Park Hill South High SchoolVolume 15 Issue 4December 14 , 2012

The Blame Game Pg 18

A Temporary Home Pg 4

The End of the World As We Know It

Pgs 16-17

theVIEW

InDepth Special Section Pg 26

w

411rocky mountain high/ page 3

Spotlight early bird gets the worm/ page 5

Perspectiveendless opportunities/ page 19

Detail follow my lead/ page 10

Scorechange is coming for chiefs/ page 23

December 14, 2012The View / Issue 4 / Volume 15

Fall 2012 Finals Schedule: 2nd & 4th Blocks on Thurs. 12/20; 1st and 3rd on Fri. 12/21

As the semester has gone on, things have changed. All of you Freshmen are finally getting used to high school and the adjustments you have made from middle school. As for seniors, we have one semester left; we are only in high school

for another four and a half months. Let that sink in. While everyone in the school will surely enjoy the 12 and a half days of Winter Break, the changing of semesters brings up a break point for our newspaper as well. Four issues are in the book and we have got four to go. We want to remind the student body that this is the Park Hill South newsmagazine. The View is made for the student body at South and we would love the feedback and input of every single student in this school. Whether you have story ideas, opinions on the paper or anything you would like to see us do, feel free to let us know--fill out the survey on the back!

As the calendar year turns, people everywhere will make and break New Year’s resolutions, just as they do every year. Some will make lackluster efforts to get to the gym more or spend their money a little wiser before finally giving up on the whole thing. If you have something you want to change about your life, you do not have to wait for New Year’s to start it. A new resolution can be made and put into effect at any point in the year. If you want to change anything in your life to better yourself, you can do it whenever. Keep the end goal in sight and do not let anyone keep you from accomplishing what you want to accomplish. Again, feel free to contact us on Twitter at @PHSView or on Facebook at facebook.com/parkhillsouthview. Have a great Winter Break and we will see you all on Jan. 3...that is, assuming the world doesn’t end on Dec. 21.

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LETTER FROM

THE EDITO

R

The jazz band performs in front of parents and students enjoying Cappuccino Night in the Commons on November 19, 2012.

photo by RYANN SMITH

Cover Design by DEREK BRAUN

early bird gets the worm/ page 5

by SEAN GREVICE

On Nov. 7, 2012, Colorado and Washington voted affirmatively on referendums to legalize the possession of small amounts of Marijuana for personal use. In the US, 19 states already have laws making it legal to grow and possess marijuana for medical purposes, but these two states are the first to make it legal for recreational use. “I think this is a big step in the direction of nationwide legalization,” said Rhema Espy, senior. “Once people see how much it improves people’s quality of life in Colorado, they’ll want it to be legal everywhere.” While there is no way to be certain how people’s quality of life will be affected, there are several clear benefits of decriminalization and legalization. According to Business Insider, in Colorado alone,10,000 people per year are incarcerated for marijuana related crimes. With these new laws, there are 10,000 fewer inmates each year that the state needs to house and feed. “They won’t see it right away, because you can’t just let people go,” said Sebastian Klesing, senior, “but in the future the number of prisoners will go down noticeably.” In addition, when the substance and dispensaries are taxed and regulated, the state will have a large source of revenue which they could use for public works or education. According to the Huffington Post, legalization will cause production costs to drastically reduce and the state may earn up to $500 million in tax revenue. Buyers have to realize, though, that as with casinos, the public may not know where the money is going.

“When they built the riverboat casinos, they said the money would go to education, which it has, but other revenue previously used for education was used for other things,” said Dr. Dale Longenecker, Principal. “The same thing may happen with the revenues from the dispensaries.” A major concern of groups who are against this legalization is that, as a nation, intellect and efficiency will degrade. The Colorado Education Association has often cited a study by the University of Otago in New Zealand that shows that chronic marijuana use can cause, on average, an eight point IQ drop

in teenagers. State officials have said, however, that with the regulations they are putting in place, teenagers will not be able to purchase cannabis. As far as efficiency is concerned, workplace regulations will prevent use at work. “Just like alcohol, [marijuana] will not be permitted at work,” said Klesing. “Not everyone will do it just because it’s legal.” Another concern is that, if it is legal,

more people will use marijuana and consequently start to try more serious drugs such as cocaine or meth. Studies have been done by universities like Yale and the University of Pittsburgh to see if marijuana is really as much of a gateway drug as opponents have said it is, but these studies are unreliable because it is hard to find a good research base for an illegal substance. “It’s a big social experiment,” said Longenecker. “We’ll have to see how it goes.”

“NOT EVERYONE WILL DO IT JUST

BECAUSE IT’S LEGAL.”

Next Home Swim Meet will be January 8 against St. Teresa’s Academy at PHAC 3

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PROS CONS& of marijuana legalization

• helps people deal with diseases

• drop in price of the drug

• fewer inmates in prisons

• creates jobs

• tax revenue

helps regulate the use of marijuana

• federal authorities are still able to arrest for possession

• uncertainty of where tax revenue will go

• potential drop in IQ for people under the age of 18

easier for minors to obtain marijuana

marijuanacountry-use by-

according to www.nationmaster.com

A look at new laws in Colorado and Washingtonrocky m untain HIGH

NEW ZEALANDAUSTRALIA

UNITED STATES

by KATIE BLECHINGER

22.23%

17.93%

12.3%

4

a temporary homeA look into the lives of three students involved in the different aspects of foster care by KARLIE BISCHOFF

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10% of foster children are in care for 5 years or more

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52%of discharged foster children are reunified with their parents or original caregivers2

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6.4 mean age of adoption

Imagine being taken from your parents, and moved into a home with people you don’t know, not knowing how long you will stay there or where you will go next. These are only some of the hardships that over 500,000 foster children are forced to endure. The law allows for children to be removed from their home for five different reasons: the parent(s) fail to care for the child; the child is deprived of sufficient food, clothing, or shelter; a parent is “unable or unwilling to protect the child;” the parent(s) are unable to control a child’s harmful behavior; or a child is being abused or neglected by someone living in the home. “Child services takes them from their home and then depending on the child they’ll go into a group home,” said Bethany Morgan, senior. A group home is any facility housing more than six children, according to findlaw.com. Foster care is completely dependent on each case and child, so every child’s journey through the foster care system is different. Many children do not stay in a group home, but go straight to a random family or go into “kinship care,” staying with extended family members. “First they start off with your aunts and uncles then they switch to random people,” said Nicholas Dunn, junior. “They’re pretty much just seeing if they want to adopt you. It’s not fun.” Dunn was in the foster care system until age 8 when he was adopted by the foster family he had been staying with for two years and has lived with that family ever since. The desired outcome for all foster children is to go back to their original caregivers, often times their parents. While the problems are resolved at home, the child stays with trained foster families, such as Morgan’s. “The ultimate goal is always reunification,” said Morgan. The experiences foster care children go through can take strong emotional tolls on them. Lizzy Jurries, senior, and her family have hosted nine total foster kids and have seen first-hand the mistreatment that many of the children face. “One of them told us that his mom’s boyfriend took [his mom’s] head and pounded it against the wall repeatedly,” said Jurries. “He was four years old.” The negative experiences and hardships that the children face often become the source of behavioral problems at home and at school. “The first one was seven and it was his first time in foster care. He had already been mistreated so much that he was so bad already,” said Morgan. “We had to request

for him to be removed.” Dunn was in the foster care program until he was eight years old. He spent much of his time in a group home and said it was very different than often portrayed in movies and on television. “It’s not like a camp where you can hang

out with other kids,” said Dunn. “You know you don’t have parents and you know that’s why you’re there.” Families interested in caring temporarily for foster children have to go through an intensive process to make sure their home is a safe and loving environment. “It took my parents about two years,” said Morgan. “They had to take classes and read books and my older brothers had to go through background checks.” Once the process was complete, the families were able to give children support that they were not able to find elsewhere. “We make life a little easier for them,” said Jurries. However, foster parents do not only help the child involved; fostering children came with many rewards for the family as well. “It definitely humbles us,” said Morgan. “It makes us thankful for what we have.” Many children that go through the foster care system are “available for adoption,” according to Morgan. This was the case with Jurries and her family. After fostering eight children, Jurries welcomed an 11-month-old

named Kaviana, or KayKay, into her home. “When we first started foster care, we weren’t planning on adopting,” said Jurries. “But KayKay’s mom had a really difficult time and was unable to take care of her.” Like many other cases of adoption, Jurries and her family participated in an open adoption. This allows for the

adoptive and biological parents to communicate with each other through the agency and allows for KayKay to find her mother later on if she wishes to. Being adopted often raises many questions from the child about his or her original parents and home. “She doesn’t ask about her mom as much anymore but she used to,” said Jurries. “She would ask my mom ‘Why don’t we match?’ and my mom would say ‘Our skin doesn’t match, but our hearts do and that’s all that matters.’” Not all adoptions are as glamorous as the Jurries’ and KayKay’s, however. “I just met them two years ago, and all of a sudden they’re supposed to be my parents? It’s a whole new life,” said Dunn. “They even change your name. I feel like anybody would say it’s not fair.” Foster children are forced to go through more trauma and devastation before they even enter high school than many students have ever experienced. “I went through a lot of things I shouldn’t have had to go through at that age,” said Dunn. “I learned things I shouldn’t have had to learn.”

photo by KARLIE BISCHOFF

Next Home Wrestling Dual is January 8 against Ruskin in the Gym

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23.6average months spent in foster care

according to the Administration for Children and Families in 2011

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Since students were five years old, they have all gone to school from August to May and that has been their only

option. However, as seniors, there is now an option of graduating a semester early and this year, many students in the 2013 class are choosing this route. “I wanted to get ahead with my schooling and have more time to work,” said Kylie Vandeven, senior. Vandeven is planning on spending her next semester shadowing at her mom’s company, VML, a digital advertising business and taking art classes at the Kansas City Art Institute. However, she also plans to earn money as a nanny and is interested in getting a job as a server as well. After graduating early, Vandeven will be attending the University of Kansas in the fall. “I’ll be doing volunteer work at Parkville Animal Shelter and Kansas City City Museum, because I’ll finally have more time to give back to my community,” said Vandeven. Hanna Walsh, senior, is also planning on ending her high school career early and spending her time working before attending University of Wisconsin in the fall. “Time is important, so why waste it?” said Walsh. Walsh is currently working at Zona Rosa’s Chocolaterie Stam and also plans to begin serving at Stone Canyon next year. “I can be making $10 an hour somewhere or I can be sitting at school wasting 10 hours.” Marc Grandstaff, senior, is planning on waiting till next fall to enroll in Maple Woods Community College so he can spend next semester making money from his job at Freeman Construction. “It’s all about the Benjamins,” said Grandstaff. “School’s a hassle. I’m not taking any core classes, so I’d rather be working since I make good money. I just don’t see the point.” Rather than spending next semester working, some students have chosen to get started with their college

level education. Bethany Morgan, senior, is also graduating at semester and starting college early at Florida College, a small private liberal arts college, starting in January. “I didn’t want to get out of the routine of school, that’d make going back in the fall harder,” said Morgan. Other students are not technically graduating at semester, but are reducing their class load and spending their time working. Derek Gonner, senior, is only enrolled in one class, first block, next semester in order to complete his credits to graduate. Gonner will be spending his time working as a server at the Kansas City Country Club. “I have a full time job,” said Gonner. The students who choose to graduate early or lessen their time at South are not excluded from senior activities like walking in the May graduation with their fellow classmates, but there are still some things that will be missed. “I’d rather be in college than high school,” said Morgan. “But I’ll miss how easy the work is.” The experience for semester graduates will surely be a change. Considering the majority of seniors will still be in school, graduates will no longer see the same faces day after day in the classrooms or hallways. “After high school, you really don’t see anyone anymore,” said Grandstaff. “It’ll be weird not seeing the same people every day.” Many things will be missed by these early graduates, but one thing is for sure: these students are ready to say their goodbyes. “I’ll miss my art department, but I’m sure I’ll see them,” said Vandeven. “I’m ready to go.” After 12 and a half years of full year education, 38 seniors at South this year have made the decision to end this August-May cycle in order to get a head start on life.

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157 Days Until Graduation on May 20, 2013 • 18 Days Until 2013 Arrives! 5

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2011 36 2012 32

200842 201038200939

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Derek Gonner, senior, is only enrolled in one class next semester.

Kylie Vandeven, senior, is shadowing at her mom’s company and taking classes at the Kansas City Art Institute.

early

bird

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CONGRADULATIONS! The number of semester graduates that South has had in the past

by JE

SSIC

A H

AYES

Hannah Walsh, senior, is planning on working during second semester.

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The Next ACT will be given February 9 • There are 85 Days until Spring Break!6

South’s Freshman Mentoring Program “FMP” remains one of the “best in the nation” by PERRI MILLER Beyond all the food days, door decorating contests, games, Olympics and more, the Freshmen Mentoring Program has been helping new high school students adapt to a big change for what has been one very successful decade. South’s Freshman Mentoring Program was started 10 years ago by Jenny Orlowski, communication arts, and a teacher task force. By traveling to other schools with similar programs, Orlowski started one of the “best freshman mentor programs in wthe nation.” “Before, the freshman would just show up on the first day,” said Orlowski. “They needed a friendly face and someone to show them the ropes.” The program allows South to offer a fun and safe way for freshman to make the transition from middle school to high school. “It’s a good program because it helps the freshman integrate into high school,” said Melissa Lokugamage, senior FMP. “It’s what makes us such a good high school, because the freshmen are able to have a good start.” Freshmen are not the only ones that benefit from the program, as FMPs are given special privileges like reserved parking spots, platinum cards for the whole year and two field trips a year. Those involved in the A+ program are also able to receive all their volunteer hours if they are an FMP for two years. However, to earn these privileges, FMPs must sacrifice their tutorial time and deal with underclassmen.

“They were obnoxious in the beginning…or they were freshman in the beginning, but have been progressing,” said Ryan Welch, senior FMP. This year, the program is made up of 94 mentors (47 seniors, 47 juniors) meaning that around 45 new mentors will be accepted for next year. Applications for future FMPs come out around Feb. 1 of next year. One hundred to 150 applications are expected to be turned in, according to Orlowski. After the applications are screened to make sure that all requirements, such as a 3.0 GPA, are met, the teachers give input about the applicants. Around 100 interviews will be conducted by the senior and junior directors of recruitment as well as Orlowski over a three week period. “[I want to become an FMP because] my FMPs are smart and helpful in many areas beyond the classroom, which is why I think it’s good for freshman to learn from students and not only teachers,” said Leah Booth, freshman. South FMP program is one of the longest running consecutive transition programs. After 10 years, Orlowski has decided that this will most likely be her last year in charge and it is unknown who will take her place and keep the program running smoothly. For a decade and hopefully many more, South FMPs will be saving the world...one freshman at a time.

photos by MADI BOUCHERFMP’s enjoy their time during their field trip at Crown Center

SOUTH’S SUPERMENown

staff spotlightsouth

by MEGAN MCMULLEN

>> log on to www.phsview.com or scan this QR code to view

Issue 4 South Staff Spotlight

featuringKELLY McNABB

ANDY GREVISJILL OWENS

administrator

a plus coordinator

custodian

You are driving along as your phone suddenly buzzes. You pick up your phone to reply. Not paying attention to what is going on around you, you look up for a split second and find yourself swerving and hit a tree. As you sit there, you realize that if you had not been distracted, this would not have happened. The dangers of texting and driving can be life threatening. With cell phones and many other distractions, small trips can turn into huge disasters. This is what Joey Panella, junior, experienced as he was heading to a friend’s house last summer. Only a block away from his destination, he received a text from his mother. While reading the text, Panella ran into a tree and wrecked his car. “Any time you’re not paying attention can turn into a dangerous situation,” said Panella. “You always need to look out for yourself.” Panella now puts his phone in the back when driving alone and when he has passengers he gives it to them. “I’m so much more careful now,” said Panella. “I never want anything like that to happen again.” Texting is not the only distraction that can cause accidents. While speeding in Tremont, Aurora Eller, junior, took her eyes off the road just to pick up a water bottle. She hit a curb and broke her axle. Eller said she learned her lesson, as she is now responsible for paying for the repairs. “When I used to drive with a permit, my mom would always tell me to slow down in Tremont or I would wreck,” said Eller. “And guess what happened?” Eller’s advice to drivers is not to speed and definitely to keep your eyes on the road at all times. “Try your best not to distract yourself while behind the wheel,” said Eller. “And never, ever text.”

It is a Saturday night, you and your friends have made some unwise decisions at a party but you need to get home. Instead of making the smart choice to call a parent to come pick you up, you decide to drive yourself. You all pile into the car and you focus all of your attention on the road. Things are going well, until you swerve out of your lane and hit another car, severely injuring yourself, your passengers and the driver of the other car. You are now faced with an MIP, DUI, a wrecked car and loads of guilt. The worst part of it all? It was completely preventable. Even though drinking and driving may not seem to cause as many accidents as distracted driving in teenagers, it is still a huge issue and affects more people than just yourself. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one person dies every 48 minutes from motor vehicle crashes caused by alcohol- impaired driving. Sarah Mathews, Science and STUCO, knows a woman who was in an accident involving alcohol, a situation that could have been prevented. “It was one night and she was on vacation,” said Mathews. “She got really drunk but chose to get into her car anyways. She made an illegal U-turn, hit a man on a motorcycle and killed him.” Mathews said she felt sympathy for the girl, as she has to live with the guilt for the rest of her life. She also understands that it was her fault and if she had not made that decision it would not have happened. “She can never take it back,” said Mathews. “She will never live the same life.” Other South drivers make sure to take extra precautions when driving at night to avoid being a victim in a similar situation. “I’ve never encountered a situation in the car involving alcohol,” said Erica Timmerman, sophomore. “But I’m always really cautious at night just in case.” Timmerman’s advice to avoid these situations is to have a Designated Driver or call a parent. “It’s horrible to hear about lives lost because of someone’s bad decision,” said Timmerman. “But you can’t stop everyone from drinking.”

Snow is falling and sticking to the ground while ice lays hidden on the road. As you are driving along, you notice the road is pretty slick. So, you are more careful. You approach a stoplight and slam your foot on the brake. The car does not stop. You panic and continue sliding, rear ending the car in front of you. Driving during the winter has a lot of hidden dangers. Black ice and snow can cause very hazardous situations. Jodi Hall, senior, has experienced a scary situation while driving on icy roads heading to school. As Hall was pulling into South’s front entrance one morning, she lost control on the slick roads. Her car began to fishtail and spin. Hall described the situation as being frightening and startling. “It all happened so fast,” said Hall. “I’m so thankful I didn’t get hurt.” Hall’s advice for winter drivers is to keep distance between you and other cars and drive at a slow pace. “You have to be so much more careful in the winter,” said Hall. “People don’t realize how slick it can be.” Morgan Hudson, junior, got her license last December just as winter was beginning. “Winter and new drivers just don’t mix,” said Hudson. “They made me really nervous.” Hudson takes extra precaution when driving in icy conditions, especially because her mom was in a car accident a few years ago when she hit a light pole after sliding on ice. “My mom was okay, but it was a really scary situation,” said Hudson. “Accidents can happen to anyone; you always have to prepare yourself for anything.” Hudson hit some slick spots last year in the winter but fortunately has not been in any accidents. “Make sure to drive slow in the winter,” said Hudson. “Make sure you’re always watching your speed.”

driving DISASTERSBut I only had one...

Eyes on the Road

White Christmas, Black Ice

7Michel le Huey (12) qual i f ied for Al l -State Jazz Band, p lay ing Jazz Bass

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photo by DEREK BRAUN

Making good decisions may not be easy at the time, but think about other drivers and arrive alive

by BREANNA WEBSTER and KATIE BLECHINGER

photos by MADI BOUCHER

holidayFOR SOME?

Merry Christmas...A look into what “Happy Holidays” really means

It is Christmas morning! Kids everywhere eagerly jump out of bed, race down the hall, all the while barely noticing that holiday feeling in the air. This is what they had been looking forward to all month: being surrounded by presents and family. For some, however, Dec. 25 might just be another Tuesday. Christmas is a significant holiday, but it is not the only one. Believe it or not, there is a myriad of holidays occurring in the month of December. While in the predominantly Christian Western Hemisphere, Christmas is the most popular holiday, in other places in the world, Christmas might just be an afterthought or something totally different. For example, people in Israel still go to work on Christmas day because their population is mostly comprised of the Jewish and Islamic.This difference is apparent even in the homes of South students. “Even though our family stopped going to church, we still celebrate Christmas, “ said Stephanie Allred, senior. “We still put up the tree and do presents, but we celebrate a Christmas spirit of world peace and charity, but not the Christian aspect of the holiday.” Another alternative December celebration South students may experience is Chanukah, or more simply spelled Hanukkah. Timothy Sexton of Internet Broadcasting explains Chanukah is the Jewish Festival of Lights intended to memorialize the re-dedication of the Holy Temple. This holiday is celebrated by the lighting of a Menorah, a candelabrum with nine candles. The shamash, or the ninth candle, is used to light

one candle each night, representing the eight days of Chanukah. Along with religious rituals, it is also common for children to play the Dreidel game. “Chanukah is great because I get to see the whole family and we have a lot of fun. We still celebrate the commercial part of Christmas, though, because we love gifts,” said Ethan Robb, class of 2012. Chanukah is not the only December holiday that stems from more eastern traditions. Sexton expands specifically on two of these holidays. Kwanzaa is the African American holiday dedicated to look back on their cultural history from the very beginning. The name fits, because it comes from a Swahili phrase meaning “first fruits of the harvest.” Along with celebrating African heritage, the holiday also features strong themes of unity and family. Hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam, sometimes occurs in December as well. It is the largest regularly occurring pilgrimage in the world, where millions of Muslims venture to the holy city of Mecca and the al-Haram Mosque. However, the holiday is based of the Islamic lunar calendar, so it only occasionally occurs in December. Regardless of what religious faith or culture someone belongs to, December provides a lot of great opportunities for family bonding. While there are many different holidays that could potentially occur in December, they are all united in that they bring people together. Maybe it is this unifying effect that explains why even non-Christian students at South still prefer a little taste of Christmas.

by KENNETH HARRIS

Kylie Vandeven (12) won 1st Place in the Adobe National Design of the Year Contest8

SOUTH’S1. Football Stadium2. Personal Laptops

3. Music at games4. Better toilet paper

wishlist 50+ students surveyed

Christmas Canon

Have Yourself A Merry Little

Christmas-Judy Garland

Winter Wonderland

-Jason Mraz

jolly JINGLES

-Trans Siberian Orchestra

All I Want For Christmas Is You

-Mariah Carey

Let It Snow-Frank Sinatra

by SHELBY COOPER

>>a

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hits

timely traditions

super stocking stuffers

9The South Paw Yearbook won 6th Place Best in Show at the NSPA Fall National Convention

hooplaGIFT CARDS

5. Longer lunch6. Naptime

7. New place for band to practice

Nutcracker Ballet

Crown Center Ice TerraceMusical Christmas Light House

Holiday Windows on Main

kauffman center for the performing arts

132nd and roe, overland park

kansas city power and light districtPlaza Lightingthe plazaby

MA

XX

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HEA

RS

by DYLAN WORTH

CANDY

MOVIE PASSES

LIP BALM

LANYARDS

FUZZY SOCKS

1.2.3.4.5.6.

crown center

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Buy candy cane grams at lunch until Dec. 19. Proceeds will go to the Special Olympics10

“Dude get in the back of the line! I don’t know who you think you are, but you do not get special treatment.” The words that all freshmen have always wanted to say without losing a tooth and looking like Si from Duck Dynasty. Whether you are an All-State football player or the freshmen that walks in the hallway in fear of bullying, everyone has experienced seniors exercising the “senior card.” Every year, nervous freshmen come into high school with fears of being shoved into lockers or bumping shoulders with Cody Kildow and he eats you alive or accidentally

giving Austin Miller a “dirty” look, resulting in a bare-knuckle fist fight. The fears that freshmen have before stepping foot on a high school campus are endless. They are afraid to ever say something to the person that thinks they are better than someone. No matter what year you go to high school there will always be seniors that feel privileged to things. Colin Farrow, freshman, talks about the senior card that seniors always pull. “I feel lower than them. Sometimes I just want to tell them to make them wait in the [lunch] line,” he said. Avery Booth, senior, is ‘that guy’ who does not care

what freshmen think of him. “We’ve had to deal with other hazing from past classes,” said Booth. “They pushed me around and made me do things I didn’t want to do.” Booth, as well as many other seniors, point to past senior classes as to why they behave the way they do. He also mentions how prevalent hazing is in sports. From getting foul balls to getting the water off the bus, the senior imposed responsibilities for freshmen are never ending. Freshmen are at the back of the line for now, but soon enough they will be the first ones in line asking for the double chicken nuggets.

The senior card has been renewed generation after generation. What does South think of it? by CODY SHOPPER

Nothin’ Personal

“We waited to pull the senior card, so they’ll get their time.” -Michelle Estes, senior

“They’re seniors, so they can cut in line. They deserve that.” -Tate Summa, freshman

south says...

When someone has older siblings in high school, comparisons come flying their way like leaves in the wind once they step foot in the building. However,

for some underclassmen, they all do not want to be a mime of their elder; instead, they want to be able to make a new name for themselves and halt all of the analogies. One set of brothers that are dealing with this are Craig Scott, senior, and Zach Scott, junior. After his freshman year at Rockhurst, Craig decided South was a better fit and jumped ship to Riverside. Only one season later there was already much promise for Craig and with that came the expectations that were handed off to his little brother, Zach. While both played for the Varsity football team, having each other’s presence has had positive results for both of them. “It’s like having another set of eyes on the field,” said Craig. “I like having him cheer from the sidelines. It helps fuel my game performance.” Although it might seem like they get along, there is always a brotherly competition that remains between the two. “He makes me strive to do better...because I want to be better than him,” said Zach, junior. However, the boys do not only fight over being better than the other. “[Zach] gets on my nerves a lot,” said Craig. “Especially when he fights over my punts in games.” Punts were a controversy this year for the feuding brothers who, nonetheless, were both sent back to receive them, resulting in arguments and fumbles during games or practices. Even though follies like this occurred it wasn’t all serious for the Scotts. “It’s a lot of fun, because he’s always sitting there beside me and

we get to bond,” said Craig. As Craig hauled in all-conference and all-state accolades this year, Zach will have to wait until next year to prove his worth and hopefully “cash in” the same way his brother has. It might seem as if he has a large lead over Zach skill-wise on the field, Zach admits he has one thing. “He’s got all the physical genes,” said Zach. “Except for looks, I got all of those.” Typically you only see brothers get in scuffles over the football or trying to beat one another at everything possible; however, sisters can be just as harsh and competitive on the field. Carli Hanlon, sophomore, and Emmy Hanlon, senior, are this type of sisters. Returning for her fourth year on the Varsity soccer team, Emmy has no plans for her younger sister to be able to do what she pleases on the pitch. “I can boss her around and she can’t give me crap back,” said Emmy. However, Carli is perfectly fine with this “dictatorship” brought on by Emmy and actually enjoys having her on the team to look out for her. “I want to set a good example for her,” said Emmy. Not only does she want to lead by example, but for her younger

sister to be able to look up to her. “I’ll always have her there as a role model,” said Carli, who is looking forward to her second varsity season at South. “She’s always there supporting me.” Even with all the support, jealousy still plays a major role in the conflict between the two. “I don’t like when she does something better than me,” said Emmy. “It makes me look really bad so I usually try harder when she’s around.” With the ongoing battle during the season, trying to be better than the other can be tough; but in the end of it all, following their lead or creating your own path is one of the two goals younger siblings strive for.

follow myleadSouth Students have to deal with expectations brought on by having older siblings

by CJ WHISNANT

11Nathan Choi (10), Michelle Huey (12) and Cole Knoerschild (12) qualified for All-State Orchestra

Quidditch Club will have a meeting Dec. 17 after school in A102. All are welcome!12

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photo by JAKE PAROLIN photo by SETH CLINE photo by BRAEDEN BEYMER photo by HANNAH BROWN

Students share about their not so common household pets fancy fiestafurry

by JA

KE

PARO

LIN

Have you ever seen a Sugar Glider? Ever met a cat that snarfs? Many students at South have the traditional dog or cat at home, but there are some students who own a creature a bit more unique than your everyday house cat. Peter, the snarfing Persian cat, named after Peter Frampton for his fluffy blonde hair, is the proud pet of Graham Hoffman, senior. Peter is not like most cats, at a young age he used to steal straws and hide them under the rug. Peter also has his trademark “Snarf ”, which is a sneeze and barf at the same time, and even has his own Instagram, TheDailyPete. Peter made his way into Hoffman’s life when his mom decided to get him for her birthday. Hoffman’s relationship with the funny feline is a bit of a love or hate one. “One day he poops in the bathtub, the other he tries to cuddle with me,” Hoffman said. Seth Cline, senior, has a pet that does a little more hopping than the others. Cline has a pet bunny named Lenny. The name was inspired by the book “Of Mice and Men”.

Cline got a bunny because he had never owned a pet. At first the relationship between the two was a “little sketchy,” said Cline. Lenny would run away from him and take refuge under his bed.

Over time, though, the relationship blossomed into a strong bond between the bunny and Cline. “He doesn’t run away from me anymore,” said Cline.“He is something to cuddle with and talk to if you’re lonely.” Braeden Beymer, senior, has something more exotic in his household. His pet sugar glider is named Kaylie.

A sugar glider is a gliding possum belonging to the marsupial family. It is a lot like a flying squirrel. A naturally shy animal, Kaylie does not spend much time with her owner. “I feed it and it bites me,” said Beymer. Aside from Kaylie, Beymer also has two dogs named Missy and Princess. From flying mammals to spitting beasts, Hannah Brown, junior, has been hit by a spit missile on numerous occasions. “The first time I went to see them, the mom spit on me,” said Brown. Brown has a total of seven alpacas. Their names are Mille, Shannon, Patricia, Electra, Wellie, Allie and Beguiled. “We got them because my mom loves animals,” said Brown. “She also sells their fur.” Adding to the seven alpacas, Brown has two dogs, Daisy and Mac. Some spit, some fly and others snarf. Like their owners, every pet is just as unique as the next. Pets play different roles in their owners life, but one thing is for sure: an interesting pet makes quite a story.

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by ELIE QUIROZ South’s publications enjoyed a trip to San Antonio for the NSPA National Convention

STUCO is holding a holiday movie night Dec. 19 @ 7 p.m. in the auditorium 13

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The internet is like everything else on this planet, it can be taken for granted. Society expects that the internet

will be provided to them and it is just part of everyone’s lives. But what if it just went away? Often people do not think about others in third world countries that do not have the opportunity to use the internet or the people in our own country that choose not to use the internet. In Amish and Mennonite communities it is normal to go your whole life without internet or electricity. In my experience of going without internet I learned that it can be really hard to not have the conveniences that we are used to. However, I learned that the internet is not everything. I was able to finish my Personal Finance homework with a normal textbook and I went the entire weekend without Twitter and Instagram. Yes, it is possible. Of course when I was bored, I wanted to pull out my phone and watch Netflix, but I restrained myself and put my time to better use. I was able to read a book , clean my room and have some good quality time with my family.

People in the US use the internet for everything. We learn, educate and communicate, among other things. One of these other things the internet is used for is Cyber Bullying. According to dosomething.org, 1 in 3 teens have experienced bullying online. This is when I start to think, “Would it really be so bad if the internet went away?”

Of course we would lose some convenience in our everyday lives. For instance, I would not be able to look up some unknown homework questions or communicate as easily with friends. Although we would lose some convenience I think it is still more important to save the lives that could be lost. Many people would ask if the quality

of our education could go down. I think it could possibly go up. Teachers would get full attention from students that would normally be on Twitter or Tumblr; students would not have the ability to just look up the answers to their homework online. It is possible that students would pay attention to what they are learning and remember it for their life in the real world. Maybe we should not take the internet for granted; maybe you should try to complete a Biology assignment without Googling one of the questions. You could be surprised about what you learn about yourself and your capabilities. If you are thinking that you could not go the rest of your life without tweeting or blogging you should think about sending a letter to your friend instead of tweeting them during passing time. You can write a journal or diary if blogging is your thing. Sure, it could be hard to live without internet but there is more to life than the World Wide Web. We are lucky to have our resources like the internet in our lives and they should not be taken for granted.

“WOULD IT REALLY BE SO BAD IF THE INTERNET

WENT AWAY?”

The sound of chatter filled Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center as students from across the country walk in front, around or behind others, trying to grab a seat in a session they picked. Fifteen South students from South Paw and The View went to the JEA/NSPA National High School Journalism Convention on Nov. 15. This convention brought people around the country to one city to compete in writing contests and Best of Show categories, all while having fun. “Going to San Antonio was really fun; I learned a better way to enhance my writing.” said Laiya Smith, senior. “A session explained how diversity is important to an article, which was great for me to know.” Students who went to the convention attended various sessions throughout the day. These sessions taught them different uses of

media or new angles for stories, among other things. These students would be able to take this information back to their classrooms to further enhance their high school publications. “The designs [I saw] helped me,” said Breanna Webster, junior. “I was able to see different ways to capture the eye [of the audience].” There was also plenty of down time to enjoy the city during their stay. While in San Antonio, the journalism students went to restaurants like Casa Rio, saw different sites such as La Villa and The Alamo and attended a Spurs game. The Panther Publications students were able to have fun and get to know one another better. “I got closer to a lot of people on the trip. It does something [to you] when you share a room with them,” said Webster. “I talked to people I usually don’t.” After the trip, South students came home with nine awards. One went to the 2012 South Paw yearbook for Best Of Show, another to South Side Scoop for Broadcast Pacemaker Finalist, one to Kylie Vandeven, senior, for first place in Design of the Year and one to Amber Garrett (class of 2012) for Honorable Mention for Sports Photography. Five individual awards were won by the students in the Write Off Contests that were held at the convention and work that was previously submitted. “[Winning] was a good thing for the [broadcast] program,” said Daniel Kerwin, senior. “I know Mr. Ford would be proud that we won a Finalist for the Pacemaker Award.” At the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center South Students were able to have fun and take home knowledge to inspire better writing for now and the future.

APATHY www.itsnothardtogowithoutinternet.com by KYLE VANICE

world wide

seeking san antonio

As I jumped from trampoline to trampoline, dunked for the first time and dominated little kids in trampoline dodgeball, I realized that if I was about five years younger, I would be having the time of my life. I was at Sky Zone KC, an extreme indoor trampoline park right across the state line in Overland Park, Kan. Sky Zone is a place where kids of all ages can go and participate in different activities on trampolines, such as basketball, dodgeball and even a new sport Sky Zone invented themselves that is played with a ball and different hoops that are used as goals. You can also participate in SkyRobics, a highly intense workout done all on trampolines. As a highschooler, I would say it is not really a place designed for my friends and I to hang out, but more for middle schoolers and below. Besides, paying $9 for 30 minutes of fun does not really fit into most high schooler’s budgets. Another thing that I did not like about Sky Zone was the extremely strict rules. I

understand the whole liability issue and that they do not want a bunch salty parents suing them, but if I was a 10 year old kid, there is no way I could have ever follow the rules that place has. For an example, only one person can use the basketball goals at a time--it would be more fun if you could actually play against each other. Also, there was no roughhousing, as in things like tackling, running or playing tag. But beside the price, rules and the 25 minute drive, the place was pretty dang cool. One of my favorite things about it was the basketball trampoline. They had three different goals set up at different heights with trampoline runways leading up to them so you could do all types of different dunks. I also liked the foam pit they had set up next to trampolines that you could bounce off into the pit. So, if you enjoy jumping on trampolines and are down to spend a little money this Winter Break, then I would say Sky Zone KC is one new place to try for a little cold weather indoor entertainment.

On Nov. 20, federal officials arrested four men in Southern California charged with plotting to join Al-Qaeda and the Taliban in

Afghanistan and attack American targets. FBI undercover agents learned that these four individuals had “radical” views and were coordinating with foreigners on committing ‘jihad’, the Islamic word for struggle. This incident makes it seem apparent that America has a mission to achieve total security and chase down the terrorist threat. The government acts as if the violence toward the United States and its allies is unwarranted and comes from radical, senseless religious doctrine. In reality, though, it should be rather obvious why these “terrorists” are fighting against America. Do not let Washington play dumb. The reason terrorism exists today is because of American global domination. American action oppressed many around the world and resulted in the United States brought enemies and terrorism upon itself. It mainly started in the Gulf War, which ended up

being a short massacre in the Arab world. The United States was justifying military action against governments and groups that it itself propped up and armed to beat its last enemy, the Russian Communists. Just like in the 1960s in South America, the United States was controlling and deciding regimes to fit their interests. As if a military slaughter was not enough, the United States imposed post-war sanctions that resulted in even more death. The United States sanctions denied food and medicine to be sent into Iraq to help civilians. This mass starvation and horrifying medical malpractice resulted in the deaths of 1.4 million people, 500,000 of which were children according to U.N. surveys. The shooting, bombing, starving, sickening and controlling of the Arab world had marked a new enemy for the military to eliminate. It should be no surprise why these events were followed by the formation of “terrorist” groups whose sole purpose was to fight back against the United States. The government’s explanation, though, is that we are fighting

extremists who must hate freedom and democracy. To quote Gerald Seymour, “One man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter.” The empire of freedom and democracy murdered and oppressed millions in the Arab world, creating Middle Eastern freedom fighters combating the American terrorists. The response to this new enemy was not to look at the root cause of their struggle, but to dominate it in military competition. The largest military the world had ever seen re-occupied the Middle East to combat enemies fighting with old GMC trucks and whatever left-over Cold War weapons they could find. This new military campaign would go on to seize control over Middle Eastern resources, brutally torture an undisclosed number of innocents and slaughter and starve millions more, and feed the hatred for America that creates enemies in the first place. Imperial domination and oppression of people is of course going to create enemies and terrorists. By creating more terrorists the United States finds justification in continuing its genocide because it is now a necessary mission to ensure security. The United States is cutting the head off of the dandelion as opposed to pulling up the roots. With new threats of domestic terrorism, when, if it hasn’t already, will the empire of freedom and democracy cut the heads off of its own citizens?

Entrenching an Empire

by DYLAN WORTHA review of the new Sky Zone KC, located in Overland Park

Yearbook Update: Half the book is done! Orders yours at yearbookforever. com by Jan 1114

photo by ZAC RICKETTS

thecenterwing

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monday tuesday wednesday thursday friday saturday sundayopen

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by KENNETH HARRIS

hours of operation:

take3Video Games

by CHAD BREWSTER

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Jamie Venzian (12), Will Peak (12) and Rene Huey (10) qualified for All-State Band 15

Unlike “Halo” and “Call of Duty”, the “Medal of Honor” series does not get talked about as much as it should. Like the previous two games, it comes with a decent size price tag, but it also comes with pre-order access for the upcoming “Battlefield 4”. The multiplayer mode is a big downgrade from the other two games, though. With less people playing this game than the other two, it will take longer to find a game to join online. Another problem is that there are only six classes to choose from, giving the player less options and customizability. One unique feature is the ability to unlock different National Special Forces, ranging from the USA’s Navy Seals and Delta force to the United Kingdom’s Special Air Service. What “Medal of Honor” lacks in multiplayer is forgiven with its superb single player mode. Once again, it gives you the opportunity to join whatever National Special Force you want to. The storyline is very dramatic and the graphics are incredible. Between slow-motion explosions and action packed firefights, there is never a dull moment. Although it is a very impressive game, I am not sure if it is worth $60. This is one I would wait for until it goes on sale.

Medal of Honor:

It is the holday season and only one thing is on most students minds: winter break. Those 12 glorious days off between semesters are

what keep students and teachers sane during the long school year. You have time to spend with your best friends or your family members that you only see once a year. However, many students use this time for another hobby: video games. With so many options at such high prices, which one should you choose?

“Halo” fans have waited a long time for the long awaited sequel to “Halo 3”, besides the smaller games such as “Halo: ODST” and “Halo: Reach”. Bungie stepped down from making the “Halo” series, and 343 Industries was given the task instead. With such a large fanbase and high expectations, it was hard for “Halo 4” to live up to the hype, but did a pretty good job doing so. “Halo 4’s” single-player storyline takes place 4 years after the end of “Halo 3”. Master Chief crash lands on a new planet and must fight his way back to Earth. Gamers encounter new enemies, such as the Prometheans, with new weapons such as the Sticky Detonator. 343 Industries payed extra attention to the graphics aspect of the game and it turned out fantastic. As usual, “Halo” has a supreme storyline which provides for hours of offline entertainment. However, the controls are not as easy to learn as the ones for “Call of Duty”. “Halo 4” has some unique online multiplayer features that I have not seen in other games. There are dozens of game modes you can choose from and some categories even have sub-categories, so you truly have the freedom to play however you want to. Another returned feature is ‘Forge’, which allows you to create your own maps for offline multiplayer. Instead of ‘Firefight’, ‘Spartan Ops’ will make its debut in “Halo 4”. Weekly special missions will be released online that are free to download. Speaking of downloading, another negative about “Halo 4” is that you have to download a special disk in order to play multiplayer. The file sizes are over 8 gigabytes, so it may be hard to free up memory for this monstrous download. I enjoyed this game a lot, and you will get your money’s worth of the $60 you spend.

Halo 4 The “Call of Duty” franchise has been one of the most successful video game franchises in the last decade and this edition does not disappoint. The graphics are amazing and many beloved features return this time around. This franchise has captured gamer’s attentions once again, including mine. Although it will cost over $60 to own, I think it is well worth the money. Unlike the previous “Call of Duty” games, this game takes place in the future. Futuristic game play means futuristic weapons, such as AN-94 and SWAT-556, and new vehicles such as the C.L.A.W. One of the best parts about the single-player campaign is that it gives more power to the gamer. Instead of having a ‘script’ that you have to follow in order to beat it, you have more control over what you do, which will in turn change the final outcome. Multiplayer is what most high school gamers will end up playing and “Black Ops 2” delivers. New this year is League Play, which allows the gamer to be in a game with other people on their skill level. No longer will you have to deal with playing a “C.O.D.” veteran when this is your first time ever playing. One thing that will not make a return is ‘Nuketown’, a fan favorite map. However, a more futuristic version of the map is available, ‘Nuketown 2025,’ but is currently only open to those who pre-ordered the game. The difference between “Call of Duty” and all other games is one thing: ‘Zombies’. Once again, players can try to fend off waves of flesh-eating zombies, with many weapons and power-ups not available in other game modes. Not much is new about ‘Zombies’, but that is because nothing needed changing.

Black Ops 2

Warfighter

SURVIVALchecklist

zombie repellent

flashlight

escape helicopter

bottled watter

light sabers

canned foods

AM/FM radio

bazooka

first aid kit

gas mask

shot gun for zombies

heavy blankets

can opener

twinkies

flaressleeping bag

batteriesmatchesMountain Dew

toilet paperSegway

out o

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ents82%

of south students believe “Doom’s Day”

will NOT happen

HURRICANE KATRINA

HAITI EARTHQUAKE

JAPAN EARTHQUAKE AND TSUNAMI

HURRICANE SANDY

Aug. 29, 2005

1,833 dead

Jan. 12, 2010

230,000 dead

March 11, 2011

5,178 dead

Oct. 30, 2012

113 dead

according to www.guardian.co.uk

As the countdown to Dec. 21, 2012 begins, so do the questions and curiosities of people worldwide. According to the ancient Mayan calendar, the end of the world is quickly approaching. As the world waits for “Doom’s Day,” there have been many theories formed about what might happen and the controversy continues. Nikki Santana, junior, does not believe in the conspiracy, much like many other South students. “I don’t personally think the world is going to end, but it scares my sister and I don’t like that,” said Santana. While there are many people who do not believe in the world’s end, there are also others who feel strongly about the conspiracy. “I’ve read about it,” said Daniel Herrejon, junior, “and the [predictions] make it seem real.” Not only have ancient predictions from the Mayans helped form opinions on what might happen, but modern day movies have as well. “The Day After Tomorrow” and “2012” are movies based in modern day that include natural disasters leading to the end of the world. “The fact that New York actually flooded and it was in the movies is just weird,” said Breezy Kolkolski, junior. Over time, people may have forget about the fear the movies brought to them since they were made over a year ago. “Looking back at when the documentaries and movies came out, I was worried,” said Santana. “But not anymore.” Actual events said to occur on Doom’s Day have varied and changed, like a game of telephone. Throughout the years, many new myths and ideas have formed. “I’ve heard crazy things like an asteroid is going to hit or a Yellowstone underground volcano is going to erupt,” said Samantha Cork, sophomore. Cork is not the only South student who has heard rumors about natural disasters being the cause of the world’s end. “New York is going to freeze,” said Jake Ditto, sophomore. “Just like in the movies.”

The End of The

Controversy Continues as December 21 Quickly Approaches

16

things to doBEFORE DEC. 21

learn to play an intstrumentgo skydivingeat at Gates Barbeque

watch “Mean Girls”go on a shopping

spreerun a 5k

ice skate at Crown Center

learn to skiwatch “Rocky”go Christmas

carolingeat sushi at Zarago scubadivinglearn another

languagetake early finalsgive to charity

solve a rubix cube

While some students refer to movies for their answers and predictions, others have a more serious opinion about what might happen on Dec. 21. “There could be an equinox switch that would affect sunlight,” said Herrejon, “and probably some hurricanes.” Whether or not the controversy is true, many people cannot help but think about what they want to do and how they will spend their last days alive. “I took off work that day, just in case,” said Kolkoski. “I want to do something fun that I’ll never forget with the people I care about the most.” Spending their last days with family and loved ones seems to be one of the top priorities on that December day for South students. “I plan on telling my loved ones that I love them,” said Herrejon. “Then I’m taking cover.” While others have their days already planned out, people who do not take the controversy seriously have little to no plans at all. “Other predictions about the world ending have never happened,” said Cork. “But if for some reason this turns out differently, I just plan on dying that day, nothing specific.”Ditto, as well, does not take the controversy seriously. “I’ll do nothing differently that day,” said Ditto. “It’s a normal day to me; I’ll spend it relaxing.” The controversy and debates about “Doom’s Day” will continue to grow and change. People may never agree about what might happen, but soon enough the questions will be answered as the world waits for Dec. 21 to roll around. “If I die, you die...We all die,” said Kolkoski.

As We Know ItControversy Continues as December 21 Quickly Approaches

by MALLORY MOXHAM

17

The lifeless bodies of 12 students and one teacher lay in a pool of their own blood on the floor of a hollow-hearted Colorado High School. Two more bodies would collapse next to these victims, no longer entombing the confused souls that were responsible for the 13 deaths that day. The school echoed with a reverberating silence, but mayhem and distraught ran rampant outside the confines of Columbine High School. The whispers, secrets and radical theories of why seniors Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris would commit such repulsive events flowed through the entire country like the human circulatory system; Columbine, Colo. was the heart of it all. From violent video games, the internet, and the use of pharmaceutical anti-depressants, the list of possible causes for Harris and Klebold’s behavior went on and on. But one theory in particular would shape extremely bias opinions of not only one artist’s image but the entire Goth community as a whole: the strange and unique sound of Marilyn Manson. If you have not heard Manson’s music before, it is different to say the least. To be frank, I find his heavy metal music synonymous with the sound of nails on a chalkboard mixed with a singing goat belting out a beautiful rendition of “Amazing Grace.” Or maybe I would compare it to listening to Slipknot, while hitting my head against a solid concrete brick over and over again until either the song is over or little birdies start floating around my head; but the birds are singing “Three Little Birds” by Bob Marley. It is confusing, but you get it. His music is probably cacophonous to 90 percent of you who will read this column. But just like all other walks of life, some people find the beauty in Mr. Manson’s musical ambitions. Newspapers and news stations raved with headlines such as “Killers Worshipped Rock Freak Manson” and “Devil-Worshipping Maniac Told Kids To Kill.” People everywhere began to despise Goth kids and social

outcasts because Marilyn Manson is also Goth and very much a social outcast as well. They began to pin the 13 Columbine deaths on Manson, saying that his cruel lyrics and radical views on religion had spoken through the devil on Harris’ and Klebold’s shoulder blades. Why? Because the American public was scared. Scared that two average high school students could wake up one day, and decide to take the lives of their fellow classmates and teachers. They could not accept the fact that two teens could be misguided so badly, that they felt they needed to kill for attention, notoriety and self-gratitude. They could not have people frightened of the ordinary, so they blamed it on something they could not understand.

It turns out that the boys were not even fans of Marilyn Manson. For all we know, they may have never even heard a Marilyn Manson song. This goes to show just how manipulative the wrong people in the media can be and just how powerful they can be as well. Manson’s reputation will forever be tarnished, being known as the leading cause for the shootings at Columbine High School. But I think, most importantly, it shows how powerful music can be. Manson’s music may not have been powerful enough to tell Harris and Klebold to follow through with these acts of terror, but it was sure powerful enough to convince a nation that it could sway someone to kill another human being. Music can never be held responsible for the death of a human being. One can simply find by researching serial killer Charlie

Manson, the man from which Marilyn Manson gets his name, that it takes a lot of damage and scars in the human psyche to invoke someone to kill. However, music can fill you with overwhelming emotions, and in this case, Manson was able to scare a great number of the American population with his sick twisted melodies. The great Eminem once said, “Music can alter moods and talk to you, well can it load a gun up for you and cock it too?” Em is saying he, or any other musician, cannot be held responsible for your actions. The music is supposed to make you feel a certain way, but he cannot control the way you react to one of his songs. If you are a South student, I am certain you have heard the story of Rachel Scott by now. Rachel was the first one to have a bullet shot through her on that April day. Her legacy lives on through the diary that they found in her backpack the day of the shootings. She had this theory that if one person is kind to everyone, it will rub off on them and form a chain reaction. Music works the same way. Though it cannot ultimately be responsible for one’s reactions, it can be responsible for the emotions that lead you to these actions. Is it in anyway rational to believe that the music that Harris and Klebold listened to drove them to the brink of insanity? Absolutely not. No musician is ever going to make a song to negatively influence their listeners because if they did, they would have no fan base. The type of music you listen to does not define you. Everyone has something different that speaks to them. I encourage you to break outside the mainstream. Just because no one else likes the music that speaks the most to you means you are different; that is all. No matter how the media perceives you or your favorite artist, do not change. Their prejudice does not define you. And for that matter, neither does the music you listen to.

How Chaos Surrounding Columbine Shootings Affected Music

by SPENSER BRAYMER

Mitch Oberhelman (12) and Joe Philpot (11) qualified for All-State Orchestra Winds18

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the BLAME GAMEAEONIC RESONANCE:

“MUSIC CAN NEVER BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DEATH OF A

HUMAN BEING.”

Innocently walking to class, you turn the corner into the dimly-lit, seemingly empty hallway. You

look up and standing right there in front of you are two people sucking face with their bodies in a tight embrace, without a care as to where they are and who could possibly

be around. You awkwardly fast-walk into your classroom as the bell rings and the couple still has yet to come up for air. Sadly enough, this is an everyday sight here at South, and it definitely is not a pleasant one. It seems like these couples lurk in every dark corner during passing time. My biggest question for these all-over-each-other couples is WHY? Why do you feel the need to be desperately groping each other at school with several other students around? What makes you think this is socially acceptable? There is no need to be this gross and irritating during school. The end of passing time is not the end of the world; you will see each other again in a short 90 minutes. Two-minute long hugs and cooing in baby voices about how much you will miss each other is completely unnecessary. I absolutely cannot fathom how these couples are comfortable being this affectionate in public. If some guy tried to make out with me in the school hallway in front of hundreds of students, I would want to punch him in the face and run away. I would feel disgusting and surely I am not the only one who would feel that way. Not only would I feel uncomfortable in this situation, everyone around me would too. If you can tone it down to short hugs and holding hands, everyone would be much happier. Let us be honest, nobody wants to see extreme PDA at school. Please get a room, because I hate the awkward and uncomfortable walks into my classes.

There is nothing better than walking into the hallway just in time to see Mr. and Mrs. Lovebird attempting

to eat each other’s face off, am I right? If you answered yes to that, please refrain from watching anymore late night HBO. Has nobody heard the phrase “get a room”? That does not mean stand in the not so secret corner in the highly populated hallway as you proceed to play tonsil hockey. It really grinds my gears when a couple feels the need to be overly dramatic every time they see each other. It is like one of them just returned from some foreign land every passing time. Now I am fine with the couples who can resist the urge to climb all over each other for six minutes and conduct a normal conversation without pulling a zombie move to the face. Truthfully, your everlasting love is going to end sooner or later and all the spit swapping you have been doing will be just a much unwanted free show for your soon to be ill peers. I do not really understand why you would want everyone to watch you grope each other anyway. Do you annoying couples really not find it weird when you have the whole hall staring at you while you proceed to reproduce? It is really quite awkward. The worst part is when you block up the hall with all your love. It is always a feel-bad moment when we have to squeeze through you and your lover. I am not trying to put a damper on your puppy love, but there is a time and place for everything. The hallway is really not that romantic of a place. By all means, spend your little precious time together, but for the sake of us bystanders, please remain out from behind the poles that do not really hide you anyway. Take it to the athletic hallway where the smell of love is in the air.

As high schoolers, we are at a defining point in our lives. Childhood is practically over, while at the same time we are preparing for life in college and in the real world. At this time, teenagers are supposed to assume more responsibilities as the number of duties and the consequences of not keeping these responsibilities will only increase as we grow up. Drug and alcohol awareness are taught very thoroughly throughout middle and high school. From Drug Abuse Resistance Education, better known as D.A.R.E., to Health and Personal Wellness classes among others, different methods are used educate America’s youth on the effects of drugs and alcohol use. High school is a time in many peoples’ lives that they are faced with their first real peer pressure of the use of drugs and some of the choices made in these decisions can result in serious consequences. Being responsible when facing these choices can result in avoiding things like a suspension, expulsion, an arrest or even sentencing.

Beside the use of drugs, the use of one’s time and money involves a lot of responsibility in high school. According to a report from the Washington Post, only 16 percent of high school students in America are employed. While some have prior conflicts or just don’t have the time, a part-time job is something many teens have a chance at for the first time. Work experience looks good on any job application but working in the real world could be very difficult without ever having worked previously. Along with a job comes money, and with money comes the responsibility to manage money. Most high schoolers would love to blow every dollar they make on personal wants; however, making money off a job in high school can prepare you immensely for how to manage money that you make in a career. Between gas money, insurance, food and leisure items, there are many expenses for a high school student. The important thing is not to just spend money, but save some as well.

As for those who can’t work due to a dedication to their extra-curricular activity or academics, there comes plenty of responsibility as well. Any athlete knows it is vital to keep his or her body in top condition, both in the season and off-season. Eating the right food and exercising are necessary to remain in the top physical shape. Any high school student knows that schoolwork is important and staying on top of it is as well. Getting good grades can lead to better test scores and more scholarship money for better opportunities in college. While you may think homework is “boring” or “pointless,” doing well in school can really help in the long run. Between decision making, taking care of yourself and your money and finding employment, there are plenty of opportunities to gain and assume responsibility in your life. Use the aforementioned opportunities to become more responsible in getting ready for the real world.

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19Next Home Boys’ Basketball Game is TONIGHT (12/14) against Lee’s Summit

public displays of affectionwhat grinds my gears:

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by EMILY ORVOS and JAKE PAROLIN

Danny Kerwin (12), Spenser Braymer (12), Karlie Bischoff (12), Lindsey Gile (12). 20

Come visit our NEW

www.worthharley-davidson.com 816-420-9000

21and Sara Parolin (11) won awards in their Write-Off Contests at the NSPA National Convention

Pittsburg State UniversityPittsburg State UniversityPittsburg, KS • www.pittstate.edu/cgs

MS Health, Human •Performance, and Recreation

MS Educational Leadership•

MS Special Education •Teaching

MS Reading•

MS Teaching ESOL•

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Certificate of Autism •Spectrum Disorders

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Kansas City Metro Centerhttp://kcmetro.pittstate.edu • 913-529-4487

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psu_coe_parkhillsouth_4.25x5.5.indd 1 11/26/12 11:27:44 AM

22 Next Home Girls’ Basketball Game is Wednesday 12/19 against Grandview

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It’s no secret that our very own Kansas City Chiefs are one of the worst teams in professional football. They commit too many costly turnovers, don’t score enough points, and allow opponents to score too many points. It’s clear the Chiefs are terrible in almost all aspects of the game. Just look at the stats. The Chiefs are 31st in scoring, 31st in passing yards and 22nd in yards per game. We’re definitely at the back of the league and often at the very back. The Chiefs lack the offensive playmakers to get the job done. This season is clearly over for the Chiefs (the only thing they are fighting for is the number one overall pick), and they need to make changes. A new coach, a new quarterback, and a new general manager are in order. Matt Cassel is just terrible. Plain and simple. He cannot play football in the NFL. The Chiefs have given him every opportunity to succeed, bringing in players like running back Jamaal Charles, wide receiver Jon Baldwin, running back Peyton Hillis, offensive tackle Eric Winston, and tight Kevin Boss to give him the weapons to succeed. He clearly hasn’t succeeded. I look for them to take a quarterback in the draft. USC’s Matt Barkley, West Virginia’s Geno Smith and NC State’s Mike Glennon are the top ranked quarterbacks, and they are not outstanding players. The Chiefs picked the wrong year to suck. Think if they had been this terrible last year, Kansas City could have gotten one of the best quarterback prospects in history in Andrew Luck. Or we could have at least gotten an explosive and energizing

quarterback in rookie sensation RGIII. Now they’re left with three QB’s that may not even succeed in the NFL. Owner Clark Hunt must clean house. The entire organization, whether it comes to drafting players or spending money in free agency, is not getting it done. That responsibility falls solely on the shoulders of general manager Scott Pioli. His tyrannical reign over our beloved Chiefs needs to end immediately. Over his four years of being here the Chiefs have gone a woeful 21-38. They need a general manager that players respect and want to play for. The whole organization’s atmosphere needs changing. Recently we’ve seen banners flying behind planes demanding for Pioli to be fired. That is absolutely ridiculous and just shows you how desperate we are here in Kansas City. The last change is a new head coach. Romeo Crennel is just not getting the job done. This never happens, but I would love for him to go back to being just a defensive coordinator. He is best suited for this job, not being a head coach. Personally, I would love to see a coach like Bill Cowher or Jon Gruden come back into the game. They both have great track records and could prove to be outstanding coaches. The Chiefs currently sit at 2-11 and at the bottom of the AFC West. While this season is clearly over, the future can be a bright one. In the offseason Clark Hunt needs to make major changes if he wants our hometown Chiefs to be a relevant team in our division. We can only hope that he wakes up and makes the hard decisions necessary to make us Super Bowl Contenders.

The Chiefs are 2-11, and one of the worst teams in the NFL, so Clark Hunt needs to make some big time changes by CALEB FENNER

by ZAC RICKETTS

Jayhawk fans should be ready for another successful season of Kansas Basketball

31st IN TOTAL POINTS SCORED

MOST FUMBLES LOST IN NFL

LAST IN PASSING TDs

Craig Scott is the 2012 recipient of the Otis Taylor Award for top Wide Receiver in the Metro 23

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chiefs future CHANGES

CAN’T STOP KANSASUNDER FURTHER REVIEW:

The University of Kansas is by far one of the most storied basketball programs in the history of the NCAA.

It helps when the man who invented basketball, James Naismith, was the first head coach at the school. That is not all the history the Jayhawks have, though. Since 2000, KU has made it to three Final Fours, won a National Championship, won five Big XII tournament championships and won or split 10 regular season conference titles. Not to mention, they are coming off their most recent regular season Big XII crown, making it eight in row and they were runners up in last year’s NCAA tournament. Now it is time to put all the history aside and talk about the 2012-2013 Kansas Jayhawks, which for KU fans, that’s a pretty good conversation too. The Jayhawks look like they are in a prime position to win their ninth straight Big XII regular season title

and compete in March once again. Kansas has a good mix of returning and new talent and one of the best coaches in the country in Bill Self. I do not see any reason why this team would not win the Big XII. Yes, they did get beat early in the season to Michigan State at the Champions Classic in Atlanta, Ga., but that should not hurt them too badly. They were competitive, only losing 64-67, which losing a close game early in college basketball is almost a good thing. It makes the team think they can’t just settle on being good and keep getting better all the way through March. KU has plenty of talent to do just that and win games in March and maybe even make it to the Final Four like they did last season. They have a good back court with seniors Elijah Johnson and Travis Releford and redshirt freshman Ben McLemore. They also have a strong front court with seniors

Jeff Withey and Kevin Young starting and freshmen Perry Ellis and Jamari Traylor coming off the bench. The great thing about these seniors is they are all veteran leaders who also have a lot of game time experience. Withey, Johnson and Releford all started in the National Championship game last season. Their freshmen all look really athletic as well, so things are looking positive for the Jayhawks. The only bad thing for KU is they lost their two best players from last season, Thomas Robinson and Tyshawn Taylor. All in all though, things look really good for the 2012-2013 Kansas Jayhawks and this storied program. Look for this team to add to what is already the rich history of Kansas basketball.

Craig Scott (12), Cody Kildow (12) and Bryan Rocha (11) were named to All-State Football Team24

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Football (7-5)

Boys’ Soccer (22-7)

Cross Country

Boys’ Swim

Volleyball (31-4)

Softball (19-9)

Girls’ Golf

Girls’ Tennis

fallFINALE by EMILY ORVOS

An inside look at the fall sports team’s greatest accomplishments

•Made it to State quarterfinals•Beat Rockhurst 1-0•Beat Park Hill 3 out of 4 games

•Made it to District Championships•Won Lee’s Summit North tournament•Won KSA Fall Classic Tournament in Orlando, Fla.

•Conference and District titles•Second place at Sectionals•Beat Park Hill•Adele Royle, sophomore, made All-State

•2nd place at St. Joe Tournament, first time medaling as a team•Lindsey Gile, senior, placed in the top half of golfers at State•3 golfers made it to Sectionals

•Won St. Joe Tournament•Beat Park Hill both times they played•Made it to District Playoffs

•Beat Park Hill for the third time in history, 45-14•Upset Kearney in District Playoffs•Made it to District Championships

•Girls and Boys both placed 3rd at Conference•Boys had two State qualifiers

•9 State qualifiers•Liam Huffman, senior, is State champion in the 200 freestyle•8-1 record in dual meets

photo by RAELYN MORRIS

photo by RAELYN MORRIS

photo by GABBY KESSLER

photo by GABBY KESSLER

photo by KYNDALL MILLS

photo by EMILY JACKSONphoto by SARAH HARDIN

Many families have traditions over the holiday break that have lasted throughout the years. The South Basketball

family is no exception, as the boys will be partaking in their annual holiday tradition, the American Family Holiday Classic tournament at William Jewell College in Liberty for the 33rd edition of the event. The tournament sorts 24 teams from the Kansas City metro area into three pools of eight: the Nelson, Patterson and Cardinal divisions. While the annual hoops marathon is a huge event for Kansas City high school sports as a whole, South players also view the tournament as a highlight of their season and winter break. “It’s always competitive because it’s a lot bigger than most other tournaments,” said Anthony Woods, senior. As the days go on, the crowds and match-ups get bigger. Pressure rises, competitive egos flare and everything is on the line come Championship Saturday.

Although they are playing on the big stage now, Woods remembers going to the games as a kid. “My dad used to take me every year,” said Woods. “He asked me if I had what it takes to play in front of all those fans at a high level. I told him yes, and I proved that I did.” The early season tournament provides an opportunity for South to gauge their talent against the top teams in the area while also getting a chance to get ready for the grind of the conference and district match-ups. “There’s a lot of hype for us to do something big this year,” said Payton Meek, junior. “There’s always good competition and we’re going to have to play the best to show we can compete with the best.” The tournament is always big around the Kansas City area and has featured names such as Tyronn Lue, Kareem Rush, Travis Releford, Marcus Denmon and Michael Dixon. While the players look forward to

the tournament and its tradition, it is practically a holiday for coaches, both active and retired. “You get to go see some good, competitive basketball,” said Rick Zych, head coach. “You get a chance to evaluate players and teams from all over.” Aside from the traditions of the tournament for coaches, it is also a very beneficial competition for the coaches in getting ready for the rest of the season. “Getting three games in a week is definitely a plus. Playing without school gets the guys to focus a lot more,” said Zych. The American Family Holiday Classic tournament will take place from Dec. 26 to Dec. 29 at William Jewell. South is playing in the Cardinal Division and will take on Ray-Pec at 6 p.m. on Dec. 27. The tournament is entertaining throughout and while it is a tradition of the South basketball family, it could make for a great holiday tradition for any Kansas Citian.

a true holiday classicAs the high school basketball season is underway, one annual tournament steals the show

by DANIEL KERWIN

Turn in a completed Reader’s Survey (on back page) for a chance to win $25 to Zona Rosa 25

Spenser Braymer, Senior

Daniel Kerwin, Senior

Rose BowlWisconsin

Vs StanfordFiesta BowlKansas StateVs OregonSugar BowlLouisvilleVs Florida

Chase Whorton from ST @ the SD, Junior

Evan Jones, Senior

Allen Hyatt, Sophomore

AlabamaNotre Dame

Alabama Alabama

Florida“Florida. No

questions asked.” Florida FloridaFlorida

Oregon

Northern Illinois

Oregon Oregon Kansas State

Stanford Wisconsin Wisconsin Wisconsin

Florida State Florida State Florida StateOrange Bowl

Northern Illinois Vs Florida State

“Manti Te’o will be a man among boys,”

“Oregon is just TOO fast,”

“FSU will dominate in every

aspect,”“Stanford’s coaching is

better,”

“Bama, Bama, Bama,”

BCS National Championship Notre Dame Vs

Alabama

BCSbowl selectionswith SPENSER BRAYMER and DANIEL KERWIN

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26

IN

a special 6-page multimedia sectionpresented by the fall 2012intro to journalism class

depthpg27

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pg29

pg30

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After practice, most people would come home and watch TV or take a shower and go to

sleep to relax, but for some South students, their relaxation comes from a pencil and paper. “They’re both two different things that you don’t see together usually,” said Cooper Horn (10), “Either people are really into art, or really into sports, but you usually don’t see them together.” People tend to either be artsy or athletic, but for some South athletes that’s not the case. For Horn, his art is just as important to him as football, water polo and track. “Finding time to do art can be really hard because of all of my extracurriculars,” said Horn, “but sometimes I just have to stay up later and will work on my art.” With all of the stress from school and sports, art is used as a release for many South students. “They’re both therapy for me in a way,” said Rachel Schisler (12). “Running is therapy for my body and art is therapy for my mind.” For Shannon Brouks (11), a year round swimmer, she considers both swimming and art a passion of hers. “Swimming gets my emotions out,” said Brouks, “but art can too, just different emotions.” Art has not only been used as a stress reliever for South athletes, but it has also helped them move out of their comfort zones and expand their horizons.

“Art helps me express myself in different ways other than just what I wear,” said Heath Turner (12). “It has given me different friends and a different view on life.” Art isn’t always something that you start out doing, for some the realization of their love for art didn’t come until later on in their life. “I got into art when I was little when I was at an art fair and saw everyone with their art stands and I decided that I wanted one too,”

said Schisler. Brouks didn’t realize her passion for art until eighth grade when they did grid portraits in class. Even during their sport season, athletes still find time to do their art. Whether it is during the little free time that they have, or multitasking while they’re doing their homework, their sports don’t get in the way of their artwork. In sports, athletes are penalized for

breaking the rules, but art encourages thinking outside of the box. “There’s always someone that can beat you in swimming,” said Brouks, “but art is an opinion, so people can make their own judgments on it.” Art isn’t the same for every person, as different people see art in different ways. “With sports what you see is what you get,” said Brouks, “but art is all based on perspective.”

South students aren’t only talented in the sports they play but in the art classroom as well

Undercover Artistby COURTNEY QUINN

Hall of Fame

Select South artists got the opportunity to paint a brick

in the art hallway that let them leave their mark

by COURTNEY QUINN

“I wanted mine to be bright, bold and different. I made sure that it was me because

it’s the one thing I’m leaving here.”

“It’s special because it’s going to be here forever and everyone will see it.”

“I just hope that people like it.”

photo by COURTNEY QUINN

“With Sports What You See Is What You

Get, But Art Is All Based On Perspectives.”

27

Above: With a single click of the camera, Leah Barnhart (10) perfects her photography skills. “Making sure that you capture a story or an emotion is the secret because that’s what draws people to a photo,” said Barnhart. photo by ERIN STUMP Right: Courtney Jackson (10) and Sydney Minnis (10) work on their bricks in the art hallway. Minnis’ inspiration for her brick came from a trip to Colorado, and Jackson’s came from Italian Vogue.

Courtney Jackson (10)

Sydney Minnis (10)

Alyssa Frazier (10)

Visit phsview.com to read Erin Stump’s story on South students

who sell their art work

Scan here to watch Hannah Warman and Kathryn Torrago’s step by step video of how to draw an eye with Syndey Minnis.

zych ’s f reaksThe halls, classrooms and extracurricular activities at South

are where many students have taken their first steps towards adulthood at some point through their years here at South. It

doesn’t even have to take long for some students to begin to change, for some begin as soon as they enter the school. Caleb Seymour (9) was open to the new changes ahead of him right at the beginning. “The challenge can be for the better or for the worst. Not everyone is really open minded and accepting of certain things,” said Seymour. “But in some ways, everyone just sort of is.” Seymour explained that though he doesn’t think he has changed to a dramatic standard, he notices that his newly gained friends at South have really played the part in influencing his personality, as well as his perspective toward change. “Everyone will walk away from the past with a new experience or perspective of something,” said Seymour. His philosophy, though, is that change within you is almost inevitable, it just comes with the part of growing up. Adam Pasley (12) is also another recipient of South’s engraving mark. “I never thought I’d be like I am now,” said Pasley. “I’ve grown up a lot, I wanted to look more like an adult.” Back in his freshman year Pasley had really long hair, a taste for Bob Marley and a certain distaste for the educational learning offered at South. “Thinking back now I must’ve looked like an idiot,” said Pasley with an embarrassed laugh. But each year, as Pasley explained, he grew up a little more. He was open to newer things than his usual interests. “I went from being a skater to playing football and from football to finding my place in rugby,” said Pasley. “ My friends are the ones who pulled my interest toward sports.” With this being Pasley’s senior year he’s become new person. His hair is now short, his personality is more vibrant and to his shock, he sees in himself a thirst for education that keeps growing. “It’s actually kind of cool to learn new things,” said Pasley. “I realized that what we’re being taught in school actually matters.” If he could ask his freshman self if he saw this coming, Pasley said he would’ve responded with a firm “never.” “I’ve finally found my place,” said Pasley. Jodi Hall (12) also believes she has changed from what she describes as incredibly shy and timid in her eighth grade year.

“I had bangs that were really bad and I always wore baggy pants,” said Hall. “I didn’t care much for my appearance.” But now Hall is more feminine than ever. She wears dresses and skirts and cares more about her appearance. Hall also explained that the change a big shock for her, and for her mother as well. “My mom would jump in shock if I’d just ask to go shopping,” said Hall. “I never dressed up.” Looking back, Hall admits that she enjoys that she’s changed and that she still has some tomboy within herself. “I’m a chief ’s girl for life!” said Hall. Hall now is a lot less shy and has more than two friends now, unlike her eighth grade year. “High School made me put myself out there ,“said Hall. “More effort was in play.” A lot of effort was also put forward by Lizzy Jurries (12) when

she moved from St. Louis her freshman year to South. “I was really shy as a freshman,” said Jurries. “When I joined Cross Country I got a lot more friends.” Jurries considers her decisions as positive steps she’s made because it led her to today where she knows a lot more people. By going

out for cross country, she has discovered her passion for running. “South has really brought out the best in me,” said Jurries. Though her move was scary, Jurries said she became friends with a lot of people she never would’ve guessed she’d click with, and that was due to her taking a chance on something new. “When you meet new people and learn new things you never realize that it is affecting your personality,” said Jurries. All around South students are constantly changing. At some point people realize that all their mistakes, memories and peers they’ve encountered helped to shape them into the young adults they ‘ll soon become; each growing into their own unique selves.

“I NEVER THOUGHT I’D BE LIKE I AM NOW.”

photo by KYLA

SIMS

Watch As TimeChanges

83%

63%

41%

59%

by GRACE HEINERIKSON

The percent of South students who have changed dramatically since they were younger.

The number of students who believe South has imprinted on them.

of those imprinted have been physically changed.

of those imprinted have been emotionally affected.

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6

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Jodi Hall (12) expressed that change is a good thing. “Time may have changed me, but I’m still the same on the inside,” she said.

Scan here to watch a video about how South students changed

28

South Imprints Students at South express how they have changed since they

have entered high schoolby LAIYA SMITH

page by GRACE HEINERIKSON, RACHAEL STOREY, LAIYA SMITH and KYLA SIMS

The sound of yelling coaches, whistles, shoes squeaking, and the basketballs being dribbled

erupt when walking past the South Gym. With basketball season in full swing, this year’s team has a new coach and new players, but one thing hasn’t changed: the desire to win. For this season, the boys’ basketball team has the third coach in as many years. Ladies and gentleman, Coach Zych has arrived. Rick Zych, who teaches social studies, first started coaching at O’Hara in 1982 with Ken Kerwin, science. “I decided to start coaching because I love to work with the kids,” said Coach Zych. Coach Zych hopes to imprint his philosophy on the team, “to play hard, represent the school well, and to have fun.” Some coaching jobs Coach Zych has had over the past 30 years include coaching at O’Hara, St. Pius, Piper and Park Hill. Coach Zych spent the last 16 years at Bishop Miege High School in Mission, Kan. where he led them to five State finals and two State championships. Coach Zych said he hopes to bring good results to South’s basketball program, as well. “I want to continue the tradition of winning here,” said Coach Zych. “We have good size and experience in our players.”

The last couple years have produced good results for South. In 2010-2011 the Panthers picked up the district title. However, in 2011-2012 season, the Panthers narrowly missed out in the district title game after a loss to rival Park Hill in the district final. For the 2012-2013 season, the Panthers will once again have another new coach, third in as many years, but are still expecting good results for the team.

With the team set in place many players are excited for the new season, which has started with wins over Northtown, 79-36, and Oak Park, 61-31. “We have a lot of starters returning and our other players have experience now,” said Rob Lane, junior. Coach Zych has implemented a new style to the team by holding

more disciplined and challenging practices. “We have a lot harder practices this year,” said Allen Hyatt, sophomore. But the players agree that with the harder practices, they are preparing themselves for a run at State. Lane said, “The practices are harder, but we have a better chance to go to State because we’re working harder.” With two wins to begin the season, “Zych’s Freaks” are looking forward to a promising season.

“I WANT TO CONTINUE

THE TRADITION

OF WINNING HERE.”

Date Opponent Start Time12/19/12 Grandview 5:30 p.m.1/03/13 Platte County 5:30 p.m.1/10/13 Ruskin 5:30 p.m.1/21/13 Park Hill 5:30 p.m.2/11/13 Lee’s Summit West 5:30 p.m.2/14/13 St. Joe Central 5:30 p.m.2/21/13 Truman 5:30 p.m.

Above: Anthony

Woods, senior, shoots the ball

for a successful gain of two points over

North Kansas City. Right: Ryan Welty,

freshman, makes a basket

at his first home game playing

on Varsity. Photos

by ABBY CLARK

zych ’s f reaksWith a new coach, the Panthers look toward a promising season

by HARRISON FOX

29

Scan here to watch a video about the Freshman Varsity basketball player, Ryan Welty

>>Log on to phsview.com to read more about the Panther basketball Seniors!upcoming jv/varsity home games

Christmas is a time of celebration, but can some go too far? At South, many students celebrate Christmas, but some students, teachers and their

families have unique and interesting traditions. Some go all out with lights and decorations, others have gift games and scavenger hunts. No matter the holiday, every family has traditions they love. “We always put up a tree and put a few lights outside,” said Brad Peck, AP Psychology. “On Christmas Eve we go to church and get Chinese food, like in ‘A Christmas Story’.” The tree has been a mainstay of this Christian holiday since its conception, and so has the jolly, portly fellow who delivers the gifts. Children who celebrate Christmas with their family are taught to believe in St. Nick from an early age, and most remember when the illusion was ruined. “For me, it was around third grade,” said Peck. “A kid at lunch said ‘you know Santa isn’t real’ and we all were like ‘No! Blasphemer!’” Kathy Nguyen remembers making a simple observation that led to her discovery of the truth. “I realized that Santa had the same handwriting as my mom,” Nguyen said. “I knew it was too big to be a coincidence.” In addition to these homely family traditions, a tradition that has evolved throughout the years is the installation of lights and decorations. In the past few decades, certain Christmas revelers have gone bigger and even flashier with their lawn arrangements. “I like it when people go a bit overboard with

decorations. It’s cool,” said Mathias Kuhl, senior, “but if the power goes out, that’s too much.” Wills Van Doorn, junior, had a different opinion of these bouquets of spirit, expressing a popular opinion that the holidays have become too commercialized. “It goes against the very spirit of the season,” Van Doorn said. “We should be reveling with our families and enjoying the camaraderie of friends.” Most people have probably seen the houses that teeter on the edge of over-extravagance. The yard next

to St. Therese Catholic Church on Highway 9 with rows of tree lights, plastic reindeer, Santas, snowmen, ropes and vines of tree lights, sleighs and ceramic elves is an area favorite. Many students

mentioned this house, as well as the famous Riss Lake neighborhood decorations. “Riss Lake is always decked out this time of year,” said Kathy Nguyen, senior. “They have life-size Santas and snowmen; it’s cute.” However you celebrate this time of year, whether or not Christmas is your thing, the spirit of the season is what makes it so magical. Van Doorn said it best: “It is the feeling of holiday spirit and the closeness of family and unity that makes this the most wonderful time of the year.”

Content by NATHANIEL BRANCATO III, SAM BROOKS, SEAN GREVICE, JOHN HAGERMAN and SHELBY THOMPSON

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Students and teachers at South talk about their views of the holiday season

Scan here to watch a video about Christmas Spirit at South

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Sitting out on the cold benches, you lace up your skates and get ready to step onto the slippery ice. Ice skating is a traditional winter activity, and with a new local ice rink, it’s easy and cheap to take part.

Students are eager to get a group of friends together to try out the new ice rink at Burlington Creek, called The Rink. The hay bale-lined rink is small but seems to be growing in popularity with South students as the winter continues. “I’m so excited to go. A couple of my friends and I are already planning on going together,” said Erica Timmerman (10) Including the rental of skates, skating at The Rink will only cost you 10 dollars. Although ice skating can be a fun activity for all ages, some South students prefer other winter activities. “Ice skating is fun, but I’d much rather spend my time and money on a trip to Snow Creek,” said Dakota Karns (9).

With The Rink hiring, even if ice skating isn’t your favorite activity, South students are always looking for a way to make some money. The opening of the Burlington Creek Ice Rink has brought in a wave of job

opportunities for South students. Jack Lysell (10) and Aurora Eller (11) were recently hired at The Rink. “I’m a hockey player. This is the perfect job for me because I get paid for doing what I love which is skating,” Lysell said, “My job is to skate around and pick up the kids who fall.” Just because you aren’t a hockey player or ice skater doesn’t mean you can’t work at The Rink. There is plenty of work needed to be done outside of picking up the falling kids. “I prep the rink when it’s going to open and I hand out skates. Sometimes I’m in charge of the concessions instead,” Eller said. Both Eller and Lysell agree that The Rink is much different than any other job they have had because “It doesn’t even feel like we are working.” “The only downside is the cold!” Eller said. As you skate off the ice and unlace your skates, you’re already excited to go back to The Rink. With a new ice rink close to home, this is a cheap and fun activity for all ages.

Ice IceBurlington Creek Ice Rink brings winter fun and jobs for South students

Scan here to see what South students love about winter!

“THE ONLY DOWNSIDE IS THE COLD!”

by CARLI HANLON, COURTNEY CLAASSEN, ABBIE RECHSTEINER, ELI WILLIAMS and NICK CLAASSENAs the sun goes down on the frozen ice, The Rink will expect a showing of joyful customers to attend the winter festivities they have planned for this season.

South student rink work-ers Nick Hochstetter (11), Reed Hughes (12) , Jacob Randall (11) and Jack Lysell (10) pre-pare The Rink for opening.

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>> go to phsview.com to read about another fun winter activity: SNOW CREEK

Ice Skating

Snow Creek Christmas Shopping

Stay inside and watch moviesSledding/Playing in the snow

What’s YOUR favorite winter activity?

18%7%32%

32%

25%

*based on a poll of 100 students

BABY

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Fa l l 2012 S taf fEditorsEditor-in-Chief :Daniel Kerwin Managing Editor:Emily OrvosCopy Editor:Megan McMullenWeb Editor:Emily “Maxx” BeshearsArt Director: Derek BraunPublic Relations Manager:Jake Parolin

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The View published 8 times during the regular school year, is the student news publication of Park Hill South High School in Riverside, Mo. Editorials and opinions expressed in this student publication are that of the student journalist and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Park Hill South School District. For editorial policies or to submit a letter to the Editor, visit our website at www.PHSVIEW.com.The View us a member of the Missouri Interscholastic Press Association and National Scholastic Press Association and is printed by Osage Graphics in Olathe, Kan.