Kaneland Krier Volume 48 Issue 1

KANELAND

KR ER

SUCCESS AND PRODUCTIVITY Student success can take different forms between personal life, school life and work life.

Volume 48 • Issue 1 • Kaneland High School • September 30, 2021

TABLE OF CONTENTS

19 Profile

5

Sports

8

18 Profile

3 Lifestyle

News

Letter from the Execs

As we get older and as life slowly begins returning to normal, it is necessary to make

adjustments. As teenagers, we are learning to balance all that life brings us, including school, extracurriculars and work. In this issue, we focus on getting into a productive mindset, working hard and learning how to make our way through life. We are all in this journey of growing and learning responsibility together.

September 30, 2021 | Lifestyle

START YOUR DAY WITH A MORNING ROUTINE

BY ASHLEY VANDERHOFF

N Editor

o one enjoys a frantic morning, especially when many of us are not accustomed to waking up early every day after a year where we could sleep in more often. The mad rush between waking up and leaving the door can be stressful. Still, a morning routine does not need to be a dreaded part of your day; it can be a motivational jump start.

A morning routine can be most effective when you start the night before. Many students tend to wait until the morning to organize their thoughts and prepare for the day, a trend that typically results in an uncharged Chromebook, forgotten work or not making it to class on time. To help avoid these issues, junior Sandra Bach always makes sure to do her homework the night before it is due.

“Sometimes I would not do homework the night before, but then I would be like, ‘Oh, I really do need to do it.’ So then I would set my alarm for four in the morning to do homework for 40 [minutes] and then go back to bed,” Bach said.

Bach quit this unhelpful habit after her freshman year, which significantly improved her mornings. One of the most effective ways to ensure you avoid rushing around in the morning is to pack your bag the night before. Social studies teacher Javier Martinez’s advice for high

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schoolers revolves around their sleeping habits.

“Get to bed at a decent time. Don’t stay up until 1 a.m. playing video games.

A good night’s sleep means you’ll get up in the morning refreshed. And have a routine before you go to bed,” Martinez said.

One of the best things we can do to benefit our mornings is start getting ready for the next day during the night before. Students not waking up when they’re supposed to seems to be the common factor of a crazy morning rush.

But when a student prepares their bag, outfit and schoolwork, they do not need to worry about forgetting something and can even wake up later.

Oftentimes, as a result of not waking up early enough, students do not eat breakfast. According to healthychildren.

Photo by Kyra Motyka

I try not to be rushed so that I have a routine. I set an alarm. I know I’m [going to] be getting up. I mentally prepare.

Social studies teacher Javier Martinez

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Photo by Ashley Vanderhoff

Getting your backpack ready the night before is a quick and simple task that prepares you for the morning. Ensuring your Chromebook is charged can make the morning less stressful.

Page design by Kyra Motyka

The sun rises over Elburn as a new school day starts. Most Kaneland students are typically on their way to school as the sun finishes rising.

org, kids who eat breakfast perform better in school and function better overall.

Whether you decide to wake up early in the morning or later, breakfast should not be something that is overlooked.

“Everyone needs to eat breakfast. I cook a full meal; I cook eggs and bacon and pancakes. And [students] can also eat healthy food, but it’s just important to eat in general,” Bach said.

However, not everyone needs to plan 30 minutes in the morning to eat breakfast. For some, breakfast was never high on the list of priorities to begin with, so spending more time than you need in the morning can demotivate you from sticking to a schedule. There are plenty of easy and quick meals, though, that you can eat for breakfast or on the way to school.

If leaving enough time for a full meal for breakfast does not work for you, you can try preparing nutritional snacks in the morning, such as hard boiled eggs or yogurt parfaits. An example of a quick breakfast that is easy to eat in the car

Photo by Ashley Vanderhoff

A quick and easy breakfast is a great way to provide a stress-free morning. One example is making a piece of toast with the toppings of your choosing.

could be blending assorted fruits to make a delicious smoothie. A simple breakfast such as toast with creative toppings like avocado or fruit can provide plenty of nutrition, while taking minimal time to eat.

Martinez also stresses the importance of waking up early to accomplish everything you need to do before school.

“Things need to get done, and that begins by getting up on time... and not being rushed, because when you’re rushed, you don’t do a good job. You forget things like not bringing your Chromebook to school, forgetting your lunch or forgetting your homework,” Martinez said.

Preparing the night before and giving yourself plenty of time to wake up should be a priority for everyone. Motivating yourself for the rest of your day can be as simple as setting aside some time for yourself.

This may not seem like a priority in the morning while trying to head to school, but successful people agree that it is an essential step. According to the academic website lifehack.org, not having to rush is the key to a stress-free morning. Additionally, lifehack.org reports that with 90% of illnesses related to stress, taking a moment to sit and relax can help keep you calm.

While advice from someone else can help you plan a motivational morning routine, in the end, it is best to do what works for you. Some people work better with a simple outline, while others do better with a scheduled itinerary. No matter what works for you, make sure to include breakfast, prepare the night before and try not to rush yourself.

“I try not to be rushed so that I have a routine. I set an alarm. I know I’m [going to] be getting up. I mentally prepare.

‘Hey, that alarm is going to go off at 5:45, so you need to get up when the alarm goes off.’ [It’s] the practice of knowing I need to be responsible,” Martinez said.

Lifestyle

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News | September 30, 2021

STUDENT CREATES GRADE-CONVERTER APP

BY KEVIN SIGRIST

D Editor

uring the past several years at Kaneland High School, courses have been switching from the well-known traditional grading method to a different, standards-based grading scale. Students’ opinions vary regarding the new approach, and it has become a common point of conflict amongst the students and staff. Sophomore Benjamin Broz found the standards-based scale confusing, so to help those in similar positions, he created an app that converts standards-based scores to a letter grade to enable students to have a clearer idea of their current standing.

Broz created the app a few days before the start of the 2021-22 school year, and it only took him an hour and a half to make. It was not made to create a new and improved conversion scale, but to be an easier way to understand the current conversion process.

Standards-based grading is based on a student’s ability to demonstrate proficiency in relation to various content-area standards, and students’ grades are derived from how they performed under the criteria of the standards given to them.

However, rather than traditional grading where a teacher would average the point values for a final grade, or other variations of standards-based grading where a student’s grades are reported using the language of standards rather than converted to letter grades, Kaneland’s standards-based grading uses a four-point scale that is ultimately converted into a letter grade.

Broz created his app after realizing some of the disadvantages that students

Photo by Kevin Sigrist

Sophomore Benjamin Broz stands with a Chromebook displaying his converter. Broz coded an app that converts standards-based scores to a letter grade using a coding platform called Scratch.

4 News

associate with moving away from a traditional grading system. “[Standards-based grading] has its perks, but I also feel like it has some big downsides. If you had 19 fours and a singular one, according to the chart, you would get a D+. With traditional grading, if you had 19 100% grades and a single 50%, that wouldn’t get you nearly as close to a D+ as [standards-based grading] would,” Broz said. “I think most students find that quite confusing, and there wasn’t really a way for students to check their grade or what their approximate grade should be.”

Broz took the conversion chart that students can access on the Kaneland website or in some teachers’ syllabi and plugged it into a coding software known as Scratch. Broz’s app runs on the Scratch website and works as a way to convert several standards-based grading scores into a letter grade. This way, a student can plug in their current combination of scores, regardless of how many standards have been summatively assessed, to determine a letter grade that reflects current progress. Teachers often say that a student does not have a grade until the end of the semester when all the standards have been assessed, and while that is true in a standards-based class, Broz recognized that students want some sense of their current standing in a class before that time comes.

The standards-based approach at Kaneland began in the English department, but after some time, it spread to several of the other courses. Despite its increasingly frequent use, however, there are some students who think a standards-based method is not the best fit for their classes.

“Every teacher has to use the same scale, even if it doesn’t fit their course’s needs.

I don’t really think standards-based fits well for any class, but it certainly does not fit classes like math that obviously work fine with traditional grading,” sophomore Nicklas Stefanik said.

There are teachers, though, like English teacher Kimberly Reese, who advocate for standards-based grading because of the philosophy towards learning that it promotes. To proponents of standards-based grading, it is important to remember that the standards-based approach is different than traditional grading, and drawing parallels between them is not necessary.

“Standards-based grading and the traditional kind of grading are very different,

and I think what happens is that students, parents and teachers kind of try to make them mirror images of one another and try to find as much in common so they can make that adjustment,” Reese said. “[They think] a four is an A and a three is a B, and I don’t think that is exactly the correct way to do it. Right now with the scale we are using, to truly get an A you have to be in the distinguished category, and I think that’s very different from what students and teachers are used to.”

Reese assisted Broz in making the app by checking to ensure that the grading scale was correct, and she commented on the kind of approach she believes students should apply to standards-based assessments.

“Students’ reactions are appropriate because it is a huge change. What I like about it, and what I think is a strength of standards-based grading, is that it really puts the focus on what you’re learning, rather than just chasing after a grade,” Reese said. “I was a very high achieving student, and I would have been a student who would have been frustrated by this, but I think it’s making that shift so the focus is really on what you are learning, not what you are memorizing for a test or what you are doing to get that score, but what you are learning that you can incorporate into who you are.”

While opinions on standards-based grading vary from student to student and even amongst the teachers, the Kaneland district appears ready to use standards-based grading for the foreseeable future, and one way to make further sense of the change is to utilize Broz’s app.

Photo courtesy of Benjamin Broz

Scan the above QR code, then click the green flag to use the app. Using the plus and minus buttons, adjust the amount of each number, and press the reset button to move everything back to zero.

Page design by Alan Tapia

September 30, 2021 | News

PROGRAM COMES TO SPECIAL EDUCATION

BY AYSHE ALI

O

Assistant to the Adviser

ne priority in District 302’s mission is to make sure students are prepared for life after high school.

Whether someone chooses to go to college, start working or join the military, everyone should be given the opportunity to prosper. That is why the Kaneland High School special education department has implemented a new program to prepare their students for a successful and self-sufficient life after high school.

“We just wanted to see more from this program,” Special Services Department Chair Larry King said. “And we wanted these students to get more. We took that vision and we rolled with it, and that’s where we’re at now.”

The new special education program is based on the Practical Assessment Exploration System, or PAES. PAES allows students to experience working in the real world while building skills that can be used either in the workforce or living independently.

“This program is for postsecondary students to develop postsecondary skills.

The main goals are for it to develop work ethic, knowing when we do get to a work environment how to behave, being prompt, understanding that you have a boss and supervisor and also giving them the opportunity not to step back,” special education teacher Douglas Mavity said.

During the PAES lab classes, each student will receive a “job box” with a certain task that they need to complete. The jobs can range from using a hammer to measuring out ingredients. While these jobs are being completed, Mavity and para-

Photo by Ayshe Ali

Junior Janaisy Hernandez has to copy a pattern that is on a sheet of paper. This is one of the many exercises students can do to improve various skills.

Page design by Casey Walters

Photo by Ayshe Ali

There are numerous jobs listed on this board that students can do to test different skills. Because there are many options provided, there is a lot of variation in what the students do with each one.

professional Wendy Haacker track data on the students’ work. A student can only move on to the next task if they complete it with 100 percent accuracy.

“It’s not your traditional sense as a teacher. We’re sort of going to step back and let them figure out what they need to do within that job because not everyone is going to support you when you get out at work,” Mavity said.

Preparing students for life after high school is only one part of the program.

The different tasks given to the students also tie into the other academic classes that they take throughout the day. If the students are having a difficult time on a task pertaining to a certain subject, that topic will be addressed in that separate class.

“We can go to the math teacher and say, ‘You know what, we’re not really good on time management at this point,’ or, ‘We’re not understanding what some of our fractions are measurement wise,’ and then they can simulate from the work environment bringing that back over to culinary,” Mavity said. “If we are having trouble with some of the language within the work area, we can use that within the English portion and build on the terminology. So we are sort of cross categorizing all of our classes.”

This is the first year that the PAES program will be running in the Kaneland district. The goal is for students to start the program their freshman year and continue until they graduate. Throughout the years, they will develop relationships with members of the community and get chances to experience working outside of school.

“Our goal is for them to have a job once

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We just wanted to see more from this program. And we wanted these students to get more.

Special Services Department Chair Larry King

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they get out of high school and hopefully to live on their own and to be able to just, for example, follow instructions on the box of mac and cheese. That is our goal,” Haacker said. “We want to set them up for success once they leave high school.

They’re all so talented in their own ways, and they might as well soar with that talent outside of high school.”

Photo by Ayshe Ali

Special education teacher Douglas Mavity oversees students as they work and do their jobs. In this program, he acts more as a boss than a teacher.

News

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Voices | September 30, 2021

IS YOUR MAIN FO WORK OR EXTRA

“I think there has to be a balance between playing a sport and having a job because you have to provide for yourself, but you also need to be able to make friends and have fun.”

Kyle Hesselfeldt (Sophomore)

“I would like to do extracurricular activities rather than a job because it’s more important to get those experiences in high school, and with a job, you can get those experiences at almost any time.”

Connor Haley (Junior)

“It’s nice to have a job when you are a junior or senior, but I prefer sports because you get to interact with more people.”

6 Voices

Casey O’Brien (Sophomore)

Cartoon by McKenna Goss

Page design by Samantha Dunne

September 30, 2021 | Voices

OCUS ON SCHOOL, ACURRICULARS?

“I would rather work than do a sport because I need money, and I am able to save up for college. Also, when you’re at the stage when you have a car, you need money in order to pay for gas.”

Jack Wolff (Senior)

“I would much rather be doing cheer than a job because it’s more fun, and I get to see my friends every day.”

Angelina Campise (Freshman)

“I’d prefer to put my time into sports because I can be with my friends, and I prefer doing sports more than homework.”

Page design by Samantha Dunne

Kaci Randall (Sophomore)

Voices

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Sports | September 30, 2021

VOLLEYBALL GIRLS GOING TO NEXT LEVEL

BY BRADEN BABKA

F

Editor

or most of their childhood and now on Kaneland’s varsity team, seniors Madison Buckley (outside hitter) and Meghan O’Sullivan (setter / right side hitter) have been playing volleyball, training to be able to compete at the collegiate level. With their goals set high, they both knew they would be able to play at the next level if they worked hard enough. As a result of that determination, both girls will be playing volleyball next year in college. Buckley will be at Ball State University and O’Sullivan at Grand Valley State University (GVSU).

Buckley and O’Sullivan’s strong relationship isn’t hard to pick up on. However, what might not be so obvious to Kaneland students is that these same girls who walk the school’s halls every day are going to play NCAA volleyball. The girls’ appreciation and love for the sport have brought them a long way.

“I love that everybody has to work together to score points, and it’s not necessarily one person,” Buckley said.

With teams of six players on each side and a maximum of three hits per side, there are many moving parts and strategies to make a strong volleyball team.

Equally important to skill, however, is the bond between players.

“Being competitive together throughout the season, learning more about each other, working together and just having fun and being around the girls is what makes this sport fun,” O’Sullivan said.

The girls have grown up playing volleyball, O’Sullivan starting in sixth grade and Buckley in fourth. Since then, both girls have also played year-round to get more experience on the court. They play

8 Sports

for Club Fusion Volleyball when not in season at Kaneland, and this is where colleges took notice of their skills the most.

“Mainly through our club when we go to tournaments, there are coaches watching and they can contact us. We will email a bunch of them, and our coaches will help us from there, like making recruiting videos to send to the coaches. Then you can set up visits to colleges,” Buckley said.

Once it’s fall and time for Kaneland’s volleyball season, it’s also time for the girls’ focus to shift to the school’s team, and they are eager to do as well as possible this year. Led by head coach Cynthia Violett, they work hard after school every day to be the best they can be. A typical practice consists of drills, conditioning and scrimmages. Outside of practice, the team also puts in time for team bonding.

“We did a ropes course together, which was zip lining and rock climbing stuff. We all got on a bus together to do that. We have an annual car wash fundraiser, and during the season we tend to have team dinners once a week,” Buckley said.

Buckley and O’Sullivan know how important it is to have a strong team connection. Everybody needs to be on the same page with each other in order to succeed. Communication while playing and being supportive of one another are big parts of thriving as a team. “[Buckley and O’Sullivan] are great leaders. They always try to push others to do better by being their biggest cheerleaders, whether they are on the bench or not,” Violett said. “They could easily come in [to practice] and not try, but they come in and have goals to take the team

Photo by Kyra Motyka

Senior Madison Buckley warms up in hitting lines before a game. The Knights will next take the court tonight against LaSalle-Peru High School.

to State.”

Outside of volleyball, both girls also have additional hobbies and responsibilities. O’Sullivan likes to bake and work at her restaurant job as a waitress. Buckley also bakes and likes to craft in her free time. Next year, O’Sullivan is thinking about going into business at GVSU, and Buckley wants to go into interior design at Ball State.

One of the girls’ favorite memories from playing volleyball at Kaneland was a game against Morris during their junior year. It was a very competitive game because of how good each team was, and it was a test to the girls on how to handle the pressure.

“There was a lot of smack talk across the net, and I love that stuff. We were just going at it with each other,” Buckley said.

O’Sullivan also remembers having fun because of the intensity of this game.

“One of the players started blowing kisses at us through the net, so we were doing it back at them. So because of that, we had a lot of fun even under the pressure of competition,” O’Sullivan said.

The girls won that game and plan on keeping that same ambition going into this year’s season. As of our press deadline, the Knights are 16-1 overall, and Buckley and O’Sullivan plan to do all they can to contribute to a successful postseason while getting ready for the next step in their volleyball careers.

Page design by Braden Babka

September 30, 2021 | Sports

THE GOALS OF KANELAND CROSS COUNTRY

BY NICHOLAS MITCHINSON

T

Co-Editor-in-Chief of Print

he Kaneland boys and girls cross country teams are both currently in season and striving for success. As usual, the coaching staff of each team has ambitious goals for their collective groups and individual athletes to work towards and accomplish throughout the season. Team goals that are more broad allow the entire team to work together towards them and build a sense of unity. Individual goals allow each athlete to measure their success by their personal improvement.

Boys head coach Chad Clarey is confident his runners are aware of their goals without having to explicitly tell them what they are. Clarey also will focus on helping his athletes with their individual goals.

“Some unspoken team goals that have been set are to qualify for the State Finals, win a conference title and try to outrun our preseason rankings in State polls,” Clarey said. “Varsity celebration is not the only focus; we strive to focus on the efforts and successes of every young man in the program.”

Those team goals have become staples of the program, and runners are able to progress from their freshmen to their senior years with the understanding of what is expected. Senior runner Nolan Allen knows what he hopes to get out of this season and is going to continue working hard to achieve those aspirations.

“Some of my individual goals this season are to run an under 16-minute threemile and also medal at state,” Allen said.

Similar to Clarey, girls head coach Doug Ecker knows what he is looking for out of his group of runners this year.

“My goal [for the team] is to see indi-

Photo courtesy of Mira Ory

Junior Mira Ory (left) and senior Kaitlyn Swims (right) run in a home cross country meet. The team is always encouraging and supportive of each other in order to build confidence throughout the season.

Page design by Braden Babka

Photo courtesy of Brayden Cattero

Members of the boys varsity cross country team run out of the starting line at the Sycamore Invitational meet. This was the team’s second meet of the 2021 season.

vidual improvement because this is probably the first time in 10 years that we do not have anyone on the team that has any kind of State experience. I am just looking for improvement,” Ecker said.

Junior runner Mira Ory also has some similar hopes for her team and is going to do her best to help her teammates become better runners.

“Some goals we have as a team are to help one another become the best runners we can be and to have fun, even being as competitive as we are. But nothing is more important than enjoying the sport,” Ory said.

In order for the boys and girls athletes to accomplish what they have set out to do, they must take time as a team and individually to mentally and physically prepare for their competitions. They have to consistently adjust the way they run and get into the right mentality to be successful.

“To physically prepare for a meet, we usually do an easier, shorter workout the day before. To mentally prepare for a meet, we really just take some time to get in the right mindset and encourage others on the team,” Ory said.

Recovery in this sport is important and is taken seriously by the coaches and athletes to make sure they will be ready for the long season ahead, particularly with the possibility of a postseason in their future. Sophomore Eric Ramos understands the importance of recovery in his sport because he knows he must be fully prepared for his next meet.

“We spend a lot of time recovering

from running,” Ramos said. “Obviously since running is very taxing on the body, precautions must be taken to assure strong performance in competitions.”

For the boys team, Clarey has realized to be successful he must have his team do more than just run. Clarey has his team improve their overall health in order to make sure he has his team prepared for the duration of each season.

“Participants can run up to 11 miles, as well as speed work in intervals of 4001600 meters. Threshold and recovery runs are blended,” Clarey said. “We work closely on core strength and flexibility.

Time in the weight room is found, and we are focused on a healthy diet and championship sleep.”

The preparation and recovery that teammates must commit to during the season takes a lot of responsibility and desire. Ecker has noticed that his team has both of these qualities and sees them as some of their overall strengths.

“They listen very well and get along really well. I’d say that their strength is that they want to get better and they listen no matter what their ability is, and they seem to be responsible and do the things they are asked to do,” Ecker said.

The boys team has also shown strengths that can elevate their chances of success, which has allowed Clarey to distinguish a common theme for his team.

“A constant theme of our program is the ability to stick together,” Clarey said.

“We work hard and with humbleness. This is often the formula for past, current and future success.”

Sports

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Feature | September 30, 2021

VOLUNTEERING IN THE KANELAND COMMUNITY

BY MADISON KLEIVO

V Editor

olunteering allows us to connect to our community while also making it a better place. It lets us make a difference and have a positive impact in local areas, while also providing us with new experiences and perspectives. Our time to venture out into local areas, spread kindness and show our work ethic is now.

While volunteer opportunities are widespread throughout our various communities, offering people of all ages a chance to help, giving back has become an especially big part of life for teenagers because it allows them to obtain service hours for college. Dedicated organizations are always looking for additional help, and many welcome younger volunteers who are excited to assist them in their journey of giving back.

There are plenty of nearby organizations that help those in need, such as DuPage Pads in Wheaton that provides shelter to homeless families and Teen Parent Connection in Glen Ellyn that assists pregnant teenagers.

The western suburbs are home to a variety of life-changing non-profit organizations that rely solely on the dedication of volunteers. One popular 501c3 organization in the Kaneland community is the Kaneland Youth Football League (KYFL), which invites high school students to be cheerleading coaches or football staff assistants. Cheer coach, nurse and North Aurora mom Laura Wilson finds the KYFL volunteering atmosphere to be very enjoyable.

“I initially volunteered because I wanted to be there with my daughters and help them

Photo courtesy of Jennifer Sayasane

NHS members and seniors Jordan Anderson (left) and Rachael Peters (right) visit the Northern Illinois Food Bank last March. The group helped by packaging and organizing food products in preparation for distribution to hunger relief corporations.

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cheer. It was a good change from the hospital setting I’m used to. KYFL has become so much more between the friendships that I have gained and the love I have for everything our cheer team does,” Wilson said.

Feed My Starving Children, with one nearby location in Aurora, is another local option for Kaneland students. Here, volunteers dedicate a few hours to packaging food and preparing it for shipment to countries in need. The process is educational and enlightening, giving students a different perspective on the lives of others. The Fox Valley Special Recreation Association in Aurora offers students more service opportunities for anyone interested in helping people with special needs. Duties include being an aid or helper at the Vaughan Athletic Center

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My most rewarding experience in the club has been all of the service projects we’ve done and just helping out around the community.

Senior Angelica Dabek

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during their various classes and activities.

Also, spending a weekend at a humane society or pet shelter leaves many teenagers feeling happy and fulfilled. Local examples of opportunities like that include Paws and Purrs Humane Society in Aurora and the Naperville Area Humane Society.

When we volunteer and help from the heart, we develop a sense of purpose and form bonds with others. But for some, getting out and about in the community may not seem possible due to limited time and other commitments. Luckily, Kaneland has clubs and organizations that are mainly based upon volunteering and are always welcoming new members who are eager to help.

These clubs include the Key Club and Helping Others Prosper Everyday (HOPE).

The National Honor Society (NHS) is another club that dedicates time to volunteering.

Whether you are in your first year of high school or your last, it is never too late to begin volunteering.

Key Club offers so many great opportunities to volunteer. Key Club secretary and senior Angelica Dabek has experienced the value of being in a club that gives back.

“My most rewarding experience in the club has been all of the service projects we’ve done and just helping out around the

community,’’ Dabek said.

Key Club recently held an art supply drive for the HOPE program that ran between August 24 and August 31. Senior and social media officer Amanda Garcia has high hopes for the future of Key Club.

“I hope the Key Club grows and recruits more people to share these amazing opportunities,” Garcia said.

HOPE is a volunteer group where high school students come together to assist their peers with special needs. From helping them with physical education activities to attending field trips, HOPE volunteers are an important part of Kaneland’s special education program.

NHS is a national organization that also includes volunteer opportunities. NHS club member and senior Joshua Brunscheen has been in the club since his sophomore year.

“I like volunteering at a lot of places, but food pantries are probably my favorite because I like to see how I can directly impact people,” Brunscheen said.

Volunteering can heal the mind, soul and negative consciousness that people may have at times. Therefore, it is never too late to start a journey to help others.

“I think volunteering during our high school years is the best time to volunteer because it’s very beneficial for everyone in the community,” Dabek said. “We’re also young and ready to work. When I volunteer, I feel very fulfilled because I’m working towards bettering my community, and it’s just always such a good time.”

Photo courtesy of Amanda Garcia

Many Key Club members sit in attendance at their first meeting of the 2021-22 school year.

At the meeting, they brainstormed new ideas for the busy year ahead, such as blanket making and raising funds for homeless veterans.

Page design by Kevin Sigrist

September 30, 2021 | Feature

EXCITEMENT ABOUT HOMECOMING’S RETURN

BY SAMANTHA DUNNE

L

Editor

ast school year, Homecoming was out of the question. The hallways were empty. There was no Spirit Week, no football game and no annual dance.

Thankfully, now that the school year is slowly returning to how it used to be, the Homecoming dance and many of the associated activities are officially back on.

The Kaneland varsity Homecoming football game will be this coming Friday, Oct. 1, against Morris at 7 p.m. Student Council members have made the decision that the theme for the game will be a white out. For senior football player Samuel Gagne, this will be his last Homecom-

result.

“So far it has been so much fun working with the Student Council, and I am excited to see the upcoming events finally come to life,” White said.

Junior Breanna Roberts was also especially excited for the Student Council to be able to gather in person as a whole group to come up with ideas for the dance and other Homecoming week activities.

“Since everything was canceled last year, it was hard not seeing everyone and working together to plan everything out, but I am most excited to get back to nor-

where a king and queen were announced.

This change from the traditional Homecoming king and queen was inspired by the idea to make sure everyone at Kaneland felt included. Having a Homecoming king and queen put limitations on who could be represented in the Homecoming Court, whereas having a Royal Knight takes away any restrictions on who could be selected.

“Being inclusive is definitely a part of [why we made the decision to have a Royal Knight],” principal Jill Maras said. “If we would have continued what we have done in the past, we would have said it is Senior Maddyx Wald leads the student section in cheers. After spirit week, the students and community are excited for Friday’s Homecoming game and Saturday’s dance.

Seniors (left to right) Savanna Battista, Megan Noel and Taylor Seaton cheer on the Knights against Woodstock North. The theme for this Friday’s Homecoming game is white out.

Photo by Nicholas Mitchinson

Photo by Nicholas Mitchinson

Photo by Anna Olp

Drum major and junior Ethan Yost conducts the marching band. The band has been preparing for their halftime show that will be performed at the Homecoming game.

ing game, and he is motivated to win for the school and community.

“This last Homecoming game definitely is bittersweet because it is my last Homecoming game,” Gagne said. “I am going to go 100 percent for the fans and give them a well deserved win for how well they have been supporting us this year.”

The football game will be the last school event to celebrate Homecoming before the actual dance. In early August, Student Council members began to brainstorm ideas and started to prepare for this year’s Homecoming events. The dance will be held on Saturday, Oct. 2, and this year’s theme is “Starry Night.” Sophomore Student Council member Alexis White has been working on the new Homecoming decorations and is excited to see the final

Page design by Zoey Pozen

Photo by Nicholas Mitchinson

Junior Dawson Trebolo awaits the opening kickoff in the Knights’ game against Woodstock North.

Friday’s Homecoming game is against the Morris Redskins at 7 p.m.

mal and start preparing again and seeing everyone’s faces when they see the decorations and what we have accomplished,” Roberts said.

One of the biggest changes for Homecoming this year is that it will look different when it comes to recognizing students who are nominated for Homecoming Court. Instead of voting for and then declaring a Homecoming king and queen, there will be a Royal Knight. As has been the case in recent years, each club and sport gets to nominate two students for Homecoming Court consideration.

The 10 students with the most votes will then be selected to be the Homecoming Court. Ultimately, only one person will be declared, based on student votes, as the Royal Knight, as opposed to the past

the top male and female. Well, what if the top two vote-getters were both female?

Or they were both male? Or both unidentified? Why would we ever put the identities of who could be selected to only the top female and top male?”

At Kaneland, the goal will always be to make sure everyone feels included in every type of way. If inclusivity is the goal, then the king and queen did not fully represent everyone at Kaneland, and that is why they made the change to the Royal Knight.

“I think our goal at Kaneland is to always make the students feel acknowledged and supported and a part of who we are,” Maras says. “Inclusivity, not based on just gender but all kinds of inclusivity, will always be our goal.”

Feature

11

Centerspread | September 30, 2021

HOW KANELAND STUDENTS NAVIGATE WORK

BY SOPHIA OPP

A

Co-Editor-in-Chief of Print

Photo by Anna Olp

Senior Matilyn Mumm fills out cash forms for her job at the Vaughan Athletic Center. Gym members are able to drop their children off in the child care area to play and be chaperoned while they work out.

12 Centerspread

s high school students, we endure a lot of stress and pressure.

We already have plenty to juggle while balancing school, sports, activities, friends, family and regular life responsibilities, but adding a job to that list of priorities can be overwhelming. Work conditions and experiences tend to vary from person to person, but as students, some of us can relate to both the struggles and perks of student-work life.

It is normal to gain obligations as we get older. Typically, having a job is not something a middle schooler, for example, would have to worry about. However, the older we get, the more pressure there seems to be to work. Many parents stop willingly handing out money, paying for gas emerges as a reality and saving for post-secondary plans becomes a necessity. Perhaps the real question is why teenagers feel compelled to get jobs in the first place.

Senior Matilyn Mumm works in the child care area at the Vaughan Athletic Center in Aurora and at Culver’s in Sugar Grove. She has been at Culver’s for over a year and at the Vaughan since August.

She works about 23 hours a week between the two jobs, attends school every day and participates in clubs and sports, leaving her with a busy schedule. While many of us hope for our last few years of “childhood” to be relatively carefree, Mumm felt some pressure in regards to taking on these responsibilities.

“I initially decided to get a job because I do think there is a lot of pressure being a teenager and hearing all your friends talk about their jobs. Sometimes your friends with jobs sort of make you feel guilty for not having one and spending ‘Mommy and Daddy’s money,’” Mumm said.

Oftentimes, parents are the ones influencing students’ decisions to get jobs, but as Mumm pointed out, our peers can actually have a substantial impact as well.

Whether it is a playful suggestion, wanting to work with friends or a judgemental accusation that those without jobs are lazy, many working teenagers are probably guilty of putting pressure on their peers.

For those not struck by peer pressure, parent expectations are a more traditional motivation for working. Young children cannot be expected to pay for their own

Page design by Ashley Vanderhoff

September 30, 2021 | Centerspread

K, SCHOOL & PERSONAL LIFE

HAVE YOU HAD A JOB? YES

27.1% food, clothes or other miscellaneous items for an obvious reason: they are too young. Once we reach an age of perceived maturity, we are often expected to provide enough for ourselves to pay for these kinds of things.

“It’s nice to have money to spend on dumb stuff that teenagers want instead of having to feel bad for asking my parents,” Mumm said.

Once spending your parents’ money is not an option anymore, the value of financial flexibility is a lot more obvious. Managing your own money teaches someone a lot about responsibility and how to practice cautious spending.

Junior Kellie Peters has worked at Genoa Pizza in Sugar Grove since October of 2020 and has also been faced with this life lesson.

“My job has taught me how to be responsible with money. Using my own money makes me cautious about how much I am actually spending,” Peters said.

Whether you view spending your own money as a learning experience or a burden, there are many other aspects to working that are both positive and negative. Depending on the type of job you have, there are a large variety of lessons and experiences you will encounter. As Mumm and Peters mentioned, responsibility is probably the most apparent takeaway.

Having a job allows us to practice being on time, completing meaningful tasks and sometimes even handling money that is not our own, and these are just a few of the benefits.

When we have jobs that involve working with customers, one of the biggest things we learn is how to communicate more effectively with others. Talking to numerous new people every shift forces us to put ourselves out there, even if it is just through basic small talk.

“My job definitely made me more mature and more social, I’d say. I find it way easier to make friends and even talk to adults,” Mumm said.

Along with all the positives, having a job while being a high school student also has its drawbacks. The most common reason for avoiding a job while in school is not having enough time. School takes up about seven hours every day, homework for each class must be com-

Page design by Ashley Vanderhoff

pleted, sports practices and games are major commitments for some and seeing friends is a necessity for teenagers. With all of those realities, it can be hard to find time to work a long shift as well. Luckily for Peters, she found a way to balance school and work life.

“If I work three days out of the school week, then the other two days are designated days for school, homework and projects. If I know that something is due the next day, then I won’t work so I can focus on that,” Peters said.

If balancing school and work does not seem like a doable task, going through the school year without a job can be advantageous. Senior Evan Beck worked at Jewel-Osco in Sugar Grove last summer but decided it would be best to leave and has since felt great about his decision.

“Between doing a lot of work for classes and participating in clubs and extracurriculars, I don’t have much free time, but my workload has definitely lessened without a job,” Beck said. “I probably will not get a job as long as I am a student at Kaneland because there are many other things I already have to do that benefit me and take up too much time to get a job.”

Beck does agree that having a job is great for earning money and finding something to do, but overall, he does not feel it is right for him.

As college approaches for some of us and our futures are in question, we may want to begin preparing for the eventual careers we want. For some, high school is the perfect time to get a job that prepares you for your future.

“My job at the Vaughan ties into my future because I want to work with children, and it is a great experience for heading into that field,” Mumm said.

If tying your high school job into your future is something you want to do, there are many options out there; all it takes is a little bit of research.

Getting a job can sound intimidating and demanding, and as students, it can be bothersome that we are expected to handle so much all at once. If having a job is not something that sounds enticing to you, do not let the pressure from others control you. On the other hand, it can be a great experience and can teach us a lot about the real world.

NO

72.9%

DO YOU HAVE TWO JOBS? YES 19%

NO 81%

HOW MANY HOURS DO YOU WORK PER WEEK? 21-30 17.3%

11-20 42.9%

>30 5.6%

1-10 34.2%

IF YOU HAVE A JOB, IS IT SOMETHING THAT RELATES TO WHAT YOU WANT TO DO IN THE FUTURE? YES 20.1%

NO 79.9%

The following polls are based on the voluntary responses of 247 Kaneland High School students.

Centerspread

13

Advice | September 30, 2021

WHEN TO GIVE ADVICE AND WHEN TO LISTEN

BY KYRA MOTYKA

T

Editor

he truth about advice is that no one really wants it.

As students, we often come home stressed. Sometimes you get home and immediately begin complaining to your parents. If you and your parents communicate well, they may sympathize with you or offer condolences and try to help if they can. However, at some point everyone has become more stressed when their parents start lecturing and telling them about the ways you could magically relieve your stress by following their advice. As tired students, having our stressors belittled is a great way to ruin our day. Whether you’re a parent, a friend or just a classmate, if someone rants to you, it becomes your job to figure out when someone wants or doesn’t want advice.

It’s usually best to hold off on the life lesson when someone confides in you.

Senior Macie Cox believes she would qualify as a good listener. “When people just need to rant, then that’s when I know they just need listening to,” Cox said. “But when they actually ask for advice, that’s when I know that I can give some.”

Knowing when someone wants advice is truly simple: give advice when you’re asked for it but not when you’re on one end of a stress-relieving rant. The worst thing you could do to someone who needs a support system is tell them how simply they could fix their issues. Doing so just makes them feel incompetent and ridiculous for being upset. Instead, offer your sympathy and remind them that everything will turn out alright. If you’re confused as to whether or not they’re looking for advice, just ask, “Do you want me to try to help you, or do you just need me to listen?” Knowing the answer allows both parties to open up to the conversation.

Kaneland math teacher Daniel Ponczek, known by many as Mr. Ponz, gave the same advice. “One thing that I’ve been working on is trying to ask, ‘Are you seeking advice, or are you just looking for somebody to rant to?’” Ponczek said. “I do think some students aren’t ready yet for some advice. They’re just trying to rant, and then later on they’ll come to me.”

Ponczek also said walking the fine line of giving advice to a student versus accidentally making them feel stupid is very subjective and at times difficult. “I think in my first few years of teaching, I might have said things like, ‘Okay, this should be easy. Everybody should get this,’” Ponczek said. “I’ve kind of learned to stay away from quotes like that because I don’t want you to feel like, ‘Aw, he said

14 Advice

Photo by Kyra Motyka

Senior Macie Cox knows that sometimes people would rather be listened to than given advice. Communication is a huge part of any teen’s life, and healthy listening makes the process easier for everyone.

this should be easy. I don’t get it. He’s not going to want to talk to me.’ I really want every student to come up to me with any misconception they have, so that I could try to help them figure out where it stems, and then we will address that.”

Ponczek is not the only person who agrees that good advice doesn’t automatically translate to being a good listener.

Freelance journalist Moya Sarner wrote an article for The Guardian where she shared what she’s learned about the art of listening. “On day one, in my first training session, I realized to my horror that I wasn’t a very good listener at all. All the habits that I thought made me good at it, all that advice I was giving my friend, was just getting in the way,” Sarner said.

Sarner’s listening trainer believes giving advice before you’re asked for it is a bad habit everyone should break. According to the trainer, “Giving advice is not listening, and often it’s not helpful…

It shuts people down. If you feel a responsibility to fix your friend’s problems, relinquish it.”

Another problem with giving unwanted advice is that it makes the person subconsciously ignore you. No matter how appropriate or great your advice is, if someone doesn’t want it, they aren’t even going to remember it when the conversation is over. It will travel in one ear and out the other.

Licensed clinical social worker Sharon Martin wrote a story for Psych Central about unwanted advice as well. Accord-

ing to Martin, giving unwanted advice can also hurt relationships. “Repeatedly giving unsolicited advice can contribute to relationship problems. It’s disrespectful and presumptive to insert your opinions and ideas when they may not be wanted,” Martin said. “Unsolicited advice can even communicate an air of superiority; it assumes the advice-giver knows what’s right or best.”

Next time someone comes to you to rant, focus on being a support system instead of a problem-solver. Most times, the best way to make people feel better is to allow them to vocalize their issues. Some problems don’t need to be solved; they just need to be let off someone’s chest.

Photo by Kyra Motyka

Math teacher Daniel Ponczek offers his support and expertise to freshman Jacob Smith.

Ponczek is always willing to help students with school or personal life in his study hall.

Page design by Paige Whiteside

September 30, 2021 | Editorial

Kaneland High School 47W326 Keslinger Rd. Maple Park, IL 60151 (630) 365-5100 www.kanelandkrier.com

Cartoon by Dane Coyne

Respecting and celebrating our service industry workers and acknowledging the hard work they do are not things we practice enough. Implementing basic manners, being empathetic and even leaving a tip if possible is all that is needed to display our appreciation.

RESPECTING OUR WORKERS

F

rom a young age, we are taught to treat others how we want to be treated. While this is a seemingly straightforward rule, many people tend to disregard it when interacting with service industry workers. It is always important to be kind and understanding to those working in positions that typically come with lower wages and higher rates of personal interaction, not only because they are regular people that deserve respect just like the rest of us, but also because of many other factors that affect their work life and go into making their jobs difficult.

Everyone has their own struggles, so we should be able to understand that service workers are no different, and they also have their own hardships. For many of these workers, school has an enormous effect on their levels of stress. It is common that high school students constitute a considerable amount of low wage employees, so with the already stressful school day and job life comes even more stress stemming from sports, activities, friends, family and life in general. Adding unpleasant and short-tempered customers to this list is obviously not ideal.

This last year and a half has been difficult for some. Finding jobs has not been easy, as businesses were closing and in many cases struggling for money during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. The financial opportunities that these jobs provide should not be ruined by customers who fail to demonstrate kindness.

Not to mention, the current minimum wage ($11 an hour) is barely enough to live comfortably on by itself. Being a source of conflict in a job that barely pays enough is something that we as a society need to work on.

Recently, there have been many busi-

19

Page design by Sophia Opp

nesses that are both short staffed and running low on products. This has been an understandable inconvenience to many customers, however yelling at employees, asking to speak to managers and causing a scene will not solve anything. Unfortunately, when working many of these service jobs, these kinds of issues are out of employees’ control, so customers acting out towards them is insensitive and impolite.

Each customer has different priorities and standards, and it is hard to please everyone. Employees are typically given very specific instructions on what to do and how to do it. Many times, if these directions are not favorable to customers, they blame the workers. This is unfair and not something that needs to be held against our frontline employees.

Again, not everything is in their control, so we should not condemn them.

Everybody makes mistakes. While this may sound cliché, it is something to keep in mind when interacting with others. Regardless of how bad your day has been, how long a wait is, how frustrated you are or how badly the worker has messed up, everyone does make mistakes. No one likes making errors, so causing someone to feel bad, complaining or letting a small issue ruin both your day and someone else’s is not worth it. Workers in the service industry are human too.

Remember: Being kind is never too much to ask. Everyone around you deserves to be treated with respect, and that includes those who work lower wage service jobs. If anything, we should be going out of our way to be nicer to these employees because there are so many other things they have to worry about.

Their interaction with customers should not be one of those concerns.

0

Member of IJEA, Quill & Scroll, NSPA, NISPA IHSA State Finalists 2013-2021 IWPA Silver Pen 2017 NISPA Golden Eagle 2017 IJEA First Place for Krier Online 2021 IJEA First Place for Best Hybrid Publication 2021 IJEA First Place for Best Overall Publication 2021 Subscription rates: Five issues, three supplements School-delivered, $15; Home-delivered, $25 EXECUTIVE STAFF Sophia Opp Co-Editor-in-Chief of Print Madeleine Little Editor-in-Chief of Web

Nicholas Mitchinson Co-Editor-in-Chief of Print & Sports/Activities Executive Sarah Janito Production Executive

Anna Olp Design Executive & Photography Executive Gabrielle Parker Ad/Business Executive

MANAGING EDITOR STAFF Casey Walters Technology Manager

Ayshe Ali Assistant to the Adviser

Karmyn Hookham Social Media Manager

EDITORIAL STAFF Lifestyle Kyra Motyka Voices Samantha Dunne

News 1 Alan Tapia

Sports Braden Babka

News 2 Casey Walters Feature 2 Zoey Pozen

Feature 1 Kevin Sigrist

Centerspread Ashley Vanderhoff

Advice Paige Whiteside

Opinion 1 Benjamin Warford

Opinion 2 Sarah Janito

Photos Madison Kleivo

STAFF

Editorial Sophia Opp

Profile Gabrielle Parker

Advertisements Gabrielle Parker

Taylor Anello, Ashlyn Becker, Lilliana Bobe, Ethan Bollhoffer, Lilly Boose, Delaney Calabrese, Lyla Christakes, Bernard Clark, Dane Coyne, Chloe Crewse, Arianna Failor, Kira Helm, Tiffany Johnson, Rafika Khan, Jackson Kottmeyer, Bailey Krippelz, Alexander McLean, Bonnie Michelkamp, Abbey Mondi, Cameron Neis, Katherine Pfotenhauer, Sophie Ponce de Leon, Angelina Provenzano, Sarah Schimmel, Mikalah Seward, Elizabeth Sidman, Paulina Sommesi, Jordan Theis, Andrew Valentini, Kisella Valignota, Sofia Williams Cartoonists Dane Coyne & McKenna Goss

Print Production

Casey Walters

Faith Bartkowiak

Adam Wold

Dylan Conklin

ADVISERS Dominic Bruno Krier adviser

Nicole Larsen Print adviser

EDITORIAL POLICY

Editorials represent a majority opinion of the Editorial Board and are not necessarily the opinion of Kaneland administration, staff, students or parents. The Krier Editorial Board consists of designated Advanced Journalism students: Ayshe Ali, Braden Babka, Samantha Dunne, Karmyn Hookham, Sarah Janito, Madison Kleivo, Madeleine Little, Nicholas Mitchinson, Kyra Motyka, Anna Olp, Sophia Opp, Gabrielle Parker, Zoey Pozen, Kevin Sigrist, Alan Tapia, Ashley Vanderhoff, Casey Walters, Benjamin Warford and Paige Whiteside. Students make all publication decisions.

Letters can be sent to the address above or e-mailed to krier@kaneland.org. Letters must be signed (names may be withheld under extraordinary circumstances as deemed by the editorial staff) and must be under 300 words. The Editorial Board has the right to work with writers to edit for clarity and length. Any material that is potentially libelous, obscene or disruptive will not be published, at the discretion of the Editorial Board. All decisions to publish or not publish letters are made by executive editors. The Krier has been an open forum since 1974. As an open forum, we restrict editing to staff members only; prior review and editing are prohibited by people outside the staff.

Editorial

15

Opinion | September 30, 2021

ARE PARKING PASSES WORTH THE MONEY?

Cartoon by McKenna Goss

Numerous Kaneland students are dissatisfied with the prices of parking passes. For many, it is unclear where this money goes and why the prices are so high, which only feeds into students' frustration.

BY SARAH JANITO

E

Production Executive

ach school year, plenty of juniors and seniors (and some sophomores) spend $180 on a parking pass at Kaneland. To some, it is a sound investment as they prefer not to take their bus and enjoy being able to arrive a bit later than they would otherwise have to. To others, it is an outrageous price to pay to simply park their car in a spot and not be able to leave campus for the entire school day. No matter what students think, many still pay the price and park anyway without knowing where exactly all their money is going. Thoughts about the cost are all up to perception, as students often do not take into account the amount of work and money it takes to keep our lots clean and fresh along with the requirements set to be able to park in the first place.

There are surrounding schools that do charge similar prices, but there are others charging less than Kaneland. According to each of their respective websites, Sycamore High School charges their students $120 for the school year, and Geneva provides options with the least expensive lot costing $50 per semester and the most expensive costing $100 per semester. One can only wonder what the school does with the money raised from parking costs: Does it go exclusively towards the high school? Does the entire district get a certain percentage? What exactly is it used for? According to Associate Superintendent Dr. Julie-Ann Fuchs, the high school is the only lot receiving maintenance with these funds, and some goes towards mitigating the costs of the security guiding traffic at Keslinger and Dauberman Roads every morning and afternoon.

“We sealcoat every three to five years depending on how bad it gets and how

16 Opinion

quickly. Oftentimes we’ll sealcoat, say the student lot one summer, then the next we do the south lot. We do different portions because of the cost. It also goes to snow removal, which happens every year,” Fuchs said.

Each time Kaneland re-paves the high school’s lot, according to law, several companies send in proposals (or bids) stating how much they charge for the service. Fuchs said she and other members in the district office look at each proposal and have to choose the lowest price each time, so the company and cost slightly differs from year to year. Thousands of dollars come in each year and, according to Dean of Students Joshua West, Kaneland sees about 410 to 415 spots sold each year, adding up to between $73,800 and $74,700. Parking in front of the school without a pass costs even more, as $4 per day adds up to $708 with 177 days in the school year if the student pays every day.

These costs may not seem too out of the ordinary, as paying to park in a spot also means paying to have it maintained throughout the year. However, teachers at Kaneland are granted parking privileges at the beginning of each year cost-free.

They do work for Kaneland and make a salary here, but many students also have jobs, and theirs are ones that tend to pay minimum wage or not much more, meaning not every upperclassman has the kind of money to spend each year they are allowed to purchase a parking pass.

Though Kaneland’s goal, according to West, is to be comparable to surrounding schools’ prices, students who buy passes are taking a significant amount of money out of their pockets. This could impact possible college savings funds, and it can make the money a student earned from

hours of working a tiring job after spending eight hours at school and still having homework to do afterwards feel wasted, especially with the requirements to park set by Kaneland.

Students who fail to follow the rules stated under the parking section in the Kaneland handbook are subject to $20 fines for each violation they commit. They may face pass suspension, and their vehicle can be towed whenever Kaneland deems appropriate at the owner’s expense. Students’ vehicles are also subject to inspection at any time from the on-campus police or other school officials without a warrant. These conditions seem a bit harsh considering some cars that enter campus could belong to a student’s parent and could contain items unbeknownst to them. On top of that, even mentioning the possibility of towing a student’s car seems too extreme to try and keep everyone in line with the regulations to park. Is renting a tow truck worth a minor violation?

People park at the high school and do not pay very frequently with seemingly no consequence. Seniors Alexis Johnson and Brandon Weissmann each bought a pass, but they drive together most days and consistently leave school to see others parked in spots that they did not pay for. And to them, it seems those incidents aren’t often caught by administration.

“So far, we’ve been able to carpool almost every day, and every time we’ve left school there has been someone parked in whichever spot we didn’t use that day.

It’s very upsetting because we paid a lot of money to reserve those spots, and other people are taking advantage of it.

Whether it’s Fox Valley kids or Kaneland kids wanting a better parking spot, it’s irritating to see them take our spots,” Johnson said.

It is possible that students underestimate how much labor and material it takes to maintain the parking lot. After all, Fuchs said we spent $22,000 on our snow services alone last year. Kaneland already accepts the lowest offered price when sealcoating, and snow removal takes quite a lot of work. Meredith, Keslinger and Dauberman Roads are hotspots for accidents, which can lead to more vehicular damages for students to pay for in addition to the parking lot expenses.

The cost of passes certainly pays off in regards to maintenance; it all comes down to our specific restrictions instead. Students who are considering paying for a parking pass should all ask themselves one question: Is the price to park worth the conditions set by Kaneland?

Page design by Benjamin Warford

September 30, 2021 | Opinion

BODY MODIFICATIONS IN THE WORKPLACE

BY PAIGE WHITESIDE Editor

T

attoos, dyed hair and piercings have become more popular in recent years, but many people have opinions on them that seem to be stuck in the past. People who choose to alter their appearance by changing their hair color or getting new piercings or tattoos are just as capable of performing well at their job as people who do not. The thought that someone’s appearance could change their work ethic, experience or capability to perform well at their job is insulting, and it is something that society needs to change their mindset about.

As long as someone’s productivity is not being affected by their style, things such as piercings and tattoos should not be reasons to turn someone down at an interview. While some may argue that it is unprofessional to show tattoos and piercings at work, it can be argued that it is even more unprofessional for a manager to judge a potential employee based on those factors.

Fortunately, there is a positive outlook for the future. In a study conducted by the Robert Half company Accountemps, 2,800 senior managers were interviewed at companies in 28 different major U.S. cities. 60% of the managers said that societal standards have loosened in the workplace, and most of that change has been influenced by younger generations of working people.

As time goes on and the world goes through many changes, people’s beliefs change too. Seeing young workers with piercings and dyed hair may have been viewed as unacceptable in the past, but today, more young people can be found sporting these choices in style. In office jobs, these features are less common, but over time these styles are finding their way in almost every profession. Negative stereotypes that surround these people have faded over the years, with a large portion of society realizing how unfair these assumptions are.

While continuing to look on the bright side of things, many workplaces such as salons and tattoo parlors encourage their employees to have changes to their appearances. This creates a welcoming environment for customers and assures them that their staff knows what they are doing since they have personal experience.

Not all businesses have such open minds, though. Before change can be made, an issue that needs to be recognized is the fact that an employer is le-

Page design by Benjamin Warford

gally allowed to deny someone a job in America if they have tattoos. Many job applications state that there shall be no visible tattoos and piercings at work, and at some fast food establishments, hair dye has been banned. This should not be allowed in a country that says it prides itself on the freedom of expression, as stated in the First Amendment.

Senior Buggy Sandberg agrees, believing that people should not be pressured to change themselves for others. With blue hair and multiple piercings, they have been told by many people that they need to conform to a certain standard.

“People are told not to be themselves, and it is unfair. In a world where lots of aspects of our lives are regulated and kept in check, at the least we deserve the freedom of expression. I will never base my physical appearance on what other people want for me,” Sandberg said.

One commonly mentioned drawback to hiring individuals with tattoos or piercings is that many tattoos have explicit words or images that would be inappropriate for work settings, or that some piercings can pose a safety hazard, possibly getting caught on work equipment.

These statements are true in certain situations, but not allowing these modifications will cause more problems than solutions by making it more difficult for qualified people to get hired, as well as

sending a discouraging message about self-expression to others.

Tattoos, dying your hair and getting piercings are expressions of individuality to many. As someone who has dyed hair myself, I love my hair color, as I feel it compliments my personality and goes along with my fashion choices. I have a job and have never had issues related to my hair color. Being able to express myself in this way is important to me and lots of other people as well, and if others have issues with the way that people alter their appearance, it should be up to them to deal with their feelings about this.

Social studies teacher Scott Parillo, a simultaneously tattooed and successful teacher, is able to talk about his own experiences with having a unique look in the workplace.

“I think you need to get to know a person before you make decisions about them. Don’t judge a book by its cover. Going places looking the way I do, I definitely get some looks, but I am a nice guy,” Parillo said.

Nobody should be judged based on their appearance, especially when it comes to the workplace. The idea that a person is unqualified for a job based on something like dyed hair, piercings or tattoos is a mindset we need to move past.

Having piercings, tattoos or dyed hair has no negative effects in the workplace.

Cartoon by McKenna Goss

According to author Anisa Holmes at Dalia Research, a 2018 study showed 46% of U.S. citizens have tattoos, and over half of them have piercings. With such high percentages, why would employers want to turn away potential workers for the way they modify their appearances?

Opinion

17

Profile | September 30, 2021

18

Profile

Page design by Gabrielle Parker

September 30, 2021 | Profile

MARIO ARINDAENG PREACHES POSITIVITY

BY ANNA OLP

I

Design Executive and Photography Executive

f you’ve had lunch in the cafeteria at Kaneland High School or Harter Middle School, the chance you’ve run into Mario Arindaeng is pretty high. If you, like myself prior to writing this story, have little to no idea who he really is, you’re not alone. Many students at KHS recognize Arindaeng in the hallways or during their lunch hour, but their knowledge of him doesn’t go much further.

Arindaeng doesn’t shy away from meeting new people, and everyone who does know Arindaeng knows him as somebody they can turn to. With even my first question, he expressed how much he cares about what he does for the Kaneland community.

“I want to be here to really support and encourage kids. I love Kaneland students.

It doesn’t matter who they are. I just really care about them,” Arindaeng said.

Many students at both KHS and KHMS recognize Arindaeng for the time he spends in the lunchroom, hopping from table to table. Sitting down and interacting with students is as simple of a role as it sounds, but it can mean a lot to the students. Playing card games and having small conversations about the upcoming weekend are just some of the ways he interacts with students during lunch hours.

“Mario came and played the game Exploding Kittens with my lunch table every day he was at the school. He’s a great person and is super fun to be around,” senior Evelyn Taylor said.

By spending time with students, Arindaeng has been able to form a unique connection with many people, something that some students aren’t able to find in many other places. Some students may know Arindaeng better than others when he makes his way around the lunchroom, but he is ready and willing to stop at any table regardless of his level of familiarity.

Many times this results in first-time conversations where Arindaeng is sure to learn the names of the students he interacts with. Some conversations are short and simple, but they tend to be memorable to students nonetheless.

“A lot of [my interactions with students] isn’t me talking to them, as much as listening to them,” Arindaeng said. “I find a lot of students just want to have an adult who cares and is able to just listen to them, and I genuinely care about the kids and what’s going on with them.”

Arindaeng has been unofficially doing work with Kaneland since 2003, before many of the students currently at Kane-

Page design by Gabrielle Parker

land were even born. The reason for his involvement with Kaneland is not a happy backstory, but it goes to show the sincerity of the work he does today.

“There have been a lot of student deaths at Kaneland over the years, and the first one [that involved me with the district] was Andrew and Jarrett Burkholder, who were involved in a car accident in 2003,” Arindaeng said.

It was a student in his youth group who reached out to Arindaeng and asked him to come to the school to help counsel a few students. When he arrived, he realized a “few students” was an understatement. Arindaeng was handed a microphone and spoke in front of both the freshmen and senior classes separately, as they both had a classmate pass away in the crash. Standing in front of hundreds of students, Arindaeng shared words of encouragement with the students who were mourning the loss of a friend and fellow classmate.

Following this initial involvement with

“

I want to be here to really support and encourage kids. I love Kaneland students. It doesn’t matter who they are. I just really care about them.

- Mario Arindaeng

“

our district, there were similar tragic occurrences that prompted the school to ask Arindaeng for assistance. Because he wanted to continue helping and start checking on kids regularly, Arindaeng began attending student lunch hours.

“I asked the administration if I could come to continue to be a support for the students, and from 2013 until now I have been going to lunches pretty consistently,” Arindaeng said.

Another one of Arindaeng’s main roles at KHS is serving as the assistant director of Student Impact. Student Impact is a student-led, student-initiated Christian club here at school where everybody is welcome. Student Impact is overseen by Arindaeng and Kaneland band director Aaron Puckett, and they meet on Tuesday mornings before school.

“Our goal [in Student Impact] is really to live out our mission of ‘prayer, share,

care,’” Arindaeng said.

Throughout my interview with Arindaeng, one of his main areas of focus was how much of an important role Jesus has played in his life. His love for sharing this passion with young people also comes into play during multiple aspects of his life. Along with the work he does for Student Impact, Arindaeng works as a youth pastor at the Village Bible Church in Sugar Grove. Senior Jonathan Pilkington has known Arindaeng almost his whole life through his involvement with the church.

“Mario has been my youth pastor since I was in 6th grade, so he has really helped me grow my relationship with Jesus,” Pilkington said.

Walking the line between religion and public school can be a tough thing to do, but Arindaeng assured me that he would never want to put a student in an uncomfortable situation. He says that he believes sharing the message of the Bible is the role of the Christian students and those involved in Student Impact.

“I know my guidelines being in the school. I’m all about the need to tell people about Jesus, but when I’m in the lunchroom I don’t go and ask people about their faith,” Arindaeng said.

Arindaeng is also able to share his faith during prayer meetings that are held for Kaneland teachers. The group meets once a week before school and welcomes any teachers wanting to join.

Arindaeng has made close connections with the teachers involved in this group, including Kaneland choir director Bryan Kunstman.

“I’ve known him for a long time, and even in his first couple years of being in the building, every time I would see him, he was very friendly and always said hi,” Kunstman said.

Much like Kunstman, students and staff throughout the district recognize Arindaeng for the kindness he has shown to the Kaneland community. After having met with him, I can now say the same.

“One thing I will always remember about Mario is I never see him get angry with people. No matter the situation, he always knows what to say. He is somebody I think many people can trust,” Pilkington said.

If you’re ever looking for someone to talk to or verse you in Exploding Kittens at lunch, Mario Arindaeng is your guy. I’m sure you will come to find him as someone you look forward to seeing just as I have.

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Photos | September 30, 2021

Senior Ch “This wa arlotte Herst as Pigle s my fa vorite c t ostume cause it b e was the cutest.”

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KANELAND STUDENTS’ MOST MEM

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Photos

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Page design by Madison Kleivo

September 30, 2021 | Photos

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MORABLE HALLOWEEN COSTUMES

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Page design by Madison Kleivo

Senior Amanda Mederich as a Minecraft creeper “I wore this costume when I was in fourth grade. This was my favorite costume because it was unique and homemade.”

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