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South students share their opinions on how COVID-19 has affected their school expirience. pg 12-13
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VIEW Park Hill South Riverside, MO Nov. 2, 2020 Issue 1 Vol.23
VIEW
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Letter from the
EDITOR
2020. It is difficult to describe the year thus far in just one word. One that quickly comes to my mind is new. The year has had its ups and downs for many, but like every new change there is always a silver lining to be found. Here, mask fashion is taking the halls by storm, and athletes are getting to do what they love on the field or court. Seniors are even applying for colleges without the burden of a required ACT score. Another new endeavor of the school year is the new team of writers and leadership in Newspaper. It is with great pride that my co-editor Amy and I present the first issue of The View. Although our class time and class itself is split in half, the quality of writing and designing of the paper did not suffer in the least. The collective growth and persistence inside the C200 classroom is easy to see through staff members old and new. I could not be more grateful to have a small, but nonetheless mighty, staff working on this paper alongside myself. That being said, Happy Halloweekend, and we hope you enjoy the newest issue of The View.
The View Staff Fall 2020 Print Co-Editors in Chief Laura Distefano & Amy Graham Digital Editor in Chief Sophia Koch Art Director Payton Miller
Reporters Emma Clark Tyler Clippard Sophia Dunn Kara Hagen Caleb Hicks Jake Lazen Lina Navarro Georgia McGonigle Demetrius Peters Paige Wessel Maddie Winkler
Section Editors Grant Mulligan Parker Rivers Emily Williamson Adviser Megan Palmer
Issue 1, Vol 23 Nov. 2, 2020
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News FauxCo or No Co? Features A New Kind of Fashion Entertainment That’s so 2020 Sports
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Playing through a Pandemic
On August 23, 2020, students and adults across the metro mourned the loss of Caleb Hon. Hon, a resident of Parkville and Smithville, experienced a four wheeler accident near his current Smithville residence. A classmate and friend to all, this would have been Hon’s senior year as a member of the class of 2021. An empty chair will be at the graduation ceremony for this year’s seniors in the coming Spring. “I’m so glad that there will be a chair in honor of Caleb at graduation,” Mark Parr, senior and friend of Hon’s, said. “My favorite memories with him are definitely when we would go on camp outs in the backyard and hangout anytime of the weekends outside of school.” Hon was a life scout with troop #393, and enjoyed traveling as well as watching the Royals and Chiefs. He was also very involved academically and musically, being a member of the South marching band. “Caleb was one of my most joyful students in class. He had a way of making your day better by seeing his big smile alone. Caleb’s charisma made him one of the most-liked students in my classroom by his peers,” Chris Leibrand, computer science, said. As for Hon’s legacy, his parents have set up a memorial scholarship in his name at the UMKC Conservatory for students pursuing musical arts. They are taking direct donations that will go into the scholarship account. The link
is located on the memorial website they created. The family of Hon’s goal is to collect $25,000 to establish an endowed scholarship in Caleb’s name and to help preserve the musical arts. Due to the fact that Caleb was unable to attend college they are striving to help young men and women for decades to come in his name. To date, Hon’s family has collected $10,067 of their goal.
“Caleb was one of my most joyful students in class.”
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phsouthnews.com photos by Megan Barner & Amelia Lee
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As many of the typical Homecoming traditions were canceled, students had to get creative with celebrating by GEORGIA MCGONIGLE COVID-19 has left many students wondering what’s to become of the 2020-2021 school year. “Is my season going to be cancelled?” “Will my classmates and I have to quarantine at home for two weeks?” “Will I ever get motivation to do my online work?” Despite all the craziness and confusion of these past few months, South students did get to experience some aspects of one of the most exciting weeks in first semester: Homecoming. STUCO worked to cover the halls with colorful, seasonthemed decorations, the football team defeated North Kansas City 28-24 while seniors got to enjoy being a part of the Rage Cage one last time, and the Homecoming King and Queen were crowned at the game. “Football games are usually the highlight of the year,” said Emma Clark, senior, who attended the game. “After realizing that this was the last PHS game ever, it was kind of upsetting that this was the way it had to be. But I’m still glad I went to get that last memory of the stadium and the Rage Cage.” Park Hill South students enjoyed what they could of this
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strange situation, though there is one event that students reluctantly had to miss: the Homecoming Dance. In a usual school year, students buzzed with excitement during this time. The only conversations being held are about picking out dresses, finding dates, creative dance proposals and whether you and your friends will be going to The Cheesecake Factory or Trezo Mare. Unfortunately, due to the number of Coronavirus cases, and wanting to keep the student’s safety in mind, the decision was made to cancel the Homecoming Dance. The reactions of the South student body were all across the board. Some felt devastated that there was not going to be a dance, some were shocked that the high school tradition of planning for Homecoming wasn’t happening for the first time, and some were not bothered by the decision at all. “I wasn’t interested in participating in a fake Homecoming because I feel like I’ve had enough high school Homecoming experiences, and I’m just ready to graduate,” said Kathryn Nichols, senior. While some decided to spend the weekend doing their usual routines, others chose to celebrate Homecoming weekend in their own way, by dressing up and having dinner at upscale restaurants. Maddi Roy, sophomore, and her group of friends decided to wear the traditional Homecoming attire, take pictures at the WWI Memorial in Downtown Kansas City, and eat dinner at Cafe Trio in the Plaza. “My friends and I figured that since Homecoming is really just about pictures and dinner, we would do it anyway to have some sense of normalcy this school year, and have an excuse to dress up,” said Roy. Overall, most students were able to celebrate Homecoming in many different ways. Though it was not what they expected, the South student body still had a fun week. There is no doubt that the 2020-2021 school year will be frequently changing. Though games may be canceled, events may be postponed, and curriculum may be altered, South is making the best out of a difficult situation, and doing what they can to ensure that students enjoy the rest of the school year. Scan here to watch STUCO’s virtual Homecoming Assembly
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Pursuing COLLEGE by AMY GRAHAM
In a Pandemic High school is little more than preparing a student for whatever their future may hold. Test scores, GPAs and academic awards are reflections of achievement and benchmarks met. Many students use their four years to compete, athletically or academically, and set themselves apart from their peers, all in pursuit of one day going to the college of their choice and having the career of their dreams. When COVID-19 forced closures across the country in late March, schools scrambled to compensate for missing time. Standardized tests requisite for college admissions were cancelled, some schools changed to a pass/fail grading system and all classes went online, putting additional stress on students competing to go to college. “I think for most people, COVID has made college admissions more stressful,” Alex Laderoute, senior, said. “I know many of my classmates called me a maniac for starting testing and other college-readiness things early on in high school, but it honestly paid dividends.” Laderoute is a prime example of a student working rigorously to gain admission to an elite college. “I started planning for college around my freshman year,” Laderoute said. COVID-19 has also forced colleges to make changes regarding their admissions processes. Most have moved to test optional policies. “When I heard that some colleges wouldn’t even accept test scores this year, I was a little bit irritated because I think standardized testing is a good way to show your ability to colleges,” Logan Pearson, senior, said. While some students appreciate the accommodations offered by colleges, some believe it makes the process less straightforward. “There aren’t many accommodations I wish I had, because it should be like a normal application process.
Every college student has gone through it, and it’s just a part of life. Many students have also begun to question how exactly COVID might affect their admissions prospects, and whether or not it will make it easier or more challenging. The answer to this question remains largely unclear. “If you think about the college admissions process as a whole, theoretically it’s going to be easier than normal,” Laderoute said. Pearson doesn’t exactly share this assumption, instead assuming it might make the process a bit more ambiguous. “I would say, if anything, it has made the process a bit more complicated,” Pearson said. In addition to the added stress of the entire process, the adjustments of COVID-19 have changed some students’ outlook on going to college. “COVID has made me more excited to go to college, because being cooped up in the house for most of the week with my parents obviously isn’t ideal,” Laderoute said. “I hope COVID has passed by the time I get to college, but if not, at least I’ll be living the dream right?” Even some underclassmen are anxious to see how COVID might affect their admissions process in the coming years. “This is a huge set back in my college search,” Alex Bozung, junior, said. “I’m a planner so it’s very difficult for me to sit and wait for things to play out.” The effects of COVID on the outcome of the application process is yet to be seen, and student’s await their admissions decisions anxiously. It is clear, however, that COVID has obstructed many of the processes vital to a traditional system. Whether or not the changes made will be for the better will only be known with time, and until then, dedicated students will be working diligently to find a way to distinguish themselves in a world that already looks so different.
“COVID HAS MADE ME MORE EXCITED TO GO TO COLLEGE.”
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Seniors scramble to overcome new challenges and apply to college in the midst of a pandemic
Congratulations to Erik and Grant Bergstrom, Amy Blevins, Ben Goodin, Cooper Mathisen,
The gallery hallway at South is not just any gallery. A gallery of history, honor, and recognition has lived here since the dawn of the school. The sunlight gleams through the overhead windows complement students’ decorative awards and the class flags that hang overhead. Immense pride for the collective student body at South is visible in this section of the school through artwork, photos and plaques of achievement. In late September, 16,000 seniors with the highest scoring PSATs in the country were notified that they had qualified as National Merit Semi-Finalists. Some of the biggest potential additions to the gallery hallway in 2020 will be the not two, but seven National Merit Semi-Finalists, setting a district record and topping Park Hill’s previous record of six. “The Semi-Finalists reflected positively on both PHS and the district,” Dr. Kerrie Herren, interim principal, said. “The students are the ones we should be celebrating and I believe the school plays a role in fostering their growth.” Now, the scholars will have to wait until February to see if they will be selected as Finalists amongst students with the highest PSAT scores
in the state and country. “I enjoy learning. With every book I read and every class I take, I get better at the tests, but that’s not why I read the books or take the classes. I think that a genuine love of learning has taken me farther than any grade or score ever will,” Isabella Tasset, senior said. She said she is hoping to become a Finalist, and study either computer science or international studies post-high school. Other Semi-Finalists like Tasset have an appreciation for school and effort in the classroom. “I’m super happy that I took a chance on the PSAT, even though I didn’t anticipate making it this far,” Allyson Scribner, senior, said. With college applications creeping up on these seniors, the hourglass has begun counting down. Each scholar has a different plan for college and the road ahead. One thing can hold true for each of the seven: As life takes them far away from the gallery hallway, they will each leave behind a footprint of enrichment and success, inspiring students to come who walk where they once did.
“A GENUINE LOVE OF LEARNING HAS TAKEN ME FURTHER THAN ANY GRADE OR SCORE EVER WILL.”
Scan here to learn more about the National Merit Scholarship program
A record-breaking seven seniors qualified as national merit semifinalists this past September
Allyson Scribner and Isabella Tassett
by LAURA DISTEFANO
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DON’T Sleep on These Scholars
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TRUMP VS BIDEN Student Loan Forgiveness
Trump proposes ending Public Service Loan Forgiveness, which forgives federal student loan debt for qualifying public service and nonprofit employees after 10 years of eligible payments. Instead, his plan would funnel borrowers into the consolidated income-driven repayment plan and forgive remaining balances after 15 years.
The Hard Facts: What to Know this Election
Biden proposes federal student debt cancellation for all loans used for undergraduate tuition at a public college so long as the borrower family earns less than $125,000. He’s also calling for up to $50,000 in debt cancellation for those working in public service.
Racial Equality and Riots When discussing the recent riots, President Trump has chosen to brand himself the “law and order” president while avoiding discussions about the root cause of the protests, despite expressing sympathy for the families of some of the people killed. He’s stated that demonstrators protesting racial injustice are “looking for trouble” and that companies supporting BLM are “weak” and led by “weak people.”President Trump also believes that he has done the most for Black Americans and continues to promote this idea across his campaign when discussing racial matters and the Black Lives Matter movement.
Biden’s plan, which was put forward before this year’s protests, calls for an end to private prisons, cash bails, the death penalty and would expand the Justice Department’s purview to address police and prosecutor misconduct. It would also institute an independent task force to tackle discrimination. To many though, this plan apppears to be “pandering,” due to his history of supporting racistic legislation. The biggest example of this would be the 1994 Crime Bill.
LGBTQ+ Representation The Trump administration has been heavily criticized over some of the recent handlings of LGBTQ issues in the last four years. Most notebly in June of this year, the Supreme Court was asked by the Trump administration to restrict some aspects to adoption by LGBTQ couples. President Trump has consistently claimed he has done a lot for the LGBTQ commuity, as in his pressure on many countries to discontinue their discrimination of homosexuals in their countries, and has been successful.
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Scan for Trump’s official site
“Together, we’ll pass the Equality Act, protect LGBTQ youth, expand access to health care, support LGBTQ workers, win full rights for the transgender community,” he said, telling the LGBTQ community that, “You deserve a partner in the White House.” During the Obama administration, LGBT members gained the right to marry within the same sex. Biden has stated that he hold the belief that the LGBTQ community “deserves better,” and that he will fight for the communinity as if they’re his “own children.” Scan for Biden’s official site
by CALEB HICKS
What does Donald Trump’s rapid Supreme Court nomination mean for America?
Whoever said history repeats itself wasn’t kidding. It feels like we are exactly where we were two years ago: The country divided over a controversial supreme court nomination. In September of 2018, Trump appointed Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court and was met with harsh criticism from the left after allegations of sexual assault came to light. Now, in what could be a parting gift to America (and following the sudden death of former justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg), Trump rushed to appoint another justice. Amy Coney Barrett, Trump’s pick for the vacant seat, was originally considered for Kavanaugh’s seat. Her reputation precedes her, and as a former Notre Dame professor of law, clerk for the late justice Scalia, and current federal appeals judge, she appears to be the perfect candidate on paper. However, her swift nomination was met with intense backlash by democrats for two reasons. First, Barrett’s pious nature has been identified as a possible conflict of interest. Second, Trump’s choice to nominate her in the last month of his term is seen by many as unjust, especially after Obama was harshly criticized for attempting to do the same thing in 2016. It’s no secret that the Republican’s reasoning for this speedy trial is to ensure a Republican majority on the highest court if Trump loses the 2020 election. There’s little use in arguing her qualifications or validity as a Supreme Court justice, as it’s the same beaten-to-death dichotomy of party politics. Democrats pointed out all of the typical reasons to oppose nominating a Republican justice. Instead of vilifying Barrett, though, time is better spent using her story as a reminder of the inherent hypocrisy bred in America’s legislature. “I want you to use my words against me. If there is a Republican president in 2016 and a vacancy occurs in the last year of the first term, you can say ‘Lindsey Graham said let’s let the next president, whoever it might be, make that nomination’.” These were the words of Lindsey Graham, a republican senator from South Carolina at a hearing to replace Scalia in the Obama’s last year, and surely enough, they did come back to haunt him. While this issue sheds poor light on the Republican
legislators who are turning back on the principles they once demanded, don’t be mistaken. Were the situation reversed, you can be sure the Democratic establishment would’ve made the exact same choice. The motives behind Trump’s unprecedentedly quick nomination aren’t a mystery. With the Supreme Court slated to hear a case on the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act-which Trump swore to destroy early on in his campaign--on Nov. 10, Trump wants to appoint a justice who he is sure will help to accomplish his goals. Amy Coney Barrett has emphasized her personal opinions (which include believing that Roe V. Wade was wrongly decided and being against the Affordable Care Act) time and time again. This characteristic is probably what drew Trump to her in the first place. Taking into consideration the power that a Supreme Court justice has, Americans should be worried about their legislators wavering values on the issue of nomination. An appointment of a Supreme Court justice as young as Barrett means decades of her decisions influencing public policy and the judiciary. This type of fickle decision making in Congress isn’t new, and voting strictly along party lines has become the new standard as representatives fear being disowned by their constituency. However, this loyalty to the pack poses a real threat to American democracy. If Americans can’t trust their elected representatives to say true to their words, especially those as incriminating as Graham’s, then how representative is our democracy? An even more pressing issue posed by her nomination is the outcome of the 2020 election. Given the massive increase in mail-in voting and absentee ballots, many speculate that the validity of the election will be contested in court. In her hearing, Barrett declined to commit to recuse herself from this case if it goes to the Supreme Court. What does will her seat mean for a valid outcome to this election? Barrett’s nomination poses many questions for both policy and democracy alike. But most importantly, it highlights what many know but choose not to acknowledge: Many legislators work not for the people, but instead for their party.
A RAPID AFFAIR
by AMY GRAHAM COUNTDOWN TO THE ELECTION:
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It’s Sunday night, the Chiefs are on late. As Patrick Mahomes throws the winning touchdown in overtime, you yawn and begin to dread waking up early the next morning for school. Hours later, as your 6:30 a.m. alarm goes off, you silence it with a sigh of relief remembering “I don’t have to go to school today.” This may have been the exciting expectation for students choosing the hybrid option, but those hopes have fallen short. That scenario can become a reality for barely half of students that chose to come back to school, only with the right last name. To most people it went more like this: You pull into the depleted parking lot and take a deep breath. Entering the school, you ensure your face is hidden. Passing the library where you’d typically be chatting with your friends, you take a step to the right to make sure you’re inside the lines the hallway demands. Reaching first block in silence, you wave to the one of eight people you know in your class, already aching for the weekend. Needless to say, the in person school that South students have become accustomed to is not the in person that was expected. Masks and distancing were recognized as necessary prerequisites but the measures, to South students, have appeared overbearing. When surveyed about whether the precautions were too heavy, I didn’t hesitate to express that it was too much. I’m yet to encounter someone with the opposite perspective. While I understand the need for safety, it’s certainly been too exaggeratory especially with the faux effectiveness of some of the measures taken. If the CDC has displayed that gaiters and bandanas are more likely to aid spreading by making droplets tinier and thus easier to negate other masks, why require any in the first place? I’m not advocating to get rid of masks, but attempting to understand why some severe lengths are taken while others proven meaningless or harmful are encouraged. If students are going to be walking nearly hand in hand across hallways cut in half, what makes three or four minutes of chatting dangerous? 10 OPINION The actions against Covid-19 phsouthnews.com currently set in place have nearly
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eradicated the ability to socialize when at South. Finding your friends in the library before school, meeting them in your class hallway during passing time and sitting at a table together at lunch were all lost this year as new rules were put in place. Many students who hinged their back-toschool choice on seeing friends, myself included, have barely had the ability to do that, let alone near the level before, and we are now facing the consequences of their decision. For us seniors that have spent high school, and maybe even before that, leading up to this finale, I don’t see a world where I continue dragging myself to school the way it is now. An overwhelming number of my classmates, as most of you reading might agree, regret their decision to come in for the hybrid option, and with a time machine to August would surely be going on the virtual track. I agree, but without that magical device I’m simply left hoping for the day that I will get to replace my once dreamed-of senior year with the ability to do math class from my bed without the accusation of having senioritis. I hope for myself, the other seniors and all students trying to enjoy high school that a healthier routine can be achieved sometime in the future. This pandemic hasn’t been kind to anyone, but it hasn’t been handled well by many as well. Here’s to that happening.
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of Park Hill inperson students indicated they would stay in-person for spring 2020
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Think of the joy that comes with sleeping in every single morning. The joy of always getting a full night’s sleep. Of never having to worry about falling asleep in class or weight of exhaustion pulling you down. Those were the thoughts going through the minds of some of the students at South who chose to do online schooling this semester. Well, think again. Think of sleepless nights working on school work only to wake up early for an 8 a.m. Zoom call the next morning. The weight of exhaustion is ever-present and the heaviness in your eyes and in your limbs won’t let you forget it. It seems that because students are online, a lot of teachers feel that their students have all of the time in the world to focus on their school work. They fail to remember that students have actual responsibilities and obligations other than school. The result is an overwhelming amount of stress being placed on the students. “You expect me to do seven assignments in one day for a single class and expect me to stay sane? I’m running off of five hours of sleep and an iced coffee from Panera,” Elena Yule, senior, said. “Not only do I have to balance doing my school work but I also have to balance a job, my responsibilities at home, and applying to colleges.” It is irresponsible of these teachers to expect students to be able to handle this kind of stress. A combination of lack of sleep and high stress and anxiety levels can have detrimental effects on the human body. According to Mayo Clinic, chronic stress and a lack of sleep can negatively affect mood, temperament, eating habits, and a person’s ability to focus and concentrate on daily tasks. This can be incredibly devastating in a school environment and in a
ON Scan here to see Park Hill’s gating criteria for online learning
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student’s everyday life. Despite this, there are a few (very small) positives to online school. Students who have jobs are able to be more flexible with their schedules and may even get the chance to pick up more hours if they are fortunate enough to get a teacher who understands that students have lives outside of school. Unfortunately, this proves difficult for many current online students. All that can be hoped for is for something to change for the better before next semester begins. Teachers need to come to the realization that students already have a lot on their plate and adding multiple hours of classwork per class each day is extremely overwhelming. Hopefully by January, students will be able to get the right amount of sleep without having to stay up worrying about crazy amounts of school work that they have to complete. Newly diagnosed insomniacs won’t have to feel the constant weight of exhaustion pulling them down and will actually have the energy needed to keep up with school and their other responsibilities and obligations without becoming too overwhelmed.
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of Park HIll District students chose Online only learning for fall 2020 of Park Hill Online students indicated they would stay Online only for spring 2020
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Dear Class of... Seniors shared their feelings how COVID-19 has affected their final year of high school
beginning
CLASS OF
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ZOOM UNIVERSITY COVID-19 2020
Four years ago, the class of 2021 wrote letters in eighth grade No one knew how bad the coronavirus to their future senior selves. They wrote about their friends, would get, and most thought that the start of the the colleges they wanted to go to, their favorite things and their 2020-21 school year would be back to normal. vision of themselves senior year. “At the beginning, we all thought it would be just two Four years ago, when the class of 2021 wrote themselves weeks of online, then the longer we waited I knew we probably the letters, not one person would’ve pictured their senior year wouldn’t start normally. It sucks, but there was nothing we during a pandemic. Life throws us curve balls and now the class could do about it,” Homoly said. of 2021 is trying to figure out how to swing and not strike out. The seniors have been trying to be strong through “The biggest challenge would be the uncertainty of what’s COVID-19, putting smiles on their faces, trying to think coming next or what can be expected for the future. We don’t positive, making the best of what they have been given. Park know about college, graduations, dances, etc.,” Morgan Homoly, Hill School District has been trying their hardest to keep senior, said. everyone safe, while trying to give the seniors the festivities Pandemic or not, most seniors fear the unknown. Not promised since freshman year. knowing if they’ll get into the college of their dreams, not “It’s very strange. I miss assemblies and games. There are so knowing if their ACT score will be many things I feel like we’re missing out “I’ve always envisioned on,” Karla Gomez, senior, said. “I’ve always good enough, not knowing if they’ll ever see their high school friends again envisioned my senior year differently and not my senior year once they leave the doors at South. seeing my grade makes that difficult.” differently and not Now they have a whole other COVID has affected so many people in seeing my grade makes so many ways. Athletes who have planned unknown to worry about due to COVID-19. Not knowing if they’ll get to play a sport in college are trying to get that difficult.” a graduation, Prom or if they’ll even be recruited, but COVID makes it more able to attend the college to which they were accepted. difficult, because scouts aren’t allowed at games. Band, the cheer “COVID has changed my plans because I wanted to go to team and the South Side Girls also want to be able to perform college far away, but not if Corona is still happening because it during halftime and on the sidelines for their school, but any might be unsafe,” Chloe Bowman, senior, said. day, COVID-19 could cancel that for them. March 13, 2020 was the last normal day of high school for the “I really wish we could go to all the football games. FNL class of 2021. It was their last assembly, the last time they’d see has been one of my favorite seasons every year and I had been most of their classmates unmasked, the last day they were able to looking forward to being in the front of the Rage Cage,” go to school with all 408 students in their class. Homoly said. The bell was dismissed for the week long Spring Break....that A big tradition at South is for the seniors to stand front row turned into a five-month spring break. South students walked in the Rage Cage, and they’ve been waiting since freshman year out of those doors not knowing that one week later, Kansas for this opportunity. Without all the senior traditions, the City would be placed under a stay-at-home order and the only class of 2021 is afraid they won’t get the closure they need after interaction they would get with their teachers and peers would working hard for four years to make it to this point. be through their laptops. When the class of 2021 receives their eighth grade letters, “I took for granted everything normal, like being in a full most students will probably laugh at what they envisioned to be classroom with students, football games and passing time,” their final year at South. COVID-19 is the new normal, and the Bowman said. world those eighth graders imagined four years ago is nothing like the one we are living in today. Life is throwing one of the 12 FEATURES biggest curve balls this world will ever see and the class of 2021 is phsouthnews.com swinging for a hit. by SOPHIA KOCH
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Out with the Old
In with the New
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What were you looking forward to this year? “I was looking forward to getting involved at South,” Emma Kimbrel said.
“RAGE CAGE,” Abby Ahrendt said.
Do you think it’s better to know or not know what you’re missing out on? “I think it’s better to know what you’re missing out on so you can look forward to it next year,” Emma Kimbrel said.
“I think it’s better not to know what you’re missing out on so you’re not as upset about it,” Andrew Horton said.
Does it feel like freshman/senior year? “Yeah, I still feel like it feels like freshman year, just without the activities and a lot of modiyfying everything,” Kimbrel said.
“Not having senior events makes senior year feel like a bust. I feel like because we aren’t having those activities that establish us as seniors, the underclassmen don’t look at us like we are seniors,” FEATURES 12 FEATURES 13 Ahrendt said.
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A New Kind Of
Fashion
by KARA HAGEN Students in the fashion department have been working hard in the classroom while staying healthy
Virginia Fullerton wearing her half and half mask that she created in fashion class.
Mr. Godfrey and Mrs. Bozarth matching in their Chief’s Masks on game day.
Fashion students at South went from making scrunchies for their friends to stitching up masks in order to attend class. Abby Bozarth’s fashion class started the year off by making unique masks for themselves and others. Students chose fabric from the classroom and followed a basic Joann’s pattern to create what is now a staple piece in their wardrobe. “In Fashion II, we do a small review of the sewing machine parts and functions as well as a little refresher on our sewing skills. The mask was the perfect small project to start with. I love choosing construction projects that students will actually wear and I knew a mask was a guarantee!” Bozarth said. Students were given the option to make their masks for themselves or gift them to someone else. Adah Anderson and Emma Clark, seniors, made a custom Chiefs mask for James Godfrey, credit recovery. “He wanted it to be larger than the average mask, and not fog his glasses, so we added pipe cleaners on the top edge,” Anderson said.
Senior Virginia Fullerton has been making masks since the start of quarantine for family, friends and charities. On her recent college tours, she decided to gift her future professors with homemade masks that are custom to the school. “The process of making masks can be a tad tricky at first from following the given instructions, but as I’ve made more I have been able to tweak it to make it simpler. At this point, I could most likely make them with my eyes closed,” Fullerton said. By Bozarth starting off the year in a creative way, she created a safe environment for students during this difficult time. She has always made fashion a fun class and now, instead of making scrunchies to match their new dresses, they make masks.
“The mask was a perfect small project to start with.”
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Scan for a DIY mask tutorial
Alyssa Kobayashi, junior, is rocking the gray mask that she made as her first project in fashion.
Together, South by AMY GRAHAM and SOPHIA KOCH
RISES
Following a far-reaching story of racial justice and student activism, South moves forward “Embarrassing: KC-Area principal runs on court to make team remove racial unity shirts” reads an incriminating headline. Few events at South garner any attention outside of Parkville or Kansas City. Students, despite living right outside the city, are typically limited to the rumors of a local paper or neighborhood talk. Just two weeks ago, however, South was given its big moment-for better or worse. Following a dramatic series of events at the girls volleyball Senior Night, South was hurled into the spotlight, this time making national news coverage and garnering attention for something few could be proud of. While the details of that night are largely speculated, the most basic consensus was that Dr. Kerrie Herren, interim principal, asked the coaches of the volleyball team to remove the shirts they had been sporting as warm ups. The shirts featured three fists: a white, black and brown one- and the phrase “Together We Rise.” “What led to me asking the girls to take them at that moment was a sense of urgency with the information that I had at that time,” Herren said. “What I did not want to do was censor the speech that the volleyball girls had the intent with the shirts. I think the intent behind the shirt was really good.” The shirts were spearheaded by Abbie Day, senior, who has been consistently vocal about racial justice and equality. That night, the girls wore their shirts as warm-ups alongside opposing players from North Kansas City High School. “Our school already has a brand of white privilege. And everyone knows that, and by [Dr. Herren] showing the other school that, he set in stone that stereotype,” Day said. Just a few days later, the Kansas City Star published an Op-Ed on the incident, which circulated quickly, and reflected poorly on Herren. The story was picked up by other local news stations, and eventually the national media. “I was hurt,” Herren said. “A lot of what that did was present one side of the argument. I and the school were judged by a lot of people that know nothing about Park Hill South.” Within South, the event became classroom discussion, and many debated over whether the depiction of the events in these stories was truth or an exaggeration. Herren has maintained that the drama in which the night was retold was a mischaracterization of his actions. “One thing I’ll clarify is that I didn’t run, and I didn’t scream,” Herren said. The district and Herren quickly issued an apology. And although the coverage portrayed the school in a negative light, Day believes that it ultimately did what she had hoped it might. “I was a little concerned, just because that first article was very negative, all of them have been negative,” Day said. “But I think it needed to happen to get conversation started. I think that’s exactly what it did.”
With the volleyball team’s central position in the affair, one could wonder whether it caused a rift between the girls. Jillian Eidsness, junior, was one of the teammates who opted not to buy a shirt. “I completely backup the purpose of the shirt 100 percent and back up Abbie. Personally, I just don’t think it should be brought into the game; outside of the game, sure,” Eidsness said. Day has also clarified that the incident brought the team closer together. “It hasn’t divided us at all,” Day said. “They’re allowed to not wear the shirts, just as we’re allowed to wear the shirts. And I think that has been powerful, too. Because we all get to voice our opinion no matter what it is.” After the initial shock of South’s breaking story, many students rushed to Herren’s defense, asserting that he had the best intentions. “I think the initial way he handled it wasn’t great, but the way he’s come back and responded to it, there’s nothing better he could’ve done,” Eidsness said. This incident is no surprise following the explosion in racial equality efforts America has seen this year, and one question remains at the heart of this controversy: What can South learn from this? “I would not say that this event is new to Park Hill South,” Herren said. “I would say that most of our students would say that this has been an ongoing issue about racial inclusion and equity for sometime and that this provided, potentially, an avenue to jumpstart the conversation.” Both the school and district have taken action to emphasize inclusion and equity, and many recognize this as an opportunity to use this as a lesson learned. “I felt, and still do feel, an obligation to protect every student, whether I agree or disagree with their opinions, and that is what led to a higher sense of urgency. To protect all students,” Herren said. The school has opened up avenues of dialogue, including holding conversational events, forming advisory panels, and emphasizing professional development related to culturally responsive teaching. “The administrative team continues to have our own conversations about inclusion and equity,” Herren said. “Ultimately our goal is every student has a high sense of belonging at Park Hill South and we know that’s not the case, and we know that’s broken down by demographics differently. We’ve identified that going into this year, and that will remain our focus coming out of this year and into the next.” Despite the controversy that South has faced in the public eye, members of the school have begun work in mending what is broken, and the incident has served as an important reminder of what many students already knew. The negative attention may not be remembered fondly, but the hope of Herren and members of the student body is that the change it brings will be.
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FEATURES 12 FEATURE 15
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COVID Friendly Halloween Costumes
Cat
“I like the Edge of Hell because that's the only one I have been to. My fav part was the bridge with a spinning neon splatter room around you as you cross the bridge. Another cool thing is the slide you go down at the end. The haunted house is very inventive, and you would never guess that it was just an old warehouse. One part I hated was the hallway you want through with sheets blowing at you to make you feel claustrophobic. On top of that, there are actors grabbing at you on the other side of the sheets.”
Morgan Homoly
“My favorite is the Beast in downtown Kansas CIty. I like it because it has food trucks and outside entertainment while you wait to go in, and it is all-around a really good haunted house. A good mix of jump scares and costumes/FX makeup to make the characters more real.”
16 ENTERTAINMENT phsouthnews.com
ooky
Tess Owens
Let’s Get
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What is your favorite haunted house in KC and why?
Mermaid
#GhostPhotoshoot
South students participate in rising TikTok trends With trick or treating banned in Los Angeles, and the “Karen” halloween mask being sold out, teens across the US are finding creative ways to keep Halloween celebrations alive. The TikTok Ghost Photoshoot trend is one way teens are partaking in Halloween 2020 festivities, and it involves teens dressing up in old white sheets and heading to photoshootworthy locations. The pictures are then edited with filters that add ~spooky~ aesthetics and posted to the well-known app called TikTok. So you might be wondering, what do these photos end up looking like? South students decided to partake in the trend, and the photos sure didn’t disappoint.
Halloween Movie Rankings
#1
“The original ‘Halloween’ is a classic. It just has that creepy eerie feeling to it without it being bloody and gorey,” said Vanessa Zamzow, math.
#2
#3
“Tim Burton’s Halloween movies always get me in the spooky spirit. Especially with the creepy characters,” said Abby Wells.
by MADDIE WINKLER, PAIGE WESSEL & PAYTON MILER
#4
Scan to see View staffers’ ghost Tik Tok
#5
“My favorite part “‘Carrie’ is “My dad and I used of ‘Halloweentown’ definitely a good to watch ‘Hocus is when the kids one because it’s Pocus’ all the time all sneak onto when I was younger. scary and fits the the bus with their Halloween mood,” Every Friday in Grandma and go said Mudia. October I would to the town. It is watch it. Definitely one of my favorite brings back a lot of movies for this time good memories!” ENTERTAINMENT 17 of year,” said Emma said Anne Green. Gillespie.
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That’s So...
2 0 2 0
Allyson Light (senior) Bit by a copperhead snake:
“At first I thought I was poked by a thorn or something and I was surprisingly calm when I found out it was a snake”
Death of Kobe Bryant:
“This was a tragic event that could be included in reasons why 2020 is one of the worst years in recent history. Kobe was an icon that we lost too soon”, Justin Harrison (senior), said.
Wildfires:
“I believe that the wildfires are a perfect example of the consequences of the climate crisis” Riley Parman (junior), said.
Trump Gets Virus:
(senior), said.
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Virtual Homecoing:
“It definitely is hard having senior year be so different, but I’m trying to make the best of it” Skeylar Nelson (senior), said.
Sophia Dunn (senior) Knee Blowout:
“I tore my ACL, MCL, and Mencius. I was overwhelemed and in denial I have been recruiting for soccer with various colleges”
No March Madness:
“The worst part about not having March Madness was missing out on the buzzer beater and upsets that come along with the tournament and affect the brackets” Dylan Hufft (senior), said.
“I would say that his mask wearing habits affected him getting infected with the virus, but I’m not going to criticize him for not” Alex Laderoute
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Killer Hornets:
“It is just another bad thing to have come in 2020. Hopefully next year is better” Aadyn Rhodus (sophmore), said.
By EMMA CLARK Scan to check out this trailer for “If 2020 were a movie”
South football players affected by lack of fans
Photos by Megan Barber
Scan for the Rage Cage Twitter account “To the 50, 40, 30, 20, 10…. Touchdown South! And the Rage Cage goes wild!” Oh wait, there’s no Rage Cage. This year the majority of South sports are only allowing two spectators per athlete at sporting events, and athletes and students alike are facing the impacts. Usually on Friday night at 7 p.m. there would be a huge crowd out at the Park Hill District Stadium and they would be roaring. Instead, there is a small amount of parents spread safely throughout the stands. Students have really missed being out in the Rage Cage but the football players have missed hearing those fans even more. “It’s just not the same this year. We love going out there and putting on a show for our fans but this year it’s just silent,” Eric Avery, a senior who has been playing varsity football for three years, said. It’s a shame because South’s record of 7-2 is the best they’ve had in a while and the fans are missing out. Rage Cage leaders have not been allowed to attend the most
by TYLER CLIPPARD popular sporting events of the year. Senior Paige Wessel was picked as one of the leaders this year and she was ready for the year with all the equipment in her garage. “I’m really sad about it because I have been looking forward to this since freshman year,” Wessel said. The effects on the game itself can be seen as well. Normally once it’s third down or a big play, the Rage Cage can get in the opponent’s head by making it hard to even hear their own breath. This is Coach Alan Wilmes’ second year as head coach of South’s football team. “It is so quiet at the games, making communication very easy and calling audibles and changing the play calls, but obviously we miss having people out there supporting us and hyping those guys up,” Wilmes said. As South is going into the playoffs they will be looking to keep up the great wins they have had all year. Hopefully the rage cage will see lots of big play touchdowns as soon as they can get back out there to support.
2019 average Rage Cage attendance: 200 students 2020 average Rage Cage attendance: 0 students
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VOLLEYBALL
An indoor sport during a pandemic is more challenging than ever. This year, the volleyball team has to follow more precautions and guidelines than any other sport. They are required to wear their masks at all times, even when they are playing at practice and games, to keep everyone as safe as possible. Arley Anderson, senior, has been playing volleyball all four years and is trying her best to follow all of the rules. “I have gotten used to playing with masks because we have been practicing with them since August, but sometimes it gets hard to breathe through them,” Anderson said. The girls, along with their coaches, have had some tough occurrences throughout the year. The whole team had to go into a two week quarantine, putting a pause on the beginning of their season.
TENNIS
A non-contact sport, in times like this, makes it easier to follow rules and stay safe. This year, the South girl’s tennis team had to follow the same rules as everyone else. Like most sports, the girls only have to wear masks when they aren’t playing, but always have to stay six feet apart. There was a big change this year: no tournaments and more matches. Camille Verhoeven, junior, was excited to be able to finish her season without any COVID scares. “Even though we didn’t have any tournaments, the coaches and teammates still managed to make it a great season,” Verhoeven said.
SOFTBALL
Just like the other sports, the softball team was required to wear masks when they were on the sidelines and in the dugout. Annabelle Winter, junior, had some positive experiences that have come from these new rules. “Our team this year gets along well. I think that COVID has brought us closer, because we’re all going through this together,” Winter said. The girls experienced a COVID “scare” when a couple of the girls were sent home due to exposure during a game. With this set back, they still fought through this with players missing and won the 2020 Suburban Conference.
GOLF
South’s girls golf team has had to follow some of these same protocols. Being more of an individual sport with lots of land to spread them out, COVID had much less of a chance to infect this team. Chloe Bowman, senior, said she did not have to worry about social distancing. “ We have to wear masks but it is really easy to social distance in the first place.” Bowman said. The team as a whole has been doing well and they had a good feeling about districts this year.
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by LINA NAVARRO
through
FOOTBALL
Football: one of the biggest contact sports offered at South. Being 2020, the team has had to make a lot of changes just like the other sports, to be able to finish their phenomenal season. It is required that the boys must wear their masks on the sidelines and stay six feet apart. At games, the coaches and administrators have set up cones for each player when they take a step off the field, to maintain social distancing. The Varsity and JV team hasn’t had any problems facing this pandemic, but the freshman team had to send a couple players home due to exposure. The team has faced some rough opponents, but dug deep and ended up beating Staley for the first time in a decade! The players along with their coaches have high hopes for the postseason this year. Ben Murray, senior, is determined that he and his teammates have a great chance for victory. “There is no doubt, we are winning state this year,” Murray said.
SOCCER
The boys’ soccer team has had multiple changes this year, due to the fact that it is a big contact sport. Thankfully, the sport is played outside, but that doesn’t mean that rules still aren’t as strictly enforced. The boys have to try to social distance as much as possible and wear masks off the field. Seth Jahraus, senior, has been playing for the team since his freshman year and misses the packed bleachers. “The major changes don’t come from the game itself, but moreover the atmosphere of the game. We no longer have a Rage Cage to bring that intense environment, and there is very little difference between playing at home and away,” Jahraus said.
CROSS COUNTRY
This year, COVID hasn’t had too much of an effect on the boy’s and girl’s cross country teams. The runners are required to wear masks when they aren’t running and try to maintain social distancing. One of the biggest changes that has affected the runners is that they are not allowed to have spectators at the meets. Shea Worley, junior, said she enjoys having her friends and family supporting her while she is running. “Without any spectators, it has made it a lot harder to push yourself without anyone cheering you on,” Worley said. They also were required to have a smaller amount of teams per race to limit the amount of interaction.
SWIM AND DIVE
Beep! The swimmers are off and ready for the 2020 season. This year, the boys swim and dive season has been a little bit different. The biggest changes are that everybody is spread out between the lanes and there is a maximum of three people per lane. Grayson Langer, senior, is in dive and thinks that it is a
little more lenient than swim. “Nothing has really changed for diving because we are in the water almost all the time.” Langer said. The team has to wear masks when they are out of the pool and stay social distanced, especially during the meets. The team is doing very well this year and is predicted to place well at State.
How fall sports are handling their seasons during COVID
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FROM SOUTH
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22 SPORTS
and fight for playing time.” Speaking of the change in culture, that’s not the only change he’ll be seeing soon. Obviously college and high school are different beasts. A lot can and will change and one of the things certain to change is the people around you. “I always enjoyed the practices and just getting to be around my teammates and coaches,” Rhodes said. That is something that any athlete or student can attest to, the privilege of knowing loads of hard working and intelligent people and the influence they can have on you, ultimately making you a better person. But alas, moving forward and starting in a new place where the expectations are higher and the lights are a little brighter is something that again, every athlete can relate to. Although the competition may be fierce and the pressure to perform may be higher, it’s important to remember why we play sports. Some people are looking to prove to the whole world that they’ve got what it takes to be the best. Some are just looking for the memories and to say they played until they couldn’t and that they never gave up. For Rhodes, it remains to be seen. When asked about what his goals are regarding his baseball career, he had a simple answer. “We’ll see how it plays out,” he said. So here’s to wishing Rhodes the best of luck and a well deserved congratulations on all he’s achieved so far in his career.
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Every year, the best and brightest high school baseball players from all over the country are recruited to play at the next level of competition. There is no sugar coating it; many fall short and few are good enough to receive the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to compete at that next level. For those who are truly in love with the game, it is a dream to take that extra step. It takes talent, hard work, a lot of sacrifice and a lot of time spent perfecting your craft and for many that still won’t be good enough. The odds are stacked against you from the moment you decide you want to make the journey and to make it you have to outshine everyone until they’re blinded by how brightly you shine. For a few thousand of the millions of players out there looking to realize the dream, it gets a little bit closer to becoming a reality when they make their commitment to play in college. And one of those hopeful young men is none other than senior center fielder Grant Rhodes. Rhodes recently announced via Instagram that he has decided to continue his academic and athletic career at Crowder College in Neosho, Mo. Crowder is home to the Roughriders who belong to the NJCAA and compete against other community colleges from the midwest. And for those still about the level of competition at a school like Crowder, you’re encouraged to ask around. Any baseball player will tell you that the competition, the intensity and the need to work hard and fight for playing time are all major factors at any level of college baseball. The sheer desire within every player out on the diamond is said to be stronger within those players who are looking to prove themselves, and you’ll find a lot of guys wanting to prove themselves at this level. The competition isn’t something that concerns our subject however. When asked about the change in culture and how it will affect him, Rhodes said he’ll “just have to work hard
Scan to learn more about Crowder College’s baseball program
w
It had been roughly two years since South had lost, Bartosh’s story of success was not mere luck. From hard arguably, its best player in football history. The 6-foot, work at practice every day of the week, to playing football 4-inch defensive lineman known by ET has left South to outside with his younger brother, was what built the show his talents at one of, if not the best, college football foundation for their high school careers. schools in the country: Clemson. There were big shoes to Football is something that runs in the Bartosh’s family. fill on the team, and the spot was open to anyone who could Just this year, Briggs Bartosh, sophomore, quarterback/ prove himself worthy of the leadership position. running back, is beginning his sophomore year as a Flipping the switch on the lines, a new star had emerged teammate of his older brother. Briggs is already off to an from the depths of South’s competitive roster. Braden impressive start, scoring 11 rushing TDs, and throwing two Bartosh, senior, offensive line, has become passing TDs in his first six games as a varsity the new threat in the Kansas City area. “I fell in love player The rest is as expected, and offers came “He’s always been a role model. On and with the culture off the field,” Briggs said. flying in after an impressive sophomore season. of West Point.” Braden has been one of the few players “I had ended with 11 offers throughout to represent the team being a captain. Being my recruiting process. They were all tremendous a big physical presence is one thing, but Braden being the opportunities that had their pros and cons,” Bartosh said. most vocal one for his team is another. Bartosh had amassed opportunities to play at schools “He keeps us in check, he leads our brothers to victory local and far away, however, it all came down to Bartosh every Friday night,” Briggs said. deciding to take his talents to play for Army at West Point. The Bartosh brothers dynamic duo era might only last a “I fell in love with the culture of West Point, and I can’t year of South’s history, but the two are making the most out wait to be a part of it someday. I met a lot of coaches and of it. It is something that the two will cherish forever, but future teammates through FaceTime calls, and the more I their stories are far from over. looked into it, the more I fell in love with the place,” Bartosh Maybe one day in the near future there might be a said. Bartosh versus ET matchup in college football; we’ll just have to wait and see.
Briggs first 6 games on Varsity: -703 rushing yards -99 carries -11 TDs
South’s Regular Season Record: South’s District Record:
7-2 5-0
Football in the Family
by GRANT MULLIGAN Bartosh’s future is finally clear for college football photos provided by M4 photography
Scan to watch the Bartosh brothers play in the Friday football game
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