October
Volume 26
Issue 2
6A State Runner-up Gymnastics Team Photo courtesy of Amanda Faunce
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12 News Open Doors - 3 Purpose Behind the Prayers - 4-5
Feature A New Appreciation For The Fragility Of Life - 6-7 Hawks
from
Abroad - 8-9
Editorial Hawk Hour Follow Up - 10 Close to the Edge - 11
Entertainment Hallow-East - 12 Tales from the Crypt - 13
Sports Sports Horror Stories - 14
Puzzle Haunted Halloween Crossword - 15
https://issuu.com/oehawkseye www.oehawkseye.org @OEHawksEye @OEHawksEye @OEHawksEye Notification Statement of Non-discrimination: 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, 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 Council, 14160 Black Bob Road, Olathe, KS 66063-2000, phone 913-780-7000. All inquiries regarding compliance with applicable statutes regrading 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 Road, Olathe, KS 66063-2000, phone 913-780-7000. Interested persons including those with impaired vision or hearing, can also obtain information as to existence and location services, activities and facilities that are accessible to and usable by disabled persons by calling the Assistant Superintendent General Administration. (04/13)
OPEN DOORS
The Loft provides clothes and other necessities for students at Olathe East. Esther Rose // Staff Writer
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ork, sports, homework, repeat. The routine of the school year is easy to fall into. Now imagine a routine without access to clothes, a coat in the winter, or shoes. The ordinary routine of life becomes difficult without basic necessities. 13.8% of children in Kansas fall below the poverty line, according to the Center for American Progress. The National Center for Children in Poverty said 43% of children in U.S. public schools live in low-income families. Each Olathe school combats this in different ways. Olathe South, Olathe North, and Olathe Northwest supply clothes for students in need. Olathe East started the Hawk Closet, with a similar goal in mind. “[It’s] a great opportunity for the less fortunate and a great opportunity for others to help them,” said Grant Huntsman, a sophomore at Olathe East.
“If we continue that generous spirit, the Closet can continue to be successful in meeting the needs of fellow students,” said a volunteer. Students can find clothing, shoes, formals, school supplies and personal hygiene items in the Hawk Closet, also known as the Loft. “We also try and make it a confidential experience so no one is worried about revealing their need...It’s our hope that The Loft provides students with clothing and supplies so they don’t have to worry about those things on top of their normal schoolwork and other demands,” said Michelle Horton, coordinator of the Loft. Anyone in need may use the Loft, however the location must remain undisclosed. Students can ask in the front office if they need to go to the Hawk Closet. “We don’t want anyone struggling in the classroom because they don’t have pens and binders, or feeling ashamed because they have to wear the same thing frequently, or skipping Prom because they can’t afford a dress...It’s a wonderful resource and we’d love to have even more students take advantage of this opportunity,” said Horton. The Olathe East community, including students, families, and staff, brings in clothes to make the Loft possible. “It makes me very 13.8% of children in Kansas happy to go into the
Hawk Closet and see empty hangers, knowing that someone is getting some Gently used fall and winter clothclothing to use,” said a volunteer in the Loft. ing (jackets, t-shirts, jeans, sweat Donations are ers, etc.) needed constantly and can be left in the office marked for “the Large size clothing Loft” or “Hawk Closet.” Donations are New underwear and socks accepted throughout the year, but a few items are especially New toiletry items needed now. “We appreciate items that still have Coats plenty of life on them,” said Assistant Formal Principal Frank Bell. Clothing that is dresses stained, torn, or falling apart sits unused Jewelry for years in the Hawk Closet. Donations are for others to wear, Gently used not for getting rid of shoes unwanted clothes. “I think the future is bright! Meeting Cash donastudents’ basic needs tions is so important. If they have a full stomach, or toothpaste, or a cool Nike shirt, they’ll feel better about themselves – and hopefully [be] in a better place to be educated,” said Bell. “The Hawk Closet is available because of the generous donations of other students, families and staff. If we continue that generous spirit, the Closet can continue to be successful in meeting the needs of fellow students,” said a volunteer. The Loft continues to help students, with fall below the poverty line. the help of the Olathe East community.
DONATIONS NEEDED:
News
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Purpose Behind the Prayers
Students meet before school hours at Olathe East to practice their beliefs. Mychaela Burris // Senior Staff Writer
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he argument against Christians being active on any public school campus has been prevalent throughout the nation for many years. It’s been shaded grey as many argue it is a student and citizen’s right to practice their beliefs if done peacefully and without disruption of others in a school setting. What is the code of conduct when it comes to clubs at East, particularly Christians meeting together on school grounds? For most students, clubs are a typical part of one’s high school career, to become more involved, meet people with similar interests or just to fill a space in seminar. Two clubs at East have decided to use time before school to connect on the basis of faith. Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Awake are two Christian groups that meet before school on Tuesday and Thursday mornings respectively. These clubs have been present at East for years, though they are not widely advertised or known. Fellowship of Christian Athletes is a national organization, though each school has its own leaders who run their clubs specific to their choosing. “[FCA] doesn’t have to be geared entirely towards athletes though it usually is. It’s just incorporating God into a sports team and how the two play out together and learning how to focus your sport to God,” Senior FCA Leader Lauren Stevens said. Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Awake are both completely student led and
established, but supported and sponsored by East Science teacher Mr. Jacob Gunn and English teacher Mr. Justin Williams. These students have decided to put their faith on the forefront of their lives not only at home, but in school also by becoming leaders. “I said yes to becoming a leader because when you read something about God and you’re excited to share it with people, FCA gives the me opportunity [to share],” Senior Co-Leader Meg Voigt said. Stevens shared similar motives for desiring to lead and be a part of this group. “I had seen how the other leaders had worked through FCA and been such a light for God and I wanted to do that also and thought it would help my own relationship with God and showing others to him also,” Stevens said. Awake and FCA also work to carry out a common mission through their weekly meetings. “Our mission is to allow all people the opportunity to experience the hope and love of Christ through prayer and worship. It’s our goal to bring believers together in community, to share common ground and pray for our nation and school. You don’t have to believe what we believe to belong here,” said one of Awake’s Senior Leaders Attlyn Butler. While FCA is a national organization, Awake was established about eight years
ago by a group of Olathe East students and has been passed down to new leaders each year. Awake and FCA both provide a place for students at Olathe East to feel safe to practice their beliefs openly. “Our schools are a place where many people are broken. Giving people a place where they can be reminded of the hope of Christ and be encouraged by other believers is important,” Butler said. “We don’t really talk about faith a lot in public schools so it’s nice to have a place that you know everyone has the same belief system as you and everyone is living for God together,” Voigt said. “Your relationship with God isn’t meant to be just at home; it’s supposed to be constant throughout your life especially in high school,” said Butler.
Students meet outside of OE to pray around the flag pole | Photo courtesy of Mrs. Karee Schnoring
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These meetings are not just random, to these leaders it’s one of the most important parts of their high school career, and the experience has allowed them to grow and thrive around people who are believing for the same change they are. “I think it’s important to have groups that you can go to and be involved in and connected to that are going to push you to greater things than just coming to school and existing,” Stevens said. “Also I think meeting together at school opens the doors to speak about God outside of FCA and Awake and I think that’s really nice too,” Voigt said. Both of these groups do more than just meet in a classroom or a theater weekly. Awake and FCA extend beyond just the Olathe East campus, through events such as See You at the Pole: a national day of prayer where students meet outside their schools around their flagpoles and pray for schools in our community and the nation as a whole. Olathe East students just recently took part in the gathering earlier this fall on September 27. “It is encouraging to see the other believers in our school building we may not have known about before. It’s an opportunity to unite with others and stand in prayer for the people in our community,” Butler said. A football field is chosen as the location of these groups to use for an outreach event called Fields of Faith, another national event these groups attend and support that takes place each year on school grounds. “We meet at Blue Valley High School and a church puts on music and someone comes and talks and we meet together with a bunch of different people and pray. It’s really cool to see the community and many FCAs coming together,” Stevens said. What will the future look like for these groups? “We are hoping to build relationships and mentor the underclassmen who will be able to continue Awake for many years to come,” Butler said. These leaders believe these groups continue to meet throughout the year, and next year a new group of leaders will arise to continue praying every week inside East to
Awake leader Attlyn Butler leads group prayer | photo courtesy of Mrs. Karee Schnoring
“Our schools are a place where many people are broken. Giving people a place where they can be reminded of the hope of Christ and encouraged by other believers is important,” said Butler.
continue the plan of those before them.
Olathe East senior prays during See You at the Pole | Photo courtesy of Mrs. Karee Schnoring
Fellowship of Christian Athletes: Tuesday mornings at 7:00am in room 301 Awake: Thursday mornings at 7:30am in the Drama Theater News
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A New Appreciation For The Fragility Of Life
Basima Khan//Staff Writer
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How An Entire Life Rests On The Balance Of Blood Sugar.
magine your whole life hanging on the balance of your blood sugar. “I had no symptoms,” Bergdall said. Imagine calculating the amount of carbohydrates you consume A number of tests determine whether or not a person possesses multiple times throughout the day, in order to survive. Diabetes, an diabetes. Blood glucose testing and urine testing determine the diagnose illness where your blood sugar becomes too low due to the inefficiency of someone who harbors symptoms of diabetes or possesses the disease to produce or utilize the hormone insulin, changes the life of a person in itself. Blood glucose testing measures the level of glucose or sugar in monumental ways. Many types of diabetes exist, but Type One Diabetes, a person’s body. A person with diabetes possesses an unusually higher Type Two Diabetes, and Gestational Diabetes remain the three most blood sugar than a person without the illness. Urine testing determines common types. Type One Diabetes causes your body to fail in producing whether a person possesses an extremely high blood pressure. insulin. Type Two Diabetes, the most common type of diabetes, causes When a person becomes diagnosed with diabetes, he or she needs to your body to struggle at utilizing insulin efficiently. Gestational Diabetes determine how to keep their blood sugar in check and make sure their pops up in women during pregnancies and usually disappears after the body produces or reacts appropriately to insulin. pregnancy ends. Gestational Diabetes increases the chance of developing “The effects [of Type Two Diabetes] can be severely reduced with Type Two Diabetes in women. Old age, obesity, family history, lack of changes in diet and exercise. The only way to cope with [Type One ] is exercise, and race or ethnicity increase the chance of diabetes. insulin dependency and awareness of diet. You can’t reduce the effects. Maddison Gross, an Olathe East senior, diagnosed with diabetes at It’s a lifelong disease,” Lewis said. age 14, specifies what occurs in the body of someone with Type One When diagnosed with diabetes, a people find themselves with more Diabetes. responsibilities than they previously maintained. Specific responsibili “There’s Type One Diabetes which is what I have. [It] is an immune de- ties are checking and maintaining blood sugar. Numerous factors must ficiency. There are beta cells in your pancreas that produce insulin. [The also be taken into account when calculating the carbs in a meal. These hormone,] insulin takes the glucose out of your blood and puts it into responsibilities determine how much insulin must be administered into your cells for energy. My immune system is attacking my beta cells so the body. they can’t function and produce insulin. I have to take a synthetic version “I’m supposed to check [my blood sugar] before and after meals, of insulin,” Gross said. before and after snacks, when I wake up, when I go to bed, after any kind Scientists believe autoimmune, genetic, and environmental aspects of activity. I’m supposed to be checking it around 10 times a day,” Gross develop diabetes but remain unaware of what exactly causes diabetes. said. Diagnosed with Type One Diabetes, OE senior John Lewis explains The age of a diabetic also affects the amount times a person needs to what current research indicates about the cause of diabetes. check his or her blood sugar. “They’ve done some research and they think that there’s a virus people “When you’re a younger diabetic, you supposed to check every four have [which] has just mutated. It can be coped with by natural human hours,” Lewis said. evolution. But for some people, it doesn’t become noticed until certain Diabetics find themselves with the meticulous responsibility of calcuages. I don’t know why I got it. There’s not a real good explanation for it. lating the amount of sugar every meal of the day contains. I’m sure there’s some reason for it, we just don’t know it yet,” Lewis said. “Carbohydrates are what I have to count when I eat. There were so Diabetes generally causes numerous symptoms in people, indicating many things I didn’t even think about having carbs. When you think of the person possesses diabetes. carbs, you think of bread, pasta, [and] potatoes. But carbs are sugar. “Some major symptoms are thirst and nausea after eating because [it’s] a symptom of high blood sugar. You get nauseous when there’s too much sugar in your system. Frequent urination is another [symptom], because you’re drinking a lot but your body can’t hold onto it so you expel it. [With my symptoms], I lost weight. I stopped eating because it would make me feel so bad to eat. Some of my friends have been diagnosed because they actually went into a coma from high blood sugar. I had a friend whose blood sugar was at 1000. Mine was diagnosed at 570. It is very serious once your blood sugar gets over 300. [Diabetes] is definitely a very dangerous disease to have, ” Gross said. Due to holding great impacts on a person’s diet, diabetes also affects a person’s energy level. “I didn’t want to eat and I only wanted to drink water all the time. I had no motivation to move or do anything,” Lewis said. An insulin pump is used to administer insulin in the body of a person with diabetes. Kylie Kylie Bergdall, another senior diagnosed with diabeBergdall, John Lewis, and Maddison Gross show their insulin pumps | Photo by Melanie Eszter tes at a young age held a completely different answer.
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Everything has sugar,” blood sugar goes too low, I Gross added. could die from that. It was a Sometimes, people very eye-opening experiwith diabetes face chalence because you think it’s lenges when calculatnever going to happen to ing carbohydrates in me. The fact that it did gave environments where the me a healthy respect for my information present is illness, for sure,” Gross said. not enough to determine Diabetes holds a number the number of carbs in of effects on a person’s a meal. health. Besides resulting in “It’s the worst when I comas and seizures, diabetes go out to restaurants and can result in celiac disease, they don’t have those blindness, high blood nutrition facts menus so pressure, kidney problems, it’s kind of an estimation, thyroid problems, and amyou have to break apart putations. each part of your meal. Nancy Johns, Olathe You just have to break it East’s school nurse describes down piece by piece and one of the health effects of add it all together,” Gross In blood glucose testing, a needle (lancet) pricks the side of a fingertip and a drop of blood diabetes an acquaintance forms.When the test strip and the blood come in contact, the glucose meter determines a adds. experienced. person’s blood glucose level | Drawing by Basima Khan People with diabetes “My niece’s husband’s fabalance their blood sugar ther just had an amputation by checking and adminbecause he got a sore and it istering insulin in their body every time they consume food. Diabetics wouldn’t heal and he got gangrene. He had to have it amputated. Diabetes often possess devices which inform them of how high or low their blood caused it,” Nurse Johns said. sugar is. When being diagnosed with diabetes, diabetics find themselves sur “I have a censor and it connects with my phone so my blood sugar rounded with responsibilities and monumental significant life changes. always pops up on my phone and alerts me if I’m trending up or trending “When I got diagnosed, I was in shock, temporarily. People treated down so I can take care of it,” Bergdall said. me differently. They asked a lot of ignorant questions. The less controlled Multiple different ways exist for a how a person with diabetes adminyour blood sugar is, the more likely you are to have fluctuations in your isters insulin into his or her body. feelings and moods, at least for The method of administering insulin me. If my blood sugar is high or I depends on what is best-suited for recognize that I have trends that the diabetic. are not good than I usually am “There’s a couple of ways I can admore stressed. Stress can also lead minister insulin to myself and that’s to changes in your blood sugar. by injection or my insulin pump. It’s [During puberty] the whole change just kind of in me. It’s like a band aid. in lifestyle is extremely affected by It’s got a little plastic cannula that your diagnosis with diabetes. You goes into my skin that I can change have to worry about how you feel, every three days. It comes from my how you currently feel according insulin pump through my tubing and to a number on the screen, and you into the little cannula. That’s how the have to do your calculations until insulin gets into my body. It’s very technology approves you are as norconvenient [compared] to shots,” mal as the non-diabetic next to you Gross said. which is both a mental stress and a physical stress, for me,” Lewis said. People with diabetes must remain mindful of their blood sugar, their Families of people with diabetes still find themselves affected by the environment, the amount of insulin administered into their body, and illness, regardless of whether or not they have the disease. Parents must many other responsibilities. If a diabetic becomes inattentive to his or her make adjustments to their life according to what is best for their child. illness, disastrous and life-threatening consequences could occur. “Before I got my insulin pump, I had to do shots. Since I was 10, I did “I have lapsed into a critical condition. Last year, in December of 2016 not know how to do that myself, so my parents had to constantly count I with a group of friends. We were eating snacks, eating junk food, and my carbs for me at meals and make sure I got my insulin. But now that then we were dancing around. I had given myself insulin for those snacks I’m responsible for myself, it’s less of a problem for them,” Bergdall said. but I did not account for the dancing. Insulin brings my sugar down Parents find themselves affected emotionally and mentally when their because it’s taking the sugar out of my blood and putting it into my cells. children become diagnosed with diabetes. I had taken too much insulin and didn’t account for the exercise. Exercise “It was very tough for everyone because we all had to make big changalso lowers your blood sugar. My blood sugar went into an extreme low es around me. My mom, she always feels so guilty that this illness was and I had a seizure. The only thing I remember was going to bed and bought on me and it wasn’t brought on anyone else. She always cares so then waking up in an ambulance.” Gross said. much about it, she keeps me on top of everything, and I’m so grateful for Lapsing into a critical condition often makes diabetics more aware of that,” Gross said. how serious their illness truly is. Diabetes, a serious condition, holds massive impacts on someone’s “It was very scary. I was very fortunate I didn’t have any permanent life. It forces them to change their whole way of thinking and gives them damage to my body because it was a very short seizure. Since I’ve been more responsibility than they previously held. The critical illness affects diagnosed, I’ve been told I could severely hurt myself. If my blood sugar families and requires changes in lifestyle. A person’s entire life becomes does go too high, I could go into a coma and cause severe damage. If my dependent on the balance of blood sugar.
“I have to be aware of the people around me, if they would know what to do if I did go into a seizure or something. I’ve got to think about a lot of things all the time,” Gross said.
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Hawks From Abroad
Students from Other Countries Share Their Experiences
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lathe East is home to four foreign exchange and 135 ELL students, all with their own unique stories and lives. Three foreign exchange students and two ELL students shared their experiences and perspectives as foreigners in the United States.
Margo Dulny//Staff Writer Andrea Shehi//Staff Writer Leonie Frischmuth//Senior Staff Writer
at first, but later changed her mind. “There was a meeting in Bremen about organizations for exchange [programs] and from that day I was like ‘Okay, I want to do it’, and I looked at 20 organizations and found one for me,” Tomaszczak said. One unpleasant difference she experienced in Kansas pertained to baked foods. “The bread is so different. After three weeks, I was sick of the bread here. I was like, I need to bake my German bread,” Tomaszczak said. Despite her dislike for American bread, Tomaszczak feels accepted and views Americans as friendly people willing to talk with anybody. “It doesn’t take [Americans] much time to get new friends,” Tomaszczak said.
Andrea Rizzi traveled to Kansas from Aosta Valley, Italy, for a chance to play soccer and study. “My goal is to play soccer [for a] college and so the easiest way [is] to come here. In Italy a lot of colleges [don’t] have soccer teams and [they don’t] offer scholarships for [soccer]. It’s not easier to [play soccer here] but you have more chances to be chosen by [a] college ,” Rizzi said. According to Rizzi, the popularity of soccer in Italy increases competition and forces one to choose between a sport as a career or attending college. He believes that This year Arturo Andrade, an ELL stuin the United States, football and basketball dent from Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, moved to Alina Julia Tomaszczak on the far right with friends in dominate and create more opportunities for the United States to keep his family intact. Germany | Courtesy of Alina Julia Tomaszczak soccer players. His two brothers relocated to the United “During high school I had some teachers States two years ago, and his father decided that [didn’t understand] people who hope to play soccer because it [was to join them. Despite some struggles, such as learning a new language a] waste [of] studying [time]. I can do both [college and soccer here] and experiencing a new culture, Andrade’s view of America remains because maybe one day I don’t want to play soccer [anymore],” Rizzi said. positive. In addition to his soccer aspirations, he came to the United States in “Here it’s so green. I like this place. Here [it] is not racist, well someorder to graduate from high school a year earlier. According to Rizzi, times [it can be]. I visited some very racist places, like Arizona and Texas. Italian high schools have five years instead of four. Another difference he [But] here [it] is fine,” Andrade said. observed was the dynamic between teachers and students. In Mexico, Andrade would wake up at 11:00 a.m. to go to school. This “[In Italy] when [the] teacher comes into class we have to stand up starkly contrasts the approximate 6:00 or 7:00 a.m. wake-up time for and say, ‘Hi, Teacher.’ He [will] tell you [when] to sit down...[They are most students at Olathe East. the] teacher, you are the student. If [we] talk, it’s for school matters, not Andrade explains his former something like, ‘How are you?’. So for the beginning it [was] very strange city is not as privileged and to talk to the teacher like a friend,” Rizzi said. well maintained as Olathe. “This school is really Alina Toreally big [compared to maszczak, a my school in Mexico]. The student from classroom is so ugly, it’s so Germany dirty. I used to find sand who came in the classroom. Here, here through [the school] is so perfect,” an exchange Andrade said. program, spends For Andrade, the differthis school year ence in class sizes between at Olathe East. Kansas and Mexico took Since third some getting used to. grade, her father “In Mexico, you have had encouraged about` 60-65 students for her to particone teacher. And you have ipate in the the same group for three program. She years. We change classes, Andrea Rizzi third from the left with family in Italy | was hesitant to but we always have the same Arturo Andrade in Kansas | Courtesy of Arturo Andrade Courtesy of Andrea Rizzi leave Germany group,” Andrade said.
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Laura Baumgarten with parents in Germany | Courtesy of Laura Baumgarten
Laura Baumgarten, another foreign exchange student from Germany, first learned of the program through her English teacher in sixth grade. From then on, Baumgarten decided to someday participate in a foreign exchange program. Before coming, she had preconceived
notions of schools in America. “I was really afraid of going to school, because there were the cliches in Germany that when you go to an American high school and you want to sit with someone, they just don’t let you sit with them. You have groups, very tight groups,” Baumgarten said. Baumgarten explained that in Germany driving is not an essential skill since homes, schools, and stores are within walking distance. People needing to travel quickly use bikes or public transportation. “America is so big. You can’t go anywhere by foot, you have to take the car everywhere. And I don’t have a driver’s license, so I have to always ask my friends or my family to drive me,” Baumgarten said. Palestinian Zainab Alagha, an ELL student, came to the United States with her family from Qatar where she was born and raised. Her family moved because of her brother, who seeks an education in the United States. Before coming to America, she spent a year in Qatar without her dad while he set up their new life in Kansas. “He brought us to here. And also my grandpa, he lived here for a long time, so he has an American passport. So from him, from my grandpa from my dad’s side, we got the visa to come here,” Alagha said. Qataris have the freedom to dress how they wish, but most tend to wear traditional clothes. “The men, they wear a white, long dress. But it’s for men. We can’t wear it as women. But it’s modest, it covers everything. It’s called a thobe. And there’s abaya. The black dress. It’s really long, it’s only one piece, and it’s black, it’s modest. This is why we wear it, it’s the way [we] dress,” Alagha said. Coming from a country where freedom and privileges are lacking, she is thankful for coming to the United States and living a new life here in Kansas. “I like how we are free. They are giving us the freedom to do what we want. No one is against that,” Alagha said. Zainab Alagha with her father in Kansas | Courtesy of Zainab Alagha
Letter by Foreign Exchange Senior Staff Writer Leonie Frischmuth U.S.A: when someone German hears this, the first thing that most people think about high school is big cars, guns and school shootings. And it is true, you have really big cars. We don’t have trucks, maybe only a few people have them. Guns are not legal in Germany, only when you are a cop or a hunter. Only one really bad school shooting has happened in Germany. Here in America sports is very important; everyone goes to the football games. In Germany we don’t have sports in school; we have one time per week a sport lesson. The real sports, like soccer or tennis, you have to play after school in a club. Most people play soccer; football isn’t so popular. Only in the big cities you have maybe two football clubs. You change classmates in each class, but we have the same people in most classes except only for languages or math. I like that more because you know the people better. Here it is logical to go after high school to college. In Germany you have more choices. College is so expensive in America; most universities cost nothing to us. Most students move after high school to another city for the university. I think one of the biggest difference is also the food. I have to ask first my host parents, if this is an American Italian Restaurant or a real Italian. In my opinion, you put often your American touch in the food. But I do enjoy your hamburgers. But one thing I really like here is, that you can drive at sixteen. We can drive when we are eighteen. We can drink alcohol, at 16 like beer and wine, at eighteen we can drink whatever we want. In my view, we have not so many problems with alcohol like the Americans. Because it is legal, it is nothing special. For me it is crazy that America is so big you need so many hours to go from one side to the other side. In Germany you fly maybe one hour to the other side. Another thing I noticed is: you do not use public transport. When people ask me why I choose America, I have actually not a clear answer. But the first time I thought about an exchange year, was when I was ten. My cousin came for one year in America and she said every time that this was the best time of her life. Most people go after the 10th grade in another country, so I ask my parents at the end of my 9th grade if I can go. At the end, I am really happy to be here and I can not believe that my third month has already started.
Senior Staff Writer Leonie Frischmuth (far left) in Germany with her friends | Courtesy of Leonie Frischmuth
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Hawk Hour Follow up Finding value in Hawk Hour
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rom leaving trash in the halls to fighting in the commons: is Hawk Hour becoming a recess for some Olathe East students? Olathe East students have been given the opportuntiy of having almost an hour of lunch, but some seem to have lost sight of the sole purpose of Hawk Hour. Students are given the time to visit teachers, work on homework, talk with friends, and still have time to eat. However, there’s a chance that Hawk Hour could be taken away. A recent announcement stated that the failure to throw trash away could result in the suspension of Hawk Hour. This common problem of trash throughout the school leaves janitors are left to clean up. Wrappers lay scattered in the halls, milk is left spilled on the floors, and trays are abandoned on tables. Hawk Hour suspendtion would be a trajedy for those who have been interviewed, since they have nothing but positive comments on Hawk Hour. “ I like it, it’s fun!” Said Danielle Woods “ I think that it is much better than the previous schedule and that it also helps with time management,” said Vanea Gates “ I think it allows for a more flexible schedule,” said Morgan Campbell Another occurring problem with Hawk Hour is that some people aren’t using their time to go see teachers. Having time to see a teacher is one of the many perks of having Hawk Hour. You can make up work or get help. This was one of the reasons listed during the announcement in the beginning of the year - why Hawk Hour has replaced the previous schedule of having four lunches. However, some students don’t seem to want to see their teachers more than they have Lunch in the halls to. It’s come to Photo by Mrs.Kirk the point that students are
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Editorial
Kaytlin Willis//Staff Writer now having to be called to their teacher’s classrooms or to the office, to be told that they are required to see a teacher. A recent announcement, made by Mrs. Lane(principal), stated that those students who refuse the request to see a teacher will be nested. Being nested is when a student is given ten minutes to collect their lunch and is then restricted to one room. According to Hayden Glenn, who was nested for throwing a grape, did not seem to like it. “It sucks. It’s boring,” said Glenn. The length of the lunch line and seating are also problems. Most students are able to get a table before they are all taken, but other students are left with sitting on the ground. This is expected when everyLunch upstairs one is put together at once. Photo by Mrs.Kirk However, poeple shouldn’t have to sit on the ground and be uncomfortable. Plenty of tables scattered throughout the school, but there is still not enough for everyone and their friends. Other seating options for those who don’t want to sit on the floor include eating ™Lines should be shortin teachers classrooms or ened. I think that peohanging out ple need to understand in the library. “I usually that they don't have to go to Mr.Stevens’ room get their lunch right and if I am absent or away.∫ miss a class -Vanea Gates I typically go to those classes,” said Vanea Gates. “ Honestly I just sit in the library and eat with friends or walk around,” said Morgan Campbell. “I usually spend my Hawk Hour in the commons or in other teachers classrooms,” said Daniel Ramsburg Even though these are still problems to be tweaked with Hawk Hour, most students seem to like it and are getting used to this valuable time
R
obin Williams; funny, charismatic and depressed. Many people would use these adjectives to describe the late comedian . In his 63 years alive no one ever thought someone who brought such an abundance of joy to millions around the world could have such a deep inner struggle that would eventually lead to his suicide. Although his death on August 11, 2014 shocked the world; it did get the conversation started about suicide. Now the show Thirteen Reasons Why is giving the public a reason to talk about suicide. These types of discussions are usually based around events happening worldwide, yet no one thinks it could happen to a person they know and love. Recently a teenage girl from Lee Summit High School committed suicide, and although this event does not get covered nationally ,for Kansas, hearts are breaking and hits very close to home. We need to educate ourselves about depression and suicide, this epidemic is becoming more prevalent in our society and is a topic of conversations that everyone should have. If not for your own sake discuss this for the sake of someone you love who might be experiencing suicidal thoughts. In 2014 a sophomore at Olathe East, Jane Mifflin, (not her real name) was having suicidal thoughts and even went so far as to act on them. Luckily she survived and lives to tell her story. “I started to have thoughts about suicide a half a year before. I was starting to be depressed at the end of my freshman year,” said Miflin. Teenagers are under extreme amounts of pressure in school, home lives, and relationships. Someone who believes they have the “perfect” life may find this difficult to understand but anyone can suffer from depression regardless of how sound their personal lives seem. Suicide is the third leading cause of death among teens and young adults according to the Centers for
Close
to The
Erin M cCarth y // So
Discial M edia C ease Control hair and Prevention “Lots of times kids don’t want to die; they just want their problems to go away,” said school psychiatrist Mrs. Gaghen. Everyone needs to remember that suicide is permanent and should not be viewed as a cure-all for problems. Although killing yourself may seem like a viable solution, your family will be left to pick up the pieces. There is no delete button when it comes to the imprint you make on people’s lives. “ It [suicide] can have a pretty big impact on friends and family because it will scare, worry, and confuse them,” said Gahgen The families and friends of the person who committed suicide can become immensely depressed and studies show that people who have experienced a suicide in their family are more likely to also kill themselves according to the American Association for Suicide Prevention (AASP). These types of situations are difficult to prepare for because most parents cannot even fathom the idea of one of their children taking their own life. They are usually left flabbergasted and distraught, if their child is resuscitated then comes the process of figuring out what steps need to be taken next. “My family’s reaction was obviously hysterical; they didn’t know what to do or what to say. All they wanted to do was hold me and solve all my problems with a hug but they knew that it was much bigger than that. So they did what they had to do: remain strong for me,” said Miflin. Predicting when someone is having suicidal thoughts is not an easy task, and is something most people do not want to think about but the little things they notice could lead to saving a life of someone they love. “You will start to notice the change in their behavior, maybe they don’t seem as happy as they usually are, or not as involved in things that they used to enjoy,” said Gaghen The good thing is that there is a way to prepare and educate yourself and each other on this topic; Keeping the discussion open. Talking about suicide in the right setting with the right information can not only benefit you but also benefit others around you who are struggling. “Talking helps more than one way; it helps by relieving the pressure from yourself to keep the feelings inside. Talking is what helped me get through my years of struggle.If you keep it a secret then you will only be disappointing yourself. Talk not to let people know, talk to help yourself.” said Miflin. If you or anyone you know are struggling with depression or suicidal thoughts, talking to someone you trust is important. Mrs. Gaghen’s door is always open if anyone ever needs help or even if they just want to talk. Remember that you’re not alone in this battle.
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The Fa cts
Suicide is the second-leading cause of death for ages 10-24
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The suicide rates for adolescent boys and girls have been steadily rising since 2007
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Each day in our nation, there are an average of over 3,470 attempts by young people grades 9-12.
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Four out of five teens who attempt suicide have given clear warning signs (Information provided by the Parent Resource Program and the Huffington post)
If you or someone you know needs help, call 1-800-273-8255 for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. You can also text HELLO to 741-741 for free, 24-hour support from the Crisis Text Line.
Editorial
11
Hallow- East HAUNTED HOUSE REVIEWe
Melanie Eszter // Managing Editor
The Beast
“ The best part: Definitely the strobe room, essentially it’s a spacious room with multiple All reviews by fellow OE students doors leading to smaller rooms, and the strobes are blinding to the point where you’re only about to see snapshots around you. The scariest part was the prison guards that were seemingly a part “As you start walking inside, of the wall, but turned out to be real people.” you turn a corner and there was -Zaid Umar, 12th a pack of fake dogs attached to the walls just straight barking at you and you have to walk past it but they’re so close to you it seemed real. I’d recommend if you like being scared and like the thrill of it.” - Gaby Rasasack, 12th
The Edge of Hell
The Haunt at Worlds of Fun
“The best part is the beginning where the Overlord comes out and gives an introduction. After the introduction a whole parade of all the characters come through. The fright zone is fun also because you are walking around and at anytime something can jump out at you.” -Chris Bloodgood, 12th Suggested Halloween Costume that are light on your
HAL LOW EEN CmO S T U M EeS
wallet and are sure to bring a smile to your face! These costumes were made by items found at Savers and Target
Cowboy
Fortune Teller
$58 $58
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Entertainment
$25
Animals
Athlete $35
$15
c
f William DeBolt // Senior Staff Writer
“So one night my wife and I were heading to a big Halloween party near where we used to live. We were waiting in traffic when an ambulance comes out from behind us. As the ambulance goes down the road the traffic around it starts parting to the side so I decide to follow it to get through traffic quicker. As the ambulance is speeding down the road, it hits a bump, the back door opens up, and a Styrofoam box falls out of it. I slam on the brakes before I’m about to hit it, get out of the car, and walk over to the box. I open the box to find that it is storing a human toe.” ~ Eddie Shafer - Theatre Director
“One night I was home alone and we had just moved into our new house, in a new neighborhood. I heard a noise coming from our garage and my dog started to bark at it. I started to freak out. I grabbed a knife, went up to my room, and climbed onto my roof. I kept trying to call my parents but they wouldn’t answer. I waited on my roof until, finally, they arrived. As they were opening the garage door I saw a figure run out of the garage. I tried telling my parents about it but they didn’t believe me.” ~ Senior Sydney Penegar
“One night, when I was about five years old, I was sleeping on top of my bunk bed and I woke up feeling a bit strange. I look to the hallway and I see a silhouette of a figure in the halls holding my sister in its arms. I could see that it was my sister, Ashley, because all of her features were visible but I could see no details of the figure holding her, only a dark shadow. I assumed it was my dad and I asked, ‘Dad what are you doing with Ashley?’ I got no response back so I ignored it and went back to bed. I asked him about it the next morning and he said it was not him because he was asleep the whole time. When I talked to my mom about it, she had brought up a dream she had when she and my dad got married. She said that in the dream, she was also visited by a dark figure and she felt that the figure was my dad’s dad. The weird thing was that my grandfather had died when my dad was five years old.” ~ Senior Brett Gaffney “One night my friends and I were out driving around, trying to find cool places to explore. While searching, we came across this big lit up mansion and nearby it is this big abandoned looking building. We decide to go investigate the abandoned one. We head inside of it and it is obvious that this building has been left to rot. We walk around until we hear a bunch of other voices coming from outside. We go to a room to hide and while we run, the floor collapses below one of my friends and we automatically run over to help him out. Once we get him up we look at the hole he created and we see that it goes down for about three-stories. After that we find a way to sneak out of the building and we head home.” ~ Senior Alex Ge
“My grandmother had passed away in my house when I was in 8th grade. It had already been a couple months after she had died and I was home alone in my bathroom. While I was in the bathroom, I heard someone run up the upstairs stairs and yell my name. I came out of the bathroom thinking it was my mom and found that no one was there. I started to search around my house to see if my mom was home but I got no sign of her. A while after all this happened, during a separate occasion, I was watching a show on Netflix until it paused to buffer. While it was buffering I looked up in my hallway to see my grandmother walking past the door. I go into the hallways and find no sign of her.” ~ Senior Sydney Besa “My dad’s old house was haunted and we used to have this old radio that would play the sounds of kids swinging on swings and laughing. After having to live with it for a while, my dad decided to hire a medium to try to cleanse the house. He hid the radio and asked the Medium to find it to see if she was real and to see if something really was up with the house. A few moments later she ends up finding the radio without any prior hints from my dad. She had concluded that the house was haunted.” ~ Senior Joel Rapue
“I was home on a Saturday night and I noticed there was a guy standing at my back door with a ski mask and I tried to tell my mom but she didn’t believe me. When I went back to the backdoor he had disappeared so I tried to ignore it. Another day my sister was coming home from dance and she had noticed that someone was following her. She called my mom and my mom told her to try to lose them, which she did, and she got home safe. Later that day, while my sister was on the couch watching TV, she looked out the window and saw another guy wearing a ski mask and she ran to my mom so my mom turned off all of the lights in the house so they wouldn’t be able to see inside. A couple minutes later, we heard a bunch of loud crashing noises coming from the basement. We decided to call the police. When the police came to investigate the basement they found that the man had left and he ended up smashing a bunch of our tables. They never were able to find the guy.” ~ Senior Annie Knapp “For the past five years, every Halloween, my dad would dress up as a clown with a chainsaw, wait for kids to come up to our door, try to trap them, and then chase them away with the chainsaw.” ~ Senior Michael Huffines
“I was at Worlds of Fun for the Halloween Haunt back in 4th Grade. I was walking around the park when a clown jumped out at me. I didn’t know how to react to It so I punched him in the nose and got kicked out of Worlds of Fun.” ~ Senior Jack Bettis
Entertainment
13
Sports Horror Stories It’s all fun and games until someone gets hurt.
Felicity Wenger//Staff Writer
Sophomore Makaela Lewis
“Right after I served the volleyball, I dove [for the return]. I hit my knee hard enough to where it popped completely out of place. Once I hit the floor, I started to scream [for] help while looking at my coach. It took everyone a second to realize that I was hurt, but once they did, everyone started to run towards me to see what was wrong. They tried to have me roll over on my back, but any little movement would [hurt] my knee more and I would scream and couldn’t stop. I couldn’t move my hands and my face started to vibrate because I was hyperventilating. I finally controlled my breathing but couldn’t move my hands until later. Luckily a paramedic who was off duty was close and ran over to help, [along with] my best friend Lexi Simmons’s mom. They called the ambulance [be]cause my mom wasn’t there and no one wanted to pop it back in place. Once the paramedics came they gave me drugs to stop the pain, [but] I don’t think they worked [be]cause my foot moved and I started to scream again. It was the worst pain I have ever been in. They put me on a stretcher and my best friend’s mom rode with me to the hospital. Once I was there they gave me more hard core drugs and popped it back into place. Once it was back into place it felt much better. My knee was hurt before [so] they gave me a brace [to stop any movement]. I went home and slept and my [volleyball] team brought flowers and balloons [for me]. They forfeited the tournament but we still didn’t get last.” Picture at right shows Lewis wearing her knee brace under her jeans.
Cross Country coach Mr. Tony Bozarth
“When I was a freshman in college we had our first track meet at Ft. Hays State. It was 34 degrees, and I ran the Steeplechase, which is a two-mile run with hurdles and a hurdle over a water jump. When I went to hurdle the water jump, the guy behind me clipped my leg and I fell into the water jump pit. Because it was so cold, they had drained most of the water, so I fell six feet and landed on my head, basically on concrete. It knocked me cold, and the pictures of it show me with a mixture of blood, mud and cold dirty water (there was a little left) all over me. It was not a great start to a college track career.” Picture at right shows Bozarth as a freshman in college. Photo courtesy of Mr. Tony Bozarth
Freshman Savannah Hammons “I was playing softball with my eleven-year-old sister because my parents told me to, even though I hate softball. My sister was pitching and ended up throwing it too low. I decided to bend down and stop it but last minute the ball bounced up and hit me in the face. I currently have a black eye.” Picture at left shows Hammons’s black eye.
Photo courtesy of Savannah Hammons
Sophomore Riley Angel “I was running to first base [when I] tripped and fell on my face. [I] cut my lip [and] had to get stitches and got a really bad concussion.” Picture at right shows Angel in the hospital.
Photo courtesy of Riley Angel
14
Editorial
Photo by Felicity Wenger
Extra Stories “At the regional bowling meet I was on the last lane, so everyone was around my lane. I was already bowling bad so that was embarrassing enough, but then I went to shoot a spare and I slid and face planted on the lane in front of everyone.” -sophomore Charlie Cannon “I was in sixth grade at soccer and some kid wore cleats with a metal spike. He ended up spiking me and the spike chipped the ends of my bone off my ankle.” -sophomore Ethan Pierce “Freshman year during basketball [season] we were in a timeout and Mason Adison goes to wipe off his shoe. When he put his foot back down, he brought my pants and boxers down with him in front of the cheerleaders.” -junior Marqel Wills “We were performing our jazz routine last year at nationals in Texas for the dance team. When we went to do a kick, I fell. We still won the national championship.” -sophomore Samantha Sieben “About a month ago, I was playing soccer on a really hot day and threw up all over myself mid-game. I had to keep playing with it on my shirt for the rest of the game.” -sophomore Charlotte Edds “I was at football practice and we were about to run a play. Right when I got in my stance, my boxers ripped completely in half.” -sophomore Hezekiah Newman “When I was at a basketball game for the dance team, I was walking down to the bleachers and I fell and twisted my ankle.” -sophomore Lexi Berding “I was at softball practice and coach threw a ball in the air for me to catch. The ball hit me in the eye.” -freshman Kaitey Davis
Haunted Halloween Crossword
aw b kj
Puzzle
15
Halloween by the Numbers
3,564 feet is the world’s longest measured haunted house. 1.31 billion pounds of pumpkins were produced by the top pumkin-producing states in 2014. 2.8 billion dollars were spent on costumes in 2014. 171 million Americans plan to participate in Halloween in 2017. On average, each adult in 2017 is expected to spend $82.93 on candy, costumes, and décor. 64% of people celebrated the holiday in 2015. 90 million pounds of chocolate are sold during Halloween week (twice as much as for Valentine’s day). 20 million Halloween cards are sent each year. (It is the sixth most popular card-giving holiday.) 35 million pounds of candy corn are produced each year. $9.1 billion is the estimated retail cost for Halloween in 2017.
SAVE THE DATES November 5 – Daylight Savings Time Ends Adviser Karen Kirk Editor-In-Chief Jacob Wilson Online Edtor Ryan Smith Managing Editor Melanie Esther Buisiness Manager Addis Sharpe Senior Staff Writers Erin McCarthy Leonie Frischmuth Michaela Bilyeu Mychaela Burris Will Debolt Staff Writers Andrea Shehi Basima Kahn Felicity Wenger Kaytlin Willis Margo Dulny
November 8 – Blood Drive – 8:00am3:00pm Preparing for College/High School Counts – 6:30-8:00pm November 9 and 10 – Fall Mainstage Musical: Big Fish – 7:00pm November 11 – Veteran’s Day ONE Movement Dance Competition at Olathe North Fall Mainstage Musical: Big Fish – 2:00pm
and 7:00pm November 13 – Mr. Hawk – 7:00-9:00pm November 17 – Neon Run – 7:0010:00pm November 22, 23, 24 – Thanksgiving Break December 7 – Pep Assembly – 9:4511:15am December 7 and 8 – Winter Play: Looking at Christmas – 7:00pm December 14 – Cocoa and Cram – 5:307:30pm December 19 – End Second Quarter December 20 to January 3 – Winter Break January 4 – Third Quarter Begins
Credit to : http://www.womansday.com and http://www.sunflowerleague.org | http://www.womansday.com/life/g485/15-fascinating-halloween-facts-124464/?slide=14 | http://www.thefiscaltimes.com/2016/10/28/Infographic-Halloween-Numbers |