Story by Isabelle Flood – Social Media Editor   The football team is the only fall sport still competing in post-season play. Students and staff expect them to make it far. Winning the district championship this past Friday was a challenging feat. They played the Lee’s Summit Tigers at home, winning 29-15.    “Lee’s Summit HS is a good football team, and it is difficult to beat a good team twice especially after just having played them a few weeks ago. Like the team has done all season, they don’t panic if they get behind early,” Mike McGurk, LSN Athletic Director, said.     The boys have performed well under pressure all season long, keeping an undefeated record going into the quarterfinals for the state tournament.     “Nixa is an undefeated football team, the only other undefeated team left in Class 6 other than the LSN Broncos. I expect another great football game,” McGurk said.    Their next opponent is Nixa High School, playing at home on Friday at 7 P.M. Students are excited to support their team and represent their school. Photo by Antil Snoddy – Staff Reporter

Story by Ireland Lucas – Staff Reporter    The boys swim team has been preparing to go to the State Championship this weekend to finish off their season. The team has had great success overall and hope to bring that to the championship. Although they are competing in both individual and relay events, strong teamwork and morale are needed.    “It’s been really fun, I think that everyone has gotten a lot closer over the last year and it’s been a really good bonding experience,” Bryce Hopkins, junior, said.     The boys racing this weekend have been working hard and putting in a lot of effort to try to have the fastest time. They have been preparing all season for an opportunity in the championship and hope to take home a win.     “Just practice hard and make sure I’m doing all the sets that coach tells me to do,” Logan Shackelford, junior, said.     The State Championship can be challenging so it’s crucial for the boys to have a good mindset.     “Just staying focused, and not getting caught up if you have a bad race, and not taking that too seriously, and not getting too tired throughout the week since it’s gonna be long days,” Hopkins said.    The team will travel to Saint Louis, Missouri this weekend for the championship in hopes of bringing home a Bronco victory. Photo by Franki Farmer – Yearbook Staff

Story by Isabelle Flood – Social Media Editor With fall sports winding down, the Boys’ Soccer team has been preparing for their post-season play. Their first district game is on Saturday against Carthage at Rockhurst High School. The team and coaches have their expectations for the district tournament.    “I expect us to just come out and play at our best. We have been putting in a lot of work and the boys have looked strong throughout these past couple of weeks,” Ryan Kelley, boys soccer head varsity coach.     The players have made improvements throughout the season that show great promise for the upcoming tournament. Many players have stepped up to push as far as they can.     “Tre Paulding in goal has stepped up his game this year… he’s been great this season. Josh Griffin has done a great job of being a strong presence defensively and being the leader of that back line. And Jeremy Freund in the midfield, he reads the game very well,” Kelley said.    Many of the players from last season, who had stepped up in the face of adversity, are stepping up again this year as seniors. That includes the senior captain Oliver Scofield coming back from his season-ending injury last season.     “Oliver Scofield, he got hurt very early last year and missed almost the entire season and for him to come back from his injury has been really great to see,” Kelley said.     It’s no secret that the seniors on the team have made a huge impact this year. But they are starting to feel the end is near and are hoping to get as far as possible in districts.    “They are a little bit more locked in and they are a little bit more willing to keep the rest of the team focused, they understand the finality of what happens as we move forward. They want to be able to play as long as they can,” Kelley said.     Staying focused and relying on each other is hopefully what will get them far in districts this year. They hope to win on Saturday and then potentially face Rockhurst on Tuesday. The students and staff can’t wait to see how they close out this season. Photo by Talon Cleveland – Feature Editor

Story by Antil Snoddy – Staff Reporter  With the winter sports season quickly approaching, both girls and boys basketball tryouts are right around the corner. Tryouts begin Nov. 4 and all students are welcomed and encouraged to show up.     Playing on the teams is not the only way someone can be a part of the program, managing positions are also open. The boys basketball tryouts are Nov. 4 to Nov. 6 after school starting at 5 p.m. This is a great opportunity for students interested in the sport to branch out and attend tryouts. Varsity player Braydon Means, senior, has been playing basketball for the duration of his high school career and shared some advice for potential players.    “Just come ready, try your best. You’re going to make mistakes, just you gotta go out there and try your hardest and give everything that you got, just go out there and don’t have any regrets when you leave,” Means said.    Ray Hughes, boys varsity head coach, has high expectations for his players.     “High pace intensity and a very competitive environment,” Coach Hughes said. He looks for players that perform well both on and off the court.    “[We expect the team to show] high character behavior,” Hughes said.    Boys can make freshman A or B team, sophomore team, junior varsity or varsity. Teams will be announced a few days after the conclusion of tryouts.  Girls basketball tryouts will also begin right after school at 2:45 starting Nov. 4 and lasting until Nov. 6. Elyseia Dunn, girls head coach, is going into her second year as the girls varsity head coach. Any girls are welcome to come try out this year. Coach Dunn says students should expect several things at tryouts.    “[There will be] a variety of drills emphasizing skills and teamwork,” Dunn said.     New schools have entered the conference this year and the upcoming schedule will be tough. The girls are held to a high standard when playing under Coach Dunn.  “I expect the team to be competitive with an invested mindset. When people come to watch our ability to compete and challenge our opponents is something spectators should visibly see,” Dunn said.     Teams will be decided on the night of Nov. 6 and announced at the start of practice on Nov. 7. Girls have the opportunity to make C-team, junior varsity, or varsity.  The Bronco basketball program is ready to welcome a new chapter.    Graphic courtesy of Coach Dunn  

Story by NE Staff This fall, the Aurora Yearbook staff was awarded the Walsworth Gallery of Excellence award for the 23-24 yearbook.  This award is presented to a publication staff that shows creativity, dedication, and perseverance while capturing the spirit of their school and student life.  Their yearbook will be on display at workshops throughout the year for other advisers and schools to admire and use as inspiration for their own staff. “We found out from John Kelley, who walked in with a bunch of donuts and the award.  We were all so confused, and then he presented us with the award,” Tessa Visconti, senior, said. This is not the first time, the yearbook staff has received this award.  They also received this award for the 22-23 yearbook. Even though last year’s staff was mainly new members, they have a lot to celebrate. “It’s huge, it’s the second year we’ve received it.  We took so many risks with this book.  We had a mainly new staff and this is such a big accomplishment. To get an award like this is crazy,” Visconti said. For more information on how you can become part of the yearbook staff, or order your 24-25 yearbook, contact Ms. Brown in room 2135.  

Story by Kay Haas – News Editor    Lee’s Summit North celebrated Banned Books Week on September 22-28th.     Banned Books Week was created by the American Library Association in 1982. Banned Books Week was created so students would have the opportunity to learn about the books that are trying to be banned.    Nathan Miller, librarian, shared why students need to have access to a wide range of books.    “They have the opportunity to learn about Banned Books Week and their rights and responsibilities as a reader,” Miller said.    It also allows the libraries to highlight these books so people can have an opportunity to read them.    Nathan Miller, librarian, shared why students need to have access to a wide range of books.    “In the library world, we talk a lot about an essay by Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop, “Mirrors, Windows, and Sliding Glass Doors.” In it, Dr. Bishop explains that students should be able to find “mirrors,” books that reflect who they are, and “windows” that allow students to see into another’s perspective,” Miller said.    LSN set up multiple different displays to celebrate banned books week.    “We have interactive displays on our IFPS, six TVs running slide shows with information from the American Library Association’s website, and hundreds of books students can check out,” Miller said.     It is important for students to have access to a wide range of books.     

Story by Antil Snoddy – Staff Reporter   The Crimson Colors are a group of talented dancers who perform year-round. They put in a ton of hard work and dedication, face and overcome adversity, as well as have promising futures for their activity.    When students join the Crimson Colors, practices consume their evenings.     Julia Childs, senior, is a member of color guard. Childs shared what practice is like.     “Everyone gets there around ten minutes early and we start stretching for about five minutes and then we go straight into either weapon or flag warmup until the band is done and then we all collect together with the band and start working on the halftime show,” Childs said.    During the winter season, their days look a little different.     Aaliyah Brown, junior, is also a member of the color guard and winter guard. She shared what winter guard practice is like.     “For winter guard we do about the same. We get there about ten minutes early, and we stretch, however, we’ll normally spend longer on our warmup we’ll do across the floors which is just like dancing across the floor basically and then we’ll do weapon or flag warm-up… then we start staging our show,”  Brown said.    A lot of mistakes and reruns happen during practices. The team makes sure to work together to overcome these mistakes. Practices are where the mess-ups and fine-tuning happens for the team but even during performances, errors happen. The team has a certain attitude when it comes to messing up during competitions.     “You gotta go straight back into it and act like nothing happened and you can’t let it flare you up, you gotta keep going,”   “You can’t show it on your face, you can’t,… if you drop it outside that boundary line you need to decide it’s like I have to grab it now to keep going or leave it there,” Brown said.    Mistakes are learning opportunities for the team and they do not let them faze anyone. While performances are exciting and the result of all the work put in, there are many opportunities for post-high school experiences.    “Our coaches just started to coach at a college so a lot of us are going to go there and spin with them still,” Childs said.     “You can spin at that college for winter guard… there’s also DCI, is what it’s called you can go spin guard at DCI which is Drum Corps International so that would be fall guard with a marching band and then many schools also give scholarships if you do both seasons winter and fall,”  Brown said.    The Crimson Colors are a tight-knit group who perform and practice a lot. They put a lot of time and effort into their competitions and it shows in their performances. Mistakes are made during competitions but they overcome them and continue performing. This group has a bright future ahead and with the college opportunities available it is even more possible.  Photo by Kay Haas – News Editor

Story by Talon Cleveland – Feature Editor   KC Pet Project started nearly 50 years ago as Kansas City’s “Catch and kill dog pound”. On April 4th, 2017, Kansas City, MO residents voted to have more funding for a new shelter. As of 2011, KC Pet Project is now one of the biggest no-kill pet adoption sites in Kansas City. KCPP is looking for loving families to adopt or foster pets with no homes. Some of these pets have gone through traumatic experiences and just want to feel the embrace of a full heart.      “I began fostering at KCPP in 2019 and have fostered 41 dogs to date,” Jennifer Belmore, science teacher, said.       Even though fostering 41 dogs like Belmore is an amazing feat and contribution, just by fostering one pet you are changing the life of an animal with a lot to give. If fostering is not your forte you could always volunteer. KCPP offers many opportunities for you to help pets depending on your skill set.      “I have volunteered at KCPP since 2015, in a variety of roles.  Dog walking and assisting with playgroups is my current role.  I have also helped in the vet clinic caring for sick and injured dogs, done laundry, made enrichment, cleaned kennels, and helped out with fundraisers,” Belmore said.     No matter what you are good at, there is room for you at KCPP. If you are still on the border and deciding whether or not to help out, you need to attend the Caturday In The Crossroads. Cowboy Caturday is an event being hosted by KCPP to raise awareness of the 8,000 cats that need families this year. There will be specially crafted drinks and exclusive deals while you giddy up and kitty up. To make a fun day better, every attendee will get a free swag bag for showing support. Make sure you show up Saturday, October 5th from 12pm – 4pm in The Crossroads. Anyone with questions about adoptions, fostering, or volunteering should see Ms. Belmore in room 1306!   Photo courtesy of Jennifer Belmore

Story & Photo by Kay Haas – News Editor  Students in the Lee’s Summit School District had the special opportunity to meet with representatives of the Federal Bar Association last week.     The Kansas and Western District of Missouri Chapter hosted the Federal Bar Association annual meeting in Kansas City this year. Representatives, lawyers, and law students from all over the country came to Kansas City to represent their chapter at the annual meeting. Multiple representatives came to Lee’s Summit North to discuss the First and Fourth Amendments with students.    Teachers from all three high schools recommended students who they thought would be the right fit to go. Then, all the students came to LSN for the meeting.    Jayla Walker, junior, decided to attend the meeting.    “I wanted to go because I thought it would be a good experience to learn more about the Bill of Rights and lawyers experience,” Walker said.     Each amendment was discussed concerning school and how these amendments affect students in their lives and school. Some court cases were brought up involving students and the First and Fourth Amendments.     Students were also able to discuss with one another and with the lawyers about the amendments.     Students were also able to ask the representatives any questions they wanted. Many students who decided to attend want to become lawyers, so this was an amazing opportunity for them to be able to ask questions about what it is like to be a lawyer.