Athletes commit to colleges
Ryan Fullerton, JagWire news editor
April 17, 2013
Eight athletes signed to play college sports in a group signing ceremony on Wednesday, April 17. Senior Weston Noyes signed to Hannibal-LaGrange University for golf and is glad to have finally made his decision. “It’s reassuring knowing you have your decision already made and you... (more...)
Actresses play male roles in “You Can’t Take It With You”
Ryan Fullerton, JagWire news editor
April 17, 2013
Rehearsals and set construction have begun for the spring play, “You Can’t Take it With You,” described by director Jon Copeland as being about a “free-spirited family full of artists and bohemians.” There are several differences between this play and those from previous school years. Most... (more...)
Election results released
Ryan Fullerton, JagWire news editor
April 3, 2013
The unofficial results of the Tuesday, April 2 ballot have been released by the Johnson County Election Office. For Position #4 on the Board of Education, Scott Hancock was elected over Jeff Hopkins and Calvin Hayden by receiving 46.27 percent of the votes. Incumbent Dick Dearwester was uncontested... (more...)
Patrons to vote on increase in Local Option Budget
Ryan Fullerton, JagWire news editor
March 14, 2013
The district is asking voters to authorize a change to its Local Option Budget on the Tuesday, April 2 ballot in order to replace $3 million in funding the district will be losing. Over the last 13 years, the district has received Extraordinary Growth funding. This funding is available for... (more...)
Boys basketball team takes third at state
Ryan Fullerton, JagWire news editor
March 9, 2013
After a defeat against Shawnee Mission South High School in the state semifinal game, the boys basketball team rebounded to take third place, beating defending state champions Kapaun Mt. Carmel 75-70 on Saturday, March 9. This is the highest the boys team has ever finished at state. From the... (more...)
Boys basketball team to play for third place in state
Ryan Fullerton, JagWire news editor
March 8, 2013
A tough opponent and poor shooting by the Jaguars led to a 70-57 loss to Shawnee Mission South in the state semifinals on Friday, March 8. South scored the first points of the game with a three-point basket, and the Jaguars struggled against the Raider’s press defense early in the game. South... (more...)
School hosts incoming freshmen parent night
Ryan Fullerton, JagWire news editor
March 7, 2013
The annual incoming freshmen parent night occurred on Wednesday, March 6. The parents and incoming freshmen got a chance to hear about the school from the perspectives of two members of the Student Leadership Team, listen to counselors discuss course selection, tour the school and meet with... (more...)
Athletes sign to colleges in group signing ceremony
Ryan Fullerton, JagWire news editor
February 11, 2013
A total of 18 athletes took part in a group college signing ceremony in the auxiliary gym on Thursday, Feb. 7. In previous years, athletes have signed separately or in smaller groups. Athletics director David Ewers said the group recognition ceremony was used at his former school and that he... (more...)
Number of shortened-day seniors increases
Ryan Fullerton, JagWire news editor
February 7, 2013
The number of seniors who have gone to a shortened day schedule during second semester has increased for the third year in a row. When seniors were first allowed to have a shortened day in the 2010-2011 school year, 15 out of 251 seniors had a shortened day schedule. In the 2011-2012 school... (more...)
Opera singer performs for choir and band students
Ryan Fullerton, JagWire news editor
January 24, 2013
Opera singer Julia Scozzafava performed for band and choir students in the Little Theater on Tuesday, Jan. 22. An acquaintance of choir director Sheree Stoppel, Scozzafava visited the school with the intent of allowing students to hear an opera singer perform live, as well as to gain votes... (more...)
School receives new technology
Ryan Fullerton, JagWire news editor
January 9, 2013
The district purchased new technology for the journalism and business departments. Over winter break, the Dell computers in the print journalism and broadcast journalism classrooms were replaced with iMacs, and the business department was given newer Dells. The decision was approved at the... (more...)
Two new coaches join basketball coaching staffs
Ryan Fullerton, JagWire news editor
November 29, 2012
Both the freshmen boys and girls basketball teams have gained new coaches for this season. Mill Creek Middle School social studies teacher Ryan Robie is the new freshman boys B-team coach and English teacher Michael Strack is coaching the freshman girls. Previously, Strack coached women’s... (more...)
Class cup introduced
Ryan Fullerton, JagWire news editor
October 26, 2012
The Student Leadership Team has created the Class Cup competition to bolster student spirit and pride in the school as part of the PBIS initiatives established for students last school year. “The [SLT] came up with the idea of promoting school spirit and pride in the school in terms of... (more...)
Practices begin for school lip dub
Ryan Fullerton, JagWire news editor
October 18, 2012
Over the next few weeks, practices will be taking place to prepare for a school lip dub intended to showcase all school activities and school spirit. The idea was generated by several of Broadcast teacher Cindy Swartz’s students later last year, and she recommended that they wait until this... (more...)
Student leadership team initiates Class Cup competition
Ryan Fullerton, JagWire news editor
October 3, 2012
Meetings held last week during seminar with each grade gave the Student Leadership Team the chance to announce the inititian of the Class Cup competition. The classes will be competing against each other through various spirit day activities and pep assembly competitions. Another competition... (more...)
Guest speaker urges students to understand consequences
Ryan Fullerton, news editor
September 11, 2012
Sponsored by jagPRIDE, guest speaker Joe White visited the school to address the student body about avoiding alcohol and understanding the consequences of their actions on Friday, Sept. 7. White was hospitalized in September 2006, after he jumped from a moving vehicle traveling 35 mph while... (more...)
Candidates prepare for presidential election
Ryan Fullerton, reporter
May 15, 2012
As the 2012 presidential election draws closer, candidates for the position have begun refining their platforms in order to gain the needed votes. President Barack Obama will be running for the Democratic party and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney will be running for the Republican party. Various... (more...)
School resource officer John Midiros to be replaced
Ryan Fullerton, reporter
May 10, 2012
After six years, school resource officer John Midiros will no longer be the SRO starting next year. Midiros is being replaced due to a new policy being initiated by superintendent Dr. Doug Sumner that says an SRO should not stay at a school for more than five years. Midiros’ replacement... (more...)
Mystery novel exceeds expectations
Ryan Fullerton, reporter
May 4, 2012
When I read author Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code a year or two ago, I didn’t think there were other books in the same genre that could match up to Brown’s incredible storytelling. And while I don’t think author Charles Brokaw is nearly as talented at the craft as Brown, his debut novel,... (more...)
New volleyball coach announced
Ryan Fullerton, reporter
May 3, 2012
New and returning volleyball players and their parents were given the opportunity to meet new volleyball coach Whitney Revelle on Wednesday, May 2. Revelle’s experience in volleyball includes having coached for two local clubs, as well as competing at the national level. She has been the... (more...)
Q and A with StuCo treasurer candidate Maegann Parsons
Ryan Fullerton, reporter
April 23, 2012
Sophomore Maegann Parsons 1. Why are you running for student body office? Because I love to be involved in the school and represent my class. 2. What makes you qualified for the position of treasurer? I’ve been in StuCo for two years and I have had experience with handling money since I’ve... (more...)
Q and A with StuCo treasurer candidate Jasmine Hitt
Ryan Fullerton, reporter
April 23, 2012
Sophomore Jasmine Hitt 1. Why are you running for student body office? Because I like being a part of StuCo and I was treasurer freshman year and I would like to be it again. 2. What makes you qualified for the position of treasurer? I’ve been a part of StuCo both years and I do a lot of... (more...)
Journalism staff travels to Seattle
Ryan Fullerton, reporter
April 18, 2012
Members of the newspaper staff journeyed to JEA/NSPA Journalism Convention in Seattle on Tuesday, April 10, where it garnered four Best of Show awards. However, it failed to secure the Online Pacemaker award it had been nominated for. A complete list of winners can be seen here. At the convention,... (more...)
School begins serving breakfast
Ryan Fullerton, reporter
April 12, 2012
In order to provide better nutrition for students, breakfast is now being served in the morning in the commons, starting at 7:30 a.m. “We hope that [students will] see that it’s a better option than McDonald’s or a vending machine or just not eating breakfast at all,” district nutritionist... (more...)
District begins implementation of Common Core State Standards
Ryan Fullerton, reporter
March 28, 2012
Two meetings held recently at Mill Valley High School gave the district the chance to announce a new program called the Common Core State Standards. Starting at the beginning of this school year, the district began implementation of the Common Core in the elementary schools, a program designed... (more...)
Stephen King novel offers unexpected vampire story
Ryan Fullerton, reporter
March 22, 2012
Inspired by Bram Stoker’s Dracula, Stephen King’s second novel ‘Salem’s Lot easily stands up with the best of his fiction. While it is slightly dated due to its publication in 1975, the king of horror definitely knew his craft even back in the early days of his career. The novel is... (more...)
Sixteen teens charged with Minor in Possession
Ryan Fullerton, reporter
March 21, 2012
After an investigation at a party over spring break, 16 students between the ages of 15-18, at least some being from Mill Valley, are currently facing charges for Minor in Possession, or MIP, for underage possession of alcohol. The party occurred in the 21500 block of West 62nd Street in Shawnee,... (more...)
Choirs perform in preparation for competition
Ryan Fullerton, reporter
March 8, 2012
In preparation for upcoming competition, the choirs performed a concert in the theater on Tuesday, March 6. Choir director Sheree Stoppel wanted to use this concert, as well as the rehearsals preceding it, as an opportunity to practice for the competitions the choirs will soon be attending. “I... (more...)
Mill Creek Middle School performs musical
Ryan Fullerton, reporter
March 6, 2012
Mill Creek Middle School performed the musical Alice in Wonderland four times as its annual spring performance starting on Thursday, March 1-Saturday, March 3. Practice for the musical began with auditions in first semester, which were followed by eight weeks of rehearsals lasting until 5... (more...)
Reconstruction plan begins for baseball and football practice area
Ryan Fullerton, reporter
March 1, 2012
After being approved at a recent Board meeting, the area behind Monticello Trails Middle School is currently being altered to create space for an additional two practice football fields and to find a more effective use of the available space. “They wanted to use the space out there in... (more...)
NHS hosts ‘Know Ya Boo’ contest
Ryan Fullerton, reporter
February 15, 2012
NHS hosted the “Know Ya Boo” contest, a dating game show with a prize of Starbucks gift cards, on Monday, Feb. 13. The contest was hosted by seniors Devin Rudicel and Robbie Weber, who asked questions such as “What is your significant other’s birthday?”, “What is your boyfriend’s... (more...)
NHS prepares to host ‘Know Ya Boo’ contest
Ryan Fullerton, reporter
February 10, 2012
Hosted by seniors Devin Rudicel and Robbie Weber, NHS will be hosting the “Know Ya Boo” contest in the theater during seminar on Monday, Feb. 13. The event will be in the form of a dating game show, featuring couples from each grade and one staff couple. The participating couples are seniors... (more...)
School reforms art club
Ryan Fullerton, reporter
January 31, 2012
Sponsored by art teachers Jerry Howard and Erica Crist, the second art club in school history has formed. The second meeting was held on Thursday, Jan. 26 to discuss the club’s goals. “I have two goals,” Howard said. “I want to have an opportunity where kids who want to do their own... (more...)
Third lunch option initiated to better serve students
Ryan Fullerton, reporter
January 27, 2012
As part of an effort to provide more options for school lunch as well as decrease the amount of time students spend standing in the lunch line, director of student nutrition Amy Droegemeier and her staff have initiated a third lunch option to be available on Fridays through January. Droegemeier... (more...)
Action not limited in latest Tom Cruise film
Ryan Fullerton, reporter
January 18, 2012
Returning to the big screen for the fourth installment in the Mission: Impossible saga, Tom Cruise reprised his role as Impossible Mission Force, or IMF, agent Ethan Hunt in the incredibly action packed Mission: Impossible—Ghost Protocol. The film has raked in nearly $170,000,000 since... (more...)
Lexington Trails Middle Schools earns award for academic excellence
Ryan Fullerton, reporter
January 10, 2012
Along with 43 elementary schools, 11 middle schools and 18 high schools, Lexington Trails Middle School received the Governor’s Achievement Award, an award that showcases academic success of schools across the state, for the first time. To achieve the award, a school must have achieved Adequate... (more...)
Controversy caused by local tweet
Ryan Fullerton, reporter
December 14, 2011
Everybody in the U.S. is protected by the First Amendment and its guarantee of free speech. But recent events have raised the question of whether or not a person should say something, even though they can. In late November, Shawnee Mission East High School senior Emma Sullivan took a field... (more...)
Choirs perform winter concert
Ryan Fullerton, reporter
December 6, 2011
All choirs joined together for a prism style concert on Monday, Dec. 5. A prism style concert takes it name from the dimension of the music throughout the theatre, in which choirs enter and exit at staggered times to allow for more singing to occur and to decrease the amount of time it takes... (more...)
Guest speaker informs students about dangers of binge drinking
Ryan Fullerton, reporter
November 29, 2011
Beginning with a video about her daughter before speaking for about an hour, guest speaker Debbie Allen spoke to the entire school about the dangers of binge drinking in an assembly on Monday, Nov. 28. Debbie started speaking to students across the country around January 2009, about three weeks... (more...)
Three former Mill Valley High School students share their stories after graduation
Ryan Fullerton, reporter
November 15, 2011
2001 graduate Justin Cobb Graduating with about 120 other students in the school’s first senior class, 2001 graduate Justin Cobb left behind four years that still affect his life. Cobb was one of the first students to have the opportunity to call himself a Jaguar football player, an experience... (more...)
Debate team struggles at Spring Hill High School
Ryan Fullerton, reporter
November 15, 2011
After taking first place at Baldwin High School and second place at Lansing High School, the debate team journeyed to its next meet at Spring Hill High School on Saturday, Nov. 12. While the entire team failed to secure first or second place as they had previously done, the novice team of... (more...)
MVTV succeeds in broadcast competition
Ryan Fullerton, reporter
November 8, 2011
On Friday, Nov. 4, the MVTV production team set off for the DUTV Broadcast and Video Production competition in Springfield, Mo. By the end of the competition, the team earned two awards. The competition took place on Saturday, Nov. 5. Starting that morning, participants were given a rundown... (more...)
Halloween Film Fest provides entertainment during seminar
Ryan Fullerton, reporter
November 1, 2011
About 150 students filed into the theatre during seminar on Monday, Oct. 31 for the annual Halloween Film Fest. The videos showcased were all student-made for a grade in Video Production. Students with tickets were allowed into the theater to view the Halloween-themed films that mixed classic... (more...)
Student redesigns lifestyle around health and veganism
Ryan Fullerton, writer
October 20, 2011
Chopping carrots, peeling onions and mixing in some concentrated garlic and pasta, junior Trace Robertson prepared a meal that is unique to his lifestyle as a vegan, a change he made to his life not long ago. “Certain information led me to believe that things were not as they seemed,”... (more...)
“Pink Out” football game to raise breast cancer awareness
Ryan Fullerton, reporter
October 14, 2011
Sponsored by the Booster Club, pink t-shirts were sold in the cafeteria to students from Monday, Oct. 10-Thursday, Oct. 13. The shirts are for the “Pink Out” football game against Bishop Miege High School on Friday, Oct. 14 with the intent to raise breast cancer awareness. “It’s just... (more...)
Guest speaker addresses students about prejudice
Ryan Fullerton, reporter
October 3, 2011
Filling one side of the gymnasium two different times, students listened to a presentation about prejudice, racism, labeling and conflict resolution by self-professed peacemaker Calvin Terrell during Silver One on Wednesday, Sept. 28. “It was really inspiring and it really made an impact... (more...)
“See You at the Pole” unites students
Ryan Fullerton, reporter
September 29, 2011
Between 30 and 40 students gathered around the flagpole, joined hands, and bowed their heads in prayer for their school and fellow students at the annual “See You at the Pole” event, beginning at around 7 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 28. “See You at the Pole” was started at a high school... (more...)
Foreign exchange student adjusts to life in Kansas
Ryan Fullerton, reporter
September 21, 2011
A journey from China all the way to Shawnee is a trip that few students get to take. But that does not exclude all of them. Senior Cynthia Shi is a foreign exchange student who travelled all the way from her home in Qing Dao, China to Shawnee, Kan. Arriving as the school year began to enter... (more...)
Nomination process changes for Homecoming court
Ryan Fullerton, reporter
September 14, 2011
As the school year progresses and Homecoming draws closer, yet another change has been made to the week. This year, nominations for Homecoming court will be chosen by the senior class and then final voting will be done by the entire student body. Seniors will vote to nominate five boys and... (more...)
Math teacher wins triathlon
Ryan Fullerton, reporter
September 7, 2011
For some athletes, competing in one athletic event is quite enough. But math teacher Allison Blanchard took that one event and multiplied it by three, winning her first triathlon for her age group against twenty other competitors on Sunday, Aug. 21 with a final time of 1:12. Like any triathlon,... (more...)
Music experience changed for the worst
Ryan Fullerton, reporter
September 2, 2011
If I were to ask you how many CDs you have, you would probably say that you don’t have very many, if any at all. You probably get all of your music off of the Internet and then download it to your iPod or MP3 player. I would also assume that your parents have an old record collection from... (more...)
Cross country runner strives to improve for next season
Ryan Fullerton, Special to The JagWire
December 10, 2010
Running 3.1 miles is a long way to go for some people, but for freshman cross country runner CJ Meeks, there’s nothing to it. “I like to run a lot,” he said. “I feel like I’m getting somewhere in life.” At the first full 5K meet for the cross country team on Saturday, Sept. 11,... (more...)