The Shield Saint Thomas Aquinas High School | October 2016
What’s inside:
TEENAGE HABITS
With the coming of the new teenage generation, trends such as little sleep, secondary Instagram accounts, and reversed classrooms have become popular.
Follow The Shield @stashield
Photo by Ellie Thompson | The Medallion Senior soccer captain Sam Sketers waits to throw the ball. The boys beat Rockhurst 3-1 on Oct 11.
The Shield Saint Thomas Aquinas High School
Editor-In-Chief Ezri Killeen Managing Editors Becca Haeusser Kat Schartz Social Media Editor Mia Power Copy Editor Maria Scanlan Design Editor Chloe Maher Adviser Matt Hallauer
Reporters Seth Walker Jake Burkhart Annie Patton Grace Platt Delaney Smith Grace Mayer Briley McGreevy Freelance Reporters Alyssa Crites Annie Toussaint Emily Raunig Rachel Raney Andrew Schoonover
Mission Statement The Shield is a newspaper sponsored by Saint Thomas Aquinas High School and produced by its students to provide information, entertainment, and open forum, as well as a learning experience for its staff members. The goal of The Shield’s staff is to meet professional journalism standards. Staff members are responsible for the content of the newspaper and strive to report news accurately, objectively, and completely. The Shield is an open forum for student expression and aims to communicate the concerns of the student body as well as the faculty, staff, and Aquinas community.
Advertising The Shield sells advertisements to help with publication costs. All ads will be subject to the same scrutiny as stories. The Shield will not print any obscenities or any ads promoting products illegal to those under the age of 18. For advertising, please call (913) 319-2460, send an email to mhallauer@ stasaints.net, or visit www.stasaints.net/shield Subscriptions Subscriptions to The Shield are $3 per issue. Subscriptions can be sent to Saint Thomas Aquinas High School c/o Matt Hallauer. Digital subscriptions are free and sent via email monthly. Orders can be sent to newspaper@stasaints.net Letters Policy Letters may be accepted by The Shield, provided that they are signed and do not contain libelous statements. The Shield reserves the right to edit the letters for grammar, obscenity, or space consideration, and also reserves the right to not print a letter. Saint Thomas Aquinas High School 11411 Pflumm Road Overland Park, KS 66215 913-319-2460
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Jam-Packed Month
October marks the kickoff of one the busiest seasons for the Saints.
a letter from the editor
Happy October, Saints! It’s hard to believe we are already three months into school, isn’t it? I feel like I was just writing a letter for the August issue of The Shield. October at Aquinas is one of my absolute favorite months. We barely have school on Mondays, all of the fall sports are gathering speed as they look toward their future state titles, things are finally starting to come together onstage for the fall musical, and the canning has begun. That being said, it makes it one of the busiest months, only to be topped by November. But busy is good, I always say. Before I dive into the contents of this issue, I’d first like to thank the Saints community for their gracious acceptance of our last issue. Whenever we publish controversial stories, I remind the staff of the backlash we might get. But our last disputable story, “Students and Substances,” did nothing but spark intelligent conversations. And for that, I thank you, Saints. That is all we aim for here at The Shield. We write about these topics to hopefully inspire conversations that need to be had. In this issue, we start by tackling an editorial about what dates students can bring to dances. This Homecoming dance seemed to stir up some of the old and out of date rules, and our staff was determined to get to the bottom of it. Read the story on page 4 to get
our stance on the issue. Next up, The Shield explored student’s sleeping habits. After last month’s article, “Now We’re Stressed Out,” we were curious about how much sleep the average student gets. And, how much sleep do coaches want the student athletes to get? We asked some students and coaches for their opinions on the subject. Turn to the Back Pages, and you’ll find several fun stories. “My Dad’s the Principal” is a report on junior Alex Moss and her dad, Academic Principal Craig Moss. Read about their unique relationship inside and outside of school. Make sure to look out for our Special November Issue, coming out next month. That issue will not only have our regular reports, but a look at every sport and activity that wraps up in November. It’s sure to be one of the best months for the Saints yet. Until then, Saints. Have a good month!
Ezri Killeen Editor-in-Chief, The Shield
TABLE OF CONTENTS The Reports
The Spreads
page 4// THE STUDENTS’ VOICE: Revisiting Dance Policies This homecoming
page 14// Leafing Summer Behind Fall in Kansas City brings
prompted discussion within the Aquinas Administration about date policies. page 8// FEATURE STORY:
Lights Out for Aquinas Students Students open up
about how much sleep they receive although it may be much less than they are supposed to.
exciting activities and trends.
page 16// AquinasView/ WorldView Articles on news
happening inside Aquinas as well as the world around it.
page 18// After School Hobbies Take a look at the unique hobbies that occupy some of the Aquinas teachers. page 20// Social Spread This month’s best social media posts from the Saints.
page 10// Fake Insta, Real Life Some students supplement their social media presence with a secondary, uncensored Instagram account. page 12// The Flip Some teachers have reinvented traditional classrooms.
The Back Pages page 24// Twins, Triplets, and Cousins... OH MY! Aquinas
may feel like one big family, but for some students, fellow Saints are family. page 26// Saints are Bad at Driving A look at some of the driving-related incidents that have happened to the Saints. page 28// My Dad’s the Principal Junior Alex Moss and her dad, Academic Principal Craig Moss, have a unique relationship. page 29// Spirited Vending Machines Some schools have started the trend of “spirit wear vending machines.” page 30// WHAT’S NEXT?
Featuring the canned food drive The Catholic Charities
Canned Food Drive is one of the most anticipated activities of the year.
COUNTDOWNS CANNED FOOD DRIVE: 10 days CHRISTMAS BREAK: 60 days PROM: 172 days GRADUATION: 202 days
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The Students’ Voice
Revisiting Dance Policies
This year’s homecoming dance prompted a discussion about who can take whom to dances and who can go without a date. BY MIA POWER Recently there has been some upheaval about the rules regarding who students can buy tickets with for school dances. Everyone knows that girls who do not get asked to homecoming, or would simply prefer to go with a group of friends, have no trouble buying a single ticket or even buying a couples ticket with a pal. “There have been carloads or limos full of young women who bought themselves a dress and went out to eat and got their reservations … I say good for them,” President Bill Ford said. But for guys, it’s a different case. In anticipation for the homecoming dance, senior Ariath Ariath joined many other students to buy a ticket after school. Unlike everyone else, he was turned down. “I was told by one of the teachers selling tickets that I couldn’t buy a singles ticket,” Ariath said. “I don’t know their reasoning; all they said was to get a date.” Unable to buy a ticket for himself, Ariath ended up not going to homecoming at all. Student Services Principal Mike Sullivan said the rules stem from tradition.
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“Traditional Catholic values say that the guy asks the girl to a dance. That’s how you go on a date,” Sullivan said, “That’s why these are dances. They’re not mixers.” According to Sullivan, the distinction between a “date dance” and a mixer is that students attend with a date rather than just friends. For most students, however, the significance of a dance is the excitement of dressing
“Once you’re there, I couldn’t tell you who’s dancing with whom.” Bill Ford President up, going out to dinner, and the overall formality, not that it’s a date. Dances are an important part of the high school experience for many students. “If we have an event, you’ve got to be able to go,” Ford said. But the current policies are not completely inclusive.
“This year is the first year I’ve ever even been asked by a boy that wanted to go by himself. Why fix it if it’s not broken?” Sullivan said about possibly changing the rule. “But now maybe it is [broken] and we need we need to look at redoing it.” The policy regarding students attending dances with students of the same gender has also caused some contention. All students bringing a date from outside schools must complete a form and have it approved. But if the date were to be someone of the same gender, the answer would be an automatic no. “We would never allow a guy to bring a guy from another school,” Sullivan said. “We wouldn’t allow a girl to bring a girl from another school.” Of course, there are loopholes. For example, a guy planning on taking a guy from another school can ask one of his female friends to bring him so that technically no rules are being broken. In a recent Shield survey, 89.5% of students said that they disagree with the statement, “A student can only attend a dance with a date of the opposite gender. They cannot attend alone or with a friend of the same gender.”
The Students’ Voice is a series of editorials that will be in every issue of The Shield. The staff will write on one topic per issue.
Photo courtesy of Michele Gress.
Students dance in a big group in the commons at homecoming on Oct. 1. At the end of the day, a school dance is an opportunity for students to have a good time, and no one should be denied that experience because they can’t find a date or because they can’t go with whom they want. “I think that everyone should be
able to go and have fun with their friends and just dance,” Ariath said. If the policies were changed to allow boys to buy single tickets and everyone to go with who they wanted, regardless of gender, then dances would be much more inclusive and better for everyone.
“Once you’re there, I couldn’t tell you who’s dancing with whom. It’s just one big old circle of love,” Ford said. Senior Mia Power, @miacbpower on Twitter, is the Social Media Editor for The Shield. This Story was edited by Copy Editor Maria Scanlan.
Do you agree with the following policy: “A student can only attend a dance with a date of the opposite gender. They cannot attend alone or with a friend of the same gender.” Why? No Yes 230 27
“They’re called ‘date dances’ for “It’s more traditional for you to go a reason, you’re supposed to go with someone else.” with another person of the opposite gender.”
Why not? “Some people just want to go to the dance without the stress of asking or being asked.” Nearly 90% of Saints disagree with the policy. Twenty of the yes votes came from freshman and sophomore boys, of whom 55% support the policy. Conversely, 97% of girls and upperclass boys are against the policy.
“What are the LGBT people at STA going to do if they are in a relationship?” “If girls can go alone, guys should be able to as well.”
Quotes and statistics were taken from a Shield survey sent to all students via e-mail on Oct. 7.
“I say if you want to go the you should be able to go. Some people don’t get asked so you should be allowed to enjoy the dance with your friends.” “It’s 2016.” “People should be able to go to a dance with whoever they want, no matter what gender.”
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Lights Out for Aquinas Students Read about how Saints’ sleep, or lack thereof, affects them on the field and in the classroom. BY BECCA HAEUSSER & SETH WALKER Students and professional athletes alike are realizing the by lack of sleep. Academics can suffer as well. effects that sleep, or lack thereof, can have on performance. “I think lack of sleep absolutely affects your academic An article on sleep studies in the NFL that was recently ability,” said social studies teacher John Rost. “I believe when published in the Monday Morning Quarterback stated that, you don’t have enough sleep, concentration levels go down, “a good night’s sleep is directly tied to key factors such your health goes down, a number of things happen. Eventually as reaction time, mental alertness, muscular recovery and you’ll see it in their test scores.” converting what you’ve actually learned into memory.” “Many of today’s student athletes are quite simply overStanford sleep disorders clinic did extended,” Wrigley said. “They’re engaged in a study on eleven college basketball far too many activities so they are burning the “I believe when you players “to investigate the effects of sleep candle at both ends.” extension over multiple weeks on specific don’t have enough sleep, Senior Grace Mitchell said, “I use an measures of athletic performance as well app called Sleep Cycle that is a smart alarm concentration levels go that wakes me up during my lightest sleep as reaction time, mood, and daytime down, your health goes phase, so I don’t usually feel too groggy in the sleepiness.” The athletes maintain their regular down, a number of things morning.” sleep schedules for two weeks and then Human sleep follows a ninety minute happen.” slept for at least ten hours a week for five cycle. During this time, hormones are released weeks. The players were timed at practice and information-processing takes place to and recorded for accuracy for the duration restore the body and mind. The longer we John Rost of the study. They concluded that there sleep, the more cycles we complete, leading to Social studies teacher were “improvements in specific measures more restoration. of basketball performance after sleep There are ways to help ensure that when extension” that “indicate that optimal sleep is likely beneficial you actually do sleep, you are getting the most out of your in reaching peak athletic performance.” sleep. Nap for either 30 minutes, arising before you slip into Head cross country and track coach Justin Wrigley deep sleep, or 90 minutes, after completing a sleep cycle. said,“There is no question that all students should get eight Never sleep for 60 minutes because waking up in the middle of or more hours of sleep each night. The research has been deep sleep can make you feel sluggish. done time and time again and it shows how both athletic and “The issue is not up for debate,” Wrigley said. “It has been academic performances suffer when you don’t get enough researched so many times that I find it truly baffling that people sleep.” won’t change their ways. It’s so absurd to me that a student or “When I am in soccer season I absolutely need my sleep,” an athlete can achieve greater overall performances by simply Senior Caroline Romme said. “How I play depends on my doing something everyone loves to do, sleep, but they won’t do amount of sleep.” it. Senior Becca Haeusser is a Managing Editor for More than just athletic performance, however, is affected The Shield. This Story was designed by senior Seth Walker, @SethWalker3 on Twitter.
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Sleep Charts courtesy of senior Ellie Thompson Ellie Thompson’s sleep charts show the average amount of hours she sleeps in a week, it also shows the amount of time she sleeps on each individual night. The sleeping charts were recorded as part of a project for social studies teacher John Rost’s psychology class.
Sleep Charts courtesy of senior Chyna Schiltz-Ragsdale Senior Chyna Schiltz-Ragsdale’s sleeping charts show an erratic sleeping schedule that averages around six hours a week.
Sleep Chart courtesy of senior Lindsay Schaller. This chart provided by senior Lindsay Schaller depicts her sleeping schedule.
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Fake Insta, Real Life BY CHLOE MAHER
In the past few years teenagers have created a new trend of private, uncensored Instagrams.
On Instagram, we all know the unwritten rules about posting a picture. Every once in awhile we take a nice photo, choose a filter that’s not too flashy, and put a punny caption. But recently, teenagers have found a way to dodge these unspoken “rules” and post more authentic posts: the Finsta. If you’re unfamiliar, “Finsta” comes from the phrase “fake instagram”. This might be misleading, as Finstas are typically used to showcase the more sincere side of the user. Finstas are usually private and only for close friends. Which is different from regular Instagrams where nowadays it is not unusual for high schoolers to have thousands of followers. “I have a Finsta to post inside things with my friends that I typically don’t want other people to be able to see” said junior Jimmy Dorlac. With Instagram becoming increasing popular, most people have family members, work colleagues or other people who follow their regular Instagram and need to maintain a certain image for.
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The whole point of a Finsta is to post things without judgment and to an exclusive group of friends. “It is like an anti social media because it’s only a select few close friends you share with, which makes it a lot more fun. People don’t have to try as hard to be fake, they just post what they like.” said junior Jimmy Dorlac. For freshman Marika Davis, having a Finsta has been a way for her and her friends to stay connected and post funny
“It’s like an antisocial media.” Jimmy Dorlac Junior
things. “What made me want to get one in the first place is when I saw all of my friends sharing pictures or videos of them falling or looking silly, and I wanted to share some of
*of 281 surveyed
Has only a regular account Has a Finsta Neither
my silly moments, so I created one,” she said. Embarrassing photos, videos and little stories about day to day life are what are most common for Finstas according to Marika. “You can share things without care and I find it helps me gain confidence in myself because people see how I am not perfect and they still care about me.” Finsta is an outlet where users don’t have to worry about judgment or the image many try to create for ourselves on regular social media. It’s a great way to stay connected with your closest friends and post things that actually matter to you. This all may sound great, but just like with every social media, even Finsta can take a bad turn. Another popular trend on Finsta is posting illegal or bad things. The seemingly private platform makes teenagers feel safe to post things that they would not elsewhere. “People post things about the bad stuff they are doing, like drinking or smoking or going to parties” says junior Jimmy Dorlac.
Illegal substances, scandalous selfies, and unkind words about peers are all things that can be found on a Finsta, because users feel it is more secure than other social media platforms. But, that is not the case. Finstas are just as secure as any other private social media account. Anybody who follows you has the ability to screenshot your posts. If someone such as a police officer or school official wanted to see what was on an Instagram, there are software programs and ways for them to do so as well if they really needed to. Finstas are a fun way to interact with friends are not have to worry so much about what you’re posting. Just like any social media though, it should always be assumed that anyone can see it. Even though some teenagers may be taking a risk and posting questionable content, Finsta is overall a nice break from regular social media. Ironically enough, these fake Instagrams are giving teens a chance to be real. Junior Chloe Maher is a Design Editor for The Shield. This story was edited by Editor-in-Chief Ezri Killeen.
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The Flip
Teachers encouraging students to do their homework in class may be the dream of student’s, but flipped classrooms make it a reality. Math classes at Saint Thomas Aquinas are looking different because of math teacher Jim Halling’s teaching style. Students in courses from Honors Algebra 2 to Honors College Calculus are now doing their school work at home and their homework in school. A survey of Aquinas students, to which 283 responded, showed that 38 percent of Saints have been in this new style of classroom. Halling introduced this new style of classroom to Aquinas to switch things up. “I’ve been teaching for over 25 years and I wanted to try something new,” he said. “I’m not an entertainer, I never liked that part of the classroom. I always preferred going around and helping students individually. I’m not very adventurous and I tend to get stuck in my ways because I don’t like change. However, this structure is better for students because when they make mistakes they can get immediate feedback.” Senior Claire Burns is in Mr. Halling’s flipped Honors College Calculus Classroom, and this year has been her first time in a classroom structured this way. Burns said “I was excited because 20 minutes of math homework a night seemed too good to be true, which then I realized it just might be. I became concerned that I would not be able to understand the material and I’d fall behind in class. I had a genuine interest in the dynamics of the flipped classroom, and if they would be beneficial for me or would make this year much harder than I had hoped it to be.” However what she worried about hasn’t come to fruition. “I am happy to say I thoroughly enjoy the flipped classroom. I watch a video at home, take notes, and start the homework if I think I don’t understand it. Then the next day I do my homework in class with all kinds of resources at my disposal. I have Mr. Halling, who helps explain anything I don’t understand. I have all my classmates, who help me when I become confused or lost. I have time where I can just sit down and focus on math and not be worried about other homework or getting to bed on time. Then if I still don’t finish my homework in class I simply take it home and finish the five to ten questions I have left with a better understanding of how to do them. All in all, the flipped classroom has been very beneficial for me and I couldn’t imagine taking Calculus
BY KAT SCHARTZ
without it.” Burns isn’t the only one who enjoys this structure of classroom. Senior Bailey Bush is completely behind flipped classrooms, along with the 14 percent of survey respondents who said that they prefer the flipped classrooms. Bush said, “I love flipped classes. Every teacher, especially math teachers, should model Mr. Halling.” Sophomore Reid Howard finds the classroom structure useful because of the rigor of curriculum. “The flipped classroom idea is good, but I have it for Honors Algebra 2. The content is very hard, but I like being able to work with my classmates.” Teachers do have their reasons for not implementing this style of classroom. Math teacher Lisa Andrews has not flipped her classrooms “I have recorded lessons occasionally and had people watch them for homework, and then the next day in class we would cover that material,” she said. “I’ve never done it three times in a row, I may have done it once every week or two for a class but I’ve never used it as a consistent schedule. I am very comfortable with the regular presentation in class with the group; I like to make sure students understand before I keep going. I like to feed off how the students are doing as I teach.” Not everyone has a glowing opinion on this style of classroom. The survey indicated that 17 percent of Saints would prefer to be in a traditional classroom, and 30 percent would either prefer traditional or flipped depending on the teacher. However, 39 percent of survey respondents didn’t have take a position because they didn’t know what a flipped classroom is. Flipped classrooms have proved themselves to be successful. A perfect example of this is Clintondale High school near Detroit, Michigan. The style of classroom was applied to more than just math classes, and the structure worked by teachers creating three five to seven minute videos every week. Students would then watch these videos at home or at the beginning of class if they didn’t have access to the internet at home, and when it came to class, students participated in labs or interactive activities to further their understanding of concepts.
Before Clintondale flipped its classrooms, over 50 percent of freshmen failed English, 44 percent of freshmen failed math, and there were 736 disciplinary cases handled by the school’s administration in one semester. After the flip, 19 percent of freshmen failed English, 13 percent of freshmen failed math, and there were 249 disciplinary cases in a semester. The success of Clintondale can be attributed to the same reason flipped classrooms are advocated for. The instant feedback and correction of students helps with understanding of the curriculum. Students don’t get as frustrated when they can ask teachers or classmates for help instead of giving up. Teachers can help students either individually or as a group if there is a lack of understanding among many students. Also, teachers can help students in class who don’t have the internet or parents to help them at home. The approach of flipping classrooms has extended past K-12 education into the collegiate realm. The University of Vermont’s College of Medicine is getting rid of all its lecture classes in favor of this style of teaching. The Duke - National University of Singapore Medical School is moving to a flipped curriculum, and The University of North Carolina at Greensboro has flipped classrooms for gen-ed courses and courses with either a large amount of students dropping or with a large amount of students earning a D, F, or incomplete. In a study by the Research and Analytics team at Colorado State University Online, findings pointed to flipped classrooms not only creating learning environments that encouraged critical thinking and challenged students, but this structure also improved student attendance and class participation. The study also found that students in these flipped classes had more developed writing skills, improved exam performance, and viewed the flipped classroom positively.
Senior Kat Schartz is a Managing Editor for The Shield. This Story was edited by Copy Editor Maria Scanlan and designed by Design Editor Chloe Maher.
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The Spreads
Serve ‘Em Up
Photo by Alayna Law | The Medallion Junior Taylor Smart gets ready to smash the ball in her serve. Smart plays singles for the girls tennis team.
AquinasView A series of articles ranging from Homecoming Dreams
This month, ten Aquinas seniors’ dreams came true. Per tradition, five gentlemen and five ladies were nominated by the senior class to be part of Homecoming Court. This year’s court was comprised of seniors Jaden Castinado, Oscar Garcia, Steven Rhode, Nathan Mark, Dugan Holt, Caroline Romme, Elizabeth McCormick, Winnie Ryan, Julia McElroy, and Maggie Sieben. They participated in a fun photo shoot with Aquinas favorite Michele Gress, were recognized at the Homecoming assembly, tailgate, game, and dance, and were invited to sit on the field during the football game. “My favorite part was walking down on the football field Friday night with my parents. I had never seen the crowd from that angle before, and it was amazing,” McElroy said. Other favorite moments from the court included the photo shoot with Gress. “Nothing was ever serious. We just got to do silly poses and take lots and lots of pictures in different places,” McCormick said. At the end of the week, McCormick and Rhode were named queen and king, respectively. “It was the best feeling in the entire world; I don’t even know what to compare it to. I will never forget it... I was just so lucky to be honored,” McCormick said. Homecoming becomes an iconic week for many seniors. Many can remember the previous courts all the way back to their freshman years. “I have vivid memories of watching the court walk in previous years, and it was thrilling to be a part of it,” Castinado said.
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news around Aquinas to news around the world.
Save the Ginkgo “Save the Ginkgo, Shave the Stache,” has become the campaign slogan to save the Ginkgo tree.
“The Stache,” of course, refers to social studies teacher Mark Blaise’s mustache. “The Ginkgo” refers to his favorite tree. The Ginkgo resides just outside SMC, near the pathway from senior hall. Because of the Aquinas 2020 plans, a hallway is set to be built in that area, potentially bringing an end to the tree’s life. The hallway would be set too close to the Ginkgo for it to be able to stay. When this was realized, Blaise immediately started his “Save the Ginkgo” campaign. He hung up signs and posted a petition outside his classroom door that acquired signatures almost immediately. His classes started drawing up t-shirt designs to raise money to save the tree. The fundraising has two objectives: either the tree should be moved to a safer area, or a new Ginkgo tree should be planted. Blaise’s fondness of the Ginkgo tree stems from his freshman year in science teacher Chuck Hammons’s class. Hammons annually takes his students to the tree and has them dance around it while chanting, “O Ginkgo tree, o ginkgo tree how funny are your leaves! O Ginkgo tree, o ginkgo tree you have stomata on both sides! All hail the Ginkgo!” Ginkgo trees are the last surviving species in a line of ancient Ginkgophyta trees. The trees are relatively rare, but are very hardy. They are known for their resilience and healing properties. They also are able to give off a notable amount of oxygen into the environment. “[Ginkgo trees] are like teachers, because we take a lot of grief, but we give a lot of love,” Blaise said.
WorldView BY EZRI KILLEEN
Woodley’s Live Arrest Actress Shailene Woodley was recently arrested while broadcasting live to her Facebook followers. Woodley, who was made famous by films such as Divergent and The Fault in Our Stars, was livestreaming her involvement in the protest of the Dakota Access Pipeline in Bismarck, North Dakota, on October 10th when she was arrested. The livestream had been active for almost two hours before Woodley showed viewers scenes of military vehicles and riot police near her vehicle. While she was attempting to get to her RV, police stopped her and started to arrest her. Woodley handed off her phone to her mother, who recorded the whole arrest. Woodley was arrested along with 27 others who were also charged with trespassing. Her livestreamed video has now amassed over four million views, and her fans have offered great support to the actress. After her release, Woodley posted a picture on Instagram with the following caption: “One day, baby, we’ll sing our poetry. The words dripping from our tongues wet with ripened patience. And the lyrics, the sweet fruits born from the seeds our aging hands are now sowing. #alwaysinallways #heartforward #uptous #NoDAPL #protectcleanwater #iamonyourside.”
Clowns, Round Two Since the last issue of The Shield, the “Clown Problem” has reached far and wide.
What started as several unconfirmed sightings of clowns in a small South Carolina town has turned into a worldwide epidemic. That’s right, worldwide. As of the second week in October, copycat clowns have been spooking Great Britain. Across the pond, clowns have been spotted carrying axes in graveyards, wielding chainsaws on college campuses, and luring school children into black vans. Back in the United States, at least a dozen people have been arrested for similar offenses, according to the New York Times. While some of the sightings are pranks with no malicious intent, the mass hysteria they have created has caused the police to treat the clowns as real threats. Additionally, “clown hunting” has become popular among colleges across the nation. Groups of hundreds of students will gather with shovels, golf clubs, and whatever else they can swing to find the frightening clowns. Sociologists credit this to the witch hunting that was carried out centuries ago. Back then, fear of the unknown evil was spread by word of mouth. Now, thanks to social media, it is much more easily spread. Even if pictures are Photoshopped, videos are fabricated, and facts are misrepresented, any rumor of clowns on social media can cause a metaphorical wild fire. In the Johnson County area alone, rumors of clowns at four separate schools were spread in less than a day. The unprecedented fright that has swept the nation seems to be coming just in time for Halloween, but think for a moment before you put on that clown suit on the 31st. Even the most innocent prank may cause more problems than it’s worth.
Automated Ubers Pittsburg will be the new testing ground for self-driving Uber cars.
Pittsburgh will be the first American town to allow a self-driving car service. Although it is a monumental moment in the company’s and town’s histories, the town’s government has done little to prepare. Other than the mayor and one other top-ranking government official, no one has seen one of the self-driving cars up close, let alone seen their routes around town. The officials do not want to limit the company; in fact, they were instrumental in allowing the innovation by shooting down potential bans. Uber originally came to Pittsburgh in 2015, recruiting engineers from Carnegie Mellon University. Since then, the company has grown there, and now employs 500 people in the city, all of whom are working on the self-driving vehicles. Pittsburgh has become known for being a “tech city.” Many have criticized the city for giving too much leeway to the big tech companies. Other depressed cities are standing by, watching Pittsburgh’s new project as a potential blueprint for their success.
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After School Hobbies Take a look at a different side of some of Aquinas’s favorite teachers. BY DELANEY SMITH Between grading papers and preparing for classes, life can be pretty hectic for teachers. Despite the craziness, these teachers find the time to express themselves through their hobbies.
mother cultivate plants. He bought his first cactus in 1971, which he still has today, and hasn’t looked back since. One of Farnan’s favorite things to do is to grow new plants from old ones. This process, called propagation, consists of taking a part Phil Farnan of an old plant (a leaf or a shoot), With a single glance at English planting it, and cultivating it into a teacher Phil Farnan’s classroom, it’s easy to see his love for plants. Farnan, new plant. Because of this, many of Farnan’s plants are from the same whose windowsills are packed with species. potted plants, has been caring for “My wife complains a lot about them for over 40 years. how they’re all the same,” said “I like to see things grow… [plants] are like companions,” Farnan Farnan. Farnan said that when said. his plants die, he is always a little Farnan grew up watching his
Photo by Delaney Smith | The Shield Plants sit on a windowsill in Farnan’s classroom. Farnan has been caring for plants since 1971.
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disappointed. When one of his first cacti died last year, he admitted, “I was heartbroken.” For Farnan, one of the most fascinating things about plants is how different they are. Some plants need constant attention and direct sunlight,
“I like to see things grow… [plants] are like companions.” Phil Farnan English Teacher while others, like the jade tree on his desk, thrive under artificial light. “They’re all different,” Farnan said. For those thinking of taking care of their own plants, Farnan advises to be careful not to give them too much water. “You are more likely to kill a plant by over watering than by under watering,” said Farnan. Overall, Farnan loves how taking care of plants gives him the opportunity to co-create with God and cultivate His creation. He doesn’t plan on stopping his indoor garden any time soon.
Brendan Curran
A self-proclaimed “sneakerhead,” math teacher Brendan Curran has always had a fascination with shoes. Curran currently has eight to ten pairs of tennis shoes that he regularly wears. His favorite shoes are “Nike, usually low top basketball shoes or Air Max running shoes,” Curran said. Curran tries to get new shoes whenever possible. He typically buys some over the summer and gets a pair for Christmas, sometimes sneaking a pair in between. Growing up, Curran was always into shoes. His favorite pair are “Jordan 3s” because they came out when he was a kid. When it comes to deciding what he’ll wear each day, Curran doesn’t waste time trying to match his shoes with his outfit. Curran just pulls on whatever pair of shoes he’s feeling that day, and heads out the door.
Photo courtesy of Erin Dunleavy
Erin Dunleavy
Dunleavy boxes at her trainer’s gym. She has been recreationally boxing for five years.
English teacher Erin Dunleavy has been boxing for almost five years. Dunleavy took up boxing after her cousin invited her along to help her relieve stress while she was studying for the Bar Exam in Law School. Since then, Dunleavy has been going to see a personal boxing trainer at a gym in the West Bottoms. When Cross Country is out of season, Dunleavy boxes one to two times a week.
“You can’t find anything like it,” Dunleavy said. For Dunleavy, boxing offers a way to relieve stress and stay healthy. Although, she admitted, it seemed daunting at first, her favorite part is how energized and confident it makes her feel. Junior Delaney Smith is a reporter for The Shield. This story was edited by Copy Editor Maria Scanlan.
October 2016 | Page 19 g
The Social Spread #namegate
Twitter Ellie Thompson @Ethompy Don’t worry about paying for college next year mom cuz I guess I’m not a senior #namegate
Twitter Adam Tritt @ItsAdamTritt I’ll be at school with a silver sharpie tomorrow Twitter Nicolle Johnson @nicomjohns Well, after 4 years at Aquinas I just found out I was never a part of the class of 2017. Thanks @seniorsof17
Instagram Grayson Dunst @gcdunst after contemplating whether or no to rinsta this, i have decided to go ahead and put myself out there and do it!
Twitter STA Senior STUCO @seniorsof17 We apologize to the S-W community for leaving your names off the class shirt. Name list error. #namegate16
Twitter Yianni Perahoritis @yianniathanp Mr. Blaise?
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Twitter Sam Wolff @samwolff3 Dressing up as a clown and getting hit by a car is a great way to get your college paid for Instagram Itsy McCormick @itsymac daddy’s money bought these crowns!!!! thank you Saints for a week I will no doubt cherish for the rest of my life
Twitter Clara Pope @Clara_Pope we win against St. James 24/7 See any posts worth putting in The Shield? DM them to us @stashield on Twitter or Instagram!
Hoco Proposals Twitter David McCanna @DavidMcCanna I screamed
Twitter Abby Kate LaSala @alasa0 @DavidMcCanna thank u Twitter Madison Janky @mjank0 Hoco is gonna be COWriffic!! ha. Haha.
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October 2016 | Page 21 g
Twins, Triplets, and Cousins...OH MY!
For many Saints, their classmates are like family. For some, they actually are family. BY JAKE BURKHART AND RACHEL RANEY
Whether it’s in sports or academics, cousins, twins and triplets who attend the same school support and work with each other everyday. There are lots of advantages to having your own family members in school. You can study with them, learn from them, or just have someone to talk to that you know and trust. Cousins in the same grade can often have the same class, and even the same hour. They can work on homework and study together. “We were in math class together for my sophomore and junior year. We would always study together” senior Katlyn Heying said. Juniors Kristin Haeusser and Kate Burditt are cousins. “Kristin and I have two classes together, and we do work on our homework together”, Burditt said about her cousin Kristen. Some of the cousins play on the same sports team, and others will come out to watch and support their family members. “Kristin and I do high jump and we played basketball together freshmen year, and Becca, Kristin, and I long jump in track together,” Burditt said. “We don’t play the same sports, but we always go to each other’s games or events to support each other,” freshman Grace LaSala said about her cousins, juniors Curt Whigham and Andrew LeBourveau and freshman
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Sarah LeBourveau. Of course being cousins means you will see each other outside of school at different family gatherings. For a few families, it is a big part of their family discussion, and for others, it might not even be mentioned. “We do talk about school at family gatherings. That seems to be one of our main topics of conversation” Andrew LeBourveau said. “We do talk about school, but probably more about our friends and things going on rather than homework. If we have any funny stories or if a teacher did something out of the ordinary, we’ll talk about that,” junior
“We do talk about school at family gatherings. That seems to be one of our main topics of coversation.” Andrew LeBourveau Junior Devin Diggs said. For some, being cousins is like being best friends. When you attend the same high school, you can help each other learn and grow. It helps the high school experience go smoothly. “You always have a friend, and you
share so many common things,” junior Kristen Haeusser said. “Having cousins at Saint Thomas Aquinas is so much fun and I’m so glad that we’re making high school memories together” Grace LaSala said. “Being in the same area and going to the Catholic schools together really bonds us,” Diggs said. There are a great number of advantages in having a cousin at high school with you. Helping each other become comfortable, and being classmates pushes you to help each other and to make sure you both are doing the best that you can. Having a cousin at high school with you is a great experience, but being a twin or triplet can be even better. Aquinas has many students that are twins or triplets, and they all agreed that there are good and bad sides. Junior Natalie Bien described her twin sister Mary Claire as being like her own “built in best friend.” Mary Claire agreed that it is nice always having someone around to do stuff with, like run errands and watch TV. In fact, when they were in second grade, they tried to switch classes on April Fools’ Day. All the fun and games that come with having a twin also have their disadvantages. Natalie doesn’t like when people compare them, and said, “Sometimes I want to be known as my own person.”
For freshmen Ella and Erin Martin, having a twin affects lots of aspects of their lives, along with what they wear. “We used to have matching outfits when we were little,” said Ella. “The way people could tell us apart was because I was “yella Ella,” since I always had something yellow on.” Yet even with the color-coded outfits, people have a hard time telling them apart. Erin said it is annoying when people stare at her and her sister, because she can tell they are trying to figure out who’s who. Even with this downside, they both love having someone who is always there for them. Another set of Junior twins, Ian and Isabel Woolway, said they often get asked if they have what Ian called “ twinlepathy,” or the ability to read each other’s minds. For Isabel, having a twin is isn’t
just about reading each other’s minds. “It is fun having a special bond with someone. It’s a twin bond and hard to explain,” said Isabel. “He can always seem to make me laugh when I am down.” Alexander, Corbin, and Bailey Haskett are freshmen triplets. Alex is the oldest, being a minute older than Bailey, who is thirty seconds older than Corbin. When they were growing up, their parents designated a week for each kid, where said kid would get first choice with everything and special one-on-one time with their parents. Corbin said they loved the special attention, so they all loved when it was their week. The three of them like having siblings to help them with their homework, but they don’t enjoy when people act like they are the
same person. “People think they have to always invite all three of us somewhere,” said Corbin. “We are three individuals with different interests and different friends. It really doesn’t bother us if one does something the others don’t.” There are ups and downs to going to the same school as a relative. You will always be around each other, but they can help you with your homework, and be there for you when you need them. Overall, going to high school with a relative is a challenging but amazing experience. Junior Jake Burkhart is a reporter on the Shield staff, and junior Rachel Raney is a freelance writer for the Shield. This story was edited by copy editor Maria Scanlan.
Photo courtesy of Ian Woolway. Juniors Ian and Isabel Woolway pose for a picture while out to eat at a resturaunt. Ian and Isabel are twins.
Photo by Jake Burkhart and Kat Schartz | The Shield Grace and AbbyKate LaSala pose alongside cousins Andrew and Sarah LeBourveau for a picture with their grandparents at Grandparents Day Mass.
Photo courtesy of Kate Burditt. Juniors Kristin Haeusser and Kate Burditt pose for a picture at a Royals game. Kristin and Kate are cousins.
October 2016 | Page 25 g
Saints are Bad at Driving Student road rage and distracted driving can lead to parking lot fender benders and minor accidents at Aquinas. BY BRILEY MCGREEVY AND EMILY RAUNIG Aquinas students have had quite the history with parking lot fender benders and wild road rage habits. For some upperclassmen and select underclassmen able to get behind the wheel, it has not been easy avoiding small collisions in the crowded lots after school. Nearly every day, especially on all school Mass days, the junior and senior lots are full. During the first semester of the year, the sophomore lot stays moderately filled, but not packed due to some sophomores not being eligible to drive yet. Carelessness and distracted driving are occasionally issues with students involved in minor wrecks. Senior Nate Mark has had more than one incident occur on school grounds with another student at fault hitting his vehicle. “My sophomore year I was rear-ended by a senior, and my back bumper was blown off,” Mark said. “That same year, I came out from school one day and noticed a huge ding in my car. It looked like someone hit me as they were backing their car out. I talked to Officer Ufford but no one ever came forward which kind of sucked.” Other accidents involving rear-ending have resulted in thousands of dollars worth of damage to multiple vehicles. Last year, juniors Taylor Smart, Nicole McEnroe, and Morgan Taylor were involved in a three car accident just outside of Aquinas on Pflumm road on their way to Smoothie King. “I had about $7,000 dollars worth of damage to my car,” Smart said. “All three cars slammed their brakes in a row at the intersection and mine just happened to be in the middle of both.” Distracted driving certainly was a contributing factor for the three girls involved in the pricey collision. Smith System, specializing in professional driver training, released a study
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on the following distance, or tailgating, of drivers and other vehicles around them. The study concluded that many drivers rely on a two-second following distance, which “is the cause of many accidents, including most rear-end collisions,” said Smith System president Tony Douglas. The recommended following distance for traffic today is four seconds. Many Saints are distracted while driving. Whether that distraction is the aux cord, a pretty sunset, or their phones, students are owning up to their unfocused habits behind the wheel. A majority of students admitted that they are on their phone while driving to change their music or to send a quick Snapchat. In an online survey of 278 Aquinas students, they admitted to using their phones for social media, texting, calling and changing music.
“I had about $7,000 dollars worth of damage to my car.” Taylor Smart Junior “Like any other teenager, I use my phone while driving, and I definitely Snapchat. I am constantly changing my music, and I use Spotify,” senior Camryn Scharnhorst said. Some students believe their music affects their driving speed and occasionally changing a song on their phones distracts them from the road. Senior Danielle Ingram usually listens to upbeat music while she drives. She believes music does not always have to have a negative effect on a driver.
“This upbeat music affects my driving in a way that I am energized and aware for any current event that could happen on the road. Sometimes, a lot of the time, it makes me want to go really fast.” Music being good or bad for students varies based on individual taste. It can make some want to speed or make others extremely aware of their surroundings. For Mark, he only listens to “strictly bangers” while driving. “Any of Chris Brown’s old stuff and especially Kiss Kiss gets me going. Volume is always pretty loud, enough to get the car shaking.” Mark said. While music affects some student’s mood, a contributing factor to accidents at or outside of Aquinas is road rage. Being in a hurry to get out of the parking lot after school for some students causes them to get upset behind the wheel. Certain students are affected by road rage on a daily basis, claiming that other drivers irritate them in difficult conditions. Senior Elizabeth McCormick is one of Aquinas’ most angry drivers and experiences road rage on a daily basis. “Triggering factors would be during stop and go traffic when I’m stuck in a traffic jam,” McCormick said. “When
I have more person in the car I get more stressed out, causing more road rage. When I’m late and I’m trying to get somewhere that’s probably the worst; I hate getting stuck behind slow drivers.” For Junior Kelsey Vanbuskirk, her pet peeve is when people don’t turn on their blinkers before they turn and when they go even just two miles per hour under the speed limit. “Every time I get in my car and go somewhere most drivers around me make me mad, especially when I’m late,” said Vanbuskirk. Whether it is in the parking lots or outside of school, road rage and distracting driving are contributing factors for students at Aquinas to be involved in wrecks. Following the recommended tailgating distance of four seconds also contributes to not rear-ending another vehicle. Juniors Briley McGreevy and Emily Raunig, follow @ BrileyMcGreevy and @ERaunig on Twitter, are reporters for The Shield. This story was edited by Maria Scanlan.
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My Dad’s the Principal An inside look at what it’s like to have your dad at school with you.
BY ANNIE PATTON AND ANNIE TOUSSAINT Alex Moss high school experience has one very unique element: Her dad is a principal. From a young age, Alex has been a part of the Saint Thomas Aquinas community. Her dad, Academic Principal Craig Moss, has been at Aquinas since 1999. It is no surprise that she knows the teachers more personally than the average student. She said, “I have been coming here since I was really little because of him, so I’ve known them for forever, basically.” However, she said it does not give her any special treatment. Alex said she likes having her dad as a principal and that it has its pros. She said, “If I ever need a ride to school, he’s there. And, I kind of know everything that’s going to happen before it actually does.” There are some disadvantages. Alex said some drawbacks are, “having your dad at school” and “being known as the principal’s daughter.” “When you are in a classroom and he walks in to monitor the class and everyone goes, ‘Alex, it’s your dad.’ That’s so annoying,” she said. Principal Moss also recognizes some perks of the current situation. He said, “It is nice to see her smiling and having fun. But I have worked very hard to try to make this high school experience her experience and not my experience for her.” Like any other Aquinas staff member, Moss has to chaperone certain dances and mixers. He said, “I don’t
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Photo courtesy of Alex Moss
Junior Alex Moss poses with her dad, Academic Principal Craig Moss. The two have a unique relationship within Aquinas. think [Alex] is too happy about it. So, I’ve asked to be put somewhere far from where she will be. And everyone has been great about listening to that request.” They do not ride to school any more, and Moss said he misses that. He said, “I don’t think our relationship has changed because she has been at Aquinas. I think it has
naturally grown as she has gotten older, but I do not think that is because of anything at school. Although, that is a shared experience.” Junior Annie Toussaint and junior Annie Patton are reporters for The Shield. This story was edited by Managing Editor Becca Haeusser.
Spirited Vending Machines Aquinas is lacking in what some other schools consider essential: diverse vending machines. BY GRACE PLATT
Although Saint Thomas Aquinas has vending machines for food, it does not offer any for spirit wear as a majority of public schools do. These types of vending machines would solve problems that students at Aquinas might face. Spirit wear vending machines are starting to become more and more popular across the US, and are beginning to be found in local school districts such as Blue Valley, Shawnee Mission, and Olathe. They would not only be a nice thing to have, but would be a nice thing to use. “A basic t-shirt and items of lower value for a quick sale would reduce chances of vandalism,� said Serena Price when asked what would be featured in these. She also talked to Mr. Minor, and he said that he would like to add other things such as flash drives, and other school supply types of items.
Both of these would solve different problems. Having t-shirts and other basic spirit wear in school vending machines would save the constant effort of having to worry about whether the spirit shop is open or not. It would also save the time that students actually spend looking and being in the spirit shop. The idea of flash drives and other school supplies like pencils and erasers in the machine would help students too. It would be a nice way to be able to get ahold of things you might have forgotten at home, or you might need for your next class. Junior Grace Platt is a reporter The Shield. This story was edited by Copy Editor Maria Scanlan.
October-November 2016 Event Calendar 10/22 - October ACT
11/11 - No school
10/25 - 9:00 am start
11/12 - Extravaganza
10/29 - State volleyball
11/12 - KMEA District Choir auditions
10/29 - State cross county 10/31 - Halloween
11/14 - First day of winter sports practice
10/31 - Catholic Charities Canned Food Drive
11/16 - NHS Christmas Project kickoff
11/2 - 9:00 am start
11/17 - Scholars Bowl tournament
11/3 - Adoration with Archbishop Naumann
11/18 - Early dismissal
11/3 - Shrek the Musical
11/19 - Saint Thomas Aquinas Debate tournament
11/7 - Junior Retreat
11/22 - Thanksgiving Mass
11/10 - No school
11/23 - Thanksgiving break begins
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