ALUMNI OF THE MONTH

Laura Russell 2009 graduate works as musical therapist

Ben McHenry mchenben000@hsestudents.org

Over 1,000 students are involved in the performing arts. For some of these students, the performing arts may lead to a college major or a career in the musical fi eld, as was the case for 2009 alumna Laura Russell. However, she pursued a more non-traditional musical career, as a musical therapist at Fogerty Musical Therapy. Russell was a musically involved student at school, in marching band, winter percussion, choir and the pit orchestra for the musicals. As a senior, Russell participated in the orchestra pit with her younger sister Alice, which is a particularly fond memory. Certain staff members also left a positive imprint on Russell’s life. “Mr. Kunz, Mr. Kohler and Mr. Johnson made big impacts in my life,” Russell said. “I am much obliged to them for their patience with me as I navigated my teenage years.” Following high school, Russell attended the University of Akron to pursue a Bachelor of Music Degree in Percussion Performance, but felt that this degree did not suit her passion. “I was really missing the community service work I had done when I had been in Girl Scouts and 4-H,” Russell said. “During this time, I had started to feel selfi sh because rather than playing a piece because I wanted to share its beauty with others, I was just playing music to boost my own ego. I had started to lose sight of why I loved music so much in the fi rst place.” After speaking with a friend about music therapy, Russell realized this is what she was meant to do. So, after completing her percussion performance degree with a psychology minor, she attended the University of Iowa to complete a Music Therapy Equivalency Program, which allowed her to practice music therapy without having to get a degree in the fi eld. While she enjoyed both schools, Russell said that University of Akron was one of the

best times of her life. She developed lasting friendships and met her husband, Thomas. They just welcomed a daughter, Felicity, this past Halloween. Today, Russell works at Fogerty Music Therapy in Bloomington, and she works with people of all ages with developmental disabilities, as well as with older adults with dementia. “If I am working with someone with Autism Spectrum Disorder, it’s likely they are working on social skills,” Russell said. “We may work on making eye contact and taking turns in music games. However, if I’m working with older adults with dementia, it’s likely that we are working on preserving the memories they have, which may be singing and listening to their favorite songs.” Outside of music therapy, there are numerous activities and passions that Russell enjoys, including travelling, anything Disney-related and spending time with her family. Russell describes her job as a very rewarding one that keeps her motivated to continue helping others. “The clients I work with are what keep me going each day,” Russell said. “Just to see someone make a small amount of progress on a skill that they’ve been working on for years is extremely rewarding for me. I’m able to look at that person and say I helped them. It’s a labor of love; there are few things I’d rather be doing.”

Laura Russell conducts a music therapy session with a young boy by identifying musical instruments. Photo used with permission of Laura Russell.

Certain measures help prevent infection of viruses in school environment Coronavirus spreads

Information from the CDC. Graphic by John Yun.

John Yun yunjoh000@hsestudents.org

With increasing concerns over the COVID-19 or the coronavirus disease, the CDC has released the information that they know so far. The virus is spread from person-to-person contact and through the contact of bodily Æ uids from coughs or sneebes. The global death toll of the coronavirus has passed 3,000 people with six in the U.S., according to the Washington Post. According to the C,C, there are ,! confi rmed cases of the coronavirus globally and 43 total cases in the U.S. “I am not really worried or concerned about the coronavirus here in the United States,” Lund said. “Once again, keeping that contained is important. You see a lot of people wearing face masSs _hen they have a cold or Æ u so that they do not spread to others.” The coronavirus may have an incubation period of a maximum of 27 days, unlike the previously stated 14 days, according to the New York Times. An incubation period is the time period from _hen a person is fi rst infected to _hen the fi rst symptoms of the illness occur. According to the CDC, the symptoms of the coronavirus are fever, coughing and shortness of breath. “Being in the accelerated track for nursing school, we have already taken a lot of

undergraduate classes,” IUPUI nursing student Brandi Harrison said. “We have learned about a lot of diseases in microbiology, and the number one way to prevent the spread of illness is good hand hygiene.”

Preventative measures Nearly 22 million school days are lost each year due to just the common cold alone, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. With

many students coughing and sneebing, there are certain measures that people may take to prevent the spread of illnesses, whether that be the coronavirus or just a cold. One way in which students can prevent the transmission of the Æ u is through the Æ u shot. Children, people older than 65 and those that are chronically ill are the ones that are most at risS for complications from the Æ u, according to the Stanford Children’s Health. Flu vaccines help create antibodies that protect against inÆ uenba. Moreover, Stanford Children’s Health recommends that people keep good hand hygiene in order to prevent the spread of germs. Because viruses and colds can be airborne and spread through droplets from coughs and sneebes, students should _ash their hands _ith soap for at least 20 seconds. “Good handwashing and covering your mouth when you cough are important to prevent the spread of viruses,” school nurse Donna Lund said. “Students should use their elbow to cough into, not their hand.” Students may also take other preventative measures such as using hand sanitiber and disposable resources such as tissues. “When you are sick, you should just stay home,” IUPUI nursing student Kylie Hohlt said. “Students shouldn’t come to school because they would spread it [to other students].” ?hen students become sicS from the Æ u, the CDC recommends that they stay at home for at least 24 hours or until they do not have a fever. ¹1f students come to the oٻ ce, and they have a fever of over 100 degrees or diarrhea, we will send them home,” Lund said. “They need to be home for 24 hours, fever-free.” Not only can the actions of students help create a healthy school environment, but teachers can also help. Teachers should routinely clean surfaces and objects that are often touched by multiple students, according to the CDC. Furthermore, teachers should have places where students can get rid of infected disposables. In close areas like classrooms, viruses are more easily spread, so students should be careful about what they touch and clean up after themselves.

Clubs to beat school year boredom, complacency Students get involved around FHS

Ben Rosen rosenben000@hsestudents.org

Exploring the world as a wizard, creating crafts with Pinterest and other creative outlets exist in a wide variety of clubs. When looking for a new activity, these clubs allow students to interact with other students.

Senior Mia Stahl plays Dungeons & Dragons during a meeting on Dec. 6. Photo by James Fortozo.

Dungeons & Dragons Club

This club involves the game Dungeons & Dragons, which is a fantasy role playing game with storytelling according to the game’s website. Science teacher Heather Ferguson said the club has always had large groups since its inception.

“It brings a bunch of kids together and they have to all work as a team to get a job done,” Ferguson said. “Sometimes they do it the most ridiculous way possible, but at the end it’s collaboration. It’s just fun and they have a lot of fun doing it.”

A lot of information about the game can be found online, including the rules which also can be purchased in a players handbook.

“Liam [Greene] came to me and [Ferguson] with the idea and he was Sind of the heart and soul of it the first couple years,” science teacher )le` Smith said.

This club is sponsored by Ferguson and Smith, and meets every other Friday. The next meeting is March 13 right after school in room H212. A permission slip is needed at the first meeting.

Pinterest Club

The Pinterest Club meets in room A102 to create crafts found on the popular app. Pinterest is a website where anything can be designed and created.

“Everything that we make is homemade and that kids can make inside and outside the school.” Spanish teacher Stephanie Gutting said. “We have kind of a philosophy: the Pinterest fail is totally okay, ” Spanish teacher Stephanie Gutting said.

According to Gutting, the student leaders are an important part of the club. The student leaders choose all the projects. The next meeting is March 12 at 3 p.m.

Euchre Club

This club plays the card game Euchre. According to Bicycle Playing Cards, Euchre is easiest to play with four players in which players try to win by taking at least three tricks in a hand.

“This club actually started with a group of guys years ago, but they all graduated last year. Me and Paige [Boaz] were always advocates for the club so we decided to take it over when they left,” senior Laureena Watkins said. They play Euchre in groups of four if enough people are there, if not they play in smaller groups.

“I like meeting new people especially people that like Euchre because this is a game I really like and so the fact that we all have a common interest is really cool,” senior Paige Boaz said.

The club meets on Friday mornings before school between 7:00 and 7:30 outside room H205.

Sophomore Evan Myers waits for his turn during a Euchre Club meeting on Sept. 20. Photo by Emma Nguyen.

Creative Writing Club This club allows students to freely write in a quiet environment and work on whatever projects they need to work on. “I think it’s really interesting that I have so many students who are writing novels and have these huge individual creative projects that most people wouldn’t know about,” English teacher and Creative Writing Club sponsor Taylor Meador said. “I also enjoy the fact that it is really quiet. It’s not a club where everyone is screaming or running around; it is very low key.” According to Meador the club meets on Thursdays after school from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. in room B204. “So it’s just a safe space for people to come and work on projects, meet with people who feel the same about writing,” Meador said.

2

Art Club The new C-hall mural was created by the Art Club. According to club sponsor and art teacher Johanna Gianforte, the purpose of the Art Club is to have fun. “We’re a fun group that loves to get our hands dirty,” Gianforte said. “Come meet some interesting peers and make some beautiful things.” According to Gianforte, Art Club is done for the school year and will resume when the 2020-21 school year starts in August. “Next year we will continue meeting Thursdays after school. Make sure to listen for the announcements at the beginning of the year,” Gianforte said. During this year, the club took on one of their largest projects, taking up most of the club’s schedule to complete. “This year we made a collaborative mural, which is currently displayed in the C-hall,” Gianforte said. “It took us 12 meetings to complete from start to finish.”

1. Senior Mackenzie Frayer works on a piece during a club meeting on Jan. 15. Photo by James Fortozo. 2. Talking during a Creative Writing Club meeting on Jan. 15 senior Melanie Hamon works. Photo by James Fortozo.