Feb 1 Spotlight 2017

SPOTLIGHT Volume 16, Issue 4 Feb. 1, 2017

Photo by Ryan Barrett

Blue Valley West High School 16200 Antioch Rd., Overland Park, Kan.

2 Contents

@bvwspotlight

CONTENTS

Senior Shilah Price helps to lead the knewly formed Black Student Union with senior Taiya Hickman. Read a profile of Price by contributor Jesse Hoffman on page 6.

Photo by Emily Haas

Pg.34

Photo by Mikaela Schmitt

Spirit Week is Feb. 6-10.

Spotlight staffers and other Jags help demonstrate possible outfits.

Pg. 6 On the cover

Jan. 20, 2017 marked the inaguaration of President Donald John Trump.

Senior Ryan Barrett obtained a press pass to the event and reported with the other journalists at 6 a.m. (after catching a train from New York at 4 a.m.). The early call was rewarded with the sunrise behind the capitol building.

Pg. 24

...more stories at BVWNews.com

Photo by Samantha Louis

The Diversity Assembly was full of speeches and performances.

Photographer junior Samantha Louis shares her gallery on pages 12 and 13. The assembly ended with the alma mater.

Pg.11 Photo by Ryan Barrett

Pg. 26

Piglets have an amazing cute factor. The CAPS veterinary program allows students to help raise a farrow of the little ones.

Learn more about the program from contributor, photographer and designer Kaylee Alexander.

Pg. 12

Pg.20

The Women’s March on Jan. 21 was attended by men and women alike in most of the world’s major cities. See more photos from the march in New York in our center pages.

Contents 3

Tomorrow night is the first performance of the musical All Shook Up.

Photo by Mikaela Schmitt

Pg. 18 The array of competitive sports that occur outside school is staggering.

Read profiles of several Jags that dedicate hours to activities with little recognition.

Photo courtesy Claire Price

4 Masthead

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Editor’s Note

ODAY, WE ARE LIVING IN A NEW WORLD. It is a new year, and we have a new president.

As the Spotlight staff worked on this issue, we reflected on what divides people and what unites people.

There was one thing I found that applies to both sides: truth. Over my time on the newspaper staff, I’ve learned to think differently, I’ve learned to think like a journalist. On day one, we learned the importance of correct facts and checking our bias.

I want to encourage you to think like a journalist.

It is so easy to accept what we are told without question, but I urge you get out of your comfort zone. Ask the tough questions. Seek the truth. Don’t fall victim to media echo chambers.

BV West has worked hard to make us engaged and critical thinkers, and now it is our job as students to apply that learning. We have to use the skills we’ve learned to navigate the today’s new, complex world.

Until next issue,

Leah Zimmerli Editor in Chief

Live Music Fri & Sat.

Nightly Specials 135th & Metcalf Ave. Overland Park, KS 66223 913-681-8313

HOME OF BOOGA MANIA

Spotlight is printed at least six times per school year for the BV West students and community. Its goals are to inform, entertain and interpret through editorials and bylined articles while providing an open forum of communication for the diverse student population and faculty members.

Spotlight aims to be fair, accurate and impartial. The content of the print publication, online new site and social media accounts is determined by its student editors as determined by the Kansas Scholastic Press Act and may contain controversial subject matter as the staff exercises their First Amendment Rights.

Spotlight does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the faculty adviser, the administration of BV West or USD 229.

spotlight staff Leah Zimmerli Editor in Chief Shaye Herman and Mikaela Schmitt Managing Editors Ryan Barrett Photo Editor Kaylee Alexander, Jack Anstine, John Byrket, Kristina Cripe, Jaden Dudrey, Liz Hernandez, Jesse Hoffman, Hannah Holladay, Stephen Kinder, Jonah Park, Rachel Pickett, Lanie Render, Sydney Schranz, Nick Sisler, Rachel Zimmerli Contributors

Washington D.C.

Republican Donald J. Trump was inaugurated as the 45th President of the United States on January 20, 2017. Also taking the oath of office as Vice President was Mike Pence. The traditional ceremony ran smoothly, attended by approximately 160,000 people.

more stories at BVWNews.com

BTB 5

Wall Street

The Dow Jones industrial average has hit 20,000. At an all-time high, the Dow is a stock gauge made up of 30 of America’s bestknown blue-chip companies. While the climb is significant, the number 20,000 specifically has no overwhelming effect on the economy.

Photos by Ryan Barrett

Bey nd the Bubble Mikaela Schmitt Managing Editor

Important stories taking place beyond Johnson County’s borders

La Jolla, California

Dominican Republic

Kansas City Royal’s pitcher Yordano Ventura was killed in a car wreck Saturday, Jan. 21 at 25. He was a native of the Dominican Republic. Fans gathered outside of Kauffman Stadium to pay tribute to the player and the team.

Ventura was honored with a special tribute at Royals FanFest Jan. 27 and 28 at Bartle Hall in downtown Kansas City.

Royals players will wear patches during the upcoming season that have the number 30 and the word ACE embroidered on the sleeve.

A lab created a part-human, part-big embryo.

DNA editing tools were used to delete pig genes corresponding to certain organs, like the heart. Human stem cells were injected into the embryos to fill the gaps. This achievement reveals more about how human cells develop and brings scientists a step closer to growing entire human organs for transplant.

Photos used with permission from Tribune News Service.

6 Student Profile

@bvwspotlight

humans of bv west

Jack Anstine, Jesse Hoffman Contributors

Photo courtesy of Shilah Price

Senior Shilah Price promotes diversity at BV West

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VERY SCHOOL DAY 1,500 PEOPLE come together at BV West for the sake of learning.

The staff members and students at school are connected through the community, but within that community each individual has a different walk of life and their own unique point of view. One BV West student that has spent her time at school working to promote diversity is senior Shilah Price.

Price teamed up with Taiya Hickman at the beginning of the school year in order to create the first Black Student Union in the Blue Valley School District.

BSU is a club that works to better the black community and provide a support system to students.

“Taiya brought the idea to me and suggested that we should make the club,” Price said. “We knew that we needed a way to gather people and help them be more informed.“ Through BSU, students have come together to serve the community, participate in group trips, and participate in club lessons. Although the club is new it has been a success.

“I am so proud of every student that joined because they’ve all given their input in different ways,” Price said. “Our meetings are crazy sometimes but they are productive and we get a lot done.”

One success that the club has accomplished is their fundraising efforts at the school carnival.

“At first people were putting me off as a joke and that was something that was hard for me because I’ve kind of put my all into this,” Price said. “But we raised a lot of money compared to other clubs, it was really shocking because BSU was a new club.”

Despite the success that the Black Student Union has had, Price continues to seek out more members to join.

“Right now we have 25 members but we’re always looking for more people,” Price said. “The club is not just for black people, it’s for everyone.”

Price has also helped promote diversity at BV West by being a member of the Diversity Leadership Council and occasionally working with the Gender and Sexuality Alliance.

“The ultimate goal of these clubs is to show that we are

more stories at BVWNews.com different and we are here,” Price said. “We want to help out each other and build our confidence, not be put, down, but build each other up.”

Price has also compiled accomplishments from other activities as well such as track, color guard, choir, CAPS, and Tri-M, a music honor society where musicians from West come together to work on musical projects and community service.

“It’s actually really hard to fit it all into my schedule,” Price said. “I’m always busy.”

Out of all of the activities that keep Price occupied, color guard has had the largest impact on her, aside from BSU. After learning that her aunt had developed pancreatic cancer, Price turned to color guard as a way to cope with the loss of her aunt.

“Going into guard, I am able to forget everything and put my love and passion into the sport,” Price said.

“It has got me through a lot of problems.”

After her first guard competition, Price was chosen to represent Blue Valley West’s Silver guard at a captain’s retreat.

Price has stayed connected to her community through the many activities that she is involved with, however, she is also proactive in ensuring her success after highschool as well. Next year Price plans to pursue an Architectural Engineering degree at the University of Kansas. In order to get a head start on her major price began studying engineering through the CAPS program.

Photo by Emily Haas

Feature 7

“I’ve learned a lot from CAPS,” Price said. “It has taught me to be independent and it helped me with my public speaking skills.”

However, Price has also come to the realization that both in and outside of her major, prejudice continues to exist.

“I know personally it is actually hard being a black individual, especially with my interest in engineering,” Price said. “Going to different places it’s hard because you get certain looks from others, and people doubt you.”

It is this kind of mindset that motivates Price to teach her peers the benefits that diversity has to offer.

“My ultimate goal is to support and inform everyone and better the community,” Price said.

By helping to create BSU, Price has given the students at BV West a safe space that encourages students to embrace what sets them apart.

“To me diversity means that everyone is different, but we are all alike in some ways,” Price said.

Clubs like the Black Student Union and Diversity Leadership Council exist in order to teach students that no matter how different two people are, they can still find common ground and respect one another for what sets them apart.

Through all of her hard work Shilah Price has left her mark on BV West, and encourages students to follow in her footsteps and stand up for what they believe in.

Photo by Samantha Louis

8 Feature

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power hour?

Administration explores a new schedule opportunity for the future of BV West.

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V WEST HAS BEEN UNIQUE from the four other Blue Valley high schools because of block scheduling for many years. Now, another factor sets our school schedule apart: a lack of Power Hour. Taking inspiration from a Florida school, other Blue Valley high schools implemented Power Hour for primarily academic purposes.

“They have no time built into their school day at all where they can get help from their teachers,” principal Dr. Potts said.

With a weekly opportunity at BV West to get help during JAG, the administration decided further exploration was needed before considering to add Power Hour to our unique schedule.

“They [other Blue Valley schools] just stop in the middle of the day–there are no classes going

Task force 2018-

A committee of teachers (inclusive of all departments) who are exploring potential scheduling changes for the future of BV West, including, but not limited to, Power Hour. Includes Lauren Garcia, Brian Brutto, Ann Dark, Anna Dunn, Heather Hall, Mallory Huseman, Anne Kastelic, Brian Kroeker, Cheryl Lee, Paige Waldorf, and Quinn White.

on–and for one hour, the students have the ability to go around the building and eat lunch and get help,” Potts said. “Half the staff, during that time frame, is available to assist students while the other half eats lunch, and it switches off.”

While JAG is focused solely on academic help, Power Hour would function quite differently. Students would not be tethered to a home classroom, instead they could work anywhere in the school or visit teachers for as long as they choose.

The time has many purposes, allowing each student to benefit from the time uniquely.

“The idea behind Power Hour is three-fold,” said Lauren Garcia, social studies teacher and member of Task Force 2018, a committee of teachers exploring scheduling options. “A reason would be to find more time to meet for various organizations. Our students are so highly involved it’s hard to find minutes. Not only could you meet after school, but certain organizations could meet for thirty minutes during Power Hour time.

The second idea behind power hour is to provide a layer of academic intervention.”

While how the day is scheduled is still undecided, Power Hour would fall during lunch. The hour in the middle of the day would provide a break from the academic activities, allowing students to relax and collect themselves before continuing on their rigorous schedules.

“That’s another reason for us to look at that,” Potts said. “I’m worried about the stress levels of a

Mikaela Schmitt Managing Editor

Power Hour- A term

from a Florida high school, in which an hour of free activity is provided to eat lunch, get academic help and decompress. Also known as Tiger Pause at Blue Valley, Huskey Halftime at BV Northwest, and Temper Time at BV Southwest.

lot of our students. If Power Hour is not the answer, then I think that’s one of the things we need to look at as a system, is how we can support students academically, but also emotionally and stress-wise.”

BV West is exploring Power Hour as a solution to this problem based on positive feedback from other Blue Valley schools. Students have embraced the new time in their day, enjoying all potential benefits that the hour has to offer.

“I love Power Hour,” Blue Valley junior Ally Mosby said. “I have a lot of activities after school as well as challenging courses, so it’s a great way for me to catch up on homework from the night before or just to breathe in between hours of taking notes. It’s also a great way for me to talk to my friends, which sounds really cliche, but when you have an hour you can really have good conversations.”

A

DMINISTRATION is working hard to consider the opinions of the staff and students to respect their wishes when deciding on a potential schedule. It has become clear that the BV West community is opposed to eliminating block schedule. Other Blue Valley schools only have block schedule on Wednesday and Thursday, with allblock Monday, Tuesday and Friday.

more stories at BVWNews.com Our unique schedule has created a positive stigma around block scheduling, and many students and teachers do not want to lose the opportunities of longer classes.

“There is definitely a very strong acknowledgment that the students and staff of Blue Valley West really enjoy block scheduling, so that is a pretty large priority to maintain,” Garcia said.

All other Blue Valley Schools have transitioned to identical Power Hour schedules, yet BV West is waiting to implement it. Our unique schedule creates problems when deciding what it could become.

“The Tuesday problem: On Tuesday and Thursday, there are only three classes, Monday and Wednesday we have four classes,” Potts said. “Well, Monday is just as long as Tuesday, so what happens in that fourth block on Tuesday?

Now, we fill that block with JAG. But if we add Power Hour, we have block two, four, six, Power Hour, and then JAG.” Worry arises that students will not stay motivated for 2 hours of work time in one day, whether it is before sixth block or before JAG. Another problem occurs when considering the hidden logistics and planning behind the new time.

“There’s some things we have to iron out that kids don’t think about.” Potts said. “If we open up this entire school for an hour during lunch, how do we supervise all the nooks and crannies? We want to make sure these kids aren’t in danger. How do we even get lunch served? How do we keep the building clean? How do we keep people safe? How do we structure it so that teachers have the ability to help kids at the level we want them to help them? There’s all sorts of

logistical issues that we have to work through.”

Potts has communicated with the staff through surveys, and has brought both staff and students to observe other schools’ Power Hours. Once a more concrete idea of scheduling and structure is developed, administration hopes to present it to the students to receive feedback. One certainty regarding the scheduling is that Advisory, and the Jag Mentor program, is here to stay.

“They see it as a way to support students, and we can provide more diverse learning opportunities to students.” Potts said.

“That’s why these conversations are happening.”

“Advisory isn’t going away anytime soon,” Potts said. “It serves an important role. The other schools have worked Advisory into their Wednesday or Thursday Power Hour schedules. I don’t see a schedule without some place where we could do what Advisory does.”

There is still vast amounts of planning to be done, despite the countless meetings with the Administration, Task Force 2018 and the teachers. Potts hopes to have an idea to present to the student body by the spring. The feedback would help determine whether the school will move forward with exploring this idea further and when it could potentially become implemented.

Feature 9

“I

THINK it’s real important for us as a school to not just sit and do things the way we’ve always done them because we’ve been pretty good. The world that you’re going to be faced with as a student going off to college is a very different world than whatever I faced when I was eighteen. And the skills that you’re going to need to navigate a long career and a healthy, happy life are a little bit more complex than the people in my generation needed, but we’re educating students largely in the same way.

And that’s not our teacher’s fault, it’s the structure that we’re in. I think that we would be doing you a disservice if we weren’t constantly trying to find ways to get better.”

Power Hour became introduced to the school for this reason. While the unique JAG structure has worked effectively for our students, the staff would like to strive for the best opportunities for the students at all times.

“One of the things you can do is you can start messing with time and seeing if there’s ways to provide support to students so that they can stretch themselves and push themselves when they couldn’t before.” Potts said. “That’s why our teachers are interested in this, they see it as a way to support students, and we can provide more diverse learning opportunities to students. That’s why these conversations are happening. It would have been easier for me to just reject Power Hour and not even bring it to our community, because we’re fine as we are, but we have to constantly push and look and see and figure out how we can get better.”

*Power Hour is not a guarantee to occur, simply an option administration is exploring.*

10 News

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potts takes the floor

Dr. Potts answers questions posed by the student body What was the reasoning behind the policy requiring students to sign out to use the restroom?

There was an increasing number of safety issues in some of the bathrooms as well as some vandalism and inappropriate and unacceptable activities taking place in them. When attempting to monitor the situation, it became evident that there was a lot more bathroom traffic during class than we realized, which makes it difficult to effectively deal with the problem. Having students sign in and out to use the restroom or leave class for other reasons still gives the student the privilege of leaving class, but it also gives us the ability to keep track of who was in the hall at any given moment.

While this is a minor inconvenience for students wishing to leave class, it has curtailed much of the inappropriate activity in the bathroom and hallways. Most schools have a sign-in and sign-out procedure. This is not unique to BVW.

What do you like about being an administrator as opposed to being a teacher?

I miss teaching. As an administrator it is much more difficult to develop close relationships with students. I also loved being directly involved in the teaching and learning process. It was a ton of fun and very rewarding. Being an administrator is also fun and rewarding but just in a different way.

I learn something new every day. No two days are the same. I enjoy solving complex problems, especially if it helps a student or a staff member. I get a lot of satisfaction from helping large numbers of students in a variety of ways. I also enjoy working with teachers and staff to create a positive learning environment.

What’s your favorite part about West?

Easy question. The people. The students and staff.

The FAMILY.

Why do you love grit so much?

Because it is so important. I want every student at BVW to excel at whatever they choose to do in high school and beyond. This cannot be accomplished without overcoming obstacles and using challenges and set-backs as learning opportunities. If we can instill a little grit in all of grads, they have a much better chance for success. See the article at the following link. http://www.kansascity.com/news/ local/article124103059.html

Who’s involved in making school-wide policy decisions?

Mrs. Miller makes all policy decisions…. Okay, just kidding. It depends on the policy and the type of decision being made. Sometimes policies are made for us by the district office or by the board of education. Sometimes after much consideration, I will make a decision unilaterally. If it is a bigger issue, I’ll involve our leadership team which includes teachers from every department and the administrative team. A lot of times, we will create a committee or taskforce to solve a problem or gather information that leads to a policy decision.

If possible, we will involve students in the decision making process. Policy decisions are not typically made in a vacuum.

You’ve been the principal for the class of 2017 since they were in 7th grade.

Do you have any advice for their transition to college?

I was the principal for about half of the class of 2017. I have lots of advice for all of them. I’ll share that as graduation approaches. Right now my advice would be to FINISH STRONG!

Dr. Potts has an open-door policy and is always welcome to questions from students.

more stories at BVWNews.com Musical 11

Can’t Help Falling in Love with our Theatre Department

Mikaela Schmitt Managing Editor

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Theater produces winter musical, All Shook Up

ASED OFF OF SHAKESPEARE’S PLAY, Twelfth Night, twisting love plots are told through Elvis music. The fun, upbeat musical tells the story of Natalie (Haley Bates), stuck in a small town hopelessly looking for love. Roustabout Chad (Zane Champie) comes in, mixing up the whole town. As Mayor Matilda (Jessica Baker) tries to control the conservative town, teenagers and adults go about looking for love. As love interest clashes, the show celebrates the beauty of love.

Rehearsals began Dec. 5, continuing until the show on Feb. 2-4. The 63 actors, as well as many tech members, spent countless hours working hard together, building relationships through the art of theater.

who?

Chad… Zane Champie Natalie… Haley Bates

Jan. 2, 3, 4.

7:00 p.m.

Dennis… Charlie Meacham Miss Sandra… Megan Curry Dean… Jeremy Kline Lorraine… Jentry Muck Jim… Robbie Foley Sylvia… Emily Sulentic Earl… Alex Jashinski Mayor Matilda… Jessica Baker

Photos by Mikaela Schmitt

when? where? Tickets?

BV West PAC

$8 online or at the door.

12 Feature

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countless cultures

Jonah Park Samantha Louis Contributor and Photographer

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RIDAY, JAN. 27 THE DIVERSITY LEADERSHIP Council held the annual Diversity Assembly to celebrate different cultures of the world. The assembly was almost entirely student-run, with some help from counselor Kim Urenda. The clubspent most of First Semester preparing and practicing.

Urenda was succinct about the purpose of the event.

“Bringing awareness to our diversity and celebrate it,” Urenda said.

The assembly was important to the student performers as it was to Urenda. Senior Anusha Jiwani, a member of the Bali dancers shared her philosophy regarding diversity.

“Diversity enhances social development,” Jiwani said.

“Diversity prepares students for future career success. In order to be successful, one has to learn to accept differences and the ability to relate to people from different cultural backgrounds.”

minority students by grade freshmen

97 of 391

24.8%

sophomores

113 of 416

27.1%

juniors

76 of 370

20.5%

Seniors

65 of 347

18.7%

...more stories can be found at BVWnews.com Feature 13

Diversity Assembly Participants Nadia Alam Ahagha Anantharaman Anagha Anantharaman Meera Aravnith Rebecca Bachmuth Madison Barker Catherine Bird Rami Bizal Jinia Chakraborty Lili Chen Kalea Chu Ria Dave Yasmin Edrees Cameron Gardner Samhita Harohalli Taiya Hickman Syed Hussain Treaux Jackson Bran Jackson Yasmin Jarik Sundus Javed Anusha Jiwani

Sara Jiwani Eric Karney Aroog Khaliq Neeha Kothapalli Katherine Krishna George Leondedis Maddy A. Lewis April Ma SyedaMahnoor Maddie Merrill Meghana Poranki Shilah Price Simmi Rana Rachana Sangem Brenda Situ Tim Sun Luch Sun Archana Sundar Ishana Tata Julia Turner Kevin Varghese Andy Zhang

14 Opinion

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Putting the “me” in media

Jack Anstine Contributor

Minorities remain underrepresented despite recent strides

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ANY AMERICANS SPEND HOURS INVESTED in entertainment media each week, filling their downtime voids with television, movies and more. While media is often fictional, it holds the ability to change the way that Americans interact with those around them. Media is such a prevalent part of American society, it is crucial that it represents all Americans. Diversity in the media is on the rise, yet minorities continue to be underrepresented.

In recent years, media outlets have increased efforts to include more diverse casts that reflect American society. According to GLAAD, a media monitoring organization, broadcast representation of people of color has increased by 13% since 2014. This recent rise in diversity is relevant and has had an influence on the American public.

Disney’s 2016 princess movie “Moana” not only features Polynesian characters, but also showcases the culture and ideologies of the Polynesian people.

Disney created a movie that was relatable to many who do not typically see their heritage portrayed in mainstream media, and introduced the viewing public to a culture that they may not be familiar with.

There are many other movies released in 2016 that included diverse casts, such as “Star Wars: Rogue One,” “Suicide Squad” and “Race.” The representation of people of color in films and on television is critical because it provides characters that they can relate to for those who typically do not see members of their race portrayed in the media, and because it helps to do away with predetermined stereotypes and prejudices that people hold.

However, despite the progress that Hollywood has made in recent years, it is not enough.

People of color continue to be underrepresented in the

media, regardless of the gradual growth of diversity in Hollywood.

According to the Annenberg report on diversity in entertainment, 71.7% of characters that appeared in media throughout 2016 were white, while the other 28.3% were racial minorities.

The low number of minorities represented in the media proves to be a stubborn issue. “White washing,” which is the act of casting white actors as people of color, makes it difficult for people of color to find jobs in Hollywood, and out of the available roles, many are stereotyped on the basis of race.

It is not only people of color who are underrepresented in the media, women also face challenges in the entertainment industry.

In fact, according to Annenberg’s statistics, only 10.8% of film writers in 2016 were female. As a result many Hollywood films lose the perspective that female writers could provide.

As a result of the predominantly male input that dominates American media, female characters are more sexualized than their male counterparts. Annenberg’s diversity report shows that in 2016, 34.3% of women in the media wore sexually revealing clothing, while only 7.6% of men wore similar costumes. When women are widely sexualized in the media it begins to cross the line of objectification, and normalizes the portrayal of women as sex objects. Hollywood’s depiction of women also alters beauty standards and promotes the idea that women must change their appearance in order to appeal to men.

It is crucial for all members of American society to have those that represent their culture portrayed in the media. Diversifying the entertainment industry American culture as a whole would be one step closer to doing away with preconcieved prejudices of minorities. Hollywood is already on the right track to bringing justice to the media.

If it increases its efforts it can make America a better place for everyone who calls the nation home.

more stories at BVWNews.com

News

Diversity takes the stage

A closer look at the minorities who have been nominated for an Oscar during the 89th Academy Awards

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Jack Anstine Contributor

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15

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Permission to use photos from Tribune News Service

16 Feature

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Considering the next step Athletes discuss committing to play in college Contributor Jonah Park

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OLLEGE ATHLETICS PROVIDE MANY OPPORTUNITIES to student athletes, but the discipline required to play on the next level is unparalleled. Many factors go into choosing the right team, and some students ponder whether or not they wish to play college sports at all.

Several student-athletes have already committed to a university’s athletic program. Senior Peyton Uhlenhake committed to play volleyball at Arkansas State. Several important factors went into her selection.

“I was looking for a school and volleyball program where I could feel at home,” Uhlenhake said. “A-State had that exact feeling. Being six hours away from my family, I felt the need to have a place and people I could enjoy my time with and lean on for support if need be.”

Looking for a college with the right team can be stressful, especially when there are thousands of different universities in the country. Senior Taiya Hickman, who committed to Ottawa University for track and field, saw her choice become clear with time.

“At first it was a little bit stressful picking a college in my case,” Hickman said. “I had so many colleges to choose from. Once I decided what I did and didn’t want in a college, I was able to narrow it down. Then it was fun. Once I was offered a track scholarship, that really sealed the deal. For my track and field scholarship, I will be specializing in Triple Jump and Long Jump.

These are my favorite events so for the next four years I will love what I am doing athletically.”

The importance of the decision weights heavy because it determines the course of a student’s education for the next four years. For most people, looking for a college can be overwhelming, but once the choices are narrowed down, the process becomes worthwhile.

“Choosing the right college is so important,” Uhlenhake said. “You need to find a place where you feel you can spend the next four-plus years of your life.

Nov. 15, 2016 five seniors committed to participate in their sports in college. Brynne Stockman, Rachel Kauss, Peyton Uhlenhake, Taiya Hickman and Madison Lilley posed after the ceremony. Photo by Hannah Fisher

For me finding the right college meant finding a place I could excel academically and work hard for a spot on the volleyball court. I needed a place that gave athletes great academic support systems due to our busy schedules.”

Some student-athletes, like senior Jonathan Lacey, are still in the midst of the college visiting process. Like Uhlenhake and Hickman, Lacey is taking many factors into consideration to form his decision. “[Some factors are] how good the football team is there and if they have a strong program in the business field and the location of the school,” Lacey said. “These factors are important because wherever I go, I will be there for four years, so I have to make sure it’s a good fit for me and what I want to do in the future.”

These three athletes are planning to play different sports in college and major in different fields, but all are considering their future as a part of the decisionmaking process. Academically and athletically, they are making sure they are content with their college choice to ensure they get the best possible opportunities. For any other student-athletes planning on taking their sport to the next level, Uhlenhake offered some advice.

“Reach out to colleges first,” Uhlenhake said. “If you aren’t getting a lot of interest from schools, don’t be afraid. Create a form email to send to the coaches at colleges you are interested in and think would fit you best. College coaches recruit kids from all over, they may just not have had the chance to see you yet, so make the first contact.”

Hickman also offered some worthy advice to the onthe-fence student athlete.

“If you’re considering being a student-athlete in college,” Hickman said, “make sure the sport is something you genuinely love to do and want to participate in for four years. Also, it’s important to find the balance between sports and academics and put 110% into both.”

more stories at BVWNews.com

Off the west fields

Sports 17

Hannah Holiday Contributor

Profiling athletes who participate in unique sports outside of school

carly woodard Gymnastics

peyton roy Hockey

How do you train for hockey?

“I have three practices a week for an hour, plus I have a hockey net and shooting range in my garage so that I can work from home.”

Do you compete? What awards have you earned?

“I play in the Midwest Hockey League, so we travel to Iowa and Nebraska almost every weekend for games.

My team has won the St. Louis League Championship twice. We [also] went to Tier-II Nationals in Charlotte, N.C. last year and took third place in our division.”

What’s your favorite memory?

“My favorite memory was when my team got to go to Nationals last year. We got treated like VIP’s. It was really cool and the rink was very nice as well.”

What do you love most about playing hockey?

“The thing I love most about hockey is how fast-paced it is and the physicality. I don’t like being able to stand around for long periods of time and in hockey there is no time for standing around.”

How did you get your start in gymnastics?

“I got involved in recreational classes when I was about 18 months old because I was an energetic child and my parents wanted me to run my energy out, so they put me in classes. I have been competing for about 11 years, but was in rec classes before, so [I have done gymnastics for] a total of 16 years.”

How do you train?

“I train about 23 to 25 hours a week at a gym that’s about an hour away. We practice every day after school except Fridays, and we also have Saturday morning practices.”

What do you love most about gymnastics?

“What I love most about gymnastics would be competing and the way it feels to have worked so hard for something day in and day out finally come through and competing it perfectly. I also love the relationships that I’ve made in the gym. All those girls are practically my sisters and my coaches are like a second set of parents.”

What makes gymnastics unique?

“It is a sport that you have to dedicate your life to.

I have had to leave school early since 6th grade, go straight to the gym and then get home about 8:30 p.m. or 9 p.m. every night. But, what you get out of the sport is worth the dances, school events, and spring breaks missed. It’s memories and lessons that last a lifetime.”

18 Sports

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holly arend Figure Skating

Clare Price Horseback riding

What is your sport like?

“I ride horses, but more specifically do something called eventing. In a nutshell, the competitions are two to three days long and consist of Dressage (the goal is to look pretty while following a pattern in a large rectangle), Cross Country (jumping logs and fun stuff like that, this one is timed) and Stadium (this is the one where the horses jump the colored poles).”

What do you love most about horseback riding?

“I love so many things about riding, it’s hard to count.

When you do this, you need to be driven I think.

It involves a lot of sacrifices because of the time commitment, but at the end of the day my horse is one of my best friends. The trust and relationship needed is a really unique thing, [and] I wouldn’t give it up for anything. I also get the chance to do some pretty neat things. For example, I’ve met and ridden with a few Olympic riders! It’s also pretty dope that I get to get on the back of an animal that runs around on its toenails and jumps over things.”

How do you train?

“I train by having days dedicated to certain skills in the figure skating world. Mondays are usually [edges and turns] days where I decide to work on improving my Moves in the Field, Wednesdays are for jumps, so I’ll work on the jumping scale starting from waltz jumps to double salchows [and] lastly Saturdays are spins days when I work on the spins challenge from scratch spins to flying sit spins. I usually train one to three days during mid-Sept. to around the end of Feb. for around one to two hours. I skate four to seven days a week starting in March all the way up to Sept. for three to four hours.”

Do you plan on continuing to skate after you graduate?

“I [do], in hopes [that] I could one day coach and spread the passion of the sport with others.”

How did you get your start in figure skating?

“I got involved in figure skating through my cousin.

She was a synchronized figure skater on the national team in Canada. After watching her for a number of years, I decided to start skating at the age of nine and have been competing ever since.”

What is your favorite memory?

“My favorite memory about figure skating would be when i was able to travel with my amazing showcase team to Ohio and compete with them. They’re an amazing support group and always cheered me on. It was also super fun to cheer our coach and best friend on to win Junior National Champion and runner up in the adult division.”

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Sports 19

david foltz Lacrosse

roshini thirumalai Taekwondo

How did you get involved with taekwondo?

“I got involved in this sport about nine years ago in 2009. I wasn’t really doing any sport other than tennis and I had extra time then (a concept now foreign to me) and decided to fill some of it up with taekwondo.”

How do you train?

“Usually classes are about an hour, and I [take] the advanced class, then on some days I instruct and then afterwards train for maybe an hour [or so] in preparation for any demo team performances or tournaments that come up. So [I train] maybe 8 [or so] hours a week.”

What is your favorite memory?

“My favorite story is probably from my first tournament, I was very very nervous and relatively new to the sport and was supposed to compete with my form. I honestly don’t even remember performing, but I remember somehow being able to place first in my division. I think that’s when I decided to keep going with the sport and not immediately give up.”

What do you love most about taekwondo?

“I love that it’s very individualized and that it also encourages focus and determination. It’s also a good way to get out pent up stress from the week.”

Do you compete against other athletes?

“We play against a bunch of different schools like Olathe East, Shawnee Mission East, and Rockhurst, [who] are our biggest competition.”

What do you love most about lacrosse? “[The] best thing about lacrosse is the brotherhood that is formed between the players and coaches. I’ve been playing with the same kids for many years and we’ve bonded more and more every year.”

What awards have you earned?

“We got second in state last year against Shawnee Mission East, but our greatest achievement is beating Rockhurst, [one of] our biggest [rivals].”

What is your favorite memory?

“My favorite memory happened last year. Going to state for the first time and that experience has better prepared me for this year and [has made] me want to hoist the trophy.”

Do you plan on continuing to play lacrosse after you graduate?

“I’m going to Benedictine College to play on their their team next year with a scholarship.”

Jan. 20, 2017, Inauguration Day, saw the swearing in of Republican Donald Trump. Trump won 306 Electoral College votes to Democrat Hillary Clinton’s 227.

The campaigns and debates leading up to Election Day, Nov. 8, 2016, were contentious. Stark contrasts existed between the two candidates. Trump’s platform included curtailing immigration, dismantling the Affordable Care Act, increasing the military, giving tax incentives to businesses and eleminating abortion.

Clinton’s platform including continuing the ACA, tax breaks to the middle class, protecting womens’ rights and the environment. Cities around the world saw large rallies for Clinton’s agenda on Jan. 21, including New York, Kansas City and Topeka. The popular vote favored the Democrat by almost 3 million votes.

( Less than )

PEACEFUL

TRANSITION OF

POWER

Photos by Ryan Barrett

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To BEE or not to BEE? Bees and their Importance; why are they disappearing?

Stephen Kinder Contributor

A

CCORDING TO ALL KNOWN LAWS OF AVIATION, there is no way a bee should be able to fly. Beecause of memes, nature and science, bees are one of the most recognizable insects in the whole world.

Despite their small size, bees are one of the most important insects for survival, because they provide pollination for all plants, which provides food for animals. Unfortunately for bees and animals alike, the numbers of bees are currently declining. Ever since 1990, scientists have seen a large downtrend in bee colonies. While the reason for this is unknown, scientists can guess.

Intensive Bee-Farming: Farmers need bees, but bees do not need farmers when it comes

to the farming industry. Farmers often buy and ship bees to their farms to get more pollination on their plants, and this causes a lot of stress and collapse in bee colonies. People that sell bee colonies ship bees around the world, which come with different bacteria and fungi that cause a colony break down. In addition, bees that are shipped to different countries are exposed to different environments, which cause stress to the bees.

Fast Fact: 10 Million bee hives have been lost in the decline of bees.

Pesticides: There are downsides to having clean and bug free fruit at stores. Pesticides

which kill all bugs on fruit kill bees as well. Some pesticides are too intense, and it causes unintended consequences; like death of bees. Pesticides also hurt bees in an indirect way by not allowing them to get their nectar from flowers.

Fast Fact: Honey Bees are not native to the United States, they were imported from Europe.

Industries: Industries that destroy the environment for more buildings and businesses cause the destruction of bee nesting sites and habitats, which is a prime reason for a loss of bees. Even industrial practices such as watering or tilling land can destroy nesting sites of bees.

Fast Fact: Europe has banned some pesticides in hope that bees will stop dying. The Us has yet to do the same.

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The buzz about bees More information on our buzzing friends

News

John Byrket Contributor

There are three types of bees in the hive – Queen, Worker and Drone.

Honeybees are the only insect that produce food for humans.

There are about 20,000 different species of bees in the world They’re natures most economic builders.

Honey is 80% sugars and 20% water.

Killer bees have been known to chase people for over a 1/4 mile once they get excited and aggressive.

Honey bees’ wings stroke 11,400 times per minute, thus making their distinctive buzz

Bees see all colors except the color red.

The bee’s brain is oval in shape and only about the size of a sesame seed

23

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the veganning of something great My Three Week Venture into Veganism Kaylee Alexander Contributor

W

HAT DOES BEING VEGAN EVEN mean?

With all the crazy diets going on right now it’s hard to keep them straight. Veganism means not consuming or buying any animal products whatsoever. Yep, that’s no meat, dairy, leather products, and literally anything that had to do with an animal.

Why do people do it? There are an assortment of reasons why individuals become vegan. They mainly include health reasons and animal rights.

Becoming vegan can be beneficial to certain health problems because of its generally low saturated fat levels and high nutrient and vitamin levels.

Obesity, diabetes, cancer, and heart disease can all benefit from plant-based eating. Also, many don’t realize how the dairy industry hurts animal welfare. It’s just milking cow right? But it’s not that simple. A common misconception is that cows produce milk even when they aren’t pregnant. This isn’t true, the dairy farmers will inseminate female cows and have them milked for about six months after giving birth. The cows are then given two months to recover, then inseminated once again. This practice is not only bad for the mother’s health, but also creates a surplus of calves, fueling the veal industry.

Recently in pop culture it has become a trend

for celebrities to go vegan for a couple weeks.

People like Beyoncé and Jay-Z have advocated for the challenge. The past three weeks I took one from Beyoncé’s book and went to a completely vegan diet. While I am already a vegetarian, I relied heavily on cheese and other dairy products to make up for lost flavor in my meals. Saying that it was a challenge is an understatement. Giving up my beloved mac-and-cheese was really difficult, but well worth it. Turning to more plant-based meals gave me a lot of energy and made me feel much healthier. The key for me was having things already made for an easy, quick meal when I was too lazy to cook. Also, Chipotle was a go-to for my three week endeavor.

I found living in Kansas was a hardship when it comes to getting vegan food at a restaurant. If something doesn’t have meat, it’s usually covered in butter or cheese. In other areas where this diet is more popular, vegans have a lot more options for going out for food. While trying this diet was a great experience and encouraged me to try a lot of different foods, I decided to stop at three weeks.

I truly recommend everyone to at least try this challenge. It’s difficult, but it is only three weeks.

You can do at least that right? And who knows, maybe you’ll like it.

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Feature 25

Backyard Bunnies The Ins and Outs of Raising Rabbits for Meat Kaylee Alexander Contributor

D

O YOU EVER WONDER WHERE your meat comes from? Mrs. Smalley was tired of guessing and took matters into her own hands.

She started raising bunnies in her backyard for meat. This practice has, understandably, sparked a lot of questions. Smalley wants to clear some things up. She says, “I think people don’t know what to think, or they wonder why I wouldn’t just pay someone else to do “the dirty work” of raising and processing meat for my consumption.”

So, to answer these questions, Smalley says, “I chose to raise my own meat because after being a vegetarian, which I was for a year, it is the easiest way to personally ensure humane treatment and environmentally friendly choices for the animals.”

Many people want a more responsible meat source, but don’t know how to start. Smalley has advice for those interested in possibly following in her footsteps. She got educated by reading books on the subject and looking on facebook for those who had experience raising rabbits.

Smalley says, “Reading The Omnivore’s Dilemma by Joel Salatin and getting into the local food movement in college inspired me to raise my own meat. I would have hunted, but I feel that it would take a lot of skill to limit animals’ suffering as a hunter. I wanted to raise chickens originally, but they were outlawed in my city at the time.” She encourages those who are intrigued to do some research and join online groups for support and knowledge.

The task seems daunting, especially to animal lovers. Killing your own food, while more humane, can feel like the opposite. “It’s hard to strike a balance between caring for the animal’s health and

welfare and getting attached. Also, there is a lot of “self-questioning” that goes into the process of handling skittish/scared animals, especially before you process them for the table,” Smalley said.

But even considering the hardships, Smalley sees the good. She can look back at some of the mistakes she made and use that knowledge to help in future issues. “I have learned so much about myself and the way I go about solving what I see as problems. I wish I had started a little smaller, but all of my experiences will help me going forward,” she said.

With all the big livestock companies raising animals in such an inhumane way, it leaves many with becoming vegetarian as the only option to avoid cruelty. But now there are other things these people can do. If you can’t raise your own meat, find it from local farmers that have a higher standard for their animal’s care.

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caps pigs

Contributor Kaylee Alexander

T

HE CENTER FOR ADVANCED Professional Studies is well known in Blue Valley as CAPS, but did you know that CAPS owns pigs?

The Veterinary Medicine strand takes care of 8 pigs that (besides being adorable) are very educational for students. They learn more about livestock and farm life than any classroom could teach them. The pigs will be raised by the VetMed students until they reach a good weight and will be sent to market. Teacher, Mrs. Tuel, shows the kids how to interact with animals in a safe way while still having lots of hands-on experience.

The students have named a couple of their favorite pigs. Wonky was named for the birth defect that makes his ear look a little funny.

Johnny number 5 is well known for his all black ears and friendly demeanor. Fancy is named for her physique that was compared to a show pig, making her a little more well, fancy. Curly (shown on the bottom right) is the biggest of the pigs weighing around 250 pounds. She is named

ironically because of the stump-like tail that makes her unique.

Pigs may be an unconventional pet but the VetMed class wouldn’t have it any other way.

Getting to go out to the farm and take care of animals is an invaluable opportunity. Thanks to CAPS and Bayer, the donor for the project, students are able to explore a veterinary profession in a way no one thought possible.

more stories at BVWNews.com Feature 27

The EFfect of makeup Everyday young women are pressured to look a certain way, how they decide to handle these pressures is a self-defining choice.

Rachel Zimmerli Contributer

I

N THIS AGE OF YOUTUBE TUTORIALS and

clown highlighting techniques, a sense of Instagram beauty leaves young women feeling inadequate and insufficient. That is why many women have made the choice not to wear makeup, posting their new look on social media and tagging it with #NoMakeup.

Students at BV West have felt the pressures in both directions and the have their own decisions on the matter.

“I don’t think makeup matters, so maybe more people think the same thing about it,” Freshman Kelsey Norkey said, taking the side of the no makeup movement, “Personally, I feel no need to impress anyone. When I occasionally do wear makeup, it is to make myself feel different, for example to cover up acne.”

When asked asked why she wears makeup, Freshman Ellie Kwon said, “I started wearing makeup when I was 12 because most of my friends were at that time. Now, I wear makeup for myself, not because I’m insecure without it but because it’s fun and I prefer how I look with it on rather than with it off. Then again, there is that factor of trying to fit into that ideal society has placed on girls and women.” That ideal alone sets how other people view women.

Society has trained us to, when we see a young woman not wearing makeup, believe that she does not care how she looks. Clearly, if her under eyes are are soft blue and you can see all the imperfections on her skin, she must be lazy and indifferent to whatever situation she is in. However, if you see a young woman clad in a layers of foundation and powder, then she must be trying to look attractive. While both of those options may be the case, it is wrong to assume either is true. This creates a difficult maze of people’s assumptions of women that they must navigate carefully.

“People’s perception is basically their opinion, and everyone has their own opinion on makeup. Some people think “too much” is gross and vice versa,” Kwon said, “At the end of the day makeup is for yourself and not to please other people.”

“I don’t believe so, because why would that affect them?” Norkey said when asked if she thinks other people judge her for not wearing makeup.

These principle are important to remember on a daily basis; disregard other people’s opinions because it is your own opinion that matters whether or not you wear makeup, and if you do wear makeup, wear it for yourself and not for other people.

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THE STANDARDIZATION OF TEACHING Lanie Render Rachel Pickett Contributor

Administration and students discuss the idea of uniform education

I

T’S THE MIDDLE OF THE summer and you receive a text that class schedules are out on School Center for the upcoming school year. You open the app, your stomach drops. You have the notoriously hard teacher while your friend has the teacher who everyone says is a breeze.

This scenario plays out for students each summer and brings up the critical topic of the standardization of teaching.

The standardization of teaching methods is an issue discussed among students and staff.

Government legislation like Common Core, aims to create a standard for what students should know at the end of each grade. Most agree that education should be fair for all students regardless of skill level, location or socioeconomic status.

This is an especially important question in Blue Valley as there are courses that are taught by two, three or even four different teachers. This creates a complex dynamic of different teachers with different personalities being asked to instruct the same course in a similar manner. The responsibility for teachers to educate students similarly is great. Are BV West teachers doing an adequate job?

“I think it is a huge deal for teachers to teach similarly,” junior Emily Oades said. “From a student’s perspective it’s really unfortunate when you cannot succeed in a class because of disadvantages beyond your control. It’s not a student’s choice whether they get the ‘easy’ teacher or the ‘hard’ teacher, and sometimes that can mean the difference between letter grades on your transcript.”

Many students echoed the sentiment expressed by Oades. Some, like senior Phillip Lin, have grown frustrated by the lack of uniform education in higher level courses.

“As a student who takes more than one AP class, it is hard to balance my schedule and when students with easier teachers receive less assignments and higher grades, it infuriates me,” Lin said. “I have been on both sides of the spectrum. I think that we should try and do a better job on making the curriculum the same across all teachers. With the easy teachers, I received a higher grade without putting in as much work which is unfair to the other students.

Students should take classes not based on the teacher but the class itself.”

Curriculum and instruction specialist, assistant principal Derek Adams states that it is made clear to all teachers that there should be some level of uniform instruction across a single course.

“I think it is a problem when students get really different experiences in the same class, and that does become an issue,” Adams said. “We try to make it an expectation that teachers collaborate. That’s why we get together on Thursday mornings when you all have a late start. We get together to plan lessons and look at those data points that suggest trends about teaching and what is the best practice. If someone is doing it one way and another is doing it a different way, which one is getting the better results? Then we want both of them to be doing it in a similar fashion. It is just getting the idea out through our staff development and trying to set forth those expectations.”

“ It’s not a student’s choice whether they get the ‘easy’ teacher or the ‘hard’ teacher, and sometimes that can mean the difference between letter grades on your transcript.”

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Feature 29

Although these expectations are made clear from the to look at the way things are being delivered, then we administration to the teachers, problems still arise that look at those instances and try to look at the teachers can occur for many different reasons. Issues can stem involved to see what makes the most sense for that from differing personalities, lack classroom.” of communication or different While it is important that philosophies regarding teachers collaborate to create teaching. similar assessments and educational “When teachers teach experiences for all students, Adams differently it can be for lots of feels that having unique classrooms different reasons,” said Adams. is vital to the creativity and fun of “Maybe they have completely the education process. different personalities and “I think the expectation is that then they have the autonomy teachers do try to do different to be in a different classroom things, and to see which one is the and teach the way they want better and go with that better,” said to teach, which really we want Adams. “If everyone is doing the them to do that. That is a part same thing, we don’t really break of the fun of teaching and out of a mold and try to become it’s their own professional better. So I think that there should experience that they bring be some differences in teaching and to the table. The only thing that allows everyone to learn from we ask that they do though is a different method or a different that the students be assessed resource and to try to see what is at about the same time and best for the students.” about the same content, so it’s Some students interviewed a similar experience. The way expressed that teachers should that they instruct students in adopt new methods or shift their each classroom can look very teaching styles so instruction could Poll conducted on Jan. 25 and 26 different and it should.” be more uniform and objective.

When complaints do arise, “I think teachers should adopt administration looks at whether systems where they routinely switch the way a teacher is instructing is proper by educational papers with each other,” said Lin. “Especially in an standards and not by the standards that other teachers arbitrary grading scale like in English. This way ensures set. the fairest grade to all of the students.”

“We [administration] don’t draw the line anywhere The standardization of teaching is a continuous as long as it’s educationally sound,” said Adams. “We discussion, but it is clear that both administration try to look at each instance if students, parents, or even and students feel that all learners should be receiving other teachers have problems with the way things are similar educational experiences. being delivered then we look at those instances and try

According to a Spotlight twitter poll, 83% of students perfer that teachers teaching the same subject share the same teaching and grading methods

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the college culture

How expectations shape students’ lives Leah Zimmerli Editor in Chief

T

HERE IS A STRANGE CULTURE AT THIS SCHOOL. It is the expectation that every student will go to college. At BV West, we are not asked if we are going to college, but where. Beyond the expectation to go to college, there is an implicit expectation to go to a prestigious school. Students are in competition with each other to see who can be accepted to the most selective school, and the words “community college” evoke feelings of distaste and disappointment.

The cutthroat competition to meet and exceed these expectations increases the workload for students as well as their stress levels.

“I’m in six AP classes and one honors class. I’m only doing it so I can get into Johns Hopkins,” junior Amin Ladhani said. “Outside of school I’m in seven clubs, I had a job, and I’m doing research with professors at colleges. I shadow and volunteer at hospitals. I still need to study for the ACT and the SAT subject tests. I feel worried, I can’t even remember when my next test is. I just have to make it through the next year and a half, and then I’ll be where I want to be.”

With college a foregone conclusion, many students don’t even consider other possibilities. For example,

a study by The Journal of Educational Psychology showed that only 7.6% of American high school graduates going to college took a gap year. Within that 7.6%, only 29% took that year to travel instead of working a job. The same study revealed that students who took a gap year reported higher motivation in school.

But beyond shaping students’ immediate future after graduation, these expectations shape their lives for years to come.

“The expectation that I’ll go to college has changed my perception of my future. Like, I never thought in majoring in art or theatre, I was always expected to go into something more academic,” senior Arden Brewer said. “I always wonder if I could have had a future in the arts, there’s that curiosity, but I enjoy science and stuff like that so I’m not broken hearted.”

These expectations are rooted in our desire to be successful members of society, but such a single minded goal can create a sort of tunnel vision.

Students should thoroughly explore all of the options available to them, so that they can truly select the best path for their future, and not simply conform to expectations.

AP Test Vs.

more stories at BVWNews.com Feature 31 Lanie Render Rachel Pickett Contributors

College Now

Comparing and contrasting the popular ways to earn college credit at BV West

S

$93... $106...

Cost Acceptance Rate

The AP Test cost $106 per test in 2016 Is the price per credit hour for Credit at JCCC

89%

College Now The JCCC credit is accepted by Kansas regent schools. As for out-of-state schools, look at the policy on their website.

Out-of-state colleges that accept a score of 3 on the AP Test for college credit

67%

48%

48%

Oklahoma State University University of University of Missouri University of Arkansas Nebraska at Lincoln

42%

Baylor University

Top 5 applied to out-of-state colleges

Grading

AP

College Now

One day, usually up to 3 hours, typically scheduled in May.

Credit for a whole semester of learning

1-5 scale

Typical letter grading system, a grade of C or above results in credit Grade of semester is determined by teachers grading scale

Graded by College Board

More Info:

For information on registering for either the AP Exam or JCCC’s College Now, contact a BV West counselor. To check a college’s policy on earning college credit, scan this QR code.

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Unsolved Mysteries An in-depth scientific analysis

Shaye Herman Managing Editor

LOG REPORT #1. I have begun this expedition with open-ended expectations and a thirst for answers.

The bizarre, elusive behavior of the specimen is only exhibited in a specific age window, and typically only of the male sex, for reasons absolutely unknown. This phenomenon is what I wish to decode in my research, in the humble pursuit of science. Thus far, I am optimistic.

LOG REPORT #2. I have assimilated myself into a nearby habitat of the species in question, a perfect cesspool of data known as Blue Valley West high school, or BV West for convenience. This provides me with the perfect opportunity to observe the behavior of the specimens. There are several questions for which I desire answers, but the most relevant and debated pertain to male homo sapiens in an age window of approximately 12 years to 20, although outliers of an older demographic have been recorded. Why do they wear shorts in the winter?

LOG REPORT #3. As I observe these specimens, questions seem to arise effortlessly from viewing their enigmatic behaviors. Not only do they wear shorts during the winter despite the clear environmental drawbacks, they seem determined not to admit to other males that they are cold, even though it is evident by their choice in garment that they are.

Perhaps this type of behavior is a pointless social display meant to weed out the less intelligent? I need more data in order to create a solid hypothesis.

These specimens exhibit the widely questioned behavior of this scientific expedition- wearing shorts, despite the harsh winter conditions of their environment.

LOG REPORT #4. Upon further investigation, I have realized a trend in the data. The types of males who exhibit these types of bizarre behavior follow similar patterns in appearance, dress, and personality. These males have common behaviors outside their irrational choice in pants, and other males who do not wear shorts in the winter seem more varied. I have observed many types of common features in these adolescent males, of which here are a few: - Many seem to wear a specific type of white athletic socks with athletic shoes alongside their shorts, and the common garment on their upper body is either a t-shirt or a sweatshirt. (I have not yet developed a logical explanation as to why they would be wearing reasonable winter attire on their upper half, but neglect their lower half.) Those socks and shirts exhibit similar symbols and sayings, such as a curved checkmark and “Just Do It.�

- The males in question seem to have exceedingly similar haircuts, short and ordinary, with no trace of individuality or effort like in their clothes and mannerisms.

I will report back later with a detailed analysis of their behavioral patterns, of which are the most difficult to understand.

One male specimen using violence as a form of bonding with his companion, a behavioral pattern not easily rationalized.

LOG REPORT #5. The more data I obtain, the more confused I seem to become. I have observed the behaviors of a steady pool of specimens, and the following mannerisms have been displayed in the clear majority of them.

- They repeatedly flip their water containment vessels on any hard surface. After much deliberation, I have deduced that they are attempting to land the bottles right-side-up. Why, I do not know.

- Their chosen method of bonding with their group of companions is a mixture of physical violence and verbal abuse. Despite this bizarre practice, they seem to travel everywhere with their chosen packs.

- In class, they seem determined to cause the greatest disruptions possible. I have not yet determined the cause of this yet, but I am hypothesizing that it may be a combination of a short attention span, a desire for attention, and the belief that this makes them seem “funny” to their peers. However, it is quite evident to everyone except the male and other males within his type that this behavior amuses no one, and actually creates a deep annoyance within his peers.

- Another common practice amongst these males is an involvement in various team sports- particularly “football” and “basketball,” although these males have also been observed in other sports as well. Perhaps the violence and competition helps to sate their desire to exert dominance over their companions.

- A particular occurrence amongst these males is a certain driving behavior- they typically drive unnecessarily large cars, such as pickup trucks or Jeeps, and then park in a way I’m certain is incorrect, usually by taking up more than one parking space unnecessarily. In addition, they drive an average of fifteen miles per hour more than the speed limit at any given time, and regularly cut off others in their apparent rush. My hypothesis for this is that they do not care enough to show basic human consideration.

- The males in question typically listen to the exact same type of music as their packmates- repetitive gangster rap. This type of music only barely differs from song to song, and the lyrics are always about one or more of the following: illegal drugs, partying, or explicit activities with females. I question if it could be called “music” at all, after all, it is simply talking rapidly with a beat in the background.

- The mating behavior of these males is most fascinating. They seem to put on a front in front of their male companions, lying and feigning confidence about their mating lives despite a lack of any activities in that regard at all. In addition, when engaging with females, they behave extremely oddly. They treat the females quite crudely, as if they are not simply human beings just like the male in question. The false confidence is key, it seems, and they also seem to falsely believe that females are interested in them, despite the utter lack of evidence for that claim. In fact, the behaviors and appearances of these males seems to deter most females, and they gravitate more towards males who follow their own sense of individuality and display behaviors of kindness and respect. However, it seems

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Satire 33

denial is a strong presence in these types of males.

LOG REPORT #6. Interestingly enough, the target research demographic is not, prior to what i thought, the only group that exhibits these behaviors. While it is admittedly rarer, I have seen females of this age group displaying similar irrational behaviors. Females wear short skirts and dresses during these cold seasons, and even more bizarre, some wear high-heeled shoes.

However, these females have something the males lack: a reason for such behavior. These garments are for the purpose of style over practicality, meaning that their clothes are meant to look good, not to be comfortable.

The shorts that the males wear don’t look good and they don’t keep them warm. What could this enigmatic phenomenon be?

LOG REPORT #7. After months and months of deliberation and observation, the answer to these questions that plague me continues to evade me. Has all of my research been in vain? Why adolescent males wear shorts in the winter, and all the other irrational, reasonless behavior exhibited, for that matter, remain unanswered, the unknowns floating through the universe without meaning. It seems that this research is a dead end, at least for me. I will continue to publish this report in the hopes that another scientist may be able to uncover the mysteries I could not. Perhaps what this inquiry needs is other perspectives, to perhaps shed a light on the discoveries that evaded my grasp.

The specimens in question appear to be showing aggression, seemingly not taking kindly to surveilance.

34 Feature

@bvwspotlight

Sweetheart Spirit Brought to you by JPCo

Jesse Hoffman Contributor

Netflix Monday

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Show off against your classmates during the first day of spirit week, Netflix Day. Shows you can represent include; the office, 90s sitcom, Grey’s Anatomy, and Duck Dynasty.

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Way-Back Wednesday Take a trip down memory lane in this spirit day. Don’t be afraid to let the child inside of you come out!

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Backwards tuesday It’s backwards day for Blue Valley West! Mismatch your clothing, wear them inside out and show up ready to learn!

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Seasons Thursday On the final day the classes compete with each other, sporting their assigned seasons. Seniors will dress as the summer, Juniors dress as spring, Sophomores have the winter, and freshman are fall!

class colors friday

As always, show your school spirit by dressing in your class colors! Freshman wear gray, sophomores wear white, juniors wear red, and seniors wear black.

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20 Feature

Other-Tine’s Day: more than Romance

@bvwspotlight

A holiday that should be celebrated by All

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ALENTINE’S DAY, A DAY MEANT to celebrate our relationships with others.

Unfortunately, the retail industry has made the holiday exclusively about couples to increase the sales of chocolate and flowers.

Singles tend to despise this holiday and dread the day when it comes around. Feb. 14 needs to return into how it was meant to be; a day to celebrate our relationships with others, not just romantic couples.

A good example of enjoying Valentine’s Amy Poehler celebrates Gal-entine’s Day as Leslie Knope in the Day beyond romantic couples comes from popular Netflix show Parks and Recreation. a popular television comedy Parks and Recreation. Leslie Knope (played by Amy Poehler), finds friendships to be the most important relationships in her world. On the day before Valentine’s Day, she invites her gal-friends to a quaint dinner and celebrates Gal-entine’s Day. A day she created to spend time with all the women she considered good friends.

Family plays a big part in how senior Grace McLaughin enjoys the day. She usually just treats Valentine’s much like any normal day.

Although, depending on her parents’ jobs, Will Farrell and John C. Reilly play adult step-brothers in the she’ll spend the day with her family. If in 2008 comedy Step Brothers. The movie is available on iTunes for $2.99 a relationship in the future, however, she claimed that she would spend the day with her significant other.

Senior Sydney Rasmussen, spends Valentine’s day and most other days with her Blue Valley High boyfriend Jared. The couple has been dating for almost two years.

2017 will be their second Valentine’s day together. Rasmussen will likely have a day that Hallmark and Godiva would approve of.

“He often surprises me with something unexpected and awesome,” Rasmussen said. Julie Bowen and Ty Burrel play married couple Claire and Phil Dunphy in the TV “I love surprises and he knows it.”

As Rasmussen and others have romantic sit-com Modern Family. In the My Funky Valentine episode various days, the rest of us can use the day to enjoy types of relationships celebrate the day. The episode is friends and family.

Elizabeth Hernandez available on Netflix.

Contributor

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Exploring New sounds

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Stephen Kinder Contributor

Take this short quiz to see what music suits you the best! had a choice, where would live?

1. Ifa. you Big cities; I cannot stand living alone!

5.

b. Small towns; they are so calming! c. Near an ocean, got to get that tan! d. I really do not care, anywhere will do!

2.

3.

What is your favorite fast food?

a. Only classy clothes. I dress to impress! b. Sweat pants and hoodies, I like to stay comfortable. c. Something simple, probably a T-Shirt and some shorts. d. It really depends on my mood!

a. Chipotle, why would there be any other options? b. Taco Bell; I come here for comfort food and Baha Blast! c. Fast food is nasty. d. Dairy Queen; I come for burgers, and stay for ice cream!

6.

What do you look for in a significant other?

How do you feel about meeting new people?

7.

What kind of superpower would you want to have?

a. People are my favorite, meeting new people is natural to me! b. Meeting new people is so hard, why even bother doing it? c. Meeting new people is necessary for moving forward in life. d. New people are fun, they each have their own stories and personalities, and its very intriguing to me.

4.

What kind of clothes do you like to wear?

What would you do with a million dollars, if you had it?

a. Go on a shopping spree; go big or go home! b. Use it to pay off loans and bills. c. I would stash it away and invest it. d. Donate some of it to charity.

a. Personality is key! b. Someone who shares common interests with me. c. Only looks matter. d. Nothing serious, maybe someone to talk to every once in a while.

a. Super speed; I gotta’ go fast! b. Invisbility; Sneaking around always helps! c. Probably being super strong, I could get lots of things done! d. The ability to heal others, or anything that enables me to help people!

8.

What do you like to do with your free time?

a. Hang out with my friends, I am a very social person! b. I like to stay at home, and play some video games or watch Netflix. c. Working as hard as I can to better myself by working out, or pursuing dreams. d. Probably volunteering, helping the community is always a plus!

If you chose Mostly A...

If you chose Mostly c...

If you chose Mostly b...

If you chose Mostly D...

You are probably a very outgoing person, the genre that would be best for your bubbly personality would be pop. A good start to get you into this genre would be “Best Day of my Life” by American Authors Alone time is probably one thing that you enjoy most in life.

Whether you be staying at home, or taking a nature walk, you should probably expand your tastes with alternative/indie music. A good place to start would be listening to “Taro”

by Alt-J.

Chances are that you are a very hardworking and ambitious person. A genre that you can listen to while you work is classical rock. A song you should listen to from that genre is “Wild Horses” by The Rolling Stones.

Congrats, you are obviously a very kind person who feels good about helping others. A very wholesome genre that you could look into would be country. If you are looking to get into country, then try listening to “State of Grace”

by Taylor Swift.

38 Comics

snow days then:

B Y S H A Y E H E R M A N

snow days now: Cool. An excuse to stay home.

By jaden dudrey

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Interactive 39

Bees

down

across

1) What they make 2) Color 3) The leader 5) The worst part about Bees 6) What they use to fly 7) What they carry

4) Color 8) A type of bee 9) What they land on 10) How they attack

Bring the completed crossword to Room 233 for the chance to win a prize!

Blue Valley West Spotlight 16200 Antioch Road Overland Park, Kan. 66085 bvwspotlight@gmail.com Web: www.bvwnews.com @bvwspotlight