Issue 5

A new semester has begun at SM North without a head football coach. Former varsity coach Ryan Majors has left North for

an offensive assistant position at William Jewell College. North’s athletic director was informed of Major’s decision just before Christmas.

“He came in and said he was considering,” George Sallas, North’s athletic director, said. “Then he came back and said he talked to his wife and decided [to go to Jewell].”

At William Jewell, in Liberty, Mo., about 30 minutes away from Kansas City, Majors will provide the Cardinals scouting services for players in the Kansas City area.

“We were looking for someone with solid coaching experience and familiarity with the Kansas City metro area,” said Jewell Athletic Director Darlene Bailey.

The Cardinals were seeking a coach who could bring to the football program both disciplinary skills and experience in NCAA Division II. People who have worked with Majors have mentioned both of these traits of his as what makes him a sought-after coach.

Cardinal head football coach lauded Major’s Division II football experience.

“With us going to Division II, I know Majors has a comfort level with Division II football,” Jewell head coach Jerod Kruse

said.Before coming to North, Majors served

as a graduate assistant coach for the Pittsburg State Gorillas. He also played quarterback in a Division II program. During this time Majors met Kruse.

“The coach [Kruse] is a guy I trust and

played with once in my career,” Majors said.Along with his prior acquaintance with

Coach Kruse, the opportunity to be an offensive coordinator was too good an opportunity to pass up.

“With them moving to Division II football, the chance to be an offensive coordinator in Division II has always been a dream of mine,” Majors said

Leaving North didn’t come easy for Majors, however. After working with the kids in North’s football program for five years, it was tough to say goodbye, he said.

“I wasn’t really looking to leave,” Majors said.

North players weren’t expecting Majors to leave either. The former coach notified

the players soon after he decided he was leaving for William Jewell College. Senior running back Joe Haas said he will miss Majors because he always pushed the team to play their hardest.

Along with leaving the football team, Majors has left North classrooms as well. Taking his place is Ben Keech, a longtime North faculty member who was teaching at North only half a day and spending the rest of the day as a substitute because of reassignment last spring as excess staff..

“My job was easy but not challenging,” Keech said. “Subbing is for the birds.”

While Keech wasn’t especially fond of his altered work schedule, he did enjoy meeting North students he would not have met otherwise. Keech said he does regret having to leave his students in his three American Government classes, though.

“There are a lot of kids in those classes I will not forget,” Keech said. “I miss the kids I would have had in American Government when I lost those classes.”

Now that he is back in North classrooms, Keech has the opportunity to continue meeting new students with his new schedule. Keech now teaches Majors’ classes and Greg Smith, who was also on reassignment, is teaching Keech’s class.

“I enjoyed the challenge and I have good kids in those classes,” he said, “so it has been great.”

Shawnee Mission North HS7401 Johnson Drive

Overland Park, KS 66202

Volume 88, Issue 5

PAGE 1 >> COVER>> Jan. 2010

Art Portfolios>> SM North will be one of

several schools to use electronic porfolios

Inside the IssueCover.........................................A&E/Lifestyles........................Page 2Opinion....................................Page 3Feature.....................................Page 4News..........................................Page 5Ads/Games..............................Page 6Feature......................................Page 7Sports........................................Page 8

themission

SM North Academic Decathlon team takes 3rd place at State Competition in Manhattan.

» pg. 4

Team places at state

A “Major”Farewell

>> After coaching football at SM North for five years, Ryan Majors has accpeted a new as Defensive Scouting Assistant at William Jewell College in Liberty, Mo.

Coach RyanMajors taught Social Studiesat SM North and coached football for five years. Photo from 2009 Indian Yearbook

{By Malcolm Shanks}“A locker -- we all have our artwork

posted in our lockers,” senior Melanie Arroyo said when asked what her definition of an Art E-portfolio.

At the beginning of the school year, students in Tobee Ford-Nelson’s Art Design and Commercial Art classes had the unique opportunity to make an Art E-portfolio online courtesy of a partnership with the company Davis Digital.

“We are one of the first to have students try out the program,” Ford-Nelson said.

An Art E-portfolio has the advantage to allow students to upload any recent assignments and to answer any questions directed to a specific person’s portfolio asked online.

“You can take pictures of work you do and post it also, if it isn’t digital,” senior Michelle Moll said. “And it lets everybody show what they’re doing and make comments on how to improve things.”

And most importantly, to have a collection at hand for colleges who are interested.

“It is easier to display your work to colleges,” Ford-Nelson said about the E-portfolio.

Previously students relied on certain methods such as digital photos, CDs or e-mail attachments.

“I’ve been applying to some art schools,” Melanie Arroyo said. “When they ask to see my portfolio I suggest that they check out my E-portfolio and they like that better.”

An E-portfolio is more accessible and even allows friends and families to see it.

“I have family members all over the world,” Melanie Arroyo said. “And I want to share my artwork with them, and that’s a good way to do it.”

However since it’s a pilot program people can not expect to keep their website up forever.

“Most likely, after they graduate and after summer, the E-portfolio will be taken down,” Ford-Nelson said.

North musical incorporates Creation theme, reintroduces

elementary cast.» pg. 2

Children of Eden

= win= loss

Struggles, modest success Major’s legacyStruggles, modest success Major’s legacy>> Indians experienced

moderate level of success in Major’s final years as North football coach

20052005

20062006

20072007

20082008

20092009

Majors receives the Kansas City Chiefs Coach of the Week Award on Sept. 16, 2009. Photo by Courtney Worthington

>> LIFESTYLES/A&E>> Jan. 2010

Senior Ben Hilleary and sophomore Krista King, playing Japheth and Yonah, practice confessing their forbidden love to each other during a rehearsal of Children of Eden.Photo by Sam Slupski

{By Kyle Milligan}

“I woke up from a curious dream.I dreamed a perfect garden-and there were whirling shapesand swirling sounds, and I wasn’t lonely anymore.”-- Children of Eden

No one could be lonely on the SM North stage filled with 96 cast members, as the students prepared for the musical Children of Eden which ran Jan. 21-23.

Children of Eden involved roles with elementary students and is based on a book by John Caird with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz. It is evolved from the Bible’s first nine and a half chapters of the Book of Genesis.

“I liked the music, story and it had possibilities to use little kids,” said Maureen Davis, drama teacher and director of Children of Eden. “I wanted

to involve elementary school kids again.”

The main topic of Children of Eden is centralized on the relationship between parent and child. The beginning of the musical is loosely the biblical account of Adam and Eve with the Father (God), eating the forbidden fruit from the tree of knowledge. Toward the middle of the musical, the story of Noah and the flood are introduced and as Children of Eden comes to a close the audience is given the feeling of faith for present and coming generations.

Children of Eden invests a burden of expectance for perfection. SM North senior Sean Foster is a testament to this burden.

“It’s really cool, “ Foster said. “But at the same time it’s like ‘how do you play God?’ It’s nerve-racking.”

He later expresses the commitment the musical requires,

and added that he enjoys watching people develop their artistic abilities.

“I like working with everyone,” Foster said. “And seeing the growth that everyone including myself experiences.”

SM North junior Lizzie Lake shared the responsibilities of being on one of the crews for Children of Eden.

“I’m a props kid,” Lake said. “We get them [props] ready before the show and we try to get the props ready for the cast.”

The crew members played an important role in the making of the musical and are very busy, but during all of the hastiness to prepare they manage to have time to socialize.

“My favorite part is hanging out with all of the people,” Lake said. “The people make it fun. I like being able to be backstage and seeing everything from a different point of view.”

Junior Julia Jacobs, play-ing the older version of Eve in the second act of the play, apologizes to her descen-dants for the sins her family has committed. “I feel honored to portray such an important woman,” Jacobs said. Photo by Sam Slupki

Junior Liz Finn, part of the chorus, rehearses the song Generation for the play after school.“It was a lot of fun getting to know everyone, basically creating a new fam-ily,” Finn said.Photo by Sam Slupski

Students

AboveFrom

Students at North perform a play based on the Story of Creation and Noah’s Ark

Casting CrownsWhere: Sprint Center•When: 02/04/10 - 7 p.m. •Cost: $39•About: Casting Crowns is a Grammy winning band •that is similar to other bands such as MercyMe, Chris Tomlin, and Relient K in that they are a contemporary christian rock group.

Béla FleckWhere: Liberty Hall•When: 02/13/10 - 8 p.m.•Cost: $45• About: Béla Fleck is a bluegrass and rock banjo player •that has transformed the image and sound of his instru-ment, along wtih leading a very remarkable performing and recording career.

Eli Young BandWhere: Beaumont Club•When: 02/13/10 - 8 p.m.•Cost: $15•About: The Eli Young band is a country influenced •southern rock and roll band formed in Texas that does most of their touring in southern states.

Rascal FlattsWhere: Sprint Center•When: 02/19/10 - 8 p.m. •Cost: $62.75•About: Rascal Flatts is a country rock band formed in •Columbus, Ohio and has had 23 singles on the Billboard Hot Country songs list, including 10 No. 1’s on the chart, the longest of which lasted five weeks.

Alice in ChainsWhere: Midland Theater•When: 02/21/10 - 8 p.m.•Cost: $37.50•About: Alice In Chains is a band that is most often as-•sociated the grunge movement of the ‘90s, although they incorporate more heavy metal and acoustic themes.

Billy Joel & Elton JohnWhere: Sprint Center•When: 02/27/10 - 7:30 p.m.•Cost: $108.75•About: Two of the greatest piano players of the 1900’s •reunite once again to perfrom their Face to Face tour that began in 1994 and has become the most successful concert in pop history.

Eric ClaptonWhere: Sprint Center•When: 03/03/10 - 7:30 p.m. •Cost: $66.50•About: Eric Clapton is an English blues rock artist with •many No. 1 hits and albums and is also the only person to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame three times.

The EldersWhere: Midland Theater•When: 03/13/10 - 8 p.m.•Cost: $30•About: The Elders are an Irish-American folk rock band •that was formed in Kansas City and has toured in Ireland as well as all over the United States.

Flogging MollyWhere: Uptown Theater•When: 03/14/10 - 7:30 p.m.•Cost: $27.50•About: Flogging Molly is a seven-piece American Celtic •punk band formed in Los Angeles, Calif. and has released seven studio albums and one live album to date.

Bon JoviWhere: Sprint Center•When: 03/15/10 - 7:30 p.m. •Cost: $88.50•About: Bon Jovi is an American rock band from Sayre-•ville, N.J. and is known for creating such famous rock ballads as Livin’ on a Prayer, You Give Love a Bad Name and Wanted Dead or Alive.

John MayerWhere: Sprint Center•When: 03/22/10 - 8 p.m.•Cost: $49.50•About: John Mayer began as an American acoustic rock •artist, but has begun to become more blues influenced in light of performing collaborations with various known blues artists and the forming of the John Mayer Trio.

Black Eyed PeasWhere: Sprint Center•When: 03/23/10 - 7:30 p.m.•Cost: $62.50•About: The Black Eyed Peas is a hip hop/dance ori-•ented band formed in Los Angeles 1995 and has sold an estimated 28 million albums and 31 million singles worldwide

Local Concert Calender

E d i t o r i a lVoting Booth

PAGE 3 >> OPINIONS >> Jan. 2010

>> Drivers should exercise more caution behind the wheel

SM North students eating lunch in the cafeteria gaze at a new

form of entertainment, which became available prior to leaving for Christmas break. New, 52-inch flat-screen televisions have been placed on the wall above the exit from the lunch line. FOX News and ESPN broadcast all of the happenings of the day’s events in the world of business, politics and sports outside of North’s walls. This touch most certainly lightens the mood in a sometimes-stressful school day.

However, the TVs, purchased by the district, were not intended for student entertainment. The main purpose was to air information during staff meetings – plasmas were chosen

for their size and broadcasting ability. The plasmas were also intended to post announcements and current events for students and staff.

Thus, the Mission staff believes that the money spent on the TVs could have been better spent on other items. For instance, North had two functioning TVs in the cafeteria displaying the announcements. Could they not have been used for viewing TV instead? Perhaps the money saved could have been used for various equipment upgrades around the building.

Some improvements could include:Chairs in some classroom •

could use some refurbishingLaptops on mobile carts •

shared by the classrooms are occasionally missing a few parts/ building could use more of them.

Of course, the money could always be saved by North or the district for other uses. While it is true that if you don’t use it, you lose it (the district would recoup money North doesn’t use), Shawnee Mission would most likely find a good place to give the money, especially in light of the current budget situation and a pending reduction in force.

The Mission staff thinks that the TVs in the cafeteria were a thoughtful gift to students from the administration, but the money used to buy them could have been spent on higher priority items.

Lunchtime

>> New TVs offer nice break, but come at a bad time

Editorial Cartoon by Malcolm Shanks

NEW CHINATOWN6854 Johnson Drive, Mission

(next to Kansas Sampler)

SM North students with school ID get $5 special with free drink and

choice of entrée (tax included). Phone: 913-403-9800

Fax: 913-403-9095We do catering!

Head/Copy Editors:Nathaniel ZoschkeEphraim ChaneyBrittany WilliamsWriters/Section Editors:Kerenza SingletaryKelsey LarsonRoss LubratovicMary RodabaughNickole NosalLindsay HinkleHayley ZahnterMalcolm shanksBrandon Morrison

Harper ArnoldKyle MilliganSam SlupskiStaff Artist:Malcolm ShanksPhotographers:Melissa ArroyoCourtney WorthingtonHayley ZahnterMary RodabaughSamantha SlupskiAdviser:Becky TateST

AFF

E d i t o r i a l

>> Should SM North purchase new TVs for the cafeteria?

14 members of The Mission staff voted in an anonymous poll.

Voting Booth

Entertainment

We always hear about how awful teenage drivers are from adults.

The truth is, adults refuse to accept the fact that they were once bad drivers, and some have yet to outgrow their poorly learned driving skills.

Recently, I had my first head-on experience with such a driver. To make it better, I wasn’t even driving my own car!

The guy came flying off of Metcalf, slammed into me, and reversed. I assumed he would pull over so we could exchange information as is expected. Instead he made eye contact with me as I began walking towards him, put his Pontiac into gear, and roared away.

Not. Cool.The same thing happened

within my first month of having a license last year- some kid in a truck wasn’t paying attention and rear- ended me, so now I have a huge grey mark across my white bumper.

See, this wouldn’t be such a problem if people in general knew how to drive. Neither of these accidents were my fault.

If you manage to finagle out of taking drivers’ ed., as I did, but still pass the simple driving test qualifying you to receive a license, you have to realize a few things.

This is what I’ve learned so far, and I have been kept accident-free:

Do NOT mess with the 1. CD player if approaching a light.It’s a great idea to be aware 2. of other drivers around you.Know when to turn your 3. headlights on, where the blinkers are, etc.

In all honesty, it’s frustrating when I feel like some of my friends and I are the best drivers in the city.

If I can learn how to drive, stay out of trouble, avoid accidents, and somehow take care of my beloved little Ford Contour, why can’t half the population do the same?

If you feel like getting into a wreck and scaring the crap out of a 17-year-old girl who isn’t fully awake, then ride a bike instead.

It’s Not

3Yes

7No

4AbseNt

Sudoku

Teens, It’sAdults

>> FEATURE >> Jan. 2010 >> NEWS >> Jan. 2010

A “NERDY” SUCCESSAcademic Decathlon team wins third place at state contest at Kansas State University

Senior Kalen Petersen takes home $1,000 scholarship, places first overall»

Mrs

. Cle

an

RESOLUTIONS

-Janet Riley, art teacher

“I just have a lot of stuff. I don’t want to hear people

say I’m a mess. For my New Year’s resolution.”

>>

Sitt

ing

stra

ight

- Kayte Cormack, history teacher

“I slouch a lot. My New Year’s resolution is to

improve my posture. I’m afraid of osteoporosis.”

>>

-Aurora Strickland, 10

>>

-Gretchen Burnett, 9

“I’m tired all the time. My New Year’s resolution is to get more sleep.”

Catching Z’s

>>

>>

-Patrick Pettibone, 10

“I’m going to wear my contacts every-day. It helps me see a lot better.”

Quit squinting

Just

sm

ile

>> “For my New Year’s resolution, I want to be nicer to people. I don’t want to get in trouble or be in any

fights.”

-Aurora Strickland, 10

>> SM North students, teachers share their New Year’s resolutions

{By Brandon Morrison}

Goi

ng g

reen >> “I’m going to recycle

for my New Year’s Resolution. It helps

the environment and makes the world

better.”-Jasmine Castillo, 9

{By Samantha Slupski}Glaring at the televisions,

watching basketball on ESPN, sophomore Camron Christ wonders why the brand new plasma screen televisions are in the cafeteria.

“I find these televisions pointless and a waste of money,” Christ said.

Some students may be wondering why there are new 52’’ flat screen plasma televisions in the cafeteria.

SM North Principal Richard Kramer said the new televisions in the cafeteria are there for several reasons.

“We wanted to find a way to provide students with a way to get more involved in current events,” Kramer said. “They are also used for district meetings and banquets to provide multimedia presentations.”

The funding for televisions, according to Kramer comes from a budget called Capital Outlay. This budget is used for equipment and does not come from the General Fund, the budget that is used to pay for teachers’ salaries or textbook and art supplies.

Christ thinks that the televisions are a nice resource, but

all he uses them for are to watch the announcements.

“They could be a good resource for students to become more informed, but they are defiantly a frivolous thing to buy,” English teacher Kate Miner said.

There are many opinions about the televisions. Some people find them pointless and a waste of money, and others find them very useful.

“They are stupid and pointless because the school could have used the money to buy new laptops or for more educational purposes,” sophomore Nick Jones said.

Others such as sophomore Aaron Atkinson think that they are very useful for students because they provide things to talk about while students eat their lunch.

“Most students seem completely oblivious to use in the televisions,” Atkinson said.

Altogether there are many diverse opinions about the televisions.

“The televisions are something that the students will find helpful,” Kramer said. “Everyone will soon appreciate the money put to in buying the televisions.”

Cafeteria TVs

>> Televisions in school cafeteria used to educate, entertain students, draw criticism from some over use of district funds

{By Kelsey Larson}Winter snow days are a topic that

can start a heated discussion. The class splits into sides about

who calls snow days. “Everyone argues if it’s the bus

company or it’s the superintendent who calls snow days,” said junior Brian Nolan.

According to Associate Superintendent Bill Frick the bus company doesn’t make the decision.

“The bus company doesn’t say whether or not we have school. We do take them into consideration though,” Frick said.

“If the bus company can drive and all the other conditions are steady then we have school. If they can’t drive then we don’t have school because we have no way of the bus kids getting to school.”

The school only gets four snow days

before students have to start making up school, so the school district tries not to call school if it is unnecessary.

“Students have to be at school in their seats for a certain number of hours each school year,” Frick explained.

Calling a snow day is a last resort.” Timing is a big factor when it

comes to snow days. “It really matters what time the

snow falls,” Frick said. “It takes up to12 hours to plow two

inches of snow for our 65 parking lots.” On Jan. 6, the first snow day of the

year was called. “Even though it wasn’t snowing

when we called school,” Frick said. “The Weather Channel predicted

that snow would fall hard sometime during the day.”

The Weather Channel predicted that snow would fall at 11 a.m.

Wednesday morning. Even though the snow started to fall

at 2 p.m. that afternoon the news was still correct about how hard it fell.

“We made the right decision about calling school because the elementary and middle school would have had a tough time getting home,” Frick said.

“It would have been very dangerous.”

The snow kept falling into Thursday, the second snow day.

On Friday the snow started to subside, but the superintendents in the Johnson County area decided to call school once more.

“The overall temperature, roads and the fact that we still didn’t have all of the parking lots cleared on Friday helped the decision to call the third snow day,” Frick said.

“It was just the smart thing to do.”

SNOW DAYS>> What it takes for the district to close schools

Driving Restrictions{By Harper Arnold}

Beginning 2010, many Kansas teenagers will be forced to wait until they turn 17 to get their full drivers’ license. Along with the bumping up of the license age, Kansas is also tightening the belt on cell phone usage in the car.

While possessing a learner’s permit, teens are not allowed to use any wireless communication device while driving except to report illegal activity or to summon emergency help. The law also limits late night driving to 9 p.m. during the first six months.

Views are mixed and parents are

concerned as the law takes effect. Some are doubtful as to whether or not this law will help bring down teen accident rates.

“I’m always skeptical.” SRO Officer Doug Rison said. “The problem is parents and kids of that age group won’t understand the restrictions.”

Joanna Hogenkemp, whose 14-year-old daughter is just getting her permit, said she thinks the restrictions are unnecessary for her child.

“As a parent, I see what they’re trying to do by restraining adolescents who shouldn’t drive,” Hogenkemp said. “I guess we must have laws to cover the weakest instead of the

strongest.” Hogenkemp is also concerned

about how the law will affect the parents. “The law is going to limit teens freedom to help their parents. I don’t know what to anticipate.”

Missy Morton’s 14-year-old son is also one getting his permit hot off the press. Morton is also concerned about the activities her son is involved in and how this law affects the parents.

“This law hinders the parents more than the kids,” Morton said. “There are a lot of kids involved in things and parents can’t always drive them everywhere. It’s going to be good for the children to drive.”

>> New law forces teen drivers to wait for full permit

{By Nathaniel Zoschke}Freshman Tristan Abbott and

senior Bram Pruitt sat next to each other in the back of the bus headed toward the state Academic Decathlon competition in Manhattan, Kan.

Last year, students sat frantically reading their material and studying for the upcoming competition, where they would be tested over their knowledge of the French Revolution.

This year, already prepared for state, there was little to worry about.

“We just sat together and played classical music,” Abbott said. “We really wanted to annoy the Northwest kids.”

Every year, a new topic is chosen by the United States Academic Decathlon board, which oversees the competition. The competitions consist of 10 different events (hence “decathlon”) and include individual speaking contests and a team Super Quiz. Individual students are also tested on their knowledge of the chosen topic in the areas of history, art, music, social studies, economics, math, science and literature.

Preparing for the competitions require intense studying and preparation.

Senior Kalen Petersen said he read the materials twice, once before regionals and a second time prior to the state competition.

“The week before the competition I pretty much didn’t do anything else,” Petersen said.

His preparation paid off. For the first time in SEEK teacher Herrelson-Lewis’s ten-year tenure, the SM North team placed, taking third place overall, with Petersen receiving

7,503.4 of the teams 34,372.3 points and scoring highest overall individually.

In addition, Petersen was the recipient of a $1,000 scholarship for taking first place. Other students won individual awards, and Abbott took second place in the scholastic category. As a whole, the team took first place in the oral Super Quiz category.

“I think it’s disappointing that we didn’t take first,” senior Lizzy Braden said. “But we’ve done so much better this year and built a good foundation for future years.”

Last year, the SM North team was one member short, which negatively impacted the team’s overall score.

“Finding the right people is hard,” Herrelson-Leiws said. “I had hoped to do better; you always hope you can win it all. Overall, we did really well, but when you consider that each person can get 10,000 points, that’s a drop in the bucket compared with what they could have received.”

Academic Decathlon teams consist of a maximum of nine members, who are divided into three sub-categories based on their GPAs. Students who compete in the honors category must have a GPA of 3.75-4.0, while the scholastic category consists of students with 3.0-3.74

GPAs and varsity consists of students with GPAs of 2.99 and below.

At the same time, students who compete in all three categories take the same tests and cover the same material, which, according to Herrelson-Leiws, presents a challenge when trying to find students to compete in varsity.

“The material’s obviously very challenging,” she said. “The people who fall below a 3.0 do so because they’re either doing everything they

can or because they’re not trying very hard. It’s difficult to find someone who fits into that category and is motivated to do the work.”

This year’s team consisted of a full nine students, whereas teams in previous years have suffered from members dropping out at the last minute or simply

not showing up. Two members of the team this year, including freshman Jon Tanner and Petersen’s freshman sister, Kerianne Petersen, were brought in at the last minute.

“It’s frustrating when you think you have a team with the absolute maximum potential and then find out that someone can’t go,” Herrelson-Leiws said. “I’ve had people with legitimate excuses like having kidney stones removed but then others who decide they can’t go for one reason or another.”

This year, however, Herrelson-Leiws was unable to go to the state

competition – her husband was having brain surgery on the East Coast.

The team, instead, was accompanied by North librarian Sherri Crawford.

“It was really nice to work with that group because they’re so responsible and hard-working,” Crawford said. “It was exciting to se them win first place with Super Quiz. We surprised some other schools. It was a good feeling to be part of North when we’re so successful.”

In addition to serving as an opportunity to tout one’s academic achievements, the competition served as a bonding time for team members. One of these bonding activity, the “Nerd Ball,” a dance and dinner held at the K-State Student Union, was a favorite of senior Bethany Harris.

“The Nerd Ball was great because it took the pressure off of you and helped build a sense of camaraderie,” Harris said. “Kalen had a really funny picture where he’s head banging.”

Teammates agreed that the take-away feeling from the state competition was a good one. This year’s team’s overall success was well-received.

“I’m incredibly proud of all the effort and commitment that my teammates showed,” Petersen said. “When we came into regionals, none of the other schools gave us a chance at state. The efforts we put forth defied everyone’s expectations. In their minds, they associated North with lower performance, but in our minds, we were given an opportunity to prove them wrong.”

“”

The efforts we put forth defied everyone’s expectations. In their

minds, they associated North with lower

performance, but in our minds, we were given

an opportunity to prove them wrong.

-Kalen Petersen-Kalen Petersen

wherethey

placed»honors

scholastic

varsity

Kalen Petersen>>1st Literature>>1st Music>>1st Art>>1st Super Quiz written>> 2nd Speech

Lizzy Braden>>3rd Music>>3rd Art

Tristan Abbott>>1st Literature>>2nd Super Quiz written>>3rd Music>>3rd Art

Bram Pruitt>>2nd Math>>3rd Science

Megan Wetchensky>>1st Music>>3rd Super Quiz written>>3rd Art

Jon Tanner>>1st Literature>>2nd Math

Bethany Harris>>2nd Music>>2nd Essay>>2nd Art

Left: Seniors Kalen Petersen and Bethany Harris dance to Lady Gaga’s Just Dance during the Nerd Ball.

Right: Freshman Kerianne Petersen practices for the Speech contest.Above: Top row: Tristan Abbott, Kalen Petersen, Bram Pruitt

Middle row: Bethany Harris, Jeremy Mueller, Jon TannerBottom Row: Megan Wetchensky, Kerianne Petersen, Lizzy Braden

>>My New Year’s resolu-

tion is to graduate with all A’s. I’ve

always had okay grades, but I’ve never

had straight A’s.”

Star student

-Brittney Underwood, 12

>> “For my, New Year’s resolution I want to be healthier. I want

to have a better life-style, and eat better.”

Eat i

t!

-Kelsey Hall, 11

>> Ads>> Jan. 2010

>> PEOPLE>> Jan. 2010

{By Nathaniel Zoschke}“Papa!”He could hardly believe it. At the age of two, Humberto Jhassiel

Salgado’s father moved from Veracruz to the United States to take advantage of better job opportunities.

Now, for the first time in 15 years, they were reunited.

“I saw him, and I knew it was him,” said Salgado, now a senior at SM North, “but I was like ‘Wow! Is this really you?’”

Salgado arrived in late 2008 from Veracruz and enrolled in North the following semester, spending most of his time in Jackie Madrigal’s ELL class.

Though many ELL students tend to be isolated, becoming involved and making new friends at school wasn’t a problem for Salgado.

“He doesn’t follow what everyone does,” Madrigal said. “He’s really confident – he does his own thing and isn’t persuaded by others. He’s very likeable.”

This year, Salgado branched out and enrolled in Maureen Davis’s drama class. Though not completely fluent in English, Davis said communication with him was not a problem.

“I just said ‘When you don’t understand something, ask,’” Davis said, “and there were other Spanish speaking kids in the class. He picked it up really fast. He’s just smart. He’s like that.”

At his school in Veracruz, Mexico, Salgado had already taken choir and drama classes.

However, performing arts at North was a completely different animal: a snake, Sal-gado’s character in Children of Eden, North’s winter musical.

“I didn’t know what I was going to be facing,” Salgado said. “But then I started to get around the people in the department and know them better.”

Audition-ing for Eden was a chal-lenge.

“It was a little hard for me to communicate with people,” Salgado said, “but I always like to try to learn new things. I like what I’m doing right now.”

In order to audition for Eden, students were required to sing My Country ’Tis of Thee, a song that American students are familiar with but Salgado had never heard before.

To help Salgado prepare for the audition, Madrigal and her ELL aid, Sammie Kudera, rehearsed the song with him in his ELL class.

“I was going to suggest [to Davis] that he could sing a different song, but he insisted on singing My Country ’Tis of Thee,” Madrigal said. “We were all blown away by how fast he learned it. He sang it beautifully.”

The final performance of the song secured Salgado’s role as the snake.

“I’ll never forget his audition,” Davis said. “It was like Julio Iglesias singing for us.”

In the little time between homework, learning English and his rehearsals, Salgado spends his time helping his father with their delivery business, working out at the gym and skateboarding.

“Peo-ple have been amazed at how fast I’ve learned English,” he said, “and it’s all due to

the musical. If I can do it, you can do it. I see people get sad and say ‘I can’t do it,’ and I say, ‘No, you can.’ People can learn English by becoming more active and being friendly.”

Known by his Spanish-speaking friends as “Jhassiel” and English-speaking friends as “Humberto,” Salgado has had little trouble fitting in and making new friends.

“I remember the kids in the drama class saying ‘Humberto, you’re so cool. You always match,” Davis said.

Senior Amy Carlisle recalls a time at rehearsal when Salgado brought chicken sandwiches for the entire crew.

“We get 15-minute breaks once in a while, and he came in with two big Burger King bags,” Carlisle said. “He just left them with me because he had to go on stage, but after rehearsal he was like ‘Yeah, those are for everyone.’”

Though Salgado is still learning Eng-lish, his friends say communication is not a problem.

“Even though he’s not completely fluent, he communicates really well,” Carlisle said. “He always seems like he’s having a good times with whatever he’s doing.”

Salgado believes people should push themselves to realize their goals.

“People should challenge themselves regardless of their culture or race or what people think,” he said. “We are all the same; it doesn’t matter if you’re black or white or Hispanic or Chinese or what language you speak. You can do whatever you like.”

In drama, Salgado is known for his dedica-tion.

“He works so hard,” Davis said. “I think of all the traits, hard-working is at the top. Creativity and thinking outside the box are close seconds. It’s fun watching him come up with acting and improvisation choices.”

In ELL, he is known as a leader.“Our students feel so i solated most of the

time and he never had that feeling,” Kudera said. “He’s a leader. I think he’s more mature than a lot of his peers. I think he’s a true gentleman.”

“

¡Humberto!>> Senior from Mexico uses drama

to learn English, make new friends

Above: Senior Humberto Salgado poses with seniors July Kirby, Amy Carlisle and Jenna Vogel (left to right). Salgado, who moved to the U.S. from Veracruz, Mexico in late 2008, has had relatively little trouble fitting in at North and participating in extracurricular activities. Photo by Melissa Arroyo

Above: Salgado (far left) holds the tail of the snake dur-ing rehearsal. Photo by Courtney Worthington Right: Known for his fashion sense, Salgado wears a black and white checkered jacket, distressed jeans and match-ing Nike shoes. Photo by Melissa Arroyo

”People should challenge themselves re-gardless of their culture or race or what

people think. We are all the same; it doesn’t matter if you’re black or white or Hispanic

or Chinese or what language you speak. You can do whatever you like.

-Humberto Salgado

Left: Salgado rehearses a solo part on Saturday, Jan. 5 for Children of Eden. Photo by Sam Slupski

{By Lindsay Hinkle}On Jan. 12, 2010 a 7.0 magni-

tude earthquake struck Léogâne, Haiti, 16 miles west of the capital city of Port-au-Prince at 4:53 p.m., Eastern Time. In the 12 days that followed, 52 aftershock quakes with a magnitude of 4.5 or greater struck the impoverished, third world coun-try, resulting in massive destruction and loss of life.

For senior Bruna Louis, who moved to the United States from Porte-au-Prince in January 2006, the quakes meant the loss of her cousin.

“We were really close,” Louis said. “It was hard for me to hear

about it.”ELL teacher Jackie Madrigal said

life in the United States has been difficult for Louis.

“She has had a hard life,” Madigal said. “But she is very strong and strong-minded.”

Louis said that it took three weeks to get a hold of any family member but finally, after those three weeks she got to talk to her aunt.

Louis describes life as being dif-ficult in Haiti, the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. The country lacks the basic infrastruc-ture of the United States. Many of the country’s poorest residents lack electricity and running water.

Building standards are minimal, and the country lacks the resources to enforce the ones that do exist, making earthquake damage expo-nentially worse.

Despite the fact that the per capita income in Haiti is less than 1/35th that of the United States, 85 percent of the schools are private and thus, charge tuition.

“School was so difficult in Haiti,” Louis said. “It is so much easier here in the United States.”

Louis doesn’t understand why Americans are helping them.

“It’s nice of them (United States),” Louis said.

Haiti EarthquakesHaiti Earthquakes>> For SM North senior Bruna Louis, the Haiti earthquakes

are more than an image on a television screen

Senior Bruna Louis, a native of Haiti, left for the United States to take advantage of opportunities that did not exist in her home country. Now she faces the loss of her relatives.Photo by Mary Rodabaugh

>> SPORTS>> Jan. 2010

Sports

Boys BasketballThe varsity team placed 3rd of 8 at SMN/SMW Tournament

The Boys Varsity basketball team agrees that they are having a difficult time winning and need a solution- quick, to start having the outcome of games go their way.

Junior Bryan Wood said that the reason is because the team does not play a full four quarters.

“We either start off playing well and fast then we start playing slow and selfish,” Wood said.

In an effort to correct the problems, the team made up a list of goals to get them where they wanted to be, but haven’t been suc-cessful at accomplishing all of them.

“We haven’t reached them to our full potential,” sophomore Austin Danner said. “We still have time to get there.

Head Coach BJ Hair decided to approach the games with a new method of using his team’s speed to succeed in games.

“In the last two games we’ve seen that it has worked,” Hair said. “Leavenworth, the #1 team in the state, got tired and into foul trouble, and had to go deep in their bench and use Junior Varsity players,” Hair continued. “We wore them out.”

There are some players that have doubt in this new method.“We give up too many easy buckets out of our press,” Wood

said, “which puts us in a hole early on.”Senior Mike Dirks said that people say that he and his team are

playing poorly.“Those people who say that didn’t try out,” Dirks said. “So, how

can they say anything? You’re not experiencing the losses on the court, you’re on the sideline watching.”

Senior leadership on the team is important and a success, ac-cording to Hair.

“Seniors are doing an excellent job,” Hair said. “I am very proud of them and I believe they will lead us to success down the road.”

Wood has another perspective.“I think they’re all right, we struggle as a team,” Wood said.

“Leaders don’t have to be seniors, it’s somebody who shows up on time to practice and plays their role.”

Hair had higher expectations for his team than what their record of 2-9 on Feb. 4 reflects.

“I thought we would be more consistent with our effort of energy and rebounding,” Hair said.

The season is not going the way the team expected either.“We thought we were going to be faster than everyone, and

have a .500 season by now,” Danner said.

{By Kerenza Singletary}

Girls BasketballThe varsity team is working to better a 7-6 record after suffering tough lost to SM West on Feb. 1

{By Kerenza Singletary}The Girls Varsity Basketball Team start-

ed their season off slow, but things are be-ginning to pick up for the Lady Indians.

Head Coach Kelly Dennis said that her team needs to be more efficient offensively

and make the routine shots.“The level of competition we’re playing

is tough and it just comes down to mak-ing shots,” Dennis said. “We’re missing free throws and lay-ups, and those are shots we’re used to making.”

Teammates agree that the season is not going the way they anticipated it would go.

“We should’ve beat some teams that we didn’t beat and our record should be better,” sophomore BJ Specht said. “It’s a new core of team so we’re getting used to each other.”

On the bright side, the team is doing things better that they have struggled with in the past seasons.

“Defensively we’re doing great and we’re out-rebounding every team,” senior Jodi Young said.

Every aspect of the game is improving for

the team, even team unity.“We’re really close even though we get

frustrated with each other we always work through it,” junior Janessa Clay said.

The team said that the practices are tough, physical and long.

“Our practices are really intense,” Young said. “We all work hard and try to get better every day.”

Specht said that there are things that are happening that she’s really not comfortable with and she wishes would change.

“I wish we didn’t run motion offense,” Specht said. “I think we would be offensively productive with a dribble drive dish offense because we’re averaging 38 points a game and we’ve shown that we’re not disciplined enough to run motion.”

Clay wishes something would change as well, but it’s to execute the motion offense.

“We run it well in practices and in scrim-mages against the boys, but in games we’re stagnant,” Clay said. “I think we could be productive if we actually run motion.”

WrestlingWrestling places 3rd at the SM North Invitational on Jan. 30

{By Ross Lubratovic}Nearing the last few weeks of practice for the season,

the SM North boys wrestling team has amped up its work ethic in order to finish strong.

“Our team is coming along really well this season,” head coach Jim Sherwood said. “The weight classes are going great, both upper and lower.”

The season lasts until the last week of February for the boys and Sherwood thinks they are doing good for where they are in the season.

“We’ve recently just had a very successful weekend in Nebraska,” Sherwood said. “We had two guys go unde-feated and four that were three and one, so it was pretty good overall.”

Like many winter sports, the end of the season is in sight, and they are beginning to wind down, but Sher-wood thinks they are working as hard as ever and that they will finish the season with a great finish.

“They are doing great this year,” Sherwood said. “They are working really hard right now and are very goal oriented.”

BowlingTeam is working hard to succeed at the Regional competition{By Ross Lubratovic}

The SM North bowling team is gearing up for the last stretch of the season after having begun just a month ago, but head coach Sarah Derks is optimistic for the last few weeks.

“We have had three official meets so far this season and one that was more just for fun,” Derks said. “We get a total of 10 meets in a season so we still have most of them left but it’ll be over before we know it.”

With the regional competitions in late February and the State meet in early March, that still only leaves a few weeks of the season for even the best bowlers.

“Our boys have gone three and three so far, and the girls are zero and six,” Derks said.

Bowling is scored differently than other sports and that is why the scores total to six even though they have only had three meets.

“I am not disappointed in the least with either team’s season,” Derks said. “They are both trying very hard to improve and they continue to set goals for themselves.”

Derks is still hoping to go far at regionals and hope-fully make it to State this season.

“The great thing about our meets is they keep us where we need to be,” Derks said. “We are doing good, but we still have a lot of work to do.”

Sophomore Samantha Gannon sets up for a strike.

Senior Jamie Barnhart takes 3rd place in the 215 lb. weight class at the Johnson County Classic on Dec. 19, 2009

Ottawa scores against SM North on Jan. 5, 2010photo by Val Kutchko

photo by Val Kutchko

photo by Mike Jones

photo by Natalie Paisley

Senior Jodi Young races to the basket.

Issue 5

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