The Harbinger Issue 2 2022-23

WORTH

weigh whether having clear skin after using

a widespread form of acne treatment, is worth the

and

design by greyson imm & katie murphy cover design by peyton moore

cover photos by rachel bingham

smeharbinger.net MEDIASTORIES

CROSS - COUNTRY CONNECTION

Look into what’s happening at a different high school from around the U.S. through information from the Editor-In-Chief of their newspaper

ARCHIE WILLIAMS HIGH SCHOOL

• LOCATED IN SAN ANSELMO, CA

•

•

Check out Chat With Chab Episode 2, a featured athlete of the week, EASTSPN Episode 2, a Homecoming opinion and more content on smeharbinger.net

HENRY PRATT

SENIOR

ACTIVITES INCLUDE

AND HIKING

SCAN ME WEBSITE

Visit the website of The Pitch — their student-run newspaper

INTERVIEW WITH EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

What current events are students talking about?

OUR SCHOOL’S NAME changed from Sir Francis Drake High School to Archie WIlliams High School, as Sir Francis Drake was linked to the slave trade. Members of the community were divided whether the change was necessary, but we are now unifed under our new name for the most part.”

The Harbinger

PRINT EDITORS

Peyton Moore

Francesca

Stamati

ONLINE EDITORS

Lyda Cosgrove

Kate Heitmann

ASST. PRINT EDITORS

Greyson Imm Katie Murphy

ASST. ONLINE

EDITOR

Maggie Kissick

ONLINE POST MANAGER

Aanya Bansal

HEAD COPY

Caroline Gould

Caroline Wood

ASST. HEAD COPY EDITOR

Greyson Imm DESIGN EDITORS

Nora Lynn Anna Mitchell

ASST. DESIGN EDITOR

Bridget Connelly

ASST. ART EDITOR

Marissa Liberda

PHOTO EDITORS

Rachel Bingham

Hadley Chapman

Macy Crosser ASST. PHOTO

EDITORS

Liv Madden Riley Scott Elle Siegel

VIDEO EDITOR

Abby Lee

PODCAST EDITOR

Emma Krause

SOCIAL MEDIA EDITORS

Mia Vogel

Paige Zadoo

ASST. SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR

Bridget Connelly

SECTION EDITORS

PRINT NEWS

Avery Anderson ONLINE NEWS

Tristan Chabanis

ONLINE SPORTS

Christian Gooley PRINT FEATURES

Addie Moore

ONLINE FEATURES

Ben Bradley

EDITORIAL

Sophie Lindberg ONLINE OPINION

Emmerson

Winfrey

VIDEO EDITOR

Abby Lee COPY EDITOR

Hassan Sufi

STAFF WRITERS

David Allegri

Isabel Baldassaro

Luke Beil

Larkin Brundige

Maggie Condon

Mary Gagen

Lily Simmons

Gracie Takacs

Connor Vogel

SM East HarbingersmeharbingerSME Harbinger

Lucy Wolf

publication by political cartoon

Ada Lillie

Worthington

PAGE DESIGNERS

Afa Akwana

Sofia Blades

Adya Burdick

Ava Cooper

Grace Demetriou

Elle Gedman

Olivia Hawley

Maggie Klumpp

Veronica Mangine

Kai Mcphail

STAFF ARTISTS

Sofia Blades

Madi Maupin

PHOTO MENTORS

Riley Eck Julia Fillmore

Claire Goettsch

Caroline Martucci Emily Pollock

Mason Sajna STAFF

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Kate Beaulieu

Lydia Coe

Audrey Condon

Sabrina Dean

Charlotte Emley

Julia Fillmore

Molly Miller

Clara Peters

Tristen Porter

Ella Ralston

Jill Rice

Mason Sajna

Seri Steinbrecher

Lili Vottero

MJ Wolf

Amelie Wong

cartoon by bridget connelly

watched.

Digital surveillance on school-issued elecrtronics will cause more harm than good

EDITORIAL POLICY

The Harbinger is a student run publication. Published editorials express the views of the Harbinger staff. Signed columns published in the Harbinger express the writer’s personal opinion. The content and opinions of the Harbinger do not represent the student body, faculty, administration or Shawnee Mission School District. The Harbinger will not share any unpublished content, but quotes material may be con frmed with the sources. The Harbinger encourages letters to the editors, but reserves the right to reject them for reasons including but not limited to lack of space, multiple letters of the same topic and personal attacks contained in the letter. The Harbinger will not edit content thought letters may be edited for clarity, length or mechanics. Letters should be sent to room 413B or emailed to smeharbinger@gmail.com.

AN IMESSAGE THREAD of students discussing their favorite music artists. Selfies sent on a student’s personal phone while plugged into their computer. A discussion board post about the novel “To Kill A Mockingbird.”

These are all examples of content flagged by surveillance software across the nation, all of which resulted in disciplinary action after being searched, sent as a message or simply typed on school-issued devices. SMSD is no different in their use of surveillance software.

The growth of surveillance software in schools sets the stage for privacy violations, ultimately posing more harm than benefit to the mental and emotional well-being of students.

solution to preventing the next Parkland, digital surveillance isn’t the solution to threats of violence and self-harm — it’s the problem. Instead of invading their students’ privacy, schools should instead focus more attention and funding towards mental health support.

A HIGH SCHOOLER

And despite claims that these safety measures will make students feel more at ease by monitoring any potential safety threats, the knowledge that their every keystroke is being recorded, sent to and stored by private big tech companies is not comforting.

suffering a depressive episode of spiraling suicidal thoughts should not have to doubt whether or not they can search for resources online without being reported to their school’s administration.

The term digital surveillance describes a variety of AI-based software tools used to monitor device activity remotely. Sold by private, third-party companies to school districts under the guise of preventing school shootings and suicide, this technology monitors students’ internet searches, messages and all computer data 24/7, which is then uploaded and stored by these companies.

Though advertised as the be-all-end-all

An unintended product of this new culture of internet policing created by digital monitoring is students feeling uncomfortable reaching out for mental health help — a fear of being reported to and disciplined by administration, according to the Center for Democracy & Technology.

A high-schooler suffering a depressive episode of spiraling suicidal thoughts should not have to doubt whether or not they can search for resources online without being reported to their school’s administration.

Plus, digital surveillance doesn’t affect all students equally.

LGBTQ+ students are especially targeted by these programs. Gaggle, a surveillance

technology product, openly admits to flagging terms like “gay” and “lesbian,” supposedly to prevent cyberbullying. However, blacklisting these terms altogether removes a layer of support from vulnerable queer youth seeking support and answers about their identity. Besides, The Roosevelt High School Southerner accuses school districts using these programs to “out” queer students to their parents and teachers, setting an especially dangerous precedent for just how much schools can spy on students and what they can do with this information.

FOR: 12 AGAINST: 4

The members of the editorial board who agree with the viewpoint of the editorial are represented by for, and those who disagree with the viewpoint are represented by against.

digital monitoring programs — averaging upwards of $10,000 annually — they should be effective at their purpose. However, this isn’t the case. With the prevalence of “false flags,” or AI-misinterpreted language taken as a threat, these softwares are unreliable at best and dangerous at worst.

Similar to LGBTQ+ students, students of color suffer disproportionately from surveillance software because it overreports certain words or phrases.

AI used in school device monitoring isn’t capable of detecting ethnic vernaculars or any non-standard English speech patterns, a prime example being African American Vernacular English. In fact, leading AI models are 2.2 times more likely to flag content written in AAVE, according to digital privacy researcher Nir Kshetri. This can be especially problematic for a population already disproportionately disciplined in school — more than three times as much their white peers according to the New York Times.

Since schools spend so much money on

Investing in digital policing programs isn’t the answer to preventing self-harm and shooting threats — a potential school shooter being linked to guns from their school computer is a highly unlikely scenario, and mental health is already severely affected by these softwares. Instead, the $30,000 SMSD spends annually on digital security monitoring should be invested into mental health resources and counselors.

Safety is the most important consideration in this argument and spending tens of thousands of dollars on minoritypolicing, dysfunctional, glorified spyware software is not the solution.

design by sophie lindberg cartoon by mason sajna

design by avery anderson

news.

story by isabel baldassaro

NATIONAL

CALIFORNIA REACHED

RECORD temperatures of up to 125 degrees fahrenheit in between the months of June and August 2022 as a heat wave that continues to break out across the western U.S. swept through the state, according to the National Center of Environmental Information.

California is experiencing record high stats in their current heat wave — in the past week, more than 270 monthly records have been broken, according to the National Center of Environmental Information.

Death Valley soared to 125 degrees last week, falling just one degree shy of the previous

LOCAL

Climate change has lead to record temperatures in California

California heat record for September.

Chemistry and former Meteorology teacher Steven Appier believes that in order to help prevent the risk of climate change, work must be done to get rid of its causes.

“The public sentiment would be that this is at least in part a result of climate change,” Appier said.

“Therefore, all of the things that we normally associate with causing that, like burning fossil fuels, would increase the likelihood of something like this occurring.”

East parent and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency attorney Chris Muehlberger also attributes

the heat to climate change.

“Heat waves across the planet are growing in intensity and duration, and are resulting in outbreaks of wildfires and drought,” Muehlberger said.

He cites the Clean Air Act as litigation that is currently working to fight climate change.

These extreme temperatures have also caused a huge drought, according to Muehlberger.

In response, California has made efforts to decrease their risks of climate change. The state just passed a law that attempts to ban the sale of all gas-powered automobiles by the year 2035, according to ca.gov.org.

Barstow school is opening the Idea Space KC on Sept. 19

THE IDEA SPACE KC center run by Barstow school opens for weekly after school courses on Sept. 19, which will last through the week of December 15th.

The center — located at 12200 State Line Rd. — opened in June for three weeks of summer courses, serving students in Kindergarten to grade 12.

Director of Marketing and Communication at Idea Space and former

EAST

East Parent Lisa Tulp says that the center is open to all students to explore many different subjects with different resources.

“[Idea Space KC] is a STEAM Learning Center that is designed to be a community resource for all students across the Kansas City area,” Tulp said.

The building has four main areas — the Maker Space, E-sports center, Incubation Hub and Fabrication Workshop — that

allow students to explore computer science through coding and virtual reality, explore the field of competitive gaming, form entrepreneurial ideas and grow different manufacturing and engineering skills, according to Tulp.

Tulp says most courses at Idea Space offer hands-on experiments that they can cite on their college transcript.

Tutor at Mathnasium and senior

Student Council named the Homecoming Royalty nominees

THE STUDENT COUNCIL has replaced their traditional homecoming court of four attendants and a king and queen, with a court of six people who are crowned “royalty,” according to StuCo executives.

Originally, Homecoming court involved 12 each king and queen nominees and the highest voted nominees were crowned king and queen. This year, there are 24 people who were first nominated by the seniors, and the whole school will vote

on the royalty court starting Sept. 21 until Sept. 22.

“We thought that it wasn’t really a thing that people really felt too strongly about and that, if we change it, it would probably do more good than bad,” junior and Student Body Treasurer Ira Finkleston said.

Student Body President and junior Jack Kessler is hoping to create a more inclusive environment for all students as

opposed to having gendered kings and queen nominees.

“I think it will be beneficial, because instead of having two categories, we’ll just have royalty, which everyone will fall under,” Kessler said. “We’ll create more of an inclusive environment for everyone.”

Math teacher and StuCo sponsor Hannah Pence said that the 24 nominees will be announced and escorted by their family members at the game like past years.

TOP Children enrolled in classes at Idea Space KC stack plastic cups photos courtesy of | idea space kc

BOTTOM Boy experiments with a 3D printing machine in the Maker Space lab at Idea Space KC as part of a project focused on STEM photos courtesy of I idea space kc

SCAN

Visit the Idea Space KC website for more information on course offerings and enrollment

Greta Stechschulte is in support of more places with opportunities for students in the East community.

“A lot of times in school it’s just notes and homework and it can be boring for a lot of people,” Stechschulte said.

“Sometimes it’s good to get a different side of learning in more of a fun, low pressure way and in a learning environment where you’re not getting graded.”

They will then announce the Homecoming royalty.

For the Sweetheart dance in the winter, StuCo plans to follow the same process.

“Sometimes we get tied down to how things have been in the past,” Pence said. “Just because something has been done a certain way doesn’t mean it has to stay that way. We think this change will be a positive one. We’ve received nothing but positive feedback.”

ST I NKY

SYMPHONY!F E ET

London’s version of the Thanksgiving Parade in New York.”

This isn’t the typical show for Jim — usually he’s a solo performer for kids in schools, libraries and festivals.

“I did do a symphony with the Kansas City Symphony, but this is the first time I’ve [performed] with a high

Jim’s daughter and sophomore Willa Cosgrove, is a drum line member and will be performing alongside him. also doing a duet together to the song “Peanut Butter.”

“I’ve never really performed on the drums that much before and I never have with my dad,” Willa said. “I’m excited to do it for the first

The concert has been in the works since last year, but was rescheduled when the pandemic and a busy band schedule got in the way. But the concert worked out as more parts of the band were able to participate. According to band teacher Alex Toepfer, having the concert this season allows for the drum line, tubas and marching instruments to

perform.

Though the band hasn’t had much time with Jim to practice, Toepfer makes sure to have the band play a couple songs per class for practice. Both the marching band and the jazz band will be playing in the concert.

“We’ve had one rehearsal with him so far,” Toepfer said. “But it’s going great. The music fits together with him pretty easily, so we’re excited for it.”

The concert will have a temporary tattoo and concession stand — as well as an “instrument petting” station.

“[Instrument petting is] a way for kids to play and try out different instruments and get interested in music, which is the goal for the concert,” Toepfer said.

Jim has been making music as Mr. Stinky Feet for 24 years and he enjoys bringing people together with his songs.

“The focus is always bringing a community together with music,” Jim said. “Music is such a great way to bring people together, and it crosses cultural and language boundaries — it’s just a

Jim “Mr. Stinky Feet” Cosgrove will perform in collaboration with East’s marching band to help raise money for their trip to London

design by lyda cosgrove photo courtesy of jim cosgrove

gracie takacs

design by connor vogel photo by julia fillmore

STAR-BUST

HOW TO UNIONIZE

Steps to create a labor union

THE ABRUPT CLOSURE of the Plaza Starbucks location on Aug. 22 added local claims of union-busting and employee mistreatment to ongoing national lawsuits against the corporation.

Multiple entities across the U.S., including New York City and the National Labor Relations Board, are suing Starbucks for preventing employees from exercising their right to organize. The Plaza location was one of the five Kansas City area stores to hold a vote to join the Starbucks Workers United Labor union.The store didn’t join the union, with a 9-9 tie in the June 9 vote — one ballot short of the 51% majority cutoff. However, it was officially labeled a union activity store thereafter, simply for holding

union bust•ing

a range of activities undertaken to disrupt or prevent the formation of trade unions or their attempts to grow their membership in a workplace.

the vote at all.

The closure forced Starbucks barista and senior Roberto Galicia, who voted “yes” to unionizing, to transfer to the Brookside location.

“Management started treating us differently in the Plaza after the union activity, and I’ve noticed it at my new store as well,” Galicia said.

Of the 19 stores Starbucks has closed nationwide in recent months, 42% were

union activity stores, according to a news release from the labor union. The union demands equal and sustainable living wages, increased security and for Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz to publicly outline employee rights, which Galicia echoes.

“I saw more of a reason to unionize the longer I worked there,” Galicia said. “Our location had 50-people rushes for four-hour periods at a time. My manager got slapped on multiple occasions by impatient customers. It was stressful and unsafe.”

Galicia wanted the store — that only had a temporary security guard — to hire a permanent security guard due to safety concerns, especially when closing at night.

I SAW MORE OF A reason to unionize the longer I worked there. Our location had 50-people rushes for fourhour periods at a time. My manager got slapped on multiple occasions by impatient customers. It was stressful and unsafe.

ROBERTO GALICIA

Immediately after voting to unionize, Galicia’s coworker — Plaza Starbucks union-organizing committee member Josh Crowell — reported Starbucks management imposing stricter rules on the Plaza location workers. The companywide July dress code statement read: “The expanded color options for tops and changes to crewneck sweatshirts, jeggings and white shoes will not apply to stores with union organizing activity.”

SENIOR

Management did not respond to requests for comment.

3

EMPLOYEES

2

4 1

In addition to the dress code, employee wages at unionized stores differed from other locations. All Starbucks employees received a $3 raise on Aug. 1 — except Galicia and other workers at union activity stores, who received their raise 28 days later.

On Aug. 22, three months after voting, Galicia received texts from coworkers saying that his workplace of six months was closing for unknown reasons. In an Instagram poll of 151 East students, 86% still don’t know why the Plaza location closed.

Two hours had passed from receiving the first text before Galicia received an official message from his manager with the formal reason for closure from upper-level management: safety concerns.

“I understand to an extent the safety issues that led to the closure,” Galicia said. “But the timing with the union activity was just a bit too coincidental.”

Crowell agrees that the closure was more convenient for Starbucks than its employees. He was reassigned to the 41st and Main Street location, where he now walks 20 minutes to work from his Plaza apartment since he can’t afford a car.

“Starbucks is claiming that security is why they shut us down, but now I’m walking

half a mile down Main Street alone at 4:15 in the morning to go open the store at 4:30,” Crowell said. “Objectively, that’s not any safer for me.”

At the Plaza location, managers told Crowell that he’d be unable to receive benefits, transfer stores or earn a raise if he continued associating with the union. He’s grateful that the 41st location is unionized and has Weingarten rights — the ability to transfer and earn benefits. Still, his major concern is safety, since the 41st street location also doesn’t have a security guard.

“I have definitely seen people who are far more volatile and aggressive at the 41st Street location than at the Plaza,” Crowell said. “I saw an aggressive guy just the other day drive over the curb and jump the sidewalk. Starbucks isn’t changing any of their policies or procedures to make other locations safer either.”

At the un-unionized Brookside location, Galicia’s new manager informed him that he would be paid $3 less per hour than the other workers between Aug. 23 and 29 due to his union activity history. Him and Crowell believe that union activity workers who have been withheld raises should be compensated for lost wages.

“The best solution is whatever is democratically voted on,” Crowell said. “Starbucks should take into account their employees’ opinions to find a solution that works for us as well, instead of silencing us.”

The former employees of the unionized thenclosed Plaza

have been reassigned as the corporation faces lawsuits for alleged union-busting

by katie murphy

FILE FOR UNION BY FILLING OUT FORM FOR KANSAS LABOR BOARD

EMPLOYEES

SUPPORT

AN

BY

MANAGING MILLIONS

The effects of inflation is seen in the new SMSD budget for 2022-2023 school year

story by kate heitmann

THE SMSD BOARD of Education approved the proposed 2022-2023 budget of $416 million at the Aug. 19 board meeting.

The budget for food services increased by 20% to combat strain resulting from inflation and supply chain issues.

“Inflation affects the budget in several different ways,” SMSD budget manager Allison Staroski said. “All the food costs that everybody and all families have been experiencing, we’ve

fuel has increased by 96% since the 2019-2020 school year. The district also added more bus routes to the busing transportation system, which required an increase in their budget, according to Staroski.

Over the pandemic, the district cut back on professional development travel for administration, allowing a percentage of the funds to be used for the increased motor fuel costs for buses. Additionally, each department was asked to evaluate

BONUS

by avery anderson

THE SHAWNEE MISSION School District has decided to give teachers who continued to teach through the COVID-19 pandemic a $700 bonus. Counselors, custodians, principals and other faculty also qualify for the bonus, costing the district $2.3 million in total.

According to edweek.org, around 8% of

teachers nationally quit every year but the number spiked in 2020 and 2021. Many teachers faced burnout and problems with motivation and mental health, causing the district to reward the teachers who stayed through the school year, according to the Shawnee Mission Post.

One poll conducted by the National Education Association found that out of

design by kate heitmann & olivia hawley photo by amelie wong

o p inion.

Mallory

Audrey Morehead

WHAT IN THE WORLD

Tweets about global topics

I STILL DON’T understand the need to own every ‘latest’ Apple Watch technology but branding is king. Watches were originally made to last; to be time less and have strong resale value. Now you have to spend so much to get some thing you can’t pass on to your kids.”

@ulxma

$

HEY@POTUS JOE Biden. No one has ever claimed Wall Street builds this country. However a young JP Morgan in a very early 19th century bailed the US treasury out by loaning them money. FACT. ”

@kevindandy1

21%

THE PEOPLE who say it’s all about the kids. Just remember the kids learn in an environment created by the teacher. A teacher who is supported, encouraged and appreciated will create a more pos itive and dynamic learning environment than a teacher who is not supported in any

TAKE

design by paige zadoo photo by tristen porter

There shouldn’t be such a large stigma around girls’ passion for sports and their knowledge behind

TACKLE THE STIGMA

story by anna mitchell

HEAR IT FROM THE EXPERTS

Hayley Wickenheiser

FORMER ICE HOCKEY PLAYER

“People would say, ‘Girls don’t play hockey. Girls don’t skate.’ I would say, ‘Watch this.’”

Jackie Joyner-Kersee

RETIRED TRACK AND FIELD ATH

“Girls playing sports is not about winning gold medals. It’s about selfesteem, learning to compete and learning how hard you have to work.”

Katie Taylor

“I want to tell girls, it’s not about make-up and how you look that’s important; you are so much more than how you look.”

I

N THE THIRD grade, I knew more than most elementary school girls about sports, making my brother’s weekly football games not only more enjoyable but more exciting and interesting to actually watch. My nightly ritual consisted of sitting with my dad on our old leather couch eating our classic vanilla ice cream and watching the highlights segment of ESPN’s SportsCenter.

Watching women speak on SportsCenter everyday, I fell in love with the NBA’s Warriors at their peak, especially Steph Curry. My dad and I went to a game in San Francisco just to see him in real life.

After the trip, my boy classmates started calling me a “bandwagon” for supporting a popular team. They couldn’t comprehend that a girl would watch every Warriors game — or any NBA game in general — and actually enjoy it. Back then, l brushed them off as silly boys. Now, I recognize this reaction as a result of a misogynistic double standard.

“OK then, name ten Chiefs players.”

Sitting in my eighth grade social studies class, discussing sports with another peer — a boy overheard us chatting and took it in a offensive matter, hopping on my tail just to prove I truly know what I’m talking about. Why? Sure, I’ll name ten Chiefs players, but what does that really prove?

required to prove you’re a sports fan. I may not know the touchdown count of the 1967 Super Bowl or Shaq’s cousin’s middle name, but I still understand and enjoy sports ranging from football and basketball to baseball and soccer — even as a girl.

Whenever I drop in a quick comment at football watch parties I’m looked at like “You know who that is?” creating a feeling in girls and even women that they can’t express their love for sports without being misinterpreted as someone who doesn’t know what they’re talking about, causing them to feel insecure or just dumb.

I MAY NOT know the touch down count of the 1967 Super Bowl or Shaq’s cousin’s middle name, but I still understand and enjoy sports ranging from foot ball and basketball to baseball and soccer — even as a girl.

Then boys complain when girls in their gym class don’t get as competitive in games like they do or can’t follow a football route on the TV — but why would girls contribute to the sports talk just to get shut back down?

This stigma also applies to women in sports-related career paths. Women make up only 16.5% of sports broadcasters, according to zippia.com. In such a maledominated job, a woman’s knowledge of sports becomes even more valuable because it brings a new perspective. With even more eyes on their every word for simply being a girl speaking about sports, it’s a demanding career.

To put it in perspective, what if a boy made a comment about makeup and I demanded he name Kylie Jenner’s 33 lip kits? It wouldn’t make sense to accuse him of trying too hard to impress girls if he simply didn’t know Jenner’s whole product line.

This trivial and accusatory mindset is flawed and unrealistic. Memorizing obscure trivia shouldn’t be

Boys who practically gatekeep being an avid sports fan push girls away from even being excited to watch them. What if we were to gatekeep their entertainment like shows or music? It wouldn’t be fair.

Boys should stop criticizing and judging girls for following the same sports world they’re so invested in and instead teach them a thing or two.

design by ada lillie worthington photo by ella ralston

design by kai mcphail photo by mason sajna

ON LY

CH LD

Only children are often seen as hyper-dependent, spoiled and antisocial — all unfair stereotypes

IN 1896, A now out-of-date psychologist named Stanley Hall created the term “only child syndrome,” labeling only children as “disease-ridden.” He described their traits as spoiled, selfish, bossy, antisocial and lonely.

As an only child born long after Hall’s time, his ideas still influence how I’m treated. The most common comment I receive is, “Wow, you really don’t seem like an only child.” For years I never thought much of it — in society it’s so normalized for only children to have negative stereotypes floating around them.

I became immune to hearing about everyone else’s theories and opinions about how only children should be.

Like the idea that since an only child grows up especially dependent on their parents — as they’re who they’re surrounded by most of the time — they have little to no ability to be independent and self-sufficient. Or the concept that only children possess more antisocial traits than children with siblings. That only children aren’t as responsible because they have their parents’ constant attention to fix their problems. That they’re spoiled and incapable of sharing or working with others.

But I guess I’ve always received the “you don’t seem like an only child” comment simply because people think those stereotypes are so commonly true, so it’s a surprise when I don’t fit into them. But it’s not just me — the majority of only children don’t fit into the stereotypes.

According to Healthline, child psychologist Toni Falbo analyzed 115 only

children and their achievements, character, intelligence, adjustment, sociability and the parent-child relationship. When compared to families with multiple children, they were on par or above expectations.

As an only child, when I was younger there was the obvious: I didn’t have siblings to play with. So when I was home from playdates, daycare or school there were moments I had to keep myself occupied when my mom was cooking dinner and my dad was at work and my dog was sleeping. Contrary to popular belief, I learned to independently play — instead of tapping on my mom’s shoulders for hours begging her to entertain me or throwing a tantrum because I was bored.

Not having siblings to play with not only sparked the conversation of independent play at family dinners, but it also sparked the conversation from my uncles that I would be antisocial or lonely — something that inherently isn’t true.

YOU’RE NOT ALONE

IF ANYTHING, BEING AN ONLY

child pushed my parents more to encourage me to be outgoing and spend more time with different people.

Because all I ever knew was being an only child, I kept myself busy. I played with my Disney Princess Dolls in my playroom or flipped through books on my bed. And some might say that’s sad, but learning to independently play put me on the path of being an independent person.

Having time to myself created selfregulation for me. The ability to keep myself entertained without help from others instilled a sense of self-control within me. I learned problem-solving skills because I didn’t always have someone to immediately fix problems for me like when the toy I wanted was missing or the TV wasn’t working. I had to take that initiative and responsibility to solve the problem — defeating the stereotype of being dependent on others.

If anything, being an only child pushed my parents more to encourage me to be outgoing and spend more time with different people. I started daycare as a baby so I could start interacting with children from a young age and my parents were constantly open to playdates and sleepovers so I could have that social interaction everyone says I’m incapable of.

Because I still was constantly interacting with other children and people, the skills of learning to share and be considerate were cemented.

And being an only child has its fair share of pros. Another study by Falbo found the extra attention given to only children had a strong positive effect on them, including fewer attachment issues, higher scores on verbal ability tests, intelligence tests and stronger relationships with their parents and family.

Now, this isn’t to discredit multiplechildren families. I’m simply saying that it’s time to stop negatively stereotyping only children. Because it’s clear these stereotypes are rarely true.

Instead of automatically assuming the common misconceptions of only children, get to know the good traits they bring to the table.

Stats about only children across America

Of American families have one child.%

Of American mothers admit to spoling their children, regardless of number

The rate of only children is increasing by 20-30%

Children with sib lings are 50% more likely to develop depression.

TheResearchAdict

story by paige zadoo

CUSTOMIZABLE CHAOS

Student Store dropped their first release of the year — jerseys for Lancer Day — but high demand for customization orders kept the staff busy behind the scenes

ABOVE Seniors Calleigh Nachtigal and Maggie Klumpp worked behind the counter handling transactions as the swarm of students wait to make their purchases.

“Right now we’re only taking cash because our card reader is broken, but a lot of people forget cash and it sucks having to turn people away,” Nachtigal said. photo by I riley scott

ABOVE Seniors Kate Cronenwett and Charlotte Emley work on customized jersey orders. “We’ve sold around 200 jerseys so far, 80 customized ones,” Cronenwett said. “[Customizing] has taken a long time. Every day since they went on sale, people work during class, after school and any time they can so they are done by Lancer Day. I feel like I’ve been doing five things at once.”

photo by I julia fillmore

LEFT Senior Ben Bradley takes a photo of senior Charlie Duske as he picks up his preordered jersey for the student store Instagram. “I wanted to be one of the first people to get one,” Duske said. photo by I julia fillmore

design by hadley chapman

ABOVE Twenty minutes before the store opened to sell jerseys, the staff prepares a customized Class of 2024 jersey in advance. photo by I lydia coe

ABOVE Students in first lunch line up in front of the student store before it opened to be first in line for jerseys since the product sold out quickly last year. photo by I lydia coe

SCAN

PHOTO

photos from this event on Harbie Photo

andi

Freshman Andi Prendiville is a dual-sport athlete competing in Varsity gymnastics and a featured tumbler on the Varsity competition cheer team

What is it like being on the East cheerleading team?

It’s kind of intimidating, just being a freshman and being next to upperclassmen and not really knowing any of them. But they’ve all been really welcoming.

Is balancing cheer and gymnastics diffcult?

Most of the schedules don’t confict, but I have defnitely had to miss some gymnastics for cheer, and cheer for gymnastics.

Is one more prioritized over another?

Cheer might be a little more prioritized just because it’s more mandatory and gymnastics is more fexible.

What is your favorite gymnastics event? Why?

In the past few weeks, it’s been beam, because I’ve learned so many new skills and jumps, and I think it’s the event I bond most with my teammates on.

What is the next part of being on Varsity competition team and why?

The best part is having it as my frst hour, because I’ve gotten really close with a lot of people from various grades and getting to stunt, jump and tumble in the morning is a fun way to wake up.

What has been your favorite memory since joining the cheer team and why?

My favorite memory was during the cheer family scavenger hunt. My group went to George Brett’s house for a task.

Freshman Hank Hendon is

to complete a front squat in

weights class.

Senior Eddie Leopold

sign in

Lancer Day game.

lancer LOOK-ALIKES

for

by

Junior Nora Herring

out her next move while playing Monopoly

financial

They walked in blowing whistles and banging pots and pans. I thought it was a fre alarm at frst. I got up and immediately charged toward the door. I think I might’ve accidentally punched one of the kids because I was so scared. My fght-or-fight kicked in and I jumped up, ripped the sheets off of my bed, tore the whistle out of someone’s hands and charged out of the room. After, I saw my mom dying laughing on the foor then I knew it was a joke

&WESLEY CRIBB TRISTAN CHABANIS

photo

CHARLIE DUSKE

design by nora lynn

REMEMBERING OLIVIA

PINK WAS HER favorite color.

That’s why, after Corinth Elementary student Olivia Bloomfield’s unexpected passing in July, pink ribbons wrapped Leawood trees and fences around the rebuilt Corinth playground.

Growing up with congenital muscular dystrophy, Olivia faced many physical challenges, but didn’t let them keep her from making a difference. Since her passing before starting fifth grade at Corinth Elementary, her family and community honors her legacy by spreading inclusivity in the community — one of Olivia’s goals.

At 3 months old, Olivia didn’t meet the same physical milestones as the other children in daycare — she was very lowtoned and was less active — so her parents took her to the doctor where she was diagnosed. By 18 months, she was fully operating her own power wheelchair.

As early as 4 years old, Olivia was invested in improving her community, donating a communication device to a nonverbal child from money she raised at a lemonade stand. She loved to play outside, but many outdoor structures weren’t accessible to her. Corinth Elmentary and the newly built Leawood City Park both had playground structures surrounded by mulch, forming an impenetrable barrier for Olivia as her wheelchair couldn’t ride over the chips. She was stuck on the outside, watching her friends play.

“It was such a disappointment to have a brand new playground built in your community and have it not work for your child,” Olivia’s mom, Sara Bloomfield, said.

story by caroline wood

After Olivia Bloomfield’s passing in July, her legacy of inclusion and accessibility continues on through her family and the community

Olivia went to a town hall meeting with Variety KC — a local nonprofit that supports children with disabilities — and spoke up about how the technically American-Disabilities-Act-compliant park was not accessible for her and other diabled children. After hearing Variety KC’s argument and her case, the city voted to redo the playground to make it actually inclusive.

congenital muscular dystrophy

one of the variants of muscle weakness disorders presenting early in life during infancy and soon after birth.

“She just had such a tell-it-like-it-is personality,” Sara said. “She was very positively assertive. She would tell you, ‘This doesn’t work for me and here’s why,’ and she would do it with a smile on her face.”

Variety KC’s efforts and Olivia’s voice successfully convinced the Kansas City government to make an ordinance that all future playgrounds would be handicapaccessible.

“The best word to describe Olivia is extraordinary,” Olivia’s third and fourth grade teacher and East alum Amy Sachse said. “I would call her wise beyond her years. She always had a smile on her face, always had a story to share.”

During recess in kindergarten, while all of Olivia’s classmates chased each other on the mulched playground, she watched from a distance behind a folding table with a small basket of toys her teacher set up for her.

Olivia and Sara contacted the district and Olivia showed then-associatesuperintendent Michelle Hubbard how she was unable to get her wheelchair onto the mulch. After talking to Olivia, Hubbard urged the facilities director to move the other Corinth playgrounds to higher priority since there was a child in need of it.

To make the playground more inclusive, mulch was replaced with turf and ramps were attached to all of the play structures. Olivia also suggested the playgrounds incorporate sensory toys so that it wasn’t just inclusive of those with physical disabilities, but also sensory challenges.

“She really influenced everyone around her, students and staff alike about what the true meaning of inclusion was and helped everyone live with a more empathetic lens and more awareness, and she did so in a kind and assertive way,” Sachse said.

After the Corinth playgrounds, the district decided they wouldn’t stop there in increasing accessibility. They allocated a portion of the 2021 bond issue budget to updating every playground in the district. As Olivia often said, “All children deserve the chance to play.”

The eight elementary school playgrounds left to be updated are set to be finished by the end of the summer of 2024. Olivia also brought the district to decide to weigh the needs of their student populations more heavily when it came to updating schools.

In early 2022, 10-year-old Olivia was granted the KC’s Independent Rising Stars Award, making her the award’s youngest recipient. Olivia also won a global urban playground design competition in 2021 for her inclusive playground design.

To continue her legacy and goals of making change after she passed, her mom and dad started The Olivia Bloomfield Foundation to help fund charities and projects striving to make the community more inclusive for those with disabilities. The foundation works toward expanding research on congenital muscular dystrophy.

“I hope that through the foundation we will continue to carry on that good work,” Sara said. “It’s not that one thing, it’s that idea that we’re continuously evolving and looking at our spaces.”

East alum Sam Stedry wanted to do more than send flowers after finding out about Olivia’s passing. East alum Sam Stedry’s younger sister who had a developmental disorder was in the same ballet class as Olivia and she would come to his kids yoga classes he taught at Power Life Yoga. He was so impressed with her positive attitude and determination to not let her disability hold her back from enjoying life.

Stedry talked to his managers at Power Life and put together two classes in July that raised $800 for the Foundation.

The Foundation is working on donating an adaptive bike for a handicapped child and plans on supporting and creating inclusive opportunities for children with disabilities. Olivia’s legacy will carry on through the Foundation and those who she inspired.

“Our hope with Olivia’s Foundation is that it extends beyond Shawnee Mission,” Sara said. “That other districts look at what Shawnee Mission is doing and [say], ‘We need to do that in Blue Valley,’ ‘We need to do that in every school district across Kansas,’ and then across the nation.”

THEN-EIGHTH

glanced down — tossing the Well, obviously.

She knew a positive thought it was unnecessary control.

UNDER MY

To her, it was simply to follow to take isotretinoin, Accutane. Though, taking each dermatologist appointment iPledge requirement — pregnancy in people taking those being sexually inacitve.

“I was 14,” Whitefield [pregnancy] was not a form. But I still had to

As a 14 year old, she The heavily researched with dermatologist recommended prescription-grade topical had been using two to fifth grade was no longer Accutane, a drug used cystic acne — acne deeply skin — seemed like the curative six month prescription power to improve her longer — her self-esteem improving with it.

Accutane has become acne treatment despite treatment process and side effects. As other cure cystic acne, teenagers medication as a last with its potentially harmful back pain, increased sun skin, lips and mouth.

The treatment course one of the most popular forms of acne treatment.

students have been on point, according to an Junior Reid Minto is one Prescription-strength

effective for then-freshman off his skin, without clearing After Minto failed prior

Accutane

GRADER Kate Whitefield at her pregnancy test result “negative” to the side. obviously.

positive result was impossible and unnecessary for her to be on birth

simply a “formality” she had isotretinoin, better known as taking a pregnancy test at appointment is actually an — a program used to prevent taking isotretinoin — even for inacitve.

Whitefield said. “I assure you, a risk in any way, shape or do all that stuff.”

she felt like she had no choice. researched skincare routine packed recommended cleansers and topical creams that she three times a day since longer effective. used to treat severe deeply rooted in the the only option. The prescription had the her acne for much self-esteem and confidence

become a mainstream despite the demanding slew of potential antibiotics fail to teenagers who see the resort must deal harmful side effects: sun sensitivity, dry course has become popular and effective treatment. 19% of East on Accutane at some Instagram poll of 191 voters. one of them.

handed him an Accutane warning pamphlet that unfolded to be 4 feet long.

“[Going on Accutane] definitely seems kind of intimidating, but the dermatologist talked us through all of the side effects,” Minto said. “She had a lot of other people who had gone through with it, so I didn’t think that there was too big of a risk.”

While birth control or pregnancy was never a concern for Minto, both he and Whitefield were required to complete monthly check-ups with their dermatologist, bi-weekly blood tests and sign a form pledging abstinence — required for all genders — according to Minto.

Despite the hassle, Minto recalls the constant monitoring to be worth it for the curative acne treatment that he wasn’t able to find in any other form of medication. Accutane’s rate of success — around 85% — is the reason pediatric nurse practitioner in dermatology for 16 years and

East parent Dr. Karna Bock thinks it’s so widespread.

PROBABLY FOR the frst three, maybe four months, I had just as much acne if not slightly more, because my skin was getting drier and it didn’t really feels like it was working. Then, in the fnal month or two, my acne started dramati cally disappear ing.

REID MINTO

JUNIOR

“They want to get clear skin, that’s the desire,” Bock said. “Accutane is more of a curative treatment, since it’s going to get kids pretty clear and keep them fairly clear after the treatment course is done.”

Many Accutane users have tried other antibiotics like tretinoin or prescription-strength acne lotion, which are often effective for less severe acne, yet yield less permanent results for severe, cystic acne. For Minto, this was the difference — Accutane was a cure.

“Probably for the first three, maybe four months, I had just as much acne if not slightly more, because my skin was getting drier and it didn’t really feel like it was working,” Minto said. “Then, in the final month or two, my acne started dramatically disappearing and it would stay gone, which is something that it hadn’t ever [done] before.”

and other various pills.

Being two months into the process, Bryant has yet to see the disappearance of acne that occurs in the last months of treatment. However, she has noticed the common symptoms like dryness of the skin and mouth, as well as back pain.

“I was just so excited to finally be done with the acne journey,” Bryant said. “I do learn about a new side effect every day. I’ll be like, ‘Oh my back hurts, oh my skin is really dry.’”

Despite its prevalence amongst East community members, Bock says dermatologists prescribe Accutane as a last resort — the big gun, she calls it, due to its potentially extreme side effects.

“It’s a medicine that we’re going to be a little bit more thoughtful about before we pull it out as a treatment for some cases,” Bock said.

apply so much lotion and so much chapstick and it’d just do nothing.”

A less common symptom, however, would be increased depression and anxiety — a symptom that Bock says is controversial amongst dermatologists and not proven to be associated with Accutane.

“I don’t necessarily think the medication is causing these problems,” Bock said. “I think sometimes we encounter patients that are on this medication and are just going through a lot.”

I HAD HEARD THAT it makes your acne worse. And that was my main big thing. I was like, ‘I don’t want that.’ I really don’t want my acne to get worse.

Side effects range from dry skin and chapped lips to birth defects when a user is pregnant. Unless a patient has failed a number of other acne treatments or experiences disruptive cystic acne, dermatologists avoid prescribing the medication, Bock said.

ELISON HOLY

SENIOR

The association between Accutane and mood disorders is not proven, however, mental health issues stemming from acne certainly are, according to Bock. Teenagers struggling with acne are more likely to suffer from depression and anxiety due to the severe social stress it can cause.

“[Acne] sometimes [causes] more absences from school and mood disorders — other things that are associated with mental well-being,” Bock said. “So there’s definitely a relationship.”

After hearing of the possible side effects on TikTok, then-sophomore Elison Holy would lather through the burning sensation that came from rubbing a prescription topical ointment onto her face in an attempt to treat her pimples which spread down the center of her face. She refused to go on Accutane.

“I had heard that it makes your acne worse,” Holy said. “And that was my main big thing. I was like, ‘I don’t want that.’ I really don’t want my acne to get worse.”

According to Bock, the medication can intensify acne in the first few months of treatment. However, this result is less common than side effects like increased sun sensitivity and dryness of the lips, skin and eyes.

While nearly every teenager will experience acne at some point, a stigma still exists around acne, according to Bock. For Whitefield, this negative perception of acne and the high beauty standard for skin forced by social media contributes to the social stress that comes with having acne.

“There’s this idea that, if you have acne, you’re unclean,” Whitefield said. “It’s like, ‘Oh my gosh, do you not wash your face?’ It makes it seem like you don’t take care of yourself. And I know that’s not true, because I washed my face two to three times a day as an 11 year old and still had oily skin and bad acne.”

Prescription-strength acne lotion wasn’t then-freshman Minto — only peeling clearing the cystic acne with it. prior creams, his dermatologist

Testaments to Accutane’s effectiveness are why it was recommended to senior Marin Bryant by her dermatologist as well — after consulting dermatologists for acne treatments since eighth grade and using other products like spironolactone

Despite her protests, Holy’s dermatologist ultimately decided that Accutane was the best option. While the six-month treatment did clear up her skin, it didn’t come without one of the most common side effects — dry skin.

“I hated it,” Holy said. “My skin was just really dry, like, really dry. And so were my lips. It was the worst dry skin I’ve ever seen in my entire life. I’d

The desire for lasting clear skin is what makes Accutane so popular, according to Bock. Even though she encourages teenagers to consider potential side effects before treatment, she emphasizes that the drug has cured thousands of cases of acne and contributed to improved selfesteem.

“When I was on Accutane, I saw it as a last resort,” Whitefield said. “But since then, I’ve known several people that have been on Accutane. I thought it was sort of a very rare thing when I was on it, but it’s more common than you would think.”

95% OF ADOLESCENTS EXPERIENCE

IN

U.S. IN 2020

*according to ncbi.gov

SNAPPING SP RTS

story by hassan sufi

SRINTING DOWN THE sideline with his Nikon D810, freshman Will Griffith waved to the student section while they were calling out “Will!” before turning back to the football game just in time to snap his favorite photo to date: a clear shot of senior CJ Leonard pointing at junior and videographer Calen Domingues after a touchdown.

Will has grown up with his mom’s camera in his face — Nicki Griffith started her photography business around the same time Will was born.

“By the time he was one, I had 1,000 photos of just Will in my camera roll,” Nicki said. “He was naturally curious and fascinated with my camera –and he knew how to handle it.”

[photography] because it didn’t seem very natural to me,” Will said. “I wanted to do sports [because] it was what comes to me [naturally].”

Will began shooting local sporting events from soccer to basketball to volleyball. While his mom would remind him to increase

over to independently shooting games at East. This year, Will has shot events like the soccer game against Shawnee Mission West, Varsity football games against Gardner Edgerton and Olathe East and the freshman football game against Gardner. He looks forward to shooting more events like the Lancer Day and Rockhurst games.

Freshman Will Griffith pursues a passion for photography at East sports events after growing up around cameras

Domingues shoots, creating a bond with Domingues over the game they are both shooting.

“He’s very talented and he knows what he’s doing,” Domingues said. “Being a freshman doing all that — that’s crazy.”

LATER ON, IT WOULD BE awesome to do this as a business.

Right now I’m just trying to make a name for myself. WILL GRIFFITH

FRESHMAN

Since Will was 5 years old, he’s brought a camera to every event for his mother’s photography business and all of his cousins’ baseball games. The staged, smiling portraits taken at the shoots bored Will. They felt stiff and forced. So he took his camera and directed it to something more exciting to him: sports.

“I didn’t want to do portrait

Will hopes that eventually he’s able to pursue his photography as a business. He thinks that as he improves, the money will start coming in, but he doesn’t want to be the guy that charges high school students for photos. Right now, Will is in it for the fun and the connections that his photography brings.

“Later on, it would be awesome to do this as a business,” Will said. “Right now I’m just trying to make a name for myself.”

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Follow Griffith’s photography Instagram account to keep up with his latest pictures of East sports events

Some of Griffith’s favorite photos featured on his Instagram

THE HARBINGER design by katie murphy mug by riley scott

story by lily simmons

CURRENT JUST LIKE You Films executive producer Mandi Kearns’ family has been controlled by food allergies since her 13-year-old son was born. For the sake of her son, who is severely allergic to over 10 foods, she spreads awareness about food allergies in schools and businesses.

After her son had a severe reaction at school, in which he was hospitalized for 6 hours, Kearns was inspired to share her son’s story with others through film — which she did with the help of CEO & Founder of Just Like You Films and former East parent Jen Greenstreet.

Greenstreet felt creating this film could possibly affect millions. Both she and Kearns knew how important it is to spread awareness and build acceptance around food allergies, as one third of children with them report being bullied, according to NPR.org. Dr. Ruchi

Gupta at Northwestern University suspects that the problem may stem from a lack of awareness.

“Food allergies are stigmatized and seen as a weakness, especially on social media” Greenstreet said. “But it’s an invisible disease, and you can’t tell if someone lives with them by looking,” Greenstreet and Kearns interviewed kids with severe food allergies who were interested in the film’s message, which inspired them to show the lifestyle of children with allergies by a narrative piece weaved into the documentary. The storyline will follow a student in school who is being forced to eat an allergen, and has a reaction at school.

“The viewer will actually get to see what a reaction is actually like,” Kearns said. “That’s the purpose of the narrative, to show — not tell.”

Filming was finished over summer and it is now in the editing process, set to debut sometime

PERSONALperspectives

LUCY PACE SOPHOMORE

SOME PEOPLE SAY it’s weird and constantly ask if they can eat things around me, even though my allergies aren’t airborne. It’s just kind of annoying, like I just wish people understood it more.

LIKE

YOU YOU,

Just Like You Films, a nonprofit filmmaking company founded by East alum Jen Greenstreet, aims to lessen stigma surrounding conditions to school-age kids

this year or the next. The women hope to impact as many people as possible by using celebrities’ faces to attract viewers. “Girl Meets World” star August Maturo, who is allergic to peanuts, will star in the narrative. NFL running back Jerome Bettis, who has a severe shellfish allergy, will be the film’s celebrity spokesperson.

“It’s easier to identify with people we know and look up to,” Kearns said. “I think it’s really good for kids who live with food allergies to see successful and highly respected people that are just like them.”

oral allergy syndrome

a food allergy associated with a certain reaction confined to the lips, mouth and throat

Kearns and Greenstreet believe allergies are overlooked in the world of health, even though about 7.6% of U.S. kids have food

allergies, according to AAFA.org.

In each classroom, 1-2 students have food allergies — and the number is rising.

Sophomore Lucy Pace lives with oral allergy syndrome, meaning that her body rejects certain fruits and vegetables. She feels living with her allergy would be easier if more students were educated about it.

“Some people say it’s weird and constantly ask if they can eat things around me, even though my allergies aren’t airborne,” Pace said. “It’s just kind of annoying, like I just wish people understood it more.”

In the film’s documentary segment, Kearns and Greenstreet focus on how friends and peers can support those with allergies by simply having a better understanding of what they are.

Like other Just Like You Films projects, the goal is to educate while being compassionate. Assumptions about food allergies

In response to the newest “Severe Food Allergies” Just Like You film, East students with food allergies share their experiences to raise awareness

GRAHAM FARIS SENIOR

A LOT OF people don’t really understand the extent of allergies. [Certain foods] say it doesn’t have peanuts in it, but I probably can’t eat it because it could be processed in a factory that produces peanut products.

can be dangerous, according to Kearns.

Besides food allergies, Greenstreet has produced 11 documentaries and short films about various unique circumstances including cancer, down syndrome, autism, facial anomalies, diabetes and anxiety and depression. The films have won 14 awards including two MidAmerican Emmys.

The films have been shown at benefits, businesses and classrooms around Kansas City, and feature kids from around the community — including Junior Luke Mantel and Alum Grace Chisolm, who were featured in the diabetes film.

“Our films really impact lives and change perspectives,’’ Greenstreet said. “We want to create a more empathetic and compassionate world through education, because when we know better, we do better.”

SEE IT YOURSELF

FOR

Stream and download the Just Like You “Food Allergies” film

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Watch the “Food Allergies” film by Just Like You Films by scanning the QR code.

AVAILABLE

DOWNLOAD ON justlikeyoufilms.org

!HOLLERING huzzah

story by peyton moore

FAIRIES AND KNIGHTS, come get a taste of my cinnamon buns or some ice cold water. Huzzah, huzzah!”

Hollering over the toot of bagpipes, sophomore Scout Jacobs has an impressive crowd to entice — an assortment of dragon slayers, kings, fairies and peasants. The exchange isn’t just a role-play, it’s her job as a concession worker at the Kansas City Renaissance Festival.

“My purpose here is basically to be rude, funny, nice and entertaining — whatever I have to be to get tips,” Scout said. “The way you read a person bases how much you get tipped. If you can spark a conversation, tell a joke or be a little rude, they’ll buy something because they came here for entertainment.”

Why not?

As a sixth-generation Celtic Irish immigrant, Scout finds comfort in the characters who roam the fair. Her knowledge of her Celtic culture and genealogy is useful for cracking jokes and entertaining the festival-goers’ fantasies, according to her boss, headfood-service manager Tina.

Tina explained that Scout’s character specialty seemed to be Irish, pulling from her Irish background — impressing common-goers with her knowledge about the potato famine or joking with another Celtic Irish, who she identifies based on an accent, about being poor in that time period.

explained the story is key — leaning into the Renaissance act and interacting with the people makes it worth it.

The fantasy that the festival brings to life has captivated Scout since childhood. Fascinated by the crowds of quirky, ancestrally-diverse people the festival draws in, Scout has had no problem stepping into her demandingyet-fulfilling role in the fantasy universe.

In fact, it was Scout’s mom, Whitney Jacobs, who encouraged her to take the job. She knew her personality would suit the whimsical characters that frequent the fair.

Sophomore Scout Jacobs’ personable and witty personality is the perfect fit for her job at the KC Renaissance Festival

the festival ground she saw last weekend and spend her Saturday’s in this fantasy world is what keeps her going back.

“Scout’s one of the most open individuals to all different types of characteristics to people,” Whitney said. “She’s non-judgemental and really wants to see people thrive in their own skin and be who they are. That’s why this job works so well for her.”

After working only a couple Saturdays last season, the management advertised Scout as their best employee — an obvious choice, Tina said.

hawk•ing

to sell or attempt to sell something, especially to do so in a loud and intrusive manner

Since she started hawking at the annual festival last fall, Scout has seen it all: glitter-drenched fairies, queens demanding respect from a peasant passerby and little boys banging their swords against the counter — daily entertainment that was the reason she chose the job.

At 14 years old, a family friend who’s a booth manager at the festival reached out to ask if she was interested in being a concession worker in the food booths during the fall season. She shrugged.

“She can hold her own with people who want to talk about genealogy or Renaissance history,” Tina said. “It doesn’t matter if she’s talking to a child or an older person, they all get the same smile, the same attitude, the same customer service and the same Scout, and it’s super cool to watch.”

After years of working the festival herself, Tina knows it isn’t easy playing the winch or lowly peasant worker in the festival guests’ fantasies. Scout’s job description entails serving the intoxicated knights and fairies and frustrated and thirsty common folk once they’ve realized there were no credit card readers in the Renaissance era and aching in their ankle length skirts and leather corsets for a 10-hour shift while making near minimum wage. To survive the fair, employees

“Scout’s a very friendly person,” Whitney said. “She is curious about others and has this insight, or a sixth sense, when she’s meeting strangers. I honestly don’t know if Scout’s ever met a stranger. It’s easy to feel warm and comfortable around her.”

SCOUT’S ONE OF the most open individuals to all different types of people. She’s non-judemental and really wants to see people thrive in their own skin and be who they are. That’s why this job works so well for her.

WHITNEY JACOBS

Still, Scout’s people skills continue to sharpen after two years of Saturday shifts throughout fall, Whitney said. Serving candy and soda to sometimes rude pirates and intoxicated knights has given her confidence in dealing with confrontation. But knowing she can recite the same magic act across

SCOUT’S MOM

As she continues with her career path, whether Renaissance or not, Whitney believes employers will chase after her despite her unusual work experience. Her knack for customer service and working under pressure has given her an edge that employers will desire, she said.

“It’s pretty comforting to see this diverse group of people who are kinda like me,” Scout says. “It’s oddly calming because we see all these characters coming here for the same purpose — to be in this fantasy world — and, at the end of the night, it calms down and you realize the whole day it felt like you were actually in that fantasy.”

ABOVE Festival-goers dressed as skeleton and princess characters attend the entertainment act: The Jolly Rogers. 20 shows are scattered around the 16-acre festival for park guests to enjoy. photo by I macy crosser

MIDDLE LEFT Sophomore Scout Jacobs talks with her coworker as she works in the concession stand selling sodas. photo by I riley eck

LEFT As a concession worker, Scout assumes the character of a peasant while working in various food booths selling cinnamon buns, apple dumplings, soda and water. Part of her role is to engage with customers through acting. “I act like an annoyed winch,” Jacobs said. “I say whatever comes to mind, because every situation is different.” photo by I macy crosser

LEFT At the entrance of the festival, a Renaissance worker dressed as a fairy dances with ribbons around a Maypole.

“The fairies are supposed to be really fun and a lot of times they will throw glitter at you,” Jacobs said. photo by I macy crosser

LEFT A stage performer who is part of The Jolly Rogers, a pirate-themed Renaissance folk group, crack jokes and sing to the audience at the festival. The Jolly Rogers perform a total of five times daily on the Three Lions Stage. photo by I riley eck

Use this QR code to purchase photos from this event

design by peyton moore & macy crosser

A look at the environment and characters of the Renaissance festival that surround Scout at her job as a concession worker

SCAN ME PHOTO

a&e.

DOES YOUR MUSIC

FIT THE VIBE?

Song suggestions to keep you from killing the mood on aux

ROAD TRIP PARTY

SONGS LIKE:

BEST SONG EVER by one

DOG DAYS ARE OVER by forence and the CLASSIC by mkto

PAPER PLANES by m.i.a.

Should be songs that ev erybody knows the words to so you can get the whole car singing along

STUDY SESH

SONGS LIKE:

LOVEFOOL by no vacation

ANTIDOTE by orion sun

FORGET ABOUT LIFE by alvvays

SOPHIE by frances grove

Stick to songs that you don’t know the words to, but have a strong enough beat to keep you on track

Each and every song either has to be about 100 beats per minute or widely known

SONGS LIKE:

BOOM BOOM POW by black eyed peas

FIREBALL by pitbull

TOUNG TIED by grouplove

TALK TOO MUCH by coin

LATE-NIGHT HANG

SONGS LIKE:

LATELY by celeste BLOOM by the paper kites

FANCY SHOES by the walters

LIKE REAL PEOPLE DO by hozier

Think songs that have a dream-like tone, that run smooth rather than choppy

NEED SOMEWHERE TO GO?

Upcoming events in the Kansas City area

22PUPPIES’ NIGHT OUT

501 Berkley Pkwy, KC, MO Time: 6-8 p.m.

SEPT.

*reacurring weekly

design by nora lynn

photos from spotify

JUST JIU JITSU

When a staffer attempted jiu jitsu for the first time, she found that sport was complex and empowering

story by mary gagen

HAVING TAKEN KARATE

for three years growing up, I assumed that jiu jitsu couldn’t be too tricky. As I walked into the dojo with my 5’11” little brother next to me, I was invited into a sport unlike any other I’d participated in.

As I watched my brother, freshman John Gagen and his friends, I figured pairing up with the smaller girl would be my best bet. Unfortunately for me, that was not the case.

Jiu jitsu is a fighting style, but differs from MMA, karate and taekwondo because you can’t strike the opponent, similarly to wrestling but with different goals. It’s a form of grappling — fighting on the ground — that involves the use of takedowns, control and submissions for neutralizing an opponent. Jiu jitsu is also used as self defense.

Despite only being a 5’3” and 115-pound girl, she had me lying on my bottom with a swelling knot in my back. She was able to maneuver around me quickly until she had me in a rear naked choke — with her arms around my neck and legs around my torso, keeping me still.

She was able to do this with such ease because jiu jitsu is not about size. The fundamental skills are speed, wit and strength. Due to her background knowledge of the sport, quick thinking and physical speed, she was able to get behind me and attack without me having any idea of her next move.

IT’S A FORM OF grappling — fght ing on the ground — that involves the use of take downs, control and submissions for neutralizing an opponant. Jiu jitsu is also used as self defense.

Its direct translation may be “gentle art,” but I awoke the next day feeling nothing but soreness, physical pain and pride. The mere hour-long class had me struggling to make it up the main staircase for my fourth-floor class, but I felt more empowered than I had in months.

A time to socialize a new puppy and leave time for recreation

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An exibition depicting the Mayan’s buried sophisticated civilization

I quickly learned that lack of striking does not mean lack of aggression. As my partner and I began our practice, we each tried to get lower than the other, attempting to get the advantage of a lower center of gravity.

Swiftly, she bent down, hugging my torso and locking my legs. This quickly took me to the ground.

Jiu jitsu may have given me potentially pulled muscles and a full-body workout, but it also gave me something even better — confidence. I knew that after just one class, I’d learned the basic moves to be able to keep myself safe in a time of need. I know I’ll be returning for the next class, eager to learn more.

IF THE ONLY Mediterranean food you’ve tasted is a classic gyro, lucky for you, Hummus and Pita just opened just off Santa Fe Dr. in Old Overland Park, KS. The Greek restaurant offers dozens of unique Greek dishes to widen your cultural palate, from Baba-Ganoush Motabel to Baklava.

Hummus and Mediterranean cuisine go hand in hand, so the hummus and pita was the first item on the menu I wanted to try. Beautifully presented hummus in a flower-shape bowl/dish, speckled with brown and purple spices, paprika and yellow olive oil, I knew this was no ordinary pita dish. The sharp cumin and paprika notes cut through the creamy chickpea flavor easily. The store-bought hummus my mom brings home with every vegetable tray now tastes bland in comparison.

The warm, but not too hot, wrap also came with classic sour cream for a dip. My first bite consisted mostly of the chicken with touches of turmeric and the olive oil bits seeping through. The wrap’s rich flavors and warmth made this wrap reminded me of a homecooked chicken dinner.

THE PLEASANT

warm and home-y atmosphere of the restaurant made the food taste even more authentic — plus my entrees came out timely in under 15 min utes on a steady Wednesday night.

MAGGIE CONDON

SOPHOMORE

Dipping the shawarma wrap into sour cream added a cooling flavor to calm the initial spice. This was my favorite dish because of the balance of comforting flavors.

to be similar — maybe full of buttery, caramelized dates or fresh vanilla bean. However, the date shake’s mushy texture overpowered the otherwise bland flavor, and simply was not for me.

My server’s highest appetizer recommendation was the classic Lebanese dip, Baba-Ganoush Motabel. Made of smoked eggplant, tahini, olive oil and garlic, the salsa-like textured dip still melted in my mouth. It tastes best paired with their homemade crispy pita chips to offset the gooey texture of the dip.

The pleasant warm and home-y atmosphere of the restaurant made the food taste even more authentic — plus my entrees came out timely in under 15 minutes on a steady Wednesday night.

First — a chicken shawarma wrap, topped with cilantro and basil which made it smell fresh out of a garden.

Chicken kabobs came out last, but the charred chicken bits combined with Tzatziki sauce made it worth the wait. Flavor oozed from the light and airy sauce, contrasting the smoky chicken. The grillmark-covered chicken tasted fresh out of a summer bonfire.

The first dessert up was the date shake — grainy liquid, thickened with dissolved pieces of date for added texture.

Since the main dishes had featured elevated spices like paprika, cumin and cilantro, I expected the dessert course

Naturally, I had to try the baklava for the final dish. The layered pastry with a butter-honey syrup drizzled on top with chopped walnuts and pistachios was just the right sweet and nutty balance — it met all my expectations. It tasted like baklava I’ve had in the past but still had a strong flavor and was a great way to end the night. I will definitely be back to this new-buthome-y restaurant. Between all the food I tried it came to a grand total of 43.19 dollars.

MUNCHING WITH MAGGIE

Maggie’s top three items from the restaurant

wrap made with chicken shawarma, tomato, onion, pickles and garlic sauce handmade hummus served with pita

3dessert made with flo, pistachios, honey and lemons

Hummus

Overland

design by addie moore photo by lili vottero

8039 Santa Fe Dr.

Maggie Condon tries Greek cuisine at Hummus and Pita photo by I lili vottero story by maggie condon

The view of the park and restaurant from the business sponsored booths.

BAR

story by larkin brundige

PA RK

A review of the resturant and dog park, Bar K

THE SELF-PROCLAIMED park

full of fun for dogs: Bar K.

I decided to venture downtown to 501 Berkley Pkwy with my two labs Harper and Finch — their tails wagging and faces slobbering with anticipation.

I was joined by my mom, sophomore Emmerson Winfrey and junior Jackson Fausett. We were only guests for the evening, but there are annual and monthly passes available. Or, you can come alone with no charge just to hangout with the pups.

Upon walking in we were greeted by the puppy playground, a jungle gym structure — no humans allowed.

Harper happily started climbing up — a shock to us, considering she spends her day happily asleep in bed.

As the four of us explored, we found a giant silver dog bowl full of tennis balls and different throwing toys. Finch had disappeared by this point trying to make friends wherever he could.

was adorable.

While tennis balls and water bowls are common at a dog park, what stood out was a literal stage for the dogs. The stage was built from light gray cement and is covered in paintings of red, pink and yellow flowers. A choice of stairs or ramp is available — leading up to flashing lights and music in case a dog felt like performing.

After running around the park, all six of us — yes, including the canines — sat down for our dinner. The restaurant is separate from the dog park but only by a gate. Indoor seating is available, however, no dogs were allowed inside. Inside sat a bar and multiple empty tables, due to most people staying on the patio with their furry friends.

DOGS RAN around with their owners and took a rest on top of tables — that’s right, on top of the tables. That isn’t something you see everyday, I thought it was adorable.

Harper ran up and down the castle as I found a water jug and metal bowls to fill up for the dogs.

We took a lap around to look for the splash park — a bulldog was lounging in the shallow water. The pool is about one foot deep, not really suited for larger dogs. The Brundige dogs were a little more skeptical, cautiously walking around the edge of the water.

Dogs ran around with their owners and took a rest on top of tables — that’s right, on top of the tables. That isn’t something you see everyday, I thought it

We chose outdoor seating and hooked the dogs’ leashes onto our tables. The menu featured different salads, sandwiches and bowls. However, the food wasn’t just for us, as a menu for the dogs is included. A feast of stew, pasta and jerky is prepared for the pups — including cookies and ice cream for dessert.

While we all scarfed down our meals, we listened in on the trivia night, which included questions for the dinner guests to answer while enjoying their food. For my meal, I had a Bar K bowl full of chicken, tomato, beans and rice. The bowl was very fresh, with an assortment of protein which warmed the meal but the tomato being cool to balance out the chicken. Emmerson and Jackson shared warm pretzel bites and a peanut

butter chocolate smoothie. Our waiter mentioned other weekly events like music bingo, “doga”, — dog yoga — running club and puppies night out. I’ll definitely be coming back for some bonding time with Harper and Finch.

My bowl was $13 and the service was spot-on. We were checked on by our waiter multiple times during our meal to make sure everything was satisfactory.

After finishing our meal, we took a couple to-go boxes — which were not allowed back in the park to prevent a human-foodhungry dog stealing my lunch for the next day.

Bar K was nothing but pure joy for them — and us. The four of us loved being able to run around with the dogs and even sit down for dinner with them. We were provided with a night of puppies and a delicious meal. To have a place combined with not only a place for dogs to play and a restaurant, it’s a park very unlike the rest.

Harper and Finch left panting and wagging their tails — completely worn out. I’m here to declare Bar K a haven for pups and people alike.

MUTT MATCHING

See if you can match the dogs to their owners

ARCHIE

KAHLUA

KEY : Derik-nala;Lora-archie;Enrique -kahlua

DERIK

design by mia vogel photos by mj wolf

A comparison of new board games to the classics

OUTSIDE

story by aanya bansal

I’VE GROWN UP playing the classic board games — Catan, Clue, the Game of Life — every family game night. But there are also newly released board games that the

photos by molly miller design by veronica mangine

average person has never played or heard of. Even though nothing will compare to three-hour Monopoly games, I decided to try out two new board games.

THE AZUL BOX had a captivating design of rows of intricate squares, influenced by Portuguese wall tiles called azulejos. The mix of vibrant colors and eight-page manual initially intimidated me, but once I forced myself to begin reading it was easy enough to understand.

The objective of the game is to gain as many points as possible. Each player gets an individual board that they can place their Scrabble-sized tiles on. Players gain points by selecting tiles to fill out rows on the left side of their board which they can then shift to the right side to connect tiles, similar to

Connect 4.

Azul’s basic cycle of selecting, placing and shifting tiles made the learning process quick, and I got the hang of the game in just a few minutes.

The unique blue-black outline on the game boards mixed with the bright colors of the tiles was eye-catching, but didn’t excite me as much as seeing a brand new Monopoly board with a fresh color scheme and new properties to buy.

There is strategy involved, but the game is based more on the random assortment of tiles placed in the center than critical thinking. All players can see all tile options. If you have a

strategy, everyone playing can tell by paying attention to what tiles you pick.

Though Azul was easy to understand and play, its slow pace and calming patterns made me feel more like I was passively watching a movie than interacting with friends. The small inch-by-inch tiles were easy to maneuver, but blended into the different boards, causing some confusion as to where they were located.

On a rainy day when you’re in the mood to sit at home and watch the raindrops fall, Azul is the game for you. But, it most definitely did not live up to the classics.

THE WARM REDS and oranges and basic cactus designs of Sonara’s box were nothing like its contents. The 11-page instruction manual left me struggling to find the motivation to start reading — I found a Youtube video outlining the gameplay instead.

Each player received five dimesized wooden discs, and their own scoresheet and dry erase marker. A game board with raised edges and four sections sat in the middle of the table.

The elevated rim of the board confused me until the man in the video

explained that Sonara was the world’s first “flick and write game,” meaning we were about to flick the discs from the raised edges onto the board.

After each player flicked all their tokens onto the board from their designated corner, we filled out our scoresheets according to what sections our pieces landed in. Similarly to bingo, the goal is to fill out as much of your scoresheet as possible.

Though it seems simple, Sonara involved strategy and on-the-spot thinking. The complex scoresheet was filled with four different

OVERVIEW

RATING |

sections, and the anticipation of seeing where the disc would end up already made it more exciting than Azul.

The mix of flicking tokens and writing on the scoresheet made for a nice change to the classics. The unknown of what was going to happen next kept every players’ eyes on the board. Sonara made games like Sorry and Risk feel repetitive.

OVERVIEW

SOCCER SISTERS

story by ben bradley

Seniors Reese Birch and Cate Holzbeierlein have played soccer together since childhood and both commited to Tufts University

THROUGH THE YEARS

LEFT Seniors

Reese Birch and Cate Holzbeierlein pass a ball to each other in the East soccer field. They each wear sweatshirts from Tufts Unvirsity, the college they’re committed to.

2ND-5TH GRADE 6TH GRADE 7TH GRADE 8TH GRADE 9TH GRADE 12TH GRADE

BOTH PLAYED ON THE SAME LEGENDS TEAM

BOTH MOVED TO THE FCKC ACADEMY TEAM CATE LEFT FOR DEVELOPMENTAL ACADEMY

AS AN EXCITED head peered around from the front of the line, senior Cate Holzbeierlein nervously looked back at her best friend of 11 years, senior Reese Birch, in the front of the line of Tufts’ prospective soccer stars. It was the day the university’s head coach would single each girl in line to tell them if they got an offer to play for the elephants or not.

Both girls had been looking at Tufts as a possible school for them to play soccer at next year, so they had decided to go to the camp together.

Birch shot Holzbeierlein a thumbs up — a sign that she’d been offered a position on the team. Now it was her turn to wait. All the way at the back of the line she started receiving “Let me know what he says” text messages.

This was the second camp at Tufts that the girls had gone to together, the first was just supposed to be a tour of the East coast schools.

came [to Tufts], I felt like this is where I was gonna end up.”

With no surprise, Holzbeierlein was offered a spot on the team as well when it was her turn at the front of the line. From playing at Legends club team in second grade to committing to the D3 college team, they did everything together.

“I was like, ‘Of course this is how it happens,’” Cate’s mom, Jill Holzbeierlein, said. “It just felt sort of natural, like this is how it’s supposed to happen.”

I DIDN’T KNOW I was going until a week before the frst time. My mom just asked me if I wanted to go and I was like ‘sure.’ It sounds stupid, but when I frst came [to Tufts], I felt like this is where I was gonna end up.

CATE HOLZBEIERLEIN

“I didn’t know I was going until a week before the first time,” Cate said. “My mom just asked me if I wanted to go and I was like ‘sure.’ It sounds stupid, but when I first

Being in the same friend group, going to practice every night of the week together and endless travel weekends has created a close relationship between the girls — their relationship is contagious as it rubbed off on their mothers as well.

“Liz [Birch] is one of my favorite people ever,” Jill said. “We try and do a lot of our own things while we are on these trips with the girls because there is so much downtime for us.”

Traveling to Boston, Seattle and San Diego together has created numerous memories from sightseeing to going to the beach. But some of the more core memories

CATE MOVED TO ENCL AND REECE STAYED IN ACADEMY

BOTH ATTEND ENCL AND PLAY FOR EAST BOTH COMMIT TO TUFTS UNIVERSITY

happen in less glamorous places like St. Louis. That’s what Cate recalls being her favorite trip — they won the tournament hosted there.

“Even though the travel isn’t always super fun, I’m always grateful for the time I get to spend with Cate,” Jill said. “It’s just a lot of concentrated quality time, whether that is finding a fun restaurant or just running to CVS.”

Outside of their travel club teams, the two play on East’s varsity team. Their close relationship on and off the field provides lots of laughs for the whole team.

though they play very different positions.” Although they play contrasting positions on the field, they let their teamwork help them win the game. Birch is a midfielder whereas Cate is a defender — controlling the game by protecting the goal.

THEY’RE KIND of more like sisters than friends. They are always super playful and boss each other around.

FRIEND

“They’re kind of more like sisters than just friends,” their teammate and senior Ashley Koch said. “They are always super playful and boss each other around.”

A lot of laughs on the team are caused by Cate’s severe phobia of worms. One morning at practice, Birch found a worm in the turf and set it on Cate’s keys. Cate freaked out so badly that she wouldn’t go near them until she was sure it was off. Their close relationship and antics off the field has made their on-field relationship even stronger.

“They have a really good chemistry,” East soccer coach James Kelly said. “They know how to control the field together even

“It’s not as hard to yell at her,” Reese said. “When I’m on the field I sometimes have to worry about hurting someone’s feelings but with Cate we [both] know it doesn’t mean anything personal.”

With them, nothing is personal. Between demanding soccer schedules, AP class homework and trying to balance a social life, things can get stressful. They always try to make things lighter with their playful relationship.

“One of my favorite memories is our drives to games blaring the ‘Pitch Perfect” soundtrack,” Cate said. “We’re just so comfortable around each other that it makes things super fun.”

At graduation, when most seniors will go separate ways, the two will still have each other for carpool karaoke drives and to yell at to pass the ball.

ASHLEY KOCH

design by afa akwankaa photo by caroline martucci

SENIOR

A timeline of Reece and Cate’s soccer career

ABOVE Part of the girls golf team: Maren Adams, Maggie Leonard, Georgia Boyd, Sofia Wehner, Ashley Zastrow, Kate Jones. photo by I charlotte emely

FOLLOWING THE LEADERS

Underclassman opinions on the captains’ leadership

ELLA SLICKER

FRESHMAN

ROSTER

M. LEONARD - CAPT.

ADAMS - CAPT.

WEHNER - JR.

ZASTROW - JR.

GRECIAN - SO.

BLACKETER - SO.

SLICKER -

design by sophie lindberg

photos from smelancers.com

THEY’RE BOTH DETERMINED, and they’re really kind heart ed people and they’re very inclusive.

INDRID BLACKETER

SOPHOMORE

[THE CAPTAINS ARE] being inclusive. It’s a pretty small team, so we’re all super close to each other. So it’s not like anyone on the team feels misplaced, everyone is included.

AUTHORITY ACE ING

story by maggie kissick

Without any seniors on the girls golf team this year, juniors Maggie Leonard and Maren Adams lead the team as captains

S

MOOTHING OUT

HER blue Nike golf tank and double checking that she had all of her clubs in her TaylorMade golf bag, varsity golfer and freshman Ella Slicker stepped onto the Indian Hills Country Club’s golf course for the first practice of the season.

Unsure what to expect, Slicker hands shook as she gripped harder on her clubs — joining her older teammates on the course.

After a few holes, Slicker became more comfortable around her teammates as they included her in conversation about the upcoming homecoming dance and other various events.

“After the first practice, I felt like I already knew the other girls on the team because it was so easy to talk to everyone,” Slicker said. “Everyone was so friendly and made an effort to include me in the conversation.”

Girls golf has always been a sisterhood, according to team captain and junior Maren Adams.

Due to the limited number of athletes and the three-hour daily practices, the team grows closer each year — from texting constantly in their group chats to posting funny photos on their instagram page, @ girlsgolff.

While the team dinners and bonds don’t differ from year to year, this year is different than most — there are no seniors on varsity. Juniors like Maggie Leonard and Adams have had to adjust to becoming the team role models a year earlier than they normally would.

but she can also provide valuable advice to underclassmen players who need it, offer golf polos to girls who don’t have them yet and answer questions about how to improve their shots.

“If a freshman keeps getting really bad drives, I give them advice on how to fix it,” Adams said. “[The team] can be honest with each other about anything.”

Varsity golfer and junior Sofia Wehner recalls feeling scared to play with upperclassmen players and not knowing all of the rules of golf, so she makes sure the freshmen aren’t anxious to play with older players — letting them know that it’s okay to mess up at practice and that they’re here to help.

“Practice should be easygoing, and it shouldn’t be tense for them,” Wehner said. “They’re always making sure they’re not doing anything wrong. If they hit a bad shot, they get upset and we’ve made sure they know that you can hit that again. This is meant to be practice, they have the opportunity to grow as a player.”

Golf practice is built-in team bonding, according to freshman Georgia Boyd. Because of how slow-paced golf is, it’s impossible to play alongside someone and not get to know them because you’re together for extended periods of time. The girls still manage to bond outside of practice too, with ice cream runs, carpooling, breakfast on late start days and movie nights watching “Caddyshack.”

PRACTICE SHOULD be easygoing and it shouldn’t be tense for them. They’re always making sure they’re not doing anything wrong. This is meant to be practice, they have an opportunity to grow as a player.

Leonard and Adams have been stepping up to make sure the team has a close bond. Whether it’s setting up team dinners and other bonding activities to making sure everyone attends practice, the captains act as a support system so the rest of the team can get closer.

SOFIA WEHNER

JUNIOR

“In some [sports] there’s so many people,” Boyd said. “So usually you just get close with a couple people and not the whole team. But in golf, it’s not just a few who get really close. We all get close.”

The team’s ultimate goal is placing in state this year. Leonard believes that their close-knit team dynamic is what will also help them to do this, as it lessens the pressure the girls feel at tournaments.

Adams enjoys that it’s finally “her time” to be a leader on the team. She is able to crack jokes and have fun on the course every day at practice,

“If we weren’t all close, it would just add a lot more pressure,” Leonard said. “If I have a bad round, I’m not nervous and scared to go and tell my team about it because I know that they’re going to be supportive of me.”

football coach, Justin Hoover’s love for the quarterback position lead to him starting the Spin It Quarterback Academy

STAGES OF SPIN IT

PINNIN’ IT

story by christian gooley

IN 2014, EAST’S current head football coach Justin Hoover started what is now known as Spin It Quarterback Academy. The concept came around during his time coaching at Bishop Miege as the offensive coordinator. There he noticed that the quarterbacks on opposing teams that didn’t have quarterback-specific coaches at their high school were missing the correct footwork. In his opinion, they couldn’t release the ball right and didn’t seem to know how to read a defense.

Hoover decided he would teach them the quarterback basics needed to win under the Friday night lights.

Hoover has been fascinated with the quarterback position ever since playing as the backup quarterback on his seventh grade football team. He slowly moved his way up the roster, starting with eighth graders, then to freshmen, climbing the ladder to become the starting quarterback.

there if you aren’t playing well, and it’s always good to have someone to run plays by or be yourself around but it is definitely more than just the hours on the field.” Coach Hoover’s wife Cara Hoover said.

Hoover cares strongly for the life behind the players and in the game. After finding his favorite position as quarterback, he decided to continue pursuing that passion in the off season. He wanted his program to be a low commitment job, allowing him to give back to the game that has given him so much.

Eventually he was invited to be part of a volunteer coaching program at the Elite 11 camp at Ohio State — a competition for high school quarterbacks across the U.S. He didn’t expect for the job interview to lead to his permanent member of the Elite 11 staff — kickstarting his success in training high-level quarterbacks.

IT’S MORE about some of the intangible things that I felt like I had as a person and as an athlete and a competitor that helped me play the position.

For him it wasn’t the players’ athletic abilities — it was their understanding of the game. He could read the field better, and he wanted the stress of those final plays late in the game.

JUSTIN HOOVER

COACH

“It’s more about some of the intangible things that I felt like I had as a person and as an athlete and a competitor that helped me play the position,” Hoover said. “Then the skill set came on after.”

After he attended high school, he went on to play as the back up at Pittsburg State. But Hoover said he knew that he wanted to be a coach all along.

During practices, he would pick up on things that should get addressed and run circles in his mind about how he could help his fellow players. “Skill set wise and vision and my ability to process information allowed me to go into the quarterback world as far as coaching goes.” Hoover said.

Growing up, Hoover pictured his coaches in the off season doing various side jobs — like painting houses and staining decks — to keep them busy and make some extra money. But he didn’t want to spend his off seasons that way. Hoover prioritizes spending time with his players and making them family over time.

“He is always there as a sounding board or as moral support becomes sometimes it’s lonely out

Hoover now has a full-time staff, training quarterbacks all the way from elementary school and taking some of them to the NFL. He has players who will drive hours for a one-hour session, but for Hoover the popularity has never gotten to him.

“I never have thought about it as how many quarterbacks do I have, how many D1 quarterbacks do I have, how many NFL quarterbacks do I train,” Hoover said. “It was really about the overall vision. I want to help guys play better on friday nights and then the icing on the cake for me becomes making guys dreams come true with scholarships and NFL and all the fans.”

Varsity quarterback George Kopp has been playing since freshman year, with Hoover being a coach since 2018. Hoover has used his tools and lessons outside of his academy on Kopp also.

“He has taught me how to read defenses super well and how to throw the perfect spiral,” George Kopp said.

Now knowing how well Hoover has done with quarterbacks a large question is: how does he do it, what is his process?

Every quarterback starts out with an evaluation and that allows the coaches on the staff to give the kid an assessment figuring out what they think their strengths and weaknesses are and what they can do to help the player the most varying from Sunday large group sessions to individual coaching.

“That evaluation process looks the same for a 12 year old as it does a D1 level quarterback,” Hoover said.

Hoover trained NFL quarterbacks such as Drew Lock and Skylar Thompson, sending players to play in college, gaining scholarships and followers from around the country.

design by marissa liberda photo by emily pollock

WHEN SENIOR STARTING center Jayden Schuessler stepped onto the East turf on the first day of summer football practice, he didn’t see his previous O-lineman teammates out on the field. In fact, Schuessler was the only returning varsity starter on both the defensive and offensive line.

Schuessler soon realized he would have to step up not only his gameplay, but also as a leader for his completely restructured O-line.

“It kind of makes me a coach in a way because I have the opportunity to give them my expertise at my position, but also the knowledge of our playbook,” Schuessler said.

As a goal to instill confidence in the team, drills such as drive blocking have been key. This is when players coordinate the feet, hips and hands to drive defenders, according to Schuessler.

The team has also found ways to make

up for their lack in size — both the players physically and in number — by improving their technique when blocking and focusing on coordination when teams blitz.

Offensive line coach Kanon Hoover agrees with Schuessler as well. He believes that proper technique is the best way of making up for the inadequate amount of both size and experience.

Instead of dwelling on the smaller O-Line, Hoover — much like Schuessler — has been working to improve the line’s confidence and trust, by learning from prior mistakes made in games and practice such as forgetting blocking requirements or not running the correct play. He doesn’t want to mix in a bunch of plays and assignments as he believes it could confuse the lineman.

“We need to know what we’re doing when we break the huddle,” Hoover said. “Cause if we’re still thinking about what we have to do when we get to the line it’s too late.”

The defensive side of the ball is seeing similar setbacks with the absence of size

and experience, but depth in players as well.

All eight players on the offensive line also play on the defensive line, with junior Collin Ford being the exception as he only plays on the defensive line. The players are more fatigued toward the fourth quarter, due to them playing on both sides of the ball in one game.

“There’s only so many people that the coaches think are ready to step onto the field in a varsity football game,” Ford said. “The coaches also want to keep the opposing team’s offenses on their toes because you’re not showing the same players for the entire game.”

The team is 0-2 as of Sept. 14. They lost their first game in an offensive shootout against Gardner Edgerton 63-32, and their second game against Olathe East 33-14 in a low scoring affair.

Since both opponents put up over 30 points, the inexperience and need for bigger players is obvious. According to MaxPreps. com, East rushed the ball 32 times and

only gained 47 yards in their game against Gardner Edgerton. This equals out to be a 1.47 yard per rush average — a strong indicator of the offensive line’s struggles to create running lanes or prevent penetration into the backfield.

In comparison, Gardner rushed the ball 42 times and gained 350 yards. This gave them a 8.33 yard per rush average, showing that the defense struggled to pressure Gardner’s O-line and had trouble stopping the run.

Schuessler believes the team can “only go up” from where they are now. He plans to continue to work on their confidence by scheduling after practice whiteboard sessions so the team can begin studying the playbook as soon as possible.

“I want us to peak at week four,” Schuessler said. “By then we should be competent in our steps, our ability to block, our mental strength and our morale. We should be as close to perfect as possible.”

season

early

the

BY PATRICK MAHOMES 30 FOR 39 360 YDS

BY KYLER MURRAY 22 FOR 34 193 YDS

COOK

LEO CHENAL

DARIAN KINNARD O-LINEMAN

JAYLEN

PREDICTIONS

How the Harbinger staff’s biggest sports fans think this season will go

I N THE LAST eight seasons, the Chiefs have made it to seven playoffs, won six AFC West titles in a row — two AFC Championships — and won the 54th Super Bowl. But the competition in our division has improved. Plus, we lost core players like wide receiver Tyreek Hill and safety Tyran Mathieu. There’s a chance we’ll lose more than we did the past four seasons, but — with stronger competition — we shouldn’t have to go 12-5 to win the AFC West, making me confident we can get to the Superbowl again.

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N THE OFFSEASON, the Chiefs made some major moves. Despite losing Tyreek Hill and Tyran Mathieu — key offensive and defensive players — the Chiefs lucked out in the draft, picking up players like Skyy Moore, George Karlaftis, Trent McDuffle and Isiah Pacheco. The Chiefs’ division has also improved, with Russell Wilson joining the Broncos and the Raiders adding Devonte Adams. Still, the Chiefs’ new rookies should provide an edge to win the division. With Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce returning with a sour taste in their mouths after the AFC Championship loss, I am confident that we will win the Superbowl.

THE CHIEFS HAVE been performing well for a while now, winning six AFC titles in a row along with two AFC Championships and a Superbowl. How could we not have another strong year? The team has a solid defense, along with some studs on offense — obviously including Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce – but losing Tyreek Hill will weaken our offense. After an encouraging first win against the Arizona Cardinals, I predict the team’s record will be around 11-6. Though the Chiefs are set up for a promising season with a chance at the Superbowl, I doubt they’ll win it this year.

ELLE GEDMAN SENIOR

ANNA MITCHELL

HASSAN SUFI SENIOR