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The Student News Site of Shawnee Mission Northwest

SMNW

The Student News Site of Shawnee Mission Northwest

SMNW

The Student News Site of Shawnee Mission Northwest

SMNW

Features

Illustration by Greta Grist

FINDING BALANCE

Claire Rogers and Hope Hunt April 16, 2026

Finding a good balance with food can be incredibly hard in a society built on diet culture and glorified binge eating, telling you to be a part of said extremes. Here are some tips to make it easier ...

CHALLENGE ACCEPTED

CHALLENGE ACCEPTED

Sarah Wellman, Writer April 16, 2026

Everyday senior Kelli Adams wakes up and sees a display of sticky notes, marking each day until her 75 days of following a strict regimen would be over.  The trending “mental toughness” program,...

Illustration by Greta Grist

… OR NOTHING

Claire Rogers, Writer April 16, 2026

As the weather gets warmer and clothes get tinier, diet culture schemes and the promotion of disordered eating behaviors in the media are on the rise yet again.  In the 1990s, famous supermodel, Kate...

Illustration by Greta Grist

ALL…

Hope Hunt, Copy Editor April 16, 2026

Mukbang culture has ravaged the internet for over 20 years. Between a table full of Buldac noodles and Wingstop, or a bag full of seafood boil in the car, people are eating absurd amounts of food in one...

“DON’T RUIN MY HIGH”

“DON’T RUIN MY HIGH”

Sofia Ball, Co-Editor-in-Chief April 16, 2026

*The student names in this story have been changed to protect their identities. Senior *Josie Milner stares intently at her popcorn ceiling. She watches the bumps cast familiar shadows and weave intricate...

THE MAN OF A MILLION STORIES

THE MAN OF A MILLION STORIES

Harper Ward, Copy Editor April 16, 2026

Brian Miller used to be able to fly. He would mount his horse, Lady, no saddle, no bridle, and take off, going as fast as possible, trying to get far away from his family’s farm in Kansas.  He’d...

In between matches, Sophomore Ronan Jones helps fix the robot on April 11 at Lee Summit North High School. It can be stressful at times during competitions and between matches. “We have to work really fast, sometimes very stressful, because sometimes the robot breaks…, so we have to get it fixed. Jones says.

GEARING UP

Sophia Ragan, Copy Editor April 16, 2026

After developing, coding, building and the robotics team had a robot that was ready to compete by picking up balls, the size of two softballs, and launching them at a target ten feet in the air.  At...

Photo Illustration by Hope Hunt

Is There Time?

Hope Hunt, Writer March 30, 2026

You spend around seven hours at school. Go to work or practice or rehearsal for one or two afterward. Drive -- that's 10 minutes. Eat dinner— that's 20-25. Then shower— up to 30 minutes. After all...

Through The Pain

Through The Pain

Brynna Emler, Writer March 30, 2026

A loud pop rang out. All around her, things seemed to freeze. Dearing’s opponent let her go. The referee stopped the match. Dearing went down, and she couldn’t get back up. The athletic trainer arrived...

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 Chiefs on his friend's phone....

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

Seniors Rey Rubin and Alan Guzman have been dating since 8th grade.  They met in foods class.  Guzman enjoyed rearranging and moving all of the ingredients and pans that she had displayed so neatly....

Just Five Minutes

Just Five Minutes

Harper Ward, Copy Editor February 2, 2026

The sharp ring of the bell echoes through the Northwest art room as students collect their backpacks and venture to their next class. Art teacher Kimberly Ruttan waves goodbye and turns toward her canvas....

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