Epic Isuue 1 2010

the epicfreshmanschoolsurvivalguide

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----->shawnee mission west 2010

2 THE EPIC ISSUE 0.5

“High school is what you make of it!” -- Ava Clark, junior

table ofcontents3

19181716151413121110

987654freshmen mentor program

101 things to do before you graduate intro

101 things to do before you graduate

101 things to do before you graduate cont.

important things with dani la londe

etc. etc. etcetera

the ultimate guide to: sports

the ultimate guide to: sports cont. // fan guide

admins & counselors

5 ways to survive lunch

official school map

student map

memory lane

ads

club guide

smw traditions

epic staff// important dates to remember

AUGUST 16, 2010 THE EPIC 3

“When you’re a sophomore stay out of the senior lot!” -- Trevor Ricketts, senior

The Epic is the newsmagazine of Shaw-nee Mission West, 8800 W. 85th St., Overland Park, KS 66212. It is produced by a staff high school journalists dedi-cated to the principles of journalism: to present facts truthfully and without bias. Articles of opinion or analysis are labled and do not necessarily reflect the views of the staff and/or the publication.

In accordance with Kansas law, the Epic staff is entitled to freedom of the press. Neither the West administration nor the SMSD are responsible for any article, advertisement, photograph, il-lustration, or piece in the Epic.

The Epic encourages letters to the ed-ior, but they must be signed and submit-ted to room 11. The Epic is published bi-monthly. It is printed by the SMSD and is distributed free of charge to students. For advertising information call (913) 993-7911.

editor-in-chieflana fanous

assistant editorsscott holmdani la londeelizabeth stephan

features editorsmichael higginswhitney knightlyalex leininger

sports editordan prem

news editorchris brown

opinion/a&e editorkatherine mcgowan

photog editorpreston felgate

copy editorterri harvey

web editortimothy dodderidge

ads managermatt smith

staffalison bailescourtney lichtenbergercord powell

adviseramy morgan

august16

17

viking voyagejoin your fellow 9th graders and enjoy a mixer while your parents attend an informa-tional meeting @ 7-9 pm

all grade first daymake way for 10-12th graders as they attend their first day of school

black & gold nightfall sports will kick off the season with an informational meeting for parents and athletes. not involved in a fall sport? support your vikings and buy some spirit wear near the bridge from 7-9 pm

24

EPIC STAFFcalendar


“Get invovled and find yourself a place in the West family!” -- Kaitlin Beeman, senior

Bright Shirts,

84.The number sounds random and odd,

but it is the difference between a terrify-ing first year of high school and a smooth, productive one.

There are 84 upperclassmen all part of the freshmen mentor program or FMP. The FMP program was started four years ago by Dr. Julia Crain, formerly associate principal, whom is now at Broadmoor.

“The initial intentions were the same as today -- we wanted to create a smooth transition for our 9th graders as they moved from the middle school to the high school setting,“ Karen Tritt, FMP sponsor, said.

These mentors went through an ap-plication process, evaluations and an inter-view. They were judged on their attitude, involvement and academic standing.

The program is led by Tritt and a five-person exec-board, consisting of seniors Canaan Coker, Allyson Hall, Travis Thomsen, as well as juniors Megan Under-wood, and Jacob Schnackenberg.

This first day for freshmen-only was put in place for various reasons, but for the most part to make freshmen feel more comfortable.

“Seniors can be very intimidating to freshmen. So this freshman-only day gives the class of 2014 an opportunity to become acquainted with the building, the cafeteria, their lockers, the locations of restrooms, etc. in a much less stressful environment,” Tritt said.

“This summer we probably met three times to plan for FMP training day and the freshmen only first day of school,“ Coker said.

As this year begins to unfold, the board,

as well as the mentors are focusing on involving freshmen in competitions and activities led by mentors.

“We want to grab the freshmen’s atten-tion and involement with the competitions. This will give them more of a motive to participate. It will also show them that we are serious are our seminars,” Coker said.

The program has had a profound im-pact on students, including Matt Franchett, sophomore.

“They helped make the transition really easy,” Franchett said.

Part of the reason the impact is so great is because the mentors try and build rela-tionships with all of their freshmen.

“We want to focus on being very per-sonable with the freshmen so we can develop a good relationship,” Coker said.

Only time will tell if these 84 men-tors can pro-vide the support the class of 2014 needs to suceed in the crazy world called high school.

The Freshman Mentor Program strives to ease the transition into the halls of high school

Executives Allyson Hall and Canaan Coker sport their 2009-2010 FMP t-shirts. PHOTO BY PRESTON FELGATE

by michael higgins

Kind Words


“E.L.E.- Everybody Love Everybody!” -- Abby Holliman, sophomore

110things to

before yougraduatedo1. Run for a StuCo position

2. Earn a West Way parking pass

3. Paint your face for a football game

4. Go to the Homecoming Parade

5. Read EVERY issue of the Epic

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It’s the first day of your freshman year in high school. Contrary to belief highschool isn’t only to ready ourselves for what comes next, but to get involved and believe it or not, to have fun!

When it comes to getting involved, the possibilities are endless. So to save you a little time the Epic staff has compiled a list of the most important 101 things to do before you gradu-ate. Some are silly, some are serious and some will come with a challenge.

So use this list to take ad-vantage of your next four years because they will truly go by fast and these opportunities won’t find you!

by lana fanous | katherine mcgowan


“Don’t challenge the upperclassmen, they will win.” -- Dakota Hill, junior

6. Look at Paul Rudd’s signature in the auditorium

28. Go to a Cross Country meet

27. Take a fun art class

26. Go on a field trip

25. Buy warm Otis Spunkmeyer cookies in the cafeteria

24. Run to lunch on chicken nugget day

23. Swim in the pool

22. Get to know your counselor

21. Challenge yourself and take an honors class

20. Take beginning Radio & TV

19. Eat lunch on the bridge

18. Go to Writer’s Walk

17. Eat lunch on the bridge

16. Participate in Beatnik Cafe

15. Attend a musical

14. Explore the caves

13. Try out for a school play

12. Cheer on choir at Spotlight Spectacu-lar

11. Take a class from Mr. Walker

10. Sneak into the cages

9. Stand in the student section at a basket-ball game

8. Watch the Golden Girls at Spring Show

7. Go to atleast one of each school dance

43. Get a yearbook EVERY YEAR

42. Volunteer yourself at a Pep Assembly

41. Take an AP test

40. Raise awareness and participate in the walk for coalition

39. Attend Rock for Hope sponsored by NHS

38. Try out for Radio & TV’s Lip Sync Show

37. Try out for a winter sport

36. Join a club you never thought you would join

35. Hug Victor Viking

34. Climb the rock wall

32. Enjoy free milk and cinnamon rolls on the bridge before finals

33. Dress up for Heart of the West Week

31. Buy candy to support Senior Sizzle on the Bridge

30. Talk to the lunch ladies

29. Ride your bike to school

50. Support West at a swim and dive meet

49. Go to Drumline’s show in the Spring

48. Watch a Westside show

47. Pull an all-nighter for a school project

46. Donate cans for StuCo’s annual can drive

45. Apply to be a part of NHS

44. Try out to be a freshman mentor

Find anything interesting yet?

Don’t worry, you’re almost halfway done!


“Get involved with as many groups as you can! Make new friends and enjoy you next four years.” -- Kayla Grodzicki, senior

57. Catch a t-shirt at a football game

56. Go out to breakfast on a late start day

55. Visit the art gallery

54. Be a part of the Junior vs. Senior Powderpuff game

53. Go to a Girl’s basketball game

52. Sit on “the chair” in Mrs. Flurry’s

51. Join a team for the StuCo dodgeball tournament

84. Memorize the world in Mrs. Benolkin’s class

83. Enjoy a self made meal in advanced foods

82. Design something new in woods class

81. Actually read an entire book for English

80. Make a float for the Homecoming parade

79. Eat lunch outside in the courtyard

78. Help out at Future Viking Fun night

77. Go to Band’s Spaghetti Dinner

76. Attend the Robotic’s pancake breakfast

75. Cheer on the players at a soccer game

74. Dance at an after party

73. Stay for the band’s flashlight show after the football game

72. Run around the track

71. Attend a Viking baseball game

70. Thank the janitors for their hard work

69. Convince a teacher into an unneces-sary class party

68. Talk to Mr. Dory about his college days

67. Help out at West Beautification Day

66. Go to a DECA charity basketball game

65. Take a foreign language class

64. Go to Jazz on the Bridge

63. Dance to the minute music on your way to class

62. Donate blood during the Blood Drive

61. Throw mud at Young Life’s Muckfest

60. Do something to get yourself in the yearbook

59. Cheer on the track team at a meet

58. Deck yourself out in black and gold for a sporting event

97. Make the honor roll

96. Try to get through Time Square with-out touching anyone

95. Watch ROTC perform at a Pep As-sembly

94. Go to a bowling match

93. Take Writer’s Workshop

92. Contribute to “Hot or Not” in the Epic

91. Take a silly I.D. picture

90. Start a snowball fight in the parking lot after school

89. Look into Broadmoor for unique class options

88. Play putt putt in Dory’s class

87. Participate in Mathletics

86. Get to know the Attendance Secretaries

85. Try out for Pep Club

Ask someone to a dance in a creative way

100. Buy a whole pizza on the bridge

99. Go an entire school day without texting

98. Dissect an animal in a science class

101


“Be chill and you won’t have any problems with anyone.” -- Andrew Canon, junior

To whom it may concern (that being you, freshmen)

I would like to give you a short account of some the things I did these past years in high school. Hopefully they will guide you in the correct way.

Freshman yearI was very nervous but excited. I want-

ed to be heard, as so many of us do, but I wasn’t sure how to do that without getting into trouble like in middle school. I want-ed to make a name for myself. I was naïve enough to believe that everyone and every teacher wanted to hear my opinion and anything else I had to say.

Sadly that’s not the case.I learned that when, let’s say, a teacher

gives you a C in Team Games, and you just don’t agree, choose your words very care-fully. Do NOT get angry and/or give any sarcastic comments on the subject. Just calmly state your case.

It’s like walking through a room when it’s pitch black- Either you smoothly glide through the room (your teacher really did make a mistake and graded you wrong) or you step on your cat (your teacher is just a vindictive evil monster who hated you the moment he saw you and will keep the ex-tremely undeserved C emblazoned in the grade book.)

In which case you have to move on or you’ll give yourself a headache.

At the start of the year I did every as-signment but somewhere around Hallow-een I realized that I’m here for three more years so I can slack a bit. I’m not going to lie, I didn’t study for a single test until junior year and I made it through with mostly A’s.

Sophomore yearNot that this is from personal experi-

ence but if you get Saturday School for some ridiculous reason let me warn you: it’s boring. You will NOT meet four other kids with deep emotional problems and spend the day dancing and bearing your soles to each other.

It’s NOTHING like that. You will sit in the cafeteria in silence and do homework. Ironically, during my stint we talked about “The Breakfast Club.”

Junior yearThe year I realized I couldn’t just pre-

tend to do my work anymore, I actually had to do it. Well most of it. I would advise any-one who is planning on taking Mr. Walker’s AP US History class to speak up. Class is less awkward, infinitely more tolerable and yes, even interesting if you speak up and participate. Just don’t be annoying. My class didn’t figure this out until second semester; we just sat in our seats quietly and shuffled our papers around. And, for the first time in my life, I had to study. It’s actually a good class, you don’t just learn boring textbook stuff, a good portion is funny stories about all the respectable men of our history. It could come in handy if you’re ever on Jeop-ardy.

Sadly, for AP English you can’t just get by on Spark Notes. There are so many essays that involve quotes from the actual book. I will confess that I couldn’t get through “The Scarlet Letter” without Cliff ’s Notes. After that it’s just reading book after book. The best ones were “The Adventures of Huck-leberry Finn” which I’m pretty sure no one else liked, and the “The Great Gatsby.” I think my class was the only one not to read “The Catcher in the Rye” but it is one of the best and most brilliant books on the face of the Earth so don’t knock it till you try it.

The worst book of all time is “Nickel and Dimed.” Ask anyone.

Senior yearWell it doesn’t officially start until to-

morrow. I’m really not looking forward to ACT, SAT, college and scholarship applica-tions and essays. I have no clue what I want to do in college or where I want to go.

It’s embarassing and it strains me a lot

important with

dani la londesome good intentioned advice

things


“Being involved is the best way to leave a mark on West!” -- Michael Garret, senior

Sup, froshbabies. Ready to endure every heinous rumor ever told about high school? An upperclassman shoving you into a lock-er, an intimidating jock tripping you in the lunchroom, maybe even a classic swirly in the bathrooms by the gym? Enjoy this single day of solitude for once tomorrow comes and 1500 more kids swarm through the doors… you’re doomed.

Just kidding, absolutely NONE of this will happen to you at West. High school has an overrated appearance as a place you should fear and escape as soon as possible. Whatever you do, don’t come into West with that mindset. High school gives you opportunities you haven’t been able to ex-perience in any grade thus far. Whether it be found in sports, theater or music, you’ll

find your niche and a place where you can fit in. So leave your big-shot eighth grade arrogance in middle school and prepare to find your real self.

Listen to every cliché you hear about High School because believe it or not, it re-ally does go by faster than you could ever imagine. I can still think back to my fresh-man schedule, yet here I am starting my se-nior year. I don’t feel like there is any way I could be at the top of the school, yet here I am. And here you’ll be one day too. So don’t let opportunities pass you by; make it a goal to experience everything you can that West has to offer. Don’t be so shy that you never ask your crush to a dance, or too in-timidated to try out for your favorite sport. High School’s all about putting yourself out there and stretching the limits to find out your potential.

Never convince yourself you’re not good enough for something and NEVER com-pare yourself to anyone else’s success. Envy is a waste of time, dears. Create your own goals and your own successes and live the life you love for the next four years. Enjoy your freshman year!

etc.katherinemcgowan

to say but I kind of envy some kids a bit that they have known since they were born that they are going to KU, no exception. They just have to fill out one application. Al-though it would suck to HAVE to go there if you weren’t interested.

The saddest part of the year will be the beginning because inevitably one of my teachers will insist on knowing what every-

one did over the summer and all I have to say is that I read like 11 books and I saw “Inception” in theatres about a million times.

Life should be looking up soon.Good luck.

Only 12 pages left for American History tomorrow!Oh no! There are no pictures!

SaturdaySchool

8-11 AMTop 5 Things I Might Want to Do...1. ?2. ?3. ?4. ?5. Join the Peace Corps...

etc.etcetera

written by


“Sometimes it’s the smallest decisions that can change your life forever.” -- Jeff Fetzer, senior

the ultimate guide to:Sports are a big part of our school whether you participate or support them. Take an inside look at some of the main sports that are offered and how each will start of their next seasons according to last year’s finish.

Outlook: The football team’s strength will continue to be the O-Line and the backfield. Returning starters Connor Askren, Cordi Pas-cal, and Will Livingston will look to shine. Three year starter at quarter-back DJ Balaz is graduated, so new QB Drew Humphrey’s will take over.

Outlook: The girl’s basketball team will be returning with 6 seniors in-cluding first team All-Sunflower League performers Lizzy Jeronimus and Brooke Katterhenry. They will look to return to state after a one year absence.

Outlook: The boy’s basketball team will be returning along with several key components from the 2009-2010 team. They will try to build on their early season success such as their four overtime victory over Shawnee Mission East.

by dan prem | matt smith

Head Coach: Scott Aldrich

Experience: 1st yearPrevious Record: 17-5

Head Coach: Tim Callaghan

Experience: 8th seasonPrevious Record: 8-2

Head Coach: Mike Brinsko

Experience: 10th yearPrevious Record: 10-11

DAVID HOWELL

DAVID HOWELL

ALYSSA PARSONS


Being a fan takes a lot of enery, it takes committment and it takes dedication. Rumors of this year having a poor fan base should be entirely false. As a whole we need to be louder than any other year to come and that is for all sports, it’s for the whole game, and it’s for the whole year.

As freshman you guys will contol the back of the stands. This doesn’t mean you don’t have to yell. The back is one of the most important parts of the stands, it anchors the crown, it adds that extra sound

that could change the outcome of a game. Your guy’s job is to yell and that’s it. Don’t start chants and dont come in full body paint. Last of all what ever you do, don’t sit down in the middle of the game.

“It’s the best four years of your life, thus far don’t hold back and have fun!” -- Alyssa Parsons, senior

Head Coach: Rick Rogers

Experience: 11th year

Head Coach: Todd Reed

Experience: 11th yearPrevious Record: 12-9

Outlook: Most promising events in-clude the school record holding girls 4x800, boys 4x400, and boys 4x800 team. Notable returners include Chloe Weck, Jamie Escrich, Jordan Chapman, and Jason Crow. With a good display at state last year, another good future could be ahead for the track team.

Outlook: During the 08-09 cam-paign the team was the state runner up. Last season the baseball team lost in the regional championship to the state winner of the 2010 sea-son. The upcoming season there will be eight returning players, five of which are returning starters. There will also be a new assistant coach but the decision has yet to be made.

PRESTON FELGATE

freshmanFANguideth

e

smwest sports

ELAINE ODUM


“Get involved, it makes time fly by!” -- Megan Herbers, junior

admins & counselors

by alex leininger | timothy dodderidge | photos by preston felgate

“Pay attention to the upperclassmen so you can try to not make the mistakes they did.”

Dr. Charles McLean

Rick Rogers Mary Lea KiefferCindy Neely

Laura HicksChris Foster Counselor A-E

Associate Principal

Principal

Tommie Davis

Connie SpringfieldErica WarrenKeith BurgatAssociate PrincipalAssociate Principal

Counselor N-S Counselor L-M, ELL

Counselor F-K Social WorkerCounselor T-Z

“Be organized and get involved.”

Enjoy being a Viking while you can and take advantage of what West has to offer.”

“Stay positive and look towards planning a career, as academics are the most important thing.”

“Try something new.” “Have fun because it goes fast. Get in-volved in order to meet new people.”

“Get actively involved in school, especially in extra-

curricular activities.”

“Set academic goals for yourself, because you’ll do better in classes and be on top of everything.”

“Use your seminar time wisely.”

“Don’t be afraid to ask for help.”

Meet your administrators & counselors as they give their most important advice on how to succeed in high school.

1) There are four lines to buy lunch! - There is an a-la-cart line in the cafeteria along with a regular lunch line. The a-la-cart line is the furthest left as you walk into the cafeteria, while the regular lunch line is the one on the right side. The a-la-cart line usually moves a little faster and has a larger va-riety, but is more expensive. There are also two lines on the bridge where you can purchase pizza and other snacks.

2) Track down friends to sit with prior to lunch! - Before lunch or while en route to lunch, try to track down a few friends or buddies to stand with in line and sit with. Staying with a group of your peers eliminates the potential awkwardness of the first week of lunch and is usually a successful strategy for an enjoyable eating experi-ence.


five ways to surviveLUNCHNervous about your first day of lunch

in high school? Follow these five quick and easy steps to lunchroom success.

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Everyday, just before noon, the halls fill with students and faculty eager to stake their claims for positions in the lunch line along with their favorite table.

Even though lunch is usually one of the best parts of the day, it can sometimes be difficult to master. Here are five tips to help survive your first day of lunch.

3) A strategically located table is key! - Usually, seniors sit at the first row of round tables closest to the registers, juniors in the row behind them, followed by sophomores and then freshmen. The rectangular tables on the sides of the lunchroom are fair game for all grades. Use strategy #2 to help secure a good table with many of your friends.

4) Avoid challenging upper-classmen to races on chicken nug-get day! - It’s no secret that chicken nugget day is one of the most popular, if not the most popular lunch choice. However, on chicken nugget day, the bridge resembles the Kansas Speedway more than it does a hallway. Avoid trying to run and claim your first place spot in line (it’s nearly impossible) and instead, wait patiently. There is enough for everyone, we promise!

5) Otis Cookies are delec-table! - To the right of the regular lunch line is the snack bar that serves anything from ice cream to small sandwiches. However, what they are known for is the melted cookies that are available on top of the silver freezer. These cookies are the most popular dessert item available and there is always a long line, so either buy them early, or wait.

These five steps are proven to ef-fectively work and provide an en-joyable lunchroom experience the first week of school. Good Luck!

by chris brown

“Don’t let what people think and say about you define who you are.” -- James Eyestone, senior


“Don’t ever step on the Viking in Time Square and know your Alma Mater.” -- Brandon Nichols, junior

Over the next four years, you’ll come to learn the components of the building-the wind-ing halls, the mysteriously ordered rooms, the “bridge” that’s no longer a real bridge. This is the official SMSD approved school map. It will help you find your classrooms, the practically hidden “little theatre,” and-hopefully-which staircase will take you to World Geography.

official map


“Go to all of the after parties, it will be the best decision you will ever make.” -- PD Delaney, sophomore

by alison bailes

student mapStudents know that this school has much more to it than just rooms and hallways, as represented by this student version map. It includes all the important locations in the school (with a few helpful hints) that streetwise freshmen need to know for a successful first year.

16 THE EPIC ISSUE 0.5“The school chili is poisonous, beware.” -- Charlie King-Hagen, junior

memory lane

by terri harvey

As freshman, you may find yourself embarrassed during your first year. But don’t take it too seriously, everyone’s had embarrassing moments that seem like the end of the world. Even the upperclassmen have humiliated themselves in their previous years .

“I was trying to scare one of

my friends at the drinking

fountain, so I ran up to it

and there was water under

it, so I totally wiped out and

ended up underneath it; and

go figure, a group of senior

guys were standing right

there and laughed at the

whole thing.”

Chrissy Koepke, seniorJarret Goodman, sophomore

“At lunch one day freshman year, I picked up my tray with all my dirty plates and I tripped and it spilled all over me and everyone laughed at me.”

Becca Samuelson, junior

“First day of freshman year, when we were getting ready to tour the building with our mentors, my contact got lost somewhere inside my eye and I had to go to the nurse and it took five minutes to find it and I missed pretty much all of the tour.”

Troy Arellanes, senior

“I remember freshman year when I was playing JV baseball and we struck a guy out and as I was throwing it around the horn, I tripped and fell and threw the ball into left field.”

Sam Whiteman, junior

Haleigh Bingham, sophomore

“I used to never use my locker during freshman year, so I kept all my books in my backpack and it was so heavy that by the third week of school, it was so heavy that I fell down the stair-case backwards.”

“One day after seventh

block I was in a hurry to

get to swim practice, so I

was rushing up the stairs

and I fell on my face in

front of everyone. They

all laughed at me and

my friends still tease me

about it to this day.”

“Try everything that West has to offer, you wont know what you really enjoy until you have done it.” -- James Clayton, senior


Please be eco-friendly and recycle

the Epic

Thank You

Letters to the Ed-itors are accepted and encouraged.

We will print any signed let-

ter. They may be edited for length

and clarity.

color the vikinghead!


club guide

“Be confident and smile.” -- Hannah Sailer, senior

by elizabeth stephan

With all of the clubs at West, it can be a little intimidating to choose. Here is an easy way to determine which group you should join.

If you like- Community ServiceJAWS, NHS, SADD AND NSHS encourage students to become involved in their school and their community through service opportunities. PrerequisitesNHS- Juniors and seniors with a 3.5 GPA or higherSNHS- Enrollment in Spanish 5 or 6 with an A in at least 5 semesters, and a 3.5 GPA overall.

If you like- Foreign CulturesFrench, German, and Spanish Clubs want students to embrace foreign cultures through food, dance, film, etc. Coalition raises awareness and fundraises for local and global is-sues.

If you like- Business and TechnologyDECA and BPA introduce students to the business world with projects, competitions and professional meetings. Robotics encourages student’s interest in the field of robotics, and allows students to participate in building and competitions.

If you like- Writing, Photography, DesignEpic, Saga and Out of Hand allow students to have a major role in the production of the newspaper, yearbook and the yearly literary magazine. Students learn how to improve their writing, designing or photography skills through an authentic print experience. PrerequisitesEpic- Journalism 1

If you like- Performing Arts and TheatreAll of these clubs support student’s interests in pursuing the arts and improving their skills through classes and concerts or productions.

If you like- Government and Student LeadershipStuco and Pep Club give students a hands on approach to managing the major activi-ties, such as organizing dances and pep assemblies, and representing the student body’s concerns and ideas.


Every year fall sports, clubs, and groups of faculty members compete in try-ing to build the most totally rad float of the parade. For those of you not involved with a float, you are encouraged to walk along side the parade. You won’t be forced to go, but if not for anything else it’s good exercise and a chance to be the spirited Viking we know you are! After following the marching band’s lead and parading down Santa Fe Drive and into Downtown Overland Park, the parade eventually stops at the gazebo for the much anticipated pep-rally put on by the football team. The pep-rally will be geared towards the team’s intention of beating a fellow Sun-flower League team until said team yells “uncle” and waves the white flag. After the pep rally, everything abruptly ends and you are free to make your way home.

Taking place before WPA in February, Heart of the West Week serves as one of the biggest events of the school year for creating and maintaining school spirit. Stream-ers, posters, and other forms of fancy décor will embellish the walls with Viking spirit. The only thing left to do is to fill the actual hallways with that spirit! Thus, every day of the week is designated a costume theme: PJ/hat day, beach day, profession day and movie star day. Also, by filling out a “Matchmaker” you can fall into the arms of fate and see who in the school is destined to be your soul mate or BFF. A teacher pep assembly and faculty-served breakfast on the Bridge are also fan favorites. Fulfilling West’s hunger for spirit doesn’t just happen, it requires participation. That means you, too-cool-to-dress up kid, because, honestly, no one is too cool for Heart of the West Week!

viking traditions

As freshmen, you are no longer the rulers of the school. It won’t matter if you call shot-gun because most of the time you’ll have to take the back seat to the upperclass-men. It’s not deliberate disrespect in any sense, it’s simply tradition and the law of seniority. Remember, everyone in the grade levels ahead of you have had to experi-ence the same thing so don’t take it personally. The difference is the way you handle it – don’t take yourself too seriously. When at a team dinner or club banquet, seniors traditionally get the right of way for first in line for food, juniors are second, etc. Also, if you join a sports team, don’t be surprised if they make you do tasks you think the managers should be doing. Most of the things you’ll have to do as a freshman will build character. A bit cliché? Yes, but it’s to keep you grounded so that later on in your high school career you’ll enjoy the privileges you didn’t have as freshmen.

seniority

HC parade

heart of the west week

“Don’t let opportunities pass you by, you don’t know what you’ll miss out on!” -- Ashton Brunmeier, sophomore

by whitney knightly

Want to become a true, spirited viking? Here are a few of our many traditions to help you on your way in becoming a devoted, genuine and faithful shawnee mission west viking.

the epicfreshmanschoolsurvivalguide

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shawnee mission west 2010

Date post:	18-Feb-2016
Category:	Documents
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Epic Isuue 1 2010

Documents