Have you heard the news? Jenks, America is growing!

Almost everyone in town can say that they have seen at least one sign advertising “new construction” or “coming soon,” read an article, seen a post on social media, or heard a rumor or two.

Jenks High School has always had a “Tradition of Excellence,” proudly displaying the achievements of its students, complete with an ACT and AP score wall, and National Merit plaques. But how does pursuing that “excellence” affect Jenks students?

Dysgraphia is one of the most undiagnosed learning disabilities, but House Bill (HB) 2768 is working to change that, by transforming Oklahoma's education system to empower students with learning disabilities. HB 2768, introduced in January 2021 and passed in May 2022 represents a significant milestone in Oklahoma's education system. This legislation took effect September 1st, 2023, and aims to better support students with learning disabilities, specifically those with dysgraphia.

Have you ever questioned your safety at Jenks High School? With all of the violence and frightening events happening in our world, the administration at Jenks has been forced to make numerous safety improvements to our school. But how is one of these changes, having teachers monitor the bathrooms, affecting our students?

The Gathering Place is a 66.5 acre park next to the Arkansas river, with basketball and tennis courts, along with interactive landscaping, and playgrounds. But questions still remain on how this place was thought of? Who was the true creator? And how does this truly benefit the community?

It’s been nearly 4 years since a play has been added to the shows the Jenks Theatre Department cycles through every few years. The last play to enter the cycle, The Grapes of Wrath, ran in the fall of 2019.

Entering the new year, students at Jenks High School took notice of a subtle but powerful addition to their school IDs. Alongside their picture and grade level now displays the number to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline as well as the Crisis Text Line. The new attachment has sparked several discussions among students and teachers about the ongoing mental health epidemic that lingers throughout schools.

Walking into the music building, you would expect every classroom to be filled with sound, but one is different. In one classroom you’ll be met with 24 students playing instruments silently. Each one is a piano student. Immersed in their own musical world with a keyboard each, they play into their headphones diligently.

Classroom teachers make ends meet by working seven hours a day, five days a week. But when the school day ends and the bell rings, many disperse to do their secondary professions so they actually can afford to live. To get the personal experience of what goes on behind the teacher’s desk, I interviewed Carrie Loeber, Blake Connelly, Katie Franco, and Juliana Lynch, as well as Tim Abel–all of whom work second jobs.

We all know the feeling, the moment when lights blind your eyes, when your ears violently shake from the echo of the crowd's cheers, when the only thing you can smell is cheaply buttered popcorn, as your body is closely crammed against the backs of fans. Friday’s are spent at stadiums, on courts, waving banners and screaming at the top of your lungs.

Menstruation is defined as periodic discharge of blood and tissue from the uterus, commonly known as having a period. This common health process occurs among half the population, yet many menstruators experience menstrual inequity, the inability to access menstrual products, menstrual education, and the surrounding stigma around menstruation.

Books have always been an integral part of my life. My first memory with books comes from my Mom, who spent hundreds of nights reading me her favorites like Little House In The Big Woods, or The Kissing Hand. As I’ve gotten older books have still been there, connecting me with new people and new emotions--taking me on wild journeys across new lands, or comforting me with stories that feel like home.

After crossing the border from Cambodia into Thailand with my classmates in ISP during our trip to Southeast Asia, our tour guide Mini announced that the first thing we had to do in Thailand was visit a 7/11. Unaware of the hidden gem of Southeast Asia we were about to experience, we obediently got off the bus. Each item in the 7/11 was tailored to Southeast Asian flavors. Instead of hotdogs, there were actual Asian meals packed and ready to be eaten. There were rows of unique food: different buns filled with custards and jams, cute candy, seaweed flavored chips, dried seafood, and the most intriguing drink aisle with different flashes of pink, orange, and green. I decided to try a matcha latte after hearing about my classmate’s obsession for the beverage. I was intrigued by the way she described the way matcha didn’t give her a caffeine rush like coffee but provided enough energy to wake up for her day.

You are walking down N Main Street in Tulsa, suddenly you hear a shredding guitar and a crowd chanting ¨Re-Spect-Walk¨ coming from the Vanguard, so you look inside. You expect to see a 30ish-year-old Pantera Cover band; instead, you find four teenage boys owning the stage. You hear the crowd shouting the lyrics along with the band. The feeling of the ground shaking from the rumble of the amps. There are flashing lights that move with the song, for added effect. The first thought that comes to mind is: who are these kids?

When a local thinks of Jenks’s downtown or mainstreet, the word “modern” doesn’t come to mind. It’s old school, with a jukebox joint, an ice cream parlor, and plenty of antique shops that you can pluck straight out of the 50’s. As more creative and innovative spaces pop up in Tulsa, it’s about time that Jenks had some renovation. Rain Ross, Jenks High School 2013 alumni, is hoping to be the front of that innovation, one haircut at a time. Ross is the founder and owner of All Good Studio and Barbershop, a creative space and salon showcasing different local arts communities under one roof.

Ice cream is a delicious treat that people usually enjoy on a hot summer day, but why not in the winter? In this review, I’m gonna be looking at 3 random ice cream shops in Jenks, examining their winter ice cream specials, and discussing their flavor, texture, and overall quality. So grab a spoon and let's dive into this tasty review!

Dumpling making is ingrained in my blood. The skill has been passed down for generations within my family line. What’s even more ingrained in our souls is dumpling eating. From chicken and shrimp dumplings to the new vegetable dumplings on our family menu after my dad became vegan, my family's diet consists of 30% dumplings. This past Thanksgiving, instead of the traditional meal you see in most American households, my mother’s side of the family decided to make wontons together.

There’s something about coming together around a table, carefully spooning filling into wrappers, folding each packet of edible gold into perfection, that makes a dumpling so much more satisfying than any other dish. However, this task takes time and skill. As we approach the winter season, I am in search of a restaurant that will provide a similar “homemade” factor for days I don’t feel like making dumplings myself.

On a rainy Wednesday night, I attended et al.’s weekly pop-up, Dumpling Night, at Foolish Things Coffee Downtown alongside two of the most experienced dumpling connoisseurs I know - my brother and my dad. As we tasted selected dishes off the Dumpling Night menu, I rated each dish based on price and taste.

Commitment, dedication, and passion, landed two juniors their own basketball team. Reese Watson and Cameron Anderson started coaching their fifth grade team via Trojan Hoops, a program that forms teams and lets them compete with each other.

The shift of leaves from green to red, orange, and brown signifies the arrival of the exciting season, fall. The men are in their happiest state because the change in temperature means it's officially football season. For women, fall is all about slipping on their uggs boots and comfy sweaters. One fall staple that both men and women cherish and enjoy, is the holy grail of holiday drinks, the Pumpkin Spice Latte. To help you find your favorite PSL, I will be providing you with honest reviews from our more popular coffee places such as; Starbucks, Braums, Dunkin Donuts, Dutch Bros, and Mojos. I will take into consideration the strength of coffee, sweetness, consistency (smoothness, grit, thickness), and spicy flavor. I will rate these aspects 1-5. The overall score (Cozy Sweaters) is scaled from 1-10. Disclaimer: I got each latte iced because of personal preference.