hi.li

fe

what you need to know now

JLabMag.com

Inside

The Hi.Life takes a look at how

at the Tiger Post.Find out about the

newNero Water that

has students buzzing.Also in this issue,

a look around KC forinteresting places for a

weekend adventure.

Lee’s SummitHigh School

Volume 94Issue 2

September 21Price $0.50

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jlabmag.com TABLE OF CONTENTS 03

SEPTEMBER 21, 2012

HI.LIFE

7

9

1720

12

7. Features

Bucket lists can include anything from skydiving to mattress jumping at a department store to meeting a celebrity. Students at Lee’s Summit High School have created a list of things to do before they die. Also, a spotlight on student photographer, Eli Schaefer.

17. Sports

Learn some surprising facts about football and all the behind the scenes at games. Also coverage of soccer, and what is Jimmie Swaine’s weapon of choice?

20. News

The scoop on all the new products down at the Tiger Store. What is the Nuero Water that everyone is talking about? Also, all the info on this year’s new SSR policy.

12. Center Spread

Homecoming is just around the corner. How do all the elements come together to make one of the biggest traditions at Lee’s Summit High School. Also, tips on scoring a date to the big dance.

9. Entertainment

Kansas City is known nationwide for its barbecue, but there might be a few local places that may not be worth it. Also, the first of the fall TV season is beginning, and reviews of the latest entertainment.

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jlabmag.com STAFF PAGE 05

LETTER FROM THE EDITORThe Best Paying Job

Kevin AdamsEditor in Chief: Kevin Adams

Managing Editor: Haley GillilanPhoto Editors: John Wood and Zac Harris

News Editor: Shelby WagnerFeatures Editors: Mary Jo Roccaro and Kailyn Smith

Entertainment Editor: Haley Gillilan Fashion Editors: Tori Carlile and Jordan Julian

Opinions Editor: Sean StevensSports Editors: Jonathon Barr and Andrew Potter

Copy Editors: Paige Seymour and Daniel GrahamAds Manager: Tierney VanMeter

Writers and Photographers: Aaron Hagan, Aaron LaPaz, Allison Litthong, Andrew Potter, Andy Jarnevic, Anna Meyers, Annelise Hanshaw, Ashley Hagan, Brooke McLanahan, Cara McCauley, Chelsea Englis, Cole Raymond, Darby Beatty, Darren Clay, Dia Sims, Endia Sears, Grace Rodgers, Grace Tibbitts, Hannah Nickles, Ian Nickens, Jared Shepherd, Jesse Butler, Josh Harris, Jude Spaulding, Kyle Tye, Logan Phillips, Maddy Wylie, Matt Rellihan, Megan Terry, Morgan Bruce, Nathan Michael, Payton Seymour, Sydnee Pointer, Taelor Oller, Tristan White and Victoria Gardner.Advisor: Marc Russell

MAKING IT HAPPEN

As teenagers, we generally think that we are all-know-ing and can do just about anything, and who says we can’t? We are living some of the best, or worst, years of our lives, and we should be doing it to the fullest. While it may seem like the best choice to go out and party every weekend, take a step back and think about what it might be costing you in the long run. The answer many will prob-ably come up with is scholarships, and ultimately, college. As cheesy and cliché as it may sound, high school is the most important job that many of us could ever hope to get at our age. Take a moment and just think about it. You may know someone who makes well over mini-mum wage, but how many of your friends will make over $20,000 this year? My guess, slim to none. So while it may seem like the most important thing to be the cool kid in school, the girl with the best clothes, or simply the class clown, it is much more valuable to be spending time on your studies, es-pecially when you are provided everything necessary for success. Take a look around our school. Everywhere you turn, teachers are either sitting at a desk, or standing in the hall-ways, gazing over the hordes students. Step out of your comfort zone, and go ask them for help. Believe it or not, most of them are willing to help you if they’re able to. If the teacher approach didn’t work out as well as it could have, then there are plenty of other opportunities for extra help. Take advantage of our school’s tutoring program. Many days after school in the breezeway lab, you can find tu-tors for a variety of subjects, which offers a diverse range of study areas to all students in need of assistance. If after school doesn’t seem to fit in your schedule, then late start Wednesdays are also an option for before school tutoring. Always remember that whatever may seem more im-portant now, may not always be the most important later. Always remember that high school is what you make of it, and post high school is very often determined by what you made of high school, so make the best of both.

06 FEATURES jlabmag.com

I have to try this

Andy repinned this from Emily Q.

326 likes 1205 repins

Arts and crafts are no longer just for little kids.Staring at a computer screen for hours can be a waste of time. In the case of Pinterest, that can be wrong. With the correct knowledge, time can be obtained and ideas made. “I was one of the first to be introduced to Pinterest. I heard about it from some of my friends,” freshman Tom-mye Koontz said. All that’s needed to begin is a Facebook or Twitter. The site is simple to jump into--as long as there is plenty of time to spare. “My two projects were decorating a shadow box to hold my sporting tickets and event tickets. My sec-ond one was a way to hang up my jewelry,” Brooks said. Pins are often simple and attainable, even if the user is not artsy or creative; all that is needed is the desire to pin. On average, proj-ects on Pinterest take half an hour and usually prove to be a beneficial way to spend free time. “I have found that the food ideas off Pinterest have been difficult to complete or very simple,” Brooks said Not every pin is perfect. They can be exaggerated or the end result can be less than satisfactory. Before try-ing, research a pin. If there are multiple success stories, then it is probable that the pin is within reach.

Completing a project from Pinterest will likely be entertaining, earn compliments, and have a great end result. “Don’t be afraid to ex-press yourself. I’ve found people with similar interests that I didn’t think had any with me,” Brooks said. When on Pinterest, any-one can be followed by the pinner. Whoever those people are, the follower learns a lot about. After all, Pinterest is a social network-ing site. Sometimes odd and inter-esting boards can be found. One off-beat idea is a bucket list board on Pinter-est. Other examples in-clude boards over One Direction, The Beatles, and Harry Potter. There is a lot more than just arts and crafts. Pinterest can turn computer time into productive time. Users get ideas, laughs, and knowledge of others. Sound good? Pin it.

You can follow the Hi. Life on Pinterest at www.Pinterest.com/jlabmag/

Story by Annelise Hanshaw Photos by Alison Litthong

Pin It Cool artwork!

Lisa A. reppined this from Trent F.

929 likes 1096 repins

1014 likes 1231 repins

Becca reppined this from Britney T.

Cute cheetah print!

Cutest dress!!!

Addie R. reppined this from Megan Smith

307 likes 713 repins

428 likes 607 repins

Elizabeth reppined this from Lily P.

This backpack is the best.

jlabmag.com FEATURES 07

Live A

Littl

e

story by Victoria Gardner photos by Cara McCauley and Victoria Gardner

“Live your bucket list every day if you have the opportunity to,” Sargent Rick Milligan said.

Mattress jumping? Swimming with dolphins? What kind of

goals are those? Well, believe it or not, some students just might have these things and more on their bucket list. “My definition of a bucket list is you write down the things you haven’t done, and that what you want to do,” sophomore Madai Torres said. Not everyone knows what a bucket list is, or what its purpose is. Bucket lists are lists of things people want to do before a certain time. People make bucket lists even to fit specific seasons, such as a summer bucket list. The phrase explains itself, but

just in case, it is goals people want to accomplish before a certain time. Most commonly known and used is a lifetime bucket list. “I think of things that I haven’t done and can look back, and tell great stories,” sophomore Addison Feeney said. When picking out things to put on a bucket list, base it around fun but reachable activities. Bucket list are a great way to feel accomplished while having fun, whether that be with your friends, your family, or yourself. Some people may look at it as a motivator to get

out and do crazy things, but some serious goals such as graduating high school or college can be involved. Not allowing enough time to complete the bucket list may be a bummer, but a great way to boost ideas for making another one for more time. When completing all of the things on a bucket list should make doing bucket list with more things to do challenging. Maybe take some time out of the week to make a bucket list for fun with friends. There are an infinite number of things to put on a bucket list and they don’t have certain rules to abide by, so go all out.

This is not your every day kind of list.

08 FEATURES jlabmag.com

Eli Schaefer: The Interview

On her photography: “I enjoy creating memories for other people. It’s a very rewarding experience.”

story by Nathan Michael photos by Tristan White and Eli Schaefer

On senior photo shoots: “I know most of the students that I take senior photos for so they are more comfortable that way.”

“I’ve always been interested in video and photography”

S The camera is trained on this up-and-coming student photographer.

Senior photos are due in a week and she is frantically searching for a good and affordable photography studio to take her pictures. Not only is it stressful to get pictures done on time, but it can also be very expensive. However, some students have found a more affordable and fun way to take their senior photos. Some seniors this year have brought it upon themselves to take senior pictures for their fellow classmates, saving them time and money. “I’ve already done four senior photo shoots and I plan on doing at least four more before senior ads are due,” said senior photographer Eli Schaefer. Professional photography studios can charge up to $400, but Schaefer aims for a more affordable approach. “I charge anywhere from $65 to $110. I think senior pictures should be more affordable so I don’t charge a lot.” Schaefer may not be a professional, but she is experienced. “I’ve always been interested in video and photography and I used to make a lot of videos when I was younger.” Professional or not, Schaefer’s pictures look as professional as any other photography studio. According to Schaefer, taking

senior photos with her is a much more relaxed and personal experience. “I know most of the students that I take senior photos for so they are more comfortable that way,” said Schaefer. Senior photos with Eli Schaefer is an experience unlike anything in a usual studio setting. Taking photos with fellow classmates is a much more personal and comfortable way to go about it; not to mention a lot cheaper. Getting senior photos done on time can be hectic, but who knows; one of your classmates may have the ability to make it a bit easier in the otherwise crazy schedule of a high school senior.

jlabmag.com ENTERTAINMENT 09

BITES & BEVERAGES

Filling Station

Walking into The Filling Station, the fi rst thing noticed is the array of road signs covering the wall as well as the country music playing faintly in the background. The waitress stands awaiting an order. After entering The Filling Station, It’s found that the interior of the restaurant was rather unappealing. The wall is covered in road signs, posters, as well as newspaper clippings, and while all of it is interesting it seems as if all of it had been placed there haphazardly. There are several cracks in the concrete fl oor, which they had made no attempt to remedy nor cover up. The service, while friendly, was somewhat slow, nearly two drinks were fi nished by the time the food is received Although the restaurant’s reputation is great the fi rst bite is disappointing, as the food lacks greatly in fl avor and the dipping sauce leaves much to be desired. Due to the great disappointment in the quality of the food, interior design, and ser-vice at the fi lling station, this restaurant is not recommended to those in search of good barbeque

Reviews of the best restaurants and recipes Recipes or directions found at jlabmag.com

Mamma Mia! The mozzarella cheese melts over the penne noodles as the countdown on the oven timer seems to grow slower and slower while waiting for the chime that will signal the removal of the dish from the oven. This Italian recipe is a great way to put a new spin on spaghetti. The sauce and the noodles are fi rst prepared on the stovetop as if one is making spaghetti with the excep-tion of using penne noodles instead of spaghetti noodles, however the noodles are not cooked all the way through so that they will be able to cook in the oven. Sugar is used in the sauce to remove the tanginess that comes with tomato sauce as well as the acid content. The results, are absolutely great. The fl avor of the sauce mixes incredibly well with the cheese and the meat adds texture.

Cranberry Chicken

As the dish is taken from the oven, a strong yet pleasant aroma fi lls the air. The dish looks incredibly appetizing. This recipe is truly a culinary stroke of genius from it’s creator. It is an easy to make dish that is simply amazing. The chicken was both succulent and sweet as well as fi lling. The only disappointment is that if someone doesn’t regularly open the oven and pour the sauce over the chicken, then it will come out fl avorless. Even with that one small compli-cation the results are worth the extra effort and the wait.

* * * * *

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by Jude Spaulding photos by Aaron LaPaz

10 ENTERTAINMENT jlabmag.com

TELEVISION

With bad sitcoms saturating television these days, it can be hard to fi nd a good one. “The Mindy Project” on Fox is a charming and funny exception to the rule. “The Mindy Project,”’s has just about as many fl aws as it has good points. This, however, is typical among pilots for sitcoms. Mindy (played by “The Offi ce’s Mindy Kaling) is a young doctor who has some obsessive habits. This can really make it hard to watch for fans of “The Offi ce,” as many will still think of Kaling as Kelly Kapoor. The pacing is atrocious, as way too many characters are introduced way too fast. The show also fi lls all the stereotypes of medical shows. Dr. Castellano (Chris Messina) is the overachiever that takes his job way too seriously, Jeremy (Ed Weeks) is the handsome and charming British doctor, and Shauna (Amanda Setton) is the typical secretary. Humor is something hard to come by, but, when a joke is found it tends to be very funny, a high and a low point. The ‘gimmick’ behind “The Mindy Project” is clever and original, it centers around Mindy’s love of romantic comedies, and constantly referencing them, this is executed surprisingly well. While the show is good and has a lot of charm, it isn’t able really to stack up against the other heavy hitters like “New Girl” that dominate the Fox Tuesday night line-up.

Superhero fans rejoice! Smallville may have ended, but the new series “Arrow” is here to satiate the need for a good superhero televi-sion show.“Arrow” follows a young billionaire that “Smallville” fans may recog-nize, named Oliver Queen (Ste-phen Amell). Thought to have been dead for fi ve years, Queen is found on a deserted island in the Pacifi c Ocean. Upon returning home to Starling City, his friends and family and girlfriend realize that some-thing about him is different as he tries to reconnect with them. Enter Arrow, the vigilante hero created by Queen. The action sequences are great, Amell even learned parkour and archery to prepare for his crime-fi ghting role. The casting is another high point, The cast has been changed from the original actors and the series is under a dif-ferent director than “Smallville” This is truly a show that can appeal to many types of viewers, as it com-bines drama and action almost fl awlessly and is a new canon that is different than it was in “Small-ville.” “Arrow,” has the potential to be a great program, however like “Smallville” before it, it could be hit or miss as many people that aren’t fans of “Smallville” or the Green Arrow may not be familiar with the backstory of this character.

For years NBC hasn’t had a good drama that isn’t “Law and Order,” or some variant of it. J.J. Abram’s post-apocalyptic “Revolution” changes that. In the real world, everything is powered by electricity. In “Revolu-tion,” that all changes, as one day, the entire world shuts off. As disease runs rampant, governments fall, and violence ensues, the whole planet reverts back to the dark ages. 15 years later, the power is still off and people have learned to live with no electrical power, by creating small communities and banding together to avoid the militias that roam around. “Revolution” follows Charlie (Tracy Spiridakos), who’s father is killed by a militia looking for informa-tion to turn the power back on, her uncle Miles (Billy Burke), Aaron (Zak Orth), and Maggie (Anna Lise Phil-lips) as they look for a way to get the electricity back. “Revolution” does everything right, characters are introduced at a good pace and the casting is spot on. Almost all of the characters are obscure actors, so there are no other characters associated with them. It perfectly balances drama and fi ght scenes as well as a little comic relief here and there. The story paces itself in a way that keeps the viewer from getting bored, but doesn’t throw everything at the viewer all at once.

* * * * * * * * * ** * * * *By Jared Shepard Photos courtesy of AP Images

Check out the fi rst of the fall season

jlabmag.com ENTERTAINMENT 11

Everyone needs a song they can dance to around the bedroom with their PJ’s on! In Taylor Swift’s new music video and song, “We Are Never Getting Back Together” Swift is doing just that. It is defi nite-ly worth turning up loud enough for the neighbors to come knock-ing. Swift’s video, taken in just one shot, is super cute and has a fun feeling to it. Though after a few times on repeat the song gets a little redundant, it is still catchy and a blast to dance to. “We Are Never Getting Back Together” has a video that is defi nitely worth checking out on Youtube, but maybe not worth the money on Itunes. This song will have Lee’s Summit High School’s students singing into their hairbrushes in no time! Taylor Swift will be releasing her new album “Red” Oct. 22.

The delightful jokes and touching plot of this movie appeals to everyone. Paranorman is the story of a not-so-average middle school boy named Norman (Kodi Smit-McPhee). He can talk to the dead and is troubled when disturbing start coming to him. As the visions come true, Norman, his sister Courtney (Anna Kend-rick), and the neighbors Alvin and Neil (Christopher Mintz-Plasse and Tucker Albrizzi). “You don’t become a hero by being normal” is a fi tting phrase for Norman as he uses his unique gift to defeat the problem. The fi lm is dramatic, very goofy, and entertaining. It stays interesting from start to fi nish. It’s well worth the money, and is perfectly cute for holding hands. Paranor-man is a silly and fun movie that you don’t want to miss.

MUSIC & MOVIES

While in a theater seat, it holds little threat, this movie will make you look twice at dark corners and closets. The Possesion tells of a de-mon trapped in a dybbuk box. It becomes released and resides in the box’s new and naive owner, Emily (Natasha Calis). Her parents (Jeffery Dean Morgan and Kyra Sedgwick) and sister (Madison Davenport) have little warning before the dybbuk, or demon, begins terrorizing all who stand before it. The plot was entertaining, but there were almost no jumps or suspense. At various times, Kyra Sedgwick was too dramatic. Her colleagues had delightful perfor-mances, and made the movie more enjoyable. It’s a good movie to watch with a crush, but mostly to make jokes. All laughs aside, The Possession has a heartwarm-ing side to it and leaves you glancing over your shoulder.

* * * * *

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By Grace Tibbetts and Grace Rogers Photos courtesy of AP Images

Perfect for jammin’ in the car or just bad days, the song “Battle Scars” by Guy Sebastian featur-ing Lupe Fiasco is a song to check out! Guy Sebastian was on Aus-tralian Idol in 2003 and has been seen as a judge on the Australian X-Factor. In this song, Sebastian and Fiasco get across what it feels like to be lovesick. The song is upbeat, but portrays a hurt that everyone can relate to. It is a sad song, but it’s still fun to blast in the car. “Battle Scars” is not only worth a look at on Youtube, but also worth a download from Itunes. Guy Sebastian has several albums, but this is his latest single. Everyone needs this song to listen to in the car, when they’re feeling a little lovesick, or to just sing their heart out!

Reviews of the best and newest entertainment to check out now!

12 CENTER SPREAD jlabmag.com

date

Homecoming By the Numbers11.67Average cost of a homecomming dinner (not including your tip and your date, boys!)

How togetA

Junior nominees

for homecoming court attendant

20King Nominees

were voted on for this year’s roy-alty homecoming court. Be sure to attend the assembly to find out who is the top three and the game to find out the winner overall.

27Queen nomineeswere voted on for this year’s royalty homecoming court. Be sure to attend the assembly to find out who is the top three and the game to find out the winner overall

10 Freshman nominees for homecoming court attendant

34Sophomore nominees for homecoming

court attendant

3,000

lights used in the field house at the dance

30

15convertilbes

used for royalty in the

homecoming parade

2,664average number

of flowers used at the

dance

12Teacher chaperones at the dance to keep the students out of

trrouble

43number of steps nominees take from the door to the middle of the field house

step 1.)Make sure she doesn’t already

have a date. Ask her friends if your sweetie is taken, no

use in wasting time on a stolen Cinderella.

step 2.)Be creative, again talk to

girls. See if she wants to be asked a certain way.

jlabmag.com CENTER SPREAD 13

NINESTEPS TO HOME-

COMINGby Payton Seymour

photos by John Wood andBrook McLanahan

No 1)Get a Date.First of all, you will want to make sure that you have a date for the dance. If you don’t have a special some-one to go with or just can’t seem to get the right girl, get a group of friends together who are in the same situation.

No 2)Find the perfect outfit.

For girls, a formal dress, shoes of your choice, and any additional acces-

sories. For guys, a shirt and tie, dress pants, and shoes of your

choice will work just fine. Make sure that you ask your date

what they are wear-ing so you match.

No. 3)Schedule hair, nail, and tanningappointments.Be sure to schedule your nail appoint-ment so you can have the snazziest nails at the dance. Then set your tanning and hair

appointments to ensure that you are the tannest of them all.

No. 6)Attend the

Homecoming Assembly.

Don’t forget to show your school spirit at

the assembly. Come have a great time and

find out who is on the Homecoming Royalty Court.

No. 7)Catch candy

at the parade (or ride a float).

Next come to the parade and catch all the

sweets your heart desires. Or if you are riding a float,

throw as much candy as possible.

No. 8)Go to the game.

Come out and support our tigers Fri. Sept. 28. It will be a

great time to show your school spirit. This will be a great game that you definitely

won’t want to miss out on the big game.

No. 9)Get your dance on.Lastly, and most importantly, do not forget to go to the dance. Homecoming starts at eight and to eleven, so be sure to go and have a great time with all your peers.

No. 5)Place your corsage and boutn-niere orders.Get down to the flower shop and get those orders in, the ear-lier the better. Getting this done will ensure you and your date

unique, matching flowers.

No. 4)Find out where

you want to make your dinner

reservations.Also, make sure to set

your dinner reservations early enough. Wether you

are interested in a nice, sit-down or somewhere quick,

you want to be able to get into your favorite resaurant without a problem.

Even if you are cheap, having a nice meal at home is also a way to go.

step 3.)Plan. You don’t want to look dumb when things go wrong. Plan when, where, and how things should go smoothly.

step 4.)Just ask her. If she says no then

simply say, “Okay catch ya later,” walk away, and move on.

14 FASHION jlabmag.com

jlabmag.com FASHION 15

16 FASHION jlabmag.com

jlabmag.com SPORTS 17

BY THE NUMBERS 2012-13LOOKING AT FOOTBALL

60 GALLONS OF

WATER DRANK BY THE FOOTBALL

TEAM EVERY GAME

PERCENTAGE KICKOFFS ARE RETURNED TO

THE RIGHT

9 9 . 5 %

17FOOTBALLS USED EVERY GAME

104.0 Quarterback

RATING FOR DREW LOCKE

1985

6TRIPS TO THE LOCKER ROOM BEFORE A GAME

MOST RECENT APPEARENCE IN THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

18 SPORTS jlabmag.com

Competitive vs. High School Sports

The desire for most student athletes is the opportunity to repre-sent their school, but for some it’s a hard decision. The differences between high school sports and competitive sports. Sophomore Erik Palmer-brown plays for Sporting KC Juniors. Junior Con-nor Claxton is a typi-

What are the advantages of playing high school or com-petitive sports?

Connor: “High school you play against players that you eventually see in the sum-mer.”

Erik: “Competitive has more

Which one is has the most exposure to scouts for pro and college?

Connor: “Most likely competitive, summer has showcases that scouts attend.”

Erik: “Competitive, because there is more

Q: If you had to make a decision, which one would you choose?

Connor: “High school, be-cause of the good coaching and lots of facility time.”

Erik: “Competitive, because of the college and pro expo-sure.”

Sophomore striker Aaron LaPaz drives for the goal as an opponent dives for the slide tackle in the first half of the Lee’s Summit vs. Pembroke Hill Varsity soccer match. “ I wanted that goal bad, and I would have scored if that last defender hadn’t taken my legs out,” LaPaz said after the 2-1 victory.

First Look: Boys Soccer The Tigers are down 4-0 at the half. Coach David Wiebenga knows his team can make a comeback so he rallies his team and makes adjustments. The players push themselves to the max in the second half. When its all said and done the final score is 5-4, Tigers win. After a strong finish last season, including a trip to the District Finals, expectations are at an all time high for the soccer team. “We’re a strong program,” said coach David Wiebenga, “One of our main goals is to get back to the district finals”. With some of the key players not on the team this season, it has made way for younger athletes to step up. Wiebenga knows experience matters. “I expect my team to be learning everyday,” Wiebenga said. The team learns fast because lately they have been pulling off some great wins. The team is rising above expectation this year. Wiebenga knows what the key to their success is. “The team stays competitive throughout the season,” Wiebenga said. Wiebenga knows his team can compete. Just like when the team was down 4-0 at half. “The team is learning,” said Wiebenga. “We are striving to get better each day.”

story by Andrew Potter photo by Kyle Tye and Josh Harris

jlabmag.com SPORTS 19

What helps junior linebacker Jimmie Swaine IV the most on the football field…… let’s find out!Hi-Life: “What is your favorite piece of equipment?” Swaine IV: “Cleats are my favorite piece of equip-ment.” Hi-Life: “Why are cleats your favorite?” Swaine IV: “They provide me a lot of contort and stabil-ity.” Hi-Life: “How do they help you on the field?”

Swaine IV: “They help me improve my movements on the field” Hi-Life: “Do you wear them because a pro ath-lete?” Swaine IV: “Yes Cam Newton wears them.” Hi-Life: “Any other functions of your game it helps?” Swaine IV: “Changing direction, light on my feet.”

These are the reasons why cleats are the most important piece of equipment to our star linebacker.

Caption goes here

story by Matt Rellihanphotos by John Wood

Weapon {Of} Choice

20 NEWS jlabmag.com

jlabmag.com NEWS 21

SSR: Read onInside the new required silent reading program

The bell rings, and students wander into class. It is fifth hour Wednesday, and students reach into their backpacks, shoving

papers aside to whip out a novel to read. Their eyes scan through each line of words intently, engaged in their books until the bell sounds once more. This new addition, SSR, is a side effect of late-start Wednesdays, in which students must read for nearly half an hour. “We have SSR because it worked with the new late-start Wednesdays and it also gave the students an opportunity to read more,” librarian Sandy Stuart said. The school liked the idea of SSR in effect at North and West, where SSR happens on a daily basis, but there was no way to implement the idea into the daily schedule here until this year when late-start Wednesdays began. “SSR is something, as a school, that

we wanted to be implemented due to the new schedule. Plus, imple-menting it offset Tiger Broadcast,” librarian Michael Russell said. Another thing that is unlike last year’s schedule is the time at which students watch Tiger Broadcast. Both SSR and Tiger Broadcast are sched-uled in the same time slot, so students and staff view the student-run news program every other week. “I think the switch off of SSR and Tiger Broadcast is great because I feel that Tiger Broadcast is being watched more in class than in API,” broadcast teacher Elaine McDonald said. It is apparent that some students do not go to the library much to check out a book, but that is okay since the library has a new book section that contains ‘quick pick’ books, where some good books are taken off of the other shelves in the library and are added onto the quick pick shelves. If they need a good book right away,

students can just pick an interesting book off of this shelf instead.The librarians also recommended Au Revoir Crazy European Chick; De-lirium; Notes from the Blender; How to save a Life; Legend; Ashes; Daughter of Smoke and Bone; Unearthly; and the Gateway Nominees. Late-start Wednesdays mess with the students and their schedules, but having at least one good novel zipped in one’s backpack will ensure that a student will survive SSR. “Any opportunity to read is an great one,” Russell said.

story by Jesse Butlerphoto by Logan Phillips

The Library carries many books that students may opt to read for SSR.

SMART IS THE NEWSEXY.P R I N T D I G I T A L T O D A Y T O M O R R O W

NEWSPAPERTHE

GET IT

Be able to find Iran on a map. Know what the city council is up to behind closed doors. Find out how to make an icebox peanut butter pie from scratch. Get i t al l in the newspaper, print or digital, because a l i t t le depth looks great on you.

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22 OPINIONS jlabmag.com

To Whom It May Concern,

Leaving 5 minutes before the 7th hour bell rings to get out of the parking lot easier, free parking passes, lunch privileges or even free food from the school store that are earned at our sister schools. Enjoyable privileges could be a good way of improving grades, and decreasing referrals to the office. “Three to Four years ago teacher, principals advisory committee, and I brainstormed a privilege system,” Lee’s Summit West assistant principal Bradley Parson said. Lee’s Summit West talked with Lee’s Summit North about the privilege system. Lee’s Summit West decided to use the ground work from Lee’s Summit North’s ideas of a privilege system. After the plan was set in motion, the hardest part was figuring out how to manage who gets what privileges. Also, how to come up with some symbol that tells staff what privileges students get. “I had a lot of questions asked before the plan started,” Parson said. The plan had taken off and staff let the students’ parents know about the privileges, qualifications, and restrictions. The way both schools decided to organize who gets what privileges is based upon grades, disciplinary, and/or attendance, as is how students will get recognized at certain privilege levels. Lee’s Summit North first started to experiment with the privilege system in 2005-2006. The privileges given were based upon M.A.P Testing scores every year, which soon evolved into E.O.C scores. Every year the privilege system at Lee’s Summit North has evolved. For a couple years now privileges are have been earned by GPA scoring and perfect attendance at both Lee’s Summit North and Lee’s Summit West. The students have colored I.D. cards so staff can identify

which privileges they have earned. At Lee’s Summit West there are 4 different colors; white, red, navy and silver. At Lee’s Summit North the 3 colors are yellow, crimson, and silver. “The lead teacher group had students decide what privileges,” Parson said. At Lee’s Summit West, the white card is the basic automatically issued card to freshman, sophomores, and juniors. The navy blue card is only automatically issued to seniors. At Lee’s Summit West the white card privileges are no restrictions, access to computer labs before school, hall pass privileges with plan book, and free tickets for food items. Only sophomores and juniors can earn the navy card. To get the rest of the scoop, go to jlabmag.com.

This year, one of the most prevalent problems in our school is scheduling. With crazy A,B,A,B schedules, bathroom breaks, and freshmen clogging the halls, and the glorious making out done in the middle of the halls, there’s not much students can do, short of sprinting to class just so they can make it as the bell rings. Most of the fault, though, lies in coincidence. With so many students, there’s only so much that Guidance can do with scheduling of classes, or with position of classrooms. Possibly in years to come, Guidance can look at schedules for a day before school, and see what changes could be made. Many students run back and forth because of elective classes, such as music, Spanish, or art, so they find themselves with a crazy schedule, and teachers that never really walk the halls after class. Another big pusher for schedule problems are all the freshmen. As school progresses, and they understand the school lay-out better, them getting between classes will be a breeze, but until then, we have to help them along as much as possible. Last year, Administration opened a new policy of providing students that cannot make it to class on time with a stamp on the inside of their planners that added a little bit extra so they could make it to class on time, even with all the things in their way. Teachers have also been very understanding of schedules, and the students that come in a few seconds late,

so that relieves a bit of the tardiness, as does the addition of an extra minute to passing period, making it six minutes long, rather than the five our sister schools have. The only thing we students really can do is try to find alternate routes to class. As tedious as it becomes, we really don’t have much of a choice when it comes to the issues posed by all the obstacles. Hopefully, in years to come, though, schedules will calm down a bit, and students will suffer less tardies.

story by Opinions Editor Sean Stevens

Pristine Privileges

story by Victoria Gardnerillustration by Jillian Moore

jlabmag.com OPINIONS 23

New Cell Phone Policy

Late Start Wednesdays

Running into walls, falling down stairs, tripping over feet, bumping into people. This is the new way of travel-ing the halls for students with cell phones. “We’ve known for a long time kids wanted more free-dom. We look at these things each year and felt it was time we acknowledge that it was time they have free-dom without impacting the classroom,” principal John Faulkenberry said. Lee’s Summit North and Lee’s Summit West adopted the new cell phone policy years ago. At LSHS a team of teachers got together to determine whether students were capable of handling the big responsibility. “Things evolve, the conversation came up before in the past. The concern is, if given additional freedom, will it bleed into the classroom?” Faulkenberry said. After adopting the policy at North and West the stu-dents were able to handle the responsibility. This lead the staff here to believe that students here could too. “The policy validates students as young adults,” Faulkenberry said. The students like the new freedom. Teacher repre-sentatives voted for the students to be able to use cell phones. Once it was announced, everyone has been good with it. “Detentions relating to cell phones have gone way down,” Faulkenberry said. With detentions going way down, the policy seems to be working well. However, if the detention situation changes, students may lose their freedom. “Hopefully there won’t be any disadvantages. It’s up to students using phones during their allotted time,” Faulkenberry said. While the school attempts to see things from the stu-dent’s point of view, the new cell phone policy is a way to communicate with friends and family during an emer-gency or just to say hi. Despite the chaos in the halls, people would agree, the cell phone policy change is definitely a plus.

The story behind late starts

Sydnee Pointerg Megan Terryg

The Hi.Life is an open forum to provide up to date and pertinent information compiled by high school journalists. We will be a bold and trusted publication that raises the bar of high school journalism. The Hi.Life newsmagazine is a student led publication. Our obligation to readers is to provide credible, reliable, and unbiased information to the student body. None of the opinions in our publication reflect the views of the Lee’s Summit R-7 School District. We strive to create a professional newsmagazine that provides accurate insights and entertainment.

Editorials

POLICY

Sleep has a major effect when it comes to school. Some students may fall asleep in class, others just cannot seem to pay attention. But on the new late start Wednesdays students can sleep in an extra hour, or come to school early and study for their classes. So the question is, are late start Wednesdays helpful? Or are they a waste of instructional time. Many teachers like the extra morning time to conspire with one another. “I love the time to collaborate and brain storm with other teachers. We sit and discuss how to help students. This time is not meant for our personal time,” chemistry teacher Christine Peachee said. But how do teachers personally feel about these late starts? “I like the idea of collaborating with other teachers. But I do not like feeling rushed. It seems I do not have enough time to do things in class. Also I don’t like having a late advisory. I feel like I have to switch gears from one class to advisory. But once we get used to it, it will be better.” social studies teacher Nate Smith said. There are others in the district who also feel the effects. Custodians are here early every morning, and on Wednesdays they have to work even harder to try to keep all students from entering the building until 8:12am. So what do they think? “Well change doesn’t bother me, I think it goes smooth, sometimes doors unlatch and students attempt to go in,” building manager Bob Pigue said. So there are not a whole lot of problems that occur. But some students also have the privilege of coming early on these mornings and participating in a club or activity that they are involved in. Clubs like book club, poetry club, and graphic novels club, usually meet in the morning and have plenty of time to have fun all before the late start begins. Even though these clubs wake up early, most students will just set their alarm clocks back, and enjoy the extra hour of sleep.

An overdue policy change comes to Lee’s Summit High School

24 PHOTO ESSAY jlabmag.com

Kansas City Stops

1} There are several places in Kansas City that everyone knows about, the Sprint Center is one of them

holding more than 18,000 people.2} This corner building across from the Kauffman Center in downtown reflects the view of the surrounding block.3} The Nelson Atkins is not the only place to look at art. There are some sculptures around the city like this one in front of the Muriel Kauffman Center of Performing Arts, along with several others.4} Towering buildings make a city. Towering buildings with reflective windows make a city look good.5} The number of architectural works in the city is to great to count, this one is a work of modern art its self.6} Kansas city is a big place, but there are many nice places to rest while you are in town made special for relaxation.

{ {The Sights of Kansas City

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Pictures by John Wood

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