The Spartan Voice

The Spartan Voice Vo l u m e 1

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C o n te n t s Homecoming week Interview with the hoco court Dress up days Sports Football, Tennis, Debate, Track, Golf, and Volleyball Investigative Insight Research in an Everchanging World Pop Culture & Media Hit or Miss Met Gala Outfits Monthly Horoscopes Squid Game Conspiracy Theories Reviews Mood Playlist Marvel with Malak Book Review with Emma Gossip Girl Advice Column Spotlights Meet the Teacher: Ms. Voth Recap with Alumni Amanda Outside of the Classroom Club Spotlight Broadway in Blue Jeans Da Knight Club Spartan Voice Publishing Team Chief Editor Ms. London Authors Sabrina Wilson Marisol Munoz-Morales Sharon Mabasa Malak Hamada Joyita Dev Emma Mantovani NEWS MAGAZINE

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Guest Contributor Maya Torres

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What’s your favorite movie?

Ella: “Probably High School Musical.”

HOMECOMING

w Inter vie with the Hoco Court

Sam: “Pirates of the Caribbean, the first one.”

Ryder: “Pixar’s Soul because it has jazz music and he [Joe Gardner] learns how to live a good life.”

Ivy: “Addison Rae's movie [He’s all that] because it’s really funny.”

Haley: “Maze Runner.”

Cameron: “Avengers: Infinity War.” Charlie: “Cars 2 because I get to watch Tow Mater be a spy.”

YOUR 2021 HOCO COURT WAS MADE UP OF ELLA GRAHAM, SAM AGUSTIN, RYDER WALSH, IVY NEWMAN, HALEY ALLEN, CAMERON BROWN, CHARLIE NOLAN, ALLIE PRATER, LILY CONRAD, JACK DUARTE, ASHTUN VILLAGOMEZ, AND EMILY MEISTER!

What has been your favorite part of HOCO week?

Ella: “Picnic buddy day and dance practice.”

Sam: “Dr. Misak’s outfits.”

Ryder: “Getting whipped cream in my face.”

Ivy: “Meeting the candidates in the amphitheater and driving out in fancy cars.”

Haley: “Dressing up for the themes because you can wear athletic clothes.”

Cameron: “Picnic buddies.”

Charlie: “The dance.”

Allie: “Washing the whipped cream off after the "meet the candidates" game. Just kidding, probably the dance itself.”

Lily: “Going to Central Park.”

Jack: “My favorite part about the week was beating Hesston.”

Ashtun: “Out of all 4 years, the football game is my favorite.”

Emily: “The competitiveness of the hoco games!!”

Allie: “Turbo. It’s so motivational and I love snails.”

Lily: “My favorite movie is probably Inception because it wasn’t very predictable.”

Jack: “Pulp fiction, there doesn’t have to be a reason why.”

Ashtun: “My favorite movie is the

Sandlot. It is really funny with a mix of baseball built in.”

If someone just surprised you with $10k, what would you do with it?

Ella: “I think I would go to Starbucks first, and then I would fly to New York, then go shopping.”

Sam: “Give it to my parents.” (Sam is such a sweetheart) Ryder: “Invest it in stocks.”

Ivy: “Buy a really cool car to drive out in for hoco.”

Haley: “Buy as many puppies as I could.”

Cameron: “Buy a gaming PC.” Charlie: “Pay for a Cars 2 sequel.”

Allie: “Donate it.”

Lily: “Exchange it for Mish Money.”

Jack: “I would buy my momma a house.”

Ashtun: “I would spend most of it on my friends and family and give some of it away.”

Emily: “Build my own Chipotle.”

What part of the human face is your favorite, and do you have a reason?

Ella: “Eyeballs because they come in lots of fun, pretty colors.”

Sam: “The bridge of your nose.”

Ryder: “The mouth because we can’t talk without it.”

Do you consider cereal to be soup?

Lily: "Eyes"

Ella: “No.”

Ivy: “Eyes; eyes are the window to the soul.”

Sam: “Yeah, breakfast soup.”

Ryder: “Cereal is considered soup; yes, it is milk soup.”

Ivy: “Yes.” Haley: “No, soup has to be warm.”

Haley: “Eyelashes; they’re just pretty.”

Cameron: “The nose.

Charlie: “Eyebrows, but only if it’s a unibrow.”

Cameron: “Yes.”

Allie: “The nose; you can tell a lot about someone based on their nose.”

Charlie: “Absolutely not.”

Lily: “Eyes.”

Allie: “Hmmm no- it’s cereal. If cereal was soup, then all soup would be cereal…”

Jack: “Cheek, because I like things cheeky.”

Lily: “No, it’s not a soup. When is there plain milk with chunky, sugary grains in soup?”

Jack: “No, soup has to have been made by boiling the broth. Milk is not boiled; therefore, it is not soup.”

Ashtun: “Cereal is most definitely not a soup. Soups are supposed to be hot. Cereal is too sweet to be considered a soup.”

Emily: “Absolutely not, and whoever says it is needs serious help.”

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Ashtun: “The nose is my favorite.

Nothing better when you can breathe through both nostrils.”

Emily: “Nose because if Addison Rae’s nose made her famous, mine can make me famous too.”

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Homecoming

---Dress up days--Over hoco week students across all of the grades decked out in their best theme day outfits. This year the overall best dressed award went to the seniors, who killed it all throughout the week!

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Homecoming Games &Picnic Buddy day

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FALL SPORTS UPDATES EMMA MANTOVANI & MARISOL M. MORALES

Tennis Tournament of Champions

Maddie Kemnitz, Marion Gibson, Emma Mantovani, Ella Graham, Lily Conrad, and Tatum Bhargava, after winning the AVCTL 3/4 League title.

As many of you may know, it's that time of year again: Tennis Season! The girls 2021 tennis season is in full swing. Most notably was the TOC aka the Tournament of Champions Saturday the September 25th.

2020 State Doubles Champions Lily Conrad and Ella Graham got 9th.

2019 State Singles Champ Emma Mantovani got 3rd. Freshman Laney Conrad got 8th. Working together for the first time, Marion Gibson and Kinsey Nichols won three of their matches. After getting rained out, JV League took place on October 5th in El Dorado. This past Monday on October 4th, was Varsity League at Riverside. Lily and

Ella won #1 doubles, Emma won #1 singles, Marion won #2 singles, Maddie and Tatum got a close second in #2 doubles. 3-2-1A Regionals was on October 8th and 9th, where Lily and Ella got 1st in doubles, Marion and Maddie got second. As well as Emma got first in singles, and Laney got 3rd in singles. State will be in Maize this year at the Maize South High School on October 15th and 16th. Come out and support the tennis girls at the end of their season!!

2021-2022 Debate Team Info Who doesn't love debate? That is a question many might ask as we head into the 2021-2022 debate season. This year the resolution is an exciting one: The United States Federal Government should substantially increase its protection of water resources. In any debate round, both an affirmative team and an opposing team come together to argue the merits and consequences of implementing policies and programs under this resolution. This year the WCS debate team has two affirmative plans: Water Infrastructure and Marine Protected Areas.

For a Water Infrastructure affirmative, the team would argue that the United States needs to implement programs and basic infrastructure to boost our water delivery system and stop water crisis situations like Flint, Michigan, with their lead water, from ever happening again.

In a Marine Protected Areas affirmative, the team would argue that it is essential for biodiversity to increase the percentage of these areas in our ocean a significant amount. The first

debate tournament was September 25th, where Rahul Madhavan and Sky Fujinuma got 3rd place with a 3-2 record at the Wichita Southeast tournament. The sky was awarded 2nd Place Best Speaker while Rahul was awarded 3rd Place Best Speaker.

On Tuesday the 28th, Colton Jenkins and Cooper Miller debated in Maize's Novice Opener. Then on Saturday October 2nd Ayaan, Sky, Cassilda, Danniella, Isabella, Will, Peter, and Jack represented WCS at Halstead. On October 16th the spartan debaters will head to Campus for the 5th tournament of the season!

Top: 3A State Extemporaneous Speaking Champion of 2020, Daniel Hechenberger, and Debate Coach, Mr. Egan.

Bottom: The 2020-2021 Debate Team photographed by Mrs. Cunningham.

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Cross Country

Aiden Sprole, captain of the cross country team, recounts the assets of each member of his team with fondness: "Pure dominance. CJ and Will are easy money snipers. Mason and Derek are absolute zoomers. Tyler, Charlie, and your boy [Aiden]: Slicin' and dicin' on kids. The Girls Team [Sabrina] always annihilates their opponents. It has been a great season so far for them! In their most recent race, the Rim Rock Farm Invitational, the boys team placed 3rd. At Halstead, the boys team placed 4th and the girls team placed 16th. As their season begins to draw to a close, they hope to qualify (and dominate) at state! Make sure to show your love and support for our Cross Country team for the remainder of their season! In his parting words, Aiden offers a quote: "If you ain't first, you're last." -Ricky Bobby

The boys Cross Country team at the Rim Rock Farm Invitational

Volleyball

The girls volleyball season has been a success this year! Katherine Grace states, " It is going well! I think we have done much better than we initially expected and we hope to continue to improve our record. We have grown through many hardships as a team. Coach Ragan pushes us in practice everyday, and she expects the best from us!" The volleyball girls hope to make their way to substate within the next week!

Golf

Eva Norum, captain of the girls golf team, states "The team has had an amazing season so far! I'm so proud of all the progress we have made as a team. Our hard work has paid off for sure! I love the connection that I have formed with all of the girls, and the memories that we have already made together. Since all of us are in different grades, I feared we wouldn't be able to relate to each other, but I can proudly say I have met some of my best friends through golf!" Margaret Ulrich, another player on the girl's team, hopes to win state this year.

She cherishes how her team has an easy-going vibe. "When we are playing or practicing, we are not putting anyone down for not hitting it as good as someone else. We will make jokes about how we played and silly shots we make!" Root for these, as Margaret would say, "Small but Mighty," girls as they make their way to state!

Football

The football team, which is undefeated, has had many successful games this season! The team hopes to make it to sub-state and state this year, as a form of redemption for last year. Johnny Abromeit claims that even though the team isn't as big this year, there have been many succesful plays and praises his teammates for doing a great job so far! He cherishes the chemistry and sense of brotherhood that the team has, stating that they are like his second family. Johnny strives to help the team as much as he can as well as improve his own skills. Lastly, he encourages everyone to attend the games, stating, "When we have people coming out to support the team, it's honestly the best thing ever. Your energy is our energy, so having a lot of people in the stands hypes us up a lot... Plus it's all around a good time at the games."

The Football Team listening to Jack Duarte's speech before the homecoming game.

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FA

L L S P O R T S

Investigative Journalism :

Research in an everchanging world

BY SABRINA WILSON

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I

was sitting in my seat prior to the start of humanities class, admiring the shelves of books around the room. Something about being surrounded by books makes me feel so smart, like I’m at the zenith of academic knowledge.

When’s the last time I checked one of these out?

The COVID-19 pandemic required a reconfiguration of classroom setups.

Humanities is a required course for all seniors, and the 2021 senior class had too many students to social distance in a regular classroom; therefore, the library became Mr. Mykel’s classroom. Mrs. Cunningham moved to a classroom downstairs and was hired as a fine arts teacher. The purpose of the upper school library changed in an instant, and consequently our avenues for doing research changed.

The last time I checked out a book from our library was my freshman year for my Civics research paper. Today, students still begin doing academic research projects their freshman year in Modern World History, usually in a group setting. This research is generally conducted online. Mr. Levan requires his Principles of Economics classes to use online business journals and sites like Yahoo Finance to write their research papers. His AP Macroeconomics class studies several sources in class, such as NPR Podcasts and news articles. APUSH students are required to write an extensive research paper over the topic of their choice, and all this research can be done strictly online as well. Students in science research courses typically use Google Scholar to find academic articles.

As we progress in the age of digitalization, we must adapt to this new form of researching. A generic Google search might be the quickest way to find an article, but it certainly does not always provide the most valid information. Online databases are becoming the standard method of doing academic research. I know I would be lying if I said that I could easily navigate an online database. The search engines are typically more nuanced, and to get the most out of them you need to know the ins and outs. As a school, we typically don’t have full access to these databases; most of us can only use them on a basic, free level. We also aren’t necessarily taught how to use them correctly; however,

Mr. Levan walks his AP Macro students through EBSCO, an online database used by many universities.

What can we do to learn how to use these online tools effectively?

Mr. Washer stated that the school is considering hiring a media specialist to help students navigate through this new era of digital research. He commented, “A media specialist would fulfill the traditional duties of updating and maintaining our library but also serve as an educational technology specialist for students and faculty, helping them utilize technology in the classroom more effectively.” Mrs. White stated that libraries in high schools and universities are transforming into collaboration spaces rather than the traditional quiet archives they have long been dubbed as. Ultimately, the school is in a transition period and the administration is deciding how to define and allocate our research resources.

If you’re like me and you enjoy holding a physical book in your hand, don’t worry. The library will not disappear, and books are not entirely out of the picture. AP Macro and AP Psychology students read books in class that they use to write research papers; however, there is something to be said for finding a book yourself.

Mr. Phillips mentioned the benefits of gaining peripheral information while scanning through a book to find evidence. Mr. Mykel, temporary head of the history department, believes that there is contextualization only books can provide.

As we walk through this reevaluation phase, I would challenge us all as a student body to try to use printed sources in our next research endeavors. I would also encourage us to try to learn how to navigate online databases. It is one additional step we can take in preparation for college. Even if it is not required to get the top grade, the value of going above and beyond to master new skills is immeasurable.

You will get the most out of your education if you challenge yourself. It’s time to hit the books…or hit the search button.

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“A media specialist would fulfill the traditional duties of updating and maintaining our library but also serve as an educational technology specialist for students in the classroom more effectively” Mr. Washer

Pop Culture ----------

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The 2021Met Gala in America:

BY JOYITA DEV

A LEXICON OF FASHION

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n 1948, the Costume Institute Benefit, now known as the Met Gala, was created by fashion publicist Eleanor Lambert to raise money for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s costume institute. Guests would spend $50 per ticket, $567.57 now, to attend the exclusive annual dinner event.

Anna Wintour, current editor-in-chief of Vogue Magazine, took control of the event in 1995, creating the Met Gala widely known today. Each year, brands spend upwards of $30,000 per ticket and invite celebrities to represent them at the event. The celebrities are tasked with dressing accord ingly to the Gala’s annual theme, but many are unsuccessful in their attempts.

After the iconic Heavenly Bodies and Camp-themed Met Galas of 2018 and 2019, respectively, I had high hopes for 2021’s Celebrating in America: A Lexicon of Fashion. Instead, the hopes I had were squashed under the heel of Anna Wintour’s Manolo Blahniks.

When the guest list first leaked, there was one name that caught everyone’s attention: Addison Rae. What compelled Mrs. Anna Wintour to allow her to attend? The foundation of the Gala was crumbling. Influencers like (TW) James Charles had been invited to the event before, but they most often scarred individuals with their terrible outfits.

This would only be the beginning of the horror, however. On September 13, 2021, the day of the Met Gala, Nicki Minaj revealed that she had not yet gotten the Covid-19 vaccine because she needed to research its effects. Minaj cited her cousin’s friend’s bad reaction to the vaccine as the reasoning behind her decision to remain unvaccinated.

When the Met Gala began, it was unlike any of the galas before it. Instead of most celebrities having elaborate costumes, each with hidden messages and details, many individuals did not know how their outfits related to the theme. Musician Frank Ocean wore a three-piece Prada suit to the Gala and carried a green animatronic baby on his hip. When Keke Palmer, one of the hosts of the Gala, asked Ocean what his ensemble meant, he said, "Well movie magic, America. I don't know."

Kendall Jenner, a model, was inspired by Audrey Hepburn’s dress in the 1964 film, My Fair Lady. Though Jenner’s outfit was praised by many, it did not match this year’s theme. Audrey Hepburn was a British actress, and My Fair Lady was set in 1912 London. There was nothing American about Jenner’s homage to Hepburn.

Not all outfits were as confusing as Frank Ocean’s or as off-theme as Jenner’s, however. Singer songwriter Ciara wore a dress inspired by her husband Russell Wilson’s football jersey. Not only did her gown capture American culture, but it also paid homage to the 1960s jersey dress designed by American fashion designer Geoffrey Beene.

American actress Yara Shahidi wore a strapless Christian Dior that was influenced the style of American-born entertainer Josephine Baker. Baker was an activist throughout her entire career and shared the beauty of black culture during her shows. Shahidi has also been involved in activism and preaches about how women of color especially should not be afraid to let their voices be heard.

Finally, it is time to discuss the outfit of TikTok “influencer” Addison Rae. It was…okay albeit boring. Before attending the event, Rae posted several images of iconic red dresses worn by American celebrities throughout the mid-1900s. I was excited to see her dress after looking at the inspiration for it, but her 2003 Tom Ford for Gucci gown disappointed me. She could have worn the dress to any other event since there was nothing special about it. It was a nice red dress and that’s all it was.

I sincerely thank Mrs. Anna Wintour for organizing this year’s Gala. Without it, I wouldn’t have gotten to witness Nicki Minaj’s fandom being torn to shreds, or Kim Kardashian dressing up like the Donda album cover. Hopefully next year, Addison Rae can have some sort of redemption, and Frank Ocean will finally understand how to abide by a theme. Thank you again Mrs. Wintour and please try to stay off of Twitter. The Barbs are really starting to scare me right now.

The Met Gala looks of Timothée Chalamet, Rihanna, Iman, Megan the Stallion, and Lil Nas X NEWS MAGAZINE

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#Freebritney

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n 2007, Britney Spears, then 25, fled from a rehabilitation center in Antigua to the home of her ex-husband, Kevin Federline, to

see her two sons. Federline refused to allow Britney to meet with her children, causing her to have a nervous breakdown.

Spears rushed to a hair salon in Los Angeles, California after this encounter. Spears told the hairdresser at the salon, “I just don't want anybody, anybody touching my head. I don't want anyone touching my hair. I'm sick of people touching my hair,” before shaving her head with a smile on her face. For years, American tabloids have cited this moment as the cause of Britney's fall from grace.

As a result of the head-shaving incident, Britney was placed under a temporary conservatorship in 2008. In a conservatorship, an individual who is deemed unable to manage their finances is placed under the supervision of a court-appointed conservator. Jamie Spears, Britney’s father, acted as her conservator and was legally able to oversee decisions made about Britney’s health and estate. The pop singer stated, “…I feel like they’re hearing me, but they’re not really listening.”

Britney’s control over her own life continued to diminish as her ex-fiancé and former agent, Jason Trawick, became her co-conservator in 2012. In 2016, Britney Spears addressed her conservatorship on The Johnathan Ross Show and said that “a lot of decisions were made for me.”

It was not until 2019 that the hashtag #FreeBritney movement began to gain traction. On April 3, 2019, Spears was taken to a mental health facility, reportedly against her will, according to the fan-run Britney’s Gram podcast. Allegedly, a paralegal who had worked with an attorney connected to the conservatorship said that Jamie tried to force Britney to take medication, but she refused. In response to this, Jamie Spears reportedly canceled Britney’s Domination show in Las Vegas.

In May of 2019, Britney’s conservatorship constrained her more tightly, for it spread to include Florida, Louisiana, and one of the singer’s favorite vacation spots, Hawaii. The places that brought Britney comfort were used against her.

Released on the streaming platform Hulu in January 2021, the Framing Britney documentary spanned from the head-shaving incident of 2007 to the beginning of Britney’s conservatorship. Framing Britney further pushed the #FreeBritney narrative, putting extra pressure on Jamie Spears.

Britney Spears appeared in court on June 23, 2021, to finally ask for an end to her conservatorship. In a released audio clip from the court hearing, Britney stated, “It is my wish and dream for this to end.” She further explained that she felt that the conservatorship was “abusive” and that her father “loved the control he had over [Britney], one hundred thousand percent.”

On August 12, 2021, Jamie Spears agreed to step down from the conservatorship. Jamie Spears’s lawyer, Vivian Thoreen, stated there was no valid reason to remove Jamie as a conservator. Thoreen further argued that "Even as Mr. Spears is the unremitting target of unjustified attacks, he does not believe that a public battle with his daughter over his continuing service as her conservator would be in her best interests."

Jamie Spears was suspended as Britney’s conservator on September 30th, 2021. At the Wednesday hearing, Britney’s lawyer stated, “This man does not belong in her life, your honor, for another day.” He further stated that it would be a “disaster” if the singer’s father stayed in her life any longer. Though Jamie Spears is no longer a co-conservator, this does not mean Britney’s conservatorship will end. #FreeBritney supporters are continuing to speak out against Britney’s mistreatment, desperately hoping that Britney will soon finally be free.

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Horoscopes

WITH EMMA MANTOVANI

Mercury is also retrograde in Libra at the start of the month, so you may be running into a few folks from your past or revisiting conversations with your current partners. Mercury retrograde clashes with Pluto in Capricorn on October 1, finding you having important conversations about your career. Topics you discussed around September 22 could come up again. Mercury is the planet of communication and information, and Pluto is the planet of secrets. Intriguing research may take place, but don’t jump to conclusions as Mercury retrograde could mean that things aren’t what they seem, or that terms may change in the future. Watch out for delays and miscommunications.

The sun in fellow air sign Libra illuminates a joyous sector of your chart, inspiring celebration, creativity, and romance! Libra is the sign of beauty, harmony, and partnership.

Enjoy this peaceful, pleasurable season. That said, your ruling planet Mercury is retrograde in Libra at the start of this month, which could find you running into people from the past, or dealing with misunderstandings, delays, or schedule changes. Conversations are especially intense as Mercury retrograde squares off with Pluto in Capricorn on October 1.

Some surprising revelations may pop up, and news from September 22 could resurface.

The sun in Libra lights up the communication sector of your chart, but messenger planet Mercury is retrograde in Libra at the start of the month, so much of the information you’re getting isn’t new! Mercury retrograde finds you revisiting the past and reconsidering things. You may have to contend with delays and misunderstandings. Before you send out a text, double check who you are contacting, and if you hear any gossip, think twice before investing any belief. Hidden information and secrets are reexamined on October 1 as Mercury retrograde clashes with Pluto in Capricorn. Conversations or research that took place on September 22 may be revisited. A change in plans or your schedule could take place.

The sun in Libra, the sign of balance, asks you to reflect on your schedule: Are you overburdened with tasks? Have you been slacking in some department? Are you making time to connect with nature? To enjoy physical activity, or meditate? Is there beauty in your day-to-day routine? Flowers on your desk, or peaceful moments to enjoy a cup of coffee? Do you feel accomplished after a productive day, or are you drained? The sun in harmony-loving Libra finds you focused on these themes.

While this time of year often finds you in a nostalgic mood, your focus is even more so on your past as Mercury is retrograde in Libra at the start of the month. Information about your early life may be revealed, or you might reconnect with a family member or friend you haven’t seen in a long time. Secrets are revisited as Mercury retrograde squares off with Pluto in Capricorn on October 1. Intense conversations take place.

You may be thinking back to discussions or research that took place around September 22. If you’re moving or renovating, delays or misunderstandings could take place, so double check your schedule and communications. An important turn of events could pop up as Mercury squares off with Pluto.

You might rediscover something you thought was missing!

The sun in Libra lights up the sector of your chart that rules money, but you may not be ready to move forward with financial plans or decisions as your ruling planet Mercury is also retrograde. You’re still collecting more data, and may be dealing with delays or miscommunications. A particularly powerful moment to discuss these issues and research further is October 1, when Mercury retrograde squares off with Pluto in Capricorn…secrets are revealed! Intense conversations take place, and hidden information may surface. Power or interests are shifting, and you may change your mind about who you want to associate with or how you want to invest your time, energy, and money.

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Happy birthday, Libra! The sun is in your sign, invigorating you with energy and inspiring you to reflect on your goals for the year ahead—but the past is also weighing heavily on your mind as Mercury is retrograde in your zodiac sign. You may be running into people from the past or confronting a past version of yourself. You might be reconsidering the plans and decisions you’ve made over the last few weeks, and intense reconsiderations are made on October 1 as Mercury retrograde clashes with Pluto, the planet of the underworld, in Capricorn. You may learn some hidden information or have an intriguing conversation about the past, your family history, or something else regarding your private life. You may find yourself thinking back to a conversation that took place on September 22.

October opens with the sun in Libra, illuminating a mysterious sector of your chart and making it an intriguing time of year! You may be learning about secrets or hidden things, and it’s a powerful moment to explore your subconscious. The sun in Libra encourages you to get plenty of sleep. Your birthday season is around the corner, and it’ll be an invigorating time, so the sun in Libra urges you to slow down and get plenty of rest beforehand.

Quality time alone is something else you may be craving. You’re typically a very private person, Scorpio, but you may be particularly discreet at this time!

The sun in Libra is a busy time for your social life, Sagittarius, and you’re eager to connect with people who share your hobbies and interests. Emotionally, you’re reflecting on your hopes for the future. You’re imagining all sorts of possibilities, and because Libra season bodes well for partnership and collaboration, you’re feeling like anything can happen when people come together! You’re reconnecting with old friends and acquaintances as Mercury retrogrades in Libra, so some folks from your past might appear to help you create the future you’re envisioning.

**SPOILER WARNING** ASTROLOGY

Squid Game

Conspiracy Theories

By Sharon Mabasa

The sun in air sign Libra brightly illuminates the sector of your chart that rules your career, reputation, and life in public, making it an exciting time of year for you, Capricorn!

Some great achievements may be taking place, and rewards or recognition are coming your way. The sun in Libra, the sign of partnership, may find you connecting and teaming up with exciting people, and some of these folks could be from your past as Mercury retrogrades in Libra, too. Old colleagues and friends from yesterday might reappear.

The sun in fellow air sign Libra finds you in an adventurous mood, but thanks to Mercury retrograde in Libra, the places, ideas, and opportunities you are exploring may be ones you dismissed or were unable to access in the past. Your focus is on travel and study, and you may be publishing something at this time, though there might be some retrograde-induced miscommunications or delays.

Focusing on projects or plans that you previously put on the back burner may be more productive than starting something new…or you could simply take a break! Mercury retrograde asks us to slow down.

The sun is in air sign Libra, the sign of balance, justice, and love. Like you, dear Pisces, Libra is all about union, creativity, and beneficence! Libra season urges you to look at the balance in your partnerships: Is there fair give-and-take? How do you and your partners manage shared resources like money? Money in general is also a big theme for you at this time, especially issues concerning debts, taxes, and inheritances. Libra season encourages you to get clear on your responsibilities in these arenas. It’s a powerful time to settle a debt and generally get your money organized, especially finances that involve other people or organizations.

If you’ve logged onto Netflix recently or heard any of your friends talking about this show, then you probably already know about Squid Game, Netflix’s newest released survival drama on the streaming platform. The show's first season was released on September 17th and it is already on track to became Netflix’s most-watched TV show to date. The show could even potentially surpass Bridgerton, a Regency-era debutante drama that had 82 million viewers in the first 28 days of its release. Squid Game is the ultimate crossover between The Hunger Games and Black Mirror, with its dystopian elements combined with the deeper messages throughout the show, such as the power of money, class anxiety, and its critique of capitalism. While a lot of the major messages are clear, by the end of the season, viewers are left on a cliffhanger with lots of questions. If you haven't watched the show (which you totally should), the main premise of the show is focused on a group of individuals in dire financial situations who are propositioned to compete in what they initially believe is a typical tv game show based on traditional Korean children games (the shows namesake is a reference to one of these games) where a high monetary reward is the main objective. However, by the end of the first episode the stakes prove to be much higher as the consequences for players losing the game prove to be deadly. Audiences around the world have become enamored with this show for a variety of reasons, two of them being the show’s steller actor performances and the universal messages that are communicated with viewers.

TV show conspiracy theories, although not a new concept, have particularly boomed with Squid Game because not everything in the show is explicitly explained and as a result has left a large space for interpretation. Combined with the show’s popularity and ambiguity, have left viewers eager to seek answers, and as a result this has prompted various conspiracy theories to arise in response to these questions, So I thought I’d walk through two of the major theories that have been circulating.

Theory 1: The card potential players chose when playing with the Dadaji with recruiters determines their position in the game.

Support for this theory is primarily backed up by the ambiguity of the red suit workers. Throughout the show, viewers never see how these workers are hired, chosen, or trained for their position. Additionally, the main character of the show, Lee Jung-Jae, chooses to play with a blue card during the first episode, which corresponds to the player's tracksuits in the game. Similar to the players, the workers of the games are also given numbers and must adhere to strict rules.

Theory 2: Oh Il-Nam is Seong Gi-hun’s father.

Oh Il-nam (player number 1), the oldest contestant on the show, is presented as the underdog throughout the show, yet by the final episode, the audience soon learns this not the case. His unique connection to Gi-hun as the show progresses has led some viewers to theorize that Oh Il-Nam is Gi-hun's father. This theory is supported by the subtle comments Oh Il-nam makes about his own son being similar to Gi-hun after the players are given chocolate milk. In another instance, Oh Il-nam mentions that his son’s birthday is coming up soon and at the beginning of the show Gi-hun attempts to deposit money from the bank and guesses his birthday as the password. The date of Gi-huns birthday on the 24th is close to the Oh Il-nam mentions, as he says his son’s birthday is on the 26th.

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BOOK REVIEW:

You’d Be Home Now B Y E M M A M A N T O VA N I

Y

ou’d Be Home Now, a novel by Kathleen Glasgow, is a 378-page rea-

listic masterpiece. It is not a stand-alone novel and is around a high school reading level. The book follows the life of Emory Ward as she struggles to find her place in the world. Not only is she trying to deal with her brothers’ addiction and the aftermath of a tragic event, but she is also trying to determine what type of person she was and wants to be. Reading this, I felt so connected to Emory and the inner turmoil she faced. This book, in all, is such a clear depiction of someone coming of age and trying to find their place in the world. Even if you have never been in a specific character’s situation, Kathleen Glasgow does a fantastic job of making one feel connected to at least all the characters by the end of the book. It was such a well put together book from the cover, which drags you in with questions to the last chapter, bringing about the main themes of trying to figure out who you are.

---OCTOBER MOOD PLAYLIST --Find out what mood best represents you today out of the 12 options below and scan the Spotify QR code below to find the song that best fits how you’re feeling!

If you’re feeling At Ease, you should listen to “Dreams” by The Cranberries.

If you’re feeling Restful, you should listen to “Be My Valentine” by Irving Aguirre.

If you’re feeling Serene, you should listen to “Clay Pigeons” by Michael Cera.

If you’re feeling Apathetic, you should listen to “505” by Arctic Monkeys.

If you’re feeling Lonely, you should listen to “Viva La Vida” by Coldplay.

If you’re feeling Despairing, you should listen to “As the World Caves In” by Matt Maltese.

If you’re feeling Peeved, you should listen to “If We Were a Movie” by Hannah Montana.

If you’re feeling Angry, you should listen to “No Control” by One Direction.

If you’re feeling Enraged, you should listen to “You Need to Calm Down” by Taylor Swift.

If you’re feeling Pleasant, you should listen to “Redbone” by Childish Gambino.

If you’re feeling Excited, you should listen to “Blinding Lights” by The Weeknd.

If you’re feeling Ecstatic, you should listen to “Pump It” by Black Eyed Peas.

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THERE’S A SNAKE IN MY BOOT! NO WAIT... THE

I

Bathroom?

By Sabrina Wilson

t was roughly a month ago when Katrina Leddy walked into the girls’ bathroom in the science hallway and spotted a snake slithering around the trash can. She needed to tell a teacher and immediately knew that there was only one man for the job.

Who better to call than the teacher of all things nature? The man, the myth, the legend:

Mr. Trombold.

After showing Mr. Trombold the snake and establishing that it was not a threat, Katrina picked it up and handed it to him. She said it was a gentle snake and was probably “more afraid of me than I was of him.” Mr. Trombold expressed similar sentiments, stating that the snake “wrapped his body around my fingers. It was actually kind of endearing.” The creature was a small, black and white garter snake.

Mr. Trombold placed it in the school garden and has not seen it since.

Perhaps you believe this was a freak accident and the snake somehow managed to slip inside, but I believe I know exactly why this happened.

Recall last spring’s possum sightings. I myself witnessed a possum sprinting across the football field while on a walk during advising.

There was also reportedly a possum spotted outside the physics room.

Possums are known to prey on garter snakes. This is a case of simple deduction. Since we have not seen any possums this year, we can infer that the snake population is roaming unchecked on campus.

The moral of the story is that the possums are slacking off. As a school, we must hold each other to a certain standard to be successful, and the possums are not exempt from that. They need to step it up and proba te dignum.

"It was a gentle snake and was probably more afraid of me than I was of him."

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Dear Gossip Girl, The Gossip Girl advice column provides genuine, witty, and sometimes sassy advice in response to questions sent in anonymously. If you have questions or dilemmas to submit, email jlondon@wcsks.com.

Dear Gossip Girl, This is the first year where I can drive myself to school, and I love it, but the school parking lot is really hectic. Even walking out to my car is stressful because of the traffic. Any tips on how to navigate it?

Sincerely, Scared of the parking lot Dear Scared of the parking lot, The parking lot can be very overwhelming. I think the problem is in how we as a school define the parking lot. It should be a casual entrance/exit zone, but some people think it’s a Nascar racetrack. Another fun factoid is that according to Kansas driving laws, under Statute 8-1533a, all vehicles are supposed to yield to pedestrians proceeding through a crosswalk. While we may not necessarily have crosswalks, it would be helpful if we all could respect each other’s time and give people chances to walk to their cars.

I would encourage you to remain vigilant and always look both ways before crossing. Never underestimate the speed of an oncoming vehicle, even if they’re rounding a curve (seriously, some people act like they’re rounding their last lap of the Daytona 500). If you have time, waiting to leave until after 3:40 means there will be much less traffic. Also, try to encourage your friends to drive cautiously. There’s nothing cool about wrecks, rising Insurance premiums, and injuries.

Stay safe.

xoxo, Gossip Girl

Dear Gossip Girl, We’ve had our first couple of APUSH exams, and I’ve nearly failed the multiple-choice section both times. They’re so tricky and there’s so little time. How do I improve my score?

Sincerely, Trouble in APUSH Dear Trouble in APUSH, AP multiple-choice questions are always really tough, and your teachers know that! It may be frustrating to hear, but the more you do these types of problems, the quicker you’ll improve. I would recommend investing in Barron’s or 5 Steps to a 5 prep books. 5 Steps to a 5 has about 10 multiple choice practice problems at the end of each unit, so try to do the questions that correspond to your current unit before the test. They also have sample short answers, FRQs, and DBQs to practice with that include sample answers.

Love them or hate them, the Collegeboard also has a lot of resources to help with studying. Their chapter review videos can be very lengthy, but they give solid topical reviews. They also have sample multiple choice problems for each unit, so anytime your teacher unlocks those, DO THEM. Try your best to stay calm on test day, and don’t psych yourself out. Everyone struggles with these questions. You got it!

xoxo, Gossip Girl NEWS MAGAZINE

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Marvel With Malak

E

REVIEWING SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS

very Marvel fan knows by now that Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings released in theaters nationwide about one month ago, September 3rd to be exact. Spoiler warning ahead for anyone that still has not watched the movie yet, literally what are you doing? Go watch the movie the next time you have a chance! Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings has been a huge success in theaters and could easily be argued as the first movie that has widely thrived since the Covid-19 pandemic started affecting the film industry. Marvel fans instantly fell in love with this action-packed movie the second it came out and for good reason too! We were introduced to a brand-new talented cast featuring Simu Liu and Awkwafina, who play the dynamic duo of Shang-Chi and Katy in the movie, as well as many more familiar faces we have seen before in the MCU. Can Can we talk about all of the cool cameos that were in this movie!? First off, we got the chance to see our beloved Wong again. Viewers stumble upon Benedict Wong as he is participating in an underground MCU fighting tournament at the Golden Daggers Club in Macau, a city on the southern coast of China. Something that makes this reunion with Wong even cooler is that we see that his opponent in the tournament was actually Abomination, who we see for the first time since the Incredible Hulk. In the same Golden Daggers Club scene, you can even see a black widow in the back for a very brief second having her own fight. Fun easter egg: This black widow was actually Helen from the movie Black Widow, who was one of the Widows freed from Dreykov's control by Natasha Romanoff. All of the Iron Man 3 fans were quick to notice the Mandarin, or the false version of the Mandarin as we know by now, as soon as he appeared on the screen. Our fake Mandarin was actually revealed to be an actor by the name of Trevor Slattery who had been imprisoned by the real Mandarin to fill his comedic needs as a “jester,” as Katy puts it. One more cameo that fans seemed to notice pretty quickly was the guy who was recording Shang-Chi’s viral fight during the bus scene and streaming it all to YouTube. He was the same guy in Spider-Man Homecoming that told Spidey to “do a flip” as he was perched on a rooftop. Who knows, maybe he will find his way back to Spider-Man in Spider-Man: No Way Home this coming December. Other than the killer cameos this movie has provided for fans, it also gave us a look towards the future of the MCU through its post-credit scenes, the mid-credit scene specifically. In this scene, Shang-Chi and Katy follow Wong into what appears to be Doctor Strange’s home. Shang-Chi then goes on to meet Captain Marvel (Carol Danvers) and Bruce Banner (who surprisingly was not in his Professor Hulk form). This scene comedically ends with Shang-Chi, Katy, and Wong singing Hotel California Karaoke as the rest of the credits and last end-credit scene play out. This movie truly was a refreshing start towards a return to normalcy in movie theaters nationwide since the pandemic, and it left every marvel fan eagerly anticipating how the events of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings will play out in the future of the MCU. NEWS MAGAZINE

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Broadway In Blue Jeans

BY SABRINA WILSON

O

n Sunday, October 3rd, at 7pm, the Upper School Madrigals, Bella Voce, and Dynamics groups performed at the annual Broadway in Blue Jeans Concert. This year's show took audiences back to the 50's, 60's, and 70's with songs from Teen Beach Movie, Hairspray, and Grease. The senior girls' quintet made their debut performance, singing Mr. Sandman. The Upper School choir director, Mr. Webber said, "It was a fun trip down memory lane with Broadway hits from two of the coolest American genres. This was also the first time we were back perfoming in Galichia auditorium since 2019. Everyone was so energized and so pumped to be live in person." In addition to singing, the groups also showed their take on oldies dancing. Senior choreographer Annie Turpin said, "This was my second Broadway in Blue Jeans, and I'm glad it was in Galichia and somewhat back to normal. I had to balance schoolwork with choreography, so it was a little stressful, but I was very excited to see the end result!" The audience certainly came ready to groove, and by the end of the performance you truly couldn't stop the beat!

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Club Spotlight MONTHLY CLUB INFO

BY MARISOL MUNOZ MORALES

T

he Human Advocacy Club

have a trip to the zoo within the month! More ghout the month of October, Da Knight Club

is a new Club at Collegiate! details on the zoo trip will be sent out in emails plans to hold 3 events that will count towards This Club will focus on hu-

as more decisions are made. If you are interes-

man rights issue per semes-

ted in getting more information or joining this clude Shield Decorating Day on October 8th,

ter, with this semeter’s topic Club, please contact Hannah, Malak, or Sha-

getting the Club on your transcript! These inPlague day on October 22nd, and Medivial Wit-

being Fast Fashion. Club members will learn ron at hpowell@wcks.scom, mhamada@wcsks. ch Trial day on October 29th, , all of which take more about the semester’s humans rights issue by watching documentaries, reading news

com or smababsa@wcsks.com.

Da Knight Club, another new Club at Colle-

place after school! To learn more information or join this Club, please contact Maya Torres,

articles, and having group discussions on how giate, is a Medieval themed Club that demons-

Sharon Mabasa, or Marisol Munoz Morales at

to be more conscious about how certain deci-

mtorres@wcsks.com,

sions affect others. The Human Advocacy Club

trates what it takes to be a Medieval Knight.

smabasa@wcsks.com,

Members of Da Knight Club visited in the and mmorales1@wcsks.com.

plans to have their first large event on October Great Plains Renaissance Festival (picture be9th at 3:30pm in the library. The president of

low) the day after homecoming to indulge in

the Humane Advocacy club, Joyita Dev, has ar-

the countless medieval themed events. Throu-

ranged an exceptional presentation by Representative Christina Haswood, a member of the Kansas house of Representatives from district 10. She will be talking about representation in government, what she does as a member of the house, and answering questions attendees may have. Make sure to keep an eye out in the next week as more news heads your way! If you are interested in getting more information or joining this Club, please contact Joyita Dev at jdev@wcsks.com.

Environmental Science Club, a Collegiate classic, had their first meeting on October 5th during break. While the first meeting to was to establish the requirements for being an official member of the Club, Officers Hannah Powell, Malak Hamada, and Sharon Mabasa hope to

Interested in having your Club featured in the next edition of The Spartan Voice? Email mmorales1@wcsks.com for more information!

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MEET THE TEACHER BY SABRINA WILSON

An Interview with Ms. Voth

E

ach month, we hope to introduce a teacher who has recently become part of the Wichita Collegiate School family! Ms. Voth , our new Precalculus and Ap Statistics teacher, joined the Upper School this

year! We were able to interview Ms. Voth in order to get to know her better. Here are some interesting facts about her!

Q: What is one of your hidden talents?

A: I play the flute!

Q: What is your “trapped on a desert island” movie?

A: Mean Girls.

Editor's note: I agree with this statement, Ms. Voth!

Q: What would your last meal be?

A: Pot roast and mashed potatoes.

Q: What is your favorite dish from the cafeteria?

A: I ate pasta once that was okay.

Q: What’s the best/worst thing about being a teacher?

A: The worst part is grading.

Q: In which other teacher’s class would you like to enroll, even for a day?

Why? A: Mr. Bullinger’s classes because of all the cool machines.

Q: What current trends are baffling to you?

A: TikTok Dance Videos.

Mrs. Voth's new 6-month old Kitten, Cleo!

Q: What kind of driver were you when you first got your license?

A: I hit the curb a bunch.

Q: What is your spirit animal?

A: A cat.

Q: What song do you know all the lyrics to?

A: Defying Gravity from Wicked.

Do you have any teachers you want to learn more about? Email jlondon@ wcsks.com for interview recommendations.

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ALUMNI APPRECIATION BY MARISOL MUNOZ MORALES

A

Amanda Mudra

manda Mudra is currently a third-year student at Wichita State University and is majoring in Aerospace Engineering and minoring in Mathematics. In recounting how she decided her major, Amanda states that “there’s a pretty funny story behind me choosing this major, but in short, there was no real rhyme or reason for why I chose it. I don’t recommend choosing your major on a whim, but I did know I enjoyed math and science in high school and growing up in Wichita, aviation was ever-present in my life.” Since graduating Collegiate, Amanda has completed two different internships that prove that aerospace was the right choice for her. In her first internship, Amanda worked at Bombardier Aerospace as a junior engineering intern, where she frequently toiled alongside pilots who were testing the newly manufactured planes for safety characteristics. She states that it was a fun experience for her because “it was my first real step into the industry, and my bosses made sure I was able to grow my skills in every department. I learned new software, coded a ton of new projects, and got to help out on the planes sometimes.” Amanda’s new internship is with the NASA Chapter on the Wichita State University campus. There, she gets to work on projects and conduct research with the professors. “They’ve been able to help me apply the theories I learn in class settings to applications in real-time. It’s the best part of college so far for me!”

The COVID-19 pandemic was a significant contributor to a different college experience for Amanda. While things are starting to get back to normal, she believes that attending college online was “probably the most demanding academic challenge I’ve had to face. I sat at the same desk every day for work and classwork. Motivation and time management were out the window. A good thing that came out of the pandemic, college-wise at least, was that my productivity got very high. It took a lot of effort and was very mentally exhausting but worth it for the last two years of my degree.”

Amanda has some final words of advice that she would like to share with the student body, especially those who are interested in engineering: “Don’t study just to pass your tests.

Study until you know the material logically and not memorization. You’ll thank yourself in your higher-level classes for sure. All of that looks pretty time-consuming, and it definitely can be when you’re starting. Taking the time to build your skills initially doesn’t seem worth it, but it pays off in the long run (it also really helps the social and school life balance). I rushed into college thinking it’d be the same as Collegiate, and it did not go very well. Plan out times for studying and homework and do your best to stick to it. Getting assignments done at the last minute gets old fast and it is much more rewarding when you finish well before the due date, plus you’ll have more free time to hang out with friends or do anything else besides schoolwork. Also, you’ll have a clear understanding of when your free time starts and ends. If you don’t know what you’d like to do yet, that’s alright! It’s one hundred percent okay to go in undecided or change your major at any point. Just don’t get stuck doing something that drains you! Choose something you know you enjoy!” Lastly, Amanda wants to share that there is no genuine need to stress where you specifically want to go to college. She states that there is significant pressure on students’ shoulders to go above and beyond by getting into Ivy League or renowned schools. In reality, unless you know exactly what you want to pursue in college, attempting to get into those types of schools, whether you are accepted or not, doesn’t matter as much as you think. Amanda believes that it’s more likely to get a better education at a smaller and more local college because you can interact with professors who are there to teach and not just do research. We can't wait so see what Amanda will accomplish in the future!

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