March 2023

MARCH 2023

Cover by Ethan McMenemy

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

pring has sprung at, and our staff has bloomed into excellent reporters, photographers and leaders. This issue marks our second-to-last issue before the 2023-2024 leadership staff takes over; positions are being assigned next month and senior leadership will graduate in May. It also documents the historic opening of the new KCI terminal (p. working).

Sophomore Jada Browder discusses the challenges of returning to basketball after tearing her ACL in one of this month’s spotlights (p. 12). Senior Jack Carbajal talks about his songwriting process and plans after graduating high school (p. 14).

March is National Women’s History month–Female STEM students in Technology Student Association discuss the importance of representation in the field (p. 10). It’s important to celebrate women of different backgrounds and this article reflects why.

When it comes to social media, TikTok and Instagram are two of the most popular platforms. With that comes screentime addictions and the detrimental effects that come with. Read students’ opinions on the topic in The Visible Addiction (p. 19).

With spring break soon approaching, it’s the final push for seniors before graduation. Read about one senior’s nostalgic memories in Build-a-Birthday (p. 22).

Spring is a time for new beginnings: seniors leaving and students continuing to grow in their capabilities. To quote The Beatles, “here comes the sun, and I say, it’s alright.”

Kaiya Lynch

Editor-in-Chief, Copy & Design Editor |

Kaiya Lynch

Managing, A&E & Online Editor |

Lucy Boyle

News & Sports Editor |

Brodey Hutton

Spotlight Editor & Photo Jay Equipment Manager | Victorya Wilkinson

Opinion & Features Editor |

Jenna Shores

Photo Jay Managing Editor |

Ethan McMenemy

Photo Editor |

Sam Brusven

Reporters

Brodie Jobe

Chloe Franklin

Mary Biesemeyer

Brookelyn Jadwin

Bianka Mancia Castillo

Connor Rizek

Photo Jay

On the Cover: Senior Allie Gosche (left), senior Melina Thomas (middle) and senior Abigail Chambers (right) prepare for Spanish Honor Society’s annual plant sale. The club plans to sell plants in coffee mugs to raise money to fund expenses for the greenhouse from Mar. 13-16. “As a senior, I want to make sure and leave the greenhouse in great condition for future Spanish Honor Society members,” senior Gosche said.

Richard Burns

Lizzy Garr

Madison Remley

Designed by Kaiya Lynch

RED KINGDOM: CHIEFS FANS TRAVEL FROM ACROSS THE NATION TO WITNESS THE SUPER BOWL LVII CHAMPIONS’ PARADE.

THE FALL OF ANT MAN: EDITOR-IN-CHIEF KAIYA LYNCH’S REVIEW OF THE LATEST MARVEL CINEMATIC UNIVERSE FILM.

CHANGES TO STAY

SECOND SEMESTER BRINGS ABOUT A CHANGE IN POSITIONS FOR MANY ADMINISTRATORS.

FUTURE OF FLYING

THE NEW MCI TERMINAL SETS KCI APART FROM ANY AIRPORT IN THE COUNTRY.

BY CHLOE FRANKLIN

BY BRODIE JOBE

A LOOK BACK ON TSA AND THE CLUB’S FUTURE PLANS.

HUTTON

ON STEM BY BRODEY

BASKETBALL PLAYER WORKS THROUGH AN ACL INJURY.

JENNA SHORES

JADA BROWDER BY

Designed by Kaiya Lynch

Photo by Chloe Frankllin

Photo courtesy of Walt Disney Studios

BY CONNOR RIZEK

SPOTLIGHT

SENIOR JACK CARBAJAL STUDENT TALKS ABOUT HIS EXPERIENCE WITH ART AND SELF EXPRESSION.

BY MARY BIESEMEYER

BY VICTORYA WILKINSON

THE VISIBLE ADDICTION

THE TOXIC SIDE OF SOCIAL MEDIA AND HOW IT AFFECTS TEENS TODAY.

OPINION

OPINION COLUMNS

BUILD-A-BIRTHDAY & ALL ABOUT POWER

BY BIANKA MANCIA CASTILLO

BY KAIYA LYNCH & LUCY BOYLE

Photo by Lizzy Garr

Designed by Kaiya Lynch

PBIS awards are awarded to the students of LHS who went above and beyond to impress staff members. Awards are given out as often as possible but usually once a month. “It felt very rewarding, I have been working very hard on my personal Impact Project for EDGE,” previous winner junior Sloane Jurgens said.

POSITIVE RECOGNITION

Behavior can affect more than yourself.

Reported by Brookelyn Jadwin | Designed by Brodey Hutton | Photos by Richard Burns

can be recognized for different awards, the PBIS (Positive Behavior Intervention Support) is a very particular achievement. Every month Liberty High School’s PBIS team meets to discuss criteria, as well as looking at discipline data to understand where students are struggling the most. One hardworking student is selected each month for the specific focus decided upon, any students meeting the focus are recognized by a teacher and nominated. While many students are recognized and recommended, not all receive the award. However, while they may not receive the award, they’re behavior does not go unnoticed.

“I think it’s a great way to acknowledge students who are trying their best to make themselves a better student and helping those around them do the same,” sophomore Addison Carey said.

One of the main goals of PBIS is to use rewards to improve behavior, environments, stress, as well as improving social, emotional and economic growth. In hopes that the number of office referrals, or punishment in general, is limited.

“I think PBIS is great. It helps recognize people who have good behavior constantly. It’s helped improve the environment around me. It makes some people want to be better,” junior Sloane Jurgens said. While there are many ways to improve behavior, raisingchildren.net has a few tips to get set on the right path. Those include: be a role model, listen actively, keep promises, create an environment for good behavior, choose the battles faced, keep simple and positive, experience the opportunity at a chance to succeed and maintain a sense of humor.

“We don’t just want to say, yeah you’re doing the right thing, but go a step further and say thank you for always doing the right thing. Rather than just expecting people to always do the right thing without being noticed.” David McDorman said.

If interested in learning more about the award itself, contact David McDorman. If a student is looking to be nominated, they should remain having good behavior, a teacher will recognize it if it remains consistent. In March, the school is planning to launch a student recognition form.

McDorman hopes to, in future times, have students recognize each other for their good habits through it. Setting off a chain reaction of everyone doing what they should be and creating a better, more welcoming environment for all.

CHANGES TO STAY

Second semester brings about a change in positions for many administrators.

Reported by Chloe Franlkin | Designed by Brodey Hutton | Photos by Lizzy Garr

Trincipal Dr. April Adams and Vice Principal Dr. Sara Wickham have both made the decision to leave LHS to work towards their personal goals individually next school year. Adams will take on a new venture with Sonya Richardson Thomas and their new consulting company S&A Consulting and Wickham has taken a position as head principal with Excelsior Springs High School.

“I am excited to continue working with high school students and grow as a professional,” Wickham said.

Wickham shared she was grateful for the opportunity to work at Liberty High School and appreciated the people here but believes it is time for the next step in her career.

Meanwhile, Adams has decided to retire from being a principal, but is excited to launch a new company based on supporting schools and developing programs for those seeking mental health stability.

According to an interview with KLHS, “I know I want to do something different, but I want to stay close to education. My heart is very much aligned with education and service, and I’m looking at companies that serve to build up leadership capacity for school districts that may have low economic status,” Adams said.

On Wed. Feb. 22, it was publicly announced Dr. Mike Sharp--a current VP--will be the head principal effective the end of the 2022-2023 school year.

“My family and I are excited and honored to be able to serve Liberty High School and the Blue Jay Community,” Sharp said. “LHS is truly an amazing place. I pledge to build upon the foundations of excellence to provide the best comprehensive high school experience for our students.”

While there may be some changes after this transition, Wickham believes LHS has a phenomenal leadership team who will continue the legacy of success that they have strived to build.

“I think students and staff can continue to count on LHS being a place where we strive to help every student feel belonging and growth,” Wickham said.

To many faculty, it isn’t just a learning environment, but instead a place where students and staff can come together to celebrate their accomplishments and find themselves lifted up.

Adams and Wickham both intend to stay in touch and continue hearing about and celebrating all the work which is happening here through social media platforms such as Twitter.

For now all matters will stay with the current principals. Wickham answers A-K academic questions, IEP, Edge, BEST, and ELL and Adams will continue to do her dayto-day. Students can reach them through their emails april.adams@lps53.org, sara. wickham@lps53.org. Students can also email mike.sharp@lps53.org with any questions they have that concern him.

LHS’ Principal Dr. Adams will be retiring after this school year while Assistant Principal Dr. Sharp will take her place as lead principal. Assistant Principal Dr. Wickham will be leaving LHS to be lead principal at Excelsior Springs High School. “Thank you for all the wonderful memories at LHS. Continue striving to be kind to one another and working toward your goals.” said Wickham.

A display in front of the B gates in Kansas City International Airport celebrates the opening of the new terminal. The $1.5 billion project broke ground in March 2019 and will be open in time for when Kansas City hosts the 2023 NFL Draft in April. “I prefer the old airport because it was super easy to get in and out of. I see where they are going with a higher focus on international travel. Hopefully, it will bring more people into Kansas City,” administrative assistant Krista Quinn said.

FUTURE OF FLYING

Reported by Brodie Jobe | Designed by Brodey Hutton | Photos Courtesy of Andrew Hauerland

ansas City (KC), has proudly introduced the new KCI (Kansas City International) terminal which opened Feb. 28. This $1.5 billion project is located on the same site as the older terminals.

“We have always had a dynamic city with a great workforce, culture, restaurants and beyond,” Mayor Quinton Lucas said. “Now, we have a state-of-the-art airport terminal to match.”

The old KCI airport was originally built in 1972. The original airport was constructed to be an easily accessible “drive to your gate” style terminal. When the old KCI airport was built it was a modern piece of architecture in its time. But that was over 40 years ago. The new KCI terminal will present many great opportunities for travelers around the world who travel to and from KC regularly.

“This new terminal will present a great opportunity to myself and others to enjoy passing the time in the airport and traveling safely,” junior Mitchell Dietrich said.

The inside of this tremendous terminal is unlike most airports have ever seen.

According to The KC Business Journal, “With its modern amenities and what he

Missouri native Nick Cave’s art piece, “The Air Up There,” hangs above the entrance to the new Kansas City airport terminal. The new design consolidates all airlines under one roof, utilizing 16 separate TSA checkpoints to cut down on wait times. All 40 gates are connected post-security, allowing for a more streamlined travel process. “It’s spacious, it’s modern, it has more room than the old one. They took everything that’s good about all of the other airports in the U.S. and put it into ours,” junior Andrew Hauerland said.

called unmatched art[the airport], will show KC to be an attractive place to do business or simply to visit,”

The terminal itself contains 40 gates, safe security checkpoints, and many moving walkways as well.

“The new MCI will feature glass passenger boarding bridges at all 40 gates, providing views of the surrounding airfield as you board your flight,” according to Visit KC. “This also makes the Kansas City International Airport the largest all-glass facility in the United States.”

The new terminal provides 50 places to eat with cafes and lounges too to provide for an excellent guest experiencc.

This terminal with its unique art, architecture, and commodities comes together to create a project this city has never seen, and one the people can be excited about. To park and leave your car at the airport costs $23 a day. Valet parking is $27, the cost of circle parking is $15.50, and the basic economy parking is $7.50. Maps of the airport are scattered throughout the building and can also be found online on the Kansas City Star website.

The new MCI terminal sets KCI apart from every airport in the country.

GAMES.

RIDING THE AIRWAVES

THE KCI AIRPORT EXPANDED TO OPEN ONE TERMINAL ON FEB. 28. TAKE THIS QUIZ TO FIND OUT YOUR NEXT TRIP DESTINATION.

BEING A COFFEE addict has become a personality trait for you. You like the bustling city, but also visiting the ocean.

YOU’RE ADVENTUROUS AND like to try new things. You love exploring and getting out of your comfort zone, even if it means flying 4,000 miles away.

YOU LIKE TO play it safe and stay inside your comfort zone. When embarking on adventurous endeavours, you like to be acclimated a little bit at a time.

SEATTLE, WA KONA, ORLANDO, FL

Designed by and Photos by Kaiya Lynch

YOU LOVE MUSIC, the big city and getting outside your comfort zone. Bonus if there’s country music involved.

GAMES.

YOU DON’T LIKE to get out much but like trying new things. Traveling isn’t your specialty, so visiting places close to home is a must.

NASHVILLE, TN ST. LOUIS, MO

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE NEW TERMINAL, TURN TO PAGE 7.

Photo by Victorya Wilkinson

AIRLINE COMPANIES FLYING OUT OF THE NEW KCI TERMINAL.

RUNNING ON STEM

A look back on this year of TSA and the club’s future plans.

W ithin a packed auditorium, over 500 people wait patiently for their turn on stage to present a project they’ve worked on all year long while another 500 suspensefully wait to watch the presentations and the judging afterwards. This is likely how it will look at the TSA (Technology Student Association) State Competition on April 16 through 17 in Louisville, Kentucky.

TSA is one of many clubs which focuses on helping students develop skills to be used in STEM-based competitions at the state and national level. Outside of preparing for competitions, the club also fosters the growth of leadership skills, ability to work in groups, time management skills, critical thinking and problem solving skills.

“Sponsoring TSA gives me the opportunity to meet so many more students than those that take my classes,” computer science teacher and TSA sponsor Shannon Winkler said. “Although I do teach computer science, the STEM field reaches so many other directions that students may never consider taking one of my classes. On top of that, these students are brilliant. They come up with some awesome ideas and solutions to the topics they are given.”

During the beginning of the year in October, TSA members sign up for a specific competition and are then placed into groups of up to four people. The club holds a monthly meeting during Connect30 to get general information on events and competitions. Groups are also tasked with designating their own times outside of school, or during FLEX, or Connect30 to work with each other on their project.

“TSA has really helped strengthen my teamwork skills, which I can apply to any group project,” junior Naomi Fuller said. “It also has given me skills that relate directly to architecture. I am considering majoring in Civil Engineering after high school, and these skills would help me with that.”

The Technology Student Association (TSA) brings together members of the school to collaborate and work on a variety of technology-based projects. The TSA has been to state and national tournaments to show off their tech. “...this gives me the opportunity to work with them still. On top of that, these students are brilliant! They come up with some awesome ideas and solutions to the topics they are given,” club sponsor Shannon Winkler said.

Reported by Brodey Hutton | Designed by Jenna Shores | Photos by Richard Burns

The club is sponsored by Eniola Ajayi and Winkler, who previously sponsored FBLA up until the 2021-22 school year. Winkler said she wanted to help co-sponsor as a way to work with students on projects and competitions which matched the STEM related content she teaches.

“I think that there is an importance to having women in the STEM industry because we can bring beneficial knowledge and abilities to the field as well as problem-solving and critical thinking,” junior Bella Vansel said. “As opportunities are presented, women can offer a new perspective that could improve the STEM industry even more.”

According to Catalyst.com, only a third of people employed in STEM fields in the United States were women, making up approximately 34% of the STEM workforce in 2019. However, women with a bachelor’s degree or higher make up 44% of the total STEM workforce in the United States.

“I think it’s always easy to see how STEM skills fall into specialized professions within the STEM industries,” Winkler said. “But what I think most people tend to miss is that the skills that are crucial in STEM are also crucial in other industries or everyday life. It’s all problem solving, which is something everyone does everyday. We may not realize we are going through the specific steps, but everyone problem solves every day.”

Senior Ishveen Kaur joined the club her junior year and worked her way up, becoming the club President. Kaur and her partner last year created a Data Science and Analysis project based around the past and future effects of pollution which placed them in the top 24 at Nationals.

“My favorite part about being in TSA has been exploring the many opportunities present in the club,” Kaur said. “I love being able to explore numerous careers through one club. If I was able to do it for another year, I totally would. I have made so many great friends and memories from the club. I highly recommend it to someone looking for something to do during Connect 30.”

For those wanting to get involved with the club, new members can contact either Ajayi or Winkler or attend the first Connect30 meeting of the school year during the second Wednesday of the month during the next school year. Contact Ajayi or Winkler to learn more about the club, watch out for recruitment events in April or May, visit https://tsaweb.org, or visit https:// tsaweb.org/competitions-programs/tsa/themesproblems to learn more about the program.

SOPHOMORE JADA BROWDER

Basketball player works through ACL injury.

Reported

Shores

Junior varsity basketball player sophomore Jada Browder has overcome adversity throughout this past year. Her ACL, NCL and meniscus were all torn during her freshman year basketball season. Though she was faced with hardship, she never lost the meaning of basketball. “Even though I was not on the court I still felt the passion for the game, and was out there supporting my teammates,” Browder said.

by Jenna

| Designed by Victorya Wilkinson | Photos by Madison Remley and Courtesy of Katie Bower

onsumed by the cheering from students and families, the sweat drips down sophomore Jada Browder. As she brings down the ball and feels her knee tear and immediately being rushed to the hospital, last year.

Browder is on the Lady Jays, JV basketball team and has been since her freshman year. Browder started playing basketball because of her mom, and has been doing so since eight years old.

“My mom pushed me and thought basketball was the right fit,” Browder said. “I started playing when I was about eight.”

Browder tore her ACL twice, and her NCL and meniscus this past year. When she came down from a rebound it popped and she went immediately to the hospital. The doctor said it was a sprained ACL, so she went and had an MRI. She was told it had been torn-both times it happened, and couldn’t play.

“It was still good to be out there and to be supporting my teammates,” Browder said. “It just sucked never being able to play, but the recovery went by faster than I thought.”

For Browder, the recovery time took about a year, when the average time for recovery for two ACL tears is 18 months. According to the national library of medicine short-term complications following ACL reconstruction include infection and deficits to knee motion and strength, whereas long-term complications include secondary ACL injury to either the involved or contralateral knee and lack of ability to return to high-level sports following this procedure.

“I thought that I needed to get better at conditioning because I wasn’t able to push myself with the other girls, but it got way better,” Browder said.

Senior Ella Lawrence, who also plays varsity basketball, tore her ACL around the same time as Browder. They both were on the same schedule; when Browder experienced something with her recovery, Lawrence experienced it shortly after.

“Jada is just a really nice person in general,” Lawrence said. “She’s strong, It was really good just to lay it on each other and work together through it and relate. She’s just a strong girl in general.”

According to healthline.com playing basketball helps to improve motor coordination, flexibility, and endurance. It also encourages speed, agility, and strength. These skills are shown to have a positive effect on promoting a healthy body weight and encouraging more physical activity, which can enhance cardiorespiratory fitness and self-esteem.

“She was immediately so nice,” Lawrence said. “So easy to go up to and talk to about anything. She’s always there for you if you need her or need someone to talk to.”

According to an article in Forbes, having a strong bond between players builds trust in the team, which means less conflict and also encourages communication, which enhances cooperation.

“It means confidence,” Browder said. “I think that as you’re playing, whatever you’re doing on the court defines who you are as a person.”

The last JV womens basketball game was held on Feb. 23 at 5:30 and the lady jays won against blue springs with a score of 44-38, ending the season.

C

funny she is, she will never fail to make someone laugh,” sophomore Hazel Denison said.

funny she is, she will never fail to make someone laugh” Jsophomore Hazel Denison said.

“My favorite thing about Jada is how

“My favorite thing about Jada is how

SENIOR JACK CARBAJAL Student talks about his experience with art and self-expression.

Reported by Mary Biesemeyer | Designed by Victorya Wilkinson | Photos by Lizzy Garr and Ethan Mcmenemy

arefully tweaking his final idea for a new song, making the last checks on a short film before posting it to YouTube. For senior Jack Carbajal, this is a spontaneous occurrence.

Three years ago, before the COVID-19 lockdown, Carbajal became interested in playing the guitar and creating music. After taking a music and film technology class, Carbajal became interested in the creation and sciences behind music and the production of short films.

“A lot of music is science with music theory to hear what sounds good,” Carbajal said. “You can get by with creating music with just a lot of intuition and just feeling out what sounds good.”

With creating music, Carbajal is self-taught. Playing the piano and learning guitar were both activities taken up during COVID-19.

“I got into playing the guitar right before the pandemic,” Carbajal said, “it was just a good time to get into, it and I‘ve kept up with it ever since.”

The use of YouTube tutorials and digital learning helped Carbajal get a grasp on instruments.

“I‘ve never had lessons,” Carbajal said, “Everything I learn about music is just trial and error.”

Along with creating music, Carbajal also enjoys creating short films and videos. He uses his creativity as an outlet to relieve stress and express himself.

“Even if it’s just ten people watching a video you made, it’s still just a piece of your art,” Carbajal said. “It’s a piece of self-expression for the world.”

According to drawchange.org, art can allow people to express themselves, unlike any other activity. The Fine Arts programs at LHS are very inclusive and provide a platform for students to

Senior Jack Carbajal has been creating music and short films for the last three years. His interest grew after taking a music and film technology class. “I would like to hopefully release an album. For me it’s not really a sense of what comes from it, it’s whatever I can create. I’m just gonna create music whether it gains traction or not,” Carbajal said

Jack Leland Carby 4181

openly express themselves and their desire to create and showcase arts. With classes ranging from choir to music and film technology. Carbajal doesn’t have a set schedule of when or where he makes short films, his inspiration for creating short films wires from a class taken at LHS.

“I make short films every now and then,” Carbajal said, “I got into it from taking a music and film technology class.”

The music and film technology class is a semester-long class that introduces students to the technology used in music and film.

“If I could give advice to people, just go for it,” Carbajal said, “you’re in a vulnerable state when you make art because people are going to judge you, it’s very subjective and not everyone is gonna like it.”

According to Eden-gallery.com, “Art can be subjective because it is an expression of personal perspective,” Eden-gallery said, “It can also be subjective because we are all people with different tastes and preferences, subjectivity in art is often used to explain how individual people may respond to a work of art in entirely different ways.”

Although one’s opinion on a piece of art can differ from another’s, that’s never driven Carbajal

away. Through adversity, he pushes through.

“Recording is tricky because if you don’t have good technology, a good microphone, computer and a good setup, it’s hard to get it to sound good,” Carbajal said, “I use my school computer, it’s really limited.”

Carbajal hopes to continue in the arts and hopes to one day release an album. To hear the music he has currently you can visit his YouTube channel @Jack Leland Carby 4181.

“

It can take you a couple of months to get to know the instrument and play a few songs you love. But to really master guitar, it can take years of practice as any other musical instrument. It depends on the type of person you are and your practicing habits and the goals you set for yourself. ”

Let’s Think Spring

Fashion trends and what to expect this spring season.

Reported by Victorya Wilkinson | Designed by Lucy Boyle | Photos by Madison Remley

hether watching runway models, scrolling through TikTok or walking in the hallway, students are bound to see recurring items in the fashion world. New fashion trends will begin to rise as the spring season this year starts on Mar. 20. To keep up with the newest trends students can find linked articles here as well as scrolling through social media platforms.

According to bustle.com trends start because humans are, as the article describes, social animals. These trends are popularized most in youth and early adulthood because it’s the stage of the highest self-consciousness. It also mentioned this is not the only reason as it has another function, which is demonstrating individuality and giving someone a unique look.

“I think expressing yourself with clothing is important because what you wear can help express you, your personality and your interests,” sophomore Makenna Cares said.

As spring approaches, new fashion trends arise as the cold weather gets cooler. Walking through the aisles of multiple stores including Target, Walmart and Ross. There are bright and neon-colored clothing from all stores at various prices, maxiskirts from Target for about $25, oversized tees from Ross for $10-15, baggy jeans and cargo pants from Target for $25-30, ripped jean shorts from Walmart for $20-25, cropped tanks and tees at Ross for as low as $8, floral patterns from Target for $20-25 and braided sandals from Target for $15-20.

According to usmagazine.com, there are more predicted trends such as sheer pieces, maxiskirts, elevated pajama and sleepwear styles, crochet tops, baggy pants, more denim - such as jean jackets - and the color magenta.

As seen maxiskirts will be the staple piece for this spring but there are still many more predictions of what may appear.

“[I predict seeing] sweaters/sweater vests, cargo pants, tinted glasses, crocs, puffy coats, scally caps and band shirts[this spring],” sophomore Evan Marr said.

According to fibre2fashion.com fashion trends last roughly one year. With this there are many trends students would like to see come back from past cycles.

“I’m hoping to see mom shorts, tube tops, graphic tees and cool shoes. I think we will see fewer animal prints and more of an 80’s style, I would also love to see bucket hats come back,” sophomore Ari Johnson said.

One of the largest platforms for fashion advice, inspiration and trend start is

THRIFTING FOR CHANGE

The long term environemental effects of second-hand shopping within thift stores.

According to iiad.edu, “fashion is more interactive and fluid than ever before changing the way fashion trends connect with their core audience. Social media has quickly revolutionized fashion more than any other industry.”

There are five stages of the fashion cycle. These five stages include: introduction--when the style first enters the fashion world usually only available to a handful of people usually at higher prices. Increase--this is where it officially becomes a trend where influencers and other trendsetters begin wearing the items or pieces of it, this is when large consumers begin to integrate the products into their stores. Peak-this is when the trend reaches full saturation of the general public and at this point, most retailers have seen and replicated the trend thus leading to mass productions usually at lower prices. Decline--at this point the trends become too overdone and people no longer want to wear them instead they want a unique and new style. Obsolescence--this is the end of the trend and it is now considered out of style and outdated, usually it will eventually circle back but most trends will rise and fall within a couple of years.

Though spring trends will end when summer starts on Jun. 21 there is always a chance they will come back, so hold on to them as there is no telling what will appear next spring.

up to date

The top three most trendy pieces for this spring according to a poll on February 9th with 19 response

sweaters

Uggs slippers

what you wear can help express you, personality and your interests, sophomore

REBOUND RECAP

Recap of the varsity men’s basketball 2022-2023 season.

The men’s varsity basketball season ended with the team going 9-11. The season started Tues, Dec. 13, and ended Tues, Feb 21. The team’s top players were senior Kai Bennet, junior Zak Agonovic, junior Edric Binagi and sophomore Kale Mortimer The team started this year with a new head coach, Coach Joe Price, who came from the women’s varsity basketball team with 12 years of coaching experience, including three conference titles, seven district titles, and two Final Four appearances.

“We could’ve been put in motion earlier, like hit our stride earlier in the season so we could’ve gotten better.” junior Edric Binagi said.

The team started off not in the way they hoped, but quickly came back, and figured out how they could get better. They played the top teams in the KC metro area, and really held their ground against them. “My favorite part of the season was playing with these people, and just playing the game.” freshman Howard Chase said.

The team spent a lot of time off the court playing. They played at Liberty Community

Center, and other courts belonging to neighborhoods. They believed this helped with building the team’s connection

“The basketball season was pretty good, we have gotten better with our team chemistry.” sophomore Kale Mortimer said.

The team practices three days a week usually, plays two times a week, and even practices on weekends sometimes. They spend their practices, practicing plays, conditioning, and practicing their fundamentals.

“I feel like the whole team improved majorly on passing, shooting, and running.” Binagi said.

The team focused on something different each time. Each team played differently, so they had to change up how they would run plays, cover, and make a different game plan each game.

“Overall great season, and it’s great knowing that we will be playing with pretty much the same team next year.” Mortimer said.

The team has 2 seniors. The juniors on the team have stepped up to the challenge, and made a positive impact on the team’s stats,

and records.

“My favorite part was playing in the tournaments, and hosting the tournaments, because we got to play many times in a day, and made amazing memoirs with teammates during those.” freshman Howard Chase said.

The tournament was where some of the team’s favorite memories were from. They loved being there with each other, playing with each other, and playing for their school. While also loved going to other schools and playing them.

The Liberty Blue Jays Varsity Men’s basketball season started off the season with a new head coach, and a young team, and many other challenges, but by the end of the season, they rose up and conquered those challenges. The team can’t wait to play with each other next year, and do even better than they did this year.

Reported by Connor Rizek | Designed by Brodey Hutton | Photos by Lizzy Garr

Junior Zak Aganovic anticipates shooting a free throw in Liberty’s 62-73 loss to Lee’s Summit on Tues, Feb. 21. Aganovic’s free throw shooting percentage is 50% this season. “This basketball season has been pretty good ever since the first game. We’ve gotten better especially with our chemistry and bonding,” sophomore Kale Mortimer said.

THE VISIBLE ADDICTION

The toxic side of social media and how it affects teens today.

Reported by Bianka Mancia Castillo

Designed by Lucy Boyle

Photos by Sam Brusven

Cover by Victorya Wilkinson

ccording to the academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 90% of teens ages 13-17 have used social media and 51% of teens use social media on a daily basis. Famous social media applications such as Tiktok, Snapchat, Instagram and Twitter have become very popular with Generation Z.

“It [social media] is popular and addicting because it is a never ending hole of entertainment it’s almost as if it hypnotizes you,” said junior Gavin Linsman.

According to Cross River Therapy, the rise of addiction for social media is up 70%, but the question is why: are these social media apps so addicting to this generation?

Whether it’s specific apps like Tiktok who monitor users’ watch rates to control what they see and to keep them on the platform, or social media just being a fun distraction from reality, there are many toxic parts which come with and should be kept in mind when dealing with screen and social media usage.

HOW IT’S ADDICTING

This chemical is called dopamine. Dopamine is a chemical which is released in the brain and can produce a good feeling or pleasure. Social Media platforms surge this chemical causing users to stay on the media for multiple hours on end.

“They are designed to be addictive. This is because they gain more data, ad time revenue and personal algorithm adaptation the longer the user stays on the app, If it doesn’t cost anything then the user is the product,” said senior Maxwell Perschon,

It is important to have the right amount of this chemical but not to exceed it. Having too much dopamine or too much dopamine concentrated in some parts of the brain and not enough in others is linked to being more competitive, aggressive and having poor impulse control.

This can lead to conditions which include ADHD, binge eating, addiction and gambling states Health direct. Dopamine is produced by cells in the middle of the brain and this chemical helps send out messages to other parts of the brain and nervous system.

THE STATS

How many people have each social media app in 2023?

732 MILLION active users on TikTok.

OVER 1 BILLION active users on Instagram.

2 BILLION active users on Facebook.

514 ABOUT active users on Snapchat.

2 MILLION active users on YouTube.

All statistics according to WALLAROO

post,” states the University of Utah.

“I saw a lot of girls with a lot of nice bodies on their tiktoks and it made me kind of insecure and also the couples on there make me feel bad,” said Cunnigham.

Social media can be both a fun but also a very toxic place. There are measures that can be taken in order to limit exposure and help teens. Anyone can do with a simple screen break.

Build-a-Birthday

Build-a-Bear means more than just nostalgia to me.

tuffed animal “friends” are an integral part of almost every child’s formative years in the U.S. We latch onto them, drag them with us everywhere, and eventually, they are so well loved they become “real” –at least, in the tale of The Velveteen Rabbit.

My childhood companions, all 50+ of them, were all found at Build-A-Bear. And, as Mary Jane Putney stated so succinctly, “What one loves in childhood stays in their hearts forever.” At 17 years of age, I have remained a loyal fan of Build-a-Bear because of core memories from childhood that connect me to it.

As an only child, these stuffed animals were often my playmates and confidantes. We held tea parties and went on walks together. According to Psychology Today, over the last 75 years, imaginative play has been identified as for normal development. Additionally, “an important benefit of early pretend play may be its enhancement of the child’s capacity for cognitive flexibility and creativity.” The only negative research proponent I’ve found with regard to pretend play would be in the lack of it; child and Family Blog states “sustained, moderate-to-severe play deprivation during the first 10 years of life appears to be linked to depression, difficulty adapting to change, poorer self-control and a greater tendency to addiction.”

Build-A-Bear and its online platform Build-a-Bearville were integral parts of my creative play during my formative years. On my birthday, I was given unlimited wishes while playing Furtastic Fountain, since it was also Clark’s birthday. In my mind, this meant we were celebrating together, creating another layer to the building blocks of my youth.

In 2015, Build-a-Bearville was shut down, but it was also the year I moved to Alabama. The first place I visited when we arrived in the new state was the local Build-a-Bear. Even though Build-a-Bearville is an activity of the past, and although I’m 17, the memories Build-a-Bear has instilled in me are clear to this day. Every birthday, every holiday and every new state I lived in resulted in a new “furry friend.” After all, Build-a-Bear isn’t just building bears; they’re building memories.

All About Power

ohnny Depp, an actor, lost $22.5 million dollars with a role in Pirates of the Caribbean after being accused of domestic violence to wife Amber Heard, later resulting in a claim that Heard was to be at blame for this toxic relationship. Taylor Swift, singer and song writer, had fans frustrated after waiting hours to purchase tickets for her Taylor Swift Eras Tour only for them to be sold out. Other celebrities and influencers all being “canceled” for controversial acts put and seen on social media platforms primarily on Tiktok only for them to be false.

The phrase Cancel-culture is defined as the practice of engaging in mass canceling as a way of expressing disagreement. The First Amendment protects freedom of speech, the press, assembly, and the right to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

The reasonings behind the act of canceling someone is important to note. Some examples of rightfully canceling, is the thousands of women standing up against sexism, abuse and bigotry with the #MeToo Movement. The same is said for the Black Lives Matter hashtag all over social media, as a symbol of freedom and justice. When used correctly, canceling is a way to better society or educating others on their mistakes, which is important for future generations.

According to Daily Beast, “Everyday people are choosing to boycott or reject statements put in place and perpetuated by the richest, most powerful among us. Ordinary people have a right—and shouldn’t be gaslit for it.”

While some believe cancel culture is a useful way to “call out” celebrities and influencers for their wrong doings, they have toxic side effects. Additionally, looking at the First Amendment through a different lens, everyone is able to have an opinion or have a belief – however, there can be a false fact, and these are not protected by the First Amendment. False accusations are all over the internet, making it almost impossible to tell when information is true or not. Many instances of this have neem widespread all over social media and news, canceling celebrities for false claims, resulting in a loss of sponsorships and community support.

Pew Research Center acknowledged this by stating, “[Cancel culture is] trying to silence someone who does not have the same belief as you. Basically, [it’s] taking their First Amendment rights away. It violates affected people’s civil rights.”

Reported by Kaiya Lynch | Photo by Madison Remley | Designed by Jenna Shores

Reported by Lucy Boyle | Photo by Victorya Wilkinson

Controversy arises with the upcoming trend of Cancel-culture on social media and news platforms.

Designed by Kaiya Lynch | Photos by Sam Brusven

OPINION. PICKING FAVORITES

“JORGESEN’S FUNNY AND NICE. We celebrated “Jorgtober” which was a fake holiday, but we had fun. We had a half party/half lecture day.”

ALEX TANG SENIOR

EVERY STUDENT HAS A FAVORITE TEACHER--THE QUESTION IS: WHY?

“LUMETTA IS SO kind and understanding. She lets you retake any test and will work with you closely to make sure you achieve a good grade. We were discussing pet names in French, and she asked everyone to share a pet name they had growing up. The whole class laughed and joked with the teacher. She had a few stories of her own with hearing pet names used while she studied in France.”

CAIL LOVE

SOPHOMORE

“HSIEH IS INCREDIBLY patient with our class but he lays down the hammer when he really needs to and makes sure we’re learning. He also loves to interact with students and get their personal feedback on the class. He gives us breaks and tells lots of funny stories when the time is right.”

DAMIAN ARCIGA SOPHOMORE

IN A POLL OF 38 STUDENTS, THE MOST CHOSEN FAVORITE TEACHERS WERE: LAWLER, JORGENSEN AND MURPHY.

“MEADE IS SUPER engaging, and she never has a frown on her face. She’s such a kind teacher, and I love talking with her in the morning. She always has something fun to do in class, plus her method of teaching is quite organized and easy to follow.”

OLIVIA DOLTON FRESHMAN