Editorial: STRESS OF THE HOLIDAYS
December 17, 2019
BY PARKER ROEHR
Winter months are often rough for many and the holidays season can be the start of it all.
Many people suffer with different stressful scenarios such as school work, home life, holidays and more. But when the weather gets colder it could also become a reminder of many new stresses related to money or lack of it and school work with the semester
BY PARKER ROEHR
Winter months are often rough for many and the holidays season can be the start of it all.
Many people suffer with different stressful scenarios such as school work, home life, holidays and more. But when the weather gets colder it could also become a reminder of many new stresses related to money or lack of it and school work with the semester
ending and finals.
While these types of stressors may make sense, there is also the stress of the holidays that many can’t help but feel every year.
A recent study put on by VeryWellMind.Com discovered that more than 80% of people find the holiday season to be more stressful than the rest of the year.
This can cause sadness and hurt from remembering family members who have passed, moved away, etc. or from having conflicts within family members coming together for the holiday season, according to PsychologyToday.com.
It’s important to look for those possible signs of stress or anxiety in yourself or in your friends or family members. Some of what to look for include chewing on pens, sweatshirt strings, and wiggling around more like shaking legs, messing with hands, etc.
During the holidays people tend to exhibit these behaviors out of a fear to ask for help. Many people are afraid to ask for extra money to make it through the holidays, or for help on decorating, or even for help with preparing for family members to visit.
One of the types of stress experienced during the holidays is called eustress. Eustress can boost motivation and decision making. It can also help kids and adults achieve goals, such as decorating for the holidays, getting gifts prepared, preparing for finals, cleaning up for relatives coming over, etc.
Even though stress is one piece of life that is hard to get away from, there are ways to prevent it. Some of the top recommended ways to prevent stress are using your time management skills, eating healthy food, getting proper sleep and exercising often.
There all also many ways to calm down your stress levels when they begin to rise, such as deep breathing, thinking through what's going through your head, listening to music, relax your body, and or get some fresh air.
During the holidays, one of the best tips is to not expect for everything to go perfectly and to have an ideal holiday. This is not realistic and will only add to the stress.
Enjoy all the moments you can during this once a year time and do all you can to maintain healthy self care, so this holiday season may be a bit more jolly.
While these types of stressors may make sense, there is also the stress of the holidays that many can’t help but feel every year.
A recent study put on by VeryWellMind.Com discovered that more than 80% of people find the holiday season to be more stressful than the rest of the year.
This can cause sadness and hurt from remembering family members who have passed, moved away, etc. or from having conflicts within family members coming together for the holiday season, according to PsychologyToday.com.
It’s important to look for those possible signs of stress or anxiety in yourself or in your friends or family members. Some of what to look for include chewing on pens, sweatshirt strings, and wiggling around more like shaking legs, messing with hands, etc.
During the holidays people tend to exhibit these behaviors out of a fear to ask for help. Many people are afraid to ask for extra money to make it through the holidays, or for help on decorating, or even for help with preparing for family members to visit.
One of the types of stress experienced during the holidays is called eustress. Eustress can boost motivation and decision making. It can also help kids and adults achieve goals, such as decorating for the holidays, getting gifts prepared, preparing for finals, cleaning up for relatives coming over, etc.
Even though stress is one piece of life that is hard to get away from, there are ways to prevent it. Some of the top recommended ways to prevent stress are using your time management skills, eating healthy food, getting proper sleep and exercising often.
There all also many ways to calm down your stress levels when they begin to rise, such as deep breathing, thinking through what's going through your head, listening to music, relax your body, and or get some fresh air.
During the holidays, one of the best tips is to not expect for everything to go perfectly and to have an ideal holiday. This is not realistic and will only add to the stress.
Enjoy all the moments you can during this once a year time and do all you can to maintain healthy self care, so this holiday season may be a bit more jolly.
ARCHIVED EDITORIALS
EDITORIAL: TURNING A NEW LEAFNovember 13, 2019
BY CAYLA REEVES
Our goal as we create this newspaper is to prove that students are ready to handle sensitive and important topics throughout the school year. To show that middle schoolers can handle major information calmly and responsibly. This upcoming newspaper issue includes some very major and attention-grabbing topics. These topics are things the journalism team believes are important for the student body to read and learn about, as well as the adults of our community. Read about what has happened for the LGBTQ+ students and staff in the Shawnee Mission School District. You’ll see a focus on accepting and treating others equally. There is helpful information about mental health, how to get better as a student and what Student Services can do for you. Find ways to help yourself. Learn how to find your anchor, a great source for help when you’re in need of a helping hand. Besides all of that, this issue is about issues that matter. We hope you enjoy this new edition of The Knightly News, now on our new website. |
On September 20, 2019, students from surrounding high schools and universities attend a mass rally at 11 am in downtown Kansas City protesting about their future. In almost every continent, hundreds of cities did the same thing. They attended the rally to spread awareness about the destruction of the planet, fighting not only for their future but also for the generations to come. The event in Kansas City was organized by John Kurman of the Kansas City Climate Coalition. PHOTOS BY Annie Reda
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ARCHIVED NATIONAL NEWS
THERE IS STILL HOPE
December 5, 2019
BY EVE BENDITT
With vaping having so many negative effects and the fact that it can even kill those who vape, it can be difficult to understand the attraction.
CNBC recently let the public know that the Food and Drug Administration is making the Juul industry “stop selling most e-cigarette flavors in retail shops in [an] effort to curb ‘epidemic’ levels of teen vaping.”
The corporation behind Juul has claimed that they will stop selling flavors like mango, fruity and cucumber. These flavors are among the favorites for teenagers using their product, contributing to the addiction that teens are experiencing.
Juul is more hesitant of doing this for sales within places like vape shops, but they will make an attempt to take down the flavored pods from online and retail stores.
As of September of this year, as stated by CNN, “over 450 cases of lung disease have been possibly linked to vaping and REUTERS reported that “as of November 14, 2019, 42 vaping-related deaths have occurred, in the United States alone.”
The leading brand of e-cigarettes, JUUL, has been linked to the most problems. They claim their marketing strategies are not targeted towards teens, but evidence from multiple sources, including the FDA, prove otherwise.
One JUUL pod, which provides about 200 puffs, contains as much nicotine as a full pack of cigarettes. Teens who vape are three times as likely to start smoking cigarettes in the future. The total number of teens who use e-cigarette use is up to 3.6 million people. That’s 1.5 million more than last year.
E-cigarette use among U.S. middle schools and high schools increased by 900% during 2011-2015. That number is expected to grow in the upcoming years.
“I do believe that home life can affect a student's decision to vape,” said Student Resource Officer Detective Kelsey Houchen.
“Whether that's a parent who doesn't know the risks and harms of vaping or a parent who isn't home enough to know what's going on, I've come across a lot of parents over the past couple of years that just don't even know what vapes are, what is in them, what they look like or how they're used. I try to provide information to parents within the community as often as I can.”
Houchen also explained that the school and the police department host sessions for adults and parents specifically to come learn more about vaping and how to prevent their own children from vaping.
For those trying to quit or wanting to help others to understand the need to quit, there are many resources available. Indian Hills Middle School’s social worker Nicole Nelson is the new adult sponsor for IH RESIST which is the Indian Hills tobacco/vape free club.
“We are focused on spreading awareness, education and empowering other students to make healthy choices about not vaping or using any tobacco product,” Nelson explained and she wants young people to understand how harmful these products are.
There are many resources to help those who vape to stop, such as the new quitting e-cigarette program for teens and young adults, accessible by texting "DITCHJUUL" to 88709.
Understanding what triggers one’s need for vaping often helps. To learn more about this, there are online resources that not only identify what to avoid but also have practical ways to stop vaping.
As one of the trusted adults at school to discuss how to get out of this addiction, Nelson wants to make sure that all student users know, “You have no idea the harm you are causing your bodies. There is enough research to say exactly what the damage is. Please just stop and encourage your peers to stop as well, before it’s too late. The power is within you.”
The most important thing to remember is that it is possible to quit. There is always a way out.
With vaping having so many negative effects and the fact that it can even kill those who vape, it can be difficult to understand the attraction.
CNBC recently let the public know that the Food and Drug Administration is making the Juul industry “stop selling most e-cigarette flavors in retail shops in [an] effort to curb ‘epidemic’ levels of teen vaping.”
The corporation behind Juul has claimed that they will stop selling flavors like mango, fruity and cucumber. These flavors are among the favorites for teenagers using their product, contributing to the addiction that teens are experiencing.
Juul is more hesitant of doing this for sales within places like vape shops, but they will make an attempt to take down the flavored pods from online and retail stores.
As of September of this year, as stated by CNN, “over 450 cases of lung disease have been possibly linked to vaping and REUTERS reported that “as of November 14, 2019, 42 vaping-related deaths have occurred, in the United States alone.”
The leading brand of e-cigarettes, JUUL, has been linked to the most problems. They claim their marketing strategies are not targeted towards teens, but evidence from multiple sources, including the FDA, prove otherwise.
One JUUL pod, which provides about 200 puffs, contains as much nicotine as a full pack of cigarettes. Teens who vape are three times as likely to start smoking cigarettes in the future. The total number of teens who use e-cigarette use is up to 3.6 million people. That’s 1.5 million more than last year.
E-cigarette use among U.S. middle schools and high schools increased by 900% during 2011-2015. That number is expected to grow in the upcoming years.
“I do believe that home life can affect a student's decision to vape,” said Student Resource Officer Detective Kelsey Houchen.
“Whether that's a parent who doesn't know the risks and harms of vaping or a parent who isn't home enough to know what's going on, I've come across a lot of parents over the past couple of years that just don't even know what vapes are, what is in them, what they look like or how they're used. I try to provide information to parents within the community as often as I can.”
Houchen also explained that the school and the police department host sessions for adults and parents specifically to come learn more about vaping and how to prevent their own children from vaping.
For those trying to quit or wanting to help others to understand the need to quit, there are many resources available. Indian Hills Middle School’s social worker Nicole Nelson is the new adult sponsor for IH RESIST which is the Indian Hills tobacco/vape free club.
“We are focused on spreading awareness, education and empowering other students to make healthy choices about not vaping or using any tobacco product,” Nelson explained and she wants young people to understand how harmful these products are.
There are many resources to help those who vape to stop, such as the new quitting e-cigarette program for teens and young adults, accessible by texting "DITCHJUUL" to 88709.
Understanding what triggers one’s need for vaping often helps. To learn more about this, there are online resources that not only identify what to avoid but also have practical ways to stop vaping.
As one of the trusted adults at school to discuss how to get out of this addiction, Nelson wants to make sure that all student users know, “You have no idea the harm you are causing your bodies. There is enough research to say exactly what the damage is. Please just stop and encourage your peers to stop as well, before it’s too late. The power is within you.”
The most important thing to remember is that it is possible to quit. There is always a way out.
A GIFT OF THANKS TO THE GIVERS
November 22, 2019
AN ANCHOR TO HOLD ON TONovember 13, 2019
BY ARLENA HOCH
Find Your Anchor is a non-profit organization that sends little blue boxes across the nation to help those who are feeling hopeless. The goal, according to the official website is spreading awareness about suicide prevention. These boxes have reached as far as Northern Maine and all the way to the Mexican border. The company has recently offered its services to the people of Afghanistan. On their website, there are ways to get involved and make a difference, such as having to place a box in a public place so that it will be visible to anyone who passes it. The box itself is blue with a set of cards labeled 52+ reasons to live, infographics, resources on suicide, posters, stickers, a bracelet, and a letter. People who need this package are encouraged to use these items, then place them back into the container when they feel like they are well enough again. After a person is done with the box, the box is sent to another person who can use it. Many people have even added their own “anchor” into the box before sending it. An online newspaper called The Mighty describes it as a “mental first aid kit,” and most receivers of the boxes agree. Find Your Anchor was established by a woman named Ali Borowsky, who struggled with depression. "One of my fundamental core beliefs, in the height of my darkness, was that no one would care. I wanted to create something literally showing that strangers care,” said Borowsky. Everything she had come across to help her with depression had either seemed too much like a hospital brochure or only a quick, temporary fix. Using her graphic design skills, she set out to create the little blue box and the contents inside. The packages aren’t just for those with depression. Borowsky wants anyone who is feeling lost or going through a hard time to use this box. She believes that you don’t need to be suicidal to need help. According to Channel Kindness, Find Your Anchor has worked with multiple schools. Staff members decided to bring over 200 boxes for their high school students who were struggling. Even organizations like Lady Gaga’s Born This Way Foundation have collaborated with Find Your Anchor to better the lives of others. Boxes like these have changed lives and brought the most unexpected pairs of people together. If you or someone you know is struggling, you can order a box here. |
Creative writing teacher Rachel Basden takes Thanksgiving to the next level as her students write appreciation letters for our wonderful Indian Hills Middle School staff. Many showed emotions ranging from shock, to happiness to tears over the recognition and the kind words. There were many hugs given to those who made the deliveries of the letters, with many emailing Basden so her students would know how much their token of gratitude meant to them. As school nurse Judy McMullen said, "It's amazing how [students] are reaching out like this. Normally middle schoolers look out for themselves more, but you took time to thank us. This is the best Thanksgiving gift I could get." During this week before the Thanksgiving holiday, taking time to show thanks for those who work so hard for our Knights was a little something that meant a whole lot. PHOTOS BY Arlena Hoch, Laine Birch, Amelie Wong, Mason SajnaSUICIDE PREVENTION RESOURCES:
BY EMMA KUHLMAN
SOME HELPFUL SELF CARE PRACTICES:
Mental health is shown in many ways, and it may not always appear noticeable. Students tend to struggle with their emotions and anxiety more often than usual, due to the stress of school work and the pressure to fit in among their peers. No person is the same when it comes to struggling, so it's good to know how to help someone whenever possible. PHOTO BY Phoenix Fisk (Photo Editor 2018-2019)
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BE WHO YOU ARE
November 13, 2019
BY EMMA KRAUSE
The Shawnee Mission School Board voted unanimously on September 16, 2019 to add LGBTQ+ Protections to their existing Non-Discrimination Policy. This policy includes new norms that people who identify as any member of the LGBTQ+ community cannot be discriminated against for who they are. In reference to why our school board decided to pass these changes when they did, Brad Stratton, the President of the Shawnee Mission School Board said, “The Policy Review Committee of the school board had been reviewing possible new language updates for the Non-Discrimination Policy for the past several months, [since] the district had received inquiries and requests to consider possible updated languages for the past year or so.” The existing language had already prohibited discrimination on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, age, sex and disability. This new decision by the board was to add LGBTQ+ to the language. As to what this new change means specifically for the LGBTQ+ students and staff in this district, Stratton stated, “The non-discrimination policy for the school district has been updated to include two additional identified and protected areas; sexual orientation and gender identity.” In reference to whether or not this could mean restroom and locker room changes, Stratton added that it will be determined at a later date. The Shawnee Mission School District isn’t the only Kansas school district that has established these protections for the LGBTQ+ population. SMSD followed the lead of nearby districts, including Olathe, Blue Valley and Desoto. Many other Johnson County cities are currently adopting non-discrimination ordinances for LGBTQ+ protections. Indian Hills Middle School Principal, Mr. Revelle said, “It’s good, because it includes more in this non-discrimination policy.” This new policy has been and will be very beneficial for students and staff of the SMSD, knowing that the district has language that supports them, as a community. As Berry Al-Shams, an eighth grade member of the LGBTQ+ community said, “This will be good and helpful for students.” The Shawnee Mission School District continues to support and protect all students and staff of the district from discrimination. |
This LGBTQ+ flag is waved proudly by
this community and its friends. At a time when our school district ensured that their rights are clear to all, many are thankful for the new change. PHOTO BY PXHERE |
BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE
November 13, 2019
BY ASHLYN HALEY
The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) helps endangered species in multiple ways. They urge people to fight against trading and poaching endangered animals. This organization keeps track of endangered species to make sure their population is at a safe level.
For example, the Amur Leopard is critically endangered because illegal wildlife trade led to people killing the animals for its fur. The Black Rhino is also threatened by illegal wildlife trade because hunters want their horns to sell for money.
The Bornean Orangutan and Malayan Tiger are threatened by deforestation. Humans cut down trees where they live. The Hawksbill Turtle is dying out from loss of habitat and overfishing. The Saola is dying out from habitat loss and hunters, and only a few hundred are left.
These are only a few of a long list of species in crisis. Recently, the Trump administration has changed the rules on the Endangered Species Act.
Donald Trump’s administration announced a change in the Endangered Species Act that would make it easier for an animal to be taken off the Endangered Species list. This would decrease the amount of protection and awareness instead of promoting it, like desperately needed. Knowing that, there are still many ways to promote awareness for these animals.
Many of the Indian Hills science teachers do their parts to help.
“I do my part by creating habitats in my backyard for animals,” said science teacher Nola Hoffman.
Teacher Nichole Hoehn stated, “It is my own personal belief that by being a vegan, I am helping to not contribute to this problem.”
As for what students can do, science teacher LaReta Tabor added that students, “can start by taking their education seriously and learning as much as they can about their world. They also can become active in recycling programs, volunteer their time to a variety of wildlife or animal shelter organizations and become youth activist for wildlife.”
The WWF also reaches out to sponsors, often photographers, to promote publicity for the species and to teach the importance of them. The purpose is also to fight against industries that destroy habitats. There are different ways you can help as well.
While there are many options through the WWF, one allows people to adopt a certain animal. The person who chooses this, receives a stuffed animal as a reminder and all the money goes towards helping to preserve the animals.
As Gandhi once said, “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” Humans can lend a voice to all of our animals, especially to those who are already near extinction, to spread the word and do something.
The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) helps endangered species in multiple ways. They urge people to fight against trading and poaching endangered animals. This organization keeps track of endangered species to make sure their population is at a safe level.
For example, the Amur Leopard is critically endangered because illegal wildlife trade led to people killing the animals for its fur. The Black Rhino is also threatened by illegal wildlife trade because hunters want their horns to sell for money.
The Bornean Orangutan and Malayan Tiger are threatened by deforestation. Humans cut down trees where they live. The Hawksbill Turtle is dying out from loss of habitat and overfishing. The Saola is dying out from habitat loss and hunters, and only a few hundred are left.
These are only a few of a long list of species in crisis. Recently, the Trump administration has changed the rules on the Endangered Species Act.
Donald Trump’s administration announced a change in the Endangered Species Act that would make it easier for an animal to be taken off the Endangered Species list. This would decrease the amount of protection and awareness instead of promoting it, like desperately needed. Knowing that, there are still many ways to promote awareness for these animals.
Many of the Indian Hills science teachers do their parts to help.
“I do my part by creating habitats in my backyard for animals,” said science teacher Nola Hoffman.
Teacher Nichole Hoehn stated, “It is my own personal belief that by being a vegan, I am helping to not contribute to this problem.”
As for what students can do, science teacher LaReta Tabor added that students, “can start by taking their education seriously and learning as much as they can about their world. They also can become active in recycling programs, volunteer their time to a variety of wildlife or animal shelter organizations and become youth activist for wildlife.”
The WWF also reaches out to sponsors, often photographers, to promote publicity for the species and to teach the importance of them. The purpose is also to fight against industries that destroy habitats. There are different ways you can help as well.
While there are many options through the WWF, one allows people to adopt a certain animal. The person who chooses this, receives a stuffed animal as a reminder and all the money goes towards helping to preserve the animals.
As Gandhi once said, “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” Humans can lend a voice to all of our animals, especially to those who are already near extinction, to spread the word and do something.
At Cedar Cove, located in Louisburg, Kansas, Siberian tigers of all shades have been rescued and cared for. Siberian tiger populations are diminishing due to poachers looking to sell their pelts. Many sanctuaries like Cedar Cove strive to take care of endangered species like the Siberian tiger, but due to the struggle to fund enough land to comfortably shelter these animals, they often spend their time in small, enclosed areas. PHOTOS BY Arlena Hoch
ARCHIVED FEATURED
HEARING IMPAIRED IN MIDDLE SCHOOL
November 13, 2019
BY CHARLOTTE HARDACRE
When I entered Indian Hills Middle School this year, as a seventh grader, everything was new just like everyone else. However, there was much more for me to worry about, before our first day.
Having hearing aids to me is not a new experience, it is my life and I have not gone a day without them. I am one of the few people who knows what the world is like silent, but thanks to the beautiful invention of the hearing aid, my world does not have to be completely quiet.
My parents found out that I was deaf the day I was born. It took 8 months of testing at The Children's Mercy Hospital to determine how the audiologist, a specialist in hearing aid technology, should fit and set my hearing aids.
It used to really bother me in grade school when people would ask, “What are those things in your ears?”
Then, I would have to explain. I just want people to know what they are, just like how people know what glasses are.
People who are not born severely deaf can still have them because as someone like this becomes older, their hearing could get worse.
The technology in a hearing aid is incredible. With my hearing aids, if the room is too loud they will reduce the volume automatically, or if the room is really quiet they will turn the volume up.
Because of my hearing aids, I have become really good at lip-reading, so it has become a new way for me to understand what people are saying. That’s why it's so important that people look at me when they’re talking, because it helps me understand what they’re saying.
Some of the things I don't like about having hearing aids is that I always have to change the batteries, and I can’t hear an alarm clock, so my parents have to wake me up every day. I am definitely not a morning person. One of the most annoying things about having hearing aids is that I can't wear them in the pool, so I can't hear the lifeguard or play Marco Polo.
A lot of people who are deaf have a speech impediment, but luckily I don't, because when I did not have my hearing aids, I worked with a speech therapist.
She worked with my family and me. The speech therapist even came after I got my hearing aids too, and worked with the audiologist to help me speak correctly.
Having hearing aids can be good and bad. One pro of having hearing aids is that you can control what you want to hear by turning your hearing aids up or down, but the con is that there are still things you can’t hear very well. Many people have a hearing issue in America but most never get treated.
To be exact, according to Hear-it, “In America there are 35 million hearing-impaired people, but only 28.5% of them have hearing aids.”
There are many types of hearing aids. I have the BTE hearing aid which is on top and behind your ear, which is joined to my ear canal with a sound tube. That sound tube is connected to an ear mold, as explained in Hearing Aid Know. Most ear molds can even be customized into different colors.
I love to be asked questions, so feel free to ask any if you see me in the hall. I'm very grateful that my hearing aids work for me, and I'm so lucky that I have a supportive staff at IHMS that makes life in a new school easier for me.
When I entered Indian Hills Middle School this year, as a seventh grader, everything was new just like everyone else. However, there was much more for me to worry about, before our first day.
Having hearing aids to me is not a new experience, it is my life and I have not gone a day without them. I am one of the few people who knows what the world is like silent, but thanks to the beautiful invention of the hearing aid, my world does not have to be completely quiet.
My parents found out that I was deaf the day I was born. It took 8 months of testing at The Children's Mercy Hospital to determine how the audiologist, a specialist in hearing aid technology, should fit and set my hearing aids.
It used to really bother me in grade school when people would ask, “What are those things in your ears?”
Then, I would have to explain. I just want people to know what they are, just like how people know what glasses are.
People who are not born severely deaf can still have them because as someone like this becomes older, their hearing could get worse.
The technology in a hearing aid is incredible. With my hearing aids, if the room is too loud they will reduce the volume automatically, or if the room is really quiet they will turn the volume up.
Because of my hearing aids, I have become really good at lip-reading, so it has become a new way for me to understand what people are saying. That’s why it's so important that people look at me when they’re talking, because it helps me understand what they’re saying.
Some of the things I don't like about having hearing aids is that I always have to change the batteries, and I can’t hear an alarm clock, so my parents have to wake me up every day. I am definitely not a morning person. One of the most annoying things about having hearing aids is that I can't wear them in the pool, so I can't hear the lifeguard or play Marco Polo.
A lot of people who are deaf have a speech impediment, but luckily I don't, because when I did not have my hearing aids, I worked with a speech therapist.
She worked with my family and me. The speech therapist even came after I got my hearing aids too, and worked with the audiologist to help me speak correctly.
Having hearing aids can be good and bad. One pro of having hearing aids is that you can control what you want to hear by turning your hearing aids up or down, but the con is that there are still things you can’t hear very well. Many people have a hearing issue in America but most never get treated.
To be exact, according to Hear-it, “In America there are 35 million hearing-impaired people, but only 28.5% of them have hearing aids.”
There are many types of hearing aids. I have the BTE hearing aid which is on top and behind your ear, which is joined to my ear canal with a sound tube. That sound tube is connected to an ear mold, as explained in Hearing Aid Know. Most ear molds can even be customized into different colors.
I love to be asked questions, so feel free to ask any if you see me in the hall. I'm very grateful that my hearing aids work for me, and I'm so lucky that I have a supportive staff at IHMS that makes life in a new school easier for me.
While journalism students usually work in teams, even in the classroom, seventh grader Charlotte Hardacre’s team goes out to the hall to work, having learned a lot about their teammates. With Hardacre's hearing aids, her team is very understanding and knows that moving to a quieter location allows her to hear them all better and see their mouths, as they speak. Editor Parker Roehr (8) lead the team, consisting of seventh graders Larkin Brundige, Natalie Carreno, Hartley Graham and Layla Kozup. No matter what the issue among team members, it’s all about support. PHOTO BY Hadley Seibert
ARCHIVED LOCAL NEWS
Crown Center welcomes Indian Hills Middle School 7th and 8th grade choirs for holiday performances on Thursday, Dec. 5
The performances are part of Crown Center’s annual Holiday Choir program, a series of more than 100 free and open-to-the-public recitals during the holiday season
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (Nov. 19, 2019) – Indian Hills Middle School 7th and 8th grade choirs have been selected to perform at the Crown Center Shops during the holiday season as part of the center’s Holiday Choir program. The program, a long-standing tradition at Crown Center, is a series of more than 100 recitals performed by area school, church and community choirs during the holiday season that are free and open to the public.
The performances are scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 5 and will each last approximately 30 minutes. The 8th grade choir is scheduled to perform at 10:45 a.m. and the 7th grade choir will perform at 1 p.m.
Details:
When: Thursday, Dec. 5 at 10: 45 a. m. (8th grade) and 1 p. m. (7th grade)
Where: Crown Center Shops Atrium (Level 1) 2450 Grand Blvd.
Kansas City, MO 64108
Pricing: Free and open to the public
Parking: Covered parking for Crown Center is available at 25th Street and Grand Blvd on both the east and west sides of Grand. Three hours of free parking is available with validation. Parking is free in these garages on weekends, starting at 6 p.m. on Friday.
For more information, call the Crown Center Shops customer service at 816-274-8444.
About Crown Center
Located on the southern edge of downtown Kansas City, Crown Center offers fine hotels, entertainment, dining, shopping, offices and residential living in the city’s burgeoning cultural arts and professional services district. The 85-acre complex, which opened in 1971 and serves as the international headquarters of Hallmark Cards, attracts more than five million visitors each year with two world-renowned attractions, SEA LIFE Aquarium Kansas City and LEGOLAND® Discovery Center, and boasts one of the largest flexible meeting spaces in the Midwest at Sheraton Kansas City Hotel and The Westin Kansas City. Crown Center is home to three theaters, nationally acclaimed The Coterie, MTH Theater and Quixotic Theater, and more than 40 shops and restaurants. The complex is also home to Halls Kansas City, the region’s premier fashion destination. Visit http://www.crowncenter.com for more details. Connect on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
For more information, contact: Travis Joyal
[email protected], 816-506-5560
(PRESS RELEASE)
WHO SHOULD CARE
November 13, 2019
BY EVE BENDITT
We’ve all heard the ads playing. We’ve all seen the posters on our neighbors’ lawns. But what not many of us acknowledge is the importance of politics for people our age. Teens should be paying more attention to the politics surrounding us.
The polls are dramatically influenced by people over the age of 65, otherwise known as the Baby Boomer generation. However, in terms of numbers, millenials and Gen-X populations far outnumber this seasoned crowd, according to NPR.
A large part of the reason that the results of the polls are determined by older people is that the younger generations are simply not voting enough.
Megan Peters, a founding member of Education First, Shawnee Mission said, “Young people have the most to gain and the most to lose as the result of local and national elections. Your school board members, state representatives, and municipal offices make a significant impact on the daily lives of millennials.
“In the last local election, only 50% of eligible Millennial voters actually voted. Politicians will make decisions and be heavily influenced by those voters that support them. If you don’t vote, your opinions will not be reflected in the results.”
As the next generation of this country, we as teens need to be informed on the local and national news about politics.
According to Lauren Klemowich, a student writer for She is the Tribe, “what happens in politics today will affect teens later down the road when they are graduating college, buying their first house, and starting their own families.”
She Is The Tribe shows that when it comes time for us to start going off to college, policies that concern financial aid will likely not be a priority for the older generations, as it provides little to no benefit to them.
There are countless issues about which members of different generations tend to have different points of view. In a representative democracy, such as ours, those who pay attention and get out to the polls are the ones whose preferences wind up being enacted in laws.
If our generation starts educating ourselves now, it will become a habit to inform ourselves of the daily news as we get older, a habit that can and will be critical to our future lives. After all, we are the next generation that holds power, the next generation to be influencers, the next generation to vote.
All of us are 4 to 6 years away from being able to cast a ballot in an official election. So, educate yourself, educate your peers, and most importantly, vote. As Abraham Lincoln once said, “Government of the people, by the people, and for the people.”
We’ve all heard the ads playing. We’ve all seen the posters on our neighbors’ lawns. But what not many of us acknowledge is the importance of politics for people our age. Teens should be paying more attention to the politics surrounding us.
The polls are dramatically influenced by people over the age of 65, otherwise known as the Baby Boomer generation. However, in terms of numbers, millenials and Gen-X populations far outnumber this seasoned crowd, according to NPR.
A large part of the reason that the results of the polls are determined by older people is that the younger generations are simply not voting enough.
Megan Peters, a founding member of Education First, Shawnee Mission said, “Young people have the most to gain and the most to lose as the result of local and national elections. Your school board members, state representatives, and municipal offices make a significant impact on the daily lives of millennials.
“In the last local election, only 50% of eligible Millennial voters actually voted. Politicians will make decisions and be heavily influenced by those voters that support them. If you don’t vote, your opinions will not be reflected in the results.”
As the next generation of this country, we as teens need to be informed on the local and national news about politics.
According to Lauren Klemowich, a student writer for She is the Tribe, “what happens in politics today will affect teens later down the road when they are graduating college, buying their first house, and starting their own families.”
She Is The Tribe shows that when it comes time for us to start going off to college, policies that concern financial aid will likely not be a priority for the older generations, as it provides little to no benefit to them.
There are countless issues about which members of different generations tend to have different points of view. In a representative democracy, such as ours, those who pay attention and get out to the polls are the ones whose preferences wind up being enacted in laws.
If our generation starts educating ourselves now, it will become a habit to inform ourselves of the daily news as we get older, a habit that can and will be critical to our future lives. After all, we are the next generation that holds power, the next generation to be influencers, the next generation to vote.
All of us are 4 to 6 years away from being able to cast a ballot in an official election. So, educate yourself, educate your peers, and most importantly, vote. As Abraham Lincoln once said, “Government of the people, by the people, and for the people.”
“There are so many people going in to vote blindly and will vote for the wrong person, or they will vote for someone they don’t support. It’s good to learn about politics now, so in the future you know what to think,” said eighth grader Olivia Niermann. PHOTO BY Arlena Hoch