRACING THE SPECTRUM

By Nyah Warren

WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE

By Kessa Adee

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF CABINET

By Savannah Summers

SPRING BREAKIN’ ON A BUDGET

By Madison Bryant

WHAT’S IN YOUR BAG?

By Jackson Hill

YEARBOOK BTS

By Savannah Summers

OUR FUTURE IS GREEN

By Cayden Harman

GORDON RAMSEY, WHO?

By Alley Ackerman

The Prairie Panel

THE PANEL

What is your Spring Break plan?

How lucky are you?

What is your Starbucks order?

Which celebrity would you spring break with?

keegan bukovatz opinion editor Full of surprises. Not at all. Mocha Cookie Crumble. James Droz.

aubree sims reporter

Girls’ trip to Florida.

It’s not like a genie is popping out of a lantern.

Iced brown sugar shaken espresso with cold foam.

Elordi.

madison bryant marketing manager

Bora Bora (in my dreams). Absolutely not. Pink Drink. Gypsy Rose cause she’s on a high right now!

Jacob

Paris with my aunt. Mid. Caramel ribbon crunch frappe. Michael Jackson.

amiah pierce reporter

SPECIAL FEATURE

Student &Teacher Turmoil

A swift and sudden escalation of defiance toward teachers and staff in SPS has sparked debate across the district.

BY LIZ EIKE AND NADIA WARREN

Protestors lined the street, holding signs that represented their cause. Many of the protestors are teachers in the SPS District.

According to SPS staff, some administration has become far too lenient in terms of discipline, turning a blind eye to serious violence and/ or threats. To address these concerns, Laura Mullins, president of the Springfield National Education Association (NEA), spoke out at a board meeting. She highlighted the administration’s tolerance for violence and how that’s created an unsafe environment, but SPS officials dismissed her claims.

“When I made the public comment a while back, [the district’s] response was that I was not entirely truthful and that they were unaware, which

was not true. I felt like it would be really important to get the community involved to show that it wasn’t just me, it wasn’t just the membership that we have, it impacts everybody,” Mullins said.

Mullins believes the district has not been following their code of conduct, a list of policies and procedures for disciplinary action. This has led to classroom violence and threatening behavior being overlooked, putting both students and staff at risk.

To combat this, a protest called “Stakeholders for Safe Schools” was organized by the Springfield NEA, amassing dozens of supporters. On

December 19, 2023, teachers shared their stories in solidarity, hoping to bring about change.

“I’ve noticed that across the district, we have teachers who are dealing with violent behaviors and it seems like nothing is happening, especially if that student has an IEP. It seems like nothing is happening and we’re just pushing that under the rug and even when a student is suspended for violent behavior, they come back and the same thing happens again,” elementary school teacher Brandon Moore said.

According to some staff, students and staff have been stabbed, bit, and

scratched without reparation.

“Last year, I got to watch one little girl completely control my room, destroy my room, assault me and other staff members. She hit 12 kids out of 22 and he [principal] proceeded to tell me that she’ll be back tomorrow,” elementary school teacher Joshua Tracy said.

As the SPS Student Handbook states, any assaultive behavior or threats thereof should result in up to 10 days of out-of-school suspension. Some staff have reported the district has not followed through with this consistently.

“I’m tired of getting hit. I’m tired

of seeing my students get hit and no consequences come. I’m tired of seeing my adult staff members that are becoming friends get hit and no consequences come. We’re also setting kids up for failure whenever they leave SPS because you can’t go out and hit and just expect nothing to get done,” Tracy said.

Dating back as far as last Spring, the Springfield NEA filed a grievance on behalf of the teachers facing this abuse. However, neither the district nor the board sided with them. Since then, Mullins believes the issue has worsened.

“It’s like they didn’t feel like it was

really an issue, that discipline was a problem. This year, it’s gotten a little bit worse, so that’s why I can’t risk the safety of our students and our staff anymore. [...] We have sites where the district has bought them protective vests and arm shields because they get bit and scratched and all kinds of things and that’s not how we should be handling students that have these kinds of needs,” Mullins said.

Through their statements and protests, Mullins hopes to see more solidified consequences, ensuring the safety of students and staff moving forward.

The Future of iPad Kids

There is fear surrounding the impending future of the younger generation being the next group to navigate society.This is largely due to the substantial amount of technology they consume.

BY ANNEMARIE WILHITE & SAVANNAH SUMMERS & MORGAN BROWNSON

Technology has reshaped our lives in fundamental ways. Although society has undergone many positive changes, it is also experiencing many negative effects. Our younger generations have grown accustomed to the internet and have never seen life without technology, which may create long lasting effects on our communities.

Uncontrolled internet use over extended periods of time has proven to negatively impact cognitive functions in youth, including short term memory and attention spans. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) elaborates on this idea, stating that excessive screen time and media multitasking can affect behavior functions, which may affect academic performance in later years.

While most studies focus primarily on the cognitive development of youth who are too engrossed in the internet, some are beginning to look at other effects such as loneliness, anxiety, depression, and lowered academic success rates.

About 94 percent of children aged three to 18 have internet access in America. Social skills, relationships, health problems, and their ability to focus are affected by excessive use.

Social skills in children usually start to develop around age three, but adding technology into the mix makes it extremely difficult for them to develop at a rate considered normal.

Children who experienced the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic at a young age may have used technology as a coping mechanism to hide from the harsh reality of the world around them. This could cause a strain on their relationships with their family and friends.

Frequent technology use is associated

with a lack of exercise and time spent outside, which can cause weight gain and health conditions such as type two diabetes.

Using devices at night can cause a lack of sleep, which can sufficiently affect children’s health and delay their brain development and immune system. Due to the short attention spans of young children, many schools are using shorter lessons to prevent frequent learning distractions.

Michelle Rabinowitz is the College and Career Specialist, but previously worked as a counselor at Cherokee Middle School. She has worked with children for 16 years and recalls some noticeable changes.

“The ability to remain what we call ‘time on task’ has shortened. It’s hard for students to do a sustained activity for more than a couple of minutes, and more than ten minutes is a struggle for most students, even high school students,” Rabinowitz said.

Rabinowitz felt it was necessary to shorten her lesson plans and change her classroom approach due to attention spans declining rapidly.

“I tell students to take AirPods out of their ears constantly, which in my day, a teacher directly addressing you and correcting you would be very shameful, and we would behave for the rest of class. I can tell a student to take their AirPod out so they can hear instructions, but ten minutes later it’s back in,” Rabinowitz said.

As an educator, it can be very frustrating to fight with devices when trying to teach lessons. Not only does Rabinowitz feel discouraged as a teacher, but also as a parent.

NIH has discovered that internet use can have some positive effects on children depending on usage and parental monitoring. Rabinowitz prefers to closely monitor her children’s internet use to prevent dependency on screens.

“I don’t like screens very much because I didn’t grow up needing screens to entertain myself. I make my kid read and build Legos, but if I didn’t, he would watch YouTube and play video games all day,” Rabinowitz said.

The COVID-19 pandemic caused young children to navigate the internet to complete their school work during quarantine. Along with online school work, there was increased recreational use of electronic devices and TV.

“I think those now third and fourth graders missed a big chunk, and I think that group will suffer long term effects because they missed key instruction in reading and basic arithmetic. They may need a long time to catch that up,” Rabinowitz said.

She also predicts a substantial shift in education systems due to the uprising of internet usage and ways we have started implementing the internet into schools.

“Education hasn’t changed much in the last 20 years. We’re still doing the same things we were doing 50 years ago, and I think our society is changing. Social media has changed how everything happens in our society and I think at some point, education has to change with it,” Rabinowitz said.

However, Rabinowitz is unsure what the change will be. She questions if the shift will be education pulling away from the internet where kids aren’t allowed to use electronics in class and have harsher penalties. She predicts classrooms will

start implementing more creativity and less of the standard teaching methods.

Rabinowitz believes social media has a significant effect on the mental health and stability of young children as well as the youth.

“I think social media has influenced the decline of mental health. In the 80’s, maybe you fought with a friend, you talked it out, and it was a big thing in your life. Now, if you fight with a friend, not only can they put their fight out for everyone in the world to see, but you have everyone else’s opinions and thoughts weighing down on you,” Rabinowitz said.

Children can become so dependent and focused on their technology that they begin to block out the world around them, leading to impaired relationships in their personal life.

Junior Lucille McLemore reflects on how technology has had detrimental effects on her 13 year old siblings with not only their relationship, but also their mental health.

“My younger siblings are 13 and they

have an Oculus, two phones, a PS5, and two switches. If they don’t have their devices, their mood tends to become irritable. I think I could spend more time with them and build better relationships if they weren’t on their devices as much,” McLemore said.

Children can become more hostile and aggressive as their dependence on technology grows stronger; once kind and happy kids, can become angry miserable versions of themselves.

Junior Madilyn Boden has also noticed the long term behavioral effects technology has had on her 10 and 13 year old siblings over time.

“They have iPads and iPhones and freak out and isolate themselves in their rooms with the TV if they don’t have handheld devices. They get noticeably more irritable and angry without them. They hide out, so everyone in the house’s relationship with them is impacted because we don’t see them,” Boden said.

The internet’s effects on children may be harsher than we currently observe. Social media can impact behavior in

91 percent of students’ younger siblings utilize their own personal device. Photo courtesy of Brooklyn Collins.

children due to how impressionable they are at a young age. This can damage their mental health and self image significantly.

“The things they watch and the things they are exposed to impact their personalities and how they behave. I have seen many noticeable changes based on what content they are consuming,” Boden said.

About 86 percent of students surveyed with younger siblings felt their younger sibling excessively uses the internet.

Without regulations on screen time or forced time away from devices, the future of iPad kids will remain poor at best. Motivation and drive for school can diminish and this could potentially affect the graduation rates for future students.

Reasonable time away from technology allows children to grow and thrive during childhood. Without the added risk of impaired behavioral development, children can be themselves and explore who they are away from the world of technology.

Saying Goodbye to Summer?

Many school districts across the nation have considered changing to a year round schedule rather than continuing to have a summer break.

Despite how it sounds, this is a more balanced schedule. The year long schedule would still have the same amount of school days, which is typically around 180.

The only difference in year round schooling is that the vacations and breaks would be distributed evenly throughout the year rather than having one long summer break. There would be many benefits to making this change, but there could also be some drawbacks.

At first, summer break was thought to be the result of parents advocating for their children to be home during the summer to assist in farming and agriculture. This theory is considered a myth because most crops are planted in the spring and harvested in the fall, meaning summer break would not have a considerable impact on harvesting crops.

However, summer break was implemented into the schedule before mandatory school attendance. According to tcea.org, many students would not attend school during the summer to avoid the extreme heat. Legislators decided there should be a summer break after catching wind of the low attendance rates.

Extreme heat is not a relevant or valid reason to continue having a summer break. Although schools may have higher operating costs during summer due to higher temperatures, low income families might rely on the support this could provide. Due to higher rates of poverty and inflation around the nation, many families may be unable to afford air conditioning in their homes or the means to provide for their families during the long summer.

School holidays and long breaks can be a significant stress factor for low income

According to ValuePenguin.com, 73 percent of Americans are looking forward to summer break and already have trips planned. Photo courtesy of Keegan Bukovatz.

families. This can lead to poor health, increasing financial pressures, and an insufficient amount of food. For children and youth experiencing poverty, summer break can be a period of isolation and boredom.

According to the National Library of Medicine, summer learning loss is the idea that children’s learning is at risk of regressing during the summer. This is more prevalent in children from low income families, children with learning disabilities, and those who speak English as a second language. Many researchers believe that summer learning loss is part of the reason behind the achievement gap between rich and poor communities.

According to sciencenews.org, the achievement gap is defined by lower income students being about three to four years behind the highest income students, which is a statistic that has remained constant for over 40 years.

Amy Moran is a counselor who sponsors the Kare Team, which runs the food pantry. The food pantry is available for any lower income student who needs supplemental food and hygiene items.

“Students can get food once every two

weeks and over the holiday break, we always provide a meal. On Thanksgiving, we partner with a church that does a drive through meal service where low income students can pull up and get whatever they need,” Moran said.

Throughout the summertime, students can still come to receive food from the pantry, but Moran feels it is less likely for students to utilize the food pantry during the summer months.

“I think summer break might affect the food pantry. When kids are here, they can just grab a bag and take it home with them, whereas if they’re not here, how are they going to get here? There might be issues with transportation and accessibility,” Moran said.

Low income families would greatly benefit from the easier accessibility to the food pantry that would result from a year round schedule.

Finding childcare on a more balanced year long schedule could be a struggle, but many businesses would adapt to the changes.

However, staffing a year long scheduled school may be more difficult than the typical school with summer breaks

Due to many students being accustomed to having a summer break, it may be difficult for students to think about the idea of a year-round school schedule. However some communitues have seen success with this calendar model.

BY ANNEMARIE WILHITE

According to bankrate.com, nearly two in five vacationers travel to a beach location during the summer.

due to the struggle to pay teachers a competitive salary. Teachers may be less compliant to teach at a year long school because they use summer break to enrich their teaching skills, refuel, and prepare for the upcoming school year.

Moran feels that the summer break is vital to her job and family life and is not something she would be willing to give up.

“I think kids need a break from school and summer gives them a great opportunity to recharge and reset for another school year as well as travel and have some downtime. I love my job, but I love having a break. As counselors, we only get six weeks off, but it’s still important for me to have family time and time with my kids,” Moran said.

Not all teachers agree on summer break. Nathan Cornelius, choir director, believes we would significantly benefit from a year round schedule.

“I normally spend my summer break preparing for the next school year. Our choir curriculum is fluid, so I spend my time over the summer picking out all of the music for concert performances and contests for the next school year. I also

attend summer learning workshops and plan trips for the summer,” Cornelius said.

Although he needs time to be able to prepare all of these things, he believes 12 weeks is an unnecessarily long amount of time.

“I would prefer to have a year long school calendar for sure. Student retention would go up, and three weeks is plenty of time to get things ready and going. The opportunities for growth and learning that don’t currently exist because we’re not in school for those 12 weeks would increase,” Cornelius said.

According to an education policy report, the number of schools using a year round schedule went from 410 in the 1980s to over 3700 in 2012, impacting over three million students.

I have experienced significant burnout during long periods of school with no breaks and it makes me feel less motivated to complete assignments, especially in the seemingly long months after spring break.

A substantial reason to change to year round schooling is to prevent burnout among teachers and students and

decrease the amount of absences. By having more frequent time off, it can lower stress levels for students.

While some may argue that they would miss the summer weather for vacation, there would still be a summer break and with year long school, there would be even more opportunities throughout the year for vacations.

About 83 percent of students here are in favor of keeping summer break. Many students are not fond of the idea of removing summer break, as it gives students a break to look forward to throughout the school year.

Junior Azalea Yang is opposed to the idea of having a shorter summer.

“Over the break, I spend more time with my friends and family, and I enjoy the months we have off. I would definitely not like having year round school because it sounds unenjoyable,” Yang said.

Freshman Aolany Merlo agrees with Yang, explaining she spends most of her summer hanging out with friends and enjoying time off.

“The perpetual stress of impending school work is less appealing than enjoying a couple of months out of school entirely,” Merlo said.

Although many students have differing opinions, one thing everyone can agree on is wanting to have sufficient time to spend with family and friends. However, with the year round schedule, the number of days in school would not change, therefore everyone will still have time to spend with their loved ones. The schedule may sound overwhelming to students because we are so comfortable with the summer break we have grown up having.

The benefits of changing to a year round school outweigh the challenges. Enhanced academic performance, assistance for low income families, and reduced burnout would help our community have a more positive outlook on school and retain knowledge more efficiently.

Photo courtesy of Savannah Summers.

Heavier Than Ever

Obesity has become one of the biggest health concerns in the United States with increasingly high rates throughout the years.

BY MADISON BRYANT & KEEGAN BUKOVATZ

With the start of every New Year, fitness is at the top of most people’s resolutions. However, keeping up with health and progressing towards the goal often fizzles quickly into the first few months. Obesity has become a significant problem in this country and it shouldn’t be downplayed or overlooked anymore.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the definition of obesity is, “An abnormal or excessive amount of fat accumulation that presents a risk to health.” There are approximately 500 million obese adults in the world, although adults are not the only people affected by this common disease.

The rate of obesity in children (ages 5 to 19 years) has grown from four percent to 18 percent from 1975 to 2016. Harvard states that a global estimate in 2010 recorded 43 million preschool aged children were overweight or obese.

Multiple health issues can be a result of obesity such as type 2 diabetes, several forms of cancer, and cardiovascular disease. In 2017, over four million people died from being overweight. Specifically in the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that 41.9 percent is the obesity rate in the country. While the obesity level has remained steady for a couple of years, it has more than doubled since 1980 and continues to rest at a high level. Research conducted by Oxford University suggests that moderate obesity can reduce a life expectancy by three years and severe obesity can reduce it by ten years; that is the equivalent of a life filled with smoking. The study Oxford did on how obesity affects mortality was done on 900,000 men and women for 10 to 15 years. During that time period, 100,000 of the participants died.

People tend to associate obesity with a large intake of high fructose corn syrup and added sugars. Molecules from the glucose are changed chemically into

fructose which is sweeter sugar. This is a very common ingredient in processed foods. Not to mention, the introduction of bio-engineered corn coincides with the rising obesity numbers, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Not only can obesity have a severe impact on a person’s physical health, but it can also take a toll on someone’s mental health. Things like struggling with body image, self-esteem, and quality of life can be a result of this disease that interferes with getting the treatment needed. The NIH says that a person suffering from obesity is almost five times more likely to struggle with depression.

With that being said, there is a crisis going on in America that needs to be addressed. A wave of “body positivity” and overweight bodies being looked at in a positive light has distracted us from the fact that obesity is not a joke nor something to praise, but a serious disease with lasting effects that need to be treated.

America’s Fattest Problem

Obesity is the number one killer in America, and it is not even close. Recently, the media has manipulated the public into believing that the disease is not only something to be proud of, but also that it is healthy.

BBY KEEGAN BUKOVATZ & MADISON BRYANT

ody positivity began as the solution to the media’s obsession with emaciated models and ample-breasted glamor girls in the 90s and the 2000s. There was a huge outcry about the subject because it was deemed to be promoting and propagating unhealthy body images.

But as we move away from the skinny goals of the past and become more open and inclusive to different shapes and sizes, I believe that we have taken body positivity way too far. We are almost going through the same situation of the 2000s, but reversed. Just as people did during the early days of the body positivity movement, we should not be praising unhealthy body images and manipulating the masses into thinking that being obese is something to be proud of.

A particular group of campaigners have taken the body positivity movement too an extreme. Headed by plus-sized models and “fat influencers,” the fat acceptance movement’s goal is to normalize obesity, “educating” everyone to know that it is fine to be fat, with some going so far as to encourage this unhealthy behavior, likening the valid concerns of health officials to hate crimes.

According to the Harvard School of

While being overweight should never be a reason for someone to be bullied or harassed, it’s still important to make a distinction between health choices and harming your body.

Public Health, roughly two out of three U.S. adults are overweight or obese, and a third of U.S. adults classified as obese.

While being overweight should never be a reason for someone to be bullied or harassed, it’s still important to make a

distinction between health choices and harming your body.

According to the Harvard School of Public Health, roughly two out of three U.S. adults are overweight or obese, and a third of U.S. adults classified as obese.

Many people claim the promotion of obesity is not about glamorizing it, but more so about accepting it.

There are countless public figures who have promoted this. The most prominent

Well, accepting it is just as dangerous.

of the bunch has got to be Lizzo. To me, Lizzo is the most emblematic celebrity to preach about obesity. In fact, there is no other person of her level of fame that has glorified her weight to the level that she has, and people applaud her for it all of the time. Lizzo is talented, and she doesn’t have to be making “fat” her brand.

Last May, Lizzo encountered a series of body-shaming comments, and she expressed that she is tired and is close to quitting her music career.

“I HATE IT HERE,” Lizzo wrote in a series of tweets in response to the comments. “Will never shut up about how difficult y’all make it for fat people to simply exist,” she wrote in a different post.

This is not a human being simply existing. It is dangerous behavior. Lizzo is someone who holds a lot of influence over the public, and it is our responsibility to educate ourselves on what being fat actually does to the body. Of course, there are outside factors

Here’s a fact about fat: fat is responsible for the leading cause of death in America, which is heart disease. It also correlates

to seven of the other 10 leading causes of death.

that contribute to weight that can’t be controlled. Mental health, social deprivation, self-esteem, medications, and genetics all play a role in our ability to control our weight, and judgment is not always the most constructive approach. However, suggesting that a XXXL is just as healthy as an L is delusional, and an irresponsible form of denial.

Another point I would like to bring up is how fast more and more children are becoming obese. In the early 1980’s, about 5 percent of children under 18 were obese. Now, about 16 percent of children under 18 are obese, and 22 percent of children between 12 and 18 fall under that category.

Think about how many adults that grew up in the 80’s are obese now. About 40 percent of American adults are obese. So, if 5 percent grew to 40 percent, how much larger is 16 percent going to grow?

America is exponentially becoming unhealthier. Just look at the food we ingest. The McDonalds fry in the US has 14 ingredients, while the UK is restricted to potatoes and oil. You can read practically any food label on a product and you probably couldn’t understand what half of them are, and you and hundreds of millions of others are putting that crap into your body.

Whether we want to gorge ourselves with three pounds of chocolate, drink until we vomit into the toilet, or line our lungs with carcinogenic tar, people are free to make their own choices. But while what you put into your body is your own business, encouraging unhealthy lifestyles like this and denying health risks in a public space isn’t promoting body positivity. It’s promoting death.

Pulsating Battles

BY EMMA FRANKLIN

Growing up, my mom developed migraines after giving birth to my younger brother. We were never sure why or how they began, but seeing her experience them was horrible. For years, she went through tons of medications, hoping to find one that would give her the relief she was looking for.

My mom was sometimes stuck in bed for days on end due to how excruciating the pain was in her head. It wasn’t until 2021 when after months of testing and fighting with our insurance company, they agreed to cover the costs of Nurtec. Without insurance, it is roughly $1,500 every two weeks compared to other migraine medications that are a fraction of the price.

Nurtec is a medication used for adults who experience migraines that dissolve under the tongue. It is on the more expensive side due to research/ development costs, clinical trials, and competition from other migraine medication brands.

I also witnessed my aunt go through these migraines throughout her life. She was told they were “headaches” when she was around my age, even though my aunt would be debilitated to the point where leaving her room was not an option and she would vomit constantly.

I had gone 17 years with no migraines, so I thought “it” would never happen to me. That was until six months ago, when I had my first migraine.

My dad had taken his car to the auto shop for a safety inspection early one morning, so I went to give him a ride home. The whole drive there, it felt like my head would explode. There was a constant throbbing and pulsing feeling in my head that I had never experienced before.

It made concentrating on the road difficult, but I safely reached the auto shop. As I waited in my car for my dad, the pain increased. I politely texted

him to hurry up, not knowing if I could tolerate the pain in my head much longer.

He came outside, and I got out of my car crying, explaining to him that my head was hurting so bad that I did not think it was safe for me to drive us home. During the drive home, I put a hand over my eyes and kept my head ducked low, trying to block out the bright sunlight streaming into the car. We were roughly five minutes from the house, and a wave of nausea rushed over me.

Luckily, I was able to hold it off until we got to the house. After throwing up in my parents bathroom, I leaned against the cold porcelain of the toilet. Tears continued to stream down my face as I wiped them away.

I had never felt so horrendous and confused about what was happening to my body. A minute passed, and the feeling of a cool rag was pressed against my neck and the pressure of a comforting hand on my shoulder. My father helped me stand up and took me downstairs to my room, where I closed my curtains and blocked out any light.

My dad brought me an ice pack, a caffeinated beverage, and three Aleves. I remember this like it was yesterday due to how much pain my body and mind were in. That was the first time I had experienced a migraine and hoped it would be the last.

Two and a half weeks later, I was at my brother’s baseball tournament in Willard when I got another migraine. I was roughly forty-five minutes away from my house with nothing to help me with this sudden migraine attack. I thought the one from two weeks ago was a one-anddone, but my body had other plans.

I was extremely lucky to have my mom with me at the tournament, who gave me some Excedrin and had me lay down in the back of her Jeep for an hour or so, hoping the pulsating pain in my head would come to a stop. My migraine only seemed to get worse. My mom quickly

became worried and gave me one of her emergency Ubrelvys, which is used to help treat migraines in desperate situations.

She always has one or two with her in case a situation like this occurs. The medication seemed to help a little, but for extra safety precautions, she decided to take me home early so I could lie down in a dark area with an ice pack.

My mom and I thought I was experiencing these migraines due to the weather and pressure changes within the atmosphere, a common migraine trigger for her. But since July of last year, I have experienced countless migraines. I use an app called “Migraine Buddy” to track my migraines. It logs my sleeping patterns, the intensity of my migraines, how long they last, symptoms, and medications taken.

Around late August or early September, I went to my first doctor’s appointment to figure out what was “wrong” with me. I remember walking into the office feeling scared, confused, and not knowing what to expect. They asked me questions about my family history with migraines, how long I’ve been experiencing them, what medications I take to help with the pain, how I handle my migraines, and many more.

By the end of the appointment, they had prescribed me two medications: Sumatriptan (Imitrex) and Ondansetron (Zofran). Imitrex is supposed to be used when I feel a migraine coming on. The only tricky part is getting the timing right because if I miss the window for taking it, it will not help.

Zofran is used to help with nausea, and when I get migraines, I get nauseous. I was on these medications for roughly a month and noticed an increase in the amount of migraines I was having and the pain of them escalating as well. I was missing so much school due to these migraines that my parents were sent a letter stating that the school was

To me, migraines were something only my mom and aunt experienced. That all changed when I experienced my first migraine and was diagnosed with chronic migraines a few months ago.

concerned about my absences.

We talked to a family friend who works within the Springfield Public School (SPS) district, who informed us that I could get a 504 plan for my migraines. A 504 plan allows students that have a disability to have accommodations necessary to ensure they are able to get a fair and proper education.

In my case, I am allowed to work out in a dimmer or less bright location, water is always allowed to be with me, if I miss school because of a migraine I have two extra days to catch up on assignments, and if I am not in class due to my 504 plan, it does not count towards my attendance.

The process took roughly a month, but my family and I could not have been more grateful. This 504 plan was a relief, but the migraines continued to worsen.

The final straw for my Imitrex and Zofran medications was when I had to drive home from a dentist’s appointment with blurred vision, intense nausea, and a pulsating feeling in my head. The pain was so unbearable I was sobbing uncontrollably. Before leaving the parking lot, I took my migraine medications, hoping for even a little bit of relief.

I got home and almost passed out trying to walk inside the house; my

breathing was labored and I struggled to stand up straight. Once I made it inside the house, I went straight into the bathroom, knowing what was going to happen next. After I had finished throwing up, I laid down on my mom’s bed and texted her, letting her know what had happened.

It is a ground rule in my house that when I get a migraine, I need to tell my mom so she can help me. Roughly twenty minutes later, she came home and immediately rushed to my side, sensing this was a bad one. My mother got me two Excedrin, a caffeinated beverage, an ice pack, and took my hair out of the messy bun I had it in to help keep pressure off of my head.

A few hours later, after I was stable enough to focus, she helped me make an appointment to see my doctor to change my migraine medications. The next day, we explained what was happening, and they talked us through the following options. We settled on Topiramate (Topamax) due to the other medications I take and the side effects.

I went from taking one 25 milligram tablet to one in the morning and two at night to combat my migraines within the span of a month and a half.

I never thought I would have to experience migraines and it is the most

frustrating thing I have had to deal with. Some mornings, I wake up with a migraine so bad to the point that getting out of bed is not an option. The new dosage of Topamax my doctor prescribed me seems to be helping with the frequency of my migraines, but it could only be a matter of time before they switch the dosage or type of medication.

When I experience a migraine, I immediately take two Aleve and an Imitrex. Shortly after, the nausea will kick in and it is time to take a Zofran. While those are adjusting in my system, I get myself a caffeinated beverage, an ice pack, and my eye mask to help block out light.

According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, women are more likely to experience migraines than men. Many women experience issues with migraines due to hormone imbalances or other gynecological issues. They are typically genetic and are one of the most undiagnosed disabilities in the United States.

I have made great progress in finding the right combination of medications and lifestyle choices to combat my chronic migraines. With the help of my friends and family, I have been experiencing migraines less frequently.

Composer on the Rise

BY SOPHIE WEBB

Experienced songwriter Cole Dobbs won an award for an original composition entitled “Midnight Fall.”

When it comes down to awards for sports and extracurricular activities, this one takes the cake.

Senior Cole Dobbs entered a self composed music piece into a district competition and received a second place award. Dobbs has been fascinated by music since he was a kid. At a young age, he was already singing and playing the piano.

“I was always infatuated with music at a young age. Then, I saw a talent show where someone played the piano and I told my mom I wanted to do that. She got me an electric piano and that’s what started it all,” Dobbs said.

Dobbs took piano lessons and fell in love with music, which led him to music composition where he started exploring his writing abilities and composing his own music pieces.

“I’ve written a full 21 instrument piece and there are some other pieces that I’ve started but just never finished,” Dobbs said.

Dobbs’ piece was titled “Midnight Fall” played by string instruments which he entered into a competition against other Springfield Public Schools (SPS). Dobbs discovered this competition through an email and thought it would be a great way to showcase his talents.

“I wanted something complicated that showed I knew the workings of music very efficiently and I thought I might as well take a shot at this and see where it goes,” Dobbs said.

The music piece had to apply to a theme and this year the theme was called “I’m hopeful because…” As Dobbs was researching string instruments and their ranges, he started experimenting with notes and realized that there was a story forming.

“As I was writing, I noticed there

was a hidden emotion, and this one is specifically about the highs and lows, and even if you have those low lows and those high highs, you can always come back to those really good memories,” Dobbs said.

He is currently writing a piece called “Rest” that the Chamber Choir will be singing in Nashville, Tennessee. The choir director, Dr. Nathan Cornelius, is very excited for this performance.

“We have sent his piece to a couple of professionals to get their advice on the piece,” Cornelius said.

Cornelius admires the talent Dobbs has and why he’s one of his biggest supporters.

“I think Cole is extremely talented. He wants to pursue composition in

college and I think he’s going to do a wonderful job. I’m excited to see what his final products will be when he starts composing,” Cornelius said.

Dobbs plans to major in composing and hopes to get more than a bachelor’s degree and further his passion in writing music. His piece “Midnight Fall” will move on to a state level competition and Dobbs will be refreshing his email as he waits for his results.

“Rejection shouldn’t be your biggest fear. Your biggest fear should be regret because at the end of the day we are all going to have our opinions and you just have to know that there is always an audience out there,” Dobbs said.

Senior Cole Dobbs playing his award winning piece, “Midnight Fall.”

Breaking the Silence

BY ALLEY ACKERMAN

In the United States, suicide is a major cause of death. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that there has been a 25 percent global increase in the prevalence of anxiety and depression in teenagers since the COVID-19 pandemic. For several years, a survey called the Missouri Student Survey is done biannually.

The Missouri Student Survey (MSS) is conducted in even-numbered years to track risk behaviors of students in grades six through 12th who attend public schools in Missouri. Participation in the survey is completely optional. The most recent survey was done in March of 2022, so be on the lookout for this survey in the near future.

The 2024 questionnaire is posted on the Missouri Department of Mental Health website and has 113 questions.

“The survey includes questions on alcohol, tobacco, drug use and other behaviors that endanger health and safety. The first MSS was conducted in 2000 by the Research Triangle Institute. Since 2004, the survey has been conducted jointly by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and the Missouri Department of Mental Health, Division of Behavioral Health (DBH). The Missouri Institute of Mental Health analyzes the survey data and summarizes the results in the MSS reports,” Missouri Department of Mental Health said.

Between 2000 and 2018, the suicide rate rose by 30 percent; it then

decreased in 2019 and 2020 before rising once more in 2021. Mental health services have been severely disrupted by the isolation, despite an increase in mental health needs. This was particularly true in the early stages of the pandemic.

for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention, said.

In 2023, there were more than 50,000 death by suicide in America, more than in any previous year. There has been an increase of depression and suicidal ideation, but these numbers can be deceiving. Official suicide data frequently gives a mistaken impression of the suicide population. If someone is having thoughts of suicide, we want them to talk about those thoughts. One way to look at the increase in suicidal ideation numbers, is that the youth feels comfortable reaching out for help, instead of trying to cope on their own or act on those thoughts.

What was reported from the KHS counselors last year: Self-Harming - 13 reported

Suicide Ideation - 44

reported

“COVID caused individuals to go into isolation and have to be away from primary support systems. It did increase the ability to get mental health services in home and has continued to increase that ability,” local teen therapist, Melisa Hilton, said.

Since going back to “normal” four years later, the U.S. is still seeing increases.

“The provisional estimates released today indicate that suicide deaths further increased in 2022, rising from 48,183 deaths in 2021 to an estimated 49,449 deaths in 2022, an increase of approximately 2.6 percent,” Centers

“One positive aftershock of the pandemic is that there has been an increase of public attention on mental health. This has helped minimize stigma surrounding mental health and allowed the space for people to feel more comfortable to express their thoughts. So, the numbers may appear that they are headed in the wrong direction, but let’s remember that we want people to feel comfortable in saying that they are not okay,” Director of Counseling Services for Springfield Public Schools, Dr. Alison Roffers, said. It will be critical to track long term trends in COVID-19 related suicide rates and mental health concern increases and pinpoint the variables that raise some people’s risk of suicide due to the pandemic’s prolonged duration and ongoing effects on youth in the United States. It is never too late to ask for help.

Global mental health is in crisis, and one factor is the COVID-19 pandemic, especially teenagers and young adults.

Anonymous Stories

From Students:

“When I was in middle school (which was when the pandemic started) I had recently come out as transgender, so I was having a lot of issues mentally with that. But, going online for the rest of my seventh grade year and eighth also affected that. I was feeling isolated and lonely which increased my overall depression and had made my social anxiety worse. But now that the pandemic is over, a lot of those issues I had received from the isolation have slowly gone away,” Anonymous said.

“During the beginning of high school, which is when COVID was really at its peak, everything was

so dead and barren that life felt extremely dead as well. Repeating the same routines over and over again, every day for months straight felt like I was constantly stuck in a depressive episode. What added onto it was being stuck inside with my parents, who aren’t the easiest to get along with due to their clashing personalities. Both of them aren’t the most emotionally available people, and so that led me to dealing with their problems instead of being able to deal with my own mental problems. Everyday just felt like an unending cycle of fighting with them and being stuck with my own thoughts with no way to escape them. At some point about two years ago, after we had gotten out of quarantine, I ended up in the hospital because of the built up tension we had made from all the fighting. It

had driven down a horrible path of suicidal thoughts and pain that didn’t seem to end. Being stuck for months with no end with people who could only provide with judgement and instability instead of support felt like torture, so I can’t even imagine how it felt for others who may have had it worse,” Anonymous said.

“I struggled with a lot of social anxiety and anxiety in general after the pandemic, you know, like getting back into society. I think a lot of it was based around the fact I wasn’t around big groups of people and I was absolutely terrified of contracting the virus,” Anonymous said.

The National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is 988. Help is always an option, no matter the situation.

Breathe In, Breathe Out

Information has circulated the internet about school air and its impact on student and staff health, but what actually is in school air?

Since the pandemic, indoor air quality (IAQ) has become a popular topic. However, we frequently overlook the places we are in most, like, schools.

Surprisingly enough, students may have been spot on with their predictions, as according to IAQ Works, stale air can cause skin irritation and congestion, and so can excess humidity in the air. Some of the biggest components of bad air quality indoors are radon, mold, and carbon monoxide.

Across the country, multiple schools have elevated radon. Radon is a radioactive gas and the leading cause of lung cancer besides smoking. It can seep in through foundation cracks and openings for pipes and wires.

Part of this issue is because building pressure is lower than the pressure of the soil and acts as a vacuum for radon.

According to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, when tested, one out of

A little over 20 years ago, the National Center for Education Statistics of the U.S. analyzed schools across the country and a quarter reported unsatisfactory ventilation and 20 percent of schools reported a below standard IAQ level.

BY ZHANA OWREY

three homes in Missouri have higher radon levels higher than the EPA’s (Environmental Protection Agency) recommended limit.

In the 2015 to 2016 school year, 69 public schools were tested for radon and an estimated 39,114 were expected to have high levels of the radioactive gas.

In 2016, then senior Magdelaine

“In recent years, comparative risk studies performed by EPA’s Science Advisory Board (SAB) have consistently ranked indoor air pollution among the top five environmental risks to public health. Good IAQ is an important component of a healthy indoor environment, and can help schools reach their primary goal of educating children,” the EPA said.

Mueller wrote an open letter to the district that became controversial. It discussed our school’s mold problem, which allegedly caused thousands of dollars worth of textbooks to be thrown away and an extreme smell of mold throughout the school.

Another story called “Going Mold School” was released by KHQ Magazine about the mold problem. This story released new updates on the issue and more insights, such as the school’s long history with mold, going back into the nineties, and how the issue was handled. Shortly after, BJF Environmental Consulting sampled the school, and there was no apparent mold issue.

A 2020 study by the Government Accountability Agency found that 41 percent of public schools need to replace their ventilation and HVAC system.

While this problem has gotten better, regular checks on making sure mold exposure is not a problem is important. Mold exposure can cause minor allergic reactions as well as congestion, eye irritation, and rashes. Springfield Public School’s HVAC and Mechanical supervisor, Richard Cox, does have a plan to make sure our air is staying clean.

“Kickapoo has 19 units on the roof bringing in outside air to the occupants. These units have sensors located in them that read humidity, discharge air temps, and outside air temps. We are out in each building every six months to change filters, look at coils and clean if needed, and change out belts if they are showing wear,” Cox said.

In the end, the air quality of school is important and can leave long term impacts on students and staff within the school. While we have no known problems, it’s always good to stay in the know when it comes to the quality of the air we breathe.

Discussion with the Debaters

From competitions like Big Questions to World Schools and beyond, Speech and Debate knows how to bring home the gold.

Speech and Debate started the year with a win, placing in half the competitions they entered in during their GDA/MSU invitational, and they’ve kept them coming. As of mid January, our school’s team has placed at least 34 times in overall separate competitions.

Junior Hanna Holdway participates in the Program of Oral Interpretations (POI) during the season and the sweepstake with the whole team. In the POI section, participants are challenged to create a ten minute performance around one theme using excerpts from different pieces of literature. In a sweepstake competition, a school’s points through the season are scored and awarded at the championship tournament.

“This weekend at Marshfield, we took first in sweeps and I took third in POI and I’m ready for me and my team to take first place this upcoming weekend and seeing how good my team is out of 51 schools that will be going this weekend,” Holdway said.

BY KAT OWSLEY

These events, like many other programs, can be stressful for debaters because of their rigorous nature and dedication it takes to get ready.

“I prepare by practicing in front of my coach and other teammates to see what I need to improve and do my best. I like to get a full night rest and have fuel food that can energize me for the long days and just have to support my teammates who are truly family to me,” Holdway said.

This familial atmosphere is important to the success of future students in Speech and Debate, since the best way to learn is through experience and knowledgeable debaters sharing criticism and spreading positivity to help the novice team become pros.

“I’m definitely looking forward to trophying the most. I’m also excited to see how far the novices go. I’ve gotten to help some of them and getting to see what they’re able to do is really cool,” senior Autumn Houzenga said. Building a connection like this is

good for keeping the spirits of debaters up, since they spend a lot of time together while the season is on.

Speech and Debate competitions start on Friday afternoon, with students spending the morning in their usual classes at school. With the rest of the tournaments lasting all day Saturday, where students wear their best business attire at these events.

“We do our team exercises and say, ‘We win as a team, we lose as a team,’ which is one of my favorite parts and we go to our rounds that consist of six people a room and one judge each room and do our said events,” Holdway said.

With all the time and care poured into these competitions, it’s no wonder Speech and Debate has done so well this year. While the season is coming to a close, it’s exciting to see all the amazing things done by our team and they’re sure to continue their streak in the upcoming year.

Autumn Houzenga stands in between the Speech and debate caption from David H. Hickman High School and competitors from around the district, prepared to claim their trophy

Photo by Sophie Webb

Club Recap

Many clubs have gone above and behind with awards and accomplishments for the first semester.

BY MADISON TURNER

They are about to head into their competition season with solo and small ensemble districts, large ensemble state and solo and small ensemble state. Roman Bunn performed in the Missouri All State Orchestra at the MMEA conference in Osage Beach, MO. This was his second time making it into the orchestra. Katherine Le made honorable mention for this event, as well.

Ms. Honeycutt received the MoASTA (Missouri American String Teachers Association) Outstanding Secondary Teacher Award for the state at the conference.

“I was nominated by orchestra teachers all around the state. It was a huge honor to be presented with this award, but it was also very special because my 5th grade orchestra teacher, Andy Johnston, was the one who presented it to me,” Honeycutt said.

Orchestra Choir

FCCLA

Family Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) competed in regionals at Missouri State on January 19th of this year. Members competed in fashion Construction, Teach and Train, Hospitality and Tourism, Fashion Design, Promote and Publicize FCCLA, Fashion Construction, Food Innovations, Sports Nutrition, Say yes to FCS Education, Interior Design, and Baking and Pastries.

Congrats to Bella Cooper, Kinleigh Rose, Makayla Trieu, Aubree Williams, Carissa Antonidis, Malida Dexter, Allie Moore, Aubree Nesbitt, Kelea Martin, Jaelyn Dill, Kaci Perry, London Funk, Haile Reed, and Madison Turner for placing gold and heading on to state conference in March.

Drama Club

Troupe 1151’s attended Thescon in Kansas City Missouri and got superiors in seven different events. Including Duet Acting. State Management, Improv Intensive, Makeup Design, First place in Prop Shift, Solo Musical, and Group and Duet Musical. The seven students who placed superiors are now preparing for international competitions at Indian University.

One team got a League Tournament control award for how well the team programmed the robot. Both teams made it to the semi finals.

29 students placed in the all district Missouri honor choir. 16 students are eligible to all-state. 9 students placed in the Missouri all state vocalist. Cole Dobbs won 2nd in students reflection for composition. Chamber choir is traveling to Nashville Tennessee in February for competitions. A KHS 2023 graduate Lilly Jackson and current KHS junior Sloan Roberts were accepted to attend the Acapella Academy in Los Angeles California. The academy is led by members of Pentatonix and composers of the Pitch Perfect movies.

Cheer Robotics

The competition team got 4th place at state in 6A large all-girl and got 1st place and a bid to nationals. Competition team leaves for UCA High School Nationals in Orlando, Florida on February 7th.

Scholar Bowl

There were 20 teams at this tournament. A team went 9-0 against some really tough competition that included all of the Springfield schools and quite a few surrounding districts. To go undefeated and score the most points overall is a huge accomplishment, and now they’ve done it two tournaments in a row.

Similarly, the B team went 5-4 in their matches after being matched against several A teams as well, so they also deserve recognition for playing well all day.

Congrats to A team Nick Finke, Carter McCord, Aaryan Thavaran, Jacob Holden, and Johanna Simon Congrats to B team Ken Do, Connor Sauchuk, Nathaniel Cummings, Haylee Redman, and Chandler Haustein.

“This group works really hard, practicing multiple times per week both before and after school, and probably doesn’t get all of the recognition that they deserve. So, if you see or know these kids, congratulate them. Their next tournament is at Washington University in St. Louis, which will see them compete against some of the best competition in the state,” Mr Evans said.

Band

Kickapoo Golden Arrow Band went up to Columbia Missouri and won the class 5A state championship. They won outstanding visuals, outstanding music, and outstanding percussion. They ended up scoring an 83.03.

Winter Guard

Winter Guard has just started our competitive season this weekend at Ozark High School. Varsity earned 2nd place in Scholastic A and JV earned 5th place in Scholastic Regional A. Here are the rest of their competition dates, February 17th : Missouri State University

March 9th: Tulsa Regional for Varsity only

April 6th: Championships

April 11th - 13th: World Championships for Varsity only.

FBLA

On February 6, 2024, Kickapoo FBLA met at Missouri State’s Plaster Student Union to attend the District 18 FBLA District Leadership Conference. They had 24 students compete in 24 different events.

“The students represented Kickapoo amazingly and made the school, and themselves, proud! We will have 11 students moving on to State competition along with a few straight to state events, in Springfield on April 14-16, 2024,” Mr. Tepe said.

Congrats to 1st place. Graphic Design, Performance Event - Angelina Senina, Makayla Trieu, Gina Wittu (Advancing to State), Health Care Administration, Objective Test - Andrew Patrias (Advancing to State), Introduction to Financial Math, Objective Test - Shiv Bansal (Advancing to State)

Journalism, Objective Test - Sarah Trotman (Advancing to State)

Congrats to 2nd place, Public Policy and Advocacy, Objective Test - Nicholas Finke (Advancing to State)

Congrats to 3rd place, Advertising, Objective Test - Sloan Roberts (Advancing to State),Business Law, Objective Test - Noah Boslaugh (Advancing to State)

Economics, Objective Test - Nicholas Finke (Advancing to State)

“A big shout out to Shiv Bansal, who won the vote to become the District 18 Secretary! He will help the district officer team plan and prepare next year’s district competition, along with other events throughout the year,” Mr. Tepe Said.

Golden Girls

In the dance category they placed 3rd and placed 1st in the kick category Congrats to their soloist. Senior Lynae Robbins for placing 5th, Junior Gabby Williams for placing 5th, Junior Addison Stuckey for placing 2nd and Freshmen Lyla Olson for placing 5th.

Waist circumference is used to measure the amount of body and stomach fat around organs which is linked to high blood pressure, high blood fat, and diabetes. However, teens and adults compare their waist sizes and can sometimes develop eating disorders to maintain their small waist goal.

Eating Over or Under

Eating too much or not eating enough are equally damaging to the body. Body dysmorphia is challenging to maintain and often results in eating disorders.

Eating disorders (ED) are a serious concern at our school. Students may go for years without knowing they have one and could be slowly damaging their bodies by under-eating or overeating.

Eating disorders can affect people of all shapes and sizes. It doesn’t matter what the scale says. For people with an eating disorder, weight can be a crucial part of their image.

In a student survey, 82 percent of students say they have thought twice about eating food throughout their lives.

“I have second guessed eating food a lot. Not because I think I have an eating disorder, but because everyone always has something to say about the amount of food others eat,” sophomore Olivia Beck said.

Although second-guessing food doesn’t always mean there’s an eating disorder at hand, under eating or feeling the need to overeat can be dangerous. It can lead to anxiety and negative thoughts about your appearance, which ultimately can be the start of an ED.

Anorexia nervosa is one of the most common types of ED and one of the most dangerous. The fear of gaining weight can cause people to fast as a way to prevent such weight gain.

According to MeadowsRanch.com, a program set up to help people with EDs, one person dies from an eating disorder every 52 minutes, and the study has proven that anorexia is one of the deadliest.

Symptoms of anorexia often include extreme thinness, low blood pressure, and irregular heart rhythms. Mental signs may include; denial of hunger, withdrawal from social activities, preoccupation with dieting and food, and constant thinking one is overweight or fat.

Experiencing these symptoms can take a major toll on the body and mind. Unfortunately, the signs are almost impossible to see. Many people who suffer from this disorder could go years without knowing they have it.

Bulimia nervosa is quite the opposite of anorexia. Bulimia is an ED of binge eating and purging.

Purging is the need to eliminate the food one has just eaten. More specifically, inducing vomiting to get the food out of your system. Purging can lead to electrolyte imbalances, dehydration, and damage to esophagus and teeth.

Bulimia does include the same mental health effects like self-harm, body image issues, and depression.

Binge-eating disorder is similar to bulimia but without purging. A bingeeating disorder has the same risks as bulimia, but individuals don’t feel the need to throw it up or get the food out of their body quickly. Most just continuously eat.

Most individuals with binge eating disorder won’t even know they have ingested so much food. There have been reports of people finding empty containers and wrappers in their homes. Rapid weight gain can be very harmful to your body and can raise your chances of getting heart disease, diabetes, and many other health issues.

While these three disorders are the most talked about, they are not the only eating disorders that exist.

There is avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID). This disorder goes beyond the struggles of the average picky eater. People with this disorder may refuse to eat certain foods based on smell, texture, or color.

Being a picky eater does not immediately mean one has an eating disorder. However, if a pattern arises where one undoubtedly won’t eat foods because of their size, smell, color, or texture, it may be best to look further into it.

Pica is another under-the-radar ED. Pica involves craving non-food substances such as dirt, hair, or paper. This ED can usually be associated with iron deficiency, or anemia, calcium, or

zinc deficiencies. Zinc is a chemical found in our cells to help fight off bacteria. With this disorder, one would crave substances with high nutrients such as dirt or soil. However, it is not the safest way to get those natural nutrients into the body.

Pica is often displayed in smaller children or pregnant women. However, there are known cases where it is seen in teens. That one dare from friends to eat dirt, chalk, or even paper, can cause a lifetime of health issues and lead to the development of this disorder.

Rumination disorder involves regurgitating food, re-chewing it, and spitting it out. This gives the body the satisfaction of “eating the food” without allowing the body to digest it properly. This can be very harmful to the body because it tricks the brain into thinking it’s full without digesting anything.

Being a teenager is challenging regarding self-image. Many teens struggle with seeing picture-perfect bodies on social media, but most of the time it’s not even real. People get Botox, plastic surgery, and use editing apps.

The pandemic played a huge role in the rise of eating disorders, mainly weight gain. The National Eating Disorders Association reported an increase of 70 to 80 percent in helpline calls. Many of the callers who were teens reported feeling their eating disorder starting to show when they felt more pressure to look thin as school started back in person.

High school can be one of the most difficult times for a student experiencing an eating disorder. Yet, raising awareness for different types of eating disorders and coping mechanisms is more beneficial than letting students suffer alone. If someone needs help, contact the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa & Associated Disorders (ANAD): The Helpline at 888-375-7767 is open Monday to Friday. 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Central Time; or email: hello@anad.org.

A Clash of Readers

Battle of the Books is not well known but it is a group that has changed the lives of many members.

BY ALEX WALSH

Some students fight tooth and nail to win their sports, but one battle goes unnoticed by most. A group that hasn’t been around long but had a big influence on different people’s lives. The group has only been around for the last two years and not many people know about it as the librarians only mention it if you have had an English class in the last year or so.

Battle of the Books is a competition over the Missouri Gateway books like “Lore” by Alexandra Bracken. A Gateway book is a book that has been nominated and voted on by students grade 9-12 across the nation. The students in Battle of the Books take a quiz over the book when they are done with reading it. The first Battle of the Books took place in the 1930’s as a radio program, but today it is a reading incentive for kids K-12.

Librarian Mrs. Netzer runs the group and helps the students out when they need by hosting them in the library and

answering any questions they might have about either the books or the quizzes they take.

“Springfield had their first one probably 2014-2015, somewhere in there,” Netzer said.

Public high schools in Springfield now participate in Battle of the Books and the club continues to grow each year. The competition first started in the elementary schools with the Mark Twain nominees, which are similar to Gateway books in high schools since they are being held to the same standard.

“They do it differently at each grade level a little differently, but it is always around the award books, so the Mark Twains for elementary, or the Trumans for middle school, or the Gateways for high school,” Netzer said.

Sophomore Kaitlyn Morelock has been participating in Battle of the Books since her seventh grade year at Cherokee Middle School. She joined because the

books listed in the 2020-2021 school year looked interesting to her.

“It is a long story, but basically there were a couple of Trumans on the list that I wanted to read and my librarian suggested joining,” Morelock said.

The competition has been in the district for a while but didn’t make it to the high schools until two years ago during the 2021-2022 school year.

The group hasn’t set up an official meeting time but a few members go to the library and read either the Gateway books or just books they want to read.

The list of books that are used for Battle of the Books changes every year. The list is published around the last two weeks of January by the Missouri Association of Librarians.

To join the group, you just have to talk to either of the librarians and tell them that you are interested in joining.

Senior Quinci Montgomery reads a Gateway book in the school library to enjoy the peaceful quiet atmosphere .

Official Send Off

BY AMIAH PIERCE

It’s official that a Project Grad replacement is in the works. Meetings have been held, parents have been talked to, and Senior Send Off is the new plan.

With the end of the school year drawing closer, planning a graduation party is beginning to be more important. Cheryl Hall, assistant principal, has been the head adviser trying to figure it out.

Now, Project Grad is officially being replaced with Senior Send off, which is a two hour long hangout with the same games. It’s just as much fun as Project Grad, but more affordable. The tickets are five dollars to make them available for the whole family. Hall wants to send out surveys to the seniors to see if they want to add or change anything to the party.

“They can hang out, take pictures, sign yearbooks, eat food, and play a few games if they want to. Just in general it’s a big hang out,” Hall said.

It’s going to be a laid back party. Hall still wants prizes and games for the seniors to enjoy. She also wants the students to take one last look at the school and enjoy their final moments before they leave.

“We are not gonna have a lot of extra expenses because we get to have it here. All that money we raise will be focused on student prizes,” Hall said.

She will use the $2,000 left over from the fundraiser for Project Grad last year to help give them an extra boost. Now that it’s going to be held in the commons, it will be cheaper and the extra money will be used on the students. Donations are still accepted and appreciated.

“Junior parents are going to spearhead the setup and clean up. After graduation, they’re gonna come to monitor for the two hours,” Hall said.

This is so the parents can get insight on how the event is going to go. It can also open the junior parents up for suggestion they want to make, and

Dr. Hall, assistant principal met with many stakeholders to seek out ideas and options.

anything they wish to add. This is so the senior parents can be there with their children and the students can be with their families without any distractions.

“We will send out a link to Amazon and we have a big wish list on there, so parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles can make donations and order it and get shipped straight here,” Hall said. For this party, the goal is to enjoy the last time at the school to relive memories, say goodbye to friends, and have a fun graduation. There is still a lot to figure out and Hall is planning meetings and having talks with senior leaders, cabinet, and staff to perfect this event for all seniors to come.

Meetings are open for parents who want to come and join.

A Quick Change

The Choirs have deadlines approaching rapidly and this how they prepare.

From Masterworks to the Athena Festival, the choir has a lot of work to complete in order to wow their audience.

On February 20, at 7 PM in the Performing Arts Center, the choir preformed their 25 minute continuous piece “Illuminare” by Elaine Hagenberg for a special concert known as Masterworks. This concert was an important time for the choir since they preformed their full length piece, five pieces put together to form a story. This takes a substantial amount of time to learn and memorize, more so then compared to the normal three-minute long piece.

The Advanced Orchestra will be performing along with the choir’s multimovement piece.

“So really, Masterworks is a good chunk of music put together for a certain purpose,” junior Olivia Holloway, concert choir member said.

BY BROOKLYN COLLINS

every movement in the piece is so well thought out and there’s so much emotion behind the movement,” Dobbs said.

Not every beautiful thing is easy though, and in most cases behind the scenes, learning a piece can take days, if not weeks or longer.

“First we listen to them, and we slowly, section by section, like soprano, alto, tenor, bass, figure out

until they perform.

“The Athena Festival is a music festival in Nashville, Tennessee, most of which takes place at the Trevecca Campus,” Dr. Nathan Cornelius, the choir director, said.

The festival combines oral performance, choral competition, and composition. Instead of all of the choirs, only the Chamber will have participated and performed in this

Even though it’s time consuming and difficult, with hard work and dedication they will have the masterwork ready to perform.

“I’ve listened to it a little bit and the more that I listen to it, I realize how beautiful the piece is,” senior Cole Dobbs, a member of chamber choir said.

The Masterworks piece, “Illuminare” is much more than meets the eye.

“This song, it’s just so heartfelt and

the beginning, and sometimes the end too because they can get pretty similar. We do one song at a time, and slowly add more,” Holloway said.

Soprano, alto, tenor, and bass are different sections of choir, based on how high or low an individual sings. Students are grouped up based on how they sing and make up the four different sections that make up the choir as a whole.

When Masterworks ended, the chamber choir then had a week to practice their Athena Festival music

competition. Chamber

Choir is an advanced audition only choir filled with all sections, sopranos, altos, tenors, and bass.

Not only did they perform at the University, they also performed at the Parthenon Replica, and the National Museum of African American Music. All of these places are located in Nashville.

“One of our students, Cole Dobbs, has written a piece of choral music, and he will put that up against other student composers for the award of best composition,” Cornelius said.

Choir went in many directions during their trip to Nashville, including going to Ocean Way Studios where the chamber choir recorded and will have their music released on Spotify, iTunes, and Apple Music. This was cut close since there was only a week in between Masterworks and the Athena Festival. The choir had to be moving quickly and efficiently to have performed skillfully in both.

The students from the Chamber Choir are singing their prepared piece for their upocoming events such as the Athena Festival and Masterworks.

The Missouri Equity Education Partnership has been very vocal about their opinions and views about this situation, ranging from call out posts on Facebook to protests.

Classes in Trouble

Eight days of struggle: A legal decision with an Eastern Missouri school board about Black History and Literature could ripple throughout the state.

Students have been struggling against their administration to keep their cultural classes in St. Charles, Missouri. That seems like a ways away from Springfield, but the choices made in that week could ripple throughout Missouri as a whole.

This happened at Francis Howell High School. They offered two distinct classesBlack Literature and Black History until the school board struck them down on December 21, 2023.

The Francis Howell School Board voted 5-2 to remove these classes so that they could remain politically neutral, since they don’t want to be seen taking sides. One of the people who opposes this is Heather Fleming, an activist who runs the Missouri Equity Education Partnership.

“Personally, I feel offended that these individuals think they can erase my people’s history from our schools and send a message to my daughter that her experiences and ancestors don’t matter,” Fleming said.

Randy Cook, Vice President of the

Francis Howell School Board, released a statement expressing his opinions on the classes and why he voted to remove them.

“I do not object whatsoever to teaching Black History, I encourage it. However, we voted to rescind approval of the Social Justice Standards developed by the Southern Poverty Law,” Cook said. The Social Justice Standards are a part of the anti bias framework called “Teaching Tolerance.” It is set up by the Southern Poverty Law Center, a civil rights organization in Montgomery, Alabama.

A week after these events took place, the Francis Howell School District put out a message on social media,

“After thorough discussion, we believe there is an appropriate path forward to offer Black History and Black Literature with an updated curriculum standard in the 2024 to 25 school year,” Board President Adam Bertrand said.

A lot of the top school districts in Missouri offer diverse classes, such as Clayton with its African American

BY AARON HARDY

Studies and Parkway with African American History and Literature classes. Why can’t those classes be right here in Springfield?

This part of Missouri and the majority of the South have had a historical issue with racial injustice.

“Black History and Black Literature classes do belong in every class. There are several school districts struggling with similar issues to the Francis Howell because, like Francis Howell School District, their boards and leadership have been taken over by anti diversity extremists,” Fleming said. Not only would these classes educate people who are unaware of important Black events and figures, but they could also provide a sense of belonging to Black students who feel ostracized.

Springfield Public Schools (SPS) offers a Black History Summer Academy, a week long program where Black children of all ages can learn about their history, but what else? Fleming offers some advice on what schools should be doing in order to maintain these classes.

“The first thing we need to do is normalize these classes as part of course offerings in our schools. Showing the success of these courses in multiple school districts across the country will also be important. However, the best way is to get our higher education institutions to begin demanding it from the students they accept and the high schools they communicate with,” Fleming said.

This is currently only an issue in parts of Missouri, but who’s to say it can’t spread to SPS and the surrounding areas? Maybe the idea of reinstating classes in Black history, literature, and studies could have a positive influence right here in Springfield.

Not being able to be comfortable while learning could take a toll on students as some want to be warm, not cold.

Frozen Learning

Multiple classes around school have been without heat and it was affecting students and teachers.

The week we returned from winter break, Josh Hall, ELA teacher, and Billy Buckley, a history teacher, were two among other classrooms without heat.

“Not being able to work in my classroom makes it a little bit difficult. It’s gotten to the point where it’s not tolerable for at least 10 minutes,” Hall said.

Hall and Buckley have been moving their classes to the commons and the Performing Arts Center (PAC) because of how cold it gets in their rooms.

“Going to the commons during the class period is also difficult because I don’t have a place where I can project stuff on a screen for my students,” Hall said.

Not being able to sit in a classroom and learn is also taking a toll on students.

“Working in a different

environment is tough. Sometimes there are other classes with your friends and so you can’t focus on your work because you see your friends there,” sophomore April Wiseley said.

Hall mentioned that the contractors figured out the piece that is needed in order for heating to be fixed throughout the school.

Once they found out the issue and had investigated it, they had to order the part needed, which usually is what takes up the most time and once it comes in, they have to install it.

The other issue is the weather that has occurred in Missouri, especially this past winter.

It makes it hard for technicians and/or contractors to get to schools, homes, and businesses in order to analyze the problem, investigate it, and then order the parts needed to

BY IRELAND KELSEY

fix the issue.

“They are unable to open the units to work on them during inclement weather such as rain and snow. In one instance, Springfield Public Schools (SPS) heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) technician has been unsuccessful in repairing the unit and we have been at the mercy of the contractor,” Principal Bill Powers said.

Two out of the four classrooms had to move their classes due to cold temperatures. The other two rooms were provided with space heaters. Multiple students have mentioned that there would be times that the room was so cold that they had to huddle like penguins around the heater(s).

“Everything is working except four classrooms that require the contractor to repair. They have been scheduled multiple times but haven’t been able to induce that time needed to repair the issues. They can’t work inside the units during inclement/ rainy weather,” Powers said.

Despite the frosty and cold weather that has occurred, students and teachers still choose to improvise and try their best to stay focused, get their work done and turned in on time.

FEATURE

Restricted and repetitive patterns of behaviors or interests are very common with autism spectrum disorder.

Embracing the Spectrum

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is often be thrown around in conversations and even in jokes. However, a majority of people don’t fully understand the extent of the disorder and how it can drastically affect someone’s day to day life.

According to the Centers Of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by ongoing challenges in social interaction and the presence of repetitive behaviors, interests, or activities. These characteristics can lead to various differences in socializing, communicating, and engaging in everyday tasks.

From the data that the CDC Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) network provides, one out of every thirty six children in the U.S has been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. ASD is more than just a learning or behavioral disorder. This disorder alters communication, emotions

A Journey into autism awareness, shining a light and embracing differences.

BY NYAH WARREN

and being able to cope with them, socialization, and many more aspects of evrey day life.

“It’s crucial to understand that every person with ASD is an individual with their own personality, interests, and abilities. ASD is not a singular condition but a spectrum, meaning there is a wide range of variability in the strengths, challenges, and abilities across individuals with ASD,” Dr. Julie Voyles, Associate Director of Special Services for Springfield Public School District, said.

ASD can be hard to understand since the spectrum is so wide. Everyone with this diagnosis can experience unique challenges and experiences. Having ASD does not completely limit a person from partaking in standard day to day activities. Autism spectrum disorder can even form someone to be very talented in a specific area. In daily activities it is important to accommodate someone with ASD by being patient and clear

since they can be experiencing something entirely different than you.

“Some individuals with autism may also be diagnosed with other conditions, such as intellectual disability or genetic disorders, which might significantly impact their ability to communicate and participate independently in daily living tasks. Other individuals may excel in areas such as academics and the arts but have some difficulty reading body language or social cues,” Voyles said. Autism spectrum disorder commonly comes with other issues and underlying disorders or disabilities than just autism. It’s important to remember that someone diagnosed with autism can view the world completely differently than the average person, which can be frequently overlooked.

“Interacting with someone who has ASD might require different approaches based on their individual strengths and challenges. Respecting personal space, communicating clearly, empathy, understanding, and patience are powerful tools in building a more accepting society for all individuals, including those with ASD,” Voyles said.

All of these pointers are wonderful ways to interact with a peer, or anyone you know with ASD. Being mindful of their experience, accommodating to someone’s specific needs and preferences and involving someone can make a big difference.

Welcome to the Jungle

BY KESSA ADEE

What kind of pet do you have?

“A cockatiel.”

What is your pet’s name?

“His name is Sam.”

What is your favorite thing about your pet?

“He knows how to whistle the Addams Family theme song and he tells me he loves me.”

What kind of pet do you have?

“I have a pet rat.”

What is your pet’s name?

“His name is Apollo.”

Why did you get your pet?

“I’ve always wanted pet rats! They’re amazing beginner pets and they’re extremely sweet creatures and make great companions. Rats are basically just guinea pigs with tails.”

Conner Rowe (12)

Chloe Singer (10)

Photo courtesy of Conner Rowe.

Photo courtesy of Chloe Singer.

Whether it’s feathers, fur, or scales, these students have formed close relationships with the most unlikely of companions. Take a look at the exotic pets that your peers keep around at home.

What kind of pet do you have?

“A tree frog.”

What is your pet’s name?

“Frank Ocean-Gallagher.”

What is your favorite thing about your pet?

“How unique and calm he is. Also how he isn’t super high maintenance, but I still love taking care of him and spoiling him. Frogs usually don’t have much personality, but I think he has a lot of personality, like he croaks when he’s happy.”

What kind of pet do you have?

“A corn snake.”

What is your pet’s name?

“Penelope, Penny for short.”

Why did you get your pet?

“I’ve always loved reptiles. I knew when I became a teacher I wanted to have a snake as a class pet. Many people fear snakes and a lot of times that fear is rooted in misconceptions. I wanted to give people the opportunity to be around a snake and learn about them in a safe setting.”

Annie Jenkins (12)

Mrs. Lampert (science teacher)

Photo courtesy of Mrs. Lampert.

Photo courtesy of Annie Jenkins.

The Cabinet has been working hard to create props and posters for this year’s Courtwarming dance themed, “Cupid Shuffle”.

A Day in the Life of Cabinet

Cabinet creates each school year’s events and makes each event better than ever, but what really goes into the planning ?

Each year, a group of students are selected to lead our student body. This Cabinet creates all student events and is in charge of school spirit. Although we just see events planned, what goes into planning these events?

Hospitality Commissioner, Delaney Mccormick coordinates the majority of school events.

“It takes a lot of communication and coordination between both the cabinet and every organization involved in our events. We have to make sure everyone is aware of what they should be working on and everyone is collaborating” Mccormick said.

Each and every event can take weeks or even months to plan. Social Commissioner Jaylie Smith takes inspiration from past dances while also creating new themes with her own personal spin on things.

“Dances can take anywhere from two weeks to two months to plan. Everyone on cabinet collaborates to bring our

BY SAVANNAH SUMMERS

ideas to completion and everyone has to be flexible and adapt if we have to change things” Smith said.

Assemblies Commissioner Anthony Eatherly creates all assemblies we have during the year. He runs each assembly and finds ways to bring the student body together.

“I take a lot of inspiration from past assemblies. I start from scratch but I try and find ways to put my own spin on it and make it engaging” Eatherly said.

Media Commissioner Bella Faria, creates all of the videos announcing different school events and spirit days.

“We create a group of volunteers and then I have to pose them and everyone works together to bring props or outfits if needed and then i’ll put everything together and finalize the video” Faria said.

Art Commissioner Bella Brashers is in charge of designing all the posters that hang in the commons. She creates all the designs and then executes her ideas onto

the posters.

“I usually create a design on Canva to get an idea of what I want and then i’ll work with the rest of cabinet to sketch and paint all the posters. I try and make them creative and fun so that it catches people’s eyes in the commons and makes them want to be more involved” Brashers said.

Student Council Commissioner, Hunter Rekhop is in charge of getting Stuco involved. He makes sure all members are updated on what is going on in the student body.

“I usually plan meetings once a month and send out Remind messages to keep everyone up to date. We also assign points to make sure everyone is being involved in student activities,” Rekhop said.

The Cabinet works tirelessly to make sure each school event is better than the last and every student can have the best experience possible for this school year.

Spring Breakin’ on A Budget

Spring Break is always a long awaited vacation from school, but coming up with ways to spend your time while also maintaining a budget can be stressful. Don’t worry though, here are some fun activities to do around town during the break that are sure to be enjoyable for everyone.

BY MADISON BRYANT

Movies

A classic option for hanging out is seeing a movie together. There are many theaters around Springfield, so check with your favorite movie viewing spot to see the dates and times for upcoming shows the week of Spring Break.

Alamo Drafthouse Cinema is located on Campbell Avenue and has the option to order food from their extensive menu for your enjoyment during the movie. Whether IMAX, 3D, or simple comfortable seating is your thing, you are sure to find a movie theater around town that has exactly what you are looking for.

Firehouse Pottery

This is a fun way to spend time with your friends while also getting to paint different pieces of pottery. Firehouse Pottery has many different items to choose from in a wide price range, so you can choose what works for you. Pick your paint colors, decorate your piece however your heart desires, and then pick it back up once it’s been glazed to have a fun new keepsake.

They are closed on Mondays and Wednesdays but open from 12 to 6 p.m. every other day with the exception of Friday and Saturday which is 12 to 8 p.m.

Escape Room

A fun activity to do with your family or friends is an escape room. There are a few businesses in the Springfield area to choose from with tons of different themed “rooms” to escape from. Their websites provide a short description of each room, so do some research, get your favorite people together, and work together to beat the clock and make some long lasting memories.

417 Escape Room and Springfield Escape Room are both great options for a thrilling adventure that is sure to challenge your mind and encourage teamwork.

What’s in Your Bag?

What is something interesting in your bag?

“Loup Garou.”

Does this item show off your personality?

“Yes, of course, because it’s a board game, and also because it’s French. I’m proud of that”.

How do you play it?

“It’s kind of like Among Us, there’s a murder in the village and the goal is to find out who [did it].”

What is something interesting in your bag?

“My Bible and my notebook.”

Is this item important to you?

“The item is important to me because it’s the most valuable thing I possess. It means the actual world to me.”

Does this item show off your personality?

“I think this item could definitely show my personality because I strive to be more like Jesus.”

Senior, Noah Conte

Sophomore, Arianna Williams

Everyone has a story to tell. A good way to get that story is by finding out some of the things students hold onto throughout the day.

What is something interesting in your bag?

“Towels for dive.”

How did you get it?

“They were a gift from my side of the family who lives in Kansas City.”

Does this item show your personality?

“This item doesn’t show off my personality, but it does show off mine and my family’s love for the Kansas City Royals.”

BY JACKSON HILL

What is something interesting in your bag?

“A calculator with Pokemon Tetris on it.”

Is this item important to you?

“This is important to me because making and tinkering with things is my hobby.”

How did you allow your calculator to do that?

“This calculator is a Ti-84 Plus CE that has been jail-broken to allow me to run a game-boy emulator to play games.”

Sophomore, Emily Gerbrandt

Junior, Christopher Roozen

Yearbook BTS

BY SAVANNAH SUMMERS

Yearbook is a year-long commitment from our J2 students. We only see the final copy, but what goes on behind the scenes during the rest of the year?

At the end of each school year, one tradition stays the same: Yearbooks. Yearbooks highlight the best and the rest of events of the entire school year. Although we just see the final product, what goes into creating this annual book?

The entire yearbook staff has assigned roles. Editor’s in Chief, Campbell Holt and Mattie Lorenz assign different roles based on what everyone does best.

“We kind of decide who does best at what. If someone takes amazing photos then they’ll probably take varsity photos and if someone isn’t as good at photography then they’ll be assigned to something else,” Holt said.

Each school year, the Editor’s in Chief create four big deadlines. These deadlines give everyone on staff the opportunity to complete their tasks and receive edits from others on staff.

“Our deadlines change a lot but we just try and divide all the work up among everyone to meet those deadlines. If a deadline changes, we just have to work harder to complete everything,” Lorenz said.

Each yearbook has a different theme. Senior leaders announce the theme at the beginning of the year and the rest of the staff works to correlate with the theme.

“When we were told we would be Editors in Chief, we already had a theme planned. We began planning in advance so we wouldn’t run behind once the school year started,”

Senior Editor in Chief, Campbell Holt, works to delegate assignments for the yearbook staff.

Holt said.

After their morning announcements from Mrs. Orman, the Journalism Advisor, Holt and Lorenz, the staff gets to work. They begin creating their assigned spreads and working to meet their deadlines. Juniors Sophia Bowers and Addie Hutson were assigned Science Clubs and Winter Sports.

“We were assigned Winter Sports and Science Clubs. We essentially just have to take photos of all sports like Basketball and Girls swim and go to different club events to take photos of what they’re working on,” Bowers said.

While Holt and Lorenz build the yearbook and bring it all together, the rest of the staff works together to feature all students of the school as best as they can.

“We obviously can’t capture every single student in each club and sport, but we try to at least photograph some and then credit all other members in our club photo section,” Lorenz said.

The Yearbook staff is a group effort. The group’s ability to collaborate and remain flexible helps to create our unique yearbooks each year.

Our Future is Green

BY CAYDEN HARMAN

Our generation plays a big part in keeping our environment healthy. Being aware of strategies to keep our future green is a great first step in major change.

With so many stressors surrounding us in our teen years, conservation does not fall at the top of the priority list. However, the involvement of our age group is vital in our environment’s future.

“Young adults and teens play a major role in conservation. They serve as motivation because they’re the future that will continue the mission of protecting Missouri’s wild areas,” Lyle Whittaker of the Missouri Department of Conservation Educator said.

The Missouri Department of Conservation is our state environment preservation program. Their mission is ‘To protect and manage the fish, forest, and wildlife resources of the state; to facilitate and provide opportunities for all citizens to use, enjoy, and learn about these resources.’ Whittaker believes the best way to embrace this message is to experience it yourself.

“Some of the most dedicated teens to conservation are those that are directly involved in outdoor activities like hunting, fishing, and hiking. These outdoor activities help educate them about each ecosystem’s fragility and give them a sense of responsibility in using those resources wisely,” Whittaker said.

Another key principle to wildlife conservation is ‘Leave No Trace’, which describes the practice of leaving wildlife as if you had never inhabited it. This involves respecting others, collecting trash left in parks or campsites, and placing items like logs and stones in their original spot. Practices like this allow others to enjoy the outdoors the same way you do.

“We only have one Earth and we can’t grow any more land, so we should have a shared responsibility to conserve it! Teens can do some obvious

things like recycling, reducing carbon emissions, etc., but they can also educate themselves on numerous conservation practices that reduce soil erosion and protect water quality,” Whittaker said. People often find themselves wanting to contribute to the environment but have no idea where to start. Climate change may seem too intimidating for one contribution to help. Luckily, there is a solution for that.

“I realize that the term ‘climate change’ can create conflict between some of the generational gaps, but surely most individuals understand it’s our responsibility to manage our natural resources. If not us, who? I think the

best way to motivate teens and adults to ‘take action’ is simply to get involved in outdoor activities of your choosing. We host a variety of educational programs that vary from hunting and angling to establishing pollinator and wildlife habitat,” Whittaker said.

Whether you enjoy hunting and foraging, fishing and trapping, or just a nice walk in nature, there is always something you get from our wildlife. That is why it is so crucial to preserve it.

For more information and ways you can help, visit mdc.mo.gov, volunteerozarks. com, or parkboard.org.

Even in the bleak wintry weather, you can look to the skies for the beauty of our environment.

Gordon Ramsay, Who?

Loaded Mashed Potatoes

Ingredients:

Premade Mashed Potatoes

Shredded Cheddar Cheese

Sour Cream

Bacon Bits

Chopped Chives

½ Tablespoon Butter

Seasonings (Onion Powder, Garlic Powder, Salt, and Pepper)

Assembly:

Follow the instructions for heating your premade mashed potatoes given by the packaging. Then, add the butter and mix. For a smoother texture, put a dollop or two of sour cream.

To make this a “loaded potato,” top your mashed potatoes with cheese and mix. Sprinkle in salt, pepper, garlic, and onion powder for taste. Take your bacon bits and add as much as your heart desires.

For the finishing touch, throw your chopped-up chives on top for the chef’s kiss.

Pinwheel Wraps

Ingredients:

Flour Tortilla

Cream Cheese

Deli Meat

Sliced Cheese

Guacamole

Sliced Tomato

Assembly:

Take a flour tortilla and spread a thin layer of cream cheese on it. Then, plop on a few dollops of guacamole and distribute evenly. Lay on three to four slices of your favorite cheese, followed by thinly sliced tomato, then top with the deli meat you choose.

Roll it up tight to ensure none of your ingredients fall out, and savor the goodness you prepared yourself!

Claim you can’t cook? No problem. These are meals that don’t require much time, money, or skills in the kitchen. Be prepared to be amazed at your new and improved cooking abilities.

Hawaiian Roll Sliders

Ingredients:

Hawaiian Rolls

Mayo

Deli Meat

Cheese

Tomato

Seasonings (Salt and Pepper)

Assembly:

Take your Hawaiian rolls and cut the entire package horizontally. Spread a good amount of mayo on the top half of your rolls. Then, on the bottom portion of your rolls, evenly distribute your deli meat of choice.

For a pop of color and taste, cut up some tomato and layer on top of your deli meat. Once happy with your tomato placement, take your favorite sliced cheese and put it on top of your deli meat and tomato. Returning to the top half of the rolls, sprinkle salt and pepper to give it some “flare” and put the two halves together.

Then, cut the sliders following the prepackaged squares, and you are ready to enjoy!

Breakfast Sandwhich

Ingredients:

English Muffins

Eggs

Pre-Cooked Bacon

Cheese

Tomato Jelly

Seasonings (Garlic Powder, Onion Powder, Salt, and Pepper)

Cooking Oil

Assembly:

In a pan, pour some oil and turn the stove on low. Gently crack an egg into a pan and sprinkle a light amount of salt, pepper, onion, and garlic powder. While your egg is cooking, toast your English muffin.

Next, follow the heating instructions for your precooked bacon. As the egg is in the final stages of cooking, thinly slice your tomato and set aside.

Spread an even layer of jelly on the English muffin for a savory but sweet flavor. Once your egg is cooked to your liking, assemble your breakfast sandwich with your cheese, bacon, tomato, and egg. Once done, you’re ready to sit down and munch!

BY ALLEY ACKERMAN

OPINION

Accessible ASL

BY JACKSON HILL

As schools are becoming more accommodating to people of all backgrounds and abilities, it only makes sense to begin to teach ASL. Not only for us but for those who need it.

American sign language (ASL) is a way many deaf or hard of hearing people communicate every day.

The importance of learning sign language in whatever capacity, no matter how big or small, should not be underestimated. Especially since there are approximately two million deaf and hard of hearing people in America alone.

As it stands, our school does not have an ASL program or class.

That needs to change because even though we don’t have a lot of kids who are deaf or hard of hearing, we could still benefit from learning ASL because of the skills we can learn.

At least once in our life, all of us will interact with someone who is hard of hearing, and it would be extremely beneficial to learn something like this to make them feel more included. Not only in the classroom but people you might meet in the future.

People always talk about wanting to be inclusive, which is a good thing. However, I don’t think we ever really consider learning to communicate with people who do so differently than us.

That needs to change especially if we want to make sure people are heard and cared for.

Not only is ASL a huge aspect of communication but it also opens many doors for all kinds of careers, such as counseling, tour guides, teachers, managers, and even law enforcement.

A huge way to stand out when looking for a job is to bring a skill others don’t have. Sign language is

something that many people don’t know how to do but is extremely helpful in some situations.

Not to mention, ASL can also help improve how well you focus. Most of sign language is watching and paying attention, Not only are you allowing someone to be heard through sign language, you’re also growing and improving skills you already have.

We should learn ASL in schools due to it technically being a foreign language. With schools wanting students who have learned a foreign language, it would make sense for them to acknowledge the students who have learned sign language too.

The point of learning a foreign language is so that we have a chance to communicate with those we wouldn’t have been able to originally, as well as expand our view of the world in the process.

American Sign Language isn’t universal and other languages have

their own version of it, but that doesn’t make it any less important to learn.

It’s not only beneficial for us to learn and also understand, but people who use it appreciate the fact that others try to learn and speak their language.

I think we often forget that many people use ASL every day. The same way we use words to communicate daily, It’s how we learn about people and experience life.

More than half a million people use sign language, so it makes sense to try to learn something so many people use.

We need somewhere to learn it and since we have so many elective classes, we should have an ASL class too. Even just a club could be helpful, but we need a place to collectively learn it.

It’s not going to be easy to learn, but it’s worth it to be able to communicate with those who need it.

An ASL class or club could look something like this, with students working together to learn.

What Box Do I Check

As a biracial student, I have been subjected to insults, jokes, and slurs. But I also have a lot of support that I couldn’t live with out.

BY AMIAH PIERCE

February was widely known as Black History Month. It’s supposed to be a time for people to look back on the 400 years of oppression that black individuals have gone through, but for some reason, this makes certain people upset and act out. I never would have thought that during this month, I would be the subject of racism.

I know that race is a very touchy subject and many people would prefer to simply overlook or ignore the matter. I feel that when it comes to race certain people need to

grow up because it truly makes no difference. Everyone has a different upbringing and the way they act is the only thing that matters.

I am biracial. My black father was born in Haiti and my white mother was born and raised in Missouri. With my father living in Canada my whole life, I was never introduced to my Haitian culture. I was raised in a predominantly white neighborhood with the white side of my family. This causes me to be and act a certain way which for some reason makes others uncomfortable. I can

remember the first time someone had a problem with the way I acted. My cousin, who’s on my dads side, asked me if I lived with my father and I told him that I, in fact, lived with my mother. His response was, “No wonder you don’t act black.”

As a ten year old, I didn’t truly understand what he meant, but looking back on it now, I’m glad i didn’t know.

During February I was told by peers that I only deserve half the month solely based on the fact that I am both black and white. My whole life

I understand there are many races but more thought should be put in when having to answer these types of questions.

My mother has been with me my entire life, helping me every step of me learning about myself. I am forever grateful.

has been a “pick a side” situation and I’m honestly tired and over it.

My former stepfather would make joke after joke about my race. He would say on multiple occasions that I looked adopted. Even as a little kid I knew he was joking, but it hurt and I would ask my mom if it was true. It was put into my head that I looked different and that everybody thought I was different.

This was heartbreaking to me. I’m not implying that every family behaves like this, but I want to bring awareness to these situations and how they can affect a little kid.

Attending a large public high school that is mostly white, is also very triggering when it comes to race. Listening to the audio version of How to Kill a Mockingbird was difficult and uncomfortable for me.

Still, a lot of people see a race and judge according to a stereotype. Teachers and students alike base certain things on race and if someone perceives me as black, they treat me differently.

After all of those things happening to me, I do genuinely get upset and frustrated when someone has something to say about my race. Even if it’s seen as a joke and they aren’t trying to hurt my feelings, I can’t help but feel disgusted when the topic is brought up.

Being raised by my just my mother was a big struggle, she had to learn how to deal with my obvious differences all by herself. During my younger years with my diverse and difficult hair was hard to do by my self. I had my mother almost every night doing my hair on the couch

as we watched TV. She would do my hair in such cute ways so i was happy, she always wanted me to feel comfortable in my own skin and showed me so much love despite her limited understanding.

Now I am forever grateful, since watching her grow up with me was the best thing for me to learn how to love my differences. Even filling out forms reminds me that I am not black or white. It has gotten better with the diversity but even then, mixed raced individuals are made to click the “other” box.

Personally I don’t want my ethnicity to be dumbed down to an “other”. There are countless beautiful mixed races that should all been seen, heard, and loved just as much as any other race.

MTuning In? More Like Tuning Out

usic is used as a form of entertainment and self-expression. Whether you like pop, indie, rock, rap, or country, there is a music artist out there for you.

As the years pass, artists rise and fall in popularity. They go around in rotation, similar to a vinyl playing on a record player. Before COVID-19 hit in 2020, mainstream artists such as Bruno Mars, Carrie Underwood, and Kendrick Lamar went “radio silent.”

This silent treatment is from popular celebrities not releasing music, having no upcoming tours, their social media being dry, or not seeing them out in public.

Why is this happening though?

One widespread speculation is that people want to see more work from underground artists.

Toward the end of 2020 and the start of 2021, lesser known artists promoted their music while mainstream artists sat back. Social media was how these underground artists pushed their content, since most of the world was shut down. TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter, (now known as “X”) were how they got their name out there.

In 2021, a few underground artists that took over the music charts were Olivia Rodrigo, Ashe, Måneskin, Conan Gray, and alt-J. This was the year of indie pop and trying to be different.

I remember entirely flipping my wardrobe, makeup, hair, and music taste to try and fit this new trending aesthetic. Pop and rap were my “ideal” music taste, but that quickly changed when “Drivers License” by Olivia Rodrigo was released in early 2021.

Indie pop and rock was the new “it girl,” and rap was becoming less popular. While I don’t listen to as much rap music as I used to, I have noticed a trend. To me, rap music sounds all the same.

BY EMMA FRANKLIN

The beat, rhythm, and overall vibes from the songs are repetitive. It doesn’t excite me or make me want to listen to rap. I have one playlist on Spotify dedicated to rap and I haven’t touched it in months, probably due to how boring these new rap releases have been.

Many once popular 2000’s and 2010’s artists have been switching genres and even careers to avoid the drama of the music industry. For example, Selena Gomez created a beauty company called Rare Beauty. The goal behind her company is not to support unrealistic beauty standards set within society, but to embrace natural beauty and set your own standards.

Gomez went from being a top charting artist to becoming silent in the

music field. Although she still releases music, personally, I wasn’t even aware she was until I checked Spotify and noticed she had a new song out. Her promotion team appears to not be putting in as much effort to ensure her music is showing up on the charts.

I remember when “Lose You to Love Me” came out and I would scream this song in my room at midnight. There was so much hype and excitement around this song, yet when Selena releases newer music, nobody ever talks about it anymore.

The same could be said about the former One Direction heartthrob, Harry Styles. Don’t get me wrong, I love Harry Styles, but I hear little to nothing about his music; it’s always about his beauty brand, Pleasing, his

The Backseat Lovers put on a rocking show on February 14, 2022 in Kansas City, Missouri at The Truman.

Katy Perry, Pharrell Williams, Justin Bieber, and other well-known artists haven’t been heard from in ages. Could it be the lack of popularity in mainstream music and a push for more “underground” artists?

Lead singer Josh Kiszka of Greta Van Fleet takes the stage at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee on July 24, 2023.

dating life, or his appearance. The last “news” I heard about him was when he shaved his head back in December and even that was in the gossip news for only a day or two before nobody cared anymore.

As we start diving more into 2024, there have been some artists the news and music charts can’t seem to get enough of. Megan Moroney, Zach Bryan, Noah Kahan, Hozier, The Backseat Lovers, and Greta Van Fleet are just a few of the artists who are in the headlines and currently filling up concert locations nationwide.

Country music has made a significant comeback, and I am more than happy about it. A great example is country music star Zach Bryan. He went from being a nobody to a sensation

practically overnight.

He’s now going on sold-out tours in arenas around the United States. He started posting videos singing with his guitar on late summer nights, not expecting to achieve the level of fame that he has.

Concerts also allow people to see their favorite artists in person and experience their favorite songs live.

I am a firm believer that music connects and brings people together. Music has a way of binding the soul and can really make a powerful impact on a person’s life.

I saw The Backseat Lovers in February of 2022 and was blown away by the show they put on in such a small venue. Now, they are playing at music festivals with thousands of fans who

camped overnight to see them.

How I got so enthralled with many underground artists that are blowing up all over the music charts is mainly through TikTok. I would come across a video of their music or them promoting their band and instantly become hooked.

Greta Van Fleet was the first band I truly discovered on TikTok and since then, they have blown up. They went from playing in tiny rundown venues to now playing sold-out shows worldwide. Due to how blown away with their music and performances, I have seen them twice in concert and am seeing them for a third time in May.

While watching these underground artists rise, it’s still sad to see these once extremely well-known artists become silent and blend into the background. It makes me remember my childhood, listening to their music with my friends, watching their music videos, and wanting to know the latest gossip. However, as we get older, our attention shifts. We lose interest in our childhood artists and want “new” and “better” musicians.

Imagining being a little kid is an excellent way to think about it. I wanted dolls, stuffed animals, coloring books, and play cooking supplies. Then, as I became older and progressed into adolescent years I donated those items or threw them away.

I now want the latest phone, dream about having the newest car, my skincare/makeup becomes a priority, and so much more. As I stated, everything in life rotates in popularity, like vinyl on a record player. Musical artists will come and go in popularity; it is just the way the world works.

One of my favorite songs my mom would sing to me when I wouldn’t get my way as a child was “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” by The Rolling Stones and that sums it up.

Cozy Casual Hangs

Stick It In Your Ear

Stick It In Your Ear is a record store that carries all genres of music from heavy metal to opera. It creates a fun place to gather with friends and look around.

Not only is it a bustling store in the community, it has products of all kinds, not just including music vinyls, but posters, pins, and other fun things to look at. While there is no lounging area, the store has many things to look at where you can spend a substantial amount of time there with friends, and maybe even find local music to start listening to.

300 E Walnut St, Springfield, MO

Monday-Thursday: 10AM - 10PM

Friday-Saturday: 10AM - 11PM

Sunday: 12 - 7PM

https://stickitnyourear.com

1984

1984 arcade is a great place to hang out, whether for solo nights or large friend groups. It has many activities, from pinball to the many arcade machines that can keep you entertained for ages, which is great due to it being open late hours.

Whenever you need a break from excitement, it also has inviting lounging areas, and food and drink so you don’t have to go far.

They also host many events, all night admission is only ten dollars. The Springfield staple will always be a memorable experience and a great arcade for all around.

400 S. Jefferson, Springfield, MO

Wednesday-Saturday: 4PM - 11PM

http://www.1984arcade.com

In Springfield there often aren’t fantastic options to spend time with friends, especially as a teenager. However by looking closer you can find plenty of small places great for building memories.

BY ZHANA OWREY

Classic Rock

Classic Rock Coffee Company, a well known Springfield sweet spot, is known for its grungy and comfortable atmosphere. Classic Rock also has an array of food or drink options for your stay. The seating is comfortable and open, making it great to lounge around, and really open up a conversation.

Whether you’re in the mood just to have a quick coffee date or a late night talk, Classic Rock Coffee provides an enjoyable atmosphere to suit your needs.

Monday-Wednesday: 6AM - 8PM

Thursday: 6AM - 10PM

Friday: 6AM - 1AM

Saturday: 7AM - 1AM

Sunday: 8AM - 6PM

https://classicrockcoffee.com

Book Marx

Book Marx is a small downtown bookstore with a cozy environment and furry friends, such as Googey, a friendly orange cat who’s almost always there, and Squash, a more homebody cat.

Not only does it have a friendly staff team, and enough cats to keep you entertained, it has shelves of books for extremely cheap prices.

The small bookstore is a thriving business in the community where you may even meet someone new to share your favorite books with, or build memories with the friends you have.

325 E Walnut St, Springfield, MO 65806

Hours:

Monday: Noon to 7PM

Tuesday-Saturday: 10:30AM to 7PM

Sunday: Closed

https://www.bookmarxbookshop.com

Touchy Subjects

Should we eliminate school dress codes?

“No. It prevents students from showing up naked but it should be fixed.”

Are single gendered schools better for students?

“No, because they should communicate with everyone and not just their gender.”

Should teachers be allowed to carry guns?

“No, because it’s not their job to fight and save you with a gun.”

Should we eliminate school dress codes?

“No. We already see people showing up half naked, so I can’t imagine how little clothing they would wear if we eliminated it.”

Are single gendered schools better for students?

“No. They don’t prepare students for the real world where men and women coexist.”

Should teachers be allowed to carry guns?

“No. Introducing guns into schools only causes more safety hazards.”

Should we eliminate school dress codes?

“No, Most people follow it but some people take advantage of it.”

Are single gendered schools better for students?

“No, in the real world it’s hard to socialize with the opposite gender.”

Should teachers be allowed to carry guns?

“No, I would be afraid to be in a classroom with a teacher that has access to a gun.”

Should we eliminate school dress codes?

“Yes. People’s outfits and styles describe themselves.”

Are single gendered schools better for students?

“No. Cross gender friendships or relationships are important and can build a person.”

Should teachers be allowed to carry guns?

“Yes. If at any time they need to protect their students and peers.”

Cy Griffith (10)

Kendall Moore (9)

Chloe Sargent (9)

Jailah Ross (10)

Students weigh in on a variety of controversial issues that could potentially affect everyone in our school community.

BY SOPHIE WEBB

Should we eliminate school dress codes?

“No, because there could be some profanity put on shirts that would offend people.”

Are single gendered schools better for students?

“No, because that isn’t how the real world works.”

Should teachers be allowed to carry guns?

“No, because a student or teacher could take it and use it wrongfully.”

Should we eliminate school dress codes?

“I think schools should keep the dress codes because modesty is important.”

Are single gendered schools better for students?

“I don’t think single gendered schools are bad, but I would prefer not to go to one.”

Should teachers be able to carry guns?

“Yes. I believe with proper training they should. I believe it would increase the security of the school.”

Should we eliminate school dress codes?

“I believe dress codes should be eliminated to allow for self expression and individuality.”

Are single gendered schools better for students?

“Expressing yourself is important, but I think it’s crucial for people to respect all genders.”

Should teachers be allowed to carry guns?

“No, The solution to guns is not more guns.”

Do you think we should eliminate school dress codes?

“No. You’re not going to dress like an idiot at your job, so you shouldn’t do it at school either.”

Are single gendered schools better for students?

“No. Being in school and socializing with everyone gives you better skills for the real world.”

Should teachers be allowed to carry guns?

“Yes. Teachers should be able to undergo training for certification. No one other than the principal should know which teachers are carrying.”

Anthony Eatherly (12)

Lily Weaver (11)

Christian Holt (11)

William Blaine (12)

Graduating Behind Screens

Is learning from behind the screen as beneficial as in person learning ? As high schoolers, online learning is becoming more and more part of our lives.

Online classes have integrated into my everyday life and are helping me graduate. However, does taking online classes affect graduation?

When I was in sixth grade, the COVID-19 pandemic began, famously causing all classes to go online. Despite the pandemic ending and in person classes resuming, the way we learn has changed.

We are one of the first generations who have the opportunity to learn this way, but are there consequences to this?

As a sophomore in high school, I have taken a variety of online classes. They are flexible and are an amazing resource to earn your credits to graduate. You can take them over the summer when you are traveling or during a free block in your schedule. If you are interested in niche

BY EVELYN NELSON

topics that are not taught in person, online classes are a great way to explore them.

Currently there are 2020 students enrolled in our school. 89 of these students opt to be fully online through the online learning program, Launch.

According to the Launch website, it has been offering online classes to students in Missouri for over a decade. It has over five hundred courses for students to choose from. It teaches the same topics that an in person class would cover and each class is taught and monitored by a Missouri certified teacher.

If you are a fully online student, you have a much more flexible schedule, but you still have the same requirements to graduate.

Taking online classes doesn’t affect graduation. If you work through Launch, you still have the opportunity to earn your high school diploma. You are able to take AP, honors, and dual credit classes.

On the Launch website, there is a section on Launch student stories. There are a variety of different reasons students enroll to be fully online. Some students are in competitive sports that require them to devote their days to practice, making traditional classroom learning impossible. Some students prefer to spend their time at home where they have the freedom to pursue other interests and hobbies.

Many students choose to be fully online because of bullying, social anxiety, or simply because they enjoy online

Senior Meryl Geevarghese learning in the Launch classroom as a good in-between of in person and online classes.

learning. Some of my peers want to take online classes full time because they dislike the way our school operates. They don’t like certain people or teachers and it makes them want to go fully online.

If it weren’t for online learning offered by SPS, these students would have to quit school altogether or be homeschooled, which isn’t guaranteed to give students the same education that in-person students would get. Being homeschooled can render your ability to earn a high school diploma, due to the fact that Missouri does not offer high school diplomas to homeschooled children. But it is a option to take the High School Equivalency Test (HiSET) in order to earn a certificate that proves you have knowledge similar to that of a in-person student. Launch is a great resource and is making traditional graduation available to homeschooled students.

If a student chooses to go fully online, they could loose some valuable skills that can only be taught in seated classes. School teaches us public speaking, how to work with others, and things as simple as dealing with large crowds. If you solely take online classes, you lose some of these skills. If you choose to

take partially online classes, this takes away opportunities for students to make connections with others and learn life skills.

For Kickapoo University, it is required to take the “introductory speech” class. I have noticed a trend among students to take this class online because they dislike public speaking, even though it is discouraged by their advisors.

I am also guilty of thinking about doing this, but I feel like taking this class in person is very important. Taking this class is required by Kickapoo U because it teaches you the basics of speech along with the skill of public speaking.

These skills will help you in the real world once you graduate and help you if you decide to go to college. I think that you would get much more out of this class if you took it in person.

Another rising issue with online classes is the ability to cheat. During the pandemic,it was discovered by many students that cheating is much easier while taking online classes. A study published by the National Library of Medicine investigated online cheating by students during the pandemic. It was discovered that 60 percent of students admitted to cheating in online classes

during tests and classwork, while 30 percent of students said that they have cheated at least once on an exam. It seems like this problem has developed more and more since the beginning of the pandemic and I know that it is still an issue amongst the student body today. Especially since the development of ChatGPT and other artificial intelligence platforms.

Although online classes provide the flexibility for more students to graduate, there is the disadvantage that it provides students the option to not challenge themselves socially or academically.

Also with the option to easily cheat, students are compromising their academic honesty. This may affect students when they graduate since they never learned much from their classes.

Online classes have helped many students still get an education and they allow students that are uncomfortable with the school’s environment to graduate.

This new development of technology comes with its pros and cons. It’s up to students to utilize this and to make sure they are not missing out on opportunities because of online learning.

Sports betting ranges a wide variety of topics, from sports like basketball and football to powerlifting and darts.

Bettor to Never Start

In 2018, the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act was repealed, granting 42 states the right to allow sports betting. This has opened the gates for addiction, hatred, and immorality.

In the fiscal year of 2023, DraftKings Sportsbook generated 3.7 billion dollars in revenue. As the number of users grows, they expect to gross approximately five billion dollars this year. In comparison, the Dallas Cowboys, who are the most valuable sports team in the world, produced $1.14 billion in revenue.

State constitutions require sports betting companies like DraftKings or PrizePicks to pay out a certain percent back to the state for education. New York has collected over $1.7 billion in taxes from these betting companies in the past two years.

On the surface, sports betting would be beneficial for Missouri.

There have been many bills proposed like SB 852, which aim to legalize sports betting. However, they have all failed. Sports betting is still illegal in Missouri.

This is a good thing, as it is an uncaged beast that wreaks havoc through our country.

One of the largest effects is advertising.

Betting companies place advertisements pushing viewers to utilize their product, only placing subtle reminders to be responsible. Major sports leagues fail to realize this, continuing to line their pockets in favor of preventing addiction.

While professional and amateur sports leagues continue to promote and glorify sportsbooks, one key factor is lost. Bettors lose the passion for the team. The only thing attaching fans to sports is their wallet, not their fandom.

A particular group that this addiction afflicts seems to be the white male. The attachment to a local sports team mixed with the prospect of financial gain captivates them. The hole becomes too large for the addict to escape, which entices them to chase wins instead of cutting their losses.

People have lost fandom and exchanged it for FanDuel.

Team loyalty doesn’t matter to fans if Tyreek Hill can’t catch a pass. Betting has sapped unity from the sporting world, transforming it into thinly veiled

BY CAYDEN HARMAN

hatred for poorly performing athletes.

As someone who browses the sports section of social media, I have seen the racist and dehumanizing statements made by angry fans. Given the fact that those messages aren’t directed at me, I can only imagine the debilitating impact that could have on a young college athlete.

Luckily, the NCAA has engaged in a partnership with Signify Group, a data analysis company, to create ‘Draw the Line’; a campaign which aims to discourage betting in youth by highlighting the damaging effects on both the athlete and the bettor. This program also intends to rehumanize the athletes.

According to data from a 2022 Signify Group study, 25 percent of Grand Slam tournament athletes faced targeted harassment on social media, with approximately one in every 10 messages involving a racist remark. Although March Madness betting may not allow direct player bets, similar activity still occurs. Punishments such as bans from NCAA-sanctioned events have been proposed for those guilty of online harassment.

This is a great step from one of the larger sporting organizations, but it isn’t enough. For the future of sports fandom, two things need to be true. 1), sports betting should remain illegal in Missouri; 2), leagues like the MLB, NHL, NFL, and others should practice responsible advertising, even if it harms their bottom line. Gambling as a whole is an industry that feeds off addicts, despite profusely claiming against it. Betting has ingrained itself into sports culture and will likely never let go.

If you can’t bet, disregard the fluff ads and enjoy the sport you love watching. If you can bet, make responsible financial decisions and avoid chasing your losses.

You love the sport, don’t let betting ruin that.

A Farewell to Basketball

With Kya Johnson’s basketball season coming to an end, the memories will still remain. But this end is just the beginning to her new journey.

BY ABBY GALYEAN AND CAYDEN HARMAN

Every athlete will eventually have to say farewell to the game they love. Whether by chance or by choice, it will be a difficult decision to make. For senior Kya Johnson, this athlete of the quarter, it will be the end of a 14 year commitment.

“This is my last year playing basketball. I am committed to playing volleyball at Missouri State. Though I’m not playing basketball in college, basketball has still given me a high work ethic and taught me so many things about leadership and being a good teammate,” Johnson said

Being a leader requires the trust of the team. The ability to trust in that leadership comes from chemistry, a large part of the team’s success. This has served as a motivator for Johnson.

“My teammates keep me committed. When waking up early in the morning for practice, it is very difficult. But when you know that you get to see your teammates, it makes it so much better and more enjoyable to come to practice,” Johnson said. Her commitment to her craft is a testament to her poise as a competitor. That characteristic is critical for her team, which she hopes would describe her well.

“I hope my teammates would describe me in three words, being a leader, supportive, and hard working. I feel like having these three

character traits is important and I try to represent these each day,” Johnson said.

These traits are indicative of good leadership. She has molded these traits around a prior teammate.

“One player that I try to imitate is Bella Fontleroy. She was truly one of the best leaders I knew and I always looked up to her leadership. I try to strive for that every day and help my teammates the way she helped me,” Johnson said.

The team has performed fantastically this year, with an astounding 13 and one record. Success like this is due to a complete buy-in by the team, likely due to the leadership of “veteran” players like Johnson.

“We have had many great wins this year, and I think it has a lot to do with the players on the court. We have all brought into the program and the system that our coaches want us to play in. Our defense is a huge key in our success this year and every girl on the team has such a huge role in that aspect,” Johnson said.

Everybody wants to win at the highest level possible. For the team to achieve state success, Johnson sees only one barrier.

“I think winning the state title will take trust. As we play more games, we keep building our trust with each other. I think once we keep continuing to build that trust, we will

be a very hard team to play and our team dynamic will be unstoppable,” Johnson said.

As she reflected upon her 14 year streak coming to a close, one of her first basketball memories came to mind.

“My earliest memory is playing one game and our team finally scoring one point. We hadn’t scored a point in over two years and after one of our teammates scored, we all did cartwheels down the court,” Johnson said.

Kya Johnson enjoying the game she loves with her teammates.

Stepping To It

Walking is commonly suggested as an activity for improving health due to its benefits. Now it’s offered as a PE class.

BY RYAN ROBERSON

Physical Education (PE) is one of the required courses needed to graduate in many schools. Here, ours is no different. You are required to take one and a half credits to be eligible to graduate from Springfield Public Schools.

PE classes are used to help students get moving and exercise during their school day. Walking PE was a new course last year that is unlike the other PE classes. Its main goal is to focus on walking daily instead of playing sports and being directly active. Additionally, the class gets many opportunities during the quarter to go outside during the block.

The location would depend upon factors such as the weather, temperature, and track conditions. Favorable conditions like sunny, dry, and warm weather permits them to go outside to the track and get a breath of fresh air while getting moving.

This was a highly requested pick for

many students during its first year being offered as they are allowed to be on their phones, play games and socialize as they walk around the track continually. The high count of students signing up leads to them often outweighing the size of other classes inside the gym.

Senior Mars Blevins is one of the students who has Walking PE as one of their credits.

“All we literally do is walk, its amazing!” Blevins said.

This class has many more benefits to it with a main goal of students getting their steps in for the day.

According to mayoclinic.com, walking regularly provides benefits like strengthening your immune system, bones, and muscles being among the most known. With obesity still being a major problem within the United States, a class that students are willingly taking is helping them get active again in a

more enjoyable way with friends. Many students openly dislike the other options they have for their required PE credits and refuse to play the games that are offered to get students active, making it unenjoyable for others who do enjoy them. Because of this, most of these classes are even more of a burden to the students who want to be in them. This has led to an overall great new step for how PE is taught.

With more popular choices for students arising, it’s becoming less of a burden to take the required classes and more about enjoying being active. This has resonated with many students already who have already taken the class.

The walking class has already became a well liked class allowing for students to have an enjoyable option that they willingly sign up for. For students, this is good as they accomplish required credits to graduate on time.

Sophomore Isaac Hernandez walking on the track while most students are stuck inside during nice weather.

Embracing the Offseason

Offseason is the time to take time on yourself and prepare for the next season.

BY ABBY GALYEAN

Emily Crain (11)

During the offseason how do you stay in shape and prepare for the next season?

“I help myself prepare for the season by going to a shooting and footwork coach.”

What do you do to fill the free time you have during the off season and what advice would you give to others?

“During the off season I like to go to the gym and get extra shots up. Just continue to push yourself because you will see the results by the time the season starts back up.”

Allison Scott (11)

During the off season how do you help yourself prepare for the upcoming season?

I set goals for myself after every season to see what exactly I need to focus on in off season.”

Off season you have a lot of free time and it can sometimes get boring and hard to stay in shape. How do you overcome these?

I am always working on my game but I still allow for free time where I can be a kid.”

Shaun Campbell (12)

When the offseason arrives, how do you help yourself prepare and be ready for the next season to come?

“To be prepared I’m in the gym every day in the morning.”

How do you feel about all the free time when you’re not on the court?

“Practicing on my game, to make the team better and better each day, and preparing for the next game we have.”

Mikayla Pilley (11)

During the offseason how do you stay in shape and prepare for the next season?

“It’s important to myself that I have to get slightly better than I was the day before. I always want to get better because our team has big goals and I want to do everything I can to help us be in the best position for us to meet them.”

Off season means you have a lot of free time and time to improve. How do you fill that time?

After I have done something to get better that day in the rest of my free time I like to hang out with family or friends.”

Students who play from home are given a lot more opportunities to perfect their skills. Without physical school holding them down, public high school sports might have some new challengers.

Working from Home Base

Students from home are now on your school team. Teenagers being taught remotely are now able to take part in public high school sports.

BY AARON HARDY

Homeschool students don’t have to sit at home bored anymore. At the tail end of last year, home taught teenagers in Missouri have been set on an equal playing field with school athletes.

This opportunity came to light in the form of Senate Bill 819. On December 26, Missouri Senator Ben Brown proposed said bill.

Brown was impacted positively by sports during his childhood and wishes that students all around Missouri could experience that as well.

However, a few people are concerned about the new bill; specifically Missouri Representative, Maggie Nurrenbern. Nurrenbern is worried about the abuse that some homeschooled children may face. She’s afraid this bill might create a gateway for parents to remove their children from school even more than before. According to the Coalition for Responsible Home Education, many children are often deliberately pulled out of public schools to be home taught, concealing abuse. This isolates them from the rest of the outside world and has the potential to hurt kids and diminish life skills.

Due to the secrecy some homeschooling parents exhibit, it’s impossible to know just how many kids are potentially being hurt by this.

Despite a couple of worries about safety, parents and remotely taught teenagers are excited. When this was all proposed in December, the bill was passed in a 13 to 7 vote. Plenty of parents voiced their excitement and encouragement for this bill that day.

This introduction of homeschooled children to sports has a lot of pros but also a lot of cons, officials are anxiously waiting it out to see how this new bill performs.

Letting kids join public school sports can finally get kids out from behind screens, which improves their general health both mentally and physically.

“Young homeschooled athletes have the opportunity to interact with other children their age through sports. Sports can help all children, no matter their schooling style, build confidence by mastering new skills or making new friends. Kids can learn lifelong lessons through sports such as cooperation and dedication,” Kids Sports Psychology

said.

This bill opens up a lot of opportunities, both socially and academically. Everybody wants to feel included, and this opens up for online kids to earn sports scholarships, make new friends, and hone their athletic skills. Since homeschooled athletes stay home, they also have more freedom and time to practice for the team.

Currently, here at school, there are about 89 students enrolled in Launch just this year. Some are part time, which means they have some sitting classes and are allowed to participate in regular sports. Some are also full time dedicated Launch students who do not get to play sports.

These classes get new students every quarter, so there is a market for this right at home.

Despite some concerns up in the air, most people are excited for homeschooled kids to be playing with everyone else. A lot of health improvements for home schoolers will come from this bill. There’s a lot of new skills to learn and friends to be made.

Weighing In

A look into a wrestler’s trials and tribulations when it comes to making weight classes and passing the hydration test during their season.

BY NYAH WARREN

Jonathan Vargas and Justin Escobar facing off head to head preparing to wrestle.

Being dehydrated, or failing to consume the proper amount of water, is very common. Our school’s wrestling team does a test to determine if their wrestlers are hydrated enough to compete.

“The hydration test is a test that tells you if you are staying hydrated, your body fat percentage, and weight,” junior Jonathan Vargas said.

The hydration test benefits the wrestlers with more knowledge regarding their bodies. With the test results, they can calculate how much water they need to intake. They are also able to see how much weight they could afford to put on or lose. This can be very helpful to wrestlers trying to achieve a certain weight class.

“They can tell who’s able to lose weight in a healthy way,” Vargas said.

Having the knowledge of how

much weight they could try to lose or even gain in a sustainable way to wrestle at their desired weight class is tremendously beneficial, due to that hydration testing is taken very seriously due to the consequences the wrestlers can face if they are dehydrated. When a wrestler does not pass the hydration test, their ability to compete is not taken away completely, but they will be required to retake the test until passing partake in competition.

“I try to drink a gallon of water a day and not drink anything else,” Vargas said.

Before the test is done, it used to be common to see wrestlers around school with gallons of water or very large jugs. The opportunity for the test only occurs once a year, making the pressure even higher for the wrestlers, especially with big competitions around the corner.

“You have to pee in a cup, then the trainer extracts the pee to put in on a device to test the pee by looking through it to see if you are hydrated enough,” sophomore Justin Escobar said.

The test is done through a hydration testing system. A device is used to carefully examine urine for hydration.

“We have to retake the test two days later if we aren’t hydrated enough. You can still practice but not compete until you pass the test,” Escobar said.

Preparing for this test can look different for everyone, but wrestlers will often significantly increase their water intake in the one to two week span leading up to the testing period to ensure their positive results. Hydration is important to everyone, but for our schools wrestlers, it can take away an opportunity to compete in a sport they love.

Keeping water bottles filled throughout the day is key for wrestlers when staying hydrated and up with water intake.

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COVER PHOTO BY: LIZ EIKE

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