"Insert Name Here" TJ Student Newspaper (1.28.26)

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From Idea to Reality: The Birth of Our Paper

BY: EMMIE SWEENY, EDITOR IN CHIEF

About a month ago, Mr. Carnahan, S E th d I b t lki

When discussing the purpose of the paper, one goal stood out to us: we wanted to become an outlet for all upper schoolers here at Thomas Jefferson. Although students before us had also tried to start a paper, we wanted it to be different. Instead of mirroring their efforts, we also aspired to make this paper unique and exciting both in content and in formatting. Additionally, the goal was not to give just an outlet academically but also intellectually, socially, athletically, and creatively

As you read this edition, I hope you enjoy your peers' work and join me in celebrating each other and our achievements, because nothing matters more than community. Each and every student who has contributed to this paper has been crucial to achieving this goal, and every student who reads the paper also helps reach this goal. Whether you read a news article about Venezuela by Sawyer, discuss stats recorded by Jack, see the creativity in our arts section, just know that by doing so you play a major role in creating a stronger community across not only our classes at Thomas Jefferson, but also across shared interests and discussions So truly, thank you to every person who contributes to this newspaper, whether in writing or in reading it. And with that, I am pleased to say that your Thomas Jefferson IDS newspaper is officially...

The local brief

Business Boom Coming to Joplin: Prospect Village

By: Abigail Riley

Joplin is on track to start what could become one of the most transformative projects in Joplin’s recent history, “Prospect Village”. This is a major multi-use developmental project that would include a sports complex, housing, and additional anchor retail. This development is set to be built by Woodsonia Real Estate Inc. on about 80 acres of vacant land between Range Line and 20th Street, hopefully starting in mid2026 and being completed by 2033. The center of Prospect Village would hold a state-of-the-art sports complex, free for citizens to use daily, while hosting youth and amateur sports year-round. The indoor sports complex, a part of its 135,000 square foot campus, could support multiple basketball and volleyball courts alongside adjacent outdoor turf fields, picnic areas, trails, and green spaces. Outside of the sports complex would include a hotel and apartment complexes holding up to 375 units, a grocery store, and an additional 30 acres of retail. This idea was proposed almost exactly a year ago in January of 2025 and has since then been

getting closer to being approved for construction by April 2026, hoping to be done with the sports complex in 2027 Opponents of the new development fear the project will significantly increase taxes; however, the majority believe Prospect Village will drive new tourism, expand community entertainment, and spark a major economic boom in Joplin

Volunteer Opportunities

By: Yousuf Mokhtar

As a high schooler, you might hear something along the lines of "you need to volunteer more". As a sophomore you will be presented the opportunity to join the National Honor Society (NHS), and when you are accepted, you will have the task of completing some sort of volunteer work inside and outside of school Here is a list of easy ways for you to get involved in the community (not limited to NHS members).

1) Youth Volunteer Corp. (YVC)

This is a volunteer group with monthly volunteer projects exclusively for youth. You can view these projects on their website. yvc.org/joplin/

2) Joplin Humane Society

If you are not a very social person and would rather do something involving animals, the Joplin Humane Society is the perfect place to volunteer as you can interact with animals, help feed, walk, etc. www.joplinhumane.org/volunteer

Community Service Center

Current junior Katerina Pruitt has presented all of the upper school with an easy way to volunteer at the Joplin Community Service Center. Here you will help cook and clean and feed Joplin’s unhoused population, as well as provide them with simple necessities. The opportunity comes every Saturday from 9 A.M. - 2 P.M. You do not need to sign up. All you need to do is show at the Minnie Hackney Community Service Center on 110 S Main Street.

By: Sawyer McKinney

on January 3 , 2026

Venezuela Venezuela

The Motives Behind the

Operation

Venezuelan President Nicholas Maduro and transported him on the USS Iwo Jima to a military base north of New York. This act has been frowned upon by the global community, with the UN News saying the invasion of Venezuela “constitutes a dangerous precedent”. President Trump commented on the militarization, “we’re gonna run the country”, but offered few other details at the time (Chatham House, 2026)

However, before the invasion, President Trump warranted military strikes “by accusing Venezuela [of] suspected

President Trump ordered Army Delta Force operators to capture rd criminal networks operating on its soil, like theCartel de los Soles, of flooding the United States with deadly drugs”, according to USA Today (2025) The Department of War’s head, Pete Hegseth, posted on X on Nov 13th, "This mission defends our homeland, removes narco-terrorists from our hemisphere, and secures our homeland from the drugs that are killing our people."

By looking at drug overdose statistics, it can be seen that opioids, psychostimulants, and cocaine are the leading causes of drug death in the U.S., with each involving 76%, 33%, and 28%, respectively (Addiction Help, 2025). Despite administration claims, independent analyses from the Cato Institute and WOLA report that most

U.S-bound fentanyl is synthesized by Mexican cartels using precursors from China. Experts note that claims tying significant shares of the U.S. fentanyl supply to Venezuela remain 'unsupported by available evidence,' as Venezuela is not listed as a fentanyl source in any recent DEA National Drug Threat Assessment (Singer, 2025). The story is similar with heroine, another opioid, with reportedly 85% of the world’s heroin being made in Afghanistan, with other large producers being Mexico, Colombia, and Guatemala (World Population Review, 2022), and with 90% of cocaine coming from Colombia (Drug Policy Facts, June 2020). Data from groups like WOLA in 2026 suggests that Venezuela’s role is primarily as a transit point for cocaine, rather than a producer of synthetic opioids like fentanyl.

The other reason would be Venezuela’s oil, as “they have more oil than Saudi Arabia, Russia, the United States, and every other country—it’s not even close”. President Trump (2026) also justified the U.S. takeover by claiming Venezuela's oil had been

'rotting' due to a lack of 'smart people,' a remark that critics argue ignores the thousands of qualified Venezuelan engineers displaced by the current crisis. Despite holding the world's largest reserves, Venezuela currently produces less than 1% of the global crude supply, a stark decline from its 7% share in the 1970s (S&P Global, 2026). With tensions rising between Russia and China, their connection with Saudi Arabia could put a major dent in U.S. oil supply chains.

Venezuela has the oil, but not the means of refining it The U S ’s military-industrial complex would permit mining and access to oil in Venezuela, with U.S. companies, such as Chevron, already being there to help mine. With 300 Billion barrels of crude oil sitting under its surface, it could be an extremely lucrative idea. While this would be beneficial to the U.S, many see this as blatant breach of national sovereignty.

Fact Checked by Autumn Schisler

A Break or an Inconvenience? A Look at Interim

By: Jenna Joseph

Third quarter at TJ is infamous for being the worst not just because the thrill of the holidays is over, but simply because this is when students seem to perform their worst, especially in History and English classes. Why specifically these classes? Because instead of the usual nine weeks you have to boost all your grades, for third quarter you only have five to save your English and History. As the new year begins, new topics are introduced to each grade for the entirety of January, replacing History and English with classes like research skills and music appreciation.

Throughout the course of 30 years, today we have faculty who experienced interim as well as taught interim classes, like Dr. Madden, class of 2008. On recalling his experience, he says, “I do remember we had a lot of the same classes, especially Bible as Literature which was very popular It was taught by the legendary Dr John Boots I try to guide my teaching in Science in the same way that he taught his courses. Those classes back then were important, and a month was a good amount of exposure to those concepts in addition to the other coursework.”

“It’s just like a break in the system before the school year burns out.” --Mr. John Atteberry, Music Appreciation

Throughout the month of January, Freshmen, Sophomores, and Juniors do not have English or History those classes are replaced: the freshman have an Introduction to Stats as well as Bible as Literature, the sophomores have Music Appreciation and Art History, and the juniors have Research as well as a speech class. For the seniors, it is a little different and has fluctuated throughout the last few years but has recently been established as an online personal finance course (and the lovely grace of missing first and second period!)

Being a private school, lots of the traditions we uphold are very unique, and Interim is one of those traditions. To understand the depth behind the tradition and more behind the purpose, we can see how it looks through Mr. John Atteberry, who has been teaching the Music Appreciation interim class since 1997. “If there is something that we think that the students aren’t getting through their curriculum, Interim is a place where we can plug something in that usually isn’t found in other topics,” he says, “It’s just like a break in the system before the school year burns out”.

“Interim offers a pause that is both riveting and impactful”

Students and faculty often view it similarly - as either a welcome break or a stressful interruption It’s hard to understand what it looks like from an administrative point of view. Mr. Hallman, the new Head of School, shared his initial impression of Interim when he first began working at TJ. “I like it when schools lean into their mission,” Hallman said. “Interim speaks to the rigor of students and teachers being able to step away from English and History for a month and still return strong.”

Although third quarter remains arguably the worst of the four, Interim offers a pause that is both riveting and impactful. Whether viewed as a break or an interruption, it gives students the opportunity to embrace topics that might be brushed over in their core classes. Interim may not make the third quarter easier, but it makes it interesting. It serves as a nice change to the repetition of the daily high school routine. For some, it is a relief for others, an annoyance. Yet year after year, it remains a defining part of the TJ experience

EDITOR: MADELYN RO

The Freshman’s Take on Interim

By: Cae Wood

This month, freshmen at TJ got to experience the annual Interim period for the very first time Instead of a normal class schedule, upper school students spent the month of January diving into special classes like Statistics and Bible as Literature instead of English and Medieval History classes, giving them an opportunity to branch out to learn new topics and connect with new teachers. At first, many freshmen weren’t quite sure what to expect. Some were nervous about trying something new, while others were excited to step away from their usual routines. As Interim went on, students started to feel more comfortable and enjoy the change of pace.

Medical Club

By: Vinicius Villarinho

After joining TJ during my junior year, I wanted to do more than simply become part of the school I wanted to create something that would leave a lasting impact and benefit others What began as a passing thought slowly turned into TJ’s Medical Club, a student-led group created to help classmates explore medicine, dentistry, and other healthcare careers before stepping into college.

Choosing a career is a big responsibility for high school students, and many bright minds are still unsure of where they are headed, which is completely normal. The Medical Club exists to give students a place to explore those questions, whether they are just beginning to wonder about healthcare or already feel drawn to it.

Although the club is relatively new, it has already introduced members to hands-on activities such as basic phlebotomy and IV practice using medical training dummies, along with student led research and guest speakers ranging from recent alumni to established physicians These speakers share their experiences in college, medical school, and professional practice, giving members a clearer picture of what a career in healthcare truly looks like.

Looking ahead, the club plans to expand into additional skills such as suturing, intubation, and research into medical conditions and their prevention

Some of the club’s core values are unity and communication. Members are encouraged to share ideas, ask questions, and request topics they are interested in learning about. Through a supportive, student-led environment, TJ’s Medical Club aims to continue growing and providing meaningful opportunities for students interested in healthcare for years to come

A Guide to Success and School Building

An interview with Mr. David Humphreys

By: Emmie Sweeny

When I wrote an email to Mr. David Humphreys asking for an interview for this newspaper I had no idea what to expect. Following his

agreement to speak with me, my anxiety skyrocketed, and by interview day I was practically sick from it. But honestly, I had nothing to worry about. The gentleman I met in the conference room was a kind, funny, and wise man, someone who had a raw and sincere desire to better his community and the next generation of students. Mr. Humphreys was easy to talk to, radiating confidence and wisdom, and an interview that was scheduled for about thirty minutes quickly turned into an hour, and in that hour Ava and I learned more about our school and the passion behind its creation than we had learned in our combined twenty-five years at Thomas Jefferson.

When raising his own kids, Mr. Humphreys wanted more for them than what was offered at local schools and began to play with the idea of starting a private school himself. Drawing inspiration from his own alma mater, Wichita Collegiate, a private college preparatory school in Wichita, Kansas, he, his wife Debra, and some friends began plans for Thomas Jefferson Independent Day School in the early 90s.

Seven months after construction began, the school opened in August of 1993, on, as Mr. Humphreys stated, "a handshake and trust" with Crossland Construction. This foundation of trust and integrity that our school was built on is engrained into our culture at TJ. Our honor code is memorized in fifth grade, and signed every year by each student starting in sixth, but the idea that this value of trust and integrity are the very reason we are able to walk through the front doors every day is astonishing.

The miniscule details like this are what built our school, and in turn have built us into who we are today both as students and as individuals. This idea of trust was one that was reoccurring throughout the interview with Mr. Humphreys, but it was not only the idea of learning to trust others, and trusting their integrity, but also to trust yourself, and to trust your own integrity. As Mr. Humphreys put it, “the most important things to me... are really honesty and integrity”, and because of this push to ask this of the next generation, these traits became engrained into our education, teaching us that math equations and essays can only get us so far, but for one to be truly successful, we must also have a strong character possessing these virtues.

“My

As the interview progressed, the focus shifted from TJ to Humphreys' own success and life story. We discussed his time in college, where he described having to give a multitude of impromptu speeches, along with the lessons he learned while playing tennis. Humphreys told us that some of his best skills came from tennis, “Tennis taught me to never look back on the last point, whether I won or lost”. This is something I found applicable to each of our own lives, whether in grades or games, we can rarely change how the last test or game went, but we can learn to prepare ourselves better for the next one. This became one of my biggest takeaways from this interview. Part of the reason Mr. Humphreys is successful is he doesn't seem to dwell on the past, instead taking everything as a lesson to help him grow as a person.

wife and I look at TJ as one of the most significant successes of our lives.”

So, what did I learn from the short hour I had with Mr. Humphreys? Three major things. First, find something you're passionate about, like Mr. Humphreys' passion for education, and try to better the world through it, because the greatest satisfactions and successes come from helping others. Mr. Humphreys said, “My wife and I look at TJ as one of the most significant successes of our lives”. By helping others, he was able to find incredible success and satisfaction. Second, always be willing to give your time and wisdom to others. If Ava and I hadn't been able to do this interview, then the inspiration for our school would never have been shared in the way that it was. Third, want to be uncomfortable. Mr. Humphreys shared countless stories that helped shape him into who he was, and the ones that had the greatest impacts on him were those where he was put in a new or uncomfortable position. They were some of the most life-changing experiences he had. If you never put yourself out there, you never know what bits of life you could miss.

EDITOR: NATHAN COLE

Penny for your thoughts?

STUDENTS’ PLACE FOR ARGUMENTS AND OPINIONS. WHERE QUESTIONS ARE ASKED, ANSWERED, AND DEBATED.

Opinion

TRADE SECRETS: WHY UNCENSORED STUDENT VOICES ARE OUR GREATEST ASSET

BY: AUTUMN SCHISLER

Outside TJ’s campus, American education faces what has been called a systemic attack (American Oversight, 25). In 2024-25 alone, PEN America recorded over 10,000 book bans in public schools. These actions go beyond parental rights, amounting to a deliberate “demobilization of knowledge” that frames student curiosity as dangerous. Since 2021, more than 24 states have passed “educational gag orders” or divisive concept laws, chilling classrooms with vague restrictions, American Oversight states. Teachers, fearing penalties, preemptively strip lessons on race, gender, and history. By 2026, such policies have begun scaling federally, with the Department of Education reducing investigations into bans. Research shows these measures target critical perspectives, silencing marginalized voices and reshaping schools into places of compliance rather than

inquiry. Without exposure to diverse identities and systemic issues, students graduate illprepared for democracy. True education requires freedom to explore ‘divisive’ ideas safely; shielding students from reality only produces citizens less able to resist propaganda or engage in democratic debate

BE HEARD!

Submit your questions to be answered in the next issue featuring:

LOVE

aschisler@tjeffschool.org ccarnahan@tjeffschool.org (romantic, familial, platonic, etc.)

Open mic

Q: AS A FRESHMAN, HOW DO I FIND A PLACE IN UPPER SCHOOL?

BY: KEIRA ROSE

Sometimes being a freshman can be exhausting. Coming into high school can seem like one of the scariest experiences because it is easy to feel invisible. I walk through the halls every day surrounded by people, but most of the time, I feel unseen.

However, feeling invisible doesn’t mean you don’t matter. It usually only means you are new to the environment, so you could be overwhelmed and still finding your place. High school is big, new, and it can feel like you are supposed to walk in and already know who you are and who you want to be, but I can say, as a freshman, most of us don’t. Some people who seem confident are just sticking close to what feels familiar, and if you already have your people, then that might just be the best option for you. But like me, sometimes you don’t know where you truly belong. Still, that doesn’t mean there isn’t space for you. It might just take time to become who you truly want to be, in a place where you thrive What I am learning is that high school gives us a chance to let go of who we were before; the mistakes, the labels, the moments we wish we could redo. No one here knows your story unless you tell it. Every day is an opportunity to start again and become someone new or simply be yourself. You’re not invisible. You’re just early in your story.

The Creative Portfolio

Poem:

“Washed Clean”

by Layla Harrell

Layla is a junior in upper school, and she is in the Creative Writing elective. Some hobbies she enjoys include painting and reading.

The droplets fall off my face as the hands pull me out of the water Hands clapping and people cheering come into focus as I can finally see and hear clearly again I turn to hug the man in holy pearly garments that are now wet, and I see the choir behind him They’re cheering too Everyone is Is this what everyone feels like? The walk to the changing room was full of people welcoming me into the family and congratulating me But did anything really change? The baptistry “washed me clean” sure but was I really? Was the crowd’s approval all I really needed to feel like the blood wasn’t on my hands anymore? Was this over glorified bath all I needed all this time to make me feel okay again? But it doesn’t feel okay I’m putting on dry clothes, but it feels like I’m still underwater, being firmly held there Memories from that night flood back as I gasp for air and the feeling rushes back that I’ll never feel normal again because it’s all my fault Because she’s gone now Because of me

Art:

Flower of the Month by Audrey Bowles

Audrey is a junior in upper school, and she participates in National History Day. She also enjoys music and drawing.

EDITOR: ESTHER YANG

High Stakes

Statistics:

Point leader: Will Twiss, 166 points scored, 16.6 points per game

Rebound leader: Kohl Thurman, 76 rebounds, 7.6 rebounds per game

Assist leader: Will Twiss, 33 assists, 3.3 assists per game

Steals leader: Will Twiss, 37 steals, 3.7 steals per game

Blocks leader: Kohl Thurman, 21, 2.1 blocks per game

The start to the boy’s Cavalier basketball season has been one of the most successful in recent years, through their first 10 games, having a record of 7-3, the best since their 2021-2022 season. Going back two years ago, this was a 3-23 team that had 3 freshman, one sophomore, and a junior starting, who had no experience playing together at the varsity level. Now, it’s a whole different story; this team has laid the foundation for 2 years and counting and has the chemistry of a championship caliber team In the 2024-2025 season the Cavaliers significantly improved their record to 16-11, but their season ended in the district semifinals

This year it’s different In Thomas Jefferson’s opener, center Kohl Thurman hit a shot with 4 seconds remaining against the Sarcoxie Bears to give the Cavs the lead Another instance occurred in the Lockwood tournament in a game versus the Greenfield Wildcats, where point guard Will Twiss hit a game-winning layup to beat the Wildcats. These clutch shots go to show that this basketball team is very much improved from last year’s and has a tough, but more than doable path to the ultimate goal, to bring the district championship back to Thomas Jefferson for the first time in 3 years.

EDITOR: ESTHER YANG

High Stakes

This year the Lady Cavaliers basketball team graduated 2 seniors who played a major role on the court but picked up 2 freshman who play key minutes in the game. So far this season the Lady Cavs are 2-6, beating Bronaugh and Purdy. Their record is deceiving though, as they have had numerous close games with skilled opponents such as the 6-3 Liberal Bulldogs, a 3-possession game, and a 4-possession game with the 9-4 Jasper Eagles. Their two major offensive players are sophomore, Anna Hiebert, averaging a near double-double as a guard, and freshman Cae Wood, averaging double digit points and wellrounded across the board. Their ability to compete against good opponents shows they have the talent and skill to hang with these teams.

Statistics:

The chemistry and communication of the girls team has steadily improved throughout the season, and it has shown through better defensive rotations, offensive ball rotations, and ability to break the press This team has continued to grow and develop throughout the season and with continued competitive varsity games, it will bring more experience to this young team and set the stage for a bright second half of their season.

Sophomore, Anna Hiebert: Averaging 13.5 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game Standout game against Purdy- Career High 26 points on 42% field goal shooting, 13 rebounds, and 3 steals

Freshman, CAE Wood: Averaging 10.4 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 2.5 steals per game

Standout game against Everton- Career High 18 points (3-8 from 3-point field goals), 5 rebounds, and 4 steals

1. What is the most honored classroom object?

2. Why can’t a chemistry teacher find any good jokes?

SUDOKU

JOKES NONOGRAM RIDDLES

1 I have many keys but can not open many locks, what am I?

2. Seven kids were walking to school, only one brought an umbrella, and none got wet, how?