The North Star Volume 37, Issue 2 by The North Star Newspaper

THE NORTH STAR BLUE VALLEY NORTH HIGH SCHOOL | OVERLAND PARK, KANSAS | VOLUME 37 | ISSUE 2

LEARN MORE ABOUT STUDENTS’ DIWALI CELEBRATIONS ON PGS. 14-17

Contents News

Arts & Leisure

4,5

Behind the Glass Lauren Kopitas

28,29 Gifting Gurus

Speed-Talk Josie Jones

6,7

Feature 8,9

‘Tis the Season for Travel Trouble Hannah Markiewicz

10,11 Model Students Paul Struby

12,13 Chiefs Kingdom Anna Sandage

14-17 Celebrating Diwali Lilly Copeland

18,19 Surviving the Seasons Madi Garrelts

20,21 Let in the Light Emmett Abar

22,23 Bouncing Back Q Wallace

24,25 Are You Prepared?

Anjali Kambhampati

26,27 Time Flies

Alex Robertson

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Ruby Bierman

Wrapped Up for the Holidays Sydney Kort

Crossword Alegria Aguilera

Online Alex and Stella’s Trader Joe’s Review era’s review (stella’s version) Personality Perspective 1989 (Stella’s Version) Stella Ain A Season in Review Field Bio 101 No Harm, No Foul Cash Durbin BVN’s Got Crabs Co-curricular Classes Unified Bowling Strikes Again Jack Hancock A BVN Christmas A Superfan’s Review of The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes In Disguise Clara Resende

Page 17 Junior Mahek

Trambadia dances at a Diwali celebration at Blue Valley West. Read more about how BVN students celebrate Diwali on pages 14-17. Photo by Lilly Copeland.

The Staff STAFF WRITERS

Lilly Copeland Cash Durbin Jack Hancock Josie Jones Lauren Kopitas Sydney Kort Hannah Markiewicz Clara Resende Paul Struby Q Wallace

SOCIALS

WEBSITE

PODCAST

@bvnnews

bvnnews.com

North Star Podcast

SOCIAL MEDIA EDITORS

COPY EDITORS

Addi DeVore Anna Sandage

Stella Ain Ruby Bierman Madi Garrelts Anjali Kambhampati

DESIGN EDITOR Emmett Abar

EDITORS-IN-CHIEF

Alex Robertson

Alegria Aguilera Lexi Newsom

WEB EDITORS

PODCAST HOSTS

PHOTO EDITOR

Jack Hancock Anna Sandage

Addi DeVore Sejin Hahn

Letter from the Editors T

he end of October is the catalyst for the start of the holiday season. The moment the Halloween skeletons come down, 12-foot trees wrapped in tinsel are put up in the shopping malls, hometown romance movies play on the Hallmark channel and twinkling lights line the roofs of buildings. For many, the holiday season has become almost completely defined by Christmas, despite the diverse variety of holidays that occur in the latter months of the year. Around the world and in our own community at BVN, the season is full of a spectrum of traditions and celebrations. Such celebrations are grounded in rich history, mythology, religious beliefs and culture. Unfortunately, various holidays are often consolidated to a single unit in elementary school, and the brief overview glosses over various nuances in how people from different regions celebrate the same holiday. However, activities related to Dec. 25 seem to be a recurring theme. Educational curriculum and activities that focus on one specific holiday more

than others contributes to students’ limited global awareness. According to Michigan State University, it is especially important to begin this type of exposure at a young age, as “learning about other cultures helps expand your child’s experiences and world and helps create understanding across cultures.” Despite what is typically a narrow scope, we’ve all had the privilege to sit through classes where we are taught many other cultures and celebrations that exist around the world. That is the first step. However, we must explore and celebrate the fact that these cultures exist within our own community. BVN students and the surrounding community celebrate many holidays during November and December. The centerfold of this issue highlights how many students honor the rich traditions and stories of Diwali, and we hope students take the time to explore the various cultures that thrive here and around the globe. It can be incredibly easy to live in our own bubbles, surrounded solely by

one culture and not looking any further. Yet, it is the moments when we admire the diversity of the people and joy around us that we can see all the light the world truly has to offer. Sincerely, The North Star editors

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NEWS

Behind the

Glass

What does the possibility of an art gallery in the flex space represent for BVN?

VN’s art teachers and students recently shared plans to construct a glass art gallery that will extend artistic presence and influence beyond the end of the 400 hallway. According to BVN’s drawing and painting teacher Tom Holland, the gallery will be located in the flex space — a part of the school regularly dense with student traffic — to encourage accessibility and student discussion. He said it will likely contain no more than 20 student pieces of art at a time, and

By Lauren Kopitas each will be designated its own wall segment and spotlight. Holland said the gallery’s purpose is to showcase student art before a greater student audience and encourage the exchange of ideas. “The biggest problem with the art department being at the end of the 400 hallway is the lack of visibility,” Holland said. “We’ve tried putting displays in the commons, and of course, we have showcases at the end of each semester. But we want to expose student talent to more people

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and make this a very serious gallery that will last for a long time.” Junior Chloe Neeld said she hopes the gallery will also prompt artistic growth and conversation. “I think this display could really help motivate and inspire young artists to do better,” Neeld said. “As an artist, you need others’ input to keep you moving forward, so it will be helpful for artists to not only show their work, but talk about it and hear interpretations from others. There’s only good that can come out of displaying young

Above: Drawing and painting teacher Tom Holland sketched layout plans for the gallery. Left page, top row, left corner: junior Sienna Masilionis drew herself with friends. Left page, top row, right corner: senior Emma Montecino painted a still life of fruit and a vase. Left page, bottom row, left: sophomore Ivy Fischer painted an abstract self-portrait. Left page, bottom row, middle: senior Annebelle Crappell painted a still life depicting a pumpkin and a dog. Left page, bottom row, right: sophomore Addison Harrell drew a charcoal sketch of a fellow student.

artists’ work.” Junior Siena Masilionis said it’s difficult for students to find communities willing to engage with their work. “Lots of artists at this school seek visibility, but the process of sharing art can be really difficult, especially on social media,” Masilionis said. “It’s hard to find groups of people who think there’s value in your art and want to encourage you to create more. Putting a gallery in the flex space could make it much easier for artistic kids to find that support.” The display also benefits those who aren’t involved in the visual arts. “I hope that kids who have other interests in school will still be able to appreciate the gallery,” Neeld said. “Some of them might look … and think it has nothing to do with them and therefore, doesn’t really deserve their interest. But this display is for them too. Art makes its impact once others see it and think about it for themselves.” Holland also said the isolation

of the pandemic encouraged social and creative drawbacks — the brunt of which he still feels. He hopes that student involvement in the arts will be strengthened by the display. “The hope is that kids — even those will little experience in the arts — will feel compelled to produce more and be behind that glass with others,” Holland said. “COVID set us back quite a bit as far as our ratings and involvement in the visual arts are concerned, and I want kids to be excited about coming to school, making art and discussing the lives we lead.” Masilionis further emphasized the inclusivity of the display. “I hope the display will showcase student life,” Masilionis said. “Art isn’t meant to be for one group of people. It’s just a way to express different feelings and experiences.” Holland said he wants the arts to be designated their own space, just like other schoolwide activities. “We want to create a place for students to display and discuss their

work, just like the theater kids have the theater and student-athletes have gyms and fields,” Holland said. “As is done for other activities, I want to give kids the opportunity to run this operation and apply a little professionalism to the experience to sharpen their creative abilities. Pieces in the display should be special, and the kids with pieces in there should feel special.” Neeld continued this comparison and said the arts’ lack of schoolwide popularity might be due to the discipline’s demand for privacy. “There are competitions for debate, games for athletics and productions for theater, whereas art is more of an individual effort,” Neeld said. “I think this is why the art department has gotten less attention, but I’m so glad that we’re getting it now. We work extremely hard for this school, and I’m happy to see the school work hard for us.”

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What is this season looking like for the debate team? By Josie Jones

he BVN debate team has been working since this summer to prepare for their season and the state competition in December. The team has competed around the Kansas City area and nationally, and it debates about economic inequality, universal basic income, the federal jobs guarantee and expanding social security. Senior Suditi Challa first became interested in debate because she is interested in law, and debate has been a good resource for her, she said. “[Debate has] definitely given me a lot of knowledge on topics that I just wouldn’t know about,” Challa said. One of Challa’s favorite moments from this season was seeing how close the team has gotten. “The same faces go to each tournament, so we get to know each

other super well,” Challa said. Challa and her partner, senior Cacia Hunnicutt, qualified for the Tournament of Champions, where they will face the top teams in the nation. “I think our team is super hard working this year,” Challa said. “A lot of us are really dedicated to the activity and are willing to put in a lot of time, which is really important in debate in the preparation aspect of it.” Sophomore Mitchell Coleman said since he is on the varsity team this year, he has spent a lot more time on debate and researched more than he did last year. “Doing varsity [debate] is a lot different because everyone is better and more invested,” Coleman said. Coleman’s favorite part of the season so far has been researching to

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learn about his topic, he said. Coleman added that the time and effort the team puts into the debate is necessary. “The most important thing in debate is being dedicated and to keep working on it,” Coleman said. Senior Reagan Smith said students learn valuable things in debate that they can use outside of the activity. “Public speaking in general is really good,” Smith said. “I think I am more persuasive, but I am also able to convey informational, complex topics in a way that somebody who is uninformed would be able to understand.” Smith said that being a part of the debate program has shown her a new way to approach and process information. “[Debate] forces you to look at things from all angles,” Smith said. “I don’t really take things at face value;

Upper left: Brian Box teaches debate class. Upper right: senior Edward Mu prepares for the next debate. Bottom left: Suditi Challa writes on white board in class.

NORMAL TALKING SPEED

16.01 SECONDS

I’m very critical of whatever I come across, which I think is very helpful to get the most accurate information.” Senior Claire Ain said she has been interested in debate since she was in middle school, when the BVN debaters came and did an activity with them. “Debate has added a lot of stress, but it also adds a lot of rewards,” Ain said. “It’s just a better outlook. It made me a more holistic person, which is good because I am involving myself with people I wouldn’t meet otherwise and creating these connections with a different type of community.” Starting with the class of 2028, Blue Valley will require students to take a communications class in order to

graduate. “I think debate or speech, in general, is a good chance to improve advocacy skills,” Ain said, “and allow for individuals to express themselves in a different way other than the typical classroom realm.”

DEBATE TALKING SPEED

7.56 SECONDS

Mitchell Coleman was asked to answer one question normally and then to answer a second time like the question was a debate prompt. Talking as if it was a debate, Coleman was able to cut his orginal time by more than half.

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FEATURE

‘Tis the Season for Travel Trouble BVN students describe their holiday travel experiences. By Hannah Markiewicz

uring the holidays, some students travel to see friends and family, but they can face challenges. While travel can be hard at any time of the year, the holidays can make it more difficult. According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, the weeks around Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years are some of the busiest travel times of the year in the U.S. and draw large crowds to airports. “I prefer [traveling during the] tourism off-season because it’s not as busy, even though it’s going to be busy always,” junior Will Sandage said.

“But with holidays, there’s a lot more room for error.” According to CNN, over half of 2,000 Americans surveyed in 2023 said they travel during the winter holiday season. “We were getting excited to go to New York,” Sandage said. “We had this whole trip planned out. It was pretty nice, it was gonna be fun. [We were] going to spend Christmas in New York, and then Southwest had a lot of problems, and our flight got delayed multiple times and then eventually canceled, so that was fun.” Sandage had to stay home because of the travel issues. But freshman

Luggage piles up in the Kansas City airport over winter break in 2022. Photo provided by Will Sandage.

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Lucia Noll had trouble coming back to Kansas. “Over the Fourth of July we were in Washington D.C., and on our way home, it was the fifth of July,” Noll said. “We got on the plane, sat there for three hours, and then they deboarded us because they said something on the plane wasn’t right. Then we sat in the airport for four hours, got back on the same plane, sat in the plane for like an hour and then finally took off.” When BVN goes on winter break, students like Sandage and Noll may not want to travel during the busyness of the season.

Lucia Noll takes a photo with her family in Colorado in 2019. Photo provided by Lucia Noll.

Will Sandage and his family take a photo at the Kansas City airport over winter break in 2022. Photo provided by Will Sandage.

A plane takes off from an airport in California in 2023. Photo provided by Lucia Noll.

“I like staying home,” Sandage said. “Traveling is fine, but it’s a lot of time and energy when you can just spend time with family and friends at your house.” Noll agreed. “Honestly, sometimes I’d rather stay home because it’s time you get off from school just to relax and hang out with friends,” Noll said. However, freshman Lillian Glover “prefers to travel more to see new

us,” Sandage said. While holiday travel can be hectic, Noll recommends packing a carry-on backpack to help with the stress. “For long trips, it’s good to have a book,” Noll said. “I always have homework to do if it’s winter break, and I always download shows and stuff just to make [traveling] less painful.”

places” during the holidays, she said. In addition to new experiences, the holidays can be a time to see family. “Usually we have a lot of family around us, but when we want to go out, we usually go to Colorado,” Sandage said. “We drive there for family, so we haven’t had many problems with airplanes. Everything is within a 10-hour drive. Or, we’ve gone to Florida a couple of times … because we have a lot of family near

Have you ever had trouble with holiday season travel? 57%

Yes No Lucia Noll takes a photo with her family at Disney in 2023. Photo provided by Lucia Noll.

43%

Of 90 people polled on @bvnnews on Instagram.

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FEATURE

Model Students Members of the BVN Model UN team talk about the club’s success. By Paul Struby

rom winning awards to traveling far away for competitions, BVN’s Model United Nations Club has received recognition at multiple conferences during its three-year lifespan. However, the work and dedication of its members can be unrecognized. Junior Caroline Massman founded Model UN two years ago because of the lack of related clubs around the Midwest. Her background in debate gave her the confidence to undertake this project since the activities share a similar skill set. Sophomore Khasar Chinbat joined last year, and junior Sara Aamir joined this year. Both became involved because of the Model UN community and overall strength of the team. “I knew that Caroline Massman, who was running it, was really good at it,” Aamir said. “And also, our team went really far, and I was really interested in foreign relations.” Model UN is a simulation activity where students play the role of a delegate from a certain country and attempt to collaborate with other delegates to solve world problems and debate different issues.

“You have different committees and before conferences when they have to you make different policies,” Chinbat research their country and its views said. “You research the country, and on different issues. There are many you represent their different ways viewpoints and that participants make policies measure with other success in a It might sound kind nations.” conference, of cliche, but if people BVN’s with winning had a great time it’s a Model UN has awards being had immediate the most success. I always want success, obvious people to have a really winning one, but awesome memory, awards such some have as “honorable other ways that they learned delegate” to judge the something or they at different experience. made a friendship. conferences. “It might One wins sound kind –Caroline an award by of cliche, Massman researching but if people thoroughly and had a great then acting time, it’s a as one of the success,” most well-spoken and well-prepared Massman said. “I always want people participants. The club is also different to have a really awesome memory, because it’s entirely student-run, as that they learned something or made a students plan conferences and make friendship.” travel arrangements. Even though it is a successful Model UN’s time commitment is club with a strong group of students, small, according to the three students. Massman believes that some people They spend the most time in the days don’t realize how important it is, and

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“

The Model UN team stands for a group photo outside the University of Virginia on Nov. 12. Photo provided by Caroline Massman.

Do you know what Model UN is? Yes

54% of students

No 46% of students

some do not know it exists, she said. “I think that it would just be incredible if more people knew about the program,” Massman said. “Most people, when they find out about it and they get involved in it, they fall in love with it.” The other Model UN students believe teachers and other educators should know more about the program. “A lot of teachers don’t really know much about it,” Aamir said. “You have to go to your officers for a lot of information because they’re more experienced, so I wish there were more adults [that knew about it].” Model UN can be a complicated subject, but the members of the group said they meet a lot of different people and that you can learn important skills, like public speaking. “Just join [the club],” Massman said. “A lot of people get scared to join because they feel like they don’t understand it, and every time, I tell people to just go to a conference and just give it a try.”

Of 114 students polled on @bvnnews.com on Instagram.

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FEATURE

CHIEFS

KINGDOM How does the local sports team, the Kansas City Chiefs, impact the BVN community? By Anna Sandage

eing part of Chiefs Kingdom is more than attending games and sporting red, white and gold — it’s a community. From lifelong season ticket holders to the child of a former Chiefs player, BVN is home to a diverse part of the Kingdom. Although some become Chiefs fans later in life, FACS teacher Paige Shoemaker has supported the team for as long as she can remember, she said. “I have been a Chiefs fan my entire life,” Shoemaker said. “Growing up, my grandparents had season tickets, so we started going when I was in first or second grade … with [my grandparents], my parents and my whole entire family.” Some of Shoemaker’s favorite games were the ones she attended in

unexpected conditions. “My friends and I always hit some games together, … and we somehow end up at the most freezing cold game of the year,” Shoemaker said. “There was that snowy game a few years ago with Patrick Mahomes against the Broncos that was just a complete snowstorm, which was cold but fun.” Season ticket holders are guaranteed a spot at each home game of the season. Senior Madison Chavez feels like her family’s season tickets have allowed her to experience many opportunities as a Chiefs fan, she said. “Not everyone gets the opportunity to go to every single Chiefs game or one Chiefs game alone,” Chavez said. “Just being able to show up to every game and know I have a guaranteed spot is really special.”

Paige Shoemaker stands for a photo on Oct 10, 2022 at the Chiefs vs. Raiders game, where the Chiefs lost 30-29. Photo provided by Paige Shoemaker.

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In recent years, being a part of Chiefs Kingdom has been more of a thrill due to their success in the Super Bowl. Chavez attended three Super Bowls so far and said they have accounted for some of her best memories. “[The Super Bowl games] were all amazing, but the first one [in 2020] was definitely my favorite because it was in Miami,” Chavez said. “Every single Super Bowl has just been a really great experience.” Although Shoemaker has never attended a Super Bowl game, Shoemaker agrees that high-stakes games make the environment special for a Chiefs fan. “I went down to the Super Bowl when it was in Tampa, and just being able to see all the Super Bowl

Brock Maslowski stands near the field on Jan 15, 2017 at the Chiefs vs. Steelers playoff game where the Chiefs lost 18-16. Photo provided by Brock Maslowski.

festivities and all the things that go on created stronger bonds and memories with it [interviews, media days, etc] ... with her loved ones. is just so much fun,” Shoemaker said. “Especially [going to games] with “It was such a sense of enjoyment for my grandparents when I was super both teams, and I think just being able young, not even knowing exactly what to see different fan bases and different team we were playing — just being cities is really cool and exciting.” in that environment with them was For sophomore Brock Maslowski, special,” Shoemaker said. “Especially the Chiefs also play an important since my grandpa is no longer with role in his family. His dad is a retired us, those [family games growing up] Chiefs player and that has allowed really stand out the most.” Maslowski more Chiefs Kingdom unique unifies experiences, communities, [The fan base] really he said. Shoemaker builds that sense of “My dad said. always lets us “Just as a pride in our city, and go to all of city as a whole, so many people in our these special everywhere you lives … It is sort of events, so we go you are able are always to make those like a big connection going to connections,” that we all have. the games Shoemaker or different said. “Even –Paige charity when I have Shoemaker events,” gone other Maslowski places around said. “[The the U.S. I am Chiefs] always able to find other have Christmas parties, so we all get Chiefs fans. [The fan base] really together and see all the players, and it builds that sense of pride in our city, is really awesome.” and so many people in our lives … It The relationship between the is sort of like a big connection that we Chiefs and family doesn’t only apply all have.” to the children of athletes. According to Shoemaker, Chiefs Kingdom

“

CHIEFS SUPERBOWL APPEARANCES

Jan. 15, 1967 KC at GB L 35-10

Jan. 11, 1970 KC vs. MIN W 23-7

Feb. 2, 2020 KC vs. SF W31-20

Feb. 7, 2021 KC at TB L 31-9

Madison Chavez stands in front of the field on Feb 7, 2021 at the Chiefs vs. Tampa Bay Super Bowl LV where the Chiefs lost 31-9. Photo provided by Madison Chavez.

Feb. 12, 2023 KC at PHI W 38-35

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FEATURE

Diwali Celebrating

BVN Students discussed how they commemorated Diwali on Nov. 10-15. By Lilly Copeland

t the start of the holiday season, students came together to celebrate the festival of lights, Diwali. With a mix of traditional customs and modern adaptations, the BVN community has many different ways to commemorate this sacred day. It’s a time when students embrace their cultural heritage and make memories. With the help of vibrant lights, dance, rich cuisine and ancient customs, the school’s community comes alive with color. The celebration is derived from ancient Hindu mythology, representing the story of Lord Rama and his return from exile. During Lord Rama’s

exile, his wife Sita is kidnapped by the demon king Ravana. To get his wife back, Rama had to defeat the demon king. Diwali symbolizes Rama and Sita’s return to their kingdom after 14 years of exile. The legend behind Diwali can differ depending on the region. Some Hindus in Southern India celebrate Lord Krishna’s defeat of Narakasura, while others in Western lands honor the banishment of the demon king Bali to the netherworld. In some areas, Diwali also marks the beginning of the new year. Diwali is a holiday celebrated worldwide, beyond Hindu culture. Other religious groups also celebrate

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the holiday, including Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists. The Washington Post reported over one billion people around the globe participate in the festivities, making it the most important holiday in India. Juniors Jagannath Sritinath Nair and Paritosh Patel have an understanding of Diwali that overlooks the religious aspect, giving the holiday an alternate perspective. “Diwali is basically a religious festival, but I think it’s more than that,” Nair said. “I think it’s a cultural uniting where families get together and just enjoy being connected. I think it really provides a unifying force for a lot of people, and anyone can celebrate it.

Sriha Penagonda performing traditional dance at the Blue Valley Diwali Party.

It just connects you with others.” Patel described the festival as “really inclusive across the world because anyone can celebrate.” The holiday not only unifies religions around the world, but communities within the nation as well. Due to its history of colonialism and its regional differences, India has a wide variety of ethnicities and cultures. “Even though there are different parts of Hinduism throughout India, it unifies Punjabis’ and Gujaratis’ and we all just come together,” sophomore Aakanksha Roy said. For junior Nivedita Rekha, lights play a significant role in her celebrations.

“I’m from South India, and no matter what religion you are, we burst [fire]crackers,” Rekha said. “It’s super popular. It’s a festival that brings people together.” Diwali takes place over the course of five days, with each day having a special significance. “In India, for the first few days, we would clean every part of the house, burning all the bad and old stuff so we could buy new [stuff],” Roy said. “On the day of Diwali, we would do a small ritual, make sweets and basically just have fireworks and [fire]crackers.” Decorations and lighting play a vital role in Diwali. One of the key concepts of the celebration is good

triumphing over evil. Lamps, candles, and diyas can be placed around the home to represent the festival of lights. “Lighting is probably the most central thing,” Patel said. “I think decorations are there to ward off evil spirits. Mainly the lighting is used to spread joy.” Decorations are the result of ancient traditions passed on through generations. What one family places in their home can differ from another. “People usually put flower garlands around their houses and rangolis in front of the door,” Roy said. “And then they would just have a lot of homemade candles everywhere.” For junior Aditi Mishra, the festive

DECEMBER 2023 | THE NORTH STAR | 15

lights hold a deeper meaning and history than what meets the eye. “The candles represent brightness in our life,” Mishra said. “They represent good and how you know that we are alive.” For Mishra, the celebration focuses on visiting the temple and spending time with loved ones. “We go to the temple, pray to god, then come back, get together with our families and then eat a bunch of delicious food,” Mishra said. Food is one of the key parts of the celebration, and families use generational recipes to bring delicious meals to the table. The types of food range depending on which region a person is from. However, some of the traditional foods of Diwali include sweet desserts. “Jalebi are like little circles, like swirls, and they are really sweet,” Roy said. “Then there are papadi, which

are like little squares that just melt in your mouth. It’s like cotton candy.” Since food is an integral part of celebrations, there is a wide variety of tastes. “There’s a bunch of different kinds of sweets and food that is prepared,” Rekha said. “My favorite is garlic naan with chicken curry.” From region to region, there can be differences in the types of dishes and their preparation. “There’s kaju katli, which are basically sugar cubes and made out of flour,” Patel said. “You can also eat gulab jamun. You take syrup and put it on a ball of flour.” How one commemorates this sacred holiday varies, and each family has their own traditions. “What my family does is we get together with friends, and then we usually have a religious ritual or a puja,” Nair said. “We celebrate it with

fireworks-type practices and stuff.” Diwali is a holiday that is widely celebrated and represented throughout the world, often taking the face of various religions and ethnicities. However, BVN students said there are many things that non-celebrators can take away from the festivities. Mishra emphasized “the importance of family, getting together and celebrating together.” “Honestly, you get to see that it’s really not that hard to learn about other cultures because it’s so easy to get involved in Diwali and to participate in it,” Patel said. “There’s almost nothing [related to] God [involved with the holiday], so I feel that it shows other people that you can give other cultures a chance.”

The Days of Diwali Day 2 Gold coins can be bought to ensure good luck.

Day 1 Preperation begins, and rangolis are placed around entrances made out of colored rice flour.

Day 3 On the day of Diwali, lamps are lit around the house to represent the victory of light over dark.

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Day 4 Performing lakshmi pujas celebrate the return of Lord Rama and bless families with prosperity.

Day 5 Laddu is a popular sweet that can be offered to gods to express gratitude.

Mahek Trambadia performs a traditional dance at the Blue Valley Diwali Party.

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FEATURE

Surviving the Seasons As the seasons change, so do some students’ moods. How does this affect their education and their overall well-being? By Madi Garrelts

n the first week of November, people set their clocks back an hour, ultimately transitioning into the fall season. However, there is another noticeable transition throughout society. As the seasons change, so do many people’s moods. For some students at BVN, the intensity of schoolwork may increase, but for others, mood is directly related to the changing seasons. According to Johns Hopkins, “Seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, is a type of depression. It happens during certain seasons of the year — most often fall or winter. It is thought that shorter days and less daylight may trigger a chemical change in the brain leading to symptoms of depression.” While SAD is more common during fall and winter, it can occur during any season. This disorder can lead to a variety of symptoms,

such as negative thinking, lack of enjoyment, lower energy, changes in sleeping and eating habits and trouble concentrating. BVN’s social worker Lisa Summers discussed how the condition affects teens. “SAD occurs especially when the days start to get shorter and the nights get longer,” Summers said. “Then people start having feelings of depression, and it’s a very real thing.” Summers helps students with the condition throughout BVN. “First we talk about it, although the main thing I do is help that student get situated with a therapist in the community,” Summers said. “I really only get to meet with kids every two weeks, so my main job is to help monitor the students.” Summers also said she hopes SAD becomes a condition that’s taken more

18 | THE NORTH STAR | DECEMBER 2023

seriously. “Having worked with students through the years, I know it’s not situational, it’s not something happening in their life [and] it’s not pressure from school,” Summers said. “It’s literally just the changing seasons and the lack of light outside.” There is also a lesser known form of SAD that frequently occurs among teens as well. It’s known as the Winter Blues. According to the Pennsylvannia State University, “This condition can make you feel less cheerful, energetic, creative and productive during the dark, winter days than at other times of the year.” Senior Sarah Allen said the transition to the winter season impacts her daily mood. “The cold isn’t what really bothers me, but really it’s that it gets so dark so early,” Allen said. “And after school is

when I’m doing homework, showering and getting ready for school the next day, and it just makes me feel so tired and I’ll just have no motivation. I’ll want to fall asleep when I should be doing things like studying or homework.” Allen also said it can be challenging to juggle a winter sport during this period. “I’m on the girls bowling team, and we have practices or a meet every day after school, and it usually ends around five or sometimes a little later,” Allen said. “We also have to miss school sometimes for meets, so I’ll have a lot of homework. And we practice at places all the way in like Olathe, and it’ll already be pitch black outside once we’re done. Then I have to get home and finally start my homework, and it makes it a lot more difficult because it’s dark out. I’ll just be so tired, and I’ll

want to go to bed instead of finishing my work.” Junior Christian Eide said the changing seasons can decrease his productivity as well. “At the beginning of the school year, it’s a little bit warmer coming out of summer, so I’m still pretty upbeat,” Eide said. “Then once winter comes around, I just want to stay indoors and I get lazier. I can be productive. I just need to take more breaks.” Allen also said breaks within her schedule are key to getting through the winter season. “I always try to take breaks to increase productivity,” Allen said. “Then when it comes to important stuff, like if I need to workout or shower, I try to do that right as I get home because it’ll still be bright out. And then I’ll spend around thirty minutes doing an assignment and then

take a little break because I just get so tired so quick because it’ll already be dark outside by then. Then I’ll go back to working again, then take another break, whether it’s like scrolling on TikTok or talking to a friend or watching an episode of some show or something.” The most important thing a student can do to help themselves through these challenging periods is ask for help, Summers said. “You’re not alone with it,” Summers said. “Especially with this generation, with all the access to media, sometimes they self-diagnose. With that power, many students believe that they can take care of it themselves, but you need help. It’s not just that you need help. Everyone’s going to need help throughout their lifetime.”

Helping Hands for the Winter Season 1. Staying Warm

During the winter, there is a reduction of sunlight and warmth. Staying warm can help prevent “hibernation mode” as the lack of sunlight leads to many increasing how much they sleep.

2. Staying Active

Staying active during the winter season can help reduce stress and anxiety.

3. Sunlight Lamp

During the winter, people have a lack of Vitamin D because of the lack of sunlight. This lamp helps increase light within one’s household.

DECEMBER 2023 | THE NORTH STAR | 19

FEATURE

Let in the

Light

Insight into some of the benefits natural lighting brings to high schoolers and teachers, as well as some of the negative effects a lack of exposure can have on students.

By Emmett Abar

or some students, catching glimpses of sunlight from the flex space or other windows in seemingly random places around the building is all the natural light they get for the day. The majority of classrooms in the 200 and 300 hallways don’t have access to windows or natural lighting, making them completely dependent on fluorescent lights. How does natural lighting, or the lack of it, affect high schoolers’ education? School psychologist Sarah Dockendorf has both read about and experienced the effects of natural lighting on a person’s mood. “[Natural light is] definitely a positive thing and does boost our mood,” Dockendorf said. “Whether we realize it or not, it does make a big difference.” Natural light has also been observed to benefit certain skills students need in order to succeed in the classroom. According to a study by Assistant Professor Nastaran Shishegar and M. Bouberki at the University of Illinois, some of these traits include a “state of

alertness, mental focus and cognitive by [inexposure to natural light],” performance.” Dockendorf said. “I know in student “Selfishly, I really wish my office services, we love our location because had windows to we’re in the middle the outside,” of the school Dockendorf and we’re easy There’s something said. “It to access when makes a big kids need us, about being able to difference but we do wish see outside whether whether you we could also it’s raining or snowy realize it or get windows to not. Just being the outside.” or sunny, that just surrounded Natural gives me this sense by bricks and lighting also of being connected concrete as can be a factor opposed to in some more to more than a room natural light common with desks. is such a disorders, such –Genesis difference, you as seasonal know?” depression Ackerman Inexposure disorder, to daylight which can be can also have attributed to a negative effects, “causing chronic lack of daylight exposure and seasonal fatigue, depression and possibly other change. illnesses,” according to the University “We know about research that says of Illinois study. These effects aren’t that it’s part of why people develop exclusive to students. seasonal affective disorder or seasonal “I think all ages are affected depression,” Dockendorf said. “With

20 | THE NORTH STAR | DECEMBER 2023

“

= Areas with little to no access to natural lighting = Areas with the best access to natural lighting

days getting shorter, we have less and less daylight that affects people’s mood.” English teacher Genesis Ackerman recently moved to room 313, which has no windows, but she said it was still an improvement from her previous classroom in terms of lighting. “I moved to [313] because there’s a door right here, and I get some natural light in the hallway,” Ackerman said. “In my previous room, I had to go find it.” Ackerman believes the combination of the stress of school and underexposure to light can affect students’ mental health and that more exposure would be able to help create a better learning environment, she said. “People that deal with anxiety or depression, I think I’ve read that natural lighting can help with those things,” Ackerman said. “So, I think that [natural light] wouldn’t just benefit me, but students in very stressful and highly impactful learning environments, and [it would] give a balance to our life. We are missing that in the classroom.” Some places, such as Johnson

County Community College (JCCC), have already made efforts to increase light exposure and promote its benefits in creating healthy environments. “We went through a tour at the [JCCC], and in some of the facilities, they have solar lights, which bring outside light into the classroom with that natural light,” Ackerman said. “That’d be an easy way to remedy an old building … I think it’s kind of expensive, and that’s probably why we don’t do it.” Student and staff experience, as well as scientific research done by Assistant Professor Nastaran Shishegar and M. Bouberki at the University of Illinois (other studies can also be found that prove this theory), suggest that natural lighting exposure is an important aspect of education. Proper lighting has numerous benefits for both students and teachers, Ackerman said. “There’s something about being able to see outside,” Ackerman said, “whether it’s raining or snowing or sunny, that just gives me this sense of being connected to more than a room with desks.”

93%

7% N

Do you want more windows in classrooms? Of 193 people polled on @bvnnews on Instagram.

DECEMBER 2023 | THE NORTH STAR | 21

FEATURE

BOUNCING BACK Take a peek at the two successful girls and boys basketball teams as their seasons begin. By Q Wallace

he sound of squeaky sneakers, the smell of popcorn and loud music fill the BVN gym as the boys and girls basketball teams get ready for their first game of the season. Fans, band members, parents and the student section begin to fill the stands. Yet some players said they feel pressure due to the success of basketball in the past. The boys team has had a winning record for 18 straight years, and the girls team won the state championship last year. The basketball culture at BVN is

something Coach Ryan Phifer imparts to the boys team. “The main thing we try to instill is just the importance of teamwork and family,” Phifer said. However boys basketball isn’t the only sport that shares a culture of winning. Coach Ann Fritz celebrated her 600th win of her coaching career in 2023. Since many of the players who won the state championship last year returned for this season, the girls basketball team expects great things once again, junior Jaliya Davis said. “Winning state and getting that ‘2-

22 | THE NORTH STAR | DECEMBER 2023

peat’ is definitely one of the main goals we want to accomplish,” Davis said. Junior Gerard Hinson said the same about the boys team. “We most definitely don’t want to be the team that causes the winning streak to end,” Hinson said. Davis and junior Aubrey Shaw are returning for their third season and feel excited and a sense of pressure to win back-to-back state championships, as they are seen as two of the leaders of this girls team. “Being an upperclassmen and leader on a team means you have to

take on a bigger role, and I’ve tried Lashley said he feels a lot more to do that,” Shaw said. “It’s definitely pressure, especially with this being his something that I liked doing. I enjoy last year. being able to face a challenging game “If we lose a game, it’s going come and kind of figure out how we can get down on me, and people are going to better.” ask me what happened,” Lashley said. Davis complimented Shaw’s “People are going to say, ‘Why didn’t leadership. I do this? Why didn’t I do that?’ But I “[Shaw’s] definitely a good feel like that just comes with the part partner,” Davis said. “She helps of being a leader.” me when I get Both Hinson and Lashley frustrated, and said they feel prepared we do a good for this season. Get your job of leading “Playing football popcorn the team. really kept me in shape ready, it’s However, it’s and ready for this really just the season,” Lashley said. going to be a whole team Hinson spent a lot of show. picking each his off- season in the gym. other up. Our He averaged 22.7 points –Gerard motto last year for each of the 12 games Hinson was ‘better for his Mokan basketball together.’” team. Hinson Shaw has been and senior Jaron Lashley are the only playing basketball nonstop, she said. returning players this year for the boys “My entire summer was like a team, so they’re prepared to become student travel ball,” Shaw said. “We team leaders. had nationals in Chicago, and we “I definitely have to [lead], even went to Indianapolis, as well as a few though I’m not a senior,” Hinson other places. So all of our off season is said. “I’m going to have to step up as technically us playing basketball. It’s a leader. Last year, I was still kind of literally 24/7.” learning stuff and looking up to all the Hinson added that he is excited for older guys trying to learn from them, this upcoming season. but now it’s my time to be the leader “Get your popcorn ready, it’s going for my teammates and show them the to be a show,” Hinson said. right way.”

“

Members of the boys and girls basketball teams dribble and shoot in various games in the 2022-2023 season. All photos by Adam Murray.

DECEMBER 2023 | THE NORTH STAR | 23

FEATURE

ARE YOU PREPARED? College is often an important checkpoint in students’ lives. How have students started preparing for this goal? By Anjali Kambhampati

n freshman year, students begin to transition from she’s looking into. Her dream school is the University of middle to high school and teachers are flexible due to South Florida, she said. the major adjustment. As sophomore year approaches, “They have a really good med program there,” Shah the workload slightly increases, and students continue said. “It’s an accelerated program, so it shortens the amount to prepare for their upcoming years. Juniors can take a more of time it would take to become a physician.” difficult variety of classes and the SAT Some students have their goals or ACT, become more involved with set for a certain school early on, clubs and handle adults’ pressure to while others’ goals, like Shah’s, There are a lot of think about college. When senior year have been more recent. things that I don’t arrives, students often wonder where “One of my family friends got all the time went. With high school into USF, and she is in the honors know about college being a stepping stone toward the program there,” Shah said. “I prep, and I think future, how are students dealing with think that’s really cool because I’ve talking to other preparations? always wanted to go to Florida. I’d There are many different factors be in a place where I want to live, people will help me that impact a student’s “dream and I would be in an accelerated gain more knowledge. school.” According to College program so I wouldn’t have –Dilsha Advisor, a student may consider a to spend as much time in med school’s reputation, location or where school.” Chebolu their friends or family members have Shah also said she has done attended college. Junior Ruhi Shah research and preparations on said she researched various schools her own but plans to work with a based on what she wants in a college. college counselor in the future. “For me personally, I’m looking for more diversity within “I’m going to get a college counselor this summer so that peers and to make sure the college has a good program and they can help me see exactly what requirements I need to a good student-teacher ratio,” Shah said. meet and if what I’ve done already is good enough or if I Shah added that she’s hoping to be part of an need to do more,” Shah said. accelerated pre-med program, which has affected the schools AVID is a class that helps with college preparations, Shah

“

Freshman Year

Sophomore Year

Junior Year

Get involved in extracurriculars, talk to your parents about plans after high school

Start SAT/ACT prep, continue to stay involved outside of school, start college research

Create a college plan, maintain grades, take SAT/ACT, schedule college visits

24 | THE NORTH STAR | DECEMBER 2023

said. “We do a lot of college fairs, so we get the chance to really look into all the colleges,” Shah said. “So, I would say I’ve done a fair amount of research for college. AVID is a good class for college prep. We do a lot of college tours; we’ve been to KU, Pitt State, and UMKC, and we are going to K-State soon. We get to see dorms, too.” Although Shah thinks college-related competition has decreased because standardized test scores are optional at certain schools, she spent time preparing for college over the summer. “I’ve volunteered at so many different places over the summer and shadowed so many different doctors so that I could have a good resume and show that I’ve spent time outside of school on something that I’m passionate about,” Shah said. Sophomore Dilsha Chebolu started a college prep club at BVN and said high school is an important time for college preparations. “I think a lot of people, especially sophomores or freshmen, don’t really know the resources they could find in order to start their journey into college,” Chebolu said. “This club isn’t really a ‘we’re going to get you into a good college’ club. It’s underclassmen and upperclassmen gathering and sharing information so everyone knows where they can find resources.” So far, the College Prep Club has had an introductory meeting where they held elections, but Chebolu said there will be more meetings after winter break. “We will be doing some ACT and SAT prep with some study guides,” Chebolu said. “Upperclassmen will come in and tell us about their experiences, how they went through the application process, if they took any training for the ACT and SAT, where they did this and stuff like that.” Chebolu said this club is beneficial for others as well as herself. Senior Year

Continue studying for SAT/ACT, apply for colleges and scholarships, continue maintaining grades

“I think it’s providing everyone equal resources and knowledge on how to better their transition of getting into college, and these resources are important to me, too,” Chebolu said. “There are a lot of things that I don’t know about college prep, and I think talking to other people will help me get more knowledge out of that.” Chebolu also feels as though “competition has increased college-wise and not just with Ivy Leagues.” “Since more people are trying to get into colleges and are trying their best in school, there’s so much more competition and work to get into literally any university, especially if they have special programs or if they have scholarship programs,” Chebolu said. “It’s hard because there are so many people trying.” Chebolu worries competition for colleges she’s interested in is increasing, so she’s motivated to do more to prepare, she said. “I’ve just been preparing more and putting more effort, time and dedication into [college preparations],” Chebolu said. “I think before I didn’t really put too much time into it, and I think I cared about it less, but now I do because it really impacts your future.” Chebolu said she researched colleges based on her major, even outside of her club. “I don’t really have a specific college in mind,” Chebolu said. “I’m trying to go into medicine, so I was going to look at the UMKC six-year program.” Chebolu recommended starting college prep early. “I started at the beginning of sophomore year, and I’m already thinking, ‘How am I going to do this?’” Chebolu said. “I know it’s like, ‘Oh, I’m still a freshman,’ but starting early is going to help you because you’re not rushing into doing everything in two years. I would say have a good timeline and gather everything you need for a college application.”

EG E

TOP 10 SCHOOLS NAMED AS “DREAM” COLLEGES

1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

2. Stanford University VE

TAS

3. Harvard College

4. New York University

5. University of California Los Angeles VET TES EN

NOV TAM TVM

6. Princeton University

7. University of Pennsylvania

8. Columbia University

9. University of Michigan

Sidebar order from The Princeton Review.

10. University of Texas at Austin

DECEMBER 2023 | THE NORTH STAR | 25

FEATURE