Hawk's Eye April 2016 Volume 24 issue 7 [Junior Issue]

THE OLATHE EAST

VOL 24 | ISSUE 6

Serving Up the Spring Season As School Winds Down, Spring Sports begin an Elite Season Page| 10 Photo by Addis Sharpe

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CONTENTS

HAWK'Seye

DID YOU KNOW? JCCC offers a variety of classes to meet your needs. Explore your options.

Affordable • Flexible • Engaging Visit jccc.edu/college-bound to learn more.

NEWS

3 | German Club Wins Competition 4-5| Percussion and Orchestra Congratulations 6 | “Spread the Word” 7 | “Under the Wing”

EDITORIAL

8 | Presidential Candidate Memes 9 | Class Traditions

SPORTS

10 | Introduction to Spring Sports

FEATURE 3.5” x 5”

11 | Author Visit 12-13 | Spring Break Vacations

ENTERTAINMENT

14 | Steel Magnolias Recap 15 | New Skydiving Facility The Olathe Public Schools prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion or disability in its programs, activities or employment, and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups to its facilities as required by: Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and other relevant state and federal laws. Inquiries regarding compliance with applicable civil rights statutes related to ethnicity, gender, age discrimination or equal access may be directed to Staff Counsel, 14160 Black Bob Road, Olathe, KS 660632000, phone 913-780-7000. All inquiries regarding compliance with applicable statutes regarding Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act may be directed to the Assistant Superintendent General Administration, 14160 Black Bob Rd. Olathe, KS 66063-2000, phone (913) 780-7000. Interested persons including those with impaired vision or hearing, can also obtain information as to the existence and location of services, activities and facilities that are accessible to and usable by disabled persons by calling the Assistant Superintendent General Administration. (04/13)

Olathe East Hawk’s Eye

Willkommen zu Deutsch Club -Welcome to German Club -

Melanie Eszter// Staff Writer

The Olathe East German Club Grows the Future of German Speakers and Gains Acclaim The student lead German Club is a cultural event, making tremendous speakers. In a club meeting you could expect have German conversations strides with their innovative cultural meetings. German club has been with very little English involved. German language involvement is the key made famous for it’s special delicacy sampling. This prestigious club to having a great time in this club. meets every seminar with the outstanding presidents: Rylie Lindig and The German department has the pleasure of partnering up with a Rachel Smith.

German exchange program where students from the local area go to Ger “During seminar meetings approximately once a month, we meet, many to continue school in the Fall for about a week or two while getting enjoy snacks together and do an activity such as listening to a presentaa taste of the German culture and teaching.While German students come tion on a German speaking country, playing a German game, watching to America and learn unique things they could not have done in Gersnips of German commercials or movies or watching music videos”, said many. Students in German Cub will have the honor of seeing oictures Christine Hanks German Club sponser and and hearing about the adventures of the exhange Olathe East German teacher. students who went to Germany by seeing their A typical day in German club would start pictures and hearing their stories. “I think it will with setting up snacks for the opening of a be a great experience for anyone who participates session. Snacks may include bread and pretzels in it, It will help the students to be completely dipped in Nutella. The club doesn’t offer only immersed in the culture we learn about in class food but drinks as well, for example the club everyday”, said Reyna Mallory. also makes a German drink called Apfelschorle.

Mallory joined German club because of her This drink is a mix of apple juice and carbonintense desire to visit Germany one day. ated water.

She feels that German Club sheds a lot of light on German food is a key aspect of German Club the things that are not know about Germany. because of the differences that many are not “What most people know about Germany is usually exposed to here in America. the bad stuff like World War Two, Hitler, and “German Club provides an opportunity the Holocaust. They don’t know that Germany is for students of German to meet and socialnot the same it was a hundred years ago. It has ize, to get to know one another, to learn more a stable government and is flourishing.” Said about the German culture and get to know the Mallory.

German-speaking foreign exchange student, if The German language will help many people we have one, which we usually do”, said Frau like Mallory communicate in Germany and be Hanks. able to talk to a variety of different people that “Well it is interesting because its stuff you don’t usually eat”, said they would not be able to converse with if they only knew English. The sophomore Reyna Mallory. Especially the German candies, are differFuture of German speakers hopes to one day perfect their craft. ent because it is not like a Milky Way or Hershey bar, which are the One of the highlights of German Club would be the community service main chocolate bars in the U.S. There are different resources available in project that they participated in this year.

Germany that might not be available to us here, in the states. Kinder is The German club is for anyone who is interested in the German a German chocolate bar, which is scarcely seen in the U.S. because of its language. There is only a five-dollar fee for your membership to this club. reputation and production in Europe.

Members do not have to be in a German class to participate in this club For the first minutes of the club after the food is set up, the members and any level of German class may engage, in this club where as to be greet everyone and catch up as people arrive. After everyone arrives, in the German National Honor Society,you have to be in the top levels the club begins. They talk about club events and current events that are of German. Although each class is assigned to help bring food for each happening in Germany which help members get a better understanding meeting, requirement is encouraged. of the German language. They also hit on major holidays and festivals in German club makes a difference in the learning experience for stuGermany. The club plays games to get to know the other members and dents. plan events. The club also has the pleasure of listening to German music East needs German club: a relaxed environment that is not structured on to get to hear what different cultrual music sounds like. vocabulary and grammar, but on the cultural part of a language. It is just The German club participates in an Oktoberfest get together in the a friendly place to learn about another part of the world and immerse fall, where they meet in a local park to grill brauts and play a game called oneself in the language and culture of the German nation.

Schleuderball. Another event the club does is a ST. Nicolas Fest and they “It gives you a really good group of people different ages to work with, also have Secret Santa’s in which they had to bring gifts for their secret you get to make really good friends while learning about the German pals and got to know each other better through that.. They get to learn culture as well as the language”, said Mallory. about a feast day in Germany. In the Spring there will usually be a Ger “It’s a fun extension of the traditional classroom and allows us to man movie night for the club. get introduced to new things about Germany that we might not had a Finally, the club occasionally watches chance to learn otherwise.” Said Negin It gives you a really good group of people movies in German. For example, DinAmouei. different ages to work with, you get to make ner for One, which is a German tradition for many to watch on New Year’s. really good friends while learning about the The movies are shown in German and German culture as well as the language, , do not include English captions which - Reyna Mallory also is a favorite of proficient German

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News

3

National Hawks Orchestra and Percussion Ensemble Perform on the National-Level Stage

Orchestra

From March 3 and March 5, 2016, Orchestra director Brigid Mayer

Jacob Stofer//Staff Writer

Before going to this competition, Mayer didn’t plan on taking more traveled with a combined Orchestra and performed at the 2016 American than one group.

Strings Teachers Association Festival in Tampa Bay, Florida. Mayer, ju “I thought about taking just the chamber orchestra, as kind of as spenior Orchestra member Joanna Raetzel, and freshman Orchestra member cial thing for them, because they are our top group, to a competition like Jakob Herling talked about the experience of performing at this National that. It depends where it is. ASTA moves every year, so this year it was festival. appealing, because it was close enough to Disney World to do that part of “We went to Florida, and played at the American Strings Teacher the trip, as well. I feel like the kids earned that part of the trip for working Association, the national orchestra festival. We were one of maybe ten so hard. It is harder to prepare for such a high level competition when high school string orchestras that you are dealing with separate performed [in front of] nationally Group Photo In Front Of The Tampa Convention classes, and rehearsing together. I known Judicators. And after a day Center don’t know if I would want to do Courtesy of Kathy Stanley after the conference, we went to it as a combined thing again. On Orlando, [FL]. We did three days the other hand, I was pleasantly of Disney World, [went] to all surprised about how it worked, the parks, and did a performing and how well the less experienced arts workshop, just like a recordstudents stepped up and really did ing studio experience, and the their part. It was maybe worth it, [students] recorded themselves, for them to work a little harder. I that was synced with footage from think all the orchestras got better Fantasia. That was kind of cool to by doing it, so it was worth it. It see,” Mayer said. was a little bit stressful. From a This festival was not an open personal stand point; I saw a lot of festival, but is a selected festival. growth by each of the groups. So it The Orchestras that want to be was definitely worth the trouble.” included in this festival must send She said. in a tape of them performing to The students said they didn’t ASTA, along with a program. want to go home, but when they Then once the ASTA committee do, they look back on the trip with reviews the tapes, and after they joy. Mayer looks back on this trip have listened select the performing on as positive one. orchestras. This year, the festival “I think the kids did awesome, had 21 performing Orchestras, inwe had some great chaperons, it cluding Olathe East. The previous was a really fun trip. But it was year the festival had only 14 participating orchestras. really musically rewarding for everybody. It was a kind of a really big deal “It was [a] festival style competition. We played for other orchestra performance for Olathe East. So I am proud we did it,” Mayer said. directors and clinicians and such, and then after that, we had a workshop

Thoughts from Students with one of the clinicians to help us with style problems. After we did, we got a trophy for participating,” Rsetzl said.

“My favorite memory was a mishap of my own riding the monorail back “We had to send our recording last year. We worked together to do a to our bus one night. I was sitting down, making jokes and did i know that combined Concert, and Chamber Orchestra recording to send to the this was the emengecy exit and soon as i rested my hand on it. And it went ASTA, that was how we were chosen for this year. And knowing that, at off, and me and bailey larkin had to hold it for ten menuts or so.” the end of the school year last year, we found out that we were chosen, so - Ethan Evans, senior all this year, we have been layering in music. We had 40 minutes worth of music, and rehearsed in three separate hours. That was a challenge in itself, just getting everyone ready [and being] on the same page.” Mayer “Epcot was marvelous and the tour insaid. side [the dome] was very informative.”

Like any other instrumental festival, the performance was timed.

-Robert Matthews, junior “We had 40 minutes on stage. We had, I think, 34 minutes of music that was programmed, and then we had our in-between time. Our on and off the stage, and any talking that happened, all had to happen in that 40 “My favorite part of the trip was being able to do so many minutes. We never had to leave the stage; we stay as one orchestra setup. diffrent things. [We] had the times of our lives at DisneyWe may have stood, bowed, then sat back down and continued. We were World,” well within our 40 minuets,” Mayer said.

- Sabrina Ton, senior After performing, the orchestra took a trip to Disney World in Orlando, FL and spent time in the most magical place on earth.

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Olathe East Hawk’s Eye

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lathe East is full of talented musicians in the two instrumental sections of the musical department: Orchestra and Band. Combined, Band and Orchestra make up 285 students out of the 1959 students at East. Out of the 285 of the two departments, 168 students make up band, and 117 students make up orchestra. This past March, the Orchestra under director Bridget Mayer, and the Advance Percussion Ensemble under Director Jeff Smikahl, took their respectful ensembles to two festivals across the United States. This is the second time that this part of the Orange and Blue Brigade went to a national level performance, in October of 2015 for the BOA [Bands Of American] Super reginal in St.Louis, MO.) Together, the students, and the Instructors put in hundreds and hundreds hours into their respected performances on the national stage. The Hawk’s Eye shines the spotlight on the Orchestra and the Advance Percussion Ensemble on their national performances this past Spring.

From March 9 and March 13, 2016, Band director Jeff Smikahl took the advanced percussion ensemble of 27 students, and performed at the 2016 Music For All Percussion Festival in Indianapolis, Indian, sponsored by Yamaha. Olathe East was one of 12 percussion ensembles across the United States and the first percussion ensemble from Kansas, and Olathe to be selected to this festival. Smikahl and junior Members Kyle Gabrielson and Andrew Berry talked about their experience at the festival.

The group began rehearsals in November with four pieces: Echo Funk, Pathetique, Point of Reckoning, and Elite Syncopations. Two percussion classes joined together for performances and early morning rehearsals. Three clinicians each spent two hours rehearsing and teaching the students in preparation for the festival. They also performed in a send-off concert before travelling to Indianapolis.

“We saw 10 of the other 12 groups play. We missed one group because it was during our clinic... It was just watching what other groups are doing and learning from them,” Smikahl said.

Berry enjoyed the chance to watch others and learn how to further his musical ability with the help of an Indiana University percussion professor.

“He’s one of the best timpani players ever,” Berry said.

At Master Classes, Clinician John Tafoya taught the group proper orchestral percussion technique. They learned about seemingly-simple instruments that are complex in reality, such as the tambourine.

All in all, they made Smikahl proud.

“The kids really played great, it’s probably our best performance of that literature that we did. It was really well organized, really smooth trip, and the kids really learned a lot,” he said.

Ryann Smith//Staff Writer

Echo Funk Performance Photo by Tammy Grassmann

Band

The Ensemble Posing with the Plaque They Recieved Photo by Tammy Grassmann

Thoughts from Students “[I liked] just seeing how extraordinary some other groups can be during high school, how far we have to go to be the top group.”

-Kyle Gabrielson, junior

“[My highlight was] getting to meet the different people around the country and talk with them about their percussion program.”

-Rylie Schools, senior

“I think my favorite part was when me, Sam [Douglas], and Rylie Schools went on stage to get the award.

And getting to spend time with the other three girls on drumline.”

-Sara Vandemark, senior

“I did not know you could do so much on tambourine. [The clinician] talked about tambourines for like an hour and a half. It sounds like it would be so boring but it was actually like the fun-est thing ever because I never knew tambourines were so complex.”

- Andrew Berry, junior

“When Sam [Douglas] was crowd surfing at the student social, that was fun. And he pretended to use a fake accent to get girl’s numbers at the social. That was funny.”

-Sam Jerguson, freshman

Feature News

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End The

Word

A look at what the “Spread the Word” campaign has accomplished.

Jacob Wilson // Staff Writer

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n life insults are constantly being thrown around. “Stupid,” “idiot,” and “dumb” are just a few of the words used to describe others in a degrading way. However, imagine if your descriptor was the same word used to mean these things.

Replace “stupid” with “actor.” Replace “idiot” with “athlete” Replace “dumb” with “gamer.” For some people daily life includes these detrimental comments. Throughout the school some students are stuck hearing the same word used to describe them being used as an insult, “That’s Retarded.”

The Spread the Word campaign came to Olathe East in order to end the derogatory use of the word “retarded,” and it gained massive support from students and teachers, giving the program the attention it needed to make a change in the school.

Mrs. Amy Hill, the Interpersonal Relations teacher said, “It really started a year ago. The district made a huge push for it in the high schools to get involved.They had a gathering of peers [with and without disabilities] who got together and discussed what they wanted to get out of it.”

From that came the signs, videos, and announcements regarding the campaign. Sign ups were held in the gym to pledge to end the word and many students wore wristbands in support of the cause. The students,

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“We included information from the United Cerebral Palsy foundation. They are doing the “Just Say Hi” campaign. The “Spread the Word” campaign [which] was started by the Special Olympics. We also included the “More alike than different” campaign which is from the Down Syndrome guild,” said Hill.

In making this video Hill hopes to have students thinking about how their words impact the people around them.

“I don’t think people mean to be disrespectful and mean; I think they’re just talking with their friends, but the way we talk influences the way we think about other people,” said Hill.

And in doing so she believes that there can be a change in the way we think of all groups of people.

“I think the “Spread the Word” campaign is more of a symbol for inclusion for all people who are different. It’s about thinking about how your words affect others, not just those with special needs.”

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The way we talk influences the way we think about other people

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-Hill

The “Spread the Word” campaign is more of a symbol for inclusion for all people -Hill

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however, didn’t want this change to go to waste.

“This year they made a push in the middle schools, because they did high schools last year. But we really wanted to keep the momentum going, and the students had seen our video from last year and wanted to make their own special one.”

So this year Hill’s class made a new video for the “Spread the Word” campaign. However, this time they showed support for some other movements.

ce Kindness Caring Friendship Inclusion Unity Respect Acceptance Kindness

Inclusion Unity Respect Acceptance Kindness Caring Friendship Inclusion

Respect Acceptance Kindness Caring Friendship Inclusion Unity Respect Acceptan

Caring Friendship Inclusion Unity Respect Acceptance Kindness Caring Friendship

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Olathe East Hawk’s Eye

Spreading Our INGS

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The new literary journal at Olathe East Offers New Possibilities for Creative Writers

igh School is the time for growing up and becoming the person you want to be. Students also have a chance to figure out what they’re most interested in. However, with testing, homework, essays, and projects, creativity is given less chances to grow. English teacher Mrs. Swyers and Sophomore Sameena Hameed hope to give students a new medium to spread their creative wings.

Under the Wing, the newest publication from Olathe East, is a compilation of creative writings and art from students throughout the school. The idea first grew from a conversation between Swyers and Hameed.

Swyers said, “Sameena and I were talking one day, and I believe the journal idea came out of our discussion of how she could make more of an impact on the school population. I had a dear friend, whose son had been featured in The Rock, Rockhurst’s literary mag, and I shared the idea with Sameena. Naturally, Sameena ran with the idea.”

Hameed brought it a long way. In a relatively short amount of time she has gathered a staff and collected many writings. Her efforts have caused Under the Wing to grow from an idea to reality.

“She is a remarkable young person who strives to find avenues where she can positively affect the school, her community, and the world. The journal, Under the Wing, was her effort to engage the creative population at Olathe East High School, providing that section of the students a creative outlet to write and create based on their pas-

Jacob Wilson// Staff Writer

sions,” said Swyers Teachers often work to make a difference in their students. Swyers hopes to make a difference through this outlet.

“Unfortunately, increased testing in the area of English has forced the teachers to abandon a lot of the creative portions of the curriculum. These were the areas that allowed for the students who loved creating literary pieces to excel and grow. For that reason, and for many others, once the literary magazine is up and going, it will serve a large portion of the East’s population that is thirsty for this outlet.”

Perhaps this will provide a means for the next Tolkin or Shakespeare to emerge. This could be a way for those who gain joy from writing to find their true passion. This program should provide a positive way for students to express themselves.

News

7

John Kasich : Ohio State Univrsity (1974) Republican Candidate

Ted Cruz: Harvard Law (1995) Republican Candidate

AMERICA’S CLASS OF 2016

A Look at the Internet Sensations from Some of our Nation’s Most Sensational Politicians

Bernie Sanders: University of Chicago (1964) Democratic Candidate

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ive candidates are left in the heated race for the presidency: Donald Trump who vows to “make America great again”.

The untrustworthy Hilary Clinton, who if she won the election, would be the first female president in history.

Socialist, Robin-Hood-type who would steal from the rich to give to the poor: Bernie Sanders.

The next candidate, Ted Cruz, a liar who often gets comments about his face, and is a zodiac killer.

Last, but not least, Republican John Kasich: an outlier who is slowly rising in the political polls.

Junior Alec Estopare explains more about the increase of meme entertainment.

A meme is an online picture meant to make fun of a person or group. “It’s a great time to be alive in America”, Estopare says.

Political memes help voters have a good laugh about the candidates. All of the presidential candidates are “living, breathing, memes”, said Estopare. “They are fun ways for non-political people to keep up with politics”

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Olathe East Hawk’s Eye

Donald Trump: Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania (1968) Republican Candidate said Sameena Hameed curernt Olathe East Sophmore.

Currently, Estopares favorite memes are the Birdie Sanders and the Ted Cruz the Zodiac killer memes. Hameed’s favorite meme is also the Ted Cruz Zodiac killer meme. “It’s so ridiculous but super funny”, said Hameed The Birdie meme came about as Bernie was making a speech, there was a bird on the ground. Bernie said this bird doesn’t know what’s going on and he started pointing at the bird and it flew onto his podium, the whole crowd went wild.

The birdie meme is now appearing all over social media and even has a Twitter page with about 1,141 followers.

The website Trump Donald.org is a website where users can go on and blow a trumpet in Donald Trump’s face.

This tends to be popular among the younger generations. I think he needs a new haircut” says Estopare, based on the Trump Donald website.

Feel the Bern.com a similar website which features Bernie Sanders heads rapidly popping on the screen with flashing colors and music

Hillary Clinton: Yale Law School (1973) Democratic Candidate

that asks, “Can you feel the Bern?”. “I thought it was pretty funny,” said Estopare.

Although Donald Trump tends to lead the polls, many are afraid of his “dangerous” actions although he is very well spoken. Would he be able to lead the United States?

Social media reflects what viewers think and hear about the presidential elections. That is why memes could affect the outcome of the race although very unlikely. One can get a kick out of political memes. “ Make sure you listen to the candidates when your choosing who to vote for”, don’t be swayed by your parents says Estopare. Make sure you know what the canidates stand for and you agree with them before you go out and vote.

“I will definitely vote for Ted Cruz because he knows what America needs” said anonomous Olathe East Senior America can not waste anytime on this urgent issue, so make sure you vote for your candidate on Election Day. Melanie Eszter//Staff Writer

Traditions Crown Olathe East Over Other Schools

All grades attempt to involve everyone in school traditions and welcome more in Blythe Dorrian//Staff Writer the future

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his 2015- 2016 school year marks the 24th year of Olathe A total of 15 floats, 4 convertible dignitaries, marching band, East opening. drill team, and cheerleaders all participate in the march.

Since Olathe East had no history at the time of it’s conOnce the Lancers reach the shopping center, the mayor of Praistruction, the students in the earliest classes wanted to make the rie Village calls the village Lancer Village for the day. Families, school more than just a building that was not known by anyone. children, and parents enjoy the watching of their home school.

Traditions began to rise when the students wanted to establish A pep assembly is held at the shopping center, as well new boundaries for their new school, as well as making a differas the best floats being voted on. ent experience to set themselves apart from the students they This tradition has been occurring at Shawnee Mission once had gone to school through kindergarten.

East for 40 years, and it still continues every year since.

At first, the students did not want to participate in traditions.

Shawnee Mission East also hosts a “nut cup” when rival They just wanted to get a feel for having a brand new school. schools Shawnee Mission North and Shawnee Mission Over a few years, a small group of students decided to start West play them. creating traditions, some of which still occur to this day.

For freshman, a get to know each other Link Day and The class of 2010 became the first to choose the daily announcefreshman dance help the class get to experience Lancer ments that were read at the beginning of the school day. life.

The number of students wanting to get involved grew over time, Recently, seniors added a day called Senior Service Day. Last to the point that most of the students at Olathe East involved year, instead of skipping school, 325 students out of 392 chose themselves in something at the school, even just watching footbetween 21 volunteer sites, such as Ronald McDonald House, ball games.

Juniors prominently have the crown tradition given to them Crossroads Hospice, and Operation Breakthrough to go to for by the seniors the day of their last day of classes on Commencethe day. ment ceremony. This year will be held on May 12, 2016.

This day was added by suggestion of the principal two years The crown tradition started from the graduating class of 2010’s ago. junior year, giving the rising senior class the According to an online article by Photo by Blythe Dorrian leadership to reign as the next graduating class. the Kansas City Star, and Shawnee The passing of the barrel, given to the most Mission East coordinator, “Everyspirited junior at home games is another one wants to see these kids develop handed down tradition.. a habit for giving it back,” said The passing of the torch dinner created a Kristyn Wiggins, coordinator of the couple of years ago by the senior sponsors became held for the new senior class stucco school’s SHARE community service leaders to plan their beginning activities for organization. “This is awesome, and the following year. you hope it imprints on them.”

The junior class also sells tickets and work Parent volunteers supported the in the concession stand for all of the home students, enjoying them seeing football games.

Each winter before the freshman’s first fithem give back to the community. nals, the Hawk Leaders participate with the One parent volunteer, Kathy freshman in Cocoa and Cram. This helps Morrison said “I just think it’s terget the freshman ready for finals in December. rific that they’re giving back to the community that’s given so The Hawk Leaders help the freshman on the first day of school much to them, to provide them with an opportunity to have a with all day bonding activities. Orientations do not occur for the other grades. class-building event — I think it’s fantastic.” This day was added The senior picnic allows the senior class to enjoy their class by suggestion of the principal two years ago. before their final year at Olathe East.

According to an online article by the Kansas City Star, and The final senior tradition is the throwing of paper. On the last Shawnee Mission East coordinator, “Everyone wants to see these day of school, the seniors shred paper and throw the paper to kids develop a habit for giving it back,” said Kristyn Wiggins, signal the end of their high school career.

Recently, groups of seniors have been participating in the assascoordinator of the school’s SHARE community service organisin’s game as well as senior skip day to complete their busy year zation. “This is awesome, and you hope it imprints on them.” of college applications and finals.

Parent volunteers supported the students, enjoying them seeing Other local schools such as Shawnee Mission East participates them give back to the community. in their unique traditions as well.

Olathe East is open to new traditions for years to come.

One of their main traditions by Shawnee Mission East, called Lancer Day occurs on the school’s first home football game of One parent volunteer, Kathy Morrison said “I just think it’s the year. terrific that they’re giving back to the community that’s given so The past August before the new school year of every year, much to them, to provide them with an opportunity to have a Shawnee Mission East stucco decides on ideas, voted on a float class-building event — I think it’s fantastic.” theme.

For the whole story go to oehawkseye.com The school gets early dismissal on this day to get ready for the parade marched from Mission Road, where their school is Email your suggestions to oehawkseye@gmai.com we need your located to Prairie Village Shopping Center. help hawks!

Photo by Logan Brockschmidt

Editorial

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Spring Sports

While Winter Sports are Winding Down Spring Sports are Preparing for the New Season Ahead “After our first meet, the outlook for Olathe East track and field is very promising. Both boys and girls teams had impressive performances for this early in the season. The boys are hoping to repeat as Sunflower League, Regional and State Champions while the girls are hoping to repeat as Sunflower League and Regional champions and improve on their 4th place finish at state last season,” said Mike

Addis Sharpe// Staff Writer

Track and Field

Track warming up Photo by Addis Sharpe

Wallace.

Softball

Softball at a game Photo by Logan Brockschmidt

“I believe that we will be competitive due to our senior leadership. We hope to do well at league and regional competitions,” said Anthony Ruiz.

“We have a great core group of athletes. Our two seniors, Kaylee Byers and Leslie Twillman, are both experience players and are providing outstanding leadership as we bring our younger players along. Our junior class is also particularly strong led by returning All-State pitcher Haylee McGhee.The competition is strong this year with 2015 State Champion Olathe South and strong teams throughout the conference. We anticipate a great season this year and hope to make a run at the State title,” said Stan Spurlin.

Men’s Tennis Boys Tennis practicing Photo by Addis Sharpe “I think we have a strong team this year. Two state qualifiers return, Connor Churchill and David Gutgesell. There is a lot of depth on varsity with many returning from last year. The team also has a couple of strong freshman golfers who will get some varsity experience. We are all looking forward to a great season,” Kathy Lilley.

Men’s Golf Men’s golf hard at work Photo by Nathan Byard “Looking forward to working with these young ladies. They put forth a great deal of energy and effort in improving every day.

And with the talent that we have, and the work ethic they display, a lot of good things will come their way!” Said Dave Youker.

Women’s Swim & Dive After winning a meet Photo by Bryn Bailey

Winter Sports

Women’s basketball - won third in state Men’s basketball - won 18 games out of 23 Bowling - girls bowling went to state Men’s swim/Dive - thirteenth in state Wrestling - “We didn’t win any tournaments as a team but had individuals do really well.”

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Olathe East Hawk’s Eye

Baseball

Women’s Soccer

“We are only returning three starters from last year’s team and are a little bit younger this year. With that, we have huge potential towards what we will become as the season rolls along. Our starting pitching will be the key, as we have two returners Austin Weiler and Daulton East, both doing a great job so far. Offensively, Kurt Paldino and Austin Weiler will be anchoring the middle of our line-up, along with senior catcher Hunter Collins. We have a young club, but a great senior class, full of great young men. We as a coaching staff are really excited about what this club can become,” said John McDonald.

“Olathe East women’s soccer will continue to train and practice hard in an effort to compete to the best of our ability. We are excited and look forward to the quality competition ahead. Our objectives are to score first , to defend well, and strive to shutout our opponents,” said Terry Hair.

Book Talk Author Visit Sparks Imagination at Olathe East

“Writing is an instrument of revolution,” author Martha Brockenbrough said to Olathe East students. On March 11, Brockenbrough visited Jennifer Quick’s AP Language and Composition classes to discuss her journey of being a writer and to promote her new book. Her daughter Lucy, a freshman in a Seattle high school, sang jazz songs to set the mood for her mother’s book talk.

Brockenbrough grew up in the city of Seattle with passions of reading and writing, convinced she was the dorkiest person in the classroom. Since the age of twelve, she knew she would become a writer some day. Throughout high school, Brockenbrough wrote for her school newspaper and later went on to major in Classics at the University of Washington whilst writing for the college newspaper.

Brockenbrough, brainwashed into the idea that you cannot make a living off of being a writer, decided to prove that idea wrong.

She sifted through a variety of jobs before she found one that she loved. Occupations that Brockenbrough tried on for size included a journalist, English teacher, writer for Encarta, writer of ideas in Cranium and Trivial Pursuit, magazine writer, editor of MSN.com, and movie critic. Even though she experienced every type of writing career, Brockenbrough wanted more; she wanted to write a novel.

“Becoming a novelist was the most challenging part of my life.

I rewrote my newest book 32 times before getting it published,” Brokenbrough said.

Brockenbrough told the students in Quick’s classes that not only was she a new novelist at the time of writing her first book, but a new mother as well. Balancing both of those obligations challenged her ability to persevere.

“Not only in writing a novel, but in every challenge you face in life, you need to have the mentality to fight through it,” Brockenbrough said.

Kaitlyn Shacklett//Staff Writer

Her newest novel, The Game of Love and Death, portrays teenagers Flora and Henry in the 1930s who are being pushed and pulled around through life by characters Love and Death. Fighting through obstacles such as interracial relationships, women in the workforce, and the Great Depression, Henry and Flora try to overcome the game played by the eternal adversaries.

Brockenbrough follows the concept of “writing what you know.”

Because she grew up in the rain-filled city of Seattle, Brockenbrough made the decision to place her book there. Research also became a major part of writing her book. She found out the closest Friday the 13th in February to the era she wanted her book in occurred in 1920. Since her book was now in a certain date of history, she had to include facts as well. Even small details such as busses, clothing, weather, and buildings during the time period created a more realistic fiction piece.

“Research makes fiction writing better,” Brockenbrough said.

Another key to writing Brockenbrough elucidated during her visit to East is having inspirations for writing a certain topic. For example, Brockenbrough uses her hometown of Seattle, and the main character has dyslexia like her daughter Lucy. She encourages students who want to become writers to have a stimulus to form a more passionate style of writing.

Brockenbrough’s visit inspired junior Kaitlyn Dickerson to accomplish anything she sets her mind to.

“She made writing a book seem really fun and not too challenging. She said that if you want to do something extraordinary, you should go for it,” Dickerson said.

Through talking about books, writing, and becoming a writer, Martha Brockenbrough substantiates the idea that author guests are important and encouraging to all high school students.

The Game of Love and Death is available in the Olathe East Library.

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Postcards to Kansas

Ryann Smith//Staff Writer

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Olathe East Hawk’s Eye

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The Tech Side of Steel Magnolias Technician Crew Working On Steel Magnolias

Margo Dulny // Staff Writer

The last show of the year, Steel Magnolias, told the story of six of the deck crew with which is like techs when women in an 80’s southern hair salon who gossip throughout the we have a bigger stage where we change different day with a young soon-to-be-married woman and a protective sets. I just make sure everything I gets set mother. While the actors usually receive the credit and glory, the where it needs to be. We have tech rehearsal crew technicians do the work that goes unrecognized by the public. where they build stuff and I go to those too,” Many people work tirelessly behind the scenes. “We do have a Carlson said. set crew; we have the light crew; we have a painting crew; we have A shadow box backstage will have people the props crew; we have the costume crew; we have a sound crew; sing or do actions while light is shining on we have the makeup crew,” Edward Shafer, theater teacher and them. producer, said.

To Shafer, believes the crew could just have The props crew finds, makes, and buys props for the set and more importantance than the actors. assigns them to the right actor.

“They[Technicias] really are the glue that keeps The costume crew found the costumes for the actors from the the show together. If you don’t have the crew, you costume closet that hold costumes, props, and other small detaildon’t have the costumes, you don’t have the props, and the oriented things for a play. For ‘quick changes’ a costume technician sets. The technicians provide more to the show than the actors and has to help. “In Steel Magnolias, there are two quick changes in a actresses do. The actors’ responsibility is to perform as the character matter of 15 seconds,” Shafer said. but the technicians’ role is to create the environment for the audiThe sound crew edits sound effects in the sound system. Steel ence to experience the moment,” Shafer said.

Magnolias sounds come from backstage.

The technician will have tech interviews. The actors had a re“One sound Que has three gunshots and the a dog barking. They hearsal for seven weeks and then all the technicians come and work have to add all the sounds together at the right time,” Shafer said. on the set building and the costume crew will have the costumes The stage is simulated to make the environment seem real such and hair ready. as a working sink in the salon to get their hair done.

“We have to work together to, for an example the lighting techThe stereo will be…[on the shelf]... and the speaker will be…[hidnicians have to have the right color for Shelby’s dress. If you have a den]... and it sounds like the sound comes out of stereo.” pink dress and pink lights it’s going to wash together. If you have a The lighting controlls the stage lights, and the backstage focuses green shirt and a purple background it’s going to clash,” Shafer said. on the lighting colors. Behind the window, behind the window LED The technicians always have to work diligently without help or lights put off different colors. any direction of others.

“The lights can reflect with the color. At one point, it becomes “[In] Catch Me If You Can, there’s a pilot, so we had an airplane Christmas with snowflakes and the technician pulls a rope and on a projection screen and I think the hardest part about that was snow falls out of here so it looks like snow is falling from the winthe Ques for it. We had to know a certain spot in the song where we dow,” Shafer said. would have to press the Light technician Senior Annie Colwell button because we don’t directs the light board. From the booth have people telling us different stage light arrangements are when to go,” said Senior created for each show. They have to write Sierra Ashton that out new cues for each show so they have played Truvy, the owner to correct lighting at the correct time. The of the hair salon. keys on the lightboard are called ‘sliders’ She got into tech beand each slider adjusts the lighting on the fore she started acting. stage.

Ashton said, “The “We change all the lights for every show backstage tech part of it so we move them from theater to theater would be here every day because we don’t have a lot of lights. Then when you don’t have a we put different light colors in them”, lead role, you don’t have Colwell said. to be there everyday. The The show features older women, so the techies are there everymakeup crew put on aging makeup for day. The totally deserve teenagers who play in the show. more credit than they Senior Emily Carlson former backstage get”. manager for Mary Poppins and now then became the backstage manager for this show. Backstage manager focuse more on set changes.

The stage of Steel Magnolias Photo by Margo Dulny “I help with all the props. I’m in charge

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Olathe East Hawk’s Eye

FLY AWAY WITH IFLYKC Kansas City’s Newest Entertainment Stop Jacob Stofer//Staff Writer

T

he Kansas City Area is full of many exciting attractions: Sprint Center, Truman Sports Complex, Nelson-Atkins Art Museum, and The Kansas City Zoo, just to name a few. However, a new attraction will be added to the

list for KC citizens and tourist to check out. Located at 10975 Metcalf Avenue, Overland Park, KS, 66210, IFLY KC brings the excitement of Skydiving to a smaller, indoor stage. IFLYKC is one of 41 locations across the globe, and 18 in the United States. “[IFLY] is a indoor skydiving facility, where we safely try to recreate what it [is like} to skydive for ages 3 to 103,” said Shea Curtis, Operations Manager of IFLY KC. According to the IFLY website: “IFLY started in 1998 as SkyVenture, LLC. Once we had developed the technology to create a stable, wall-to-wall cushion of air in a flight chamber, we knew we could offer an incredibly realistic and safe indoor skydiving experience. We opened our first indoor skydiving facility in 1999. Between 1999 and 2005, we opened three more facilities. In 2005, we rebranded ourselves IFLY, maintaining SkyVenture as our design and manufacturing company.”

“The first facility of the IFLY was [located] in Orlando, [FL]. It started with people trying to experience with fans and the wind tunnels. It just grew more popular, and they upgrade their technology, to make it more better every year.”

Said Curtis.

With a city like KC, which has a population of over two million people, an IFLY facility within a distance is a convenient location. IFLYKC opened in February this year.

“Looking at a lot of locations that would be good for an IFLY facility, where it isn’t close to another facility. Overland Park would be a good area, since the nearest are in Denver, Dallas, and Chicago. [We] are looking to expand all over the country,” said Curtis.

Curtis commented about the packages that IFLY offers, the experience and what a person experiences before they start flying in the tunnel.

“All of our packages include everything that you need for the experience. The whole experience is about an hour long, you check in and watch a few groups, and then [go] through an [flying] instruction class where you watch a few quick

videos, then you get geared up. [The gear includes]: flying suits, helmets, and earplugs for everyone. Then up to 12 people wait in the chamber, and each rotate one at a time with the trainer. Each [person has] at least two flights: two flights [is] our minimum, “ said Curtis.

Former Olathe East student and current IFLYKC employee, Hannah Thole, commented about the experience of going through the process of indoor Skydiving.

“I did it before we opened up, and it was pretty intimidating. The first time I did it, I did it in front of the other instructors. It was a lot of fun; it is not what you expect it to be when you go in there. It took a little bit of time to get used to, but it was a lot of fun,” Thoe commented.

As with every activity, there has to be rules. The IFLY website states: “IFLY requires a signed waiver, prior to any person or party to fly.” IFLY KC takes safety very seriously. The customers’ safety is the number one priority for the business.

“You are required to wear shoes with laces. If [you] don’t have any, we have ones that [you] can borrow. But if your shoes aren’t tied up, they could go through the fans,” said Curtis.

Once you step in, an operator that controls how fast and slow the wind speed is. According to the IFLY website, they have an animation that they call “The Technology behind Indoor Skydiving.” It has four main components that make it what it is. “A vertical wind tunnel has fans at the top to draw air through the flight chamber and then push it back down the sides through Return Air Towers (RATs). The air is ‘turned’ from the RATs into the bottom of the tunnel (plenum) and back up toward the flight chamber through an inlet contractor. The inlet contractor reduces the space the air can travel in, thus compressing and speeding up the air before it reenters the flight chamber. The result: a smooth column of air that enables you to fly.”

If your dream is to skydive and are just starting out, take the 15-minute drive from Olathe East to IFLYKC and check it out for yourself. IFLYKC is open Monday through Sunday, 9AM-9PM.

“[We] are looking to expand all over the country,” - Shea Curtis, Operation Manger, IFLYKC The packages that IFLY offers are: Earn Your Wings, which includes: • Two flights for one person, for $69.95 (as stated above).

• Spread Your Wings: four flights or two double lengths flights for one person, for $109.95.

• Spread Your Wings For Two: Four flights, shared by two people, and include two video clips from your flight session, for $141.18.

• The family package: 10 flights, five video clips for $302.58. Each flight lasts about an hour.

Entertainment

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Adviser Karen Kirk Co-Editors Kaitlyn Shacklett Blythe Dorrian Designer Jacob Wilsion Staff Writers Jacob Stofer Melanie Eszter Margo Dulny Ryann Smith Addis Sharpe

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