C ommon Sense Millard South High School • 14905 Q St. • Omaha, Neb., 68137
December 19, 2019
Volume 20 Issue 3
Let’s get this bread
Cameron Merritt Staff Reporter An Intro to Foods class on Nov. 22 got the opportunity to make bread for the Patriot Pantry to help students and their families who need support. The students in Natalie Peterson’s class got to pick out where they would donate the bread to and the Pantry was their choice. “We started doing this project and we knew that we would have to make bread, but we got to pick where we wanted it to go and we picked the Patriot Pantry,” said senior Zach Hayward. Peterson applied to a program called Bake for Good sponsored by King Arthur flour. They sent her class the supplies needed to bake the bread. Students who were working on the project rolled the dough into a circle onto the table, and then shaped the bread into what it would eventually become. They Art by Sean Burton
began the cooking process by throwing the bread into the oven. They ended up making bread twists and croissants for this project, and all students involved seemed to be having a good time making something with a purpose. Because of there being a need for more food for some of our students, this was a great way to show some Patriot Pride and to continue to support those in need. In fact, there was even a student that was in there that would show exactly how much this project Sophomore Nick Cremeens works on making cresent rolls with his partner in Natalie Peterson’s Intro to meant to him. Foods class. The class was using bread making supplies provided by a program called Bake for Good spon “I might sored by King Arthur flour. Photo by Cameron Merritt go pick one up myself, because my mom all of the bread ended up turning out to that will continue to be popular, and turn just recently lost her job,” said look excellent, and many students were into some hope for the students of Millard a sophomore who wishes to happy with the way it turned out. HopeSouth who are less fortunate. remain anonymous. Almost fully, this ends up being a yearly tradition
Wanted: Those interested in substitute teaching Brianna Strudthoff Staff Reporter
year. Although they are not required to be specialized in a certain skill like math or science, many subs prefer to work in the same core area they are used to. “If I can pick, I will always spend my day in an Eng We have all heard the teachers say that there are lish/journalism room,” substitute Penny Sander said. “I can not enough substitutes, and no one knows that better than secretary Tracy Hancock who manages the daily sub fill in a math or science room, but I won’t be efficient.” According to Mitchell Mollprocess., ring, director of personnel, Mil On average, Hancock says, Millard requires completion of 60 lard South has a need for 10 subs a semester credit hours of college day. On Fridays, the need is higher. coursework (about two years or an Some days we are not short any associates degree), completion of subs and others we’re missing as a professional education course, many as six. completion of the human relations In the week of Nov. 11 through training requirement, and a written Nov. 15, MSHS had a total of 80 request from the Superintendent subs needed and 12 jobs not covfor issuance of the certificate for a ered when the day began. specific school district in order to Nationwide there are not become a substitute. enough people wanting to sub, Along with all of that, suband all the restrictions are not stitutes must love to work with helping. Many retired teachers children and pass a criminal backhave restrictions on things such as Substitute teacher Randall Spann subs for ground test. how often they can sub per school, English teacher Stacy Tramontozzi on Oct. This is not only an Omaha per week, or per month. Teachers 31. Photo by Lindzey James problem, it’s a national issue. are not allowed to return to a classStates like Michigan and California room for 180 days after retiring, are also seeing a decline in subs. A study provided by the according to the Nebraska Public Employees Retirement Institute for Public Policy and Social Research at MichiSystems rules. NPERS also has rules against working for gan State University shows 64 percent of teaching jobs one teacher for over five consecutive days and reserve are not covered by a sub. They also stated that “over the the right to limit the number of days one can work per
last five years, with 86 percent reporting moderate or severe declines in the supply of substitutes.” Michigan also passed House bill 4069 changed required hours from 90 credit hours to 60 credit hours. Everyone is seeing the effect of this shortage, especially the subs. “If you are available on a day, and you do not have a job, your phone can ring, and ring, and ring, and ring,” Sander said. Desperate times call for desperate measures, and local high schools like MSHS have started to give classroom teachers an opportunity to get paid to cover another class during their plan hour. This is the first time that teachers have been encouraged to do this. The pay per 90-minute class period is $49 which is on track with the normal day pay of $150 for a sub. According to Indeed, a job search website, Nebraska sub pay average is $15.14 an hour. This is 44 percent higher than the national average. In the spirit of the holidays, Millard has offered a giveaway of Airpods for subs. Subs can be entered in the drawing for every Monday or Friday worked in the month of December. Andersen Middle School also offers a free t-shirt that acts as a jean pass any day they wear it , for any sub that has worked 10 days at the school. Andersen’s principal, Eric Grandgennet, tweeted in response, “Subbing is hard work and we want you to feel the love!”
candidate focus
2020 is shaping up to be one of the most important presidential elections in our history. Here's a quick look at 2 of 21 candidates currently in the race.
Elizabeth Warren
Page 2 Issues Signature
Joe Biden
Pages 4-5 Signature Issues
Snelling explores two more candidates in this ongo- Different internships for highschoolers are being 1. Rebuild the Middle Class - build 1. Rebuild the Middle Class Artaby Sean Burton on explored. the ACA by adding public ing feature. Graphic by Jake Snelling transition to nationalized healthcare healthcare option and providing a as a human right, institute taxes on the ultra wealthy, eliminate voter suppression tactics (such as gerrymandering), and guarantee universal child care.
premium free option for people of low income, work towards the goals of the Green New Deal, invest in the rebuilding of America's infrastructure.
Pages 8
Pages 10-11
Hickman reviews another coffee shop in this ongoing Sophomore Gage Stenger passes vs. Omaha Central. feature. Photo by Edith Hickman Basketball season kicks off. Photo by Joscelyn Hynes
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Praying for good grades? Supreme Court supports you Four in ten students strongly believe that teachers should be able to lead the class in prayer, but the majority of those students are unaware of the Supreme Court rulings. In 1962, the U.S. Supreme Court created a new “I certainly think it is a sticky situation. If anyone law in which teachers cannot lead prayers in school. were to lead a class in prayer they would have to be An addition to this rule was created in 2000, that diplomatic about it. They would have to tell people restricted school districts from promoting studentthat they don’t have to participate in the prayer if led prayers at school events. they did not want to,” French teacher Terri Wright There is a hard line to draw as students are said. still able to partake in their religion and can pray Around 16 percent of students believe that anytime before, during, and after the school day. teacher-led prayer is allowed in schools and 41 perThere has been a lot of controversial uprisings as cent say that teacher-led prayer is appropriate. the Supreme Court denies cases involving incidents “I did know that teachers can’t lead the class such as a high school coach being fired for prayin prayer, but if they did it would be cool with me,” ing before a game. A recent Dutcher said. survey from Pew Research And 53 percent of center surveyed around students report they are 1,800 teenagers ranging aware of the Supreme from 13 to 17 years old. The Court rulings and also survey was about certain consider it inapproprikinds of religious activities ate. Around half of the they see in school, and the students in the Pew results were surprising. survey say that they never “Wearing religious or rarely participate in rejewelry is definitely up to – Junior Grayce Dutcher ligious expression during the person wearing them’s the school day. preference,” junior Grayce “I do not see any bullying due to religious cirDutcher said. cumstances here at Millard South,” Wright said. In public schools, half of the students in the The survey revealed that around 13 percent of south say that they see students wearing religious students say that they have witnessed classmates clothing, such as a headscarf, or jewelry. being bullied or teased for their religion. Nine per “I don’t really see anyone inviting anyone but I know many people that do go to religious organiza- cent of students say they partake in the teasing and five percent of students say that they see teachers tions,” Dutcher said. making unfriendly comments towards students. Around a quarter of students say that they see Overall, religion is still a part of school, whether students invite other students to religious youth students are initiating it or teachers are. Many organizations. In the Southern states, they have students are seeing religious aspects in their school seen 12 percent of teachers lead a class in prayer day, and they are having different opinions. Some whereas in the Northeast they have seen 2 percent of teachers leading a class in prayer even though the are all for seeing religion in their school, some are against religion, and some are right in the middle. Supreme Court has ruled against it. Sydney McDermott Copy Editor
News 12 • 19 • 2019
Young activist fights to keep earth spinning Jake Snelling News Editor
“Iersdidcan’tknow that teachlead the class in
prayer, but if they did it would be cool with me.
source: Candidate web sites and research by News Editor Jake Snelling
”
Omaha Students for Sustainability members meet with a Kroger representative to discuss plastic bag use. Photo by Jake Snelling.
At the recent 25th annual United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres warned that “the point of no return is no longer over the horizon,” echoing the same sentiment of the 24th UNFCCC, the 23rd, the 22nd, and so on. The world is on fire, and we are finally reaching a make-or-break point when it comes to our ability to combat global environmental change. Carbon dioxide concentration in our atmosphere has reached a level that hasn’t been achieved in 3,000,000 years, the ice caps are melting more and more rapidly every day, the oceans have risen 5-8 inches in the last century after not rising for 2,000 years, the Amazon Rainforest is constantly shrinking, and the rate that species are going extinct is steadily increasing. Basically, climate change is shaping out to be the greatest problem to ever face humanity. Thankfully, the rise of these unprecedented impacts has been met by an unprecedented rise in environmental activism, most notably with the youth of the world. Turn on any major news channel and you will probably see something about a climate protest/strike, and more likely something about Greta Thunberg, a 16 year old climate activist from Sweden that has received worldwide recognition for starting a global phenomenon in Fridays for Future. If you happened to turn on the local news on Sept. 20, you might have seen something about a local climate strike held here in Omaha at city hall that drew over 300 people. This strike was partially organized by Students for Sustainability, a local student-based climate activist group headed by Mercy High senior Cate Kelly who also spoke at the event. The group, like all grassroots activist efforts, got its start with a conversation. In October 2018, Kelly invited a small group of around 10-15 friends to a local coffee shop to talk after the IPCC’s (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) devastating 2018 report detailing how globally off track we are in terms of avoiding the catastrophic impacts of climate change. They started small, holding weekly meetings and growing the group until their first sizeable event in April 2019, a Rally for the Earth. This was the group’s first real organizational test and is what Kelly considers their kick-start in motivating them to do more. “I never intended to get into climate activism; I just wanted to do something,” Kelly said. Students for Sustainability has done a lot since their initial meeting in 2018. The group has held a rally, a strike, a letter-writing event against the Keystone XL pipeline, and they continue to hold weekly meetings to discuss current climate events and future organizational plans. Most importantly, they have utilized their unique ability as an organization to push environmentalism into the local political conversation through meetings with local community leaders and attendance at political meetings. Their efforts to get their voice heard are paying off in recognition. The group testified in front of the Omaha City Council this past May in support of the plastic bag ban, and they even secured a meeting with a representative from a major local grocery chain to discuss pragmatic solutions to transition away from plastic bags. This spring, a majority of the group’s core members is graduating and they are searching for more 9th-11th graders to eventually pass on the group. If you’re tired of the constant inaction on environmental issues by our politicians, the best way to get involved is to start at the local level . Kelly says it herself, focusing on local politics is key. “Change begins where you are, and since we have access to the local level first and foremost, we should start here.” Students interested in becoming involved in the fight for our future can find information at studentsforsustainability. com, or find them on social media @omahasfs.
News 12 • 19 • 2019
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Don’t infect us all; please stay home Paige Winchester Distribution Manager About 1,320 students in total are sent home sick from the nurse’s office in the months of November and December. During the winter season, more and more students are getting sick due to the sudden weather changes and major diseases like the flu or just the common cold that come around during the season. “On average, I send about 30-50 students home each day because they are either sick or have a fever,” said school nurse Sharon BrissonSchnitker. According to Schnitker, winter is the most common season for getting sick because students are always outside in the cold and they don’t rest on the weekends. “Students are coming to school sick because they don’t want to miss classes and then they are spreading their diseases to other students getting them sick too,’’ Schnitker said. Schnitker also said that students often share water bottles with one another, spreading their germs to each other and increasing the chances of getting sick. “I often have to come to school sick because I get sick often and I’ve already missed too many days of school,” sophomore Emma Alldredge said.
Even students who know they are sick still come to school because they don’t want to miss their classes or they can’t afford to miss another day of school. “I do find it hard to catch up in classes I miss, and it’s causing my grades to slip when I miss those days of school,” Alldredge said. According to Alldredge, she finds it hard to catch up in classes because of our A and B day schedule, she finds it hard to make up those missing assignments when she has a whole other day of homework to do in the same night. Even though there are many factors on why you should still go to school when you are sick, it’s better to take a sick day and stay home, you may be behind in classes but it’s not impossible to catch up and to get your grades back up. Save everyone from the stress and stay home.
Part-time teen workers have rights Lindzey James Staff Reporter Who needs a job in high school? What do kids use the money for? Why do kids want a job? These are the questions asked by many students and parents alike. Most money from jobs for high schoolers are used for extracurricular items like shopping or sports events, maybe a concert here or there. Many sophomores, juniors, and seniors in high school have part-time jobs. Many of these students are also under 18 years of age. So the main question is what type of job can these kids get? There are rules and regulations about hours they can work and types of jobs they can work. First, we will start with people age 15 and under. According to the Nebraska Department of Labor, a person 15 and under can not work more than eight hours in a day. Rule two, the earliest you can start working is at 7 a.m. and the latest you can work is 7 p.m. on a school day or 10 p.m. on a weekend. June 1 through Labor Day students can work until 9 p.m. The third main rule for 15-yearolds is that they can only work 18 hours maximum in a school week. Lastly, rule four is if you are 15 or younger you can not work more than three hours on a school day. The second age group covered is 16 to 18-yearolds. This is where the majority of high schoolers working are going to fall under. The work restrictions for this age group says that they can not work
in hazardous work areas. But neither the Official Nebraska Government website or the U.S. Department of Labor website states what these hazardous work areas are and the rules within them. According to Scheels Policy Booklet, which talks about state laws, minors are not allowed to use elevators that are labeled as freight elevators. Minors are only allowed to use regular passenger elevators. Secondly, minors are not allowed to operate trash compactors, in case someone were to fall in. “I just found out at my job that I was not allowed to use the freight elevator, which now it doesn’t affect me because I am 18, but when I started I was not,” senior Lily Butler said. Not surprisingly, there are guidelines about knives in the work place. Scheels safety video says that while most places don’t have a list of what knives a person can or can not use, the rule that goes around food places if it looks like it could cut a finger off, then you should probably not be using it if you’re a minor. In some states, a minor is also not allowed to receive commission and work in commission areas inside a store. “It stinks that you have to be 18 to work in retail as a retail specialist at [Scheels] because it’s hard to get a better experience with customers,” senior Maddie Beutel said.
Class size to decrease in English, math and social studies sections due to mid-year hires Cameron Frost Staff Reporter
Students in some classes can expect to have somewhat fewer classmates next semester as the district gave permission for Millard South and other district schools to hire teachers to help lower classes of 30 or more. “We have some class sizes in math, language arts and social studies that are higher than we would like to see,” Associate Superintendent of Human Resources Kevin Chick said. “We noticed these numbers creeping up in the late summer, but we did not feel confident we would be able to find qualified teachers to hire at that time,” he said. Caitlyn Curnyn has been hired to fill the English position. She was most recently student teaching at Millard North. As a result, students currently enrolled in
English 10, speech, global perspectives and college writing may see a change of teacher and/or those classes in a different block than they were expecting. “It will probably be the largest change in a semester I have seen,” registrar and assistant principal Brad Millard said. English classes such as English 10, College Writing and Global Perspectives will have major scheduling changes. Millard said the changes will be made before students return from break. “We want to make the transition as smooth as possible for students and teachers,” Millard said. Interviews are still being conducted for the available social studies position, the math position is posted and applications are still being accepted. Infographic by Carson O’Connor
art by Sean Burton
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Opinion 12 • 19 • 2019
Fostering friendly felines Vaping age increases Other side of adoptions is rewarding Making legal age 19 won’t help
The Nebraska Unicameral passed will in turn not help anyone out in a bill earlier this year that will raise trying to stop this “epidemic,” because the vaping age to 19, and it is coming punishments are not harsh enough close to January 1, when this bill will now. go into effect. The punishment for selling to I think that the legal vaping age bacco products to minors is normally should stay at 18, because the higher a heavy fine, although that is normally people choose to raise the vaping age, as far as it goes. There should be more the more likely that teens are going to punishments enforced like a possible try to get their hands on them. Teens short term suspension of a tobacco are choosing to try to get their hands license to vape shops that choose on vapes because of the fact that it is to sell to minors. Another thing that illegal, and they want to fit into a socould be done is raising the possible cial norm to look cool in front of their fine to a higher number instead of the friends and they become addicted to $50.00 that it is now for minors caught nicotine. with any tobacco products. The more rights that get taken Underage teen vaping needs to away do not necessarily mean betbe stopped, and many people should ter behavior, consider stronger polibut sneakier cies against those that methods could will give or sell tobacco possibly be used. products to underage Nebraska teens minors. I do not see could simply go a whole lot changing to Iowa, South without stronger policies Dakota, Missouri, than what is going to be and Wyoming to put into place. purchase where Things that are gothe vaping age is ing to be put in the bill still 18, and those that should be changed states are not would be things like if necessarily very a minor gives the name far away dependof the person that sold ing on where you them the tobacco prodlive in the state. uct they can get the MIP On the other off their record. It should Cameron Merritt hand, it could be treated just like the Staff Reporter completely work use of marijuana or for Nebraska, alcohol, and a four-hour meaning that teens could decide to class should be implemented in order just completely give up the methods to get it off of a minor’s record. they already have to get their hands It’s clear that underage vaping on vapes, although the likelihood of is a problem, but raising the vaping change is not very high. Many teens age without implementing harsher will still try to use the methods that consequences just doesn't seem like they always have to be able to get the best policy to be put in place. their hands on vaping products, which
Most people have never been on kittens, while other times it would be a the opposite side of a pet adoption. Most single elderly, graying cat. My family would people, when making the decision to add take them in no matter their condition. a new furry friend to We would bathe them, their family unit, don’t feed them, and socialize think too much about them. Our goal was to where the animal came groom these cats so that, from aside from what when the time comes, organization they’re they could be adopted. It being purchased from. wasn’t always the easiest Most people have work; some cats seemed never been the ones hopelessly feral, while to care for and house others were so painfully an animal prior to its skittish. adoption. In the animal Eventually, though, they rescue community, all came around. Somethough, this is comtimes it took weeks for monplace. a single cat to learn to What most often trust us enough to be occurs is this: a family showcased for adoption, has a brief interaction but nonetheless they all Edith Hickman with a rescue organizagot there at some point. Features Editor tion or breeder which This, unfortunately, was results in the adoption one of the hardest parts. of a pet. This is what alTaking an animal that had most happened in my family’s case. But, in learned to love and trust you, had learned a strange set of circumstances that began to enjoy the warm and safe life of a house with a stray kitten climbing into the hood cat, and adopting it away. After the first of my father’s car in search of warmth, my dozen or so it got easier, but each cat still parents got in touch with a local no-kill left an impact. organization, Feline Friendz (FF). They sponsored the kitten, as well as the kitten’s brother, whom we also took in, and helped us through the process of adopting them both. Our new relationship with this local organization could have ended there, but it didn’t. From the time that we adopted the kittens onward, my family became a volunteer foster home for FF. Every now and then, the organization would drop off a stray in need of a home. Sometimes these strays would include an entire colony of small, battered Elmwood is about three months old. He was adopted after being fostered through Feline Friendz. Photo by Edith Hickman
Mental health should be openly discussed
Paige Winchester Distribution Manager
Graphic by Joscelyn Hynes
Mental health is a topic that everyone is aware of, yet we don’t seem to talk about it enough, or even really get into depth with it like we should. People are taught at a young age to talk about it when you are feeling anxious, nervous, depressed or are having suicidal thoughts, but does anyone ever actually reach out for help? Sadly, they don’t, and the reason they don’t is because they’re scared. People I know that have mental health problems say they are scared to reach out because they are terrified of the thought of being rejected or people telling them just to get over it, and they are scared that no one will care and no one will be willing to listen to them. I wish people would realize that there is someone out there willing to give their time to them, whether that person is a family member, friend, trusted adult, or a professional. When you are feeling depressed you
have to reach out as soon as possible to get that help and to resolve the problem before it gets worse. If you don’t talk about it and just keep it to yourself things will get worse for you because you will eventually convince yourself that no one cares and that you are alone which can lead to things much worse than just being depressed. Not talking about whatever’s going on and not reaching out for help can lead to not caring about life or your own health, self harm, and even suicidal thoughts plus a lot more awful things. Once you reach that point, it’s hard to get yourself out of it. Getting yourself out of situations like that can take a lot of self discipline. And convincing yourself that you are worth it, and that there are people out there that care about you and would do anything to keep you safe from any harm. People who have depression, anxiety, and have suicidal thoughts need to realize
that they are not alone and there are people that will help you, but you also have to help yourself. Someone else can’t help you without your own effort and motivation. You have to realize that you are worth something in this world and you will do great things as an adult if you try. For the people who never feel this way, reach out to someone you know who does, tell them that you are there for them, and show them that you are and that you are willing to listen if they want someone to talk to. Notice people who have a sudden change of appetite, severe mood swings,or change of personality. Ask them how they’re doing and what their day was like. Ask them if they want help, and if you are not the one who can help, suggest them to talk to a parent or a counselor. Help them have their voice be heard and help them feel wanted and worthy enough, you could be saving a life that way.
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Opinion 12 • 19 • 2019
Staff Editorial: Internship program too good to pass up Attention all juniors!!! Do you ever feel like you are living paycheck to paycheck, telling yourself over and over again that this minimum wage job you have is good, you only have to do the bare minimum, your expectations aren’t high, and will probably leave this job in a year learning nothing new? The routine work duties and the above surface conversations with the customers will be stuck in your head exactly like the playlist that repeats again after every four hours. If you quit, you risk getting a worse job or the same thing, and there’s
no fixing this because you are still in high school with no higher education nor experience, so your options are limited to employers who can easily replace you with another high schooler. Enter Intern Omaha. Youth Business Community Partnerships. The program started last year and is currently accepting applications from high school juniors to intern at area businesses and companies. The application, available at https:// www.internomaha.org/home/studentsapply, gives a list of internships varying
from positions at Mutual of Omaha to Werner to Douglas County Environmental Services. Some of the internships require a submission of the Google Form as well as their employee application, but the time it takes to fill them out is well worth it. The internships pay significantly better than most jobs. Salaries range from $11 an hour to up to $15 an hour. In the summer, a two week half day class is required that helps all of the interns to adjust to their positions and to refresh on some skills like work ethics,
being respectful of diversity in the workplace, and teamwork and cooperation. The program does compensate though, considering that passing this class gives credit as a CTE class at Metropolitan Community College that could easily be transferred to other Nebraska schools if needed. After taking the class, students dive straight in to working 40 hours a week making $800 paychecks. If the money doesn’t convince you, then the experience will. During the school year, students continue to work part-time at their internships while taking at least one class one semester in that career and technical area. The interns this year came from all three Millard schools. This year the competition for those positions will be stronger with the addition of Westside Community Schools, Elkhorn Public Schools, Ralston and DC West. Seniors Jake Wine, Maritza Gaytan, Josh Ferdico, and Chelsea Molina are four interns from MSHS. “It’s going to look good on my college applications and give me job experience,” Wine said. “Of course this has been a great opportunity that more kids should take advantage of,“ he said. The application deadline has been extended to Jan. 17.
Art by Sean Burton
Orchestra deserves more recognition Orchestra has been a major part of my life since I first began playing the violin when I was a fourth-grader at Upchurch Elementary School. Even before then, seeing the older students perform on the beautiful string instruments captured my attention like nothing else did. Those first two years of being in orchestra were awesome. The whole school saw our concerts as part of the school day. I got to inspire younger students to begin to have the same passion for strings as I do. And then I started middle school. The Andersen Middle School orchestra was shoved in a cramped room in a far corner of the school. Concerts were no longer even advertised as things that were happening. I made some of my best friends in that cramped room, and while none of us loved where we rehearsed, we all still gave the music our all because it was something that made us feel good. Now, in high school, the orchestra is still swept to the sidelines, but it’s somewhat better here than middle school. We have our own classroom with actual instrument lockers. Generally only family cares enough to come and listen to our concerts. Things like our room size have gotten better, but there are things that were minor pests before that I wish would be remedied sooner rather than
later. that is so beautiful that it gives me chills When was the last time you heard when it fits together just right so that all orchestra getting acknowledged at a four string instruments and our percuspep rally? If you said never, you’d be sion create magic. That magic only gets correct. So many other shared with us and our activities have the families because there chance to represent is so little recognition themselves, but the from the rest of the orchestra is left withschool. out even a mention at Not to menevery single pep rally. tion, the orchestra has I’m not saying that a a tiny budget. We pay pep rally would be the for our uniforms out of right place for the orour own pockets with chestra to perform or the help of fundraising anything like that, but that few people ever being acknowledged, buy from, and we nevstanding to be recer get new equipment ognized, or dare I say, such as music stands. getting our senior perTo show you how little formers called down we get, the last thing to the gym floor like we got that was paid Isabel Robb the senior athletes are, for by the budget was Editor-In-Chief would mean so much the cabinet where we to everyone who plays keep our music folders. a string instrument. Years ago there used We put in so much hard work year-round to be a Chicago Symphony side-by-side rehearsing our music for a total of six performance where the orchestra actuconcerts including graduation, not only ally took a trip to Chicago for a perforpracticing in class but also at home and mance sitting next to people who cared before school when class time just isn’t about music so deeply that they made it enough. We sacrifice space in our schedtheir career, but that no longer happens ules to do what we love: making music because there’s not enough money for
Common Sense
Common Sense is the official publication of Millard South High School 14905 Q Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68137. School district guidelines determine the suitability of advertising content. To place an ad or inquire about rates, call (402)715-8363. Common Sense is a monthly publication produced in Room 130. Common Sense uses desktop publishing hardware and software: Apple computers, Adobe InDesign, Adobe Photoshop, and Google word processing software. Printing by White Wolf Web in Sheldon, Iowa. Letters to the editor are encouraged. All letters must be signed with the student’s first and last name, grade, then submitted to Mrs. Kaldahl. Unsigned letters will not be published. The staff reserves the right to edit letters for grammar, length, and clarity. Letters of profane nature or other infractions of school or district policy will not be published.
Editor-in-Chief Isabel Robb News Editor Jake Snelling Features Editor Edith Hickman Sports Editor Dillon Pelster Asst. Sports Editor Joey Kirkle Opinions Editor Carson O’Connor Entertainment Editor Halle Benson Social Media Editor Hailee Wakefield
us to do it. We are an equal section of the music department and as such, we deserve a more equal stake in the budget. I respect the other activities around me. I see the endless time and effort that’s put into making their work amazing and I appreciate it. Believe me, I know how much of yourself needs to be put into something to make it perfect and something you’re happy to put out there. As editor-in-chief of Common Sense, I can tell you with confidence we make an effort to cover as many activities as we can fit into our papers. We may not get everybody’s clubs into a story every year, but we know how much people appreciate it when their hard work gets recognized, and it makes us so happy to see them feel valued as a part of this school. I’ve dedicated the last nine years of my life to orchestra, and all I’m asking for is that the same respect I give to other activities be reciprocated towards an activity that I have held close to my heart for as long as I can remember that really doesn’t get much attention. It’s far past time that orchestra was treated with the same respect as any other activity in the school and finally brought into the spotlight.
Cartoonist Sean Burton Chief Graphic Designer Joscelyn Hynes Copy Editors Sydney Mejia Sydney McDermott Distribution Manager Paige Winchester Advertising Manager Sydney Roberts Staff Secretary Lindzey James
Staff Reporters Cameron Frost Joey Kaipust Santiago Lara Maddy Leland Cameron Merritt Hailee Wakefield Recruitment Lindzey James Hailee Wakefield Social Event Coordinators Chelsea Molina Brianna Strudthoff Adviser Christine Kaldahl
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Focus 12 • 19 • 2019
Stressing & Cry about it?
2+2 does not in fact equal 4 Sydney Mejia Copy Editor
A Common Sense poll of 403 students revealed that nearly half of the students report they cry over math. All across the board, students who report that they cry about school are stressed and cry over their math classes. “The confusion of numbers and the amount of workload is really stressful,� sophomore Alexis Smith said. There are several reasons as to why students seem to get worried about math the most out of all their classes and it really starts with the mindset they have. “There are many adults who say they weren’t good in math or that they never liked it...unfortunately, I think this plants thoughts in students’ heads that math is hard and challenging before a student has a chance to formulate their own opinion,� Math teacher Sara Bonn said. It is one of the most challenging classes that requires the most work and understanding to be successful. “It is not a spectator sport so students need to
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Source: Poll taken by Common Sense Newspaper. 403 students surveyed Graphic by Sean Burton
practice what they learn,� Bonn said. “The daily work contributes to the misconception that math is hard,� she said. The other thing about math is that it is one of those subjects that is always building on previous concepts which also contributes to having to completely understand what goes on. “In fact, as students progress from one class to another, they are asked to actively recall and use information from previous math classes,� Bonn said. Although math seems to be difficult to many, there are plenty of ways for them to get the help they need. “They can look over their notes, review filled-in notes online, watch videos, come in for help, look at their book, ask a friend, email a teacher, and search online for like problems,� Bonn said. Whether or not a student is brought to tears, they have easy ways to help them with their stress from the subject. “It is good for a person to try to take a step back, take a deep breath and keep things in perspective,� Bonn said. “Taking a walk or focusing on your breathing are good ways to calm down,� she said.
Boys don't cry, they sweat Joey Kaipust Staff Reporter “Boys don’t cry.� Most men have probably heard this before, usually from their grandfather after getting smacked in the face with the pigskin at the annual family Thanksgiving football game. This isn’t just a figure of speech, however. There is certainly societal pressure that negatively portrays men who cry, which forces many men to avoid crying and try and hide it from those around them. Sporting equipment to the face isn’t the only thing that can cause men to cry, however. School is an extremely stressful time for multiple students. Many can find the workload overwhelming and get pushed to the emotional edge. For better or for worse, it turns out that the old school saying is true. In a poll taken by the Common Sense newspaper staff where 403 students were surveyed, it was revealed that only 34 percent of male students report they have cried because of school as opposed to the 88 percent of female students who report school has caused them to cry. The school’s Social Worker Mindy Kneifl says, however, the lack of crying from male students isn’t completely negative. “In one way or another, everyone finds a way to externalize their emotions.� Kneifl, who is also a provisionally licensed mental health practitioner, said. Men can externalize their emotions through alternative means. “One [healthy] way for male students to externalize their emotions is through a physical sport,� Kneifl said. Sports with a high level of physicality can be a great way for male students to reduce stress from school. Other healthy coping mechanisms available to men could be talking with a therapist, removing oneself from causes of stress, and reaching out to a friend. So maybe if it is true that boys don’t cry, it should be known that they can still have emotions.
What NOT to do when you don't know what to do Cameron Frost Staff Reporter It's hard for everyone to say that they have never felt stressed before in their life. Whether it's from that project that's due tomorrow that you haven't started or that test you have coming up, everyone has things in their life that can cause them stress. Everyone has their own form of stress, so everyone also has their own ways of coping with it. Even though some of these coping methods can make a person feel better in the moment, some can hurt them in the long run. Things like oversleeping, which leaves you waking up on a bad note. Overeating can lead to weight gain and ends up making you feel worse about yourself. Drugs and alcohol can damage your body and lead to even more and worse forms of coping. Procrastination only feeds a cycle of stress and more procrastination. Lastly, self harm can lead to irreversable damage to your body and could lead to suicide. All of these coping mechanisms can sound like a good idea when you think about them or are in the midst of performing them, but you can't say the same afterwards. Many of these coping mechanisms leave you worse off than before or feed a cycle that drives you to even worse forms of coping. Need someone to talk to? Boys Town Hotline: 1-800-448-3000
Focus 12 • 19 • 2019
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& Coping Go ahead, let it go Sydney Mejia Copy Editor
We all cry sometimes, it is a human thing to do. Every person handles their personal issues and stress different than others but crying is one of the most common. It tends to be an instantaneous solution to our problems that we don’t know how to solve. But many people see it as the wrong thing to do when we are feeling down because they think it is a sign of weakness. But is crying really a good thing for you? It turns out, it is a great sign to communicate and keep ourselves in a positive state of mind. “Crying is a completely natural and healthy way to express how you are feeling,� Guidance Counselor, Joseph Mlnarik said. Our emotional tears come from many different areas from
the feeling of sadness to stress and anxiety or even happiness. Believe it or not, shedding your tears has several positive effects for you and that it is an okay thing to do. Rather than keeping everything in, you are most likely to feel better and have a soothed feeling after crying. “People can point to their personal experiences and feel better about themselves when talking or crying about it,� Mlnarik said. Negative or positive, you should never feel the need to keep yourself from showing how you are feeling. Every once in awhile, we all have an off day and there is nothing to be ashamed of. People are always there to help when in need. “When someone sees another person crying there is
a reaction to do something for them or they think they need to go talk to someone� With that said, there is always someone to talk to when you need a good conversation or a good cry. “Counselors and other teachers are here to help and it is okay to come and ask because we don’t judge off your experiences,� Mlnarik said. People express themselves for any way that they may be feeling and that is nothing to be ashamed of. “Everybody is different and everybody handles their feelings in a different way,� Mlnarik said. So the next time you feel like bottling up your emotions, remember that shedding some tears is good for you in the long run.
Destress, not distress Sydney McDermott Copy Editor
Stress is a part of everyday life, whether it arises due to school, work, or personal problems. One major stressor is social media, counselor Jessica Hamzhie says. “Feeling connected is a good feeling yet feeling unconnected can cause stress.� Another major stressor is balancing life expectations. “Students have a lot on their plate, from work to school to extracurriculars and it can be hard to balance it all,� says Hamzhie. “I feel like we all naturally avoid stressful situations, but some stress levels are good for you,� says Mrs.Hamzhie. Stress happens to everyone and it is important to find ways to destress. There are many ways to destress and some ways are easier than others. Some forms may work for some while they don’t for others. But you should try as many as you can until you find some that work for you! One way to destress is to create better life habits. One life habit that people should implement is to exercise more. Exercising can release endorphins which can improve mood which can lower stress hormones. When you exercise more, your sleep improves and you begin to feel more confident. “A balanced diet is huge and nutrition is an important factor that I think students often put on the back burner,� says Hamzhie. Another life habit is to avoid caffeine, as caffeine can increase anxiety levels and cause people to become jittery. No one has to avoid caffeine, but cutting back on caffeine or knowing how much you can tolerate is a good idea. Having better sleep habits is always a good idea as sleeping for a longer period of time can reduce stress levels and can help put you in a better mood. Keeping track of your priorities, such as homework, is another great way to destress. Avoiding procrastination is a great life habit that can reduce stress. Procrastination can make you scramble to get things done and make you worry about getting things done on time. If you can remember what you need to do, then you should get those things done first. Time management is also an important factor that can reduce stress levels. Knowing when assignments are due, you can plan when to do them and make sure they are done before the
deadline. “Being ahead of my assignments definitely reduces my stress levels along with having good time management. I would also suggest having good organizational techniques to help keep you on top of things,’’ says junior Emily Christiansen. Another stress reducer is to say no to bad habits. Bad habits can range from eating unhealthy food to smoking. Some bad habits are hard to break, but if you can limit them or stop them, you can become a healthier person. “Simply unplugging from social media and using that time for yourself and being able to focus on yourself is key,� Hamzhie says. Some ways to destress are to create and implement relaxation techniques. Some form of relaxation techniques could be taking yoga classes, or meditating. Even journaling can help reduce stress! The act of writing down your stressors and creating a plan to stop them can really decrease your stress levels. “I think that writing down five thing that you are grateful for everyday is a great thing to do,� Hamzhie says. A newer type of relaxation is aromatherapy. Aromatherapy is the use of essential oils and scents to help improve your mood and reduce stress. Certain scents can affect some people more than others, so make sure to pick a scent that applies and can help you. The use of candles can also help to improve your mood. Some simpler forms of reducing stress is to chew gum, laugh, listen to music, and talk with family and friends says Healthline author Kerri-Ann Jennings MS RD. If you are looking for a quick stress reliever, chewing gum is the perfect solution. Talking with family and friends can improve your mood, as being social can reduce your stress levels and laughing can relieve tension by relaxing your muscles. “I think music is a big thing for teens these days and I think it can help reduce stress,� Hamzhie says. According to Psych Central, music’s form and structure can bring stability and order to and can have a relaxing effect which can slow down your pulse. Overall, stress is something that affects everyone but research indicates that implementing some stress management techniques can be helpful. There are many forms of stress relieves and you just need to try and find one that works for you.
SIMPLE WAYS TO
COPE WITH STRESS GET SOME SLEEP
Getting a good night of sleep will help you in tackling any stress that may arise in your everyday life. When tired you are less patient and easily more agitated, which can increase stress. Most adults need 7-9 hours of good quality sleep each night.
EXERCISE Exercise increases your overall health as a form of physical activity produces endorphins which is a chemical in the brain that act as a natural painkiller. Along with this it improves your ability to sleep, which then reduces your stress levels.
DEVELOP A POSITIVE SELF-TALK HABIT Positive self-talk helps you to develop a positive outlook about life and yourself. An optimistic and compassionate conversation can help you to manage your emotions and begin to take positive action within your life.
EAT A BALANCED DIET Having a poor diet can lead you to being more susceptible to stress. By making healthier choices this will help your body fight against stress that may arise in the future. Foods like eggs, avocado and walnuts helps to support mood regulation and energy balance.
TALK TO FRIENDS OR FAMILY When stressing over something it may bring you significant relief to be able to talk to someone who has been through the same things or is going through it currently. Or even just letting your emotions out to someone who is there for you and cares.
EXPRESS GRATITUDE Gratitude helps you to recognize all of the things in your life that you should be thankful for. It also helps to remind you of all the resources that you have in order to help you in coping with stress.
THERE ARE PLENTY OF WAYS TO HELP! Source: www.verywellmind.com
Graphic by Joscelyn Hynes
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Entertainment 12 • 19 • 2019
Jumanji: Next Level Rated PG-13 Runs 1h 54 min. In theaters Dec. 13
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker Rated PG-13 Runs 2h 35 min. In theaters Dec. 20
Cats Rated PG Runs 1h 50 min. In theaters Dec. 20
Little Women Rated PG Runs 2h 19 min. In theaters Dec. 25
Spies in Disguise Rated PG Runs 1h 42 min. In theaters Dec. 25
Santiago Lara Staff Reporter As the ruddy dust settles, kicked up by the hooves of a buckskin steed, there freshman, Grace Grazziano sits upon her trusted mount, Zoë. She is fond of horse-back riding and has enjoyed participating in various events, such as barrel racing, pole bending, and western pleasure. She is also looking to get into Eventing, which is several events, Dressage, Cross Country, and Showjumping, all put into one. “I was born into horse riding,” she said. “My father had done it before me. I started riding when I was 3 or 4 [years old]. I learned the basics from him, then took lessons to begin showing.” Grazziano says she takes joy in riding not just because of her affinity for horses, but because it is different from your normal hobbies and is quite challenging. “You have to use a lot of different muscles to keep steady and usher the horse. It’s a mind game, too. You need to be communicating
clearly with your horse, along with staying on course or doing dressage movements at the right time in your test,” Grazziano said regarding difficulty. This year has been relatively slow for her in terms of the number of competitions she was able to attend due to various factors. She puts the health of her horse over any competition. “Competition-wise, I was only able to attend 3 this year since others we had planned were rained out, but then I decided to end the season in Freshman Grace Grazziano poses with her late July after the Sarpy horse, Zoe, after a groundwork session. GroundCounty Fair Horse Show, since my horses were not work is the foundation for all horses. It may also be used to give horses confidence without the feeling their best and it showed from their perfor- added stress of a rider. Photo by Cristina Grazziano mance and overall mood attend a trade school in order to throughout the day,” Grazziano said. become a professional horse trainer In her future, she has plans to and photographer.
Cappuccinos, cookies and cheesecake Edith Hickman Staff Reporter Whisk and Measure is more than just a coffee shop that is located here in Millard. The Whisk and Measure – pastry/coffee shop combination is executed in an incredibly unique manner; the two doors to the shop boast two choices, the first being a “Bakery” option, with the other being a “Coffee” option. Choosing one entrance over the other leads you to either a case of fresh, inhouse made pastries or to a menu for simple, finely-crafted coffee drinks. Whichever door you choose will inevitably lead you into the Whisk and Measure’s daily pastry display, including vegan and paleohospitable arms friendly foods. Photo by Edith Hickman of the Whisk and store. With the intention of operating a shop that caters Measure Specialty Bakery to local vegan, gluten-free, and paleo communities, and Coffee shop. Brown opened Whisk and Measure almost three years Sitting on the ago. northwest corner of 132nd “Our motto is ‘let us be your happy place’,” says and Center at 2505 South bakery manager Sonia Arroyo. “[Whisk and Measure] 133rd Plaza sits this small, is a place where people can come together.” Whether local shop. Its owner, Beth it be for business meetings or casual meet-ups, Arroyo a monthly feature Brown, is a former actuary says that she hopes Whisk and Measure can be a place who sought to open her own where all people feel comfortable getting
Cool beans
Art by Sean Burton
Movies to see over winter break
Teen equestrian takes hobby to new level of competition
together. When it comes to the bakery side of things, W&M boasts an extremely plentiful menu. Although some items, like their vegan cake donuts, are only available every once in a while, they are always stocked full of an assortment of pastries. “Our bakery items vary from cheesecake to cake, bars and cookies,” explains Arroyo. All of the items available in W&M are made from scratch daily in-house by a dedicated staff of bakers. What makes Whisk and Measure significant is their dedication to offering goods for people with dietary restrictions. Many of the items available on a daily basis are vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, or even paleo. According to Sonia, this is one of the most important aspects of W&M. Although coffee might seem like an afterthought, lost in the excitement of Whisk and Measure’s bakery, it certainly isn’t. With a simplistic menu boasting drip coffee, lattes, and mochas, W&M offers an array of hand-crafted drinks. Just like their pastries, W&M’s coffee is equally as sweet and filling. With Whisk and Measure only a few blocks away, it is certainly worth it to make the short trip down to the welcoming coffee house.
Entertainment 12 • 19 • 2019
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Frozen II casts you into the unknown Sydney McDermott Staff Reporter Everyone remembers how loveable Frozen was and the sequel did not disappoint! The sequel was an addition to the original that I did not know I needed. As a warning, there will be spoilers in this review. Frozen II journeyed back to the past to help bring the story forward. The audience got an explanation as to how the King and Queen had met and the audience got to learn about how Arendelle held a dark secret. The audience also got to see Arendelle correct their mistakes and rebuild their future. I enjoyed seeing how the young King and Queen met, it was very adorable to see the young queen save the young king and fall in love even though their people were at war. The audience also got to see where the Queen and King were going when they had died. I thought it was really important to see this, as it was revealed that they were going to find the true reason why Elsa had her powers. Once Elsa heard this, she was devastated, and I don’t blame her. Elsa felt an immense amount of guilt, but Anna was there to help her calm down. Throughout the whole movie, Elsa heard a voice that tugged her to a new place that felt more like home than Arendelle was to her. Elsa learned that she was the bridge to the spirits, or the four elements, to humans. I feel like she didn’t really enjoy life as a Queen, that everything was just mandatory for her and I think she needed a place to fit into
and she needed friends that liked her for her, especially Honey. So I was very glad when she decided to stay rather than go back to Arendelle. The new relationship of sisterhood between Anna and Elsa was great to see. In Frozen I, they did not have a very deep relationship, but that has definitely changed. In the sequel, they are a lot closer to each other as they have inside jokes and promises, it felt more like what a sisterhood should be, and it was very cute to watch. I don’t have a sister so I don’t really know what a true sisterhood would be like, but I feel like their relationship would be a perfect example of sisterhood. Anna and Kristoff got to explore their relationship more and began to further it. Throughout the film, Kristoff was trying to propose to Anna, but always got cut off before he was able to. It was very interesting to see the new relationship between them. At the end of the last one, they just started
dating and so this movie really dived into their relationship. It was very cute to see them in love with each other, as Kristoff sang a song about he was so lost without Anna, he couldn’t tell the proper directions without her. In the end, he was finally able to propose to her and she said yes! I was very happy to see them finally get engaged, as I had to wait though whole movie for it to happen and it certainly did not disappoint. Also, Olaf is still his adorable self but with some added concerns. He was very worried about growing up and the changes that would occur from it. I connected with this as we’re all getting older and growing up. Growing up comes with many problems and I felt like Olaf and I were very similar in our concerns. But Anna and the rest of the crew were there to show him that they were always gonna be there for him. I was very glad Olaf was there because he certainly was a comedic relief for the
‘Charlie’s Angels’ strikes good balance of story and feminism Brianna Strudthoff Staff Reporter
The remake that is actually not a remake. Going into the theater I expected the same story just revised, but we got a completely new story. I had expected it to be the original plot of three crime fighting girls that take on the task of helping a computer genius get back his tech. The movie starts off a bit rough with a cringey date scene. At that point I almost regretted going to this movie, but luckily it took a turn for the better. The original movie is overly dramatic in all the action scenes while this one was more realistic, well as much as spy movies can be. In the original, women were over sexualized but the new movie adds the balance of using a women’s looks and knowing when not to go too far. The film shows the world of female spies that has expanded around the world. The movie follows a young female scientist who creates a piece of technology that can power a building without using any fuel. The downside is that it can also be used to cause a seizure and kill someone without a trace. The company plans on launching it anyway but it falls into the wrong hands and that how the action packed plot thickens. It was really weird to see Kristen Stewart as the comedic character after her previous roles as the dramatic downer in Twilight. Stewart’s character Sabina is a light hearted and humorous character that provides a refreshing laugh in this empowering movie. Also revolutionary for the film is that director/writer Elizabeth Banks provided a strong female LGBTQ lead, both actor and
character. Not many movies have a female LGBTQ lead that focuses on smarts and action. This movie has many cameos in the ending credits, from an original angel, Jacyln Smith, to race car driver Danica Patrick. The cast itself had many familiar faces. Some people you may not have seen in the trailers that appear include Sam Claffin, and Noah Centineo. Charlie’s Angels is a well put together film that deserved a bigger audience. The release date was poorly selected as it was released the same weekend as Frozen II. I think it would have been a better idea to release the movie a week sooner or a couple weeks later.
serious moments. In the end, Elsa finds her new home in the Enchanted forest with the spirits and her new friends, a fire salamander and a horse made of water. I think this was perfect for her. She didn’t have all the pressure as Queen, and she met a new group of people that she really fit into. Anna becomes Queen of Arendelle with her fiance Kristoff by her side, along with Olaf and Sven. Anna is the perfect person to become Queen to me, she is caring and educated in politics, and she is great under pressure, so she will do many great things for Arendelle. The animations in the movie held my attention captive throughout the entire film along with the plot. The animations of the four elements and Elsa’s powers were just incredible. There were even moments that I felt like the movie could have been live, rather than a cartoon. While the songs were good and helped to move the story along, they were not as catchy as the original. They were very nice but they didn’t have the same gusto that the original did. The lyrics were amazingly written and the songs were sung beautifully! Maybe soon I will start belting out Into the Unknown, but that is not today. Overall, Frozen II was a movie that was definitely worth watching! It was an amazing movie that tied in themes from the original. It was a movie that certainly lifted spirits and bright joy to all this season.
Patriot Pets Want to see your pet featured here? Email pwinchester180@millardps.org along with a picture and a description of your pet.
Art by Sean Burton
Thurston enjoys being outside and belongs to Sean Barry
Benny is a 7 years old who loves being the center of attention and belongs to Sophia Caples
Follow us on Twitter @mshscommonsense on Instagram @commonsensenp and check out our website at wearemillardsouth.com
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Sports 12 • 19 • 2019
Back on court, back to business
Dillon Pelster “As seniors it means a lot to be captains. We Sports Editor have to be in charge of everything on and off the court because chemistry is everything this year,” Dominance. Determination. Relentless hard Horan said.” We have no individual goals this year. All work. Immense talent up and down the roster. This we are trying to get is a championship,” she said. has been the narrative around the Millard South The attitude of team captains often reflects girls basketball program for the last four years, led how entire teams play and communicate together by head coach Bryce Meyers and a strong willed, on and off the court. Despite coming up short in close collective group of previous years, seniors. the focus is on this Arguably Millard year, this group of South’s most competitive teammates, and the and dominating team desire to finally get year in and year out has over the hump. started out in high gear “When you don’t to begin the 2019-2020 win state, nothing season with punishing else you accom– senior Maddie Krull wins over Bryan, Burke, plished doesn’t and Omaha Northwest, really matter. We are demolishing opponents along the way with eye very excited about finally getting back on that court popping scores of 87-8, 101-71, and 79-26. There’s and playing some games,” Krull said. “Every time we no doubt why this Patriot team was ranked number step on that court we need to give it our all with no 1 in the preseason poll, however Coach Meyers he regrets.” says isn’t buying too much into it. Determination and relentless work once again “Doesn’t mean much. We have to maintain our come to mind. The energy around this locker room energy level and buy into the little things so that is even keeled, one focus on their minds, one goal, when we play against tough competition, we are one last opportunity for the eight seniors on this more prepared,” Meyers said. “We’ve had an aweteam. This group of Patriots is unique, however. some run, 43-3 at home, 71-11 with this group of With eight seniors leading the way, it is also worth seniors. Only one thing we haven’t accomplished noting how young the rest of the roster is with all yet and that is to get a state championship.” other players being underclassmen. Seniors Haley It is easy to sense the level of urgency surMcClanathan and Jahlina Barrett also recognize the rounding the team, especially this talented group of leadership that is going to be needed for these girls seniors that has paved the way the last four years for to get to their ultimate goal. this opportunity. ”It means a lot to be on this team as a senior,” After heartbreaking defeats the last three years McClanathan said.“ Being strong mentally and trustat the state tournament in Lincoln, these girls have ing one another at all times is very important for this never seemed more focused on their end goal, a group.” state championship. “We try to encourage the younger players every All state studs Jayme Horan and Maddie Krull day just to show them how it is supposed to be are both off to terrific starts to the season, averaging done,” Barrett said. “Sure there is pressure on us with 19 points per game while also being named team the high expectations we have but it makes us betcaptains. ter and work harder than before,” she said.
“Every time we step on that court we need to give it our all with no regrets. ”
Megan Belt knocks down three-pointer in second half vs Elkhorn South. Belt’s performance helped contribute to the Patriots 71-37 victory. Photo by Josh Ferdico
Sports 12 • 19 • 2019 playing the Storm and taking an 18-7 lead at the end of the first quarter. One of the biggest factors for the Patriots early on was their lockdown defense. Blake Stenger played a huge part in forcing turnovers, while Michael Harding held the Storm’s top scorer, Zach LaFave, to only 2 points in the opening quarter. After struggling in the first quarter, Elkhorn South made big adjustments, having their players be much more aggressive on offense, constantly attacking the lane. They were able to draw plenty of fouls, with Trevor Albert and Gage Stenger getting into foul trouble in the first half. With their absence, the Patriots needed to do whatever it took to hold onto their lead. Blake Stenger did a great job leading the offense, while Jack Cooper didn’t skip a beat taking over at center. However, LaFave began to produce for the Storm, slowly getting them back into the game. The Patriots led by four going into halftime, though it appeared that Elkhorn South had the momentum. “[at halftime] We were calm and Junior Gage Stenger breaks free for the fastbreak against Elkhorn South. Stenger finished the collected and talked about what game with 12 points and 5 assists. Photo by Josh Ferdico we needed to fix to be successful in the second half,” Harding said. The game then turned into a back and forth battle in the third quarter, with each team giving it their all. Big men Albert and Cooper were essential, with Albert getting three blocks early in the Joey Kirkle entered game with high hopes. quarter, and Cooper scoring 7 of the Patri Sports Editor “Our expectations were very high for ots’ 14 points. The Patriots were hanging that game,” junior Michael Harding said. onto a three point lead towards the end “We knew what we were up against, and of the quarter, until Elkhorn South guard In a back and forth battle Dec. 13, we had a great week of practice leading Max Mosser hit an unbelievable 65 foot the Patriots eked out their first win of the up to the game, which really helped in heave at the buzzer to tie the game up season against favored Elkhorn South. our success.” going into the final quarter. Despite early struggles in the season, they The Patriots wasted no time, out-
Patriots prevail in nail-biter against Elkhorn South
11 The Patriots and the Storm continued going back and forth the rest of the game. No matter what the Storm did, the Patriots stayed calm and collected, not letting Elkhorn South’s tempo affect their play style. Elkhorn South guard Chase Anderson caught fire early on, hitting two big three pointers. Nevertheless, the Patriots kept fighting, with Cooper and Gage Stenger as their top two targets on offense. Just one play after hitting a game tying three pointer, Albert was called for his fifth and final foul, forcing Cooper to move to center. While it may have been a disadvantage for the Patriots to be without their top rebounder, it ended up not playing a factor, as Gage Stenger hit a clutch go-ahead jumper with 30 seconds left to take a 52-50 lead. A smart decision by Coach Leuschen to go into a 2-3 zone defense worked to perfection, as they were able to stop Elkhorn South on their final attack and pick up the 52-50 victory. It was a huge game for the Patriots, who picked up their first victory of the season. While they are excited about the win, they are more focused on what’s next. When asked about the big win and what’s next for the Patriots, Coach Leuschen said that “The boys need to see what it’s like to get a big win on a Friday, and then be ready for a big game on Saturday.” With the work ethic that this team has, their first priority is to make sure that they’re prepared for whatever is next. When looking at this team, don’t let their record fool you. This is a group of hard working, selfless players that will do whatever it takes to win. No matter what the scenario is, these guys will keep their heads up, and find a way to get better. The Patriots will surprise many of us throughout this year, as the hard work and dedication continues to pay off.
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Entertainment 12• 19 •2019
Since finals week is so stressful, here’s a coloring page from us to you as a way to de-stress. Happy Holidays!
Art by Sean Burton and Gabrielle Washington