TNLIssue2December2016

TNL

The Northmen’s Log

Issue 2. Vol. 52

Top Stories Battle bots Safety while driving Reaching out

KC, MO

December 2016

L

etters from the Editors

Hello Oak Park! I’m Dakota, co-editor-in-chief of “The Northmen’s Log.” This is the second issue of The Log this year.

We have made a few changes to make this issue better and cleaner than the last. One change we hope you notice is brighter colored pictures. We want to give Oak Park the highest quality newsmagazine we possible can. We are excited to keep on improving issue to issue; and we hope you like it.

We wanted to do an issue in December touching on things

that might be helpful to students here, ranging from our story on how to avoid dry skin to our story about how to drive safely in the snow.

We also are doing a story on robotics in “Battle Bots.” In that story you get to know the history and hard work put into the battle bots they are making.

Along with that, we wanted a story on how you can help those in need in our feature about charities. In it we talk to Key Club and ask members about what they do to help the community. We also talked

about a local charity called After the Harvest and what they do.

We hope that the stories in this issue are helpful and inspiring.

If you would like to read more timely news, please visit our website, NorthmenNews. com. There you will find reviews, breaking news stories and much more. You can also follow us on Twitter.

Have a happy holiday season and we hope you enjoy this issue and the issues to come in 2017!

Hey Oak Park! I’m Bailee Treat, the other co-editor-inchief of “The Northmen’s Log.” I’m excited to provide you with this year’s second issue of the Log. Every freshman and sophomore in Oak Park is required community service hours in order to graduate. We have provided you with a list of places to go and work on those hours.

Also, we are glad to write an informational story about how to drive safely in the snow and ice to help you get that extra knowledge in order to be cautious. We received information from the deputy officer and others about what to do in those dangerous and hard to avoid situations.

Our robotics story this issue is filled with the how, what and

why they do competitions. Also when you open it up inside, you can see what materials they use in order to make their robot.

You can also see what each part does and how it contributes in competing against those other schools in the state.

If you have any questions, feel free to stop by E134. Have a great break and enjoy this December issue!

Dakota Ake Editor-in-Chief, Recreation Editor Bailee Treat Editor-in-Chief, Feature Editor, Contents Editor Sarah White Photography Editor Remy Tran Entertainment Editor, Cover Editor Mina Buchholz Opinion Editor Aurora Riley Sports Editor Courtney Calhoon People Editor Skylar Perry Photographer Kelly Galindo Photographer Chris Winegarner Photographer Luci Conkling Writer Schooner Winegarner Staff Christina Geabhart Adviser

Publication Information “The Northmen’s Log” will publish four times during the school year.

“Log” staff strongly supports the First Amendment and opposes censorship. Freedom of expression and press are fundamental values in a democratic society.

Therefore, “Log” encourages readers to participate in the discussion by submitting Letters to the Editor in room E134, by email to christina. geabhart@nkcschools.org.

Letters cannot exceed 350 words and must be signed.

“Log” will not run letters that are libelous, obscene or that may cause a verifiable disruption to the education process of Oak Park.

Advertisers may contact the teacher at christina. geabhart@nkcschools.org.

Subscriptions are available, $20 for a mailed copy, $10 for an emailed PDF version, or $25 for both.

Opinions expressed in “Log” do not reflect student, staff or school district endorsements of that opinion, product, or service.

“Log” is a member of NSPA, MIPA and Quill and Scroll. “Log” is affiliated with JEA, MJEA and JEMKC.

Featured this December

4-5: News

Craving caffeine Slip sliding away

6-7: People

Stop the itching

Skipping class Writing behind the scenes

8-9: Opinion

Sizzling sips Uggs all day or nay

10-11: Feature Giving food a second chance Reaching out

12-13: Recreation Battle bots Bits and pieces

14-15: Sports

Suns out, guns out The finishing move On the Cover: Toy cars show how to be safe in the snow and icy weather. photo by Sarah White

Picture donated by Sandy Vivian, After The Harvest’s Outreach and Communications Director

4

News

Senior Dayna Lo “I love the idea of coffee shops because it’s nice and calming. I can stay there all day long.”

Created by Mina Buchholz, Opinion Editor Junior Emilio Shumate “I think its a good idea even though I don’t like coffee, I think its good.”

Craving caffeine Remy Tran and Dakota Ake Section Editor and Editor-in-Chief

Sophomore Niveen Al-Saoudi “I think it’s a great idea.”

Freshman Angelina Mortelli “I think it is a good idea because it will save us money.”

Every morning students have to wake up before school starts at 7:23 and get to school. Often times students are tired throughout the day.

Oak Park is making a coffee shop and hopefully that will help students be more awake and ready to learn.

Many students may remember previous plans to create a spirit store, but that has been put on hold.

“Right now, we are still figuring out how to proceed with the Booster Club spirit store. In the meantime, we thought the location would be great for a coffee shop,” principal Chris Sartain said.

There are varying opinions. Freshman Elizabeth Blair, for example, thinks there is a higher demand for coffee and is excited for the coffee

shop. Other students aren’t as excited.

“It’d be really nice to have [the coffee shop] so kids can be awake when they get to school, but at the same time they’re getting rid of stuff you can buy for Oak Park and support the school,” senior Shelby Yazelle said.

Yazelle feels like more money would go to a spirit store than a coffee shop as well.

“I feel like [they would] make more money with the spirit shop because we’re all buying it.

I know there are a lot of seniors wanting to buy spirit wear before graduation,” Yazelle said.

Junior Jasmine Torres doesn’t like the idea of a coffee shop either, but for a different reason.

“I don’t think it’s a good idea because coffee is addictive and we’re high schoolers. It seems kind of irresponsible,” said Torres.

A lot of the details of the coffee shop are still undecided, but it’s being worked on. For updates you can go online to northmennews.com.

Slip sliding away source officer, said.

If you get stuck in the snow, be sure you have something to keep you warm so you There are many precautions that need don’t get too cold. to be taken before getting out onto the “Be prepared [for a break down]. The snowy roads in the winter. The snow and best things to have are flashlights, batice can be very bad for cars and causes ter- teries, water and a candle. A single small rible accidents. Not everyone has a hard candle can keep the entire inside of the car time in the snow but some do. warm for hours,” Archer said.

Many students try not to speed when When getting stuck in the snow or being there is ice. It’s always a good thing to be broke down on the side of the road, you more cautious while driving in altered should always think about who could be weather conditions. there the fastest.

“I don’t listen to music and I make sure “[I would call] my dad, he knows everyI go extra slow. I go under the speed limit,” thing.” Butler said. senior Kennedy ButIf you are to ler said. breakdown in the “When I drive in the Trying to drive snow and it hapfast in snow and ice snow, I always drive five pens to be that can cause serious you’re lost, there are accidents especial- to seven miles under the tons of ways to find ly in the city where out where you are. there is lots of traffic. speed limit just in case I “Take a picture “When I drive in and it will say the need to break.

When dothe snow, I always location [at the drive five to sev- ing that, you have more top],” Archer said. en miles under the The biggest thing speed limit just in of a reaction time to stop to remember is to case I need to break. give distance when When doing that, faster.” you’re driving in you have more of a any type of bad reaction time to stop weather. faster,” junior Isaiah “When you’re Dye said. driving, it takes quite a bit longer to break.

It’s also important to keep things in your People want to be right up on the bumper car in order to fix or help you get home if on the car in front of them, when that car you happen to break down. stops, you slide. I always try to keep two “Usually I keep everything you need to or three car distance and further back,” change a tire, spark plugs and jumper ca- Archer said. bles,” Dye said.

When you’re driving on busy streets or Having the proper equipment in your intersections, you should be considerate car is smart when dealing with the ice. of the other drivers.

“I keep this thing where I can cut my “If you’re driving on North Oak, four or seatbelt open if it doesn’t come undone. I five car lengths minimum. You don’t know also keep an ice scraper in my car,” said when that car is going to stop or the car in senior Lauren Birdsong. front of them is going to stop and you can’t Some people have certain things in their stop. When you add snow to the surface, car for the different seasons of the month. be as far back as you can possibly be,” Ar“I try to keep a little kit in the car, we cher said. have a winter and summer kit to throw in On the snow and ice, teens think they the trunk,” Cpl. Scott Archer, school reSarah White and Bailee Treat Photography Editor and Editor-in-Chief

-junior Isaiah Dye

News

can have more fun in the car and can be dangerous “[I see teens doing] doughnuts because it’s easier to do in the snow than it is to do on dry pavement. They have no control.

They end up sliding and hitting poles and other cars in the parking lot. You see teens fishtailing around turns quite a bit,” Archer said.

Driving safely in dangerous weather conditions could save yourself and someone else’s life.

5

6

People

Stop the itching Kelly Galindo Photographer

Nearly half the population, 47 percent, suffers from dry skin on their body. Do you fall into that percentage?

If so, we can help with that. As we roll into winter, everything gets drier. Not many of us bother to take care of our skin, keeping it moisturized. The cold winter season is often when our skin suffers the most, lacking moisture and elasticity, causing dry flaky skin that sometimes even makes us insecure.

Lots of companies take advantage of this time, overpricing products that are made to help you, sometimes they don’t even do anything.

When it comes to dry skin, your diet can make a big impact on that. Many fruits and veggies can help with this; avocados are a great source of vitamin C, E, and monounsaturated fats, which help your skin lock in moisture.

Salmon, herring, mackerel, sardines, and anchovies are also great for your skin. Fish contains omega 3 fats, which strengthens skin cells, certain fish also contain selenium which preserves elastin in the skin, helping your skin stay smooth. When it comes to fish, try your best to avoid deep fried fish, the fats in fry oil aren’t good for your skin. Instead go with grilled, baked, poached or even roasted.

The most basic tip for healthier skin is water, it’s hydrating in all ways. Not only is it refreshing and healthy, but it brings many benefits. Drinking up at least eight glasses a day will

help get rid the body and skin of toxins, many people often report that by increasing their water intake their skin has a more radiant glow. Sometimes the most important recourse is right in front of you, so drink up.

When it comes to beauty products, there’s thousands everywhere. Ranging from unbelievable high prices, to sketchy low prices.

For moisturizers, Philosophy Hope in a Jar does the trick, the cream is light which makes your skin feel healthy and fresh, if you have dry or combo skin this is a no fail face cream, pricing at $44.

A cheaper alternative is Neutrogena oil free moisturizer, it’s a lightweight, nonsmelly, no-fuss moisturizer at a good price point. This is good for people on a budget or simply for people who don’t believe in expensive products, this moisturizer prices at $15, found at your local Walmart of course.

Now if you’re really aiming high and truly believe in high end products, the NaturaBissé C+C vitamin cream is for you.

It’s so fancy it has an accent, that has to prove something. It’s said to leave an opaque/sheeny look to your skin, which many people dig. This product can be bought at netaporter.com for $115.

Now that you have an idea of what foods to eat, products to use and all, treat your skin good this winter and avoid dry skin, if you wear makeup too use products with SPF and glowy face products, nobody wants flaky peeling foundation.

When it comes to beauty products, there’s thousands.

Winter Effects An Oak Park Student shows how her skin has dried due to the changing weather. Cold winters can greatly dry out your skin and cause flaking.

The Need For Moisturizer The same student shows their dry skin, this time on their elbows. Moisturizers can be a great to reduce the dryness of skin.

SKipping class

People

7

Kelly Galindo, Aurora Riley, Dakota Ake Photographer, Sports Editor, Editor in Chief

Students have to leave school during the day for many reasons such as going to the doctor or being sick. Some students leave early without a valid reason though.

“It’s important to not let students get out of school early for safety reasons, if they leave without permission and we have no idea where they are, it puts everyone in panic,” assistant principal Mike Dial said.

Many students do stay in school though unless it is a legitimate reason.

“Usually the reason I leave school early is for appointments, such as doctor or dentist,” junior Kalani Earls said.

Should you be afraid of leaving school early? “[It depends], if you leave without permission then yes you should be scared because they can call your parents and count you absent. If you have permission, you shouldn’t be scared,” junior Hullale Khizipour said.

If you are caught leaving school early without permission, you can receive a wide range of punishments.

“Punishments we give out are things such as detention, Wednesday night school, ISS, and we obviously inform the parents by calling them,” said Dial.

Faculty do their best to keep students in school though.

“We try to find interesting things for students, if they’re interested in the class and all that it teaches, they’re less likely to want to leave.”

The school also has incentives to motivate students to come and stay in school such as No Miss November.

Making A Run For It A student is leaving the building early for unspecified reasons. (photo illustration)

Writing behind the scenes

Dakota Ake Editor in Chief

The Oak Park journalism department has 21 Journalism 1 students working to provide content for NorthmenNews.com.

Freshman Malea Biswell is one of them.

Here are a few excerpts from some of her stories. For the full versions of the stories visit NorthmenNews.com On the warm Monday afternoon of Aug. 29, Michelle Biswell was driving her daughter to cheerleading when she got a phone call from Children’s Mercy Hospital where

her oldest son, 19, Matthew Biswell was lying. She handed the phone to her daughter who answered. (from My Son Had a Stroke)

Service dogs are more helpful to their owners than meets the eye. For some, just the presence of their lifesaving canine is helpful enough.

“When I was around 9, I had a big seizure and he barked to get my mom’s attention.

He got up on my bed and licked my hands to make me feel better,” Durrant said. (from Heroes Can Have Paws)

FACS teacher Denise Winslow teaches two child development classes. In Child Development 1, students practice skills as if the class were an actual job they have working with kids. First semester, students learn about children and learning how to make lesson plans. Semester 2 was when they get to work with kids. Child Development 2 works with preK students and they spend a lot of time helping them learn what they need to know before going into kindergarten. (from Students Learn How to Teach Preschoolers in the Child Development Program)

8 Opinion

Sizzling Sips Courtney Calhoun People Editor

Nutella Hot Chocolate Ordinary hot chocolate gets boring and bland. But you can spice it up a little and add chocolate chips, baby marshmallows and a drizzle of Nutella to your regular Nestle hot chocolate package.

How to...

1. Fill milk up to the line on the Nestles hot package then pour into a glass cup.

2. Warm up until you think it hot enough then add the Nestles hot chocolate mix, then add a half a teaspoon of Nutella.

3. Add a teaspoon of mini chocolate chips.

4. Add mini marshmallows to the top to your desire.

Easy enough. It only takes 3 to 5 minutes as well.

Peppermint Hot Chocolate

Very easy and very refreshing! It gives a refreshing burst of flavor to add to your mouth, while also giving you the fresh crisp Christmas taste that you desire while you cuddle up by the fire.

How to‌ 1. Fill milk up to the line on the Nestle’s hot package then pour into a glass cup.

2. Warm up until you think it is hot enough then add the Nestles hot chocolate mix.

3. Add a 1/8 of a teaspoon of vanilla to the hot chocolate 4. Sprinkle a teaspoon of crushed candy canes into each cup.

5. Top with whipped cream and have a candy cane hanging out of the side.

Another outrageously easy recipe that is both fulfilling and refreshing. This only takes two minutes to do as well.

These are two very delicious ways to spice up your hot chocolate, which are inexpensive, easy and delicious.

Ugg Boots:

Opinion

Yay or Nay?

In all reality, people are going to say that Ugg boots are better because the name written on the back tag.

But the truth is it is pretty much the exact same as every Are Uggs worth the hundreds of dollars you other boot. But Uggs do contain quite a bit more fur that the spend for them or are they just a passing fad? rest of the boots which does keep your feet very toasty in the winter. Uggs are very comfortable shoes to just where around They are not supportive what so ever so if you need/want the house or for short errands. Uggs also has tons of colors to support, not the shoe for you. They also are not waterproof accommodate your style needs that other stores don’t always so if you want to take them for a stroll to the mailbox in the have. snow chances are those perfectly crisp new Uggs will be forCan you really tell the difference from fake ever ruined.

Uggs are very pricey and you can get the exact same qual- and real Uggs? ity of shoe for a 1/3 of the price at Forever 21, Aeropostale, American Eagle Outfitters, Bearpaw, etc. But Uggs are really You really can’t tell if the boots are real or fake. They fake more of a fad shoe. It is more of a 20th century kids thing, ones have minor differences, like the sew in label, the word parents tend to agree that they are very ugly.

Ugg on the back has thicker lettering, and the boxes that the Uggs go in are different but that’s all.

Are they really as great as everyone hypes Overall from the information Uggs are great shoes. They are them up to be or can you just stick to the same a popular trend, and super stylish for teens. But they are not really worth as much as they retail as, and they are equally as boot from other fashion stores that are much great as regular sheep skin boots that are less money. So you cheaper? can really go either way.

Courtney Calhoun People Editor

9

10 Feature

Giving food a second chance

Luci Conkling and Dakota Ake Wtiter and Editor-in-Chief

Living in Kansas City you get the best of both worlds; city life and just minutes away a country escape.

This is what non-profit organization After The Harvest thrives on. After The Harvest, ATH, is an organization that provides healthy food for hungry people by teaming up with farmers and volunteers to bring farm-to-table food donations to local food pantries and shelters.

It all starts with a phone call from a farmer. For many different reasons a farmer’s crop might have to be turned under.

Maybe the produce isn’t big enough for commercial selling or it doesn’t meet the requirements to be an organic product. In those situations, the farmer would have to turn under the rest of the produce, meaning it would sit and rot in the field or turn into compost.

“When over 50 percent of fresh fruits and vegetables grown in the U.S. doesn’t reach a plate and ends up instead in the dump or landfills or rots in fields and when we have neighbors down the street going hungry or not having access to nutritious food... there is just something wrong with that,” Sandy Vivian, After The Harvest’s Outreach and Communications Director, said.

This is when farmers call ATH, and ATH comes to rescue the leftover food from going to waste.

Then, volunteers go to the farm or orchard and “glean” or pick the produce straight from the fields to deliver to hungry people around the city.

From there, After The Harvest picks from a list of food pan-

A little girl picks discarded fruit for the charity “After the Harvest.” Picture donated from Sandy Vivian, After The Harvest’s Outreach and Communications Director.

“At After the Harvest we work to reduce waste, while providing healthy food for our hungry neighbors. It just makes so much sense to us and to our hundreds of volunteers.”

The people who volunteer are people who care about the issues being addressed and are active in wanting to make a positive change. “[Our volunteers] harvest farmers’ fields, they pick up already harvested produce, they go to farmers’ markets every week to pick up the extra, they speak on our behalf, they donate to help us rescue truckloads that might end up in landfills, they do office work, sit on our boards and committees and work tirelessly to make a change in the world. And, each, individually, and in their own way, do make a difference,” Vivian said.

After The Harvest is an easy non-profit to work with for many people because of the amount of events they have available. During the big harvesting seasons, there are three to four “gleanings” a week. Some are scheduled weeks in advance and some give a notice of 24 hours. Because of this flexibility with farmers, After the Harvest is always in need of volunteers ready to get their hands dirty.

Interested? Go to their website https://aftertheharvestkc. org and click on “Get Involved.” There you will find frequently asked questions about volunteering, their volunteer calendar, and more information about community service opportunities.

You can also find them on Facebook and Twitter @aftertheharvestkc.

A volunteer picks discarded lettuce at the charity event. Picture donated from Sandy Vivian.

R

eaching out

Bailee Treat and Sarah White Editor-in-Chief and Photography Editor

There are tons of different ways to get involved for community service. An important group we have is Key Club.

Key Club is a service club at school and community dedicated to helping out different groups.

“Absolutely join be“We do service for others” said Key Club sponsor Lori Dameron. cause even if you don’t Key Club is a great way to get have a whole lot of hours for the new graduation retime, showing up to a quirement or the A+ program. Anymeeting or an event is one can come to get hours or just a big help and you can help out their community.

“We encourage anyone to come still make a difference.” to our meetings at any time” said - senior Anna Merkel Dameron.

Some students were intrigued to join Key Club through meetings and other social events.

“I was at the club fair that they do at the beginning of the school year and I noticed the table for Key Club and they did community service and it sounded like a good

Key Club gathers to show their team. Picture donated by Lori Dameron, club sponsor.

Feature 11 Key Club gets involved with charities to help out our community way to spend my time and meet new people,” said senior Anna Merkel.

Some students have been in the program for most of the time that they are in high school or less. “[I’ve been involved] in Key Club for four years,” said Merkel.

Most of the activities that Key Club does are suggested by the students or based off of what the students want.

“We always try and do what students want to do,” said Dameron.

Many students have been interested in trying to help out the community from the time Key Club started. “[Key Club is] inclusive with about 48 members,” said Dameron.

Students have their favorite organizations to help work with to keep get their community hours.

“My favorite charity is when we deliver gifts to older people in homes for Christmas time. It’s called Northland Christmas Fair,” said Merkel.

When being out working and helping others in our community, we also learn a lot from them.

“My favorite memory] is working with Northland Christmas store and going around meeting elderly people who might not have anyone else to talk to,” said Merkel.

12 Recreation

Battle Bots

Mina Buchholz Opinion Editor

Sharp kicks things off with by briefly going over the goals for the day, then talks a little bit about the lifelong relationships that are formed in robotics.

“My first group of kids are still friends, they have a Facebook group,” Sharp said to the team members.

After being reminded of what needs to be accomplished, team members disperse to work on projects like building, programming and buying parts for their robot.

Though many of the members are new this year, the team has a long history.

“We started the robotics club 12 years ago. We had good teams, and four years into it, the funding went away. So I think three years later it came back, and it’s now really well-funded, and this is the group’s fourth year now,” Sharp said.

The team is involved in two competitions. One, called BotsKC, lasts many weeks, and involves a small robot in a competition where bots “tear [each other] up,” according to Sharp.

The other, FIRST Robotics Competition, involves much larger robots, a six-week building period, and a much more strategic game. “[Compared to BotsKC, FIRST is] not just crashing into somebody, you know, it’s a lot more weight to work with, a lot more planning,” said senior Hunter Lampkin, team president.

The six-week building period brings together a team full of people who started for many different reasons. Some just took introduction to engineering design and were recruited by the coach.

“I took woods freshman year. And then I took it sophomore, and this year. Then I joined engineering this year too, and that’s what kind of got me into it. [Sharp] recommended me to it,” said Hannah Nichols, junior and 3D designer.

Others were brought on by a friend. “[I was recruited by] a friend. Jacob, actually. I had some interest in it, but he also invited me so I was like, ‘Okay, why not,’” said

At a meeting of the robotics team, members gather in a loose circle around sponsor and coach Mark Sharp as the meeting, hosted inside C122, begins.

Team Meeting- Zachariah Watson, sponsor Mark Sharp, Victoria Magri, Hunter Lampkin, and David Horowitz meeting about their robot. photo

by Skylar Perry

Oak Park takes on other schools at competition sophomore and programmer Tiana Smith. “[I’m] probably not [continuing after high school]. I’m playing around with a lot of different things to see where I would end up in my life.”

Meanwhile, some members joined to bring them closer to future careers.

“I knew I wanted to be an engineer when I grew up so I figured this would help me in my future profession,” said senior and team president Joey Anello.

Over the course of the season, members work together to build a sophisticated and competitive robot. The BotsKC robot is currently in the prototype stage.

“So far we’ve got a ball and chain attached to the back of it. It’s got a shopping cart exoskeleton, that protects the electronics, and then we’re gonna have porcupine quills covering it, so if another bot tries to attack it we’ll jam their bot,” Hunter Lampkin said.

But the robot isn’t purely defensive.

“We’re thinking about putting a rotary weapon on it. Either that or something like a flail. So that when the robot spins the flail would activate,” said junior and builder Zach Watson.

The robot will be controlled with code written by the team’s programmers.

“We’re gonna need to get it to have a drive, a stop, like an insta-stop, and turning and stuff,” said sophomore and programmer Calvin Lampkin. The robot’s movement will be controlled by a driver at the competition.

Finally, the team will take their robot to a day-long, high-stakes competition.

“The FIRST competition, teams from around the world compete, last year it was at St. Louis, there were probably 20,000 people there, and it was crazy. There were five teams from China, [teams from] Turkey, Israel, Saudi Arabia, all that. It’s a true world competition,” Sharp said.

But at the competition, it can be a challenge just to get the robot working.

“When we get there and we show up and our bot works exactly how we wanted it to, that’s the ultimate goal. Cause I’ve been to the competition where we get there, and we think everything’s okay, we rush through it and it just doesn’t work. It shows on the field,” said Hunter Lampkin.

Despite the long hours and hardships faced by the team over the course of the season, in the end, it’s an experience that’s worth it to them. “[What makes it worth it is] when you see it actually work. Cause you have a lot of problems along the way and when you see it actually fully function that’s when you’re the happiest,” Anello said.

Recreation 13

Schedule

When are the robot fights?

Robotics meets after school on A days until 4:30, but in January they will meet every day after school for sxi weeks up until 10 for FIRST. BotKC- March 25, 2017 from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Olathe NW High School.

FIRST- Starting January 3, 2017 the robotics team has six weeks to create a robot.

Bits

Pieces

and

/ flail n i a h c d Ball an

Mina Buchholz and Skylar Perry Opinion Editor and Photographer

Building a robot isn’t as easy as attatching two pieces of metal together with an engine inside of it. It is a process of making many small parts to attach together to create a larger piece. Below are some of the many parts the robotics team is creating their robot out of.

ca g n i p Shop

T

leton e k s o rt ex

tor o m he

eel h w e h T

14 Sports

Sun’s out, guns out

Bailee Treat Editor-in-chief

Junior Mason McGilton:

What’s your favorite winter activity? Whether it be skiing, sledding, ice skating, hunting seems to be one of the most popular activities. Many students have picked up the hobby of hunting.

The cold weather was the perfect chance to hunt.

“I’ve been hunting since I was about three. My favorite part about hunting is the kill. [The most suspenseful thing] is seeing the ducks fly in the air and you’re throwing shells at them] my favorite memory is when I was 6, I went jumping ponds with my dad. I was sitting in the back and I had a BB gun and every one that he crippled, he would make me kill.”

Freshmen Jones:

Tanner

“[I’ve hunted] for four years. I hunt deer, elk, turkey, quail and squirrel. My favorite part about hunting is killing it. [My favorite memory is] with my grandpa when I first shot my first deer. Last year, I didn’t get any kills. The year before that, I got two eight-pointer kills.”

Senior Kyle McClease:

Senior Kalei Restivo:

“I’ve been hunting for four years. [My favorite memory] is going dove hunting with my dad, grandpa and uncle. I’m the only girl in my family that hunts because everybody else won’t do it.

[The most suspenseful part] is the wait. Last time we went dove hunting, we waited for three or four hours sitting in the rain for something to go by and nothing did. It was awful, but worth it.”

“My favorite hunting experience was in West Virginia where I’m from. I went squirrel hunting with my brother just to get some meat. We went up there and it was during the winter so it was kind of cold outside. We didn’t think anything of it so we were just in jackets. We got into a good spot and we were sitting there waiting for some squirrels. Out of nowhere, it starts to snow really hard and then became a blizzard. I was like, “Cody, do you want to go home?” then he said, “No let’s just stay.” I’m over here turning blue and he is just sitting there, I said, “Bruh, the squirrels aren’t out, let’s go home.” We went home. We didn’t kill anything, but it was just a fun experience sitting there for like three hours. I’ve been hunting since I was 10.”

Sports 15

The finishing move Dakota Ake and Sarah White Editor-in-chief and Photography Editor

Wrestling season has finally come and with it comes many things - watching weight, practice and excitement. “[I’m just excited] about being a senior and experiencing the same stuff as I did last year with all my friends [and] just knowing that this is the last year I actually get to wrestle for high school,” senior Kyle McClease said.

For seniors, the feeling of excitement in the season is increased because they know it’s their last time competing in high school wrestling.

“I want to win. I feel like this is going to be my best year. I’m just excited for matches and to see my teammates win. I’m excited for them,” senior Tyler Frankson said.

The seniors have also made many memories in wrestling.

“My favorite moment is winning my first state title sophomore year. It was a difficult year for me but I was able to get the job done,” senior Hunter Shelton said.

Just because they are seniors doesn’t mean they don’t have to face the conventional things of wrestling- like practice and meeting weight requirements.

Practice is six days a week, every day except Sunday. “[The length] varies as the week goes down.” Frankson said.

“It goes from an hour forty-five to an hour thirty to an hour forty-five to two hours.”

Some wrestlers get in extra practice. “[How many hours I practice] depends on the day. Four days a week I will have a two-hour practice, the other three days I’ll

have two two-hour practices so four hours those days. I will get another hour or two of running some days as well depending on how my weight is. Some days I’ll also get a practice in before school. It just depends on the day,” Shelton said.

Conditioning is done every Wednesday during practice.

“Mostly all the time when you practice you condition yourself to understand the movement and where your hands go, where your feet go, how you stand, how to take people down, and everything. You really kind of condition every single practice basically,” McClease said.

During practice you are basically just memorizing the moves and getting used to doing them.

“It’s just basically getting your muscle memory to where it’s automatic to where you stand, block, and try to take people down,” McClease said.

The different weight classes wrestlers are put in are 106, 126, 132, 145, 152, 160, 170, 182, 195, and heavy weight. In order to maintain your weight, you have to watch what you eat and your liquid intake.

“I wrestle at 152 pounds. That means when we weigh in about an hour before a tournament or dual starts, I have to be under 152 pounds. The weight cut is simple to start. I have to burn more calories than I take in. After I burn off enough fat, I get rid of the last few pounds in water weight. So I’ll drink less water and dehydrate myself a little to get the last few pounds off,” Shelton said.

Come support not only the seniors, but the whole wrestling team this year.

The wrestling team practices pinning each other. Photo by Sarah White

Wrestlers gather around coach watching directions. Photo by Sarah White

Timeline Recap

Mina Buchholz Opinion Editor

March

In March, the Oak Park Art Show opened, showing off the talents of many of art students.

Summer

Mark Maus left his position as principal, replaced by current principal Chris Sartain, Ed. D.

September

Some Oak Street members performed the national anthem before a Royals game at Kauffman Stadium.

October

A video of Oak Park teachers telling students how much they are appreciated went viral and was covered in national news.