Staley High School Kansas City, MO. Volume 12, Issue 4 February 2020
Keep it Green
P. 10-11
Saying goodbye to mrs. Winn p. 04
Hats off p. 05
A taste of paradise p. 18
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Issue 4 Volume 12 talon Table of contents
Inside 04
News
05
News
original teacher leaves impact on students
Taking a closer look into hat policy
06-07
sports
08-09
sports
10-11
This Issue
sports injuries impact athletes physically, mentally
Basketball teams kill it on court
news
Student choices negatively affect school’s green effort
12-13
opinion
14
opinion
15
Staff editorial
brothers share their top albumns of 2019 Decade’s favorite foods remembered students need to be aware of what they recycle
16-17
Lifestyles and entertainment
18
Lifestyles and entertainment
19
Feature
20
Feature
true crime documentaries, docuseries popular New Hawaiian restaurant pops up, excels
student shares story behind the lens Super bowl impacts and excites students
Table of contents talon Volume 12 Issue 4
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Talon Staff editors-in-chief Makenzie Hooton Hailey Milliken Copy editor Jack warner
Staff Autumn Adams Sara Almansouri Isabella Dorrington Cassie Ford
Landyn Goldberg Jenny Le Hannah Moore Charlie Warner
Adviser Cherie Burgett
Letter from the editors Dear readers,
Welcome to the first issue of Talon in both 2020 and the new decade! We’re so excited to ring in the year with more relevant news in our fourth issue. So many new things have happened this semester already, Australia’s bush fires, coronavirus outbreak, the impeachment trials, Kobe’s passing, the Super Bowl, and it’s only February. Among all the events taking place, we made some difficult decisions to cover the newest information possible for students to read about. The Talon staff struggled with winter break
and winter weather alike to put this issue out, with two snow day and the parade pushing it back as well. Despite the time crunch we faced, we feel confident that the quality of content has not faltered, and student coverage has only continued to improve. We even welcomed a new writer onto our staff! From saying goodbye to FACS teacher Mrs. Winn on pg. 6 to saying hello to a Chiefs Super Bowl win on p. 20, we have it covered. In this issue, Talon was able to document some more student successes on p. 19 with senior Murphy Corum’s achievements and progress with aviation. Alongside Kansas City’s pride in football after the Super Bowl, you can read about the impressive basketball season on pgs.
08-09. If the beginning of the year is any indication, 2020 is bound to be filled with newsworthy events left and right. As usual, Talon will make sure to keep the school up to date throughout it all. Cheers to a new decade! Sincerely,
Contact us Write the editors a letter
Talon publishes seven 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 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 veritable disruption of the education process at Staley High School. Letters must be signed. 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, MIPA, MJEA and Quill and Scroll. Talon is affiliated with JEA and JEMKC.
On the cover Staley High School Kansas City, MO. Volume 12, Issue 4 February 2020
Keep it Green
P. 10-11
Talon decided to bring awareness to school’s struggle to keep a green school. Senior Makenzie Hooton took the photo for the cover in order to symbolize the decline in students’ green effort.
On the web StaleyNews.com
@staleynews Saying goodbye to mrs. Winn p. 04
Hats off p. 05
A taste of paradise p. 18
Staley News
04
Issue 4 Volume 12 talon News
Students and teachers celebrate Foods, Fashion and Interior design teacher Christian Winn with a Mexican food feast on her last day Jan. 10. Some even cried due to their love for Winn, such as retired teacher Melissa Ide-Laird. Winn had taught for 18 years and decided to take a break to focus on her personal health. “It was sad,” said sophomore Alysa Bachman. “She got close to all of her students.” Photos by Landyn Goldberg
saying goodbye to Mrs. Winn original teacher leaves impact on students
A
s the school enters the latter half of its twelfth year open, one of the school’s original teachers has left. Foods, Interior and Fashion Design teacher Christian Winn’s last day was Jan. 10, a day filled with a mix of cheer and sadness from students and faculty. As Winn reflected on her time teaching, she expressed what she will miss the most. “My students,” said Winn. “Building a relationship with my students, that was my favorite thing.” Winn wanted to let her students know her decision was not abrupt. “It was a hard decision to make,” said Winn. “I have been teaching for 18 years, but I’m just not doing well with my health, and I’ve got to take care of that.” Winn’s work started in the classroom, and she worked to change the stigma around her. “She really changed what I thought about fashion and interiors,” said senior Trent
Schrader. “I originally took the class feeling like I’m not that interested, and I don’t want to do anything here, but it ended up being really enjoyable, and I quite enjoyed a lot of the stuff we did. She was fun to have as a teacher.” Winn said she wanted all of her students to enjoy the class and learn in a fun way. Winn’s impact also extended past helping students succeed in the classroom. Sophomore Macy Tauke reflected on her relationship with Winn. “She was just always there for me,” said Tauke. “I could talk to her about anything, and I could tell her what is going on in my life, and she would just try to help me.” This extra help left a mark on Tauke. She recalled being upset the day Winn left. “I cried in class actually, and she cried too,” said Tauke Winn and her love for helping people extended past her students into relationships
with other teachers. Julie Fantozzi, a family and consumer science teacher, said she received the same love from Winn as she gave to her students. “She was someone you could go and talk to. She was really easy to talk to,” said Fantozzi. “She was just warm and nurturing.” Winn had a significant impact beyond teaching. “She is just someone you go to for good and bad. She also makes you feel funny because she laughs really hard. She is just a warm and nurturing friend,” said Fantozzi. Winn taught in the North Kansas City School District for 18 years. She needed time away to collect herself. “I plan on getting myself better physically and mentally,” said Winn. “My main focus is always my family, so making sure I am the best spouse and mom that I can be to my family.” Written by Landyn Goldberg photos by landyn goldberg
news talon Volume 12 Issue 4
Hats off taking a closer look into current hat policy
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tudents have been seen wearing hats and beanies more inside the school, which has lead some to wonder if there has been a policy change. While the rule has not been changed, principal Larry Smith, Ed.D., said he would not rule out a change for the 2020-2021 school year. “We’re always looking at all of our school rules and policies and evaluating them every year. I would imagine we would review that one, along with many others, this spring and summer,” said Smith. North Kansas City School District has a set of dress code policies, which bans dress that “materially disrupts the educational environment or promotes the use of drugs, alcohol, tobacco or criminal or sexual activity.” Assistant Superintendent of Student Services Perry Hilvitz, Ed.D., said most infractions are case by case. “If it doesn’t have obscenity on it, and I say as a building administrator that it is still disruptive, I should be able to at least show you that in the past, what disruptions it has caused,”
said Hilvitz. Another reason the school does not allow hats is the secrecy of it. Administrators, like Smith, have said students with hats on are harder to distinguish on security cameras. “It is easier to conceal your identity when you have a hat on, especially from our camera system,” said Smith. “If you have a hat on, chin down walking through the building, they may not be able to identify who is under the hat.” Currently, stocking caps and beanies are allowed to be worn in school because administration believes that, in contradiction to billed hats, a student’s face can still be seen. “You can see them,” said Smith. The camera systems are seen as a prime way to identify students who may be breaking school rules. However, junior Michael Saye believes hats don’t affect that. “I understand their concerns with security,” said Saye, “but at the same time, it shouldn’t be that big of a problem.” Saye said he has been told the security cameras are the reason
why he cannot wear his hat. He believes that hats do not affect whether a camera sees a person’s face. “They can make it to where it is not an issue. You’re walking through the school all day, and there’s cameras at every angle,” said Saye. “There is no way it doesn’t see your face at some point.” Administrators said their overall goal is to keep everybody safe and stop the issue before it even happens. “You might say, ‘How many issues have we had?’ But even if you had zero, it only takes that one time when there is an emergency and you cannot identify people because they have impediments around their face area. You do not know who they are,” said assistant principal Kevin Kooi. Overall, there has been no rule change about hats, but that could change in the future. Written by Landyn Goldberg Photos by Sara Almansouri
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Issue 4 Volume 12 talon Sports
to
Mobility and
Beyond
Sports injuries impact athletes physically, mentally
I
t took less than a minute to decide what the rest of senior Sydney Healy’s final high school volleyball season would look like. Healy tore her anterior cruciate ligament, meniscus and medial collateral ligament after landing on her opponents’ foot at a tournament, which put an end to her season. “I got injured in Philadelphia at a volleyball tournament,” said Healy. “I landed on my opponents’ foot that was far over the line, and my knee just started to cave in.” Having an injury required lots of physical therapy, and in some cases even surgery, said Healy. “I had to get surgery to fix my ACL and meniscus,” said Healy. “I also had lots of physical therapy and I basically just took up as much time as possible trying to get better and recover.” Not only did Healy have a physical injury, she said that she also dealt with some mental health problems. “Honestly, I was very depressed,” said Healy. “I had been playing for so long, and then to just all of the sudden have to stop was hard. And I didn’t even know if I was going to be able to play again, so that made it even harder.”
Senior Dayton Schafer had a similar story. His football season was cut short in September when he was injured during a game. Schafer tore his ACL, meniscus and mcl as well. “I couldn’t play for the rest of the season, and I am still trying to recover,” said Shafer. “I still can’t play any more sports for the rest of the year.” Shafer said he had faced many hardships, such as surgery, being on crutches for six weeks, followed by having to use a wheelchair and going through rounds of physical therapy. “It was a really slow process,” said Shafer. “There were a few times that I felt like giving up. I always wanted to stop going to physical therapy and let it just heal on its own, but I’m glad I didn’t because it has gotten better over time.” Healy and Shafer both said they had faced many hardships while recovering from their injuries, both physical and mental. However, they both said they had lots of support from coaches and family who helped and encouraged them. written by Ashlyn Dohrmann Graphics by Selena Escutia
climbing to
recovery Jack Stoffel, 9 Post-injury steps described by Athletes
“I tore a couple ligaments in my ankle. I had to try and walk on it as much as possible and do a variety of stretches to get my ankle back into shape.”
Wyatt Scott, 9 “I got a pretty bad concussion. I had to go through concussion protocol. I wasn’t able to look at screens for about three or four days, and I usually woke up with headaches, so basically just a lot of rest.”
Morgan Ferrara, 11 “I have an osteochondral defect. First, I had to decide if I was going to get surgery or try and take six weeks off. I had to do physical therapy and wear a brace for a while.”
SPorts talon Volume 12 Issue 4
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Securing the Cure During recovery, students use physical therapy equipment Muscle Scrapers
30% Resistance bands
83% Exercise Bike
47% Balance Boards
44% Jumping over hurdles Jan. 23, senior Sydney Healy focuses on not favoring her left side. Healy got injured during a volleyball tournament and had to attend physical therapy afterward. “It helps me get more strength in my left leg. In case I do land awkwardly, one of my legs will be stronger than the other,” said Healy. Photo by Emma Thom Preparing to tumble Jan. 17, junior Isabella Lampe focuses for a cheer in the Nationals routine. Last summer, Lampe tore multiple muscles, causing her to take some time off. “Right now, it’s really hard to get all of my tumbling done, and my stamina is really low from being out for so long,” said Lampe. Photo by Emma Thom During practice Jan. 27, sophomore Ella Bartkoski practices her dance for the Nationals routine. The cheerleading team traveled to Dallas, Texas, to compete in the JV Novice Division Feb. 1 and Feb. 2. “I don’t get to stunt or tumble, but luckily I still get to be in the routine and compete with my friends,” said Bartkoski. Photo by Emma Thom
Survey of 190 students
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Issue 4 Volume 12 talon Sports
Court
is now in Session
Basketball teams kill it on the court
T
he varsity basketball teams have had winning seasons. Coach Sherry Butts said girls basketball started off rough with their first game, but they got right back up beating Kearney High School and coming in first at the Savannah tournament. “Our very first game, we kind of started off a little rocky, but we just pulled things together and got things done,” said Butts. Senior Fabiola Salgado said there are only 12 players, making it easier for the players to get to know one another. “I feel like in the past years we’ve had a lot of girls and not good relationships, but this year it’s different,” said Salgado. Butts agreed that the team has good relationships, and that’s why they are successful. “They have all came together, and they have a common goal, and they all want to work for it, and they want to do it for each other, not just one person,” said Butts. The boys basketball team started preparing for this season in the summer and fall. “The reasons for our success has a lot to do with the work we put in during the off season,” said senior D.J. Pitia. Their work showed immediately when starting off the season. They won the William Jewell tournament and were ranked eleventh in the state as of Feb. 11. Neff said each of the eight starters had their own talents that made their team successful. “They are finally in the position of success that they haven’t been in, in the past by way of talent they currently possess,” said Neff. They attributed their success to all the love they have for each other. “We just have really good chemistry on the team. We love each other, and we want to play hard for each other,” said senior Byron Alexander. It’s not only the crowd that sees that the players are very close but other coaches, fans and the media do as well. “After every game, people come up to us and tell us, ‘Your kids look like they love each other,” said Neff. The girls varsity basketball team had won 13
out of 18 games as of Feb. 11. “I think the season is going pretty good just because we have a way better record than we did last year,” said Salgado. The boys varsity basketball team has won 17 out of 21 games, and Neff said each of the players is more talented than in past years. “All eight of those guys are capable of just being themselves, and they are enough collectively to lead to winning,” said Neff. Written by isabella dorrington
In the air, junior Kendrick Stone shoots the ball Jan. 15 at home against Park Hill South High School. Varsity ended up winning 55-44. The boys basketball team had won a total of 17 games and lost four as of Feb. 11. “It was a tough game against a tough team with a great atmosphere. They came out strong and got on us quick, but we kept fighting and eventually came out on top,” said Stone. Photo by Makenzie Hooton
Sports talon Volume 12 Issue 4
On the court, senior Byron Alexander dribbles past a defender from Park Hill South High School Jan. 15. The players agreed that a big part of their success was due to the good relationships they had with each other. “I just feel like we have really good chemistry on and off the court, and it definitely helps us when we play against tougher opponents,” said Alexander. Photo by makenzie Hooton In the air, freshman Elizabeth Boehm reaches to make the shot during the game against Central High School Jan. 16. The game went into overtime after a Central defender stole the ball during an in-bounds play and tied the game 36-36. “We work well as a team. We just need to work on finishing the game strong and not giving up,” said Boehm. Photo by Makenzie Hooton While playing against Central High School Jan. 16, senior Fabiola Salgado drives to the basket. Varsity ended up losing 40-41 in overtime. “Central has always been a really hard team to play against, especially at their place. I think as a team we did pretty good. Obviously, room for improvement, but it was a good game,” said Salgado. Photo by Makenzie Hooton With his eyes on the ball, freshman Kyan Evans plays defense against Park Hill South High School. Varsity ended up winning the game 55-44. “Being a freshman on varsity has always been my goal. I am always learning from my teammates and growing as a player,” said Evans. Photo by Makenzie hooton As she drives to the basket, junior Morgan Ferrara makes contact with a defender at Central High School Jan. 16. Although the Lady Falcons lost, Ferrara said the team’s attitude remained positive. “Overall this season, our chemistry between the players have been amazing, and I feel like we all got a lot closer, and no matter what, I know I have my teammates’ backs, and they have mine,” said Ferrara. Photo By Makenzie Hooton
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Issue4 Volume 12 talon News
W Keep it
Green
Student choices negatively affect school’s green effort
ith climate change protests, plastic bag regulations and metal straws being on the rise, the environment is a relevant topic more than ever. For students, being environmentally friendly can affect nearly every aspect of life, including the school day. “I think that the environment should be important in our life at this age because teenage years are when we everybody starts really forming their beliefs,” said junior Olivia Hutchcraft. The school takes sustainable methods into consideration, enough so that Staley earned a LEED Silver when it first opened. LEED certifications are awarded by the U.S. Green Building Council, making Staley a “green school.” Though, there have been some changes in recycling and the cafeteria since the school’s opening. The district no longer recycles as a whole, and certain buildings must make the decision whether they wish to recycle. “In past years, Town and Country did our recycling. When we first started with them years ago, it was free to the district. In fact, they paid North Kansas City Schools for the amount of recycling we did,” said Doris Farage, the director of custodial services for the North Kansas City District. “They eventually quit paying us and started charging some of our buildings.” The school has decided to continue recycling, but in turn having to pay Deffenbaugh for its services. Issues have continued to rise with the school’s recycling, and there are concerns when it
News talon Volume 12 Issue 4
comes to the effectiveness. “Stuff gets thrown in there that’s garbage and not recycling. It’s very consistent throughout the building. I’ve got 12 guys who probably spend an extra hour a night sorting through the bins,” said facility manager Ryan Davis. Students not using the bins in the correct way counteracts how much progress the school can make in reducing its waste. “In some of those buildings, we are being charged a large sum each month due to contamination in the recycle bins,” said Farage. Students themselves see the misuse of the bins at the classroom level. “We have recycling bins and stuff, but teachers don’t enforce that we use them. If you go up to a recycling bin, there’s usually not a lot of stuff in it, and most people just throw paper in the trash,” said sophomore Lily Rayl. On top of troubles with recycling, the cafeteria contributes a significant amount of nonrecyclable waste during the school day because of lack of student cooperation. “When Staley first opened, we did use a biodegradable tray there. That required the students to put the biodegradable tray in one trash can, the food waste in another trash can, and the rest that could not be recycled in another trash can,” said Jenna Knuth, district director of food and nutrition services.
These trays contributed to the school’s original “green plan,” but changes had to be made after students stopped sorting their waste. “That only lasted for a few years, and then students started refusing to separate all that
“
I’ve got 12 guys who probably spend an extra hour a night sorting through the bins.
,,
Facility Manager Ryan Davis
and started throwing it in all the trash cans, so we couldn’t recycle or compost anymore,” said Knuth. With roughly 1,700 students in the school, the five-compartment foam trays get frequent use alongside the plastic utensils during every meal. “Once a year, we look into costs for either biodegradable or compostable trays. Last year when we looked, it was around $249,000 a year just to switch over to biodegradable trays, and then you also have to get your
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waste company to put them in a different trash bin than your normal waste, which they also charge us for,” said Knuth. “We don’t currently have enough money to pay an extra $250,000 each year to do something like that.” The school’s shortcomings can be improved through the hands of students to reduce their impact on nonrecyclable waste. Davis said taking extra steps before tossing into classroom bins is a way to improve and make the school greener. “Kids have to take time to think about, ‘Is this trash or is this recycling?’” said Davis. Hutchcraft and Rayl are just two examples of students who turn toward more sustainable methods, like avoiding single-use plastics out of concern for the environment. “To reduce my negative impact on the environment, I try to use reusable water bottles, cups and silverware. I will even bring silverware from home when I eat my lunch,” said Hutchcraft. Students are taking these extra steps into their own hands is for the purpose of a bigger picture. “We’re still really young, and we have a long future ahead of us. If the environment is going downhill, then our kids won’t have the same experiences left for them,” said Rayl. Written by Hailey Milliken Photo By Makenzie Hooton
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Issue 4 Volume 12 talon opinion
Warner Bros: 2019 top album picks Brothers share their top Albums of 2019 Jack Warner
J
ACKBOYS was released at the tail end of 2019, but is a notable album for the commencement of not only the year but the decade. The work displayed in this project by Travis Scott and other members of his record label can serve as a recap on the success they’ve experienced the past several years. There is a remixed version of “HIGHEST IN THE ROOM,” with new features, including Lil Baby and highlights of some well-known and
T
he collaborative album “Revenge of the Dreamers III,” came out during the summer of 2019 and was a strong way for the record label to show that not only are they still relevant, but there is more to come. J. Cole specifically made his presence known by being an executive producer for the whole project and being featured on multiple tracks. Other notable artists such as JID, EARTHGANG, Ski Mask the Slump God, DaBaby, Bas, T.I., Smokepurpp and Vince Staples were featured. These artists
C
onfetti is the young Louisville-based artist’s fourth album of his career. It was an important album of 2019 because it proved that Harlow is still rolling off of the success of his previous 2018 album. While he is still rising to a higher status in the music industry, he was able to create a 12-song album with a notable feature from Bryson Tiller. The rest of the album is smooth as well,
some upcoming artists. This packs the album full of the sound that fans already love Travis for, as well as some new sounds too. Features from seasoned veterans such as Young Thug and Quavo flow well with melodies from Cactus Jack member Don Toliver. Also, Pop Smoke shared a feature that turned out to be his most popular song to date on, “GATTI.” With the short length of the project, but the intense songs, it is fun and easy to listen to. have created a strong reputation for themselves and delivered in their features on the album. However, the most exciting part of the album is the multitude of features from some lesser known and up-and-coming artists such as Guapdad 4000, Young Nudy, Jace, Mez and more. It is difficult to list the large number of collaborators and features, but they are truly what make this album an important project of 2019. The strong production coupled with constant features make the album fun to listen to for any fan of rap. while providing some upbeat songs and still delivering on more relaxed songs with rich lyricism. Overall, Harlow is an artist that deserves more attention now and will definitely deserve more attention in the future. Songs like “GOIN BACK DOWN,” and, “RIVER ROAD,” showcase his ability and prove that he is going to be around for a while.
opinion talon Volume 12 Issue 4
Charlie Warner
“P
ony,” by Orville Peck is one of the best alternative albums of 2019 and has put Orville Peck on the map. The masked singer blends elements of country and alternative rock to tell stories, with love being an important one. Songs like “Dead of Night” and “Roses Are Falling” tell stories of love, while songs like “Kansas (Remembers Me Now)” and “Take You Back (The Iron Hoof Cattle Call)” makes the listener feel like they’re in the wild
“L
ookout Low,” is an example of a band mastering its craft. On Twin Peaks’ fourth studio album, the group really starts to reach the sound they have been developing since their early days as high school garage rockers. Since all of the songs on this album are recorded as live takes, it is obvious how tight they have become as a band and really matured. They show this maturity with Grateful Deadish guitar riffs on “Casey’s
“T
wenty Twenty,” is an album that consists of songs capable of being stuck in the listener’s head for a week. From extremely catchy lyrics and guitar riffs, to the trippy sounds of heavy synths and modulated voices, this album is extremely fun to listen to. “Personal Lies” and “Roddy” are songs that feature guitar licks that are simple and memorable,
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west. A trademark of Orville Peck’s style is his outfit and masks. Each one features a cowboy hat with a fringed mask, but he has a new outfit for nearly every concert, which adds to his mysterious cowboy identity, even though his music still holds up on its own. The vocals on “Pony” go from a crooning heartache to a voice that reminds you of Johnny Cash, and makes this album one of the best debuts in a long time.
Groove” and on “Dance Through It,” a song with primarily bass and piano, which is a little different for Twin Peaks. While on songs like “Lookout Low” and “Oh Mama,” the band keeps their fiery energy alive. In addition to this, “Unfamiliar Sun” is a beautiful acoustic track with lyrics about depression and falling in love. Overall, “Lookout Low” is another great album that stands out in the discography of a criminally underrated band. and “Tentpole Shangrila,” “BNBG” and “Mortal Projections” have mesmerizing synths. Every song is an adventure of its own and some are total opposites. For example, “Chateau (Feel Alright) is very laid back and is about missing passed times, and “Flash Mountain” is an upbeat, hard-rocking song.This album is full of smooth songs that showcase Djo’s talent. written by Charlie Warner and jack Warner
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Issue 4 Volume 12 talon Opinion
Barstool Staley
Students’ twitter accounts get personal
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or some, it is very important to have school pride, and some have taken to Twitter to share their school pride. Several schools in the Kansas City area have students who made a Barstool account that is not affiliated with the actual Barstool media company or their school. At first, these accounts were innocent ways to talk trash to other schools. Different schools would start going back and forth, most notably Staley and Liberty High School. Since this was taking place on Twitter, it was out on the internet for all to see.The accounts were trying to outdo each other and get the biggest laugh from their followers. Eventually, this led to some posts that weren’t a laughing matter. These posts reflect poorly on all of the schools. While there is nothing wrong with friendly banter, either keep it clean or do it in private. If it is going to be posted for everyone to see, it needs to be lighthearted. When people post crude things they think are just jokes, it is highly offensive to some people. These people then see that the account has Staley in its name and think poorly of our school. This is exactly the opposite of
what we have built with our core values, of service, ownership, achievement and respect. It’s not respectful to slander other schools, especially when the account’s initial purpose was to take pride in the school’s accomplishments. At this point, the purpose of these accounts has completely flipped. Now, the accounts are purely for trash talking. While they still post about sports, they have also taken to figuring out the owners of the accounts and making fun of them. This is far from the original purpose of supporting our school’s sports teams. The moment when these Barstool accounts became more focused on who could roast each other better rather than highlighting their school’s athletic accomplishments, they crossed the line and became a problem. If they’re going to post about sports, a little bit of trash talking is natural. But the trash talking that these accounts have posted are beyond inappropriate and reflected poorly on us as a school. Overall, friendly banter between accounts displaying school pride is a good thing, but it is easy for these accounts to cross the line, which is what has happened. Written by Charlie Warner
Staff Editorial talon Volume 12 Issue 4
STAFF EDITORIAL: rethink, then recycle Students need to be Aware of what they recycle
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n a school that is advertised to be “green,” it can be assumed that the mere act of recycling in the classroom is important to the student body. Signs across the school boast just how green the building is. Some of the criteria that goes into being a “green” school are energy saving, nutrition and landscaping. Out of these things, recycling paper products, cans and plastic bottles should be a simple step for all students. Right? However, that is not the case. Recycling in the classrooms is not as easy as it may seem. Custodians often times have to spend hours meticulously sorting a concoction of part trash and part recyclable material from the classroom recycling bins. It is important that students hold up their end of recycling by doing their part – only putting in the bins things that are able to be recycled. This does not include items like bottles with liquid in them, food trays with food on them, chip bags or granola bar wrappers. Students who do not recycle correctly are disrespecting the fact that the school must pay for recycling services.
Staley is one of the schools in the district that actually does recycle. Some schools’ recycling causes the district to be charged due to the contamination or materials that shouldn’t be recycled being in the bins. Because Staley pays for Deffenbaugh to come and take recycling, students must pay attention to the bins and not treat them like just another trash can. If students cannot comply to simple guidelines of recycling, the school might stop paying to recycle, and then there will not be the same sense of pride in being a “green” school. Properly recycling should not be something that is seen as extra or dramatic, but necessary. Students must think about what is going into the bins and keep food and liquid contaminated materials out. Keep plastic bags, tissues and napkins in the trash cans. By recycling properly, the student body can help uphold your end of being a part of a “green” school. The title should not be awarded to a school that cannot do something as simple as this. Cartoon by Jenny Le Graphics by Jenny Le
Put waste In The Right Place ITems That can be recycled empty cans
Cardboard and boxes
Newspaper and Office Paper
ITems That cannot be recycled CERTAIN PLASTICS WRAPS AND BAGS
BOTTLES WITH LIQUID INSIDE
FOOD TRAYS WITH FOOD INSIDE
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Issue 4 Volume 12 talon Lifestyles & entertainment
TRUE crime SHOWS make a comeback DOCUMENTARIES, DOCUSERIES BECOMING MORE POPULAR
Lifestyles & entertainment talon Volume 12 Issue 4
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rue crime documentaries and series have made a big boom in entertainment. Market research group Civics Science asked people about their experiences with true crime television and documentary series, and according to the data, 62 percent of the respondents were interested in true crime. Sophomore Maggie Ferney is interested in true crime and thinks it’s entertaining to watch. “I think that it’s making a big comeback,” said Ferney. “I also think that people are just a lot more cynical now, so we kind of enjoy learning about it more.” Civic Science also found that in 44% of the respondents who were interested in true crime television, Netflix stood out as the most popular platform for true crime entertainment. According to data and statistics researcher Stephen Follows, 41% of Netflix movies are documentaries. “I do most of my documentary watching on Netflix,” said Ferney. True crime has also been incorporated
into the schools English Language Arts curriculum. In ELA teacher Annie Garcia’s ELA II class, true crime is a part of the curriculum. She thinks it’s relevant to her students. “I
“
It’s been the unit students have been really interested in and really invested in so far this year, which is awesome.
,,
ELA Teacher Annie Garcia
think it’s a really cool addition in our curriculum this year as we do have a new English curriculum,” said Garcia. The goal of the unit was to introduce students to different information and how to discern informational from fictional
resources. “A lot of the resources that we tried to pull were from around this area, and some of my students had connections to those stories, which was really interesting,” said Garcia. “It’s been the unit students have been really interested in and really invested in so far this year, which is awesome.” International Baccalaureate Film Adviser at Central High School in Springfield, Missouri, Josh Cantrell also agreed and said that true crime TV is making a big comeback. “They engage the audience and make them interactive, putting pieces of the crime together themselves,” said Cantrell. He said people have always been exposed to the documentaries and they’ve become modern and relevant. “I think they are a part of our culture, no denying that,” said Cantrell. True crime television has made a big come back, and according to the people and statistics, it’s becoming more relevant in today’s culture. Written by Cassie Ford Photos by Sara AlmaNSOURI Graphics by Jenny Le
True Crime Popularity
Student Involvement with the true crime genre if students watched any true crime in the past month
52.1%
47.9%
from a survey of 167 students
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How many true crime related shows students watched IN THE PAST MONTH
26.7%
23.3%
7% 16.3%
26.7%
from a survey of 86 students
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Issue 4 Volume 12 talon Lifestyles & entertainment
a Taste of paradise
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New Hawaiian restaurant pops up, excels
highly anticipated restaurant hit the northland in time to ring in the new year. Hawaiian Bros opened their fourth location on Jan. 7 in North Kansas City after announcing their plans in 2019. The small chain was created by brothers Cameron and Tyler McNie to spread Hawaiian culture to the Midwest, starting with the Kansas City metro area. The menu features a traditional “plate lunch� with variations of their signature combo of meat, white rice, and macaroni salad. Alongside the entrees, other famous Hawaiian treats are for sale as well, including Spam musabi and Dole Whips. Even three days after the grand opening, the restaurant was packed wall to wall to get a taste of what Hawaiian Bros had to offer. At lunch Jan. 10, there was upwards of 30 people in line to order, the staff was relatively quick to get orders in and out for us excited customers. It took about 25 minutes to get through the line and finally receive the food, so even with a rush of people, it was faster service than many sit-down restaurants. I ended up going with the small order of the hulli hulli chicken, which is advertised as their signature dish. The small order came with a significant portion of food, including one scoop of rice, one scoop of macaroni salad and a quarter pound of chicken. Besides the chicken, there were pork and vegetarian options as well. I also ordered the classic pineapple Dole Whip, which was essentially just
pineapple-flavored and non-dairy soft serve ice cream. Once I tasted the food, it was easy to understand why there was so much anticipation for this location to open. The quality of the chicken, rice and macaroni combination is unrivaled to any other fast food setting in the area. The hulli hulli was the perfect amount of fresh, juicy and savory flavors from the teriyaki marinade, though, the macaroni salad surprisingly stole the show with its delicious taste. To top it all off, the Dole Whip was the
ideal sweet yet subtle dessert to finish the meal. Ethnic fast food, other than Mexican or Chinese takeout, is in short supply in the area. These easily accessible and affordable Pacific Island flavors are a game changer for the city. The hype for Hawaiian Bros was certainly warranted after getting to experience what they have to offer. Written by Hailey Milliken photos by hailey milliken
Feature talon Volume 12 Issue 4
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Flying photography Student shares story behind lens
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fter working with small unmanned aircraft systems for more than a year, senior Murphy Corum has plans to take his drone aviation activity to the next level. His stepfather used to fly helicopters for the U.S. Army but then got into commercial aviation and inspired Corum to get into it too. “Before my parents got divorced, they were both educators, so I didn’t really have that military aspect,” said Corum. “When my stepdad came into my life, he brought that military side, especially the aviation side, to really be able to give me a glimpse on what aviation looks like.” He recently started his drone photography business called Aerial Heights Productions and has a Twitter account, @HeightsAerial, and a website, aerialheights816.wixsite.com. He started the business for the main purpose of providing footage to companies and their marketing processes. “It’s a new business type adventure that I’m starting,” said Corum. He has a photography business and tries to
stay local with the jobs. He has been hired by people to take photos, but he is looking into the process of selling large prints of his photos like his Kauffman Stadium photographs. “I’ve done some business for the people who did our new track so they could use the photos for their marketing purposes. I’ve worked with a couple real estate people, the Chiefs stadium photos. I’ve done some small businesses like Play Try Kansas City,” said Corum. Corum said he tries to take photos of any landscapes he can and wants to share his work with others. “I’m trying to do more highlights of K.C. It depends on what people want,” said Corum. “Not only do I think it’s fun for me, but it’s cool to see other people enjoy what I’m doing.” When he started off his drone aviation, he had to learn the ropes and research different techniques but soon discovered there was more he could do with it. “I realized what else was out there, like being commercially qualified to be able to sell
pictures and to be able to go into different waiver stuff because I have waivers to be able to fly at night which many people don’t,” said Corum. Corum said that in Missouri there is an organization called the Silver Patrol where he is the only person under 18 who is qualified to do drone operations. “What Silver Patrol has done in the past is stuff for search and rescue for manned aircraft and stuff like that, but they just started coming out with a new drone program in about June of 2018. So, I kind of hopped on the leading edge of that,” said Corum. After starting out with drone operating, Corum hoped to end up in the U.S. Air Force. “Being able to go in as a pilot for the Air Force would be fantastic for me, but I’ve got to get there first,” said Corum. Written by cassie Ford Photos by Murphy Corum
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Issue 4 Volume 12 talon feature
How ‘bout those
CHiefs
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Super bowl win impacts, excites students
he Kansas City Chiefs broke their 50-year Super Bowl championship drought, beating the San Francisco 49ers 31-24 Feb. 2. While students and faculty have been wearing jerseys for their favorite players and new championship shirts, the impact goes beyond the clothes people are wearing. “It is important for a variety of reasons,” said social studies teacher Scott Anderson. “From a community standpoint, it’s just great because it brings Kansas City together and just makes everybody happy and love each other.” For many older staff, the championship is significant due to the city going 50 years without a Super Bowl championship, which was the second-longest drought in NFL history for teams that have won previously. “I was exactly two months old last time we won in 1970,” said Anderson. “So, 50 years later, I get to experience something I didn’t get to experience before. I grew up in the ‘80s when we were God-awful bad, and 10,000 people went to Arrowhead. So, for it to come full circle and for the city to embrace a team I have loved for a long time is just so fun and just makes me so happy.” As students have never gotten to experience the Chiefs winning before, reactions were positive. Many students were joyous following the win. “Whenever we were down 10 with six minutes to go, it was so hard not to lose hope,” said senior Luke Winkler. “Whenever we pulled it out, it was just unbelievable.” Students are also optimistic of another championship in the future. Some believe 2018 NFL Most Valuable Player and Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and defensive end Chris Jones can lead the team. “I think the Chiefs have a lot of potential. Chris Jones says he wants to be a Chief for life. Mahomes is getting a large amount of money,” said freshman Nathan VanDruff.
“There is a lot that the future holds.” As a parade ensued Feb. 5, fans from all over the area lined Grand Boulevard and stood outside of Union Station for a pep rally. An estimated 800,000 celebrated the championship. “It was insane,” said senior Seth McGrew. “Insanely loud. Insanely excited. Everyone was just very high energy.” Winkler and McGrew camped out overnight to get the best spots for the rally. “I wanted to have the front row spot,” said McGrew. “So, I figured the only way to get the front row spot is to be there first. I was willing to endure that pain and do it.” Because of their effort, they were rewarded by being able to meet Kansas City, Missouri, mayor Quinton Lucas. “It was awesome,” said Winkler. “I had no intentions of meeting him, but I saw him running around. He took a picture with us. It was really cool. I didn’t realize how big of a Chiefs fan he was, so that was awesome.” Students’ spirits have been high as fans looked toward next year with aspirations of another championship. As fans celebrated, they used the words of head coach Andy Reed. “How ‘bout those Chiefs!” Written by Landyn Goldberg Photo by Murphy Corum
What does winning the super bowl mean to you? Caroline Ray, 09 “We waited a long time for this, so it just feels good to bring it in a long time, so I’m hoping we can continue forward and keep winning it.”
Alex Gonzalez, 10 “It felt good to see the Chiefs win in my lifetime, and it was good for the city.”
Patrick Mendoza, 11 “I’ve seen so many disappointing losses throughout the year, and you just have to fight through those losses and they suck. But, in the end, they pay off.”
D.J. Pitia, 12 “It was just fun watching the excitement on my dad’s face when the Chiefs finally won the Super Bowl.”
