February Issue

Blue Valley North High School

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February 2018 | Volume 32 | Issue 4

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NORTHERN LIGHT YEARBOOK

February 2018 | The North Star | 3

Table of Contents Editors-in-chief Connor Clary Nicole Dolan Laura Evans

Copy Editors

Lauren Graham Kristen Xu Shantha Burt

Social Media Editor Lexie Herman

Photographers

Grace E. Rudman Katie George

Design Editor Taylor Mills

Graphic Designer Anna Krutz

Staff Writers

Briley Everhart Katie George Angie Giglione Lyndsey Henkel Merall Janjua Sooim Kang Caroline Koenig Anna Martin Mathew Cotton Brooke Werp

Love 4 Love... as Easy as ABC 6 Married Mustangs

17 Overcoming Injury 18 Should Athletes Pass on Protein Powder?

20 Puppin’ It Up

8 Six Exciting Gifts to Give

School Happenings

Trends

22 Professionalism for

Your Valentine

9 Skincare: Worth the Price?

10 Forget About the Pricetag 12 Loco for Pollo 14 Subscribe to the Stable

Health & Wellness 16 Resenting Presenting

Young Adults

24 Learning Literacy

Student Life 26 Adopt Don’t Shop 28 The Art of Commissions 30 It’s Simple Business

The North Star is the official high school news publication of Blue Valley North High School, an open forum distributed to all students six times a year. This is the February issue of volume 32. The North Star is printed by the Sedalia Democrat. This is a student publication and may contain controversial material. Kansas law prohibits the suppression of a student publication solely because it may contain controversial matter. Blue Valley School District No. 229 and its board members, officers and employees disclaim any responsibility for the content of this student publication; it is not an expression of School District Policy.

Students and editors are solely responsible for the content of this student publication.

ON THE COVER: Jillian Lundeen turns on her camera to record for her YouTube channel. Photo by Sooim Kang. Photo illustration by Anna Krutz. ABOVE: A dog from Wayside Waifs chews on a toy. Photo

by Grace E. Rudman.

Love... as easy as 4 | The North Star | February 2018

Elementary school students share their thoughts on love and give relationship advice.

By Angie Giglione he problem with being an adult if you’re somebody who’s really, like,

T

is that we put too much stock in the wisdom of other adults. We assume that the longer a person has been alive on the planet, the more practical knowledge they’ve attained. However, it seems like if you want an honest answer about situations regarding love and relationships, you should just ask a kid.

After all, they’ve pretty much got zero filters when it comes to their view of the world. And when it comes to the dating world, they’re no exception. Dating has never seemed simpler.

“It’s okay to hug someone when you have known them for a while.”

-Emma Sarris Charlotte Mendelson, a third grader, emphasized the importance of getting to know someone before you commit to them.

“Maybe if you just see a boy, you shouldn’t just ask to marry them,” Mendelson said. “You want to know you’ve spent lots of time with them, or, like, if they have enough in common with you.”

Mendelson also commented on what she believes is the right age to get married.

“You’re an adult when you’re 18, but maybe not when you get married,” Mendelson said. “Maybe you should already be in college or something, or like maybe 23. Or of course later.”

Mendelson said she believes whether or not you should get married depends on the type of person you are.

“Like, maybe you shouldn’t be married

kind of mean, or a robber or a murderer,” Mendelson said. “ ’Cause maybe they’re bad, and they would do something to you or get you to do that, too. But you should be married to a good citizen because they’re not mean or anything.”

According to Gus Glaser, a third grader, love can start by just asking a simple question.

“If you love someone, it’s just like liking them but a lot more,” Glaser said.

“You probably just look at someone, and then you’re like, ‘Hi, what’s your name?’ and then you might ask them out on a date, if you’re older. But if you’re younger, then that’s just weird if you do that.”

When asked what she would do on a date that wasn’t fun anymore, Mendelson said she would try to walk away, but in a way that would not hurt the other person’s feelings.

“Maybe you could make a little bit of an excuse, like maybe you’re late for something, but you would want to say, ‘Oh, this was really good,’” Mendelson said.

Glaser, on the other hand, said he would just leave.

“I would just walk away,” Glaser said. “I do what I wanna do.”

Emma Sarris, a fourth grader, had a very simple way of describing what love is.

“It just happens,” Sarris said. “It’s a funny and new feeling.”

To provide an example, Sarris told the story of her parents when they met for the first time.

“They met at an airport,” Sarris said.

“My mom started talking to my dad, and then my dad’s flight got canceled, and then he hung out with my mom.”

Glaser talked about what he would do in response to the “new feeling” that Sarris talked about.

“If you like someone, you should look

February 2018 | The North Star | 5

away,” Glaser said.

Glaser commented on the tendency of adults to sometimes not be themselves around the person they like since they want to impress them.

“People in love might act weird or something and try to be like perfect or something around them, but when nobody’s looking they just do normal stuff,” Glaser said.

Glaser also talked about finding a balance between getting the person you like to like you back and proving to them that you are a good person.

“Try to impress them, and you can kind of show off a little bit, but don’t be a mean person,” Glaser said.

Sarris and Glaser talked about the proper timing for taking important steps in a relationship, such as hugging or holding hands.

“It’s okay to hug someone when you have known them for a while,” Sarris said.

Glaser said that the right time to hold hands is not always a specific point in the relationship, but it can also be a time of

the day.

“People hold hands because they wanna be side by side,” Glaser said. “You can hold someone’s hand anytime, just not midnight. Because then you’d have to wake up the other person to do that stuff.”

When asked if it’s better to be single or married, Glaser said he thinks they both have their downfalls.

“If you’re married and have a lot of kids you might get a little miserable.”

-Gus Glaser “If you’re single then it gets pretty lonely, but if you’re married and have a lot of kids you might get a little miserable, so it sort of depends,” Glaser said.

However, Glaser recognizes how the world would be different if nobody got

Meet the Kids

m Gus Glaser

-8 years old -Third Grade -Overland Trail Elementary

Left photo by Grace E. Rudman Right photo provided by Olivia Sarris

Charlotte Mendelson -8 years old -Third Grade -Leawood Elementary

married.

“First of all, there wouldn’t be any people because if no one got married then they couldn’t have kids to grow up and have other kids, so the world would be empty,” Glaser said.

Mendelson said that defining love is difficult, but ultimately love causes there to be more people. “[Love is] I don’t know… like maybe family, kind of,” Mendelson said. “Love happens because usually two people are better than one person, I guess. Like if Mom just gave birth to me, it would be just like her, but if Mom and Dad gave birth to me, it would be more like a new species, kind of.”

Sarris said that relationships take work, and it’s important to have specific character traits in order to make that happen.

“Be nice, kind and loyal to make it work,” Sarris said. “Stick with it.”

Emma Sarris

-10 years old -Fourth Grade -Overland Trail Elementary

6 | The North Star | February 2018

Married Mustangs

By Nicole Dolan

Married BVN teachers give their insight on high school dating and on making long term decisions moving forward.

“A

s a teacher, I always make the stance of not dating,” social studies teacher Krista Chugg said. “I don’t want to see people heartbroken, but I think there is a lot of value in an intentional relationship in high school.”

Krista Chugg and her husband English teacher Jeremy Chugg agree that there simply isn’t enough time to date, and high school should be a time for self development and spending time with friends. Many students may choose to date in high school, though it isn’t as common for high school relationships to be formed with the intent of marriage or longevity.

Mickey and Xenia Masterson both had dating experiences throughout high school and college, claiming that without those experiences, their relationship wouldn’t be what it is now.

“Any time you have a relationship in high school, it’s great because you

find out what you’re looking for and what you want for the future,” athletic director Mickey Masterson said. “Every relationship you have you take a piece of that, and I’ve dated lots of girls that are nothing like my wife is now, and as you get older [you think] more seriously.

She’s my one and only long term relationship that mattered.”

Throughout high school, Mickey Masterson refrained from getting into too serious of relationships, whereas Xenia Masterson had been in a serious relationship throughout high school and into college that strongly affected how she approached dating in college.

“I dated this person for five and a half years, so there was trust and a comfort level, but once I was betrayed, I didn’t trust any guys. I just wanted to focus on friends,” paraprofessional Xenia Masterson said. “I would only limit things to one date because I was bitter.

After two and a half years my attitude

changed with Mickey. There was a big difference between him and everyone else that I had been with, but he, in comparison to everyone else, there was no comparison.”

Similarly, Jeremy Chugg wouldn’t change his past, and the relationships he went through prior to his relationship and marriage with his wife Krista Chugg, because without them he would not be the man he was meant to be for her.

“Maybe I regret some things that I did before, and I wouldn’t be the same person that I am now, but I feel like all those things prior [to] Krista made me prepared for her,” Jeremy Chugg said.

Krista Chugg, on the other hand, had never dated before being in a relationship with Jeremy Chugg.

“I never liked anyone, and he was the first person that came along where he just shifted my thinking,” Krista Chugg said. “Pretty soon, I thought that well, he might break up with me, but I would

February 2018 | The North Star | 7 never break up with him. People kept than a foundation for launching into saying that I lacked experience, and so I adulthood and parenthood. Pommerenke was a bit nervous, and I had never been believes that this new influx of students broken up with, so it might be terrible if we valuing their own goals and desires over a broke up. But we knew long term relationship pretty soon and fast When you are in a is progressive and that we wanted to be relationship with someone, it a positive aspect to together.” will either end or last forever, current high school Spanish teacher dating. which sounds spooky. You’ll Kathleen Pommerenke, “Nowadays young learn something regardless. on the other hand, people don’t seem -Manual Novas-Garcia to feel an obligation pressed that without her experience dating to find their future in high school, she spouse and are dating wouldn’t know what she would value in just for the fun and experience of it,” a serious relationship, claiming that the Pommerenke said. “This acknowledgment pool in high school is much too small for of independence allows people to go with students to have marriage as a priority. the flow of the relationship more.”

“High school relationships are things Her husband, Spanish teacher Manual that most people grow out of, and there Novas-Garcia, believes in allowing life to shouldn’t be expectations where you as a unravel on its own for relationships to go 16-year-old should have a decision made about how they are meant to be. of who you’re going to be with before you “When you are in a relationship with even graduate,” Pommerenke said. someone, it will either end or last forever, Culturally, young adults now have which sounds spooky,” Novas-Garcia increasingly come to see marriage as a said. “You’ll learn something regardless. “capstone” rather than a “cornerstone” Life is so random and unexpected. If you — that is, something they do after they search too much out of it, you will just get have all their other ducks in a row, rather frustrated. I didn’t expect to teach in the

States — it’s just one of those things you run into in life.”

Though making the decision to settle down is a situational process, Krista Chugg urges young adults to acknowledge their own self worth before building a long term relationship.

“You don’t find your self worth in somebody else. They can’t make you whole or make you okay, you have to be strong and know who you are,” Krista Chugg said.

“You have to make sure to not look for that in another person.”

Jeremy Chugg agrees that students regardless of being in a relationship or not shouldn’t seek another person to make them their own individual.

“Whether you are in or not in a relationship, don’t let that be something to make you feel your self worth, like don’t let that be your only hope,” Jeremy Chugg said. “I can’t depend on Krista to make me a whole person, I am a better person because I am with her. Our relationship is valuable and we support each other, but at the same time I can’t put pressure on her to make me whole.”

1

2

3

1. Spanish teacher Manual Novas-Garcia and wife Spanish teacher Kathleen Pommerenke pose for their wedding photo.

2. Athletic director Mickey Masterson and wife paraprofessional Xenia Masterson prepare to undergo a Filipino tradition of a cord and veil to be placed around both of them as a symbol of unity and eternal bond.

3. Social studies teacher Krista Chugg taps husband English teacher Jeremy Chugg awaiting to see her for the first time in her wedding dress.

Opposite page: Social studies teacher Krista Chugg’s wedding ring sits atop pencils. Photo by Grace E. Rudman.

8 | The North Star | February 2018

Six Exciting Gifts to Give Your Valentine Opinion Column By Lexie Herman

I

t’s that time of year again. With the beginning of February comes a sense of panic as people realize that Valentine’s Day is quickly approaching, and they haven’t yet gotten gifts for their significant others. One could go with the typical flowers and chocolate, but that just seems so basic. Instead, follow this guide to find the perfect gift that your significant other will never forget.

Lettuce

When one thinks about love, flowers are almost always one of the first things that come to mind. Countless movies and television shows portray characters bringing their loved ones flowers for Valentine’s Day, or even just to show them how much they love them. However, flowers can get expensive really fast if you aren’t careful.

Instead, try to economize by purchasing a head of lettuce.

Flowers are boring, as they just sit in vases and slowly wilt. Lettuce is much more useful, because people love receiving gifts that they can eat.

Pebbles

Chocolate is a classic, especially when it comes in cute heart-shaped boxes. However, it is also a staple of many other holidays and can get a bit boring. Try to spice it up by giving your partner a heart-shaped box full of pebbles.

They will never see it coming and will laugh in surprise to find that they just got a nice box full of rocks. If you want to go full out, try decorating them with glitter, paint, or even googly eyes.

Chili Peppers

Sharks

Every year, girls post all over social media outlets about how they want a boy to buy them a life-size teddy bear. However, with such a high demand, they are almost impossible to find in stores on such late notice.

Instead, try getting her a live shark. Pets are always fun, and a shark shouldn’t be too high maintenance. Just make sure she has a place in her home for a tank large enough to fit her new companion.

Stocks and Bonds

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Jewelry is a great way to show someone you love them, but it can be very costly if you want to buy more than a ring pop. Rather than lose money on a small, expensive item that can easily be lost, try helping your partner make money by investing in stocks and bonds in their name.

With the extra cash they will have on hand, your partner can buy all the jewelry they want.

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Dictionary

Because people like getting edible gifts so much, chocolate covered strawberries are very popular around Valentine’s Day. However, this is very overplayed. Rather than getting chocolate covered strawberries, try chocolate covered chili peppers for a gift that is just as spicy as your relationship. They won’t fail to give that extra kick that proves to your partner that you care about them, plus they’re a lot more fun to eat.

As seen in many movies, writing romantic poems for a loved one is a highly successful way to demonstrate true feelings. However, if writing is not your forte, don’t panic. Why spend the time pouring out your heart into a few words when you can get your significant other a dictionary? That way, you can give them all the words in the world rather than just a poorly rhymed poem.

February 2018 | The North Star | 9

S K I N C A R E: worth the price?

By Briley Everhart

A

Students discuss whether or not it’s worth it to splurge on skincare products.

pproximately 85 disagree with the big name percent of people companies. between the ages “No, I don’t think of 12 and 24 experience [expensive skin care is worth problems with acne. This is it] because there are [cheaper] problematic because many of brands that do the same thing,” the treatments Wilson said.

“No, I don’t think aren’t cheap.

Students With their often [expensive skincare hectic choose is worth it] because schedules it between can be hard for there are [cheaper] paying for a many students brands that do the ticket to the to earn enough basketball same thing” money to game or -Lauren Wilson pay for the having a expensive product products that that will get fight off pesky blemishes and the job done. However, there unwanted pimples. are many cheap alternatives to “Target, Walmart, they’ve high end brands like Boscia or got some good deals,” Artis. sophomore Lauren Wilson “I usually go with the Biore said. charcoal scrub,” Wilson said.

While watching TV shows This scrub only costs Wilson or YouTube videos, often $5.99 at Target opposed to a times advertisements for an more expensive mask from expensive line of skincare Tropical Botanics that costs comes on and persuades $30 more. On the other hand, students to purchase these some people will go the extra products, but others often mile to make sure their skin

is as fresh and clear as it can Bullock said, “It’s pretty be. Sophomore Carly Bullock rigorous.” saves her pennies to achieve There are ways to avoid the just that. steep prices of good skincare “Yes, I think [expensive other than dupes and facial skin care] is more beneficial,” programs. Companies like Bullock said.

Birchbox or Ipsy provide As students begin to grow up opportunities to try out fivethey start to understand what to- 10 new products every their skin really needs. Every month that correlate with single person has different students’ skin. skin, but most people notice These subscriptions are a significant change in it as usually around $10 a month they enter and $120 a year. Some adolescence. products cost $100 Skincare “It’s pretty each and with the programs subscription boxes, rigorous.” are very students can try out 60 personal to -Carly Bullock new products for the each specific same price. person for Whether students this reason. want to splurge on Bullock pricey products or takes advantage of a facial strategize with drugstore program that specializes in options, some will make the a routine that works best to decision to keep their skin prevent or fix issues that occur looking and feeling fresh. with the patient’s skin type.

Everyone has a different “You go in every two weeks budget as well and a different and [the facialist] gives you skin type, making the whole a set of things to use daily,” process customizable.

10 | The North Star | February 2018

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February 2018 | The North Star | 11

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Students share their opinions on wearing name brands and how people should not be judged based on what they wear.

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ame brands, it seems like, looked down upon or anything,” a family that can’t afford name are the only thing that Nuss said. “You just kind of wear brands,” sophomore Rory Swenson people seem to care about whatever you want [and] if people said. “It could [also] just be a anymore when they go shopping. judge you, it shouldn’t affect you, part of your culture not to wear Most times, if a product does not it shouldn’t be like ‘oh I’m lesser’ [something], and it’s not fair to say have a recognizable brand on the because I don’t wear that, you know.” that you should take that away.” price tag, people will normally Nuss thinks that people should In addition, most people think not buy it. The same rule applies be able to wear what they want, and that a name brand will always be to middle and high schools. It is they should not care about what better than a non-name brand and all about what name brands that people should only you wear and how often you “I think that there’s a placebo purchase name brand wear them. products. in what people think, like However, people should “I think that there’s a ‘a name brand will always placebo in what people not go through life thinking that Lululemon and Adidas be better’, but I don’t think think, like ‘a name brand will products are the key to always be better’, but I don’t that necessarily holds true.” think that necessarily holds happiness and popularity.

Sometimes, it seems like true,” junior Payal Ved said. “It -Payal Ved people forget that clothing depends on the person, and I think does not define who you are other people think. overall just like clothing and quality and that no one should be judged “I think people should be able and comfort, [it just depends].” based on what they wear. to wear whatever they want so Ved also agrees that you should “It doesn’t really matter what they can express themselves and not judge other people based on you wear,” junior Meriahna Adams be comfortable,” Nuss said. “If what they wear and if they don’t said. “Everyone looks great, and I they want to look cute, [then] wear certain name brands. don’t think you need to wear name they [should be able to] look cute “You can’t always go around brands to be ‘high up.’” without people [judging them].” wearing what other people think Furthermore, freshman Carolyn Sometimes, people choose not looks good on you because it’s Nuss also believes that people to wear name brands not because your personality, and it expresses should not be looked down upon they dislike the brand, but because what you wear and who you are or judged at school for not wearing it is not a part of their culture. and how you perceive of yourself,” name brands or what is “socially “I don’t think that people should Ved said. “It’s no one else’s right to acceptable.” be judged based on what they wear judge you on what you should and “I don’t think that you would be because you could come from shouldn’t wear.”

12 | The North Star | February 2018

Loco for Pollo

By Mathew Cotton

W

ith multiple fried chicken places nearby, there has been some dispute over which fast food chickenry is the best. The North Star Staff conducted a blind taste test to put this argument to rest. The restaurants tested include Chick-fil-a, Raising Cane’s and Slim Chickens, and the tasters include adviser Diana Klote, editors-in-chief Nicole Dolan and Connor Clary, design editor Taylor Mills and staff writers Sooim Kang and Briley Everhart.

Slim Chickens:

“It’s very thick, it’s not very tender,” Mills said.

“I don’t really like that one,” Everhart said Rating out of 10: Everhart: 4 Mills: 6

Chick-fil-a:

“I love the little crunchies,” Mills said.

“It seems to be a little damp,” Everhart said.

Rating out of 10: Everhart: 7 Mills: 7

Raising Cane’s:

“With [Raising Cane’s]you get the crunch factor” Mills said.

“I love this one, this is very good,” Everhart said.

Rating out of 10: Everhart: 9 Mills: 6

February 2018 | The North Star | 13

Slim Chickens:

“I’m getting fake chicken vibes, and it’s slimy on the bottom,” Dolan said.

“It tastes like the aftertaste of coleslaw,” Kang said.

Rating out of 10: Dolan: 4 Kang: 5

Raising Cane’s:

“It’s very plain and simple, which is great if you have sauce,” Dolan said.

“This one is too ‘plain jane,’” Kang said.

Rating out of 10: Dolan: 6 Kang: 6

Chick-fil-a:

“This is love right here,” Dolan said.

“That density is so nice,” Kang said.

Rating out of 10: Dolan: 11 Kang: 10

Slim Chickens:

“I feel like the chicken tastes kind of like sandpaper,” Clary said.

“I like the outside of it.” Klote said.

Rating out of 10: Clary: 5 Klote: 5

Chick-fil-a:

“This one excites me. I want more,” Clary said.

“This one has more flavor,” Klote said.

Rating out of 10: Clary: 9 Klote: 8

Raising Cane’s:

“[Chick-fil-a] is the best all the way, this one does not have much flavor,” Klote said.

“This one tastes like it’s from a concession stand,” Clary said.

Rating out of 10: Clary: 3 Klote: 2

Winner: Chick-fil-a

14 | The North Star | February 2018

Subscribe

to the Stable A look into North’s YouTubers.

D

By Sooim Kang

ifferent social media platforms have risen to popularity, and now YouTube has found itself in the eyes of students. When YouTube was first introduced, it was common for most videos to be short in length inconsistently uploaded. However, with a new generation of content creators arising, such as Liza Koshy, Lilly Singh and Logan Paul, more people have found themselves finding their voice on YouTube or pursuing their interest in filmography or entertainment. Some students have taken this route and have found themselves connecting with the followings they have formed.

Hayden Westerfield

Sophomore Hayden Westerfield is able to profit off of his YouTube channels, EveryShow Review and EveryShow. With more than 70,000 subscribers, Westerfield has found success with his viral videos dedicated to reviewing media on his channel EveryShow Review, as well as with his scripted videos on his channel EveryShow.

Westerfield’s channel, EveryShow Review, includes videos about popular TV shows and about their scandals and secrets. With his most popular video reaching more than 4 million views, Westerfield noted that his recent jump in subscribers was only noticeable as of last spring.

“Last year, I wasn’t even at 100 [subscribers], and this spring it really started to grow,” Westerfield said. “This just happens when your videos start going viral.”

Westerfield’s videos are monetized through the ads placed by YouTube, allowing him to consistently earn a profit.

“We have a thing called Adsense, which is a system through ads with YouTube,” Westerfield said. “You get money from that.”

Westerfield plans on investing his money into his savings account to help pay for his future college expenses.

“It started off as a hobby, and it was something I was trying out,” Westerfield said. “I found that I wanted to do it more and more; that’s when it became more of a job — a fun job, not a serious work job.”

With the success of two channels under his belt, Westerfield hopes to continue his career with them and pursue filmography or script writing in the future. Thanks to the growing popularity of YouTube, Westerfield has been able to find a way to express his creativity and offer financial security for his future.

“I’ve gotten able to express myself,” Westerfield said. “I always had this inside of me. I’d fake videos when I was little where I would be talking to myself in a room, and later I found a way to put that part of me into videos that people are really interested in. I’ve been able to impact people’s lives and am able to pay for my college, which I think is really cool.”

Senior Claudia Vore sees her YouTube channel as nothing more than a casual hobby that she enjoys doing in her free time. Without too much thought, Vore started her channel when she was just 10 years old; seven years later, she still records her videos just for fun.

“I don’t really think I knew what I was doing actually,” Vore said. “I was just messing around on the Internet. I think I saw other people doing it and wanted to do it — now they’re really cringey videos.”

With more than 1,000 subscribers, Vore has found that her singing channel was the perfect way to express herself, but that she has no desire to become a famous singer or pursue her channel as a career.

“It’s totally just for fun,” Vore said. “I mean I’m not at the level to make a career out of it, and it’s nothing that I would want to make a career out of.”

As Vore has sporadically uploaded her videos over the years, she has been able to form a small following who she enjoys interacting with and who has surprised her with the unexpected perks of having a YouTube channel.

“I interact with a lot to people who subscribe to me,” Vore said. “I’ve got some people that comment on every single video, and I’ve had a couple of those people who’ve been around for years. So I do have kind of a small community to my channel, which is a weird thing I never asked for it, and I’m not sure if that makes me uncomfortable or not, but it’s definitely a cool thing to see that if you don’t upload for awhile people will actually message you and be like, ‘Where are you?’”

Some creators, Vore included, admit that the obsession with numbers and views is one of the main challenges with YouTube.

However, Vore advises to ignore this part of being a YouTuber and to focus more on the hobby itself.

“I’d say just do what you want and not really worry about the numbers and not really worry about the response,” Vore said.

“If it’s something that you want to do, it shouldn’t matter what the response is.”

Claudia Vore

February 2018 | The North Star | 15

JillianRose When starting her channel, junior Jillian Lundeen took inspiration from different beauty YouTubers, such as Emma Chamberlain and Danielle Marie, and decided to follow her passion in filmography.

“I’ve been watching YouTube for as long as I remember, and it was basically around the summer when I wanted to start it,” Lundeen said. “I [was] bored, and I also do photography, so I like filmography, too.”

Lundeen’s channel name is JillianRose, and she has accumulated nearly 400 subscribers since starting her channel in March of 2017. Although lifestyle and makeup channels are what initially attracted Lundeen, she hopes to one day expand out from this channel brand.

“That’s mainly what I subscribe to and that’s what I like doing, but I also want to branch out and do comedy stuff because I think that’s really fun and entertaining to watch,” Lundeen said.

Content creators must reach a level of consistency and a certain number of views before they are able to noticeably profit off of their YouTube channels. For Lundeen, the monetization of her videos has not been her main priority.

“I’ll probably [get monetized] when and if I’m bigger, but the way YouTube works, you only get [about] $1 for every 100 views, so I wouldn’t even get that much money right now,” Lundeen said.

“It’s monetizing, so you get money from ads and sponsorships.”

According to thebalance.com, YouTubers can expect to receive anywhere from $.80 to $8 per 1000 views, all depending on whether the ad gets placed before or within the video.

Lundeen regularly uploads videos for her personal interest as well as to please her small community of followers.

“I love replying to comments,” Lundeen said. “I think it’s really cool to know that real people watch you.”

16 | The North Star | February 2018

Resenting Presenting

R

A look into how teachers deal with students with anxiety around presenting.

eading out loud or presenting in class can be a source of fear for some students at North. The anxiety when called on in class or assigned a presentation can be difficult for some students to handle, but are there any alternatives or anything that our teachers can do for us to lessen their fear?

English teacher Cynthia Younger assigned presentations in class to improve her students confidence and to prepare them for presenting in the future.

“Being able to stand and speak in front of others is a standard that you have to be able to do… especially [in a classroom] where most of the people in the room are focused on getting into college,” Younger said.

“It’s a skill for college; most kids are going to be required to take a speech class in college,” Younger said. 'Most of them are going to have to present at some point if [they] want to get into those higher level graduate programs” Because of this, Younger did not exempt anyone from the presentations, although she did make an effort to make each student feel prepared and comfortable.

“We do practice presentations, and they get to choose their own groups for those assignments,” Younger said, “So I think when they have their own friend base to hold onto, there’s a lot less [fear].”

She believes that not giving kids an option to opt out of these assignments helps prepare them for the future.

“It doesn’t mean [the fear is] completely gone, but that’s part of the assignment as well.

It’s to try to help people get

over that hurdle so there’s less anxiety in the future,” Younger said.

English teacher Shelly Moran has also had to deal with students who are anxious about presenting. However, unlike Younger, Moran gives students alternatives to presenting in front of the class. “[If a student] can’t present in front of their whole class, I will often ask them to present in front of a smaller group or bring in some of their peers,” Moran said. “It’s also happened where I’ve had presentations one on one.”

At North, presentations happen almost every day, and nearly every student will have to do a presentation at one time or another. Younger believes that expressing that fear is a good first step, and that becoming comfortable with it is a hurdle everyone will have to face at one point or another.

“Getting comfortable with [presenting] is very important, but I’m not just going to let people sit out there and struggle,” Younger said.

“So when they have problems, they just need to understand that they’re doing things the right way and need to get rid of the anxiety of

thinking that they’re going to fail,” Younger said. Sometimes it’s about having conversations about the impact [their presentation] will make on their grade and what it will mean in the future.”

“

It’s a skill for college; most kids are going to be required to take a speech class in college.

”

How many students come up to teachers with concerns varies year to year, but is a normal thing that the teachers deal with.

“That does happen inevitably year to year. Over the course of about 10 years, I think there’s only been one

year where it never happened,” Moran said. “I would say it happens at least once per year, maybe twice, it just depends on students.”

Younger thinks that building trust with her students is best when dealing with students like this.

“I try to be in places where I can see their conversations going on and get involved,” said Younger. “It’s not just cutting them loose and saying, ‘if you have problems, oh well,’ I think it’s definitely important to check in with people and make sure that you know what’s going on in their groups.

If they have issues, I think that building a relationship with them is helpful.”

Although different teachers have different ways of students who are anxious about presenting, they all try to lessen the fear in one way or another.

By Caroline Koenig

February 2018 | The North Star | 17

Overcoming Injury

Athletes discuss how injuries set them back and how they can overcome.

By Anna Martin

W

hen athletes are young, they commonly share a dream to become professional athletes But as they get older these athletes can face many challenges that make it difficult to participate in their choice sport.

“First quarter of the first basketball game of the season, [I] went up for a rebound, got bumped in the air and came down on it wrong.” junior Maddie Runnebaum, who tore her ACL in basketball, said.

After years of work, athletes can be devastated when they face an injury, which can alter the rest of their athletic career. As for senior Vincent Brinkley, he broke his collarbone during the 2017 football season.

“The recovery process was the hardest,” Brinkley said.

For athletes, injuries can be life-changing, and potentially affect their future. Injuries can not only keep student athletes from competing in their sports, but they can also affect hundreds or thousands of dollars in scholarship money from colleges.

“This changes everything for me completely. Junior year is critical for soccer recruiting,” Runnebaum said. “Now I’m unsure of what’s

next. I have to take my recovery time to really think about what I want to do from here whether it be to play in college or not.”

After athletes suffer from injuries, they focus on what they can do to improve their skills.

“Sometimes you just have to accept the situation you’re in and not keep dwelling on the fact you have [an] injury,” senior Sami Skibell, who hurt her hip flexor during the cross country season,

“You have to find a way to think positively and get better and move on from the injury.”

-Sami Skibell said. “You have to find a way to think positively and get better and move on from the injury.”

Runnebaum agrees that focusing on the positive side is a way to get through. Accepting the injury can help you move forward and focus on improving.

“Everything happens for a reason,” Runnebaum said. “There’s nothing you can do about it, so you just have to make the best of it and stay positive,” Although focusing on

improving skills can be beneficial to the athletes, missing seasons still can make them feel left out or separated from their team.

“I think injuries affect sports physically and mentally,” Skibell Said. “Injuries prevent a player in participating in a sport they love. Injuries also affect a player mentally because they can’t practice with their team, and they are constantly asking why this injury had to happen to them.”

Although injuries can disrupt future athletic plans, they also mess with current day-to-day routines.

“I wasn’t allowed to run for like a month, which was the hardest part of the injury,” Skibell said.

Last track season, sophomore Lauren Cassaday sprained her ankle playing basketball. Cassaday agrees with both Runnebaum and Skibell on hard work when it comes to recovery time. “[When I was injured] I learned how much I miss playing sports,” Cassaday said. “I kept working to get better every day.”

Although injuries are unfortunate parts of sports, pushing through them and having a positive mindset are ways athletes use to get through them.

18| The North Star | February 2018

Should athletes pass on protein powder?

B

igger, better, faster and stronger — that is what thousands of student-athletes across the country strive to become, with competition for scholarships at colleges growing every school year, according to ‘Forbes Magazine.’ The athletic scene at BVN is no exception to this trend, with Girls Varsity Tennis winning state three years in a row aided by the All-American athlete Chloe Kuckelman and Boys Varsity Football winning their first 6A state championship in the school’s 30-year history with the help of four-star recruit Graham Mertz.

A look into the popular dietary supplement used by student athletes.

By Taylor Mills

February 2018| The North Star | 19 While the stakes for student athletes increase, the time constraint of school work remains constant, leaving many to choose between sports and academics in their limited availability. This time pressure has led to the rise of convenient supplements for the nutrition needed to retain energy and muscle mass after workouts, games and practices, according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information Journal of Sports Science and Medicine. Protein, or whey powders, is one example of these supplements.

“Knowing athletic schedules for young athletes these days, I think that protein powders are [in the market] because [young athletes] don’t really have a choice,” registered dietitian and sports nutritionist at the University of Kansas Sports Medicine and Performance Center Randy Evans said. “They don’t feel like they have enough time to eat, or they don’t have access to the right things, so the time pressure is a challenge when it comes to doing things right.”

According to Evans, the majority of the protein powders available on the market use whey as a main ingredient. The Food and Drug Administration classifies whey as the isolated protein in dairy. This ingredient of protein powders is often paired with lecithin, a stabilizing and dispersing agent that allows the whey to turn into liquid when mixed. The average serving of a protein powder consists of 20 grams of protein, roughly 35-40 percent of the average daily value needed by a male.

“I usually drink a protein shake postworkout,” senior outside linebacker Seth Welhoelter said. “I wouldn’t say [food] is sufficient, that’s just average protein. As a football player, even as an athlete, you want to get more protein than the average person.”

Athletes break down muscles throughout workouts, and in order to rebuild said muscles and make them stronger, their amino acid makeup needs to be replenished. While post-workout protein intake is recommended to retain muscle mass, Evans said consuming excessive amounts causes the body stress.

“If we were to overcome a massive amount of protein, it really puts a burden on the body to break that down, digest it and run it through the bloodstream,” Evans said.

Another risk factor that can add to the danger of overconsumption is dehydration. If an athlete is losing fluid

throughout their practice by sweating and does not replenish after, metabolically the protein consumption process would be even more burdensome.

One example of possible health issues from supplements was a 2011 occurrence at the University of Iowa, when 13 players on the football team were hospitalized, diagnosed with the muscle syndrome Rhabdomyolysis. This syndrome is caused when muscle breaks down without proper replenishment and the muscle color pigment damages kidneys. While there are hundreds of causes of the player’s condition, protein supplements were considered to contribute to the complications alongside their heavy workout regiment.

According to Welhoelter, the majority of the BVN football team takes protein supplement powders throughout weight training and season workouts.

“Nobody sees it as an issue, and I don’t think it’s an issue unless you’re taking preworkout stuff,” Welhoelter said.

Professional athletes have in contrast turned away from mass-market whey powders to cleaner sources of protein — such as plant-based powders, milk, nuts, seeds, fruits and vegetables. Senior Jordan Mayfield has never used supplements in his athletic career at North, and instead reaches the recommended amount of protein through food consumption.

“I feel that [protein supplements] don’t work,” Mayfield said. “My body feels good without it, so I thought there is no point in taking it if I feel healthy.”

The United States Department of Agriculture suggests nuts, seeds, milk, fruits and smoothies as options for those looking to meet their daily recommended values. Calories are also a significant builder of muscle mass, and athletic trainer John Dercher said that research has proven protein supplements unnecessary with a healthy diet.

“By and large, assuming you have a well-rounded diet ­— meaning you drink milk or you drink something after your workouts — you shouldn’t need to supplement with protein powder,” Dercher said.

Even with dietitians and trainers such as Evans and Dercher suggesting that great amounts of protein supplements should not take the place of a balanced diet, the marketing schemes of many supplement brands still have the power to lure athletes looking to change or improve their results

into consuming more. With the portrayal of athletes with great muscle mass and strength and the inclusion of phrases such as “proven results,” “better quality,” and “all natural ingredients,” young consumers may think that it is safe to take more than the recommended amount in order to “speed up” the process of muscle gaining.

“I don’t think [protein powder] is necessarily a bad thing,” Dercher said.

“Part of it is a marketing thing. [Brands] like Muscle Milk put a big muscle in their logo and [consumers] think, ‘Oh, if I drink this after, I will get stronger.’”

All sports at BVN are asked to provide nutritional information in their team handbooks. Both Welhoelter and Mayfield confirm that the football team receives a nutrition guide in the season.

“We have a book that we can look up if we want to eat things on a certain day or how to gain weight and muscle,” Mayfield said. “But most of the research is left up to the guys.”

Dercher notes that there are athletes at BVN who do have a proper diet and work out appropriately, but there is a population of students who could benefit from the establishment of an extended nutritional program.

“There are some [athletes] whose bodies aren’t developed yet,” Dercher said.

“Maybe some are not getting the normal nutrition they need at home for various reasons, so there could definitely be people who could benefit from it.”

Evans and the University of Kansas Sports Medicine program are currently working on creating a nutritional program geared specifically to high school athletes. However, nothing specific has been put in place.

As for the future of the protein supplement industry, Evans believes the growth of natural protein instead of compact and complex formulas will continue, as more grocery store chains continue to build their selection and athletic programs become more conscious of what is recommended.

“The athletic world has really pushed protein volume, and I think that will change in the future,” Evans said. “A lot of trainers and coaches still teach that we need massive amounts of protein, and I think it is actually metabolic imbalance that makes athletes need extra protein.

If we had more balanced diets and were doing more things right, more and more athletes would get better results.”

20 | The North Star | February 2018

q Puppin’ It Up

By Laura Evans

A look at the work that went into establishing the Puppy Cubby.

O

n Monday, Dec. 11, We kind of let each class design-based learning the Puppy Cubby take it and role with it, and provides students with launched, marking we had each class kind of valuable skills that they the commencement of compete against each other may use in the real world BVN’s first animal therapy to create the best project.” while also providing program. The Puppy Seventh hour was students with participation Cubby is now available ultimately selected to and understanding of to students during all of move forward with the classroom concepts.

North Time in room 425 idea of the Puppy Cubby “I have way more due to the efforts of Ann and began the process buy-in from the students Salimbene’s first semester of implementing their instead of me just sitting seventh hour psychology program. there lecturing and telling class.

“At first, we didn’t you about therapy and “When we started to actually think it would be stress,” Salimbene said. do the design thinking “It’s been really process at the beginning cool to see the It’s been really cool to of the year, Miss Norber kids take active suggested that we ownership over see the kids take active start a therapy animal their own learning. ownership over their program and we pull I really liked the own learning. I really in Miss Herschberger fact that they were liked the fact that they and incorporate some creating a program were creating a program of her kids,” Salimbene that was going to said. “So Miss Norber, help students. On that was going to help Miss Herschberger, Tuesday, when students.

Miss Cornelius and I Meeko was here, -Ann Salimbene I can’t tell you all sat down, and we were trying to figure how many kids out the best way to help were in and out of our kids with the stress implemented, so we kind that room. If we could do that they’re under, but also of shot for the stars,” senior that every single day, that help Miss Herschberger’s AJ Gordon, a former would be amazing.” kids and maybe try to member of the seventh Despite its name, as of loop in Miss Steinwart’s hour Psychology class, said. now the Puppy Cubby only kids to create a therapy “Then, we won with the features Meeko the therapy animal program to pitch where we introduced dog one day a week, on help Blue Valley North it to administrators and Tuesdays (although there students. I have three teachers… We actually had is talk of adding more dog psychology classes and most of the stuff figured therapy days in the week Miss Herschberger has one out in the presentation, but with different therapy connections class, so we we had to make sure we dogs). On other days, gave them all the prompt could get it done.” the Puppy Cubby is a that said ‘create anything According to designated mindfulness related to therapy animals.’

Salimbene, this type of room and offers a location

“

“

February 2018 | The North Star | 21

Salimbene said. “But my seventh hour has been really good about overcoming the obstacles and getting through it despite logistical challenges.”

Planning ranged across a number of “committees”

said. “We had to make sure we had this room. We had to have a lot of things passed by administration, which was ‘ruff ’—make sure that when you type this out, you type r-u-f-f.”

Despite challenges along the way, the Puppy Cubby team hopes We had to have a lot to have a long-term, of things passed by beneficial impact on the BVN environment. administration, which “Hopefully it’ll help was ‘ruff’—make sure kids de-stress during that when you type this the day and kind of just out, you type r-u-f-f. create a community of -AJ Gordon the people that regularly come here,” Gordon said.

Efforts are currently underway to bring the Puppy within Salimbene’s psychology class, including Cubby back over second logistics, architecture, semester, and further details marketing and executive will be made available on committees. either the Puppy Cubby’s Twitter or Instagram, “We had to make sure we had the dogs,” Gordon @puppycubbybvn.

“

“

to study, color and de-stress.

“Basically, we just wanted to find all of these activities that revolved around mindfulness but that were also different, so it didn’t seem like we were doing the same thing every day,” junior and former member of the seventh hour Psychology class MaKenzie Bowers said.

The process of establishing the Puppy Cubby, however, was not always smooth sailing.

According to Salimbene, the students have been most challenged with working out the operational details of the Puppy Cubby.

“Logistics has probably been our biggest struggle, and getting kids who aren’t used to working with each other to kind of work together and come together,”

1

3

2

1. Former seventh hour psychology students, including senior Addison Breedlove and juniors Lori Mitchell and Clair Dugan, color during North Time.

2. Senior Zeke Bockelman, a former member of the seventh hour psychology class, sits with Meeko the therapy dog.

3. Former seventh hour psychology members and seniors Ben Elliot and Martha Tryban color in the Puppy Cubby during North Time.

22 | The North Star | February 2018

Professionalism for Young Adults Pro tips for entering the business world and starting careers.

By Brooke Werp

J

anet Graham, the Global Business and World Language & Business Leadership instructor at the Center for Advanced Professional Studies (CAPS), makes it a point to teach key professionalism skills in her classroom. Her students frequently work with outside business partners, especially C level professionals, which include chief executive officers and chief marketing officers.

“If [these business professionals] are willing to work and spend their time with 17 and 18 year olds, those students need to act like people two or three years out of college, more like 25 year olds,” Graham said.

In this environment, Graham holds the first impression as the most crucial aspect in a professional setting for young adults.

During the first impression, Graham wants to see a young adult with confidence, even if they are unsure of what to say in the conversation. She also considers the handshake Wan important part of the introduction process and values an individual who is dressed professionally and accordingly for the event. “[I look at} the way [young adults] conduct themselves with adults,” Graham said. “[I look at} if they know how to shake hands, how to greet, how to dress for success.”

In addition to the basics, Graham requires her students to

communicate promptly and appropriately to all business professionals with whom they are in contact.

“I think one of the intangible professional skills that is even more important is learning how to follow up with an email,” Graham said.

“If someone sends you an email, within 24 hours you should reply to them. Even if you don’t have an answer, you should just acknowledge that you have received it.”

“

[Never] be the first one to leave or the last one to arrive.

”

-Janet Graham

Graham also applies these standards to scheduling. If a meeting is scheduled or has been planned a few weeks prior, it is expected of her students to confirm the meeting a day or two in advance.

After the date, time and location is set in stone, Graham urges them to arrive promptly and to prepare with a printed out map with the route to the location outlined just in case there are any technological difficulties. “[Never] be the first one to leave or the last one to arrive,” Graham said. “I do have one son who had a summer internship,

and he made it a point to be the first one in the office. Then, when the first manager would arrive, he would offer to make photocopies, run an errand or [do] whatever that manager wanted help for, so he really made himself known and useful, and people will notice that.”

Moreover, Graham refers to thank you notes as a dying art and pushes all of her students to write one after any special meeting or visit with a business professional. This is a common piece of feedback CAPS has gotten back from business partners in the human resources department. For example, if an organization is choosing between two candidates equal in experience and skills and one sends in a thank you note after an interview, that person usually will get more consideration than the other.

“We had a student a couple years ago who went off to college, and she was in a sorority, and she worked with some business partners on a fundraiser,” Graham said. ”At the end, she wrote a thank you note to the business partner for donating and then that business partner offered her a part time job because he was so impressed with a thank you note.”

Graham also recommends slipping a business card into thank you notes to help ensure that the communication doors stay open.

Graham believes that youngs adults should always make themselves accessible and make it easy for the people they want to network with.

“Don’t assume that just because you gave them your phone

February 2018 | The North Star | 23

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Mark Turrentine

Owner

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GLOBAL BUSINESS INSTRUCTOR

7501 West 149th Terrace Overland Park,KS 66223 www.bvcaps.org

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jgraham@bluevalleyk12.org

number or your email three weeks earlier that they’re going to have it,” Graham said. “Because, usually, the people you want to connect with are really busy, so just reinforce that with a business card even if you don’t know if they’re going to keep it or throw it away.”

Mark Turrentine, from the BVN business department, promotes soft skills like being able to communicate ideas and work as a team. He also holds interview skills in high regards and promotes the pre-approach method, which is gathering any and all information about the company and the person you are interviewing with.

“Always have questions to ask at the end of [an] interview,” Turrentine said. “’The question you always get at the end of an interview is ‘Do you have any questions for me?’ When I interview people and they [don’t] have questions, that just shows me that they really didn’t have any preparedness in what they were doing.”

Towards the end of an interview, Turrentine always recommends asking for a description of the interviewer’s ideal candidate. When the interviewer responds with the qualities and skill set they are looking for, it makes it possible for the interviewee to match their own qualifications to the interviewer’s answer.

“It’s a really good last question to ask and leaves you on a really good note when you leave the interview,” said Turrentine.

Once an individual has a job, Turrentine advises them to keep

markturrentine@yahoo.com

their standards high and fulfill their job description to extend the longevity with the employer and organization.

“What you are trying to do is make sure you make yourself invaluable, an asset to whoever you report to in [an] organization,” Turrentine said. “So, whatever that is, it sets you apart from other people. That’s what’s going to make you successful. Doesn’t matter if you are a dishwasher or running a Fortune 500 company.”

Senior Emily Binkley, a two-year employee at Spin Pizza, also suggests talking about traits that apply well to the specific job in an interview.

“If [the job] needs good customer service relations, talking about what you’ve learned from previous jobs always makes [the

“

JANET GRAHAM M.B.A

913-485-3126

What you are trying to do is make sure you make yourself invaluable, an asset to whoever you report to in [an] organization...Doesn’t matter if you are a dishwasher or running a Fortune 500 company.

”

-Mark Turrentine interviewer] more interested in you,” Binkley said. “If it seems like you enjoyed the learning experience, they’ll probably want you more because they see you have that kind of motivation that they’re looking for.”

Binkley puts great value on foodservice jobs, as her experience in the industry has taught her to be more mature and handle difficult situations better. Binkley even goes as far as to say that everyone should take at least one job in the foodservice industry.

“Your performance in those jobs is reflected in your tips, so you are really working for yourself in that case,” Binkley said. “It kind of motivates you a bit more and teaches you what level of motivation you should have in life or for any other job or career you may have.”

EMILY BINKLEY SERVER/CASHIER

Phone: 913-451-7746

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24 | The North Star | February 2018

Learning

Literacy f

Exploring options to engage students in English classes at BVN.

By Connor Clary

B

VN has recently seen an increase in the number of D and F grades that students have received, Assistant Principal Tyson Ostroski confirmed. The English and Social Studies departments have taken note of this issue, and have reimplemented a Writing Lab to be offered each day during North Time. “[T]his year, English has teamed up with Social Studies to open a lab during North Time,� English teacher Maria

February 2018 | The North Star | 25

Worthington said. “So the B side of the lab on each day is housed with an English teacher.”

The creation of this Writing Lab was not a new one, but a reinstitution of an older program.

The English Department, according to Worthington, used to offer a Writing Lab that was open every hour for students to receive help. As resources have gone away, that program was cut.

The current Writing Lab mimics the same format, but is not available for the same amount of time during the day.

Another potential approach to improving student grades and improving English education may be an implementation of new classes. The process for this is lengthy, but some teachers believe that it may be worth it.

“Each year, we have a course description guide and there are proposals each year for new classes,” Ostroski said.

“Those proposals are due in the August of each year, and there’s various committees that eventually leads to the school board for those proposals. And those decisions, it’s kind of like an August to November timeline for them to be approved for the following school year. So it’s a process that starts really about a year and a half in advance and can be initiated by teachers, or administrators, whomever, to go through the curriculum channels.”

English teacher Todd Smith said that it may also be beneficial to offer courses that teach more fundamental English instruction.

“We’ve talked just wishful thinking [that] maybe we do need some other classes to offer,” English teacher Todd Smith said. “Maybe somewhere between honors, AP, and on-level. Or maybe we need some classes that do talk about basic writing and grammar, [such as] here’s

how you form a sentence, here’s how you punctuate a compound sentence.

You know, simple things like that, easier things like that. Because we’re seeing maybe a little bit more of these skills kind of falling behind.”

In a different direction, another strategy may be to increase the number of higher level courses.

“A strategy that I’d love to see in the future is to have three levels but do it a little differently to have on-level, honors, and then AP,” Taylor said. “And so you could do that differentiation, but I think in a building like North it would be helpful to do it in that direction.”

One option may involve looking to courses offered in the school’s past. For a period of time, all junior- and- seniorlevel English courses except AP used to be semester-long courses centered on a specific topic. Ken Taylor, the current English Department Chair, taught some of these courses when he first started at BVN. He said that there were a wide range of courses, each focused on a specific genre or student interest.

“We had a British Lit course,” Taylor said. “We had one that was on Search for the Unknown, which was part mystery, part science fiction. We had one called Emerging Voices, which really tried to deal with authors from different cultures and ethnicities and things that weren’t always hit in a normal English class.

So that was really a great course that I taught, as well. We also had a course that was specifically dealing with grammar and usage and things like that. It was a great preparation course for the ACT.” These courses, eventually, were discontinued. Worthington said that student choice directs curriculum, and the wide array of classes that were offered posed challenges to scheduling.

“I do think that any time student choice is involved, you have a potential to make students more engaged.” -Ken Taylor

“I don’t think students were making as many choices,” Worthington said.

“Some of the classes were more popular, and it’s really hard to staff. But the same thing is true now. If we have three choices on the senior level, and not as many people choose one of the classes, those classes will go away. So, really, what drives curriculum of those classes are enrollment numbers. And, sometimes, I think students don’t know that. So they enroll in January and then they move their schedule around, and that hurts the schedule and what we can plan.”

Taylor said that state finances may also have played a role in the removal of these courses.

After the switch in curriculum, however, Worthington and Taylor said that one class remained: Contemporary Communications. According to the Blue Valley High School Curriculum Guide, Contemporary Communications is a year-long, senior-level English course that “introduces students to the fundamentals of effective communication in today’s society” and “will emphasize skill development in oral presentation, desktop publishing, research, and close reading of literature, nonfiction, and visual texts.”

Ostroski said that the option of taking Contemporary Communications provides seniors an increased level of choice that is advantageous.

“I think it’s great when there’s choice for those English credits,” Ostroski said.

“And I think it’s a unique aspect of the 12th grade level that for whatever reason has not really been part of nine through 11. But I think any time that you have different ways for students to earn credit in whatever class, that’s a good thing.”

Other grade levels do not have the same level of choice in their English courses, with freshmen and sophomores only offered on-level or honors and juniors offered on-level and AP. Taylor said returning to some of the ability for students to pick would be popular among teachers and would increase student interest in course material.

“I do think that any time student choice is involved, you have a potential to make students more engaged,” Smith said.

“And I think, oftentimes, Ds and Fs are a result of a lack of engagement.”

26 | The North Star | February 2018

Adopt Don’t Shop

Wayside Waifs sheds light on adopting shelter animals and how they save lives.

T

here are many animal shelters work for you again,’” Waugh said. around the Kansas City area; According to The Puppy Mill Project however, according to junior Megan website, Shelters differ from pet shops Koenig, Wayside Waifs has a background in the sense that they take in homeless many have come to love. animals they find on the streets, while pet Wayside was founded in 1944 by Fenby shops have dogs that can come from puppy Webster and is located in Grandview, mills.

Missouri, the same spot it was established In some situations, people have to 74 years ago. surrender their pet to a shelter because In 1998, Wayside had a variety of they can’t take care of them any longer. different donors are also instances “When you are There renovate it into what it where other rescue shelters rescuing, you are don’t have room; therefore, looks like now. Three years ago, the vet takes in the saving an animal, Wayside system for the shelter homeless animals. Wayside is whatever the animals was added on. also a no-kill shelter, which Casey Waugh is situation was, you means they will keep shelter the communications animals until they find a director and has been are saving their life.” home. with Wayside for three “When you are rescuing, -Casey Waugh years. She has always you are saving an animal, loved animals, but initially chose an whatever the situation was, you are saving unrelated career path. Her college degree is their life,” Waugh said. in communications; however, she became Many pets and homeless animals were bored and completely started over again. hit hard by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma.

Waugh started volunteering and eventually Wayside helped by taking the animals landed a job at the Humane Society of from the shelters in the Houston and Greater Kansas City. Coincidentally, Louisiana towns, emptying their shelters Waugh’s boss at the Humane Society would so the displaced animals could find their later be her boss at Wayside Waifs. original families. Many of the dogs and “Things changed, and after a few years cats from those cities found homes. there, I left and went to the Girl Scouts. I According to Waugh, Wayside Waifs was there and saw this job open and called has many programs that benefit both the lady I worked for and said ‘I want to animals and adopters. For instance, they

Casey Waugh playing with a puppy at Wayside Waifs have a program called Peace Academy for dogs that like to jump and are nippy, which looks bad to an adopter. There are three staff members and many volunteers that train the dogs to not be aggressive when eating or playing, and this benefits the dogs by showing them that there are rules, according to Waugh.

Wayside has another program called Confidence College. This provides stability to dogs who are scared or shy. The same three staff members and volunteers work with the animals to boost their confidence around humans and other animals. This benefits the dogs because it teaches them trust and positive relationships, according to Waugh.

“Many of these dogs came from hoarding situations where they only saw one human being and weren’t exposed to the outside world,” Waugh said. “They could have been shut in a room or closet and never got to see anything.”

Not only does Wayside help dogs, but they also help cats. Cats often are anxious when living in a shelter, especially after traumatic experiences. To help cats, Wayside uses iPads to comfort the animals by letting them play stimulating games. For example, they have an app that allows them to try to catch a mouse that is running across the screen. The cats love it, and it distracts them from their nervousness, according to Waugh.

Top Row: Cats occupy their time while hoping to find a home

Bottom Row: Dogs patiently wait for their forever homes

Wayside holds a No More Bullying®, an education program for third, fourth and fifth graders. They go to schools and bring Wayside dogs to educate children about why it is wrong to bully.

“We say ‘you wouldn’t throw rocks at the dog, then you shouldn’t throw rocks at people,’” Waugh said.

There are two humane educators that teach the kids real life situations. According to the Psychology Today website, people who are bullied are more likely to grow up to be the ones that abuse animals, which is what Wayside is trying to prevent.

“The kids open up more to the dogs because it’s different and exciting to them.

A lot of schools we go to ask for us to come back and teach again,” Waugh said.

Wayside is an organized building and they wouldn’t be successful if it wasn’t for the people and the structures, according to Koenig. Wayside has strict guidelines when focusing on shelter animals. All animals brought into the shelter are put on a five day hold. This means they are taken care of by the vets, and if someone lost their pet, they could come to Wayside and their animal would be waiting for them.

Also, there are some situations where some animals that come in are really sick or they have a condition that could spread to the other shelter animals. In that case, they are put in dog or cat watch rooms. The vets then care for the animals, and once they’re

mentally and physically ready, they’re put shelter, but according to Waugh, her favorite out for adoption. success story involves a white pit-bull “Everybody wants what’s best for the named Fiona. She was at Wayside for 367 animals,” Waugh said. days, and she was brought in as a stray.

Koenig has volunteered at Wayside At first, she was very malnourished and since July, 2017. She first found out about underweight, and she was missing hair the shelter from her friends that had from a lot of stress built up over time. The volunteered in the past, and she needed hair loss was also part of mange, which community service hours. She started is a highly contagious condition caused volunteering and absolutely loved it.

by Sarcoptes scabiei mites that burrow in “Don’t get me wrong, it can be very sad the dog’s skin and cause intense, irritation at times, but I love the feeling I get when I itching. know I’m helping an animal. I may only just The vets quickly treated her, and she was be walking the dogs, but if you think about healthy; however, she still had anxiety and it, they don’t get to go outside whenever hair loss. She had restrictions that had to do they want,” Koenig said. with other dogs and children, which isn’t Koenig had to take two classes to be appealing to adopters and their families. able to volunteer. In the classes she learned Finally, a man came into the shelter, saw basic behavior of the dogs and how to Fiona, and fell in love with her, according handle them correctly. to Waugh. Fiona worked with his Koenig plans on taking “Everybody wants living situation, and they were more classes to help with what’s best for the both very ecstatic. Eventually, the Peace Academy and all her hair grew back because animals.”

Confidence College. she was so happy. He was since -Casey Waugh transferred to Georgia where Whether one donates as much as five thousand he now lives with Fiona, who is dollars or as little as a blanket, Wayside spoiled rotten, according to Waugh, because will appreciate the generosity. They do not he sends pictures of her on a jet-ski with a receive any government funds, instead, they life preserver and her relaxing on the beach. strive on advertising their shelter by social All in all, no matter the past, happy media, television appearances and many of endings can come from the kindness and their events. compassion of people, like those at Wayside.

There are many experiences and stories Waifs. that come with working at an animal

By Lyndsey Henkel

28 | The North Star | February 2018

Senior Jasmine Brown

Junior Arianna Bono

Senior Cormac Palmer

The Art of

Commissions Opportunities for young and successful artists.

By Katie George

Junior Isabelle Parisi

Junior Amirdha Sambantham

Junior Alexa Boyd

February 2018 | The North Star | 29

B

VN commissions is a new project sponsored by art teacher Alison Crane, which gives artistic students the opportunity to get commissioned and create all different kinds of art to specifically fit their client’s desire.

According to junior member Arianna Bono, this program is an opportunity for students to show the world their art and to gain experience in working with clients, such as negotiating pay. It provides students with a jump start and foreshadow of what a career in art would be like.

“It gives them the experience of collaboration,” junior member Isabelle Parisi said. “It also gives them insight, like how do you actually get pay from clients, how does that system work, contracts, how do those work, do you need a contract every single time.”

Feedback is crucial to your improvement in collaborating or commissioning, according to junior member Amirdha Sambantham. This helps the artist grow and get opinions on what’s strong and what needs to be better.

According to Parisi, artists get to learn about real world commissioning and the art profession as a whole. Learning about commissioning early on will help the student artist be more successful as an adult.

In addition to professional experience,

Junior Isabelle Parisi & Junior Arianna Bono

the artist must use their own ideas and step outside their regular art schedule in order to fit the BVN commissioning criteria.

“In art class we just get prompts and go with that, but with commissioning you have an actual person that you have to call [out to], and you gain experience with working with other people,” Sambantham said. “I feel like for projects, for the most time, it’s just solo, like talking to yourself about what you wanna draw. But for commissions, it’s a group effort.”

Two major skills gained from BVN commissions are collaboration and time management.

Collaboration is key to having BVN commissions run efficiently. According to Parisi, people will walk into the committee with all kinds of different ideas, and everyone needs to work together to come to a whole group agreement.

Time management and working on a schedule also plays a huge role in the success of the commissions.

“A lot of people need art quickly,” Sambantham said. “If they need a poster or something like that [it] usually needs to be done in like a week or two. This gives [the commissions group] a chance to have a time constraint and work within that.”

BVN commissions started last semester around the same time as Design Lab. Design lab is a club where students work

Senior Cormac Palmer

in groups on different projects concerned with innovating the school environment and technology.

With the website currently being finalized, the committee hopes to get it up and running by this year. Once the program is put into action, the commissions team anticipates continuing the program long into the future “It’s been a work in progress. We would like to keep this site up years after we graduate,” Bono said.

This program began when Crane gathered several students together who she believed could create and execute ideas to improve BVN’s art community.

Commissions was one of the first ideas that came from this, according to Parisi.

The main idea for BVN Commissions has been to connect BVN artists together and run an effective project to further the ideas and activities students interested in art.

“This is very artist oriented and client oriented project,” Parisi said. “I know a lot of artists who maybe don’t have time to take art classes or have taken a few art classes, but they can’t fit it anymore into their schedule, so it’s that idea of connecting the art department. Its reaching the art department further than it already goes.”

Junior Alexa Boyd

30 | The North Star | February 2018

M

any people view high school as a stepping stone to entering the workforce. Yet some students have proven this to be a misconception by paralleling high school with real world business endeavors.

Examples of these so-called student entrepreneurs are seen both across the country and specifically at BVN. Sophomore Nate Shanker, co-owner of the retail line Hyped KC, is one example of a student who’s also a budding entrepreneur.

“Hyped KC is a soon-to-befull-time retail store in Park Place. Right now we’re just running pop ups, and we have a weekend pop up every once in awhile,” Shanker said.

According to Shanker, Hyped KC is more than a typical retail outlet, and its unique product line has led to its substantial success.

“What we do is sell street wear and sneakers that are not found in Kansas and are very limited,” Shanker said. “There’s

IT’S SIMPLE

definitely a market here. Our last pop up was in the summer, and it did $36,000 in sales in a week.”

Shanker isn’t the only student leading a double life as an entrepreneur. Senior Ernie Pereira is also in the process of upstarting his own business called Pereira Electronics.

“I sell market controller development boards [to] help students to learn about electronic principles, programming and STEM skills,” Pereira said.

Pereira created the boards with the intent of combining education and entertainment for consumers.

“The main purpose of the board, which is a video game console, is to find a way to make [programming and STEM skills] less intimidating to the average user,” Pereira said. “I took something that a lot of people think is really fun, which is games, and I thought it would be a good way to bring those skills out to people.”

Outside of their main businesses, both Shanker and

Pereira are affiliated with other forms of entrepreneurship. For instance, Shanker also works in drop shipping.

“Drop shipping is [taking] products found on a website and making my own website and selling the same products marketed up and marketed better,” Shanker said. “[For example,] I [could take] a watch that was two dollars and fifty cents and remarket it for ten dollars.”

In addition to Hyped KC and Drop Shipping, Shanker also stays busy by managing social media accounts for high profile student athletes.

“There’s a guy whose in high school right now that’s number four for his age in basketball, and he has like 300,000 followers,” Shanker said. “I do the marketing and management side of things for him, so all he has to do is play the game.”

Unlike Shanker, Pereira also engages in entrepreneurial pursuits through the CAPS program. Furthermore, being in CAPS has furthered his Pereira

February 2018 | The North Star | 31

Electronics business.

“I recently applied for an [Entrepreneurship] Award through CAPS,” Pereira said. ”Hopefully that’ll bring some publicity in, and we’ll see how it goes.”

Senior Kael Johnson also partakes in the CAPS business program, and explained that it’s brought him some new opportunities.

“For CAPS, there are two parts, global business and economics. For global business, I worked with the FDIC [which is a] program based toward urban inner city KCK kids,” Johnson said. “[The program] tries to get [the kids] online to find ways to save money for college [and] invest in their future.”

Johnson said that his position as a high schooler made him a strong candidate to help the FDIC revamp their website.

“They had the website mapped out and everything, but they wanted to get more views, so they asked high schoolers what they wanted to see in a website,” Johnson said. “So I helped to make a new and improved platform that would have more views every night.”

Outside of CAPS, Johnson is a part of a mutual-benefit entrepreneurship group known as HVSTL. “Basically [HVSTL is] just a

group of guys—we’re trying to get more girls involved—but basically we get together, and we provide each other resources,” Johnson said. “So instead of paying people to do things for you, if one person has a certain skill, they can trade it, and [you] can help them later with something.”

“

I think creating a business is just as easy as coming up with an idea.”

-Kael Johnson

Johnson explained that members of HVSTL have different specialties and skills they contribute to the group.

“

Our last pop up was in the summer, and it did $36,000 in sales in a week.”

-Nate Shanker

“There are people that specialize in web design, there are people that specialize in cryptocurrencies, [and

BUSINESS

there are some people who have] successful clothing lines,” Johnson said. “Pretty much everyone just works on [an individual] project and comes to the group whenever they need help with anything.”

According to Johnson, HVSTL has been a great way to get involved with other programs and opportunities.

“There’s this thing called YEP KC, Young Entrepreneurship Program in Kansas City, [and] I submitted an application to an internship there. It’s over the summer, and you get scholarships worth $4,000 in cash,” Johnson said. “Also, there’s 1 Million Cups, [which is] an organization where small business can present to people interested in helping them [and] get potential investors.

Also, there’s miscellaneous things, because people are always offering employment to other people in the group.”

Johnson believes that although it’s not easy, it’s very possible to find success as a student entrepreneur.

“I think it’s definitely possible. I don’t think it’s possible to become extremely wealthy from it, but I think creating a business is just as easy as coming up with an idea,” Johnson said. ”It’s just a matter of having a will to get it started and keep it going.”

By Shantha Burt

A look into the lives of student entreprenuers

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