The student news site of Mill Valley High School

Mill Valley News
The student news site of Mill Valley High School

Mill Valley News
The student news site of Mill Valley High School

Mill Valley News
Andrew Tow

Andrew Tow, JagWire photo editor

This is senior Andrew Tow’s third year on staff. He is proud to say that he upholds the position of photo editor for the second year in a row. Outside of the J-Room, Andrew is involved in band. Whenever he gets time away from school, he is either serving at his church or working.

All content by Andrew Tow
What I learned from getting a whistle stuck in my trumpet

What I learned from getting a whistle stuck in my trumpet

Andrew Tow, JagWire photo editor
May 28, 2020
Students cheer during a Relay for Life pep rally. At last year's Relay for Life event, over 1,000 people attended and raised over $100,000 for the American Cancer Society. This year, despite coronavirus concerns, the event is set to proceed as normal.

Activities

Ben Wieland, Molly Smith, Steven Curto, and Andrew Tow
March 13, 2020
At the local Target in Shawnee, KS on Thursday, March 12. toilet paper was completely out of stock due to growing concern about coronavirus.

Coronavirus and the school: Everything you need to know

Ben Wieland, Steven Curto, Tanner Smith, Andrew Tow, Molly Smith, and Zach Shrader
March 13, 2020
The official release of the COIN album “Dreamland” was on Friday, Feb 21 after being pushed back from mid-January. The album is an indie-pop hit that includes popular songs such as “Cemetery” and “Crash My Car”.

Review: COIN’s Dreamland

Andrew Tow, JagWire photo editor
March 13, 2020
Massachusetts street in Lawrence Kansas offers a variety of shops and restaurants such as Love Garden Sounds and The Burger Stand.

[Photo] Massachussets Street

March 5, 2020
Located in downtown DeSoto, Cause Coffee is a locally owned coffee shop that offers a variety of drinks and food options.

[Photo] Cause Coffee

March 5, 2020
The Lenexa Public Market is a unique place to get a bite to eat or shop at the locally owned booths. Restaurants like Chewology and Mad Man’s KC Barbecue offer good cuisine at the market.

[Photo] Lenexa City Center

March 5, 2020
The Monticello location of the many Johnson County libraries is a great place to meet friends while over spring break. The location offers both indoor and outdoor seating.

[Photo] Monticello Library

March 5, 2020
Love Garden Sounds is located on Massachusetts Street in Lawrence Kansas and is surrounded by a plentiful amount of other fun shops and restaurants.

Review: Love Garden Sounds

Andrew Tow, JagWire photo editor
February 29, 2020
After browning the meat, senior Nico Gatapia dices a tomato to add to the dish later.

Together, senior Nico Gatapia and his father Ramulus Gatapia make Kaldereta.

[Photo] Senior cooks traditional ethnic family dishes

February 19, 2020
Kaldereta is a traditional stew made in the Philippines consisting of meats and vegetables.

Josey Records is located on Oak Street in the Crossroads District of Kansas City Missouri.

Review: Josey Records

Andrew Tow, JagWire photo editor
January 31, 2020
Brothers Music KC is a local record store located in Mission, Kansas right on Johnson Drive.

Review: Brothers Music KC

Andrew Tow, JagWire photo editor
January 20, 2020
Writing positive affirmations on her mirror helps senior Megan Sherman counter the negative thoughts she sometimes has about her body.

[Photo] How I See Me: Students battle their insecure body images

December 26, 2019
In a study done by the National Eating Disorders Association, it was found that 70 percent of 18 to 30-year-olds don’t like their bodies.

Social media outlets like Instagram can often times create an unreachable body image for the users of the sites.

Students lined the gym to be recognised for making it on the Honor Roll. Students whose GPAs exceeded 3.7 had the opportunity to be recognized at the basketball game Friday, Dec. 6.

[Photo] Academic letters awarded to students in ceremony

Sophie Lecuru, JagWire assistant editor
December 8, 2019
Working at Embellish Boutique has been a way for para Robin Roberts to get a second source of income on top of working at the school.

[Photo] Low salaries drive paraprofessionals away from the district

November 22, 2019
Working at Embellish Boutique has been a way for para Robin Roberts to get a second source of income on top of working at the school.

[Photo] Low salaries drive paraprofessionals away from the district

Steven Curto and Claire Franke
November 22, 2019
Hunting has been a way for junior Sam Myers to get outside and spend time with those who are important to him.

[Photo] Students gear up for hunting season

Zach Shrader, JagWire reporter/photographer
November 18, 2019
A board covers the window broken by vandals.

A security camera outside the media center remains covered in blue spray paint from the vandalism.

The remains of spray-painted graffiti outside the media center feature profanity directed toward De Soto High School.

[Photo] Vandals spray-paint graffiti outside school and break window

November 14, 2019
Despite the general connotation of fake tans being a white girl fad, JAG staffer Gabrielle Cabrera describes the thought process and work that goes into a tanning business.

[Photo] Fake tans aren’t just for white girls

Gabrielle Cabrera, JAG photo editor
December 13, 2019
Students pack the local Country Club Cafe during the StuCo-hosted annual Open Mic Night.

Side by side, sophomores Lauren Walker and Bridget Roy lip synch to the song "Just Wanna Be With You" from High School Musical 3.

At the StuCo hosted Open Mic Night, junior Lief Campbell performs the song “Waving Through a Window” from the musical “Dear Evan Hanson.”

Lip syncing to "Tainted Love" by Soft Cell, senior Bennet Doyle points into the crowd.

As one of the early performers at the Open Mic Night, juniors John Fraka and Ellie Boone perform the song “Valerie” by Amy Winehouse Tuesday, Nov. 12.

[Photo] Students participate in Open Mic Night

November 13, 2019
In the packed Country Club Cafe, senior Anna Padden sings the song "Honesty" by Pink Sweats in front of her peers.

At rehearsal on Monday, Sept. 30, senior Nathan Meacham practices a dance for the school’s upcoming musical, “Newsies.”

[Photo] Senior auditions for the fall musical for the first time and receives a lead role

October 23, 2019
During Jazz Band on Friday, Oct 5, junior John Fraka performs a solo.

At the HOSA sponsored blood drive on Wednesday, Oct. 5, senior Rachael Kinkade prepares to donate blood.

[Photo] HOSA hosts first blood drive of the year

October 17, 2019
As the first person to give blood, senior Kylie Conner senior lies on the table waiting to finish her donation.

On the opening day of the Catty Shack, sophomore Declan Taylor buys his hot cookie.

[Photo] Catty Shack opens its doors for the year

Ben Wieland, Mill Valley News editor-in-chief
September 28, 2019
In the midst of a big rush, seniors Nick Schmidt and Josh Glunt man the Catty Shack on Tuesday, Sept. 24.

Sophomore Lauren Walker prepares her T-shirt for tie-dying.

Squeezing the dye onto her T-shirt, senior Ella Armstrong colors her shirt red.

Twisting their T-shirts, seniors Audrey Grabmeir and Abby Miller started the first part in the process of making a tie-dye T-shirt.

Coloring her T-shirt, junior Taylor Moss works on her tie-dye pattern.

Finishing up his shirt, freshman Sonny Pentola unravels his shirt.

Placing rubber bands around his shirt, sophomore Declan Taylor prepares to dye his shirt.

Working together in the library, seniors Aidan Thomas and Daniella Phale and sophomore Cameron Long check to see if any teachers need their assistance.

[Photo] New class allows selected students to help students and staff with new technology

October 2, 2019
After the construction got rid of his office window, school counselor Chris Wallace has to work in the dark.

[Photo] Counseling office deals with lack of windows and air conditioning problems

September 24, 2019
Lifting his leg over the hurdle, senior Carson Caldwell works out on the track due to the construction making the old weight room inaccessible.

[Photo] New construction has displaced strength and conditioning students to the field house

September 24, 2019
Getting off the bus, sophomore Jakob Patterson heads towards the ground level entrance of the school because the front entrance has been blocked off.

[Photo] New construction leaves many without a parking spot

September 24, 2019
Trying new foods is worth it

Trying new foods is worth it

Andrew Tow, JagWire photo editor
September 12, 2019
Commenting on a candidate, senior Noah Hookstra begins discussing his opinion the matter.

[Photo] Young Democrats club hosts discussion of Democratic candidates

Zach Shrader, JagWire reporter/photographer
September 6, 2019
Staffers Ben Wieland and Molly Smith introduced a horror movie review blog, "Friday Night Frights."

[Photo] Friday Night Fright: an introduction

August 30, 2019
In the face of criticism of video games in the media by politicans, reporter Aiden Burke defends gaming.

[Photo] Video games don't cause violence; they do the contrary

September 9, 2019
In preparation for the upcoming show, seniors Noah Smith and Jame Ball critique the actors on stage Tuesday, April 30. “It’s extremely surreal to see people saying the lines you’ve written and playing characters you’ve created,” Ball said.

[Photo] Seniors Noah Smith and James Ball write and direct "Foster"

May 18, 2019
After taking both video productions and broadcast with Dorothy Swafford, senior Carly Tribble decided that she wanted to strategic communications.

[Photo] Seniors choose to pursue careers inspired by their teachers

May 22, 2019
After taking both video productions and broadcast with Dorothy Swafford, senior Carly Tribble decided that she wanted to strategic communications.

[Photo] Seniors choose to pursue careers inspired by their teachers

Steven Curto and Tanner Smith
May 22, 2019
At the first school Mario Kart tournament on Wednesday, May 5, junior Charlie Schwartzkopf plays sophomore Molly Ricker in the first round of the tournament. “It was fun that this tournament brought all these people together” Schwartzkopf said.

[Photo] Mayhem Week: StuCo hosts first ever Mario Kart tournament

Ben Wieland, Mill Valley News editor-in-chief
May 3, 2019
Pushing past the defender, junior Tina Talavera makes her way to the goal.

With the ball over her head, junior Annie Hoog throws the ball back in to her teammates.

With her eyes on the ball, sophomore Paige Goetsch gets ready to pass the ball.

After getting the ball away from a Shawnee Mission Northwest player, junior Shyanne Best kicks the ball down the field.

Making her way past two Shawnee Mission Northwest players, sophomore Paige Goetsch races towards the ball.

Dribbling her way towards the goal, junior Anna Ricker looks to extend the team’s lead.

After getting the ball back, sophomore Avery Rutkowski dribbles the ball back upfield.

After stopping the ball, sophomore Emma Schieber looks for an open teammate.

Making her way towards the ball, junior Emerson Kaiser turns back upfield.

Focused on the ball, junior Tina Talavera takes a shot on goal. The jags won with a final score of 3-0. “We connected the ball really well and we got into their back line a lot,” Talavera said, after the game.

[Photo] Girls soccer team defeats Shawnee Mission Northwest 3-0

April 15, 2019
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[Photo] Senior Nolan Sprague speaks at Fellowship of Christian Athletes meeting

March 25, 2019
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[Photo] Senior Nolan Sprague speaks at Fellowship of Christian Athletes meeting

Ben Wieland, Mill Valley News editor-in-chief
March 25, 2019
“Water Lilies,” painted by Claude Monet from 1915-1926, was inspired by the the pond on Monet’s property.

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“Cast Alive,” painted in 1967 by Marcel Duchamp, was inspired by Duchamp’s status as a chess master and his interest in mathematics.

[Photo] JagWire staffers review art at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art

Jonathan Atchley, Elizabeth Joseph, and Ben Wieland
March 27, 2019
Reaching back, senior Chris Sprenger swims the breaststroke.

Swimming breaststroke, senior Chris Sprenger practices at Pioneer Trail Middle School on Tuesday, Feb. 26. "Being able to keep up for an entire two and a half or three hour workout is incredibly difficult," Sprenger said.

[Photo] Senior Chris Sprenger is the most decorated swimmer in school history

Jakob Twigg, JagWire sports editor
March 20, 2019
Becoming leaders as STUCO members has become a great way for senior Hannah Barnes, junior Annie Bogart, sophomore Ellie Boone and freshman Bret Weber to use their leadership skills and benefit the school.

[Photo] Student council members lead the school

March 8, 2019
After rebounding the ball, senior Claire Kaifes looks down court to find an open teammate.

Getting double teamed by two Olathe West players, senior Clair Kaifes tries to find a way to get down court.

Playing defense in the final quarter, senior Claire Kaifes tries to keep an Olathe West player from getting to the basket.

Performing the same dance they did at nationals, senior Olivia Augustine and the rest of the Silver Stars raise their legs in the air.

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