Issuu december 2014

THE

PATRIOT DECEMBER 2014

Paris of the Plains

Kansas city is drawing nationwide attention by transforming from hick town to cultural hub. page 16

Vol.49 Issue 4 Shawnee Mission South 5800 W. 107 St, OP, KS 66207 (913) 993-7500

CONTENTS Early Graduation Page 7

Hunger in JoCo Pa g e 5

Staff Editorial Page 11

Car Accidents Page 9 Stats Page 8

Shoes for Charity Page 6

Cover Story Page 16

Finals Stress Page 13 Q&A Page 20

The Debate Page 12

Traditional Family Values Page 10

School After 2:40 Page 15

ON THE COVER Atop the Liberty Memorial on a foggy night, one can see most of the tall buildings making up the Kansas City skyline.

Buildings seen include Union Station, the Bleger Arts Center and the iconic Western Auto sign.

PHOTO BY JENNA FACKRELL

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, but they will only be published if signed. The editor-in-chief reserves the right to refuse or edit any letters for reasons of grammar, length and good taste. Letters can be sent to Room 195 or e-mailed to patrioteditors@gmail.com.

02

Dec. 2014 table of contents

Twitter Photo Contest Page 22

Sports Over Break Page 31

Dressed to Impress Page 26

Vitamin “D�-efficiency Page 29

Places in KC Page 24 Hall of Fame Page 28

The Final Say Page 23

Reviews Page 25

Angles Page 32

Girls Wrestling Page 30

MEET THE STAFF Rola Alasmar Editor-in-Chief Opinion Editor

Emily Wilkinson Asst. Editor-in-Chief Web Editor

Rose Pollina News Editor Infographics Editor

Lauren Rosenstock Sports Editor Social Media Manager

Nanae Urano A&E Editor

Amelia Holcomb Ads Editor

Autumn Mock Features Editor

Jenna Fackrell Photo Editor

Katie Imes Photographer

Arturo Sanchez-Vera Photographer

Avery Dorsey Writer

Kendall Barker Writer

Rachel Larberg Writer

Corida Cooperwood Writer

Andrea Smith Writer

Julie Fales Adviser

table of contents

Dec. 2014

03

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HUNGER IN JOHNSON COUNTY photo Illustration by Arturo Sanchez-Vera This means that participation rose about 131 percent over a seven-year period.

The fact that hunger still exists today, even in Johnson County, is brought to light every year by South’s Canned Food Drive, which is midst holidays filled with vast organized with the help of the Student meals and sugary treats, it’s Council and the Johnson County hard for many students to Christmas Bureau. imagine what real hunger feels like.

The Johnson County Christmas For some families living in Johnson Bureau is a non-profit agency created County, however, hunger is a reality. in 1960 in order to provide food and Thousands of people living in the area clothing to struggling families during must live with the constant fear of the holiday season. being unable to provide sufficient food “Johnson County Christmas Bureau for themselves and their families. puts basically this warehouse together “In Johnson County, you may not full of food, gifts, coats, donations of know how much of a problem [hunger] everything,” Student body president is because most of the people that live Rachel Larberg, said,. “but the thing is, here are privileged so it’s kind of is that this warehouse full of things for hard to tell who is actually in need or Christmas, everything is donated and hungry or who is poor,” Senior class it’s all free for the people that come in, vice president Morganne Veal said. and basically they can go shopping, Sixteen million kids in America and it’s actually really cool because live in homes where putting food it’s almost like a food pantry but [it’s] on the table is a constant struggle. massive. So [families] can get presents In 2012, the average cost of a meal for their kids, coats for the winter, in Kansas was $2.61. Many middle- things that they need, and they can income families today tend to assume also get food for the holidays so they that hunger is an archaic epidemic, can have a nice Christmas meal.” but in reality it continues to persist all Of all the families struggling over the world. financially in Johnson County, 86 Nearly 1 in 4 students in Johnson percent are women and children.

County participate in the School “[With] the food drive,” Larberg Lunch Program, which is a federally said, “Johnson County Christmas assisted meal program that allows Bureau was the one to reach out to us students to have free or reduced price and say like ‘hey, you know, this could lunches each school day. In the 2003- be something really cool for you guys 2004 school year, only about 1 in 10 to do and also something that would students participated in the program. benefit us, and the reason why it’s so

Affluent county still struggles with providing for its whole population.

A

cool is because the Johnson County Christmas Bureau, everything that’s donated and raised goes straight back into the community. So, like, South kids will be able to benefit from it as well.

If there’s a family that isn’t on the best of terms financially, they will benefit from it, because that family can go and get whatever they basically need.”

Over a nine day period last December, the Johnson County Christmas Bureau provided winter clothing and holiday meals to about 3,300 families, or about 11,829 individuals. Most of the families visiting the warehouse were working families who were struggling financially and would have normally gone without during the Christmas season.

“There’s so many ways [to help], and also if you don’t really want to work at Harvester’s and you want to directly work with people,” Larberg said. “I know that there’s multiple organizations that some of my friends have done where you go out at midnight or really late at night and you go KCMO and you actually go to feed these hungry people that are on the streets. And in the Christmas season, it’s such a big thing that we take for granted, what we have. So, for kids to go out and do that, that’s a really cool thing and I think that there’s so many ways that are right in front of us that we can help.”

KENDALL BARKER

news Dec. 2014

05

IT’S A SHOE THING

NHS students collect shoes for orphans in Guatemala.

N

ational Honor Society is an organization that has dedicated its reputation and the merits that come with making its prestigious ranks, to getting young gifted, moral and intelligent members to use their gifts in the community for the benefit of just giving back and returning what the community has given them to succeed. Members are required to submit 15 community service hours each semester. Students are presented with numerous options to earn service hours by working with charities and community lead projects.

NHS sponsor Molly Fast said members of NHS groups of students put together small bags with health care items, such as toothpaste for the children in an orphanage in Quiche, Guatemala. This was the first time the orphanage had requested an item such as shoes.

“I have all the NHS students on email so I sent them all an email to encourage them to... buy shoes for a child, and that they would get community service hours,” Fast said.

AP English teacher Travis Gatewood reached out to Fast, and the members of NHS to help with donations.

PHOTO Illustration by KATIE IMES “With a combo of students and faculty, we got the combination of the 22 shoes,” Gatewood said.

Gatewood adopted two young girls from the orphanage and by doing so, experienced cultural differences along with differences in how the Guatemalan orphanage and adoption systems worked. Two summers ago, Gatewood, revisited Quiche and volunteered at the orphanage.

“I was sitting in a study hall with Terri Love, a math teacher here at South, and she told me about a friend of hers from St. Joseph who ran an orphanage in Quiche,” Gatewood said.

Gatewood reached out to this gentleman, and after meeting him once, they made plans to visit Quiche for a week. Although they had never met, the man made the trip to the airport, then drove three hours through the highlands of Guatemala.

“It was kind of an interesting trip...because I met this guy one time and I liked what he was doing... and he just kind of chaperoned me for a week, while I just helped out... in any way I could,” Gatewood said.

Each year Gatewood has tried to do a couple of projects to help the orphanage, who then responds with an item or items that the children need. This year the project was to donate at least 22 pairs of shoes LAUREN ROSENSTOCK

WHERE TO VOLUNTEER FOR NHS HOURS: Angel Food Ministries

Harvester’s Community Food Network

City Union Mission

Johnson County Human Services

Menorah Medical Center

Great Plains SPCA

Operation Breakthrough

Salvation Army

Habitat for Humanity

Bridging the Gap

06

Dec. 2014

news

RACE TO THE FINISH LINE Seniors graduate early for a head start.

W

hile most students graduate from high school in eight semesters, a few students graduate up to a semester or a year early. According to counseling coordinator Douglas Buning the number of students graduating early has stayed steady at about eight for the past 4 to 5 years. There are pros and cons to choosing this path.

“You don’t graduate with your class that you know well, so you are going to disconnect from your friends sooner than later and you’ll miss the experience of school,” Buning said.

One student graduating a year early is senior Abby Adcox.

“I wanted to get a headstart in college and plus it’s starting to get a little too easy and I decided to just skip since I only needed English 11, so I just took that online. The rest of the classes I’m fine with,” Adcox said.

While Adcox is graduating a year early, senior Daniela Arango Henao is graduating at semester.

“I decided to graduate early because I’m 18 years old and I want to graduate,” Arango Henao said.

In order to accomplish her goal, Arango Henao had to take summer school.

“A lot of early graduates do summer school. They can do up to a credit in summer school or some of them do online credit. We have health online and government online,” Buning said.

Taking classes online cost money for Adcox.

“It’s been more money up front to take classes online only. I took one class and my mom actually thought the idea was good. She knew I would be able to pass,” Adcox said.

Due to graduating early, student miss some senior activities.

“Well, you miss half of your senior year. You miss the end of your senior year often times in high school there is prom and all the stuff leading up to senior year.

You miss all that,” Buning said.

As of now Arango Henao isn’t planning on attending the graduation ceremony.

Adcox is planning to attend with her sister, senior Emma Adcox, who also is graduating with the class of 2015.

“As soon as I get out, once the summer ends, I’m going to go to up to college in Ceder Rapids to start getting my pre reqs to be an equine vet,” Adcox said.

ANDREA SMITH

PHOTO Illustration by KATIE IMES

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ANDREA SMITH graphics by Rose Pollina

news Dec. 2014

07

‘TIS THE SEASON STATS Compiled by Rose Pollina

6%

of students celebrate Hanukkah.

of students consider themselves religious.

9%

50%

of students think holidays should only be celebrated for religious reasons.

79% 82% 95%

A statistical breakdown of Shawnee Mission South students and their opinions and experiences regarding the winter holidays. of students include dinner with their winter holiday festivities. of students celebrate the holidays with their extended family.

of students enjoy spending time with their families over the holidays.

of students celebrate Christmas.

70%

94%

of students give gifts to their friends.

65%

HOW MUCH STUDENTS SPEND ON HOLIDAY GIFTS:

08

Dec. 2014

news

of students believe the holidays have become too materialistic.

The aftermath of a car accident on 107th and Nall Ave. in Overland Park, KS. Car Accidents near South have recently been happening frequently .

PHOTO by ARTURO SANCHEZ-VERA

WINTER INCREASES CAR ACCIDENTS Careful and informed driving can help to prevent car accidents.

E

arlier this fall junior Leah Thomas was driving to school with sophomore Alex Baron like any other morning, but while Thomas was turning, another car ran a red light and hit Thomas’ car. The collision totaled her car and stopped traffic.

“Alex yelled ‘what do you think you’re doing,’ and then I screamed and the car hit me and then my mind went blank and I just panicked,” Thomas said.

After the crash, the police took each driver’s statements and called a tow truck for Thomas. Her car’s front axle was broken and the frame was bent. Now, Thomas says that her driving has changed since being hit.

“I don’t go through that intersection anymore… I’m also a lot more cautious and a lot more jumpy,” Thomas said.

Sophomore Crimson Barker was also involved in a minor rear-end collision recently. “...I was driving forward when the lady in front of me stopped and I tried to stop the best I could and I did slow down a lot but not enough for me to miss the back of her car. It was only a little tap, both of the cars were not damaged and neither I nor the other driver were injured,” Barker said.

Even though her accident was small collision, Barker says she recognizes the importance of being alert while driving.

“After the accident I definitely drove more carefully, and it kind of

gave me a reality check. I feel like sometimes we start driving and get comfortable and become lazy drivers and I think it’s a good reminder that you could ruin your life in a split second if you don’t take driving safely seriously,” Barker said. “If you drive poorly it doesn’t just affect you and your life but the other people on the road too.”

Accidents will only pose a greater threat as conditions on the road get worse this winter. Winter storms are not only more dangerous to drive in, but are also more dangerous to get stranded in. Officer Fred Lynch encourages students to be careful when driving, especially in adverse weather conditions.

“Students should drive much slower when it is potentially slick.

Ice and snow can make it almost impossible to stop when going down a hill. Make sure your tires have sufficient tread and are the proper amount of air. Bridges and overpasses and non-treated areas will be the first to freeze,” Lynch said.

Add inexperienced drivers to icy precipitation and roads and it’s no wonder that Kansas had 1,319 injuries due to icy road conditions in the winter of 2011 alone.

It’s important for students to recognize that even though major car crashes aren’t necessarily common, they still are a very real problem, especially when snow and ice make the roads slippery and hard to see. As Thomas puts it, you should be careful driving “because you could get in a wreck and die.”

AMELIA HOLCOMB

What to do if you’re in an accident: Come to a complete stop, if you are in a safe area step out of the vehicle.

If you are blocking traffic, briefly explain to the other driver to meet you back in a parking lot so you can exchange info in a safe area If there is damage, exchange information: name, phone numbers, vehicle insurance name and policy number and phone number of the agent.

Record make and model of other car and license plate number.

Tips on driving in the winter: If your front wheels skid, shift to neutral.

If your rear wheels skid, steer in the direction you want the front wheels to go.

Beware of black ice especially on bridges, underpasses, low areas and intersections.

Keep a blanket, gloves, ice scraper, flashlight, and jumper cables in a kit in your car for emergencies.

news Dec. 2014

09

Family Portrait photo illustration By Katie Imes

‘Traditional family values’ remain outdated, unchanged despite shifting social landscape.

O

ne woman.

One man.

2.5 kids and a white picket fence.

America’s nuclear family hasn’t evolved much since its origin generations prior. But with the passing of time and shifting of values, does the nuclear family still have any significant bearing in society?

Simply put: no.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, 27 percent of families only have one parent, partially due to our country’s 50 percent divorce rate and with one third of children born in the United States to unwed parents.

This divide from the widely regarded “normal” family extends further into gay and lesbian families, with two million children living in families with LGBT parents.

As our nation’s traditions and values change through generations, this idea of the traditional family feels like it only fits an insignificant amount of Americans, so the question persists: why does this vision of family remain at the forefront of Americans’ minds?

Politics.

For decades now, politicians have used the traditional family as a tool for upholding their holier-than-thou policies of what it means to be an American citizen, and on the same token, telling us what is not acceptable in society, like LGBT rights and women’s reproductive healthcare.

As the dynamics of the modern American family changes over the course of history, the outdated tenets of traditional family values have a remained constant opponent to the changing climate of social change.

Why?

Because it’s easy.

10

Dec. 2014 opinion

It’s easy to use “but think of the children!” to support any argument.

It’s easy to look back on America’s good ol’ days (you know, minus the institutional racism, gender inequality, and violence against the LGBT community, of course) without making any attempt to progress and better society.

It’s easy to look at two dads or a single mother and make a distinction that their family situation is different from yours. What’s hard is accepting it, and acknowledging that although some families are a bit different from yours, they are still just as happy, just as crazy and just as dysfunctional as everyone else.

Whether a family has one parent, two parents or even three, if every member treats each other with love and respect, it’s still a family, and none of us have any right to judge them for that.

Traditional family values are little about families, but more about policing society’s concept of what’s normal and good.

When was the last time you heard a pundit use traditional family values to talk about real household issues: how single parents are supposed to survive with their children on minimum wage, balancing retirement costs while also trying to pay for a son or daughter’s college education?

Over the years, traditional family values have become a farce, a smokescreen for bigotry and living in the past.

Truthfully, these values fit no family comfortably.

The days of the suburban, Judeo-Christian, heteronormative, two-parent-by-default family are numbered, folks.

And until we re-evaluate the needs of every family to match the change in social climate, we’ll be trapped in the past forever… behind a white picket fence.

Emily wilkinson

Cartoon by regina yan

STAFF EDITORIAL

W

So Much to See in KC

hen people think of beautiful, amazing cities they usually come up with places like New York City or Los Angeles. Kansas City is never really one to cross the mind. In fact it’s not uncommon that people outside our region don’t even know where Kansas City is.

But what’s a shame is that it’s become so easy for us to put down Kansas City. Or for people to talk about how much they want to get out of here. But truly, Kansas City may be one of the most underrated cities out there.

The winter is one of the greatest times to showcase the beauty of Kansas City. The Plaza glows with lights and becomes a beautiful site to see. The Plaza is always wonderfully filled with a multitude of shops and restaurants. And you can’t ever walk down the streets without being graced by amazing street performers. It’s the perfect place to spend the day, no matter the season. It’s wonderful in warmer weather when you can spend all day shopping, as well as when it’s colder during holiday season, when you can spend time with your friends and family sitting under the lights and listening to carolers.

Crown Center is another magnificent site during holiday season. It lights up so beautifully that pictures could never do it justice. Crown Center also contains a wonderful ice rink, the Coterie Theatre, a sea life aquarium, and childhood favorites like Kaleidoscope and Crayola

Cafe. During holiday season Crown Center also features the lighting of Mayor’s Christmas Tree, lit with over 7000 lights and containing about 1200 ornaments.

Westport and the Crossroads are other great locations for shopping, dining, and enjoying Kansas City’s nightlife.

Kansas City has so much to offer. Not to mention it’s always home to wonderful places such as the Power and Light District and the Sprint Center.

Even closer to us is Prairie Fire, filled with shops, entertainment, restaurants, and a museum. It contains places such as Pinstripes, Cinetopia, and so much more. It’s a wonderful place to hang out right here in Overland Park, that so many people have never even heard of it. Park Place is another wonderful location, with restaurants such as RA and Burgerfi, an ice skating rink, Paciugo, cupcake A La Mode and a multitude of other shops and restaurants.

Believe it or not, there’s more to Kansas City than Starbucks and McDonalds. Kansas City holds a variety of amazing places. You just have to get out of the 50-block radius around your house and find them. You’ll never learn to appreciate Kansas City and find the things that are great about it if you spend all of your time criticizing it and wanting to get out. The fact is, we’re here and we might as well enjoy it. We may not be New York City or Los Angeles, but why would we want to be?

8/8 EDITORS AGREE WITH THE VIEWS EXPRESSED IN THIS EDITORIAL

opinion Dec. 2014

11

Head: Rose Pollina

THE DEBATE F When making decisions, should you follow your heart or your head?

VS

Photos by jenna fackrell

Heart: Corida Cooperwood

P

eople say following your mind is better than following your heart; they say that your emotions will get the best of you. I feel like emotions and feelings are everything to a person’s life. Let your emotions lead your way to success in life.

No matter what your head thinks, your heart will overpower it. According to elitedaily.com, “Have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.” Even though you can experience pain when following your heart, your mind can cause you to stress over a situation that you already know how you feel about. Now I know, I may sound really mushy, because I’m coming from this point of view, but in my opinion that’s OK. Lots of people say that they would rather follow their mind, because your mind is sure. Your mind never steers you wrong. Your mind is always right. I disagree. According to elitedaily.com “the subconscious part of your brain is 30,000 times more powerful than the conscious one.”

My thought about this is that if you love someone then you love them. Your mind couldn’t tell you that; you can only feel that feeling. Your mind couldn’t tell you you’re hurt or in love, but your heart could because your heart feels it. You could think you’re in love with a person, that you’re actually not in love with. You could think someone loves you but they don’t. I’m so sure of it because if they did, you would feel it. You would know it.

People should follow their heart because their minds could leave them looking dumb. You will constantly go back to a person who isn’t worth it, and you will constantly let them make you feel worthless if you don’t follow your heart.

Follow your heart and not your mind or you will continue to be someone’s puppet.

12

Dec. 2014 opinion

ollowing your heart is overrated. If you have to decide between your head and your heart, then follow your head for sure. Acting on emotion rather than logic can be disastrous. Following your heart is bad advice and following your head is a much better option.

When it comes to decision making, information should be looked at objectively without emotion clouding it. The emotions in your heart can often lead you astray. Using the logic within your head, on the other hand, is a safer option.

Using your head entails using rational analysis to weigh the pros and cons of a decision. By looking at the advantages and disadvantages of a decision you can see how a decision can benefit you in regards to money and social standing.

For example you may want to hang out with friends on a night before an important test and you have to decide which option is the best. Looking at the situation objectively you can easily deduce that by going with your friends you can cement your standing with your peers, possibly gain more social standing among them and also receive the instant gratification that comes with spending time with your friends. On the other hand there are cons as well, such as a reduced amount of time to study for your test which can easily affect your test score and lower your overall grade in the class, which may be hard to recover from depending on how many points it was worth.

If you want to look at it more in depth then decide if there will be time before the test to adequately prepare yourself.

It helps if the class is after lunch or a study hall. Overall you want to weigh what the big picture effects will be: a low grade that could set you back or a grade that reflects the dedication of preparation. OK, now think even further ahead.

That one bad test grade could hold you back from getting a good grade in that class and possibly lead to a lower grade point average that could affect your chances of getting accepted for scholarships or getting into the college of your dreams. It is pessimistic but it is also possible.

It’s a lot of thinking to do but it is a better option than the alternative of acting impulsively with your heart/feelings and finding out the consequences later and having to clean up the mess. If you stop and think with your head more often then you’ll find there are many possibilities that may not have been apparent before or that you never noticed. You have a head with a brain in it, so use it.

The Results are in...

Students of South voted on if Skyward was beneficial to the education system.

No 16% Yes 84%

Go online to smsouthnews.com to vote for your opinion on this month’s debate!

Keep Calm and Study On Tips for recovering from finals and improving for next time.

R

ecovering from a five day weekend for Thanksgiving break we dragged ourselves into school and slouched into our desks and then it hit us like a bus: Finals start in two weeks. The realization shocks us and initially we begin to mentally freak out. In the busiest time of the year, finals on top of holiday shopping, work, volunteering, homework and attempting to have some sort of a life outside of school make the next few weeks for us a major struggle. To lessen the burden make a plan to get through finals and take a well needed breather.

With the holidays just around the corner winter break serves as a prize, but also a distraction from what really matters: passing your finals. Although the lengthy two week winter break is our ultimate goal, it’s also wise to establish miniature goals each day. First of all, build your tentative review schedule based on difficulty of class and your grade in that class. Obviously if you have a 98 percent in an elective class and you’ve gone through the semester with ease, there’s no point in studying for that class. Make your core classes priority, especially ones where your grade is on the line between a grade letter.

In order to successfully study for finals, you must grab every piece of review material possible, looking for past tests and correcting what you missed to ensure you don’t make the same mistake twice. You can either review alone or in a group. If you work better

by yourself study in a quiet environment isolated from any distractions. If it’s in a group, put your phones away and stay away from topics other than what you’re supposed to be studying. Take breaks every hour for 15 minutes or so. It’s key to regaining focus. In order to focus for a long time, a good night’s sleep of at least 8 hours is needed to recharge.

The week of finals is crunch time. After studying the two weeks prior you should be 90 percent ready. The day before each test should be the last time you skim over your notes. Give it no more than an hour studying and then take a break and relax with some television. After a good night’s sleep and a healthy breakfast go into the test with multiple pencils, erasers and paper handy, as well as tissues and gum.

Staying calm throughout the test, stretching and giving your eyes a rest every 10 or so questions will be key to finishing your final on time and more importantly efficiently.

Recovering from the stresses of finals brings a wave of accomplishment and relaxation knowing it’s over. Now that it is break you can hide the textbooks and review packets until next semester and take a well needed break by watching Netflix or enjoying the snow. During your winter break it’ll occur to you sometime how you did on your finals and what you could’ve done better. After seeing your scores on your finals make adjustments for next semester to what works best for you and your schedule.

Avery dorsey

photo illustration by jenna fackrell

opinion Dec. 2014

13

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After the Final Bell

W

hile the majority of students are rushing to the parking lot to get out before the buses leave after the bell rings, there are many students who stay after school every day. Instead of running out the doors, they are either going to the locker rooms or the auditorium.

Once one of the four major school plays start rehearsing, quite a few students are kept after school every day, till 5:30 or 6 p.m. Depending on what rehearsal determines the amount of time they spend after school.

“Normal rehearsal we run through different

scenes,” junior Tamera Thornton said. “Then we add all of those technical aspects like lights, sound, hair, makeup and costumes” During the winter months, athletes such as swimmers, wrestlers and basketball players rush down to the locker rooms to get ready for practice.

The basketball team ends up practicing every day except for Sundays and game days during their season for three hours at a time.

The real question is what about those people who just sit outside the front of the school or in the auditorium hallway for long amounts of time after

Why students are at school after 2:40 p.m. school? Most are simply either waiting on rides or waiting for one of their own after school activities to start if they don’t have time to go home. What if a student just sits there into the evening hours?

“In high school, I would say in your average situation, as long as there wasn’t terrible weather conditions they might be able to walk, or we would try to touch base with parents or whoever is in the system,” Officer Richard Spandle said.

While that may be a simple solution for a high school student, what about elementary school aged children? For a lot of

children.

“If we’re talking elementary school, then, if we can’t get a hold of the parents and there’s no arrangements, the worst case scenario would be we have to call juvenile intake and maybe find temporary housing for them if we couldn’t find their parents,” Spandle said.

It just depends on the maturity level of the student. Many students remain in the building after the final bell, it’s what they do that can vary, but everyone ends up leaving at some point.

Autumn Mock

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www.lenexa.com/jobs Features Dec. 2014

15

Paris of the Plains Kansas City is drawing nationwide attention by transforming from hick town to cultural hub.

16

Photos by Jenna Fackrell

Dec. 2014 features

F

or the past century and a half, the average Kansas teenager has dreamt of fleeing the endless plains in search of bustling, exciting cities, such as New York City or Chicago. However, in recent years, the Sunflower State’s third largest city has amassed nationwide attention for quickly becoming more interesting. Kansas City is altering from hicktown to cultural hub.

“I think we have kind of a cultural movement that’s starting to take off with the arts and food as well as the medical and technology industries are taking off in town,” English teacher and Culture Club Sponsor Travis Gatewood said.

According to a Huffington Post story posted this September, Kansas City is this year’s coolest city in America. The article states that the city’s food, Midwestern hospitality and music were some of the best reasons to visit.

This year, some of South’s seniors have created a club that aims to help students learn about and explore our up-and-coming city with the help of Gatewood.

“Culture Club is meant to try to find organization where business, art, and community all intersect, and we’re continuing to look for local business owners to show some senior students, or just students in general, what it takes to create a brand or to be a leader or to start a business and we’ll continue to find people like that in the Kansas City area,” Gatewood said. “Sometimes, [I use] what students have done for their enrichment credit projects, sometimes they tip me off to some cool places to go for food, but I think that the Crossroads area is a neat area nowadays, anything on Southwest boulevard, some of the new restaurants in Westport are great, now a city market’s starting to revitalize, and even downtown Overland Park has some nice places to visit.”

Indeed, Kansas City is home to numerous unique museums, concert halls and restaurants. Among the city’s most well-known concert halls is the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. The building’s unique architecture along with the host of performances held within it daily certainly merit a visit.

Another of Kansas City’s most famous performance centers is the Sprint Center. With about 20,000 seats, the Sprint Center frequently hosts sports games, large concerts (from famous artists such as Taylor Swift and Maroon 5), and various other events.

Kansas City is also home to the Starlight Theatre, a 7,958-seat outdoor theatre that presents concerts and popular Broadway shows such as Mary Poppins, Pippin, Annie, and many more. The Starlight Theatre aims to provide a superior education in the performing arts as affordable, accessible fun to all of Kansas City’s residents.

The Midland Theatre, located in Kansas City’s Power & Light District, seats 3,573 people and has hosted over 600 events and over 500,000 guests since its re-opening in 2008. The original Midland Theatre opened in 1927 and has hosted thousands of well-known artists and performers throughout the years.

Aside from performance centers, Kansas City hosts numerous fascinating museums. Among the most visited of these is the National World War I Museum, ranked as Kansas City’s number one attraction on Tripadvisor The National World War I Museum is filled with rare information and artifacts from the first World War. Near the museum is the Liberty Memorial, a 217 foot fall tower serves to commemorate the men and women who served in World War I. The story of how the Liberty Memorial and the World War I Museum adds even more to the significance of the two structures: In 1919, the citizens of Kansas City formed the Liberty Memorial Association, and in less than 10 days, they raised the necessary money to have the memorial built.

The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art is another of Kansas City’s top attractions.

The Nelson-Atkins is open Wednesday, Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m, Thursdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Admission to the museum is free.

Aside from being home to unique museums and theatre halls, Kansas City has been nicknamed the City of Fountains. In fact, fountains in Kansas City have become so commonplace and popular that there is an organization called City of Fountains Builders that exists solely to

features Dec. 2014

17

Paris of the Plains Kansas City is drawing nationwide attention by transforming from hick town to cultural hub.

16

Photos by Jenna Fackrell

Dec. 2014 features

F

or the past century and a half, the average Kansas teenager has dreamt of fleeing the endless plains in search of bustling, exciting cities, such as New York City or Chicago. However, in recent years, the Sunflower State’s third largest city has amassed nationwide attention for quickly becoming more interesting. Kansas City is altering from hicktown to cultural hub.

“I think we have kind of a cultural movement that’s starting to take off with the arts and food as well as the medical and technology industries are taking off in town,” English teacher and Culture Club Sponsor Travis Gatewood said.

According to a Huffington Post story posted this September, Kansas City is this year’s coolest city in America. The article states that the city’s food, Midwestern hospitality and music were some of the best reasons to visit.

This year, some of South’s seniors have created a club that aims to help students learn about and explore our up-and-coming city with the help of Gatewood.

“Culture Club is meant to try to find organization where business, art, and community all intersect, and we’re continuing to look for local business owners to show some senior students, or just students in general, what it takes to create a brand or to be a leader or to start a business and we’ll continue to find people like that in the Kansas City area,” Gatewood said. “Sometimes, [I use] what students have done for their enrichment credit projects, sometimes they tip me off to some cool places to go for food, but I think that the Crossroads area is a neat area nowadays, anything on Southwest boulevard, some of the new restaurants in Westport are great, now a city market’s starting to revitalize, and even downtown Overland Park has some nice places to visit.”

Indeed, Kansas City is home to numerous unique museums, concert halls and restaurants. Among the city’s most well-known concert halls is the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. The building’s unique architecture along with the host of performances held within it daily certainly merit a visit.

Another of Kansas City’s most famous performance centers is the Sprint Center. With about 20,000 seats, the Sprint Center frequently hosts sports games, large concerts (from famous artists such as Taylor Swift and Maroon 5), and various other events.

Kansas City is also home to the Starlight Theatre, a 7,958-seat outdoor theatre that presents concerts and popular Broadway shows such as Mary Poppins, Pippin, Annie, and many more. The Starlight Theatre aims to provide a superior education in the performing arts as affordable, accessible fun to all of Kansas City’s residents.

The Midland Theatre, located in Kansas City’s Power & Light District, seats 3,573 people and has hosted over 600 events and over 500,000 guests since its re-opening in 2008. The original Midland Theatre opened in 1927 and has hosted thousands of well-known artists and performers throughout the years.

Aside from performance centers, Kansas City hosts numerous fascinating museums. Among the most visited of these is the National World War I Museum, ranked as Kansas City’s number one attraction on Tripadvisor The National World War I Museum is filled with rare information and artifacts from the first World War. Near the museum is the Liberty Memorial, a 217 foot fall tower serves to commemorate the men and women who served in World War I. The story of how the Liberty Memorial and the World War I Museum adds even more to the significance of the two structures: In 1919, the citizens of Kansas City formed the Liberty Memorial Association, and in less than 10 days, they raised the necessary money to have the memorial built.

The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art is another of Kansas City’s top attractions.

The Nelson-Atkins is open Wednesday, Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m, Thursdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Admission to the museum is free.

Aside from being home to unique museums and theatre halls, Kansas City has been nicknamed the City of Fountains. In fact, fountains in Kansas City have become so commonplace and popular that there is an organization called City of Fountains Builders that exists solely to

features Dec. 2014

17

create, repair, sell and maintain beautiful fountains and water feature systems in the Kansas City and St. Louis areas.

Not only is Kansas City home to the City of Fountains Builders, though. The City of Fountains Foundation, created in 1973, is a non-profit corporation that aims to raise money to build new fountains in the Kansas City area. The Board of the City of Fountains Foundation collaborates with the city’s Parks and Recreation Department to better maintain Kansas City’s 47 publicly-owned fountains.

Swope Park is another of Kansas City’s most scenic attractions. Swope Park is one of the nations largest urban parks, covering 1,805 acres, which is more than twice the size of Central Park, which covers only 843 acres.

Kansas City is actually home to many parks and playgrounds for families to enjoy. Loose Park, Shawnee Mission Park, and Antioch Park are just a few of the city’s sprawling spaces that are near enough for South’s students to enjoy.

Loose Park is just south of the Country Club Plaza and is one of the city’s most beautiful. This 75-acre space contains a lovely rose garden, and impressive playground, tennis courts, Loose Park Pond, and over 2 miles of walking trails.

Loose Park is made more interesting by its history: the area is famed for being the site of the Battle of Westport, where an estimated 29,000 Confederate and Union soldiers fought.

Shawnee Mission Park is one of the biggest parks in Johnson, as well as the most visited park in the state. The

Fun Facts About KC 18

park covers 1,250 acres and is complete with winding trails, a large lake, and top-notch facilities. Shawnee Mission Park also has one of the city’s best leash-free dog parks.

Antioch Park contains the Old Dodge Town playground, beloved by kids and housing a miniature hotel and general store that look like they came right out of the Wild West.

The park is also home to Kansas City’s Vietnam Memorial, which honors Johnson County men and women who served in the war.

For the animal lovers, Kansas City is home to one of the best zoos in the nation. The Kansas City Zoo, started in 1907, covers 202 acres and aims to demonstrate the diversity of wildlife, provide affordable, high-quality experiences, and contribute to the cultural life of the Kansas City Community and region.

Since 2002, the zoo has been run by Friends of the Zoo Inc., a non-profit organization that aimed to improve and support the zoo’s facilities as well as its animals and education programs. In 2008, the Kansas City Zoo was listed as one of the top 60 zoos in the nation in “America’s Best Zoos 2008” and was ranked first in the nation for “African Animals and Exhibits.”

Filled with dazzling and intriguing parks, theatres, museums, and restaurants, it is not surprise that Kansas City is a growing tourist attraction in America. With exciting things to do and see around every corner and the ever-present Midwestern hospitality, Kansas City is becoming one of the most interesting and entertaining cities in the nation. Kendall Barker

More than 1.8 million people live in the greater Kansas City area.

Dec. 2014 features

Walt Disney got his start in Kansas City, attending art school in the area.

He experimented with animation in an upstairs studio on 31st street in Kansas City, Missouri, in the ’20s.

Kansas City is the secondlargest rail center in the United States.

Park Place 11551 Ash Street #200, Leawood, KS 66211 Park Place, a quaint downtown area, is known for its upscale shopping area and local restaurants.

Rio Theatre 7204 W 80TH St Shawnee Mission, KS 66204 Rio Theatre is a single screen, fine arts theatre situated in downtown Overland Park. The theatre typically shows independent and art-based films.

Kansas City is the birthplace of president Harry S. Truman

Kansas City’s Swope Park is one of the nations largest urban parks, covering 1,805 acres, which is more than twice the size of Central Park, which covers only 843 acres.

Loose Park 5200 Wornall, Kansas City, MO 64112 Loose park is one of Kansas City’s most popular parks, containing prominent fountains and rose gardens.

Kansas City is home to one of the tallest, largest and fastest roller coasters in the world at the city’s World of Fun amusement park.

The area is the third in the nation for professional theaters per capita.

graphics by rose pollina

features Dec. 2014

19

Q&A WITH LIA GEIGER 20

Dec. 2014 features

Junior moving to Australia for the next six months.

Photo by katie imes

A

t the

end of the semester,

junior Lia Geiger

is moving to Melbourne,

Australia, where she will finish the school year while also

exploring the land down under.

She is preparing to live in a

completely new environment,

full of fresh faces, cultures and excitement. Geiger is 7 finals, a

couple hours of packing, and a plane ride away from being

surrounded by water, constant

England, Ireland, France,

and Canada.

What are you most looking forward to?

Being near the water. I’ve never lived near an ocean before. And the accents. I’m super pumped for the accents. They’re like drunk British people.

What are you most afraid of about going?

and ready for new adventures

Everyone there might hate me and be like “oh the American, I hate her,” and I’m not even going anywhere cool. It’s Melbourne, which is like the Overland Park equivalent of Australia.

Why are you moving to Australia?

How do you think school there will be different?

sunshine, and wildlife. Geiger is also president of Harry Potter Club, which she will have to

leave behind. But she is eager

and is in for the ride of her life.

My mom has a new job there with a few companies, and we’ll be staying there for six months.

Have you ever been to Australia or out of the country?

It’s not called high school. It’s called college, and I’m getting no credits, so I’m going to have three and a half years of high school and half a year of college.

After Australia, my mom is going to Connecticut and is bringing me.

Where are you from?

I’m

originally

from Nebraska.

What will you miss most about the U.S.?

Harry Potter Club

What has Harry Potter Club meant to you?

It’s been a way to meet awesome people in my school. I didn’t know there were that many awesome people.

What do you think will be the future of Harry Potter Club?

It’ll carry on. I’m sure

my presence will be missed. But they all

have the basic ideas. its

basically whatever you come up with you do, no plan.

Rola Alasmar Photos by Katie Imes

I’ve gone on a few trips. I’ve been to Italy,

Features Dec. 2014

21

TWITTER PHOTO CONTEST Students tweeted @smspatriot pictures of their ugliest sweater and The Patriot staff picked the top four photos. The next contest theme will be to send in a selfie with a teacher to @smspatriot.

2

1

4

2. Junior Heather Jenson @hmjenson 3. Sophomore Steffen Seamon @denimcondom

3

22

1. Senior Trent Flagler @trentflager_68

4. Junior Leorah Addadi @Leorahsaur

Dec. 2014 A&E

THE

FINAL SAY

Whether you’re hanging out with friends, planning a group study session before finals or just crashing after a long, tiring school day, coffee shops are the quintessential teenage meeting place for both coffee and tea lovers alike. Senior Rachel Larberg buzzed through KC’s top caffeine pit stops to find the final say.

Black Dog Coffee House 12815 W 87th St Pkwy, Lenexa, KS 66215 Located right in Overland Park is Black Dog Coffee House. Black Dog offers a broad range of coffee choices and if you don’t really know your coffee it can be confusing. It’s almost like a build your own cup with flavors and the type of coffee you want to drink. They not only offer well made coffee but they also sell a variety of teas, fruit smoothies, muffins, cakes, and snacks. Black Dog has a unique setting to go right along with their coffee. The music is a big part of the atmosphere. They offer live music throughout the week but if you go to just study, it is overwhelmingly loud. If you are going to meet with a friend to have a nice conversation and a cup of joe, it is the perfect place in Overland Park.

PHOTO BY RACHEL LARBERG

Homer’s Coffee House 7126 West 80th Street OP, Kansas 66204 Focused strongly on local live music, Homer’s Coffee House is a versatile place.

Because there is much seating, it is an ideal place to have a group study, meeting or just a place to hang out. They have an array of local artists and bands who play throughout the last half of the week and into the weekend. While it is a great place to have a private conversation, a large study group or just to study, the coffee choices are not so impressive. Their slightly overpriced subpar coffee was not impressive as the availability of seating. Because it is a bigger coffee house, Homer’s does not offer the warm and inviting look many other coffee houses do, but it does offer a great place to take some friends and study for finals.

Lattéland 7900 State Line Rd, Prairie Village, KS 66208 A little bit of adventure outside of the Shawnee Mission South district is a coffee house worth trying. Lattéland is located right on State Line Road in a busy intersection, but even with its small location it makes a big impact. The first thing when the door opens is the warm feeling of coffee and community. This little coffee shop focuses more on the coffee/tea and giving a place to sit quietly and read a book or study. Since it is a small shop it becomes easily busy and if walking in at the wrong time, there could be a problem finding a place to sit. The options Lattéland has for coffee, tea and smoothies are a great selection and it also makes it better that since it is a smaller coffee house the prices are teenage budget friendly.

THE FINAL SAY

PHOTO BY RACHEL LARBERG

It is essential to have a go-to coffee house to study, get good coffee or meet with a friend. All of the coffee houses have something good to offer, but with a friendly staff, great prices and a warm cozy environment, Lattéland is the place to go. It is a place for everyone and because of the small scale, people are more likely to keep to themselves, making it the perfect place to study or read a book. rachel larberg

A&E Dec. 2014

23

1700 West 39th Street, Kansas City, MO 64111 An up and coming division of KC, 39th Street boasts a variety of classic KC eats like Fric and Frac and a line of vintage clothing stores sure to become any hipster’s hotspot.

24

4420 Warwick Boulevard, Kansas City, MO 64111

Dec. 2014 A&E

As a parallel to the Nelson Atkins Museum a few roads over, the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art showcases 10-12 special exhibits a year from world renowned artists.

First Fridays

photo by jenna fackrell

Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art

photo by jenna fackrell

39th Street Shopping

photo by jenna fackrell

Kansas City Hot Spots

Kansas City Power & Light District, 1370 Walnut St, Kansas City, MO 64106 Every first Friday of the month, the KC Crossroads become a haven for lovers of art and culture as art exhibits ranging from local gems to world famous phenomenons spring up in the form of various galleries about town.

The Local Pig 2618 Guinotte Avenue, Kansas City, MO 64120

Built on the belief that meat should be locally sourced, The Local Pig isn’t your average butcher shop, providing subscriptions to weekly deliveries of humanely grown meat and hands on lessons in all things butchery.

EMILY WILKINSON

REVIEWS Video Game Review

dragon age inquisition delivers

D

ragon Age: Inquisition, developed

by Bioware and published

by Electronic Arts, does not disappoint. It is the third game in the Dragon Age franchise. It can be played on Xbox 360, Playstation 3, PC, Xbox One and Playstation 4.

Dragon Age: Inquisition is a fantasy role playing game (RPG) where you play a character called the Inquisitor who must stop the chaos that has spread across Thedas and repair the “Breach” in the sky which is spilling forth demons from the world of the fade. At the same time you must bring peace to a land embroiled in civil war between mages and templars.

If you’ve been looking for a massively huge RPG, to fill the empty hole in your gaming heart after Skyrim, then this is your game. While not completely an open world the maps are still enormous and interactive enough to keep your interest for quite a while when you’re exploring. It took me around three hours in my first playthrough to completely comb the first zone in the game. That included hopping up every mountain and cliff I could find, which I should mention

where numerous. To get to some location on the map, I had to get more creative in my approach.

The customization possibilities in Inquisition are impressive. You can control the inner and outer colors of your irises, the size of your pores, the degree of a broken nose and much more.

The battle system is also quite a treat after you’ve become accustom to it. In order to survive in this game you will have to think tactfully because your opponents will also be using tactics against you as well. With this praise also comes my one frustration, which is the fact that you can only carry eight healing potions with you while exploring and in battle.

My favorite thing about this game is that your choices actually have significant impact on the story. By making allies at the same time you create enemies. You choose who you recruit and who you spurn. If you don’t want to bring peace, then you don’t have to.

For those who remember the blunder that shall always be referred to as Dragon Age 2 (DA2) and are

hesitant to pick up its sequel, then you need not hesitate anymore because Inquisition is everything DA2 was supposed to be and more.

ROSE POLLINA

Book Review

the merciless by danielle vega is a parallel of mean girls

D

anielle Vega grew up reading famous thrillers by Stephen King, giving her an interesting edge in writing fantasy and thriller novels. After winning multiple awards for her fiction and nonfiction writing, Vega earned a Pulitzer Prize nomination in 2009.

The Merciless really is a creepy version of Mean Girls with a heavy dose of gratuitous violence and sensationalism. I kept seeing the Mean Girls parallels as I was reading - the two really are astonishingly alike, but this book fills up the absence of clever irony with senseless melodrama and angst.

Sofia, the new girl at Adams High School, in Mississippi, is confronted by the group of popular girls on her first day. They admire her innocence and take her under their wing. As the plot develops we learn that the popular girls are a bit strange. Their hobbies especially, are not accepted by the people in their town.

After Sofia learns about what they do for fun, she joins them, in other words.

I have quite a strong stomach, if I say so, but this book made me uneasy at times. And at times when I least expected gore or violence, Vega would splash the pages with gruesome details. Exposing how horror should be written.

The whole time I read this, Vega led the plot on a roller coaster of conflict.

There were the predictable ups and downs, as there always are in a classic roller coaster, but when you least expect it, you’re suddenly shot into space.

This novel is predictable, but not, and by using this technique Vega displays her raw talent. Lauren rosenstock

A&E Dec. 2014

25

DRESSED TO IMPRESS FRESHMAN TARA PHILLIPS PHOTOS BY Katie Imes

{

“i

just go with the flow and do me.”

{

CLOSER LOOK This pearl necklace was given as a gift and Phillips wears it often with her outfits.

26

Dec. 2014 A&E

JACKET | ROSS SHIRT | KOHL’S SKIRT | ROSS

Driver Education at Johnson County Community College

Drive Safe, Drive Smart • Kansas Board of Education certified instructors providing comprehensive training • 6 hours of driving • 6 hours of observation • 30 hours of classroom instruction • Optional at-home pick-up/drop-off service for driving portion of training • Automobile fleet includes a Toyota Prius hybrid car, which lessens the program’s carbon footprint while promoting sustainability Course fee: $349. Register today for classes that begin in January and February!

For class dates and times visit www.jccc.edu/driver-training or call 913-469-4446 Johnson County Community College 12345 College Blvd.

Overland Park, KS 66210

RED WING STORE 8920 W 95TH ST OVERLAND PARK, KS 66212 913-648-7860

Standing in the Hall of Fame

South awards previous athletes by inducting them into the Hall of Fame.

T

wo former South athletes and a former coach will be praised for their athletic achievement by being inducted into South’s athletic hall of fame. The inductees are Vince Parrette (1976) for track and field, John Dillon (1976) for football and basketball and Ron Millard (1975-2011) for being Head Coach of basketball and volleyball.

“They’re athletes who have had a history of success in athletics and that’s what hall of fames are, to honor those who have excelled in a very high level, either coaching or athletically, so that’s what we do, we acknowledge they’re the cream of the cream of the cream of the crop,” Athletic Director John Johnson said.

The ceremony will be in the South gym during halftime of the boys varsity basketball game against Shawnee Mission Northwest, Jan 16. The inductees will be recognized and Dave Stewart, a graduate from South and Metro Sports broadcaster will be the emcee for the night.

“Being selected to the SMS Athletic Hall of Fame is such an Honor. I feel grateful to the selection committee as there are so many great students and coaches that

have been part of the rich history of South,” Millard said, “Knowing well the previous selectees, I am in awe to be a part of such a select group of coaches and athletes.”

Millard started the girls basketball program at South in 1975 and was also the head coach of the volleyball team from 1986 to 2001.

Potential inductees can be nominated by anyone in the community. Requirements include attendance at South for all four years of high school and graduation from South. There is a committee of 11 people who choose the three inductees for the year.

“I accumulate all the names with all the information about each of the nominees and then we go and have a meeting and we ultimately consider and listen to all the information, and then they vote,” Johnson said.

The Hall of Fame is important to former athletes as well as current athletes.

“I think it connects the past with the present,” Johnson said, “It’s important for these kids to understand and to see how successful the athletes in the past have been at South and it keeps them connected to the history of the school.”

Autumn Mock Graphic by Rose Pollina

Following in Their Footsteps

Students share if they prefer to follow in their family’s footsteps when it comes to athletics.

M

any teenagers see starting a sport as their way of making an impact on the school, others see it as following the footsteps of their parents and siblings. While not all athletes are a part of a family legacy and feel pressured to play, there is an inherent want to make their family proud.

“As a child there is sort of a distant admiration and desire to follow in their footsteps for some people,” senior Tom Lundine said. “There is a bit of an inherent need to impress you parents, for them to be proud of you, and sports is one of many ways for that to happen.”

Junior Joe Stokes is part of a

28

swimming family legacy at South; both his dad and brother swam. While, he felt no pressure to join swim team, his family’s role in the swimming program weighed heavily on his mind.

“I did have to decide between basketball and swimming my freshman year and being able to swim with my brother was part of the reason I chose to swim,” Stokes said.

Also following in his family’s footsteps is junior Connor Hill, whose dad and sister both played basketball.

“Seeing my dad play pick up at the gym or my sister playing college basketball always made me want to be like them,” Hill said, “They were and are my role models.”

Current Pacesetters Caroline and Marissa Gatti have had the motivation of their mom and each other throughout their time on dance and drill team. The Gatti’s mom was a Southette, member of the former flag team, when she was in high school.

“She always wanted us to stick with dance because she wanted us to do welI. In high school she tried out for Pacesetters and didn’t make it,” senior Marissa Gatti said, “That’s why she was on the flag team, so she didn’t want us going through the same thing.”

Also having your sister on the same team adds a sense of commitment and want to be equal if not better than the other.

“We keep each other up to date because we are both competitive and always want to be better than the other,” Marissa Gatti said.

Whether it be from a parent or a sibling, there is pressure for a child or younger sibling to impress them and earn their approval.

“There is no doubt that siblings can put a lot of pressure on you, whether on purpose or not, to excel at a sport,” Stokes said.

Amelia Holcomb

Photo illustration by Jenna Fackrell

Dec. 2014 sports

Vitamin D-efficiency

Scientists explain how your body can get as much Vitamin D by being inside, while it may be too cold outside.

B

eing at risk of vitamin D deficiency can be extremely dangerous to your health. You may think that one more episode on Netflix won’t hurt, right? It very well could.

Shunning the sun puts the

body at risk of death from cardiovascular disease, severe asthma in children, cognitive impairment in older adults, rickets or cancer.

Scientists suggest that this vitamin can help in the prevention and treatment of conditions such as Type

1 and Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, glucose intolerance and multiple sclerosis.

Known as the sunshine vitamin, vitamin D is made as the body’s response to being exposed to sunlight.

Also, vitamin D can be found in foods like fish, fish liver oils, egg yolks and fortified dairy products.

Even on cloudy days, where there may not be a direct stream of sunlight, the UV energy is reduced 50 percent, but not completely gone. So, even on a cloudy day your body can make the vitamin, just not as much.

[Sports Space] [BOYS SWIM & DIVE]

Introduced at the Winter Sports Assembly, these athletes give us a look into the season.

Quotes gathered by Andrea Smith PHOTOS by Katie Imes

[BOWLING]

senior Ben Iba Does the team have a ritual or chant What meets are before a game. most fun to swim and why?

We say ‘Program’

“ when we break

which is sort of [meets] just because showing the unity of the environment. of the program as a whole and not just Everyone’s individuals. cheering on everyone.

”

Photo by Jenna Fackrell

[BOYS BASKETBALL]

[GIRLS BASKETBALL]

senior Megan Stollsteimer

“League and State

So if you decide to sit inside for a while over winter break, one way to generate this vitamin is by eating a few eggs for breakfast and have a glass of milk with it. Even a bowl of cereal with any kind of milk can boost the amount of vitamin D your body will receive without going outside. But if going outside sounds pleasant, but it’s not sunny, still take a quick walk around your neighborhood to create a little more of the sunshine vitamin without sunshine.

Lauren Rosenstock

”

senior Alex Vue What is the most important thing you work on during practice?

“

We talk to each other, help each other out, and if we are doing something wrong we’ll let each other know.

[WRESTLING] junior CJ Hill What are your hopes for the season?

“

Just take [the season] one game at a time and be a really good team each and every game.

”

senior Lewis Smith What is the hardest thing at practice? spin drill.

“The The spin drill is crazy you have to be on your back. .

”

Sports Dec. 2014

”

29

A Feminine Touch “ The basic mindset

is to get my partner on the mat. We don’t win to pin, we pin to win.

”

W

-freshman Star Gonzales

“ We are held to the

same standard as the guys, but for me it seems like internally that I have to prove to myself that I can compete with the guys on the team, but it’s just a mental thing.

”

-freshman Cameron Dowls

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The dynamic of the wrestling team is changed by new female members.

ith joint locks, pins, take downs and holds, three girls take on the wrestling team. Senior Elizabeth Obediat and freshmen Cameron Dowls and Star Gonzales take on the boys.

These three girls have suited up and are ready to take the season in full force.

With no experience wrestling, these girls are learning and working in many different ways. They are learning the ways of the mat while also getting in shape for the season. The JV wrestling team is preparing for their Blue Valley Southwest Invitational Jan. 3 at Blue Valley Southwest, but these girls have an uphill battle.

“If you don’t get [a move] just keep at it because practice really does make perfect.

You have got to learn to be able to do it by instincts because during a match you have to be able to just react,” Obediat said.

Wrestling is not only about the moves, but it also entails how fast you make a move and the reaction to an opponents. “[Girls] just have to figure out how to use their legs more since women have more power in their legs than in their upper body,” Obedait said.

Because girls are built differently from boys, they have to maneuver their bodies in a way that will

compensate for the lack of muscle. Girls do, however, have an advantage over boys when going into a wrestling match.

“A lot of [girls] aren’t as strong or big, but a lot of the guys that they wrestle don’t take them seriously,” junior Zach McQueen said.

Girl wrestlers may have this as an advantage in matches, but during practice and with their team they are treated just the same.

“For girls, we are held to the same standard as the guys, but for me it seems like internally that I have to prove to myself that I can compete with the guys on the team, but it’s just a mental thing,” Dowls said.

Attitude has a large factor on how a wrestler views his/herself and the outcome of the match.

“The basic mindset is to get my partner on the mat. We don’t win to pin, we pin to win.” Gonzales said.

When preparing for a match getting into the right mindset and rhythm is essential. Embracing the running, stretching and bruises, these three girls really know how to take down a guy. With more practice and with the season moving forward, improvements are bound to happen and a team will be formed. “[Wrestling is different because of] teamwork, even though you’re not working with your team [in a match], your earning points along with them,” Dowls said.

Rachel Larberg

“ If you don’t get [a move] just keep at

it because practice really does make perfect. You have got to learn to be able to do it by instincts because during a match you have to be able to just react.

”

-senior Elizabeth Obediat Photos by Katie Imes

Dec. 2014 sports

Break for It Athletes share their strategy for staying in shape over winter break.

C

urling up fireside under a quilt with eyes glued to the television, many people will be watching endless Netflix series throughout the break. Breaking out of the cocoon of 50 blankets and Cheese-itz crumbs, students will finally have some sort of movement - unfortunately to the fridge.

As some people lounge and graze on snacks all break other students never stop staying in shape. Staying in shape is a daily chore, consisting of eating healthy and working out to stay in tip-top shape. A few of South’s standout winter sport stars share why staying in shape during break is significant and how they manage to do it. To avoid falling behind from the rest of the team it’s a must to stay in shape.

“Staying in shape for basketball is significant and different from other sports because of our style of play,” senior Taylor Cossairt said. “If we get out of shape we can’t do as much and it makes it harder to play in a half court set. In the offseason I get together with some of the girls on the team and we run every day after school. I’m also in a weights class here at South and that is four days a week.”

Staying in shape in the offseason isn’t just for oneself, but for one’s fellow

teammates.

Letting yourself and your body down can affect your performance and rub off on your team.

“If you’re not in shape, your game will suffer because The Raiders faced off against Blue Valley Northwest, you can’t keep up Dec. 9, in the South gym. with the pace,” Photo by Arturo Sanchez-Vera teams and individually, hitting the senior Ben Iba, soccer player and swimmer, said. gym and running so they aren’t Staying in shape requires both out of shape after winter break.

“For swim team we’ll swim constant exercise and a healthy diet. Staying away from the obvious about 4-8,000 yards a practice and unhealthy harmful food and drink with soccer I’ll do some sprints and and reaching for a healthier option a bunch of different drills to work instead puts athletes ahead of other. on my technical abilities,” Iba said.

Individual exercise to keep “I try to minimize all fried foods and soda during the basketball season in shape during the offseason or offseason,” junior Connor Hill. sets athletes apart from their Cossairt replaces unhealthy competitors, bringing satisfaction that restaurant menu items with a transitions into the regular season.

“I love staying in shape so I healthier substitute such as salad.

As well as salad, she thinks protein can play basketball whenever/ is an important part of getting wherever I want and I feel in shape, helping to build muscle. good about myself,” Hill said.

Feeling good about oneself is what In the offseason and during winter break, exercise and conditioning makes playing a sport so glorious and is good to maintain with your enjoyable. Through the hard work teammates along your side. Working and constant awareness to keep in out together to keep in shape is a lot shape comes a sense of achievement easier and everyone benefits. Athletes when it is all said and done.

Avery Dorsey from all sports practice with their

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Sports Dec. 2014

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Seniors Ethan Stone, Megan Stollsteimer and Hannah Bonifield perform, “Tonight You Belong to Me� for the talent show. Stone played the ukulele while Stollsteimer and Bonifield sang and played trumpet.

ANGLES photos by jenna fackrell and katie imes

SENIORS DANNY KELLER & CARLIE JOHNSON

Social Studies teachers Tony budetti & Brett mcfall

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Dec. 2014

photo essay

senior rachel larberg and junior gretchen fiebig