The Northwest Passage: Volume 54, Issue 2

NW PASSAGE

Issue

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHECKING THE BALANCE

Supreme Court decisions that don’t parallel public opinion should face review by other branches

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

06 COLUMNS

Ellie Zeller and Morgan Tate discuss love

and struggles with making small talk

NEW HORIZONS

Jewish Student Union founder Tad Lambert works to promote understanding

SEARCHING FOR CONNECTION

Looking

Consider

IT TAKES A SPARK

Students

16 A CHANGE IN THE EQUATION

Math teacher Tatiana Briceno was originally on the path to a business career; then she moved to Kansas

FORKS DOWN: MCLAIN’S

We tried the Pepperjack Burrito in honor of the first Late Start Thursday of the year

WE HEARD YOU

Be er bring your lunch money; students react as free school lunches end

20 FOUND IT IN MY BACKPACK

It’s always a li le frightening to see what you’ve placed in that bag you carry around and then forget about 22 MONTH IN PHOTOS

The school year began with a variety of events and the kick off of fall sports

Sophomore Ellie Zeller, freshman Zadie Tenpenny and junior Ashley Broils hold a gavel Sept. 12 in room 151.

cover photo and design by Evan Johnson

CHECKING THE BALANCE

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 monthly as possible. Subscriptions will be available to the community for $25.

The Northwest Passage firmly supports the First

Sept. 22, 2022 PUBLICATION OVERSIGHT

Editor-In-Chief

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.

Le ers to the editor will be accepted and encouraged. The staff reserves the right to edit for grammatical mistakes, length and good taste. Le ers may a ack 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 le er.

Grace Logan

Editor-In-Chief Veronica Meiss

CONTENT MANAGEMENT

Copy Editor

Copy Editor

Photo Editor

Photo Editor

Morgan Tate

Izak Zeller

Sophia McCraney

Evan Johnson

Asst. Photo Editor Ashley Broils

Asst. Photo Editor Kara Simpso n

WRITERS

Zadie Tenpenny

Elaina Hammes

Sofia Ball

ADVISER

Susan Massy

DESIGNERS

Ellie Zeller

Greta Grist

Marching Band leader reacts to incident at Bonfire

design by Veronica Meiss

CHECKING THE BALANCE

Since the ratification of the 14th Amendment, it has been referenced by the Supreme Court in several landmark cases. Examples include Brown v. Board of Education, Plessy v. Ferguson and Roe v. Wade. In simple terms, the 14th Amendment guarantees all citizens equal protection under the law.

Section One of the Amendment says no state “shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States,” and the state at which they live. It does not mention the federal government.

When the Supreme Court decided Roe v. Wade in 1973, the premise was that privacy was an unspecified right and medical records were seen as private. Abortion was a ma er of privacy between doctor and patient. With the Dobbs decision, privacy, as a constitutional right, is no longer recognized.

The current Supreme Court said that if a right such as privacy is unspecified, it should not be protected in the Bill of Rights. They have overturned established case law in 1965.

THE VOTE

A staff editorial is an opinion piece crafted by a single writer and voted on by the entire staff of the NW Passage. It is not an unbiased news article, but an opinion piece tackling a major issue. Here’s how the NW Passage voted on this editorial.

Supreme Court decisions that don’t parallel public opinion should face review by other branches

Over the past year, the Supreme Court’s interpretations of law have made it increasingly clear that the highest court must be held accountable by the executive and legislative branches of government.

Since Roe v. Wade was overturned, a 10-year-old child in Ohio was forced to travel across state lines to seek an abortion. A 16-year-old in Florida was told she wasn’t mature enough to get an abortion, but mature enough to have a child.

The 14th Amendment protects unenumerated, or unspecified, rights in the Constitution. The right to privacy is interpreted to be in that amendment. Prior to June 24, marital and personal privacy enjoyed the protection of the 14th Amendment.

With their decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, the Supreme Court reinterpreted the 14th Amendment, denying that a right to privacy exists, much to the disappointment of the majority of Americans. According to a Gallup poll taken in May 2022, 55% of Americans personally identify themselves as “pro-choice.” This represented a gain of 6 percent points from May 2021.

In December 2021, the Supreme Court declined to intervene in the Texas’ Heartbeat Protection Act, which banned medical professionals from performing abortions once a fetus’ heartbeat could be detected. The Court decided they lacked proper jurisdiction because they saw each state had the right to determine whether abortions would be performed.

In June 2022, the Court overturned New York’s proposed concealed carry law. Why did the Supreme Court decide to intervene in New York’s proposed state amendment

about guns but not Texas’ abortion amendment? They’re both state issues, why did the Court decide they wouldn’t intervene in the Texas’ proposed law about abortion?

The answer is simple; the Court sees an issue with women controlling what they do with their bodies but not the life-threatening weapon New York tried to mandate.

The Supreme Court also ruled police officers are not legally required to recite the Miranda Rights, which warn all arrested individuals they cannot be forced to incriminate themselves.

The citizens police officers arrest will begin to confess to their crimes because they don’t know they have a right not to.

The Supreme Court has continued to overturn constitutional rights and they show no sign of stopping.

The executive and legislative branches should be holding the Supreme Court accountable by protecting the rights the Court is targeting. Bills must be passed by the House and Senate to protect the rights the 14th Amendment addresses.

The House of Representatives recently passed a bill that protects same-sex marriage. They did so after Judge Clarence Thomas said the Supreme Court cases allowing for contraception (Griswold v. Connecticut) and same-sex marriage (Obergefell v. Hodges) should be reconsidered. He said the Court has “a duty to correct the error established in those precedents” in the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization Court Opinion document.

The House of Representatives and Senate must continue to pass bills that protect the unenumerated rights addressed in the 14th Amendment and others before the Supreme Court has a chance to overturn them.

LETTER

TO THE EDITOR

Dear Editor,

Band leader expresses concerns and understanding after Bonfire incident

I am Samantha Sullivan, the Field Captain of the Marching Cougar Pride. I must preface this le er with three facts.

One: the Bonfire Assembly wasn’t any one person or group’s fault, and in no way does the Band see it as such.

Two: it clearly happened because of miscommunication between and within many organizations. Work is being done to fix this.

Three: the following opinions are coming from a place of understanding and moving forward.

The Band has, in years past, felt isolated at assemblies. We would play before and after, but it never seemed we were included. We were not involved in our class cheers and competitions. We felt more like entertainment than anything else. This year, the Bonfire Assembly was different. We were on the agenda, we got to dress up and we performed a skit. It was clear to me, and I hope to others, that the Band felt appreciated and had an amazing night.

However, when it came time to perform our show, misdirection and mob mentality took over, leading to chaos on the court and outside. This chaos created an uncertainty which overwhelmed the Band and, in a way, some of us felt cheated out of our performance.

What worried me and all of the Band staff the most was safety. Since everyone was clustered together, the chance that someone could be hurt was high. In our marching formations, it is hard to stop abruptly, especially when we are as close as we were that night. On top of the students’ safety, we were also concerned about the instruments. These instruments can cost hundreds to thousands of dollars to repair.

Every student in the Band had a different experience. I was fortunate enough to avoid the brunt of discomfort that many people felt, but that doesn’t mean that I can’t relay what is on their minds. Yes, every band member signed up

LETTER TO THE EDITOR POLICY

A le er to the editor is an opinion piece wri en by a non-staff member. They will be accepted and encouraged. The staff reserves the right to edit for grammatical mistakes, length and good taste. Le ers may a ack policy but not people. In no way will ideas or viewpoints be changed. The editors-in-chief and editorial board reserve the right to refuse any le er.

to play in concerts and assemblies, but they did not ask to be disrespected or put in harm’s way. I couldn’t communicate well with the other Drum Majors, which meant that it was hard for students to receive any information I was trying to give.

The morning after Bonfire, Mr. Eichman, the marching band director, addressed the Band and voiced his perspective. He explained what was supposed to happen and that mistakes are what led to the disorganization we experienced. He reiterated that we should not be angry or frustrated with anyone, and that measures are being taken to improve future assemblies. His address helped many students, like me, be more understanding of the situation.

The Band staff, Spirit Club staff, and administration have had procedural discussions to ensure that something such as this doesn’t happen again. On top of that, I have been invited to a end Spirit Club meetings as a representative for Band. Dr. Gruman even addressed the Band and is working to further improve future events such as Bonfire. The Band greatly appreciates and admires all of the work that is being done.

Despite what happened toward the end, I can say that this was one of the best assemblies I’ve been to. I know we can look forward to many great and high-energy assemblies in the future.

COLUMNS

THE SMALLEST THINGS

It’s hard to feel appreciated in a relationship when your love language isn’t understood

For me, showing love is mainly physical. It’s spending time ge ing to know each other and not worrying about the other person judging me. It’s being myself around the person I care about.

When I receive love, I want people to show love for me the same way I show them. Hug me. Watch a movie with me. Be in the same room with me. Make eye contact with me. Smile. Show you enjoy my presence. Check up on me. Listen to me.

Listening doesn’t mean being on your phone with me as the background white noise. Listening means being present in the conversation. Listening means giving me feedback and advice based on what I said.

If I can’t focus or stay on topic and you still listen to me, I know you care. You can even let me rant about whatever minor inconvenience I’m experiencing at the time to show me you want to be there with me.

Most people show love to their partner in a variety of ways. Knowing your own love language and understanding not everyone speaks the same love language is crucial to being happy in a relationship.

The goal in a relationship is to make other people feel loved, cared for and happy overall. If you don’t feel that

by Ellie Zeller

in a relationship, talk to your partner about it. Talk to them about how you show affection and whether they receive it the way you mean it.

Same goes for them. Be sure you communicate with your partner when it comes to feeling loved.

Love languages mean the world to me. It’s one way I can feel fulfilled in a relationship. It’s reassurance; a reassurance that my partner will try to put effort in, to ensure I am as happy as I can be. And I want to do the same for my partner.

From my past experiences, there have been many times where I can’t be in the same room or physical space with my partner. Due to restrictions I didn’t have control over, everything had to be over FaceTime or Snapchat. It was rarely in-person. If it was, it was only at school. It wasn’t horrible, I just didn’t feel as loved and cared for as I wanted.

When my partner and I are in person, I don’t want to feel like a task my partner has to cross off the to-do list. I don’t want to feel like my partner has something more important to get to. I want to feel like you value our time together.

Communicate clearly and consistently with your partner. Ask what they need to feel loved. Share what you need. Communication is key to any relationship.

UPCOMING EVENTS

SEPT. 29 Fall Orchestra Concert

The orchestra will perform at 7 p.m. in the Greg Parker Auditorium.

OCT. 6

Concert and Jazz Band Concert

It’s two bands in one concert. The Concert Band and the Jazz Band will perform at 7 p.m. in the Greg Parker Auditorium.

OCT. 7 Homecoming Football Game

Support the varsity football team in their fight against Olathe South at SM North Stadium at 7 p.m.

by Elaina Hammes

OCT. 7 Homecoming Parade

All students will be dismissed from classes at 1 p.m. for the annual Homecoming Parade. Club and team floats will be featured along with the HoCo Court starting at 1:15 p.m.

SOCIAL WOES

Any conversation I’m part of usually goes something like this: we start off talking about school or a book or something or other. The conversation’s fun and I’m engaged. Then, from that point, it can go a couple of ways.

Maybe the conversation turns to a topic I know nothing about, a topic I can’t add anything to. So I sit off to the side, trying to listen. I want to know what everyone has to say. I care about them, it’s just,eventually, I space off and I’m in my own head.

Or I might try to add to the conversation to show I care. But then I realize the only thing I can do to add more is connect back to whatever is on my mind, the book I read or the class I suck at or the song I’ve been listening to on repeat. However, those things are never what’s on anyone else’s mind so I come off as a disconnected. I look self-centered and random. Then, at some point, I start rambling about whatever I’m interested in at the moment and add too much to the conversation.

Maybe I’m listening to a friend rant about their teacher. It’s hard to express my feelings with words at the moment, so I share a meme that may not be tonally appropriate, an image of pasta with a caption saying “this is a Fe uccine Alfredo moment.”

This is how I show I care, but to them, I come off as a crazy person.

The worst thing is, they don’t react. They just treat me kind of like a child who just showed you their messy macaroni art project.

But, that’s just me in casual conversation.

I am not good at talking to people. Surprising, I know, because I’m a writer for the newspaper. I talk to people all the time for the paper.

The difference? I interview people. I don’t have to be a part of small talk with other people.

It gets much worse in stressful social interactions. When people start talking about heavy topics, such as politics or their ailing grandmother or religion. Or my post-high school plans. As soon as the question pops up, I shut down immediately or try to joke about my lack of plans.

I have another big problem when it comes to conversations, I have trouble making direct eye contact with people. I don’t mean to be rude. Direct eye contact just feels… well, itchy. This carries somewhat into my interviewing, but I’m be er at it.

Interviewing is different from talking to people because interviewing requires a clearly defined goal. I know I need to get the information required to write a good story. I have preset questions I’ve carefully thought out and wri en down. Even when I don’t use those, I still know the angle of the story. I’m not forced to add much to the conversation, which makes it even easier. I just ask the questions and sit back to listen and think about what to ask next.

Impromptu conversation remains difficult for me. I don’t try to be annoying, selfish or rude, but I can come off that way. I’m trying to solve my conundrum, a entively listening to others, not tiptoeing around the difficult stuff and keeping the tone of the conversation in mind.

As I learn and grow, please bear with me and realize, I know my small talk sucks.

OCT. 8

Homecoming Dance

Dress in your formal wear to a end the Homecoming Dance 8 p.m. in the cafeteria. Tickets are $15 for one person and $25 for two and will be available during lunches in the cafeteria.

OCT. 10 Fall Choir Concert

The Greg Parker Auditorium will host the Choir program’s Fall Concert at 7 p.m.

OCT. 10

Board of Education Meeting

The monthly Board of Education Meeting starts at 5:30 p.m. at the Center for Academic Achievement. All SMSD patrons are welcome to a end.

OCT. 12 Early Dismissal

Students will be dismissed at 1:30 p.m. to mark the end of the first quarter of the 2022-23 school year.

design by Greta Grist

I’m terrible at making small talk when the conversation isn’t planned

by Morgan Tate

Jewish Student Union founder Tad Lambert works to promote understanding

by Izak Zeller & Veronica Meiss

NEW HORIZONS design by Veronica Meiss

Junior Tad Lambert talks to senior Nevaya Davis about Jewish Student Union (JSU) Sept. 8 in the mall. JSU is a club for Jewish and non-Jewish people to get together and talk about Jewish culture and hangout. “I have thought about [starting JSU] since the end of my freshman year,” Lambert said. “At the beginning of sophomore year I just said let’s do it,” photo by Ashley Broils

In the early morning in the bright and cheery mall, people crowded around the Jewish Student Union (JSU) table.

They were asking all sorts of questions, mainly about what it is about. As JSU president Tad Lambert stood, answering questions, he got to see the student population and how li le they knew about Judaism.

“JSU is a great way to get more involved at Northwest,” Lambert said. “It’s a great way to get together and learn about Jewish holidays and talk with Jewish people and learn about all these Jewish things you may not have heard about.”

In middle school, Lambert dealt with swastikas drawn in textbooks and Holocaust jokes. People would talk about how Hitler did nothing wrong while si ing next to him. All of this fueled his motivation to

start the club. When the shooting occured at the Overland Park Jewish Community Center, Lambert was only seven years old.

“I remember that conversation with my parents on what to do if someone asked me about it because I’m Jewish and it was an anti-Semitic event,” Lambert said. “I’ve dealt with it my entire life. I’ve had to think about whether to tuck my Star of David chain in for my own safety.”

Lambert does not believe that the Jewish population are represented proportionally in the media and, as a result, are being left out of the conversation.

“Right now, anti-Semitism is on the rise in America,” Lambert said. “It’s not really talked about, but it’s something I have personally faced in the area and at Northwest. All these social movements for equality are

great, but it seems Judaism and the Jewish people are just left out on an international and national state.”

Lambert hopes to see increased support for Judaism as well as other religions in the future.

“It’s very hard to think of what one school’s administration can do besides building cultural awareness,” Lambert said. “Black Student Union’s Black History Month assembly is doing great things for them and it’s something I think JSU should talk to administration about for all religions, not just Judaism, to spread more religious awareness.”

Membership in JSU is not limited to Jewish students. Anyone can come learn about Judaism.

No regular meeting times for the group have been set. Those who are interested should contact Lambert or sponsor Ben Pabst.

SEARCHING FOR CONNECTION

THESPIAN TROUPE #888

“Students should try out theater just to try something new. There are many different areas of interest for people from acting, to doing tech like building sets, painting or pu ing together costumes. Our Troupe is like a family, so it’s a good space to find your home away from home.”

– president Alyssa Kempf

BLACK STUDENT UNION

“I think students should join Black Student Union because we are a community. As an organization we talk about important topics but we also have fun and do activities most other clubs don’t such as running the Black History Month Assembly. We plan to do some really cool things this year so anyone who is interested should definitely join.”

– co-president Comfort Adegoke

ANIME CLUB

“Anime Club is a place where anyone’s welcome, even if you have never watched anything. We all make sure everyone is involved and taken care of. We’ll be pu ing posters out for Club very soon. It will have information, and hopefully get a QR code for the Anime Club GroupMe. They can also show up at room 8 on Wednesdays right after school.”

– president Elena Thompson

CREATIVE MINDS CLUB

“We do writing, painting, drawing and sewing, and we’re trying to save up money for po ery. We write music. We create whatever your mind can think of. There are multiple ways to express yourself and learn things you never knew.”

– secretary Adalyn Moore

Looking to get involved? Consider joining one of these organizations

by Izak Zeller design by Veronica Meiss

CHICK-FIL-A CLUB

“The club is super fun and a great way to meet new people while eating chicken. It’s the perfect excuse to eat Chick-Fil-A. We meet twice a month, once before late start and once after school.”

– co-president Katie Burke

ATHLETICS

“Students who are involved in the athletic programs have to be accountable. They must have a competitive spirit that goes on as well as respect for themselves and for others. I think that carries you on. Those are the lessons that will take you far into life, well beyond your years of high school.”

– Athletic Director Angelo Giacalone

EARTH FIRST CLUB

“Joining Earth First is a great way to show support and appreciation for the planet we live on. We do lots of great things as a club to show our appreciation. I hope that members feel fulfilled and be er about how they treat the earth. I think it’s a great why to give back to our local community.”

– president Annaliese Nguyen

REbel

“My freshman year, I went to REbel Club with my sister and it was automatically a good vibe. I wanted to keep it going because it’s a relaxed club where you just come and hang out with your friends to talk about current events. It’s a really good environment and we’re a very welcoming group. It’s not a huge commitment. It’s all discussion-based, but we’re off topic all the time and we just have a great time.”

– co-leader Samantha Sullivan

ALL FIRED UP

Doing a TikTok dance, juniors Bryan McKee, Savannah Kessinger, and Addison Masters dance to Family Afair by Marry J Blige Aug. 31 in the Main Gym. The juniors skit theme was sorority rush. “I think it went really good we practiced a lot, it was super stressful for me to run it but in the end I’m really proud of the hard work we all put in,” Kessinger said. photo by Ashley Broils

IT TAKES A

by Sofa Ball, Grace Logan & Zadie Tenpenny design by Greta Grist

Preparations and the reality of the Bonfire Assembly

Senior Tanner Pruter plays the tenor drum Aug. 31 in Main Gym. The Marching Cougar Pride performed their “Chaos Order” show during the Bonfre Assembly. [During the performance] the band is split between chaos and order,” Pruter said. “The beginning of the show starts out with chaos and throughout the show, you get little glimpses of order.” photo by Evan Johnson

“I find that the Bonfire is probably one of the most hype assemblies of the school year,” Spirit Club co-sponsor Brooke Moore said.

Spirit Club dedicated weeks of preparation to the Bonfire. Most of their time was spent fire permits, creating scripts, coordinating groups, contacting people for class skits and approving acts and music.

“We have a Spirit Club class where we worked on planning every class period,” junior Rose Cox said. “We also have a lot of different documents we edit and scripts to discuss as well as poster making to plan.” Spirit Club is not the only organization involved in the planning and execution of this event.

“Our Spirit Club, cheerleaders, band, dance team and everybody works together to make this event happen,” principal Lisa Gruman said. “I love that it’s student led and student driven.”

The Bonfire assembly has been a way for students and staff to kick off fall sports for as long as Gruman can remember.

“It’s important to have those traditions that carry down from each class,” Gruman said. “[The Bonfire Assembly] is something that is uniquely Northwest. Preserving those traditions is important.”

There is no limit to the amount of energy and spirit that students bring to this assembly.

“I remember being able to spot a curly rainbow wig and a few friends covered in gli ery paint and bracelets,” freshman Addie Evere said.

Some a ending Bonfire didn’t know that the local Shawnee Fire Department was involved in safely starting and extinguishing the fire.

“Anything with the community we enjoy because that’s who we protect,” captain with the Shawnee Fire Department and SMNW graduate Quentin Hammontree said.

As the years continue, Bonfire will too.

“Northwest assembly culture is the best introduction to this scene [you’re] going to get,” senior Ally Urich said.

With her pom-pom raised, sophomore Taytum Hollingsworth cheers Aug. 31 in the Main Gym. JV cheer was performing their routine for Bonfre. “I thought the routine went very well, especially the stunts,” Hollingsworth said. photo by Kara Simpson

“You also get to watch something burn. What more could you want on a Wednesday night?”

A hush fell across the gym as Spirit Club treasurer Izak Zeller took the microphone to announce the Spirit Stick winner. “Seniors,” was all that was said before the gym erupted into screams and shouts and students left the stands to celebrate their victory at the Bonfire Assembly on Aug. 31.

photo by Brody Carlson

story by Grace Logan

Students’ cheers and shouts filled the air as the flames of the fire illuminated hundreds of smiling faces. Chris Pauli stood away from the crowd of students, watching the festivities with his daughter and wife. Without Pauli, one key element wouldn’t exist.

Without Pauli, there would be no fire.

At the end of the night, Pauli watched what may be one of his last bonfires extinguish.

“My family says I’m retiring, but I have to find someone else first,” Pauli said. “I’ll probably end up doing it another year. I don’t have any kids or friends with kids going to SMNW anymore after this year. I mostly did it because Kaitlin, my daughter, worked so hard to bring it back I hate to see it just die off again. ”

During Kaitlin’s junior year in 2018, the

turf was installed on the dirt baseball fields. This left no place for the Bonfire to be set without causing damage to the new fields.

Kaitlin worked with administrators at the building and district level, as well as the fire department and her father to ensure the Bonfire would be held her senior year in 2019.

“When I was a freshman, we had the Bonfire and I thought it was the coolest thing ever,” Pauli said.

“When you look back on your high school experiences, you remember li le things such as Bonfire. I wanted it to go on for my li le sister, friends and for myself.”

Since then, the Pauli family has had a hand in each Bonfire Assembly.

“My dad really enjoys seeing everyone have so much fun,” Kaitlin said. “It’s just pure joy. There’s no evil intention, no drugs or alcohol, just kids having fun.”

haul in sand, spread it

DONATED

Illuminated by cell phone fashlights, sophomore Owen Barth teases sophomore Harper Engle during a roast battle Aug. 31 in the parking lot. The roast battle began spontaneously after the Bonfre Assembly moved to the parking lot. “[The rap battle started] just as a joke,” Barth said. “[Engel’s] bars were pre-written. He is not a lyrical genius like I am.” photo by Evan Johnson

Chris Pauli, benefactor, hopes to

soon from se ing

bonfire

“

“

— Chris Pauli

I’ll probably end up doing it another year. I’d hate to see it just die off again.

A CHANGE IN

THE EQUATION

Math teacher Tatiana Briceno was originally on the path to a business career; then she moved to Kansas

story and design by Morgan Tate

Math teacher Tatiana Briceno lived in Caracas, Venezuela, her entire life until she was 15. That’s when her dad was shot in the leg and Briceno and her mother moved to America.

Briceno had gone to the same private Catholic school her whole life, had the same friends, had cookouts with her father’s side of the family and hung out with her mom at work.

Her mother was the Caracas community outreach director and worked with the mayor, planning major community events. Her mother was also involved in a political party critical of Venezuela’s president.

“She was ge ing threats all the time,” Briceno said. “We would have police outside of our house all the time. She would get phone calls all the time. At her job, they would have to take her to her car.”

Both of her parents took part in peaceful protests against the government, but these protests often turned violent and the police tear-gassed protesters. Her college-aged cousin tended to fight back and Briceno’s father would try to keep him out of the fray. The

threats and violence increased her mother’s desire to leave Venezuela. One incident escalated her concerns significantly.

“The police tried to get my cousin and my dad got shot,” Briceno said.

Although Briceno’s whole life was in Venezuela, the shooting triggered an immediate move to the United States.

“I wasn’t aware that I was moving to the United States,” Briceno said. “I went to a gymnastics camp in New York for two weeks. When my mom picked me up, she told me we were staying. I was shocked and sad but also very excited to learn a new language and culture.”

Because Briceno’s parents were divorced, her dad stayed in Venezuela working as a mechanic. Her mother had a job and a boyfriend in Kansas.

When her mom dropped her off at SM South, she only said, “okay, good luck.”

Although the move got them away from the unrest in Venezuela, the change was scary for Briceno. Compared to her private school in Venezuela, SM South felt like a shopping mall.

As Briceno started making friends in her English Second Language (ESL) class, she got adjusted to SM South. The move to America let her pursue her dreams.

Briceno’s love of math was inspired by her uncle Toni.

“He would sit down with me after school and do the homework with me,” Briceno said. “With practice, I got good at it and I started liking it.”

Uncle Toni was very patient with Briceno and made math engaging for her.

“He would explain to me why things are like this,” Briceno said. “Why parentheses work that way. That would get me to learn more.”

But even with her newfound love of math, she had few career choices in Venezuela.

“You had three options: you become a doctor, engineer or a businesswoman,” Briceno said.

She was pushed to select one of these three career paths, and chose to become a businesswoman. After arriving at South, she became the resident math tutor for her ESL classmates.

“[My ESL peers and I] had study hall together,” Briceno said. “They always asked about math. I would

always be done with my math. My ESL teacher would say, ‘oh, Tatiana, could you help so-and-so with math?’ I was like, ‘okay. For sure.’”

Briceno enjoyed teaching math to her fellow students, seeing her classmates continue to improve at math, and, when one of her friends thanked her for the tutoring, Briceno knew she wanted to teach.

“‘Thanks to you, I passed math,’” Briceno said. “Yeah, I think that phrase will forever stick with me because they were like, ‘Thank you. Because of you, I actually

understand math.’”

When she began college at Kansas State University, she was still on her way to becoming a businesswoman.

“I started taking some business classes, and I was like, ‘Yeah this is not for me,’” Briceno said. “I switched to teaching at the end of my freshman year.”

After college, Briceno started her career as a math teacher here. She still misses Venezuela, although she hasn’t been back since 2017. Despite the distance, she keeps up with those she loves.

“I miss my dad a lot,” Briceno said. “I send him pictures all the time of everything I do. I make sure to text him.”

Briceno knows if she still lived in Venezuela, she’d still be on the business path. She knows she wouldn’t be a teacher and, even though she’s not a businesswoman, her parents are very proud of her.

“My mom tells me she’s proud of me every day,” Briceno said. “She asks ‘How’s my favorite teacher?’ My dad tells me that, too.”

New Teacher Tatiana Briceno smiles in her classroom Aug. 31.

McLain’s FORKS DOWN

We try the Pepperjack Burrito in honor of the first Late Start Thursday

by Sofa Ball, Elaina Hammes, Grace Logan & Izak Zeller

design by Ellie Zeller

We tried the Pepperjack Burrito from McLain’s Market on Sept. 12. Although we thought it was pricey for the size, we disagreed on whether it was spicy enough, too spicy or just right. photo by Evan Johnson

Established in 1945, McLain’s Market has since evolved into a trendy marketplace selling muffins, donuts and Danish pastries. They also sell cakes, buns and burritos.

With its open space, casual lounging areas and lots of light, it captures a modern aesthetic with a bohemian influence.

The pothos vines that line the walls add a pop of color to the room, contrasting with the mixed wood tones that evoke a sense of warmth.

Upon entering, expect to be met with a light scent of eucalyptus, as well as a beautiful wood centerpiece holding candles, soaps and all sorts of different treats such as cupcakes.

Izak Zeller

We got our burritos pre y quickly. It couldn’t have been more than 10 minutes.

When the food was placed in front of me, I silently cried. This burrito was nearly nine dollars, not including tax. For what I got, the price was absolutely ridiculous. The burrito was only four or five inches in length.

My first bite was met with a very basic burrito. No salsa, no sauce, just a burrito that tasted like every other one out there. There definitely could have been more cheese, too. In fact, it tasted just like the Starbucks’ breakfast burrito, except at least that one isn’t the size of my pinkie.

Overall, I rate the burrito a 3 out of 5; not necessarily bad, but so bland that I just can’t bring myself to give it a 4.

Sofia Ball

The presentation was not as good as I thought it would be. The burrito rested on a sheet of checkered paper in a small tin bowl.

I was disappointed with the burrito’s size. The taste, however, was beautifully spicy, not too hot but just a li le kick. The eggs added nice fluff to the cheese and potatoes. I was just not impressed.

I would rate it 3 out of 5,

Beneath the counter, there are shelf after shelf of beautiful pastries.

It’s easy to tell the food takes a long time to make, when seeing all of the tedious marks and designs made with the icing, laced with berries and herbs.

The menu may seem overpriced at first glance but when compared to places such as Starbucks or any other ordinary cafe, the cost is much the same.

It is not only family-friendly with outdoor seating and games, but it is also a great place to either catch up on schoolwork or grab a cup of coffee with a friend. With its eye-catching artwork, textured area rugs and animated atmosphere, customers will feel right at home.

Elaina Hammes

There wasn’t nearly as much of the Pepperjack cheese in the burrito as I would have liked, although it definitely added an extra kick to the dish.

When it comes down to it, the dish really fits the overall description of a basic burrito.

The contrast of fluffiness of the eggs with the saltiness of the potato is exceptional, but I wish there had been some kind of sauce or spice to add some extra flavor.

Overall, I wouldn’t say I was impressed but I would order the Pepperjack Burrito again.

I rate this dish 3 out of 5 because of my low tolerance for heat. Those who enjoy a li le bit of heat should try this dish.

Grace Logan

Surprisingly, I enjoyed the Pepperjack Burrito, in spite of my compatriots previous reviews. It had a nice spice level, the eggs were fluffy, the potatoes were nicely seasoned and the sausage had a good flavor.

The one thing I can’t get behind is the price of this burrito. As a high school student who’s budget doesn’t have room for many expenses, I’m a big advocate for – extremely – cheap eats. Spending $8 on a burrito just isn’t something I can do frequently. It’s a nice treat once in a while, but I won’t be rushing to grab this burrito anytime soon.

I would recommend trying it once if you are craving something for breakfast with a li le bit of spice.

“School shouldn’t be a place to worry about basic needs such as food.”

– sophomore Henry Fields

“I always bring a lunch from home, however some people probably depended on that free lunch just so they could eat.”

– freshman Sadie Babler

“Some people can’t afford lunch every day, and since they force us to be here by law, the least they could do is not starve us.”

– freshman Wya Neis

“The district should bring back free lunch because for people who are on the fringes of being on a free meal plan are put in the tough position of having to come up with enough money to pay for lunch. While it might not be devastating to their finances, it still puts stress on the family.”

senior Evan Mitchell

WE HEARD YOU

Be er bring your lunch money: students react as free lunches end

by Veronica Meiss design by Ellie Zeller

“From my perspective, the concept of free lunch for those who need it will always seem like a good idea.”

– sophomore Abby Livingston

“Providing for five to six people and a pet can be costly for my dad to manage and the lunches are quite expensive. It ends up being $15 a week, and that’s not even including breakfast.”

– junior Anistyn Kempf

“I have money to pay for my own lunch, but my li le sister doesn’t. It might not be a lot for one lunch, but it adds up. I can see it being a problem with a lot of people though, especially when we got so used to having easy access to lunch. I know the district has funding for it and it’s something we should expect, considering we are a public school.”

– junior Ava Griffin

“It sucks that you have to add money by cash. Most students use debit cards nowadays, so even if they have money they can spend, they can’t use it. It would benefit many students [if the district brought them back].”

senior Lilly Harris

FOUND IT IN MY BACKPACK

High school students spend most of their time digging through their backpacks looking for things that can vary from algebra papers, essays, M&M’s or earbuds. Bearing a similarity to a rabbit hole, many of these components fail to see the light of day. Here are the rare items that seem to have made the cut.

HALLE GRAY

Some students bring snacks in their backpack because lunch can seem millions of years away. Instead of eating hers, freshman Halle Gray left an unopened granola bar in her bag since the last week of her eighth grade year. She only discovered it when being interviewed, laughing as she pulled the treat out of her bag.

“When you’re si ing in class and have third lunch at Trailridge, it kind of sucks being hungry,” Gray said.

Gray mentioned that she has third lunch again at Northwest all week long.

freshman photo by Evan Johnson

“I bring my lunch and I always have an extra fruit snack and granola bar,” Gray said. “Except I’m not leaving a granola bar in my bag again.”

sophomore

SOPHIE DELANEY

Sophomore Sophie Delaney’s backpack is home to a worm on a string.

“I don’t even know why I have it,” Delaney said. “It’s actually been inside my backpack for over a couple years.”

photos by Ashley Broils

Students share the stories of unusual items in their backpacks

by Sofa Ball & Zadie Tenpenny design by Ellie Zeller & Veronica Meiss

junior

EMMA SHEVERBUSH

Since last year, junior Emma Sheverbush has kept a necessity for ceramics class in her bag.

“I have a Tupperware with slip in it,” said Sheverbush. “You use it for everything as the glue to hold projects together.”

Sheverbush says she plans on keeping it in her bag for ceramics, which she’s taking again this year. photos by Sophia McCraney

sophomore SAHIRA BHAKTA

Sophomore Sahira Bhakta has an odd trinket that carries a le plastic fish that I took from a li the pool I worked at,” Bhakta said. “I now keep it in my backpack during tests and stuff as a superstitious thing because I had saved a li le girl on the day I got the fish at the pool so I thought it was cute and deemed it my good luck fish. Plus the li le girl who left it behind and never retrieved it was the same girl I saved. It was like memorabilia.”

photos by Kara Simpson

MONTH INMONTH IN

1: Head Football Coach Bo Black instructs the team Sept. 2 at SM North District Stadium. “While on the sidelines it’s just reminders and encouragement,” Black said.

2: Senior Olivia Niemann putts the ball Sept. 7 at Tomahawk Hills Golf Course. When putting, golfers use smaller clubs. “I try not to put any pressure on myself when putting,” Niemann said. photo by Brody Carlson

3: Juniors Ellison Bonge and Catherine Ancell high fve Sept. 8 in the Mall during Club Day. Club day is where extra curriculars showcase their activities. “We were there to grow our choir program,” Bonge said. photo by Ashley Broils

PHOTOS PHOTOS

design by Sophia McCraney

4: Freshmen Ava McMahon dances with a friend Aug. 12 on the track. The freshmen mixer kicks of the school year. “I enjoyed dancing with my friends,” McMahon said. “Especially when good songs played.” photo by Kara Simpson

6: Dressed as pirates, seniors Macy Malik, Olivia Niemann, Keaton Blount, Abbi Nicol and Clare Taylor cheer for the football team Sept. 2 from the North District Stadium..

The football game’s spirit theme was “Sink the Ship.” “[Spirit themes} keep everyone involved,” Blount said. photo by Kara Simpson

5: Pom poms in the air, sophomore Avery Anderson cheers at the frst assembly of the school year Aug. 18 in the Main Gym. The cheer squads job at assemblies is to raise the spirit. “It was really refreshing to be in front of an assembly again,” Anderson said. “It’s one of the best feelings to be cheering and hearing the joy and spirit of the school all at once.”

photo by Sidra Sakati

The school year began with a variety of events and the kick off of fall sports

month

NWP NWP

Senior Braylon Harvey makes a ‘W’ Aug. 31 in the Main Gym. Harvey made the symbol while the Spirit Stick was being carried around the gym by Spirit Club members just before the winner was announced. “I think the bonfre was better this year because we were back in the gym again,” Harvey said. “Plus we won the Spirit Stick.” photo by Evan Johnson