The Budget
Mac To The Future
After two years of iPads USD 497 brings back MacBooks for LHS
Pages 12-13
AP Scores Lost
Mishap blocks AP students from receiving accurate scores
Pages 14-15
Lawrence High School Lawrence, KS Volume
IN THIS ISSUE
5
What’s Lion Time? All about the new edition to your schedule
11
LHS students are reunited with school MacBooks
15
Fine Arts Department welcomes new choir teacher
19
See what your friends were up this summer in our photo dump
WE’VE GOT MORE ONLINE
FOLLOW
@lhsbudget
@lhs.budget Gaggle legal battle continues, protections highlighted
LHS welcomes Jason Thoren as new head football coach
View our photo gallery from the annual Fall sports Jamboree
The Summer of Love and ISLANDS
BY CARTER KINGERY PHOTOS/CAPTIONS EDITOR
This summer, Lawrence High school students could not get enough of viral reality TV show, Love Island.
Premiering in July 2019, Love Island follows 25-30 contestants as couples are formed and weekly challenges are completed to avoid elimination.
“It’s kind of complicated. . . .,” junior Aubrey Atherton said. “It’s basically who can make the best couple.”
The immensely popular TV has become one of the most streamed shows in the US, making some people wonder what led to its success.
Cameron Wycoff said. “[There are] a lot of arguments going on, a lot of things to keep up with, a lot of different relationships, and a lot of drama,”
“It keeps you on your toes, [There are] a lot of arguments going on, A LOT OF THINGS TO KEEP UP WITH” —Cameron Wycoff,
“It keeps you on your toes,” junior
While some viewers believe that real love can be discovered on the show, others wonder if the show’s creators may have more influence on the emotions of contestants.
“I feel like [the producers] cause drama,” senior Ginny Besson said. “They have questions that make people mad that they have to answer and they play a movie that shows things the islanders don’t see.”
The show’s romantic and overly
2 SEPTEMBER 2025 Designed by Willow Marabel and Juliet Outka
Turning the page, a new era has begun at Lawrence High. After a summer of change, this year marks a fresh start. There’s no turning back now.
Illustration by Ronan Kemme
dramatic genre kept students wanting more all summer.
Overall, Love Island garnered nearly 19 billion minutes of watch time from viewers on Peacock.
“I love it,” Atherton said. “I feel like it’s just a really good show, and I think it’s very entertaining.”
CHECK IT OUT
The first episode of the Lion’s Roar is out now! Watch now during Lion Time or catch all episode on YouTube through the Lawrence High School- Room 308 Productions channel
Students go delulu for
LABUBUS: Q&A
Labubu blind box toys rose viral infamy this past summer, students share their thoughts on the new trend
Q: Why did you get a labubu?
Q: What is so appealing about labubus?
“Because MY MOM HAD SOME and I just got some of them for my room.”
—TalonsophomoreGaines,
Q: What is your general opinion on labubus?
Q: What is your favorite part of your labubu?
“Ithink
theCOLORS BRIGHT.ARELIGHTAND Theykind ofattractsomeoneto buythem.”
—LindseyDeLaRosa, freshman
“Ithinkit’sA REALLYCOOL TRENDbecause itsgettingdolls intoamen’sfield.”
—TaedynArellano, junior
“It just goes with all my essential things, so, it kind of just GOES WITH EVERYTHING.”
—Alize Phommaseng, senior
BY CHELSEA OPARAJI REPORTER
MAKING A SPLASH:
Students take on Lifeguarding This Summer
Students say lifeguarding offered responsibility, community, and plenty of memories
BY KAREN CRUZ-SANTOS COPY EDITOR
At the Lawrence Aquatic Center and other pools around town, LHS students were hard at work this summer, keeping a close eye on every cannonball and dive. Between rescues, cleaning bathrooms, and eating Popsicles on the job, more many students, lifeguarding turned out to be more than just earning money; it was a way to form new relationships, face unexpected challenges, and take on new responsibility.
This summer, a larger number of students worked as lifeguards across both the Indoor and Outdoor Aquatic Centers and the Jayhawk club, creating a tight-knit community of employees. Some students were drawn to the job because of their swimming experience, while others had friends, siblings, or family members who recommended the occupation.
Senior Armando Romero-Perez, who worked at both the Indoor and Outdoor Aquatic Centers, found the lifeguard certification process to be challenging but rewarding. To become certified, Romero Perez attended a required seven hour three-day training program, followed by a written exam and a water test.
“It was stressful at times, BUT I DID IT, and it was fun,”
—Armando Romero-Perez, senior
A typical day on the job often involved monitoring children on slides, assisting with minor injuries, and occasionally intervening during emergencies.
Junior and LHS swim team member Torin Yung’s experience in the pool made it easier to adjust to lifeguarding at the Outdoor Aquatic Center.
“There was one time when someone got stuck in the slide,” Yung said. “It was a lot to deal with, but that’s about the hardest it got.”
“Sometimes you’d be saving tall, heavy people, and I felt like I was drowning while trying to save them,” RomeroPerez said. “It was stressful at times, but I did it, and it was fun.”
While saving lives is the main component of the job, it’s only one piece of being on the clock; cleaning up after patrons is far less glamorous, from bloody noses to bathroom accidents on deck. This was made evident to senior Alex Oral, a second-year lifeguard, who split his time between the Indoor and Outdoor Aquatic Centers.
“At the Outside Aquatic Center, it’s kind of all over the place, there’s a lot of bloody noses,” Oral said. “It’s a lot of cleaning, and it can get kind of gross, but it could be pretty fun too.”
Despite the horrors of cleaning, Oral found that the easy-going environment at the pool made it worthwhile, and helped create fun memories, such as one slow summer afternoon.
“There was one day when it was kind of overcast, and there were no patrons,” Oral said. “But we couldn’t close without the okay from the higher-ups, so all the lifeguards played in the pool all day, it was really fun.”
POOL VS. LAKE
Students share their summer swimming preferences
Reporting by Naima Zaragoza Rodriguez
POOL
POOL
LAKE
LAKE
“I like the pool, because the pool water looks clear and the lake water just looks dirty.”
— Nancy Sanchez Tiburcio, sophomore
“The pool, I just think it’s easier to find people and it’s more closed up."
Rory Lamb, freshman
“Lake, I just like seeing all the wildlife, and it’s super open, and I usually get to hang out with friends and family."
—Reese Oehlert, sophomore
“I like swimming in the lake because it’s just fun and there is more people."
—Victor Nicanor, senior
Study hall returns through new period LION TIME
New class provides opportunities for connection
BY QUIRIN KAEMPF REPORTER
Th is year, a new class has been added to student’s schedules called “Lion Time”. As students viewed their schedules many wondered what the purpose of this new addition was.
Lion Time brings students together in smaller groups to complete Character Strong activities, a social and emotional skill learning program, and to work on Xello, an online college and career readiness program. The period also gives teachers time to help students organize, set goals, and build strategies for success in and outside of school.
Freshman Augie Bures enjoys the get-to-know-you aspects of Lion Time.
“Personally, I think that Lion Time is to interact and get to know other people, and find out more about yourself while staying on task and not having missing work,” Bures said.
“Lion Time is an ADDITION THAT WAS NEEDED especially for us seniors,”
Gabriella Johnson, senior
But Lion Time isn’t only about assignments, it is also a chance to interact with peers. For Spanish Teacher Nury Gorman, Lion Time goes beyond schoolwork.
“I personally believe that assigning those 30 minutes a day two times a week creates an opportunity for teachers and students to build better relationships and to get to know more about who we really are as people,” Gorman said.
While students have differing opinions on Lion Time, Freshman Asher Stang also compliments the benefits it brings for personal interaction.
“I get to interact and get to know people while learning more about myself,” Stang said. “It helps me remain focused and avoid missing work.”
Ultimately, Lion Time is about strengthening community at LHS. For senior Gabriella Johnson, Lion Time is a space to slow down, share, and connect.
“ It gets me in the correct mindset, to be in a quiet class where everybody is doing their school work,” Johnson said. “Lion time is an addition that was needed especially for us seniors.”
Relaxing, juniors in Ms. Scarborough’s Lion Time period answer a Character Strong prompt.
Photo by Lea Olivier
Laughing, juniors in Ms. Scarborough’s Lion Time period participate in an activity.
Photo by Lea Olivier
during
like the community building and the different exercises and games we play to get to know each other,” Amen said.
Conversing, senior Azteca Amen and Culinary teacher Rose Barry speak
Lion Time. “I
Photo by Lea Olivier
Circled up, juniors in Ms. Scarborough’s Lion Time period discuss their favorite ways to spend time outside of school
Photo by Lea Olivier
As policies shift, bathrooms stay LOCKED
Gendered bathrooms will be closed during class periods
BY MIMI ROSADO-SCHMITT YEARBOOK CO-EDITOR-INCHIEF
Th e end of the 2024-25 school year was marked by uncertainty and sometimes frustration from LHS students and staff over bathroom policies. Students hung posters in the halls to express their discontent with both their classmates’ troublesome bathroom behavior and the stricter policy.
provided they are in good standing. If needed, they can also request an escort from security to use the restroom,” math teacher Brittany Harrell said.
“We will continue to MONITOR AND REFINE this policy as we gather more information”
—Quentin Rials, Head Principle
In late spring of last year, all bathrooms except the gender neutral facilities were locked during class time. Many students took the change as a surprise, as little warning was provided. This policy also deemed teachers and administrators responsible for unlocking the bathrooms during passing periods for student use.
As the 2025-26 school year began, the policy was altered. In this year’s policy, if students were not in ‘good standing,’ then a security guard escort would be required to use the bathroom.
“The policy states that students may use the restrooms during passing periods. During class time, they have access to the gender-neutral restrooms,
The limited communication with students led to confusion over specifics of the policy. Some students believed that all students needed escorts to use the bathrooms, and others were unaware of the policy in general.
“They haven’t really announced anything or talked to us about it,” sophomore Aaron Hernandez said.
Students also expressed uncertainty over why the bathrooms were being closed in the first place. Some have said vandalism, others, such as sophomore Kate Lewis have claimed vaping.
“I think it’s because of kids vaping in the bathroom,” Lewis said. “But I also think it’s going to happen regardless, and it’s honestly worse when the genderneutrals are the only bathrooms unlocked because the stalls are completely covered.”
Although many students were unaware, a Head Principal Dr. Quentin Rials put out a statement regarding the bathroom policy on this year’s new school-wide
communication app, Student Square.
“During passing periods, we strive to keep all restrooms accessible,” Rials said. “However, there may be instances when students need to utilize restrooms other than their usual ones on their way to class. Our all-gender restrooms are available for use at all times.”
Some students have begun to accept the policy, and many teachers have come up with certain solutions to make up for the long bathroom lines.
“On block days, we usually take a group restroom break, which helps things run smoothly,” Harrell said.
This year, the policy change has been a major adjustment for all. Many students and staff hope to return to all bathrooms being fully open in the future.
“Since implementing our restroom policy at the end of last school year, we have observed a significant reduction in restroom-related issues and received positive feedback… about the enhanced safety within our school. We will continue to monitor and refine this policy as we gather more information,” Rials said.
Designed by Sydney Rhodeman
Bump in the
ROAD
Ongoing road work shapes students’ travel in town
Reporting by Emma Osborne
“It’s made me late to a whole register of things, that’s for sure. It makes traffic a million times worse, so it’s become really difficult to get around at all. Plus, I get frustrated easily,
by Delaney Hasse
Coming up with a PLAN District offers
BY DELANEY HAASE YEARBOOK CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
In an effort to better support educators, USD 497 has introduced two plan periods for most teachers at Free State and Lawrence High.
The change, sparked by feedback from staff and building administrators, was implemented to give teachers more planning time during the school day. Many staff members, such as science teacher Lisa Ball, have found the additional plan period to be helpful.
“I love it, I have never had enough time to prep multiple science classes with one plan,” Ball said. “It is helpful for me, I need the extra time to plan and set up labs in addition to daily lessons. I also maintain the school pollinator garden, mentor new faculty, and sponsor a club, so it allows me more flexibility to get things done during the school day.”
high school teachers two planning periods
they’re not always making great selections,” Brown said. “What I don’t think is understood is that it actually affects what we offer in the next year.”
Teachers who took on only one plan period were compensated with a pay increase. Battaglia, who no longer receives pay increases due to her tenure, appreciates the additional money.
“I LOVE IT, I have never had enough time to prep multiple science classes with ONE PLAN.”
—Lisa Ball, science teacher
Before the school year began, teachers were asked about their preferences on having one or two plan periods. Biology teacher Julie Battaglia requested two plan periods but only received one, due to the need for seven sections of freshmen biology.
“I think it’s fair that I’m the one who only has one because I only have one [class to prepare for].. So I teach biology all day,” Battaglia said. “I don’t really know what would have happened if I would have said no, but I imagine that then someone else would have to take [another hour of biology].”
The number of sections for each class is decided over the summer after students submit their enrollment forms. Counselor Amy Brown emphasized the important role of student enrollment in determining what classes will be offered in the upcoming year.
“We tried to make sure that all of our AP classes were going to be offered because when students make their selections in the spring,
“Where I am in my career, I’m actually kind of maxed out. Some extra money will be kind of nice because I wouldn’t have gotten a raise otherwise,” Battaglia said. “It’ll be nice, but I’d still love to have two plans and not have the money.”
Despite not receiving two plans herself, Battaglia believes the change is a step in the right direction to ease workloads for teachers.
“When I look at the amount of work that high school teachers have to do, for instance, if you are someone who has [three different classes to prepare for] and you’re prepping in 50 minutes, it’s just not enough time,” Battaglia said.
Ball shares this sentiment, emphasizing the many responsibilities that teachers juggle behind the scenes.
“Teachers wear so many hats and have lots of responsibilities the general public may not even know about,” Ball said. “Just like other professionals, we deserve to have time during our work day to get our work done and should not be expected to take our work home, even though many of us do.”
Holding her kettle and mug, teacher Carolyn McKanna pours herself a cup of tea during her plan period. Photo by Jasmine Trinh
At her laptop, Cross Country coach and staff member Laura Brensing works during her plan to make a new list of fun activities for her students to do. Photo by Hailey Grant
Laptops are back MAC TO THE
FUTURE
After two years of iPads USD497 has brought back MacBooks
BY RUBY FLANNER NEWSPAPER CO-EDITOR IN CHIEF
After two years of iPads, USD 497 has changed course, bringing MacBooks back into the hands of high school students and reigniting conversations about how technology shapes learning.
In an email sent to the LHS student body on May 2, Superintendent Jeanice Swift described the motives behind this decision.
“In direct response to student feedback, we will replace current high school iPads with a more collegealigned laptop that supports student academics and college and career readiness,” Swift said. “We will leverage capital outlay funds to accomplish this change.”
thought high school would provide.
“I was not happy, because I went through middle school with iPads, and I was under the impression that we'd be using laptops,” junior Isabel Luellen said. “I have an older sister who had a laptop, and since I knew that I'd be taking more advanced classes and writing more essays, having a laptop would be really helpful.”
“In direct response to STUDENT FEEDBACK we will replace current high school iPads with a more COLLEGEALIGNED laptop" —Jeanice Swift, USD497 Super Intendent
The district’s decision to switch to iPads two school years ago created a major shift in classroom resources, impacting everything from student workflow to teacher instruction.
“I found out that nothing runs the same on an iPad as it does on a MacBook,” history teacher Jack Hood said. “I spent the first semester just learning and relearning everything. There are so many things I can do on a MacBook now as a result, but it was a sharp curve for the kids.”
For many students, the initial change to iPads felt a step backwards, especially after years of anticipating the tools they
High school math teacher Stephanie Johnson witnessed students’ disappointment firsthand.
“I think there was this big verbiage that you're gonna go to high school and get a laptop and it's gonna be so cool,” Johnson said. “And then there was that year where they didn't, and I know a lot of kids were really bummed about that.”
Some teachers rely heavily on projectbased grading, noticing a drop in student creativity when iPads were initially introduced.
“I do project-based assessments, and kids started writing essays, they started doing podcasts,” Hood said. “They rarely would do a website, and they stopped doing the more creative choices. And I'm not sure if that's because the technology limited it, but I'm suspicious that that's probably why.”
Senior Lily Havener believes that programs on iPads are “dumbed down” to run properly. However, she acknowledges
the potential that the devices carry.
“I think iPads have their own qualities that they're good for that the school wasn't necessarily taking advantage of,” Havener said. “Computers have other qualities that they're good for; that’s generally a lot better for schools, like typing and Google Docs work a lot better.”
Luellen believes MacBooks made multitasking much easier, as students can open many tabs and windows at once.
“If you're doing a research project, then having all the windows up is not easy to do on an iPad, because you can only split your screen twice,” Luellen said. “But then with the laptop, you can have all these different windows behind it, and it's just a lot easier to have your information there.”
MacBook keyboards are another improvement many students and teachers recognize, especially for assignments in math classes, where the keyboard directly affects students’ grades.
“Last year, we tried to do some online assignments. And with math, there's a lot of symbols that you have to type just right,” Johnson said. “With the iPads last year, that was really clunky and hard to work sometimes. A kid would type one symbol wrong, and the homework website would say you got the whole thing wrong.”
iPads’ limited search functions forced students and teachers to find workarounds– something improved by the return of MacBooks.
“On the iPads last year, they didn't have
LAPTOP S
VS. IPADS: Q&A
Do teachers prefer MacBooks or iPads, and what makes them choose one over the other?
“The iPad itself is just NOT ROBUST ENOUGH OF A SOFTWARE for you to do some of the things that you need to do in art classes, or more, like journalism or Mr Saltz’s class, But then simple stuff, like, if you miss my classes and I post an assignment to Google Classroom, on the MacBook, you can open up the assignment and turn in the copied document."
— Rose Barry, culinary teacher
“It’s easier for typing and I just feel like they’re MORE USERFRIENDLY, but one thing I don’t like is that they don’t have a camera.”
— Emily Markoulatos, art teacher
the same search capacities that the MacBooks do,” Hood said. “We had to get really creative with how we search to try to find information, and this year it's much more intuitive.”
Many students taking AP classes are especially grateful for the shift, as Luellen describes the frustrating technology during the AP European History exam.
“I either could not use the keyboard, or the letters would be scrambled,” Luellen said. “So I had to type on the screen when doing essay questions.”
Many students and teachers appreciate the convenience that laptops bring.
“I've been using my computer to do research into colleges, and it's a lot easier to keep that organized,” Havener said. “For my AP art class, we had to look into different
portfolios from other AP students and fill other stuff out while we're doing that. It was a lot easier to do that on the computer.”
With everything from college research to creative projects, the change is helping students stay more connected, organized, and ready for what comes next. The return to MacBooks marks more than just a change in hardware; it reflects a broader effort to align classroom technology with student needs, academic demands, and the evolving expectations of modern learning.
Reporting by Naima Zaragoza Rodriguez
“I like the iPads because you can walk around the room and show things on the TV AT THE SAME TIME”
— Vicky Cable, math teacher
““I have a Mac, so I know that whatever I can do on mine, you can do on your MacBook, IT WASN'T THE SAME WITH IPADS, like there were some things that I could do on the MacBooks that really didn’t talk to the iPads. To me, they're just more userfriendly.”
— Nathan Cooper, history teacher
Students and staff left confused after AP SCORES
ARE LOST
Mishap blocks AP students from receiving accurate scores
BY CHELSEA OPARAJI REPORTER
This past AP testing season, AP Biology, Statistics, and Chemistry scores were lost, leading to uncertainty.
AP students and teachers were notified by email that the free-response portion of the test had been lost in the mail by UPS. Scores had not gone missing in recent years, so the news was shocking for many.
“That’s the first I’ve heard of that here,” AP Statistics teacher David Hansen said.
Many students had suspicions of the problem after a delay was announced on the College Board website the day of score releases.
“I knew something was wrong, but it does really suck that they lost them,” former AP Biology student senior Goldy Stephens said.
assessment, but you can only retake it in December. And so you’re like, what are you gonna do between now and then?” Hansen said.
The delayed communication about the situation created an issue for graduated students, who needed to submit their scores to colleges.
“I’m confused why we had to wait MONTH AND A HALF to just find out they were lost.”
—Sylvia Oparaji, graduate
Students were given the options to retake their exam, accept a projected score, or get a refund from the College Board. However, Hansen cited accuracy issues posed by accepting projected scores.
“If you could simply use your projected score, then it would be fine. But KU, for example, does not up to this point, to my knowledge, accept projected scores,” Hansen said.
Hansen also shared concerns about the retake option.
“As a student, you could retake the
Graduated AP Biology student Sylvia Oparaji shared how the situation affected her college preparations.
“It just was annoying because I’m going to college, and the college that I’m going to needs my scores, and I don’t have it. And it’s just a really big hassle and just annoying,” Oparaji said.
Many students believe that communication should have been clearer and that changes should be made to prevent scores from being lost in the future.
“I’m confused why we had to wait a month and a half to just find out that they were lost. That irritated me,” Oparaji said.
The missing scores also altered opinions regarding the switch from physical to digital testing.
“I used to think we should just keep it paper and not change, but now it makes me think we should do online so you don’t lose the scores,” Stephens said.
Designed by Jordan Nguyen
A New Era Begins for LHS CHOIR
New Director Rachel Naughtin brings optimism and big plans for growth
BY SELAH WOLFE PRINT MANAGING EDITOR
After over a decade with the same choral director, the thought of a new leader was a source of both excitement and uncertainty. When LHS choir students finally met their choral director, Rachel Naughtin, she captivated them with her enthusiasm and ambition.
“She is such a positive light in the choir room,” senior A Capella choir member Violet Meinershagen said. “She brings a fresh interpretation of what music is and how we can create an optimistic environment inside our classroom.”
Naughtin assumed her role at a moment of growth in the choral program, having one of the largest enrollment rates since before COVID. She hopes to continue to grow the choir department and revive traditions that have been lost in recent years, such as Bellissima, the advanced treble ensemble.
here,” Naughtin said. “I love the way that our students can really find their niche and dig deep into that.”
Although she spent the past five years teaching at Baldwin High, Naughtin has remained an active part of the Lawrence music community through private lessons and her involvement with the Lawrence Arts Center. That connection made her familiar to some current students, including McDonald, who met her previously through a theater program at LAC.
“I was just excited to continue the legacy of EXCELLENT CHORAL MUSIC, but also cultivate an EXCITING FUTURE.”
—Rachel Naughtin
“Ms. Naughtin clearly shows that she is eager to continue the choral legacy at Lawrence High, as well as leaving her mark on the program,” senior A Capella choir member Evan McDonald said. “She welcomes students with open arms, and I can only imagine that numbers will continue to grow under her direction.”
For many students, the excitement isn’t just about who Naughtin is, but what she brings to the future of the program.
“She is going to be a good change for the choir department,” Meinershagen said. “She has fresh eyes and can make constructive changes that will help the program run smoothly.”
The students’ excitement reflects Naughtin’s own enthusiasm to be “back home” in USD 497. After teaching elementary school music in the district several years ago, returning to a familiar community fuels her determination to build relationships and foster a welcoming environment.
“A lot of Lawrence high school students find their true passion and then really stick with that and let that evolve over their time
“My thoughts are the same as they were when I first met her; she is an incredibly kind and extremely hard working individual who cares for her students immensely,” McDonald said. “Throughout my time of working with her, she has gone out of her way to make sure every student she meets knows that she will always support them.”
Naughtin’s musical background extends far beyond the classroom, stemming from a childhood passion for writing and music. A former high school choir member herself, singing has been a lifelong pursuit that she continues to nurture by singing in chamber choirs.
“I always really enjoyed writing, and I think that’s one of the reasons I was drawn to choral music specifically,” Naughtin said. “We have text, we have words, and I love bringing text and poetry and all of that off the page and into audiences.”
By combining her diverse musical experiences with a passion for teaching, Naughtin plans to maintain the legacy and traditions of LHS choir while incorporating new ideas to improve and grow the department. She emphasizes creating a supportive environment where students can explore their musical abilities in new ways.
“The choir department will definitely benefit from Mrs. Naughtin,” senior A Capella choir member Nyah Everhart said. “She’s such a great teacher and has already impacted a lot of students positively.”
Leading the class, Ms. Naughtin stretches with concert choir. Photo by Trenton Skeen
Smiling widely, Ms. Naughtin faces the new school year.
Photo by Trenton Skeen
Playing the piano, Ms. Naughtin leads vocal warm-ups in choir.
Photo by Trenton Skeen
Germany Exchange broadens STUDENT HORIZONS
LHS students attended school and stayed with host families
BY ASHLYN TELL ONLINE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
This pa st summer, four LHS students joined the Lawrence Sister City cultural exchange to Eutin, Germany. For three weeks, students toured the country, attended school, and stayed with host families in the region. For the students, the opportunity distinguished itself from a typical summer trip.
“It was totally different than just a vacation. I got to live the life of a German student in Germany,” senior Hugo Cowardin said. “I got to experience the average school day in Germany, I got to experience daily life.”
For Cowardin, daily life began with classes at Carl Maria von Weber school. Beyond the school’s STEM focus, students noted other key differences between German and American high school.
“We went to a lot of churches, which I usually wouldn’t have done, but it was really nice,” Bills said. “They were beautiful and we learned so much.”
“I got to experience all the little things that people wouldn’t usually experience on a REGULAR VACATION.”
— Hugo Cowardin,
“Everyone there was super smart and the classes that I thought were hard were just their basic classes,” senior Hailey Bills said. “It’s very competitive, and they definitely learn a lot more than we do.”
Senior Corran Poettker explained a difference in flexibility.
“They’re not able to choose the classes they get,” Poettker said. “They’re just put into a class, and they have to stick through.”
Poettker said the experience broadened his perspective.
“It’s really interesting to see the differences there and that way we get to appreciate what we have, but also see what other people have,” Poettker said.
School was just one aspect of the exchange. Thanks to an inclusive public transportation ticket, the students spent much of their time sightseeing. Their itinerary included visits to cultural landmarks like the Berlin Cathedral, East Side Gallery, Schwerin Castle, and the St. Nikolai Memorial.
The exchange was based in Northern Germany, known for its rich history.
“You get to see the real evidence and personal belongings from World War II,” Bills said. “If you’re into history, that’s the trip to take.”
Cowardin enjoyed the independence of the trip.
“You get a lot of individual freedom on it,” Cowardin said.
He explained that they were not held to a strict schedule, which enhanced cultural exploration.
“If there’s a museum that caught your interest, or a historical site that there isn’t time for anywhere else, you just do it,” Cowardin said.
The students emphasized the lasting connections built during the three weeks abroad.
“We all became super close after the trip, and we bonded so much,” Bills said.
Bills, in particular, became close with her exchange student.
“Me and my German exchange student are like actually besties, we are like soulmates,” Bills said. “It was the best experience and I got so lucky.”
She and others described the exchange as a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
“It’s a super cool, great trip,” Cowardin said. “I got experience all the little things that people wouldn’t usually experience if they were on just a regular vacation.”
While on the exchange, students visited Lübeck, Germany. Lübeck is a historic port city in Schleswig-Holstein, northern Germany. Lübeck is widely recognized for its Brick Gothic architecture.
Photo contributed by Bella Ackerman
Having fun, sophomore Bella Ackerman visits the Kieler Woche Festival in Kiel, Germany with her host family. Kiel Week is a major summer festival and the world’s largest sailing event.
Photo contributed by Bella Ackerman
TASTY TREATS
Exchange students recall their favorite foods from Germany
Reporting by Pilar Robinson
" My favorite food was DONER KEBAB because it had so much flavor and I loved how fresh it was."
—Bella Ackerman, sophomore
" My favorite restaurant was a little Italian restaurant in the town of Lüneburg and it was the BEST FOOD I’VE EVER HAD in my life."
— Hailey Bills, senior
LHS students visited the 19th-century Schwerin Castle in Schwerin, Germany. The castle is one of the most important works of Romantic historicism in Europe.
Photo contributed by Bella Ackerman
LHS STUDENTS SUMMER ‘25
PHOTO DUMP
by Tessa Sanders
Designed by Tessa Sanders
LHS alumns pursue college CHEER
Cheerleaders take their commitment to the next level
BY ASHLEY MOCK REPORTER
While most cheerleaders do not continue their careers after high school, a dedicated few go on to cheer in college.
LHS alumni and college freshmen Kylee Chee, a KU cheerleader; Asia White, a Washburn cheerleader; and Arianna Powers, an Ottawa cheerleader, decided to take the next step to college.
“At KU, the crowd is always packed, especially with the new stadium,” Chee said.
“I am still continuing to LEARN NEW THINGS every day.”
—Asia White, LHS alumn
Chee hopes to advance and find success at Taking the Mat, a competitive cheer competition in Daytona Beach, Florida.
KSHAA limits many skills that high school cheerleaders are allowed to learn and perform.
“Basket tosses are no longer illegal as they were under KSHAA, and the pyramids are multilayered,” Chee said.
Powers also emphasizes how this change affected her transition from high school to college cheer.
Performing, former LHS cheerleader Asia White and Washburn cheerleaders show off their school spirit.
Photo contributed by Asia White
Standing at the top of the pyramid, Kylee Chee smiles and waves her pom poms towards the KU crowd. Photo contributed by Kylee Chee.
Asia White
Exciting the crowd, Asia White and her teammate dance in celebration. Photo contributed by Asia White
Showing off their stunts, Asia White and her cheer team smile towards the crowd. Photo contributed by
Lined up, the LHS flag football team prepares to shake hands with opponents Baldwin High School.
Photo by Peter Buller
24 AUGUST 2025 Designed by Elanyha Taylor and Willow Marable
Running, senior La’Keyshia Woods practices preparation for the upcoming game
Photo by Peter Buller
Sprinting, senior Sidra Besson practices for the next match on the Lawrence High softball fields on Thursday September 4th, 2025.
Photo by Zoe Peterson
GIRLS
LHS faces off with Free State as new girls Flag Football Team solidifies
KC Chiefs sponsor FLAG FOOTBALL
BY ELLIOT BATZA REPORTER
Despite seeing two backto-back losses against Baldwin and Free State last Wednesday, the newly founded Girls Flag Football Team is looking ahead to a brighter future. The team quickly filled its roster with 25 players, securing an exciting opportunity for dedicated student athletes to participate in the inaugural year of the sport at LHS.
Although Girls Flag Football is currently registered as a club, its organizers aim to gain school sponsorship and KSHSAA sanctioning next year, to further cement its support and legitimacy. Co-coaches Marci Leuschen and Jeanne Yantzie are excited for the team’s future.
the rulebook, so it was a little crazy, but we definitely got through the game,” sophomore quarterback Macyn Ramsay said. “Before elementary school, I played football for an all boys team… Just having the experience of being able to play again like I did when I was little and being quarterback, it’s fun.”
“We have a GREAT GROUP OF GIRLS out for flag football, and it has been fun watching them come together as a team,”—Marci Leuschen, coach
“We have a great group of girls out for flag football, and it has been fun watching them come together as a team,” Leuschen said. “I was excited when I heard they were starting this club and thought it would be a really neat experience for students at LHS.”
However, the new team has not escaped from some hiccups in its growth. These challenges were especially apparent at its first ever game with Baldwin last Wednesday, where the team faced a 36-6 loss.
“We didn’t really exactly know
Despite the setbacks in their first games, the team is committed to using the games as a learning experience and has high hopes for what they can achieve in the future.
“I feel like going on to the next game, we will be a lot better because we learned a lot of new rules,” senior linebacker La’Keyshia Woods said. “So once we get like that team chemistry, we should be way better.”
The team is committed to moving forward with confidence.
“We definitely need to work on some things in practice, but we definitely look like a team,” Ramsay said.
The search for the Musicians strive to define Summer 2025 by topping the charts
SONG OF THE SUMMER
Graphic
BY JULIET OUTKA NEWSPAPER CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
In 2023, it was “Flowers” by Miley Cyrus. In 2024, it was Brat Summer with “Apple” by Charli XCX blasting into AirPods around the world. In recent years, a new seasonal phenomenon has taken music listeners by storm: bestowing the title “Song of the Summer” on a single track that perfectly encapsulates the essence of May 1st through August 31st. Hopping on the trend, a team of global music editors at Spotify recently released their top five songs of the summer for the second year in a row. According to Spotify Newsroom, the top five are “based on Spotify data analyzing the tempos, rhythm stability, beat strength, and overall regularity of top summer tracks.”
1. “Ordinary”, Alex Warren
Best Line: “I want you laying me down ‘til we’re dead and buried”
Coming in hot at No. 1, “Ordinary” – Alex Warren’s chamber-pop anthem to his wife – was not only Spotify’s most-streamed song of the summer, but was also named the No. 1 global song of the summer 2025 by Billboard. This song checked all the boxes: heartfelt lyrics, well-organized instrumentals, a solid vocalist – but it by no means goes outside the box. “Ordinary” channels the musicality of older bands like Imagine Dragons and One Direction, and sounds thoroughly generic. Although the song doesn’t offer much that’s new, I do appreciate the return to a lovestruck pop sound.
2. “Love Me Not”, Ravyn Lenae
Best Line: “Oh no, I don’t need you, but I miss you, come here”
After years of opening for iconic musicians such as NoName and SZA, R&B singer and Chicago native Ravyn Lenae broke into greater mainstream recognition through her hit single “Love Me Not” from her 2024 album, “Bird’s Eye”. “Love Me Not” is an example that less can often be more in music. Lenae proves that all you need to make a hit is an unbeatable bass line and relatable energy (oh, and a freakishly great voice plus a beat made by Anderson .Paak – but that’s beside the point). Exploring the messiness of situationships with lyrics like “He loves me not, he loves me, he holds me tight, then lets me go,” Lenae crafts a truly memorable song through expert lyrical storytelling and outstanding musicality – that will undoubtedly be on my playlists for years to come.
3. “Manchild”, Sabrina Carpenter
Best Line: “Whole outfit you’re wearing, god I hope it’s ironic”
Sabrina Carpenter introduced her lead single from her new album “Man’s Best Friend” on Instagram as a “song embodiment of a loving eyeroll”, which perfectly nails its essence. Combining a slightly twangy beat with sassy verses, such as the iconic “stupid! slow! useless!” chant in the prechorus, Carpenter takes vicious jabs at the unnamed incompetent men in her life, creating a summer anthem for angry ex-girlfriends around the world. True to the title of her fifth studio album, “Short n’ Sweet”, Carpenter delivers a catchy sugar rush of a song that is enjoyable for the summer, but I doubt it will make a lasting impact in years to come.
4. “back to friends”, sombr
Best Line: “How can you look at me and pretend I’m someone you’ve never met?”
When I first listened to “back to friends”, I was struck by the skillful execution of the timeless yet complex instrumentals on this track. After hearing the overlapping background vocals in the intro and the melodic synth piano outro, I must admit to googling (twice) “is sombr really 19 years old and produced “back to friends” alone?” Yes, is the answer. This summer brought new breakout artists like sombr into the limelight, establishing a place for young and talented musicians to bring new sounds to the Billboard charts. “back to friends” will be remembered as the spark for a growing cult following of sombr, with fans already referring to themselves as ‘sombaddies’ and scrambling for tickets to see him live. Overall, sombr’s dramatic lovelorn sound is an exciting shift in pop music, and I’m eager to see what he creates next.
5. “Shake It To The Max (FLY)” - Remix, MOLIY, Silent Addy, Skillibeng, Sheneesa
Best Line: “Please just rewind, let me shake it to the max”
To fully appreciate the viral “Shake It To The Max (FLY)” remix (featuring Jamaican rappers Skillibeng and Shenseea), I had to listen to Ghanaian-American singer MOLIY’s original version first. The chorus is catchy, and the beat is great. “Shake It To The Max (FLY)” gained viral attention after MOLIY posted a snippet of the song on Tiktok in October 2024. She triggered a global dance challenge, with over 235,000 Tiktoks featuring the song. Skillibeng and Shenseea elevated the track by adding seamless lyrical variety to an already infectiously catchy song. Whether on the remix or the original, MOLIY brought dance-hall and Afro-beat fusion into focus for 2025 with a feel-good club anthem that’s perfect for dancing the summer away.
As a frequent Spotify user and music enthusiast, I decided to take a splash into the top five songs of the summer. Here are my unprofessional takes on the musicality, cultural relevance, and overall catchy-ness of the most major tracks of summer 2025.
Although the quest to find the perfect summer song is fun, no one song or album defines summer altogether. The music world is incomprehensibly vast, with thousands of truly outstanding songs that never reach even the bottom of the Billboard charts. The top five songs of the summer are merely a general compilation of what millions of strangers listened to the most on average. Much more important is what music you connected with this summer. No matter the season, everyone has a personal soundtrack that constantly changes, telling a story of what they love. Music hits everyone differently, and so does summer.
Letter from the EDITORS
The importance of embracing a changing world
BY JULIET OUTKA & RUBY FLANNER
CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEFS
Th is year marks the start of a new era. From new teachers, MacBooks, and bathroom policies, it’s clear that a new page has turned. As the school year begins to pick up momentum, we hope to feature the highlights of summer 2025, while also looking towards the future. While the page has turned at LHS as a whole, it has also turned
within our journalism program. We said goodbye to our advisor of 13 years, Barb Tholen, welcoming Mrs. Ladd as our new teacher. Over the summer, as we helped decorate her classroom and brainstormed ideas for our first issue, we knew things would be different. With fresh goals in mind and new student leadership, this year we are excited to continue our tradition of award-winning print journalism and accurately represent all that happens within our school community.
The Editors-in-Chief of The Budget for the 2026 School Year, Juliet Outka (Left) and Ruby Flanner (Right)
CARTOON BY ASH WAGNER
SUMMER THEME SONG
Find out what the LHS Journalism staff was listening to all summer
“Beaches” by beabadoobee because it’s fun and catchy and just gives summer vibes.”
-Claire Lindemyer
“Supernatural” by NewJeans because the intro is unbeatable”
-Juliet Outka
“Blood” by Abandoned Pools and “Party Poison” by My Chemical Romance.”
-Rosalina Hayes
“Subway” by Chappell Roan because anytime I play it around people everyone knows the lyrics.”
-Mimi Rosado-Schmitt
“I’m Working So You Don’t Have to Try so Hard”, by Iamthecoffin or anything by smokedope2016”
-Peter Buller
“City of Fallen Angels” by Teenage Disaster and MKULTRA or “7th Floor” by Teenage Disaster... anything by Teenage Disaster.” -Ash Wagner
JOURNALISM STAFF MEMBERS
MISSION STATEMENT
The Budget is committed to providing the Lawrence High community with objective, inclusive news that ensures relevance to its readers. The staff devotes itself to the exercise of First Amendment rights and upholding the highest of journalistic standards. While the paper is a tool to publish student voices, it works to help students grow as journalists and help readers access information.
ABOUT US
The Budget is distributed free of charge to students and faculty at Lawrence High School, 1901 Louisiana, Lawrence Kan. The Budget is produced by students in the Digital Media courses with occasional contributions from 21st Century Journalism and guest columnists. The newspaper’s goals are to inform, entertain, and present a forum of expression for students, faculty, administrators and community members. The newspaper is financed through advertising and fundraising. The editorial staff is solely responsible for the content of this newspaper and views expressed in The Budget do not necessarily relect those of the administration of Lawrence High School or USD 497.
STAFF
Clark Barber, Elliot Batza, Jack Bauch, Peter Buller, Madi Glasgow, Hailey Grant, Rosalina Hayes, Quirin Kaempf, Ashley Mock, Jordan Nguyen, Macy O’Brien, Lea Olivier, Chelsea Oparaji, Emma Osborne, Zoe Peterson, Angelo Renya, Sydney Rhodeman, Pilar Robinson, Tessa Sanders, Trenton Skeen, Thurston St. Onge, Elanyha Taylor, Jasmine Trinh, Sophie Viets, Ash Wagner, Naima Zargoza
THE BUDGET EDITORS
Juliet Outka....................................................Co Editor-in-Chief
Ruby Flanner.................................................Co Editor-in-Chief
Willow Marable.............................................Design Editor
Selah Wolfe....................................................Print Managing Editor
Ronan Kemme..............................................Arts/Graphics Editor
Karen Cruz-Santos.......................................Copy Editor
Carter Kingery..............................................Photos/Captions Editor
LHSBUDGET.COM EDITORS
Ashlyn Tell Editor-in-Chief
Claire Lindemyer..........................................Online Managing Editor
RED & BLACK EDITORS
Mimi Rosado-Schmitt Co Editor-in-Chief
Delaney Haase ...................................................... Co-Editor-in-Chief
Heidi Anderson..................................................... Photo Editor
K-Jo Glasgow.......................................................... Managing Editor
SOCIAL MEDIA EDITORS
Piper Journey .......................................................Social Media Editor
ADVISER
Abbi Epperson-Ladd Adviser
Photo of the month: At the Fall Sports Jamboree, the volleyball team celebrates the start of the season.
Photo by Piper Journey