Hawk's Eye September 2017 Volume 26 Issue 1

September/October

Volume 26

Tackling

Issue 1

all of the

changes in the school year.

2017-2018

Photo by Mychaela Burris

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10 News The Bare Necessities - 3 New Teacher Hawks - 4-6 Safe With Us - 7 But That’s My Spot - 8

Opinion Hallway Hawks - 9

Feature Olathe West Side Story - 10-11

Editorial Discarding Racism - 12-13 Outlawing the Out - 14

Entertainment What’s

on

TV? - 15

Sports After

the

Cut - 16-17

Photo Sporting OE - 18 Spirit Week - 19.

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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)

The Bare Necessities

Michaela Bilyeu//Staff Writer

A senior, his cousin, and two bikes enter a bike ride. Naked.

“Keep Portland weird.”

Portland, Oregon did not fail to keep its reputation. Thousands of people each year turn to riding a bicycle in the nude as a form of protest.

A senior at Olathe East, Nick Lombardo, participated in the June event while visiting over the summer in Oregon. What started as a typical night turned into the immodest event of a lifetime.

Pedalpalooza, an entire month dedicated to themed bike rides throughout Portland, hosts the infamous World Naked Bike Ride. This event has taken place for over ten years, spread over the world in places such as Los Angeles, California; Golden Bay, New Zealand; and Cape Town, South Africa.

This year, the World Naked Bike Ride began the evening of June 24, 2017. The ride started at Fernhill Park, and continued through the heart of Portland. In order to prevent the presence of unwanted onlookers, the ending location of the ride is not disclosed until the day of.

Nicole [Baker], an attendee of the event and visitor to Portland, participated for the first time in the ride.

“The ride was about six to ten miles, and ended in another park--by that time it was dark and there were bonfires, music, and people dancing everywhere that had finished the ride,” she said.

Last year, ten thousand people took part in a ride through Portland lasting seven miles.

Lombardo said, “Organizers call the police to block off the streets.”

Photo Courtesy of Nick Lombardo The nonprofit

Pedal palooza in Portland, Oregon | Photo by Sam Beebe

Pedalpalooza leadership organize a safe route for the best security for the participants. Due to the 12,000 participants, Portland Residents say it had shut down the city.

Since the World Naked Bike Ride is hosted all over the world, it isn’t uncommon for visitors to flock to the event when possible. Some plan the trip for months. Others, like Nick Lombardo, happen to find out about the protest that day.

Lombardo said, “[It started off as a] random suggestion to go on a Saturday night.” Attending with a close cousin, Lombardo found the Pedalpalooza event to be a protest for the environment, although underlying benefits are exposed as you attend. Lombardo said, “[a benefit is] body image and [learning to be] proud of your body”. fuels, positive body image becomes a given. [Baker], a college student spending her summer in Portland, describes the benefits of the bike ride.

She said, “I can’t express enough how refreshing it is to see thousands of naked bodies in all shapes, sizes, genders, ages, and colors.”

Recommending most to attend, Baker recollects the event in positive memories. She said, “by coming together in our rawest forms to all protest and advocate for the protection of the environment was powerful to me.”

Sydney Besa, a friend of Lombardo, explained how his attendance to the event wasn’t one to be unexpected. She said, “I wasn’t surprised at all. It’s Nick. And if anybody knows Nick, that’s kind of what he does.

Something he’d participate in.”

After one visit to the event in late July, Lombardo confirmed the ideas of the positivity. He said, “No one was really worrying about anything.

You know how you usually worry about your body on a daily basis... when you’re there, ‘who cares?’.”

A student’s summer trip became one of a lifetime, and one worth attending for the following year. Lombardo’s 5,500-mile summer travel led to a new season of enlightenment.

News

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New Teacher Hawks Meet the New Teachers of Olathe East

Addis Sharpe// Business Manager Kaytlin Willis// Staff Writer Melanie Eszter // Managing Editor

Questions 1)Why did you decide to come to East? 2)What is the craziest or unique experience you’ve had while at work?

3) What do you like the most about East? 4) What do you do outside of school?

John Derby-Sculpture, Jewelry, Ceramics, and AP Ceramics 1)“I missed teaching high school students, and working with teenagers. I felt at home the moment I walked into Olathe East last year for my interview.”

2)“I taught in a ski town for a while- Park City, UT. I went on a two-hour mountain bike ride during my lunch/plan, and at the top of the mountain I realized that I was running a little late for the assembly. I rode downhill as fast as I could, and it was cold so I got hypothermia really bad. I taught ceramics so I turned on one of the kilns(ovens) to heat myself up, and stood with my back close to the kiln. I was enjoying the feeling of thawing out, when suddenly I smelled something awful. My nylon jacket had caught on fire and was melting! I had a giant hole in my coat, but I did make it to the assembly on time.”

Andrea Hink-Drawing 2, Painting, and Basic Digital Photography 3)“I’m enjoying the students. That’s why a teacher teaches. I think the change in education, block scheduling, and Hawk Hour I’ve liked the most.”

2)“That’s a tough one too! I cut my thumb with a paper cutter while I had a class in my room once. I was [bitten], and have had students eat art supplies when they shouldn’t have and have had students call me mom. We were all embarrassed.”

Rachel Kelly-Algebra 2 and College Algebra 3)“The staff is very welcoming and the students are great. I look forward to getting to know the students at East.”

2)“Probably when I was in high school when I was working at a hardware shop and my boyfriend - who is now my husband - was cutting plastic for the floor tiles. There was a knick in the tile he was using as a guide.

He ended up cutting the tip of his thumb off. I happened to be working that night.”

Donna Bajich-Applied Geometry and Algebra 1 4)“Outside of school, I enjoy spending time with my family and I am active in my church.”

1)“I was already teaching in the Olathe school district, so when I decided to move up to high school I thought OE would be the perfect fit because my own kids attend this school and I have always had positive experiences attending their activities here. I love it here at East. I am really enjoying working with high school age students, and the math department has been very welcoming and helpful!”

3)“I have really been impressed with how welcoming and friendly everyone has been…from students to teachers to anyone who works in the building!”

Patrick Lenz- Modern World History and Psychology 1)“I knew students that went here and talked abut how great of a school it is! I also wanted to move to a

bigger district. I love teaching at East! It is extremely busy, but I like it. The students are wonderful and I love being the girls’ tennis coach!”

3)“The staff is very nice and supportive. The kids here are very respectable. I enjoy how the students want to be challenged and have an interest in learning new things in an engaging way.”

Shelby Taylor- United States Government and United States History 3)“My favorite part about East is that I’m back home. This is my home; this is the environment I love. I grew up, you know, bleeding orange and having that pride.”

It was my plan; it was my dream goal; it was my dream job. I didn’t think I had it in the bag but I knew of some positions opening up so ultimately so I went to East, I graduated in 2013 and so not that long ago and I kept my relationships with teachers.

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Pictures courtesy of Addis Sharpe and Kaytlin Willis

News

Tanya Dringman- American History, geography, 9th grade AVID 1)“I have a family that I spend a lot of time with; I am going to be a grandma soon. I spend a lot of time doing day trips with my husband. We have a motorcycle.”

2)“One of the funniest things was at Santa Fe Trails. We were studying the Civil War so marching them around and practicing. We had to call the police to tell them we were going to shoot of the cannon five times that day and all the neighbors were calling thinking it was gunshots. We shot off the cannons of five times. We alarmed the whole neighborhood.”

Andrew Davis-AP Biology (Sr. and Jr) and General Biology (mostly freshmen) 4)“I do a lot of gardening and reading.

I partake in tabletop games with some teacher friends of mine. I will admit that I’m really into dungeons and dragons. Some students at my previous school started a club, and I sponsored and ran a lot of the games for them.”

1)“I also knew some teachers here already, and really connected with some of the teaching philosophies that were supported here at East. I had done my student teaching originally at Olathe Northwest, and have aimed to try and get back into the Olathe district since that experience.”

3)“I used to work with Kindergartens for the Boys’ and Girls’ Club. I had a boy who was just really off the walls, and needed a lot of direction and affirmation to make it through the day. One day, during afternoon snack time, I congratulated him on how well he was handling himself and his interactions with his peers. He was so energized and elated that he had to go and ruin the moment by leaping out of his seat, tearing off ALL of his clothes, and running through the cafeteria in all his glory. Took just about the rest of the afternoon to get him dressed and in the chair again.”

Blake Iles-Algebra 1 and Intermediate Algebra 2, 4)“I coach a 16 and under club baseball team called the KC Bullets. I have two kids, Camden (six years old) and Braden (four years old) who play baseball, softball and soccer that I enjoy watching. I love sports! I’m a Chicago Bears, KC(Kansas City) Royals, and KU(Kansas University) Jayhawks fan.”

2)“At Olathe Northwest we were on lock-down for over two hours and we didn’t really know what was happening.

Having a class full of students who were also wanting to know what was happening. [from 1:00-4:00] Everything ended up being ok and no one was in harm.”

Karee Schnoring- English and Yearbook 4)“I love to read; it’s one of my favorite things to do. I’m constantly reading if I have a free moment. I love to spending time with my family and friends. My husband and my dog Louie they are my entire world so just hanging out with them. We love to cook, spending time outside, and taking dog on walks.”

2)“I got to have a sit down interview with Joe Jonas which was a surreal moment as a journalist. One day I was sitting at my computer typing away and my boss comes in with Kendall and Kylie Jenner, so that was pretty wild.”

Jessica Steinberg- Read 180 and English 1 4)“Until a year ago I was a pretty serious runner. So I actually completed three full marathons, a couple half marathons and lots of 10Ks. I’m also a running coach for a program called “Girls on the Run”. That’s an international running program that’s both at elementary and high school and I’m still doing that right now, I absolutely love to travel and I taught abroad for two years.”

2)“I decided that I would give the Middle East a try so I taught there for two years. We had a middle and high school sort of combined and so I taught sixth grade humanities, then I taught 9-12 English Language Arts. We also had our very first year of a senior class the first year that I was there, oh, and we had three Palestinian students who were the first seniors of the class; all three of them had come to the [then] states eleventh grade year so they were trying to finish out their twelfth grade year at an American school.

Lauren Shultz- French 2)“I thought it was pretty cool when I was in France and I had a Spanish tourist mistake me as a French person and was very confused as to why I didn’t know very much about the city. There are two Rivers in Lyons (the last city I was in) and there were people swimming in one of the rivers. One man said why, are people swimming in the river I don’t think that should be allowed’. I then replied I don’t know, I couldn’t really tell you. He then asked, why not, you are French right? And I answered, no I’m actually American. So that was pretty cool” Photos by Addis Sharpe and Kaytlin Willis

News

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Caine Kreimendahl-Advanced Placement United States History and Geography 2)“So I moved to Florida and I got my teaching license there but I moved in the summer without a job so there were no jobs. Friends of mine are property managers so I got my license to do that and I ended up managing property condos.

It’s so different, I actually ended up enjoying it. I could prove to myself that I could do something other than teach.”

3)“My favorite part is it feels just like home. I love East; I love the students, I love the teachers. It’s a great place to be!”

Pamela Gabel- ELL Science 4)“I enjoy golfing, cooking and supporting the Chiefs and Royals.”

1)“I raised my family in Olathe and Lees’ Summit and wanted to be closer to them and Olathe East is a great place to be!”

Amy Applebaum-Family Studies, Career & Life Planning, and Human Growth and Development 4)“My hobbies are traveling, baking, reading, crafting, and exercising.”

3)“Two things I’ve liked about being at East so far is the block schedule and seeing former students I had in middle school. I was looking forward to working with high school age students, and a change of scenery from being at the middle school level.”

Jacob Sawyer- Horticulture 1&2 3)“There is a very highly engaged student body. When they want something done they get it done.”

2)“[Jacob Sawyer previously worked as a funeral director] There was a time when we were cremating a body and when we put the body in and closed the door, I started to hear a loud popping. Apparently, the family of the deceased had put gun shells into the suit of the late family member and they had started to explode.”

Jon Thibaudeau -Physical Science 4)“I am very involved with my church; I sponsor the Science Olympia Team; I love tabletop sports, and I coach club baseball.”

1)“It was time to make a change and my principal thought working for Kerry Lane would be great and so far it has been. I probably wouldn’t have transferred to any other school.”

3)“I like the administrators, the teachers, and of course the students..”

2)“We would have children who would occasionally go crazy enough and would pee all over the room. It was probably the grossest, craziest thing I’ve seen.”

Kirk Peterson- Civic Leadership Essentials, Public Administration 1, Modern World History, and Economics 4)“I enjoy being outside hunting fishing and just exercising outdoors.”

3)“I really have a passion for mentoring students and coaching leadership. I think it’s really important to focus on how you grow relationships and community. If these are going to be the next leaders in the world they need to understand challenges and you don’t understand that by just cramming your head in books all the time. You have to know how to relate to people. That’s a big leadership skill, other than that it associates with public policy which I’m also interested in.”

Michelle Staples- Intro to Education, Educational Practices I, and Nutrition & Wellness.

4)“I’m an avid scrapbooker and I do a lot of reading and then I’m on my sorority’s (PHI MU) executive board and I’m an advisor so that takes up a lot of my time. I’m also an ACCTE (American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education) Mentor for the state of Kansas so I mentor someone else who is new to the profession and we get together, to make sure the year is going ok and give her advice and do welcoming things.”

3)“When I first applied here I compared the Little leagues to the big leagues because Olathe as a city is large and has a lot of high schools and everything. Gardner is a one high school town. I felt like it was just like it was just a shift.

I love my students like my students are the same I love my students. I think this school is way bigger, East is huge I heard that is half mile from end to end a lot, I don’t know if that’s true but I’m not going to try it. I really love my rooms they are totally awesome and they just got renovated so they are super cool. The staff is super cool everyone has been awesome to me, everyone has just been great and welcoming.”

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Pictures by Addis Sharpe and Kaytlin Willis

News

Safe with Us

Ryan Smith // Online Editor

Staff Tries to Make East a Safer Spot for LGBT+ Students Training Teachers

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ver the summer, Principal Kerry Lane and Social Studies teacher Justin Adrian reached out to Lanie Gray for safe space training. Mrs. Gray works with Gay Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN), connecting East to trainers experienced with LGBT+ youth.

“It was a three-hour training and staff chose to attend. It was a lot of having staff assess their personal beliefs, learning more about terminology, learning more about how they can help support students, about what it means to display the Safe Space sticker,” Lane said.

The Safe Space sticker tells LGBT+ students a teacher chose to make their classroom a safe room to talk and be themselves.While no discrimination was reported to Lane, LGBT+ students experienced disrespect from a few teachers. Many teachers did not understand how to aid and support LGBT+ students. She concluded education remedied unawareness.

In addition, the Olathe School District protects staff from discrimination. No teacher may be fired on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.

“That would be discriminatory, just like firing somebody because they were Latino, or African American, or Muslim, their race, religion, sex, creed… It would have to be based on your performance of your job,” Lane said.

She personally feels a diverse staff allows students to better relate to their teachers, and her staff ideally would match the student demographic.

Transgender Senior Toby Mendoza brought the idea of safe space training to Lane. He hoped for mutual respect and knowledge of LGBT+ allies. “…Let them know you’re an ally. It all comes down to respect. I feel we should respect each other as humans as long as what we’re doing doesn’t hurt anyone, and identifying as yourself doesn’t hurt anybody,” Mendoza said.

He believes everyone deserves an ally.

This poster indicates a safe room for LGBT+ students.

A section taken from A Guide to Being an Ally to LGBT Students.

Trans Tips

M

endoza worked with Lane to inform his teachers of his pronouns. To avoid the conversation with strangers, Lane emailed his teachers about his name change, followed by Mendoza sending an email himself. By the first day of school, his teachers made the change on their roll, as his family has yet to allow him a name change in the school’s system.

“What I used to have to do is go in before school starts, after summer, and explain to teachers my ‘situation’ because that’s what many people address it as. I would have ‘The Talk’ with teachers about my pronouns and name and hope they understand. And if teacher weren’t there before school, I would rush to their classroom and talk to them in a quiet tone.

It would always really freak me out if they weren’t there or if they didn’t understand,” Mendoza said.

He also expressed his fear of substitute teachers calling the wrong name to Lane. He hopes for teachers to mention a transgender student’s pronouns in their sub-notes to avoid conflict.

Name changes require a form to Amend Student Records with parental consent. The form allows the Olathe School District to change a name on transcripts, educational records, and high school diplomas. Lane authorizes reprints of diplomas, should one display the wrong name for a student. Without the support and consent of a student’s parents, the school legally can only call a student by their preferred name.

“We don’t have the power to change your birth certificate, but we can change what’s in our system, what comes out of the Olathe School District,” Lane said.

Director of Secondary Education Jim McMullen calls parents to verify consent on amending records, if the student is under 18 years-old. After, he sends the form to District Technology.

“Once it goes to technology, how quickly it goes in the system, usually pretty quick. Then it rolls over each night…from the time I would talk to your parents, you can assume after that, within 48 hours… It’s quicker than a student transfer,” he said.

College applications and credit requires a legal name. Lane recommends making colleges aware of which name is linked to Olathe East and on a birth certificate.

News

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BUT THAT’S MY SPOT

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rying to get through the school parking lot this year team and a week into it he decides ‘I don’t want to play footcan be a disaster for students. With more cars trying to ball?’ But he got the sticker, now what?” fit through less exits and park in fewer spaces, students “Just to administer it would be very, very difficult,” Bell wonder if the problems can ever be fixed. said.

Since the exit leading to Blackbob Road was closed to “We’ve hired another security guard to help with traffic; Olathe East, the way students and teachers have had to make we’ve also had a traffic consultant that came out Friday their way through the parking lot has changed.

[8/25/17] and is coming out again today [8/28/17],” Lane “People have work at 3:30 and don’t even get out of the said. parking lot until 3:30,” senior Maggie Hagen said, “It’s mad “It’s possible,” Bell said, “that we might have some more ness.” lines or arrows painted on our blacktop, on our driveways, so With the closing of the back exit, the parking lot behind to speak, to help with some of the flow. We’re experimenting the school has also been closed to students who could have with where cone placement is best to get everyone in and out parked there previously. However, the south parking lot is not as quickly as possible.” completely off limits.

Junior Izzie Petersen drove to school all of last year, and “For students who just want to hang for maybe 10 minutes, commented on the increased traffic. “People need to learn the whether that’s in their car ‘every other’ rule where in the parking lot, or in one car from one lane the commons or whatevgoes, and then another er, once they come out, if one, and it’s a pattern they’re beyond 3:12 in the kind of thing,” she said. afternoon, that back road Lane explained how is probably wide open parking lot traffic will for them to get out,” said be controlled. “At this Assistant Principal Frank time, probably each day Bell. it’s going to take us five “The reason that it’s people after school, three closed right now is besecurity guards (one we cause we have seventeen got extra that the other Buses on the south side of the building | Photo by Esther Rose buses that park there after high schools don’t have), school on the south side and then the two adminof the building, and in istrators,” Lane said. order to get them out they have to use that back lot to turn Junior Annabelle Schmelzle, who drove to school last year around,” said Olathe East Principal Kerry Lane. “If we don’t as well as this year, commented “It’s gotten slightly better have that back lot opened, they can’t turn around and get from the beginning of the year.” out.”

Some of the other Olathe schools have only two exits.

Olathe East staff members have been told to park in the “Now, we’re battling what Olathe North as always battled, south parking lot. “Because staff leaves [at] 3:30 and beyond, what Olathe Northwest has always battled,” Bell said. “That’s the buses will be gone by the time they leave,” Bell said. the way it’s always been for them, they’re used to it; we’re Students suggested having athletes park in the south parkused to getting in and out.” ing lot. These students stay longer after school, past the time Bell revealed the future Olathe East has planned for the that the buses leave. back road. “Bad news for seniors. Good news for under “We considered that,” Bell said. “When is that regulated? classmen,” Bell said. “We’re being told by the city and the Well, that could start at students arriving at 7:00 am. So who’s developer that the road will be back open next school year. gonna be back there to ensure that only student athletes are So that’s closed for the entire school year, and it’s outside of back there? Are we going to have a security guard say ‘Are the control of the school and outside of the control of the you an athlete?’ school district.”

And what if a The parking lot will be more difficult to kid goes maneuver through, but what seemed like a out for disaster at first will improve with a little a courtesy and time.

The Hawk’s Eye answers parking lot problems

Esther Rose // Staff Writer

The blocked access road between Blackbob and Olathe East | Photo by Esther Rose

News

Hallway Hawks The Hawk’s Eye Newspaper asked students in the hall their real opinions

Jacob Wilson // Editor-in-Chief

Questions

A.) What is your opinion of the new seminar?

B.) What is your opinion of Advisory?

C.) What do you think of the new late start time? D.) What’s your opinion of “Hawk Hour”?

Bailey Reynolds (Senior):

A.) I don’t like how it’s at the end of the day. There’s no real reason for us to be here except to study, which I can do at home. With “Hawk Hour” and advisory I think it’s a lot of time I don’t personally need.

B.) We haven’t done much, but the idea of it seems good especially for the seniors. We can do some of the things that we need to do for college so that seems good for me.

C.) It upsets me that it’s not as late as it used to be. They could have just left it and made our seminar shorter. [15 minutes] is not worth it at all. You could stop at QuickTrip, but that’s it.

D.) I didn’t like it at first, but now I do. Like I’m doing homework right now so it really helps with that. It’s better than I thought it would be. I’m in an independent study, so I can go to my teacher and say “I’m stuck I need a little bit of help.” It’s good for that.

Kevin Soto (Senior):

A.) I didn’t even realize seminar was shortened, so that hasn’t affected me at all. I don’t like that it’s at the end of the day though.

B.) I like that they’re having us do this financial aid stuff. I think it’s helpful that they’re making us aware of the benefits we can get going into college.

C.) I’m not too fond of the late arrival time. It got me late one day because I thought it was still 8:30. I don’t really understand why it was shortened.

D.) I like it. I have been spending more time with my friends. I find that very important. I have math class 5th hour and I like to do my math homework right before that. It’s pretty handy.

I think it’s a pretty well rounded schedule actually. It’s a pretty good system.

Christopher Tian (Senior):

A.) Who cares about it? It’s 45 minutes we could just not be at school. It’s a waste of time.

B.) It is pretty stupid actually. Certain activities were okay, but for the most part they were pointless. Take out advisory and give us longer late start and we would be happy.

C.)Why would you even bother having 15 minutes of late start? It’s basically pointless. What am I going to do with 15 minutes?

D.) I like just having an hour of hanging out with other people, but just take out 30 minutes of it and we can have late start everyday.

Your Ad Here Contact us: oehawkseye@gmail.com

Opinion

9

lathe

E SIDE STORY S T New school arrives in the Olathe District with new 21st Century programs and new teaching methods

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lathe East students are currently worried about all the changes happening with schedules, lunch, and the parking lot, so much so that the biggest change in our district is being overlooked: Olathe West.

Olathe West opened after almost four years of construction. Spanning 375,000 square feet, the three-story building consists of about 850 students enrolled for classes in the 2017- 18 school year. Olathe West has the same schedule that Olathe East changed to this year, including a fifty-minute lunch, advisory period, and even the identical five-minute passing period. There is also no graduating class of 2018.

“The biggest difference would probably be not having seniors. It’s a big school but it makes it seem even bigger now that seniors aren’t here,” Olathe West Junior Anna Krumm said.

Not having seniors also means not as many people to try out for sports, and as a result, Olathe West does not currently have a varsity football team. Their homecoming game was the varsity soccer team’s chance to shine.

Olathe West is advanced to the point where students are completely responsible for themselves. Teachers allow students to leave class whenever they want without asking, and do not need a hall pass. Teachers are not allowed to tell students they cannot leave, which gives the students a sense of responsibility for their own learning. “ We are treated like adults, not like little kids.

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Feature

Erin McCarthy // Social Media Chair William DeBolt // Senior Staff Writer

I always thought it was infuriating that they treat us like little kids when we’re about to go into this big thing: college. They really prepare us for college and that’s pretty cool,” West freshman Abigail Riego De Dios said.

Most likely the main difference that sets Olathe West apart is the idea that there are no “set classrooms” which means that students have to check every Olathe West classroom day, on their phone, to see which rooms their classes are going to be held in. Some students find the new scheduling inconvenient, especially considering there are only five minutes between each class.

“The period between classes is kind of short.

And to have a new classroom everyday is kind of hectic to get there sometimes,” West Junior Alex Kuehn said Olathe West plans on having an airport-like

terminal screen in the commons up and running in the next couple of weeks to allow students the convenience of checking where the classes will be held during the passing period.

The opening of Olathe West was so highly anticipated that many students transferred there from other Olathe schools.

“There are a lot more opportunities for us to do and we get to do a lot more than the kids at the other schools.

Not having as many kids also gives us that opportunity,” Krumm said.

Some Photo by Erin McCarthy of those opportunities are the new 21st century programs which are the Green Tech Academy, and the Academy of Public Safety.

The Public Safety Academy, only located at West, is characterized as an opportunity for students to gain the knowledge and skills necessary

for post-secondary experiences in the professions of fire rescue or law enforcement.

According to the 21st Century Program Website, “[Students will] participate in self-defense and obstacle course training activities that are utilized by local law enforcement professionals and apply local, state, and federal laws to real-world law enforcement scenarios and evaluate their use in the pursuit of justice.”

Jeff Van Dyke, a police officer and detective for eight years with the Wichita Police Department has been put in charge of instructing Public Safety Academy at West. For the past 15 years he has taught physical education at Northview Elementary and Frontier Trail Middle School.

Green Tech Academy, also located only at West, is described as a professional learning experience that will prepare students who are trying to pursue a career in the green technology field through problem solving, research, and design.

The 21st Century Program Website states, “[Students will] develop an understanding of the interconnectedness of humans and the envi-

Olathe West commons

ly from scratch, and then try to anticipate what supplies and equipment we would need to put that curriculum into action,” Wheeler said.

Green Tech Academy brings a strong focus on environmentally friendly techniques to teaching.

The school is one of the first in the county to receive Macbooks; they have a 200-square-foot rooftop greenhouse, and 60 planting boxes on the growing wall next to the library.

“With our amazing space and all the environmentally-friendly design features of the building, the school itself has become a source of many lessons for the academy,” Wheeler said.

In order to accommodate West’s expansive size, teachers and faculty members from multiple schools in Photo by Erin McCarthy the county, including East, have been transferred.

Josh Umphrey, former football coach, Social ronment, design and build alternative energy Science instructor, and Boy’s and Girl’s Golf systems for cars, homes, or businesses, and learn Coach at East for the last 10 years, is now one of how fossil and alternative fuels affect both the the acting assistant principals of Olathe West. global economy and climate.”

“I had been pursuing my administrative de With the new class, comes a new teacher. gree and although I loved the students and staff Trinda Wheeler, who has taught Physics and at Olathe East, I felt I needed to have a bigger Chemistry at Olathe North since early 2011, challenge in my professional career… I see my facilitates the new program. role at West as an extension of our purpose in the “It was a multi-year process with many team members. We had to create a curriculum, basical- Olathe District,” Umphrey said.

Photo by Erin McCarthy A major part of being a vice principal at West is the interactions you have with students. To help facilitate that philosophy, the offices of the vice principals are located in the middle of the school, out and around the students.

“I would love to build a community of people fcused on helping students achieve their goals.

I’d love to be someone that students feel than can talk to and be a resource for them,” Umphrey said.

Teachers weren’t the only people to switch schools; office members also transferred. Erica Vermillion, former receptionist for Olathe East, is now support secretary for West and the freshmen class.

“At Olathe West, there are four communities – freshman, sophomore, junior and senior. In each community, there is an assistant principal, counselor and secretary,” Vermillion said.

In her new position she finds that she can work with students easier and more frequently than she could at East. She also works closely with Josh Umphrey and Jennifer Novoselsky, freshmen counselor at West.

“We’re all learning together and we’re all in the same situation. That is also what’s hard about this year… it is all new! Change is exciting, but we’re still working out some of the details. Until you try something, you don’t know how it is going to work. We’re all figuring it out together,” said Vermillion.

Front view of Olathe West Highschool

Photo By Erin McCarthy Feature

11

discarding racism Prideful Symbols Become Signs of Hate

A

Margo Dulny//Staff Writer Basima Khan//Staff Writer

merica, a country known for making progress in fighting against racism, recently witnessed a shocking event reflecting racist views in Charlottesville, Virginia. Several statues of generals and soldiers of the Confederate army during the Civil War were dismantled. The statues were taken down for the offensive representation of pro-slavery during the 1860s according to some Americans.

Olathe East drawing teacher, Tim Weible, focuses his time looking at how art evolves throughout history. He believes destroying art is a sign that new ways of life and culture takes turns throughout their time.

“Some of the art we have seen that has been destroyed [has] happened for thousands of years. Defacing of statues or art has been happening since the beginning of time. Usually when that happens, that’s a sign of change. I think if you look back at time, some of those changes were good changes,” Weible said.

Caine Kreimendahl, AP United States American History and Geography teacher, considers preserving history. All the same removing the statues would care for the community of people who find the monuments offensive.

“I understand the statutes are controversial. My main thing to avoid conflict would to do an outreach to the community saying to move them peacefully to a museum and have a history [display] on slavery,” Kreimendahl said.

This controversial Robert E. Lee Memorial was dismantled in Charlottesville, Recently, Kansas City saw the nonviolent removal of a Daughters of the Virginia | Photo Courtesy of CBS19 News Confederacy memorial in Ward Parkway. This event proves delicate matters such as the removal of Confederate statues can be handled correctly. The incident in Charlottesville happened due to the weak communication out peacefully. between the governor and the public. Americans hold a responsibility of I think education might have prevented some of the Alt-right,” said remaining informed about issues concerning the future of America.

Kreimendahl.

“There was a situation in Kansas City Downtown there was a statue that Speech and Sophomore Pre-AP English teacher, Gretl Swyers, reasons the was vandalized and that was peacefully removed because of the DaughRobert E. Lee statue represents an ideal not necessarily hand-in-hand with ters of the Confederacy. A group of people asked to remove it and it was the support of slavery. removed peacefully. There were no protests so that proves it can be worked “I think it is a part of our history and I think if people would do more research into Lee, they would probably find he chose to be a general for the South, basically to honor Virginia.

It was more of that than it was him holding on to any love of slavery,” Swyers said.

The protesters who decided to take the violent direction do not represent all the Alt-Right protesters who remained against the removal of the Confederate memorials. Many reasons influenced the Alt-Right to keep the statues up; racism does not always motivate every person.

“We like to jump to the conclusion that it’s always racism. It doesn’t necessarily have to be racism, there could still be a lot of things going in to it,” said Swyers.

Regardless, the protesters againsts the removal of the Confederate Picture of The Daughters of the Confederacy Memorial in the Ward Parkway was removed by the Kansas City Park board, due to recieving a request to relocate the memorial | Photo Courtesy of fox4kc.com

12

Editorial

statues, who do not hold racists beliefs, standing with people holding Neo-Nazi and Confederate flags, concerns our motives as a country.

“I’m comfortable to say that most of them are probably racists. Not all of them; there are Alt-Right just opposed to the government being involved in their lives. But there were clearly Neo-Nazis there, I don’t know how you can say a Neo-Nazi isn’t racist if they’re present. There were definitely racist issues and racists that were there,” Kreimendahl believes.

The majority of the American people this day and age find the existence of these hateful groups shocking. Many, probably, are unaware that groups as these still exist in this mindset. Racist incidents encourage American people to educate themselves about discriminatory groups still existing today.

“I think it’s a good wake up call for people. I think there’s a silent majority that would agree this is completely wrong. Those white supremacists have taken the Constitution and taken it to an extreme in order to fulfill their needs. [There is] freedom of speech and and I understand to a certain point. But hate for a person, it’s just arrogance,” Weible said.

Laws placed for protesters allow them to protest their beliefs but also remain safe. Typically protesters stay a certain amount of distance away from each other. Two sides protesting and creating close contact leads to violence.

“You have two sides that are very passionate. When you get people that are so passionate, sometimes that can turn into violence. They really believed their ideologies and were close [to each other],” said Swyers.

Today in this age, protesting and debates applied to the freedom of speech our country consists of. People effectively lack face-to-face contact and the abilities to socialize in our society.

“I think that feelings are so tense right now and people have a difficult time expressing their beliefs, being heard, and other people have a hard time listening to people that don’t agree with them. I think we’ve come into a scary time in our history where you express an opinion and people just start shouting at you instead of listening to you. There’s less dialogue and more screaming,” said Swyers.

Racism will always exist, but the diminishment of prejudice certain people have towards others results in progress. Americans fight everyday to reduce racism within the country, and their efforts do bear fruits. However, people with discriminatory views still exist today, but they do not represent the majority of Americans.

“I think it would be foolish to think [racism] won’t ever be here.

You are always going to have some form of racism and racists. I think it’s becoming less and less. People are definitely a lot more tolerant in the US,” Kreimendahl said.

Statistics show that some acts of racism has been displayed at Olathe East. It’s possible, that when students are displaying racism, they are unaware of what they are saying. Much of racism has to with ignorance or the misunderstanding of cultures.

“I’ve heard things that are certainly racist and I hear comments, and I don’t think the kids mean anything hateful by it and I haven’t seen but they may be saying some things similar. They are not educated on certain sub-

Drawing by Staff Writer, Margo Dulny jects. They may say certain things that are racist and they may not feel that way but maybe they are saying it just to say it,” said Kreimendahl.

A survey was given to Olathe East students containing questions about prejudice and encountering racism at Olathe East.

Kindness and a respectful attitude combat racism. Reacting to hatred with violence is not the answer to curing racism in the hearts of people.

Violence only results in more violence. Deciding to take a violent route is not the solution to fix a particular problem, but only makes the situation worse.

“Racism won’t cease to exist. There will always be hate, but we cannot drive out the hate with more hate,” said one survey taker.

“I think we’re seeing that [violence] way too much. Like with Black Lives Matter, we’re obviously seeing it in this case, we’re seeing protests in Berkeley and they don’t want someone to speak on campus and so they come out with this violent protests where they’re crashing windows, so no, violence is not good,” Swyers believes.

More violence will result in the rise of complications between opposing sides. The opposing sides will fiercely hold onto their opinions and beliefs, even more so than before, communication will lessen and misunderstandings will increase between the opposing sides.

“I think it’s going to spark the two groups becoming more defiant to their own attitudes and beliefs. When you go back to the issue of the statue being brought down, I don’t think that’s going to change anyone’s opinion. I think people are more firmly in their camp and probably moving farther away from any significant solid dialogue,” Swyers said. “When dialogues end, problems begin.”

Racist or not, preserving history or not, Confederate statues of generals fighting for slavery creates an abominable image of America and represents an offensive display to other groups and cultures in America. Museums, history books, historical documents, paintings, and other evidence still preserve the history our country knows, and helps us overcome the painful events in the past.

“These statues represent leaders of a movement rooted in racism and hatred, and do not represent what America stands for,” said one survey response.

“Everything is subject to change. A symbol of pride or peace can become something so hateful and offensive.

Even everyday words can change meaning over hunderds of years,” -Anonymous

Drawing by Staff Writer, Basima Khan

Editorial

13

Outlawing the Outed

Andrea Shehi // Staff Writer Ryan Smith // Online Editor

The U.S. Military Bans Transgender Individuals from Enlisting

P

Su po perT int 5c art c.c by om

resident Donald Trump released a string of tweets on July 26, “If you’re serving to 2017, announcing his disapproval of transgender individuals serve, then I’m all for it. I serving in the military. Consequently, on August 25, the Presthink that one reason ident officially gave the command for the Department of Defense to transgenders got override the 2016 decision allowing transgender people to openly serve banned is because in the military. Transgender people are currently unable to join the maybe a few people armed services, unless the secretaries of defense and homeland secuwent and joined because rity dissuade the President. The decision permitting currently enlisted they want the medical trans soldiers to continue serving has not been finalized. benefits. I mean, there’s guys Midshipman Thomas Williams graduated from Olathe East in 2015. that are going every day and He will commission as either an Ensign in the Navy or a Second Lieujoining just for college, so the fact tenant in the Marine Corps once he graduates from the Naval Acadethat people are getting banned just my in May of 2019. Williams appreciated the interest, yet declined to for being transgender is ridiculous to comment on the transgender military ban. me,” Sage said.

“While we are allowed to hold Senior Allen personal opinions and exercise our Winn, a transgender student at Olathe “But if they are willing to serve our beliefs, the Department of Defense East, fears President Trump’s involvement and its members are, as a standard in transgender rights. Similar to Sage, he country, as they are, why are we repractice, prohibited from exercising believed some soldiers, transgender or not, any partisan influence as a represenjecting people who are willing to join may enlist to abuse the health care benefits tative of the Department of Defense,” themselves or families. just because of their gender identity?” for he said.

“If people are already doing it, why are For Williams’ protection, the views - Allen Winn you just now worried about it because he expressed in this article are his specifically transgender people are doing own, and do not necessarily reflect it?” Winn said. the official policy or position of the Department of the Navy, Depart When studying LGBT+ soldiers, a Pentagon-funded RAND study ment of Defense, nor the U.S. Government. found approximately 1,320 to 6,630 trans members serve out of a total Senior Cole Sage enlisted in the U.S. Army on July 21. He feels servof 1.3 million active members in the military. The study internationally ing gives him the right to call himself an American and truly earn the concluded the integration of freely expressive transgender soldiers rights he has. The military gives benefits to veterans for their service, has yet to hinder military performance. However, fear of dishonorable and some enlist solely for a free college education or health care. Sage discharge still lingers among trans members. understands yet disagrees with this practice.

“I think that’s utterly ridiculous because they didn’t do anything “I feel like you should be joining the miliwrong; it’s just people identifying as how they feel,” Winn said. tary to help the country...but I think the The removal of transition related benefits prohibits transgender benefits are a good thing to come individuals from seeking out hormone therapy or surgery. The only along with it… You got too much exception lies with those currently receiving the listed treatments. time signing a blank check that “I have to live, and survive, and I don’t think I’m going to be able could take your arm, your to do that when leg, or your life, so if you’re [Trump] is trying willing to go out there and his best to not allow fight- risk your life- you anybody to be able should get some benefits to transition, or to from it,” he said. live how they wish, About 29-129 active which I thought was transgender members the point of being in of the military use these America,” he said. benefits to transition, Members of Conan act which previousgress recently wrote ly spent a maximum to Trump requesting of 0.013% of the total reconsideration of Cole Sage enlisting annual healthcare budget. his ban. Critics say in the U.S. Army.

Recently, this service President Trump’s Photo Courtesy of was overturned when the “trans ban” radiates Cole Sage. military decided to prohibit hate, while on Autransgender individuals from gust 21, he claimed enlisting. prejudice and bigotry have no place in the military.

14

Art by Ryan Smith

Editorial

What’s on TV?

Leonie Frischmuth//Staff Writer Felicity Wenger//Staff Writer

Tune into these new and reoccuring shows that will surely entertain.

Grey’s Anatomy,

Upcoming Show Premier Dates September 23

Young Sheldon, a spin-off of Big Bang Theory features a nine year-old boy who attends high school. The show will be narrated by the adult Sheldon Cooper from Big Bang Theory.

September 25

Me, Myself and I revolves around a man named Alex Riley. The show takes place during three different parts of his life; 14 years old, 40 years old, and 65 years old.

September 25

The Good Doctor, an upcoming medical-drama, revolves around a young pediatric surgeon with autism. His coworkers are unsure about his skills. The show is based on a similar show made in South Korea.

October 3

The Mayor presents a struggling rapper campaigning to be the mayor who ran not only for ad revenue, but to promote his new mix tape, and ends up winning.

November 2

S.W.A.T., based on the LAPD (Los Angeles Police Department) The show is a replication of the movie in which the main character Jim and his crew serve justice to those who deserve it.

November 3

Alias Grace, based on a girl named Grace Marks explores an immigrant from Ireland imprisoned for murder, but has memory loss. A doctor now has to try and find out the truth.

airing since 2005, is action packed. The storyline keeps fans on the edge of their seat while also keeping some elements consistent.

“In every season at least one person dies. It keeps you guessing who’s next because it could be your favorite character who’s gone,” sophomore Jessica Sawka said. Characters come and go, as they would in a real hospital, but some remain constant. Meredith Grey, the main doctor, is favored by many viewers because of her relatability. However, not everything that happens in the show would be plausible in a real life situation. From weddings in the hospital to someone with a bomb in their chest, Grey’s anatomy is full of unlikely surprises.

However, the show mainly focuses on realistic recreations of what goes on inside a hospital, as the injuries that appear in the show could happen to anyone. Each episode, full of blood and gore, results in a mixed reaction.

“Some people think it’s gross but some people are really interested in medical stuff,” Sawka said. The characters blossom into professional doctors as the show goes on, all while trying to maintain the social aspects of their lives. Each season features new tasks which is why many people continue to watch the show.

“People lose interest when everyone is just doing one thing. I like that the whole show doesn’t revolve around one topic,” Sawka said. Season 14 will be premiering September 28, and the plot has been left a mystery.

“If old characters who’ve left the hospital come back, that would be pretty cool,” Sawka said.

Stranger Things,

a Netflix original series about a boy who goes missing, is a serious hit. His three friends go looking for him when they run into a girl who isn’t as plain as she seems. The girl, given only the name Eleven, is a fan favorite. She doesn’t have much to say but her actions speak for her. Some characters aren’t as cooperative, but character conflicts are very important in the show.

“I feel like it’s good to have characters that don’t get along, but if it was real life I’d want them to get along,” sophomore Mallory Dick said. Each character has their own personality which shapes their role. While they might not always get along, these people all come together to do everything in their power to find this boy.

“I probably wouldn’t have the courage to do some of the things those guys were doing but I would definitely try to help out. I’d hope people would agree with me but I think if it actually came up, a lot of people wouldn’t help,” Dick said. With the boy’s mother going insane, everyone refuses to lose hope that he’s a goner. Every episode contains a good balance of entertaining content and empty space for the viewer to predict what will happen next. Season two will be premiering October 31, and the trailer has already created conspiracy theories.

“It’s honestly one of the best shows ever because the storyline can go anywhere. You just have to get over the fact that it’s a little freaky,” Dick said.

Survivor, hosted by Jeff Probst, takes place on an isolated island where contestants are meant to gather everything they need to survive. They all compete in challenges for the reward of immunity to elimination. They vote each other off the island until one person remains who will win $1,000,000.

Season 35 is premiering September 27.

Riverdale, a teen drama based on the death of a high schooler, features a group of friends who decide to try and find out who really killed him, and face the situations presented along the way. Season 13 premieres October 11.

Supernatural follows two brothers as they hunt an assortment of monsters and unnatural creatures who are out to get them. Season 13 premieres October 12

The Walking Dead, set in a post-apocalyptic world is about a man who awakens from a coma to a zombified world. He comes in contact with a group of other survivors and they fight together for their survival. Season eight premieres October 22.

Entertainment

15

After the Cut

Mychaela Burris // Senior Staff Writer

Melanie Eszter//Managing Editor

Each year millions of students try out for high school sports around the world. Was it their talent or pure luck that landed them that coveted spot on varsity? Decide for yourself.

T

ryouts all work differently for each sport and for most athletes at Olathe East a new dilemma arises when trying out for their respective sports when they are in their last year of high school. No longer do they have multiple team placement options but instead only one:varsity.

“In past years we’ve been guaranteed a spot and grandfathered in, now this year I actually had to make sure I was playing before school started so that I was ready,” senior golfer Kylie Durham said. Even those students who have played and been a part of an East team since freshman year are not promised anything except the process of fighting for a place on the highest-level team.

Seniors understand this process knowing there are no shortcuts to usher them into the new year. Even if it was offered, immunity for seniors does not appeal to those upperclassmen who are looking to work their hardest and not simply be satsfied with a spot on even a junior varsity team.

“Just cut me if you don’t want to put me on the top team; don’t try to appease me. I would rather just play on varsity or not play,” said senior soccer player Luke Maurer.

“It’s hard to be a team member, because it’s not all about you then; it’s about the team, you have a responsibility and you have a job to do,” said head basketball coach Jim Super.

However, some year-round sports like drill team work differently. Freshmen are only allowed to be placed on junior varsity and seniors may be either on JV or varsity. They must mark if they are willing to be on varsity or JV or both, which means that they will take whichever team they are placed on. The girls have to mark their team preference before they audition.

Golf freshmen can only make varsity if their talent is up to par. These select freshman may continue to secure their place on varsity if they continue to work hard and rise to the challenge of competing for their spot each year.

The tryout itself is conducted differently from that of either golf or soccer. As with those sports, they have to demonstrate their talents and play in front of their coaches. The

16

Photo Courtesy of Emma Milford

Sports

coaches for drill team are not in the actual tryout portion.

However they do watch the girls throughout the week.

“The coaches judge throughout the week. You have three days of learning the dance and then there is the actual audition day,” junior Emma Milford said. Dancers have also mentioned that the coaches do not have a say in the “actual” tryout and that a dancer’s previous year does not have a major effect on the process.

“Personally, you can be working hard all year and have the most potential out of everybody but then on that one day you could have the worst tryout or a bad day or the judges could just see you as a bad dancer,” Milford said.

On the other hand, the drill team tryouts are all led by judges who are from studios outside of Olathe, to ensure an impartial decision head Talons drill team coach Cathy Alcorn assured.

Unfortunately, many other factors besides talent may affect the result of the tryout. Some people venture that there are exceptions to the rules.

“They said they give the highest points possible to the returning member because they know that they have been on the team before,” Milford said.The difference between varsity and junior varsity tend to vary in sports but mostly has to do with [skill]. In drill team the dancers believe that the two teams are extremely separated especially this year that they are going to Orlando for nationals.

“There is more of a separation this year than there was last year too because last year we did team dances,” Meier said. The team will not be doing any team dances together at pep assemblies this year. However, people believe that the title of the team has to deal with what they think of the team.

“I think we make too big of a deal of, ‘oh I’m on JV dance,’” Coach Alcorn said.

Emma Milford dances during a duet

Where are they now?

*

Orel Hershiser:

Then: Was cut from both his high school (JV and Varsity) and college baseball teams.

Now: He had an incredible 18-year career. He also received awards such as the World Series and a Cy Young Award.

*

Lionel Messi:

Then: He was cut from his soccer junior team.

Now: Has won numerous awards including FIFA World Player of the year. He has also played for professional and national teams.

*

The Olathe East JV dance team has won many awards and are headed to nationals in Orlando Florida this year.

While unexpected curve balls can affect an athlete on so many levels, many who were placed on a lower level team their junior year have learned valuable lessons and are stronger because of it.

“I definitely feel like the setback made me work harder,” Meier said.“I think I learned most of all from this is that you can’t let a couple people’s opinions really take down what you’re most passionate about,” Milford said.

Learning how to improve and move forward was a common theme from these seniors as well as they shared advice for those moving up next year.

“You’ve got to prepare before and you can’t be so confident in yourself just from what you hear; they are out there to win,” said Maurer.

“Am I biased? Yes, if you are a good athlete, if you are skilled, and if you have a tremendous work ethic, I will put you on my team,” said Coach Super.

Michael Jordan:

Then: He was cut from his high school basketball team because he “wasn’t good enough.”

Now: He was a McDonald’s All-American player and won a national title playing for the University of North Carolina. He has become one of the most successful basketball players of all time as well as a house hold name.

Photo Courtesy of Luke Maurer

“

I think I learned most of all from this is that you can’t let a couple people’s opinions really take down what you’re most passionate about.

Milford said.

“

Photo Courtesy of Kylie Durham

Luke takes a shot during a JV match

Durham shared similar words of wisdom speaking about the skills you need when advancing.

“You should try to work on those skills when you’re younger so when you become an upperclassman you can lead the team.” Tryouts are all a process, but working for a spot, on varsity can be a rewarding experience even in the middle of a new transition. Immunity may not be available for seniors or anyone else, but learning to grow and progress is all part of athletics even after the cut.

“Put in the preparation before and good things will come,” said Maurer “All of life is a competitive process,” said Coach Alcorn. It is important for athletes to learn how to present themselves in the best way to achieve their goals.

Though senior year sports are not always easy these individuals can have a positive year trying out and working hard. From working with coaches to bonding with the team the experience is a memorable one for these athletes.

Kylie Durham takes a swing at the tee box

Photo Courtesy of Emma Milford

The OE Talon Drill team perform their pom routine

Sports

17

Cross Country

Football

Photo By Kaitlyn Mills

Photo By Karee Schnoring Jacob Wilson // Editor-in-Chief

Sporting OE As Olathe East begins its fall sports, The Hawk’s Eye newspaper highlights a few moments from the season so far.

We look forward to another great OE season. We are very proud of all of the teams here at East.

Football

Photo By Mary Bajich

Soccer

Cheerleader

Volleyball

18

Photo By Karee Schnoring

Photo

Photo By Annie Knapp

Photo By Kendal Benson

Spirit

Week

Jacob Wilson // Editor-in-Chief

(Above) The German club presents their winning float during the homecoming pep rally | Photo by Karen Kirk

(Below) Students in Mrs. Kirk’s CP English class dressed for Hawaiian day during Spirit Week | Photo by Karen Kirk

(Above) The drumline plays at the homecoming pep rally | Photo by Karen Kirk

(Above) The Olathe East homecoming court. (Left-Right/ Back: Will Debolt, Spencer Nelson, Taylor Walker, Jack Bettis, Nate Matlack. Front: Bayley Woodson, Maggie Horton, Mia Valentine, Kelsey Krstulic, Molly Kang, Destiny Hanlin-Ramirez, Isabelle Maddox, Tilson Herz. Not Pictured: Kaleb Mackey, Brandon Luce) | Photo by Jacob Wilson

Photo

19

Autumn Uncscramble PUKPINM CRCERSWOA LAEELHOWN RTICK TOOFBLLA

________________ ________________ ________________ ________________ ________________

6. ELSEAV ________________ 7. YERHIDA ________________ 8. CNLSATOKRS ________________ 9. EFOBNRI ________________ 10. NIHEMOMCOG ________________

Fall Word Search 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

Word Bank Fall Autumn Leaves Pumpkin Apple

Acorn Sunflower Hayride Chilly Rake

Football Squirrel Orange Scarecrow September

October Cider Yellow Brown Red

Autumn Unscramble Answers: 1. Pumpkin 2. Scarecrow 3. Halloween 4. Trick 5. Football 6. Leaves 7. Hayride 8. Cornstalks 9. Bonfire 10. Homecoming

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.