The Tiger Print — April 2022 by The Tiger Print

THE TIGER PRINT

At the turn of the semester, BV’s tardy policy underwent major reforms due to poor attendance and tardiness. Administration opted for a strict on-time policy regardless of minutes missed, resulting in considerably long lines at the door of the Tardy Tracker. Read on to page 16 to understand the origins of the absences and the reaction to the retaliation.

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TARDY TRACKER

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Contents NEWS

NEWS

EARTH DAY Senior Kylie Mac Ewen advocates for taking care of the environment.

FEATURE

DYNAMIC DUO Teacher Dianne Dunn and sophomore Brooklyn Dunn discuss attending BV together.

ENTERTAINMENT

Teacher Tyler Randall assumes a Track and Field coaching position.

TRIPS TO REMEMBER BV students share photos of vacations taken over Spring Break.

FEATURE

OPINION

CRUCIAL CONVERSATIONS Staff writer Harrison Melton describes the importance of cultivating a healthy relationship with food for children.

THE TIGER PRINT editor-in-chief Charlie Trent assistant editor Stephania Kontopanos design editor Ayesha Khan adviser Michelle Huss

publication editors Kaitlin Green Frannie Lamberti Charley Thomas staff writers Regan Byrnes Amy Collins Katelyn Collins Brynn Friesen

“The Tiger Print” is an official publication of Blue Valley High School, an open forum distributed to all students six times a year. This publication may contain controversial material. Kansas law prohibits the suppression of a student publication solely because it may contain controversial matter. Blue Valley Unified School District No. 229 and its board members, officers and employees may disclaim any responsibility for the content of this publication; it is not an expression of school policy. Student authors and editors are solely responsible for the content of this publication.

@bvtigernews

Isaac Hudson Harris Jones Sofia Hughes Ava McGuire Harrison Melton Elle Moulder Chanie Rankin Andrew Sharber Rhylan Stern Isabella Vaz Mena Walker

Sophomore Eddy Jiang discusses DECA and BPA success.

OPINION

Letters to the editor are encouraged for publication. “The Tiger Print” reserves the right to edit all submissions for both language and content. Letters should be submitted to Room 518, emailed to thetigerprint@gmail.com or mailed to: The Tiger Print Blue Valley High School 6001 W. 159th St. Overland Park, KS 66085

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Staff writer Brynn Friesen believes busywork is ineffective.

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Kicking off the softball season with some quality bonding time, sophomore Maggie Richardson (top right) said team building would help her and the team ‘mesh.’ “[Bonding] helped me get to know the girls and some of their leadership strengths,” she said. Due to Covid complications last season, the team did not have as many opportunities for bonding events as this year. “This was super exciting to get to know the girls outside of softball,” Richardson said.

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Seniors Maddie Fritz and Ashton Barlow participate in the winter mainstage play, “Curse of the Starving Class.” In this particular scene, “Ashton and I have cornered Alayna after stalking her around the room,” Fritz said. “We were trying to ‘win’ the scene and hold more power over her character.”

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A memorable experience for senior Alayna Wilburn (top right) was “Godspell,” an ensemble musical performed by Maureen Davis’s fifth hour. “We just had a really good time,” Wilburn said. “[Musicals were] something we did in years past, and we haven’t been able to do, so this one was a really good chance to see the talent that everyone had that we don’t get to showcase as often.” photo by sofia hughes

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“About a year ago my grandma passed away suddenly from colon cancer, so Relay signifies an important night honoring her memory as well as others who have fought or currently are fighting cancer.” -Liz Nitzel, 12

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New show choir exhibits success at competitions mena walker |staff writer

how choir competitions have taken place in many schools in other states throughout the years, but not at Blue Valley — or in Kansas at all. For the first time ever at BV, a new generation of performing music, singing and dancing was brought together. Show choirs give students an opportunity to recognize and witness various performances, themes, practices and aesthetics from other schools. Senior Anna Bajich and sophomore Trevor Lewis explain show choir is more than just performing. “[Show choir] is a group of kids who get together and perform about five songs — there are different contrasting pieces, and one slow ballad-like emotional song. Also, there’s dancing,” Bajich said. “It’s really fun and a good experience to see other people and how hard they work [and] to see this love of music throughout our entire community.” Lewis agrees the show choir is filled with passionate people who put their time and effort into practicing. “We learn choreography and sing — then we go to compete around different places around the U.S.,” he said. “I wasn’t looking forward to the first competition but once it happened, it’s just a whole experience itself. It’s different from anything else.” Bajich has been involved in music and singing her entire childhood. “Music has always been a big part of my life,” Bajich said. “I started when I was younger in church choir. We had a Junior Choir that would sing [with] my sister and my cousins — my uncle directed it. I love doing it, so I just

continue to do it.” Meanwhile, Lewis started his career in the music world differently than Bajich. “My brother was in choir when he was in high school, and that really made me join,” Lewis said. “Throughout middle school, I thought it wasn’t that important, but once I got to freshman year, it started to click. I started to see how fun it was to compete with other choirs, and around Christmastime is when I started taking it more seriously.” At the Harrisonville competition, Chambers won fourth place overall, and Select Blend combined with Chambers won second in their division. Bajich was honored with the title of “Best Female Soloist” with her emotional ballad of ‘I Know a Place.’ “I was definitely the first person to jump up and down screaming, which was really embarrassing — that was the biggest honor I could have received,” she said. “I was so excited. I even started crying a little bit. I couldn’t even say my name in the microphone when they asked me because I was just so overwhelmed.” During a separate competition at Pleasant Hill on Feb. 12, Lewis won “Best Male Soloist” with his solo from Wrecking Ball. His reaction to winning the title brought a sea of emotions. “When I got my medal, it was one of the best experiences of my life,” he said. “I didn’t expect it. It was that feeling of accomplishment. All the work you put into something finally paid off.” Both Bajich and Lewis believe the show choir will have a huge impact at BV. With lots of experience in singing and music, Bajich clarified how being afraid can affect students from sharing their talents. “Never be scared — there’s no reason to be scared of something you love to do,” Bajich said. “We can always use more singers, more people who really care about either singing or dancing or both. It’s a gift that you’ve been given. There’s no reason not to share it with the world.”

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Acting Out

Sophomore speaks on potential State qualifications for competitive speaking, acting sofia hughes |staff writer Many underclassmen struggle with confidence or public speaking, but not sophomore Grant Kozisek. Rather, he thrives in front of a crowd or a judge. He began competitive speaking and acting this year, more colloquially called forensics, and has gotten three State qualifications so far. Kozisek competes mainly in acting events, his favorite to perform being his prose piece. “My prose piece is called ‘Commercial Break’ by Augustine Burrows,” Kozisek said. “It’s about a kid who [has] the people from Kraft come to their school and try to get kids to be in a commercial. [Prose competition] isn’t a super high stress environment because you have your script there; you don’t worry about forgetting it.” Kozisek has qualified for State with his prose piece, as well as with his duo interpretation and dramatic interpretation.

“A humorous interpretation is [when] you take a script and do a funny interpretation of it. That can be any script, as long as its published by an author in script form,” Kozisek said. “Dramatic interpretation is the exact same thing, just dramatic.” However, Kozisek said he won’t be going to State to compete his dramatic interpretation because “it was a oneoff.” “For one tournament, I had to be a filler,” he said. “In order to be able to have people qualify for State, you have to meet a certain set of rules; there has to be at least six kids competing in an event, so I went to try to fill in so that some of our people could get state qualifications. The piece that I ended up winning the entire tournament with was ‘hope ur ok’ by Olivia Rodrigo.” He will likely go to State with his humorous interpretation, as well as his duo interpretation with his partner, sophomore Sammy Robertson. “Sammy and I have been really good friends for years now,” Kozisek said. “We actually started doing theater back in middle school, and we play off each other really well. When forensics season came around, we didn’t even have to question [partnering up].” While Kozisek loves the performance aspect of the activity, he loves the class even more. “It’s a fun environment to be in,” Kozisek said. “There’s no stress involved. Sure, it can be a bit nervewracking to get in front of a judge, but once you’re done with that, it’s just a really cool environment.”

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Not long ago. Not far away. katelyn collins|staff writter

n late February, sophomore history classes traveled to Union Station to visit the “Auschwitz. Not long ago. Not far away.” exhibit. It opened to the public on June 14, 2021 and was supposed to stay in Kansas City until Jan. 23, 2022. Immediately tickets started to sell out, so to keep up with demand the exhibit extended its hours. By January, 300,000 people had visited, setting an all-time record for Union Station. People from every state and even from other countries traveled to Kansas City for the experience. The exhibit was previously in New York City, and Kansas City was its second and last stop in the U.S. In January it was announced that Union Station was able to extend the exhibit’s stay in KC through March 20. With not much time before the exhibit left to return to Europe, some BV students were able to visit. Sophomore Ashley Thatcher was one of the students who went on the field trip. “The museum was in sections,’’ Thatcher said. “We had headphones on with an informational tour showing us through the museum.” The exhibit starts off by explaining the roots of antisemitism, the aftermath of World War 1 and how Hitler came to power. The beginning is an extremely important part of the walk through because it helps guests understand how such a tragedy could happen in the very world that we live in. After background information, there are details about the deportation process and life in Auschwitz. Throughout the exhibit, there are more than 700 artifacts and 400 photos on display. “Two artifacts that I distinctly remember are a little kid’s shoe with a sock in it and a handmade doll made from the

blankets in the camps,” Thatcher said. Graphic images of the death camp demonstrate how the prisoners were dehumanized, starved and worked to death. There are also videos of survivors explaining the living conditions and the horrific tasks that they were given. Eventually, guests get to the liberation section that explains the process of liberating camps and restoring the prisoners’ health. Survivors discuss the transition from survival mode to living a normal life. The simple act of eating a normal meal was difficult at first due to the extreme starvation. Survivors were grateful for their liberation, but filled with pain knowing their family, friends and neighbors did not make it out alive. The exhibit ends with a powerful message from the survivors detailing what they want visitors to learn from the darkest chapter of history. The whole experience can take a few hours but taking the time to read all the information and see all the artifacts will leave observers with a greater appreciation for life. “I learned more about the camp and the destruction that it had on millions of people,” Thatcher said. “It’s important to learn of the holocaust because this mass genocide shows how even through horrible times society can stay hopeful and come together to help. Also, to prevent this from ever happening again.” The information was a lot for students to grasp and understand. The next class period students discussed what they learned and what shocked them and any remaining questions were resolved. Modern World History teacher Jenny Buchanan volunteers at the Midwest Center for Holocaust Education where she trains teachers how to educate their students on the Holocaust. She also is the sponsor of the Holocaust and Antisemitism Education Club. “I hope students gained an ability to see the Holocaust as an experience that real people experienced, with a personal narrative,” Buchanan said. “I hope students walked away with a greater understanding and an interest in learning more and [learned] to not just be bystanders but to help others.”

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Collision Course

Sophomores recount events of pile-up crash in front of school charley thomas |publication editor

Thomas’ car sustained the most damage, as it was completely totaled. “It was like a clown car hitting a nybody who has driven to BV brick wall,” Flynn said. knows the two signature roundImmediately after the chain of abouts out front are an accident collisions occurred, the drivers, still in waiting to happen — except, in this shock, struggled to stay calm as they instance, the accident did happen, and made sense of the event. it was much more than a simple scratch. “I thought it was my fault, In an entirely sophomore series of so I got out, slammed my door collisions, Kayleigh Willhoite, Billy and punched my window,” Flynn and Aaron Thomas all found Flynn said. themselves engulfed in the incident that Similar to Flynn, made for a far-from-typical commute Nolkemper’s initial reaction home from school. was a flurry of concern, but he Witnesses like sophomores Luke then found himself helping out Nolkemper and Jack Browne were in any way he felt he could. also a part of the “I was like, ‘Oh crap!’ Then I chaotic scene, and their was like, ‘Did Billy kill someone?’” accounts of the crash, Nolkemper said. “Then I offered him along with those of the grub and drinks and everything.” drivers, helped piece Once the police together the puzzle of arrived, officers assessed the pile-up. the situation and walked the The event drivers through the started when post-crash process. a school bus, “They asked for taking a wide insurance, and then they It was like turn, caused looked at our licensWillhoite to slam es and all that stuff,” a clown car on her brakes. Willhoite said. “Then Flynn, driving the car hitting a brick they gave me Billy’s directly behind insurance, which wall. Willhoite, was is the second car, and Billy then pushed the police officer’s personal Flynn into her vehicle after phone number in case I 10 being rear-ended by needed to contact him.” Thomas. AccordWhile Willhoite was ing to the majority busy discussing details with the of those involved, cops, Flynn added some humor distracted driving to the tense interactions following the was to blame for the incident. wreck. “[Thomas] was on his phone “I griddied when they towed scrolling, then his Smart Car just went [Thomas’] car away,” Flynn said. ‘Boom,’” Browne said. “The airbags deOnce the series of events that took ployed in Aaron’s car, so it was literally place was agreed upon, the drivers white on the inside everywhere.” involved moved on to resolving other Thomas Flynn Willhoite

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photo submitted by Luke Nolkemper consequences of the accident — some of which were health-related. “We went to the doctor’s office the next day, and they told me I had a concussion and whiplash,” Willhoite said. “They wanted to see if I had any spinal fractures because of where I got hit on the back of my neck, so we got an X-ray.” Despite the drivers’ compliance with one another and the officers, some animosity arose when trying to assign the blame. “Everyone thinks different things about what happened, but I think it was the third car’s fault,” Willhoite said. “Everyone just thought it was each other’s fault and is trying to blame each other.” Thomas expressed a more direct, though unpopular, opinion as to who caused the chain of accidents. “It wasn’t my fault,” Thomas said. “It was Kayleigh’s fault.” All disagreement aside, these sophomores learned a valuable lesson going forward as they continue to navigate the roads around BV. “Everybody [needs to] pay attention,” Willhoite said. “That’s a really important thing to do, especially getting out of the parking lot.”

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Teacher, student give opinion, advice about sleep schedules regan byrnes |staff writer

“It’s very multifaceted,” Volz said. “Some kids I know ark circles and silent yawns are seen have issues at home and maybe are struggling or going every day, whether in the hallways or through issues of depression. If I know that’s going on and classrooms. Many confide in their they’re having a hard time I can let things go. I also friends of how little sleep they got know sometimes kids like to actively choose to the other night, but what is more check out [of class]. If I feel confident that I perplexing is that some boast of Students that get six to know that there isn’t another issue going on, I’m their lack of sleep, like it’s some seven hours of sleep going to address that kid pretty directly.” kind of achievement. Why is Though junior Cindy Ntembe agrees that? students usually shouldn’t actively choose to fall It is universally known that sleep is asleep in class, she does want to spread awareness vital and needed to survive, but people seem so willing to about how hard it can be as a teenager to intuitivegive it up. The National Sleep Foundation and the Amerily relax. can Academy of Sleep Medicine agree everyone needs “I have anxiety, so it can be really hard at least 8 to 10 hours of sleep each night. to fall asleep,” Ntembe said. “I’ll be Math teacher Laura Volz gives her insight on why people, especially teenagers, are so ready to Students that get seven to sitting there and I feel too anxious to fall asleep.” give up something that helps them function every eight hours of sleep Ntembe believes electronics before day. bed can negatively affect a person’s sleep “I think staying up late is always the result of an schedule but encourages practicing therapeutic techniques active decision based on either necessary or before bed and throughout the day. unnecessary things,” Volz said. “I under“Practicing mindfulness — if I really tried to commit to stand kids are busy, and sometimes that that, maybe that would ease my anxiety a bit more,” will naturally interrupt their sleep Students that get five to Ntembe said. “[For example] meditating or trying to [schedule]. I also am very well clear your mind before bed or takeaway stimulants like six hours of sleep aware of the fact that I have kids electronics, Red Bull or coffee.” that watch TikTok videos for five Though meditation techniques can only help a person hours and play video games [all night].” so much, in most cases, especially for Ntembe, outside According to the Sleep Foundation, people who don’t sources affect sleep patterns and cause an unorgaget enough rest usually suffer from excessive drowsiness nized resting schedule. and have trouble focusing. Because of this, it can harm “Both of my parents work in hospitals, academic or work performance. Though Volz doesn’t Students that get more they usually pick night shifts,” Ntembe know exactly how to help bad sleeping situations get than eight hours of sleep said. “I have to put my siblings to sleep under control, she does have some ideas. [and] I’m up taking care of them. Maybe “Not to sound like an old person, but putting if my parents’ schedules could change in a way where they limitations on cell phone usage [and] being could also help me with my siblings at night, that would help 6% off their phone after 10 o’clock [is a good Students that get four me more.” idea],” Volz said. “I see in myself the to five hours of sleep There are many ways people can improve sleep addictive nature of being on social meschedules, whether it’s “limiting light exposure and dia and how it’s hard for me to put my technology use in the evenings,” according to the CDC, phone down.” or practicing mindfulness before bed. Sleep is essential Professional heath sources like the CDC and Sleep for people to be stable physically and mentally, even Foundation agree with Volz because due to the obsessive 3% nature that electronic devices produce, this causes 7 Students that get less than though it’s one of the easiest parts to remove four hours of sleep from life. out of 10 people to not get enough sleep. Due to this, “Biologically speaking, you need sleep in Volz witnesses, on occasion, students falling asleep in order for your body to repair itself — you need sleep her class. She believes her reaction entirely depends on how for your muscles to repair,” Volz said. “We naturally expend well she knows the student and her relationship with them. so much energy during our awake hours, and sleep is what is

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INVEST in our

PLANET Environmental Club member discusses importance of giving back to the Earth

With Earth Day readily approaching, Environmental Club member senior Kylie Mac Ewen discusses why it is necessary for students to stay conscious of how they treat the Earth and how they can lessen negative repercussions. “Be more environmentally friendly — if you can carpool places, you should consider doing that,” Mac Ewen said. “If you can recycle something, why not just do it? It’s so easy to find a recycling bin.” With the increased prevalence of these negative impacts in the environment, Mac Ewen finds it crucial to give back to the planet and encourages those around her to do the same. “It’s important to raise awareness for climate change and make sure to keep the Earth healthy,” she said. “It’s already getting bad — we can see the changes every day, especially in Kansas right now, so it’s important to do what you can to help.”

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of students do not feel Earth Day adds awareness to our community

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1. EAT PLANT-BASED FOR A DAY

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WHAT CAN WE DO TO GIVE BACK THIS EARTH DAY?

of students do not value Earth Day

statistics based on a survey of 204 students

70% of greenhouse gas emissions stem from the meat and dairy industry, and the food we eat is responsible for over 60% of global biodiversity loss. (source: the vegan society & WWF)

2. CHANGE YOUR BULBS CFL and LED light bulbs use up to 90% less energy and reduce greenhouse gases. (source: abbott & NOAA)

3. SHOP SUSTAINABLY 10% of all carbon emissions come from the fashion industry, and it is the second largest consumer of the world’s water supply. (source: business insider)

4. BRING YOUR OWN BAGS TO THE STORE 160,000 plastic bags are used each second with less than 1% being recycled. (source: the world counts)

Turkey Reunion

Student connects with family while visiting the city bridging Europe, Asia dad’s daughter from a different [mom] mosques, isabella vaz |staff writer

he opportunity of a lifetime arose for sophomore Veronica Sobolevsky who explored the nation of Turkey during an unforgettable family gathering. “We went to Turkey to visit my grandma that we haven’t seen in five years because she lives in Belarus,” Sobolevsky said. “We had to go somewhere she could travel [since] she doesn’t have a Visa, so we went to Turkey and met her there.” Sobolevsky had the chance to travel internationally in the past, but Turkey’s distance offered a unique experience. “I’ve been on a cruise to the Bahamas, Mexico and Honduras, which was really cool,” Sobolevsky said. “I’ve never really visited any part of the Middle East or Europe. [Traveling] that far internationally was different because just getting there was a whole entire day of travel.” The trip to Turkey allowed for meaningful time with family and friends. “I [went] with my dad’s side of the family — it was my dad, my stepmom, my little brother and me,” Sobolevsky said. “My grandma and some of our friends came with us, too.” Another incredible opportunity to connect with someone special emerged. “I met my half sister that I’ve never met before — she’s my

photos subm itted by Veronica Sobo levsky

in Russia from before he moved to America,” Sobolevsky said. “He couldn’t stay with them because he had to move, so I met her for the first time, and he saw her for the first time since she was born, [which] was so cool for him.” Concerning the current events of Russia and Belarus’ invasion on neighboring Ukraine, Sobolevsky is strongly opposed to the violence. “My family and I are obviously against what’s happening in Russia,” Sobolevsky said. “What the [Russian] president is doing is not fair at all for Ukrainians.” The recent opportunity to see her family living throughout the regions of conflict is something she is extremely grateful for. “It’s really nice [that we went to Turkey] because I don’t know when the next time I’m going to see my grandma is because the country that she lives in — Belarus — is also attacking Ukraine,” Sobolevsky said. “My parents are trying to see if they can get my grandma to Poland because it’s not as bad there as it is in Russia and Belarus.” Although seeing family during her travels was most important to Sobolevsky, she loved touring a variety of attractions found in the famed city of Istanbul. “We did a lot while we were there — we mostly explored the city and went to a lot of different historical landmarks,” Sobolevsky said. “We visited a lot of

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which were really cool and different buildings. One was really pretty, and at the top, we could see the whole city below.” Sobolevsky also had some unexpected encounters during her strolls. “My favorite thing was definitely the stray dogs and cats that walked around everywhere,” Sobolevsky said. “Everywhere you went, dogs and cats would just follow you.” For Sobolevsky’s family, one dog in particular stood out. “One time we were going up this mountain on a hike and this dog followed us all the way to the top and all the way back down,” Sobolevsky said. “[My little brother] Mark named it Cookies and Cream.” Sobolevsky reflects on her travels with appreciation for the grateful outlook it provided her. “[Going to Turkey] was really good because it gave me an eye opening experience to the different culture and the way their lifestyle is and how different it is from ours,” Sobelevsky said. “It made me appreciate our life a lot more because [life can be] not as good there, and we’re a lot more privileged here.”

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Sophomores work together at senior living community harris jones | staff writer

n high school many people choose to branch out into the world by getting their first job. With limited places to work, many end up working with friends or with people they know. A couple of these people are sophomores Ella Foley and Kennedy Urbanek, who work together at Tallgrass Creek Senior Living Community. They began working together when Urbanek told Foley about the job after working there herself. “Especially where we’re at, we’re not just employees and servers — it’s really more people,” Foley said. “It’s a very tight-knit community. It’s like talking to adults and having conversations while also having a little more.” While the two don’t work in the same divisions, their shifts often line up allowing them to interact a little between working. “Every time she walks into the kitchen and I’m there, I always yell at her to get out of there as a joke,” Urbanek said. “[The] first time she thought I wasn’t joking.” Fun little interactions like these can of course decrease productivity and are often seen

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as a downside of working with friends. “OK, I swear we get work done, but there is a lot of sidetrack,” Foley said. “We’ll see each other and we talk too much, so we do take a little longer.” A common stereotype of either being roommates or working with friends is the so-called curse that you’ll inevitably stop getting along. But both Foley and Urbanek feel this experience has made them closer now and said that if they could go back in time they wouldn’t change a thing. The truth is working can be tiring, boring and even infuriating with the wrong people, with the right ones however, it may still feel like work sometimes but you’ll have people with you who make it just that much better. “I 100% recommend working with a friend — it’ll make it go by way faster,” Foley said. “I don’t know if I’d make it without someone to talk to.”

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Wisdom in Worship junior performs in church band rhylan stern|staff writer Worship can be shown through many different ways, but for junior Zoe Longwell, her faith is produced through music and prayer with her involvement in her church’s youth band. “I am positioned as the main student backup vocalist,” Longwell said. “I do harmonies with [the worship director], Zae, as well as leading certain songs or verses.” Longwell’s love for music started long before she joined the worship band. “Music is a big part of my life. I produce music on my own — I have a producer and I’ve been writing music since I was 11 or 12,” Longwell said. “I’ve also been a part of band and choir freshman year and then also was involved in a couple other things.” Church of the Resurrection was a new and frightening experience for Longwell. “I was honestly scared to So a couple go to Wednesday nights at my church before I joined the band,” weeks later, I Longwell said. “My neighbor, auditioned and Catherine Price, was in the got in and then worship band. I was at her house one night and she said I should that’s kind of audition because I’m into music. where I started A couple weeks later, I auditioned and got in and then that’s kind of my faith. where I started my faith.” Out of the years of worship zoe singing, one memory seems to longwell stick out to Longwell. 11 “In eighth grade, it was my third year leading worship, and I was put to lead ‘Reckless Love’ for the eighth grade confirmation retreat,” Longwell said. “I started singing the first verse, and the whole confirmation group was louder than I was on my mic — I thought it was really cool. It’s this huge worship moment that stands out in my mind.” Along with unforgettable moments, Longwell has a favorite reason for why she’s involved. “The people [are] why I’m at church,” Longwell said. “It’s just the community and the connections you find and people you meet with that you wouldn’t have met otherwise.”

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emptation of

Tardiness

written by katelyn collins, ayesha khan, harrison melton, elle moulder, andrew sharber, charley thomas, isabella vaz

n recent weeks, BV has ratcheted up its response to tardy students, as well as acknowledged the growing attendance problem seldom allowing for full classrooms. Students arriving minutes or even seconds after the bell can expect a trip down to the notorious tardy tracker, where they could spend anywhere from 5 to 15 minutes waiting to register their overdue arrivals. In regards to attendance, courses have taken on a rather “optional” feel for some students who find their time to be more valuable outside the walls of their lasthour math or history class. The tardy crackdown of teachers and repeated early departures of students have left both groups in a fog of frustration, but before jumping into personal accounts, it’s necessary to look at the facts of the situation. Over the last year, BV has witnessed 2,562 tardies — a 16% increase from the 2019-2020 school year. The school was also relatively lenient with late students during 1st semester due to construction and parking challenges, meaning that there were likely many more untimely arrivals than recorded. Principal Scott Bacon additionally noted BV has recorded “considerably more” individualized absences this year than in pre-Covid times. These attendance issues, however, are not unique to BV. Across the nation, schools are seeing higher rates of absenteeism. The reasons? A myriad of causes ranging from mandatory quarantines to entirely optional parent check-outs, which are leaving classroom chairs empty. According to the Wall Street Journal, in New York City, the country’s largest school district saw its overall attendance rate drop beneath 70% after winter break, a drastic decline from the 91% of students typically in the classroom in pre-pandemic years. Not only does this decrease hurt students in their pursuit for a quality education, it confronts teachers with the challenge of planning around dozens of sporadic schedules. As administrators and teachers search for local solutions to a national problem, the BV community, students, parents and educators alike, must wrestle with the consequences of students not showing up on time — if at all. Read on to discover the harrowing effects the temptation of tardiness has left on the BV student body.

Tardy Targets

on the cover

april 2022

design by charlie trent

Late students analyze tightening of tardy tracker policy “I think [the policy] should change by having us stay a little after class [or] after school,” Morgan said. “If you’re 10 minutes late, you [would] stay 10 minutes after school.” Gordan feels the tardy policy overstates the actions actually applied by most staff. “They don’t implement [the punishments] or do anything about [tardies],” Gordon said. “They keep saying your next punishment will be this or that, but it never even happens.” Morgan feels differently after his encounters with a stern implementer of the policy.

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he transition to second semester brought with it a clear crackdown on the enforcement of BV’s attendance policy. Sophomores Joaquin Acosta, Jack Morgan and Josh Gordan reflect on the arrival policy with mostly resentment as its effects are amplified for the group of students who have the tendency to be late. “I think [the attendance policy] is really dumb because it’s not going to stop people [from being late],” Gordon said. “It’s taking people even more time to go to the tardy tracker than to just go to class, so they’re just punishing people. It’s not changing anything.” Acosta discerns the meaning behind the policy but still senses it is lacking. “I have mixed feelings about it,” Acosta said. “I understand why they do it, but I also think there’s a lot more cons than pros.” A common thread of excuses accounts for most of the late arrivals at BV. “The struggle is [that] once you get closer to school, the traffic just gets really bad,” Acosta said. “It would be really nice if some of the staff were more graceful and understanding of that.” Morgan is an outlier with his tardy explanations. “The main thing that makes me late is my dog — he likes to run away a lot,” Morgan said. “I also just don’t leave early enough or I’ll just not wake up because I don’t feel like it.” Gordon trusts in the leniency of his teachers when he is running behind schedule. “I just sit in my car and then go in because I know I rarely get sent to tardy tracker,” Gordon said. “I’ll be late and just say something happened that caused me to be late. It’s usually fine because I’m in class and my teachers are pretty rational and realize that sending me to tardy tracker is just going to make me more late.” In regards to amending the policy, the students have several ideas. “I would change it to where you can be 10 minutes late, but they can still start the lesson,” Morgan said. “I don’t think they should count you tardy, and I think we should [at least] have more tardies than six — I’m at six right now and now I have to go to detention on Tuesday.” Acosta agrees the system is overly strict. “If you have a reason you’re tardy, then you should not have to go to detention,” Acosta said. “For example, the weather or something that was out of your control. I know that’s not [currently] the case but I think that should be.” Another idea was issued by Morgan.

They keep saying your next punishment will be this or that, but it never even happens. josh gordon 10

“One of my teachers — if I’m like 20 seconds late — she’ll send me to tardy tracker even though I’m in class before her. It kind of makes me mad,” Morgan said. “My other teacher is pretty chill about it and if I get to class, maybe like two or three minutes late, she won’t send me to tardy tracker but I think she’s starting to crack down on it.” Acosta concluded the policy, although it has its flaws, is best when enacted with more leniency. “Different teachers handle [late arrivals] in different ways. Some are very strict and will immediately send you to the tardy tracker, which I think is not the most fair thing they can do,” Acosta said. “Others give a two-minute grace period, which I think is perfectly fair — different teachers [have] different responses.”

How often are BV students late to school?

42%

never

38%

rarely

17%

*based on a poll of 204 responses

weekly

daily

on the cover

Is Tardy Tracker necessary?

april 2022

design by charlie trent

Teaching Timeliness

Administration explains importance of punctuality

esearch has shown that there is a direct correlation between a student’s attendance and their academic performance. At Blue Valley, overall attendance has been impacted in the last few years due to Covid, which has given Principal Scott Bacon and Assistant Principal Mark Dalton insight into why students are late and how they can assist them. With the effects of quarantine being seen in everyone, changes need to be made to help struggling students. “It’s been hard because of Covid — our attendance was negatively impacted. This year, I would say that we’ve got a number of students who are struggling with attendance, maybe more so than we’ve had before,” Bacon said. “I think some students are really struggling mental health wise. That’s getting in the way of their attendance and [we’re] trying to work with those students and keep them on pace.” Due to the access to technology the occasional mental health day, sick day, or personal conflict will not set a student way behind in class. However, students need the environment of a classroom with a teacher there to help in order to get the most out of their education.

“

If you can be consistently five minutes late, then you can consistently be five minutes early — you just have to change one habit.

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mark dalton assistant principal

32% yes

78% no

*based on a poll of 204 responses

“You can learn at home a little bit, especially with Canvas now,” Dalton said. “But in the end, there’s nothing like having that instruction, being able to work through problems or ask questions.” Even though attendance is not at its best, it is on the right track and is slowly recovering. “Overall our attendance is pretty strong — it may not be as strong as pre-Covid but this year has been a far better year than last year,” Bacon said. “We track it every quarter and in terms of the number of students that missed 10 or more days, it wasn’t that much different than pre-Covid. It was a little higher but not startling.” One important aspect of attendance is getting to class on time. For a while, teachers and administrators were flexible due to construction and the challenge of getting used to returning to school full time. With the completion of the new additions, teachers have been urged to become stricter with students arriving late. “That flexibility started to become the norm, and that’s not the direction that we wanted to go second semester,” Bacon said. “We tightened it up and we said, ‘We don’t ask a lot. We just ask that our students be respectful and responsible,’ and, part of being responsible is being on time.” Class starts as soon as the bell rings; therefore, it is important that students are in class and ready to learn. Coming into class late not only hurts the particular student but can also interrupt instruction. “As a math teacher, I always started with [what I called] testables, and there was a good chance that was going to be on the test somewhere,” Dalton said. “If a kid missed those on a regular basis, they missed a lot of review for what was important to learn, so it’s important to be on time.” Everyone is late once in a while, but it is important to not make it a habit. Both Bacon and Dalton agreed that if a student consistently struggles with getting to school on time, they need to make changes to their morning routine. “If you can be consistently five minutes late, then you can consistently be five minutes early — you just have to change one habit — get up five minutes earlier, and then everything’s taken care of,” Dalton said. “Everybody’s late once in a while, so there’s grace. That’s why we give five [tardies] before we start giving a consequence. It’s not like we expect people to

on the cover

april 2022

be perfect, but [we have] a reasonable expectation of being on time.” Being responsible and punctual are skills needed to thrive after graduation. “We’re trying to help prepare you to be successful as you walk away from here into whatever is next, and we’ve had a pretty high rate of success at doing that,” Bacon said. “I would encourage our students to do the little things like being here on time because it will make a big difference. Doing the little things well makes big things happen.”

design by charlie trent

66%

of students do NOT think attendance is an issue

Teachers’ Take

Two teachers explain their differing takes on Tardy Tracker

s the school year progresses, it is known that students begin to gradually lose motivation — and showing up on time starts to feel like less of a priority. The second semester slump is not only felt by students, but teachers as well, who must send their students to the tardy tracker. “I feel like there has been an increase this year for sure of people being tardy to school, not necessarily to classes in the middle of the day, but tardies to school,” history teacher Jennifer Buchanan said. “I feel like a lot of that is because while we were going through the pandemic, students were trained that if they were late, it wasn’t as big of a problem because everything would be spelled out for them — lessons were a lot more independent on their computer. Now that we’re back to a bit more of a normal school day, it’s impacting students and their ability to keep up with classes.” Although students may feel resentment from their teachers who have increased their use of Tardy Tracker, it is merely following orders. “Mr. Bacon was pretty clear with the staff that it was an expectation that students go to Tardy Tracker when they’re late in the morning,” Buchanan said. “So that’s what I do — they go to Tardy Tracker.” Because Tardy Tracker had not been regulated as strictly in the past, the first few days with the enforced policy were an adjustment for students. “I greet my students at the door, so I’m able to see the hallways,” she said. “It just took a couple of days for students to figure out that it was more of an expectation now. More people are getting to class and school on time now.” It is not a secret that most students do not feel fondly about this system of tardy regulation, but when examining the consequences, it is fairly lenient and allows students several warnings prior to stricter action. “I feel like with the way Tardy Tracker is set up, the first [several] times — it’s just a written warning, and there’s really no consequence,” Buchanan said. “It offers a lot of grace for

students to be tardy without any consequence. So in that way, I don’t feel like it’s not understanding a student and where they’re coming from.” Buchanan feels the primary issue resulting from tardiness is the class instruction students are not in attendance for. “I would say, especially in core classes, it’s probably an issue where they’re missing out on directions for the class,” Buchanan said. “I feel like continual tardiness puts those students behind.” Other teachers agree that it may be considered simple and second-nature for students to be on time when walking into school. However for some students, it may be a challenge that they have to go through each day. For English teacher Michael McCosh, he has seen students come in late, specifically third quarter. “It’s important that kids understand how to manage their schedules and be where they need to be on time,” he said. “It’s expected in the real world that you’re able to do that.” While McCosh has seen some students showing up late and not giving the effort they necessarily should have, he also thinks there is a balance between both school and personal life. “There’s a sense of ‘I have to maintain a positive relationship with students, so I’m going to let them walk in behind’ or ‘I’m just slow that day and getting class started, so they didn’t miss anything,’” he said. “Also, what I have to consider is [that] I need to hold them accountable for the long term.” Some students think the result of being late can be a pain in the future because of Tardy Tracker. “I think it’s the system that’s in place because there are many students in classes where my thoughts are geared toward individuals — sometimes there’s groups,” he said. “I focus on what some students do during the class period only because I want to see how they handle [tardiness] — I’m constantly thinking about how can I accommodate.”

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DA V I

RED

design by amy collins

A SQU

two sophomores start a podcast amy collins|staff writer Sophomores David Borisky and David Edwards decided to start a podcast at the end of last year. The idea of the two Davids starting a podcast came up by a friend. “We were talking to each other in band for an absurd amount of time and then Brian went up to us, and said, ‘You guys should do a podcast,’ and we were like, ‘We should,’” Edwards said. In their podcast, they talk about anything and everything. “We’ve had ones on vampires, the alphabet, Home Alone, Santa Claus, new beginnings, the End Times, board games, snow days and Valentine’s Day,” Edwards said. The topics they discuss can depend on what month it is, what is going on in their lives or just whatever comes to mind. “We have a chat on Discord that if we have an idea, we’ll just throw it out there,” Borisky said. “If one of us doesn’t come up with an idea, we’ll just take one from that.” There are many steps that go into creating an episode. “Normally, I’ll say, ‘Hey, David, you want to record?’ Then he’ll say, ‘Sure,’ and then we’ll record it,” Edwards said. “Then I’ll get on my dinky little WeVideo account and pop music in, have it fade out, put our logo up for the video and then upload it.” For their podcast, there is very minimal editing, as they like to keep it original. “You can still hear everything [in the background],” Borisky said. “Someone will interrupt me, or I’ll have to call out to my parents or something.” For their setup, they get creative and work with what they have. “It’s a pretty basic setup,” Borisky said. “I have a $30 Walmart mic that I use. I put my phone on my lap and then my computer on top of it, and that’s how I get the audio.

We’re hoping we can improve it somehow.” They have already had their first guest on the podcast, and plan on having more in the near future. “We’re hoping to get more Davids on for David cubed,” Edwards said.“So far, are end goal is the David penteract. Five David’s in one place.” They also have planned out what future episodes are going to be about. “I’m thinking for April we’re probably going to do a parody episode,”said Edwards. “We had an idea for May of a bad movie review, and then October will be our demon episode.” Both Edwards and Borisky admit they are new to this and are still figuring things out. “I am very bad with technology; David is very bad with technology,” Edwards said. “Chris Hemsworth is very bad with technology.” Starting a new podcast comes with its struggles. “It always seems like there’s a challenge with the audio because we generally get on a Discord call and there’s always something — someone can’t hear someone or someone’s audio is messed up,” Borisky said. Both Davids agree that their podcast is just for fun, and they don’t want to take it too seriously. “Don’t expect a whole lot,” Borisky said. “It’s good but it’s not professional quality by any means.” They hope that their unique ideas and original way of doing things will pull listeners into their podcast. “There’s authenticity in this cobbled-together mess of a podcast,” Edwards said. “We’re not trying to go for anything wildly amazing. We’re not trying to just say what we think will be popular. It’s just literally us talking about our thoughts on the topic. We just say stuff and hopefully it’s entertaining.”

SCAN QR CODE TO LISTEN TO DAVID SQUARED PODCAST

it’s best best to invest bes invest inves

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design by stephanie kontopanos

senior discusses opportunities to make money in stock market stephania kontopanos |assistant editor With investing being easier and cheaper than ever, it’s no surprise that there’s been a rise in the number of people putting money into the stock market. During Covid, senior George Perkins took advantage of this opportunity. “I saw the crash in 2020 and how the stock market really was in a bad place,” Perkins said. “[I] saw it as a great opportunity to get invested. I saw the long vision and the benefits of doing it. I wanted to get involved.” The most valuable learning tool Perkins found was hands-on and interactive. “Before I got invested, I did paper trading,” Perkins said. “You invest with fake money, but it still reflects the real market. That’s something I encourage people to do if they’re worried about putting real money up. I think [it] is beneficial to gain experience and figure out what you’re doing before you hop into it.” Currently, Perkins is investing in some stocks he feels confident in. “I’m invested in ETFs, which are electronically traded funds and index funds,” Perkins said. “You get a wide basket of the market as a whole. If you have an S&P 500, you get a bit of the top 500 companies in the country. It’s easier to do instead of picking and choosing different companies, which could flop or bust.” Perkins also put his money into

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crypto, an investment choice more people are beginning to make. By investing in many, less popular cryptos, his return on investment may be lower — but so is the risk. “I’ve invested in Aetherium, Solana Cardano and Polka Dot,” Perkins said. “I don’t have much money in them compared to stocks. Crypto is a really exciting thing, but it’s also extremely volatile. It’s something to have more fun with than bank on your entire savings.” Staying informed on world events is also valuable to Perkins, as those can impact the state of the economy. “This Russia-Ukraine conflict made the stock market extremely volatile when it first came out,” he said. “The stock market will maybe overreact when some news comes out. It went down when Russia started invading Ukraine. People were worried. A few days later, it came up, which was good to see people thinking they’re going to get through the conflict.” Similarly, the pandemic led to a crash in the market, and Perkins has found it easier to predict what the economy will do. “With Covid, the stock market was just atrocious — it collapsed,” he said. “The second half of 2020 ended up being extremely good, and all of 2021 was beneficial. You often see this huge collapse, people kind of calm down a bit and then expansion and recovery starts to happen.” Perkins also reflected on events in which finance and pop culture intersect, such as with the GameStop stock surge in January 2021. “I like to go to Yahoo Finance. I think it’s a really reliable site that compiles a lot of good sources that you can get from different websites.” “Things like the Wall Street Journal [and] CNBC [have] a lot of good articles, especially for the stock market and cryptocurrencies.”

“It was not that great of a company,” Perkins said. “Their stores weren’t doing too well. The big hedge funds were seeing this and they’re like, ‘The stock is going to go down. We don’t see any value in it, so we’re going to short it,’ which means they’re betting on the price to go down.” However, in a turn of events, people on social media went against the predictions. “People on Reddit — the r/ WallStreetBets community — they’re like, ‘All these hedge funds are doing this. Let’s combine and revolt against them.’ They all bought the stock and squeezed the short sellers. Then the price shot up to hundreds of dollars on GameStop. People made a ton of money. I thought it was a pretty cool concept — it was basically a middle finger to the big hedge funds that control the market.” Through the Internet, a trend of “finance bros” has found its roots. Perkins finds that he’ll “probably” fit into this stereotype as he ages. “Finance bro culture is real — the typical Patagonia vest with khakis,” Perkins said. “It feels like every guy goes to major [in] business and then they want to do finance. That’s probably what I’m gonna do. I very well could end up as a finance bro.” While many beginner investors get hung up on specifics, Perkins warns against that. “Just get started,” he said. “Get involved because you’re missing out if you don’t. If you keep it in for years, you’re gonna end up profitable.” “If you follow the right people on Twitter, I think that’s the best base for crypto. I follow @TheMotleyFool — they talk about the market overall. @StockTalkWeekly [does] weekly Twitter spaces where you can listen to people talking about the market.”

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design by elle moulder

The Dunn Duo BV teacher, student discuss having family members in the building elle moulder |staff writer Students look at school in many ways — maybe you look at it as an escape from home. Anatomy teacher Dianne Dunn and sophomore Brooklyn Dunn are mother and daughter and bring home to school with them every day. Most students think having their parents come to school with them is their worst nightmare, but not for Brooklyn. “I can put my lunch in the fridge so I don’t have to carry it around, and it stays cold the whole day,” Brooklyn said. “I feel like I have more privileges now.” Some parents couldn’t imagine bringing their child to work with them every day. “I did it on purpose –– the years go by so fast,” Dunn said. Although it is nice to have each other throughout each day, there can be a few bumps in the road. “She doesn’t get to leave right after school, so I have to stay with her,” Brooklyn said. “I spend way too much time with [my mom]. She will agree with that. Even though she doesn’t outwardly agree, she inwardly agrees because I can read her mind.” Homework is inevitable when it comes to school. Most would assume that Dunn being a teacher would make sure Brooklyn has her work done and up to par. “She would probably say I am [strict with grades] –– unless there is an issue I try and stay out of it,” Dunn said. “I only really get on her case if I see that a grade drops.” But, as one would expect, Brooklyn counters this claim. “[My mom] will send me screenshots of Canvas notifications — that’s like half of our chats,” Brooklyn said. “She’ll be like, ‘Get this in,’ and I’ll be like, ‘I did get that in.’” One would likely assume that the Dunns being around each other so much would either cause them to butt heads and drift apart, or it would bring them closer. Luckily for the whole family, Brooklyn and her mom get along quite nicely, and both feel these circumstances have bonded them. “We have more things in common, and more things to talk about,” Dunn said. It’s not just Dunn who feels this way. “We just gossip with each other,” Brooklyn said. “[I get] excited to spend more time with her. I love my mom.” Because the pair is extremely close, they care for each other greatly and want the best for one another. “Be meaner to people — don’t be so nice,” Brooklyn said. “My mom is overly nice.” Dunn offered advice to her daughter as well. photo submitted by Dianne Dunn “Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there and take some chances,” Dunn said. Dunn loves to be around her daughter. “I think it’s going to be weird not having her here,” Dunn said.“When she’s sick and she doesn’t come to school, I feel like I’ve left something at home.”

feature april 2022

design by isaac hudson

new teachers on the BLOCK

First-year teachers discuss transition into educating isaac hudson |staff writer

very year, BV gains several new teachers. Lots of them are just moving schools; there are only a few brand new teachers. This year, we have two fresh educators: Mackenzie Garber and Jordan Dillon. Garber teaches freshman English, and Dillon teaches Latin. Going into the first year teaching isn’t easy, but both Garber and Dillon have found a lot of joy in their jobs. “It is fantastic. It makes me want to come into school every morning,” Dillon said. “My mood is pretty much instantly lifted once class begins with the students. This year has really reaffirmed that this was the right choice [for me].” Garber felt much the same, this being her very first semester teaching. “Some days, when everything goes as planned, I walk out of the school feeling encouraged and excited for the next day; other days, nothing goes as planned and I leave defeated, wondering how I will keep on doing this job,” Garber said. “The key is to realize there are small wins every single day — you just have to find those victories and focus on them while using the losses to learn and keep moving forward.” For Dillon, teaching was not his first career choice. Up until last year, he had been practicing as a lawyer. “I was a civil attorney, [which] means we have clients who are sued and who sue other people — specifically, I worked with employments and contract issues,” he said. “[When] someone is fired, or if a contract between two businesses didn’t work out, I was the one sort of picking up the pieces from there. That was my job for about two or three years right out of law school.” For Garber, however, teaching has been a life-long pursuit. “My mom is an English teacher, so I was partly raised to be,” she said. “Growing up, I was given numerous opportunities to teach — dance, gymnastics, Sunday school, tennis, French, show choir. I was constantly learning and teaching all the way through middle and high school. All of my middle and high school English teachers were very inspiring, and I wanted to be able to make an impact like they did.” Most people’s jobs have changed in many ways due to

the pandemic. Garber and Dillon are in a unique position, though, having never taught in non-Covid times. “Thankfully I haven’t had to experience the implications of Covid much as a teacher since I don’t know what classroom teaching was like before,” Garber said. “It’s almost helpful that I don’t know what teaching before Covid was like because I have no comparison to what is different now. The most difficult repercussions of Covid are that it seems students don’t always remember how to be in a classroom, like when they are glued to their technology and forget what classroom expectations are.” Dillon also said he had not been impacted as much by Covid as other teachers have. “Surprisingly enough, I thought it actually made it easier,” he said. “Everyone was in this sort of purgatory for a year. Everyone is understanding that people are transitioning [to learning during Covid] because everything is up in the air. It provided a clean slate between what I was doing and what I’m able to do [now].” Dillon said his biggest challenge was trying to live up to the standards set by the previous Latin teacher, Joseph McDonald. “He was very beloved by all of the Latin students here, so one of the first things I did was send out a survey that said, ‘What did you like that Doc did that I can keep doing?’ — my hope is I kept a lot of those things,” Dillon said. “I know I definitely have a different style than he does — every teacher does on a certain level. I hope by now everyone has gotten used to the new style and the new rhythm, and hopefully we can have our own unique and fun Latin program here.” Garber feels that coming into teaching during the second half of the school year has had an impact on her ability to instruct her students. “[It is difficult] not knowing what the students already know or learned last semester while trying to build off of that knowledge,” she said. “My students have been very helpful and patient in telling me what they do and don’t already know. They have all been very welcoming as I enter into a totally new place in the middle of the school year and have given me lots of grace as I learn the ins and outs of Blue Valley life.” photos by isaac hudson

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growing pains april 2022

design by chanie rankin

BV students give input about Birth Order Theory

chanie rankin |staff writer No matter if you are the youngest sibling or the oldest sibling, all parents love all their kids the same. Right? Well, according to the Sibling Birth Order Theory this isn’t true. If you aren’t aware, Sibling Birth Order Theory was created by a researcher named Alfred Adler, who claims that the order in which you and your siblings are born determines certain aspects of your personality, interests and even your intelligence. An oldest, middle, and youngest sibling explain their opinions on the reliability of this theory and how it applies to their families. In the Sibling Birth Order Theory, the stereotype is that the oldest child is responsible, a leader and the most intelligent of the group. They had to parent themselves from an early age and their parents are stricter on them. To sophomore Cameron Shafer, most of this is correct. “[Oldest siblings] are blamed for things a lot more often but also get more privileges and responsibilities than the younger siblings.” he said. Shafer believes that while he doesn’t fit the entirety of the stereotype, there are bits and pieces that seem to describe him perfectly. “I would say that while I’m not as much of the leader-type, I am given a lot of responsibility at my house,” he said. “I think some of it definitely applies to me.” He also fully credits the theory, and while some argue that the idea of Sibling Birth Order Theory is lacking in factual evidence, he thinks some people don’t give it the merit it deserves. “I think it’s more common for people to fit [their stereotype] than people think,” Shafer said. “A lot of people just chalk it up as some dumb stereotype, but I don’t think that’s entirely accurate.” The middle child is known as the peacekeeper and a perfectionist. The compromising, sometimes forgotten ally to all members of the family. Sophomore Maggie Richardson has not only thoroughly researched this theory but has applied it to her life as well. “I definitely

think [Sibling Birth Order Theory] is real,” Richardson said. “I am a strong believer. For example me, as a middle child, is a perfectionist, and I think it’s a result of not wanting to be noticed or a bother.” Richardson also thinks that a big part of being a middle child is that every middle child is forgotten at one point. With the madness of three or more kids, the middle one is bound to get left behind sometimes. “I’ve gotten left at my grandparents house multiple times, and it never happens to the other two [siblings],” Richardson said. “My grandparents live kind of far away, and sometimes my family would just drive off without me.” While being the middle child can be difficult, all roles in the family have their ups and downs. “The oldest is the trailblazer and has to do everything first, and I would not want to do that, so I like being a middle child,” she said. “You get to learn from the oldest but you aren’t the baby of the family.” Finally, the youngest. The youngest is characterized as creative and outgoing. The youngest is also given the most freedom and can get away with more than their older counterparts. Junior Caroline Doolittle thinks the stereotype applies to her family almost perfectly. “My oldest sister is very organized and knows what she wants to do with her life,” she said. “My middle sister is very smart and always goes with the flow. I am just trying everything and trying to figure out what I want to do with my life.” Doolittle has also experienced the difference between the sibling birth order. “My older sister would always be the one to make us lunch and entertain us when my mom wasn’t around,” she said. “I like being the youngest because I didn’t have to go through everything first and be the one to have to act older earlier.”

feature april 2022

design by frannie lamberti

saving school spirit Teacher offers opinion on BV’s morale

“I said, ‘This is Blue Valley High. This is what an assembly looks like. This is what a football game looks like. This is what a dance looked like. This is what our school was and needs to Blue Valley has always been known for its great school get back to,’” Dolezal said. spirit, but after Covid hit, some say it hasn’t been the same. Dolezal acknowledges things will be different once Government and U.S. History teacher Jason Dolezal said all principal Scott Bacon leaves after this year but also knows schools in America have been affected by the pandemic. change is important. “It is not what it once was through no fault “Mr. Bacon has established a culture here for of anyone at the school,” Dolezal said. “We are 18 years — but every new beginning comes from starting to bring it back one day at a time, and it a beginning’s end,” Dolezal said. “Hopefully will get back to where it was.” [the new principal, Charles Golden,] keeps Dolezal started teaching at BV in 2017, and a lot of the things that make us, us — but they he was shocked by the way things were run from A longing & also add in their own flavor and start their own the class chants to the red carpets. a sense of new traditions. You have to do that when you “When I came here, I felt like, ‘Holy cow. purpose gives come into a new building. You have to have This is a real school,’” Dolezal said. “All the that makes it yours.” things that existed that were kind of corny as you a reason something Dolezal thinks school is more than just a freshmen you can miss on your way out as a grade or the transaction from classes but a senior, so they have an impact. It’s those little to be at feeling of community. details that add up to the big experience of Blue school. “A longing and a sense of purpose gives you Valley High.” a reason to be at school,” Dolezal said. “It’s the Not only is Covid a reason for missing out on Jason Dolezal, people you meet and the events you do, and the the high school experience, but Dolezal thinks teacher things you remember from school that make an the underclassmen never fully assimilated to impact.” their new school. Taking one day at a time is how Dolezal thinks the school “They never got to be top dogs, so they come in as spirit will improve once there are more assemblies and getfreshmen who are even more immature than they normally are,” Dolezal said. “That continues to exacerbate the problem togethers. “We are getting back to the reality of what we once knew in the classroom — there’s a little bit more disrespect to and it never left,” Dolezal said. “[Spirit] hasn’t been as teachers and now those people are sophomores. Then prevalent, owned, appreciated and respected as much. online, there were D’s and F’s going through the roof. This place has a lot of culture, a lot of climate, a lot I think the structure suffered a little bit.” of pride — we need to make sure that is accentuated Dolezal said upperclassmen have a responsibility often.” to uphold the standards of school spirit. He showed school spirit at bv has... some freshmen a video a senior from 2020 made. frannie lamberti |publication editor

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a&e

april 2022

design by charlie trent

charlie trent |editor-in-chief Many students utilize their March respite to escape Kansas and take a break, including the annual trip taken by groups of seniors to Cancun, Mexico. Take a look at some of the places that the Tiger family travelled to this Spring Break. Jack Brewer, 10 Gulf Shores, AL

Jillian Rogers, 12; Ashley Schultz, 12 Nashville, TN Allison Day, 12 Marco Island, FL

Ava & Ella Quigley, 12 Phoenix, AZ

Sarah Hallock, 12; Harrison Melton, 12; Aurora Yepez, 12 — Grand Canyon

Myka Beck, 9 Crystal Beach, TX

Carter Siple, 9 Ft. Lauderdale, FL

Noelle Smithers, 12; Will Creamer, 12 Los Angeles, CA

a&e

april 2022

design by charlie trent

a&e

april 2022

design by ava mcguire

from all the teachers you’ve Staff me mbers re loved before... m ark on b eing awa Teacher rded of the M onth

“It truly is nothing short of an honor to be acknowledged for the value I’ve added to the lives and learning of our students. As always: thank you, students, for giving me the opportunity to do what I love!”

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“To be chosen by the students means they recognize the work we are doing, and that is the most important recognition I could receive. Y’all have no idea how much you mean to me, thank you with my whole heart.”

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“I love you guys, and I miss you guys. I hope you are all doing well. I hope you are kicking butt in all of your classes and learning everything you could possibly want to learn. Thanks for thinking of me.”

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“I would like to thank you all for voting for me and for sharing so many heartfelt comments about me as your teacher. You are the reason I look forward to coming to work every day. I love you all.”

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photos submitted by Tiger Pride

Foolish or Fool Proof? Is April Fool’s Day a real holiday? harris jones |staff writer

April Fool’s Day, also known as All Fool’s day, is not considered a national holiday; however, traditions pertaining to the holiday are practiced in numerous countries. While exact origins are unknown, historians believe it may have something to do with France in 1582, when the French switched from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar. Before this, the beginning of a new year was celebrated in the last week of March through April instead of Jan.1, like in today’s time. When many failed to receive this news or recognize the change, people began to be considered fools by the general public — hence, April Fool’s Day. History aside, April Fool’s Day isn’t just some holiday we made up to put a bucket of water above the door, prank call your local pizza place or put a “kick me” sign on someone’s back — it actually seems to stem from a historical event. Many people, however, feel this holiday isn’t really a valid one, believing you outgrow it at a young age; they tire of those who take it too far, making April 1 a pain for

sofia hughes |staff writer

April Fool’s Day is not a real holiday and should not be celebrated as such. Pranks make a mockery out of mockery. In every prank, there’s a setup and a punchline. Let’s take a prank your mom has probably pulled on you: the magic water bottle. In the setup, your mom takes you outside and places a quarter under a plastic water bottle, and she tells you she can make it disappear. She covers it with a towel and pulls it away, tells you the quarter is gone. But here comes the punchline. You’re a trusting, loving child, and you look to see if the quarter is gone. Your mom squeezes the water bottle and splashes water all over you. The water splash in this situation is not the punchline — you are. Of course, this is an overdramatic example. A splash of water is harmless, but many pranks aren’t. The worst of pranks depend on making a joke out of the person they are being played on, and it simply becomes uncomfortable and frustrating. YouTube prank channels make their livings by

everyone else, or they tire of corporations putting things out to get in on it and make themselves seem human to the general public. This begs the question of what a “valid holiday” actually is. Someone might argue people don’t get a day off from school or work, but people typically don’t for their birthdays or Valentine’s Day, for example, which is a heavily promoted holiday. For those who take it too far, obviously that is far from OK and shouldn’t be done, but things like practical jokes can be fun if done right — key words there are “done right.” If you know it is going to hurt someone either physically, emotionally or socially, just stay away from it — it’s just supposed to be light-hearted fun. As for the corporations, as annoying as it can be, there’s been some solid jokes out there — let the bored intern have their fun. While this holiday is largely kid centric, we shouldn’t shame young kids for wanting to play a fun joke on someone. As long as the jokes or pranks you’re playing aren’t hurting someone, there shouldn’t be a problem with it. Just make sure you and the victim of your joke are safe and happy. So, go ahead and hide little plastic babies around, have a band follow your principal around school, confuse people a little — but still be sure to put a smile on their face. lying to people and making them feel awful; notable pranks include fake breakups, fake murders and fake kidnappings. Then the pranksters reveal that it’s a prank, as if that fact makes a lie not a lie or pain not pain. Those are the worst of pranks, though. The best of pranks are harmless and do nothing more than confuse and bemuse. In elementary school, I hid behind my kitchen counter and glued googly eyes to every item I could in the fridge. Pranks like this are harmless, and they bring a simple kind of joy to the world that we all want more of — but these kinds of pranks don’t happen on April Fool’s Day, and even when they do, they don’t have the intended effect. When something confusing happens on the first of April, you expect it. You wake up knowing it’s April Fool’s Day, so when Google announces a new invention or your mom brings you Oreos unexpectedly, you know the invention is just for PR and the Oreos are filled with toothpaste. These amusing, confusing pranks are normal and dismissed. April Fool’s Day is a bogus holiday filled with bogus pranks only done because of the date. To participate in the true spirit of pranks, do nothing on April 1, then surprise ‘em in July.

Dangers of Disordered Eating

opinion april 2022

design by harrison melton

healthy conversations with children about disordered eating is crucial The Tiger Print Staff acknowledges that the content in this article may elicit unwanted reactions from those struggling with eating disorders. Please read at your own discretion.

harrison melton |staff writer

ith countless articles about social media’s negative impact on self-image issues, society has begun to see how it has contributed to a decline in general mental health and positive self-image. This is especially prevalent in teenagers. Yet why are we singling out this age group? Why don’t we look at adults or children? Yes, teens are most affected by social media since they’ve grown up with it, but young children have too. I’ve seen boys who barely look 10 years old go to the gym frequently and flex their “muscles,” but what’s concerning is their reaction to their reflection. They follow it with a sigh, showing their unhappiness with their image. Children being worried with their appearance over the newest toy that has been released is concerning. They shouldn’t be attempting to conform to toxic standards set by and for fully developed adults. Beauty standards have been around forever, and in the U.S., they typically revolve around women being deathly skinny and men being overly masculine. Dating back to post-World War II, the standard for women was that hourglass shape that has reemerged in the past years. The Kardashians promoted this hard-to-obtain body through various products such as shapewear and weight loss pills, which are harmful and ineffective. On average, a child watches five hours of TV per day and spends about six to seven hours viewing various media. People like the Kardashians are prominent on social media and their content is easily accessible for children. To a young person, this body type might be viewed as normal, but due to social media’s superficiality, they don’t see the grueling process behind it.

Statistics

While it’s impossible to regulate how people portray themselves online, it’s important to expose the facades people put up regarding their personalities and appearances so children aren’t as affected. On top of this, many “influencers” are paid by companies to promote their products, including dieting programs and other health items. These people possibly push themselves to conform to these parameters set by their employer. While children don’t have the time and income to put toward their appearances, they sacrifice their own health to achieve quick results since they can’t see the time and effort that goes into healthily obtaining a certain look. Parents also fuel this desire to obtain the unattainable, usually seen through seemingly small remarks which aren’t necessarily so tiny. Comments such as, “There they go for seconds,” or “Wow, you’re really eating all that alone?” are harmful to a person who is growing up. They take that to heart and might subconsciously start eating less and less, to the point where an eating disorder forms. Not eating isn’t the only sign of a possible eating disorder, multiple epidemiological studies have estimated that 1% to 5% of adolescent girls meet the criteria for bulimia. The percentages may seem small at first glance, but when looked at relative to population, it’s concerning. This, coupled with excessive exercise, is extremely dangerous for one’s body, but especially in children these signs may be thrown to the side due to their age. People see these disorders forming and equate it to depression or just a “bad day,” but by discrediting their experience, they won’t be as inclined to have healthy conversation surrounding the topic. By acknowledging the self-image issues within a younger age range, we can open up a conversation about it and aid those who are struggling. They shouldn’t feel as though their problems are nonexistent because of the generation they’re associated with. Unfortunately, beauty standards aren’t going anywhere any time soon. Through sharing struggles we can gradually move toward a society where no one feels like they need to become another person but instead who they want to be.

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magazines are 2x as likely to have

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exercise program to lose weight.

Pediatrics

opinion april 2022

design by charlie trent

Cherish Lost Friendships appreciate merits of ex-friends

2 in 3

students say they have regretted a friendship

2 in 3

a poll of 2 04 responses

In the February issue, one of the members of the Tiger Print staff reminded me of an age-old phrase which was lost to the void of my subconscious: Friends are here for a reason, a season or a lifetime. Like many of you reading likely have as well, I’ve experienced a myriad of friendships throughout my lifetime, all of which have cycled in and out of closeness, some of which have ended in a sort of “friendship breakup.” Maybe it’s because I’m a teenage girl, more likely because I’m human, I have coped with losses of friendships in many ways — a few I’m proud of, a few not so much. We’ve all said hurtful words, which, similar to attempting to put toothpaste back into its tube after it’s been squeezed on the counter, is nearly impossible — always irrevocable. While after the dust has settled I have easily regretted the poison that has escaped my mouth, what I have never regretted was the fact that I was ever their friend in the first place. I have never ended a friendship for reasons I would consider futile — boys, being left out, etc. — because I truly invest myself once I form a close friendship with loyalty and compassion. Because of this, each friend I have held close to my heart throughout my life has provided inexplicable and immeasurable joy and value to my life. I will forever be thankful for the gift of their time which they have given me; after all, time, especially in adolescence, is limited. Memories I can one day pass on to my children, nieces or nephews cannot be soiled by what inevitably brought an end to the connection — no matter how ugly. Especially as a senior in my last quarter of high school and soon entering adulthood, I’ve found that the friendships I’ve lost along the way have fundamentally altered who I am as an individual and taught me important lessons about my values and morals. If this is the case, how could I ever feel sour or hold those who I’ve grown apart from in anything but the highest regard? Though the urge to spew upset and unhappiness toward past friends years after conflict is difficult, I

*ba sed on

charlie trent |editor-in-chief

urge you to consider the relativity of their negative traits when compared to their person as a whole. Of course there will always be time necessary for healing, but after the salt is cleared from the wound and the injury has been mended, remember that the doors which have been closed — or slammed — shut will always have been built upon the original love you once shared in your friendship. Furthermore, consider that the ending of friendships is not inherently bad, and that this connection may have expired in its service to both individuals, but not in its service of constructing the fabric of your identity.

students say they have regretted the way a friendship ended

opinion april 2022

design by charlie trent

| CARTOON BY CHARLEY THOMAS

Tardy Tracker won’t mitigate students’ late tendencies High school students are in the annual mid-year slump. Whether it be trying to keep up with rigorous courses, preparing for standardized tests or trying to balance other activities in the average teenager’s life, staying up late can sometimes be inevitable. However, staying up into the late hours of the night can lead to the dreaded realization that the missed 6 o’clock alarm is ringing, and a trip to the loathsome Tardy Tracker is in the near future. With the recent heavy enforcement of the tardy policy, students must be in the classroom ready to begin class activities when the final bell rings. The policy states that a teacher can determine the acceptability of excuses for being late, but with the increase of tardies and absences this year, there has been somewhat of a “zero tolerance” directed toward narrowly missing the bell. A rough start to the morning can only go downhill when sent to Tardy Tracker, which not only wastes time, but allows for students to settle down into their classes much later than they originally arrived — not to mention the outrageous lines streaming out of the Tardy Tracker room which can take on average 5 to 15 minutes for staff to provide each student with a tardy slip. These concerns and frustrations raise

questions on the overall effectiveness of sending barely late students to the Tardy Tracker. BV students can be sent to the Tardy Tracker for being seconds late for the bell, which contributes to a list of punishable offenses. Of course, being several minutes late to school may warrant a deserved tardy, if the cause was of the students own account. And yes, it is important to teach teenagers accountability, and that their actions have consequences, but continually punishing students will not effectually solve the problem. Kicking students while they’re down won’t fix the fact that most of the time there is a reasonable excuse for their tardiness. Early morning traffic going into the school is absurd — students who live 2-5 minutes away from the school may have to take an unexpected 15-20 minutes just to get to school. This isn’t including the ever present issue of parking. Simply finding a spot to park in the morning can be a matter of on-time or tardy. Underclassmen who have to park in the back lots must also walk an outrageous distance to get to school, and the struggle is only amplified when the weather is undesirable. Waiting in traffic for 10 minutes, then rushing to beat the bell already

puts students in a funk, which can be added to when being just a minute late to class turns into being 15 minutes late when they are surely issued a trip to the Tardy Tracker. Whether it be an inclination in weather, or a personal matter, the average student is bound to be a few minutes late to school sometimes. But how does punishing them with the Tardy Tracker benefit them? The current tardy policy that allows teachers to practice discretion with a simple verbal warning could save students the hassle and allow teachers to start class on time. Furthermore, teachers track student attendance on their Synergy accounts: what is the harm with using that software to track tardies, too? For “repeat offenders” or students who are continually tardy, planning a way for them to arrive on time to school has the potential to be much more effective than sending them to wait in the Tardy Tracker line. Being profoundly late to school in an avoidable circumstance is not acceptable. However, if the Tardy Tracker crackdown isn’t allowing students to self correct their behavior, it isn’t going to bring change for good that benefits students and staff alike.

This staff editorial is the representation of the opinion of The Tiger Print staff.