Girls soccer suffers season’s second loss to BVN, defeat Gardner 7-0

The girls soccer team fell to Blue Valley North on Monday, April 22 in a 3-1 loss, then, after an inclement weather delay, crushed Gardner in a 7-0 victory two days later. The team’s first loss was a 2-0 result against Blue Valley on Friday, April 12.

Head coach Arlan Vomhof said that the pace of Monday’s game was the biggest issue for the team, something that could be a bigger factor in the future.

“I think that’s something we’re going to find if we switch leagues: the speed of play is going to be a lot faster than what we go against in our league and that’s something that we have to adjust to,” Vomhof said.

By halftime on Monday, the team was able to keep the Mustangs within one goal. Senior midfielder Kayla Hamner scored ten minutes before the break with a hard shot in the bottom right corner after a pass from junior midfielder Abby Sieperda, just out of the North keeper’s reach to equalize. Just 20 seconds before halftime, however, the Mustangs pulled ahead once again after a long cross into the box from the left side and a one-touch finish by a North forward.

The Mustangs held on to their lead for the entire second half, sealing the victory with a goal just under two minutes before the end of the game.

During the game on Wednesday at Gardner, the team shut down the Trailblazers, scoring 7 goals while sophomore goalkeeper Kaia Minter kept a shutout.

After a wet spring, the team will play a slew of makeup games over the next two weeks. Vomhof is worried about how the rigorous schedule as well as lack of practice outside will affect the team.

“We play three games this week; we play four next week; we play three the following week. It’s going affect us because of fatigue, for one, and I just feel like we haven’t been able to work on stuff on a field like we need to,” Vomhof said. “I feel like we haven’t taught the girls a lot of the stuff they need to be taught this season just because we haven’t had the use of space outside.”

The Lady Jags will play again Friday, April 26 at home against Shawnee Mission Northwest.

High school curriculums must change with the times

With the rise in technology and the overall progression of our nation, there has also been a shift in the demand for unconventional careers: jobs that defy the traditional mold of a nine-to-five desk job. Very few adults that I have asked work jobs they thought they would be when they entered college. Even fewer say that high school prepared them for what they would do to find, even create, their careers. This lack of preparation is why, in order to keep up with the changing world, schools should be transitioning from a knowledge-based curriculum to one focused on creativity and innovation.

In the current digital age, what you can do with the information you have is more important than what you know, things you can find with a quick internet search. It is no secret that in high school, we are given information that, while valuable to the academic future of some, is forgotten by most soon after the test.

This redundant and tedious routine leads to a decrease in motivation of high school students over time. Instead of drudging through this enormous waste of time and energy, during which most of us lose focus (and see the results in our grades), students should be focusing on topics that both interest them and are relevant to potential careers, and given periodic tests that will analyze both their progress in self-directed learning and their ability to take in, analyze and use information.

While students still need to be taught basic, essential knowledge, the skills that they will acquire through a curriculum centered on innovation will be far more valuable than any history lesson (no offense to the social studies teachers reading this). Not only will it teach students to use information efficiently, it will also teach them to become intrinsically motivated – the desire to improve oneself for improvement’s sake – but also to adapt and use what is set before them, a skill valuable in any career field.

 

Inaugural girls swim team works to improve abilities

Consisting of 35 swimmers from Mill Valley High School and 15 from De Soto High School, practice started for the new girls swim team on Monday, Feb. 25, despite an impending snowstorm that resulted in a two-day inclement weather school closure.

For head coach Amy Hanna, the most important thing is to see improvements in individual results over the next several weeks from the relatively inexperienced team members.

“A lot of them have never competed before, so just focusing on having a team next year that has competed before will be a big step toward forming a great swim team,” Hanna said. “We aren’t looking to win every meet, but we are looking for the girls to improve on their own individual times.”

As a coach, Hanna said that the largest obstacle to overcome in the season thus far has been the limited practice time.

“Swimming is a very time-consuming sport that needs a lot of endurance and, without a pool, we struggle to improve our endurance as of right now,” Hanna said.

The lack of experienced swimmers has also been another issue for the team in its infancy. Of the 50 total swimmers, only about one third of them have previously been on a competitive swim team in the past.

One of the swimmers who has had former experience on a swim team is standout freshman Sherry McLeod. According to Hanna, McLeod “shows up for every meet and is looking to make state in several events.” McLeod, swimming competitively since she was 8, is one of the most seasoned swimmers on the team.

“[Swimming with inexperienced swimmers] can be aggravating,” McLeod said. “But it can make you feel good because you can help the other people.”

In addition to the team’s overall inexperience, McLeod said the biggest challenge as a member of the swim team was having the endurance to make it through every practice.

“You get tired and you want to quit,” McLeod said. “Swimming takes a lot out of you and you want to quit after the first lap or so and you just have to remind yourself to keep getting better.”

Girls soccer undefeated after three games

The girls soccer team extended their season record to 3-0 with a 7-0 win over Tonganoxie High School on Monday, April 1 and an 8-0 win over Piper High School on Thursday, April 5, both of which were home games.

Goals against Tonganoxie were scored by senior midfielder Kayla Hamner and junior midfielder Michaela Remijio with two goals each as well as goals from junior forward Abby Sieperda, junior midfielder Caroline Peters and senior defender Bri Franklin. Against Piper, Hamner netted her second hat trick of the season, senior midfielder McKenzie Koch scored two goals and Sieperda, Remijio and senior defender Haley Seibel each put one in the back of the net.

With the two wins, the Lady Jags now have 18 goals for and only one against them after three games.

The team will play again at home on Thursday, April 11 at home against Bishop Ward High School.

Girls soccer defeats Olathe North 3-1

The girls soccer team began their season with a 3-1 victory over Olathe North on Friday, March 29. Senior midfielder Kayla Hamner led the team to the win with all three of the team’s goals.

Hamner opened the scoring only a minute into the game with a strike from 30 yards out that sailed over the hands of the North keeper.

North seemed to wake up after the early goal and the two teams remained deadlocked going into the second half. Hamner finished again seven minutes into the second half on an open goal from just outside the six yard box after a cross from junior midfielder Amanda Dotts.

Soon after the second goal, North put the pressure on and had a series of close chances but saves by sophomore goalkeeper Kaia Minter denied the Eagles until forward Winnie Luginbill found space in front of goal and beat Minter.

The game began to get physical as North fought for the equalizing goal late in the game. After a yellow card was issued to each team, Hamner finished the game with another long distance shot – this one from 25 yards with eight minutes left.

Hamner, despite the good result, saw room for improvement.

“We have a lot of work to do, especially since we haven’t been able to practice outside much,” Hamner said. “But I think we did some really good things with the new [4-2-3-1] formation.”

After success in their first game, Hamner was optimistic about the rest of the season.

“I think we should do as well as we did last year if we can play to our full potential,” Hamner said.

The team finished second in the state tournament last year after a loss to St. Thomas Aquinas in the championship game.

The Lady Jags play again Monday, April 1 at home against Tonganoxie and Thursday, April 4 at home against Piper.

Q&A with health teacher Amy McClure

What are some common dieting myths?

A lot of people believe that depends on what time of day you eat a certain food as to how it affects their body weight, and that’s not true: calories are calories. Or that certain types of calories, like carbohydrates, proteins or fats, that one is worse than the other.

What are some quick excercises that can be done by someone who is short on time?

Walking is easy to do, or jogging. Basic excercises like pushups or situps and burpees are good.

What would you suggest to include in an ideal breakfast?

In an ideal breakfast, you’d definitely want some protein as well as a carbohydrate. A bowl of cereal would be fine but you would need maybe a fruit to go with that as well as some protein like peanut butter and toast.

How can lack of sleep affect the physical well-being of teenagers?

It can actually lower your metabolism, which can affect their health. It’s really going to affect their cognative abilities. It also might decrease their motivation to excercise because they get in that cycle of, “I’m tired. I’m too tired to work out.” So they don’t work out and they don’t have any energy; they don’t have any energy so they want to sleep; they sleep too much and it just cycles upon itself.

How can working out affect someones mood?

It can change the chemical makeup of your brain just like a drug can, that’s why they call it a “runner’s high,” and it can cause you to feel that intense feeling of euphoria and satisfaction.

What are the benefits of dietary supplements and protein shakes?

Most people generally don’t need it unless you are participating in a sport-specific activity that you are going to do for a long term amount of time. For example, if you are planning on being a [NCAA] Division I athlete then you might need to do something like that, but the average teenager does not need to take supplements. The best way to get more protein in your diet is just to eat more protein in your diet.

What are some common habits of teenagers that are generally bad for their health?

They skip breakfast, then they don’t eat a snack, so by lunch they eat a larger amount of food than they would normally eat, but yet they’re still in calorie deficit so by the time they get home and eat dinner, they eat a larger amount of food and still dont feel full, so then they snack in the evening, which is the worst thing you can do to your metabolism.

What would you suggest for a midday snack?

Any type of fruit or vegetables or any type of whole grain granola bars or things like that. You should eat breakfast, snack, lunch, snack, dinner; you should eat five or six times a day.

How often should someone excercise per week?

You’re supposed to excercise three to five times a week, so at least on most days of the week. You’re also supposed to get an hour of physical activity every day, physical activity just meaning movement. For excercise, three days a week is just going to maintain whatever fitness level you currently have. If you want to improve, you’re going to need to go five or six times a week.

Does it matter what time of day you work out?

A lot of people say that you should work out early in the morning. I personally think that you need to work out at whatever time you’re most motivated to work out. If you’re not motivated to work out at 5:30 a.m., you’re not going to do it. If the evening works better for your schedule, I think that’s more important than picking a time of day that might be more beneficial.

 

Hole-in-the-wall: The Farmhouse

At The Farmhouse, the farm-to-table restaurant in the Rivermarket District in Kansas City, every item on the menu is farm-fresh and fantastic. The Farmhouse is a brunch, lunch and dinner restaurant located just off 3rd and Delaware St.

The entire dining area is engulfed in natural light from the huge front windows, giving off a welcoming feeling.  The trendy and casual atmosphere adds to the ambience.

The staff is well-educated on the ins and outs of the menu. Unfortunately, the portion sizes are less than satisfying for hungry high school students, but the quality is worth the bowl of cereal you’ll have to have after the meal. The Farmhouse also offers tasty gluten-free and vegan-friendly meals.

The food oversteps the boundaries of normal teenage grease with its flavorful spices and mixes and every ingredient was without a doubt the freshest we’ve ever had.

Hole-in-the-wall: Succotash

After cooking on a $25 electric stove for 10 years at the City Market, Succotash owner Beth Barden decided to move locations to 26th and Holmes and open her first restaurant. As a quirky dine-in or catering brunchonette, Succotash is a can’t-miss breakfast stop.

With colorful art decorating the walls and white couches lining the restaurant, Succotash offers a visually appealing atmosphere with a comfortable feel.

Succotash supports many different  local farmers, businesses and vendors. Eggs are delivered weekly by an Amish community, the bread is from Kansas City’s Roma Bakery and the produce is provided by local farmers from Wathena, Kan.

The service at Succotash is quick but personal, and the food is pure comfort with a hint of new-style cooking. The must-have on the menu is the Kitchen Sink Scrambler that will send you home full and happy.

Students discuss how binge drinking has affected them

From legal troubles to broken relationships, students share how binge drinking has negatively affected their lives.

I am recovering

When a student who wishes to remain anonymous began binge drinking in seventh grade, having a good time quickly developed into major abuse.

“By the end of the year, my grades slipped, I had no trust with my parents and my relationship with my brother was lost,” he said. “By winter of sophomore year I had my first [Minor in Possession].”

A week into spring break of his sophomore year, he held a party at his house while his mom was out of town. Two days after being put on diversion for his first MIP, he received another MIP and received a charge for hosting a juvenile alcohol party. His was among 16 other MIPs handed out that night.

Since the incident, he has entered an intensive probation program to recover from his alcohol abuse. After two years of required counseling and 20 hours of community service, he will have his record expunged and all of the charges brought against him dropped.

“After that night I realized that I definitely had a problem,” he said. “I was out of control.”

This teen is among half of all U.S. teens who, if they drink before age 14, will develop an addiction to alcohol, according to the Center for Disease Control.

Through the recovery program, he has discovered how to cope with the triggers of his abuse.

“My main reason for using alcohol was pretty much to manage my emotions,” he said. “Now that I’ve gone through treatment, I have the tools and the skills to cope without using the drugs. As of Feb. 4, I am 68 days sober.”

His mother agreed that his sobriety could not have come at a better time.

“The most positive changes I have seen are the motivation to do things right, the light back in his eyes,” she said. “[I] have enjoyed seeing the person he has always had inside reemerge.”

I lost a friend

Even though she doesn’t drink, Sarah Thomas has felt the effects alcohol can have first-hand.

“I had this friend that I used to hang out with all the time,” Thomas said. “I knew she drank, but she never did it around me because she knew I didn’t like it.”
Thomas and her friend were on their way to an event when Thomas found out that her friend had been drinking when they got to their destination.

“I was driving and she was in the backseat,” Thomas said. “When we got where we were going, she was stumbling and asked if I would go with her to the bathroom. I thought she had been acting funny. I just kept wondering, ‘Did she drink? She couldn’t have; I was with her the whole time.’ I just kept denying it.”

Thomas’ friend passed out on the bathroom floor and Thomas didn’t know what to do.

“It was so scary,” Thomas said. “The fact that I’d never seen her drink and there she was, passed out in front of me … I had no idea what I was supposed to do, so I found someone and told them. They called an ambulance but she ended up going home with her dad.”

Thomas’ friend’s drinking hadn’t ever affected Thomas before.

“She knew how to control it, but this time she went overboard,” Thomas said. “Of course, the time she went overboard, she was with me.”

Their friendship ended that night.

“She said she was sorry over and over but I just ignored her,” Thomas said. “I wish I would have confronted her about it. I wish I would have blown up and yelled at her. Maybe if I had, it would have gotten through to her and saved our friendship.”

Through her experiences, Thomas believes drinking in high school isn’t worth it.

“Seeing what happened to her and losing her as a friend just reinforces what I already knew: I won’t drink in high school,” Thomas said. “I lost my best friend. It just seems stupid. There are better things you could be doing.”

I binge drink

According to the Center for Disease Control, one in every five high school girls binge drinks. For one student who wished to remain anonymous, binge drinking is just another trend she has caught on to, as well as a habit she has learned from watching her parents.

“Seeing my dad drinking the way he does makes me want to stop but I can’t,” she said. “He is another reason I started drinking. I think it strongly influences kids when they see their parents drink.”

While teenage drinking is bad, the extremes of all the consequences are not fully recognized by most teens. Drinking can damage the body but it can also damage relationships with friends and family. For this student the relationship with her mom has slowly disintegrated.

“I had a few friends over one night and we decided to get some alcohol and drink in my basement. I had the person bring it over to my house and we thought we had successfully snuck it inside and drank it before my mom could catch us,” the student said. “The next morning my mom had told me she knew I had been drinking that night. I tried to lie but she told me she had seen me sneak it in the house.”

For that student, now it is harder to connect with her parents and there is  a lack of trust between them.

However, she said that she chooses to ignore the  negatives of drinking for the fun of it.

“I still drink,” she said. “It’s fun and my friends and I like how it makes us feel. We basically just don’t care about anything when we are drinking. I don’t really think about the consequences of drinking. Sometimes I do afterwards, but by then it’s too late.”

Unfortunately, the student recognizes that the only way she’d stop drinking is if she became in trouble with the law.

“I would probably stop because after getting in trouble once,” she said. “The consequences would escalate and it’s just not worth it.”

Arming teachers decreases school security

After the disaster at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., the National Rifle Association released a series of statements urging schools around the country to train and arm not only guards to patrol the school, but teachers and staff in the building as well. The idea is that arming teachers will make the school safer in the event of an intruder situation.  As we’ve heard, the best thing to stop a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun, right? What has not been given as much thought is how this precautionary measure could impact the classroom environment and, more importantly, it has not been looked into from a student’s standpoint.

If teachers are allowed to carry firearms, it will always be in the back of my mind. Quite frankly, the idea is discomforting.

What if the teacher gets a little too mad at an ornery student? What would happen if that teacher threatened to whip out their concealed weapon? What if the teacher actually did draw the gun? Surely, the teacher’s contract would be terminated, but it could lead to further lawsuits against the district and would reflect poorly on the district’s reputation. In a similar situation, what would happen if an emotionally unstable student acquired one of the firearms, either by overpowering the armed teacher or by taking it from wherever it is stored when the owner of the weapon is not paying attention or is not present? At that point there would be a crisis situation that could have easily been avoided.

Simply put, there are too many possibilities of backfire to put into effect a plan to train and arm school staff. Hundreds of staff members with lethal weapons is the stuff of nightmares for parents, students and administration alike. A perfectly capable School Resource Officer is enough to keep the learning environment as safe and secure as possible.

Next Page »