The process behind canceling

Story by Nicole Konopelko and Lane Phifer

March 4, 2019

Filed under Feature, Showcase

Tomorrow is already setting itself up to be another cold day. The National Weather Service (NWS) projects a high of 24°F, a wind chill value as low as five and a possible snow accumulation of 1-2 inches, creating hopes for a snow day. But what factors into the decision to cancel school? T...

Creating irreversible masterpieces

Story by Nicole Konopelko, Editor-in-Chief

February 26, 2019

Filed under Feature, In-Depth, Showcase, Spotlight

I wanna stay in love with my sorrow, oh, but, God I wanna let it go. For some people, these words are nothing more than Evanescence song lyrics. But for sophomore Temper Raign Jetamio Estes — who was diagnosed with clinical depression in middle school — they’re much more. “I completely under...

Hidden Hits

Story by Nicole Konopelko and Emma Lawson

December 14, 2018

Filed under Feature, In-Depth, Showcase, Spotlight

NOTE: The students interviewed for this story requested anonymity* due to fears of getting in trouble for JUULing on school property, which is against school rules. While her classmates read Romeo and Juliet out loud, freshman Jessica Adams* sticks her hands under her hoodie to take three hits from a...

Constructing a class

Story by Maddy Robison, Social Media Editor

October 30, 2018

Filed under Feature

As they walk into class, students set down their backpacks, pick up a blueprint and trade in their textbooks for safety goggles. This is a normal day for students in Chuck Boyles’s stagecraft class. This year, Boyles teaches two new classes — stagecraft in the fall, and theater design in the spring....

Cooking for a bigger crowd

Story by Emma Fischer, Reporter

October 30, 2018

Filed under Feature

This October, Mandy Duncan, the mother of senior Keaira and junior Deonte Duncan, turned her dream of opening up a restaurant into a reality. “I always wanted to open up a restaurant.  If you would’ve asked me 15 years ago what I wanted to do, this is what I would tell you,” Mandy said....

Creating new experiences

Story by McKenna Hodges, Online Editor

October 30, 2018

Filed under Feature

Every fourth hour, senior Arely Rodriguez heads down to special education teacher Amber Kloster’s classroom to see the kids who are some of her best friends. Rodriguez is a student aide in Kloster’s class and also helps out with the Special Olympics. While in Kloster’s class, she plays...

Surviving the battle

Story by Nicole Konopelko, Editor-in-Chief

October 29, 2018

Filed under Feature, In-Depth, Showcase, Spotlight

Junior Caden Bressler spends most of his waking hours on the practice field. Starting his second year after moving from Paola, he’s earned varsity positions on the football, soccer, baseball and basketball teams. His name is chanted in the student section on Friday night during football games. ...

Thriving

Story by Ximena Ibarra and Matthew Moore

October 29, 2018

Filed under Feature, Showcase, Uncategorized

Every morning at 5:00, junior Ethan Weidert climbs out of his bed, makes his pre-workout shake and heads out the door to work out. Ethan starts as an inside linebacker on the varsity football team. He powerlifts. He throws discus and javelin on the track team. Just last year, as a sophomore, he ...

National Pumpkin Day

Story by Amanda Bourbina, Elle Burgess, Maddy Robison, and Jorge Leyva

October 26, 2018

Filed under Feature, Multimedia, Showcase, Uncategorized

Breaking gender roles

Story by McKenna Hodges and Nicole Konopelko

September 21, 2018

Filed under Feature, Multimedia, Showcase

The sound of the fight song filled the air at Hutchison Field minutes before the start of last Friday night’s football game against Blue Valley North. The football players laced their cleats and tossed the ball to warm up. The band members played through their songs in the Pittsburg Community Mid...