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students speak out On April 20, 2018, students at Olathe North joined the nationwide walkout protesting government inaction on gun reform. Read more on pages 4-7.
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In this issue 8 12 10 12
News Taking a stand by walking out 4 / big brother is watching 8 Features the library's hidden gems 10 / program spotlights 12 / warning: no lifeguard on duty 14 Sports behind the cut 16 A&E bangin; book reviews 18 / frolicking in the forest 20 / olathe cares 26 Opinions all work and no play 29 / stereotypes: today's first impression 30 / the truth behind white privilege 31 / my top 5 worst ideas 32
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Staff Editors-In-Chief Ana Schulte Magda Werkmeister Lauren Yoksh
Copy Editor Isabella Bray
Business Manager Amara Lindsey
News Editor
Letter from the editors Another year is drawing to a close here at Olathe North. To our fellow seniors, as we spend our last days in high school dancing at prom and studying hopelessly for AP tests and simply enjoying the nostalgia and excitement that comes with the end of an era, let us not forget to be grateful for our wonderful years spent at ON. Without the encouragment of our teachers, administrators, and fellow peers, who knows if we would have made it this far. And to everyone else who will not be graduating this May, don't forget to keep living it up! Listen to some good tunes, spend time doing what you love, and run aimlessly in the green prairie every time the weather is warm enough. Spring is coming, and before you know it summer will be here, then fall, and you'll be starting another school year. So sit down, be humble, and live life while you can, my friends. Seniors signing off! -Ana, Magda, and Lauren Contact Information
Mailing address: 600 E Prarie St. Olathe, KS 66061 Phone: (913) 780-7140 Email: theonchronicle@gmail.com
Responding to the publication
Letters to the editors can be submitted to the email address listed above. Letters may be published in print. Letters may not be personal attacks against an individual and may be edited for brievity or legibility.
Advertising
The Chronicle accepts advertisments; these can be submitted to the email above. Pricing and other information can be obtained by contacting us at rcaveon@olatheschools.org or amaraslindsey@ gmail.com
Purpose
The Chronicle is the official high school news publication of Olathe North High School, an open forum distributed to all students 8 times a year. This is the fifth issue of volume five. The Chronicle is printed by the Sedalia Democrat, 700 South Massachusetts, Sedalia MO, 65301. This is a student publication and may contain controversial matter. The Olathe Unified School District No. 233 and its board members, officers, and employees disclaim any responsibility for the content of this student publication; it is not an expression of the School District Policy. Students and editors are soley responsible for this student publication.
Alex Thompson
Features editor Abigail Miles
A&E editor Emma Reuter
Sports Editor Kylee Weber
Opinions Editor Haley McGriff
Staff artist Josie Sloan
Staff writers
Miles Arambula Jena Bright Rachel Delehanty Molly Duke David Genis Ashley Honey Kalley Jurgielski Andrea Martin Audrey McWhorter Juliana McWilliams Autumn Mesmer Paiton Stith
Advisor Robert M. Cave, Jr.
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taking a stand by walking out by Molly duke Staff Writer design by Magda Werkmeister Editor-in-Chief
Walk•out: /ˈ’wôk_ˈout/ noun A sudden angry departure, especially as a protest or strike. Walking out: this is what many high school students are doing across the nation as they say enough is enough—school shootings must stop. After seventeen more students were shot and killed on February 14, 2018, students are standing up for their lives by walking out of their schools on April 20, 19 years after the infamous Columbine High School massacre. On February 14, 2018, 19 year old Nikolas Cruz walked into Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School and shot seventeen people, including three of the staff members. After the shooting Cruz was taken into custody, where if he pled guilty he would be granted with a life sentence. This shooting produced more fatalities than the infamous Columbine High School shooting, which ended with the deaths of 13, and injuring 24 more. Since the attack School shootings have scarily spiked in recent years. In the past five years, there have been over 290 school shootings, nearly half ending with an attempted or completed suicide. Because of the worrying increase in shootings, many students are standing up to the loose laws surrounding firearms. Shortly after the Parkland shooting, protests addressing gun laws began popping up across the nation, which resulted in the walkout. For at least 17 minutes, students are to walk out of class at 10am on the 20th of April to show respect for the victims of the Parkland shooting. However, this isn’t the first time in history that a walkout has been used to protest. In 1968, a series of walkouts took place in Chicano. Students
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were protesting unequal conditions in Los Angeles Unified Schools. These walkout’s caused a chain reaction that lasted for over seven months. Trying to fix the inequality of their schools. The nation’s response to school shootings is only an echo of the past. Emma Gonzalez, a senior at Stoneman Douglas High, could quite possibly be named the most influential voice in this time of controversy. After drawing attention at a rally where she gave a speech against gun violence, the teen used her fame to bring awareness to the growing rate of school shootings. The 19 year old is famously known for her saying “We call B.S”, in reference to the lack of action of politics involved with the NRA. Additionally, she helped organize March For Our Lives, which ended up being the largest student protest in US history. Another influential voice is David Hogg, a senior at Stoneman Douglas High who survived the infamous shooting. The 18 year old activist has made his voice recognized around the nation by speaking out on the lack of gun control. Appearing as one of the leaders of the 2018 United States gun protest, his name has stayed prominent in current news. All of these walk-outs haven’t been for nothing, however. In March 2018, the Florida Legislature passed the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act. The act not only increased the minimum age of purchasing a firearm to 21, but also established background checks. It also stops
potentially mentally ill people from purchasing a firearm. “To the students of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, you made your voices heard. You didn’t let up and you fought until there was change,” Florida Governor Rick Scott said.
“We need to stand up, go out and vote, talk to our legislators, and get educated. Be persistent. Because these interest groups and these politicians will not listen if we don’t speak up.” - David Hogg For the first time in Olathe North’s recent history, students protested. On April 20, 2018, hundreds of students stood up at the end of their first hour and walked out to protest the lack of gun control in the United States. The students walked peacefully to the football field, where they gathered and held a small rally in honor of all of those who have lost their lives at the hands of school shooters. Senior Ryan Harra lead the rally, after a moment of silence for those who had fallen victim to gun violence, beginning with a small speech before handing the show over to people who would perform pieces they prepared for the walkout. The first performance of the piece was by Northwinds students, who sang “Never More Will the Wind”. The group all wore blue to give recognition to the movement and all it stood for. Naomi Turner gave a stunning solo in the performance, making it all the more meaningful. After they had finished, they respectfully nodded and left the stage. Sara Holscher, a freshman at Olathe North, gave the first speech of the day, an invigorating speech about being an advocate for gun reform. Delving into the history of gun violence she not only pressures the lawmakers to pass laws on gun control, but also encourages students to continue protesting the lack of laws surrounding gun control. “This time is different because we will keep coming back, we will keep gathering, we will keep making trips to the capitol, we will keep putting pressure on our lawmakers,” Holscher declares in her speech.
Following Sara was Junior Kirstein Osei-Bonsu, who read her poem in front of the crowd. The poem surrounds her outlook on the gun violence spreading throughout the nation, whether it be the Pulse nightclub shooting or the infamous shooting that took place in Las Vegas last october. Addressing her mother in the poem, she tells her of all the things she didn’t know, about how she cried for the lass of innocent lives, and how she was going to fight to change the easy access to guns and prevent these horrible shootings. Senior Caleb Bishop also read a piece written by himself. The piece easily fell into the category for slam poetry, attacking the government and those responsible for allowing such easy access to guns. He used strong topics and symbolism surrounding stardust and the galaxy, and tied everything back to the idea that human life is precious. The last to perform was junior Marco Bozinos, who gave a touching speech riddled with statistics. He spoke the names of those who had their lives ripped away at the hands of guns, being shot down in their schools. Bozinos expressed his outrage over the laws attached to guns, declaring himself an advocate for change. After he finished speaking, the crowd thundered in applause, hundreds of people agreeing with his speech and agreeing that change must happen. Time ran short at the end of the rally, however that didn’t stop Lauren Morse from getting in a few words. She thanked everyone for attending and expressed her gratitude. She gave a few more words of encouragement before joining the other speakers on the sidelines. When the clock struck 9:33, students filed quietly back inside, having peacefully executed what they had planned to do. Five minutes later, class was in session, and school went on.
Left page: ON students file out of the school and on to the practice football field after walking out of their first hours. Above: The United States flag waves over students as they listen to a speaker.
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“The Olathe North community—and our student body specifically—completely blew me away... I was blown away by the quality of their songs, their speeches, their poems. It was absolutely amazing,” says Harra on the performers at the rally.
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1 and 2: Students gather on the practice football field in preparation for the gun control rally after they walk out of classes. Student Democrats President and student organizer Ryan Harra says, “The walkout was originally an idea to give students a voice on an issue that they felt they had been voiceless on, an issue they felt had not been acted on appropriately by our legislators, but it quickly became much more than that because we realized we weren’t speaking for ourselves. We’re mostly speaking for those people who had those rights taken away and every time we exercise the right of freedom of speech or assembly or protest, we are doing it because 17 kids in Parkland will never get the right to protest again... Not just for those 17 victims, but for the hundreds of others who have also had those rights taken away, and most importantly, I think, for the hundreds more that we knew would have those rights taken away and their lives taken away if we didn’t do anything. That’s what really motivated us to put this together... It was incredibly moving to watch everyone move towards that goal.” 3: Marco Bozinos delivers a speech filled with statistics on gun violence. 4: Caleb Bishop delivers a slam poem on the lack of reform that has taken place. 5: Northwinds, Olathe North’s most elite choir, sings “Never More Will the Wind.”
olathe north students sara holscher and emily fannin had the opportunity to speak at the kansas city march for our lives event on march 24. they spoke to the chronicle about their experiences and visions for the future.
sara holscher
How did you initially get involved? My mom actually came to me- cause she’s a state representative, so she’s friends with people like that and she was like “hey, there’s this rally going on, would you like to speak in it? Would you like to be involved in it? To get different perspectives from like- you know- the average student. So I showed up to the first meeting and it was at the plaza and that’s basically how it started. My mom saw it on facebook and I showed up. What is this movement about? For me, it’s basically about getting student’s voices heard. If we are able to be shot at while we are in school, we have the right to stand up and say “hey, this is not OK.” It no longer becomes a debate between politics- it’s common sense. And that’s why I definitely like using the phrase “common sense gun control” rather than just “gun control” because students should not have to worry. emily fannin
How did you initially get involved? Well first, my mom has a lot of friends on facebook and one of her friends was like, one of the adults that helped to make the march in Kansas City, so I was like “I want to come, I want to join”, so I went to almost all of the meetings and helped organize almost everything. What do you hope that this will change in the future? I hope for common sense gun laws- like no AR-15s or raising the age or all of the above or anything with common sense.
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Big brother is watching written by david genis, Staff writer Design by emma reuter, Editor In the midst of the aftermath of the big brother game, the ON theatre department is putting on a production of 1984, showing the relevance it still has today.
In George Orwell’s novel 1984, Orwell depicts
a society in which Big Brother is always watching, where all members of society may be members of the Thought Police: secret members who spy on civilians and report them to Big Brother who takes them away for crime thought. But how does George Orwell’s depiction of the future compare to the realities of 2018? Many similarities can be observed in the world today and the world of 1984, particularly by looking at the technology that has become so essential to our daily lives. The Olathe North Theatre department is performing a stage adapted version of the novel on April 26, 27, 28, but will the message of 1984 remain intact? Sherrilyn Gerdel, teacher at Olathe north and director of the production, who feels that message is very similar, in that the world of 1984 is much more similar than one might think, and that it is growing closer without much notice or resistance. “I think humans are typically apathetic so we can lose the freedoms and the wonderfulness that we in our world if we aren’t really paying attention and thinking and engaging and respecting other people.” she says. Ashton Gohman, Olathe North senior, Distinguished Scholars Political Science student, is a member of the 1984 cast, and believes that the modern world resembles 1984 in many ways, some more noticeable than others. “People are just more… I don’t want to say ignorant because obviously that’s not true, you just see bits and pieces of it everywhere, following what ‘Big Brother’ tells you to do.”
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Mady Edmonds, Junior at Olathe North, and part of the cast of 1984 thinks that the world of 1984 is something which we don’t feel could happen but is actually closer than we think. “We have many things today that we take for granted, like privacy and free will… we should be aware of what is currently happening around us in the news, politics, and other areas.” she states. Gerdel agrees in this sentiment, that 1984 and ‘Big Brother’ are in some ways already with us, that through technology and the style of the modern world. She states, “We are definitely watched everywhere we go and we are tracked and we are doing it of our own volition. We are readily giving away information about all of our private lives in social media so that is definitely true.” While the government of Big Brother is an ever present watchful in the form of the telescreens, cameras which watch and listen to the citizens of Oceania all the time, our government seems very different, but Gohman disagrees, stating they may not be as different as one might think. “They decide what we can and cannot do on a daily basis… they decide everything that effects us as a nation.” he states. The similarities of 1984 to our society can be seen Edmonds agrees, stating, “We are constantly watched through our phones without really being aware of it… “fake news and alternative facts” have also become very popular in our media today.”
the surveilliance state Read below for some ways Orwell`s predcitions came true.
Society`s languages are constantly evolving in a euphemistic nature, as new slang and terms are repeatedly integrated into daily use. In 1984, Orwell illustrates how controlling language and censorship can control the masses and this is quite the case today as how you speak often dictates one`s place in society by how others perceive them.
The message of the novel 1984 is bleak, and if that message will carry through in the stage performance, Gohman says, “It’s a message of warning to not become a hive mind, to not buy into everything, sometimes original thought is necessary to create a society that will be able to sustain itself.” Avoiding this future and how to do so, has been an important part of the novel and play alike, as for how to avoid it, there are many options available. Gerdel says, “By being engaged, by taking the time to look at events that are going on, critically looking at the sources that are providing the information, by knowing the people around us, by having community, and really genuinely caring about people.” Gohman feels the same way, stating, “Don’t be apathetic towards everything, because apathy is what leads to, I mean, people being able to take over our lives.” Edmonds also believes that the path to a future lies in free thought and staying aware of the government and what it is doing, the way to secure the future is by retaining free will and consciousness. “We can’t be okay with living unfreely but comfortably, we must stay aware and pay attention and never stop thinking for ourselves.” she says.
In the book the world is constantly at war even as the enemy is continuously changing from one country to another. While the purpose of the war in the novel is to help keep the people docile and fearful, it may not serve as much of that purpose today. But, the state of most nations today is similar as there is never-ending conflict. It seems that as soon as military presence is removed from one place, it is instilled deeper in another.
In 1984, the notorious Big Brother (the leader of the nation) is supposedly constantly watching the population through “telescreens”. The monitoring in the novel has likely come true in more ways than people know as the NSA is involved in wiretapping and everything people do online is monitored and tracked. Today, people carry their “telescreens” with them everywhere they go.
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THE LIBRARY’S HIDDEN GEMS
Writing by Miles Arambula and Paiton Smith Staff Writers Design by Kalley Jurgielski Staff Designer Elements of Art by Josie Sloan Staff Artist
Did you know the library has so many cool things? Stop by to check them out!
The library has a new 3D printer!
“The 3D printer we have is brand new, we have notwe’ve experimented with it a little bit, to be honest- my expertise is not very good with it yet. We do have one available for student use. Students can bring in their projects and print it out. I think we’ve only had two students that have actually used it. But we haven’t really advertised it. We can run some things on it and we can make a handful of items on it.” “Our plan is to hopefully get it on a cart- it’s kind of noisy but we’ve got it back there- we’ve had a student who has printed 3 objects off on it. They bring them in and if its deemed appropriate and its within a scale that we can print, then we can print it. It’s free for students to use. The whole idea is that they [students] learn how to use it.”
We also have a Raspberry Pi!
“Not using it yet but library also has Raspberry Pi. Once set up, students can come in and learn computer programming. We’d like to get somewhat of a maker space. We have a goal where we might have some of those things available to students, where they can actually come in and learn how to do coding on our machine. We have a TV screen that actually has a raspberry pi with it that they can go on and do coding and things like that, minecraft cod1 0 | The Chronicle | Issue 6
Most Checked Out Books in April 1.) Ready Player One By Ernest Cline 2.) I Am Malala By Malala Yousafazi 3.) Band of the Brotherhood By Stephen E. Ambrose 4.) Outcast By Keri Arthur 5.) Dear John By Nicholas Sparks 6.) Peregrines By Ransom Riggs 7.) SAT By College Board 8.) House of Hades By Rick Riordan
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4340 books have been checked out from the school library the most popular genre at ON is science fiction fantasy 5.8 items are checked out per student the average age of a book in the library is 10 years old 27% of the books in the library are from 2013 or newer
from the beginning to the end of the 2016-2017 school year, 747 classes came to use the library
the average usage time of the library in the morning is 7:45 am
on average, 147.8 students use the library at that time every day
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PROGRAM SPOTLIGHTS Writing By Juliana McWilliams Staff Writer
Sports Medicine and Exercise Science Academy
The Sports Medicine and Exercise Science Academy is a four-year program that is available for students in the Olathe School District. In this program students learn about injuries, first aid, emergency care, rehabilitation of injuries, and the proper use of therapeutic exercise. Students also learn about the science behind human movement and athletic performance. By working in the athletic training room, students can
Olathe Advanced Technical Center
The Olathe Advanced Technical Center is available to all of those in the Olathe School District. This program covers the automotive collision technology program, the automotive technology program, the construction trades program, the welding technology program, culinary arts, as well as certified nurse assistant or CNA. These are all two year programs offered to juniors and seniors. During freshman and sophomore year students can begin going through the application process and exploring these programs. They can also take classes available at North to
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Design By Kalley Jurgielski Staff Designer
gain the skills they need to assist injured athletes on the field and their rehabilitation. Students are given opportunities to research exercise in the athletic training room and are also given the clinical field experiences with industry professionals including physical therapists, strength coaches, physical educators, nutritionists and paramedics. In this program, students can be involved with sports by becoming student athletic trainers where they can practice and assist student help prepare them for the program in which they are interested. It is also an option to enroll for one year rather than two. This program can allow and provide industry recognized certifications, college now options, internships, college visits, assistance with post-secondary options, resume writing, scholarship opportunities, and the development of interviewing skills. The Olathe Advanced Technical Center helps students focus on employability skills and helps prepare students for the high demand, high skill, and high paying careers that will be found in the real world and can connect them to business and
athletes in rehabilitation and recovery. With the Sports Medicine and Exercise Science Academy, a variety of health career fields are explored through coursework, projects, and internships. When asked what her favorite thing to do with the academy is, Junior, Bella Serrano said, “The exposure to careers and opportunities after high school. I love lab days and using our knowledge on our peers in class and in our sports.”
industry. Junior, Areyanna Arevalo is in the culinary program that is offered at the Olathe Advanced Technical Center, When asked what she enjoys doing the most, Arevalo says, “I enjoy the fact that its hands on learning.” When asked what makes the Olathe Advanced Technical Center different from classes offered at Olathe North, Arevalo states, “It’s three hours long so you get to really know the other people in there.”
Distinguished Scholars Academy
In the Distinguished Scholars Academy, students develop the understanding for current global issues from various curricular viewpoints. In the classroom, cross curricular year long studies and the completion of non-traditional coursework in one of five content areas available can be seen. As freshman, students focus on bettering themselves by exploring academic disciplines and developing cultural awareness through global issues. Freshman also receive the assistance and practice they need and get experiences that will help them in the future. As sophomores, juniors, and seniors, students are able to specialize in language arts, math,
Medical Professions Academy
In the Medical Professions Academy, students are able to learn about and establish an understanding for the variety of opportunities available in the life sciences field. Students focus on genetics, research, and human healthcare through research, handson patient care, coursework, and experimental labs. With the use of genetics students analyze genetic
political science, science, and visual arts. Students can learn from experts in their chosen fields of study and are able to gain access to advanced technology and resources that can provide help and be appropriate and fit their field of study. Students are also given the opportunity to compete in local, regional, and national academic competitions in one of five content areas. Sophomore, Alyssa McCue, shares “I wanted to be involved in Distinguished Scholars because I felt it was a good fit for me and what I want to accomplish academically.” She also mentions another reason for her wanting to be involved with the program, “Distinguished Scholars
offers a Language Arts focus area and I wanted to develop my writing and reading skills and be in an environment where others share the same goals and interests.” McCue reveals that the most interesting thing about the program is, “the many opportunities it provides for students. The different content areas are so versatile and attract many diverse students with different interests. She adds “The Distinguished Scholars Academy has the ability to bring students together, give them unique opportunities based on their interests, and create a healthy academic environment for its members.”
code through DNA and proteins. Students get the opportunity to conduct research using specialized equipment provided in the life science and biotechnology fields. The focus of the academy is to combine genetics and research while applying it to patient care. Internships, shadowing, and partnerships with educational and industry leaders in life science fields at hospitals, research laboratories, and patient care facilities are available for the students in this program. “Recently we built our own water treatment projects for filtration,
but we also work with medical files to build treatment plans.” Junior, Sireen Kenea shares. “We researched prostate cancer treatment options and then presented it,” Kenea adds when asked some of the activity they do on a daily basis. Kenea, gives her reason for wanting to be involved with the medical professions academy, “I always had an interest in science and loved how the program gave us the opportunity to run labs that could help us in the future if we go into research.”
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WARNING
No Lifegaurd on duty From the months of May to August, danger lurks in every corner. Here’s your guide to avoid these select summer horrors.
sunburn
Summer is fun. You know what’s not fun? Sunburn. Listen, sunburn is not something to play around with. Irritated, itchy, peeling skin. You’re red, existing hurts, and you probably have some pretty gnarly burn lines. That’s not hot. So take notes, kids, or you’ll end up looking like a distraught lobster this summer. SPF 100, long pants, long sleeves- looking sensual isn’t worth the skin cancer- and a hat. That’s just the way you gotta do it. Or, you know, you could just not go outside… So enjoy your sunburn free summer, guys!
bbq
Summer has just begun, you’re in your uncle’s backyard, he’s wearing socks and sandals, and it smells like barbecue. You grab a plate, load that bad boy up with grilled chicken and sauce-drenched, juicy steaks. It’s amazing; you eat 3 plates. You start to realize humans weren’t meant to eat smoked pieces of meat as you feel them kicking around in vengeance. We are omnivores, but the sweet timbre of that sausage on the grill is far more enchanting than the cauliflower sweating in a bowl. But now, you feel a little sick. It’s hot out and the barbecue in your belly is getting a little overcooked.. You blow chunks everywhere and your cousins and Auntie June are looking at you and suddenly this summer day isn’t that enjoyable. Don’t over eat. It always seems like a good idea at the start but then you end up being the awkward cousin. Just don’t give in to the sweet temptations of those honey bbq chicken wings.
fireworks
According to the National Fire Protection Association, fireworks start about 18,500 fires every year. American hospitals treated around 11,900 people for injuries caused by fireworks in 2015. Sparklers are the most dangerous of consumer fireworks and are hot enough to cause third-degree burns. They can reach 1,200 degrees fahrenheit--for comparison, glass melts at 900 degrees fahrenheit. Sparklers also cause one fourth of emergency room patients injured by fireworks. It is important to be safe by avoiding consumer fireworks and only attending shows that are presented by experts. If your neighbors decide to have a fun get-together in their yard with fireworks they purchased on the side of the road, run immediately. Get inside your house, close your windows, pull the blinds shut, and burrow yourself under three thick quilts of at least three inches in thickness. You should always practice these drills with your family each week in preparation for the Fourth of July and New Years Eve unless you want to find yourself in the emergency room, burt to a fine crisp.
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summer job
Interested in a summer job? You may want to reconsider that. According to a 2012 study by Marianna Virtanen, Stephen A. Stansfeld, Rebecca Fuhrer, Jane E. Ferrie, and Mika Kivimaki, there is a correlation between overtime work and risks of a major depressive episode. This was regardless of the lifestyle and demographic of each participant. WebMD suggests that working too long could prohibit one from spending time with family, eating healthy meals at home, and exercising. Money is not important at all. You should not be holding a job while you are in high school because it is destined to lead you to an early, painful, miserable death. If you do end up having a job for some reason, you need to dedicate at least three hours each night to listening to peaceful ocean waves on YouTube to relieve you of your stress. Two and a half hours is not enough--you need exactly three hours and not any more than that to prevent summer stress.
at the pool Goggles? Check. Swimsuit? Check. Floaties? Check. Wait, before you dip your toe into the pool, have you ever thought about what is in there? Like really in there. All the hundreds of bodies that have entered an left the water area. All those germs. Now that your mind thinking about all the numerous diseases that might be swirling in there, the amount of bacteria that live in pools is by far greater than the amount of chlorine in the pool. And of course, let's not forget the known rule not to pee in the pool. But did you know that 1 in 5 people pee in pools, and it’s quite obvious you nor I could be the ones that still pee in the pool because that’s just gross, so really who are these grown adults admitting to using the pool as their own private urinal? Speaking of urinals, the reason why your eyes burn when you’re in pool is not because of the chlorine, but because of the feces in there, yup the poop that is left in people’s butts, ends up in your favorite pool! Now that you know that pools are in fact one the grossest places on this green earth, maybe you should think about heading to a nice and safe area where you people’s poop is nowhere near your eyes.
sloth Whoever came up with the idea of creating a mattress is a complete and utter genius. The idea of sleeping on a cloud and never leaving is a dream (pun unintened). The indent of where you lay on your bed is now there forever. You and your bed are one. But what about the millions of dust mites that live in there? Or where you lay your head is full of your dead skin cells? Or what about all the sweat that accumulates in your sleep? Your bed is no heaven, it is a gross ball of disgustingness. The place where you once felt the happiest has now become this burning inferno that has no escape. Rolling around in the most unpleasant and finding it comfortable is no comforting thought. Maybe the inventor of the mattress wasn’t a complete and utter genius; maybe the inventor wanted you to believe that your bed was your best friend so they could pull a fast one on all of us and make us think that a bed is the best place for the summer.
By Miles ArAMBULA, ASHLEY HONEY, AND ANDREA MARTIN Staff writers Design by Ana Schulte Editor-in-Chief
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Behind the cut Olathe North Varsity athlete, Connor Heck in mid swing, while Cole Carmody prepares for his at bat in the on deck circle. Photo Courtasy of Olathe North Baseball Twitter
by Kylee Weber and Aurdrey mcwhorter Design by Kylee Weber Staff Writers Editor Eight seniors, five juniors, four sophomores and 3 freshman are on varsity this year, allowing Olathe North to have a younger team than the program has had in past years. Coaches had to make difficult decisions after creating a bond with several athletes over the years. Thirteen seniors tried out for the team this year, all of which have played in past years and some of which that are playing in college, however only eight of the players made the team. Although rumors have been flying about what happened to the team, it all comes down to the decisions the coaches made that is best for the team and program. Senior Dillon Ponzer played on the Olathe North’s baseball team for 3 years and has played in multiple positions throughout the years. Ponzer states, “There wasn’t a spot for me and they didn’t have enough ‘pitcher only’ positions so they couldn’t keep a designated hitter on.”
In February, Ponzer and a friend came up with an idea about getting a flower for every girl at Olathe North. This event circulated the Olathe School District, made it onto the news, and became a popular concept around other schools. The baseball team surprised the girls during their first hour on Valentines day to make their day extra special. Ponzer states “I wouldn’t have changed anything about that day, even though I didn’t make the team, we made every girl at Olathe North’s Valentines Day special and that was all that mattered.” He built many bonds over the years with the coaches and his fellow teammates. It has given the athletes many memories that they will remember for years after high school. The thing that surprised Ponzer the most after being cut was the reaction the coaches gave, “Three of the coaches were pretty much in tears.” The changes that were made were not easy for the students or the coaches. When Olathe North Head Baseball Coach Kris Didion was asked
“Three of the coaches were pretty much in tears” Senior Dillon Ponzer
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“We care about the players and the students at Olathe North” Head Coach Kris Didion about the cuts made this year he stated, “At the end of the day we’ve spent a lot of time with these players over the last three years and it’s not easy. We’re humans as well, we’re not robots, we have feelings. We care about the players and the students at Olathe North.” This is Didion’s first year as head coach for the baseball team in the past 3 years he was assistant varsity coach. Going through tryouts this year Didion took the responsibility as the Head Coach and shares that he had to do what was best for the team. Although several athletes at different high school were cut from the team there has been many professional athletes that did not play High School Sports. Mark Buehrle, a pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays Major League Baseball team. Although athletes get cut from teams, it doesn’t affect their ability to play the sport. While the changes that were made were upsetting, there were some benefits for the student athletes that were cut. Senior Grant Hrabik was cut after playing baseball for Olathe North for three years. Hrabik plans on attending Doane University to continue his academic career and to play baseball, and signed with his college on April 12. “I think it pushed me to be a better athlete.” Hrabik said.
Olathe North baseball player, Connor Heck begins to run to first base after making a hit while his fellow teamate watches to see Photo Courtasy of Olathe North where it went. Baseball Twitter
“I think it pushed me to be a better athlete” Senior Grant Hrabik
Issue 6 | The Chronicle | 17
Bangin’ Book Reviews
Written by Andrea Martin, Ashley Honey, Autumn Mesmer and Paiton Stith, staff writers design by alex thompsom staff designer
In need of a new book? read below for some suggestions from the Olathe North Chronical Staff
The Bear and the Nightingale, Katherine Arden
Rating:
I read The Bear and The Nightingale by Katherine Arden. This book takes place in Russia during the 14/15 century. The snow is relentless and bears hardships on the Vladimirovich family. Their land is full of little sprites that can only be seen by certain people, one of which is Vaysa Vladimirovich, the second youngest of the family. After her mother dies from childbirth, Vaysa’s father remarries. Vaysa’s life soon turns into an old Russian fairy tale. Her stepmother treats Vaysa unfairly compared to the youngest daughter and makes life harder for Vaysa. When the sprites and the way of life are threatened, Vaysa must save her family and her village
before they all die. I really liked this book. It weaves together history and science fiction so well. Arden makes the characters seem believable and heart-warming. The lead character is a strong female character that does not care for the idea of marriage and being tied down. The book is divided into three parts, the first two can be seen somewhat slow; they have really intense points and then they slow down again. But the third part is worthwhile for all the background information. It ties in all the previous elements that have been mentioned in the book and the author’s writing style makes tying it all very effortless and smooth.
The Handsmaid’s Tail, Margaret Atwood
Rating:
Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale is classified as speculative fiction which means that it took the current societal reality of Atwood’s time (1980s) and exaggerated it to the logical extreme. In this case, the logical extreme is a society where birth rates and fertility have fallen so low that fertile women are forced to become “handmaids” to high ranking members of Gilead, the theocratic regime, in order to bear their children. Offred, the protagonist, is one of these women. Hyper-religious and deeply disturbing, Gilead has stripped all women of their most basic human rights and has forced some of them to become Handmaids. Despite the unsettling subject matter, Atwood’s writing is beautiful and mesmerizing as she relates Offred’s story of handmaidenhood in pieces interlaced with flashbacks of her old life before the rise of Gilead. While lacking in the sort of break-neck plot most people are drawn to
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the story acts as a dizzying exploration into its world and leaves the reader wanting to know more about Offred despite the slower pace. I must say, as a warning, that this is the sort of book I couldn’t read without growing angry and developing a certain degree of loathing for humanity. Be warned that this is not a gentle book interested in pulling punches. Offred is honest and does not leave out instances of rape, horrible injustice, and the most sickening side of human nature that is willing to take advantage of others at the slightest possibility of personal gain. That being said, I didn’t find it horribly graphic and the story had a distanced enough tone from the violence and rape that I didn’t find it hugely problematic. It’s an extremely worthwhile read that has had an enormous impact on our culture. It’s no surprise that Hulu would adapt a masterpiece like The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood into an acclaimed series.
The Dangerous Art of Blending in, Angelo Surmelis
Rating:
The Dangerous Art of Blending in by Angelo Surmelis takes place in present time, Illinois. Told from the point of view of Evan Panos, he is a seventeen-year-old closeted gay boy. His abusive Greek mother torments him and wants to find a good, Greek, Christian girl for him to marry. His father avoids any kind of family conflict and works constantly. And another problem: Evan’s hopelessly falling for his best friend, Henry, but Henry has no idea. The only peace Evan can get is by escaping to the abandoned monastery to draw and write. Things start to intensify as he experiences his senior year of high school, but when his worlds eclipse each other, Evan gets closer and closer to cracking under the pressure. I loved this book so much because Evan’s story is unique and nothing like I’ve ever read before. I won’t lie, its very hard to read and difficult to get through because Surmelis doesn’t sugar coat anything but instead describes domestic abuse in a raw, brutally honest way. However, the ending is worth it. As Evan comes to terms with his feelings for Henry, you see things in a dif-
ferent light, because a love story is weaved into the dark parts of Evan’s life and lightens up the book somewhat. I couldn’t help but get angry for Evan because he’s treated unjustly throughout almost the entire book. It broke my heart because he’s feeling increasingly tormented and unhappy and just needs some peace. Surmelis writes in a realistically detailed and intense way that it makes you feel as though you’re actually experiencing everything Evan is, whether it be his mother beating him, his feelings for Henry, or even just the stress high school puts on him. It encompasses all different walks of life into one story about a Greek gay artistic kid that lives in a poor, abusive home, trying to get through his senior year of high school. If you like I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson or Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli, you will enjoy The Dangerous Art of Blending In. The only negative thing I can say is that the violent domestic abuse scenes are very graphic—however, incredibly well written—and so this book may not be for everyone, but that’s okay.
Mort(e), Robert Repino
Rating:
If you’re a fan of Animal Farm by George Orwell, dystopian societies, and books with powerful political themes, you will devour Mort(e) . This is the first book in the War with No Name series by Robert Repino, centering around a house cat-turned-warrior named Mort(e). In a rebellion constructed by vengeful ants, animals across the world are genetically modified to suddenly possess the ability to walk on two legs and possesses human-like intelligence. Realizing they have spent centuries subjected to slavery at the hands of humans, animals start a revolution to take over the world and begin to wipe the entire human species off the face of the planet. The book is incredibly fastpaced, never falling flat or dull; readers
that often complain about books starting too slow will be pleased with the quick plot progression of this novel. The story is filled with twists and turns that are elegantly constructed to leave the reader ravenous for more. The aspects of this book that intrigued me the most were the underlying themes of religion and the friendship between Mort(e) and Sheba. The book discreetly criticizes religion and how it influences society, the message delivered and presented seamlessly. Mort(e) spends the majority of the novel trying to find his best friend, Sheba, and his relentless searching for her is so heartwarming. You should definitely consider checking this novel out because it managed to make my favorites list!
Issue 6 | The Chronicle | 19
frolicking in the forest By Rachel Delehanty, Jena Bright, David Genis, and Audrey McWhorter Staff Writers
Design by Abigail Miles Editor
Audrey McWhorter
Senior
This year the Olathe North Chronicle took a different spin on our annual prom article. Instead of a general overview of prom, individual students write about their experience and routine at the end of the year dance.
This year, my senior prom was the first school dance I had ever gone to without a date. Would it be awful? What would I do during slow songs? What would I do when all the other girls were taking corsage pictures? Going to prom without a date actually made my senior prom one of my favorite dances yet. I didn’t have to stress about forgetting a boutonniere or worry about embarrassing myself in front of my date, I just got to be myself and my only priority was having fun. I got to be carefree when I danced with all my friends and we even invited kids who weren’t dancing to dance with us just so everybody had a good time. Before the dance I’d been tanning since the beginning of April, I also started whitening my teeth and doing sheet masks a lot more. The week of I got my hair trimmed and my roots touched up, as well as getting a pedicure and gel manicure.
How the day went: 8:45am 9:15 am Wake up
Eat breakfast
10:30 am
9:30 am
12:00 pm Finish makeup
pm
Girls’ dates show up
6:30 pm Dinner at Bravos
4:35 pm
Go to Aloft in Leawood for pictures.
1:30 pm
Start makeup
Go tanning for 11 minutes in a level II tanning bed.
4:15
Partial updo appointment at Primp and Blow at Prariefire.
7:30 pm
Go meet girls in my prom group at Lauren’s house and finish getting ready.
3:20 pm
4:00 pm Put on dress
Left prom, went to Lauren’s house to pick up my car then went to Paige’s house where Kayla, Paige and I spent the night, we got “de-promed”, did sheet masks, watched Chicken Little, and ate a bunch of snacks. pm
Finished dinner early so we walked to Blue Chip Cookie for dessert.
10:30
8:10 pm
Arrive at the Ball Conference Center for prom.
7:30 am
Left Paige’s and went home.
Above: Audrey McWhorter with friends taking pictures before prom. First Page Left to Right: Audrey posing for prom pictures, Audrey’s dinner at Bravo’s along with Abby Sebers doing Kayla Szymanski’s hair. Lastly, Audrey posing with Ryan Mann during the dance.
David Genis Senior First we went to Indian Creek Community Church to take pictures, spent probably two hours there. Then we carpooled and all went to Cinzetti’s Italian buffet, and ate dinner. We were in a large group but they were all very nice. Next, we all split up to get stuff we might have forgotten, leaving Jackson, Emily, Caleb, Molly, and I. We decided to go to the Whole Foods that was next door. We, then went to the dance and danced around, having a good time. Next, we went to Jaegerz Laser Tag (got a little lost) and played some rounds of laser tag in Prom outfits. Then we drove to IHop and hung out there until around 3:30 am. Finally, we all went home.
Above Left: David with friends at dinner. Above Right: David with Caleb Chipman, Emily and Molly Martin. Below Left: David and friends at IHop after prom. Below Right: Dvid with friends at Jaegerz Laser Tag.
Middle Left: Emily and Caleb at Whole Foods. Middle: Emily and Molly Martin posing in Whole Foods. Middle Right: Jackson Wilks posing in Whole Foods.
JENA BRIGHT Junior
11:00-12:15
I started out my day by running errands with my mom.
1:30-5:45
12:30-1:30
Later, I went home and started on my makeup and hair.
Next, I grabbed lunch with my mom at Panera.
6:30-7:15
Afterwards, I met with a group of friends to take pictures at Black Hook Park in Shawnee Mission.
7:30-8:15
Later, my group and I went to go get icecream at Sheridan’s.
8:30-11
11-11:45
Arrive at the Confrence Center, and check in. We stayed until it ended at 11.
After prom some friends and I went to get snacks at Sonic.
Above: Jena posing with Delina Kessaye, Felicia Georgiou, Emily Stamper, Chole Duggins, Jessica Smith, Makayla Timmons, Rachel Roades, Allea Younggren, Cassie Walsh.
Rachel Delehanty
Junior
My experience at my first prom was better than I could have imagined. I went with five of my close friends, Courtney Kinzel, Anna Flucke, Laura Flucke, Kate Amberson, and Isabella Bray. We made it as simple and easy as possible while still incorporating major prom traditions. Although it’s easy to get wrapped up in the “expectations” for prom, I found that the best way to ensure that you’ll have a good time is to surround yourself with your favorite people.
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
I started off my day at 10:00am at my friend Jessica Smith’s house. She held a brunch the day of prom to kick off the day. We each brought a dish to share and hung out for a couple of hours.
My next major event before prom was dinner. We all met up at the Flucke’s house at 5:00 pm and left from there to pick up dinner. We chose between Panera and Freddy’s and ate back at home.
After dinner, we got ready for pictures. Some came with their hair and makeup done while others split up wherever there was a free mirror. We all helped each other out wherever it was needed.
Next, at 7:00 we took pictures at a local park and exchanged corsages. We decided to have a corsage exchange similar to a Secret Santa gift exchange. We each drew names and gave out each other’s corsages before pictures.
At the dance we spent most of our time on (or beside) the dance floor. It got pretty crowded and hot in the center so we found a spot off to the side. Prom King and Queen were Gustavo Irwin and Marissa Lux.
I finished off the night at my friend Courtney’s house. We ate a bunch of snacks and watched movies until we parted ways, ending a fantastic night.
First Page Left to Right: Marissa Lux and Gustavo Trejo dancing after being awarded prom queen and king. Rachel at bunch with friends as well as Courtney Kinzel getting ready before prom. Up to Bottom: Rachel posing with friends before prom, along with all of their corsages. After prom, Rachel and her friends went to Courtney’s house and ate snacks and hung out.
Olathe cares relay for life brings four olathe highschools together for a good cause
Design by Rachel Delehanty Editor
Olathe North held its first Olathe District Relay for Life at ODAC on Saturday, April 30. Over 23,000 dollars was raised for the American Cancer Society from donations, fundraising, and on-site sales. Above; participants join the survivors as they take the first lap to kick off the night.
Olathe North students Angela Cha, Kevin Mboma, and Irene Gatimi preformed an impromptu dance.
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Relay teams sold different items at the beginning of the night including face paint and henna.
Participants of the annual Mr. Relay pageant before the crowning of first, second, and third place.
Student Council co-presidents Marissa Lux and Melanie Haro.
Olathe North junior, Jack Spanel, during the interview segment of Mr. Relay.
Teams competed in a sign making contest at the beginning of the night.
Olathe North staff members Kat Girod and Manuel Ortiz compete in the lip syncing battle.
Teams huddle together before a game of kickball.
Photos by courtney kinzel, jessica smith, & rachel delehanty art by josie sloan
First, second, and third place of the Mr. Relay pageant.
Different teams sold food and drinks to raise money.
Rhonda Reist, Olathe North teacher, speaks during the Survivorship Dinner before the event started.
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all work and no play By AShley Honey / Staff Writer / Design by lauren Yoksh / Editor-in-Chief
living in a homework hell You probably know the feeling of plopping your backOnce you have seven classes piling homework on top pack on your bedroom floor, overwhelmed by the copious of you, the pressure of getting into college, and studying all amount of homework your teachers have loaded onto your piled on top of you, there’s really no room for taking care back. The last thing you want to do when you get home of yourself and having fun. from school is do even more work for your classes. We’re just kids. And we’re being forced to grow up A lot of my friends complain about the amount of so fast. We went from kids playing in our yards with our homework they receive in each of their dogs and neighborhood friends to mini “By the time you classes, especially advanced classes. adults who don’t know a thing about the Many of my friends will stay up past reach high school, the world but are somehow expected to carry midnight every single day because the weight of our future on our teenage they find it hard to balance after school pressure of getting backs. I hear some of my friends talking activities with their school assigninto college starts to about having jobs, but last week I was in ments. Granted, some of this could be Wal-Mart and I got excited because I saw prevented if they didn’t procrastinate finally sink in...” a gray rabbit stuffed animal. I want to be a so much, but that’s somewhat inevitable when you’re in kid for just a little bit longer, not drown in worksheet after high school. worksheet and quiz after test after assignment after-By the time you reach high school, the pressure of So, no. I don’t want to spend hours working on English getting into college starts to finally sink in, and now you homework when I get home every single night. And no, have to worry about selling your personality to colleges I don’t want to take non-AP classes because I’ll lose my because you want to stand out. So not only are you part of mind in a class where I’m not challenged. I just want a five clubs, but you’re also donating hours of your time to happy medium where I can be challenged to learn but not helping chickens cross the road because colleges like that feel so incredibly pressured to suddenly know what I want kind of thing, supposedly. And your mom wants you to to do with the rest of my life. get college credit so you aren’t left in debt until you have Teachers, please let us just live a little and calm down premature gray hairs. with the homework assignments. That is all.
issue 6 | The Chronicle | 29
Stereotypes: Today’s First Impression Should political affiliations define people and control thier friendships? By Haley Mcgriff Opinions Editor Design by Isabella Bray Copy Editor
High school right now looks a lot different than it did 15, or even 10 years ago. Although students now talk and behave differently due to social media, stereotypes are something that have not changed. Generation to generation, you see the same groupings of kids: “jocks,” “hicks,” “nerds,” and many more. Categorizing is nothing new; your parents and grandparents did it, and everyone before them. But we have to ask ourselves why? Why do our interests, beliefs, and opinions get us immediately categorized into a specific box that we can’t ever leave or venture out of? Why are we judged for what people associate us with rather than who we are as people? Categorizing is nothing new; like back in the day, certain movies have always stereotyped certain groups of people. The Outsiders for example featured a conflict between two different social classes, and from the beginning they were told they couldn’t like each other, or even consider talking.
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It feels like now that people just can’t look past these interests and opinions. We have to make sure that we understand that, with everything going on in our time, it is okay to disagree. It’s okay to be the complete opposite but still be good friends. For example, I have more conservative political views, while some of my closest friends are more liberal. This fact doesn’t change a thing about our relationship. Stereotypes are common because they let people judge others rather than look at themselves. Social media lets you say whatever you want behind the protection of a screen without consequences. We tend to associate who someone is based of what they post instead of who they are. Using social media, everyone sees what you do-you are literally letting them judge you. We are not going to get rid of social media, that would be impossible. However, we need to find a way to not let it define who we are, and
not use it to say something that we wouldn’t say to someone’s face. The way we can know how awww person is, is by getting to know them. By sitting down, having conversations, or simply hanging out. You learn who a person is and what they like by being around and socializing with them. Sharing stories, hobbies, interests and dislikes. You can’t get to know someone if you dismiss them right away. At least give the person a chance to show their true colors. Here is what needs to change. We need to bring peace into this world. We need to stop the fighting. We’re living in an age of turmoil, where it’s easier to hate than love, to ignore than to help. Its going to be up to our generation to fix the world that we are inheriting; it’s time to see past differences and opinions, and realize that a person is a person. We need to make the choice of acceptance over polarization.
The Truth Behind White Privilege Statistics show white privilege across the nation but how wide spread is it?
By Andrea Martin Staff Writer Design By Isabella Bray Copy Editor On July 7, 2014, a police officer had placed a black man in a chokehold, the officer later denied choking him. The man’s name was Eric Garner. His infamous last words, “I can’t breathe,” stated eleven times before his untimely death. The officer was not charged. On August 9, 2014, a twenty-eight year old white police officer shot an eighteen year old black man. The man’s name was Michael Brown. Believing Brown to be a suspect of a robbery, the officer signaled through the police radio that he had found the suspect. The officer was acquitted and found that he shot in self-defense. On April 12, 2015 officers arrested a black man they believed had an illegal weapon; he later died due to injuries sustained in his arrest. The man’s name was Freddie Gray. The officers used excessive force to arrest Gray; they did not secure Gray in the van, which caused the life-ending injuries. Of the six of the officers, three were acquitted and the other three had charges dropped. On March 18, 2018, two police officers shot a black man twenty times in his own backyard. The man’s name was Stephon Clark. The officers had said he had a gun, and changed their story to say he had a crowbar, it later came to light that
he only had a phone. There is a pattern here. White officers get away with shooting unarmed, innocent black men. They can get away with murder with just a slap on the wrist. White privilege is when white people can get away with things people of other races or ethnicities cannot. White privilege lives and thrives every day in the cities of America. It can be seen when a black man is murdered at the hands of the a white police officer. It can be seen when black people are in jail longer for petty crimes than Brock Turner, a white rapist. It can be seen when white people claim there is no such thing as white privilege when that in itself shows the privilege of ignorance. White privilege is when white criminals who commit awful crimes like school shootings, can be detained and taken to Burger King because they are hungry, but a black man who is doing nothing is gunned down for holding an object that looks like a gun but never is a gun. White privilege is getting mad when people of color complain about history, specifically slavery, and they are dismissed by white people because that was years ago and times are different. The white people say that that was there ances-
tors and there is nothing that can be done. White privilege is when white people claim they can say the n-word as long as it does not have the hard ‘r’. It is when they complain about not being able to say it and that if they can’t say it, no one should say it. White privilege is everywhere in America: in class, work, and afterschool activities. It is when there are more white teachers than teachers of color. It seems like the more this topic is brought into the light, the more it is shunned because white people are too used to being the top dog. They don’t like it when it is brought up that they killed millions of innocent Native Americans, and continue to do so. They become uncomfortable so they don’t want others to talk about. But that’s the problem--we need to talk about it. If talking about certain issues makes them uncomfortable, good. That means they know something is wrong and it needs to be changed. Nobody has ever gone through life without having bigoted views. Nobody has ever known since day one what is right and what is wrong. People change and evolve and that’s how the white privilege problem is going to be solved: accepting it and changing it.
Issue 6 | The Chronicle | 31
By: Josie Sloan Staff Artist