volume 40, issue 1

North Star

Allocating t h e Education

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE DEFUNDING OF THE EDUCATIONN DEPARTMENT ON PAGES 14-17..

BLUE VALLEY NORTH HIGH SCHOOL | OVERLAND PARK, KANSAS | VOLUME 40 | ISSUE 1

Contents News

Student Life

20,21 Sorry, We’re Closed

22,23 From Textbooks to Playbooks

Van Freeman

Feature 6,7

Brewing Success Rameen Asif

8,9

Home Field Disadvantage

Anthony Sutcliffe

24,25 Football Fever Safa Al Ameer

Editorial 4

10,11 Big Offers, Bigger Expectations

Rethinking the Lunch Tray Grace Kwak

5

12,13 The History You Forgot

Is Reading the News Worth it?

Tae Tran

26

14-17 Allocating Education

Autumn in the Halls Grace Kwak

27

Trends and Teens Ayla Agayeva

Lauren Chonko Ami Aguilera Aahil Hassan

Hannah Markiewicz

18,19 Handling the Big Changes

Arts & Leisure

Photo Coverage

28,29 I Spy

Likhitha Vunnama

30

Photo Collage Paul Struby and Olivia Moore

Paul Struby and Olivia Moore

31

Crossword Paul Struby and Olivia Moore

Online Look Good, Feel Good, Play Good George Hiestand 2 | THE NORTH STAR | SEPTEMBER 2025

The Older Sibling Advantage Vivian Abar

SOCIALS

WEBSITE

@bvnnews

bvnnews.com

Page 15 Peer mentor Naiya Austin works with Arcelia Kille in study skills. Photo by Hannah Markiewicz.

Dear Readers, Hearing the news of President Donald Trump’s plans to abolish the Department of Education has been impactful for many students.

Since it was formed in 1980, the Department of Education has provided equal access to education for students and administered federal funding to public schools. However, President Trump has set out to redirect education to the control of states and local communities. As a result, hundreds of millions of dollars of funding have been cut or withheld from public schools around the country, resulting in a sense of uncertainty among students, teachers and parents.

The purpose of the Department of Education in the past had been to protect students’ civil rights and provide funding for schools that serve a large number of low-income students. For this reason, the cuts to the Department of Education will primarily affect low-income students, students of color and LGBTQIA students. Many of the protections that the Department has put into place to preserve student equity were among the first $1.6 billion to be cut.

As the Department continues

to be dismantled, guidelines surrounding these protections become less clear.

In August, news broke that the Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) and Student Privacy Policy Office (SPPO) would be initiating probes into the conduct of the Topeka, Olathe and Shawnee Mission school districts, specifically for continuing to provide gender-affirming services for students. This drew criticism from several figures within the school district and hit close to home for us in the Blue Valley district due to the proximity of the investigations.

Despite the difficulties that the dismantling of the Department of Education could bring to public schools across the nation, local and state governments have the ability to fund public schools for teacher salaries, school maintenance, classroom supplies and school lunches. With more of the pressure being placed on states to ensure the education of their students, it is imperative for citizens to support their local schools and stand up for equal educational opportunities for all students in their state.

Many questions remain to be answered, but in the centerfold of this issue, we attempt to provide some clarity

as to what the intention is with these cuts and how they might affect you and other students around the country.

-The North Star Editors

The North Star Staff EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Paul Struby Olivia Moore STAFF WRITERS Grace Kwak Lauren Chonko Aahil Hassan Ami Aguilera Ayla Agayeva George Hiestand Likhitha Vunnama Rameen Asif Tae Tran Vivian Abar

SOCIAL MEDIA EDITORS Hannah Markiewicz Van Freeman DESIGN EDITOR Safa Al Ameer WEB EDITOR Safa Al Ameer COPY EDITORS Van Freeman Anthony Sutcliffe

Website Instagram

SEPTEMBER 2025 | THE NORTH STAR | 3

OPINION

RETHINKING THE LUNCH TRA aY

Food is fuel, but is BVN lunch giving us enough?

By Grace Kwak

A

t Blue Valley North, students have the opportunity to bring their own lunch from home or to buy their meals from the school cafeteria. However, I believe that several aspects of our menu could be improved. I’m aware that not everyone eats school lunch—that includes me—but even as a student who has seen the meals, tried them seldomly and heard from peers, it’s worth talking about how our menu could be revamped.

First of all, our lunch periods are quite short. Compared to the past schools I have attended, which all had 35 to 50-minute lunch breaks, each lunch wave at BVN lasts only 25 minutes. Since our eating periods are limited, waiting in lunch lines will take up most of the students’ time. That not only means that there’s less time to eat, but also less time for our bodies to digest the food. When you finally get to your food, you’ve spent more time in line than actually eating it. Nobody wants to head to their next class feeling like they sprinted through lunch and only half-ate their meal. So with that little time to eat and digest, school meals should be nutritious and filling enough for students’ appetites, right?

But, our food doesn’t always meet those needs, especially because of how the quality drops by third lunch. With our schedule having a total of three lunch waves, I have often heard from students that the cafeteria runs out of

food items, leaving third lunch with fewer options. A significant portion of students have third lunch, which isn’t necessarily good, as it doesn’t feel fair when their options are worse simply because of timing. In a way, it feels less like a meal and more like leftovers on repeat when you get third lunch.

It’s not just about temperature, either. I’ve also heard complaints from my classmates about how some of the main meals taste. Sometimes, the bread in burgers can be too oily or the pasta tastes rubbery, then oftentimes, the food that is good runs out fast.

Though I don’t eat school lunch often, on the occasions I have, I’ve noticed and gone through the same issues.

Sure, pizza can be the fallback plan, but students deserve more than one reliable option to help them go through the rest of their days, well-fed.

That being said, BVN’s cafeteria isn’t awful. The lunch ladies are hardworking and very sweet people, so by any means, I am not looking down on their efforts. In fact, I really like how they provided many small snack options in the cafeteria, ranging from desserts to fruits and packaged goodies. Still, I believe improvements should be made for the betterment of our student body. It could make a big difference for our health and happiness; after all, food is fuel. And if our lunch trays are rethought with better quality and consistency in mind, it could make school lunches just a little better for everyone.

4 | THE NORTH STAR | SEPTEMBER 2025 Design by Grace Kwak

OPINION

BREAKING NEWS Is reading the news really worth it?

By Tae Tran

N

ews today is absolutely filled with information that is impossible to decipher at times. People aren’t able to understand the topic at hand, or they are easily influenced by outside opinions. There are so many different biases that lie within the news, but I think that we should be trying to fish out the truth.

According to Stanford Medicine, our brains start being able to understand information around middle school, while being able to make our own informed opinions really starts when we’re about to enter high school.

I see around me that some students are not able to form their own opinion because of how jumbled the news on TV can be, such as heavy biases influencing the content that is shared with the public.

People are easily swayed by the heavy opinions hidden within the news, but the news should be unbiased; that just isn’t the case most of the time.

Whenever I watch the news, there is misinformation and information left out to skew our opinions. I believe the ability to be able to weed out the bad information helps teens form their own opinion on true, unbiased facts.

Age and brain development do help with the ability to weed out bad information. As someone gets older, the more life experiences they have, which leads to how they can understand information in the news.

This gives teens a base understanding

of what could be the standard of what they think is right.

When we watch the news as early as first grade, we are not capable of understanding what is being talked about. The child’s mind, especially today with screens, will take in any information it hears and immediately think it’s the right option just because an adult says something on the news.

I honestly see that children are able to see what is right and wrong, but they do not know all of the context of what is shown on the news. Children should be able to understand what else is out there in our world, but that comes with age. There is not just information on the news, but also information in other experiences that come with life. These experiences can include jobs, hard school work and even when they have worked hard for a goal that they finally achieved.

Therefore, we should understand the information presented when we watch the news. Even though some watch the news, especially young people before middle school, do they truly understand the news, or are they just watching and repeating what they hear?

We form opinions based on what we have seen, especially since it’s middle school, and that is when the human brain starts developing the ability to think about our information, and onwards, we think about how the news affects us and what we should think about it.

What age should you start watching the news?

70%

30%

High school

Middle school

Of 164 people polled on @bvnnews on Instagram.

SEPTEMBER 2025 | THE NORTH STAR | 5 Design By Tae Tran

FEATURE

Brewing Success North students share work experiences.

By Rameen Asif

W

hether they work in a fast-food restaurant or a retail store, North students benefit from having professional jobs by learning to persevere through challenges within the workplace and by gaining skills necessary for their success in the future.

Sophomore Charlotte Schaeffer works at Culver’s as a Front of House crew member. Her position involves guest attendant tasks, such as wiping down tables, taking customer requests and running the drive through orders.

Schaeffer applied for her position this past summer and was hired to begin working in August.

“I love my job because I get to dip

my feet into what a more professional Like Schaeffer, junior Evan Nugent job is like, because I’ve worked lots believes that his job duties as a barista of odd jobs, but I’ve never had a at 7 Brew, which include taking professional job before,” Schaeffer said. orders from customers and preparing “I really love feeling like I know where and handing out drinks, require I’m supposed to be and having a sense communication skills. of stability.”

“You’re trying to make a Working at Culver’s has also connection, while also making the allowed Schaeffer drinks and stuff, so to develop an it definitely takes understanding communication I think it’s a good idea of the skills skills, and you to work, but you have and mindset have to be a necessary for friendly person. to know why you a job.

Even if you’re want to work. You “If you having a bad have to have some can’t focus or day, you still do well under show up,” sort of goal in mind, pressure, Nugent said. even if it’s just to you won’t Nugent, who make money. If you do well,” has worked at Schaeffer 7 Brew since don’t, it’s just kind of said. “Go February of his going to suck all the with the flow. sophomore year, time.

If you think also faces challenges you’re supposed in the working -Evan Nugent to be doing one environment, thing, and your especially in regards manager tells you to customer service. to do something else, do the thing your “You’re going to have the people manager tells you to do.” who maybe aren’t friendly, or maybe In addition to working well under they’re having a bad day or something, pressure, Schaeffer believes that it is so that is always a struggle,” Nugent imperative to cultivate communication said. “But it’s important to just move and social skills within the workplace. on. Try to keep the same kind attitude “I feel like social skills kind of because you don’t really know how apply to any job you’re going to have their day is going.” in life. My personal dream is to be a Other than situations within the meteorologist, so I don’t think Culver’s workplace, having a job also poses a really has anything else to do with that challenge to Nugent’s academic life. besides working well under pressure, He explains that sometimes he must working quickly and having good work to balance assignments and people skills,” Schaeffer said. projects with his work schedule.

“

“

Charlotte Schaeffer poses at her house, getting ready for a day of work.

Photo provided by Charlotte Schaeffer.

6 | THE NORTH STAR | SEPTEMBER 2025 Design by Rameen Asif

“It depends on my week, because I don’t really know what sort of homework or projects my teachers might assign during the week,” Nugent said. “The more homework I have, and depending on my work schedule, it can be pretty difficult.”

Despite the challenges, Nugent believes that working in high school can be rewarding, so long as students are motivated to work.

“I think it’s a good idea to work, but you have to know why you want to work. You have to have some sort of goal in mind, even if it’s just to make money. If you don’t, it’s just kind of going to suck all the time,” Nugent said.

Like Nugent, junior Rowan Walter believes earning income is a significant part of his job. He believes it is fundamental in learning financial skills.

“You have money that you make yourself, and you’re able to budget with that money yourself, you’re able to learn financial skills,” Walter said.

“You also don’t have to rely on your parents for cash.”

Walter works as a donations attendant within the Donations Department at City Thrift. His job involves receiving and handling

donations from customers, which can include items such as clothes, furniture, toys and cooking appliances.

“I’d say the most valuable skill I’ve learned is spatial management. The thing is, you have to learn how to work with a lot of material in a little amount of space. People donate dozens of boxes and dozens of bags of clothing and material, and you have to be able to organize it and pack it efficiently, because if you don’t, it quickly spirals out of control,” Walter said.

Previously, Walter worked at Panera and disliked the experience due to his relationship with his co-workers.

“Believe it or not, my co-workers actually [make it worth going to work].

At my last job at Panera, the coworkers weren’t the best, I didn’t really talk to them,” Walter said. “It was more so just a working relationship.

At City Thrift, the co-workers are much more than that. Eventually, they become your friends.”

Walter expressed that his positive experiences with his co-workers in addition to the work hours make his current job “better” than Panera.

He also believes that working can be beneficial for high schoolers, and advises students to persevere through

challenges when searching for a job. “ Just keep trying. I applied to 15 other places before I got this job. There is a good job waiting out there for you, you just have to apply yourself,” Walter said. “A lot of people don’t want to hire Gen Z because they think we’re lazy or we’re not willing to tolerate it, but a lot of the time, they mistake that for general self respect.”

Charlotte’s Day at Culver’s Arrive prepared in uniform!

Clock in to track time!

Dinner Rush!

Serve guests and manage orders

Closing time!

Clean up and clock out

SEPTEMBER 2025 | THE NORTH STAR | 7

FEATURE Blue Valley North High School

Home Team Disadvantage

11 min

3.5 miles

Blue Valley District Activity Complex

Can Blue Valley North truly feel “at home” while playing at the District Activity Complex?

By Lauren Chonko

T

he District Activity Complex, or DAC, was established in August 1997 and has served as the official home field of Blue Valley North and Blue Valley Northwest.

Currently, North and Northwest share the complex for home football and soccer games, but the proximity of Northwest to the DAC raises questions regarding whether North can truly feel “at home” while competing.

Both athletes and coaches have been affected by the facilities at North, especially in the fall season, where football and boys soccer are competing for space on one of the two turf fields. This season, soccer alone has four teams: varsity, JV, C team and D team— all of which require separate practice times. Additionally, C and D teams need space for games at North.

Skyler Roush, the head varsity boys and girls soccer coach, voiced concerns about the changing seasons and how a lack of lights on the east field could affect practice conditions.

“There are no lights on the east field,” Roush said. “So, as the fall gets later, we’re really limited on when

games can start. When a [C/D team] the size of the one that you play on, game has to start at five, the varsity getting prepared for a game can be a team has to be done practicing by mentally challenging task.

4:30, which doesn’t give us a lot of “We get to a game, and we say, time after school to practice.”

‘Okay, well, we did it in practice, but Juan Ocon, head JV and assistant we only did it in 50 yards, now we’re varsity boys soccer coach, echoed these stretched out over two times that,’” concerns and Ocon said. voiced one Another of his own: set of sports District wide, you visualization. impacted “The by limited always want, I guess, challenge practice equity would be the is trying to spaces are right word, to have all implement softball and tactical baseball. the kids have equal changes to our Both teams facilities, class offerings team, where recently and opportunities.” we need to see received a it in a full field, new turf or just a larger field and –Michael Dudley field setting, updated but only have training half the field facilities, to work with,” which coaches Ocon said. and players agree have boosted morale, Translating any drill from a their fanbase and overall practice practice setting to a game comes with efficiency. its own set of challenges; when the size Hannah Krueger, a senior of the field that you practice on is half varsity softball player, talked about

8 | THE NORTH STAR | SEPTEMBER 2025 Design By Lauren Chonko

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“

the increases in both safety and performance that occurred after the field renovations.

“Being on turf, that was something new,” Krueger said. “With dirt, there were definitely a lot more injuries, bad hops, so I think our performance level definitely went up.”

Despite all of the positives of the new facility, both teams are limited to a single field and a small, dirt practice field, which causes issues in scheduling and practice times.

Varsity softball coach Stevie Gibson and varsity baseball coach Michael Dudley both mentioned the challenges of hosting games and productive practices for different teams with varying needs.

“We try to keep them productive, we try to stretch and play a little catch, and then go down to the cages and hit, but the focus level is just very different,” Dudley said. “There’s some stuff that we just can’t do on that little half-infield; the surface on that practice field isn’t great. So, you know, it’s not like we’re going to go up there and take ground balls for 20-25 minutes.”

Gibson also brought up safety as a concern during these shared practices.

“In the past, we’ve had situations where our JV and varsity had a pretty significant talent difference,” Gibson said. “We had some girls who would play D1 softball, and then we had some girls who had never played before. So having them all in the same field can be (1) a safety concern and (2) an intimidation factor.”

Practice times are not the only problem. When it comes to games,

The home locker room at the DAC, featuring the Blue Valley Northwest 2021 football state title mural. Photo By Lauren Chonko having to share a facility is not an ideal situation and it affects North’s feeling of being the home team. Factors like Northwest’s proximity to the DAC, painted locker rooms and travel time from BVN to the DAC only seem to amplify this feeling.

Assistant Principal and Athletic Director Kelli Kurle agreed that “home” games at the DAC don’t quite feel like home.

“It is hard to see it as a home game,” Kurle said. “Typically, the advantage of a home game is that you can be at home longer, dinner is a little bit later, you don’t have to shove food in your mouth at 4:30. It’s our home game, but we end up taking seven buses to get there; it’s a lot of moving pieces, whereas, if it’s a Northwest home game, they just walk outside.”

The Northwest rivalry is another factor that has only seemed to heighten over the years of sharing a facility, especially after the locker rooms were repainted. The home locker room

at the DAC was redone shortly after Northwest won its state title in football in 2021. Ever since, North has had to use a locker room decked out in purple for their home games. Ocon spoke about the effect that this has on team morale during games.

“When we’re fighting in an overtime game, or when we’re pushing for postseason and we’re hosting and all these Northwest things are looking at us, it doesn’t feel like we have a proper home there,” Ocon said. “It almost feels like we’re in the away locker room.”

Overall, the updates to the facilities at North are an improvement from before, but are a far cry from what the other Blue Valley Schools have at their disposal.

This imbalance in resources casts doubt on the equity displayed in district facility decisions, and questions remain surrounding the impacts on North athletics today and in the future.

School Facility Breakdown Football Fields

Soccer Fields

Baseball Diamonds

Softball Diamonds

BV High

1 & Stadium

2

2

2

BV West

Stadium

3

3

3

BV North

1

1

1

1

BV Southwest

Stadium

2

2

2

BV Northwest

1 & DAC

2 & DAC

1 & DAC

1 & DAC

School

SEPTEMBER 2025 | THE NORTH STAR | 9

FEATURE

F re s hma n H ar p er Wi nter balances h ig h s ch o o l ex p ectatio n s w ith p r ep ar in g f o r he r fu tu r e athlet i c career.

By Ami Aguilera

F

reshman Harper Winter received her first D1 offer this summer for basketball from the University of

Arkansas.

“It was definitely a surreal feeling getting an offer from Arkansas, like all my hard work has been paying off so far,” Winter said.

Working hard for D1 offers and meeting academic expectations causes some athletes to make sacrifices in other aspects of their lives. ”The downsides are just always having to make so many different sacrifices for family and friends,” Winter said.

Freshman Sia Hali believes that one of the reasons Winter is at the level she is at is because of her ability to handle

pressure as it comes at her. She describes Winter as a calm and humble person. Hali says that when Winter faces adversity, she approaches the situation calmly.

“She does handle it well,” Hali said. “She is a very humble, calm person, so whenever she gets pressured, she’ll calm down and think about the situation [from] a different perspective and handle it from there.”

Winter finds a way to maintain friendships in addition to all her school and athletic responsibilities that come with being a basketball player. Winter says that her friends help her with basketball and balancing a social life by playing basketball with her and helping her stay Winter playing basketball for her club, Mokan. in touch.

Photo provided by Harper Winter “Most of my friends help me with my social life; they play and Winter gets her work done in basketball or other sports too,” AST, leaving her with little homework Winter said. every night. Winter says her nights are Winter is also working with mostly made up of working out and BVN coach Ann Fritz, who is basketball. helping Winter pursue the next Winter says the schoolwork is level of basketball because of manageable and that she doesn’t really her involvement in a network of have homework most days. college coaches.

“She’s hardworking, in the gym “I have a network because I’ve 24/7; if she’s not in the gym, she’s been coaching for so long, so there studying her homework or doing are a lot of coaches I know at the something she likes,” Hali said. next level, and it’s been fun,” Fritz Winter says she doesn’t really feel said. like a normal teenager because she is Winter takes all AP and honors in the gym so much. classes for her core classes. AP “A lot of people my age are very classes are built to be challenging,

10 | THE NORTH STAR | SEPTEMBER 2025 Design by Ami Aguilera

social, but for me, I’m just in the gym all ter makes her a better basketball player. the time,” Winter She has a goal to strive to said. match Winter in basketball Hali believes and be the best basketball that Winter’s player she can be, and sportsmanship is she believes that Winter what makes her helps her acomplish that.

I don’t wish I did stand out from “Playing around her anything else. I other athletes and with her has 100% around her. pushed me as a player wouldn’t change “She has to become better,” Hali a thing great sportsmanssaid. hip,” Hali said.

Hali believes that –Harper “Whenever she before Winter’s D1 offer, Winter knocks someone Winter wasn’t as confidown, she’ll always dent. She thinks that the go back and help offer gave her some more them up.” confidence while still being a calm and Hali believes that being around Wincollected person.

“

“

“It made her more confident; she wasn’t as confident as she is now,” Hali said.

Winter said that if she could go to any college for any cost, she would go to the University of Southern California.

“I would go to USC because I was born in California, and I love their program, Juju [Watkins] and their coach,” Winter said.

Hali and Fritz both expressed that Winter’s drive to be better than the person who is better than her is what sets her apart from other athletes on the court.

“She’s very respectful and always willing to do anything,” Hali said. “She will push herself to the limit for anything you ask her to do. She’s just a good person overall.”

Winter playing basketball for her club, Mokan.

Photo provided by Harper Winter

SEPTEMBER 2025 | THE NORTH STAR | 11

FEATURE

The HISTORY you FORGOT

Logo created by Jeremy Chugg.

Three veteran teachers cover what was slept through.

By Aahil Hassan

B

lue Valley North social studies teachers Jason Smajda, Jason Jones and Jeffery Breedlove have begun a podcast series titled “The History You Forgot.” With a combined 90 years of teaching experience, they cover world history, historical concepts and figures with the goal of reeducating those who have forgotten key concepts. The hosts were interviewed on how this project came to be, the long-term goals and the importance of teaching history.

Smajda credits interactions with parents throughout the years for their interest in history for the idea.

“The impetus really was sitting through 30 years of parent-teacher conferences, and having people say, ‘I would love to take your class now, I hated history when I was a kid’,” Smajda said. “And that always had my wheels turning, I’ve been doing this for so long, I’m thinking about what’s next in my phase of life, like what about helping adults that missed learning?”

With the inspiration to further educate adults over history, the focus then became how to succeed in doing

that.

They shared the differences between “My daughter had suggested that teaching a classroom about history and I do a TikTok thing or an Instagram creating a podcast about history. thing and I mentioned it to Breedlove “One of the things I really had to and Jones,” Smajda said. learn is that I can be performing in The process then began with front of a class but it’s different than brainstorming the format, title, how this, it’s a different audience, it isn’t to produce a podcast and the struggles meant for students, it’s kinda meant that can come with it. to hit those adults,” Smajda said. “If “Originally I just give an apush we had lecture, they’re some gonna be asleep The understanding titles like like they were 20 ‘Things You years ago.” of how things have Shoulda Breedlove gotten to where we Paid spoke on how are today is valuable.

Attention the absence to’, or ‘You of a physical –Jason Jones Should audience affects Have Paid the experience for Attention’ him. and then it “The struggle I kinda came to, well this is the history think for me has been is that when I’m you either slept through or you forgot,” doing it in class it is also entertainment Smajda said. in a certain way, you have to hook the Jones spoke about the struggles of kids but they’re right in front of me, creating a podcast. so I’m looking at you I can see your “The first episode we practiced reaction, but with the podcast format it a lot we worked and struggled and it’s not natural, I don’t look at the we started out as just trying to do this camera well,” Breedlove said. as just audio, then we thought we’d The three were also asked about incorporate the video.” Jones said. where their passion for history “One, you’re trying to schedule three comes from, Jones cited the desire to people which that can be a problem, understand how the world is where it two, who answers what, who talks is today. about what when you wanna try to “And that shapes things like balance it, and just figuring out all the politics, it shapes policy, it also helps intricacies of how to put it together us give empathy, to understand,” Jones what software to use how to make sure said. the sound is good and then once we For Smajda, it was the desire to decided to put video in, how to make understand what came before. sure the video looks good.”

“As a kid going through my parents’ With the development of the records and going through my parents’ project, the three teachers were yearbooks, I was always fascinated with venturing into a new experience. what came before me,” Smajda said. “I

12 | THE NORTH STAR | SEPTEMBER 2025 Design By Aahil Hassan

“

“

Smajda discussing concepts over the American revolution Photo provided by Jason Smajda. was always fascinated by the changes.”

Breedlove credits his love for reading and understanding patterns in history.

“For me when I was a kid I was an avid reader. I just loved to read, so I read biographies all the time. I used to have this thing called World Almanac and it was literally just statistics and stories,” Breedlove said. “I’m also a believer in that history is cyclical, and that human beings live in these cyclical patterns.”

This project has allowed these three teachers to share their passion for history with those who wish to relearn through a new method. Through that, they too get to experience something new.

“In life, you’re always trying to improve, I’ll learn a lot while doing it [the podcast],” Jones said. “That excitement just for learning, if you’re a teacher and you still don’t get excited about learning, it’s hard to have an excited classroom full of learners.”

“

Episode one “American Revolution” in mid production.

Photo provided by Jason Smajda.

Find “The History you Forgot”

@Thehistoryyouforgot @thehistoryyouforgot

The History You Forgot

@thehistoryyouforgot

Favorite part of the experience?

It’s the things I don’t quite know how to do, I don’t know how to use the software very well, editing, I can’t quite do it, but that’s the exciting part, I’m learning little bits at a time.

- Smajda

”

“

I only taught US history once like 28 years ago, so I’ve sort of been rediscovering all this stuff and it’s so much cooler now that I’m revisiting it.

- Breedlove

”

“

The trial and error, the process has been the most fun part for me.

- Jones

”

SEPTEMBER 2025 | THE NORTH STAR | 13

FEATURE

Al

n i t a c lo

cation u d E g

$

$ BVN princpal and teachers discuss their thoughts on the recent Department of Education dismantling.

By Hannah Markiewicz

I

n February of this year, President Donald Trump issued an executive order to dismantle the Department of Education (DOE), gutting public school funding and access to government subsidized services. This defunding will directly impact BVN, as well as every other public school in the country.

According to Kansas Governor Laura Kelly, in late July there was about $6.8 billion in federal dollars earmarked for public education that the Trump administration was withholding distributing to states, and $43 million of those dollars threatened

K-12 education in Kansas.

“The Trump administration’s shocking decision to withhold education funding directly harms students and schools in Kansas and across the country,” Governor Kelly said in a letter written to the Secretary of Education Linda McMahon in July, according to the Kansas Office of the Governor.

According to Associated Press Education Writer, Collin Binkley, the Trump Administration was withholding billions of dollars in an effort to make sure the money was being spent in ways that aligned with the White House’s priorities.

14 | THE NORTH STAR | SEPTEMBER 2025 Design by Hannah Markiewicz

This is not the first time that the DOE has been targeted. According to BBC North America reporter Ana Faguy, former president Reagan also pushed to dismantle it. This is because many Republicans have historically believed that education should be dealt with by state governments and local communities, rather than at a federal level.

While education is technically a state and local responsibility, according to the DOE, the federal government can impose their preferences onto public schools with funding or the lack thereof.

Debate teacher Brian Box shared

his thoughts on the defunding.

As a public school, BVN relies on federal funding for special education, programs for English language learners, academic enrichment and access to technology.

“Without public funding, this school wouldn’t exist,” Box said.

The DOE cuts could personally affect students at BVN as they threaten valuable resources used by them every single day.

Physical necessities are not the only way the DOE defunding threatens public schools. The effects of dismantling it challenges equal education opportunities for all students as well. According to ACLU Communications Strategist Ricardo Mimbela, the DOE played a huge role in protecting students’ civil rights in the past. These civil rights include protecting LGBTQ+ students, students of color and students with disabilities in public schools across the country.

“A lot of the funding that comes from the Department of Education is necessary to maintain the special ed. programs in many schools, so I think it could really be impactful in that sense,” Box said.

While the special education department is vulnerable to cuts, it is currently protected under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). However, the quality of special education learning could be lowered. “[The cuts] could mean that our special education students are not served as well as they should be, or it means that we might have to make cuts in other places to reallocate funding

to maintain those essential services,” requirements and conditions for Box said. eligibility for patients looking to enroll As a special education teacher, in or maintain Medicaid coverage.

Anna Porter sees firsthand how her Therefore, access to Medicaid, while students and separate from her classes rely the DOE, will on public change for funding. those who [The cuts] could “ Most rely on it. mean that our special definitely, [my These education students are students rely resources on] the free are put at not served as well as they and reduced risk in the should be, or it means lunch,” Porter defunding, that we might have to said. potentially Free and becoming make cuts in other places reduced lunch inaccessible to reallocate funding to is a program in the future. maintain those essential funded by the Changes United States with the services.

Department DOE stretch –Brian Box of Agriculture beyond (USDA) and physical will not be resources. affected by According to the Department Anna Kiminski of Education defunding. Additionally, on KCUR, the DOE launched an transportation is crucial for students. investigation into Shawnee Mission, “Transportation is probably our Olathe, Topeka and Kansas City biggest use of funds at the moment, public school districts for allegedly because all of my students get school allowing students to participate in provided transportation,” Porter said. sports, use restrooms that align with Transportation that is specialized their gender identity and permitting and medically necessary for students teachers to maintain confidentiality with disabilities, and provides access with transgender students. These to medical services, is funded through could be violations of Title IX and the Medicaid, rather than the Department Family Educational Rights and Privacy of Education, and non-specialized Act (FERPA) according to the DOE. transportation costs are primarily The investigation is still ongoing. covered by individual school districts.

If educational entities are found in According to the American Medical violation of Title IX and/or FERPA, Association, the One Big Beautiful Bill the result can be a termination of Act of 2025 creates new administrative their federal funding, according to the DOE. BVN Principal Dr. Tyson Ostroski shared his thoughts on the investigation.

“You know, bottom line… we want to work with our students, and we want them to feel like this is their home, regardless of whoever they are,” Dr. Ostroski said.

BVN tries to uphold a standard of inclusivity within the community, although this could look different with the changes to the DOE. “[Investigations are] one way that federal education policy can significantly change that would affect local districts, is different administrations have different priorities in what they want our education to look like and tying that to the grants Peer mentor Naiya Austin works with Arcelia Kille in study skills. Photo by Hannah Markiewicz

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SEPTEMBER 2025 | THE NORTH STAR | 15

that they offer is a way of getting those different districts and schools to adhere to those priorities,” Box said.

These cuts will affect public schools entirely, not just students. Teachers will also feel the effects of these changes.

“I think we will continue to see a staffing shortage because of a reduced amount of positions and allotment for those kinds of positions,” Porter said.

Staffing shortages within schools have been an ongoing problem, and a lack of funds could heighten that issue further. Meanwhile, Dr. Ostroski has a different outlook on the effects funding cuts may have on the staffing at BVN. “There are some cuts to the recruitment of teachers, to the extent of what that is for our district, I don’t know. But for us, we’re pretty lucky in Anna Porter works with Shane Townsend in study skills on a vocational unit. the fact that we’re kind of a destination Photo by Hannah Markiewicz job for educators, and so we have not felt that yet,” Dr. Ostroski said.

“We are lucky in the fact that Furthermore, a lack of funding we’re in a puts further pressure on community teachers to find a way that is really to get resources for their supportive for You know, bottom classes. According to education, 2023 Senior Writer and line... we want to and whether Editor for the National work with our it’s passing Education Association the bonds or students and we want (NEA) Amanda the support Litvinov, teachers spend them to feel like that we have on average $500-$750 this is their home, within our of their own money own district regardless of whoever annually on supplies for their students. they are.

“Out of my own –Tyson Ostroski pocket, [I spend] probably $500 a year, but this is my ninth year teaching, and I’ve learned over the years that I’m not administration and school board, I feel going to get that money back. So, over confident about where we’re headed,” the years, I’ve spent less. I started out Dr. Ostroski said. spending much more,” Porter said.

According to the Institute of Education Sciences, 94% of teachers in the 2014-2015 school year spent their own money on classroom supplies without reimbursement. Meanwhile, there are teachers like Box who choose not to do this.

“I take the very principled stand of spending zero of my own dollars on my class.The school and the government should be paying for those things, not me,” Box said.

While public schools may not know what the future holds regarding the Department of Education, Dr. Ostroski is hopeful for BVN.

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16 | THE NORTH STAR | SEPTEMBER 2025

Civil Rights protected by the Department of Education According to the U.S. Department of Education

Race, Color and National Origin Discrimination + Race Discrimination in Special Education

Disability Discrimination

Age Discrimination Title IX and Sex Discrimination

Boy Scouts of America Equal Access Act

Nondiscrimination in Employment Practices in Education

Retaliation Discrimination SEPTEMBER 2025 | THE NORTH STAR | 17

H NDLING the FEATURE

BIG

CHANGES

What do the students think about the changing leadership?

By Likhitha Vunnama

W

ith every year that passes by, new teachers and coaches come to work at Blue Valley North. The band and football teams get new staff every year. Connections, relationships and adaptations made over time come to an end as the school year closes off. As leaders change, practices change, and new teaching styles shape the year for each student differently.

Teachers are the fundamental building block for every class, activity and sport. Throughout the year, students begin adapting to the changes, whether big or small, in all their teaching styles. Band students and football players share their opinions about the recent changes to the programs and how they have adapted.

Abhi Kambhampati, a senior and a drum major in band, explained how

he interacts with his new assistant and head band directors.

“Meeting these new directors and being able to see their new perspectives, especially as one of the drum majors, I’ve been able to be at the forefront of coordinating stuff between the band directors and the band. So just being that bridge has been interesting to see how that works between different people,” Kambhampati said.

Khambhampati appreciates the different perspectives that he has come across with leadership changes.

Junior Kayden Augustus, who is on the football team, shared his opinion on the new coaching perspective too.

“I’d say there aren’t too many negative things about it other than the fact that it’s a new coach every year and you have to get to know and

The football team listens to the coach on Sept. 12 at Shawnee Mission North. Photo by Grace Kwak

18 | THE NORTH STAR | SEPTEMBER 2025 Design By Likhitha Vunnama

make more connections over and over again,” Augustus said.

These relationships have had to be built from the ground up, but that has not posed a big challenge for either Kambhampati or Augustus. These changes allowed both the band and football team to experience some shifts in what the leaders focus on.

Senior Josie Jones, another drum major, adapted to different warmups and followed different marching preferences as the leadership changed.

However, she still believes that their virtues and goals remained the same.

“They’ll come in and change and have us do different ways of different fundamentals or different stretches or different things like that,” Jones said.

“But the core of the program and our core values and what we try to do and help with, I believe, have stayed the same through all of our changes, which

The low brass section of band performs at the band fundraiser. Photo by Grace Kwak

has been awesome.”

Different teachers that Jones and When the year comes to an end, Kambhampati have had impact how these students experience pain as the they interact with their program. staff leaves, they soon come to an Jones believes that all the teachers understanding of why the shift had to want the program to do well, so they occur. give each student an equal amount “Having those switches, it hurt of support for the benefit of the because we miss them, but we members. ultimately understand that they left “I would say that they all do things for certain reasons and that we hope a certain way, and they all want us to the best for them. We grow from those succeed and see us do well,” Jones said. experiences,” Kambhampati said.

Kambhampati agreed with Jones, The band and saying that all of his the football team band teachers have both learned made him feel from the important to the We’ve really handled switches they program. the change really well faced in their “They’ve years at North been really and recovered really and have amazing. I well. All of our staff’ overcome would say that at BVN is incredible them. those teachers— “All the not just Mr. so there’s not really coaches that McCarty, but anything to complain are brought all of them about. in are great combined— coaches and made an impact - Josie Jones great people, on me, and they so I wouldn’t all made me feel say it’s too like I had a place much of a there in band challenge to overcome,” Augustus said. and how I mattered,” Kambhampati The trust the students put into the said. new staff causes them to accept the shift and overcome the challenge of moving on.

“Every single director that I’ve had at this school, I can’t really complain about in any way, shape or form.

They’ve all given it their all,” Jones said. “They’ve all cared about all the students, and they’ve all really wanted the best for the program and every single individual in it.”

The care that the staff has towards every student also makes it harder for them to let go of their previous teacher.

“The teachers that I’ve been able to kind of work with longer, like Mr. McCarty—he’s been my teacher for four years now—they have really impacted how I treat band [and] how I interact with band,” Kambhampati said.

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Previous & Current Directors/ Assistants Mr. Freeman ’24 Mr. McCarty-Current Mr. Rezincheck ’25 Mr. Staines-Current

Previous & Current Coaches Mr. Weir-Current Mr. Hudgens ’24 Coach Pummil ’23

SEPTEMBER 2025 | THE NORTH STAR | 19

NEWS

How do students and staff view the new campus policy?

By Van Freeman

A

t the start of the 20252026 school year, BVN changed its policies on leaving campus during the school day. Even though students expressed their negative opinions on the new policy, administration held firm. What are the thoughts of the students displeased with the new policies, and what drove the administration to make these changes in the first place?

BVN Student Support Staff member, Sean Birdsong, discussed the previous issues with students leaving campus during school hours.

“It’s always sort of been closed campus. I guess you could say the problem is when you have parents, or people calling out the kids,” Birdsong said. “It got in bunches, and kids felt that they could leave, but [administration] wouldn’t know why the kids were leaving. It’s been in place

for a while, I just think this year, and even last year, the past two years, we’ve tried to really keep a handle on that.”

Senior Paz Aguilera also commented on past student behavior relating to leaving campus.

“I feel like a lot of seniors developed habits of leaving campus for advisory, AST and lunch, as well as first and last hours in the past,” Aguilera said. “The new policies have made it harder to be able to do that.”

With the new changes to campus policy this year, staff have noticed positive changes to the attendance of students in their classes.

“I think the staff loves it, especially the teachers, because now you have kids that are on time,” Birdsong said.

“We have AST, we have breaks, and you don’t have to worry about kids being gone for an extended period of time. We, the teachers, will know that they’re going to be back on time.

20 | THE NORTH STAR | SEPTEMBER 2025 Design by Van Freeman

That way, it doesn’t cut into the lesson they’re trying to teach.”

Despite positive staff reactions, students haven’t been as appreciative of the new policy changes.

Junior Finley Wainscott shared his feelings about how the new campus policy affects the students at BVN. “I feel like it definitely makes it more [important] to be in school because the punishments are harsher, and you’re more likely to get in trouble,” Wainscott said. “But, I also feel at the same time, it makes the school have more of a prison sense because you don’t have the freedom to leave. And I know you’re not supposed to leave, but you don’t have the freedom to leave if you don’t have to be here, and sometimes even if you do have the right to leave, they’ll still question you about it.”

Aguilera also shared her thoughts on the policy and its punishments.

“I think that it’s a little bit excessive.

“I think it’s very safe for the school I understand the safety policy here, but because there are no accidents that the $25 fine to let people in a side door can occur outside of school that could feels maybe a bit too much,” Aguilera be pinned on [BVN] and used against said. them,” Wainscott said.

Birdsong discussed students’ Aguilera agreed on the safety that reactions to the new policy. the new policy provides.

“Of course, there’s going to be “Leaving campus allows for some pushback from the students when possibilities like getting into a car you’re changing things,” Birdsong said. accident,” Aguilera said. “It keeps the Aguilera also commented on school safe because they’re reliable student feedback toward the policy. for us and what happens to us during “I think generally, students will be the school hours as long as we’re here, upset by it, but that’s the only negative so once the student leaves, anything impact,” Aguilera said. “It’s just like a can happen, and the school is held change of procedures here. Everyone’s accountable.” kind of frustrated, but there’s no huge Birdsong also discussed the staff’s negative impact.”Birdsong also talked perspective on student safety. about the benefits “That’s the the new policy can main thing; provide students. keeping kids “It benefits safe on campus That’s the main [students] by and making sure thing, keeping kids keeping them safe, you guys are safe on campus, making sure they’re not just out and on time in their about because making sure you classes, but also in anything can guys are not just the long term by happen,” out and about, accountability,” Birdsong said.

Birdsong said.

Birdsong because anything “[Students] are shared his can happen, probably gonna thoughts on if appreciate it when the policy may –Sean Birdsong you get older.” change in the Some students coming years. disagree that the “Change? closed campus policies benefit BVN. No, I think if we stay consistent with “I don’t really think it benefits the it, which I think we will, it’ll stay students at all, because if the students consistent and everything will be wanted to stay, they could have great,” Birdsong said. “Everybody’s on stayed before. The reason people are board with the policy, so it’s really up leaving is because they want to leave,” to us to continue to stay on board.”

Wainscott said.

Despite the conflicting views of students and staff, they can agree on one important benefit the new policy provides.

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Photo of the entrance to Blue Valley North. Photo by Van Freeman.

SEPTEMBER 2025 | THE NORTH STAR | 21

STUDENT LIFEd-

Playbooks to Textbooks How do student athletes enrolled in Honors and AP level classes manage their schedules at BVN?

Juniors Bennett Christie and Beau Chiaverini high fiving during the soccer match on September 4th.

Photo by Lauren Chonko.

By Anthony Sutcliffe

A

s the school year ramps back up, students have to find ways to balance their new class schedules and workloads with their extracurricular activities on and off campus. This can be a challenge for any student, but for athletes taking AP or honors classes, schedules can fill up quickly.

For some students such as Jacob Palan, sophomore year is a time to explore the world of AP classes. Palan is enrolled in all honors or AP classes this year, two of which are not typically considered sophomore level courses.

“This semester, I’m taking HAPC BC (Honors Accelerated Pre-calc BC), AP Physics, AP World, Honors Chem, Honors ELA 10, Honors Spanish IV and Advanced Debate,” Palan said.

Besides homework, Palan’s schedule is also filled with sports. More specifically, cross country, tennis and weight lifting.

“Right now, it’s cross country season, so I’ll be running anywhere from three to five or six days a week if there’s meets,” Palan said. “I’ll be playing tennis two to three days and lifting three days a week.”

For Palan, it is important to stay focused and disciplined — not only in the classroom but also in his sports. cross country meets are held early on Saturday mornings, and typically, Palan has to arrive at his meets anywhere between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. This means that preparation starts the night before.

“Cross country meets are starting up pretty much every Saturday, which

22 | THE NORTH STAR | SEPTEMBER 2025 Design By Anthony Sutcliffe

is pretty tough because it means no fun Friday nights. You have to sleep in to prep on Friday,” Palan said.

Another student athlete with an advanced academic schedule is sophomore Will Petersen.

“I’m taking Honors ELA, Honors Spanish 4, AP World History, Honors

Algebra and Honors Accounting,” also plan which assignments I’m going classroom and how they were on the Petersen said. to do, what things I’m going to prep.” athletic field,” Chonko said. “The ones Petersen is currently playing soccer Chonko also talked about the who were the most successful had the for BVN and will play baseball in the importance of time management. exact same mentality in both. Those spring as well.

“I think it’s just important that who were diligent and put the work, “For soccer, you’re aware of the time and energy in the classroom, I we have hours that you saw those same work habits out on the practices have available to field.”

I want them to Mondayyou, and it varies. understand that they Friday It depends on besides being in season are student-athletes, game days, or out of season. and that the student and they’re I think the biggest part does come first. usually thing is knowing from 3:00 what you have to –Mark Chonko p.m.-5:00 do and knowing p.m. or 3:15 the time you have p.m.-5:00 p.m.,” to do it in, and being Petersen said. realistic,” Chonko Petersen plays for both the JV and said. varsity teams at North. This means It can also be equally important to that some weeks he has multiple have a good mindset and work ethic games, leaving him with even more about the things you do as a student that he has to plan his already busy athlete. Petersen shared how this work schedule around. Varsity and JV games ethic can help. also have different start times on their “I try to be hardworking in both respective game days. school and sports and manage my “I’m on varsity and JV, but JV time wisely,” Petersen said. “I try to games are from 5:00-6:30 p.m. and not spend time sidetracking on my varsity games are from 7:00-8:30 phone. I try to be very dedicated.” p.m.,” Petersen said.

At the end of the day, it takes a Between academics and sports, it certain mindset to be a successful can be important for students to find student-athlete. a balance in their schedule. Currently, “One of the things I loved when Mark Chonko is a math teacher at I was coaching here was when I BVN, teaching Honors Algebra II, was able to teach some of the guys AP Calculus AB and AP Statistics. that I was coaching because I got to However, Chonko is a former studentsee them and how they were in the athlete and coach himself. He played baseball at The Ohio State University when he was in college, and he used to coach the baseball team at BVN. “I want them to understand that they are student-athletes, and that the student part does come first,” Chonko said.

Chonko says that there are certain things that students do at times that rub teachers the wrong way.

“I think the biggest thing is making excuses, and it’s the people who are willing to put in the extra time, effort and energy, they’re the ones who are ultimately going to be successful,” Chonko said.

For students like Palan, it helps to have a plan for each day.

“I try to only bite as much as I can chew, [and] not take too much at once everyday. I’ll try to plan out what I’m Sophmore Jacob Palan running at the cross country event on September 6th. going to do, whether that’s a lift, or Photo by Aahil Hassan. run, or tennis or a mix,” Palan said. “I

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SEPTEMBER 2025 | THE NORTH STAR | 23

STUDENT LIFE

Football Why does football get the most attendance?

By Safa Al Ameer

B

lue Valley North has a three time state-winning boys swim team, a girls basketball team that has recently won two state championships and a girls softball team who won regionals last year. That being said, these sports have little to no attendance. On the other hand, football games are widely attended.

Last year, the BVN football team became regional champions for Class 5A during the postseason. During the season, the team won once against Shawnee Mission North. This was the first win since 2022.

The girls basketball team, on the other hand, became state champions in Class 6A; however, the student section at these games was significantly smaller

than that at football. It brings up the become BVN tradition to show up to question, what do football games have the games, dressed up in theme and that other sports don’t? hang out.

Senior Benjamin Stutz believes that “The sport is obviously its own winning or losing doesn’t play a role in thing, but the tradition has more why someone shows up to the football emphasis than the sport itself,” Stutz games. said.

“It’s a fun Junior event, win or Parker Hu The sport is obviously lose,” Stutz believes that its own thing, but the said. “It’s factors such as something to the themes and tradition has more go to. You see whether it’s a emphasis than the your friends, home or away sport itself. spend time game play a with them, big part in why –Benjamin Stutz have a good people go to the time.” football games.

Stutz However, Hu plays soccer suggests people and football for the school, and he’s show up to football games rather than been on both ends of the spectrum, other sports due to the location. having many people show up to “Football, you can get up and walk games and having only a few show around, but at basketball, you have to up. According to Stutz, most people stay in the bleachers,” Hu said. don’t show up to soccer games because Soccer is also held at the DAC like they’re less fun to watch. Soccer games football, yet people tend to only go to tend to end with low numbers on the the White Out game for boys soccer scoreboard compared to football. and little to no games for the girls Stutz also thinks football as a tradition soccer team. Hu says timing plays a is greater than other sports. It has factor to that, believing having the

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Senior Drew Thomas cheers during the boys soccer White Out game. Photo By Safa Al Ameer

24 | THE NORTH STAR | SEPTEMBER 2025 Design by Safa Al Ameer

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Student section cheers on the football team at a game against Shawnee Mission North. Photo by Olivia Moore

Fever games on Friday is more convenient.

“Fridays are test days because it’s a short class, so [we] usually don’t have a lot of homework,” Hu said.

Senior Lauren Freberg believes the football games tend to be more of a place to hang out.

“For the girls, it’s probably more of a social event, and sometimes even for the guys, just because you’d get to see everybody and cheer even if you don’t know what’s going on,” Freberg said.

As a spirit squad member, Freberg is required to go to the games, but when it comes to football, that’s never a problem for Freberg because she loves the sport. She thinks the band and cheer team are other reasons why people go to the football games.

“The band is part of the reason I go,” Freberg said. “Hearing the band right next to you blaring in your ears is kind of nice. The cheerleaders screaming at you is kind of good too. It makes you want to be loud.”

Although basketball has the band playing and the cheerleaders there as well, Hu says it’s different compared to the football games.

“The band definitely makes it more interesting because they do their performances, and the halftime [show]

makes it more fun to watch,” Hu said.

“In basketball, they don’t really play, and it’s half of the cheer team.”

Similar to Hu, Freberg thinks the day of the games plays a big role in whether someone attends or not. She said that last year, the girls soccer team had one Friday game, and that’s where they had their biggest crowd.

She assumes if soccer had less games on Thursday, then there would be a bigger turnout. Freberg also believes sports like girls soccer don’t get the appreciation they deserve.

“I feel like soccer is a hard sport,” Freberg said. “It’s contact, it’s running, it’s technical and we were really good last year. It’s frustrating when teams that aren’t very good get more attention than us.”

Freberg says that although having people on the stands while she plays soccer is a “little bit of pressure,” it’s also “nice” to see people you go to school with supporting you. Freberg doesn’t understand why people don’t attend games of teams that are known to win, but she thinks gender might play a role in people’s decision to go to the games.

“Our girls basketball team last year was 10 times better than every

sport, and they still had no crowd, just because they’re girls. Everybody still went to the boys basketball games instead,” Freberg said. “I went to the girls basketball games last year because it was way more interesting to watch us win. I don’t understand why people don’t go to those[games]. If it’s a better game, wouldn’t you rather go to that?”

What BVN Sport Do You Watch the Most?

58%

19%

12%

11%

Of 205 people polled on @bvnnews on Instagram SEPTEMBER 2025 | THE NORTH STAR | 25

OPINION

Autumn in the Halls The season isn’t defined online, but in the moments we share.

By Grace Kwak

I

’ve been stumbling upon some key autumn trends that I saw on my phone while scrolling recently. With the fall season coming up, a lot of students are starting to romanticize it as a “study season,” rewatching famous TV shows like “Gilmore Girls” and shopping for new clothes. Starbucks advertisements of the Pumpkin Spice Latte are everywhere and in stores like Bath & Body Works, fall collections are on sale!

Seeing all of these things has made me reflect on how I perceive my own autumn and how it feels very different inside the halls of our school. Personally, when it comes to fall-time, things get really cozy for me: zipping up hoodies, seeing frost on car windows and getting warm beverages with friends. Sports games and bundling up in blankets are the quintessential autumn activities that soften the hard shift into colder weather. I’m sure many of us can relate to that sense of comfort.

Part of that comfort shows up in the way we dress, as clothing becomes a big deal during this season. Since school starts in the fall, a lot of us buy new clothes for the new year.

The clothes we pick often tie into internet aesthetics. Baggy jeans, leather jackets, cable-knit sweaters, Uggs and Converse shoes dominate the hallways.

While this isn’t bad in any way, it shows how much of our style is shaped by what’s trending online.

But autumn isn’t just about what we wear; it also reshapes how we learn. Academics become another defining part of the autumn season.

With classes ramping up, I often find myself studying late into the night, to the point where I’m getting used to it.

My friends do the same. Fall feels like the time when our minds reset into learning mode, training us for long hours, assignments and busy schedules.

When I think of autumn, I like how it marks the beginning of so many activities and experiences. This ranges from sports games and classes to coffee dates, time with friends and the changing colors of leaves. All these moments remind me how special it is to share autumn at BVN, with each one weaving into our season in a meaningful way.

At the end of the day, autumn doesn’t belong to Starbucks ads or “study season” hashtags. It belongs to every individual: to the hoodies, late nights, crowded games and quiet moments where we notice the leaves changing. That’s the autumn we live in at BVN, a season that doesn’t need to be filtered or reduced, because its beauty lies in how we live it and notice things differently, not in how the internet tries to define it.

26 | THE NORTH STAR | SEPTEMBER 2025 Design by Grace Kwak

Trends & Teens

OPINION

The flaws of fashion in schools today.

By Ayla Agayeva

T

ime is a gift and something we students do not have enough of.

Having to wake up early every morning is painful enough, but having to take your time to choose a comfortable yet functional outfit simply adds to the pain. The benefit that uniforms could provide to BVN is severely overlooked.

Now, do not get me wrong—I love fashion and wearing clothing that represents me more than anything, but having to pick out an outfit every day while being sleep deprived has slowly been taking the joy out of it for me and many others. Uniforms would not only save time; they would preserve students’ confidence and increase sustainability.

How you choose to determine the course of your school day depends on how confident and comfortable you feel. While some may choose their clothing for the next day in advance, many do not. The need to choose a cohesive outfit is daunting, especially at seven in the morning. This is a prime example of how convenient uniforms could be and how efficient they could make the mornings of every student.

Additionally, students may feel like they have to take into account trends.

It seems as if there is a new

trend every month making it impossible to keep up. Time has proven that trends dictate our lives — which explains the collective need for every teenager to switch to low-rise jeans and Adidas Sambas. Personally, I love a good pair of jeans and simple shoes, but not everyone is the same.

That is why having to focus on what

is currently trending when you are rushing in the mornings is one vast mess, which not only deteriorates the confidence of students but has also become challenging in regard to our academics. Studies conducted by the University of Nevada showed that uniforms have been beneficial for education, not only because they allow students to focus on their studies, but because they take the focus off of having to find a way to be included through what you wear. According to statistics from Nevada Today

Students’ top-rated statements with responses of ‘Agree’ and ‘Strongly Agree’ were: “I still have my identity when I wear a uniform” (54 percent); “My family likes that I wear a uniform to school” (53%); “I think uniforms save money on clothes” (50%); “I worry less about how others look” (42%).

Furthermore, sustainability has been lost in many aspects throughout our school, such as the cafeteria, where plastic utensils and styrofoam plates are used in excessive amounts. Fast fashion only makes this sustainability problem worse. Therefore, there is a huge benefit to uniforms beyond those that impact confidence and time of BVN students.

I understand that it is difficult to implement uniforms right away; that does not mean it can not be done.

Little by little we can implement uniforms and we will see their real benefits: efficiency, improved confidence among students, higher academic performance and increased sustainability.

SEPTEMBER 2025 | THE NORTH STAR | 27

ARTS & LEISURE

28 | THE NORTH STAR | SEPTEMBER 2025

I SPY

By Olivia Moore and Paul Struby

SEPTEMBER 2025 | THE NORTH STAR | 29

PHOTO COVERAGE

PHOTO COLLAGE Photos from the start of the school year at BVN.

By Olivia Moore and Paul Struby

30 | THE NORTH STAR | SEPTEMBER 2025

CROSSWORD

ENTERTAINMENT

Relax and enjoy the North Star Crossword, with questions taken from our stories.

By Paul Struby and Olivia Moore

ACROSS

3. Harper Winter’s dream school.

5. Mr. Chonko’s alma mater (2).

7. The name of BVN’s band director.

8. The staff reactions to the new closed campus policy, as described by Mr. Birdsong in “Sorry, We’re Closed”.

9. Evan Nugent’s job at 7-Brew.

DOWN

1. The seller of the pumpkin spice latte mentioned in “Autumn in the Halls”.

2. Mr. Ocon’s main concern with playing at the DAC. 4. The Shawnee Mission school defeated by the Mustangs last football season.

6. The type of learning Mr. Smajda thinks would put parents to sleep.

SEPTEMBER 2025 | THE NORTH STAR | 31

@BVNNEWS CONTACT ABOUT US

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

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