THE TRIANGLE 7 people were shot on a partybus celebrating a birthday party in California. Five people were shot at a party in Michigan. Four people were shot on Swan Island in an incident that is described by law enforcement as gang-related. One person was killed and four other were injured in shooting in The South Bronx. Two people were killed and three wounded at an early morning gathering in the Auburn Gresham neighborhood. Three men and a woman were wounded in an evening shooting in West Philadelphia. Four men found in two separate locations were wounded after a man left a vehicle and opened fire in Southeast Washington DC. Two women died and two others were injured in an apartment shooting in Georgia. Nine people were shot in Washington Park. According to police, the shooting in the largest in terms of injured in Providence's history. One person died and three were injured after a shooting at an apartment complex in Georgia. Four people were injured in a shooting at a housing complex in West Baltimore. Seven people were injured in a shooting at a package store in Alabama. 2021 Colorado Springs shooting: Six people were killed when a man opened fire at a birthday party in a trailer park. The shooter Teodoro Macias took his own life shortly afterwards. Shortly after midnight a fight broke out at Hyatt Regency Phoenix in Downtown Phoenix with a man was killed and seven others wounded. Four people were wounded in the parking lot of a night club in California. Responding officers had to break up multiple fights upon arriving. Four people were wounded in the early morning while standing outside for a gathering near L a k e . Two people wer were killed and four more were injured in a shooting. A teen
Two people killed and three an early morning in the Auburn
were wounded at gathering Gresham
FUEL TO THE FIRE Gun violence increases as the pandemic progresses
1
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Alyssa Ayers Zoe Preston CONTENT EDITORS Michaela Brown Tanya Iyer DESIGN EDITORS Anushka Nair Sanjana Penmathsa INDEPTH TEAM Megan Allman Katharine Brunette Alyssa Green Elaine Sanders STAFF Ananya Adur Kaitlyn Ayers Ryan Clulow Samantha Dearing Lawrence Delano Annagail Fields Abinaya Ganesan Diana Garcia Shenyi Gong Molly Hotek Hannah Larson Elise Maschino Metallica Miller Margaret Mowrer Myleigh Munn Ananya Ramanujapuram Addyson Rogers ADVISER Roth Lovins Rachel McCarver
k s a M e h t h at e n r e d n U From
editorial policy The Triangle is the designated forum for student expression at Columbus North High School. The student staff chooses all content. Signed columns published in The Triangle express the writer’s personal opinion and not the views of The Triangle, student body, BCSC, administration, board of trustees or faculty of Columbus North. The Triangle practices ethical journalism by providing balanced and fair coverage as determined by community standards. The Triangle strives to achieve 100 percent accuracy by checking sources, spelling, and quotes and attaining multiple sources. The Triangle encourages letters to the editor, but reserves the right to reject them for reasons including but not limited to lack of space, multiple letters of the same topic and personal attacks contained in the letter. The Triangle will not edit for content, but reserves the right to edit for grammar and length. Letters should be submitted to room 1507 or sent via e-mail to administrator@ cnhsmedia.com. All Letters much be signed by all persons involved in writing the letter, which the staff will check for validation. A letter sent via e-mail must be validated with a signature from the writer before The Triangle will publish it. If responding to a publication, letters must be turned in within one week of that publication’s distribution.
16 In the event of death, The Triangle will run a standard obituary. Pertaining to work submitted via social media sites (Facebook, Twitter, etc.), The Triangle will only accept written submissions from the original poster and owner and will only publish entries with the permission of the original poster and owner. The Triangle will not edit submissions for content and reserves the right not to publish them for reasons including but not limited to lack of space, multiple submissions of the same topic, vulgar or incendiary content. The Triangle will not publish photographs from Facebook. Posts on The Triangle’s social media pages by readers are owned by the readers and do not necessarily express the views or opinions of the staff. The Triangle is not responsible for their content and reserves the right to delete and report any inappropriate and unnecessary posts. By posting on The Triangle’s social media pages, the poster grants The Triangle permission to publish the contents of that post. In cases when a source’s information may bring ridicule or incrimination upon himself or herself, the editorial board reserves the right to cite the source as anonymous. The Triangle will never use composite sources and pass them off as anonymous sources.
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news
05 RED-Y TO HELP
Students are a part of the first ever Red Cross Club here
06 BLM IN AMERICA
student life
14 PROSPECTIVE PREDICTIONS
One year later
North students predict what next year will look like with COVID regulations and future trends
Students look back at the year and share their opinion on the changes with the COVID schedule
Columbus North teachers discuss how they adjusted with the new block schedule and pandemic precautions
08 RETROSPECTIVE
opinion
09 ¿ESTADO DE PUERTO RICO? Should Puerto Rico become a state?
10 SAFE TRAVELS
Ananya Adur explores the options of traveling during the pandemic
15 TEACHER TROUBLES 16 THE LAST LAP
Juniors talk about their fears and worries as they head into their senior year
sports
17 SOFTBALL PITCHES Breaking down a softball pitch
18 LAX LINGO
CNHS forms a new girls’ lacrosse team
BNN POSTS WEEKLY VIDEOS News show every week Mag show every two weeks
3
Mental Health in May The Triangle Staff recognizes the importance of Mental Health Awareness Month amidst the changing conditions of COVID-19 “
T
ISE C R
consistently since the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020.” While many Americans have been affected by the conditions of the pandemic, studies show that teens between the ages of 11 and 17 have been affected the most. According to Mental Health America, the number of teenagers affected by depression and anxiety had increased by 9 percent since 2019. “Not only are the number of youth searching for help with their mental health increasing, but throughout the COVID-19 pandemic youth ages 11-17 have been more likely than any other age group to score for moderate to severe symptoms of anxiety and depression.” With the increase in individuals affected by mental health, mental health awareness month may be more important than ever before. Beginning in 1949, the month takes place in May each year and is a period of time in which the media recognizes the importance of mental health in one’s well-being. According to the American Hospital Association, May is a time to raise awareness of those living with mental or behavioral health issues and to help reduce the stigma so many experience. Represented by a green ribbon, local as well as online events often take place throughout the month in order to spread awareness on the matter. The National Alliance on Mental Illness amplifies the message of “You are not alone” and uses the time to focus on acknowledging that it is okay not to be okay. “Together, we can realize our shared vision of a nation where anyone affected by mental illness can get the appropriate support and quality of care to live healthy, fulfilling lives — a nation where no one feels alone in their struggle,” NAMI said.
BE P
ITIVE!
See more ways to handle stress on the back cover
In celebration of the month of awareness, individuals who have been affected by mental health around the country share their stories to help “#breakthestigma” surrounding mental health and encourage those who are hesitant to get help. The Anxiety and Depression Association of America is just one of many organizations dedicated to providing help to those struggling with their mental health. “Nearly 450 million people worldwide are currently living with a mental illness, yet nearly two thirds of people with a known mental illness never seek treatment. ADAA is dedicated to helping those living with anxiety, depression, and co-occurring disorders and their loved ones find treatment, support, and resources.” Like ADAA, the Mental Health Foundation gives similar advice, recommending that teens talk about their feelings to help cope with their struggles with mental health. “Talking about your feelings isn’t a sign of weakness. It’s part of taking charge of your well being and doing what you can to stay healthy.” (mentalhealth.org) Whether it be talking to a therapist, talking to your family and friends, or sharing expressing your thoughts on paper in a diary, letting go of your feelings may be the first step to improving and maintaining a good state of mental health. This is the message given by the #breakthestigma, the motto of the ADAA. “Talking can be a way to cope with a problem you’ve been carrying around in your head for a while. Just being listened to can help you feel supported and less alone. And it works both ways. If you open up, it might encourage others to do the same.” (mentalhealth.org)
OS
E XE
ake a chill pill. Relax. Clear your mind.” These are the adverse words of wisdom often given to someone undergoing the plight of an anxiety attack. With COVID-19 taking over many months of 2020 and 2021, the prevalence of depression and anxiety in Americans has increased greatly. Staying home and missing out on the family interactions that would often serve as a source of reliability and support in one’s life have been just two of the many contributing factors to the increase in Americans affected by mental health in the past year. According to Mental Health America, the number of Americans seeking professional help has skyrocketed in the months affected by COVID-19, affecting all areas of the nation. “As COVID-19 spread throughout the United States, it not only resulted in greater morbidity and mortality in terms of physical health but also had disastrous effects on the mental health of the nation. As opposed to previous disasters in the United States that affected certain specific regions or populations where aid and trauma response could be concentrated, the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the entire population of the country.” Six months into the pandemic, the number of individuals affected by severe anxiety peaked. In addition, the amount of individuals exhibiting symptoms of depression have remained consistent since the start of the pandemic. “In September 2020, the rate of moderate to severe anxiety peaked, with over 8 in 10 people who took an anxiety screen scoring with moderate to severe symptoms. Over 8 in 10 people who took a depression screen have scored with symptoms of moderate to severe depression
Red-y to Help
Students are a part of the first ever Red Cross Club here By Ananya Ramanujapuram
F
ollowing a natural disaster or devastating event in the nation, the American Red Cross stands ready to help those in need. By educating the population and offering relief packages to the victims of devastating events, the American Red Cross helps many. And now, through the first Red Cross club in school history, students at North are also able to take part in helping others. Junior Anushka Patil is the co-president of the club along with Junior Tanya Iyer. “I wanted to create the Red Cross Club because I wanted to make a difference in our community with my classmates,” Patil said. “I think the Red Cross does a lot in the world and I wanted to integrate that in the school.” Not only does the club impact the students that are a part of the club, but it also impacts the
school community. “The club is raising awareness on topics that are very important in everyone’s lives,” Patil said. “The club also motivates people to give back to the community.” The COVID-19 pandemic threw a wrench in many clubs’ plans and meetings for the year, the Red Cross Club included. The changing school schedule didn’t help matters either, forcing clubs to adapt and change their plans. “We had planned to do a “Holiday Mail for Heroes,” but we couldn’t because that was when the school went completely online. It is where we write mail to veterans,” Patil said. “[However] after we switched to online, we made all the meetings on Google Meet and we made the timings in the evening (5 or 6 pm) so it doesn’t interfere with after school activities.” Nevertheless, through the restraint of the
pandemic and being online or on hybrid, the Red Cross Club still continued to spread awareness and educate the school about different disasters and how to be prepared to face them. “The Red Cross Club has raised awareness in our school about fire safety. We had a week that was dedicated to fire safety awareness,” Patil said. “We also taught our club members on what to have in an emergency kit.” The Red Cross club has also planned ahead for future events and has a few ideas of things they like to bring back. “One of the biggest things we are planning to do in the future is host a blood drive,” Patil said.“There used to be a blood drive just for teachers, and we are planning on starting that up again.”
Red Cross Facts & Opinions It was created on
MAY 21, 1881
Barton founded ARC in order to give
HUMANITIARIAN AID to victims of
WAR and NATURAL DISASTERS
The founder of the ARC is
CLARA BARTON
“I enjoy being a member of the CNHS Red Cross Club. It is nice being able to help others and learn more about the red cross. This club allows me to share my ideas and be creative.” sophomore Ishna Kesti “The club is raising awareness on topics that are very important in everyone’s lives, The club also motivates people to give back to the community.” junior Anushka Genge Patil
5
BLM IN AMERICA
one year later June 6, 2020
9:29
500,000
9:29
in over
550
“I ca n’t BREA THE .”
counties attended BLM protests
THE CONTROVERSY OF
PROTEST
9.5 MINUTES SUMMER OF 2020
March 13, 2020, 26 year old Breanna Taylor was sleeping when her home was barged into with police for an investigation. Taylor’s boyfriend shot at an officer’s leg. Policed shot around 20 shots hitting eight of those shots at Breanna and killing her. Police that killed Taylor have not been charged.
MARCH 13th,2020
BREONNA TAYLOR KILLED
THE MEDIA GETS
INVOLVED
May 25, 2020, 46 year-old George Floyd was sitting in his car in Minneapolis when police confronted Floyd over accusations that he used a counterfeit $20 bill at a deli. On a video, policeman Derek Chauvin pins down Floyd to the ground and was on his neck for about nine minutes while Floyd was yelling for air. As he was on the ground, three other police officers helped keep Floyd pinned. As an ambulance arrived, Floyd was pronounced dead at the scene.
MAY 25, 2020
GEORGE FLOYD KILLED CHAUVIN PLEADS GUILTY
After weeks of trials for Derek Chauvin, he pleads guilty for the death of George Floyd and will be spending 40 years in prison.
"[The BLM Movement] "More people, like hasn't been changed but myself, have become developed and created. more outspoken and even More people understand educated about systemic what happens in America racism in our country to on the daily now which help combat this huge is good for our future as problem. More protests Americans and people of have also happened color. The movement can within this year with one do more by continuing and message, Black Lives not being forgotten after junior everything has settled.
Jimena Mendoza
junior Brayden Spalding
7
R E T R OS PE C T I V E
Students look back at the year and share their opinion on Design by Tanya Iyer the changes with the COVID schedule "My favorite part of freshman year was being a part of student assembly and also being a part of the tennis team. I could really bond with other, new, members of the
freshman Siddharth Jain "I expected the COVID schedule to last doe more than just a few months. I went into the schedule thinking it was more of a long term thing rather than a short term fix."
senior Arturo Lopez
41% Advisory
52% Regular Schedule
28% Bridge Schedule
59% Bull Dog Time
48% Block Schedule
72% Hybrid Schedule
AP Prom King and Queen
Beginning of the school year
Prom Court
Elearning
Hybrid
Prom
AP testing
Graduation
¿Estado de Puerto Rico? Should Puerto Rico become a state? By Addy Rogers Design By Metallica Miller
M
ore than three million citizens live there, they pay American payroll taxes, and it’s been a territory since 1917. So why isn’t Puerto Rico a state? The answer is complicated. A colony of Spain from the European discovery of America to 1898, the island has a rich history and puertorriqueños have a vibrant culture. As of now, its political status is awkward. It has an ambassador to Congress, but no voting members. Citizens pay taxes to fund programs like Medicaid, but they benefit unequally. A national poll on statehood was conducted in November 2020. 52% voted for statehood, but 47% voted against it, and voter turnout was only 52%. Puerto Rican opinion is split right down the middle. Some residents would rather see the island become an independent nation. The island has been a colony for more than 500 years, and proponents of independence want a shot at self-
governing. Statehood would mean paying federal income taxes and the possibility of cultural changes. Historically, US territories that have become states, such as Louisiana, have lost some of their own unique culture. In Louisiana’s case, French fell out of favor and was replaced by English. Some worry that Puerto Rico may stop speaking Spanish and sacrifice some of its unique culture if it gains statehood. However, statehood would provide democratic and financial benefits. Fourtyfour percent of the island’s residents live in poverty. Statehood would provide better access to federal food and housing programs. Residents would also have true representation in Congress. At the end of the day, Puerto Rico should have full control over its destiny, whether that’s as the 51st state or as a new country. A referendum in which all citizens vote could decide this. ¡Viva Puerto Rico!
Mask Mandate Should masks be required? By Lawrence Delano Design By Sam Dearing
M
any people are sick and tired of the mask mandate. It has been going on for over a year. Who can blame them at this point. They fog up your glasses, they make it hard to talk, the list goes on. Eventually it gets to the point where it feels weird with the mask on and off. But COVID is like a vine. The more you just leave it be, the more it grows and becomes harder to cut. Each mask worn is a leaf
clipped of that vine. Hopefully eventually that vine will shrivel up and die. Until we reach north of 90% vaccinations masks will be necessary. The mask really doesn’t bother me anymore except when I sprint I practically inhale the thing. Bottom line, the masks are a small price to pay. We can all take them off once everybody has a shot in the arm and the E.R. is nearly empty. Until then, keep the mask up and covering your nose.
9
Safe Travels
Ananya Adur explores the options of traveling during the pandemic
A
By Ananya Adur Design By Shenyi Gong
fter a year of being cooped in a single house, I think we’re all a little desperate to go traveling. To explore, find someplace new, anywhere that isn’t our kitchen or bedroom. As someone who is so used to hopping on a flight almost every summer, staying at home felt a little strange and slightly jarring. With COVID-19 still spreading through countries, it can be difficult to find any sort of adventure without being concerned about the pandemic. While all of this may feel incredibly disappointing, there are still many wonderful and safe places to travel to keep the summer of 2021 exciting. The CDC has released information about which countries are safe to travel to, with levels 1 through 4. Level 4 countries are off-limits. These are places which we shouldn’t be visiting at all at the moment. Levels 2 and 3 are in slightly better condition, but they should still be avoided as much as possible. Level 1 countries, including Thailand, Fiji, the Cayman Islands, and Vietnam, and more are safe for travel. As long as people follow the basic restrictions (wearing a
Popular Destinations:
mask, sanitizing, and staying six feet away from others) these places would be so much fun to tour. If going outside the country doesn’t appeal to you, don’t worry about it! Taking a road trip with your family or some close friends would also be exciting. There are so many beautiful parks, landmarks, and other sites all around America that are open, so a road trip experience would be just as satisfying as an international trip. Blasting music in the car, taking in the views outside, and spending time with friends and family seems like the perfect way to spend the summer. Staying in an RV, booking a cabin in the mountains, virtual trips, or packing up a tent and going camping are all viable, and they’re appealing options too. Of course, safety is always going to take priority over traveling, but as someone who has grown up flying to different countries over the world, I would say exploring new places is definitely something amazing to experience. The pandemic has made us all cautious and wary of everything, but I think we should all just take a little time to enjoy our summer this year. We deserve it.
24%
22%
30%
FUEL TO THE FIRE
**Brief description, location, and date of recent shootings in Indiana**
11
INTRUDER ALERT
In the case of an armed intruder, initiate Run, Hide, Fight. Determine the best way to stay safe and protect your own life. If possible, alert 911 to the emergency if they are unaware.
RUN
If you can exit the building, do so quickly. Once outside, head to one of the rally points shown on the map. Once there, determine who is with ou and wait until an officer comes to instruct you.
HIDE
If you are unable to leave, find the nearest room to hide in. Lock and/or barricade the entrances. keep quiet and out of sight, and remain unless it becomes unsae or an officer tells you to exit.
FIGHT
Fighting is your last resort when your life is in danger. If you are directly confronted, commit to your actions and use the objects around you to either incapacitate or distract the intruder long enough to escape.
NORTH SAFETY
Do you think that North would be prepared if there was an intruder? YES (39%)
NO (61%)
Do you feel like you’re desensitized to news of shootings? YES (65%)
What changes would you like to see in Indiana’s gun control laws?
NO (35%)
SAME (33%) LESS (4.5%)
MORE (61%)
A
s of May 7, there have been 183 mass shootings in 2021 in the United States alone. Headlines of the carnage have become a staple of the news: ten killed in a grocery store in Boulder, eight killed in an incident of targeted violence in Atlanta. Is there a real spike in gun violence, and if so, is COVID-19 a factor? These incidents are part of a worrying trend. In 2020, there were 611 mass shootings in total, a sharp increase from 2019, which saw 417 such incidents. Though Americans were in quarantine for several months, mass shooting events were still at or above the numbers from 2018 and 2019. The months from May to November were the most violent. Two factors help explain this trend. The first are the mental health concerns that can be as damaging as physical illnesses. Only a minority of shooters are what society considers “insane.” According to Dr. Michael Stone, a forensic psychiatrist, only about 20 percent of mass shooters experience psychosis. “The other 80 percent have many of the problems that nearly everyone has to manage at some point in life: anger, isolation, depressive moods, resentments, jealousy.” The next factor is the way that mass shootings spread like a virus: coverage of one is often linked to a spike in others. A 2019 study by Arizona State University found that mass shootings act as a contagion. One criminologist, Jillian Peterson, conducted research with similar results. "I still think it's a shock “When one [shooting] happens and it makes every time because you headlines. The names and just hope that maybe pictures are everywhere, and the whole world is talking things would get better, about it, [and] that becomes would get different" something that other people see as a possibility for Teacher themselves,” Peterson said. Rebecca Burbrink On April 21, a shooting happened close to home in Indianapolis. At the FedEx Ground facility, a 19-year-old shooter opened fire in the parking lot before entering the building. Spanish teacher Rebecca Burbrink grew up in Indianapolis, and her brother-in-law works at a nearby FedEx building. She describes her reaction to the news. “I was shocked and surprised. I grew up within just a few miles of the building, and so it was really sad that this happened where I had grown up,” Burbrink said. The shooter, a former FedEx employee, had a history of mental health concerns, yet was able to legally buy a gun. In 2020, he was interviewed by the FBI after his mother became concerned that he might try to commit “suicide by cop.” This is a suicide method where a person acts threateningly with the goal of a lethal response from a police officer. Indiana has a “red flag” law that would normally prevent an individual with this background from buying a gun. This is a law that allows police or family members to petition the court to temporarily ban a person from buying guns and confiscate any guns they currently have. The shooter’s case was never filed in court because he surrendered his firearm. Currently, Indiana has few restrictions on firearms. There are no laws regarding assault weapons, guns don’t need to be registered, and no license is required to own a gun (though a permit is required to carry guns in public). The topic of whether to introduce stricter control is
controversial. In a Pew Research study, 81 percent of those who current situation or where the shooter was located, students and lean left support stricter gun control, while only 21 percent of those teachers were to close their doors, turn off the lights, and hide. who lean right do. Research consisting of close-up looks at shootings like the incidents Both sides share a common goal of reducing gun violence, but at Virginia Tech and Sandy Hook Elementary have shown that this they disagree on whether more gun restrictions will help or hinder. doesn’t save the most lives. Senior Adeline Rush believes that stricter gun control could have “[Lockdown is] still really appropriate in some cases, but if a prevented the shooting. gunman’s in the main office and you’re in English class, you don’t “In my opinion, there should be more gun control because our have a threat right there. You can sneak out the back door pretty country has extremely high rates of gun violence, which could be quickly and easily and be at safety and not even have to worry about decreased by more reasonable regulations on firearms,” Rush said. this,” Stevens said. Junior Cole Wheeler was mostly satisfied with current laws. Psychology plays a role not only in the causes of mass “I think the gun control laws are fine, but I do think that they shootings, but also in the best ways to prevent deaths due to them. should do some sort of check behind the Empowerment to make choices is a great way to "What they found was prevent feelings of helplessness in the face of an person who is buying the gun,” he said. However, an anonymous sophomore was that being proactive armed intruder. in favor of less gun control. They cited an “People want to be in charge of their own incident in which an armed person prevented a and doing something fate,” Stevens said. “Not that we’re telling 2,000 mass shooting. was always better than students and 300 staff that everyone should make “I believe that there should be less gun their own decision, but if I know there’s a better sitting and hoping option than what this person is telling me to do, control because I feel as if it would cause mass shooters to not want to try bringing a gun nobody will come into we want them to know what [choices] there are.” into a place in fear that they will be shot. Also, Gun violence can be a scary issue to confront, the classroom" it will decrease the amount of fatalities if a and it might seem like there’s nothing high school shooting were to happen,” they said. Officer Eric Stevens students can do about it. However, there are The threat of gun violence is felt even in several prevention strategies that can be done places that should be the safest: schools. In the on a small scale. One is encouraging positive past, before the 2014-15 school year, protocols for an active shooter relationships between students and teachers. situation mainly consisted of locking the school down and staying “The main thing with gun violence in regard to students is hidden in the classrooms. Officer Eric Stevens, North’s resource positive relationships with adults in the school. That’s a big factor if officer, explains how this changed. you look at different school shootings that a lot of the folks didn’t “Essentially, what happens is that the federal government will do have a positive relationship with any adult,” Stevens said. different studies and research and so forth,” Stevens said. “What Students should also be sure to tell a teacher or other staff they found was that being proactive and doing something was member if they notice anything odd or hear of any threats. In some always better than sitting and hoping nobody will come into the cases, this can be the key to preventing a violent incident. Just as classroom.” with avoiding a disease, proactivity is key. Before Run, Hide, Fight, there was Code Blue. No matter the
SHOOTING STATS RECENT SHOOTINGS Deaths
Injuries
No One Hurt
STATISTICS Since March 16, there have been 45 mass shootings. Most were domestic issues - the shooter didn’t walk into a building and open fire. Among 2021 mass shootings so far, there have been 30 dead and 7 injured. From 2000 to 2018, there were 277 incidents that occurred with a total of 2,430 causalities.
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Prospective Predictions Do North students think we will be required to wear masks next year?
NO
YES
North students predict what next year will look like with COVID regulations and future trends
By Katharine Brunette and Sanjana Penmathsa
Do North students think we will be social distanced next year?
YES NO
What are North students looking forward to most next year?
"
Being able to have large gatherings like dances, parties, etc. @karlaamaid
"
Not having to check temperature every time we come into school. @alexysmurray12
“I think next year will be lighter on the regulations. I think with everyone getting vaccinated we might finally go back to normal. We might be able to give high fives again, eat out, and not sneeze into our masks.” freshman Ajay Singireddy
“I would like to think that we have reached the end of COVID. With the vaccine being rolled out quickly, I believe we have a chance to go back to normal within the year, granted that there are no more complications.” junior Sanjana Jain
“I believe classes will begin picking back up to the paces they were at before COVID, and less teachers will be laid-back with late work and pacing of curriculum.” sophomore Aislinn Tian
"
Being able to go to college and not wear a mask. @kleinheltermegan
Teacher Troubles
Columbus North teachers discuss how they adjusted with the new block schedule and pandemic precautions
English Teacher David Spencer
"Honestly, I know myself and all teachers were frustrated in all the ways we were limited in making new connections with students. You want to do more in the classroom than just read this, then write that, but with E-Learning, Bridge, and social distancing, it was not only more difficult to host creative activities in the classroom, but more mentally exhausting just to imagine and execute them. I tried to write more comments on assignments and help students feel like what they do is meaningful, but that only goes so far because many students don't even read the comments." English teacher David Spencer
"I really tried to reach all kids with different types of activities and tried to give kids a break when they needed it. I like bridge overall , but it has been challenging to transition in a language. Some kids have a hard time Quote from thinking in Spanish for over an hour. In advisory, I Katie Pence tried to build more of a relationship with my students so that they knew they could relax and share without stress. While on elearning, I enjoyed the one on one communication with kids/assignments. I kept the work load lighter and allowed extra time to turn something in. Next year we have new textbooks for one, that will be a challenge, but I look forward to doing more culture activities. I hope we don't have masks!" Spanish teacher Rebecca Burbrink
Design By Michaela Brown
Spanish Teacher Rebecca Burbrink
15
The Last Lap
Juniors talk about their fears and worries as they head into their senior year
By Sanjana Penmathsa
easy-going classes. “I am definitely planning on making senior year stress-free,” Deshpande said. “I’m only gonna take 3 AP Classes and I’ve also got a few ‘not studious’ classes, like Jazz and weights. So yeah, just chilling.” As senior year, college applications, AP courses, and other items weigh heavily on one’s mind, it feels as though the time has flown by, a feeling familiar to Wills. “I feel like time is moving too fast, it feels like just yesterday I was a freshman,” Wills said.
er
c
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ts
on
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puter
my life a bit more independently.” On the other hand, junior Atharva Deshpande is sad that her high school career is nearing the end. “It’s a bit exciting, but also sad. I’m kind of sad about leaving my parents, since I’m an only child,” Deshpande said. “So really, my goal is to spend a lot of time with my mom and dad this year.” Due to COVID, Deshpande was able to achieve this goal, but the hardships of online schooling took a toll on many students. For Deshpande, he was able to learn many things from this year. “I would say that the biggest thing I learned was not to procrastinate. It sounds cliche, but it’s something that needs to be nipped in the bud as early as possible, especially before junior year,” Deshpande said. Deshpande has struggled with procrastination in the past, causing him a lot of stress and sleepless nights. “I didn’t really do that, even this year, and I spent a lot of nights working on homework and projects until midnight,” Deshpande said.“That means I missed out, many times, on getting a good night’s sleep, which wasn’t really healthy.” In order to make sure Deshpande gets some rest senior year, he signed up for more
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tress. College Applications. Volunteering. The Senior Project. These are the many worries of a junior about to enter their senior year of high school. As seniors leave to enter a new phase in life, the incoming seniors left behind are forced to start thinking about the very things that had plagued the previous graduates. The fear of this being the last year of a fun, carefree life without the responsibilities of being an adult starts to enter the mind of the incoming seniors. Should they make their senior year as stress free and fun as they can? Or should they focus on boosting up their college applications to the next level in their senior year? Junior Rebekah Wills is planning to have an easier year next year. “I have more fun classes next year, like continuing Jewelry and Glass, but I am still keeping up with honors and AP classes, it’s a balance,” Wills said. In order to make her senior year as stress free as possible, Wills had been taking most of her necessary classes beforehand. Now, she has enough room to take the classes she really wants to take. However, as senior year approaches the thought of this being the last year of high school also comes. Many fear what comes after graduation as they head to different parts of the country to attend the next parts of their education. Wills also feels this tension. “I am definitely a little nervous, not for senior year but for what comes at the end of it.,” Wills said.“I also am excited to start living
Junior Bekki Wills works on her a s s i
g
Sources of Stress
15%
Only around of high school students get enough sleep every night.
60 40%,
With the ratio being to female students tend to feel far more stressed out than male students.
61%
of teens feel they are pressured to get good grades.
P I T C H S T E P S
Sophmore Maddi Rutan
Softball
Pitches
Breaking down a softball pitch 12 o’clock to 9 o’clock position
3 o’clock to 12 o’clock position
12 o’clock to releasing ball
G R I P S Design by Shenyi Gong
C-grip kjkj is used for fastballs, curveballs, rise balls, and screw balls.
kjkjused for Peel grip drop balls and the change up.
17
From Cradle to Cross Check CNHS forms a new girls’ lacrosse team
By Molly Hotek
Lax Lingo Yellow Card: Very bad penalty that’s called when someone hits another player with their stick, typically in the head. 2 yellow cards and the player is ejected from the game.
W
hen we’re asked about sports, there’s probably several common ones that come up right off the bat- like football, basketball or even baseball or soccer. But there’s a different sport that’s been getting the spotlight more recently across the nation, and this year it’s even taken up residence right here at North. That’s right, we’re talking about lacrosse. Junior Savannah Rafferty Morris, a defensive and midfield player, breaks down the way the game works. “The game works by having two teams start with a face off, which is somewhat like a tip off in basketball,” Rafferty Morris said, “The goal is to gain possession of the ball for your team, and once you gain possession you head towards the other team’s goal to try to set up a play to score a goal.” Sophomore Gabrielle Donica, an attack and defense player, shares her excitement at the formation of a brand new all-female lacrosse team. “I was thinking of joining the boys’ lacrosse team if we didn’t have a girls one, so I’m glad that we do have a team,” Donica said. The team’s goalie, sophomore Claire King loves the energy her fellow teammates bring to the game. “I love getting to play with people that
“Crash”: Usually called by the goalie when someone has the ball and is running straight to the goal to score. it’s a command for everyone to run in and put their sticks in their way of the player. are as competitive as me and feeling the excitement everyone has after a win, especially being a starting team,” King said, “Everyone on the team supports each other rather than getting frustrated when people miss or get penalties and it creates a great relationship with each other and with the game.” Rafferty Morris hopes her team will set a good example within the athletic and lacrosse communities. “Lacrosse isn’t a sport a lot of people know about but is extremely fun to play, it may seem confusing to watch at first if you don’t know much about it and seem difficult to learn but it is easy to pick up on and understand,” Rafferty Morris said. King and Donica encourage other girls to try their hand at making the team. “I think girls should join the team because it’s a fun experience,” Donica said, “You stay pretty fit and in shape, and it’s fun to play with everyone as a group.” “Girls should join because there’s great camaraderie, and everyone’s pretty close so it’s like a whole new friend group. The game is also really fun and allows you to be competitive and join a sport where everyone’s new, so no one’s at a disadvantage,” King said.
“Ball down”/ ”Got ball”: Someone has dropped the ball and that it is now own the ground, “got ball” is letting your team know that you have possession of the ball and that it is no longer down. “Clear”: When the goalie has possession of the ball and is going to pass it down the field so that the rest of your team knows to be looking/paying attention for a pass and trying to get open.
How can you handle your stress & anxiety ? Here are a few ways you can support mental health awareness month
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Design By Anushka Nair
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