THE CLIPPER
VOLUME 29 | ISSUE 4 | January 2020 | PLATTE COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL
#FIGHTFORFpl PAGE 08
A LOOK INSIDE TABLE OF CONTENTS
FEATURES
OPINIONS
03
HOBBIES IN THE HALLS Pirates partake in various unique pastimes By Audrey McCoy
04
POVERTY IN PROPORTIONS Resources available to low income citizens in Platte County By Kiersten Robbins
06
Insight into students’ music tastes By Audrey McCoy
Editor-in-Chief Charisma Root
BOYCOTT TREND Media has growing influence on spreading negative labels By Tatianna Tafolla
08
#FIGHTFORFPL School makes poor decision in cutting the Flexible Learning Program without exploring alternatives By Charisma Root
MIXED MELODIES
Staff
07
Staff Writers Grace Roggy Sophia Zimmerman Photographers Claire Graves Jessenia Orellana
Page Editors Kiersten Robbins Audrey McCoy Adviser Tatianna Tafolla Kari Johnson
SPORTS
12
A NEW LANE
Girls swim team adds new coach, officially starts middle school team By Grace Roggy and Kiersten Robbins
14
STEPPING UP THEIR GAME Step team returns as an activity for students By Grace Roggy
15
10
SIGN FOR CHANGE
PCHS needs to implement more options for foreign language By Tatianna Tafolla
11
PASSING TIME POSITIVELY How having hobbies can contribute to healthier state of mind By Sophie Zimmerman
HITTING THE SLOPES
Skiing, snowboarding takes over the season once again By Sophie Zimmerman
On the Cover
Asking questions about psychology, senior Kate Mayer visits psychology teacher Bevin Schmer and discusses the class while having a good laugh on Jan. 22. Mayer said FPL gave her the freedom to grow as a student. Photo by Jessenia Orellana
Who We Are
The Pirate Clipper is a student-run newspaper dedicated to informing students on current local, national and worldwide issues without bias. Opinions and editorials do not reflect the views or opinions of the Platte County staff, school, administration or adviser. For questions or concerns, contact adviser Kari Johnson at: johnsonk@platteco.k12.mo.us.
Dr. Staci Blaha, Dr. Trent Blaha and the staff supports the Pirates!
January 2020, 03
In the Paxton building, sophomore Lindsey Miles signs “Hello.” In addition to learning by watching videos and reading books, administrative assistant Suzanne Frame is also teaching her. Photo illustration by Claire Graves
While on his way to class, freshman Porter Schoen shows off his drawing on Jan. 22. On top of drawing, Schoen also enjoys writing stories, reading and Dungeons and Dragons. Photo illustration by Jessenia Orellana
Hobbies IN THE HALLS Pirates partake in various, unique pastimes
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Written by Audrey McCoy
obbies of all different types, ranging from singing and sports to crafting and gardening, can help fill spare time and expand an individual’s curiosities. Some students and staff with uncommon interests participate in different hobbies outside of school. “I kind of just picked up my hobbies,” freshman Porter Schoen said. “As I got older and busier, I needed ways to cope with stress.” Schoen said he enjoys writing, reading and drawing, but his favorite hobby is playing the board game “Dungeons and Dragons.” He usually gets together with a group of 6-10 people and plays the game for a couple of hours. He particularly enjoys the social aspect of the activity. “Everything in the game is hypothetical,” Shoen said. “It’s really fun to see what my friends will do during the game and in certain situations.” Other students enjoy more practical hobbies. Senior Grant Albright said he does his hobbies to help him learn new skills and test the waters of a possible career field. “I do robotics and coding,” Albright said. “I enjoy the problem-solving aspect of it, and I think practicing what I want to do for a career before college will be very beneficial.” For some students, especially at
the high school level, hobbies can be a way to develop useful skills and explore interests that may pave the way to future job opportunities. “I want to work with deaf education when I get older,” sophomore Lindsey Miles said. “So I started learning sign language by watching videos.” Miles said she first gained an interest in sign language by watching the school interpreters during assemblies, and now she appreciates the different vocabulary. “I think sign language is a hobby more people should have,” Miles said. “Once you learn it, you can communicate with more people instead of making deaf people have to try harder to communicate with you.” Some people prefer hobbies that involve physical activity, such as outdoor games, biking or swimming. An article “Benefits of Hobbies for Your Mental and Physical Health” explains that engaging in physical activities during leisure time can result in improved health and can even boost the immune system. “My sons and I share the hobby of rock climbing,” English teacher James Miscavish said. “We take classes and go rock climbing at ROKC (climbing gym in Kansas City) twice a week.” Miscavish said he thinks anyone
could start rock climbing because it doesn’t cost much, and there are varying levels of difficulty and physical engagement. “Rock climbing has a really good learning curve and challenge level,” Miscavish said. “There are lots of climbs for different sorts of people, and it’s fun to go vertical rather than horizontal with your physical activity. It also has a sense of danger and adventure while staying safe.” Everyone enjoys different activities, and hobbies are unique to each personality. Even low-movement hobbies such as crafting and playing music are connected to better health. The Leisure Studies Association recommends whether it’s getting outside, reading a book, or doing something artistic, spending time on an activity that is enjoyable can improve well-being. “I knit,” junior Arabella Below said. “When I was younger, my grandma tried to teach us basic needs she thought we would need to know, so she taught us to sew and knit.” Below said she enjoys the satisfaction in creating her own things, and she also finds knitting to be very calming. “You’re only here for so long, so do what you want to do and try to learn as many new things as possible,” Below said.
04, Feature
This building, along with its partner, houses six residents in total, with a common room and an office. This an application-only program housing 18-25 year olds in impoverished situations. Photo by Claire Graves
Poverty IN PROPORTIONS
Resources available to low income citizens in Platte County Written by Kiersten Robbins
P
overty is not an issue unfamiliar to Platte County. According to the Platte County Health Department, as of 2018 the poverty rate in Platte County was 6.1 percent meaning those residents are making below the amount of money required by the federal government to be considered making a basic standard living. Mary Jo Vernon, director of the Platte County Health Department, said this rate is determined by the economy. “Our unemployment rate is 2.7 percent” Vernon said. “That’s the lowest it’s been in 15-20 years. So when people are working, typically your poverty level is down.” Platte County has many organizations, fundraisers and programs dedicated to helping those in poverty such as Harvesters, Day of Hope, WIC and Synergy. Included within Harvesters is a program called Young Adult Housing that provides homes for people 18 and older who meet certain criteria. These apartments are located in Platte County, and anyone can sign up as long as they meet the
required standards. In order to join the program and stay in the residence, individuals must either have a job or be willing to get a job. “It’s free housing, and they have a food pantry there,” Vernon said. “The community donates food so that you can pretty much sustain yourself while you live there with the food they have in the pantry. Then they work with people and sit down with them to work on a budget.” To prevent the likelihood of poverty for upcoming generations, not only is it important to be financially responsible as an adult, but also as a teen preparing for the future. Learning good financial principles in high school will transfer into adulthood, which is a key component in future success. According to Brookings.edu, teens who, at the bare minimum, finish high school, get a full-time job, and wait to get married and have kids until the age of 21 are more likely to get out of poverty. Of the adults who have followed these rules, 75 percent have joined the middle class, while two percent remained in poverty.
“Have a plan for your future and believe in yourself,” Vernon said. “You can achieve your dreams. Go on and get an education so that you can support yourself and someday your family.” One of the many other programs that is offered is WIC (Women, Infants and Children). This is a nutrition educational program for low-income women who are pregnant or breastfeeding and for children living with nutritional health concerns. WIC gives these women coupons they can take to the grocery store to buy any baby formula or approved supplies they need. Vernon said the best advice she could give to anyone; teens, adults, even children living in poverty, is to reach out to a person you trust or a program such as this. “Reach out to somebody,” Vernon said. “A trusted friend, a teacher, a counselor, so that they can help you work through that because that’s where a lot of people get in trouble. The situation that you’re in currently seems insurmountable but you know there’s a lot of help available.”
January 2020, 05
Looking at the Numbers Poverty Rates, Platte County
9.5% According to 2013-2017 ACS (American Community Survey), 9.5% of Platte County teens aged 12-17 are living in poverty.
21.7% of households with a female head-of-house with children under 18 and no husband live in poverty
1 in 15 individuals have no health insurance 1 in 5 homeowners are paying more than 30% of income for housing costs Median monthly costs (homes with mortgage)= $1,583
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1 in 25 households have no vehicle
1 in 4 Students are enrolled in free or reduced price lunch
Graphics made from Visme.co Information for graphics found from Platte County Health Department Graphics made by Kiersten Robbins
06, Feature
Mixed Melodies
Seasons of Music
Does your music change with the seasons?
Insight into students’ music tastes
Sometimes 28.07% Yes 45.61%
Infographic by Audrey McCoy
Students recommend songs, share types of music they enjoy
No 26.32% *Out of 57 responses
How do you listen to your music? SoundCloud
Apple Music
Spotify
YouTube Music
Pandora Amazon Music *Out of 57 responses
Genre Fluid
What genre of music do you primarily listen to?
Pop Indie Rock R&B Rap Soundtracks Country Jazz\Classical Graphic by Claire Graves
Other *Out of 57 responses
*Graphics made on Infogram
January 2020, 07 LO G AN L U PA
Boycott Trend Media has growing influence on spreading negative labels
CA RD IB
Celebrities are often put under a microscope, and when a mistake is made, they are met with backlash. Here are some popular celebrities who have suffered those consequences.
Cardi B: A video was leaked of Cardi B discussing her life before her celebrity status, admitting she would drug and rob men to make ends meet for herself working as a stripper. With this confession, a lot of people accused her of also raping the men she would have relations with, although there has been nothing on record of her admitting to it.
FF JE E RE
D
RA K
E
AR ST
Drake: Predatory allegations have been made towards rapper Drake after fans have noticed “solicitation” with minors on Twitter. His relationship with 18-year-old model Bella Harris has also brought concerns amongst the public because of their 13-year age difference. Logan Paul: YouTuber Logan Paul offended his audience after featuring a corpse in one of his YouTube videos in Japan’s Suicide Forest. In the video, he was seen being disrespectful by laughing and making a mockery of the situation. Jeffree Star: Another YouTube sensation, Jeffree Star, had a video resurface of him saying a racial slur to someone during an argument. There was also a video found where he participated in a skit on YouTube saying more offensive racist remarks. Designed by Claire Graves and Tatianna Tafolla
Written by Tatianna Tafolla
S
ocial media is about the likes, the facade, the way you display yourself away from who you truly are. Cancel culture deteriorates the self-built image you hold for yourself and deprives you of that approval sought by most of those who choose to live their lives online. Cancel culture is the equivalent of boycotting someone for doing something the public eye constitutes as wrong. Recently, more and more people have been participating in this glorified version of public shaming, and if someone were to “fall out of line,” backlash for the person involved would not be out of question. The use of inappropriate humor in modern media is a common reason someone may be “cancelled.” Racism, homophobia and sexism were once acceptable in skits on Saturday Night Live as well as in various other comedy acts, or casual jokes depicted online or in person. Nowadays these topics aren’t taken as lightly; and they shouldn’t be. The public’s consciousness of what is right and wrong has heightened, and when someone is involved with something unacceptable in the media’s
eyes, the blacklisting begins. Within the last decade, a lot of celebrities have experienced the double-edged sword of social media and have found themselves on the list of cancelled people. There’s been a popular rise of cancel culture associated with celebrities. People such as rapper 6ix9iner, media influencer James Charles and even the late Michael Jackson are all three examples of media stars who have experienced this backlash. Outside of pop culture, politicians have been involved in scandals, cancelling and slander from the general public. An example of this are claims involving Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh regarding a sexual assault and rape accusation, and many people found themselves involved in debating if his allegations were real or not real, even if they weren’t particularly interested in politics itself. Aside from just people from a higher status, those who are also just “normal” people, such as students in the high school, may experience the effects of what comes after someone is cancelled. A person who remains blacklisted in real life may be ignored or blatantly slandered.
Occurrences involving cancel culture may have taken hold online, but experiencing them in person isn’t entirely unfamiliar. In a school or work environment it would be easy to blacklist someone, whether it’s for using racial slurs, or rumors (true or false) adding a negative connotation to the person; there are always incidences that cause others to steer away from the perceived bad behavior. In some instances cancel culture can be extremely misused, and occasionally that’s the case. When a person is at the peak of fame, even if there’s caution set up to not say the wrong thing at the wrong time, it wouldn’t be uncommon for them to find themselves involved in a scandal from their past. While some people may think that cancel culture is toxic and should be put to an end, when it matters the most, it brings the importance of the bad deed that a person has done. Cancel culture is a necessary evil needed to be used in today’s society as a tool to help people reflect upon their words and actions.
08, Opinion
Reviewing his homework, junior David Tohm finishes his math assignment on Jan. 15. Tohm said FPL has helped him by teaching him multitasking and preparing for college. Photo by Jessenia Orellana
To prepare for the school board meeting, senior Kate Mayer looks over her presentation about FPL with government teacher Bevin Schmer. Mayer has been in FPL for only one year, but she said that she wished she joined sooner. Photo by Jessenia Orellana
#FightforFPL
School makes poor decision in cutting FPL without exploring alternatives
Written by Charisma Root
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fter four years, the Flexible Personalized Learning Program (FPL) will no longer be an option due to scheduling and sustainability issues. On Wednesday Jan. 8 an email was sent to students and parents detailing that effective the 2020-2021 school year all classes will be following a “seven period schedule.’’ The news evoked an emotional response from a majority of the 15 teachers and approximately 210 students currently participating in FPL who have come to rely on the program for both its academic and mental benefits. When the flexible scheduling program was first implemented, the purpose was to provide students with a pathway that would help fulfill the school district’s mission, vision, values and principles of learning. It did this and more. FPL’s co-taught classes staggered with blocks of independent learning time allow students to learn in a more individualized manner. This benefits learners by allowing them to form deeper relationships with their
instructors, who then may utilize the knowledge of their students’ passions to structure learning in a more relevant and engaging way for that individual. Lectures and work time during flex hours (first-fourth) are structured so that not every class meets every day, and students are held accountable for their own time management and attendance. This format simulates a typical college schedule by preparing teens for the future while simultaneously easing their stress in the present. Beyond this, according to a Forbes online article, personalized learning also promotes diversity, empowerment and motivation in teens by allowing them to have an input in their own education. The opportunities provided by our specific program has helped countless students improve time management, raise grades, reignite a passion for learning and maintain a healthy balance between school, work, sleep and social relations. Now it is true that some students perform better in a traditional schedule or in other settings such as NCAPS
or NCC, but that is why our district offers these various options: to appeal to different groups of students with different needs. Personalized learning has been shown to build and nurture many valuable skills in all types of students, yet there is still no study out there that will show it is superior to all other pathways because that is unrealistic. Learning is not and should not be a black and white, either/or situation. However, flexible scheduling to support personalized learning happens to be what works best for certain students and should remain a choice for those kids who do need and utilize it. Students who have come to adapt to and benefit from the rare personalized pace and material of the FPL curriculum should not have the option taken away overnight with no warning and no say in the matter. Removing the entire program favors one type of learner over another in a way that is both generally unfair as well as inconsistent with the district’s list of values. Some of these include: collaboration, innovation and student focus- all key traits of the FPL experience.
January 2020, 09
In front of board members, government teacher Bevin Schmer explains why she believes the high school should keep the FPL program on Jan. 16. Schmer has taught not only for the FPL program but for traditional classes too. Photo by Jessenia Orellana
Some students who share this thinking and believe FPL is being unjustly cancelled without their say have begun taking action to have their voices heard. There are printed forms in Paxton’s co-lab for students interested to fill out and turn in to the school board secretary at the district office for a reservation to speak at a school board meeting. One student, one teacher and one parent spoke out at the January meeting all advocating for the program, and there are several more registered to speak at future dates. Multiple parents have contacted administration regarding the decision, and groups of students have also continued to spread the word and voice their own anger through conversation, social media campaigns, written complaints to the school board and a rapidly-growing petition. “The decision has been made, but it is always important in every democracy and in every organization you are a part of to make sure your voice is heard,” FPL and traditional government teacher Bevin Schmer said. “It has been really inspiring to
me to see the number of students that have been applying in a real-world situation the lessons they have learned in FPL.” It is understandable that offering many differently structured programs under one administration may be difficult to manage. However, taking into consideration the most effective way to educate students, it is worth the hassle to find a way to allow FPL to continue to coexist with the rest. The school may be growing in size, making the allocation of resources a concern. However, these sound more like excuses in an attempt to validate a pre-made decision than real logistical roadblocks that constitute the cancellation of FPL altogether. Whether we place a population limit on FPL, hire more staff to teach in both the flexible and traditional pathways, or even communicate with the students and teachers of FPL to brainstorm improvements for the program, cancelling it is by no means the best or only option. There is a plethora of possible solutions, but they aren’t worth anything if no one is looking for or listening to them.
Everyone listening, junior Autumn Colstion speaks about the possible issues of cutting the FPL program on Jan. 16. Colstion has used her FPL free time to work on homework that she isn’t able to complete after school. Photo by Jessenia Orellana
NOTHING COULD HAVE PREPARED ME FOR THE EXCITEMENT OF MY OWN LEARNING MORE THAN FPL JUNIOR AUTUMN COLSTION
• All three speakers at the January school board meeting spoke on the benefits of FPL • Approximately 16 students came to the meeting in a show of support • There was one written communication submitted to the board for the meeting, a letter from sophomore and first-year FPL president Ryan Foster in favor of saving the program
10, Opinion
SIGN FOR Change PCHS needs to implement more options for foreign language
Signing for her student, ASL interpreter Annette Catlett signs what the teacher says in class on Jan. 10. Catlett has interpreted for senior Nathan Lowry since kindergarten. Photo by Jessenia Orellana
Written by Tatianna Tafolla
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iddle-schoolers continuing into high school are encouraged to enroll in foriegn language, because for most colleges, it’s a prerequisite. By offering more options, a student can stand out by straying away from the usual Spanish or French classes. Offering American Sign Language (ASL) as a foreign language class should be an option whether it be for that application, for fun or to simply communicate with a peer. According to Deaf Linx, an organization set up to fight audism through empowerment and education, teaching ASL in schools can help strengthen the communication between deaf and hearing students which helps defeat any isolation a deaf student may feel by being restricted from communicating with their peers. This also helps bring awareness of the deaf community by increasing the
After 10 minutes of reading, interpreter Anette Catlett signs the next set of directions to her student on Jan. 10. Catlett has been an interpreter for 17 years. Photo by Jessenia Orellana
amount of people who understand and use ASL. This helps not only in education but also in a work environment. The U.S. Department of Justice passed the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990, resulting in a demand for interpreters in a wide variety of settings such as education, medical, regular community activities, legal and job-related interactions. The Gallaudet Research Institute states that approximately 250,000300,000 people use ASL in their everyday lives. The US National Library of Medicine estimates 1 in 20 Americans are currently deaf or hard of hearing. By making ASL a foreign language option, we can increase the number of people able to communicate with that segment of the population. It may be difficult to include it as a regular traditional setting classroom, but it should be seen as a worthwhile endeavor. The American Sign Language Uni-
versity notes that it takes 60-90 hours to learn the basics of the language, which is considerably less compared to other languages. People who have learned the material in this amount of time are able to have a common conversation with a deaf person. In an average school year there are about 36 weeks of class, with about 45 minutes a day, five days a week. That amounts to more than 100 hours involved in practicing ASL for one school year. It would take some preparation and time to include this program. Resources such as teachers and money would be needed, but with enough time and effort, learning ASL in the classroom could happen. With the world continuously changing and adapting, creating more variance in learners, it would be beneficial for students to have the opportunity to learn ASL in school.
PASSING TIME Positively How having hobbies can contribute to healthier state of mind
Graphics by Jessenia Orellana Written by Sophia Zimmerman
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illing your life with things that bring you joy is a simple concept. From a young age we are told to find something we are passionate about, then work to make it into a career. It’s good advice, but how do we positively fill our free time as well? Hobbies are a pursuit outside of one’s regular occupation, participated in especially for relaxation and peace of mind. Hobbies are a healthy way to pass time with activities that positively engage one’s mind and help prevent stress. It’s time for more people to start searching for a more productive way to pass time. Having hobbies has been proven to decrease stress by taking people’s minds off of the stressful parts of everyday life. A study published in the Annals of Behavioral Medicine followed more than 100 adults as they went about their daily activities. Participants wore heart monitors and completed surveys to report their activities and how they were feeling. After three days, the researchers found that people who engaged in leisure activities were 34 percent less stressed and 18 percent less sad during these activities. It didn’t seem to matter how much the participants did the hobby, just as long as they did something they deeply enjoyed. Those activities can range from pottery and puzzles to running and dancing. There is a hobby out there for all different types of people to pursue and enjoy. Out of
124 responses on a school survey, 91.9% (114) said they had a hobby. Hobbies can be an amazing way to connect with people and make friends with those who share the same interests through organizations and groups, classes and teams. Choosing to participate in these hobbies can also be a good way to build on a person’s strengths and give themselves a confidence boost as they progressively work to grow and improve. A good way to find a new hobby would be to start with things you already know you like. If you enjoy looking at the murals painted around your town, perhaps you should think about taking up something that involves painting or even using those locations to pursue photography. If you are a music lover, maybe edit music online or take up a new instrument and make your own. There are plenty of interesting hobbies in the world, and if you look hard enough, you should be able to find the one that brings you the most enjoyment and therapeutic relief. Having an activity you can do daily during your free time that isn’t associated with work is crucial for mental health. It’s important to give yourself the time to expand on things you enjoy doing and to destress in order to fill your life with things that bring you joy outside of the people you surround yourself with on a daily basis. Take up something new to expand both your horizons and your contentment.
January 2020, 11
12, Sports
Working on her breaststroke, freshman Blair Bolling finishes her 75 swims for practice on Jan. 8. Bolling has been swimming for five years. Photo by Jessenia Orellana
All eyes on the coach, the girls swim team listens to the next set of directions Coach Doug DeLay has for them on Jan. 8. The girls just finished doing 4x200 freestyle. Photo by Jessenia Orellana
A New Lane
Girls swim team adds new coach, officially starts middle school team Written by Kiersten Robbins and Grace Roggy
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his swim season has welcomed their newest member, volunteer coach Doug DeLay. DeLay is a teacher in the Park Hill School District at Renner Elementary. Swimmers such as junior Sage Nichols and sophomore Maria Molinari said he has been a great addition to the team and coaching staff by playing a positive influential role. “DeLay brings very challenging practices and a really great enthusiasm,” Nichols said. “He’s really great at pumping up the team and getting us excited even though it’s going to be a hard practice.” DeLay was a swimmer until he was a senior in high school. His love of
swimming lead him down the path of coaching. Prior to volunteering with the girl’s team, DeLay worked as an assistant coach for the boys swim team in the fall. In addition to this, DeLay coaches two other teams: Thousand Oaks and the Tsunami. “My favorite part about swimming is the fact that it’s a team or individual sport; you get the best of both worlds,” DeLay said. “Most of the time it’s having a personal success whether that be winning their heat or dropping time in a certain event, but at the same time no matter what you do, it all contributes to the success of the team.” DeLay’s job entails structuring practices that get the girls in condition
to swim in meets, along with being a positive motivator for the team. Swimmers said he brings a new and unique style to practices, enabling them to be both fun and disciplined. “DeLay is able to give us the sets and able to discipline us but not in a harsh way,” Molinari said. “He makes us work harder and still enjoy it, and we are able to work on specific things we need. Practice is more organized, and they give us a big board and a little board for the lanes so we can look at it. It’s easy access, and we know what we are doing each practice.” Head girls swim coach Marnie Jenkins said she and DeLay make a great team and work well together.
January 2020, 13
Gliding through the water, junior Avery Nix practices her backstroke streamline. Nix is on varsity and has swam mostly distance and 200 IM’s. Photo by Jessenia Orellana
“I really feel that everyone cares for one another,” Jenkins said. “I also feel like our work ethic is better this year, and this is definitely due to Coach DeLay. I think he does a great job of making those connections clear to swimmers as far as the ‘why’ behind what we’re doing, and he helps fuel that motivation. I think that he does a really nice job of having you understand that this is the process, and this is why we’re doing things. I think it just makes the whole team better.” In order to expand the girls swim program, Jenkins formed a middle school swim team that officially began this year. “I feel like that’s a special age that
we can get them, train them, and they will more than likely come out for high school,” Jenkins said. “They know the coaches and expectations, and I feel like it’s really contributed to our freshmen being better prepared.” More and more swimmers are joining the team every year enabling them to have higher chances of making it to state and performing better at conference. “My goal for this season is for us to win conference,” Jenkins said. “We have not been in the top eight for a relay, and I would love for a relay to make the top eight at state. I’d like for us to score more points than we have, which means more individual entries
for state, and hopefully we place well for our relays.” Overall, the girls swim team has made progress expanding and improving their program. Just this year they broke the record for the 200 medley relay and the 200 free relay. They also qualified to go to state for two relays as well as a few individual events “This year has been a really enjoyable year,” Jenkins said. “I feel like we have really connected better as a team this year. We have great leaders for our seniors. The chemistry of the team is bright, and I don’t know how we achieved that. The team feels more like a team.”
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Together we succeed
14, Sports
In the weight room, the step team practices their new routine. They practice during PLT and also use Coach Parrish’s room, along with the North Cafeteria. Photo by Claire Graves
At practice, the step team goes over a more complicated move in their new routine. The step team is coached by Ashlyn Brantley, and anyone can join. Photo by Claire Graves
Stepping up their Game Step team returns as an acitvity for students Written by Grace Roggy
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he return of the step team is in the works with Ashlyn Brantley as head coach. The step team in the past was comprised entirely of seniors, so when they graduated they no longer had the numbers to keep a team. “I have coached the step team before, and they want me to do it again and help [them] get organized for assemblies and other performances,” Brantley said. The team has many members who have stepped for years and some who have never had any prior experience. However, anyone at any level is able to join. “There are girls who have dance background and other girls who have step background, and there are girls who have no background at all; it’s a mixture of a group,” Brantley said.
Step practices are held in MO Ops/ ISS teacher Jamar Parrish’s room during PLT. “We all meet in Parrish’s room, and we go over the routines, talk about formations and practice making sure all of our stomps and claps are together,” senior Michelle Sawyer said. In addition to Parrish’s room, the team also has plans to make use of other areas of the school. “We are looking to practice in the weight room or cafeteria because the floors are useful to help the girls hear the sound of each step,” Brantley said. The group has choreographed and learned a few routines already this year. Their first performance took place at the Ethnic Festival on Dec 12. “A few girls already had steps from their prior step team and taught the rest of us the routine, and that’s the
routine we performed at the fair,” junior Naizaryah Whitaker said. The team is still not official, but it is working to gain traction and become more involved in future school events, including performing at the Courtwarming assembly. “When it comes to performance time, whoever knows the step will perform it,” Brantley said. “Anyone can learn the steps, but if you don’t know, it you won’t perform.” Members of the dance team are not only focused on the performance aspect of being a part of the team, but being close as a team and forming bonds within the group. “This is an environment where you can be yourself, and it’s a great way to express yourself through music, and you meet new people and create new bonds,” Whitaker said.
January 2020, 15
HITTING THE Slopes
Skiing, snowboarding take over season once again
While waiting to get on the slopes, junior Kylene Loy poses for a quick shot. Loy has been snowboarding for a year and a half since she started working at Snow Creek in Weston, Mo. Photo by Claire Graves
Written by Sophia Zimmerman
O
nce again winter has rolled into the Midwest, and dropping temperatures may prevent students from taking part in common outdoor activities such as football or soccer. However, the cold time of year brings with it other season-specific activities to participate in and stay active. “I like skiing because it gives you a sense of freedom,” senior Sabrina Mandelli said. “When you ski, it makes you focus on the action, and there is a lot of adrenaline. It frees your mind.” Like a lot of sports or physical activities, skiing and snowboarding have been known to provide an adrenaline
rush similar to what one experiences on a roller coaster. “I enjoy snowboarding,” junior Avery Krahenbill said. “It’s a fun skill that can help with other things such as balance and reflexes for other sports.” According to Alltrack Academy, achieving the angles necessary for high-quality turning on slopes requires flexibility, particularly in the hips and lower body. Skiers also need decent stamina to maintain the energy needed to last the day. Out of 81 responses on a school survey, only 3.7% (3 respondents) said they did not enjoy skiing or snowboarding if they had been. “I started when I was 5 or 6 years
old with my dad,” Mandelli said. “He is very good at skiing. He has been skiing his whole life. He was a rescuer in the Alps, and he taught me and my siblings.” Kids can start learning how to ski or snowboard starting at the age of 3 in one of the several youth programs the ski park Snow Creek provides. Snow Creek is located in Weston, Mo., and is open mid-December through midMarch. It is one of two snow parks located in Missouri. “It is nice that Snow Creek is so close,” junior and Snow Creek employee Kylene Loy said. “It’s a good option for snowboarders.”
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