The North Star, Volume 36, Issue 1

Th e North Star

N ew HoRizoNs A year and a half into the unprecedented, what does it mean to move on? Read more on page 14.

BLUE VALLEY NORTH HIGH SCHOOL | OVERLAND PARK, KANSAS | VOLUME 36 | ISSUE I

table of contents

feature

Meet the Staff.............. 4,5

editorial

Letter from the Staff.......... 14

Stepping Up................... 15 New Crew.................. 18,19 Making a Splash..... 20,21 Here’s the Scoop... 24,25

news

Summer Recap.............. 6 3’s the Magic Number... 16,17

So... We’re Back..... 22,23 Learn More About...... 31 2 | The North Star | September 2021

Under Pressure............... 10,11

student life Student Art............................. 7 Club Community.............. 8,9 Work Hard, Play Hard.. 12,13

Passion to Give.............. 26,27 Stuco in the Stable...... 28,29 What’s Your Biggest Regret?...30

instagram @bvnnews

spotify BVN North Star Podcast

twitter @bvnnews

staff

website bvnnews.com

Editors-In-Chief Caroline Clarke Arshiya Pant Web Editors Jack Toal Max Wolf Social Media Editor Reece Bachta Design Editor Ella Thomas Staff Writers Emmett Abar Lauren Austin Ruby Bierman Adelaide Edwards Sejin Hahn Calla Jordan Mikayla Kia Paige Novak Bennett Palmer Abi Patterson Anna Sandage

“The North Star” is the official high school news publication of Blue Valley North High School, an open forum distributed to all the students six times a year. This is the September issue of volume 36. This issue of “The North Star” is published digitally through ISSUU and in print by “The Sedalia Democrat.” This is a student publication and 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.

online Mask Choice 4 Kids Rallies Outside BVSD Board Meeting -Max Wolf

Why Doesn’t Volleyball Get Attention?

-Jack Toal

Bach to Classical -Sejin Hahn

Meet the 21-22 Freshman Student Council Officials -Mia Glasow

BVN Singers Receive Recognition for Original Song Performance -Adelaide Edwards

September 2021 | The North Star | 3

Feature

M eet th e

North Star Staff I

ntroducing the 2021-2022 North Star staff with 11 new staffers, eight returning members and one adviser. Seniors Max Wolf and Jack Toal run and edit the online site along with being co-hosts to

Calla Jordan

the BVN North Star Podcast. Senior Reece Bachta runs all North Star social media including Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. Ella Thomas takes on the new role of design editor, and Ella Shafer and Lexi

Sophomore staff writer

Adelai de M i kayla Edwards Kia Sen ior staff writer

Sen ior staff writer

Caroli n e Clarke

Co-Editor-I n-ch i ef Sen ior 4 | The North Star | September 2021

DesigN by Ella Thomas

Abi Patterson

An na San dage

J un ior staff writer

Newsom are copy editors this year.

Last, The North Star co-editors-inchief this year are Caroline Clarke and Arshiya Pant.

J un ior staff writer

Paige Novak Sen ior staff writer

Arsh iya Pant

Co-Editor-I n-ch i ef J un ior

Em m ett Abar Sophomore staff writer

Lauren Austi n Sophomore staff writer

Ruby

Sej i n Hah n

Bi erman

Sophomore staff writer

Ben n ett Palm er

Diana

N ews Adviser

Ella

Bachta

Wolf

Manglos

Sophomore staff writer

Reece

Max

Sophomore staff writer

Shafer

Web Editor

Social M edia Editor

Copy Editor

Sen ior

Sen ior

J un ior

Jack

Lexi

Ella

Toal

N ewsom

Thomas

Web Editor

Design Editor

Copy editor

Sen ior

J un ior

Sophomore September 2021 | The North Star | 5

NEWS

Summer Recap What happened again this summer?

By Jack Toal

Olympians Bring Home Gold

The 2020 Tokyo Olympics were postponed due to the global pandemic. However, despite controversy, the International Olympic Committee was able to reschedule the Olympics to take place in 2021. In the Olympics, the U.S. finished with the most gold medals (39) beating China by one gold medal. In terms of total medals they swept the competition, finishing with 113 total medals compared to China in second place, finishing with 88.

Rolling Loud

COVID-2021 Although COVID-19 cases were on the downturn during summer, there was another spike as the Delta variant became a factor. There is a booster vaccine that will be available starting Sept. 20, to defend against the variant.

Rolling Loud Festivals came back after being canceled due to COVID-19 for a year. Rolling Loud Miami is a staple in music today, attracting many people in major cities to watch a collection of performances featuring some of the music industry’s biggest names. Headliners this year included A$AP Rocky, Travis Scott and Post Malone, along with many other artists following their sets. With no restrictions on attendance, listeners swarmed to the festival and got loud quickly.

Trophy Season The Tampa Bay Lightning went backto-back as Stanley Cup victors this year and last year, beating the Canadians in five games. Andrei Vasilevskiy won playoff MVP with a 0.939 save percentage in the finals.

The Lightning are only the 16th team to go back-to-back since the creation of the NHL in 1917.

Over the summer, the 85th edition of the Masters Tournament took place at the National Augusta Golf Club; it was a rescheduled tournament from 2020.

Hideki Matsuyama became the first Japanese and first Asian-born golfer to win a PGA Masters tournament by scoring a -10 at the tournament, edging out Will Zalatoris by one shot.

6 | The North Star | September 2021

The Copa América took place in Brazil from June 13, 2021, to July 10, 2021, when it was originally scheduled from June 12, 2020, to July 12, 2020. The finals were between Argentina and Colombia. At the end of regulation the score was tied 1-1 and went into penalties, where Argentina won 3-2 in the penalty shootout.

The UEFA Euro took place across all of Europe rather than in one country to help avoid COVID-19. This ensured that, in case of a flare up, it wouldn’t be concentrated in one country, and there would be a broader spread. The final was between England and Italy; after regulation, Italy pulled out the victory by scoring 3-2 in penalties.

Of the teams in the NBA Finals, only one player had ever been to the finals before (Jae Crowder). The Suns have never won a NBA championship, while it had been 50 years since the Bucks had won the Finals. It made for an exciting matchup where the Bucks emerged victorious in game six, winning 105-98. Giannis Antetokounmpo won finals MVP averaging 35 points, 13 rebounds, five assists and 1.8 blocks.

Student Life

Student Art With an extended quarantine and summer, art students had extra time to focus on their craft — here is what some of them created.

Cara Spratli n

By Ella Thomas

C

Pictured above is Spratlin’s most technical piece, taking more time than any others in her portfolio. “[It] took me a week or so just to complete the face, let alone the hair and body. I definitely love it though, it looks almost like a photograph,” Spratlin said.

Art by Cara Spratlin

ara Spratlin, class of 23, has only been posting on her artistic Instagram account since October 2020 and has gained 410 followers since. With inspiration from her mom, Spratlin dove further into art when she was 12 by taking more art classes at school, focusing on watercolor painting.

Spratlin now focuses on typography and lettering, following after her mom, who is a lettering artist and art director for other designers.

Spratlin got an Apple pencil for her birthday in August of 2020 and used it to transition into digital art via the program Procreate. Once she discovered digital art, Spratlin started using Adobe products such as Illustrator, InDesign and Photoshop.

After Spratlin received praise for a suicide awareness Instagram post last year, she started an art account. According to Spratlin, the account, @carascoloringbook, shows her art and photography in the hopes of brightening others’ days.

P

Liam Ki lle

ortfolio art student Liam Kille, class of 22, took a recent dive into art. Kille did not take any art classes in middle school, but after taking Design Fundamentals freshman year, he was hooked. Now a senior, Kille has found what he hopes to be a career.

Kille’s unique style focuses on cartoon drawings. His most recent endeavor?

Animation. According to Kille, anatomy and animation have proved to be the most difficult elements, although he welcomes the challenge. As part of the portfolio class offered at BVN, Kille has also worked on portraits of himself and his friends.

Pictured to the right is a charcoal self portrait by Kille. “I did one [portrait] of my friends in oil pastels and one of myself in Charcoal. I’m very happy with both of them,” Kille said. Art by Liam Kille.

September 2021 | The North Star | 7

The Club Community

Feature

Clubs at BVN are here and ready for eager students to join. After a year of virtual meetings and struggling to form a community over Zoom, students and sponsors hope to reboot clubs and increase student involvement.

By Ella Shafer

GSA

The Gender Sexuality Alliance club started around 2010 to create a safe place for all LGBTQ+ students at Blue Valley North. English teacher Shelley Moran sponsors the club and hosts meetings in her room every Friday during North Time.

At meetings, they brainstorm ideas, make posters to put up around the school, play games, have conversations and watch videos.

“It’s so important for everyone to have a safe space and feel welcomed and comfortable in the school. I personally wanted to be a welcoming and safe haven for everyone. And our club is not just for LGBTQ+ people, but also for allies, and people who are supportive. I just wanted to be that welcoming face,” Moran said.

ASAP

ASAP is a club sponsored by social studies teacher Jason Smajda that focuses on suicide prevention and mental health awareness. It is completely student-driven in order to make an open and trusting environment for all of its members. Smajda says that if anyone is interested in being a leader of ASAP to contact him ‘ASAP.’

“It makes people feel like it’s okay to talk about mental issues and it’s okay to talk about suicide,” Smajda said.

;

Badminton Club

The Badminton Club is led by Harry Wang and Krivi Tadakamalla, who started it as a way to continue their love of the sport. The club meets once a month in the auxiliary gym where they play 2v2 games. According to Tadakamalla, many people participate, and it serves as a great way to make new friends and be a part of something.

“The badminton club is all about having a good time with friends and taking your mind off of the stress of school for a little bit,” Tadakamalla said.

FIND A PASSION September 2021 | The North Star | 8

FIND A SPONSOR

FILL OUT A FORM

BSU

Black Student Union

The Black Student Union promotes a higher level of Black consciousness, advancement and mutual understanding among all cultures and people. BSU serves to raise cultural awareness and education within the community at large.

“While we are a Black Student Union, we’re also inclusive and want to educate people on what’s going on and how people can help,” Assistant Football Coach and Resource Teacher Montai Mickens said.

Coffee Club

The Coffee Club is sponsored by science teacher Chris Ollig, who said that his club is something anyone can participate in, even if they don’t like coffee.

The club used to meet every Friday before school in Ollig’s room; however, they’re still determining where the safest place to meet is due to COVID-19. Ollig provides brewed coffee, but students can also bring their own coffee and add-ins as well.

Students who enjoy starting the day off by listening to music and drinking freshly brewed coffee should consider joining the Coffee Club.

“It helps build community, helps students feel like they’re more part of the community, and that’s our goal. We want everyone to feel like they belong at North,” Ollig said.

“

Clubs are what makes school fun and connects students.

The more connected we can get kids in school to each other and the school ... the more we can create a family environment. I think the school will prosper and the students will have a better experience.

- Activities Director Cory Cox

“

Cinema Club

The goal of the Cinema Club is to watch and discuss classic films, such as those by David Lynch, rather than popular blockbusters. They encourage people to explore the history of cinema through important and provocative films. It’s a great opportunity to investigate and learn about new videography that you’ve never seen before.

“I think they should join if they’re interested in film and like to explore and try new things. I think it’s a great opportunity,” media teacher Charles Huette said.

Sources of Strength

According to school psychologist Sarah Young, trying to balance mental health and academics can be very difficult for students. Sources of Strength is based on eight ideas that help improve mental health and prevent suicide. These include a supportive family and positive friends. SOS is inclusive and supportive of every student.

No matter what your background is or where you come from, you are welcome.

“It’s centered around mental health and spreading hope and positivity and good vibes throughout the school. We want everyone to feel like they belong and are valued,” Young said.

September 2021 | The North Star | 9

Opinion

UNDER UNDER

PRESSURE The Pressures of Being a Football Placekicker

I

t’s near the end of the first half of a regular-season game on Dec. 8, 2013, in Denver, Colorado. It’s freezing.

Most players and fans just want the game to end so they can go home. They aren’t expecting what’s about to happen.

The Denver Broncos kicker, Matt Prater, is attempting to do the impossible. A 64yard field goal. It would break the NFL record if it went through the uprights. He can’t even feel his foot, but he starts the motion anyway. The kick is up, it’s turning, turning, turning… he did it. The crowd goes crazy, or however crazy you can get in this below-freezing temperature. Matt Prater has just climbed the mountaintop of kicking. And nobody cared.

Kicking the football has been around almost as long as the game itself. In 1883, the official scoring system for football recognized a field goal as five points and a touchdown as four points. It really was foot-ball back then. However, as the game grew, so did the scoring. Touchdowns were becoming more and more important, eventually fitting into the puzzle piece of six points and an extra point, and field goals becoming a pitiful three points.

In the 1960s and 70s, kicking the

By Bennett Palmer football hit its peak of popularity, with the longest field goals being hit left and right in college football and the professional level.

The fad soon faded, however, and skill positions, like the wide receiver or running back, became the main and only real focus to the average viewer.

After Matt Prater kicked his amazing 64 yarders, he was number one on SportsCenter for a few days, had a few articles written about him, and he had become known as the biggest leg in the NFL. “I was clueless,” Prater said about the kick. “Because I had to rush out there, I didn’t really think about it.”

Ecstasy had only set in after the field goal itself, but that ecstasy faded in a few weeks. It was over. Back to being the kicker, the odd man out, the other guy.

The pressure of being an NFL kicker set in once again.

Prater was lucky in this sense, as many kickers are in their heads the whole season.

A missed field goal or extra point can borough in your mind and settle there for a while. NFL great Martin Gramatica was an exceptional kicker, but the pressure got to even him.

10 | The North Star | SePTEMBER 2021

Speaking about the pressures from his team and fans, he said, “All they know is the kicker missed an extra point. You feel like you let the whole team down, and that can start to get into your head.”

In today’s specialized football landscape, the kickers are held to an even higher standard than before. High school football kickers are expected to nail 30, 40 even 50-yard field goals. BVN’s football coach, Adam Pummill, is very involved with his squad’s kickers and had his own opinion about those expectations.

“It’s an incredibly important job with a lot of pressure,” He says. “It’s a position where if you don’t get warmed up, there’s not a lot you can do as a kicker.”

Kickers can be seen as expendable, more than most other positions on a football field.

“Kickers are like taxi cabs,” said famously by NFL coach and Football Hall of Famer, Buddy Ryan. “You can always go out and hire another one.”

High school and college ball are definitely more relaxed with this expectation than in the NFL, however.

BVN’s situation with their kickers is a competition between two talented players,

Caleb Asjes and Mateo Linkous, both making their cases in practice drills and in games.

“It feels good to contribute to the team,” said Linkous, a sophomore who has played mostly soccer his whole life. “I played linebacker, but they needed a kicker, so I just fell into the position.”

That is the thing with high school kickers. Most of the time, kicking is not their only job. Both kickers, Asjes and Linkous, have secondary positions on the field, wide receiver and linebacker respectively. Even NFL kicker greats, like George Blanda, did not play placekicker exclusively. In fact, Blanda was just as

“

Kickers are like taxi cabs- You can always go out and hire another one.

-Buddy Ryan

“

good as a quarterback for the Oakland Raiders, which ended up sending him to the Football Hall of Fame.

All in all, the importance of kicking in football can be seen in the largest moments of each game: the tipping point, the last

position, the game-winner. Kickers from all levels, from high school to the professional game, have to deal with this tremendous responsibility.

Football kicking legend, Morten Andersen, said it best about being the odd man out on the football field.

“Sports has a beautiful way of allowing you into a group of guys and just being accepted,” he said, at his National Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony in 2017.

“That’s the common denominator, that we’re doing something together here, we’re a part of a team.”

Most Points Scored by an NFL Player in a Career

2,673 ADAM VINATIERI

-Indianapolis Colts -New Engalnd Patriots

KICKER

2,544 MORTEN ANDERSEN

-New Orleans Saints -Atlanta Falcons

KICKER

2,434 GARY ANDERSON From Left to Right- The BVN Football team celebrates on the sideline during their game versus Blue Valley West. Photo by Anna Sandage Fans put flashlights in the air during the game against Blue Valley West. Photo by Max Wolf Above- Kicker Caleb Asjes kicks off after a touchdown. Photo by Anna Sandage

-Minnesota Vikings -Atlanta Falcons

KICKER

SEPTEMBER 2021 | The North Star | 11

Student Life

Work Hard, Play Hard

BVN students find jobs to fill up their summer schedule

By Lauren Austin

S

chool was finally out. After a long, stressful school year, students had time to relax.

Freedom, fun, no more stress and lots of play. Right? Well for some BVN students, summer schedules were filled with more work than play.

Lifeguarding is one of the most popular jobs for high school and college students to take during the summer, according to the YMCA. With the hot Kansas temperatures, lifeguards are needed in facilities throughout the area from community centers, to both club and public pools.

Senior Sadie Rosenthal is a lifeguard at the pool in the Jewish Community Center. Rosenthal described her summer, which included work incorporated into her day-to-day schedule.

“I was at work all the time, but I love all of my coworkers, so it really never feels like work!” Rosenthal said.

“It’s a super fun way to meet new people, relatively easy and you get super tan.”

But those are not the only perks of working as a lifeguard at the Jewish

Community Pool center. “[We as employees] get a free gym membership and a discount on all of the snacks and extra classes they offer,” Rosenthal said.

“

I was at work all the time, but I love all of my coworkers so it really never feels like work! It’s a super fun way to meet new people, relatively easy and you get super tan.

-Sadie Rosenthal

“

Sophomore Max Masilionis is a lifeguard at Loch Lloyd, a country club in Missouri. Masilionis filled his schedule up as well, working many

shifts throughout the summer to keep himself busy.

According to Masilionis, lifeguarding was sometimes “inconvenient,” because he was always busy with work and also trying to fit in social time with his friends and family. But on the contrary, he explained how it was a part of his social life as well.

“Lifeguarding was honestly a pretty good way to find something to do without just being at home,” Masilionis said, “and it’s kind of cool just to work with other people with different ages.”

Now that school has started, working schedules change, as well as income. Lifeguards only work until Labor Day, and then they are off the hook, but lifeguarding is not the only job that many high school students take. Rather than work outdoors, many students hold jobs at restaurants.

The majority of those students are waitresses or waiters, hosts or bussers.

For example, sophomore Sarah Allen works at CocoBolos as a host.

Summer Jobs Poll

The students of BVN who had a summer job this summer filled out a poll of how they would rate their summer jobs, 80 students responded with an average rating of four out of five.

12 | The North Star | September 2021

Hiring Jobs Crumbl Cookies

6780 W 135th St, Overland Park, Kansas

Swimmers jump off the diving boards at Black Bob Pool. Photo by Anna Sandage

“I worked about four shifts a week, lots of dinner shifts….[My shift] usually starts at five and ends around 10-10:30ish.”

Allen said her social life revolved around her work schedule because she worked a lot of shifts during the summer. She said that her job didn’t take away any social opportunities, even after the long shifts.

“A lot of my friends had jobs and we would all meet up after we got done,” Allen said.

During the school year, Allen has cut down her work schedule to two shifts a week — ­ one during the week, and one on the weekends.

“I chose to do two shifts a week because I have a lot of homework, the Sunday morning shifts and Wednesday after school,” she said.

“I bet it will be more manageable, especially because we have a block schedule, so no homework is due the next day.”

Enough of the jobs, what are students possibly doing with all this money?

“I just have it pooled up in my bank account, and probably saving up for college, maybe take a chunk of it just to use in my own free time,” Masilionis said. “A lot of times you can get extra money [from] people that are desperate for shifts and are willing to pay you like 20-30 extra bucks to take four hours, so it’s some

Bravo

5005 W 117th St, Leawood, Kansas

Starbucks

Saturday night at CocoBolos in Prairie Fire. Photo by Lauren Austin

pretty good money.”

All of the working students strongly suggest other students to work as well, whether it’s as a lifeguard, host or anything available for high school students.

“I have met some of my best friends while working!” Rosenthal said. “We actually hang out all the time, whether that’s just getting food or hanging out with a bunch of them!

I would say it’s pretty chill, a great way to make new friends and a fun summer job.”

6585 W 119th St, Overland Park, Kansas or 13480 Briar St, Leawood, Kansas

Waterway Carwash

4200 West 119th St, Leawood, Kansas September 2021 | The North Star | 13

New Editorial

Horizons

A

fter 18 months of fear, emotional exhaustion and constant change, here we are.

As we’re writing this, there have been 4,683,977 deaths and 227,826,370 cases — and then there’s us. 1,600 teenagers standing in a building that was supposed to feel like home. A building that was supposed to foster growth and change, that was supposed to feel like a family, that was supposed to be a comforting constant in the tumultuous throes of teenage life.

That was supposed to happen. Now, we find ourselves here.

Finally, we have returned to in-person learning. We are doing group work in class, eating lunch at the same tables as our friends, hosting club meetings, even attending full-capacity football games.

We find solace in these familiar activities, once taken for granted but now savored as miracles.

Still, there are restrictions. Masks will stay on. All-school assemblies won’t take place, at least for the first quarter. Neither will field trips. Classes have seating charts.

Virtual options are available for high school students. Everyday, we encounter reminders that the world has irrevocably changed from what we knew.

We have just passed a year and a half since March 13, 2020, marked the colloquial beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. But in our rush to return to the previously accepted normal, it seems we have forgotten to pause and wonder whether it’s right, whether we ought to. Collectively, our society has become dangerously hyper fixated on the idea of moving on. But is it even possible?

A year and a half into the unprecedented, what does it mean to move on? design by Adelaide Edwards

In a culture that glamorizes productivity, busyness and resilience, we’ve forgotten that we can move on without forgetting the collective trauma we’ve experienced. We want so badly to catch up and make up for the things we’ve missed — but what does it mean to catch up if we’re all behind? We’re trying to catch up to the standards of a past that has been completely erased: wiped clean by disinfectant and acetone-rich sanitizer.

How long can we ignore the ways we’ve intrinsically changed?

Maybe we’re sentimental. We want to hold on to memories from the days when a handshake was just a handshake, when we politely smiled at a stranger in the grocery store to see them smiling back, when we embraced our friends without the ghost of morbid fear lingering in the back of our minds. These are sweet remembrances, but there were hardships before, albeit different. It is easy to sugarcoat those traumas from “simpler times,” and take the pandemic at face value. But we would be remiss if we did not realize that the results of the pandemic — the way we as people reacted when faced with unrelenting worldwide tragedy — were reflective of the core issues plaguing our society long before we could blame them on the woes of isolation.

After years of intense political, and otherwise, tension and division, we had been presented with a tragic but rare situation; for perhaps the first time in our lives, we were all facing a collective setback. We shared each other’s pain as we saw friends and family taken by this merciless sickness, we found

14 | The North Star | September 2021

ourselves entrapped in isolation borne of trepidation and worry, and we felt the pangs of pain and hunger for the company of each other that reminded us of our humanity.

It’s almost disappointing; in a time that could’ve been so transformative, it seems that life as we know it has become stagnant. Perhaps adapting the education system to the needs of students would be more helpful than relentlessly overcompensating for lost time, cramming years worth of content into heads that already seem to hurt all the time.

All this being said, what do we really know? The possible analyses of political and technical effects are infinite. We can use complex words and articulate eloquently, but in simple terms, we have no idea. Some things in life are not definitive. Sometimes there is no one conclusion we can come to. There is hurt, hope, and confusion.

After 18 months of fear, emotional exhaustion and constant change, here we are. 4,683,977 deaths and 227,826,370 cases later, there’s us. 1,600 teenagers standing in a building, and possibly for the first time in our lives, in this together.

Sincerely, The North Star Staff

Feature

Stepping Up

Football Coach Adam Pummill takes the position of head coach for the 2021-2022 football season.

by Reece Bachta

Q: A:

Q: A:

Why did you decide to take this position?

“I’ve been at different levels [of coaching] once I realized I wanted to focus on high school. I think the pinnacle of high school coaching is being a head coach and being at a program that you’re familiar with and you respect, so I think I knew when Coach Sims decided to leave that I would certainly be intrigued by it. Just kind of all worked out perfectly.”

Do you feel like you are respected the same, more or less as the head coach now? Why? “I think the kids respect coaches they know, who treat them with respect, and then also put in the time necessary to put them in positions to succeed, so I would say about the same.”

Q: A:

What are some new responsibilities you had to take on becoming the head coach?

Q: A:

What are some of your goals heading into this year as a new head coach?

Q:

What experience and qualities do you have that make you a successful head coach?

“I’ve been a head coach before in a foreign country at a higher level, and so that certainly helps just from an organization and preparation standpoint, but then just having the combination of high school, college and professional experience I think is vital to really understand how to lead.”

Q:

What were some challenges you faced during the transition to becoming the head coach?

A:

“I’ve been a head coach before, in Europe, so I had some experience, certainly with head coaching. Those were older guys [in Europe] and you know a little more [with] adults, and so I think just dealing with the age group and the miscellaneous things that go along with being a high school coach, such as the grades, making sure that they behave and all the things you’re always concerned about.”

A:

What are some positives you have noticed since becoming the head coach?

Q: A:

Q: A:

“I think it’s a really good tight-knit group of players.

They have a really good time. We have shortened practices and kind of gone more uptempo, which they like… And the coaching staff we have surrounded them with is very, very strong.”

“Well I think anytime you are in a head coaching position or position of leadership, especially at the high school level, it’s student athletes, and so you’re obviously recognizing that very few, if any, will play this game at the next level, let alone make money doing it one day, so it’s important that they keep their priorities straight, things of that nature.”

“We try and keep our goals pretty short, focused. I mean, always have your long term goals of playing in a state championship. Again, that’s kind of the standard around here at this point, but as far as short term goals, we’re just trying to focus on ... starting off the season right.”

What are some of your core beliefs as a coach?

“Never stop changing, and you’ve always got to be evolving in this sport. I like to have a lot of energy.

Practice fast, you know? But that doesn’t mean less reps, it means more reps, so it’s doing things the right way.”

September 2021 | The North Star | 15

3’s the Magic Number

NEWS

How BVN’s third gym has been used since its opening, and what different people from around the school think about it.

by Emmett Abar

L

ast year, the Board of Education decided to use the bond fund to build a third gym for BVN. Now that the gym has been finished over the summer, the school has a new space for extracurricular activities, along with other perks, such as safety and boosting the school’s income.

Even though the gym has only been available since Aug. 17 (the day before school started), its schedule has been packed to the brim, with limited availability from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. afterschool.

Athletics director Kelli Kurle provided insight on how busy the gym has been since its recent opening.

“There’s always somebody in it, which is great. That’s what we want,” Kurle said.

According to Kurle, the new gym is being used by the volleyball team for their practices, but when the seasons shift, the priorities of the gym will vary.

Another reason the gym has been fully booked is that the school has been renting

the gym out to local groups such as Cable, AU or other local volleyball teams.

“They rent the facilities, so it’s also a revenue maker for the district... Besides providing benefit during the day, it adds income,” Kurle said.

The groups’ time slots are scheduled

“

There’s always somebody in it, which is great. That’s what we want.

-Kelli Kure

“

for later hours, such as 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. If school groups need to use the gym, they have certain scheduling advantages versus outside groups “We’re in volleyball season,” Kurle said, “so they kind of have top priority

right after school to practice.”

The volleyball team has been able to use the new gym for their practices and games. It has been an upgrade in some areas of the sport according to one of the players, sophomore Regan Mitchel.

“The lighting of the gym is really good, and it looks a lot better than the current main gym, and the aux gym,” Mitchel said.

Mitchel thinks the new gym will be better for sports such as basketball, rather than volleyball.

“The floor is a little bit more starch, you can’t slide on it or dive on it,” Mitchel said. “If you hit the floor, you’re stuck on the floor. You can’t move, which is something you really need for volleyball.”

Practicing in the new gym for volleyball has been productive due to them having two practice nets to work with, but Mitchel feels that there are some aspects to be improved upon.

“The only bad thing about those is that the lines we use for the practice nets

Have you used the new gym yet?

27%

73%

Yes

No poll taken on instagram out of 162 students

16 | The North Star | September 2021

A volleyball team enjoys playing in the new auxilllary gym after school. photo by Emmett Abar are really light — they almost match the color of the floor. So that’s a little tricky,” Mitchel said.

The new gym has the capability to be used by many different sports throughout the year.

Kurle said one of the selling points of a third gym to the staff is the safety advantages it brings. With the pandemic still going on, the gym can be used to space out students if the staff needs to keep them distanced, and it also has the

capability to be a tornado shelter.

“It’s improved safety as far as moving a good chunk of our student body to that location,” Kurle said, “versus the wrestling room downstairs.”

Do you like the new gym?

77% Yes

23% No poll taken on instagram out of 120 students

September 2021 | The North Star | 17

Chef Guthrie

Mr. Ocon

Mrs. Cain

Feature

Q: Where did you teach before you came to North?

A: “For the last two and a half years, I was the director of arts education at Kansas City Young Audiences.

Before that, I was at the Pembroke Hill Upper School for seven years. I was an equity actress and Professor of acting at Baker University, and [I] continued acting and taught at Michigan State University before that.”

Q: If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?

A: “I don’t know why, but I always sort of revert to being invisible. People think actors are extroverts, and

we aren’t usually. And so I think the idea of being sneaky and being able to sneak up ... or listen when you shouldn’t is fun … I think it would be cool to be like an Aqua Lady and be able to go down deep into the trenches and the places that humans will never reach with their bodies … underwater is just a curiosity.

Like a dream.”

Q: Is this your first year teaching? If so, what are your hopes and fears for this year?

A: “This is my first year teaching, ever. My hopes are that it all goes well, that all my kids enjoy my class, and that I stay on top of the content that I am teaching them. My fears are that I will get behind and forget to do something ... or that my kids don’t understand the content and don’t let me know. Because if that happens, I can’t help them, so I’m hoping that it all goes well, and I can build relationships with my kids.”

Q: If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?

A: “I would say … rice, white rice! Just plain white rice because that never gets old. Carbs keep you full, and if I could I would also add soy sauce. I don’t think I would ever get bored of rice.”

Q: What drew you to Blue Valley North?

A: “I was switching careers and coming from a kitchen background and wanted to be able to teach

culinary, and one of the things that really appealed to me about this position is that I was able to strictly do culinary and baking classes instead of just a general FACS, so I liked that I was able to specialize. It really helped. I really felt like it focused on my skills and what I’m best at.”

Q: If your life had a theme song, what would it be?

A: I don’t know about a theme song, but I always like [AC/DC] whenever I need to psych myself up for

stuff. I listen to AC/DC because I feel like you can’t listen to AC/DC and not feel totally pumped … So I don’t know if it’s a theme song, but it’s definitely songs that speak to me.”

18 | The North Star | September 2021

Get to know the new teachers around our school.

by Anna Sandage

New Crew

A: “So far it’s been really fun getting to meet all the students. This summer when I was doing football stuff, we

had camps, we had practices, so I really liked getting to know students before I got here. I think that really helped me out getting my feet wet … I think the most rewarding part is just having such an impact on the students and getting to be around them. Teaching [the students] things I knew when I was their age.”

Q: Outside of work, what are your favorite things to do?

A: “I don’t really consider this work. The things that I’m doing here are the same stuff I do at home. I like

working out, I like being active, playing sports like basketball, football. The things that I am coaching here are also the things I enjoy doing at home.”

A: “No matter what subject you are in, have fun first. You should be engaged, because if you are engaged in the class you will make good progress. Homework is important, too. Overall, being engaged and doing your homework is important.”

Q: What was your favorite thing to do in high school?

A: When I was in high school I didn’t do a lot of fun things. In China we just studied, because studying was

important… For me, I liked to hang out with my friends, we would study together. In my spare time I liked to go hiking, play the flute, draw and read.”

A: “Just to always have a positive outlook on things, and just always have a sense of optimism. That is also what

I try to tell kids in my class. I think if you have a sense of positivity and optimism you can get through just about anything.”

Q: What is one trend from when you were in high school that you wish would come back?

A: “Baggier shorts, especially on guys! I can’t wear short-shorts. All my shorts go down to my knees. I don’t know why, I just can’t do the short-shorts.”

Mr. Sundquist

Q:What is one thing you wish you could tell your high school self ?

Mrs. Zhang

Q:What is one piece of advice you think every student should know?

Mr. Clifford

Q:What is the most rewarding part of your job?

Other new teachers include Paige Shoemaker, Montai Mickens, Dylan Murray, Jacob Spadoni, Kristin Conor, Kylie Thompson, Marie Leathers, Lori Freeman and Marla Ritchie.

September 2021 | The North Star | 19

Feature

Maki ng A Splash

An inside perspective on Avery and Abby Karl’s process to achieving their Olympic trials cuts.

By Abi Patterson

“B

oth sisters are hard working and very determined, in and out of the pool.”

This was Coach Carmen Menges’ reflection of the Karl sisters.

On June 15, Abby Karl, class of 2021, and Avery Karl, class of 2024, attended the Olympic Trials. Avery placed 20th out of 61 swimmers in the 50-meter freestyle and Abby placed 46th out of 46 swimmers in the 100-meter backstroke. According to USA Swimming, of all the swimmers who attend the Olympic Trials, only 52 swimmers or four percent make the actual Olympic team. In other terms, around two swimmers qualify for each event.

While neither of the sisters made it to the second wave of the Olympic Trials, they both achieved their goal of competing in the initial trials. Although they both aspired to accomplish similar goals, the sisters’ motivations were different. Abby’s motivation for attending the trials all began with a bet.

“I remember making a bet with my Mom when I was 13, that she would buy me a car if I got my trials cut… When I got the cut I honestly felt pure bliss,” Abby said.

Avery’s experience was notably different.

“I wasn’t really aiming for the cut, I was just trying for first and beat out the girl I was racing,” Avery said. “But I got out of the pool and heard them announce, ‘Wave One Olympic Trial Cut’ and I was like, ‘Wait, hold on!’ I instantly was completely shocked, and all my teammates

came over and tackled me.” competitive swimming. According to While Avery was not exactly aiming for the Karl Sisters, if it were not for their the cut itself, Menges, who coached her parents, they would not be as talented or for eight years at Empire KC Swim, knew devoted to the sport as they are today. all along that she was going to get the cut, “I was really terrible at every other but did not want to put too much pressure sport, so my parents forced it on me,” on her.

Abby said.

“Avery was so young, but in the back While Abby trained for a year before of my mind I thought, ‘Oh, she’s going the trials, Avery only had two months to to get this Olympic prepare.

Trials cut,’ but I never “Abby got the cut said it to her because prior to COVID-19, I didn’t want to scare so for her we were Right now I’m her considering she looking at setting focusing on where was just a freshman… up her training to I wasn’t necessarily possibly make it back I am because I’m surprised but I know to semi finals, so… not trying to look she was,” Menges said. we were looking too far ahead in Abby is currently at a longer cycle, attending the almost a year and the future, but University of a half process. But I’d love to go to Louisville where she is COVID-19 happened swimming Division 1 and she hurt her back the trials again and plans to attend the a little bit, so her because I’d still be NCAA’s this coming training was thrown year. Avery plans around,” Menges in high school, so on following in her said. that’d be cool. sister’s footsteps and She also -Avery Karl swimming Division 1 elaborated on the as well. That wouldn’t training process for be the first time Avery Avery. has found inspiration in her older sister.

“Now Avery, we went in with Avery “My sister started swimming when she knowing that we’ve got three years left and was young, then I decided to try it,” Avery another Olympics to shoot for. For her said. “At first I absolutely hated it, but then it was all about experience. With Avery, fell in love with the sport as I grew up.” we’re trying to get better, get faster, day in At a young age, both sisters began and day out with a lot of technique and swimming at their local country club, stuff along those lines,” Menges said.

Country Club of Leawood, before starting The training process is nothing shy of

20 | The North Star | September 2021

“

“

strenuous for athletes, with nine practices a week consistently.

“The girls had 15-16 hours of training in the water and three hours in the weight room before heading to the trials,” Menges said.

The love the sisters acquired for the sport made practices more bearable.

The two athletes began tapering for the trials a month and a half in advance. In swimming terminology, tapering means decreasing or reducing the amount of training during a swim practice. During this final period, practices are not as endurance-oriented and focus more on technique to better prepare swimmers for their upcoming meets.

“We did taper for Avery because she is a sprinter, for a full two and a half weeks… we did short bursts of intensity, meaning that we kept the intensity up but the workload down,” Menges said.

Both Abby and Avery plan to attend the trials again, which will occur next when Avery is a senior in high school and Abby is a junior in college.

“Right now I’m focusing on where I

Above- Avery before her race at CHI Health Center in Omaha. Photo provided by Avery Karl Right- Abby Karl after getting her cut at Junior Nationals in Irvine, California.

Photo provided by Abby Karl am because I’m not trying to look too far ahead in the future, but I’d love to go to the trials again because I’d still be in high school, so that’d be cool,” Avery said.

While Avery has decided to currently focus on the present, Abby reflected on the past as well as looking forward to the future.

“It was definitely one of my highest achievements, and I plan on attending the trials again my junior year of college,” Abby said.

September 2021 | The North Star | 21

news

So ...

We’re Bac k

As students return to the building for the first time in a year, is their transition something worth looking forward to or yet another stressful change?

By Lexi Newsom

“L

ike a blind person trying to ride a unicycle.”

That is what junior Natalie Blood had to say about starting this year in-person. She was an all-virtual student last year, now transitioning back to being in the building.

Blood is not alone: students at BVN are readjusting to in-person learning, whether it be a source of comfort or a place of stress. So how do former virtual students feel about their return to in-person school?

Freshman Sebestián Gonzalez Layton said that coming back in-person was something to be excited about.

“There was no way I was going to go back online. I cannot stay at home in front of my computer all day. That’d be horrible,” he said.

Gonzalez Layton was virtual for the first semester of last year, before switching back in-person at his own request. As a freshman, he feels that virtual learning left him a little behind heading into high school.

But in-person learning had another benefit for him: a social life.

“A big part of school for me … is just having friends there,” Gonzalez Layton said. “... I have a lot of friends who are sophomores and juniors, so it’s exciting to see them again.”

According to counselor Megan Standefer, many students feel similar to Gonzalez Layton.

“The virtual classes are asynchronous this year, and that’s a bigger decision to stay home if you are not going to be

involved in a class Zoom with face-to-face instruction every day,” Standefer said. “I just think that’s a lot more to take on as a student, so it’s maybe not the right fit for as many kids.”

Students are not the only ones benefiting from the transition. According to Standefer, this year is less stressful than last year was.

“

A big part of school for me … is just having friends there ... I have a lot of friends who are sophomores and juniors, so it’s exciting to see them again.

-Sebastián Gonzalez Layton

“

“This year has just such a positive vibe to it,” Standefer said. “I feel like the district as a whole learned more about how to manage [COVID-19] and has implemented different strategies to make this school year feel like it’s started more smoothly.”

22 | The North Star | September 2021

Blood agrees that this school year has felt a little more normal, but she also tells another side of the story.

“I was very nervous and very anxious because honestly, I don’t have a lot of friends anymore,” Blood said. “[I was] distanced from other people who I used to be friends with.”

While she said that virtual schooling was not perfect for her learning style, Blood still learned a lot that she has applied to being in-person. She felt that virtual schooling required much more independence. While at home, students needed to have the confidence to ask teachers for help. Talking on Zoom was a little scary for Blood, but she said the need for communication made it easier to email teachers than it was before — something that will hopefully help with junior year.

Another difference? Sleep.

According to Blood, this is something she misses from virtual school. She could get up at 7:30 a.m. and sleep longer. Now she has to go to bed later because of homework and wake up at 5:45 a.m. to make her 6:30 a.m. bus.

Resting in bed right up until class, taking notes in pajamas and the like was a way of life for some virtual students.

“I’d set an alarm for five to 10 minutes before my class and then I’d go back to sleep,” Gonzalez Layton said. “And then I’d wake up and immediately go into the class.”

The main difference last year, whether virtual or in-person, came with the number of unknowns.

Nevertheless, there were still a few things undecided heading into this year because of the pandemic. Although the schedule is not going to change every quarter, according to Standefer, they have had more schedule changes than normal: a total of 453.

“When we planned enrollment last spring, it was before we knew what would happen with the pandemic. So kids were making choices blindly not knowing what to expect this fall,” she said.

Standefer attributes these changes to enrollment, rather than anxiety over the Delta variant. While the variant may not have affected changes in learning mode, both she and Blood can agree that the mask mandate has made previously virtual students feel a little more comfortable coming back.

“Knowing we have a mask mandate has made [people] feel comfortable being here,” Standefer said. “But if they knew

that it was an optional suggestion, I think we would see more people requesting to go virtual.”

For many students, COVID-19 was the reason they were in virtual learning

“

I like to think I’m a little different from freshman year. I was a cheerleader, and now I have no friends.

-Natalie Blood

“

last year. But it has also become a dividing line.

“Some people didn’t go back to school last year and they’re completely new people … I like to think I’m a little different from freshman year. I was a cheerleader, and now I have no friends,” Blood said. “It’s changed dramatically for everyone, so it’s probably a new experience, a new beginning for a lot of people.”

Standefer easily seconds this, elaborating to include students who were in-person last year. While previously virtual students were navigating online learning, in-person classes were changing their learning method to accommodate for COVID-19. According to Standefer, this is a year of change for the entire school. “[It’s] just really strange and needs a lot of getting used to … [to] feel comfortable with all of it,” Blood said.

Students walk into the building for a full day of in-person classes. Photo by Caroline Clarke.

September 2021 | The North Star | 23

Feature

Here’s The Scoop The Golden Scoop, a local ice cream and coffee shop in Overland Park, employs individuals with disabilities.

By Ruby Bierman

T

he bell rings as a group of girls walk in the door and are greeted by the staff behind a colorful display.

A long counter filled with ice cream and baked goods runs along one of the long walls of the store. In the back of the Golden Scoop, Lindsay Krumbholz sits at a bright yellow table in front of the store’s logo, a scoop of ice cream in a coffee cup, talking to a potential volunteer.

She has been working with individuals with disabilities for almost 19 years, and this store is the culmination of an idea that’s been in the process for a long time.

This idea is a workplace employed fully by individuals with disabilities.

“We always knew that we wanted to do it,” Krumbholz said.

Krumbholz worked at an in-home therapy business for individuals with disabilities for three to four years. There, she worked closely with young adults and their parents. Working with the parents of these individuals allowed her to listen to many of their questions and concerns about the young adults’ next steps. What does the future look like? Where are they going to live? Where are they going to work? These questions led her to reach out for a solution.

“I approached my sister Amber, who’s

the president of the Golden Scoop,” Krumbholz said. “I told her that we need to create something here in Kansas City where we can employ individuals with disabilities and have meaningful employment. That was the big thing.”

Often individuals with disabilities find jobs behind the scenes, such as bagging groceries or stocking shelves.

But Krumbholz knew she wanted to show their talents to the community in a different way. At the Golden Scoop, these individuals run the business.

“They’re taking inventory, cleaning tables, learning the register,” Krumbholz said. “​​Our goal is with these employees to go and train other employees to open four to five locations in the Kansas City area.”

According to Krumbholz, there is still a need out there for jobs for disabled individuals. “​​We have 35 approximately on a waitlist right now. And that was as of May. So some of those individuals may have done something since then, but right now we have about 35, so there’s a need out there,” Krumbholz said. “We want to make sure that we can employ as many individuals as possible. And we also want to be like a stepping stone to maybe something better. But if these individuals want to stay at the Golden Scoop forever, we would love that. That’s awesome. But

The front of The Golden Scoop at 9540 Nall Avenue, Overland Park, KS.

24 | The North Star | SEPtember 2021

if they want to move on to something, we can help them.”

The Golden Scoop is constantly working on new things to bring to the table. According to Krumholz, expanding to other locations in Kansas City is something they’re looking forward to doing. This involves material they are making to show to both current and future employees.

“We’re also going to start working on some things, like reviewing our training videos and kind of role-playing those things just so that they can stay fresh in their mind on interpersonal skills, hygiene and showing up to work on time,” Krumbholz said.

Expanding the business to other locations in Kansas may seem like a daunting endeavor, but the staff is confident in management’s abilities.

Employee Jack “Mayor” Murphy is one of them.

“We have the best workers here. We also have the best management,” Murphy said. “We’re starting to open up new training facilities for new trainees to come in. And on behalf of the new trainees, I think it’s a great opportunity to work here.”

While the Golden Scoop is ready to welcome and train new employees, those involved note that the community they’ve

A peek inside of The Golden Scoop.

already formed is one they love.

“My favorite part about working here is the co-workers, [and] the managers,” Murphy said.

The Golden Scoop is somewhere

“

And I think that they’ve really been able to see the talents that these individuals bring in and just how they want to be treated, just how we’re treated.

-Lindsay Krumbholz

of this job would continue to help him throughout life.

The Golden Scoop has also allowed for customers to connect with employees, Krumbholz adds.

“They’ve been able to see the talents that these individuals bring,” Krumbholz said. “And how they want to be treated, just how we’re treated.”

The Golden Scoop is a place where individuals with disabilities can show the community how capable they really are, and the employees know just what they’re made of.

“I’m gonna keep this job for the rest of my life,” Murphy said.

Popular Golden Scoop Flavors

“

where the employees learn skills for a lifetime.

“Just being around people and [getting to meet a lot of people],” Super Scooper Austin Dearth said when asked what part

Pictured left to right, Austin Dearth and Jack Murphy stand in front of The Golden Scoop mural. Photos by Ruby Bierman

A look inside the ice cream cooler of The Golden Scoop.

A Super Scooper serves costumers.

September 2021 | The North Star | 25

Student Life

PassioN to give

Community service gives opportunities to help others and benefit one’s own mental health

By Calla Jordan

V

olunteering not only helps organizations have experienced negative those in need, it can actually impacts on their funding and ability to help boost mental health and provide services, along with a reduction self-esteem of the volunteers in the number of volunteers. Nonprofits themselves. According in the Kansas City to the website Track It area saw up to an Forward, 96 percent 80 percent decrease of volunteers report in revenues at It is really feeling a greater the height of the sense of purpose pandemic, according important after volunteering, to the Kauffman for people to which leads to feeling Foundation, which volunteer because happier and healthier. makes volunteer In a time hours and in times like these where, according contributions even we need each to the American more important Psychological to their ability to other’s support Association, 81 provide services. and comfort. So percent of teenagers According to the between the ages Washington Post, helping out in of 13-17 have volunteering can be the community experienced intense a way for students to stress due to the learn leadership skills will give to those Covid-19 pandemic, and to build skills who are in need of volunteering may be that may help them uplifting. one way to improve in future careers, teens’ mental health. as well as to make -Hannah Chong Junior Hannah social connections.

Chong spent part Joy Yan, a junior of her summer at BVN, spent her volunteering at New summer volunteering Haven Food Drive. to teach younger kids how to play tennis “It is really important for people to volunteer because in times like these we need each other’s support and comfort,” Chong said. “So helping out in the community will give to those who are in need of uplifting.”

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, nonprofit

“

“

for the Stephanie Waterman Foundation.

She said that volunteering opens up new opportunities and challenges people to go outside of their comfort zone.

“I’ve learned to be very patient with younger kids because most of them had never touched a racket before, and they were as young as 5 years old,” Yan said.

There are a variety of ways to find volunteer work in the community. Junior Elie Textor, found community service opportunities through social media. She chose to volunteer at Art That Blows.

“I really enjoyed volunteering at Art That Blows because I was able to be with my friends and also experience really cool art pieces that incorporate music because I love art and being able to be a part of something I am passionate about, it just made me love the experience more,” Textor said.

Shelly Weir, a sponsor of the community service based KAY Club, shared why she believes volunteering is important and beneficial for students.

“We are so fortunate in our

What is Kay club?

Sponsored by english teachers Shelly Weir and Casey Williams, Kay Club helps students find volunteer and community service opportunities with their peers. It is a great way for students to become more involved and to help out in the community.

26 | The North Star | September 2021

lives, and I think by helping out with others, it gives back,” Weir said. “When life is good for you it is really important to give back.”

Because of COVID-19, the KAY club was never able to meet in person last year, and most community service had to be canceled or it became virtual. Weir expressed how challenging last year was and how flexible they had to be to make it work. KAY club members did a digital story time, where they recorded themselves reading children’s books for young elementary school kids.

Living in a pandemic while simultaneously being in high school, has proven to be very mentally draining, as well as very stress inducing for students. A study from John Hopkins shares that over 30 percent of students have dealt with change and stress due to the pandemic, as well as a 19 percent increase in depression.

Weir explains why volunteering can help.

“From what I know about depression, you feel in a rut, you feel in a hole, you feel alone, and the great thing about KAY club and working together, is it is a united group of people working together to help others,” Weir said. “It’s a community event, and I think we are all amazed at how much we do have to give.”

Art That Blows Art that Blows is an event organized by the Band of Angels that makes art from old musical instruments. The artwork then is auctioned off to raise money for students who cannot afford musical instruments.

“I thought it was a really good opportunity for me to reach out and see really cool art, and also be able to volunteer.” Textor said. “They raise money for the Cobras, which is a music school for those who aren’t able to financially buy instruments, so just being able to be a part of that and help raise money really made me feel good, like I’m helping the community.”

Pictured below is Elie Textor volunteering at Art That Blows.

Photo provided by Elie Textor.

Pictured below are campers on the tennis court at the Stephanie Waterman Foundation. Photo provided by Joy Yan.

September 2021 | The North Star | 27

Student Life

STUCO

AT TH E STABLE

The Student Council team reflects on all of the achievements they hope to accomplish this year.

By Paige Novak

T

he Student Council team said going to do, and we think it’s going to be they are ready to make big our best decorations yet, possibly because changes this year. The 2021we have gotten a lot of contributions from 2022 Stuco representatives others wanting to help, too.” have been working on a variety The Stuco team is also hoping to plan of ideas to help students become a more school assemblies to reestablish school excited and spirited community at school. spirit and to get kids excited to be a Student Council sponsor Catie Bosch student at North. Currently, COVID-19 wants her team to encourage every student restrictions are preventing school to be involved in the school family. assemblies from taking place. However, “Our biggest goal this year is to try to the team is working with the district to get encourage and lead school pride as much these restrictions lifted, so BVN can have as we can,” Bosch said. “We’ve been doing assemblies, along with other school events a lot of behind-the-scenes work to make that were constrained last year. School vice people feel comfortable at Blue Valley president Rosemary Lufkin is hoping to North, especially because our freshmen improve the events that weren’t available and sophomores don’t really know the last year. true North culture, so we’re trying to get “We’re hoping to have legitimate people really involved and give all our assemblies and dances, not just [the] support.” measly little things we got to do [last The Stuco team year],” Lufkin said. is in the works of “Since we’ve had more creating a positive restrictions lifted, we’re school environment trying to see what we Our biggest goal and trying to get the can do. So instead this year is to try students excited for of having that walk to encourage and the Homecoming through that we had Dance coming shortly. for prom, we’re trying lead school pride Stuco members are to see if we can do as much as we can. the ones who set an actual prom and up the decorations, homecoming. We are -Catie Bosch come up with the also trying to do bigger theme, and execute fundraisers.” the dances at BVN. Student Council is School president Sofia Campagnuolo arranging activities that meet the current spoke about the decorations for the COVID-19 restrictions until the district Homecoming Dance this year. approves their ideas of incorporating “We definitely have started planning assemblies and other school activities. because we started doing some decorations “We’re looking to do a lot more things at our Student Council camp, and I outside so that there’s room and there’s think we’re all really excited about it,” not a confined space to go into,” Lufkin Campagnuolo said. “We have a lot we’re said. “We’re also trying to take precautions

“

“

28 | The North Star | September 2021

with masks and make sure that people are actually wearing them and actually following the rules.”

Even with COVID-19 restrictions, Stuco wants to get every kid involved in the school and is trying to get the word out about every school event. Over the summer, Stuco had a meeting where they discussed ways to spread awareness about school events. Afterward, they created a bulletin board in the flex space, which will feature new content each month in an effort to promote student voice and spread the word about school-wide events.

To the left the Stuco team discusses plans during a North Time meeting.

Below the Stuco team collaborates on future ideas for fellow Mustangs.

Photos by Paige Novak

Student Council sponsor Lauren Yonke spoke about the variety of activities offered on the board.

“We’re trying not to just give names to the big sports like football and soccer — we want every single sport and every single activity involved,” Yonke said. “There’s a big calendar where they put every single sport and activity so that when kids walk by they can take a look and say, ‘Oh, today there is a volleyball game or there’s a choir concert, that’s a fun thing, let’s go do that.’”

By taking action with the bulletin board in the flex space, the main goal is

to include every student at BVN, and not keep certain activities or events for certain grade levels. Sophomore Stuco president Haya Boda mentions the importance of including every grade level in North culture and activities.

“It’s really important to get everyone involved, including freshmen,” Boda said.

“Obviously the upperclassmen are going to be super excited about being back at BVN and having all these events, but with freshmen we should show them that these events are really fun and they should totally come, because sometimes they think ‘Oh,

I don’t know anyone, and it’s going to be really awkward’ but it’s really important we get the underclassman involved as well.”

According to some Stuco members, participation in spirit days in the past few years has been less than ideal.

“No one has really dressed up with them just because I think they’re embarrassed or they feel like their friends aren’t going to dress up, too, so Student Council definitely needs to set an example for others and show that it’s fun and you don’t need to feel uncomfortable about it,” Campagnuolo said.

September 2021 | The North Star | 29

Student Life

What Is Your Biggest Regret?

Seniors share their biggest regret from high school.

By Mikayla Kia

Ephren Taylor Q: What is your biggest regret and why?

A: “One of my biggest regrets is I’ve always been a person who wanted to fight racism, but in my pursuit of trying to fight racism, I actually perpetuated some of it myself.

I guess going back through the beginning days of my high school, I always wanted to let people know about the racism that was in the world.

And a lot of those ideas were rejected. And so I feel like maybe I internalized some

of that, so a lot of my biases came in. I saw the world as the person who sentenced my father, he was white.

The people that I see killed innocently on TV are killed by white police officers. I guess a lot of the things wrong in the world, I saw it as being problems of, I guess, white society. And so I internalized that and became a Black separatist because I had lost faith in white America to fix its own race issues.”

Q: Would you give any

Ali Piper Q: What is your biggest regret and why?

A: “My biggest regret was probably from sophomore year. I made a lot of bad decisions that I shouldn’t have made, and they were kind of fueled by my mental health, and I really wasn’t in the best mindset. I was with the wrong group of friends, and I ...was letting their actions influence my actions. Then, sophomore year, I attempted suicide.

It was probably my biggest regret because now, [with] all the things I’ve done, I couldn’t imagine leaving my family and not having the friends I have now. And I just started dating my boyfriend last year and I couldn’t imagine not being with him.”

advice to anyone who may end up in a situation like you were in?

A: “Be very social about your beliefs because in a lot of these communities, you can get lost in the social world.

And if you aren’t talking to anybody about your beliefs, it’s very easy to get stuck in them and push something that you will regret pushing later.”

Q: How do you think your life would be currently if you didn’t make that one decision or did things

differently?

A: “I would probably have stronger social connections because of the way that I viewed the world. I kind of, I guess, isolated myself. I never really gave out. I never felt like I could be myself around anyone because of fear of rejection. And I never made connections with a lot of people that I internally liked, but the political ideology that I held would keep me from making those deep, close personal relationships.”

Anonymous Q: Would you go back?

Why or why not?

A: “I would go back so I could kind of fix my decisions, because I’m still to this day going through the repercussions of actions I made sophomore year.”

Q: Would you give any advice to anyone who may end up in a situation like you were in?

A: “I would definitely recommend having good common sense, or applying logic to your life, because there were definitely times that I was in a bad situation.

[I was] like, ‘Oh, you know what. It will be fine. Like, tomorrow, it’s a new day.

Nothing’s gonna happen, I’ll be fine.’ And it was just the complete opposite.”

30 | The North Star | September 2021

Q: What is your biggest regret and why?

A: “My biggest regret is being on drugs for freshman and the first half of sophomore year. It was during school and out of school. I was like, acclimating to a new environment, because I was at a private school for so long and I had so much freedom and access to all this stuff, so I kinda just went crazy.”

Q: Would you go back?

Why or why not?

A: “I would go back and change what I did..it tanked my GPA freshman year and the beginning of sophomore year was just kinda rough because I was trying to get out of that habit. ... Just trying to figure out what I’m going to do with life, but now I’m all better.”

Q: Would you give any advice to anyone who may end up in a situation like you were in?

A: “Quit while you still can before you’re too far gone.

Because if you go all the way, then you’re just going to continue on.”

Q: How do you think your life would be currently if you didn’t make that one decision or did things differently?

A: “I would have a 4.8 GPA and a lot less issues with my brain, mental health, and I also have HPPD, which is Hallucinogen-Persisting Perception Disorder, where everything looks like TV static all the time.”

News

Want to Learn More?

Books and podcasts that expand upon three unique topics covered in this issue.

By Caroline Clarke and Arshiya Pant

About Food Insecurity ...

The Politics of Food Elevating Voices, Ending Hunger Feeding America

Hosted by Ami McReynolds, Chief Equity and Programs Officer with Feeding America, this podcast is an open dialogue among Americans invested in the topic of inequity and food insecurity. It is driven by conversations with a variety of community members who provide valuable perspectives on the issue of hunger in the United States, emphasizing the power of local action in the quest to end food insecurity.

William D. Schanbacher In this investigation into the policies addressing food insecurity, Schanbacher explores the inadequacies of the current approach, spearheaded by global organizations, such as the United Nations. Through his analysis of international relationships, both business and political, he makes the case for investment in local initiatives as the most effective tactic to fight world hunger.

About Athletes & Mental Health ...

Mind Games

Identity of the Athlete John Kleber

In each episode of this series, a current or former athlete engages in a heartfelt discussion with John Kleber to consider the role of mental health in their career, and work through a variety of topics that influence mental well-being, including gender, spirituality, relationships and identity.

About Cinema ...

(Sub)Text

Wes Alwan, Erin O’Luanaigh

In this podcast, philosopher Alwan and poet O’Luanaigh use literature and film as the backdrop for their discussions about the human condition. This duo is not afraid to ask the big questions: “Does civilization corrupt or improve us? What makes us most distinctively human, our reason or our emotions? Which is more important to our happiness, love or work?”

Annie Vernon In her debut novel, Olympic silver medalist and world champion rower Annie Vernon takes a look at the psychology that drives elite athletes to the top. Innate competitiveness, motivation, and self-confidence are all fair game as Vernon asks the question: how does psychology drive physical performance?

The Movie Book

DK As part of the Big Ideas Simply Explained series, this book takes readers into their favorite cinematic universes and explains the oft forgotten intricacies that enhance this selection of 100 iconic films. It utilizes visual aids, from movie stills to timelines and infographics, to impart a more holistic understanding of the context and themes that influence from behind the screen.

September 2021 | The North Star | 31

Scenes from art class with Ms. Elyachar and Ms. Hensley at the end of the 400 hallway on Sept. 17.

Photos by Bennett Palmer