Issue 5: The Heart of High School

The he rt Despite the unique challenges that come with teenage relationships, NW couples are making it work

HOMEWORK HEADGAMES .07

After reevaluating The Homework Headache, it appears laziness isn’t the only problem

EVERYBODY CAN DO SOMETHING .08

Bleeding Hearts club encourages students to volunteer in the community

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY TARYN SMITH

NW

Northwest

PASSAGE ISSUE 05 TABLE OF CONTENTS

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172 MILES Long distance relationships require work to avoid bumps in the road

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HOMEWORK HEADGAMES

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EVERYBODY CAN DO SOMETHING

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After reevaluating The Homework Headache, it appears laziness isn’t the only problem

Bleeding Hearts club encourages students to volunteer in the community

THE HEART OF HIGH SCHOOL Despite the unique challenges that come with teenage relationships, NW couples are making it work

PERFORM LIKE NOBODY’S WATCHING

Thespian Troupe #888 participates in the Kansas Thespian State Conference

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STRAWS DOWN

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POINTS AND PINS

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Tropical Smoothie Café or Smoothie King

Jerad Habben works to help his team get back to the state tournament this season

STAFF PUBLICATION OVERSIGHT:

SECTION EDITORS:

STAFF WRITERS:

STAFF DESIGNERS:

Co-Print Managing Editor Grace Gorenflo Co-Print Managing Editor Sophie Flores Online Managing Editor Jack Lynch

News Editor Jack Lynch News Editor Grace Gorenflo Opinion Editor Sophie Flores Sports Editor Matthew Owens Feature Editor Cadie Elder Entertainment Editor Keegan Dolinar Social Media Editor Joshua Sherfy Ads Manager Maddison Jarman

Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Writer

Staff Designer Staff Designer Staff Designer Staff Designer

concerns and activities will only be covered if they somehow affect the school or students. The Northwest Passage is a 24-page newsmagazine. The paper will be distributed every four weeks during second hour.

Subscriptions will be available to the community for $25. The Northwest Passage firmly supports the First

Amendment and opposes censorship. The content of the newspaper will be determined and created by the entire staff. When questions concerning word choice, legal problems or ethics arise the editorial board and adviser will discuss the problem to find the solution. In these cases, the editor-in-chief and editorial board will

CONTENT MANAGEMENT: Design Editor Copy Editor Photo Editor Photo Editor

Paden Chesney Paige Eichkorn Addison Sherman Taryn Smith

OUR PURPOSE:

The purpose of the Northwest Passage is to relay important and interesting information to the community, administration and students of the Shawnee Mission Northwest High School. As a newsmagazine, the Northwest Passage will cater to the interests and concerns of the student body. Outside

02 FEB. 1, 2016 | Vol. 47

Carter Adam Austin Bachert Ben Becker Kasey Gardner Anastasia Kling Asher Norberg Jackie Sayers Jennifer Silva Reed Williams

Rachel Bateman Shelby Beaumont Mia McDonald Makaila Williams

have the say in all decisions. Letters to the editor will be accepted and encouraged. The staff reserves the right to edit for grammatical mistakes, length and good taste.

Letters may attack policy but not people. In no way will ideas or viewpoints be changed. The editor-in-chief and editorial board reserve the right to refuse any letter.

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THE HEAD, THE HEART AN EDITOR’S NOTE / GRACE GORENFLO, CO-PRINT MANAGING EDITOR

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or most teenagers, high school is a confusing time. It consists of wanting to grow up while, simultaneously, trying to stay young. These tricky four years can lead one down several paths, each of which is influenced by both the head and the heart.

Our center spread is comprised of three pages on high school relationships. We talk about what types of relationships you find in high school, what those relationships mean and what they can look like after graduation.

Relationships are an important part of growing up — whether you want to or not. As teenagers ourselves, we wanted the chance to show that no

matter how short-lived, those relationships can mean a great deal.

Also in this issue, you will find a follow-up on The Homework Headache — the center spread of our Nov. issue. In that spread, we discussed the reasons students struggle to complete their homework and explained solutions teachers are offering to help with the problem.

At the end of the spread, we failed to offer a solution. Now in our January issue, we’ve done just that.

In this issue, we’ve taken a closer look at why students don’t complete homework and spoken to Carsten Holm, an academic advisor at the

University of Kansas, as well as principal Lisa Gruman. Each offered solutions for high schoolers who struggle to stay on task.

I hope that in reading this issue you find yourself considering how you make decisions with your head and your heart. Both are important tools, no matter how old we are.

NW PASSAGE | table of contents 03

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PHOTO BY ADDISON SHERMAN

Miles

Long distance relationships require work to avoid bumps in the road

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istance can be one of the most difficult challenges a relationship can endure and surviving the strain of separation may give the couple the skills needed to maintain the relationships over the long term. Or the distance may cause the death of the relationship.

I have been in a relationship for more than two years and it has been the most difficult thing I have ever attempted. We attended high school together for the first year of our relationship. Then she left for Missouri State University.

After one full year of a long distance relationship, I can say I have been through a lot. From the numerous road trips to the fights about seeing each other again, long-distance relationships pose just as many, and probably more, challenges than a typical high school relationship. Deciding what we want to do with our lives, choosing whether I will go to the same school or find my own path and general drama are problems every couple faces. Somehow, when nearly every discussion is held over Facetime or text, it’s just more difficult. Most of the time, we can’t talk in person. We also have to battle with conflicting schedules, each full with work, friends and being with family.

I see her once a month, twice if there is a holiday. She does not go to SM North, she doesn’t even go to another school in Kansas. She

04 FEB. 1, 2016 | Vol. 47

goes to Missouri State University — three hours and 172 miles away.

We battle not only with distance but difference.

We are both in completely different stages in our lives; I am deciding on a college and what I want to do, while she is already in college and living away from home.

She has no curfew, no parent telling her to do her homework. It may sound silly, but this difference in stage of life presents obstacles for us. She works two jobs, and attends classes. Our schedules never coincide. It takes a team of people (figuratively speaking) to schedule a weekend for us to be together.

Our typical day starts with a “good morning” text, like most relationships; it also ends with a “good night” text. But, unlike most high school relationships, we cannot see each other daily and that takes a toll after a while. We cannot go on dates often. I hate that, but it’s not all bad. When we do have the opportunity to go out, it is like having a “first date” all over again.

The magic of a new relationship does not dissipate as quickly as it would if I saw her every day.

Avoiding the potholes of a longdistance relationship has been tough, but I know it will be okay.

Whatever happens is just how it is meant to be.

+BY KEEGAN DOLINAR

pros and cons

of a long distance relationship

Pros: -Plenty of time to yourself -Numerous road trips -Cheap meals for one -The “new relationship” feeling does not go away -You can wake up any time of the day Cons: -They are far away -Numerous road trips -Conflicting schedules -Different stages of maturity -Different stages of life

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NW PASSAGE | feature 05

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THE FINEST COMPLIMENT I COULD EVER RECIEVE IS A REFERRAL FROM MY FRIENDS AND CLIENTS! GO COUGARS!

06 FEB. 1, 2016 | Vol. 47

HOMEWORK Headgames After reevaluating The Homework Headache, it appears laziness isn’t the only problem

5 Tips to Prevent Procrastination: 1. Work with a timer. Set aside time for breaks every twenty or so minutes.

2. Write down assignments in a planner.

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3. Remove all unnecessary electronic devices from your workspace.

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4. Begin working on your homework as soon as possible. Resist the urge to put it off until night.

5. If you do procrastinate, don’t let that time be wasted. Read a book, or begin work on another project while you are putting off your other work.

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igh school students are lazy.

This stigma seemingly can’t be avoided.

It has become such a popularized belief that when we analyzed our results from the ‘Homework Headache’ survey, the only reasonable conclusion we could come up with was that high school students are lazy.

But was our bold conclusion really the correct one?

Carsten Holm, an academic advisor at the University of Kansas, disagrees with our findings.

After being presented with our conclusion, Holm offered explanations that may help rebuke the shameful reputation of students’ study habits. The first observation that came to Holm’s mind reflected positively on the academic ability of high school students.

“They may be finishing all their homework,” Holm said. “But it doesn’t take as long as the district expects.”

The proposition that the district anticipates assignments taking longer to complete certainly seems reasonable. Particularly in the case of students who prove proficient in mastering certain activities and subjects.

But Holm understands that in some cases students just ignore their homework. And, in some other cases, they put it off entirely.

Although he doesn’t promote this study habit, he does understand its origins.

“You might spend eight, nine or ten hours in school, and sometimes you add three hours of homework on top of that,” Holm said. “You have long days already. When you are tired after a long day, the thought of sitting down and studying for that long isn’t particularly appealing.”

Herein lies what Holm believes is the source of the problem: procrastination.

“After a long day, there is a natural inclination

to put it off until the consequences of not doing your homework are worse than the frustration of having to do it,” Holm said.

As deadlines arise, assignments that could have been spread across days, sometimes weeks, are crammed into a nerve-wracking four-hour adventure.

With a negative connotation like this, homework is rarely a priority in the minds of high school students. What matters to students are social connections. But, in an era where instant messaging has overshadowed hanging out at the mall, a constant connection to technology has presented a new set of problems.

“The same computer you use to access your homework is also used to access social media,” Holm said. “You have the distraction right in front of you.”

Holm encounters this problem even at the college level, and finds that students often prefer working from a paper textbook as opposed to the online version.

Holm’s simplest solution for procrastinators is to work alongside a timer, taking a break to respond to texts and check social media every 20 minutes or so.

Homework isn’t going away, no matter how long you hide it in your backpack. Working toward efficient study habits and embracing the actuality that there may be late nights ahead should help solve the homework headache.

Understanding the factors that push against students may help to reprove our lazy reputation.

High school students are not lazy.

At least sometimes.

+BY JOSH SHERFY

NW PASSAGE | feature 07

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EVERYBODY can do something Bleeding Hearts club encouarges students to volunteer in the community

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elping people isn’t a chore for senior Teah together, they also help out around the Lierz, founder of Bleeding Hearts club. It’s community individually. The helpers volunteer a passion. at the Shawnee Community Center, hospitals “I know that people are not always able to and Harvesters. [help others],” Lierz said. “I just want to give “I usually volunteer on Saturdays [at Shawnee everyone the opportunity to help when and Mission Birth Center],” club member Hosanna how they can. I wanted a club that everyone can Girma said. “I work basically as a receptionist. be a part of. Our motto is, ‘Nobody My favorite part is greeting people. I can do everything, but everyone can feel like if you smile and say ‘Have a do something.’” great day,’ it makes people’s day at Club member Sophie Ross least a tad bit better.” describes Lierz as empathetic and As a new club, Bleeding Hearts giving. hasn’t had many opportunities to “[Teah] is one of the sweetest volunteer together. girls you will ever meet,” Ross “We’re trying to find a homeless said. “She is shy and doesn’t talk shelter to volunteer at together but very loud, but, when she does have it’s hard [to work around school something to say, it’s definitely hours],” Lierz said. worth listening to.”

Bleeding Hearts went out as a - Teah Lierz Lierz, however, is not the only group to the Shawnee Community one who feels passionately about Center Jan. 9 to fold clothes, mark giving back to the community. Ross has also barcodes, box canned goods and set out bread. been a part of Bleeding Hearts since the club “It makes me feel really good [when I began earlier this year. volunteer],” Lierz said. “I love knowing that I “I want to make a difference and help find can help others because I know what it’s like to opportunities [for the club] to help and serve need help.” other people,” Ross said. “Since it’s a new club, Bleeding Hearts club meets at 3 p.m. every I also wanted to help it grow so more people Friday in room 131 with sponsor Debbie Boren. can be involved and have more compassion for +BY KASEY GARDNER / PHOTOS BY everyone around them.”

SHELBY BEAUMONT Although the club members volunteer

“Nobody can do everything, but everyone can do something.”

Get Involved Volunteering is something that most everyone in the community can participate in. Here are three easy and fun things you can do to help out your community.

1. If you have a passion for helping animals, you can volunteer at an animal shelter. Most shelters rely heavily on volunteers to help care for the 6-8 million dogs and cats that end up in shelters every year. While there, you can walk dogs, socialize cats, clean cages and help with feeding and watering as well as grooming.

2. You can still give back to the community even if you don’t have a lot of spare time on your hands.

You can donate used items to your local Salvation Army, book store or thrift store. One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.

3. Sitting and having a conversation with someone may not seem like much, but it can really brighten someone’s day. Volunteering at a nursing home is a great way to get to know new people who have a lot of great stories and life experiences. When volunteering at a nursing home you can read to the elderly, serve food, paint nails, play instruments for the residents or simply sit and watch television with them.

If volunteering is something you would be interested in, here are a few of the organizations you can get in touch with:

Vice president Sophia Ross discusses recruiting new members for Bleeding Hearts club on Jan. 22 in room 131. Each member of the club is a senior, so the club is looking for younger people who would like to continue the club when they graduate.

08 FEB. 1, 2016 | Vol. 47

Senior Hosaena Girma listens as Bleeding Hearts vice president Sophia Ross Goes over plans for the club on jan. 22 in room 131

Shawnee Gardens- 913-631-2146 Reach Out And Read- 913-548-2793 Rose Brooks Center- 816-523-5550 Harvesters- 816-929-3000 The Human Society of Greater Kansas City- 913-546-1000 Hillcrest Thrift Store- 816-272-1976

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY TARYN SMITH

The he rt continues on page 10

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ostled between fresh starts and heavy hearts, the pursuit of love drives us.

Relationships remind us of our vulnerability. A romance that seemed fit for the big screen collapses and, in an instant, everything we thought we knew proves untrue.

Eventually, emotions rebound. Teachers lecture about equations and in-text citations, but when the bell rings, we’re still learning about something that everybody wishes for, but nobody can explain.

Set limits, understand and learn from one another. A high school sweetheart isn’t easy to find, but the loves of today help us come up with the only definition of love that matters: our own.

+BY JOSH SHERFY

NW PASSAGE | feature 09

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At the heart of it

High school relationships are an important learning experience

Glancing at each other, seniors Gage Oberheu and Shelbie McLain blush and search for the answers to questions about their relationship that they’ve never considered.

“You can answer this one first.”

“This is so uncomfortable.”

These two have just celebrated their oneyear anniversary — something that isn’t usually associated with high schoolers. To them, what they have together is much more than stereotypical, awkward “high school dating.” “[After being in a committed relationship] I feel more responsible and more mature,” Oberheu said.

“I also have more respect for people I don’t know. I didn’t really know Shelbie that well when we started dating, but I realized later how strong and helpful she is, how much she does for people. If I didn’t get

to know her, I wouldn’t know any of that.”

By the time teenagers reach high school, love seems like less of a fairytale and more like something palpable, but the L word means something different to everyone.

“It depends on the view you and that person have in your heads,” senior Hannah Lane said. “What’s happening after college? What’s happening during college? If they have that picture in their head, then love means a lot more, but if they’re just looking at the day-by-day then that’s not as deep of a meaning.”

There’s a wide range of high school relationships — from “in it for the long haul” to “just want to have fun” — and each one can teach an important lesson.

“Relationships in high school help students learn

about how to relate to other people way,” social worker Susan Hartman s learn about yourself and discover som would like in a partner. It’s a bumpy of teens because it is new territory, an intense when it’s new.”

For Lane and her boyfriend, senior dating makes sense in high school.

“Dating doesn’t start when yo Simons said. “You never know when to find that special somebody, and tha point of dating.”

Although teenagers see their relationships as beneficial, sometime adults struggle to take them seriously “At first it’s annoying and you kin about it and you just don’t feel the su

H 0-2 Months 4/28

2-4 Months 1/28

4-6 Months 1/28

6-9 Months 4/28

10 Months 1 year 5/28

1 year 1 month 1 year 4 months 5/28

1 year 5 months 1 year 8 months 2/28

1 year 9 months 2+ years 6/28

Longest Relationship

1 relationship 15/28

2 relationships 11/28

3-4 relationships 2/28

How Many Relationships

By the Numbers Based on a survey of 28 students +COMPILED BY JACK LYNCH

How did you meet your sweetheart?

10 FEB. 1, 2016 | Vol. 47

“Mutual friends. Megan Dunn and Sam Oberbroeckling, mainly. We met a few times and started talking and it just went from there.”

— senior Maggie Preston

“We met his freshman year (my sophomore year) in Coach Dickson’s class. I walked into the class to ask Coach a question and when I found out he wasn’t in there I waited for a while and started talking to his students... one being my significant other.” — senior Mallory Baker

“We met through a friend of mine who I played baseball with, I was going to hangout with my buddy and she was with him and the rest is history.”

— junior Will Andruss

in a different said. “You can me things you road for a lot nd feelings are Ryan Simons,

ou’re older,” n you’re going at’s the whole

r committed es parents and y. nd of get mad upport,” Lane

said. “You learn to ignore it because it doesn’t really matter what other people think. It only matters what you and that other person think — to an extent. You always want to take advice from your parents and your friends, but you shouldn’t let that be your relationship.”

High school relationships are built differently than those later in life, but the foundation of all relationships is the same.

“Relationships give you somebody you can really talk to, somebody you can understand,” senior Nick Senior said. “Somebody who you can confide in, who you can always laugh and have fun with.”

Seniors Shelbie McLain & Gage Oberheu

Started dating: Jan. 17, 2015 Definition: “Being together and caring about you”

Seniors Hannah Lane & Ryan Simons

Started dating: Sept. 18, 2014 Definition: “Not caring who sees us together”

Seniors Gina Gabrielli & Nick Senior

+BY GRACE GORENFLO

LOVE IN 6 WORDS Started dating: Jan. 24, 2015 Definition: “Having mutual love and mutual respect”

A LOOK AT LOVE A minor issue INFORMATION COURTESY OF SEXETC.ORG/STATES/KANSAS/

Our relationships fall into a spectrum of either healthy, unhealthy or abusive

Dating a minor can have major legal consequences

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Having a senior crush become a relationship, for many freshmen, is a dream come true. But the legality of the situation, if it becomes sexual, can be tricky.

In Kansas, the legal age of consent is 16, which means that if you are over 16, a sexual act with anyone under the age of consent is illegal and punishable with up to 10 years in prison.

In addition, just asking a person under the age of consent for nude pictures and/

healthy relationships have...

-equality -honesty -physical safety -respect -comfort -sexual respect -independence -humor

Describe your relationship

or sex can be punishable with 17 months probation to more than 22 years in prison and a fine of up to $300,000. If you save these images on your phone, you could receive a life sentence and/or be assessed a $500,000 fine.

Know that the risks of being sexually active under the age of consent could potentially ruin your significant other’s life.

+BY ASHER NORBERG

unhealthy relationships can have...

-control -dishonesty -physical abuse -disrespect -intimidation -sexual abuse -dependency -hostility

“My boyfriend is now in college. It’s hard, but we are making long distance work.”

— junior Ally Smith

We are a part of a variety of relationships from the beginnings of our lives. Those relationships form the basis for those we have later in life. Each experience changes the way we see ourselves and the bonds we form. According to futureswithoutviolence.org, 72 percent of 8th and 9th graders report themselves as “dating.” Health teacher Lisa Morstadt said dating is an important part of high school.

“I think high schoolers date because you are supposed to be learning what [qualities] you like or don’t like,” Morstadt said.

“When you grow up and you find your life-long relationship, you know what you’re looking for.”

Morstadt teaches about relationships and often invites speakers to provide additional information to her classes and talk about their experiences. Relationships cannot always be categorized as just healthy, unhealthy or abusive. Each relationship is unique and Metropolitan Organization to Counter Sexual Assault (MOCSA) prevention specialist Becca Anderson said most relationships are not entirely unhealthy, but people pick up on unhealthy tendencies.

“A lot of times people think that being super jealous and wanting to know where someone is all the time is romantic, but that can indicate a lack of trust,” Anderson said. “Even though jealousy is a natural emotion, it’s how you handle it that can be healthy or unhealthy.”

Both Morstadt and Anderson agree that, to be in a healthy relationship, both people have to know who they are first. A healthy relationship is centered on respect, equality and safety.

“Once you know who you are and what your standards are, you know how you want to be treated,” Morstadt said. “I think that when you find someone who treats you that way, that’s the fishy to keep.”

What could be affecting us the most, according to Anderson, is the media.

“The media [shows] unhealthy relationships,” Anderson said.

“How many people have seen a TV show or a movie where a couple was fighting and then the guy just grabs the girl and kisses her? And it’s supposed to solve everything? We see things that aren’t realistic and that are promoting something that a) wouldn’t work in real life and b) isn’t okay when the other person doesn’t know that is going to happen.”

Peer education coordinator Monica Phinney at Safehome said when people see behaviors portrayed in pop culture, those behaviors become normalized in their own relationships.

“A lot of current media objectifies and sexualizes women, which can give a harmful message to men about how to view women in real life,” Phinney said. “Sit-coms also portray relationships as games to play, which is not healthy in real life. Media also tells boys that they are meant to be aggressive, dominating and emotionally distant. This

“Our relationship has been nothing but happiness and laughs since day one. We have grown to love each other’s presence while also respecting each other’s need for space and time away from each other for friends and family. I have met all of his family, and he has met all of my family, too.”

— senior Meghan Bower

is a dangerous standard for young men, who should feel safe to be sensitive and caring, as well as to seek help when needed.”

According to social worker Susan Hartman, the media sets the standard for high school relationships. “[The media] implies that if you’re in a relationship, it’s going to be this big, romantic thing and that it’s going to last forever,” Hartman said. “High schoolers, in their first serious relationship have never felt like this before, so when [they] break up, they don’t have the life experience to know ‘Oh, I’ll be okay eventually; there will be someone else that I will feel like this about.’’’

Since the media changes our perception of a healthy relationship, many can be in a relationship believing unhealthy tendencies are normal or romantic. If relationships are unhealthy, it’s much easier for them to cross the line into abusive.

“Treat the person you are dating like you would treat a friend and don’t tolerate behavior in the person you are dating that you wouldn’t in a friend,” Anderson said.

“Sometimes people make excuses in romantic relationships that they wouldn’t in a friendship. Conflicts can’t truly be solved unless there is open communication and people can talk out their frustrations.”

+BY CADIE ELDER

“Sometimes she can get annoyed with my forgetfulness, poor planning or regular failure to answer texts/find my phone, but at the end of the day, we still enjoy each other.” — senior Brendan Davison

NW PASSAGE | feature 11

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CITY OF SHAWNEE

Summer Aquatic Center Positions The City of Shawnee is seeking enthusiastic, dependable workers for the 2016 Summer pool season. Applicants must be able to work Memorial Day through Labor Day. Lifeguard certification calsses are available through the Shawnee Parks and Recreation Department.

Positions available include -Assistant Pool Manager must be 18 years of age and hold current American Red Cross Waterpark Lifeguard Certification.

Starting salary is $12.00/hr -Lifeguards must be 16 years of age and hold a current American Red Cross Waterpark Lifeguard Certifications. Starting salary is $8.75/hr -Swim Instructors must be 15 years of age or older. Training will be provided. Starting salary is $9.75/hr -Concession/Front Desk Attendant must be 16 years of age. Starting salary is $7.25/hr -Assistant Dive Coaches must be 16 years of age with prior diving experience. Starting salary is $9.75/hr -Assistant Swim Coaches must be 16 years of age with prior swimming experience. Starting salary is $9.75/hr Pool Employment Applications available on-line at www.cityofshawnee.org and at Shawnee City Hall, 11110 Johnson Drive, Shanwee Kansas 66203 Positions open until filled All positions required pre-employment drug screen.

EOE M/F

12 FEB. 1, 2016 | Vol. 47

Seniors Sarah Smith and Megan Dunn talk with sophomore Jared Berlin before their session begins. “It’s super interesting,” Smith said. “You take master classes each day and then see a show each night.”

Workshop

Descriptions

ACE ANY THEATRE AUDITION - Gai Jones

“This participatory workshop teaches actors how to become content with any audition. Entering the audition room, slating, taking directions, interviewing, improvising, cold reading, analyzing a short monologue, ending a monologue performance, and exiting the room will be experienced by all participants. Stepping into the shoes of the casting director will also happen.

Participation by all delegates is requested.”

ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE COLLEGE AUDITION - Bruce Miller “Soup to nuts what you should for in a college, college program, cost, the program that’s right for you etc. Plus -- how to prepare and execute a college audition from selection to delivery.”

BEING A STATE BOARD MEMBER - Ari Hayaud-Din, ITO and Kansas STO’s “Interested in being a State Board Member? Don’t miss this workshop! Information will be shared on how to become a state board member and what duties the state board members perform.”

COSTUMING SKILLS FOR BEYOND THE STAGE Melanie Shelley “Costuming and crafting skills play an important role in event planning from costuming the participants to dressing the venue. Think of events as an extension of the stage. Come prepared for hands on fun.”

LIFE IN THE BIZ - Dion Graham

“A conversation with actor Dion Graham about life as an professional artist. How to prepare yourself to survive and thrive. All are welcome.”

Junior Olyvia Anothayanontha practices lines with seniors Cody O’Conner and Elizabeth Gibson during the Kansas Thespian State Conference in Wichita. At the conference, Thespians take workshops on improvization, singing and dancing.

PERFORM LIKENobody’s watching Thespian Troupe #888 participates in the state conference

Thespian Troupe #888 attended the Kansas Thespian State Conference ‘Cirque de Thespis’ Jan. 7-9 in Wichita, bringing back awards for both individual and group performances.

Seniors Elise Dorsey and Rebecca Carroll and junior Alex Teeple all entered individual competitions, while seniors Nick Senior, Elizabeth Gibson and Adam Baughman and junior Kenzie Parsons and sophomore Alyssa Gaul entered in the improvisational acting competition. The group placed third in the competition.

Dorsey, who entered in solo musical theatre, received a Superior, the highest award, for her song “Meadowlark” from The Baker’s Wife by Stephen Schwartz.

“There were things that I wanted to improve [on] because I didn’t think I was comfortable enough,” Dorsey said. “When you perform at home you’re like, ‘Yeah, I’m on top of the world!’ and then you get in front of people and you’re like, ‘Yeah no, not so much.’ The song is very comfortable and relaxing. It’s a really beautifully composed song.

I’ll have to sing the same song at nationals, but I think I will sing more of it [this time].”

Dorsey will go on to compete in the International Thespian Conference in Nebraska in June with the sponsor (parent or teacher) of her choice. The school will provide transportation and a hotel room. The results of the contests Carroll and Teeple entered will not be announced for at least a month.

STAGE MANAGING - HIGH SCHOOL, COLLEGE, AND PROFESSIONALLY - Laura Lindsay

MUSICAL THEATRE REHEARSAL & PERFORMANCE: THE REAL DEAL - Julie Danielson

“This workshop will be a crash course in stage management, and we’ll start from the beginning.

How is stage managing in high school different from stage managing in college, and how is that different from stage managing professionally?

We’ll take a look at paperwork and talk about the personas of stage managers. We’ll answer all of these questions and more, and some of the answers might surprise you!”

“TWO SESSIONS ONLY: Want a change of pace from your workshops and classes? Come rehearse a vocal ensemble number from a Broadway show and perform it before the nal main stage production! Work with a Broadway music director in a fast-paced, professional setting. This session will only be offered twice and participation will be limited to 35 per session for a total of 70 performers on stage... First Come- First Served.

Solo opportunities may be available. [Sheet music will be provided, please bring a 3-ring binder and pencil]”

Officer board members Kenzi Parsons and Maddie Munsey were chosen by Thespian Troupe #888 to be State Board members for the conference this year. They attended meetings before the weekend to plan the conference theme and select workshops, two of which they would review after the conference. The two also rehearsed a small etiquette skit that they performed for everyone before the first show.

“Kenzi reviewed a jazz class and I reviewed an acting class,” Munsey said. “We filled out a sheet and evaluated them. It was cool to have that responsibility and to meet the other board people from the other Kansas schools.”

School districts from across the state including Blue Valley, Olathe, Paola, DeSoto, Emporia, Washburn Rural, Jefferson County, and Shawnee Mission attended the conference. Each student chose from workshops in makeup, dance, ‘life in the biz’, costume, improv, singing, college auditions and more.

“The best thing I learned all week was from Dion, the ‘life in the biz’ teacher,” Carroll said.

“You should only pursue theatre and musical theatre, and this is the phrase: ‘if you have to.’ If it’s what you have to do. And I think that’s what I have to do.”

+BY PAIGE EICHKORN / PHOTOS BY SOPHIE FLORES

CREATE THE SCENE - Taylor Harvey

“Using just a simple, short AB scene and a partner, pairs will create their own version of the scene. We’ll watch and work them to nd more clarity, boldness, and theatricality. Great way to gain a sense of empowerment as an actor/creator and to see the endless possibilities in acting, as well as appreciate what others create from their imagination.”

INFORMATION COURTESY OF HTTP://WWW.KANSASTHESPIANS.COM/UPLOADS/1/2/6/9/12699089/STATE_CONFERENCE_PROGRAM_-_FINAL.PDF

NW PASSAGE | feature 13

NW

THIS

MONTH IN HASHTAGS + BY GRACE GORENFLO

Top trend

14 FEB. 1, 2016 2015 | Vol. 47

1

#StopGunViolence Became a trending hashtag in support of President Obama’s speech on gun violence Jan. 5.

During his speech, he announced his executive order in preventing gun violence by requiring more gun sellers to have licenses and more gun buyers to have background checks.

2

#Twitter10k Trended at the beginning of the month after users found out about the possibility of a new 10,000-word limit on Tweets instead of the current 140. Most users found the new limit excessive, and hoped for a happy medium between 140 and 10,000 words.

3

#SandraBland Overtook Twitter when a state trooper involved in the arrest of now deceased Sandra Bland was indicted. Twenty-eight-year-old Bland died in police custody last July, and the death was ruled a suicide.

4

#Its2016AndWeStillDont Began trending the first week of the year to give a shoutout to all the things we have yet to complete. In addition to serious topics, Tweets using this hashtag cover a variety of trivial topics such as still not having an unshatterable iPhone.

5

#Bowie & #Rickman Were used the week of Jan. 10 after the deaths of David Bowie and Alan Rickman. Rickman, best known for his role as Severus Snape, and famous rockstar Bowie both died from cancer at age 69. This hashtag was used by Twitter users to remember these two beloved men and their accomplishments.

e i h C t a o o f e m S l a c i p Tro King

e i h t o o r o Sm

straws

down

Tropical Paradise I go to Tropical Smoothie Café all the time. I love everything about it: healthy food and drink options, a modern, friendly atmosphere and welcoming service. It’s a great place to grab a quick drink or wrap. The interior’s bright orange, blue and green makes me feel like I’m somewhere tropical, sipping my Sunrise Sunset smoothie — a strawberry, mango and orange favorite.

Although pricey, the most expensive smoothie comes to $6. All of the smoothies are 24 oz., which easily takes the place of my breakfast some days.

The ingredients are all listed below the menu items so customers know exactly what to expect. Add-ins like vitamin-C, spinach, kale, whey protein, peanut butter and vitamin B12 are also available for an extra charge. The wraps, tacos, flatbreads, sandwiches and salads are all made fresh with gluten-free and

vegetarian options. Food items range from $4.29 to $6.

Although the service and options are similar, I prefer Tropical Smoothie Café over Smoothie King. At Tropical Smoothie Cafe, customers can sit at a bar, a long table, or several tables and chairs. At Smoothie King, customers are expected to grab their orders and go, so there are only two chairs available to those who are waiting. The fastpaced atmosphere at Smoothie King is not ideal, at least for me. Although I do leave right away when I’m in a hurry to get back from open lunch, I don’t care for driving with one hand and holding my smoothie in the other.

The prices at Smoothie King are no different than Tropical Smoothie, but Tropical Smoothie texts weekly deals to their customers. “Buy one smoothie, get one for free” and “$1 off all smoothies” are just two of the deals I have received

recently. Just text TROPICALKC to 35350.

The thing that makes Tropical Smoothie superior to Smoothie King is the atmosphere. It’s relaxed and enjoyable and has a wide variety of food choices. It’s my first choice every time.

+BY PAIGE EICHKORN

PHOTO BY MADDY MANNING

The King of Smoothies

L

ocated near Northwest, Smoothie King is a favorite spot for students.

Right when I walked in, I was greeted by friendly employees ready to give opinions on their favorite smoothies. The atmosphere was fastpaced, but not hectic. Although there are only two chairs, the wait was comfortable and no more than five minutes. It is a great grab-and-go spot if you’re stopping for a quick breakfast or a post-workout smoothie.

Whether I was looking for a tasty and healthy smoothie or a protein snack, Smoothie King has it all. Although they have many smoothie choices, the option to create your own blend is available. I can add fruits, vegetables or energy enhancers (for an extra charge). I chose the Mangofest smoothie, a blend of fresh pineapple, mango juice blend and orange juice. The only thing that wasn’t so sweet was the price. A 20 oz. smoothie

costs about $6 and the largest, which is 40 oz., is nearly $9. Fortunately, every Friday, the 32 oz. smoothies cost $5.

Smoothies aren’t the only things on the menu at Smoothie King. Snacks including chips, granola bars, muffins, protein supplements and cookies, are also available. They may sound unhealthy, but these snacks are filled with protein. The smoothies and the snacks are specifically made for nutritional benefits. Slim, fitness, and wellness blends are the categories of the smoothies that can assist you in either losing weight or gaining muscle.

Smoothie King and Tropical Smoothie Café are similar in many ways, so choosing between the two was a hard call. The prices are about the same and the quality of the smoothies are also similar. The four-minute drive from Northwest to Smoothie King compared to the eight-minute drive to Tropical

Smoothie is a benefit that Tropical Smoothie couldn’t beat. The taste of both smoothies were so much alike that I’m not sure I’d be able to tell the difference in a blind taste test, but the ability to add in supplements set Smoothie King above the rest.

+BY JENNIFER SILVA

PHOTO BY MIO UEKI

NW PASSAGE | opinion 15

NW

2016

When I say “good,” you say “neighbor.”

Patricia Lyles CPCU, Agent Now that's teamwork.

11954 W 63 St CALL FOR A QUOTE 24/7 Shawnee, KS 66216 Bus: 913-631-4770 pat@patlyles.net

P097314.1

16 FEB. 1, 2016 | Vol. 47

State Farm Home Office, Bloomington, IL

PHOTO COURTESY OF TELEGRAPH.CO.UK

COMING SOON

THE

KUNG FU PANDA: 3 (JANUARY 29)

REVENANT

T

he Revenant follows legendary frontiersman Hugh Glass (Leonardo DiCaprio) who is stranded in the wilderness after being attacked by a bear and abandoned by his party of fur trappers. The one who seems to be most against Glass and ends up killing his son is John Fitzgerald, played by Tom Hardy.

DiCaprio has already won the Golden Globe for his role in The Revenant at this year’s Golden Globe Awards. This movie really does stand out from others he has been in. DiCaprio does not speak in the majority of this film and, when he does, it is sometimes phrases from the Native American languages of Pawnee and Arikara. In addition, he learned how to shoot a musket and build a fire. He also eats bison liver, which is surprising since DiCaprio is a vegetarian. Eating a fake bison’s liver did not look “real enough,” DiCaprio said in an interview with Variety magazine.

The cinematography was breathtaking. No stage lights were used in any of the scenes: scenes were lit either by the sun or a fire. If I was not focusing on the intensity of a scene, I was looking at the beautiful, snow-covered landscape.

The movie was filmed in nine different locations, mostly in Canada, where the cast members spent nine months in

below-zero temperatures.

The most gruesome part of the movie for me was the bear attack on Glass. This took DiCaprio’s character to an entirely new level. The entire scene I kept thinking, “This is a true story,” wondering how Hugh Glass ever survived this in real life.

DiCaprio has had a grip on my heart since his work in Titanic, so it was hard to watch Tom Hardy defy him with deadly intent, but still, Hardy has proven to be a versatile actor, with recent turns in Mad Max: Fury Road and Legend.

The movie is two-and-a-half hours long and, for the most part, I can’t complain. I was sure my attention would stray, but it never did. The only part that was lacking clarification was the dream scenes: they all seemed a little pretentious and overdone.

January movies are notorious for being bad, but this movie may be my new favorite. If Leonardo DiCaprio does not win an Oscar for this movie, then he deserves some hefty recognition.

+ BY CADIE ELDER

PHOTO COURTESY OF FILMDRIOD.HU

RIDE

ALONG:2 A

fter watching Ride Along 2, I was thoroughly bored and disappointed. The movie, though filled with great actors like Ice Cube and Kevin Hart, lacked credibility and was overly cliché. The storyline was interesting but overdone.

Not only was the story worn out with a sequel but it was barely a sequel at all, instead it was more of a remake.

Much like the first Ride Along, it was filled with overly dramatic action, stupidity from Kevin Hart, and annoyed looks from Ice Cube.

The movie picks up about a year after the “brothersin-law,” as Kevin Hart’s character Ben Barber likes to call himself, and his partner James Payton, played by Ice Cube, officially teamed up. The duo takes off to Miami to catch a few high profile criminals after Payton reluctantly agrees to let Barber help (sound familiar?). Although they are only

THE FINEST HOURS (JANUARY 29)

FIFTY SHADES OF BLACK (JANUARY 29)

HAIL, CAESAR (FEBRUARY 5) supposed to be gone for two days, so that Barber can make it back home for his wedding the following week, things don’t exactly go as planned.

The movie was ruined by horrific special effects and acting. If I could tell director Tim Story two things it would be 1) if you’re going to have alligators in your movie, either use a real alligator or make your fake one look somewhat real and 2) if someone is shot in the chest multiple times, they should not die for a few minutes, come back to life to try to kill a few more people and then die again.

The movie tried too hard to be funny and action packed.

Ride Along was great. Ride Along 2 was an overkill. If you’re thinking about watching Ride Along 2, you might as well save your money and watch Ride Along a second time.

ZOOLANDER 2 (FEBRUARY 12)

+ BY KASEY GARDNER NW PASSAGE | opinion 17

W I N T E R

POINTS AND PINS

NW

S P O R T S

Jerad Habben works to help his team get back to the state tournament this season

W

restling has been the centerpiece of sophomore Jared Habben’s life since he was a boy. This is after he went 2-2 in the state tournament as a freshman last season.

“The atmosphere was intense at state last year,” Habben said. “[There were] a lot of teams, emotion, anger and triumph. I was so nervous, but I went out there and probably had the best four matches of my whole season. I, sadly, didn’t place. And I lost to my friend in the consolation semifinals.”

It wasn’t luck that got Habben to the state tournament last year and it isn’t just luck that he is ranked third in the state this season. It is no coincidence that Habben’s first wrestling win was at Northwest in the Cougar Kids Novice when he was six years old.

In some ways, Habben is just emulating his dad who was a two-time Nebraska state champion and went on to wrestle for the University of Nebraska-Kearney.

“He has been my coach since I can remember,” Habben said. “He pushes me. He helps me with my weight. He makes me try to be the best that I can be. I am just following in his footsteps.”

Coach Howard Newcomb has also influenced Habben’s wrestling career. Newcomb’s training routines push the wrestlers in both the wrestling room and the weight room.

Newcomb has taught Habben to settle down a little on the mat and make smarter choices. He encourages Habben to take fewer risks that could cost him the match.

“He has improved tremendously,” Newcomb said. “He came to us a very impatient wrestler who would try to do moves that would hurt his chances of winning.”

Habben’s energetic and fun personality has helped the team through rough patches in matches and tournaments.

“On the mat, Jerad brings a lot of team points either by pin or placing high in tournaments,” team captain Trenton Smith said. “Off the mat, he is one of the comedians that cheers the team up when we are down.”

For Habben, one of the best feelings for a wrestler is getting a pin (holding an opponent’s shoulders down for a prescribed period of time) on his opponent to win the match.

“A pin is like winning without a doubt,” Habben said.

+ BY MATTHEW OWENS / PHOTO BY GRACE ROEDER

PHOTO BY ADDISON SHERMAN

PHOTO BY CARLEIGH WHITMAN

Girls’ Basketball

Boys’ Basketball

+ BY JACKIE SAYERS Feb. 5 5:30 p.m. at Lawrence Free State (away)

Feb. 9 5:30 p.m. vs.

Lawrence HighSchool (home)

+ BY JACKIE SAYERS Feb. 12 5:30 p.m. vs.

SM East (home)

What has the team done well throughout the season?:

Varsity Girl’s Basketball Coach Tyler Stewart: “We have great leadership, we’ve shot high percentage shots, and I think we’ve learned how to play and mix up our man and zone defenses to make teams tough to score against us.”

18 FEB. 1, 2016 | Vol. 47

PHOTO BY ADDISON SHERMAN

Feb. 2 7 p.m. vs.

Turner High School (home)

Feb. 5 7 p.m. at Lawrence Free State (away)

Feb. 9 7 p.m. at Lawrence Free State (home)

What has the team done well throughout the season?:

Senior Ferdinand Handy: “We go out there and play hard for each other, all of our teammates can score, so our team chemistry is good. We go into every practice ready to go and get after it, so we can perform well and leave everything out on the floor.”

PHOTO BY SHELBY BEAUMONT

Sophomore Joey Mendez shakes hands with the wrestling All-Star, Matthew, on Jan 11 in the Aux Gym. Every winter sports team adopted an All-Star from the Pinky Swear Foundation to raise money and “play” for them this winter season.

Wrestling

THE NEW ALL-STARS

EXTREMELY PATRIOTIC

+ BY MATTHEW OWENS February 5: 3:30 p.m at SM South District

February 13: 9:00 a.m at SM West Sunflower League

What has the team done well and what needs to be improved?:

Trenton Smith: “We have done well in winning important matches but we need to improve on winning all the matches at duels.”

PHOTO BY BRYCE REX

PHOTO BY BRYCE REX

Boys’ Swim + BY JACKIE SAYERS

Dive League - February 4: vs. Olathe East: California Trail Middle School

Swim League - February 5: vs. Olathe East : California Trail Middle School

League Finals - February 6: vs. Olathe East : California Trail Middle School

Varsity Swim Coach David Pfortmiller: There are numerous things we can work on to help improve our times but the main goal is to see the kids keep improving and listening to the coaches to stay motivated and the will have success.”

PHOTO BY NICK KAHTAVA

Boys’ Bowling + BY MATTHEW OWENS

Feb. 3 3:30 p.m. vs. Olathe East: Olathe Lanes East

PHOTO COURTESY OF CHRIS DUBERSTADT

Feb.10 3:30 p.m.

District: Park Lanes Shawnee

Best moment so far this season?

Sophomore Jalen Pak: “Bowling a 670 series for my first Bakers tournaments. It was a great start and an indication of an another good season.”

PHOTO BY MAYA LEE

Girls’ Bowling + BY REED WILLIAMS

Feb. 1 3:30 p.m. vs. St. James: Park Lanes Shawnee

Feb. 3 3:30 p.m. vs. Olathe East: Olathe Lanes East

How is the season going so far?:

Coach Billy Dent: “The girls have done quite well. They’ve been bowling for a long, long time so it’s kind of nice to have those games early to see how you measure up. As long as we continue to improve, I think we’ll be okay.” + BY REED WILLIAMS

The Pinky Swear All Star program works to take away some of the stress on pediatric cancer patients and their families

A

s Matthew Martin runs around the auxiliary gym wearing a baggy wrestling shirt, it’s hard to tell that he has cancer. If it were not for the surgical mask he wears, you wouldn’t be aware that anything is wrong with this energetic three-yearold. He wears sweatpants and light-up velcro shoes, playing basketball with athletic director Angelo Giacalone and never appearing to think about the battle for his life.

“Playing for ‘Pinky Swear’ is just an opportunity for student athletes to wrap their hearts around these families,” Community Development Representative Nikol Terrill said. “[To] let them know that they’re not alone in their fight and that somebody’s thinking about them.”

As Martin wakes up each morning at six, he takes his medications and then spends the rest of the day in the Hematology clinic alongside his mom, Amanda Moore. This has been their daily routine for the five months they have been living at Ronald McDonald house.

Martin was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) in April. He had to leave Warrensburg, Mo. to seek treatment at Children’s Mercy hospital, where he was hospitalized until June. The Pinky Swear Foundation helps the family pay for some of their non-medical expenses, like the rent on their house back in Warrensburg.

Martin will be a Pinky Swear AllStar sponsored by the wrestling, swim and dive and bowling teams. This means that he will be able to make friends with the athletes and attend events that the coaches pick out for him, including each of the team’s senior nights. Martin does not let his cancer stop him from being active and enjoying his favorite sport, baseball.

He will be sponsored by the baseball team in the spring.

“I am so excited, for him but also for the cancer community,” Moore said.

“Before he was diagnosed, I did not know anybody with cancer. Personally, we are gaining some happiness and joy but this program is not about us.

It’s what Matthew’s friends and other families are going to gain by having a community more aware of childhood cancer.”

The other Pinky Swear All-Star is Gabe Putthoff who will be sponsored

by the girls’ and boys’ basketball teams. He will sit on the bench when they play Lawrence on Feb. 9.

Putthoff was diagnosed with stage four Neuroblastoma in 2007 when he was three years old.

“For me and for a lot of the kids, it is an opportunity [to realize that] what we see as problems, really don’t amount to as much as what others are going through,” head boys basketball coach Mike Rose said. “We can always continue to battle just like he has to everyday.”

From the minute Giacalone heard Terrill speak at a district athletic directors meeting, he was on board.

Although he doesn’t know anyone who has had pediatric cancer, he wants to add them to the NW community while creating awareness for pediatric cancer, and raising donations for Pinky Swear grants. That is what the Pinky Swear All-Star program is about.

“When I heard about it I thought it was a great thing, it was people helping people,” Giacalone said. “It is about relationships. It is about what interscholastic [sports] is all about. Right now every day of their life is a struggle. You look at Matt. He is the happiest kid in the world. Let them experience some of the happiness. Let them laugh, let have some fun. That is huge for me.”

Shawnee Mission East and West also have All-Stars, but Northwest is the only school sponsoring two. Pinky Swear allows families to focus on helping their children fight against cancer, instead of worrying about everyday expenses.

One of the biggest fundraisers that Northwest did was selling the Pinky Swear packages during lunch.

Donations will also be accepted at most sporting events. The Pinky Swear package raised $506.25 and overall the school has raised $1,195.87 for the organization. However, fundraising is not the only part of All-Star program.

The other part is creating awareness for childhood cancer.

“It is only partially about the fundraising,” Giacalone said.” The other part is awareness for pediatric cancer and having the patients have an experience that can bring happiness into their lives.”

+ BY MATTHEW OWENS & REED WILLIAMS NW PASSAGE | sports 19

NW

NW

“

Senior Alpha Hill-Spearman sings ‘Hello’

by Adlele during the talent show Jan. 13 in the Greg Parker Auditorium.

PHOTO BY SHELBY BEAUMONT

I started [participating in the Talent Show] as a freshman and I’ve been going every year. Now it’s just like a chapter being closed.”

—senior Alpha Hill-Spearman