First Week Supplement Volume 53

KANELAND

KR ER August 13, 2026

Blank Canvas Using the new school year as a clean slate and getting ready to paint your year

Volume 53 • First Week Issue • Kaneland High School • Cover by Audrey Noring

his year, students will experience an exciting new beginning at Kaneland High School through the improvements made possible by the recent passing of the District 302 referendum.

Kaneland was given a budget of $140 million to update the district's buildings and amenities. At the high school, construction so far has taken place in the A, B and C wings. The updates include new flooring, ceiling tiles, desks, projectors and HVAC systems. While some hallways have been redone, part of C hallway is still scheduled for more improvements.

Student bathrooms have been remodeled, including the front foyer restrooms.

Near the Fox Valley Career Center (FVCC) entrance, two new classrooms and a new doorway have been added.

“Walking into a classroom that feels brighter and has new furniture can make students feel excited,” Principal Melinda

Photo by Aleena Alrifaee

The B hallway undergoes construction in June.

Walls were taken down, electrical equipment was being rewired and the floor was removed.

Cattell said. “For staff, it’s exciting to get newer stuff and to be able to teach and try out new things in the way they teach with the newer furniture.”

Cattell has focused on the classroom aspect of the remodel. Towards the end of the 2025-26 school year, two different classrooms were provided with new furniture so that teachers and students could stop by and see what the classrooms would eventually look like. After feedback from staff and students, the district has added new furniture to the classrooms that were refreshed.

“It’s an exciting time to be a Knight,” Cattell said.

Cattell said the classroom refreshes went smoothly, with occasional disruptions. Despite a few challenges, like finding asbestos in the walls of the 70-year old building, Cattell has seen plenty of pride during this referendum process.

“I feel like our Knight pride is there, even though we are in an older building and may have older stuff and equipment,” Cattell said. “Now we’re getting newer stuff. We’ve still always had that pride factor.”

Assistant Superintendent of Business Services and Chief School Business Official (CSBO) Dr. Jackie Bogan oversees the district’s financial operations.

Bogan manages the referendum budget, works to keep projects within arranged bids and ensures the district’s debt remains low.

“It's like a chess game where we do certain work in order to get other work done,” Bogan said.

To keep the referendum within the budget, Bogan created a comprehensive financial plan. This plan helps the district complete projects without going over the budget, which helps prevent an increase in taxes for local taxpayers.

“The biggest part was the financial reconstruction of the district’s current debt,” Bogan said. “[We had to determine] what we needed to do to not get tax increases. The stars aligned where it was so close to reconstruction. The no tax increase really made a difference.”

The referendum spreads beyond the existing buildings. Construction has also begun on the new field house with work continuing near the Keslinger Rd. parking lot.

“It’s going to be uncomfortable,” Superintendent Dr. Kurt Rohlwing said. “Next summer, there will be an expansion on parking lots.”

Each classroom refresh will include new ceiling tiles, flooring, furniture and painted walls. The color palette throughout the high school has been updated to grey, white, black and burnt orange. Burnt orange was added back into the color palette to bring more vibrance to the school and Knights jerseys. "[We hope] students feel valued in the investments that the community has built,” Rohlwing said.

Page design by Aleena Alrifaee and Gavin Vaughn

aA en Ale by

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Co-Social Media Executive and News Manager and Editor-in-Chief of Print

Gr ap hic

BY ALEENA ALRIFAEE AND AUDREY NORING

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Constructing the future

Something community members will be excited about is the renovation of the football stadium, which will be complete before next school year. Included in the stadium, there will be new restrooms, team rooms and concessions. The size of the stadium will nearly double the current seating capacity. Rohlwing is excited for the first home football game in the new stadium so he can see the scoreboard, one that was

Photo by Aleena Alrifaee

The women’s bathroom in the A hallway goes through construction in late July. This was before stalls and mirrors were installed.

previously only dimly lit, flourish.

As students are wrapping up their first week in the building, Cattell and Rohlwing think the most noticeable change will be the more modern lighting and overall brighter feel. They believe the school will feel more open and new. The students may also be surprised to see that there will still be work going on in the school so construction can be completed by the end of summer 2027.

"I want to thank the community for allowing us to do this,” Cattell said. “$140 million is a lot, and we’re turning it into their hopes and dreams for Kaneland. While a lot has been done so far, there is still a lot of work to be done. If all goes smoothly, all projects, including a new entrance and football stadium, will be completed in the summer of 2027.”

News

2

More than a playground

BY ALLY REILLEY

T

Design Executive

hroughout the summer, all four Kaneland elementary schools were upgraded with new playground equipment as a result of the referendum.

From elementary to high school students, the new playgrounds bring plenty of nostalgia and childhood memories.

Somewhere along the way of growing up, our generation stopped going outside to play games like Cherry Bomb or Hide-and-Seek; instead, we went outside to tan or take pictures. For freshman Amelia Skipper, the way she spent time outside changed as she grew up and found different priorities.

“I think I realized I outgrew the playground around 6th grade [when] I started going less and spent time with my friends in other places,” Skipper said.

While most high school students do not visit the playground anymore, many still feel it holds a meaningful connection to their childhood. As a result, the playgrounds being updated have brought back childhood memories that older students may have forgotten.

“I feel sentimental to see the changes to the playgrounds,” Skipper said. “For me, seeing the playground brings me back to the feeling of being a kid and playing with all my friends.”

Before the new equipment was installed, the playgrounds served as familiar places for generations of students.

Although the structures have changed, many students still associate the spaces with happy memories made during their time spent there.

“One of my favorite memories from the old playgrounds was rushing to the seesaws every day at the beginning of recess with my best friend Maddie,” Skipper said. “Another is when my entire class of 20 kids would play Man on Wood Chips together.”

For many elementary school students, the equipment isn’t what makes the playground special. Instead, their imaginations and friends help

they imagine anything and be anything they want to be on playgrounds,” fifth-grade student Caylee Sullivan said.

Blackberry Creek - 2003 “My imagination has McDole - 2004 grown a lot throughout the years.”

Shields - 1998 While the new Stewart - 1998 equipment gives students the opportunity to try new things, the memories created years to come will be able to use these there often will come from the people new playgrounds for their intended use and experiences surrounding them. From of outdoor entertainment. kids making up games to spending time “[The playgrounds] help kids to have with friends, a playground has always a bigger imagination, hang out with been a place for students to make it their friends and have a break [from] doing own. school work,” fifth-grade student Dylan “Playing on the swings and hanging McCauley said. out with my friends make playgrounds As younger students step onto the fun,” Sullivan said. “I hope to do similar new playgrounds for the first time, they things that I did on the old playground.” will begin to create their own memories Additionally, the way kids play out- that will later bring them the same sense side has changed with different genera- of nostalgia felt by older students. For tions. With each generation, childhood elementary students, the updated playexperiences continue to reflect the world grounds represent new opportunities, around them. while older students see them as a re“I think that kids may use the play- minder of the time passed since they last grounds a little bit differently than my played on them. class did,” Skipper said. “Kids these days “I hope these new playgrounds help have a lot more access to technology students use their imaginations, make than I did, and I think that can change lots of memories and make new friends,” how kids play.”

Skipper said. “[My advice is to] enjoy evRegardless of the generation- ery minute, because it will be over faster al changes, elementary students for than you think.”

When were the playgrounds built?

Graphics by Ally Reilley

foster an environment where they can have fun.

“Kids’ imaginations grow because

Page design by Ally Reilley

News Feature

3

Coloring Outside

Lines the

BY ANSLEY RUH

W

Sports & Activities Executive

alking through the halls of Kaneland High School, it might seem easy to sort students into different categories. The athletes head to practice after school.

The musicians fill the choir or band room. The theater students rehearse in the auditorium under bright lights. Club members gather for meetings before and after school, while also continuously volunteering their time.

However, a closer look often tells a different story.

More and more students are stepping outside the boxes that others place them in, Photo by Aleena Alrifaee proving that interests do not have to fit neatly into one category. Whether students are balancing athletics with arts, volunteering while competing or pursuing passions that seem unrelated, they are coloring outside the lines.

Junior Emma Kunstman is one of those students. Some classmates know her from the girls varsity golf team, while others recognize her from choir concerts or different musicals.

“I’m involved in many different activities, and I think one thing that makes me who I am is that my interests come from many different areas,” Kunstman said.

Her list of activities stretches far beyond what some people might expect. Along with competing on the golf team, she spends her summers caddying at the St. Charles Country Club, where she completed nearly 100 loops while carrying golfers’ bags through 18 holes.

She sings in concert choir, performs with the Madrigals and her church choir, dances, acts in the high school musicals, plays both piano and flute, volunteers through the Lions Club and Key Club, and enjoys spending time out-

Page design by Ellie Olp and Ansley Ruh

doors. Rather than choosing one identity, Kunstman embraces every part of herself.

“I actually love having interests that are different from each other because they allow me to express different sides of myself,” Kunstman said. “Golf challenges me in one way, while music, theater and dance allow me to be creative in another. I think having these different passions has helped me become a more well-rounded person.”

Despite students having a variety of interests, stereotypes remain very common in high school.

“I think social standards and the way society has formed over time plays a puppet role of the way students are viewed depending on the sports and activities they do,” high school guidance counselor Matthew Brodhead said.

Like Kunstman, senior Cooper Marler is involved in a variety of activities. Marler participates in track, the National FFA Organization and the high school’s marching band.

Each sport and activity make Marler feel boxed into a certain stereotype. He wishes people would realize there is more to being a “band kid” and more to FFA than farming.

“People think a band is just a bunch of weird kids, but they lose the fact that it is people with a bunch of musical talent,” Marler said.

Psychologists explain that this is exactly how the representativeness heuristic works. People associate different individuals with characteristics they believe belong to a group instead of seeing unique combinations of interests, experiences and personalities that make each person different.

At Kaneland, however, many students are proving those assumptions wrong by simply refusing to limit themselves. Kunstman and Marler believe their own experiences have shown that labels never tell the full story.

“I think I’ve proved assumptions wrong by simply continuing to be myself and showing that people can’t always be placed into one category,” Kunstman said.

Brodhead encourages all of his students to go outside of their bubbles of normality.

Graphics by Ellie Olp He believes that’s how people grow. Brodhead also wishes that everyone would be accepting of everyone else’s interests.

“I wish students understood that everybody’s different,” Brodhead said.

“Everybody has a different family.

Everybody has a different family life.

Everyone has different interests. And everybody thinks differently. If you’re walking in the hallway, don’t make that negative stereotype or that negative thought because you have no idea what they’re going through.”

That may be the biggest lesson hidden in Kaneland’s classrooms, rehearsals, athletic fields and clubs.

The combinations of different passions that students have don’t always make sense to others, but that is what makes them unique. As students continue to explore diverse interests, they are proving that the most meaningful stories and characteristics are outside the lines that society may have set for them.

“You don’t really see the whole person if you see them as just one thing,” Marler said. “They’re made up of a bunch of things. I think a person is not meant to do just one thing on this earth.

If you see them for one thing, you’re not seeing who they truly are.”

Photo courtesy of Emma Kunstman

Feature

4

How to make the most out of high school

BY GRACE BRUNSCHEEN

Editor-in-Chief of Web and Broadcast Manager

Advice from a junior

yourself to be into everything, but finding a club or a sport or two where you can spend time having fun competing and meeting new people through your teams can give you something to look forward to after your school days are over.

Find classes you enjoy

ers, is that so many people are scared to talk to people they don’t know.

I feel like people can get so caught up in their social reputation or scared of what someone will say back if they simply say “hi” that they just resort to talking to the people they already know. It’s totally okay to surround yourself with people

Photo

by Sara Similar to finding sports h Slatte ry or clubs you enjoy, something that can make a difference in high school is what classes you take. Often when I hear some of my friends complaining about Photo by Sarah Slattery a class, I’ll ask them why appearance at the anThe Kaneland Knight makes an they took it, and they’ll .

2023 of in October nual homecoming assembly of say they needed a class to ents stud and hers teac es, Like at most assembli games in the East Gym. fill their empty space in all grade levels took part in their their schedule. But finding classes that interest Students celebrate ike anything in life, high school has you will be more beneficial than game o at a n Aug. home 25, 202 in gton P its ups and downs. But what if it was taking a class everyone else football 3, ag anthers.

The Kn ainst the Wash less about perfecting those four takes just to fill a spot. ights lo st 33-2 years and more about enjoying each day 7.

Support your school who already as it comes? Everyone’s high school experience is different, but if you are strugSupporting and attending school know and understand you, gling to find ways to enjoy it, here are events can also make your high school but it’s also okay to branch out some tips that might help. and make new friends. years ones to remember.

Build a positive mindset Manage your time Every sporting event, concert and Your mindset when you show up to musical is a memory. The bright lights In order to participate, make new school can make or break how your day shining on the players with the noise of friends and enjoy your high school exgoes more than you think. Just walking countless fans cheering can offer a feel- perience, it’s important to try to manage into school on the first day, you can over- ing you’ll never forget. The level of talent your time wisely. When a bunch of things hear countless voices expressing their you watch in front of you during a musical pile up, it can make things stressful, and unhappiness about coming back. Even or concert can be inspiring and leave you it can be harder to enjoy your time as a as I give this advice, I can acknowledge excited for the next one. These moments high school student. So find things that that I fall under a negative mindset when are the things you’ll look back on. They work for you. Whether that’s a calendar, it comes to attending school, especially can be the highlight of your month or a scheduled time for homework or somelater in the year when it feels like summer even year. thing else, just try something to lighten will never come. your load.

Put yourself out there to meet If you try to come into school with Don’t worry too much new people something to look forward to or have the My most important tip is to not worSomething that I feel is so normalized mindset of, “I get to go to school tothese days, especially for teenag- ry. Don’t spend your time overthinking day,” rather than, “I have to,” every grade you receive. Your grades do your enjoyment can change not define you, and they shouldn’t drastically. Your mind won’t define how your high school experialways see the heavy load ence goes either. Don’t worry about of homework or the overwhether you know what you want to whelming schedule as such do in the future or not. That’s what a bad thing anymore if you high school can help with. It gives have something to distract you time to find out who you are, yourself with. who you want to be and how you Participate want to enjoy your life in the future.

Along with coming to High school isn’t supposed to Photo by Elliot Krippelz school with a positive mindbe perfect, and every day won’t be Incoming freshmen and their parents wa set, another way to make the your favorite. But if you can find even lk their schedule be fore the students’ firs t day. New students most of your high school ex- administrat the smallest thing to look forward to, have meetings with ion and then have a cha nce perience is to simply particito explore the buildi these four years can become a lot ng. pate. You don’t have to force more enjoyable.

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Page design by Audrey Noring and Morgan Olson

Advice

5

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BY PREMA WEICHUN AND ELLIE OLP Co-Social Media Executive, Editor-in-Chief of Multimedia and Co-Copy Editors

time in England with This summer, Ava spent the country for the her family as she explored born in England, first time. Her mom was ily currently lives. On where the rest of her fam her extended family her trip, Ava got to meet ir origins. and learn more about the

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photos by Pre ma Weichun and Grace Brunsc heen

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This summ e working on r, Brian has been writing his own song.

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English teacher Christina Staker

Freshman Lauren Zeb While Lauren was in Nashville, she and her friend rode electric scooters around downtown. They got to explore the city and see a lot without walking through busy crowds. They rode down Broadway, listened to live music and looked in different stores. They ate at Miranda Lambert’s Casa Rosa and walked by the river for a while too. At night, there were a lot of people and music everywhere. She said it was a fun trip, and she would like to go back someday.

Photo courtesy of Lauren Zeb

Page design by Grace Brunscheen and Prema Weichun

Photo courtesy of Christina Staker This summer, English teacher Christin a Staker has kept busy by participating in the show “Puffs” at the Albright Theatre in Batavia. She and her kids keep busy ; they look forward to any time they can spend together. One of Stak er’s favorite memories from this summer is taking her kids to Color Me Mine in Geneva.

Photos

6

Which school supply are you?

What is your favorite subject?

How do you usually take notes?

Lots of writting and sticky notes

A

English

A

B

Art

B

C

Math

C Staying neat and logical

D

History

D

What’s inside your backpack?

A

B

Books and plenty of paper

Looking back at past notes

What does your back-to-school vibe feel like?

Relaxed and thoughtful

B

Creative and lively

notecards

C

Motivated to learn

Lots of packets

Organized D and full of knowledge

C Formulas and

D and dividers

Page design by Ollie Fair and Kate Homco

Pencil!

Color coding

A

Sketchbooks and colorful folders

If you had mostly A, you’re a...

If you had mostly B, you’re a...

Crayon!

If you had mostly C, you’re a...

Calculator!

If you had mostly D, you’re a....

Binder!

Game

7

W

Letter from the executives

hile a new school year can be intimidating, we hope you see it as a blank slate ready for you to create your own story. Whether it’s your first year at the high school or your last, we hope you paint yourself into the school community. Remember, you’re only in high school once, so make the most of it.

High school is the time to take those chances and dream big. So take that leap.

Say “hi” to an old friend, try a new sport or club, talk to someone new or simply be con-tent with being yourself. It’s important to remember that there are so many people around you who want to help you when you need it. High school is not meant to be done alone. Everyone’s journey is different, and no two high school experiences will look the same. Keep being yourself, and you’ll be just fine. The Kaneland Krier staff wishes everyone a bright, colorful school year!

Ansley Ruh

Aleena Alrifaee

Audrey Noring

Grace Brunscheen

Ellie Olp

Gavin Vaughn

Katherine Homco

Ally Reilley

Prema Weichun

www.kanelandkrier.com

47W326 Keslinger Rd. Maple Park, IL 60151