Change in Climate

the chronicle

Olathe North High School 600 E. Prairie Olathe, Kansas 66061 Volume 6 Issue 6

4 | 2019

With politicians ignoring calls from scientists to take action on climate change, young people, inspired by one Swedish student, have taken matters in their own hands- to preserve the planet for future generations.

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The Chronicle | Issue 6 | April 2019

the chronicle | table of contents

News

April Anxiety 4 Avenues for Information 6 A.L.I.C.E. In Our Schools 8 Change in Climate 10

Page 18 | Feature

Northviews 32

Feature Learning Outside the Nest 16 Losing Sleep to Help the Fight 18 Service Hearts 20

Page 20 | Feature

A&E I Assert that Another Dessert Can’t Hurt 22 Heard in the Hallways 24

Opinion

Page 22 | A&E

Opinions Divided 26 Building Relationships Through Social Media 28 The Dangers of “Cancel Culture” 29

Sports Spring Sports 30

Page 30 | Sports

April 2019 | Issue 6 | The Chronicle

Letter From the Editors

3

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.

D

ear Eagles, Winter has come and gone (hopefully), and spring has arrived, bringing with it thunderstorms, flowers and finals. Yes, finals‌and stress. It’s a little thing we like to call April Anxiety, a phenomenon you can read about in this issue. Not to worry, as soon we suffer through finals and us upperclassmen take the dreaded AP tests, we will have nearly three months of blissful summer.

Freshman, your first year of high school is coming to a close, congratulations, you have proved you can do it. Sophomores, you are nearly half way through your

high school career; the easy part is over, in a few months you will be bombarded with the whiplash that is the first day of junior year. Speaking of, juniors you have almost made it through the dreaded year with hopeful plans for your final year and possible after that. And for seniors, you have nearly a month left and it is the home stretch, in which you are ready to leave and getting your stuff together for life after high school. This year has come with many ups and downs and we are finally at the end of the road. But no fear there is still more to go! Go Eagles!

Rachel Delehanty

Isabella Bray

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 rdelehantyonchronicle@gmail.com.

Purpose The Chronicle is the official high school news publication of Olathe North High School, and open forum distributed to all students eight times a year. This is the sixth issue of volume six. 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 an expression of the School District Policy. Students and editors are soly responsible for this student publication.

Abigail Miles

2018 | 2019 STAFF Editors-In-Chief Isabella Bray Rachel Delehanty Abigail Miles Online Editor Bailey Flanagan Staff Writers Hayley Adams

Claire Decatur Lily Harrison Cade Heikes Sam Schaper Neha Sridhar Elizabeth Tuckness Photo Editor Jena Bright

Photographers Anna Diehm Hailey Kitivoravong Lana Tarik Editors Miles Arambula Ashley Honey Kalley Jurgielski

Andrea Martin Molly Duke Copy Editor Abby Shepherd Staff Artist Sarah Montes Advisor Robert M. Cave, Jr.

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The Chronicle | Issue 6 | News | April 2019 | Design by: Andrea Martin

April

Anxiety

As the end of the year comes about, students experience an increase in anxiety.

By: Neha Sridhar | Staff Writer

W

ednesday, April 23rd, 2014 - the most stressful day of the year (Google Trends) With final exams and end of the year stress becoming the bane of many students’ existences, students at Olathe North and across the country are seeing spikes in their daily dose of anxiety over school and activities. While January may have been found to be the most depressing month of the year, even Google Trends finds that the most stressful day of the year is in April — ironic, because April is also National Stress Awareness Month.

Mrs. Wilhm, who teaches AP Spanish Language and Culture, describes the fourth quarter as one of the more stressful ones. “I think the spring can be a stressful time in general for students. There is a lot going on. I feel this way about December as well.”

Junior Jaycie Campbell, when asked about her stress levels in April, said, “Yes, I am [more stressed], because it’s getting to the end of the year and I want my grades to be good for finals, so stress does build up a lot.”

In addition, this school year is particularly hectic as students and teachers in AP classes struggle to make up for lost time in preparation for AP exams in May. Mrs. Wilhm, when asked about

the lead up to AP exams, said, “It [lost time] has impacted my classes, but the practice and preparation for AP Exams is ongoing. I feel like we have done many activities to prepare and students will either know the material or not.” She also mentions that students will study on their own in free time even with the missing time.

“I feel that students will study regardless of missing days and the desire to achieve

cover as much material as possible, and not a single day off of school after spring break. Going to school so continuously for so long takes a toll on students’ mental healths, and leads to a spike in anxiety and stress levels during the fourth quarter.

Spring can also be a stressful time in general, with a combination of allergies, changing weather, and hormonal shifts in melatonin levels due to a lack of sunlight during winter months suddenly increasing with warmer spring days all leading to added stress. Seasonal affective disorder (SAD), which is a disorder where people can experience mild to severe depression when days get shorter in winter, can also happen in reverse — ten percent of people with SAD can grow more melancholy when the climate shifts to warmer. This culprit of added stress can also be experienced by people without the disorder, as any shift in a person’s circadian rhythm due to loss of sleep while studying for exams or added sunlight can prolong feelings of anxiety.

With so many pressures, it is important to make time to relax. Take a break, put down that textbook, and try to remember that April does not last forever.

“I think the spring can be a

stressful time in general for students. There is a lot going on. I feel this way about December as well.”

-Leslye Wilhm, ON International Language Teacher a highscore on the AP Exam naturally adds pressure. Students want to do well.”

With all of the lost school days due to heavy inclement weather, lost time in classes has lead to a new schedule change for all of fourth quarter, planned tests being cancelled in order to

Design by: Andrea Martin | April 2019 | News | Issue 6 | The Chronicle

Anxiety Facts:

1 out of 8

Some symptoms:

18.1%

of the population have anxiety

-Shortness of breath -shaking -nausea -headaches -rapid heartbeat -dizzy spells

children are affected by anxiety disorders

Anxiety Anxiety

is the most common mental health illness in adults (18+) in the U.S.

5

1 in 5

teens actually receive treatment for their anxiety.

People with anxiety are:

3 to 5 times more likely to go see their doctor

Are more likely to be diagnosed with

depression

6

times more likely to be hospitalized for psychiatric disorders

6

The Chronicle | Issue 6 | News | April 2019 | Design by: Andrea Martin

Avenues of

Information With apps such as Groupme, Remind, and more, connecting to teachers has never been easier; has this changed the idea of communication? Is it too easy for students to contact their teachers?

By: Miles Arambula | Staff Editor

W

ith technology being everywhere, communication should be easy. Email, text, and hundreds of apps that are available mean that there is never an excuse for radio silence. But being available 24/7 could also mean a lot of added stress. How are teachers adapting to these changes?

As technology bridges the gap between teacher and student, some may find it hard to make a distinction from work and personal time. Teacher John Lane says that he struggles with this, but he just turns his phone off.

“I’m old school that way,” he explains.

Similarly, Stu Stern says that he doesn’t

check his email on Saturdays and occasionally will catch up on Sunday nights.

Chemistry teacher Jane Bush says that she doesn’t necessarily feel bad about not answering a text message outside of school ours. Her ideology is that if she can’t help at the moment, that’s not anybody’s fault.

Apps like Groupme and Remind make group projects and classroom communication easier than they have ever been before. Out of thirty-two students surveyed, 81% said that they use Groupme and 71% use Remind. 75% of teachers surveyed said that they are asked questions several times a week on these apps.

Even without smartphone apps, most students have access to standard text messaging. 84.4% of students said that they have at least one teacher’s phone number.

Two of the teachers interviewed said that they will selectively give out their phone number. Lane explained that he typically only gives his phone number to students in the Broadcast club who may need a pass into football games but can’t get into the Olathe District Activity Center before the ticket booth opens. One teacher said that they gave out their phone number this year, but didn’t in the past.

Lane says that Groupme is

Jane Bush, ON Chemistry Teacher

says that she doesn’t necessarily feel bad about not answering a text message outside of school ours. Her ideology is that if she can’t help at the moment, that’s not anybody’s fault.

Design by: Andrea Martin | April 2019 | News | Issue 6 | The Chronicle good for keeping up to date with things he is involved in like theatre and Broadcast Club. During his time as the technical theatre director, Lane says that he has had questions texted to him daily. Bush says she receives messages about once a week. She appreciates getting messages like “I was going to come in but now I can’t” or “Are you available to help me in the morning?” and have the ability to communicate with students for convenience.

Stern says that he rarely gets messages from students.

31% of students admit to texting a teacher as late as 10:00 and 13% have sent an inquisitive text at 11:00 or later. Two teachers surveyed claim that if they are awake, then they will respond, while one teacher said that they will respond no later than 6:00. Bush and Stern both agreed that they will respond if they are able.

Some teachers, like Lane, have more rigid sleep schedules and usually not respond past 8:00. Lane wakes up at 4:00 to train for marathons, and goes to bed earlier than most.

Of course, while constant communication has its benefits, it has its pitfalls as well. “The students who need that direct connection the most are often those who don’t connect at all,” Lane says. Stern believes that being able to communicate is both a blessing and a curse. “There have been major problems when boundaries are stepped over” says Stern. In the same vein, Bush shared that “I do think if a teacher doesn’t want to communicate kids need to respect that.”

While the rise of technology can never truly be avoided, everyone has the right to their own ideas of what moderation is. Every individual has to find the right amount of communication that works for them and their environment.

Communication Tid-Bits

81%

of students use Groupme to communicate with their teachers

31% 75%

of teachers say they receive frequent questions from students a week through Groupme, Remind, etc.

68% 61%

admit to texting their teacher as late as 10 pm.

of students believe that it depends on the teacher, for them to feel bad for contacting them so late

of students seldomly contact their teacher for help

84%

of students have at least one teacher’s phone number

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8 The Chronicle | Issue 6 | News | April 2019 | Design by: Elizabeth Tuckness

ALICE In Our

Schools

Alert.

Lockdown.

Inform.

Counter.

Evacuate.

Before 2018, 2006 was the worst year for school shootings in K-12. There were 59 shootings throughout the year.

2018 had 97.

Sourced from Center for Homeland Defense & Security’s “K-12 School Shooting Database.”

24 shootings had

By: Sam Schaper | Staff Writer

W

ithin the last few years, shootings dents paranoid but to educate them about have become more and more what to do in a dire, life or death situation. common. In 2018 alone there Parades stated, “Gun violence does not diswere thirty school shootings. That’s just criminate nor care who you are or where in schools and not including infamous in- you are from.” While it’s good, of course, stances such as the shooting at Austin’s Bar to be prepared, how is all of this affecting and Grill and the gay bar in Florida, Pulse. the students? I interviewed Cullen Luttrell, So with the amount of violence dramatically a Distinguished Scholars Political Science increasing from day to day, it is more im- student. Luttrell says that he feels that stuportant than ever to know what to do in the dents are definitely paranoid but rightly event of an active shooter entering school so. He says that with the frequency with or the workplace. which shootings are The newest occurring and the and most efficient ease with which one procedure is called can acquire a firethe ALICE drill. Years arm in the country, ago, schools would it’s hard for students practice “Code Red” not to become parevery so often; stuanoid. “It reassures dents would hide in me that school disthe corner, cover their tricts are trying to heads and wait out do something in the the threat. The inefwake of this growfectuality of this pracing threat” but “at its tice was revealed and core [ALICE drills] a change needed to don’t actively fight be made. These days, against gun violence.”

Gersom Paredes schools are doing ALWith this ICE drills increasingly often. ALICE drills growing, violent epidemic, it is a good thing involve the students and teacher barricad- that so many schools and business are pracing the door if the shooter is nearby, attack- ticing ALICE drills and running through ing if the shooter gets in, or evacuating the protocols, dangerous hypotheticals. Because school if the armed perpetrator is far away. while it may be stressful, the thought of a Spanish teacher, Gersom Paredes place that you feel safe, a place that you visit is the head of drills at Olathe North High so often being invaded by an active shootSchool. In an interview Paredes said that the er, it’s for the safety of you and your friends. purpose of ALICE drills is not to make stu-

“Gun violence does not discriminate nor care who you are or where you are from.”

injuries and/or deaths involved, and 114 were injured and/or killed in K-12 shootings.

Sourced from Education Week’s “School Shootings in 2018: How Many and Where”

“The children impacted grew with each round of reporting: from 135,000 students in at least 164 primary and secondary schools to more than 187,000 on 193 campuses.”

Sourced from The Washington Post’s “More than 226,000 students have experienced gun violence at school since Columbine”

April 2019 | Issue 6 | The Chronicle

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10 The Chronicle | Issue 6 | News | April 2019 | Design by: Abigail Miles

By Abby Shepherd | Copy Editor

T

Students Lead Climate Change Strikes Around the World

here has recently been a surge in student absences from school-- all for a cause. In the past few months, students from around the world have been skipping school on Fridays, protesting their governments’ inaction on climate change.

Most of the protests have been concentrated in Europe, and their leader is 16 yearold Greta Thunberg from Sweden. Her movement has traveled across America, and through the hallways of Olathe North.

In August of 2018, Thunberg made the decision not to return to school until Sweden’s national election on September 9th. In July, the country had suffered from an unprecedented heat wave and destructive wildfires. She believed Swedish parliament wasn’t doing enough to combat climate change, so she sat on the steps of the parliament building in Stockholm for five days a week, during school hours. She gained national attention for her strike, and pictures of her holding a sign reading “skolstrejk for kilmatet”, which translates to “strike for climate”, spread across social media.

Other students began to follow in her footsteps, walking out of school each Friday. Thunberg started to refer to

these strikes as “Fridays For Future”, and “#FridaysForFuture” has been used widely on Twitter ever since. On March 15th, 2019, a world-wide strike took place, with students walking out of class in cities everywhere, even Kansas City, Missouri.

The United States Youth Climate Strike organization recently announced that there will be another walkout on May 3rd.

Olathe North is no stranger to student walkouts. On April 20th, 2018, students at Olathe North and surrounding high schools walked out of class to protest inaction on gun violence. The National Walkout and March For Our Lives organizations were created by students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, who experienced a school shooting on February 14th, 2018. In a way, the current climate strikes are similar to the gun violence walkouts. Teenagers are making it clear that they’re tired of their governments not placing value in their lives.

Students at Olathe North have started to show enthusiasm for Thunberg’s movement, and many are interested in joining the upcoming climate strike on May 3rd. Student Democrats President Lauren Ellenz is interested in the concept

of a climate strike, but acknowledges that the planning process can take a while. “We look around the school and talk to different groups and try to engage interest.

Then we set dates and look at ideas of what we’re going to do. After we have a basic plan, we talk to administration and inform them of what we’re doing,” Ellenz says.

If Olathe North students were to participate in the strike, Student Democrats Vice President Airianna O’Donohue thinks that many of the planning strategies used for the walkout last year could be implemented again. “We could work with other Olathe schools so it’s more of a coalition.

I know some students at Olathe East that we could organize with, and I know that Lauren Ellenz knows people at other Olathe schools as well,” O’Donohue says.

It’s unclear as of right now if interest will be high enough at Olathe North to carry out a climate strike. Even if no walkout occurs, Ellenz would like to have a way to inform students about climate change.

“I think we could definitely try to set up an informational booth to educate people about climate change and actions that can be taken by individuals and by society as a whole to address the issue,” Ellenz says.

Design by: Abigail Miles | April 2019 | News | Issue 6 | The Chronicle

With politicians ignoring calls from scientists to take action on climate change, young people, inspired by one Swedish student, have taken matters in their own hands- to preserve the planet for future generations.

Many people, including politicians, are quick to dismiss factual information regarding climate change. In a tweet sent out on November 21st, 2018, President Donald Trump wrote, “Brutal and Extended Cold Blast could shatter ALL RECORDS-Whatever happened to Global Warming?”

Olathe North Geosciences teacher Staci Winsor believes that more people should be informed about climate change.

“Even though we are seeing temperatures that are sub-zero and people are quick to say ‘what about global warming?’, that’s not how it works. It’s a global change, indicating that weather will become more

extreme as our temperatures rise, as well as ocean temperatures,” she says.

The effects of climate change have been projected to be catastrophic, and scientists frequently warn the public about the consequences that climate change will hold. The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change issued a report in October of 2018, detailing the possible effects of climate change. They stated that if greenhouse gases are emitted at their current rate, the atmosphere will continue to warm by 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit. This rise in temperatures would in turn cause sea levels to rise, which would wash away coastline

“Str

ike

11

for c

lima te”

communities. These high temperatures would also lead to extreme drought, which would diminish the world’s food supply.

Thunberg believes she must take dramatic action, like walking out of school, to stand up for herself, and for future generations. In an op-ed for The Guardian, Thunberg wrote, “Some say I should be in school. But why should any young person be made to study for a future when no one is doing enough to save that future? What is the point in learning facts when the most important facts given by the finest scientists are ignored by our politicians?”

The idea of each climate strike

12 The Chronicle | Issue 6 | News | April 2019 | Design by: Abigail Miles STUDENTS

P E R S P E C T I V E Freshman, Breanna Elman: “I recycle a lot. I make sure I’m educated on what can be recycled.

For example, at soccer, there are a lot of water bottles that are used, especially at team dinners. I take those water bottles home and recycle them myself. Also, I try promote the awareness of climate change, and the issues that are happening around the world because of climate change.”

Sophomore, Demetrius Bush: “I always try to go out of my way to pick up extra trash, and recycle whenever I can. I also try to use more environmentally-friendly products-- I use metal instead of plastic straws. I’m also in Geosciences, and we recycle occasionally. We also clean up around the school and maintain the rain garden outside.”

Junior, Natalie Wagoner: “I felt bad after eating meat. After reading Fast Food Nation, I didn’t want to support the meatpacking industry. I stopped eating meat for environmental reasons as well. I just figured that the amount of land used to feed animals, or to make feed for animals, could be used for growing different crops or plant products for populations that are deprived of food. I just think it’s not using the resources we have correctly, and I think that our priorities could be directed elsewhere.”

Senior, Anna Diehm: “I bought two reusable straws, and I’ve been using them since January 1st. You don’t realize how many times you reach for a straw, until you don’t have that option anymore. If I’m handed a drink by someone at a restaurant, and they ask me if I would like a straw, I just tell them I don’t need one. You’d be surprised by the amount of people who say ‘Oh, I’m doing that too!’ I’ve read a lot of articles this year about the amount of plastic that can get caught in sea animals and stay in the ocean. It takes a long time for it to biodegrade and it kills a lot of animals. It’s so important to me because I’m planning on going to K-State to study animal science and conservation.”

Design by: Abigail Miles | April 2019 | News | Issue 6 | The Chronicle is the same; it’s meant to send a message to the government of the region, asking them to take action on climate change. If Olathe North held a walkout, Ellenz explained that students would be endorsing the platform of the U.S. Youth Climate Strike. “We would be in support of measures like the Green New Deal, declaring a national emergency on climate change, and climate education in schools,” Ellenz says.

Compulsory comprehensive education in grades K-8 on climate change and its impacts is a main component of the U.S. Youth Climate Strike’s platform, and many are supportive of that measure at Olathe North. Regarding this proposal, Winsor says, “I’ve never been an advocate for anything more.” As a Geosciences teacher, she touches frequently on the topic in her own classes. “In the first three to four weeks of my hydrosphere class and lithosphere class we review about climate change, and its specific mechanisms,” she says.

O’Donohue is also supportive of this proposal. “I think there is always more that we can learn.” she says.

Some political figures have made a com-

mitment to fighting against climate change, like New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. The Green New Deal is a resolution that was recently introduced

by Representative Ocasio-Cortez. It outlines the steps that the U.S. should take to combat the effects of climate change, including achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions, investing in sustainable industry and infrastructure, and securing natural resources for future generations.

However, Democrats and Republicans have not been able to come to an agreement on the Green New Deal, as members of both political parties have deemed the resolution too extreme. The future of the Green New Deal and its proposals is uncertain, but it’s clear that young people will continue to advocate for the measures outlined in the resolution, even with the opposition they face.

Ellenz is frustrated with the government’s inaction. “The government pushes these issues to the back of their agenda, because there’s more interest in things like oil profits, and making money, and preserving our current eco-

Global temperatures have risen by 1.9 degrees Fahrenheit since 1880.

The government pushes these issues to the back of their agenda...

We need to be taking action on climate issues.

-Lauren Ellenz

13

nomic situation, rather than seeing that our current economic situation isn’t sustainable,” she says. She adds, “We need to be taking action on climate issues.”

In December of 2018, Thunberg gave a speech in front of climate change negotiators at a United Nations climate summit in Poland. She reprimanded the leaders sitting in front of her for their inaction, saying, “Until you start focusing on what needs to be done rather than what is politically possible, there is no hope. We cannot solve a crisis without treating it as a crisis.”

She finished her speech with a warning for the world leaders in the room, saying, “We have come here to let you know that change is coming, whether you like it or not. The real power belongs to the people.”

This sentiment has been echoed by the thousands of students who have walked out of school for climate change action so far. It appears that this movement is only growing, and if history is any indicator, Olathe North students may be standing up for themselves and for the planet in the near future.

Ancient evidence reveals that current warming is occurring roughly ten times faster than the average rate of ice-age recovery warming.

14 The Chronicle | Issue 6 | News | April 2019 | Design by: Abigail Miles

Olathe School District’s/Olathe North’s Policy on Recycling

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ith Earth Day just around the corner, people tend to focus more on being environmentally friendly. “Reduce, reuse and recycle” is a phrase that’s repeated often around this time of the year. Olathe is known for being a “green” city, and the Olathe School District has made recent strides forward in being more environmentally conscious.

Recycling remains an area of concern for many in Olathe schools, but district administration as well as Olathe North administration have recently made attempts to revitalize the district’s approach to recycling.

The Green Steering Committee is a group comprised of various district workers. Members regularly meet and suggest ways the district can be more environmentally conscious. It existed for a number of years, then declined in activity, but was restarted in the Fall of 2017. The committee includes former Olathe North Geosciences instructor, Angela Epps. Epps is currently

Global sea level rose about 8 inches in the last century. The rate in the last two decades is nearly double that of the last century and is accelerating slightly every year.

the school district’s 21st Century Academies Coordinator, but her past with the Geosciences Academy allows her to be an effective member of the Green Steering Committee.

Olathe schools had green and yellow recycling containers outside of their buildings in the past. They were used as a fundraiser for the schools, as the company who owned the containers bought the recycling from each school. Last year, the outside company began charging for it instead.

The school district decided to consolidate their recycling with the city, and outside each school is a blue container that is emptied once every two weeks by city employees. “These City of Olathe recycling dumpsters would be for mixed recycling (plastic, paper, cardboard and aluminum), same as your house recycling container,” says Epps.

Despite each school having a large recycling container, and almost every classroom having a recycling bin, many students are not educated on how

to recycle correctly, and end up throwing away everything in the trash. This lack of knowledge can actually cost the district more, as they have to pay the city for picking up trash, not recycling.

Chris Gralapp, Manager of Planning and Energy in the Olathe School District, is also a member of the Green Steering Committee. He acknowledges this misunderstanding that many students have about recycling, but explains a solution that his committee has devised. “There’s a company called Recycle Across America, and they have agreed to donate, along with a sponsor from U.S. Bank, free recycling labels. We can put those on all 5,000 of our recycling containers, and they show what can or cannot be recycled,” he says.

Power 50, an extended lunchtime that was added to every Olathe high school this year, has added to the waste problem. In the past, every student was required to eat lunch in the cafeteria. That

The number of record high temperature events in the United States has been increasing, while the number of record low temperature events has been decreasing, since 1950.

Since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, the acidity of the surface ocean waters has increased by about 30 percent. This is a result of humans emitting more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, which is absorbed into the oceans.

Design by: Abigail Miles | April 2019 | News | Issue 6 | The Chronicle made recycling more streamlined, as students could stack their trays and empty their milk cartons all at one place and time. Now, students are spread throughout the building with no way to strictly enforce recycling.

Last year, when Power 50 first began, recycling bins were spread around the school for students to dump their trash after lunch. However, students used these bins incorrectly. “Food contamination in the recycling bins is a huge problem.

North doesn’t have the big bins in the halls anymore because students would put recycling with food in them and it attracted fruit flies. Paper contaminated with food can’t be recycled,” says Epps. She adds, “If we can get the BIG 3 recycled correctly that would be a huge success: plastic bottles (empty with the lids on), paper/cardboard (no food contamination), and aluminum/tin cans (little to no food residue).”

Principal Jason Herman wants to change the inefficient system of the past. “One of the big things I want to do is have recycling stations and trash receptacles around the school, along with share tables, instead of me carrying the share tray around. I want a table that has a fruit bucket on it, a recycling bin, a trash can, and then I want students to stack trays there,” he says. He would like to have implemented this system by next year, and believes it

Projections of future climate over the U.S. suggest that the recent trend towards increased precipitation events will continue.

15

would cut down on food and trash waste.

Herman states that he will make informational videos for students to watch next year so the entire school is on the same page when it comes to the new share tables.

Several students plan to help him operate this new system next year. “I’ve talked to Eagle Flight Crew, and they were going to go around with me after lunch to collect the extra food and put it in the share fridge in the commons,” he says. “I think if the whole school set aside their extra food instead of throwing it away, then that share fridge would hopefully not be big enough.”

Herman would also like to transition Olathe North from styrofoam to cardboard lunch trays. “I know that Olathe South has cardboard-- it was several years ago, but they pressed for it and got it. I’ve sent a request to the district, but the transition could be expensive,” he says.

Despite using styrofoam trays, Olathe West came up with a way to reuse them.

“They have a machine called a Styrogenie that can melt down the Styrofoam lunch trays,” says Epps. Olathe West pays to send these melted down blocks to a company that reuses the styrofoam.

Herman has been trying to get Olathe North its own Styrogenie, but has another solution if the machine would cost too much. “We have had some conversa-

tions about taking our styrofoam and delivering it to Olathe West,” he says. However, he adds that this could also be costly.

The Green Steering Committee would like to phase out styrofoam trays completely, but Epps acknowledges that this would be expensive to do for the entire district. Due to this expense, the committee has looked at other areas where waste can be reduced. “The Green Steering team has a proposal for district wide recycling, but we have to wait to get approval.

It looks at reducing our trash that we pay to have removed by increasing our recycling that is free to be removed,” says Epps.

With this new proposal to make the district even more environmentally friendly, Olathe schools seem to be moving in a positive direction.

However, administration can’t complete this task alone. According to Epps, the only way recycling can be beneficial is if it’s done correctly. “Students at the high schools need to hold each other accountable for recycling appropriately,” she says.

If you have any suggestions for Principal Herman on how Olathe North could be more environmentally friendly, email your ideas to jhermanon@olatheschools.org.

Droughts in the Southwest and heat waves everywhere are projected to become more intense, and cold waves less intense everywhere.

97% of climate scientists agree that climate-warming trends over the past century are extremely likely due to human activities since the mid-20th century.

16 The Chronicle | Issue 6 | Feature | April 2019 | Design by: Isabella Bray

Learning Outside of the Nest By: Hayley Adams | Staff Writer

“W

e got a runner!” yells your math teacher, as the alarm sounds from the double-doors opening down the halls. This is an everyday occurrence, so who’s always leaving the school during the middle of the day? Well, it’s possible it could be one of Olathe North’s many student interns, who spend a portion of their school day at different facilities observing and helping professionals who work in their desired career fields, gathering hands-on knowledge about differSeniors Rachel Tran, Keerthi Kode and Thao Le prepare for their ent professions.

Internships are a helpful tool first day at their internship at Olathe Medical Center. for students. From hospitals, to veterinary clinics, to water treatment plants, learning experiences over the four years come a nurse practitioner. It confirmed many Olathe North students dedicate in high school. They have business/in- to me that nursing is the right fit for me. their time to shadowing professionals dustry partners that mentor students I was able to see real life action-not ficwith career fields they aspire to pursue. and sometimes provide internships tional scenes from Grey’s Anatomy.” said Not to mention, some companies pay where students can work side by side Ramos- Sandoval.

Another Medical Professions with a professional during the school students for their help.

Students who complete intern- day for a few hours as part of their Se- student who has done an internship is ships are likely to be in one of Olathe’s nior Capstone class. Then they return to Senior Libby Williams, who did hers at Olathe Medical Center’s “The Birth 21st Century academies. The ones at school for the rest of their day.”

The Medical Professions Place.” Williams has been in the MediNorth are Medical Professions, Geosciences, Animal Health, Distinguished Academy has many students doing in- cal Professions Academy since she was a ternships at hospitals and other facilities, freshman and says that she has had great Scholars, or Sports Medicine.

The 21st century academies and centers it’s Academy courses around exposure because of Medical Professions are an exclusive opportunity to high Genetics, Research and Human Health- and the hands-on learning the academy schoolers in the Olathe School District, care. Medical Professions prides itself provides. “Because of my internship, that gives motivated students an oppor- with innovative labs, specialized experi- I learned I had a passion for labor and tunity to get a head start when pursuing ences regarding research, and has many delivery,” says Williams. Williams went on to say that her favorite part of her intheir dream career. The Academies offer students completing internships.

Zashary Ramos-Sandoval is a ternship is that she gets to be a part of alternative classes that cater towards students’ interests, and challenge their pas- Medical Professions student and is cur- bringing life into the world almost every rently doing an internship at the Olathe day. sion for their desired field of study.

The Animal Health Academy Angela Epps, the 21st Centu- Medical Center Critical Care Unit. Rary Academy Coordinator for the Olathe mos-Sandoval says that she wants to is the smallest academy at North when it District, described the importance of the become a nurse practitioner after high comes to student size, but there are still academies. “The academies provide the school, and that her internship helps students who do internships through exploration to validate a student’s inter- her build connections and get an ad- Animal Health, Julia Sketers is one of est in an area, and gives them experienc- vantage for college. She also stated that these students, and is currently doing an es that most typical high school students her internships provide her with hands internship at Bradley Pet Hospital. She don’t get before going to college,” says on skills like patient interactions. “My has also done a lot of additional voluninternship definitely helped me decide teering with animals. Sketers said that Epps.

Regarding internships, Epps what I wanted to do. I knew I wanted to her internship has reinforced her passion states, “The academies provide authentic become a nurse and later go on to be- for veterinary science, and has exposed

Design by: Isabella Bray | April 2019 | Feature | Issue 6 | The Chronicle her to new jobs in the field.

“The most memorable parts of my internship would have to be dealing with certain clients and seeing how they are managed by the techs and vets,” she said.

Sketers also added that she hopes to get an internship at Kansas State Veterinary Research Laboratories next year.

Mark Perry is a Geoscience student who is completing an internship through Geoscience. Perry is interning at the City of Olathe Water Quality lab, and tests the city’s water for chlorine, turbidity, pH, and alkalinity. “At the lab, I’ve learned how to use a lot of state of the art equipment, and I get insight into how a small staff manages projects in a real workplace,” said Perry.

Sports Medicine is the largest academy at Olathe North, and focuses on Sports and Exercise Science. As of 2019, Sports Medicine has the most students doing internships. Brayden Reisner is a Senior in Sports Medicine, and is currently doing an internship at Olathe Medical Center for physical therapy. Reisner stated that most students who do internships want to pursue different areas of the medical field.

When asked what his favorite part of interning is, he said, “Meeting different people and seeing who has the motivation to get better,” Reisner added that his internship has helped him see what it is actually like to work in physical therapy and working with professionals.

Another Sports Medicine student intern is Morgan Applegate, who has done a Sports Medicine Learning Experience internship at Compassionate Family Care. Applegate said her internship and volunteer coaching at Kansas Gymnastics and Cheer has helped her decide that she wants to coach more in the future, and that shadowing a nurse practitioner has secured her passion for nursing. Applegate also explained how seeing patient interactions while shadowing a Nurse Practitioner was helpful and taught her a lot about the realities of nursing.

Many students have the incredible opportunity to intern at different facilities, and they’ve all stated that their internships have helped them secure what they want to do in the future. Thanks to Olathe’s 21st Century Academies, students can now spend parts of the school day learning hands-on skills for the career field they want to pursue.

17

How has volunteering in a hospital helped you decide what career you want to pursue?

I want to be a doctor and by volunteering at the hospital I get a lot more exposure to the field as well as make relationships with the staff that can later help me get a job and pursue my career.

Amandeep Nagra

How has your internship helped you decide what you want to pursue in the future?

“Being at Bradford has reinforced my passion for veterinary science and opened my eyes to the business side of the job.”

Julia Sketers

How has your internship helped you decide what you want to pursue in the future?

“I knew I wanted to become a nurse and later go on to become a nurse practitioner. It confirmed to me that nursing is the right fit for me. I was able to see real life action not fictional scenes from Grey’s Anatomy.”

Zashary Ramos-Sandoval What has been the most memorable part of volunteering/ doing an internship?

“I get to be a part of bringing a life into this world almost every day.”

How has volunteering in a hospital helped you decide what career you want to pursue?

“I learned I have a passion for Labor and Delivery.”

Libby Williams

18 The Chronicle | Issue 6 | Features | April 2019 | Design by: Kalley Jurgielski

‘s Z losing Z Z to help

win the fight This years Olathe Youth Relay for Life was hosted at North, an event to remember!

Photos by Hailey Kitivoravong and Lana Tarik | Photojournalists

The participants of Relay for Life carrying the banner through the halls during the Survivor Lap.

A team smiling and laughing during the opening ceremony.

A team happily posing for a group selfie on the bleachers.

Opening Ceremony

Survivor Lap

Luminary Ceremony

7 pm

7:30 pm

9 pm

Pizza Party

Giant Twister

12 am 2:30 am

Design by: Kalley Jurgielski | April 2019 | Features | Issue 6 | The Chronicle

19

An Olathe West representative, Lauren Mehnert, speaking during the Luminary Ceremony.

Olathe North StuCo smiling for a group picture .

Olathe Youth Relay for Life participants having fun playing Giant Twister.

The men of Mr. Relay lining up for their beauty contest.

A team enjoying their time at the opening ceremony.

Students smiling after their blind makeovers.

Fight Back Ceremony

Ice Cream Social

2:45 am

3 am

Mr. Relay

Blind Makeovers

Closing Ceremony

3:30 am 4:30 am 5:30 am

20The Chronicle | Issue 6 | Feature | April 2019 | Design by: Sarah Montes

Service Hearts

Olathe North Eagle Service Club works to serve our school, community, nation, and world.

By: Miles Arambula | Staff Editor

E

ver wondered what students can do to give back to their community? They can get a start right here at Olathe North! The Eagle Service Club gives anyone the opportunity to volunteer and do community service. The Kansas Association for Youth, or KAY club, is a statewide organization to promote student leadership and service, with club branches in many schools. Eagle Service Club is the branch at Olathe North High School.

Eagle Service Club’s mission is to provide a place where people can volunteer for their school, community, nation and world. The volunteering projects range from big to small, so anyone can chip in to help. Their motto is “Today for Tomorrow”. The slogan for Eagle Service Club is “Laugh, Love, Lift”.

So what have they accomplished?

During Suicide Prevention Week, cupcakes called “cope cakes” were baked and given out. To earn a cupcake, one would write down a coping mechanism they employ.

Why cupcakes? According to Eagle Service Club President Jolly Patro, “food makes everything better”. Eagle Service Club has visited the Johnson County Christmas Bureau

in order to donate gifts and food to families that are struggling financially. Also during the holidays, Eagle Service Club sponsors the “giving tree” that students use to donate winter clothing items to those less fortunate. The club members also participate in

“Even the smallest things can make a difference.” the service fair at Northview Elementary, where they do things like making dog toys for Wayside Waifs. Throughout the year they have provided thank you notes to teachers and deliver cookies on Valentines Day.

Below: Eagle Service Club serving the community at Harvesters.

The club meets twice a month to decide what projects to pursue. They have after school volunteer opportunities a few times a month.

With a few months left in the school year, Eagle Service Club still has a few things planned. They are going to Autumn Leaves, a senior care center. “We always play games with them and we usually play some music as well,” says Patro. They are also planning a final desk cleaning, where members of the club will wipe off the desks in every classroom to promote a cleaner work space.

Kelly Warren, the club sponsor, has a lot of passion when it comes to Eagle Service Club. She says that she loves to see the kids’ hearts of service, and that looking back on her fourteen years of sponsoring this club, she feels love seeing how many people’s lives have been changed for the better because of it.

Patro says that her favorite part is planning projects with people who really love to give back to the community.

If you didn’t know where to start volunteering, you can always start on your home turf. Even the smallest things can make a difference.

Below: Eagle Service Club serving our community by making fleece blankets.

Design by: Sarah Montes | April 2019 | Feature | Issue 6 | The Chronicle

21

Eagle Service Club in

ACTION

Above: Eagle Service Club in different areas of the community providing help during the 2018-2019 school season.

22 The Chronicle | Issue 6 | A&E | April 2019 | Design by: Isabella Bray

I Assert That Another Dessert Can’t Hurt

By: Sam Schaper | Staff Writer

rating out of 5 tea bags =

I am back with another food review! Instead of reviewing something that every Kansan is familiar with, such as barbecue, I decided to tackle ethnic desserts. This was a completely unexplored territory for me and going into this, I lacked even a basic amount of knowledge on the topic. The idea was brought to me because of the amount of ethnic dessert restaurants and cafes that are in Overland Park, Kansas. So, I went to four of the most popular places to give all of you my two cents!

Fat Bee Drinks

I

had no idea what to expect when I arrived at Fat Bee Drinks. I had never been to a cafe that serves exclusively ethnic teas. The place was modernly furnished, giving it a bit of a cool ambiance.

Consulting the menu, I saw that there were tons of options! So many things looked simple and delicious. But I didn’t

want something simple, I was committed to getting something wild. I ended up ordering the Oreo Milk Tea with Cheese Mousse. I was pretty scared because three words kept running through my mind: tea, Oreos, and cheese. Three words that are, in my opinion, mutually exclusive.

When I received my concoction with the adorable Fat Bee Drinks logo, I encountered another new thing. The cup was sealed with a plastic covering! I took one of the

Kung Fu Tea

I

arrived at Kung Fu Tea with a much better idea of what awaited me. The first thing I noticed was the it was much smaller than I would’ve expected; there was a single table and a few chairs, not much standing room. The second thing that I noticed, was that every last iota of standing room was completely taken up by waiting and excited customers! That must be a good sign. The menu had less variety than that of Fat Bee but I soon found something tempting. After waiting in line for a couple minutes, I ordered the Strawberry Milk Slush. Again, I was greeted with the same plastic seal, it was soon pierced and I was off enjoying my drink. It again had the same expected

taste of tea. What type of tea, I could never be sure, for I am not a big tea drinker.

Overshadowing the taste of tea was the familiar flavor and consistency of a strawberry milkshake. It was very sweet, which I greatly enjoyed. Overall, the service was quick but my options to choose from were very limited. My drink didn’t taste like a mixture of two drinks as much as it just tasted like a strawberry milkshake, which is a disappointing quality in a tea based drink. That, on top of the cramped, style-less feel of the tea shop leads me to recommend Kung Fu Tea if you’re not looking to sit down but to get a tea and go. I award Kung Fu Tea three-out-of-five Tea Bags.

very wide straws with a pointed end and pierced my plastic adversary. The tea was amazing! It had the familiar taste of tea while having the same sweetness and flavor of Oreos. The only thing that I didn’t feel belonged was the cheese mousse. Although, it was tasty by itself, mixed in it was… less than appetizing. After paying, the woman behind the counter gave me a punch card and sent me on my way. Due to the cafe’s arsenal of creative and tasty flavors, the charming interior, and quick service, I would definitely recommend Fat Bee Teas to my readers but maybe avoid the cheese mousse! I award Fat Bee four-out-of-five Tea Bags.

Design by: Isabella Bray | April 2019 | A&E | Issue 6 | The Chronicle

23

I am Frozen Dessert Cafe

W

hen I got to I Am Frozen Desserts Cafe, I immediately noticed the amusing logo on the wall. The giant penguin was a fun accent to the cozy atmosphere of the place. I consulted the menu which had about ten items on it. I ended up ordering the ever-flattering I Am Awesome which was a metal pail filled with Oreo ice cream covered in whipped cream and the crushedup cookie. The wait was pleasantly short and once it was delivered, I was surprised by the dessert’s appearance! It was… thinly, sliced? I learned soon thereafter that this was called shaved ice cream and boy was it delicious. Though there was a lot of it in the metal pail, I was able to finish it because of how light and fluffy the shaved ice cream was. I Am Awesome was absolutely spectacular and I washed it all down with a complimentary, refreshing strawberry water. Overall, I Am Frozen

Desserts Cafe was a wonderful experience.

The service was kind, helpful, and speedy; the atmosphere of the cafe was quaint and comfortable; and the ice cream, oh my gosh, the ice cream!

It was delicious, ultra-flavorful, and I insist that everybody try it at least once. For these reasons, I would most highly recommend I Am Frozen Desserts Cafe to anybody looking for a scrumptious dessert.

I award I Am Frozen Desserts Café five-outof-five Tea Bags!

B

looked at the remaining selection in the glass case and decided upon a delicious looking slice of Green Tea Cake which I

Tous Les Jours y the time I arrived at Tous Les Jours, the selection was a bit sparse due to the lateness of the hour. I

then ordered at the counter. Because all ordering is done at the counter, there is absolutely no wait for all the requested baked goods that your heart desires. The interior of Tous Les Jours was very pretty.

It was warmly lit and furnished wooden decor, giving it all the charm and ambience of a French bakery. The slice of cake was amazing! It had just the right amount of underlying green tea taste, while having all of the sweetness and texture of a slice of cake, spongy and not too dry. The top of the slice of green-colored cake was furnished with a grape, blueberry, and a tiny chocolate plaque with the name of the establishment on it. My only complaint about my Tous Les Jours experience was that I had not ordered more of the Green Tea Cake! Because of the delightful atmosphere of the French themed cafe, the kind and speedy service, and the amazing quality of the sugary treats that you can order, I would recommend Tous Les Jours to anybody and everybody who will listen! I award Tous Les Jours fiveout-of-five Tea Bags!

24 The Chronicle | Issue 6 | A&E | April 2019 | Design by: Jena Bright

Heard it in

the Hallways

By: Jena Bright | Photo Editor Your favorite article is back for the last time this year! Read below to hear several authentic and wacky, out of context quotes from your fellow Olathe North Students.

“When I grow up I want to be a Beyblade.”

“There hasn’t been a good movie since Gnomeo and Juliet.”

“My sister almost killed me with a brick.”

“Why does that girl have a kitchen knife with a towel?”

“Wouldn’t it be cool if they made flavored hand sanitizer.”

“Excuse me!” *Hiss*

“How many karate chops does it take to boil water?”

“I got hissed at by a girl in the hallway today.”

“Honestly the antivaccinators are giving us an advantage right now.”

“Honestly any guy who worships the devil is really hot.”

“The school carrots are made out of beef.”

“I’m going to slap you with the cookie cake that you bought.”

“I don’t know if I can sleep in the dishwasher.”

“I knew that there was something wrong with her, she was wearing a Christmas shirt in February.”

April 2019 | Issue 6 | The Chronicle

Rush ns atio Alter

25

Mona’s

ALTERATIONS & CLEANERS

FOLLOW ON JOURNALISM! www.onhsnews.com

@O_N_E_VOICE @onjournalism @onhsnews

26

The Chronicle | Issue 6 | Opinion | April 2019 | Design by: Molly Duke

Opinions Divided By: Molly Duke | Staff Editor

By: Cade Heikes | Staff Writer

It’s no secret that Olathe North is one of the most politically active high schools in the region.

From debate to political based programs, Olathe North offers students many opportunities to express their diverse political opinions. Two members of The Chronicle have decided to use these opportunities and take their political opinions to the page; specifically, their opinions on the US President.

*

CLAIM:

Although it is true that during Donald Trump’s presidency the top three CIA directories are held by women for the first time, I’ve found little information supporting the fact that Donald Trump pushed for this change. Throughout the Trump presidency, it has been widely recognized that Trump shows a certain level of disrespect towards women.

Whether it be his infamous “Grab her by the-” phrase, or simply disregarding a women and her intelligence based purely on her appearance, it has been shown throughout the years that Donald Trump regards women below men. So even though President Trump did appoint Haspel to lead the agency, it has Haspel who moved women into positions of leadership inside of the CIA, not Donald Trump.

Many of President Trump’s actual policies eliminate narratives of a sexist administration. Gina Haspel’s appointment as CIA director is only one of many examples of Trump looking for the best people to run the government, with skills and experience as the only qualifications. Additionally, President Trump has appointed a record number of federal judges and 28% of them have been female, which is more than most other GOP presidents.

Cade

Molly

Trump has “Ushered” for a Golden Age for Women in the CIA

CLAIM:

The Kavanaugh trial was one of the most explosive political events to take place in 2018, with the Supreme Court nominee essentially being put on trial for sexual assault. To say that Donald Trump standing

by Brett Kavanaugh was one of his redeeming moments, as many females have commented, is a personal offense to women. The case made by Christine Ford had strong evidence that directly tied Brett Kavanaugh to the crime.

Additionally, Kavanaugh’s temperament and actions during the trial were unprofessional and immature. Body language analyst Patti Wood explained in an interview with CNN that he shows signs of intentionally expressing “Cover emotions”, such as excessive anger or tears, often used to hide signs of guilt. Trump continued to stand by his side. This is absolutely not something Trump should be praised for.

President Trump did an amazing job unifying the republican party behind Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh after individuals sought to block his nomination with clear and obvious partisan motivation. Allegations of sexual assault arose against him with less than weak evidence from an event that supposedly happened thirty years ago where neither the exact date, time, or location could be given and confirmed by witnesses. Republicans sniffed out the attempt to disrupt the appointment to the Supreme Court and found that the midterm elections in the senate revealed how conservatives felt about the smear campaign.

Cade

Molly

Trump stood by Brett Kavanaugh during the 2018 Trial

Design by: Molly Duke | April 2019 | Opinion | Issue 6 | The Chronicle

27

CLAIM:

The Helsinki Summit, an annual conference between the US and Russia, admittedly had its fair share of positives and negatives. The combined opinions of Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin covered political topics some Americans were not expecting, which caused some turmoil. In regards to the civil war in Syria, Putin defended and agreed with the idea that terrorists in Syria must be “crushed” while keeping the forces of Syria and Israel separate. This logical idea had many agreeing with the Russian president, however Donald Trump had different views. The American president explained that he would not do anything “to benefit Israel”, including launching a successful campaign against the infamous terrorist group ISIS. At the opposite end of the spectrum however, President Trump did say during the conference that if he could help Syria get back into “some form of shelter and on a humanitarian basis,” he would. He even vouched that Putin would as well.

Overall, President Trump should have tried to word some of his responses more delicately and stuck to what he said he would have in the beginning of the conference, but it is most definitely not one of the worst conferences he has attended.

President Trump’s questionable comments at the Helsinki summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin led the media to doubt his faith in US intelligence as well as how seriously he would take election meddling and its threat to democracy. If Putin truly is our enemy, and as the Mueller report indicated, there was no collusion with our President, then who better to be close in relations to than our enemy?

Relations facilitate better cooperation regarding each party’s foreign policy and also help avoid reactionary decision making. If we separate ourselves entirely from Russia because of a self-righteous temper tantrum then we forgo future opportunities to resolve issues peacefully and diplomatically.

Trump made comments the public may not fancy, but his policy goals with Russia are based on very rational grounds.

Cade

Molly

Trump praised Vladimir Putin at the Helsinki Summit

CLAIM:

Shutting down the government was always been something that remains in the President’s power. There is little issue with shutting down the government for a legitimate reason, and many presidents have used said power during their presidency. That being said, most shutdowns last less than one week. When Donald Trump’s shutdown lasted a staggering 34 days, many were shocked. By keeping the government shut down for so long, it caused families who worked for the government to be forced to break into vacation days. After those were used up, workers went unpaid for their time. Additionally, the reasoning behind the shutdown was illogical. To shutdown the government to demand funding for border security is ironic in itself. During a government shutdown, border security is decreased, if not discarded entirely. The duration and reasoning behind the shutdown bring to light the lack of proper education and logic Donald Trump has when making significant decisions.

Border security is an important issue and the Democrats refusal to cooperate in said efforts reflect anti-American values. However, President Trump’s usage of the government shutdown as a gambling chip with the democrats was foolish from a political strategy stand point and as the gambling chip he wanted it to be. While he tried spinning it, the public saw him as responsible for many individuals out of work and unsure of their short-term future. The media’s reaction should have been foreseen. The longer the shutdown went on, the more the media blamed him for it, despite giving Democrats a clear-cut dollar price for border security at which he would pass the budget.

There were definitely more effective and shrewd strategies for accomplishing Trump’s goal than shutting down the government.

*The Olathe North Chronicle would like to clarify that the opinions and statements in this article are only the opinions of two members of the Chronicle. They do not represent the beliefs of the organization as a whole, and are not meant to target or offend.

Cade

Molly

Trump Shut Down the Governent for the Longest Time in History

28 The Chronicle | Issue 6 | Opinions | April 2019 | Design by: Kalley Jurgielski

building relationships through

social media Writing by Lily Harrison | Staff Writer

Social media- everyone uses it. Is it keeping us more or less connected with people than we think it is?

When you look at your phone and see that 200 people Olathe North Freshman Preston Martinez has liked your photo and you got 90 comments you feel a a total of 1,269 Instagram followers, but he stated he rush of joy. But who are these people liking your picture, only knows about one-fourth of them. “I feel like it's are they your friends or just your friends through social easier talking to someone over social media because it media? isn't awkward, but talking in person has a more personal Today, many people build relationships through touch that you can’t get from social media,” says Martisocial media instead of in person. It nez. can lead to frustrating and awkward “talking in person Being a teenager is awkward enough as situations. People can talk to each other but some get the stress of meethas a more personal itingis someone everyday and then when they see each new and about a million other in person, they do not make eye touch that you can’t thoughts run through their minds. They contact and avoid talking. think, What if I don't know what to say? get from social Olathe North Sophomore What if my face turns red? What if they Tara Franco has 4,370 followers on dont like me? It’s all “what if ’s.” media” her Instagram. When asked if she was Getting a like on instagram or -Preston Martinez a retweet on friends with half of her followers she twitter produces dopasaid “I don't know half of them. I only mine, which is a chemical that's associfollow like 300 people back so I know that some of them ated with pleasure. When people like your content you are Olathe students but a lot of them I don't personally share it's a little like taking a drug because getting likes know.” and snapchats from people can be addictive according to Relationships today aren't what they used to be. businessinsider.com.

Many people “snap” back and forth and never actually The next time you make a new internet friend, hanging out. It's the same thing with friendships. Many say “hi” to them in the hallway or eat lunch with them. have a ton of “friends” added on Snapchat or people who This person could be one of your best friends and not follow them on Instagram that they do not know in real just a Snapchat best friend, a real one. If you never greet life. Your followers do not equal how many friends you them then you will never know what would have haphave. pened.

55% of teens

81%

of teens believe social media has a positive effect on them *statistics by PEWINTERNET.ORG

have given out personal information and pictures

On average, each person has about 6 different social media accounts.

to people that they don’t know

Design by: Ashley Honey | April 2019 | Opinions | Issue 6 | The Chronicle

29

the dangers of “CANCEL CULTURE” By: Ashley Honey | Staff Editor

I

f you are a Twitter connoisseur like I am, seeing trending hashtags like “#______ isoverparty” is common. When a public figure does something quite unpopular and problematic, many people take the opportunity to bash them online. But is this public shaming being taken too far?

Cancel culture, also known as call-out culture, is defined by Wikipedia as “the phenomenon of ‘cancelling’ or no longer morally, financially, and/ or digitally supporting people.” YouTubers, actors, singers, celebrities, and every type of person in the public eye has been subjected to criticism regarding the resurfacing of their past statements.

And it make sense. Calling out celebrities can help them become a more compassionate and understanding person. As explained by nonprofit organization Good Choices Good Life, “Until you accept responsibility for your actions or failures, it’ll be very difficult for you to develop self-respect or even have the respect of others.” Without consequences, people will not learn how to change. Calling out public figures when they make a mistake and giving them the opportunity to grow is one of the perks of cancel culture.

Should those in the public eye continue to be shunned from society when they have already apologized and changed their ways? Other than apologizing and making a change in their lives, what else do we expect celebrities to do? What else can they do?

An example of a celebrity affected by cancel culture is Shane Dawson. Dawson created his YouTube channel in 2008 and was once known for posting videos with dark humor for shock value. His content has transitioned over time, and he no longer makes problematic jokes in his content.

However, videos clipping Dawson’s jokes out of context have resurfaced recently. In January 2018, Dawson was accused of pedo-

philia due to a joke he made in old podcast, Shane and Friends. He posted a response to the allegations on his Twitter account.

“I grew up. I changed my content. I apologized countless times for my s***** offensive jokes. Instead of dragging me down people should use me as an example of a creator who can CHANGE and better themselves and their content. I’m so proud of who I am today,” says Dawson.

Once something has been posted online, it stays there forever. Many teens create social media accounts at the age of 13 or younger, and this can become an issue when they enter adulthood

“Should people be forever ostracized just for one stupid mistake they made years earlier?” and try to enter the workforce. Should people be forever ostracized just for one stupid mistake they made years earlier?

Twitter influencer Kelvin Peña, better known as “Brother Nature,” has been on Twitter since May 2011. The twenty-year-old animal activist was thirteen when his account was created. A post he tweeted in 2012 resurfaced in October 2018, in which he praised Adolf Hitler. The animal lover immediately came out and apologized to his fans on Twitter for the things he said when he was just twelve-years-old. “I am sorry to all of the people I have offended and let down,” says Peña. “Everyone changes, everyone

learns, and everyone makes mistakes.”

The difference between Dawson and Peña’s stories is that Dawson was already in the public eye when he made the shocking statements that now haunt his career. Peña was only twelve when he made this mistake, and he was not even close to emerging into the public eye yet.

This could happen to anyone, especially teenagers in the 21st century.

Imagine applying for a job at twenty-two years old only to get rejected because of something you posted on Twitter or Instagram when you were thirteen? Or what if someone from school finds an embarrassing or offensive video you posted on YouTube when you were fourteen? Celebrities are able to handle the pressure of controversy, but the average teenager or adult may not be able to handle it that well.

The downside of growing up in the digital age is that our awkward and embarrassing pasts are preserved on the Internet forever, and we could suffer consequences for them in the future. We are all bound to post something and regret it later, and the only healthy way to get through this phenomenon is to be more understanding when people make a mistake, including ourselves.

30 The Chronicle | Issue 6 | Sports | April 2019 | Design by: Abigail Miles SPRING SPORTS

A peek into the new season of spring sports.

By Claire Decatur | Staff Writer

T

he Olathe North track and field started their season February 25th and had their first meet almost a month later at ODAC. Students join track for many different reasons. “I joined track because I grew up running with my mom who was also a runner. I’ve ran since 6th grade and joined a competitive track team in 7th grade,” stated Freshman Kaylee Tobaben.

Lots of team members do track and cross country. “I joined track since I did cross country. I wanted to continue running long distance because I enjoyed it.” said senior Brian Beach. Although the coaches change most of the members stay the same.

“My favorite memory from track is when I medaled at state my sophomore year,” Beach exclaimed. He has gone to state for cross country and track through his high school career. He runs the mile, 2 mile, and the 4x800. “I like the 2 mile the best because i'm the best at it and it’s at night” said Beach.

“One of my favorite parts of track is when

I beat my personal record for Javelin last year,” stated Junior Gage Hiebert. This is his 3rd year in track and he joined to have fun with his friends and to get better at throwing Javelin. “My favorite part of practices is when I get to do full run throughs for throwing to get better,” said Hiebert.

The team doesn't just run around the track for hours at practice, they train in many other ways. “Some of my favorite parts of practice is our saturday practices and long runs on the trails,” exclaimed Tobaben.

Most of the team doesn't enjoy long workouts they have. Junior Halsey Osciak and Freshman Kaylee Taboben both said their least favorite part of track was “the long workouts.”

For an average meet the team leaves around 1pm and field events start around 3. “We get there and some of the team warms up,” said Junior Haley Osciak, “then I take some time off and prepare mentally.”

Meets can be as long as 4 hours but events The team's season isn't over yet and they will keep working hard to get to state.

The track team practices hurdles a few days in advance before the weekly meet.

Upcoming Events: • 4/17 • LITTLE KU • 4/19 & 20 • KU RELAYS • 4/25 • OLATHE EAST (JV) • 4/26 • TOPEKA SEAMAN RELAYS • 5/2 • OLATHE NORTH (JV) • 5/3 • SM NORTH RELAYS

Ricky Vasquez at practice training for javelin to prepare for the meet.

Design by: Abigail Miles | April 2019 | Sports | Issue 6 | The Chronicle

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By Claire Decatur | Staff Writer

S

ome of the students joined because they grew up doing it.

“I’ve played golf even since I was a little boy. I had a little plastic club I would use and would practice more and more growing up,” exclaimed Sophomore Jacob Layman.

Layman joined his freshman year and is already on varsity. He got the exciting opportunity to go to regionals last year.

The first junior varsity boys golf tournament was located at Prairie highlands. It began at an early 8am on a Tuesday, April 2nd.

“Most of my favorite memories of golf come from the JV tournaments last year,” exclaimed Sophomore Logan Arnold.

The Varsity team started

T

off their season earlier than Junior Varsity in late March at Lake Quivira. “I prepare for a tournament by getting there an hour early and practicing before hand,” said Freshman Patrick Neal. The varsity team only has eight tournaments this year but will hopefully have more if they make it to regionals or state.

Most people think golf is long and boring but the boys have a lot of fun on the green. “One of my favorite memories from last year was when Trent Collins got hit in the back of the head with a club when another player was taking a practice swing,” explained Senior Mason Askew.

The boys practice almost everyday for two-three hours at

he Olathe North girls soccer team, led by head coach Craig Gerfen, is currently ranked 32nd in the state and the season is still young. They started their season off strong with a 5-1 win against cross town rivals Olathe South.

This score margin was impressive for an opener, and it set the tone for the season.

The next game was also a victory, defeating Shawnee Mission Northwest 1- 0. The next two games unfortunately ended in tough sunflower league losses against Olathe West and Olathe East.

For the most part, the scoring is distributed fairly evenly amongst offensive players.

Grace McConnell had two goals in the first game and other notable scorers include Hannah Sterling and Shandon Carr.

As far as the team chemistry is concerned, Felicia Honeyman noted its effectiveness: “It’s pretty good, better than most years!”

Falcon Ridge. “Practice starts at 3:30 to give us time to drive there, then we’ll hit on the driving range and putt,” stated Askew, “Sometimes we’ll play 9 holes as a team”. One of the team's favorite practices was when they got to play at Topgolf.

Most of the team said their least favorite part of practice is putting. Neal said, “I don't mind putting but I can’t do it for a long period of time.” Other than that the team enjoys themselves at practice.

“I love practice because I get to hang out with the guys and talk to them while playing,” exclaimed Askew.

By Cade Heikes | Staff Writer The last few losses has put this chemistry to the test, but practices have been better for it, and the team will no doubt bounce back.

The Lady eagles are busy preparing for a big out of town tournament in Iowa that will take place the last weekend in April.

They will be playing teams from Indiana, Illinois, Minnesota, etc. The competition will push the team to play their best. This is the first time that the girls soccer team has had an opportunity like this and they are very excited.

“I love our coaches at North.” Felicia Georgiou commented on how incredible

the player-coach relationships are on the Olathe North girls soccer team. “Our coaches care about us so much, they put all of our needs before theirs.” The coach’s ability to make school season soccer just as enjoyable and competitive as offseason club ball keeps girls in the program and fosters a healthy atmosphere.

The team goals for the ladies going forward is to win regionals and make all of their hard work pay off in a tangible way. Additionally, the girls would love to be Sunflower league champions, bringing attention to a program that deserves it just as much as any other.

32 The Chronicle | Issue 6 | News | April 2019 | Design by: Jena Bright

Northviews April Photography By: Lana Tarik and Hailey Kitivoravong

Olathe North Sophomore Nyle Banks pitches a ball to the opposing team at the baseball game against Olathe West on 4/9.

Olathe North girls varisty soccer team huddles together to celebrate a goal at the game against Olathe South on 3/20.

ON Students sell food at the Olathe Youth Relay for Life to raise money for the American Cancer Society on April 5th.