The Student News Site of Shawnee Mission Northwest

SMNW
Interviewing attendees of the 2/20 "ICE out" NW walkout
Interviewing attendees of the 2/20 “ICE out” NW walkout
Take a Look: Inside the school during the 2/26 walkout
Take a Look: Inside the school during the 2/26 walkout
Around 30 Students Walk Out of School Thursday to Protest ICE
NW Students Walkout Midday to Protest Local ICE Raids
Estudiantes y profesores reparten papeles informando a la gente sobre sus derechos frente a los agentes de ICE
Inclement weather on Dec. 1 leads to first snow related early dismissal in over a decade
Inclement weather on Dec. 1 leads to first snow related early dismissal in over a decade
FALSE CODE RED ALARM TRIGGERED ON LAST DAY OF SCHOOL
Design by Olivia Perocho
…
Pointing, seniors Alan Guzman and Rey Rubin look at chocolates Jan. 20 at a Walgreens. In 8th grade, Guzman and Rubin would walk together to the Walgreens across from Trailridge each day.
One Day
Just Five Minutes
Just Five Minutes
Meet the Puppets
Meet the Puppets
EXPANDING KNOWLEDGE
EXPANDING KNOWLEDGE
Pointing, seniors Alan Guzman and Rey Rubin look at chocolates Jan. 20 at a Walgreens. In 8th grade, Guzman and Rubin would walk together to the Walgreens across from Trailridge each day.
One Day
Meet the Puppets
Meet the Puppets
WITHOUT BREAKING
WITHOUT BREAKING
BEYOND THE SIDELINES
GROWTH
A Dark Place
A Dark Place
Watching intently, special education students listen in on a lesson about building connections Dec. 4, 2025.
The Balancing Act
HAUNTED HOTSPOTS IN KC
photo by sofia Ball
OFFLINE
WHAT'S YOUR WHY?
WHAT’S YOUR WHY?
HERE TO STAY
ALMOST HUMAN
LETTER FROM THE EDITORS
photo by sofia Ball
OFFLINE
Illustration by Greta Grist
DOUBLE STANDARD
Just Five Minutes
Just Five Minutes
EXPANDING KNOWLEDGE
EXPANDING KNOWLEDGE
CARING BEYOND COST
Teachers Todd Boren and Deborah Lopez-Boren pose for a photo.
FIREWORKS
Pet Cemetary
Pet Cemetary
Student resource officer Mark Coenen leans on his car April 29 in the Student Parking Lot. photo by Cooper Evans
Moving On
Illustration by Greta Grist
False Representation
Photos Courtesy of Hope Hunt
Missing Piece
So…What Are We?
So…What Are We?
A brutally honest review of the new A$AP Rocky album, “Don’t Be Dumb”
FORKS DOWN: MOSAIC CAFE
FORKS DOWN: MOSAIC CAFE
Illustration by Greta Grist
False Representation
design by Greta Grist
Putting a Price on a Decision
Student Voice Matters
A Simple Solution
design by Greta Grist
Sharing the Spotlight
Photos Courtesy of Hope Hunt
Missing Piece
So…What Are We?
So…What Are We?
ONE STEP CLOSER
ONE STEP CLOSER
TIPS FOR SURVIVING A VEGAN HOUSEHOLD
FRESH COAT
FRESH COAT
LETTER FROM THE EDITORS
Letter from the Editor
Band leader expresses concerns and understanding after Bonfire incident
Courtesy of A24
Charli Meets the Moment
Courtesy of Warner Bros.
‘Raw and Real,’ Wuthering Heights is a hypnotizing film about forbidden love
Movies that will hit our screens in 2026
Wait, What?
Wait, What?
Courtesy of A24
Charli Meets the Moment
Courtesy of Warner Bros.
‘Raw and Real,’ Wuthering Heights is a hypnotizing film about forbidden love
Wait, What?
Wait, What?
FEATHERS, OUTRAGE and SHOWGIRLS
Design by Olivia Perocho
…
Second in the Nation
RAINED OUT
RAINED OUT
New Athletic Director Heath Wilson gives his first speech Aug. 18 in the Main Gym. Wilson had never run an assembly before. “I think I was nervous for sure,” Wilson said. “It's not even just talking in front of people. You know, it's just that you're trying to manage 2500 people and you're always going to have nerves.”
OPPORTUNITY OF A LIFETIME
DREAM COME TRUE
DREAM COME TRUE
SPRING SPORTS BRIEFS
Design by Kennedy Woolf
“NEW YEAR, NEW CHALLENGES”
Calla Hardison poses for a photo in Room 151 Oct. 23.
There’s No Better Feeling
Will Ensley's family poses for a photo Jan. 6 at the shawnee mission Aquatic Center. Photo by Cooper Evans
Something to Swim For
Photo by Sidra Sakati
Boys Varsity Basketball Wins First Game Of The Season
DREAM COME TRUE
DREAM COME TRUE
MORE PERSONAL
MORE PERSONAL
PREPARING FOR THE SEASON
Season's Over
Season’s Over
Seniors Ryann McEniry, Vincent Nixon, and Emelia Fothergill pose with the SM West “Cougar Hunt” shirts Sept. 1 in the SM South football stadium. Photo by Anna Torres.
Cougar Hunt
Interviewing attendees of the 2/20 "ICE out" NW walkout
Interviewing attendees of the 2/20 “ICE out” NW walkout
Take a Look: Inside the school during the 2/26 walkout
Take a Look: Inside the school during the 2/26 walkout
Meet the Puppets
Meet the Puppets
Film Note Ep 2 – Alfonso Cuarón
Film Note Episode 1: Quick Movie Reviews
Junior Dylan Meyers laughs with his coach, Gary Emmons, Feb. 8 at Kansas City Ice Center. Before coaching for the Kansas City Jets, Emmons played for the National Hockey League (NHL). “I have a good relationship with Gary. Tons of respect but we always chirp each other,” Meyers said. “He played in the NHL, so that’s how he inspires me.”
Week In Photos (Feb. 6 – 12)
Seniors Evan Johnson and Micah Reeves pick up the final copies of the Well Dressed Wednesday zine March 21 at Shawnee Copy Center, Inc.
Well Dressed Wednesday Distribution
During the Sweetheart Assembly, senior Cynthia Chen performs her cheer routine Feb. 3 in the Main Gym. Every routine beings with a cheer and ends with a dance. “Dancing has always been a crucial part of cheer,” Chen said. “It demonstrates the musicality and athleticism of a cheerleader, it also makes the overall routine more enjoyable to watch and helps move the crowd more than just cheer and stunts.”
Week in Photos (Jan. 29 – Feb. 4)
During Environmental Education class, juniors Lauren Deel and Hannah Mott break up soil mix Jan. 24 in the Greenhouse. Before planting seeds, students mixed the soil to make sure there was the right amount of moisture and no clumps. “The work we did was important because eventually we’ll sell these plants during the greenhouse sale and we need these to be in perfect condition,” Deel said.
Week in Photos (Jan. 22 – 28)
Juniors Tad Lambert and Lily Reiff watch swim footage Jan. 19 in Room 153. Lambert and Reiff were editing their swim recap for Cougar Roundup. “[KUGR] is such a great environment for creativity but also to form amazing friends,” Lambert said. “KUGR has become like a home for me and I feel like I’ve gotten super close with so many other members.”
Week in Photos (Jan. 15 – 21)
LETTER FROM THE EDITORS
SMNW Dot Com: Our Purpose
The Northwest Passage: Our Purpose
SM Northwest Journalism
We Heard You
We Heard You: TikTok Ban
We Heard You: The Pledge of Allegiance
We Heard You: Tardy Kiosks
We Heard You: Free Lunch
The Student News Site of Shawnee Mission Northwest

SMNW
The Student News Site of Shawnee Mission Northwest

SMNW
  • Shawnee Mission Northwest High School
    42
    Gardner
    49
    Nov 14 / Varsity Football
Design by Olivia Perocho
Features
…

Kayla Chege, Writer

Read Story
NEWS
Interviewing attendees of the 2/20 "ICE out" NW walkout
Interviewing attendees of the 2/20 “ICE out” NW walkout
Harper Ward and Mary Kate Mitchell • March 1, 2026

Take a Look: Inside the school during the 2/26 walkout
Take a Look: Inside the school during the 2/26 walkout
March 1, 2026
Around 30 Students Walk Out of School Thursday to Protest ICE
Sofia Ball and Hope Hunt • February 26, 2026
NW Students Walkout Midday to Protest Local ICE Raids
Sofia Ball and Kayla Chege • February 17, 2026
Estudiantes y profesores reparten papeles informando a la gente sobre sus derechos frente a los agentes de ICE
Claire Rogers • February 5, 2026
‘Lying in Wait,’ Venezuelans at Northwest react to the U.S. intervention in their country
Claire Rogers, Writer • February 5, 2026
FEATURES
Design by Olivia Perocho
…
Kayla Chege, Writer • March 24, 2026

*The names in the story have been changed to protect identities.   Surrounded by friends, sophomore Jerald Williams* tapped his phone and placed a $5 bet on the...

Pointing, seniors Alan Guzman and Rey Rubin look at chocolates Jan. 20 at a Walgreens. In 8th grade, Guzman and Rubin would walk together to the Walgreens across from Trailridge each day.
One Day
Sofia Ball, Co-Editor-in-Chief • February 5, 2026
Just Five Minutes
Just Five Minutes
Harper Ward, Copy Editor • February 2, 2026
Meet the Puppets
Meet the Puppets
December 7, 2025
EXPANDING KNOWLEDGE
EXPANDING KNOWLEDGE
Sarah Wellman • November 18, 2025
HERE TO STAY
Sophia Ragan • November 18, 2025
SPORTS
Design by Olivia Perocho
…
Kayla Chege, Writer • March 24, 2026

*The names in the story have been changed to protect identities.   Surrounded by friends, sophomore Jerald Williams* tapped his phone and placed a $5 bet on the...

Second in the Nation
Sophia Ragan, Copy Editor • February 5, 2026
RAINED OUT
RAINED OUT
Genevieve Kidder • November 18, 2025
New Athletic Director Heath Wilson gives his first speech Aug. 18 in the Main Gym. Wilson had never run an assembly before. “I think I was nervous for sure,” Wilson said. “It's not even just talking in front of people. You know, it's just that you're trying to manage 2500 people and you're always going to have nerves.”
OPPORTUNITY OF A LIFETIME
Harper Ward • September 22, 2025
MEET THE STAFF
Olivia Perocho
Olivia Perocho
Writer

Genevieve Kidder
Genevieve Kidder
Writer

Maddi Roof
Maddi Roof
Photo Editor

EVENTS
A Pit Stop at Homecoming
Senior Tanner Pruter plays the tenor drum Aug. 31 in Main Gym. The Marching Cougar Pride performed their “Chaos Order” show during the Bonfire Assembly. "[During the performance] the band is split between chaos and order,” Pruter said. “The beginning of the show starts out with chaos and throughout the show, you get little glimpses of order.”
TRENDING STORIES
1
NW Students Walkout Midday to Protest Local ICE Raids
Sofia Ball and Kayla Chege • February 17, 2026

Hundreds of Northwest students filed out of class onto the football field on Tuesday, Feb. 17th, at 1...

Photo courtesy of Sage McCarthy
2
Soundtrack of My Life
Sage McCarthy • September 16, 2024

Spring. Fourteen years old.  It’s a regular afternoon for me — homeschooling for less than an...

3
Around 30 Students Walk Out of School Thursday to Protest ICE
Sofia Ball and Hope Hunt • February 26, 2026

Around 30 students walked out of class at noon to protest local ICE activity on February 26. Some wore...

Design by Olivia Perocho
Courtesy of A24
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