CHECK THE COLOR-CODED MAPS OF NORTHWEST FOR DIRECTIONS.

COUGARCOASTING 12A STEP BY STEP DEMONSTRATION OF THE COUGAR COASTER, A NW TRADITION.

42 THINGS TO DO BEFORE YOU GRADUATE, IN HONOR OF NORTHWEST’S 42ND YEAR

not sure where you’re going? / 842 things to do/11

A SPECIAL EDITION OF THE NORTHWEST PASSAGEmagazineFRESHMAN

VOL. 42 AUG. 16, 2010

Lawn and Landscape

Call for Estimate Bryan 913-499-9417

Big Country

ABIRAMI SWAMINATHANCertified Kumon Instructor

12020, W 87th Street ParkwayLenexa, KS 66215ctr. 913.495.2552cell. 913.634.6686abirami@kumonlenexa.comwww.kumonlenexa.com

KUMON MATH & READING CENTERS

04 ColumnsFour staff members share their insights on being a freshman

06 BasicsCheck here for bell schedules, administrators and tips on staying organized.

07 The key to finding your wayCan’t find the tardy table? Look here to find the less obvious places around school.

08 Not sure where you’re going?Check these color-coded maps of the school.

10 Cougar coastingCheck out the Cougar Coaster moves so you won’t derail at the first pep assembly.

11 42 Things to do In honor of the school’s 42nd anniversary, here’s your graduation bucket list.

12 The new students’ guide to getting involved If you want to feel like you belong at Northwest, look here for clubs and organizations to join.

14 The new students’ guide to sportsCheck here to find out when your sport is in season.

Co-editors-in-chiefMARIA DAVISON AND STEPHANIE SPICER

Copy EditorLAUREN KOMER

Design EditorSTEPHANIE SPICER

Assistant Design EditorBAILEY KOPP

Photo EditorsDAVID FREYERMUTH AND HANNA MEIGS

Graphics EditorTYLER ABSHER

News EditorRACHEL FERENCZ

Opinions EditorsMARIA DAVISON AND STEPHANIE SPICER

Features EditorsMORGAN JONES AND BRIANNA LEYDEN

Entertainment EditorWYATT ANDERSON

Sports EditorsMARIA DAVISON AND STEPHANIE SPICER

Ads EditorKELSEY GASSER

Welcome to high school. This special edition of the

Northwest Passage has been designed with you in mind. When figuring out what to include in this issue, the first question we asked was, “What did you wish you had known as a freshman?” The answers fill the following pages. From “how to” do the Cougar Coaster to the bell schedules to a map of the hallways, we hope we have answered most of your first day questions.

Just like this issue of the Passage, freshman orientation day is specifically for you to get to know the school and to get to know each other before everyone else gets here. Take advantage of the emptier halls to figure out the fastest way to get to your classes. Ask the questions you’ve been wondering about all summer. Introduce yourself to the person next to you; they may become your best friend one day.

Over the next couple of weeks, I urge you to throw all your old labels away. The things that once made you who you are don’t necessarily matter anymore. Join a new club, meet some new people, make a few mistakes; it’s the only way you’ll learn.

With the exception of this issue and the special edition for seniors in the spring, the Northwest Passage is the official biweekly student-run publication at Northwest. We cover the issues surrounding the school and community. If you ever have anything to contribute to the Passage, please write a letter to the editor. We always appreciate input from the student body.

Welcome to high school, good luck, and don’t forget to have fun.

Sincerely,Maria Davison and Stephanie SpicerCo-editors-in-chief

contents

northwest passage staff

EDITOR’S NOTE

The purpose of the Northwest Passage is to relay important and interesting information to the community, administration and students of the Shawnee Mission Northwest High School. As a newsmagazine, the Northwest Passage will cater to the interests and concerns of the student body. Outside concerns and activities will only be covered if they somehow affect the school or students. the Northwest Passage is a 24-page newsmagazine. The paper will be distributed every two weeks during third hour. Subscriptions will be available to the community for $25. The Northwest Passage firmly supports the First Amendment and opposes censorship. The content of the newspaper will be determined and created by the entire staff. When questions concerning word choice, legal problems or ethics arise the editorial board and adviser will discuss the problem to find a solution. In these cases, the co-editors-in-chief will the have final say in all decisions. Letters to the editor will be accepted and encouraged, but will only be published if signed. The staff reserves the right to edit for grammatical mistakes, length and good taste. Letters may attack policy but not people. In no way will ideas or viewpoints be changed. The co-editors-in-chief reserves the right to refuse any letter.

Shawnee Mission Northwest12701 West 67th St.,

Shawnee, Kan., 66216

there’s a bigger world out thereTHE LITTLE THINGS THAT HAPPEN IN HIGH SCHOOL WON’T MATTER IN FOUR YEARS.

/t wo years ago, I too was a fresh-man. I had finally figured out that a hair straightener could be use-

ful, slightly cooled off my obsession with the latest Disney-endorsed boy band, and hoped that my high school career would be completely different from the adoles-cent terror that was middle school.

Two years later, I can honestly say nothing much has changed since my first step through the door.

Okay, my style’s evolved a bit. I mean, at least I’m not wearing those jeans from sixth grade anymore. And yeah, I trip over my feet a little less, but not enough to stop my friends from calling me “the klutzy one” of our group. I am still the goodie-two-shoes, grades-obsessed, imperfect-perfectionist that I was when I was a freshman.

Which is why I’m finding it so hard to scrounge up some meaningful advice for you all.

Sure, there are some easy ones.Don’t stop or slow down in the middle

of the hallway, or some upperclassmen WILL run you down like one of the deer so easily found roaming the roads around here.

Don’t forget your student ID for school events, a lesson I learned the hard way when I had to pay my way into my first

basketball game…football game…fall mu-sical…and more.

SparkNotes can be useful for some, but nothing can compare to actually reading the book for English class.

But how can I say things to you like: “High school will change you,” “It’ll be the best four years of your life,” or “You’ll fig-ure out what to be when you grow up,” when I can’t necessarily say those things to myself?

People ask me all the time who I am, what I do now, what I want to be in the future.

High school is basically a big, gigantic, slightly scary food court. There are plenty of options, but a lot of pressure to pick one really quickly. And there are always little obstacles on the floor to make you trip and fall as people watch.

But it’s okay to mess up.

It’s okay to fail occasionally.And it’s okay not to focus on exactly

what you’ll become so far away in the fu-ture.

High school is the time to try out new things. Stop doing some things and just find out what combinations of those things makes you, as cheesy as this sounds, the best version of you that you can be.

But then again, you are probably won-dering why you should even listen to me. So don’t. But take it from a person wiser than me:

“There's a big world out there. Bigger than prom, bigger than high school, and it won't matter if you were the prom queen or the quarterback of the football team or the biggest nerd. Find out who you are and try not to be afraid of it.” / BRIANNA LEYDEN

/h igh school is scary. I’ll be the first to admit that trying to find my

classrooms, dealing with a stuck locker, and meeting a bunch of new people is terrifying. But the scariest thing of all? Upperclassmen.

If my life were a movie, one of the scenes from my first week of school would be me, lost in a sea of people, trying to navigate to my next class. The cameras would then shift its focus to a group of seniors, blocking the entire hallway, then zoom in and slow down to show their perfect hair, makeup and clothes, then flash back to me, scattered and lost, fighting through the people just to figure out where I was.

I looked upon upperclassmen with a mixture of respect and jealousy. They’d been through high school already. Most were already looking toward college. I was just a small freshman trying to find my place in a new school.

Through marching band, I first befriended some junior and seniors. They taught me the proper way of marching,

playing and standing at attention. But more than just being teachers, I also became friends with them. Soon they were a part of my family.

I also befriended upperclassman on the journalism staff. They showed me what it takes to put out a quality paper, and helped me to grow and care about the world around me.

Now that I’m a junior, I realize how much these students have shaped me into the person I am today. I’ll probably not see most of them again. But I’ll never forget what they’ve taught me. The memories of philosophical discussions on bus rides, a three mile death march through Hollywood and tea in the darkroom will stay with me throughout high school.

Take advantage of the time you have with oh-so-intimidating upperclassmen. Whether it’s in music, a sport, or just a multi-grade class like Creative Writing or Environmental Education, learn from your peers, and enjoy them while they’re here. I know I miss them now that they’re gone.

lessons learned from upperclassmenGET TO KNOW THE JUNIORS AND SENIORS NOW BECAUSE YOU WILL MISS THEM LATER.

04 / AUG. 16, 2010

BRIANNA LEYDEN

LAURENKOMER

/high school flies by. It will be the quickest four years of your life.”

Every one’s has been telling me that since I stepped into the doors of Northwest two years ago. Although it’s hypocritical for me to agree with that statement, considering I’m just now beginning my third year of high school. But as I remember my freshman days, I realize that my life revolved around the clock. New opportunities came into sight every day, and I jumped at the chance of each and every one.

But the clock still ruled my life. 5:30 a.m.. Wake up and get ready for school. 7 a.m. Try and find my classes with my giant

volleyball bag on my shoulder. 2:40 p.m. The bell finally rings and I’m running to the bathroom to change for volleyball.

6 p.m. I arrive at home to tackle that giant stack of homework awaiting me after three hours of practice. Or to get on Facebook for two hours and completely ignore it.

11:30 p.m. Finally time to sleep. Then get up and do it all again.

And as I sit back today and look back, I shouldn’t have been staring at the clock.

I shouldn’t have been checking the time, constantly thinking about how will I get this or that done or be on time. I should have been enjoying the experience.

Even if it’s just hanging out with your friends. Whatever you choose to do with your next four years here at NW, enjoy the experience. Make every day one to remember, and don’t just stare at the clock waiting for it to be over. There are so many things you can do to help make each day one to look back on and smile.

Savor every laugh and every smile, because it’ll be over before you know it. In a blink of an eye you’ll be in my shoes, telling the incoming freshmen the exact same thing.

enjoy the experienceMAKE THE MOST OF HIGH SCHOOL IN-STEAD OF WATCHING THE CLOCK, WISHING IT WAS OVER.

/i’ll get straight to what you want to hear:

Nobody’s gonna take your lunch money.

You won’t get hung from the flagpole by your undies. High school’s not what it looks like on TV—although we are all superhumanly attractive.

Nothing I can say and nothing you can watch, read, or listen to (or smell, or taste) can prepare you for high school. It really wouldn’t be high school if you were prepared for it.

I’m not trying to scare you.Much.To be honest, I’d probably

accuse you of witchcraft and burn you at the stake if you came into this unafraid. High school’s a scary place sometimes. It has to be.

See, the way I figure it, grades nine through twelve aren’t just the next level of math, English, and science. This whole crazy experience is tailor-made to push you toward eventual independence.

Independence. There’s a scary word. Or an awesome, liberating event that can’t come soon enough—depending on who you ask. Either way, no one’s really ready for it. I know I’m not. Luckily, you still have four years to figure this stuff out.

Whatever you do, don’t rush it. High school is supposed to be fun. For some reason, too many people want to treat it like a job. Like a prison. We already did our time. That was middle school.

Hitting Grade 9 did feel like

breaking out of prison. Taking the wheel of my dad’s Cadillac was the most liberating thing I’ve ever felt, even while he yelled at me to “slow the hell down” from the passenger seat. Freedom. That’s what high school should be about. Whatever you do, don’t put off learning to drive.

Maybe that whole thing sounds a little idealistic to you. Maybe it is. After all, I still have to come home at night, still have to put the keys back on the hook, make it to bed at a relatively decent hour. But I’m—we’re—headed in the right direction. Gaining that independence is a gradual process. That’s why we have four years to do it.

All that sounds obvious, of course. And it should. A guy named Walt Whitman once said “Wisdom cannot be pass’d from one having it to another not having it.” What he means is that no matter what I write here, you won’t take it to heart. I could give you all the secrets of high school (if I had them), but since you’re still a freshman, because you haven’t been there, there’s no way for you to understand. No way to really be prepared. Scary, right?

Now, I’m not saying I’m wise and you’re not, or that Walt’s wise and I’m not. What I am saying—and what I think you should take away from this—is to not take high school too hard. Nothing that happens here is the end of the world, so don’t be scared.

You’ll figure it out. I did.I think.

independenceHIGH SCHOOL IS FOUR YEARS ON THE ROAD TO SELF-SUFFICIENCY.

COLUMNS / 05

RACHELFERENCZ

WYATTANDERSON

basics1. Plan for procrastination. If you think you will procrastinate, you probably will. So plan for it. For example, if you know a project is due on a certain day, make sure you don't have any other work to do the night before it’s due.

2. The school planners are not useless. Use them. They can help you keep track of all homework, long-term assignments and school events you need to attend. If you object to the school planner for some reason, purchase one that appeals to you more at an office supply store or use the calendar function on your phone... especially for big projects. The alarms that you can set on these calendars is also very helpful. Just be sure that the alarm doesn’t go off during school.

3. Post-it Notes: Buy them. If you know you need to bring something important to school the next day, but are afraid you will forget it, write a little note to yourself and stick it in a place where you will definitely see it, like the bathroom mirror.

4. Stock up on pencils and paper. By the end of the year, not only will you have lost most of that, but some friends have a habit of asking for a supply and then never giving it back.

5. Use different folders or binders for different classes. If they are all just thrown together in a big binder, something will get lost.

6. Figure out when you will be able to go to your locker at the beginning of the year. Otherwise, you’ll end up walking around with 50 lbs. of books on your back.

7. Invest in a flash drive for those times you don’t quite finish your work in class.

8. Don’t let yourself become overwhelmed. It makes getting those things done harder.

TIPS FOR STAYING ORGANIZED

HERE ARE THE BELL SCHEDULES FOR AVERAGE DAYS DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR,

AN INTRODUCTION TO THE ADMINISTRATION AND SOME TIPS FOR KEEPING ORGANIZED

THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

Tom MossASSOCIATE PRINCIPAL

Lisa GrumanASSOCIATE PRINCIPAL

Dr. Bill HarringtonPRINCIPAL

Eddie LydayASSOCIATE PRINCIPAL

Richard GrinageAthletic Director

Dr. Marybeth GreenCounselorDepartment head

Erin BarnettCounselor

Shari KingCounselor

Angelo GiacaloneCounselor

Jim MowryCounselor

Christy SchmittCounselor

meet yourCOUNSELORSADMINISTRATION

/BRIANNA LEYDEN

06 / AUG. 16, 2010

PERIOD 1 7:40-8:30 A.M.

PERIOD 2 8:35-9:30 A.M.

PERIOD 3 9:35-10:25 A.M.

PERIOD 4 10:30-11:20 A.M.

PERIOD 5 11:25 A.M.-12:50 P.M.

LUNCH 1 11:25 -11:50 A.M.

LUNCH 2 11:55 A.M.-12:20 P.M.

LUNCH 3 12:25-12:50 P.M.

PERIOD 6 12:55-1:45 P.M.

PERIOD 7 1:50-2:40 P.M.

REGULAR SCHEDULE

PERIOD 1 7:40–9:10 A.M.

PERIOD 3 9:15–10:50 A.M.

PERIOD 5 10:55 A.M.–1 P.M. LUNCH 1 11:35 A.M.–12 P.M.

LUNCH 2 12:05–12:30 P.M.

LUNCH 3 12:35–1 P.M.

PERIOD 7 1:05–2:40 P.M.

odd block

even block PERIOD 2 7:40–9:10 A.M.

SEMINAR 9:15–10:50 A.M.

PERIOD 4 10:55 A.M.–1 P.M. LUNCH 1 11:35 A.M.–12 P.M.

LUNCH 2 12:05–12:30 P.M.

LUNCH 3 12:35–1 P.M.

PERIOD 6 1:05–2:40 P.M.

Five minutes are allowed for passing periods. Arrival after the final bell will result in a tardy. Tardy students must proceed to the table. The teacher at the tardy table will ask for the student’s ID and record the tardy in the book. The consequences received are based upon his or her prior record:

first offense: warningsecond and third offense: detention with teacherfourth plus offense: consequence assigned by attendance office

Students will be sent back to class with a tardy pass. Arriving in class more than 10 minutes after the final bell is considered an absence.

ROOM FLThis room used to be the Faculty Lounge, but now it serves as a Social Studies classroom. It’s on the first floor in the third hallway between rooms 131 and 132.

The MallThe mall is the central hallway on the first floor of the school that connects the east and west doors. The main office and attendance office are located on the east side.

Tardy TablesThe tardy table is located outside the office. If you are late to class, go to the tardy table and get a pass for your teacher. Make sure you take your student ID to the tardy table.

Attendance OfficeThe attendance office is located across from the main office, under the world clocks. All attendance issues are taken care of here.

Hallways.In the academic wing of the school, there are three hallways on each floor. Lockers are located in these hallways. The hall closest to the mall is the first hall. The hall furthest from the mall is the third hall and the hall in the middle is the second hall.

TIP: GO THROUGH THE BATHROOMS.On each floor in the academic wing, there are two sets of bathrooms. The bathrooms connect two hallways. For example, the bathroom in the third hallway has another door in the sec-ond hallway.

a key to finding your wayHERE ARE SOME OF THE MORE CONFUSING PLACES TO FIND AROUND SCHOOL. MATCH THESE YELLOW CIRCLES TO THE YELLOW CIRCLES ON THE MAP ON THE FOLLOWING PAGE.

NW TARDY POLICY

PLACES / 07

1

2

3

4

5

map keyENGLISH

SOCIAL STUDIES

FOREIGN LANGUAGES

FINE ARTS

MATH

SCIENCE

BUSINESS

PHYSICAL EDUCATION

FACS

ELEVATOR

W131 130

MALL

3381 162

163LOCKER NUMBERS

692339 516

517LOCKER NUMBERS

1054693 868

869LOCKER NUMBERS

3

32

4

5

1

5

5

133 132M

FL135 134

128 129

119 118

127

120

126

121123

125124

122

113

111

115

108

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112

110

116 117

107 106

137

138

139

136

103102104 105

NURSE101

155

156

157

154

153

151150

152

ATTEN. OFFICECAFETERIA

OFFICE

LIBRARY

KITCHEN LITTLE

THEATRE

AUDITORIUM

STAGE 4

7 689

12 14 16 1811

10

13 15 17

19

7A 30 32 34

36

3739

38

GYM 1

GYM 3

GYM 4 33

POOL

LOBBY

LOBB

Y

GYM 2

31

not sure whereyou’re going?

1ST FLOOR

08 / AUG. 16, 2010

LUCKILY, ALL THE CLASSES IN THE SAME DEPARTMENT ARE IN THE SAME AREA OF THE BUILDING. HERE, EACH DEPARTMENT IS COLOR-CODED SO YOU CAN FIND YOUR NEXT CLASS BEFORE THE BELL RINGS.

1400

227 226228229230232 231

221

219

222223

220

218

224

217

225

216

235

236

237

233

234

238

239

241

242243205204

206

215

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214213

208209

202201 203

210

212

240

211

21081733 1900

1901LOCKER NUMBERS

17321401 1564

1565LOCKER NUMBERS

1055 12321233LOCKER NUMBERS

2ND FLOOR

POOL

BOYS’LOCKERROOM

GIRLS’ TEAMLOCKER ROOM

GIRLS’LOCKER ROOM

WRESTLING ROOM

BOYS’ TEAMLOCKER ROOM

BOILERROOM

RECEIVINGROOM

I

J

KL

G

D

F

CE

B A AA

FAN ROOM

TRAINING ROOM

BASEMENT

MAPS / 09

AS THE RIDE COMES TO A SUDDEN HALT, THROW YOUR BODY FORWARD. * THANK YOU FOR RIDING THE COUGAR COASTER!

THANK YOU FOR RIDING THE COUGAR COASTER!

REACH UP AND GENTLY PULL DOWN ON THE SAFETY BAR UNTIL YOU HEAR A “CLICK”. YOU ARE NOW SECURED INTO THE COASTER.

STEP INTO YOUR IMAGINARY COUGAR COASTER CART™

AS THE COUGAR COASTER BEGINS THE ASCENT, LEAN BACK AND SHAKE YOUR ARMS.

POOR AVERAGE MAXIMUM POWER

FOLLOWING THE PATTERN SHOWN, USE

YOUR ARMS TO ILLUSTRATE THE COUGAR COASTER PULLING OFF A

LOOP-THE-LOOP.

8

LEAN TO THE RIGHT, THEN LEFT, THEN RIGHT, THEN LEFT AGAIN AS THE COUGAR COASTER TAKES TURNS AT HIGH VELOCITY.

AFTER PASSING THROUGH

THE COUGAR COASTER’S LOOP-THE-LOOP, IMITATE

SOMEONE NOISILY

AS THE COASTER REACHES THE TOP, THROW YOUR

HANDS IN THE AIR, LEAN FORWARD AND SCREAM FOR OPTIMAL AWESOMENESS AS YOU GO DOWN.

REPEAT STEPS THREE AND FOUR.

REPEAT STEPS THREE, FOUR AND FIVE

COUGARCOASTINGYOUR COMPLETE GUIDE TO GRAPHICS BY TYLER ABSHER

10 / AUG. 16, 2010

GRAPHICS BY TYLER ABSHER

1. Be Student of the Day. Listen to the morning announcements each day to find out who the winner is.2. Find all 49 of the Waldos hidden in the murals in the academic wing. 3. Make friends with your academic counselor. They’re the one who will help you get classes changed4. Explore the outdoor lab. Even bet-ter yet, take Environmental Educa-tion.5. Participate in Sleep-in-a-Box, an annual benefit for the Shalom House where students sleep in boxes on the track to raise awareness about home-lessness.6. Take one of Van Rose’s math class-es, even if you don’t like math.7. Be quoted in the yearbook.8. Persuade a teacher to conduct class outside.9. Find a NW “family”. (Theatre, jour-nalism, football: the possibilities are endless.)10. Complete a crossword puzzle ev-ery day. They are available in the li-brary every morning. 11. Go to at least one game, match or meet for every sport.12. Participate in spirit days. 13. Donate money to CCC’s Dollar Days. 14. Buy an Orange Army shirt. They will be for sale in the during the first few weeks of school in the mall.15. Get a front row parking spot but not this year. Freshmen are not al-lowed to park on campus.16. Look at the art in the gallery lo-

cated next to the office.17. Talk your grade up at the end of the semester. 18. Send someone a rose on Valen-tines Day. Prom committee sponsors a rose sale.19. Be in the Poetry Slam, an event held each spring where students per-form original, spoken-word poems.20. Participate in Adopt-a-Tot along with the rest of your fourth hour class. In late November and early Decem-ber, classes raise money to buy pres-ents for toddlers in the SM Head Start Program.21. Eat at The Bistro, a restaurant with food served and prepared by the Broadmoor culinary arts students. 22. Register to vote, when you turn 18.23. See music teacher Doug Talley perform with his jazz quartet. 24. Find an issue you care about and write a letter to the editor. Drop it by room 151 or email to mari-adavison1012@gmail.com or stepha-niehspicer@gmail.com. You may see you’re letter published in The Pas-sage.25.Find a cause, some students, a teacher sponsor and start a club.26. Find your name on the paw prints taped to the walls around the building during prom week.27. Go out to breakfast on a late start day.28. Complete at least 23 credits. Most people find this helpful if they want to graduate.

29. Be a lab assistant for one of your favorite teachers.30. Join a club or take a class that you don’t think you will be good at. You might be surprised.31. Find a cause, some students and a teacher to be a sponsor and start a club.32. Watch the marching band’s light show. After a final, home football game of the regular season, all the lights in the stadium are extinguished and the marching band performs their show with glow sticks on their bodies and instruments33. Eat at IHOP anytime of the day (or night). They’re open 24 hours. 34. Attend the talent show hosted by StuCo in the spring.35. Better yet, showcase your talents in the talent show.36. When someone says “Meet me in the mall”, respond with “It’s going down.”37. Listen to a book on CD instead of reading it for an English class, but check to make sure it’s not an abridged version first.38. Overthrow Todd Boren, Drew Magwire and Beth Jantsch’s classes in the canned food drive. They always win.39. Dance to the beat of the drumline when they perform at football games. 40. Check out a book from the library, but don’t forget to return it too.41. Visit smnw.com for all things Northwest. 42. Read every issue of the Northwest

IN HONOR OF NORTHWEST’S 42ND YEAR, HERE ARE 42 THINGS TO MAKE SURE YOU ACCOMPLISH

BEFORE GRADUATION.

THINGS TO DO

42 THINGS / 11

the new students’ guide to getting involved

HERE’S A BRIEF SYNOPSIS OF ALL THE CLUBS. CONTACT THE SPONSOR OR STUDENT LEADERS FOR MORE INFORMATION AND LISTEN TO THE MORNING ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR MEETING TIMES.Academic Decathlon

Sponsor: Elaine MickMembers study material covering aspects of a historical period including the music, economics art and sci-ence and participate in an academic competition based on the material they have learned.

Amnesty InternationalSponsor: David HuntStudent Leaders: Jessie Marcus and Vicki SearsMembers work for awareness about international human rights, including holding a benefit concert in January called Jamnesty.

Anime ClubSponsor: David HuntStudent Leaders: Jaden Anderson and Andrew BatemanMembers watch and critique Japanese anime. They also attend Japan Fest.

Arts and Crafts ClubSponsor: Ben PabstMembers make crafts including Thanksgiving turkeys as well as write letters to children with cancer all while having a great time.

Beatles Fan ClubSponsor: Fran KoenigsdorfMembers gather to appreciate the music of the Beatles.

Business Professionals of America (BPA)Sponsor: Beth Ann JohnstoneStudent Leaders: Ibrahim Elandaloussi, Chelsea Holt-Bates, Clarissa Holt-BatesMembers compete in business competitions.

CategoriesSponsor: Bob AndersonMembers participate in televised competitions similar to “Jeopardy”.

Club 121Sponsor: Ken SummersStudent Leaders: James Brann, Andrew Konecny, Hanna Meigs, Sara Osborne and Morgan Terrill.Members gather with other students to find ways to connect to local churches.

CoalitionSponsor: Lindsay KincaidStudent Leaders: Caleb Amundson, Victoria Banks, Adam Chase, Jordan Dillon, Bernadette Hursh and Isabel Zacharias.Members raise awareness for human rights causesincluding Save Darfur, Love 146 and Invisible Children.

Cougars UnitedSponsor: Jamie LedbetterStudent Leaders: Andrew BatemanMembers work to broaden their minds by beingexposed to different cultures.

Cougars Uniting Beginning Students (CUBS)Sponsor: Susan HartmanStudent Leaders: Nastassia Darby, Sunny Dharod and Timmy LiMembers welcome new students to Northwest.

Fellowship of Christian AthletesSponsor: Mike Cooper and Van RoseMembers meet at Community Covenant church to discuss how their faith relates to athletics.

French ClubSponsor: Leslie RansdallStudents with an interest in French or enrolled in French class meet to discuss French language and culture.

Future Teachers of AmericaSponsor: Beth KoelkerStudent Leaders: Maggie Cheatham and Madeline OrltStudents interested in a career in teaching meet to discuss teacher of the month and other events.

Gay-Straight AllianceSponsor: Fran KoenigsdorfStudents who support GLATQ youth participate in several awareness events during the year.

German ClubSponsor: Karin MasenthinCurrent and former German students meet to discussGerman language and culture.

12 / AUG. 16, 2010

The Girl EffectSponsor: Debra BrewerStudent Leaders: Rachel Alvey, Laura Cale, Kaitlyn Carl, Ad-die Evans, Caela McMillon, Kadie Nugent and Jenny Skells.Members work to empower girls and women in their local, national and international communities

H.E.L.P.E.R.Sponsor: Deborah MayerMembers raise money to protect animals and theenvironment.

Interact ClubSponsor: Jan BergStudent Leaders: Katie Hansen, Cameron Henry, Edelawit Hussein, Davis MillardsMembers work on community service projects.

Key ClubSponsor: Carolyn LaFeverStudent Leaders: Toni Britt, Kristina Buchanan, Jessica Leich-ter, Hannah Sharpe and Haylee SlocumMembers work on community service projects throughan organization called Kiwanis that promotes character build-ing and leadership as well as inclusiveness and involvement in the community.

Latin ClubSponsor: Joe GehrerCurrent and former Latin students meet to discussRoman culture as well as plan for the Latin convention.

Math ClubSponsor: Jessica BargerMembers participate in local and regional math competitions.

Mural ClubSponsor: David HuntStudent Leaders: Sara IrickMembers create and repair murals in the hallways throughout the school.

PenpointSponsor: Ben PabstStudent Leaders: Sara Kuenzi and Jordan PerlmutterStudents choose the artwork, photography andwriting that will be published as well as design Penpoint liter-ary magazine.

RoboticsSponsors: Bob Stewart, Charlene Mankameyer and Deborah MayerMembers design and build a robot to compete at a regional competition.

Science OlympiadSponsor: Ziba VossoughiStudent Leaders: Mike Marcus and Ryan ThomasMembers participate in science-related competitions

Spanish ClubSponsor: Alicia RobertsCurrent and former Spanish students meet to discussSpanish language and culture.

Spirit ClubSponsor: Drew Magwire and Katie MelcherStudent Leaders: Drew Goodger, Lucas Karlin, Natalie Lutz, Elizabeth Nelson, Chase Quarnstrom, Jessica Tingle and Taryn VogelMembers help to run pep assemblies as well as support the clubs and teams at Northwest.

Junior Caleb Amundson talks through a megaphone before The Walk, an event hosted by Coali-tion to support Invisible Children.

Northwest graduate Cassie Jones, senior Sara Irick and senior Michelle Landis make plans at a mural club meeting.

Northwest graduates Jessie How-ard and Chris Mansker speak at a Fellowship of Christian Athletes meeting.

CLUBS / 13

1 FOOTBALL Aaron Barnett

2 GIRLS’ GOLF John Reiff

3 CROSS

COUNTRY Van Rose

4 BOYS’

SOCCER Todd Boren

the new students’ guide to sports

FALL SPORTS

1 BOYS’ SWIMMING Scott Virden

2 BOWLING Britt Haney and

Lindsay Kincaid

GIRLS’ TENNIS 5 Ken Clow 1

GYMNASTICS 6 1

VOLLEYBALL 7Holly Davidson 6

CHEERLEADING 8Evelyn Thompson 1

3 WRESTLING

Howard Newcomb

4 CHEERLEADING (BASKETBALL)

Evelyn Thompson

5 BOYS’ BASKETBALL

Mike Rose

6 GIRLS’ BASKETBALL

Brian McIntosh

WINTER SPORTS

14 / AUG. 16, 2010

1 BOYS’ SWIMMING Scott Virden

2 BOWLING Britt Haney and

Lindsay Kincaid

YOU DON’T HAVE TO RUN FIVE MINUTE MILES OR MAKE THE GAME-WINNING SHOTS EVERY TIME TO HAVE A GOOD EXPERIENCE WITH ATHELETICS.

Honestly, I know next to nothing about sports. If I tried to talk about football plays or basketball coaching

strategy, everyone would laugh. I only go to football games be-cause all of my friends do, I have no idea what’s actually happen-ing on the field.

I’m also not very good at them. I probably can’t make a basket and there is a good chance you would beat me in a foot race of any length.

But none of that has stopped me from being involved in sports during two seasons of the year. In the fall, I am one of the slow-est cross country runners at Northwest. In the spring, I’m on the track team. I’ve tried sprinting, hurdles, long jump, high jump and triple jump and I’m really not all that good at any of them.

There is no way I’m going to college on an athletic scholar-ship. I will never even be a varsity competitor for cross country or track, but I still spend a couple of hours after school most days practicing and Saturday mornings or Thursday afternoons at meets. That’s a lot of time that I could be spending doing some-thing else, something I’m good at.

I still run because I’ve met some of my closest friends at cross country and track practice. I like going to practice. I have fun at meets. My coaches have taught me things that don’t fit into any teacher’s curriculum. There are a million great things about sports.

You don’t have to play sports. I completely understand that they aren’t everyone’s thing. But know that if you want to play or run or jump, you don’t have to be a star athlete. /MARIA DAVISON

SPRING SPORTS

1 TRACK AND FIELD

Mike Cooper

2 GIRLS’ SOCCER

Todd Boren

3 BOYS’ GOLF

Jim Bamburg

4 GIRLS’ SWIMMING

Scott Virden

5 BOYS’ TENNIS

Ken Clow

6 BASEBALL

Richard Kuzydym

7 SOFTBALL

Anthony Kinney and

Lindsay Kincaid

SPORTS / 15

there’s no need to be a star athelete

“IT MAKES LIFE MORE FUN WHEN YOU HAVE SCHOOL SPRIT. IF YOU’RE EXCITED, OTHER PEOPLE WILL BE, TOO.” —Sara Osborne, Student Council President