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The student-run news site of Lawrence Free State High School

Free Press Online

The student-run news site of Lawrence Free State High School

Free Press Online

The student-run news site of Lawrence Free State High School

Free Press Online

Top Stories

Funding problems impair Team Steam’s ability to compete

Rose Arachtingi, Photography Editor December 7, 2015

Free State Robotics team 5119, dubbed “Team Steam,” has had a tough run in their short time as a club. Due to a lack of funding, the team must face the reality they may not be able to compete this...

Ultimate Frisbee players come together as a team. The team practices every Monday Wednesday and Friday after school.

Ultimate frisbee players defend their sport

Evan Frook, Reporter November 30, 2015

Senior Kardal Hart spends every Monday, Wednesday and Friday running up and down a field, making plays for the end zone. As an ultimate frisbee player, he knows that some people may assume he plays football,...

Editors Trenna Soderling and Sydney Gard discuss their guilty pleasures.

Editors in chief discuss weird interests

Sydney Gard, Trenna Soderling November 28, 2015

Sydney Gard Since I can remember, I’ve always considered myself to be a pretty boring person. I can’t juggle or sing or do any other cool things, I’m terrible at anything involving athleticism...

Curtain opens on biennial musical November 19-21

Sydney Gard and Maya Hodison November 20, 2015

Stressed actors already fill the auditorium when senior Nat Hoopes walks in. He has 16 measures of music and a two minute monologue memorized and is ready to perform a dance for the choreographer....

New district technology policy offers wifi hotspots and computers for check out. Students can go to the library if they are in need of a computer.

USD 497 technology policy provides equal access

Libby Stanford, Online Editor November 20, 2015

This year the school district took new steps to incorporate technology in learning. Textbooks in AP U.S. History classes and Algebra I classes are now being used online. One concern that arose out of this...

Bottles of soda are highlighted by the afternoon sun at Mass Street Soda on 1330 Mass Street. 1,300 varieties of craft soda are displayed on their shelves.

Mass Street Soda manager discusses plans for expansion

Jackson Barton, Reporter November 2, 2015

To say Mass Street Soda is simply a novelty is an understatement. Mass Street Soda is part of a new wave of innovative and unique businesses to arrive on Massachusetts Street. Not only are these shops...

Promoting Free State's Gay-Straight Alliance, junior Will Lenz waves the pride flag during the Club Fair on August 31. GSA has been a club since 2005.

Free State GSA club seeks to promote an accepting environment

Kaya Shafer, Copy Editor October 30, 2015

Junior Stephanie Haverkamp joined Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) last year to find a way to come out as bisexual to her family. At the first meeting she attended, it was only her and junior Lane Weis. After...

In promotion of LGBT+, students come together and support the community by holding hands in front of the rainbow flag. There have been many great strides for the community so far in 2015: the legalization of gay marriage, having both names of a same sex couple written on children's birth certificates, support through social districts, pride parades, awareness days, books being published and much more.

LGBT+ students discuss what it means to be different

Lauren Brittain, Mariah Houston, and Trenna Soderling October 29, 2015

Source: International Spectrum presented by University of Michigan Most people wouldn’t picture “The Goonies” when they consider sexuality and identity. However, for senior Ellie Houston, sweaty...

Looking across at her opponent, senior Dalma Olvera gets ready to serve at Free State's dual meet against Mill Valley on September 17. Olvera plays soccer, a cut sport, and tennis, a non cut sport.

Tennis and soccer coaches analyze pros and cons of selective teams

Maya Hodison, Reporter October 28, 2015

When sophomore Ashton Rantilla tried out for soccer this year, he hoped to make a team. When he did not, however, he chose a different sport: ultimate frisbee. “I do want to practice more and try...

When her Rocky Mountain adventure went wrong, Everett and her son's girlfriend found themselves lost in the wilderness for two nights. Soon after, a helicopter came to their rescue, "It was something I'll not soon forget," Everett said.

Helicopter rescues librarian after two nights in Colorado mountains

Elizabeth Patton, Social Media Editor October 25, 2015

Most trips to the bathroom don’t end with a rescue helicopter ride out of the Rocky Mountains. For librarian Chris Everett, however, that was the case. On her annual Rocky Mountain hiking trip with family...

Every year the school board sets goals for equity, excellence and engagement. This year these goals include a look at what the district can do to help LGBT+ students to feel comfortable in the school environment. For example, the option to use the bathroom for the gender a student identifies as.

USD 497 adds new equity goals

Madi Engnehl-Thomas, Reporter October 22, 2015

When New York Elementary School third grade teacher John Bode was in high school, coming out as gay or lesbian was unheard of. Many of his high school friends didn’t come out until after graduation,...

Reading one of her favorite books, "The Right Side of History" by Adrian Brooks, P.E. teacher Hopkins sits next to just one of several racks that will soon be unpacked into the library.

P.E. teacher advocates for new LGBT+ library section

Sydney Gard, Co-editor in chief October 21, 2015

When gym teacher Nancy Hopkins walks through her Cardio Center in the school, she feels a great sense of pride. After all, she came up with the idea for the center, contacted people from around the country...

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