Issue 3, The Northwest Passage

The Northwest Passage

N W P

Issue 3 Vol. 52 Oct. 26, 2020

Map 8-9

Here’s your guide to all locations at Northwest

Election Month 14

The COVID-19 pandemic extends Election Day beyond Nov. 3

2 | ads

Oct. 23, 2020

15320 Midland Drive Shawnee, Kansas 66217 www.mcananyconstruction.com

6320 Monrovia Shawnee, Kansas 66216

i

Office: 631-3545 Emergency: 631-3545

Doing Our Part smnw.com

feature | 3

As students prepare for hybrid learning, new policies will be in place for those attending school in person + by Stella Grist The rise of COVID-19 has changed day-to-day life for everyone.

Most notably, students. The 2019-2020 school year ended unpredictably, and parts of the upcoming year will also remain unknown.

The Johnson County gating criteria, having been altered from the previous criteria, determined all students who chose the in-person option to move to hybrid learning on Oct. 26. Before the change, the gating criteria stated that if more than ten percent of tests were positive, all students would be in remote learning. If less than ten percent of tests were positive, students who chose in person learning would be in a hybrid model and if less than five percent of tests were positive, students would be in a fully in person model.

However, the gating criteria was recently altered. The gating criteria now states that if the percentage of positive tests is 10-15 percent, students will be in either remote or hybrid, depending on if “modifying variables,” such as masks and social distancing rules, are implemented. It was also altered in the sense that the county has stopped counting positive “retests,” meaning that people who test positive and retest until they are negative, only their first test counts. Because 6.8 percent of tests are positive and there have been 246 new cases within the last two weeks per 100,000 people as of Oct. 21, students will be in the hybrid model with mitigating factors present in school.

While we are in the hybrid model, half of the school population will be in person on any given day. Students with last names A-Lamb will attend school on Mondays and Tuesdays. Last names Lamc-Z will be attending in person on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

(Some exceptions exist to keep family cohorts together.) Teachers will assign enough work for both block days, so students will be expected to complete those assignments. On their off-days, students will only be required to attend their seminar/TCB classes at 12:55 p.m.

For the 70 percent of NW students who chose the in-person learning model, new rules and policies will be in place for the school year beginning today. When attending in person, students will be required to wear a mask that fits correctly, covering their mouth and nose. Social distancing rules will be enforced as well.

Classrooms have been rearranged to accommodate the required distancing.

“Social distancing, masks and hand hygiene have been noted by

“Social distancing, masks and hand hygiene have been noted by the health officials as the most important mitigating factors that really reduce the risk of transmission of the virus,” - Lisa Gruman the health officials as the most important mitigating factors that really reduce the risk of transmission of the virus,” Principal Lisa Gruman said.

“We [have] found that with the six feet of distancing, you can still have a conversation with people pretty easily with your mask [on]. It’s just a matter of creating that little barrier to reduce transmission.”

Students who fail to comply with these guidelines will face consequences similar to punishments for other infractions in school. If the issue is with the fit of a mask, masks are available for students in the office.

“The first thing we have to do is to set the tone that we are a school where one of our core foundations is to take care of each other,” Gruman said. “[Wearing masks] is what we can do to keep each other safe… It’s just going to take some reminders and letting everyone know that this is what we need to do.”

Another big focus at school this year will be hand hygiene. This is an important factor in reducing transmission as well. Hand sanitizer will be available in classrooms and hand washing will be incorporated into each class. Moreover, changes will be made to avoid crowding and enforce social distancing rules before school and during passing periods, such as designated up and down hallways and stairwells.

“We will be encouraging to students to use all of the doors on the east and west sides of the building rather than coming in just one door on each side,” Gruman said. “We’re also going to have some

different waiting areas for students (auditorium and gym), rather than everybody congregating in the mall... The main thing [with passing period] is we will have to save our socializing for lunch and then classroom conversations. The halls are going to need to be moving.”

But what about lunch? How will it be different from the past to ensure safety? “[Lunch is] where the six feet of social distancing will be really important,” Gruman said. “That’s where we will have some different [seating] configurations... that people can choose from, but every configuration will be six feet apart. When you have your mask off to eat, we need to maintain that six feet of social distance… making sure students are still chatting, but eating in that safe zone.”

Beginning the year entirely online allowed students to stay safe.

To continue that as hybrid learning starts, students and teachers must follow these precautions.

“It really is a matter of doing our part to make sure our community and our family members stay safe, making sure we take care of each other,” Gruman said. “There’s still a lot of ways to have good interactions... I know they feel different. Just by practicing those three little things, we can keep each other safe.”

“It really is a matter of doing our part to make sure our community and our family members stay safe, making sure we take care of each other,” - Lisa Gruman

Are you aware of the social distancing rules put in place to keep the student body and staff safe?

Yes! Remember to wear a mask and maintain six feet of social distancing.

+ design By Alden Norberg

4 | opinion

A Safe Return?

Oct. 26, 2020

Masks, social distancing and other preventative measures are paramount for schools to open

Upon the reopening of school, students will be expected to abide by the safety guidelines set in place by the school board and other health officials.

Students are asked to follow these rules to protect themselves and others. Those who are not willing, or who are unable, to wear a mask and social distance need to stay home for the safety of their peers.

The use of masks is recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to reduce the chance of spread. Although staying healthy is not guaranteed while wearing a mask, students are much less likely to get sick. According to cdc.gov, “Masks are recommended as a simple barrier to help prevent respiratory droplets from traveling into the air and onto other people… The use of masks is particularly important in settings where people are close to each other or where social distancing is difficult to maintain.”

In Johnson County, criteria have been set for school reopening, which SMSD is following. The guidelines are based on the percentage of tests that come back positive in the county, as well as whether cases remain steady or decrease in a two-week period. If the percentage of positive tests exceeds 15 percent or cases start increasing over the twoweek period, school will turn to remote learning.

“It’s really important that we listen to the medical professionals and follow their recommendations and their advice,” Principal Lisa Gruman said. “The gating criteria to decide which phase we are in is based on the data and the numbers from the County Department of Health.”

There is also another threat to the wellbeing of students – some can have the virus, and spread it to others, without knowing they even have it. This is called being an asymptomatic carrier. Students need to be cautious and respectful of others, even if they feel normal. Those who fail to meet guidelines may have consequences.

“If it’s just insubordination, then we will have to address that like we would any other situation where a student is being insubordinate,” Gruman said. “We would need to take the appropriate steps to address that behavior… We need to have those two guidelines followed to keep people safe.”

Some students may still think they have the option to wear a mask. Political figures have communicated varying and contradictory opinions about the topic. According to a Health. com article, “[psychiatrist and author Dr. Gayani DeSilva believes that oppositional messages in the media and from people in positions of authority, such as government officials, could be making us unsure of whether to wear a mask or not.”

Despite confusion caused by the mixed signals we might receive, we must remember that there is scientific evidence that wearing a mask slows the spread of the virus. In a research study conducted by Martin Fischer, Ph.D., Eric Westman, M.D. and other members of the Duke Department of Physics, face masks were confirmed to help block particles expelled from the mouth through speaking, coughing or sneezing. The study also supports the idea that some masks perform much better than others in slowing the spread; according to the study, N95 masks without valves and homemade cloth masks performed the best, while bandannas and neck gaiters were the most ineffective.

But the example set by prominent figures aren’t the only reasons students may not want to wear a mask or social distance. According to Health.com, people feel they aren’t in control, or they are in denial of the situation. Some may just not want to think about others.

“I do think some people have a sense of elitism, narcissist traits, or a better-than-others kind of self-image,” Dr. DeSilva said. “This is largely due to defense mechanisms —born of fear and feeling cut off from others.”

The lack of care could also stem from a particular political stance. As COVID-19 has become a divisive political topic, some listen only to the politicians with whom they agree on other issues. With the upcoming presidential election, that polarization is increased by hopes to get certain candidates in office.

Following safety precautions should not be made into a debate topic. Do your part as a student and think about the safety of your peers, your family and yourself. COVID-19 will not last forever, unless we refuse to be diligent now.

16/ 1 for

against

Current gating criteria for school The most recent recommendations for learning modes from the Johnson County Department of Health and Environment (JCDHE), based on the emergence of new information and community input The newest gating critera not only incorporates an additional level, it adds an additional consideration: Percent positive of the individuals tested over the previous two week period. When the change was made, the Incidence Rate was ___ and trending downward, putting Johnson County in the orange zone, but the the Percent Positive was approximately 5.7%, which put the county in the yellow zone,. The combination of these two metrics allowed the district to announce a move to the hybrid learning platform. *Information taken from the JCDHE Public Health Recommendations for COVID-19 School Learning Modes at Jocogov.org + design by Kasi Maniktala

smnw.com

opinion | 5

Low Down on Shopping Small In a world full of convenient online shopping, local businesses deserve a chance When I started customer foot traffic they lose searching for jobs everything. The smaller the I knew I wanted to business, the more they rely on work somewhere our support. The United States that would match my Census posted a questionnaire personality. I quickly for small businesses during found My Best Friend’s COVID to gauge how they had Closet, a small and been affected. According to their local consignment study, 44.9% of survey takers store. I filled out an said their business had been + by Ally Pruente negatively impacted in many application and was Copy Editor hired about a week ways. This number was much after. Flash forward larger than those who said they to now and I love everything about weren’t affected, which was only 18.2% working at a small business. Now that of survey takers. my job has opened my eyes, I really Now is a perfect time to support believe that we should shop local business owners, they need it more rather than commercial. than large companies. Owning Big businesses get a lot of traffic and creating a small business is an and then tend to overshadow the extremely challenging task. My dad small businesses around them. In the had his own business for 16 years. I age of COVID-19, many have resorted remember him putting in an extreme to corporations like Amazon for all amount of effort and time. It was of their wants and needs. Supporting very interesting to watch him work these larger corporations that are fast so hard on something he created. and convenient isn’t necessarily a Many people, just like my boss and bad thing, but when we forget about my dad, start with very little and smaller businesses. It really takes a toll work extremely hard to turn it into on them. something. From a simple human When small businesses lose decency perspective we owe it to

others to support them best we can.

The PNAS (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences) ran a study during late March and early April of this year on small businesses and COVID-19. They concluded that 43% of businesses had temporarily closed due to COVID-19. Smaller companies took an extremely large economic and advertising toll when they closed. Now, big and small businesses are starting to re-open and take safety precautions. Whether you’re a regular at a local shop or you’ve never tried it before now is the time to safely shop small.

Small businesses do a good job of creating familiar customers. At my job we have lots of regulars who know our staff and our store probably better than I do. It’s all about community and helping other people. Small businesses, just like everything in life, aren’t just about money. It’s about helping and bonding with other people. Empathy and interaction are needed in our world right now. One way to really help is supporting those in our community and everywhere we go.

The High School Experience High school is a time to try new things and make mistakes Moving to a new my senior year. I don’t cheer or school can be difficult, do track anymore, but newspaper whether that be from really stuck with me. Explore middle school to your options, because who high school or just knows, you might end up really from one school to enjoying a certain activity. another. High school Sometimes it’s hard to is big, and compared adjust, because a big place with to middle school, it’s a lot of new people can be scary. gigantic. Although + by Yeretzy Blanco Personally it wasn’t for me, you’ll be moving up because I am a very extroverted Staff Writer with your eighth-grade person, but I know that some of class, there are also three other grades my friends freshman year struggled above you. You’ll probably see or meet with figuring out the ropes. someone new everyday, and when you Making friends can be a bit look at your yearbook you’ll look back difficult. Big developmental and say, “They went to Northwest with milestones and changes happen me? Since when?” during ages 15-17. You become more My brother graduated high school independent, you’re capable of having when I was in seventh grade, he always more intimate relationships, you told me that I couldn’t expect high spend more time with your friends school to be fun by itself, I had to in comparison to your family, etc. I make it fun. I did this by joining cheer, came into my freshman year thinking newspaper, Student Council, track that I would stay best friends with my and so many other things. That’s the middle school friends forever. While beauty of high school. You can try new sometimes that works out, most times things and if you don’t like it, there’s that’s not the case. People change, no pressure to keep doing it. grow up and take different paths. So This year I decided to take a break you can’t expect to be exactly the same from Student Council to focus on as you were in middle school. other things, but it’s an activity I’ve Don’t worry too much about really enjoyed and plan on continuing keeping the same friendships you

had in middle school or elementary school, because real friends will stick by you. Some of my best friends and I talk maybe once a week, but we know we’ve got each other’s backs if any of us ever needed anything.

Making new friends and getting out of your comfort zone is one of the biggest parts of high school.

But always stay true to yourself, and don’t feel pressured to do things you don’t want to do. I promise you, in a couple years, people won’t care that you said no to going to a party your freshman year because it made you uncomfortable or that you said no to smoking when your friends wanted to try it. Don’t plan on peaking in high school, plan on preparing yourself for whatever lies ahead.

You want to look back at high school and remember the fun times, not regret all those times you could’ve had fun and didn’t. High school goes by so fast, don’t waste your high school experience because you thought you were “too cool” to go to a school dance or because pep assemblies were “lame.” This is a time to try new things and make mistakes, but most importantly to learn from those mistakes.

Fridays at the Club Quarantine changes my relationship with my grandparents Friday is one of my favorite days of the week.

Mom comes home late from school and yells at me and Dad to get dressed, despite not being properly dressed herself.

And we all — Grumpy, my grandpa, Mom and me — get loaded up into the back seat of our black SUV and head to our local country club.

Dad driving, Grandma riding shotgun.

We struggle to load them in and out of the car. Dad wrestles Grandma’s wheelchair out + by Morgan Tate of the trunk.

Staff Writer Grandma holds on to Dad and the car door as she is lowered into the wheelchair. Mom helps Grumpy out of the car. I run ahead and open up the door to the club. We all hobble slowly into the restaurant.

My grandparents are always the stars of this night. Grandma and Grumpy chat with the staff who know them — the hostess, waitress and even the manager of the country club.

Most of the night, I sit at the table and listen to my grandparents chatter about politics, the old days, old people gossip or whatever is on their minds.

But all of that’s changing — because of quarantine. ****** For the first couple months, we drop off bags of groceries at Grandma and Grumpy’s house.

We can’t go inside, so I stand outside and wave at them — they wave back. I can’t see them that often.

I hear Mom talk about how Grandma got scammed into giving her credit card number to get a “free” tablet, and how she’s asking Mom to bring Max to the vet and how my Aunt Betsy didn’t show up to when it was her turn to do Grandma’s errands.

The most interaction I get is playing online checkers, reading my grandparents’ horribly written “I-miss-you” texts or asking how to get Netflix up on Grandma’s computer.

I sit in the silence of our home. School has started, but Mom isn’t coming through that door to yell at me for not being dressed.

Then, I realize how much I miss Fridays. Yes, there are downsides to being stuck at the table with all of my immediate family – getting in fights about almost anything, having to get up and grab Grandma’s food and having to repeat every other sentence so Grumpy and Grandma can hear me.

But I miss getting dressed up in the same red dress and having them talk at me for an hour. ****** Grandma is a woman of structure. Before quarantine, she got her hair done every Thursday and played mahjong at the club on Friday.

It took my mom a long time to convince Grandma that she couldn’t go about her day like normal.

But it didn’t stay like that for long. Since quarantine started we’ve been able to have new family gatherings — errand running, group dinners outside etc.

And the family gathering when Mom tried to clean out their moldy basement.

A moldy basement that held Apple computer boxes of jeans, old family photos and 50-year-old wine in a Coca-Cola jug. Grumpy proceeded to drink the substance in the jug despite our pleas not to.

Still, the lack of almost any kind of structure unnerves me.

Some weeks we work in one of our new “family gatherings.”

But other weeks, we have almost no contact.

I miss the constant, regular contact I used to have with Grumpy and Grandma. I miss those Fridays at the club.

+ design by Olivia Linville

6 | feature

Oct. 26, 2020

WE HEAR YOU Students who are transitioning from remote learning into the hybrid model give their opinions + by Veronica Meiss

"It's embarrassing that some in the community think that they know better than the literal Department of Health. I'm honestly concerned that we are going back way too early and that a lot of people will refuse to wear their masks correctly, if at all."

“I’m not thrilled about [the student divide in schedules]. Overall though I think they’re doing a pretty good job [setting remote learning up], considering the circumstances we’re in seem to change every other day.”

- sophomore Marlena Stinnett

- junior Lincoln Bartelt

“I work six days a week in a retirement community and go door-todoor delivering food to about 175 elderly people. What happens if I get COVID-19 at school and I go to work and give it to the residents? All it takes is one person who doesn’t take things seriously to come in and ruin it for all of us.”

“I’m excited to see my friends and teachers again in person. [Whenever] the [Johnson Country Department of Health and Environment (JCDHE)] decides on anything, there will always be people upset and there will always be people who are happy.”

- junior William Delziet

- sophomore Ella Voos

“I dance every day after school and if [someone from my dance team] got sick, then I would be stuck dancing in my house for fourteen days. I’m excited to get to see my friends, but we can’t really be near each other. It won’t be the same.”

“I’m excited about [hybrid] because I get to see my friends and it will be easier for me to focus in person than online. I think most people will wear a mask correctly but I don’t think social distancing rules will be followed as seriously.”

- sophomore Madalyn Hesterlee

- sophomore Natalie Nolan

“Personally, [hybrid] would be more efficient and probably more effective in terms of education. [However], now that I think of it, our safety could be placed in jeopardy.”

“I understand why we’re doing [hybrid], but I feel like it’s a little early to go back. [When it comes to wearing a mask], part of me says [students will take it seriously] and part of me says no – it’s definitely a maturity level thing.”

-sophomore Reed Cunningham

- senior Katie Assel

smnw.com

feature | 7

THE

EXCUSED ABSENCES:

BASICS + DESIGN BY OLIVIA LINVILLE

FOR INFO:

For important information, check the emailed announcements from Tammy Ramsey.

NAMES TO KNOW:

Principal:

Dr. Lisa Gruman

1. Personal Illness (includes Doctor/Dental/Medical appointments): The school may, with notice to the parent, require verification from a physician that the student had an appointment 2. Serious illness or death of a family member 3. Obligatory religious observances 4. Emergency situation requiring immediate action 5. Participation in as a Kansas State High School Activities Association activity, a district approved function or a school sponsored activity 6. An absence that has been requested in writing and approved in advance by the administration

IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS: School Office: 913-993-7200 Athletic Office: 913-993-7400 Attendance Office: 913-993-7245

Associate Principals:

COUNSELORS:

All Day Absence Line: 993-7245 Arriving Late or Leaving Early: 993-7242 Bookkeeper: 913-992-7210

Academic A-E Rick Rogers F-L David Mesh M-ROB Marybeth Green ROC-Z Jessica Andrade Social A-L M-Z

Robin Sutton Melissa Osborn

Connie Springfield Eddie LyDay Jack Johnson Nurse: Salina Rucker

HYBRID MODE BELL SCHEDULE: Monday (Group A) & Wednesday (Group B)

Tuesday (Group A) & Thursday (Group B)

Hour 1: 7:40-9:10 a.m.

Hour 5: 7:40-9:10 a.m.

Hour 2: 9:15-10:45 a.m.

Hour 6: 9:15-10:45 a.m.

Hour 3: 10:50-12:50 p.m.

Hour 7: 10:50-12:50 p.m.

Lunch 1: 10:50-11:15 a.m.

Lunch 2: 11:20-11:45 a.m.

Lunch 3: 11:50-12:15 p.m.

Lunch 4: 12:25-12:50 p.m.

Lunch 1: 10:50-11:15 a.m.

Lunch 2: 11:20-11:45 a.m.

Lunch 3: 11:50-12:15 p.m.

Lunch 4: 12:25-12:50 p.m.

Seminar/TCB: 12:55-1:05 p.m.

Seminar/TCB: 12:55-1:05 p.m.

Seminar/TCB: 12:40-12:50 p.m.

Hour 4: 1:10-2:40p.m.

Seminar: 1:10-2:40p.m.

Hour 6: 12:55-1:45 p.m.

Athletic Director: Angelo Giacalone Receptionist: Mary Akagi Bookkeeper: Kathy Nicholson Librarian: Meghan Stigge Attendance: Jamie Prosser

Friday (ALL REMOTE) Hour 1: 7:40-8:30 a.m.

Hour 2: 8:35-9:25 a.m Hour 3: 9:30-10:20 a.m.

Hour 4: 10:25-11:15 a.m.

Hour 5: 11:20-12:10 p.m.

Lunch: 12:15-12:40 p.m.

Hour 7: 1:50-2:40 p.m.

8| feature

Oct. 26, 2020

Stairs Down

INSIDE NORTHWEST Stairs Down

Stairs Up

Stairs Up

Stairs Down

FIRST FLOOR

Stairs Up Stairs Down

Stairs Up

Stairs 2 Way

Stairs 2 Way

feature | 9

smnw.com

HAVING TROUBLE GETTING FROM FIRST TO SECOND HOUR? HERE’S YOUR GUIDE TO ALL LOCATIONS AT NORTHWEST

UPCOMING EVENTS

Stairs 2 Way

BASEMENT Stairs Down

SECOND FLOOR Stairs Down

Stairs Up

Stairs Down

Stairs Up

Stairs 2 Way

All scheduled events are at risk of cancellation due to COVID-19. Check your email regularly for updates on school-sponsored events.

SHORTCUTS:

The bathrooms connect the hallways so that you do not have to walk around the corner to get to your next class.

Instead you just walk through the bathroom. While it might seem weird at first it can save you time and stress of being late to your next class.

OCT. 26 HYBRID BEGINS

Secondary students begin classes in the hybrid model.

Students with last names starting with the letters A-L will attend in-person Monday and Tuesday, while last names M-Z will attend Wednesday and Thursday. Everyone will learn remotely on Fridays.

OCT. 26 BOARD MEETING

The SMSD Board of Education will hold a meeting at the Center for Academic Achievement (CAA). The time is to be determined.

NOV. 6

NO SCHOOL

NOV. 11

PARENT CONFERENCES

NOV. 13

NO SCHOOL Stairs Up

Stairs Down

NOV. 16

BOARD MEETING

NOV. 23-27

THANKSGIVING BREAK

Students Pre-K through 12th grade will have a day off from school due to a teacher workday.

High school students have parent-teacher conferences in the evening. Check your email for more details to come on how they will be conducted.

Students Pre-K through 12th grade will have a day off from school due to conferences.

The SMSD Board of Education will hold a meeting at the Center for Academic Achievement (CAA). The time is to be determined.

Spend time with loved ones and enjoy your break!

10 | ads

Oct. 26, 2020

YES!

There will be a yearbook this year!

To purchase your copy of the Lair...

- enter Skyward Parent Access - click “Fee Management” - make sure you have paid the $62 ‘Yearbook’ fee

Follow @smnw_yearbook on Instagram for updates!

SMNW Teachers and Staff receive a

25% discount

Thank you for all you do for our kids.

smnw.com

feature | 11

Two Corona Stories Coronavirus stories all seem to start the same way: “I got it from _______.” Like other NW students, sophomore Sophia McCraney and junior Angel Delgadillo each have their own tale, similar to that of others, yet somehow their own + by Logan Harvey

+ photo by Micah Reeves

+ photo by Micah Reeves

For sophomore Sophia McCraney, it all started with her dad.

“My dad (Pat McCraney) came home coughing, with a sore throat and stuffed sinuses,” Sophia said.

“We think he got that at the gym.”

With the classic COVID-19 symptoms, Pat went to the VA Hospital to be tested.

Three days later, the test came back.

Positive.

For Shelia McCraney, Sophia’s mom who works at the VA hospital, the impact was immediate.

“I was sent home,” she said.

Shelia was tested even though she wasn’t experiencing any symptoms.

Another three-day wait.

Another positive result.

By then, Shelia, who is at high risk for COVID-19, had begun having symptoms significantly worse than her husband.

“I had a fever and stuffed sinuses,” Shelia said. “I felt like I couldn’t get enough air in my body. That meant I was a little dizzy, too.”

After tests for pneumonia and other secondary infections came back negative, she was sent home. As a respiratory therapist, the ER team knew she could care for herself.

Jeanetta Billsky, Sophia’s grandmother, was the next to test positive. As someone who just three months earlier had finished a round of chemotherapy, she also was at high risk.

Another trip to the emergency room and tests for secondary infections. This time the pneumonia test was positive.

Jeanetta received a round of antibiotics to complete and was sent home.

Three family members had tested positive. One to go.

Nearly a month had passed since Pat first had symptoms and everyone was recovering.

Then Sophia began to complain about a sore throat.

And a headache.

And stuffed-up sinuses.

“I never had more than a low-grade fever,” she said. “I was just so tired.”

The doctors were reluctant to test her for COVID-19 since they were sure the result would be positive, but Sophia needed a definitive answer. Band camp was just a few days away and, maybe, if she happened to test negative, she could still go.

The fourth test of the McCraney family came back positive.

Sophia slept for more than 14 hours each night and still needed a nap around noon, but when she was awake, she

was bored.

She experimented with make up techniques inspired

by YouTube videos she watched. She played hours of Animal Crossing and Fortnite. She talked to her friends on FaceTime.

“You really start to appreciate the little things,” Sophia said. “Before this, a FaceTime call was just normal.

Whatever. But those calls became so important.”

Four months have passed since Pat first came down with symptoms. Everyone in the McCraney household seems to have recovered.

Junior Angel Delgadillo’s story is similar. It started with his step father, Carmelo Hunerta. Hunerta thinks he was exposed to COVID-19 on the job.

“He seemed to have gotten it from his construction site,” Delgadillo said.

Once his step dad was sick, it took a few days for Delgadillo and his mother Maria to get it.

“I started feeling symptoms three days after my step dad [received] a positive test,” Delgadillo said. “My mom took me to get tested Sept. 24, and one day later I found out it was COVID-19.”

Angel’s symptoms were milder than the rest of his family. He got lucky and was only sick for a few days.

“My brother was the only one who didn’t get COVID-19,” Delgadillo said. “I felt the symptoms for about three days of the 10-day window. I had a fever, phlegm, headache [and] body aches. I couldn’t breathe through my nose. I’d get easily tired by doing anything.”

Maria seemed to have had it the worst.

“My mother’s symptoms lasted the longest: about five days,” Delgadillo said. “She couldn’t get out of bed for three of those days.”

Then, during the first month of school. Angel tested positive.

“With COVID-19, I really felt tired all the time,” Delgadillo said. “With the stress around school, I wasn’t really allowing myself to sleep as much as I probably should’ve.”

Delgadillo’s quarantine was different from McCraney’s.

Initially, he set out on a plan to improve himself.

“My quarantine felt really lonely,” Delgadillo said. “I couldn’t see anybody, not even family. I just tried to do some self reflection. “ As well as taking time for himself, Delgadillo watched a few shows here and there, like “On My Block” and “The Regular Show,” as a distraction.

“Please be aware that you can get COVID-19 no matter how safe you are being,” Delgadillo said. “I would like to say I was being really safe, and even then I still got it.”

12 | feature

Keep it Covered + by Emily Alexander

Got your mask? Masks are required when inside any public space – including workplaces and schools – or in situations where social distancing of 6 feet cannot be maintained. This precaution is one of the three that scientists have agreed will limit the spread of COVID-19. However, not just any mask is effective. Neck gaiters (see below) and bandannas are less effective than almost any other type of mask according to a study done with Duke University and may actually aid in the spread of COVID-19. Bill Nye (yeah, that one, the Science Guy) offered a method to determine the effectiveness of a mask: If you can blow out a candle through your mask, it’s not effective.

Neck Gaiters

This covering is made from a thin slinky piece of fabric. It goes on over the head and onto the neck like a scarf and can then easily be pulled up over the mouth and nose when needed. Like the cloth masks, these can be easily washed and reused for everyday wear. Most neck gaiters however have been proven to be less effective in reducing the spread of the virus as surgical or cloth masks. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, “[neck gaiters] are usually too thin to provide adequate protection.”

N95 Masks An N95 mask is by far the most effective of all that are available. With its tight fit and protective seal around the mouth and nose, the N95 mask efficiently blocks out airborne disease particles These masks are not currently recommended for everyday use in public. They are mainly used by healthcare workers and first responders. The CDC (Center for Disease Control) recommends that these masks are saved for essential workers due to their limited supply.

+ photo by Erin Dory

Cloth Masks This mask is made with a larger piece to cover the mouth and nose and loops for the ears on either side. Instead of using paper-like material, a thick piece of fabric covers the face area with elastic loops to stretch over the ears. These masks come in a multitude of colors, patterns and designs. Many well-known clothing brands such as Old Navy, American Eagle and Urban Outfitters have taken on the task of designing masks that fit every person’s style or interests.

Surgical Masks + photo by Erin Dory

This mask is a disposable alternative to the fabric masks.

They are not meant to be reused. Surgical masks are fairly loose-fitting and don’t provide the same seal as an N95 but are just as effective as a regular cloth mask if you’re in a rush and don’t have the time to find a clean mask.

smnw.com

feature | 13

Virtual Connection The operation of clubs and extracurricular activities remains the same, even as students move into hybrid learning + by Grace Logan

This time last year, students were beginning second quarter, counting down the days until Thanksgiving break. Now, students are two weeks away from the end of quarter one, moving from online classes to hybridstyle learning. Despite the changes tied to the operation of schools, clubs have continued to meet.

Sophomore Autumn Posey says she is feeling overwhelmed with The Shawnee Mission School District’s decision to begin the hybrid learning model.

“I’m very nervous for the start of hybrid,” Posey said. “We’re only going to be able to see most of our teachers twice a week, and then the rest of the [time] we are left alone. I just think that is going to add to the stress that we already are experiencing.”

As schools move into the hybrid learning style, students are required to continue attending clubs virtually. Staff members are working to provide the chance for students to participate in these activities regardless of the current online requirements.

“We are encouraging these opportunities as much as possible,” Principal Lisa Gruman said.

Recently, Student Council has had one meeting virtually with all members, but the club hopes to schedule in-person meetings every other week in the future.

“It is a struggle to feel like you’re connected [with] what’s happening in the Student Council if we’re not having meetings,” Student Council sponsor Sarah Dent said. “That’s why regular meetings are so important in helping people feel plugged in.”

Murals Club focused on touching up the murals on the walls of Northwest, after years of exclusively adding new murals. Meeting virtually is particularly difficult for this organization, but sponsor Kimberly Ruttan has generated ways for students to continue producing artwork.

“I am not quite sure how it is going to go with social distancing, but I still want to have [club meetings],’ Ruttan said. “I thought [students] could design online and then we could get a copy of that design printed to put on the wall. This is one of the best times to express yourself creatively; we have a whole new generation of artists, and we haven’t had a painting in so many years. Northwest needs that right now.”

LGBTQ+ Club (Plus Club) has also met virtually and recently began a book study over the novel Some Assembly Required by Arin Andrews.

“It is an amazing book,” Plus Club co-sponsor Ashley Shawgo said. “I felt like reading it would give us a good discussion. It could also help some kids who are interested in transitioning and maybe [provide] words that they could use to talk to those in their lives.”

Plus Club, like many others, has faced challenges related to difficulties with students receiving encouragement and consolation through a computer. “[Students could previously] get the physical support of a hug or an embrace when others were around, but that isn’t possible during this time,” Plus Club co-sponsor Jamie Ledbetter said. “It’s not the same, but [having club meetings] is important. You can still feel the energy, see people’s faces and support each other. That’s why we want to keep this group going.”

Sources of Strength is an extracurricular activity at Northwest that has also been active during this time. Their goal is to provide training for peer leaders involving the prevention of violence, suicide, bullying and substance abuse. Link Crew’s mission of helping freshmen with the transition from eighth to ninth grade has been accomplished virtually thus far as well. Link Crew has emailed Freshmen as a way to see how new students have acclimated to Northwest.

Last year, social workers Melissa Osborn and Robin Sutton worked together to organize a club day in September. This event allowed students to talk with club officers of nearly every organization in the school. Club Day can help inspire many freshmen to

become more involved at school. Both Gruman and Osborne can’t be certain if a club day will be scheduled this year, but another effort has been made to provide students with information involving clubs. Student Council has been working on updating the clubs and extracurricular activities guide available on the website as it currently displays information from last academic year.

“We are hoping to get the updated roster published soon, so that if [students] have questions about how to get involved in any club that our school offers they could easily contact the sponsor,” Dent said.

With the uncertainty and change students face, the staff continues to encourage students to get involved and connect with others. Clubs and extracurricular activities offered at Northwest may provide an environment for students who are looking to connect with others and relieve stress.

“I do think that [clubs can provide an outlet] for students,” sophomore Kendal Adams-Fink said. “It gives them a chance to express other interests, meet new adults they can reach out to and have safe social interactions in a casual setting.”

14 | news

Oct. 26, 2020

Election Day Month

COVID-19 pandemic changes when and how we vote + by Elizabeth Kuffour

With at least 46 million Americans (1/3 of the number who voted in 2016) casting their ballots in the 2020 general election as of Oct. 21, according the to U.S. Elections Project, Nov. 3 is shaping up to be a very different Election Day compared to years past.

U.S. citizens have always had the opportunity to weigh in on candidates and policies in national, state and local elections; however, the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the structure of the election, expanding upon existing early voting and vote-by mail programs across the country. This means what was once a one-day affair has been effectively extended for weeks, with some ballots being cast early and some not being counted until after Nov. 3.

THE CANDIDATES

Candidates listed are those on the ballot in the Northwest area. To view the district boundaries, visit https://jocoelection.org/maps. To view a full list of candidates on the ballot in Kansas, visit https://sos.ks.gov/elections/elections_upcoming_candidate.aspx.

President

HOW TO VOTE IN KANSAS Registration

U.S. citizens over the age of 18 are eligible to vote in the general election, but must complete their voter registration to do so. The voter registration deadline varies by state; for Kansans, the deadline was Oct. 13. You can check your voter registration status at https://myvoteinfo.voteks.org/VoterView.

Advance Voting

Kansas offers an advance voting period (also known as “early voting”) from Oct.14 through Nov. 2 at noon. Advance voting can be done in-person or by mail. There are eight advance voting polling places in Johnson County — one in Shawnee, two in Overland Park, three in Olathe, one in Mission and one in New Century. A full list of polling locations with the dates and times each one is open can be found at https://sos.ks.gov/elections/voter-information. html.

Vote by Mail

Kansas also offers voting by mail. Voters who choose this option must complete a request for an absentee ballot (the form can be found at https:// www.sos.ks.gov/forms//elections/AV1.pdf) and send the completed form to the address corresponding to their county listed on the last page of the document. The form must be received by the local election office by Oct. 27.

The voter will then receive their absentee ballot at their home address. The ballot must be postmarked by Nov. 3 and received by Nov. 6.

Donald Trump and Mike Pence (R, incumbent)

Joe Biden and Kamala Harris (D)

U.S. Senate

Roger Marshall (R)

Barbara Bollier (D)

Jason Buckley (L)

U.S. House of Representatives (District 3)

Election Day

Kansas voters may choose to vote in-person on Election Day, Nov. 3. Voters must bring a photo ID with them to their polling place. There are 46 polling places in Shawnee and 41 in Lenexa. A full list of polling locations can be found at https://jocoelection.org/polling-places.

Kansas House of Representatives

Kansas State Senate

District 17

District 10

Kristine Sapp (R)

Mike Thompson (R, incumbent)

Jo Ella Hoye (D)

Lindsey Constance (D)

Michael Kerner (L)

District 21

District 18

Tom Bickimer (R)

Cathy Gordon (R)

Dinah Sykes (D, incumbent)

Cindy Neighbor (D, incumbent)

District 23 Jeff Shull (R) Susan Ruiz (D, incumbent) Amanda Adkins (R)

Sharice Davids (D, incumbent)

Steve Hohe (L)

Matthew Clark (L)

+ PHOTOS COURTESY OF GAGE SKIDMORE (Trump, Pence, Biden, Harris), LANCE CHEUNG (Marshall), BARBARA BOLLIER CAMPAIGN, JASON BUCKLEY CAMPAIGN, AMANDA ADKINS CAMPAIGN, KRISTIE BOYD (Davids), STEVE HOHE CAMPAIGN + design by Elizabeth Kuffour

DELAY OF GAME smnw.com

sports | 15

Professional sports seasons are forced to be more flexible as COVID-19 outbreaks continue

+by Kyle Vogel

Professional sports have dominated the media for decades. The only day that more food is consumed than Thanksgiving is Super Bowl Sunday. Across America, professional sports has generated over $70 billion in revenue a year since 2010. Most of that revenue comes from fans, who are shoulder-to-shoulder in a contained area. Then, a full stadium of people became a memory as COVID-19 emerged.

How have various sports organizations managed to stay afloat while keeping their communities, players and staff safe?

National Basketball Association

The NBA was eight games away from finishing the regular season when it was suspended March 11. Twentytwo teams still had a chance to make the playoffs at the time of cancellation. The NBA created a simple solution to combat the threat of COVID-19: “The Bubble.”

“The Bubble” was a space created by the NBA that was not accessible to any non-NBA personnel, and it allowed the NBA to operate with some normalcy. The NBA decided to isolate their entire playoff bracket at Walt Disney World. This was not a random decision by the league. In August 2019, Disney unveiled The NBA Experience, a large basketball-themed attraction at Walt Disney World. This included a stadium with stands, locker rooms, press boxes and training facilities.

In early July, the 22 teams that were fighting for a playoff spot flew to Orlando. The six teams that did not qualify for the playoffs flew home August 15, while the playoffs began August 17. The playoffs concluded Oct 11. “The Bubble” proved to be highly effective – there were no positive cases of COVID-19 in the NBA Bubble.

Major League Baseball

The MLB season was scheduled to start March 26 with a 162-game schedule for each team. The MLB made some special adjustments in order for their regular season to take place. Instead of playing all 29 teams throughout the

season, each team would only play nine other teams: the other four teams in their divisions, and the other five teams in the opposite conference of their region. MLB opted out of the Bubble, and chose to have teams travel, but no fans would be in attendance.

MLB faced problems in the first week of the season. The Miami Marlins had 20 positive tests among players and staff the second day of the season, postponing play for 10 days. The St. Louis Cardinals suffered the most destructive outbreak, with 18 players contracting COVID-19. Sixteen days of their season were suspended. MLB wrapped up the postseason with the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Tampa Bay Rays competing for the World Series title.

National Football League

The NFL immediately cracked down on COVID-19 protocols upon announcing the season. The league announced that any player, coach or staff member breaking safety protocols would be fined and possibly suspended.

The NFL preseason was initially cut down to two games, but eventually canceled altogether. The regular season began Sept. 10, and have only had minor COVID-19 outbreaks since. In total, six games were rescheduled from Week Four to Week Six, including the Kansas City Chiefs versus the New England Patriots in Week Four and the Kansas City Chiefs versus the Buffalo Bills in Week Six. Teams with rescheduled games resulted in changed bye weeks from scheduling postponed games to their original bye weeks.

Amidst the uncertainty of COVID-19 outbreaks, why not just add another week to the season? NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell addressed concerns about the shortened season.

“We are afraid that teams that earn a bye in the playoffs will have three weeks between the end of their season, and their next game,” Goodell said.

NFL administrators also fear if they add another week to their season, they will become more relaxed and continue to add more and more weeks as COVID-19 outbreaks inevitably continue to occur.

The sports world is not entirely safe from COVID-19, and it will take a lot more hard and cautious behavior for professional teams to continue.

A full stadium of fans became a memory as COVID-19 emerged leaving sports organizations struggling to stay afloat and keep their teams healthy.

+ design by Karmela Davis

“It is fun to have the opportunity to kick for my high school [football team], because I love what I do.

Sometimes it is hard to deal with what people think, but it makes me push harder and want to do better.”

—freshman Olivia Anderson

N W P