Ready.

Staley High School | Kansas City, Mo.Volume VII Issue I | September 2014

2 Volume VII |Issue I

TOC/Staff Page

Table of Contents

(04)

OpinionPolicy Changes

Feature(06) Isaiah Rider

(08)

Homecoming Candidates

Fashion

Softball

Homecoming Football

Sports

Swim State Qualifiers

The Complete Homecoming Look

(10)

(12)

(14)

(15)

Feature

Sports

Talon is published quarterly during the school year. Talon will accept letters to the editor in CR202 or at cherie.burgett@nkcschools.org. Before the letter is published, we will need to verify the writer’s identity with a photo identification. Letters may not exceed a length of 350 words. We will not publish letters that are libelous, obscene or that may cause a verifiable disruption of the education process of Staley High School. Letters must be signed. Anonymous letters will be discarded. Advertisers may contact the business manager at cherie.burgett@nkcschools.org, (816) 413-4100 or at 2800 NE Shoal Creek Parkway, Kansas City, MO, 64156-1313.

Opinions expressed in Talon do not reflect the Talon staff’s endorsement of the products or services. Subscriptions are available, $20 for a mailed copy, $10 for an emailed pdf version, or $25 for both.

Talon is a member of NSPA, MIPA and Quill and Scroll. Talon is affiliated with JEA and JEMKC.

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Volume VII| Issue I 3

Letter from the Editors Everyone has

his or her own thoughts and ideas about what we should do with the magazine. We first started to realize this when we had to make original decisions including what size we should print, whether or not

to use glossy paper and who should fill each position on staff. Over time, we haven’t stopped

disagreeing. It often feels as if each and every decision we have to make comes down to acompromise between varying schools

of thought. The idea of listening to each person’s ideas is what has gotten us to this point. It feels great to release our first issue for this school year. It feels great to have met new people because of the magazine and for us to create lasting friendships, thanks to Talon. It feels great to be starting off this

new school year with great memories from the last, and big hopes for what’s to come. It is our hope that with all of these big ideas, we’ll be able to come to pleasing compromises that make each member of the staff excited to publish the magazine, and each reader content to open the latest issue of Talon and take a look at everything we have to of-fer. Love, Abbi Atwell and Paige Hawkins

Talon StaffEditor-in-ChiefAbbi Atwell

Managing EditorPaige Hawkins

Multimedia EditorBryttany Holovach

Lifestyles EditorSean Fender

Features EditorPaige Hawkins

Opinions EditorAbbi Atwell

Sports EditorSean Fender

Fashion EditorDallas Beaulieu

Photos EditorDestiny Wilborn

Copy EditorsMarissa HubbardAbbi Atwell

ReportersHafsa Sheikh-HusseinHannah CritesAdrianna McLeanAlayna LopezAmber Engle

PhotographersBrad SmithTiffany ThompsonJamil Thomas-NunnLogan DawsonKaleigh Bentz

Graphic ArtisitChase Vallejo

AdviserCherié Burgett

Table of Contents Photos by Tiffany Thompsonand Destiny Wilborn

Design by Abbi Atwell

Cover Photo by Keirceten Nelson

Editors Photo by Tiffany Thompson

4 Volume VII| Issue I

Opinion

Going into a new school year, change is expected but not always ap-preciated. A new sense of bitterness has taken over many returning stu-dents regarding the new polices changes and removal of perks from previous years. Even the underclassman who have never experienced the benefits of Fal-con Hour or tast-ed school food unbound by gov-ernment restric-tions are mourn-ing for their loss. While some of these don’t have an easy solution that will satisfy students, teach-ers and admin-istrators, acting like the problems don’t exist is not getting any clos-er to appeasing anyone.One of the most notable changes is the lack of

Falcon Hour and the introduction of Falcon Time. Despite the simi-lar name, the intervals are vastly different from each other, mainly regard-ing the involve-ment of food and overall time they take place. Falcon Hour, like the name suggests, was about an hour that stu-dents could eat, talk with friends and catch up on work unless as-signed to a class. Falcon Time is alike in the abil-ity to talk with friends and catch up on work, but is without what is considered a priority to so many students, food. With only a little over 20 minutes to rush through lunch lines and scarf down food, lunch is now a disliked time of chaos and isolation for

those unfortu-nate enough to have no friends in their lunch shift. Falcon Hour allowed a more relaxed pace for lunch, giving students more of a choice involving when to have their lunch. The issue with how Fal-con Hour ended was the circum-stances in which it was ended on. Obviously, the food fight played a role in its dis-appearance, but because of a lack of communica-tion, many think that to be the only reason. It’s not unreasonable to fix this mis-communication by laying out what went wrong last year and actually telling the students. Ig-norance, in this case, is certainly not giving any-one bliss. Lunch is now as healthy

and wasteful as ever. Little can be done about chang-ing government regulations by the food service or district, but nevertheless, at-tention should be brought to the overhear com-plaint. A simple solution to this seemingly dif-ficult problem is to reach out to students. Like the survey given last year, every couple of month’s students could be given the option to suggest foods to be served and voice their opinion on foods being served in the present. While this might not work budget-wise, being able to have a choice in what is be-ing served would be a step in the right direction for students.

Written by Marissa Hubbard

Breaking TraditionsPhoto by Destiny Wilborn

Volume VII| Issue I 5

Opinion

Attendance• Students were not

penalized for attendance unless there was an

outstanding number of missed days

Attendance• Ten specific categories of absences that are

excused• Students with lower than 90 percent

attendance will see their grades decrease in classes missed

• There is an appeal process for students who feel that privileges have been wrongly taken• There will be an opportunity for students to

earn back missed instructional hours

Food Changes• Fewer healthy options in vending

machines • Doughnuts, Pop Tarts and Hot

Cheetos were available in vending machines

Food Changes• Healthier varieties of food in vending

machines• 100-calorie cookies and pickles are

now available

“Falcon Hour”• An hour between 2nd and 3rd block

• If student had a D or an F in a class, they were directed to that teacher

• Use time to eat lunch and study

“Falcon Time”• A 29-minute period between 2nd and 3rd

block• Must be in a classroom or with a staff member• Students can still be

directed• Four lunch periods

during 3rd block

Graphics by Chase Vallejo Infographic by Hannah Crites and Adrianna McLean

6 Volume VII| Issue I

Feature

Mother and Son Fight to Be Reunited Story by Bryttany HolovachGraphic by Chase VallejoDesign by Paige Hawkins and Marissa Hubbard

Student Back in Kansas City But Not Home

Until April of last school year, junior Isaiah Rider attended Staley High School. That is when the state of Illinois removed him from his mother’s custody. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, where Isaiah was treated in 2014, made accusations of Munchausen Syndrome against his mother, Michelle Rider. Munchausen is when one fabricates or exaggerates about a patient’s condition. Isaiah suffers from neurofibromatosis, which is a disease that causes tumors to build on nerves throughout the body. Isaiah said he has had two surgeries on his left leg. The final surgery was in 2012, when just below his left knee was amputated. Michelle said that in January 2014, Isaiah began to have complications with

his leg; violent tremors began to happen. Lurie Children’s Hospital claimed the tremors were due to anxiety, said Michelle. However, the answer was not enough for her. When Isaiah was in pain, Michelle tried to get more pain medication, but Lurie Children’s Hospital refused, she said. When contacting Lurie Children’s Hospital about the situation, the response as “no comment.” During the situation, Michelle said she felt a sense of helplessness as things unfolded. “I just kept telling myself that everything was going to be alright, and I would get back home,” said Isaiah, who said he was shocked to learn he was removed from his mother’s custody. But there have been many things to

keep both Isaiah and Michelle strong while being apart. A major component has been the support from the community. Michelle said her “faith and support of family and friends” is what has kept her motivated, but the main force driving her is Isaiah. “Isaiah has been through so much. We’ve been through so much; he’s worth fighting for,” said Michelle. “I know I can’t give up because this situation has been unjust.” The community has been very supportive by participating in rallies and protests, Michelle said. She founded an organization, Team Isaiah, designated to spread awareness for parental rights and to be a voice for other families that have been in similar situations.

Team Isaiah has grown rapidly, according to Michelle, who said she hasn’t even had a chance to meet some of the people working daily on Isaiah’s behalf. “There has been so much love and support from Team Isaiah. I don’t know if I could’ve done it,” said Michelle. A new message has risen than what was initially planed for Team Isaiah. Once Michelle was put in this position as a parent, she said, her “eyes have open to other chil-dren this has happened to.” She also said it has given her more of a push to move forward with Team Isaiah. She said one of the reasons why most people have been put in the same situation is due to lack situation is due to lack of knowledge of con-stitutional rights. Even though one is taught to

Volume VII| Issue I 7

Feature

On Sept. 8, protesters for Team Isaiah stand outside the county Cook Juve-nile center in Chicago. The protest was to bring what they con-sidered to be justice on Isaiah’s behalf when he was taken out of custody. They were “trying to get justice about what has been done to his family,” said Denise Westphal, who us part of the Isa-iah Team.

Isaiah and Michelle Rider meet up, 2014

trust hospitals, parents should still stand up for their children or fam-ily, said Michelle. “It’s OK to stand together and say it’s not OK, because it is a con-stitutional right,” said Michelle. Even when cha-os struck, the bond between Michelle and Isaiah became stronger, she said. Recently, Isaiah was allowed to reside with his grandparents who live in Missouri. However, the state of Illinois still has cus-tody, according to the “Team Isaiah” Facebook page. While Missouri has cleared Michelle for custody, the state

of Illinois continues to negotiate with her and Lurie Children’s hospi-

tal, she said. For now, Isa-iah is going to a different school due to location of his grandparents being out of district. He also only gets super-vised visits with his mom until the court reaches

further decisions. The relocation was one step closer, but still she and Team Isaiah said they will be relentless in bringing justice until he returns home.

“There has been so much love and support from Team Isaiah.”

Kara’sLittle Quirk:“I hate when people touch my face.”

Mary’sLittle Quirk:“I have this crazy obsession with Jimmy Fal-lon.”

KaraBradshaw

MaryKeeney

LaurenFaitz

Lauren’sLittle Quirk:“I can’t fully raise my left arm.”

AlyssaAsper

Alyssa’sLittle Quirk:“I like to dance by myself in my room when no one’s watch-ing.”

BrookeVanSickle

Brooke’sLittle Quirk:“I have a weird eye flutter from when I got my concussion.”

“I will miss all the genuine, amazingpeople I’ve met. I’ll miss the all the greatmemories that were made.”

“I will miss all of the amaz-ing friends and teachers here and the positiveatmosphere.”

“I will miss all of the great friends I’ve made. I’ll miss all the things I’m involved in, too—you don’t get to experience things like them in college, and that breaks my heart.”

“I will miss all of the amazing peo-ple I have met throughout my four years here at Staley. Such great friends and teachers I will never forget, and I’m so thankful for all of them.”

“I’ll miss being in a classroom where I canactually get to know theteachers and classmates.Going off tocollege will be hard because I won’t know any-one.”

“Under the Big Top”Photos and Design by Abbi Atwell

AP Psychology teacher Scott An-derson played the fortune teller in the homecoming-reveal assembly. Anderson dressed in costume and wrote his own lines for the assem-bly. Anderson joked about assistant prin-cipal Fred Bouchard being “pretty.”Photos by Destiny Wilborn

Juniors Isabelle Perkarsky and Al-lison Paul dressed as clowns for the reveal. Paul and Perkarsky both helped with the assembly. “We were trying to involve the theme in the assem-bly,” said Paul.

Juniors Alexis Jensen and senior Carson Bowman were the emcees during the assembly Sept. 19. Bowman played the part of “ringmaster,” and Jensen was his assistant. “Trying to get everything ready was overwhelming but it was really fun,” said Jensen.

When it comes to homecoming, it’s all about lots of energy and fun memories that should be translated through your outfit, and the carnival theme opens the doors to all different kinds of styles.

Having already picked out your dress, the last step before walking out the door is crucial. Accessories are key to finishing off an outfit. You can never go wrong with simple and elegant bracelets and rings

that draw some attention to your new manicure. Also pairing silver or gold bracelets will help to bring out those colors in the dress, or mix and match to create a more dramatic look. If you have a

dress on the more simple side that’s a solid color, throwing on a statement necklace is another alternative. A bright, bold chunky necklace is great for enhancing the crisp, white dress that you have. To complete the whole look, the final piece to having a perfectly balanced outfit is the makeup. Keeping your skin flawless and fresh, now’s your time to experiment with a bright red lip or edgy, winged eyeliner. Focusing on one or the other will be picked up in the photos, leaving an effortless finish.

Add Final Details to Your Homecoming Look

Written by Dallas Beaulieu Design by Paige Hawkins and Dallas Beaulieu Photos by Tiffany Thompson

FinishingTouches

Men’s Final StepsBring Your Homecoming Look Together

Tie: The main thing to keep in mind when putting on the tie is to keep it sleek. You also want to put in the effort of coordinating the colors with your date’s dress.

Belt: The belt is a simple, key piece to the overall look, and keeping it clean and crisp will enhance the suit as a whole.

Cologne: The last step before you are fully finished is to apply the scent without overdoing it.

The begin-ning of the school year has passed, and that means only one thing: homecom-ing is coming up. It’s right around the corner. The girls are buying dresses, and the guys are asking the girls. Students do a lot to prepare for the dance and also for the homecoming football game. The foot-ball players have a little bit of different story, however. As they may be ask-ing their dates to the dance, they also have another thing to prepare for: homecoming. Other than building up the nerves to ask a girl

to the dance, they have the homecom-ing game. “For the homecoming game, we don’t really do anything special or different to prepare,” said head coach Fred Bouchard. “We do, however, like the fact that students can dress up, and maybe we can get a good crowd.” Even though there isn’t any change to prepara-tion, homecoming itself is a big event, and so the football game is important to many people. The student section is powerful in cheer-ing, and being at the game is one thing the team looks for-

ward to. “This game has a label, and that’s what makes it better,” said senior Ali Harb. “The dif-ference is the at-mosphere the stu-dents and parents bring. People know its homecoming, so they’ll make a big deal out of it.” The atmo-sphere for the play-ers is what helps to push them, and the fact that it’s home-coming helps the at-mosphere out. This is what the players look for, and especially the seniors. “It’s a really important game to us,” said senior Mar-quis McIntosh. “We always

want to win, but no one wants to lose their homecoming game, and for the seniors, it’s our last year, and we’d like the legacy of winning the homecoming game.” For the game this year, the team plays North Kansas City High School. Last seasons game against North Kan-sas City resulted in a 45-8 win for Staley. “They are the oldest school in the district, so it’s like a old versus new type of game,” Bouchard said.

Getting ReadyPlayers Prepare for Homecoming Game Against Hornets Written by Sean FenderDesign by Paige Hawkins

At the start of the game against Raymore-Peculiar on Aug. 29, the football team runs onto the field ready to defeat the Pan-thers. The team brought home an 18-17 victory over the Panthers. “The atmosphere from the homecoming game is always a lot different from any other game; there is just a lot more pressure to win,” said senior Tim Warren. Photos by Keirceten Nelson

Volume VII| Issue I 12

What They Wear

Home Away

Student Section

During the game against Liberty North on Sep. 12, senior Courtney Crisafulli cheers from the student section. The student section gets decked out in America-themed ap-parel for the game, which ended with a 28-17 win. “When you’re in the student section, you really feel everyone come together,” said Crisafulli.

Cheering during the blackout game against Raymore-Peculiar High School Aug. 29, junior Ariel Konyalioglu faces the student section. “Cheering during the homecoming game is always so much more exciting,” said Kony-alioglu.

Design by Paige HawkinsPhotos by Keirceten Nelson and Logan Dawson

“We just learned our rou-tine on Monday, so we’re

working on perfecting that before the big homecom-

ing assembly. I can’t wait.” -Senior, Amy Potthast,

Emeralds

“The homecoming game is one of the most excit-

ing games to cheer at. The student section seems to be more involved and up-beat.” -Senior, Alli Jeske,

Cheerleading

What the Performers Have to Say

“We’re all so excited to be a part of all the homecom-ing festivity such as spirt week and just seeing ev-

eryone all pumped up with Staley spirt.”

-Freshman, Susan Stock, Diamonds

“This is my first time experiencing homecoming and being a part of it, and it’s been great so far.” -

Freshman, Angel Newman, Band

Graphics by Paige Hawkins

Joining the crowd in their traditional kickoff cheer during the game against Raymore-Peculiar on Aug. 29 is senior Matthew Ludwig. The fans painted themselves black for the blackout theme that night. “I’ve been grow-ing up with most of these guys since kindergarten, so the student section is a great way to show them support,” said Ludwig.

Showing her support in the student section during the Sept. 12 game against Liberty North High School, senior Julianna Harrell raises her arms, along with the rest of the crowd, to prepare for kickoff. Fans brought Americana gear for the night’s theme. “I have so much pride in our school and love showing it through supporting all of the school activities,” said Harrell.

Volume VII| Issue I 13

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After winning the tournament in Joplin, Mo., the varsity softball team is continuing to bring in wins. Their overall wins are 16 with three losses as of Sept. 23. The girls are faster this year, giving more opportunities for plays where speed is a key factor, like stealing bases, according to head coach Jairus Tapp. Tapp, who has coached the team for seven years, said the season has gone exceptionally well so far. “The girls are stepping up. They seem very self motivated,” said Tapp. “They want to be undefeated.” Games are scheduled very close to each other,

leaving little time to actually practice.

The team practices 19 times before their first game and six times after, according to Tapp. “We normally do hitting, fieldwork, situational stuff and a

little bit of pitching,” said senior Kinsey Kiser. With games going back to back, practice can be hard to come by, but for some of the players, it’s what happens off the field that matters the most. “We have team bonding outside of softball,” said senior Jena Holt. “Even on the field, all of us are good friends.” A superstition has taken over the team and has yet to fail this season. The girls will warm up the same way and keep things like seats and lineup position as similar as possible. “We sit in the same spots in away games and sometimes listen to the same music,” said Holt, who prefers to wear the same bow to every game. The team’s skill and overall chemistry between players will possibly give them advantage in reaching their goal of conference champs and possibly beyond. “I think we all have gotten a lot closer,” said senior Ashley Caldarella. “We are ready to go out there and win.”

Softball Starts Strong

Senior Ashley Caldarel-la returns to the

dugout after the first inning on Sept. 9. The team played against

Oak Park High School. “We’ve beat teams we haven’t beaten before,”

said Caldarella. “I’m hoping we’ll keep it

going.”

During the line-up an-nouncements, senior Kinsey Kiser high-fives her team-

mates. “This is the best start we have ever had. It’s been a great season, and I’m ex-

pecting it to get even better,” said senior Carly Russell.

After catching the third strike, senior Libby Schrick throws the ball back to the pitcher. “It felt amazing to

beat Kearney and Lib-erty for the first time ever

in Staley history,” said Schrick. “We have made

many great memories and there are more to come.”

Waiting for her turn to bat, sophomore Jen Harvey watches her

teammates from in front of the dugout. “We have great leadership from our senior class that

has helped us come so far this season,” said

Harvey.

Getting into batting position, senior Ashley Caldarella pre-pares to hit the ball. “It was amazing going undefeated for so long. Also hitting a home run agaist Kearney

was amazing. I couldn’t ask for a better senior class to spend this season with.”

Self-Motivated Team Makes Difference

Written by Marissa HubbardDesign and Graphic by Paige HawkinsPhotos by Destiny Wilborn

Volume VII| Issue I 14

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Making a Splash

Junior Saul Arm-endariz is Staley’s only diver on the

boys team. He is new to diving this year.

“I’m starting to move on to more difficult dives in order to

score higher,” said Armendariz.

Sophomore Jason Schlaud is a state

qualifier in the medley relay, as well as the 100 backstroke. “We are giving it every-

thing we’ve got,” said Schlaud.

The boys medley relay team has qualified for state competition. This

year, state will be held on Nov. 7 and 8. ”State’s a huge meet,” said senior John Pittala. “It’s at the end of the year, and es-

pecially being a senior, it’s what I’ve been working

for.”

Senior Daniel Maynard qualified for state in the 200m free style and the 100m breast stroke at a dual meet against Platte County High School and Park Hill South. Maynard also qualified for the 100 freestyle at a meet against St. Joe Central. In the 100 backstroke, sophomore Jason Schlaud qualified for state competition in the 100 backstroke at the dual meet. The boys’ swim and dive team includes a four-person, 200m-medley relay team, comprised of Schlaud, junior Collin Duffy, Maynard and senior John Pittala.

“It’s been great. I couldn’t have asked for a better group of guys,” said Pittala. Duffy said he is glad to have some people on the team who will be around next year. “There are some younger guys on the relay, too,” said Duffy. “It’s going to be a good year, for sure.”In addition to afternoon practices, the swim team meets before school for extra practices. “If you’re there, everyone respects you because you’re swimming and working just as hard as everybody else,” said Pittala.

Showing up to practice even when it’s difficult earns the boys on the team lots of respect from fellow teammates, according to Pittala. “Morning practices are amazing. It gives me motive to get up at 5 o’clock in the morning, and I’m seeing a lot of improvement in times, especially in sprints,” said Pittala.With state competition coming up in November, the team will be changing their strategy at practice in order to prepare for the larger competition. “Tapering” is a nickname for cutting down the

distances at practice before important competitions in order to build up energy. The work that the relay team has been putting in could be one of the main reasons that they are now state qualifiers. “I think we can get top eight, in one of our relays for sure,” said Schlaud. “I’m not quite sure where we’ll get in there, because you just don’t know how the competition’s going to do this year.” Everyone on the team has to put in work at meets and practices to help the entire team be successful and to create a sense of unity and team.

Swimmers Find Early SuccessDesign by Paige Hawkins Photos by Destiny Wilborn and Abbi AtwellWritten by Abbi Atwell

Volume VII| Issue I 15

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Volume VII||Issue I 1