story by CHRISTOPHER LONG story by REESE DUNHAM
story by ADDY NEWMAN
THE HARBINGER
NOVEMBER 10, 2025
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staff
list
EDITORS DESIGN
PRINT EDITORS
Sophia Brockmeier
Libby Marsh
ONLINE EDITORS
Luciana Mendy
Lucy Stephens
ASST. PRINT EDITORS
Avni Bansal
Michael Yi
ASST. ONLINE EDITOR
Christopher Long
HEAD COPY EDITORS
Libby Marsh
Luciana Mendy
ASST. HEAD COPY
EDITOR
Grace Pei
PRINT PHOTO EDITOR
Paige Bean
Will Griffith
ASST. PHOTO EDITORS
Addie Clark
Molly Scott
Ava Towner
Tyler Russell
PHOTO MENTORS
Addie Clark
Katie Cook
Sylvie DeGalan
Zac Russell
VIDEO EDITORS
Preston Hooker
Emma Weidman
DESIGN EDITORS
Bella Broce
Sydney Eck
ASST. DESIGN EDITORS
Evelyn Bagley
Lucy Swope
DESIGN MENTORS
Lyla Weeks
Miranda Liberda
Julia Campbell
Tillie Paisner
PAGE DESIGNERS
Madeline Glasier
Devon McFadden
Ella Slicker
Kennedy Moore
Eisley Foster
SECTION EDITORS EDITORIAL
Ashtyn Ingram NEWS
Addy Newman OPINION
Adyson Cooper
Julia Campbell
A&E
Tillie Paisner SPORTS
Liberda
ART EDITOR
Francesca Lorusso
STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS
Annie Trenkle
Simon Shawver
Evelyn Geheb
Emma Weidman
Molly McDermed
Vivien Glenski
Anastasia Flower
Lexi Madden
Maggie Rogers
Layla Love
Sophia Cicero
Avra Welling
Darcy Kroening
Charlotte Walton
RJ Kordalski
Lexi Madden
Evelyn Gehab
Alex Harden
Avra Welling
EQUIPMENT MANAGER Will Griffith MULTIMEDIA STAFF
STAFF WRITERS
Vanessa Blades
Reese Dunham
Alex Harden
Sloane Henderson
Sienna Williams
Anya Hudson
Bridget Dean
political cartoon
STAFF ARTISTS
Preston Hooker
Tillie Paisner
Ella Slicker
Eisley Foster
COPY EDITORS
Preston Hooker
Caroline Beal
Addy Newman
Mya Smith
SOCIAL MEDIA EDITORS
Bella Broce
Lucy Stephens
ASST. SOCIAL MEDIA EDITORS
Evelyn Bagley
Ashtyn Ingram
SOCIAL MEDIA STAFF
Ashtyn Ingram
Evelyn Bagley
Adyson Cooper
Madeline Glasier
Devon McFadden
Sydney Eck
Lyla Weeks
Lucy Swope
ADS MANAGERS
Preston Hooker
Molly McDermed
Adyson Cooper ASST.
Julia Campbell
Hannah Rosemann
Effie Roper
CIRCULATION MANAGER
Zac Russell
CONTEST COORDINATORS
Christopher Long
Tyler Russell
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editorial policy
The Harbinger is a student run publication. Published editorials express the views of the Harbinger staff. Signed columns published in the Harbinger express the writer’s personal opinion. The content and opinions of the Harbinger do not represent the student body, faculty, administration or Shawnee Mission School District. The Harbinger will not share any unpublished content, but quotes material may be confirmed with the sources. The Harbinger encourages letters to the editors, but reserves the right to reject them for reasons including but not limited to lack of space, multiple letters of the same topic and personal attacks contained in the letter. The Harbinger will not edit content though letters may be edited for clarity, length or mechanics. Letters should be sent to room 400 or emailed to smeharbinger@gmail.com.
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SME Harbinger
Read more about the third floor greenhouse fire.
Check out a gallery of SHARE’s first service seminar this year.
photo by AVRA WELLING
cartoon by PRESTON HOOKER story by CAROLINE BEAL
NEWS
stories by MICHAEL YI
BIRDIE TAKES THE STAGE
The fall musical “Bye Bye Birdie” will premiere on Nov. 13 at 7 p.m., with further showings on Nov. 14-15
THEATRE’S “BYE BYE Birdie” musical runs Thursday through Saturday at 7 p.m. in the auditorium. Admission is free with a student ID or $10 by cash or check.
The Tony Award-winning 1960 stage musical is about rock star Conrad Birdie, who is drafted into the Army in the 1950s. As a publicity stunt, Birdie is arranged to kiss teen fan Kim MacAfee on live TV, causing chaos in a small town in Ohio.
The show is SM East’s first musical produced in the fall in 10 years, as well as the first “Bye Bye Birdie” performance in over a decade. The show was selected due to its recent Broadway revivals, according to musical director and theatre teacher Tom DeFeo.
“A lot of people like [Bye Bye Birdie],” senior Jordan O’Brien, who plays Mrs. MacAfee, said. “I think it’s the first time in a while we’ve done a show where
people are like ‘Oh yeah, I’ve definitely heard of that show.’”
DeFeo says the musical is in the fall this year because of issues with sick actors last winter during “Zombie Prom.” The show’s cast is larger, and many actors double and triple up on roles. The musical also uses eight student-made backdrops, compared to a typical three.
O’Brien says that while the show has a larger cast, the ensemble is less involved than in previous musicals, with the final number centering around the two main characters. Despite this, she feels that the main cast was wellselected.
“Everyone’s really good friends. I feel like we’re all really close,” O’Brien said. “I think the dynamics are pretty good, and we’ll only get closer as the show gets closer.”
ARTISTS OF EAST
The second annual East Area Art Fair will showcase over 200 individual works of art until Nov. 21
THE ART DEPARTMENT will showcase hundreds of works of art in the Commons and the art hallways from students in SM East and its feeder schools until Nov. 21 for the second annual East Area Art Fair.
“Other high school feeder patterns have art fairs like this, where all the schools that feed into that high school do a similar kind of exhibition,” art teacher Adam Finkelston said. “We just wanted to do something similar at East. It really helps promote the program.”
The fair’s reception is on Wednesday in the Commons from 3-6 p.m. The reception will include jazz music, face painting and student-led demonstrations on wheel throwing, darkroom photography and printmaking. Art Club members will give tours of the department for younger students and their parents.
Paintings, photographs, sculptures and ceramics will be among the types of art on display throughout the second floor. Students will be able to view the gallery for several weeks, but students and parents from feeder schools will only be able to see works at the reception.
Finkelston encourages parents and students from SM East’s elementary and middle schools to attend to learn more about what the art program has to offer. He also advises current high school students to check out the gallery at the reception and during the school day.
“It’s just nice to remember your elementary art school teachers and see the stuff you remember,” Finkelston said. “You might even see projects that you did when you were in elementary school.”
YOUTH IN ACTION
The Youth and Government club sent five students to the revived YMCA State Conference on Nov. 3 for the first time in four years
YOUTH IN GOVERNMENT sent five delegates to the State Conference at the University of Kansas Edwards campus on Nov. 3 for the first conference in four years after closing during the pandemic. More than 40 delegates from across the state met to compete to pass their own original bills on issues ranging from gun control to nuclear energy in a mock simulation of state government.
“I thought that it was a really fun conference and a great experience for all the people there,” YAG president and senior Eliza King said. “It was definitely a bit difficult at the start to get used to all the different phrases and how we had to act as legislators, but as I went through the day, I felt a lot more confident.”
King won distinction as an “Outstanding Statesperson” in the House, and junior Anna Nazar was elected as Secretary of State for next year’s conference. King was also one of five delegates to pass her bill through committee and both branches of Congress.
Nazar registered for the conference because she aims to major in history or political science in college. Her bill on food allergy disclosure in Kansas restaurants passed in committee and the Senate but failed in the House.
“Writing my own bill was very fun,” Nazar said. “I’ve written two bills before, [but] it was definitely a new experience since I’m not very used to writing them. I definitely learned a lot about ambiguous language.”
Outside of mock legislation, the Youth and Government club sets up voting presentations for seniors in the fall and a politician panel in the spring. King encourages students to join the club to gain hands-on experience with local government.
“Through our club, you can become a part of a lot of important things, like hosting politicians, getting in touch with local policymakers and really feeling like you have the ability to make an impact in your community and on a larger scale,” King said. “That’s really powerful and exciting.”
BELOW Sophomore Chase Reeves prepares to go onstage in the dressing room.
LEFT SM East Orchestra plays underneath the stage in the orchestra pit during the fall musical, “Bye Bye Birdie,” rehearsal.
ABOVE Junior Tori Roland performs on stage during rehearsals.
HOW TO RIDE
1) find stop
2) board bus
3) ride the bus
4) arrive at bus stop
5) step off bus stop
TRACKS TRACKS THE
EXPANDING K
ANSAS CITY, MO residents now have a more efficient way to travel between downtown and Midtown after the Kansas City Streetcar opened its new extension, linking neighborhoods and popular sites including Country Club Plaza, Westport, and more along the Main Street corridor.
Downtown Kansas City opened its extended route of the streetcar on Oct. 24, according to kcstreetcar.org. Stops were opened from Main Street and extended further south toward Midtown and University of Missouri-Kansas City.
For Kansas City, the streetcar represents more than just a means of transportation. According to kcstreetcar. org, It’s part of a larger effort to make public transit a realistic option in a city built for cars.
Donna Mandelbaum, the Marketing and Communications Director with the Kansas City streetcar authority, says the streetcar has changed how people connect and explore through the city through use on a daily basis and also economically.
“It has changed the economic development around Kansas City,” Madelbaum said. “It’s definitely changed the landscape of how the city looks. And there’s a lot more activity downtown in the Midtown area because of the free public transit that we have.”
According to kcstreetcar.org, the Kansas City streetcar connects riders with 31 platform stops and 5.7 miles of
The downtown Kansas City streetcar finished updates on Oct. 24 with new routes and tech for cost-free and efficient traveling
Kansas City introduced its original streetcar in 2016. The goal was to connect districts with a reliable, environmentally friendly and free transportation system. According to kcstreetcar. com The new extension provides consistent, costfree options for daily locals and travelers exploring the city, along with easier access to schools, jobs and entertainment, while promoting development along the streetcar corridor.
East alumni Susan Haenisch uses the streetcar every day for her job or even just for casual events like friend outings or sorority get-togethers. It helps her go from place to place without the excessive traffic and finding parking spots.
WHATEVER
they’re doing, it connects people to each other, into their community, and expands their experiences that they have in their life.
DONNA MANDELBAUM MARKETING DIRECTOR
For riders like Haenisch, the new streetcars have become an everyday mode of transportation, connecting her to more places for work, or casual outings.
“I love it,” Haenisch said. “I think it’s really helpful for people who don’t have cars or vehicles so I hope it will be super beneficial, and also just fun for people to get to ride too.”
And the construction isn’t over, with more underway to extend the streetcar even farther.
The new additions to the streetcar will make the system more useful for students at University of Missouri Kansas-City and Rockhurst University and workers who live outside the downtown area, according to Mandelbaum.
“We have several studies underway to expand the street cars to other areas, whether it’s in North Kansas City or east and west,” Mandelbaum said. “So hopefully the momentum keeps going, and we expand the street car system into other communities.”
The Streetcar not only helps riders get where they need to go, but also creates a community with shared experiences.
“Whether they’re on board and they’re exploring new artworks that are on the line, or see there’s a live musician or an art group on board doing an open drawing,” Mandelbaum said. “Whatever they’re doing, it connects people to each other, into their community and expands their experiences that they have in their life.”
track.
Mandelbaum says in 2026, the streetcar team will connect Kansas City and downtown to the Riverfront, along with other studies to expand the streetcar.
design by LYLA WEEKS
photos by MAGGIE ROGERS
art by BELLA BROCE
General information about the
shutdown
DEFINITION: failure of the President and Congress to reach agreement on full-year or interim funding measures
*according to congress.gov
longest government shutdown in American history, with the second longest being Trump’s last term in 2018
*according to The New York Times
The effects the shutdown has nationally
NATIONAL LOCAL FAST FACTS
All November 2025 SNAP benefits have been suspended until sufficient federal funding is provide
*according to dcf.ks.gov
DEBUNKINGTHE DAYS
Over 1 million federal employees are working without paychecks
*according to npr
Longer waiting times at airports, due to a shortage of air traffic controllers
*according to pbs.org
36 since the government shutdown, as of Nov. 6
Breaking down what the government shutdown means and how it affects Prairie Village
SHUT DOWN
STUDENTS and STATS
The effects the shutdown has in Kansas and the KC Metro area
November SNAP benefits were expected to be distributed to approximately 188,000 Kansans
*according to dcf.ks.gov
Hundreds of employees working for the Department of Housing and Urban Development are furloughed
*according to KMBC News
30,000 employees in Kansas City are federal workers that will be affected by the shutdown
*according to KMBC News
ALISON SCOTT JUNIOR
photo by ZAC RUSSELL
Student opinions on the shutdown
OPINION
comic strip
I DO THINK family YouTube channels are harmful because I thinks its not okay to exploit children that have no idea it’s wrong and I think they’re being compared frequently.
I THINK IT can go both ways, for example my sister was part of making a club that prevented suicide, and I know that is something she firmly believes in. However, I have also came across situations where people want to put one more thing on their resume
we asked you...
Students respond to this issue’s opinion stories
*Instagram poll of 123 votes DO YOU THINK STUDENTS SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO WORK OUTSIDE DURING THE SCHOOL DAY?
hot take
EStudents should be allowed to do class work outside during school
LEMENTARY-SCHOOL ME
shocked when she was told that high schoolers don’t get recess. I could never fathom the idea of being stuck inside boring school classrooms all day.
Now, as a sophomore, I find it evermore crucial that I have time to spend outside during the day to help both me and my mental health.
High school students are incredibly busy. There are some days when the only time I’m outside is when I get in and out of my car to drive to school. These are the days when I long to walk out of my fourth-hour English class to be in the sunshine and get some fresh air.
Seniors are given the freedom to leave school during their 25-minute lunch hour as long as they’re back in time for their next hour — something no other grade is allowed to do. While there’s a courtyard that’s part of the cafeteria, students are only able to eat outside when the doors are unlocked on nice weather days, and even then, it’s a race to whoever can claim the limited number of tables first.
I don’t see why students shouldn’t be allowed to work outside during their study time in class. Or even have a weekly walking club that walks the track during seminar. Perhaps just taking a short trip outside during certain hours when people have finished their work. Anything.
Science has proven that spending time
outside in the fresh air is beneficial. If it’s scientifically proven that working outside can be helpful to students’
GEORGE REARDON SOPHOMORE
story by BRIDGET DEAN
design & art by ADYSON COOPER
photos by AVRA WELLING
comic strip by EISLEY FOSTER
SOCIAL EXAMPLES
SOCIAL EXAMPLES
Various situations where people in power have misused social media
THE WHITE HOUSE
POWER ACCOUNTABILITY
ACCOUNTABILITY and
Individuals in positions of power should be held to a professional social media
WHEN AN AI-GENERATED
depicting President Donald Trump in a fighter jet dropping feces on peaceful “No Kings” protesters goes viral on social media, any sane person would assume it was posted by some random podcaster. It certainly couldn’t be coming from the President of the United States himself. You know, the man who has the nuclear launch codes, who controls the most powerful army in the world and most importantly, who’s supposed to represent the very same Americans who were bullied in the video.
Wrong.
Yes, on Oct. 18, Trump took it
platform owned by the Trump Media & Technology Group — bullying “No Kings” protesters. And while everyone is technically able to post such videos due to free speech, it’s a question of should powerful individuals like Trump be using social media in immature ways.
In the past decade, social media has become one of the primary forms of communication, so the actions and words of leaders on platforms like TikTok, X, Truth Social or Facebook now carry unprecedented weight. Especially with the younger generation increasingly using social media as their main news source and being easily influenced.
Those in power should express the same amount of professionalism on their social media accounts as they do in person. Without online competence, they not only embarrass themselves, but also the people they represent.
trolling rival schools on Instagram. That’s because it would be entirely unprofessional, and their actions would not only reflect poorly on themselves, but also harm their school’s reputation.
WHETHER
they’re presidents, CEOs or celebrities, leaders online can inspire, influence or incite the people they represent.
A principal doing so would also increase divisions between the two schools. Leaders have the responsibility to be the bigger person, and when leaders post alienating content, they embolden their followers to replicate that behavior. How can the American people be expected to act with integrity and respect diverse opinions when their leaders are picking schoolyard fights on social media?
Unfortunately, leaders are now forgetting this crucial responsibility.
Trump isn’t the only leader participating in these juvenile activities. California Governor Gavin Newsom has posted videos of Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson giving his speeches as a minion from “Despicable Me.” The official White House Instagram account also posted edited videos of Democrat leaders Hakeem Jeffries and Chuck Schumer wearing sombreros outside of the Congress building.
Whether they’re presidents, CEOs or celebrities, leaders online can inspire, influence or incite the people they represent. Unfortunately, leaders are now forgetting this crucial responsibility and engaging in petty and immature online arguments ruin their reputations while fueling division.
The problem is that this type of online childish behavior has become so normalized that more leaders are stooping down to this level. These leaders are supposed to be the people we look up to. They are meant to be the best of the best, and their job and professionalism don’t just stop when they log into their Instagram accounts.
You don’t see school principals
While social media is constantly changing, professionalism is timeless. It should always be a key quality of people in positions of power, whether they are online or in person. When you look at past presidents, it’s almost impossible to imagine someone like John F. Kennedy trolling Richard Nixon in the newspapers. The responsibility of honorable leadership shouldn’t be regressing.
Now, of course, political cartoons can be found all throughout history, with immature and offensive jokes about important figures, but none of them were ever written by the prominent figures themselves. Leaders should leave the trolling to those who have nothing better to do, and instead focus on doing their job and improving our lives.
Politicians and CEOs need to get their act together, or else in 50 years, students in history class will be analyzing an X post about a president endorsing the idea of literal poop falling on Americans who disagree with him. Students will completely miss out on getting to analyze a leader’s powerful actions like they do now with Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address or Martin Luther King’s “Letter from a Birmingham Jail.”
Hopefully, the next generation will be able to look at individuals in power, on TV or their social media feed, and see an inspiration, not a bully.
X
on TikTok
“EXTRA”
Forget applications and résumés, clubs should be created with the goal to make a difference and be a part of someone’s high school legacy
CURRICULARS
story by CHRISTOPHER LONG
HE
COMMON APP
has space for the 10 activities *John Smith participated in high school. Once he adds his sports, volunteering, job and
by attacking a major issue with a localized solution. They are not meant for a last-minute applicational Hail Mary.
If Smith is serious about forming a club with some of his peers, he needs to target some problem that he can tangibly make a difference in, like taking a local approach to fight rising food prices.
FOR EVERY PERSON
who treats a club as a résumé padding opportunity, there’s a potential organization that strives valiantly to eliminate the problems that plague society.
CHRISTOPHER LONG JUNIOR
of other super-student applicants.
Founding a club to fill résumé space is the first idea that comes to mind for many students — it’s easy to give into this temptation. Heck, look at
But clubs should be established to make a lasting mark on a high school
The one club I’m involved in and cofounded feeds those chronically homeless in Kansas City. Across six meetings, Breakfast for Beings has made almost 400 meals, which were then donated to Uplift Organization — a volunteer-run organization that helps provide resources for the unhoused.
If Smith brainstorms a similar issue that he wants to fight on a local level, it’s worth getting together with a group of his friends and building an official school club.
Either way, new clubs need to fight the current perception of what clubs stand for.
Clubs should be treated as organizations that outlive someone’s four years of high school. Treated as
extensions of someone that live on as their high school legacy.
But all that changes when some junior, who forgot that applying to college is a year away, throws in a cheap shot to fluff up an otherwise empty application.
The easiest way to immortalize a club is to develop a strong foundation.
Before Smith whips up his “microforestry club,” he should take a walk around his neighborhood and consider what he’s seen over the past week. Smith should note any injustices he’s seen through all kinds of environments and pick something that he can develop a tangible solution for.
Then, *Smith should unite friends behind the problem he actually hopes to solve. But *Smith shouldn’t sit around and whip up a thinly planned consortium that he “founded” just to slap on his résumé.
Let’s transform the way clubs are viewed into organizations that make an actual difference.
For every person who treats a club as a résumé padding opportunity, there’s a potential organization that strives valiantly to eliminate the problems that plague society.
Don’t be a “founder” if what you are founding is a facade.
FAMILY CHANNELS OFTEN
show the perfectly staged clips of their lives, but behind the smiles and perfect moments are lies and unfair treatment of kids that rarely end well.
Family vlogging has been popular since the creation of YouTube in 2005. However, more awareness needs to be raised regarding the consequences of a family deciding to put their lives on social media.
It seems like everyone assumes they can tell a person’s whole life story after watching a 20-minute video about families pulling dumb pranks every day, like “Starting An Argument With My Husband Then Taking The Baby” from Jatie Vlogs. But in reality, they’re showing a prank that was staged, or a highly edited glimpse in a vlogger’s life.
Social media influencer Emilie Kiser shared her day-to-day life through TikTok. Her life looked perfect — a loving husband, two young boys and a beautiful new home they’d just built. But when her son Trigg passed away in May of 2025, according to NBC News, her life took a complete turn.
The public took to blaming Emilie’s husband, Brady Kiser, for Trigg’s death, as he was the only one home when it happened.
All I could think about was how bad I felt for Emilie. I loved watching her TikToks every day as she seemed so genuine. I could never go through a loss like that and then have the whole internet be a part of it.
This is what I hate about family channels. When personal tragedy strikes, influencers must continue their job and cope, all while being watched by millions.
FOR PERFORMING PROFIT
Family vlogging channels never end well
When it comes to times like this, the internet doesn’t know how to respect one’s privacy. People forget influencers are still humans, not TV characters.
Being on the internet comes with baggage, no matter what content is put out to the world, whether it’s good or bad. When something happens out of script, there’s no way to control what the public says or how they react, and that’s what I hate about it.
Family vlogging channels are known for being performative, which is precisely what happened with the ACE family. The ACE family had been vlogging since 2016, when, unexpectedly, Catheine McBroom and Austin McBroom filed for divorce due to Austin cheating on his wife. They have three kids and have vlogged since their firstborn. Just from watching their videos, I would never have guessed there was any infidelity in their marriage..
wonder what Everleigh thinks when she reads those comments. A 12-yearold girl hearing people say your parents don’t care about you when all they see is a weekly 10-minute video.
There was considerable controversy over taking Everleigh out of school to homeschool her so she could help around the house with the younger kids. I can see how people make these accusations, but the problem with the internet is that no one seems to understand that she’s a young girl who will read those comments.
Then, there are the 8passengers. They were on YouTube since 2015, then randomly stopped filming. Then on the news it came out that she abused her two youngest kids for months on end, not feeding them, making them work outside in the Utah heat for hours without water and food and physically and mentally abusing the children.
Ruby Franke will spend up to 1-15 years in jail, according to ABC News. This is a prime example that family channels are all lies. The channels never show the true side of a family.
CRITICISM CHANNEL
Students’ opinions on family YouTube channels
SOME OF THEM are really unrealistic, and they make kids feel sad about their own family, and when all the truth and bad things come out further down the road, it doesn’t set a good example for kids to watch.
This is a prime example of how family channels are not showing their true sides as a week before they filed for divorce, the ACE family posted videos like “Surprising my wife with a new Range Rover.”
Another popular family vlogging channel is the Labrant Family. They’ve been vlogging since 2017 and have 12.8 million subscribers on YouTube. They have five kids and often discuss adopting more. But the public hates them, always leaving comments assuming they neglect their oldest daughter, Everleigh. While the rest of the interest is busy leaving mean comments, I
IT’S NEVER A good idea to put your kids on the internet for everyone to see. Often, [channels] will angle [videos] towards predators, so I think it’s pretty harmful and always dangerous. the activity or practice of regularly posting short videos to a personal website or social media account
I disagree with the concept of family vlogging channels, as the kids usually aren’t old enough to give their consent regarding whether they want to be on camera or not. The parents put their kids’ entire lives on camera, using them for financial gain, all in the pursuit of fame. I think it’s time to start boycotting family channels and stop feeding into their lies.
design by CAROLINE BEAL
art by JULIA CAMPBELL
story by VANESSA BLADES
MILLIE CRAVEN SENIOR
JUNIOR
KATIE BUCK
STRUMMING
PLATINUM
help from orchestra students and orchestra teacher Mallory Lysaught
Scan this QR code to view more and purchase photos of Platinum Strings SCAN ME PHOTO
BELOW A Platinum Strings student draws a circle around a note to emphasize the counting on the “Land of the Silver Birch” song requested by Lysaught.
photo by TYLER RUSSELL
TOP RIGHT Student volunteers bring snacks for the Platinum String’s 10-minute break in the middle of rehearsal. The snack for that week was Goldfish, which the kids lined up for while the high school helpers passed them out.
by
TYLER RUSSELL
MIDDLE Two elementary students speak near the door during their 10-minute break. The practice is one hour long. photo by PAIGE BEAN
photo
ABOVE Sophomore Natalia Cronberg examines a Highlands student’s sheet music during their run-through of “Samba La Bamba.”
photo by FRANCESCA LORUSSO
RIGHT Orchestra teacher Mallory Lysaught conducts the Platinum Strings group during their practice run of “Land of the Silver Birch.” photo by FRANCESCA LORUSSO
this week in PHOTOS
A look inside student life during the past two weeks
MEET THE FEATURE
banana during the social skills
CADETS
Students in the teacher education class share their discoveries from assisting teachers at their former elementary schools
Junior Aida Bruce is dressed as a pirate for Halloween. She sits in AP Language as she completes her “Great Gatsby”
SYLVIE DEGALAN
CIRCLING BACK
Teacher education class students share their discoveries from assisting teachers at their former elementary schools
Junior MAGGIE REEVES
Corinth Elementary Alumni
Figuring out how to work with kids in the educational environment
Learning how to tend to children with special needs
Feeling nostalgia as Corinth looks and feels the same as when she attended the school
Junior AVA MURRAY Briarwood Elementary Alumni
Understanding how different grades have different teaching styles Navigating issues and problem- solving are resourceful management tools in the classroom
ELI MOON SENIOR
SINCE I AM a senior in theatre, I get to cast and direct my own play. Getting on the radar for students looking for more theatre opportunities is great. My strategy is to let myself be the fun teacher, it helps the students engage with me and actually helps them follow directions.
GRACE O’DONNELL SENIOR
A REASON I wanted to cadet teach was to get some ideas for casting my Frequent Friday play that I directed and wrote which happened in September. I want to be a Pediatric ER nurse, so getting to work with people my age currently would be my dream. I get to connect with and meet new people.
design by JULIA CAMPBELL photos by TYLER RUSSELL
ABOVE Sophomore Jesse Hill smiles at sophomore Caroline Kruse during intro to studio art. They learn how to sew using felt and string. photo by CHARLOTTE WALTON
RIGHT
Halloween costume party.
SCANNING HER FUTURE
Senior Sage Scott is researching how rat brains heals injuries at the KU Medical Center
story by ALEX HARDEN
SENIOR SAGE SCOTT puts on her white lab coat, ready to spend hours hunched over a microscope in a dark room, illuminated by the fluorescent slides holding rat brains.
Scott is the youngest researcher in her lab, at 17 years old, the second youngest being 25. She works in the neurology lab at the University of Kansas Medical Center, researching cortical plasticity, which is how the brain is able to make new connections between neurons after an injury or a lifestyle change.
“What I’m doing is I look at the slides of the rat brains in the computer, and I look for where the injuries are, and then I calculate the volume of the injury to see how severe it is and how the different treatments that we’ve tried have been effective,” Scott said.
Scott is currently collecting data for a research paper about the effectiveness of different recovery methods in healing the damaged area from strokes and traumatic brain injuries.
Scott has been enrolled in the biotechnology program at the Center for Academic Achievement since her sophomore year.
In the past two years at the CAA, Scott has taken a variety of classes all with the end goal of preparing for biotech research at the KU Medical Center during her senior year.
Scott has been interested in biotechnical research ever since doing a project on the COVID vaccine’s development.
“[The project] got me really interested in how research and development works and just how there’s other ways to help people that [aren’t] just being a doctor or a nurse,” Scott said.
RODENT INSIGHTS INSIGHTS INSIGHTS
Brain scans of an injured rat examined by Sage
Even though she was interested in biotechnology, taking the biotechnology course wasn’t always Scott’s plan for high school.
“I had no idea that it was even an opportunity for me until the end of freshman year, when my honors biology teacher, Ms. Davis, recommended it to me,” Scott said. “She told me that she thought that would be a good fit because I really enjoyed taking biology freshman year.”
Biology teacher Rachel Davis believes that Scott is a good fit for the biotechnology field.
“She has a very good mind of being able to think outside of the box, which sometimes in science, that’s what you have to do,” Davis said.
Unfortunately, as Scott sits in that dark black room analysing rat brains through the eyes of a microscope, the fear of losing funding for the lab at the KU Medical Center weighs her down.
Scott explains that other researchers in the nation have lost funding, which leads her to feel anxious about the possibility of her research on cortical plasticity to lose funding.
“I know some of the people who were in labs last year couldn’t go back because the ones that they were in had to shut down because of funding cuts.”
It’s not just research projects that lose funding, Scott mentioned that a STEM conference, the Junior Science and Humanities Symposium had to shut down due to the military cutting its budget.
The fear of losing funding has been a major struggle for Scott throughout her research journey.
“I’ve had a couple personal crises about if I even want to go into research for college,” Scott said.
Throughout the years, Scott has
a group of eight girls that she’s grown close to as she’s taken the course with them, including seniors Alejandra Ceron Madrigal and Hailey Poague.
researchers and doesn’t feel out of place. “They don’t treat me like I’m a kid, they treat me like a colleague,” Scott said. “They’re trusting me to get data
The gaps in the center of the brain show swelling and damage.
design by JULIA CAMPBELL
photo by MOLLY SCOTT
& photo courtesy of SAGE SCOTT
design by SIENNA WILLIAMS
Summersalt serves as a community for people of all ages in the SM East area, from employees to customers
THE SC OOP
story by GRACE PEI
WHEN A MOTHER and her daughter went to Summersalt to get a pup cup for their fluffy, white dog, then-employee junior Marni Thurston remembers they were putting their dog down that same day.
Now, the family has a new dog they bring to Summersalt two times a week — and they also buy pup cups for
— of all ages and dietary restrictions to enjoy ice cream. Working at Summersalt is also many of SM East and other high school students’ first jobs, with 90% of all employees being teenagers, according to Summersalt owner and Marni’s dad Curtis.
Summersalt was senior Vicki Shutzler’s first job, and she started because her older sister worked there in high school. After working there for two years now, she says “Hi” to coworkers she recognizes from SM East in the school
“I’ve gotten to meet so many other people around the area, from different schools and just from [SM East] in general,” Vicki said. “And it’s just really fulfilling to see people get so excited over something so simple as ice cream.”
Working at Summersalt her freshman year was basically a “rite of passage,” according to SM East alumni Maggie Condon. Condon was the senior year captain of the girls lacrosse club team, and this is the third year Summersalt will host a fundraiser for the team.
Every spring, lacrosse players will go to Summersalt for the fundraiser to scoop ice cream for customers, and 25% of all profits go to the girls lacrosse team.
“I always love seeing how the whole community came together to try and support our lacrosse team, because we really appreciated that,” Condon said.
Throughout the five years Curtis has been running the shop after opening it in 2020, he’s gotten to know more about people in the community.
Curtis remembers the order of a man who would come by Summersalt two or three times a week: a scoop of mint-chip ice cream and a vanilla shake. The shake was for his friend at Claridge Court, a retirement community.
The next time the man came in for
his mint-chip ice cream, he didn’t ask for the vanilla shake. After his friend passed away, he comes in once a month.
“Every time he brought the shake over, he created enjoyment for his buddy, because that milkshake was the only thing that sounded good to him to eat, that his stomach could take,” Curtis said.
Summersalt is also inclusive for people with dietary restrictions, so people in the community can have more ice cream options available to them, such as vegan and gluten-free options.
As soon as Summersalt regular Beth Cooper’s four kids finish ballet practice next door once a week, they come to Summersalt — it’s one of the only ice cream stores that offers vegan options.
“It’s important because kids growing up [vegan], I feel like they’re missing out,” Cooper said. “So being able to have ice cream, a treat [to] still [include] them, that also is very important to us.”
The employees have become used to the variety of customers that come to Summersalt — remembering that an
FLA ORS TOP HERES
Some of Summersalt’s most popular flavors
LAVENDER HONEY
OOEY GOOEY BUTTERCAKE
CHOCOLATE GRASSHOPPER
photo by MOLLY McDERMED
CRUNCH THE NUMBERS
How the premium increases will effect Kansans who are on the Affordable
200,046
INSURANCE BREAKDOWN
York Times. On top of this, the cost of some 2026 health insurance plans will increase by an average 30% and could reach up to 114%, according to KFF.
With families signing up for their 2026 health insurance plan in November and December, higher health insurance costs are forcing SM East families, some of whom own small businesses, to navigate the balance between how much they’ll need to spend on health insurance and the benefits it offers.
“Most high school students don’t think about [health insurance],” said Rick Boyd, Hampton’s father and a benefits consultant for an insurance broker. “I would say that’s true for most college students and most adults in their 20s.”
High school students can be on their parents’ health insurance plan until age 26; however, as health insurance costs go up, families have less spending money — the money that parents spend on their children for college visits or to buy a car, according to SM East nurse Stephanie Ptacek.
SM East parent Susan Neuman’s monthly health insurance costs could double or triple next year. And if she can’t afford a “good” health insurance plan, she may not have coverage for her $75,000 surgery.
Neuman and her husband run their
to healthcare for Americans.
UNCROSSABLE
in the ACA anymore. So now we’re gonna have to go back to square one and try to figure it out, but we don’t know yet what our options will be.
Congress extended the subsidies until the end of 2025, but if Congress doesn’t extend them for 2026, they’ll expire, according to KFF. With the expiration of subsidies, the amount ACA clients will pay for insurance coverage increases by an average of 75% next year, according to Health System Tracker.
SUSAN
NEUMAN SM EAST PARENT
“There are more than 24 million Americans who receive their health insurance through ACA,” said Kelly Cannon, director of corporate communications for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City. “If the [subsidies] expire, many of these people could be left without health insurance and unable to afford care.”
Democrats are pushing for action on the subsidies, while Republicans have said they won’t discuss policy changes until the government reopens, according to the Associated Press. The standoff has resulted in the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, according to CNN.
Neuman’s family enrolled in an ACA plan last year, called Aetna, because it was $700 cheaper than their previous
BARRIER
they’ll seek healthcare through emergency services, which bogs down the system. makes it harder for emergencies to care.”
Additionally, the of subsidies would in prescriptions for chronic conditions and a lack of timely preventive and treatments, according to Cannon. These trends could further drive overall healthcare costs and increase the number of preventable diseases deaths.
Elizabeth Haire, a social at the University of Kansas Medical Center, shares Cannon’s concerns. part of her job, Haire helps patients navigate their health coverage options and prescriptions, including patients with insurance through the ACA.
“I’m really afraid of what’s going happen,” Haire said. “If the subsidies expire and the ACA isn’t an affordable option anymore, a lot of patients affected. Aside from pointing them the limited resources that exist community, I’m not sure what we’ll Junior Bella Tilgner is enrolled a medical science class and has Financial Literacy and
BARRIER
healthcare emergency really system. It for real access the loss would result conditions preventive care Cannon. drive up increase diseases and worker Medical concerns. As patients options patients going to subsidies affordable will be them to in the we’ll do.” enrolled in taken Exploring
insurance companies to pay more so they can cover their growing expenses. Because of their size, large healthcare systems have the power to negotiate higher payments from the insurance
“For example, if KU says they want an 8% increase [in payments], the insurance company can say, ‘No, we’re not going to take it,’” Boyd said. “Then KU leaves their network, and [the insurance company] can’t stand it, so they cave, and they give them a 6-7% increase.”
Year after year, these increases compound.
“A lot of people don’t feel like they need health insurance until they need it, and it’s too late,” Boyd said. “I mean, you can’t buy homeowners’ insurance when your house is on fire. You’ve got to get it ahead of time.”
SM East parent Leslie Darrington’s 8-year-old son was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes last year. Type 1 is an autoimmune disorder; there was nothing specific that caused it, and there’s nothing to prevent it.
the cost of three patches monthly.
EVERY SINGLE
one of us is going to need healthcare at some point in the future. It’s so important that as a society, people have continued access to preventative care and medical maintenance.
Darrington gets her family’s health insurance through her husband’s job; however, her three business partners get health insurance through Darrington’s small business. Small businesses don’t have the negotiating power of large corporations, requiring them to pay higher monthly costs for health insurance.
But Darrington’s son’s skin reacts differently, and the patches don’t last as long. Despite the doctor prescribing more patches for Darrington’s son, the insurance company denied covering them, resulting in $100 out-of-pocket costs.
Darrington has had to pay the $100 “more times than she can count.”
“The next thing you know, your [healthcare] costs have doubled in 10 years,” Boyd said.
Additionally, health insurance is tied to jobs. Big corporations can negotiate lower health insurance prices, while smaller businesses have less affordable options, according to Neuman.
TERMS &
CONDITIONS
Explaining health insurance terms
Open Enrollment - The period of time when someone can sign up for a health insurance plan. To have coverage for 2026, people must enroll in a plan by Dec.15.
Affordable Care Act - The health care reform law enacted in 2010, which is designed to increase access to health insurance, lower healthcare costs and improve the quality of care.
Deductible - The amount of money an individual must pay before an insurance company starts sharing healthcare costs.
ELIZABETH HAIRE SOCIAL WORKER
“I think that health coverage should be determined by the doctor,” Darrington said. “Why does insurance get to have the final say when the doctor is the one with the medical degree? The insurance company is able to tell you what you can do, even though you have a doctor saying this is what you need to live.”
Neuman and her husband decided that they weren’t going to base their jobs on access to health insurance. However, according to Neuman, the vast majority of people believe the biggest reason to work for a larger business is to get better health benefits.
“I started my own business, and I’m creating an opportunity for myself and not taking a job that someone else can have in some big corporation,” Neuman said. “But it still feels like I’m being penalized by the options that are available for healthcare.”
Premiums - The regular amount people pay to their health insurance provider, usually on a monthly basis.
Affordable Care Act SubsidiesGovernment financial assistance in the form of premium tax credits to make heath insurance plans purchased through the ACA marketplaces more affordable.
“[Health insurance] is one of the benefits that we offer, and it’s really important to us,” Darrington said. “We’ll just pay [the higher costs]. We’ll have less profits, but we’re not gonna take health insurance away from people. We just have to eat that additional cost.”
Despite healthcare costs being high,
According to Boyd, healthcare costs are rising because medications are getting more expensive and large healthcare systems are taking over. Newer, expensive drugs for weight loss, like Wegovy and Ozempic, are in high demand, raising overall prices. Insurance companies pay hospitals to provide healthcare services. As healthcare costs rise, hospitals push
The difference in cost between buying insurance independently versus getting it through an employer means students need to consider health insurance while planning for their future career options, according to Ptacek.
“Every single one of us is going to need healthcare at some point in the future,” Haire said. “It’s so important that as a society, people have continued access to preventative care and medical maintenance.”
Government Shutdown
- A temporary closure of government agencies. The current government shutdown is caused by disagreement between the Republican and Democratic parties regarding the ACA subsidies. The government shutdown became the longest in U.S. history last Wednesday.
Freshman and avid skater, Jay Lisson, pursues his passions of biking and skating through his brand, Blank Moto
design by HANNAH ROSEMANN
photos by DARCY KROENING
Lee’s Summit Farmers Market
photos by ANNIE TRENKLE
past projects
Junior Lainey Barrett’s favorite past banners
DANCE
The banner for a Homecoming after party with the theme “Circus”
BIRTHDAY
The banner for Barrett’s friend’s dad’s birthday tailgate
BRUNCH
The banner for a Homecoming brunch a friend of Barrett hosted
BANNERS
with barrett
Junior Lainey Barrett has always had a talent and love for painting and started “Bannered by Lainey,” a banner painting business
story
by
REESE DUNHAM
SITTING AT HER art studio in her basement, junior Lainey Barrett was searching for inspiration she could use her next painting project on Pinterest when she saw multiple pictures showcasing beautiful hand-painted banners.
She put down her phone and immediately thought — This is such a perfect idea for a business that I would enjoy.
A range of acrylic paint, brown kraft paper and makeup brushes, because they tend to hold paint better than traditional brushes — this was everything she would need to get started.
“It all happened in pretty much one day,” Lainey said. “I was like, I’d be really good at this, I really enjoy art, so I think I’m just gonna get all the materials and start doing this.”
Lainey did a quick Instagram search for other banner painting businesses to get an idea for choosing prices and banner sizes, as well as the fonts she would offer. She then marched upstairs to tell her parents about her new business plan.
“I was proud and I was excited for her,”
Lainey’s mom, Regan Barrett, said.
“I thought it was just so perfect for her. It’s also brave because you kind of have to put yourself out there and make sure you’re meeting deadlines and talking to some parents who have ordered and making sure they’re pleased.”
Lainey’s banner business has been going for around a month now, and she’s sold 10 banners so far. She’s grown extremely fond of this business because it allows her to continue a passion she loves — while also incorporating a way to earn money, too.
Painting, whether it was finger-painted trees or delicately formed flowers, has always been a haven for Lainey. A
way for her to relax and unwind after a busy day, or a place to channel her emotions and creativity.
Lainey was inspired to begin painting in kindergarten when she would walk down the street with her mom and her sister, Emmy, to their neighbor and art enthusiast, Carol Schiezer.
Schiezer owns a colorful workshop
MIXED ME D IA
When two or more different types of materials or media, like paint and chalk, are mixed in one visual art form
for kids and adults in the attic of her home, called Art in the Attic. This is where she hosts sessions for kids, like Lainey, to explore and expand their love of art in mixed-media classes. These classes fostered Lainey’s love for art, inspiring a hobby that has evolved into “Bannered by Lainey.”
“She’s always been super creative,” Schieszer said. “She’s very detail-oriented, and she’s really good with straight lines and graphics.”
Some of Lainey’s favorite elements to include on banners are flowers and borders. Many of these details are included in the banners she’s made for volleyball brunches and milestones, birthdays and school dances.
is coated with vibrant orange and green paint spills and marker lines from elementary school. All of her paints and brushes are scattered on the table, along with her projector if she’s using it. The projector allows her to trace her mock-up onto the banner, but she mostly prefers to freehand with chalk.
She has banner paper taped to the wall and paints while listening to her favorite songs on Spotify or watching “New Girl.” Sometimes, she’ll make time-lapse videos of herself painting the banners, which she posts on her Instagram. She also posts a picture of each banner after she’s done to give more examples to customers.
“Watching the time-lapse video she posted to her account, I was just amazed at how she uses the brushes and her technique,” Lainey’s dad, Casey Barrett, said. “I’m just impressed by her.”
SHE’S ALWAYS been super creative. She’s very detail-oriented, and she’s really good with straight lines and graphics.
CAROL SCHIEZER
When the customers order through her Instagram account, they message her with their order details, such as size, occasion and fonts. She offers four different banner sizes, starting with 3’3’, which is $30. With each foot increase in the length, the price increases by $10.
Lainey will make a mock-up of the banner using Canva and send it to the customer for approval. As soon as Lainey has all the information and approval on the mock-up, she can begin sketching on the brown kraft paper.
Her “studio” for sketching and painting is in her basement, where an art table
Lainey spreads out the projects over multiple days to help pace herself, which makes it easier for her to ensure every detail is perfect. She will work on it for a few hours at a time, making sure that the banner is done in time for the customer’s event.
“I love when customers send me pictures of [themselves] and the banner,” Lainey said. “I think it’s so fun to see everybody celebrating around it, and just adding a little bit to their day.”
Lainey plans to continue this business and hobby until she leaves for college. She looks forward to each banner because it combines a hobby she enjoys with a business that allows her to earn a little extra money.
“I’ve always wanted to do something in art, and I definitely think I could see myself selling regular paintings, but for now, I just see myself sticking to banners for a while just to get the hang of it,” Lainey said.
design by MICHAEL YI photos courtesy of
MENTOR
lainey’s supplies
Barrett’s art supplies of choice when banner painting
BRUSHES POSCA PENS
Barrett prefers brushes for adding detail to her banners Pens used for lettering and outlining
TOP LEFT Junior Lainey Barrett mixes shades of paint — light pink, white and red — to create a pink shade.
BOTTOM LEFT Barrett picks up a pair of scissors to cut a different piece of paper.
TOP RIGHT Barrett paints a second layer of a pink flower on the top of a sign she is making for her friend, junior Nola Frank.
BOTTOM RIGHT Barrett organizes her materials as she looks to find the correct shade of pink on her art table.
THE RAISING
SPIRITS SPIRITS
The Junior Class StuCo held a Halloween movie night in the commons to raise canned donations for the Johnson County Christmas Bureau
LEFT
Eleanor Peattie and Emma Weidman watch the
while laying down on the commons steps. “I had a lot of fun” said Weidman. “It was just a really nice experience getting to bond with the people in my grade.” It was Weidman’s first time going to a junior class fundraiser this year.
DARCY KROENING
BELOW Around 30 juniors brought two cans each to the commons to be able to watch the movie “Hubie Halloween.” The juniors also took time to work on homework while socializing with their friends and classmates.
photo by MOLLY SCOTT
design by MOLLY SCOTT
BOTTOM LEFT Juniors Grace Deschaine and Maci Grecian grab assorted candy from a table in the commons. The candy was provided by the junior StuCo members, and the event was sponsored by English teacher Ann Flurry.
photo by MOLLY SCOTT
TOP
Juniors
movie
photo by
BOTTOM RIGHT Junior Anastasia Flower laughs with juniors Addie Clark and Anne Bowser at a funny Instagram Reel.
photo by DARCY KROENING
photo
A&E
local spotlight
The Fiddly Fig is a quaint florist and home goods store in Kansas City, Missouri
each costing around $130 for a “standard” bouquet.
THE SMELL OF warm spices, pine and fresh flowers drifted out the small door of The Fiddly Fig, a florist shop, as I walked through a small hallway packed with candles, wreaths and various fall decorations.
From locally made rainbow hair clips to a Christmas tree decked out in ceramic and tin ornaments, this shop offers a wide range of gifts of everyday wear and holiday knickknacks.
Although I was expecting to see more greenery stacked around the store, some plants, such as a variety of succulents, were displayed in vases around shelves and in displays.
Towards the back of the crowded space, bouquets filled with colorful hydrangeas, roses and other flowers were displayed in clear refrigerators,
Even with a limited inventory of plants to choose from, I could hardly take two steps before running into a new display of jewelry — Chiefs’ merchandise and holiday ornamentation.
With racks filled with embroidered hand towels, vintage Santa Claus figurines and leather purses, there was no shortage of items to shop through.
Despite hardly living up to its florist title, The Fiddly Fig’s vast inventory and holiday decor make for a fun browse and easy gifts for this holiday season.
NO REGRETS
LEFT A refrigerator full of floral arrangements that are available to be purchased.
what’s on the
The most recenty played songs on the radio
story by CAROLINE BEAL
photos by LAYLA LOVE
design by TILLIE PAISNER
Megan Moroney
Dracula Tame Impala
Sweet Lady Dylan Gossett
TOP
TOP RIGHT A shelf with different Jellycats, which are typically only sold online.
BOTTOM LEFT A display of Christmas trinkets for sale for the Christmas season.
BOTTOM
story by SIENNA WILLIAMS
NOVEMBER 10, 2025
ART OVERVIEW
Six KC locals are at the top of their game, dedicating time to their sport of choice and artistic career
Champions Artistic
The new “Personal Best” gallery is an innovative take on traditional art collections at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
story by SOPHIA BROCKMEIER
WHEN I THINK of athletes, I think of the rigid and sharp repetitions that they practice for their sport. Artists, on the other hand, are flowy and easygoing to me as they form abstract shapes that blend seamlessly into each other on the canvas.
“Personal Best,” a new exhibit at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, aims to break the pre-conceived notions between athletes and artists and showcase the duality of
For my highly anticipated quarterly trip to the museum, I decided to explore the “Personal Best” exhibit, inspired by the 2026 FIFA World Cup and Kansas City’s role in hosting some of the matches.
“Personal Best” is a refreshing addition to the Nelson-Atkins due to its modern artists, digital additions — including a video displayed on a TV — and a diverse range of art.
The exhibit features artists who are also athletes, ranging from rock climbers and martial artists to football players and cyclists. Their pieces include varying art mediums, consisting of delicate glass sculptures, colorful paintings and hypnotizing prints. Showcasing individuals with interests in two vastly different areas was a creative shift from the “typical” collections at the Nelson-Atkins.
Located in Gallery L8, the free exhibit showcases over 10 different paintings, prints and sculptures from six athlete-artists until Aug. 9, 2026.
“Personal Best” included artists who are currently living, not ones who passed away seemingly millennia ago, like so many of the exhibits at the Nelson-Atkins.
Yes, I can see the appeal of traditional oil paintings that depict elegant women holding grapes in flowy gowns or enchanting woodland landscapes. I’ll be the first one to admit that losing yourself in the beautifully depicted scenes is an addictive pastime. However, admiring art that I know was created only months or years prior connects with me more because I can relate to the themes explored. For example, I could see the resilience portrayed in martial arts fighter and multidisciplinary artist Thea Wolfe’s collages made of paint swatches that featured bruised athletes.
Besides the contemporary artists, the digital pieces that were added to the exhibit drew me in as a viewer and kept me engaged throughout the experience.
One of these digital pieces was the TV that played a continual loop of a video featuring all of the artists from the exhibit. Not only was it helpful to hear the artists break down their pieces, but I also learned about the inspiration behind the exhibit as a whole — to allow artists to express their hobbies through their work.
THROUGH THE
Nelson-Atkin’s curating of each piece in the collection, it’s clear that all the athleteartists perfected their craft — achieving a personal best.
The other artists featured in “Personal Best” include distance runner Kate Clements, who made a glass installation inspired by the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, and distance cyclist TJ Templeton, who layered drawings and images of bicycles to create another collage.
Even the descriptions of the art — that are usually dense and filled with historical jargon — were conversational and funny at times. For example, post-digital printmaker and shotokan karate practitioner Mike Lyon wrote a step-by-step tutorial on how he made his piece “Kit.”
Of course, I don’t ever expect to whip out the photo I took of the sign and follow the tutorial to recreate one of Lyon’s pieces. However, his descriptions were something that centuries-old art has never come close to achieving.
“‘Personal Best’ is a really great concept because it leaves room for failure and growth,” Wolfe said in the video. “Both martial arts and visual arts, for me, are about coming to understand myself and understand the world, especially people.”
Besides the video, I was able to see what the artists looked like through the descriptions of their art. These small plaques included portraits of the artists and bullet points of the sport they played. Being able to see each artist added a more personal aspect to the experience, as I was able to imagine each one sitting in their studio and creating the artwork in front of me.
Through the Nelson-Atkins’ curating of each piece in the collection, it’s clear that all the athlete-artists perfected their craft — achieving a personal best.
A mosaic-collage piece of art by Thea Wolfe, showcasing a portrait of another mixed martial arts fighter like herself.
ABOVE Kwanza Humphrey, a former Missouri Western State University football player, expresses his homeland in Africa through his paintings.
design by BRIDGET DEAN photos by FRANCESCA LORUSSO art by SYLVIE DEGALAN
ABOVE Made to depict the formation of languages, Samantha Haan relates her art to the problem solving of rock climbing.
A ZEN MINDSET
INTRO
Donkey Farms, a juicery in Fairway, Kansas, I expected awkward small-talk with the employee, like there usually is in a vacant store.
But at Zen Donkey Farms, there wasn’t any filler conversation or uncomfortable silences.
I was immediately greeted by the bright openness of the space and a kind employee who told me about the business.
The store supports the owners’ mission to help rescue donkeys from being killed for their skin. They have
LIV JUICE
a farm of donkeys in Greenwood, Missouri, where they host juice tastings, donkey yoga and other local activities.
After hosting a stand at the Overland Park Farmer’s Market — which only operates during warm weather months — they opened a brick-and-mortar store on Aug. 7 to attract customers year-round to their unique selection of curated, pressed juices.
Contributing to a donkey rescue farm was something I never predicted I’d be doing on a Tuesday morning, but I’m glad I did. Trying unique food and experiencing the pleasant atmosphere of the store kick-started a
THE GRAB-AND-GO refrigerators made the Liv juice easy to find, but it had an absurd price of $8. I was afraid it would taste too healthy, like something only gym rat influencers would drink.
And I was right. Except, I liked it. The juice was split into separate layers of liquid and pulp at first, which made me
I bought the apple walnut protein balls, I felt the
I could already tell they weren’t worth $6 for four tiny clusters of walnut, flaxseed, apple and protein
Biting into one, I tasted the apple and cinnamon for a whopping three seconds before it turned into bitter mush with a flavor I can only
uneasy, but after shaking it a few times, I put my faith in the overpriced drink and took a sip.
The citrusy smell of the green apple and lemon juice hit me before I even tried it, and my first sip tasted like straight lemon juice. The tangy flavor took a few minutes to get used to, but it soon became my favorite part.
The Liv was something different, unlike all
story by SLOANE HENDERSON
Though Zen Donkey Farms’ food is hit or miss, the delightful atmosphere is a pleasant way to start the day
lovely morning.
A wall of windows filled the store with sunlight, couches and chairs offered a clean aesthetic look and the cashier actually engaged with me, not a meager “hello” that sums up most restaurants’ customer service.
I usually find that restaurants that advertise themselves as “healthy” often don’t have food that tastes real. So after the cashier told me about all her favorites, I was hoping my $30 order — the Uplifted Signature Smoothie, Liv Juice and Apple Walnut Protein Balls — would be worth the price.
the basic grocery store juice that can taste like a pound of sweetener. It just requires a refined taste.
I might not be able to drink a whole 8-ounce bottle in one sitting, and I might not be rushing to buy it at 7 a.m., but I would purchase it again.
PROTEIN BALLS
compare to the dog treat I tried when I was six-years-old.
The apple became overpowering, and too many walnuts gave a texture that was both soggy and crunchy at the same time. It was just plain wrong. The protein powder and coconut left me with a foul aftertaste that only an entire bottle of water could wash away. It quickly crossed the line to
become too healthy, which, except to a small few, doesn’t taste like food at all.
For $6, the apple walnut protein balls were my greatest disappointment, worse than when I found out a dog treat only tastes good to a dog.
UPLIFTED SMOOTHIE
THE UPLIFTED SIGNATURE smoothie with banana, strawberries, dates and cashew mylk — their substitute for dairy milk — was the best item of my
At first taste, the cashew mylk, similar to whole milk, was overpowering, but the more I drank, the more I tasted the strawberry and banana, flawlessly balancing each other out.
Though the dates weren’t fully blended in — once I bit into a chunk — it added notes of a sweet, caramel-like flavor that added to the smoothie’s flavor.
Uplifted was the ideal smoothie for my morning. Its cool, fresh taste allowed me to easily finish the drink, and will definitely be a summer morning staple.
OUTRO
ZEN DONKEY balances the fine line between quality healthy food and “health” food that doesn’t taste like food at all.
Though the protein balls fell into the overly healthy food category and I spent a ridiculous $30 for three small items, the customer service and clean atmosphere helped make up for the overpriced food. And the Uplift smoothie alone made the visit worth it.
FILM CLUB FILM CLUB FILM CLUB
A look into what film club entails, including their activities, what they do
OVERVIEW
Quick facts about the club
-Meets after school every other Monday in room 402F
-Club members vote on a film every two weeks to discuss and analyze during meetings
-Watch clips, make crafts and do activities based on the film watched
LEADER Q&A
The two film club presidents answer common questions
LUKE CURE
WHAT TYPES OF MOVIES DO YOU WATCH?
“We like to watch films that are classic, iconic and well-received. We also watch different films depending on the season, so during October we might watch more horror movies. [Overall we watch] films that we think are impactful and can be dissected and have discussions over.”
DO MEMBERS HAVE TO ATTEND EVERY MEETING?
“No, members do not have to attend every meeting, but if they [don’t attend] they should check the GroupMe or Instagram to see what they missed.”
LUCY CATTANO
WHAT DOES A TYPICAL MEETING LOOK LIKE?
“We start off by sending a Google Form where everybody puts their ratings of the previous movie we watched with any discussion questions or com ments. We go over the results, then we normally play a game or activity having to do with the movie and announce what the next film is.”
CAN NEW MEMBERS JOIN ANYTIME?
“New members can join anytime. [They] should go to our Instagram page where we have our GroupMe posted and join it so they can see when the next meeting is.”
PAST DISCUSSIONS
“THE BREAKFAST CLUB” (1985)
-Discussed it’s timelessness, messages and what they’d rate it out of five
Movies watched and what was talked about at each meeting
“THE
-Talked about favorite scenes and songs, and debated on the film’s messages
“ALIEN” (1979)
-Spoke about horror elements in the film and the importance of effects, whether it’s sound, visual or video
-Conversed about what makes it an iconic and wellknown film
design by MADDIE GLASIER photos by MAGGIE ROGERS &
ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW” (1975)
“A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET” (1984)
SPORTS
PLAYOFFS:
ABOVE Senior Davis Eakes runs towards the end zone in the first quarter on a 51 yard rushing attempt where Eakes was tackled on the one yard line by a Blue Valley West safety.
photos by WILL GRIFFITH
BOYS SOCCER FOOTBALL &
TOP MIDDLE Junior Charlie Manies attempts to sack the Blue Valley West jaguars quarterback during the first drive of the game. The quarterback broke free from Manies’ tackle and threw an incompletion to a wide receiver.
photos by WILL GRIFFITH
TOP MIDDLE Sophomore Ben Griffith attempts to get past a Blue Valley West offensive lineman to sack the jaguars quarterback in the second quarter.
photos by WILL GRIFFITH
ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT
Senior Chloe Swan shares show she felt after finishing 10th at state in her last cross country race
CHLOE
SENIOR
SWAN
I’M HAPPY WITH my individual performance because I had been fighting some sickness for the whole month leading up to state. At the beginning of the season I met with my coach and we set a goal of top 10 at state so I was really excited to meet that goal.
TOP Senior Jackson Wening warms up and gets ready to take on Blue Valley Northwest. photos by RJ KORDALSKI
BOTTOM Seniors Carter Santa and Stephen Hlobik run off the field after wishing good luck to Blue Valley Northwest.
photos by RJ KORDALSKI
GAME RECAP
BOYS SOCCER PLAYOFFS
OCT.
30
vs. BLUE VALLEY NORTHWEST
by MOLLY MCDERMED
THE VARSITY
soccer team defeated BV North West in the regional finals on Oct. 30. The first goal was scored by captain senior Stephen Hlobik in the beginning of the first half. The Lancers stayed in the
lead the whole first and second half. The second goal was made by senior Owen Andrews. And at the end of the first half senior Carter Santa scored the third goal. The fourth and fifth goals were made by seniors Parker Mahurin and Hlobik.
Seniors
A HUB FOR DUBS
story by ADDY NEWMAN
DOG DAYS ARE Over” by Florence + The Machine blasted from the speakers. I could barely hear the song over the loud camaraderie of customers as I walked through the large paned glass door into Kansas City’s newest sports bar: The Dub.
Opened on Oct. 16 and located in the heart of downtown Kansas City near West 9th Street and Baltimore Avenue, The Dub is the first sports bar entirely dedicated to women’s sports and inclusivity.
Finding a spot to park on the street was a mess, but after circling the busy downtown area, I managed to secure a paid parking spot in a nearby garage after much frustration.
When I entered, I was immediately greeted by owners Monica Brady and Rachel Glenn and went to seat myself at the already set tables. Initially, the place was very loud, with people everywhere — not a spot for a calm, sit down meal.
Much of the bar’s theme was based on the Kansas City Current — KC’s professional women’s soccer team.
An entire red and teal mural wall features known female athletes like Serena Williams and Simone Biles as well as a drawing of the Canadian Pacific KC stadium — the first soccer stadium in the world built specifically for a women’s professional team. The colors around the restaurant also mimic the Current’s colors with red chairs, teal menus and cups and teal painted walls and ceilings.
The entirely teal and red restaurant was overwhelming, especially considering that the Current had no part in founding the restaurant.
Additionally, there was another dining room themed as a locker room for the KC Glory — KC’s professional women’s tackle football team. The brown cabinets resembling a locker room, and trophies brought in by KC residents lining the top of them, were unique ideas. However, the room felt too stereotypical of an attempt to
The Dub is Kansas City’s first women inclusivity sports bar
make the design unique for a sports bar.
Above the bar, a white and black sign read “Pay them what you owe them” — a protest slogan that many women’s sports organizations have adopted. It refers to a call for fair wages and equal treatment for women in professional sports.
As a female athlete, I felt represented with the KC Current being displayed and women’s games playing on the TV. Overall, these were the only differences between this bar and a normal sports bar where mainly men’s sports are played.
Representation through decor even found its way into the genderneutral bathrooms, where there were photographs of famous moments in women’s sports, such as Brandi Chastain’s iconic sports bra moment after the U.S. 1999 women’s World Cup victory. Chastain famously took off her jersey after scoring a penalty kick to celebrate.
When sitting down at the small two-person table, I felt like the only underage person inside, even though all ages were allowed in, and it was definitely expected considering how The Dub was labeled online — a bar.
After only a glance at the menu, the sheet pan nachos that I saw all over their Instagram page had to be ordered. And even though the place was packed with people, my freshly made food was delivered in under 10 minutes.
Each chip was heavily coated with queso with not one single dry chip and the jalapeno added a much needed spice that contrasted nicely with the pico to cool down my taste buds.
Another item I ordered was the kids grilled cheese, and it came with potato chips. The grilled cheese was merely average, and there was nothing besides the plain toasted bread and melted cheese that put this above my expectations.
AS A FEMALE
athlete, I felt represented with the KC Current being displayed and women’s games playing on the TV. Overall, these were the only differences between this bar and a normal sports bar.
I’m definitely not the biggest nacho cheese fan, especially at a sports game with their plain chips plastered in artificial cheese. But these nachos had much assortment to them.
Topping the tortilla chips was white queso, black beans, jalapenos, pico, melted cheddar and on the side, sour cream and salsa. For only $14, these nachos were stacked . They were way too big for one person to eat and would definitely need to be shared with a large group.
The nachos and grilled cheese were more upscale than the food typically found at a baseball game, which usually offers plain hot dogs, or a men’s professional soccer game, where the most complex item made to order is a slice of pizza. While eating, two games were being played on the various TVs around the bar. The first was a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I women’s volleyball game. Then the next, an NCAA D1 women’s soccer game. Games I would never see played at any other sports bar, and it was satisfying to see women’s sports representation.
The purpose of the bar isn’t to only play women’s games; major men’s games will certainly be played too, according to the staff.
As women’s sports leagues like the National Women’s Soccer League continue to gain traction in the U.S., The Dub is helping to bring this inclusivity and good food to Kansas City.
A few of the local men and women’s sport teams you can expect to see airing at The Dub what’s on tv?
KC Current
professional women’s soccer team in the NWSL
Kansas City Monarchs
professional men’s baseball team that plays in an MLB Partner League
Kansas City Glory
professional women’s tackle football team in the WNFC
ABOVE KC Current midfielder Lo’eau Labonta signs a shirt for a fan at The Dub’s “Happy Hour with Lo.”
ABOVE The bar features a “locker room” containing professional lockers and sports memorabilia.
ABOVE The Dub plays a KU women’s basketball game against Cincinnati behind the bar area.
photos by VIVIEN GLENSKI
CROSS COUNTRY COUNTRY
Designed by upperclassmen, the cross country state team gets matching hoodies each year
STATE HOODIES
Sweatshirts are designed and picked out by upperclassmen
Embroidered with name and year by a local embroidery shop
Worn at the state meet and at school the day after state
A look into the superstitions and traditions some of the sports teams have for state
GIRLS GOLF
TENNIS GOLF TEAM
During the car ride to the state tournament, the girls golf team listens to music and sits in their “lucky” seats
WE DO KARAOKE on the car ride to state, we blasted hype music, and just got excited and ready for the tournament KATIE ROBINETT
SPECIFIC SEATS
A layout of the bus and where each player sits
DANCE TEAM GIRLS TENNIS
The night before state, the Lancer Dancers exchange sister gifts and listen to their favorite songs on the way to Topeka, KS
SISTER GIFTS
The tennis state team gets matching outfits for the state match, picked by the tennis seniors, Bella Broce and Catherine Beltrame
MATCHING UNIFORMS
ON REPEAT
A few of the Lancer Dancers’ favorite hype songs
WHEN WE ALL have matching outfits, everyone at state knows what team you’re on, and then it just builds team spirit. I think this year’s team has been really close, and I think it’s really awesome.
Ella
Georgia Addy
Harper Katie Paige
TOGETHERunified
BEHIND THE SPORT
A history of this recent statewide sport, including playing format
KSHAA 5 sport for YEARS
5
SHERYL has been the coach for Unified Bowling all five years
KAPLAN
TERMS DEFINED
PARTNER:
Neurotypical bowler
ATHLETE:
Neurodivergent bowler
During competitions, bowlers follow BAKER FORMAT. This requires one partner and two athletes to rotate frames during the game.
PARTNER BOWLS
1, 4, 7, 10 frames
2 ATHLETES BOWL
2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9 frames
The Unified Bowling team gives special education students an opportunity to participate in athletics and develop relationships with their neurotypical peers
design by BELLA BROCE
photos by MAGGIE ROGERS
ABOVE Senior Andrew Rhodes gives junior Spencer Thornhill a pep talk after Thornhill hurt his knee. Thornhill continued to play after. photos by AVRA WELLING
story by LIBBY MARSH
YAHTZEE!” Thenfreshman Tristen Ogun shouts and turns to give thenjunior Andrew Rhodes a double high five. This is their celebration after getting a Yahtzee during personalized physical education.
And this celebration has carried over into Unified Bowling one year later. Now, every time sophomore Ogun gets a strike, he turns to Rhodes or teammate and senior Jake Smith for a double high five and shouts, “Yahtzee!”
Just as Ogun did at the meet on Oct. 29, after he bowled the third strike in a row for his team — a Turkey. Ogun’s team, with Smith and junior Jacob Stiles, placed first at the meet and has placed in all other meets this season, including their most recent on Nov. 5.
“The meets are just so fun,” Rhodes said. “When someone hits a strike or spare the energy is so there and there’s excitement.”
FRAME
a single turn for a bowler with a maximum of two chances to knock down all 10 pins
The sport has given special education students a platform to compete, even if they aren’t the best bowlers, according to special education teacher Tia Hurt.
“Nobody’s in their face if they get a gutter ball or
miss a pin or whatever,”
Hurt said. “It provides some opportunity to be on a team.”
Unified Bowling only became a KSHSAA sport four years ago, and coach and SHARE coordinator Sheryl Kaplan has led the team since then. Right out of college, Kaplan taught special education for 10 years — something she found a passion for after volunteering at the Special Olympics her freshman year of college. Right after the event, she switched her major to special education.
Hurt said she appreciates the friendships her son has been able to build through the team.
AS
[THE athletes]have become sophomores and juniors, I have seen how they are encouraging, whether they do poorly or they do well, how they uplift their other teammates. It’s not just about them anymore.
Special education is “where [her] heart is,” according to Kaplan and all of the athletes enjoy working with her.
“As a parent it warms my heart to see the relationships that are being built and how [the partners] take that time to pour into these students so that they do feel successful and they do feel like, ‘Hey, I have a friend in the building that’s not just part of my bowling team, but I can see out in the hallways and be able to talk to them,’” Hurt said.
TIA HURT SPED TEACHER
“She’s nice, she has a lot of energy and she’s funny,” sophomore and athlete Dave Williams said.
Unified Bowling is done using the Baker Method. Athletes are divided into teams of three with two special education athletes and one neurotypical partner. The partner will bowl frames one, four, seven and 10, and the athletes alternate bowling the other frames. Six games are played in a match.
Hurt’s son and freshman Fitu Hurt is on the Unified Team, and, being a parent,
A roster of the players and athletes on the 2025 Unified Bowling team
Andrew Rhodes
Cameron
Francie
While SM East is an inclusive community, in terms of athletics, there aren’t many opportunities for students with special needs, according to Hurt. However, senior Grace Rayfield, a member of the Unified team since freshman year, tried out for the girls bowling team last year and made the team.
“Her skills just kept going up, and she was feeling really good about herself and about her bowling skills,” Kaplan said. “And we all encouraged her to try out for the team, and she did and she made it. And we’re all extremely proud of her.”
Practicing, competing and working with their peers teaches students what it’s like to be on a team and how to take a loss.
Many of the athletes have been part of Unified Bowling since their freshman year. While some will get upset when they don’t do well, Hurt has seen them grow to understand that the sport is more than just winning.
“As [the athletes] have become sophomores and juniors, I have seen how they are encouraging, whether they do poorly or they do well, how they uplift their other teammates,” Hurt said. “It’s not just about them anymore. So, they’ve definitely matured while they’ve done Unified Bowling.”
During the announcements in seminar, the athletes will cheer each other on when one of their classmates is announced for placing at a meet, and Kaplan has seen the relationships developed during practices carry over into the halls of SM East.
She’ll see students highfiving one another in the halls, and during a bake sale on Oct. 28, Kaplan noticed how the athletes and partners have become a friend group.
“[Unified Bowling] forms relationships and gives [the athletes] a sense of pride in how they bowl and the skills that they are learning at bowling is really very incredible,” Kaplan said. “And I think that the relationships are important for the special [education] kids and the neurotypical kids. I think it makes a difference in all of them.”
THE PLAYERS IN ACTION
Reid
Rollie
Sawyer Mackay
Spencer
Tristen Ogun
Vivian Madrigal
Will
ABOVE Junior Owen Wagstaff points at coach Sheryl Kaplan after making a joke about bowling. photo by AVRA WELLING
ABOVE Senior Mason Meyer calculates her team’s scores with her brother, Reid, after the meet ended. photo by AVRA WELLING
ABOVE Sophomore Tristen Ogun motions a thumbs up to his parents cheering him on after he got a spare. photo by MAGGIE ROGERS
HONORING
Statistics and student stories about Veterans Day
NOV. 11 CELEBRATIONS
How to celebrate Veterans Day, according to honoringamericasveterans.org
ORGANIZE A CARE PACKAGE
Send a package to a soldier over seas, or if you don’t know anyone currently serving, contact a nearby organization like Blue Star Moms to find troops in need
GET CREATIVE
Find an educational art project to create, especially with younger kids, on websites such as Pinterest
WEAR A POPPY
Contact the local American Legion office to find out where you can get a poppy, and wear it to show support for veterans and active duty service members
250 YEARS
About the significance of this Veterans Day, according to military250.org
The U.S. ARMY, NAVY and MARINE CORPS are celebrating their 250th anniversary
STUDENT TRADITIONS
Students share their celebrations of Veterans Day
JOHN MARSH FRESHMAN
I STARTED VOLUNTEERING
on Veterans Day with my sister. When I started, I was just going because she’s my sister, but now I really want to go.
GRACE O’DONNELL SENIOR
I CELEBRATE VETERANS Day
because I have grandparents and great grandparents who were in different wars and are veterans. I do a lot of projects to help celebrate veterans, not necessarily just on Nov. 11.
POPPY SYMBOLISM
The origins and meaning of the traditional motif of Veterans Day, according to arlingtonva.us
• The tradition began during World War I when Moina Michael was inspired by the poem “IN FLANDER FIELDS”
• Michael sold poppy corsages to raise funds for veterans and their families, and swore to wear a poppy every day to remember those who were serving
ABOVE O’Donnell and her friends pass out toiletries at the 2025 Stand Down.
“IN FLANDERS FIELDS” poem by MAJOR JOHN MCCRAE
In Flanders fields THE POPPIES blow BETWEEN THE CROSSES, row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still BRAVELY SINGING, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below.
ABOVE Marsh poses with Jessy, a comfort dog at a Veterans Day volunteer event.