SCIENCE OLYMPIAD SETS DISTRICT RECORD BY QUALIFYING FOR 29TH STRAIGHT STATE COMPETITION BY NATHAN THIMMESCH
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oing to State is commonly viewed as a large accomplishment. Going to State for 29 years? Virtually unheard of, unless referring to Science Olympiad. The team has qualified for State every year since 1984, when the State tournament for Science Olympiad started, and they are the only team in the district’s history to do this. Preparation for the April 6 competition is the first step that the team takes. Studying for their events is one of the most important aspects of that preparation. Sophomore Regina Yan mentions what goes into preparing for the competitions. “You have a partner to do each event with, so we’ll just have little partner groups. My partners and I do have these study nights where we get
food and we just sit there and read,” she said. After preparation, the team goes to compete in various events. Yan also recalls what the competitions themselves are like: the atmosphere, the ups, the downs, the stressful points and the more relaxed points. “[Competitions are] a little stressful because we’ve gone to State every year for 30 years. We got disqualified from some events, we got last place in some others, so it was stressful. But when you’re actually doing it, like the ones I’m doing, I pick them because they’re fun and I like doing them,” she said. “[Towards the end of the competition] they had this medal ceremony and you had to wait for three hours before that, just sit there and chill, and I mean it’s boring but fun in a way.”
For each test a student takes, they score points based on their answers’ accuracy and quality. “[Scoring] depends on the tests you take. I usually do Disease Detectives and there are different point values for the different questions you get right. Then you get a certain number of points for winning and then once you reach a certain number of points collectively as a school, that determines if you get to go to State or if you qualify or not,” junior Ben Bernard said. Despite all the stresses, however, Science Olympiad can be a fun experience to all those who participate. “I got my friends to do it with me so it’s kind of like merging learning and fun together, as cliché as that sounds,” Yan said.
CONFUSING TRAFFIC LAWS ARE CLARIFIED
BY HAYLEIGH CHUDIK
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he blare of sirens and flashing lights in the rearview mirror is something no one wants to experience. Even though most likely at some point everyone will get pulled over, the longer it can be avoided the better. A lack of knowledge of even the most minute traffic laws can cause tickets and in some cases accidents. Junior Carter Stokes knows this first hand. “[I got pulled over] for turning into the wrong lane,” Stokes said. Many drivers are unaware taking a wide turn is illegal. When taking a turn, drivers are supposed to turn into the closest lane. The only time it is legal to turn into the far lane is when an immediate turn in the opposite direction would directly follow the first turn. Despite how scrupulous the enforcement of these laws may seem, most traffic officers don’t expect people to know all of the laws. “There are numerous traffic laws- almost too many to be familiar with,” Leawood Police Officer Mark Chudik said. According to ftpersonalinjurylawyers.com 33 percent of crash fatalities are caused by speeding. People forget that any speed over the speed limit can result in being pulled over and sometimes can result in a ticket. While most officers won’t stop people for doing five to 10 miles over the limit, it just depends on the officer and what they think warrants a stop. Another main problem with speed is people who forget to account for bad weather. “You have to remember the basic speed laws and [be aware of them] when you’re going too fast for conditions,” Chudik said. When roads are wet or icy, drivers must drive under the speed limit to be safe. When it comes to your life, it is always better to be safe than sorry. So if every driver takes a driving test at some point or another, why are so many people unaware of basic laws? Officer Chudik believes that with so many traffic laws it would be impossible to make a test with a question about every law. Unfortunately this does not bode well for teens, who are just learning to drive. “I don’t think [the questions on the drivers test] have helped my driving at all,” Stokes said. To avoid tickets and possible injuries, drivers should inform themselves as much as they can. Chudik thinks that tips to driving safely are basic rules that everyone knows but just forgets. “No tailgating, keep your eyes on the road, and seatbelts,” Chudik said.
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