Griffin Rites November 2014 issue

Griffin Rites Winnetonka High School

November 4, 2014

Vol. 45 Issue 2

PTSD Editorial Pg. 3 Health Occupation Student Organization Pg. 5 All in the family: Gifted students Pg. 8-9

Visit Winnetonka’s news site at: http://tonkanews.com

3- Editorial *PTSD concerns 4-7 News *Solar flares create concern *Calendar *Health Occupation Student Association *Late fall television line-up *Safety poll 8-9 Features *Monsees twins juggle an extraordinary schedule 10-Focus *New college advisors 11- Entertainment *�Maze Runner� movie review 12- Arts *11 awards given at university art show 13-15 Sports *Photo collage *Area rubgy club for girls * Golf finishes season

* Soccer team looks ahead 16- Etc. *Flag shirts not allowed in other schools

Staff members and policies Chloe Minnick- Co-Editor and Copy Editor; Writer, Photographer, Layout & Design Amber Murray- Co-Editor; Writer, Photographer, Layout & Design Emily Elliott- Photo Editor; Writer, Photographer, Layout & Design Brianna Hartleb- Web Page Manager, Senior Leader; Writer & Photographer Savannah Moore- Asst. Copy Editor, Writer & Photographer Kayla Pendergrast- Sports Editor; Writer & Photographer Rachel Adamson- Infographic, Cover and Layout Design; Photographer

Photographers/ reporters/*design editors

Cover photo taken during an interview with the American Legion on Monday, Oct. 20.

(Phyllis Rosales pictured).

Other veterans interviewed were: Bob Box, Nelson Duncan and Bill McDonald.

Alyssa Magrone Eli Stenner *Emily Noyes Eva Yang Hayden Weatherman Jocelin Egeland *Mallery Zion Marena Draskovich Marley Kennaley-Cartoonist

Adviser Dr. Shannon Rennaker

The Griffin Rites staff strongly supports the First Amendment and opposes censorship. Freedom of expression and press are fundamental values in a democratic society. The mission of any institution committed to preparing productive citizens must include teaching students these values, both by example and lesson. We welcome letters to the editor and reserve the right to edit them for grammar and length, but we will not change ideas. Letters may attack policies but not people.

They must be signed and submitted to F6 or mailed to Dr. Shannon Rennaker attention at 5815 NE 48th St., Kansas City, Mo. 64119. Subscriptions are available for $13. Advertising space is also available. Please e-mail shannon.rennaker@nkcschools.org or call 816.413.5500 for information. Our organization is a member of the Journalism Educators of Metropolitan Kansas City, Journalism Educators Association and the National Scholastic Press Association.

Page 2- Table of Contents

Winnetonka High School

November 4, 2014

Veterans deserve a fighting chance

By Chloe Minnick and staff

properly diagnosed as a mental disorder.

As soldiers return from war, we see more and more of them withdraw and struggle due to this paralyzing disorder. People with PTSD are more likely to develop addictions and often do not have it in them to seek help.

Phyllis Rosales, a retired naval officer, has seen active duty for

W

hile wars wage overseas, some battles are fought in the minds of our veterans.

Aside from physical disabilities, the government fails to fully support soldiers who return to civilian life with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The risk of developing PTSD differs depending on how much violence they have seen or experienced.

Signs include disturbing flashbacks, night terrors, reoccuring nightmares and severe stress when thinking of the event, according to Mayo Clinic.

It is difficult to understand the reasoning behind ignoring the needs of people who would and might have taken a bullet for us.

Securing our country’s freedom seems reason enough to be repaid.

PTSD was not diagnosed as a mental illness until after the major wars of the United States.

Government officials and the U.S. army downplayed the issue as “shell shock” or “battle fatigue.”

The rising problem has since been more recognized, understood and

Volume 45 No. 2

themselves.

“You can’t do anything to help, but you’re not trained to do anything. But recognizing it is a step. Sometimes, just talking can help,” Rosales said.

Men and women who drop their everyday lives to be shot at are defined as heroes. Retired Chief Petty Officer Nelson Duncan of the Navy has seen strong men crumble once they have returned to the states.

“No one is doing anything [about PTSD],” he said. “But I, quite frankly, would do it [serve] again. Why? Because every single one of you; were worth it.”

There are programs and hospitals veterans can check into for help and support, but they are not highly rated and are often understaffed. These disorders require highly trained professionals for counseling and care.

If these warriors are willing to die to protect our freedoms, the beneficiaries should take time to recognize and save them from themselves.

more than half of the time she was enlisted.

“At times, you cannot seem to be around anyone. I can’t say they [the government] do very much,” she said.

Noticing the signs of PTSD can help more than people think.

People see our heroes struggle but figure someone else will help before considering lending a hand

Griffin Rites

Editorial-Page 3

Solar storm strikes fear in public Recent solar flares proved not harmful by NASA

By Savannah Moore

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n Sept. 7, the activity level of the sun in its current 11-year cycle peaked with a powerful solar storm.

The titanic explosion peaked at 1:48 p.m., covering several times more area than the Earth.

X-ray emissions skyrocketed to as high as 193 angstroms (unit of measurement for length in wavelengths and inter-atomic distances) from highly ionized iron atoms, according to Sky and Telescope.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) determined this was an X-class (extreme) event.

The flare unleashed a wave of relativistic particles and x-rays that reached Earth just minutes later.

This particular eruption and solar flare came from a sunspot group known as the active region 2158.

The solar storm created a coronal mass ejection (CME) that lashed out and created a sort of halo around the sun, all while aiming the potentially dangerous rays directly at Earth.

Although the first instinct when it comes to hearing about solar flares is to be afraid, scientists say there is no immediate threat.

“The most dangerous emissions from flares are energetic charged particles (primarily high-energy protons) and electromagnetic radiation (primarily x-rays),” Sky and Telescope said.

Earth’s protection from these kinds of events consists of its atmosphere and magnetic field.

X-rays are able to disturb Earth’s ionosphere, and because of this also disturb some radio communications.

Earth’s outer atmosphere often falls victim to x-rays as well, when it is heated and forced to expand. This expansion increases the friction of orbit for the satellites in space and in turn reducing their lifetimes.

This change in the atmosphere and intense radio emission can degrade the precision of Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) measurements.

Regardless, energetic particles seldom reach Earth and when they do they are either rebounded by the magnetic field or the fail to significantly increase the radiation Earth experiences, according to Hesperia.

Despite the threat embedded in the words “solar flare,” the human population has essentially nothing to worry about. Solar flares are constantly happening and no one but astronomers seem to be too concerned.

Upcoming events: November 5- End of 12 weeks

November 23- Cheer Competition with NYSFL

November 10- Progress reports distributed

November 26-28- No school

Thanksgiving Break

November 14- Scholar Bowl Trivia Event

5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Media Center November 15- Art Trip Fundraiser

9 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Barnes and Noble at Zona Rosa November 20-22- Winnetonka Musical “Side Show”

7 p.m.

Auditorium

Page 4- News

December 2- Group Picture Day

7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Auditorium December 13- Pommie KC Classic Competition Liberty High School December 19- End of 1st semester

Winnetonka High School

November 4, 2014

HOSA jumpstarts medical careers

By Emily Noyes

having the students do projects centering around the medical field. ”I hope to gain more knowledge about health services and health sciences,” sophomore Sarah Anderson said.

The club has been limited to around 20 students this year to build a strong foundation for the club to grow around. How the club continues from there is up to the students.

“It all depends on the students. It is up to the students to be as big and encompassing as the students want it [HOSA] to be,” HOSA adviser Scott Fohey said.

Interest forms to apply for HOSA were available to students in Project Lead the Way (PLTW) biomedical classes. The application asked for the students future career choice and why the

S

tudents interested in having a career in the medical field are joining together in the new Health Occupation Student Association (HOSA).

The club is designed for college and high school students with an interest in healthcare.

It is a way for students with likeminded goals to practice and build skills.

“With healthcare you get better relationships and get to cooperate with caring people in the field,” sophomore Eldridge Villegas said.

HOSA is partnering with American Health Education Centers (AHEC), an organization that helps students prepare for careers in the medical field. It does this by giving demonstrations and

Volume 45 No. 2

Griffin Rites

wanted to be a part of HOSA. “I want to be a neurologist.

Any sort of health oriented group I want to be a part of [HOSA] for networking purposes it will be helpful,” Anderson said.

The club plans on having an oral health unit that includes mink mouth dissections and guest speakers.

“I’m looking forward to the experiments. I like doing hands on activities,” Villegas said.

The students will also become CPR trained through the Red Cross and get their Health Insurance Portability Accountability Act (HIPAA) certification though Heartland Medical.

HOSA is a way for students to connect with each other and gain opportunities that will help them in their chosen career paths.

News-Page 5

Page 6- News

Winnetonka High School

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11 12

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Netflixing.

Marathoning. Call it want you want; they’re back.

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December 4 Redneck Island December 7 The Librarians December 9

Ascension November 28 One Child

November 24

State of Affairs

November 17

The Missing

November 15

Getting on

The Comeback

The Newsroom

November 9

MasterChef

November 7

1

1

9 5

2

4 3

2014 Fall/ Winter TV shows

By Rachel Adamson

Hi-Fi Stereo System

November 4, 2014

Do You Feel Safe at Winnetonka?

Sophomore Sarah Harper “Yes I do, because of the hall monitors and security cameras.”

Senior Ahmed Jeylani “Yes. Because of all of the security.”

Junior Alex Pratt “Yes. Because I trust the teachers that they would not take it to that level.”

Teacher Nathan Stephenson “Yes, the doors are locked, we have a single entry system along with two armed deputies.”

Freshman Saray De La Torre “No. Because I feel that some people don’t know how to protect themselves.”

meats

har�est

deli t�ays baked goods

N. Oak Trafficway & Vivion Rd. Barry Rd. & N. Oak Trafficway 64th St. & N. Prospect

Volume 45 No. 2

We Support the Winnetonka Griffins

Griffin Rites

News-Page 7

eniors Sabrina and Luke Monsees have devoted their four high school years to success.

Both students have earned recognition from National Merit. Sabrina is a National Merit commended student while Luke is a semi-finalist.

A commended student is not qualified for the National Merit scholarship but is recognized for his/her achievements.

“Schools recognize National Merit. Some colleges will offer full rides or at least scholarships.

Most colleges will at least give you recognition,” Sabrina said.

Luke and Sabrina are both involved in other school activities and excel in those fields as well.

Cross country coach Dale Brown is proud of the determination Sabrina has for running.

“Running has opened up four years of her life.

I don’t think she could even begin to imagine just how much running has changed her life,” Brown said.

Luke is president of DECA (Distributive Education Clubs of America) and Key Club. Both students have learned to juggle their schedules to prevent themselves from being overwhelmed.

“It’s hard to prioritize but you have to make a schedule and stick with it so you can balance your commitments,” Luke said.

Although they are alike in many ways, gifted resource specialist Carrie Marcantonio has gotten to know them both and sees distinct differences in their personalities.

“My favorite characteristic is that she [Sabrina] is a Hufflepuff. She’s a loyal competitor, but she won’t step on people to beat others,” Marcantonio said. I love talking to her about the things she’s passionate about. She’s not like a typical high school student. She’s more of an old soul here to hand out her wisdom to her fellow students.”

The love they have for knowledge does shine through in both Luke and Sabrina.

“Luke has a teachable spirit. He sees other’s opinions and understands that not everyone is going to have the same opinion as him,” Marcantonio said.

For their younger brother, junior Collin Monsees, being related to Luke and Sabrina puts a lot of pressure on him.

“I think it’s kind of cool to have a brother who does so much and is

Page 8- Features

go the distance

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Gifted teens

By Emily Elliott and Brianna Hartleb

able to keep up with it. I am number one on the tennis team which is something Luke hasn’t done,” Collin said.

Both Sabrina and Luke look forward to a finishing their high school careers being in the top of the senior class and beginning their ascent into greatness.

Winnetonka High School

To quality for National Merit...

-Take the PSAT junior year and receive a high score (no certain score specified) -Take the SAT senior year and receive a high score (no certain score specified) -Submit your application to the induction committee -Enroll in college (full time) for the fall semester after graduation

Luke and Sabrina Monsees work together in Gold Medallion to further their chances of going far in life. The first step they took in this direction was taking the PSAT.

Photo by Emily Elliot

√√ Cross country IT’S A √√ STUCO √√ Track √√ DECA √ √ Scholar Bowl √√ Band J U G G L IN G √√ Key club √√ Leadership √√ National Honor √√ Gold Medallion ACT Society Griffin Rites

Features-Page 9

College advisory doubles in size Smith expands postsecondary options

By Amber Murray

Reeves urges kids to grow as individuals P

aul Reeves, one of the new college advisiors, wishes to increase the number of college bound seniors. ebble Smith is a new college advisor who has set

Reeves has just recently graduated. high expectations for herself this year.

“I graduated in May of 2014 from the University

Before coming to Winnetonka Smith worked on of Missouri-Columbia,” Reeves said. campus at the University of Missouri-Columbia.

Pebble Smith, the other college advisor, enjoys

“I just graduated from the University of Missouri having Reeves as a partner and loves the atmosphere [Columbia]. I worked in the department of student at our school. activities on campus and at the Girls and Boys Town “The environment and off campus,” Smith said. culture here is so different from

So far Smith is enjoying her any high school or anywhere time as a college advisor.

I’ve worked before. I can’t

“Winnetonka is very imagine being anywhere else,” supportive. I love that it is so Reeves said. welcoming, and how everyone The students believe that the is so friendly,” Smith said. college advisors are extremely

The students enjoy how helpful. friendly Smith is.

“Mr. Reeves broke out a list

“She is a sweetheart. I see of the top five colleges for me her in the hallways and she is and we went from there. He always upbeat and cheery,” helped me prepare for the ACT senior Desiree Brown said. and other tests,” senior Desiree

The advisors only Brown said. complaint is that they have not Reeves is also a part of the seen as many students as they GSA (Gay Straight Alliance) would like. also known as Colors.

“We would love to see “I’m one of the advisers for more seniors and juniors in our the gay straight alliance. It is office,” college advisor Paul not something I had in high Reeves said. school and being able to be a

Smith plans on giving Pebble Smith and Paul Reeves Oct. 20 trying to locate a student for a conference. part of it is great,” Reeves said. students ample opportunities

Photo by Amber Murray Reeves hopes to be there for to prepare for college. students and provide a safe

“We have a UCM tour environment to grow. coming up in November. We have other events too “I would like to make sure that I provide a place but the dates are tentative. We have a Spanish college where students feel like they can come talk to me. I info night, a military info night and a financial aid want to let students know there is so much beyond night,” Smith said. high school. Whether you love it or hate it, what lies

Reeves is grateful to have Smith working with beyond it is life changing and something you need to him. be prepared for,” Reeves said.

Smith’s hope is to help more students go to

Reeves plans to open up more post-secondary college and expand choices for students with other options for students. plans that do not include going to college.

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Page 10- Focus

Winnetonka High School

November 4, 2014

Suspensful thriller keeps viewers on the edge

By Mallery Zion

M

any people have a fear of being trapped. What if the only way to escape your fate would be to go through a maze?

The movie, “The Maze Runner,” based off the book

by James Dashner, was a compialation of many people’s worst fears. Over the span of three years, one by one, select boys wake up in the middle of a maze with temporary amnesia and limited supplies.

Thomas (Dylan O’Brian) is the perfect actor for portraying a boy being in a new environment with only a slight recollection of his past. O’Brian also stars in the popular television show “Teen Wolf.”

Watching the struggle of civil survival, it is easy to relate and develop attachment to the story even if viewers have not

Volume 45 No. 2

read the book.

People are comparing this movie to “The Hunger Games,” but the only thing it has in common is the fight for survival.

The plot is slightly confusing and difficult to grasp in the beginning, but the suspenseful atmosphere and quest for answers draws the audience in.

When the movie reveals the purpose of the maze, it builds your perspective of an anticipated future of civilization.

With heart felt characters and challenging circumstances, viewers soon will catch themselves sitting on the edge of their seat, wide-eyed and wrapped in the story.

This movie is PG-13 and may not be appropriate for younger viewers. Overall, this movie gets an A-.

Griffin Rites

Entertainment-Page 11

By Baylee Gilliland

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alent flows through the students as the advanced art students take their first trip to the Missouri Western State University (MWSU) art show in St. Joseph Missouri.

“It’s a competition open to any student who is attending. Each student can bring art work to the exhibit, judges will be awarding at least 10 percent of the art work,” art teacher Heather Sulzen said.

Sulzen and the advanced art students who took the trip to MWSU cannot wait to go again next year.

Seniors still took the opportunity to come on the field trip to the MSWU art show and have the experience.

“I gained competition experience, it was definitely interesting. It was really cool to see all the other artwork from all the other schools and see what other students are doing,” senior Lindi Oyler said.

Anyone can make a living, or find a new hobby. It is never too late.

“Art is such a universal thing anyone can see it and understand it. It’s very cool to see something of your own inspire other people so that to me is what keeps me going to want to do more art,” freshman Harper Ross said.

MWSU students were allowed to walk around the art show. The exhibit included: art cards, digital

animation workshops, painting, photograms, plaster relief, printing and still life.

Students who got to throw on the wheel, even ones who had never done it before, got to learn more about it.

“Seeing the finished product is the coolest. Honestly, I haven’t made enough art to know exactly what it is, what my style is. The more art I make the more I define who I am and what I believe goes into my art,” Oyler said.

Ross wants to take on art in the future just as Oyler wants to keep finding her style.

“One day I would like to be a comic book illustrator at DC Comics. It would be awesome if I could take my art there, in the mean time I would like to use it just as a way to express myself and also help inspire other people either to be artists or to just recognize the talent in themselves,” Ross said.

As the talented students took on their first trip to the MWSU art show, at the end of the day our advanced students brought home 11 awards from the showcase.

Top photo: Sophomore McKayla Jameson paints at MWSU art show Oct. 9 Bottom photo: Art teacher, Mrs. Sulzen making pottery at MWSU Oct. 9 Photos by Baylee Gilliland

“Art is such a universal thing anyone can see it and understand it.”

Students shine at St. Joseph art show

Art competes at MWSU

Page 12- Arts

Winnetonka High School

November 4, 2014

the final score is...

Photo by Savannah Moore

6-15-2

6-2

Photo by Emily Elliot

conference champions

2 in state Photo submitted

4-8

Photo submitted

Photo by Emily Elliot Photo by Clay’s Casual Shots

3 in state

Volume 45 No. 2

2 in conference

Griffin Rites

Sports-Page 13

A new sport equals a new beginning

By Jessica Gebauer, J1 Writer

Middle School.

This is his first year coaching this team. new sport club “I was assistant team has sprung up coach with Liberty in North Kansas City High School’s girls Schools. rugby team for four Rugby is a years, and I have sport that combines been assistant coach soccer and football. for their boys team Winnetonka has and Park Hill’s boys combined with the team for the last ten other three high years,” Lynch said. schools, Staley, Since this Northtown, and Oak year has been so Park, to make an all successful, they girls rugby team. are planning on The North Kansas City rugby club team, which includes Staley, “I really enjoy continuing rugby Oak Park, Winnetonka and Northtown. getting to bond with

Photo submitted next year. all the other girls. We “Our team is never really interacted doing much better before, but now we have a battle for and with each than anyone predicted. We hoped we might get a other,” junior Dylan Kilgore said. couple wins here and there, but instead we’re now Practices are at Hodge Park Athletic Field and 6-2 and ranked 2 in the state. Our two losses were to consist of many drills to help shape and improve Liberty High School, the number one team,” Lynch their playing skills. said.

“I love the tackling part of practice because I like Even though it is the first year for rugby they are to use my body to stop someone else against their expecting a lot for future games and seasons. will,” Kilgore said.

“When the girls are on the field, their high The coach, Mike Lynch is from Maple Park school rivalries disappear and we become a rugby sisterhood. If no one told you we came from different schools, you wouldn’t be able to tell,” Kilgore said.

Lynch expanded on his explaination of the club.

“We are the North Kansas City S.N.O.W. Rugby club. The acronym has the first initial from Staley, Northtown, Oak Park, and Winnetonka. Our mascot is the Yetis. We combine girls from all high schools in the same way the S.N.O.W. swim team does.”

State will be held on November 8. If interested in playing for the team, email or talk to coach Lynch about joining for the fall of 2015.

A

Page 14- Sports

Winnetonka High School

November 4, 2014

Small team encourages student bonding

By Cayla Adamson, J1 Writer

D

espite having a small team, girls golf finishes strong after a difficult season.

Three senior girls made all-conference this season. Senior Kaylin Williams was first team, senior Allison Storm was second team and senior Ciara Wiegers an honorable mention.

“Out of the 13 golf tournaments this year, conference went the best,” coach Nathan Stephenson said.

Sophomore Madelynn Caster, a first year golfer, played her first full round of golf this season.

“It took about five hours to do eighteen holes. It was tiring because we had to walk from hole to hole since we weren’t allowed to drive the golf carts,” Caster said.

The returning golfers welcomed Caster onto the

team, taking her under their wing.

“My best memory was when all of us stayed after school to design t-shirts for the neon tournament, which was a competition to see which team wore the most neon,” Caster said.

According to Sport Psychology Today, team cohesion and motivation is paramount in being successful as individuals and as a team.

“The girls have good times, many inside jokes and a lot of time to talk in and off the course. There is a team chemistry,” Stephenson said.

From his first year of coaching, Stephenson is trying to figure out how to get more girls to join.

The team is senior heavy with four out of six girls graduating this year.

Stephenson encourages people to come out for golf next season, even if they do not have any prior experience.

Players prepare for the upcoming seasons

By Jocelin Egeland and Emily Elliott

“I feel like if we could clean up our defense we would be a greater team. Offensively we have the tools to score,” junior Itua Ehovuon said.

The soccer players enjoy playing whether they win or lose.

“It [soccer] is what I love, it’s my joy in life,” said senior Krishan

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oming to the end of the season, the boys soccer team is wrapping up and looking towards next year.

The team has had their ups and downs throughout the season.

Senior Sadiq Ali focuses hard on the ball during the Belton game October 14. Ali has played soccer for two years now for Winnetonka.

Photo by Emily Eliott

Volume 45 No. 2

Griffin Rites

Nelson.

The coaches take pride in their team because of the challenge of playing the game.

“It is a difficult game to master as a player, so when you have players that know what they are doing, it is really fun to watch,” said coach David Flynn.

Already knowing their weak points, the boys are working on fixing them.

“A challenge is learning to not be selfish on the field and to work as a team and pass it [the ball] more,” said Nelson.

The players have fully comprehended their specialties and focused on things they need help on.

“I feel like we have under achieved this season. We have talented players and I thought we would win more games. At least now we know our weaknesses,” Ehovuon said.

The team has to be fully committed to be ready for the next season.

Sports-Page 15

Schools ban the American flag Officials infringe on student’s rights

By Mallery Zion

A

ccording to WSPA (Spartanburg) News, on Sept. 11 officials at Woodruff High School confiscated four students’ American flags flying from their vehicles.

In Spartanburg County, SC, the officials said it was against school district policy to “draw attention” to your vehicle. The flags were returned at the end of the day and the students remained unpunished.

“If this was all over the U.S. it would definitely infringe upon our free of speech and our rights,” american citizenship teacher Charli Seitz said.

This situation dates back to an extreme case in a northern California high school in 2010 on Cinco de Mayo when they ordered students wearing American flag shirts to flip them inside out.

“This situation makes me feel unhappy and they’re un-American,” veteran John Goldsberry said.

Our country’s freedom of self expression is being compromised at these high schools and people are genuinely concerned.

“I think it is a person’s right to wear the American flag if they choose. The school was trying to prevent an incident from happening before it happened. You have to provide safeguards but not stop them from wearing the clothes they want to wear,” Seitz said.

The federal court has continuously been challenged on this case but has uphold the ruling.

“I’ve seen t-shirts offensive to me personally, but I’ll stand up for their right to wear it because I believe in the constitution. I believe in the First Amendment,” Seitz said.

Rebellion for their freedom of expression has reoccurred every year by the students since the first incident.

“I think of all the service people that have

FROM:

Winnetonka High School 5815 NE 48 St. Kansas City, MO 64119

Page 16- Etc.

died in war, and it hurts me,” Goldsberry said.

The principal ordered the students wearing stars and stripes to turn them inside out or go home with an excused absence.

“I like exercising my right to freedom by wearing a shirt that celebrates freedom in a public school that celebrates freedom,” senior Zach Faust said.

The question many Americans are asking is why in our nation of equality and freedom is our own country’s flag being banned from shirts and vehicles but other nations’ flags are tolerated?

“I do think it’s cut and dry; they have the right to wear the American flag shirts just as the Mexican students have the right to wear Mexican flag shirts,” Seitz said.

After the confiscation of flags at Woodruff High School, the students and outraged parents planned to protest the following Monday. About a dozen people with flags flying from their vehicles drove in the front of the school while around ten more people stood on the sidewalk waving flags.

“I could wear an American flag shirt and stand up for my right to be an American,” Faust said.

The Ninth U.S. Court of Appeals said the officials’ concerns of racial violence outweighed students’ freedom of expression rights, and that they are not violating constitutional rights.

“It is the school districts policy and duty to protect any kind of uproar in school, this kind of situation isn’t enough to prohibit the students from wearing the shirts,”Seitz said.

Many people are shocked at this action.

“I didn’t want to be able to believe a high school could be so low,” Goldsberry said.

At the SC high school students and parents had no hesitation to display their opposition for the schools zero tolerance policy and people are still fighting for rights.

TO:

November 4, 2014