SUPERBOWL CHAMPIONS
February 21, 2020
By Cayla Reeves
Only seven minutes left in the fourth quarter. The Chiefs are down 20 -10. The pressure was on for Mahomes and his team, but they weren't about to lose faith. According to CBS Sports Mahomes later commented, “We have heart. From day one, Coach pushes us to be the best people we can be, and we never give up.”
A pass interference call against the 49ers allowed Mahomes to find his tight end for a wide open one yard touchdown. Unleashing the full power of the Mahomes- Andy Reid duo resulted in three touchdown drives, ending the game with a 31 - 21 win for the Chiefs, and their first taste of victory in 50 years. But then again, everyone knows the Chiefs are the Comeback Kings. Earning that title by their outstanding comebacks in the playoff season, beating the Texans 51- 31 and Titans 35-24.
One Disney parade later the Chiefs were back to Kansas City to celebrate their win with their hometown. That Wednesday a parade and rally was help for the players and fans.
Many fans were scared they wouldn’t have a good enough spot to watch the parade and rally, and showed up to secure their spots as early as three in the morning. While the forecast predicted three inches of snow and temperatures in the 20’s that didn’t stop many from supporting their favorite team.
Soon enough the streets became a sea of red, white and gold as people gathered in numbers that were estimated to be in the hundreds of thousands.
Many people in the parade included the players, cheerleaders, staff, and many more. Players were in buses, cars, and some walking the streets carrying the trophy and letting some fans up front even touch it. During the rally team members and staff members gave speeches and the cheerleaders performed.
According to CBS News, Andy Reid says, "Next year, we're coming right back here," Reid said to the crowd gathered outside Kansas City's Union Station. "One more time baby, one more time."
By Cayla Reeves
Only seven minutes left in the fourth quarter. The Chiefs are down 20 -10. The pressure was on for Mahomes and his team, but they weren't about to lose faith. According to CBS Sports Mahomes later commented, “We have heart. From day one, Coach pushes us to be the best people we can be, and we never give up.”
A pass interference call against the 49ers allowed Mahomes to find his tight end for a wide open one yard touchdown. Unleashing the full power of the Mahomes- Andy Reid duo resulted in three touchdown drives, ending the game with a 31 - 21 win for the Chiefs, and their first taste of victory in 50 years. But then again, everyone knows the Chiefs are the Comeback Kings. Earning that title by their outstanding comebacks in the playoff season, beating the Texans 51- 31 and Titans 35-24.
One Disney parade later the Chiefs were back to Kansas City to celebrate their win with their hometown. That Wednesday a parade and rally was help for the players and fans.
Many fans were scared they wouldn’t have a good enough spot to watch the parade and rally, and showed up to secure their spots as early as three in the morning. While the forecast predicted three inches of snow and temperatures in the 20’s that didn’t stop many from supporting their favorite team.
Soon enough the streets became a sea of red, white and gold as people gathered in numbers that were estimated to be in the hundreds of thousands.
Many people in the parade included the players, cheerleaders, staff, and many more. Players were in buses, cars, and some walking the streets carrying the trophy and letting some fans up front even touch it. During the rally team members and staff members gave speeches and the cheerleaders performed.
According to CBS News, Andy Reid says, "Next year, we're coming right back here," Reid said to the crowd gathered outside Kansas City's Union Station. "One more time baby, one more time."
BACK BREAKING PRESSURE
February 12, 2020
By Abi Limbird With seven classes a day, students have seven folders, seven notebooks and at least seven pages of homework every night. That doesn’t include their MacBooks, which weigh almost three pounds. That’s a lot of weight to put on your shoulders. Literally. Backpacks carry pretty much everything students need in school: homework, grading pens, extra pencils, spirals, folders, binders, water bottles, personal items, and even lunches sometimes. Students carry all of these things daily, because the materials needed in classes are unpredictable, and it's hard to tell what is going to be needed for each class. But all of those extra items really add up in weight, putting a lot of pressure on students' necks, shoulders and backs. On the plus side, backpacks are a better option for carrying books and supplies compared to messenger or shoulder bags. Backpacks with two straps evenly distribute the weight across your body. That way the strongest muscles in the body, the back, and abdominal muscles, can support you as you make your way through the halls. Even though it’s something we don’t really think about all that much, heavy backpacks can cause serious and long-lasting back injuries. The American Academy of Pediatrics says that a "child's backpack should weigh to 10-20% of their body mass," but according to a study conducted by Consumer Reports, "6th graders were carrying backpacks that weighed almost 18.4 pounds, some even up to 30"! Eighth grade Indian Hills Middle School student, Claire Schudy said, “The extra stuff in our backpack adds more weight. If teachers could for sure let us know what we need [for each day], we could [potentially] eliminate the unnecessary weight.” Kids all across the country are aware and can feel what is happening to them when they put that backpack on. According to The University of Iowa, "55% of grade-schoolers who carry backpacks carry over 10% of their body weight, and 85% of college students found that they felt body strain, discomfort, or pain due to backpack use." That’s just the simple side of things. There are 2000 backpack related injuries each year, according to a national ER poll! Journalists even conducted their own poll to see how the kids at Indian Hills Middle School feel about the weight of their backpacks, and 49.6% of middle schoolers feel like their backpack is too heavy for them to carry around all day. “From carrying my backpack, I have lots of knots in my back and my back and shoulders are sore all the time now,” added seventh-grader Seri Steinbrecher. Shourya Kaushik, an Indian Hills Middle School eighth-grader, has an idea for how to solve this problem by “making cubbies in each class to put our notebooks in so we don't have to carry around 7 notebooks every single day.” Kaushik is not the only one. Backpack weight is a problem, but at least the students are thinking about how to solve it. This issue may hurt now, but it is the future to really worry about. Jaime Quinn, a professional physical therapist in New York City explained that “wearing a heavy backpack for prolonged periods may cause excessive strain on one's neck, back, and shoulders . . . Over time, muscles may fatigue, and the wearer may fall into poor posture, which may lead to muscle imbalances, which long term, may cause an increased risk of injury.” She also added that it may cause a rounded shoulder posture which can result in excessive strain on the cervical spine, or neck. An overweight backpack forces your body to compensate for the extra load. To self adjust, you might lean forward, hunch your back, or bend over at the hips to adjust your center of gravity. These all put you off balance and enhance your risk of falling. Not only that, but by putting all the excess weight on your shoulders and overcompensating for it all, you can damage your spine and cause it to compress in an unnatural way. One of the biggest preventive measures you can take is making sure your backpack fits right. Quinn emphasized that in order to do this, it's important that it “that the backpack should be close to the body and should not hang too far below the waist.” Girls and shorter children are more prone to back pain due to their smaller stature, so make sure to invest in a backpack that fits correctly, even if it doesn’t look right to someone else. If a student's neck or back hurts when putting on or taking off a backpack, there are some other ways to help. It may be time to adjust the straps, reload the bag with only the essentials, or invest in an entirely new one. For next school, it may also be a good idea to get and use a locker. In the long run, it could help maintain a better back for years to come. |
Seventh graders Lucy Wolf, Carson Graves, and Laine Birch carry backpacks every day, as many of their peers do each school week. Each of them carries all their supplies in order to have the greatest advantages for success in school. In the meanwhile, many students are feeling the pain that their backpacks are causing, potentially resulting in life long back injuries, for their future years. PHOTO BY ASHLYN HALEY
10 WAYS TO MAKE YOUR BACKPACK LIGHTERFebruary 12, 2020
By Emilie Elmore 1. Clean out your backpack: Cleaning out your backpack often gets rid of unnecessary items that may make your bag heavier. 2. Carry your computer and/or heavy textbooks in a separate bag: When you carry things, like your lunch, in a separate bag you are taking that weight off of your back avoiding back problems later in life. 3. Distribute the weight in your backpack evenly: Heavier items should be placed close to your back so you don't put more strain on one side of your back than the other 4. Find a bag with small compartments: When you have different compartments in your bag it can help you stay more organized and it can help distribute the weight of your items evenly. 5. Get a backpack that has padded straps: A backpack without padded straps can dig into your skin and make it more painful to carry your backpack. 6. Make sure your backpack is the right size for you: Your backpack should sit 2 inches above your hips and if your backpack is not you might be causing unnecessary back pain 7. Choose a lightweight material backpack: A lighter material backpack can take weight away from your load that you didn't know you had.. add less weight to your heavy load. 8. Keep your backpack organized: When you have a more organized backpack it leaves less room for clutter that can make your backpack too heavy. 9. Make sure your backpack weighs no more than 15% of your body weight: A bag heavier than 15% of your body weight is too much to carry, and will stress your back. 10. Cut down on extra stationery you don't need, like markers and pens you never use: If you have a lot of markers or pens you never use you shouldn't keep them in your backpack because they could just be adding extra weight. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON HOW TO BETTER HELP YOUR BACK NOW & IN THE FUTURE, CLICK ON EACH OF THE BLUE LINKS ABOVE. |
STOP MEANS STOP
February 12, 2020
By Arlena Hoch
We all know about the red stop sign that the bus extends when it stops. While is supposed to protect students as they get off the bus, many may take this safety feature as a guarantee of safety. Think again.
During a one day survey in April of 2019, 1,040 drivers were reported to have ignored school bus stop signs, according to The Topeka Capita-Journal. This means that over 1000 drivers risked students lives by not stopping to let them cross the street. This survey only asked ⅔ of the district's busses, meaning the number may have been even higher.
The number of drivers taking these risks have also grown in the past few years. The Topeka Capital Journal reported that in 2017 only 691 reports were made, and in 2018, the numbers jumped up by 339, making 1,030 violation reports in total.
Clifford Earles, a Shawnee Mission School District bus driver said, "I've seen [people ignoring the stop sign] at least once a week."
These violations are dangerous and outrageous. Students are put in danger every school day due to incautious drivers. Mary Anne Massing, driver of Indian Hills Middle School bus 153, shared a story about a kindergartener and some IHMS students almost being hit by a driver running a school bus stop arm. This is just one of many stories that bus drivers have to tell.
Lindberg Robinson Jr. who drives bus 204 added, "I've seen people slow down and speed up when the kids cross like they're trying to hit somebody."
While these numbers may be unknown to students, bus drivers fight this battle for school safety daily. When surveyed, 501 bus drivers stated that they see violations every day, according to WIBW. Another survey from 2017 showed that in a 30-day period, drivers illegally passed a group of school bus stop arms 9,491 times according to the Kansas City Star. That's an average of 361 violations a day.
Robinson stated, "All I can do is make sure no one is coming before they go ahead."
With all of these violations happening, getting off of the bus is dangerous, and school bus drivers are constantly keeping a lookout.
For Teresa Alman, another of IHMS' school bus drivers expressed her concerns as a driver and as a parent stating, "Those are my kids that could get hit."
Many bus drivers feel like there isn't much more they can do. Most drivers who run school bus stop arms move too fast for bus drivers to get a license plate number. Justice is hardly served when it comes to these violations.
As IHMS bus driver Kevin LeManske said, "There really isn't any way because you can't get their tag number."
Some bus drivers have a few ideas for solutions.
Jeff Johnson, driver of bus 152 for Indian Hills thinks that "if the district would install cameras, we could send them a ticket in the mail."
These cameras, positioned on the stop arms, take pictures of cars that bypass the bus stop arm law. Bus drivers can then identify the drivers' plate numbers with the picture and report them. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, 21 states have already passed bus stop arm camera laws.
Though Kansas has yet to pass such a law, the state is taking care of the issue a different way. In order to enforce the stop arm laws, police officers have been riding busses to record violations themselves, stated The Wichita Eagle.
Other police officers have been following behind busses to record violations from the outside and further discourage violations, according to KSN. Many bus drivers appreciate this extra help from these officers.
As the driver for bus 171 for IHMS, Tim Behrns still believes that "more police officers need to be on the road."
However, officers can't follow busses every school day. The issue of running school bus stop arms is avoidable.
As Mary Anne Massing, driver of bus 153, expressed, "It's a giant school bus. How do people not see it?"
By Arlena Hoch
We all know about the red stop sign that the bus extends when it stops. While is supposed to protect students as they get off the bus, many may take this safety feature as a guarantee of safety. Think again.
During a one day survey in April of 2019, 1,040 drivers were reported to have ignored school bus stop signs, according to The Topeka Capita-Journal. This means that over 1000 drivers risked students lives by not stopping to let them cross the street. This survey only asked ⅔ of the district's busses, meaning the number may have been even higher.
The number of drivers taking these risks have also grown in the past few years. The Topeka Capital Journal reported that in 2017 only 691 reports were made, and in 2018, the numbers jumped up by 339, making 1,030 violation reports in total.
Clifford Earles, a Shawnee Mission School District bus driver said, "I've seen [people ignoring the stop sign] at least once a week."
These violations are dangerous and outrageous. Students are put in danger every school day due to incautious drivers. Mary Anne Massing, driver of Indian Hills Middle School bus 153, shared a story about a kindergartener and some IHMS students almost being hit by a driver running a school bus stop arm. This is just one of many stories that bus drivers have to tell.
Lindberg Robinson Jr. who drives bus 204 added, "I've seen people slow down and speed up when the kids cross like they're trying to hit somebody."
While these numbers may be unknown to students, bus drivers fight this battle for school safety daily. When surveyed, 501 bus drivers stated that they see violations every day, according to WIBW. Another survey from 2017 showed that in a 30-day period, drivers illegally passed a group of school bus stop arms 9,491 times according to the Kansas City Star. That's an average of 361 violations a day.
Robinson stated, "All I can do is make sure no one is coming before they go ahead."
With all of these violations happening, getting off of the bus is dangerous, and school bus drivers are constantly keeping a lookout.
For Teresa Alman, another of IHMS' school bus drivers expressed her concerns as a driver and as a parent stating, "Those are my kids that could get hit."
Many bus drivers feel like there isn't much more they can do. Most drivers who run school bus stop arms move too fast for bus drivers to get a license plate number. Justice is hardly served when it comes to these violations.
As IHMS bus driver Kevin LeManske said, "There really isn't any way because you can't get their tag number."
Some bus drivers have a few ideas for solutions.
Jeff Johnson, driver of bus 152 for Indian Hills thinks that "if the district would install cameras, we could send them a ticket in the mail."
These cameras, positioned on the stop arms, take pictures of cars that bypass the bus stop arm law. Bus drivers can then identify the drivers' plate numbers with the picture and report them. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, 21 states have already passed bus stop arm camera laws.
Though Kansas has yet to pass such a law, the state is taking care of the issue a different way. In order to enforce the stop arm laws, police officers have been riding busses to record violations themselves, stated The Wichita Eagle.
Other police officers have been following behind busses to record violations from the outside and further discourage violations, according to KSN. Many bus drivers appreciate this extra help from these officers.
As the driver for bus 171 for IHMS, Tim Behrns still believes that "more police officers need to be on the road."
However, officers can't follow busses every school day. The issue of running school bus stop arms is avoidable.
As Mary Anne Massing, driver of bus 153, expressed, "It's a giant school bus. How do people not see it?"
The stop sign is recognized by almost everyone in America. It's big, it's red and in large white letters it reads "STOP." So why do so many drivers ignore the school bus stop sign, especially when the stakes can be potentially be so high? School bus drivers warn their kids to look both ways before they cross, just to be safe, but when drivers aren't following the law there's more that may need to happen. The next time you're dropped off at a bus stop, make sure to be extra careful, for your sake and that of the others who get off that stop with you. PHOTO BY NORA HILL