N W P FACE TO FACE
Shawnee Mission joins county schools in the move to fully in-person learning
Issue 7 Vol. 52 March 31, 2021
Here Comes Hubbard 8 SMSD’s next superintendent is a familiar face to many students
Her-story 18
International Women’s Month celebrates women’s accomplishments and the push for gender equality
2 | feature
Mar.31, 2021
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smnw.com
TABLE of CONTENTS 4
Together Again
We shouldn’t have rushed back to full in-person learning
5 6
Columns The Last Tie
Juniors Sophia Brewer and Tate Burns were elected student body president and vice president
Testing Troubles Teachers and students prepare for a COVID-19- safe testing environment
7 8
Here Comes Hubbard SMSD’s next superintendent is a familiar face to many students
9
Making ¢ents of the Bond Issue The recently approved bond issue will bring additional teachers and facility improvements to Northwest
11-13
Face to Face Shawnee Mission joins county schools in the move to fully in-person learning
14
No Tomorrow Girls’ basketball brings home the state championship, the first in school history
15
Sustained Spirit Cheer and dance team introduce a new event
Forks Down: Coffee Edition Spilling the beans on four locally-owned coffee shops
16
NO RT HWEST PASSAG E
TOC | 03
Is s u e 7 Vo l . 5 2 Ma rc h 31 , 2 02 1
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 24-page news magazine. The paper will be distributed every four weeks 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 say in all decisions. 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.
17
Waiting Game Prom is going to look very different this year as the event adapts to COVID-19 restrictions
18
Her-story International Women’s Month celebrates women’s accomplishments and the push for gender equality
We Heard You Students share their opinions about spring break travel
Current Events Upcoming Events
March In Photos
STAFF PUBLICATION OVERSIGHT:
19 21 22 23
A Look Back As students leave the school, junior Kadence Peel stands in the third hallway March 29 outside Room 151. With the new three feet apart rule, classrooms have been more crowded than before.
Editor-in-Chief Editor-in-Chief
Rory Dungan Elizabeth Kuffour
CONTENT MANAGEMENT: Photo Editor
Claire Moore
Ass’t Photo Editor
Sophia McCraney
Copy Editor
Emily Alexander
Copy Editor
Stella Grist
Online Editor
Ruth Demeke
Online Editor
Ally Pruente
Design Editor
Erin Albers
STAFF WRITERS:
STAFF DESIGNERS:
Yeretzy Blanco Grace Logan Veronica Meiss Morgan Tate Kyle Vogel
Olivia Linville Kasi Maniktala Olivia Nagorka Alden Norberg
ADVISER: + Cover photo by Claire Moore + Cover design by Erin Albers
Susan Massy
Junior Sebastian Duewel serves the ball March 18 at SM Northwest. Duewel plays for the Varsity tennis team. “My favorite thing about tennis is making new friends and having a great time,” Duewel said. + photo by Anna Torres
4 | opinion
March 31, 2021
T O G E T H E R AGAIN We shouldn’t have rushed back to full in-person mode
T
he hybrid learning mode necessitated a number of adjustments in order for students to return to the building safely. Three people to a lunch table, distanced group discussions and uncomfortable Webex silence became our normal. We craved our past education experiences and reminisced about what an average school year looked like. But were we really ready for a full return? As much as we wanted school to be as “normal” as possible, the pandemic isn’t over and even this is hardly normal. Until just days before the Shawnee Mission middle schools and high schools returned to full-in person learning, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) was encouraging schools to maintain six feet of social distance at all times. The Shawnee Mission School District (SMSD) high school reopening plan, released weeks before the CDC change, reduced their social distancing guidelines for classrooms to three feet But that isn’t guaranteed. “While schools will do everything possible to ensure social distancing, we cannot guarantee three feet social distancing at all times in this model,” SMSD officials said in their High School In-Person Mitigation document, which detailed reopening plans for each high school in the district. The decision to loosen restrictions hasn’t been fully explained by the district, by the CDC or by science. But the
decision has physically forced students closer to teachers and their classmates. Although it seems that most teachers had received at least their first COVID vaccine before the day we all returned to the building, no public information is available verifying that. We aren’t the only ones who noticed that. According to a recent Johns Hopkins University analysis,
13 / 2 / 3 agree
disagree
abstain
no states are publicly reporting statistics on how many teachers have been vaccinated. Locally, keeping track of vaccination numbers has to be something schools are aware of. But the public has no verifiable knowledge of just how many of our teachers have been vaccinated. Without this, are we sure that we aren’t putting our teachers at high risk? CDC guidelines use different colors to represent the infection rate of a community. This in turn determines
eligibility for remote, hybrid or in-person attendance at schools. Using percentages to separate the categories, the CDC created four sections that provide an outline for school reopening. As of March 29, 2.8% of COVID-19 tests are positive and there are 79 new cases per 100,000 people, so the current phase for Johnson County is orange. In the orange category, the CDC recommends that middle and high schools remain in the remote learning model, but may switch to hybrid if proper mitigation measures are put in place (more information can be seen in the graphic below). Evidence and case numbers prove that now was not the time to switch to full in-person learning. Students and staff deserve the right to the safest and most effective educational environment possible. We simply cannot provide that currently. Sure, we want a normal school year with dances, sporting events, assemblies and moments we can carry with us long after high school. We wouldn’t even mind returning for just a few weeks to savor as much as we can, but why didn’t we wait to do it safely? To ever really return to the school environment we all had pre-pandemic, we must be smart in the precautions we take. We must control what we can and do what’s best for our community.
JOHNSON COUNTY SCHOOLS REOPENING PLAN Guidelines Green: <5% positive and an incidence rate of 0-50, schools can fully reopen while taking safety precautions
Principles Set aside plans for those at high risk Promote healthy hygiene practices, including hand washing
Yellow: 5.1-10% positive and an incidence rate of 51-150, hybrid learning recommended
Do not allow groups to intermingle
Orange: 10.1-15% positive and an incidence rate of 151-250, remote learning recommended with hybrid learning option available
Barriers/face coverings are required
Red: >15% positive and an incidence rate of over 251, completely remote recommended Positive percentages were based on individuals tested in the last two weeks (as of March 29). Information obtained from the Johnson County DHE COVID-19 report
Intensify cleaning procedures
Limit sharing of supplies and equipment Limit outside non-essential visitors Monitor students for COVID-19 symptoms
+Design by Kasi Maniktala
smnw.com
columns| 5
To The Rescue
We thought we’d pick a shelter dog, but perhaps she chose us We piled in the car on a normal weekday afternoon. My mom was still at work, so she planned to meet us there. My dad, my sister Addison, our dog Jazzy and I left the house. We had high hopes and a backseat prepped for today’s adventure. We + by Ally Pruente had more than enough supplies and knew that today was the day we’d make one new fluffy addition to the family. My sister tried to contain her joy but couldn’t help herself. We’d had our dog Jazzy for years, but she was more my dog than the family’s; that was obvious. Today we were going to meet Kayla, who was going to be Addison’s. The kennel was prepped in her room and she had picked out all the toys, which she said rightfully gave her full ownership. For years leading up to this moment, Addison had chipped away at my parents. She made her case strong using every tactic she could think of: from Google Slide presentations to extra chores to prove responsibility. We were all excited, but nobody as much as Addison. When we arrived at the shelter we recruited a worker to help us run a “doggy introduction.” We wanted Jazzy to meet her new sister. The worker disappeared and came back moments later with Kayla, a beautiful brown and black boxer terrier mix who was about three times the size of Jazzy. Leashes in hand, Jazzy in mine and Kayla in the worker’s, we made our way to the play yard, my sister skipping and following closely behind us. To make a long story short, this moment was not nearly as special as we thought it would be. Jazzy did not want a sister. She wanted to be left alone, and she made that perfectly clear in the play yard. The worker apologized to us and knew we were disappointed. She said that there was nothing we could do if the dogs didn’t get along and took Kayla back inside. We all stood in awkwardness, except for
Jazzy who paraded around the play yard like she owned the place. We took my introverted Jazzy and our heavy hearts with us as we walked to the bench in front of the shelter. My dad picked up his phone to call my mom. He was sending her the heartbreaking message that we had given up. We really didn’t have a backup plan for an event like this. My sister was crushed. As we all sat, we knew we’d struck out big time. Around the corner, another worker appeared. He was wearing a volunteer shirt and walking a dog. A very cute dog, might I add. A dog who was an unfamiliar face in our search. My dad slid the phone off his ear and looked directly at the volunteer. “What’s the deal with that dog?” he asked. “She’s up for adoption, I was just taking her on a walk,” replied the man. My sister began to pet the dog and a smile returned to her face. This dog was the perfect size and seemed uncontrollably friendly. We had a slight suspicion that she walked our way for a reason. The new dog began to sniff Jazzy, and the two seemed to at least tolerate one another. My dad lifted the phone back to his ear and told my mom all hope might not be lost. Addison and I looked at each other and squealed with joy. After a quick discussion we decided to place this new dog on hold. We went home after deciding we’d had enough of the emotional roller coaster for one day. Now we live a crazy life with two shelter dogs. The new dog, Nona, joined us just days after we left the shelter. Jazzy still keeps to herself but has embraced her more outgoing qualities since Nona came around. They are sisters, and Jazzy appreciates the new friend she’s gained. The journey to finding the perfect second companion was difficult. It turns out that the dog that was meant for us couldn’t be planned. The process of adopting animals is priceless. They’re all unique and bring something you’d never expect to the table. They can save you just as much as you save them.
My American Dream
Although I’ve been in the United States for 13 years, the journey has just begun My family and I moved to the United States in 2008. I don’t remember much about the journey here, so I ask my family for details instead. My mom tells me about it with a sparkle in her eyes. “Todo fue para ustedes,” she + by Yeretzy Blanco says. “Everything was for you guys,” referring to my siblings and me. We came to the United States because my parents wanted my brother and me to have a better life than they did. My oldest sister stayed behind with family. She had grown up in Mexico and knew nothing different, so she continued her education there. We moved into a two-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment with my aunt’s family. That made eight people split between two bedrooms. We struggled a lot to get where we are now. In the first year, I had to go to work with my mom because we weren’t able to afford daycare. Most times they would just let me sleep in the car while they went inside and cleaned houses. If I woke up, I went inside and waited for them to finish. I didn’t consider us poor growing up —we always had what we needed to survive. One of my fondest
memories from my childhood is from my fourth birthday when my brother went to Goodwill and got me a Shrek toy with money he had been saving up. I still have it to this day. I finally started elementary school. During that same time, we moved into an apartment of our own. I had been learning to speak English from TV shows, so when I entered a formal learning environment, I was able to pick everything up quickly. After a year at that school, I transferred to a school that was almost entirely English-speaking. I always loved school and was even involved with the first school newspaper there when I was in fifth grade. We moved again my sixth-grade year, to a house this time. We moved in the winter, so we lived without hot water and a heater for a couple of months. But I finally had my own room for the first time in years. My parents worked extremely hard in order to watch my siblings and I succeed. They now own businesses, are homeowners and have provided my siblings and me with a multitude of opportunities. My brother is a business owner as well, my sister has a family of her own and I am a couple of steps away from going to college. They fulfilled their American dreams. Now it’s my turn to fulfill mine.
Just Gamer
Why do I need to beg to be treated like one of the guys when it comes to video games?
“Dream stan.” Just recently, I posted “just because I’m a girl doesn’t mean I’m [bad] at video games,” on my + by Veronica Snapchat story. The number of Meiss replies I got from men discrediting what I said was astounding. I have been playing Minecraft since the demo version was released on mobile phones in 2011. While I have never been the best at the Player vs. Player aspect of the game, I have always exceeded at the building aspect. Recently, I have been excelling at speed running the game with my record constantly improving with each attempt. Since I was six years old, I have been told that I cannot be good at video games, or anything stereotypically male, because I am a girl. Video games gave me a way to escape sexist ridicule, but instead, it only got worse. Before I began streaming on Twitch, my constant fear was that I would be facing the same hate that streamers like HannahxxRose, Pokimane or Nihachu get. I was afraid I would be sexualized, so I decided to never do a webcam on my streams. This next section goes into sexualizing females’ bodies. Twitch streamer Nihachu called out the sexualization directed at female streamers. After 13-year-old streamer LanuSky was given “compliments” about her body in her older brother’s stream, Nihachu realized how commonly minors face similar comments. She talked about the girls who will grow up thinking that men sexualizing their bodies is normal. Nihachu goes on to urge those doing things to imagine their sister, their mother, their daughter and even their own girlfriends being told this kind of “compliments” and harassment. Instead of being seen as formidable opponents, they are viewed as objects to be consumed. All the time, female streamers have to deal with opinions about their bodies. The worst part is that I can’t even do anything about it. This kind of thing is almost encouraged by male streamers, too. When someone consumes media that expresses a certain opinion, that opinion or behavior is taught to be okay. All I can do about this topic is just bring awareness to it. That’s sometimes what hurts the most; seeing an issue and being powerless to stop it. The Twitch platform also seems to just target women in general. It doesn’t recommend as many female streamers as it does males. The most subscribed person on Twitch, Ludwig, has over 90,000 subscribers more than the most subscribed female streamer, CaptainPuffy, who has only 18,000 subscribers. While her achievements need to be celebrated, the Twitch platform and algorithm seems to always discredit female streamers. Why is it that whenever I play video games I’m always labeled as a “gamer girl” instead of just a “gamer”? I want to be able to play a video game without men automatically assuming I don’t know what I’m doing. Why has that become something I need to beg for?
Design by Olivia Linville
6 | feature
March 31, 2021
THE LAST TIE
Juniors Sophia Brewer and Tate Burns were elected student body president and vice president + by Elizabeth Kuffour
F
Juniors Sophia Brewer and Tate Burns smile Feb. 25 in downtown Lenexa. Brewer ran for president and Burns ran for vice president. “I was very undecided on if I was going to run at all,” Burns said. “Sophia ended up reaching out to me and asking me to run with her. I figured the fact that she had been showing that level of determination from the start showed me that she deserved the presidential spot.” + photo by Erin Dory
or several juniors in Student Council, the opportunity to lead the organization through the 40+ events they hold is a dream they’ve had since freshman year. Juniors Sophia Brewer and Tate Burns saw that dream come true on March 5, when they found out that they had been elected student body president and vice president. Brewer has been a member of StuCo since her freshman year. She saw running for student body president as a way to both fulfill a long-held aspiration and serve the Northwest community. “I’ve wanted to run since freshman year, and I ran for class president and vice president each year and was never elected,” she said. “I had so many ideas I wanted to implant into next year and I felt like this was my way to reach out to our community.” Brewer is saddened by the event cancellations and modifications that have had to occur this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but is excited for the prospect of a return to normalcy next year. After enduring a year of unprecedented circumstances, leading Northwest through adversity is one of her priorities as student body president. “Our three main goals are bringing new ideas to Northwest, making sure the student body is involved in our events and ensuring our school is a fun and safe place,” she said. “Northwest has such an admirable spirit that brings me a smile.” Burns has been in Student Council since his sophomore year. He quickly became invested in the organization once he realized how close the group is. “We always want the best for each other and if someone is struggling the rest of the class is there to back them up and help them in that difficult time.” He had initially decided not to run on a presidential ticket, but was invigorated by Brewer’s work ethic and enthusiasm and convinced by some words of
encouragement from current StuCo parliamentarian Brady King. “Seeing the energy and work Sophia was ready to put in made me realize the presidency wasn’t gonna be me buried in a workload, but rather me working with an amazing team of people to help the school,” Burns said. “Brady King was the final push I needed to decide to run. He made me realize the opportunity was truly great and that the good parts outweigh the bad by tons.” Brewer echoed Burns’ sentiments, saying that she was shocked to win the race but was glad she seized the opportunity to run. “Still to this day it is unexplainable,” Brewer said. “We were in shock and were speechless. My heart still races when I think about that moment. Tate and I are so excited and so thankful for this opportunity.”
“
Our grade is now the ‘last tie’ to StuCo before COVID. Our job next year is to teach everyone the importance of community service and leadership.
”
— junior Sophia Brewer
Brewer and Burns are looking forward to building the future of StuCo, and hope to bring the organization back to its full functionality when the pandemic ends. Before delivering the election results to the candidates, StuCo sponsor Sarah Dent called the junior class “the last tie” to what StuCo was like before the pandemic. With tears in her eyes, she expressed her confidence in them and reassured them of their capability to lead the organization. “We are the last grade who experienced a non-COVID student council year, getting to do every event with no hiccups,” Brewer said. “Our job next year is to teach everyone the importance of community service and leadership.”
MEET THE EXEC BOARD
Secretary Austin Oakerson:
Treasurer Mike Owens:
Q: Who is your role model at Northwest? A: Coach Stigge has definitely taught me many lessons both in sports and in life that will stick with me forever.
Q: What are your hopes for senior year? A: [I hope] to make it the best that I can for everyone. We’ve all missed out on a lot of stuff and I really want it packed with everything possible.
Parliamentarian Andrew Braun:
Publicist Eli Laurent:
Q: Who is your role model at Northwest? A: [Senior] Callan Taylor is such a great friend, and I look up to him and seek his advice on a usual basis. He encouraged me to run for StuCo and I hope to do the same for future grades.
Q: What are your goals for StuCo next year? A: To organize events as efficiently as possible, but have a lot of fun doing it.
Q: What is your favorite thing about Northwest? A: The caring and committed people we have here. Everyone is always supportive of each other and always dedicated, whether that be towards their grades, sports or clubs.
Q: What is your favorite thing about StuCo? A: There’s so much love for one another in Student Council and Mrs. Dent is the reason for that. Juniors Michael Owens and Andrew Braun pose together March 19 at Lenexa Public Market. Owens ran for president and Braun ran for vice president. “I really became close with Andrew in 8th grade,” Owens said. “When we saw the Student Council Executive Board speaking to us at Northwest we knew that this was going to be us senior year speaking to these younger kids and helping them with their journey in high school.” + photo by Josie Torres
Q: What is your favorite thing about StuCo? A: Definitely the community outreach events we do, it just makes me feel warm inside. [StuCo] has definitely become my second family.
Q: What are your hopes for senior year? A: [I hope] to have a “normal” year where we can run all of our events.
Q: Who is your role model at Northwest? A: Mrs. Dent cares so much about her students and I can go to her for anything. + design by Kasi Maniktala
TESTING TROUBLES
smnw.com
news | 7
Teachers and students prepare for a COVID-19-safe testing environment + by Emily Alexander
As schools everywhere transition to full in-person learning, a new possibility for in-person summative exams opens up. While final exams will still occur as normal, the Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) program tests will have some major adjustments in order to follow COVID-19 guidelines to keep both students and teachers safe. “This May, content has been modified in nearly every area,” IB coordinator and psychology teacher Amy Walker said. “There’s still one or two that didn’t change, but [there] is a fewer number of papers for exams. The amount of content was reduced as well.” Many teachers have also had to make adjustments to their teaching curriculum due to the shortened school year. “It’s not that I’ve had to adjust what I’m teaching,” Walker said. “I’m still teaching the same things. “I just may not hit the same number of units or the amount of practice we’re doing isn’t the same. As of now, the IB exams will take place in person. Last year, however, the exams did not take place at all, leaving the overall grades to be determined by other factors such as in-class performance and projects. “Several students [last year] said it would have been nice to just show what they know,” Walker said. “They worked so hard so I have such mixed feelings on [testing in person].” The IB grades are determined through a combination of a project called the internal assessment and the external assessments which are the papers written in the testing format. Last year’s IB grades were determined by the internal assessment and the students’ predicted grades, a grade determined by the teacher based on how they feel they will perform on the exams.
“
[I feel] overwhelmed and unprepared... It’s not teachers’ faults. It’s just a weird year and learning remotely makes it harder.
junior Meg Qualls
”
The pandemic has obviously affected the way students learn as opposed to years past. Many classes have had to make adjustments to the content they teach while also making sure they cover what the student needs for the test. “[I feel] overwhelmed and unprepared,” junior Meg Qualls said. “It’s not teachers’ faults. It’s just a weird year and learning remotely makes it harder.” The current struggle for schools offering the IB program across the world is finding a safe testing environment while following guidelines of the Center for Disease Control (CDC), their district and the IB program. “We are currently trying to figure that out because we have to find a place that is big enough,” Walker said. “Our largest exam will be English, so we have to find a place that will house 55 of our students following COVID-19 guidelines and IB guidelines for spacing.” The other problem is the possibility of a student getting sick and having to quarantine on the day of the test. A decision or plan for this scenario is still yet to be made but is currently in the works. “[Principal Lisa] Gruman and I are working on things we can do that the district can approve and we also have to get options approved by IB,” Walker said. “IB is particular in what they approve so we’re trying to brainstorm a list of ideas so we can present them, because we don’t want a person to miss out on an opportunity because of something like being sick.”
With her notebook open, junior Kira Cacioppo writes notes March 25 in Room 131. Cacioppo takes AP Macro, AP Spanish and IB English. “They require more work and more in-depth thinking,” Cacioppo said. “[The exams] are intimidating and will always be stressful.” + photo by Claire Moore
How do you feel about taking exams this year? A
B
C
D
“We’re in person, but I feel good about it. Like back in freshman year.” senior Jesse DeBok “I know there’s some material we haven’t been able to cover this year, which would make me feel apprehensive about the exams..” junior Alexa Magstadt “I feel like for my math class I am not well prepared [due to] learning virtually mostly all year.” senior Sarah Milks “It’s a little nerve-wracking but I think it’ll go alright. It’s going to be weird to take such a formal exam.” senior Katie Assel “We have been preparing for it in class, but I’m still nervous because this year has been weird.” junior Madi Hoffman “I’m kind of nervous for them, but I know that if I study well for them that I’ll do fine. It’s hard to know everything that is going to be big cumulative tests like these.” junior Maggie Chapin “In a normal year, we’d have been prepping for these for the better part of both semesters. But with school being moved to online for half the year, I’m sure it was really difficult for our teachers to do that.” senior Mason Morris + design by Livi Nagorka
March 31, 2021
08| feature
Here Comes Hubbard SMSD’s next superintendent is a familiar face to many students
Earlier this month, the SMSD Board of Education announced that current Superintendent Mike Fulton would be resigning after the current school year – an unexpected decision for many families in the district. Fulton’s successor, however, is someone familiar to the NW community. Dr. Michelle Hubbard is currently the assistant superintendent for leadership and learning in the district, a job which only focuses on one aspect of the duties she will assume as the superintendent. Hubbard has spent years as a teacher, counselor and superintendent of the Turner Unified School District, a nearby school system that includes only one high school. “I [have served] as a special education paraprofessional, a special education teacher, a high school principal, an elementary school principal and I have served in several roles at the district office, mostly around student learning and curriculum,” Hubbard said. As superintendent, Hubbard will work to build new relationships with those connected to the district, including teachers, other faculty, parents and the 28,000 students. “As a superintendent, there’s a lot in regard to overall supervision of the district, governance with the board and then the third part of that — a civic piece,” Hubbard said. “We have 14 municipalities in the district which means we work with 14 different cities.” The job of a superintendent can come with pressure from families within the district to make choices that are desirable to them. During Fulton’s term, parents and students have become angry – and have protested, at times – because of decisions made by Fulton and the SMSD school board. Last school year, students at all five high schools protested the contracts offered to teachers, which many deemed unfair. In August, athletes showed up at a board meeting to protest the board’s decision to not allow fall sports. Hubbard recognizes that being the superintendent does not come without criticism. “To say that the criticism doesn’t, or won’t, bother me would not be correct,” Hubbard said. “What I really try to do is dig into those relationships so that when I have to make a decision that people don’t
like, at least they know that I’m making it in the best interest of kids and the best interest of the district and community. There are going to be times when I can’t make everyone happy, and that’s part of the job.” Since Hubbard has already held positions within SMSD, she has some name recognition within the district. However, she has an additional source of connection – her twin daughters, Blair and Kennedy Sedler, who are seniors this year. “Being a parent really helps me make decisions for all types of kids,” Hubbard said. “The most difficult was this past year through COVID-19, especially last spring. I was on the team designing what was called Continuous Learning, and we were working on this great plan. And then as a parent, I saw it unfold. It didn’t unfold the way that we wanted it to. I think, in my current role, being able to see both sides is extremely powerful.” Hubbard sees an advantage in having two students under her roof instead of only one. Her twins provide her with different examples of how students learn and thrive. “I have one kiddo that has really done quite amazing through remote, and is probably more prepared to go to college than they would have been in a traditional senior schedule,” Hubbard said. “Then I have another kid that really needs to be in school every day. She needs the structure.” Blair also realizes the unique position she is in because her mother holds a top administrative position. “A lot of people look up to her,” Sedler said. “School-wise, teachers look at you differently if you’re in their class, and they get super nervous because of my mom. I think it affects me and Kennedy a little bit because of how high up she is, and we have to be good examples.” When hired, outgoing Superintendent Michael Fulton received a $250,000 salary plus a $1,000 a month car allowance to offset necessary travel required to perform duties in the Kansas City area as well as a yearly $24,000 tax-sheltered annuity. Hubbard’s contract compares favorably and includes a $255,000 annual salary plus the same car allowance given to Fulton, a $60 cell phone and data plan as well as annual contributions to a tax-sheltered annuity.
SMSD Administrative Tree
Superintendent
Associate Superintendent of Leadership and Learning
Director of Elementary
In-House Counsel
Associate Superintendent of Human Resources
Deputy Superintendent
Assistant Superintendent/ Principal of EC
Director of Elementary
Dr. Michelle Hubbard, who will assume the role of SMSD superintendent of schools July 1, is also the mother of NW twins Blair and Kennedy Sedler. As a result, Hubbard is a familiar face at NW events. +photo by David Smith, SMSD chief communications officer
Shawnee Mission School District Board of Education
The position of superintendent is overseen by the Board of Education. The superintendent is then responsible for each branch of the SMSD administration.
Director of Special Education
+ by Rory Dungan
Chief of Student Services
Executive Director of ICT
Assistant Superintendent
Chief Financial Officer
Director of Human Resources
Communications Coordinator
Director of Secondary Human Resources
Communication Coordinator
Coordinator of Classified Human Resources Coordinator of Wellness
Director of Curriculum and Instruction
Director of Secondary
Executive Director of Facilities
Executive Director of Emergency Management
Chief Communications Officers
Coordinator of Benefits
smnw.com
MAKING
CENTS OF THE
BOND ISSUE
feature | 9
The bond issue recently approved by community members will bring additional teachers and facility improvements to Northwest +by Grace Logan
With a landslide approval rate, the Shawnee Mission School District’s (SMSD) $264 million bond issue was approved on Jan. 26. $63 million of the bond budget will be spent at a secondary level, with the majority of this financing school furniture replacement, renovations and learning space upgrades.
According to the Johnson County Election Office, 69.4% of voters approved of the proposal. “I was incredibly surprised by that number,” Northwest area school board member Jamie Borgman said. “We were asking voters in the Shawnee Mission area to increase their taxes during a global pandemic while people are out of jobs. It’s a scary time in our community and in the world. The fact that our voters approved this bond so overwhelmingly was amazing.” Community turnout was approximately 27.5% with 49,662 mail-in ballots being submitted over a three-week period.
How it Affects the Community
By approving this bond, community members will take on an annual tax increase of $8 for every $100,000 of home value. Because the average home cost within Johnson County is approximately $320,000, the average homeowner would pay an additional $25.60 in taxes per year. Even with this increase, SMSD continues to assess the lowest mill levy, the tax rate applied to the value of a property, through the tax years 20322033 in Johnson County. The mill levy is used both locally and statewide to fund public schools and area services. The last bond, $233 million approved by voters in 2015, was spent on the construction of six new elementary schools, security enhancements, a new aquatic center and upgrades to SM South stadium. In addition to those improvements, other small renovations such as floor upgrades were completed at all five high schools. SMSD must follow the state guidelines determining how districts may spend the money acquired from bonds.
SMSD Strategic Plan
Bond funds will be used to support some aspects of the Strategic Plan via learning space upgrades and other new resources for students. The Strategic Plan was approved in 2019 and focuses on creating an individual learning plan for each student to prepare them for college, careers in the future and overall success in life. “The entire board was in support of the bond because, in large part, the board follows the
Strategic Plan,” Borgman said. “The Strategic Plan has set the course for the Shawnee Mission School District. [This plan] was decided by over 1600 community members and stakeholders [that outlined] goals [they] want Shawnee Mission to reach.” This plan will continue to be implemented until 2024.
How it Affects NW Students
With the approval of this bond, the Mall area outside of the cafeteria will be updated. Furniture offering collaborative learning spaces for students working in small groups will be added to this area as well. The restrooms outside of the main gym will be renovated to offer more privacy and classroom furniture will also be replaced. “We have such great community support for our schools,” Principal Lisa Gruman said. “That allows us to have these updates and upgrades to our buildings as they age so we can stay responsive to changing needs in education. We’re really lucky to have the ability to update our spaces to meet the needs of our learners.”
How it Affects SMSD Staff
The bond allows the district to move $5.4 million of the $21.6 million custodial staff fund into the capital outlay fund, freeing up money in the operating fund. “By moving part of the janitors’ fund into the capital outlay fund, the board created more money in the operating fund for other needs,” Borgman said. “However, if our voters did not approve the bond, we realized that we would have protected [our] janitors.” By putting 25% of the custodial staff fund into the capital outlay fund, the district can create additional faculty positions which will allow buildings to adjust the classload of secondary teachers. Over the next two years, teachers at middle schools and high schools throughout the district will move from teaching six periods a day to five. “I’m excited that students are going to have state of the art learning in our school district,” Borgman said. “Of equal importance is the fact that teachers are going to be teaching one less section to give them the plan time that they need and deserve to set students up for academic and life success.”
150
Elementary Secondary Maintenence
120
Playgrounds Technology Security Early Childhood
MONEY SPENT (IN MILLIONS)
Who Approved It?
90
60
30
0
THE $264 MILLION BOND BUDGET + design by Kasi Maniktala
10 | ads
March 31, 2021
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FACE TO
FACE Shawnee Mission joins county schools in the move to fully in-person learning
FACE TO FACE 12 | feature
March 31, 2021
Shawnee Mission joins county schools in the move to fully in-person learning + by Ruth Demeke, Elizabeth 0YǺSYV ERH ,VEGI 1SKER
TEACHER TURMOIL
STUDENT SQUABBLE
After a year of learning to teach online, teachers looked forward to seeing students return and hope it will ease the difficulties some students had through online learning. “I’m really glad to see all the students, however I am still really nervous as well,” English teacher Sheila Young said. “With the pandemic, I don’t know if we’ll feel 100% comfortable again, but it’s a mixed bag of emotions.” By the time students returned to in-person school, all teachers and custodians who elected to receive the COVID-19 vaccine had received at least their first dose. “Teachers that got their shots through the district should have their second shot no later than the end of the month,” economics teacher Matthew Wolfe said. Teachers worked to rearrange their classrooms, reducing the distance between students from six feet to at least three feet, to meet the newest district and CDC guidelines and to accommodate more students. “At the end of the day, all we can do is try to play our part and encourage one another to do the same,” Young said. “I’m at least going to focus on what I can control, and that is trying to make sure I keep everyone as safe as possible.” Teachers will continue cleaning their classrooms as they have already been doing throughout hybrid mode. To provide a clean environment for their students, teachers use disinfectants in areas throughout their class. “I spray it on desks, hardtops, door handles, light switches… anything a child can touch,” Wolfe said. Returning to full in-person learning reduces the challenges presented by working from home for courses that require specific supplies, such as art. “[At home], a lot of kids don’t have the space to leave their work out,” Terryberry said. “It can be a problem. Plus, I like to see and instruct and teach and do things. Personally, I’m excited.” Wolfe encourages students to remain positive through these changing times. “If you come in with a not so positive attitude, then things might not be as positive for you,” Wolfe said. “If you try to make lemonade out of the lemons we’ve been dealt with, we can have a great end to the school year.”
The return to full in-person learning has been a controversial topic among students who remain divided over whether the move to fully in-person was a good one. Several continue to question whether their initial decision to pick in-person over remote was right. “I chose in-person thinking we would only go back when it was really safe to,” senior Oliver Grotegut said. “I wish I had been correct in that belief.” Others think the benefits of the learning model they selected outweigh the negatives. “I feel like [in-person] was a lot better for me,” freshman Lucian Gonzalez said. “Yes, it is risky potentially exposing myself, but my main goal is to do my best in school, which wasn’t accomplished while in remote due to extracurricular classes.” With all the modifications made to education this year from block scheduling to Canvas, students have opinions on how the district should go about using those tools post-pandemic. “I think Canvas has been very helpful in keeping teachers and students organized because it makes it very easy to see your grades and the assignments that you need to do,” junior Meg Freeman said. Other students thought the introduction of Canvas made grading less uniform from class to class. “I only want to see one grading system,” senior Ali Windoffer said. “Every teacher uses a different grading source so I never know what website to see where my grades are. I wish the teachers strictly used Skyward for grades.” Junior Alyssa Cunningham, an in-person student, cited concerns with teaching over Webex, the video conferencing platform. “I absolutely despise Webex,” Cunningham said. “I feel bad for teachers because they’re literally teaching to a blank screen all alone. It has many problems and I feel like it’s just background noise sometimes.” Freshman Jazmyn Irvin, a remote student, hopes to see aspects of her classes integrated into inperson learning in the future. “I think using one-on-one breakout rooms was nice and gave students more opportunities to ask questions they may be too shy to ask otherwise, or have a more private conversation with their teacher,” Irvin said. “If that can somehow be incorporated into in-person learning, I think a lot of students would like that.” With the return to in-person learning, students and teachers are adopting an altered schedule, taking on a full week’s workload without asynchronous time and collaborating with students they may not have seen face-to-face in over a year.
CUSTODIAL CONCERNS Jeff Gillenwater, NW building manager for the past seven years, oversees maintenance, custodial services and assorted details of maintaining a 52-year-old building. He looks forward to seeing full in-person learning return, but wants to make sure student consideration of the building continues. “I’m hopeful that they’ll behave themselves. No fights, no vandalism, no tearing things up, no running in the halls and no throwing food,” Gillenwater said. “I hope they’re still grateful when they come back.” To prepare for full in-person lunches, the Main Gym as well as both sides of the Mall will be set up so students can eat in those areas in addition to the Cafeteria and central space in the Mall. “We are going to add approximately 80 to 100 tables and chairs that we set up in the Main Gym,” Gillenwater said. “Every day we’ll set those up and we’ll take them down. We’ll clean all the floors and all of that.” Every day, custodians are cleaning the surfaces students and faculty touch. “A normal routine for my staff is that they have an assigned area,” Gillenwater said. “They check all of the trash in the classrooms, they clean the whiteboards, they empty the pencil sharpeners, they wipe off the tables and chairs, the door handles and the light switches. In addition, they sweep or mop the floor as needed, usually every night at the least.” The routine will stay the same, but because more students will be at school, the workload will increase. “Because there are more students in the building, there’ll be more trash, and the halls won’t be as clean as they are now,” Gillenwater said. “Hopefully students won’t be destructive, but we’ve fixed toilets, replaced light bulbs… we do everything.”
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smnw.com
feature | 13
VACCINE VIEWPOINTS The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the Emergency Use Authorization of the COVID-19 vaccine developed by the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson on Feb. 27. One study determined that the vaccine was 85% effective in preventing severe disease, and showed protection against COVID-19 hospitalization and/or death as soon as 28 days after the initial vaccination. Unlike the previously authorized Moderna and Pfizer vaccines, the Johnson & Johnson version requires only a single-dose to attain full immunity. Like the Moderna vaccine, this vaccine is currently only approved for recipients 18 years old or older. As a result, Northwest students who plan to be vaccinated will receive the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine when they become eligible to receive the vaccine. The Kansas government’s vaccine prioritization plan divides the rollout into five phases, with detailed lists of who is included in each phase and approximations of when each phase will begin. Phase one, which includes healthcare workers and long-term care facility residents, began in mid-December. Phase two, which includes Kansas residents age 65 and older, high-contact critical workers and people in congregate settings, began in late January. Phases three and four, which include people ages 16-64 with medical risks and critical workers, began March 22. Phase five, which opens vaccine eligibility to the remainder of the Kansas population age 16 and older, began March 29. The plan notes that children under age 16 may become eligible for vaccination in phase five if research allows it at that time. In a survey of 36 students across all grade levels, 75.8% of respondents indicated that they have not yet been vaccinated, but plan to receive the vaccine when it’s available to them. 3% of respondents indicated that they had received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, whether it was Pfizer, Moderna or Johnson & Johnson. According to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, 1,067,865 doses had been administered in Kansas as of 9 a.m. on March 24., which represents 24.2% of the state’s population. 11.3% of
Kansans have been fully vaccinated according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Kansas has consistently ranked toward the slower end of the scale when examining vaccination speeds in several other states, at one point tying with Rhode Island, Missouri and Iowa for the second slowest vaccine rollout nationwide. According to NBC News, it currently ranks as the ninth slowest state to distribute vaccines. Several students expressed dissatisfaction with the efficiency of Kansas’ vaccine rollout. “I’m not following it super closely, but from what I can piece together it’s kind of a mess,” junior Alexa Magstadt said. “There’s not enough vaccine in some cases and too much in others, where previous [doses] risk becoming expired. I will say that people I know are starting to get vaccinated, which is fantastic.” Others expressed optimism for the future now that vaccines are being distributed. “I haven’t heard many things about vaccines being distributed on large scales in Kansas, but I’m sure they are probably trying as best as they can to give out as many as they can,” junior Alyssa Cunningham said. “I’m afraid it will be a good long while until I can get my vaccine, which is a little unfair, but I can deal with it. Nationally, I think they’re doing a great job, and I see more and more people getting them everyday, which is so exciting.”
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE VACCINE ROLLOUT IN KANSAS? NATIONWIDE?
WHAT ASPECTS OF THIS YEAR’S LEARNING STYLE DO YOU WISH TO SEE CARRIED OVER INTO NEXT YEAR?
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NO 14 | sports
TOMORROW March 31, 2021
Completing their undefeated record, the Lady Cougars basketball team defeat the Topeka High Trojans to win the state championship
+ by Rory Dungan & Elizabeth Kuffour
T
he Lady Cougars basketball team defeated the Topeka High School Trojans 61-54 on March 13 in Wichita State University’s Charles Koch Arena, winning the championship round of the Kansas High School Activities Association (KSHSAA) 6A girls’ basketball state tournament. The team, coached by Tyler Stewart, went into this year with the motto “No Tomorrow.” In keeping with this phrase, Stewart pushed the team members to give their all in every practice and game, since they didn’t know when COVID-19 could shut everything down. “This year has really taught everyone how much they were going to need to adapt if they wanted to be successful,” Stewart said. “This year didn’t always go as planned, but that never deterred our girls from their goals of winning a state title.” After finishing their regular season with an undefeated record, the Lady Cougars were the number one seed headed into the tournament March 10. They defeated their first round opponent, the Blue Valley High School Tigers, 36-29, advancing them to the second round as one of the final four teams. This was an important accomplishment for the Lady Cougars, who had made it to state but lost in the first round the previous two years.
“
1
This year didn’t always go as planned, but that never deterred our girls from their goals of winning a state title Coach Tyler Stewart
Senior Kennedy Taylor goes for a layup March 13 at the Charles Koch Arena in Wichita. Taylor is committed to play basketball at the University of Colorado next year.
COUGARS
TROJANS
61 : 54 00 : 00
”
The team was off to Wichita after receiving a celebratory send-off from Northwest community members in the front circle drive March 11. At 3 p.m. the following day, they played the Olathe West Owls, the number four seed, in the semifinals. They won the game 59-45, advancing them to the finals. In the championship round, they faced the number two seed Topeka High, who had defeated number three seed Dodge City 54-37 in the semifinals. Unlike the regular season, up to 1200 spectators per team were allowed to attend, with no requirement that spectators be immediate family of players — as a result, several Northwest students and community members made the trip to Wichita to support the girls’ team in the finals. The girls ultimately secured the championship title for the first time in the school’s history, ending the season with a perfect 23-0 record. “It felt great to finally get it done,” Stewart said. “It has been a long time coming and we have come close, but it was a great feeling finally to be able to bring home the state championship.” The Lady Cougars have received several postseason accolades honoring their achievements this season. Northwest dominated the coach-selected All-Sunflower League awards, with senior Kennedy Taylor receiving Player of the Year, senior Kylie Dunn receiving Defensive Player of the Year and Stewart receiving Coach of the Year. Taylor was placed on the first team, junior Tamara Harris-Webster was placed on the second team, Dunn and junior Saige Grampsas were placed on the third team and juniors Ella Mackiewicz and Ericka Ojeda received honorable mentions. Stewart looks forward to using the momentum coming off of this win to motivate the team in the coming seasons. “It’s hard to win a state title and even harder to [win] back to back,” he said. “We will use this experience to grow and improve for the next year. We have a lot of girls coming back that are compelled to work even harder to stay on top.”
2
3 1. Senior Kennedy Taylor, surrounded by her teammates, holds the state plaque March 13 at Charles Koch Arena in Wichita. The team finished the season with a 23-0 record. 2. Junior Ericka Ojeda holds her hand over her mouth in shock March 13 at the Charles Koch Arena. This was the first state win in Lady Cougar history. 3. Junior Ella Mackiewicz flexes March 13 at Koch Arena. Mackiewicz is one of the starting line ups. “I was excited,” Mackiewicz said. “Also a little nervous because it was the championship game.” photos by David Smith design by Erin Albers
SUSTAINED SPIRIT smnw.com
feature | 15
A new event to celebrate seniors is introduced to NW cheer and dance + by Ruth Demeke + design by Kasi Maniktala
A
ll Spirit Night was a new event introduced to serve as a Senior Night for cheerleaders who didn’t get to have their special moment during basketball season. Working with NW dance, students showed off what they’ve been practicing. “It’s an event to celebrate and recognize the cheerleaders and the dancers since we didn’t get to as much as we usually do in normal years,” varsity cheerleader Jacy Williams said. What’s changed the most for cheer this year is that in order to social distance, stunts weren’t allowed. Since this is a big part of cheerleading, some people were disappointed with the restrictions. “We had a lot of restrictions on us, which I understand, but football and basketball got to play without a mask and we weren’t even allowed to stunt with masks or have all of our team together at basketball games,” varsity cheerleader Sydney Allen said. “I felt that was a little unfair to us.” Dance team, which used to practice four to five times a week during class, had only one in-person class each week under the hybrid learning model. To accommodate, they practiced on Fridays and during the weekends. Cheer, similarly, had one inperson class each week, however did not meet on the weekends. “In previous years, we would practice a lot more because we would have more assemblies, games and competitions to go to,” Williams said. “This year, it was just a lot more relaxed and we didn’t spend as much time together as a team.” With limited time to practice dances and cheers in person, students had to learn from their homes through videos. “Learning from videos can be very challenging, but I would say that’s how 90% of our year has gone,” Horner said. “It’s like, ‘all right you’re gonna learn this dance from video... Good luck. Hope you have it done by next Tuesday.’”
Looking at the bright side, there have been more student-run opportunities for dancers, including their own choreography. “Typically the brunt of choreography either falls on my officer team or we pay for outside choreographers,” Horner said. “This year, we didn’t do that and so we’ve had probably three or four opportunities for non-officers to create a dance and teach it to the team.” COVID-19 restrictions have affected all parts of school including our dance and cheer teams. With teams having to opt out of competitions and a step back from dancing along the marching band, there’s also been new chances for different kinds of events to be showcased. This year, dancers were to compete in a state championship for the first time. Cheerleaders have competed in a similar event for the past four years. The competition was fully virtual with schools sending in videos to the Kansas State High School Activities Association (KSHSAA). This year, the competition cheer team placed fifth during the state competition. “I’m proud of how well we did at state despite not being able to perform with the normal atmosphere that really gets our energy up,” varsity cheerleader Riley Brokeshoulder said. Although missing out on a regular dance year, Horner is proud of her seniors for staying motivated and pushing through. “I think that they all have, between the five of them, a consistent commitment level that I have not had in the past,” Horner said. “It’s nice to say you can depend on all five seniors because that’s not always the case.” Cheer coach Renee Chambers wants to thank the senior cheerleaders for their commitment during a difficult year. “I always tell the seniors they make the team, that they’re the leaders and they set the tone for the year,” Chambers said.
Rylie Gunter Varsity dancer Rylie Gunter plans to continue dancing at Ottawa University through a dance scholarship. Gunter, who’s been dancing since she was 3 years old, was able to push through the hard times this year and strives to keep dancing. “I continue dancing because it’s like a safe haven for me,” Gunter said. “Knowing that you can’t be judged based on our skills or how you look because everyone always wants to get better.” Despite missing out on assemblies and Gunter is proud of her team’s ability to 3 competitions, stay committed. “My favorite part of this year is how our team has been able to push through and make it fun for everyone even with the things that we have lost,” Gunter said.
1
2 1. Junior Sophia Brewer sticks an arm out Jan. 30 in the Main Gym. Matching masks were added to the cheerleading uniform this year. “This year we haven’t been able to have as many practices.” Brewer said. “We cannot stunt [because of COVID-19].” +photo by Claire Moore
2. Seniors Elizabeth Kuffour, Lily Riddell and L’leana Jones leap March 16 in the Main Gym. The dance team tries to socially distance while dancing. “I like being able to still dance with my team throughout these COVID-19 restrictions,” Kuffour said. + photo by Ashley Broils
Cheerleaders: Bella Alaniz, Alaysah Allen, Sydney Allen, Amber Allison, Riley Brokeshoulder, Nessie Gragg, Reagan Ridgon, Olivia Waren, Madelyn Omanson, Jacy Williams, Mackenzie Masters, Gaby Ruvalcava, Samantha Mudgett Cheer coach: Renee Chambers
3. Junior Megan Freeman, and Seniors Riley Gunter and Elizabeth Kuffour leap March 16 in the main gym. Gunter got her scholarship by going to an in person audition. ”College advisors are valuable to the process” Gunter said. “Use them early and often.” +photo by Ashley Broils
Dancers: Rylie Gunter, Hadley Patton, L’leana Jones, Elizabeth Kuffour, Lilly Riddell Dance coach: Kelsi Horner
16 | feature
March 31, 2021
Forks Down: C ffee Edition Spilling the beans on four locally-owned coffee shops + by Emily Alexander
If you have a slight caffeine addiction like me, then you’re always on the lookout for a new spot to get a warm drink that soothes the soul. Look no further, because I went out and tried four local coffee shops. For a fair comparison, I ordered a small caramel latte at each stop.
RevoCup Lenexa: Just off 87th and I-435, Revocup Lenexa is a small streetside coffee house in the heart of the Lenexa City Center. This is just one of five locations in the metro area with a sixth in St. Louis. Although I drive past Revocup nearly every day on my way to work, this was my first time actually going inside. The couch seating and art made me feel at home the second I walked in the door. The service was probably the best of the four places. My order came out very quickly. As far as the drink itself, I was slightly underwhelmed. The coffee tasted a bit watered down and did not meet my expectations.
Filling Station Coffee Garage: Filling Station is a small coffee shop on Johnson Drive, across from SM North. The shop is basically an old car garage filled with rustic decor, making it a vintage lover’s dream. I had heard many great things about Filling Station, however, my experience did not live up to the dozens of five-star Yelp reviews. Not only was my drink watered down, but it left a horrible aftertaste in my mouth. It’s easy to say that this latte was definitely not my favorite.
Urban Prairie Coffee: Just a mile down the road from Filling Station is Urban Prairie Coffee. It is located right in the middle of Mission, Johnson County’s fast food hotspot. I instantly fell in love with this place. Seating was limited so this one is best for grab-and-go coffee runs. The latte I received was filled with flavor and easily the best I had. My favorite part of Urban Prairie is that it is connected to Mission Board Games, a small store filled with any board game you could dream of. My only problem with this location is that diagonal parking in the middle of Johnson Drive can be quite terrifying for a fairly new driver like myself, but once I get over that I’ll definitely be coming back.
Café Equinox: Cafe Equinox, located in Shawnee, was definitely the most unique of the four locations. This coffee house is known for being one of the most “Instagrammable” coffee shops in the metro area. Because it is located inside of Family Tree Nursery, near Nieman Road and 71st St., the atmosphere is strictly nature-oriented. Here you can sip on coffee, socialize or do your work while sitting amongst dozens of plants inside their greenhouse. The coffee itself wasn’t anything special but it was still a very enjoyable experience.
A caramel latte is placed on a table March 26 at Revocup Coffee Shop. Revocup has 6 locations throughout Kansas and Missouri. + photo by Sidra Sakati
A 12 ounce caramel latte sits inside the Filling Station March 25. The Filling Station is located next to SM North high school on Johnson Drive. + photo by Claire Moore
A large caramel latte is positioned next to plants March 26 in Urban Prairie. Urban Prairie is a local coffee shop located on Johnson Drive. + photo by Sidra Sakati
On a table, a caramel latte stands March 25 in Café Equinox. This coffee shop is attached to the Family Tree Nursery on Nieman. + photo by Claire Moore
+ design by Olivia Linville
smnw.com
feature | 17
Waiting Game
Prom is going to look very different this year to accommodate for COVID-19 restrictions + by Stella Grist
In the era of COVID-19, there isn’t much that is known. Prom Committee’s determination to have a senior prom this year, however, is well-known. It may look drastically different from previous years, but students and staff agree that the class of 2021 deserves a senior prom experience. Prom Committee has been working hard to find a safe way to hold the event. After having their original proposal fail to get approval from the Johnson County Health Department, they settled on an alternative formal option. “People would show up in their [formal] attire, we would do a prom walk like a promenade, and we would do the crowning at the event,” Prom Committee sponsor Brooke Moore said. “They agreed it would be the full senior class. The goal would be to have the junior class, but that’s still pending. We are thinking socially distanced dancing and we could use the speaker system of the stadium. We are also thinking to not charge anyone because it’s not the official prom experience.” Out of two options presented, the committee first voted for an after-prom, a more casual, carnival-esque experience. However, the proposal did not gain approval from administration. “It was either an after-prom where they would have carnival games; you would come in casual clothes, play games and win prizes,” senior Katie Assel said. “Or they would have [something] as close to prom as we could make it. You would come dressed up and socialize, but with COVID-19 restrictions in place, I think that most people opted for the after-prom idea. I know that they said we would try to do both, but if there will only be one, it’s probably just going to be the after-prom.” After this plan got disapproved, Prom Committee decided on a proposal similar to SM North and SM West. “They wanted us to not muddy the waters between the types of events that have been approved or disapproved,” Moore said. “This is prom, so it has to be more prom in nature. SM North and SM West, surprisingly, when proposed opportunities with their Prom Committee chose the more formal option, not so much the casual. Theirs is actually getting approved and ours is not, so we are going to be copying something similar to them.” COVID-19 restrictions are the top priority to ensure this year continues to run smoothly. “[The] Johnson County Health Department says we need to focus on safe
all in-person learning and graduation as the two top priorities,” Moore said. As for COVID-19 restrictions, the event will be outside to allow for adequate social distancing, and masks will be enforced. “The Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA) will definitely be getting stuff out from the parents’ standpoint,” Moore said. “We are just waiting on that approval, but the Prom Committee will help put up posters and there will be announcements. Right now, it’s just a waiting game and we don’t want to get everyone hyped up when, as you know, so many things have gotten taken away this past year.” Although it’s going to be an entirely different experience, Prom Committee hopes it will be a memorable one. Assel is excited they will have the chance to do something for the senior class, but she warns that students still need to be cautious while they’re having fun. “I personally think it’s really important that precautions for COVID-19 are still in place, so I do like that it’s going to be outside,” Assel said. “I think it’s important that people wear masks and that people take the precautions seriously so that we can do stuff like this.” Moore encourages the entire senior class to give the event a chance, even if it looks different from past years. “Everyone should attend,” Moore said. “This is finally something social that we are doing, and that’s so exciting.” Nothing is guaranteed during the pandemic. As more information comes regarding prom, tune in to www.smnw.com for updates.
What Prom Could’ve Looked Like Prom Committee came up with several options for what this year’s prom would look like. Here are some of the ideas that did not gain approval.
Formal Prom The typical formal prom option with formal attire and a crowning, at an off campus location with both the junior and senior classes. This is what NW has done in past years.
After-Prom This option would look drastically different. It would be an entirely casual event with carnival games and tiered time slots for seniors only.
Outside Prom Another option proposed was a more formal dance, but outdoors at NW for just the senior class. This would allow for more social distancing and would have taken place at the NW practice field.
+ design by Livi Nagorka
HER-ST RY 18 | feature
March 31, 2021
WOmens Rights
=
International Women’s Month celebrates women’s accomplishments and the push for gender equality
human rights
+ by Veronica Meiss A referee moves around the mat, watching the two wrestlers work for control. The two appear to be about the same size. With their headgear, it isn’t immediately clear that one is a girl. She doubles her opponent over, trying to keep him trapped beneath her. But as he escapes, she flips to her feet without ever releasing her grip on him. A few moves later, the ref gets low to the mat, watching for the pin. He gives it a quick slap indicating the end of the match. Sophomore Abigail Bates has just successfully pinned her opponent. Bates’ journey to become a wrestler has been a fight. In the parochial school she attended until seventh grade, Bates expressed an interest in wrestling. The school’s answer was clear: no wrestling between genders. As a NW wrestler, Bates often was told that she was good...“for a girl.” “It doesn’t matter if I’m a girl,” Bates said. “I can still [win] regardless of my gender.” Bates’ story mirrors that of other women who have chosen to break barriers. March is known internationally as Women’s History Month and celebrates the vital role women have played in society. “While there has been a significant change in gender equality, there’s only so much that can change,” senior Lacie Perry said. “I’ve been told that women can’t be smart enough to be a doctor. [As a Black woman], I also face a lot of hardship because of my race. When society put white women low, they put Black women even lower. I just have to remember that I’m above all of that.” Perry has always looked up to notable women of color like Rosa Parks. Several other women of color have been the first to enter spaces previously occupied by white American men. Anna May Wong is considered to be the first Chinese American actress in Hollywood and to gain international recognition. She starred in over 50 films and she was also the first Asian American to star in a TV show. In 1960, she was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Kalpana Chawla was the first woman of Indian descent to fly in space in 1996. Her second trip to space was in 2003, where she and her crew were able to conduct over 80 experiments over the course of 16 days. She and her crew died when the ship was destroyed upon re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere.
,
Wilma Mankiller was the first woman to become Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation in the United States. She was chief for 10 years and, in that time, tribal enrollment grew, infant mortality dropped and employment rates doubled. In 1998, she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Bill Clinton. Corinthian Nutter, a teacher at Walker Elementary in Merriam, Kansas, spearheaded the segregation movement in Kansas in 1948 when African American students were denied access to the new South Park school. Students and their families boycotted the school while Nutter continued to teach the students in church basements and homes. “Schools shouldn’t be for color. They should be for children,” she said before the Kansas Supreme Court in Webb v. School District No. 90. This case set the stage for Brown v. Board of Education. Women’s issues have remained prominent through campaigns like the #MeToo movement and the “My Body, My Choice” slogan. The former is based upon raising awareness of women who have been sexually assaulted and were forced to remain silent. The latter revolves around the idea that the government should not control women’s decisions about their reproductive healthcare. “The pro-choice movement is really important to me,” Wilson said. “I think that the government should not have a say in what goes on in a woman’s body. There’s a lot of ignorance on the other side that needs to be spoken to. I think that we just can’t let something like illegalizing abortion happen because it violates the government’s place in the world.” Women in history have pushed the boundaries and advocated for gender equality. Just because March is over, that does not mean that recognizing female achievements needs to end. Continue to acknowledge your mothers, sisters, grandmothers, girlfriends and all of the women around you throughout the year.
Sojourner Truth
Bertha Von Suttner
Nellie Bly
Rosa Parks
Marsha P. Johnson
(1797 - 1883)
(1843 - 1914)
(1864 - 1922)
(1913 - 2005)
(1945 - 1992)
“If women want any rights more than they’s got, why don’t they just take them, and not be talking about it.”
“Seek not good from without: seek it within yourselves, or you will never find it.”
“I said I could and I would. And I did.”
“I knew someone had to take the first step and I made up my mind not to move.”
“We want to see all gay people have a chance at equal rights as straight people in America. We believe in picking up a gun, and starting a revolutionary if necessary.”
Sojourner Truth is most known for her speech, “Ain’t I A Woman?” in which she spoke about how as a Black woman of color, she deserves as many rights as a white woman does.
Bertha von Suttner was the first woman to ever receive a Nobel Peace Prize. She was awarded it because of her anti-war novel, “Lay Down Your Arms”. She also contributed to the anti-war peace movement.
Nellie Bly was a journalist who broke records with her story “Ten Days in a Mad-House” where she exposed the harsh treatment of the mentally insane in the 1800s. This led to New York’s government giving more money to improve the conditions for the mentally ill.
Rosa Parks is mostly known for her refusal to give up a seat to a white man on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama in 1955. Before that moment, she was a sexual assault investigator.
Marsha P. Johnson was a Black trans woman who is heavily responsible for the Stonewall Riots of 1969 that kickstarted the LGBTQ+ rights movement. + design by Erin Albers
smnw.com
feature | 19
WE HEARD YOU Students share their opinions about spring break travel + by Rory Dungan
Junior Austin Oakerson
Freshman Emelia Fothergill
“I don’t think it’s the best move to travel this spring break, especially with full-time, in-person starting. I do understand that people want to travel to see people and visit places more than ever, and so do I, but I would rather stay home this break instead of the possibility of needing to quarantine.”
“I think people who travel are fine. It’s good to see family and go places during spring break. As long as they are being safe, there should be no problems.”
Sophomore Paige Mullen
Senior Matt Steinmetz
“I personally don’t think it is an amazing idea to travel, but I did travel during winter break so I understand the want to just get out of here. As long as precautions are being taken, [like] masks and [social] distancing, I think it’s fine.”
“I believe that everyone’s situation is different, and if you feel safe to travel and understand the risk, then you should go ahead and have a fun spring break.”
Freshman Emma Doleshal “I think other students should be able to travel and go on vacation because they have lifted guidelines for COVID-19 in some states and [COVID-19] is everywhere, so there’s no point in having to stay in Kansas when Kansas has COVID-19 as well as everywhere else.”
Senior Nessie Gragg “I think it’s okay for people to travel as long as they’re being safe and considerate of other people and hopefully have the COVID-19 vaccine. I think that by our age, people should be able to make their own good decisions.”
Junior Zel Nash “I think students should be safe about traveling. Even though people are getting vaccinated, COVID-19 is still a dangerous virus. Some people [have begun] to forget we’re in a global pandemic. I think this way because my grandpa that I’m close to is going through chemo and he can’t get sick.”
Senior Sarah Milks “Personally, I feel that at this point people are tired of the pandemic, I know I am, but with traveling comes responsibility. What I mean by that is when traveling, people should try to spend time outside. Most spring break trips do not lead to outdoor activity.” + design by Alden Norberg
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CURRENT EVENTS
current events | 21
This month’s biggest news includes an increase in Asian hate crimes, Biden’s airstrike in Syria, trouble in the royal family and protest against violence against women. + by Stella Grist
STOP ASIAN HATE
The United States has seen a sharp increase in violence against Asian Americans Since the start of the pandemic, hate crimes against Asian Americans have become a prevalent issue in the United States, due to racial stereotypes surrounding the pandemic. These acts of violence have been largely ignored, until a shooting in Atlanta on March 16, 2021. At three spas in Atlanta, the perpetrator, Robert Long, shot nine people, killing eight, six of which were Asian-American women. He claimed to have a sex addiction and said the goal of the shooting was to “eliminate the sources of temptation.” The circumstances of this attack have resulted in the belief that it was racially motivated as well as being rooted in misogyny. “[The shootings appear to be the] intersection of gender-based violence, misogyny and xenophobia” state Rep. Bee Nguyen said in an article with the Associated Press. Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Capt. Jay Baker came under fire for remarks made about the attacker, saying Long committed the attack because he was having a “really bad day.” Many believe his words go to show the normalization of violence against Asian Americans and
how hate crimes against them aren’t taken seriously. This is a recent demonstration of a long string of attacks against Asian-American people. According to the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism, hate crimes dropped by 7% in 2020, but those targeting Asian Americans rose 149%. 41% of which were against those of Chinese descent. 66% of these hate crimes were in the form of verbal harassment, 20% shunning or avoidance, 8% physical assault and 6% coughing or spitting. According to Stop AAPI Hate, 68% of attacks are against women. In January, President Joe Biden signed a memorandum denouncing this discrimination and heightened violence toward Asian Americans. According to NBC, the memorandum issues guidance for the Justice Department to better respond to antiAsian hate crimes. “I think these are very promising,” executive director of Asian Pacific Policy and Planning Council Manju Kulkarni said in an article with NBC. “I think it’s just the beginning. There’s a lot more work that needs to be done.”
BIDEN’S FIRST MILITARY ACTION
The implications of the airstrike on Syria
President Joe Biden launched an airstrike in Syria against an Iranian militia called Kataeb Hezbollah, or the Hezbollah Brigades, on Feb. 25, 2021. This was Biden’s first military action taken while in office. According to the Associated Press, the airstrike was launched in retaliation for an attack which killed a civilian and injured a U.S. service member in Iraq. Biden’s goal, however, was not to increase the U.S. military presence in the Middle East, but to demonstrate his willingness to defend the United States there. An Iraqi militia official told the Associated Press that the U.S. airstrikes resulted in the death of one soldier and injured several others. This attack was met with criticism from both Republicans and Democrats who condemned Biden’s decision, and even accused him of violating international law. Those who support his actions, however, say that it was a “defensive strike.” Many wonder what this strike could mean for the future of U.S. international
relations with the Middle East. This attack was intended to send a message that attacks on U.S. troops will not be tolerated, but negotiations are still on the table. It is unlikely that this strike will result in an escalation of attacks. “President Biden will act to protect American and coalition personnel,” Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said in an interview with the Associated Press. “At the same time, we have acted in a deliberate manner that aims to deescalate the overall situation in eastern Syria and Iraq.” Biden’s recent actions have brought on questions from both sides regarding his values. Given that he conducted the strike so early in his presidency, some believe his actions were inconsistent with the way he was portrayed during his campaign. As a result, politicians are beginning to ask how far he will go to defend U.S. troops and where that line is drawn.
ROYAL REPROACH Prince Harry and Meghan Markle disclosed poor treatment by the royal family in a recent interview In a tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Harry and Meghan Markle share their experiences with the royal family. This interview shocked people world-wide and prompted a response from Buckingham Palace. Harry and Meghan sat down for an interview lasting two hours, first with Markle alone, then with the couple together. During the interview, Harry discussed his relationships with his brother and father, which, in a word, are complicated. Harry felt tied to his family through an “invisible contract,” living in constant fear of the press and tabloids. He felt trapped within his family and, if not for Meghan, would likely have never found a way out. Meghan told painful accounts of her mental health during her first pregnancy. She had thoughts of suicide and, when she tried to seek help, the institution around the royal family forbade her. During her pregnancy with
Archie, members of the royal family expressed concerns about the baby’s skin color. In addition, Meghan spoke of the racist comments made in the British tabloids and by British citizens and the royal family themselves. The royal family then refused to crown him a prince or offer him any protections as a member of the royal family. In response, Buckingham Palace released a statement on behalf of the queen, reading, “The whole family is saddened to learn the full extent of how challenging the last few years have been for Harry and Meghan. The issues raised, particularly that of race, are concerning. While some recollections may vary, they are taken very seriously and will be addressed by the family privately. Harry, Meghan and Archie will always be much loved family members.”
RECLAIM THE STREETS
The abduction and murder of Sarah Everard sparks outcry from women all over the United Kingdom solutions as they are hit with a brutal cold snap
Sarah Everard, a 33-year-old woman from the United Kingdom, disappeared on March 3, 2021. Two days later, her body was discovered. Police arrested a fellow officer, Wayne Couzens, in connection with the case. Officials say that Everard left a friend’s house to walk home and was not heard from. The cause of her abduction and the normalization of violence against women set off a series of protests throughout the U.K. After the suspected murder of Everard by a trusted official, hundreds of women began to come forward to discuss their own experiences. “When she went missing, any woman who has ever walked home alone at night felt that grim, instinctive sense of recognition,” columnist Gaby Hinsliff wrote in “The Guardian.” “Footsteps on a dark street. Keys gripped between your fingers.” Vigils and protests were organized to remember Everard. However, according to the Associated Press, many of these organizers failed to get legal approval for various reasons, including COVID-19 restrictions. While the organizations planned on safe, socially distanced gatherings, the court ruled the gatherings
unlawful and said high fines would be incurred. Many groups still planned to hold their protests in remembrance of Everard. A vigil held at Clapham Common in London took place, despite being unofficial. It was named “Reclaim the Streets,” to emphasize the feelings of terror women feel purely from being alone on the street. According to BBC, the police present at the event began to intervene when protests began to pack tightly, presenting a higher risk for COVID-19 transmission. They began handcuffing and removing attendees from the crowd, in many instances using extreme force. Videos and pictures have been circulating on social media depicting the officers’ actions and criticizing their response to the vigil. Women have been charged and fined after attending these vigils, which was met with criticism by some U.K. politicians. In response, according to BBC, the Metropolitan Police will be meeting to discuss the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts bill, which could lead to more restrictions on rights to protest in the United Kingdom. + design by Alden Norberg
smnw.com
feature | 23
IN PHOTOS
MARCH 12: PLAY +VIWLQIR 'VSSOI 2IVX^ *PEMRI ,EWX ERH *PPMWSR 'SRKI LSPH XIPITLSRIW YT XS XLIMV IEVW 2EVGL MR XLI ,VIK 5EVOIV &YHMXSVMYQ 8LI [LSPI GEWX [SVI GPIEV QEWOW WS XLIMV QSYXLW GSYPH WXMPP FI WIIR Ʋ.X [EW HIǰRMXIP] LEVHIV XLMW ]IEV ?HYI XS (4:.) A ERH MX [EW QSWXP] SRPMRI ZME ;IFI\ Ƴ 2IVX^ WEMH Ʋ4RGI [I WXEVXIH GLSVISKVETL] MX [EW MR TIVWSR [MXL (4:.) ?VIWXVMGXMSRWA Ƴ TLSXS F] *VMR )SV]
MARCH 2: GIRLS BASKETBALL IRMSV 0IRRIH] 8E]PSV [EZIW LIV EVQ XS LEZI NYRMSV EMKI ,VEQTWEW TEWW LIV XLI FEPP 2EVGL MR XLI 2EMR ,]Q 8LI (SYKEVW FIEX 'PYI :EPPI] Ʋ;LIR [I EVI SR XLI GSYVX XIEQ[SVO MW EFSYX XVYWXMRK IEGL SXLIV XS FI [LIVI [I RIIH XS FI SV XLEX XLI] LEZI ]SYV FEGO SR E TPE] Ƴ 8E]PSV WEMH TLSXS F] (PEMVI 2SSVI
MARCH 16: COUGAR CART IRMSV 'V]GI )I[WFYV] TSYVW MGI MRXS E GYT 2EVGL MR XLI 2EPP 8LI ZSPYRXIIVW SJ XLI (SYKEV (EVX LEZI E VERKI SJ VIWTSRWMFMPMXMIW MRGPYHMRK EHZIVXMWMRK GSYRXMRK QSRI] OIITMRK XVEGO SJ TVSHYGXW ERH WERMXM^MRK Ʋ;MXLSYX IZIV]SRI LIPTMRK MX [SYPH RSX FI EW WQSSXL EW MX MW Ƴ )I[WFYV] WEMH Ʋ8LI] EVI ZIV] GEVMRK ERH TSWMXMZI TISTPI WS MX EP[E]W QEOIW Q] HE] XLEX QYGL FIXXIV Ƴ TLSXS F] *VMR )SV]
22 | feature
Upcoming Events
All scheduled events are at risk of cancellation due to COVID-19. Check your email regularly for updates on school-sponsored events. F] *PM^EFIXL 0YǯSYV
April 2 No School
April 5-9 Spring Break
Mar. 18 Musical Opening
April 12 Board Meeting
April 13 Ib Banquet
April 17 ACt
April 17 Prom
Shawnee Mission students in grades K-12 will have the day off from school due to a teacher workday.
Shawnee Mission students in grades K-12, as well as teachers and staff, will have the week off from school for spring break.
Students in the cast of the winter musical, Overture, as well as their parents, will come together to watch bloopers and hand out awards from their show. This event will be held at 7 p.m. The SMSD Board of Education will meet at 6 p.m. in the Board Room at the Center for Academic Che Achievement (CAA).
International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma candidates will be recognized in a banquet. Time and location is to be determined.
The ACT test will be held in various NW classrooms. Students who have registered to take the test should check their email for additional information on testing day procedures. Though juniors and seniors will not be able to attend a typical dance, PTSA is planning to host an outdoor prom for seniors outside Northwest. Stay tuned for updates.
March 31, 2021
THIS MONTH + design by Olivia Linville
MARCH 19: STREAM CLEAN UP XERHMRK MR XLI GVIIO NYRMSV 5MTIV 'SVKQER TMGOW YT XVEWL 2EVGL EX XLI 1MXXPI 2MPP (VIIO XVIEQ 8LI *EVXL +MVWX (PYF TEVXRIVIH [MXL XLI (MX] SJ 1IRI\E XS LSWX XLI WXVIEQ GPIER YT Ʋ;I HS XLI WXVIEQ GPIERYT FIGEYWI XLIVI MW WS QYGL XVEWL MR SYV [SVPH Ƴ 'SVKQER WEMH Ʋ8LI SRP] [E] [IưVI KSMRK XS LIPT QEOI E HMǯIVIRGI MW F] WXEVXMRK WQEPP MR SYV GSQQYRMXMIW WXVIEQW TEVOMRK PSXW SV ER][LIVI IPWI [LIVI ]SY GER ǰRH XVEWL Ƴ TLSXS F] (PEMVI 2SSVI
MARCH 26: TRACK +VIWLQER &HEQ :SKIP GSQTIXIW MR XLI PSRK NYQT 2EVGL EX 2 SYXL :SKIPưW JEVXLIWX NYQT [EW JIIX ERH X[S MRGLIW Ʋ. FIPMIZI XLI FIWX [E] XS KIX FIXXIV EX ER]XLMRK MW KSEP WIXXMRK Ƴ :SKIP WEMH Ʋ;LIR ]SY WIX E KSEP ERH XLIR ]SY EGLMIZI XLEX KSEP MXưW SRI SJ XLI FIWX JIIPMRKW IZIV ERH ]SY NYWX [ERX XS HS MX EKEMR Ƴ TLSXS F] /SWMI 8SVVIW
MARCH 10: JEWELERY IRMSV 4PMZME 1MRZMPPI GYXW SYX LIV WLETI 2EVGL MR VSSQ & 1MRZMPPI QEHI GEGXYW IEVVMRKW JSV LIV TVSNIGX Ʋ8LMW [EW SYV ǰVWX TVSNIGX MR GPEWW Ƴ 1MRZMPPI WEMH Ʋ.X [EW HMDzGYPX WMRGI [I SRP] LEH SRI HE] E [IIO XS [SVO SR MX FYX . IRNS]IH XLI SYXGSQI ER][E] Ƴ TLSXS F] STLME 2G(VERI]
April 30-May 1 Spring Special
Dance Team will host their annual dance showcase at 7 p.m. both nights in the auditorium. Family members of participating dancers will be allowed to attend, and the event will be livestreamed for the general public.
“I only took this class because I wanted to do [the prairie burn]. To any underclassmen, I would encourage you to take both environmental classes to have a better understanding of the nature that surrounds us.” -senior Alden Norberg Norberg keeps the fire off the trail March 20 in the Nature Lab. The annual prairie burn is a hands-on learning experience for Environmental Education students.
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+ Photo by Sophia McCraney
