The Totem is a student publication produced by students. The thoughts and views expressed in the publications do not necessarily represent the school board, administration, or teachers - they represent the students. These publications have not been reviewed and are a public forum for student expression created for the primary audience of the SHHS student body.
After senior wide receiver AJ Gallegos catches the ball for a touchdown at Jamboree, Aiden Scott, senior quarterback, celebrates with Gallegos. Photo by Nick Prater
Upcoming Events 9/22 F. Football vs. Basehor-Linwood 4:30 p.m.; Boys JV Soccer vs. Topeka West High School 4:30 p.m. (away); Girls C team Volleyball vs. Multiple Schools 5 p.m.; JV Football vs. Basehor-Linwood 6:15 p.m.; Boys V Soccer vs. Topeka West High School 6:15 p.m. (away) 9/23 Girls JV Volleyball vs. Multiple Schools 5 p.m. (away); Girls V Volleyball vs. Multiple Schools 5 p.m. (away) 9/24 Girls V Golf vs. Multiple Schools 3:00 p.m. (away) 9/25 Girls V Golf vs. Multiple Schools 12:30 p.m.; Girls V Tennis vs. Multiple Schools 3 p.m. (away); Boys JV Soccer vs. Turner 4:30 p.m.; Boys V Soccer vs. Turner 6:15 p.m. 9/26 V Football vs Leavenworth 7 p.m. (away) 9/27 V/JV Cross Country at Rim Rock Farm 12 p.m. (away); Girls V Volleyball at Blue Valley West High School 8 a.m. (away) 9/29 No School; Girls JV Tennis vs. multiple schools 3 p.m. (away) F. Football vs. Leavenworth 4:30 p.m.; Girls C Volleyball at Turner High School 5 p.m. (away); JV Football vs. Leavenworth 6:15 p.m. 9/30 Tennis: Girls V vs. Multiple Schools 9 a.m. (away); Soccer: Boys JV vs. Seaman High School 4:30 p.m.; Volleyball Girls V/JV vs. Multiple Schools 5 p.m.; Soccer: Boys V vs. Seaman High School 6:15 p.m.
Designed and written by Caylee Cooper
m
TOTEM Volume 64 . Issue 1 . September 2025 Shawnee Heights High School, Tecumseh, Kansas to start at the Jamboree. Photo by Cesar Esparza
Showing their patriotic spirit, the student section waits for the game
Table of Contents TOC - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Food Trucks - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Committing to Colleges - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Mental Health - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Clubs - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Sports - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Phone Ban - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Teen Vaping - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Study Skills - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Back to School - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Movie Reviews - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Crossword - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Meet the Staff - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Upcoming Events - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - features entertainment
2-3 4 5
6-7 8-9 10-11
12 13 14
15 16-17
18 19 20
Reading their Literature to Go books, seniors Quincy Hamm, Eva Rivera and Macie Staniec sit in the new PTO funded charging station in the South Commons. The charging stations were added so students had a place to charge their electrical devices and socialize with friends in a different enviorment. Photo by Jaidyn Hall
2 | TOC
staff list: Editor-in-Cheif Caleb Franke senior Copy Editor Lydia Landes junior Design Editor Mia Harper junior Designers and Writers Kayleigh Gerdes junior Kayden Taylor junior Jaiden Labrodor sophomore Josie Westgate sophomore Caylee Cooper sophomore
editor’s note: “Becoming an Editor-in-Chief really feels good after being on the newspaper staff for 3 years. Despite editing many pages last year, I wasn’t an official editor so going from just regular staff member to top dog has definitely been stressful. But this staff has been amazing despite being so small and they have great potential.”
The Totem is a student publication produced by students from scratch during the Newspaper class during Third Hour. The thoughts and views expressed in this publication do not necessarily represent the school board, administrators, or teachers—they represent the students. This publication is NOT prior reviewed and is a public forum for student expression created for the primary audience: SHHS student body.
-Caleb Franke
TOC | 3
Designed by Lydia Landes
Food Truck
Frenzy
Mobile venues add variety to traditional back-to-school events
The food truck industry is rising in popularity in the United States. According to the US Chambers of Commerce Foundation, the revenue of the food truck industry has increased by over 300% over the last three years. Forty percent of restaurants in recent years have launched food trucks, according to ChefUnits.com. Lower operating costs, better profit margins, versatility and flexibility are a few of the reasons that food trucks have been preferred over restaurants. The rise in popularity of food trucks has also been seen at football games. The trucks chosen to be at the football games have been supporters of the
Shawnee Heights Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO) for a very long time. “The food trucks have a positive impact on these events. They help to provide a variety of different foods for all to enjoy during football games,” Raquel Barajas, PTO President, said. Naturally with so many food trucks being chosen, fans always choose their favorites. “We have three that are fan favorites with a lot of customer attendance; Poppin Minis, Poppin Squeeze and Kona Ice. A few more trucks are added for bigger attendance events such as the Jamboree and Homecoming,” Barajas said.
Jarin Owens, freshman, and Cooper Vandevelde, freshman, receive their order of lemonades from the Poppin Squeeze food truck at a football game. Photo by Jaidyn Hall
Food trucks are expected to arrive early to set up before the game and leaving after the event. “No one likes to keep fans waiting for food so we try to be open for business by 6 p.m. at the latest,” Barajas said. “The trucks are normally there for the entire game. If sales have stopped, the trucks may close to start their clean-up but will stay until the game is over and the crowd has thinned out so that they can safely exit the facility.” With how popular the food trucks are compared to the concession stand, people usually line up in droves but people do find ways to get around all of the chaos that eventually ensues. “The times that I go it’s pretty easy. I think you just need to know when to go. Don’t go during halftime because that’s when everybody else is trying to go. Getting food 30 minutes before the game starts or the end of the first quarter is usually the best way to get food fast,” Ontarius Emmot, senior, said. Another upside to the food trucks being at the football games is how easily accessible they are to the fans. “The food trucks are really close to the stands, especially the student section, so it’s not like fans will have to walk a million miles away to get some cinnamon donuts from
Seniors Justin Goodman and Brody Cooper, along with freshman Kendall Jeanneret, browse the food truck menu while waiting to place orders at the jamboree. Photo by Cesar Esparza
Poppin Minis,” Logan Van Fleet, senior, said. The trucks add a different kind of gameday experience and with them being so popular in the United States, they bring fans a taste of local flavor while making the atmosphere more exciting.
10-Threats & Safety
The Totem
Designed By: Caleb Franke
4 | Food Truck Frenzy
Written and designed by Caleb Franke
Where their future will lead 2026 CLASS OF
For high school athletes committing to a college is one of the biggest decisions they will make before graduating high school. For many it is more than a social media post, it is a result of hard work, dedication and commitment. According to the National College Athletic Association, approximately 6% of high school athletes go on to play at the collegiate level. For these seniors it is not just about committing to a college. It shows their years of effort and starts the beginning of a new chapter.
After many university visits, Aiden Scott, senior, announced his verbal commitment to play football at Washburn University. “I chose Washburn University, because it’s in town so friends and family are able to come and watch. The facilities are better than all my other offers and the football team made it feel like home,” Scott said. While on the visit Scott expressed how he immediately felt at home, because the team kept giving him attention. “They wouldn’t leave me alone and that made me feel really good,” Scott said. Scott’s advice to anyone who is starting the recruiting process is to take what you get, because you never know what level you will end up at. “No matter where you go, it will be the best place and it just matters that you fit in,” Scott said.
Addison Cooper
Addison Cooper, senior, announced her commitment to Kansas City Kansas Community College (KCKCC) on March 9. “I chose KCKCC, because it’s not too far from home. They have really nice facilities and I really liked the coaches,” Cooper said. After multiple camps and visits to other schools she realized that KCKCC was right for her when she visited them. “When I went on the visit and met all the coaches, I found out the head coach’s coaching history and that she has connections for when I move on after KCKCC,” Cooper said Some advice Cooper would give to someone who is just starting the recruiting process is to not get discouraged. “It’s always going to be hard but make sure you are always staying in touch with the coaches,” Cooper said.
Aiden Scott
Senior Tyren Parker announced his commitment to Kansas University (KU) on Feb. 26. Parker chose KU, because he is really big on relationships with his family and the coaching staff. “I loved how comfortable they were with my family and it made me more comfortable with them,” Parker said. Parker said that the moment he knew KU was right for him was when he went to the game against Iowa State. “I loved how all the team came together during the game,” Parker said. Parker’s advice to someone who is just starting the recruiting process is to never stop grinding. “It takes a lot of time and you will see a bunch of people get offers that aren’t you,” Parker said.
Tyren Parker
Zolie Jones-Mayfield, senior, committed to Kansas Wesleyan University to play volleyball. “I chose Kansas Wesleyan, because it’s small and I really liked the campus,” Jones-Mayfield said. While visiting the campus one thing she said she loved was how pretty the campus was and how nice all the coaches are. Jones-Mayfield's advice for people just starting the recruiting process is to email as many schools as you can. “I would send them your game schedule so that they are able to come and watch you play,” Jones-Mayfield said.
Zolie Jones-Mayfield
Designed by Caylee Cooper College Commitments | 5 College Commitments | 5
Written and designed by Caylee Cooper
ANXIETIES Back to School When the school year approaches, anxiety is inevitable. Whether being let out late. But pressure on students isn’t
but one thing for sure is that coming back to school for a new year is nerve wracking. Juggling homework, sports and relationships can be difficult for teenagers. When faced with seven classes it’s easy to get behind and start turning in homework late more often. Most students try to do all their work at school but sometimes it isn’t enough time to take care of everything within a 51 minute time span. This leads to the need to break into personal time to finish assignments which is especially hard for students with extracurriculars due to practices
they’re a freshman beginning their high school experience or a senior preparing for their final school year students are bound to go through stressful situations. Some students find these years to come easier than others. “A lot of the time, anxiety feels like a mini goblin inside of my brain pressing all of my bad buttons,” Carolina Juarez, freshman, said. Students report feeling anxious about the new school year. Everyone experiences these feelings differently,
solely based on classes either, it’s hard this day in age to fit in with the constant change in trends and what’s considered cool or not. Students claim they have a few close friends who really keep things good for them. So when you have even just one or two close friends it’s easier to feel less like you have to fit in. “Having good friends as a support group is a helpful resource when dealing with things.” Landon Broxterman, senior, said.
Professional Point of View Eric Fitzmorris, social worker, works with students dealing with issues that they want to talk about. “School is a place where you can talk about mental health and maybe avoid some mental health issues that can be exacerbated by being at home, being online and being on social media. It can help you get some language to talk about things and meet other people who are experiencing the same kind of struggles. There’s lots of evidence out there how these social interactions and opportunities like sports can be a positive factor in your life rather than a negative one,” Fitzmorris said. As a social worker, Fitzmorris notices these signs of anxiety in students. “I’ll notice students having trouble getting up in the morning due to that first initial anxiety kick. Avoiding getting out the door and to certain classes and feeling like you can’t get started on homework is a pretty common sign,” Fitzmorris said.
Eric Fitzmorris, social worker
Focusing on finding support and coping mechanisms for anxiety is important. “Staying active and doing the things you like to do even if you’re not feeling it that day is vital. Do it because that’s what makes you you. Do the things that you know will make your day feel better,” Fitzmorris said. Speaking up is one of the most important tools to use when struggling with mental health issues. “Know that it’s normal to be worried to speak up. Just make sure you’re using your natural supports, whether it’s your parents, grandparents or even just your best friend. There’s also a number of staff here including the counseling center and we’ve got a great bunch of teachers too, they’ll listen,” Fitzmorris said.
6 | Mental Health 6 | Mental Health
Written and designed by Mia Harper
Designed by Mia Harper
Is school increasing mental health issues in students? “Yes, because certain teachers overload you with a bunch of homework.”
Have you noticed any patterns with your mental health “I would say it’s worse when it gets colder out, because you can’t be outside as much.”
Does social media play a negative role in students mental health? “Yes, there’s too much
pressure based on what you should or shouldn’t look like or be like.”
Remy Hossain, sophomore
Landon Broxterman, senior
Carolina Juarez, freshman
SScchhoolllaarrlllyy SSllluummpp
Anxiety can lead to something described by students as a “slump”. A slump is a period of decreased motivation, performance and increased stress that students can often experience due to getting overwhelmed with their school workloads. “Being in a school slump is super sucky and that’s even an understatement. It can genuinely be the worst part of school,” Angelina Smith, junior, said. Falling behind in classes is a massive cause in the foundations of a slump coming along. With tons of homework from far different classes, it can be hard to find the time to finish it all. After all, students can’t stay up all night to work on everything. “Sometimes I’ll stay up until 1:00 or 2:00 in the morning just working on my classes. Then I can’t get to sleep and I
feel tired the next day and I’m just super out of it, which gets me even more behind and stressed,” Smith said. When it gets hard to balance all of your classes it can be easy to blame your teachers, but it’s not their fault. Students trying to get scholarships or just trying to exceed expectations are prone to taking hard courses. Whether it’s an advanced placement class, a college course or just a plain old math class, students with seven difficult classes can get behind easier due to the amount of difficult work they chose to do when they signed up for the class. “I don’t think that teachers are the sole reasons for slumps, even the strict ones. It’s normal for every human to forget that everyone has their own lives that we know absolutely nothing about. When I think about it this way it’s easier for me
to realize that teachers are just doing their jobs and trying to push you to do your best,” Smith said. Although it might be scary, teachers are here to help. Just talking to them and trying to get an understanding of how to make a comeback might help immensely with the slump that students are experiencing. “If I ever need help I don’t hesitate to talk to my teachers. They have always been pretty understanding with me and I think they’re a good resource. It’s really helpful when they don’t get upset even if I’m asking questions that could be common sense by now. I also think that the library is an optimal work environment for me. It makes me want to get stuff done and the librarians are all very kind and understanding,” Smith said.
Mental Health | 7 Mental Health | 7
MAKE YOUR MARK TURNING HOBBIES INTO PASSIONS
Clubs are more than just a way to pass T-Bird time or to cure your boredom. It’s a way to explore new interests, make new friends and to have fun. Stepping out of your comfort zone can be scary and trying out something new could be a game-changer. Joining clubs help increase your confidence, leadership, and teamwork skills. It helps students stay involved in school while using their own creativity. School should never just be a place for just academics and good grades, it should be about making friends, and branching out into your own interests
Kinsley Fitzger- ald, senior, and Gavin Griffiths, junior, during Club Fair in the south gym, explain to
Drawing students in, Jose Curvelo Montenegro, senior, holds up a sign to advertise Spirit Club in the South Gym during Club Day. Photo by Nick Prater
Edison Sinkler, freshman, signs up for Model UN as Kinsley Fitzgerald, senior, and Gavin Griffiths, junior, explain Model UN to potential members. Photo by Nick Prater
8 | Clubs Written and designed by Jaiden Labrador
H.A.L.O “H.A.L.O. has given me a space to connect with others and celebrate culture, and I wanted to step up as a leader to keep that going. I also wanted to be someone others could count on to organize, motivate and bring new ideas to the club,” Urbina-Archundia said. H.A.L.O (Hispanic American Leadership Organization) is more than a student group. Its a family rooted in culture, giving back to the community and building leadership skills. Arantza Urbina Archundia, senior, explains about what motivated her to become president.
Senior Arantza Urbina-Archundia, left, and junior Alecxia Cardona explain the significance of H.A.L.O. to students. Photo by Wyatt Lindercrantz
Presidents Alecxia Cardona, 11 and Arantza Urbina-Archundia, 12
Bringing people together through math skills and competeting is a way Math Club connects with eachother by. Math Club offers students to use their math skills to go on competitions and potentially win them too. Math Club is not always just about math though, Ryan Johnson, senior, explains how Math Club has benefited him in different ways. “It allowed me to see options for colleges close by that would fit well for me. It gave me a chance to look around and decide, giving me time to prepare for when I leave highschool,” Johnson said.
Senior Ryan Johnson and Nathan Alvarez explain the rules of the “Math Toss It” game to Chloe Osborn. Photo by Gabe Evans
MATH CLUB
President Ryan Johnson, 12
Like flowers, a new club has bloomed. T-Bird Blooms gives students to do some planting and garden based activities to dig into the world of horticulture. Motivated by a passion of gardening, Aubrey Lillibridge, senior, explains why she took the initiative to start a garden club. “My freshman year, there wasn’t a garden club and I’m really into that and I really enjoyed going to the green house so I thought, why not just start a club.” Lillibridge said. .
Aubrey Lillibridge, senior, and Layla Brost, junior, explain T-Bird Blooms and activities and goals in the South Gym during Club Day to try and get new members Photo by Gabe Evans
T-BIRD BLOOMS
President Aubrey Lillibridge, 12
Natalie Moore, senior, and Tayler Hanshaw, senior, hand out candy to potential new Junior Civitan members in the South Gym during Club Day. Photo by Gabe Evans
Making a change in the world has been everyones goal at one point in time. Junior Civitan lets members help make a difference and use their talents and time to contribute to the community around you. Natalie Moore, senior, explain the impact the club has made on her. “I feel like it’s helped me open my eyes with like helping kids with special needs and doing more for the community,” Moore said.
JUNIOR CIVITAN
Presidents Natalie Moore, 12 and Tayler Hanshaw, 12
Model UN gives a chance for students to think like world leaders and discuss their views. Through debates, research, and teamwork they work together to solve different problems in the world. Model UN even helps with future careers, Kinsley Fitzgerald, senior, explains how Model UN will benefit her “Since about 7th grade, I’ve wanted to become a lawyer and Model UN has really helped me expand my view on the laws of other countries and The United States.” Fitzgerald said.
MODEL UN
Presidents Kinsley Fitzgerald, 12 and Laura Sobba, 12
Empowering women and making a change in the world for feminism, Girl Up advocates through fundraisers focusing on donating to different charities supporting women everywhere. Taylor Carabio, junior, expresses why she wanted to become president. “Womens empowerment means a lot to me and I think if we go the right direction and if we do the right activities we can make a really big impact in our school and community.” Carabio said.
Junior Taylor Carabio explains details of Girl Up and its events, including bake sales during Club Day. Photo by Cesar Esparza
GIRLUP
President Taylor Carabio , 11
Clubs | 9
Fall Sports
Running back David Wakes, senior, attempts to cross midfield on third down after a screen pass, but the play is called back for illegal formation. Photo by Wyatt Lindecrantz
Chase Tofflemire, senior, times his jump to intercept a through ball, halting Cair Paravel’s attack in an 8-0 match that ended at halftime by mercy rule. Photo by Cesar Esparza
Sadie Saucedo, junior, returning a serve with a back hand from Topeka High. Saucedo lost the match 5-8. Photo by Nick Prater
10 | Sports
Designed by Kayleigh Gerdes
Pacing themselves at the Shufelberger Top City Classic 2025, Abigail Lewis, junior, and Kendall Lewis, freshman, find their rythym in the first half of the race. Abigail finished with a time of 23:56 and Kendall finished with a time of 24:10. Photo by Jaidyn Hall
On hole one Ashlyn Mattox, freshman, takes out the flag for Avary Domme, freshman, as she lines up her putt on the green. Mattox and Domme finished seventh in the two man junior varsity team tournament at Forbes Field. Photo by Wyatt Lindecrantz
All eyes are on Emily Bowers, junior, as she steps into her serve againts Manhattan High school. Photo by Noelle Barajas
Sports | 11
Phones Banned or Staying?
Diisttriictts allll around have been crackiing down on phones
“There are few occasions in which cell phones contribute to the educational process. It is easier to make a class video with a phone, record an interview or take a picture. Laptops are nice but phones are more convenient for these purposes,” West said. There’ve been many ways these phone bans are enforced with some school districts outright preventing students from using their phone in class such as putting phones inside of magnetic pouches or lockers that can’t be opened unless it’s the end of the day. These have pros and cons as some students use their phone to listen to music while doing work to focus better. Alongside this, some students use their phones to contact their parents during the school day, for appointments, notifying of early dismissal or in the case of an emergency a parent or guardian might want to know. “In my experience, no matter how responsible students say they’ll be, phones tend to be used as a distraction instead of for learning. Even at lunch, they are often used to take pictures, make videos or cause conflicts. Because of that, Shawnee Heights Middle School (SHMS) had a strong no personal device policy long before it became common in other schools,” Tim Urich, Middle School Principal, said. Weighing the pros and cons of a phone ban, it comes together to show that a phone ban would be a lot more beneficial and effective on the student body. This is because it would make it easier to study, pay attention and focus on the teacher rather than using that time to learn on a device.
School districts have been cracking down on personal device usage in the classroom across the United States. “With districts around us banning phones, I think they’re talking about it and seeing how it’s working for other schools,” Jaime Moses, counselor, said. Topeka High School and Seaman High School have implemented phone bans in classrooms with a no tolerance policy. This policy states that phones are to be kept off and out of sight during class with consequences such as confiscation or detention. This is done to improve grades and focus. “We [admin] currently ask teachers to prohibit cell phone usage in the classroom other than when being used for educational purposes. Cell phones should be off the desk and out of sight, preferably in a closed backpack,” Ed West, principal, said. Currently, there is no indication that the USD 450 Board of Education is looking at putting a phone ban policy in place. The device usage in classrooms vary from teacher to teacher with each having different expectations. An example of a teacher’s policy on phones is when they are okay with device usage as long as the student is finished with classwork and the teacher isn’t in a lecture. There are times in the classroom where phones are allowed, such as for certain assignments where a site is blocked on the MacBook. Additionally, some teachers allow students to use their phones during certain class activities such as Blooket or Kahoot.
Browsing through TikTok, Adam Odom, senior, sits on his phone before his 7th hour class starts. Photo by Kayden Taylor
During passing period, Michael Brooks, business teacher, checks his email on his phone before the bell rings. Photo by Kayden Taylor
12 | Phone Ban
Written and designed by Kayden Taylor
VAPING TEEN
Vapes are full of chemicals, bad for the lungs, and detrimental to mental health and they’re spreading across the country.
Vapes have become increasingly accessible to teens all across America. Students have been caught with electronic cigarettes and vaping reports indicate an increased concern in the school with a 23% increase of vaping reports on the StopIt app. The bigger concern may not be the usage, but the damage the devices can cause to teens such as mental development, anxiety, depression and damage to your ability to participate in athletics. There are no pros to vaping, making it just an addictive gamble on your well-being. A teens brain doesn’t fully develop until they’re around 25 years old. At this critical time of development in a teens life, it’s important to take care of themselves. However, with vaping on the rise in teenagers, millions of teens’ brains aren’t getting the development they need. According to the National Library of Medicine, e-cigarettes have shown to lead to hyperactivity and impulsiveness. Vaping makes it more difficult for you to focus and learn, making teenager’s grades drop which limits future opportunities. Nicotine is highly addictive and being dependent on it can worsen a person’s mental health. According to a report by the CDC Foundation, being dependent on nicotine makes symptoms of anxiety and depression even worse. When someone uses vaping as a coping mechanism, the problem is only made worse. According to the American Heart Association, anxiety symptoms were made worse up to 60% by vaping and depression-like symptoms by nearly 50%. The likelihood of developing a neurological disorder while using e-cigarettes during a teens
developmental years significantly increases and makes it difficult to participate in activities in and outside of of school. Vaping doesn’t only take a toll mentally, it also damages your lungs in ways other nicotine products don’t. According to John Hopkins Medicine, vapes contain around 7,000 chemicals and the majority of them are harmful to the human body. Formaldehyde is one of the main chemicals found in e-cigarettes. It makes you extremely susceptible to lung cancer. Shortness of breath is also another concern that impacts a person’s ability to participate in sports or even walk long distances. Although scientists can’t confirm any long-term side-effects because of how new electronic cigarettes are, they do have theories and can draw conclusions based on what they know from other nicotine products based on advertisted as a healthier alternative to smoking cigarettes, but instead they’re just as bad. The National Library of Medicine says that vaping isn’t any better than smoking, containing all the same negative side effects and dangerous chemicals. The school is making an effort to stop teens from damaging their mind and body with electronic cigarettes. According to Sherri Monhollon, associate principal, the negative impacts of vaping is taught in the required Teen Topics class, offers the chemicals inside vapes. In the beginning vaping was addiction services so students can get help, and works in partnership with SNCO Sheriff and KSDHE. Students are encouraged to help their classmates by remembering this: if you see something, say something.
36.8% - Teens Reported Having Misused Drugs In The Past Month drugabusestatistics.org
Vaping isn’t the only drug abused by teenagers. By the time teenagers are in 12th grade 36.8% of them have misused some kind of drug at least once according to a study done by drugabusestatistics.org. It’s not just vaping that assaults our country. Marijuana and other nicotine products are infiltrating the youth’s lungs and damaging their body and mind. There are multiple places to get help like Adolescent Treatment Programs for Teens in Topeka, KS or The Recovery Village in Kansas City. Other Drug Abuse In Teens
Written and designed by Lydia Landes Vaping | 13
Written and designed by Lydia Landes
Study Skills
Small changes can unlock big academic results
With a new school year students have an opportunity to start fresh and be a better student. Study habits play a huge role in how successful a student will be in reaching this goal. Rereading notes, redoing notes, flashcards, study guides, color coding and drawing pictures are several ways to study. “I prefer to use summaries that I have taken or given in my notes so I can go over main points in the subject,” Kynlee Wickham, senior, said. Applications and websites are out there to be used to help students study like Quizlet, WolframAlpha and XMind. Studying in various ways can expand the mind and enhance information retention for upcoming tests. A study method that proves effective for one class may not be suitable for another. This is why it’s beneficial to explore multiple study techniques. “Color coding works
best for me because the important facts are in a specific color and it’s easy for me to read and I can use different colored pens and highlighters to help me differentiate. I also find that creating flashcards helps me retain information better,” Leah Peltier, junior, said Other students have also found that looking at notes and summaries has been really helpful. Some students don’t study far ahead. “I don’t like to study super far in advance; I use cram studying. It works best for me,” Cheyenne Evans, senior, said. Staying focused is very important when it comes to studying and being productive. “Limit as much noise, maybe try and work in a quieter area, and then give yourself a reward for doing stuff, not food and drink but getting a sweet treat or a certain amount of phone time or game time,” Peltier junior said.
Good note-taking is crucial for success in high school and college, as it helps focus, understand main concepts and improve active listening and understanding. Good and clean notes save time, energy and confusion. To take good notes in class, prepare by going over assignments and keeping notes organized. During class focus on main points, look for information, record the stuff that’s confusing and take visually clear and structured notes. Use smaller words, symbols, bullets and phrases for consistency. This will help the mind stay engaged and retain information. Color-coding is a mental tool that helps in boosting attention and organization. It helps in finding key information, improving memory, organizing notes carefully and increasing interest. To successfully color-code notes, choose a common color scheme, use useful tools like colored pens, highlighters and markers, create a color- coding key, highlight important content, underline or box key concepts, use different colors for different sections, organize information and use symbols and diagrams. This approach can make studying more enjoyable and efficient, especially in subjects you don’t normally enjoy.
Flashcards are an effective learning strategy for students helping activate memory and understanding. They create mental paths making it easier to remember information in the future. Students who created and used flashcards scored higher on exams. The method involves writing terms, defining them in their own words and generating an example to improve grammar. The experience of creating flashcards is helpful as it allows students to move away from interruptions and engage with course content.
The Totem
14 | Study Skills Written and designed by Kayleigh Gerdes
Do you have a least favorite trend? “Probably when dudes wear really long jorts down to their knees. I think it’s pretty ugly.”
What’s a trend you noticed around school recently? “I’ve noticed a lot of boys are buzzing their hair off. It’s not really a good choice. Oh, here comes one now.”
Karli Mulligan, junior
Markis Owens, freshman
Back to School Trends With school back in season follows a larger variety of clothing, lingo and hairstyles in one place then anyone could ever imagine. Everybody is unique and different in their own way. From Jansport backpacks to trying to use AI on every assignment, it’s difficult to decide which wins the popularity contest in current trends. “If you’re making your entire personality those trends, that’s not good, but just owning popular things you like isn’t bad,” Gracelyn New, freshman, said. People stray away from popular items in an exagerrated attempt to be unique. However, as long as students don’t only partake in trends to fit in, having similar clothing and items to other students can build a sense of community. If students just buy what suits their fancy, everyone would live a little more positively.
Nostalgic Backpacks Backpacks of all shapes and sizes flood the hallways, but what really stands out are the bright, colorful, and fun children’s backpacks. Many seniors have one, usually with a cartoon or character from their childhood plastered all over it. “It’s your last year and it’s kind of cute to have something that reminds you of your childhood while you’re still in the school system,” Mia Fluke, senior, said. Being at the end of their high school career comes with a lot of ‘lasts’. Last first day, last school dance and last finals week just to name a few. “It feels really rewarding and fun because you put in all the work over the years to get here. It’s just very fulfilling to have these final days of firsts and to celebrate the progress we made,” Jordan Ward, senior, said.
Seniors Emma Rambo, Kinsley Fitzgerald and Jordan Ward show their bright cartoon backpacks for back-to-school. Photo by Lydia Landes Araya Harness, junior, Taylor Carabio, junior and Gracelyn New, freshman, hold up their Owala waterbottles that they bring to school daily. Photo by Lydia Landes
Miles Hadley, freshman
Mia Fluke, senior
What’s a trend you’ve noticed online recently? “I’d say Lululemon. I’m not a big fan of it either. Or maybe shoes, like Jordans.”
Are there any trends that have carried over from last year?
“Water bottles like Owalas and Stanleys are definitely still circling around.”
Written and designed by Lydia Landes Back-to-school trends | 15
Summer Hits
How To
Train Your
Dragon
Emerie Byrd, sophomore Caught By Cupid Which character or relationship are you most invested in, The Summer I Turned Pretty Kyla Fitzgerald, sophomore How to Train Your Dragon (live action) unfolds on the wild and windswept isle of Berk, a rugged Viking stronghold perched against jagged cliffs and roaring seas. For generations, fierce Viking warriors have clashed relentlessly with the island’s mysterious and majestic dragons, creatures both feared and respected. In this turbulent world lives Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III (Mason Thames), a clever and inventive teenager who feels painfully out of place among his tribe’s fierce, battle set hunters. When Hiccup discovers and secretly befriends a rare and mysterious Night Fury dragon named Toothless, wounded and vulnerable, an unbreakable bond begins to form between boy and beast. As their friendship grows deeper, Hiccup bravely defies the brutal dragon hunting traditions of his people, sparking hope for a future where dragons and Vikings might coexist. Their fragile peace is threatened by an ancient and terrifying force awakening beyond the horizon, one that endangers both dragon and Viking alike. With the unwavering support of fierce allies like the determined warrior Astrid and the grizzled mentor Gobber, Hiccup’s empathy, originality and courage ignite the dawn of a new era, one built on understanding, trust and unity between two worlds once locked in conflict.
Belly & Conrad
Belly & Conrad
16 | Film Reviews
Written and designed by Josie Westgate
Happy Features Gilmore 2
Happy Gilmore 2 picks up nearly three decades after the iconic golfer’s first improbable rise to fame. Now, Happy Gilmore (Adam Sandler) is a shadow of his former self, a widowed, struggling ex-golfer drowning in grief and addiction. Early in the film, tragedy strikes when his beloved
wife Virginia is accidentally hit by one of Happy’s famously powerful drives. A heartbreaking moment that shatters his world and leaves him emotionally and financially devastated. Plunged into despair, Happy drifts through life, aimless and broken, until a beacon of hope emerges in the form of his spirited daughter Vienna portrayed by Sandler’s real life child. Vienna is accepted into a prestigious and fiercely competitive ballet school with tuition fees far beyond their means, Happy’s love for his daughter ignites a fierce determination. Haunted by guilt and driven by a fierce paternal instinct, Happy dusts off his golf clubs and plunges back into the chaotic world of competitive golf. This time entering a flashy high stakes over the top league filled with talented young rivals, nostalgic old foes and surprise celebrity cameos. With every swing, the film serves up a potent mix of slap your knee humor, heartfelt callbacks to the original and moments of genuine emotion, weaving together a touching story of redemption. Through wild misadventures on the green and the rough, Happy fights not just to save his daughter’s dreams but to reclaim his own shattered life and legacy.
Mari-Ana O’Neal, sophomore
Kassidy Kats, sophomore
Einin McCullum, sophomore
Steven & Taylor
Belly & Jeremiah
Belly & Conrad
Film Reviews | 17
C R O S S W O R D
7
2
11
STAFF
10
13
4
8
3
12
5
9
1
14
6
ACROSS English teacher 1.
DOWN
Band teacher Orchestra teacher Married teachers Drama teacher
12. 11. 13. 14.
Math teacher Principal
7.
2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
AP world history teacher Ceramics teacher L-Ri counselor Newspaper adviser Fun tie wearing biology teacher
8. 9. 10.
German teacher Physics teacher
10-Threats & Safety
The Totem
Designed By: Caleb Franke
18 | Crossword Designed by Lydia Landes and Mia Harper
Meet The Staff
Caleb Franke, editor-in-chief
Lydia Landes, managing editor
Mia Harper, design editor
“Everything small is just a small version of something big! I understand everything!!”
“Can I offer you a nice egg in these trying times?”
“I’m doubling down, the Bills will win the Super Bowl this year.”
Josie Westgate, staff
Kayleigh Gerdes, staff
Kayden Taylor, staff
“Another year of writing and designing”
“Trust your gut.”
“If it comes; let it. If it goes; let it.”
Jaiden Labrador, staff
Jackie Van Petten, adviser
Caylee Cooper, staff
“God is within her, she will not fail.”
“I love Dr Pepper.”
“Good intentions aren’t enough.”
Designed by Caleb Franke Meet the Staff | 19
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online