North Star Volume 38, Issue 4

THE NORTH STAR BLUE VALLEY NORTH HIGH SCHOOL | OVERLAND PARK, KANSAS | VOLUME 37 | ISSUE 4

LEARN MORE ABOUT DISTRICT CONSTRUCTION AND FINANCES ON PGS. 14-17

Contents News

Editorial

4,5

28-30 Seniors Signing Off

6,7

Failing FAFSA Ruby Bierman Action Against Apple Emmett Abar

Feature 8-11

There’s No Place Like Home Alex Robertson, Anna Sandage

12,13 H.A.G.S.

Anna Sandage

14-17 The Economics of Education Hannah Markiewicz

18,19 The Diversity Assembly Clara Resende

20,21 A Helping Hand

Anjali Kambhampati

22,23 The Future of Teaching Stella Ain

Student Life 24,25 Senior Spray-Down Lauren Kopitas

26,27 Senior Summer Josie Jones

2 | THE NORTH STAR | MAY 2024

The North Star seniors

Arts & Leisure 31

Crossword Alegria Aguilera

Online Catching Z’s Pedal to the Medal Lilly Copeland Food Allergy Issues Cash Durbin Recruits of Tomorrow Weir the Champions Jack Hancock Blurred Vision Seven Days Sydney Kort Sink or Swim: An Honest Review of the New Aquarium Alex Robertson This Page Isn’t Allowed Paul Struby First Round Picks Q Wallace

Page 17 BVN baseball team

members play on the new turf field. Read more about how BVN and the district spend money on pages 14-17. Photo by Hannah Markiewicz.

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 Addi DeVore Anna Sandage

DESIGN EDITOR Emmett Abar

COPY EDITORS

Stella Ain Ruby Bierman Madi Garrelts Anjali Kambhampati

EDITORS-IN-CHIEF

Alex Robertson

Alegria Aguilera Lexi Newsom

WEB EDITORS

PODCAST HOSTS

PHOTO EDITOR

Addi DeVore Sejin Hahn

Jack Hancock Anna Sandage

Letter from the Editors M

oney makes the world go ‘round — that’s true for Blue Valley, as well. When the district chooses construction projects, it keeps all its schools in mind. Its goal is to give each school the same facilities as those at its level across the district. If BVN gets an aux gym, then so does every other high school; Blue Valley West is building one soon. In theory, this equality seems great: Every high schooler in the district has access to the same resources.

But in practice, this system prioritizes something that looks good on paper over actual needs. Every year, Principal Tyson Ostroski is required to create a building needs assessment, which reports what he sees as the greatest weaknesses of the school. The key needs for this year were reliable transportation, behavioral needs aid, teacher retention, attendance accountability and strategy-focused classes. However, in an interview with district officials, the executive director of operations said he didn’t know much about the building needs assessments beyond transportation. The director of communications, Kaci Brutto, immediately clarified, “The building needs assessments are done a little more

on the academic side of the house of could’ve been saved if those resources the district, and so I can see … that were allocated to the specific need to that title would lead you to believe begin with. maybe they were done on the facilities, The centerfold of this issue explores operations side of the house. Those how BVN and the district spend money are led [in part] by ... our chief finance and how building needs compare to officer.” other investments. Through the hours Our question is simple: How can you of research, drafting and editing, we spend thousands of dollars building new all quickly learned how secretive Blue facilities without knowing the needs of Valley (BV) is about finances. While each school?

Olathe school district posts links to all Despite belonging to the same of their financial information on its district, every school is separate and “Financial Information” tab, which therefore has different needs. Giving can be found on the homepage of the everyone a one-size-fits-all solution website, it takes an advanced Google doesn’t address the problems, and search to find many of BV’s financial we’ve seen this with some of the documents, like bond information and recent construction projects at BVN. overall expenses. In writing this story, A potential solution identified in the we dedicated time finding and reviewing Building Needs Assessment 2023-24 various reports on how BV spends its is creating “more dynamic spaces for money. learning.” Instead, we just paid for turf We hope you take the time to reflect fields and the new aux gym is barely on how you, as students, are affected by used. New athletic facilities, as nice as the recent and upcoming renovations, they may be, could hardly be considered and whether your parents’ tax money is spaces conducive to learning. really benefiting you.

To be fair, the upcoming renovations of the 600 hall are long overdue and Sincerely, will help students involved in music. But The North Star editors some of those changes could’ve been made earlier, and thousands of dollars

MAY 2024 | THE NORTH STAR | 3

NEWS

FAILING

As college decsion dates loom overhead, students and teachers alike reflect on the problems this year’s FAFSA caused.

By Ruby Bierman

N

ext year, some BVN seniors will be attending universities across the country. While their journeys will differ, many have one thing in common right now: problems with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA. In 2023, legislation was passed by Congress to change the FAFSA in an attempt to shorten the application process. With a month-long delay in its launch, the application did not open fully until January. According to The Hill, 17.1 million students submit their FAFSA in a typical year, but only 3.1 million students had submitted it by Feb. 8. Numerous problems since the form’s release have prevented students and families from receiving their financial aid packages. Senior Tyara Davis noted that the FAFSA changes impacted her college search this year.

“Not knowing what I would receive affected my ability to figure out where I wanted to go,” Davis wrote on Instagram.

Although deadlines for FAFSA corrections have continuously been pushed back, some schools have not adjusted their deadlines to commit for the next school year. From a student

4 | THE NORTH STAR | MAY 2024

perspective, it is unfair for colleges not to move the deadline, senior Tara Tuchyner said.

“That doesn’t make any sense to me at all because I’ve seen a lot of colleges have been really good about [adjusting deadlines],” Tuchyner said.

“I was just checking Washington. They changed [the deadline] to June 1, and I think that for a lot of colleges, it’s going to take something away from them, but we had a lot taken away from us. When it comes to time and being able to think about where you want to go and not having to stress about this, I think that it’s the least that they can do in order to ease some of that stress.”

Complications in the program have caused numerous problems for seniors applying to colleges this year, including Tuchyner. She had difficulty filling out her FAFSA because one of her parents lives abroad. When opening the FAFSA, the first question asked Tuchyner whether or not she was filing for both of her parents. Assuming she was only submitting for the parent living in the U.S., Tuchyner chose “one or neither.”

“I was like, OK, that fits my situation better because I’m only

filing for one,” Tuchyner said. “I don’t know if they need to know my mom’s financial information. So I picked that option and then I filled out my information, and then it basically said OK, you’re done. And I was really confused. I was like, wait, I can put my dad’s information in, and I couldn’t edit it anymore. I felt so embarrassed about it that I didn’t really even talk to anyone outside of it. This is just something that I have to worry about.”

Families with special situations, such as remarried parents, have run into problems with this year’s FAFSA. According to Lisa Summers, BVN’s social worker, this is due in part to the new way FAFSA takes in tax forms. While the FAFSA is supposed to automatically populate with tax information from 2022 with a parent’s permission, it has instead placed 2023 tax forms into students’ profiles.

This switch has skewed financial aid estimates for students.

“So there are kids that I thought, ‘OK, if your parents weren’t remarried yet, there’s no reason for you to put that,’” Summers said. “But when they do the taxes together, it automatically puts that towards the kids’ FAFSA, even though the stepparent may not

have any intention of paying for their talked to other people, and they were college. It is putting kids behind.” in a similar situation too.”

BVN didn’t prepare seniors well While the FAFSA may seem enough to fill out the FAFSA this year, daunting to some, there are some Tuchyner said. things students can do to try and make “I was actually surprised because it easier, Tuchyner said. from what I remember last year, I saw “I know that the FAFSA opens announcements on pretty late, so the TV screens I definitely that there were Googled But I’m sure this is notifications when it first going to be the case about the FAFSA opened,” or reminders Tuchyner that some kids are or maybe the said. “I going to choose to not counselors came think it’s go to college when in, but I didn’t important to really see a lot of do it sooner they can’t make it. that [this year],” than later.

–Lisa Tuchyner said.

So Google “The counselors the deadline, Summers may have been and when it like, ‘Oh, you opens, maybe need to do this,’ write it down but it was months before it was actually on your calendar and just honestly get due. There were little to no reminders. it over with so that you can focus on So when it actually came down to it, I the rest of your senior year.” just panicked and I did it. And then I Despite the major hiccups the

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application has caused students across the country, there is still great value in filling out the FAFSA this year, Summers said.

“I want every student to know that it is worthwhile to hang with them,” Summers said. “It’s a huge headache this year, but it is worthwhile for them to do this. That’s $1000 that you don’t have to earn, that your parents don’t have to pay for if you have a 3.0. And it’s just money that can really help.”

For some, problems caused by the FAFSA could have long-term consequences.

“I’m sure this is going to be the case that some kids are going to choose to not go to college when they can’t make [the deadline],” Summers said. “When all of their finances are set on this, they can’t get answers right. And then they choose to not go to college for a year. And I know when you don’t go to college for years, sometimes it’s harder to go back.”

FAFSA TIPS 1. Start Early.

2. Fill out the FAFSA, even without financial need.

3. Utilize internet sources to learn more.

4. Reach out to counselors and parents for assistance.

MAY 2024 | THE NORTH STAR | 5

Action

NEWS

Against

Apple

With the Department of Justice’s recent legal action against Apple Inc., some major changes might be aroud the corner for Apple users.

C

By Emmett Abar

urrently, one of the U.S.’s biggest tech companies is facing a monumental lawsuit. Apple is being sued by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) for violating antitrust laws and eliminating economic competition from their devices. According to Forbes, this case will take “many years to resolve,” but it may eventually affect Apple users across the country.

The DOJ case targets products it determined promote a closed market and monopolistic behaviors, creating unfair prices for their products. If the DOJ wins its case against Apple, it would affect products such as the App Store, Apple Pay, Apple Wallet and accessories such as Airpods and Apple Watches. Those accessories would be able to connect to Android phones, and Apple would have to allow access to apps that are currently unavailable on the App Store. Apple Wallet and Apple Pay would be expanded to accommodate more payment options, and issues between Android and Apple texting would be resolved.

According to Christopher Hoyt, a law professor at UMKC and former

6 | THE NORTH STAR | MAY 2024

antitrust law professor, the allegations and Google and Meta are taking notice against Apple are likely to lead to of how the Europeans have succeeded them settling in trying to regulate and fulfilling Big Tech,” Hoyt the DOJ’s said. “That has I like Apple, but I requirements to be the closest just feel like they to follow modern day shouldn’t be able antitrust law comparison to and making what they’re doing to just control changes to at the DOJ.” everything about the involved The EU [the market].

Apple took action products. against Apple in They should let Hoyt 2021 with the other people enter recommended introduction of a the space for further bill that required research in cell phone more consumers, the topic if companies to and I think the interested, but adopt a common competition will he also sees charger. Junior the European Landon Nelson just help people.

Union’s said he believes –Landon (EU) actions that the DOJ against Apple lawsuit exists in Nelson and other reaction to the major tech EU case as part companies as a of the Biden pattern the DOJ will follow in the U.S. administration’s increased efforts to “I look to Europe and those regulate big corporations. controversies where they’re going after “I think that when the EU hit them big tech in Europe, and I’m sure Apple with the case about their chargers, it

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“

was generally good for consumers,” Nelson said. “I also don’t think previous administrations have been as prone to go after companies or are prone to introduce legislation or cases against them.”

Yet this lawsuit will also affect students who use Apple products, which is driving various opinions. No matter the opinion, this will have an effect on BVN students. A poll by @ bvnnews on Instagram showed that 227 of 238 respondents use iPhone rather than Android phones.

For Nelson, the American lawsuit is inconvenient because of the excessive amount of time the case will take to unfold.

“I’m guessing that the plaintiffs in the case won’t really get anything out of this for a long period of time, and unfortunately, I believe that helps Apple in the case,” Nelson said. “I’m generally a fan of Apple being forced to break stuff up and open up the market to more competition.”

Junior Samantha Haas sees Apple as a monopoly because its products are incompatible with other tech companies.

“You could probably classify it as a monopoly,” Haas said. “They try to promote their products as much as possible. Like, Apple TV can’t connect to anything else unless you have an iPhone.”

Although Nelson sees the lawsuit as beneficial to consumers, he has an Apple iPhone and frequently uses Apple products.

“I like Apple, but I just feel like they shouldn’t be able to just control everything about [the market],” Nelson said. “They should let other people enter the space for more consumers, and I think the competition will just help people.”

This case isn’t the first time the DOJ has gone after big tech companies for being monopolies, but it has been a significant period of time since the last time they pursued such action. Hoyt

Possible Changes to Apple Products: t en ther m o y pa and cess e c or s, M tion ave a op ps h pay ap tap to ble ila nd a av , a ps tore e on p a s S or ore app ly st IO M the on e on t th no

sees the action against Apple today as being very similar to the 13-year lawsuit against IBM in the ‘70s.

“Basically, IBM was too big,” Hoyt said. “They controlled all the mainframe computers of most businesses, and the government was trying to bring an antitrust action. It just took years looking at documents and really didn’t produce that much good in my opinion. I think the government actually kind of conceded and walked away.”

Hoyt said the prior results with IBM are an indication of how the accusations will go in the case against Apple.

“I could see some sort of settlement as the most likely outcome, rather than some sort of court case,” Hoyt said. “I look at how they’ve been dealt with in Europe because they don’t have trials … they’re just paying these huge fines in Europe.”

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or rf o l o r c id e o n an ndr b A me d Sa S an IO

es tch ith a w w ple king ther p A or es o one w on Ph ph an i th MAY 2024 | THE NORTH STAR | 7

FEATURE

There’s NO PLACE like

The Class of 2024 Blue Valley North High School

8 | THE NORTH STAR | MAY 2024

Kansas

University of Kansas Claire Ain Stella Ain Akif Ansari Sophie Baehr Aanchal Banik Molly Bechard Maddie Beckman Josie Benskin Aadhya Bhatia Mark Biswas Audrey Branner Lillian Brion Rafael Chamlian Ethan Chan Usman Chohdry Campbell Claflin Olivia Crabb Pablo Davalos Bobby Day Isobel Dorothy Annabel Finegold Leila Furse Elise Gassen Shaibal Ghosh Kelli Gilgus Asher Ginden Claire Glaser Quinton Guerra Vaishnavi Gujar Alayna Hall Abby Harmon Abigail Hathaway Nick Hazen Joseph Hennessey Grayson Holtorf Ava Jackson Jaden Jacobson Blaise Jessop Stella Jones Gigi Klaus Allison Kneller Jack Lin Mateo Linkous Prishita Manna Klein McGraw Bennett Palmer Vatsa Pandey Evan Pokorny Sam Potter Haven Powell Juliett Quevedo Farin Rahman Collin Raiford Liza Kate Raine Elle Razi Noah Reif Clara Resende Alex Robertson

Marin Runnebaum Faye Sanden Triston Schelstrate Amaan Shah Audrey Sherman Eric Silva Eli Slutsky Hyeseong Song Jaiden Steven Trevis Tuukuo Ardyn West Eli West Anna White Kansas State University Lily Abar Katie Beck Nathan Book Madison Chavez Noah Fayard Willem Hegeman Reed Henderson Kaitlyn Herman Luana Hipolito Reese Hirschler Nate Lozaw Gavin MacIvor Tess Moeller Max Morris Jeffrey Nichols Carly Pattin Emma Rose Ritter Maggie Ruckman Matthew Warner Madi Whigham Tatum Wintory Grant Woods Dylan Zeller Johnson County Community College Charlie Accurso Miguel Cornwell Destiny EngstromRitchie Daniel Fowler Isaac Grondahl Claire Henderson Logan Johnson Liberty Lanfranca Rodrigo Mares Areli Martinez Emma Montecino Alex Plas Deacon Rech CJ Slutsky Alex Vanderpool Hutchinson Community College Griffin Allen Tieon Jones Brady Whitman

Pittsburg State University Taylor Brand Cienna Meinert Carolyn Scott Tanner Spiecker Washburn University Austin Boulton Sage Henson Cowley College Quinn Groebl Fort Hays State University Carson Wasinger Hollywood Animation Academy Jack Kia Kansas City Kansas Community College Luke Young McPherson College Noah Landever MidAmerica Nazarene University Julia Shumate

University of Missouri-Kansas City Landon Black Haya Boda Annabelle Crappell Laci Olberding Aaron Tseng Truman State University Will Dent Manny Jeong University of Central Missouri Aiden Juhl Samuel Simpson Missouri State University Catie Quinn Missouri Valley College Bodhi Connelly Webster University Isabelle VanSyckle William Jewell College Romina Martinez

Missouri University of Missouri Alegria Aguilera Eric George Forest Kohrs Sam Lozaw Rylee Madden Sophie Munro Natalie Patterson Liam Stangler Gregory Taylor Myles Witteborg

MAY 2024 | THE NORTH STAR | 9

Arizona Arizona State University Alec Lopez Ross Tretiak University of Arizona Rachel Talcott Grand Canyon University Brad Eckart

Arkansas University of Arkansas Gwen Chiaverini Sydney Glenn Abby Jehlik Kate Shisler Will van Zon

California University of California Santa Barbara Grace Zhou University of San Diego Caroline Matthews University of California San Diego Ben Ding University of Southern California Ruby Bierman Stanford University Edward Mu

Colorado Colorado State University Nathan Condon Maia Kolquist Molly Latinis Graham Liby

University of Colorado Boulder Catherine Krasucki University of Denver Peter Sarris

Georgia

Emory University Aanya Kabra Georgia Institute of Technology Gabriel Decker

Illinois

Loyola University Chicago Sarah Allen Northwestern University Suditi Challa Cacia Hunnicutt Lexi Newsom Zengtao Xing The University of Chicago Rhea Sadagopan University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Madhavenshu Dayal Quinten Schafer

Indiana

DePauw University Emmett Abar Indiana University Stella Bliss Alexandra Freiden Max Masilionis SJ Squire University of Notre Dame Molly McCartan Purdue University Younghyun Yoon

Iowa

Cornell College Darnell Boyd Iowa State University Allie Vaughn Samantha Walker University of Iowa Mia Bohach Nicolas Martens

10 | THE NORTH STAR | MAY 2024

Kentucky

Ohio

Murray State University Isa de Santos Gomez Louisiana State University Avery Karl

University of Cincinnati Janelle Green Western Reserve Academy Greg Ballard

Louisiana

Oklahoma

Dillard University Bibi Igbaseimokumo Louisiana State University Cameron Young

Massachusetts Boston University Hannah Kim Katie Price Uma Bhoot Clark University Lukas Wiggins Endicott College Reagan Mitchell

Minnesota St. Cloud State University Tatum Warren University of Minnesota Twin Cities Tisya Midha

Nebraska

Creighton University Ben Moynihan University of Nebraska-Lincoln Mason Ain

New York New York University Felicia Wu Rochester Institute of Technology Sheila Njiru SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry Sophia McDaniel

Oklahoma State University Olivia Davis Vanessa Harris University of Oklahoma Ryan Benjamin Gavin George Jack Hancock Anna Sandage University of Tulsa Louis Cierpiot Anna Pearson

Pennsylvania Carnegie Mellon University Lillian Xia University of Pittsburgh Mason Dancy

South Carolina Coastal Carolina University Taylor Preuss Furman University Ryan Wagner

Tennessee University of Tennessee Manoa Nicholson Vanderbilt University Nancy Di Palo Miles Kim

Texas

Baylor University Marisa Freeman Shreya Ramachandran

Austin Community College Jaron Lashley Texas Christian University Emery Skomal Southern Methodist University Ellie Lim Caden Wathanacharoen

D.C.

American University Wyatt Baehr Georgetown University Sejin Hahn Brendan Kelly Howard University Naim Robinson

International Trinity College Dublin Tara Tuchyner University of Toronto Muskaan Chandarana

Undecided Jesse Balarashti Ethan Franz Kate Henderson Karen Kim Reagan Smith Jaden Uzelac

Other

Alabama Auburn University Lillie Mock Florida University of Florida Eden Iseman Maryland University of Maryland Noah Tarjan Michigan University of Michigan Caleb Deng Amelia Law Mississippi University of Mississippi Audrey Doege Grant Garberg New Jersey Princeton University Charles Peck North Dakota University of North Dakota Sam Frager Utah Utah State University Wesley Dubreuil Virginia Longwood University Remi Siner

Wisconsin University of Wisconsin-Madison Sydney Anderson Lauren Austin HyoShin Sung 18-21 John Gibson Tristan Herhusky Nicholas Saadat Austin Woods Paul Mitchell Hair and Beauty School Victoria Prats Summit Salon Academy-Tampa Valeria Alonzo

Military

All seniors were notified of this survey. However not all were able to respond. This data is representative of the 265 seniors who responded or were able to provide further information when contacted.

By Alex Robertson and Anna Sandage Photos by The North Star staff

Army Joe Haaf National Guard Ana Luna

Work Force Jordan Hansett Jareth Jensen Gabriel Miranda Malachi Silkwood

Gap Year Madi Arroyo Henry Van Der Laan

Senior Year At a Glance

MAY 2024 | THE NORTH STAR | 11

FEATURE

see yo

YL

u soon

TT luv u

H.A.G.S.

xoxo

!

hey!

CONG RATS An inside look at the BVN yearbook, the Northern Light.

By Anna Sandage

W

hether signing “H.A.G.S.” in someone’s book or skimming through the photos from the school year, most kids interact with the yearbook in May. Filled with images, stories and graphics, the yearbook details the moments from each year. Between classes of students, staff members and activities, the yearbook staff works to compile countless memories into one place. The BVN Northern Light yearbook crew spends the majority of the school year working to make the book that the school receives.

The yearbook staff is comprised of many different positions varying from staff writers and designers to editors. When one first joins the staff, they assume the role of staff writer and compose the many stories written throughout the book. Sophomore Tatum Schroering is one of the ten staff writers and said her role is time-

consuming but important.

“I spend a lot of my class time getting interviews, and if I had all my interviews done, then I could go ahead and start on the story, or get cutlines for editors,” Schroering said.

“However, most of my stories get written outside of school because I spend a lot of time in class getting interviews.”

One of the most prominent sections of the yearbook is the senior ads portion. This area of the book allows the families of seniors to include memories, quotes and pictures of their student as a “farewell” and congratulation for graduating. Seniors and Senior Ad Editors Sydney Glenn and Kate Shisler have worked since the beginning of the year to ensure as many students as possible are represented in the section. According to Glenn, despite the rewarding nature of her section, many adversities must

be faced to put it all together.

“I would say the hardest part is communicating with the parents because they are sometimes confused,” Glenn said. “Also getting the materials in time [is difficult] because we use email and the parents don’t always check it, so it is hard to get the senior ad to look the way they want it to.”

Staff writers, designers, senior ad editors and editors-in-chief work together to create a book that contains countless stories and represents students. Senior and Co-Editor-inChief Olivia Davis said the yearbook staff works as a team to create the best book possible.

“In yearbook, to get to one thing, you have to do another thing,” Davis said. “For example, to get to design you have to have a story, so the story writer has to get their job done before the designers can finish theirs. Because of this, the whole staff has to work

2022

2023 12 | THE NORTH STAR | MAY 2024

2021

2024

Blue Valley North

Overland Park, Kansas

Northern Light Volume

38

together.” perfecting the yearbook.

Even before senior sections and “Coming out of middle school, I staff writing begins, the staff decides on did not know that there were stories a theme for the book. Past themes have on every page about everything,” included “Life in Color,” “Our Way,” Schroering said. “It was really “Wild Card” and more. The theme of interesting to me that we interview the book is kept secret from the student people and write stories about body until the day of distribution, and everything in addition to just having Davis added that photos.” the theme All of their provides a hard work good source culminates in [I hope] people of inspiration one day, May know how hard it is for the staff 10, when they members. hand out the [to make the book] “[Deciding final yearbook because it is a lot of the theme] to students. work ... We really do starts the According year before, to Glenn, a lot to make it come and we start “distribution out good [for them]. brainstorming day” is one –Olivia themes and of the most come up with a exciting for the Davis bunch of ideas staff as they for the staff get to show off to vote on,” Davis said. “The theme what they have worked on. flows into different pages and is mainly “I love distribution day, it is the best used for our fonts and color schemes day,” Glenn said. “We start off with and has little touches here and there a team dinner the night before, and throughout the book.” then we wake up and all have breakfast Between sharp deadlines, hours of together again. After this, we are fact-checking and more, the staff must hanging out all day together [passing overcome adversity in order to make out the yearbooks] ... We get to see sure the final product is clean and free the seniors signing each other’s books of errors. According to Davis, despite … and it is nice to just hang out and the countless rounds of edits and celebrate our work.” revisions, the challenge of creating an The Northern Light staff’s effort errorless book is still difficult. to make the book perfect for the BVN “First the designers design the page community takes dedication and hard [with the story] and then they send it work, Davis said. to us,” Davis said. “After that, we look “[I hope] people know how hard at it and find any mess-ups, and it goes it is [to make the book] because it is a back to them. It goes back to us and lot of work, and I do not think people then to our teacher, then finally we do understand that,” Davis said. “We proofs to see if there is anything that really do a lot to make it come out we missed.” good [for them].”

Their countless hours of work on the book are often unrecognized by students as they receive their books on distribution day. Schroering said before joining the staff, she was unaware of all the various efforts that go into

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MAY 2024 | THE NORTH STAR | 13

FEATURE

THE

ECONOMICS OF

EDUCATION Members of the Blue Valley district dicuss finances.

By Hannah Markiewicz

14 | THE NORTH STAR | MAY 2024

$4

00,745,207 — this to utilities and teacher salaries. While is the Blue Valley Slobodnik said teacher salaries are school district’s an important piece of the district’s total expenditures operating funds, Principal Tyson budget for the Ostroski identified the “ability to hire 2023-2024 school year, according and retain highly effective educators to Blue Valley’s Budget at a Glance. in competition with our neighboring Part of this budget has gone to BVN’s districts” — essentially, better pay — as recent facility improvements like the a weakness that needs to be overcome new turf field and projects that are in BVN’s Building Needs Assessment coming soon, including renovations 2023-2024. in the 600 hallway and a new weight “Nationwide, there are fewer room. people coming out of college with According to Executive Director [education] degrees, so the recruitment of Operations Jacob Slobodnik, and retention of educators is a priority funds from a at the district level,” bond passed Ostroski said. “It’s in 2023 a priority for us These are things that have been as well, and we’re we’re always going allocated already seeing to various the return on to be working on. district that investment.

No school is going projects and We’ve had some to have everything some at BVN. great candidates How does the this year for open perfect. district decide positions.”

–Tyson what building The building projects to needs assessment Ostroski invest in, and specifically how does the mentioned operations “competition budget relate to other financial needs? with our neighboring districts.” A “We’ve got several projects at Blue specific part of the operating “bucket” Valley North,” Slobodnik said. “One is the instruction budget, which pays of those a performing arts classroom teacher salaries. According to Blue addition over by the performing arts Valley’s Budget at a Glance, this year’s wing, and then we’re also working on a instruction budget was $206,750,005. weight room addition on the front face Olathe’s district instruction budget for of the building as well as a wrestling this year was $276,270,847. renovation.”

The second “bucket” is capital All district finances are divided outlay expenses, which include into three “buckets”: operating funds, building maintenance, “so custodians, capital outlay expenses and bond grounds and then some of the cost funds. Operating funds are dedicated just to upgrade windows or make sure

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“

that we take care of our floors, etc.,” Slobodnik said.

While capital outlay expenses are a vital part of maintaining the buildings, brand-new projects are also on the way.

“The third ‘bucket’ that we utilize is bond funds, and those are really our only avenue to do major construction projects or to do new building throughout the district,” Slobodnik said.

Bonds are voted on by the community based on what they think the money is best used for. BVN parent Andrew Van Der Laan said he feels as though he has enough of a voice and “as much say as every other voter in the district.”

Van Der Laan added that parent booster clubs have been prominent in filling in financial gaps. While parents filling in gaps may help the departments that are in need of more funding, Van Der Laan said negative effects could come from this method of funding as well.

“It feels like there’s been a change over the last couple years,” Van Der Laan said. “[Years ago,] there was one global booster club for the whole school for all activities, and now it feels like there are specialized booster clubs for many of the individual activities or programs or extracurriculars. And my concern would just be that the more of those groups that there are, the more that they compete for funding or bump up against each other for fundraising efforts.”

But booster clubs can’t fix every problem, like building renovations.

One such project that has recently been started at BVN is updates to the

MAY 2024 | THE NORTH STAR | 15

performing arts wing, which choir director Jaclyn Krulik said hasn’t been renovated recently.

“From my understanding, this is one of the areas of the building that has gone the longest without renovation,” Krulik said. “We’re talking 15-20 years since these rooms have probably been really touched, maybe other than the carpet replacement, and that’s based on things I’ve heard.”

In those 15-20 years, BVN grew out of the space, and it has worn down.

“My office and the practice room next to it, from my understanding at least, were part of an addition that was added to the original building 15-20 years ago,” Krulik said. “So with the drought that was really bad the summer leading into the 2022-2023 school year, it made the ground sink.

The practice room is worse than my office, but both are sinking, so they’re

not currently level with the floor and they’re pulling away from the original structure … The seal is not tight, and because of that, I get mice in my office all the time.”

For Krulik, these renovations are overdue and “exciting.”

“If I’m talking about having a daily issue with temperature regulation and mice because I have outside, unsealed walls, [renovation is] an expectation that is just bare minimum,” Krulik said.

While the performing arts wing is structurally struggling, the amount of space and the number of students it accommodates are concerns as well.

BVN is receiving a new instrumental room that will help to accommodate a larger band. This will allow the current music room to be dedicated solely to orchestra and fit a growing strings program.

“The big exciting thing is that we’re

Budget at a Glance Instruction Student Support Services Instructional Support Services Administration & Support Operations & Maintenance Transportation Food Services Capital Improvements Debt Services Other Percent of total 2023-2024 budget from Blue Valley’s Budget at a Glance 20232024.

16 | THE NORTH STAR | MAY 2024

going to be able to make changes to the 600 hall that will create better spaces for learning for our students,” Krulik said.

Krulik said she believes everchanging funding and resources are part of the reason why it took 15-20 years to make these renovations.

“I do feel that our superintendent and the board are supportive of the fine arts — in our case, performing arts,” Krulik said. “I do feel that support from my admin team now.

That being said, there’s only so far that support can be carried by [limited] finances, and all that comes from the community, from taxes.”

Such renovations will be ongoing for the forseeable future.

“These are things that we’re always going to be working on,” Ostroski said.

“No school is going to have everything perfect.”

Students hang out in the current band and orchestra room.

A BVN baseball team plays on the new turf field. Photo by Jack Hancock.

The current choir classroom.

MAY 2024 | THE NORTH STAR | 17

FEATURE

THE

Seniors Rhea Sadagopan, Karen Kim and math teacher Sheryl Stein share what it’s like to organize the Diversity Assembly and what it means to them.

By Clara Resende

E

very year around April, BVN welcomed into their schools.” hosts an event filled with Other assemblies, like those cultural dances, music and for spring sports or Homecoming, ethnic representation: the Diversity highlight the school’s events. But Assembly, one of BVN’s only schoolaccording to Stein, who has been wide displays of the cultural melting organizing the Diversity Assembly for pot that makes up the school. Seniors 10 years, this assembly is a lot more Karen Kim and Rhea Sadagopan are than that. the presidents of the Diversity Club “Throughout the year, there’s and, along with math teacher Sheryl a lot of emphasis put on different Stein, have been meticulously planning groups within the school, whether it’s this year’s assembly. musical performances or the theater “Having students able to share performances or sports performances, aspects of their culture with the rest but there’s no other time during the of the student year where body is really we really important for celebrate other students, students’ It’s important that we and having individuality, celebrate our culture students where they and heritage and our just able to come from appreciate and or what kind differences because learn about of things we’re living in a other cultures, make them polarizing world. religions, who they are different as different –Rhea groups is really parts of their Sadagopan important,” culture,” Stein said.

Stein said.

Kim said “So I think the Diversity that this is Assembly plays an important role at the assembly where you really get BVN. to spotlight our specific students’ “Well, I think [it’s] especially differences, but doing so in a way to important as of recently, since the bring everybody together.”

Blue Valley district, in general, has Although the Diversity Assembly become super diverse,” Kim said. “It’s exists to highlight students’ cultural important to highlight that so that individuality, Stein said the impact future generations’ students feel more and importance of the assembly goes

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18 | THE NORTH STAR | MAY 2024

beyond just sharing BVN’s colorful history: It also serves as a learning experience for students and an opportunity to foster open-mindedness.

“As students transition from middle to high school, to college to adults, I think your perception of the world changes,” Stein said. “As a lot of students enter high school, the student body might look different than they did in the past. They’re hopefully able to see that diversity, appreciation of diversity, is so important. And that’s what makes the world a beautiful place: to be able to see and appreciate other cultures.”

Sadagopan said students often approach her just to express their excitement for different parts of the assembly.

“My favorite part of all the assemblies I’ve seen was last year, when our mic stopped working and our music wasn’t connecting, but we had to sing,” Sadagopan said. “So somebody had to get up and play the piano for us, and it was really lucky that she knew the song. But I feel like that made it even better. It was definitely unforgettable.”

Stein added that “nothing will ever top” the enthusiasm students have for the assembly.

Although the Diversity Assembly happens near the end of the school year, the Diversity Club has been rigorously planning and organizing the dances, music and flag parade since the start of second semester.

“It definitely takes a lot of communication because a lot of times people are wanting to do something, but there is most likely very little follow through,” Sadagopan said. “But there are also times that we want something to happen, and we make it happen. So we started planning it at the beginning of the semester, but Karen and I were talking about it back in November. So yeah, it takes a lot of effort.”

Stein said organizing the flag parade is the hardest part about managing the whole assembly, although this year, they’ve come up with new ways of solving the problems.

Kim and Sadagopan agreed that organizing the technical side of the assembly is the hardest part, but the easiest is getting BVN students to

participate.

“People do come up to me really often,” Sadagopan said. “They say that they’re excited for the assembly, which just surprised me because I wasn’t expecting that. But sometimes people will message me and be like, ‘Hey! I want to participate,’ and then I’m like, ‘Yeah, we have all these different options!’ We then end up having to fit a lot of people in. So that really surprised me, and I really like that there’s so much involvement.”

The 2024 Diversity Assembly will be Kim’s and Sadagopan’s last assembly before graduating. The Diversity Club, along with Stein, plan to keep the tradition going for as long as possible because they believe the assembly is beneficial to those new to

BVN. “I hope the freshmen realize how important racial representation and inclusivity are at North, because we are considered one of the most diverse schools in the state,” Kim said. “It’s important to follow up on that and create a supportive community.”

The Diversity Assembly is more than just another event to students and staff. According to the Diversity Club presidents, it highlights cultural diversity but also individuality and what makes up BVN as a whole.

“What makes the world a beautiful place is to be able to see and appreciate other cultures,” Stein said. “And the assembly does just that.”

Students perform in the Diversity Assembly on April 18. Photos by Anjali Kambhampati and Clara Resende.

MAY 2024 | THE NORTH STAR | 19

FEATURE

What does the BVN peer tutoring program look like?

By Anjali Kambhampati

P

eer mentee and junior Mary Burke said she enjoys participating in unified sports, like soccer and basketball, along with participating in the peer mentoring program. Burke has explored her interests through this class by connecting with various other students, and she isn’t alone. Peer tutoring is a course in which students learn to support others in a learning environment. What does it look like for these participants?

Peer mentor and sophomore Malia Reeder described the peer tutoring program as “a way for partners to be inclusive to those with exceptional needs.”

“I personally am in connections, and in that class, we work on social skills, getting out into the environment and understanding the social environment,” Reeder said.

Intensive Resource teacher Sean Phelan said the peer tutoring program provides students the opportunity to help their peers with disabilities. “[Students] go out in the community, cook, go on field trips, things like that,” Phelan said. “On the

20 | THE NORTH STAR | MAY 2024

academic side of things, we have some peers who will help out in our math classes, English classes, science classes and things of that nature.”

Phelan added that both the Navigators and Intensive Resource programs depend on students’ support needs. “[Placement in Navigators or Intensive Resource programs] all just depends on the level of support the student might need throughout the day,” Phelan said. “In the Intensive Resource program, we have students who have more support needs than the students in the Navigators program.”

A typical class includes an assignment and various games and activities that help connect mentors and mentees. Some days include walking trips around the school and other opportunities, like grocery store runs, cooking and going to the zoo.

“We’ve been to the World World I Memorial before and a lot of different places just to get involved in the community,” Phelan said. “It’s honestly just a way to help connect students with and without disabilities. We’ve had some peers hang out with some

of our students outside of class, go to basketball games, go to the movies …

[The peer tutoring program’s] whole goal is just to get people with and without disabilities working together.”

The program’s field trips give perspective to students with and without disabilities.

“You and I, we might not be in a wheelchair,” Phelan said. “When we go out and navigate the world around us, we might see it a certain way. But when you go out in the community with someone who uses a cane or a wheelchair, you’re going to start thinking about where curbs are and where ramps are. You’re going to start thinking about accessible buttons …

You’ll start thinking about those things around the world to see how we can help be more inclusive for people with disabilities. Those little things are how we can see the growth of what might need to be happening [to support people with disabilities].”

A specific example Phelan mentioned is accessibility to ramps in public.

“One example is if you’re at a school, and there is a ramp and there

are stairs and it’s snowing outside,” Phelan said. “There’s a janitor outside, and there is a person in a wheelchair waiting for [the ramp] to be shoveled.

The janitor says, ‘Hold on, first I need to shovel the stairs to let all these kids go.’ The student in the wheelchair’s response is, ‘If you shovel the stairs first, only people that can walk up the stairs can use it. But if you shovel the ramp first, all the kids can use it.’”

English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) is another type of peer mentoring program, in which mentors help with pronunciation and offer “the viewpoint of a peer,” Spanish and ESOL teacher Matt Allin said. He added that his involvement with this program has changed him as a teacher.

“It’s nice to see the peer tutors helping others and the English learners learning from them and having different viewpoints,” Allin said.

“It’s good to see kids helping each other and having an impact on other people’s lives.”

According to Allin, peer tutoring programs offer many benefits by allowing different students to interact with one another. “[The peer tutoring program] helps some of the special-ed students to have somebody their age that can help them,” Allin said. “We have an

adaptive P.E. class, and they have a few anymore; you might just be someone peer helpers that do a good job with who is helping someone out.” the P.E. activities that [students] do.”

Reeder added that being involved The peer tutoring program has in the peer tutoring program has created a “more changed her as a inclusive person. environment, “I think You’ll start thinking helping people this program about those things learn from each has made me around the world to other and grow,” more patient, Phelan said. and it’s made see how we can help “Hopefully me have a be more inclusive students have different for people with seen more of our way to think students with about things disabilities. Those disabilities in and see past little things are how this program out [mentees’] we can see the growth in their classes disabilities,” more,” Phelan Reeder said. of what might need said. “Hopefully “They are to be happening [to you’ve seen kids their own support people with with all different person, and types of learning they’re doing disabilities]. and ability levels certain things –Sean in your classes, because and I think peer that’s how Phelan tutoring helps they’ve built bridge that gap. their life. It’s When more of made me our student body is have an inclusive interacting with each other, you might mindset and a drive to want to help be supporting a student in [the peer other people and have them have the tutoring programs classroom], but then same opportunities I have.” if you have a history class with them, you might not even be a peer tutor

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in people experience a disability

million

of school buildings are fully accessible

spent by Kansas districts in the 2022 – 2023 school year to cover SPED financial shortage

MAY 2024 | THE NORTH STAR | 21

FEATURE

The Future of Teaching

Students pursuing careers in education shared their future plans and thoughts.

By Stella Ain

E

very year, fewer and fewer high school seniors decide to major in education.

According to data from the Pew Research Center, only 4%

of the total degrees given out in 2020 were for education. This is a large decrease from 2001, when education degrees represented 8% of all undergraduate degrees. Still,

some students have decided to dedicate their undergraduate studies to pursuing different education majors. Who will teach the future youth of America?

experience, and for the internship part of it, you get to actually get the feeling of teaching a lesson in front of a classroom, which feels very inspiring.”

For her capstone internship, Jehlik worked as a student teacher for a fifth-grade class at Timber Creek Elementary School. One thing that motivated Jehlik to pursue a teaching career was the opportunity to be impacted by the job.

“I also just want to inspire,” Jehlik said. “When you put in a lot [to a job] but it also gives a lot back to you and you learn a lot of different stories about different kids who come from different home lives, it’s really eye-opening.”

According to the National Education Association, the average starting salary for a Kansas teacher is $40,130. This is less than the reported “minimum living wage” of $52,793. “[The pay] has definitely

affected it,” Jehlik said. “But then I think that I have three full months off of my job for the summer. And so I did the math one time, and it was, if I worked full time, a starting salary of $70,000, so it didn’t seem that bad. For me, it’s not really about the pay just because of how inspiring the job is.”

Jehlik said education is an important field but believes some could be deterred from entering it due to the pay.

“A lot of people don’t become teachers because of the pay and everything that you have to do,” Jehlik said. “But I think it’s important that more people major in [education] because we need good teachers because that’s who shapes everyone into who they are.

It’s a job that affects everyone.”

Abby Jehlik Senior Abby Jehlik plans to study elementary education at the University of Arkansas. Jehlik spent most of her upperclassman hours in the Teacher Education Program at the Blue Valley Center for Advanced Professional Studies (CAPS). While studying there, she was able to learn more about becoming a teacher, something she has wanted to do since a young age.

“I’ve wanted to be a teacher ever since I was little,” Jehlik said. “I took this elementary education class, and my teacher was great, and it made me want to become a teacher even more. I’ve also had great teachers along the way through elementary school.”

In order to achieve this goal, she enrolled in the CAPS program.

Jehlik said the elective was helpful in preparing her for a future career. “[They have] observations where you can go in and pick a grade and watch the teacher teach,” Jehlik said. “It’s also a super fun

22 | THE NORTH STAR | MAY 2024

Haven Powell Senior Haven Powell will be majoring in upper elementary education at the University of Kansas. Similar to Jehlik, Powell participated in the Teacher Education Program at CAPS. Powell, who wants to become a fourth or fifth grade teacher, knew she wanted to pursue a teaching career after spending time in the class.

“I think I’ve always been really good at connecting with kids,” Powell said. “But when I joined the class, it really informed me on how much teachers do in their students’ lives and how much they can change it right in a second. That inspired me because that’s what I want to do. I just want to help kids find what

they love to do because it’s hard to find.”

Powell said she was inspired to become a teacher because of a past teacher who showed her kindness during a difficult time in her life.

“My fourth grade teacher took extra care of me, and she let me have breaks when I needed them,” Powell said. “It became the one year I made connections with people, and she just really knew how to emotionally help a kid. And I think that inspired me.”

While preparing for a teaching career, Powell said she learned a lot from the CAPS program.

“It has definitely given me perspective on all of the different types of kids there are,” Powell said.

“Every single kid is different and learns differently … It just gives you so many opportunities. It’s just amazing because we get to go to schools, which is the best part, and make connections with teachers.”

To Powell, pay was a factor in deciding to major in education.

“I think it was one of the things that I was definitely fighting about,” Powell said. “I think I’ve always known I want to do something like this, but the other fact is that I don’t think I’m going to own a house. But that’s okay. It’s a lot to think about, but I just decided I’d much rather be enjoying what I’m doing.”

fulfilled life, meet really cool people and learn to adapt to my surroundings and the people I’m with,” Sanden said. “Just learn from others and learn from whom I’m teaching.”

Sanden said the average teacher salary didn’t affect their decision to major in education.

“I don’t really plan on living a very lavish lifestyle, but I do think that it turns people away from teaching and that depletes the field of job opportunities,” Sanden said. “Schools are underfunded in general, a lot of teachers are underfunded and it just gives the education field a bad reputation.”

Sanden advised those who are deciding what major or career to pursue to see if there’s a field in education that they’re interested in.

“It’s a lot more than just inschool education, and you can take

that degree elsewhere,” Sanden said.

Faye Sanden Senior Faye Sanden aims to study art education at the University of Kansas. Their choice of major was inspired by their passion for art and connecting with others and the art teachers they’ve had in the past.

“When I got to Blue Valley North, I’d always had kind of negative experiences with art teachers or just not the most positive or inspiring,” Sanden said. “But Miss Elyachar and Miss Hensley really showed that it’s just a job where you can show compassion and empathy and really want to help people grow and turn into fully fleshed-out people.”

Sanden said majoring in education is important because of the interpersonal skills that can be acquired, adding that they “think it’s a great job for those who are looking for fulfillment” rather than money.

“I just hope that I live a really

Abby Jehlik explains directions to fifth graders during a math lesson.

Photo provided by Abby Jehlik.

MAY 2024 | THE NORTH STAR | 23

STUDENT LIFE

Senior

Spray-Down Amid the excitement of this year’s Senior Assassins competition, some find themselves questioning the tradition due to its potential social harms.

By Lauren Kopitas

S

enior Brendan Kelly’s car language. This year, 124 students lurched to a stop along the signed up to participate in the 2024 curb outside his target’s BVN Senior Assassins game. One silhouetted house. The red rear of those students is Kelly, who has lights of two other cars fringed the “looked forward to [Senior Assassins] silent street, and their drivers trekked for most of high school,” he said. up the incline of the student’s driveway “It’s just a way for seniors to have a alongside Kelly, a hushed debate little bit more fun before we graduate enwreathing the group. They each and don’t see many of us again,” Kelly visualized the said. “It’s just a fun night ending little game that in their favor, you have the with a jarring opportunity to I think that when the shot of water win some money gamemasters take fired at the from. For me, jabs that aren’t too gamemaster I’m not doing from their it to win the deep at people, they own gun. money. I’m just can actually be funny The doing it because and lighthearted. mention I think it’s fun.” of Senior The game But I think the point Assassins, was first where they become the annual introduced to too personal and too studentBVN seniors led senior over 10 years hurtful is a very fine tournament ago as an line. fought with opportunity –Brendan water guns, to both makes many decompress and Kelly students think promote class of adrenalinecamaraderie. inducing Senior Marisa neighborhood chases, the alluring Freeman, one of the two gamemasters, $1,200 reward and, in recent years, said it strengthens bonds between Instagram posts containing hurtful students before they leave high school.

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24 | THE NORTH STAR | MAY 2024

“Senior Assassins has been a longstanding tradition throughout several public schools, including some in the Blue Valley school district,” Freeman said. “The goal in creating the game was to provide an experience where kids can enjoy themselves at the end of their high school years. Most students work extremely hard, and it’s only fair that they should get to partake in some end-of-year excitement with friends before leaving this chapter of their lives for college or work.”

However, this game is not without controversy. Instagram pages have covered eliminations from the tournament. Written by the gamemasters, many of these social media posts include personal insults that support division rather than connection, according to senior Tisya Midha.

“The game might encourage friendship to a degree, but sometimes, it does just the opposite,” Midha said.

“People participating and others just watching things unfold want to see the drama. They want to see the nasty captions and the belittling social media posts. They want to be entertained by things we’d normally consider outrageous.”

Although Midha isn’t playing this year, she considers the flaws inherent to the game. Freeman agreed and

encouraged participants to understand the conditions of the tournament before signing up.

“We post about controversies that we know will entice students. We post about the school’s social interests,” Freeman said. “I’ve done what I can along with other game organizers to improve the tournament’s atmosphere without losing what draws people to it. At the same time, students who sign up have to acknowledge that at least a little conflict is an element of the game. When students sign up, they subject themselves to that condition.”

Freeman said she and the Senior Assassins student committee don’t intend to hurt participants and have

worked toward a more inclusive tournament.

“I think last year’s Instagram captions were definitely more hateful than this year’s,” Freeman said. “It’s unfair to suggest that we haven’t made progress. It’s also important to keep in mind that material for captions basically comes from school controversy and the words of students.

Just like the game, captions can be a little rough, but they’re meant to be comedic relief. Senior Assassins shouldn’t be taken too seriously.”

According to Kelly, the appeal of the gamemakers’ captions can be seen as “another reason to stay in the game.”

“I think, to a point, the captions can be fun,” Kelly said. “I think that when the gamemasters don’t take jabs that are too deep at people, they can actually be funny and lighthearted. But I think the point where they become too personal and too hurtful is a very fine line.”

Top row, left: The police were called on two players on March 29. Top row, right: Seniors Kelli Gilgus and Gregory Taylor pose after he eliminated her.

Bottom row, left: Seniors Isobel Dorothy and Sam Frager pose after he eliminated her. Bottom row, right: Marisa Freeman and Gregory Taylor pose after he eliminated her.

Photos obtained from @bvn24assassins on Instagram.

MAY 2024 | THE NORTH STAR | 25

STUDENT LIFE

senior

SUMMER As seniors near the end of their K-12 education, they discuss their plans for a bittersweet summer.

By Josie Jones

A

s the school year comes to a close, the Class of 2024 is graduating and their senior summer is quickly approaching. It is their last summer in their hometowns with the friends they grew up with and as high school students.

Senior Josie Benskin, who will be attending the University of Kansas in the fall, plans to major in exercise science. Benskin moves in early August, a little ahead of schedule because she plans on rushing. Overall, Benskin said she is really excited for college.

“It will be good to make a bunch of new friends, new experiences and I’m excited to live alone with my roommate,” Benskin said.

Benskin has many summer plans that include traveling to Florida and Hawaii, but she is disappointed that it is her last summer at home.

“It’s just sad to think that it’s my last summer with my friend group and all of our friends together,” Benskin said.

Benskin shared that in her free time this summer, she is going to spend as much time with her friends as she can.

“I worked a lot last summer so I’m

26 | THE NORTH STAR | MAY 2024

trying to work less so I can be with my However, not all seniors get to have friends more,” Benskin said. a long summer full of “lasts.” Senior Benskin also shared that she is Janelle Green will be attending the going to try to spread out college University of Cincinnati, and while she preparation so she can make the most is currently undecided on her major, of summer. she would like to study sports medicine “I’m already and will continue to trying to shop play volleyball. for my dorm Green moves I hope it is my and stuff now, in on June 1, so I don’t just a little over favorite summer save it all for one week after yet. Most people do the summer,” graduation. actually enjoy it the Benskin said.

“Overall I When am excited,” most because you are asked if senior Green said. just trying to make summer was “Playing college the most of it. And it overhyped, volleyball Benskin is definitely really is the last time shared that something I you are going to be she hopes it is have wanted to with everyone. not. do my entire “I hope it life. There’s –Josie is my favorite definitely Benskin summer yet,” times where I Benskin said. get sad that I “Most people am leaving or do actually enjoy it the most because anxious, but I also know that it’s what you are just trying to make the most of I have worked for or prepared for my it. And it really is the last time you are entire life.” going to be with everyone.”

Green said one of her goals this

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Graphic made by Hannah Markiewicz. summer is to spend time with the people she loves or has strong bonds with.

“One of the things my best friend and I have talked about is that because you’re sad, that means that you have something so good here that hurts to leave,” Green said.

Green will try and have some “lasts” before her quick summer ends, including a lake trip with her friends.

“The lake during the summer with my friends is a really special place for us,” Green said. “I promised them before I leave that I am getting all of us up here.”

For most seniors, a big part of their summer is college prep. Green said she is trying to not only prep in the academic area but also as an athlete.

“For most people, the prepping for

college is just the academics, but I am going for also athletics,” Green said.

“It’s not just making sure that I have all the things I need for classes, but also making sure I am as physically and mentally prepared as possible to go play a collegiate sport.”

As her senior year comes to a close, Green said she and her friends are remembering to live in the moment.

“Trying to not get too excited about the future or too sad about the future, but instead appreciating the moment and knowing that in fifty days I am never going to be in high school again [is what I want].”

Green said she and her best friends will be going to different colleges, in completely different parts of the country.

“We are all starting a new chapter

of our lives, but making sure that we live this chapter to the fullest,” Green said.

Scan the QR code below or visit bvnnews.com to read more stories like “Senior Summer.”

MAY 2024 | THE NORTH STAR | 27

EDITORIAL

Seniors

Signing Off Senior news staff reflect on how their time as part of The North Star has left its mark on their lives. From all of us, thank you to this publication, our two amazing advisors and most importantly, the staff, for giving us memories we’ll never forget.

By The North Star seniors

Alegria Aguilera When I look back on my early days as part of The North Star staff, I feel an interesting sense of pride. The growth I have undergone since that moment is almost too much. In the last two years, I have shifted from someone who can’t ask for help to someone who people can come to for help, from someone overwhelmed by this fastpaced environment to someone invigorated by it.

There is no place in this entire school building I have felt more welcome. I’ve been given the opportunity to collaborate with so many inspiring people who have undeniably changed my life.

A special thank you to Lexi for being the coolest person I know and for continuing to laugh at the jokes from eight months ago. And to Addi and Madi, I doubt almost everything, but I am absolutely certain that this newspaper has been left in good hands.

To the entirety of this staff: You couldn’t know how excited I am to watch every single one of you prosper in this space. I’ve had an absolute blast thus far, and I have no intention to fully leave this place. I’ll be keeping an eye out, cheering on your every move. It will truly be an honor.

Lexi Newsom When I look back on these last four years, I will immediately remember The North Star. I first walked into room 409 as a shy (and nearly silent) sophomore, but the years spent writing and editing with such a supportive staff gave me a voice I didn’t know I had — and the chance to know my amazing co-editor-in-chiefs. Arshiya, thank you for empowering me and pushing everyone around you to be their best. You inspire me daily to be a better editor and a better person, and you deserve all the success coming your way as you change the world. Alegria, I couldn’t have asked for a better “partner in crime” to prepare the next wave of The North Star journalists. Thank you for all the late-night strategizing, hours editing and for being one of my closest, most trustworthy friends senior year. I’m so excited for you to take Missouri by storm.

And of course, to the staff: You are the best community I could’ve found at BVN and will forever stay with me. I can’t possibly explain how much I’ll miss you all and how you changed my life. You are the reason I’m going into journalism, and I’m so excited to see where your journeys lead you!

28 | THE NORTH STAR | MAY 2024

Stella Ain One day after class, I asked Mrs. Manglos if she thought it’d be a smart idea to add newspaper into my schedule. After a year of yearbook, I knew that my love for journalism was stronger than ever and that joining news would be a great way to become even more immersed into the journalistic world. Little did I know that joining news would be such a great decision! Tacking news onto my schedule gave me a fresh breath of air during my busy days. Being surrounded by such amazing people made me feel so lucky to get to work in room 409. With constant support from the staff and Mrs. Van Wyhe, I felt more confident with my stories and designing and fell in love with newspaper. Overall, I’m beyond grateful for all of the lovely people I’ve gotten to know through news. I am so happy to have been a part of The North Star community, and I love you all!!

Clara Resende Though I wish I had done it sooner, being in newspaper was the best decision I made throughout my high school career. I remember first receiving the piece of paper saying “Congrats! You have been accepted to The North Star!” and looking back, that was the best news I ever could’ve gotten, and I couldn’t have imagined how much it would change my life.

Newspaper has brought me a lot more than improve my journalistic skills. I have never felt more connected to a team than how I feel in room 411, and I will always be grateful and remember the time I’ve spent writing stories this year — I know I will be seeking this feeling of belonging again all throughout my college and future careers. I could not have asked for a better senior year, and leaving it will leave a huge hole in my heart. There are just too many things to be thankful for. With love, always.

Emmett Abar I’m proud to say that I’ve been on The North Star’s staff. I’m proud of the stories I’ve written. I’m proud of the friends I made, and I’m proud of the lessons I learned.

As anyone might imagine, fitting all of that into 160 words is impossible. So I’ll try to be quick.

I remember looking through the elective course list my freshman year and almost randomly selecting 21st century journalism. Little did I know that would be a spark that led me to some of my fondest high school memories. Dum Dums, too much coffee, work night, the horse (if you know, you know), Sejin’s plans to conquer the world, KSPA conferences, Ruby’s betrayal, the short-lived hit list, pitch and an annoying amount of tote bags. I can’t begin to express my thankfulness to our advisors, Mrs. Van Wyhe and Mrs. Manglos, for giving me the opportunity to be a part of such a special group of people. Good luck to next year’s staff. I know you guys will do great things.

Ruby Bierman When Ms. Manglos pulled me aside freshman year and encouraged me to join the school newspaper, I thought it’d be a short stint into the world of student news. Yet here I write, nearly four years later, as a second-year copy editor who couldn’t be happier about the decision to jump in. Other staff members can vouch for how stressful news can sometimes be; from interviews falling through to deadlines being missed, it could always potentially be a bad day in room 411. But somehow it never is. The newsroom has been a place where I’ve been able to find my own voice, and new friends, over these three years. In 20 years I may struggle to remember the stories I wrote for the paper, but I know I will never forget the people on this staff. To every member and advisor of the paper I’ve ever worked with, thank you for changing my life. Love you all!

MAY 2024 | THE NORTH STAR | 29

Alex Robertson After taking a photography class in my sophomore year and watching some of my friends photograph sports games, I decided to apply for The North Star newspaper.

Having never taken 21st century journalism, the first day of news was like jumping into the deep end without floaties.

While I applied as a staff photographer, I soon came to find out that our small staff size “gave everyone the opportunity to write.” While writing still isn’t my favorite task, I discovered a passion for editorials. From the royal family to Trader Joe’s reviews with Stella, I have gotten to share my perspective with our super loyal readers. From stalking The Harbinger to pushing rolling chairs through the hallways, The North Star is always full of laughs and quality original content. From flashing my press pass with Anna every Friday night to tracking down interviews in the halls, I have made memories to last a lifetime. I am so thankful for the amazing EICs that I have gotten to work with and for the never-ending support from Mrs. Van Wyhe. For the readers, keep doing the word cross — it keeps the paper alive!

Anna Sandage Words can not describe the immense joy that I feel every time I enter the newsroom. From my first year on staff way back in sophomore year, I found a home with our staff. Some of my most cherished memories from my entire time at North were the times I spent with Sejin, Emmett and Lauren in our small corner as first-year staff writers. I am forever grateful for the sense of family and community that The North Star has offered me, and I could not be any happier that I am able to call these people my fellow staff members. I will forever cherish all the Dum Dums we ate, the funny jokes Sejin made and every moment I got to spend sitting next to my dear friend Alex Robertson this year. I love The North Star with my entire heart and will miss it dearly. (follow @bvnnews on insta)

Jack Hancock While my time on The North Star staff has not been long, I have enjoyed every second. When I first started at BVN, I never anticipated to meet the people I have through news. I started at BVN not thinking I’d ever take news, but I started announcing sports for the school and fell in love with journalism. For my senior year, I decided to jump into the journalism world and join newspaper. I am incredibly sad that I did not come to room 409 earlier. I’d be an idiot if I didn’t thank of all of the people that helped along the way. Lexi, Alegria, Sejin and Addi, thank you for your patience with the staff (and me) and effort and time you’ve put into all of us. Mrs. Van Wyhe, thank you for letting me join The North Star staff and teaching me so much about journalism.

Sejin Hahn It felt like yesterday that I was sitting in the far corner of room 411 as I tried not to talk with the upperclassmen. Now, I think I talk too much. From the very first pitch to pulling someone out for an interview, I got to experience things outside my comfort zone. With constant practice, I became confident in trying new things, even outside the classroom. I will never forget all the positive memories I shared with my classmates.

Even after a hard day, the class was always open for me to relax and forget because someone was always there to cheer me up. I am forever grateful for Mrs. Van Wyhe, Mrs. Manglos and the wonderful peers who put up with me. I will always remember the positive memories and side conversations I shared with them. As I leave my second home, I hope that this vibrant and cheerful environment of The North Star publication will continue to shine.

30 | THE NORTH STAR | MAY 2024

ARTS & LEISURE

W CROSS R D Reminisce about the 20232024 school year with this crossword. Find clues in past issues and on bvnnews.com.

By Alegria Aguilera

ACROSS

2. Where a freshman may put their phone at the beginning of class.

4. Blue Valley switched to this college and career-planning tool.

8. Students exercised their First Amendment freedom of ______ to cancel school on the day of the Chiefs parade.

10. These crustaceans could be found in BVN bathrooms on Sept. 22.

12. BVN’s Unified _______ team placed sixth in their state competition on Nov. 14.

13. A series of ________ at the beginning of second semester impeded activities such as winter sports.

14. This assembly featured a flag parade, two dance numbers and many other performances.

16. Publication with distribution day on May 10.

DOWN

1. Fall play, written and produced by BVN students.

3. Fall school dance theme, Ho-__________.

5. This appropriately named _____-day experience’s goal is to spread kindness.

6. BVN’s Boys __________ team became back-to-back state champions after state championship in February.

7. BVN musicians took a trip to this country during winter break.

9. BVN’s Model UN travel team went to this state for a national convention in November.

11. Fall musical nominated for five Blue Star Awards.

15. Baseball and softball teams can now play on BVN’s new ____ fields.

MAY 2024 | THE NORTH STAR | 31

and more

@bvn news

The North Star is the official high school news publication of Blue Valley North High School, an open forum distributed to all the students four times a year. This is the May issue of volume 37. This issue of The North Star is published digitally through ISSUU and in print by Valley Print Logistics. 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.

Blue Valley School District #229 Blue Valley North High School 12200 Lamar Avenue Overland Park, KS 66209

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