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Relay for life Pg. 7ACT/SAT Help pg. 16-17jag of the day PG. 29

looking for a three-peat

Senior diver Daniel Fecteau looks to win another state diving championship

PG. 22

10-1586

Dec. is a special m

onth for students of varying beliefs;

enjoy the seven

page feature

Veteran’s Day photo essay

and photos from

statue

dedication

Most young w

omen in the U

.S.

get a Gardasil vaccine;

shot purpose and

side effects

discussed

Senior Rachel Witazack sm

iles as she helps in the Peer Tutoring 6th block class

What’sINSIDE

3 Comic4 Global event updates6 Peer Tutors7 Relay for Life Kick-Of f8 Gardasil Shot 9 APUSH Cheating 10 Winter is Coming11 New Years Around the World12 Winter Foods13 Dec. Grads14 Dreidel, dreidel, dreidel15 Bright Lights Photo Essay

16 ACT vs. SAT18 Helping Area Homeless 22 Daniel Fecteau 23 F antasy Football24 Teacher Truths25 Classic Movies26 Grammar Police27 T-Swift Teacher Review28 Marching Band Opinion29 Jag of the Day?30 Word Search31 Final Exam Hacks

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Contents

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SENIOR Countdown

156

And here we have a student waiting to take a final ...

I spend all night studying and

preparing for my finals

and this freaking classroom goes and

makes even my brain numb

okay everyone,

we’re going to begin testing

now

pick up a test and

start

you’re not even going

to pass them out...

whatever...

walking a few steps won’t

make this test take much

longer

WAIT?! WHAT?!

midtermexamojective essay: answer in 50-

100 sentences

Has anyone really been far

enough to use

even go want to do?answer:

Read

Car

eful

ly...A

rtist

: Sar

ah A

ndrie

vk

Scientists discovered a new DNA

sample from Richard III. The new DNA sample challenges Richard III’s heritage. Based on

the sample, he may have had an illegitimate claim to the throne,

along with monarchs both before and after him.

italy

a

n d u.k.

Stephen Hawking, physicist,

warns against Artificial Intelligence (AI). Hawking

said in a British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) interview that “The development of full

artificial intelligence could spell the end of the

human race.”

Carly McDonaldManaging Editor

4

m

exic o

the BubbleBey nd

los a n gel

es

A cont inu ing ser i es of world events

ne

w yor

k

Protests erupted in New York

after a Grand Jury decided not to indict 29-year-old Daniel Pantaleo. He choked 43-year-old Eric Garner, an unarmed man, to death. Pantaleo placed Garner in a chokehold and did not let

go, despite the man saying that he could not breathe.

Judy Huth, 55, is suing Bill

Cosby for sexually assaulting her when she was 15 years old. NBC News reports Huth

has “suffered damages that are substantial and continuing.” 20

other women have come forward in recent weeks after comedian

Hannibal Buress called Cosby a rapist.

The United States is becoming

a popular tourist attraction for prominent overseas figures.

William and Catherine, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, just finished a three-day tour of New

York. In Sept. of 2015, Pope Francis is planning to attend a trip to Philadelphia to visit the World

Meeting of Families.

Unit

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k in gdo

m

Forty-three students

disappeared from the Ayotzinapa Normal School. According to reports, uniformed municipal police detained

forty-three students in a series of attacks. The forty-three students

taken into police custody are now ‘disappeared.’ The mayor and his

wife have since fled.

5

Editors in Chief: Lauren Hansen and Erin WalkerManaging Editor: Carly McDonaldDesign Editor: Logan ColeCopy Editor: Beth GasserWeb Editor: Libby FrazierSection Editors: Vinnie Garimella, Julie Kim, Dan Kurtz, Maddy C. Lewis, John Wilson, Leah ZimmerliReporters: Rebecca Abraham, Sarah Andrievk, Ashley Buehler, John Byrket, Quinn Coleman, Shaye Herman, Emilee Holscher, McKenna Patchen, Matt Stry, Joe Mallory, Lexi Melson, Adrieanna Norse, Alexa TurielloPhotographer: Ryan BarrettStaffer: Ethan PaineAdviser: Debbie Glenn

Spotlight is printed six times a year for the BV West students and community. Its goals are to inform, entertain, and interpret through editorials and bylined articles while providing an open forum of communication for the diverse student population and faculty members. Spotlight aims to be fair, accurate, and impartial. The content of the publication is determined by its student editors as determined by the Kansas Scholastic Press Act and may contain controversial subject matter as the staff exercises their First Amendment rights. Spotlight does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the faculty adviser, the administration of Blue Valley West or USD 229.

SPOTLIGHT

STAFFMISSION STATEMENT

Twitter C rner:

BV West Spotlight@bvwspotlightBV West Yearbook@bvwyearbook

Blue Valley School District@bvschoolsJaguar Athletics@BVWestJAGS

Jaguar Pride Coalition@BVW JPCoDr. Potts@BVWPotts

Follow these accounts for updates about BV West

Masthead

PolishedPolishedNails & Wax913.681.NAIL (6245)6917 W. 135th St. Ste. B-27Overland Park, KS 66223

Complete Nail Care for Ladies & Gentlemen

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Saturday: 9:30 am-7 pmSunday: 12pm-6pm

6

Learning through intensive functional teaching room (LIFT), is a classroom filled with loving students, teachers,

and peer tutors. A peer tutor is a student who assists in the LIFT or intensive resource classrooms to help students with disabilities. That can include attending classes in a general education setting, in the LIFT classroom helping with work, physical activities, or helping them with their jobs around the school. Senior Rachael Witaszak and junior Michael Bowen are peer tutors to freshman Summer Moleski. “I like helping out because you get to interact and make their day better,” Bowen said. “I wanted to be a peer tutor because I love helping out with the kids and making them feel like they are having a normal teenage life.” Witaszak and Bowen help Moleski with math during sixth block. This is Bowen’s second year being a peer tutor while it is Witaszak’s first year. They have all grown fond of each other and made an impact on each other. “They are nice and are my friends.” Moleski said. While Moleski’s peer tutors have taught her math, she is also teaching them things along the way. She has taught them patience and love. Summer never fails to brighten her peer tutors’

day. “By helping Summer with math, it is helping me to make my decision of whether I want to be a teacher in the future.” Witaszak said. Summer gets her independent learning, but gets other help from different peer tutors along with her paras. Peer Tutoring is a course taken during the school day. Students may sign up through the counseling office and every hour of the school day is open. Usually 20 to 30 students a year.help the LIFT kids. LIFT teacher Carol Holt is in charge of the program and encourages people to join. “It is a really awesome opportunity for students to get to know students with disabilities, and understand the system we do in the classroom. It is very rewarding,” Holt said. Being a peer tutor gives students a chance to help and work with amazing people, while the students make a new friend and learn life skills for the future. The LIFT kids love peer tutors helping them, plus it is for a great cause. When students are themselves and open up, they will do the same back. Few ever regret being a peer tutor.

helping handlending a

Peer Tutors and LIFT students benefit from shared experiences

Emilee HolscherReporter

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Top: Peer tutor Rachael Witazack spends her time with Summer Moleski and Morgan Glither. Witazack and Moleski are high-fiving and having fun in peer tutoring class. Bottom: The duo practice for Job Olympics.

News

7

for

Dec. 11 2014: Team Registration. Team captains bring all team registration paperwork to the meeting to register each team member online. Captains must ensure that all team members have done required forms.Dec. 10 2014: Team captain meeting

Jan. 28 2015: Team captain meetingFeb. 17 2015: Team captain meeting.FEB. 25 2015: Bank night for team captains to bring all of their teams’ funds to be counted by Committee.March 6 2015: Relay for Life starts.

relay for life important dates

Relay for Life preparation is underway

Carly McDonaldManaging Editor

Rela

yLIFe

Each year, thousands of people across the world join together for Relay for Life, a 12 hour fund raiser

for cancer research. Relay For Life is a community event where people from all walks of life are given the opportunity to make a difference for people facing cancer. It also offers a unique opportunity to celebrate cancer survivors and their caregivers, right in their community. “At Relay, we also take time to remember those we’ve lost to cancer, and people find healing in knowing they are not alone in their grief,” Kala Glass, Community Manager at American Cancer Society, said. “My favorite aspect of Relay is that we are a community event, and people don’t have to go far to fight back against cancer.” Manal Hassan and Drew Fancher, seniors, are Co-Chairs of Relay for Life (RFL) at BV West this year. Hassan first participated in RFL her sophomore year and joined the RFL committee her junior year. The RFL committee is in charge

of organizing the event logistically, promoting involvement from the student body, and coordinating with other Blue Valley Schools involved in the event. The BV West RFL Committee is also responsible for the Relay teams. Relay teams are groups of friends or teammates. During Relay, they have at least one person walking around the track continuously because “cancer never sleeps.” Motivation to join relay teams varies among students. Hassan lost her grandfather to cancer. “I never got the chance to get close to him, but by doing Relay, I know he’s with me, supporting my passion,” Hassan said. “It motivates me to fight for a cure so future generations don’t have to go through life wondering what someone in their family was like.” Hassan also dreams of becoming a pediatric oncologist, diagnosing and treating cancer in children. “Many people act surprised when I tell them about what I want to do, but all I can say is far too many people are connected to cancer in some way,” Hassan said. “Seeing the entire community supporting those affected by cancer, that’s incredibly rewarding, and it motivates me to go further and pursue my passion for making a difference in someone’s life.” Relay continues to grow every year. The event used to be held at Blue Valley high schools, but it outgrew those facilities and moved to Johnson County Community College last year. “The goal of the American Cancer Society is to make Relay the biggest event in the world,” Glass said. “We’ve formed a cancer fighting army, a

grassroots effort, to make a difference and save more lives from cancer. And we’re winning the fight.” Every dollar fund raised either goes to cure research or care for those afflicted with cancer. The money raised by Blue Valley relayers last year surmounted 150,000 dollars, making the Blue Valley Relay within the top ten Relays last year in high schools across the nation. And the money is making a difference. The mortality rate has dropped 20 percent since 1991. Students who want to make a difference are allured to Relay for Life for the impact is has. “I personally feel like Relay provides students the best opportunity to make real impacts on the world,” Fancher said. “Don’t get me wrong, the other clubs and activities at our school are wonderful, but no other group provides students to help others on a national level. We raised 150,000 dollars last year. I can confidently say that what we did last year has aided many across the nation, and that’s what excites me.” One allure of RFL is the unique opportunity for students to get involved in a worldwide event. The community gets together for one night to unite against a disease that has affected people of different backgrounds. “Relay for Life truly unites people against one common cause,” Hassan said. “At the event everyone comes together, fighting against cancer. As cliche as this may sound, in the memory of those lost to cancer or in the honor of those who have battled against cancer, it’s truly the community’s support for each other that keeps this going.”

8

fainting and nausea: Is Gardasil worth it?

New vaccination causes concernsMckenna Patchen

Reporter

Approximately 79 million Americans are

infected with HPV

Approximately 14 million more people will be diagnosed

with HPV each year

It is recommended that girls ages 11 to 26 get vaccinated

Ideally females should get the vaccine

before they become sexually active

More than 46 million doses of HPV vaccine have been distributed in the United States as

of June 2012

Side effects reported in these studies were mild,

including pain where the shot was given, fever, dizziness, and

nausea

Statistics from Center of Disease Control

There have been no serious safety concerns to the

Gardasil vaccines

The Gardasil vaccination is a topic that invites controversy. Parents begin considering the Gardasil vaccine for their children soon after puberty.

“As a parent, I believe that preventative vaccinations are necessary,” parent JoAnne Stottlemyre said. “We have cervical cancer in our family history and I thought it was important for my daughter to have protection.” The vaccine is given as three injections over a period of six months to both males and females. At BV West generally girls get the series of shots. The medical community touts the benefits; others argue that such a prolonged series of shots is not necessary, causes painful side effects, hurts reproductive organs and therefore should be disregarded altogether.

Gardasil’ purpose is to fight against the human papillomavirus (HPV) types 6, 11, 16 and 18 which can cause cervical cancer in women. Most gynecologists recommend the shots “just to be safe,” whether girls are directly affected by HPV or not. The factors that cause the vaccination to be frowned upon, and perhaps the most compelling, is the lengthy list of side effects. These include pain, swelling, itching, bruising, redness at the injection site, headache, vomiting and fainting. It is advised that a patient should lie down for 15 minutes after receiving the Gardasil shot. “It was awful,” senior Ashley Oades said. “It made me feel nauseous to the point where I couldn’t eat and it gave me the worst migraines to the point where I couldn’t concentrate in class. The side effects lasted for an entire week.” Each year in the United States, 12 thousand contract cervical cancer which is caused primarily by sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Gardasil prevents most cases of this type of cancer, and is the only vaccine that helps protect against the four types of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). However, while cervical cancer was once one of the most common cases of cancer for American women, the death rate has decreased drastically in the past few years. The main reason for this change is the use of screening to detect the virus before it becomes harmful. Since this option was introduced, Gardasil is not viewed as a requirement by some doctors. “It didn’t hurt as much as I thought it would, “senior Hailey Hopper-Graf said. “I’m glad I got it though. Better to be safe than sorry.”

9

APUSH-ING ETHICSCheating in junior honors class

brings issue to forefront

The Advanced Placement United States History (APUSH) program ran into difficulties in late Nov. when pictures of answers from the Civil War and

Reconstruction test were sent out from student Twitter accounts. The pictures reached students through social media and text messages. By the next day, the pictures had reached numerous students who had yet to take the test because of block scheduling. The remaining classes took the exam, and the APUSH teachers discussed the class averages. “I have one of the first APUSH classes, so our class average was much worse than all the other classes,” Jordan Smith* said. “The teachers found out about it because virtually everyone in APUSH had the an-swers and someone tweeted about it later that day.” The APUSH teachers apparently pondered their actions over the weekend before talking to the students about the cheating the following week. The administration was consulted and punishments were handed out. “I thought that our punishment would be much harsher and that we would be yelled at,” Taylor Jones* said. “Addington was calm when he talked to us so we got off much easier that I had thought.” The students responsible for taking pictures of the answers received a day of In-School Suspension. The students were placed in the office to serve their suspensions, where they were able to complete the schoolwork that they missed. “Overall, the scandal was handled well by the teachers and the administrators,” Alex White* said. Even though only a couple of students were responsible for distributing the test information, the

APUSH teachers could not effectively pinpoint the students who had cheated compared to the students who fairly took their test. The impact of social media on some students grade has been a concern. “The teachers ended up dropping the test and not putting it in for a grade so it ended up not affect-ing anyone’s grade at all.” Smith said. Not all students were involved with the cheating scandal, but news of the incident rippled through the school, and aggrandizations of the event spread. Im-pacted students made comments about the events in several other classes that were overheard by others. Varying opinions were expressed about cheating and the role it has at BV West. “I don’t know what the actual punishment was, or who all was involved,” White said. “But it annoys me that the scandal happened at all. Most classes, you doubt the ‘system’ and whom it’s really going to benefit in the end. But Addington’s class is one I have faith in. He’s on our side. So why cheat, and on this level?” Unfortunately, because the test was provided by the College Board under an agreement that the test would not be shared outside of the classroom, the teachers are now facing repercussions from the College Board because of the students’ actions. “I think it is really sad people feel the need to cheat,” Sam Johnson* said. “People should be able to earn their own grades to reflect their learning instead of cheating. Cheating discredits the people who study hard to do well.”

Names were changed due to the sensitive content. Of eight people interviewed, every person requested not to have their name printed in this article.

Spotlight editors have taken the unprecedented action of running this article without a by-line. The purpose of running this article is not to embarrass any of the parties involved but to inform our audience and open

discussion on issues of cheating, grade stress and peer pressure.

10

Adrieanna NorseReporter

Enjoy a nice, hot peppermint mocha.

Winter

what to do on Winter Break and Shhhh.....(Snow Days)

is coming...

Features

11

Celebrating a New Year, a New Start

CHINA, YUAN TAN Feburary 19, 2015 - Many Chinese clean and decorate their homes with red lanterns and posters to welcome the Spring Festival. On Spring Festival Eve, children receive “luck“ money and people cast off fireworks, hoping to bring good luck. Also, various events take place such as lion dances and parades.

IRAN, NOWRUZ March 20, 2015 - Iranians begin preparing for the Nowruz with spring-cleaning of their houses and visting one another. For this holiday, Iranians prepare Haft Sîn, a traditional table setting of Nowruz, that includes seven items starting with the letter ‘S’. The night before the last Wednesday of the year is celebrated at Chahrshanbe Suri, a festival that celebrates the light winning over the darkness.

ENGLAND, NEW YEAR’S DAY January 1, 2015 - On New Year’s Eve, people turn on television to see the count down and the fireworks. At midnight, the chimes of Big Ben are broadcast to mark the beginning of the New Year. Many people hold parties at home.

BRAZIL, ANO NOVO January 1, 2015 - One of the biggest parties is organized in Rio de Janeiro. After watching fireworks, people enjoy Brazilian cultural dishes for dinner. People play music and dance. There is a tradition of wearing white for good fortune and of consuming lentils and rice on the day.

SOUTH AFRICA, NUWEJAARSDAG January 1, 2015 - Due to the warm summer weather, many New Year celebrations are held outdoors. Many celebrate the New Year with their families and friends, and with fireworks and firecrackers.

FRANCE, JOUR DES ÉTRENNES January 1, 2015 - There are various traditional ceremony for New Year. La galette des rois, a special festive cake, is cut. A special feast, le Réveillon de Saint-Sylvestre, is planned. The French believe a special dinner brings good luck to people who attend the feast.

Julie KimSection Editor

Holidays around the world are celebrated in dif ferent ways

Seasonal snacksEasy ten-minute recipes

Maddy C. LewisSection Editor

Marshmallow Bites

Lay out wax paper, melt some chocolate, and crush some peppermints. After the chocolate is melted, dip the bottom half of a marshmallow into it and sprinkle on

crushed peppermint. Stick a mini candy cane in the center and it’s done.

Snow Ice Cream

Using eight cups of snow, a can of sweetened condensed

milk and one teaspoon of vanilla extract (if desired). Stir while

adding the condensed milk to the mixture and desired sweetness

has been reached.

Dipped Berries Melt candy melts and dip

strawberries into it, add some holiday sprinkles to decorate.

Nutella Hot Cocoa Take one to two tablespoons of nutella

for every one cup of milk used and microwave. Stir and enjoy.

Photos by Maddy C. Lewis

seniors forego second semesterSmall percentage prepare to graduate early

Alexa TurielloReporter

Many eager seniors have decided to cut their last year of high school short and graduate a semester early. Though this may seem like the perfect opportunity

for an early release in to summer or to bigger and better opportunities, there are still qualifications and requirements that need to be met. “Students must pass all required classes for [normal] graduation in order to graduate early,” Assistant principal Derek Adams said. “This means the courses needed to have completed high school must be fulfilled by the end of first semester. On average Adams stated “typically, we have around five December graduates at West [per year].” To help these students come to the decision and complete the required work of graduating early, all of the counselors are there throughout the process. Kim Urenda, the counselor for last names L-Q, states “We usually meet with students during their Junior planning meeting and discuss a plan if they want to graduate early.” Preparation for December graduation starts as early as January of students’ junior year, where they begin to fill out paperwork to allow them to stop after first semester. The counselors are also the ones who work with students to map out the plans and actions needed to receive all credits required for high school graduation. This includes English which is supposed to be a year long senior class and any other electives or courses the student may need. One of the students graduating early has officially gone through all of these steps and has met all requirements. Senior Julie Kim prepares to spend her last days here before she moves on from high school. Kim has decided to either start college in December or go to South Korea to spend time with family. “I haven’t decided where I’m going to college yet” Kim said. Just like the average high school graduate, these December graduates will miss all of their friends and teachers as they move on to the next chapter in their lives.

Assistant principal Bryan Brutto and counselor John Stone converse while family and students enjoy their graduation breakfast to celebrate their accomplishments.

Senior Julie Kim humbly acknowledges many congratulations as the December gradutes attend their graduation breakfast on December 4th. Photos by Ashley Oades

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reidelreidelreidel

The game Dreidel is a traditional Jewish game played with a

top called a dreidel.The game was originally created around World War II as a way for Jewish people to celebrate and keep their faith while hiding it from the Germans. The game is typically played with money or gelt, which are chocolate coins, but it can be played with any small object. You divide an equal amount of the item to each player, and then everyone places one or two of their pieces in the middle, or the pot. Each person takes a turn spinning the dreidel and whatever letter lands up on the dreidel, determines what the player does on their turn. On each side of the dreidel are Hebrew letters.

The letter with a little tail is called a gimel. If the dreidel lands on gimel that means to take all the items that are in the middle, and all the players place a couple of their pieces in the pot. To the right of the gimel is nun. If the dreidel lands on nun that means that the player does nothing. To the right of nun is shin. And shin determines that the player has to put in a piece(s). It is decided how many pieces need to be placed in the pot by the other players at the beginning of the game. It is a set number. To the right of shin is hay. Hay means that the player takes half of the pot. And that is how you play dreidel.

Gimmel- Take all the items in the middle

Nun- Player does nothing this turn

Shin- Put a piece of gelt in the middle

Hay- Player takes half of the middle

Learn how to play the most popular Hanukkah gameBeth GasserCopy Editor Ph

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Let there be lights Vinnie Garimella

Section Editor

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Windham Park spreads joy through extravagant holiday decorations

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Three Dimensional (3-D) printers seem to be an increasing phenomenon

that is occurring more and more in schools and in various companies. These printers are no longer being used for or being kept in the community of science; you can have this technology sitting in your classrooms and companies today. Although it might seem like a fantasy, three dimensional printers are capable of making and outputting physical objects from a two dimensional image. There are several types of three dimensional printing technologies, fused deposition modeling, stereolithography, and selective laser sintering. Fused deposition modeling melts a plastic filament and deposits the plastic in layers until it fills up the model. Stereolithography is the machine that uses a laser to cure a resin and build the prototype one layer at a time. Selective laser sintering uses lasers to cut powdered metal, binding the powder together to create a solid structure. After each layer is put together, the structure drops and the next layer is built on top of it.

People are making all kinds of things with three dimensional printers. From iPhone cases, high heels, and coffee cups to acoustic guitars and artificial limbs, the possibilities are endless. Three dimensional printing will in the near future will reduce the prices of products by eliminating the need to ship items and the need to pay for shipping charges. Consumers will only be purchasing blueprints then printing the products at home or the office. This will make products extremely cheap especially those bought out of the United States. Anyone can make a design of an object using any other three dimensional modelling tool, they would be able to create their own customized product. Three dimensional printing will be creating more job opportunities because many more entrepreneurs will be able establish their businesses and products. To get a hands-on look and feel of these printers, find one at the Johnson County Library and Room 236. Although, students will need their own equipment for both printers.

Quinn ColemanReporter

Printing the futureWood technology class gets a

3-D printer

Printing the Future

Top three photos: Examples of Mike Vodehnal’s work made from the 3-D printer. Bottom photo: The 3-D printer.

Photos by Ryan Barrett

and John Wilson

Features

*Name has been changed

19

As the winter draws near, on any given night over 744,00 people are homeless in the United States. While many equate homelessness with substance and alcohol

addiction, there are a number of other factors that affect around three million people in the US. The veteran population alone makes up 25 percent of the overarching homeless population, and 18 percent of the total population being chronically homeless, which means they have physical or mental disabilities coupled with long-term homelessness. Artists Helping the Homeless, a non profit organization founded by Kar Woo six years ago, works to “Be the Change” for those who do not have a voice in society. A former gallery owner, he was shocked to see homeless people amongst the wealthiest stores in Kansas City. Upon seeing Midamerica Nazarene students serving dinner to the homeless, he opted to join, propelling his lifelong mission of service with over seven projects and 120,416 meals served spanning 35,000 trips to work with 4,000 individuals saving 7,500,000 dollars saved in ambulance, hospital, police, and judicial fees, Mr. Woo is a very busy man. He touts providing service with respect, advocacy for those seeking to leave the streets, and working in a client centered program to address all of the steps toward stable living “What we do, is quite unique from most organizations because we are in collaboration with the services provided, such as the detox program for alcoholics at the hospital, to follow up with our clients until they get from Point A to Point B,” Woo said. “We accompany them throughout the rehabilitation or recovery process, to ensure their success towards stable living. We do this in collaboration with numerous hospitals and organizations, particularly St. Lukes Hospital to smoothly transition our clients, ensuring they get to where they need to be. This is our emphasis, each organization is doing a great job, we just work to fill in the gaps through care coordination.” As an immigrant to America, working and attending college were his means of survival towards a better life, until a man in his apartment building was smoking pot and fell asleep. His apartment building building burned to the ground, the man along with it. Without renter’s insurance, Woo was sent to the streets, homeless in a foreign country with a loose grasp on the language. Thankfully, he had friends who helped support him along the way, and eventually he was able to make a name out of himself as a successful businessman. The experience of being homeless never left him, though, and he works tirelessly to aid those in the same position he once held. “My advice to young people is we can all do something in for the community,” Woo said. “Our past experiences shape us to be able to aid others through what we have experienced. For

me, being temporarily homeless, clueless of social work, and not knowing the language, I was able to work from the bottom up in addressing the needs of the homeless in Kansas City. There was no set program for me, I was able to relate to my clients, and the language barrier forced me to ask a lot of question to figure out what was really needed of my organization. Your weaknesses and trials can be used for good, as young people it is your duty to work towards such.” Another, using her homelessness and tribulations to better the community is Rosana*. Rosana was abused for 15 out of 25 years of marriage. Her husband, a model citizen, was void of any addiction and seemed to uphold the perfect family. Her tumultuous circumstances drove her to leave everything behind, ending up on a bench in Kansas City. A young college student saw her in tears, and called up Forest Avenue Shelter, walked her there, and ultimately planted a seed for a drastically divergent path for Rosana. “When the rest of the homeless people started arriving to stay the night, I was terrified, because I had these preconceived notions of drug and alcohol addiction, and frankly I thought that I was nothing like them. All I saw was the bad at first, and when I came to terms with this, I started to see homeless people as humans. Not as the filthy people society perceives them to be, but as family.” Rosana eventually became a case manager for the shelter, and went back to school to get a second master’s degree in counseling. She continues to stay on at Forest fulfilling her purpose in life. Rosana attributed her difficulties in the shaping of her character. “My belief is that you don’t really find your purpose in life until you have been broken, and when you are broken is when your purpose and spirituality comes through as it did for me. You see the world differently, and are able to benefit others because of the way your experience has shaped you.” Homelessness is not a lifestyle. It is not an addiction or a consequence of failure. It is not the end to a beginning or a permanent place for society’s forgotten. This is why we, as high school students, as a community, need to work together to provide aid for everyone regardless of their circumstances. The MNU college students who inspired Mr.Woo to dedicate his life to helping the homeless, or the student who took an hour out of her day to plant a seed in Rosana’s life to be able go on to counsel others could never have foreseen the the greatness their work provided. That seed can be planted by any one of us, the taking of initiative to make this world better for all who reside in it.

PAINTING THE CITYLocal organization helps the homeless through art

Rebecca AbrahamReporter

VETERAN‘S

DAY

2014

Dedicationof Service

Cross

The PatriotGuard

Serviceman’sCross.Kevin and Phyllis Sissonhonor their son.Senior NickNordstrom plays Taps at the dedication.

The PatriotGuard is a group of veteranswho honor otherfallen vets. The group road theirmotorcycles to BV Westto honor our own JustinSisson.

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Choir, Podium Speakers

& almamater

SMNJROTCPerforms

& Col. Bressor’s

Selfie

Presentationof the Colors

SMNJROTCHonorGuard

The SMNJROTCHonor Guard cameto BV West on Nov. 11 to open the assembly and perform their precisionroutine. These photos showtheir entrance into the gym.

The SMNJROTCHonor Guard performs their precisionroutine. Colonel Bressertook a selfie with each sideof the gym before talking tothe student body.

The choir’s versionof America was unique and well-received by thecrowd. Speakers at theassembly included MackHarnden, Steven Rotkoff andDavid Bresser. Each of the retiredservicemen inspired the studentsassembled.

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Two time 6A State Champion, 2014 All-American, and a national qualifier. Senior Daniel Fecteau

has been accumulating accolades throughout his diving career. Fecteau has had clusters of success so far, but has a lot in store for his senior season. “This season, I hope to accomplish another state title for my third, new records for the school, and always learn new dives,” Fecteau said. “I would love to leave with a team 5A State Championship.” Fecteau has had a lot of coaches throughout his career that have helped him get where he is today.“My coaches Laura Quenette, Tammy McDonald, and Christian Zarif have helped me tremendously. Early mornings and all of the gruesome practices helped me prepare for the next step in my career.” Fecteau said. Fecteau has a bright future ahead of him by taking his diving career to the next level at the University of Louisville. “I hope to excel at Louisville,” Fecteau said. “With practically no facilities here in Kansas, I haven’t been able to practice, so when I get the chance to go to this top 5 in the nation swim and dive team, I will do nothing less than be the best.” Fecteau said. Fecteau hopes to succeed in the future as he heads to Louisville next fall. As is time here at BV West is coming to a close, he hopes to leave a lasting impact on the swim and dive program

“I hope to leave the impact of: passion and hard work drives you to be successful” Fecteau said. Fecteau is also here to show that all classes should get recognized, not just the prominent ones that everyone follows. “This year I am trying to leave the impression of it doesn’t matter if your 1A, 5A, or 6A, because people in the past have just looked over their shoulder when it comes to 5A and they deserve as much recognition as 6A competitors do,” Fecteau said. Fecteau is ready to prove that you can have success, regardless of what class your school is in. “I’ll be the one to make people say: “why is this 5A diver so much better than the 6A divers” Fecteau said. Fecteau has had unparalled success in the pool. “My time here at West has been great, I wouldn’t be able to have this opportunity if it weren’t for this great school behind my back, and cheering me on,” Fecteau said. There are some things that Fecteau hopes to improve on to take his diving to the next level. “I am wanting to learn and perfect new dives so I am more prepared for Louisville” Fecteau said. Fecteau is hopeful that he will have success this season next year at the University of Louisville.

DIVEineDaniel Fecteau returns for his senior season

after two State ChampionshipsJoe Mallory

Reporter

Senior diver Daniel Fecteau prepares to do a back dive during practice on Dec. 3.Photo by Ryan Barrett

Sports

23

FantasyKeys to a successful season

Football

Fantasy Facts25 million players online

$1 million industryFantasy Football is growing 10% each year

Mobile Devices44% use to make trades and set lineups

67% use it to check stats and scores

Top ScorersQuarterbacks1. Andrew Luck2. Peyton Manning 3. Aaron Rodgers

Running Backs1. Demarco Murray2. Marshawn Lynch3. Matt Forte

Wide Receivers1. Antonio Brown2. Jordy Nelson3. Demaryius Thomas

Tight Ends1. Rob Gronkowski2. Julius Thomas3. Antonio Gates

Kickers1. Stephen Gostkowski2. Adam Vinateri3. Cody Parkey

Defense and Special Teams1. Eagles2. Dolphins3. Cardinals

What is Fantasy Football?

Fantasy Football is a game in which participants create an imaginary team composed of real NFL players.

These players score points each week based on their performance. Each participant is referred to as a “team owner.” The “team owners” combine with others to make

a league to compete in.

Dan Kurtz and Matthew StrySection Editor and Reporter

PAUL STUEWE“The past does not repeat itself but it does sometimes

rhyme.” -Mark Twain

quotes to live by

THERESA GROSPITCH“The only way to learn math is to do math.” -Paul Halmos

Teachers share famous quotes that embody their life philosophies

AARON ANDERSON“Carpe diem: Seize the

day.”

BEN MYERS“The value of life is not in

possessions.”

HEATHER HALL“I don’t know what your

destiny will be, but one thing I do know, the only ones among you that will be

happy are ones who seek and find out how to serve.”

-Albert Schweitzer

AL ORTOLANI“Things are never as good

or bad as you expect them.”

Shaye HermanReporter

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25

{Classic}

When winter weather strikes, movies are one of the best ways to escape the cold snow. In my personal recommendation, the next time you open up

Netflix, try a classic film. While they may be old and have corny special effects, classic movies are underrated by a lot of people. In fact, in a survey conducted at BV West, 100 people were asked what movie they thought sold the most tickets. The real answer would surprise 98 percent of the people we surveyed. Out of movies like Avatar, the Avengers, and the Titanic; Gone With The Wind, which was released in 1939 beat out all of them, selling over 200 million tickets while it was in theaters. With the popularity of more recent movies, it’s easy to think that Hollywood is constantly outdoing itself, but in reality, classic films are where it all began. These were movies that were made to stand the test of time, which they do. So many movies today are forgettable and generic, but classic movies stand out in the hearts and minds of those who watch them. A big reason why I think it is that way is because of the emphasis on storyline instead of the emphasis on visuals. In movies today, the focus is on the graphics. With the technology available to our time, we are able to create whole new worlds through animation and computer generated images. While the visual quality of these films skyrockets, the storyline suffers. Older movies had more of a focus on the plot line, with intricate dialogue and character development. This in turn creates movies meant to last instead of just another forgettable movie with a ridiculous amount of explosions. So when it comes time for movie night, consider trying a classic movie.

{Movies}

100 people were asked what the highest grossing movie of all time was. Only two percent of people guessed correctly.*

Titanic

Avatar

Gone with the Wind*

Star Wars: A New Hope

Lion King

Avengers

Jurassic Park

Leah ZimmerliSection Editor

When it comes to grammar, this generation seems to

be torn between misspelling everything to the point of illiteracy, and sending death threats to other people who mix up “Your” and “You’re.” The people who favor the latter are typically referred to as “The Grammar Police” and other less polite nicknames. They exist mostly on the Internet, and they feel that it is their duty to make sure everybody knows of their mistakes. These people are found in every corner of the Internet, waiting for any grammatical errors, and then they pounce. These days it is no laughing matter to make a typo on the Internet, because the Grammar Police are always watching. There is no escape. They will find you. And when they do, it isn’t pretty. The question is, though, is whether or not the Grammar Police are fighting a noble cause. The purpose of grammar in the English language is to help convey a clear message from the speaker to the audience, and make communication easy and precise. Since it is human nature to want to feel smarter and superior to other humans, naturally people love to correct other people and hate to be corrected.

The origin of the Grammar Police originates from the love of correcting other people, the desire to feel smarter than everyone else, and the anonymity of the Internet. The scariest thing about the Grammar Police is that they are not some unseen force present only online. We are the Grammar Police. Inside all of us is the deep-seated desire to correct people grammatical errors, and on the Internet is where the beast inside us awakens. In that sense, we are all hypocrites. We barely seem to notice that this generation has developed into a mass of snarky, condescending smart-alecs. It’s not necessarily the worst thing for people to want other people to have good grammar, but I implore you to tone it down a notch. Perhaps, if you see a grammatical error, politely tell them about it rather than making a point of how stupid they are, and that they are the scum of the earth. Humans make mistakes, and we can’t all speak English perfectly, fluently, and without the occasional error. Next time you see someone make a typo on a tweet or something, remember to tame the raging critic inside of you. You are strong enough to not be pretentious jerk, I promise.

The Grammar policeNo one is spared, not even the children

Shaye HermanReporter

26

What grammar mistakes annoy English teachers the most?

“When students confuse there, they’re and their, and also when they mix up its and it’s. I think they should know

the difference by now.”-Kim Lilley

“Misusing to and too as well as commas being in the wrong spot is

somewhat annoying for me.”-Joseph Geist

“A big one is subject pronoun agreement.”

-Trenton Stern

“There are quite a lot of them, but the worst is when they use the wrong verb

tense.”-Tracy Mendenhall

I first met Taylor Swift on October 29, 2006 just 5 days after her debut album, Taylor Swift, was released. Since then, I have met her 9 more times, been on her bus twice and have even received several phone calls and texts from her. I don’t tell you this to brag but rather to give you a glimpse into how I view Taylor Swift and her music and why. First and foremost Taylor is a songwriter. If you look at her album credits there is not a single song that she didn’t write or co-write. I have a tremendous amount of respect for that. Although she started out as a country artist, her music has evolved and has crossed genres into pop. This is not a bad thing at all and in fact, Taylor did not shy away from the fact that 1989 would be a pop album. The first two singles were not shipped to country radio and country radio programmers were not a bit surprised. It also sounds like Nashville is happy for Swift and is ready to welcome her back to country music any time! Brad Paisley, Swift’s 2007 tour mate, sang a parody at this year’s CMA awards, “New York’s gain is Nashville’s loss/ Country music is just gonna have to shake it off!” He also added, “If you ever want to come back, there’s a seat for you!” It was stated in the Oct. 29th edition of the Spotlight that Swift “does not seem to love music, just the attention

that comes with it.” I would beg to differ. Taylor is involved in every single detail that goes into her album and her tour. She writes the songs, produces the songs, plans the setlist and all the theatrics that go into the live show. There is not a detail or decision that isn’t touched by Swift personally. She is deeply involved in these things because music matters to her. Recently at the American Music Awards, Swift was honored with the first ever Dick Clark Award for Excellence. In her acceptance speech Taylor stated, “What you [the fans] did by going out and investing in music and albums is you are saying that you believe in the same thing that I believe in. That music is valuable and music should be consumed in albums and albums should be consumed as art and appreciated.” So to anyone who thinks Taylor doesn’t care about music and is only interested in the fame and media attention it brings, guess again. Swift is absolutely obsessed with music just as much as her fans are obsessed with her. I will continue to support Taylor in her future endeavors because she is the same sweet girl I met over 8 years ago. Her music and looks may have changed but her value of music and her kindness towards people has not and because of that I will always be a Swiftie!

Teacher Ann Dark, fan and friend, of pop star responds to Spotlight reviews

Speaking of T. Swift...Ann Dark

Guest Writer

27

The angelic voice of Taylor Swift mesmerized teacher Ann Dark in 2006.

The educator posed with the young singer at a local venue in the left photo. The two met at the outset of Swift’s singing career

and continued to be friends. Dark is pictured with her mother and Swift during the Red tour at Sprint Center in 2013 to

the right and with a friend below.Photo courtesy Ann Dark

Opinion

28

A common argument among many people our age is whether or not something “is a sport”. People argue about cheerleading, dance, and, somewhat

surprisingly, marching band. This begs the question: what is a sport? According to dictionary.com, a sport is “an athletic activity requiring skill or physical prowess and often of a competitive nature, as racing, baseball, tennis, golf, bowling, wrestling, boxing, hunting, fishing, etc.” As the definition lists off different kinds of sports, it becomes evident that one is missing: Band. There is no doubt in my mind that band takes talent and as much practice as a sport does but it seems as if it is missing the physical and mental toughness as a sport does. The argument that band students are out of shape or not physically prepared to play a sport is irrelevant. There are plenty of sports in which the physical shape a person is in is not nearly as important as their skills. That being said, the physical demand for a “sport” is much greater. In football, skills are judged by speed, strength, agility, potential, and effort. For band, there are different sets of skills. They don’t need the speed, strength or agility that football demands. In band, there is a minimum amount of skill that must be required for a person to stay in tune and on track with the others. Football, the minimum will get you eaten alive. That is why the best football players excel at these specific skills and to play at the next level, you must be faster, and stronger than the opponent.

Many will argue that marching band is a sport. There is still a physical demand for the musicians and they must keep up with the others while still concentrating on the music. So yes, there is a physical demand: just a different type. Their goal, however, is to stay with the rest of the 200 other marching band members. The objective is not to our run your opponent or show that you’re in better physical condition then they are. In many sports, competition is the defining characteristic. In band, there are judges; in the stereotypical sport, there are not. The goal in an athletic sport is to outscore the opponents with goals, points or runs. They don’t get judged on how the performance looked or sounded; that’s why the scrappiest, most determined win some of the most important games against teams they should never have beaten. So could a band member be thrown on the football field? Maybe. Could a football member be thrust into marching band? Maybe! The difference is that the football player could be thrown in and no matter how horrible his talents are, he could fake playing his instrument and still walk through the routine with not a single judge noticing. If you threw someone on the football team, they wouldn’t last. In conclusion, I don’t think so band should be considered a “sport”. The physical demands and athleticism required for an every day sport such as soccer, basketball, volleyball and baseball are much greater than the physical needs for band. With my final thoughts, bands do not make her dance.

do Bands make her dance?John WilsonSection Editor

Is marching band a sport or an activity?

62 people surveyed

?Former morning

announcement tradition fondly remembered by

upperclassmen

Lauren HansenEditor in Chief

Jagof the

Day

29

What happened to Jag of the Day? The mystery has plagued

upperclassmen since the beginning of last year, while underclassmen sit puzzled by the sheer concept I mentioned in the first sentence. Jag of the Day was a morning announcement staple, a well known tradition that can be compared to singing the Alma Mater and Fight Song at the end of assemblies or doing the ‘peel the banana’ cheer at the beginning of the third quarter of football games. Previously, students eagerly anticipated the end of the announcements. They would cross their fingers and hope to hear their name called over the intercom naming them as the winner of the sought after prize. Even though the winner simply received a cup of candy, the concept mesmerized the entire student body. Now, the song chosen for that morning ends the announcements and the day continues on without a mention of Jag of the Day. Although winning was not life altering, it was a bright spot on Monday mornings that I’m pretty sure 99 percent of my third block class anxiously awaited. It may have been the classes that I have been in when the announcements are broadcast, but since Jag of the Day disappeared, my classes have become increasingly louder during announcements. As opposed to my sophomore year, when I could at least hear a few of the messages for the day, I am lucky if I can make out a few words of the announcements this year. This causes me to miss out on valuable information about various

clubs and fundraisers that are happening around the school. Perhaps bringing back Jag of the Day would engage students in the announcements. It would provide the potential for any student to hear their name announced, and thus gives them more motivation to listen intently. The cost of Jag of the Day cannot be a large sum. While I know that funds should be spent on educational tools, spending a couple bucks on candy to brighten a student’s day would not set the school back too much. It could even be a possibility for parents to donate leftover candy from Halloween or other occasions. The prize could even be changed to something besides candy. The point of Jag of the Day is not an expensive treat or a lavish celebration, but a small sentiment to make a fellow Jaguar feel special for the day. When Jag of the Day first disappeared, there were rumors that it would return with new parameters. It was mentioned that instead of selecting the Jag of the Day randomly, the winner would be nominated by a teacher for a kind action that they witnessed throughout the school hallways or in class. Despite losing some of the thrill of being randomly chosen, this change still promotes school unity and generosity, which is the sole purpose of Jag of the Day. Overall, Jag of the Day is not that big of a deal. But, it is an easy way to get everyone excited to hear the announcements. It created a friendly competition between peers hoping to hear their name called in front of the entire school, and I think it should be brought back.

30

FireplaceSnowmen

Hot ChocolateSnowballsShoveling

Winter BreakFinals

Family ReunionIce

Apple ciderHoliday lights

EvergreenSleddingReindeer

31

Final Exam HacksPreparing for and conquering final exams

Smart Habits Smart StudyingSmart PlanAll nighters do NOT help Get 7-9 hours sleep Have a regular bedtime Get up early Do something positive Walk your dog Meet a friendEat healthy Junk food sets up crashing Caffeine drinks cause jitters Energy drinks cause shakes Nuts and protein help thinking Yogurt helps tummies Fruit provides energy

Make a study schedule... AND stick to itStudy for hardest tests first; save easiest for last.Follow a 50/10 rule (50 min. study to 10 min. break) Stay energized and focused with brain breaks.Study alone unless groups will for SURE stay on task.Study silently...really If music is a must...make a play list to avoid distractions.Turn off your phone or give it to a parent...really.

3R - Read, Recite, Review It works.Create a practice test. It helps to think about what’s on the exam.Mnemonics work too. Personalize, add humor, use song lyrics.Take notes on your notes...the more you write...more you remember.Make flashcardsCreate outlinesMake infographics of all of the info that will be tested - helps make connectionsSTOP. RELAX. BE POSITIVE. Its all about learning...learning is fun.

Exam ScheduleWednesday, Dec. 17 7:45-9:05 Block 1

9:15-10:35 Block 2

Thursday, Dec. 18 7:45-9:05 Block 3

9:15-10:35 Block 4

10:45-12:05 Block 5

Friday, Dec. 19 7:45-9:05 Block 1

9:15-10:35 Block 2

Songs for StudyingClassical music is scientifically proven to

improve cognition and memory.

Movie Soundtracks: Pretty much every movie

soundtrack is ideal to study to, since many

songs are purely instrumental.

Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring

Inception

Oceans 11

The Dark Knight

Ludovico Einaudi: This Italian pianist and

composer has soothing and simple

melodies easy to study to.

Dietro Casa

Nuvole Bianche

Alexa TurielloReporter

Blue Valley West High School Journalism Rm. 23316200 Antioch Road Overland Park, KS 66085

bvwnews.com

POSTAGE HERE