Staley High School | Kansas City, Mo. Volume VI Issue II | December 2013
Inside This Issue: Opinion - Catching Fire Review P. 4 Lifestyles - A Sister’s Impact P. 8
Visuals - Winter Essentials P. 12 Volume VI Issue I | Talon | 1 Sports - State Champs P. 22
Table of Contents
talon
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
Opinion
(04) REVIEW (05) WEARING HATS IN SCHOOL
Lifestyles (06) TEEN DEPRESSION (08) A SISTER’S IMPACT (10) “CHRISTMAS CAROL” (Cover Story)
Visuals
(12) BLACK/WHITE TREND (14) WINTER ESSENTIALS (16) STUDENT ARTISTS
Feature
(18) BACK TO THE PAST
Sports
(20) STATE CHAMPS (22) DISTRICT CHAMPS 2 | Talon | Volume VI Issue II
Photo by Kaleigh Bentz
The second issue of Talon magazine presented a new challenge of its own. From writer’s block, to managing a staff, to trying to schedule interviews, this magazine has shown me that my plans will not always work out the way I hope they will. There will always be a story that feels impossible to write and a photo idea that is just not going to work, but this magazine has also taught me that I can’t do it all on my own and it’s OK to ask others for help. The Talon staff presents this wonderful sense of team that is rare to find. The room is filled with people involved in many different clubs and sports, those who have different friends, and each one of us has a very distinct personality, but when the staff gathers, each person has their own place where they fit. Through the stress and the late nights, I believe that it’s the laughs and
the willingness to help each other that has given us the ability to get this magazine to print. In the end, the staff as a whole has created a publication that we believe is a good representation of not only our own personal style, but of the student body as a whole. As a staff, each of us has our own personality, and I know that every one of our readers has his or her own individuality as well. In Talon, we strive to highlight the student body and also show our readers the “personalities” of specific clubs, sports and other activities. My hope is that our readers would see Talon as a compilation of works from a number of people, all coming together to write, edit, photograph and design. I hope that anyone reading Talon sees it as a work made by a group of people who came together to create.
Managing editor, Abbi Atwell Cover photo by Christina Chau
Staff Page
LETTER TO THE EDITOR Dear Editor, As alumni of Staley High School, it’s with appreciation and aspiration that I write this letter to you. I would like you to post an article in your newspaper regarding the truancy policy at Staley High. I believe that the policy needs further review and if the policy stands, the wording in the Staley High School handbook should be altered and/or reworded. The policy now states that truancy is defined as a student being absent from a class or school without the knowledge and consent of the parents or the administration. A student is also considered truant if the student leaves school without the consent of the building administration. Truancy is a type of unexcused absence. A student is also considered truant if they: • Are more than five minutes late to class without permission from a staff member • Leave school without signing out of the building. • Are absent from school without prior permission from your parent. • Are absent from class without permission. • Obtain a pass to go to a certain place and do not report there or you report there more than five minutes late. • Do not report to class without a pass from the teacher in whose class you are enrolled. • Become ill and go home or stay in the school building instead of reporting to the Student Services Center. • Cutting class While there is not an abundance of national truancy data, some metropolitan areas report thousands of unexcused absences each day. The problem is, how do we truly define these as truancies? Does being six minutes late still account for truancy? If you’re sick and stay in school because you have an exam last period, are you still counted as truant? After reading this letter, I hope you can express my concerns with school administration. The policy in general isn’t a bad idea; truancy is an epidemic that is reaching the entire country at increasing speeds and with hopes that if we can truly define truancy, we can stop it. Brynn Williamson, Staley Alumni, Class of 2011
talonStaff Managing Editor Abbi Atwell
Multimedia Editor Isabella Davis
Layout Editor Destiny Wilborn
Photo Editor Keirceten Nelson
Business Manager Mason Schmidt
Ad Designer
Catherine Garman
Staff
Dallas Beaulieu Kaleigh Bentz Trae’shell Bowden Cire Bradley Hannah Crites Logan Dawson Will Epperson Catherine Garman Doug Grinzinger Noah Harrison Paige Hawkins Bryttany Holovach Marissa Hubbard Sierra McCullom Adrianna McLean
Mistie Morgan Anthony Pace Jacob Phillips Quiana Reliford Tiffani Rosenberg Christopher Russell Carollena Silivio Conner Sweeney Hafsa Sheikh Hussein Jake Testerman Alexis Tillman J’avon Weaver Paulina White Iman Williams Rachael Williams
Adviser
Cherié Burgett Talon is published quarterly during the school year. Talon will accept letters to the editor in CR202 or at aburgett@ nkcschools.org. Before the letter is published, we will need to verify the writer’s identity with a photo identification. Letters may not exceed a length of 350 words. We will not publish letters that are libelous, obscene or that may cause a verifiable disruption of the education process of Staley High School. Letters must be signed. Anonymous letters will be discarded. Advertisers may contact the business manager at aburgett@nkcschools.org, (816) 413-4100 X7077 or at 2800 NE Shoal Creek Parkway, Kansas City, MO, 64156-1313. Opinions expressed in Talon do not reflect the Talon staff’s endorsement of the products or services. Subscriptions are available, $20 for a mailed copy, $10 for an emailed pdf version, or $25 for both. Talon is a member of NSPA, MIPA and Quill and Scroll. Talon is affiliated with JEA and JEMKC. Talon is printed locally by Antioch Printing.
Cartoon by J’avon Weaver
Volume VI Issue II | Talon | 3
Opinion
“Catching Fire” Kindles Hunger Games Saga Written by Marissa Hubbard Photo by Bobby Steinebach
Starting out this review, I would like to point out that I have read the books. This is based only on what is seen in the movie. For those unfamiliar with the franchise, “Catching Fire” is a movie based on the book by Suzanne Collins and sequel to the
“Hunger Games.” Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) and Peeta Malark (Josh Hutcherson) are shoved back into the chaos of the Hunger Games when President Coriolanus Snow (Donald Sutherland) announces that past tributes will be drawn to participate in the 75th Hunger Games Quarter Quell. The pace set at the beginning of the movie is slow; showing how Katniss and Peeta
are living life as Victors after the 74th Hunger Games games, then becomes fast paced at a shocking rate as they prepare for the next Games. The change of how fast the plot was moving along kept me at the edge of my seat. The acting by Elizabeth Banks, who plays Effie Trinket, was one of the best performances in a long while. The emotion she was able to convey to the
audience throughout the film was unparallelled. That being said, Lawrence lives up to the first movie, showing the fear and anxiety that comes with participating in the Hunger Games. This sequel, unlike many others, continues the success of the first movie, and I will be eagerly waiting to see what happens in the last two movies. This movie earned 5 out of 5 talon.
visual aids and a step-bystep process, especially in math, where it’s important to have steps and explanations. Now some people may say it’s easier to remember notes if they have worksheets because they don’t know exactly what information is important, but taking their own notes will make it easier for them to understand the main objective. In a sense, it’s understandable that many students actually prefer guided notes, but if you are like me and can’t easily remember
things, it’s a hassle to go through the book and go over the lesson on your own to teach yourself. Many students need step-by-step instructions. I think it would be much easier for some students if the teachers would give out a worksheet listing important sections for students to know and then go through the lesson with steps and allow the students to go through examples on their own.
Classroom Struggles Written by Sierra McCullom Photo by Logan Dawson
Learning is a necessity when it comes to school, and with some teachers handing out guided notes and worksheet packets, it makes it harder to understand the material, and me less likely to remember. According to “CLASS: College Learning and Study Skills” by Debbie G. Longman and 4 | Talon | Volume VI Issue II
Rhonda Holt Atkinson, if someone writes something down they will remember it better. By giving students worksheets it minimizes the amount actual notes students take because most of these worksheets have important information already printed on them. For many students, taking notes on their own is a major benefit. It gives them the option to write things in a way that they can understand. It has become hard for me to keep grades up, without many
Opinion
Put A Cap on the Dress Code Written by Destiny Wilborn
Cartoon by J’avon Weaver
Photo by Logan Dawson
There will always be debate on simple subjects. Even things such as wearing hats in school have become an arguable topic. Both administrators and students have their own opinions. Most students have positive attitudes towards hats being allowed in school, but many people feel wearing a hat indoors is a sign of disrespect. Students are not allowed to wear hats or hoods in school, except for medical and religious purposes. People often say that wearing hats indoors is disrespectful, but that is strictly an opinion and not everybody shares that judgment. So many cultures have different headgear, each which has different characteristics. Hats are worn all around in different nations, cultures and settings. Wearing a hat in school should be looked at no differently than wearing a hat to a store or a movie theater
or a park. But I may be getting ahead of myself. No one's style choices and creativity should be suppressed. Students should be allowed to wear hats in school facilities and buildings at all times. I believe that fashion and self-expression is ever evolving and that if I want to accessorize my outfit to make me happier and more comfortable, I should be not only allowed, but also encouraged to do so. Hats can be an easy way to say simply that you are a sports fan, or you like a certain brand, or that you just like to wear hats. People like to wear hats
to represent something about themselves, and we shouldn’t cap that so they are unable to express themselves. Obviously we are concerned about our curriculum at school, and I can easily understand that we have a dress code to helmet ourselves from vulnerability. Another argument to be made is that hats could be distracting to the other students trying to learn. Well, so is the guy walking down the hallway with his headphones blaring or the smell of burnt popcorn in the great hall. I see students carrying hats with them all day
long, unable to wear them, but even if they decide to not follow the rule and wear their hats, it has never once become a distraction to me at all. If anything, I just compliment them and carry on with my day. Many teachers and administrators at school have zero tolerance about hats in school, and the moment they see someone with one on, they will either tell them to take it off or just simply take it away. They tell us that hats in school are disrespectful, although who are we really disrespecting?
Volume VI Issue II | Talon | 5
Lifestyles
This bulletin board was made by junior Brandon Losh to showcase a poem he wrote with words of encouragement to young people. “I saw girls who were crying because they couldn’t get a boyfriend, and they were beautiful,” said Losh. “I saw boys getting made fun of because they were too skinny and couldn’t play sports, but they were real nice.” The board was hung up in the downstairs core hallway near CR 124.
Alone In A Crowd STUDENT BATTLES DEPRESSION Written by Marissa Hubbard
Photo illustration by Will Epperson
Imagine the perfect room. People are enjoying themselves talking with others, and as they are comfortably enjoying themselves, the room slowly grows smaller, but only for you. This is how junior Brenna Keeling said she felt when depression sank in. “There’s nowhere to stand and no room to move and nowhere to put my things, and there’s nowhere to be me,” said Keeling, recalling what depression made her feel like. “It just gets smaller and smaller until you feel like you can’t breathe, and you’re stuck.” Depression is an illness that, in most cases, requires a medical profession to cure. Most people will go through the “blues” or states of feeling sad that will pass with time; however depression is a persistent feeling of hopelessness and will interfere with daily activities, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. “When you’re starting and you’re in depression, normal inflections of the voice or facial features you don’t actually feel. So it’s really hard to put that in. You just look awkward and untimely,” said Keeling, explaining the fall into depression. “You start like that, and everyone thinks you’re being weird and
rude and standoffish when really you’re just trying to act normally.” According to a study published in 2010 by the National Center for Health Statistics, suicide is one of the five leading causes of death among teenagers in the United States. “It may seem really hard to try to tell people that you need help, but it’s always worth it,” said Keeling. For students who are going through depression or know someone who could be going through depression, there is a student-run support group called Remedy Vine that meets every Thursday in room CR126 during the second half of Falcon Hour. “If anyone ever needs a place to go or someone to talk to, there’s a whole group of people in there ready to accept newcomers,” said Keeling, president of Remedy Vine. “It really does help, and it really does save lives.”
6 | Talon | Volume VI Issue II
Lifestyles
How Much Is Too Much? HOMEWORK CREATES CONTROVERSY
Photo Illustration by Logan Dawson Written by Mistie Morgan
When students leave school after seven hours of learning, they often go home to complete two or more hours of homework. This has become a hot topic within our nation as CBS News, CNN News and The New York Times have acknowledged it. Most students also participate in school activities, have family events, jobs, and, to keep from being stressed, need time to relax. “Sometimes it can be overwhelming,” said junior Tiffany Thompson. “It almost feels like teachers don’t realize you have other classes, and they just pile worksheet after worksheet over you. Some teachers schedule projects at the same time and expect you to get everything done in the right amount of time.” This matter has become very problematic for families and schools as a whole. Research has been done by Duke University, Penn State, Stanford University and other facilities to convey how greatly it affects kids. In 2007, the annual Survey of Canadian Attitudes toward Learning
(SCAL) showed that 72 percent of children from the ages of 5 to 24 have stress caused by homework. “I think some homework helps because I think sometimes kids do need that repetition of work they can do at home, and the practice of doing it again and again is good for helping them,” said AP Psychology teacher Scott Anderson. “But I also think too much homework leads to overkill, and then kids get tired of it, and then they don’t care about it anymore.” A 2007 study from the American Academy of Pediatrics revealed that, for both children and teenagers, too much homework and no down time could have a negative affect. The report from this study has shown that the more homework a student has, the more prone to depression and anxiety they are. “I think we need a balance of homework, not necessarily of less,” said Anderson. “And it should be done so that sometimes they get some and sometimes they don’t. I don’t think you need to have homework every night in every single
class and overwhelm kids.” Advocates say homework teaches kids to manage their time and become more responsible. Others argue that teachers don’t show the students how to complete the work given to them. “On some homework assignments, like math, there are problems in there that they expect us to do that they didn’t even teach us in class,” said Thompson. Not everyone feels as if homework is an issue in their lives outside of school. “I don’t think homework should be worth as much as it is, but I don’t think we should have less of it,” said senior Amy Howery. The National Parent recommends 10 to 20 minutes of homework per night for first grade, and another 10 minutes per grade level thereafter. Studying is a successful concept, but students need downtime to distress from the pressures of school.
Volume VI Issue II | Talon | 7
Feature
A Sister’s Impact
MOTIVATION, HAPPINESS, RELIGION AFFECTED BY HER SISTER Written by Abbi Atwell
The life that Sara Keeney leads has impacted her family’s lives and her sister’s life in ways that many people don’t ever have the chance experience. “Sara can’t walk, and she can’t talk, either,” said junior Mary Keeney. “She’s probably about three and a half feet tall. She’s actually 21, but since part of her DNA is missing, her ability to grow has been stunted.” 18 Q Minus is a condition in which the chromosome that should be shaped like an “X” is actually shaped like a “Y,” because it’s missing a part. Keeney’s older sister Sara was born with 18 Q Minus, which has affected not only Sarah’s life, but also Mary’s life and the lives of her entire family. Mary Keeney’s first season on the Cross Country team was this year, and said she gets her motivation to run from her sister. “One of the reasons that I love to run is because my sister is handicapped, and she can’t. I love to run because it feels like I’m running in her place,” said Keeney. “It’s like I’m running with four legs instead of two.” Keeney has also been affected by her sister’s condition in
8 | Talon | Volume VI Issue I
Photo by Andrew Braud
other ways. Keeney said she sees Sara as a great example of what happiness looks like. “Even though she doesn’t have the same understanding that most people do about things and growing and learning and changing, she always has a smile on her face,” said Keeney. Sara responds to music the way a 3-month-old would respond, according to Keeney, who also said that high tones will make Sara happy, while minor keys won’t have as much of an effect on her, or they might get her to tear up a little. “Something that’s truly amazing is that she loves music,” said Keeney. “It really gets her going.” The Keeney family has memorized every line of “The Sound of Music” and “Cinderella,” because Sara has a lot of reactions from the sound of Julie Andrews’ voice. Keeney and her siblings learned at a really young age how important it is to take care of people, through the example of their mom. Growing up, they always had the responsibility of taking care of Sara. Keeney said
that her faith in God has also been strengthened through the experience. “What I believe about people with disabilities is that they were sent here as a blessing to make us more happy and to show us that you can go through trials no matter how hard they are,” said Keeney. In the church of Latter Day Saints, the belief is that those with disabilities will return to the Heavenly Father and be perfected. Mary said that even now, she can see in her sister’s eyes that she has an understanding that there’s someone who loves her, and that that person is her Heavenly Father. “It’s strengthened my testimony,” said Keeney. “I know that some day I’ll be able to tell her that I love her, and she’ll be able to tell me that she loves me back.”
Lifestyles
Scrooge Wins the Audience Written by Mistie Morgan
“A Christmas Carol” is about an old workaholic named Ebenezer Scrooge, played by senior Ezie Nguyen, who despises Christmas. He is visited by the ghost of his fallen co-worker who speaks of the three ghosts of Christmas. Each spirit shows him his past, present and future in hopes that his perspective of Christmas and his life will change to a positive outlook. Nguyen embraced the role of the bitter, old man and made it sensational. His movements, voice and raw emotion presented in this play outlined the character
in a concept beyond basic. The way he was able to convey the feeling behind the rough exterior of Scrooge was phenomenal. Dressed in a suit and wrapped in chains, junior Tai-Rece Basey, was brilliant as the ghost of Jacob Marley. She started the showcase by entering through the floorboards of the pit in the PAC. As a green light surrounded Basey, the mood was set as eerie and suspenseful. This scene was fascinating with a sense of a frightening aura as it told the story of Ebenezer Scrooge. The interactions the ghosts had with
Cast members danced on stage during a scene. Junior Bailey Campbell was one of the actors who was in this scene, along with junior Thomas Bunge. Each actor had his or her own acting style, but they were able to dance together during this scene. Photo by Carollena Silvio
10 | Talon | Volume VI Issue II
the audience were captivating and enjoyable. As the ghost of Christmas past, senior Dominick Brogoto clutched Scrooge’s hand and traveled through time by running through the aisles of the PAC. One drawback of this production was the technical difficulties. Microphones were working on and off and the lights were sometimes on during set changes. These minor setbacks do not cancel out the beautiful performance given by the cast. Each cast member grasped their character and made it feel real. When an actor understands the
character, the actor senses the true feelings of said character and perceives those feelings the audience. That was the experience at this play. This traditional Christmas Story was interpreted wonderfully in every aspect, and all expectations were exceeded greatly. This play earned five out of five Talons.
The lighting was done by students in the stage crew. Lighting is traditionally used to add effects to the setting of the stage. “It was difficult because the show had a lot of technical aspects,” said junior Courtney Hittle. Photo by Carollena Silvio
Lifestyles Some of the sets for “A Christmas Carol” were built by students in the Stagecraft class. One of the sets was built to look like a picture frame. “When they were lit up, it looked like they were coming to life,” said senior Hannah Otis. Photo by Carollena Silvio Jacob Marley stood over Scrooge’s bed. Junior Tai-Rece Basey, dressed in chains, played Marley in “A Christmas Carol.” Marley is a former co-worker of Scrooge’s in the play. Photo by Christina Chau
One of the many actors in the play was senior Breanna Cooley. Each one of the actors had their own distinct style. “Some people need a lot of direction to carry out a character,” said junior Courtney Hittle. “Others, all you have to do is give them a little bit of direction.” Photo by Carollena Silvio Senior Ezie Nguyen, acting alongside junior Erin McKeon playing the Ghost of Christmas present, played Ebenezer Scrooge. Throughout the play, different ghosts take Scrooge through moments in his past, present and future. Photo by Jordyn Demaria-Hall
Student Director Reaches State
Written by Mistie Morgan The theater troupe is one of four groups from selected schools
There was a matinee showing of the play on Dec. 6. Student directors junior Courtney Hittle and senior Hannah Otis addressed the audience during the performance. “Since it was such a large group, sometimes it was hard to work with their different acting types,” said Hittle. Photo by Carollena Silvio
from the state of Missouri to present a One-Act play at the annual Missouri State Thespian Conference. Senior Ezie Nguyen was selected to direct, “Playwriting 101: The Rooftop Lesson.” “It is a tremendous honor for Staley and our theater program,” said theater teacher Shelly Blay. “We started talking about maybe presenting the show last year because we knew it was a really solid show. We put together the application, we applied, and a panel had to look at our paperwork on what we were going to do before they made a final decision.” The conference is in downtown St. Louis, Mo., at the Renaissance Grand Hotel. Nguyen’s play will take place on Saturday, Jan. 11th at 1:30 p.m. They are able to bring 25 guests.
Volume VI Issue II | Talon | 11
Black & White Trend
Written by Dallas Beaulieu
In a complicated world, it’s reassuring to have clean, simple, black and white stripes. This is why we love the classic black and white trend. The black-and-white trend represents modern meets assertive, without being too in your face. The best thing about the black and white trend is that it never goes out of style. It even traces back to when CoCo Chanel was first making it popular it the 1920s. “I really like the trend and the styles that go with it,” said sophomore Madison Murphy. The best part about the black and white trend is that it’s flattering. Whether the black and white is in logical stripes, houndstooth, floral prints or vertical lines, they all either emphasize or hide our curves. “I like how the black and white can be in different patterns for pants,” said Murphy. Adding the crisp white to the winter-heavy black color into your wardrobe will lighten up the outfit, enhancing the outfit. Want to get into the black and white trend? Here are some of the basic essentials to have in your closet. Patterned pants, graphic tees and flats are good clothing pieces that can be styled with everything. The black-and-white trend also works for many different people with different styles, ranging from dramatic and bold with a graphic print, to a more chic and simple with easy color blocking separates.
Chic and Simple
Top: Charming Charlie’s Pants: Kohl’s Shoes: Target Photos by Keirceten Nelson
Dramatic and bold
Top: Forever 21 Pants: Forever 21 Shoes: Target
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How To Get This Look: NYC sweater-Forever 21 Scarf- H&M Leather Leggings-American Apparel Pea Coat- PacSun Lipstick- Berry(Mac)
How To Get This Look: Hat-H&M White Crop Top-H&M Plaid Button up-Forever 21 Boyfriend Jeans-Forever 21 Work Boots- Timberland Lipstick- Cyber(Mac)
How To Get This Look: Sweater- Thrifted Leggings- H&M High Boots- Forever 21
How To Get This Look: Lipstick- Rebel (Mac) Sweatshirt Dress- H&M Knee High Socks- Forever21 Work Boots- Timberland 14 | Talon | Volume VI Issue II
2014 Color of the Year Written by Dallas Beaulieu
To stay relevant in the fashion industry, keeping with the ever-changing trend is key. The next big trend that was recently announced by the Pantone Color Institute is the 2014 Color of the Year. The Pantone team has been analyzing media, new art collections, popular travel destinations, technological advances and other factors throughout the world that help them to pinpoint the up-and-coming color. The color of the year is Radiant Orchid. It’s a complete 360 from last year’s color of the year, which was Emerald. It’s a captivating mixture of fuchsia and purple with splashes of pink. The Pantone team is saying that a Radiant Orchid is intriguing to the eye and encourages creativity and originality. Radiant Orchid’s pink undertones enhance the healthy glow of your skin, illuminating your features no matter what skin tone, according to Pantone. Therefore, shoppers should not be surprised when they see Radiant Orchid throughout all of their favorite stores, including Forever21 and American Apparel. Combat boots in the bold fuchsia color will give an edgier side, while still keeping the girly touch. Also look for dresses in this stunning orchid because it screams fall/winter time. The look could be finished off with a fun-loving clutch.
Forever 21 Poetic Dazzle Shift Dress $27.80
Forever 21 Everyday Combat Boots $29.80
Forever 21 Sweet Side Crossbody $19.80
®
DISCOVER SCHOOL PRIDE Positive Attitude | Respect | Integrity
NASB, a part of the Kansas City community since 1927, is proud to support Staley High School.
nasb.com 15 | Talon | Volume VI Issue II
Student Work
Graphic Design Lacey Hawkins, 12 “I liked it because you could do anything with it. I chose my pictures by what I like and what I like to do, and it explained who I am.”
2D Art Nina Bui, 12
Art I Roshann Al-Turk, 9
“You have one simple form, and you can turn it into anything you wanted. I came across her face and compared it to the heart, and it looked like that same basic form.”
“It’s fun and entertaining working with our table partners and helping them and working on our own. I have loved lions since I was little.”
Artist On The Rise Written by Catherine Garman
For some students, knowing what they want to do in life is a mystery, but not for Kylie McConnell. “I just realized my passion during Art I class,” said McConnell. “I like all art.” McConnell not only knows the general field of her career, she also has different things to motivate her artwork and her future career as an artist. “What motivates me most is seeing other artist’s work,” said McConnell. “It makes me want to work hard, and one day my work can be in an 16 | Talon | Volume VI Issue II
art show.” Being able to have work in an art show gives the artist the ability to express themselves to others. “I see art everywhere; it’s more than your traditional art,” said McConnell. “I want other people to see it.” In some cases having the right teachers can inspire the student to further their education in that particular field. “I started to become so interested in art, becuase during sophomore year I had Ms. Zydel and Ms. Juhl.
They were the coolest teachers I ever had,” said McConnell. To have a career in art, people usually need to futher their art education. “I want to go to an art school and be surrounded by artists,” said McConnell.
Graphic Design Racquel Anzalone, 12 “I like that I was able to create a new tagline and something that would maybe interest me into buying the product. I love to sew, and it was something I was familiar with.”
Student Work
Becvar’s Work Displayed In Gallery Written by Catherine Garman
Without the drive to achieve, artists could find themselves not succeeding. That was not the case for senior Bailey Becvar, whose work was chosen to be displayed in a gallery through December. “I’ve been working on that piece for two years now,” said Becvar, who won a photography competition at Encore, a gallery in Shawnee
Mission, Kan. “Every time I go back to it, I do something different. It’s always a work in progress.” It’s not always easy creating awardwinning ideas. Much thought is usually involved the process, but sometimes the idea just flows into the artist’s mind. “I just go with it,” said Becvar. “I just get random ideas in
my head.” Earning awards isn’t the only benefit of having work displayed in a gallery. Depending on the type of award or where the artwork is hung, an artist can receive scholarships for college or meet a professional artist. “Being in the gallery will get my name out there, and the art critics that come to the gallery will see it and think of
me,” said Becvar. “If I go back out there they’ll remember me.” Becvar said she plans to go to an art institute and study photography. You can see Becvar’s work in the Encore gallery at 11006 Johnson Drive in Shawnee Mission, Kan., through the month of December.
Volume VI Issue II | Talon | 17
Feature
Written by Bryttany Holovach Photos by Hafsa Sheikh Hussein
The 1990s were the decade in which most high school students grew up. In fact, next year, most of the freshman will be the last generation born in the 1990s. It was a time where Bill Clinton was the president, Frank
Sinatra passed away and new bands started to go viral like Greenday, N’Sync, Britney Spears and Nirvana. Pay phones and “America’s Funniest Home Videos” were actually popular. People started
turning in their bulky phones for flip phones. Nickelodeon was at its prime, and Disney movies were actually original. Faded denim and plaid were staples. Times have changed; 2000s kids will likely never understand late 90s music like
“Genie in a Bottle” by Christina Aguilera, VCR tapes, and floppy disks. Often times people are reminded of their childhood from certain things; here are some things from the 1990s.
From A 90s Baby Perspective What was your favorite movie of What was your favorite 90s toy?
the 90s?
"’Mulan’ because I love how she sings and because she’s pretty.” -Tori McWilliams, Junior “‘The Lion King’ because I like lions.” -Justin Abramovitz, Freshman "’Halloween Town’ because its all festive and imaginary." -Hannah White, Sophomore
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“Skip It because it was like jump roping, just half the work.” -Brenna Keeling, Junior “I had this ‘Rug Rats’ doll of Angelica. I loved it because I used to watch the ‘Rug Rats’ with it.” -Natasha Webster, Senior “Gameboy color because it was fun to play.” -Ryan Mountz, Senior
Feature The Scholar Bowl team competed at the Lee’s Summit Tournament on Dec. 7 against 27 other schools and placed first. Team captains, seniors Sam Schumacher and Aaron Lehman led the team to victory through close battles against Park Hill and Lee’s Summit. “Every team member comes as much as possible and learns as much as possible. No one expected us to be 6-0, but when you do your best, you get good results,” said Lehman. Photo Courtesy of Matthew Nevels
The graduating class of 2014 will have their commencement ceremonies held at Community of Christ Auditorium in Independence, Mo. Senior Katie Mai created a survey on behalf of the graduating class to ask whether they would prefer graduation to be held on campus or off campus. “I have a really large family, and I was really upset about not being able to have enough tickets for them all,” said Mai. “Everybody really encouraged me to do it.” Mai said that she wants graduation to be fair for everyone. The commencement date has also been moved to Monday, May 19, 2014.
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Volume VI Issue II | Talon | 19
Fashion Work Student
Overcoming Adversity SWIMMERS WIN STATE AFTER LOSING COACH
Written by Jacob Phillips
Photo by Savannah Ranes
Despite facing major adversity, the boys swim and dive team had a successful season, which ended with a state champion team. Coach Bob Barth resigned, leaving the coaching of the program to assistant coach Ian Johnson. “Our assistant coach stepped up and has done a great job,” said senior Nathaniel Vawter. Losing a head coach was hard on these group of athletes. The boys were very upset, but they were forced to change for better or for worse. “At first it was really tough with coach gone, and there was a lot of anger from us toward the situation. But I believe
it brought us together to help us swim much better”, said senior Lucas Wyland. The boys came together for the better by taking sixth as a team overall in state and achieving first in the state meet in the medley relay with several other top finishers.
Barth was known for being an intense swim coach. He impacted many of the older swimmers and taught
them about technique. The boys said his absence was rough at first, but it gave them a reason to swim faster. The boys said they decided they would “Swim For Bob,” and they even went as far as making shirts with the saying on them for the state team. They also had a shirt that said “Bring Our Best,” an acronym of Bob’s name. “We’re trying to leave a legacy for him and show off everything he taught us,” said senior Salvatore Trombino.
Danny Maynard: 100 Back, 200 IM, Medley Relay and 4 x 100 Free Relay Alex Gach: 500 Free and 200 Free, Medley Relay and 4 x 100 Free Relay Ryan Duffy: 50 and 100 Free, Medley Relay and 4 x 100 Free Relay Nathaniel Vawter: 100 Breast, 200 IM, Medley Relay and 4 x 100 Free Relay (pictured) Jordan Gunter: 500 Free and 200 Free, 4 x 50 Free Relay Collin Duffy: 100 Breast, 4 x 50 Relay Jason Schlaud: 100 Back and 200 IM, 4 x 50 Relay 20 | Talon | Volume VI Issue I
Sports Varsity and JV basketball teams helped Mary Simmons with her yard work. “It was a great opportunity to understand the bigger scheme of life outside of basketball,” said junior Trevor Lamb.
Boys Basketball Serves Community Written by Paige Hawkins
The boys basketball team gave back to the community on Nov. 9 by helping out Mary Simmons, a YouthFriend for NKC Schools. She has been helping district children at Fox Hill for years. “Any time you can give back, do it. We preach service and selflessness to our players, and it was awesome to see that in action,” said coach Tyler Stricklin. When coach James
Wheeler and Stricklin heard that Simmons needed a little help, they called their JV and Varsity teams for a Saturday
do something for someone besides ourselves, especially a nice lady like her who does so
“Any time you can give back, do it. We preach service and selflessness to our players, and it was awesome to see that in action.” full of yard work. “It felt good to give back to someone and
lot of fun, and it was a great experience.” The team’s next project is “Battle for the Cure” at Staley on Dec.17 to raise funds to fight juvenile diabetes. There will be a coin drive the week leading up to the game along with raffles at the game.
much for our community,” said junior Trevor Lamb. “She was really sweet, and we all had a
Girls Basketball Off To Good Start Written by Isabella Davis
The Lady Falcons basketball team has been preparing for this season for about a month and a half now, and it’s paying off. “After conditioning, we went straight into tryouts. So we were able to start working faster, and that helped us get on top of things,” said senior captain Victoria Mitchell. The three seniors,
Monique Townson, Saije Buck and Mitchell, are taking the lead in motivating the team. “They just make sure that the intensity stays up and we’re all working as hard as we can,” said junior Maddie Ferrara. Mitchell said they are hoping to improve their record from last year.
Junior Kinsey Kiser prepares to shoot a freethrow at the game against Lee’s Summit North. The game ended in a loss with the final score being 57-60 . “Just being with my team, they’re just like family,” said Kiser. Photo by Logan Dawson
Volume VI Issue II | Talon | 21
Sports
22 | Talon | Volume VI Issue III
Overcoming Adversity
District Champions
Sports
BOYS SOCCER HAS BEST SEASON YET Written by Carollena Silvio Photo by Sydnie Kerr
For the first time in school history, the varsity boys soccer team won the District Championships. “Our practices were very different this year,” said senior Cal Lawanson, who also said that the coach didn’t take any nonsense. The team had to practice rigorously for the championship. “At first our practices were pretty normal, pretty chill, and then once we started winning games we looked like we were going to be a successful team and practices were starting to get harder
and a lot more tedious,” said Lawanson. The team did some things this year that were different from seasons in the past. The focuses were different, and the practices changed quite a bit. The goalkeepers practiced separately, with the assistant coach. “It helped that we were more focused on goalkeeping than in years past,” said senior Stephen Nolting. With this promising start, the boys played through the beginning of the season with this new strategy. “Once he knew
we were a winning team and we had the potential to win, he worked us a lot harder,” said Lawanson. Head coach Johnny Chain spoke to the team when they made it to the district championships. “The coach said, ‘this is a new experience for us,’” said Nolting. “We could play freely and not have to worry about anything.” The hard work paid off once the district title was won.
#StaleyHeckleSquad The student section at the boys soccer games during the 2013 season progressively became more and more rowdy. Eventually the student section became known as #StaleyHeckleSquad on Twitter. The opposing student sections from schools such as Oak Park to Rockhurst cheered for their schools and yelled in response to the Staley student section, but the Heckle Squad never failed to show just how energetic they could be.
Volume VI Issue II | Talon | 23
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