As we approach first semester’s halfway point, we have more stories and events to share.
So far, students may have participated in the Friday Flock Parties in the 600 hallway (see page 5). In the Math hallway, Cynthia Hauser shares her small business with her students (see page 5). Speaking of small businesses, some students have taken up different photography businesses (see page 8).
As for sports, the women’s golf team won big (see page 6) and sophomore Hudson Sutton excels in both soccer and basketball (see page 12). We also spotlight senior Ellie Meisel for her ability to balance numerous clubs and commitments (see page 14).
Currently, the arts are busy with the return of Art Club (see page 10) and the preparation for The Phantom of the Opera (see page 16).
We covered more emotional stories as well. Including the struggles of foreign exchange students (see page 18), food insecurity (see page 20) and the importance of showing up for athletes (see page 21).
Thank you for coming back to read our second issue of The Bell. We hope you enjoy this issue just as much as the first.
The Liberty Bell strives to provide correct and factual information which does not misconstrue statements given by students, faculty and outside sources. If at any time while reading through this paper misinformation is found please contact our advisor jamie.munoz@lps53.org and our Editor In Chief ksmi5474@lps53.org immediately so the staff can be aware of the mistake.
That being said, we would like to formally apologize to Basement Books for failure to put their advertisment in our previous issue. We fixed the situation and will make sure this doesn’t happen again in the future.
Kora Smith
Find more fall photos on our online photo gallery @lhsnews.net. Photos by Iyari Hyde.
Junior Madelynn Heits and senior Abel Enriquez run rehearsals for Phantom of the Opera set to hit the stage from Nov. 19-22. “We picked Phamtom because it’s a production that not a lot of other schools do and it’s challenging and I knew my crew could handle it,” Director Katherine Gehrlein said. Photo by Celiy Tiemann.
Teacher Goes Entrepreneur
Math teacher starts quilting business.
Reported by Camdyn Johnston
Designed by Addi Fung
Algebra and Geometry
teacher Cynthia Hauser recently started her own small business called The Quilted Haus. Hauser and her daughter started the business over their love of sewing and quilting.
“I feel like when it comes to quilting, there’s just something that makes it feel like a comfort, kind of natural, and I also like that it’s handmade. It’s not something you can just buy anywhere,” Hauser said.
Hauser worked on projects such as makeup bags, tote bags, pencil pouches and quilts. The customer ranges anywhere from toddlers to teachers.
“She learned how to sew pencil bags. She said she’s perfecting one bag at a time,” senior Remi DeSchepper said.
Quilting and sewing takes time
Fun Flock Fridays
Spirit takes over the 600 hallway.
TReported by Layton Smith
Designed by Addi Fung
he flock parties are led by ELA teachers Roselynn Zicarelli and Melissa Jones each Friday and happen during each passing period. Themes for the Flock parties come from football game themes, such as pink out, where they played songs by Pink and Pink Floyd.
“Mrs. Jones is our DJ, so we send her songs that we think go with a theme, and it’s just fun to pick out songs and dance and be silly during passing periods,” english teacher Mrs. Zicarelli said. She is a former Blue Jay who wanted to bring excitement about being a Blue Jay again.
She created the flock parties just for Liberty, “I was really excited about being a Blue Jay again, so I bought a bunch of blue Blue Jay
feathers, and I wanted to think about how I could decorate the hallway, and I kind of forced the other teachers in the hallway to get on board, from there we came up with the flock just to have fun on Fridays,” said Zicarelli, “Flock parties are meant for students to have fun and to give them an enjoyable Fridays. It’s getting more detailed, I would say. I feel like some students used to avoid the hallway, but now we have repeats that are coming through there.”
“My favorite thing about flock is that it always puts me in a good mood and it’s fun to have when I’m having a bad day,” freshman Kenzzy Martin said.
The 600 Flock Party will be every Friday through Post Season Football.
and with days full of school and work Hauser said it can be difficult to find times to sew, but squeezes in times after school and on weekends.
“It can be frustrating, since we have been venturing out and sewing different types of items. Just remembering the different patterns for everything and trying to remember what to do for each item sometimes is frustrating. If you make a mistake, you have to go and rip out the seams and redo it,” Hauser said.
Something else which comes with having a business is making mistakes. Hauser said this can be frustrating when it comes to sewing because it’s a delicate process of following a pattern or remembering it. Finally, sewing process, as a whole, can be very consuming.
“It’s a new business so they just started it all, they made labels and started to sew labels onto bags. She made me a bag,” DeSchepper said. Hauser is not yet selling products because they are trying to grow inventory.
Teachers Caitlin Turpin, Bree Yeates, Roselynn Zicarelli, Joseph Barnes, Kellen Laws, Melissa Jones and Briday Ware party hard at the Flock Party with JayRock. The Rock Band performed a teaser concert to promote their show on Oct. 24. “It was incredible to have such a talented band guest appear for our hallway, and we had a great student turnout,” Zicarelli said. Photo by Ayla Espinoza.
Algebra 1 teacher Cynthia Hauser starts her new business; The Quilted Haus. She’s been teaching for 12 years. “My daughter said I should start selling what I was making. She wanted to as well, so it is just something fun that we can do together,” Hauser said. Photo by Gracee Peugh.
Full Swing
Women’s golf team brings home Bertoldie Cup win.
Reported by Katelyn Smith
Designed by Destinee Davis
The smell of the fresh grass flooded into sophomore Chloe Johnston’s nose as she walked onto the tee box at WinterStone golf course. The pressure was on her as she swung her driver back and hit the golf ball onto the fairway 180 yards away. She was surrounded by clapping from the crowd, about to go 1-0 on the first hole against Liberty North.
On Oct. 3, the Lady Jays golf team won the Bertoldie Cup against North 5-2 at the WinterStone Golf course, which is North’s home course.
“This is the first year in two years that we’ve won the Bertoldie cup; it was fun to bring the tradition back and win,” Johnston said.
The girls woke up early to get in the team van, which took them to their course at eight in the morning. When they arrived, they went to the driving range to practice their swings. They used this time to see how the wind would move their ball.
The entire team played nine holes as a scramble match. This is when two players from each team hit a tee shot, and whoever’s ball
Women Of The Team
The faces seen on the green.
goes farther gets marked, and they get to hit again. From there, whichever team gets the ball into the hole with the least amount of strokes earns a point.
Coaches decide the lineup of the players. The first tee time was at 2:30 PM, where Johnston and junior Kourtney
Bowman teed off.
“I love golfing with my team because even though golf is an individual sport, you are always playing for your team, and there is always someone cheering you on, and it’s very supportive,” Johnston said.
The jays lost the first match but went on to win the second with junior Electra Loney and junior Kendyl Brown, tie the third
Sophomore Chloe Johnston is number one on varsity for Womens Golf with coach Scott Rainey. Johnston has played competitive golf for 3 years. “I love the team aspect of school golf and getting to connect with my teammates,” Johnston said. Photo by Gracee Peugh.
Photo by Gracee Peugh.
with senior Emma Verssue and senior Sophie Bradford, and win the rest.
“The point of winning the cup represents any rivalry between us and North. The creator of the tournament was a head coach for Liberty golf six years ago. The tournament is named after him, Forrest Bertoldie,” Verssue said.
After tournaments, if the team does well, they celebrate. This includes getting food on the way home or spending time to celebrate with each other.
“My favorite memory is the van rides to and from tournaments. We get Sonic after we win, and we all
talk, and it’s a fun time,” Verssue said.
This win reflected the team’s improvements over the years. The many practices they’ve had have given them time to improve their teamwork skills and grow a larger love for golfing.
“I think this year, we have a lot of girls who are really good at golf. We worked very well as a team, putting our strength and hard work together and coming out with the win,” Verssue said.
The team just finished the State tournament on Oct. 20-21 at Sedalia Country Club. They qualified as a team with players Johnston, Bowman, Electra Loney, Sophie Bradfordmand Kendyl Brown.
Two athletes also qualified individually, Johnston and Bowman, and won All-Conference honors.
Johnston finished 19th individually in the State tournament with a total score of 160 over both days. Bowman ended the tournament with a total score of 175. The team tied for seventh place with their final score being 696 over the two days.
The State tournament was the last event happening in golf this year. Women’s golf tryouts will be hosted next year in the fall.
“The experience was very fun, getting to hit in front of everyone and hearing everyone’s walk-up songs,” Johnston said.
Sophomore Chloe Johnston
We put all our strengths together, and that came out with the win.
- Senior Emma Verssue said
Adobe
Junior Adi Leimkuhler
Illustration by Destinee Davis
Photo by Iyari Hyde.
Photo by Ayla Espinoza.
Photo by Gracee Peugh.
Capture the Moment
Local student photographers bring professional quality at a fraction of the cost.
The tall grass moves in the breeze which is cold on senior Chanci Hall’s skin as she poses for her senior photos taken by Madeline Hand at the Belvior winery. A single click captured a senior’s history. A cool breeze shifted through Chanci Hall’s hair as the 2007 Nikon D40 camera shuttered. Several students have a passion for photography, and they take their hobbies beyond the school walls. There are different options to get senior photos taken, such as student photographers. Liberty has student who have started their own photography business. There are several benefits of using a local business in a hometown for
Reported by Katie Ericksen
Designed by Camdyn Johnston
pictures. Many professional photography businesses often charge upwards of $200 to $600 for a single session, according to Kileyannphotography.
Comparing these prices to what student photographers charge is much less. Senior, Madeline Hand, her prices can vary, charging around 150$ for a photoshoot, depending on how many outfits, locations, and the number of pictures.
“For my business, personally, prices are much cheaper than most photographers, and you’ll get more photos out of it than you usually would,” Hand said.
Hand runs a small business in her free time to highlight graduating seniors. She provides a welcoming and positive session to her peers. She provides high-quality images for her models.
She has always been drawn to photography, as she recently took up her camera again when her friend Cora Price, who graduated in the class of 2025, asked her to take her senior pictures. Hand finds an enormous amount of passion in her camera. She learned from trial and error, while also taking a class at UMKC.
“My biggest piece of advice is to find what is best for you. Your photos do not need to look like anyone else’s. If you have a vision, be unique and go for it,” Hand said.
Madeline Hand takes Olivia Dolton, Chanci Hall, Zariah Danielle, and is scheduled to take Rory Willadsen’s senior portraits. Hand made her way, making a hobby turn into a business. “I started when I was 9 but recently got back into it after taking my friend’s senior pictures in April,” Hand said. Photo by Royce Schmalz.
Hand has photographed several students, involved in theater and choir. More specifically, senior Chanci Hall. Hand-photographed Chanci for her senior photos.
“Not only was she super flexible, but also everything was fun and easy. It wasn’t just a photoshoot; it felt like a hangout. I knew I could count on having good photos from her, as I’ve seen her previous photoshoots and know her personally, which made me feel confident in the final product,” Hall said.
Senior Troy Petty, says his prices can vary. Generally, he charges 30-50$ for a photoshoot with 20 photos, depending on the editing, lens &
equipment requirements.
“The stylistic choice I’ve made recently is shooting with a film-like look. Another choice I’ve made is to focus primarily on posting portraits, as they seem to attract the most attention & bolster collaboration with other artists,” Petty said.
Petty first started his business with a commercial/commercial-like photoshoot in July 2025. He had his Instagram since April of 2023 and started posting in July of 2024. Though Petty’s Instagram is fairly new, he faces AI regularly, affecting him and other creatives.
“With the advent of Artificial Intelligence, creatives face an extinction-like scenario for their employment. Photography is
Photography is one of the reasons we can bring back memories from special moments in our lives, or even see what is happening around the world.
- Photography teacher Sydney Carr said
partially shielded from this mass extinction event, but if I wish to pursue this business in the future, it is likely that competition (from humans and robots) will be higher,” Petty said.
As of now, Hand runs her business through Instagram under @Mads_lens; to see her photos or if interested, she uses direct message to her for availability/scheduling. To see more about Troy Petty, visit his Instagram @pettyintervention.
Photo by Madeline Hand
Photo by Madeline Hand
Photo by Ceily Tiemann
Photo by Troy Petty
Creative Currents
Art students particpate in a returing club.
Reported by Elissa Ketcham
Designed by Camdyn Johnston
The soft sound of eight paintbrushes against paper is music to visual arts teachers Amanda Harding and Sydney Carr’s ears after school on Tuesdays in Room 111. They are surrounded by artwork, which serves to inspire and motivate them in their artistic journey. The room is filled to the brim with easels. There’s a soft light coming from the corners of the
room, from lightshades being crafted with paper mache.
The Art Club is hosted in Room 111 from 3:15 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Tuesdays. There are many forms of artistic expression students get to work with, ranging from watercolors to paper collages and even digital art.
“Myself and Mrs. Harding both wanted to start an art club over the last few years but haven’t had the right space or timing to get it going. We know there is student interest, so we got it going early
this year,” Carr said.
Art Club is welcome to any new members to their sessions. In the club description, it states its “goal is to have a safe and comfortable space for people to explore their creativity.” There is no criterion to join other than to have a love of art.
“I love art because it’s fun,” freshman Micah O’Dell said. Art Club is similar to the National Art Honor Society (NAHS) from a few years ago, however, with the renovation of the 100s Hallway, the club was put on pause and ultimately cancelled.
“Now that our classrooms are back in working order, we decided to bring art club back, just simply as Art Club, instead of NAHS hoping to attract more students who may have been intimidated by the ‘official’ title of NAHS,” Carr said. The title change from “NAHS” to art club is overall more inclusive and less intimidating for students.
“I think it can provide a lot of practice and just finding what type
Micah O’Dell sits in the art club made by teachers Sydney Carr and Amanda Harding. Harding has been teaching for 8 years and Carr has been teaching for 9 years. “We decided to create an art club because there was a need for a space outside of art classes where students can be creative on their own terms,” Harding said. Photo by Gracee Peugh.
Photos by Gracee Peugh.
Photo by Gracee Peugh.
of art you want to do and what you like,” sophomore Claire Bland said. Usually, Bland practices sketching and improving her art style during club meetings. She finds the club can help students fit time into their schedule to be motivated to write, because working with others can be especially motivating.
“I would like to get better at my art style, because it’s all over the place, but that’s kind of the main thing,” Bland said. She benefits from the club time because she can work on making an art style uniquely hers. As well, she practices with watercolors during meetings.
“I paint with water colors and all that,” Bland said. The club helps students learn new techniques such as texturing their art with watercolors.
“The smell of paint, the feeling of the marker coloring my hands, and the sight of artwork and 3D sculptures around everywhere,” sophomore Gabriella Sheard said.
There is a variety of art which surrounds students, ranging from
sculptures to paintings.
“We all sit in a room and have the opportunity to talk to each other,” O’Dell said. Art Club is an opportunity for students to meet others with similar passions.
Many students in the Art Club have ambitious goals for the school year. Bland wishes to improve her art style, making it uniquely hers, by practicing during the club. O’Dell’is
trying to encourage their peers to begin a self-portrait project where each student gets an opportunity to represent themself.
“We are a club, but we don’t give club energy,” O’Dell said.
O’Dell’s favorite project so far is a collage which was made with a poem written by freshman Shelby Starr. First, Starr wrote the poem and handed it to O’Dell. The poem inspired O’Dell to create a collage which connected the poem with pastel yellows, blues and pinks. This collage of writing and colors now has a home with O’Dell and their family. The project emphasized the community-like feel of Art Club by combining writing and art into one beautiful piece.
While the club currently only has a handful of members, it is open to anyone and everyone who is passionate about exploring their artistic drive. Currently, there is no way to see the art the club makes, other than by attending one of the Tuesday meetings. To get involved with Art Club, email amanda.harding@lps53.org or sydney.carr@lps53.org.
Artists In History
1452-1519
Leonardo Da Vinci
1474-1564
Michalangelo
1853-1890
Vincent Van Gogh
1881-1973
Pabo Picasso
1886-1957
Diego Rivera
1887-1986
Georgia O’Keefe
1907-1954
Frida Kahlo
1910-1996
Emily Kame Knwarreye
Photo by Gracee Peugh.
Photo by Gracee Peugh.
The Final Whistle
The drive for improvement fuels year-round athletics.
Reported by Destinee Davis
Under the bright stadium lights, on the soccer field, on Oct. 23 at 7 p.m., sophomore Hudson Sutton and the varsity team faced off against North Kansas City in a thrilling soccer match. The cool night air buzzed with energy as fans cheered and the smell of popcorn drifted through the stands. Players’ cleats pounded against the turf, and the sharp whistle of the referee echoed across the field. When the final buzzer sounded because Liberty claimed a 2-0 victory, their hard work paid off under the Friday night lights.
“Being on varsity, I’ve made a lot of friends, and it’s a really cool experience,” Sutton said.
This year, Sutton excels as a dual sport athlete for soccer and basketball. Sutton played for the varsity soccer team, where he competes as a striker. He has played soccer since second grade and
Designed by Katelyn Smith
continues to develop his skills through school and club teams. He also plays basketball during the winter season, managing both sports alongside his schoolwork. His commitment to athletics and academics shows his ability to balance multiple responsibilities.
“Hudson is a strong athlete and very competitive,” soccer coach Thomas Rottjakob said.
This season, the soccer team has faced tougher competition than in previous years. In past seasons, the team earned more wins, but this year has been a test of consistency and teamwork. Despite the challenges, players like Sutton continue to work hard and stay focused on improvement. The team’s goal this year is to finish strong and build momentum for the next year.
“He has an edge to him that makes
him strive to get better,” Rottjakob said.
As soccer season comes to a close, Sutton is already preparing for basketball. He plans to play for the basketball team again this season, after making the team as a freshman last season. His experience at the varsity level has helped him adjust to the speed and intensity of high school sports. With another season ahead. Sutton looks to continue improving his skills and contribute to the team’s success.
“One of my goals for basketball is to make the First Team Conference and help my team get to Districts,” Sutton said.
Sutton plays on the varsity basketball team, where he competes as a small forward and shooting guard. He is known for his quick movements and ability to read the court. Playing both soccer and basketball keeps him active year-round and helps him stay in shape for each season. His athletic versatility makes him a valuable player on both teams.
“Hudson always steps up when he’s challenged,” Rottajob said.
Along with competing for Liberty, Sutton also enjoys playing basketball with his brother. The two often practice together, pushing each other to improve. Their shared love for the game has helped both of them grow as athletes and teammates. Playing side by side
Sophomore Hudson Sutton is a varsity soccer and basketball player. Sutton has been playing both soccer and basketball for 8 years. “It is a big commitment to be a varsity player for two sports because it’s hard to go from one sport to another,” Sutton said. Photo by Royce Schmalz.
In class, he’s helpful. He makes sure I get my work done and helps me stay on track. Outside of class, he’s just as solid of a friend.
- Sophomore Jermaine Anderson said.
gives Sutton extra motivation to perform his best.
“Having my brother there pushes me to get better,” Sutton said.
In the classroom, Sutton maintained focus and responsibility just like he does in sports. He manages his time carefully to balance schoolwork and athletics. Teachers and classmates describe him as dependable and hardworking. His ability to stay organized helps him stay on top of assignments during busy sports seasons.
“In class, he helps me get my work done and makes sure I turn everything in,” sophomore Jermaine Anderson said.
Outside of sports and school, Sutton is known as a loyal and respectful friend. He treats his teammates and classmates with kindness and support. Friends say he’s someone they can count on for help or encouragement. His positive attitude makes him well-liked among both students and athletes.
“I’m still thinking about college,”
Sutton said, “I just want to keep getting better.”
Looking ahead, Sutton is still deciding what he wants to do after high school. He hopes to continue playing sports, possibly at the college level. He’s keeping his options open as he explores potential schools and programs. His focus on improvement and teamwork will continue to help him reach his goals. Sutton plans to carry the lessons he’s learned from sports into his future.
Sophomore Hudson Sutton makes his way to the ball on Oct. 14. playing against Park Hill High School. The team won 5-2. “Soccer impacts my life by making me faster and more in shape and helps with making more friends,” Sutton said.
Photo Iyari Hyde.
Photo by Royce Schmalz.
Meisel is Chasing Milestones
A senior balances different clubs and activities.
Reported by Addi Fung
Designed by Katelyn Smith
The air felt fresh as she dipped her hand in the water and smelled the greenery that surrounded her. The stream at Shoal Creek rushed as senior Ellie Meisel made the trip to Hodge Park on Oct. 15 with the EDGE stream team.
Meisel is involved in five clubs and she is in EDGE, where she participates on the stream team, which is an environmental conservation group that monitors the health of streams around KC. She is also the president of HOSA, is involved in chamber orchestra and is in the pit for the upcoming musical; The Phantom of the Opera. Additionally, Meisel is involved in Speech and Debate, and the Women’s Empowerment Club.
“I’ve really enjoyed EDGE. I really like the fact that it’s interdisciplinary. Sophomore year, I did a project on policy and science, and seeing them come together was really fun and exciting. And then I just love the teachers and the community there,” Meisel said.
Meisel starts her day at her Network 53 internship, where she interns as a nurse at Liberty Hospital. The next few hours, she heads to Edge, a
program where students learn by producing hands-on projects. At the end of her day, Meisel is also the president of HOSA (Health Occupations Students Association), where she wants to join HOSA with Days for Girls in order to make a health PSA for menstrual cups, and in her pursuit of medicine, would like to take an initiative on maternal mortality rates.
Along with that, she participates in orchestra, women’s empowerment, speech and debate and stream team.
“They are all good [the clubs] for different reasons. I love speech and debate because I love the research aspect of it, and I
am a little bit competitive, so that part I really enjoy. Orchestra is my stress relief, it just makes me happy and is the magic part of my day,” Meisel said.
EDGE is a program our school holds which is a change from the traditional high school learning environment.
Students have all of their core classes there and are able to go at their own pace while also making their own schedules. Meisel attends every day as part of her schedule and enjoys the untraditional approach to high school.
“I have a strong passion for social justice, and I was kind of tired of the traditional education path, so I joined [EDGE] because of the social justice aspect, and I wanted to try
by Ceily Tiemann.
Photo
Photo by Haylee Mason.
something new,” Meisel said.
One challenge Meisel faced was during her junior year, when she was taking four AP classes and balancing soccer too, finding time for homework, which felt overwhelming at times.
More students are taking the medical route as time goes on. “The total number of students in the nation’s medical schools has reached a new high, approaching 100,000 for the first time, even as applications for the 2024-25 academic year declined,” According to data released today by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC).
Meisel plans to go pre-med after high school and incorporate social justice by advocating for patient groups. This is where her speech and debate experience will come into play, where she will work to join the two fields together. Her top choice for college is currently the UMKC 6-year Med program.
To find more information related to EDGE, go to edge.lps53.org, for more related to HOSA, their instagram is lhs._.hosa and for women’s empowerment, theirs is lhs_wec.
I am interested in the social justice aspect of things. That’s why I joined edge.
- Senior Ellie Meisel said.
Senior Ellie Meisel is a part of the Chamber Orchestra. She has played the viola in fifth grade and the violin since sixth grade. “There is this sort of surreal feeling playing in a full orchestra, knowing that you are a part of something bigger, creating beautiful and moving music,” Meisel said. Photo by Ceily Tiemann.
Photo by Royce Schmalz.
The Backstage Pass
TThe making of the fall musical.
Reported by Danny Jamison
Designed by JaiDynn Sargent
he smell of coffee and fake smoke fills the air, feet planted into the ground to not fall over, the taste of cough drops, and the sound of applause—the lights, blinding, bright in senior Olivia Dolton’s eyes.
Students prepared for the upcoming musical, The Phantom of the Opera. Set in the late 1800’s, the show has romance, suspense and with almost no speaking lines it is very demanding vocally. Sept. 9 through Nov. 19 were spent preparing, learning life lessons, balancing time and their lives.
“I’m not laughing and jumping around the place. I’m almost meditating, I get myself in the mind space of, I’m about to be on stage for two hours straight, and I need to lock-in a way. I quiet down and I
focus,” Dolton, who plays Christine Daaé said.
Rehearsals provide the cast and crew with valuable time to learn how to navigate the production and explore different approaches to their performance. With an estimated number of 100 props alone, there is little room for error in a production of this size. The 100+ cast and crew members, will work relentlessly to make sure that there are no bumps in
Student Director: 2025 Musical; Phantom of The Hannah Mees
the road.
“Rehearsals have gone super smooth and are really fun. It’s really different from anything else I’ve done and I’m doing better than I have ever done in my life,” Londynn Witherspoon, who plays Meg Giry said.
Mindset is one of the factors that contribute to a show’s success. Getting into a good mindset of a character is one of the most important aspects of being an actor, a good headspace, keeping your voice healthy, as well as staying focused and well prepared, will make sure you dont have any problems or get burnt out to quickly.
“Preparing for a role like this is like nothing I’ve done before. This whole musical is just music. Christine specifically has a very high range, so I have to prepare my voice to sing all of the high notes, which means I’m consuming a lot of tea, a lot of honey and a lot of throat coat. I have four different types of lozenges I bought just for the show.
I humidify and I nebulize my voice,” Dolton said.
Senior Parker Blaine, Freshman Maclin Cooper, Sophomore Bennett Dohrmann, Junior Madelynn Heits and Senior Abel Enriquez talk to Choreographer Brian Duncan. The cast rehearses blocking after Hannibal, which is the first of three operas in the musical. “It’s the opening scene, it’s where the main characters are first introduced to the audience members and where we start to see conflict arise in the show,” Heits said. Photo by Lorelai Hupp.
This isn’t the full story, however, there are still many personal obstacles you have to overcome, fatigue, vocal strain, burnout and anxiety are all very big problems. Fatigue makes it hard to continue moving, damaging your voice can jeopardize the whole performance, burnout and anxiety. Rehearsals bring the cast together, balancing your life, keeping your mind and body healthy and knowing your stopping point.
“There’s a lot of practice outside of rehearsal. All of the leads, especially, we have to have all of our lines and all of our music memorized long before rehearsals. There’s also vocal warm-ups sometimes, because it’s hard music,” Isaac Bailey, who plays The Phantom said.
The cast and crew of The Phantom of the Opera are putting in 110+ hours to complete every detail. From set changes to vocal rehearsals, the production is coming together after months of preparation. Classes also add many hours to the cast and crews lives.
“When we decided to move
forward with this show, we knew that it was going to be a huge challenge. It’s something that not a lot of folks in high school or teenagers know about; it’s been running and available forever, but we thought this would be a really cool thing to showcase to the community. I hope that they just enjoyed the moment and soaked it up along the way, knowing that this was a very different type of show for a high school to do, but also knowing that they had the skills and determination to pull it off,” assistant director Michael Turpin said.
A teacher preview will be held on November 18, with public performances running November 19–22 at 7 p.m. If interested in learning more, go to @lpsfinearts on Instagram or buy tickets at vancoevents.com for $5 each.
Dream Team
Job positions behind the musical.
Backstage Crew
Hair & Makeup Crew
Props Crew
Scan this QR code to purchase tickets to The Phantom of the Opera musical on Nov 19-22 at 7 p.m.
Assistant Stage Manager
Costume Crew
Marketing Crew
Marketing
Photo by Haylee Mason.
Photo by Lorelai Hupp.
The American Dream
Foreign exchange students’ lives away from home.
Reported by Abbi Mota
Designed by Katie Ericksen
From stepping outside the KCI airport at 2:30 p.m. on Aug 10 to smelling and feeling the breeze of the warm air, senior Eva Tschurtschenthaler decided to spend the year away from her hometown in South Tyrol, to instead, spend her time in America. Walking down the hallways of her first day, at a giant, new school, with blurs of hundreds of new faces and strange slang. Feeling overwhelmed and nervous, the halls buzzed with energy, sneakers squeaking in the hallways and laughter echoing. Tschurtschenthaler, along with other foreign exchange students, faces culture shock and emotions coming to school in America.
Beginning of the Experience
“My favorite but most challenging part at the same time was just stepping out of my comfort zone and having to meet so many new people,” senior Italian student Eva Tschurtschenthaler said.
Tschurtschenthaler was interested in visiting America to really fulfill the “American high school dream.” Even when she was a little girl. All the school spirit, football games and adventures American high school seemed to offer really piqued her interest of kids all the way on the other side of the world.
“Moving here was very nerve-racking at first. The biggest shock was how big and confusing the school was, and learning my way around was challenging. However, finding a good group of friends to attend football games, lunch, and homecoming with made it so much better. My friends really helped me show my way around, which was great,” Tschurtschenthaler said.
Host Families
The first event foreign exchange students complete is meeting their host families, where they experience a new culture, food, etiquette, and a whole new environment.
“My host family is incredible. I’m really happy with my host family. They help me try different foods and
Inspired by her mom, foreign exchange student Charlotte Weber takes an exchange year to the US for the first time. Weber was born in Hamburg, Germany. One of the biggest culture shocks for Weber is the traffclightsandthesizeofthe streets, stores, houses, and cars. “The traffclights are so different here than in Germany because you stop so far away from them, whereas in Germany, we stop right next to them,” Weber said. Photo by Ceily Tiemann.
Photo by Ceily Tiemann
encourage me to go to as many new events as I can,” senior Hugo Exposito Lopez said.
To get a host family interested, kids from all over different countries have to record their own video talking and introducing themselves, to which a family will pick them out on the website and take an interest in them from that video. Then they chat back and forth until both decide that this would be a good fit based on the interests the kids share and their personalities shown over the screen. Starting School
Senior Hugo Exposito Lopez was born in Spain and is on the high school band team. He plays the saxophone back home and has a strong passion for music. He’s 15 years old, and technically supposed to be a sophomore, but all foreign exchange students here are seniors, so he’ll be graduating this year and get to participate in all the senior activities. He loves learning how American football works, and his host family shows up to almost every game to watch him play music on the field.
“Be open minded because there’s going to be a few things that are different from your country. But it’s definitely worth it to experience,” Lopez said.
The schools are way bigger than what the foreign exchange students are normally used to as well. Compared to around 200 students at Lopez’s old school, there are now
2,000 kids here with multiple floors and a lot more classrooms. The schooling here offers way more in-depth classes and opportunities than what Spain has to offer. Trying new things
Sports here are a big difference as well. The United States takes sports a lot more seriously compared to other countries. Almost all of the other countries don’t even get to have widespread high school sports teams. So that means a lot of foreign exchange students here are trying to be involved in as many sports and clubs as possible.
“I have really enjoyed playing tennis on the school team here because all the girls and the coaches are amazing. I also like the school spirit and the football games. In Germany, we don’t have something like this because we don’t do school sports; instead, we play for a city sports club.” Senior Charlotte Weber said.
Weber loves her host family and siblings, and after high school here, she still has three more years of schooling until she plans to go and study at a university in Germany, still undecided on which one. Her mom also got the opportunity to be a foreign exchange student when she
was Weber’s age, and she also loves traveling and learning more about different countries, so this was something Weber has always had an interest in.
“The best thing you can do is learn a new language, meet a lot of new people, make new friends, and get a second family. I would say you should just do it—it’s not as hard as you think. You just have to be open and like to try new things.”
Weber said.
The journey of a foreign exchange student has a lot of things to offer, especially personal growth and adaptation. These students learn how to become more independent and adjust to a whole new life. Always open to trying new things and even facing there own challenges along the way with all the adjustments.
I’ve seen so many movies about American high schools, and I just wanted to experience it.
- Senior Eva Tschurtschenthaler said
Illustration by Katie Ericksen
Sophomore Hugo Lopez is a foreign exchange student from Spain. He has been a part of the band while he spends his school year in the United States. “It’s going great, I’m meeting a lot of new people and I’m having so much fun,” Lopez said. Photo by Haylee Mason.
Food For All
Equal access to food should be the standard in all schools.
Reported by Kora Smith
Designed by Destinee Davis
Across the nation, most students and families are expected to pay for school lunches. It can cost up to $556 per student for a year of school lunches, with $3.08 being the average price of one lunch. This number can rise for families with multiple children and students who eat breakfast at school.
The School Nutrition Association says nearly one in five children in America lives in homes without consistent access to adequate food. At Liberty, the number of students without access has increased over the last three years. Schools who provide equal and consistent access will ensure every child is equally fed and nourished.
“Parents won’t have to worry about having to provide food for their child. It gives them one less thing to worry about and one less thing to buy,” junior Madison Ly said.
A pro is that no kid will go hungry just because they don’t have access to lunch a con is that the school will not gain any money but rather lose money. - Junior Madison Ly said.
The National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs indicate families with incomes below 130% of the poverty level receive free meals, while those between 130% and 185% of the poverty level receive reduced-price meals. Families over 185% have to pay full price. However, families with good incomes but multiple children may still suffer, as well as parents who aren’t willing to fully support their children with school meals.
“Students can be distracted by not knowing where their next meal is going to come from, so when they know a meal is going to be covered for them, they can focus more on some of the things that matter as a student,” Nutrition Services Manager Cheryl Heuszel said. If students can eat meals, they will not only satisfy their hunger, but they will also benefit academically. No Kid Hungry says that students who eat breakfast scored 17.5% better on math tests compared to
those who didn’t. Also, students who have breakfast show up to one and a half more days of school.
According to the School Nutrition Association, “High costs and insufficient federal reimbursements continue to challenge school meal programs.”
It is true schools need money for food, supplies and labor, however, the majority of families don’t pay for students to attend public school. This means wages for teachers and school supplies are paid for by local property taxes, the local School District Trust fund, state dollars distributed through the foundation formula, General Revenue and federal funds. These funds can also be used to contribute to school lunches, rather than the pockets of families. Donations and investing into non-profit organizations, such as Harvesters and Feeding America, can help supply free school lunches, equal access to meals and lower child poverty.
Photo by Lorelai Hupp.
The Power of Presence
Every sport deserves the same level of support and recognition.
Reported by JaiDynn Sargent
Designed by Destinee Davis
regardless of the sport they play, all athletes deserve and benefit from strong support from their peers. I know the feeling of looking up into the stands to see no one there; however, I know how it feels to see your closest friends and family and how strongly of a difference it can make in my performance. Sports commonly represented in the media more fans.
According to Sports Pro “The NFL averaged 18.58 million viewers per game across all networks and platforms in the 2025 season.” We can see this affecting high school students at our own football games. At LHS, like many other schools, football is the most attended student-athletic event. These athletes work hard and they see the support for it. While other athletes work just as hard and see no support from their peers.
According to the National Institute for Health, “When an athlete sees friends or fellow students in the crowd cheering, it can boost their energy and enthusiasm”.
Athletes in individual sports such as swimming, golf and cross country may be particularly vulnerable, as their primary support system often consists only of coaches and family. These athletes have had great seasons however students dont traditionally attend their events. Mens Soccer has had a great season winning 13 of their 14 games, the entire womens varsity golf team went to state, mens swimming is undefeated in their dual meet
season. Why arent these athletes seeing attendance at their events?
Mens swim saw zero students in attendance at there last dual meet against Liberty North. This isnt a rare occurrence for the teams events.
“When you’re all on your own, it’s harder to compete; it’s much easier to compete when you’re doing it for something more than yourself,” swim coach Christopher Murphy said.
While clubs like Blue Crew Crazies were founded to increase support for all athletes in school, they cannot force students to attend events such as swim meets and soccer games.
“Blue crew crazies work the
hardest out of any of the schools I’ve worked in to increase student support,” science teacher Aaron Neeser said.
While I understand that sports like football and basketball tend to have a high rate of student attendance due to more coverage in the media, its not fair to athletes of other sports that dont get the same recognition. These athletes work just as hard in there sport, they deserve to get support just as much.
Scan this QR code to go to The LHS MHSAA page.
Photo by Haylee Mason.
Turkey Crossing
Solve the maze to help get the turkey to the other side. Designed by Kora Smith
Thanksgiving Mad Lib
Ask a friend for the corresponding words without revealing the context of the story. Designed by Kora Smith It was Thanksgiving day, and I was going to __________’s house for dinner. I decided to bring my homemade __________ to share with the guests. When I arrived, I saw ___________ and _________, and went over to chat with them. We talked about ___________, which was very exciting. All of the sudden, I heard a __________ noise, and looked out the window to see _________ driving up the driveway. __________ was the last to arrive, meaning is was now time for dinner. I grabbed my food from the kitchen, then went into the __________ and sat on a __________, to eat my __________ and __________. I decided to go back to the kitchen to get my favorite dessert, __________. As I got closer to the kitchen I heard a __________ sound. I entered the room and found __________’s dog named ___________ up on the counter eating the ___________. I yelled at the dog to get down and he ___________ away, leaving no dessert behind for me. Despite this incident, I had a very __________ Thanksgiving.
(Name)
(Food)
(Name) (Name) (Noun)
(Sound)
(Name) (Same name as previous) (Room) (Noun) (Food) (Food) (Dessert) (Sound)
