Update November 16, 2018

6-7: MEMO SPARKS POTENTIAL DISCRIMINATION 8: MANAGING PHONE USAGE 14-15: TRAVEL TALES 20-21: FALL SPORTS RECAP

Update

Volume 41, Issue 3 November 16, 2018 H. H. Dow High School update.dhs.mps.k12.mi.us @dowhighupdate

COFFEE CRAVINGS Hannah and Molly visited various coffee houses around Midland. Their reviews were based on taste, atmosphere, and service. Check out where your favorite falls in the ratings.

Pages 12-13

photo by Katie Ellison

2 News Update is distributed monthly from September to June to 1300 students and staff of H. H. Dow High School, 3901 N. Saginaw Rd., Midland, Mich., 48640, free of charge. It is printed by the Midland Daily News and produced by the Advanced Journalism class.

Staff Editorial

The staff editorial is the managing editors’ response to current news events. The staff editorial reflects the opinion of the editors and staff. The final draft is subject to a vote by the Editorial Board. A majority vote is required for the document to achieve publication.

Letters

Letters are encouraged. They will be screened for libel, defamation, and/or obscenity and maybe edited for length.

All letters must be signed, although the Editorial Board will consider withholding names upon request. Letters may be rejected due to limited space, untimely material, or unbalanced representation. A full editorial policy is on file in room 218.

Open Column The ‘My Turn’ column on page 10 is open to the whole school.

Columns will undergo the same screening process as letters. All columns should be turned in to room 218 and should include the author’s name.

Membership/Awards Update is a member of the NSPA, CSPA, and MIPA. Update was a CSPA Gold Crown Winner in 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2007. It was a Silver Crown Winner in 2006, 2009, 2016 and 2017.

It was an NSPA Pacemaker winner in 1999, 2000, 2002, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2011, and a finalist in 2001, and 2003. In 1989, 1999, 2000, 2004, and 2005 the Update won Best of Show in NSPA competition. It won second place Best of Show in 2006. It won eighth place Best of Show in 2007. It won third place in Best of Show in 2008.

The Update has won 26 MIPA Spartan Awards since 1989 and was inducted into the MIPA Hall of Fame in 2004.

PHOTO MONTH OF THE

Distribution

Update November 16, 2018

Mission Statement

As a public forum for student expression, Update, will honor the H. H. Dow High community and the journalism profession by placing truth, accuracy and objectivity first and encouraging all sides to voice their opinion.

Editor-in-Chief Anikka Thorson Managing Design Jenna Wray Managing Copy Katie Ramos Managing Business Zane O’Dell Managing Photo Katie Ellison Emily Danielsen Managing News Lillian Pressnell Managing Opinion Amelya Jankens Managing Feature Molly Birch Managing Sports Jason Laplow Managing Graphics Grace Sobeck Managing Social Media Hannah Raw Managing Video Trevor McIntyre Page editors 1: Anikka Thorson 2-3: Sophie Ungerleider 4-5: Hannah Raw 6-7: Mac Thackery 8-9: Emily Danielsen 10-11: Amelya Jankens 12-13: Jenna Wray 14-15: Giselle Mahoney 16-17: Maddie DeLong 18-19: Grace Sobeck 20-21: Ben Brueck 22-23: Hayden Hetherington 24: Jason Laplow Assistant buisness editor Irshad Reza Husain Assistant social media editor Sophie Ungerleider Assistant copy editors Lydia Barber Mac Thackery Staff writers Gavan Boguszewski Xander Brooks Cierra Dillon Micah Damocles Adviser Cammie Hall

@dowhighupdate

graphic by Jason Laplow

The Hot Corner is back with a new episode from sophomore and managing sports editor Jason Laplow.

This month, sophomore Charlie Hunkins joins the show to share a laugh and recap the football season, as he spent time on both the JV and varsity teams. The Hot Corner is available wherever you get your podcasts: Apple Podcats, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and more. It is also accessible through the Update Online at update.dhs.mps.k12.mi.us.

Laplow aims to extend his sports column through the podcast by expressing his opinion on various events in the world of sports, from DHS to the NFL and beyond. The Hot Corner is on Instagram @thehotcornerpodcast. Listen now.

photo by Victoria McKinney

SERVING FOR SINGLES: During ping pong club after school in the gold gym loft, senior Tyler Conrad engages in a singles match. “Just a fun time, and, if you don’t know how to play it, we can teach you,” Conrad said. “There’s players of all skill levels that come.”

POP! We ask you the questions How do you feel about Kanye?

Makayla Mann freshman “I don’t know who that is.”

Who is the most underrated music artist?

Opinions on the Pete Davidson and Ariana Grande breakup?

Kylie Chartier sophomore “I think his music is good.”

Ben Vercellino

Joslyn Brubaker

junior “I think he makes good music, but he’s a really terrible person.”

senior “I like his music, but politically I don’t really follow him.”

Brennan Finney

Marissa Infante

AJ Lauderbach

Grayson Clements

freshman

sophomore

junior

senior

“Eminem.”

“Daniel Caesar.”

Lena Burton

Lotte Ferket

freshman

sophomore

“I think it was a good thing.

I don’t think they belong together. Total opposites.”

“I like the song she made out of it.”

“I don’t really listen to a ton of music, so I don’t know if I can pick one.”

Ethan Yarch junior “I don’t know.

I don’t really care.”

“Gorillaz.”

Jacob Harnois senior “I wasn’t even aware of it.”

photos by Cierra Dillon and Sophie Ungerleider

News 3

November 16, 2018 Update

In Brief: CAS project students generate psithurism event

Gavan Boguszewski

Xander Brooks staff writer

staff writer

With Creativity, Activity, and Service (CAS) projects beginning to take shape for students in the Theory of Knowledge class, a group of individuals have decided to create an event showcasing some musically and artistically talented DHS and MHS students for their CAS project, while also giving back to their community.

This event is called Psithurism, and it is led by seniors Maggie Reed, Shane Hogan, and Hannah Baker, all IB diploma candidates.

The event will be held in Downtown Midland

In Brief: Game development club

at Creative 360 from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m on Nov. 28.

Tickets for the event will have a $2.00 entrance fee, food and drinks will be available once inside.

Their initial idea was inspired by the Go Green club. They wanted to plant trees and showcase with musically and artistic talented students. The profits will be going into planting trees in the spring.

They estimate that each tree they plant will cost $2.00, so the admission cost per person should

roughly cover the cost of one tree.

“Maggie brought in the idea of having an event with music and art and what not to promote local art,” Hogan said. “I then had the idea of planting trees, so we decided to combine the two ideas.”

Season of giving Letter from the Editor

As we approach the holiday season, the idea of giving back becomes more and more prominent. This is such an important concept because in this upcoming time of festivities we can’t forget to share love with those less fortunate. Volunteering is not only a way to help those in need, but it also aids in strengthening the bonds and relationships in this community.

There are numerous ways to give back to your community. Donations are a major factor in many charitable organizations, whether they be donating money to a cause like Make-A-Wish or giving gifts through the Sharing Tree. The Sharing Tree is an organization though the United Way and the Salvation Army, that provides community members with cards that have Christmas gifts listed on them to give a family in need a little more cheer during the holidays. You can even give back by donating to A Little Bit of Love right here at DHS which is a club founded by junior Rin Dunlap that collects basic necessities for the homeless.

Beyond donations, another way to give back is though volunteering. Midland’s Open Door is a soup kitchen located downtown.

Every Tuesday, Thursday and Friday afternoon from 2:00 to 4:00pm community members are able to help prepare meals for those in need.

Being so full of cheer and giving, the holidays provide an excellent opportunity to share the wealth in this community.

Learn about a new program that you can get involved in on Page 4 about t musical volunteer program at the hospital in Emily Danielsen and Maddie DeLong’s story. Also be sure to check out Micah Damocles and Giselle Mahoney’s story on Page 5 for even more ways to give back.

Enjoy the issue,

Anikka Thorson

Game developers in 2018 are making large amounts of money just doing what they love, so a group of students decided they wanted in on the chance to have fun while giving other people sources of enjoyment.

These students meet and enjoy the world of gaming every Wednesday after 6th and 7th hour in room 140, or the CEC computer lab. The idea was to make a club where members can help

each other to learn more about video game design and technology. Some of the members of the club wish to go into technology based careers. Club member junior Ashwin Saxena is one of those people who has hopes to pursue a degree in either computer science or game developing.

“My friends and I were always interested in video games and what goes behind making

them, so we decided to make a club where we could pursue this passion and spread it,” Saxena said.

This club is not only for tech savvy students, but also artists who have done designs related to video games.

“The end goal for this club is to be able to help people learn about many things from programming to game design and to eventually release a finished professional esque game to the app store”.

4

News

Update November 16, 2018

Venturing into volunteering

Charities aim to give plenty back to community

Giselle Mahoney & Micah Damocles page editor & staff writer

Diaper Alliance In 2010, Debi Keyes started the Diaper Alliance out of her house.

It provides diapers to agencies that then distribute them to around 1,200 babies a month in surrounding counties.

“Our mission is to provide a consistent and reliable supply of diapers to families in need through a network of partner agencies,” Keyes said.

The Diaper Alliance does not directly give diapers to families.

“I order exactly what the families need every month through Huggies. The diapers are delivered to us, then volunteers come in and package them and build the order and they go out the door,” Keyes said.

This year, Keyes and her team will give out about 875,000 diapers.

Her team donates around 70,000 diapers a month. Ninety percent of the registrants are below the national poverty average. For a family of three that would be

$20,780 per year.

“When mom and dad have to either buy food or buy diapers that’s a big choice to make, so it removes stress,” Keyes said.

By providing diapers at no cost, the Diaper Alliance aids a number of families. Each family that registers receives 60 diapers per month, which they pick up at their agency. Nationally, the standard is 50 diapers per month to distribute to families.

However, Keyes decided that 60 diapers per child was enough for a family to function.

The organization helps out the elderly as well by distributing adult diapers to seniors.

They are able to pick up what is needed in bins creating some privacy.

“I put a label on them, put them in the bins so that they can have privacy to pick them up. It’s kind of personal for the adults.

We keep it private,” Keyes said.

photo courtesy The Diaper Alliance

CALLING ALL BABIES: The Diaper Alliance will give out 875,000 diapers this year. They can help provide 1200 babies with diapers per month.

Shelterhouse

One in four women Their shelter houses and one in seven men and their resale shop are have faced domestic run mainly with the help violence in America of volunteers. according to the National “We love our Coalition of Domestic volunteers, our volunteers Violence. They are faced are amazing,” Gajsiewicz with a harsh reality said. “And of course if we and don’t have a lot didn’t have volunteers, of support to rely on. that resale shop would not Forty-two years ago, be as great of a success” Shelterhouse opened up The Shelterhouse SIBLINGS AWAY FROM HOME: The Big Brothers Big Sisters in Midland to provide Resale Shop was opened Center stands alone to welcome their Bigs and Littles. a safe space that would in 2013. They sell used 448 kids were part of the program in 2018. help and care for victims clothing, accessories, and of domestic violence. home goods.

“There were “All of the revenue Big Brothers Big “[My Little] was really community members from the resale shop Sisters (BBBS) is an shy when I first met her who saw a need for safe goes directly back into organization specifically and she didn’t want to shelter for those who have Shelterhouse itself, so it created to boost the participate in any of the experienced domestic directly goes back into morale of at-risk group activities,” senior violence,” Prevention and our services and our children. At-risk children Hannah Baker said.

Outreach Coordinator Ally program,” Gajsiewicz are those who run the “So the first time we Gajsiewicz said. said. “It’s really amazing risk of potentially not participated in a game Shelterhouse opened because the community graduating high school together was the best up its first agency in is directly supporting and not becoming because she was confident Midland in 1980. This the work that we do with financially independent enough not to just interact allowed them to provide survivors of domestic and in adulthood. By using with me, but to also people with counseling, sexual violence.” high school students volunteer and participate shelter, and education.

Community support as mentors, lessons in group stuff.”

“A lot of the advocacy is so important to about friendship, trust, The early impact services we have are Shelterhouse. and support are taught that BBBS has on its something that people “I could not wrap during their early stages participants can help don’t realize we do,” my head around of life. in shaping their future.

Gajsiewicz said. “When how supported the “Our mission [is According to the BBBS we say Shelterhouse, a lot agency was by the to] provide children website, 70 percent of of the time what comes community,”Gajsiewicz facing adversity with participants have higher to mind for people is just said. “I think that as strong and enduring, self-esteem and a greater our safe shelter. But the much as Shelterhouse professionally commitment to learning. counseling and advocacy affects the community, supported one-to-one “I definitely went in are just as important. Most the community 100 mentoring relationships thinking I was gonna of our clients never stay in percent impacts that change their lives change this little kid’s our shelter.”

Shelterhouse as well.” for the better, forever,” life and mine would stay the BBBS mission the same,” Baker said. statement says.

“But that’s definitely not Children from six to what happened because I 16 are enrolled in the changed a lot.” program. They typically Transforming and stay with their mentor, shaping the community referred to as their Big, and its future is the until they age out of the main goal of BBBS. But photos by Micah Damocles & Giselle Mahoney program. In that time, ensuring every child’s RACKS ON RACKS: Multiple articles of clothing hang up in both the Little and the Big future is what’s most The Shelterhouse Resale shop ready to be bought. The can grow and learn. important to them. store sells not only clothing, but also home goods.

Big Brothers Big Sisters

November 16, 2018 Update

News 5

Voters are history makers

Lillian Pressnell The Lowdown with Lillian

LOGGING IN: All students check in to the Music Care log on Wed., Nov. 7, 2018. This is required for all performers.

GROUP EFFORT: The three students play together for by-comers at the hospital.

This group includes Abigail Ahn(10), Abigail Yoo(9), Nathaniel Kalantar(12).

Senior Tia Lia, not pictured, also played.

SHOWING HE CARES: Senior Nathaniel Kalantar focuses on playing his cello.

The cellist performs along with three other DHS students.

Music to medical ears

photos by Maddie Delong and Emily Danielsen

Students take their talents to hospital to preform Emily Danielsen & Maddie Delong

co-managing photo & page editor itting in the hospital can be a long and sometimes stressful wait, but two students are trying to help make that experience easier on patients and their families. Junior Neil Jawani and sophomore Ayla Khan have used their musical talents for more than just personal performances.

Khan’s mom volunteers at the hospital and noticed that there was a piano in the lobby. These students took this as an opportunity to create a program that would allow students and community members to perform whatever instrument they want, including the already in place piano, from as long as ten minutes to an hour.

“We were looking at an opportunity for students, as well as members of the community, to be able to share their musical talents and bring those into the hospital setting where individuals can be under a lot of stress,” Dr. Madhura Mansabdar said.

Mansabdar described that the

S

hospital has expanded the program from one performance a year to one performance every other month.

The hospital has hopes to put these musicians into the emergency waiting room and even potentially the surgical waiting room.

The music care program was designed to help people feel more relaxed and comfortable in the hospital setting. Listening to music has been known to increase positive emotions, reduce stress and anxiety, increase relaxation, improve moods, reduce blood pressure, decrease pain, and much more.

To ensure that the students are ready for their performance, the MidMichigan Health website explains certain criteria that performers must meet. For example, performances get scheduled, and high school student performances must be approved by their music teacher, or private teacher, to perform. Also, musicians will be able to play their selected pieces, but it must be a calming

piece. If they are not a music student, then they can then register as a community member.

“For every ten minutes you play you get an hour of volunteer service,” Jawani said.

The reason students would receive so many hours is because of the amount of preparation needed to perform. For example, students have to practice and put a lot of effort into the performance. Jawani comments that it’s a lot more rewarding to practice to play in front of such an accepting environment, such as the hospital, where anyone from visitors, nurses, and patients stop to listen.

“It is definitely something you want to get on your resume, so even if you’re just doing it for your resume, you’re still going to make other people happy,” Jawani said.

To find more information about this program, go to www.michigan. org/music and fill out their forms to play a piece and help make someone’s day.

Even though we know that voter turnout for the 2018 midterms has far surpassed previous midterms, it will be awhile before we know the full numbers.

Either way, this is both impressive and relieving. Far more young voters came out compared to previous midterms, and the results show. These are historic midterms. For the first time, over 100 women will have seats in Congress. Many firsts were made regarding race, gender, and sexuality. The amount of representation in our government is booming, and it’s all because of the 113+ million people who came out to vote.

This is the first time over 100 million people came out to vote during a midterms election.

We not only met this benchmark, we blew it out of the water. The flooding of social media and the encouragement of celebrities has no doubt brought the number of voters up. No matter what made you go out and vote, the good or the bad, the need for the constants or the want for change, thank you for voting.

Michigan specifically has just broken through with a lot of accomplishments;

for example, we have elected the first Muslim woman to Congress.

We have also elected a female governor, a black lieutenant governor, and an LGBTQ+ attorney general. This election, we have also followed through with a wide array of laws that have been passed. Michigan voted towards ending gerrymandering, starting automatic voter registration, and legalized cannabis for recreational usage.

These results were all made possible and helped forward by the large increase in young adults and increase in voters in general who came out to vote during these midterms.

In the words of Cole Sprouse, “Political activism is important and apathy is no longer cool.” Not knowing what’s going on in the world, not being politically active, and not caring isn’t cool anymore. Going out and voting and doing your civic duty is cool.

It’s what makes our democracy. People fought for decades for the right to vote. They fought for your right to vote. Let’s try to break 113 million next time. One last time, congratulations on making history.

6 News

Update November 16, 2018

Transgender memo sparks controversy Message from Trump administration attempts to define sex Mac Thackery & Gavan Boguszewski assistant copy & staff writer

I

n the spring of 2018, a drafted memo from the Trump administration was leaked to the New York Times.

It attempted to define sex from a legal standpoint. Although the memo is mere speculation, it sparked an important debate about gender identity and transgender rights in regards to governmental voice.

“Sex means a person’s status as male or female based on immutable biological traits identifiable by or before birth, the sex listed on a person’s birth certificate, as originally issued, shall constitute definitive proof of a person’s sex unless rebutted by reliable genetic evidence,” reads a passage of the memo as reported by the New York Times.

What the memo says could redefine the way gender is viewed by schools and businesses. Co-workers and school officials could refer to transgender individuals by their biological pronouns over their preferred pronouns. If a law passes, schools and businesses could block individuals from using the bathroom of their gender identity.

In the case that this memo became a bill, it would contradict with Title IX. Title IX, a federal civil rights law, was passed in 1972 as part of the Education Amendments Act by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). It states, “No person in the United States

shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.”

The contents the memo would be defined as discrimination and therefore Title IX would need to be either amended or eradicated.

It’s difficult to tell if the HHS would actually implement a change in protections, and if so, what reactions would be. A law would keep transgender people from getting federal protection via Title IX, due to the fact that Title IX would either have to be amended or eradicated in the event that a bill passed.

However, there is a differing opinion on whether or not the memo would erase transgender identities.

“This new ‘gender equals sex’ [memo] is technically erasing the definition and existence of trans people in the government and/or the U.S.,” Levi Ebnit said, a transgender male who goes to Interlochen Arts Academy. “This sets an awful example to other individuals in power. Officials can see [that] if their president is doing this, they won’t have to pretend like they’re an ally anymore for political bonus points.”

Several organizations have stated their discontent for the memo, one of those being the Human Rights Campaign (HRC).

Sarah Warbelow, the legal director of the HRC, said in an article published by the HRC that the Trump administration has decided to turn its back on transgender individuals whenever it has had the choice. This creates tension where people believe that the administration is trying to take back freedoms that were given by the Obama administration.

Possible outcomes of a law are that transgender individuals could be denied aid by emergency/homeless shelters, a transgender person could have their insurance deny them coverage for transition related care, LGBTQ+ people could be discriminated against at their job, an elderly transgender individual could be denied in-home meal service (such as Meals on Wheels), and LGBTQ+ people could be denied service at hospitals.

Some, however, are understanding, and even supportive, of Trump’s memo. Others are trying to find reasoning for the memo, and attempting to understand what exactly Trump is trying to get across.

Reproductive endocrinology expert Dr. John Theisen told Inverse that is impossible to define sex as something given at birth. He believes that while sex can be assigned at birth, sex is not unchanging and trying to define it, as well as gender, isn’t consistent with what experts know about the biology of sex and sexual differentiation.

58.7 percent of gender non-conforming students have experienced verbal harassment in the past year

41 percent of transgender individuals have attempted suicide

50

percent of transgender individuals have been assaulted by a romantic partner

80

1 in 5 transgender individuals have experienced homelessness at some point within their lives

1 in 8 have been evicted due to being transgender

percent of transgender students feel unsafe at school because of their gender identity

facts from transstudent.org

November 16, 2018 Update Merriam-Webster Dictionary also defines the terms “sex” and “gender” differently. Sex is defined as “either of the two major forms of individuals that occur in many species and that are distinguished respectively as female or male especially on the basis of their reproductive organs and structures”. Gender is defined as “a subclass within a grammatical class (such as noun, pronoun, adjective, or verb) of a language that is partly arbitrary but also partly based on distinguishable characteristics (such as shape, social rank, manner of existence, or sex) and that determines agreement with and selection of other words or grammatical forms.”

This means that sex is of the two biological forms, female and male, and gender is what people want to be described as and their physical features or expression.

News 7 Within DHS, there is a case-by-case accommodation to help transgender students feel comfortable, according to principal Dr. Steven Poole.

Transgender and non-binary students can request that their teachers use their preferred pronouns or names.

Another message sent from the Trump administration in 2017, which failed, was directed at transgender men and women. In 2017, a federal judge blocked a White House policy which barred military service by transgender troops, ruling that it was based on “disapproval of transgender people generally.”

Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly of the Federal District Court for the District of Columbia found the ban “likely unconstitutional” because of the “discriminatory language” within the policy. Since, however, a less blanketing ban has been passed and

maintained, now blocking those with a “history of gender dysphoria.”

Ebnit believes that there is a connection between the two, and that the Trump administration has made an effort to discriminate against transgender individuals in both situations.

“I also remember that this new memo will begin to erase protections [in favor of] transgender people,” said Ebnit. “It’s very vague, but it’s definitely negatively impacting trans people, which isn’t very surprising due to [the Trump administration’s] attempts to revoke protections for transgender people in the military.”

Freshman Madi St. Sauver is a non-binary student at DHS. Like Ebnit, they are also worried about what could come of this memo, and the possibility of a bill or law. “[I’m] possibly going to be denied for medical treatment,” St. Sauver

said. “Like even with a basic sickness, or being denied participation at public events, maybe being denied food at restaurants, or a cake at bakeries.”

Restating the fact that this is just a memo and a law has not actually been put in place, there is still an effect on both transgender individuals and LGBTQ+ community as a whole. It could create an environment where transgender individuals are uncomfortable. While some think that major things will be set in motion if this memo were to be enacted, some think it is not that big of a deal in its effects on society within the U.S. With the huge strides for transgender acceptance enacted by the Obama administration, and the laws by states to allow transgender individuals more freedoms and rights, it may be possible for all of that to be undone with new policies of the Trump administration.

Effects of gender dysphoria Gender dysphoria is a term used to describe the distress a person feels with the gender they are assigned at birth. In the case of transgender individuals, their assigned sex does not match their gender identity. Gender dysphoria is recognized as a medical condition, but not a mental illness.

Signs of dysphoria can appear at a young age, such as distress due to a child being told they cannot play sports or wear clothing not considered “typical” of their sex. In many cases, it is considered behavior associated with just growing older and will pass in time, but for those with gender dysphoria it can continue into adulthood. Some signs of dysphoria

in adults are a strong desire to hide or be rid of the physical signs of your sex, such as breasts, body hair or muscle definition, or a strong dislike for – and a strong desire to change or be rid of – the genitalia of a person’s biological sex.

There is also the option of treatment for gender dysphoria. It aims to help reduce or remove the distressing feelings of a discomfort between biological sex and gender identity. This can mean different things for different people. For some, it can mean dressing and living as their preferred gender. For others, it can mean taking hormones (such as testosterone or estrogen) or also having surgery to change their appearance.

Gender identity woman

genderqueer

man

androgynous

masculine

Gender expression feminine

Biological sex female

intersex

male

graphics by Mac Thackery and Jenna Wray

8 Opinion

Distracting devices

Update November 16, 2018

Students have to find balance between schoolwork, phones Zane O’Dell & Irshad Husain

managing business & assistant business

P

hones are everywhere.

That includes classrooms, where students are supposed to be devoting all of their focus to learning, rather than a device burning a hole in their pocket. Cell phones in the classroom setting are hardly ever used for educational purposes, due to students now having access to chromebooks, making phones­­ a distraction. Every teacher has their own policy on cell phone usage.

No matter what their teacher sets in place, students need to restrain themselves from wishing to use their phone in class when they are being taught.

When practicing selfcontrol, students are not only learning the content that the teacher is presenting, but they’re also learning self control in an age that is so dependent on cell phones.

“I feel like if [phones are] used correctly, they have power,” senior Emma Allington said. “If harnessed correctly, they can give new avenues, connect us in ways that we couldn’t previously, and more. That being said, while it is easy to get off track and there are some side effects. We can combat that.”

According to a 2017 study

by Campus Technology, an astounding 94 percent of students have the urge or desire to use their cell phone in class. If that percentage were to be compared to

a class of 30, 28 out of 30 students are constantly wanting to use their phone.

This seems to be the case because phones provide a near endless amount of information that can be consumed.

The main reason students are wishing to constantly use their phones is because students nowadays always want to know what’s happening on social media.

“People stay on their phones because there’s always new stuff to look at,” sophomore Ally Wilson said.

“Like for example, on social media, there’s never an end to it. You can just keep looking.

It can affect your sleep a little if you’re, say, constantly up on YouTube all night.”

In the eyes of some, phones in the classroom are detrimental to students and their ability to learn. They’re a disturbance, and they take away the focus of the student in the classroom. Instead of listening to the teacher, the focus of students is shifting from the classroom material to the device in the palm of their hand.

“There are so many things that most people can do on their phones now, whether it be games, social media, watching videos on YouTube, all that sort of stuff,” sophomore Emma Lutenske said. “For the effects, I think it makes people just feel more addicted to things, focus on less of what’s going on around them and more on all the drama and everything

that’s going on in their lives. It does have a lot of negative impacts, if you’re told to put your phone away, then you get upset because then ‘oh, no, how am I supposed to know how many likes I’ve got on this post?’ So I don’t know if they’re super productive.”

Phones undeniably provide an avenue of distraction for students. On the other hand, it’s quite reductive to believe phones have no value to them whatsoever.

As an alternative photo by Jenna Wray solution, options such is taking a selfie but his face is an Internet Identity Inception: as integrating them endless inception of him holding Copic marker piece created into the classroom his phone. Another thing that can

by Gustavo Souza. “Most of should be considered. be tied into this piece is that the us are way too caught up with Simply put, phones inception is endless since we can our phones and the internet have unlimited identities on the have a time and a and slowly our phones begin to place, and if they reflect our own identities. You can internet making us sometimes anonymous.” see this in my piece as the man pose a problem, their necessity should be assessed. your homework if somebody “A student’s job is to learn “You’re responsible for texts you and you have to while they’re in school, and learning the subject matter, answer it.” anything that will take away and also responsible for your Phones in the classroom from that is a hindrance,” phone,” principal Steven Poole are an issue. They take away Poole said. “There are schools said. “You just don’t want from the learning environment who have banned cell phones those things to conflict. I guess that the teachers and other entirely. We obviously haven’t what I’m trying to say is that it staff of the school are trying done that. We’re hoping that should never get in the way of to create, to prepare students you will be able to control your studies. When I asked kids for the real world, not for yourself when it comes to about homework, 80 percent of something on their social your phone.” them say that they’re allowed media feeds. Although phones While in school, for the to have their phones with them are distracting, they will not benefits of the students, they while they do homework. I’d be completely abolished in all need to put up the devices guess 80 percent of those say classrooms. Students need to and listen to the lectures. It it’s a distraction. So I mean, learn when the appropriate will be a lot more beneficial if you’re not concentrating on times are to use them. they do.

Opinion 9

November 16, 2018 Update

Grades are not everything Numbers do not define a person Lydia Barber & Cierra Dillon

assistant copy & staff writer

A

s the school year picks up, the pressure to do well on the SAT or ACT seems to set in immediately. With the stress of getting a good score, many students panic at the thought of not getting into their dream college.

When the stress gets too intense, it’s important to take a step back and remember that standardized tests are not the end-all be-all of a student’s high school career. However, being prepared for tests like the SAT and ACT is an essential part of surviving testing season.

Senior Shiva Sreeram took the SAT twice: once the August before his junior year and once in school.

He credits taking the SAT early, as well as his preparation and study techniques, for his scores.

“I spent a lot of time, and with my preparation, I was able to do better than I would have otherwise,” Sreeram said. “I felt that [preparation] is really good and will help me in my college application process. Obviously, I don’t know the pure results of that yet, but so far I feel that it’s a benefit that I spent that time preparing.”

When preparing, some of the the key strategies a student can do include taking practice tests and collecting various study resources.

“I studied out of books that I bought at Barnes and Noble,” Sreeram said. “I looked up online tests and review sites like Khan Academy.”

Khan Academy helps students with their preparations leading up to the SAT. It offers free practice

photo by Emily Danielsen

tests, which students can either take on the computer or print out.

“The Khan Academy offers some really good stuff that’s connected with the PSAT that you’ve taken as a ninth and 10th grader,” Guidance counselor Douglas Bradford said.

“I think it’s good to do practice tests, not necessarily just on the computer, because that’s not how you take your tests. But you know, the written ones where you’re actually doing reading and bubbling, that’s different than the computer.”

While the amount of studying a student does for standardized tests can heavily influence their scores, it’s also critical to recognize one’s limits.

“You can’t give up on all your extra curricular activities,” Sreeram said. “Obviously that’s not what college wants, but there is a balance that needs to be found, and managing stress is always difficult.

But make sure that even when you’re taking it that you don’t lose your mind, lose all that preparation you had just by stressing yourself out too hard.”

It’s also important to appreciate the diverse opportunities DHS offers for education. English teacher and IB CAS coordinator Emily Hockemeyer recalled her experiences when preparing for the ACT at Meridian Early College High School.

“I was so frustrated because it felt like taking the standardized tests was more about how good of a test taker I was,” Hockemeyer said. “And honestly all my training in high school back then it was

the ACT was about how to really understand directions. So all of our skills were, ‘are you reading directions correctly so you can answer the question correctly’ and I just kind of felt like I was mastering a skill set to master a test and not take on the world.”

However, Hockemeyer does recognize the importance of studying for standardized tests.

“Have grit,” Hockemeyer said in an email interview. “Be resilient.

Standardized tests test your ability to face challenges more than it tests your knowledge. Take the challenge head on and just do it.”

Despite the emphasis colleges put on the SAT, it shouldn’t be the only way to measure a student’s performance.

“I don’t think that’s 21st century learning,” Hockemeyer said. “That’s one thing that I think we should question. I don’t think society as a whole questions enough.”

Students should always try their hardest, but make sure not to put themselves down.

“My advice would just be not to stress over [tests] and realize that a test score doesn’t determine your worth,” Senior Maddy Letts said.

“It doesn’t determine your entire future. You will be ok if you don’t do as well as you thought you were going to, but also try your hardest to study and put in the work.”

With important tests like the ACT and SAT seeming to be just around the corner, remember: students are not just a number.

STATS ABOUT TESTING

1) What is the average SAT score nationwide?

A

1400

B

1060

C

1200

D

1080

2) What is the average ACT score nationwide?

A

23

B

19

C

21

D

20.8

stats from www.testive.com & www.magoosh.com

Update November 16, 2018

My Turn I think few things feel better than waking up after getting a full night of restful sleep.

However, as summer ends, late nights/early mornings become a reality again. School and my sleep schedule don’t really mix, and from what I’ve heard from my peers, many students don’t get the amount of sleep recommended by doctors on a nightly basis, which, according to sleepfoundation.org, is 8 to 10 hours for teens between ages 14 and 17.

I believe that a balance needs to be found between school starting early enough that it doesn’t run too late in the day, and late enough that students have the opportunity to get a little more sleep.

Education officials should take a closer look at how consistent lack of sleep can/is negatively affecting teens. Even just a little more sleep/ school starting just a little later could have positive effects.

Let’s say you wake up at 6:00 am. You would have to go to bed at 9:00 pm the night before to get a solid nine hours.

That is never a reality for me. By the time I get home, I often still have a lot to do before going to bed. Yes, time management is a skill

that can help when planning out your day/ trying to get to bed earlier. However, so much of my life (and I’m sure my peers as well) is consumed by school/ homework, and there’s other things I enjoy that I would hate to stop doing so I can get more sleep that night.

Sleep deprivation is a big problem.

According to Stanford Medicine, lack of sleep for teenagers can increase their chances of earning bad grades, having trouble concentrating, suffering from anxiety/depression, being in drowsydriving accidents, and committing suicide/ having suicidal thoughts. Some of those consequences can drastically affect mental health. So many students are already anxious or depressed, and lack of sleep worsens it. Those effects can get in the way of having a normal/ functional everyday life.

A good night’s sleep can do more than make you wake up feeling refreshed, it can prepare you to take on another day that requires focus/ brain power. This, in turn, can help you get the best education possible, and maybe even be awake enough to enjoy learning.

EDITORIAL BOARD: Anikka Thorson Jenna Wray Amelya Jankens Ben Brueck Emily Danielsen Katie Ellison Grace Sobeck Hannah Raw Jason Laplow Katie Ramos Molly Birch Zane O’Dell Lillian Pressnell

Responses: Want to share your thoughts on a recent article published in the Update? Write a 250 word Letter to the Editor for our next issue. Contact Anikka Thorson by Dec. 3, 2018.

Don’t avoid controversial topics when conversing with family Staff Editorial

T

he holiday season is quickly personal beliefs. It is how a person is approaching. Awkward talks at able to learn in this society. If people the dinner table about politics, aren’t open to other ideas and ways of religion, and other taboo subjects are thinking, the injustice within society bound to come with it. today will never be fully corrected.

In this day and age, there are Just because people have differing many subjects that can be considered opinions does not mean that a person difficult to talk about, especially with has the right to disrespect another extended family. Discussions of these for it. Respect is the foundation of topics can end in arguing, and yelling society. Understand that people have in some cases, but they should not be other views and that they are allowed ignored or avoided. to. Above all, respect people for the People need to hear other points sole reason that they are a person. of view on controversial subjects.

Being part of the LGBTQ+ If religion, for example, is talked community, doesn’t make someone about in a respectful and calm less of a person They are living their way, people on both sides will life the way they were meant to. A gain more knowledge and a better person shouldn’t impose their own understanding of why people see beliefs on them doesn’t affect them in things differently. People cannot any way beside causing distress. simply ignore another side of an People need to respect other argument because they don’t agree people’s beliefs even if they don’t agree with it. with them. Calling a transgender People have differing opinions. It is person by their preferred name or beneficial for all to understand these using the right pronouns is a way to opinions and understand respect the way that they are why others feel this without having to think it is way. Being curious right. People just need to of other people’s have acceptance and views on respect for others religion, or Politics regardless of their politics, or own beliefs. social issues At the dinner is how table this year, another don’t ignore can learn Religion these chances about others to grow. It’s time views. people challenge Talking to their own views as people who well as others. Be have differing respectful. Respect is views can be an important and great beneficial for solidifying way in which people can grow.

s

Gabby Taylor

Taboo table talks

lI ssu e

The Sleep Struggle

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

ci a

Opinion

So

10

graphic by Amelya Jankens

CORRECTIONS FOR OCT. 26 ISSUE: - On page 19, Amy Folkenroth was a firefly not a bumblebee.

- On page 15, Richard Blasy’s graduation year was incorrect. He graduated in 1990.

- On page 15, Amy Bushey’s photo was not published although she is a DHS alumni.

November 16, 2018

Opinion 11

Update

Athletic absences Appreciate student athletes that don’t play school sports

“Athletes You Don’t Notice”

Staff Editorial

I

t’s no secret that student athletes miss school due to their school sponsored sports.

These absences are school excused, meaning they don’t count towards the 10 day absence limit.

However, there is another group of student athletes who miss school for their non-school sponsored sporting events.

This group includes martial artists, skaters, curlers, rowers, and others. They may have to go out of state for their competitions, even a national competition, but these absences count towards the 10 day absence limit. If student athletes are school excused for their school sponsored sports, and the administration allows two days for seniors to visit universities, why shouldn’t these nationally ranked athletes be

“Toilet Troubles”

allowed at least two days for their competitions?

In order to receive a black belt, students must practice for years and sometimes decades.

Their hard work takes up countless hours and, as aforementioned, school days. However, their accomplishments and hard work often go unnoticed by not only the administration regarding school days, but their peers as well.

Perhaps if there were announcements celebrating these students and their efforts as they make their way to state, national, and even international tournaments, then more recognition would go to these students.

Really, the only difference that separates athletIes who compete in martial arts like jiu jitsu, taekwondo, and karate versus sports like football, basketball, and volleyball,

is that the school has teams for the latter set of activities. This can often lead students to be more focused on abilities done by athletes in those fields as opposed to ones who may be equally talented in their respective activities. All this means is that the school is specifically holding athletes who compete and represent their school elsewhere get time off, yet athletes who are also doing well but not showing off their school pride are punished for it by not getting a schoolexcused absence.

These students should be shown the appreciation and respect they deserve.

Whether this be through administration recognition through the form of granted days off, or announcements celebrating their journey, these students deserve to be treated as highly as those who play sports for the school.

Editorial cartoon by Jocelyn Cha

Cartoon by Loree Chung

12 Opinion November 16, 2018

Reviews on brews Top five coffee shops students should visit Molly Birch & Hannah Raw

managing feature & managing social media

M

idland has a few treasured locations contained inside its borders: coffee houses. We visited five of the most well known coffee houses in Midland and sampled the most popular drink at each location. The reviews are based on three categories: atmosphere, service, and coffee quality. Each earned a score from one to five in each category, added together to give an overall average solely based on the day visited. The coffee cups next to the each coffee house shows the overall rating out of five.

Espresso Millano: Espressing love for coffee Celebrating their 25th anniversary this year, Espresso Milano has been a part of downtown Midland since 1993.

With an interesting menu, Espresso Milano is a place unlike the typical coffee shop. Owner and Manager Bret Cousineau likes to foster an inviting environment for all.

“We try to make the place cozy,” Cousineau said. “Come one, come all. We’re not trying to get an exact type of person.

We want the whole community.”

Compared to the listed coffee places, Espresso Milano was a little loud if are looking for a quiet place to study, but instead could be a place to meet up with friends and chat over coffee.

The most popular drink at Espresso Milano is the Mudslide Mocha. The sweetness of the whipped cream and chocolate almost completely masks the bitterness of the mocha, but still manages to contain that true coffee taste to make a tasty blend. It’s a frozen mocha that’s ideal for coffee drinkers and coffee haters alike due to its lack of a strong coffee taste.

Live Oak: Lively Lattes

After opening in 2017, Live Oak Coffeehouse became a place where people meet to collaborate. Cutomers continue to come back for the welcoming feel and delicious coffee and food. The atmosphere was the most aesthetically pleasing of the visited coffee houses. With a Maker’s room where art classes, trivia nights, sign language lessons, and many more community events are held, and a welcoming and warm vibe, it’s the place to chill quietly. Their slogan, “Like coffee, Love people,” is a mantra that every employee holds proudly in their hearts.

“If you walk in having a bad day, the simple thing like a cup of coffee should be able to cheer you up and make you walk out the door ready to take on the day or at least leave with a smile or feel a little bit of the happiness that you didn’t feel before you walked in.” barista manager Sean Bartley said.

The most popular drink at Live Oak is the latte. With specialty syrups made in house, there’s not much that can top them.

The caramel latte has a rich caramel flavor that makes the perfect blend of sweet and bitter.

This was the strongest tasting coffee sampled. It’s absolutely for those who enjoy that sharp taste of coffee with just a bit of sweetness, too.

e

November 16, 2018 Opinion 13

Loch: Loch ness latte

Coffee Chaos: Chaotic cappuccino Popping up in 2004, Coffee Chaos is like an old friend that isn’t seen very often, but is always there for emotional support. After being open for 12 years and having to compete with the newer shops, this coffee place has held its ground. The coffee house goes for a more typical coffee shop sense. It allows for a space to get together and celebrate great coffee with friends and family alike. The friendly ambiance inside the shop represents a place for customers to openly chat while hopefully enjoying their beverages. For those who are unable to dine in, Coffee Chaos also includes a drivethru, making it easy for everyone to grab a drink during their busy schedule.

The most popular drink at Coffee Chaos is the Chaos Mocha. This blend of white chocolate and caramel didn’t even seem like coffee. It was incredibly sweet.

If someone has a sweet tooth or just doesn’t like the taste of coffee, this mocha could be an option.

Journeys: Heavenly frappuccino Journeys is a Christian coffee shop based in the Messiah Lutheran Church on Poseyville Rd. After the closing of it’s secondary location, the coffee house has kept strong in their original location- fully equiped with a drive- thru. The spread-out layout of the coffee house makes for a quiet place to study and relax with a fresh cup of coffee for people of all ages. A large fireplace keeps the room warm along with the comfortable armchairs providing a cozy place to sit. This coffee house is for those looking for a home-like atmosphere away from home.

The most popular drink at Journeys is the Mocha Frappuccino.

With a melted chocolate rimmed cup and a whipped cream topped coffee, who wouldn’t fall in love? The frappuccino is sweet enough that all the coffee was masked, making this the drink for anyone who dislikes the bitter taste of coffee.

graphics by Jenna Wray

Hidden in the back roads of Saginaw and Eastman, the Loch Coffee Company is a secret gem for the city of Midland.

The popular spot has been attracting customers since its opening in the fall of 2016. The combination of the shop’s mellow music and comfortable seating makes for a exquisite place to catch up with a friend or to start homework that is piling up in backpacks. The Loch also hosts live bands quite often, one of the headliners being a band called Leland Blue.

“They can be really quiet if you go at the right times,” sophomore and frequent Loch customer Maggie Dean said. “But when they host stuff like Leland Blue it can be really fun.”

The most popular drink at The Loch is the Maple Brown Sugar Latte. It was a delicious blend of sweet maple and strong coffee, but the sweetness didn’t mask the flavor of the coffee itself.

For those looking for a fall coffee that’s bitter with just a little bit of sweet, Loch is the best choice.

photos by Jenna Wray and Molly Birch

14

Update November 16, 2018

Feature

Turkey day travels

Toxic caffeine therapy People’s Thanksgiving voyage anecdote

Molly Birch Molly’s Madness My relationship with caffeine has been rather rocky. I started drinking coffee when I was 12.

Back then, I wasn’t really drinking coffee. I was drinking creamer, five to seven tablespoons of sugar, and about one tablespoon of coffee. My 12-year-old definition of coffee was three parts sugar, one part coffee. I had a cup a day seventh grade year.

That’s not healthy.

I also drank Mountain Dew by the bucket. Any time I drank soda I drank Mello Yello or Mountain Dew to the point that I had a stomach ache from all the sugar and a headache from the caffeine. I didn’t drink water. Ever.

That’s not healthy.

I used caffeine to deal with stress. When I get stressed, I become tired and when I am tired I don’t really function like a human is supposed to. To compensate and attempt to regain mental function, I drank anything I could find that contained caffeine.

That’s not healthy.

My dad is actually allergic to caffeine. He can’t have caffeine at all.

Too much of it will kill him. He’s more stressed than I am, yet he doesn’t

need anything extra to keep him going. I see people in my life that struggle with the essentials every day, but still have a smile on their face when the day is over. They aren’t dependent on a substance to keep them going. Why should I be?

I realized that my dependence on caffeine had become a mentality that I couldn’t let go of.

I was constantly telling myself that I have to have a coffee before I can do anything or I’ll do it wrong. I realized that saying ‘I’m not myself before my morning coffee’ is just an excuse.

It dawned on me that I needed to stop making excuses and help myself before I harmed myself further. I now try to drink more water when I’m in need of a caffeine fix. I try to sleep more and eat enough food to keep myself fueled for the day.

When you put unhealthy substances into your body at an excess, your mental health can suffer greatly. It’s important to keep your health at the forefront. Do positive things for yourself because you’ll be grateful in the long run.

Grace Sobeck & Sophie Ungerleider

36.1 million flew for Thanksgiving

managing graphics & assistant social media

B

umper to bumper on the highway crammed in a car. Shoulder to shoulder sitting in rows of chairs at the airport. Turkey day travels can be some of the busiest times of the year. Statistics from AAA Newsroom showed that during the Thanksgiving holiday of 2017 about 51 million people were expected to travel. That is the greatest number in quite a few years. Along with the fluctuation in travelers, there was a fluctuation in travel expenses as well. In 2017, customers expected an all-time low airfare average in comparison to 2013.

Traveling during the seasons can differ for everyone. As one of the busiest times of the year, this should be no surprise. Along with positive travel experiences, also come the typical travel mishaps.

These travel disasters are mostly unavoidable but account for

Traffic improves by 60% between Saturday and Sunday after Thanksgiving

memorable experiences.

“Living and teaching in Savannah, Georgia, I had booked a flight home to Michigan for the morning before Thanksgiving, well in advance of the holiday,” special education teacher Patricia Steele said. “To make up for a hurricane day, the school district changed the calendar suddenly to have school that Wednesday after all, so I changed my ticket at the last minute. When the flight landed in Tennessee, I knew something was wrong. Apparently, there is a airport there, also. I explained my situation to the ticket agent who, though sympathetic, was unable to find a seat for me until late Thanksgiving afternoon. After spending the night in the airport, I arrived in Michigan after 11:00 pm Thanksgiving night. Everyone was asleep, no plate was waiting for me, nobody seemed concerned.

41.9 million drove for Thanksgiving

Two days later I returned South, exhausted and disappointed. Worst.

Thanksgiving. Ever.”

Similar to hurricane weather in Georgia, Michigan’s snowy weather can be quite severe. Some years snow has already arrived

by Thanksgiving. Those who travel through Michigan in snowy conditions know the hazards and untimely arrivals it can cause.

Social studies teacher Brent Chambers explained that he and his family once got hit by a heading up north for Thanksgiving.

3-5 pm the Wednesday before is the worst time to drive according to Nationwide

graphics by Grace Sobeck

November 16, 2018 Update “About 10 years ago, my wife and then I’m like, ‘Wait a minute. This is a my side of the family did Thanksgiving lot of snow’, and we slow down slowly at our little family cabin in northern as we get on the highway. And instead Michigan and some of us also deer of doing like, 60 miles per hour, which hunt,” Chambers said. “So we were is, you know, cautious and safe we’re doing that, as well as celebrating going 45. Everybody’s backing up. So it Thanksgiving and, unfortunately, a was nice. Instead of a regular 90-minute huge snow storm came in, which is car ride, it lasted two and a half hours. obviously unusual for Thanksgiving It wasn’t the best experience, but it weekend and to the point where we wasn’t the worst.” were kind of trying to keep up with Not all dinners are confined to [the weather] in order to get out the Michigan. Some share their travel driveway and the road and so on destinations for Turkey day. Senior because it isn’t like in the city. It’s out Brandon Norris elaborated in the country and there’s on his experience nothing particularly when traveling to exciting about it other Tennessee over the than this was way break. back when my “You start “I just remember being wife and I had a out with a flat thankful that we had Jeep Cherokee.

Michigan and this vehicle to get Back when it kind of stays home with our two they were still pretty flat up little tiny kids.”

Jeeps. And I until you get Brent Chambers just remember to the bottom social studies teacher being thankful of Kentucky that we had this and that’s when vehicle to get home the mountains with our two little are popping up tiny kids and we were and I always love the driving four-wheel drive to get mountains, because it’s off to the main road and so on. It ended really cool whenever you look out and up being a really nice memory but at see the clouds at the bottom,” Norris the time it felt like Christmas break, said. not Thanksgiving.”

There are different ways of During Thanksgiving in 2017, mLive transportation that students use to reported that the roads would be dry travel. Sophomore Kayla Dominowski for the season, providing safer travels talked about her plans of driving this on the fall holiday. However, in the past, year. some have gotten caught up in poor “This year I’m going to Chicago,” weather.

Dominowski said. “I usually go by “When I was about eight we had plane, but this time I’m going by car. this cabin up north, and that’s where My mom planned this a couple weeks my grandmother and grandpa lived ago and she was talking to one of my and we always celebrated, we still close family friends because they live celebrate Thanksgiving up there down there now. They just moved there because it’s beautiful,” junior Madden and they wanted us to come down for Brady said. “It’s on a little bit of land Thanksgiving, so my mom made a plan that we own up there, and it was like to go down there and we’re meeting a Wednesday I had just gotten out of, my cousins that live in Minnesota. So third grade or something and I was we’re all going to meet down there and so excited ‘cause I’m like, ‘Oh, sweet. have a big family Thanksgiving with I get to go to grandma and grandpa’s my friend.” house that’s pretty cool’, and we get Hotels are notorious for being in the car and it starts snowing and packed during break, so not all I’m like, ‘Whoa, it’s cool’. It’s the first travels go smoothly. Senior Paige snow of the year it’s so awesome, and Messick ventured to Las Vegas one

Feature Thanksgiving, but her trip took a turn.

“We were staying a hotel and it was most [of] my family. We were in three rooms put together and my sister and I were sleeping on the couch,” Messick said. “It was Thanksgiving the next day and the fire alarms went off at three in the morning. We were like, ‘What the heck!’ So we got up and no one was leaving their rooms on the top floors.

There’s a casino part so everyone was leaving that, but our part, everyone was just chillin’, so I’m like ‘Okay fire or not?’ We were just waiting there and the alarm was going off in our room, they weren’t really telling us what was going on. We call the front desk like what’s going on? They were like, ‘Oh, don’t worry about it.’ So then we went back to sleep, but the alarm stayed on until seven in the morning.”

Beyond traveling catastrophes, there are traveling experiences that go well. Some stick to home cooked turkey while others venture out to celebrate.

“It has been tradition that my father and I go to the Detroit Lions game,” math teacher Jason Gehoski said. “We go to the game and then back to my brother’s house for dinner.”

Traditions can be imperative to some during Thanksgiving, however, English teacher Chelsea Berg is trying something new. Her love for Disney has inspired her to take a special trip there this Thanksgiving.

“This year I am taking my grandma to Disney World.,” Berg said. “It’s just going to be the two of us and I think we are going to have a great time. She also hasn’t flown in about 20 years, so that should be interesting. Even though it hasn’t happened yet, she was so excited when I told her about it and that was a great memory!”

Berg said that this is a new experience for her and she is excited for this change of pace.

Originally it was her grandma’s idea, but Berg put her words to action, straying away from their traditional Thanksgivings.

Despite the location, struggle, or success, according to USA Today, Thanksgiving is one of the most traveled holidays in the US with stories that tag along for years after.

15

Scrumptious Memories “Cranberry sauce is always essential to me surviving the holidays. Spending that much time with family is too much so sometimes it’s easier to just drown everything in cranberry sauce. It’s good by itself, on turkey, on everything.”

Rachel Chichester junior

“One year, my mom put the turkey in the oven with the plastic still on it. We couldn’t eat it because the plastic melted into it.”

Kristin Sekely sophomore

“My dad boils down a lot of the leftover turkey in a really good turkey broth that we turn into soup and eat for weeks after thanksgiving.”

Ashleigh Prisby freshman

“Every single year my grandma makes a turkey noodle soup and then we have turkey deli sandwiches for the next three days after Thanksgiving.”

Tess Streibel sophomore

16

Feature

Meet Matt Murphy

Update November 16, 2018

Getting personal with new vice principal Anikka Thorson & Jenna Wray

editor in chief & managing design

I

guess I’m fortunate enough to have had that [high school] experience- enough that it made me want to [teach] and pursue that so that I could be somebody to mentor and work with kids and help them achieve their best,” vice principal Matt Murphy said.

Murphy has done just that. As vice principal, Murphy has been able to work with students on both an emotional, and academic level. For Murphy, one of the most important things about being vice principal is not only helping students graduate, but also making sure people are being treated with respect.

The job of an assistant principal includes carrying out some security measures. Murphy is responsible for

implementing and running drills such as fire, tornado and lockdown drills.

On a day to day basis, his role includes making sure all of the exterior doors are securely locked and checking the doors inside the building as well.

“After first bell we go around and check each of the doors, that’s the exterior doors,” Murphy said. “Also my zone, that’s the interior doors and I’ve asked Ms. Coppens and Rich to do the same just to make sure they’re in the locked position already.”

He previously worked at Mt. Pleasant High School, but because he lives in Midland, moving to DHS was a chance to for him to cut down on his morning commute, as well as spending more time with his family.

“It was an opportunity to come

ON CALL: Vice principal Matt Murphy prepares for an in school lockdown drill Thursday afternoon. As vice principal he is pushing forward with security measures, and is in charge of running all the drills in the school.

photos by Emily Danielsen

back to the community that I grew up in, I went to school in Midland Public Schools,” Murphy said.

He attended MHS where he played football, hockey and ran track. He continues to play sports such as vintage baseball and occasionally softball with other teachers. In addition to playing sports, he enjoys watching college basketball and football, particularly Michigan State, from which he graduated.

A job closer to home wasn’t the only thing that drew him back. The ability to spend more time with his family was also a drawing factor. He has two children who both attend Chestnut Hill. Not only that, but his wife works as a teacher at MHS. Originally, Murphy began working as a substitute teacher at Jefferson Middle School in 2005, where he did a few long term subbing jobs. Later on, he was hired at Oasis High School in Mt. Pleasant, which closed in 2012. Then he went on to teach full time at Mt.Pleasant High School where he was a science teacher. After that he became the interim assistant principal and athletic director of Mount Pleasant Middle School.

“It was big role being an athletic director and the assistant principal of a middle school,” Murphy said. “It meant [I] didn’t see my kids as much as possible, then a job came up over here.”

Murphy had always enjoyed high school, especially the different social aspects, as well as other activities both in and out of school. This positive experience influenced his decision to work in education.

“I liked everything about [school],” Murphy said. “I mean, I loved all my teachers. I loved to play sports. So I enjoyed competing in that way. I never had a really bad experience when it comes to high school itself.”

MARVELOUS MURPHY: After a successful lockdown, vice principal Matt Murphy laughs along with fellow staff members. Murphy grew up in Midland’s community and is happy to be back.

However, his love for school didn’t begin there. Murphy had loved his teachers, and knew that he wanted to become one from a very young age.

His fourth grade teacher, Miss Adare, inspired him to go into education.

“I had her over to Adams, great teacher,” Murphy said. “I just love to being around her. Everything about her. I really look forward to going to school each day with her and I was like, well, maybe I want to be a teacher and I kind of always felt that way with the quality teachers that I had all the way throughout never really changed my mind.”

Despite the fact that Murphy competed in various sports during his duration at MHS, his loyalties still lie to the school in which he works. He genuinely enjoys working at DHS, and cares about the students inside.

“I love it here, love the students, love everything about it. So very excited to be here,” Murphy said.

November 16, 2018

Feature

Update

17

Becoming heart and Soule at school Inside look at new school resource officer’s day-to-day routine Katie Ramos & Kayla Dominowski managing copy & staff writer

A

t the beginning of the 2018-19 school year, a new resource officer was hired: Brian Soule.

He is assigned to DHS as well as Woodcrest, Siebert, and Jefferson.

Soule started working in Midland Public Schools around five and a half weeks ago when he replaced the former resource officer, Jai Mahabir.

Officer Soule applied for the job because he has aspired for this position for a long time. One of the things he enjoys the most about this job is interacting with the students.

“When a student comes up to me and asks me questions, or I can educate you guys, if you guys have questions about what I do, so doing stuff like this, I enjoy,” Soule said.

As a Resource Officer, Soule deals with any kind of criminal activity that takes place in school. His job is to take action if there is ever a threat towards students and teachers at DHS. Officer Soule’s main task of his job is to keep everyone at school safe and protected.

“I try to be present and proactive to try to prevent, so if there’s anybody thinking about doing something they shouldn’t, maybe they’ll see me and that might change their mind,” Soule said. “That’s me trying to prevent some of this stuff from happening.”

Other parts of his job are teaching D.A.R.E. at the elementary schools and attending school functions.

Before entering the police force, Officer Soule worked at a golf course doing lawn maintenance. He also worked at two automotive repair shops. Some of his past jobs have motivated him to become what he is today.

“That was kind of a reminder that I didn’t want to do stuff like that, that I wanted to do something different,” Soule said. “That kind of put me

photo by Emily Danielsen

SERVE AND PROTECT: Officer Brian Soule waits in his car outside of DHS. Officer Soule had hopes of being a Resource Officer, and is looking forward to working at Midland Public Schools. through school, went to Delta, and then figured out what I wanted to do.

Took some law enforcement classes, and got into the academy.”

After entering the police academy, he was put into the Flint Police Department. He felt as if this job was exciting but also very dangerous. He worked in that force for about two years. Wanting to move closer to Saginaw Township, he applied to the Midland Police Department and has been here for four years.

“Being as my first police job out of the police academy, I had to learn every aspect of being a police officer,” Soule said. “So it wasn’t a slow moving department where I could learn slowly and take my time. It was getting thrown right into the mix and do my best to not get hurt.”

When taking a look at mental health, Soule feels that his job comes with a toll.

“This job is definitely stressful,” Soule said. “When I come to work, I

can try to make plans for what I want my day to look like, but that could change in an instant, because I never know who’s going to need help, who’s gonna want us to respond, what’s going to go on. It is pretty stressful.”

Soule is very excited to be a part of the DHS community and to get to know the students and staff. Although this change is very different from what he is used to, he is looking forward to the experience of working at Midland Public Schools.

18 Feature

Update November 16, 2018

Meet the acts

Introduction to Renfair performers Amelya Jankens & Ben Brueck

managing opinion & managing web

Combined Experience Returning for their third year in Renfair, Combined Experience believes this will be their best performance yet.

Junior Garrett Mai is the lead guitarist and lead vocalist of the band and is excited to be able to play in front of a large group of people. He will be joined by junior Sarah O’Connell, senior Davis Purtell, sophomore Tristan Brewer, and Freeland High School senior Olivia Lentner.

“The ability to actually play in front of a lot of people,” Mai said. “That’s the fun part.”

Mai hopes that their performance will bring more exposure to their band. With

a song by Georgia Satellites, they plan to bring their best to this performance.

In the past, they have sung “Sweet Home Alabama” by Lynyrd Skynyrd and “Carry on my Wayward Son” by Kansas and have had positive feedback from both performances.

“It’s going to be a great show, honestly,” Mai said. “Between the marching band and a couple more rock and roll popular bands, including us I guess. There’s a lot of solos going to be in there that are musical and a few other acts that are just going to be absolutely amazing. I think everybody should just go.”

Great Zero band For the first time, Great Zero will be performing at Renfair with their new additions. Juniors Lillian Pressnell and Lydia Barber started the band five years ago. Since then they have played at an assortment of smaller venues. Just last year they added junior Jared Poliskey as a drummer, senior Tyler Eaton as lead guitarist, and senior John O’Connor as bassist. Prior to the new additions, Pressnell and Barber performed in the show as freshmen. Expect a solo from Eaton in the song “American Girl”, which the band will play on the night of the show.

photo by Ben Brueck

“Performing as a band in front of a large audience is so much adrenaline,” Pressnell said. “It’s like nothing I’ve ever felt before.”

Pressnell also shared that this year’s show is heavily based on music program. There are a few non-musical performances and a heavy dose of instrumental and musical acts.

“The best part of being in a band is having four other really close friends who I can share all these experiences with,” Presnell said. “We all have a lot of fun together.”

Great Zero looks forward to performing Dec. 14 for Battle of the Bands put on by DHS as well.

Molly Birch Stephen Hu Senior Stephen Hu wanted to go outside of his comfort zone to make his senior year different. Last year at Renfair he performed with the symphonic band, but this time around he’ll be doing a solo act playing the Chinese flute. Hu usually doesn’t enjoy public speaking or performance, but he wanted to do something special to end his senior year with a bang.

He’s been practicing the flute prior

photo by Ben Brueck

to elementary school. The song he will be performing is “The Morning of the Spring.”

“This song is one of my mom’s favorite songs,” Hu said. “I think this song suits the show really well.”

For Hu, music is fun, but he is nervous to perform infront on the entire school. He is excited to show the everyone his skills playing the Chinese flute.

Sophomore Molly Birch begins her spoken poetry career at Renfair. The poem was inspired by dark times in her life that in turn made a positive effect on her life.

“It was just a way for me to channel my aggression and my feelings in a constructive way,” Birch said.

As a sixth grader, Birch began writing poetry as she struggled with her mental health issues. She has continued writing as a way to express herself in a positive way. Birch’s poem “Ode to the Shadows Created When You Stand with Your Back to the Sun”

was published in Fragments in the spring of 2018.

She wrote the poem to get her emotions out about her anxiety because she felt like she had no one to talk to.

Birch doesn’t generally perform her writing in front of large crowds and is worried that she will stutter or not convey the correct emotions. With repetition and practice, reading her poem aloud is becoming more natural.

“It’s not something I do very often so I’m excited to be pushed out of my comfort zone,” Birch said.

Feature 19

November 16, 2018 Update

Aria Segura

Evan Trotter-Wright As a five-year-old, sophomore Evan Trotter-Wright started playing the piano and started accompanying it with singing a few years after. He performed at Renfair in the past but is bringing new aspects to the show this year.

“Memphis” will be performed from the musical “Memphis Lives In Me.” It is one of the first songs he started singing while playing the piano.

Therefore, he has a lot of confidence with this particular song.

“It’s just a really nice song,” Trotter-Wright said. “It’s got dramatic points and it’s nice and

quiet at the beginning and it really fits my voice.”

Trotter-Wright feels the pressure of performing on stage, but uses it as motivation to make his act perfect. He expressed his excitement to perform in front of hundreds of familiar, new, and smiling faces.

“There are going to be so many people there, and I know a lot of them, it’s just a lot of pressure on me to try to do my best,” TrotterWright said. “Knowing that just kind of adds a layer of stress to make sure it’s absolutely perfect.”

This year at Renfair senior Aria Segura will perform “Cry Me a River”

by Arthur Hamilton with a piano accompaniment.

“It’ll be the biggest crowd I’ve ever sang in front of solo,” Segura said.

Excited to perform in front of a big crowd, Segura believes the show will be a great opportunity to see and appreciate all of the amazing attributes students have. Her favorite part of Renfair has been the unique emcees.

“I’m very excited for our emcees this year especially,” Segura said.

Segura’s parents pushed her to audition. With that, added to her love for performing led to an easy decision to audition. For Segura the hardest part of preparation has been getting things organized and finding the time to practice with the Jim Hohmeyer on piano, but she hopes to use this opportunity to show how far she has progressed as a vocalist.

Micah Damocles Sophomore Micah Damocles will sing an original song and play his ukulele at Renfair this year. The song, about a platonic relationship he had, has been in the works since September. It’s titled “Anyway.”

“I wrote this song and planned on Renfair being my big closure to the relationship that I had, as a way of healing,” Damocles said.

This will be his second performance of an original song at Renfair. Last year he performed his song “Big Dreams Little Town.”

“Its just super easy to pick up but its also super expressive,” photo by Amelya Jankens

photo by Amelya Jankens

Damocles said.

Going forward Damocles hopes to share his art with the crowd and soak up the applause. The struggle for Damocles has been crafting his persona.

“I just really love performing,” Damocles said. “I’ve been performing at coffee shops and stuff since like eighth grade.”

Attendance is important to Damocles because it supports the music program in addition to the students perfoming in the show.

Damocles predicts the show will be roughly focused on vocal acts rather than instrumental ensembles, in comparison to previous years.

20 Sports

Update November 16, 2018

Athletes aim for achievement Chopping up details of non-school-sponsored sports Lillian Pressnell & Xander Brooks managing news & staff writer

photo courtesy of Elke Jensen

Breaking Boards: Junior Tayce Shamamian prepares to break two boards durning his black belt test this year. His instructors brace the boards

A

handful of students have been practicing martial arts for the past 10 years, earning black belts, experience, awards, and even confidence. However, they must do it all in their free time with the help of family, friends, and coaches, as their sports are not school sponsored.

“I mean, I don’t talk about my martial art skills much at all,” junior Tayce Shamamian said. “I don’t brag about it. I just do it because I enjoy it and it’s something that matters to me.”

Shamamian has been practicing karate since he was eight years old, earning his black belt this year. While he is proud of himself, he rarely talks about

photo courtesy of Mark McLaughlin

before he delivers the blow. Earning his blackbelt was his biggest accomplishment in karate and was something that gave him more confidence.

Wax on wax off: Freshman Mary McLaughlin performs a kick for her Poomsae competition this August.

McLaughlin finished out the event as grand

champion. This is the highest honor or the equivalent of first place in other sporting events. Poomsae is a pattern of defense and attack motions in Taekwondo .

it, which is why many of his friends are unaware that he even practices karate.

“I’d say it just helps me with everyday self confidence knowing that I can walk around and that’s something that I’ve earned,” Shamamian said.

Freshman Mary McLaughlin has been practicing Taekwondo for six years.

Despite not practicing Taekwondo for very long compared to other people, McLaughlin earned her first degree black belt in 2016 and will test for her third degree within the next year. She also received Grand Champion in Poomsae in August of this year. Poomsae is the traditional aspect of Taekwondo. It is defined as a patterned series of offensive

and defensive techniques performed against an imaginary opponent.

“It was in Okemos, the Lansing area, and it’s one of the biggest tournaments of the year,” McLaughlin said. “So, you prepare for months and it’s the most technical phase, so they take one tenth of a point, I believe off, for like something they see wrong, and they are the most qualified judges.”

Junior Kaleb Studebaker received the highest possible belt for a junior in a martial arts discipline called Okinawa Shorin-ryu. Studebaker has trained in this form of karate since he was four years old, following in his father and grandfather’s footsteps. Okinawa

Shorin-ryu is one of the oldest styles of karate. It is generally characterized by natural breathing, natural stances, and circular movements. “[The premise is] to be able to defend yourself,” Studebaker said.

For McLaughlin, her late uncle motivates her to continue and keeps her from burning out on the sport that she loves.

“My uncle who passed, he was a fourth man which is pretty high, and so when he died it kind of inspired me ‘Oh, I want to do this and I want to get better and to be like him’,” McLaughlin said.

Regardless of motivation, it takes mental strength to continue practicing.

November 16, 2018 Update

Gliding into curling, figure skating Lillian Pressnell & Xander Brooks

managing news & staff writer Some other popular out of school sports besides martial arts include curling, rowing, and figure skating. Junior Sydni Nikolai has been skating with her father, a fan of hockey, since before she can remember. She started taking lessons at age seven. After 10 years, she has a silver medal from the time her team got second at states under her belt. She contributes this success to the eight to 10 hours a week she practices.

“I remember watching the Vancouver Olympics,” Nikolai said. “I saw a commercial of Evan Lysacek and said ‘Mom, I want to do that’, so she signed me up for lessons.”

Burnout is also common with skating, because skaters tend to start so young and practice so often. Nikolai finds her motivation in the goals she’s set for herself.

“I want to be a triple gold medalist in moves, free skate, and dance, so whenever I have a bad practice or anything like that, I just think about the goals I have in place for myself,” Nikolai said.

Technique may play a key part in figure skating, but it also is very important to another ice sport: curling. Curling is a sport where players slide stones across ice towards a target. Its nickname is Chess on Ice, and it’s been played since medieval Scotland. Sophomore Rachel Weldy has been curling for four seasons and already has a bronze medal from a national competition under her belt. She is very grateful to have been able to compete at the national level.

“It was really fun,” Weldy said. “I met a lot of people and saw a lot of people I’d met from previous years. The experience was just really cool.”

photo courtesy of Hallie Wilson

ICY MOVES: Junior Sydni Nikolai glides through her short program in the 2018 Spring show.

Weldy spends seven hours a week on her sport in the height of the season. With practice three days a week and a league on Mondays, she finds her motivation in filling the footsteps of her role model, Maya Willertz. Willertz is a heavily decorated curling veteran who graduated from DHS in 2018.

“She was just really intense about everything she did and she really loved curling, so I try to follow in her footsteps whenever I can,” Weldy said.

These athletes put in countless hours of work and travel far for their competitions.

They are examples of how hard work can pay off, reaching national rankings and competing as some of the nation’s best.

They wouldn’t be able to achieve this level of success without the help of their family, friends, teammates, and coaches.

photo courtesy of Lisa Weldy

SHOOT THE STONE: Sophomore Rachel Weldy plays vice at U18 nationals, choosing where to aim.

Hidden significance of sports

Sports 21

Jason Laplow Ben

Laplow’s Look I didn’t grow up loving the game of football. When I was to the age where I could understand the concept of sports, Detroit Lions fans were putting bags over their heads to cover up not having a playoff win since before my father was born. He was one of those fans, though I never remember him performing the bag-over-head ritual.

Instead, he just stopped watching the Lions entirely, which left young me with little to no exposure to the game.

My dad and I bonded over baseball more than anything else, and that’s why I have a such an emotional connection to it. I used to play football on the playground in elementary school, but I was so oblivious to the rules of the game that the one time I was actually passed the ball, I ran the wrong way.

Now that the Lions are at least watchable again, I’ve given football a second chance. I now watch the Honolulu Blue every Sunday, and I have learned to pay attention to the game when they have a decent shot at

winning, and fall asleep on the couch when they are in the midst of a blowout, like a true Lions fan.

It took me a while to comprehend how different football really is from baseball. They only play once a week.

The NFL season is 146 games shorter than that of the MLB. Players regularly get seriously hurt. There is a special teams player for every thinkable scenario.

However, like baseball, it’s a conversation piece, and an escape from daily life, and that’s all that really matters.

I’m sure that so many have bonded with their fathers over football the same way that my dad and I did so over baseball. Maybe they were Patriots fans, or Lions fans pre-1957.

A lot of people don’t like baseball. I can see why. It’s slow-paced and takes upwards of three hours, but I love it to death, because of the emotions and memories I have associated with it.

It’s important to understand the significance that sports have to people before dismissing them completely, because, to a lot of people, it’s more than just a game.

22 Sports

Update November 16, 2018

Overview of fall athletics Rankings Final Jason Laplow & Hayden Hetherington managing sports & page editor

118th Overall in state

30th 4,085th in Class 2

2-7 JV 6-5 6-2 Varsity Freshman

Nick Sieroki

in the nation

photo by Lillian Pressnell

photo by Amelya Jankens

Made playoffs with a 5-4 record after losing to MHS John

1-1

Zach Coon

2

ner

O’Con

Lapeer HS and Grand Blanc HS

in regular season

Final Records

an P

lewa

20-1-3 Jord

BOYS SOCCER

photo by Lillian Presnell

Undefeated

photo by Serena Olney

Varsity

15-5 JV

ia

Av

Number of Class 1 schools played

Playoff record

Rankings

9th in state

photo by Lillian Presnell

CROSS COUNTRY

Rankings 8th

photo by Lillian Presnell

Luke Meyer

ra ive R n

at Regionals

Andrey Hofius

GIRLS

an

Sh

Records

FOOTBALL

ke

i str A e

115th

5th

in nation

at Regionals

photo by Lindsay Heronema

Made it five rounds into playoffs before losing to East Kentwood High School

Josiah Burr photo by Delaney Strouse

photos by Xander Brooks

BOYS

7th

in SVL

2nd

in SVL Heleyna Tucker

GIRLS SWIM

November 16, 2018 Update

9 swimmers going to states

Sports 23

ws

a

nic

o Ver

e tth Ma

GIRLS GOLF

13th photo by Dana Winslow

at Regionals

4th

Mackayla Pirie

in SVL

Lillian Pressnell photo by Emma Shultz

Kev in K im

Singles record

Rankings

ary

Que

koro

60th

Overall in state photo by Giselle Mahoney

Final

Records

13th 27-12-4 SVL title in a row

photo by Giselle Mahoney

ris Cha

isa O

Swartzkopf wins 200th game

VOLLEYBALL

Varsity

Excluding freshman tournements

21-6-1

JV 12-0 Freshman

photo by Giselle Mahoney

“[My] best memory was when we beat Midland in three.”

Cheka Queary, Sophomore photo by Giselle Mahoney

2,209th in the nation Cheka Queary

113-10

photo by Katie Ellison

photo courtesy of Alicia Manceau

Chan

at states for the last 11 years

BOYS TENNIS

top 5

17th 3rd Overall in state

SVL title in a row

Finished

Rankings

November 16, 2018 Update

Snapshots of autumn Fall sports captured through photos

Sports 24

Katie Ellison

co-managing photo

SMILING SWIMMER: To her fellow swimmers on the side of the pool, senior Chelsea Fenton gives a thumbs up. Fenton has been a swim captain for three years. For 13 years in row, girls varsity swim has held the valley title.

DOUBLE TROUBLE: Seniors Nathaniel Kalantar (left), and Bergen Kendziorski (right) play a doubles match at the Midland Tennis Center. “Hanging out with all of the teammates [is my favorite part about playing tennis],” Kendziorski said. “They’re people that we’ve bonded with a lot over the season. photo by Giselle Mahoney

photo by Dana Winslow

ONE STEP AT A TIME: Running in the Lancer Invitational held at Stratford Woods, Caroline Ford keeps the pace along with other members of the girls cross country team. Ford finished with a personal record of 23:56.1 in the 5,000 meter race (Black Division). The final placement for this race was seventh with a total score of 197.

photo by Xander Brooks

GOT ‘EM: Junior Evan Metiva tackles a player from Bay City Western High School. “A lot of people are going to grow into roles the seniors have vacated so I think a lot of people are going to step up and make plays [next year],” Metiva said. The final score was 37-0 in favor of DHS. photo by Lillian Pressnell

PSYCH SPIKE: Spiking a ball over the net, sophomore Cheka Queary makes a play for the varsity volleyball team. “We all love each other and are a big family,” Queary said. The final score of the match against Arthur Hill was 3-0 in favor of DHS. photo by Giselle Mahoney

JUST FOR KICKS: Junior Logan McNamara kicks a soccer ball during a varsity game against Flushing High School. McNamara has been on the varsity team for two years. The final score of 2-0 was a win for The Chargers. photo by Tori Monica

OH SNOW: After sinking a 15-foot putt a at one of the last matches of the state tournament at West Forest Acres in Lansing, Michigan, junior Lillian Pressnell celebrates.

“The green was covered in about quarterinch sized hail balls that quickly turned into snow, so it was really hard,” Pressnell said.

Girls varsity golf finished 17th in the state. photo courtesy of Alicia Manceau