JagWire Newspaper: Volume 23, Issue 3

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Volume 23 Issue 3 December 12, 2022 JW PAGE 4 Panasonic battery plant update and overview of the plant’s history PAGE 7 A guide to lastminute gifts for family and friends during the holidays PAGE 14 A break down of different skin care products and popular skin care myths As finals approach, students scramble to find a study style that best fits them STUDY HABITS 2022-2023 HighMillValley JaguarSchool Pride
Mill Valley High School Shawnee, Kansas

JagWire Office

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Email: jagwirenewspaper@gmail.com Adviser: Kathy Habiger khabiger@usd232.org

JagWire, a monthly publication of Mill Valley High School, is printed by Valley Offset Printing

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The 2022 JagWire earned an All-American rating from NSPA and an All-Kansas rating from KSPA. It is also a member of the NSPA All-American Hall of Fame.

Editorial Policy

We value your opinions. If you wish to submit a column or a letter to the editor to the JagWire, you can do so by handing it in to a member of the staff or to the print journalism room (C101). Additionally, you may email any member of the staff with opinions, as well as tweet us at @millvalleynews. Anonymous content will not be accepted. Please understand that we have the right to edit all copy that runs in this publication.

Censorship Policy

The Kansas Student Publications Act guarantees the same rights for student journalists as are guaranteed for professional journalists. These rights include, but are not limited to, all First Amendment rights, including the rights of freedom of speech and the press, insofar as published items may not contain libelous, slanderous or obscene statements, may not incite or promote illegal conduct and may not cause a substantial disruption to normal school activity. This law also prevents censorship of any kind by the adviser, building or district administration.

Julia Shumaker Dec. 12, 2022 Table of Contents 2 3 4 6 7 12 13 2022 -23 STAFF @millvalleynews @millvalleynews1 @MillValleyNews
PUBLICATION INFORMATION Editor in Chief Avery Gathright Online Editors in Chief Gabby Delpleash Emma Clement IN THIS ISSUE Photo Editors Luke Wood Elizabeth Summa Design Editors Chloe Miller Copy Editors Natalie Merley Baylen Monson Social Media Editors Grace Brookshire Katelyn Krosky Reporters & Photographers Sydney McGlasson Madelyn Welch Ian Chern Leah Dresvyannikov Luci Guess Hailey Perrin Abby Riggs Kai Tolly Anna Zwahlen Maggie Wieland OPINIONS STAFF EDITORIAL NEWS PANASONIC PLANT FEATURES SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKER PHOTO ESSAY SCHOOL SPIRIT FEATURES SILVER STARS 8 SPECIAL SECTION STUDY HABITS OPINION THE FINAL STRETCH 14 GRAPHICS SKIN CARE 16 A&E LAST-MINUTE GIFTS Page and cover by: Julia Shumaker

SURVIVING FINALS

For many, the month of December is synonymous with holiday spirit. It is a time to be cheerful and generous, a happy month to end a long year of work and accomplishments. However, for high school students, this month is too often only synonymous with one thing: final exams.

Instead of being energized and carefree, spending time with friends and families, students can expect to be sleep-deprived and stressed, spending their time hitting the books and reviewing their notes. Whether students have been preparing all semester or are seeing their notes for the first time since writing them, the stress is imminent and the message is clear: passing these tests must be a priority.

According to an NYU study on student stress, 49% of all students reported feeling a great deal of stress on a daily basis, citing their main reasons as grades, homework, and preparing for college.

Students’ stress is only enhanced when there seems to be a lack of available resources with which to study. With well-known study websites Quizlet and Kahoot now implementing paywalls, this process can seem more difficult than ever.

Sometimes, the most difficult part

of preparing for finals is knowing where to begin. Even without the most popular resources being available, there are many methods students can use to help them prepare. These methods include more novel practices such as teaching material to someone else or playing study

While it can be difficult to find the perfect study method, having the right resources is only half the journey. The responsibility ultimately rests on the student’s shoulders to put in the effort toward their grades and studies. Students must be willing to acknowledge what material is still unknown and plan out the best way to gain an understanding of it. This shows that the student is taking ownership of their studying and prioritizing their own success.

games available through websites like Blooket, which help students view material in a new way. Other methods such as mnemonic devices, study guides, seeking out help and studying in a group may also help provide some relief to the stress of finals season. Finding the method that works best for oneself is crucial to making studying effective.

In addition to taking active responsibility for what still needs to be learned, students should prioritize their well-being to best ready themselves for their exams. All of a student’s studying will be for naught if they end up too sick to show up to exams or are too tired to focus. An MIT study found a strong correlation between exam performance and sleep, showing that while studying is important, it is not the only factor contributing to success on tests.

With these tips in mind, studying does not have to be the long and tedious process many students now know it to be. Finding the methods that are a good fit can make the process more fulfilling and mitigate the stress, so students can get through exams with ease and enjoy their winter break.

5
Reminder: time to study!
STAFF ED 3 JagWire
Design by Chloe Miller As finals week approaches, students may struggle to implement effective study habits
All of a student’s studying will be for naught if they end up too sick to show up to exams or are too tired to focus
Staff Editorial

ESSENTIAL ENERGY

Panasonic Energy, one of the global leaders in lithium-ion battery production, broke ground on the site of its new $4 billion facility in De Soto, Kansas Wednesday, Nov. 2. The ceremonial event celebrated the work that had already been done with erecting the EV battery plant. The plant is expected to be finished by March 2025 according to Panasonic Energy.

Panasonic will drive significant economic activity for Kansas, making the state a key player in the electric vehicle industry. The facility will be located at the Astra Enterprise Park site and will make the location a key economic player for the region. Excavation work is already underway.

According to an article by Panasonic Energy, De Soto Mayor Rick Walker sees the new plant facility as an opportunity to form a robust relationship with the city’s econom-

ic chamber to bring about a wide stretch of new opportunities.

“The city of De Soto is thrilled to work with Panasonic and welcome them to our amazing community,” Walker said in an interview. “De Soto has a rich history of supporting critical manufacturing facilities and we have been planning for this growth and return of advanced manufacturing jobs in this area for years.”

According to superintendent Dr. Frank Harwood, Kansas’ skilled manufacturing workforce, reliable infrastructure and central location in North America makes De Soto an ideal location for this facility.

“People don’t necessarily grasp that the Sunflower Army Aviation Plant, where the Panasonic facility is being built, is 9,000 acres of undeveloped land,” Harwood said. “Panasonic’s plant is 300 acres so there’s lots of room for more development.”

Panasonic announced plans to come to De Soto to build their newest facility in July. USD232 school board president Ashley Spaulding is anxious to witness the opportunities Panasonic will bring to students.

“I’m very excited about the opportunities that our students are going to have in terms of our real world learning efforts in our district,” Spaulding. “We’ve got a great real world learning program in our district where students have opportunities to have hands-on, interactive experiences with local businesses. Bringing an organization like Panasonic right to De Soto is going to be huge for our students.”

Panasonic has a long track record of supporting the communities where it operates. As a first step in the company’s new commitment to Kansas and the De Soto community, Panasonic made a $25,000 donation to USD 232 to support “educational opportunities.” Harwood says the administration intends to direct the donation to support academic programming for students.

“With real world learning, what we’re trying to do is that we’d like for every student that graduates to have what’s called a market value asset,” Harwood said. “One of those is an

Dec. 12, 2022 NEWS 4
A new panasonic battery plant has broken ground in De Soto and will create more job opportunities

THE POWERFUL

FACTS

Facts about the goals of the plant

internship or client connected projects. One of the drawbacks we have currently is having enough capacity for someplace for all the students to go, so having a major employer that has a wide range of career opportunities within one company will be very beneficial for our students.”

Facility construction is focused on rapidly ramping up manufacture of “2170” cylindrical lithium-ion batteries to meet surging domestic EV battery demand according to Panasonic Energy.

The facility will maintain an annual total production capacity of approximately 30 gigawatts an hour to supply EV manufacturers across the United States.

Panasonic’s facility is expected to create up to 4,000 jobs; recruitment for the first positions will begin in mid2023. Harwood states many ramifications need to be regarded when considering a population increase.

“The big thing with De Soto right now is that there’s not the infrastructure in place to start just building hundreds of houses and apartment complexes,” Harwood said. “Before that happens, they have to put in the sewers

and the waterline, the roads and the curbs and the gutters. While they’re doing that, we at the same time can be building schools.”

Drama teacher and De Soto native Jon Copeland predicts De Soto growing into a populous city like Shawnee.

“I can only guess what the new Panasonic plant will do,” Copeland said. “But I assume that it will make development from the direction of the east have a boom. Lots more houses and business development going in along K-10 would be my guess. I think De Soto has already lost most of the small town feeling it had when I was a child, but hopefully it will maintain some of its small town charm.”

Looking to the future, Harwood sees Panasonic as a revolutionary actor for academics and economics.

“All indications are that as a company, Panasonic really likes to be invested in the community and help the community grow,” Harwood said. “They understand that schools are an integral part of their workforce development and they want to be a part of helping us be successful.”

The 4680 model will begin in Wakayama, in

Japan, by the end of March 2024, with expansion later to production in North America.

Panasonic reported 86.1 billion yen in profit, versus an average 632 million dollar profit. A year earlier, the company earned 710 million dollars

Initial production capacity of 30 gigawatt hours per year is equivalent to 60% of the company’s current annual EV battery production capacity in Japan and the United States

Design
NEWS 5 JagWire
by Natalie Merley Local and state officials break ground alongside representatives from Panasonic Wednesday, Nov 2. Photo by Julia Shumaker Making a speech at the ground breaking ceremony Wednesday, Nov. 2, governor Laura Kelly talks about how the plant will benefit the Kansas economy. Photo by Julia Shumaker The plant will primarily supply batteries to Tesla. Which is the number one seller of EVs in the world The De Soto location is expected to create up to 4,000 more jobs. Recruitment will start in the middle of 2023 The factory may make 4680 format battery that is about five times larger and will offer major improvements in cost and vehicle range western Source: Reuters

A HELPING HAND

Since the start of COVID-19, the school has seen a rise in mental health issues. Whether students are having trouble with their mental health, or just having a bad day there is a resource many students don’t know exists. School social worker Debbie Gudenkauf has been working at Mill Valley for eighteen years and loves to help students work through difficult things.

Gudenkauf graduated from the University of Kansas with both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social work and has adopted some of the philosophies she learned there.

“I am less concerned about a specific diagnosis that may have been given to a student and more concerned about how the associated thoughts and behaviors may impact their ability to function at school as well as in their social or home life,” Gudenkauf said. “I come from what’s known as a ‘strength’s perspective’ – simply the belief that we all have strengths we can use to help navigate through difficult times.”

Senior Sophie Sena has been going to see Gudenkauf intermittently throughout the past couple of years and says Gudenkauf has given her tools to manage her anxiety.

“I used to struggle with a lot of test anxiety in one of my classes and so I went to her about it because I was freaking out one day,” Sena said. “She taught me how to calm myself down, and she also was able to help me get separate settings for tests in that class. That really helped me do a lot better.”

Gudenkauf also sponsors and

leads JagPride, a club for students against destructive decisions who promote better mental health. Senior Helen Springer, a member of

“She really helps us organize everything. She basically comes up with almost all the ideas and if she didn’t come up with it, she definitely encourages us to pursue the idea, and she’ll help us out with all of that,” Springer said. “I also know that she has been a help to a bunch of students with their problems and struggles and also gives really good guidance even if you just have a question.”

According to Gudenkauf, there are small ways to improve mental health on a daily basis, and learning these strategies will help with balance in life.

the club, says Gudenkauf helps the students in the club sort through different ideas.

“One of the easiest ways to improve one’s mental health is to practice healthy time management and build in time to intentionally take care of oneself,” Gudenkauf said.

There is no shame in asking for help with your mental health or everyday problems

Dec. 12, 2022 FEATURES Design by Katelyn Krosky 6
Social worker Debbie Gudenkauf counsels students and sponsors JagPride Standing outside her office, school social worker Debbie Gudenkauf talks with a student Wednesday, Nov. 30. Photo by Baylen Monson
IMPROVE YOUR MENTAL HEALTH Ways to improve your mental health according to Debbie Gudenkauf Practice self care Find activities or hobbies which bring you peace, calming your mind and your body. Take care of your body
Eat 3 nutricious meals, hydrate, get plenty of sleep, and exercise
Don’t be afraid to ask for help
...we all have strengths we can use to help navigate through difficult times
Debbie Gudenkauf

A GUIDE TO GIFT GIVING A TO GIFT

few ideas for presents in different price ranges to help you shop for loved ones during the holidays

A

A gift giving style that has been popular through the decades is stocking stuffers, a cheaper store bought alternative. This idea of gift giving integrated into the concept of giving gift baskets to people for the holidays.

Media specialist Ashley Agre describes her similar gift giving strategies.

“I love doing a mix of gifts, like a box with lots of different little things,” Agre said. “One of my favorites is thinking of things that are my favorite and giving those [things to others], and it is usually a pretty easy gift.”

MARTINA DE LA RIVA GARCIA HOMEMADE

Stores are known to get busy during the holidays, especially with people buying last minute gifts. With all the hustle and bustle, sometimes it is easier to go a more heartfelt path with handmade gifts like letters and photos.

Junior Martina de la Riva Garcia expresses her passion for giving homemade items to friends and family saying it is more meaningful.

“For my friends, [I get them] clothes because they love clothes,” de la Riva Garcia said. “Then, for my family, I sometimes give them photos or like albums of photos and memories that we had together because I think it is [more sentimental than store bought gifts].”

A gift giving style that has been popular through the decades is stocking stuffers, a cheaper store bought alternative. This idea of gift giving integrated into the concept of giving gift baskets to people for the holidays.

Librarian Ashley Agre describes her similar gift giving strategies.

“I love doing a mix of gifts, like a box with lots of different little things,” Agre said. “One of my favorites is thinking of things that are my favorite and giving those [things to others], and it is usually a pretty easy gift.”

A&E 7 JagWire
Design by Chloe Miller & Grace Brookshire Story by Leah Dresvyannikov Photos by Kai Tolly
CHAD BROWN QUALITY TIME Festive Figures How the student body celebrates the holiday season and prepares their gifts 99% of students celebrate Christmas 70% of students buy presents in december 56% of students spend 20-50$ on gifts 59% of students give store bought gifts December $ Survey of 105 students ASHLEY AGRE GIFT BASKETS
GIFTS

STUDYING SOLUTIONS STUDYING SOLUTIONS

With final exams coming up, students are looking last-minute for the best way to prepare. Luckily, there are resources available to help manage their studies for

As the end of the semester approaches, students are beginning to think about how they will study for their final exams. For some students, finals are a breeze due to their well-organized notes and effective study habits, other students find themselves scrambling to get their materials together. As finals loom closer, the stress can pile up into mountains. Though it may seem difficult at times to adequately prepare, there are ways to walk out of finals with a good score without sacrificing your mental health. Students share their experiences with studying, and provide tips for procrastinators and planners alike.

PROCRASTINATION

When approaching studying for tests, students find themselves waiting until the last minute.

One of these students is freshman Jordan Powell, who usually starts studying the night before her tests and has found that it has worked well for her.

“I know that I won’t do well on a test if I don’t look at it and review it at all, but it doesn’t take much for me to do decent on a test but it was like looking over information,” Powell said.

On the other hand, senior Sophia Chang wants to start studying earlier but finds it hard to start.

“To be honest I [start studying] one or two days before,” Chang said. “I like thinking about it a week before, but then I don’t do it because I procrastinate.”

Junior Nathan Garner studies for finals, but typically does not study much for tests outside of mandatory classwork.

“For finals I’ll try and study in a more usual way; I look at

the textbook and all my notes,” Garner said. “[Though,] usually I just do what the teacher provides. Sometimes they’ll provide a good practice set or a practice quiz. I’ll just do that or I’ll look at Quizlet if it’s like an important test. But usually in my classes, I pay enough attention that I don’t really have to.”

Garner understands that studying can help improve grades, but also acknowledges that for students with other priorities than school, it isn’t always necessary.

“I think if you fail a test that’s not great, but I think that there’s usually enough [other grades] in each class that if you do bad on one test; you can just do good on everything else and you’ll still get the ‘A,’” Garner said. “I mean, obviously studying more will probably lead to a better grade, but I don’t hold grades as a super high importance, in general.”

Dec. 12, 2022 SPECIAL SECTION 8
-Signupforstudysession Math HW- Due tommor -StudyforSpanishtest! DO IT Now Later STUDY ENGLISHFORFINAL!
ALSO THE
FINAL
HISTORY

Psychology teacher Kirsten Crandall emphasizes the importance of having a mindset like Garner at times, saying that studying should not dictate a student’s self worth.

“How well you study is not going to ever dictate your success as a human,” Crandall said. “The sum of who you are is so much more than your grades. You are simply, on a test, just demonstrating what you know, not what your worth is.”

Sophomore Will Jonasson does not currently place much emphasis on grades, like Crandall talks about, and prefers to study last minute like Powell.

“A lot of times I don’t [study], but other times, I usually have note cards and I take notes. Sometimes it helps. Sometimes it doesn’t. I usually put it off to the last minute,” Jonasson said. “I think if I had better organization, and I cared, first of all, that would take too long, but it would also improve my grade.”

Oftentimes, for Jonasson, reviewing is difficult as a result of the lack of structure within storing and taking notes.

“It looks like gibberish. I tried to organize it. But I really have no organization, system or method.” Jonasson said. “I just write what I can.”

Students have a variety of reasons to wait until the last minute to study or do homework. But as Crandall believes, simply

feeling overwhelmed can result in building habits, such as procrastination.

“I think for myself, and for most people, it’s when we feel overwhelmed that we procrastinate.” Crandall said. “And so procrastination is more fear based than it is anything else.”

PLANNING AHEAD

For other students, cramming at the last minute is not as successful. Leading them to prefer a more planned out and organized method.

Senior Rose Lee typically finds the most success studying

four days in advance, Lee would recommend that students plan ahead when studying for big tests and finals.

“[I would recommend that students] plan for future study time,” Lee said. “Plan to organize your notes and plan what you want to study and organize what you really need to study on.”

Crandall will typically recommend a more planned out method, working in shorter intervals in order to help retain the information long term and combat the feeling of being overwhelmed.

“The first thing that I always

Design
SPECIAL SECTION 9 JagWire
by Julia Shumaker
Sophomore Will Jonasson finds studying this time of the semester difficult, so it usually leads to lots of cramming and procrastination. Photo Illustration Elizabeth Summa
What the current study habits of students look like Survey of 105 students STUDENT STATISTICS 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. FLASHCARDS FLASHCARDS STUDYING BEFORE BED STUDYING BEFORE BED TOP 5 MOST POPULAR FORMS OF STUDYING HANDWRITING INFO. HANDWRITING INFO. VERBAL REPETITION VERBAL REPETITION STUDYING IN A GROUP STUDYING IN A GROUP 37.1% 26.7% 18.1% 11.4% 6.7% 0-1 HOURS 1-2 HOURS 2-3 HOURS 3-5 HOURS MORE THAN 5 HOURS AVERAGE STUDY TIME PER WEEK RESULTING GRADE AVERAGE Mostly A’s 74.3% 19% 5.7% 1% Mostly B’s Mostly C’s Mostly F’s

STUDY

STUDY FOR FREE

tell students is to work to space it out,” Crandall said. “It’s not going to feel good at first. But after like a week of doing that, you start feeling like you’re the most organized person in the world, and it gets kind of addictive.”

More specifically, Crandall would look at test dates then work backwards to make sure she had enough time to feel

thing crossed off the list, everything else is easy.”

Not only is it important to make sure you have a balanced plan. But it is also very important to use your time effectively. For Crandall, this will often look like reminding students that when you’re studying it’s not meant to be miserable.

“I think we’ve accidentally trained you guys into thinking that if you’re studying well, you’re miserable, and you are at it for hours and just kind of torturing yourself.” Crandall said. “When in actuality if you can learn to be productive in a short timeframe, 10 minutes of good studying is better than hours of moderate studying.”

This process of efficient studying starts in school with making sure the in class work and notes are organized.

ready for the test, making sure to balance out the study time. Then, do the tasks in a specific order.

“I’d start with an easy one to kind of ease into it. And then whatever the most annoying thing was that I had on that list, I would do second,” Crandall said. “Because once you get that

For Lee, this looks like writing out the content, finding that it helps her to better memorize and understand the material.

“For tests, I usually look at the study guide or whatever notes I’m given or essays that have us write,” Lee said. “Then I’ll rewrite the notes or I’ll rewrite the essay or I’ll usually create a Quizlet.”

Dec. 12, 2022 SPECIAL SECTION 10
Senior Sophia Chang updates her agenda for the day using the app called Notion. This helps Chang become more prepared for her upcoming tests. Photo Illustration by Elizabeth Sum-
We’ve accidently trained you guys into thinking that if you’re studying well, you’re miserable.
Kirsten Crandall
multiple
including math, physics,
edX
free SAT practice questions and tests courses including Spanish, French, Italian, Japanese, Arabic and more free AP course material including practice tests and videos offers over 2,500 online free courses
Top free study sites for high school students and what they offer Duolingo
FOR FREE Khan Academy Source: Forbes
free courses
biology and more
The College Board
online college courses that can be added to student resumes study guides for AP tests includes sentence bulidng, speaking and listening activities
ed X

RESOURCES

FOR STUDYING

Many students have found specific methods and resources that work well for studying.

Lee believes that a good note taking system can set off the preparation process on a good foot, finding that for her, notes with lots of colors and details help her to memorize the content.

“I like lots of colors in my notes, so I highlight the main topics, I highlight the subtopics and I’ll highlight vocab words or important quotes for the notes,” Lee said. “I like bullet points; I hate essay format.”

Another method which can help is group studying. Chang studied for AP US History in a study group and found talking through the material to help.

“For groups, I really love being able to lean on other people when I don’t know something because I often don’t know things,” Chang said. “We can get sidetracked, which is not always a good thing, but it makes it really fun. I gained a lot of friends from being in a group.”

Crandall also recommends studying in a group.

“I also encourage [students] to use each other,” Crandall said. “You guys are in such a social stage of life and you’re seeking social connection no matter what. So if you’re going to put your phone down”

Chang also likes using an or-

ganization app called Notion. The app helps her to organize her schedule and take notes in a more personalized way.

“[Notion is] really cool because you can really customize the style of your notes,” Chang said. “I think if something’s prettier, I’m more willing to use it. So I use that to organize my weeks and my months and more future planning. So I can try and be more proactive for everything else.”

Senior Abhi Raut uses another unique method of studying: presenting to her parents.

“It’s kind of weird, but if I have time, I will just have my parents there, and I’ll pull up all the Power Points, whether it’s math or Anatomy or [Biology]

and go through every lesson with them like I’m the teacher,” Raut said. “It really helps me because then I’ll be able to formulate my thoughts into words out loud. If I’m confused about something, but I don’t catch it yet, I’ll catch it then.”

Raut also recommends writing down the material to help with memorization, citing her time preparing for theater.

“When I was in rep theater and with lines, I just grab a piece of paper and write everything down from memory and just write, write, write,” Raut said. “If I write stuff down, later, when I’m actually taking the test, I can just imagine the piece of paper and the words on it.”

Design
SPECIAL SECTION 11 JagWire
by Julia Shumaker Senior Abhi Raut prefers to write down what she learns during class to help her study for upcoming tests. Photo Illustration by Elizabeth Summa
METHODS OF STUDY A break-down of popular study techniques WHO CREATED IT? POMODORO TECHNIQUE FEYNMAN TECHNIQUE WHO CREATED IT? FRANCESCO CIRILLO- WHO CREATED IT? WHAT IS IT? RICHARD FEYNMAN WHO CREATED IT? WHAT IS IT? WHAT IS IT? WHAT IS IT? Involves studying/working in 25 minute intervals then taking a break for 5 minutes inbetween Choose a topic or concept to focus on and try teaching it to a family member or friend. Choose a topic Explain the topic to somone Identify any gaps Review and simplify Choose a topic Set a 25 minute timer Study for 25 min Take a 5 minute break

THE FINAL STRETCH

Finals

puts the reality of high schoolers’ extremely busy schedules on full display

While the end of the year can be a cause of celebration for staff and students alike, with holidays, breaks and plans for activities on the horizon, I can’t help but notice the cloud that hangs over it all. Exhaustion and burnout seem to spread as rapidly as the flu among students as the stress of finals looms over everyone. From my observation, the underlying cause seems to be the upset of balance that this time of year can cause in the lives of high schoolers who are busier than ever before. When that balance is upset, being successful 100% of the time becomes impossible, regardless of what sphere of life that success is in.

If anything, the end of the first semester is a time of sacrifice. Sleep, social life, hobbies and mental health are often the first to be dropped from the lives of most students, including myself. While allotting time to prioritize things like sleep, hobbies and friends is useful, sometimes what’s

even more useful is to come to terms with the prospect of failure. I’ve had to hear it time and again: it’s ok to fail sometimes.

The frantic rush to achieve the goals set for the semester is felt by everyone, especially the chronically exhausted high school students like me. Floods of assignments fill calen-

Sure, semester finals is a stressful time, but really it’s the time when the pressures faced by high schoolers are put on full display. At this point in our lives, we have all had to learn balance. School, work, family and friends all have to be given a place in our lives, creating a very delicate balance. At this point in the year, the effort and energy needed to maintain that fragile equilibrium have been all but exhausted. Often, finals is the final straw that tips the scale, sending many students into a downward spiral of stress, sleep deprivation and poor coping mechanisms, which leads to failure in some sphere of life.

dars and study sessions take on more erratic tones as the tests we prepare for carry heavier weights for our final grades.

Not to say that you have to prepare yourself to fail a test, but you have to prepare yourself to fail to meet your goals. Forgetting a homework assignment, taking a rain check on social events and being late to work are all inevitable. Sometimes what is expected of you by everyone else simply isn’t coherent with your current abilities. When you can remember that and accept that failure isn’t the end of the world, you can approach this time of year, and times like it in your life, with more grace.

Dec. 12, 2022 OPINION 12
Sometimes what is expected of you by everyone else simply isn’t coherent with your current abilities
Design by Katelyn Krosky

DANCING WITH THE STARS

They can be seen performing on the sidelines at football games every Friday, but the Silver Stars dance team does so much more than support the football team.

The Silver Stars compete in annual competitions like the state and national championships where they have performed exceptionally in years past. In November, the team secured their third straight state championship title. They are also reigning national champions in the jazz and game day routine categories, and are hoping to defend these titles at the National Championships later this year.

Sophomore Josie Mason, who is new to the team this year, was excited to win her first state championship with her team.

“[Winning state] feels surreal,” Mason said. “This was such a huge goal of mine and accomplishing it with a group of amazing teammates is such a great feeling.”

This year, the team is experiencing an unusual dynamic because the team has no seniors and there are three sets of siblings on the team.

Junior Trinity Baker believes that the siblings contribute towards the team’s familial bond.

“[Having so many siblings] helps us be a lot closer. We all have that family bond,” Baker said.

Wampler believes that the lack of senior leadership was a difficult adjustment for the team but thinks that the juniors have stepped up to fill that role.

“It’s been hard not having seniors because we lack that leadership effort but us juniors stepped up to fill that role and I think we’ve done a pretty good job,” Wampler said. “It’s nice because we are so close in age that it helps us have a closer team bond and be more of a family.”

Moving

floor,

Design
SPORTS 13 JagWire
by Natalie Merley
The hard working Silver Stars share their experience with the ending season
across the junior Halle Wampler smiles as she performs at the kansas state dance competition on Friday Nov. 18 Photo by Maggie Wieland Kicking their legs up, freshmen Ella Jones and Brooke Seymour show off their flexibility at the 6A state dance competiton on Friday, Nov. 18 Photo by Maggie Wieland
STARS IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Team leaders Trinity Baker and Halle Wampler share their feelings on the teams bond without seniors
There’s not really a top dog. Everyone’s in it together and everyone is here as a team.
Junior
Trinity Baker
[The] juniors have stepped up to fill that [leadership] role and I think we’ve done a pretty good job.
Junior Halle Wampler Jumping up and down with excitement, the team celebrates their first ever 6A state title. Photo by Maggie Wieland

FACE THE FACTS

SKINCARE MYTHS

There are many misconceptions about skincare. Here are five that have been debunked

If your skin is oily you should avoid all moisturizers

Having a controlled amount of oil in your skin is actually a good thing. Moisturizers have humectants and emollients which draw water into your skin and hold it there. If you have oily skin, lack of moisture could worsen your symptoms. Without the water from moisturizer your body will produce more oil to hydrate your skin. However if you have oily skin you should stay away from oil based moisturizers and get water based ones.

The higher the SPF the better

There is no notable difference between SPF amounts. According to the skin cancer foundation, “products with very high SPFs often create a false sense of security. People who use them tend to stay out in the sun much longer. They may skip reapplying...” This causes even more UV damage. The biggest tip for protecting your skin from the sun is to not rely on sunscreen, but instead on shade and clothing.

It is easy to think that hot water is the way to go with your skincare however that is false. Using hot water during your skincare routine will strip away its natural oils leaving it dry and irritated. Your pores are not meant for hot temperatures. Regularly using excessively hot water will also lead to red patches. Cold or lukewarm water is the way to go.

Sources: PC Dermatology, Apartment Therapy, Skin Cancer Foundation, Dermcare, & the Health Site

Sleeping with makeup on won’t hurt anything

There is not much of a difference between walking around with your makeup on and sleeping with it on. However, if your skin is not properly washed regularly an outer layer of dead skin and dirt will build up. If that persists you are blocking your skin from repairing itself. If you have a bad habit of forgetting to wash off your makeup try setting a reminder or doing it as soon as you get home.

There is no such thing as overwashing your face.

Doing a 12-step routine does not necessarily mean you are overwashing your face, something as simple as a cleanser that is too intense for your skin could be the culprit. Overwashing your face could possibly be worse than not washing it at all. If you wash it too much you could strip your skin causing oil buildup, causing acne and wrinkles.

Dec. 12, 2022 GRAPHICS 14
You need to wash your face with hot water
Good skincare should be an essential for everyone. Here are some tips and tricks to having healthy skin

INGREDIENTS TO AVOID

Besides color additives, FDA approval is not required for cosmetic products. Here are some ingredients you should avoid to maintain healthy skin

Source: Healthline

Aluminum

Commonly found in deodorants, eye makeup and lipstick, aluminum may be a contributing factor in breast cancer.

Phthalates

Common Phthalates are DBP, DEHP, and DEP which make the fragrances in your skincare stick to your face. These have a moderate possibility of causing development and reproductive issues.

Formaldehyde

Formaldehyde is commonly found in soaps and shampoos. According to the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, Formaldehyde is considered a known human carcinogen. It can also cause allergic reactions including rashes.

STUDENT

“My favorite product is my cleanser. I struggled finding a cleanser that wasn’t too harsh but still felt like it was doing its job. I’ve used the Dermalogica Clear Start Breakout Clearing Foaming Cleanser and it has really helped me with my confidence as well... I think it is important to know your skin type before you find a skincare routine. Just because a product works for someone doesn’t mean it will work for you. Making sure you use products that fit you will help you get the best results.”

- Sophomore Audrey Mulloy *survey of 105

GRAPHICS 15 JagWire
Design by Chloe Miller Research by Hailey Perrin
OPINION
of
of students
SUGGESTED
4 simple steps to great skin
Good Housekeeping Step 1: Cleanse Step 2: Serum Step 3: Sunscreen Step 4: Moisturize
Students share how they feel about washing their face and skincare products 76% 53%
students say they wash their face every day
say they think that their skincare products work
SKINCARE ROUTINE
Source:

NOVEMBER NOTABLES

NOVEMBER NOTABLES

A recap of the past month’s student activities

Dec. 12, 2022 PHOTO ESSAY 16
Crossing her pom poms in front of her body, junior Claire Moberly shouts the game day chant alongside fellow cheerleaders during the game day portion of the cheer state competition Saturday, Nov. 19. Photo by Maggie Wieland Junior Davion Harris holds his hands out after getting a touchdown during the state football game Saturday, Nov. 26. Winning 28-14 against Maize High School, this is the team’s fourth year winning the state title in a row. Photo by Elizabeth Summa Looking at student drawings on the table runner, senior Paige Dinslage adds her own drawing with by freshman Gus Goetch, Annie Newell, Callaway Clifton and Mallory Lux Wednesday, Nov. 16. Photo by Leah Dresvyannikov Senior Jameson Fisher does 14 pushups for the 14 points that had been accumulated after the second touchdown during the state football game Saturday, Nov. 26. Photo by Elizabeth Summa Senior Carter Harvey sings “The Way You Look Tonight” by Frank Sinatra at StuCo’s “Open Mic Night” at Ten and Two Coffee November, Tues. 29. Photo by Keira Patty
NOVEMBER 2022 S M T W T F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
Design by Abby Riggs Senior Owen Peachee passes the ball down the field during the state game Saturday, Nov. 5. Winning 1-0 this is the first time in school history soccer has won state. Photo by Lauren Aycock
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