NW PASSAGE Page 7|invisible barriers
Shawnee Mission Northwest Issue 6 Vol. 53 Dec. 16, 2021
Students share the challenges faced in higher level courses
PAGE 8|Project Lit: UP in flames Covering the book banning discussion in SMSD and across the nation
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TOC | 03
Contents 4 Masks PLEASE!
Northwest Passage Issue 6 Vol. 53 Dec. 16, 2021
STAFF EDITORIAL
The Shawnee Mission School District should continue their current mitigation plan until it is safe to do otherwise
5 columns
Columnists Sophia McCraney and Grace Logan talk about the book banning and cooking through mental health struggles, respectively
7 Invisible barriers
Students share the challenges they’ve faced in AP, IB and Honors courses
8 Project lit: in Flames
The discussion of book banning surfaces as parents and community members challenge certain titles
11 Current events
This month in current events include Cocoa and Cram and Cappuccino Day
12 Sports Recap
Girls’ and Boys’ Basketball and Bowling teams prepare for their winter seasons
13 Like Riding a bike
Director Robin Murphy is coming out of retirement to direct Northwest’s production of “Little Women”
14 Month in photos
A look back at this month in photos
Our Passage: The purpose of the Northwest Passage is to relay important and interesting information to the community, administration and students of the Shawnee Mission Northwest High School. As a news magazine, the Northwest Passage will cater to the interests and concerns of the student body. Outside concerns and activities will only be covered if they somehow affect the school or students. The Northwest Passage is a 16-page news magazine. The paper will be distributed monthly as possible. Subscriptions will be available to the community for $25. The Northwest Passage firmly supports the First Amendment and opposes censorship. The content of the newspaper will be determined and created by the entire staff. When questions concerning word choice, legal problems or ethics arise, the editorial board and adviser will discuss the problem to find the solution. In these cases, the editor-in-chief and editorial board will have the power to make the final decision. Letters to the editor will be accepted and encouraged. The staff reserves the right to edit for grammatical mistakes, length and good taste. Letters may attack policy but not people. In no way will ideas or viewpoints be changed. The editor-in-chief and editorial board reserve the right to refuse any letter.
StafF
Publication Oversight: Editor-in-chief Editor-in-chief Threats to censor or ban books in the Shawnee Mission School District concern both students and teachers. “Censoring important novels is ridiculous,” McCraney said. “The lessons are irreplaceable.”
Content Management: Managing Editor Veronica Meiss Copy Editor Morgan Tate Online Editor Grace Logan Photo Editor Claire Moore Design Editor Livi Nagorka Asst. Photo Editor Sophia McCraney Asst. Photo Editor Sidra Sakati
Sophomore Leila Schenke plays the cello Dec. 7 in the Auditorium. Schenke is a part of the Camerata Orchestra. They played songs which included “Inverno, Scenes from Vivaldi’s Winter,” “Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2” and “Winter Wonderland/Let if Snow!” The Camerata Orchestra also played the “Carol of the Bells” with the Combined Freshman Orchestra. + photo by Claire Moore
Social medias
Staff Writers: Staff DESIGNERS: Yeretzy Blanco Macy Malik Izak Zeller
Adviser:
Susan Massy + photo illustration by Claire Moore + cover design by Claire Moore
Stella Grist Ally Pruente
Ellie Zeller
@smnwdotcom @smnwdotcom
Check out our latest online stories and additional content.
04 | staff ed
Dec. 16, 2021
The Vote Here’s how the Passage staff voted on this editorial
10/4 agree
disagree
What is a staff ed? an opinion piece crafted by a single writer and voted on by the entire staff of the NW passage. It is not an unbiased news article, but an opinion piece taking a stance and tackling a major issue.
by the numbers in johnson county all information from the CDC as of Dec. 13
new cases in johnson county
1,981
cases per 100,000 people
328.85 community transmission
high
percent vaccinated ≥ 5 years
73.6% deaths
0
new hospital admissions
102
positivity rate
11.33%
MASK PLEASE! With the 7-day average for COVID-19 cases rising steeply, SMSD should continue their current mitigation plan as long as the CDC recommends it During the Shawnee Mission School District’s Board of Education meeting Nov. 15, board members voted to make masks optional for secondary schools after Winter Break. This is, quite possibly, the worst choice the district can make regarding students’ safety during this pandemic. Currently, the mitigation plan in secondary schools does not require students and staff to wear masks if they are staying after school for an activity; however, masks are still required during the school day. The district claims this decision was “based on data relating to the rates of infection and transmission in Johnson County,” but is our community really safe enough to go without masks in schools? The seven-day average for new COVID cases on Dec. 12 was 283. That’s up from only 89 on Oct. 25. Choosing to implement this new mitigation plan after Winter Break is not a good idea. Students and staff will travel more during Winter Break than they have all year, and possibly bring COVID-19 back with them. Olathe, Blue Valley and De Soto school districts have all removed their mask requirements during school hours. With an implementation date of Jan. 3, the Shawnee Mission School District was one of the last in Johnson County to do so. Last year, the decision to move secondary schools to the full in-person learning mode was partially made due to public pressure from parents. Who’s to say this decision isn’t the same? It seems as if this decision wasn’t made based on whether the community is safe. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) labels Johnson County a high COVID-19 transmission area. They continue to recommend individuals two years and older wear masks indoors, even if they have been vaccinated. Being fully vaccinated does not mean insure complete immunity to COVID-19. It means you are significantly less likely be hospitalized or die from contracting COVID-19. Masks should still be worn because they provide an additional layer of protection against the virus. The more individuals wear masks, the quicker they will not be needed. Americans, including Johnson County residents, need to dedicate themselves to protecting others.
The Omicron Variant
A variant of the virus, Omicron, currently poses the newest threat to the unmasked. According to CBS News, it has 50 different mutations. Thirty among those 50 mutations are in the spike protein. The spike protein is on the surface of any virus. An mRNA vaccine instructs the body to create a COVID-19 spike protein so the body can learn to break the virus down and create immunity. Stephane Bancel, the leader of Moderna, warns that Omicron will most likely be able to get past COVID-19 vaccines. Dr. Anthony Fauci says that early data relating to Omicron is encouraging and doesn’t show any signs of being more or less severe than the Delta variant. With no real information to lean on, this is a scary time. We need to prepare for the worst. New information is being released on nearly a daily basis. Scientists have found, however, that being fully vaccinated does significantly reduce the risk of being hospitalized or dying due to the variant. Omicron first appeared in South Africa, where vaccination
rates are low. It has now spread to Great Britain, Australia, Canada, and more. It appeared in the United States on Nov. 29. The individual who contracted this variant was fully vaccinated and experienced mild symptoms. Because this new variant is in the United States, SMSD and districts throughout Johnson County should, at the very least, reconsider the Jan. 3 COVID-19 mitigation plan. District officials plan to return to full mask requirements for at least two weeks if “a school building reaches 3% or greater exclusion and quarantine.” We can’t help but predict this will happen.
Masks are a necessary precaution
In Jan. of 2021, a CDC study used an aerosol simulator to test the effectiveness of masks. They were able to imitate a cough related to COVID-19 to force different-sized particles through a variety of masks including N95s, 3-ply cloth masks, medicalgrade masks and double-layered and single-layered neck gaiters. They also tested the effectiveness of a face shield. The N95 mask blocked 99% of the cough aerosol, the cloth mask blocked 51%, a medical mask blocked 59% and a single layered neck gaiter blocked 47%, while a double layered neck gaiter blocked 60%. A face shield by itself only blocked 2% of the cough aerosol. It has been proven on several occasions that masks work. Not wearing a mask endangers your unvaccinated little brother. It puts your best friend who has asthma at risk. Countless families who are unvaccinated are at even greater risk of contracting one of the COVID variants. Everyone is tired of wearing masks, but that doesn’t give anyone an excuse to stop protecting others. This pandemic will not disappear. Unfortunately, the end is only in our dreams. Until we have more answers about Omicron, we all just need to wear masks. Schools throughout Johnson County, but especially the Shawnee Mission School District, should continue to require masks. It is the only way to ensure all students are as safe as possible from this virus.
UPDATE: Three hours before press time, the Olathe School District announced that Olathe West and Olathe Northwest will return to mandatory masking until Winter Break (tomorrow) because the schools have surpassed the 3% exclusion threshhold for students. + illustration by Livi Nagorka + design by Veronica Meiss
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Soup for the Soul Cooking has become the best way to combat my declining mental health I distinctly remember my grandma always had a pot of soup simmering on her stove. On weekends when I was able to spend the day with her, I wanted nothing more than to help her cook. I would bounce across the kitchen to watch bay leaves, + by Grace Logan parsley, thyme and black pepper dance in boiling chicken broth. Then I’d hop back to her as she diced onions, celery and carrots. Cooking came naturally to her and she always did it with a smile. She could gracefully throw random ingredients together and create something nothing short of extraordinary. When her health began to decline, she stopped cooking. Soon, she rarely entered the kitchen. I followed suit. The kitchen held too many memories. I didn’t want to cook, unless it was with her. It has been a few years since her passing. My boycott of the kitchen continued until this year. Mental health has always been a struggle, but a manageable one. My time management skills, however, have never been good. This year, the lack of this skill buried me deep in missing assignments and stress. It reached a point where the thought of opening my Macbook was too overwhelming on some days. I felt hopeless and was ashamed that I couldn’t manage my school work anymore. I
wasn’t taking care of myself and I slept very little. My mental health was rapidly declining and there wasn’t anything I could do to stop it. Then I discovered a box of my grandma’s old recipes. I decided to pick back up the knife and chopping board, searching for some form of salvation. I began to cook through her recipes as a form of remembrance and a way to honor her, but it soon became an outlet. The kitchen is an extremely controlled environment, which is exactly what I needed in those moments. Cooking and baking are tasks that have almost guaranteed rewards, if you follow the recipe correctly. With each brownie, cookie or pot of soup, I felt like I accomplished something during a time when my life was riddled with half-credit from late work. I still struggle to manage my school work from time to time and I am currently digging myself out of a deep hole. On days when I get too stressed to think, I take the time to make something simple. Even frying an egg or chopping lettuce for a salad makes me feel better and allows me to step away from the pressure of everyday life for a moment. Life can seem overwhelming at times. In those moments, it is extremely important to find something to use as an outlet, something even as simple as a bowl of chicken noodle soup. Simple hobbies can become life-saving on the worst days.
chicken noodle soup from Reams Foods website: https://reamesfoods.com/ 11 cups chicken broth 2 tsp. dried parsley 1 package egg noodles 1 tsp. black pepper 1/2 tsp. dried thyme 2 cups chopped celery 2 cups chopped onion 8 T butter 2 cups shredded carrots 1 lb. pre-cooked, boneless, skinless 1/2 cups flour chicken 2 cups heavy cream/half and half 1/2 cup sherry (optional) 2 bay leaves
1. Bring the chicken broth to a boil with the bay leaves 2. Add the noodles and simmer for 20 minutes. Stir often. 3. Chop parsley, thyme, black pepper, onions, celery and carrots. Add to broth and simmer for 10 minutes. 4. Melt butter in skillet. Add flour and cook 1 to 2
minutes. 5. Add cream to the noodle mixture. Bring back to a good simmer. Add the flour mixture; cook and stir until thickened, about 2 minutes. 6. Add the chicken and sherry (if using). Discard bay leaves. 7. Stir to incorporate, heat through and serve.
Sensitive Censorship Why does public education ban certain works? Books that hold important life lessons are being withheld from American public schools and libraries. Why? Out of fear? Fear of free thinkers? Of questioning authority? Of realism? + by Sophia McCraney By banning these important works, school boards nationwide rip away a sense of reality for younger generations. I believe leaving these novels out for younger kids may seem reasonable, but sheltering young adults and high schoolers is harmful. As adolescents entering adulthood, we have been shrouded in basic curriculum and have little to no knowledge of how rude and nasty the real world is. Students are struggling with the very issues these novels address including abuse, rape, racism and homophobia. They are trapped by a feeling of insignificance. They are left feeling these issues are horribly disgraceful and warrant banning the person as well. According to the American Library Association, “Lord of The Flies” by William Golding is the eighth most banned book in the nation. The novel is part of the sophomore English curriculum at Northwest. A staff member at Charles D. Owen High School in North Carolina challenged the book in 1981 saying the title is “demoralizing inasmuch as it implies that man is little more than an animal.” In a novel where young boys must create their own society and survive
on an island with no adult guidance, I’d say the novel paints a perfect portrait of human nature and just how animalistic and corrupt people can become when no one’s watching. These younger generations are growing up in a world being torn apart at the seams. Violence is the norm throughout the media and in video games, and it’s important for teens to consume media that portrays the real world. From kindergarten to 2nd grade, I was a little girl who went to private school and had a lot of friends. As the second semester of that year rolled around, I entered public school on a move to Kentucky. I remember coming home from school my first day crying because I had been made fun of. At the age of eight, I experienced being bullied by my classmates and older children for the way my teeth looked and how short my hair was. When I moved back to Kansas in 5th grade, I returned to public school once more. I had already thought about the possibility of being bullied and not making friends right away. My exposure to how mean people can be had somewhat prepared me for my second attempt at public education. Reading about the real world issues in these novels can help prepare children for the future. As parents and school boards challenge these works, it’s almost as if they are trying to deny how the real world works.
columns | 05
Upcoming Events + by Izak Zeller
Dec 16
cappuccino day
Come get a cappuccino, hot chocolate, half and half, lemonade or cookies for $1 each. All profits go to a NW family in need.
Dec 17-21
semester exams
Semester exams are coming up. Study hard and get that grade.
dec 21
early release
Get ready to leave early on December 21 as a way to kick off Winter Break.
dec 22 - JAN 4 winter break
Happy Winter Break!
jan 5
beginning of 3rd quARTER
Welcome back to school!
jan 8
Mother-Son/ father-daughter DANCE
MSFD Dance will take place from 8-10 p.m. inside the cafeteria. Tickets cost $5 and will be available from StuCo members.
jan 10
board of education meeting
The Board of Education public comments meeting will take place from 5:30 - 6 p.m.
JAN 17
MLK DAY, NO SCHOOL
Take time to honor Martin Luther King, Jr.
jan. 20
nw area band concert
Listen to bands from the NW area high, middle and elementary schools play in the auditiorium.
jan. 21
winter band concert
Listen to orchestras from all over the NW area play in the auditiorium.
+ design by Veronica Meiss
NOW HIRING at both locations
smnw.com
INvisible barriers
Students share the challenges they’ve faced in AP, IB and Honors courses + by Grace Logan + design by Ellie Zeller Advanced Placement (AP) classes and the International Baccalaureate Program (IB), as well as Honors courses offered at SMNW work to further develop students’ critical thinking skills and prepare them for higher education. Allowing students to step their foot further in the door of post-high school education, college credit is offered in AP and IB courses. AP, IB and Honors classes are offered to all students at SMNW, however, despite their benefits, these programs continue to lack diversity. The amount of people of color in advanced classes is disproportionate to the percentage in the NW population. “There’s no rule saying people of color can’t be in advanced classes,” IB student Michael Houser said. “But there are implied societal norms and expectations that prevent people of color from being in them.” In an attempt to tackle this issue, 974 students were surveyed to uncover the primary reason why each chose to enroll or not enroll in advanced classes last year. At one point, students were asked to assess the culture and environment of advanced versus non-advanced courses. Some of the words associated with advanced classes were “hardworking,” “white,” “wealthy,” “organized” and “disciplined.” On the other hand, words associated with standard-level classes included “lazy,” “diverse,” “misbehaved,” “low expectations” and “loud.” “All these obviously have racial connotations,” Houser said. “The fact that diverse and white were put into separate categories [in association with] standard and advanced classes is not a good thing.” This survey has provided deep insight into the racial issues that seep into the IB, AP and Honors programs. “[These] issues are part of the school system and part of the culture we live in,” IB student Alyson Ramsey said. “It is less of a problem with the classes themselves, and more that IB is an example of the way that the issues that we live with are seen.” On the survey, students noted that a lack of resources and opportunities, economic disadvantages, biases and system-wide racial injustice are at the root of these data disparities and lack of diversity within these programs. According to the survey, 65.8% of students indicated that “hard-working” is the top quality students should have in order to be in advanced-level courses. This can become a problematic mindset when many people of color have been surrounded by societal stigmas and stereotypes.
“From a young age, many students of color have been discouraged from taking advanced classes because others tell them that these classes might be too ‘hard’ or ‘challenging’ for them, which is not the case,” AP, IB and CAA Medical Science Program student Janmeet Singh said. “The lack of information given to students of color about advanced classes [is also a barrier]. It’s also important to take into consideration socioeconomic factors many people of color [may face] when taking an AP class.” But the problem goes beyond just being misinformed or suffering from socioeconomic disparities. Once a student of color has entered the IB, AP or Honors programs, they still face barriers. “A white student and a student of color could have the same initiative and drive, yet the white student would make it farther,” Houser said. “You have to work two times as hard to get half as far as a student of color, because of implicit biases from teachers and counselors, and from these societal expectations [for you] to not go as far as you want to go.” Biases and stereotypes can have a negative impact on students both enrolled and not enrolled in these programs. “There have been countless times my intelligence has been defined solely on the fact that I am Indian and stereotypically smart,” Singh said. “Growing up, and even now, I’ve never been credited for my countless hours of studying and consistency. Instead it’s always ‘Oh, of course you’re smart, you’re Indian.’ [Other] people of color face opposite stereotyping. Stereotyping is a big issue — the way a person dresses, acts or talks is not a measure of intelligence and should not be used as such.” In spite of the current barriers students of color currently face, they should pursue advanced courses. “The advice I would give students of color: I know how hard it is to unlearn the idea that you are not ‘smart enough’ to be in advanced classes, especially considering the fact that you most likely don’t see other students who look like you in advanced courses,” Singh said. “Don’t let it discourage you. You are incredibly intelligent and capable. Advocate for yourself and find information that can help you open doors to new opportunities.”
One of Three
Junior Evan Johnson’s experience as a person of color in a predominantly white area + By Morgan Tate
Junior Evan Johnson was one of three Black students in his private middle school. “I remember one kid came up to me and asked me, ‘How do you get your hair like that?’” Johnson said. “I [was] like, ‘I don’t know. It just is.’ People would think that I would curl my hair. There was this one Black guy in the math textbook we had, [and one kid said], ‘Oh, that guy looks like you.’ [I was] like, ‘No, he doesn’t. He’s just Black.’” Incidents like these made Johnson feel isolated, as he was in a predominantly white school in a predominantly white area. “I felt like white was the default,” Johnson said. “[That] made me feel less [like] a part of everything because I would always stick out [in comparison] to everybody else. I wasn’t raised in an area where Blackness was really celebrated.” Now at Northwest, things are better. Johnson isn’t the only Black student in his grade. But that doesn’t mean racism doesn’t still affect him. He was in all honors classes his freshman year, where most of his classmates were white and, despite being in honors classes, people expected less from him because he was Black. “A lot of people like to equate whiteness with intelligence,” Johnson said. “My freshman year, people told me that I ‘acted white.’ They would hold me to a standard and then when I would exceed that standard, they would think it was weird.” Over the summer between Johnson’s freshman and sophomore year, Johnson also decided he wasn’t going to take as many honors classes, this
wasn’t linked to his identity, he just wanted less stress and more time to do things he enjoys. “I didn’t want the weight of having to keep up with all that stuff,” Johnson said. “My freshman year I did [photojournalism] and then most of my other time was just doing school stuff. I wanted to be able to get home from school and do something that I enjoy doing rather than spending the rest of the evening working on homework.” Johnson is still in AP U.S. History (APUSH) and still notices the lack of diversity he first noticed in his freshman year classes. Johnson is one of eight people of color in his APUSH class. “I’ve noticed a trend with higher level classes,” Johnson said. “My freshman year [as well as this year], a lot of my honors classes weren’t diverse at all. There’s really a noticeable trend in the amount of diversity when it comes to the different [class levels].” But during quarantine, Johnson also realized those comments, incidents and differences didn’t bother him as much. “During quarantine, I’ve had a lot of time to just think about who I am and my identity,” Johnson said. “So I’ve definitely had very big [selfesteem] boosts since then. I just came to terms with everything; ‘I’m Black in a predominantly white area.’”
feature | 07
Honors
for ALL Honors for All is an organization that is working to create more opportunities for students of color by educating staff and reaching out to + By Grace Logan
The newly formed organization, Honors for All, works to remove barriers for students of color and increase underrepresented populations in AP, IB and Honors courses. “This is something that I have been passionate about since I was a student,” sponsor Daniah Hammouda said. “I [was] the only person of color in a lot of my advanced level courses and I remember that affecting my decision of whether to take them. As a teacher, I started noticing the same disparities at this school.” A student inspired the start of Honors for All. She told Hammouda, “Let us lead. We know what we need to do to make it happen.” This comment resonated with Hammouda, who responded by recruiting students. Those students then went out and recruited additional students for this organization. “Soon, it was a group that was [full of] very diverse and brilliant students who’ve had a variety of experiences in their advanced level courses,” Hammouda said. The students involved appreciate the opportunity the organization has given them to talk with others facing similar challenges. “I love working with students who have faced similar struggles as me and are just as passionate about the topic,” senior Janmeet Singh said. “It’s given me and many others a safe space to talk about a topic that has always been pushed aside. We’re able to identify issues, talk about them, address them, and make our voices heard. I can’t wait for what we have planned ahead.” Speaking as peers, Honors for All members plan on visiting both middle and high school classes to present the opportunities and benefits advanced courses offer. The group hopes to encourage more students to enroll in these programs by sharing their own experiences.
8 | news
Press Perspective
+ by Ally Pruente
As a student journalist, I’m lucky because I will never have more freedom and rights than I do now. But I can’t help but feel we’re attacking those rights when we try to ban certain titles from our students’ hands. My freedoms give me the right to speak my truth and give my peers a chance to be heard. That’s exactly what Project Lit has always done, they give people a place to relate to something and be free to who they are. There’s little difference between a club that has voluntary discussions over a novel and a newsroom crafting an opinion piece to be published. We all should have a right to feel we belong at school. My job is to advocate for those who need a voice and this is a direct violation of a student’s personal voice. Books are just what some students need, why would we take that away?
Photo 1
Dec. 16, 2021
PROJect Lit:
in FLAMEs
The discussion of book banning surfaces as parents begin to challenge certain titles + by Ally Pruente, Stella Grist & Macy Malik
Concerns about Project Lit’s choice for their monthly read led parents to speak before the Shawnee Mission Board of Education on Nov. 15. Sean Claycamp expressed concerns about a reading list that was distributed to some students, in particular, one book on the list, “All Boys Aren’t Blue” by George M. Johnson, is about his experiences as a Black, queer person. Claycamp was concerned about the book containing graphic and explicit content. Kari Ivie did not feel that Project Lit books belonged in our schools. Sabrina Hardy read an inappropriate passage from a book, stating school is supposed to be a safe place and books of this type do not belong there. NW Librarian Meghan Stigge read a section of the book “All Boys Aren’t Blue,” noting that not every book is for every person. All of these opinions were voiced at various public comment meetings, however, audio and transcriptions are not available for those meetings. All perspectives were welcome at the board meeting, but there were no voices of the students themselves. The book’s descriptions of sex have sparked widespread discussion of books included within district libraries and curriculums, but not by those who actually read it. Claycamp was runnign for aposition on the Board of Education, which was when action was being taken against certain titles in schools. However, since he has lost the election, action has ceased. Although titles aren’t actively being challenged, teachers are taking a more precautionary approach and the nationwide discussion has yet to cease. Teachers like Anthony have started to “soft censor” titles, or in other words, remove the books from their shelves in preperation for parent complaints. “It’s just a scary climate in general for teachers,” Anthony said. “You never know whos going to yell at you, if you’re going to get in trouble or if your district is going to have your back.” If there is ever a dispute regarding a book included in the English curriculum, parents are able to voice their concerns at a district level. “If a parent wants to challenge a book, there is a policy in place to do that,” ELA department director Kathy Stewart said. “That’s at a district level, not the building level. There’s a form you fill out with your rationale and everything. At any given time, a parent or student has the right to say, ‘Hey, that’s not the novel for me.’ We have a conversation, and we’ll provide an alternative. We never force a student to read a book.” The book that was in question however was different, because it’s a part of the Project Lit reading list. “Project Lit is a nationwide organization of teachers and students who just love reading and want to encourage students to read books that they enjoy, so books that are newer, and are more relevant to their lives,” Project Lit sponsor Rebecca Anthony said. Project Lit asks its members to read one book each month and discuss it. The books considered are selected from a list provided by the national
Project Lit organization. Club members vote on the books they want to read throughout the year. Club membership is optional and members are not required to read every book selected by the group. What sets the books considered by Project Lit apart is that the titles are more contemporary compared to many of the books in the English/Language Arts class curriculum. While Project Lit chooses their titles by a vote of club members, what is included in the English class curriculum is decided differently. They share the value of group discussion. “We go to the district to approve them so we have curriculum maps that we follow,” Stewart said. “Within those curriculum maps, we at Northwest really value a whole class read, so a book that is a shared experience. You know how it’s different when you sit down and read a book by yourself, than talking about it with the whole class… At the end of the day, for us in the English department, we focus on the author’s craft and the author’s purpose to drive our instructional
“We always find ways to relate to the main character, because a lot of us feel underrepresented in the media and at our school. I think a lot of our students may feel uncomfortable and may feel like they’re not being heard, which is very problematic, because it’s already hard to feel like you’re understood in high school.”
– senior sarah robinson
objectives.” With this in mind, the ELA department drafted “The Big Eight,” a list of eight books that every NW student, aside from some honors tracks, is required to read. “In the English department, we have a set curriculum that’s been vetted by the district,” Stewart said. “We sat down as a department and said, ‘What are the eight books we want kids to read?’ They’re not the perfect list of eight and that list will get reviewed periodically, but we wanted to make sure we’re inclusive of a variety of different authors, writing perspectives and cultures and you name it.” Throughout the country, the frequency of parents discussing or challenging titles has only increased. In challenging one of Project Lit’s reads, “All Boys Aren’t Blue,” the club comes under fire. “In the past couple of months, there has been a significant increase nationwide in the number of books being challenged in school and public libraries,” Anthony said. “I think it’s up by 60%. The bulk of the books being challenged are written by either authors of color or authors who represent or even stories that represent the LGBTQ community. There do seem to be specific stories that are being targeted and challenged.” This discussion has put pressure on Project Lit to reevaluate some of their titles. Whether the district backs up teachers or not, Project Lit members support the diverse perspectives the books they read can offer. “I think [the possible bannings] limits the wide range of curriculum that Project Lit uses and I think they’re limiting students’ abilities to learn about different topics that aren’t talked about in regular school curriculum,” junior Grace Karlin said. “So I think it’s limiting [bringing] light to [these topics], and allowing people to
smnw.com have their own opinions on them. Because if they’re not letting you experience it through a book, then they’re not educating you on it at all.” Some students, like Project Lit co-president Sarah Robinson, don’t find themselves represented in the literature covered in English classes. She explored Project Lit to find the stories she felt she could relate to. “When we go to Project Lit meetings, we always go off into these topics [and] we share our personal experiences,” Robinson said. “We always find ways to relate to the main character, because a lot of us feel underrepresented in the media and at our school. I think a lot of our students may feel uncomfortable and may feel like they’re not being heard, which is very problematic, because it’s already hard to feel like you’re understood in high school.” Robinson reminds parents that the titles distributed in Project Lit are not required reading. “We’re not forcing anybody to read these books,” Robinson said. “Project Lit is 100% voluntary, like you can decide whether or not you want to read this. I think parents are just upset because they’re not seeing themselves in these books because our school is predominantly white. So they’re like, ‘Oh, my kid’s being flushed with this perspective that they can’t relate to.’” Anthony and other Project Lit members notice a pattern in the types of books being challenged. They all seem to present a different perspective than what’s typical. “By specifically targeting and challenging books, by and about our most marginalized groups within a school, I think it sends a really negative message to those
Photo 1: Project Literature teacher Rebecca Anthony speaks on the subject of book banning. “These aren’t just random books,” Anthony said. “These are award winning books.” Photo 2: Challenged books sit on a shelf in room 126. Teacher Rebecca Anthony has a shelf section full of these. “The climate nationwide is such that parents challenge these books,” Anthony said. “It’s becoming dangerous for teachers.”
Photo 2
The Big Eight Books
students that like, ‘Oh, well, we have to yank every book about the LGBTQ+ community off our shelves,’” Anthony said. “What message does that send to students who are a part of that community? That’s horrible. Everybody involved needs to be really aware of that and push back by Sandra Cisernos on the challenges and on the bans because they are going to harm students.” The implications of book bans have the potential to greatly impact both clubs and school libraries. “If and when a school or a district is not super clear about their support [for teachers] or following their own policies for when a book is challegned, you create this fear in teachers that no one is going to support them,” Anthony said. Robinson thinks the idea of banning certain books will diminish teachers’ personal experiences and take away from the real world perspectives the clubs titles can offer. A coming of age tale about a “It feels like a personal attack [on] our sponsor, and young Latina girl growing up in also a lot of our English teachers,” Robinson said. “If you Chicago. look at our English teachers in the district, a lot of them are people of color. So it feels like you’re taking away their personal ideas, and you’re just kind of throwing by William Golding them away and telling them that they’re not valid.” Stewart urges students to keep reading throughout this conflict to experience the world with its many cultures and people. Anthony agrees. “I think kids should be able to read whatever books they want to read,” Anthony said. “It’s important to have books that tell everyone’s stories. Everybody’s story matters.”
House on Mango Street
Lord of the Flies
Night
by Elie Wiesel
A recount of a Jewish teenager’s memories of his experience of the Holocaust.
A long way gone by Ishmael Beah
Lord of the Flies tells a tale A memoir of a child soldier about human nature when during the Sierra Leone Civil schoolboys are stranded on a War and his journey to escape. deserted island with no way out.
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
A story about a young Black girl’s experience with police brutality and her struggle to get justice.
1984 by George Orwell
A telling of a dystopian future full of surveillance, totalitarianism, and conformity and one individual’s attempt to break free. + design by Ally Pruente
Great Gatsby
by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Great Gatsby paints a picture of America in the 1920’s by telling the story of a wealthy man’s ventures.
The Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alverez
Based on the true story of the Mirabal sisters, who, during the Trujillo dictatorship in the Dominican Republic, were part of an underground rebellion against the oppressive government.
news | 9
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news | 11
current events This month in current events includes the Roe v. Wade debate and Cappuccino Day + design by Stella Grist + graphics by Ally Pruente
Reevaluated Rulings
As the Supreme Court continues to meet regarding Texas’ abortion bill, the possibility of the overturning of Roe v. Wade increases + by Stella Grist On Dec. 10, the Supreme Court decided for the second time to refuse to block the recent Texas Heartbeat Act (S. B. 8). Because of this law, those who have abortions or aid someone in getting one can now be sued for large amounts of money by citizens. This provides an incentive for people to enforce an abortion ban without there actually being one in place. The Supreme Court ruled that Texas abortion providers can challenge the law, but the law will remain in place, according to National Public Radio (NPR). “Allowing private citizens to sue other citizens over aiding and/or receiving an abortion will lead to a lot more problems,” Young Republicans president Michael Owens said. “It can lead to medical malpractice in trying to hide the operation which will lead to hurting the mother as well as the child. It can lead to false accusations that can hurt a doctor’s practice over an unrelated topic. Making abortions sueable over by private citizens will hurt more then it will help.” This decision was regarding the case Whole Women’s Health v. Jackson and began Nov. 1. Whole Women’s Health are abortion providers who allege that the Heartbeat Act violates the Constitution. The court reached the decision that the law was not, in fact, unconstitutional, but abortion providers may sue Texas licensing officials. Chief Justice John Roberts believes that the law is directly contradictory to Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court ruling that prevents overly restricted access to abortion. Roe v. Wade prohibits states from banning abortion before 23-24 weeks in a pregnancy, according to New York Times. A recent law in Mississippi prevents abortions from taking place over 15 weeks after conception. The Supreme Court expects a ruling over the law’s constitutionality by June, with the possibility of the overturning of Roe v. Wade in that decision. “My thoughts of Roe v. Wade being overturned are that it would be a positive thing,” Owens said. “I don’t say that because it leaves the right for
women to have abortions unprotected. I say it because it allows for the ruling to be reexamined on a constitutional basis. Abortion I believe isn’t a federal issue, it’s a state to state issue because it falls under the states’ powers that were promised to them under the Constitution.” Roe v. Wade has been a deeply impactful Supreme Court ruling since it had been decided. It has been deeply influential in various candidate campaigns, later Supreme Court decisions and the political scope. “The 1973 decision of Roe v. Wade has driven a stake into the Supreme Court, making one side conservative and one side more liberal. ” Owens said. “This division will do nothing but keep growing throughout the years until it’s impact spills over into everything we do. I believe that not only future rulings regarding abortion will be impacted but all rulings will be become a partisan issue which will only cause more headaches for the American people.”
Community through coffee
Cougar Community Commitment (CCC) holds Cappuccino Day to benefit the NW community
+ by Stella Grist Cougar Community Commitment (CCC), the community service class at NW, hosts a Cappuccino Day. In previous years, they take place once a quarter and students and staff are encouraged to order food and drink items throughout the first four hours of the day. This year, it will be taking place during all four lunches on Dec. 16. The CCC exec board organizes the day and members assist in running it. This year CCC president Madi Hoffman found it important to bring back old NW tradition. “Cappuccino Day is this super fun day where you can buy cappuccinos, coffee, lemonade, cookies, stuff like that,” Hoffman said. Everything’s a dollar. All of the proceeds, all of the money we make, goes toward a NW family or an organization in need. This year, it is going to look a little bit different because of COVID-19 and everything. It will be during all four lunches versus all four hours.” For Cappuccino Days in the future, CCC hopes to be able to provide the food and drinks for the same portion of the day that was offered in the past. “Hopefully, we’ll be able to do another one third quarter and fourth quarter,” Hoffman said. “We are not totally sure if it
will be the same as it is right now, where we’ll only do it during all four lunches. We may be able to go back and do it during all four hours of the day.” CCC raises money through Cappuccino Day by selling hot chocolate, half and half, lemonade, cookies and, of course, cappuccinos for $1 each. “The coffee and cappuccino mix and stuff was left over from past cappuccino days, so we just use what we have and it’s from CCC,” Hoffman said. “The cookies and all of those kinds of goods are brought in by CCC students. They get an hour of service for bringing in two boxes of cookies, so that’s the incentive to bring it in. ” Today, be sure to stop by the CCC table in the mall during fourth hour and get some food and drinks to support a family from the community. “I would urge students to go buy goods during Cappuccino Day because they’re delicious,” Hoffman said. “Why would you not want coffee, hot chocolate, cookies and stuff during the school day for a dollar? They are a huge help to the organizations that we’re donating [the proceeds] to.”
Sports Recap
12 | sports
Dec. 16, 2021
Girls’ and Boys’ Basketball and Bowling prepare for the winter sports season
Hopeful and Hungry + by Ally Pruente The girls’ basketball team began practicing before Thanksgiving break. Their goal? Return to the state tournament. “I feel like we know what it takes to win,” senior Tamara HarrisWebster said. “We still have to work hard to get [to the state championship again].” The entire girls’ basketball team participated in the Gatorade Scrimmage on Saturday Nov 20. Each player on the C-team, freshman team, JV and Varsity team brought a case of Gatorade to share throughout the entire season. After that, they scrimmage against each other in miniature games to prepare for the first games of the season. “[The Gatorade Scrimmage] was really fun,” freshman team player Addison Pruente said. “You play against your teammates [in] a mini game to prepare for our [real] first game. The whole team was there and it was a really great environment.” The Gatorade Scrimmage is just one way the coaches bring everyone together and bond all of the teams. Which is very important to players like Paige Cheffey who plays JV/Varsity. “Season has been great so far and we’ve been practicing all throughout [thanksgiving] break,” Cheffey said. “I’m looking forward to
getting closer with my teammates.” Over Thanksgiving break, the varsity and JV teams practiced in the mornings. They are transitioning back to afternoon practices, whereas c-team and freshman practice later in the evening. “I’ve only really had a couple days off,” Pruente said. “We’ve been going pretty hard.” Everyone’s hopes are high after last year’s success led the varsity team to win the state championship. Getting back to the state tournament after losing last year’s seniors is going to be challenging but the teams are ready to support each other to get there. “We plan to go back and [get that state title],” Harris-Webster said. “To get that we have to work hard.” Check out the Lady Cougars schedule on the right. For the season schedule,visit sunflowerleague.org.
Going for the layup, senior Ella Mackiewicz scores a point Dec. 7 in the Main Gym. The Lady Cougars won their first game against SM North Bison 65-41. “Our teamwork and communication while playing is really good,” Mackiewicz said. “We all played together last season so we understand each other.” + photo by Claire Moore
nothing matters but the game + by Yeretzy Blanco The boys’ basketball team was ranked the #2 team in Kansas 6A class in the preseason polls, according to Kansas Basketball Coaches Association. “That means people think a lot of us,” assistant varsity coach AJ Spencer said. “We have a lot of expectations, but I also think that we have a lot of kids who are up to fulfilling those expectations.” The team returns three starters from last year’s team that advanced to the state tournament for the first time in eight seasons. Returning starters include three all-league performers in seniors Damare Smith, Landon Wagler and Dante Wheatcroft. Smith has 998 career points and will probably break the 1,000 point mark on his first basket in the first game this season, he averaged 16.9 ppg & 4.1 apg last season making him a 1st team all-league and 2nd team all-state selection. Wagler averaged 16.9 ppg & 5.1 rpg making him a second-team all-league and honorable mention all-state selection. Wheatcroft averaged 7.1 ppg last season and earned honorable mention all-league. Juniors Malik O’Atis and Michael Collins will provide the Cougars with some varsity experience they received as sophomores last season. Khalil Moses is currently injured but is another junior that suited up for the varsity team last season and should be back in full swing in the coming weeks.
Practices began on Nov. 15 and continued throughout Thanksgiving break. In addition to school practices, players, including senior Landon Wagler, have dedicated their own time to improving their individual skills. “I give at least an hour each day,” Wagler said. “[During the offseason], I tend to do three to four hours a day.” Like so many others on the team, Wagler’s dedication comes from the passion he has for the sport. “It’s one of my favorite things to do,” Wagler said. “I first started playing in preschool until now it’s been my getaway. When my feet hit that hardwood, nothing matters but the game.” After last year’s substate championship, the team is determined to move deeper into the state bracket this year. “In the grand scheme of things, we always want to compete for the state championship,” Spencer said. “We went to state last year and won sub-state. [We want] to try to copy and paste the success we had last year but add a couple more wins in there.” Check out the Cougars schedule to the right. For the season schedule, visit sunflowerleague.org.
New Faces
+ by Ally Pruente The loss of last year’s seniors will be a huge adjustment for the bowling team when they begin their season after Winter Break. As a result, new faces will replace those seniors and prepare for the season ahead. “The biggest challenge is going to be dealing with the loss of the majority of our bowlers from last year,” senior Colby Hovermale, who holds the school record for , said. “We are going to have to work to be as good as [we were] last year.” Although bowling is a team sport, each bowler performs individually and the scores are combined. Each bowling team is made up of six bowlers. At tryouts, a total of 24 players and a few substitutes will be selected to make up the boys’ varsity, girls’ varsity, boy’s JV and girls’ JV teams. The bowling team has six varsity boys, six varsity girls, six JV boys and six JV girls adding up to 24 total players and some substitutes. Bowlers will focus on improving their skills to throw the best individual scores they can. “I have been bowling my entire life, but not competitively until high
Senior Damare Smith jumps to dunk the ball Dec. 7 in the Main Gym. The Cougars beat the Bison in the first game of the season with a score of 73-49. “Winning the first game sets up how the season is going to be, so it was good that we won,” Smith said. “The team’s attitude moving forward will be positive.” + photo by Erin Dory
school,” Hovermale said. “[But] my only two personal goals this year are a 225 average and going to state.” The returning bowlers are aware of how hard they have to work and want to prepare the entire team for the season which begins on Jan. 11 at Royal Crest Lanes in Lawrence. “Our goal this year is [for] both of our teams [girls and boys] to win regionals and going to state,” junior Corbin Glaser said. “We focus on meeting that goal by setting our own goals as individuals and making sure we meet them so we are in the best condition we could be in when our teams take on regionals.” The regional meet determines whether the team qualifies for the state tournament. As shown to the right, a Greek Church is one of the most difficult combination of pins to knock down: a split with the 4, 6, 7, 9 and 10 pin. The split was named a Greek Church because the layout of the pins represents the architecture of an old cathedral.
+ design by Stella Grist + graphics by Ally Pruente
smnw.com
Dec. 16, 2021
Like Riding
a Bike
Dorothy ran off stage.
That wasn’t supposed to happen. Most people in the audience didn’t notice, but Olathe Northwest director Robin Murphy did. She wasn’t necessarily sure what was going wrong, but she knew one thing—Dorothy wasn’t supposed to run off stage when confronted by the witch. Murphy was anxious, but by the time she checked with the cast and crew backstage, everything had been taken care of. The actress who played Dorothy had gotten hit in the nose right before she had to go on stage with the Wicked Witch of the West. She had used her hanky to wipe her bloody nose, but soon, she would need a more permanent solution. She did part of the next scene but made the decision to get off stage as soon as she had no more lines. Although it may not sound like it, this is one of the moments Murphy remembers fondly when it comes to her students at Olathe Northwest. It embodies their drive to make the show go on. This passion is what brought her out of retirement and to SM Northwest to direct the winter production of “Little Women.” “I loved [teaching],” Murphy said. “I loved it then. I love it now. Nobody teaches for the money or the fame or the support or the credit. You teach in spite of society. There is nothing in society that makes anybody want to be a teacher. That’s a pretty rough statement, but it’s true. You teach because it’s a vocation, and you teach as long as you can.”
Director Robin Murphy is coming out of retirement to direct Northwest’s production of Little Women. + by Morgan Tate + design by Ally Pruente
Murphy doesn’t remember when her passion started. Her parents were by no means theater people. Her dad was a physical education teacher and most likely wanted her in athletics. But there were a couple of places where it could’ve started. It might have been her mother, who would play the sweet sounds of Julie Andrews, “My Fair Lady” and “Camelot,” on the stereo. It could’ve been some old Theater in the Park production lost to the sands of time. But Murphy knew she wanted to be a director by the time she was in fourth grade — when she adapted and directed her class’s production of “The Aristocats.” From that point on, Murphy’s love for theater was like a rolling snowball quickly increasing in size. At SM North, Murphy learned from directors Yvonne Sutter and Frank Robertson. She started out in the crew before performing in musicals, including “Hello Dolly” and “Once Upon a Mattress.” Later, she began to act in plays. By her sophomore year of high school, Murphy knew she wanted to teach theater. Nothing else seemed interesting to her. Murphy’s first job as a theater teacher was at Bishop Miege. No matter how many obstacles were thrown her way, she loved it. Putting on productions of “Camelot” and “Godspell” with high schoolers was a joy. One of her students became a world-renowned opera singer. After taking a quick break to have her two oldest children, Kaitlin and Evan Mesh, Murphy started her second teaching job at St. Teresa’s Academy, an all-girls school in Kansas City, Mo. This presented two challenges: working with a group of boys brought over from another school and working with her own child. The boys weren’t as hard to deal with as her own daughter. A colleague of hers, choreographer Jay Coombes, gave her this piece of advice. “You never want to cast your child because they’re your child,” Coombes said. “But you never want to not cast your child because they’re your child.” Director Robin Murphy directs the leads of the musical Dec. 8 in the little theater. The play is Little Women and is going to be on February 17,18,19. “I love seeing the artistic creation from nothing to a complete visual story,” Murphy said. “I love seeing the growth and connection of the actors.” + photo by Ashley Broils
When it came to Kaitlin, there was always “teacher mom” and “mom mom.” She was incredibly happy to see Kaitlin succeed in this environment, especially without her influence. Kaitlin eventually went to Northwest and thrived, performing in productions such as “Into the Woods” and “All in the Timing.” She became Thespian president and even won a prestigious award for high school theater, a Blue Star. But Mesh didn’t stop there. In 2009, she performed in a revival of “West Side Story,” at the age of 19, on Broadway. Although It was definitely a culture shock for Mesh, it was a proud mama moment for Murphy. Mesh is currently performing in “Moulin Rouge” on Broadway. Murphy’s last job was at Olathe Northwest where, over 16 years, she built the program from the ground up. They all had to learn the new lightboard, soundboard and sound system. She was so excited to see there were already students who were passionate about leaving a legacy in this new program. “They are the very meaning of ‘I didn’t say it would be easy, I said it would be worth it,’” Murphy said. “They made all the impossible work worth it.” Then, she did what everyone in theater had been telling her to do — break a leg. In 2019, Murphy walked back into her classroom from lunch and slipped on water someone had spilled. She broke her leg and knee. After seeing how much time it would take to recover, Murphy retired from the job which had consumed her since the ’90s. Retirement allowed Murphy to travel and see friends and family, but she knew one thing: she missed teaching theater. When she heard about the opening to direct at Northwest. It seemed like a sign to return to the stage. She already loved the department from her daughter’s time there, so she applied. “I love [directing], it’s like riding a bike, you never forget how,” Murphy said. “It’s so natural to me, and I love being around students. Coming in just to direct is the best part... I don’t have to do the administrative stuff... [and] I love teaching. In other words, I get the best parts.”
MONTH in photos
14 | month in photos
Dec. 16, 2021
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Photo 3: Senior Dante Wheatcroft celebrates a basket Nov. 10 in the Main Gym. Northwest packed the stands for a close overtime game against SM South. “I couldn’t really focus because it was so loud, and it was the first time we’ve played in front of a crowd since my sophomore year,” Wheatcroft said. “When we win [with a crowd watching] + photo by Sidra Sakati
Photo 1: Seniors Freddy Colette and Maria Berardo sing to each other Dec. 6 in the Auditorium. Colette and Berardo sang a duet of the song “Baby it’s Cold Outside” by Ricardo Montalbán and Esther Williams. I’ve never sung a duet with Freddy before,” Berardo said. “However, I really enjoyed interacting with him onstage, it made the song so much fun.” +photo by Claire Moore
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month in photos | 15 Photo 5
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Photo 5: Junior Tanner Pruter shrugs as Associate Principal Britt Haney judges his holiday attire Dec. 9 in the Auditorium. Every year at the holiday concert the band holds a sweater competition. “There’s a lot of pressure [in the competition],” Pruter said. “I was upset to get knocked out.” + photo by Kyra Highlander
Photo 6: Senior Mackenzie Meharry yells at the Boys Varsity Basketball game Nov. 10 in the Main Gym. Northwest lost to SM South in overtime 65-63. “I was so anxious, I just kept yelling at the boys to play smart and make the right choice,” Meharry said. “My only goal was to try and keep the boys going.” + photo by Sidra Sakati
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Photo 4 Photo 2: Talking to a parent, senior Sarah Robinson helps with the blanket drive Dec. 4 at Growing Futures Early Education Center. Robinson was participating in the blanket drive as a part of National Honor Society. “I believe I made the kids and the parents have a little bit of a brighter day by passing out some fun blankets and offering some enthusiasm,” Robinson said. + photo by Josie Torres
Photo 4: Senior Katie Ault plays the violin during the winter concert Dec. 7 in the auditorium. During the winter concert, the orchestra performed Christmas songs like Camerata and Carol of the Bells. “The winter concert was a lot of fun, but also sad knowing that this was my last one since I’m a senior,” Ault said. “I loved all the music that was played, especially the Christmas songs.” + photo by Evan Johnson
“The ending [of musical chairs] was really fun when they wrestled for the final chair and we all got really excited.” - junior Simon Anstine Juniors Mason Thomas and Simon Anstine get hype Nov. 30 in the Main Gym. Thomas and Anstine celebrated after the juniors won the musical chair competition. + photo by Josie Torres
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