The Eyrie - February 2023

Meet the Staff!

Criminalizing the Homeless Page 4

Olathe Rolling Transportation Blackouts

Page 6-7

The Logistics of Long-Term Soprts Contracts

Page 4

A Lesson in Love

Page 15

Living Together, Working Together, How Does It Work?

Page 16-17

Romance and the Values of Society

Page 23

Reporters: Makenna Aiello, Addison Bell, Serinity Bishop, Xander Cha, Kailey Donnell, Mj Garcia, Mildred Garza, Mia Pham, Mya Roberts, Mia Rollins, Riley Story, Peyton Walls, Tim Wood

Artists: Sylvia Grimsley, Ashley Rottinghaus, Jackie Small, Riley Story

Sydney Slaton editor-in-chief

cover by | Kai Magana

Hudson Marmon editor-in-chief

Maggie Flannery layout editor

Brooke Burbidge layout editor

Abby Wallace managing editor

Tim Wood managing editor

Kai Magana lead artist

Dalton Roberts senior reporter

Must Watch Rom-Coms

by Hudson Marmon editor-in-chief

1. When Harry Met Sally

When Harry Met Sally is one of the most iconic rom-coms of all time, and there’s no doubt in my mind that it is worthy of its reputation. The movie revolves around two unlikely friends and their separate, yet intertwined, journeys through life. Although the story is simple, Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal’s on screen chemistry is unrivaled, making the dialog witty, bright and in a word, charming. This film is a must watch for any person ever, and if you haven’t seen it, it should be moved to the top of your list.

3. The Big Sick

2. Serendipity

The word serendipity can be defined as: the faculty of making fortunate discoveries by accident. Starring Kate Beckinsale and John Cusak, the unique film makes a series of nods towards fate, destiny and the idea that all things happen for a reason. The movie follows the journey of two strangers being reunited by the universe after crossing paths years prior. After watching, you will be left with a sense of hope for what is to come, a new understanding of the word destiny and if nothing else, a strong desire to go ice skating.

Simply put, this is a movie about a man “fighting a fourteen-hundred year old culture.” Based on the life of Pakistani-American actor, comedian and screenwriter Kumail Nanjiani, The Big Sick takes a modernized spin on the term “star-crossed lovers.” Despite being a rom-com, the film does an incredible job of capturing the awkwardness and imperfection of real life relationships. It does this in a variety of ways, from small gestures, such as the accurate portrayal of going in for a kiss, to the aftermath of a gut-wrenching argument where viewers can feel the silence of the room. The Big Sick is definitely the most intense film on this list, but regardless, it is one of my favorite movies of all time and an absolute masterpiece.

4. My Best Friend's Wedding

Oftentimes romantic comedies will make you want to keep trying for love, this film will make you want to let go. Julia Roberts and Dermot Mulroney star in the love story that wasn’t meant to be. The film follows a 28 year old food critic on her mission to stop the man of her dreams (who also happens to be her best friend) from getting married. However, despite her intentions of pulling them apart, she only brings them closer together, proving their love for one another. For many during this romantic season, it may not be the movie you want, but it could very well be the movie you need.

5. The Holiday

Despite being a bit untimely, this movie is perfect for anyone recently coming out of a relationship. In the film, Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet play two characters, on separate sides of the world, looking to escape their heartache. The women get in touch over a house swap website and agree to trade homes for the Holiday (hints the name). This time of the year can be very hard for newly single people; luckily this film does a great job of inspiring hope and making you feel like there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

illustration by | Ashley Rottinghaus

illustration by | Ashely Rottinghaus

illustration by | Jackie Small illustration by | Jackie Small

Criminalizing the Homeless

Take a look into the injustice of the Anti-Homelessness Laws

By: Riley Story Reporter

One of the biggest issues in the world is poverty, and while homelessness and poverty do not share the same definition, homelessness is very much related. Homelessness affects many Americans, from newborns to elders.

Anti-homelessness laws make the homeless feel like they’re criminals, just because they can’t afford housing, food or healthcare. But in order to earn money for that, they need a job, and most places won’t hire homeless people. Either because of their record or they just don’t want to sit there and tell them it’s illegal to be homeless, yet places that say they’re hiring homeless individuals won’t hire them?

There are laws making it illegal for anyone who is homeless to sleep on any state owned land, whether that is city parks, streets, bridges, etc. Some cities have taken this law into consideration and have started to block out the middle of benches so the homeless couldn’t lay down on them, and in many parks they find different ways to keep the homeless off their property. The consequence for sleeping on any state owned land is a class C misdemeanor, which is equivalent to a traffic violation, and is punishable with up to one month in county jail and/or more or less than a $500 fine.

Homeless people are suffering everyday because of lack of food, shelter, and clothing. They also have no transportation to get anywhere. Anti-homelessness laws punish homeless people because they can’t afford the means of living and fine them when they don’t even have

"Homeless" by R. Duarte is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0.

enough money for basic human necessities. If they don’t have the money to survive, how are they going to pay their fine?

Luckily, the U.S. has programs to help. One is called the Homelessness Assistance Program which provides funding to States, local governments and nonprofit providers to serve individuals and families across the United States who are affected by homelessness.

The other is called The Federal Housing Assistance Program. This one provides assistance for the homeless, like housing they can afford so they’re not on the streets or sleeping on a friend’s couch.

Not having somewhere to sleep and shower can be harsh on mental and physical health especially with weather

Top 3 Terrible Facts

Kansas City has a homeless population of 1,733 people. 300 of those are minors.

Poverty is one of the main causes of homelessness. Being unable to afford food and shelter can be really risky.

conditions. If it’s super hot or super cold, you can acquire many different health problems in either category and how are they going to afford the cost of healthcare when they don’t even have a place to live?

Homelessness can be very lonely and that can be a huge part of your mental health. Whether it’s an anxiety disorder, extreme fear, depression or many more.

Yes, addiction is one of the number one causes of homelessness, but that’s not always the case. There are tons of reasons homeless may be homeless. Unemployment is one, perhaps they got laid off and couldn’t find another job. Then there’s low wages, some jobs don’t pay as much as others, and when you’re renting a house or an apartment you can barely survive on minimum wage and some jobs pay even lower.

Looking at how the anti-homelessness laws can affect a person, some may say they aren’t fair. Homeless people shouldn’t be punished, by being taken to jail or fined, when they don’t have a roof over their head.

So the next time you see someone homeless on the side of the road, think of why they may be there before you judge them. e

Andrew Tate: How is he Impacting us?

by Mj Garcia reporter

With the recent developments in Andrew Tate’s already controversial social media presence, some are wondering what kind of impact he’s having on today’s generation.

Whether his actions and advice are being taken to heart or simply taken as a cry for attention, most of today’s generation is at least aware of his existence.

Who is Andrew Tate?

that he didn’t do, and that’s how they get you to go to jail. Andrew Tate knows the future, he’s like a god honestly.”

What Makes Andrew Tate Controversial?

"Andrew Tate knows the future, he’s like a god honestly, ”

Many believe Tate’s misogynistic philosophies on relationships with women and his secrets to success, mainly aimed towards younger male audiences, are being taken more seriously than what might be considered healthy.

Andre Carter, freshman

Influencer and self-proclaimed “King of Toxic Masculinity” Andrew Tate, has been increasingly popular since last year, according to Wikipedia.

Tate was arrested in Romania on December 29, 2022 on charges of rape and human trafficking says an article from Vox. The same article also states his reasoning for moving to Romania in the first place, was rape laws being “more lenient”.

Although Tate has grown in popularity, acknowledging his existence and admiring it are two entirely different topics.

Take freshman Andre Carter for example, who responded with this regarding Tate’s recent allegations.

“I felt like he would beat the odds. Well actually, he predicted this would happen. He predicted he was going to go to jail three months before, which proves that he knew it was going to happen before it even happened, which makes me believe he didn’t do it,” Carter said. “He said they would say he did something

This leads people to wonder how much influence he really has.

English teacher Bailey Hightower feels that Tate makes the internet a “dangerous place” for people who are susceptible to the ideas he represents.

“He is the incel culture success story. He’s the poster boy for ‘if you treat women poorly, your life will be better.’” Hightower said.

Hightower has a unique perspective because she is a younger teacher, allowing her to relate to students easily, but also understand how Tate’s influence is affecting society.

mindsets.”

Although it is clear to some how much Tate’s actions have taken effect, to others, like sophomore Jonathan Zamora, Tate is just a joke.

“I don’t think people actually believe what he says. I think it’s more of a joke and some people take it seriously, and the people who take it seriously maybe shouldn’t be taking it so seriously,” Zamora said. “Some of his things are controversial, but I feel like a lot of influencers do things to get popular. Like, ‘all publicity is good publicity.’”

Sharing a similarly indifferent view on the topic is junior Broden Clingen, who believes social media is partly to blame for Tate’s image.

“The only reason he does those things is for marketing. I guess some people would look up to him, and the things that he does he does in a negative manner,” Clingen said.

Clingen believes social media plays a role in making Tate out to be worse than he is.

“He is the incel culture success story. He is the poster boy for ‘if you treat women poorly, your life will be better,’”

Ms. Bailey Hightower, english teacher

“I don’t know if it’s manifested itself in our school per say, because it’s kind of hard with teenagers to know how much of what they consume they think is a joke and how much they take seriously,” Hightower said. “I will say, society wise, I think it’s very obvious how much of a negative impact he’s having on people’s

“I think social media makes him out to be a lot worse than he is, but I also disagree with a lot of things he believes in, especially with women. But I think he is a better person than most would say he is,” Clingen said.

photos from | Twitter

Olathe Rolling Transportation Blackouts

Many families in the Olathe area are being affected by rolling transportation blackouts, forcing them to scramble to find rides for their children.

by Mya Roberts reporter

An increase of bus driver sickness and not enough staff leaves parents stranded when trying to find rides to get their kids to school. Starting on January 5, 2023 the Olathe School district began implementing “Rolling Transportation Blackouts” throughout the district due to a large absence of bus drivers.

there are more student drivers very few routes are being eliminated. This is because they use the numbers for students who actually need transportation services, not those who are drivers.

"“This

solution

provide a consistent schedule for families to plan around days they will receive bus service, and days they need to arrange alternative transportation,”

“The district simply does not have enough manpower to staff all the bus routes in the district,” Olathe Public Schools (OPS) said.

The Olathe district is comparing this situation to the strategy used by power companies during peak energy use.

“This format would eliminate service for certain routes on specific days of the week,” OPS said.

These so-called black out days mostly affect those who are in elementary and middle school levels, with only high schools mentioned very little.

“Those two levels have the bulk of the pay riders that were receiving inconsistent services due to staff shortage,” OPS Transportation Department member, Olivia Malone said.

Even though at the high school level

“We do not count student drivers unless their family has registered them as a pay rider,” Malone said.

On families designated blackout day, they will need to have alternate transportation to and from school options arranged.

“Families on routes affected by the rolling blackouts will receive a 20% discount for their second semester bus fee to reflect the change in service,” OPS said.

The district realizes that this situation is not ideal for families and students but feels it is necessary.

“It is a necessary step in order to be able to continue providing the most consistent service possible for Olathe School District families,” OPS said. This system will be in place until further notice. If there is a significant amount of bus drivers applying, these rolling blackouts will end.

“If we were to have an influx of drivers apply or we were able to ensure we could provide consistent and timely transportation service for all bus riders. The rolling blackouts will end,”Malone said.

The district is trying to make sure this schedule stays consistent and will let families know if anything changes.

“This short-term solution will provide a consistent schedule for families to plan around days they will receive bus service, and days they need to arrange alternative transportation,” OPS said.

illustration by | Jackie Small

short-term

will

Olathe Public Schools (OPS)

illustration by | Riley Story

Weekly Route Outages

Listed below are bus routes that won’t be running during the week. This schedule is in place until further notice. Schedules are subject to change so make sure you are checking the Olathe Public Schools website for changes frequently. All information is from the Olathe Public Schools website and from transportation department member Sharon Olivia Malone.

Monday

502 California Trail Middle School

543 Manchester Park Elementary School

552 Mission Trail Middle School

579 Summit Trail Middle School and Ravenwood Elementary

605 Frontier Trail Middle School

627 Briarwood Elementary School

Wednesday

557 Oregon Trail Middle School and Clearwater Creek Elementary School

558 California Trail Middle School and Regency Place Elementary School

583 Summit Trail Middle School and Westview Elementary School

591 Sante Fe Trail Middle School and Mahaffie Elementary School

Friday

525 Summit Trail Middle School and Ravenwood Elementary School

561 Pleasant Ridge Elementary School

562 Santa Fe Trail Middle School

570 Pioneer Trail Middle School

576 Walnut Grove Elementary School

Tuesday

537 Pioneer Trail Middle School and Indian Creek Elementary School

572 Summit Trail Middle School and Mahaffie Elementary School

630 Olathe East High School and Countryside Elementary School

633 Frontier Trail Middle School and Green Springs Elementary School

Thursday

597 Frontier Trail Middle School and Tomahawk Elementary School

599 Olathe North High School

635 Meadow Lane Elementary School

657 Santa Fe Trail Middle School

pt-out?O

Parents wishing to release their childs bus space may receive a refund for the semester. To release a bus roster space email olathebus@dsbuslines.com.

If you do not see your/your child’s bus route listed above, you will not be affected by these Rolling Blackouts

Late Start

vs.

Early Release

Seniors share what it’s like for them to have late start, early release, or a normal school day and give advice for future seniors who want to do one of the options

Kissing Madness

The issue with PDA in schools

by Serinity Bishop Reporter

Imagine this, you’re walking down a hallway in your school, and you see a couple hugging and kissing. This can be a problem for many because walking into a hallway and seeing a couple kiss is absolutely traumatizing.

If you don’t know already, PDA is an abbreviation for public displays of affection. That includes hugging, kissing, and holding hands. Seeing a couple kiss draws the line, it is very uncomfortable to see. It also makes the school’s atmosphere uncomfortable to be in. Students come to school to learn and to be social with friends, not to walk to their next class, and see a couple kiss! While it is not wrong for individuals to express how they feel, it is not ideal for students to engage in public displays of affection in school and during school activities.

Schools typically see this type of behavior as a distraction and inappropriate for a school setting. Many schools have policies that forbid this type of issue on campus or at school-related functions. Schools have a zero-tolerance stance on PDA because they recognize that even in-

nocent displays of affection can turn into something more. They want to keep the environment comfortable for everyone to learn and feel safe in, so having situations where couples kiss creates an environment to be uncomfortable for many.

Schools mostly see PDA being an issue, because the fact that the majority of students witnessing them are minors can lead to issues, especially when the younger students aren’t well-informed about topics such as relationships and sexual education. School is meant to be a place where students can learn and grow as individuals. It is not the place where students should run into couples kissing.

Many people would agree that nobody wants to see a couple making out and blocking the hallway. On the other hand, is it right for schools to ban acts of love for others? Students already spend most of their time in school interacting with their peers learning in the same environment. That it is only fair to assume the students will form

relationships with each other, romantic ones as well. School rules only are there to help keep students safe and to help students get a higher learning experience.

But are they really helping students if certain acts of affection to each other are banned? It’s not wrong to hug your friends or even for couples to hold hands and yes even hug. A way to change PDA rules is to only ban sexual displays of affection. And make holding hands, and hugging okay to do in school and during school activities.

PDA in schools can affect others in many different ways. But overall PDA in schools needs to either be fixed or just completely shut down.

illustration by | Sylvia Grimsley

illustration by | Staff

double. It is meaningful to the team because we are a close knit team and we play together for each other because we love each other,” Stelting said.

Right: Varsity dancer Addison Ham strikes her starting pose during the pep assembly on Jan. 26. The dance was the first time it was performed in front of the school. “My favorite part about this dance was being able to perform with all my friends. Since I wasn’t able to perform all year it meant a lot that so many people were there supporting me,” Ham said.

Above: Senior Tucker Armstrong shoots for a 3 Pointer and scores on Jan. 27. The Falcons lost to the Lawrence Lions, 47-43.

photo by | Gracie Akers

Above right: Junior Reagan Stelting runs through the tunnel at the MidAmericaClassic tournament. The varsity basketball team came running out excited for the second half. Stelting showed the camera the team’s hand sign. “[It] means I love you

photo by | Danielle Desmarteau

photo by | Danielle Desmarteau

Above: Varsity basketball coach, Dan Marrow, talks to his team during a timeout at the Olathe North game on Jan 13. The fan packed game was tight and stakes were high as they played against their rival school. Olathe South ultimately fell to Olathe North with a score of 54-65.

photo

by

| Coral Netten

Left: Girls varsity basketball player Ella Anderson jumps up for the tipoff on Jan. 28. This tip started off the varsity teams’ third and final game in the Mid America Classic tournament at McPherson High School. “My favorite part of that game was how much fun we had during the game and how we came together as a team to pull out a big win to end the tournament,” Anderson said.

photo

by

| Danielle Desmarteau

How Far is Too Far?

Competitive sports are becoming too toxic to handle

by Addison Bell Reporter

It’s five o’clock on a Tuesday. It’s the first practice of the week and you have five more to go, feeling dreadful for what’s to come.

What happened to that joy you felt the first time you stepped on the field? Why have those emotions before a game, a mix of nervousness and excitement, turned into anxiety and stress?

All of a sudden your performance defines who you are.

"Young athletes are being pressured to start the recruiting process super early in their athletic careers and they don’t get to just enjoy playing their sport with no worries.”

That is what competitive sports have turned into. Something that was once so special, is now ruined because of college recruiting, overwhelming pressure, and burnout.

Competitive sports have turned into full-fledged businesses, with organizations growing from just one team to multiple teams in a variety of age groups. Nowadays parents, coaches, and large organizations are solely focused on getting you recruited for college. Young athletes, as young as elementary level, are being trained to work toward the collegiate level.

Senior Danielle Desmarteau has first-hand experience with the early recruiting process.

For the new generation of athletes, this is the expectation. Most players focus on just having fun, playing with no strings attached and no baggage

to carry. Along with college recruiting is the pressure that comes with it. According to Psychiatric Times, increased pressure contributes to the risk of depression and anxiety. These young athletes shouldn’t have to be burdened with such a task.

Danielle Desmarteau, senior

Illustration by | Kai Magana

Coaches and parents exude a substantial amount of pressure on their kids to be a starter, to be the best on the team, and to not make mistakes.

You see more and more coaches yelling at their kids. Constructive criticism is necessary but harsh criticism, especially for younger athletes, can be detrimental to their self-esteem.

"Coaches are constantly yelling at their players to get the most out of them, but sometimes it can go too far and bring players down.”

Danielle Desmarteau, senior

Screaming demeaning words and constantly putting players down eventually translates into personal life. It affects growing athletes’ minds in unimaginable ways.

Coaches don’t realize how much of an impact they have on their athlete’s mental health.

Sports are a wonderful thing, they are a release from the daily stressors in our lives they aren’t meant to add to it.

Senior Kate Wilder has personally seen pressure and burnout take a toll on her own teammates.

"I’ve seen so many people that absolutely loved the sport but ended up quitting because they were playing 5-6 days a week all year long and it was too much.”

Kate Widler, senior

According to Banner Health, hyper-focused training is associated with stress, burnout and early withdrawal from sports.

We are losing the point in the midst of all this chaos, to enjoy the love of the game. Burnout, pressure, and early college recruiting are consuming the sports that we have all grown to love. It’s unfortunate that the new generation of athletes may never feel that excitement before a game because they are too worried about performance. You see athletic validation becoming a recurring issue.

Despite these things, athletes are the ones who can’t lose sight of the fact that sports do not define who you are as a person and who you will become.

The Logistics of Long-Term Sports Contracts

by Quinton Coats Reporter and Fun Facilitator

Long term contracts in sports have recently become a big ticket discussion, and it really isn’t an issue… yet. Lots of organizations in all major sports, all over the world have invested an arm and a leg in their team’s top stars. These contracts can be risky, but very much worth it if the player maintains their stardom and elite performance on the field or court.

Some notable names of athletes who have received these gargantuan contracts in the past few years are: Denver Broncos Quarterback Russell Wilson, Red Sox Infielder Rafael Devers, and Kansas City Chiefs Quarterback Patrick Mahomes. These 3 athletes have a combined total north of $700,000,000 between their 3 contracts, with over 25 years agreed to. Let’s look at each one.

Russell Wilson: Russell Wilson agreed to take over the Quarterback duties for the Denver Broncos at a price of $242,588,256 over 5 years. This was just one of many huge deals made this past off-season by teams all over the National Football League. With the addition of Wilson, the Broncos were poised to have a breakout season and challenge the Chiefs for the AFC West title. Let’s just say, they’re season was anything but that.

“I think at the time it was maybe a smart decision since the team had no real foundation, but once the team started, we had no formation and we didn’t play well together” junior Tyler Strong said.

Strong, a lifelong Broncos fan, was disappointed along with many other

Broncos fans around the nation. Wilson struggled to find his footing in Denver this past season as seen by his subpar stats.

Looking to the future, “I think he will do everything to the best of his ability, but it really comes down to the coaching staff and the other players he is playing with,” Strong said.

Wilson will be looking towards a bounceback season next year for the Broncos.

Rafael Devers: The Red Sox had a down year this past season; nonetheless, they had a bright spot all season: Rafael Devers. His on field performance was good enough for the Red Sox to go all in, offering him 10 years, at a total of $313,500,000. This is one of the largest deals in Major League Baseball history; however, a big deal like this one comes along with some criticism.

“I personally think we should not have put so much money into him. I think we should have bought him for like 2 years and then traded him for draft picks,” senior Dan Palacio said.

The deal is a really big bargain especially for a team that went 78-84 the year prior. This deal has a weird feeling sitting in the stomach of Red Sox fans right now.

“I like the Devers deal because we obviously keep Devers, but on the same side, I hate the Devers deal because we’re losing a lot of money when we could be using it on different prospects and different people seeing that we lost Xander Boegarts this year and our outfield is a mess right now,” Palacio said.

With locking up Devers, you have

security in the infield for many years to come. He has the tools to play all over the infield so he has the versatility piece Red Sox fans want.

Patrick Mahomes: Patrick Mahomes has solidified himself as one of the top quarterbacks, if not the top, in the National Football League. Mahomes came into the league a little different than other first round quarterbacks. He had to sit behind Alex Smith for a year and learn the reins. Mahomes started playing in the league his second year and hasn’t looked back since. The Kansas City Chiefs locked Mahomes up for 10 years, at $450,000,000. This is currently the largest contract in the NFL. Aforementioned, large, multi-year contracts can be risky, but they have upside.

“It is the most important position in all of professional sports, so if you don’t get it right, your team is usually not going to be successful,” Video Production Teacher Brandon Schwarz said.

The Chiefs clearly got it right at the quarterback position, as Mahomes has already won a Super Bowl, Regular Season MVP, and Super Bowl MVP. Mahomes is in his 5th year as the Chiefs Quarterback and is the current favorite to win Regular Season MVP for the second time. He has been extremely consistent over his first five years in the league, and people have gotten used to his consistency, so if he has one off year, people start to freak out. It is hard to keep up consistent play for 10 or more years, so can Mahomes do it?

“Yeah absolutely. He is a freak of nature and he is the G.O.A.T.,” Schwarz said.

illustrations by | Ashley Rottinghaus e

Fun Facts About Valentine’s day...

1. Written Valentine’s letters didn’t begin to appear until after the 1400’s.

2. 45 million greeting cards are exchanged every year for Valentine’s Day.

3. Around 20 percent of pet owners give Valentine’s day gifts to their pets.

4. 8 billion conversation hearts are manufactured each year.

5. Over $1 billion worth of chocolates are purchased for Valentine’s day.

6. Every year, thousands of people write letters to Juliet (From Romeo and Juliet).

A Lesson in Love

Fun Facts about Valentine’s Day.

by Kailey Donnell reporter

Common Valentine’s Day Traditions...

1. Send cards and letters to friends, family, and significant others.

2. Exchange gifts, flowers, and chocolates.

3. Go on a date with significant others.

4. Watch romantic, sappy movies.

5. Put paper hearts on doors and walls.

How much each generation spends on Valentines day...

1. Gen Z (Ages 18-25): $164

2. Millennials (Ages 26-41): $294

3. Gen X (Ages 42-56): $182

4. Baby Boomers (Ages 57-76): $122

Statistics for 2023...

1. 56% of people plan on giving candy.

2. 40% of people plan on exchanging gift cards/letters.

3. 37% of people plan on giving flowers.

4. 31% of people plan on going out on Valentine’s Day.

5. 22% of people plan on giving jewelry.

“The true origin of Valentine’s Day didn’t come for another thousand years. Jack B. Oruch, a professor at the University of Kansas argued that the poet Geoffrey Chaicer was the first person to link Valentine’s Day to romance,” National Geographic said.

“More than six million Americans are likely to get down on one knee on February 14th,” InfoAmericaUSA said.

illustration by | Kailey Donnell

illustration by | Jackie Small

“Never settle. Your person’s out there, just be patient.”

Living Together, Working Together, How Does It Work?

How married teachers at South feel about working in the same building as their spouse

by Sydney Slaton editor-in-chief

Many couples with different careers would say they don’t always get their partner’s jobs or what they do. But what if you didn’t just have the same job as your spouse, but the same building?

“I very much enjoy it,” Laura Robinson said.

Across the board, teaching with your spouse seems to be a great idea. It gives access to benefits that would be impossible with separate professions.

“I think it’s really cool and convenient now that we have a daughter. We get to go to daycare together and then drive to work together and then go pick her up afterwards,” Andrew Meile said. The convenience doesn’t end when couples walk into the building though. There are fewer strangers in the classroom when your spouse knows them too.

“With kids that know him that I don’t know, it helps me build more relation-

ships. It’s easier for me to go ‘hey do you know Mr. Hoffman?’ So it’s easier for me to build relationships or find commonality with a kid,” Nikki Hoffman said.

Not only is connecting with students important to Hoffman, but so is the help she is able to give those kids through those bonds and her husband’s position.

“Also him being a counselor, I feel like I can help more kids just by referring them to him,” Hoffman said.

Teacher couples working together helps more than just the students’ mental health, it can help their grades too. Without both Marc and Marci Gibbens working here, we’d be missing vital student resources.

“We wouldn’t have started the Writing Center with another person and that’s been an incredible success,” Marc said.

It took the Gibbenes a while to agree to work together. Marci got the position first after they both applied so for a while Marc worked at other schools. Marc would reject offers from South be-

“Find somebody you can have fun with and enjoy spending time with. Understand you have your whole life ahead of you, so don’t take little things too seriously.”

“Marry your best friend,” David Hastings, teacher

Nikki Hoffman, teacher

Andrew Meile, teacher

cause, according to Marci, they’re “very competitive” and were “nervous that [they] would care too much about students comparing [them].” Thankfully, they came around.

“We actually love it. I mean it took us eight years, we worked in separate buildings. Many times Mr. Gibbens would get asked to come here by our old department chair and he would decline because we didn’t think that we’d work,” Marci said.

then I never did that anymore,” Amy Hastings said.

Even David Hastings was in on the joke.

“Students try to get information out of one of us about the other,” Marci said. “Primarily it was getting it out of me about Mr. Gibbens about a tattoo…”

“[How long have you been married?] Oh, wait, she’s my sister,” David said. There are other downsides besides jokes not always landing, though. Many teachers say people mix up their information.

“...that may or may not exist,” Marc said.

After they started working together, the Gibbens admit that there are some funny things students do because of it.

“Students try to get information out of one of us about the other,” Marci said. “Primarily it was getting it out of me about Mr. Gibbens about a tattoo…”

“...that may or may not exist,” Marc said.

Working in the same building gives the teachers themselves plenty of opportunities for shenanigans too though.

“I told my seventh graders that we were second cousins twice removed. And then I had a parent come to parent teacher conferences and ask me what third cousins twice removed were. So

“We get each other’s emails all the time because of our first names…” Marci said. “...because they’re so similar,” Marc said.

Many though, didn’t have much to say in the way of cons; for them, working so closely together works because of their relationship rather than in spite of.

“It’s a pretty sweet deal, he’s my favorite person to be around,” Nikki said.

All in all, many teachers in the South enjoy working with their partner. Often, it is hard for people, even spouses, to understand what teachers have to go through. But your spouse being a teacher too, especially in the same school, helps to mitigate that confusion. It allows for a deeper connection in the workplace as

if I need them,” Nikki said.

Imposter Syndrome; how far does it go

The far reaching effects of this tactful syndrome.

by Xander Cha reporter

Imposter syndrome is the feeling of not having done enough, regardless of the amount of effort put into a given task. Many students, unknowingly, have suffered or currently are suffering from this syndrome.

However, before understanding imposter syndrome one must recognize the predecessors to the worrisome syndrome.

When asked if he worried about grades often, sophomore Finian Bryan said this.

“All the time, all the time,” Bryan said.

However anxiety or worry can take many forms such as in Anika Allen’s reaction to the feeling of not doing enough.

“Nervous and kind of just angry at the teacher,” Allen said.

Sometimes imposter syndrome manifests itself in the from of competition such as for senior Emma Augustine.

“I feel like it’s more of a like, ‘oh,

other people are smarter than me even though I’m getting good grades.’ Like, all my friends are getting all A’s and I have this one B-plus and it’s the end of the world,” Augustine said.

Many students, such as the ones previously listed, persistently worry about grades, tests, projects or simply not doing enough; however, few understand that these could be signs of imposter syndrome. Though, understandably, worrying about grades and tests is completely natural, it is when this feeling persists and creeps into everyday life that this feeling turns into imposter syndrome.

If you ever find yourself in a situation where these feelings are overwhelming, try these things that other students have done.

Firstly, you should take a step back and take a breath, as Bryan found, worked for him.

“I find breathing out [helpful]. It’s just closing your eyes, thinking, ‘okay, it’s not that big of a deal,’” Bryan said.

Then after taking a breath, you

Do you have Imposter Syndrome? What to look out for.

Persistent anxiety regarding work:

If you find yourself consistently worrying about finishing work or simply not doing enough, you may want to take a step back and focus more on what you have done rather then what needs to be done.

should take a moment and try to understand what you can or cannot achieve, such as junior Ethan Barcus, “Usually, my policy for school is I’ll try my best, and whatever that is, even if it’s not that great, because I did my best, I’m content with,” Barcus said.

However, you should also recognize your strengths and weaknesses, such as Augustine.

“In certain classes, I have subjects that I’m better at than others,” Augustine said. “So whenever I’m like, in that certain class and I’m not really good at what we’re doing, I feel a little bit more pressure to do well,”

Finally, if that doesn’t work, try talking to someone you trust, it could be a friend or a trusted adult.

With these tools, you should be less afraid of facing imposter syndrome, even if these don’t work, you should take solace in the fact that imposter syndrome reaches everyone in some form or another.

Do

you compare yourself to others:

It’s very natural for people to be competitive, however constantly comparing your achievements to others is a very negative trait and more then likely a sign of imposter syndrome. Try taking a breather and focus on all the great things you’ve done by yourself

Finian Bryan

Anika Allen

Emma Augustine

Ethan Barcus

illustration by | Sylvia Grimsley

Books to read when you are Utterly alone on Valentine’s Day . . . . . .

Why be a hopeless romantic this Valentine’s days when you can read about fictional characters’ trauma and love life.

| Riley Story

Flower

by Maggie Flannery Layout editor

Do you like rom-coms, music, and a totally giggle worthy friends-to-lovers trope? Then I have the Valentine’s book for you. Lynn Painter’s “Better Than The Movies” has all these amazing things and more. This book starts like any other, with a little childhood trauma from the main character and a total hot next door neighbor. Starring Liz Buxbaun and hot neighbor, otherwise known as Wes Bennett. Liz is obsessed with romcoms and Wes is obsessed with Liz. Giving the perfect starting point for a story of a fake dating relationship!

Liz has always been a girly girl, with vintage dresses, ribbon, and all things frilly. Really it was because her mother

loved all that stuff, but when her crush of forever moves back to town, this is her chance to get Michael’s attention. Oddly enough he has gravitated towards Wes Bennett, the neighbor. The one person that pushes all of Liz’s buttons, who has annoyed her since day one. However he may be just what Liz needs to get Michael to ask that imposing question: “will you go to prom with me?” Will Liz finally get what she has been hoping for, or will she be getting things she didn’t even know she wanted?

to school at The School of America in Paris (SOAP). Most teens would kill for an opportunity but not Anna, she was mere days away from having a relationship with Toph, the guy she has had a crush on forever.

Day one Anna finds herself all alone, in her dorm-like room with zero friends, zero familiarity, and zero understanding of the French language. How is she going to last a year of this? Luckily, a light in the darkness appears through Étienne St. Claire. This boy just so happens to be drop dead gorgeous, but he has a girlfriend! It does not matter anyway because Anna likes Toph, and St. Claire is just a friend. Or is he?

What can be more romantic than living in Paris, France? Well Anna Olefent thinks differently. Anna has lived in Atlanta, Georgia her whole life, her senior year rolls around and Anna’s arrogant father has sent her to live and go

illustration by

Book Cover illustration by | Sylvia Grimsley

“A Court of Thorns and Roses” has been on the top of most people’s T.B.R. (to be read) this past year alone. It starts like any book about fairies or fae, with a human girl around the age of 19. Feyre, the youngest of two older sisters, has been fighting to keep her and her family alive for as long as she can remember. Although life was not always like this, there was a time when the Archeron’s used to be filthy rich. One wrong move on their fathers part and now Feyre is stuck going out into the deadly wolf ridden woods day after day to get food.

On one occasion Feyre finds herself in a situation while hunting a deer, but she also spots a wolf. Feyre ends up killing the wolf, which will cost her everything. For that very night a beast, like nothing of this world shows up demanding atonement for the wolf’s death. Feyre is to live the rest of her days in a land from legend and fantasy. Will Feyre survive living in the unknown, or will she become something she never even foreseen? e

Older Siblings Under Pressure

The difficulties of being an older sibling; they deserve more credit

by Mildred Garza reporter

One of the most underrated pressures is being an older sibling. Many adults who have more than one child rely on the oldest of the siblings to take care of the younger children in the house.

Many parents expect the older sibling to always succeed and form a good example for the younger siblings. This causes children to learn at a very young age how to take care of themselves and another child. Slowly there begins to form a layer of fear of disappointment.

“My parents and grandparents expect me to live up to their expectations on a daily basis,” sophomore Cadence Gerke said.

Older siblings are often told to be a good example for younger siblings, this

prevents normalizing being human and making mistakes.

“I’m told that I always have to be the more responsible one. Most of the time I have to put on a perfect face to look and act reasonable,” Gerke said.

Being an older sibling can be tiring because they are often expected to watch over their younger siblings or include them in everything they do; this causes older siblings to give up the small amounts of personal time they should be able to enjoy on their own.

Cadence Gerke, sophomore

Over time children begin adapting parental skills and controlling their siblings as if they were their own.

"I don’t mind helping around the house and taking my little brother to school every now and then but we older siblings sacrifice a lot of our time and energy for things that parents should be capable of doing on their own”

Julie Alvarez, sophomore

“The challenge I face the most is when my younger siblings don’t follow rules, forcing me to become kind of a third parent,” senior Drew Franke said.

Being an older sibling is mentally and physically draining, the responsibility of having to take care of a child who isn’t even their full responsibility is unfair and traumatic.

“I’m always expected to let my sister tag along with me when I do things like hangout with my friends,” sophomore Aliya Abbas said.

“I don’t mind helping around the house and taking my little brother to school every now and then but we older siblings sacrifice a lot of our time and energy for things parents should be capable of doing on their own,” sophomore Julie Alvarez said. e

Freshman Derek Ramos and sophomore Ricardo Ramos

Freshman Jackson Anderson and junior Ella Anderson

Sophomore Olivia Robben and junior Makenna Robben

Junior Eli Ford and senior Lea Ford Freshman Micah Jonas and sophomore Matt Jonas

Freshman Kamryn Cole and senior Brevyn Cole

"My parents and grandparents expect me to live up to their expectations on a daily basis.”

Romance and the Values of Society

A look into wheather romance and Valentine’s Day is really worth celebrating

by Mia Rollins reporter

With Valentine’s Day approaching, both couples and companies alike are preparing for the holiday, but is the holiday really worth celebrating? Romance has become exceedingly overrated by society, but it’s important to remember that it is okay if you aren’t in a romantic relationship.

The world is filled with romance in almost every form: from movies, to books, to most other types of media. Although it can be quite enjoyable to watch a good rom-com or read a romantic novel, romance doesn’t have to be the most important aspect of your life just because it seems to be for other people. Even at Olathe South, people, for the most part, are insistent on being in a relationship.

“At least at highschool, it seems like more of a burden than a benefit for some people,” junior Maddy Angell said. However, society often tries to portray romance as something that everyone needs to be happy in life. Even today, it is close to impossible to experience any type of media that doesn’t have some sort of romance plotline in it somewhere. Media also doesn’t make it easy for people who aren’t in a relationship to enjoy being single by often displaying the cliché “perfect love story” somewhere in the plot.

“Don’t get me wrong, I love romance books,” sophomore Noah Upjohn said. “But at South, it’s weird, overrated relationships.”

Valentine’s Day as a holiday pushes the message of depending on romance for happiness even further. Companies tend to dish out all of the marketing they can to sponsor their holiday products and deals for the season. Although it can be nice to get yourself some chocolates that are on sale during this time of the month, you don’t always tend to do it for the sake of the holiday.

“For some people, Valentine’s Day is a fun holiday to celebrate friendships, family and romantic

relationships,” SEO Manager for Vox Media Alexia LaFata said. “And for others still, Valentine’s Day is just... another day.” Even for those who are actually in a romantic relationship, commonly the most important part of the relationship isn’t the actual romance. Simply just being there for each other is enough to make the trust and understanding in the relationship stronger. Romance doesn’t have to play a role in that, even if it is sometimes assumed by soci ety.

“Romancing your significant other matters--if it’s important to them,” writer and editor Dorcas ChengTozun said. “But it’s not what’s going to keep your relationship vibrant in the long run.”

People who are single are often berated by others to get into a romantic relationship, whether or not they actually want to. Just because soci ety pushes for people to be in a roman tic relationship, or be in love in general, doesn’t mean that single people can’t be happy. Being in a relationship doesn’t automatically make somebody happier right away, and there are plenty of people who are both single and happy. Sadly, many people are pressured into having to identify their own value as a person with whether or not they are in a relationship.

“In a relationship, people, especially girls, tend to drive their selfworth from their relationship status.” sophomore Makenna Aliclo said. Romance isn’t for everyone, despite what society says. Despite being heavily praised by the media and the public alike, it isn’t essential for somebody to find happiness or even be fulfilled. Finding the good in life and

doing what you love is what people need to find happiness, not looking solely to romance. e

illustration by | Jackie Small heart images by | Ashley Rottinghaus

“At least at high school, it seems like more of a burden than a benefit for some people.”

Maddy Angell, Sophomore,

No Cell Phone Service.

by Timothy Wood Managing editor

With the complaints and controversy behind not having cell service at school, the Olathe Board of Education finally has an answer to it after all this time.

“The Olathe South vicinity has very poor cell phone service, it just is what it is. I don’t know why, there have been a lot of theories why. We think it’s because our school is next to Garmin, but we really don’t know,” Principal Dale Longenecker said.

Longenecker says the District has identified that it is a concern not to have cell phone service, and from a safety standpoint, we need basic access to cell phones.

“When our last bond ran through last spring, one of the items in the bond was to add a BDA system which is basically a cell phone booster,” Longenecker said. ”The bond passed, so we have been working to put that together this fall,”

The school was hoping to have it installed sooner, but with supply chain issues, it was tough to get cables and parts in for it.

“They did some initial pieces in November, did a whole bunch over Christmas break, ran out of cable, had to come back and finished up [Thursday January 12],” Longenecker said.

Longenecker dove deep into the lay-

out of the new device and how it works throughout the school.

“Basically the building is broken into seven zones, and seven rooftop an tennas come out of those zones. Those antennas capture the best up-in-the-air cell phone service that Olathe South can get, and the antennas amplify it out into smaller antennas around the building for individual users,” Longenecker said.

does all sorts of stuff with radars and other electronics, so that could play a part in the bad cell service.

“This is a heavily populated area and if you drive in this area, the service just stops with no reason and then picks back up again after the interstate. So I think it is kind of interesting that it just stops when you get to Garmin,” Longe necker said.

Longenecker explained why they did not put in an actual cell tower next to the football field.

“The cell tower would be way too much money, it would cost millions of dollars. So instead of a cell phone tower, they ran 5,000 feet of cable to get everything set up and ran seven antennas out the roof. But the overall goal is to get better service on your phone,” Longenecker said.

"The board aproved the bond last spring, but with the supply chain issues it was hard to start it sooner.”

Principal Dale Longenecker

photo by | Creatvie Commons Licenses

Principal Dale Longenecker explains one of the theories behind the no cell phone service how the school is fixing the issue.

illustration by | Ashley Rottinghaus

photo by | Daniel Palacio

New devices make lockdown more quick and effective

Over the years there have been numerous changes to classrooms that affect the ALICE protocol. Most importantly the Alert and lockdown. Two of these additions are

by Dalton Roberts Reporter

CENTEGIX Crisis System and NightLock Door Security Devices.

Centegix badge and alert system

The CENTEGIX device is a quicker and enhanced form of communication that can be used in conjunction with the ALICE-ALICE-ALICE intercom announcement for the Alert portion of the ALICE protocol. The first series of clicks will alert medical assistance. Additional clicks will alert a lock down. After it is pressed, all admin (building & District), the SRO, District police, and office staff have access to a building map on an app (phone and computer) that pinpoints the exact spot of the alert. If there is a weather alert yellow lights will flash with an intercom and computer screen notification. If there is a medical alert, the lights will alert blue but school operations will continue as normal. If there is a lock down, there will be red lights flashing, intercom announce-

NightLock Lockdown

ments and computer screen notifications will be issued.

Left: the CENTEGIX device that alerts the school when it a crisis is happening they are placed throughout the hallways as well

Below: What the different Flashing lights on the CENTEGIX device means and what to do

NightLock is a quicker and more effective barricade of the doors instead of having to improvise a barricade to the door. It can withstand a force of 1,600 pounds of force on doors that open out of the room and 1200 pounds on doors that open into the room. The NightLock uses the strength of the floor to prevent doors from being kicked in or forced open. This is better than the time costly alternative of moving a heavy bookshelf or Cabinet. While this is good there are a few places that don’t have one in places Including The Gym, Locker Rooms and library.

Right: What the box the NightLock is kept in next to the door

Left: The NightLock when it’s being used in the door

Last minute Valentines gift ideas

A guide to help with fun gift ideas if you are running out of time and don’t know what to buy

By Brooke Burbidge layout editor

Now that the holiday takeover has ended, the next holiday is Valentine’s day. February fourteenth is the day of love and people around the world are loading their partners with goods to show off their love. Whether you’re spending this day with your best friends or your significant other, here are a few gifts to show them love. Each of these could range in prices from cheaper to expensive. 1

A nice perfume is a great gift to start with. Almost everyone en joys smelling good and refreshing, so who better to choose your scent than the people who are around you the most, your peers. Right now for popular scents are the Sol de Janeiro numbers 40 and 72. This ranges in prices from 40-70 dollars. Another youthful perfume is the Chanel No. 5 perfumes. These perfumes are on the higher side of the price scale and range from 120 to 200 dollars and up but any scent you pick won’t be a miss.

Making a homemade bouquet is a gorgeous way to add some creativity to your gift. Nothing screams doing it yourself then a semi homemade gift that’s not very hard to make. Go to the nearest grocery store and grab a few different kinds of flowers and then bundle them nicely together and you have a huge bouquet and a fun surprise. 5

New jewelry is also a good choice, just know whether the person you are picking for is a silver or gold type of person. Kendra Scott has some beautiful necklaces and bracelets that are perfect to make this day special. If you’re buying someone a jewelry piece they are able to wear it everywhere and take a piece of them with you and have it with them at all times. That sounds like the perfect gift if you want to have a sign of your relationship or friendship..

If you have someone in mind that loves books, find out their favorite author and make a bundle of books. Not only is this a gift they will use, it can also be a book that changes the way they see the world. Every person has a type of book they enjoy reading and if you pick the right one the receiver will enjoy having a new book to add to their collection.

4

Water bottles are a great gift and many different brands have come out with water bottles. Right now Stanleys are the big thing; they are a super easy way to stay hydrated. Hydroflasks are a big water bottle craze and you can also purchase some cute stickers to add to their water bottles so that it has a personalized touch to their personality.

illustrations by | Sylvia Grimsley

New Girls Soccer Coaches

By Peyton Walls

The girls soccer program will have two new coaches for the 2023 season. A returning coach with a new position of being head Varsity coach is Corbin Warner. A new addition to the coaching staff is Hannah Greer, a ninth and tenth grade English teacher, she is coaching JV. And of course, we have Stephany Dupree as the freshman/ sophomore coach and Bailey Schmitt as the Varsity assistant coach.

Everyone seems to be very excited about this change. The girls were told about this change by Athletic director, Phil Simons, at a beginning of the season meeting.

“For the young lady’s to respond the way they did, I think that they were excited for change and what the change was,” Simons said.

Bringing the right qualities to the program was a big priority for Simons. The players also had their own input about what they wanted.

“I want them to understand the game and I want them to help me improve myself,” sophomore Taylor Nielsen said. “I want them to also understand me on a personal level, know that we are all still teenage girls, we go through mental stuff and be able to support us through that too.”

Warner has been known to have a positive outlook and brings all the qualities the players are looking for in a coach.

“I was looking for someone who cared about their kids and someone who wanted to build those relationships,” Simons said.

“I believe Warner has all of these qualities.”

Warner, having coached last year, means most of the girls know him and have experienced his coaching. When on the sidelines of the varsity games, he would coach a lot of the players while the head coach at the time would be watching the game.

“My own high school soccer experience was maybe not the best… my love for soccer declined from that,” Greer said.

"I think for me to be able to be a women and help the girls develop their skills in a positive way, is what this program needs.”

Hannah Greer, JV coach

Becoming a soccer coach can be challenging depending on what the program needs and most importantly, what the girls need. When coaches bring a mindset of excitement it can bring the players up.

“I really liked when he would come to my games last year and would coach me, saying things that actually made sense,” Nielsen said. “He had a positive attitude, and you could tell he knew the game.”

Coming down to picking the coaches, there were a lot of applicants for the job. Warner got to help make the decision for the JV coach alongside Simons.

“When talking about who would be good for this job, Warner had mentioned a few people,” Simons said. “Those people ended up coming down to the coaching staff we now have.”

Getting the most out of a high school sport is super important for a lot of people. Greer wants to make sure that happens for the girls in this program.

“Oh, absolutely [I’m excited],” Greer said. “I coached in college, so when I started teaching here I was hoping to get involved.”

Competing is what sports are all about. Without competition, sports wouldn’t be as popular as they are today.

“I told my coaches I want to see [the girls] compete whistle to whistle,” Simons said. “I also want to see my young ladies having fun.”

High school only happens once, so getting the best out of it is important, not only for the students, but also the teachers and administrators who are helping the kids grow into who they will become.

“For a student athlete in high school, being on a school team is one of the most memorable things ever,” Simons said. e

The girls varsity and junior varsity coaches have changed.

illustration by | Ashley Rottinghaus

photos by | Makenna Aiello

Falcon Packs Under Wraps

Our very own Private Food Organization for Hungry Students

by Makenna Aiello Reporter

Many of us, as teenagers, still being cared for by parents and legal guardians, don’t know what it’s like to be hungry. To go home to empty refrigerators and cupboards, to climb into bed with a hollow feeling in your stomach, not knowing when your next meal will be.

This is a problem that is considered by us to be faced by the homeless and the poor, when in actuality, this problem is present in our city, our neighborhood, and even in our school. Hunger passes undetected by many people in our high school community, but a few teachers have established an organization to help students who are hungry and can’t ask for help.

“They can even stop by during the week,” Cook said. “That’s how we ensure that each student has enough food for the weekend if there isn’t enough at home.”

This program ensures not only that the students involved have enough food, but also guarantees the confidentiality of those involved.

“This program was made to help students. Please, if you’re struggling at home, reach out to us.”

“We keep this program and the students who use it anonymous, because we don’t want to embarrass them in any way. That’s not our goal here,” Cook said. “The purpose of this organization is to offer help to kids who don’t get enough to eat, not to expose students.”

the program, also gave insight into how they find students to help. “We have to try to tell if a student needs help, but we also can’t just outright go up to a kid and ask if they get enough to eat,” Greer said. “So we keep our eye out for students who mention problems at home, and we reach out to students who utilize other food programs in the school.”

Kylie Thompson also addresses this struggle, and also explained how they are able to reach out to potential students who are in need.

“We try to advertise as much as we can with emails to teachers to provide to students and just hope that the students will have the courage to come and see us,” Thompson said. “We also send out links to parents and students at conferences that ask for donations, and in that way, both parents and students are aware of this program.”

Behind the door of a private room in the school, boxes full of snacks, boxed dinners, ramen, soup, and cereal are loaded into sacks and distributed to kids who don’t get enough food at home. This food is a part of an organization called Falcon Packs.

Nick Cook, the leader of Falcon Packs, gave further information about the schematics and the establishment of the organization.

“Falcon Packs was started twelve years ago, by Mr. Allen,” Cook said. “He felt the need to help kids that go home on weekends and may not have enough food because of problems at home, so he started this organization called the Falcon Pack Program. When he retired, I took it over, with the help of Mrs. Greer and Mrs. Thompson.”

Students can stop by after school on Friday to pick up a pack of food to bring home over the weekend.

This program gathers their resources from staff, parents, and local organizations that offer food donations to Falcon Packs to keep the organization running smoothly.

“Some of our stuff comes from a local church and other organizations that donate food, and the rest of it comes from staff and parents,” Cook said. “This staff and these parents are, without question, the best. They immediately are willing to get me whatever I need.”

Though rewarding, this program also has its difficulties, such as how the teachers find students to reach out to since most students won’t admit if they don’t get enough to eat.

“That’s the tough part, because we want to make sure that we don’t embarrass them,” Cook said. “Sometimes, teachers will come to us and tell us of a student that mentioned that they have a problem at home, and we’ll give them a pack.”

Hannah Greer, another member of

This program is extremely fulfilling, and those who are involved love helping students who have been silenced by hunger.

“I love this program. I want to make a difference and make sure that this program continues,” Greer said. “I think it’s important that students have this resource if they need some extra food and they have no other ways to get it.”

“I love being involved in Falcon Packs. It’s been a huge thing in my life, being able to help those who are in need,” Thompson said. “I just want to say that you should not feel nervous or embarrassed to come see us. We will welcome you with open arms and we will not ask any questions. If you come down to get food, we will give it to you.”

“This program was made to help students,” Cook said. “Please, if you’re struggling at home, reach out to us. If you don’t have enough to eat, let us know, and we’ll help you. I want this to be publicized for all the students that don’t know about this and need help, or are too afraid to reach out. We are here for you.”

Nick Cook, History Teacher

New Years Resolutions

by Mia Pham Reporter

Every new year it has been a tradition to make a resolution, normally these resolutions or promises you make to yourself are based on self improvement. For example, going on a diet, finding a better job, or working on your routines.

Though, many don’t know the actual origins of the tradition and why people bother participating.

Author Sarah Pruitt, from history. com wrote an article about the history of New Year’s resolutions and how they actually date thousands of years back to ancient Mesopotamia

were planted. During a massive 12day religious festival known as Akitu, the Babylonians crowned a new king. They also made promises to the gods to pay their debts and return any objects they had borrowed,” Pruitt said. These promises are known to be the old way of making new year’s resolutions. Additionally, another reason for making new year’s resolutions is in the name January itself!

“The Babylonian New Year was adopted by the ancient Romans, as was the tradition of resolutions. The timing, however, eventually shifted with the Julian calendar in 46 B.C., which declared January 1st as the start of the new year.”

Catherine Boeckmann, Author - Almanac. com

“January was named for the twofaced Roman god, Janus, who looks forward for new beginnings as well as backward for reflection and resolution,” Katherine Boeckmann, an author from Almanac.com said.

“The ancient Babylonians are said to have been the first people to make New Year’s resolutions, some 4,000 years ago,” Pruitt said.

This shows that the tradition of new years has been going on for a super long time, but the Babylonians are also the first people to actually celebrate this holiday with other traditions as well.

“The year began not in January but in mid-March, when the crops

This tradition was also continued by medieval knights. The knights swore their chivalry on a peacock that resembled something like a resolution.

“Medieval knights would renew their vow to chivalry by placing their hands on a peacock. The annual ‘Peacock Vow’ would take place at the end of the year, as a resolution to maintain

Illustration by | Jackie Small

their knightly values,” Boeckmann said.

Today, New Year’s resolutions are still made but in a much different way than before. People now don’t take vows on a peacock and twelve day festivals aren’t a common thing, especially not in America.

“Over the years, however, resolutions seem to have migrated from denying physical indulgences to general self-improvement, like losing weight,” Boeckmann said.

These new resolutions may come off as vain since they’re more focused on appearance but they’re really just the outcome of today’s society.

“Natalie Boero of San Jose State University suggests that today’s resolutions are also a reflection of status, financial wealth, responsibility, and self-discipline,” Boeckmann said.

Overall, New Year’s resolutions have been made for a while and still continue to exist in our society today.

Photo by | Creative Commons

Above: Sophomore Nic Anderson goes up for a layup against Olathe North’s Varsity team on Jan. 13. South lost their home non-conference game against Olathe North by a score of 6554. “We were losing and I was trying my best to get my team back in the game” Anderson said.

photo

by

| Dakota Cowles

Above right: Senior Andi Lam performs a headstand during the varsity dance team performance at the pep assembly on Jan. 26. “The dance is based off of a classical orchestra pit and our costumes were based on being pianos. The dance is a military dance and we are supposed to be sharp, crisp, clean, and very serious,” Lam said.

photo

by

| Danielle Desmarteau

Right: Freshman David Kelling performs the breaststroke at the Olathe City Meet at Summit Trail Middle School on Dec. 16. Kelling placed 19th with a time of 1:30.52 in the 100 yard breast event. As a team, Olathe South finished in 5th place.

photo by | Coral Netten

Above: Sophomore Brett Hull, gets the advantage above the opposing team during his wrestling meet. Hull may have left the match with a bloody nose, but ended up pinning the opposing side and winning that match. Hull said “he loves the adrenaline rush,” and that he “has loved the sport for a while now.”

photo by | Adalyn Sparks

Left: Freshman Jordan Berry steals a rebound away from Olathe Northwest High School on February 3, ultimately winning 66-65 in overtime. Berry prepares for games by warming up with layups and rainbow shooting, having a routine after 7 years of basketball. He recalls him feeling “very excited” and “wondering if we are going to win or lose this game.”

photo by | Ayla Andersen

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Thanks for taking the time to read our work. If you’re reading this, that means you’d be perfect to join our staff! Take a chance, step outside your comfort zone, and try something new.

Not sure you’d fit in? Worried you don’t have what it takes? Don’t worry. If you have the will, we’ll show you the way.

Applications are available outside of 907 - the random room across from the locker rooms, down the hall from Coop.

We can’t wait to meet you!

love, the journalism staff