{reporter}
THE
volume 93 issue 3 february 2018 paola high school 401 angela street paola, ks 66071
In this issue {3} learn the language {5} express yourself {8-9} not enough sleep {11} block out needless drama {14} teamwork
do not pretend to support a cause because you want attention For: 38
I cannot count how many times I’ve heard people ranting about certain political issues, or raving about how much they support a certain cause. I have to stop myself from laughing. Usually what they’re saying isn’t even factually correct. They are so out of touch with what’s actually going on in the world, that their opinions don’t even make sense. People like this just want attention. They pretend to know the current issues of the world and they want everyone to hear their ‘rebellious’ and ‘strong’ opinions about all of them. In reality, they’re repeating what their parents said at the dinner table the night before. People also love to act like victims of certain causes and movements when they actually have no connection to them. They don’t even understand the depth of the causes they pretend to fight for. They probably haven’t read a single news article, researched the topic, or even glanced
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Against: 0 at the other side of the problem, and they definitely haven’t created their own opinions based on what they’ve learned. They just mindlessly absorb whatever they hear the people around them say. If you truly support a cause, or if you feel strongly about an issue, please learn about the problem. Read articles, watch the news, voice your opinion and say what you want to say. And just to be clear, scrolling through Instagram or following Donald Trump on Twitter does not count as a reliable source of information. Do not claim to understand what’s going on just because you want to get attention or sympathy from people. Don’t use other people’s suffering or oppression as a social topic to bring up and use as leverage to make friends which is selfish and petty., If you hear someone else’s opinion that differs from your own views, listen to it. Take the opportunity to hear the opposite side of the issue. Those who sincerely care about the cause they support will have a full understanding of every aspect their cause encompasses. Try and understand what they’re saying and why they might be saying it. Respect them. It’s that simple. You don’t have to agree with it, you don’t have to accept it, but you do have to be courteous. If you want, share your own opinions. Tell them
The Reporter February 2018 Editorial
Absent: 2 how you feel about the subject and what you think should be done about it. Don’t kick and scream and get in their face and start insulting them when they try to speak. That’s a horrible way to debate things, and I can show no reverence to a person who treats others that way. If you start attacking me personally and get in my face, telling me I’m wrong, I will lose tolerance and respect for you. You don’t deserve my attention, time, or energy if you can’t be a mature adult and express your views in a decent manner. Speak your ideas and thoughts about conflicts because you want to try and spark a change in others, or you want to help present a solution. Fight for a cause because you know it’s the right thing to do and you want to stop the wrong that’s being committed. Understand the subjects you are talking about and respect what other people have to say. Use your voice to stand up for the people that don’t have one, use your opportunities to fight for the people who can’t fight for themselves, but always fight for the right reasons.
Cover: Alisha Blanc, 10, and Joe Ryckert, 12, dissect a squid in Advanced Biology Jan. 26. {Photo by Matthew Troutman}
2017-2018
staff list Managing Editors
Mariah Sullivan & Matthew Troutman
Photo & Design Editors
Kelsey Lester & Hannah Menefee
Online & Social Media Editors
Jacquee Hecker & Moorea Long
Ads Manager Amanda Meeks
Senior ads managers Bre Allen & Abby Winterscheid
Reporters
Abby Richmond, Abigail Heger, Ashlyn Watson, Chloe DeYoung, Claire Cox, Cora Jackowski, Nikki Bates, Emily Taylor, Emma Behrendt, Emma Cox, Faith Beyer, Gracyn Shulista, Haleigh West, Jordyn Barbosa, Kalyn Bell, Kassidy Blann, Kaylie Miller, Lauren Espinoza, Macayla Enman, Madison Taylor, Makayla Hughes, Liv Meridith, Paige Fleming, Preston Martin, Rylan Armbruster, Skyler Hughes. Stephanie Castillo, Taylor Murdock, Trinity Miller
Adviser
BriAnne Chayer
It is the policy of the Paola Reporter to provide a forum for student expression, voices in the uninhibited, robust, free, and open discussion of issues. The Reporter encourages students to write letters to the editor or submit articles for the editorial page. We reserve the right to edit content. Material that contains libelous or obscene information will not be published. Material that will cause a disruption of school activities is also prohibited. Authors must provide their full name. No articles will be published with an alias.
Volume 93 Issue 3 mission statement
For rights
Fight Not Attention
the Reporter
the reporter editorial policy
Staff Editorial
The Reporter is for the students, by the students. The goal of the Reporter is to give the students a voice, and provide an open forum of ideas while maintaining an ethical publication with unbiased coverage.
L e a r n thelanguage taking foreign language classes challenges students to think differently {Gracyn Shulista} {Emily Taylor} reporter
better long-term memory,” Kenny said. As the community becomes more diverse, Kenny said, learning a second language helps students communicate with new students and new people who may speak a language other than English. “Our communities are becoming more and more global, and being able to communicate with others from different backgrounds and experiences helps us understand different cultures,” Kenny said. Being bilingual, like Otanez or Mihajlovic, gives students advantages and benefits that a monolingual speaking person may not have, Kenny said. “Being bilingual also helps you understand your own language better and allows you to appreciate and respect cultures different from your own. It can expand your view of the world, and limit or remove barriers between you and others,” Kenny said. Some students may be hesitant about taking a foreign language class in high school or do not take one at all. Kenny said it’s important for students to know foreign language is a hard process, and it’s not uncommon to struggle in the beginning. “High school foreign language teachers are not so concerned with perfection of their students. We just want students to go through the process of learning to think differently and trying to communicate by getting their point across,” Kenny said.
Above: Kirby Kenny, Spanish teacher, teaches a lesson during Spanish I Jan. 31. Kenny said she believes knowing a foreign language is a good skill to have. “Learning a second language helps develop new ways of thinking and analyzing,” Kenny said. Bottom Left: Krista Haley, 10, fills out a worksheet during Spanish I Jan. 31. Haley said she believes Spanish I will benefit her. “I am going to Costa Rica this summer so I’m glad I am learning the language,” Haley said. {Photos by Emily Taylor}
Can you translate? 1.
Chien
A.
School
2.
Haus
B.
Cheese
3.
Schule
C.
Dog
4.
Hemd
D.
House
5.
Fromage
E.
Shirt
Answers: 1C, 2D, 3A, 4E, 5B
Being bilingual, like Santiago Otanez, 11, has helped him in everyday life. “Spanish helps me speak at my job at El Pot [Potro], and when I talk to transfer students who came from Mexico,” Otanez said. Though Otanez learned Spanish from his parents, he said students should take a foreign language class to be more in tune with other cultures. “It helps students understand where others come from, and it looks good when you apply for college,” Otanez said. Bojana Mihajlovic, 11, from Serbia, learned a foreign language when she was very young. “We start learning English in first grade. In fifth grade you’re required to learn another language I chose French,” Mihajlovic said. In high school, foreign language is not required to graduate, however, Mihajlovic said it is beneficial to learn a foreign language. “There’s nothing you are losing; you are only gaining knowledge,” Mihajlovic said. Kirby Kenny, Spanish teacher, said learning a second language in high school can benefit students. Kenny said it helps with communication and understanding cultures, as well as makes them a better student. “People who learn another language typically perform better in their other subjects and develop
reporter
{Source: Google Translate}
The Reporter February 2018 Academics
{3}
big saver how seniors budget {
} {Haleigh west}
stephanie castillo reporter
reporter
words to live by “I save 10 percent donate 10 percent and spend 80 percent the 10 percent I donate I try to donate to my church.”
Jana Rosich Senior
Logan Wiseman Senior
“I believe that there is something after this life so if we just live within our means and have faith then we will be all right in the end.”
“don’t buy something until you can afford to buy it twice.” {Art by Trintiy Miller}
Tyler Molina Senior
Q&A
wibusintessh teacher Monty Chayer
What is budgeting?
How Often do Seniors Spend Their Money?
Making sure you know how much money you have coming in as opposed to how much you’re spending. You should probably budget once a month.
5+ times/week:
What are some tips on how to save and spend your money?
3-5 times/week:
Don’t buy things you don’t need, first of all. Don’t buy things you don’t have money to pay for. If you know you’re going to need something in the summer, start saving for it now so you can pay cash and have the money for it.
1-3 times/week:
What financial advice do you have for seniors graduating this
20% -16 seniors 35% -29 seniors
45% -38 seniors spring? Survey out of 82 seniors {Photo illustration by Haleigh West and Stephanie Castillo} {Photo courtesy of Google Images}
{4}
The Reporter February 2018 feature
Take a personal finance class when they get to college. Even if they took my class in high school, take another one. The more you know about your finances, the better off you’re going to be and the better chance you have at becoming a millionaire.
Express Yourself
{Kalyn Bell} {Cora jackowski} reporter
reporter
Personality shines through the arts
Alaura Gage, 12, creates Harold or Harry as a contract piece for Art 4. The requirements for this project were making art that blended organic and geometric shapes so Gage blended organic and geometric materials. Harold is comprised of a penny board, fox legs, rabbit fur, Asian goat horns,and a raccoon tail. “It’s a commentary on how nature and humanity are equal even though humans are at the top of the food chain,” Gage said. {Photo by Cora Jackowski} Right: Forrest Schoenberger, 11, plays the trumpet in District Band practice. Schoenberger was accepted into the district band to compete at different schools for ratings. {Photo by Faith Beyer}
Alaura Gage, 12, loves all forms of art. She plays the flute in the high school band and said she enjoys every minute of it. She started playing when she was young because she was curious and her mother and grandmother played the flute. “It runs in the family,” she said. She said band is like a big family and playing an instrument is a great skill. It is art in another form. Gage says she loves when the band unifies as group and she hears all the parts come together. Gage also loves to make sculptures with anything and everything including animal parts and coins. She said she compiled a list of project ideas to build in the future. Gage said art isn’t just for “creative” people. “Art can apply to everyone. You can take that message and apply it to your own life,” she said. Her ideas and dreams fuel her art, she said. She said thinks of different ways to make art unique. Gage said art should make people feel uncomfortable, but she enjoys it, and attends the Crossroads Art District meetings on the first Friday of every month in downtown Kansas City, Mo. Gage said her dream job would bee a museum curator at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. to teach people about art and share her love of art with them. Forrest Schoenberger, 11, plays the
trumpet in the Panther Band. He learned trumpet at his dad’s suggestion because his dad thought playing an instrument would be needed skill for Schoenberger. “It helps with your academics,” Schoenberger agreed. Michael Solomon, band director, said he loves his job and seeing students progress through their musical career. He said being a teacher is hard for any subject, but especially band because it is a hybrid between a curricular subject and an extra-curricular activity. When Solomon was younger he listened to a recording of Louis Armstrong and knew he wanted to play the trumpet, too. He said he likes conducting, but playing an instrument has a completely different experience. “I love it with all my heart,” he said. Rheinily Newton, 9, said art is her escape and she always finds a way to make art challenging. “Art is something you have to understand. To understand, it you must embrace it,” Newton said. She started drawing when she was 5 years old and she would draw constantly if she could. Newton said even if art comes naturally, people still have to practice to get better. “You get to put your creativity down on the page and even if no one sees it you will know it’s good,” she said.
The Reporter February 2018 Entertainment
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CHECK PHS JOURNALISM ONLINE WWW.PHSJOURNALISM.COM OUT... Madison Taylor Takes a Peek Inside Student’s Backpacks @
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ACTing Up
Macfarlane, Toman and Mitchell prepped for ACT {Emma Cox} {Jordyn Barbosa} reporter
reporter
Junior Jackson Macfarlane said he uses his time wisely when preparing to take the ACT. Macfarlane said he used at least two months prior to his testing date to take practice exams. Pressure to take the ACT can begin as soon as sophomore year with most student’s wondering; ‘How hard will it be?’ ‘What if I don’t get a good enough score?’ ‘Should I study?’ “It will help you with some test taking strategies that are relevant to the ACT, and it focuses on the questions that are on the ACT,” Macfarlane said. Preparation can be an important factor in earning a satisfactory score. Macfarlane said he studied more for the math section of the test, delegating a larger portion of study time toward this subject. Macfarlane said he found the practice tests helpful because they directly correlated with the actual test, especially for math which was his lowest scoring section. “I’m satisfied because most of my high scores were in critical thinking-based tests like the reading test and the science portion,” Macfarlane said. Senior Madison Toman said she believes the best way to prepare for the ACT is to take the test multiple times. “The more you take it, the more familiar you become with the atmosphere and the test itself,” Toman said. Time is a big factor of the test because each section has a time limit. Once the allotted time expires, the student cannot answer any more questions. “Personally the time aspect was the hardest part for
me, especially when you get toward the end and are just exhausted and done with it all and then have to deal with science,” Toman said. Toman also dreaded taking a three-hour test at 8 a.m. She said that once it was over, she felt relief. Dailey Mitchell, 11, said she did not study prior to her testing date. Mitchell found the types of questions asked were different than she anticipated. “It [the ACT] will help me with scholarships and getting more money for college,” Mitchell said. Mitchell said studying for the test helped her gain a better score and plans to retake it, but said a student should not spend too much time preparing. “It’s important, but I don’t think people should spend a bunch of time studying for it, because people really don’t know what’s going to be on it,” Mitchell said. ACT prep and English teacher Kimberly Prockish said colleges usually require ACT test scores to determine acceptance and class placement. Prockish said students looking for ways to prepare for the test should focus on practice and refer to the Internet for resources and daily questions. “Getting used to the test is the biggest advice I can give,” Prockish said. Not only will practice help students’ scores, but other preparations before taking the exam can also help a students, too. . “Get a good night’s rest and believe you’re going to do well,” Prockish said.
{Source: Reporter survey of 20 percent of student body- 120 students}
Are you satisfied with your ACT score?
yes
66%- 80 students No
34%- 40 students
The night before
How long did you study for the ACT?
44%- 54 students
One week prior
19.5%- 24 students
One month before
7.9%- 9 students
More than 2 months prior
16.9%- 19 students
Two week prior
11.7%- 14 students Top: Photo illustration of ACT prep class notes {Photo by Emma Cox}
Four Sections Of The ACT 1 2 3 4
English- 75 questions; 45 minutes Math- 60 questions; 60 minutes Science- 40 questions; 35 minutes Reading- 40 questions; 35 minutes
Source: The Compass website
retesting with The ACT consider retesting if one of the following applies: Do you feel your score should be higher than those received? Did you have problems during the test, like misunderstanding the directions or feeling ill? Have you taken more coursework or an intensive review in the areas covered? Do you want to apply to a college that requires or recommends the writing test? Source: The ACT website
Source: 19% of student body surveyed
The Reporter February 2018 School News
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C o u n tin g S h e e p
lack of sleep affects students productivity
{Mariah Sullivan} {Chloe DeYoung} Managing Editor
top 5 Tips For Better Sleep
until i fall asleep:
37% -44 students
1 or more hours:
21% -25 students
15-30 minutes:
35% -42 students
never:
How Long Are you on your phone before bed?
7% -9 students
in Between:
39% -47 students
early bird:
45% -54 students
night owl:
Are You a night owl or early bird?
1
Avoid sleeping in. The bigger the time difference, the bigger the jet lag effect
2
Exercise during the day - exercise can improve sleep benefits
3
Sleep in a cool room - studies show the best temperature for sleeping is 65 degrees
4
Nap cautiously - daytime naps can throw off your night time sleep
5
Avoid screens before bed - the blue light can harm your ability to sleep
16% -19 students
{Source: Reporter survey of 20 percent of student body- 120 students}
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The Reporter February 2018 Features
Reporter
{Source: the Help Guide website}
o n yo u r m or ning alar m ? e z o o n s s s e r p u o y Do When it comes to the human body, people must do certain things to survive: eat, drink, breathe, and sleep, among other things, such as finding shelter and keeping warm. While people may be able to go a span of time without any shut eye -- the world record for intentionally withholding sleep is 11 days as stated by the Scientific American -- going without is not always healthy. In fact, teenagers require eight to 10 hours of sleep each night to maintain a healthy lifestyle, according to the National Sleep Foundation. And yet, throughout the high school, 38 percent of the students gets three to five hours of sleep per night or less, 19% of the school according to the journalism survey. Kyle Flynn, 12, said he was a perfect candidate for a sleep study. Flynn said he usually goes to bed around midnight and wakes up at 5:30 a.m. “Our mom wakes us up then because we have to do chores before school,” Flynn said. Flynn said he believes many feel sleep is not necessary. “It’s not at the forefront of worry,” Flynn said. “If you don’t get enough food, you feel hungry or sick. Whereas if it’s just sleep, you can take a nap wherever you want.” Flynn said he would love for school to start later in the day. “I’d be able to go to bed at 10, and maybe sleep in until 7 or 8,” he said. Mirroring Flynn’s responses, the survey of 120 students prioritize other things more than sleep, and 70 percent said they feel they don’t get enough sleep. Karl Schmidt, science teacher, said cell phones are largely to blame for students lack of sleep, which has been a change through the years. “Sports have always been, but cell phones have not,” Schmidt said. “That’s not to say that sports are not tiring.” Schmidt could usually tell when athletes played games away from home and returned late by their actions the next day. “Athlete’s work wasn’t done, they were tired, things like that,” Schmidt said.
4 3% N o
57% yes
Schmidt said phones may make the problem of sleep deprivation worse. Schmidt also said teenagers’ circadian rhythms, the internal body clock, are slightly different than adults, so teens are usually more active at night. “Just being a teenager puts you at risk for being tired,” Schmidt said. “Teenagers are hard to get out of bed and hard to get to bed. On top of that, you throw in activities, boyfriends, girlfriends, social things and a cell phone just compounds.” Schmidt said most people need eight hours of sleep, and that number is a good thing to shoot for. “Some people need 10 hours, and some need six. If you go to bed and you sleep all night and you wake up refreshed, that’s what you need,” Schmidt said. The quantity and quality of sleep often affects a person’s ability to learn, according to the Healthy Sleep website. Studies show a person who does not get the proper amount of sleep usually cannot focus and lacks the ability to learn efficiently. Sleep also has a role in consolidation of memory, the process of turning short-term memories into long-term, which is needed for learning new information. Anna Hinkle, 9, said she gets about three hours of sleep every night, although not always by choice. “Either I’m staying up late, or my brother comes and wakes me up,” Hinkle said. Hinkle said she does not feel she gets enough sleep at night. Ideal sleep for her would be close to five hours. Hinkle said she would like to get more sleep, and said oftentimes, thinking keeps her up. Contrary to Flynn, Hinkle said if school started later in the day, she would not feel it would change her sleeping habits much because she usually gets so few hours on a regular basis. Ultimately, sleep is not an exact science. The LiveScience website said scientists do not know everything about sleep either. “It’s sort of embarrassing,” said Michael Halassa, a neuroscientist, It’s obvious why we need to eat, for example, and reproduce, but it’s not clear why we need to sleep at all.”
{ } “I would Consider 8 or 9 hours of sleep for a normal person, but for me… maybe 5.” Anna Hinkle, 9
{
}
“When I don’t get enough sleep, I’m typically a grouch and I can’t concentrate.” jonathan rolf, 12
The Reporter February 2018 Features
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conquering one one By
{Art by Lauren Espinoza}
students should start helping others
“We believe that we are too small, too young, too old, etc. But we are much more than that. We can be a hero to someone in need if we just believe. ”
“I think if you have the option to travel during spring break you should because it can be a great experience and it is always fun to see new things.”
-freshman abby heger The moment the bell rings for any kind of break from school, students sprint out the door trying to get away from all of the tests and homework. With spring break approaching, many students will travel to warmer climes to relax. Travel during spring break benefits students because it is our last break before finals and it can relax us before going back to school. If you are really stressed out, traveling is a good way to get away from whatever you are stressing about. If you have the option to travel during spring break, take it because it can be a great experience and it is fun to see new things. When I travel, I get absorbed in the idea of going somewhere new and trying new things. Lots of people me go to Florida or Alabama for the sandy beaches. Some people even go to Surprise, Arizona to watch the Royals during spring training. For the people who are traveling over spring break I have listed some packing tips. 1. Know the weather wherever you are headed because it is miserable to go to
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another country thinking it will be warm and sunny when really it’s cold and rainy. 2. Have you ever gone on a trip and thrown your toothbrush and shampoo in the same bag because you were in a hurry? Then you wind up with a shampoo soaked toothbrush. Well, I have, so you can never pack too many toothbrushes. 3. Don’t overpack the snack bag when you take a long road trip because you can always go to the store at your destination. If you stay home for spring break, many places nearby are fun to visit. Prairiefire in Leawood has a museum, bowling and bocce, shopping, restaurants and a movie theater. Union Station in downtown Kansas City, Mo., has a special exhibit on Legos in which the blocks depict famous works of art such as Michelangelo’s David If the weather is nice, close options include a trek down south to the Marais de Cygne wildlife refuge to catch sight of hundreds of species of birds and other animals. Regardless your ultimate destination, get out and explore this spring.
The Reporter february 2018 opinion
Helps
students should travel for new experiences
World hunger. Pollution. Contaminated water. As a community, we could bring smiles to faces, food to tables, and help to others. As 2018 starts, instead of these problems decreasing, they are increasing. We want to help, but we’re not sure how. Developmental Leadership students raised funds for soldiers overseas who couldn’t be home during the month of November. While students gather goods for these packages, they realize that helping someone makes them feel better about themselves. Imagine how we would feel if we reached out and helped others. As a school, we should do more. We have 643 pairs of hands to help. as students, we believe we aren’t able to do as much. We believe we are too small or too young. But we are much more than that. We can be a hero to someone in need if we just believe. Some might think “What would we get from this?” Sometimes I think about what I’m not getting out of helping others. But charity is not about what we get from helping others, it’s about providing solu-
helping
travel is important
-sophomore katie austin
1. Helping others feels good
tions to problems of others. It’s not about receiving awards, it’s the joy of seeing a smile on someone else’s face. Most people believe we suffer no consequences if we don’t help, but this is false. With the standpoint we are at now, if we take a glimpse of the future, we would be so very scared of the outcome. Picture this. You walk down a street on a cold day like this one. You glance over and catch a glimpse of a young girl and her mother sitting cardboard to protect them from the frozen sidewalk. As you walk up to hand her money, food, or anything you can find, the mother tells you she’s trying to send her daughter to school so she doesn’t live her life like the present. Would you want your mother or father, sister or brother, any members of your family living on the streets like this? If we come up with more ideas such as more donations to the many living on the streets, we can make a differece. For example, by putting together care packages for women, men, and children in need we could help save a family. We could help save hearts. And more importantly we could help save souls.
2. It brings a sense of belonging
3. Gets rid of negative feelings
{Source: The Mental Health website}
not all who
wanderarelost focus on what matters what high school really is
“Sometimes we need to stop and look around and realize we don’t really know anyone outside of our inner circle.”
-SENIOR Jacquelyn hecker Walking down the hall, many of us stop to chat and joke with multiple classmates , but we don’t talk to some people. We don’t even see some students even though they are right in front of us. Day in and day out, some students wish they had someone to talk with. We don’t want to admit it but we are guilty of the things we do. Sometimes we need to stop and look around and realize we don’t really know anyone outside of our inner circle. We think everyone belongs in this school when in reality some of us don’t have a place at all. We tend to gravitate toward the people we are comfortable with rather then trying to get to know new people. If they aren’t someone we talk to everyday, they are not important to us. Most people don’t go a single day thinking about whether or not someone at lunch sits alone. Those movie scenes in which students sit alone at lunch or are picked last in gym happen in real life. Behind all of the star athletes, best artists and top academic students, are other students who have their own story to tell, but no one to listen. We are oblivious to the people around us we have never met. Throughout the school year multiple students transfer into our school. When a student transfers, they become popular within the first few days because everyone wants to become their new best friend. After the newness
wears off, however, they get dumped to find out where they belong in the school. Have you been in a class where you look around and know absolutely no one in there? new students experience that feeling when they move into a school where we all know each other. Middle school and high school are some of the toughest times in our lives so far. In high school, we really start to grow as individuals and get used to the world around us. We become more involved and have more opportunities to learn how to manage our time. We have our own cliques of friends who support us, but some people have absolutely no one. Students sit alone at lunch every day and I wonder how they feel. Almost every school is full of cliques. In middle school we have a diverse group of friends, then we enter high school and the group drifts apart into their own cliques. Schools are filled with so many cliques that it’s hard to find the one you fit into. We come from a school known for its athletics. A lot of people feel as though they don’t belong. We should reach our hand out and grab onto those who feel like they don’t belong. Do not just pass by them as though they are invisible, instead help find the place they belong.
life is too short
“I refuse to let pointless drama and peer pressure bring me down. I also refuse to let others steal joy from my life.”
-SENIOR Moorea long Everyone of us will one day get a call that changes everything. It may be from a doctor about a diagnosis, a policeman calling about an accident, an employer about a lost job, the bank about a stolen identity, or someone else with another piece of devastating, horrible, life-changing news. Some will receive more than one of these calls. In moments like these, our priorities are very quickly realigned. For me, the call came in the spring of 2010. I was at the ice skating rink when my mom called my dad to say she had been diagnosed with breast cancer. We rushed home to find my mom crying with the phone by her feet and we all burst into tears. Our plans for the weekend, and quite frankly life, immediately changed. Thankfully for us, my mom is a survivor, but the experience taught me many things about life and keeping my priorities in check. I refuse to let pointless, petty drama and peer pressure bring me down. I also refuse to let other people steal any joy from my life. Anyone who has received that same type of call can relate. Such a call brings with it a crash course on what really matters in life. It’s a course no one would ever sign up for in their entire life, but the takeaway is sure to
make a person more determined to live life to the fullest and dream big. At the top of life’s priorities, are the four F’s: faith, family, friendship and my future. I find with this sort of framework, I won’t spend myself worrying about something more than five minutes that won’t matter in five years. The best way to keep priorities in order is to live life gratefully. The world consists of givers and takers and I truly believe that takers will receive empty, short-term gratification, while givers will lead a full life filled with happiness. In the end, those who give the most will get the most out of life. It feeds my spirit to deliver craft kits to pediatric oncology patients at Children’s Mercy on a quarterly basis. I started this project after my mom’s cancer diagnosis. I know how people feel when they have such a heavy topic on their mind, and it’s nice to have something to comfort them and take their minds off things. Anyone who wants to give back can find some charity or a cause to help. I promise your life will be more fulfilled for it and you will be ready for whatever phone call comes your way.
The Reporter February 2018 Opinion
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1 in 643
a series providing a glimpse into the life of one out of the 643 unique students at PHS
Master of music parks expresses himself though music{
} {trinity miller}
Mariah sullivan
Music provides a way for Braden Parks, 11, to express himself. Parks plays five instruments: the guitar, bass, piano, tuba and ukulele. Parks started playing the saxophone in fifth grade for the school band and played throughout sixth grade as well. After sixth grade, Parks picked up the guitar and bass, and taught himself how to play the piano. Parks’ former band director influenced him to learn tuba. When he transferred to Paola his sophomore year, he shifted his focus from STEM (Science Technology Engineering Mathematics) to making his own music. “I started making music because sometimes I get bored with the music I’m assigned, so I began to experiment and create my own types,” Parks said. Parks usually creates instrumental blues rock he plays himself, but occasionally has to improvise some beats. At the end of Parks’ sophomore year, he bought a 4-Track Recorder and started mixing tracks and recording music in his bedroom. “I began making actual music in sixth grade, and have finally got to the point where I could improvise with my music when I began to feel comfortable in jazz band with [Band instructor Michael] Solomon,” Parks said. During the summer, Parks recorded a lot. This fall, he started making his own beats on his laptop. Parks said he started making beats because he didn’t have a drum kit, and he needed to add more detail to his music. Parks’ process begins with creating a beat, or finding one online, recording a background instrument, improving
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the blues solo and recording until it’s right. “I don’t really know if I have any fans, but my biggest one is probably my grandma,” Parks said. “Making music is something I enjoy doing. It’s kind of like a creative outlet, so I don’t think I will stop.” Artists from many genres inspire Parks, such as: Bob Dylan, Mumford & Sons, The Beatles and Stevie Wonder. “Mr. Solomon has helped me develop as a musician and showed me some artists to base my music off of,” Parks said. “Noah Rolf, ‘17 graduate, turned me onto some really good quality music and genres I pull inspiration from.” Viktor Pichnenko, 10, and Parks created a collaboration in November. Parks said Pichnenko wrote the lyrics and rapped them, while Parks made the beat and produced the song. Parks released his extended play record, EP, “Improv” to SoundCloud on July 14. The EP included eight songs he improvised and created on his own. The EP will also be released on Spotify in early February. Vinn Rolf, 11, created the art for the cover. “He asked me if I wanted to do his EP art,” Rolf said. “He offered me $20, but he’s a friend so I didn’t do it for money.” Rolf said she would continue to create Parks’ cover art because it could bring good exposure to herself as an artist, despite Parks not having a large following. “Once he grows as an artist, I will get more exposure as well,” Rolf said.
Spotify/SoundCloud: Parksie
Top: Vinn Rolf, 11, creates an illustration of Braden Parks for one of his song releases. “Braden’s covers all depend on what he wants. I send him progress after working on them and wait for his reaction,” Rolf said. {Illustration by Vinn Rolf} Bottom: Braden Parks, 11, poses for his “Pull Up” [remix] cover. “I try to make my covers relate to the impression that each song brings, but I also try to make them fun because they are a reflection of my music,” Parks said. {Photo courtesy of Braden Parks}
instagram: @parks.braden The Reporter February 2018 FEATURES
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the court
on and Off
{rylan armbruster} {hannah menefee} {abby Richmond} Reporter
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coming and going: seniors and freshman For Kale Clark, 12, and Myra Leckner, 9, this basketball season is very special. For Leckner, she enters the basketball program, while Clark will leave it. For the seniors, this season means a little bit more according to Kelley Colwell, 12, and coach Stuart Ross. “Like most groups we’ve been through a lot, there is such a wide amount of personalities in the group and I’m just going to miss the simple personalities,” Ross said Ross also said he was very pleased with the turnout of freshman and their coachability. “It’s really sad because every other year you expect to come back and play again but after this year I know that I’m not going to come back,” Colwell said. Colwell said the teammates and coaches made basketball enjoyable for her. She said she connected with former junior varsity basketball coach Greg Cartwright, called Coach Hoss by players. “Coach Hoss last year was just a big ole’ teddy bear,” Colwell said. Lady Panther Basketball welcomed a new junior varsity coach, Abyee Maracigan. Colwell said she enjoyed the new coach’s experience and how she connected with the girls. “She really just came in and knew what she was talking about, and she really got to know us,” Colwell said
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A few sophomores, get experience playing varsity. Ryan Wokutch, 10, said he found playing basketball on varsity shocking. “I was really nervous, and I was just scared to mess up,” Wokutch said Wokutch said he felt more pressure because of his older brother, Kyle Wokutch, ‘16 graduate and varsity starter. “Yeah, there’s a lot of pressure because I feel like he was such a great athlete, so he set the bar high for me,” Wokutch said. Myra Leckner, 9, said she also feels the pressure of stepping into her sister Rheanna Leckner’s, ’17 graduate and varsity starter, shoes “The pace of high school is a lot faster than middle school,” Leckner said. “When you go in the huddle they make sure you get close, it’s really cool. I really enjoy being able to play a sport with a team and others who enjoy basketball as well. It’s nice to get to play with people who share your passion.” Clark said he is going to miss playing basketball. “It’s been fun and this is the first year that we seniors are all on varsity together, but it’s gonna be sad to leave,” Clark said “I’m closest to Kurt [Golubski, 12], but everybody makes it fun. I wouldn’t turn back and change anything, these last four years were awesome.”
Top: Kale Clark, 12, shoots the ball during the game against Burlington Jan. 19. The Panthers placed fourth in the Burlington tournament. Clark said his favorite memory was practicing with the older kids and then becoming one of them. Bottom: Sophie Jones, 10, dribbles down the court Dec. 8 against Harrisonville in the Paola tournament. Varsity girls placed third in the tournament. {Photo by Hannah Menefee} Bottom Right: Kelley Colwell, 12, shoots a free throw against Wellsville Dec. 5. The girls lost 59-65. “My favorite part is we all have fun, but we know when it’s time to be serious and get work done,” Colwell said. {Photo by Macayla Enman} Bottom Left: Seth Richmond, 11, goes in to catch the ball against Bonner Springs Jan. 23. The boys lost when the Braves sunk a last-second basket 50-53. {Photo by Mariah Sullivan}
The Reporter February 2018 Sports
THE importance of a team teammates cheer on individual athletes in wrestling, swim meets {
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Hannah Menefee
Jake Miller, 12, said wrestling differs from any other team sport because he wrestles by himself, but he also represents the team. “You have to be able to push yourself and inspire the other wrestlers,” Miller said. A team is crucial to every sport, including swim and wrestling. The team helps push athletes to do their best during meets and practices, Miller said. Miller said his goals are to wrestle in college -- he committed to Baker last week, then represent the country in wrestling. “Wrestling is more of a team sport than people realize,” Miller said. “You are responsible for your teammates as much as yourself.” The team affects Miller because he knows he helps others. His No. 1 goal is to teach and inspire others, he said. More than 40 students wrestle this season. With more wrestlers, the team has more depth, he said. Aziza Patillo, 12, decided to wrestle her senior year because of her long family line of wrestlers. “I decided to follow in their footsteps,” Patillo said. “I wish I would have started earlier.”
Patillo said her biggest challenge is wrestling guys because she has to overcome challenges. “I know I have a disadvantage,” Patillo said. “It makes me work harder and think smarter because the guy is stronger and faster than me.” Wrestling gives Patillo the opportunity to have fun and get in shape, she said. “The team is always so goofy and they encourage you to do your best,” Patillo said. “The Varsity wrestlers are willing to help the beginners and the girls especially.” Patillo said the team helps with the mental side of things. “You are on the mat by yourself, the team can’t win matches for you but you know they have your back,” Patillo said. Teamwork also plays an important part in swim. “The team has pushed me to do my best,” Mason Escobar, 10, said. “Teammates play a big role in relays and they are always supporting you when you compete.” Escobar said he joined swim to stay in shape for track and cross country. “I’m glad I joined because it’s a lot of fun and I get to hang out with peo-
ple after school that I never thought I would,” Escobar said. He said swim helped him get in shape, and made him work harder and become a better team player. Kye Mayo, 11, said his season is going great because he has improved his times and qualified for state in the freestyle 200 relay. He said his biggest challenge is improving times because he said it’s like the darkest before the dawn staying in the same spot no matter how hard he works to get better. Mayo swims because he likes the feeling of doing a unique sport. “Some people look at swim and think it’s lame because no one does it,” Mayo said. “I look at it as the opposite, I do it because it is rare.” Even though there are only 13 swimmers on the team, Mayo said the bond between them is strong. “The team is one of the main reasons I keep swimming,” Mayo said. “They are always there at the end of the lane and they always have something positive to say about your race.”
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Top: Mason Escobar, 10, swims the butterfly on Jan 17. Escobar said he enjoys competing with his teammates in a friendly environment. “I joined swim just to see if I could do it because I swam when I was younger,” Escobar said. {Photo by Trinity Miller} Bottom: Jordyn Knecht, 9, wrestles her opponent from Chanute Jan. 25 in Paola. Knecht pinned her opponent, Trevor Clements in the 106-pound weight class. Paola lost in the dual. {Photo by Hannah Menefee}
The Reporter February 2018
Sports
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Chick Flix
{paige fleming} reporter
best movies to cuddle up and watch on valentine’s day
In the beginning, Baby Houseman stumbles upon this party full of forbidden dance since it is considered “dirty.” In romance movies, you always want to have an attractive male as a lead because it makes more people want to watch it. Patrick Swayze, who plays Johnny Castle, is shirtless during a lot of the movie which is definitely a plus. And Swayze and Jennifer Grey, who plays Baby, work so well together. Even though Baby is a lot younger than Castle in the movie, she’s 17 and he’s 25 the age difference doesn’t seem to matter as much. A con would be when you have to sit on edge waiting for the
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The gorgeous Ryan Gosling, who plays Noah Calhoun, stars in this movie along with Rachel McAdams, who plays Allie Hamilton, who is stunning as well. The pair share the perfect summer romance, until Hamilton’s parents see it as just a summer fling. Her parents a think she needs to marry someone with money rather than for love which is downright awful. Imagine being forced to marry for money so you were stuck with someone you hated. Without Allie, Noah falls apart but finishes their dream house by himself. Anyone who watches this movie just knows Hamilton and Calhoun
Kat Stratford, played by Julia Stiles, is a complete bad chick who is a hardcore feminist, hates men, and no one messes with her because she is kind of scary. She doesn’t care what other people think about her and listens to rock, while all the other girls are listening to things like “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” by Cyndi Lauper. There are many rumors about her which makes her perfect for Patrick Verona, played by Heath Ledger, because everyone
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characters to tell the other characters news and they just don’t. This movie was released in 1987 when dancing was at a different era. You have a hard time understanding why Baby’s dad doesn’t like Castle for a while too because it’s not straight forward about it. I also think Baby’s sister, Lisa, played by Jane Brucker, is annoying and an awful singer so I don’t know why she got a solo part in the end of the movie, she’s not the nicest to Baby, and gets way more attention than she needs, whereas Baby gets little to no attention from her family. She’s considered the “baby” and gets treated that way.
spread rumors about him as well. The movie sends a message about not judging a book by its cover because you never know a person’s true self until you get to know them. I liked that Kat was into music because that made her stand out even more since she wasn’t following the crowd. This movie definitely has some funny moments, so it’s not just a straight romance. It is a cliche since everyone can predict the ending.
The Reporter february 2018 entertainment
{Art by: Paige Fleming}
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are perfect for each other, especially in the scene where he kisses her in the pouring rain. The typical girl would wish for something like this to happen in their lifetime since it’s such a romantic kiss. Watching this movie can be frustrating in the sense her parents won’t let her be with someone because they are not well off. In the actual acting part Hamilton and Calhoun seem madly in love but in real life they fought all the time and had a hard time working together. You would’ve never known how they felt about each other in real life.
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Buy yourself flowers
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Eat ice cream & watch romance movies Hang out with friends Buy yourself chocolate
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Go get some chicken nuggets
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Cheap V-day dates
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Things to do if you’re single
Go to the Nelson Atkins Art Museum Watch Netflix and cuddle on the couch Have an indoor picnic Stage a fun game night Eat some burritos with bae Take a walk while the sun is setting Plan a big treasure hunt