The Academy Voice
The Student Newspaper of HBHA
5801 West 115th Street, Overland Park, KS 66211
913-327-8150
www.hbha.edu

Senior Editor-Elana G.
News Editor-Maggie H., Op-Ed. Editor-David H., Sports Editor- Hannah A., Photo/A&E Editor-Jonathan E.
Staff Writers: Ari W., Mikayla D., Josie T., Hannah C., Max F., Michelle N.

Please contact Faculty Advisor James Wilcox at jwilcox@hbha.edu with comments, concerns, or questions about The Academy Voice

HBHA Evacuates During Safety Drill
Max F./The Academy Voice

     “We need to evacuate.” Those four words no one in the school ever wants to hear. Luckily they were followed by “this is a drill.”
    On Monday Sept. 14th the Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy went through a lockdown and evacuation drill.
    “I think it’s critically important we conduct drills like this not only because we are a Jewish school but also because the world we live in. It is an unfortunate reality violence exists, we should be prepared as possible in case it ever visits our school”, said upper school English teacher Michael Bannen.
    After a five minute lockdown, where students were instructed to get away from doors and windows, the evacuation drill started. Students and teachers exited the building through the fire escape doors and walked together to the evacuation rally point.
    As fourth-grader Jonathan M. said “the evacuation drill was fun because we got a break from school and went on a walk and it was good practice in case we ever have to evacuate”.
    The drill also gave students some reassurance in case something bad was to happen. “Now that we have an evacuation plan I feel a lot safer” said seventh-grader Joel G.
    Zoe S., first grader, added, “We did the drill to keep ourselves safe. I now know what to do.”
    Other students were surprised at how well the drill went. “I was very impressed with the evacuation drill.” Junior Ben S. said, “It was well organized and it went very smoothly.”
    “The majority of students did well” Hebrew teacher Danny Althsull said, when asked about the students' behavior during the drill, “Some found it more amusing then they should have, but for the most part, it was really done well.”

Documentary Shows Students A Different Side of Life
Max F./The Academy Voice

    "The first time I saw someone get shot, I was 10 years old," says Delfino Jacquez, in the Metro Sports Documentary City Ball.
    This glimpse into another world, not geographically far from ours, was shown to Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy’s high school students in the school library on Sept. 15 and 16 during mentoring.
    Athletic Director Austin Benton thought it was important to watch City Ball: A Documentary to “give students an eye opening experience, which shows that some schools we play have it worse off than we really know. For example, practice facilities, lack of parent involvement, funds to support the athletic program and less than committed teammates/coaches. As students that go to school in Johnson County this is a good way to broaden our views about life in the inner city which is only a mere 15 miles away”.
    City Ball documents a year in the life of several Kansas City high school student-athletes. It also looks into the roles played by their parents, coaches, and school administrators in the many decisions that affect the futures of young athletes in the Kansas City area, specifically in the Inter-Scholastic league of the Kansas City Missouri School district.
    Sam A., freshman, thinks “it’s interesting that schools so close to us have such different problems and its interesting how it’s a lot different to balance school and living in a different neighborhood”.
    Ilana H., senior and HBHA basketball player, will look at the teams we play differently now. “When I look at the teams in the movie I’m grateful for all the opportunities I have and I commend them on their hard work. I wish I had their drive”.

    Bullying is a major issue in many schools. However, many of the middle and upper school students at the Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy do not seem to think it's an issue at their school.
    On Tues., Sep. 8, Academy middle school attended a bullying awareness presentation in the school’s chapel. The HBHA high school attended a similar session the following day.
    Mrs. Julie Hardeman, the school counselor, arranged for Mrs. Brandy Harrington, from the agency known as “Synergy,” to give a presentation regarding bullying both in and out of school. A similar presentation was given last year by SuEllen Fried, founder of Synergy. The reason the administration chose to host this presentation is that “middle school is often a time when peer relationships become more difficult. Each year [HBHA] strives to offer opportunities for students to reflect on their interactions with one another,” according to Hardeman. “We extended this opportunity to the high school since they are role models for the middle school, and because we can all find ways to improve our interactions with each other.”
    Harrington spoke to the students about recognizing and preventing all types of bullying, including verbal, emotional, physical, and cyber bullying.
    Although many middle school students particapated in the discussion, many of the students were not very interested or concerned with the issue, according to eighth graders David L. and Joel G. In the high school, the general consensus was also that it is not a very serious issue at HBHA. The reasoning behind this, according to many of the high school students, was that the high school is a very close-knit group, and that although there are arguments between students, not many insults are taken seriously.
    “The high school students seem very close,” Harrington agreed. “I also agree that there may not be very much bullying within the high school. But it would not be prudent to ignore the small amount of bullying that does exist. The students need to be aware.”
    Whatever happens in the future with regards to bullying, Harrington said “I hope [the students] will…empower themselves and try to find a solution to the problem...[and] that the high school uses both the tools they have and the new tools I have given them to become role models that can empower the middle school to make changes.”

HBHA Runners Sprint to Victory
Maggie H./The Academy Voice

    Ready, get set, go! 
    The Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy Cross Country team participated in their first meet of the season, on Sept. 23. The Long Hill Meet took place at Swope Park in Kansas City, Missouri. Runners from the HBHA team participated in either a five kilometer run or a one and a half mile run. The HBHA girl'steam took first place.
    Nine members of the HBHA team participated in the 5k race. Six of the runners received medals, with Mikayla D. taking first place, Elana G. second place, Maggie H. third, Ilana H. fifth and Sarah H. sixth.  Eighth grader Ethan S. finished in eighth place in the boy's varsity division.
    Overall, nine female runners participated in the 5k race. Twenty-two male runners also ran in the 5k race.  Two members of the HBHA team ran in the 1.5 mile race. Freshman Rachel K. finished in fifth place while Sophomore Josie T. placed tenth among the other runners.
    The HBHA cross country team has been practicing for six weeks. They are coached by Todd Clauer and Marla Brockman. The team trains four times a week. They practice running both long distance running and sprints. “My running has improved a lot this year. The almost daily training has helped build my endurance and confidence as a runner. I could have never run a 5k before this year,” said Junior Hannah A.
    The cross country team will be participating in a second meet at Barstow. This meet will take place Wed. Oct. 7. First place winner, Mikayla D. remarked, “Running in a race was better than practice. I had more people to help keep my pace with. I was able to set goals for myself that helped me do my best. I can’t wait to run again and do even better next time”.

Rams Fall to Knights
David H./The Academy Voice

    On the beautiful fall night of Sep. 17, the Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy Rams took to the soccer field to face the KC North Knights at the Overland Park Soccer Complex. They went onto the field boldly, but after an hour of play the game ended with the Knights defeating the Rams 6-1.
    In the early minutes of the game, the Rams moved the ball well and were able to get on the board with a goal by senior and team captain Joel M., his first goal of the season and the only goal the Rams scored that night. However, after about ten minutes of game play, the Rams solid defense appeared to collapse as sophomore goalie Jake R. let four goals through.
    In the second half of the game, the Rams regrouped and developed some good scoring opportunities.
    However, in the words of coach Austin Benton, “…we could not find the back of the net.” The Rams were also burdened with the loss of senior Turner S., who left the game early in the first half with a torn anterior cruciate ligament. Turner is not expected to return for the rest of the season.
    Speaking about how his team, Knights coach Travis Weeks said that his team typically plays on a rough field and that the smoother conditions at the soccer complex enabled his team to utilize their speed.
    “Overall it was a good learning experience for our team. After going down in the game, we didn’t challenge ourselves enough to get back and play hard. Hopefully our mindset will change…” said Benton.
    In addition to the game, student council sponsored "Sweets and Cleats" and gave out cookies to Rams fans at the game as an incentive to get people to come. “The cookies brought a lot of spirit to the game” said Vice President of Spirit Rebecca B.
    The Rams now fall to 2-2-1 and will play their next game against Cristo Rey at 5:00 pm on Sep. 22 at Swope Park.

Rams Roll to Victory Again
Mikayla D./The Academy Voice

    The Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy Rams boys' soccer team won their second victory on Sept. 10, 2009.
    The Rams defeated Lincoln Prep, of Kansas City, Mo., 4 to 1. The team's 2-1-1 on the season. HBHA soccer coach and athletic director Austin Benton, said “we played really well together”.
    Senior Ben W., juniors Justin R. and Mike I., and freshman Daniel G. scored in the game. It was Ben W. and Mike I.'s first goals of the season.
    HBHA soccer player Mike I., said that “it was my first goal of the season and I was really excited, it was a great first goal."
    Lincoln Prep assistant coach Brian Main said, “I thought Hyman took care of the ball, we have a lot of new players and I look forward in seeing how we improve”.
    Some Lincoln Prep players, however, did not think that they played well. “It could have been a better game, we did not connect very well with each other but I look forward in seeing how the rest of the season goes” said Thomus.

70 Years Later, We Remember WWII
David H./The Academy Voice

    In the early morning hours of Sep. 1 1939, German battleships opened fire on the small town of Gdansk, Poland, marking the beginning of the German invasion of Poland and the official beginning of World War II. Seventy-years later, dignitaries from nearly two dozen countries, including Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany and Vladimir Putin of Russia, returned to Gdansk to pay tribute to the seventieth anniversary of World War II and the bloodiest conflict mankind had ever seen.
    Although WWII officially began on Sep. 1, it can be argued that it wass merely the continuation of World War I. Working at the National World War I museum in Kansas City, MO, one of the first lessons that I learned was that the peace was merely the intermission, the break between the wars of the world.
    WWII essentially began with the signing of the 1919 Treaty of Versailles. The treaty mandated that Germany pay massive reparations to the Allied nations of France and Britain. This created massive inflation and the German people were bankrupt. All of this enabled radicals like Adolf Hitler, who promised to restore the economy and greatness of Germany.
    When war finally exploded in September 1939, the effects were devastating. Within a month, Germany, with the aid of their allies in the Soviet Union, conquered Poland with a blitzkrieg or lightning war. Soon Germany and Italy swept across Europe, including an attack on Russia, and North Africa while Japan conquered nearly all of Southeast Asia.
    The United States would soon be drawn into the conflict with the Japanese attack on the Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor, HI on Dec. 7, 1941. Through the next four years of war, America, Britain, the Soviet Union and the rest of the Allies slowly chipped away at German and Italian holdings in Europe and Japanese holdings in the Pacific. Eventually the war in Europe ended on May 8, 1945 with the surrender of Germany and in Asia with the surrender of Japan on Aug. 15, 1945.
    Seventy years after the war, we have seen the world drastically shaped by the results of the war. We saw the development of new technology that has inspired the imaginations of entire generations of people. Rocket technology, originally developed as a weapon of terror by the Germans, spawned a revolution in technology that helped humanity take its first steps outside of the world. The jet engines, originally developed to give German air power a strategic edge over the Allies, have been adapted for commercial use, providing citizens across the world with faster, more efficient travel.
    Through the war, the world also saw a greater appreciation of the role of women and minorities. The women who stepped up at a time of need to help in their countries time of need received a better position in the work force, greater educational opportunities, and furthered the cause for equality for all. Also around the world, minorities, who sacrificed so much during the war, strove for greater equality. Within the coming years, citizens in North America, Africa, the Middle East and India would strive for independence and a greater role in the societies that they were helping to shape.
    But the end of the war brought new conflicts with it. The WWI museum has taught me that the world never stays quiet for long. A few years after the war ended, conflicts resumed in Southeast Asia, India, the Middle East, Africa and Europe. The post war climate also allowed two of the remaining superpowers, the United States and the Soviet Union to vie for territory and influence over the countries of the world. A massive arms production ensued and although no actual shots were fired, the world was gripped with fear as any conflict between these two countries meant destruction on a scale worse than that of World War II.
    In the seventy years since the end of the war, the world has seen new technologies emerge as well as new countries. We have seen racial barriers torn down while new ones have been erected. We have seen peaces forged and wars waged. But on the fields of Poland, nations of the world gathered once again to pay tribute to the memories of the millions who died. Former friends and enemies gathered together to remember the tragedy of the war that affected the entire world. Even leaders from Russia and Germany, whose armies fought some of the bloodiest battles of the war, gathered to pay tribute at a time of peace to the tragic sacrifice of their nations and the nations of the world.