The Hilight: Back to School Edition 2021

The Back To School Edition

Mrs. Putman (English) - “I had the honor of having Will Fowler in my 11th grade English class last year. It didn’t take long to notice that Will Fowler had a presence. God-given presence. He commanded respect in everything he did because of the exceptional role model he consistently set. I’m not sure he ever realized how much the students looked up to him. Not once did I ever hear him say he was tired, not once did I ever see him waste time, not once did he do less than his best (and with a smile). Will Fowler was a champion. One thing I always loved about Will was his gift for only saying what needed to be said.

His smile is forever etched in my memory, and I am forever grateful for him helping me rediscover my love for Star Wars and insisting I watch Mandalorian. I will never forget Will Fowler.”

We commemorate Will Fowler and pray for his family and friends. If you would like to give your condolences to his family, they request donations to be directed towards Cullman High School Band Boosters in his honor.

Mrs. Greenlee (Science teacher) - “Will was one of the most precious young men I have ever had the honor of teaching. I looked forward to him coming to class each day. I enjoyed our talks about science and about our shared love for Star Wars and Grogu. He made such a positive impact on my career and my life outlook. I consider myself blessed that my life was touched by him.

It seems so unfair in human terms that we have to go through our days without him now, but the angels celebrated as he came home. It brings me great joy to think of him enjoy-

ing Heaven.”

Mrs. Skinner (Choir director) “I had the pleasure of teaching Will in Music Appreciation at CMS. I distinctly remember the day that they turned in their first writing assignment that year. I came home and told my husband that I had never read a more eloquently written paper than Will’s. He was a brilliant kid and so very well-spoken. I enjoyed having him in class, and I loved watching him excel in music in the years following my class. He was an incredibly kind person, and even in facing difficulties that most of us could never even dream of, he did it without complaint. He is greatly missed by so many.”

Skye Mcrea (Senior) - “Well you can see one of our beloved friends has earned his wings. He never complained, always was nice, and very smart.”

Mr. Goble (Science teacher) “Will’s positive attitude helped create a productive classroom climate.”

There is no doubt that Will Fowler impacted hundreds of lives--not only in the Cullman City school’s band program but also on the campuses where he interacted with teachers and students. Will Fowler has left a legacy of perserverance, kindness, and integrity for all to follow. May he rest in peace

“

....Not once did I ever hear him say he was tired, not once did I ever see him waste time, not once did he do less than his best (and with a smile).”-Mrs. Danna Putman

“.....He was never upset

and just happy to be there, wherever it may be.”Claude Thomas

A Tribute to Will Fowler

Mrs. Bean (CMS Band director) - “Will Fowler was an outstanding student who never let his physical challenges stop him from achieving his goals. Will would always greet everyone with a smile and made the most of each day. His determination and drive to succeed will remain an inspiration to all who were fortunate enough to know him. Will used to love to race his wheelchair around the middle school band room whenever he had enough space. I can picture him with a big smile on his face flying all around up above us with his new wings! Our band family was blessed to know Will Fowler and will be practicing a little harder to make him proud.”

Claude Thomas (Senior) - “Will was a great friend of mine and my first friend in Alabama. He was never upset and just happy to be there, wherever it may be: on the field in the burning practices, under the Friday night lights, through rainstorms, the stands, and winning competitions with the band!

He was always there and with a smile on his face and happy to be there. He makes me want to be a better person.”

From a fellow Bearcat

Warren Kelley (Senior) - “He was a good person loved by many, a good friend, and he had such a great impact on people. We grew up together and went to St. Pauls, face-timed, and talked about Star Wars.”

THE NEWSPAPER OF CULLMAN HIGH SCHOOL

Staff Writers, Angelina Hughes & Jordan Nash

William “Will” George Fowler was born to Jana and Jason Fowler on October 29, 2003; Will passed away on August 17, 2021. He grew up attending St. Paul’s Lutheran School, where he obtained a passion for music and touched the hearts of everyone he met. He also excelled in his academics and achieved the honor of becoming a member of The National Honor Society. Will to pursued his passion for music as he played in Cullman High School’s band for four years.

Through the years he had earned himself the role of being the percussion front ensemble section leader. Following the band motto, “Early is on time and on time is late,” Will committed to his goal of achieving perfect attendance despite the many challenges he faced. Will suffered from muscular dystrophy and was wheelchairbound. In spite of this, he never complained about his circumstances and was known to always keep an upbeat attitude. Anyone that knew Will would also know he was a Star Wars fanatic. Between playing in a band and being a fervent Star Wars fan, Will taught us what it means to be a Bearcat. Our fellow Bearcats give testimony to Will’s impact on their lives:

The Hilight

Volume LXXXVII Issue I September 23, 2021 510 13th St. Cullman, AL 35055

2 FEATURES A Trip Around the World

Foreign Exchange Students at CHS Abbie Allison, Staff Writer Each year, at Cullman High School, students have the unique opportunity to get to know students from other parts of the world. This year, there are three students from other countries that are walking the halls of CHS. They answered a few “Getting to Know You” questions: 1.Tell us about your hometown.

2.Tell us a little bit about yourself.

3.Tell us your favorite thing about Cullman.

4.Favorite hometown activity?

5.Favorite restaurant in Cullman so far?

6.Why did you want to study in the U.S.?

7.Favorite Color?

8.Give us one last word in your language.

new people. Studying abroad also gives me the chance to fully engage myself in learning English.

7. Neutrals. Scandinavian fashion and interior design is known for being very minimalistic and we tend not to wear so much color.

8. ”Sjuksköterska” which means nurse, is the most difficult Swedish word to pronounce for non Swedish speakers.

Amanda Bergman (Ekero, Sweden) 1. My hometown is called Ekerö and is located on Sweden’s east coast. It’s a 30 minute drive from Stockholm, the capital of Sweden. There is a small industrial zone in the town but most people who live here commute to Stockholm for school and work. It’s a peaceful and beautiful island surrounded by water and nature. People who live here mainly enjoy outdoor activities such as hiking and spending time out on the lake.

2. My name is Amanda Bergman. I’m 18 years old and am a Swedish exchange student, currently spending a year here in Cullman. I am a driven and curious person who loves to travel and see new places. I am fortunate to have been given the opportunity to travel a lot. I have seen most of Europe and have lived in Singapore for 2 years.

3. My favorite thing about Cullman is definitely the school spirit. There is a lot of fun events and activities that bring everyone together. This is very different from my school back in Sweden where we clearly separate school and activities.

Sports are not played in school and events rarely happen.

4. At my hometown, I mostly enjoy spending time outside, hiking, or going out on the boat.

I also like spending a lot of my time with my friends as we go out for dinner, go shopping, or play sports just for fun.

5. There are so many good fast food restaurants here. My favorite so far is Chick-fil-A. We don’t have nearly as many fast food restaurants where I come from, so I’m excited to try everything out here.

6. I decided to study in the U.S because it allows me to experience different cultures and perspectives, including new traditions and meeting

Martina Ogglano (Rome, Italy): 1. Rome is an ancient city full of history. When I walk in the streets of my city my eyes always look up at the domes of the churches and the colossal monuments. Everything there tells of the power of a great empire: the Roman Empire.

2. I am a reserved but sociable girl who loves hanging out with her friends, cooking hometown dishes, and going to the cinema. I love fantasy books and novels and I love painting landscapes with watercolors.

3. My favorite thing about Cullman is its small town vibe but with big spaces, big streets, and big gardens.

4. My favorite activity would have to be reading/painting.

5. My favorite coffee shop is Karma's. It is cozy and serves very high quality coffee and food. I went there for the first time with a friend of mine and I really felt at home.

6. I had been asking my parents for two years to come and study in America. I wanted to improve my English and I love American culture and the idea of being part of it in a small way made me happy.

7. I love the light purple color, in fact, my room in Rome is all purple.

8. "Carbonara". This happens to be a well-known pasta dish in Italy that is made from eggs, hard cheese, cured pork, and black pepper.

Maria Olsen (Trondheim, Norway): 1. I am from a city in Norway called Trondheim, which is located in the middle of Norway. We are considered one of the major cities and have around 180,000 citizens. We have beautiful attractions like churches, a river slitting the city in

half, and a restaurant located 400 feet above the ground.

2. My name is Maria Myklebust Olsen and I am 16 years old, turning 17 this fall, and will be a senior here at Cullman High School. I like to workout, watch Netflix, and spend money. I have no idea where I'm going to college or what I'm going to study, but I really want to work inside the medical field when I get older. I have to go back and finish my last year of High School (we have 13 years in Norway) before any of that can happen. In Norway I live with my older sister (18), my mom, and my dad and absolutely love my hometown.

3. My favorite thing about Cullman is how nice and outgoing everyone is. People are extremely easy to talk to and very helpful. This was probably one of the biggest cultural shocks I had when I arrived here because people in Norway don't talk much, unless we are hiking or skiing.

4. My favorite activity to partake in would have to be playing Handball. I know handball is not a popular sport here in the states, so for those who don't know what it is, you could compare it with basketball, except we use small soccer goals. I have played handball for 10 years, but I quit playing last season because of multiple knee surgeries.

5. I haven’t been to many restaurants here in Cullman yet, but if I had to choose a favorite restaurant, it would be Chick-Fil-A or Buffalo Wild Wings.

6. I really wanted to study in the US because I love to travel and explore. So when my sister started talking about exchange in 2019, I signed up for it a year later. I love how it gives you so many opportunities at such a young age and coming from a small country, you always hear about the American High School experience, which I just had to try out myself.

7. My favorite color is either yellow or sage green.

8. One of my favorite Norwegian words is "Lidenskapelig" which means to be passionate.

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FEATURES

Language Barriers

Breaking into bilingualism.

Areli Leon, Advertising Editor Welcome new and returning CHS students. Some new students are currently facing struggles that most of us have never had to go through -- language barriers. Coming to a new country without knowing their primary language is something so difficult that I cannot even fathom. Regardless, thousands of people do it all the time.

Whether they came to the US to escape or simply to create a better life for themselves, the act takes a lot of bravery and courage.

One should never decide to judge a person due to their strong accents or the way they live. It’s important to realize that not everyone was born with the same privileges, and some people have had to work harder for what they have. As a first generation hispanic, I’ve seen firsthand how much control language barriers have. It makes simple errands turn into difficult tasks. Nevertheless, it makes me

admire those people who continue to work through these struggles and create a better lifestyle for their loved ones.

This year, I’ve gotten the privilege to help a fellow student at CHS who is currently having to adapt to the US and learn English. He is lucky to have an amazing support system and be able to attend school now.

Even with all these resources, he must do the work on his own and really dedicate time towards learning English along with the set curriculum. It will definitely not be easy, as he will need to expand his vocabulary immensely. He deserves an incredible amount of credit for continuing to put effort into learning everyday.

Unfortunately, many others did not get the opportunity to do the same. Instead, they had to go straight into the workforce in order to have a proper living environment. They had to learn English through their jobs and

by listening to others. So next time you hear someone’s native accent cut through their English, remember that you have no idea what they have gone through to get to this point.

Ayuda (help) Necesitas ayuda?

Do you need help?

Bien/mal (good/bad) Me siento bien/mal.

I feel good/bad.

Clase (class) Estoy en camino a clase.

I’m on my way to class.

Spanish Sight Words Baño (restroom) Tengo que usar el baño.

I need to use the restroom.

Agua (water) Te gustaría una agua?

Would you like a water?

Lápiz (pencil) Tienes un lápiz?

Do you have a pencil?

Papel (paper) Ocupas papel?

Do you need paper?

Lonche (lunch) Estoy listo(a) para ir a lonche.

I’m ready to go to lunch.

Frio/caliente (cold/hot) Mi bebida esta muy fria/caliente.

My drink is very hot/cold.

Upcoming fall fun

Anna Beth Mauldin, Staff Writer As October rolls around, so does Cullman’s Oktoberfest.

This year’s festival is officially taking place from September 30th through October 2nd. Oktoberfest has remained a favorite for Cullman county since 1982. Each year’s celebration gives our German town the chance to celebrate our heritage with local residents and students.

It might be sharing a traditional brat, or even participating in the corn hole tournament. Invite your friends, family, or even bring along your favorite four-legged friend; there are special activities for them too. Maybe it’s the annual Wiener Dog Race, or even the dog costume contest. There’s sure to be something to make your visit memorable.

Make sure to steal a picture with our infamous Hay People before you leave.

In response to the rising Covid-19 cases, some minor precautions have been put into effect.

Oktoberfest’s director Drew Green writes, “In the past Cullman County Museum has had student visits during the week of Oktoberfest. In an effort to accommodate the recommended smaller group sizes we would like to extend an invitation for the entire month of October...

For the older students, we are offering walking tours through historic downtown Cullman through the month of October.” However, masks and vaccinations are not required during the celebration.

One of our very own Bearcat faculty members is featured as this year’s Burgmeister! Coach Casey Harbin has been selected by a large collection of people to be the chairman of the three-day festival.

Some of his responsibilities include attending as many scheduled events as possible, helping with the crowning of Miss Oktoberfest, mingling and socializing with the crowd, and assisting with contests throughout

the weekend.

Coach Harbin shared his expectations and thoughts regarding this year’s festival, as well as his most memorable Oktoberfest moments.

When asked what the main Burgmeister responsibilities would be, Harbin responded, “Prior to Oktoberfest, I will be engaging the community and doing a ton of appearances for our sponsors! Once the festival actually gets here I will serve as a master of ceremonies. I’ll host a variety of contests and probably do A LOT of Chicken Dances, haha. I am mostly there to keep the festivities going and just make sure everyone has a blast!” Harbin’s favorite Oktoberfest memory has to be the tapping of the first-ever Oktoberfest Keg. “...but not for reasons you may think. In my mind, that was the turning point for the festival in our community. It marked the beginning of seeing new faces and larger numbers at the festival. My

grandmother worked hard to establish the festival in Cullman and, to me, that event brought a whole new group of people to see what she and others worked for decades to create.” Because of our nation’s ongoing battle with Covid-19, Harbin hopes for a sense of normalcy this year as he says “I think this festival is the main event of Cullman’s identity.

I would love to see our COVID numbers dwindle and allow us all to enjoy the festival the way we have for so long. I think it would go such a long way for the community if we could have as close to a normal Oktoberfest as possible!”

4FEATURES

Mental Health with a Mental Health Specialist Interveiw about mental health with Ms. Katelyn Bowling Alecia Scott, Staff Writer

“Mental health is health.” Ms. Katelyn Bowling said this to me during an interview I had with her. Ms. Bowling is the Cullman High School Mental Health Specialist. During the interview, she was asked about her past and her intentions, all of which she happily answered.

Ms. Bowling, also known as KB, went to Austin High School in Decatur. She later went on to get her undergraduate degree in social work from Freed-Hardeman University. KB is now getting her masters degree in social work through advanced standing at Jacksonville University. She also worked, as a licensed social worker (LBSW), at Childhaven for nine years before coming to CHS. KB had several life experiences when she was growing up that she says helped her decide to work in the mental health field.

When KB was in third grade, her parents divorced. Between third and seventh grade, KB’s home life was unstable. She lived in an environment where she witnessed substance and physical abuse. She spoke to me about how she had to deal with occasional bullying due to childhood obesity. KB credits her third and fifth grade teachers, and her seventh grade guidance counselor for helping her feel safe and successful during these times of instability. It was because of these educators, that KB knew she wanted to be a guidance counselor one day. She said a quote by Ayesha Siddiqi, “Be the person you needed when you were younger.”

KB says that is what she hopes to be for young people, the person she needed when she was their age.

When she chose to be a guidance counselor, she did not know you have to be a teacher first in the state of Alabama. As she went to college, she learned about being a social worker rather than a guidance counselor.

One of the biggest goals for KB at this school is to help erase the stigma around mental health. She said, “mental health is health.” She wants to help students, teachers and even parents see things from a new perspective. KB wants people to look deeper than just the surface.

During this pandemic, she could “never imagine” how much this pandemic would affect the students. Much conflict has come out of this pandemic. The break-

ing up of a routine, according to KB, is not good for students, and it does affect the mental health of the students at CHS and everywhere else.Additionally, she states the pandemic has made many students feel uncertain and isolated. There is something good, however, that came out of this tragedy. It served as an opportunity to bring light to the mental health awareness movement.

I also asked how the teachers, specifically, have been affected by this pandemic. There have been many articles that have focused on the trauma caused to the students, but rarely do they speak about the teachers and how it has affected them. KB spoke about her experience as a virtual student manager for Childhaven.She spoke about the task of managing the approximately 15 children at Childhaven.

She says “I learned from this not only how much teachers do in any normal school year, but what teachers are being asked in addition to or beyond the [normal] because of this pandemic.” She explained that she was always told teachers were viewed as social workers and as teachers. The pandemic really helped her to see how true that was. She says that the teachers are being asked to teach in odd, challenging ways. I think many people agree that virtual learning was a tough learning experience, but it may have caused the teachers to learn a new method of teaching.

I asked Ms. Bowling if she had any tips for our mental health as students. Her biggest statement was a quote by Charles F. Glassman. She said “Don’t measure yourself using someone else’s ruler.” Do not allow yourself to be pressured to be as good as someone else. Push yourself to measure up to what you can do. Be the best you, you can be. Try your best, not someone else’s. When looking at Instagram, Snapchat, or Tiktok, just remember you are looking at the highlights of these people’s lives. You do not see the arguing with their parents, their grief, or their crying because something is wrong.

Their next tip was to make sure you could find someone you can talk to. Having friends is a big part of the highschool experience, even if that is just one. People need people to get through life. Find someone you can trust and that they can trust you. When they need to talk,

listen. If they are true friends, they will do the same for you.

Lastly, if you do not feel comfortable with talking to someone else, vent using a journal. Write, draw, or paint how you feel. An outlet for your emotions needs to be made. Journaling can help with all the stress you are going through. It does not matter if you are good at drawing, if you like it and feel you can use it to express yourself; do it. If you think you can’t write too well, who cares, you are great in your own way; do it.

Express yourself, it helps.

Ms. Bowling wanted me to emphasize confidentiality. She has a sign in her office that says, “everything that’s said in here, stays in here.” There are a few exceptions to this rule of confidentiality, and it’s also noted on the sign. She does have to tell a trusted adult if you tell her you’re being hurt, hurting yourself or wanting to hurt yourself, you want to hurt someone else, or you give KB permission to share.

Another thing is that she is also here for the parents, to give them advice on ways to communicate with their teen, or recommendations regarding their teen’s mental health outside of school. Helping a parent to understand why their teen may feel a certain way is sometimes just as important as helping a teen understand why they feel a certain way. She wants to help with that if needed.

Ms. Bowling is also working with staff on ways to better understand mental health and how it is impacting students. To be up to the task of helping a child in need, requires training. She will be providing training on ways to increase mental health for both students and teachers throughout the school year. KB stated,”In my experience with CHS for the last nine years, the CHS faculty have always seemed more aware and interested in the mental health of their students. Being able to train and have discussions with others at CMS and CHS, on the importance of Mental Health, makes me very excited for the future generations to come through this school.”

Any student, teacher, or parent associated with Cullman City Schools, particularly Cullman Middle School or Cullman High School, can talk to her. She will speak to you about whatever is on your mind. If you need help processing through your feelings, you

need to vent, or you just need to take a break,she wants to help with that. However, she cannot get you out of your homework, no matter how much you think it is affecting your mental health.

There are a couple ways to contact Ms. Katelyn Bowling. KB runs the mental health Instagram for CHS. The profile is @bearcatmentalityccs, so you can always reach her on there. If you ever want to speak with her, email her @kbowling@cullmancats.net, and she will email you back to find a time to meet with you. To find her after you have scheduled a time with her, she is the only door on the right in the Guidance Office.

Having a Mental Health Specialist during these times is a great addition to our already outstanding staff. I hope that everyone takes advantage of the fact that there is someone to talk to. She looks forward to working with all the students at CHS.

OPINION

We’re Back and so is COVID-19 What CHS is doing in regards of the pandemic

5

Olivia Britton, Staff Writer

The school year has started despite the rapid rise of positive cases of COVID-19. Students are wondering what’s true and what’s not, considering we have two sides to everything nowadays. I sat down with the school nurse to ask her what she was thinking in regards to the rise in numbers and guidelines put out by the CDC and ADPH. “I feel like compared to last year in our student body and younger population, [we] are seeing more positive cases.” says Nurse Shugarts. She says that this is most likely because of the new Delta variant of covid.

The Delta variant was discovered in late June of 2021. This variant seems to be targeting younger individuals and is much more infectious. According to the CDC, the Delta variant is 2x more contagious than other variants, even to vaccinated adults and children. One of the scariest parts about Delta is that scientists cannot seem to find certain answers regarding the spread of it.

What is Cullman High School doing in regards to COVID-19?

Our school is going by the recommendations of Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). If you test positive, you must stay home and quarantine for 10 days after symptoms start. Those exposed or identified as a close contact are also recommended to quarantine for 10 days after their last day of exposure. Nurse Shurgarts said, “The only things that keep you from having to quarantine

as a close contact would be if you are fully vaccinated, which would mean two weeks after your last shot; or if you have had COVID in the last three months; or if you were

wearing a facemask when in contact and do not show symptoms.”

If someone has tested positive for antibodies and has a signed note stating so from their health care

provider, the student will not have to quarantine.

What to do if you have symptoms…

“The best thing to do is to stay home,” says Nurse Shurgarts, “but if you have minor symptoms and don’t think it’s COVID related, wearing a face mask is important.” If you are worried about attendance or classwork, don’t be! Your teachers will understand and cooperate with you. If you are planning to self quarantine, or if you test positive, have your parent/ guardian call the school and tell the office. Nurse Shurgarts said this is so the school can get our attendance coded correctly. She also stated that the best way to limit the spread of COVID and COVID exposure is to limit your inner circle to family and a few close friends. Furthermore, It is suggested that you do not attend large public gatherings. If you do, try to stay outdoors or in large open areas.

As of right now, CHS is not requiring students to wear a mask, nor are we making classes run in a rolling block. However, as of Friday August 20th, grades 9-11 must eat in their classrooms during their scheduled lunch times. Seniors, on the other hand, are allowed to eat in the lunchroom. It is up to our students and teachers to take the precautions necessary to have a safe, healthy year!

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OPINION

An update on politics A briefing of the latest political stories Elley Atchison, Staff Writer

These past months have been substantial times for politics.

Throughout July and August, there have been three key events that are exceedingly significant. First, The resignation of Andrew Cuomo was heavy for the state of New York.

Second, the assassination of Haiti’s president was shocking for all. And, lastly, the fall of Afghanistan will forever change the way the country runs.

To begin with, the resignation of Andrew Cuomo. This news came as a shock to many. Last year people praised him for how he handled the pandemic. They admired his efficiency and sureness about the coronavirus rules and regulations. Then, news hit that Cuomo had downgraded the number of deaths in nursing homes. When this announcement came to light, several democratic leaders wanted him to resign. But what ultimately set fire to the rain for Andrew Cuomo were the eleven sexual assault allegations against him.

Many of the women he had sexually assaulted were his coworkers, but many were workers for the state department, as well.

One woman, in particular, claimed he ran his finger down her neck to her spine and then proceeded to touch her inappropriately. She continued her statement by expressing how she felt violated. This woman was a security guard for Andrew Cuomo as well as a state trooper.

Another woman, Charlotte Bennet, vocalized that he asked her very personal questions about her romantic relationship. He then asked her if she had ever been with older men. Bennet said she felt she was being groomed. Andrew Cuomo’s sexual assault was a repeating pattern. Many democratic leaders demanded an investigation regarding these allegations and reiterated the statement they had already made: they wanted Andrew Cuomo to step down. Cuomo did not believe anything would come of the investigation; however, he was mistaken.

When a conclusion came out, it declared that Andrew Cuomo had violated federal and state laws.

Later, Cuomo made a formal statement saying he “never touched anyone inappropriately and never made any sexual advances.” He followed that statement by announcing these women “heard things that he just didn’t say.” After all of these occurrences, the people of New

York and several democratic leaders were urging Cuomo to resign, some even threatening to begin impeachment. So, on August 10, 2021, Andrew Cuomo made a public announcement where he said, “Wasting energy on distractions is the last thing that state government should be doing, and I cannot be the cause of that,” he continued. “I would never want to be unhelpful in any way, and I think that, given the circumstances, the best way I can help now is if I step aside and let the government get back to governing.”

Next, the assassination of Haiti’s president. On July 7th, Jovenel Moïse, the president of Haiti, was shot from his own home.

Jovenel Moïse was not a liked or respected president. In 2010, Haiti had a major earthquake that killed near a quarter of a million Haitians. Due to this earthquake, Haiti received a substantial amount of financial aid from foreign countries.

Then, in 2019, it was reported that millions of dollars from the aid went missing. The streets of Portau-Prince, Haiti’s capital, burst into riots and protests insisting the president step down. Nothing came of this, though. There was no trial held, and there was no accountability. Haiti was very unstable, and the people were not happy in the slightest. So, when Moïse was assassinated, the people of Haiti were bemused as to how something like this had occurred. The question was who is behind all of this, and what was their motive?

After the assassination, Haiti closed off all ports of entry.

There were no flights, no ships, and even no transportation from their connecting island with the Dominican Republic. Their next step was to hire Claud Joseph, an associate from the Biden administration. He vowed to help Haiti find the perpetrator behind this and give Moïse’s family justice. To do this, he forms an operation called “siege and siege.” To accomplish this mission, they would administer a search.

They killed four people and arrested three people. Later, they captured several Colombian soldiers who are suspected to be behind the assassination of Haiti’s president.

A reporter, Julie Turkewits, interviews the wives of 30 Columbian ex-soldiers. During this interview, the wives describe how their husbands got to Haiti

in the first place. One woman, the wife of a man named Franco, says her husband got a call from one of his friends one day. In this call, he explains there is a security job that would protect people from “bad actors.” This job will pay $2,700 a month, which is completely transformative for a citizen in Columbia.

Franco takes this job, for he believes it is a pinnacle opportunity for him and his family. He leaves his home and arrives at the airport, not knowing where he is headed. Eventually, he discovers they will land in the Dominican Republic. Many of the men on this “security job” are posting pictures of themselves on Facebook, almost like it is a vacation. It is very clear that these men do not know where they are going.

When they get to the Dominican Republic, they are then told they are taking another flight, but this time, to Haiti. When they arrive in Haiti, the soldiers are given a presentation that formats exactly what their job will entail. This slideshow basically states they are going to be protecting the people of Haiti, and ultimately, “make Hati great again.”

It is very clear that these men do not know they are on a mission to assassinate the president of Haiti, but when did they figure out what was really happening? And should they be convicted of this assassination if the mission was not clear?

Lastly, the fall of Afghanistan. After making great amounts of improvement in this country, it all came to a halt when American troops were withdrawn. President Biden vowed to remove all troops from Afghanistan by August 31st.

When Biden began to take out his soldiers, the Taliban overtook many cities in one fell swoop. Their strategy: to take all of the outer cities of Afghanistan, so it would be easier to conquer the middle. After only a few days of the Taliban taking control of certain cities, the leader of Afghanistan fled the country.

This was a major turning point for this terrorist group. It gave the Taliban a sense of control and power.

The Taliban then gained control of six major cities in the span of four days. Along with gaining control of these cities, they started to enforce rules for Afghans. Rules such as no girls are allowed to attend school, all males must grow beards, and all women must be accompanied by a man to leave the house. The rules are of less importance compared to

actions they are committing against innocent Afghans and Americans.

People are being stopped in the streets to be whipped, and American Christians are getting notes saying they are “coming for them” because they know what they stand for. A multitude of people are trying to flee the country; however, it is almost impossible with the Taliban’s restrictions and enforcements. President Biden believes that the United States “did not go to Afghanistan to nation-build. And it’s the right and the responsibility of the Afghan people alone to decide their future and how they want to run their country.” But, if the Taliban is taking over, then do the people of Afghanistan really have any control over how their country is ruled? In the coming months, Afghanistan will continue to struggle, but President Biden’s top priority is to get all Americans out. Trouble in this country will be strenuous and terribly difficult.

July and August were months of vigorous stories and events. Andrew Cuomo’s resignation will hopefully transform the way women are treated in government. The Columbian men being accused of assassinating Haiti’s president are continuing to fight for justice. The occurrences in Afghanistan are gut-wrenching and unfathomable. Politics are something of substance and importance. Knowing politics is knowing people.

A greiving widow suffering the loss of her husband, who died under the control of the Taliban.

To Mask or Not to Mask

opinion

The debate across the nation

7

Jordan Nash & Emily Gable, Staff Writers Since the Covid-19 Pandemic has begun, there have been many opinions on what should be done to combat this virus. Many people believe that wearing masks and getting the vaccine are the only way we will be able to return to normal life; however, some people are worried that masks are more detrimental to our health than they are helpful, and that the vaccine could have long-term negative side effects that we have not seen yet. Both of these groups of people feel very strongly about their opinions and are more than willing to try to get you to join their side.

While many people believe that vaccination should be a personal choice, many businesses, airlines, and even cities are making it required. From Delta Airlines to McDonald’s, businesses all across the country are requiring that employees are fully vaccinated or else they will be fined or fired. From the CDC website, some airlines are requiring that travelers have proof of vaccination or proof of a negative Covid test before they will be allowed to fly, and even with proof of vaccination, they are required to wear a mask the entire time they are on the plane. Both Fox News and CNN have reported that in New Orleans proof of vaccination will be required for people to enter bars, restaurants, gyms, and entertainment venues, and businesses that do not follow this mandate will be shut down on the spot.

According to Cullman Daily, Wallace State Community College, a small college here in Cullman County, is offering a $150 cash reward to students who present

a vaccination card by September 15th. These same students will have their name entered into a drawing for a $1,000 reward. Who wouldn’t want almost free money? Incentives like this put a lot of pressure on students to make the decision for the vaccine. Some colleges are also requiring students to be vaccinated or they will have to pay expensive fees for mandatory Covid tests.

Again, this puts a lot of pressure on students to do something that they may not be so sure about just yet.

With all that said, we could easily make this article an argument on whether or not masks are right or whether or not you should get the vaccine, but we aren’t going to tell you what to do because we believe that should be your own choice. Instead, we want to talk about something much deeper than that.

One look at social media and all you can see is opinions, opinions, and more opinions. Some people say people who don’t wear masks or get the vaccine are the cause for the spread of Covid. Some people say maskers and vaxxers aren’t handling the virus the right way either. We’ve all experienced some sort of loss throughout this pandemic, and it’s easy to blame someone else for it. The Coronavirus has caused a lot of high-functioning emotions, as none of us have seen something like this before. All these emotions and opinions are turning into a whole lot of finger-pointing.

But what effect is this having on everyone?

One student from Cullman High School told us about a conversation they overheard here on campus. A

student had asked the teacher for a disposable mask because he didn’t have one, and his friend told him that if he would just get the vaccine he wouldn’t have to worry about masks. Another student said that she deals with peer pressure like this. She hasn’t decided how she feels about the masks and vaccines since there are so many different opinions and studies out there about their effectiveness. She believes that she doesn’t want to wear a mask or get the vaccine because her and her family have done their research and have reached this decision for now. However, she keeps hearing students say “people are dying” and how selfish unvaccinated people are, and how they’re the reason that Covid is so bad. This is really hard on her and causes her to feel anxious and guilty for the decisions she and her parents have made. While you may believe that she should feel this way, peer pressure can have serious negative effects on people.

Another anonymous student submitted this story from when they were quarantined with the virus: “While I was quarantined, I had many people calling me to see how I was doing and to make sure I was recovering okay. The day I had found out about Will passing, I was upset and just wanted to talk about it, so I was sharing what had happened with one of the people who was checking up on me. While I was hoping they would share their condolences or just let me talk about it for a little bit, they instead asked me, ‘Are you sure you weren’t the one who spread it to Will? You weren’t wearing a

mask, and you do have it, it could be your fault that he passed away.’

While I know that this most likely isn’t what happened, and they were most likely just talking out of shock and anger, it has still bothered me for weeks thinking that it could be true.”

Many online sources bring up the concern of bullying when people don’t wear their mask and even when they do, and as we all know bullying has many negative effects. When people say these harsh things out of emotion, they may not realize how much like bullying it really is, but repeated comments similar to what has been described in this article do have the same effects as bullying over time.

People may simply be stating their opinion or what they know to be true, but even then we need to be mindful of how we say it so that we do not cause more confusion and pain in these already confusing and painful times.

As you can see, the words we say out of emotion have a great effect on people. You might think that you are only expressing your opinion or trying to look out for others, but the way in which we say things changes the way they are perceived; what you may see as a harmless critique can cause inner turmoil for a person. Everyone has different backgrounds and influences, and we all see the world and its problems differently.

We are not telling you to live your life one way or another, but simply asking that you please respect others and be patient and gracious with those you might disagree.

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SPORTS

Why Not Try Something New? Archery team looking for new archers

Samantha Johnson, Staff Writer Looking for a new group to be a part of? Well, you’re in luck, because the CHS Archery team is looking for new members! The team is constantly adding new members and looking for hidden potential.

You may be thinking, “Why should I join the archery team?”

Well here’s your answer: They compete in two areas, traditional Bullseye and 3D IBO. In the past three years, in the bullseye competition, the Cullman HIgh School Archery team has qualified for the National championships three times and then went on to qualify for the World Championships twice, (you may be wondering “why only twice?” Sadly, because COVID cut the 2019-2020 season short.)

In addition to these team accomplishments, they have an individual archer, WIll Bozle, who made the top five males in the world in the 2020-2021 season. Along with this, in 3D IBO CHS archery won a state Championship twice; once in our 2018-2019 season and once in our 2020-2021 season.

Along with these wonderful

achievements, the CHS Archery team gets to go on some awesome trips. For example, the National tournament is always in Louisville, Kentucky and the World Championship changes from year to year. I, Samantha Johnson, Senior at Cullman High School, have been on the team since fourth grade and so far the team and I have been to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina twice, Orlando, Florida once, Nashville, Tennessee once, and Louisville, Kentucky once, along with the six times the team has been to Louisville for nationals.

If you want to be a part of this team all you have to do is get in touch with Coach Doug Johnson.

You can either email him at Dougjohnson6@icloud.com or text him at (256)-590-1145. There are no official tryouts, just show up to practice, which will start in about a month, according to Coach Johnson. No archery experience needed.

Please consider this wonderful team when looking for something new to try. The team would love to add you to the archery family!

Home is Where the Field is

A look into the season with Coach Glasscock and players

Christen Sorrow, Editor in Chief With fall beginning, football is coming back and Bearcat football fans couldn’t be more excited. Our astounding Coach Glasscock and a couple of his players were nice enough to tell us some about this season and what they are looking forward to. Jake Dueland said a game is looking forward to is “Hartselle”, although Ryan Skinner said he is “...excited about the Muscle Shoals game towards the end of the year.” Coach Glasscock said “I look forward to all the games...it’s never about a particular opponent. It’s about who we are.”

It’s senior year for starting Running Back, Jake Dueland and he’s ecstatic about “scoring touchdowns with his friends.” Whilst it’s not starting quarterback, Ryan Skinner’s last year he stated he’s “excited for next year because senior year is always going to be fun... it will be sad but exciting to play my last year of high school football.” With football now being in full swing, it took the team a lot of training to get to where they are now. Coach Glasscock noted “We do an Olympic style weight training program for all the athletes in Cullman City Schools, which includes speed and flexibility training.” Jake mentioned that he “likes lifting weights with his friends.”

Ryan replied with “I love when we scrimmage 1st team offense vs 1st team defense or do 7v7, and I just like any competition type of drill where we can go against each other.” I asked Ryan and Jake what their favorite pre-game and postgame rituals are, Jake said “reading books before games and going to eat after games with my friends”.

Ryan replied with “I sit around and make sure to get off my feet, I do a lot of stretching and rolling out my legs to get some tightness out. I listen to music a lot before games to get ready to go. I go out and throw to get my arm loosened up at about 5:45 and the rest of the teams go out there and we finish our warmups, then we go into the locker room for the last time and get ready to play.” When asking Coach Glasscock about how he thinks the season will go and if it’ll be one of our best ones he replied with “I think this is a team that can steadily improve each week over the course of the season, if we can develop some consistency. Covid is still a major factor though, actually more impactful so far than last year.

We’ll assess things after the season, but we just want this group to be the best TEAM it can be.” The CHS students can’t wait to cheer on the

bearcats all season. Good luck Jake, Ryan, and Coach Glasscock, and good luck to the rest of the CHS football team. Go Cats.

SPORTS Cross Country Running into the new season Drew Williamson, Staff Writer Cross country had their first meet on Saturday, August 21, with the varsity boys team placing 3 runners in the top 5. All of their top 5 runners placed in the top 17 (2nd-3rd-5th-10th-17th) with a 0:31 spread between them. Troy Adkison, William Nichols, Andrue Barnett, Nicholas Wood, Harold Sheffield, Charlie Worley, and Lane Hopper were Cullman’s top 7 runners for this meet.

Six of the top seven runners from last year’s varsity boys are returning, and the projected top 7 runners for the season are Troy Adkison, Andrue Barnett, Adam Mangum, William Nichols, Harold Sheffield, Nicholas Wood, and Charlie Worley. Nicholas Wood and William Nichols are the team captains, who were elected by their teammates. The JV Girls division also competed on Saturday, and placed second overall. The top 7 runners were Grace Thompson, Bella Caretti, Addison Vogelaar, Ella Cupp,

Audrey Floyd, Jaretzy Abad, and Clare Martin. Their top 5 placed 8th-11th-12th-13th-21th.

Of course, none of this would be possible without Coach Trent Dean. He’s been coach ing CHS Cross Country for 10 years and attributes the success of the cross country program to having a knowledgeable and caring coaching staff, a culture of selflessness, egolessness, and love, as well as athletes that are willing to commit themselves.

The upcoming cross country meets are as follows: 9/17 - Southern Showcase (JH) 9/18 - Southern Showcase (V/JV/ JH) 9/23 - Cullman vs. Hartselle (V/ JV/JH) 10/9 - Dew It On The Trails (V/ JV/JH) 10/16 - Oktoberfest (V/JV/JH) 10/21 - Last Chance 5k (V) @ Scottsboro HS 10/23 - North Alabama JH & JV Gold Championship (JV/JH) 10/28 - 6A Section 5 (V) 11/6 - 6A State (V)

Volleyball

A starting overview and interviews Anna Beth Mauldin, Staff Writer Volleyball seasons in full swing.

This year’s varsity volleycats have already experienced a strong season opener after defeating teams like Scottsboro, Buckhorn, Lawrence County, and 7a Albertville.

As they compete in matches and tournaments all across Alabama, the team hopes for lots of upcoming accomplishments and the chance to grow closer with each other as well as sharing their love for the game.

Not only has varsity seen much success, but Cullman’s Junior Varsity and Freshmen teams have already accomplished a couple of wins to add to their record. JV defeated Albertville and Scottsboro, and the Freshmen kicked off the season with three wins against West Minster, East Limestone, and West Morgan. Both teams expect to finish out the season with even more wins and achievements.

1. What are you most excited about for this season?

2. What are your expectations for the rest of the season?

3. What do you believe is the team’s greatest strength?

Kaina Thomas: 1. This season I’m most excited about being back on the court with my best friends. I’m so excited that I get one more year to play with “Cullman’’ on the back of my jersey and wearing the number 8 2. My expectation for the rest of the season is to make history. I believe that we can go as far as we want to as long as we never lose sight of the end goal or take for granted the potential we have this season.

3. I believe that the team’s greatest strength is our selflessness.

Every point is won for one another. We win together, lose together, cry together, and pray together.

That is what makes this team so special and will carry us so far this season.

Gracie Barksdale: 1. This season I am most excited about getting to spend my last year of high school playing the sport I love with all my favorite

people!

2. My expectations for the rest of the season are to keep everyone healthy and make it to the postseason!

3. I believe that our team’s greatest strength is our team chemistry

and the love that we have for each other!

Sarah Kate Dockery: 1. I’m most excited to see how far the team will go this year. I have high hopes for all the team will achieve this year and I am so excited to be a part of it.

2. I expect the team to grow closer as the season progresses. We are already pretty close, but I’m ready to see us grow closer.

3. I believe our team’s greatest strength is our determination. We have a difficult season ahead, but playing all those hard games will

prepare us for the postseason.

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10 F E A T U R E S

Out with the Old, In with the New Back-to-school fashion Abbie Allison, Staff Writer

As we all know, our fashion trends are constantly changing.

Here is a list of the 2021 fashion trends for boys and girls.

Boys: Chains On Cloud shoes Short shorts Lululemon Old Row apparel Trendy sweatshirts and hoodies Girls: Lululemon On Cloud Shoes Tennis Skirts Hair Fashion Clips Shein apparel clothes Puffy Sleeves Trendy Sunglasses

Fashion Don’ts at CHS

Make sure you read the CHS dress code

No rips above the knees.

Hats are not allowed in school.

No sleeveless shirts and no shorts more than 4 inches above the knees.

Photo Scavenger Hunt Can you identify these locations?

Drew Williamson, Staff Writer

The first 3 CHS students to go to room 201 (Ms. Calahan’s room) and correctly identify the 3 photographs will recieve a small prize.

Entertainment Rated TO (teenagers only)

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Cringe content ahead: reader discretion is advised Alecia Scott, Staff Writer Phrases such as “on god,” “no cap,” and “ simp” are used in many of our everyday lives. Even when you do not say these things, you likely text them to your friends. “OMG what ab that guy, such a simp smh lol.” I am sure you have texted your friends something like that. I wanted to rate and define my favorite “teen slang.” Mostly due to the fact that some people still don’t know how to use them.

Last year, Among Us was a very popular game, to the point where slang came out from the game. Coming in at #10 is “sus.” “Sus” is the act of being suspicious. In the game, specifically, it was used when someone was suspected of being the “imposter.” I personally think the game was not that good, but it was a good time-passer during quarantine.

At #9 is “Poggers;” I wish this was not a real thing. This is probably the most cringey word on this list. “Poggers” is used in the gaming community mostly; it is used to express joy or excitement. Many times people say, ”That wasn’t very pog-champ of you.”

This is used to express unsportsmanlike conduct.

I don’t know anyone who unironically says “poggers,” but I am sure there are middle schoolers saying it everywhere. “I got an A+ wow this teacher is a real pogchamp.” I can already hear

it. I am already suffering from secondhand cringe. #8 is a mixture of many words. “No cap,” “facts/fax,” etc.These are to express that you are telling the truth. It is used to emphasize the fact of not lying.

A phrase I have heard is, “All fax, no printer.” I think it is quite funny. #7 is the word “simp.” If “but” was the most overused word, then it is now “simp.” At this point, “simp” can be used to describe a person who talks to another person in a nice, respectable manner; it could be someone trying to get another person to fall in “love” with you, and you are trying too hard. A “simp” is a person who is obviously, and making it very apparent that they are trying to gain the affection of another person. A simp talks about the other, as if they are already together. Just because your friend is being nice to a girl, doesn’t mean he is a simp. He is a decent person, or a simp. #6 is “per” or “period.” This is used by others, and it has been used for quite a while. However, when I say “period” I mean “periot.” This is a way to say “end of discussion,” or to express agreement with someone. For example, a girl says to her gross boyfriend, “You can’t treat me like trash, I am your girlfriend, not a garbage man.” Out of nowhere, from a distance you hear, “Periodt! As

you should.” The person responding is agreeing with the girl, with great excitement. #5 is “fire” or “lit.” This is a way to say that something is really good.

Someone saying this is having a really good time. For instance, your favorite song comes on, you turn up the volume on your phone, and say “Man, this song is straight fire.” Fire is widely used. I know plenty of people that use this in their everyday lives, as well as on their phone. #4 is a word used to describe a mean lady, specifically those who are rude to store employees. Yes, #4 is Karen.

This is a widely known word. Even old people use this term. I am not saying every person who’s name is Karen wants to speak to the manager, but if you are mad, I’m likely talking about you. Kids on skateboards are not going to ruin your upstanding community.

If your food is slightly off temperature, there is no need to contact the manager.

The customer is right, but that does not mean you need to be rude for someone just trying to do their job. #3 is “yeet.” “Yeet” is the act of throwing something, or “sending it.”

“Yeet” was used in the days of Vine.

Similar to Tik Tok, Vine was short videos put on the internet by content creators. The video is a girl throwing an

empty can into a crowded hallway saying, “This...empty! Yeet!” The video had many views and it led to a boom in the use of the word “yeet.” Though it is not used as often anymore, I still think it is one of the funniest slang words. #2 is “yer.” This is a ”funny” way of saying yes to something. Specifically when someone is “talking in cursive,” they use this word. “Talking in cursive” is slurring your words up and down, similar to the loops of cursive. I don’t think this word is funny, but it is so high on the list because it is used so much in society. I personally find it to be just as overused as “simp.” It would be an honorable mention, but I couldn’t think of any other words. #1 is… “Rona.” “Rona” is another way to say Corona. I chose this to be number one because it was used very often on the internet during the pandemic. It was arguably one of the most used words during quarantine. I think it was used to help cope with the fact that quarantine had such a negative impact on people everywhere.

Slang and words that have been described are to be used by teenagers and kids only. If an adult says any of these words, you risk putting your child in second-hand-cringe-shock. Use these words at your own risk, now that you actually know what they mean.

12 F E A T U R E S Fall Tunes Comforting melodies Elley Atchison, Staff Writer

1. “Harness Your Hopes” - B-Side 2. “Follow You to Virgie” - Tyler Childers 3. “Halloween” - Pheobe Bridgers

10. “Beautiful Boy” - John Lennon 11. “Pale Blue Eyes” - The Velvet Underground 12. “I think I Like When It Rains” WILLIS 13. “Love in the Time of Socialism” - Yellow House 14. “There She Goes” - The La’s

4. “1980s Horror Film” - Wallows

15. “Dream a Little Dream of Me” -The Mamas and Papas

5. “Cardigan” - Taylor Swift

16. “Whats Up?” - Four Non-blondes

7. “Like Real People Do” - Hozier

17. “Lovers Rock” - TV Girl

9.“We Fell in Love In October” - Girl In Red

18. “Rhiannon” - Fleetwood Mac

CAMPUS NEWS

13

New Teachers at CHS New faces on campus

Samantha Johnson, Staff Writer ,Olivia Britton, Staff

Jeremey Wade Clemmons Mr. Clemmons is an Algebra I teacher and a Softball coach. He jokes about not having free time, but in what little time he does have he likes to go to the pool and spend time with family. He has been working in education for 19 ½ years and was an assistant principal for 9 of those years at Russellville High School. He says so far his experience at CHS has been a blessing from the LORD, the administration, faculty, and staff have been very supportive and encouraging and getting to know the students has been amazing. In response to the question, “dog or cat person” he responded that his family has both and it depends on the day. His football team of choice “just depends on the year, but lately it has been Alabama.” He claims to enjoy watching just about any team play.

Tiffani Schwaiger Mrs. Schwaiger is also a math teacher. She teaches Algebra I and Geometry. Along with teaching she coaches 9th grade volleyball and JV Softball. In her free time she likes to spend time with friends and family and go to the lake. Her favorite tv show is Grey’s Anatomy and her perfect day would be a day at the beach. She wanted to become a teacher to help influence the lives of students. She is a dog person and has two dogs at home and she is an Alabama fan.

Joshua Marshall Mr. Marshall is a 10th grade history teacher that coaches boys basketball and boys soccer. In his free time he likes to watch movies, play video games and exercise. In the past he has worked at Florence High, Austin Junior High, and Decatur Middle. He and his wife recently moved back to Cullman to be a part of the community and start a family. His wife is a Cullman Alumni and works at the primary school.

His experience so far at CHS has been “Great! The culture present in the school is the best I have ever been a part of.” One of his favorite singers is John Louis and his favorite TV Show is Arrow. He was born in Hawaii and moved around a lot as a child because his father was in the military. He is a dog person and has a Shih-Tzu named Lulu.

He is a North Alabama fan because that is where he went to school and played.

Brad Bray Mr. Bray is a ninth grade World History teachVarsity Football. In his free time he likes spending time with his wife and son. In the coming year he is most excited about football and getting to know his students. His biggest pet peeve is when people interrupt others. His favorite movie/TV show is Good Fellas and he is a dog person with

one Maltese/Poodle. He is an Auburn fan. He wanted to become a teacher because he “was encouraged by my best friend to go back to school to get my degree and get into the profession. I started helping as a volunteer coach at my high school and really enjoyed doing it. I knew then that this is what I wanted to do. To teach, coach, and mentor kids.”

Vickie Leann Evans Mrs. Evans is a General Biology teacher and coaches middle school Volleyball. She previously worked as the girls PE teacher at Cullman Middle School. Her favorite TV show is Little House on the Prairie. Her pet peeve is being put in group text messages and her favorite singer/musical group is Rod Stewart and ColdPlay. What she is looking forward to the most about this coming year is spending time with her son, Landon Evans who is a senior this year, and being back in the classroom with her students.

When asked if she was an Auburn or Alabama fan she told us an interesting story, when she was about six her father gave both her and her sister a spanking for cheering for Auburn when they were playing Alabama, needless to say she has never cheered for Auburn again.

Kristen Piper Gragg Mrs. Gragg is one of our guidance

counselors. She is a counselor for grades 9-12 last names P-Z. She has two children, Noble and Nola, who keep her busy. She is most looking forward to helping students explore their career interests and improve their academic achievements.

Her favorite singer is Riley Green because he is a JSU alumni like her.

Her favorite TV show is The Walking Dead. She is neither a dog or cat person because her family has no pets.

Alice Lindsey Mrs. Lindsey is an instructional assistant (aide) in Mrs. Stacie Owen’s class. She can be found in the fine arts building. In her free time she likes to read and walk. In the past she worked as a retail manager and took off from 1993-2013 to be a stay at home mom to her 6 kids.

She likes movies that are based on true stories. During the pandemic she spent a lot of time reading and spending time outdoors.

Continued on page 14

14 C a m p u s husband is an Auburn fan and he introduced me to the beautiful “Plains” of Auburn. So, don’t judge me, I enjoy watching Alabama Softball and Auburn Football.”

Brocton “Broc” Malcom Mr. Malcom is an instructional aide in the SPED Department.

He coaches 9th grade football as well as JV and Varsity Track. In his free time, he likes to study the stock market. He previously worked at Hanceville Highschool for two years before coming to CHS and says his experience at CHS has been amazing. He is most excited for fall sports this school year. He was born in Maryland, but grew up in Hanceville. He is a dog person, but also likes cats, and has a 7 year old pitbull named Kyroh. His perfect vacation would be a timeless tour of Italy.

Last but not least, he grew up an Alabama fan.

Mary Elizabeth Brumley Mrs. Brumley teaches Foundations of Health Science, Human Body Structures & Functions as well as Senior Pathways with Mrs. Tankersley. She is also a HOSA advisor. She has three daughters and loves spending time with her family in her free time. Her favorite band is Bon Jovi and she loves the TV show Friends, even naming one of her dogs Phoebe after the character on Friends. She has two dogs, Phoebe and Fallon, and a cat named Max. When asked: Alabama or Auburn she said, “I grew up as an Alabama fan because of my Dad. He was a huge Alabama fan. But, then my

Daniel Moore Mr. Moore will be teaching ESL and coaching baseball. In his free time he enjoys hunting, fishing, and anything outdoors. A couple of his favorite singers are Chris Stapleton and Eric Church. Right now his favorite TV show is “Alone” on the history channel.

His biggest pet peeve is people who can’t drive! Over the pandemic he fished almost every day and spent time with his wife and daughter. He is a dog person and his family has a dog named Aspen.

Katelyn Rae Bowling Miss Bowling, or as she prefers, KB, is Cullman City Schools Mental Health Specialist. She works at both CMS and CHS. In her free time she enjoys live music, spending time with friends and family, and traveling, however she does not have a lot of free time right now because she is working towards her masters degree in social work. This coming year she is most excited to help others better understand that mental health is health and erase the stigma around mental health. Her favorite TV shows are Yellowstone and Law and Order SVU and her favorite musicians are Mumford and Sons, Eminem, BlackBerry Smoke, and the Dave Matthews Band. She is

News

a dog person but does not have any pets.

Tyler Skinner Mr. Skinner is our Piano teacher at CHS. He enjoys watching college football and fly fishing in his free time. He was born in Rogers, Arkansas and grew up in Cassville, Missouri. He is excited to teach in the same school district/school as his wife, Mrs. Sarah Jane Skinner. His favorite TV show is The Office and his favorite musicians are Chris Stapleton and Chris Thile. He is a Dog person and he and Mrs. Skinner have a dog named Cooper. And last but not least he is an Auburn fan.

Kimberly Diane Graves Mrs. Graves teaches Anatomy and Biology. In her free time she likes to camp, hike, and kayak.

Before moving to Cullman she worked at Cherokee County High School for 20 years. Her favorite music is 80s rock and her current favorite band is Halestorm. Over the pandemic she loved to spend time gardening. She is a dog person and has four dogs. She is an Alabama football fan and her mother cheered at Alabama during the Bear Bryant days. Lastly she became a teacher because she is interested in science and wanted to share the interest.

Ashley Olmsted Miss Olmsted teaches spanish one. She is a cat person who just got a new kitten, Charlie, and says all of her free time is taken up playing with him, which she loves. She was born and raised in Huntsville, Alabama, where she has another cat, Slinky, and a dog, Sam, at her parents house.

She loves to listen to showtunes and her most listened to artist on Spotify last year was Jonathan Groff. Over the pandemic she played a lot of Animal Crossing, Stardew Valley, and Sims 4 along with baking a lot, or as she put it, way too much, bread. Lastly her football team of choice is the UNA lions.

Vincent E Stuedeman Jr Mr. Stuedman is a Physical Education teacher and head coach for varsity basketball. In his free time he likes to play golf, travel, watch the Dodgers/Celtics/Bruins/Chiefs, and watch movies.

He is most looking forward to Basketball season this year and moved back to Cullman to be the head Basketball coach. His favorite musical artists are Frank Sinatra, Adele, George Strait, Brooks n Dunn, Drake, UGK, Notorious BIG, and Lil Wayne.

Continued on page 16

Campus news Bearcat Nation

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Newest addition to bearcat entertainment Angelina Hughes, Staff Writer Cullman High School is proud to present Bearcat Nation. This web show was developed by Coach Drake’s television production class in past years. Now it has come back fresher and better than ever. Starting this year, the web show will combine the efforts of two media classes to produce a new era of student entertainment. Bearcat Nation consists of talented students who have skills in video production.

These students utilize learned skills such as editing, commentating, filming, and much more. Applying these skills, Bearcat Nation will display these student’s creative and eccentric talents through film.

This show holds a lot of potentials to exhibit Bearcat’s pride through interacting with students and staff.

In addition, the show will keep students updated on current sports and events in town. With a mixture of comedy and a bit of serious talk, the show will always have invigorating content.

Mr. Cook affirms “The students in my class and Coach Drake’s will

be developing and producing the show.” He envisions Bearcat Nation to premiere as a cross between a news show and SNL. Mr.Cook exclaims the idea to name the web show Bearcat Nation comes from the idea of the content being “about the students at CHS - therefore BEARCAT NATION.” Mr. Cook and Coach Drake share their perspectives on the production of the restored web show.

Mr. Cook clarifies the media classes’ collaboration is to bring a fun monthly show to CHS. While this is a combined effort, Mr.Cook gives Coach Drake credit for the creation of the show saying, “Coach Drake is the mastermind behind the operation. I am just excited to be along for the ride.” Concurring with the said statement, Coach Drake admittedly replied, “I am the mastermind.” Coach Drake briefly reveals his outlook on the collaboration. “We are mainly providing our production crew with his talents. I think it’s going to be a great opportunity to showcase how

awesome the Bearcat Nation is. I am excited to see theatre students and production students create this show together.”

Although the Bearcat Nation is being operated by the two classes, Coach Drake and Mr, Cook welcome all of CHS to participate in the web show. Mr. Cook encourages Bearcats to consider engaging and explains what Bearcat Nation is searching for.“We will be asking for students and teachers to give us input. We need students/teachers to nominate people who can be featured. We are looking for interesting talents on campus and stories of students who are doing amazing things. We also want people to send in videos that might be featured we know students take and make videos all the time. We want to have a segment where we feature unique and interesting videos from students. They can be funny or weird but most all appropriate for CHS. We will be pushing out our email where all this info can be sent very soon.“

at Cullman High School, I’ve been wanting to start something here at Cullman and have prayed for years for something like this. My dreams came true and I cried tears of joy when I heard about First Priority.

Mrs. Carter, a science teacher here at Cullman, attends my church and approached me with the idea of First Priority. She felt that the Holy Spirit wanted her to get some students from the church involved and start something here at Cullman. Of course, First Priority is student-led and initiated so she couldn’t do it herself.

Cullman High First Priority had its first prayer meeting Wednesday, August 25th. It included free food, worship and students praying and reading assigned scriptures.

The worship team brought in their youth pastor, Connor Rush, as a guest. Though they had a few sound issues throughout the morning, they were able to work it out by the end of the meeting. After the meeting, a representative talked to students who were interested in leadership about what they looked for in leaders and what it meant to lead in First Priority.

The club will be meeting every

Thursday at 7:15 am, but you can join for worship at 7. That may sound way early, but it will definitely be worth it. Don’t miss out on what God can do.

For more information and updates, follow the Cullman High First Priority Instagram page, @cullmanhigh_firstpriority, and check out the Alabama First Priority website, www.firstpriorityal. com.

A New Club at CHS? ALL about First Priority

Emily Gable, Staff Writer

You may have heard about a new club starting up at CHS: First Priority. But what exactly is First Priority?

First Priority is a non-profit organization that focuses on spreading the hope of Christ to every student.

They work with communities to promote the “moral and spiritual well-being of students,” as well as advocate for the fight against alcohol and drug abuse.

First Priority got its informal start in Birmingham in 1990 and officially became a non-profit by 1992.

Since then it has exploded and has spread outside of the borders of Alabama. In the 2017-18 school year, First Priority saw: 38 chapters (chapters meaning branches) 29,000 students attending each month 820 First Priority clubs in the United States 10,022 commitments to Christ 3,608 student leaders trained ( these stats and their mission are from their website, www.firstpriority.club ) For me, Emily Gable, senior here

Bearcat Nation looks forward to collaborating with the people of Cullman and featuring what makes Cullman High and our town special. BNN is enthusiastic about sharing the stage and unifying all students, staff, and even alumni as all are given this opportunity to share their talents. This show hopefully will leave Cullman High School chanting “It’s great to be a Cullman Bearcat.” The Bearcat Nation is in full swing and ready to launch monthly, starting this September.

16

CAMPUS NEWS

School Psychology

The psychology behind getting back in the swing of things Samantha Johnson, Staff Writer Everyone knows the feeling of the first morning of school. The alarm clock goes off and everything in them wants to cut it off and go back to sleep. There is psychology behind why they feel like this. Over the summer the body got used to staying up late and waking up late causing a shift in the circadian rhythm to the new bedtime and waking time. This shift in circadian rhythm is the reason that it feels sluggish on the first morning of school.

Now, for a little bit of psychology on how to get back into the routine of studying and preparing for tests.

First of all, when’s the best time to study?

According to psychological research the best time to study is about an hour before sleep, because while people sleep their brain processes what they have just looked over and helps them retain the information.

Next, where should to study?

While it may be more comfortable in bed, it causes a decrease in productivity. Try studying at a desk or table. Also, while it doesn’t work with studying an hour before bedtime, people are more likely to remember information in the place they learned it so try to study where the test will be taken. What’s the best environment to study in? The

Back Into the Fire

library is always a good choice, but there are other people in there, making it tempting to socialize instead of study. Also the library isn’t always open, making it not so ideal.

However, a desk at home or even the kitchen table is always available, just make sure to choose a study time when it is quiet and there are no distractions.

Lastly, how to study effectively? To study effectively, organization is key. If possible try to keep a planner for homework and upcoming tests. Also try taking color coded notes to help highlight important terms, definitions, and formulas. Another tip that has

Getting ready for a new school year

been proven time and again is that people are more likely to remember things if they write them down, so take notes and make flashcards.

The last tip is to ask questions when confused! Your teachers are more than willing to help, but they have to know they need to help. With that being said, have a wonderful school year and Go Bearcats!

Seniors - 145 school days left until graduation.

Carson Kallhoff, Staff Writer With the 2021-22 school year starting, there are a few study tips and tricks you need to know in order to survive the year.

Most students don’t like school, but it’s an essential part of every person’s life. Today’s highschool is a gathering of a bunch of moody teenagers to learn and participate in activities with their fellow peers.

There has to be rules when it comes to a large gathering of people.

Could you imagine a bunch of kids running around with no rules? It would be chaotic.

Since 1821, with the introduction of the first public high school in the United States, there have been a plethora of important rules that must be followed. These same rules have been followed for centuries, most of which we still follow to this day.

NO RUNNING IN THE HALLS Sometimes, you have to hurry. You don’t want to get in trouble for being late, and you really didn’t think you were going to take THAT long in the bathroom. You look at the time; you have one minute until you have to be in Calculus, and you’re in the English hall. You know what you have to do: RUN! You sprint down the hall, racing to make it before the bell. And then you trip. Fall on your face. Bite the dust. Eat some dirt. Now, not only are you late, but now you have to explain why your entire face is pink and swelling. Instead of running, it’s better to walk fast and avoid getting yourself or anyone else hurt. Most teachers are lenient, and will understand if

you’re a minute or two late to class.

PAY ATTENTION Sometimes teachers will try and pull a quick one on you to see if you are paying attention. The last thing you want is to be singled out and not know what you are doing. Always pay attention, you never know when a teacher is going to wake you up from your daydream to ask you what Atticus represents in the novel.

BE PREPARED Always bring the materials you are going to need for the class. It’s pretty hard to read Chapter 6 and 7 of To Kill a Mockingbird when you leave the book at home.

Tip #1: TAKE NOTES Even though it seems like a waste of time, taking notes can help you succeed in school. By writing things down, your brain prioritizes that information so it can be remembered easily later. It enables a higher level of thinking and makes it easier to recall the information in the future.

Tip #2: KEEP EXTRA SUPPLIES There’s always that one guy or girl.

They aren’t dumb, but they are a little blonde. The kind of person that always forgets a pencil or needs a piece of paper every single day. The kind of person that thinks the Bay of Pigs Invasion was a literal occasion.

Bring some extra supplies and help these people out, they need it.

Tip #3: CHECK YOUR EMAIL Cullman High School uses email to inform students of events and changes in the school. It is impor-

tant to check your email to make sure that you don’t dress up for Homecoming a week early, and be the only person walking around in their pajamas.

DO: Wear the appropriate clothing to school. We don’t want any, uh, distractions.

DON’T: Call a teacher by their first name to their face. They don’t really like that. Instead, stick to calling them by their first names behind their back, where you are completely safe from their wrath.

DO: Be respectful of your teacher and the students around you. The world doesn’t revolve around you, so be considerate of others.

these helpful hints will help, some of them won’t be relevant to you at all. Either way, make sure you are prepared for the future, and have a wonderful 2021-22 school year.

New Teachers Continued

Cindy Bales Mrs. Bales is an instructional assistant in Special Education.

When she was asked how her experience at CHS was so far she DON’T: said, “I absolutely love working Take your shoes off in class. We know you just got done with morn- ath CHS-the ladies that I work with are top notch. Not only are ing football practice and the boys need to breathe, but no one wants to they professional but they treat smell your sweaty trotters. me like I am already a part of their family.” Her favorite TV DO: show is friends, hands down.

Be active in the school. Cullman Her biggest pet peeve is laziness.

High School has countless clubs Her perfect vacation would be a and classes to participate in, so stay day with her husband, children, involved in the school and its acand grandchildren. She is not an tivities. You only go to high school once after all, so make sure that you animal person but she has one inside dog named Snoop and a make it memorable. few outside dogs and cats. She is So What Now? not a football fan because she was Now you have an idea of what you raised in Chicago. Although, she need to know in order to survive is a die hard Chicago Cubs fan. school for another year. Some of