The Northwest Passage, Vol. 53, Issue 7

NW PASSAGE PAGE 07 | ALL WRAPPED UP

Students discuss the highs and lows of the 2021 music library

PAGE 11 | SAFE SPACE Language Arts teacher Sheila Young is recognized as district All-Star

MENTAL CLARITY The effects of the winter months on student mental health

PAGE 8

Shawnee Mission Northwest Issue 7 Vol. 53 Jan 27, 2022

SUMMER JOBS lifeguards • camp counselors iends fr w e n e k a m , ls il k s Earn money, build L E NE X A .COM / SUM ME R JOB S

AGES 15+

smnw.com

TOC | 03

Contents 4 the deadliest epidemic columns

7

all wrapped up

8

mental clarity

Issue 7 Vol. 53 jan 27, 2022

STAFF EDITORIAL

Lawmakers need to work to increase regulation on firearms and firearm ownership

5

Northwest Passage

Columnists Veronica Meiss and Yeretzy Blanco talk about separating the Church from God and gun violence respectively

Students discuss the highs and lows of their 2021 music library

In the midst of the winter months, some students face increased struggles with their mental health

11 safe space

Language Arts teacher Sheila Young is recognized as district All-Star

12 forks down: boba tea

Reviews of boba drinks from Tea-Rex Boba, Ding Tea, Chatime and Pho Good

13 current events

This month’s current events involve the Assassins game and updates about The Sweetheart Dance

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: Content Management:

Jumping Sophomore Clayton Habben goes for a layup Jan. 14 in the Main Gym. Habben plays for the Varsity and the Junior Varsity team. “I think we are playing really good basketball, we are a young team just trying to get some chemistry together for the future,” Habben said. + photo by Ashley Broils

Managing Editor Copy Editor Online Editor Photo Editor Asst. Photo Editor Asst. Photo Editor

Social medias

Editor-in-chief Editor-in-chief Solemnly, sophomore Emma Sheverbush looks out a window Jan. 24 in senior Claire Moore’s house.

Seasonal Affective Depression (SAD) affects approximately 15 percent of Americans annually. “I think the statistics don’t cater to younger people,” Sheverbush said. “It’s always assumed that it’s working adults who have seasonal + cover design by Claire Moore depression.” + photo by Sophia McCraney

Stella Grist Ally Pruente

Veronica Meiss Morgan Tate Grace Logan Claire Moore Sophia McCraney Sidra Sakati

Staff Writers: Staff DESIGNERS: Yeretzy Blanco Izak Zeller Bennie Connor

Adviser:

Susan Massy

Ellie Zeller

@smnwdotcom @smnwdotcom

Check out our latest online stories and additional content.

Jan. 27, 2022

04 | staff ed

BY THE NUMBERS National

39,707

50%

deaths from firearms in the U.S. in 2019

of all suicides utilize a firearm

people in the United States died from homicide involving firearms in 2019.

State (2019) gun deaths in Kansas

43

Of these deaths

were children and teens (ages 0-19)

were suicides

Homicides comprise

25%

of gun deaths

of gun death victIms were male

22nd

in the nation for gun deaths

Local (2020)

154

10/0 agree

Of all gun deaths,

Kansas ranks

The effects of gun violence extend far beyond the owning a gun easy. casualties. They have shaped the lives of those who have “People who are underage (under 18 for rifles and shotguns, witnessed it, lost someone due to it or live in fear because of it. and under 21 for other guns), someone convicted or indicted The U.S. government has little to no regulation of guns and for a crime punishable by imprisonment of more than one gun ownership. So little, in fact, that scientific research on the year, fugitives, the severely mentally ill, unlawful users of effects of gun policies often leads to sparse and inconclusive controlled substances, those convicted of domestic violence, results, making it even harder to pass laws and implement and undocumented immigrants are among some of the regulations. categories of people barred from buying a firearm by federal According to The Educational Fund to Stop Gun Violence, law,” writes Lopez. in 2019 there were 403 gun deaths in Kansas, 43 of them being The Brady Act, enacted in 1993, requires federally licensed between the ages of zero and 19. firearms dealers (FFLs) Of that number 72 percent were to conduct background suicides and 25 percent were checks on potential homicides. This puts Kansas at firearm purchasers.

22nd in the nation for the gun From 1994 through death rate in the country in 2019.

2015, over three million From 2010-2019, Johnson people have been denied Here’s how The NW Passage County had a rate of 8.53 gun a firearm license or deaths per 100,000. Our close transfer. Despite the staff voted on this editorial neighbor, Wyandotte County effectiveness of the had a rate of 24.48 gun deaths per background check 100,000. system, the government These numbers should be zero. has weaknesses that Gun violence is clearly a problem allow individuals to go in our own communities and it around these laws. is up to us to ask our lawmakers The private sale and representatives to do exception allows something about it. unlicensed and private Due to the lethal force, sellers to conduct accessibility and ease of use, a sale of a firearm An opinion piece crafted by a single writer guns are a common choice without conducting and voted on by the entire staff of the NW for homicides and suicides. a background check Passage. It is not an unbiased news article, but According to the CDC, there were unless state law requires an opinion piece taking a stance and tackling a nearly 570,000 lives lost due to it. Kansas nor Missouri major issue. gun violence through 2000-2019, requires this, meaning the highest rates being in 2015that essentially anyone 2019. This is more than double the number of American lives could purchase a firearm. that were lost in World War I and Vietnam combined.

The default proceeds or Charleston loophole according to According to data gathered by JC Davis Health from the Gillford’s Law Centers means that “under federal law, if an FFL CDC, in 2019, “firearms [were] the means in approximately who has initiated a background check has not been notified half of suicides nationwide.” within three business days that the sale would violate federal The implementation of stricter gun laws would at the very or state laws, the dealer may proceed with the sale by default.” least decrease said number. Many might have the belief that, This loophole is essentially what allowed Dylann Roof to “it’s not the gun, it’s the person” this is absolutely ridiculous commit the Charleston church massacre. as it has been proven time and time again that, if the people Firearms are one of the most commonly used means for contributing to these statistics were not allowed access to a homicides and suicides. Thousands of lives could be saved firearm, the numbers would be lower. each year if regulations were stricter and rigid. Kansas and The United States has some of the most lax gun laws in Missouri need to close the private sale exception and require the world, the policies and regulations currently in place background checks for every and all gun sales. In order to have clearly shown they are not effective. In order to stop gun close the Charleston loophole, we at the very least need to violence in all its forms, widespread prevention efforts need extend the waiting period for background checks to 30 days, to be made to reduce the risk nationally as well as specific ideally, we would increase the waiting period until the check solutions for high-risk populations. is complete. As well as conducting yearly background checks “A 2016 review of 130 studies in 10 countries, published in on those who have a gun already registered.

Epidemiologic Reviews, found that new legal restrictions on These restrictions are set in place to protect people, not to owning and purchasing guns tended to be followed by a drop violate anyone’s rights. A gun isn’t just a tool for protection in gun violence,” senior correspondent for VOX, German or sport, it is an extremely deadly and harmful weapon. If Lopez said. someone truly wanted a gun with no mal intentions, there There are several barriers to buying a gun in the US, but should be no problem with stricter laws. there are many loopholes that generally make buying and + design by Ellie Zeller

The Vote

403

88%

Deadliest Epidemic Lawmakers need to work to increase regulation on firearms and firearm ownership in the United States

14,861

72%

The

gun homicides in Kansas City, Mo. in 2020 (up 8% from 2019)

What is a staff ed?

disagree

smnw.com

columns | 05

Sunshine and rainbows

Separating my Church from God’s true teachings

I​​ grew up in my church.

I did arts and crafts in the nursery and sang songs about living in God’s big house. I was taught Bible stories about Moses and the baby Jesus being born. My church had a coffee shop, and I prided myself on having a “cool” church + by Veronica Meiss without pews and old hymns.

I was thriving. Church was what I looked forward to every week. I was welcomed and encased in love from all of the members at my church.

I thought my church wasn’t like those other ones, I thought it was accepting and loving. I was never explicitly told gay people are going to Hell or that women are below men.

I never fit in completely with those at my church. I was different. The difference was especially clear when I was old enough to be in the youth group.

During 7th grade, I walked into the middle school church room on a Sunday morning to see a teacher I had never seen before. Let’s call him Bill. Bill’s lesson revolved around how someone chooses to be gay.

Reality hit me. I knew it wasn’t right, so I talked to my dad.

When my dad talked to the head youth pastor about it, he thankfully did not allow Bill to teach in middle school Sunday School again. But, he remained a youth leader and continued to give sermons on Sunday mornings to adults and high schoolers. This was the first time I realized my church wasn’t the place of unconditional love it claimed to be.

I told my family and some close friends I was questioning my sexuality in 8th grade. Someone I told had spread that information to my youth group without me knowing. When word got out, I was ostracized by the group immediately. My parents continued to expect me to attend. While this was

three minutes December 4, 2021

One… two… three… three minutes, that’s all it would’ve taken.

On Dec. 4, I attended a birthday party in on Southwest Boulevard in Kansas City, Kan. Everything was going well. It was all fun — dancing and singing.

I was the one invited. I still think about that. Maybe if I had never mentioned + by Yeretzy Blanco anything, maybe if we hadn’t gone, maybe something would have changed. Maybe kids wouldn’t have lost their lives.

I brought four of my friends along with me. The feeling of guilt never leaves. What they went through — because of me.

Dancing, making new friends and reconnecting with old ones: that’s what the plans were. A group came in, two girls and a couple of guys. I didn’t know them, but there were quite a few people, so you couldn’t really tell who was new.

I saw the birthday girl and one of the girls arguing and pushing each other. She was obviously not welcome, but she wasn’t leaving. It got quiet. Well, as quiet as a party can get.

Everyone’s eyes were drawn to the sound.

I saw a guy reaching for something in his pants. I had a horrible feeling, I knew it was going to be more than just a fight. In a matter of seconds, a taser was pulled out.

Chaos ensued. I felt like Alice in Wonderland when she was too big for the tiny door. Nothing had really happened yet, but I knew if we didn’t leave at that moment we would get caught up in a mess. My friends and I grabbed what we could and ran toward the only exit. When we got to the car, I turned it on and got out of the parking lot as fast as we could.

My friend Cianna and I had taken two different cars. I took two of my friends, and Cianna took the other. When I left, I assumed they had followed right behind me. They hadn’t.

We stopped at a gas station. We heard gunshots. Cianna

happening, others in the youth group praised my church, saying how accepting it was. When I brought up what I was experiencing to the head youth pastor, he said my exclusion would change. It didn’t.

I didn’t understand why I was excluded for three years.

I stopped attending regularly. After I learned why I was excluded, I stopped listening to the sermons and going to youth group completely.

But how was I able to stay connected to God? I admit it was hard. For months, I wondered if I even wanted to be associated with the bad parts of my religion and call myself a Christian.

I have always loved the feeling I got when reading the Bible and learning about God. It sounds so cheesy, I know. Even when I struggled with my faith, I’ve always wanted the warm feeling I get when I felt God’s presence and love. It helped me feel content in the hardest times.

I’ve been able to stay connected to Christ because of the genuine love I feel from Him. It took me a long time to separate my church from God’s true teachings. When churches pick and choose verses to listen to or completely misunderstand what some verses say, it causes harm. The one thing that is strikingly clear is the idea of love.

When Jesus lived on this earth, He said the two most important lessons were 1) love God with your whole being and 2) love your neighbor as yourself. Everything in the Bible revolves around those two. Churches seem to forget what being a Christian really entails. I know my church did.

Loving as Jesus did means loving people regardless of their identity and welcoming them despite their background. In spite of my experiences with my church, I continue to love and trust Jesus. (to read the full story, scan the QR code)

called me, sobbing. I panicked, but I needed to be calm for her.

She told me she had just seen someone being shot.

I didn’t know what to say. I told her to stay calm and get out of the parking lot as quickly as she could. I was on the way back. We made plans to meet at a park. I saw police cars and a body laying on the ground.

I stayed up the majority of that night. I don’t remember falling asleep. I kept telling myself that maybe nobody had died. Maybe they had just gotten hurt. When I woke up, my mom started talking to me and showed me pictures of the two who had died: Mena, 18 and Hugo, 16. I couldn’t contain my sobs.. I knew Mena.

I needed to process everything before dealing with my parents’ reactions when they learned I had been there. I was worried my mom would get mad at me and not let me go out anymore. When I told my mom, she pulled me in tight and let me cry in her arms. I was still so scared. I don’t think that feeling will ever leave.

Cianna and I struggled a lot and spent every day with each other. She understood what no one else could.

It was so hard to come to school, but I knew that I had to… because they could not. Social worker Melissa Osborn helped us get our thoughts sorted out a bit. My teachers were supportive and understanding, I’ll never forget the kindness that they showed me.

Cianna and I went to the funeral and burial. It hurt, but it helped me heal. We also paid a visit to the memorial a few days later, but we just couldn’t attend the balloon release that honored Hugo and Mena a couple of days after the shooting, We just couldn’t return to the spot where they died.

I’m still scared to go out. I keep thinking that if we had left later, we would have faced something a lot worse. Although I can’t forget, I refuse to live my life in fear.

I have to live for those who can’t anymore.

Upcoming Events + by Bennie Connor

jan 27-29

girls’ basketball tournament The girls’ basketball varsity team will travel to McPherson H.S. to compete.

jan 31

eighth grade orientation

Current 8th graders will be introduced to Northwest.

feb 3

Parent-TEACHER conferences

Parents and guardians get the opportunity to meet with their student’s teachers.

feb 12

sweethearT dance

The Sweetheart Dance will take place at 8 p.m. in the cafeteria.

feb 16

band chili concert

A band fundraiser with chili and live music at 6 p.m. in the mall.

feb 17-19

winter musical “little women” Come see this year’s musical at 7 p.m. in the auditorium. Tickets are free with a student ID.

feb 21

no school-President’s day Happy President’s Day!

FEB 22

NO SCHOOL-profeSsional learning Enjoy your day off students!

feb 24 ED ANCEL C talent show

+ design by Veronica Meiss

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feature | 07

the students have spoken based on a survey of 40 students

Students discuss the highs and lows of their 2021 music library

PREFER SPOTIFY

20% PREFER APPLE MUSIC

+ by Ally Pruente

What was your top song? What about that song do you like most?

“Wichita Lineman” by Glenn Campbell. I like the old timely feel, not super loud or fast.

What’s the best concert you’ve ever been to? Who would you go see if you’ve never been?

I haven’t been to many concerts. The last time I went to a concert (in elementary school), I saw Miley Cyrus. [It was a] great concert. Most of the artists I listen to have broken up or aren’t touring anymore.

Senior Hank Kniggendorf

What was your top song and what about that song do you like most?

“Line Without a Hook” by Ricky Montgomery. Ricky’s voice is about the best thing I have ever heard. [The] song has an addictive tune.

What’s the best concert you’ve ever been to? I have been to concerts, but I don’t think I am a concert person. The best concert I went to was Harry Styles. I would literally die to see Sum 41, Mitski, Ricky Montgomery or Tyler the Creator because I love them.

Who was your top artist and why do you like them?

Sum 41. I love them because their music is like 2000s songs that are just head bopping.

Who was your top artist and why do you like them?

My top artist is definitely David Gates. I stumbled upon his music randomly. I really like folk and folk rock. Gates is really popular in that genre. He was part of the band “Bread,” but I mainly listen to his solo songs.

What’s your favorite playlist that you have?

My favorite playlist I have is “Vibing outside QuikTrip at 5 a.m. with a coffee.” I made it while doing so. It’s my most recent playlist, so it has the songs I’m still into and isn’t too long or short. The best song on that playlist is “Lost in your Eyes,” by Debbie Gibson. It’s just a banger of a song and always gets me hype.

Do you think your music recap is accurate? If not, what would you change?

My music recap was pretty accurate, about a quarter civil war songs, half folk music and the other quarter was 90s and rap.

Which song best describes your personality?

[My] music taste would be folk, classic rock and old timers.

But a song that describes my personality would be “Yellow Rose of Texas.” I like it because it’s an old army song and I have to go to Texas for about six months for basic training.

What’s your favorite playlist?

I have one playlist called “It’s a doozy” and it has over 34 hours of music on it.

Do you think your music recap is accurate? If not what would you change?

I don’t think it’s accurate. A lot of my songs [are ones] I listened to on repeat at the beginning of the year. I would change the genres it said I listen to because they are embarrassing.

Which song best describes your personality?

“Don’t Wanna Fall in Love” by KYLE. That song is [played] everywhere, but also has a flow to it that makes sense.

What was your top song? What about that song do you like most?

“Tangerine” [by Glass Animals]. There’s nothing specific I just really like the artist and all their music.

What’s the best concert you’ve ever been to?

I haven’t been to tons of concerts but the ones I have been to I’ve loved. My favorite was definitely Glass Animals.

Who was your top artist? Why do you like them?

My top artist was tied between Glass Animals and Vampire Weekend. Both of them have a similar style of music that I really like to listen to while I do homework.

What’s your favorite playlist that you have?

My favorite playlist changes a lot. Right now it’s either ‘faded’ or ‘melatonin dreams.’ One of those [playlists] only has two songs by boywithuke and “Jinx” by Crumb.

freshman madeline vanauken

Do you think your music recap is accurate? If not, what would you change?

My music recap isn’t perfectly accurate but it is not far off.

I started listening to a lot of different artists towards the end of the year that would have definitely been in my top [artists] with a little more time.

?

Sophomore danie eaves

WHat do we think The top three songs of 2021, according to the student body

1

“Drivers license,” olivia rodrigo

2

“Montero,” lil nas

3

“all too well,” taylor swift based on a survey of 40 students

+ design by Ally Pruente

08 | feature

Jan. 27, 2021

In the midst of the winter months, some students face increased struggles with mental health

that occurs only during a certain season and comes from a change in an individual’s exposure to daylight. Those with mental health disorders are not the only ones susceptible to depression.

“Seasonal depression is often [experienced] in more of a cyclical pattern,” Glasser said. “This isn’t an area that comes up often, but when things slow down, when we’re less active and outside less, people can experience lower moods.”

The winter months don’t only affect those with seasonal depression. It can have an impact beyond a diagnosable illness.

“I do see it where students have more needs in the winter,” Osborn said. “But it’s not just winter. It’s also finals. We have a lot of stress around finals and other things that are more unique to being a student. If you have a conflict in your family, the holidays can be really hard.”

Seasonal depression isn’t the only mental health condition that affects the student body during the winter season. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is another common condition that causes uncontrollable, recurring thoughts within the individual.

OCD may also include behavior that the sufferer is compelled to repeat over and over. Genetics, brain structure and environment are risk factors of OCD, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.

“

I do see it where students have more needs in the winter. But it’s not just winter. It’s also finals, we have a lot of stress around finals and other things that are more unique to being a student.

“

– social worker Melissa Osborn

“The weather gets me,” sophomore Amelia Ghalino said.

“Picking at my skin is a thing with OCD and it’s made [my] cracked hands much worse [as I] have sensitive skin. So the winter season is not good for me at all.”

OCD has many subtypes associated with it. Common ones include intrusive thoughts relating to violence, sex or contamination. A common misconception is that OCD is only a germ and/or cleaning disorder. Although germs can be part of it, OCD is centered around intrusive thoughts and compulsions. Even just the mention of mental hardships can trigger these things.

“Sometimes teachers will start talking about mental health in certain ways,” Ghalino said. “Sometimes I’ll just casually bring up mental illness and that probably triggers a lot more people than just me, but that makes me really conscious that I have anxiety and OCD.” The effects of OCD are ever present in the lives of those with the

– sophomore Amelia Ghalino

disorder. Because of this, individuals with OCD develop certain mechanisms to alleviate the effects.

“In school, [OCD] affects me daily,” Ghalino said. “For me, most of it is intrusive thoughts and compulsions. It makes me think things like ‘What if I just failed this class? What if I just didn’t care at all?’ It also makes you avoid certain thing, like mobs of people.

In the halls, I’ll take different routes just to avoid big groups.”

The school allows more accessible education to those who need accommodations by providing several services, including Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and 504 plans. 504 plans are named after Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which is an equal opportunity bill stating all individuals with disabilities have access to services and benefits. Each plan gives a student access to personalized help to bolster their chance at achieving success. Both provide accommodations but IEPs also provide specialized instruction. “[IEPs] are for students who have been identified as having an exceptionality, meaning that they learn differently than the average kid,” Glasser said. “This could be anything from having different ways of learning like a learning disability to something like being gifted and having high cognitive abilities. This could be something like having autism, having a hearing impairment. It’s a variety of things but basically the disability or exceptionality would interfere with the students’ learning.

504 plans and IEPs are not common, because the process of getting a plan begins in the classroom.

“

“

“

– school psychologist Lindsay Glasser

In school, [OCD] affects me daily. For me, most of it is intrusive thoughts and compulsions. It also makes you avoidant [of triggers].

[Teachers] are on the front lines, they see where this kid is struggling.

– associate principal Eddie LyDay

“

+ by Stella Grist, Ally Pruente and Izak Zeller

[Having social workers in the building] really allows us to tap into and reach those kids and those families in need, and provide services for them.

– associate principal Eddie LyDay

“

“

Mental health is one of these tricky areas that infiltrates all aspects of well being .

“

“

D

ecember and January seem to overwhelm students with final exams, holiday celebrations and stress. With less daylight and more time hunched over a computer screen calculating what’s needed to keep an A in history class, mental health can be ignored.

Experts have known this and have found that daylight savings has an impact even when the sun is still up.

“Mental health is one of these tricky areas that infiltrates all aspects of well being,” NW school psychologist Lindsay Glasser said. “It can absolutely interfere with physical health, with learning [and] with academic health. That said, mental health is a very wide umbrella term, so it’s hard to say exactly how it would manifest in learning challenges. “ According to Glasser, anxiety might look a little bit different from depression and both might look only slightly different from another disorder, but attention and concentration can be hindered and motivation can certainly be affected by mental health issues.

We’re living in a month where the sun sets at 5:30 p.m. and the weather forces us indoors. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), more commonly known as seasonal depression, is defined as depression

MENTAL C

Teachers are a student’s first resource in succeeding in their education. Once those options are exhausted, the student and administration move toward a 504 plan or IEP of some kind.

“Our teachers do a really good job in the classroom, working with kids, and helping kids discover who they are through their learning styles,” associate principal Eddie LyDay said. “When you’ve got that working for you, you shouldn’t have very many [504 plans]. [Teachers] are on the front lines, they see where this kid’s struggling. Our teachers do a good job of that: being in tune with their learners and their students in their classroom.”

504 plans emphasize the personalized aspect. Not every student with a certain condition or disorder is going to need the same accommodations. Therefore, 504 plans are not always the best course of action for a student.

“It’s not like you come to me, and say ‘Oh I want a 504 because I [have] ADHD,’” LyDay said. “That’s not how it works. What areas are you struggling in? With focus in class? Are you struggling with getting your work done on time? Are you struggling with testing?

Do you need extra time on tests… those types of things. We have to gauge and evaluate where the kid needs help. If the data show that [a 504] is what this kid needs, that’s what we do.”

Another mental health resource available in the school is the two social workers in the building: Melissa Osborn and Tina Clark.

On top of day-to-day meetings with individual students, they also assist in formulating 504 plans.

“We work hand in hand,” LyDay said. “If we’ve got a kid who comes to us as administrators and, as we get in that conversation, determine that [they] probably need to see the social worker, then we have that resource available to them. We [also] have kids that go immediately to the social worker. We’re very fortunate to have Mrs. Osborn and Mrs. Clark because they help us out with those

types of crises.”

Osborn spends her day working with students in need, not only through mental health support, but in other areas as well.

“As a school social worker, the vast majority of my job is mental health support,” Osborn said. “Some students have a significant mental health diagnosis and I help them manage that throughout their school day. Some people just have life circumstances, like parents going through a divorce or they’re going through a breakup and other things that happen in life.”

Accessibility is a big part of having social workers in the building and allows the administration to emphasize caring for one’s mental health.

“Getting into an outside agency or something like that may take time,” LyDay said. “But they’re here every day and they have kids they meet with weekly, some more than once a week. Not everyone has resources to take their kids to some outside place. Having them here, having them trained and working in the private sector before, really allows us to reach those kids and families in need.”

Seasonal changes can affect all students in many ways, including ones completely separate from a diagnosable disorder.

If not properly considered and accommodated, the impact can be far reaching.

“Your mental health and well-being comes first,” LyDay said.

“You can’t learn if your [mind] is somewhere else.”

smnw.com

feature | 09

Causing the Chaos So what causes seasonal depression? How is it different from normally diagnosed depression? How could it impact me, even if I don’t suffer from it?

No mental health ailments are caused by one single factor, however, kidshealth.org says that seasonal depression isn’t just in our head.

Picture a brain with two molecules inside it, melatonin and serotonin. Melatonin controls our sleep and energy levels, the lower the sun in the sky the higher the melatonin. Serotonin on the other hand gives a feeling of happiness and is naturally produced by our brains during the day, These two simple molecules control so much of

our mood and

The science behind seasonal depression + by Ally Pruente and Izak Zeller

behavior. As our serotonin levels go down and our melatonin levels go up, the brain becomes extremely vulnerable to biological depression.

During months like January, the sun sets earlier. This lack of sunlight lowers our serotonin levels and Vitamin D. The darker it is outside, the more melatonin our brains create – a true recipe for a decrease in overall mental health.

Although most cases occur during the winter months, symptoms of seasonal depression can appear during the spring and summer months. Symptoms can differ between the two as well. During the depressions that occur in the winter months, symptoms could look more like oversleeping, weight gain or tiredness/low energy. During the depressions that occur in the spring/summer months, symptoms could look more like insomnia, agitation or irritability, all according to MayoClinic.org Some risk factors include having a family history of Seasonal Affective Disorder, Depression or Bipolar disorder.

More risk factors include living far from the Equator or having a low level of vitamin D. Although doctors can’t tell us how to prevent seasonal depression, early intervention is key to recovery. When talking about SAD, it’s possible to predict when symptoms may start.

This early warning may allow medical professionals to help you avoid the most serious symptoms.

CLARITY

Melatonin

The horomone responsible for sleep patterns and is present in a person’s circadian rhythm.

Serotonin

The neurotransmitter that plays a role in stablizing mood and producing positive feelings within the brain.

What Can I Do?

A few at-home remedies from the school mental health service staff to alleviate the effects of the seasonal change

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+ by Stella Grist

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Bundle up and take a 15-minute walk outside. This could really be good for all of us. Take Vitamin D, because most everybody in the winter is low on Vitamin D. [Taking] it doesn’t really hurt anybody.

- social worker Melissa Osborn

I encourage students to carve out time for themselves and find something that they enjoy. Everybody needs to feel success in some area of their life, it could be school, taking care of plants, being a good sibling, good child or a good parent. Whatever that looks like to each individual, I would encourage a person to explore [something they enjoy].

- school psychologist Lindsay Glasser

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Just [start] living in the moment and focusing on one thing at a time. Do not looking at a huge to- do list or 20 different things you need to work on.

When students do come down to see me, I tell them to focus on one or two [main] things. To the students who are not coming down here, I would tell them to live by that same philosophy.

- social worker Melissa Osborn

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One of the first things that comes to mind is taking care of physical health. It’s a little easier to see [and] to track when we could see what we’re eating and drinking and how we’re sleeping and exercising or if there’s any medical need that can be taken care of by a physician.

- school psychologist Lindsay Glasser

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Safe space

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Language Arts teacher Sheila Young is recognized as district All-Star + by Morgan Tate

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hen Language Arts teacher Sheila Young was a student, she felt alone. Nobody in her class really looked like her — a fact that wasn’t often addressed and. when it was, made her feel uncomfortable.

As a result of her own experience, Young works to form a safe space for all the students who pass through her classroom, which helped her earn the SMSD All-Star award on Dec. 13 for her passion and dedication to teaching.

“It’s been a tough couple years, so [receiving the award] was a nice little surprise,” Young said. “It’s not like I don’t think I’m a good teacher. I think I’m a great teacher because [of] students and their feedback. They just keep reminding me that I’m on the right track with them.”

The award is given to teachers who strive to help each student find their individual success.

Her own experience as a student has shaped the way she approaches the classroom and the way she guides other teachers.

“The wrong way [for a teacher to deal with race] would be to look at a student and put them]on the spot and ask them a very uncomfortable question in front of their classmates, as if they are a spokesperson for all Black people,” Young said.

Young felt unsafe sitting in academic environments + Morgan Tate where she was singled out from the rest of the class. But, no matter how often she felt isolated, there were adults at her school who made her feel safe.

“My counselors were amazing,” Young said. “I did have a few teachers that took an interest in me as a student and cared about my well-being . They cared about how I felt in their classrooms., so those people [stood] out to me.”

When she was a child, Young knew she wanted to be a teacher. She’d play school with her siblings and boss them around. She knew what kind of teacher she wanted

to be — one of those teachers who made her feel at home.

“I think it’s important that they have a person they feel safe [with, and] I have the power to make my classroom feel that way,” Young said. “That’s always a goal of mine.”

As a teacher, her first goal was to make her classroom a safe place. She wanted to make sure her students at least saw themselves in the literature so they’d be interested in learning English.

“When I first got here, there were a certain set of books that we taught,” Young said. “In my second year, I was at an English meeting [and] because we had an opportunity to purchase new books, I spoke up and said, ‘I think this is a great opportunity to start selecting books where students can see themselves in what we teach,’ and today I’m a part of a team that works with our staff to help with diversity and inclusion.”

Young also needed to know what her students needed to feel safe in her classroom.

“You can’t create a safe space if you don’t know your students,” Young said. “If you don’t know who they are, you don’t build a rapport with them. So I pride myself on trying to get to know my students as best as I can, as fast as I can. I try to do that through very deep writing assignments.”

One of the most important things to Young is to make sure, in the space of her classroom, her students end up getting a choice in the things they do.

“What do you guys want to write about? What do you guys want to read about? [I just try] to check in with them as much as I can,” Young said. “Student voice is so powerful and I try my hardest to let students know that it’s very important… Even though I’m a veteran teacher, I’m not perfect. I don’t know it all. They teach me things, too. “

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profile | 11

12 | review

Jan. 27, 2022

FORKS DOWN: Boba Edition

Reviews of boba drinks from Tea-Rex Boba, Ding Tea, Chatime and Pho Good + Veronica Meiss, Grace Logan, Morgan Tate and Izak Zeller + design by Ellie Zeller

Pho Good: Rice Noodle Soup and Honeydew Bubble Tea Rating: 4/5 Boba Teas Grace Logan

Pho Good is a delightful restaurant that serves flavorful authentic Vietnamese food. Peter Nguyen, the owner, has operated two restaurants before opening Pho Good in Kansas City and his experience in the industry shows.

Since the COVID-19 case numbers are rapidly increasing in Johnson County, I decided to order carry-out. From what I saw when I went in to pick up my food, the restaurant had a very welcoming atmosphere and seemed like the perfect place to grab a warm meal.

In addition to the zesty food offered at Pho Good, this restaurant also offers a wide variety of boba.

There are many different flavors, but since this was my first time visiting the restaurant I decided to stick with my typical boba order: honeydew bubble tea. I was pleasantly surprised with this drink. The flavor was very natural and there were also a plentiful amount of tapioca pearls. My bank account was very thankful that this bubble tea was also reasonably priced. My only complaint would have to be that it was one of the sweetest versions of this drink I have tried. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing for some, but for me the sweetness became overpowering. I did also purchase rice noodle soup which was the saving grace in this sweetness scandal. The saltiness of the soup paired extremely well with the sweetness of the boba.

Overall, I had a positive experience and I will definitely visit Pho Good again soon.

Chatime: Signature Milk Tea Rating: 2.5/5 Boba Teas Izak Zeller

I drink a lot of boba. It’s almost become an addiction at this point.

Although, I can’t say that I’ve ever ordered from Chatime before.

Chatime is a tea restaurant that serves a wide variety of drinks.

From classic bubble tea to mango smoothies, they definitely have something to tingle your taste buds. I always order the same thing from every single boba place I go to, a classic milk tea with tapioca pearls.

This time was no different. I ordered their signature milk tea with extra pearls. I did end up Doordashing my order though as I didn’t have time to actually go to the shop.

I ended up waiting for over an hour for them to even make my drink. When Doordash finally said that my order was being picked up, I was just about ready to cancel my order. After a quick google search, I realized that this restaurant has made a habit of giving people long wait times.

When I put my lips on the straw of my newly, and might I say long awaited bubble tea, I was met with liquid disappointment. The tea + photo by Kara Simpson tasted so average I wouldn’t know the difference between it and any other boba place. Wait, let me correct myself. I would know the difference because at least other boba places serve cooked tapioca pearls. That’s right, my pearls had dry powder in the center of them.

It was so nasty and gross to even bite into them. And the tea surrounding the pearls wasn’t a whole lot better. It was mundane at best, with no vibrant flavors. The only pleasant part of the drink was the straw, because at least that didn’t fall apart as I sipped on my beverage.

Overall I do not recommend this drink, or Chatime, for that matter.

Ding Tea Oak Park: Mango Milk Tea Rating: 4/5 Boba Teas Morgan Tate

Ding Tea is a quaint little place, tucked away in a strip mall. At first glance, not many people would walk in here. The outside blends in with the concrete facade of the sports clips and laundromat. Unless someone was looking specifically for the shop, it probably wouldn’t be found.

The aesthetic of the inside alone makes it worth the find. The walls are a soft pastel blue and plants decorate the whole inside of the shop. A mural adorns the wall by the entrance. There’s a wicker hanging chair, various tables and a bar for seating. Soft music floats out of the speakers by the front of the shop. The atmosphere would make this place a nice spot for studying or meeting up with friends.

The boba tea also lives up to the decor. I chose a nice Mango Milk Tea with fruity popping boba. The first thing I tasted when I took a sip was the bright tang of mango, but when you keep drinking it doesn’t stay the same as the fruity boba interrupts the mango tea. The only problem I had with the tea was the slight aftertaste of regular tea, which I’m not the biggest fan of.

Ding Tea had great tea and a pleasant atmosphere. I’d definitely recommend visiting the shop.

Tea-Rex Boba: the Sabre-Tooth Rating: 5/5 Boba Teas Veronica Meiss

I never thought I’d enjoy boba tea. I had it for the first time in Oak Park Mall, and it wasn’t a great experience. From that moment on, I wasn’t a huge fan of milk tea. I heard of Tea Rex Boba from my mom, and I decided to go there.

While it was a 15-minute drive from my house, it was definitely worth the journey. The entrance of the place was really welcoming. There’s a little dinosaur at the entrance that I once saw a dog attack out of fear. It’s understandable, the dino looked at me weird once.

Don’t worry, though, the dinosaur is alright, though it might be a little scratched up.

The inside of the place is littered with drawings little kids have done of dinosaurs and boba tea. There’s a nice and cozy sitting area, with succulent plants on every surface.

The Sabre-Tooth has always been my go-to drink. It’s one of the many specialty teas named after different dinosaurs The drink is a combination of strawberry and kiwi juice with popping boba. When I finally tried it, I was blown away. Both flavors combine so well. I drank it so fast, I gave myself a headache from the concentration of sweetness.

All I have to complain about is the small bits of strawberry seeds at the bottom of the drink. It made the texture of the drink a bit uncomfortable, but it wasn’t horrible.

If you are new to anything boba, I definitely recommend this drink. It isn’t too extreme, and you will definitely enjoy the flavors.

+ photo by Kara Simpson

smnw.com

news | 13

current events This month in current events includes this year’s round of Assassins and Sweetheart Dance updates + design by Stella Grist

Trust No ONe

Players of Assassins begin wreaking havoc + by Stella Grist Ducking behind cars, sprinting through parking lots and refilling ammunition are experiences that characterize the adrenaline rush that is NW Assassins. Participants run from their killers and stalk their next victims, ready to strike. Those who choose to play are marked as “crazy” as they set out on their death wish.

Assassins is an annual game juniors and seniors of Northwest play in which they are assigned a target to shoot with water in order to eliminate them from the game. Of that same token, they are the target of another player and must avoid getting shot at all costs. They are in danger in more places than they can seek refuge: paranoid of everyone, trusting no one.

Round One of 2022 Assassins began Monday, Jan. 16 as soon as the clock struck midnight. This round will end on Jan. 31st and all the assassins who do not get their targets in time will be eliminated. Game Master Meg Qualls, tasked with accepting player money, making rules, and mitigating decisions, sent out targets Jan. 14 as players began planning their first attacks.

Assassins Timeline

Round One Begins Jan. 17 Ends Jan. 29 at 11:59

Sweet as Can Be

“Assassins is a fun game between the upperclassmen at Northwest,” Qualls said. “You get to meet new people and definitely find out more about others. It gets really competitive, which is what makes it fun.”

Alliance.

Betrayal.

The catchphrase of Assassins is “Trust No One” and a constant state of paranoia and fear characterizes the game.

“The feeling of participating is just a constant feeling of anticipation and anxiety,” Qualls said. “You are trying to find information out about your target while also trying to dodge your assassin while trying to do your everyday things.”

You can follow all updates regarding 2022 Assassins by following the Twitter account, @SMNWAssassins2022. “[Assassins] has been a tradition for several years and it’s stayed a tradition because it’s another fun thing for the upperclassmen to have and freshman and sophomores to look forward to if they choose to participate,” Qualls said.

Round Two

Begins Jan. 30 Ends Feb. 13 at 11:59

Getting ready for this year’s Sweethearts Dance + by Ally Pruente On Jan. 20, the Sweetheart Court candidates were announced, kicking off preparation for this year’s Sweetheart Dance. On Feb. 12 at 8 p.m. the dance will begin in the cafeteria.

“I was really excited to be nominated for Sweetheart,” queen candidate Shelby Sogaard said. “I wasn’t really expecting it. When I was nominated, I was in class with Ericka Ojeda [another queen court candidate] and I was like ‘Oh my gosh. Congrats, Ericka.’ Then there was a moment of silence before she [heard my name] and congratulated me.”

With the dance quickly approaching, students rush to find the perfect dress or the earliest dinner reservation. The stress is there for everyone, but especially the court candidates.

“I think all of us [girls on court] are mainly stressing about the dresses,” Sogaard said. “As far as the preparation side, we’re going to have a walking practice, then we have to do the real walk.”

This years Sweetheart Dance is the first in two years after last years cancelation due to COVID-19. This dance is open to the whole school, and further details regarding outside dates and ticket sales will be posted on smnw.com and our instagram smnwdotcom. Look out for all your court candidates in the next issue of The Northwest Passage.

Grace Periods

Feb. 12th - Sweetheart Dance Feb. 13 - Superbowl Sunday

King Candidates

Lincoln Bartelt Max Dory Austin Oakerson Alex Rogers Jeffery Russell Adam Sakati Drake Schotland Sam Vossen Landon Wagler Dante Wheatcroft

Round Three

Begins Feb. 14 Ends Feb. 27 at 11:59

Round Four (finals) Begins Feb. 28 Ends Mar. 6 at 11:59

Queen Candidates

Emma Ayers Maria Berardo Paige Brummer Ella Makiewicz Ellie Musson Ericka Ojeda Addison Pixton Olivia Pixton Sarah Robinson Shelby Sogaard

MONTH in photos

14 | month in photos

Photo 1

Photo 1: WWSenior Sage Grampsas shoots a layup Jan.7 at SM East Main Gym. The Lady Cougars beat the Lancers 61-30. “There is a lot of energy from everyone on the court when we are up by a lot,” Grampsas said. “The bench and the players on the floor are hype.” + photo by Erin Dory

Photo 2: Pinning an opponent, Freshman Adam Hagemen wrestles Jan. 12 in the Olathe East Main Gym. Hageman won 8-3 in a decision that went to NW. “It’s always an adrenaline rush when I win,” Hagemen said. “It’s makes me want to do better next time.” + photo by Kyra Highlander

Jan. 27, 2022

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ON THE WEB Visit smnw.com to read these stories and more web exclusive content

Photo 3: Looking at her computer for reference, junior Kenna Heller paints a portrait Jan. 21 in Room 9. Heller is working on creating a charcoal German portrait titled “Weltschmerz.” “Everything in my portfolio this year is based on a different untranslatable word from a different language,” Heller said. “[Weltschmerz] roughly means “melancholy caused by knowledge of the suffering in the world.” + photo by Claire Moore

Photo 5: Junior Kyle Vogel finishes the 400 free relay Jan. 22 at SM Aquatic Center. The relay team consisted of seniors Jack Ensley, Brendan MacAuley and sophomore Tyler VandenBos as SM Northwest placed 3rd with a time of 3:48. “The best part about relays is you really feel the camaraderie with your teammates while you race,” Vogel said. + photo by Josie Torres

smnw.com

month in photos | 15

Photo 4: Senior Drake Schotland and his mom Amy Schotland show off their dance moves in the mosh pit during the Mother Son Father Daughter Dance Jan. 8 in the Cafeteria. The theme for the event was “Dancing through the Decades” and the pair dressed up as the 80’s.

“I liked just going to the dance with my mom and all my friend’s moms,” Schotland said. “[The parents] went all out on their costumes”. + photo by Sidra Sakati Photo 6: In a triangular formation with her teammates, freshman Sadie West dances Jan. 14 in the Main Gym. The music they dance to is called “Back In Time.” “My favorite part about being on dance team is dancing all the time and having lots of school spirit,” West said. “We get to perform, compete, and represent Northwest.” + photo by Ashley Broils Photo 4 Photo 5

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“We know everyone always gives it their all and we give each other tips and just try to keep it fun. There is so much energy and everyone picks up each other when we do good or bad.”

- sophomore Nathan Jaime Sophomore Nathan Jaime releases the ball Jan. 22 at Park Lanes. During tournaments, everyone bowls separately but individual scores are put together for the overall score of the team. + photo by Josie Torres

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