Staley High School, Talon Magazine, Volume 15, Issue 2, January 2023, Kansas City, Mo.

Seniors Graduate Early Foreign Exchange Students Adjust To New Country

Contact Us

Talon publishes quarterly issues during the school year. Talon will accept letters to the editor in CR202 or at cherie.burgett@nkcschools.org. Before the letter is published, we will need to verify the writer’s identity. Letters may not exceed a length of 350 words. We will not publish letters that are libelous, obscene or that may cause a veritable disruption of the education process at Staley High School. Anonymous letters will be discarded. Advertisers may contact the adviser at cherie.burgett@ nkcschools.org, (816) 321-5330 or at 2800 NE Shoal Creek Parkway, Kansas City, MO, 64156-1313. Opinions expressed in Talon do not express the staff’s endorsement of the products or services. Talon is a member of NSPA, MIJA, Quill and Scroll, JEA and JEMKC.

On The Cover

On the cover: The school faced a lockdown Nov 30. This graphic depicts students who ran out of the cafeteria doors after the lockdown announcement was made.

STATUS QUO

Lockdown Brings School Gun Threat To Forefront

"If you aren't outraged, you're not paying attention." In the United States, students have become desensitized to lockdowns.

Elementary, middle, high school and even preschool students know what to do if someone comes into their school with an AK-47.

Lockdowns shouldn’t be something students should have to prepare for. Students should be able to go to school without the need to be conscious of the best hiding place or the fastest way to exit a room or building. They deserve to feel safe in school.

“Thoughts and prayers,” is the typical yet inadequate response that follows all mass shootings. Americans have become desensitized to the loss of life due to gun violence. Pew Research Center reports that 98% of public K-12 schools have conducted a lockdown drill.

Students have to take time out of their school day to practice hiding, and it has been normalized.

Talon

Shootings are the leading cause of death for American teens and children, according to the Centers For Disease Control.

Despite this unavoidable issue in the education system, some Americans have set their sights on punishing drag queens who are reading books to children. They are often the same people pushing book banning in schools and public libraries.

That is how they claim to be protecting children, yet lax gun laws allowed 19 children and two teachers to be gunned down and killed in Uvalde, Texas. Where is their outrage on that? Outside of thoughts and prayers, what are their solutions?

Caring about student safety means people and their legislators must decide what they care about more: their guns, money or children’s lives.

Gun laws must become stricter, meaning stronger background checks, closing all loopholes and stopping the sale of automatic weapons. School shootings and lockdowns aren't normal, and it's time to stop acting like they are.

Editorial cartoon by Grace Winkler

Early Bird Special

Seniors Share Post-High School Plans

While most seniors' last day of high school will be in May, 33 students graduated at semester. Three students shared their plans for their next semester.

Working full time at his job is how senior Misha Bell planned to spend his interim semester.

“I kind of saw it as, ‘I already had all my credits, so why do this when I can make money?’ and that’s what I’m planning to do,” Bell said.

Bell said he found

it difficult to stay motivated his last semester.

“The end has always been in sight since school started, since I only had one semester,” Bell said. “So just finishing this year out strong and staying focused.”

Bell said he was excited for this next chapter of his

life because it was the next step into adulthood.

“No more school. No more this or that, so it’s kind of like I'm a grown up now,” Bell said.

Bell planned to attend The University of Missouri and study physical therapy.

Because she earned all her credits, senior Hannah Basham decided to graduate early. She said the hardest part of graduating early was getting through the semester.

“I just have a bunch

Wanting to graduate early from a young age is why senior Sapphire Grayson decided to shorten her senior year.

“I’ve been wanting to graduate from school since fifth grade,” Grayson said. “When I finally

of elective classes, so I feel like making the time to work on them is a bit of a challenge,” Basham said.

Basham said being done with high school would be a big change.

“It’s a little scary to be done,” Basham said. “But I’m looking

was offered the opportunity to actually get my stuff together and do so, I decided to do that.”

Grayson said she dealt with depression during previous school years, and her mental health made it hard to have academic motivation.

“All of it came down

forward to it. I’ve worked hard to get all my credits done to graduate early, so it’s exciting.”

Basham planned to attend The University of Missouri and earn a graduate degree in speech pathology.

on me extraordinarily hard because I wanted to graduate half a year early,” Grayson said.

Grayson planned to attend Metropolitan Community College in the spring for her preliminaries, and then go to Howard University to study forensic psychology.

Written by Fallyn Kowalski Graphics by Grace Winkler

Misha Bell, 12

Hannah Basham, 12

Sapphire Grayson, 12

Work Study

More Off-Campus Programs Offered

When considering opportunities outside of the classroom, students have a variety of offcampus options besides NCAPS and Early College Academy that are less well known.

The Excelsior Springs Fire Science course -where students learn about firefighting and EMT work -was recently added. The closest program that offers fire science is in Excelsior Springs, Mo., according to school counselor Mallory Para. Currently, one student is enrolled -- senior Salvatore Mormino.

“In Fire I and II, students pretty much learn how to put out a fire,” Mormino said.

There are four stages in the program, according to Mormino, and students can continue on in college.

“It gets me ready for after school, and I get to see the real world,” Mormino said. “The teacher is really interactive. He's not trying to teach us stuff we will never use.”

Another lesser known program is The Advanced Technical Skills Institute (ATSI). This tech program at Metropolitan Community College has multiple branches involving engineering, welding, heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC)

Parra said one of the more popular branches of ATSI is the Kansas City Construction Career Academy, or KCCCA, where students learn building maintenance and construction. Another option is the Career and Technical program, which provides students with the equipment and resources to learn about vehicles and mechanic responsibilities.

Along with the career programs, there are also changes coming to early college. Students will have a chance to go to The University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) next school year.

“It's exactly like Maple Woods,” Parra said. “They will go there for half of the day and then come to Staley for two blocks.”

However, only juniors are allowed to apply this year. But despite the distance, the district will still provide transportation to any student who signs up to attend UMKC.

“That's the district's philosophy,” Parra said. “All off-campus programs, we will provide transportation.”

UMKC is a sister school with the University of Missouri and the University of MissouriSt. Louis. It could provide an easier college credit transfer than its community college counterpart, she said. However, it is not expected to gain as much popularity as Maple Woods.

“I think it's going to be a small student population,” Parra said. “I think most of our kids will go to Maple Woods because we’re talking three minutes over there, compared to 30 to 35 minutes to UMKC.”

The North Kansas City School District’s off-campus programs aim to help students prepare for careers after graduation. Many of these programs have a list of requirements to qualify, and school counselors help interested students decide which program would best fit their career choice and guide them through the process of signing up.

What Is Your Favorite Part Of Your Off-Campus Program?

“I get to work on stuff with my hands all day, and I get to do a lot of fun stuff.”

“I like how I'm able to work on what I am going to be doing after high school.”

“I like the handson work. It's a good experience for people who want these jobs after school.”

Jackson Lawless,

Shores, 11 Kyle Johnston,

Written by Lily Carmichael Graphics by Grace Winkler

Changing Currency

Yara Vez-Vilarino

SPAIN

How has the adjustment to a new country gone?

“Sometimes you miss your country, but it is not so difficult to get used to the changes.”

Is the United States different than you thought?

“Some things are different but overall it's exactly as I imagined.”

Xenia Lara-Ripoll

SPAIN

How has the adjustment to a new country gone?

"It’s not been the most difficult thing ever, but it’s not easy. It takes a long time to adjust to a different language and time zone."

Is the United States different than you thought?

“I had no expectations of America. I knew my expectations would be wrong.”

Jena Reukmuang

How has the adjustment to a new country gone?

“It has been pretty good so far. I get to know and meet a lot of people here and make a lot of friends.” Is the United States different than you thought?

“To be honest, not really because I have heard a lot about American high school from my friends and on the internet when I was in Thailand. But the funny thing is I thought it was going to be like the American movies that I have watched before.”

THAILAND

Capucine Deghaye

FRANCE

How has the adjustment to a new country gone?

“Good. I didn't have homesick.”

Is the United States different than you thought?

“No, it's like I imagined. School is easy; people are great.”

Elisabeth Thiesson

How has the adjustment to a new country gone?

“It’s gone well.”

Is the United States different than you thought?

“On some points it's just like I thought, and sometimes it's way different than I thought.”

Niklas Hoeinck

How has the adjustment to a new country gone?

“It was pretty easy. I already been a couple times in the U.S.”

Is the United States different than you thought?

“The most surprising thing for me was to watch all those sports at Staley.”

Giorgio Santoro

How has the adjustment to a new country gone?

"Pretty good."

Is the United States different than you thought?

"Some things are slightly different but overall it is as I thought."

DENMARK

GERMANY

Front Row: Keira Thomas, 10; Mia Sollars, 11; Isabella Cascone, 12; Savannah Leiby, 12; Taylar Thomas, 11; Sarah Tarpley, 10

Back Row: Blair McCammon, 9; Carlie Redd, 10; Kenzie Cornett, 10; Lyla Reeves, 9; Mimi Palmentere, 10; Ella Pauk, 10

Turning Into First

Dance Team Places First At Competition

In their first competition of the school year, the Emeralds were the overall winners in Class 4, earned first place in precision jazz, second place in Pom and earned an award for technical excellence.

The dance team competed in the KC Classic Regional Competition at Liberty High School Dec. 10, marking the beginning of their competition season.

Assistant coach Samantha Weiberg said the event gave the team valuable insight about their progress.

“It’s a good checkpoint for us,” Weiberg said. “A lot of times when we go to KC Classic, our dances are finished, but we haven’t fully spent the time cleaning them. We get a lot of valuable feedback.”

Weiberg said the judges gave honest feedback and critiqued multiple elements of the performance. Technique, choreography, execution of choreography, quality of movement and cleanliness were all considerations.

Captain, senior Isabella Cascone said that though the performance wasn’t perfect, they performed well overall.

“The performance went really well for us, better than we were expecting,” Cascone said. “There were still a couple of little tiny mistakes, but it’s the first competition of the year, so there’s going to be a few of those.”

Cascone said the team put time into preparing for the performance outside of the normal practice schedule. Though the team practiced Tuesdays and Thursdays after school and on Sundays from 6-9 p.m., they added a few 6 a.m. practices in the weeks leading up to the competition.

The time dedication placed the team higher than their competitors in precision jazz and only below one in Pom. Weiberg said they were happy with the results, though the second place in Pom would motivate them to continue to refine their performance.

“Obviously our goal is always to get first, but getting second place lights a fire under you to do what you need to improve for the next competition,” Weiberg said.

In addition to the success of the team, Cascone placed first in senior solo, and sophomore Kenzie Cornett placed second for sophomore solo. Cornett said she was happy with her performance despite it being a newer experience for her.

“My solo felt pretty good,” Cornett said. “I had never done a dance team solo. For it being the first time, I was pretty proud of myself.”

The dancers earned five individual awards for solos. However, Cascone said the team dynamic made their group performances strong.

“When we perform, we showcase how tight we are," Cascone said. "I think that really helps when we dance.”

The team will compete in regionals in January, state in February and attend nationals in March.

Written by Elyse Bredtfeldt

SHOOTING FOR GOLD

Boys Basketball Team Sets Sights On State

The varsity boy’s basketball team is coming off a 27-5 overall record and a third-place finish at state. Led by a junior-heavy team last year, the current seniors are looking to take the final leap into a state championship game.

“I think being so close last year kind of introduced us to the feeling, and once you feel it, you never want to feel that again,” senior Kayden Fish said.

The 2023 season features a full senior starting lineup. It will consist of players from last year's final four run, with two starters returning.

Senior Kyan Evans is coming off his best season, averaging 15.7 points per game, 5.6 assists per game and 2.6 steals. Evans has taken on the same role as last year, the team's leading scorer and facilitator.

Fish, the 6 '6 center, was a big part

of last year's success, getting double teamed every time he touched the ball in the post, in turn creating open space for his team. Fish was the second leading scorer, at 11.5 points per game, 4.2 rebounds per game and on 60% shooting from the floor.

“Double teams are a huge part of my game, but I’m not worried about them anymore because I just want to see the ball go through the hoop no matter who does it,” Fish said.

A winning culture is something the school’s basketball program has become accustomed to, coming off three consecutive 20-plus win seasons.

“It’s about the time we spend together and meeting the expectation that we have for ourselves,” said coach Christopher Neff. “The culture is the people, and to be able to win a title with those kiddos and those coaches, it would mean everything.”

Those successful seasons also brought the first three conference and district titles in 2020, 2021 and 2022.

“We just want to get better and better every day,” coach Darryl Williams said. “We’re excited to start playing games again and figure some things out to help us grow and get better as the season goes on.”

for the freethrow Nov. 15 during

District Jamboree, senior

the

In the jamboree, the team played six quarters against three teams, and Fish talked about what was important to the game. “Mental toughness,” Fish said. “That's a huge thing. Basketball is fitness and mental, so it's something we’ve got to improve on.”

Neff and Williams hope to add the elusive state title to their resume. After attending the state game twice before as the head coach of Lafayette High School, Neff looks to create history with his players this year.

Written By Joe Smith Graphic by Grace Winkler

Getting into position

the

Kayden Fish makes

shot.

Photo by Braden Kurbin

While looking for an open pass Dec. 15 during their home opener against Oak Park, senior Kyan Evans gains possession of the ball. Varsity beat the Northmen 65-36. Photo by Allie Misenhelter.

Run Down On The Lockdown

School Lockdown Sparks Policy Review

"Lockdown.” That’s what students heard Nov. 30 in the middle of the second lunch shift during the third block.

The intercom announcement was made by a person rather than the prerecorded announcement students had been trained to hear, and it brought panic across the building.

When the panic continued to rise, students had to make decisions. Some students ran out onto the other side of the street and stopped near the four-way stop. Inside the classrooms, teachers turned off lights and barricaded their doors. Some even took the extra step to give students items to defend themselves.

“My teacher gave us books to possibly defend ourselves which made me more worried,” sophomore Savannah Keen said. “I called my sister and best friend to see if they were OK because they were both at lunch at the time.”

After authorities declared that the area was secure, the school transitioned into a lock-and-teach and resumed classes.

Administration made

announcements to reassure students they were safe. They made third block longer that day and gave the rest of the blocks their lunch time.

PROCEDURES

Lock out, get out or take out. Those are the options students have when there is a threat in the school, and students had to make that decision in real time.

“There was a police call for service that there was a person off the school property, but close, that might have had a gun,” said Robert McLees, Safety and Security director for the North Kansas City School District.

A month before the lockdown, assistant principal Chris Neff went over lockdown procedures during lunch. They covered what students should do if they are in the cafeteria as well as schoolwide procedures.

“We have had two lockdown drills in which we reviewed all of our processes with our students,” prinicipal Larry Smith, Ed.D., said. “We also, prior to that lockdown, had taken the time once during lunch to go over with every lunch

shift what to do in the event of a lockdown if you happen to be in the cafeteria during lunch, which is what happened for some of the students.”

Lockdown drills are a regular practice in the North Kansas City School District, with schools holding multiple drills per year.

DISTRICT TRAINING

Faculty went through training on what to do if there was an active shooter. The training was in partnership with the Clay County Sheriff's Department as well as Stratigos Dynamics, a security company, McClees said. School resource officers and some teachers attended a one-week conference with Stratigos where they learned updated lockdown procedures. After attending the conference, they taught faculty the updated procedures.

“I love having teachers as part of our training team,” McLees said. “They are in the classrooms, and they're in our buildings, and they are responsible for kids. SROs are in our buildings, but they're not teaching.”

STUDENTS’ OPTIONS

Locking out means that doors are locked, windows are covered, doors are barricaded and students are out of eyesight from potential intruders. Getting out requires people to leave the danger area, which could mean leaving the school or going from a hallway to an empty classroom. Taking out is a last resort when the other two options have failed. This means that the student now has to fend off the threat, fight the intruder.

NATIONWIDE OUTCRY

School shootings are ingrained in American society. In 2022, there were 51 shootings that involved injuries or deaths in schools, according to Education Week. It was the most in a single year

since the group started tracking in 2018. The uptick in shootings brought a nationwide outcry for a reassessment of gun laws.

“Missouri is one of the most permissive states when it comes to gun access,” said Sen. Lauren Arthur (D-Mo.). “We get less and less restrictive each year.”

Arthur said that in 2020 the general assembly passed the Second Amendment Registration Act which, according to the Missouri Independent, does not allow local officials to enforce federal gun policies. And if they do so, they could be fined.

Arthur is a former teacher, having taught at the Urban Community Leadership Academy charter school.

“I have seen personally how harmful and life changing gun violence is for young people,” said Arthur.

AFTERMATH

After the lockdown ended, administration said they shifted their focus to communication, keeping in touch with parents, students, faculty and law enforcement.

“Following the lockdown we communicated with our students through an overcom announcement, and we communicated with staff in multiple staff meetings since then,” Smith said. “We participated in a debrief with local law enforcement agencies. We've done a review of trainings during lunch with students and done a review of all processes with our district.”

Written By Brianne Tremper Graphics by Grace Winkler

Afew weeks before break, the gender neutral restroom near the DIT Pathway restrooms in the back core was changed into a staff restroom.

Some LGBTQ+ students were not happy about the change, citing the lack of options for restrooms.

School administration met about the situation and what they thought would be best.

“I feel very unhappy with the whole situation,” freshman Grace Marier said. “I feel as if they gave something to the nonbinary community at Staley then just said, ‘Sike, jk’.’ Not only do I think it was an unnecessary change, I also think that staff can use the gender neutral bathrooms as well.”

Another student had something to say on the matter.

Bathroom Break

“I don't think it's fair because I'm pretty sure we didn't even have that many in the first place,” freshman Tanner Powell said. “They should be accessible without locks on them. And turning it into a staff bathroom means it's even harder for people who don't identify with the blackand-white typical standards.”

He believed the change was the wrong decision but not malicioius.

“Do I think they had ill intentions with it? No. Do I think they made the wrong decision? Yes,” Powell said.

Assistant principal James Wheeler, Ed.D., said the decision was not an administrative one.

“When the building project was made, that's the way in which they left the bathroom,” Wheeler said. “At that point, the construction workers had made the decision to put it up.

We had some conversation here locally at the school about what we wanted to do with that bathroom, and at the time we thought it was best just to convert it into a staff bathroom.”

Wheeler said the decision was made for the safety of students.

“There's also some keen situations that need to be taken into account,” Wheeler said. “If we find out that there's a situation happening, it’s really difficult for staff if they’re needing to get in there for an emergency situation, and they’re locked out. It creates another level of being unable to reach a student.”

Wheeler said he believed the research and had discussions about the most appropriate locking mechanism in case a student had an emergency in the single bathrooms.

Gender Neutral Bathroom Becomes Staff Bathroom

“How do we actually get to them if they are in need of help?” Wheeler said.

This left some looking for the most convenient restroom option for those who don't feel comfortable using a gender-specific bathroom.

“We have some options for them,” Wheeler said.

He said there are genderneutral restrooms in the PE side of the school, the nurse’s office, the counseling office as well as the library media center.

"Then, of course, we have our restrooms that are in every core hallway that students can access,” Wheeler said.

Wheeler said the change will most likely be permanent, but there were many issues taken into

consideration before this decision was made. While not as conveniently located to certain classrooms, nonbinary and trans students do have other options available for use.

Written by Willow Wooldridge Photos by Grace Winkler

Do I think they had ill intentions with it? No. Do I think they made the wrong decision? Yes.

" "

-- Tanner Powell, 9

Holiday Harmonies

Music Programs Perform Winter Concerts

Seniors Brett Benkovich, Draiden Parks, Lucas VanKeirsbilck and juniors Emma Mott and Emily Peck follow choir director Tracy Resseiguie’s cues. “I think it went really well,” Van Keirsbilck said. “It was a lot of fun. It gave us the chance to sing with our future Falcons.”

With Chamber Choir and New Mark Middle School’s choir, senior Alex Lopez and Juniors Bailey Shafer, Garrett Otting, Gracie Gifford, Avery Mckenna and Leland Samuel sing Dec. 8 during their holiday concert. Senior McKenna Dubes and Sophia Miles, juniors Hannah Sheer, Wyatt Loar and Paisley Vincent follow along with the choir as they sing Christmas carols.

Photos by Alex Bermudez

While performing as a group Dec. 7 during the winter concert, senior Spenser Nash and juniors Miles Boyce and Jackson Taylor play their instruments. The songs performed were “Palladio,” “Christmas Troika,” “Christmas Eve Sarajevo” and “Bring a Torch.” “We were able to perform a variety of pieces,” Boyce said. “Each one with a different style and experience.”

Focusing on the beat, senior Javier Carreon, junior Ethan Ashworth, senior Kiyoko Nakano and junior Brennah Francis play festive songs at the holiday band concert Dec. 5 in the Performing Arts Center. The featured songs included: “Jet Stream,” by Gary D Ziek; “Coventry Carol,” arranged by Jerry Brubaker and “Fantasy on a Burgundian Carol,” arranged by Michael Story. “It was great to see all the other bands perform, and it was great to perform with the symphonic band,” Carreon said.

Photos by Ali Schulz

Photos by Allie Misenhelter

Period Poverty

Menstrual Product Costs Affect Those Struggling Financially

People with periods go through about 20 tampons per menstrual cycle, and one cycle a month means nearly 240 tampons a year, according to Duquesne University.

A 34 pack of Tampons costs about $8 a box, which means the average person is spending $56 a year on tampons. This doesn't even include people who have heavy flows or need medication when they are menstruating.

Although that might not seem like a lot of money to some, for others that could be the difference between buying groceries or going hungry.

Menstruation products should be

provided by the government. Not only could this normalize talking about periods and end period poverty, but it would also simply make dealing with menstruating easier.

Most people with uteruses menstruate, and buying pads or tampons isn’t a choice, but a necessity.

People should not have to free bleed, and that's not typically an option. So they are forced to either pay money or use a period product for longer than recommended and risk getting toxic shock syndrome, an infection caused by tampons being in for too long.

Periods are still a somewhat taboo topic. Someone mentions that they need a tampon, and another person cringes. Menstruating is something that about half the population does. It isn’t taboo, and if half of the population would benefit from free tampons and pads; that is a lot of aid for people with periods. People shouldn’t have to decide between affording food or period products.

The school nurse’s office has menstrual products for free, but they don’t have much of a selection. While that may seem picky, there is a big difference in comfort and fit for different bodies.

Written by Brianne Tremper Graphics by Grace Winkler

Glances At Romances

Staff Reviews Popular Romance Novels

'Verity,' by Colleen Hoover

uthor Colleen Hoover gained popularity for her romance novels, especially on TikTok. Her books were controversial for the BookTok community, due to a recurring theme of what some call romanticized abuse.

However, Hoover took a different approach with “Verity,” a romantic thriller. It followed the life of Lowen, a struggling writer who got to finish a series for successful author Verity Crawford after an accident left her paralyzed and unable to finish the series.

ALowen accepted the job and worked at Crawford's home. She went through her office looking for book outlines and instead found an unfinished manuscript of Verity’s confessions about life with her husband Jeremy and their family. Lowen had to decide whether to tell Jeremy or keep the manuscript secret.

This book left me on the edge of my seat as I was reading it. It was a quick, engaging read that I finished in one day.

I liked that the book flipped between Lowen’s perspective and Crawford’s secret manuscript instead of having the script written

in a different font within the chapter.

"Verity" was very unpredictable compared to Hoover's other books that contained predictable romance tropes. It did have dark, twisted themes, so I would check the warning before reading.

Written by Fallyn Kowalski

'People We Meet On Vacation,' by Emily Henry

Emily Henry slowly became one of BookTok’s biggest romance authors of the year. “People We Meet on Vacation,” a contemporary romance novel filled with emotions, was very difficult for me to put down.

“People We Meet on Vacation” was told from the perspective of Poppy, whose life seemed perfect. She got everything she wanted but

was only ever truly happy when she went on yearly summer vacations with her best friend, Alex. However, they hadn’t talked to each other in two years.

This romcom-like book jumps between a decade of their summers together.

Emily Henry wrote the characters to be relatable to readers. She portrayed exceptionally well the idea that someone can seem to have it all and still not be

happy. When I read this book, I didn’t know exactly what to expect. Ultimately, it was heartwarming and told a beautiful story of two friends who found their way back to each other. It undoubtedly deserved all the praise it got.

Written by Lily Carmichael

Graphics by Grace Winkler

In the junkyard, junior George Baker (Willard Hewitt) sings "Mama Says" to his friend senior Charles Thomas (Ren McCormack). Baker was part of Chamber Choir. "I absolutely loved this show,” Baker said. “It was very fun, and I enjoyed doing it."

Hugging his daughter, junior Blake Pfannes (Rev. Shaw Moore) is having a moment with senior McKenna Dubes (Ariel Moore). “We had a fun cast, and I hope to see them more.” said Dubes

Located in Chicago, senior Charles Thomas (Ren McCormack) is talking about moving to a small town. Freshman Aarylin Holt was part of the ensemble. "It was a fun show to make new friends,” Holt said. “And it was a cool experience to do."

At The Bar-B-Que, junior Garrett Otting (Cowboy Bob) is talking to junior Paisley Vincent (Rusty). The characters had “snuck out” to the dance club. "I thought this production went well," Otting said. Photo by Joey Taylor

Speaking to his sidekicks, senior Alex Lopez (Chuck Cranston) is talking about the new kid in town to sophmore Christian Lopez (Lyle). The actors were brothers in real life. "I felt like it was a great show, and we had a lot of fun,” Christian said.

“It was definitely worth all the time we put into it." Photo by

, senior Alex Lopez (Chuck Cranston) is talking to his rival senior Charles Thomas (Ren McCormack). "It was unlike any dance I’ve done, but it was exciting to try and was very fun,"

Photo by Alex Bermudez

Photo by Alex Bermudez

Photo by Joey Taylor

Photos by Joey Taylor

Graphic by Grace Winkler Design by Joey Taylor

While singing "Almost Paradise" together, senior McKenna Dubes (Ariel Moore) is in the arms of Charles Thomas (Ren McCormack). It was Thomas' first show in school. "I was very nervous about doing this," Thomas said. "It was hard getting started, but I think this production went well and was amazing."

by Alex Bermudez

Photo

The music genres and songs people gravitate toward can provide insight into their lives. Each year, Spotify releases a summary of each listener’s music of the past year.

“Spotify Wrapped” provides people with insight into their top songs, top artists, the moods of their music and overall time spent listening. Students will often share their results on social media platforms or compare them with friends.

However, the reason students are drawn to certain artists or songs isn’t something that screenshots of their yearly music can convey. Five students shared the reason their top artists and songs were on repeat.

Spotify Users Share Top Artists

“I’ve listened to Taylor Swift for my whole life. She’s a very good singer and songwriter.”

“It’s inspiring. My top artist is BROCKHAMPTON. They're a rap group. They’re all about self expression and being comfortable in your own skin.”

“It was Ariana Grande. I really enjoy listening to her music. It really makes me head bop. She makes me happy with her energized music.”

“My top artist was David Kushner. I like the words to his songs.”

“I got really into Eminem at the beginning of the whole school year. He was a big part of my rap playlist. I liked the way his music flows and what he talks about. It’s something fun to listen to.”

Lindsey Magdziak, 12

Raegan Proudfit, 9

Marc Taduran, 12

Ray Leath, 11 Haylee Thompson,10

Taylor Swift

Written by Elyse Bredfeldt Graphics by Grace Winkler

Ariana Grande

BROCKHAMPTON

Eminem

David Kushner