May 6.volume 1.issue 8.park hill high school 7701 NW barry road kansas city, MO 64153
In a Reverie
the $5,000 dollar song
Senior Map
check out where the seniors are headed
COVER shot 1 ISSUE LEFT
GOT ADS? we have space!
Senior Jake Swaney, Vice President of Thespians and member of Park Avenue, recently qualified for a Kansas City Star scholarship. Check out the story on page 21 for further details.
for more information contact berans@parkhill.k12.mo.us
the trojan STAFF
{cody goodwin}
business manager
reporter {grace prose}
{laura votruba}
reporter
reporter {nina wussow}
{heather kennard}
reporter
reporter
{jessica swete}
{hope hammons}
reporter
reporter
{zach hahn}
{camille smith}
reporter
reporter {nick buchberg}
{tasha sani}
{
The Trojan, published monthly during the regular school year, is the official publication of Park Hill High School, and is printed by Osage Graphics in Olathe, Kan. The student body receives this news magazine free of charge to encourage readership, promote awareness of school and community events and issues, and to showcase student journalistic work. The Trojan welcomes letters to the editors. All letters must be signed to be published, but may be anonymous if the author chooses. Letters may be no more than 350 words and must be delivered to room 350 ten days prior to publication. The Trojan staff welcomes comments, questions and opinions. Send comments to berans@ parkhill.k12.mo.us 7701 Barry Rd., Kansas City, Mo 65781, or call 816-359-6238.
Mixed emotions. That’s the best way to describe how I feel about this, my last issue as Editor-in-Chief of The Trojan. I love this 24-page paper. I have, for three years, poured my heart and soul into it. But, seeing as I graduate in 9 days, it’s time to let it go. It’s said that “change is the only constant in the world.” However, for most – including myself – change is scary. Change means letting go of what’s comfortable, of what’s routine, and adapting to something new. Change can be wished for, or simply forced upon you by life’s events. Regardless, it’s uncharted territory. For the 401 students that make up the 2011 graduating class, change begins very soon. For many, this uncharted territory comes without a road map. We do not know what will happen in the following years, we do not know what each of us will become, nor where we’ll end up. But there’s a beauty in that. The average life span is 78 years. We all still have more than fourfifths of our lives to live. And the changes we experience in that time will better us, strengthen us, and propel our lives onto something new. Although scary, change is what makes this life worth living. Anatole France one said, “All changes, even the most longed for, have their melancholy; for what we leave behind us is a part of ourselves.” PHHS Journalism will always be a part of me – the room, the paper, and the staff. I will always love this paper, but it’s time to let it go. sarah eblen
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copy editor
editor-in-chief
{sarah eblen}
FROM THE EDITOR
the trojan 2
CONT ENTS
FEATURES
Text Talk: either you H8 it or --With teens today you <3 it texting twenty
5
Senior Map
four- seven, all of the “Lol’s” and “OMG’s” are bound to make their way into everyday conversation. Read about how text-talk has become a teen phenomenon.
11
--With the 2011 school year coming to an end, the Senior class is finalizing their college desicons. See where our 2011 Trojans will be going to school in the fall.
A New Meaning of Expression
17
--See how students at PHHS choose to express themselves through tattoos.
CAMPUS7
A few select PHHS clubs have found a cause and are helping for the better. Read about how these clubs are making a difference.
SPORTS 13
With so many questions about the next NFL season, our sports department sheds a little light on the situation. Read an interview with Kansas City Star sports columnist Sam Mellinger to get the scoop.
COMMUNITY16 Synergy is a local organization that helps teens in our area. Read about all that Synergy has to offer.
LIFE19
Health Habits: Read about the harsh side effects of caffeine and the impact it could have on your body.
PLAY 21
The senior class of 2011’s high school journey is almost over. Take the time to reflect on what made them special and how they will be remembered for years to come.
Mr. Bingham, Gracias for teaching me español. I hope to see you in Mexico on your motor bike one day. -David Zdvorak
Mr. Sollars, Thanks for pushing me past my limits. I will take what you’ve taught me and make sure to use it throughout my life. Much love , Raymond Lee
Mrs. Haley, You’re the sparkle of my eye. I really appreciate all you have done for me! -Jesal Amin
seniors say goodbye Mrs. Cummings, You were the nicest teacher and I had the most fun in your class. You helped prepare me a lot for the ACT and in my college application process. Love ya Mrs. Cummings! -Wendell Thomas
Mr. Garrison, I appreciate everything you’ve done for me. You’ve made me into a better basketball player as well as person. You’ve taught me to not let things get to me and to always stay chill. I’ll miss being around you and the team.
Mrs. Gross, You’ve put up with me since freshman year and I now realize you’re the missing piece to my puzzle (LOL). I hope you don’t miss me too much; I know I was your favorite! Love, Beth Taye
Mr. Reynolds, You have been there for me through a lot. Thank you for helping shape me into the person I am today. -Blake Downs
Mr. Vanderpool, Thank you for putting up with me from freshman year and helping me with papers until this year. You’re a great coach and an even better teacher. -Preston Crouse
-[Anthony] Walter
the trojan 4
LOL BRB OMG
txt talk:
EITHER YOU <3 IT OR YOU H8 IT
omg txting has taken over r lives lol its rly funni 2 c how ppl do it all da time n idk if its evr guna stop cuz its so much fun! message abbreviations slipping into the writing as well,” said Vanderpool. Texting can be a good way to communicate, but constant texting can lead to the use of its simplistic language outside of the texting realm. When one constantly reads/types a word in a certain way (i.e. “u” for “you”, “4” for “for”, “r” for “are”), they will most likely apply it to more situations, such as typing “u” in a school paper. With teens constantly reading these letter combos on their phones, it’s not uncommon for text to carry over. “I believe our language is about to undergo an alteration. I think as time goes on, the evolution of the language will center around technology,” said Vanderpool. And technology has coined quite a few words, or rather, redefined them. Before its launch in 2006, Twitter was not a word, and a “tweet” was the sound a bird made. Before Facebook, writing on walls was generally discouraged. Now, writing on walls has become a common cultural practice for millions of people. Even more, with the introduction of mobile web, texting has carried over to the Internet, where text talk runs rampant. “Texting is all about the fast and the now. Typing with abbreviations only comes with trying to be fast. It’s a little disappointing to think that people can’t distinguish between trying to get the word out and trying to have a conversation,” junior Alexis Daley said. She continues, “When you write a formal letter or an important paper, if there are silly mistakes, it makes you look like an idiot. And from someone who writes all the time, mistakes like that are distracting. Don’t get me wrong, I use text lingo as well as the next person, but when it comes to formalities, proper English makes you sound like an intelligent person.”
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“People don’t even know what punctuation is anymore, and sometimes what they say is just one huge sentence,” sophomore Brooke Evans said. “I have to separate the clauses in my head for it to make any sense.” Evans said that while ‘text talk’ is perfectly acceptable in a text message, it is not in any other situation, including Facebook and other social networking sites. Sophomore Alisa Rippee said, “Proper spelling or punctuation doesn’t matter in informal settings, like on social networks, but using [text talk] in a formal or even semi-formal setting is really inappropriate.” However, Rippee does admit that an occasional ‘text word’ will slip out of her mouth. Whether it’s to find out what the latest gossip is, or what the homework in Language Arts is, texting is a teen phenomenon. However, with the popularity of texting growing, text talk has gained a significant following. With a limit of 160 characters or less, language has devolved to be contained within these limits. Numbers now mean letters, letters can now mean words, and words are sometimes forgotten. Texting has changed language, and not just English. Text talk runs rampant in many foreign languages, including Chinese, where numbers dominate the text language. (“520” means “I love you” in Chinese text talk) Sophomore Jessica Hanson said, “With people shortening their words so often, kids don’t want to say as much because they feel it should be concise, and they don’t feel like expanding on their thoughts anymore. It’s like they don’t want to say anything if it takes too long.” With teens constantly both reading and writing this simplified version of the English language, teachers and parents alike wonder about the effects of this new “language” on Standardized English. Language Arts teacher John Vanderpool contends that there is, in fact, a connection. “About two years ago I began to see [text language] in papers. But it’s far worse now. I wouldn’t say it’s terrible, but I would say that it’s impacted language as a whole. When students write, it tends to be short and concise sorts of sentences, and you do see text
feature 6
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TEXT A TIP
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7 campus
a student had to text Deputy Ford during class, then they could address their teacher or step into the office and get permission to text there. Deputy Ford also stated that he is not in front of his computer all the time to receive the messages, so students should inform an administrator or himself directly if the situation calls for it. “If the situation was serious enough or if someone brought a weapon to school, I would use text-a-tip. If students take this seriously, it would really help reduce violence in school,” senior Graham McTavish said.
tasha sani
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Text-a-tip is a new program at PHHS that allows students to anonymously send a text message directly to Deputy Ford informing him of any danger that may be present at PHHS or may cause harm to PHHS students. Students can text the number 274-637 to provide any information. “The program gives you a better way of getting information to law enforcement that is completely anonymous,” Student Resource Officer Deputy Richard Ford said. This program was enforced in New York City, Chicago, and Los Angeles schools and has also reached the Kansas City northland area. Winnetonka, Oak Park, Staley, North Platte, Platte City, Smithville, Park Hill South, and now PHHS, have adopted this program. “Teens are using phones all the time and what better way to promote this program than this,” said Ford. The biggest reason this program was being implemented into schools is because of the privacy it allows. Officer Ford said that this is a convenient way to inform him of a situation and provide key information that could save others from harm. So how exactly is this process anonymous? When a student texts the number 274-637, it automatically goes to a filtering center in Utah where it removes the number, assigns the alias, and sends the message straight to Deputy Ford’s computer, all in about five seconds. Soon after, the student will receive an automatic response, asking if their situation is an emergency; and if so, dial 911. If it is not an emergency, the student can text back and describe the problem, beginning the anonymous investigation. When Deputy Ford has gathered all of the necessary information, he sends a final text to end the conversation. “If there is an imminent and clear danger, tell your teacher,” assistant principal Dr. Deborah Miller said. The school’s policy against no texting during school hours created some conflict when Deputy Ford first presented the plan, but administrators soon thought of alternative solutions. When asked about this problem, Dr. Kincheloe and Dr. Miller stated that if it was of sufficient danger and
Fighting for a Cause
Participants in Day of Silence hoped that their small protest will have an impact on an issue that they feel strongly about. However, these students aren’t the only ones with causes they are excited to promote. German Club, seeking to make a difference, donated a percentage of the proceeds from their recent Battle of the Bands fundraiser to help relief efforts in Japan. Although Battle of the Bands has been a regular event at PHHS for several years, this is the first year that their proceeds were donated to humanitarian efforts. “With all the pictures in the news, I just felt horrible. I just wanted to do something about it,” senior Sarah Pennington said. As a member of the PHHS German Club, Pennington first came up with the idea of donating their profits to charity. Battle of the Bands was held on April 28. According to Heidi Bender, German Club’s sponsor, the procedure has been different this year since the funds will be going to a charitable cause. “It was totally student-driven. But I did have to check with the administration to get it OK’d. Anything where we’re earning money has to be closely monitored by the administration,” said Bender. Pennington said that she hopes the donation will become a regular part of Battle of the Bands, and she encourages others to take the initiative in organizing fundraisers. “You should definitely do it. It might be hard work, but it’s worth it to know that you helped someone who doesn’t have anything,” said Pennington.
STUCO is another club eager to help out the community with their blood drive, which happened on April 20. The blood drive happens twice a year, with the National Honor Society organizing the event in the fall. Many people underestimate the importance of blood donation, but it should not be overlooked. “People think it’s just like, whatever, but it really does save people’s lives,” senior and STUCO officer Leslie Coons said. Coons knows better than anyone how important blood transfusions can be to saving lives. “When my grandma was sick, she got blood transfusions for probably a year and it really did save her life. She lived a lot longer because of it,” said Coons. “It’s not going to hurt you, and you’re helping people in need,” senior and STUCO officer Preston Crouse said. There are restrictions to donating bloodyou must be over 16 and have parental consent if you are a minor, you must be over 115 pounds, and you can’t have any blood-borne illnesses- but students are encouraged, if possible, to donate blood the next time the blood drive comes to the Wrestling Gym. Donations are always welcome and appreciated.
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On April 15, across the nation, thousands of students fell silent in honor of a national protest that was born on the University of Virginia college campus in 1996. Day of Silence, which began as a localized event in Virginia but quickly spread across the United States, is an annual way for protesters to draw attention to an issue that is inciting passions all over the country- the state of gay rights in America. PHHS students who agreed with the message that Day of Silence promotes took up the cause on April 15, hoping to draw the school’s attention to this issue and incite change within PHHS’s community. “I participated because I respect and value the whole idea of having a Day of Silence to atone for what straight people did, hating on the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered) community,” senior Xavier Martin said. “People don’t choose to be ridiculed.” Freshman Cooper Slater, the president of PHHS’s gay-straight alliance, says that he hopes Day of Silence encouraged people to rethink their attitudes towards gays. “I’m tired of people, just in general, when they say something is ‘so gay’ and they mean it’s stupid. It makes me mad that they’re insinuating that gay people are stupid or wrong,” said Slater. “People think Day of Silence is just to remember LGBT students, but I really think it should be to remember everyone who took their life because they were bullied.” Day of Silence is held every year in April; however, exact dates vary year to year. Students interested in participating in next year’s Day of Silence should come to a GSA meeting on Tuesday afternoon in room 102.
Blood Drive
camille smith
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Day of Silence Battle of the Bands
senior send off --Truman State University --Northwest Missouri State University
--University of Missouri
--University of Central Missouri
--Missouri University of Science and Technology
--Missouri State University
9 feature
---staying close to home
Northwest Missouri State University
Ben Morris, Ace Anderson, Stephanie Atkinson, Brian Birchler, Alisha Bos, Christian Bruce, Sarah Coe, Kyla Cory, Courtney Cox, Treâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Durham, Dearis Flint, Louis Hall, Janine Hanover, Kristin Heavener. Lauren Hosey, Ania Jamerson, Lena Johnson, Ben Morris, Carly Morales, Blake Northen, Hannah Pennington, Nick Shepherd, Marissa Smith, Kahlil Stephenson, Wendell Thomas, Morgan Tomac, Nathan Wilson, Lee Entwistle, and Charlie Wilkinson.
Truman State University
Elizabeth Arms, Emily Battmer, Madeline Cummings, Sarah Eblen, Haley Edgerton, Joel Gordon, Betty Grauberger, Walker Hemphill, Kelsey Ruoff, Haley Van Hooser, and Carson Whitley.
University of Missouri
Andrew Anderson, Ethan Carr, Preston Crouse, Elizabeth Dingman, Austin Dorward, Alex Emery, Zachery Foxworthy, Ricardo Garcia, Landis George, Liza Hill, Paige Hultz, Bryce Kober, Nathan Koehler, Dylan Lambur, Maxwell Lanham, Robert Lawrence, Rayci Lee, Kyle Lynn, Holly Maier, Clay Massey, Mary McClannahan, Graham McTavish, Casey Melby, Mary Lou Mixon, Allysa Moran, Matthew Moratz, Mziyanda Noruka, Travis Perry, Collin Pummill, Charlie Rider, Scott Shores, Christian Taylor, Ashley Vong, Samantha Young, Clayton McShannon, Justin Turner and Cal Johnson.
University of Central Missouri
Nerissa Lee, Sarah Arnold, Taylor Pfaff, Sarah Kanoy, Emily Scott, and Kyle Watkins.
Missouri State University
Scott Berndt, Maureen Birchler, Nichole Colwell, Mackenzie Cooper, Erica Crainshaw, Blake Downs, Chris Greger, Scott Jensen, Dylan Jones, Brennan Lashbrook, Kelsey Midtbo, Ben Svoboda, Kayla Smith, and Matt Ziehm.
William Jewell College
University of Missouri Kansas City
Alex Birch, Mychalea James, Jesal Amin, Kelsey Kennedy, Nicholas Matt, Trey McIntire, Jordan Payton, Molly Pennington, Christine Phillips, Ashley Roscoe, Sarah Schuster, Abby Shockley, Dylan Stock, Larry Tran, Sara Trompeter, Phuc Vo, Ashton Wicks, and Vy Hoang.
Metropolitan Community College at Maple Woods
Megan Amos, Matthew Applebury, Kyle Baehr, Tyler Baker, Troy Bennett, Nicholle Boone, Nikki Chilson, Jennifer Clarkson, Kelly Cook, Keifer Dennis, Caitlin Dwyer, Jacqueline Freeman, Emily Grinstead, Michael Harding, Kaley Hensel, Chelsea Hodge, Jake Holmes, Megan Lewis, Justin MacRae, Travis Marcum, Jon McCole, Jake Monroe, John Mosier, Chelsea Newsome, Cherish Oliver, Sarah Pennington, Miguel Puente, Taylor Reliford, Jeane Robinson, Matt Rodriguez, Keith Schultz, Iluysha Selivaniuk, Nick Shelton, Jake Stauch, Nathan Stegemann, Jessica Sutlief, Beth Taye, Janet Trent, Amanda Utter, Nick VanPool, Sadie Wallace, Kelly Washburn, Philip Wong, Michael Smith, Tyler Bradshaw, and Spencer Forret.
Missouri University of Science and Technology Derek Bisoglio, Trace Norfleet, Zach Sarver, David Zdvorak, and Helena Hudson.
Park University
Erica Braidlow, Katherine Bowman, Sara Scott, Joey Sheets, Alex Thornton, Taylor Tripp, and Minnie Washington.
Missouri Western University
Marissa Brooks, Muhammad Che Ramli, Shelby DeMott, Katey Kohl, Nathan Shores, and Austin Stabe.
Rockhurst University Jeremiah Laurent
Missouri Southern State University Jake Swaney
Central Methodist University
Kaleigh Parks, Tasha Sani, Shane Van Hooser, and Sam Blacksher.
Michele Rupard
Lincoln University
Ellitta Tuvalu
LaTroya Bennett
Drury University
Brown Mackie Community College House of Heavilin Chelsea Stenner
Luke Burnidge
Evanegl University
Penn Valley Community College
St. Louis University
Katie Boul, Alex Shipp, and Ashlea Williams.
Burt Taylor
Raymond Lee
Missouri Welding College
Paris II Educational Center
Avila University
Longview Community College
Jake McCullough
Jessica Griffin and Mallory Holland
Gabrielle Kensinger John Adams
feature10
--stretching across Johnson County Community College Elaina Hampton and Summer Power Coffeyville Community College Emma Kuchenbrod
Central Iowa University Ashlei Bos
Baker University Sean Nordeen
Orange Coast College Austin Caldwell University of Santa Monica Kris Proctor University of Advancing Technology Xavier Martin University of Northern Colorado Kansas State University April McNabb Kendall Harvey Christopher Goodale Katherine Cross
University of Kansas Samantha Brunker Leslie Coons Bailey Petrillo Parker Redel Delaney Branton
Witchita State University Christina Wilson
11feature
University of Hawaii Nancy Hidai
Washburn University Erin Miller
Benedictine College Quenton Noble Allen County Community College Danielle Wilber Marisa Manzo
Oklahoma State University Andrew Iverson
the map Cornell College Brandon Head
Pace University Tayla Groves
Kansas City Kansas Community College Marnie Slater Concordia Universtiy Sam Shepherd
Penn State Brady Kreitzer
Cornell University Bricker Dixon
Creighton Universtiy Christian Reinmiller
Brown University Grace Cain
University of Notre Dame John Paine --see other map
Southern Illinois University Adam Vanderpool
Grambling University Taylor Sanders
John Brown University Emily Henry
Tuskegee University Brea Smith Collin College Hope Hammons Texas A&M Angel Duncan Markaila Knox University of Houston Andrew Nickell
University of Iowa Cody Goodwin Hendrix College Kathryn Skorija Harding University Cole Walker
Queens University of Charlotte Sam Gibson Florida State Erin Flagler Trevecca Nazarene University Andrew Riley
*Designed by Jessica Swete
feature12
With the lockout looming, the next NFL season is still up in the air...
...but what does that mean for Park Hill High School? 13 sports
Inside the mind of the KC Star Columnist
Senior Cody Goodwin
KC Star Columnist Sam Mellinger
Sam Mellinger is the Sports Columnist for The Kansas City Star. Sam started at The Star in 2000, covering high school sports. In 2005, he started covering baseball and the Royals before becoming a columnist in 2010. “You’re free to love it or hate it, digest it or dismiss it, but you’ll never be able to say I’m not working hard or don’t believe what I write.” –Sam Mellinger Cody: What exactly is the main argument surrounding the NFL Lockout and the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA)? Sam: The owners of the teams feel like they signed a bad deal with the last CBA. And with this new one that they are trying to resolve with the players, they (both sides) want something that will essentially benefit both. The simplest way to put it is that the argument is over money. Cody: What is it that the players want? Sam: The players want better health benefits, especially for those who are retired and suffering from head injuries, back injuries, knee injuries, anything really. They also want what would be called a Rookie Salary Cap, which, in a nutshell, will keep rookies like Sam Bradford from signing a $54 Million dollar contract, with $30 Million guaranteed. That basically says, under the current rules, that he doesn’t have to play a down, and he’ll receive $30 Million. Cody: That doesn’t sound like too bad of a deal. I’d kill for that gig. Now, what exactly do the owners want out of the deal? Sam: The owners want an extra $1 Billion off the top of the contract, as well as a possible 18-game season. In the grand scheme of things, both the players and the coaches want the same thing to happen, but they want it to happen in a way that benefits them. Cody: Makes sense. Especially in today’s tight economy, everything is about money. Now, some key questions regarding the season. When, do
you think, will the issue be resolved, assuming that it does? Sam: There have been a lot of estimates and guesses about when and how it will be solved. But again, they’re just guesses, so there is no clear date. Cody: What could be the effect of no NFL season this next upcoming year? Sam: $9 Billion dollars in revenue would be tossed right out the window. A ton of people would lose their jobs, and even more people would simply lose their entertainment. Sundays just wouldn’t really be the same anymore. Fortunately, I can’t imagine there not being a season. There will come a time when both sides will figure it out and play the season. There may be some games cut from the season, but there will be a season. They can’t afford not to have one. Cody: If there is no season, who are the real big winners out of this whole fiasco? Sam: Major League Baseball would be a winner. With nobody to compete with through September and October, their ratings will sky rocket. And even college football can jump on some opportunities too. I’m sure there are some ‘outsidethe-box-thinking’ [Athletic Directors] out there who will say, ‘Hey, let’s move our game to Sunday. Primetime. No other game. This could make some extra change in the school’s pockets.’ Cody: Time for the opposite… who will the big losers be? Sam: As much as everybody wants to say that the players and the owners will be the big losers, that won’t necessarily be the case. The biggest losers will be the fans. Think of a grocery store; when
you go into Price Chopper before the Chiefs play on Sunday, you can see everybody wearing red, buying braughts and coke, preparing to tailgate. Friends and family get together, the red sea comes alive, and the whole town is just ready to watch Matt [Cassel] do his thing. Without a season, none of this will happen, nobody will go to the games with those friends, and this town will have nothing to get excited about. The fans will just suffer big time from there not being a season. But as I said, there’s a slim to none chance that the season will be cancelled. Maybe miss a few games, but nothing to completely stop the season. Cody: I’m hoping that people understand this completely now. Time for a more personal question. What’s it like being a columnist for The Star? Sam: It’s a better job than I could have ever dreamed of having. I got it at a younger age than I ever thought I’d get it at. I grew up around KC, I’ve been here all my life, and I couldn’t ask for a better spot to do it in. I’m in a town that has two professional teams, and that this town cares about those teams, it’s just awesome to work in such an awesome place. It’s all I’ve ever wanted to do. Cody: Getting paid to write your opinion. Sounds like something I could easily go for. *The lockout was temporarily lifted on April 25, 2011. After the owners appealed to the Eighth Distrct Court of Appeals, the ruling put a temporary stay on the lockout, as of April 30, emphasizing to the teams specifically that no transactions between players regarding contracts and renegotiations of players contracts shall take place.
Teenagers find refuge with
Synergy Services There are more than 2,000 homeless teenagers on the street at any given time of the day in Kansas City, according to Synergy Services. That number does not include the teenagers that spend the night crashing on a friend’s couch. Synergy Services (a safe house for homeless teens) assists teenagers who are in situations such as those. Some teenagers that take advantage of Synergy Services walk within the halls of PHHS every day. “We work with the teens, to encourage stability in their life. In some instances, they are going from house to house. We always have four people personally on call for our street outreach program, and go into schools and libraries in the community to promote Synergy as a safe place,” Synergy street outreach advocate Trenton Clifton said. Synergy now has services for young children and women victimized by abuse, but began as the only safe house for runaway teenagers in western Missouri. “Synergy offers counseling for in need teenagers, and has both transitional living programs and space in the facility for teenagers that need a temporary place to stay,” PHHS social worker Karen Calonge said. Students that use Synergy as a safe house, or stay there
until they can get back on their feet, are provided with a safe place to stay at night. Synergy works with QuikTrip as pick up stops, where “homeless” teenagers can go and call Synergy to either pick them up or drop them off blankets and food. “QuikTrip is a safe place, if you have no way to call Synergy, or are on the street, you can go to QT and they will call Synergy to come pick you up,” said Calonge. Synergy Services works with many school districts in the northland, and makes sure that school isn’t an issue when finding a safe place to stay. But Synergy does much more than that. In addition to providing teenagers a safe place to stay, their building is equipped with a gym, art room, recording studio, work out facility, a learning kitchen, plus more amenities for not only the residents to benefit from, but teenagers in the community as a whole. “We provide different programs and classes, for the teenagers to come and be able to express their emotions. Synergy had a safe house for 20 years that was nothing like the one we have today. But we finally built up enough grants and funds to build a facility that accomplishes our goals, and is a place that teenagers enjoy,” said Clifton.
--Synergy’s facilities: from a recreational room
“If you’re in the PHHS district [and stay at Synergy], we will make sure that you can make it to and from school. If you qualify for transportation assistance, then usually a cab will bring you to school,” said Calonge. Even more, many times a teenager away from home doesn’t have the means to see a doctor or go in for checkups. Synergy uses their complete medical facility on site to provide free dental and medical assistance not only to the teenagers staying at Synergy, but teenagers in the community. “[The doctor’s office] is a great amenity for the kids that are staying here. Many of them don’t know whether they have insurance or not, and don’t have the means to pay for an appointment, so they can come here and get treated for free,” shared Clifton. Synergy Services exists solely to provide assistance for teenagers in need. Synergy makes it easy to ask for and receive help. Their programs are all intended to give teenagers every opportunity to succeed in life.
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There are many different programs that Synergy provides for their residents that correspond with different interests. There is an array of creative arts classes, including theatre, creative writing, culinary arts, painting, and multimedia. Synergy also encourages the teenagers to get involved in community service projects, by providing service learning classes. There are sports and recreation classes, as well as youth leadership courses. Synergy works with individual needs of every teenager that reaches out for help, and finds the best fit for that teenager to get them on their feet and off the street. “An option I like to promote that Synergy provides for teenagers 16 and over is the transitional living program. This is where students are given an apartment to share with three other individuals. Each person gets their own room, but they learn how to survive in the real world. It’s a temporary solution and designed to help teenagers get on their own two feet, but serves as a learning experience,” shared Calonge. Clifton shared that not all teenagers wish to remain in school when they come to Synergy. When that is the case, teens take advantage of the PLATO program, where students can complete credits online. But the teenagers that wish to remain in school are provided with adequate transportation.
to an educational center
community 16
A Whole New Meaning of
Expression
feature
The story behind the ink
Senior Jeremiah Marshall (dominant photo) got his tattoo to represent his love of music. “I have played the guitar and have played piano since I was five,” said Marshall. Marshall also has another tattoo (not pictured). Marshall’s grandpa died from colon cancer in 2010. That same year, Marshall got a tattoo to commemorate his death – his right arm carries the word, “Fight” while his left arm carries the rest of the message, “Or Die.” Junior Victoria Coleman (pictured top left) got her tattoo in honor of her father who passed away in 2003. “I was always a daddy’s girl. It is on my left hand because that is the last hand my dad held.” Coleman plans to get more tattoos in his honor. Junior Samantha Haugen (pictured bottom right) got her tattoo during the summer of 2010. “The reason I got “Faith” was because it was something meaningful and I wanted to be reminded to live by my faith every day,” said Haugen. “This is my second tattoo. Before I got the first one, I thought they were kind of trashy. But once I decided to get my first one, I realized they weren’t trashy if they meant something and were small,” said Haugen. Senior Jeane Robinson (pictured lower left) got her tattoo “Redeemed“ on January 8th, the day after she turned eighteen. “I feel like tats with meaning and purpose are acceptable. Tattoos with messages and heart are deserving of recognition,” said Robinson. Senior Kris Proctor (upper right) got a tattoo of a lion to represent his Zodiac sign, Leo.
phhs health habits
CAFFEINE’S EFFECTS ON THE BODY
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Got the jitters? Many people believe that caffeine increases their mental alertness. However, higher doses of caffeine can cause anxiety, headaches, dizziness, loss of calcium; it can affect normal sleeping patterns, and even cause heart problems. When drinking things like coffee, tea, sodas, and energy drinks, most people just pay attention to the flavor and hope that the products will help them stay awake. The last things on their minds are the side effects, according to the Kids Health Organization. “I figure that out of all of the caffeinated drinks, energy drinks are the worst. However, those are my favorite and I don’t really care about the side effects,” senior Nathan Stegemann said. Although he doesn’t care about the effects, Stegemann does experience some during his caffeinated episodes. “It depends on the day. If I drink an energy drink without eating in the morning, then they make me jittery to the point where I am actually shaking. However, if I do eat, then I don’t get as shaky, but my stomach will tend to hurt; but at the end of the day, it gets the job done,” said Stegemann. Caffeine can be mildly addictive. When asked how caffeine affects her body, senior and coffee drinker Jessica Hartzler replied with an, “It’s bad for my body; great for my head.” After drinking coffee every morning for many years, Hartzler doesn’t realize that she is semi-addicted to caffeine. Not everyone is crazed about caffeine; in fact some rarely drink it. “I don’t like coffee and am not a big fan of the way energy drinks taste. I know energy drinks aren’t good for you, and I don’t really want to pay for them. The only caffeinated beverage I choose would be an occasional soda as a treat,” ProStart teacher Emily Moorkamp said. According to the Kids Health Organization, the most caffeinated drinks this day in age are Monster Energy drinks, containing 83mg of caffeine in a 16oz can, Rockstar energy drinks (containing 80mg of caffeine in just an 8oz can), Mountain Dew (with 55mg in a 12oz can), and brewed coffee (with 115 mg in just a 5oz cup). Our body can only receive 300mg of caffeine a day; which amounts to about 3 cups of coffee. The best way to cut back on caffeine is to take things slowly. Some examples of cutting back would be supplementing caffeinated beverages with decaf coffee or tea, caffeine free sodas, or just try water. jessica swete
THE WEEK I SPENT AS A
VEGAN
Nobody thought it was a good idea or that I had the strength to do it. On April 11, I started my week-long challenge to strictly practice veganism. Personally, I wanted to prove that it wasn’t hard to do, but towards the end of the week it became so much more. I was then focused on bettering my health, my vitality, and having a positive effect on reducing animal suffering. Day 1 No meat, no milk, no animal anything. I had spent over $70 on organic foods, meatless meat, and lots of fruits and vegetables. “Wow, that’s a lot of healthy foods,” the cashier said. “Yes, it is. I’m actually going vegan for a week,” I said quietly, unsure of how the cashier would react. “I saw that on Oprah the other day. I can’t believe you’re trying it, but best of luck to you,” she said enthusiastically, which really motivated me. To be honest, my lunch was disgusting. It consisted of rice chips, soy milk, celery, carrots, and soygurt (soy yogurt, yuck!). For dinner I had macaroni and rice shreds (cheese replica). It was bland… very bland. But, I kept with the mindset of bettering my health. Day 2 I had a dream I was eating raw meat by the handfuls, and I woke up satisfied. It was only 6:00 am and I was craving meat and dairy products. Lunch was a lot better today than the first; I enjoyed a salad and vegan crackers, but I was still terribly hungry. I went through the day with a migraine, mostly because I wasn’t getting the amount of food I usually do. I felt faint and dizzy by dinner time, and I knew I had no choice but to eat some form of meat. Day two and I had already broken my vegan week; but soon after eating meat, my dizziness and headaches were gone. It’s best to consult a nutritionist before trying out veganism cold turkey. I couldn’t believe how hard being a vegan is. Day 3 I realized on this day how much I love fruits and vegetables, and how much better I felt being a vegan after three days! I wasn’t as drowsy, and I actually enjoyed the soy milk and vegan foods. But without thinking, halfway through the day, I ate a cupcake. Cupcakes are my favorite, and I don’t regret enjoying it. I’m a horrible vegan. Three days down, four to go. I’m so ready for this week to be over. Day 4 I went for a run today for the first time in a while, and I felt great! I had no idea if it correlated with my vegan week, or if it was just a good day, but I hadn’t felt this revitalized in a while. The day had been going well, and I had been eating everything vegan; I had been going strong. But then I almost ate some crackers that contained pasteurized milk, which was in the middle of a long list of ingredients. Another hard part of being a vegan is making sure nothing contains animal products. You have to carefully read labels and ingredients to see if there is any product that came from an animal, because most foods contain some type of animal product. Day 5 Meat was on my mind, and I would love to eat a juicy hamburger right about now. I only had 2 days left, so I tried. I do feel better in many ways, but giving up meat is a big price to pay. If you don’t mind withdrawal symptoms for a week or possibly longer, try out veganism. You’ll be surprised on the effect some foods have on your body. Day 6 I applaud vegans and vegetarians, because it’s extremely difficult to maintain. Today went okay, but I still can’t stop thinking about all the foods I gave up.
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Day 7 I was actually getting the hang of being a vegan, but I was ready to go back to my old eating habits. I felt like I was in one of those Claritin commercials, where the foggy cloud escapes people’s allergy-infested head. I finally experienced clearness for the first time and it was amazing. Going vegan cleaned up my life, and I only did it for a week. My body and mind felt truly alive, and now I have stamina, energy, and joy. But to be honest, it was not easy. heather kennard life
20
In a Reverie Oh no, don’t look at them. Don’t look at them. Find something else, anything. Jake’s eyes searched the wall directly over the judges for the slightest crack. Finding his focus point near the third judge’s right ear, Jake made faux eye contact, keeping himself at a balance. Ah, there we go. That’s much better. His song continued, strong and unaltered. As he reached his ending note, Jake dared to make eye contact with the judges and smile, flashing charm. The judges seemed satisfied, more so than with number 61. The judge that had called him up asked, “You were in Park Hill’s play, Jekyll and Hyde, right?” Smiling, Jake replied, “Yes, ma’am.” “Thank you, Jake. You may take your seat now.” Jake made a quick bow and returned to his seat, smiling the entire way there. She recognized me! Out of all the people here, she recognized me! Wow. That’s got to help me out later on. I sang better than I thought I did. Go me. Five Days Later Jake sat at his computer staring at his inbox on his Yahoo account. He had been doing so for a while. The results had been sent out to all the contestants telling them if they made it into the top twenty out of 200. Jake’s hand rested on his mouse, finger on the clicker. He inhaled and exhaled slowly then clicked on the digital envelope. “Congratulations Jacob Swaney, you’ve qualified for the top twenty. We look forward to seeing you compete at the Jewish Theatre in Overland Park on May 9th at 7:00 p.m.,” the email read. Jake sat amazed. I made it. I made it! Oh my God, I made it! Jake’s smile illuminated the room. He has the chance. He has the opportunity to win and he is by no means going to waste it. (In case you missed the subtle hint, you can go and watch Jake perform at the Jewish Theater in Overland Park on May 9 at 7 p.m.)
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zach hahn
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The room seemed small, too small to contain the 150 people inside. But somehow, everyone fit. Even the rather large judge’s table fit cozily in the front of the room; the center of attention. Senior Jake Swaney sat in one of the numerous rows of black plastic chairs, awaiting his turn. Wow, there are a lot of people here. More than I thought. Jake stirred in his seat, feeling a bit uncomfortable. He’d heard of the scholarship program called Kansas City Star that resembled American Idol on a lot of levels; except it isn’t televised and the first prize is instead a $5000 scholarship. He’d arrived at the Overland Park Jewish Community center feeling pretty confident, until he saw all the strangers before him. I feel alright, I mean I shouldn’t have anything to worry about. Just stay calm and you’ll do fine. The performer labeled 61 finished her song and, after being politely excused by the judges, took her seat. She was good. I can top it. I know I can top it. I know it. The three judges looked at one another for a second, murmuring, and shifted back in their seats to face the contestants. The one on the end lifted a white piece of paper and called out, “62.” Jake sat up straight, startled by his number being called, despite already knowing he was next, and stood up. As he made his way toward the isle, he couldn’t help but question himself. Some of these people were really good. I hope I can top them. Well whatever happens, all you can do is your best. Jake approached the square in front of the judges table and smiled. The female judge that had called his name returned his smile and said, “Hello Jake. What school are you from?” “Park Hill High School,” he answered. “And what will you be singing for us today, Mr. Swaney?” “I’m singing ‘Stand by Me’ by Ben E. King,” Jake replied. “Ah, you may start whenever you’re ready,” the judge said. Well, here it goes, for five grand. Jake nodded and started singing. The absence of a musical background made him feel nervous because all of the judges’ attention was focused on his voice. Jake’s eyes stole a glance at the judges; the air grew hotter and battled the chill in his lower gut for control, only resulting in a quiver that threatened his performance.
As we go on, ‘11 you’ll remember.. In the past, yes, people knew who the seniors were. They knew the names, the faces, what they did, and how well they did it. But not like they know us. In the past, people would watch the seniors do their thing, on their own. But the class of ‘11 invited the rest of the school to come along with us. In the past, the senior class would always have their cliques, their differences, their drama, and their fights. Not us. There isn’t one person in our graduating class that I don’t know. And out of the 401 students, I can find something nice to say about every single one of them. In my eyes, I like to look at our class as one big family. Though we are nothing like the original, traditional family, that doesn’t take any meaning away from the word. Because you don’t choose your family; they are God’s gift to you as you are to them. Everybody in the Class of ’11 is a part of this family, a part of our puzzle. Losing even one member of our class is like losing a Lego from your masterpiece. (RIP Spencer Crosthwait and Evie Penn. We all miss you guys terribly.) *** We are a family, we are known, and most importantly, we will never be forgotten. Our class has revamped the way PHHS runs and operates, from sports to academics to clubs and notable events. We’ve changed the way PHHS looks at DECA, broadcasting, journalism, jazz music, soccer, and even the way Senior Skip Days should be celebrated. The students in our class are unforgettable, and if you don’t think so, they will most certainly prove you wrong. When the next few senior classes come through these halls, we don’t want it to be a competition about who the better senior class is. (Listen up, juniors.) We want you to learn from us, take from it what you will, and begin your own legacy, your own family. It’s something that only the Class of 2011 could have started. It’s our gift.
{ cody goodwin
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As we close out another year, the seniors begin to reminisce on the four years that were. As we do so, we’re looking back on the memories we have made over the last four years; the friends we have met, the teachers we’ve befriended, the games we won, and most importantly, what we’re leaving behind. It’s much more than just a simple memory or a state championship trophy. Everybody claims that they’re the class that this school will never forget. However, for the Class of ’11, I believe this will hold true. *** Think of high school like a brand new box of Legos. You spend four years of your life working to build a masterpiece. Every piece of the puzzle has its own meaning, its own significance to what you’re aiming to build. With each passing year, the design begins to take shape into who you are and what you stand for. For some, this builds to be an impressive athletic career. Others take their time to express themselves in the form of art, whether it’s drawing, graphic design, music, or even acting. Your best friend from freshman year may now be the head of STUCO or FCA. It’s amazing what can happen to people over a four year span. They grow up and change a little bit here and there; sometimes it’s for the good, and sometimes it’s not. Regardless, everybody who leaves this school on May 11 is in for an exciting future. The person you’re sitting next to in your Spanish class may be a famous comedian. Or maybe the kid you walked by in the hallway is the future president of the United States. There’s a slim chance that the author of this piece could be on SportsCenter someday. At the same time, he could be stuck with his job at Tomfooleries’ for longer than he hopes for. That’s one of the cool things about the Class of 2011. You have no idea what you’re going to get with each student that walks across the stage at Municipal Auditorium in about nine days. It makes us special. It makes us unique. And it’s a part of the gift we have. *** Each class has an exclusive gift, a particular reason as to why they are remembered. For some, this reason is only narrowed down to one specific item. For us, our gift doesn’t seem to end.
play
22
Day of Silence
-- On April 15, thousands of students fell silent in honor of a national protest. To find out more about this event, see page 8