The View Vol 21 Issue 5

Park Hill South High School Riverside, MO Sun

9 1 0 2 June Mon

4

23

5

6

1

24

18

25

19

26

8

7

15

14

13

12

11

17

16

Thurs

y

10

9

Wed

Sat

Memorial Da

3

2

Tues

Fri

20

27

21

28

22

29

view 30

APRIL 5TH, 2019

VOLUME 23

ISSUSE 5

NEWS

FEATURES

FUN

SPORTS

S TA F F

Editor in Chief: Noelle Alviz-Gransee Art Directors: Annie Buckles Alex Benton

Features Editor: Claire Hoy Sports Editor: Ethan Farrow News Editor: Grace Dieleman Opinion Editor: Avery Glover Managing Editor: Annie Woodson

03 04 E-Sports LIFE

10 16 Prom Guide Draft

07 05 11 21 Clique Book Sporting KC Spread Yak Pak Letter from the Editor South, it has been a crazy semester to say the least. We had so many snow days, that the district had to have a meeting to discuss how to adjust the school year so it wouldn’t go too far into our summer. Things in the district will be changing next semester to prevent this, more details are on pgs 12-13. Seniors aren’t allowed to have a senior skip day this year, which would upset me, except I would rather go to school one more day than two or more. I already have to come in on MY first day of summer to take my AP statistics exam, I don’t need anything more than that.

To those who are worried or uncertain about life after high school shouldn’t be. “LIFE After High School” (pg 8) addresses the pressures students feel of going to a university after college, and that there are way more options. Cliques at South are brought to light (pg 10) and hair trends meet prom shopping (pg 11) to make April a little less stressful for those who tend to wait until the last minute.

Noelle Alviz-Gransee Editor in Chief

Reporters: Maria Allred Garrett Anderson Lucas Bowman Laura Distenfano Kiana Fernandes Cameron Gillespie Avery Glover Jessie Hagen Payton Havermann Sadie Hudson Kate Kobayashi Zane Leiker Nico Leluga Kate Maness Jake Powers Parker Rivers Ty Rouse Annie Saunders Derek Thomas Stevie Williams Nicole Wilson

The View is published six times during the regular school year as the student news publication of Park Hill South High School in Riverside, MO. Opinions expressed here are that of the student journalists and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Park Hill School District.

To access the editorial policies or to submit a letter to the editor, visit our website at phsview.com.

The View is a member of National Scholastic Press Association and the Missouri Interscholastic Press Association and is printed by Osage Graphics in Olathe, KS.

Would you support an eSports team at South?

PHS

Gaming

Yes, sounds cool!

36%

by Parker Rivers

F

aker may be in trouble here. Death other in a quest to reach and destroy the mark tries to clean it up from Ryu. opposing team’s base.

Oh, look at the cleanse! Look at the They have several main divisions; moves! Faker, WHAT WAS THAT!” League Championship Series (LCS) is for What may sound like incoherent the North American region, the League gibberish to some, is an anthem for others. European Championship is the LEC, For years, eSports has been a rising Korea’s league is LCK and LPL is the force, especially for high schoolers and Chinese league. college students. Uniting video game After each summer split, or season, the players around the world, the idea of top teams across the various regions meet competitive play and teams is nearing our at Worlds. This intense event is the Super hometown.

Bowl of gaming and always Cooper Mathisen, draw huge crowds. sophomore, said “I think According to eSports “I would love to see a lot of students, myself Charts, the World included, wish they had the an eSports program Championship peaked oppurtunity to play video at 205 million viewers because it would games in a competitive worldwide. For some environment.” allow for skills that perspective, the most This hope seems to be watched event on TV in the well-founded. Recently, the are often overlooked U.S. is Super Bowl 49, with North Kansas City school 114 million viewers. to be highlighted district announced they The crowd and draw for would soon be getting an these events is larger than eSports team of their own. it gets credit for.

Charles Maloney, freshman at North Mamus Ogolor, sophomore at Staley Kansas City high school said, “Anything High School, said, “I would love to see an that gets kids more active and more eSports program because it would allow involved in their community is a good for skills that are often overlooked to be thing allows the kids to do what they highlighted.” enjoy and love.”

By accepting a hobby that seemed to The first game on the table, which has be thrown aside in the past, South can had a fairly extensive professional league welcome a new team to the scene. for several years, is League of Legends.

Maybe someday instead of celebrating League of Legends is a Multiplayer a football player signing with Alabama or Online Battle Arena (MOBA) game.

Clemson, it will be a League player signing Two teams of five compete against each with G2 Esports or Fnatic Gaming.

No, not really.

36% No opinion

28% 3

3

news news

Reality of an

E

Antagonist

very movie has a villian. Whether it’s ‘the man’ in the suit that wants to take over the world or the blonde 16-year-old girl in a mini skirt the antagonist plays a key part in any movie. We watch these malice characters on a screen and assume this is where it ends; on the screen. We don’t bother imagining that maybe these ‘characters’ aren’t really characters at all. We tell ourselves that real people couldn’t be this cold hearted.

What we don’t think about is the reality that we spend our days building our self-esteem by tearing others down, finding entertainment in pointing out the flaws of our peers and whispering gossip because we want people to listen to us. We tell ourselves that everyone does it. If everyone else is doing it then you can too. Right?

Everyone has heard the lecture about acting like the people you

surround yourself with, but we overlook the intensity of the impact it makes. Now before you point fingers about the influence your friends are having on you, look in the mirror and ask yourself the type of example you are setting for your friends.

Now, I understand that all of this sounds scary and paints the world as an evil place full of evil people. But, I write this so that maybe we can all reflect and decide the type of life we want to lead before being so quick to assume that we are faultless people. It is an imperfect world with imperfect people but the beauty of it is that we can choose to set an example of compassion and grace.

There are 86,400 seconds in every day. This means that every single day there are 86,400 chances for you to do something that would make the world a little bit of a brighter place. Being kind is easy and doesn’t have to take more than a second. If you look at life in this light than it isn’t quite as scary.

Our lives are full of opportunity. Will you take those opportunities to tear others down? Or will you take the opportunity to make the world an increasingly more benevolent and caring place.

ICONIC DISNEY VILLIANS Cruella Deville Scar Ursella Maleficent Gaston Captain Hook

4 features

L I F E

by Avery Glover

“

If one has yet to watch the Rainbow Milk Challenge the Yak Pak destroyed, then they have yet to truly experience pure comedy,” said Ty Rouse, junior.

The Yak Pak consists of three fellow students in C200, Garrett Anderson, Ty Rouse and Jake Powers, juniors. The group didn’t really have any idea what it was going to turn into when they first started.

“To be honest, we created the Yak Pak so we wouldn’t have to write stories for the newspapers website, but we think it’s hilarious and want to keep doing it,” said Anderson.

They recently posted a video on The View Youtube channel that consisted of them all drinking a full gallon of milk. To add to the humor they decided to dye the milk with specific colors as well.

“The Rainbow Milk challenge is an instant classic and we have some more challenges in the works,” said Rouse.

The Yak Pak has many more videos in the works.

“People should know that we are three crazy dudes who love to do the things people are too scared to do,” said Anderson.

Most people are afraid of a lot of challenges but the Yak Pak would never back down.

Many students at South really enjoyed the first video and expressed their opinions on how often a video should be published.

“At least every other week or every week, because it will keep people intrigued and the first video was very funny and I expect the others to be on the same level,” said Matt McGuire, junior.

Many others have expressed their opinions on the topic as well.

“Weekly, because they are really funny and they are very entertaining to watch,” said Karla Gomez, sophomore.

The Yak Pak has listened and are doing everything they can to please their audience.

“We will most likely post about every other week and it would really help if people would comment some new challenges on each post,” said Rouse.

New videos will be posted on The View Youtube channel so make sure to subscribe and hit the notification bell to be notified when they post next.

dope dudes doin dope things. by Jake Powers

5

features

top 5

kc stores 1 Made in KC Marketplace 2 The Bunker 3 Charlie Hustle 4 Ray Gun 5 KC Clothing Co

1 JACK STACK 2 q39 3 gates 4 joe’s kc bbq 5 arthur bryant’s

bbq places

top 5

top 5

things to do 1 eat 2 sports game 3 nelson-atkins 4 union station activities 5 chill at a park

for addresses of murals and places above please scan this qr code

kansas city

by STEVIE WILLIAMS & GRACE DIELEMAN

6

features

A look at the city South students are proud to call home

B

arbeque Capital of the World. City of Fountains. Cowtown. Jazz Capital or as most South students and teachers like to call it, home-sweet-home. Kansas City, Missouri has become one of the most popularly visited destinations in the Midwest and it’s no surprise as to why. The unique atmosphere, ranging diversity, welcoming community and hometown vibe are all reasons that Kansas Citians are proud to call this place home.

“I love it because of the cheap living, fast commute and it has the best barbeque: point blank,” said Matthew Kissinger, senior.

Most Kansas City residents are in agreement and are proud to stand with a city that has such great attributes to bring to the table.

“I’ve lived in KC my whole life, I can’t imagine living anywhere else,” said Hayden Long, senior.

While a good portion of South students have been born and raised in KC, others have had to assimilate into KC culture.

“It’s different from the other places I’ve lived [Seattle and Texas], it has four seasons, amazing food and a great community,” said Melody Sasser, sophomore.

Seasons may change, but snowy Kansas City winters surely do not; An estimated 30 inches of snow and consistent low temperatures have caused 10 days of school cancellations. With winter comes potholes.

“There are potholes everywhere. It’s insane. It’s honestly sickening,” said Kissinger.

There are five times more potholes on our roads than there were last winter. They result in damage to cars, added time to travel, and bumpy rides.

Although the drive there might not be as smooth, downtown Kansas City has so many positive things to offer. Geographically, it’s right in the middle of everything: Westport, The West Bottoms, Crossroads, Crown Center, The Plaza, The River Market and

Power and Light District all reside in the heart of the city, where the fun begins.

Live music, First Fridays, and much more are hosted in the midst of the flourishing area. New restaurants are constantly being added, old buildings are flipped into new ones and the city is more lively than ever.

“My favorite thing to do on warm Saturday morning’s is going down to the River Market,” said Kissinger.

On the other hand, junior Ryan Chase finds more interest towards the other side of the city. It is no secret that KC is known for its successful sports teams.

“Some of my favorite things that KC has to offer are all the professional sports teams. I love the Royals and the Chiefs and even Sporting,” said Ryan Chase, junior.

Some think this city is the only place they will ever call home, while others want to get out right after graduating high school.

Whether you spend your day in the river market, eating barbeque, or avoiding potholes, Kansas City is like no other.

“What are you going to study?”

“So where are you going to college?”

“What do you want to do?”

A

n 1.5 trillio t There’s $ loan deb t n e d u t s of . ely owed collectiv

An est im million ated 31 j left vac obs will be a in the nt by 2020 trade fi elds.

8

opinion

After High School

by Johnny Sterret

s graduation approaches, South seniors will be The truth is, the people not planning on going to colhearing those dreaded phrases more and more. lege usually have a more definitive plan than the people Many of us don’t have an answer to these painful who are so quick to judge them. Sceptics are shocked to inquiries, opting to instead smile and nod, trying to hear you’re not going to college, and yet most of them convince our families we have some semblance of a plan. still don’t even know what they want to study. Please Some may envy those around you seemingly receiving don’t think I am recommending you don’t go to college. I acceptance letters left and right. would never criticize anyone who wants to pursue higher Even those who have been lucky enough to get accept- education, I am simply advocating for a debt free route ed to their school of choice may find themselves without to success and in today’s shortage of specialized laborers a plan. Some glorify the college selection process; but trade school is not an option that should be overlooked. nothing has confused me more than the joy some find College graduates have only earned an average starting in being permitted to sign up for lifelong debt. We have salary of $27,000 since 2009, if they are even lucky been so conditioned to somehow feel lucky or even enough to find a job, compared to $42,000 for trade grateful that these big universities are allowing us to pay school graduates according to business insider. Furtherthem upwards of $20,000 a year for an education that is more, it only costs $5,000 to complete a vocational school free in other countries. program, says a Better Business Bureau survey, and If you take a stepback, it’s honestly staggering that we starting salaries for graduates can run as high as $80,000 live in a society where this the norm. with a near 100 percent job placement. Between the According to Forbes, there are more than 44 million high demand jobs, relatively cheap education, and high borrowers who collectively owe $1.5 trillion in student salaries; the stigma of a job in one of the trades is one of loan debt in the U.S. alone. Student loan debt is now the America’s biggest misconceptions. second highest consumer debt category - behind only Getting an undergraduate degree from a smaller unimortgage debt - and higher than both versity or community college before credit cards and auto loans. transfering makes a lot of sense from “Just 27 percent of While it may be flattering to get a financial standpoint, but many college grads had a people fear the stigma associated accepted into a highly selective school, job that was closely with one of these “Lesser Colleges”. how many of us could realistically related to their major...” Is getting some of your prerequisites finance an Ivy League education? And furthermore, what good would that out of the way at a smaller school astronomical amount of money accomreally any different than taking AP or plish if you find yourself trying to discover your field of Dual Credit Classes here through MCC? It looks the same study? According to the U.S. Bureau of the Census, it is on your transcript. Your diploma won’t look any different estimated that just 27 percent of college grads had a job when you graduate from your prefered school for half the that was closely related to their major. Is it really worth price. Do people fear judgment from the people in the your time to plunge further and further into debt with same situation as you? It’s hard to judge a classmate who hopes of discovering your true calling stuck in a general is enrolled in the same college as you. studies major with no real plan?

Borrowers in the Class of 2017, on average, owe Ever since elementary school we’ve been told we’re $28,650, according to the Institute for College Access preparing for college. No teacher ever want to tell you that and Success. You may not know what you want to do, but there are other options besides college. Because of this, I am certain you don’t want to start off in the negative. we’ve been conditioned to think college is the only option; With so many big decisions to make about the future, the so much so that anyone who says they are not planning on last thing a young graduate needs need is a mountain of this pre-ordained path of debt is judged harshly. debt plaguing their indecisive psyche.

Trade jobs are in high demand due to the aging work There are many alternative paths to success, and maybe force. There are an estimated 31 million jobs that will the traditional route isn’t for you. But at the end of the be left vacant by 2020 due to Baby Boomer retirement. day, College is an investment in yourself. Not everyone The shortage is so massive that 62 percent of employers can afford the exorbitant fees of today’s educational trend; are currently struggling to fill positions; and 74 percent and it’s harder to justify this leap of blind faith with no of of labour firms predict a shortfall of qualified skilled guarantee of a job after graduation. I urge you to consider trade workers in the near future according the Associated all options. Don’t fall victim to peer pressure just because General Contractors of America survey. you see your classmates following a different path.

For Riley Parman, freshman, traveling over spring break comes naturally as she travels over break every year.

“My family and I go on a cruise every spring break, but this time we went for my grandparents 50th anniversary and we went to Jamaica and also Puerto Rico, St. Martins,” said Parman.

Since Parman travels the sea every break, she has made friends from other states from past cruises which she still keeps in touch with and made sure to see on the cruise.

“I made friends from Florida on my last cruise I was on,” said Parman, “their names are Delaney and Hailey and we got to catch up while I also did lots of tanning and swimming.”

Jamaica

Bora Bora

Charlie Scott, sophomore, traveled to Bora-Bora with his parents and two sisters for his spring break vacation.

“We went for my parents 25th anniversary but the kids got to tag along which was really nice for us,” said Scott.

Spring break activities for Scott included sailing, snorkeling, jet skiing and “just chilling.”

“I think it’s cool to travel over spring break to see what else is out there, instead of just staying home and watching The Office,” said Scott.

Oh The Places You’l’l Go

South students share their adventures from out of the country

By ANNIE WOODSON from their 2019 spring break.

Mexico

Did you travel out of the country for spring break?

6% said yes

94% said no 6% said yes

Seniors Sofia Gomez and Amy Phillips spent spring break under the shining sun in the city of Playa Del Carmen, Mexico; swimming in caves, going to the beach and visiting the Mayan pyramids.

“I’m was so excited for the warm weather, Mexican food, the ocean, and being with my family and best friend,” said Gomez.

While Gomez and her family have visited the country multiple times, it was Phillips first time in Mexico and she was glad to be there with her best friend.

Scan here to view pictures from Riley, Charlie and Sofia and Amy’s trips over spring break.

9 entertainment

iL ke

By Nicole Wilson

Totally 80’s Hair-ical Dude

Trends are constantly being created and recycled. Here are some of the most iconic looks of the 80’s that are dominating the halls of South.

B

ig hair, big attitude, and loud outfits are all things making a comeback from the lively times of the 80s. As great as the extravagant styles are though, how much damage are we causing our hair when we start pulling, teasing, and heating.

looks around the school Alexis Nigro, junior

She didn’t pick her cut to match the style and that it was just a happy accident. She is one of the lucky ones with naturally wavy hair as well, meaning she completes the look without any heat needed!

Diamond Kassahun, junior

She is known for the big beautiful hair she has every day! Letting your hair do what it does, is something we can definitely bring back from the past!

The #1 most recommended thing to stay away from...HEAT!! They say heat can be one of the most damaging things to use on your hair. Of course, with all the styles coming back the first thing we turn to is heat. There are so many alternatives though!

Whether you straighten it or curl it, think about the effects it has on your hair.

For a wavy look, try braiding your hair the night before instead of crimping. Not only will it save you time in the morning, it’ll be so much healthier to your hair!

Janae Hlavacek, senior

From the style of her clothes to the style of her hair, she is a true 80’s lover.

For straight hair, try showering at night and letting it dry completely before crawling into bed. Once in bed, put your hair underneath you and sleep on top of it. While this sounds weird, many youtube tutorials will recommend it as a great way to get straight hair without heat.

To curl your bangs for that signature bounce, you can go with the usual roller. yes, rollers are still sold, even though your grandma is the only one you ever see wearing them anymore. For those that don’t have rollers or don’t want to spend the money, other options are available. For a tutorial on how to curl your bangs scan the QR code below on Snapchat!

Knowel Taylor, sophomore

While she doesn’t normally do this iconic look, she still rocks it like no other.

Lauren Hagerman, junior

How to Achieve the Look:

10 entertainment

Scrunchies Hair Clips The Ultimate Bang Cut

She was ready to submerge herself in the 80s look and loves to see it making a comeback.

Pictures by Yearbook Staff: Keira Boyle and Alex Gardner

Band

Alex Ware, sophomore

“Band is a really big clique...

It’s cool to be a part of something like band.”

“The Boys”

C

B O Volleyball Kacy Lewallen, senior

“It’s a super open group but from an outsider’s point of view you might think we’re kind of weird.”

Debate

E

ndes If ia nd K a e e you rans G z i v go to any le Al l e o high school, you’ll

By N find yourself among groups of people who “click”. How do the cliques of South perceive themselves and their stereotypes? erna na F

L I QU

o

K “Girly Pops” Keira Boyle, senior

“We all just hang out all the time, we’re best friends.

We just go where everyone goes.”

Robotics

Alex Gardner, senior

Matt Kruse, sophomore

Brian Francis, senior

“We enjoy hanging out pretty much all the time.

We are very open to hanging out with anyone.”

“If it’s possible for a club to be too close to each other, debate would probably be it.

“It’s definitely a tight group.

We spend every day together for three months straight for upwards of 6 hours.”

Snow Day Say Hey!

By Claire Hoy and Maria Allred

The controversial topic of snow days is finally addressed by the members of the Park Hill School District.

“We will make up every day of instruction that we miss,” said Bill Redinger, Assistant Superintendent / Human Resources, which could quite possibly be the most dreaded sentence that students could hear.

The “no school’ notification was once a great joy to wake up to, however, with constant snow days cutting into summer, it has become something to be resented.

The students most affected by the ten snow days are the ones in AP classes.

The AP tests taken place on nationally set dates and do not get pushed back because of snow days.

“I am in three AP classes and there has been a lot of makeup work. It is so much more stressful knowing that there is this a may deadline that we are trying to meet. We are still behind,” said Renz Breen, junior.

There are two weeks of AP testing offered, and all of the tests end on May 17, only two days after the seniors leave. Depending on when the AP test falls, juniors and underclassmen could have a month remaining before summer.

“It is ridiculous. I hate it because in all of my AP classes I have talked to my teachers and there is really only one big project left to do, which we would spend two to three weeks doing,” said Breen.

It is common for most AP classes to have a good amount of seniors, so it is probable that the remaining students will spend most of their leftover time reviewing for finals.

“The teachers aren’t going to teach us anything that they didn’t teach the seniors so we really won’t be doing anything until the day of our final,” said Breen.

From a teacher perspective, the snow days have cut into a lot of their teaching time whether they teach AP classes or not. The teachers that have the biggest problem are the AP instructors, who do not get the time they lost back before the AP test.

“We kind of go through things really quickly, especially because of all these snow days, so I have a ton of activities that we don’t get to do that we will do after the test day,” said Andy Cantrell, Psychology.

A big problem that the members of the Park Hill School District voice is the fact that the district doesn’t allow for late start, or adding on minutes to the end of the days to excuse some of the days, since the district won’t forgive them on their own.

“I think this is the most snow days that I remember having. I have had to drop some things because of it. I think we go to school longer than most other school districts, and I think it should have been a little bit easier to forgive some of the snow days,” said Cantrell.

There are a lot of rumors about how many days we will have to make up and what the limit is on how many we can have before we stop making them up.

“The upper limit in terms of the Missouri Department of Education is that if you had 14 snow days, then you would be forgiven each day after that,” said Dr. Redinger.

Amidst all the rumors, there are a lot of angry parents and students throwing their opinions at the School Board.

“We always want to listen to the community and I think Park Hill does a really good job of that, however overall what is most important is that we have got to have school, even though the weather interferes with that we have to make those days up,” said Redinger Many school districts use late starts to minimize make up days, but Park Hill has never implemented them, according to Redinger.

Now is the time to change that. Currently, the missouri law states that every district needs to make up all days of instruction missed.

“State of Missouri requires 174 days, Park Hill goes 177 days. But all that changes next year when the state will just have a requirement just to account a for certain number of hours,” said Redinger.

Some solutions to the missed snow days that will be a possibility next year include late start and adding on minutes to the end of the school days.

As of now, the last day of school is set to be Tuesday, June 4th as a full day of instruction. The whole community is hoping for warmer weather and a halt on their slowly decreasing summer.

“We always want to listen to the community. . .”

62%

38%

loved having this many snow days.

of students would rather have more summer.

12 centerspread

What do South students have to say about snow days?

For more info on snow days, scan here

Snow days. Two words that used to bring so much joy into my life. There’s nothing like the feeling of pure excitement when you pull up twitter to see that no school tweet. That’s what it used to feel like scrolling through my twitter, but now it is much more of an anger when I see the dreaded message.

In January, Park Hill South along with many other schools in the KC area experienced one snow day and one ice day, but in February we had three snow days and two ice days. Just when it couldn’t get any worse, we had one cold day on March 4th, with temperatures in the single digits. On top of two snow days in November, that adds up to a total of ten snow days. Yes, you read that right, ten.

This is absolutely ridiculous, and we need to implement a better system that allows us to go to school on some of the unnecessary snow days we have had to have. It would also be considerate, if our district would have built in some snow days like the nearby schools in our area. Of course, every year you’ll catch Park Hill going longer than everyone else. Currently, Platte County School District, 18 miles up I-29, is considering not making up any of their snow days past the 31st of May.

Now I get it, we can’t come to school when there are five inches of snow on the ground, but if there’s ice on the ground that’s cleared by 10 a.m, there’s no reason we can’t do a late start type of day and still get in our day of school. Now, we will have to be suffering in this prison-like building taking finals in June, while seniors get to relax and enjoy their summers starting May 15th. All of south is still buzzing about the dreaded snow days because that’s how much people despise them at this point in the year.

“I think it’s dumb that we have to make up all these snow days in our first semester that carry into our second semester,” said Sophia Dunn, sophomore. “Things get pushed back a few days but the school year always ends with us doing nothing the last two or three days when we could be out, especially in AP classes.”

Whether we are able to make a change this year or not, the district for sure needs to think about adding a late start or some form of making up these days in case we experience another poor winter in the future. The seniors can rejoice, but for everyone else dealing with snow days, it’s not any situation to be happy about.

by Laura Distefano

i n t he t s o Fro L st Ask any senior of the class of 2019, and they can tell you that we’ve have been sleeping with spoons under our pillows, underwear inside out, leaving the freezer doors open, and pouring water on Dr. Cowherd’s driveway… just kidding.

The seniors haven’t needed any good luck because mother nature has taken over. Sledding, hot chocolate, sleeping in, and greatest of all NO SCHOOL are all part of snow day traditions. Ten snow days, and the senior group chat is still blowing up with hopes of having another.

Some people say, “Don’t you feel bad for everyone else who have to make up these snow days?” The answer is no, not really. We will be sending you pictures poolside while you are cramming for your math finals.

“When I get the tweet notification that we don’t have school, I get so excited that I don’t go to sleep or do my homework,” said Jill Ketchmark, senior.

Something that I will never understand is the seniors that hate snow days. It is a little scary because we have AP tests that are not going to get moved back, but who really cares? Sadie Franklin, senior, is one of the few who would prefer not having snow days.

“I would so much rather go to school than have a snow day because it just throws off my routine. Typically on snow days I just sit at home because my parents won’t let me drive. I just think it’s a waste of time,” said Franklin.

It seems that Sadie got her way. The school district is making us go to school April 22nd. When the news broke, I was not happy. That was the only day we had off in April. It’s looking like we’ll have to plan some extra senior skip days.

I feel a little like a spoiled brat because we’re only making up one snow day, while everyone else has to make up 10, but it’s my senior year. It’s just the luck of the draw.

I love snow days, but this winter weather has got to chill out. I want to wear my summer clothes, and go to the pool. Maybe I should stop complaining because I will be getting tan while the rest of the Park Hill School District is still in class.

by Kate Kobayashi

w o n S o r P

13

centerspread

A Fresh Start

By Zane Leiker

South Baseball is starting their new season with a positive outlook, hoping they can compound on last year’s successes and learn from their mistakes.

A

fter an up-and-down season last year, South baseball is looking to build off of its highs and eliminate the shortcomings which caused last year’s demise. Coming off a district final loss, the team hopes to be able to get back as soon as possible with a different outcome.

A younger roster this season makes predicting who will be stepping up and what the rotation will look like unclear.

“With not having a clear rotation this year we will need guys without varsity experience to step up,” Junior Will Fricker said.

Fricker also talked about how big it was to have a guy like Brougham last year in big games, as well as other seniors who could go four to five innings. This year the plan seems to be pitching by committee until someone proves they can control a game for longer than a couple of innings.

Fricker is a pitcher and outfielder for South who will be a returning varsity player.

South has minimal varsity experience returning this year with only three seniors, pitcher Ethan Farrow, shortstop Alex Rodriguez and catcher Jackson Dixon that have seen a good amount of time on varsity. Also only a couple of juniors and one sophomore who have lettered.

“With not seeing much playing time at varsity my previous years I want to have a big impact on the team this year.” Senior Mike Jones said.

Jones symbolizes how the team will look this year well as he has not seen much playing time at all on varsity until this year where he will most likely be a key player and a huge factor on if the team is successful or not.

Jones is not the only new addition to the lineup as over half the lineup will be made up of new players.

Overall South will have a very inexperienced team compared from its teams the past few years. The team will need new faces to step up in big positions if it wants to make it as far as last year’s team and beyond.

Causing a Racket!

By Jessie Hagen and Annie Saunders

With a new season approaching and one State trip under their belts, boy’s tennis is feeling the pressure as they prep for this year’s season.

A

s the tennis boys approach their season, they will take their shot for round two at State. South is expecting a solid year with the upperclassmen. The team did not have as many people try out as usual, but that is not worrying the returning players. Returning players are going to have to lead the new players to the expectations that have been held up for many years.

In high school sports, there seems to be an overarching goal of making it to State. Most of the players made it clear they had a goal of making it to State. Two of our South tennis boys worked their way to State last year. Cooper Hayes and Andrew Robaska competed in the doubles bracket and unfortunately did not place.

Their goal this season is to make a comeback and place at state this year.

“Personally my goal for this season is to get all-state sports

14

in doubles with Cooper, going to State was definitely my favorite memory of last year,” said Robaska, senior.

Hayes and Robaska are excited for all the boys who are coming back this year to get even better this season and make them some tougher players.

“I look forward to mentoring the freshmen and taking them under my wing to make them some better players,” said Hayes, Senior.

Last year 16 freshmen tried out and this year only eight did. With this low amount of freshmen trying out, the upperclassmen are going to need to step up this season and work harder than ever these next couple months.

“We have a solid top four players, so hopefully the juniors and seniors can make up for the very low amount of freshmen,” said Michael Verhoeven, junior.

With the new season coming up, it is definitely worth your time to make it out to the matches

T

he Alliance of American Football (AAF) is a brand new league that has taken Other people agree with that statement, but think that the rule leanincy could the country by storm over the last few weeks. For many, it provides the come back to bite the league in the butt. perfect offseason dose of gridiron madness that they are searching for.

“I think it is an injury prone league given the more leinate rules. I think “I like it because it is football when the NFL isn’t on,” said Carli Burdiss, senior. eventually they will be pressured into making it a safer league similar to the NFL, With an average of nearly 3 million views in each of the opening night games, it but it is fun to watch guys get knocked around.” said Smith. goes without saying that the AAF is having a lot of success. Some might think that With only eight teams in the league, the AAF has tons of room to grow and this much success could eventually lead the the AAF rivaling the NFL as Amermature. There are ten regular season games that will eventually lead to a four team ica’s number one football league, but playoff, where the champion of the league will most people believe it will do quite the “The rules aren’t as strict. It is how football be crowned on April 27th in Las Vegas. Around opposite. used to be and how it should have stayed,” the school, there are lots of different teams that “It could be a place for the lesser fans are rooting for. know prospects to get a chance to prove their skills and maybe get signed to an “I like the Birmingham Iron because they are one of the closer teams and I like NFL team” said Jake Smith, junior. some of their players from their time in the NFL,” said Smith “I think it helps NFL players more than anything. Players like Akeem hunt, who Other fans at south have much simpler reasons for liking their team of choice. got released from the chiefs, still have careers because they can play in the AAF” “I like the San Diego Fleet because of Philip Nelson,” said Burdiss, “I think his said Jake Luman, junior. backwards pass is setting the bar higher for players like Patrick Mahomes.”

Another big drawing point of the AAF is the much looser rules when it comes Whether you are a fan of the Iron, The Fleet, or just football in general, we all to big hits, especially on the quarterbacks. can agree that the AAF is a blast to watch and perfect to keep us happy during the “The rules aren’t as strict. It is how football used to be and how it should have NFL offseason. stayed,”. said Burdiss.

AA

Here to Stay?

F

Football fans don’t fret, it’s not over yet . . .

SOUTH

For Cameron’s AAF Rankings, scan here.

STRONG

by Ty Rouse

Big or small, strong or weak, boy or girl, all are welcome in the powerlifting family

W

hat may just seem like shirts with the sleeves torn off, protein powder, and pre-workout is really a group of students working everyday to better themselves both mentally and physically.

The powerlifting team has been around for --- years and each year continues to grow and improve. In the beginning, athletes like Payton Ireland helped to build the foundation of the program. This year, there have been so far two meets with over 30 kids signing up. Athletes from all different sports compete in powerlifting, even the soccer players.

“Not many soccer players lift so I feel like I am giving myself an edge over competition and helping the team,” said Evan Oathout, junior.

Our weights program here at south is a big help in getting those competing prepared for the meets. At South, there is morning, afterschool, and regular block schedule weights that anyone can go to. The great equipment and coaching is something that is very rare to find at other schools.

“The meets offer a great competitive atmosphere that give the athletes a purpose to train hard and improve,” said Weights, Football, and Powerlifting coach, Kent Cramer.

South placed sixth out of 48 schools at the biggest powerlift meet in the Midwest earlier this year.

“The atmosphere at the meets push me to work hard everyday in class improving my maxes and getting better as an athlete,” said Joe Inzenga, junior.

All are encouraged to join, the meets are based off of weight class so everyone come out and compete.

15

sports

Kansas City Chiefs Mock Draft

by Payton Havermann

T

he Chiefs season was incredible and there’s no denying that. A 12-4 record, the number one seed in the AFC, the best offense in the league, MVP Pat Mahomes. The Chiefs were undone by two things.

The 31st ranked defense that wound up getting Bob Sutton fired and the release of Kareem Hunt. Even though Williams did an admirable job as Hunt’s replacement, the Chiefs offense seemed to lack an extra dimension.

The Chiefs hould look to the draft to upgrade the team. With eight draft picks, including three in the first two rounds, the Chiefs could turn the defense around quickly and even upgrade the offense along the way.

But just who should the Chiefs use these picks on to maximize the potential of an already talented team?

Round 1, Pick 29: Deandre Baker, CB, Georgia. It’s no secret that the Chiefs secondary was an absolute nightmare. The Chiefs have a multitude of positions in need of upgrade, but corner is near the top of the list and this draft class is loaded with them. The Chiefs may have found something with Charvarious Ward late in the year, but Orlando Scandrick and Steven Nelson are both free agents, and the Chiefs need a potentially elite level talent here.

Baker is a tremendous ball-hawk of a corner who plays well in both zone and man coverage. The only question is whether or not he can keep up with speed receivers.

He has been burned by speed in the past, most notably

by Emanuel Hall this year against Mizzou, but overall, getting Baker here would be a good value pick and he could step in and be a starter from day one. Other potential picks: Montez Sweat, EDGE Mississippi State, Josh Jacobs, RB, Alabama, Deionte Thompson, S, Alabama.

Round 2, Pick 61: David Montgomery, RB, Iowa State. Now before getting up in arms about taking a runningback over a safety or linebacker this early, just hear me out. The Chiefs have a pick almost directly after this one, leaving the Chiefs in a position to make a bit of a luxury pick. As stated earlier, the Chiefs offense lost an extra dimension when they lost Kareem Hunt, so why not go grab another Kareem Hunt-type running back? Montgomery is 5’ 10”, similar to Hunt who is 5’ 11”, ran a 4.63 at the NFL combine, similar to Hunt who ran a 4.62, both did similar reps at the combine and both had similar broad jumps. The comparison goes beyond just measurables. Both are power type backs who fight and power for yards, and both are assets in the passing game. So while the Chiefs may have more pressing needs than runningback, giving Mahomes more help out of the backfield should be an easy call. Other potential picks: Jaylon Ferguson, EDGE, Louisiana Tech, Darnell Savage, S, Maryland.

Round 2, Pick 63: Darnell Savage, S, Maryland. Everyone loves Eric Berry, but there’s no denying he’s nearing the end of his road. That spells trouble for the Chiefs as he is a huge asset in both the passing game and is near essential for run defense because the Chiefs just don’t have good run defenders in the front 7. So with Berry on the decline, why not grab his potential successor who could even start in tandem with Berry for a year or two? Savage is not built like a run supporting safety, but it doesn’t stop him from being a good run defender.

He’s also good in covering tight ends, which is almost a must in the AFC, and is a sure tackler. He could step up to take Berry’s spot when he’s gone, but he can also be sports Berry’s partner at safety. Other potential picks: Jaylon

With the 2018-2019 season long in the rearview mirror, a vital offseason arrives for the Chiefs to build on an AFC Championship appearance, to hopefully put the team over the top.

Ferguson, EDGE Louisiana Tech, Oshane Ximines, EDGE, Old Dominion, Vosean Joseph, LB, Florida, Connor McGovern, IOL, Penn State.

Round 3, Pick 92: Andy Isabella, WR, UMass. With no interior offensive lineman or linebacker worth taking here, the Chiefs best option would likely be to trade up for someone or trade down. But since I’m not accounting for trades, I had to make a pick. With Chris Conley being a free agent, the Chiefs are potentially in need of a slot receiver. Isabella is a speedy receiver who can blow by linebackers with ease which is perfect for a slot receiver. Other potential picks: Nate Davis, IOL, Charlotte, Joe Jackson, EDGE, Miami.

Round 5, Pick 167: Ben Burr-Kirven, LB, Washington. Reggie Ragland and Anthony Hitchens STINK. But with the Chiefs drafting Dorian O’Daniel in the 4th round last year they’ll likely wait a bit to draft another linebacker. Much like O’Daniel, Kirven is a smaller, safety-like linebacker, who has speed to keep up with tight ends. He was a good tackler in college but do to his size, he’s gonna struggle in the NFL with it until he beefs up. Hopefully the Chiefs give him a year to develop. Other potential picks: Jahlani Tavai, LB, Hawaii, Khalen Saunders, DL, Western Illinois.

Round 6, Pick 201: Alex Bars, IOL, Notre Dame.

Mitch Morse could potentially be 1 concussion away from retirement. It’s a very real and scary possibility for both him and the Chiefs. Austin Reiter will likely step in and be the starting safety, but why not grab a guy from Offensive Line University (Notre Dame) and let him be depth and potentially grow him into a starter in the future? Other potential picks: Lester Cotton, IOL, Alabama, Donald Parham, TE, Stetson.

Round 6, Pick 214: Austin Bryant, EDGE, Clemson.

EDGE could potentially be drafted higher if Justin Houston is traded, but for now, he is still a Chief. The Chiefs may also still believe in Breeland Speaks, but they should still draft another EDGE rusher regardless. Bryant had a tough year as he was expected to be a high draft pick, but a torn pectoral wound up severely hurting his stock. If the Chiefs get the same Austin Bryant as he was before his injury, this has the potential to be a huge steal, but for now he’s likely to just be good depth.

Other potential picks: Ben Banogu, EDGE, TCU, Brandon Fritts, TE, UNC, Ricky Walker, DL, Virginia Tech.

Round 7, Pick 216: Kendall Blanton, TE, Mizzou. I’ll admit, this is a bit of a homer pick since Blanton went to Mizzou, but there are legitimate reasons for the pick. Demetrius Harris is a free agent and the Chiefs could use a more versatile backup tight end. Blanton is an absolute physical freak, standing at 6’ 6” and weighing 260 pounds. He has potential to be a mismatch no matter who is covering him. All he needs is to be coached up and get more precise as a route runner, and he can be a potential steal here. Other potential picks: Andrew Wingard, S, Wyoming, Tim Harris, CB, Virginia, Jordan Ta’amu, QB, Ole Miss.

The Chiefs have a really great chance to revitalize the defense in the draft and they should absolutely do it. But the Chiefs should also not hesitate from giving Mahomes more weapons around him to maximize the potential of the offense.

Hopefully the Chiefs will continue to build upon their sustained recent success in the draft, as they enter potentially the most important one yet.

It’s no secret that the Chiefs secondary was an absolute nightmare.

16

N E W year, GREATER goals High Expectations for Sporting Kansas City

by Garrett Anderson

S

porting Kansas City looks to make it to the Conference Championship for the second year in a row. Last year they had a disappointing finish, losing to the Portland Timbers after a very impressive season.

Throughout this off-season, they have made some rather shocking moves. Ike Opara, the 2017 MLS Defender of the Year was traded to Minnesota United for a large chunk of cash that left most Sporting fans clueless.

“I don’t think losing Ike will affect us greatly, we still have a solid defense and Seth Sinovic is the GOAT,” said Michael Suchanick, junior.

Despite the major loss of Ike Opara, Sporting made some key additions as well. They signed a very promising midfielder in Kelyn Rowe, and a very solid backup Stiker, Eric Hurtado. Although these players might not get the starts you think they would, they would provide much easier squad rotation, and can give a spark off the bench that every team needs late in a game.

“I think Sporting will win the Cup this year.

Our team is so deep, we have many options off the bench.”

Sporting will have a very busy beginning of the season, since there are currently involved in the CONCACAF (Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football) Champions League.

This could affect our start to the 2019 MLS Regular Season, but that is where these subs they have acquired come into play. They can help give rest to the players that play often and change up the way Sporting play against certain teams.

Back in 2015 Sporting had one of the most electrifying players in the league in Krisztian Nemeth. He left the club the following year and had just made his way back in the middle of last season. The departure of Diego Rubio to Colorado could provide heavy minutes for Nemeth who will be given the chance to regain his previous form.

“I think Nemeth has something to prove after not getting the playing time he deserved in New England. I’m excited to watch him this year, and I think him, Salloi, and Russell will provide a very dangerous top 3,” said Drew Ervin, junior.

Sporting are power ranked #2 going into this season. MLS Cup is Sporting’s goal.

“I think Sporting will win the Cup this year. Our team is so deep, we have many options off the bench,” said Michael Smoyer, junior.

Can they live up to the high expectations everyone has for them?

Stay tuned to the 2019 season to find out and hopefully the city can still watch Sporting still playing come November.

17

sports

Photos by Sadie Hudson, Anya Jefferies and Lexi Freiders

Winter Sports In Review 18

With sportsSpring Sports starting soon, it’s time to take a look back at the Winter Season . . .

T

he clock strikes zero on the Kansas City Chiefs season and it ended in disappointment. South won’t be the same, life won’t be the same.

The Chiefs lost to the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship game in heartbreaking fashion. Kansas City has a lot to look forward to in 2019.

It is time to move into the offseason and the Chiefs, along with their fans know what to fix. The Defense. With Patrick Mahomes having an MVP season, throwing for over 5,000 yards and 50 touchdowns, there is little to nothing to change on the offensive side of the ball. Kansas City started off by firing longtime defensive coordinator, Bob Sutton. South senior, Alex Rodriguez, was asked about the Chiefs firing Sutton, “It was time for him to go. He was here six years and he never got better,” said Rodriguez.

Chiefs fan have wanted Sutton out for a few years now. Opposing offenses have been able to pick apart Sutton’s defensive schemes time and time again which led to his 2018 defense being rated 31st in the league.

The Chiefs have hired former Giants head coach, Steve Spagnuolo or “Spags.” He is switching the defensive scheme from a 3-4 to a 4-3. Some have worried about this move but South Senior, Payton Murray said, “I think having a young group of guys will be an easy transition for the defense to accept.”

Kansas City has also made other moves on the defensive side of the ball.

The Chiefs have placed a non exclusive franchise tag on linebacker Dee Ford. A non exclusive tag means that another team could sign Ford but

they would surrender two first round picks.

The Chiefs have ended up trading Ford to the San Francisco 49ers for a 2020 second round pick. The 49ers ended up extending him and giving him $80 million.

The Chiefs cut Houston because they can’t find a trade partner, mainly due to the fact that he is slated to make $21 million for the 2019 season.

After his record breaking 22 sack season in 2014, his production has fallen off tallying nine sacks in back to back campaigns.

The team also cut superstar safety Eric Berry. He hasn’t been able to stay healthy the past few seasons and by cutting him they save eight million this season.

Kansas City will also look to improve the secondary. Some fans hope to add some linebacking help. Dawson Owen, senior, said, “I think adding linebackers to the defense will be beneficial to stopping the run next year.”

Good news for Dawson, the Chiefs signed ex Cowboy, Damien Wilson.

They have also added cornerback Bashaud Breeland.

But the biggest one is safety, Tyrann Mathieu. I true game changer. The Chiefs signed him to a three year, $42 million contract. Mathieu looks to fill a void in the secondary and will add some toughness to the team.

The Chiefs are so close to being a great team. The offense is exactly where it needs to be but the defense is so close. Hopefully, the team can put it all together so that South can miss a day to go parade with the Chiefs downtown.

by Ethan Farrow

SUPER

BOWL

SEASON?

19

sports

Last Minute Prom Ideas

by Kate Manness Stressing for the big day?

We’ve got you covered with these quick tips.

Dresses

Lost on where to start your shopping search?

Consider one of these places . . .

-Check out past students you’re friends with on Instagram to rent/buy dresses from them -Camille La Vie; online (moderate fast shipping ) or Oak Park Mall; tons of options, reasonable prices but can also be super expensive and get up to $300-400 -ASOS; these dresses are different from all the other basics, cheap prices, fast shipping -Lulus; fast shipping (can also pay for express shipping ), cute and simple dresses, super cheap

20

prom

Nails

Pictures

No prom look is complete without a killer mani!

Capture the memories at on of these scenic spots!

-Royal Nail Spa near YMCA/Sonic (my favorite and best-rated place)

(good outside, inside light sucks) closest option to dance

-Maysys Nail and Spa in Burlington Creek

(not great lighting depending on weather) furthest away from dance

-USA nails by old Hen House

The National Clubhouse

Liberty Memorial

Union Station

(inside light is good) far from dance

“Art is the only serious thing in the world.

And the artist is the only person who is never serious” -Oscar Wilde

O

livia Stone, junior, embodies this concept. Even students who don’t know her very well can recognize her unique personality. “ I don’t have any idea of her work ethic or anything because I haven’t talked to her since high school started, I just know she’s funny and kind of weird,” said Anna Cooper, junior.

Along with her wit and humor, she’s a very dedicated student, especially within the art department. “Olivia Stone is creative and hardworking and a problem solver. She’s very self-motivated,” said Megan Carson, a teacher in the art department.

This self-motivation and creativity really shows in her work with Purpose, a clothing company created by other South students. “I saw their Instagram and I thought it was cool. I didn’t really know Simon and Ian at the time but I just talked to them and I was like, ‘Hey I have some designs if you’re interested’.

Then I made the yin yang for them and ever since I’ve been a designer for them,” said Stone.

Stone’s foray into the world of art wasn’t initially driven by passion. Instead, she followed in the footsteps of her older brother who had taken both painting and graphic design during his time in high school. From there, she discovered a love for art--one which she hopes will lead her into a career. “I’m planning on going into architecture because I like graphic design a lot, but architecture is a more stable career,” said Stone.

Carson, however, has other ideas about Stone’s future, “I worry that architecture won’t be creative enough for her. I think she will do really well in [that field], but there should be something between architecture and graphic design that she should do. I think she should find a balance between creativity and making lots of money.”

At the end of the day, though, graphic design for Stone isn’t a job or a grade or even just a hobby. It’s her passion. Make sure to keep tabs on Olivia Stone, because it’s apparent that her future is bright.

H P A R

BIOG An

artists g n i s i R outh’s S f o andes t one n r a e F k o na th lo

By Kia in-dep

21

profile

Jameer Smith Hi my name is Jameer and I am a freshman at South. This year I am excited to run track and help with the coffee shop. I also am really big into video games, like 2K. My favorite movie is Black Panther. I have a big heart and enjoy to share my apples and make others happy. I am really just excited to be involved in high school and try new things.

Raef Meinhardt Hi, I am Raef I am a senior at South. I enjoy talking to my friends and saying hi a lot. I am in a club called panther buddies. I love to read clocks and tell time. My goal is to stay on task and be on time, as well as following directions. My favorite movies are ones that are funny because they make me laugh hard. I want you to know that you are great and awesome. I really like to do magic tricks because it’s my favorite thing to do. I really like to do disappearing acts. I really enjoy bowling and baseball, I get to play a lot big time.

ALL

about

US

The C100 Block recently visited the newspaper staff. Here is a little bit about our newest staff members.

Logan Cooper Hi, my name is Logan I am a freshman this year at South. I really enjoy doing my work at school. The clubs I am involved in are Sparkle Effect and Panther Buddies.

Open Season 3 is my favorite movie because it’s a little funny during the whole movie. I say hi or hello all the time to people in the halls and even if you ignore me I still enjoy it, but enjoy it even more when you are nice and say hello back. I really enjoy basketball because I use to play at the YMCA. Thank you for reading a little blurb about me, I hope to be writing more soon.

Alivia Fordham My name is Alivia and I am a tenth grader at South. Let me tell you a little bit about me. I enjoy ceramics because art is my favorite thing and the projects have been really fun. I am in Panther Buddies, which is about being social with regular kids. I am also in Sparkle Effect.

It is a dance club and we switch out between performing with dance team and cheerleading.

Incredibles 2 is my favorite movie because it is better than the first one. I am really sweet and I have a great personality. I want you to know this so that you will come up to me and talk to me. Hope you enjoyed reading this story, thank you. profile

22

Hey Eliana, Love,

Christian You’re going with me, and that’s the tea.

“All your protection under one roof”

23

prom/ads

MAD-LIB Sick of snow days yet?

I wake up to the

adjective

sound of my

alarm. I roll over to check my phone and I see a text from PHSD. “Due to the classes have been cancelled for day

.Today marks PHSD’s

number

noun

month

th snow

day. I look out my window and see a adjective

sheet of snow. I then decided

that what better way to spend our snow day than to build a snowman. I grab my and my

item

clothing

and I head

outside. I start to roll the snow. I decide to make my snowman look like For the nose I use eyes I use ing using adjective

object

object

snowman.

food

celebrity

, and for the

. I add some cloth,and I finish my

.