The Northmen's Log, Issue 1, Volume 57

For Homecoming coverage check out pages 4 through 7

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For Halloween coverage check out pages 8 and 9

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For BlueBloods coverage check out pages 12, 13, and 14

The Northmen’s Log Vol. 57, Issue 1 // October 2021 // Kansas City, MO

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Staff//Trumble

Letter from the Editor Hey Oak Park, I’m Kayleonah Trumble and I am the Editor-In-Chief of “The Northmen’s Log” newsmagazine, and I am very excited to bring you the first issue of the year!

This year Homecoming was “back to normal” and we had an week full of spirit, an assembly, parade, the game and the dance.

School spirit was at an all-time high in the Lumberyard out with students decked in pink for cancer

awarness month.

Plus nearly a 1,100 students purchased tickets to attend the dance and broke recent year records in sales.

This issue also featured Halloween haunt and students’ plans.

Opinion writers chose to write about

the new bells and the nursing program at the NCC. We also chose to write about BlueBloods and band’s new director to share their roles in our school. Finally, this issue covers senior events and fall activities to help students plan their next couple of months.

Staff Kayleonah Trumble, Editor-in-Chief Luka Ashton, Online Editor-in-Chief Haydenn Gallagher, Staffer Lilly Goss, Staffer Amelia McCoy, Staffer Katie Klepper, Staffer Tatem Petet, Staffer Brynlee Tucker, Staffer Veronica Mourwel, Staffer 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 or 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 at Oak Park.

Advertisers may contact the advis-

er at christina.geabhart@nkcschools. org for more information.

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

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

Contents//Trumble

Table of Contents 4/5: Northmen Show off Their Spirit 6/7: Coronation of the Court 8/9: Worlds of Fun here to Scare your Socks Off 10: A Battle to the Death 11: Nursing Inspired me to Write 12/13/14: Leaders Bleed for Their Team 15: Marching to a new Beat 16: Fall Festivities/Senior Calendar

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12 On the cover: On Friday Oct. 1, Oak Park played against Lee’s Summit North and won the game 4821. The cover photo features juniors Marlon Grant and Xavier Williams jumping into

each other and high fiving after Grant scored a touchdown. “It feels pretty good, getting a win.

Something that we didn’t do last year, so it felt pretty good,” said Grant. This win was a historic

first-ever for the new stadium.

The homecoming game brought a lot of positives to the team and players said they are are looking forward to finishing the season strong. Photo by Zoe Saleem

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Feature//Trumble

Northmen show off their

Spirit

Finally getting back to normal Homecoming traditions Oak Park’s powderpuff game took place on Wednesday, Sept. 29, boys were cheerleader and girls played football for juniors and seniors. Seniors won. photo by Brynlee Tucker

On Monday of Spirit Week, junior Cian Hulsey and senior Zoe Saleem pose for a photo after matching for PJ day. “So we decided to match every single spirit day for the fun of it,” said Saleem. photo by Saleem

On Tuesday, juniors Gabriella Fields, Eliza Spouse, and Morgane Jastrzembski, plus seniors Caitlyn Morrow, Samantha Cain, Elaina Burke and juniors Rylee Grossman and Jillian Ray. took a group photo after they all dressed up for tropical day. “I really enjoyed getting to show off my school spirit and my flamingo crocs,” said Ray. photo by Adriano Garcia

On Wednesday, sophomores Olin Spencer, Aidan Bearden, Andy Mast, Jenna Holland, Kathrine Robbins, Ginger Jones, and Ava Norris pose for a photo after their friend group all matched for match your date day. “[My favorite thing was], umm, that I matched with two different people and the stress it took to get the outfits together,” said Spencer. photo by Olivia Robbins

Feature//Trumble Homecoming candidates Adriano Garcia, KeAndre Braxton, Ty Clemens, Jermaine Harris, Jett Sutton, Elaina Burke, Isabelle McMahon, Christina Nguyen, Lamis Habila, and Sophia Evola posed for their candidate photo. “It was a really big surprise and it just kind of felt like an honor,” said Sutton. Photo by Vy Vu

On Friday, seniors Erin Jarman, Melissa Araiza, and Gabriel Pingleton take a selfie at the Homecoming game. “[My favorite thing was] seeing that we were actually winning,” said Jarman. photo

by Araiza

On Thursday seniors Mia Lunares, Olivia Robbins and Molly Standard posed for a photo on tie dye day. “[My favorite thing is] that almost everyone participated,” said Standard. photo by Cameron Burns

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Feature//Gallagher

Coronation of the Court Final score October 1st, 2021

48 VS. 21

Oak Park

Saint Joseph Central

HOMECOMING GAME Seniors Adriano Garcia and Elaina Burke were this year’s homecoming king and queen. “It really means a lot because Oak Park has really become a big family and to be recognized by my peers in that way just felt awesome,” said Garcia. “I’m excited but I’m really happy I won with Adriano,” said Burke. Photo by Brynlee Tucker

Seniors Adriano Garcia and Elaina Burke dance during the annual homecoming assembly. “My favorite part was definitely the assembly, everyone inside of the gym having a good time was just awesome to see especially after how restrictive last year was,” said Garcia. Photo

by Brynlee Tucker

Feature//Gallagher

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The band was back in the first parade since COVID-19. The band has a new director who brought changes, adding their new marching style. Photo by Katie Klepper

The Lumberyard brought its A-game.

At the Friday, Oct. 1, homecoming football game, students packed the fan section. Since October is cancer awareness month students, dressed in pink and threw pink powder to spread awareness. Photo by Brynlee Tucker

History of the crowns

by Staffer Haydenn Gallagher

Seniors Carter Poole and Amanda Canovi bust moves during the senior dance. Photo by Brynlee Tucker

The crowns are an important part of Homecoming that the students love to see. But have you ever wondered where they come from?

The crowns and tiaras are ordered from an outside source, sometime its Amazon or another source, and are gifted to the members of court to keep.

However, this year was different. This year there wasn’t enough founding for the school to buy the princesses their tiaras, but they were able to buy the king and queen crowns and sashes for the princesses.

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Opinion//Ashton

Worlds of Fun here to Scare Your Socks Off

by NorthmenNews Editor-in-Chief Luka Ashton

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orlds of Fun’s annual Halloween Haunt has come back bigger and better after the 2020 hiatus. With 10 dedicated scare zones around the park and a bigger opening parade, the Halloween event opened Friday, Sept. 17.

Opening weekend set the precedent for a fun and scarefull fall season, bringing back fan-favorite haunted mazes such as Lore of the Vampire, Cornstalkers, Blood on the Bayou and more. Over the course of two nights through lengthy lines, I managed to attend four of the seven scare

mazes, and walked through all three of the “scare-zones” placed around the park and found myself looking behind my shoulder every minute or so with the hairs on the back of my neck standing.

The evening of frights always opens with “The Overlords Awakening” where all the creatures of the night file out to the center of the park in parade fashion, screaming and shouting and praising for the Overlord to wake up.

As he rises from a billow of smoke, attendees listen to his speech about each unique brand of monsters they’re surrounded by. The Overlord then proceeds to dismiss his minions to take over the park

A beast from the depths of the long stretching cornfields of the Cornstalkers growls at a fearful civilian on the sidelines at The Overlord’s Awakening. Photo by Luka Ashton A clown and his blood spattered mallet towers over onlookers as he prowls around the International Plaza. Photo by Luka Ashton

for the night.

With a crew of scare actors dedicated to getting those extra reactions, looking for those not onguard or who look especially scared to jump, shout, or even slide and spark at, Halloween Haunt is an excellent weekend event for this season of scares.

Haunt will be happening every Thursday from 6 to 11 p.m., Friday and Saturday until Oct. 30. you can purchase tickets online or at the park for $39.99. Haunt operating hours are 8 p.m. to midnight, with the Overlords Awakening beginning at 7:30 p.m.

Opinion//Ashton

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Here come pumpkins and their spice, crunchy leaves, and Halloween. Here’s how Oak Park celebrates the fall season For freshman Tyrese Wulue, Halloween comes and goes just as any day. “I don’t celebrate Halloween for religious reasons,” said Wulue. Photo

by Lilly Goss

Freshman Alex Beals will be celebrating Halloween dressed up as Castiel from the long-running CW show “Supernatural.” “I carve pumpkins with my grandpa, and I like how crunchy the leaves get in the fall,” said Beals. Photo by Lilly Goss

Junior Andrew Pierce plans to watch horror movies with friends, continuing a new tradition for him. “I don’t really watch horror movies often, but IT though...I like the ITs,” said Pierce. Photo by Lilly Goss

Sophomore Andrew Tennison plans on having fun with friends while dressed as a mechanic, but not out of Halloween tradition, as he grew up in Peru that doesn’t have a commonly celebrated Halloween. “I mean, there is a Halloween, but people just don’t do it as much because it’s not something people are used to doing there. I’ve never done it when I was a little kid there and I don’t think I’ve seen people do it when I was there,” said Tennison. Photo by Lilly Goss

What to watch Chucky (series) - A new TV series based on the well known film franchise Child’s Play, the well feared doll named ‘Chucky’ is coming to Syfy this Halloween season. Picking up the plot from the movies, horror fans are going to be seeing Chucky continue his gruesome antics starting Tuesday, October 12, 2021.

Another new-comer this month is the ever-so-famous muppets but this time for Halloween. Muppets Haunted Mansion has a spine chilling adventure awaiting the muppets Gonzo and Pepe the King Prawn as they take on the challenge of spending the night at the haunted mansion. Watch now on Disney+.

A unique thriller from 2018 where to survive, you must live in complete silence. The movie follows a family navigating a horrifying life in the silence as if they make sound, they alert the mysterious creatures who hunt by sound. A Quiet Place also has a sequel following the same family ready to watch immediately after.

A box office favorite, the 2017 horror film based off the ever-famous novel from Stephen King has quickly become a classic in it’s few years time. Watch a group of young outcasts try to avoid the looming and bloodthirsty evil that lives within their town’s sewers who comes out as a haunting clown named Pennywise. You can even follow it up with the 2019 sequel It Chapter Two.

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Feature//McCoy

“My favorite part about being a new lead would have to be getting to like have a say in big decisions for my team and being able to take pride in Oak Park softball.”

Tony Vanderbeek swim

“It’s fun. I really enjoy being a part of Oak Park and, you know, what makes Oak Park.

It’s interesting. I really enjoy it.”

Hudson Allen cross country

DeLaney Jones cross country

Melissa Araiza tennis

Sara Weeks golf

“It’s been great. at first it felt very weird to be a leader. I think it was great just understanding everyone, and like, getting to know them.”

“It’s a great thing to do, you learn lots of things. You get to work with a bunch of amazing people such as [athletic director Chad] Valadez that really does help make that spirit.”

Carly Freeman softball

She is a senior and has been in cross country all four years she has been at Oak Park.

Brandon Cobb soccer

Madison Rulon volleyball

No. 13 Brandon Cobb is a senior this year.

“It’s been good to know that like my team thinks of me as someone who can be a leader and who can help the team when we’re down, and who can lift us up.”

“People recognized me around the school so I say it’s, a pretty cool experience to get recognized in that character.”

Feature//McCoy

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Leaders Bleed for Their Team Courageous leaders demonstrate to their teammates how Northmen show pride, school spirit

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n and off the field, seeverybody. And he makes nior Ty Clemens bleeds sure that people know what blue for his teammates they’re doing and helps us and peers modeling what a out,” senior Jett Sutton said.

Northman should be.

His teammates aren’t the Senior Ty Clemens, a Blueonly ones who think highly Blood for football, said his fa- of Clemens. vorite part is “He’s a being a leader level-headed of the team. calming pres“The team ence for his kind of sees teammates you as a role and he’s willmodel, so you ing to accept want to repany role hes resent them is given,” said well.” head football BlueBloods coach and are leadTy’s father ers within Ken Clemens. each sport - head football coach Ty Clemens or MSHSAA his and Ty’s father inherited activity who strong sense Ken Clemens of leadership are selected by their team from his fammembers to ily. carry out decisions regarding “My parents inspired me to the team and serve as a role become a Blue Blood because model for other team memthey instilled values of workbers. ing hard, always supporting Players said they look up to teammates and respecting Ty Clemens for advice. authority,” Ty Clemens said.

“He’s always there for

“He’s a levelheaded calming presence for his teammates and he’s willing to accept any role he is given,”

photos courtesy of N2 Sports and coach Seth DeRose photos by Amelia McCoy

Feature//McCoy

BlueBloods, continued

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Caleb Winkler band “It’s been pretty good. I was already a section leader and band so I already had a little bit of a leadership position, but it’s been cool to have a bigger role.”

Isabelle McMahon cheer

“The experience I’ve gotten to interact with feeder schools which has been really fun. I also so far have gotten to listen to a guest speaker who gave really helpful advice on what it means to be a leader.”

Charles Carter band “My favorite part is helping the younger kids in band with notes or marching and seeing them succeed.”

Payton Toole cheer

“It’s been good little stressful, but I think that it’s really fun having that connection with my team and being somebody that they can look up to or come to with questions or advice, etc.”

Elaina Burke pommies

“I love talking to all the girls and getting to know them on, like, a deeper connection than you get dancing, I get to talk to each individual and especially like the newbies.”

Isabel Vestal color guard

“It has been a wonderful experience to have color guard acknowledged as a sport and help in the feeder schools.”

Makenna McDowell cheer

“So far it’s been really good.

We just got our patches for and our pins and yeah just overall the leadership of it has been really good and I feel like it’s helped me step out of my shell a little bit more, which is good.”

Ian Risner football He is a senior and plays offensive and defensive lines.

photos courtesy of N2 Sports and coach Seth DeRose ; photos by Amelia McCoy

Feature//McCoy

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The Band Marches this Year to a New Baton

by Photographer Brynlee Tucker

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ew band director Chris Kauffmann joins the fine arts department with two years of band experience as lead middle school instructor at Platte County.

“He’s just someone who wants to be great,” said assistant band director Blake Duren. “He wants to be good, he wants to be excellent, you know, and so he’s always striving for great things.”

Kauffmann said he is eager and excited about band, “Well, one, I always have a ton of energy. And two, my

work ethic and my drive to be good knows no limits,” said Kauffmann.

Since the former band director Mallory Mahon moved to Iowa with her family, the band experienced some major changes, such as a change in marching style.

“They’ll start with their toe first and then put their feet together.” said Duren. “For the casual observer at a football game, they’re not going to really notice anything but there’s tiny little changes that you know people in the marching band world can appreciate. It helps you stop and control your body just a little bit better.”

The Marching Northmen perform at the start of the homecoming football game. The band recently had a change in its marching style. Flute player and junior Ava Donegan said, “The new marching style is definitely different from last year. I think it’s a good change and makes us look more professional.” Photo by Brynlee Tucker

The Marching Northmen band starts the parade route. Many band members said they were excited to be back and marching after COVID-19. Photo by Brynlee Tucker The Marching Northmen drumline performs in the annual homecoming assembly. Photo by Brynlee Tucker

The Marching Northmen marches its way through the streets during the homecoming parade. “Marching for the parade was hot but seeing all of our supporters, little kids, and dogs was fun,” said junior Ava Donegan. Photo by Brynlee Tucker

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Opinion//Gallagher

A Battle to the Death Who would win in an epic battle of preferences

by Staffer Haydenn Gallagher

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ingggg!

The aggressive sound greeted us when school started for the year. For the previous three years of my high school experience, and for untold years upon years before that, the only bell students had was the five minute warning first thing in the morning, but besides that, our schedule was based around lights.

One of the appealing features of transitioning from middle school to high school was the fact the building had no bells; it was a series of lights

that quietly, calmly eased you into your schedule. It was one of the main things hyped and a lot of students loved when eighth graders got to visit Oak Park for the first time.

My first day without the annoying sounds of the bells was amazing. It was a wondrous, refreshing, calming new thing to me I absolutely loved as soon as it happened. My little freshmen self couldn’t believe bells weren’t a thing here and it completely blew my mind. It felt as if this was the start to something new and as if anything was possible; as if anything could happen in the next phase of my

life.

My sophomore year was the samethe lights helped transition into the next part of the day until the day was over. Well, that was until spring break happened and students never returned back to the school until the previous year, but even then they still used the lights.

This year has been a big transition that I believe students weren’t ready for. Even some of the teachers said they were not prepared for the bells.

The lights were a big staple for the community and it was sad to see them go.

Artwork by Caleb Winkler check out his other art @calebnwinkler on Instagram

Column//Goss

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Nursing Inspired me to Write

by Staffter Lilly Goss

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or what felt like the longest time going through high school, I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life. Everyone kept asking “what do you want to be when you grow up,” and I always said “novelist.” But I gave up on that dream a long time ago, when reality hit me, I don’t put enough time aside to write.

I began to feel rushed and lost, and it was scary to think about. What do I want to do with my life? The answer finally hit me when my dad told me a story from the psychiatric ward at the Veterans Affairs, where he’s a nurse.

I’ve always been interested in psychology, and I even considered studying it in college. But it seemed too boring for me, not hands on Senior Kelsey Mathewson practices putting on a gait belt, which is used to help enough. I decided to just go down the road my dad did, and into nurs- residents get up and walk around. Photo by Marie Peach ing. To me, it was like a last resort because I just couldn’t decide what right. start. But I still wasn’t sure what to do. Nursing wasn’t what I was The more weeks went on and the type of nursing I wanted to go into. passionate about at first, but that more I learned about nursing, the I went back and forth between quickly changed. more I found I had a passion for it. pediatrics and general nursing, but A teacher of mine suggested I apI enjoyed learning everything – none of them fully caught my attenplied for the CNA (certified nursing nothing was boring to me. I made tion. But every time my dad would assistant) program through NCC, amazing friends, and I always look come home with more stories from and I decided to. When meet the forward going to the program. My a night of working in the psychiatric teacher night came around, my dad first pair of scrubs, I made my broth- ward, it was completely intriguing. and I enjoyed getting to meet the er take photos of me like I was on That’s when I decided I wanted to go instructors and I even recognized the red carpet – they’re incredibly into psychiatric nursing and write some faces. My interest was really comfortable. about my patients. peeked when they took us into the The best part about all this expeTo anyone who is lost, not knowing very realistic lab, filled with hospital rience I’m gaining, I’m also learning what career path to take, I highly beds, a mock shower, mannequins more information about possible job suggest going through NCC. You’ll (even a baby). As my instructors opportunities. I decided to take my graduate with a sort of certification, told me more about what I would be chances and was able to land a job meaning even if you don’t like the doing as a CNA, I was wholehearted- at an assisted living facility. When career path, you always have somely interested in it. For the first time, I graduate with my CNA, I’ll be thing to fall back on. taking a step towards my future felt trained as a nurse, which is a good

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Feature//Mourwel

Fall Festivities

Fun fall activities students should keep in mind

by Staffer Veronica Mourwel

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he fall season approaches, meaning there are fun and exciting activities to do to match the chilly weather and warm colors. People enjoy going to pumpkin patches, making pies, carving jack-olanterns, and more.

Junior Caylyn Hundley said she loves wearing sweatshirts for the chilly weather. Plus, carving jack-olanterns and pumpkin patches are her favorite activities during the season. Hundley said her favorite part of pumpkin patches are the “petting zoos” where she pets kittens and puppies.

“I don’t think there’s anything more fall you can do than go to a pumpkin patch.”

-junior Caylyn Hundley If you would like to avoid the chilly weather, there are things you could still do.

Junior Jasmin Scandvol said she thinks baking is a fun fall activity to do. Scandvol said her favorite “fall flavor” is cinnamon spice because of her love of baking cinnamon rolls

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Senior Calendar

by Staffer Veronica Mourwel

With the first semester rolling along, there are a lot of things seniors need to keep in mind towards graduation from college applications, to important test dates to scholarships.

“We’re excited about our seniors,” said Gifted Resource Specialist says Lori Dameron.

Seniors should check the Counseling website to apply for scholarships for a particular school you’re applying to attend and under the college planning tab, there would be a list of colleges in Kansas and Missouri containing a link for scholarships to apply to for lowering costs.

Senior Jett Sutton agrees keeping track of deadlines and ACT and SAT dates are is important. He said that even as an athlete who produces well on the field, ACT and SAT requirements are still needed when applying to colleges.

“I think if I would have had a calendar like that I could have probably better prepared,” Sutton said.

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from scratch but her favorite pie flavor, pumpkin, is what gets her in the spirit.

“Pumpkin pie just gives the perfect fall vibes, to be honest,” Scandvol said.

Freshman Zander Culp created his own fantasy football team as a fall activity. His season starts the same time the NFL does but he starts drafting players before. Culp says the time-consuming part is, keeping track of players and making sure they’re playing.

“It’s all around the world and people like doing it and it’s only in a certain time of the year,” Culp said.