The Harbinger Issue 7 2025

DWINDLING

THE FLAME

Teachers experience burnout as district oversight, large class sizes, student disrespect and AI usage increase

*names changed to protect identity

THE BLANK STARES of 25 students were the last thing she needed. For months, teacher *Amber Konrad had been struggling.

Struggling with the question of: Does anyone care if I try?

“I felt like no one saw me and no one recognized what I was going through,” Konrad said.

“Admin tells us all these nice things about how much they like us and appreciate us, and blah, blah, blah, but [they’ve] actually never, ever come up to me and told me I’m doing a good job.”

Students? Treated her class as a chore.

Her friends? Tried to convince her to quit.

But she couldn’t.

She wasn’t ready to walk away from the job she fell in love with

more than a decade ago. Konrad went into teaching thrilled about the idea of being paid to work with high-achieving students in a “community of expectations.”

But after more than 10 years of teaching a room of students who only wanted a grade, Konrad found herself meeting with a therapist and napping two to three hours every day after school to cope with the task of educating the uninterested.

Burnout has always been a part of teaching. Konrad said that in the past five years, it has become more common than ever.

A Google Form survey sent to all teachers and administrators received 30 responses and 28 teachers across all departments said burnout is an issue. These responses reflect national

trends. According to a National Education Association teacher survey, over 90% of the teachers who responded said burnout is a serious problem.

Teachers are burnt out because district policy and curriculum changes don’t reflect their perspective, according to multiple survey responses.

Teachers are burnt out because large class sizes are forcing them to spend more time grading.

Teachers are burnt out because students, instead of investing in their education, treat classes as something they have to do to graduate.

Teachers are burnt out because artificial intelligence is forcing teachers to police technology usage.

continued on pages 16-17

The Broadmoor Boutique offers free clothing to SMSD students

story by SIENNA WILLIAMS

story by LUCY STEPHENS

story by GRACE PEI

THE HARBINGER

DECEMBER 1, 2025

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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.

SME Harbinger

Read more about the heartbreak and reality of the seniors’ last football season

Read more about the mixed student responses to the phone ban story by SLOANE HENDERSON

cartoon by AVRA WELLING story by VANESSA BLADES

NEWS

stories by HANNAH ROSEMANN

INDUCTION OF HONOR

The National Honor Society ceremony recognizes new members

THE NATIONAL HONOR Society induction ceremony was hosted in the SM East auditorium on Nov. 19 to recognize students’ hard work and dedication to the four pillars of the society: scholarship, leadership, character and service. Students are encouraged to excel in all pillars to be eligible for the NHS.

“My favorite part [of the induction ceremony] is recognizing all the students that have been going above and beyond and really showing that they do stand for those four pillars,” senior and leadership pillar representative Georgia Boyd said.

During the ceremony, each senior

representative gave a speech about their respective pillar, detailing the attributes needed to succeed in that pillar.

The ceremony is a large event full of tradition that takes weeks of preparation but is always done with high precision, according to the sponsor of the SM East chapter of NHS and English teacher Melinda DiGirolamo.

“When [the induction] is over and we’ve had a successful ceremony, you feel like you’ve really accomplished something,” DiGirolamo said. “Because when we tackle hard things, there are some nerves and it helps to push yourself to do the best and make sure every last little detail is attended to.”

SPIRIT OF GIVING

The Prairie Village Mayor’s tree lighting in Corinth Square is a charitable event setting off the holiday season

HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE are expected to attend the 40th annual Prairie Village mayor’s tree lighting on Dec. 4 at 6 p.m. in Corinth Square, according to special events coordinator for the City of Prairie Village, JD Kinney.

The lighting will feature several performances from members of the community before and after the actual lighting. Dancers from the dance studio Dancerz Unlimited, the Indian Hills Middle School choir, the SM East drumline and mascots from local schools will provide entertainment.

“When the procession starts, Santa’s in the car with the police and he’s coming, and you can hear the drums from a little bit far off, and they’re closer and closer and closer,” Kinney said. “When they turn the corner, and the drums sort of get in front of the crowd, and Santa comes around the corner, and everybody starts hollering. It’s great.”

The lighting isn’t only a way to spread holiday cheer, but it’s also a fundraising event for the Prairie Village Foundation, a charity organization that focuses on families in need in the community, according to Kinney.

“[The] Prairie Village Foundation is the only charity that I’m aware of that has a hyper-local mission of helping

vulnerable families in Prairie Village and the immediate surroundings,” Prairie Village Mayor Eric Mikkelson said.

The foundation is aided by monetary donations and donations of food and entertainment from local businesses and people. Free fudge and other treats will be donated by Laura Little’s and other local businesses.

Several ‘local celebrities’ will attend the event to help the mayor light the tree, including Princess of America Teen Miss Kansas and sophomore Libby Morris.

“I love getting to be a part of a city tradition,” Morris said. “It makes me feel really connected to the community. I really appreciate getting the honor of being on stage in front of my peers.”

The tree lighting sets off the holiday season and gets people in the spirit of giving, according to Mikkelson.

“It’s just the looks on the children’s faces, and there’s the screams of joy when Santa comes, when we flip that switch [to light the tree],” Mikkelson said. “The whole thing fills with kids in the front rows, and the family’s in behind. But just hearing their laughter always warms my heart and puts me in the holiday spirit.”

THE VILLAGE RENOVATIONS

Photos of the Shops of Prairie Village construction

TOP

REVAMPING THE VILLAGE

The Shops of Prairie Village are going through redevelopment, garnering mixed responses from the community

CONSTRUCTION BEGAN ON

the former Macy’s building in the Shops of Prairie Village in the first quarter of 2025.

The redevelopment plans, put forth by the city and First Washington Realty, a national real estate investment and management firm, are to update the shopping center and create a gathering space for the community, which is set to finish in late 2026, according to Mayor of Prairie Village Eric Mikkelson.

“I think it’s gonna be a community gathering space that people are really proud of,” Mikkelson said. “It’s gonna be more inviting, more aesthetically pleasing, just warmer. It’s really going to be, I believe, a dramatic improvement to one of the crown jewel shopping areas of all of Prairie Village.”

concerning the construction, according to students who work in the Village.

“The WiFi has been slow [due to construction], which messes things up, but other than that, it doesn’t affect us a ton,” Scoobie employee and sophomore Paige Wildman said.

IT’S GOING TO

part be a source of immense pride. It’s gonna be where you see your neighbors and friends on a regular basis, whether you’re shopping for groceries or having lunch on a beautiful fall afternoon.

The plans include a much larger and more modern Hen House on the ground floor of the building and multiple tenants on the top floor, including Big Grove Brewery, according to Mikkelson.

ERIC MIKKELSON MAYOR

While there is much anticipation surrounding the redevelopment, there’s minor apprehension

The construction has caused some inconvenience for employees and shoppers at the Village as well.

“[The construction] is annoying because Mission’s always closed and it’s blocked off for a lot of stores,” Minsky’s Pizza employee and sophomore Ana Pyakuryal said.

Despite the suboptimal construction, the community is looking forward to having new places to shop and a stateof-the-art grocery store, according to Wildman.

“It’s going to be a source of immense pride,” Mikkelson said. “It’s gonna be where you see your neighbors and friends on a regular basis, whether you’re shopping for groceries or having lunch on a beautiful fall afternoon.”

design by ADDY NEWMAN

photos by KATIE COOK

LEFT South of the Village, the former Macy’s is being reconstructed into a Hen House.

BOTTOM LEFT The sign outside of the old Macy’s parking lot separates the road from the construction.

ABOVE After school hours, a worker stands on a crane. The construction will be done in middle to late 2026.

CLOSETS for the

The Broadmoor Boutique provides an affordable and reusable way for shopping for clothes for all of the SMSD

story by SIENNA WILLIAMS

INSIDE ROOM 18 at SM North, every first Wednesday and third Tuesday of the month, the Broadmoor Boutique is open from 3-7 p.m., providing affordable clothing for students, staff and families across the SMSD.

The boutique is an extension of the Broadmoor Building, a clothing donation center, and is led by teachers and job coaches Erin Adan at SM North and Amanda Danforth at SM East. The boutique provides an affordable clothing option while promoting the idea of reusing items rather than throwing them away.

“One of our main goals is to go green, reuse, reduce and repurpose,” Danforth said. “To stop purchasing things so that there’s less of the landfills and more of reusing things.”

Community

making it easier to drop off donations.

While the boutique is primarily run by Adan and Danforth, the special education students at SM North handle most of the hands-on tasks, from sorting through clothes to color-coordinating different hoodies.

As part of Adan and Danforth’s jobcoaching role, these tasks help students develop real-world and vocational skills in a school setting. The special education students sort, organize and distribute the donated clothes. They also wash and dry items, gaining hands-on experience that helps develop skills for possible future jobs.

[ THE

BOUTIQUE]

allows the students to gain retail related skills prior to going out into the community.

All of the clothes from the boutique are donated to the Shawnee Mission community. That being said, while anyone can donate, the boutique primarily only wants people in the SMSD to shop there, according to Adan and Danforth.

ERIN ADAN FOUNDER

When someone is looking to drop off a donation, they can put their items in a bin outside of SM North, anytime, any day. Donors can also contact Adan or Danforth to arrange an alternative drop-off.

The boutique is also in the process of putting another donation bin outside of SM East. Adan and Danforth hope this will bring more attention to the boutique while also

“[Working] in the boutique allows the students to gain retail-related skills [moving forward],” Adan said.

The boutique offers a wide variety of clothing to suit a range of tastes and styles. Jackets, shirts, pants and sweatshirts are all things you could find while shopping in the store. The boutique has homecoming and prom dresses as well as suits for upcoming school dances.

The boutique also offers volunteering hours. By contacting either Adan or Danforth, people can reserve the boutique to help sort, organize and prepare the clothes.

Community members can also contribute by donating gently used clothing.

“I think what they’re doing is really cool,” sophomore Emma Walker said. “I would love to potentially donate some clothes that I have one day.”

Despite its major success so far, such as giving away over two thousand clothes in the past six months, according to Adan, the boutique is working on a few improvements.

According to Adan and Danforth, the limited space in its current classroom makes it difficult to display all items and keep areas organized. With a larger space, it will be easier to store clothing, maintain tidiness and create a more comfortable shopping experience for guests.

The boutique also hopes to expand its hours in the future, moving beyond its current schedule to possibly opening multiple days or even once each week.

The added time would give students, staff and families more opportunities to browse the boutique and access the clothing they need.

While the boutique works to overcome these challenges, it also aims to increase community involvement by raising awareness of its mission. They plan to post on social media and hang posters around the school to advertise their boutique.

“If more people were to know what the boutique was about, the more people would want to come check it out,” Adan said.

Adan and Danforth plan on hosting additional donation drives, special activities and events to engage the SMSD community. The two also plan to take collaborative photo shoots to promote the boutique. This will not only showcase what the boutique has to offer, but also inspire people to donate, volunteer and shop.

“I think the more people who know about it, then they’ll fall in love, too,” Danforth said.

Benefits the boutique is providing for SMSD

Recycled clothes

Less waste of unworn clothing

Available for everyone in the SMSD community

Free for all students

Helping students in need

Giving back to the community

LEFT Shelves of formal dresses that the boutique carries for special events such as prom and homecoming. While the section is closed at the moment it opens up around the time of school dances.

BELOW A shelf containing earrings and athletic tops. The Broadmoore Boutique focuses on including accessories as well as clothing.

ABOVE Shelving units containing clothing of all sizes coded by color. There is also children’s clothing featured.

ABOVE Women’s clothing and undergarments are displayed.

art by ADYSON COOPER

INVESTIGATING

A deep dive into the IB Philosophy class

HOW DOES THE CLASS WORK?

MEREDITH STERNBERG TEACHER

I GENUINELY DO think everyone should take philosophy. I think that philosophy is just good for you, and I think it’s good for any thinking human, and we are all thinking humans.”

WHAT DOYOULEARN?

IB Philosophyactivities

Creation as humans: Fifth hour created cave art using mud and grass

STUDENT PHILOSOPHY

JAMES QUANCE SENIOR

Applying philosophy to nature: Sixth hour visited SM East’s community garden

Elements of the class that are atypical to a standard class

Students propose fun activities that they think fit the current lesson

Assessment of a understanding of the class at the end of the year

Open-ended class discussions about different philosophical texts

Studying mind and body: Fifth hour spent a class period playing at the playground to bring out their inner child

Students’ favorite memories from IB Philosophy

ONE THING THAT I enjoyed talking about is is determinism, which is this idea every decision you make is a result of your nature and nurture, and that at some point, everything you do is entirely predictable. I didn’t really like that, but it’s definitely stuck, because most people in my class agreed with it, and I didn’t.

CATHERINE BELTRAME SENIOR

WE HAD ONE [discussion] that was going over what is defined as like a monster, and monsters versus humans. We’ve also been talking a lot about like machines versus humans, what makes a person a person and if can you consider AI to be a person.

OPINION

comic strip

hot

take we asked you...

Being short is worse than people think

ANYONE WHO KNOWS me, know I’m “vertically challenged.” My height of four feet ten inches has brought challenges into my life the taller population is oblivious to.

However, I am aware of the advantages that come with my shorter-than-average stature. For example, I have no trouble navigating small spaces, I always have room to move in a car and I can wear heels without feeling selfconscious. While these advantages are great, the disadvantages of being short are far more overwhelming.

Obviously, there is the physical disadvantage. Every person under 5’4” knows the awkwardness that comes with trying to grab something from a high shelf, realizing you can’t quite reach it, then having to find someone or something to help you get it. Grocery stores suddenly become mini obstacle courses.

Clothing stores aren’t much better — jeans always fit my waist, but will puddle around my ankles, sleeves consistently swallow my

hands and mini dresses land at my knees. So learning to tailor my clothes quickly became a much-needed skill. Even working out is a unique challenge that many overlook; spin classes are impossible because my feet can’t reach the pedals, in a gym I have to hunt down a stool to reach the pull up bar and adjusting the leg press machine becomes a workout of its own.

Being short also creates a space where strangers feel too comfortable pointing out my height, almost as if they think I somehow forgot.

I always get comments in school, church and work about my size.

“Wow, you’re so tiny!”

“Wait, how tall are you again?”

I’ve even started to develop an almost automatic, funny and polite response, but the truth is that those comments get old very quickly. Especially because I ‘ve heard them all my life.

So next time you see someone struggling to reach a can of soup on the top shelf of the grocery store, instead of laughing to yourself offer them a hand and recognize the struggle.

Students and faculty respond to this issue’s opinion stories

*Instagram poll of 364 votes DO YOU THINK STUDENTS SHOULD TAKE MATH ALL FOUR YEARS OF HIGH SCHOOL?

MIKE STOECKLE TEACHER

DEPENDING ON WHERE they’re planning on going outside of high school, I think it would be necessary for them to take math all four years, but it depends on the students plans after high school.

*Instagram poll of 205 votes ARE YOU MORE LIKELY TO DONATE TO A SCHOOL CHARITY DRIVE IF YOU RECEIVE SOME KIND OF REWARD?

DAVIS EAKES SENIOR

PEOPLE ALWAYS RESPOND more to incentives, for big fundraisers we try to have a dodge ball tournament or games to get people to come and donate.

*Instagram poll of 471 votes ARE YOU UNDER 5’4”?

MABEL BRENT BRENT SOPHOMORE

I’M 5’3” AND I like being short because being tall would be awkward if everyones shorter than me, and I’m the same height as all my friends which is nice.

story by KATIE COOK

design by ADYSON COOPER

photos by AVRA WELLING

comic strip by FRANCESCA LORUSSO

BEHAVIOR HAS CONSEQUENCES

The SM

East administration must punish students who say negative comments at sports games

FEE-FI-FO-FUM. BURGER.

GORILLA. McDonalds. F*gg*t.

These were the fat-shaming and derogatory comments made by SM East students during the Kansas State High School Activities Association 6A soccer state championship game, directed towards the opposing Washburn Rural high school.

But no consequences were given to those who took the game too far. All because it’s somehow acceptable for a student section to be intensely and harmfully disruptive to the action of the game.

And since the administration members present took almost no action besides making one attempt asking them to stop and then continuing to ignore it, students carelessly bullied players on the opposing team for the rest of the game.

SM East students should be held accountable and receive punishment for disrespectful comments made during

games. If it was SM East players being made fun of by the opposing school’s students, SM East students would want the same kind of punishments for them.

The opposing team, their students and the parents simply going to watch their kids compete in a state championship final all lost respect for SM East.

The SM East soccer players had no part in the comments directed at the other team, but the student section represents the image and character of SM East as well as themselves. These remarks aren’t actually how the SM East community is, but they reflect poorly on all students and SM East’s reputation as a whole.

There are expectations and rules for the behavior of players on the field. For people off the field, these expectations should still apply.

Soccer players who receive a yellow card in a high school game must be substituted off immediately and are

allowed to return at the next stoppage of play with the referee’s permission. Yellow cards can be issued for swearing or insulting opponents. Players who receive a red card are suspended for the remainder of the game and the following game and are required to complete a sportsmanship course before being allowed back on the field, according to KSHSAA.

If KSHSAA has these rules for players, the same expectations should be in place for those watching the game — especially if it affects the game.

The Shawnee Mission School District High School Handout Code of Conduct states the expectation that all staff members, community members, parents and students must be treated with professionalism, courtesy, dignity and respect. This includes interactions and behaviors both on and off school grounds.

This is the only section of the 35-page handbook that comes close to addressing the student section. The handbook doesn’t specify how to handle sports games or address the expectations needed to facilitate those behaviors.

If rowdy parents are kicked out of games and can even be given cards, just like players or coaches can, undisciplined students should be kicked out too.

According to the KSHSAA’s 2025-2026 soccer manual, sportsmanship should include “being courteous to all, exercising self-control and reflecting positively upon yourself, team and school, and to win with character and lose with dignity.”

Losing the game wasn’t embarrassing. Flipping off the other team’s goalkeeper, mocking celebratory chants from the other team’s student section after the final whistle blew and directing chants at players on the other team, was

FOR: 9 AGAINST: 3

The members of the editorial board who agree with the viewpoint of the editorial are represented by for, and those who disagree with the viewpoint are represented by against.

embarrassing.

All of this could’ve been avoided if the multiple administrators standing on the field in front of the student section had taken charge and stopped those who were shouting.

And this doesn’t mean telling them to stop once, just for students to continue making insulting remarks. This means removing them from the game and possibly away privileges to attend other games.

More people are likely to exercise selfcontrol if their chances of going to future games like the SM East vs. Rockhurst basketball game are on the line.

Even though the administration needs to step up, administration shouldn’t have to be responsible for 20 students at the same time if people just exercised selfcontrol and basic human decency. The other student section had no problem being sane and only shouting harmless chants.

Amid the hundreds of cruel remarks being echoed by the SM East student section, the Lancers lost 2-4 on penalty kicks. We didn’t just lose the game, we also lost respect for our reputation.

We have harmless hype chants like ‘Do It’ and ‘Bananas’ for a reason: so the opposing team isn’t driving home from the game with lower self-esteem. Once disrespectful commentary is directed towards any player, coach, referee or game attendee, it’s unacceptable.

One disrespectful comment represents the entire SM East community, and destructive commentary can’t be ignored. The administration must curb these harmful behaviors, and SM East students must recognize the damaging effects of their words on those around them.

KSHSAA RULES

Regulations that KSHSAA enforces on students and soccer players

1 2 3

If athletes receive a yellow card they must be substituted immediately

Yellow cards can be issued for swearing or insulting opponents

If athletes receive a red card they are suspended for the remainder of the game and following game

MATH(4)EVER

It’s crucial for students to take four years of math classes for long-term school and career benefits

ADDING UP THE NUMBERS

*According to Colorado State University

Stats of college students taking four years of math

Four year graduation rates

15% of students graduated with only fulfilling the required classes

24%

of students graduated with an additional year of math

85% of students remain enrolled in college and earn a degree in four years if they have taken an extra math course

CHRIS BURROWS MATH TEACHER

IF YOU TAKE three years of math and then put math off your senior year and then have to take a college math course, that college course would be so much more difficult.

*Instagram poll of 381 votes DO YOU THINK STUDENTS SHOULD TAKE MATH ALL FOUR YEARS OF HIGH SCHOOL?

story by LIBBY MARSH

DERIVATIVES.

Trigonometry equations.

The quadratic formula. Chances are, these concepts will only appear past high school for those planning on being data scientists and mathematicians.

Because of this, many students hold the common belief that not planning on using math in the future makes learning it in high school “useless.” However, the opposite is true.

While SM East students are only required to take three years of math, they should take math classes all four years of high school and work to actually understand the content. Math builds vital thinking skills and has shown greater post-graduate success for those taking four years in high school.

Math classes are essential because they build analytical skills like number sense and problem solving that English and history classes simply don’t.

Especially for those planning on going to college, most majors require at least one math class. Even majors not based in STEM, like business and writing, will still have required math classes.

After taking pre-calculus my sophomore year, I could have been done taking math for all of high school. However, taking math junior and senior year was automatic for me — and should be for all other students.

Stopping with math right after reaching the requirements leaves a 1-2 year gap between high school and college math experience. Without

maintaining this knowledge, as with most subjects, those skills will be gone by freshman year of college. No one wants to be stuck in a standard algebra class relearning what a variable is after missing the chance to continue advancing along the SM East math track.

Taking any level of math class each year is beneficial, but even better is taking a College Now or AP math class, like college algebra and AP Statistics. These classes can transfer into a college credit, meaning one less class to repeat and spend money on.

Students don’t have to be a child prodigy or plan on pursuing a career in engineering to benefit from math. And taking the most advanced classes possible isn’t necessary.

second year of college.

Furthermore, having number sense can greatly help with understanding finances in the future. A basic understanding of math can help with calculating a budget and managing debt.

It’s also important to try in these classes above all else.

MATH CLASSES

are essential because they build analytical skills like number sense and problem solving that English and history classes simply don’t.

My current math class — AP statistics — is interesting, yet not as demanding as my Calculus BC class from last year. In statistics, I have time to complete my homework during class and tests don’t require hours upon hours of studying. But, being in the class and exercising skills I’ve been building since elementary school is more beneficial than sitting in an extra elective class.

Beyond maintaining these skills, studies have proven that students enrolled in a math class senior year of high school showed greater college enrollment than those not taking math, according to the Los Angeles Education Research Institute. These students also showed greater persistence into the

It’s easy to copy down answers from a key to get the grade on an assignment. It’s easy to bomb a test that is then corrected to a passing grade. While putting in the bare minimum effort might maintain a student’s GPA, it doesn’t maintain or grow their math knowledge. It doesn’t grow the vital skills math contains.

Engaging in math grows critical thinking skills.

Critical thinking is a skill that allows you to analyze and interpret information in any field of study — engineering, writing, the arts and more. Having the ability to look at a math problem and struggle through the challenge improves problemsolving skills that translate into other areas of life.

Everyone has their strong suits. Some can recite the entire history of Europe off the top of their head. Others write professional level essays with ease. And there are those able to paint a mural to rival the Mona Lisa.

But you don’t have to be the reincarnation of Isaac Newton to benefit from learning math.

YOU

can

Even without an incentive, people should give to different donation drives, especially during the holiday season

DIVE DEEP

INTO THE

DRIVE

The most popular drives in the Kansas City area

Operation

Breakthrough

They collect monetary donations that go to books and new shoes for kids in need. They also collect items like new and used children’s clothes.

Toys for Tots

They raise money to buy new toys for kids in need, and also collect donations for toys.

Johnson County

Christmas Bureau

They collect funds to aid families in need with holiday purchases, they also gather volunteers to serve at holiday auctions to raise money for these families.

story by REESE DUNAM

EDO NATE

VERY HOLIDAY SEASON

, there’s a plethora of drives conducted by schools and churches. During these times, I always hear the same thing: If we get enough donations, there will be a pizza party, whoever donates the most will get a prize, if we collect more than the other classes, we’ll have a movie day.

The same donation incentives are used every single year. Rewards shouldn’t be necessary to compel people to donate. Donation drives help less fortunate people get by for the holidays — whether that’s food for holiday dinners or Christmas gifts for kids. This allows families to enjoy the holidays without worrying about financial roadblocks.

Rewards are normally used for young kids in elementary school because most 10-year-olds don’t understand why it’s important to support charity organizations, but they should be educated instead of incentivized. I can remember the times I’d come home and say to my parents, ‘Can we get peanut butter at the store? I need it for our class to win a movie day.’

For younger ages, family volunteering for a few days during the holiday season is a way to give back without the expectation of getting a reward. This would better help the purpose and understanding behind volunteering and donating. It prevents the implementation that the only reason to donate is to achieve a prize.

Now, as a teenager, it’s easier to understand the purpose, and incentives aren’t justifiable. Incentives aren’t the most moral way to get more donations because they don’t come from a place of generosity — they come from a place of competition.

While I understand how motivational prizes can help organizations attract as many donations as possible, these

incentives make donations inauthentic. Besides, who cares about an overdone pizza party anyway? The real reward and purpose for donating is knowing that you gave back to the community. Volunteering or donating yearround should also be normalized. Some of the most popular drives during the holiday season in Kansas City are the Johnson County Christmas Bureau, Operation Breakthrough and Toys for Tots, according to the Kansas City Star. These are all specifically holiday season donation opportunities, but there are also many options throughout the year, like Harvesters’ food banks.

Holidays are a much more popular time to donate because it is the “season of giving,” but donating yearround is vital. After all, once the holidays and an influx of donations are over, some families and individuals are left without resources.

THE FEELING

of someone less fortunate getting a box full of goodies that I packed with so much thought is much more special than a movie day or a pizza party.

There are numerous ways for organizations to increase traffic for donation drives, such as advertising more on social media. This could look like making promotional videos that showcase how people can donate and the benefits, or putting up posters with the same information. These are much more thoughtful methods that don’t cause people to give simply for the purpose of getting something in return.

Especially at SM East, we hardly get any donations for drives, even with incentives. Living in one of the most wealthy areas in Kansas, according to The Wichita Eagle, it isn’t too much to ask for students to spare an extra 5 dollars for a can.

Usually, can and food drives at churches and schools help some of these organizations, such as

Harvesters has used methods such as joining Feeding America, a network of numerous food banks across the country, which increased their donations and visibility. They also upped their distribution of locations across Missouri and Kansas, which again led to more donations. This is one organization that has proved that more donations and traffic can be made without the use of incentives. This could be applied to any of the canned and food drives at SM East because the competitions between Harbinger vs. Hauberk or Band vs. Orchestra aren’t supporting the real purpose of donating. Some of my favorite memories from past holiday seasons have been going shopping for and packing holiday and hygiene boxes for kids in the Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child program.

I loved looking at the list of things required to put in boxes, like toothbrushes, socks and shampoo, and then making them personalized for a little girl or boy. I would add a brand-new Barbie doll or pick out a cartoon-character toothbrush.

The feeling of someone less fortunate getting a box full of goodies that I packed with so much thought is much more special than a movie day or a pizza party.

Incentives can undermine an organization’s fundamental purpose and mission, and they aren’t an effective way to increase donations for any drive at SM East.

Harvesters.

RUNNING INFLUENCE RUNNING

RUNNING RUNNING RUNNING

The SM East and Olathe West girls cross country teams met with social media star Kaylee Bamfield for a Q&A and run after she was invited to Kansas City as the ‘Gluten Free Runner’ for a tour of Garmin’s headquarters

ABOVE The Olathe West cross country team leads Bamfield and the SM East cross country team in a shake out run located on West’s typical running route. photo by ANNIE TRENKLE

Scan this QR code to view and purchase more photos of Kaylee visiting the cross country teams SCAN ME PHOTO

ABOVE Bamfield wears a Garmin Forerunner 570, a watch the company gifted her after her previous watch stopped working. Her love for her new watch is what sparked her trip to Garmin’s headquarters.

photo by EVELYN GEHEB

BELOW Bamfield talks with the cross country team about celebrity comments she has recieved on social media, including one from Khloe Kardashian. photo by EVELYN GEHEB

BELOW Bamfield laughs with the girls cross country team while telling them about how her running career started. photo by EVELYN GEHEB

RIGHT The Olathe West and SM East cross country teams take a group photo with Bamfield after a Q&A. photo by ANNIE TRENKLE

design

by JULIA

CAMPBELL

DEFEO FEATURE

this week in PHOTOS

A look inside student life during the past two weeks

RIGHT Juniors Margo Billingsley and Lillian Haulmark work on a subscription box project for their marketing principles class. They were tasked with creating a real- life subscription box company, and their idea is called Community Care, which will distribute in- need items to the less fortunate.

photo by ANNIE TRENKLE

ABOVE Senior Sage Lickteig celebrates her dog Piper’s 13th birthday. The Jewish Student Union threw Piper a “Bark Mitzvah” after school.

by VIVIEN GLENSKI

ABOVE In her ceramics class, sophomore Lucy Bircher sculpts a kiln guardian — which acts as a talisman and is believed to protect pottery from damage during firing — for her advanced project.

photo by MOLLY SCOTT

EXPLORE CHEM CLUB

Chemistry Club members embark on why the club is beneficial

WHAT TAKES PLACE

DURING CHEM CLUB?

Provides a comfortable place to ask for help from teachers, AP and IB chemistry students Reinforces vital fundamentals to Chemistry 1 students Students study, make up assignments and quizzes, get tutored by advanced chemistry students and learn more about science

DEFEO NITELY

WORTHY

Tom Defeo, theater teacher and Lancer Educator of the year, shares pieces of his teaching style

Constantly looks for opportunities for current and future students

Stays current and exposed to theater and media trends

CLAIRE ROSEN JUNIOR

I THINK WITHOUT chem club there would be a lot more problems with Chemistry 1.

MY STRATEGY IN teaching is to treat everyone as a human being, [and] as individuals. Everyone has a story.

DEFEO’S FAVORITE PARTS OF TEACHING

When a student’s perspective of theater is changed

The moment a student begins appreciate the emotional connection they’ve formed with an audience

HANK DODDERIDGE JUNIOR

I THINK [CHEM CLUB] is a great example of what an academic club should look like. It reinforces the idea that getting help and asking questions isn’t a bad thing, but a chance for growth.

photos by TYLER RUSSELL

photo

JSCOUTING

THE

HOLIDAYS

UST BEFORE THANKSGIVING, at the corner of 67th Street and Nall Avenue, over 1,000 evergreen trees are lined up in rows. Rainbow Christmas lights are strung above the courtyard of Saint Michael Episcopal Church, over the tops of the various types and sizes of trees waiting for the tree lot to open.

Every tree is bare, soon to be decorated with tinsel and illuminated for the holiday season — all except one. A family already claimed the tallest Fraser fir tree, the most coveted tree in the lot. A ribbon is wrapped around the branches, and a whiteboard with a note claiming the tree for the family is hung around the trunk.

“Before the sale starts, some parents will come out, decorate the tree, wrap it and put signs on them claiming them, because our taller trees are the most competitive ones,” eagle scout and junior Drew Lash said.

For over 60 years, eagle scouts have been hauling evergreen trees on top of cars at

this very same street corner. This year, Drew and his friend, eagle scout and junior Guy King, are continuing the tradition to benefit their 30-person Boy Scout troop — Troop 199. All the money raised in this annual fundraiser will go towards camping trips and retreats the troop will take next year.

Last summer, the troop took a camping trip to Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico, all paid for with the funds received from the tree lot.

The trees come from Dutchman Tree Farms. In June, scout leaders will place an order for the trees, specifying the number and types they’ll receive. The orders are based on the past year’s demand. Dutchman employees will cut, load and drive the trees to Saint Michael Episcopal Church from the farm in Northern Michigan.

King said. “We buy around 1,300, and the goal is to sell all of them.”

The sale starts on Nov. 22 and runs for three weeks — or as long as the trees are in stock. After operating this sale for decades, Scott says the troop always orders enough trees for everyone who wants one.

WE FRONT-LOAD all of the work, so everybody knows, the first weekend block your calendar, be ready to be there and work, and then by the end, it’s a little bit more just calm.

When the lot is open, scouts are expected to work at the lot as much as they can during the 11-hour days. The lot is open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., and during shifts, scouts will walk families through buying the perfect tree for the holiday season.

“It starts off really hot, and then it kind of trickles down at the end,” Scott said. “We front-load all of the work, so everybody knows, the first weekend block your calendar, be ready to be there and work, and then by the end, it’s a little bit more just calm.”

of the lot. Once the tree is picked out and paid for, it’s bagged and tied to the top of the car by scouts, ready to be the center of attention in that family’s living room.

The boys will go through this process dozens of times each shift, and being able to connect with local families who have been coming for decades is one of Guy’s favorite parts of the fundraiser.

“Usually, there are people who’ve been [coming] for like, 50 years,” Guy said. “It’s cool hearing their stories.”

By the middle of December, after hundreds of families have visited, the sale comes to a close, and Troop 199 has met their annual goal again. By selling almost all their trees, they fundraised enough for all the boys in the troop to enjoy a year’s worth of Boy Scout adventures.

“We’ve been [selling trees] for so long, we kind of know how many trees we can sell in the amount of time we have to sell them,” troop treasurer and Guy’s Father, Scott

Before the sale starts, the older boys will teach younger scouts about the different types of trees offered and how they’re organized by size in the lot. That way, if a family comes in wanting the tallest Fraser fir, the scout knows precisely where to take them — the back

PICKING

TREE

When the sale is coming to a close — supply is picked over, and the last trees left go on sale — pine needles are littered along the church lot and in the Scouts’ cars, while their heavy jackets and pants give off a pine tree aroma.

“During this time, half the stuff in our house smells like Christmas trees because we’re all working there,” Scott said. “We’re lifting trees and moving trees, and there’s Christmas tree stuff everywhere. It sets the tone for the holiday.”

A

Types of trees Troop 199 offers at their fundraiser and their benefits

Fraser Fur Tree Blue Spruce Balsam Fir

• Sturdy branches are ideal for hanging ornaments

• Strong pine aroma

• Most popular tree

• Blue-green needles

• Prickly branches

• Good for pet owners

• Strong branches for decorations

• Bluish color

• Dark-green appearance

• Long-lasting needles

• Strong Christmas tree scent

story by LUCY STEPHENS

Boy Scout Troop 199 raises money by selling Christmas trees at St. Michael’s Church

SCOTT KING SM EAST PARENT

VOCAL

COMMITMENT

Sophomore Emma Daggett is applying to the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, a prestigious college preparatory school where she can focus on her love for singing

THEN-FRESHMAN EMMA

Daggett could hear the other talented singers’ voices echo through the door of the auditorium. She anxiously sat in a crowded hallway of the Pillsbury Music Center, surrounded by vocalists of all ages, waiting for her turn to compete in the National Associations of Teachers of Singing vocal contest.

After her performance, Emma patiently waited until the results paper was posted down the hall. She rushed down the hall, along with all the other competitors, and skimmed the list quickly, nearly missing the name at the very top: Emma Daggett.

Emma walked out crying happy tears, still in shock that she even placed in the top three. The contest, which only allows students of voice instructors who’re part of NATS to compete, was soon added to her extensive resume.

Now-sophomore Emma wants to take her vocal performance to the next stage — and state — by applying to the University of North Carolina School of the Arts.

UNCSA is a college preparatory school dedicated solely to those committed to enhancing their performing arts. Emma is applying to major in vocals, one of the only majors offered that’s a two-year program, with an acceptance rate of only 33%.

If accepted, she would move to the UNCSA campus for her junior and senior years of high school, where she’d continue her education in an arts-based environment.

“It’s really cool to be able to focus all of yourself into something, whether that’s being able to perform and do what you love, or getting a prize for a competition,” Emma said.

The first step in the application

CAMPUS CAMPUS

process is the pre-screen, for which Emma will send in a video of her singing for evaluation before an in-person audition in mid-December.

“I have to submit my pre-screen in a few days [to UNCSA],” Emma said. “I have a lot of music in my repertoire right now, so my voice teacher and I are trying to decide what I’m going to submit, but after I submit the pre-screen, I’ll go in person in December and I’ll audition.”

Emma has taken voice lessons with her teacher Gary Green twice a week since age 7. Green is a member of NATS and worked with Emma to prepare for the competitive vocal contest she won first place in in February — one she’ll compete again in this winter.

Both Emma’s dad Mark Daggett and brother Elliott Daggett went to UNCSA, majoring in visual arts and drama, respectively. They encouraged her to apply to UNCSA as early as she could.

“It was definitely a life-changing experience for me, and I think that she would really enjoy it too,” Elliott said.

While it was hard for Elliott to leave his home and family for his senior year, he has shown Emma the connections and learning that can be gained from going to UNCSA. Emma has followed in Elliott’s footsteps in the past too, practicing ballet at Kansas City Ballet with him, performing in various musicals through the same companies and now, potentially continuing the UNCSA family tradition.

“I am nervous for her, but I’m also excited,” Mark said. “The drama program is only your senior year, so even if she weren’t to get into the vocal performance as a junior, she could still reapply as a senior to the school, and what’s amazing about Emma is I think that she could get in in vocal performance, drama [or] visual arts. She’s really multitalented.”

Mark, Elliott and Emma’s other family

members have supported her throughout the years, driving her all over Kansas City to voice lessons, ballet class, opera shows and musicals. Emma is very versatile: not only does she sing, but she has been involved in theatrics since she was

forgotten. The opportunities will likely rise again for Emma to perform in either, providing her with the heart pounding feeling before performing and doing what she loves for an audience.

“I really enjoy being able

story by BRIDGET DEAN

18 LOCAL LANCER

BEHIND THE ACRYLIC

MAX FEARING

SM East sub Max Fearing owns a side business painting after he discovered his talent for it years ago

I had an older aunt who started [painting] when she was older. I said, well she can start, I can start. And she gave me some brushes and some paint and so I just started painting. It was therapy. I felt like I was good at it, I knew I could do it and it made me feel like I was doing what I was

What do you want people to take away from viewing your paintings?

I want people to create. I want humanity to make some progress and I just want people to be aware. I hope they think about diversity. I hope they think about the people who are not the weak necessarily but the people who weren’t in a position [to be remembered.]

Blowing Up Fast

story by CAROLINE BEAL

JUNIOR ANDIE BRADLEY

had spent the last hour soaking, spraying heat protectant and blowing out three of her friends’ hair.

Although her room started to smell like a mix of fruity hair sprays and heated plastic, Andie had gladly taken on the role of designated “hairstylist” in her friend group.

The sweat from the heat of her blow-dryer and the backaches from being on her feet for hours at a time while curating the perfect curls are worth it to help her friends and family get ready for special events like birthdays and school dances.

After months of using her own products and hair-dryer tools on others for fun, in late October, Andie decided to start her own hair styling business — AB Blowouts.

“My friends were like, ‘You should start to charge people for doing their hair, since a lot of people ask,’ and I was like, ‘That’s actually not a bad idea, I might as well make some money,’” Andie said. “At one point, I just made my Instagram and was like, ‘Might as well just start.’”

Her collection of dozens of hair sprays, mousses and gels has grown since the beginning of her freshman year, when she started giving herself blowouts almost every day.

For as long as she can remember, Andie has been experimenting with various hair products and looks, styling her naturally voluminous dark hair using a plethora of hairdryers, including the Revlon and Dry Bar tools.

“She has always been really into hair and makeup ever since she was a little girl,” Andie’s mom, Francie Bradley, said. “And also, she has always had very thick, tough hair, and I don’t know how to do hair, so she’s taken it upon herself to learn

how to do it.”

Andie’s “AB Blowout” — large, bouncy curls — has become the goto look for her friends when they schedule appointments, usually made through text or on the Google form linked on her Instagram account.

With the help of overnight curlers and silk bonnets, Andie constantly sports her signature blowout, which, according to junior Ava Slocum, is a look she rarely sees Andie without.

“She does this blowout on herself every single day, and [our friends] were all like ‘Could you give us the AB special?’” Ava said.

Ranging from loose curls to the famous Victoria’s Secret “bombshell” blowout, Andie uses her $600 Dyson Airwrap hairdryer to complete whatever look clients want, right in her bedroom.

A bouncy, voluminous hairstyle created with only a blow dryer and a hair brush. BLOW OUT

Even with her packed schedule filled with SM East Theatre rehearsals and Stage Right — Kansas City’s youth theatre — performances, doing hair has become a form of therapy for Andie.

“There’s something so satisfying about a fresh blowout,” Andie said. “I think girls need that these days, that confidence boost [they] get when [their] hair is blown out.”

Andie has embraced this new form of pastime, enjoying listening to Sabrina Carpenter’s “Man’s Best Friend” album while blowing out a client’s hair or simply engaging in small talk with them — even if she only spends 30 minutes doing someone’s hair.

So far, the majority of Andie’s business has been before parties, holidays and dances, which bring in clients from all over the SM East

Andie’s Instruments

Through her love of styling hair, junior Andie Bradley transformed her bedroom into a hair blowout business

community, charging only $15 for a basic blowout and $20 for hair product add-ons.

“I just saw her on Instagram and I texted her I was wanting [my hair] done for Halloween,” junior Campbell Griffin said. “She was super accommodating to my schedule, and when I went, it was really fun. She plays music, and it only took about 25 minutes, and my hair felt super healthy after.”

Andie already has appointments for the upcoming Chill Ball dance on Dec. 13 and hopes to share more holiday looks on Instagram.

She plans to continue “AB Blowouts” throughout high school and carry her styling abilities to college.

“I’d like to start doing mobile [services] and going to people’s houses,” Andie said. “I want to do musical theater in college, but this would be a really awesome side gig.”

Although making extra money from her business is a bonus, Andie has developed a passion for perfecting her friend’s hair and giving girls the confidence that comes with a fresh blowout.

“I get a bit nervous because I’m a perfectionist and I want to make sure that [people] are happy with what they get, I always have this overwhelming ‘Oh my gosh, what if they don’t like it’ [feeling],” Andie said. “But I need to put that aside because I’m just starting, so I’m getting in there, getting used to it and getting those jitters away.”

Shout-outs from clients on Instagram and a smiling “It looks so good” once Andie has finished their blowout make her business worth the hundreds of dollars and hours spent.

“It’s such a magical feeling watching a girl be so happy about their hair,” Andie said. “It’s like when you give someone a present and watch them open it, and they get

Bradley styles her clients’ hair using a spray bottle, hairbrush, heat protectant and her $600 Dyson Airwrap Straightener Hairbrush and Spray Bottle

TOP RIGHT Junior Andie Bradley passes through junior

hair with a Dyson 360 Airwrap hair straightening tool.

TOP LEFT Junior Andie Bradley sprays hairspray on junior

photos by SYLVIE DEGALAN

ABOVE Junior Andie Bradley focuses as she presses Caroline Beal’s hair onto the Dyson straightener.

Caroline Beal’s

Caroline Beal’s hair after curling it.

MIDDLE Junior Andie Bradley smiles while curling a section of junior Caroline Beal’s hair.

MIC’ING

UP

The

AFOUR-PIECE HIGHTOP

table curves around the embossed Shawnee Mission School District logo. Royal blue curtains frame the walls. Seated at the table are director of professional learning Brittany Gonser, superintendent Michael Schumacher and…

A student barbecue expert?

“Welcome back! Welcome back to ‘Shawnee Mission Mic’d Up.’ I am your proud superintendent and host of this amazing podcast, Mike Schumacher.”

The top administrators at a school district with more than 25,000 students are often laser-focused on large-scale planning. But in their biweekly halfhour podcast, Gonser and Schumacher shift their attention from strategic planning meetings to the stories of individual students and staff — with studio-grade microphones, cameras and equipment.

“Mic’d Up” is recorded at the Center of Academic Achievement and released on YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts every other Thursday. The podcast has received thousands of streams over the past three years, covering stories ranging from student authors to national barbeque championships.

“You can kind of lose track of things you’re not directly responsible for, because it’s a big organization, right?” Schumacher said. “[The podcast] is a great opportunity for us to explore those great things that are happening.”

The podcast began in August 2023, with former superintendent Michelle Hubbard and associate superintendent Jeremy Higgins hosting season one. In that first podcast, Hubbard stated the goal was to “reach all avenues of stakeholders in our community.”

“You’re hearing an unscripted,

accurate account of these interviews and these stories, so you do see the human side of a district,” multimedia specialist and producer of “Mic’d Up” Jillian Hodges said.

When Schumacher became superintendent, he asked Gonser to cohost the podcast. Having known Gonser for years, he knew he could count on her relaxed personality and positive presence. Apprehensively, she said yes.

October. After rearranging half the shop, the producers brought in former students of Gay who’d gone on to pursue jobs in the car industry after taking his classes. Although initially nervous, Gay was pleasantly surprised when watching the final product.

THE SMSD

“When Schumacher approached me and said, ‘Hey, would you be interested in doing this,’ my first thought was ‘Oh my goodness, I have no experience with anything even kind of like this, are you sure you want me to do that?’” Gonser said. “But I said, ‘Hey, if you’re game, I’m willing to give it a try.’”

“Of course, it’s intimidating,” Gay said. “It’s the superintendent and his higher-ups. But in reality, Dr. Schumacher is a great guy. [I] worked with him for years, and I knew what he was trying to get across.”

YOU’RE HEARING AN

unscripted, accurate account of these interviews and these stories, so you do see the human side of a district.

Beyond spotlighting the district, Schumacher and Gonser have continued to evolve the podcast well into its current third season as it nears its 50th episode. Interviews have become relaxed and informal conversations — despite the hulking backlights, cameras and screens.

JILLIAN HODGES PRODUCER

“Whether I’m acting as a politician for the school district or representing us at the state level, I have to button up a little bit,” Schumacher said. “This [podcast] is an opportunity for me to let my hair down and for people to see more of my personality.”

Each podcast begins with a recap of the previous episode, followed by a “ridiculously positive moment” shared by the hosts, ranging from high school musicals to community food security initiatives. Episodes end with a featured photo submitted from around the district.

The podcast did an episode on SM East auto shop teacher Brian Gay in

Behind each episode, a team of administrators and media experts meets every other week to discuss production, filming at least a day before publishing. Anyone can submit ideas for episodes at micdup@ smsd.org.

“We always want to have student guests as much as we can,” Gonser said. “We really enjoy featuring our students on the podcast and getting to know them but then also any opportunities we can take to celebrate staff.”

In the future, Schumacher believes the podcast will gain more viewers, as he’s confident in the strong production and story ideas coordinated by Hodges. Hodges, whose background is in broadcast journalism, says her role in featuring stories from around the district has been even more fulfilling than her prior work.

“I got into journalism because I wanted to tell stories, and I wanted people to be inspired,” Hodges said. “Honestly, I didn’t think that there was a position like this, and I’m very, very grateful that it does. I tell people all the time that I have the absolute best job in the world.”

GONSER

A review of the past three episodes of “Shawnee Mission Mic’d Up”

POPPINS IS DROPPIN’

EPISODE #48

Featuring the SM South theater department

Explores their production of “Mary Poppins” and the program

CHAMPIONS

EPISODE #47

Learn more about the district’s automotive technology program

SM East teacher and graduates discuss the importance of the class for a career

EPISODE #46

Consists of meeting SMSD students Logan from SM West and Bailey from SM North They’re both the top competitors in their respective fields

story by MICHAEL YI

district’s top officers aim to tell personal stories of students and staff in their podcast “Shawnee Mission Mic’d Up”

BACKSTAGE

More than 100 students and staff help keep SM East’s musical production of “Bye Bye Birdie” running behind the scenes

by TYLER RUSSELL

BELOW Junior and lights chief Storm Vontz smiles as she directs the spotlight onto junior Tori Roland during the musical rehearsal of “Bye Bye Birdie.” Vontz said her favorite part about being the lights chief is how “timing the lighting just right [adds] to the comedic effect. And I love being able to have that part.”

ABOVE The ten-person audio crew monitors more than 20 microphones and countless transitions on the soundboard during the performance, coordinating cues with the pit to keep the show running smoothly.

photo

by

TYLER RUSSELL

RIGHT Freshmen Thomas Henson, Katrina Powell, Gigi Hoffman, Elena Green and Stellan Nicol laugh after Henson made a joke about tripping on stage. “One of the reasons I love doing theater is the jokes we have together offstage,” Henson said.

photo

by

AVRA WELLING

Senior Jordan O’Brien talks to the head of costumes Summer Finkelston about how Finkleston needs to style O’Brien’s wig for her character Mrs. MacAfee. O’Brien aimed to play into the comedic mother spirit of her character with ‘50s curly hairstyle.

by

SYLVIE DEGALAN

BELOW Music director Ken Foley conducts the orchestra through the three-minute song “Honestly Sincere,” which plays while Conrad Birdie charms a group of teenagers on stage in the musical “Bye Bye Birdie.”

photo by MAGGIE ROGERS

design

LEFT

photo

photo by SYLVIE DEGALAN

To view more photos behind the scenes of SM East’s production of “Bye Bye Birdie” scan this QR code SCAN ME PHO TO

A&E

local spotlight

A glance into Seven Swans Creperie, a French-style restaurant in the Crossroads District

story by EFFIE ROPER

T UCKED INSIDE A neighborhood in Kansas City’s Crossroads District, Seven Swans Crêperie feels less like a restaurant and more like a tiny European cafe that somehow landed in the Midwest.

The floral grandma–patterned

Paris Crêpe

THE PARIS CREPE is a warm, comforting dessert that feels straight off the streets of Paris. On top is homemade whipped cream, a drizzle of Nutella and a pinch of candied almonds.

The inside is filled with Nutella and a choice of bananas or strawberries, topping off the crepe’s sweet component.

The crepe is excellent with its sweet and slightly tart taste with fresh fruit

Goodfellas Crêpe

MORE ON THE savory side, the Goodfellas crêpe blends salty with sweet. Inside is smoky bacon, and sharp white cheddar that delivers a rich taste saturating into your mouth. But it has a twist, with a spread of strawberry preserves, bringing a fruity and yet slightly jammy taste that cuts through the richness.

Frenchie

THE FRENCH CREPE is a simple and savory option filled with caramelized onions and gruyere cheese, then finished with the sparkle of fresh parsley for the finishing touch.

When you bite in, the sweetness of the cooked onions paired with the rich cheese, creates a warm and comforting taste.

The parsley topped it off at the end, keeping the whole crepe from feeling too heavy with its light darnish.

wallpaper brings the European influence together with pops of sea foam greens, warm blues, and brass accents, making the cafe look vintage and curated.

The crêpes are thin and crispy with flavors ranging from sweet to savory, with vegan options, soups, pastries, and baked goods.

and crunchy almonds that’s wrapped satisfyingly into a thin and slightly goldencolored crêpe.

with pops of sea foam greens, warm blues, and brass accents, making the cafe look vintage and curated.

The crêpes are thin and crispy with flavors ranging from sweet to savory, with vegan options, soups, pastries, and baked goods.

ABOVE The outside of Seven Swans Creperie located on Washington and 19th street.

RIGHT “Come hungry, leave happy” is written in chalk along with many other drawings on the sidewalks outside of the restaurant.

TOP RIGHT A planter located on the left side of the restaurant with flowers in bloom.

what’s been on

To finish it off, it’s topped with a sunny side up egg, adding the perfect touch to the breakfast themed crêpe.

Overall, the crepe is superb, with its rich and savory flavors, that’s perfect for a late brunch.

Overall, the crepe is a mix of savory and a little sweet, with its rich yet heavy flavors and melted cheese with the marvelous caramelized onions.

Ultimately, the Seven Swan Crêperie is a staple restaurant, with its good ingredients, balanced flavors, and a warm atmosphere. It encouraged me, and others to stay a little longer than intended, earning their following through consistency, care and delicious food.

your tv?

Champagne Problems

Starring - Minka Kelly , Tom Wozniczka, Sean Amsing

An American executive sets off to Paris in hopes to gain a champagne brand but ends up falling for more then just the brand.

A Holiday Touchdown: A Bills Love Story

Starring - Chris Brown, Holland Roden, Matthew Daddario

Two lifelong Bills fans find love as they are on a mission to find the identity of a mysterious gift giver.

photos

design by MICHAEL YI

ROGERS

AMERICA CORRUPT

Dystopian parallels between the movie and current state of the U.S.

RUNNING THE

MAN

Edgar Wright’s remake of “The Running Man” beats the original film in a foot race any day

S SOMEONE WHO loves to go to the movie theater in person, one of the worst feelings is drinking too much of a weirdflavored fountain drink before the movie starts and having to suffer the consequences throughout the runtime. Whenever I have to leave a movie for a bathroom break, I get an impending feeling of doom at the thought of missing a crucial moment.

Despite drinking all of my mediocre raspberry Dr. Pepper during the previews, I didn’t move once while watching Edgar Wright’s new film “The Running Man.”

The movie is based on the dystopian Stephen King novel of the same name.

The story follows blue-collar worker Ben Richards — played by Glen Powell — as he attempts to pull his family out of poverty and save his ill daughter by playing the deadly game show, “The Running Man.”

The game show involves participants willingly submitting to being hunted to death for a month, with a grand prize of $1 billion if they survive. The entire premise is a brilliant commentary on consumerism and the risks of a controlling government, as the contestants who enter are all lower-class and on the brink of bankruptcy.

The novel is deeply political, but when the film was first adapted in 1987, that commentary was smushed. The concept was ruined by classic 80s action tropes of one-liners and poorly written female characters whose sole purpose is to look good in the arms of starring Arnold

I was relieved to find that the 2025 version stayed true to the novel, with some heavy-hitting remarks on corporate greed and government corruption delivered in a direct, yet comedic, fashion.

Before every airing of “The Running Man” game show, the studio plays proAmerican propaganda with quotes like “we all know America is the greatest country in the f***ing world.” This satirical comedy is incredibly effective at establishing the ideals of Richards’ world while mirroring the propaganda we see in American politics today.

personality; he was memorable and stood out from the film’s serious characters.

The original ‘80s film only had one female character whose only purpose was to be ditsy and sexy. I was happy to see Jayme Lawson have character depth as Powell’s spouse, forced to work as a waitress at a gentlemen’s club to support her family.

THIS

satirical comedy is incredibly effective at establishing the ideals of Richards’ world while mirroring the propaganda we see in American politics today.

Powell nails the lead as the rugged but empathetic character of Richards. I’d previously seen him in “Twisters,” “Top Gun: Maverick” and “Hidden Figures,” but his performance in “The Running Man” is by far his best performance so far.

The emotional range Powell portrays as Ben Richards is astounding for someone who was previously only ever cast as a heartthrob. Of course, he still is, but “The Running Man” showcases his full potential, with many dark moments for his character.

Despite the darkness, there are still plenty of funny and comedic moments in this otherwise dreadful reality, which Powell balances in a realistic manner; his character is 100% believable. I had no idea Glen Powell could act that well.

Apart from Powell, the supporting cast is stacked: Josh Brolin plays the twisted executive producer of the show, Dan Killian, with just enough swagger to make you love and hate him at the same time.

But the real show-stealer was Michael Cera as the underground activist Elton Parrakis. Parrakis helps Richards run from the show’s bounty hunters with his booby-trapped house and goofy

Moreover, Emilia Jones plays Amelia Williams — an upper-class citizen whose car Richards steals to move safely through the states. Williams is fully enveloped in the propaganda spewed to her from the news and believes the awful things the show tells her about Richards. She eventually realizes the truth and becomes an important character to progress the plot by helping Richards.

Wright, the director of the film, was easily the best choice for the job. Wright had previously made “Baby Driver,” a movie I watched 20 times in one month, so I knew I had to check out “The Running Man” as soon as possible.

Wright’s style of fast-paced plots and quippy dialogue gives little breathing room for both the characters and the viewer. That kind of pacing is an excellent choice for “The Running Man,” which keeps the viewer’s knowledge limited to Richard’s perspective by only following him. This leaves the “I can’t miss anything” factor alive and well — it never slows down.

The film’s abrupt ending caught me off guard, but after some reflection, it’s fitting for how quickly the rest of the movie went by.

“The Running Man” is definitely an experience for the big screen, and I plan to see it again before it heads to streaming. But next time, I’ll make sure to take it easy on the over-priced beverages.

CENSORSHIP PROPAGANDA CLASSISM

Showrunners in the movie work with the government to silence the oppressed, and recent executive orders call for the removal of black history accounts, according to CNN.

The showrunners use doctored videos to villainize competitors in the show, similar to how the president of the U.S. and governor of California use AI videos to attack each other, according to NBC.

In the movie, those in poverty live paycheck to paycheck. According to the Fed, the bottom 50% of earners in the U.S. hold 2.5% of the wealth.

photos by MAGGIE

PRESTON HOOKER

art by JULIA CAMPBELL

FLAVORS REMEMBER

TO

Owner and chef Carlos Sauna serves authentic paella at The River Market’s new Spanish restaurant, The Paella Mix

story by AVNI BANSAL

I CONSIDER MYSELF a true rice enthusiast. Every week, I enjoy experimenting with leftover white rice from family dinners, often adding spices like turmeric and cumin from my pantry to

create new savory dishes.

Yet, despite eating rice three times a week, it’s been nine years since I’ve had paella — a Spanish rice dish full of seafood, meat and vegetables. So I visited The Paella Mix, a Spanish restaurant that opened earlier this fall in Kansas City’s

TAPA #1: PATATAS BRAVAS

THE FIRST DISH to arrive was Patatas Bravas, which reminded me how simple ingredients can create a dish I’m truly craving.

These thick-cut crispy potatoes served in a simple paper container reminded me of street food — satisfying and modest. The Patatas Bravas had a crunchy, golden-brown exterior and a soft, fluffy interior, and didn’t seem to have seasoning other than salt. But

$10

they didn’t need any.

River Market.

Upon entering, the owner Carlos Saura, whom I’d called an hour before to

The flavor came from the spicy brava sauce on the side. The sauce, made from roasting and blending ñora peppers (mildly sweet Spanish peppers), tomatoes, olive oil, garlic and parsley, was advertised as “mildly spicy.” While I disagree with the menu’s spice description, the distinctive, hot kick from the sauce is what separates the Patatas Bravas from all other bland fried potato dishes.

were five minutes left in the 45-minute paella-making process, during which the rice slowly cooks in saffron broth to form a crisp bottom layer. So, we ordered two additional tapas — small Spanish dishes — that would arrive just as the paella was

SCAN ‘EM

Helpful links relating to The Paella Mix

Scan here to access their website

Scan here for Google Maps directions

TAPA #2: GAMBAS AL AJILLO

I KNEW TAPAS were small dishes, but I wasn’t expecting to be served the tiniest shrimps I’ve ever seen on my Gambas al Ajillo. Around 10 adorable-sized shrimps were served in olive oil, garlic and cayenne pepper and came with a few slices of toasted baguette bread on the side.

I thought the brava sauce from my last dish was spicy;

PAELLA VALENCIANA

SERVED ON A 24-inch steel paellera — Spanish for “paella pan” — my initial reaction to this traditional-style short-grain rice was astonishment . The wide pan was filled with sauteed rice, chicken, pork, red peppers, rosemary, saffron and Romano beans ( judías verdes in Spanish).

Saura instructed us to eat directly from the pan, which made the experience feel more communal. He also told us that the layer of toasted rice on the bottom of the pan, called socarrat, is considered a delicacy among Spaniards and is the best part of the dish. I definitely agreed.

The crispy rice and bits of pork added a

OUTRO:

I ENJOYED EVERY dish I ordered from The Paella Mix, but what impressed me the most was the family atmosphere and attentive service. Saura shared his journey with me: born in Spain, he spent 20 years living in Asia before settling in Kansas City, where he opened the area’s only Spanish-

delightful crunch to every bite. Apart from the rice, the chicken stood out to me the most. It was tender and juicy, unlike the chewy, stringy chicken that I’m used to getting at Chipotle. The chicken soaked up the smoky flavor from the roasted red peppers, and the saffron added a subtle earthiness to the dish.

The rice was a bit too salty for my taste but was quickly balanced out by the fresh vegetable flavor and a squeeze of lemon. The crispy rice and diverse ingredients made the paella remarkable in both texture and depth, and it was evident that the 45-minute cooking time was effective in creating the socarrat and tender chicken infused with savory flavors.

owned Spanish restaurant.

After the meal, Saura even gave me a tour of the kitchen, showing me a ñora pepper and a six-inch Romano bean while modeling how he uses the stovetop to make paella. He told me about how the blue and white patterned tiles used for the tables were shipped

$9 $15 per person

however, the Gambas al Ajillo had way more heat. I attribute this spiciness to the cayenne pepper, which is 20 times hotter than a jalapeño, according to Have A Plant. Despite the fiery flavor, I enjoyed topping the bread with shrimp and dipping it in the olive oil. I appreciated the sharp tang of the garlic, since garlic is easily one of my top five favorite foods.

from Spain, as are the olive oil, saffron and ñora peppers. Saura also showed me his method of boiling water with saffron to extract flavors and prevent the strings of saffron from being visible in the food.

My one advice is to order paella in advance and reserve a

table if you plan to visit during the weekend, as the River Market tends to get busy.

The next time I’m making a concoction out of leftover rice, I’ll be reminded of my meal at The Paella Mix, especially the taste of the saffron rice and Saura’s method behind it.

TABLE PATTERN SIGNIFICANCE

The blue sketch emulates the blue and white tiles — which are imported from Spain — that the tables are made from.

SPORTS

UNIFIED BOWLING

BOWLING REGIONALS RECAP NOV. 13

by ANASTASIA FLOWER

THE UNIFIED Bowling Regionals took place at Park Lanes Bowling, Shawnee, KS, on Nov. 13. In Lane 11, the Lancers competed against 13 high schools, including F.L Schlagle, Lansing, Atchison, J.C. Harmon, SM North, Bonner Springs, Turner, Mill Valley, SM Northwest, Piper, BasehorLinwood and Tonganoxie. The

bowlers that competed at this event for SM East included junior Jacob Stiles, sophomore Tristan Ogun and senior Jake Smith. After the Lancers played all six matches with scores of 132, 122, 140, 111, 106 and 110, they finished with a final score of 721. Runnerup was Turner High School with a score of 719, so SM East beat them by 3 points.

SWIM & DIVE

BELOW Freshman Shaw Georgie swims breaststroke down lane two during the first practice of the year.

ABOVE Senior Barrett Tegtmeier swims backstroke down lane four at practice. Tegtmeier will have been on varsity for all four years after this season.

TOP Junior Lucas pump fakes a shot while being guarded by sophomore Will Verschelden near the basket.

photos by SIMON SHAWVER

BOTTOM Junior Charlie Black attempts to score against sophomore Desi Perry during tryouts.

BASKETBALL

LEFT Sophomore Gabe Burton goes to pick up his ball from the pinspotter. Burton’s points didn’t count towards the final score, but he still got to play with the team.

LANCERS TO WATCH

Lancer seniors share their pre-season feelings going into their last season of winter sports

GIRLS BASKETBALL

PAIGE STANFIELD SENIOR

I AM VERY excited for this last season of basketball. I feel like I’m so much more prepared and have matured compared to all of the prior years, and I’m ready to compete against some good competition this season.

BOYS WRESTLING

JOHN GAGEN SENIOR

OUR TEAM AND coaching staff has shown some of the best potential in the off season in years. Our coaching staff has brought in new coaches and a nutritionist for the team which can really raise the ceiling for our team.

RIGHT Senior Jake Smith high-fives junior Jacob Stiles after Stiles gets a spare.

photos by ANASTASIA FLOWER

photos by ANASTASIA FLOWER

photos by LAYLA LOVE

photos by ANASTASIA FLOWER

photos by ANASTASIA FLOWER

THE NIGHT BEFORE game day, Reeves and his teammates spent hours gathered in senior Davis Eakes’ basement, watching “Remember the Titans,” knowing they wouldn’t have school the day after.

Beating one another up with dodgeballs that night would soon be practice for the game the next day against SM North.

On game day, as they lined up to run the 19-stretch — where the player runs the ball to the left — Reeves looked at the opponent’s defense, which was oddly condensed towards the left.

This can’t be right.

He took a step back, calling “18! 18! 18!”

It was hard to see what his lips said amidst the noise of the crowd and his mouth guard, but his teammates understood as they surveyed the field, trusting the change.

FINISHING HIS

A look back on senior Jack Reeves’ last high school football season as a valuable player, and highlights of the teammates’ bond

SENIOR JACK REEVES

was listening to a lecture in his fifth-hour U.S. government class when he glanced out the window leading into the hallway, surprised to see 20 of his teammates’ faces.

Then they burst into the classroom shouting. The group jumped up and down as they surrounded Reeves, congratulating

“AIN’T NO MOUNTAIN high!” a football player shouts in the darkness of the bus.

Between the players’ excited chatter, the rest of the football team joined in to sing “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” featured in “Remember the Titans” — the team’s favorite movie night watch.

His teammates had just heard the news — Reeves got the call in third hour. He was getting an offer from the University of Kansas to play Division 1 football as a running back.

“[The KU coach was] talking to me, and they asked me if I wanted to become a Jayhawk,” Reeves said. “And I said, ‘Hell, yeah.’”

But before his KU

[THE KU coach was] talking to me, and they asked me if I wanted to become a Jayhawk. And I said, “Hell, yeah.”

JACK REEVES SENIOR

Reeves and his team felt like champions. After a satisfying win against Lawrence, they were talking, laughing and making jokes in the charter bus on the way back to SM East.

Five minutes away, Johnny’s Tavern employees began pushing tables together and preparing for the 11 p.m. arrival of 20 hungry high school football

commitment two weeks ago were four seasons worth of moments leading up to that call — in between team dinners after threehour practices, sitting on the bench his last senior games due to a knee injury and bus rides to Topeka, Kansas with no air conditioning.

players, exhilarated from their win just an hour ago.

When the team arrived at Johnny’s, they reflected on ways they needed to improve and replayed successful plays as they devoured 10 pizzas, hundreds of fries and 200 wings. devoured 10 pizzas, hundreds of fries and 200 wings.

They ran right instead of left. Reeves’s splitsecond decision led them to a touchdown and their eventual win in the game, 49-21.

After the game, Reeves took another risk.

This time, off the field.

He and his girlfriend, senior Ruby Wasserman, were nominated for homecoming king and queen. Reeves had already prepared the blue and gold sign earlier that day. His sign read: “It would be mean to not ask the queen.” He was counting on her to win.

Though Reeves didn’t end up winning homecoming king, his girlfriend won queen.

“I knew she was gonna win,” Reeves said. “So I was kind of relieved knowing that [the sign] was gonna work for sure. But I was just super happy for her and happy that it all worked out.”

AS REEVES’ CLEAT got stuck in the stiff turf during the middle of the game, he heard his knee pop and assumed the worst.

“I was panicking, I didn’t know what was going on,” Reeves said. “I thought I tore my knee fully. I thought I was gonna be out for several months, maybe a year, and so I was freaking out a little bit.”

When Reeves later found out that he had a partially torn medial collateral ligament, his first thought was, “How can I heal faster?”

Before the next game, he did physical therapy, took ice baths and did stretches and strength training to see if there was any possibility of playing the rest of his senior year. He quickly realized it wasn’t possible without further and more

serious injury, which would prevent him from playing in college.

“[My teammates] all said that as a teammate, they wanted me to play, but as a friend, they knew it wasn’t good for me to play,” Reeves said.

Since Reeves was out for the rest of the season, his friend and teammate, senior Brock Rider, talked with him about understanding his situation — Rider had a knee injury in July. Reeves was always there to encourage and remind Rider that there were only two weeks, one week until they could play together again.

And so Rider told Reeves, “Hey, I’m gonna have your back the way you had my back.”

story by GRACE PEI

ON THE MAT

After pre-season training, two wrestlers are pre-season ranked going into their first meet on Dec. 5

PRE-SEASON

BREAKDOWN

story by SOPHIA BROCKMEIER

IT’S 11 A.M. on a Tuesday in the blistering July heat.

Senior John Gagen isn’t sleeping in until 10 a.m. or shuttling around nanny kids. Instead, he still finds himself driving to school and walking through the same entrance doors during the school year.

Except this time, he heads straight to the wrestling gym.

No, Gagen’s not spending hours on the mats seeking a final physical education requirement before graduation. In the gym, Gagen and other current and past SM East students choose to all gather together for the same thing — pre-season wrestling training, even when it’s not required.

“It’s always nice to see some of the older guys in the room again,” Gagen said. “Brady Fankhauser, who graduated in 2022, or one of the assistant coaches, Kevin Ecker, will come back and beat the crap out of me. So that’s cool.”

The preseason rankings of senior John Gagen and sophomore Lucy Bircher

PRE SEA SON

The time that immediately follows the previous season until the next

Pre-season rankings, a list of the top wrestlers in the state based off of their previous season’s success, and the practice that goes into them contributes to overall readiness for tryouts and the first meet, according to head coach Chip Ufford. Ufford keeps records of which positions wrestlers were struggling with in the prior season to track improvement over the off-season.

YOU SET yourself a goal, work towards that goal, you achieve that goal, and you’re being the best version of yourself, which is a champion.

CHIP UFFORD COACH

Through months of pre-season training, the wrestling team has prepared for the first meet of the season, scheduled for Dec. 5, and has experienced early success and ratings.

Two athletes in particular, sophomore Lucy Bircher and Gagen, have been pre-season ranked by Kansas Wrestling Coaches Association, which bodes well for their regularseason performance, according to Gagen. In the Nov. 11 preseason rankings, Gagen was ranked fourth in the 175-pound boys division, and Bircher was ranked sixth in the 170-pound

LUCY BIRCHER SOPHOMORE

Lucy Bircher is going into her second season in wrestling for SM East and is ranked sixth in the 170 lb girls division.

diet] for wrestling, just to be healthier. I feel a lot better in the season.”

Ufford’s motto for the program is to “build champions on and off the mat.” To Ufford, this means being a stronger wrestler, as well as a strong student. In fact, he’s already started monitoring the wrestlers’ grades through Skyward to keep tabs on them when they’re not in the wrestling gym.

“There are positions that we identified at the end of last season that they’re struggling with,” Ufford said.

“Once we get into tournaments, if I still see that area as a weakness, I’m like, ‘Well, how much do you work on that this offseason?’

But if I see improvement, then I’ll let them know and work on elevating their view from there.”

Along with Gagen’s everyday summer drives to the SM East gym, he’s also participated in preseason club training, freestyle Greco — Olympic style wrestling — tournaments held in Mill Valley, Kansas and nationally-qualifying club tournaments.

Bircher, on the other hand, has participated in open gyms at various Shawnee Mission high schools and stuck to strict weight-lifting and dieting plans as a training regimen.

“I try to stay on a good diet the entire season,” Bircher said.

“I never really want to go off [a

JOHN GAGEN SENIOR

John Gagen is ranked fourth of six in the 175 lb boys division.

Steps To Success

Different ways wrestlers prep during the off season to achieve success during regular season

1 2 3 Maintain a clean diet Lift weights Go to open gyms

“You set yourself a goal, work towards that goal, you achieve that goal and you’re being the best version of yourself, which is a champion,” Ufford said. “That’s different for every single kid. They’re just doing what they need to do to be the best version of themselves.”

4 Do extra cardio

For Bircher and Gagen, the motto is what’s kept them showing up to pre-season training, even when it’s not required. The SM East wrestling culture, according to Gagen, encourages athletes to be strong wrestlers and also good people and teammates.

“My favorite memories are the kids that just keep showing up,” Ufford said. “We have our open mats and those ones that just keep showing up and getting on the mat, that makes me smile every time I see it because it’s not something that I’m telling them to do.

When they do it on their own they’re helping themselves get better, but they’re also helping their teammates get better.”

girls division.

gliding forward

gliding forward

Freshman Ellie Cribb’s passion for figure skating brings lasting friendships and life lessons

go-to moves

Ellie ranks her top five favorite skills to do on the ice rink

story by EFFIE ROPER

STEPPING ONTO THE ice, freshman Ellie Cribb’s eyes widened with excitement to bright show lights and a crowd of cheering friends and family. They were watching one of Ellie’s most significant moments that she’d been practicing for all year, for countless hours each week.

As the speaker blares, and music enters Cribb’s ears, she’s now locked in the moment. As she twists, turns and glides across the ice, she can hear her friends and family cheer from the stands; holding big signs and shouting words of encouragement.

One of the highlights of Cribbs’ season is the spring annual “Big Show,” which features themed performances and costumes. This year’s theme is “Gliding Through the Eras,” with each level choreographing to a different Taylor Swift song.

Since joining the Carriage Club five years ago, Cribb discovered her new passion for figure skating and is now at the Diamond level — one of the many high-skilled classes.

Like any high-level athlete, Cribb faces nerves, stress and the pressure to perform flawlessly from other competitors and mental blocks. Her family helps her navigate these moments often by talking through mistakes and reminding her that errors are part of the learning process.

“I feel so free on the ice,” Cribb said. “I love how it makes me feel; it makes me challenge myself to learn new skills and get up when it gets hard.”

Cribb’s mother, Megan Bubb, is one of Cribb’s many supporters. When Cribb is dissatisfied with her performance, the two talk through the mistakes. Knowing Cribb’s past mistakes, Bubb encourages her to watch other competitors to help Cribbs realize she’s not alone with their mistakes.

Cribb’s teammates also help support her through sharing their personal stories after having a bad skate or overall doing poorly at skating competitions.

“Everybody makes mistakes,” Bubb said. “There are times when you fall during a competition, and there are times when you just don’t have your best days, and so it’s walking through those and realizing you’re not alone.”

Cribb is at practice for over four hours at the rink each week, managing private lessons, group practices and rehearsals while adjusting to her first year of high school.

preparation they need for longer and theater-styled routines.

O’Neil helps athletes with hardships as well, guiding them through challenges such as limited ice time injuries, growth spurts and pushing them to stay persistent and adaptable, teaching them life lessons along the way.

“A lot of these skaters start when they’re really young, so we really have to kind of start fresh with some of the moves that they’ve learned and mastered when they were younger,” O’Neil said. “We just have to kind of work from the ground up with some of those things, and just stay persistent.”

I LOVE HOW it makes me feel; it makes me challenge myself to learn new skills and get up when it gets hard.

ELLIE CRIBB FRESHMAN

She spends her time preparing before the performance by rehearsing choreography, completing makeup and ensuring her skates are ready for the ice by getting them sharpened. But she wouldn’t be as successful if she didn’t have her mentor and coach, Kelsey O’Neil.

O’Neil started figure skating around the age of 12, and quickly fell in love with the sport, competing at a high level in college, and has now coached for over 20 years and coached Ellie for five years.

Her approach to coaching centers around repetition and muscle memory, helping skaters like Ellie build the mental

Ellie broke her wrist from falling after a skill in 2022. After feeling discouraged and upset, O’Neil helped Ellie bounce back from her injury, practicing the basics and rebuilding her skills, becoming stronger than before and rebuilding her confidence.

Over the years, Ellie’s journey in figure skating has brought her lifelong friendships and has given her a better insight into her passion for performing. Even in Ellie’s most challenging moments, skating fosters a calm, resilient mindset.

Whether it’s falling in a competition or meeting new people, figure skating will be with Ellie forever, on or off the ice.

“It reminds me that when it gets hard that it’s okay,” Cribb said. “And when I fall, I have to get back up and try it again to progress.”

ABOVE Freshman Ellie Cribb balances on one foot and holds her arms out when doing her one-foot slide on the rink.

BELOW Freshman Ellie Cribb holds her hands tight to her chest to gain speed while doing a two-foot spin.

BELOW Before getting on the rink, freshman Ellie Cribb does her warm-up stretches, and wears her pink skate socks for good luck.

ABOVE Freshman Ellie Cribb gets into her lunge pose after quickly skating to gain momentum to slide forward.

The Gift of

SM East students reflect on the importance of volunteering during the holidays and their personal ties

TO: Uplift KC

Freshman Nate Brown has enjoyed building connections with people he meets with at Uplift KC

NATE BROWN FRESHMAN

VOLUNTEER HISTORY

Volunteered at Uplift since sixth grade

His dad is a driver & his mom works at the warehouse

Hands out lemonade on routes

Volunteers on the first Saturday of every month

WHY SHOULD STUDENTS VOLUNTEER AT UPLIFT?

“Not only do you get your service hours, but it’s a very big community, because not only are the volunteers around a community itself, but even with the people we serve, it’s our own community. And there’s always someone who knows someone at each stop, and we’re always talking, and it’s a very fun time to learn new things and just listen to other people’s stories.”

UNWRAPPING

A statistic about the amount of volunteers during the holiday and where to sign-up

65%

VOLUNTEER DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON

*Instagram poll of 152 votes

TO: Angel Tree

Since elementary school, sophomore Hayes Helvey has utilized her love to gift giving, to buy Angel Tree gifts

GIFT GIVING HISTORY

Her elementary school had an Angel Tree in the nurses office, and she would take a tag every year

After she graduated grade school, her and her family continued their tradition of buying presents for kids through Angel Tree HAYES HELVEY SOPHOMORE

WHY DID YOU VOLUNTEER FOR ANGEL TREE?

“Growing up, our elementary school in the nurse’s office, they always had a tree with little wishes hanging on as ornaments. And so me and my siblings would always go and each pick one or two off the tree to do it with my mom and dad each year. “

Where can I volunteer?

An explanation of volunteer organizations

UPLIFT KC

Drive a van through the Kansas City metropolitan area to distribute clothing, food, hygiene and more to the homeless community.

ANGEL TREE

Salvation Army’s program provides gifts to children every year. After registering as a child’s “angel” on their wishlist, presents can be purchased and dropped off at Salvation Army. At SM East, there is a Christmas tree located outside of the office, where students can take a tag and buy the suggested present, and later return it taped onto the gift underneath the tree.

JOHNSON COUNTY

CHRISTMAS BUREAU

The JCCB supports families during the holiday season through donations and volunteer events. For example, the Holiday Shop is an annual event where low-income families can benefit from receiving groceries, hygiene items, clothing and more free of charge. People can volunteer at the Holiday Shop or donate items.