December issue

The

Patriot

Volume 52 / Issue 4 / December 15, 2017

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Contents 04

Patriot Staff

News

Newsfeed

South vs. East Rivalry Q&A with Bruce Bove

Features

Basketball

22 23 24 25 26

16 Cover Story: Standardized Testing 18 2017 Time Capsule 19 Students Living with a Disease 20 Q&A with Broc Pashia 21 Finals Tips Staff Editorial Debate: Christian Holidays Guest Column with Bethany Ward Donald Trump Final Exams

A&E

11 12 14 15

Opinion

The Nutcracker

Mission statement

The Patriot is a news magazine that aims to objectively present topics affecting Shawnee Mission South High School, as well as connect with readers on issues concerning the student body. Staff members reserve the right to express their views in the Opinions section. These pieces are labeled and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the staff as a whole, except the Lead Editorial, which represents the views of the editors. Under the First Amendment and Kansas Law, The Patriot staff is entitled to freedom of the press and neither the school nor district is responsible for any content or coverage. The staff encourages letters to the editor, they will only be published if signed. The editor-inchief reserves the right to refuse or edit any letters for reasons of grammar, length and good taste.

Cover graphic by Madison Holloway Features & infographics editor

06 SRO Rifles 07 NAHS Bathroom Painting 08 Political Clubs Reform 09 AcaDec | Categories

Sports

Editor-in-Chief

Sophia Belshe Assistant Editor-in-Chief

Avery Woods News Editor

Lily Wagner Sports Editor

Avery Woods Features Editor

Madison Holloway Opinion Editor

Sophia Belshe A&E Editor

Miah Clark Infographics Editor

Madison Holloway Web Editor & Social Media Manager

Nichole Thomas Ads Editor

Ansley Chambers Copy Editor

Addie Soyski Photo Editor

Savannah Morgan Assistant Photo Editor

Cassandra Awad Editorial Cartoonist

Lauren Bass Photographers

Trinity Clark, Abby Cox, DJ Gill,

Weston Glendening,

Jillian McClelland Reporters

Blake Atkinson, Daniella Campos,

Brett Conner, Gini Horton,

Pablo Jimenez, Parrish Mock,

Brynn Taylor Adviser Julie Fales

27 Top Holiday Movies 28 KC 1-2-3: Holiday Drinks 29 KC 4-5-6: Holiday Lights 30 Happy Holidays 31 Culture Corner Table of Contents 03

Newsfeed addie soyski

by Brynn taylor copy editor reporter graphic by madison holloway

land grab

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wo proclamations have been signed by President Donald Trump rescinding 80 percent of the Bears Ears National Monument, as well as shrinking Grand Staircase-Escalante by 45 percent. Bears Ears is populated with over 30 indigenous tribes living on the land and will be split into two separate sections and according to nbcnews.com, “...where some of the 10,000 known religious ruins remain, and the rest will be opened up to use by the extraction industries.” In this monument there is a living testimony to the connected nature and life of this natural world. There are streams, forests, bears, deer, elk and mountain lions that are all coexisting because the heterogeneous web that gives them life has not been crushed, defeated and demoralized. The 30 tribe leaders have been living in solidarity with the presidential administration and have held their sacred land for thousands of years. They are now raising a moral voice against the Trump Administration to protect their land and public land that are about to be endangered by the expressed intention that has been made.

“I think it’s really smart that they are taking a stand for their land and for the tribes, since they have been living in solitude and haven’t caused harm to people or the monument. I just wonder why they would need to get that taken away,” sophomore Madison Hickert said.

Changes to finals schedule

The changes to the schedule for fall exams has caused a stir in the student body.

“I really like it. It gives us more time to prepare and make sure we get all of our stuff done before we forget,”

Monday, Dec. 18

Final - 7:40 - 9:10 Final - 9:20 - 10:50 10:55 - 11:30 (35 minutes) 11:35 - 12:10 (35 minutes) 12:15 - 1:20 (35 minutes & Lunch) 1:25 - 2:00 (35 minutes) 2:05 - 2:40 (35 minutes)

Tuesday, Dec. 19

--- junior Tessa Vogt

“Oh my god, I hate it. It’s making me want to move schools. I can’t concentrate on one, let alone three in one full day,”

Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, hatless and wearing sunglasses, looks at ancient native ruins in Bears Ears National Monument, Utah. (William Yardley/Los Angeles Times/TNS)

3. Final 7:40 - 9:10 Seminar 9:15 - 10:05 (50 minutes) 4. Final 10:10 - 11:40 Seminar 11:45 - 1:05 (50 minutes, 30 minute lunch) 5. Final 1:10 - 2:40

Wednesday, Dec. 20

--- sophomores Jill May and Kyla McCoy

6. Final 7:40 - 9:10 7. Final 9:40 - 10:50 Early Release (Optional Lunch 10:50 - 11:30, bus departure at 11:30)

photo by weston glendening

kudos 04 News

Senior Tara Phillips took 1st place in the Lenexa Sunflower Poetry Slam The Heritage Singers were selected to perform at the 2018 Kansas Music Educators Association in-service workshop Seniors Gabriel Carter, Kaitlyn Fields, and Patrick Wiley as well as sophomore Owen Russell who were selected for State Choir

pta reflections contest

photo by Jillian Mcclelland

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he PTA Reflections Contest, whose theme is Within Reach, is underway. Entry forms are due Jan. 5 and are located in the office.

They will be reviewed by experienced artists for interpretation of theme, creativity and technique.

There are six categories that are included in the entry which are Visual Arts, Photography, Music Composition, Literature, Film Production and Dance Choreography.

Debaters take places

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ophomores Cyan Ridge, Caroline Tuohey, Addie Soyski and Arden Larsen celebrate placing in debate tournaments the weekend of Dec. 2.

Larsen and Soyski took third place in the JV breakout division of the Varsity tournament at Lawrence High School. Tuohey and Ridge took fourth in the advanced novice division. Members of the team will compete at debate state, which will take place Jan. 27 and 28 at Blue Valley Southwest High School.

District To Offer New Pre-k SMSD to offer Pre-Kindergarten options throughout district.

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he Shawnee Mission District believes that early learning is an important and fundamental stage in a child’s developmentwhich is why 15 out of the 24 elementary schools in the Shawnee Mission School District are offering the following options for pre-k in the 2017-2018 school year include: A no-fee half-day Title I pre-k option (qualifications apply) is offered at ApacheIS, Bluejacket-Flint, Crestview, Merriam Park, Rising Star, Roesland, Rosehill and Shawanoe and a no-fee half-day grant-funded pre-k option (qualifications apply) offered

trumpdate

“I can tell, on the first day of school every year, which kids have been in the Pre-K program.

They know how to sit and listen, write their names, use scissors, and how to get along with their classmates. I wish every 4-year-old would be able to attend,” Rosehill Kindergarten teacher Susan Awad said.

photo by cassandra Awad

at Briarwood, Brookridge, Broken Arrow, Comanche, Santa Fe Trail, and Shawanoe.

As well as a tuition-based half-day

pre-k option offered at Briarwood, and Trailwood.

“I think it’s a good thing... since my kid is in fourth grade, it’s not affecting me personally,” math and computer science teacher Vince LaVergne said, whose children attend school in the district.

Though LaVergne’s children are not affected by the new program, he agrees that early learning is important for the child’s development and readiness.

“I think it is a great service. It helps arrive the child and prepare them for kindergarten,” LaVergne said.

According to KSDE.com “The Kansas State Board of Education has identified Kindergarten readiness as an essential building block for future achievement and academic success.”

Officially recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and plans to relocate the US Embassy there.

Trump’s former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn took a plead guilty to lying to federal investigators GOP Tax bill passed the Senate Events as of Dec. 8

News 05

Shooting for safety District aims to increase safety by taking preventative measures.

by pablo jimenez reporter n 2015, the Shawnee Mission School District’s director of safety and security John Douglass purchased rifles, which cost the school district $5,671.04. From all the events and shootings that have happened, it shows that the district is taking some action.

The rifles were distributed to different officers around the Shawnee Mission District, one of the officers being Officer Mike Brown.

Some students, including senior Brendan Murphy, say that the purchase was not worth it and that the money should have been spent on something more helpful for the district.

Sophomore Derrick Rowe-Gamez feels the same.

“They aren’t entirely necessary just because they already have guns in this school,” he said.

Officer Brown has a different take on it.

“To me, this is a good thing. It’s more of a defensive tactic on our part, so if something bad happens, and I hope it never does, but if something bad happens, at least I have the ability of stopping that threat,” Brown said.

“The idea is to protect everybody we can, myself included. So if the shooter is shooting a long gun at me and all I have is my side arm, he’s probably going to win and get a lot more rounds.”

In a June 11 Kansas City Star article, some parents said that the weapons were unnecessary. What’s the point of having “bigger badder weapons” when they can use the one on their vest? The idea is not about the size, it is about the advantage the officers will have.

“The bad guys usually have

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06 News

Along with other officers in the district, Officer Kyle Lathrop went through training to use the rifles.

photo by trinity clark

rifles. So if they have the advantage on me down the hall shooting my way and all I have is this handgun, I can’t advance on them, they have me trapped. So it kind of equals the playing field a little bit,” Brown said.

“That’s why people hunt with rifles instead of handguns because they are steadier, you can shoot farther and they are more accurate.”

The officers also have time with

“It’s more of a defensive tactic on our part...if something bad happens at least I have the ability of stopping that threat.”

- Officer Mike Brown these weapons. The qualified officers would be the ones getting the rifles.

“We have to qualify with the gun.

We also go and just shoot on our own or we shoot as a force and practice so we feel comfortable with it. It is so we know how to use them, we are confident with it, and feel safe using it,” Brown said. “We are responsible

for every round we fire, so if I’m shooting a bad guy and I hit you, I am responsible for that, so you have to know what your backdrop is and you do a lot of training like that.”

Not all students are against the rifles, including.

“I would say it’s not so bad of an idea, because it is only for safety reasons. They would obviously have to be trained to have them,” sophomore Rochelle Adamous said.

Brown has had his time with these weapons. He previously worked in Las Vegas for about 20 years and has been around rifles for a long time.

In The Star article, parents said that they didn’t like the idea of rifles being on school property with the students.

“We have a safe in our office which is one place, but they are also scattered in other places that we can’t talk about,” Brown said. “Like I said, I’m all for them and it is just another tool I can use, just like everything I have on my vest. These are just tools.

And the greatest things you can do is talk [the shooter] out of it, but when they are shooting it’s just a little hard to do that.”

During their National Art Honor Society meeting, seniors Jenna Alfaro, Andy Mangandi, and junior Jane Swanberg use Google to find inspiring quotes to paint on the bathroom walls. The members of NAHS are planning to paint these quotes after winter break.

photo by savannah morgan

something new in the loo NAHS doesn’t stall to paint the bathrooms.

by gini horton reporter ational Art Honor Society will be giving life to the seven bathrooms in the academic wing and the two bathrooms by the cafeteria in mid December with inspirational quotes and murals.

“These are the bathrooms that most people visit, they are the ones that are used every day,” senior Maria Sierra said.

Sierra has been put in charge of the project after two years of participating in NAHS, which approximately 40 students will be a part of.

“I’m really excited. I love painting, and it will be super cool to give life to the bathrooms in a cool way,” Sierra said.

NAHS also puts on the annual trunk or treat, they have elementary school kids come to South so the NAHS students can help them, and they actively participate in the community.

“Our goal is to bring what we do to the other parts of the school and the greater community,” art teacher Cortney Dougherty said. “And I feel

N

like in the past years it has improved.

We have gotten a lot of things planned for next semester, but what we really do is highlight the great things we do down here.”

Associate Principal Josie Herrera and Spanish teacher Cynthia Hartwell brought the idea to Dougherty after they read about another school in the area painting murals around the school.

“Mrs. Dougherty has brought ideas, and we have sat down together and approved the motivational quotes that students have come up with,” Herrera said. “I also brought it up with Dr. Dain to see if there was room in the budget to pay for paint.”

NAHS students will be picking out the quotes based on the classes around the bathrooms. Sophomore Jose Stuart’s group will be painting science quotes in the bathrooms by the science classes.

“We will be painting in the open spaces on the walls, and also by the mirror, basically what we are gonna do is have inspirational quotes, like ‘Your smile is the best makeup you can wear,’ ‘Be nice, be kind,’ just nice quotes,” Sierra said. “We were also thinking about having the bathrooms by the language rooms have the quotes in other languages. We want

to make them pretty big so people notice them and they look great.”

The girls bathroom by the cafeteria will have flowers painted around the mirror and the boys bathroom will have “You didn’t wake up to be mediocre” painted on the wall.

“Oh my god, that is so cute. I feel like bathrooms with the big mirrors and bad fluorescent lighting can have a really negative effect on people’s self esteem and I feel like if there are positive quotes, then that would mean that overall people’s spirits would rise and they would begin to lift each other up as well as themselves,” sophomore Kate Herrmann said.

To get involved with NAHS, talk to Dougherty in Room 223 about an application. A B average and a passing grade in at least one art class is required.

“I hope it has a positive impact, seeing daily affirmations of self worth,” Herrara said. “There is so much research that says that has a positive impact and makes people feel better about themselves and increases self esteem and I want all the young men and women at this school to feel good about themselves.”

News 07

a political pairing

Young Democrats Co-President Nick Dunn presents to the club. Members meet Wednesday after school to discuss views on politics.

Photo by cassandra awad

The Red and Blue of politics make a return to the hallways of South.

by blake atkinson reporter olitical clubs will be making a return after one year of absence, giving a place for politically minded students to discuss the issues of the day. The Young Democrats, sponsored by social studies teacher, Tony Budetti, and the Young Republicans, sponsored by social studies teacher, Brett McFall, will be held in rooms right next to each other. While few students at South have the ability to vote, this will allow them to be involved in the civic process in other ways.

“It’s important for our civic engagement. It’s our civic responsibility to be engaged with what’s going on around us and it’s really important that we stay engaged and stay connected to the information and the news of

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08 News

the day,” Budetti said.

During a time in history when the country is becoming much more polarized, these clubs will be a place for both sides to let people hear what they have to say. In the past, the clubs have held debates, which allows people to hear each side.

Young Democrats meet Wednesdays after school and Young Republican meeting times are to be announced.

“I think it gives people a voice and creates a good arena for debate, just concede both sides of it. It gives kids a voice, doesn’t make it wrong or right, but it gives them a chance to be apart of something at school,” McFall said.

These clubs will give a safe place for students to come together without fear of having people shut them down. Having these people be able to come together and learn more about how the government is run will help both sides be able to come together.

“With this club, we can get people to come in and they can talk to other people, kind of like an alliance. We all work together and we can all talk about stuff without worrying about differing opinions and then go and talk with people that disagree with us,” sophomore Republican Club president Ali Harrison said.

Both clubs are student led and will be able to decide how they want to participate in politics and what they want to discuss. They will also be able to get involved more than most people and feel like they are actually doing something for their community.

“You know, it’s really student led, so whatever the students want to do and wherever they want to take it, it’s going to be up to them.

Previous groups have done things like have a debate with their Republican counterpart, they have helped out on campaigns, they have participated locally in politics, but it’s really going to be student driven,” Budetti said.

Young Democrats meet Wednesdays after school in Budetti’s room and Young Republican meeting times are to be announced in McFall’s room.

The Academic Decathalon leaders prepare for the state competition in January. They recently placed first in their regional competition.

photo by abby cox

the brainy bunch

Raiders test their knowledge with these after school clubs.

acadec

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t’s not just conventional sports that prep during off season. AcaDec held meetings throughout the summer, fall and winter in order to make it to the national competition in Frisco, Texas.

“We meet over the summer so we have a running start, because we only have 3 months to learn all of the material. So it’s always good to have a head start in the summer, so we can learn stuff for state,” AcaDec cocaptain Ben Hanson said.

Now, Academic Decathlon, the intellectual competition involving test in 7 subjects (math, economics, literature, social science, science, music, and art), is preparing for their state competition.

“We meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays after school to learn about a set topic and different aspects of that topic.

And then we compete using what we learn,” sophomore Will Cooper said.

This year’s topic is Africa and involves students learning about things like infectious diseases for science and the development of democracy for social science. Last

categories

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small group of South students is working to have a successful season of broadcasted competitions.

Categories is a team trivia game that’s broadcasted on the government access channel.

“It’s similar to ‘Jeopardy!’... The only difference is instead of them telling you what the answer is, it’s reverse.

They ask the question and you tell them the answer. It’s the reverse format of ‘Jeopardy!’,” senior Evan Haseltine said.

Because the questions are random, students must prepare for a variety of topics from art to history to math.

“We find these giant books of random trivia at dollar stores and places like that. We split into two teams and compete against each other for practice,” captain and senior Bennett Vavak said.

The team goes to a studio at Indian Creek Tech Center in order to compete and be recorded for the air.

“The biggest thing you notice is the lights. It’s really hot. And the room is filled with cameramen,” senior

by Addie Soyski copy editor

year, the team learned about World War II and competed at nationals.

“Last year was my first year going to nationals.

The experience, just having tons of people there, even internationally people, just trying to compete was amazing,” Hanson said.

However, not everyone is guaranteed a spot on the team.

“For regionals, everybody competes. And then we get scores back from regionals and whoever has the highest score in each of the three categories will make the team for state and the team for state will go on to nationals,” Hanson said.

AcaDec is taking its highest scoring members to compete at the state level on Jan. 21st after having gotten 1st place at the regional competition Nov. 18th.

“I am very confident in the team we have right now.

I think this is definitely a national bound team,” Hanson said.

Charlie Stallbaumer said.

Different team members have different takes on the experience.

“When you first realize you’re gonna be on TV, it’s not that big a deal, but when you actually get into this studio, it’s rather intimidating, but it’s kind of exciting with all the different cameras and set up that they have. It looks very much like an official type of thing. So it’s kind of intimidating the first time but it gets easier the more you compete,” Haseltine said.

Others had a different reaction.

“When I first started, I was really nervous, but then you kind of realize that ‘Oh, it’s no different than competing in a stadium full of people,’ and you get used to it. It gets really intense because the people you’re playing against are like right next to you so it gets intense going back and forth,” Vavak said.

Categories’ most recent competition will air on Dec. 18.

News 09

duncan & Dancin’ & dunkin’ 1

2

3

4 1. Heritage choir members, who are entered in the 99.7 Christmas Choir Competition, sing “The Christmas Song” at the assembly. As of press time, Heritage choir was in fourth place in the competition. The winning choir gets $5,000 for their program. photo by Savannah Morgan 2. During their assembly cheer routine, sophomores Avery Yarbrough, Parrish Mock and senior Maddy Westcott act as a base for junior Janai Moore. photo by Cassandra Awad 3. Senior varsity boys basketball captain Hunter Schneider dunks and hangs on the rim at the winter sports assembly. The team won 69-59 against Summit Christian Academy Dec. 5. photo by Cassandra Awad 4. Seniors Danielle Mitchell and Kevin Sutcliffe bump hips in the Pacesetter’s assembly dance. Mitchell pretended to teach Sutcliffe how to dance during the routine. photo by Savannah Morgan

10 photo essay

Nutcracker traditions Students share their experiences and favorite roles in a holiday tradition.

by Parrish Mock reporter photo illustration by Abby Cox oy soldiers coming to life battling mice and a whole land made of sweets. Long seven hour school days continuing into two hour rehearsals. For many families and performers, this is a holiday tradition and magical time of year.

These performers are even at South: senior McKinsey Kane, who used to perform in Kansas City Ballet’s Nutcracker and sophomore Ansley Chambers, who performed in Crescendo Conservatory’s “Nutcracker” this year as one of the lead roles, Clara. For many performers, Nutcracker season is a must because it is a great time to get performance experience and have fun with your peers.

Almost every performer or audience member has a tradition associated with “Nutcracker.”

Whether it be watching the last performance like Kane’s family, or enjoying long rehearsals with your peers. Kane, who has been dancing since she was 3, danced for seven years with Kansas City Ballet. Over the many years, her most memorable role was being a Mirliton. Kane’s dream role would be to dance as the Arabian, a dance full of acrobatics and slow movements, much like Chambers’ dream role to be Arabian or the biggest role a dancer could receive, the Sugar Plum Fairy. Many young performer’s dreams are to be Clara in the Nutcracker, because she is in every piece of the ballet, but for Chambers that dream became a reality this December.

“I loved being Clara, because it was so much fun and to be Clara is every little girl’s dream, because she is the picture of the whole ballet, so the role was very rewarding,” Chambers said.

For Kane, her inspiration to

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dance came from seeing the “Nutcracker,” because when she was little, she would watch all of the professionals dance and she could look up to them. For Chambers, her inspiration didn’t come from the “Nutcracker” alone, but because she wanted to be a professional dancer with the image of the tutus and pointe shoes.

“I love how dance and ballet is an easy way to express yourself,” Chambers said.

Although when the audience sees the performance on stage everything looks flawless, the performers spend many weeks, days and hours perfecting every step. For some, the rehearsals start as early as late September or later in October. Rehearsal times could fluctuate depending on the role and the amount of time before opening night. But between all of these rehearsals, students also have homework and test to study for.

“Sometimes you just have to stay up late and finish the assignments,” Kane said.

Every show makes a lasting impact on someone, whether it be in the audience or on the stage. For Kane, the shows where Kansas City Ballet would invite schools to come and watch the performance were by far her favorite, because of how the kids reacted.

“Those were definitely my favorite, because the kids were so excited and so in awe of everything you do,” Kane said.

For Chambers, her favorite show was this year’s, because she felt confident with her motion technique, she had a lot of energy, and she felt all of her partnering worked really well. Some of the best parts were that her family was there and after the show she was greeted by open arms from her peers. Her shows went from Dec. 2-3, and the Kansas City Ballet’s “Nutcracker” started Dec. 7 and goes to Dec. 24.

“This one little girl came up and gave me a bunch of hugs and it was just very sentimental,” Chambers said.

Sports 11

Senior Ryan Jehle drives the ball to the basket while pushing through tough opposition from the Shawnee Mission East players. South lost the game Dec. 2, 71-41.

photo by Sam Creager taken from Dec. 2005 issue of the patriot

South Cross Country runners senior Scott Weiner, junior Brian Shurtleff, and senior Chris Fletcher cover ground during a run at the League meet.

12 sports

photo

by Kim O'Conner taken from Oct. 1984 issue of the patriot

where it

Students and teachers discuss

by brett conner reporter hat makes a rivalry? Is it the student sections that are comparable to war zones? Is it the courts or the fields that host games with passion to beat the other team?

Or is it negative feelings that the players feel towards each other?

“Our teams and ensembles push themselves, because each wants to be the best it can be, but it is more tangible when we aim to beat East,” band director and South alumni Steve Adams said.

Sports rivalries have been around for as long as sports itself: The Yankees and Red Sox, the Lakers and Celtics, Muhammed Ali and George Foreman.

All of these rivalries are driven by the other teams’ and athletes’ desire to beat the opponent. And fans just help increase the intensity of the rivalry.

“Last year, our student section was right next to [East], we started screaming at each other. It was probably the most heated I’ve ever been at a game.

People were up in your face and running around with flags,” senior Crowd Control member Joe McAtee said.

Students have labeled each other with certain groups. In 1987, when South faced East in a basketball game, the theme was “Hippies Day” for the East student section. Some fans decided to bring peace signs to fit with the theme. But instead of the world renown sign for peace, they brought cut outs of the logo of the car brand MercedesBenz.

“We had a field day with that! It fit in perfectly with the ‘clueless rich kid’ label we like to put on them,” Adams said.

The events eventually resulted in a Boston Globe article in 1987. The article had a couple of funny quotes and paragraphs: “Sharp-eyed adults noted that this was not the major symbol of protest against American participation in the Vietnam War, but the symbol of Mercedes-Benz, manufacturer of luxury German automobiles.

‘Only at Shawnee Mission East would they mistake a Mercedes sign for a peace sign,’ grumbled an English teacher, Bill Boley.”

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all began the rivalry of SME vs. SMS.

Most students feel the same as Boley. They have strong feelings and they make that obvious. Some teachers have experienced both schools.

“I taught at East 15 years and this is my 10th year at South. I’ve always enjoyed my students, but I truly enjoy the students here at South more. I feel like, overall, students here are more down to earth and accepting of others who are different from themselves,” math teacher Molly Fast said.

But on the other hand, there are students, teachers and administrators who don’t feel negative towards the other school.

“I understand the rivalry, but they’re like any other school to me. I don’t look at them any different than I do to North or West. They’re a sister school. After games, we still shake hands and move forward,” athletic director John Johnson said.

But what fuels these emotions and why do the affiliates of South feel different in the crowd or on the court or field when South plays East compared to say, Shawnee Mission North?

“It’s just kind of handed down and also the group of guys over there... they definitely don’t have much class,” senior basketball player Hunter Schneider said. “That’s what makes it fun.”

Tradition, trash talk and the simple fact that it is more fun to beat East is what is at the solid foundation of this classic rivalry.

The crowds will be able to enjoy the two boys basketball teams’ scrappy match-up Jan. 9 and the girls basketball team will face off against East the same night, but at 5:30 p.m. The players are looking forward to this clash of rivals.

“What makes the game so fun is the hype around them from everyone. All the talking, good or bad, from players and the schools. Just the thought of coming to school the next day is very exciting,” Schneider said.

The players and the crowds are patiently waiting until the day comes and each school can continue the long list of games and match-ups.

Senior Clay Doerste runs through East’s defensive line.

photo by Mindy Messinger taken from Nov. 1992 issue of the patriot

South’s gymnastics team proudly displays the 1977 Regional Championship trophy, a product of the team’s record setting performance last Saturday at Shawnee Mission East.

Photo taken from nov. 1977 issue of the patriot

Sports 13

qA &

with swim coach

bruce bove

The boys swim coach may be retiring as he is inducted into the Raider Hall of Fame.

by blake atkinson reporter photo by weston glendening

How many years have you been coaching at South?

43 years.

What has coaching been like?

It’s been a pleasure. I’ve had great cooperation from administration.

I’ve had great kids to work with.

It’s been a great experience.

What has been your favorite memory from coaching?

I’m not sure I have a favorite memory. I have been really excited when some kids have had big drops at the state meet or at any meet. Kind of when we’ve been the underdog and won. Those types of things.

Is it true you’re going to retire this year?

There is a good chance this may be my last year. It will kind of depend on who they have available to hire after I leave. I don’t want to see the program just go to anyone.

How has coaching changed you over the years?

Back in the old days, we had to write all the event cards out and we seeded meets with cards. Writing practices have changed, just technology has changed everything.

14 sports

What has been your most successful year coaching?

That’s hard to say. Some teams that haven’t won state I’ve been super proud of when they won second or third. Of course, the teams that have won state, that’s always rewarding.

How would you describe your coaching style?

I provide an opportunity for people to get better.

How do you feel about being nominated for the Hall of Fame?

Well, of course it’s a great honor to have that. I was kind of surprised that I’m going in as an active coach. With the 43 years of active coaching, there are a lot of good coaches and athletes that belong in the hall of fame, so one of the things I will do is start writing people up who I think should be included.

Boys Swim Schedule

Dec. 16: 11 a.m. @SME Jan. 9: 4 p.m. @Prairie Trail Middle Jan. 11: 4 p.m. @SMS Jan. 18: 4 p.m. @SMS Jan. 23: 4 p.m. @SMN Jan. 25: 4 p.m. @BVW Jan. 27: TBD @SME Jan. 30: 3:30 p.m. @Lawrence Free State Feb. 2: 5 p.m. @Prairie Trail Middle & Mission Trail Feb. 3: 8:30 a.m. @ Praire Trail Middle & Mission Trail

hype around the hoops Basketball coaches and players discuss their expectations for the upcoming season. by brett conner reporter inter is back and the basketball players are lacing up their sneakers and getting ready to ball up and reach the expectations of the coaches and teammates. “[We’re] just out here trying to go undefeated and win state. That’s the ultimate goal and having a great senior season,” senior point guard Nick Wissel said.

Coaches and players have set expectations for their team and the team plans to nail the bar or maybe even go over it.

“We are very young and inexperienced. We will need to grow up quickly and step up our level of play to play against other varsity teams,” boys basketball head coach Brett McFall said.

Boys basketball has gotten out to a 2-0 start and hopes to relive the 2012 season when Coach McFall led the team to a perfect 25-0 season and a state championship. And with the crowd at the basketball games, it makes it easier for them to achieve that goal. For now, nobody knows how the team will do, but the teams hope they can have a stacked student section and that they will be loud and proud.

“Our home crowd is always the best. I believe they are the best high school crowd in the KC metro area.

They have great themes, they make our gym loud, and they provide a great home court advantage,” McFall said.

For the girls team, the high school newcomers plan to contribute to the team’s success. There are four freshmen on JV and one starter on varsity from the freshman class.

“We lost quite a few people and gained a couple new people. Lots of schools had some really good moveins,” head coach Terry Tinich said.

“But we’re going to work as hard as

photos by jillian mcclelland

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Four girls basketball players all jump for the same ball. The varsity team added one freshman and the JV team has four.

Sophomore Hayden Polen looks for a pass while senior Hunter Schneider and junior Skyler Rhoads guard him. The boys basketball team won their first two games.

we can.”

They hope to use their new weapons to go undefeated and win state, just like the boys hope to.

“That’s not an expectation. That’s a requirement,” senior basketball player Karoline Shelton said.

The two teams don’t single one team out, but they do have a couple of teams they have their eye on.

“With the Sunflower League, you get the best every night, but Lawrence is probably the team to beat this year, but every time we step on the floor, we’re going to bring our best,” Tinich said.

The boys team doesn’t have any one team in particular that they are watching, but of course, like every year, Shawnee Mission East will be the team everyone wants South to beat. However, they plan all teams the same with McFall’s strategies.

“We like to scout each team in person, then also watch a few games on film, so we get a good look at what they like to do,” McFall said.

The boys team plays a home game against Gardner-Edgerton tonight at 7 p.m. and the girls will play on the same night, but at 5:30 p.m. at South.

sports 15

Movies & SHows Action and terror were popular themes in the top movies and TV shows. A few of the biggest movie titles of 2017 included “IT” and “Wonderwoman,” while the two most popular TV shows were “Game of Thrones” and “Stranger Things”.

2017

time capsule

As the year comes to a close, let’s take a look back at a few memorable moments in news and culture. by madison Holloway Features & Infographics editor

Remember when...

Trump was inaugurated

Top 3 Songs

1.20.17 NASA found 7 Earth-sized planets

2.23.17

What should we leave behind in 2017?

“Trump. He’s against diversity and he increases the divide between people.”

- Junior Manal Boullaouz

Beyoncé and her babies

Beyonce rocked our world when she announced she was pregnant with twins Feb. 1 then performed at the Grammy’s Feb. 12.

Photo by Robert Gauthier- Los Angeles Times- TNS

Social Media

In the year of 2017, teens used Snapchat the most with Facebook and Instagram following closely behind. Twitter, YouTube and Tumblr were also popular and many teens mourned the end of Vine.

18 Features

1. “Despacito” - Luis Fonzi 2. “Shape of You” - Ed Sheeran 3. “That’s What I Like” - Bruno Mars

What do you hope to see happen in 2018?

“Next year I would like to see a better attempt at people just being good humans. I hope 2018 can be a year for justice and respect for everyone and for leaving the craziness of 2017 politics and culture behind us.”

- Senior Devin Palmer

8.21.17 Mayweather beat McGregor

8.26.17

News Topics -Fake News -Shootings -Protest Marches -Immigration -Confederate Monuments -White House Staff -Hurricanes -DACA -Take A Knee -Global Warming -Sexual Harassment -Net Neutrality

there was a Solar Eclipse

Fashion Trends

photos by Madison Holloway (junior Meredith Hernandez, freshman Grace Richards, freshman Chris Galan)

Styles reminiscent of the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s were popular among teens in 2017. Some of their favorite brands included Urban Outfitters, Forever 21, Nike, Lulu Lemon, Converse and Adidas. However, there was a huge trend toward buying thrifted clothes to save money and find unique pieces to show off personal style.

Balancing Act

Students discuss what it’s like to live with a chronic disease while maintaining school and activities.

Photos By Weston Glendenning Photographer

By Lily Wagner News Editor

F

reshman Jackson Lewis pricks his finger and lets the red drop flow onto a blood glucose test strip.

Lewis has Type One Diabetes, which occurs when the body stops producing insulin, a hormone that regulates glucose in the blood.

“I was diagnosed two years ago and I got really sick. Basically I started hallucinating and I wasn’t conscious so my mom called my dad and she was like, ‘We’ve gotta take him to the hospital.’ I was rushed to the hospital and the doctors came out and said I might not make it, that I had a small chance. But I came out OK,” Lewis said.

Lewis now gives himself insulin injections and checks his blood glucose levels several times throughout the day.

“Sometimes, when it’s high or low, not in range, it makes it hard to focus, hard to see. I do a good job of keeping it under control. but sometimes I just have to say ‘Hey my blood sugar is out of range, I’ve gotta go take a break,’” Lewis said.

For many students with chronic illnesses, the school nurse plays an important role in keeping them healthy at school.

“We give them nurse’s passes to come down here or we would take care of them in the classroom if need be. Whatever they need,” nurse Angie York said. “There isn’t one set rule of what we would do [for them], we want to help everybody as much as possible.”

Some students require a 504, which is a legal document to provide accommodations to students with legally identifiable disabilities.

“The rest of it we try to handle by accommodating what’s going to work for the student and the teachers,” York said.

However, not all students with illnesses need to visit the nurse, like sophomore Stella Turner, who has Celiac Disease.

“I was diagnosed two years ago,” Turner said. “My doctor saw I wasn’t growing so he ran all these tests on me and then it turned out to be that.”

The Celiac Disease Foundation

defines the disease as a serious autoimmune disorder that can occur in genetically predisposed people where the ingestion of gluten leads to damage in the small intestine.

“Celiac disease affects people in different ways,” Turner said. “People always ask ‘Does it stunt your growth now?’ Well, no, not anymore, but it does affect my stomach now,” Turner said.

Often times, people with Celiac Disease have to eliminate gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye, from their diet in order to repair damage to their small intestine.

“At home, we had to change all of our food and our whole house is gluten free,” Turner said.

“I have to bring all my food to my friends’ houses, which kind of sucks. And I have to be careful at restaurants, so I don’t get sick.”

There are many misunderstandings about chronic illnesses, which reflects in ways like the increasing trendiness of nonmedical gluten free diets.

“Just be understanding of the fact that it is a disease and don’t look at it like the person has something wrong with them, because really they’re a normal person,” Lewis said. “They just have to do a couple extra things to make sure they’re alright.”

“There isn’t one set rule of what we would do. we want to help everybody as much as possible .”

- Nurse Angie York

“Celiac disease affects people in different ways.”

- Sophomore Stella Turner

“Just be understanding of the fact that it is a disease and don’t look at it like the person has something wrong with them, because really they’re a normal person.”

- Freshman jackson Lewis

Photo Courtesy of Erica Lewis

Features 19

QA &

By Miah Clark A&E Editor

with Broc Pashia

Photo by Trinity Clark

Eclectic junior is your token involved South student.

What is it like to be Broc Pasha?

It’s pretty cool sometimes, and other times it’s not as cool. You know, life man.

What all are you involved in at South?

I play soccer in the spring, tennis in the fall and I’m in KSMS and NHS.

Do you think of yourself as a crucial element in the South community?

Oof. No, not really. I’m kind of more of a behind the scenes guy.

How many times have you played in the music pit for South’s theater shows?

Just once.

What made you want to do that?

Well I quit band this year, and all my friends are still in band and they got mad at me, so they were like “Broc, you have to come back and play with us for Footloose!”

What is your favorite part about that?

I just liked playing with the jazz band.

Is guitar the only instrument you know how to play?

I can play piano and the bass too.

When did you pick that up?

I started piano when I was 7, and I never really got good at that, so I kind of stopped. Then I did percussion in the seventh grade and jazz band in eighth grade, and I wanted to play guitar, so I learned guitar over that summer.

What made you want to learn?

I just really wanted to be in Jazz Band, because Jazz Band is kind of the core band.

And when I started playing in Jazz Band, I just really liked the music and wanted to keep playing and follow up on the music I was learning through that.

What is your favorite song to play? Why?

On piano, I like “Scenes From an Italian Restuarant” by Billy Joel.

Do you write music?

Not really. I’ve messed around with some music-y things. My room is kind of a mess. It’s full of music-y things. I just play a lot.

As seen in our November issue, you do sail/used to sail. How did you get into that?

My little brother. And also my mom has this company deal and Tim Kelly, who’s like the sailing king, helps her with it, and. .. he offered to take us sailing this time, and my brother was like, “What’s going on, this is really cool,” and then my mom and dad were like, ‘we should take a trip out there sometime,” and I’m not very good at sailing, but yeah.

When did you start sailing?

This summer.

Is it a hard thing to learn?

Yeah, it’s pretty hard. You think it would kind of be logical, but there’s lots of wind things going on that you have to work out

Is it a hard or rare thing to come across in Kansas (no places to sail)?

Yeah, it’s pretty weird. When someone told me, “Hey, you can go sailing at this lake, there’s tons of sailboats,” I was like, “what?”

How do you manage all of your responsibilities as an involved member of South with all of your interests?

20 Features

I’m not sure. Well, most of my interests kind of coincided with South, until this year, because of all my classes. But really I just try to find time to play music more.

Finish Strong

by daniella Campos Reporter

Photo Illustrations

by Savannah Morgan

Follow these tips to ensure a smooth, low-stress finals week and enjoy a refreshing winter break.

Take the stress out of Studying -Give yourself plenty of time to study so you feel prepared. It might help you to make a studying schedule so you know exactly when to study what subject.

-Focus for 20 minutes, then take a 5 minute break. It has proven to be the best interval to stay focused overall for long periods of time.

-Download the apps Tide (helps keep you off your phone for desired amounts of time) and Swipes (easy to make to do lists).

-Listen to music while studying, like the Intense Studying playlist on Spotify. It helps create a rhythm and heightens focus.

-Find a study buddy. Hearing a lesson from another perspective helps to engrain it into your memory.

-Reward yourself. Get a special snack or play a movie after a long study session. Balance is key to not getting burned out during finals week.

Some TLC before the T-E-S-T -Take care to eat well. Fruits and vegetables give you vitamins to boost your energy.

Drink plenty of water and try your best to stay away from caffiene to avoid dehydration which can make you groggy.

-Get proper sleep. Try to get at least eight hours of sleep the night before your exam to help you perform well all day..

-Make time to exercise. It floods your body with endorphins (the “happy hormone”).

Running decreases stress hormones. Try to get outside too. Even though it’s cold, a little bit of fresh air can refresh your brain.

-Get comfy. Whether, that means rocking your sweats or a cute outfit, finals week is all about doing what works for you. Wear something that will make you feel ready to tackle those tests.

-Give yourself a little grace. Remember that while these tests are important and should be taken seriously, it is not the end of the world if you don’t do as well as you hoped.

Study as hard as you need to but also make it a priority to take care of yourself.

v

Recharge for the New Year -It’s winter break...have some fun! Get together with friends and family.

Binge a new show. Read a new book. Make something cool. Now is the time to unwind from all your hard work.

-Break is a great time to get organized. Clean your room, get the trash out of your backpack and binder, restock school supplies. Start off the new semester with a clean slate.

-Set some goals and intentions for the next year. Try using old-fashioned pen and paper. Physically writing down your goals actually increases your likelihood of completing them.

-For the last couple of days of break try to get to bed at a reasonable time so you can get back into a sleep schedule. It will make those early mornings easier once the new semester starts..

Features 21

Staff Editorial

O

ver the course of their high school careers, students need the magic 23 credits to graduate. That number is just one of many that makes up a student’s high school transcript. GPA is measured on a scale of zero to four. ACT scores top out at 36. While a graduate’s resume is packed with numbers, the standardized system of scoring does not accurately reflect a student’s knowledge or the value of their high school education.

Standardized testing has been around since the nineteenth century, taking modern form in 1926 with the first SAT. Ninety five percent of colleges in the United States require a score from either the SAT or ACT for admissions, and these scores can lead to thousands of dollars in scholarships for those who do well. But studies show that one Saturday morning test does a poor job reflecting the academic ability of students, one factor being that some people are naturally better test takers than others. There are 2.0 students who score 32 on the ACT, just as there are 4.0 students who struggle to break 25. To put so much weight on one score is unfair to students who put countless hours into their classes, extracurriculars and more.

While the SAT and ACT are the two primary standardized tests needed for college admissions, they are not actually required to walk across the stage on graduation day to receive a diploma.

This year, however, the Individual Plan of Study (IPS) requirement was dropped onto the already full plates of the Senior Class. According to the IPS Philosophy document, found on the Raider Writing Center website, the IPS is meant to “help [students] define their career goals and postsecondary plans and make informed decisions about their courses and activities throughout high school.”

In 2014, the Kansas Department of Education strongly recommended to the Board of Education that all districts implement the IPS for grades eight through 12, which is where this graduation requirement originates. The

22 Opinion

IPS requires students to create an incredibly extensive resume, including a portfolio of work from their high school career.

This requirement makes no sense in the context of when it was given to seniors. Most seniors are already finalizing post-graduation plans, whether it be college or otherwise.

And those who don’t, have a plethora of resources available to get started.

That should not be the reason the entire Senior Class has to fill an additional requirement.

The goals of the IPS are reasonable. Students should have a resume ready to go when they leave for college, but it’s unnecessary to have it as a requirement, especially not one as extensive as the IPS. Many components of the IPS, including Career Cruising profiles, are no longer applicable to students who already have their post-high school plans figured out. This requirement is too much work too late in the game for the class of 2018.

In future years, this requirement should be explained as early as freshman year, so students can build it as they go, rather than scramble to sift through long forgotten projects and assignments from past classes.

Kansas state testing is yet another task asked of high schoolers. These tests are taken annually by certain grades to measure student ability in

Editorial Cartoon by Lauren Bass

math, reading and science. While some classes are designed to cater to these tests, they are basically just ways for the school to earn money from the state. While Kansas schools are certainly in need of a budget increase, having students take tests solely for the purpose of data collection is a waste of time, and puts too much stress on students and teachers to meet state standards.

All of these numbers and requirements do not accurately reflect what high school really means to students. Four years of learning and growth cannot be summed up in a Google Doc or boiled down to a test score. These requirements are simply boxes to check, and they don’t better the education of students.

The issue of standardized testing is a complicated one, because if standardized tests aren’t the way to gauge student ability, then what is? But the current system clearly isn’t working. Society needs to have a more holistic view of education.

Students are more than numbers; we should not be treated as such.

10/10 editors agree with the views expressed in this editorial

The Debate: Christian holiday schedule Pro:

Con:

By Ansley Chambers Ads Editor

M

ost students associate wonderful memories with spending time with loved ones, not stressing over school and celebrating holidays, whether those holidays are Christmas and Easter, Hanukkah and Passover or any holiday, we are free to celebrate.

As Americans, we can celebrate any religion or holiday we desire; however, not everyone celebrates the same holidays. Some are more widely celebrated than others. Why shouldn’t our calendar be based on the most celebrated holidays? According to ABC News, roughly 83 percent of Americans identify as Christian. About 13 percent have no religion. Only four percent identify as another religion. This makes Judaism, Islam, Buddhism and many other religions minorities. While these minorities deserve acknowledgment, we shouldn’t base the entire year around holidays that most people don’t celebrate. The calendar should be designed to accommodate the majority.

Christmas is centered around Jesus’s birth and is celebrated world wide. While 96 percent of Americans celebrate Christmas, 81 percent of non-Christians also observe the major Christian holiday, according to Pew Research Center. It makes sense to center a break around Christmas, a federal holiday. Most schools call this “Winter Break,” fairly considering the multiple holidays taking place during this time besides Christmas, including Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and New Year’s.

Easter, another major Christian holiday, is centered around Jesus’s resurrection. Spring Break is usually the week of St. Patrick’s Day in March; however, Easter can be any Sunday in March or April. Unless by coincidence, public schools usually don’t have a break near Easter.

Easter is linked to Passover, a Jewish holiday. Neither have a dedicated break, despite that both are celebrated over several days. According to Forbes, around 80 percent of Americans celebrate Easter. Many Christian schools cancel from Ash Wednesday to Easter Monday. While taking 40 days off for lent is a lot, it would be nice to have a long weekend, allowing people to fully celebrate Easter.

Hinduism and Catholicism have the most holidays, but they are not majorities. Therefore, taking time off for every Hindu holiday would not affect most people. The calendar should be designed with the majority in mind and not centered around holidays that are celebrated by less than four percent of the population.

Raider Response:

Pro: 38%

Poll of 37 voters via SMSPatriot on Twitter

By Miah clark a&e editor Photos by WEston Glendening he Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution prohibits K-12 public schools from closing solely for the purpose of observing a religious holiday. Yet, with a vast majority of public schools and their yearly calendars being founded and developed by Christians, there is a common trend in American public schools in which yearly schedules are centered around Christian holidays.

This year, Jewish students at South will have to come to school during Hanukkah, while Christian students will be able to celebrate Christmas over the Winter Break without worrying about compromising their education.

No student should have to worry about making up assignments they missed because they were absent during a religious holiday.

Under current law, schools may shut down on religious holidays if they have secular and educational reasons for doing so. Through this, days off are often given for Christmas when taking into account the amount of students who would not be attending school. To recognize the majority but shoot a “just deal with it” attitude towards religious minority students is an unhealthy balance in public school communities. No student should be subject to different educational circumstances due to their religion.

The Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment and certain state laws require K-12 public schools to allow for religious students to be absent without penalty, meaning that in addition to permitting a student to be absent, a school will give a reasonable amount of time for the student to catch up on the work they missed. Rather than cutting the same days as religious holidays out of the school calendar, public schools simply need to be more understanding of a student’s absence during a religious holiday. It’s unreasonable to imagine that schools could close for every possible religious holiday, even with the increasing diversity in American public schools. Rather than continuing to alienate the minority through current Christian-centric public school scheduling, we need to improve our understanding and tolerance by allowing for the students who need to be absent for religious holidays to do so when necessary, and to allow for an adequate amount of time to complete any of the work they missed when gone.

Con: 62%

T

Opinion 23

Photo illustration by Trinity Clark

hitting the books The shift from library to Learning Commons has not been entirely positive.

easy enough to move without wheels, they don’t need to be shaped like puzzle pieces for students to figure out how to push them together, and the dry-erase board top doesn’t seem to be any more useful than that good old paper and pencil.

Along with the new additions comes a new name: the “Learning Commons”. I suppose the purpose

By Bethany Ward was to rename the new space which Guest Columnist seems appropriate with the addition lmost every morning before of the Green Bean. But school for the “Learning Commons” last three years, “It seems to me that educators and sounds more like I’ve sat in the library at administrators get caught up in cafeteria to me, and an array of nice large since students aren’t wooden tables paired ‘innovative’ learning tools and trends.” supposed to eat lunch with plush blue chairs. in there it kind of The library was quiet and there has been, a significant increase gives off the wrong idea. Instead, we a fantastic workspace. These chairs in the noise level and rowdiness of should really just name the Green were definitely the comfiest chairs in the library’s atmosphere.

Bean, the Green Bean, leave the the school; they were perfect for both However, my biggest issue with library name alone. leaning back and sitting up to work. the renovation is the new seating It seems to me that educators We returned to school this fall to arrangement. The wonderfully and administrators get caught up in a remodeled library. The renovations plush chairs I once sat in have been “innovative” learning tools and trends. include new “innovative” tables and replaced by hard plastic chairs that Even if those tables didn’t cost very chairs, the Green Bean coffee-shop, match our new innovative tables. The much, I still think we should be more and new carpet. I’m all about making tables have wheels, a whiteboard careful with how money is spent to the library a frequented and useful tabletop and they are shaped like better the student’s environment. part of the school, but I do think puzzle pieces.

The old tables were some issues have arisen that need to

A

24 Opinion

be addressed to make the new library the best it can be.

Between the renovation, the Green Bean, and a new culture of the Freshman Class, I’ve noticed a significant increase in the number of people in the library before school compared to previous years. More traffic into the library probably means librarian Debi O’Brien could tell us more students are checking out books. Along with greater attendance

in defense of donald Donald Trump has lived up to his campaign promise of making America great again.

goods and services, creating more jobs and boosting the economy.

President Trump has received a lot of backlash for putting Americans first. The president’s critics have gotten away with using name calling in place of healthy debate.

Calling someone a supremacist and a bigot is not an argument. It is a tactic to intimidate and shut up.

It is not hateful to think that people should enter America legally. It is not hateful to believe that everyone

by Gini Horton should have to follow the law. It does not make economic Reporter sense to let just anyone enter America. Just like a hile it has become fashionable to compare businessman should be able to vett employees before hiring President Donald Trump and his many them, we should vett immigrants. supporters to modern day Nazis, his policies Trump recently announced that he is recognizing thus far have been rational and well thought out.

Jerusalem as the Israeli capital. He has announced that President Trump has been president for less than a the embassy will be moved from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. year and he has not received the respect he deserves. He This is another promise he made during his campaign, may act on impulse with his words, but he is the President a promise that both former of the United States, which President Barack Obama and elicits some respect. While “He may act on impulse with his words, George W. Bush made during in office, the president has but he is the President of the United their campaigns. This not only improved the economy. The shows that he follows through stock market has reached an States, which elicits some respect.” on his promises, but it shows all time high since he has that he is willing to do more come into office. than former presidents.

He is a dedicated American citizen.

The current Republican tax reform bill will lower taxes “We are not going to let the United States be taken on the middle class, small businesses and corporations, advantage of anymore. I am always going to put America which will bring more economic growth. This tax cut will first, the same way that I expect all of you in this room to put your countries first,” he said in a speech on his tour of leave more of the businesses and people with money to spend. This would also bring more job opportunities, as Asia. businesses will be able to spend more money on expanding According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the their business. unemployment rate has dropped to 4.1 percent in 2017.

You may not like his style, but substantively, the At an all time high, the DOW Jones has been steadily numbers don’t lie. In less than a year, the economy has increasing since the election. Economic security has given grown more than it has in the past decade. the people the confidence they need to spend money on

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Trump Timeline

A brief overview of key events from the President’s first year

Jan. 23: Withdrawl from the Trans-Pacific Partnership Jan. 27: Signs Travel Ban Executive Order Feb. 1: Supreme Court Nomination of Neil Gorsuch May 9: Fires FBI Director James Comey May 20: First foreign trip to Saudi Arabia Jun. 1: Withdrawls from the Paris Agreement Jul. 26: Announces transgender military ban Aug. 28: Pledges swift aide to hurricane victims Dec. 4: Modification of Bears Ears National Monument

U.S. President Donald Trump declares formal recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel during a statement on Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2017 in the Diplomatic Reception Room of the White House in Washington, D.C. (Olivier Douliery/Abaca Press/TNS)

Opinion 25

Fed Up with Finals Final exams are not a fair assessment of what students learn from class.

By Parrish Mock Photo by dj gill reporter aving one test decide how you are portrayed in a class is unfair.

Test anxiety and advanced classes both play a part in test taking performance.

According to the Washington Post, 20 percent of students have test anxiety and another 18 percent have a moderate form of the condition.

However, parents and teachers don’t seem to notice when a student gets perfect hundreds on their homework, but does poorly on the test.

When preparing for final exams, information is collected from units learned at the beginning of the year as well as at the end, so taking one huge accumulative test at the end of the year doesn’t make sense. When taking a unit test, the anxiety is focused on one portion of the material.

When taking a final, the student must be focused upon many different units simultaneously.

Professors and teachers talk about the reason for giving final exams and it’s all the same: they prepare you for what is to come in college. In college, a student is expected to be able to consolidate a large portion of knowledge and make connections at a faster pace. In college, nothing is given or handed to a student, so in high school, teachers try to prepare students to be independent workers. Meanwhile, we are still trying to learn.

For many students, a college degree is the final goal, but for some people, that isn’t the case. Some students are just hoping to make it out of high school. Many well-paying jobs don’t require college degrees, such as home health aides and veterinary technicians. Others have a family business position waiting for them after they graduate, and college would only hold them back.

AP and honors classes are made to challenge students with extra work and more profound thinking. For AP classes, there are AP exams students take at the end of the year, but those students shouldn’t have to take final exams also. Many students are able to waive finals, but some still sit their class finals to improve their grades. The problem with taking both the AP and final exams is that students have to focus on both. Though they cover lots of the same material, they’re different levels of difficulty, different formats, and may cover different material a different way.

Many students struggle with final exams because the information on the exam covers such a large sum of material. Most of the time, when students learn a topic, they will focus solely on the topic at hand, but after they are tested over it, they forget the small details. When studying for the final exam, students don’t know where to start because there is so much material to review and sometimes relearn.

A better way to test students would be in small portions, because it is hard to learn large sums of material at once and be expected to remember.

For the final exam, students could be tested over the most recent unit taught in order to keep the information fresh in their mind, so they score better and don’t feel so stressed about old units A new proposal for final exams could be for just non-AP classes, or for students who don’t have an A in the class. Or make a more natural testing environment, and have the test not be the reason people fail by giving students a chance to do an alternative assignment.

Photo illustration by savannah morgan

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26 Opinion

Free wifi Hotspots Head to these hang outs if you’re looking for free WiFi to study by.

Foo’s Fabulous Frozen Custard

9421 Mission Rd, Leawood, KS

Homer’s Coffee House

7126 W 80th, Overland Park, KS

Johnson County Central Library

9875 W 87th, Overland Park, KS

Panera Bread

6800 W 135th, Overland Park, KS

Top five best movies to watch this season. by pablo Jimenez reporter

1. “Home Alone” follows a kid named Kevin McCallister trying to keep two burglars

best holiday movies

from stealing things in his house after he’s forgotten by his family on a vacation.

While home alone, Kevin starts to miss his family. In the end, Kevin learns to appreciate what he has when his parents come back and to not take his family for granted. This film is a classic and a good movie to watch with the family to laugh and bond.

2. The film adaptation of Dr. Seuss’s “The Grinch” is a funny little nod to

the book. The movie has jokes and humor for both children and adults with Jim Carey being the lead actor. He learns to be kind to other people and that Christmas isn’t all about getting gifts, but about being with family.

3. “The Polar Express” perfectly exemplifies the spirit of

1.

Christmas in children. It also illustrates how our minds change when we grow up, but to never stop believing. It is good to watch with your family on the night before Christmas.

Home Alone

2.

4. “A Christmas Story” teaches you about being

The Grinch

3.

The Polar Express

4.

A Christmas Story

thankful for what you have during Christmas. It helps you learn to love and care for each other, which is what the Christmas spirit is about.

It is such a classic film that Dec. 16, there will be a new live show of “A Christmas Story” on FOX.

5. “A Christmas Carol” follows an

5.

old greedy rich man who does not appreciate what he has and goes on a journey to see the joy in Christmas. This is a good Christmas movie, telling people not to take things in life for granted, for there are people who do not have the luxuries of a home and family.

A Christmas Carol

the nightmare before Christmas: movie for Christmas or Halloween?

Christmas

39

%

Halloween

61

%

Though there is a big debate on whether Tim Burton’s “The Nightmare Before Christmas” is a Christmas or Halloween movie, it is more of a Christmas movie. The main character Jack is bored with what he has, and stumbles upon the world of Christmas. Jack then abducts Santa Claus so he could be Santa Claus himself. It doesn’t go as planned, and in the end, it all becomes a mess. What he then figures out is to not mess with the balance of the holidays.

Jack also learns to appreciate what he has. If that does not sound like Christmas spirit, then I do not know what does.

poll of 38 voters via smspatriot on twitter

A&E 27

KC1 The

23

Sit down and take a sip of one of these seasonal drinks.

by nichole thomas web editor

seasonal : drinks S

eggnog latte

tarbucks is known for their classic winter drinks, including their peppermint mocha and gingerbread latte. They have finally reintroduced their seasonal menu. The eggnog latte is a classical winter drink, and it stays true to its name. Before tasting, I thought it would taste bland and nothing like real eggnog, but I was pleasantly surprised. The drink had flavors true to eggnog, with a hint of cinnamon. The drink was good, but I don’t think it was worth its price of $4.45. In addition to the drinks, Starbucks also carries a wide variety of Christmas snacks, like snowmen cookies, gingerbread reindeer cookies and polar bear cake pops.

N

Starbuck’s Eggnog Latte

Homer’s Mexican Hot Chocolate

McDonald’s Peppermint Mocha

28 a&E

photos by savannah morgan

hot chocolate

ot only is Homer’s the perfect place to relax and study, they also have the most amazing Mexican hot chocolate. Compared to regular hot chocolate, this drink had a stronger chocolate flavor.

It is served in a small white mug with whipped cream on top. The drink is the perfect temperature; it won’t singe your taste buds on the first sip. Homer’s also has free WiFi. This place has the perfect atmosphere to get all of your homework done. You should also try the zebra muffin. It’s a chocolate chip muffin with white chocolate.

If you get it warm (which I highly recommend), the first bite will melt in your mouth. It tasted like a baked good from heaven. Overall, Homer’s was definitely the best place visited.

I

peppermint mocha

f you’re ever in a hurry and need a Christmas pick-meup, McDonald’s is the place to go. Everything on their menu is extremely affordable, even for a broke high school student. Their peppermint mocha exceeded the low expectations one would expect from a drive-through. It tasted identical to Starbuck’s (maybe even better), and the price is almost $3 less. The smell of the drink was intense with peppermint and the whipped cream on top was very photogenic. McDonald’s is open late at night, great for a midnight run.

4 5 6

:

The holidays are lighting up our hearts this season. by brynn taylor reporter

candy cane lane

Holiday lights

photos by weston glendening

A

tradition since 1958, the residents of Outlook Lane off 79th Street have turned their normally quiet cul-de-sac into a Christmas wonderland every holiday season for nearly 60 years. Hundreds of people from the KC Metro area have come to see the 10-foot candy canes and the 50 foot Christmas tree. Leading up to the tree are four large candy canes with houses decked out with lights and ornaments.

Music was playing and children were squealing at the sight of the Rudolph the Rednose Reindeer cutouts and the candy shop decorations. Candy Cane Lane is a long process in the making and is getting better and better each year.

On Candy Cane Lane, everyone has lights on their house and a candy cane in their yard, and most have more. To live on this street, you must agree to put up decorations every year.

plaza lights

W

atching Christmas lights at the Kansas City Plaza is a crowd pleasing attraction. It all started in 1925 when the Plaza hung lights for the first time. Millcreek Building on 47th Street created this tradition when they threw a strand of string bulbs over their door to celebrate the holiday. Actually lighting up the Plaza for the first time was five years later in 1930. It was a small gathering that now is attracting thousands of people across the midwest. The ceremony consists of musical acts and routines by the KCP&L Plaza Lights singers and dancers.

metcalf lights

T

his year’s ninth annual light display at Metcalf’s Vince and Associates Clinical Research Center is now collecting donations for two local Kansas City organizations: Make-A-Wish Foundation and Children’s Mercy.

One hundred percent of donations will go to the charities.

This year’s display will have over 200,000 lights using 750 channels of individual control to animate the display, making it one of the largest in the metro area. A new addition this year is the new building, which has singing presents. When arriving, you can view the show from the Emanuel Baptist Church parking lot across the street. Tuning into 95.5 FM, you can hear the music corresponding with the show. Come not only to see the lights, but to give back to charity.

Lights at the Vince and Associates shine for viewers across the street at the Emmanuel Baptist Church.

The large canvas on the tall building shows pictures that relate to Christmas songs played on the radio.

A&E 29

Happy Holidays From...

photos by cassandra awad & avery woods

Spreading holiday cheer! Happy holidays from your cheerleaders!

Snow, mistletoe, and happy holidays from STUCO! Writer’s Workshop? More like Santa’s workshop!

Happy holidays from Silho-ho-ho-uettes!

Merry KSMX-MAS! It’s no debate that your holidays will be great!

DECA the halls with cups of coffee!

30 A&E

Culture Corner religion students who don’t celebrate Christmas Students share the details of their holidays and their opinion on the timing and scheduling of holiday break.

quotes gathered by daniella campos reporter photos by abby cox

Sophomore Dylan Bloom

“I celebrate Eid, so there’s two in a year. One is after we fast a month from sunrise to sunset, and then the second one is the same, but one is longer than the other. We go to people’s house and celebrate. My holiday usually doesn’t fall on a break, they’re usually in summertime and at the end of November. Usually during break I visit family, go to weddings. I believe break should include all holidays, because why not?”

Junior Kareem Hammouda

“I actually do celebrate Christmas. I’m half Catholic.

We celebrate at my grandparent’s house. Sometimes, about certain things, I feel left out about Christmas traditions. I don’t have a tree at my house or anything like that. Christmas is non-religious now. It’s more of just people celebrating, because if you don’t, you do get left out. It’s more of an American holiday than a Christian holiday, so even though I had a Bat Mitzvah and I’m full Jewish I still celebrate it. Hanukkah isn’t as hype as Christmas and we have school.”

Sophomore Taylor Burns

Fashion

Sophomore Zakeria Clay

boots “

“I celebrate Hanukkah, which is when we light the candles, one every night. The date varies every year, so sometimes it falls on break, sometimes it’s in the start of December. During break, my family usually travels somewhere. I don’t think it needs to be given [time off] to other holidays because we have the same time given off regardless. I don’t mind having school during Hanukkah.”

Senior Alyssa Calvert

Sophomore Se’Cret Bland

”

I love boots because they keep your feet warm and they go with almost anything.

- Sophomore Avery Yarbrough

A&E 31

South Speaks:

by madison holloway Features editor & infographics editor photos by cassandra awad

Sophomores Jose Stuart & Will cooper

Freshman Katie Hiebl

“What are you proud of in 2017?”

“I got a really cool pair of pants. I got them from Urban Outfitters... they were on sale. They have a really cool fit and I can cuff them really nicely to show off my shoes and socks.”

“My YouTube channel. I make short films, some of them are for classes and some aren’t... I started it last year. My favorite one is called ‘El Hombre,’ I made it for Spanish class.”

SOPHOMORE junior ELLERY Carolyn VAUGHN Schneck “I want to play college soccer and I’ve been communicating back and forth, emailing a lot of coaches and going to camps and I’ve started getting college looks so that’s really exciting.”

32 Features

“Starting high school. [I’ve had] a good start to the year. I feel like it’s been a learning experience, but I’ve done well keeping up with everything gradewise.”

seniors Mike Brooks & Angel Guzman

“I wasn’t very open with a lot of people in the past and now I talk to people a lot more. I just want to have fun senior year.”

“I think I came off as a little bit more mean to some people in the past years and I’ve done a better job [this year] of being more social. Talking to people and knowing how to deal with them has been a lot easier.”

What do you want to know? Got a great idea for the next question?

We’d love to hear it! Submit your ideas to @SMSPatriot on Twitter.