PHHS Issue 5 April 2017

TEACHER BEST OFS PHHS Students had the chance to vote for their favorite teachers in 14 different categories for the first ever PHHS Teacher Best Ofs.

EARTH DAY April 22. is a day to honor the Earth. PHHS’s own Conservation Club is taking strides to help take care of the planet everyday.

THE IMPORTANCE OF A CREATIVE OUTLET It is no secret that PHHS is full of creative students, but there are many teachers that value creativity as well. They channel it through outlets that have flown under the radar at PHHS.

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THE TROJAN

2017 LETTER FROM THE EditOr

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Dear Readers, Everyone has a home team. The people that understand saying “I love you” is a promise made, and they keep it by their actions. The people that will fight for you; the team that plays hard for you. Sometimes it takes the sourest of circumstances for you to realize just how important having a home team is; or at least that is what it took for me. It is in the SPRING SPORTS worst moments when home teams truly step up. I believe that is how Here is an in depth look at a few Trojan athletes who God shows up in our lives when everything seems so hopeless. I have are optimistic about the upcoming spring sport seen this first hand in my own life, but there have been plenty of times season. when I had forgotten. This past year I was reminded of that when new teammates joined the lineup, when my most valuable players stayed, and even when some left.

I had people on my team that made me believe the game was mine, only to change the rules and leave me at what felt like a loss. Hurt people hurt people. And I have hurt, and have been hurt more than ever over the course of this past year. I have made mistakes. I spat out words SEEING DOUBLE before tasting them. I was quick to anger. I sought to get even, knowing The Parent Trap, Zach and Cody, Beyonce. Twins fully well it wouldn’t make me feel better or change the outcome. But have always been a hot topic in popular culture, and even still my home team knew my heart, and they gave me grace. I fell PHHS is not a stranger to having student multiples. hard on the floor but they refused to let me live there.

My first teammates were the ones that signed on to my team unconditionally from the start. The people that knew I would be a gift SPRING FEVER no matter the circumstance I started out as. People like my parents’ Once warmer weather starts to come around, many best friend that was so excited that I would carry his name. The people teachers and students at PHHS come down with a case of that have continued to cheer me on throughout my life. The people that Spring Fever. helped my mom out around Christmas time so I could have that bike the year we learned how to do normal as a divorced family in the midst of grief.

The teammates that signed up not just for mine, but my entire family’s team, should be held very closely. When my mom’s best friend rushed to clean up my grandparent’s house before we arrived after my grandpa passed away, I learned that these kind of teammates are a EARTH DAY force to be reckoned with. I never thought I would be lucky enough to April 22. is a day to honor the Earth. PHHS’s own have someone choose to fight for me in that kind of way. But I do now.

Conservation Club is taking strides to help take care of I have a teammate that remembered I loved the smell of lavender, and the planet everyday. showed up with food and a chocolate shake for my little brother too.

She came over knowing that I wanted to cry but did everything to make me laugh instead.

I have teammates that I knew I could call in my worst moment. They waited in my living room with me until I was ready to face the musicand they listened to the sound of it ripping me apart.

TEACHER BEST OFS I have teammates that take the time to hear from me. They value the PHHS Students had the chance to vote for their favorite words I write and the words I say.

I have teammates that see me. I had a teammate that caught me and teachers in 14 different categories for the first ever PHHS held me tight in the middle of the hallway while I sobbed on what was Teacher Best Ofs. one of the hardest days for me to go to school.

I have teammates that sent me messages of encouragement on those dark days, even one that hurt so much she wanted to scream for me this past September.

I have teammates that serve as my coaches. My dance teacher saw THE IMPORTANCE OF A CREATIVE greatness in me when I couldn’t see it in myself. The girls I dance with remind me everyday of how good it feels to be powerful after feeling so OUTLET weak.

It is no secret that PHHS is full of creative students, but My home team has taught me what kind of legacy I want to be there are many teachers that value creativity as well. They remembered by. I think the best kind of players are the ones who choose channel it through outlets that have flown under the radar courage over comfort. They align their word with their actions no matter at PHHS how uncomfortable it gets. The ones that are real and raw and allow you to feel. The ones that humble themselves to know that you don’t need saving, but they meet the needs where they see them. I hope you have those kinds of people on your team. And if you don’t, let me introduce myself to you. I am so ready to be the kind of person I needed.

SPORTS

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LIFE

“Do your duty...and a little bit more.”

-PRINCIPAL BRAD KINCHELOE 2016-2017 Magazine Staff: Editor-In-Chief: Delaney Noland

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Visual Editor: Keeley Myszka Copy Editor: Mia Tyler Story Editor: Abby Hostick Business Managers: Kyleigh Conkling Chelsee Tirmai Reporters: TJ Hullaby Judiann McMahon Megan Monroe Kamryn O’Dell Elise Villarreal Joseph Walker Abby Yimer

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ABOUT THE COVER

1 - Photo By: Elise Villareal 2 - Photo By: Judiann McMahon 3 - Photo By: Abby Hostick 4 - Photo By: Abby Yimer

PHOTO BY: Megan Monroe Junior Ronnie Bell shoots the ball at the state class 5 Sectionals game in the Independence Event Center.

The Trojan, published monthly during the regular school year, is the official publication of Park Hill High School, and is printed by Antioch Printers in Kansas City, MO. All unsigned editorials represent the opinion of the Trojan staff. Editorials do not necessarily represent the opinion of the faculty or administration including the adviser. The student body receives this paper 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 Road, Kansas City, Mo 64153, or call 816-359-6238.

4 SPORTS

Spring Sports By: Abby Yimer “The biggest obstacle I have had to overcome was when I tore my ACL my freshman year of high school soccer. It was the hardest thing I’ve had to fight through because it tested my physical and mental capacities as well as my faith. But I can say that I have worked harder than ever since my knee because I know what it’s like to be away from what you love.”

-junior Alison Walls

“The hardest part about golf is the mental side. You can’t let one bad shot affect the rest of your round. If you do that then you start psyching yourself out and it is hard to recover from that. If you don’t let it affect your head then it comes down to how well you can strike the ball.”

-junior Randen Plattner Photo from Park Hill Boys Golf News

“My favorite thing about running distance track is the relationships I form with the other girls.

We are a super close group and we’re always there for each other throughout the long and strenuous workouts.”

-junior Grace Fink

“I’m excited to see how far we can come as a team and improve from our good season last year and hanging out with the guys outside of tennis and doing fun activities.

Teamwork makes the dream work!”

-senior Grant Martin

“I am most excited about playing with a great group of guys. I enjoy playing baseball because I excel at the sport making it fun.”

-freshman Aden Mertz

BY: KYLEIGH CONKLING

RAISED

ROYAL

With the 2017 baseball season just around the corner, The Kansas City Royals have a different outlook on what this season means to them. This year the Royals will be wearing a new patch on their uniforms. The Royals will be wearing an “ACE 30” patch to honor Yordano Ventura, who passed away Jan 22, 2017, in a car accident in the Dominican Republic.

“I was extremely sad obviously and I really just couldn’t believe that something this big happened to our team. I immediately got together with one of my friends and went to the stadium and laid flowers down at his memorial and paid my respects. The news left me numb and at a lost for words,” said senior Adam Sievert.

Ventura’s death was a shock to the entire city. A memorial was

created outside the stadium, decorated with flowers, signs, and Ventura jerseys by the fans. Royals players like Danny Duffy, Ian Kennedy, and Christian Colon also made their way to the stadium to be with the fans and grieve together. The Royals organization also had his picture on crown vision inside of the stadium as well.

During their spring training in Arizona, the Royals kept Ventura’s spirit alive with leaving one of the lockers open with his name on it.

Some of the players also write “RIP ACE” on various pieces of their uniform and equipment like their hats, bats, and tape.

“The team will be wearing patches on their uniforms to honor his memory and will keep a locker space open for him throughout the season. I think it will be a further bonding effect on a team that is already very close to each other,” said virtual teacher Thomas Schnabel.

Despite the passing of one of the Royals better pitchers many fans have a positive outlook for the up and coming season and are hoping for a trip to the off season.

“His death affects the team in some pretty major ways.

Obviously there is a missing piece to our pitching rotation but more than that, the team lost a fiery personality but I think his passing will drive his teammates to perform the best they can in his honor and carry on his legacy,” said Sievert.

But not every fan has as high as expectations as others.

“I think this next season will be average or below, I just think they peaked already and are on a downward slide, i hope I’m wrong though. I predict a 78-84 season,” said Senior Christian Hackworth.

Every year the Royals come up with a new theme for the season. This year’s theme is “Raised Royal.” The new theme is obvious throughout the entire city with commercials and billboards with the players and the fans on them promoting the upcoming season.

“I think “raised royal” is for how loyal the fans are around Kansas City and the surrounding areas and all fans of the Royals and how we have always supported our teams through the ups and the downs,” said Hackworth Many fans believe that they have a special connection with the team and players that most other teams don’t have with their fans. The passing of Ventura brought the city closer with the fans and the theme “Raised Royal” is for the fans.

“The city came together and grieved as one. It really exemplified how close the fans are to the team.

Ultimately as horrible as his death is, I think that this has brought our city even closer. Kansas City has a connection with the players that most teams don’t have and I was proud of my city in the events that followed his death like the blue skyline downtown, fanfest, the memorial and even the new theme “Raised Royal” it exemplifies the connection this team has with their fans and the city,” said Sievert.

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Seeing Double Double Seeing By: Abby Hostick & Judiann McMahon

On February 1, 2017, fans of Beyonce received quite the big news. Beyonce announced she was pregnant with twins by releasing her elegant, floral maternity photos. As the press munch away at this juicy news, twins are getting more attention than ever. Here at PHHS there are plenty of sets of twins with their own quirks and identities.

Senior Class Twins, Sophia and Lucas Cuni-Mertz, are not your average pair of twins. If you didn’t know them you likely would not put together that they are twins or even siblings at that. They look very different and have different interests.

“She does orchestra, she does dance, and I really just do tennis,” said Lucas.

“She loves scary movies and I hate scary movies.”

Although Sophia and Lucas have created their own passions now, they once shared the hobby of movie making. “ Our friends would get together and we’d make these mini movies, this is one activity we did together,” said Sophia.

Lucas and Sophia agree being a twin is great because they get to grow up with a friend. They always have someone by their side but with that comes splitting everything you have in two. They have to share basically everything you have with your twin.

Lucas and Sophia say they sadly do not have the twin-sense known as telepathy. This is the idea that twins can read each other’s thoughts or know how each other are feeling even when they are not with them. But most twins do have the ability to understand their twins feelings on a higher level then a friend.

“But if he’s upset I can empathize and it upsets me, a lot.” said Sophia Sophia and Lucas are excited for Beyonce and her twins. Sophia said she enjoys being a twin and even wouldn’t mind having twins herself.

Sophomore class twins Nick and Hunter Dieffenbach are identical twins. Telling them apart is

Freshman twins Caroline and Christina Arensberg seem to have the same views on being a twin as the rest of the pairs.

“Growing up as a twin has been good and bad. It’s good because you always have someone

almost impossible.

“As kids we would dress the same. Since I’m Hunter they would dress me in Hunter Green and they would dress Nick in red because of “Saint Nick”, that way they could tell

there with you, but it’s also bad because you’re always compared,” said freshman Christina Arensberg.

us apart,” said sophomore Hunter Dieffenbach.

Doing this is very common with young twins. As babies, it’s much harder to tell twins apart than it is when they are more grown up. Dressing twins in the same outfits but with differing colors makes it easy to tell between the two.

“Having someone that looks just like you gets annoying and irritating, but it’s nice to have someone to always talk to. We both swim, we both have the same friends, and we like to do the same activities,” said sophomore Nick Dieffenbach.

Junior class twins, Alex and Tori Schrankel, are very unique twins. Alex and Tori are fraternal in genetics and no more identical in personalities.

“Well when we were younger my mom made us wear the same thing and all that stuff and then like in 3rd grade we just separated and started wearing our own clothes, we had our own rooms by then,” said Alex.

Around this same time she said they developed their own separate friends rather than before when we had the same friends.

Tori said being a twin is annoying, it’s not Alex but it’s more the idea that everyone identifies her as a twin. Alex believes that being a twin is actually convenient because she always has someone with her going through the same thing.

“You have someone who understands what you’re going through because you’re at the same point in your life,” said Alex.

Alex also finds that because they are going through the same thing at the same time they have more disagreements.

Earth Day (also known as PHHS Prom night 2017). A day, and also sometimes an entire week, to show awareness of this planet’s environmental problems. This day is also to celebrate the Earth and all it provides. Some may have spent a day in their elementary school years celebrating Earth Day by drawing the earth, planting trees or flowers, or even decorating the classroom with earth related memorabilia.

April 22, 1970 was the first official Earth Day in the states, although, it is celebrated differently in many countries. Going on 47 years in the U.S., [it] has been celebrated through rallies, marches, and educational programs. Coincidentally prom is the same day, so celebrate with flowery dresses and ride a bike to the hotel.

“I wouldn’t say we are as aware as we can and should be [about Earth Day]. Our decisions about how we treat our planet really matter and they should be taken into more account,” said senior Cyris Clark.

Senator Gaylord Nelson, a World War II veteran and an environmentalist, was the founder of Earth Day. Around 20 million people participated in inaugural Earth Day activities throughout the nation on the original day. Nelson wanted environmental issues forced upon the political agenda. However, by a simple search on the internet, it’s easy to find which politicians have simply no time for the issues versus those who don’t make the time.

“From a worldly perspective, Earth Day would be more important since we have global warming and other things to prevent, but I think prom, at this time in our lives, is what we are looking towards,” said Clark.

By: Chelsee Tirmai

RUN FOR THE EARTH 5K

Why: The 5K is to raise money for a hydroponics system, which is an indoor version of a garden and based primarily around water! We will also be having an apple tree(s) and potentially an actual ‘dirt’ garden, depending on how things play out. The food we would be producing is going right to them [students]!

The district will be using the food, and it’s a big step forward!

When: Saturday, April 15 9:30 a.m.

Where: English Landing Park, Parkville The race is $20 and free for 10 years and younger.

What: Food will be at the event, free of charge, and t-shirts will be available for a donation, as well as raffle baskets which will have some great prizes! The 5K is also a community program so there will be people from all across the KC area hopefully, and even Park Hill South! There’s going to be a friendly competition between PH staff where they do a 50m dash dressed up in funny clothes, so that’s something students will definitely not want to miss out on!

This 5K run has been brought to the PHHS community by the Conservation Club and club president Margeaux Robinson.

Prom is an annual event that many PHHS students may be looking forward to. As the last dance of the school year, and possibly the biggest, prom is a time to put on some fancy clothes and dance the night away.

This year, prom coincidentally shares the same date as Earth Day. Show support through flowery hair styles or even show off a dazzling corsage. Seniors take this time to share the nostalgic feeling presented when the end of the year arrives.

“No matter what social group you’re in, everyone gets along because this is one of our final chances to be together. #blessed” - Cyris Clark

COMING SOON...

TO KANSAS CITY

THE MIDLAND SPRINT CENTER Radiohead - April 5, 2017 John Mayer - April 14, 2017 Lionel Richie w/ Mariah Carey - April 16, 2017 The Chainsmokers - May 17, 2017 Red Hot Chili Peppers - May 21, 2017 Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - June 2, 2017 Def Leopard and Poison June 21, 2017 OneRepublic w/ Fitz and the Tantrums - July 7, 2017 Luke Bryan - July 21, 2017 Bruno Mars - August 9, 2017 Green Day - August 11, 2017 Coldplay - August 15, 2017 Tim McGraw w/ Faith Houston - September23, 2017 Lady Gaga - November 15, 2017

Two Door Cinema Club April 25, 2017 Tech N9ne - June 2, 2017 Brit Floyd (Pink Floyd Tribute) - June 9, 2017

THE COTILLION Tech N9ne - June 2, 2017

KS. SPEEDWAY Rockfest, 98.9 the Rock Station - June 3, 2017

STARLIGHT The 1975 - May 9, 2017 Muse w/ 30 Seconds to Mars - June 12, 2017 John Legend - June 13, 2017 Train - July 3, 2017 Chance the Rapper - May 13, Steve Miller Band w/ Peter Frampton - July 23, 2017 2017 Nickelback and Daughtry July 23, 2017 Foreigner w/ Cheap Trick New Found Glory - April 15, - August 15, 2017 2017 Mayday Parade - April 23, 2017

P.M.C. AMPH.

THE GRANADA

KAUFFMAN CNT Blondie and Garbage - July 18, 2017

RECORD BAR Coin (18+ show) - June 27, 2017

10 LIFE

THE IMPORTANCE OF A CREATIVE By: Elise Villarreal OUTLET

“Every child is an artist, the problem is staying an artist when you grow up” said Pablo Picasso.

Everyone has a creative outlet, a way to stretch their passions far beyond their inner selves. Sometimes it seems as though they don’t get stretched enough and start to get neglected. Truth is, life tends to swallow people up sometimes. Being able to keep a creative outlet alive creates a break from reality, from everyday routines. Everyday holds opportunity for something new to be broadcast into the world. And when something fresh gets put into the limelight, it allows others to become inspired by it, and take it upon themselves to be creative as well.

Many faculty members here at PHHS have creative outlets that may not be apparent to the whole school. Melody Stutsman is a PHHS English teacher and devout poet who is very passionate about not only her in-school work, but also outside projects that keep her engaged in her unique creativity.

“I’m always writing things down,” she says, “ I think it’s like a little bit of therapy so I like that part, feeling like you’ve said it well and that you’ve kind of got some closure for things.”

When asked what advice she would give to anyone else trying to keep their creativity alive, she simply stated to do it.

“Just do it, ya know? Don’t think it has to be perfect. Find people that you can share it with so that you can get feedback and then, just like any art form you kind of have to sometimes do it even if it’s not perfect. Get into the practice of it.”

The inspiration Stutsman finds, she says, mainly comes from the people of PHHS. “The people I’m around, people I observe. I get a lot of inspiration from my students. I think it makes me reflect a little more about life because I see you guys going through some of the things I went through.”

Marlene Reuter, a librarian at PHHS is also an avid gardener, known for her strawberry jam and hot pepper relish. Since early beginnings with her parents in the garden, Reuter has developed her skill level in the dirt by expanding her knowledge on various gardening techniques.

“I have educated myself about different practices. How you can grow organically and feed the earth instead of just feeding yourself.” said Reuter.

She has always been interested in farming and the environment, constantly growing not only her crops, but her intelligence on the importance of self-support and sustainability.

She says that getting dirty in the process, is part of what makes it so rewarding.

“I believe when you grow it yourself, it means more and it’s more valuable.” states Reuter.

The advice that she would give anyone is to start.

“Try, just try. What’s the worst that can happen? If you fail try again, do something else.”

Rachel Hubbard, an art teacher at PHHS is also very passionate about fashion. Hubbard makes a lot of her own clothing and wears it to school regularly.

“I’m currently doing this thing where I only wear dresses that I make for a year.” said Hubbard Her mother, who used to work as the FACS teacher here, taught her how to sew at a very young age.

And she has been creating her own clothing items ever since.

“I like having things that are unique, that no one else has.” she said.

Like any skill, it takes time to improve. She says that being in a creative environment, where other people’s skills are being shown, aids in generating new ideas. When asked what advice she would give to others, Hubbard said to just continue doing whatever it is.

“Keep pursuing what you like, and keep practicing. I think a lot of people get frustrated with it right away, but it’s a skill that takes time, any skill takes time. But it’s really rewarding to produce an original.” states Hubbard.

Ky Hascal, band director at PHHS is extremely passionate about music. Hascal not only teaches music classes, he has been writing his own music since fifth grade. His father was a band director, which allowed him to be a great musical influence in Hascal’s life.

“My dad arranged a piece that I wrote in sixth grade for our sixth grade band and we played it at a concert.” said Hascal.

His love of music runs deep. He composes regularly and can play most of the instruments in the band, at least a little. Overall, his start was with piano, and there his passion remains. Playing the piano is a form of therapy for Hascal.

“My favorite part of playing music is the ability to kinda let the whole world just disappear, and just be in the moment of making music.” he says “Troubles go away, I forget about paying bills or getting wherever I have to be. Just, just that peace and calm that kind of goes with it.”

With any skill, there comes difficulty in sharing it with others.

Once original work is viewed by someone else for the first time, it can be intimidating.

“Just do it, like do it a lot. And you have to have a little bit of thick skin when you share it with other people because sometimes what you think is really good, some other people don’t. And it’s their opinion, it’s valid. But it’s just their opinion, if you like what you do, you keep going and keep sharing.” advises w.

At the end of the day, trying, practicing, and sharing are the guidelines to keeping a creative outlet alive. Because it truly is a break from everyday reality.

HUMAN OF PARK HILL By: Megan Monroe Senior Jasmine Ye expresses herself in many different ways. Her long and colorful hair tends to draw a lot of attention; and her unique, funny personality is one thing people love about her.

But, one of her best known talents is her gift of art. Despite her quiet disposition at first glance, Ye is actually a very loud, vibrant, and passionate person. She is very adamant about giving attention to problems in the world through her artwork. “I create my stuff for both me and others. I just like making stuff that looks nice, but it’s also like, hey you ignorant [folks] take a look at these pressing issues that get no western media coverage! This is important and you can’t just slide it under the rug! I mean, artists die but art my doesn’t and the concept behind the work I think is always more important than nose, just making something that’s aesthetically pleasing,” said Ye. my Along with her passion for art, she’s also an active and bold feminist, fingers which she incorporates very carefully in her are now artwork to send a message to society. immune to “Oh boy, oh boy, I firmly believe in being a hot glue burns bad independent b*#%$. I have tendency to and I think I have draw women and I usually portray them in managed to stain a strong way, never dependent on anyone every classroom I’ve else. I am a hardcore feminist and don’t been in with paint,” she ever wanna do work portraying women as said. fundamentally weak or in any way inferior,” Jasmine finds many said Ye. different ways to express To many, Jasmine makes creating herself other than painting, artwork look like a breeze. When she was drawing, and creating asked how long she’s been interested in art, artwork. She can be seen with Ye responded with, “Before conception.” different colored, vibrant hair She breathes art. Drawing hasn’t always that seems to switch up every been a walk in the park for her, though; and month, along with a variety just like a majority of us, she often gets of tattoos. When asked if she discouraged, “Definitely, I have a weekly expresses herself through mental breakdown because my work her hair and tattoos, Ye is mediocre at best in the grand responded, “With my hair and scheme of things and I have tattoos, it’s more of a for me so much room to improve. It thing. Like, I’m gonna see it makes me super sad for a bit more than anyone else, plus but then I just gotta work I’ve always liked to think of harder.” tattoos as temporary because She’s had many they gonna disappear when achievements at I die. Artists die but art does school while not. So when I get a tattoo, I creating her don’t think, ‘What should I get to send a message to the rest of the pieces, “I world’, it’s more like what looks cool and is meaningful to me.” managed to snort paint up

12 CAMPUS

TEACHER BEST OFS By: Mia Tyler and TJ Hullaby

PHHS Students had the chance to vote for their favorite teachers in 14 different categories for the first ever PHHS Teacher Best Ofs.

BEST SMILE

BEST DANCER

Mrs. Palguta

Mrs. Sobbe

BEST DRESSED

BEST SINGER

Mrs. Hart

Dr. Currington

MOST FRIENDLY

BEST ARTIST

Mrs. Palguta

Mrs. Hubbard

MOST HUMOROUS

MOST LIKELY TO WIN A NOBEL PRIZE

Mr. Wissman

Mr. Harman, Mr. Unsell, & Mrs. Grider

BEST LECTURER

BEST ATHLETE

Mr. Bellman & Mr. Snelling

Mrs. Hood & Coach Taylor

MOST LIKELY TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT

BEST HAIR

Mr. Smith

Mr. Kraviec

MOST LIKELY TO BE FAMOUS

BEST LAUGH

Coach Hood & Mrs. Sobbe

Mrs. Palguta

14 feature

Spraaang Fever By: Joseph Walker and Kamryn O'Dell

Clear skies, warm weather, and sunny days. Spring is here! Students are ready for the nice weather. It is often wondered if this type of weather can cause students to behave worse or not try as hard on tests, homework, or projects.

"When the weather warms up, and people have a chance to change the way they interact with their environment that they seize that, somebody who's a gardener just can't wait to get and do their gardening," said Dr. Brad Kincheloe.

Not to get it confused with Senioritis, a deadly plague targeting seniors, Spring fever is a feeling of restlessness and excitement felt at the beginning of spring. Some may question the reality of spring fever, dismissing it as being lazy because it's the end of the year.

I think spring fever is a real thing, because students tend to not care and don't put as much effort in their work, since it's almost the end of the year," said sophomore Sydney Serrano.

If the weather is enjoyable outside, that can cause attendance to differ. Some students may seem to resent the fact that they are in school, rather than being outside in the splendid weather.

I'm not sure it [attendance] goes down, but there are more troubles with it, a month from now you're thinking, man I could be outside in this great weather, and so you don't come to school," said Kincheloe.

The effort that students put into their work can also change when the weather changes.

"I put more effort in the spring than I do in the winter, because it's the end of the school year and I need to get my grades up," said Serrano.

However, I put more effort into winter, because I was working hard to make sure my grades stayed high during the college admissions period," said senior Caleb Wilson.

Students aren't the only ones who get a little bit of spring fever, our staff also has the capability to come down with a little temperature.

"This is even for old guys like me, I'm not a senior but I might get spring fever,"said Kincheloe.

Teachers have had to find ways to make things in class stay lively during this time of year.

To handle spring fever, you have to keep things busy in class, you can't just have long periods of free time where they mess around, that's when they tend to get in trouble. As long as you're teaching and keeping them on task, it handles their excitement," said Kevin Gorman.

How do You Cope with Spring Fever?

"I think about college and if I don't get it done now I will be behind and that gives me too much anxiety. Do your work and create a to-do list," -Gia Ngo "I've been cooped up in this house for too long, I'm out!," -Dr. Kincheoloe "I think about my grades and ending the school year with a good GPA. Work hard in class and get all your work done, so you can relax after school and not have homework," -Jack Yosel "Take allergy pills and stay indoors and don't get anywhere near the sun," -Nolan Harlass "You have something to look forward to when you get out of school, with nice weather you can do a lot of things outside," -Caleb Wilson "I have no clue, for me I just watch baseball," -Adam Sievert

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