The Northmen's Log - Spring 2021 - Issue 4, Vol. 56

The Northmen’s Log Issue 4, Vol. 56 May 2021

Oak Park High School 825 NE 79th Terrace, KC, MO 64118 (816) 321-5320

For coverage of senior prom check out page 8-9!

Letter from the editor Hey Oak Park, I’m Lindsey Dunaway and I’m the Editor-in-Chief of “The Northmen’s Log” and this is honestly a bittersweet issue for me. My final issue.

Over the last four years, I have learned so many things and stepped out of my comfort zone to try every staff in the journalism department. I’ve been on the Log staff since the second semester of my freshman year, so I am very excited to bring you the final issue of the year.

Clearly, we’ve had a lot of changes happen to how school looks this year so we decided to include a story about what next year, as of right now, will look like.

Staff

Seniors had prom at Linden Square which was an important event since seniors didn’t get a junior prom.

As another feature, we included a story on where seniors are headed to next and a reflection on their senior year.

This issue will be the 16th issue that I have been on staff to help produce, which is something that many staffers don’t have the opportunity to accomplish. It has been such a blessing for me to be able to be on such an incredible staff for four years.

This has been Lindsey signing off for the last time. Have a fantastic summer Oak Park.

Lindsey Dunaway, Editor-in-Chief Kayleonah Trumble, Managing Editor Luka Ashton, Online Editor-in-Chief Kelsey Abunga, Staffer Benjamin Dunaway, Staffer Haydenn Gallagher, Staffer Lillian Goss, Staffer Amelia McCoy, Staffer Nathan Nance, Staffer Rowan Simmons, Staffer Tatem Petet, J1 reporter Yahya Mohamed, J1 reporter 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 adviser at christina. geabhart@nkcschools.org for more information.

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

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

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

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Table of contents **On the Cover: Senior Billie Collins and junior Anthony Valadez talk at prom Saturday, May 1, at Linden Square. photo by Zoe Saleem

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News // Ashton

Learn all about vaccines

Graphics by Lillian Goss

News // Ashton

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There are two main COVID-19 vaccines available.

Heres the difference:

Graphics by Lillian Goss

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Feature // Trumble

Construction and Pathways update school Certain aspects change in the school by managing editor Kayleonah Trumble and staffer Haydenn Gallagher

With construction, starting later in September, having a hybrid schedule, and then switching to either being fully in person or fully virtual, there were a lot of changes, so most people agree they are ready for a new year.

“Starting with next year’s freshmen, they will be organized by schools and Pathways,” said Principal Chris Sartain, Ed.D. “So I think the biggest impact is, if you’re in the school of business, for example, You’re going to have the same ELA, math, science, and social studies teacher, as all the other freshmen in the school of business.”

Since the Pathway groups will be physically located together, classrooms will be moved.

“All of our teachers or most of our teachers are moving classrooms,” said assistant principal Molly Smith.

“It’s gonna be interesting at first because nobody’s gonna know where anybody else is. So I think that will be a big change for our sophomores to our seniors.”

After a year of construction, the football stadium nears completion.

“We’re having our first football stadium, our real football stadium, you know, Oak Park’s,” Sartain said.

“We’re getting ready to graduate our 56th graduating class. So next year

will be our very first year having a fully functional stadium for football soccer track and other outdoor events, so that’s exciting.”

The new football stadium has students excited to go to games.

“I don’t really participate in extracurriculars, but I am interested in going to more football games. I’ve only been to one so far which is kind of sad,” said junior Taygan O’Brian.

Other additions to the field will include bleachers, a new press box, concessions, restrooms and more.

“We’re going to expand our track at eight lanes, so six on the straightaway,” district activities director Casey Vokolek said. “There’ll be additional parking over here at the park and people, visitors, would come in.”

There will also be a new state of the art student entrance to keep students and staff more safe. Inside of Oak Park, there will be a new student command center and a new weight room, the old weight room will be converted back into a gym.

A higher than normal student population joins with the class of 2025.

“We’re growing a little bit as a building. So this year we’re at about 1,650 kids, and we’ll be closer to 1,700 kids next year,” said Smith.

There are also a few new teachers for next year, including some in special education, a counselor, math and more.

“We are getting a little more staffing, we were able to add half a teacher during the school year this year we’re adding a full teacher next year, actually two full teachers next year so when we grow in sizes students we grow in our staff as well so our class sizes,” said Sartain.

Most students plan to return fully in person.

“I’m going back in person next year so I’ll be more involved in that sense, but I don’t know how much more I’ll contribute to school activities,” said O’Brian, who once was involved with orchestra and visual art photography and advanced visual art photography, O’Brian plans to take graphic design next year.

As another class graduates, another class begins their high school adventure “Oh my goodness, we’re, we’re so excited for the new year grades nine through 12,” Sartain said. “We’re super excited to add the class of 2025. I think 90 to 95% of our kids will probably be ready to come back in person, you know, so having full hallways again and again still being safe and taking care of each other, but we just love it. Having your fuller classrooms and fuller hallways, so we’re really excited about next year.”

Feature // Trumble Public and commercial services Business, leadership, and Entrepreneurship Design, Innovation, and Technology Health and Wellness

Second Floor

First Floor

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Entertainment// Gallagher

Feeling fresh off the runway Hard work went into prom this year

normal activities.

Typically, the junior class officers Twinkly lights, clear skies, beau- plan and execute prom on their tiful dresses, happy couples, chatty own, but given the new venue, COVID-19 precautions and more friends, and a fun atmosphere factors, they requested the assiscould all be found at the prom on tance of Student Council and the Saturday, May 1. This year’s prom leadership class. The class officers was one for the books. sold tickets, sold T-shirts and “This is important because it’s more. StuCo and leadership asbeen a tough year with COVID sisted with the venue, decorations and I understand there’s so many and other aspects requiring additional work and time from the planners.

“We got the DJ, we got the decorations, -junior class vice president Lamis Habila we got the area,” said Habila. “We talked to city hall and got into details about what we things that are going on with needed to do exactly, and we’ve people’s lives. That due to COVID, just been planning.”

I think that not having a HomeHowever, it’s not just leadership coming was a bad opportunity for or StuCo that has been excited for a lot of people, so just the fact that prom.

Since it has been announced we can even have a prom this year is going to mean a lot to the senior that Oak Park would be having a class because I know that it’s going prom, many seniors and juniors to be important to them to at least have been preparing for the prom have a prom before they graduate,” not just leading up to the day, but the day itself. said junior class vice president “Yeah, I’m planning on getting Lamis Habila. ready pretty early,” said junior So much work has gone into Nevaeh Krull. “We’re gonna leave making sure this year’s prom the at 1 and then we have reservations best it could’ve been with all the at 5, so we can be prepared and get restrictions put in place to keep lots of pictures, and we know it’s everyone safe. The administraa Saturday and it’s prom season, tion knows how difficult the past so we know it’s going to be really year has been and how much the busy. And then after we’ll just go students have missed out on the by writer Haydenn Gallagher

“The fact that we can even have a prom this year is going to mean a lot to the senior class.”

Carson Tate talks to his date senior Katie Hulme at prom. photo by photographer Zoe Saleem

to the dance.”

Many people said this prom felt the most important of proms since so many events and opportunities were missed in the last year.

“I feel like it would be more fun because I’m with my friends, so I can get pictures with them, and make those memories with them,” said Krull. “Plus the pictures will be really cute. I don’t want to just go with my date, I want to have the cute pictures with my friends.”

Entertainment// Gallagher

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Junior Ian Risner, junior Nevaeh Krull, Liberty North alumna Rimmee Coy, junior Sam Cain, senior Logan Linard, and sophomore Sajjad Alsary dance in a circle at prom. photo by photographer Zoe Saleem

This was the first time prom was held at Linden Square. photo by photographer Zoe Saleem Senior Brenden Blue and his date alumna Alexandria Byer enter prom. photo by photographer Zoe Saleem

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Feature // Ashton

“Teams calls are no substitute for face-to-face interaction”

by J1 reporter Yahya Mohamed

As the school year began, students filled the building while teachers and administration stood outside welcoming students in with their eyes as opposed to their smiles.

“Smiles are a big deal,” said history teacher Megan Pabon.

“I had a lot of anxiety about bringing students back full time, but to be honest it really feels normal,” said social studies teacher Megan Pabon. (Photo by Yahya Mohamed)

This scene became the norm this year across schools worldwide due to the COVID-19 pandemic that swept across the globe like a wildfire. Teachers and administrators have had to adjust and almost re-learn how to communicate and teach because of this ongoing pandemic to help keep students safe.

As of Monday, April 12, 2021, 27 states plus D.C. and Puerto Rico require face coverings when in public spaces, which include stores, restaurants, and some schools, according to an AARP article written by Andy Markowitz.

“This year our number one goal was student and staff safety and health,” Principal Christopher Sartain, Ed.D., said.

After having to quarantine for months in early to mid-2020, everyone was ready for the school year to come and give students a sense of normalcy. Though, administrators and teachers knew coming back would require a lot of indepth planning to ensure students and staff safety.

“We started planning as early as June,” said Sartain.

Knowing they would not be able to have all 1,650 students in school, staff had to be creative and come up with ways to provide the same educational opportunities to as many students as possible.

This was where the hybrid method of teaching was introduced. Teachers would be required to make all course material available not only to students in class but to students online at home as well.

“I actually didn’t do anything on Canvas or online,” fashion interior and foods teacher Megan Lacy said of years past.

Canvas became teacher and students’ primary resource this school year.

“We had gotten emails from Dr. Sartain about preparing to really understand Canvas and grow your familiarity with it, because we didn’t know where the school year was gonna start,” Pabon said.

According to a nationwide study done by an organization specializing in collecting school, govern-

ment, library and neighborhood data called Burbio, at the start of the school year, “52% of students will go to school virtually, 25% will attend every day and the remaining 19% will have some form of hybrid schooling, combining online and in-person learning”, while four percent of districts remain undecided. At Oak Park, the year started with roughly 37% of students virtual and the remaining being a mix of either hybrid or in person.

By the time second semester came around though, that number changed to about 41% being virtual and 59% being in person.

Having this system where students are able to choose whether they are virtual, hybrid, or in person, led to a few problems.

“Without the ability to stand over kids, tap them on the shoulder and ask them to get to work, a lot of kids have very little motivation,” said math teacher Michael Gier.

Story continued on pages 12-13

Feature // Ashton

Math teacher Michael Gier gives a lesson on the Pythagorean theorem. “Teaching is a hard job and this year made it much harder,” said Gier. (photo by Yahya Mohamed)

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Feature // Ashton

More to say Mixed feelings

More on the difficulties faced this year...

Continued from page 11

“We are putting kids and adults at risk, and I think we should go back to the way it was before.” math teacher Michael Gier

“We need our students, and they need us.”

Principal Chris Sartain, Ed.D.

“Don’t take for granted what you had in the past.” business teacher Jeff Head

“My parents are older. I don’t want to be the person who carries something home to them.” journalism teacher Christina Geabhart

“It’s OK to admit you’re not OK.” math teacher Deborah Abernathy

Learning tasks take longer to complete because of the time spent on distracting activities, according to a book from author Shelly J. Schmidt “Journalism of Food Science Education.”

ELA teacher Stephen Smothers said, “I don’t know that I’ve had success with a lot of things in terms of participation, because a lot of students are at home thinking this is free time.”

In 2016, Jessica Heppen and colleagues at the American Institutes for Research and the University of Chicago Consortium on School Research randomly assigned students who had failed second semester Algebra I to either face-to-face or online credit recovery courses over the summer. Students’ credit-recovery success rates and algebra test scores were lower in the online setting. Students assigned to the online option also rated their class as more difficult than did their peers assigned to the face-toface option.

Teachers, like Gier and Smothers, noticed students simply lacked the motivation to do the work when they weren’t being stood over and being told to keep going.

This raised the question, “Do students have the necessary resources to succeed this school year?”

“No, because their teachers are an amazing resource and they did not have access to them,” said Sartain.

Sartain argued that because students did not have teachers there

with them to constantly help them out as needed, it was more difficult for them to succeed.

Though, others like assistant principal Molly Smith said, “It may vary student to student but honestly they might have more resources because teachers have more of a presence on Canvas.”

Both sides agree the lack of faceto-face interaction took a toll not only on students but staff as well.

“The part that makes Deb Abernathy most happy for 35 plus years, which is the interaction and relationship building with students, is not in play right now,” said math teacher Deborah Abernathy.

Most teachers chose a career in education because they love being around kids and thrive on being able to build those relationships with students that may last years beyond school. In a school staff survey, 92% of OP staff and administrators agreed they wanted students back in the building.

“It just makes my job better and easier and I actually get to talk to kids,” said math teacher Kristin Brandt.

Even though most staff and administration said they wanted students to be back in the building, many of them still worried about student health and safety.

Kids ages 0 to 17 make up 13.6% of all COVID-19 cases nationwide, according to figures provided by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

“I think it was a mistake to bring students back, especially before teachers were fully vaccinated and

Feature // Ashton

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Graphic by Yahya Mohamed

students had the chance to be fully vaccinated,” said Gier.

With a COVID-19 death rate of only 0.00%-0.19% in kids ages 0 to 17 years of age, according to the AAP, these numbers should be enough to ease most teachers fears but that’s not necessarily the case.

“What if you guys get it, and what if you guys transmit it to someone vulnerable in your life,” said Abernathy.

Students may have a low chance of contracting the virus themselves but their loved ones at home especially senior citizens are at very high risk. According to the CDC, eight out of 10 deaths reported have been adults 65 years of age and older. So, while the risk may be low for students it’s still very high for their elders.

“Our district has done a really good job thus far of keeping stu-

dents and staff safe, our focus on universal masks here at the North Kansas City School District, I think is a model for other schools,” said Gier.

Even though the district brought more students back, it still keeps most of those safety measures that have gotten it this far. Oak Park only had one case of COVID between the months of March and May of 2021 according to Sartain, which goes to show how well OP has done as a school to slow the spread of this virus, while still keeping doors open.

“This is a people job, and when you’re not around people it’s a strange thing,” said science teacher Bethany Kent.

Principal Chris Sartain looks forward to welcoming all of the student body back for the 2021-2022 school year. “We need our students, and they need us,” said Sartain. (photo by Yahya Mohamed)

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Feature // Dunaway

Hard work pays off in 15 minutes of fame

Theatre students talk about how much time goes into One Acts

by J1 reporter Tatem Petet

same passion and know what’s best for the show,” Byers said.

For the theatre students, it has been a liberating experience.

“I’m honestly really excited to be able to just have fun with my

Theatre III and IV students have been working tirelessly for months on their One Acts.

The writing process for the One Acts started in the beginning of second semester and will span to early May. One Acts are short plays that are five to 10 minutes long. Written, cast, directed, and performed by advanced theatre students.

Theater teacher Matthew Ashpaugh likened the experience to teaching a child how to drive. “…you’re finally sitting in the passenger seat and -senior Reese Hill you’re like oh this is scary, what’s happening here.”

The experience has also been friends and just have fun with them unusual, actor sophomore Ivy Byers because the shows I’m in are comeadmitted. Sometimes it is more dif- dies,” Byers said. ficult because the student directors For many students, this was not are not as experienced. their first time working on the One “But they definitely still have the Acts.

“We wrote this one act last year, but we didn’t end up doing it because school got canceled so I just revised and made some edits,” said senior Franni Young.

Young also said it was very disappointing and discouraging to not be able to do the One Acts last year because of COVID-19.

“Everyone had finished the script and we were working on getting everything together so to have that taken away from us was a bit difficult,” said Young.

Doing the One Acts taught the theatre students important lessons they will take on in their potential theatre careers.

“This is actually a really good experience for me because it’s my first step as a director and it kind of shows me what my future will entail,” senior Reese Hill said.

“This is actually a really good experience for me because it’s my first step as a director and it kind of shows me what my future will entail,”

Feature // Dunaway

graphic by Tatem Petet

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Sports // Trumble

Sprinting into a new season With last season cut, athletes make the most of track

by staffer Kelsey Abunga

Spring is here, which means the 2021 track and field season is officially in session. Due to the pandemic, last year’s season was cut short. Athletes weren’t able to attend a single track meet. It’s a new year and athletes are working extra hard to set their personal records and end the school year with a bang.

“With all the precautions we’ve had to take, it’s been difficult. But at the same time, it’s been rewarding that we’ve been able to make it through those hardships. I’m grateful we still have a chance to develop our athletes and create a great track season,” coach Jackson Newman said.

Whether it’s to pursue sports in college, set personal goals, or just have fun, different motives encourage athletes to get involved in track.

“I decided to do track because I really like to run, so I thought this would be the best sport for me,” sophomore Nermen Konda said.

It’s no secret how last year changed everything. During this time last year, people were quarantined, businesses were shut down, and sports were

canceled. Now, school and sports are back, but it’s a little different.

“I’ve been really impressed with my athletes and their ability to be resilient. They always find creative ways to work around the barriers COVID has put in front of us,” Newman said.

There are many events in track and field. People may run short distance, long distance, jump, and even throw.

“My favorite event is the 4x1.

I love going to track meets and supporting my team, and watching them do well in their events,” senior Diani Robinson said.

The 4x1 relay is a race amongst four people per team, where each person has to sprint 100 meters. After that, the athlete passes a baton to the next runner on their team.

Track is a very fast-paced sport. While the events don’t take long, willpower is very important in order for a person to stay motivated enough to finish their race.

“Some personal goals I want to achieve are getting my times lowered. I’m working to improve my patience because I don’t have much of it,” Konda said.

Graphic by Kelsey Abunga

Sports // Trumble

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Junior Cooper Sharpsteen goes through his back swing on hole 9 on the posse. At Paradise Pointe Posse in Smithville, Mo., on Wednesday, May 5. photo by Nathan Nance Sophomore Burke Sharpsteen pitches during the game against Staley High School during a game on Thursday, May 6. photo by Ben Dunaway

Sophomore Tyler Tanner hits the ball on hole 12 on the Posse. Hole 12 has a water hazard between the tee box and the fairway at Paradise Pointe in Smithville, Mo., on Wednesday, May 5. photo by Nathan Nance Sophomore Jakob Heitman warms his arm before the C-team game against Staley High School on Wednesday, May 5, at home. photo by Ben Dunaway

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Feature // Dunaway

On the next episode...

Seniors reflect on their last year and where they’re headed next

by Editor-in-Chief Lindsey Dunaway

“I’ve always heard every end is also a beginning, we just don’t know it at the time,” said Emily Prentiss from the TV show “Criminal Minds.”

The last stretch: senior year from August to May goes surprisingly fast. “[My advice to incoming seniors is to] use the time that you have correctly because it’s quickly coming to an end,” said senior David Gresty.

The senior experience is something many students look forward to. Senior skip day, the fan section, prom, etc.

“I think I missed out on the regular senior experience,” said Gresty. “I think that we’ve kind of created our own alternative to that so I’m satisfied with everything

that I have.”

With the year going by so fast, it can take awhile for the reality of senior year to really hit.

“It felt really weird [being a senior], it didn’t hit me until

“[I’m most looking forward to] a change in atmosphere,” said Gresty.

College planning can be a stressful challenge.

“I would advise [upcoming seniors] to get a head start on their college plans just so they can be more prepared,” said senior Yennhi Phan.

Looking back on the last four years, seniors reflected on what they wish they would’ve known their freshman year.

“I would have advised -senior David Gresty myself, potentially, to be more involved [my freshman year],” said last month because the year Phan. went by so fast,” said senior Others agreed.

Billie Collins.

“Definitely don’t take this Graduation means moving year for granted and try to go on to new things, whether to as many school activities that be college, military, or and senior things that you going directly into the work- can because it’ll all go by force. fast,” said Collins.

“[My advice to incoming seniors is to] use the time that you have correctly because it’s quickly coming to an end,”