News Briefs: Catch up on school and local news

Senior Ian Flynn’s third Frequent Friday show of the year called “The Browning Version” is being held on March 29 after school in Room 208.

“The Browning Version” is a drama set in a British boarding school about a veteran teacher, his young wife and students.

“I wanted to try and do something different,” Flynn said. 

Flynn wants to show an example of a different genre of Frequent Friday than the usual comedy.

Aside from the upcoming Frequent Friday, there are a myriad of other productions going on in the theatre department, according to Sound Crew Chief and sophomore Brooks Hagedorn. 

“We are setting up the Little Theater for the spring play which is ‘Ant Farm,’” Hagedorn said. “Right now it’s mainly things for concerts.” 

“Ant Farm” is a series of comedic scenes with a variety of characters that will be in the Little Theater April 4-5, and all students are encouraged to attend.

Flynns Frequent Friday and “Ant Farm” are keeping the theater department busy with building props, sets, sound and lighting.

Global Ties KC, a local nonprofit focused on international connections, is partnering with International Club from April 10-24 to bring several foreign students from various countries to SM East. 

“[Global Ties KC] tries to create experiences for people in Kansas City to get to know people from other cultures and other countries and for them to know the best of the United States,” club sponsor and history teacher Brenda Fishman said.

Global Ties KC is bringing over 21 students accompanied by seven adults. From  countries like Tanzania, Kenya, Liberia, Lesotho, Madagascar, Seychelles and Mauritius to stay with host families for two weeks. 

While the students are here, they will engage in a variety of activities ranging from exploring Kansan infrastructure to observing the city hall, which will give them ideas for their own lives and ways to lead, according to Fishman. 

Senior Claire Goettsch’s family agreed to host international students after Fishman told her about the opportunity. 

“Fishman told us about the opportunity to have exchange students come from different countries in Africa,” Goettsch said. “So I asked my mom, she said we could host them and they’re coming for two weeks.”

Anyone interested in hosting can visit Fishman in Room 314 for more information. 

“We’re still recruiting families,” Fishman said. “If there[‘s] still some kids out there that are thinking about [hosting] they can get in touch with me and we’ll get on it.”

Grandparents for Gun Safety is holding a meeting today at Colonial Church of Prairie Village at 4 p.m. to discuss an ongoing gun safety initiative.

“We have a very active project called Lock it for Love,” Grandparents for Gun Safety founder and East grandparent Judy Sherry said. ”[It] is a project where we give out free, high-quality gun locks to people who own guns.” 

Sherry co-founded the organization shortly after the Sandy Hook shooting in 2012, and has been very involved with the community to make real change, according to her granddaughter and senior Leah Sherry.

One of Sherry’s main missions is debunking myths associated with gun ownership. She teaches the importance of owners securing their guns and passing legislation that protects people from themselves as well as others.

“It’s not impeding the right to a gun,” Sherry said. “It’s not impeding the second amendment in any way. Just like we talk about the right to free speech, but you don’t have the right to yell fire in a crowded theater, right? And so it’s the same thing. If you’re [a] convicted felon, if you’re a known domestic abuser, you should not have ready access to a gun.”

She says Grandparents for Gun Safety’s priority is to save lives. They advocate for laws that would make it more difficult for people who are suicidal or have a history of violence from posessing a weapon, according to Sherry.  

Grandparents for Gun Safety holds meetings on the fourth Monday of every month.