Oct/Nov Mission 2018

THE Shawnee Mission North Volume 98 Issue 3 November 16, 2018

MISSION

Winter Sports 8-9

Nondiscrimination Ordinances 12-13

Vaping 18-19

Man on the street

What are your Thanksgiving traditions?

“We all gather up either in Hutchinson or at my grandma’s house and we have a family reunion.”

Ashley Weston, 11

“My Thanksgiving traditions are just being around my family. The other tradition we have is wrestling, really.”

Colby Lawson, 11

“One of our traditions is that everybody will grab a rake and we’ll go and rake up all the leaves that we can into a big pile, and everyone jumps into it.”

Paige Morris, 9

“My stepdad does the turkey and I help with the mashed potatoes. We sometimes get out the Christmas decorations.”

Elena Olson, 12

“My Thanksgiving traditions are typically I go to my dad’s side of the family and I go to just outside of Chiago.

But this year I’m going to my mom’s side on my grandfather’s farm.”

Brianna Buckbee, 12

“Usually it’s just family gatherings, pretty much every year.”

Addison Bien, 10

On the cover:

JUMPING on a newspaper, freshman Claire Winston performs in the SM North production of the musical “Newsies”. “It was so much fun to be able to dance on newspapers,” Winston said. “It made it feel like the audience was part of the show while you were up there.” photo by Will Baldwin

Staff

Grace Altenhofen

Editor-in-Chief (Print)

Kayla Warren

Design Manager, News editor

Zeva Rose Gebhard Entertainment Editor

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November 2018

Editor-in-Chief (Digital)

Stephanie Whisler Website editor

Rilee Morrow

Sports editor, Ads

Mystika Allison-Barnes Opinion editor

Cale Chapman

Anna Miesner Writer

Jordyn Kelley Writer

A truly open lunch

SM North should expand open lunch to include all students

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he school should allow all students access to open lunch.

Open lunch is a privilege that all students would enjoy, and it would create a happier atmosphere for students. The risks that come with allowing everyone to go to open lunch are understandable, but if everyone makes smart decisions then we will be incident free.

Freshmen may have a difficult time getting around during open lunch, but they still find a way to get out of the school and to where they want to go right now. If parents are O.K. with their student leaving, then they should be allowed to leave.

This idea is the best solution for dealing with lunchtime problems because it would decrease the number of detentions and disciplinary actions that are given out every day because of underclassmen sneaking out. The fewer detentions we have

the easier it is for students and teachers. Students and teachers will be less likely to be inconvenienced by serving or monitoring detentions.

Another perk to this idea is that businesses on Johnson Drive and the surrounding area will see a boom in business. If we allow more students to travel out off campus via open lunch most businesses will see an increase in profit. This profit will go beyond helping the businesses and in turn help the well-being of North’s surrounding community.

This will also help school moral.

High School students all across the country are generally apathetic but if we allow all of our students the opportunity to go to open lunch our school will stand out from the rest.

All student Open Lunch will make kids happier and more excited for their day at school. This excitement will rub off on staff, visitors and our

The Mission Newsmagazine is a student-run newspaper that publishes nine issues every year. The Mission is used by its staff as a platform for student expression. The views expressed by The Mission do not represent the views of the entire staff, the adviser or the administration. Some material used in accord with terms from the American Society of News Editors/Tribune News Service.

Student submissions and letters to the editors are accepted at themission184@gmail.com

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facts about

Thanksgiving

Staff Editorial

events that happen throughout the school year. Student perception of North will become more positive and so will everyone else’s.

One common argument against open lunch is that if we let all of our students out that traffic will increase exponentially and so will the number of car accidents. A simple solution to this argument is to put a restriction on underclassmen drivers. If we eliminate the most inexperienced drivers from the equation, then the streets will be safer and there will be less traffic than if everyone with a car was able to drive.

In order to enforce this restriction, the idea would be to check drivers licenses as they left the parking lot.

With parent approval, students should be able to leave for lunch and return in time for their classes.

Where to find us: Twitter @TheMissionPaper Instagram @themissionpaper Facebook @themissionpaper

1) Benjamin Franklin wanted the turkey to be the national bird instead of the eagle.

2) About 46 million turkeys are eaten on Thanksgiving.

3) Only male turkeys gobble.

4) An estimated 50 million pumpkin pies are eaten on Thanksgiving every year.

5) 32 million people begin Black Friday shopping on Thanksgiving.

6) The first Macy’s Thanksgiving parade did not have any balloons.

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Opinion

The Struggle of Schedules

A peek into OUR SCHOOL

By Anna Miesner

School schedules: the problems they cause students

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etting up. It’s something that every perof a problem for elementary and middle school son struggles with, but for students the children as it is for high schoolers. According struggle seems to be daily. Unlike other places to a SM North student survey of 232 students, around the world, the United States’ education 83 percent of students in sports, drama, music, system, and more specifically school schedules, clubs and more, students are guaranteed to be seems dangerously outdated. busy after school, though the hours of homeIn school, the day not only feels long, it is work each night doesn’t help either. Besides long, with an ongoing period of seven hours extracurricular activities, about 40 percent of for five days straight. The pressure definitely students also work during the school year, weighs on students. Seven hours straight is some even very early or late in the day. the same length of an average work shift. Your With 70 percent of students having to stay brain doesn’t get much of a up past their normal bed time to break, except for the 30 minfinish assignments, waking up at 83 percent of students ute lunch time, which is mostly 5 a.m. isn’t good for teenagers. A are involved in school spent eating. study from Nationwide Children’s activities such as drama, Not giving your brain a break Hospital shows that, “The average sports, music, clubs and makes students less likely to be amount of sleep that teenagers more. focused and open to learning get is between 7 and 7 ¼ hours. for class. Freshman Kalea Hix However, they need between 9 and believes that breaks would help 70 percent of students 9 ½ hours.” have to saty up past their students.

With more than 60 percent of “You won’t have to stress after normal bedtime to finish students open to changing the homework each class,” Hix said. “It would schedule, what is stopping the *from a survey of 232 students give you enough time to relax, Board of Education from changing get your mind off of school it? It’s important that, as students, work for a while, so you don’t we make our school aware of these come to class and fail that one test or not able problems. This doesn’t mean a drastic change to concentrate because you stress about other in schedule. If you look at Blue Valley school classes and work.” schedule, they have a designated break time Along with being disengaged, students are every day that lasts an hour. Changing the also exhausted from waking up at around 5-6 schedule at schools like North could make all in the morning for school; making school days the difference for students, in all allowing stushorter can help reduce all of these problems. dents to learn better and be more aware.

Tiredness and early school days aren’t as much

4 November 2018

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Technology: For Better or Worse

Opinion

Remember, taking a break from technology can be a good thing.

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on’t get me wrong, technology is great, and I use it a fair amount. I take photos, binge shows and get my school work done. But is technology starting to take over?

According to TeenSafe, 69 percent of drivers in the U.S. ranging from 18 to 64 said they’ve used their phone while driving within the past month. Is it really worth it to endanger others on the road for the sake of sending a quick text or surfing the Internet?

Though some people might say they only glance at their phone for a few seconds, that’s all it really takes for something to go wrong.

It wouldn’t be the worst idea in the world if people started turning their phones off and putting them away just for the duration of their drive. Once the driver is off the road, they can use their phone all they want.

Now onto the next topic at hand; ignoring people because of a device. Teachers are some of the major victims when it comes to this.

Think about it. How often are you in class when you pick up your phone and start tapping away while the teacher is talking?

Now, unless they’re teaching the whole class, a lot of teachers tend

to give some quick instructions at the beginning and then give students free reign to get work done. We should be able to hold ourselves accountable and do the right thing. We should be able to close the lids on our laptops, power down our phones and look at the teacher while they’re talking.

Once they let the class start working, work. Get the assignment done, and a lot of teachers will be lenient about students being on technology if their work is done.

But, teachers, you’re not completely off the hook. While you might not be on your phone while you’re talking to students, you do tend to get on them during meetings – which is the equivalent of students being on them during class. I’m not saying it’s all teachers – but it does happen.

My favorite thing is to leave my phone behind.

I like going outside and being in the sun, or snuggling up under a blanket and just relaxing. Maybe I’ll listen to some music, but I don’t necessarily want it to be the constant center of my attention.

Technology has improved our lives in many ways, but sometimes the best way to enjoy life is to just take a break from it all. story by Stephanie Whisler

The Impact of Technology on Teens 31% said technology has a positive impact 45% were neutral towards technology 24% said technology has a negative impact

Social Media Teens Use

Where teens are clicking

85% - YouTube

72% - Instagram

69% - Snapchat

51% - Facebook

32% - Twitter

9% - Tumblr

7% - Reddit 3% - none.of the above

*All stats according to Pew Research Center

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Flipping Out

Opinion

Why “flipped” classrooms should not replace traditional classrooms

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M North teachers have noticed students’ fixation on videos and technology.

Combine that with how bored students get in lectures and we have a solution: flip the classroom. Flipping the classroom means instead of being taught in class then practicing the learned material at home, a student essentially teaches themselves at home through videos to practice homework at school.

Not only does flipping the classroom not solve anything, but it actually gives rise to more problems.

Even in the event of successful self-teaching, flipping the classroom is a failure. The idea is that if everybody learns at home, class time can be spent on practicing or applying the concept. The failure comes from the fact that not all students can finish their assignment in the allotted class time, turning school work into homework. Adding this homework to students’ academic loads cuts into the time they have to learn the concept for the next day. Had the lesson been taught in class, time after school could be solely reserved for practice.

Then there’s the issue of students not understanding the concept as taught in the video. You can’t ask a video a question.

You can’t ask a video to explain it another way. This means the whole video is useless. Research has shown that individuals learn differently than others. If a concept is being taught in a way that the student can’t comprehend, then they’ll have to ask their teacher to explain it in class anyway – defeating the purpose of a flipped classroom.

With the classroom flipped, you can just ask the teacher to clarify the process

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in class the next day and then do your homework…right? The problem with that is you’re not the only one with questions.

If over 20 kids have the same questions, a teacher probably won’t be able to help each individual student during the class period. And even then, teachers end up teaching the same lesson multiple times instead of the one time they could have taught to the class as a whole, answering questions as they went along.

All in all, we’ve seen this system constantly fail us. And that’s why I’ve come to the conclusion that the traditional classroom is a far more effective learning environment than a “flipped” classroom.

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by Mystika Allison-Barnes

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Year one of the Rampy era Rampy’s first season as coach yields a 4-5 record SENIORS (left to right) Zach

Bush (6), Billy Conaway (1) and Cagney Bustamante (4) celebrate after winning on Sept 28. The Indians topped Olathe East 40-39. This was the Indians’ second win in a row of what would be four wins in the season. photo by Rilee Morrow

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fter ending the 2017 season with one win and eight losses, former head coach Ben Bartlett resigned.

In December 2017, SM North named former assistant coach Zach Rampy the new head coach of the Indian’s football team. Rampy was a quarterback for Blue Valley High School and won the 5A state championship in 2006. He then went on to be the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Butler County Community College before coming to SM North to be an assistant coach for one year. Rampy led the Indians to a 4-5 record this season.

Sophomore Noah Rogers said he was excited to see Rampy as the head coach.

“I know he has a lot of football background,” Rogers said. “I was most excited about our potential. I knew that him, along with all the other coaches, were going to put everybody in situations to win games.”

Rampy made sure his players were putting in the work during the offseason, which seemed to foreshadow a good season. He took his team to his alma mater for several camps, as well as taking them to colleges. Rampy said that his team put a lot of hard work in during the offseason.

“We went to KU’s team camp and learned a lot about who we were that week,” Rampy said. “Two times a week during the summer, we would go over to Blue Valley and Blue Valley West High School and two padded camps. I really was looking forward to seeing the guys come together as a team. It is always exciting to see how the hard work pays off.”

Senior quarterback Zach Bush credited some of the team’s success to the encouragement between the team as a whole.

“I expected us to be about 5-3 or 6-2,” Bush said. “After the rough 0-3 start, we got all of our guys together and just told each other this is not how we wanted our season to go and we got harder on each other and were pushing each other to work harder and be better each day.”

Rampy attested to that by saying that one of the strengths of his team this year was their family environment.

“I think our guys truly loved playing the game of football with their friends each and every day,” Rampy said. “I love all those kids like family, and if they ever need anything from me, they are just a phone call away.”story by Rilee Morrow

ENCOURAGING sophomore Michael Harris, coach Zach Rampy pats Harris’ helmet after running through a drill at the Fall Sports Kick-Off on Aug. 24. photo by Oliver Fowler

EYES on the score board,

coach Zach Rampy walks down the sideline during a game against Lawrence Free State High School on Sept.

14. photo by Jessica Lopez

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The weather outside is frightful, Student athletes gear up for winter sports

Boys Basketball “Every year we want to improve and get better but most of the time everything has to be broken down and this takes time,” boys basketball head coach Steven Stitzer said. “We want to have everything figured out as early as possible and we always want to be playing our best basketball toward the end of the season.”

To Stitzer, getting the team to gel together and work as one unit is priority number one. Along with playing as one team, Coach Stitzer is looking to develop each of his players into specific roles.

“Every successful team/program has to establish roles that each individual brings to the program,” Stitzer said.

The boys basketball team is looking forward to the season and improving on the foundation they built last season, Stitzer said.

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Girls Basketball This year the Lady Indians are under new leadership with first-year Head Coach Martina Mihailovic.

“Starting my first year as a Head Coach at North, my main focus for the program is to create ‘championship culture,’” Coach Mihailovic said. “Building a brand new culture will take time, commitment, and a lot of hard work from everyone involved.”

Mihailovic’s main goals and expectations for this year’s basketball team are to change attitudes, work hard, develop good habits and get the team to be the best they can be. The team lost a few players due to transfers and injuries, but the Lady Indians are ready to rise to the challenge.

“I believe, if you work hard and give your all as an individual for the best of your team, winning will take care of itself,” Mihailovic said.

Last year’s highlights 8

Ball in his hands, senior KyTerrian Harris posts up for a shot against Blue Valley North High School. “My favorite part was how we came together as a team,” Harris said.

November 2018

Driving down court, sophomore Anna Harrison looks for an opportunity to score in one of last year’s home games. “It was definetly a big step forward from playing middle school ball,” Harrison said. “It went really well, everybody got better.”

but our sports teams are delightful Boys Swim Head boys swim coach Cody Fothergill is working with Boys Swim to ensure another strong season with returnng team members “We had a great season last year, we have some really good returning guys this year,” Coach Fothergill said. “so I think for us it’s going to come down to the most basic thing which is hard work and focus.”

Coach Fothergill believes with the right motivation the boys swim team will be able to do even better than they did last season. The team hopes to reach their peak performance level at the end of the season just in time for the League and State swim meets.

“We should improve throughout the season and be really happy with what we do at the end of the year,” Coach Fothergill said.

Rising above the water for a breath, senior Kaleb Young races breastroke in the 200 meter medley relay. “I didn’t really get to enjoy my season because of an injury,” Young said. “but I feel coming out this season that it will be a lot more straightforward and we’re going to make some big improvements.”

Wrestling Coming off a successful season with several state qualifiers, SM North’s wrestling team hopes to continue this trend of dominance.

“To improve from last year, we need to get more people to come out and stay out,” Head Coach Thomas Peterman said. “Our experienced wrestlers need to drill with purpose and focus on their skills.”

Coach Peterman is focusing on a few major objectives for the team to achieve, qualifying six or more wrestlers to State, improving on their 7-6 record and lastly, becoming better people through competition.

The wrestling team is also hosting two home meets this year, the first on December 4 vs. Sumner, St. Pius, and Center, followed by the North Invitational on January 26. SM North’s wrestling team is ready to take the mat and work hard.

“The heart of a champion can’t be given, it’s completely earned,” Coach Peterman said.

Pinning his opponent to the ground, senior Nick Wickham competes in the SM North Invitational Wrestling Meet. “Last season was a hard season, I wasn’t at the weight I wanted to be at,” Wickham said. “It was definetly fun wrestling alongside my teammates for the third year.”

Bowling “Our goals for the season are for the bowlers to have fun and to improve, to compete at the highest level, to be in the top 3 of the SFL (Sunflower League), to be Champions of the varsity SMSD tournament, and to return to the state tournament,” Head Bowling Coach Debra Leonard said.

“North has competed in the State tournament every year.”

Coach Leonard says that this year’s bowling squad is going to be a competitive group. This year the bowlers are breaking down the basics of their sport. During practice the team will be focusing on hitting their mark, picking up spares and the fundementals.

Another way Coach Leonard is working to improve the bowling teams performance is through growing the team as people.

Leonard also said important traits for her team are, “cohesiveness, support and encourage one another.”

Mid-throw, junior Dolores Hernandez aims for her mark on the lane. “I think it [Last season] went pretty good,” Hernandez said.

“I feel as a team we improved.”

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A Whole

New World

Student-driven initiative leads to addition of Asian American Club at SM North

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nity. Education. Love. Visibility. These are the principles Asian American Club holds extremely dear. One of SM North’s newest organizations is a necessary, purposeful club, breaking down boundaries within the Asian community and welcoming others to join them in bridging the gap between Asians and the rest of America. It all started with a car ride and an insightful conversation.

“There was a day sophomore year, AAC President Evan Sophaphone said, “where me and my friend Gathel Giesbrecht were in the car driving home just talking about all our problems and how it kind of sucks being Asian in America because we’re very low population. And we need a “home base” to regroup and share our common interests.”

With an idea sparked, Sophaphone and Vice President Giesbrecht put their plan into action.

First on their agenda was securing a sponsor. Medical science teacher Robert Oliver, who identifies as Japanese and American, had always talked to the boys and supported them throughout their high school career so it was an easy decision to call on him to take on the role.

“My role is to leave as little footprint on the club as I can,” Oliver said. “This is a student-driven initiative and they are very capable of organizing and executing the agenda.”

The students that make up executive board were each hand picked by Sophaphone and Giesbrecht.

“Evan an I asked Calvin Tran to be a part of the executive board,” Giesbrecht said, “as we thought he would be a fantastic addition to the inner workings of the club. I reached out to Grace Hughes to be a part of executive board due to her being a junior, her ability to easily make conversation with people, and to add some female representation in our team.”

The team was ready to go. And with the “overwhelming” support from SM North’s Asian population, they proposed their club to then associate principal Gonzalez. This is the first year Asian

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American Club has been active.

“Asian American Club is still in its infant stages,” Giesbrecht said, “so we are still trying to find out footsteps along the way, but we are trying to discuss Asian related topics both personal to us and not and to educate members on each of our individual cultures. We are also striving to get our members involved and aware of various organizations and events outside of North involving the broader Asian community.”

Whether they’re having in-depth discussions about various issues that plague the Asian community, connecting with Asian community centers to help assist immigrants in the naturalization process, or attending Johnson County Community College’s Japan Festival, Asian American Club is all about educating each other about Asian cultures and promoting unity in the midst of it all.

“It’s important to me,” Giesbrecht said. “because as someone who has frequently been the “token Asian” of group of people, I had never been around people I was able to culturally identify with and I had always longed to have peers that I was able to relate to on a cultural level.”

Unity. Love. Education. Visibility. At a school that is celebrated for its diverse student body, this organization directly serves the Asian community at North, allowing them specifically to be seen and heard.

“We created Asian American Club,” Sophaphone said. “so we could form a community of Asian people at Shawnee Mission North because I feel like every day when we walk these halls, I see Asian people but I feel like we’re very disconnected from each other. There is no central community because we all hail from different nations and it’s very tough to form a bond. I feel it’s very important that we create a bond out of respect and love for each other to continue our message of being proud of who you are.” by Mystika Allison-Barnes

Keeping schools prepared Board of Education approves use of opioid antagonist by school nurses

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he SMSD Board of Education voted to approve a proposal that would allow school nurses to administer an opioid antagonist in the event of an overdose during the Oct. 22 meeting.

The proposal comes as part of a partnership with the Johnson County Board of Commissioners to allow nurses to be prepared in different kinds of emergency situations. “[It’s] no different than the other life saving measures that we have available,” said Rick Atha, Associate Superintendent of Organizational Support. “It could be used for a patron that’s visiting the district, it could be used for a community member. Obviously our students, our teachers, our custodians.

Whoever it may be, it’s available to all.”

After a few questions from members of the board, the proposal was approved unanimously in a 7-0 vote.

“I felt it was a reasonable and responsible request from our administration in order to support students, staff, parents and community members,” board member Sara Goodburn said.

SM North nurse MaryAlice Kelly was not surprised this issue came before the school board.

“We had talked about it in our professional meetings,” Kelly said. “There’s been a national trend and we kind of, as far as Shawnee Mission North goes in

SHOW ME the

STATS

The Center for Disease Control shows increasing opioid-related deaths

200,000

people died from prescription opioid-related overdoses from 1999-2016

healthcare, we’ve always kind of been ahead of the national trend, so I’m not surprised that they considered it and voted on it.”

Though North social worker Emily Dorothy has not personally dealt with any opioid overdoses, she believes opioid use in prevalent in schools.

“I support nurses having as many tools as possible to keep students and staff safe,” Dorothy said.

The next step in the process is to purchase the opioid antagonist and train nurses on the proper way to administer it. The estimated beginning cost for this program is $3,000, and the funds will come out of the general operating budget.

“Training components are mandated by the state of Kansas,” SMSD Communications Director David Smith said. “SMSD worked with the Johnson County EMS physician to create the training and protocol for administration.”

Though there is no set date for when this will be implemented, board members emphasized the importance of having the program in place.

“The physical health and well-being of our students is a very high priority,” board member Laura Guy said. “[This] is one more way we can protect the health and safety of students and adults in our buildings.” story by Grace Altenhofen

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opioid overdoses were times higher in 2016 than 1999

40%

in 2016, the overdose rate from prescription opioids per 100,000 was ple for men, peoand 4.3 per 100,000 people for women

6.2

over of opioid overdose deaths in 2016 were from a prescription opioid

46

on average, people died from a prescription opioid overdose each day in 2016

opioid overdose rates were highest among people ages

25-54

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next on the agenda:

EQUALITY

Merriam joins Mission, Prairie Village in considering proposed LGBTQ anti-discrimination ordinances

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erriam has become the third local municipality ordinance was passed in Roeland Park in 2014, within the past two months to approve plans and similar measures have also been proposed for an LGBTQ non-discrimination ordinance. in Prairie Village and Mission within the past few The ordinance, proposed in Merriam by months. councilmember Al Frisby, would make it illegal to “It’s amazing to see that more people are evict or fire someone because of their sexuality or becoming more open minded to the community,” gender identity.

SM North equality club president, sophomore Zen “It’s important because equality for all is Molder said. “Trans rights and gay rights are human necessary,” Frisby said. “It’s important that people rights, so it’s good to know that people are actually can’t be fired if they put a picture of their same-sex fighting for those rights instead of just sitting back partner on their desk and their boss doesn’t like and letting the government do whatever they that.” want.”

Frisby said he was planning to propose the However, the proposals were also met with some ordinance after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on disapproval. Eric Teetsel, president of the Family the controversial case Masterpiece Cakeshop Policy Alliance of Kansas, spoke out against the v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission. However, Mission ordinance. when the Supreme Court ruled against the civil “I’ve heard from people who are supporters of rights commission, he delayed the proposal of the the Family Policy Alliance from Mission, Merriam Merriam ordinance. and Prairie Village who are It’s important “I was waiting for the right concerned about these sexuality and timing,” Frisby said. “I’ve talked to gender identity ordinances,” Teetsel because equality the mayor and city administrator said. “I view it as my job and my for all is necessary. It’s and city council members all this responsibility to speak up on their important that people time. I was trying to get this going behalf.” can’t be fired if they put around the baker’s decision, but Teetsel said his main concerns a picture of their same[the Supreme Court] ruled the are the lack of necessity for these other way on that. Finally, I decided -sex partner on their ordinances, the expense they could desk and their boss we had to do this now.” bring to the city and the legal The next step for Merriam is to repercussions for people of faith. doesn’t like that.” draft the ordinance, which they “That’s what we’ve seen in will discuss during the Nov. 12 municipalities all across America, –Al Frisby, Merriam City meeting. people of faith who were punished Councilmember “There’s so much business to for their beliefs,” he said. “There are keep up with, some things just get pushed to the legal fees on top of punitive fines. Then there’s the backburner,” councilmember Nancy Hupp said. cultural punishment of being labeled a bigot and “Now it’s on the frontburner, and it’s time we get a hateful person, and that’s something you have to this done.” carry with you for the rest of your life.”

Merriam is not the first municipality in the According to Teetsel, religious freedom is the Northeast Johnson County area to consider such biggest concern with proposals such as this. an ordinance. An LGBTQ non-discrimination “The purpose of these laws is to criminalize

“

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November 2018

a history of

LGBTQ Rights 1924

The Society for Human Rights forms in Chicago, becoming the first known gay rights organization in the U.S.

1952

= has proposed an ordinance = has passed an ordinance people who try to live their lives according to their faith,” Teetsel said. “People have the right to live out their faith in every area of their life.”

Kansas Senator Mary Pilcher-Cook echoed this sentiment at a Mission city council meeting. She further explained her views in an email interview with the Mission.

"Laws must be applied in a manner that is neutral towards religion," Pilcher-Cook wrote in the email. "When laws are subjective in nature, that becomes impossible."

Pilcher-Cook also believes the ordinance would promote discrimination rather than prevent it.

"The human person cannot adequately be described by his or her xxxual [sic] inclinations and it is degrading to reduce individuals to such traits," Pilcher-Cook wrote. "All people deserve to be recognized as valued members of their community, worthy of respect and fair treatment, but that is not what the proposed “NDO” is about. It will not provide uniform legal protection and instead will cause unjust discrimination where none existed before."

However, Hupp does not believe people’s religious beliefs are at stake.

“I don’t see this as a threat to religious freedom any more than any other measure we’ve passed,” Hupp said.

Frisby also disagrees with concerns that non-discrimination ordinances will be detrimental to people of religion.

“I would tell them to walk in someone else’s shoes before they open their mouths and spew out that garbage,” Frisby said. story by Grace Altenhofen

The American Psychiatric Association lists homosexuality as a personality disorder

1969

A riot, known as the Stonewall Riot, occurs after police raid a known gay club in New York

1973

The American Psychiatric Association removes homosexuality from its list of mental disorders

1993

The "Don't ask, don't tell" policy goes into effect, banning openly gay people from serving in the military

2004

The first legal same-sex marriage in the U.S. happens in Massachusetts

2015

The U.S. Supreme Court rules that states cannot ban same-sex marriage smnmission.com

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Court is in session

Youth Court gives students a second chance and a look into our justice system

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outh Court is a high school program that is run “Aside from the volunteers earning community by the Johnson County Court system. It allows service hours, they are also gaining valuable handsstudents between the ages of 10-17 to be sentenced on experience in a courtroom setting,” Deutch said. (or sanctioned) by their peers. The court consists of “Which is a wonderful opportunity for aspiring trained attorneys, judges, bailiffs and jurors. lawyers and students wanting to have a career in the “The goal of Youth Court is to reduce the number justice system.” of youth entering the court system by providing early Youth Court takes place in room 12 during Thursintervention to youth who commit first time minor ofday mornings, only when a case has been received. fenses,” Student Resource Officer Antoniette Coving“For confidentiality reasons, Youth Court is not ton said. open to spectators,” Deutch said. “But there will be Covington brought the idea of Youth Court to the an annual training for students who are interested in debate coach, Megan Deutch, and then to adminvolunteering every year. Information for the 2019istration.

2020 school year training will come out around “School administration met and agreed it would September of 2019, so interested students can be on help our students take some ownership over their the look-out for more information at that time.” story by school,” Covington said.

Kayla Warren While Youth Court is new to the Shawnee Mission School District, it isn’t exclusive to North.

“Youth Court is also held on certain Tuesday evenings out at the Olathe READING their practice defendants’ Johnson County Courthouse and at various other high schools,” Covington cases, seniors Jennifer Aktar and Aya said. “Shawnee Mission North is the AlSaid read and first Shawnee Mission High School to re-write their cases.

In court, they will hold court in the school district since need to make the jury youth court became a permanent part sympathetic to their of the juvenile justice system in Johnson defendants. To be in County.” youth court students After students are trained, they are as- have to either be signed positions in court, such as judge in debate or be in grades 10-12. and jurors, by the court prevention specialist.

“The roles [are assigned] based on the student’s comfort level and experience,” Covington said.

Megan Easley is the prevention specialist who led the Youth Court training, and she has been involved with Youth Court for three years.

“Youth Court is important because it allows youth to hold their peers accountable for their actions,” Easley said. “It also provides respondents the opportunity READING out loud, senior Arthur WRITING her defendant’s case, senior Aya to not have a record by going through Bagdasaryan prepares for mock AlSaid prepares for a practice court round. “It youth court.” trial. “We had to deliberate and Youth Court not only helps the offend- form opinions on the punishment was a lot of fun,” AlSaid said. “We got to think through their punishment and we got to investier, but also the volunteers. and decide if it was justifiable and gate on them.”

14 November 2018

why,” Bagdasaryan said.

Bonding Through

Music

North Area Choir Festival brings together students from North feeder schools

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n Nov. 6, SM North choir came together with this year’s show is different than prior years.

Hocker Grove Middle School and North “The elementary schools and Hocker come and feeder elementary schools to sing at the North we practice the song together,” Warren said. “The Area Choir Festival. elementary schoolers leave and Hocker stays and This annual festithey sing their songs to us.” val gathers middle Helmuth is most excited for and elementary the song “Will the Circle Be schools to socialUnbroken”. ize with the choir “All of these harmonies come students at North. together and make a beautiful Many choir stupiece that really great to hear,” dents, such as choir Helmuth said. exec board memSM North Choir teacher Juli ber Jeremy Taylor, O’Mealy explains that they sing believe that the songs such as “All You Need Is festival strengthens Love” to spread the much needthe bond between SINGING “Will The Circle Be Unbroken” during ed love during election day. schools.

However, Taylor is already lookthe North area choir festival, choir members hold “The day of the hands as a symbol of love and unity. photo courtsey of ing forward to the pops concert festival the middle Misty Collene next spring. schoolers and el“I really like singing music ementary schoolers all have a little field trip to the especially when we’re in different seasons,” Taylor field house and we all sing together,” Taylor said. said. “When we have Pops Concert we get to learn Sophomore choir member Justine Helmuth said real fun music instead of just choir music.” she enjoyed the festival when she went last year as Taylor said the energy of choir is different than a spectator. other classes, in part because of the teacher in“It was really cool as an audience member to volved. see all the schools coming together and singing “Mrs. O’Mealy, she makes it different,” Taylor together,” Helmuth said. said. “I love her, she’s just so awesome and so fun.”

According to exec board member Kayla Warren, story by Anna Miesner

Upcoming Choir Events 18-19 Sweet Sounds of the season Dec. 6

North’s Got Talent Jan. 30-31

Breakfast and Broadway Feb. 26,27, & 28

Choir Carwash May 4

Spring Concert April 4

Chamber Choir Choral Festival March 5

Pops Concert May 2

November 201815 smnmission.com 15

Out with the old, in with the pool Merriam City Council votes to approve construction of new pool, community center

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he Merriam City Council voted 5-3 to approve the design of the new community center and pool during a meeting on Sept. 24.

This decision came amid concern from Merriam residents that the proposed design of the new aquatic center did not meet the promises made to citizens during the special election in Sept. 2017, in which 67.5 percent of Merriam residents voted to approve the financing of the new pool and community center. In response to the design proposal, a group of Merriam residents formed the Merriam Concerned Citizens organization.

“As we asked questions about the process and data supporting the design decisions, we received answers that reflected deception and misinformation,” the Merriam Concerned Citizens website reads.

“The more we looked, the more bad information we

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November 2018

found. That is why we are concerned.”

Merriam Concerned Citizens also takes issue with the size of the proposed pool, which they say is not comparable to the existing pool and would become the smallest public pool in the area. Merriam City Councilmember Al Frisby said he shares concerns about the design of the aquatic center.

“I have no problems with the indoor pool, the problem is the amount of water in the outdoor pool intended for recreational use,” Frisby said. “It’s a small area.”

Frisby ultimately voted against the current design.

However, councilmember Brian Knaff voted in favor of the design, citing the number of activities available in one area as a positive quality of the plan.

“It’ll be an asset for the city,” Knaff said. “There’ll be the community center, a parking garage, the pool

THE City of Merriam released early design plans for the area including the new community center and pool.

and possibly the Antioch library all in the same area.

Three generations could go there and have something to do. It’ll truly be a community center for all Merriam citizens.”

SM North sophomore Michael Harris said the current pool was a better space for children.

“I don’t think [the pool] should be closed because it had such a big area for all the kids to play in,” Harris said. “In the Mission pool, there’s just a little square, and the Merriam pool had a big area.”

Frisby said he wanted to move the diving well to its own area, opening up more room for recreational use.

“My idea was pulling the diving well out of the recreational pool and putting it in a separate place,” Frisby said. “We could’ve had a better design to allow the diving well to be removed, opening up more

recreational space. The council didn’t want that.”

A representative from Merriam Concerned Citizens said the group felt that their voices were not being heard during the process.

“Many members as well as other residents emailed and called the city council members and mayor.

Many also spoke at city council meetings,” the representative said. “Some of the leaders were receptive.

Others just ignored us.”

Though the design has already been approved and construction is set to start this month, the Merriam Concerned Citizens plan to remain active in their opposition to the plan.

“We are working to gather petitions and will continue to stay active to make sure this kind of deception does not happen again,” the representative said. story by Grace Altenhofen

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Hours of Chemicals Adolescents becoming more reliant on vaping

“ Vapes might be the epidemic at this present time. ” - Antoinette Covington (SRO) A

fter a long day at school, Abbey Alonzo can’t wait to go home to her vape pen. She lays there on her bed, lifting the vape to her mouth, to inhale the new skittle flavor she got from the vape store,“ghosting” it and doing “o’s” after each inhale.

“I enjoy vaping, all the juice flavors you can get and the vape tricks you can do. I would say when I get home I vape for about 3-5 hours, just depends on how much time I have. I wouldn’t say I’m dependent on it though, I just crave it at times. I used to be worse, I would use like 24 nic or higher, now I use about 12 nic or less. I’ve slowly weaned myself off it, though, I’m not gonna lie, I sometimes go back to the 24 nic.”

To break down the terminology used, with vaping you get the choice of e-juice in your vape, as well as if there’s nicotine or marijuana infused in it. When someone says, ‘there’s 6 nic in this’, that means there’s 6mg of nicotine in that volume of e-juice. With marijuana there’s dab, which contains THC, the chemical in marijuana that gets people high. There’s a wide variety of products and devices that people can obtain, especially with adolescents. Since these products are not FDA regulated, the ingredients are unknown as well as the long-term health effects.

Kevin Kufeldt, Program Director at ACT (Adolescent Center for Treatment), speaks on the scariness that comes from the unknown of these vaping products and the effects it can have on youth.

“The scary part is the long term effects, are well, we don’t really know, you guys are a guinea pig genera-

tion. We haven’t seen longitudinal studies to identify what those long term effects are going to be, it’s an easy assumption to make that those who start at a younger age are more likely to abuse substances as adults as well,” Kufeldt says. “In Kansas right now, the average age of first use is 12 years old. Really the target population for drug prevention is the middle school age, because that’s where they are starting to inquire more about using e-cigs and vapes and having access to those types of products. To say what the long term effects, we don’t really know health wise, but we do know that it does lead to future continued use of other substances.”

What we do know is how it affects the brain for adolescents and the decision making and impulses that come from an undeveloped brain. The effects can have an impact on the cognitive and executive functioning, impulsivity, mood management and decision making. With this you can see a decrease in the frontal lobe region of the brain.

“As you start a substance at an early age, an adolescent brain is a very sponge like system, its still developing ‘till about the age of 25,” Kufeldt says. “The human brain grows from the inside out, to the back to the front, and that frontal lobe area is the last place to develop, that’s where we see a lot of youth that are obviously making poor impulse decisions.”

At SM North, the consequences of being caught with possession of any type of vaping product is a one day out of school suspension for the first offense,

Results of a National Youth Tobacco survey conducted in 2017 to see if teens used e-cigarettes in the last 30 days: 11.7 % of students in high school 3.3% of students in middle school *60% of teens thought e-cigarettes were mostly made up of flavoring

A study conducted by the National Instintute of Drug Abuse (NIH) found what teens say are in their e-cigs: Just Flavoring - 66.0% Don’t know - 13.7% Nicotine - 13.2% Other - 1.3% *7 in 10 teens are exposed to e-cig ads

which will increase based on the number of offenses.

Associate Principal Dustin Jamison wants to emphasise that the boundaries of the school doesn’t just mean in school, but anywhere on the perimeter.

“School grounds isn’t in school, I busted someone at the stadium when we had a football game, and on the other side of the stadium,” Jamison said.

Possession of a vaping product violates the board policy JCDAA, which encompasses tobacco products, e-cigarettes, marijuana and other drugs.

At SM North all they need is reasonable suspicion of a device in order to search through a student’s bag.

About 30 percent of kids who are searched actually are caught with a device, and most request to have their parent or guardian with them during the search.

As well as at North, it’s common to find possession of a vape device, along sides possession of marijuana.

“Depending on the age of the student, the legal consequence can be a ticket or an arrest, because usually what I’m finding is that sometimes there’s a vape pen found, but there’s also marijuana found as well,” SRO Officer Covington says. “All of those cases go straight to district court, Johnson County district court. The school consequence is you could be suspended and/or expelled.”

For Covington, it’s the addiction factor of vapes that she’s concerned about.

“Kids don’t realise they’re getting addicted and addiction is a real and serious thing, and im talking about addicted to nicotine, and our brain craves it.”

Kufeldt expressed the decrease in usage can affect the user’s emotion drastically.

“I met with two kids this week already that came to meet with me for the assessment, one of them was in tears that morning, because she hasn’t used her vape yet,” Kufeldt said. “The other one was so irritable and angry, that he identified that his anger what attributed to not using his vape that morning.”

For students like Abbey, they do not realise the addiction that they could potentially have and sometimes that can be the scariest part–that unknown severity.

“Some of my friends say that I’m addicted and dependent on it and that my moods can change, but I don’t see it,” Abbey says. “I don’t think my vaping habits are that serious, or anything, I just enjoy doing it a lot.”

Jamison, Covington and Kufeldt all agreed that getting involvement from the community, whether from peers themselves, or the school administration, by bringing informative functions that allows a professional to speak and informs the youth on vaping, could potentially shine a light on the harmful effects of vaping. story by Jordyn Kelly

* The name of the student has been changed to protect their privacy

18 November 2018

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19

Coming to America

SM North welcomes two foreign exchange students

Junior Faisal Qwagzen won foreign exchange scholarship

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or junior Faisal Qwagzen, coming to America from Jordan felt like a whole new life.

Qwagzen first wanted to come to America in third grade.

During this time he became fascinated by U.S. movies and the high schools in them.

“Going to an American high school seemed more of a dream to me,” Qwagzen said. “It seemed impossible.”

The idea of coming to America seemed impossible, but this all changed once his friend told him about a scholarship.

“I’ve been working on English for mostly my whole life so I’m having to use it and I’ve been dedicated just out of passion,” Qwagzen said. “With 570 other students filling out the same scholarship, the scholarship involved three long exams and an interview with two senators. In the end, myself and 33 others got accepted.”

After passing the second exam, Qwagzen had to fill out a form that asked for his interests and hobbies to figure out which host family was suitable. After the third exam, Qwagzen got in touch with a placement organization to help him find the best host family.

“For me, the only thing I wanted was to be placed in California, but if I went to California I may not find the more suited host family and I may not enjoy it fully,” he said.

“While being in Kansas and with a good family is so much more relaxing.”

When first coming to America, it took a while to adjust being so far away from his family.

“The first month I was really homesick but now I find it

normal living here just like any other student,” he said.

Receiving the Visa was the easiest part, according to Qwagzen.

“We got it much easier when coming to America, but I really want to come back,” Qwagzen said. “After this year it depends on my standings with my Visa and talking with the US Embassy on if they’d JUNIOR Faisal Qwagzen allow me to come back.” won a scholarship in Jordan In Jordan, Qwagzen is that allowed him to be a required to take thirteen foreign exchange student in mandatory subjects during the the US. day unlike America which only requires five and offered two electives.

“Studying here is a breeze, it’s much easier,” he said. “In my country, we’re much more focused on studying, but something the two countries have in common is the school days and the times they start and end.”

Another major difference between the two high schools is the clothing.

“For example in my country ripped jeans aren’t allowed,” Qwagzen said. “Students in Jordan tend to dress a lot more modest.”

Junior Paula Carreas Riverte adjusts to life away from family in Spain “I came here thinking this would be like High School Musical,” junior Paula Carreas Riverte said.

Since coming to America, Riverte has enjoyed making so many new friends and meeting people with different personalities, “It’s helped me realize how I really am and that the friends I’ve made here are the same as me and the same back home,” Riverte said. “The first few weeks were a mess since I was so lost but now its great.”

While her old high school and North have many similarities, a big difference is the size.

“I thought my high school in Spain was big, but now being compared to an American school, it’s so small,” she said.

Riverte most enjoys the choices she has gained since being at SM North.

“I like that in American high schools we get to choose what classes to take but rather in Spain, it’s all mandatory,” Riverte said.

Riverte had to attach a photo and write about herself and send them to potential host families.

“The host family picked me,” she said.

Riverte misses her family and friends the most.

“I know I’ll get to be there again but I miss them,” she said.

During the year, Riverte has been frequently talking on the phone and through FaceTime with her family.

“Since I want to be here it helps since I chose this” she said. “I know once I go back they’ll still be there for me.”

Riverte is still deciding whether she will come back to America next year.

“I’m not sure I’d come back next year, but if I can I will,” Riverte said. story by Zeva Rose

THOUGH North is different

than her school in Spain, Junior Paula Carreas Riverte has made friends and and learned more about herself from the experience.

Gebhard

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Bathroom mayhem

Social media draws attention to vandalism in SM North men’s restroom

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his school year there have been several “pranks” pulled in multiple male restrooms, as well as the locker room. These pranks range from trash cans being moved around, to vandalism.

“The bathrooms are generally pretty clean,” sophomore Tyson Sheets said. “But they aren’t right now.”

The pranks seem to have started in September, and boys quickly took notice of it, with pictures of the pranks being posted on Snapchat.

“I first saw it when it got posted on someone’s Snapchat story,” sophomore Jacob Slobozian said. “I saw it myself after I went to the bathroom that day to see if it was actually there.”

While some of these things are harmless, such as moving a trash can around, some of them cross over into being vandalism.

“It’s not really an issue if someone keeps moving the trash cans,” Slobozian said, “but when people start tearing down the mirror and stuff like that, that’s when it starts becoming an issue.”

Administrators and students alike agree that this destruction affects the custodians.

“It’s disappointing,” said Associate Principal David Ewers. “Our custodial staff works incredibly hard to keep our entire building very clean.”

Recently the vandalism has been happening less frequently.

“We increased our presence,” Ewers said. “If there’s the possibility of an adult or an administrator coming in to that restroom, I think that decreases the possibility of people doing things t it.

As with any crime, the consequences vary. In this case the consequences are based on the extent of the vandalism.

“If you actually cause damage to the building, that can range anywhere from a form of suspension or restitution,” Ewers said. story by Kayla Warren

PHOTOS posted to Snapchat depict vandalism in several SM North men’s restrooms.

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Evelyn Goering, 10

It’s a colored pencil drawing, this is probably one of the very first colored pencil portraits I’ve ever done. I began drawing this when I was home sick one day. I’m proud of this one because I feel like it’s well done, I like the shading and colors.

Audrey Diggs, 11

So I made this specifically for the gallery, we had to submit two projects. I wanted it to be less detailed since my other piece was more detailed. I wanted this more impressionistic and free.

Zoie Mehl, 12

This painting is a piece from my concentration for my portfolio last year, it’s based off a dream that I had where I picked up a fish. This was last year around April. I put this art piece in the gallery because I liked that way it turned out.

22 November 2018

Evelyn Goering, 10

I did this in middle school, we had to bring in two pieces.

I like this one, it’s kind of waterlogged from hanging in my bathroom, that’s why it’s a little wrinkled. I took everything from a magazine, and this was made during a phase where I made a lot of collages.

Clement Emery, 12

So basically my idea with this was inspired by a song, ‘When the day met the night’

by Panic at the Disco. Since I was really into that song at the time, I wanted to express it through my art so I wanted to give it a visual representation.

Clement Emery, 12

This one was a drawing I did in Drawing 2. We had to crinkle a paper bag and draw life from it. We could put anything we want in it, so I put flowers to try and make it unique. There isn’t any strong meaning behind it.

AP Art Gallery Students share the background behind their artwork

Brittney Garcia, 12

This was for my first piece, I didn’t want to just do a basic piece so I did three card typestyle. I call this piece ‘Flower Girl’ its basically just a simple almost monoline drawing of a girl and I always draw them with a flower. I felt like this was one of my more different pieces and I usually don’t show people my artwork so I wanted to show it off.

Kennedy Lafferty, 12

We had a saying we had to do and mine was ‘Busy Bee’ so this is a picture of a girl and a bee and the paper behind it is busy. I included the background in her head to show busy-ness in her mind.

This covers school since the beginning of the year can be busy. I chose this because I’ve been drawing a lot of bees lately and for some reason, they just clicked.

Shantelle Freeman, 12

I did this mid first semester, I really wanted to challenge myself and try a translucent piece. I just pushed myself in trying different textures with the paint and oils.

Natalie Herbison, 12

Starting out last year in my regular art class, we were supposed to do an artwork with different shapes. I really didn’t like the approach of just putting a bunch of shapes down on a piece of paper so I decided I was going to do bees and dragonflies in contrast with each other in.

Natalie Herbison, 12

Sometimes I get to see the tail end of storms outside my bedroom window. I get to see the different color contrast of clouds which really inspired me. I went to Florence last summer and I used the mountain backgrounds and the storm from my window back home and mixed it together into this rainstorm.

Penny Pepper, 12

I did this two summers ago, I took AP last year and it fits into my theme of remade fairytales. This is about the three blind mice. I thought it’d be good to use colored chalk on black paper.

Sharing a seventh hour, these ten students are challenged with the independence and freedom of testing different mediums and styles through their artwork. Page by Zeva Rose Gebhard

Shantelle Freeman, 12

The oil pastel frog, everyone I found really liked this piece. I chose to do weird and unique animals. Since everyone hates oil pastels, I figured I’d try something challenging. But the unique thing about this piece is seeing how the pastels blended together really made me fall in love with this.

Kaitlynn Hunsucker, 12

Over the summer I know I wanted to do something abstract, and I had those colors on me so I figured I’d go for it so I covered the canvas.

Kaitlynn Hunsucker, 12

I didn’t really have an idea behind it. I more just enjoy painting people which I find the easiest thing to do. The inspiration for this came from the movie ‘Coco’. With the bight colors and flowers.

Penny Pepper, 12

I made this last year during my drawing class, and I used this for my AP Portfolio. I chose this because they got good reviews, so I thought people would enjoy seeing them.

Zoie Mehl, 12

This is also a watercolor piece also from my concentration last year, I just enjoy how the color turned out on the paper.

Audrey Diggs, 11

This was inspired by an art contest I entered. The theme was identified. I wanted to play off the stereotype of an angry black woman so I used a lot of the color red to symbolize anger and then the raised fist to show a revolution.

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McBride takes the Mound

New baseball coach brings fresh perspective to team

M North has named Shane McBride the varsity baseball coach for the 2018-19 school year.

McBride has served as a graduate assistant and assistant coach the past two years at Rockhurst University, and this past year he oversaw the junior varsity program for Rockhurst Head Coach Gary Burns.

“One of my major goals is to continue a lot of the positive steps that had taken place under Coach Day,” McBride said.

“I know that a lot of his players, the guys that are returning from last year, have told me that they really liked the direction the program was going.”

McBride grew up in Omaha, Nebraska and played collegiately at Benedictine College where he was a four-year letter winner. Upon his graduation with a bachelor’s in education, he taught at Ascension Middle School for two years and coached baseball at SM South and St. Thomas Aquinas.

“I think with having experience in the

Pictured on left, Head Coach Shane McBride will be joined by Assistant Coach Zach Stinnett [right]. “I just can’t wait to get going,” McBride said. “I can’t wait until February 25th.” Photos taken by Cale Chapman.

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November 2018

district, having been part of a winning program and having seen what the next level looks like both as a player and as a coach will really help me shape the program going forward,” McBride said.

McBride’s experience and different perspective has returning baseball players optimistic about the upcoming season.

“He has been around baseball for a while and he really knows what he’s talking about,” catcher, junior, Graham Doering said. “I think he’s going to be a great coach this year.”

McBride will be joined by Zach Stinnett who will serve as the Varsity Assistant Baseball Coach. Stinnett was a four-year letter-winner at Mid-America Nazarene and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics. For the past five years, Stinnett has served as assistant baseball coach at Mill Valley High School. Stinnett will teach in the mathematics department at North. Story by Cale Chapman.

Cooking up change

SMSD Board of Education votes to change controversial lunch policy

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policy change, first proposed by SMSD Food Services at the Sept. 24 board of education meeting, was voted into effect during the meeting on Oct. 8.

Currently, elementary and middle schoolers can charge up to three meals on their lunch account after the balance reaches zero; after that, they receive a cheese sandwich and milk in place of the regular lunch. High school students are not allowed to have a negative balance at all; when their account hits zero, they are automatically given the cheese sandwich and milk.

Now that this policy has been passed, it will allow students to continue receiving regular lunches all year, even if their account balance goes into the negative. The debt incurred will then be sent to a collections agency at the end of the school year, who will try to make the parents pay.

“There’s been a lot of national attention on food shaming,” Director of Food Services Nancy Coughenour said at the Sept. 24 board meeting. “Policy revision would ensure that all students be provided a regular meal regardless of the balance on their account.”

SMSD Nutritionist Jill Funk said this proposal was in reaction to the larger national movement.

“This topic has been discussed nationally, at the state level and our local level,” Funk said. “The district is taking another look at our current practice and to evaluate it.”

Some food service employees agree that students should be able to receive the regular lunch even when their account balance is negative.

“It’s not good for the kids because they can’t get what they want to eat if they don’t have money,” SM North food service worker Tim Yeasin said. “Kids need their fruits and veggies.”

However, members of the board of education raised concerns with the financial feasibility of the proposal. Currently, the district only has to pick up the cost of the cheese sandwiches given out throughout the year; this amounts to about $9,00012,000 per year. Once the new policy is implemented, the district will have to cover the remaining debt that the collections agency is not able to get from parents. In a trial of a similar policy in Denver, Colorado, the district had previously paid $12,000-14,000 per year for cheese sandwiches and milk. After the new policy was introduced, the

parental debt that the district had to cover at the end of the year was over $300,000.

“I’m concerned fiscally about this, when I read, especially, the article about Denver,” board member Sara Goodburn said in the Sept. 24 meeting.

North sophomore Ruth Long agrees that the financial implications are a concern for the district.

“There are going to be a lot of people who can’t pay off that debt later just because of their financial situations,” Long said. “I don’t think that’s a good idea, it’s not going to be a clean procedure.”

However, the board has decided to adopt the program on a trial basis, agreeing to reevaluate the program by April 30, 2019.

“We’ve always been talking about how we can help children learn, and I believe this is a piece of the puzzle to help children learn,” board member Patty Mach said at the Oct. 8 board meeting. “In my opinion, one more toasted cheese sandwich is one too many.” story

by Grace Altenhofen

Forgot your lunch money?

No problem!

With the new policy change, no one has to worry about forgetting their lunch money. Students can get a regular, hot meal every day, regardless of whether they have money in their account to cover it.

Still hungry after school?

SM North’s new after-school meal program began Oct. 22.

Any student can come by the cafeteria at 3 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays to receive a free sack meal.

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Getting to Know NaNoWriMo Students take on writing 50,000 words in a month

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M North is participating in National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), a program that encourages students to try to write for a whole month.

The last time the program occured was about 2015-16.

“I’m still struggling with marketing it,” Instructional Coach Kate Miner said. “I’m struggling with getting people informed, and understand what it is. I learned that I need to do that better, but I’m still struggling with that. We had a lot of kids, a few years ago, who did accomplish their writing goals and I’d like to celebrate those more this time around.”

By Nov. 5, the four students involved were: freshman Hailey LeBeau, sophomores Junior Gutierrez and Savanah Coutler and junior Noah Foster. The general goal set for the group was to write 50,000 words.

“I’m hoping that the process and the group will prove to be successful for the students who make their own goals as well,” Miner said.

Until a couple weeks prior, LeBeau didn’t know about the

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November 2018

program.

“Honestly it’s hard to hit the goal of 50,000 words,” LeBeau said. “Maybe the stories or novels will fall off. I like that it helps you set a goal for yourself.”

Miner said she wanted to make the month-long event more prominent, with the help of creative writing teacher Erin Rivers.

“I’d like to make it bigger,” Miner said. “And maybe as more of a whole-school project. Ms. Rivers and I are trying to find ways to make writers workshop, and make our writers workshop program, bigger and better and more inclusive. So, we’re hoping that we will get more students involved in the class, but also outside of the class – more kids writing.”

Miner said she hoped to get students engaged in writing, and prove to themselves that they can write for an entire month.

“Definitely it’s a good and fun program to participate in,” LeBeau said. “If you’re at all interested in writing anything, this is a good program for you.” story by Stephanie Whisler

Writing up a storm National Novel Writing Month participants explain why they write

“It’s a hobby of mine. I started writing last year.”

Savanah Coulter (10)

“I’ve been writing for two years now.

It’s a good program (National Novel Writing Month), to either improve your writing skills or if you just want to hang out with other writers and work on a story together. Right now, it’s just bit and pieces of writing prompts and stuff.”

Hailey Lebeau (9)

Talking the way to victory Novice debate partners kick off season with 9-1 win record

T

hough the SM North debate team is only two than, prior years,” Deutch said. tournaments into the season, two novice debatObi agreed that the entire team was off to a beters have been bringing in wins. ter start than prior years.

Sophomores Hananeel Morinville and Glory Obi “Previously, the novices have been a little shaky, chose each other for debate partners at the beginbut right now our novice debaters are ahead of the ning of the season. In game and probably better than their first debate tournamost novice debaters around ment, they won four of the district,” Obi said. the five rounds. In the Morinville and Obi prepare for second, they had a perdebate tournaments by attendfect five wins. ing work nights Thursdays after “Our first rounds are a school and making sure their bit shaky because we’re arguments are solid. still getting used to the “We go over everything our people we’re debating debate coach provides to us with, but by the second and we make sure we find all the round we’re confident in flaws in our plan and a counterwhat we’re doing,” Obi argument,” Morinville said. “We said. “Out of all the novmake sure all our evidence is ice debaters there, we clear.” were the only ones who Both Obi and Morinville said won all five rounds.” their passion for debating has Advanced debater been lifelong, but the North Arthur Bagdasaryan team was the first exposure they said the novice debate had to competitive debate. team is showing signs of “I’ve always loved debating improvement over years with people, I just never found a past. way to do that in a class setting,” “I’d say this novice Obi said. “Debate has really team is better than years helped me be able to talk about past, especially Morinthings that I’m passionate about ville and Obi. They just and speak to other people went 5-0 and that’s only about it and learn their views.” their second tournaMorinville encourages others Holding their medals, sophomores Hananeel Morment,” Bagdasaryan to become involved and not be inville and Glory Obi celebrate their 5-0 wins at the second debate tournament of the year. “I like arguing. said. “The majority [of scared by the perceived diffiI like to win,” Morinville said. “I like the fact that I get the novice team] is very culty of debate. to go to a different school and meet new people who focused.”

“It’s not as hard as it seems,” have the same interests that I do.” photo courtesy of Debate coach Meagan @SMN_DB8_4N6 Twitter Morinville said. “At the beginDeutch said a score of ning of the year, our teacher 5-0 is uncommon for said ‘You get what you put in’ novice debaters’ second tournament. and that’s true. If you do no work, expect to lose, “We always have strong novice debaters, but this but if you do work, it shouldn’t be that much.” year’s team has been just as strong, if not stronger story by Grace Altenhofen

smnmission.com

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Shooting for

36

What is ACT? the What is the ACT?

The ACT is a standardized test used to determine college admissions.

Student Tips

S

tudents heading off to college often take the ACT, but the way students prepare for it can make all the difference.

Senior Johnny Dinh Phan got a score of 35 and advises students to study for their ACT. “Make sure to study and just like with any assignment do not procrastinate,” he said. “Manage your time well so that you can study and prepare yourself for the ACT.” Senior Arthur Bagdasaryan went into ACT testing believing that studying wasn’t necessary.

“I just want to see what I know,” Bagdasaryan said. “Overall it didn’t go out well because I didn’t really have a strategy to what I was doing and ACT is just a game. For ACT, you just need to know the broad spectrum of what is going to be on there and if you have a good strategy of how to pace yourself, there’s nothing really to study for.”

Besides a strategy, Bagdasaryan advises that students take ACT prep classes to help them prepare more for what lies ahead.

“I took ACT prep class after my first time,” he said. “The instructor said you could do every single problem on the ACT without a calculator, nothing’s too crazy.”

Bagdasaryan advises that when students take the ACTs it’s important that they don’t stress out.

“If you keep stressing, you’ll put all that stress into testing,” he said. “Just practice, practice, practice, try to find anything, free practice ACT testing online, a booklet, anything, because if you [do] all of that you will have a score that may not be perfect, but a score that you will be satisfied with.” story by Anna Miesner

ACT Organization Tips For many students, the ACT process may be confusing, so here are a few tips and guidelines from the ACT Organization.

•

• • •

•

•

Sign up for ACT early. The fees alone for ACTs can be as high as $67. Fees may be charged for late registration.

If you can’t afford the fees associated with the ACTs, talk to your school counselor.

The last available ACT registration deadline for this year is June 24.

Practice for free using ACT Academy. This learning tool is online and is accessible at any time at act.org/academy.

Sign up for ACTs online at actstudent.org. Signing up online has more benefits and can help students choose what careers they want.

Use previous ACT scores to your advantage, ACTs can help you determine how ready you are for college while also showing your knowledge and interest in the major that you are considering pursuing.

ACT Testing Dates *clostest testing sessions for ACTs are at SM Northwest and SM South

2018 Dates

Dec 8

2019 Dates

Feb 9

April 13

June 8

July 13

Reg. Deadline

Nov 2

Reg. Deadline

Jan 11

March 8

May 3

July 14

Late Reg. Deadline

Nov 19

Late Reg. Deadline

Jan 18

March 25

May 20

June 24

28 September 2018

smnmission.com

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What’s

Next?

Seniors take day to explore post-high school options

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his year during the National Day of Testing on Oct. 10, SM North tried out a new initiative to make the day more beneficial for seniors.

“Testing day for seniors has always been a difficult hurdle, for any of the schools I’ve been at, we’ve always been stuck with what to do with seniors and make it meaningful for them,” North Principal Jeremy Higgins said. “So we thought that this would be a good opportunity to give students and parents a little bit of flexibility and freedom.”

On the National Day of Testing, seniors that turned in their release forms had the opportunity to go on a college visit, engage in community service or take on job shadowing. Seniors that didn’t turn in their release forms came to school and joined the freshmen in Xello and Top 20 training.

This new initiative was created by building administrators and aims to help seniors explore options for their post-high school career.

“We wanted to be flexible and truly give students the opportunity to do something that they want to do that day,” Higgins said.

There were multiple students that went out to explore their community or career options. One such student was, senior, Brittney Garcia who went to Emporia State, where she plans to major in education.

“We did a campus tour, a dorm tour, we saw our major and then we ate lunch,” Garcia said.

Seniors took advantage of Exploration Day and used it to find what comes next.

“I think it was good to give everyone a day to do something they wanted,” Garcia said. Story by Cale Chapman.

Pictured above students enrolled in AP US Government visit the Johnson County Jail for civic hours, photo by Will Baldwin

Solitary

Assignment

Seniors visit jail for class credit

O

ne group of seniors decided to stray from the suggested exploration experiences and got class credit for going to the Johnson County Jail. Students in AP US Government are required to work civic hours, for example, engaging in a City Council Meeting or working a voting booth, for part of their grade.

“I went to Ms. Gonzales and the school nurse, we figured out who would do the chaperoning and we went out,” senior, Will Baldwin said.

Before the tour, the seniors had to go through prison security and metal detectors.

After their entry an officer taught the seniors all the rules of the prison.

“It was very important that they respect the rights of the people in jail,” Baldwin said. “so we had to follow certain rules and expectations.”

The group was buzzed in through security gates and their tour began. During their tour the seniors were shown the cell block, observation deck and inmate checkin stations. The group was also allowed to observe inmate free time.

“It was very interesting,” Baldwin said. Story

by Cale Chapman.

Monthly Giveaway $15 Target gift card

How to enter: 1. Go to www.smnmission.com 2. Hover over the “more “ tab 3. Choose “giveaway” 4. Enter your information into the Google form for a chance to win Winner will be announced on The Mission’s Twitter and Instagram in a couple weeks

Good luck!

smnmission.com

29

How much do you know about Thanksgiving?

Take this quiz to see how much you know about Thanksgiving

1

Who made Thanksgiving a national holiday in 1863?

A. President Andrew Johnson B. President Abraham Lincoln C. President James Buchanan

6

In Greek mythology, what did the cornucopia represent ?

A. a severed goat’s horn B. a basket full of the autumn harvest C. a satchel belonging to Hera

2

Why did Franklin Roosevelt move Thanksgiving up one week earlier in 1939?

A. to appease business B. to accomodate soldiers C. to fit within his New Deal

7

Which state was the first to make Thanksgiving a yearly occasion before it became a national holiday?

A. Massachusetts B. New York C. New Hampshire

3

What protein source do scholars believe was featured at the first Thanksgiving?

A. fish B. buffalo C. quail

8

What do more than 90 percent of Americans eat on Thanksgiving?

A. cranberries B. pumpkin pie C. turkey

4

What holiday did some Native Americans begin observing instead of Thanksgiving?

A. Day of Remembrance B. Day of Mourning C. Chieftan’s Day

9

What store is the sponsor of the holiday’s most popular parade?

A. Sears B. Target C. Macy’s

5

The ancient Greeks held a three-day festival every autumn to honor what goddess?

A. Aphrodite B. Demeter C. Hera

10

About how much turkey does a single American consume each year?

A. 10 pounds B. 13 punds C. 16 pounds

1. B 2. A 3. A 4. B 5. B 6. A 7. B 8. C 9. C 10. B

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November 2018

Inside

Mysti’s Beats

Album reviews, musical commentary and more

by Mystika Allison-Barnes

1

A Real Rap Battle Lil Wayne - Tha Carter V

Fans have been waiting seven years for this album and what he delivered was something amazing. Just the wordplay, punchlines and amazing storytelling would’ve been enough for the top spot. But Wayne’s lyrics go even deeper, showing us vulnerability while still maintaining his tough image.

2

Kevin Gates - Luca Brasi 3

He’s back! With Luca Brasi 3, Gates re-enters the rap game unapoligetically with the hunger that made fans love his music in the first place. With catchy hooks, honest stories and, of course, bars, the replay value of this project is extremely high.

3

Noname Room 25 6lack East Atlanta Love Letter BROCKHAMPTON

iridescence T.I. - Dime Trap

Dime Trap is an overall good project. What drops it down to number three is the inconsistent content. T.I. goes down memory lane, detailing his rags to riches journey, then he shares his disproval of Kanye’s current political affiliations. And in between all of this, he gives us a few club hits. But in the midst of these wierd transistions, there’s still good music.

4

Don’t Sleep

Lil Baby - Drip Harder

There’s a time and a place for every type of music. Lil Baby’s album is good for a party or listening in a car, but that’s the thing - it’s background music. Hype beats make his simple lyrics and rhyme schemes tolerable but it’s still in last place compared to the rest.

Ella Mai Ella Mai Want me to review something?

Send in requests to mystimusic.imb@gmail.com * I review Spotify playlists too smnmission.com

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through the

viewfinder

1

[1] SINGING along, senior Zane Irwin acts in the SM North production of the musical “Newsies,” which ran from Oct. 25-27. “It was fantastic,” Irwin said. “It was an ambitious show and so much fun to take on. I love theater because I love to see the stories come to life.” photo by Annie Robahn [2]SMILING, sophomore Noah Rogers celebrates after catching the game winning interception in the varsity football team’s 35-34 victory against Olathe West. The team ended the season with a 4-5 record. “It was the first win of the season,” Rogers said. “It was exciting cause it was my first win playing varsity football.” photo by Will Baldwin

2

3

[3] TAKING their places, the SM North Categories team waits for the first competition of the year to begin. The team won against SM Northwest with a final score of 17-13. “That was the first competition we’ve won in quite a while,” junior Thomas Parnell said. “It felt pretty good since we haven’t won in two years. I feel like it’s going to be a good year for us.” photo by Jessica Lopez

4

[4] PLAYING her cello, freshman Norah Pieken performs with orchestra during a concert on Oct. 16. “I get to express myself,” Pieken said. “I’ve been playing cello for about four or five years and I’ve always really enjoyed it and gotten into it. You just have to work hard at something you love and you’ll enjoy it the whole entire time you do it.” photo by Evan Whittaker

5

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November 2018

[5] EYES CLOSED in concentration, senior Johnny Dinh Phan sings the song “Africa” with choir during the fall concert Oct. 9. “I really enjoy working with other people and getting to sing,” Dinh Phan said. photo by Isaac Wadman