Issue 15

passage NORTHWEST VOL. 42

ISSUE 15

MAY 6, 2011

A SPECIAL EDITION BY THE BEGINNING JOURNALISM CLASS

spring sports/12 NW ATHLETES COMPETE IN SPRING SPORTS.

leaving home/10

JUNIOR MARIA RAMIREZ MOVED TO THE UNITED STATES FROM VERACRUZ, MEXICO.

life on the other side of the desk/ 11

STUDENT TEACHER BRIDGET REAGAN IS BACK IN THE CLASSROOM, THIS TIME TO TEACH.

/ PHOTO BY BAILEY KOPP

contents

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PASSAGE STAFF

Editor-in-chief

EDELAWIT HUSSIEN

Copy Editor

Sports Editors

MCKENZIE BAKER+ JESSE CHOATE

MAC COOK+ JENNA HILL

Ads Editor

Design Editors

Staff Writers

BROOKE GOLLADAY + BAILEY KOPP

Photo Editors

PAIGE WALTMAN

Graphics Editor TYLER ABSHER

News Editor

NINA GRAMAJO

Opinions Editors HARLEY KNAPP

Features Editors LAUREN SMITH

Entertainment Editor LIDYA HAILEKEROSS+ T.J. MITCHELL

CLAIRE MARLEY

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MICHAEL CATT BLAIR CHANDLER MIRANDA MILLER JUSTIN MOORE TAYLOR PETTIT COURTNEY POSTON ASHLEE SANDERS COURTNEY SAYLOR JOSEPH STUCK ZOE WEBER

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10 / leaving home

SMNW.COM

Junior Maria Ramirez works on a project during jewelry class. / PHOTO BY SARAH DEAN

Co-editors

DANIEL MAGWIRE+ CONNOR THOMPSON

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NORTHWEST PASSAGE / VOL. 42 / ISSUE 15 SHAWNEE MISSION NORTHWEST 12701 W. 67TH STREET SHAWNEE, KS 66216

 NEWS 04 news

Updates on happenings at Northwest.

06 news schmix  OPINIONS 06 budget blame

Facebook shouldn’t be high school students’ main news source.

 ENTERTAINMENT 07 reviews

Wounded Rhymes: Lykke Li’s album is for anyone looking for something new.

African Cats: Disneynature’s African Cats did not live up to expectations.

 FEATURES 10 leaving home

Junior Maria Ramirez left Veracruz, Mexico to live in the United States.

11 life on the other side of the desk

Student teacher Bridget Reagan returns to the classroom, this time as a teacher.

 SPORTS 12 spring sports

NW athletes compete in various athletic activities this spring.

15 happy to hear Tiger’s roar

Stop focusing on Tiger Wood’s mistakes and start focusing on his golfing.

14 (top) Student teacher Bridget Reagan explains a math concept to a student./ PHOTO BY MONICA CASTELLON (bottom) Junior Cameron Bock pole vaults during track

practice.

/ PHOTO BY ALEX STOLL

The purpose of the Northwest Passage is to relay important and interesting information to the community, administration and students of Shawnee Mission Northwest High School. As a newsmagazine, 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 newsmagazine.

The paper will be distributed every two weeks during fourth hour. Subscriptions will be available to the community for $35. 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 a solution.

In these cases, the co-editors-in-chief will the have final say in all decisions. Letters to the editor will be accepted and encouraged, but will only be published if signed. 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 co-editors-in-chief reserve the right to refuse any letter.

POETRY CLUB HAS RETURNED For the recently resurrected Poetry Club, it’s all about the word.

Every Friday at 7 a.m., club members gather in Room 153 to write, share, read and listen to poetry.

“It is not just for a certain type of person; it is truly for anyone with feelings, which is most everyone,” copresident Paige Cook said.

The club is student-run, but sponsor Lindsay Kincaid is there to help. Kincaid says the best part of the club is the number of people who show up.

“It’s awesome to see all those kids get the confidence to stand up and read,” Kincaid said.

The doors are open to students of all grades who want to write and read poetry, or even to just come and listen. Students share their own poems as well as those of other writers.

The club was started in the fall of this year but only had one meeting. This year’s Poetry Slam got students excited, and Kincaid, along with co-presidents Paige Cook and Laura Assmann, revived the club “It is really just getting together for fun and expression,” Cook said.

According to Kincaid, the only prerequisite is “passion about the written word, and the ability to wake up early.” / ASHLEY SANDERS

BOOK “KLUB” FOUNDED FOR YOUNG READERS As he read the classic novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, for class, Book Klub founder Logan Miller thought, “I love reading. I should start a club about it.” Miller’s English teacher, Elaine Mick, was more than happy to sponsor the club for young readers.

Adventure, action and thriller books are the main genres read by this new club. The 12 members spend their meetings discussing the current book as well as characters and

themes, concentrating of different aspects of the literature. Members agree that they would love for more people to join them in their bimonthly meetings.

Everyone should come because “it’s a fun experience and you can add it to your resume.”

The organization meets on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of every month in Room 12 at 7:15 a.m.

Contact Mick for more information. / JENNA HILL

DRILL TEAM TO PERFORM SPRING SPECIAL Drill team is having its annual Spring Special May 6-7. Both the Cougar Classics and the Cougar Express will perform dances that they have been working on throughout the school year. It will be the last time the 20102011 Cougar Classics will perform as a team.

“I’m really excited for the Spring Special, but it’s kind of bittersweet because I’m going to miss everyone so much next year,” senior

Alex Klemovich said.

Each year Spring Special has a theme that the show is based on. This year the theme is “radio.”

“It’s kind of like we change the channel with different dances, as if it’s the radio,” Klemovich said.

It begins at 7 p.m. on both Friday and Saturday in the NW theater. / MACKENZIE BAKER

SENIOR SEMESTER FINAL EXAM SCHEDULE: wednesday, may 11 thursday, may 12 Period 1 / 7:40 - 8:20 Period 2 / 7:40 - 9:10 (Hour 2 exam) Period 2 / 8:25 - 9:15 Seminar / 9:15 - 10:45 Period 3 / 9:20 - 10:00 Period 4 / 10:50 - 1:05 (Hour 4 exam) Period 4 / 10:05 - 10:50

Lunch 1 / 11:25 - 11:55 Period 5 / 10:55 - 12:20

Lunch 2 / 12:00 - 12:30

Lunch 1 / 10:55 - 11:20 Lunch 3 / 12:35 - 1:05

Lunch 2 / 11:25 - 11:50 Period 6 / 1:10 - 2:40 (Hour 6 exam)

Lunch 3 / 11:55 - 12:20 Period 6 / 12:25 - 1:05 Period 7 / 1:10 - 2:40 (90 min exam)

friday, may 15 Period 1 / 7:40 - 9:10 (Hour 1 exam) Period 3 / 9:15 - 10:45 (Hour 3 exam) Period 5 (10:50 - 1:05 (Hour 5 exam)

Lunch 1 / 11:25 - 11:55

Lunch 2 / 12:00 - 12:30

Lunch 3 / 12:35 - 1:05 Period 7 / 1:10 - 2:40 (Hour 7 exam)

tuesday, may 24 Hour 2 exam / 7:40 - 9:10 Passing / 9:10 - 9:20 Hour 3 exams / 9:20 - 10:50 Optional Lunch (Cafeteria Only) / 10:50 - 11:20 11:30 / Buses Leave 3:20 / Teachers on duty to assist students, make up exams and grade final exams

wednesday, may 25 Hour 6 exam / 7:40 - 9:10 Passing / 9:10 - 9:20 Hour 7 exams / 9:20 - 10:50 Optional Lunch (Cafeteria Only) / 10:50 - 11:20

APRIL 30 : STATE SOLO AND SMALL ENSEMBLE CONTEST / Choir participated in the state competion for solos and small ensembles in Topeka, KS.

MAY 1: DISTRICT POETRY SLAM /

GRADES 9-11 SEMESTER FINAL EXAM SCHEDULE monday, may 23 Period 1 / 7:40 - 9:10 (Hour 1 exam) Period 2 / 9:15 - 10:00 Period 3 / 10:05 - 10:45 Period 4 / 10:50 - 11:30 Period 5 / 11:35 - 1:00

Lunch 1 / 11:35 - 12:00

Lunch 2 / 12:05 - 12:30

Lunch 3 / 12:35 - 1:00 Period 6 / 1:05 - 1:50 Period 7 / 1:55 - 2:40

more nw news

wednesday, may 25 Hour 4 exam / 7:40 - 9:10 Passing / 9:10 - 9:20 Hour 5 exams / 9:20 - 10:50 Optional Lunch (Cafeteria Only) / 10:50 - 11:20 11:30 / Buses Leave 3:20 / Teachers on duty to assist students, make up exams and grade final exams

11:30 / Buses Leave 3:20 / Teachers on duty to assist students, make up exams and grade final exams

Teams from all five high schools as well as Horizons competed at Horizons. Northwest defended its title as district champions and junior Isabel Zacharias took third place.

MAY 2: ACADEMIC HONORS AND AWARDS / Northwest’s honors and awards ceremony took place in the auditorium. Around 500 individual students received awards.

MAY 5: SPRING CHOIR CONCERT + SENIOR RECEPTION / The spring choir concert and senior reception took place at Northwest.

CCC HOLDS FINAL CAPPUCCINO DAY OF THE YEAR

Senior Jay Brann mixes coffee for CCC’s last Cappuccino Day on April 22. / PHOTO BY DAVID FREYERMUTH

Cougars Community Commitment (CCC) held their last Cappuccino Day of the year April 22, raising $1,128 from the sales of cappuccino, hot chocolate and cookies.

The proceeds from the day went to senior Sara Osborne’s mother, Sue, to help pay for her medical bills. Osborne has been in and out of the hospital. Doctors have been running tests in hopes of finding the cause.

During the 2010-2011 school year, four cappuccino days have been held. The CCC executive board organizes the fundraiser for organizations or specific family members. On average, $100 is spent to prepare for the event so everything raised is pure profit.

“Cappuccino Day is very fun,” CCC student Rachel Londeen said. “Everybody loves being able to organize it and looks forward to raising money to help people and different organizations.”

Sue Osborne sent a note of thanks to the student body for raising money to help pay for her medical bills.

“I am so truly grateful and overwhelmed with thanksgiving. You have blessed me more that you will ever know,” she wrote. “This Cappuccino Day will help meet a financial need and relieve some stress I have been feeling. I am feeling stronger every day and, again, I am so thankful to each one of you. God bless you!” / HARLEY KNAPP

MAY 6-7

7 p.m. /

10

7 p.m. /

FRI-SAT Drill Team Spring Special

TUESDAY Orchestra Concert

7 p.m. / Spring Band Concert

19

7 p.m. /

THURSDAY Graduation

Compiled by Hayley Battenberg

PAKISTAN

Osama bin Laden was killed by U.S. forces outside the Pakistani capital of Islamabad along with other family members on May 1, U.S. officials reported to CNN. President Obama addressed the issue that night in a press conference.

UNITED STATES

Johnson County, KS: SM North sophomore Ryder Spillman, 16, was found dead near Thomas Edison Elementary School on April 24. Two SM East students, Stephen Reed, 16, and Shane Reed, 17, have been charged with the murder. Police say the Reed cousins shot Spillman due to a long-standing skateboarding feud.

PERU

The presidents of Peru, Colombia, Mexico and Chile signed a pact, The Pacific Alliance, forming a bloc for "deep integration" to promote growth and economic competitiveness on April 28.

NORTH KOREA

North Korean leader Kim Jong Il is now willing to hold a summit with South Korean President Lee Myung-bak. "Chairman Kim sent word that he is willing to negotiate with South Korea or United States on any subject at any time and without any preconditions," former U.S. president Jimmy Carter said. "He specifically told us he is prepared for a summit directly with President Lee Myung-bak at any time to discuss issues between the two heads of state."

LIBYA

Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi urged NATO to negotiate an end to airstrikes on April 30, accusing NATO of killing civilians and destroying Libya’s infrastructure. "Just hours before colonel Qhadafi spoke of a truce, his forces indiscriminately shelled Misrata, killing many people, including children.

His forces tried to mine the port to block the access of humanitarian aid to the beleaguered civilians of Misrata. All this has to stop, and it has to stop now," NATO deputy spokeswoman Carmen Romero said.

all sources can be found at CNN.com

BY THE

NUMBERS

Kate’s ivory and white satin gown featured a heart-shaped-neck, long sleeves, and a full skirt with train that measured 2 METERS and 70 CM.

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people were arrested from inside and outside the areas cordoned off for the royal wedding.

600

GUESTS WERE INVITED TO THE ROYAL WEDDING RECEPTION.

5.3 million page views per minute made the

wedding the 6th biggest event in internet history.

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/ MARCH 11, 2011

GOOD TIME TO BE:

BAD TIME TO BE:

Sarah Burton

The designer made Kate MIddleton's wedding dress for the Alexander McQueen label.

Living in the South

By April 29 nearly 300 people had been killed by tornado storms sweeping the nation.

A senior

The class of 2011 only has one week left until graduation.

A bad test taker

Finals for underclassmen start in 16 days.

A Shakespeare fan

The heart of American Shakespeare Festival has raised $67,000 toward the $100,000 needed to put on the Festival this year

A drunk driver

The Kansas Department of Transportation is allotting $2.5 million to a plan for creating a system to track druken-driving offenders.

BUDGET BLAME

The legislature gets a failing grade for school finance.

MAC COOK By no means unaffected by the economic downturn, the Shawnee Mission School District recently announced its latest round of proposed budget cuts. On the chopping block: 31 regular education teachers, 33 special education teachers and a host of other positions and cuts. Also implemented were increased fees for all-day kindergarten and a controversial “pay to play” policy for high school athletics. The savings total over $8 million. Although a school board vote has yet to be held on the proposal, cuts are a reality and are being treated as such within our district.

This is not the end of the cuts. Base state aid per pupil (BSAPP, the amount of money allocated to a district for every student they serve) is expected to be further reduced by the state during the next legislative session, so further cuts for the 2012-2013 school year are an almost foregone conclusion. With budget cuts so deep that district administrators can no longer keep them from directly impacting the classroom, students and parents alike are looking for someone to blame. A recent slide show explanation of the budget cuts on the SMSD website included a “Frequently Asked Questions” section: “Why not just raise taxes?”

“How can the district purchase equipment and build schools — can’t that money be used to offset funding reductions? (capital funds [used only for construction and building improvements] vs. operating funds [everything else])” “Why doesn’t the district institute an across-theboard cut for salaries and other expenses?”

People are eager to place the blame on the district, administration and teachers. But no one seems to be looking to the people who truly control the money our schools get: the state legislature. The state legislature controls virtually all the funds a school district can

receive and how districts can use the funds they receive. After the conservative tide of the last election and the installation of a legislature bent on making deep budget cuts, the pain is now being felt at the classroom level.

Parents and students alike seem to be quick to blame the school district, or even more unjustly, teachers. Neither of these groups have the power to make decisions regarding the amount of funding the district receives from the state. When we started school this year, the BSAPP was $4,012. Governor Sam Brownback cut $75 per pupil in base state aid in the middle of this school year and reduced the BSAPP to $3,937. Looking to the next fiscal year, three different budget proposals are on the table in Topeka, according to the Kansas Department of Education Division of Fiscal and Administrative Services. The possibility of any of these has already forced district level budget cuts. The possibility of any of these has already forced district level budget cuts: the House budget proposal cuts $175 in BSAPP, the Senate’s $151 and Governor Brownback’s $157. Even the Senate’s proposal means a loss of around $4.2 million for the Shawnee Mission School District alone. On May 2, the House Appropriations Committe rejected am amendment to their budget that would have made even deeper cuts to BSAPP. As much as the representatives in Topeka seem to lament the budget shortfalls, the steps they’re taking to undo this seem few and far between. They continue to offer massive tax breaks to corporations, withholding billions in tax revenues which are used to fund schools, roads, public health and everything else the government provides for us. Their answer to all our problems seems to simply be “cut, cut, cut”.

The idea that tax exemptions don’t equate to major lost revenue is not supported by the facts.

Kansas corporations, non-profits and private individuals currently enjoy $4.2 billion in sales tax exemptions, according to the Kansas Legislative Post Audit for 2010, and in 2006 the legislature enacted a machinery and equipment property tax exemption for businesses which costs our counties $400 million over the first five years and costs the state $19 million by 2012. Overall, the legislature has issued almost $10 billion in tax breaks since 1995, according to the Kansas Department of Revenue’s report, “Estimated Effect of Tax Reductions and Increases enacted since 1995”. It continues to push policies to decrease our state revenues. For instance; many legislators voted for a bill (which did not pass) this year that would have reduced corporate income taxes yet again.

Many of these tax exemptions are issued in the name of economic development. However, when the Legislative Post Audit conducted a study, they concluded that the effects of the tax breaks and other incentives are inconclusive at best. Now can you just imagine schools saying they don’t have reliable data for testing or that it’s inconclusive? Tax exemptions erode the tax base that schools depend on for funding.

When some are exempt from taxes, others have to pay more in taxes and we have to cut from vital services, like education.

So the next time you’re outraged over teacher cuts or pay-to-play systems, don’t blame the district administration. They’ve been forced into this position by an out-of-touch legislature implementing inefficient budget policies. Want to see change?

The Shawnee Mission School District offers contact information for all local legislators.

It’s time to stand up for what you believe in and tell the people who make our laws to start listening to Kansas students and parents. http://www.smsd.org/publicinfo/legislative.htm

SPIRIT(LESS) WEEK

Spirit week is a time to show school spirit. We should stop ignoring it.

LAUREN SMITH Did anyone even notice Spirit Week?

I am not even sure I saw one person dressed up for inside-out day or superhero day or plaid day.

Were the themes too lame? Maybe you’re too cool? Regardless of the reason, lack of participation in Spirit Week is at an all-time low. Spirit Week is supposed to be about having fun and showing school spirit. We get a chance to show our school colors, wear crazy outfits and have an excuse to look ridiculous. So where is the participation?

Half of the time I don’t even know Spirit Week is going on. Morning announcements remind us, but most students don’t listen, let alone remember what was said. Posters around the school publicize themes, but the “posters” are sheets of paper in about

18 point font. If the posters were more vibrant and attention-grabbing awareness could be increased.

To get students to remember something, their interest must be piqued, and Spirit Week advertising doesn’t quite make the cut. That is one thing that could be improved.

As teenagers, we love food. If we received a free cookie or a piece of candy as a reward for sporting the theme, Spirit Week would attract more people.

When the last Spirit Week was held, the most successful events were the ones that involved a food prize. Providing students with a motive to dress up will increase the number of participants.

Another issue is the themes. Most students don’t own a “Top 100 Billboard Artist” shirt and most of us

think wearing plaid is just boring. A theme like Twin day is fun and easy to pull off. This theme attracts people because people won’t feel stupid doing it, and they can still have fun with it. If we have more days like that, I know participation will go up.

Students should have a say in what the themes should be. Perhaps Spirit Club or StuCo could prepare a survey of possible Spirit Week themes and have students vote. Students are more likely to participate if they feel like they have a say. We will be wearing the theme, so shouldn’t we help pick it?

We are supposed to get pumped up for Spirit Week. It’s when we celebrate our Cougar pride. Let’s get excited about it, and make Spirit Week worth looking forward to.

REVIEWS

LYKKE LI’s wounded rhymes 3.5/5

In the past, I haven’t been a big fan of female vocalists. That opinion has been changing as Florence Welch, Karen O and Adele become front runners in the music industry, but I still wasn’t sure if I would take a liking to Lykke Li [pronounced “lyk li”].

Her biggest claim to fame was having her song “Possibility” featured on the Twilight Saga: New Moon soundtrack back in 2009. Despite having a few of my favorite artists featured on that soundtrack, I wasn’t too optimistic.

After listening to Wounded Rhymes, the Swedish singer’s second studio album, those details seem trivial. The album is a great transition from her debut, Youth Novels. Its sound has a more polished feel to it, complimenting her voice in a way Novels did not.

The opening track “Youth Knows No Pain” helps set the tone for the rest of the album. It’s upbeat and alludes to the theme of love that streams in and out of

the remaining nine tunes.

The slow songs are the ones that really stand out.

Ballads like “Love Out of Lust” and “Unrequited Love” showcase Li’s unique voice in a whole new light. “I Know Places” wouldn’t be the least bit out of place on a Cat Power record. The tune has the element of simplicity. With minimal lyrics spanning six minutes and seven seconds, it still has the ability to leave a lasting impact on the listener. “Sadness is a Blessing” has an exultant feeling, and I would confidently say it is my favorite song of the album.

Wounded Rhymes is an album for people who want to hear something new. After a while the songs have a tendency to blend together, and the lyrics can be hard to decipher. But when you really focus on the music, the great beats and equally fantastic vocals offer a sweet redemption that makes this album a worthwhile listen. / PAIGE WALTMAN

AFRICAN CATS 3.5/5

I have seen plenty of ads for Planet Earth on the Discovery Channel, but I was never really keen on the idea of sitting in the dark staring at a film about planet Earth for two hours straight. I could just as easily look up satellite photos at home.

However, back in December, Disney showed a preview for African Cats. I immediately marked it on my mental calendar. A documentary that showcases one of the most beautiful places in the world and contains a storyline about cats? Count me in.

The movie opened on Easter weekend and I was there, as planned. During the first attack on the mama cheetah, Sita, I was curled up in my seat, praying the cubs would survive. By the fourth attack on Sita and her cubs, I was emotionally drained and numbed.

The number of times the movie mentioned the lions’ pride was too repetitive; I felt like I was listening to a broken record throughout the film. When I left the theater, it seemed as though I had been watching the same 10-minute YouTube video on repeat for an hour and a half.

Although I had originally gone to see African Cats looking for a great storyline, I still found it to be a wonderful film. The cinematography had me immersed in the images of the southern Sahara desert, and the crystal clear film had me oo-ing and aww-ing at the lion cubs every time they snuggled with their mamas. Every animal and every twitch of muscle is captured and portrayed majestically.

Unfortunately, I went for a story, and left with the same appetite I arrived with. / ZOE WEBER

REVIEWS

/ 09

e

leaving home photos by sarah dean

JUNIOR MARIA RAMIREZ CAME TO AMERICA FROM VERACRUZ, MEXICO IN 2009.

At Cervantes School they wore school uniforms: a blue skirt, long sleeve blouse, dark blue vest, white socks and black shoes. Every Monday when they sang the national anthem, “Himno Nacional,” they wore formal long sleeve clothing. They taught the basic classes, like math, science, social studies, English and Spanish.

Maria Jose Ramirez, now a junior came from Mexico in 2009, where she was living in Veracruz, a state on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico.

“I was good at English,” said Ramirez, “but it did not help me a lot when I came here, because we pronounced words differently.”

There were not many extracurricular classes, like art and foods, which are now among her favorite courses at at Ramirez’s school in Veracruz. In elementary class one teacher taught every subject, with the exception of the Physical Education teacher, and in high school the students stayed in class and teachers rotated classrooms. They had five minute breaks between classes.

Ramirez came here to live with her dad, who moved to the United States when she was only 7 years old. The last time she saw him was when he went back to Veracruz for her cousin’s wedding when she was 13. He came to Kansas after he got a job offer. In 2004, she visited the U.S. for a summer vacation with her mother, sister and nephew. She had such a good time in America with her dad that she didn’t want to go back to Mexico.

She came back to Kansas in 2009, this time to stay permanently.

“It is really hard to leave your home country,” Ramirez said “On the last day, I cried when I gave [my] last hugs to my friends.”

She moved to Kansas with her mom and older sister, Mitzi. Ramirez had high expectations for America before leaving Mexico. When she actually got here, though, it was a little different than she imagined.

“There are lots of good things here,” Ramirez said, “but my first day was horrible.”

Maria and her sister came to Northwest with their dad to register for classes. Their dad was translating, because they could not speak enough English to communicate with the office workers.

On the first day of school they got their schedule, but they did not know what to do. A boy and girl came and told them something that they could not understand, and the boy took Mitzi to her class while the girl took Maria to her class. However, the girl took her to the wrong class, and the teacher tried to give directions to Ramirez. Ramirez did not understand, but tried to find it. When she finally found her first class, another Mexican girl helped her get to the rest of her teachers.

“Everything was interesting here, even the streets were so clean and perfect,” Ramirez said.

Communicating was very challenging for her at first, but the English Language Learners (ELL) class helped. Three out of seven of her classes were in the ELL room. She felt at home in ELL, not only because the students there were like her, but the teachers tried hard to understand the students. Some teachers speak more than one language, so they could translate. After one year she improved her English enough to pass the Kansas English Language Proficiency Assessment (KELPA) exam and move to English 9.

“I cried the day they told me to move out from ELL,” Ramirez said.

“ELL was a lot of fun.”

Now things are going easier; communication is not as challenging for her as it was when she first moved to the U.S. She is making new friends here, but she is still in touch with her friends in Veracruz.

(above) Junior Maria Ramirez works on her final piece of her necklace for her jewelry class in room A on April 29. (left) Ramerez places the final glass top on her piece, now ready to be put it the kilm for completion.

/ LIDYA HALEKEROSS FEATURES

/ 11

LIFE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE DESK

After trying out the medical industry, Bridget Reagan has returned to the classroom, this time as the teacher.

A

fter a long lesson teaching the four-step process to find the perimeter and area of regular polygons, Honors Geometry students began their homework assignment. A student raises her hand, and student teacher Bridget Reagan rushes over to explain the process again.

“I try to figure out what they do understand and start there. Usually, I can build more understanding from the pieces that they do get,” Reagan said.

Reagan has been a student teacher for math teacher Randi Platko for most of second semester.

Reagan is a student at the University of Kansas (KU) currently working on her Master of Arts in curriculum and teaching.

“I was working in the medical industry and decided it wasn’t for me. I thought about what it was that I liked and disliked about my job and realized I love teaching, mentoring, training. So, I decided I should enter the teaching profession,” Reagan said.

Reagan teaches Platko’s Honors Geometry, Algebra 1A and Pre-Calculus classes. She takes on all of the responsibilities that a full-time teacher would, including writing lesson plans, teaching classes, writing and grading tests and helping her students. Reagan enjoys student teaching and receives regular peer feedback to insure she is doing a good job.

“I look at student teaching as a real job where I have a mentor watching over me to help me become the best teacher I can be,” Reagan said. “The only thing that would make it better is if I got to stay on

full time.”

Even though Platko had to hand over all of her classes to Reagan, she wasn’t nervous.

“She does a fantastic job. All teachers can improve and do better, no matter how much experience they have,” Platko said.

While Reagan teaches classes, Platko’s only responsibility is to communicate with parents. She also continues to perform her own supervisory duty as the math department chairwoman.

“I enjoy having a student teacher, especially when she is professional, responsible and hard-working.

Ms. Reagan meets all of those characteristics,” Platko said.

Freshman Amanda Rebori, an honors geometry student, is in Reagan’s class. Rebori finds Reagan’s teaching styles similar to Platko’s.

“She explains each lesson very well, in a step-bystep process using many examples so we will really understand,” Rebori said.

Most students feel comfortable with Platko because of her experience, but they adjusted well to a new student teacher. Math students think Reagan does a good job student teaching, and understands that she is going to make a few mistakes here and there because she is still learning.

“I like having a student teacher available and so willing to help, even though I like Mrs. Platko as my teacher,” Rebori said.

Reagan recently accepted a job offer at the Pembroke Hill School in Kansas City, Mo. teaching

secondary math. She will start her job at Pembroke in August. During her job search, she was worried that there would be too few available for the number of people of applying, but was happy to find a school hiring new staff instead of firing them.

“I am both excited and nervous at the same time.

I am excited to get started in my own classroom and get to know a group of students,” Reagan said. “I am nervous to start at a new school where there will be so many policies and procedures to learn right away.”

Since Reagan has been here she has had the true experience of being a teacher. In the few months she has been at Northwest she has learned how to balance helping students efficiently, doing her student teaching jobs and her college work.

“I’ve learned so much. If I had to name one specific thing, then it would be how to balance my needs and time with those of my students. I want to help students as much as possible, but I also need time to plan lessons and grade papers,” Reagan said.

April 22 was Reagan’s last day at Northwest. In the next two weeks she will be observing the other math teachers in the building. After, she will take her experience to her new job.

“I will take the memories of my students: when someone yells or runs winning Bingo. Or, the first time a student spotted me in public eating Dairy Queen. Or, the first present I ever received from a student,” Reagan said. “These are great experiences and I will cherish them forever.” / HARLEY KNAPP FEATURES

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Senior Maggie Simms backstrokes during practice at Northwest on April 4. / PHOTO BY KATE JACOBSEN

Junior Luke Moore follows through a putt on the fairway of hole 16 at the Lake Quivira Golf Course April 19. Moore scored a 3 over par, meaning it took him a total of 6 strokes to get the ball from tee to hole. “If you follow through, the ball will take a better line and you’ll have a better stroke,” Moore said. / PHOTO BY CALEB AMUNDSON Senior Jalen Lewis runs his leg of the 4x1600 relay at KU relays April 23. / PHOTO BY PAIGE WALTMAN

COUNTERCLOCKWISE FROM TOP RIGHT Sophomore Crystal Osei competes in the 100 meter hurdle race April 2 at SM South. “Track plays a big role in my life and it’s something I take pretty seriously. It keeps me motivated and it gives me something to look forward to everyday,” Osei said. / PHOTO BY ARA CHO Freshman Carolina Mach tags out an Olathe Northwest player at home plate. The JV Cougars lost the game 10–1. “I love playing catcher because of how involved you are in the game. In this position, you could make or break a game,” Mach said. / PHOTO BY SARAH DEAN Junior Ty Thompson pitches against Olathe East April 19 at 3&2 Baseball Complex. / PHOTO BY DANIEL MAGWIRE Senior Arjun Kumar volleys the tennis ball back to his Pembroke opponent April 26 at Pembroke Hill. / PHOTO BY DAVID FREYERMUTH Senior Kristina Buchanan attempts to steal the ball away on Apr. 23. Buchanan is one of the team captain’s this year on the girl’s varsity team. / PHOTO BY NISHA BISHT

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forgot your camera? we didn’t. check out:

MICHAEL CATT

HAPPY TO HEAR TIGER’S ROAR The world needs to stop focusing on Tiger’s mistakes and instead on his golf skills.

As I run on the treadmill at Element Fitness Club, I watch the game of golf return to its former status.

Others in the gym stop their activities and swivel their eyes to the TV screen. Driver in his hand, he swings. Cheers from the thousands at Augusta National Golf Club echo off the metal equipment. The man we’ve all been waiting for has returned. He is Tiger Woods.

In November 2009, news broke when multiple women admitted to having sexual affairs with the golfer.

Woods lost much more than his reputation — he lost his family. His marriage officially ended in August 2010. Woods wasn’t the perfect golf club-wielding super hero everyone believed. Even though he returned to professional golf for the 2010 Masters Tournament, his performance was mediocre and many doubted he would be able to return to his former level of play. Many still believe he doesn’t deserve to regain the success he had from the past, but golf needs Tiger Woods.

The PGA Tour lost money and sponsors as a result of the economic decline, and Tiger Woods’ absence from the game didn’t help the situation. When Tiger Woods swings, everyone watches. He brings an element of excitement to every tournament he plays in. Although the man made major mistakes in his life, he deserves another chance. He checked himself into sex rehab, given public apologies, and also agreed to candid interviews with the media. All of these are deliberate attempts to become a better person.

Woods is a tarnished trophy regaining it’s shine. After a rough attacks from the media, the loss of his No. 1 rank and mediocre performances, Woods needed a win at this year’s Masters. Although he only managed to land fourth place, the world still heard his roar.

The golf world needed to hear that because Woods is currently the most well known face of golf. Since Woods joined the PGA tour, he has won almost 97 PGA events , 14 of these are highly regarded major tournaments. He has not won a tournament since the summer of 2008, but when most people think about the game of golf, most likely an image of Tiger Woods pops into their heads.

The game needs its face back. Welcome the comeback of Tiger Woods.

Forgive him.

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“[My favorite part of the Carnival was] getting to play all the games with the little kids and eating candy.”

—senior Adam Zoellner / PHOTO BY SARAH DEAN