Issue One: Surviving Stress by Northwest Passage

northwest

PASSAGE 12. SURVIVING STRESS Identifying the stress in your life and deciding to make the switch from overwhelmed to calm and content.

7. DROWNING IN DONATIONS This year Environmental Education class received a donation of fish, organisms, and supplies from Picasso Exotic Aquatics.

22.SET BY SET

The Northwest Marching Band is preparing for this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s season

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY NATE COMPTON

VOLUME 45 - ISSUE 1 - SEPTEMBER 6, 2013

STAFF

THE NORTHWEST PASSAGE

PHOTOGRAPHERS

EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Grace Amundson + Sarah Egger

Jordan Absher Emilie Amunatigui Shelby Beaumont Nisha Bisht Ginny Bohling Randy Castellon Gabby Chavez Nate Compton Clara Davison Sarah Dean

DESIGN EDITOR Grace Amundson STAFF DESIGNERS Maddie Grimes

Nate Compton Katie Addington Rachel Bateman Paden Chesney

PHOTO EDITORS Nate Compton + Addison Sherman COPY EDITOR Lena Dennington

Katherine Dewitt Lauren Edwards Kate Jacobsen Nicholas Kahtava Savannah Kelly Teresa Pedroza Bryce Rex Kristi Seng Addison Sherman Lucas Silva

MARKETING Kristen Smith Taryn Smith Christa Stoll Lea Stuart Alexa Styers Sydney Taylor Nate Thompson Kyle Tong Isabelle Wallis Carleigh Whitman

Jordan Berry

WEB EDITOR Alaura Moore WEB MANAGER Haena Lee GRAPHICS EDITOR Mitch Feyerherm STAFF GRAPHICS DESIGNER Calista Bohling NEWS EDITOR Haena Lee OPINIONS EDITORS Grace Amundson + Sarah Egger FEATURES EDITOR Atalie Black SPORTS EDITOR Shelby Smith ENTERTAINMENT EDITORS Kylee Hartl + Luke Megli STAFF WRITERS Atalie Black

Keegan Dolinar Sarah Egger Paige Eichkorn Sophie Flores Libby Gregor

Kylee Hartl Haena Lee Ben Lucier Luke Megli Alaura Moore Shelby Smith

ADVERTISMENTS EDITOR Daniel Mirocke

EDITOR’S NOTE: Sarah Egger, co editor-in-chief

open my mailbox to what appears to be a never ending pile of college letters, all addressed to me. I put them on my kitchen table and start to sort through them. College has been one of the big topics I have been able to avoid, until now. Senior year is when society thinks you should have everything figured out: where you’re going to school, and what you’re going to study. I have yet to find an answer to these questions. The constant nagging from parents and friends doesn’t help either. Unlike most of my classmates, I have the opportunity to study in California and gain in-state tuition for my sophomore year of college because my mom is currently

a resident there. Not only do I have to decide what I want to do for the rest of my life, I have the unique opportunity to decide if I want to stay near the classmates I’ve grown up with, or study in California with a clean slate. All of these choices make my head spin. The constant worrying and wondering leave me stressed for the majority of the day. I feel as though my family expects an immediate answer and I don’t have enough time to make the decision. You don’t have enough time or you just aren’t ready to decide? We all get stressed, it’s a part of life. Whether it’s big decisions, grades, lack of time, we all have something that stresses us out. We continuously have to find ways to relieve the

stress. For me, when I feel stressed I put on my headphones and turn my music up loud so I can’t think about anything except the song playing. I make to-do lists. I find that some of my stress comes from thinking I have way more things to do than I have time for. By making lists I can cross things off that I get done and see my list get smaller. For more ways to relieve stress, see page 14. Stress happens to everyone, You just have to find the right way to handle it. When you feel stressed, take a deep breath and remember, it gets better.

STAFF EDITORIAL

Louisburg senior Auston McLellan recently passed away in a car crash, reminding students to be more cautious when behind the wheel.

ALMOST 16

the Risk Students gathered around a candle-lit stadium on Sunday, August 18, in memory of Louisburg high school senior Auston McLellan. McLellan lost control of the vehicle he was driving the night before while attempting to pass another car, hit a power pole and was ejected from the car. He died later that evening at the hospital. Drew Carder, a passenger in the car, was treated and released. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2010, about 2,700 teens in the United States aged 16–19 were killed and almost 282,000 were treated and released from emergency departments for injuries suffered in motor-vehicle crashes. Teen drivers ages 16 to 19 are three times more likely than drivers aged 20 and older to be in a fatal crash. Although McLellan’s vehicle was the only car involved in the crash, more often than not, the decisions made will affect another driver. Northland teenager Rachel Gannon was sentenced to three and a half years in prison for second-degree involuntary manslaughter on July 3. She was texting while driving and lost control of her vehicle, killing a 72-year-old woman. Because of her distracted driving and her multiple parole violations, she was sentenced to jail. A multitude of consequences come with distracted driving, including jail time, expensive tickets, suspension of license, lawsuits, repair costs, injury or death.The choices students make while driving do not only affect their life. When driving while distracted, more than one person’s life is affected by the decision. Distracted driving does not only mean texting and driving under the influence. It can also include mental distractions including driving while frustrated, angry or tired. 41 percent of drivers admit to having dozed off at the wheel. The number of people in the vehicle and also impact the decisions made while driving. If the passengers in the car are impairing one’s ability to stay focused on the road, then there are too many people in the car. According to Center for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2010, 56 percent of drivers aged 15 to 20 were killed in motor vehicle crashes after drinking and driving were not wearing a seatbelt. Remember to be cautious when driving. Just because you have a license does not mean you can be careless when behind the wheel. According to distraction.gov, more than 3,000 people died due to distracted driving accidents in 2011. Stop and think before getting into your car, you could not only be saving yourself but someone else.

1/2

older

year olds

Not Worth

high school

students

text while driving Drivers between

16&20 of age are 16

17times

MORE LIKELY TO DIE in a

fatal

acciden t

blood alcohol

leve

with the

.06

.04

.02

.08 percent

THE MAJORITY OPINION OF THE NORTHWEST PASSAGE EDITORIAL BOARD

AGREE

DISAGREE

ABSTAINED NORTHWEST PASSAGE

Welcome to the 2013-14 school year – a year that will be one of the most fulfilling and rewarding times of your life. You will be presented with opportunities and, yes, challenges that will help define who you are and will become. Can you ask for more? As part of that challenge, your teachers will, from time-to-time, expect some effort and work from you; teachers can be like that. For one, I fully expect you to meet those demands and advance yourself successfully through your course of study! High school is at times over-rated, but is never to be under-estimated. You may find these the best years of your life; others will find this time to be a springboard to a future of growth and accomplishment. In any event, what you do while at Northwest will greatly impact your next several years. If you find yourself new to Northwest, we feel a special bond to all of you. I begin my nineteenth year at Northwest, and have come to love this place. I hope your experiences at Northwest will be as wonderful as mine have been. This is Northwest’s forty-fifth year. You continue the rich history of traditions that have come to define our school. It is an awesome responsibility you share in continuing the growth we have come to expect from every school year – the fabulous success of our student body. This is a special time, the beginning of a new school year. My best advice to Northwest students remains unchanged: when you look back on your time here, have no regrets. My other piece of advice is equally unchanged: become involved in your school. Find something you like and jump in. We have an abundance of activities and extracurricular opportunities. Explore and enrich yourself with one or more of those opportunities. You will expand your circle of friends and become a better person. No matter the choices you make, the paths you choose to go down, my sincere wish is for you all to have a great year at Northwest. Together we grow and contribute to the great history of our great school. Enjoy! Sincerely, Dr. Bill Harrington Principle

SEPT. 6, 2013 / OPINION

CONTENTS

VOLUME 45 - ISSUE 1 - SEPTEMBER 6, 2013

`12

SURVIVING STRESS With the start of school, stress is on the rise for many students. Students, staff and experts, share how they are removing stress out of their life and changing to overcome it.

22 SET BY SET The Northwest Marching Band is preparing for this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s season

16 18

DROWNING IN DONATIONS

FOR THE BETTER

This year Environmental Education class received a donation of fish, organisms, and supplies from Picasso Exotic Aquatics.

Seniors Natalie Chance and Ana Sokolenko both traveled to Central America to better the communities around them.

CLUB DAY / BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT Photos recapping the school wide events

NORTHWEST PASSAGE

77%

of people in the US experience

physical side effects due to stress

Including this year’s

scheduled bonfire,

between

2009 and 2013

there will consist of

3 bonfires & 2 nonfires

1060

new teachers @ Northwest

school year

people are injured & more

than

for the 2013-2014

people

COMPILED BY HAENA LEE GRAPICS BY CALISTA BOHLING + NATE COMPTON

There are

Jobs ranked No. 7 at the

BOX OFFICE grossing...

are killed in the US each day

due to distracted

driving

million dollars in it’s first weekend

City of Bones

ranked No. 3 at the

x office

$9.3

million

grossing

in it’s first weekend

“Simple can be harder than complex. You have to work hard to get your thinking clean to make it simple. But it’s worth it in the end because once you get there, you can move mountains.” Steve Jobs SEPT. SEPT. 6, 6, 2013 2013 // FEATURES NEWS

Drowning in Donations This year Environmental Education class received a donation of fish, organisms, and supplies from Picasso Exotic Aquatics.

s soon as junior Daniel Louvau walked into room 233 and to his right the new fish tank stood with a no fishing sign hanging above it. The tank made little to no sound at all. Students and teachers could only hear the water splashing as it collided with the glass. The blue water illuminated the classroom making the surrounding areas appear electric blue. The clownfish and the yellow tangs swam peacefully past each other back and forth in front of the beige and gray coral. “The fish bring just a little more of a wild kind of atmosphere [here] unique,” Louvau said. Environmental Education is a science class teaching juniors and seniors the ecology of various environments. Students also teach elementary school students by giving fourth graders a tour. They take care of multiple animals, plants at the greenhouse, and the 18 acre outdoor lab. The previous year, Picasso Exotic Aquatics helped maintain and take down the old fish tank. This year they gave the class a new tank, coral, and organisms. Picasso Exotic Aquatics is a local store that sells different types of fish, corals and offer a maintenance service. They have been helping the class maintain the tanks in the

past. After they gave a deal to the Environmental Education class for new light and stored equipment at their store last year, they decided to donate them two thousand dollars worth of new supplies. “We talked about what we wanted to do as far as teaching kids what would be the best and then they just brought in stuff,” Environmental Education teacher Michael Pisani said. Picasso Exotic Aquatics donation has made the learning atmosphere of the classroom more fun, making student more enthusiastic for the class. “When you have a cool looking tank no matter who you are you, everyone is drawn to it,” Pisani said. “And it’s kind of the starting point if you have a really nice looking tank. It’s like ‘wow it’s really nice’ and the nicer things are the more the kids want to learn.” With a new tank it is easier for the teachers to teach the students about saltwater aquariums with an actual ecosystem. “When we have an ecosystem [in the classroom] it’s so much easier to teach about ecosystems when we have [organisms] in there that interact together than a couple of things that look janky,” Pisani said. BY HAENA LEE

PHOTO BY NATE COMPTON

NORTHWEST PASSAGE

northwest news photo by Lucas Silva

photo by Nick Kahtava

CLUB DAY BY ATALIE BLACK

lub Day was held before school on Aug. 30 in the NW mall. Club Day is an annual event, helping club leaders draw students in who may be interested in joining a club. Northwest offers over 40 different clubs, including: Guitar Club, Spirit Club, Girl Effect and NAHS. Leaders of different clubs use an assortment of different advertising techniques to draw attention to their club, including: playing music, bringing snacks, or making colorful signs to hang around the school. “We’re trying to present our club with a friendly face and a positive attitude. We try to get a lot of posters and visuals to kind of

SPIRIT CLUB

draw people in. We brought goodies, which always helps in the morning. Mainly, we just get to talk to the student body and seeing who’s interested in the same things we are,” said Girl Effect senior president Olivia Broome. Club day is held as a means for students to view and talk to the presidents and active members of each club to decide which one is best for them. “I feel that Club Day is definitely a great form of sponsorship and just putting your club out there and bringing new members into it,” said Guitar Club president Dillon Daubenspeck.

This year’s Spirit Club events: Gatorade Scrimmage 8/30 Bonfire 9/5 7pm Homecoming nomination, voting, and crownings Fall Tailgate 9/13 5pm

SEPT. 6, 2013 / NEWS

BY LIBBY GREGOR

O BY ATALIE BLACK

Spirit Club is already planning events for the 2013-2014 school year! Have an idea for them? Come to the meetings on Tuesday morning, 7:15 in the little theater. Sponsors: Morgan Johnson & Lisa Morstadt Exec Board 2013 – 2014: President: Logan Miller President: Mikala Modiri VP: Izzy Williams

BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT

VP: Tori Tummons Secretary: Maggie Preston Treasurer: Destiny Green Publicist: Carrie Mulder Kings of Spirit: Brady Anderson & Donte Column Banner making and goodie bags 9/17 – 6:30pm Homecoming parade 9/28 All of the assemblies

n the evening of Aug. 22, SMNW halls were filled with parents instead of students as Back to School Night took place. Parents were given the opportunity to buy spirit wear, meet the teachers, and navigate their students’ schedules. “[Back to School Night] provides me a way to understand what contents are being taught, the syllabus, and other things involving the school.” parent Mike McElroy said. “I like to stay informed.” Earlier in the evening, many clubs and booster clubs introduced themselves to those walking by. As parents traveled from class to class, teachers gave parents their class syllabi and class expectations. “Meeting the teachers really gave me an impression on what the year is going to be like for my kids.” parent Becky Branter said. “So far I think it’s going to be a pretty great year.”

EDUCATION VS. REAL LIFE

SOPHIE FLORES

Learning from outside experience is just as important as learning in school.

walked into the waiting room of the pediatric ward in the KU Medical Center and put on my red frock. It was my first day volunteering for an organization called Reach Out and Read. My job was to read to the children that I met in the waiting room who had no exposure to books at home, and to advocate reading to parents. That morning, I enjoyed talking with interested parents and reading to enthusiastic children. Mid-morning, I met a mother and two kids who talked to each other in only Spanish. “Hola,” I said to the mother. “Soy un voluntario de lectura. Le gustaría leer un cuento conmigo?” She was patient with my nonfluency. She smiled at me and spoke slowly in words I understood. She told me that reading was important in her house and that her children could speak better English than her. Her six-year-old son read to me in English while her four-year-old daughter listened. I never had much use for anything I learned in Spanish. This was the first time I had spoken Spanish out of class. I had no grammar tables, vocabulary sheets

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or example sentences to help me. The conversations I had with these families made me better in Spanish class, and made the subject much more interesting. Before then, everything I had learned in that class felt meaningless to me. Everybody should find that outside experience in their own way. It is easiest to learn the things you have a passion for. Some people only go as far as school takes them in their learning. Find something that you can work hard at and learn infinitely about. Try to be open to the outside world, and not live inside your own. Try to go out and do things in their real-world settings. Life is nothing like a classroom. In school, most of your education is determined for you. Everything you do is based on your need for a grade. Students are used to Spanish or English or Algebra as they apply on a worksheet, not in real life. With all the pressure and stress at school, students can make it their only reality. But there is much more to the learning experience than schoolwork. Real life is harder, much less simple, and not as predictable.

PAIGE EICHKORN

Choosing to be happy changed everything

here was a time in seventh grade that I felt my friends weren’t “good enough” for me, I wanted to have popular friends and have boys swoon over me like the girls in what I called “The group”, they were popular people in my class. They were always together, they always had the cutest boyfriends, and the nicest things. I thought these girls would welcome me and accept me. I just wanted somewhere to belong. I let those girls get to me when they excluded me. From going through middle school and now being in my sophomore year of highschool, I have found that I either stayed with the same group of friends, or tried to force my way into a group that was nothing like me and did not treat me like a real friend. “We were not made for comfort. We were made for greatness. Surround yourself with people who make you

want to strive towards that greatness”, this quote helped me get over wanting to be “popular”. I realized there were more important things. To me, the quote means that we were not made to stay in a bubble all our lives, we were meant to step out of that comfort zone and do great things. The lesson I learned was to act like what others say didn’t matter, because it doesn’t. You are your own person and if you decide people are not treating you the way you should be treated, it’s time to move on. I stopped following those girls around. I didn’t try so hard to impress everyone anymore. I realized the only person I needed to impress was myself. I was being ungrateful of the friends I had and I thought they would never forgive me, but they were right there with me. I was too consumed with myself and how others saw me to see that they were welcoming me with open arms.

NORTHWEST PASSAGE

Mortal Instruments: City of Bones

BY KYLEE HARTL

PHOTO COURTESY OF SCHMOESKNOW.COM

“E

verything you’ve heard... about monsters, about nightmares, legends whispered around campfires. All the stories are

true.” City of Bones is based on the first book in a book series, The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare. The book is about a girl named Clary Fray, played by Lily Collins, who also played the role of Snow White in Mirror Mirror and Collins Tuohy in The Blind Side. Clary was plunged into a world of demons and Shadowhunters who kill them after her mother was kidnapped. Shadowhunters are half human, half angel and they are the only beings that can combat demons. Clary meets a Shadowhunter named Jace Wayland, played by Jamie Campbell Bower who starred as Caius in the Twilight Saga and Anthony Hope in Sweeney Todd. Clary discovers that she herself has Shadowhunter blood in her. In order to get help to save her mother and seek refuge from demons, Clary joins the Shadowhunters along with her best friend, Simon who is human. I read the book and loved it. I was thrilled when I heard that the movie was coming out and it immediately went on my list of movies I wanted to see. Some of my friends who saw it before me said it wasn’t good at all. I liked the movie, but the book is definitely better. That’s almost always the case when it comes to movies based on books. I enjoyed the movie because I read the book. I knew what things

meant and I could fill in the gaps in the plotline of the movie, however, if you didn’t read the book it wouldn’t make nearly as much sense. For example, the book made it clear that one of the characters, Alec, played by Kevin Zegers, was gay, but the movie didn’t make it clear at all. Special effects were a little overdone and didn’t look realistic. It looked like they just outlined things like the tattoos to make them glow, but the actors did an amazing job of portraying their characters. The movie was surprisingly accurate (at least in the beginning and middle) with the exception of leaving out minor details and then adding things, like the symbols Clary draws everywhere in the beginning, which wasn’t in the book. I was, however, irritated that near the end, the director took over and changed a lot of things that seemed to take a different turn than the book. It definitely isn’t a movie you need contemplate the plot about after seeing it. It also leaves you at a cliffhanger, which indicates there is a sequel, but it’s a sloppy way of ending it. I found myself surprisingly pleased by the movie. I expected it to be worse than it was. Overall, I would give it three out of five stars because it wouldn’t have made sense unless you read the book since there were so many gaps in the plot that you would need to fill in.

JOHN MAYER PHOTO COURTESY OF JOHNMAYER.COM

nspired by his new home in Bozeman, Mont., Mayer’s album, Paradise Valley, sounds more breezy and peaceful than any of his other albums. Paradise Valley was released to the public Aug. 20, more than a year after Born and Raised was released. In the second track, “Dear Marie”, he explores a side of fame that is rarely told. He sings about his high school sweetheart and wonders what she thinks when she “sees me on the magazine.” He even admits to searching for her online but “some county judge in Ohio is all I ever find.” His first released single on the album, “Paper Doll”, is rumored to have taken a dig at ex girlfriend Taylor Swift with lyrics like “You’re like 22 girls in one/ and none of them know what they’re running from/ is it just to far to fall?/ for a little paper doll.” Some would consider these lyrics very nuanced if they were not in reference to Swift’s single “22”. After Born and Raised was released, fans got to see the country side of Mayer that had never shown before. He has combined his

SEPT. 6, 2013 / ENTERTAINMENT

BY SARAH EGGER

bluesy style with classic country. It is the type of album that a person could listen to on a peaceful summer day. His voice is very smooth and calming, much like his previous album. However, I miss the Mayer that was shown in his first album, Room for Squares. His new album is very good and the lyrics are brilliantly written, but it’s a bit too country for my taste. The more I listen to it, the more I miss the smooth electric guitar shown in “Your Body is a Wonderland”, or in “Waiting on the World to Change”. Although this album was really peaceful, I find myself wanting to listen to his other albums more than this one. There is a time and a place for every type of song. His breezy songs would be very relaxing to listen to when frustrated or when one needs to take their mind off of something, Paradise Valley is a very calm, however, only two of the songs on the album are one’s that I could see putting on repeat. In spite of the nicely composed songs on this album, I can only give it a mediocre 3. I would rather listen to Mayer’s older albums.

PANELS TO REMEMBER

Arbor Horror by Jordan Absher

Lrsky Comics by Sklyr Heckt

Words & Ink by Mitch Feyerherm

SUDOKU 6

4 8

1 8 5 6

1 8

1 3

5 NORTHWEST PASSAGE

Learning to recognize stres

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY NATE COMPTON

SEPT. 6, 2013 / FEATURES

“I have tennis and marching band and I’m applying to 12 different schools,” senior Zoe Ziegenhorn said. “Then there’s scholarships, studying for the ACT and the SAT, and I work five days a week, so you could say I’m stressed.” Ziegenhorn is not the only one dealing with stress. “My stress is a lot about how I am going to pay for college,” senior Jennifer Smith said. Smith is not the only one dealing with stress. “[What stresses me out the most is] having too much on my plate,” senior Tori Tummons said. “Homework, cross country, spirit club, friends, family, and not having enough time to do it all.” Tummons is not the only one dealing with stress. “I’m that person that ignores stress and tells herself it’s fine,” said junior Brooke Bennett. “Then it adds up and eventually i just crash into a wall of emotions.” Bennett is not the only one dealing with stress.

ss and take the steps to live a happy and healthy day-to-day life. If you are stressed, you are not alone. In fact, you are in good company. Whether you are a freshman, sophomore, junior or senior, stress can affect you--and when you least expect it. “For me, stress comes in — like a wave pool,” senior Samantha Hildago said. “There are moments where everything is tranquil, but then there’s that big load of stress [that pours over] me.” As students like Hildago are dealing with day to day stress, teachers are realizing that stress is becoming worse. “I think the demands on young people are increasing to the point where it’s almost impossible for kids to be kids,” Cougars Community Commitment (CCC) teacher Ron Poplau said. According to the American Psychological Association, 62 percent of Americans say work for school or a job has a significant impact on their stress levels.

“School is a huge stress for me, especially being an IB diploma student,” senior Chloe Adams said. “Sometimes you get a paper that looks very daunting, but I know somehow I will get it done.” In addition to cross country and the International Baccalaureate program, Adams also works at Savers on the weekdays and the weekends. She’s not alone. According to the 2011 US Census, one out of every four students also have jobs or volunteer at a place after school. “Whenever I’m stressed I just think that in the past somehow I’ve always got my stuff done,” Adams said. “But support from my boyfriend and talking to my friends helps a lot.” Teachers are noticing that students are becoming more involved, and that has an affect on their stress level. They are also noticing that with college expectations, the students are even more pressed to get involved.

“Students are over-committed,” psychology teacher Bill Sanderson said. “They want to do everything, and colleges are pressing them to do so.” Competitive universities are looking for students to be actively involved in school, as well as maintain good grades. “We are looking for a well-rounded student,” Stanford University admissions counselor Wilfred Torres said. “It’s best if a student has extracurricular activities that they enjoy, a solid ACT or SAT score, and a very strong grade point average.” However, stress does not have to take over your life. There are many ways students have found to deal with stress, and experts have some thoughts on how to deal with stress. BY LENA DENNINGTON

NORTHWEST PASSAGE

@emamunatigui Having a lot of homework and no time to get it all done! @zachziegenhorn balancing school work, sports, and other extracurricular activities @samanthawood ..waking up at 6 in the morning

@brookeb115 constantly being told to take honors/AP and get involved, but then teachers not respecting that you took their advice. @audnicoleglea trying to keep up

friendships with a ton of different people & hoping I’m doing enough for everyone @mollysasenick having early morning drill team practice everyday of the week @TheRileyWood Hardly having time to

ISSUES CAUSING STRESS IN HIGHSCHOOL STUDENTS 80 % OF KIDS DEADLING WITH ISSUE

YOUNGER SIBLINGS

FRIENDS’ PROBLEMS

ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIPS

PARENTS

20 10

SCHOOL WORK

90% 66.7%

of high school students lose 8 hours of sleep a week due to caffeine

PERSONAL EFFECTS OF STRESS

80 70

say they drink it because of academic purposes ACADEMIC EFFECTS OF STRESS

40 28

10 0

Relaxation can be one way to cope with stress and relieve people of it. According to psychologist Mike Doolin, it is a good idea to release stress by talking about your stress with people. “If you talk to someone, like a brother or sister or a parent or a friend, it helps relieve stress,” said Doolin. “Usually things people stress out about are things they have no control over, and if they do have control over it, they should get help so they won’t be stressed anymore.” According to Doolin, sports can also be a way to cope with stress. Doolin also said that taking your mind and focus and transferring them through sports can be healthy, both mentally and physically. The best advice, if you do not want to talk to people, is to find something and do it consistently. Whether it’s sports, reading, or drawing. Find a balance between relaxing and getting work done so that the stress may be resolved. “I would recommend some type of running or other physical activity,” Cross Country Coach Van Rose said. “Just find something relaxing to do.” Relieving stress does not necessarily mean becoming less involved. It just means that students should learn to balance their time and make time to get sleep or do something relaxing. According to Doolin, stress can be something that can be positive or negative, a little bit of stress can be a good thing. Continuing, Doolin says, the most important thing is that students find a balance and remember that stress does not have to take over their entire life. “I had to make a calendar and just figure out what time and days I’m going to work on what,” Ziegenhorn said. “And then I have to stick to it.” Ziegenhorn is resolving stress. “I am working hard and applying for scholarships,” Smith said. “Playing soccer also helps relieve some of my stress.” Smith is resolving stress. “I usually just take a deep breath and try to calm myself down,” Tummons said. “[Sometimes I] take a break and paint my nails and I [normally] listen to music while doing my homework because it relaxes me.” Tummons is resolving stress. “I’ll bake something sweet or reward myself for getting work done with an episode of my favorite tv show,” Bennett said. “[One time] my teacher let me go outside with a few friends and [we chatted] for a little while and it helped me to realize that other people have the same problem and that I wasn’t alone.” Bennett is resolving stress. “If you are stressed just remember you aren’t alone,” Doolin said. “And it’s okay to ask for help.”

% OF KIDS DEADLING WITH ISSUE

WHAT STRESSES YOU OUT?

@ruo_philip trying to find time for multiple activities like band and robotics. And at the same time keeping good grades. @padenchesney friend probs, or not enough time to get things done!

Decline in eating habits

Procrastination

Working harder

Signs of depression

Less or worse participation in extracurriculars

Failure to do as

Not working

Lash out at others

Anxiety / panic attacks

Negatively affects sleep schedule

well as possible Not enjoying learing

No academic effect

More or better participation in extracurriculars

uni.illinois.edu

Q&A WITH SUSAN HARTMAN, SMNW PERSONAL-SOCIAL COUNSELOR Q: Could you define stress?

Q: How does stress affect students with their sleep?

A: I think it’s just your mental and physical reaction to having to do something coming up, or just to taking action on something. Not all stress is bad, like if theres a test coming up and you’re a bit stressed about it, that’s just your body telling you hey you need to study so that you’re prepared, but I think we tend to stress about little things that really don’t matter as much. You’re never going to get rid of stress, there’s always going to be some stress in your life. I don’t think necessarily that’s the problem, it’s just how we handle things. Q: What are the physical effects from stress? A: I see people having stomach issues, they can’t eat or they just get nauseous, that kind of thing. If you are stressed [then] you really have trouble sleeping. It just wears you out... nothing makes you more tired than that emotional exhaustion. It’s just hard to focus on the daily stuff. It hurts your heart, you know. It hurts a lot of organs in your body. What I deal with at school is mainly stomach issues and headaches as far as physical effects.

HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH STRESS?

@Morgan_Carl writing! Lots and lots of writing! @zachziegenhorn sports and writing @12Gage96 cry @@rebeccakcarroll Dancing!!! It’s much

A: I think it is significant. And when you can’t concentrate you’re not going to do as well. It gets you more frustrated and you’re just not focused as much... and you’re not sleeping well and you’re grumpy you know that’s going to carry over. Q: Who would people talk to if they were beyond stressed? A: Come talk to me! That’s why I have a job: to support students.You can come in and talk with me. I know if somebody wants to talk and I can see them just one time, like if they’re having a bad day, got in a fight with mom before school... or they just got a text from their boyfriend saying “I’m breaking up with you” or whatever. So sometimes they just need to process that and catch their breath a little bit. Then there are some students that I see on a fairly regular basis. Beginning in October each semester I have support groups for students that have a lot of stress or ongoing stress, or when they just need some added support. We have five other counselors, like if they would rather talk to a man,

easier for me to express my thoughts and feelings through movement than anything else! @kelsey_nagel Ice cream and dancing @nickghilardi singing in the shower

we have [male] counselors they can talk to too. Q: What is the difference between anxiety and stress? A: You can use anxiety as just “I’m anxious about a test” or “I’m anxious to see if I made the team” and that’s a different kind of anxiety. If you’re overly anxious and its impairing your life then anxiety can actually be a diagnosis, it can be a mental health issue. Which does usually get better, but it is something you can get help for. There are some people who have Anxiety as a diagnosis meaning that they have an overly anxious response to normal everyday stressors. People can have an anxiety attack, which can be called a panic attack where it feels like you are literally going to die and your heart beats fast and sometimes out of the blue for no reason at all. Some people have those on a fairly regular basis. Those people are the ones who will usually go and get treatment for that. There’s medication for it, theres things you can do to lower your risk and to identify when you’re getting one and what your triggers are. There are breathing exercises, relaxation, things that you can do to deal with anxiety attacks but there are even therapists out there that specialize in anxiety issues, so you can learn to deal with those things.

@BEEFDUDE123 ice cream and Mean Girls @JoshAlexander9 you don’t. You just gotta power through and get the job done as best as you can @Phil_Shamet the internet

@gabylriggs @RollerGrosster and i run barefoot. @audnicoleglea antidepressants and writing and letting people in since starving and cutting didn’t work out so well

get everything done when you have a sport, and advanced classes, and might want to sleep sometime. @Jwow_est_97 when people get into your business that no nothing about the situation ha!

@BEEFDUDE123 early band practice @kristy_gentry8 College applications and AP/ IB tests! @efyeahsparkles having to choose between money, good grades, sleep and a social life.

@JHardee8 having a job, school work, and sports @JoshAlexander9 the pressure to get good all at one time. grades, all of the extra curriculars, and lack of @babyquint Having to take care of my 3 puppies sleep that are 1 year old or younger after a long day at @Morgan_Carl drill team, IB English, work, and school and work! tons more!

TEACHER’S NOTE: HEALTHY WAYS OF COPING: - exercise regularly - get plenty of sleep - avoid drugs and alcohol

- take breaks when you feel too stressed out - stay active in your relationships

- if it keeps getting worse get in contact with a professional that can help you

- withdrawing yourself from friends and family - sleeping more than needed

- overeating or not eating enough

http://www.helpguide.org/mental/stress_management_relief_coping.htm

UNHEALTHY WAYS OF COPING - smoking, drinking, or using pills to relax - procrastination

http://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pub/ coping_with_stress_tips.html

7 simple ways to help you

STRESS LESS

When heating up leftovers, create a circle in the middle of the food so it will heat up more evenly.

A saturated, frozen sponge in a ziplock doesn't sweat when it thaws.

Use nail polish to identify different keys. (House keys)

Hold Oreos with a fork when dunking them to keep your hands from getting messy.

Deodorant on your shirt? No problem, rub that part of shirt against itself.

Having a stressful day? Fill an almost-emptyNutella-jar with ice cream.

Use a staple remover to hold key rings apart when putting new keys on to keep from hurting fingernails.

@JackZumalt food @thegeekygidge playing ukulele or baking cookies! @carsonitawapp going out for frozen yogurt! @teacupsandcats lots and lots of crying.

@Jwow_est_97 going to the batting cages then eating cake batter. quality stress reliever. @Emma_Bear24 being with my best friends and having some Ben&Jerry’s

I can’t remember a day in my life that didn’t consist of some kind of stress. I know high school was very stressful. I was always worrying about my grades due to my father punishing me every time I brought home bad report cards. Also I remember that being involved in athletics, keeping friends happy and assignment due dates put my stress levels through the roof in my school days. I really increased my stress levels after I joined the military. Every single day the Army had some kind of way to bring on new stress. I stressed about making sure my uniform was clean and pressed, bed was made to perfection, paying attention to detail on every Army task assigned and making sure I was following military customs and protocol correctly. Believe it or not, sometimes going to war in the Army actually relieved some of the day-to-day Army life stress. The reason war wasn’t as stressful was mainly because my leaders weren’t paying attention as much to make sure you looked like a “professional” soldier. A real life combat soldier, who is fighting the enemy, doesn’t worry about his uniform being pressed, or boots shined or hair trimmed down. My only stress in combat was making sure I did the right thing to stay alive for another day. Stress isn’t the main reason why I left the military to go into teaching. My wife wanted me to choose a safer job, so we could raise a family. I feel my job in education is the least stressful job compared to the Army, working at Wal-Mart while attending college or trying to maintain good grades in college and high school. I always feel relaxed and happy to be in the classroom. Unfortunately, in the 2012-2013 school year, my anxiety levels went through the roof. Teaching was very difficult to handle last year due to my frequent panic attacks during the week. I didn’t feel that stress would ever do this to me, but I had to seek medical help. Apparently, several factors played into my anxiety disorder. I don’t think I was handling my stress as well as I had in my younger years. I was not taking care of myself like I should have. I found that exercise helped me to get pass the bulk of stress of a work day. I would run 2 miles a day just to clear my mind of any issues or problems that I encountered throughout the day. I started to limit my caffeine intake, and that also played a huge role in my anxiety going overboard. Also, helpful SM Northwest classmates and staff, my wife and close friends helped me keep my mind off of the bad stuff that was causing the panic attacks and concentrate on things that make me happy. The doctor also prescribed a medication that helps the brain to fight against the anxiety and keeps me from having any future panic attacks that can be triggered at any time. My lifestyle changes that I have made in a short amount of time have improved my high anxiety issues. I don’t let stress get to me, because I use different tools to suppress the daily stress that comes. I have become more involved in my religion. I exercise and eat better foods more often. I started to talk to people who care for my well-being, rather than keeping the anxiety bottled up. I also feel getting involved in fun activities, like biking, playing cards, playing with my two kids and reading really keeps me from thinking about the worries of everyday life. My advice to someone who suffers from anxiety is to identify the triggers that are causing the anxiety and try your best not to think about these problems. The hardest part is finding what exactly is causing the anxiety. It took me a year to figure out what needed to be taken out of my life. You and I can’t get rid of stress, but once you know what is causing the problems, I feel it’s easy to suppress it by living your life doing things that make you happy. Anthony Kinney Math Teacher SMNW nwkinney@smsd.org

NORTHWEST PASSAGE

FOR THE BETTER BY SARAH EGGER

SEPT. 6, 2013 / FEATURES

In the hotel lobby, senior Ana Sokolenko pulled out her phone to check Facebook. A little girl walked up to her to see what she was doing.

Opening the door to a cement walled house, she presented a loaf of bread to the woman who lived there.

She assumed the little girl was trying to sell her something and went back to her phone. The little girl sat down next to her and watched. “She was just amazed by everything I was doing,” Sokolenko said. “I had a little game on my phone and I let her play with it. She was super excited. It was super cute, but I didn’t understand anything that she was saying.” Along with Interact club, Sokolenko went to Guatemala July 9-15 to install water filters and give eye exams to students. One student in particular could not read the 120/120 letter the size of an adult’s palm. “His entire life has been fuzzy,” Sokolenko said. “I don’t know how he did not notice it. The problem is that a lot of teachers would teach the class and the kids just couldn’t read. A lot of the time they weren’t dumb, they just couldn’t see anything.” The Rotary Club gave a grant to the Patanatic community to build a community water filter at the top of a large mountain. At the opening ceremony for the filter, the Interact club represented the Rotary Club. Because the community lives on the side of the mountain, the filter was installed at the top so that they would not need pumps to get the water, it would just flow downhill. This was the first filtration system installed in the community. When coming down the mountain from the ceremony, the group decided to pile 15 people into one van. Because the roads are so small, most of them have one lane only. “We weighed so much that the bottom of the van was scraping the bottom of the street, she said. “Everyone that lived there was coming out of their little houses to see what was going on and saw a truck full of 15 people just scraping the road. That was really funny.” Sokolenko would recommend the Interact club volunteer trip to anyone who is interested. “If anyone is thinking about doing a service or mission trip in another country, do it,” Sokolenko said. “It’s worth every penny and every hardship you put into it. It was such a beautiful experience. I definitely would go again.”

“Christ tells us that he is the bread of life, and just as we have given you this bread as a free gift, he offers eternal life as a free gift,” Chance said. “Is there anything you would like us to pray for?” Before getting out any words, the woman started bawling. Chance looked over at her friend, unsure of what to say to the sobbing woman. “What do we do?” Chance whispered. Between sobs, the woman told them in jumbled spanish that her oldest granddaughter is really sick. She asked if they could pray for her. “We had these bonds with these people without knowing the language, we probably said like a paragraph to each other in the words that we knew,” she said. “You can build such strong relationships just by being with people and loving on them.” Chance traveled to Nicaragua with 40 members of the Lenexa Baptist Church congregation on a mission trip, Aug. 25 through June 2. Most of the people who lived in the villages spoke spanish, so a translator accompanied them on the trip. Every morning, the missionaries were asked to present a loaf of bread to a different neighborhood, they also helped build houses and paint an orphanage. When returning home, everything she saw reminded her of what the Nicaraguans lived without. “It would hit me in really weird ways, at first, because I walked in my house and was like, my house is so big,” Chance said. “I was randomly walking up the stairs and stopped because I have stairs, like, these people don’t have anything.” After visiting a country with so little, she learned to appreciate everything she had back home. “I just feel super bad complaining about the things I complain about,” she said. “It’s really cool because the people want to hear about your life, too. They really want to hear about the things you struggle with. Even though we struggle with different things, we still have struggles in the places that we live.” Chance looks forward to the opportunity to go back to Nicaragua next summer. “We can really change the world by our love, and that was really big for me because these people love like nobody’s business.”

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY ADDISON SHERMAN

BRINGING BACK HER

HERITAGE Foods teacher Kiera O’Boyle dances at the Kansas City Irish Festival

t the Kansas City Irish Festival, Food teacher Kiera O’Boyle danced with an Irish dancing group on August 31 called Céilí and The Crossroads. They danced to six different Irish songs and ended their set by dancing to “A Little Party Never Killed Nobody” from The Great Gatsby soundtrack. “I love the adrenaline from the crowd, it just makes you go even more. I used to get nervous but now I just get more excited. There is still a little bit of nerves in that though,” said O’Boyle. O’Boyle started dancing when she was five years old and never stopped. Because her mother is from Ireland, she wanted O’Boyle to be exposed to the culture at a young age. The group was created by O’Boyle and her friends. O’Boyle had retired from a competitive Irish dancing career but decided to come out of retirement to create a professional dancing group called Céilí and The Crossroads in the spring of 2012. “We kind of wanted to do something Irish and something to do with Kansas City, the crossroads district is really close to Kansas City,” O’Boyle said. “Céilí is the word for party and dancing and music. So Céilí and The Crossroads just worked.” BY SARAH EGGER / PAIGE EICHKORN

PHOTO BY SYDNEY TAYLOR

NORTHWEST PASSAGE

Before school, students move from table to table in the mall on Aug. 30. Members of different clubs at NW set up tables with information regarding the different clubs. Members of guitar club played their instruments in order to attract attention of students to come and join the club. PHOTO BY LUCAS SILVA

Seniors Olivia Broome and Ana Sokolenko talk to students about Girl Effect on club day in the NW Mall. Members of Girl Effect work to empower women on a local, national and international level. PHOTO BY LUCAS SILVA

SEPT. 6, 2013 / FEATURES

On Aug. 30 senior Ellen Megerson advertises the National Art Honors Society (NAHS) and attempts to recruit new members. PHOTO BY LUCAS SILVA

k c t a

School

NIGH

Parents shop for spirit wear in the mall on Aug. 22 during Back to School Night. As a part of the night, parents were also given the chance to follow their studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; schedules and meet their teachers. PHOTO BY NICK KAHTAVA

Senior Colton Allen looks through NW spirit wear on Back to School Night in the Mall. Back to School Night gave programs, such as Spirit Club and cheerleading, to sell spirit wear to students and parents in order to raise money. PHOTO BY LAUREN EDWARDS

A NW parent checks the stock of the football shirts at Back to School Night on Aug. 22. Back to School Night wear clubs and organizations sell merchandise and parents become familiarized with the school. PHOTO BY SARAH DEAN

NORTHWEST PASSAGE

BY THE NUMBERS

The Balance

BY SHELBY SMITH

Being a student athlete and involved in extracurricular activities has its pros and cons, but in the end, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the skills it takes to balance them out that makes it worthwhile.

participants in gymnastics

7:00 tonight the football game starts at CBAC (College Boulevard Activity Complex) against Olathe Northwest

45 minute halves in boyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s soccer.

Cross Country boys

5000 meters- average time:

21:00 Cross Country girls

4000 meters- average time:

21:00 20

SEPT. 6, 2013 / SPORTS

ll through grade school, I was told that high school was going to be the best time of my life. I could hardly wait. I imagined high school being like High School Musical and Grease. I was going to have the perfect high school experience: tons of friends, zero drama, and easy-going teachers. Then, the first Friday of my freshman year hit. I came home with a heavy backpack, four essays, two worksheets and a long list of additional school supplies due the following Monday, and I realized: this was nothing like the fantasy high school years portrayed in the movies. During the hours that I actually spend at home, homework is my focus. Being enrolled in four honors classes, Chambers Orchestra and on the Newspaper Staff has forced me to balance my time to insure my evenings do not become an endless succession of all-nighters as I struggle to keep up. Along with school, being an athlete has practically consumed my life. Playing soccer since I was three-years-old, softball since I was four-years-old, and basketball since the fourth grade has taught me to be dedicated to a team. My team becomes my family and the only way to keep such a tight-knit family is the presence of teamwork and passion for the game. My coaches expect a lot from me: 100 percent effort every time I step on the field, support for my teammates and presence at every practice. It starts to add up, but the only thing that keeps my head straight is my commitment to my team and my teammates. Although academics and athletics are not the same, they both require at-home

work in order to succeed. In class, we practice for big tests and take it home to further study the subject. At practice, we work on drills and fundamentals that we take home and practice to improve our performance. Finding a way to manage my time at home is the hardest thing for me, yet it is the most important. For high school sports, my ability to keep myself off the bench is dependent on my grades in school. While other students have the weekend to finish up a big project or relax, I have tournaments nearly every weekend and have to fit my homework in between games. Even if being a student athlete is a challenge to balance out, the positive effects outweigh the negatives. As a student athlete, I have the opportunity to meet and make more friends than I would as just a student. My teammates are my families and some of my closest friends; my classmates are the friends that Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve grown up with. Being a good student makes learning plays in sports easier because I have taught myself how to study and memorize concepts from school work. And finally, even if it is a negative effect in the beginning, student athletes learn to have better time management skills in the end; creating the ability to do more in the same amount of time. Being a student athlete is all about the balance of academics and athletics. I love being a student: getting good grades, winning awards with Orchestra, and writing for the Northwest Passage. But I also love being an athlete and being able to balance out the two, which is what pays off in the end and makes it worthwhile.

Fall Sports Cross Country First Meet: September 7th Location: Greg Wilson Classic Opponent: 14 other schools including Olathe North, Blue Valley North, St. Thomas Aquinas, Park Hill South, and Blue Springs Quote: “We are doing the best that we can in trying to get in some running while it is a bit warm. Not the best conditions for distance running, but it is the same for all schools in our area.” -Coach Van Rose

PHOTO BY CARLY WHITMAN

Gymnastics Next Meet: September 10th Location: Shawnee Mission West Opponent: Shawnee Mission West, Shawnee Mission South Quote: “I think we have a lot of talent on the team this year and a lot of new faces. I’m looking forward to what we can do this season.” -Gymnastics Coach, Cindy Beason

Boys’ Soccer

Next Game: September 7th (Tournament) Location: TBD Opponent: Olathe East Quote: “I am definitely looking forward to the upcoming season. This year’s Varsity team has very talented players who work together very well. I have a ton of faith in my team and I’m expecting to win a lot of games.” -Junior, Sam Nobrega

PHOTO BY NICHOLAS KAHTAVA

Volleyball

Next Game: September 12th Location: Shawnee Mission Northwest Opponent: Lawrence Free State. Shawnee Mission East, and Shawnee Mission North Quote: “I’m excited to have a really strong senior class of leaders and we’ve got a lot of incoming girls [that are] really talented and, the best class we’ve had in a long time. So we just have a really strong program this year in every division.” -Sarah Sliva Coach PHOTO BY GABBI CHAVEZ

Football

PHOTO BY CARLEIGH WHITMAN

Girls’ Tennis Next Match: September 9th Location: Indian Creek Recreational Center Opponent: Shawnee Mission South Quote: “I honestly believe that we’re going to do very very well. We’re a very strong Varsity team. And, honestly our JV team is as well. We’re doing awesome going into this season.” -Senior, Sarah Taylor

PHOTO BY NICHOLAS KAHTAVA

First Game: September 6th Location: CBAC (College Blvd. Activities Complex) Opponent: Olathe Northwest Quote: “Our team is coming together strong. We have a new offense that we are still getting the hang of, but we can already tell it is explosive and efficient and capable of sustaining drives. [Coach Coopman] has brought a winning mindset and has taught us a lot.” -Senior, Connor Johnson PHOTO BY CARLEIGH WHITMAN

Girls’ Golf

First Match: September 12th Location: Garnder/Deer Creek Opponent: All Sunflower League Quote: “I would like to have at least one person on our team qualify [this season]. I always think the matches are a lot of fun and I like meeting new girls.” -Junior, Megan Glenn

PHOTO BY SHELBY BEAUMONT

NORTHWEST PASSAGE

BY THE NORTHWEST MARCHING BAND IS PREPARING FOR THIS YEAR’S SEASON

he list hanging on the bulletin board outside the band room toward the end of the school year holds the fate of the band. Depending on whose name is on that list, the band may have its best year by far, or it may have the opposite effect. Before summer officially began, students interested in becoming section leaders or drum majors filled out applications for their desired position. Members of each section voted for who they believed is best fit to be section leaders. As for drum majors, tryouts required that they be able to conduct the band through the “Star-Spangled Banner,” then the class voted as a whole. Band director, Ann Snead, ultimately had the final say. The list of the new section leaders and drum majors who made the cut was posted on the bulletin board outside the band room. This year’s drum majors include: junior Maddie Roberts, senior Carter Oberheu, and senior field captain Brett Christianson. “I was beyond proud and honored to find out that I was chosen as the best person for the job by not only Ms. Snead, but my section as well. I cried tears of joy when I found out. Now I want nothing more than to prove to everyone that they made the right decision,” junior trombone section leader Gabi Basel said. Middle school students who expressed an interest in joining band also went through tryouts, which are now more exclusive than previous years. “Usually they would have to just memorize the school fight song, but this year they actually had to know

SEPT. 6, 2013 / FEATURES

how to march going into band camp,” Roberts said. Although not as many students are in band this year compared to previous years, the smaller number meant “there was much more individualized attention,” Christianson said. During the last few weeks of summer, most students are out buying new clothes for school or still procrastinating over starting their summer reading project. But for almost eight percent of the student population, those last few weeks mark the beginning of a year-long process starting with band camp. During band camp alone, students crammed in more than 30 hours of practice, which covered the choreography and music of only one song. This is the first year that the band has been able to completely finish a song by the end of band camp. Starting July 29, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., the band and drill team worked on their routine for this year’s show: West Side Story. “We tell the kids the show they will be doing in the spring of the previous year. This year I let Mrs. LaMourie and Mr. Haney choose [the show]. What I usually do, and what they did this time, is come up with some shows they really like. Then, I look at the list and say: ‘Okay, I can live with this, this and this, but I can’t live with that, so that one is off the list.’ But, I pretty much let them choose [the show],”Snead said. Inspired by Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, West Side Story is a musical made in 1961 about star crossed lovers from two rival New York gangs, the “Sharks” and the “Jets”. Three different

tunes are chosen for the show: an opener, a ballad and a closer. The songs chosen for this year’s performance are “Maria/Cool,” “One Hand, One Heart/ America,” and the finale. The choreography for the show is narrowed down from about 300 options on the website www.msconcepts.com. Once the choice is made over $2,000 are spent on buying the show. In terms of difficulty, shows are ranked on a scale of one to four, four being the most difficult. This year’s show is ranked at a difficulty level of three. Each shape that the band makes when they hold, or stay, is called a set. The songs in West Side Story average about eleven sets. During band camp, the show is broken into sets so it is easier for the students to learn. “So it goes, set one: play the music, don’t march, go back. Set one: march the music, don’t play, go back. Set one: play and march the music,” Snead said. For a band student, first hour officially begins at 7a.m., and Thursday night rehearsals run from 7p.m. to 8:30p.m. Each week, students dedicate at least eight hours of their time to band, but they are always looking for ways to improve. “[Freshmen] have to function as well as seniors,” Snead said. “Of course you’ve got 160 people out on the field, but 160 people have to be one. So it doesn’t matter if you’re great, if she’s mediocre, everybody’s eyes get drawn to the mediocre.” With the help of the new percussion instructor, 2004 NW graduate Kyle Kuckelman, good marching style is adamantly enforced to help the

students keep their professionalism on the field. “[Mr. Kuckelman] is really big on the marching since it hasn’t really been our strong point in the past few years,” senior drum major Carter Oberheu said. “So he’s really pushing the way we look on the field.” Although there are assigned leaders in marching band, seniors act as role models for all students because they understand what is going on after having gone through the process before. Each year the seniors have a goal: make their last year of band their best year. “I think since we, the seniors, were a little almost disappointed with last year’s show, this year we really want to kick it into overdrive,” senior tuba section leader Cody Krehbiel said. “[We want to] just own this show and make it our own and have people be like: ‘Dang, remember that band with West Side Story? Those kids were awesome!’” With a combination of less kids, an easier show, and a dedicated class, the band is confident in their performance and their ability to learn the entire show before the district marching festival on Oct. 1. “People think that the band department has an off season, and for the most part, we don’t,” Snead said. “These kids are shooting for excellence everyday, they want to be the very best they can be to entertain their audience. They are a family. They’re a band of kids that care about each other. They’re committed to each other, music, doing the right thing, and a strong work ethic. They’re intelligent. I feel like I have the very best kids to work with.” BY ATALIE BLACK

COUGARS 10

GRAPHIC BY CALISTA BOHLING

A A A A A A A A A A A A A MMMMMM M M E E E E E D D F FFFFF FFFFF F F F F T T T T T T T T T T T TR R R R R R R R R R R RUUU UUUUUBB D D D

F - Flute (17) C - Clarinet (16) A - Alto saxophone (13) E - Tenor saxophone (5) T - Trumpet (24) M - Mellophone/ French horn (8) R - Trombone (12) B - Baritone (6) U - Tuba/ Sousaphone (8)

ROUTINE MAP KEY:

COUGARS

NORTHWEST PASSAGE

CONTENTS

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AUDREY!