Oct.

23, 2019 The Pulse Page 3

New principal brings new brand of enthusiasm to top job

Kaden West
Staff Writer
The 2019-2020 school year has started off with a strik-
ing amount of new energy due to Indian Trail High School
& Academy’s new principal, Scott Kennow.
Kennow is “all about school spirit” and ready to make
change happen.
Although he said he believes not much has to change
here, he wants to make the environment more positive.
“They need to know they’re cared for, they need to
know this is the greatest school that ever existed, and I’m
gonna put everything in to make that happen,” Kennow
said.
Kennow demonstrates his passion for Indian Trail daily
through various routines. Fridays are “fist bump Fridays,”
when he makes a point of offering an enthusiastic fist bump
to every student passing through the entrance doors. With
an enrollment of more than 2,000 students, even Kennow
acknowledges that’s a lot of fist bumps.
But for Kennow, it’s one way for him to demonstrate
his enthusiasm for the job. Before a recent interview with
The Pulse, Kennow expressed his excitement towards be-
ing the principal of Indian Trail. His attitude and delight
towards Indian Trail is contagious and can’t help but bring
a smile to the faces of those around him.
Kennow took many steps before arriving at Indian
Trail. His education started at University of Wisconsin- his new environment.
Oshkosh and ended at Cardinal Stritch University, where “He could be a motivational speaker,” said Corinna
he received his master’s degree and director of instruction Eppers, Kennow’s secretary, noting how much energy he
license. After college, Kennow worked at all three levels brings to the office and those around him.
of education. He was a fifth grade elementary teacher, sev-
enth grade math teacher, a dean of students, assistant prin-
cipal, and now the principal of IT.
Prior to his job here, he worked at Lake Geneva Bad-
ger High School, Westosha Central High School, Frank
Elementary, McKinley Elementary, Edward Bain School
of Language and Art, Brass Community, and Somers El-
ementary.
Not only does Kennow strive in his career, he also aims
to be a dedicated family man. After his children were born,
Kennow moved from his job as an assistant principal to an
elementary school teacher in order to have more time to be
a father and husband, he said.
During his time as an elementary school teacher, he
delved into the diversity that Edward Bain Elementary had
to offer. He learned bits of Spanish, so he would be able
to communicate with the families that spoke Spanish in
the community. He wanted to make sure that parents felt
comfortable talking to him, and he wanted to continuously
learn about those around him so he could better adapt to Principal Scott Kennow’s enthusiasm for his job
includes giving fist bumps every Friday to more than
2,100 students. Photo by Madison Cowart

Youth march on Federal Plaza, urge leaders to take action on climate change
Lesli Garcia
Staff Writer
“Politician Scapegoat. Students will get out and vote!”
“The people united. Will never be divided!”
“Save our planet!”
On Sept. 20, in cities around the world, students chanted as they held their signs high
and proud for others to see. It was one of the biggest global climate change strikes to date.
In Chicago, the event was organized by the Illinois Youth Climate Strike with an expected
attendance of 3,000, but actual attendance exceeded those numbers.
The march began at 11 a.m. in Grant Park in downtown Chicago and continued toward
Federal Plaza until 3 p.m.
Hundred of thousands of students marched on the street with anger and fear, anger di-
rected at those in power who raised their fear with their actions according to these students.
Students march toward Federal Plaza in downtown Chicago on Sept. 20 in fight
against climate change. Photo by Lesli Garcia
“Ten years ago, maybe when I was in middle school, nobody was talking about this.
None of my peers were talking about this,” said Maddie Ortega, a University of Illinois-
Chicago student.
Ortega told a Pulse reporter, who attended the event, that adults aren’t the only ones
talking about climate change now.
“It’s kids talking about it too,” she said.
Many of the speakers at the protest pointed to those in power who should be voted out
of office for not addressing the global issue that is terrifying so many students. The fear
and anger of hundreds of thousands of students could be visible and felt by many at the
event.
They want change and they want it now.
That was last month in Chicago, but what about now and here in Kenosha. How do
teens here feel about recent climate change protests by teens including 16-year-old Swed-
ish activist Greta Thunberg, whose call for action has been heard around the world?
”I don’t really see much being done in my community. The most I’ve seen is biode-
gradable utensils at school, but that’s about it,” said Ava McHugh, 16, a General Studies
junior studying at Indian Trail High School & Academy.
“I think the people who hold positions of power care more about money and the econ-
omy, instead of the planet,” McHugh said.
The impact from those protests may not be seen directly in sudden actions, but can
be seen to have had affected the mindset of students and led some to want to take a step
forward to see change.
“I have ideas to form a new club specifically to do research on current problems with
the environment,” said Kali Aver, a Medical Science senior at Indian Trail High School &
Academy. “forming teams to go pick up garbage in town, and maybe even inviting guest
speakers to teach us more.”
Although recent protests haven’t prompted dramatic changes yet, the marches and
youth activism have spurred some students to take action toward improving the environ-
ment and fighting climate change.

Teen employment can bring stress, but also gives students life experience
Elly Herrick
Staff Writer
From doing yard-work to bussing tables, Indian Trail
High School & Academy senior Jacob Kielan has already
acquired a lot of work experience. For the past year and
a half, he’s been at the Pleasant Prairie Recplex working
with children.
“The job is difficult because you have to make sure ev-
ery kid is accounted for, safe, and having fun,” Kielan said.
Some days he leaves work feeling completely drained.
Stress comes with most jobs, according to Betterhealth.
com, the No. 1 ranked health and medical website in Aus-
tralia.
“The longer we feel stressed, the greater the demand
on our bodies,” the site advises. Learning how to handle
that stress and turn it into motivation is a much harder feat.
“It’s rewarding because I’m happy to see the kids hap-
py,” Kielan said.
One in four high school students have jobs. In 2018,
about 29 percent of teens worked year-round and just un-
der 35 percent worked in the summer, according to a Pew
Research Center study.
Zac Hermanson, a Lakeview High School senior, has
been working at a law firm in Kenosha for three months.
“Everything is do-able,” Hermanson said.
He works with many workers who are older than him
and noted that patience is key.
“Working at a law firm at 16 is extremely nerve-wrack-
ing,” Hermanson said. “From personal experience, you
just gotta hang in there and take time to learn everything.”
Stress in the workplace is common and can stem from
workload, people, and trying to balance social and work
life. While people can seem like they’re in the fast lane,
accomplishing multiple tasks at a time, they may also be
suffering from chronic stress. Hermanson manages his
stress by listening to music and trying to keep a clear head,
he said.
Six Flags America caricature artist Annphia Shelton, an
IT sophomore, works in a difficult, yet supportive and new
environment.
“It’s definitely difficult,” Shelton explains. “It’s a com-
pletely different form of art I haven’t done before, and you
have to learn how to do it at the drop of a hat.”
“It’s a learning experience!” she said.
Many state and federal laws protect minors from work-
ing excessive hours. During the summer, minors can work
8 hours a day and 40 hours a week, with those hours run-
ning only until 9 p.m. After Labor Day, they shall only
work until 7 p.m. and are limited to just 18 hours a week.
Nowadays, with a 3.5 percent unemployment rate, the
labor market has plenty of job openings, but it may be hard
to find the perfect fit, teens say.
IT junior and Culver’s employee Hailey Price said con-
nections made in the workplace are special.
“It’s a good starting job. Being here for a year and a half
is tiring, but when working here you see people you truly
appreciate and love,” Price said.
“The best part of working is getting to see my favorite
people,” Price states again, making sure her point was well
understood.
Minimum wage in Wisconsin as of 2019 is $7.25 per
hour. Some workplaces, such as Mcdonalds, offer a start-
ing wage of $8, while others such as Walmart have starting
positions as high as $14.13 per hour.
While a job helps young employees gain time manage-
ment skills, experience, friendships and income, it also
may bring stress, anxiety and depression.
Teens say it’s a life experience where you can make
special connections.
“Getting a job at this age is worth it,” Price said. “I’m
the person there with the best attitude, especially if every-
one’s stressed. I’m there to say, ‘It’s okay!’”