News Brief: Board meeting on delayed start time
Isis Norris, Editor
December 11, 2019
At the December 9 board meeting, administration voted on an additional option for students to start their school day at 9:00 a.m. in the 2020-21 school year. This new option is in addition to the current 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. start times. Arriving at either 8:00 a.m. or 9:00 a.m., students would be...
Administration releases new dress code
Sabrina Castle, Editor-in-Chief
November 11, 2019
On November 7, USD 497 Board of Education released an updated dress code draft. More lenient than past policies, the administration seeks to define more open guidelines of appropriate attire. According to the outline made public by email, the board intends to “support of the district’s focus on...
Blocked and Reported: Inaccessible websites restrict curriculum
Ridwan Firman, Reporter
October 9, 2019
Whether in ceramics or ball sports, the internet is an extensive resource that both teachers and students utilize. However, in recent years the full freedom of the web has been restricted as certain websites and programs are being blocked by administration for seemingly no reason at all. This issue ha...
Open parking receives mixed feedback
Brooke Burgess, Reporter
October 8, 2019
In past years, the school’s parking spots have been separated by grade, giving seniors priority to the spots near the front. This year, the lot is open to all grades, giving students who come to school early better access to front spots. Administration was forced to make this change because of budgeting...
School Redesign Part 3: Restorative practices predicted beneficial to students
Jack Bellemere, Reporter
May 17, 2019
When a student gets in trouble at Free State, teachers traditionally “write up” that student, and send them to the office where administrators will dole out their punishment. However, english teacher Kylee Wright sees this protocol as archaic and ineffective. Instead, Wright wants to incorpor...
School Redesign Part 2: Teachers emphasize need for student feedback
Jack Bellemere, Reporter
May 17, 2019
“I don’t believe that teachers should have desks in their classroom,” said special education teacher Patrick Dipman. “I believe that what that creates is squatters rights.” Dipman is explaining one of his many ideas for the school redesign coming next school year, with suggestions such as ...
School Redesign Part 1: Plan approved by staff, efforts begin
Jack Bellemere, Reporter
May 17, 2019
“We customize everything everything,” graphic design teacher Michelle Salmans said. “We customize our phones, our laptops [and] our clothing. Why can't we customize our education? Salmans is referring to the upcoming school redesign project, dubbed “Kansans Can School Redesign.” The projec...
Teachers value maternity/paternity leave
Daulton Meadows, Reporter
May 15, 2019
Having a child is time consuming and expensive, which is why paid maternity is so crucial to new parents who teach. The Lawrence School District recognizes this and therefore offers paid maternity leave, something which many jobs do not provide to their employees. While taking a parental leave, some teachers...
Seniors Max Lillich and Spencer Yost-Wolf take debate State title
Jack Bellemere, Reporter
April 22, 2019
Seniors Spencer Yost-Wolf and Max Lillich are competing the finals round of the Kansas state debate championship at Garden City High School. It’s midnight on January 13, and they have been debating for more than 16 hours straight. Yost-Wolf and Lillich are affirmative—meaning they have to def...
Head choir director Hilary Morton announces resignation
Sabrina Castle, Editor-in-Chief
April 11, 2019
After being head director of the school’s choir program for 13 years, Hilary Morton has announced her resignation from the position after this school year. Living in Lawrence her entire life, Morton received a double major in musical education and vocal performance, as well as a masters in chora...
Student Council brings awareness to eating disorders within the school
Brooke Burgess, Reporter
March 19, 2019
In an effort to raise awareness for eating disorders, Student Council gave out purple ribbons at lunch during the last week of February. They encouraged everyone to wear purple on Thursday, February 28 in support of those who struggle with self image. Handing out ribbons annually for the past two...
Students express religion through accessories
Brooke Burgess, Reporter
February 18, 2019
Faith can be expressed through having or wearing something that represents a religion. For these three students, these items serve as a symbol of their values and a reminder of their beliefs. Kaitlyn Fisher Kaitlyn Fisher wears a ring with the bible verse "The Lord your God is with you wherever you go...
Maya Pavlyak and Emma Hardesty, Photo Editor and Photographer
December 2, 2019
Baya Burgess and Isabel Janssen, Photographer
November 12, 2019
Isis Norris, Maya Pavlyak, and Emma Hardesty, Photo Editor, Photo Editor, and Photographer
November 5, 2019
Elana Ho, Photographer
October 30, 2019
Emily Zeller, Design Editor
November 6, 2019
Emily Zeller, Designer
October 15, 2019
Chloe Stafre, Designer
May 17, 2019
Photos by: Maya Pavlyak, Riley Boehle