August 2017 by The Shield (Saint Thomas Aquinas High School)

Volume 30 I Open House Issue

Volume 30

Staff Memebers

CONTENTS

Adviser I Matt Hallauer Editor-In-Chief I Andrew Schoonover Managing Editor I Annie Patton Managing Editor I Grace Mayer Copy Editor I Delaney Smith Senior Reporter I Briley McGreevy Senior Reporter I Emily Raunig Senior Reporter I Rachel Raney

Vo l u m e 3 0

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30 Years of STA

Summer Training

Aquinas Social Media

Student Businesses

Survey Spread

New Saints

Aquinas 2020

Last Look

Saint Thomas Aquinas high School

Reporter I Deepthi Kailash Reporter I Madison McMillen Reporter I Clare Hernandez Freelancer I Rachael Lawler Freelancer I Jack Mayer

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Social Media

t f i s

stashield aquinasameday Saint Thomas Aquinas Shield stashield stashield

Mission Statement The Shield is the studentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;sâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; voice of Saint Thomas Aquinas High School. Published by students for the good of the whole Aquinas community, The Shield serves as a source of information and as a spark for productive change. Student reporters learn about the world of journalism while practicing ethical, holistic reporting practices. The Shield staff is responsible for the content published, striving to share information accurately, objectively, and completely for all members of the Saint Thomas Aquinas High School 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.

Elusive 100th Banner

Hit the Ground Running Letter from the Editor

eams have started practicing. Classes have picked up. Urgency has returned to the Aquinas campus. Regardless of who you are or what you do, you are a part of an Aquinas community that is constantly humming one that has hit the ground running to ensure a great school year. In this issue of The Shield we showcase how the Aquinas community is already at work to make this school year the best yet. Our cover story, 30 years of Aquinas, highlights the proud history of Aquinas, its vibrant present, and its promising future. Other stories that capture parts of the Aquinas community hitting the ground running include Summer Training, Aquinas Entrepreneurs, and new saints in our family. By reading the stories of the Aquinas community working for a great start to the year, The Shield staff hopes that you too will hit the ground running: coming early, staying late, working tirelessly for your goals. However, don’t forget to have fun and soak in the memories that are ahead.

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Community News Choir with Foreigner

Clubs

Ms. Hendricks

Immaculata Closed

Mrs. Gress’s Photos

Aquinas Running Backs

The Saint Thomas Aquinas High School choir program performed on stage with Foreigner. The Saints beat other schools in a radio competition to have this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Due to low enrollment levels, Immaculata High School in Leavenworth has been closed. Immaculata was open for nearly 100 years. (KC Star)

Wanting to join a club? The school website has a listing of all clubs and activities under the activities tab. If you don’t see a club you like, perhaps you can spearhead your own.

Looking for photos of Aquinas events? Michele Gress, school photographer, posts photos on the school website. To access them, go to the homepage, About Us, and then shutterfly images.

Please continue praying for Ms. Hendricks, the former Aquinas science teacher. Ms. Hendricks received her Last Rites and (as of August 23rd) is in hospice care.

The Aquinas football team has five all-state caliber running backs: Andrew Hicks, Tristan Davis, Camron McMillen, Jared Flood, and Jayden Russell. (Sports in Kansas)

National News Netflix Tax

The cost of Netflix, Hulu, and other streaming sites could rise as states such as Illinois, California, and Florida spearhead new methods to increase tax revenue. (USA Today)

California SeaWorld

The last killer whale born in captivity at the San Diego Sea World has died. No more whales will be born in captivity due to Sea World’s new breeding policy. (Fox News)

Iowa Butter Cow

A butter cow, comprised of enough butter to cover 19,200 pieces of toast, is just one spectacle at the Iowa State Fair. (ABC News)

World News Nike Self-Lacing Shoes

Andrew Schoonover Editor-In-Chief

First released in North America, Nike selflacing shoes will now hit world markets. The shoes tie themselves using sensors, motors, and cables in each shoe. (News.com.au)

In Prison for Toothpicks

A 60-year-old man in Singapore is under investigation for inserting toothpicks into a bus cushion. If found guilty, he could face two years in prison. (Reuters)

German Swims to Work

A Munich man now swims to work . Tired of congested roads, Benjamin David now swims the River Isar carrying a water proof bag for his work materials. (Reuters)

August Issue

Cover Story

30 Years of Aquinas A brief history of and glimpse into the future of Aquinas. Grace Mayer Managing Editor

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August Issue

“A Craig Ewing, English

Communion of Saints; growing in knowledge, guided by Catholic values.” These are the words used to describe Saint Thomas Aquinas High School today, but they are still aplicable to when Aquinas first opened its doors in 1988 –now thirty years ago. This statement affirms that Aquinas has upheld its standards throughout all these years. It affirms that Aquinas is a community that teaches generations of family members and first-time Saints. It affirms that Aquinas is truly grounded in its faith-filled origins. These ideals didn’t entirely stem from Aquinas roots, though.

“A Communion of Saints; growing in knowledge, guided by Catholic values.” Phil Farnan, English

History

Cathryn Hund (Radiel), Math

Lisa Nash (Stoecklein), French and Spanish

David Shriver, Social Studies

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Before Aquinas became a well-established, private high school in Kansas, before it was even built, St. Joseph High School (later renamed Aquinas High School, or “Old Aquinas”) was the favored Catholic institution of Shawnee, Kansas. Aquinas would later replace St. Joseph and relocate to Overland Park but not for another 54 years. Some of Aquinas’ current staff originally worked there. Some even attended this high school. Current Foreign Language Department Chairwoman Lisa Stoecklein graduated from St. Joseph High School. “St. Joseph was also a very community-oriented school. There, many of my classmates’ parents had attended the school, too,” Stoecklein said. “There were strong, ingrained traditions. There was a fierce sense of pride in the school and its history,” Stoecklein said. St. Joseph was a school built on community, tradition, and legacy. Aquinas shares these values with St.

Joseph. This “fierce sense of pride” shared among the Blue Streaks (St. Joseph’s mascot), is strikingly similar to the honor of being a Saint Thomas Aquinas Saint. As St. Joseph’s enrollment numbers grew, a need arose for another Catholic high school, one that could sustain a larger student body. In response, blueprints for St. Thomas Aquinas High School quickly translated into construction. As for St. Joseph, it was renamed Aquinas High School (“Old Aquinas”). “Old Aquinas” remained open for eight years, until Saint Thomas Aquinas High School opened in 1988. St. Joseph/Old Aquinas closed its doors, allowing the newly built Aquinas to take the lead among Catholic high schools. A new high school at a new location, with new amenities, and a new identity guaranteed outside interest and attendance. Just as predicted, Aquinas’ numbers climbed. Aquinas, however, did retain a lot of former high school St. Joseph’s

traits. Not only this, but Aquinas gained many of its first students and staff through families who were previously associated with St. Joseph. Despite sharing a few similarities with St. Joseph, Aquinas took on its own identity. They both had school spirit, die-hard pride, and devoted faith, but Aquinas soared above what St. Joseph offered. Rigorous academics, dedicated faculty, and a diverse group of students set the tone for the next 30 years. Instead of the Blue Streaks, the Saints filled Aquinas’ halls.

“Opening the school was a blast. It was exciting to ‘start’ a school.” Phil Farnan

Early Years When Aquinas opened in 1988, St. Joseph graduate Stoecklein, and former St. Joseph teacher Phil Farnan moved with it. After teaching at St. Joseph for seven years, English teacher Phil Farnan started his new career at Aquinas on opening day. “Opening the school was a blast. [Each faculty member] had multiple duties, lots of meetings, and full schedules, but it was exciting to ‘start’ a school,” Farnan said. Farnan, along with Craig Ewing, Cathryn Radiel, David Shriver, Lisa Stoecklein, Mike Sullivan, and recently retired Greg Wilson were the original founders of Aquinas. They were the ones who juggled numerous positions during the beginning stages. “In the early years, if you were part of Aquinas, you would have many roles,” English teacher Craig Ewing said, because there were fewer than 30 teachers when the school opened. Only thirty-six staff members worked with the first Aquinas class. Today, Ewing teaches junior English and is the head coach for boys and girls soccer. Thirty years ago he still held these positions, but to divide up tasks among the sparse staff members, he also ran guided studies, coached Scholars Bowl, and managed the Spirit Shop.

Farnan also had a similar list of responsibilities. “I coached freshman football and varsity softball, ran the debate program, taught speech, English and theology, and I did spiritual direction,” Farnan said. As Aquinas became more established, however, new staff members were added to accommodate the expanding student body. In 1998, the year social studies teacher Stephanie Cloues started high school, Aquinas had over 1,200 students. “There were a lot more students [at Aquinas]. If you think the hallways are crowded now, you should have seen them back then,” German teacher Bryan Thelen, who attended Aquinas from 2004-2008, said. With Aquinas accommodating each year for larger freshmen class sizes, reaching numbers in the thousands again doesn’t seem like a far-off possibility anymore. Aquinas, whose current enrollment is 965, is classified as a 5A school by KSHSAA. However, there used to be a time when Aquinas played in the largest division level. “For several years we qualified for the 6A KSHSAA classification, which made athletic competition that much tougher,” Cloues said.

August Issue

Despite having such a large student body, the enthusiasm shown by students then, is only a fraction of the spirit that reverberates through the whole community now. “Emphasis on traditions like the Alma Mater and activities like the Canned Food Drive were almost nonexistent back in my day,” Cloues said. Hype for signature Aquinas events, like the Canned Food Drive, is unparalleled, and the anticipations get higher each year. “Now, these are some of the highlights of the school that set us apart from any other school in the nation,” Cloues said.

Now

Stoecklein gives an oral Spanish test (1988) Photo courtesy of 1989 Medallion.

Ewing helps students with English (1988) Photo courtesy of 1989 Medallion.

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Aquinas on the outside looks very different from the school that opened thirty years ago. Aquinas 2020 is well underway, and these renovations are just the beginning. Into his fourth year, senior and Executive StuCo President Devin Diggs knows these changes are huge steps for Aquinas. “The new classrooms and hallway connecting the old SMC building to the main one is so nice. I think it serves as a sign of progress for Aquinas, especially as we hit the 30 year mark,” Diggs said. As Executive President, Diggs understands that the plans he puts into action this year will change the course of years to come. For Executive StuCo officer Abby Kate LaSala, she is set on making StuCo’s theme “Glad to Be Here” a reality for all Aquinas Saints. “I want everyone to want to be at Aquinas all the time instead of just coming when they have to for class,“ LaSala said. This motto extends not only to the

students, but also to the staff. For those who have stuck around for the entirety of Aquinas’ thirty years, they are still glad to be here. “[The] awesome student body, [and] dedicated and knowledgeable faculty are probably the reasons I stayed. I did have a chance to leave years ago, but decided that I was right where I belonged,” Farnan said. After teaching at Aquinas for 30 years, Farnan has watched Aquinas, and its community, expand first-hand. With changes in the students, staff, and construction –he’s seen Aquinas at its worst and at its best. “I have taught at five schools in my career, and Saint Thomas Aquinas is by far the best,” Farnan said. Aquinas itself, though, isn’t inherently awesome. It’s community, atmosphere, and status have been tuned and cultivated for years. Aquinas has only prospered since it opened, and class after class, it will continue to do so.

Traditions

Seniors Devin Diggs and Abby Kate LaSala talk about Aquinas traditions.

Abby Kate LaSala, Executive StuCo Officer Freshmen Orientation is a big deal at STA. Because first impressions are really important in life, we like to make sure the freshmen are welcomed to high school properly. On the freshman’s first day of school, they are dropped off by their parents to screaming seniors! They are asked their name, and everyone cheers for them as they are individually escorted by a senior down a red carpet into the school building. Whether it is a traumatizing or exciting moment for our new Saints, it sure is memorable. This is one of my favorite Aquinas traditions because it is the freshman’s first day of the next 4 years of their lives. I can’t think of a better way to introduce them to STA.

Devin Diggs, Executive StuCo President Every school has an alma mater, but I believe that ours is truly something special. A lot of kids will never know the words to their school’s alma mater, some schools may have the words hung in their gym but never actually sing it, but ours at Saint Thomas Aquinas is something you can’t not know after spending four years here. Moreover, it’s more than just a song; it’s the belief that love really does conquer all, and this belief spills over onto everything that we do. The alma mater gives a mindset that we should all strive to achieve and to me, plays a huge role in building the community that is so unique to Aquinas.

Future This event –Aquinas’ 30th year– is pivotal, but it’s just a date. During the last 30 years, teachers grew with the school, students were shaped into Saints, and an incredible sense of community became ingrained into every inch of Aquinas. Current staff graduated from and came back to teach at their Alma Mater. Aquinas has undergone renovation after renovation, with the most recent project being Aquinas 2020. Where Aquinas will be in the next 30 years, is an unanswered question. But one thing is certain: the success earned and naturally associated with Aquinas is becoming guaranteed. If Aquinas has been able to uphold its standards set into place since day one, the future of Aquinas looks promising. This, of course, resides in the hands of the current Saints. Freshmen are just beginning their journey; sophomores are now getting a feel for what Aquinas is all about; juniors are preparing to take the reigns; and seniors, they’re setting the tone for the legacy they want to leave behind this year. All of this adds to the history of Aquinas. Looking forward with confidence, the students, faculty, and staff will continue to make these next 30 years great ones.

August Issue

We’re Glad You Were Here

istory teacher Mark Blaise left the Saints this fall to coach lacrosse at Benedictine College. Blaise leaving Aquinas was not easy. He was much more than just a history teacher; he was a lacrosse coach, a friend, and a role model to many students. Blaise said he will miss “Senior Hall, lacrosse, Kairos, retreats, taco salad day and my desk in the faculty office.” He said it was too hard to choose the teacher he would miss

the most, but he said he would miss his friends and mentors most of all. His favorite memory included his friend and coworker, theology teacher Mary Ann Hilgers. “Hilgers convinced a class of freshman I was her son,” Blaise said. Blaise will be missed, but will forever be a part of Aquinas. He taught students many life lessons, but the most important life lesson students taught him was, “a friendly smile goes a long way.”

Total Solar Eclipse

n Monday, August 21, students of Saint Thomas Aquinas gathered outside at 1:00 p.m. to look at the anticipated solar eclipse. Science teacher Joe Orrick said the last total solar eclipse was in 1979. “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” said Orrick. While an eclipse doesn’t happen every day, it occurs more than typically thought. “Eclipses happen every 18 months to two years, just [at] different places around the world,” Orrick said. This one is unique because it goes through our entire country. He

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said that we could get another one in seven years. Students were given special sunglasses to wear. Without them, they could have been blinded. “When too much light comes into your eyes, your body naturally reacts to keep that from happening. As the light dims down you feel like you can look at the sun, but your nerves will still get damaged,” Orrick said. This phenomenon is a rare experience. Students should cherish the moment when they saw the solar eclipse outside of Aquinas.

Service Trips of a Lifetime

tudents that go to Saint Thomas Aquinas put a lot of effort into earning service hours. A few lucky students this year had the chance to fly out of the country to do their service. Senior Maggie Gould and freshman Addison Ruder were a couple of the students that had the trip of a lifetime. Gould enjoyed going to Guatemala with Nativity so much last summer that she decided again to go again this year. Gould did hard work each day. “The mission work we do is [to] build stoves, because women get lung cancer and become blind from their original stove,” Gould said. “[We] make concrete floors for them to sleep on, instead of dirt. We make chicken coops, and we make pig pens for them.” Though she said that she loved serving the people, she was moved by visiting the sick. “My favorite service we do when we are there is visiting the sick.” Ruder went to Kenya to do medical work. While the work Ruder was doing was different than Gould’s,

she didn’t have a relaxing vacation either. “Every day of the clinic more than 600 people would come to get help. We could only see about 200 of the people in one day,” Ruder said. Gould and Ruder experienced the struggles of being in a third world country. Gould couldn’t drink the water there or flush the toilet. And when Ruder got off her plane, Kenyan military was there holding semiautomatic rifles. But they seemed to put all of these things aside. Ruder and Gould both said that the people there were so thankful. “What I miss most about Kenya is the people. Their spirit, their kindness, their happiness, and selflessness,” Ruder said. Service in all its forms is amazing– however, service trips provide their own unique experiences. Along with being a fulfiling journey it also has a lasting impact on students. Working with people from a completely different society chaged students perspective for the rest of their lives.

Emily Raunig Senior Reporter

August Issue

We’re Glad You’re Here

Kathleen Mersman

Mark Nusbaum

Social Studies Teacher

Math Teacher

What classes will you be teaching at Aquinas? I’m teaching junior American History and a World Geography elective. I am also the new scholars bowl sponsor.

What classes will you be teaching at Aquinas? [I will be teaching] 2 sections of Honors Algebra I, 2 sections of Geometry and Math Lab. I will also be an assistant basketball coach.

Where have you previously taught? I taught at Saint Ann, seventh and eighth grade social studies for the last six years. Way back I taught at Harman in Kansas City, Kansas, and in San Antonio.

Where have you taught previously? I’ve previously taught at Russell, IA, Albia IA, Archbishop O’Hara, Liberty, and Rockhurst.

A Q&A with Aquinas’ Newest Teachers and Staff. Delaney Smith Copy Editor

Amanda Davis Librarian

Beth Ingram

Social Studies Teacher

Chelsie Kane Art Teacher

Outside of school, do you have any fun or interesting hobbies? I attempt to garden, with very mixed results, and I love to read.

Anne Rahmeier Where have you previously worked? I was [a librarian] at Blue Valley West for 10 years.

Where have you taught previously? I taught for 7 years at Notre Dame de Sion before I came here.

Do you have any say in what the future library will look like? I was very excited to be invited to a meeting with some Administrators and the architects at the beginning of the summer for the new Learning Commons! They were very open to my ideas and suggestions and I look forward to the process - it will enable students to work more collaboratively, provide flexible seating and learning areas.

What classes will you be teaching? I am teaching Honors World History and Honors Government.

What changes have you already made to the library? I separated the fiction by genre! Each area will be labeled and the books will be color-coded. I also removed and rearranged shelving to make everything more open. I am also connecting the Johnson County Library ebook system to us so everyone can checkout books on their devices. I still have a lot to do!

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What classes will you be teaching at Aquinas? I will be teaching a Foundations of Art class, three ceramics classes, and two senior art classes. Do you have any interesting hobbies? In my free time, my husband and I love camping, traveling, river trips, hiking, small road trips, trivia nights, concerts and taking care of our puppy. We recently have taken up going on long bike rides.

Outside of being a teacher, what’s unique about you? When I was in college, I used to travel with my sister. One of my favorite experiences was when we went to Istanbul, Turkey and visited the Hagia Sophia. There is so much history in that one building, it was built as Why did you decide to be an art teacher? a Catholic Church, then became the seat I started off as a graphic design major of the Patriarch of the Orthodox Christians, and decided it was to competitive for my then a mosque under the Ottomans, and personality (and I was not that good at it). when Ataturk wanted to modernize Turkey I had already taken many beginner level it was converted into a museum! art classes and really found a love for the I have been skydiving. I have run a arts and a hidden talent that I did not marathon...it was a LONG time ago! I know I had. My mom is a teacher, and I studied abroad in college in Santiago used to always “play” teacher as a little de Compostela, Spain. I used to speak girl so I decided that Art Education was Spanish and a little Portuguese, but I didn’t where I was being led! use it so I forgot most of it. Now, I have 2 Photos courtesy of new teachers and faculty. little boys, their names are Finnegan and Gabriel, they are 4 and 6 and go to Holy Trinity!

English Teacher

What classes will you be teaching at Aquinas? I will be teaching English I and English IV all year, Composition I first semester, and American Literature second semester. Did you have any different jobs previous to becoming a teacher? Previous to becoming a full-time teacher, I worked as an attorney at a large law firm in Chicago. I’ve heard that you’re an Aquinas alumnus. Why did you choose to come back to STA to teach? Because I lived in Chicago and then Texas, without an established plan to move back to the Kansas City area, returning to Aquinas had never entered my mind as a possibility. Once we knew we were moving back to Kansas, I hoped that I would work at Aquinas -- and I am so happy to be here.

Why do you think it is important for students to study math? One, we live in a world of numbers! Two, we need to know how those numbers work. Three, many of the things we do are a part of a process and math is a progression of processes. Four, in dealing we the progression, we learn how to problem solve.

Stephanie Turner Math Teacher

What classes will you be teaching at Aquinas? Algebra I and Honors Algebra II You’re an Aquinas alumnus. Why do you think so many Aquinas grads return as teachers? Aquinas has a true sense of community and people want to continue to be a part of it. I also wanted to experience what it was like to have air conditioning at STA - we didn’t have that when I was here! What do you like to do outside of the classroom? I love spending time with my family. My husband, Shawn, and I have 4 children - 7th grade, 6th grade, 5th grade and 3rd grade. We can frequently be found on a soccer field, football field, softball/baseball fields or a volleyball court. My husband and I both coach several of our kids sports

August Issue

StuCo Update

Sports: Up Next Football

Tennis

September

Greg Wilson Classic

STA vs. Salina Central

STA vs. Gardener

Girls

Friday

Saturday

7:00 PM @ Gardener Edgerton High School

8:00 AM @JCCC

9:00 AM @ Salina Central High School

Volleyball

Soccer Boys

Golf Girls

September

STA vs. Blue Valley Southwest

STA vs. Washburn Rural

Shawnee Mission East Invitational

Tuesday

6:30 PM @ Blue Valley Southwest High School

6:15 PM @ Washburn Rural High School

11 Monday

September

Pancake Breakfest

Freshmn Class Speeches

SuperFan: What is it? Executive StuCo Officer Abby Kate Lasala answers questions regarding a new prospective app that tracks fan participation. What does the SuperFan app do? Basically, you personalize it to your school and you can use a Geo-fence where you have your account and log in, press a button, and it would say that you are there. We can make the Geo-fence over just the basketball court. We could make it over just the auditorium. And you would get points from [being there]. Points would go to your class and people individually, so there would be individual prizes as well as class competition. How would it benefit STA? The main reason we wanted it was to promote other activities at Aquinas that go unnoticed. If you go to every game and the tennis matches and the swim meets and all these other things, you individually are going to have way more points than other people. Why is it not happening? The problem was [StuCo Executives] had just come up with this idea a little bit too late and by the time we had learned about it, figured out what we were going to do, set up meetings with administrators and Burgess and people who were going to be the okay for it to go through, it was August. Will we get it in the future? They said they would revisit the idea in the spring, so they will probably talk out the financials and figure it all out again in the spring for next year.

1:00 PM @ Indian Hills CC

Annie Patton The Shield

September

Managing Editor

August Issue

Colorado Cross Country Trip Photo by Justin Wrigley. The XC team enjoys Pikes Peak. The trip took place in July.

Summer Training Just because summer starts doesn’t mean practice stops.

ummer. Six simple letters that many people equate to lazy days at the beach or lying in bed watching Netflix for hours. But for many students at Saint Thomas Aquinas, summer involves a lot more than that. With sports and activities, summer can be pretty hectic. The amount of time spent training varies among the many activities Saint Thomas Aquinas has to offer, but all the students have something in common: they want to improve and bond with their team.

S h o w

C h o i r

Show choir was at Benedictine College from July 19-21. They spent both days rehearsing and had rehearsals for about 4 hours a day. Allie Velasco, a junior and a member of show choir, said, “It is extremely important [to have choir] camp

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or else we would not have a bond once we enter school.” Show choir has to learn how to dance and sing. This means they have to spend individual time going over their parts so that they are ready when their competitions begin. “We are supposed to go over our choreography once a day after we learn it,” Velasco said.

“Using the summer to practice was super helpful.” Anna Simmons

itself. Besides meeting on a regular basis, they went to the National Dance Association Camp at Maryville University in Saint Louis. At this camp, they learned five to six dances which included a team routine. “You compete [with your team routine] and you can get an award if your team did really well,” sophomore Anna Simmons said. In addition to team workouts, many dancers will work out on their own or take extra dance lessons. “[Over] the summer, you don’t have school and academics in the way. Using the summer and using it wisely to practice and make that progress was super helpful,” Simmons said.

Dance team met almost every single week, and S o f t b a l l these meetings consisted of conditioning, warming up Although the softball and stretching, working out team at Aquinas did not have abs, and of course, dancing any assigned training over the

summer, many of the members still trained diligently by doing extra cardio workouts, camps, or playing competitively. Sydney Taylor, a sophomore and varsity player, discussed how during the summer she went out for an hour to an hour and a half each day to train. “It is very important to train in the summer for Aquinas softball because Coach Orel wants the best representing the team on the field,” Taylor said.

Cross Country

Another team that worked extensively this summer was the boys and girls cross country team. They had the option to train at 6:30 a.m. almost every single morning. On top of morning runs, there were additional evening practices held three days a week. “Most of us ran 6 to 7

days per week. Some days we ran for mileage, and other days we did workouts on the track at JCCC.” sophomore Nolan Mauk said, “It will give us an advantage against teams who don’t run as much as we do, and it will help us achieve our bigger goals for this season.”

F o o t b a l l

The football team woke up at 6 a.m. three times a week to lift weights. On top of that, Javier Derritt, a junior, said that he and most of the football team trained on their own time. “Just doing the bare minimum will not thrust you above everybody else who’s doing the same thing,” Derritt said. It seems every student and athlete that trained didn’t want to improve just for themselves, but also for our school. Derritt agrees, adding that “being

the same type of athlete all four years doesn’t win you championships. A new creature must emerge from within you and dominate on different levels of your respective game every single year.” Clare Hernandez Reporter

Rachael Lawler Freelance Reporter

August Issue

April

August

Editorial

Social Media A review of the quality and equality of Aquinas social media.

ocial media is becoming more prevalent among teenagers. It is essential that a high school does a good job of showcasing every aspect of the school through every single platform available. Compared to other high schools, such as St. James, Saint Thomas Aquinas has some work to do with its social media. Is Aquinas doing a good job of displaying all parts of the community through social media? A look at the 83 tweets from @stasaints in April 2017 shows approximately 51 percent of all tweets related to athletics, while only 12 percent related to the arts. The Shield chose April because it was the last full month of school,

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and there were no state championships. Junior Sofie Urquiza is heavily involved in the arts at Aquinas (dance and show choir). In regards to whether sports are valued over arts, she said, “Absolutely! There’s more talk about sports. I am aware that there are less things to cover about the arts, but there is a lot more to say about them.” “St. James’ Twitter and Instagram highlights the students more than Aquinas,” Urquiza said. “[St. James] comments on all the things students have been doing and their accomplishments, while Aquinas posts more about what’s going on with our school and sports teams. I don’t say any of these things

to bash on Aquinas because I know our social media teams work really hard, but at the same time, I believe all teams should have equal recognition.” Director of Communications Bryan Thrasher said the main goal of social media is “to reach out to all of our constituents for the school such as current parents, students, alumni, and friends.” In response to any criticisms about the abundance of sports posts, Thrasher said, “We post many events that are prevalent to our community, including our athletic success. We post many non-athletic events throughout our social media such as Campus

“There’s more talk about sports. ” Sofie Urquiza Ministry and our performing arts. Outside sources and media post on our teams as well as the school, so their posts may or may not spotlight some activities more than other aspects of the school.” Part of the problem is that the arts and academic accounts do not post as much as the sports teams. In April 2017, the Aquinas choir Twitter account, @stachoirs, only posted five original tweets, all of which were retweeted by @ stasaints. So, while the main account may need to decrease athletics retweets, the arts and

academic accounts also need to increase their online activity. Another issue, especially with Instagram, is the mediocre quality of some of the pictures and videos. For example, the picture of Lamar Hunt Jr. posted on May 1st to the Aquinas Instagram account, @stasaints is blurry and out of focus. The Senior Mass video posted three days later is in a similar state. On the other hand, the St. James Instagram account, @sjakeepingfaith, has only one picture out of focus since August 22, 2014. Lately, the main social media account is getting more balanced. A third of posts have been religious and another third have been announcements. With the

sports seasons not technically started yet, this seems to be a manageable amount, at least for August. With this new school year, we have a chance to see the entire school represented, as well as higherquality pictures and videos. If the leaders of academic departments and non-athletic extracurricular activities at Aquinas will be more active, the multiple people that contribute to social media should make changes to make sure all students and departments are represented fairly and satisfactorily.

Deepthi Kailash Junior Reporter

August Issue

An Aquinas Eclipse

Photo by Kaitlyn Woicke, The Medallion. Students look up to the sky as a solar eclipse takes place. The first half of the eclipse was visible, however clouds covered much of the second half.

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August Issue

Insights on Saints social media

The Social Spread Briley McGreevy Emily Raunig

@paigeknoff haWAII do we start school in two days:/

@sofieurquiza had fun staring at the solar APOCALYPSE with our bare eyes! catch us with permanent damage tomorrow! #shades

of Aquinas.

@sta2020stuco Spotted: StuCo member @gabe_kraft dead in our new hallway stomping grounds #oneweek until weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re back!

@orrickphysics Getting ready for the show at STA. 3.5 hours to first contact. Moon up and to right here #Eclipse2017 @natalie_goubski Y(OU) O(NLY) E(CLIPSE) O(NCE)

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s @SusanaPhotos And so it begins!! @adaviskid2 @jayzaykc @jameron_cackson @jdflood

@juliabudetti my shadow was darker than that eclipse today smh

posts around and outside

@dtdiggs Allergies got me more congested than Plumm on a school morning

@bladesofglory_ When you pull up to the lawn and the grass is thick... August Issue

Young Entrepreneurs M

Aquinas students take initiative as they forge new paths of their own

ore than 1 in 4 high school students 16 and older work, so a job is a reality that many teens in America face sometime or another. From the Jose Pepper’s hostess to the cashier at AMC, there’s no shortage of job titles for Aquinas students, but there are a few students who have thought outside of the box and spearheaded new paths of their own. Senior Eddie Brown and his brother, junior Kenny Brown, are the co-creators of Brown Brothers Lawncare. After countless summers of unrewarding work, the two siblings started their own business after seeing their friends’ homegrown businesses thrive. Since its conception 2 years ago, BBL has grown to service people all over. Starting a business like the Browns’ is incredibly expensive. One riding-mower can cost upwards of 3,000 dollars, but it’s all in the name of entrepreneurship. “I call it an investment in yourself; instead of putting your money in the bank and making a few dollars a year, you go out buy some mowers and flyers, and that money will triple depending how much work you put in,” Eddie said.

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Purchases like that are pretty risky. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 40% of small businesses don’t survive past their second year. Luckily for the Browns, their gamble paid off and BBL is doing better than ever.

“I call it an investment in yourself.” Eddie Brown Eddie attributes the success of their business to an unyielding work ethic and a year round schedule. “I could always be doing something else, like messing around playing video games, but that isn’t what I really care about. I need to be getting out there and helping grow the business I’ve built,” Eddie said. Aquinas entrepreneurship isn’t only found in lawn care. Senior Elizabeth Ragan has modeled since childhood and has recently shot for different designers and boutiques like Buckle and Threshing Bee. Ragan has always been involved in different genres of performing and said her mom was the one who first encouraged her to try modeling. Since her debut at age 10, she has

shot a wide range of work, from stock photography to advertisements. Modeling can often be time consuming. Photoshoots can take most of the day to complete, but Ragan said she doesn’t mind too much. “I really haven’t found that I’ve had to make a lot of sacrifices [to my schedule] for it. Plus, when you’re at shoots it’s so much fun it hardly feels like work.” Like most other models, social media is a big part of Ragan’s work. She’s done multiple ads for brands on Instagram and uses her following to promote and share what she’s been working on. This carefully curated platform is what allows her to make money through posting paid advertisements on her page, like her most recent ad for Elevated Faith. But there’s more to Ragan’s work that just instagram posts and photoshoots, “The most rewarding part is getting to help the designer’s or photographer’s vision come to life.” While Ragan doesn’t see a future career in modeling for herself, she’ll continue to enjoy the work she does now and grow her portfolio.

@SarahDooley Nowadays, the internet is creating fresh opportunities to make money online. YouTube has become the new television for kids. According to a recent survey by Trendera, teens spend 34% of their videotime watching YouTube and only 14% watching live television. An average content creator on the site can earn hundreds of dollars a month depending on how many views they get per video. Senior Sarah Dooley took advantage of social media’s endless possibilities and started a YouTube channel of her own. “I always loved the idea of creating content that other people would watch and enjoy. When I was younger I would make videos with my friends, and I figured that it would be cool for my friends now to see what I make,” Dooley said. Now, more than ever, young people like Sarah are given a greater platform to share their voice and turn their entertaining personalities into lucrative business assets. Once a creator has 10,000 views all together on their channel, they can join the YouTube Partner Program and start running ads on their videos. Dooley started her channel earlier this month and she has already raked in almost 1000 views on her first three videos alone. If her channel continues to grow at this rate, she could be making money off her videos in just a few months, but Sarah isn’t concerned about the numbers just yet.

“It would be ideal to make a career of this, but right now it’s more for fun. I’m excited to see where it’ll go. What’s more important to me is that I’m inspiring my friends to go out and do what they want because they see me following my passion,” Dooley said. The spirit of entrepreneurship and creativity is alive and well at Saint Thomas Aquinas. Whether it be through makeup videos or hedge trimming, students are using their passion and talent to work their way towards success.

@brownbrotherslawncarekc

Madison McMillen Junior Reporter

Dooley’s First Video

@Elizabeth_Ragan

Photo by Sarah Dooley. Still from Dooley’s first video, GRWM: How to Stunt.

BBL Mowers

Photo by Eddie Brown. The brothers prepare for another busy day and setup their equipment.

Ragan Poses

Photo by Boudrant Studios. Ragan poses for a picture for Style Muse Magazine.

August Issue

Survey Spread Students that like the Aquinas 2020 Construction

85.2%

Yes

2.5%

12.3%

Senior Reporter

When Students Started Summer Reading Never did it 7% Day Before 2% Week Before 12%

Indifferent

When Students Went to Bed this Summer 2 a.m. + 10%

Rachel Raney

June 15%

Early August 19%

July 45%

When Students Woke Up this Summer Noon + 6%

earlier than 10 1%

10 p.m.-12 a.m 41%

Caption Contest Winners

6-8 a.m. 26%

10 a.m.-Noon 29%

Drawing courtesy of Alex Sandoval. Special thanks to Mr. Ewing for assisting in the selection of caption winners.

"There are two kinds of people at Aquinas."

12 - 2 a.m. 47%

8-10 a.m. 40%

"Mo money, mo problems."

Where Students Traveled this Summer

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78.8%

10.6%

In the U.S.

Internationally

10.6%

"Don't worry my mom is right behind me with the other cart she'll be here in just a second!!"

"Freshmen vs. Senior."

"This is the person you hear about in those math word problems."

Nowhere August Issue

The 30

Things that make you smile . . . In honor of it being the 30th Volume of The Shield, each issue will include a list of 30 things. This issue is a list of 30 things that will make you smile.

1. Fresh clothes out of the dryer

11. Puppies

21. Driving to clear your mind

2. First sip of your favorite drink

12. A setback that becomes helpful

22. Stretching

3. 100% charge on your phone

13. Crying from laughter

23. Deja-vu moments

4. Sleeping in 5 minutes later

14. Seeing the sunset

24. Going to bed after a long day

5. The smell of freshly cut grass

15. Sleeping during a storm

25. New shoes

6. Finding money you forgot about

16. Hitting all green lights

26. Lazy days

7. Getting a perfect test score

17. Oreos perfectly separated

27. Reuniting with old friends

8. A nicely scented candle

18. Memes

28. Amazon mail arriving

9. A perfect haircut

19. God moments

29. A good workout

10. A completely checked off to do list

20. Long, real talks about life

30. Being told you’re amazing

Movie Review: Planet of the Apes N

ew movie releases are a lot when it comes to summer, mostly having to do with an overload of big budget blockbusters. Studios most fan-anticipated movies- sequels, prequels, prequels to prequels, remakes, spin-offs, adaptations of books, Emojis –all of these fall into studios’ most fan-anticipated movies. It’s a long list and I’m pretty sure I didn’t cover it all, but since the beginning of May through August theaters have released one or more of these movies every week. Some of them are pretty good, some are okay, some are not so good. But the one that surpassed them all, to me, was War for the Planet of the Apes. Directed by Matt Reeves and starring Andy Serkis as Caesar, Woody Harrelson as the Colonel, Steve Zahn as Bad Ape, and Amiah Miller as Nova, War for the Planet of the Apes is the third and final film of the Apes trilogy following our leading ape, Caesar, who is pitted against an army of humans, led by the brutal Colonel, set out to eradicate them. Caesar tries to keep his fellow apes and himself away from the terror caused by the humans, but an event arises that leads him on a path of revenge. Without getting too much into spoilers, what made this movie so flooring to me was that despite

it being this big, big blockbuster, it carried an emotion and intimacy that was unlike any I’ve seen in awhile. Instead of the film depending on the next thrilling action scene (which, by the way, the action in the film is absolutely thrilling. Right away in the beginning, it’s brimming with intensity), it’s very narrative-driven, focusing on the characters and layers of themes and storytelling presented. It is a quiet film at many points, too. Not only do most of the apes use sign language and the character Nova is mute, but almost all the emotion-filled moments in this film are completely rid of dialogue, the characters not speaking at all. Solely the pure performances of the actors, the position of the camera, and Michael Giacchino’s (this guy was the composer for Up, the movie that makes you cry in the first 10 minutes) melancholy, beautiful music. It’s up to no debate that the computer-generated imagery (CGI) and motion capture in this film, the special effects that digitalize the actors into the apes, are monumental achievements in the field of visual effects. It’s no question. Not only that, but the performance Andy Serkis gives as Caesar is absolutely heart-wrenching, and it’s not due to visual effects. All the

nuances, emotions, expressions are completely from his performance. The visual effects make him look like the ape, but he makes the character. Matt Reeve’s focus for building up the story line was the idea of “if you lose the ability to recognize yourself in your adversaries, it becomes easier to destroy them… if you’re not able to find a commonality between [them]”. This is one of the themes in the movie that is examined and created into a unique challenge for all the main characters: Caesar going on his questionable journey of revenge, the Colonel’s savagery, to the innocent, pure Nova who doesn’t see the humans or apes differently. This film, besides being a war film, also has shades of a Biblical epic, posing Caesar as a Moses figure at points, and elements of a revenge-western and even historical events such as the Holocaust. There’s just so much to this film! It’s this and its other themes and ideas that are so well executed, so well placed and developed within these characters, that it makes it hard not to resonate in some way to this story being told, making it one of the best finales in a trilogy I’ve ever seen and one of the best blockbusters in years.

Jack Mayer

Freelancer Reporter

The Shield

August Issue

New Year, New Saints Briley McGreevy

Class of 2020 Sarah Waldie From: Blue Valley North Why Aquinas: when I would walk into Aquinas it would have a very welcoming feeling, everyone was smiling and really nice. Most excited for: getting involved with the community and meeting new people. Fun fact: lived in Texas for 9 years.

Julia Swayne

Senior Reporter

Information and picture not able to be gathered:

Shea Sullivan From: Sion

Christian Mozingo From: Piper

Gianna Giarraputo From: Shawnee Mission South Why Aquinas: I have more closer friendships here and I feel like more people care about their future. Most excited for: all the people I will get to meet. Fun fact: has a dog named Eddie and went to California this summer.

From: Lee’s Summit West

Finn Barnett From: Olathe North

Class of 2019 Lauren Lieker From: Saint James Academy Why Aquinas: my brother was going to be an incoming freshman so I started looking into Aquinas when I shadowed and I really liked it. Most excited for: meeting new people. Fun fact: have a scar on left knee from falling off a tree as a kid.

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Class of 2019 Avery Higgerson From: Bishop Miege Why Aquinas: I realized when I shadowed, the atmosphere at Aquinas would be a good fit for me. I knew this school had a lot to offer for me, both academically and athletically. Most excited for: getting involved and meeting new people. Fun fact: is oldest of five and all siblings’ names start with A’s.

Marycate Hamele

Information and picture not able to be gathered:

Raul Chi Lang Chung From: Foreign Exchange Student

Selena Wilson From: Olathe South

From: Saint James Academy Why Aquinas: the second I stepped into Aquinas it was such a welcoming feeling. I feel so happy being around everyone and the teachers actually care which is rare. Most excited for: meeting people, schools hard but surrounded by the right people it’s fun! Fun Fact: good at writing and editing essays.

Michael Hennessey From: Blue Vallley North

Noah Jesse From: Heritage Christian Academy

Class of 2018 Information and picture not able to be gathered:

Information and picture not able to be gathered:

Li Yuanzhao From: Foreign Exchange Student

Kayla Navy

Celeste Zeng

From: Bishop Ward

From: Desoto

Niko Neubacher From: Foreign Exchange Student August Issue

The 100th Banner

As Saint Thomas Aquinas approaches its 100th state championship, it’s still up in the air as to what team will claim the title.

he end of the 2016-2017 school year left Saint Thomas Aquinas High School one short of 100 state championship banners. Many thought last year would be the year for number 100. Aquinas’ sports teams had a lot of promising talent. Both cross country teams won, leading to numbers 95 and 96. Girls basketball won in March, bringing the school to 97. Boys golf gave the school number 98, then boys track and field brought it to 99. Every championship was a repeat. Many of our other teams had high predictions, but, unfortunately, came up short, leaving the elusive 100th banner still up for grabs. Aquinas has a long history of

athletic excellence. Over the past 10 years, the school has averaged nearly six state championships a year. Aquinas Athletic Director Sarah Burgess has seen first hand the varying success of athletic programs. “I look at my own alma mater, Washington ... They have been around the course of a century. It’s amazing that that school has been around as long as it has and only one state banner,” Burgess said. Out of 353 high schools in Kansas, only Shawnee Mission East has crossed that 100th state championship threshold. “It’s a big deal in that it is a milestone. There [will be] 100 different teams that have thousands of different athletes that conjure up memories,”

Burgess said. Looking back over the years, there are probably some times that we could have won, and didn’t. Burgess said, “We got upset along the way, so maybe 100 should have happened long before we are now talking about it.” In the upcoming fall season, Aquinas has many teams that are contenders for winning the 100th title. “I look at all of our head coaches, and I think they all have the potential to do it,” Burgess said. The first team to take a shot at it with a proven history of winning championships, however, is girls golf on October 16th. “[The team is] going to be in contention,” said girls golf head coach Ryan Best, who won six straight girls golf titles from 2007-2012. “But it’s only a one-day tournament, so we will have to play really good on that single day.” The golf team has a special opportunity to be the bookends for the school’s first 100 banners. In 1992, they won Aquinas’ first state championship.

If not girls golf, boys and girls cross country are sizing up to be shooins for their state races. Senior cross country runner Jacob Cofer said, “Our biggest competitor is probably going to be Mill Valley.” Cofer and senior Andrew LeBourveau agreed it would be “pretty sweet” to leave Aquinas being on the 100th state championship team. Best said it is harder for newer students to have a sense of the history that has lead up to this point. “I’m excited, but I don’t think it is that big of a deal because I don’t know that many students who [are aware] of it,” Best said. To this date, over 1,400 students have participated in the school’s 99 state championships. Best said, “It’s kind of cool to realize that you are a part of something bigger and it does help create that tradition of excellence all throughout the school.”

Annie Patton Managing Editor

Photos courtesy of Katrina Nguyen, Kat Miller, Ezri Killeen, Emily Conard, Lisa Cunningham, and Emma Wolf.

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August Issue

Construction Competition

While Aquinas undergoes contruction, other high schools are being built in the metro.

Rachel Raney Senior Reporter

St. Michael the Archangel Catholic High School

Olathe West High School

Graphic courtesy of the Olathe West website.

Graphic courtesy of the St. Michael website.

Aquinas 2020 Library Concept

Graphic courtesy of the Aquinas website.

tudents returned this school year to find the first stage of construction completed. There will be no more walks outside to the former Saint Mary’s College, and the new weight room will give our athletes a finer place to do their workouts. With these new, updated attachments to the school, the library is set to begin its own renovations as the next phase of Aquinas 2020. President Bill Ford said construction on the library is set to begin after spring break, as

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fundraising allows. The layout has already been planned. According to a promotional handout from Aquinas, the library will be transformed into a learning commons with meeting rooms and individual study stations. This will make the library an ideal place for group projects, study sessions, and meetings. Additionally, outlets throughout the learning commons will let students charge their devices with ease. One special part of the library’s renovations will be the new and improved seating options.

Librarian Amanda Davis said this will include high tables, booths, and soft floor seats. The new seating arrangements will help students study and learn in comfort, while also allowing them to move around and form groups with any number of classmates. With the first step of Aquinas 2020 making the school more secure and giving the athletic department a boost, the learning commons will give students a modern, comfortable place to work towards their academic goals.

or the first time in almost 50 years, a new catholic high school was built by the Catholic Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph. St. Michael the Archangel High School opened in time for the 2017-2018 school year. In grades nine through twelve, St. Michael has more than 350 students this year. According to The Kansas City Star, St. Michael features many interesting new designs, including a huge staircase inside the front entrance called the learning stairs. The purpose of these stairs is to give students a place to hang out, study, and even perform. With floor to ceiling windows, the school will be filled with natural light, giving it a calm and serene atmosphere. While class at St. Michael is already in session, more expansions to the school are set to be built. This includes sports fields and an underground tunnel leading to the school’s stadium. St. Michael will be collecting its students from its nine surrounding parishes and from Archbishop O’Hara High School. Archbishop O’Hara, which was located in southern Kansas City, closed at the end of the last school year due to a lack of enrollment.

his fall, the Olathe School District opened Olathe West, its fifth high school. Olathe West started the school year with more than 850 students in grades nine through twelve, with a senior class being added in its second year. One thing that makes Olathe West special is the establishment of different communities in the school. According to The Kansas City Star, there are four communities, and each one will include students from every grade, an assistant principal, an administrative assistant and a counselor. Each community also has its own, smaller version of the school’s main library. Olathe West was designed to be the school of the future. It includes many new features and opportunities for students. The auditorium has a balcony with retractable seats, allowing the space to be used for study groups, practices, and meetings. The school worked hard to acquire a piece of steel from the wreckage of the World Trade Center to be displayed outside their public safety classrooms. From an outdoor, rooftop classroom to an indoor track, the school is prepared for the changes that high schools will face in the next 30 years.

August Issue

2 Last Look 1

4 5

August 2017

1. Photo by Andrew Schoonover. Seniors Devin Diggs and Julia Budetti walk freshman Caroline Bien up the red carpet. 2. Photo by Andrew Schoonover. Senior Morgan Taylor walks freshman Trinity Watson up the red carpet. 3. Photo by Annie Toussaint, The Medallion. Saints observe the solar eclipse on the football field. 4. Photo courtesy of Michele Gress. Aquinas choir members sing on stage with Foreigner. 5. Photo courtesy of Michele Gress. Junior Mary Dors poses on stage with Foreigner bassist. 6. Photo by Madison McMillen. Junior Kylie Hartman paints a periodic table in sunshine hallway. 7. Photo by Morgan Taylor. Seniors Jack Morrissey, Will Swanson, Andrew Hicks, Noah Pudenz, and C.J. Eddy perform at the freshmen pep rally.

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August Issue