The Northmen's Log newsmagazine, Issue 2, Volume 56

The Northmen’s Log Issue 2, Volume 56 December 2020

For coverage of winter sports, read pages 8-9!!

Letter from the editor

Hey Oak Park! I’m so excited to bring you the second issue of “The Northmen’s Log” this year.

We’re almost into winter break and with that in mind we have a very diverse issue.

We decided to include a story about the COVID cases here at OP because that’s been an uphill battle.

With students being able to choose whether or not they are virtual or in person, we thought it would be important to have a story including the virtual-only

students and how they’re doing.

We also included a couple stories on stress management and what to do in a possible second lockdown that professional meda report may happen. We felt it was necessary to cover how people can manage their stress during this uncertain time.

The holidays are in full swing now; and I hope everyone has a great holiday season.

Have a great break Oak Park!

Lindsey Dunaway, Editor-in-Chief Kayleonah Trumble, Managing Editor Kelsey Abunga, Staffer Luka Ashton, Staffer Benjamin Dunaway, Staffer Haydenn Gallagher, Staffer Lillian Goss, Staffer Lukas Martin, Staffer Amelia McCoy, Staffer Nathan Nance, Staffer Rowan Simmons, Staffer Christina Geabhart, Adviser

Publication Publicatio n information informatio n “The Northmen’s Log” will publish four times during the school year. “Log” staff strongly supports the First Amendment and opposes censorship. Freedom of expression and press are fundamental values in a democratic society.

Therefore, “Log” encourages readers to participate

Staff

in the discussion by submitting Letters to the Editor in Room E134 or by email to christina.geabhart@ nkcschools.org. Letters cannot exceed 350 words and must be signed. “Log” will not run letters that are libelous, obscene, or that may cause a verifiable disruption to the education process at Oak Park.

Advertisers may contact the adviser at christina. geabhart@nkcschools.org for more information.

Opinions expressed in “Log” do not reflect student, staff, or district endorsements of that opinion, product or service.

“Log” is a member of MIPA, NSPA, and Quill and Scroll. “Log” is affiliated with JEA, MJEA, and JEMKC.

14

A

an ion ch uct of n s t r nt e co me f th ark cu ay o k P a do ess at O con oto g ts Ph nin e en l pp ud oo ha

6

ge

ne l st sch n li t tua ine h o wen t wi hey Vir r onl t ge e na hy qu rk ts ma are w woStudenand sh l oo sch tual v ir

4

e anc nN tha Na by o t o ph

12

an

ath

N by

e

nc

Na

he

Table of contents

et

d an the do ring du

lat

o

ot

ph

en

yB

ob

ot

ph

lls ID s a e h COVwriteidays h t 16 eck ts ofAshtotnhe holemic D lo uka eep pand th L k wiStafferhow to ite the p ter ut des n i o w ainab tive e s e k f a tert m o , en ous ou can t 0 1 ow afe lici at y safe H k s de n wh tay a d o s bre , anaphics ou canmic ingInfogr how ypande

ay

aw

un

nD

i jam

8

y

wa

na

Du

W

k u t a l ew reg es e n es ach th s co with tion ts a ach Co sonr spor eason regul seaWintetheir s s and e l t ru ou d on ue ab VID un rted d iss CO groas sta w bon ing n h ne ak uctio r the Bre nstr afte Co Park k Oa ssed pa

i

yL

ob

ot

ph

ey

s nd

ds a e pr nitycases s -19 mmuwith D VI h co ening O C ug happ o s thr hat i

4

News // Ashton

COVID-19 spreads through community by staffer Lillian Goss

Although schools around the country prepared to open back up with a backto-school plan, it still didn’t stop COVID-19 cases from popping up in the student body.

“The first positive case in our building was in the third week of school,” Principal Chris Sartain, Ed.D said on Nov. 30. “We are well below 1% of our total school population.”

The district tracks cases.

Each building -Principal Chris principal sends Sartain Ed.D notifications, if a case occurs.

OP continues to follow the original back-to-school mitigation plan.

“When we hear of a positive case, that person goes on a 10-day quarantine from when symptoms first started. Anyone who was within six feet of that person for 15 minutes or more during a 24hour period would need to quarantine,” Sartain said.

Through having to closely follow guidelines, people faced hardships.

Sartain said, “while this is not fun, we are so proud of students, staff, and families for taking this seriously. It has made the challenges much easier to deal with.

“We are here to help. Also, don’t be overwhelmed.

Just take things one day at a time.”

The top priority is student safety so any challenges that arise are just us trying to make sure everyone is safe.”

One challenge that comes with remote learning is communication and delays.

“I think students are used to getting help right away.

When they are at home, sometimes teachers are busy and can’t get to them immediately. That can make it hard for them but we are so proud of students showing so much patience and resiliency during remote learning,” contact tracer Heather Brennan said about the struggles she’s seen.

But it’s not only teachers and staff who struggle in this remote learning era.

Junior Lexi Caballero said, “calc has been the hardest. I like being there to ask questions and see the teacher walk through the problems.

And my teacher is doing the best he can but the AP classroom lessons we use aren’t always beneficial.”

Along with struggles of remote learning, there have also been COVID-19 scares people tackle.

“I have had a COVID scare, my dad ran a very low fever and had to get tested,” Caballero said.

With the events people face, there is always help right around the corner.

Email, text and calling teachers are available.

“Make a flexible schedule

so you’re not pressuring yourself but still have structure,” Caballero said. “I think the work load is pretty good, but I definitely benefited from the freeze week.”

Sartain did say there may be more freeze weeks, although freeze weeks cannot apply to certain classes like AP or college classes due to outside organizations making setting those expectations. That’s why faculty say it’s important to stay on top of your work, ask for help, and try your very best.

“My advice to students is to try and stay in the moment and to reach out for help.

Our school psychologist, [Natalie] Koster and I do online support groups on Tuesdays and Wednesdays,” Brennan said. “If anyone is interested they just need to email one of us and we will get them hooked up.”

For more information about COVID-19 efforts at Oak Park, you can email Heather.

Brennan@nkcschools.org and Christopher.Sartain@ nkcschools.org.

“Ask their teachers for help.

Teachers want to help you, but they need to know what you need. Email them, join their Teams calls, or have your families reach out if you are a little shy,” Sartain said. “We are here to help.

Also, don’t be overwhelmed.

Just take things one day at a time.”

Feature // Ashton

5

Art by Ayah Abdelhameed

Don’t worry - be happy by staffer Kelsey Abunga

There’s no need to be reminded, 2020 is weird. According to the Red Cross, children and teens may respond more strongly to the stress and anxiety caused by COVID-19, and become frightened that they or their loved ones will get sick. With everything going on, people are so stressed, they forget to take care of themselves every once in a while.

Many say they are concerned about their schedules, working around a pandemic and staying safe. With all this pressure, it’s difficult for people to prioritize stress management.

Managing stress and finding healthy outlets are crucial, health experts say.

Stress comes in all different forms. For example, one could be stressed over a certain

event, situation, person, or even by an entire era of their life.

“The entirety of 2020 is pretty stressful. We never know when anything will go back to normal, so it’s hard trying to plan for the future because anything could happen,” junior Ayah Abdelhameed said.

While it’s incredibly easy to get caught in the stress of things, there are exercises and activities that could possibly help.

“I’ve been drawing a lot recently. Creating art helps me escape from all the negativity in my life. Listening to music helps as well, it’s a great outlet,” Abdelhameed said.

There are many different activities and outlets to enjoy.

Sutter Health, a wellness website, explains many ways to cope with stress. connect-

ing with supportive people, building regular exercise routines, eating healthier and sleeping enough could impact your mental health.

With how unusual this year has become, it’s important to take the time and concentrate on mental health.

With the -junior Ayah pandemic, it’s Abdelhameed easy to lose sight of why people do anything. Keep reminding yourself that there’s a reason for staying productive, staying active, etc.

“I’ve been drawing a lot recently.

Creating art helps me escape from all the negativity in my life.”

6

Feature // Ashton

Virtual students conquer online school work by staffer Rowan Simmons

If someone told students eight months ago that they would have to wake up every morning to do school from home, they wouldn’t have believed it.

There are numerous reasons why students do virtual instead of hybrid.

COVID-19 is one of the bigger reasons why people decided to stay at home and continue with school via virtual.

“I would prefer hybrid, but I have to watch my little brother and when the days I go to school don’t match up with his no one would be there to watch him,’’ said sophomore Gavin Bendure.

Some students work better when they’re alone instead of being in a classroom with a lot of people.

“I chose virtual school because I thought it would be more beneficial for me. I have always worked at a fast pace and doing all virtual school lets me go at my own pace,’’ junior Olivia Beshears said.

There are some advantages of doing virtual only.

“I can do school in bed and at my

own time and pace,’’ Bendure said.

Beshears said she agreed with Bendure on pace.

Although there are some disadvantages of doing virtual school.

“There are more assignments some weeks than others, but sometimes there is a lot,’’ Bendure said.

During the first months of school, there were many assignments to complete in a short amount of time.

This was due to teachers and administrators trying to figure out how hybrid and virtual school would work.

“Sometimes I feel overwhelmed with the amount of assignments. With taking more advanced classes it is even worse,’’ Beshears said.

This can lead to feeling stressed out and a lack of motivation to continue with school. Administration asked teachers to adjust instruction and assessments throughout the semester after hearing feedback, but for

some students it was still a challenge.

“To be honest I have no motivation at all at this time period, but I know I have to do what it takes to get through this time period,” Beshears said.

Students try to find ways to cope.

“I usually listen to music or contact a friend or a teacher to clear things up,” Bendure said.

Assistant principal Mike Dial, Ed. D., said “I think high school should give students a well-rounded experience and allow them to take classes in a lot of different areas so they can find out what inspires them. High school should be about teaching “soft skills” that will benefit a student as an adult. Things such as adaptability, communication, collaboration, perseverance and empathy are developed during that age from 14 to 18 when students are in high school.”

For more tips on coping with the stress of the school year, read “Don’t Worry - Be Happy” on page 5.

Feature // Ashton

7

“I chose virtual school because I thought it would be more beneficial for me. I have always worked at a fast pace and doing all virtual school lets me go at my own pace,” pace, ” junior Olivia Beshears

“ There are more assignments some weeks than others, but sometimes there is a lot,,” sophomore Gavin Bendure

graphic by Amelia McCoy

8

Sports // Dunaway

Coaches regulate the season Sports teams talk about their season with COVID regulations

by Editor-in-Chief Lindsey Dunaway

With most things this year being chaotic and unknown, having just a little bit of “normal” is important. Though there are new rules and regulations, sports teams have continued their season through this pandemic.

“Not having fans at a tournament

Freshman Zoey Eker prepares to pass the ball at the girls basketball game.

Sports teams have changed much of how they practice to be safe during the pandemic. (photo by Benjamin Dunaway)

is kind of weird but we’re getting used to it,” said head boys wrestling coach Garrett Williams. “Regulating who gets to wrestle who in the wrestling room to try to control the groups, just in case something happens we have a control of the spread or whatever. But besides that, I mean, besides wearing masks we have to wear masks at all times besides when they’re on the mat. And I have to wear a mask at all times when I’m there coaching.”

The biggest challenge to the coaches has been making sure everyone wears a mask.

“You know, with all the COVID stuff going on, we’re just kind of more cautious of all the rules and restrictions and trying to, you know, kids keep their mask on as much as possible. It gets kind of tricky when we’re in practice, but we follow those guidelines, and then the social distancing. It’s kind of hard when we’re playing, but we do try to make the kids social distance as much as possible. And, just, you know, using the hand sanitizer, and just kind of just just making sure we’re trying to do everything we can to keep everybody safe,” said head boys basketball coach Brennan Scanlon.

Even though there are new rules and regulations, teams drive to succeed.

“I think we got three or four girls that have a good shot of making state, which I’m really excited about.

And also on the boys side. You know, we’ve been putting in a lot of work,

During the JV game, senior Kaiyah Rainey shoots the ball. (photo by Benjamin Dunaway)

Sports // Dunaway Sophomore Bella Kemp dribbles the ball toward the net at the girls JV basketball game ] Monday, Dec. 14. Oak Park won the game 37-29 against Platte County. (photo by Benjamin Dunaway)

and I’m just excited to see how that goes,” said Williams.

Time has also been a struggle for teams.

“Finding time to get in the gym and practice [is a challenge], our team was quarantined about a week ago, so we were out for 14 days. And then we had four days to practice before our first game. We lost the other night but you know, we only had four days to progress. And just the hard thing is just kind of not knowing from day to day, if you’re going to be quarantined again, or [if] somebody’s going to get sick again, or, you know, things like that,” Scanlon said.

With all of the challenges this year has brought, teams still bonded.

“I think they’re closer. I really think I think this whole thing has made everybody closer. And I think it’s kind of funny, but I feel like we’re a closer team. So, you know, it kind of works in mysterious ways.”

With being more closely bonded, and not being able to gather in large groups, teams have persevered in practice.

“It’s hard getting together outside of practice,” said Scanlon. “So I think everybody focuses more in practice, like I said, because you never know when you’re not going to be able to practice or if we’ll have to go back into quarantine. So really just living day to day and just kind of enjoying the moment.”

9

“So I think everyone focuses more in practice, like I said, because you never know when you’re not going to be able to practice or if we’ll have to go back into quarantine. So really just living day to day and just kind of enjoying the moment.”

-head coach Brennan Scanlon

10

Opinion // Trumble

How to make winter break safe, entertaining and delicious

Opinion // Trumble

During the pandemic, please keep you, your family and others safe by following protocols and wearing a mask.

11

12

Feature // Gallagher

Breaking ground

Construction and progress being made by staffer Haydenn Gallagher

It has been done, the bond issue introduced in 2019 passed in a delayed June election; and after all the hard work of planning and hyping the event, the construction team broke ground. Oak Park finally starts to see the stadium, new student entrance and other amenities that it so desperately wanted for the 55-year-old campus.

The school already has the area marked off where the stadium will be, but a lot of attention focuses on the new student welcome center by the tennis courts.

A gate blocks the tennis -junior Elizabeth courts and the Jenkins south side lot where a lot of students park.

Some people said it’s been a bit confusing for checking in or out of the student entrance.

“I think [the stadium] will be really good for the band.

We always have a show for our parents after band camp, but most people have to bring their

“I think it would be nice for them to be able to perform on their own field,”

Foundations for construction projects popped up in the last couple of months across the south campus. The bond issue, passed in June 2020, provides the 55-year-old student entrance and athletic field with much needed updates. photo by photographer Nathan Nance

own chairs or sit on the ground so the bleachers from the stadium will be a great addition.

Also, it will give us more experience about what a competition will look like,” said junior Mia Mungai.

However, the stadium wouldn’t just benefit the band or the obvious athletes who would use it like football, track or soccer players, but it would also benefit color guard, fans and the community.

“I think it would be nice for them to be able to perform on their own field and hopefully they will get more recognition,” said color guard member junior Elizabeth Jenkins.

This bond is a first-step gateway to future proposed bonds, which if passed would assist other programs that need upgrades or support.

“It would be amazing to see the band room extended. We can barely fit the whole band in the room right now and there isn’t enough space to fit everyone comfortably. For example, we are all on top of each other and that’s even reflected in how we have to share lockers for band and orchestra,” said Mungai.

The bond goes further than an updated student entrance or the stadium, it’s about making strides to better the school.

Feature // Gallagher

Heavy construction equipment starts digging trackside for the supports to the new bleachers and press booth. When complete, for the first time ever, students, parents and community members won’t be sitting on grass or temporary bleachers to watch a home event. photo by photographer Nathan Nance

These include upgraded building maintenance, updated elevators, and the newly renovated restrooms.

“We want to make sure that students at other high schools aren’t having a different experience because we are in an older building,” said Principal Chris Sartain, Ed.D, in an interview last spring. “Our district has been really supportive of anything we’ve needed to make sure you all have exactly what you need on a daily basis.”

Much of the grading and ground preparations have meant big changes to the south side of the building. Portions of the parking lot, grassy areas near the tennis courts and the awning have been removed to make room for progress. photo by photographer Nathan Nance

13

14

Feature // Trumble

A document of change

With the temporary bleachers and aging press box removed, the new football field is underway. The workers dig and level areas for the new bleachers.

In a partnership, the City of Gladstone plans to pay for portions of the new entrance to the football stadium. The entrance will be also used for Theater in the Park at Oak Grove Park, which touches campus to the south. (all photos by Nathan Nance) The workers prepared the layouts for the pillars. These are for the corners of the building.

Feature // Trumble

The outline of the new attendance office takes shape in its foundation. The outline runs from the old awning area to the small gym side.

When home games are played, this foundation forms the entrance.

This is the small gym entrance before that area is renovated. The entire south side of the building between the small gym, across the main gym and student entrance will be have a new face and spaces with the bond construction projects.

15

16

Feature // Dunaway

Deck the halls with lots of COVID Keeping the holidays festive despite the pandemic by staffer Luka Ashton

The pandemic hasn’t quit haunting this year, making the holiday season seem not so jolly.

“I think COVID is gonna spike during the holidays. Schools probably shouldn’t open afterwards,” said senior Diana McCahon.

But, there are alternative and safe ways to keep connected for winter festivities.

Sophomore Madison Clifton said, “Yes, it’s a little different because not everyone is able to make it [this year] that were able to make it last year, but we’re going to be FaceTiming them.”

Junior Kody McGaw also plans on virtually connecting with his family this year, holding a Zoom conference for his family out of the country.

“Because we don’t want to get exposed to COVID, we’re doing it

Holiday lights are a big tradition in many neighborhoods. According to online source Mental Floss, Christmas lights weren’t actually safe for outdoors until the 1920s. (photo by Lindsey Dunaway)

According to online newspaper The Week, President Grover Cleveland used lights on the White House tree in 1885 and ever since then, they’ve been a national sensation. (photo by Lindsey Dunaway)

in groups. So, one group is going to come see us and then the other group is going to come to us and then those two groups will meet up. My family is gonna do like a Zoom thing with some of my family that doesn’t live in the states,” said McGaw. Other than keeping connected with family, there are other ways to make the season more cheerful.

“We always make or buy ornaments for each other every single year to put on the tree for the next year.

That’s pretty fun,” said McGaw. Traditions, old being kept alive and new may be starting. Clifton has created some unique ways to entertain the younger kids in her family.

“We’ve started to play a lot more games that we make up. Since we haven’t been able to go many places we’ve been playing them. They don’t have names but we do one for the kids to have them help us clean up and games like that,” said Clifton.