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INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
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NEWS:
Drew Witherspoon battles on
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Z Z U
B T’S M Z.CO
Z KCBU N . WW
FEATURES:
A guide to the Kansas City Zoo
GH Y HI
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A & E:
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O Y, M T I C AS ANS
Review: Divergent
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Sports: Finding refuge in America
COVER PHOTO BY DEMI BRIBIESCA Dancers perform in a natural setting in Hawaii. The North Kansas City Band traveled to this tropical locale during spring break to play at the USS Arizona memorial. The band honored a former NKC alum who was aboard the ship when it was destroyed in the attack on Pearl Harbor Dec. 7, 1941.
2|editorial
The Hornet’s Buzz
Services in the Student Service Center
Here at North Kansas City High School, we are fortunate to be one of the few schools in the state that offer the International Baccalaureate Diploma option to students. There is a chance that next year we will have the even more rare option of an IBCC diploma, International Baccalaureate Career-related Certificate. If everything turns out right after the series of visits happening at our school right now, we will be one of 64 schools in the world that offer IBCC. We are currently just a candidate school, but at the end of April, our school should know if we are going to be able to offer IBCC. IBCC was developed to complement the needs of students that are interested in pursuing a career-related education, with an emphasis still on rigorous courses. As with the traditional IB
program, IBCC would officially begin with a student’s junior year. The IBCC will help students to develop a range of broad work-related skills and also to deepen their understanding in general areas of knowledge. Within the program, depending on if we officially are granted the ability to become an IBCC school, the first year that our school offers this program it will be offered for engineering, through Project Lead the Way, and culinary arts, through ProStart. For ninth graders, a third option would become available, with that being Biomed. As the program takes root and grows in our school, other options such as media and education may become available at some point. While there are people who believe that the IBCC courses will not be as hard as IB, that is not completely
true; the IBCC concentrates the rigorous academic learning into a more distinct, career-focused regimen. Students must still take 2-4 Standard Level or Higher Level International Baccalaureate Diploma Courses. In addition to that, those students would also have to complete a career-related study (engineering, culinary arts, or biomed). Other aspects of the IB program appear in IBCC as well; community service is required, which is similar to the CAS project of IB, a reflective project must be completed, comparable to the Extended Essay. The reflective project would show the ability to critically discuss and evaluate an ethical dilemma associated with a particular issue taken from the student’s career-related studies. Two years of a second language are mandatory for this
diploma, opposed to the required four years of language compared to the IB as we currently know it.. Also, a class called Approaches to Learning would be part of the coursework, which would be the equivalent to Theory of Knowledge. It is strongly suggested that students take pre-IB classes, as it will prepare them for the rigorous types of learning and analyzing that is central for both IB and the up-and-coming IBCC. Here at the Buzz, we think that this new program addition to our school is going to be a good one. Seeing the successes of IB and programs such as C-Tec and NCC, this will be a great way to combine the two. We also believe that many students are going to be angry that this is only going to become an option for our school beginning next year, if all goes well
and Northtown is approved. Although, current eighth, ninth and tenth graders can become a IBCC student, the current juniors and seniors do not have the ability to graduate with this diploma. But keeping in mind that there are only 63 current IBCC schools in the world, it would be a great honor to become a part of this program, even if it is a few years later than many students would have liked. An interesting part of the program is that students have to option to not only graduate with an IBCC diploma, they are also able to graduate with a Gold Medallion diploma as well. If students have any questions about IBCC, feel free to contact Mr. Conrad Lower at clower@nkcschools.org or see him in his office in the IB corner of the SSC (next to Ms. Epperson’s).
Editorial Cartoon by Sabrina Merrill
Apr. 9, 2014
Levy and Bond: More bad than good
Shannon Horton co-editor
A solution for the budget cuts for the North Kansas City School District is in sight. Administration in the district has come up with a plan to try and overcome the setback that the lowered property taxes put them in. That plan is to pass a $20 million bond and a 26-cent operating levy. But for most people, those numbers don’t
opinion|3
really hold much significance. But what this adds up to is about 200 dollars that is would be added to the property tax at the end of the year. Property taxes are one of the largest bills and the hardest to pay. With it already being so expensive, and the price for everything else living takes going up as well, most families are worried that they are not going to be able to make their property tax as is. The other question that arises with this would be where is all the money going. “Bonds are for building. Levies are for learning,” According to superintendent Todd White. The money from the bond would go towards funding projects such as converting Computer Labs into classrooms, updating student technology, controlled visitor check-in, security cameras, door lock upgrades, enhanced perimeter lighting, playground fencing, roof repairs, replacing worn carpeting, replacing doors, restroom renovations, repainting,
and locker repairs or replacements. The money from the levy is said to go towards IB, eCampus, Career & Technical Center, Robotics, Northland Career Center, SAGE, AVID, AP, Dual Credit, Cerner Scholars, Northland CAPS and a few others. Now, my biggest issue with everything this money is going towards is that I feel that a large amount of it, mostly the money from the $20 million bond, is going to the wrong things. When the budget cuts were first instated, money was taken away from every club, athletic program, educational department, everything. Yet, with the money that the schools are getting back that is supposed to make up for the money lost from budget cuts, only a select few of the programs and groups are actually getting their funding back. Instead of giving more money to all of the groups that lost it, we are putting our money towards an increase in security and building repairs. Personally, I have not
been to every school in the district recently, but I know that we go to school in the oldest school that is still standing in our district today and the condition of our multiple buildings are not bad. So, I cannot imagine that some of the other, newer, schools are in such bad condition that fixing them up comes at a higher priority than giving funding back to the programs that all students are involved in, not just the select few. As for security, I do not think that should be high on the list of what this money should go to, when it could be put to better use in so many different places. Why do we think that we have to completely fence in our children’s playgrounds, or install security cameras and lock updates, or even visitor check in? I can assure you that if someone was to actually want to get into a school and do harm, none of those things would do much good. Bad people can still climb a fence, unlock a door, or even get past check in. There is nothing that you
can do to completely secure the schools. And, our district hasn’t had any major incidents that have put students in harms way with the system we have now. That money could achieve so much in the school. It could purchase new textbooks for the classes that don’t even have enough for a classroom set. Or it could bring back technology assistance to the schools, making it more convenient for both teachers and students. Or the money could even go to the teachers themselves, as money to purchase whatever they need for their classroom, or even a bonus for working so hard and putting forth all the time and effort that they do to help students. All in all, I don’t think that the levy is a bad idea; I think that it is funding the wrong aspects of our school. That being said, I’m not sure it’s worth my parents $17 a month if all it’s going to accomplish is putting up a few cameras and repainting my classroom walls.
Every classroom has specific students that spend the majority of the period glued to their phones or laptops. Ask them what they are doing and you will generally receive one answer: social networking. Whether a student is busy tweeting a friend sitting next to them or reblogging a picture of a cat on Tumblr, the world of social networking is too tempting for some to ignore. After all, social networking platforms make life much more convenient. Although it has grown less popular among teenagers, Facebook centers more on a person’s friendships and relationships rather than personal or global news. It is a way to connect with relatives that you rarely see and old friends that moved away. Facebook lets you connect with people you fell out of contact
with, people you already know, and people you have yet to meet. Some people are wary of Facebook since employers scrutinize potential employees’ profiles. After all, a Facebook profile outlines a person’s friendships, interests, education, occupation, and general skills or talents. Facebook showcases a person’s life, which can either be beneficial or unfortunate. With Twitter, it merely takes 140 characters or less to make a statement to the world. The Twitter platform is a way to keep people updated on personal or global news. The tweets can range from irrelevant to meaningful. Although not my favorite of all the social networking platforms, I have the greatest appreciation for Twitter, especially after the unfortunate Boston Marathon Bombings occurred.
After the disaster, news stations gave minute-by-minute update on the situation through Twitter. Within minutes, there were postings on Twitter advertising homes with open beds for the displaced runners. Celebrities and others tweeted their fans encouraging donations to the Red Cross. Within a day, the majority of the American Twitter universe dedicated their tweets to sending out prayers for those affected, as news had reached all over the nation. I believe that the nation came together during that disaster through social media, through Twitter. My personal favorite is Tumblr, where people can express any and every complex aspect of who they are through a blog. While Facebook and Twitter allow people to speak their mind and connect with others, I believe
that Tumblr focuses more on connecting people with similar personalities. People can put up their writings, their talents, and their passions for everyone to read, hear, or experience. A person’s interests, thoughts, and sense of humor can be translated into a series of unlimited images and texts. While posts can range from fairly inappropriate content to deep, thoughtful content, Tumblr is a place to express individualism. Although the globe is massive, social networking sites allow us to experience the similarities between people of different origins and to connect with those in our community. Communication has never been easier. While there are setbacks to today’s obsession with social networking, I believe that a majority of us can agree that some advantages exist.
Social Media: a book, a bird, a tumble Samira Zantout guest writer
4|news
The Hornet’s Buzz
Band Members honors Pearl Harbor victims Alyssa Stoner opinion editor
On Sunday the 16, Northtown’s band students took a 5-day trip to the state of Hawaii to perform at the Pearl Harbor Memorial. For each individual band student, the trip cost approximately around $2000, give or take. Most of the students going paid out of their own pocket but, there were many ways as to which band students chose to rally up some cash. For example, some participated in the Renaissance Festival and sold trash bags to help contribute to the expenses that would accompany them throughout their trip. There were around 65 students in total who went on this trip, along with Northtown’s band teacher Carrie Epperson and a few other supervisors arriving at a sum of about 120 people. Northtown’s Band didn’t just decide to make a trip to Hawaii as a random choice. Back in the year of 1941, 21 band members of the U.S. Navy Band Unit (NBU) perished before they could ever play; including a 1937 Northtown graduate Curtis Haas. The band was competing in the finals of the “Battle of Music” which was a competition between military bands based at Pearl Harbor. When Pearl Harbor was attacked on December 7th, most of the NBU band members were up on deck preparing to play music for the daily flag raising ceremony. The musicians ran down below to their battle stations in the ships’ ammunition holds. Just as they reached their stations, the USS Arizona was hit four times by Japanese bombers and eventually sank. At no other time in our great American history has an entire military band died in action. In honor of the events that surrounded Pearl Harbor and the soldiers in the U.S. Navy Band Unit, Northtown’s band played at Pearl Harbor Memorial. They performed the songs At Dawn they Slept, The
Clouds that Sail in Heaven, and The Sun Just Touched the Morning. “I think the band performed very well for only having five practices as a group,” stated senior Rebeckah Kitchen. “The performance was very difficult due to the wind being strong and the sun shining in our faces and not being able to see Epperson all that well when she
was conducting.” Though the main reason for the band students traveling to Hawaii was to honor those musicians who died during the attack on Pearl Harbor, they also were there to view the various sites that surrounded them. Amongst those sites that the band traveled to included Diamond Head Peak, a volcanic
tuff cone. They also went to a luau, the beach, and went on a city tour. Senior Rebechah Kitchen comments, “We went to a show too. They impersonated Brittany Spears, Michael Jackson and other celebrities. We also had a nice Lei ceremony with the seniors. Mrs. Epperson cried which made me cry.” Northtown’s band visiting Hawaii had more meaning behind it than just going to enjoy the sun though that was a strong selling point. Enjoying the sandy beaches and warm weather is enough reason to go to Hawaii but honoring the lives lost at Pearl Harbor makes the trip more memorable for the everyone who went.
COURTESY OF CARRIE EPPERSON
Playing Perfect Parts North Kansas City High School marching band plays wonderfully at the Pearl Harbor Memorial. Carrie Epperson stands and conducts the band playing the one of their songs on a beautiful day in Hawaii.
PHOTO COURTESY OF CARRIE EPPERSON
Posing in the Sun Northtown’s’ band is posing for a picture in the hot sun. Carrie Epperson stands proudly on the far right next to her students. All the band students are in matching shirts and leis’ around their necks.
Apr. 9, 2013
Robotics team is headed to Nationals Ariel Paul a&e editor
North Kansas City High School’s robotics team, also known as “STING-R” is one of the new clubs at Northtown and they’re better than ever. The team meets after school everyday striving for excellence in their love for robots. Since the beginning of the year the sting-r’s practiced hard, and are now being involved in competitions. In the previous competition, [The Kansas City Regional Competition] on Saturday, March 16 the team had put their robot into a competition game called “Aerial Assist”; which is when the robot throws and catches a ball, but they have to score as many goals as possible during a two-minute and 30 second time interval. Throughout the competition day, the Sting-r’s team
got to work with and learn from professional mentors
in robotics to design and build robots. More than
1,000 high school student on 58 teams took part in
PHOTO COURTESY OF MR. DENIS O’CONNELL, ROBOTICS TEAM SPONSOR
STING-R The Northtown robotics team poses in hornet pride as they are due to compete at the World Championship April 23-26 at the MCC College of Business and Technology campus. Front Row: Connor McKenzie, Jessica Parker, Merrick Schumaker, Jack Pio, Matthew Resz, Clayton Resz, James Krouse Back Row: Richard Brull, Scott McKenzie, Donyae Thomas , Emily Schmidtlein, Michael Hidalgo, Jacob Riley, Yahya Mohamed, Isaac Lee , Zack Krouse, Cullan Miller, Ben Ritter, Dennis O’Connell.
the competition. The team won the Rookie All-Star award. The team qualified for the World Championship, which will take part April 23-26 at the College of Business and Technology campus. “[It’s exciting] we get to see top [robotics] people in the country.” Said Freshman Jessica Parker. “I’m definitely going to be apart of the team for the next four years if it continues.” Parker adds. Over the next few years, the team will get even stronger with knowledge of how to make their robots stronger, and win even more competitions. The team is at a great start for the robotics fouryear contract.
Drew Witherspoon: Road to recovery
Morgan Tolson staff writer
It has been three months since Drew Witherspoon, senior, was first admitted to the hospital for a life threatening brain infection. After numerous surgeries, prayers, and donations, Drew is finally on the road to recovery. Drew recently had a surgery to put the bone flap back in on March 24. When asked if this will be the last surgery Drew’s mother, Monika McMillian stated that they are “hoping the five surgeries he has had will be sufficient. Only time will tell though.” Drew and his mother have remained incredibly positive throughout his diagnosis. When asked what helped her through this tough time she said, “The only thing that I can say is God, it was nothing but God that got us through this. We do not have any family here so it was very difficult for me to not have a support system here.” Although their family
was later able to make a trip to Kansas City, McMillian stated, “Being alone really helped my relationship with The Lord.” Funding Drew’s surgeries have been one of the hardest challenges Drew and his mother have faced. McMillian is a single parent and is Drew’s sole provider and full time caregiver. Luckily, due to peoples’ generous donations, they have been able to raise about $6,800 via the fundraising website gofundme.com McMillian also added, “Our family and friends back home held a benefit concert on March 9th and let me tell you it was amazing. The amount of support we received was overwhelming. We also sold #pray4drew t-shirts.” According to McMillian, Drew is recovering exceptionally well. However, she stated, “Full recovery cannot be talked about at this time because of the amount of brain damage that he suffered to the right frontal lobe.”
As a result Drew has been attending physical therapy five days a week from 8 am to 4 pm. Drew has occupational, physical, speech, and language therapy to help him get back to where he was prior to his injury. Yet despite these setbacks Drew is still on track to graduating and walking with his class on May 14, 2014. McMillian stated that, “Andrew only needed a half of a credit in communication arts to graduate and has obtained that since going to the hospital…[he] will graduate as scheduled with his class.” Drew’s long-term goal for the future is to become a dentist and attend college as soon as he is able to do so. Drew and his mother said, “We would like to thank everyone that has supported us, prayed with us and for us. We would also like to encourage families to research Drew’s condition as it can happen to anyone of us and the more awareness we
news|5
can raise about it, [it will make the] next family’s process a lot easier as there is not a lot of information out there regarding this condition.” McMillian concludes that, “He [Drew] will always have some sort of brain damage, but with faith and God anything is PHOTO COURTESY OF MONIKA MCMILLIAN A caring touch Andrew Witherspoon bears the memopossible.” ry of his latest surgery; the surgery to again put back Drew’s hard work the bone flap from his skull. On his road to recovery, Witherspoon has undergone numerous surgeries and is and detergoing through physical therapy eight hours a day, on a mination daily basis. continues to serve as an inspiration to each and everyone one of us.
6|features
The Hornet’s Buzz
Australia Tiger Trail
Another smaller portion of the Zoo is Asia. Although not clearly located on the Zoo map, Asia is blended with the Australian area. Throughout Asia runs the “Tiger Trails,” where you are able to view the Sumatran tigers, red pandas, and orangutans.
Taking you on a t of Africa from the the boat takes you site seeing trip fro of Africa to another, se the land of the African then returning back t dock. A boat ride $2.00 per pers
Polar Bear Passage Nikita and Berlin, the two polar bears in the Polar Bear passage, were added to the Zoo to deliver a message of global warming. This exhibit is a step in the Zoo’s participation in wildlife conservation, helping save polar bears from the effects of global warming.
Another form of transportation throughout the Zoo is the tram. Able to see flamingos and elephants from the tram, it will take you roughly between Africa and the front entrance area. A round trip on the tram costs $1.50 per person.
The other large section of the Zoo holds animals in their Australian exhibits. Animals that you are able to see are kangaroos, wallaby, and Lion-Tailed Macaques, along with a wide variety of birds. Also in Australia are sheep, available to feed and pet. Indoor exhibits in Australian focus on different types of snakes.
Kid Zone Penguin Plaza
Another great part of the Zoo is its educational area, generally directed towards the younger visitors, known as the Kid Zone! Including a few small jungle gym equipment sets, the Peekaboo Tree, the Tropics building, and the Discovery Barn. Also inside the Kid Zone area is the polar bear exhibit, Polar Bear Passage, and the penguin exhibit, The Penguin Plaza. The Zoo also offers the Sea Lion Splash in the Kid Zone area, a routine performed by the sea lions, who are led through the water and coaxed with treats by their trainers. The Endangered Species Carousel is also located in this area, being $2.00 per ride.
pe Plaz differ see. The in thei the few to watc 3:00p at
features|7
Apr. 9, 2013
Africa Sky Safari
The newest addition to the Kansas City Zoo are its enguins, located in the Penguin za. The Penguin Plaza has many rent types of penguins available to ey can be seen under or above water ir exhibits. The penguins are one of w animals in which people are able ch the feeding, around 9:30am and pm. You can watch the penguins t the Zoo anytime on the penguin cam at the kansascityzoo.org
Seating generally two people, however there is a limit of three, otherwise not exceeding the 400lb weight limit, the African Sky Safari is one of the new attractions at the Kansas City Zoo. This experience can be taken in a full trip, across Africa twice (making a full circle), or it could be taken one way, a trip all the way across Africa, and you are given the option to get off and continue to walk from this side of the Zoo. The ride takes Afyou right over the animal exhibits of Africa rica is the largest lasting roughly five minutes. General cost for portion of the Zoo, and also those who would like to ride the Sky Sacontains some of the Zoo’s largest fari is four dollars for a round trip, animals as well. With big cats, plains two dollars for a one way. animals, elephants, and several types of monkeys, this part of the Zoo has the most distance to travel. Animals throughout the African area include lions, cheetahs, zebras, giraffes, gazelles, hippopotamus, rhinoceroses, chimpanzees, gorillas, and more!
Kansas City Zoo
tour e waters, u on a small om one part eeing largely exhibits, and to the main e costs son.
Another wellknown attraction at the Zoo is the train. The train takes you on a ride through the land owned by the Zoo. On this train ride you are able to see camels and kangaroos. A full trip train ride costs $2.50 per person.
8|arts & entertainment
The Hornet’s Buzz
Egg Hunt Apps: Northtown Favorites
Easter is coming up, and what is a child’s favorite part of Easter? That’s right, the Easter egg hunts. The Easter bunny hides eggs and kids go crazy trying to find them all. But, what if I said it is possible to go Easter egg hunting, in a video game? And I don’t mean an egg-hunting simulator. I’m talking about a different type of Easter egg. In computer software, an Easter egg is something that is really fun to find. They are undocumented features within the game that is sometimes a joke, bonus features, cameos, etc. and they can be difficult to find. Although they do not appear only in video games, they are used in movies, and other forms of digital entertainment as well. Sometimes these will be used to allude to books, older games, television shows, or movies. Companies such as Rock Star, Nintendo, and Bethesda are famous for hiding a lot of Easter eggs in their games. Bethesda even made an Easter egg as a tip of the hat to Notch the creator of the popular game “Minecraft.” In “Skyrim” at the very top of the tallest mountain in all of the terrain you can find a pick axe named ‘Notched Pick Axe.’ And for those who don’t know, a pick axe is the most commonly used tool in “Minecraft”. Go out for yourself and search for these surprises yourself. Some games that hold my personal favorite Easter eggs would be games like, “Skyrim,” “Super Mario RPG,” and “Grand Theft Auto IV” Good luck and happy hunting! + Sierra Cawthon, Photo Editor
In today’s world, it’s hard to remember what life was like without cell phones, or more importantly our favorite apps. iPhones and androids are evolving and are providing even more apps ranging from games, to social network sites, to photography and even language learning. Some popular apps on the Apple Store and Google Play store include: Candy Crush Saga, Pet Rescue Saga, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Vine, Tumblr, Twitter, and many more. Among North Kansas City High School students include Instagram, Snapchat, Google Maps and Candy Crush. According to instagram.com, Instagram is “a fun and quirky way to share your life with friends through a series of pictures.” Instagram has it’s own filters but many have ventured out and use other apps for new filters such as, Pics Art, VSCO Cam, and Afterlight. Senior Mary Do cites Instagram as her favorite app because she “likes looking at pics.” Another photo app that is taking the world by the storm is Snapchat. With Snapchat users are able to take photos, record videos, add text and draw on a photo, and send them to other recipients who also have Snapchat. Initially released in September 2011, Snapchat has quickly become a favorite among teenagers. Senior Merima Delic said is favorite app is “Snapchat because it’s easier than texting and I can show people my reactions.” A more practical app popular among Nothtown students is Google Maps. Having a car means having the freedom to go wherever you want. However, for many new drivers finding your way around town can be a little tricky. Senior Talar Zhalah said, “My favorite app would be Google Maps. Lately I’ve been going to a lot of places. This app is a lifesaver! It saves time and money!” So the next time you are lost, save some gas money and download Google Maps. It is free and helpful. Although Facebook might be losing popularity due to competition with Twitter and Tumblr, but Facebook sponsored games are still going strong. One of the most popular games is the Candy Crush Saga. Whether you play it in class when you think your teacher isn’t looking or play it after school to avoid doing homework, Candy Crush Saga is an all time favorite among Northtown students and is very addictive. Senior Thy Trieu states that Candy Crush Saga is her favorite app because “It’s a great way to procrastinate and I get this satisfying feeling when I pass a level.” However, with so many apps out on the market it can take some time to find one you are truly passionate about. Luckily, there are a lot of awesome apps just waiting to be discovered, and be invented.
+ Morgan Tolson, Staff Writer
Cacti: A Kansas City Alternative We all know, in April Kansas City gets a lot of rain, and sometimes the weather is just bipolar, and is very harsh on the beautiful flowers and trees trying to grow here in Northtown. The thought of a desert plant being in Kansas City rarely ever comes across one’s mind since we are in the middle of the United States. Formerly known as Succulents, these plants are not a flower, though some do produce flowers; they are in the Cacti or Cactus category. These little plants are easy to care for; being cacti, they need very little water. You can go a few days to a week without watering, unlike your average plant which needs water constantly. These plants make it easier to take trips and not have to worry that your plant will die. Though they are easy to take care of there is always a catch. These cacti, even if they are are desert plants and not human, do get sun burnt. This could kill the plant easily. Some people go to the extent of obsessing over these plants and make them a hobby much like gardening, in the convienience of your own home. They take up very little space and are very pretty. These plants are even easier to plant. Through the process of propagating, which means “breeding of a species (plant, animal, etc)” [Dictionary.com], one can breed or plant new succulent plants by taking a leaf off of the stem and simply letting them dry, then transplanting them onto moist soil. They are very cost efficient compared to your average flower. You can find these plants at a local Lowes or Home Depot and some nurseries around town. This is just one alternative Kansas City could use or even Northtown could use to decorate the town, and can spread with a low cost.
ARIEL PAUL
+ Ariel Paul, A&E editor
ARIEL PAUL
arts & entertainment|9
Apr. 9, 2013
Reviews
Books & Movies
The Anatomy of a Single Girl
In the teenage life of Dominique Baylor, premed student at+ Daria Snadowsky tending Tulane and recovering heartbroken, Dom experiences fleeting summer romances, reconnections with a best friend, and the struggle of keeping it all together. Going back to her hometown, Fort Myers, for summer vacation, Dom imagines long days spent out on the lake with her parents and crazy nights with her best friend, Amy. After struggling with the loss of her first love, Dom views this summer as a time to heal, but instead finds a smart and attractive boy. He likes her back, but they struggle, as they don’t see eye to eye on everything. Daria Snadowsky writes in such a fashion that keeps the reader engaged, but not guessing. The plot followed a standard series of events, with few surprises. Believing this was a standalone book, I was shocked to discover there was a previous book that explained Dom’s first love. While the book is understandable without reading the first one, entitled, “Anatomy of a Boyfriend,” events in the previous book are alluded to, which I assume would add greater context and depth to this sequel. This book may be a great read for those interested in the turmoil of young relationships, both romantic and friendships, Snadowsky creates a very honest portrayal of both. Those looking for action, intensity, or even suspense will probably not be interested by this book. The book provides a relatively fast read for those interested in looking into it. The only section of the book that was a bit challenging to understand is when a few of the characters would talk about the medical field or the scientific field, which at times was hard to follow and uncommon words were used. I personally found the book hard to relate to; I did not develop a connection with the main character, I even found her to get on my nerves more often than not. Often times, I felt things were rushed into the plot and sections of the novel felt as if they came to jarring ends, there could have been a bit more fluidity throughout. Although, this book is about Dom finding her way into adulthood, which often times can be a jarring process. In Daria Snadowsky’s follow-up to Anatomy of a Overall I believe this book was hit and miss. Some aspects were great, while others left me Boyfriend, eighteen-year-old Dominique explores the very irritated. This book has received many positive reviews, I think it just depends on what relationship between love and lust, and the friendkind of book you enjoy. ships that see us through.
Rated:
+ Sierra Smith, Staff Writer
Divergent
+ Random House Children’s Books, Publisher
+ Veronica Roth
Divergent is the newest teen franchise. It seems as though everywhere you go, if there is a teenager around, Divergent will be brought up in conversation. Author Veronica Roth takes readers into a future of Chicago. Society is divided up into five Factions. Each faction is surrounded by the idea of maintaining an important trait that would contribute to the well-being of society. Almost everyone who reads the books are captivated by the exciting, action packed story of Beatrice Prior, a small Abnegation girl who has to go through choosing her fate, only to find out she isn’t like everyone else. With every page, readers go through a maze of adventure, love, loss, and bravery. Every word that is written holds significance to the later plot. The characters and relationships are developed beautifully. Readers truly feel as if they are running aside the characters through their lives. Just like all major book franchises now, it was time for Divergent to be made into a movie. Summit Entertainment’s Divergent came out on March 21, starring Shailene Woodley and Theo James. I read the books before going to see the movie, and when I saw the cast I must admit that I was extremely skeptic. I knew that the actors casted were talented, but they were not at all what I imagined in my mind. Also, the fact that Summit was behind the production of the movie made me extremely nervous, only due to the fact that they’ve made books into movies before, and they have received a large amount of scrutiny for their interpretation, such as Twilight and Ender’s Game. After going to see the movie, I have mixed feelings. As a standalone movie, it was well done. The acting was astounding, it’s sound score was nearly perfect, the story was captivating, and the plot kept the audience on the edge of their seat the entire time. With that being said, when compared to the book, it falls drastically short. There was so much that was left out of the movie that was extremely important to the story. They left so little time to actually develop and bring the characters to life, which was this was biggest let down for me. It was an extremely good movie, and they did include the major plot points that were needed to properly tell the story. I have faith that Divergent will be successful enough to produce the next two books into movies, and they will improve with time.
+ Shannon Horton, Co-Editor-in-Cheif
Rated:
Book Movie
10|sports
Boys and Girls brave the weather Sierra Smith staff writer
As the season for Northtown’s track team is just kicking into gear, the boys and girls are feeling very hopeful for this season. Sophomore Homero Parra-Lugo said that he, “hopefully is taking some relays to state.” Although Parra-Lugo has injured himself by pulling his hamstring during a practice, he is still confidant that he will make a speedy recovery and will be back on the track in no time. The ultimate goal in track is to be able to go to state, as is the same with many other school sports and activities. Many students are feeling very good about their chances at state this season. Although, track can also be about more than getting to state and winning during the meets; friendships are formed throughout the season. Senior Jordan Williams said, “I like compet-
ing in the meets and socializing with my teammates.” “I like running long distance with my friends,” said freshman Ethan Dwyer. While the team is at meets, there is a lot of watching and waiting around until it is time for each event; the team is bound to find a way to pass
and running nonstop, rain, shine, snow, heat, or any other phenomena that Missouri can bring, the athletes are counting on their, “ strength as a big happy track family,” said Parra-Lugo. Any large group of people spending so much time together is going to expe-
the time. “It’s entertaining to be on the track team; you’re never bored,” said sophomore Niki Langdon. Although the first track meets are just now happening, these Hornets have been dedicated to this sport, attending conditioning and practice long before the season started. With rigorous workouts
rience some friction every now and then, but these students know how to get past it and put their focus on doing their best, individually and as a team. Good luck for the remainder of the season to our Hornet Track Team.
We have a lot of leaders to do big things.” The first game has many benefits, especially building how the team interacts with one another. Some of the girls felt that it helped establish more team bonding. “We have to get into the groove [and] get used to each other,” said Brooks. Another varsity play er, junior Sharee Zombo, similarly said, “it was our first game with everyone there, [and] we’re still trying to figure out how we work with each other.” Also, highlighting the potential of the team, senior Stacey Kitchens said
that, “I don’t think that we played to our full potential,” leaving positive room for improvement throughout the season. “I don’t think that people showed up [to
The Hornet’s Buzz
SIERRA SMITH (Shown above) A Varsity Leap! Varsity long jumper, junior Jamee Weaver, practices
for her field events at the North Kansas City High School’s track after school during practice hours.
(Shown left) Jumping in Head First Varsity high jumper, sophomore Laila Baldwin practices her technique in practice at the North Kansas City High School track.
Girls are determined for good season
Rylie Lyon Co-editor
The North Kansas City High School’s Girls Soccer team is just beginning in this year’s spring sport season. Although the first game did not earn the varsity team a winning score, many members of the team are still optimistic and view the game with constructive criticism and hope. “There are a lot of good things that happened that showed potential,” said senior Maggie Brooks, a four year returning varsity soccer player. “Our sophomore class is going to do big things this year,” continued Brooks, “and our junior team, too.
[this year],” Kitchens said, “we had a lot of injuries last season.” Motivation is a large part of a team’s performance. Some players, like Zombo, listen to music for methods of motivation. For Brooks, “it’s my passion “Every team needs a for playing sports.” Other , and more players, their warm people need to up is their motivation. ” Kitchens, the goalie, said that she “always warms -Junior Sharee Zombo. up separate from the team. [It’s] because I’m the goalie. Coach Belton the first game] mentally gives me a speech before to play,” she said. “It went every game.” good but we all got tired.” Belton helps Kitchens “I feel like we’re going warm up by kicking goals, to have a better season, we all while talking and givhave a lot more potential ing her before-the-game-
fan base come out to our games.
speech. It helps Kitchen “give [her] all and come out on top.” Another important aspect of motivation is the support a team is given. A crowd could be a large motivator to a player. “Every team needs a fan base, and more people need to come out to our games,” said Zombo. As a team sport, players have to make certain contributions to aid the overall performance. “I like to keep people focused and keep people doing okay and having fun. I like to push people,” said Zombo, and it is very important that “[you] do your part for the team.”
Boys baseball
Boys Golf
staff writer
staff writer
Apr. 9, 2013
Ariel Paul
The baseball team is back into full swing! Opening Monday March 24, the boys played against St. Pius and won 10-0 NKC. The team practices everyday at Macken Park making the team stronger in defense, hit harder, and pitch faster. This being from the help from the experience of seniors on the team: Blake Brown, Steven Coronado, Alex Mullins, Brock Lorenzen, Aaron Garcia, Jairo Mendez, Alex Delich, and Dylan West. “This season we’re off to a good start with our first two wins at home, it gives us a good feeling about the rest of the season.” Said senior Steven Coronado. “I’m really excited to play the top 10 teams in the state, and even the 2nd best in Missouri [Fancis Howell from St. Louis].” said coach Steve Hall. The baseball team encourages all students to come to the NKC vs. Oak Park game April 29, where there will be a JV - Varsity header @ 4:30 and 6:30, both under the lights where the T-Bones play.
e h T zz Bu Co- Editors Rylie Lyon Shannon Horton Editorial Editor Fatima Delic A&E Editor Ariel Paul Photo Editor Sierra Cawthon Cartoonist Sabrina Merrill
“I’m very excited about playing at the T-Bones stadium and also seeing how far this great team can go this season.” Said Coronado. Boy’s baseball is looking up this year. “The thing I love most about the team is the chemistry we all have grown up together throughout these four years.” Said Coronado There are very high hopes for this season so come out and support the Hornet Baseball team!
f f Sta Staff Writers Elissa Christensen Molly Green Tramea McCrary Emma Medill Sabrina Merrill Sierra Smith Alyssa Stoner Morgan Tolson Adviser Mr. Paul Aubrey
Swing Batta Batta! Parker Mullins finishes his swing in a game at Macken Park.
Heres The Wind Up Senior Steven Coronado rears his arm back, getting ready to send a ball flying over home plate.
sports|11
Elissa Christensen
Spring sports are here and the Boy’s Golf team is getting ready to start the season. The boys take a bus to Liberty to go to Cardinal Hills, where they hold their practices. They work hard practicing
from 3:30 to about 5:30. The team has 11 players this year consisted mainly freshman this year with only five returning players; Dave and James Bailey, Blake Howerton, Caleb Sage and Cole Gage. Even though golf may seem like an easy sport, it’s actually quite hard to
actually become good at the game. Even with that, the boys all seem to be confident and believe that Northtown will do very well this season. “I think that overall as long as everyone stays devoted to improvement that we’ll do very well this season,” said Freshman, Nathan Huffman. “I’m confident, I haven’t really seen any of the teams yet but I think we have a good chance. Practice is fun, I think as long as I stay devoted I can get a lot better at the sport,” Huffman added. A few of those boys said that they are really having fun and are enjoying the team environment. “Practice has been going well, learning a lot of new stuff, even though returning players are learning the same stuff over again,” said sophomore, Caleb Sage. “I think the season for me is going to be better than last year.” Let’s cheer the boys on for a great season and hope they do well again this year. Go Hornets!
Policies of the Buzz • The North Kansas City High School newspaper, The Hornet’s Buzz, is part of the educational curriculum of North Kansas City School District. Although the paper is a class activity, NKCHS students may submit materials, such as stories, photography, or art, for publication consideration. Students should bring any submissions to Room MN219. Submissions may be edited for content, length and grammar. • The Buzz is a student publication that is published in accordance with Board of Education Policy IGBD- Student Publications. Schoolsponsored publications and productions are part of the curriculum and are not a public forum for general student use. School authorities may edit or delete material which is inconsistent with the district’s legitimate educational concerns. All student media shall comply with the ethics and rules of responsible journalism. • Any person with an interest in the NKCHS community is encouraged to submit letters to the editor. All letters must be signed. All signatures will be verified through a phone call or personal interview. Letters should be fewer than 400 words in length. The Buzz reserves the right to edit any letter for grammatical errors, libelous content, or space limitations. Letters to the Editor may be emailed to paubrey@ nkcschools.org, or mailed to North Kansas City High School, 620 East 23rd Avenue, North Kansas City, Missouri, 64116.
• If written, staff editorials will not be signed and will reflect the opinion of the majority of the staff members. Commentaries and columns, on the other hand, will be signed and reflect the individual writer’s views. • The Buzz is a member of the National Scholastic Press Association, Missouri Interscholastic Press Association, Journalism Educators of Metropolitan Kansas City, and Journalism Education Association. Some material is courtesy of MCT Campus HS Newspaper Service. • If you are interested in advertising with The Buzz, please contact us at (816) 413-5970 or email paubrey@nkcschools.org. • The Buzz is printed by The Sedalia Democrat of Sedalia, Mo.
12|world
The Hornet’s Buzz
Parallel
150,000 Karen (pronounced Cah-Ren) people have fled to refugee camps in Thailand to escape the civil war happening in their home country of Myanmar (previously Burma). Juniors Lwehit Kaw, Hserkabaw Lu and Wahwah Hser did just that, all spending a part of their lives in Umphium Mai Refugee Camp “We didn’t even know each other until we lived here [Kansas City]. We were all in different zones,” Hserkabaw said. The camp has shops, restaurants, schools, and churches. About 50,000 Karen citizens have settled in Canada, Australia, America, and even some European countries. The Karen people live in the most southeastern part of Myanmar.
Journeys
“If there is anything special about the Karen culture it’s the clothes,” said Junior Lwehit Kaw. The clothes of the Karen culture are bright and vibrant colors and hand-woven with very distinctive patterns. The women wear typically long dresses and the men wear pants and a long shirt. The clothing is traditionally worn during ceremonies and on holidays. They wear their clothes on Marty Day. Marty Day is much like our Memorial Day. It is all about respecting the dead and singing the national song. Lwehit was born in Burma, and moved to a camp in Thailand. He left that camp because the Burmese soldiers tore it down, and he was forced to move. Lwehit plans on going back to Thailand after graduation. “I miss my home, my friends and relatives.” He says he loves Kansas City. When he first came to America he lived in Austin, Texas, but his father wanted to come to Kansas City because of the available jobs.
Junior Hser KaBawLu has been in America for about six years. Her favorite thing about America is the freedom. HserKaBaw Lu was born in Thailand, in Wah Kya, a camp her family was in before Umpiem Mai. “I remember that every month all the houses were given a big bag of rice, oil, bean and coal. And all the houses were made of bamboo.” HserKaBaw Lu relocated to Umphium Mai because during the time they lived in the first camp, Burmese soldiers tried to destroy it. Her family was forced to relocate to another camp. After this some families and friends were separated. Lu says she will definitely be going back to visit Thailand and Burma.
Wahwah Hser moved from The village of Way-Pa-Thee to a refugee camp in Thailand at the age of six. “I remember my mom and dad took my older sister first then came back for me and my little sister.” In the camp, she remembers the schoolhouse the most. “It was so different because back in my village the house didn’t even have a roof.” Hser says she enjoys America very much and but misses her home. Back in the camps. They used to watch movies in English and see America depicted. When the counselor at the camps assigned her family in Kansas City, she was excited to come see it in real life. “I love Kansas City and don’t ever plan on leaving it.” Story and Photos by Molly Green, guest writer