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The official student media of Blue Valley Northwest High School

BVNWnews

The official student media of Blue Valley Northwest High School

BVNWnews

The official student media of Blue Valley Northwest High School

BVNWnews

Jack Punswick competes in the Shawnee Mission Invite swim meet Jan. 25. Despite his cancer diagnosis, Jack said he was at the pool for practice whenever he could. “Swim gave me a sense of normalcy, where I could go see people that I like, go do something that I love,” Jack said.

Making waves: Jack Punswick continues family swim legacy through cancer diagnosis

Madison Kraft and Reagan Wald April 6, 2025

Blue Valley West senior Jack Punswick was lifted out of the pool by his teammates while the entire natatorium erupted in applause. It was the rival meet against Blue Valley North  Dec. 5, and he had just...

During the rehearsal of “The Bookstore” Mar. 27, Junior and student-director Greta Preuss talked to the cast about their plans for the day.  “Our cast has really come together and made such a bond with each other to make this production and it’s been awesome to be kind of the reason for that,” Preuss said.

First student-directed play to appear at Northwest

Natalie Churchill and Nafsiya Hafiz April 6, 2025

On the very last day of school in May 2024, Junior Greta Preuss found out she had been chosen as the director for the student-directed play the theater department was going to undertake in the upcoming...

Junior Will Foster plays on the Globetrotters recreational basketball team and enjoys competing against his friends. “You get to play against people you know, and you get to play with your friends and it's just a fun experience,” Foster said.

Competition and rivalry thrive in recreational basketball

Adria Heinauer and Miles Thomas April 5, 2025

The net swished as a player from The Goon Squad scored a three-point shot for the first time in their season. Junior Beckett Linden said the crowd erupted in applause. For some athletes including Linden,...

Seniors Aditya Parikh and Pranith Surapaneni practice playing the violin and the guitar for the Melodies for Memories club they founded. Parikh said he has been able to make connections through music and hopes to inspire the same in nursing homes. “Everyone has listened to some sort of music in their life and can connect to a live performance,” Parikh said, “That is a big part of why we created the organization because we wanted to share what we found with others.”

A timeless connection

Ruby Halverson and Madison Kraft April 3, 2025

The final note of “The Lord of the Rings” theme song reverberates as senior Aditya Parikh finishes the last stroke of his violin bow. His friend and fellow senior Pranith Surapaneni applauds from the...

Senior Pack Dance Team member Macie Gorman has scoliosis, which she said can cause discomfort when she dances, but over the yers she has learned to work through it. “Once in a while, my back will be tight, but once I start moving and stretch it out, I’m fine,” Gorman said.

Finding a new normal

Rishitha Bonthu and Danielle Croom April 3, 2025

Everyday tasks like picking up a dropped pencil can be difficult for some, including senior Macie Gorman, who was diagnosed with scoliosis at 12 years old. Scoliosis, a condition where the spine curves...

Freshman Abraham Gutierrez, center, eats dinner with the Hare family, who is hosting him while he plays for Sporting Kansas City Academy March 9. Senior Hayden Hare said Gutierrez is like a brother. "We joke around, play video games and do everything we’d normally do as a family. It doesn’t feel like we’re hosting him—it just feels like he’s part of us," Hare said.

Hosting memories

Danielle Croom, Assistant Managing Editor March 12, 2025

Fourteen-year-old freshman Abraham Gutierrez stepped into the Hare family’s Overland Park home, his bags in hand as his family got ready to leave. His mother Karina Jaime pulled him into a tight hug,...

Digital illustration depicted a robot arm holding the earth, symbolizing the future of AI and the planet is connected.

An intertwined future for AI and climate

Nafsiya Hafiz, Writer March 11, 2025

When a question is typed into Google, the first thing to appear on the screen is the answer provided by Google AI Overview. Artificial Intelligence is applied automatically, without users actively selecting...

Ellie Xu sews her design onto a sweatshirt March 6. “My favorite part of making clothes is seeing people’s reactions when they first see the final product,” Xu said.

Student spotlight: Ellie Xu

Ruby Halverson, Writer March 10, 2025

Immersed in sewing and designing new patterns on a sweatshirt, sophomore Ellie Xu has begun to start a business making custom clothing. Her company is called Urban Collective and Xu said the operation...

Sophomore Avery Davenport sits in the school library and shops online. “[On social media] you are saturated with pictures and videos of people using products,” Davenport said. She said this has an effect on her tendency to be influenced to buy new products online.

The price of excess

Ruby Halverson and Madison Kraft February 4, 2025

Walking through the halls of Blue Valley Northwest, sophomore Avery Davenport can’t help but notice everyone is wearing a variety of trendy wide-leg pants. Whether it be jeans or sweats, five dollars...

Trainer Caleb Blankenship helps senior Ella Cruz do lateral raises on Dec. 27. “[Caleb] has shown me what it’s like to like my body and how to adjust to the changes,” Ella said. “I learned that it’s important to be yourself and learn what makes you happy.”

Student spotlight: Ella Cruz

Danielle Croom and Nafsiya Hafiz January 10, 2025

Senior Ella Cruz spotted her mom, coach and best friends in the crowd through the stage lights at the North American Natural Bodybuilding Federation Amateur Nationals. By the end of the night, Ella won...

Senior Akki Gundu practicing for the Seva Dance INfusion performance Nov. 3. “[Seva Dance has] allowed me to express my love for dancing and for my culture, which I don't get to do a lot, so it's kind of special,” Gundu said. (This image has been horizontally flipped.)

Benefiting the community with Bollywood

Emily Olm-Shipman and Sri Trikona November 12, 2024

Seva, meaning selfless service in Sanskrit, perfectly embodies the non-profit organization Seva Dance’s mission, senior Krrish Sanjanwala said.  Sanjanwala, the son of co-founder and vice president...

During the rehearsal of “Mamma Mia!” Oct. 30, Senior Hadley Wilson, who is cast as Donna Sheridan, rehearses the dance to “Money, Money, Money.” “This has been a dream role for years, and getting to play her for my senior year has been a dream,” Wilson said.

Preparing for production

Rishitha Bonthu and Natalie Churchill November 11, 2024

Northwest's theater program will perform "Mamma Mia!" from Nov. 14-16 under the direction of theater teacher Sydney Kohart. She said the entire team has been hard at work in the process of auditions, and...

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