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.

Story & Photo by Bailee Council – Assistant Editor  A new school year calls for welcoming new faces to the LSN building. One of those many new faces is the culinary arts teacher, Tina Tillotson. As she starts this new chapter for not only herself but the school as a whole, Tillotson has started this year off on a high note, while she breaks into her new role and classroom. Previously, Tillotson taught at Blue Valley Academy for seven years, and at Hazelwood West High School in St. Louis for nine years. Before teaching culinary, Tillotson originally got her Bachelor’s Degree in Hospitality and Restaurant Administration.    “I have always loved cooking and love watching students learn about cooking methods and flavor profiles to create amazing dishes…having a subject where my students get to move, be hands-on, and think critically throughout the cooking process makes it fun for me to teach,” Tillotson said.     Aside from teaching, Tillotson has been happily married for 18 years and is a mother to her three dogs.    “I had a 4th dog that passed away this summer. RIP to my Leia girl. All my dogs are named after Star Wars characters because my husband is a huge Star Wars fan,” Tillotson said.    Tillotson expresses that she and her husband enjoy spending their time together by going to car shows, and they even own a 1969 Chevy Chevelle. She loves to read, garden, cook, do crafts, spend time with friends and family, and watch TV.     “My hope is that I only have a “positive” impact either in their growth in Culinary, in their confidence, or in their skills for the future, ” said Tillotson.     As the school year progresses and more students discover this new light of a teacher, more will come to love her just as much as the rest. A new beginning for LSN, and all the new teachers, along with Tillotson, played their own role in helping develop a better staff and school for the future.

Story & Photo by Morgan Hill – Sports Editor      Fantasy Football is a game that has been passed down from generation to generation, and is continuing to evolve and develop. The game involves picking players from the NFL to put on your team, competing in a league with friends and family, and earning points from each game that week. Some disagree on what the right strategy to use is when drafting players for a team.    “Draft a good running back or wide receiver early, then fill up your team with the opposite position in the 3 rounds after,” Luke Williams, junior, said.    Most suggest drafting skilled players first, as they typically earn more points for your team.    “Follow the suggestions on the app, it’s mostly correct,” Lucian Tabb, junior, said.    A common strategy is to put your team on auto-draft and the app your league is in will pick your players for you based on their analytics. For many football fans, the game is a fun way to catch more games and to watch the players on their team.    “It gives you a reason to watch the games you normally wouldn’t,” Williams said.     The punishments for the loser of Fantasy Football in their respective league can be harsh.     “Yes, I have lost. The punishment was I had to sit in Chipotle from when it opened to close and eat a burrito every hour,” Tabb said.    Overall, Fantasy Football has been great for the NFL which has received a boost in viewership, and has also gotten more people together that can bond over sports.

Story by Isabelle Flood – Social Media Editor  Screaming song lyrics and dancing to their favorite songs, most teenagers spent their summer with their favorite artists. Concerts took Summer ‘24 by storm with the large number of musical artists that came to Kansas City. From Olivia Rodrigo to Zach Bryan, we saw a variety of music genres. Although concerts were popular this summer, the love for concerts is not something that appeared overnight.     “I love to go to concerts because hearing the music that I listen to on a daily basis in person makes it so surreal. Seeing my favorite artists who have put a change in my everyday life makes listening to them even more magical,” Ellie Gardiner, junior, said.     The magical feeling doesn’t stop at seeing your favorite artist live. It also extends to seeing all the people who share interests and likes with you at the concert.     “It’s fun seeing everyone who likes the same singer as you and getting to scream the lyrics all together,” Mya Brady, sophomore, said.     Getting to sing the lyrics of your favorite song with your friends can be so much fun and is something that most music fans dream of doing.    “My favorite song [Zach Bryan] played was Tourniquet and Revival because I’ve always loved Tourniquet and seeing it live had always been on my bucket list. As well as Revival, there was so much energy and excitement during that song,” Gardiner said.     Arguably one of the best parts about a concert is seeing how the singer sets up their setlist. The performance as a whole is also a fan favorite of seeing artists live.    “I really loved the openers and how [Morgan Wallen] organized the concert, the order of the song list was amazing,” Piper Bahr, junior, said.     Going to a concert is fun but going with loved ones makes it even better. It creates shared memories for a lifetime.     “I went with my older brother, Jacob, and his girlfriend,” Gardiner said.     So many artists have come to KC to perform like Morgan Wallen, Olivia Rodrigo, Zach Bryan, Jhene Aiko, Childish Gambino, Future and Metro, and more. But the concerts don’t stop once summer ends. There are plenty more artists coming soon, which we can only hope will give us more of that magical feeling.  Photo courtesy of Mya Brady

Story by Talon Cleveland –  Feature Editor    The new school year has started and the school is full of new and returning faces.     “High school is different because we get to have our phones out during class without getting it taken, and we get to carry backpacks around,” Antonio Valdivia, freshman, said.     With different grades throughout the school everybody has different goals and hopes for this school year. For the younger students it is adjusting to the atmosphere and changes. But for the upperclassmen, they have the weight of figuring out life after high school.  “I plan to attend real estate school and get my license then attend college to get my master’s degree in communications,” Jodi Williams, senior, said.     Planning the future is not held only to upperclassmen. There will always be younger students who are prepared and ready to thrive in the future they make for themselves.     “I hope to read more books this year than I did last year and figure out what I want my career to be so I can be planning ahead for what classes to take in my remaining years as a Bronco,” Aly Lanier, sophomore, said.     After three weeks of school the students have had time to get in their groove and learn the best way to go about the year.  “Senior year has been a lot less stressful than the previous years which gave me the time to focus on planning my future,” Williams said.  Whether it’s finding the best way to avoid crowds in the halls, or trying to keep their grades up, the Broncos are ready to conquer this year.   Photo by Bailee Council – Assistant Editor

Story & Photo by Kate Gerding – Editor-in-Chief  The Colbern Cup is rapidly approaching, and the girls tennis team is ready to put up a fight. Each year, Grain Valley High School and Lee’s Summit North compete in a tennis match in hopes to take home a trophy. The Colbern Cup is not a normal tennis match. In a regular tournament, observers are encouraged to stay quiet in order to let the players focus. But, for the Colbern Cup, everyone is invited onto the courts to cheer on the players.    “It’s different than other ones because normally you have to be really quiet…so the Colbern Cup really gets players excited and active,” Nikki Wright, sophomore, said.    Nikki has been playing tennis for three years and is on Varsity this year. She is looking forward to competing with her teammates at the Colbern Cup.    “I’m really excited for the match play and the excitement of everyone there,” Wright said.    The team has had a lot of success so far this season and the Colbern Cup should be no exception.    “I think we’ll be great. We have really good team morale and we’re really close so I think it will be good,” Wright said.    The match will be held at the Lee’s Summit North tennis courts as soon as 2:20 p.m. so be sure to show up and support the Lady Broncos.

Story by Kay Haas – News Editor   As the new school year kicks off, Lee’s Summit North welcomes many new teachers. One of them is Yanlan Jin, a Chinese teacher.     Jin was raised in China and took an interest in teaching and language. She got her undergraduate degree in China from Yanbian University. After that, Jin moved to South Korea, got her master’s, and became a language instructor there.     She moved to the United States after she and her husband got married. She taught Chinese at the Académie Lafayette in Kansas City. This is her eleventh year of teaching.     “Teaching Chinese is something that I can do well,” Jin said.    One aspect of her new job that she likes is that she can spend more time with her daughter. At her old jobs, she did not have the same flexibility.    “At first I worked as an administrator at a University and I liked that job, but at first I didn’t want to do the full-time job because when you have a child you want to spend time with them,” Jin said.    Her new job at LSN allows her to still be with her daughter.     “I like it because we end school at 2:30 and then I can go pick up my daughter,” Jin said.    Everyone is very excited to welcome Jin to Lee’s Summit North.