ISSUE 4
Jan 28, 2022
2021-22 STAFF Madison Leonard Synthia Davis Bawi Zing Ella Bennett Anna Blackburn Audrey Cochran Tyler Corbin Tanisha Downer Elly Kimbual Zoë Krebs Ian Miles Nicole Ni Izzy Potter Ciera Street Van Thim Kert Boedicker Daniel Schoch
Co-Managing Editor Co-Managing Editor Staff Reporter Staff Reporter Staff Reporter Staff Reporter Staff Reporter Staff Reporter Staff Reporter Staff Reporter Staff Reporter Staff Reporter Staff Reporter Staff Reporter Staff Reporter Principal Adviser
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A LETTER FROM THE EDITORS New Year’s resolutions have begun to pile up in the trash. Each piece of crumpled-up paper marks another unresolved promise. One step forward can sometimes only feel like an inch. Stuck in the unknown of what the next few months will entail. The fear of another unfulfilling year slowly creeps in. Caught up in the stress of starting a new semester and wanting to do better than the last. Focusing too much on the wrongs in the past, and not appreciating the accom
plishments. Even if it can feel like you’re not making progress, something as simple as turning in an assignment, finishing a project, or even getting out of bed can be considered admirable. As the new year moves on, take a minute to look back and appreciate all the tiny inches forward you took. Although it may seem small, inches will lead to steps, and before you know it you have miles worth of progress to be proud of. --Madison Leonard & Synthia Davis, managing editors
Freshmen reflect on their first semester Izzy Potter
Staff Reporter
One semester down, seven more to go. The school year is halfway over, and freshmen are optimistic about the rest of their high school careers, reflecting on their first semesters and their experiences going from middle school to high school. “It was a little hard at first because I didn’t really know where I was going and I didn’t want to branch out,” freshman Trisna Nguyen says. “Like, I came up with a specific route and followed it every single day. So I think it went pretty well because eventually I got used to the school and just figured it out.” Nguyen’s favorite part of the year, however, was Homecoming week and Powderpuff. “I thought it was so fun
because I participated in it, and it was just really fun to go against the seniors and then go against the juniors,” she says. She is hopeful for COVID to settle down so she can experience high school events without restrictions. Similar to Nguyen, freshman Alexis McQueary faced her own challenges this year. “I expected it to be a lot harder because the middle school teachers talk up a lot about how the teachers aren’t nice and they’re not going to help you out,” McQueary says. “That was definitely different.” McQueary attended a private school before moving to Perry Meridian, and notices some extreme differences between the two. “Everything is a lot more
kept together [at private school] because you know if you do one little thing, you get expelled,” she says. “Private to public was crazy. It made it easier because I knew some people that went here, and they’re all friends. But the people, the way people act, and the different group’s people get put into are way different.” Although they faced different challenges, McQueary and Nguyen are looking forward to the next three years of high school and making new friends and memories along the way.
given at PMHS and at Perry Township’s Academic Center, more than half of the individuals under 18 and mostly Perry students. “The vaccination site surprisingly held an overwhelming response of Burmese population,” Perry Township director of nursing services Esther Moeller states. “An interpreter was on site for any questions or concerns of the vaccination or booster. The site was open to different demographics of individuals.” Senior Bawi Len, who attended the vaccination site, was proud to see the township taking steps to serve all parts of the
community. “I thought it was very helpful that there were interpreters on site,” Len stated. “A lot of families had some concerns and needed some guidance about the boosters and vaccinations.” Moeller also praised the community’s response to the vaccination site. “It’s a huge accomplishment to be able to give out 690 COVID vaccinations the vaccinations are super important because it prevents the virus from mutating,” she said. “It shows the community is playing a huge role in stopping the spread.”
Perry vaccination sites provide easy access
Tanisha Downer Staff Reporter
The lines snaked from the auditorium, past the athletic office and eventually stopped at the attendance office. Restless but hopeful residents–adults and children alike–from all over stood in two different lines, waiting for their vaccination or booster shots as COVID rates soar in Marion County. On Thursday, Jan. 6, PMHS hosted a vaccination site available to all of Perry Township in collaboration with the Community Health Network. The vaccination site was staffed by retired nurses and other vaccination specialists. A total of 690 shots were
4 | NEWS Creative writing club sheds light on student creativity
Sebold leaves Perry Meridian
but the legacy remains
Madison Leonard Co-Managing Editor
Repeat.
Write. Draw. Create.
The Creative Writing Club tries to grab the attention of new classes by coming up with new and inventive ways to stand out, in hopes of giving them a better understanding of what their literary magazine is. The club, sponsored by Jacquelyn Sheehan, is responsible for the literary magazine while also putting on events such as FEST, PB&J and Mr. Falcon. They recently decorated the 2-8 hallway to represent the new theme of the magazine, “Lunar Playground,” which will be released later this year. “The idea of it is that last year’s theme we went inward, it was very much about personal reflection,” Sheehan states. “The idea behind this is to dream big and go outward.” The literary magazine is a collection of studentproduced art, such as poetry, short stories, drama, personal essays, photography and more. The club understands that due to the pandemic, many of the newer classes do not have a full grasp of what the magazine is.
“For a while, we didn’t have to do very much to get people to understand what the literary magazine was, but because of a year of us absent and it coming out during the spring pandemic the year before that, you have a huge percentage of the school who doesn’t really know what it is,” says Sheehan. To combat this, the club wants to come up with inventive ways to make the organization stand out. “This year we’re gonna try to do more things that grab people’s attention to understand what it is,” Sheehan states. To join the club, students will need to fill out an application that will be announced in spring. It is not a class and is more of just a staff of people, so anyone can join. However, if you want to build the magazine you need a year of experience. If students want their work to be in it, all they have to do is submit their projects. “Anyone can submit as much as they want, so anyone who is good at writing, good at photography, or good at art,” Sheehan says. “We want as many students in it as possible.”
CWC decorates the 2-8 hallway to advertise their new Litmag. Photo provided by Izzy Potter
Audrey Cochran Staff Reporter
Sixteen years, dedicated to all things PMHS. That was Andy Sebold’s tenure before officially leaving Perry Meridian after this first semester to teach math courses at Mount Vernon High School. Throughout those 16 years, Sebold was extremely involved in Perry activities and events. He coached boys and girls golf and created and organized a fundraiser for the school’s golf teams -Nicole because of how expensive the sport is. He was the only AP Physics teacher in the building and taught standard physics, too. Not only did Sebold get involved with the Robotics club, but he also initiated Blue Crew and Link Crew, two clubs that encourage student involvement. So… what is Perry missing with him gone? “He was involved in really big things here, and besides that, he inspired his classes to show up to things and be better every day,” social studies
Photo provided by Jacqui Sheehan
teacher and track coach Ryan Teverbaugh says. “Sebold liked that in this building, students supported each other, and he wanted to build off that.” And it was his inspiration that drove his goals for Blue Crew and Link Crew. “Sebold was a cornerstone in this building,” close friend Teverbaugh stated. “He could teach intellectually stimulating material while at the same time deeply caring for his students.” Knight Teverbaugh isn’t alone in that thought. Former students also share that sentiment. Senior Lucy Fischer recalls the difficulties of learning such a demanding course like AP Physics through last year’s virtual and hybrid schedules and how Sebold adjusted to support and help his students’ needs. “He really reassured me when it felt like I was falling behind and he was there for me,” Fischer stated. “He had other classes, but it was like Mr. Sebold was our teacher,” senior Dagan Knight adds.
“Perry is missing a part of its heart.”
Remembering Disaster:
5 | NEWS
PMHS Students forget defining moments in past generations Tyler Corbin Staff Reporter
As she pushes in the cart, the squeaks of the wheels excite almost every person in her class, including herself. A dying space program brought to life by the first civilian in space, and of all people, a teacher. She had applied to the position herself, even made it past the first cuts, but now she watches in awe as someone like her steps into a spaceship. Ten. Nine. Eight. Seven. Six. Five. Four. Three. Two. One. Disaster. While this woman may not have been real, her story and feeling very much were. On Jan 28, 1986, the Challenger Space Ship exploded 73 seconds after liftoff, marking a 32-month hiatus in the Space Shuttle program and a defining moment in the lives of multiple generations. However, the memory of this event seems to be depleted in the minds of PMHS students. The Challenger has faded out of recognition so much that when mentioned, many students will respond, “What spaceship?” as sophomore Reef Snodgrass asked. Only a few students could tell more information than that the Challenger was a spaceship, and most can’t be able to recognize its name. Seven people dead, seven human lives, forgotten by the youth of today, many even forgotten by the people alive during the catastrophic event. And, if people begin to forget the events that shaped history, what prevents those events from repeating themselves? “It is important to have a healthy level of respect to prevent incidents like that from happening in the future,” sophomore Aliza Sosyter says. “Humankind will repeat the same mistakes.” Even beyond the Challenger disaster, if students cannot be trusted to carry on the memory of disasters while the people affected by it are still
alive, they can hardly be trusted to keep respect for other major events–ones that shaped not just the U.S., but the world. “As time has gone on, people know less and less about the Challenger, but I doubt that will happen with bigger disasters, like 9/11,” Soyster states. “9/11 had a huge effect on everyone in America. Even when people who lived through it are gone, the effects will still be around.” However, according to “Memories of disaster fade fast,” an article by The Economist, when disaster flooding began in Central Europe, people started moving their houses away from the river bed. Yet, within three generations the houses began creeping back down the river bed, waiting for the next disaster to strike. “Having not experienced those realities,” remarks The Economist, “[the students at Perry] have simply forgotten the horror.” Not explicitly having lived the disasters such as the Challenger or 9/11 have caused the students at Perry to disregard the horror and effect they had. How would today’s generation feel if in forty years the world has for-
gotten the COVID-19 pandemic, perhaps the biggest event in many people’s lives? What would they feel when they see people making the same mistakes they did just because they don’t remember? “If people forget events like that, humankind will repeat the same mistakes,” claims Soyster. “More disasters like 9/11 will happen, and.. more spaceships will explode.”
6 | COMMUNITY
‘22 Seniors Loving Senior Year & Anticipating Life After High School
By Van Sui It is the beginning of the last semester of high school for seniors, with just a few months to spare. Seniors are faced with decisions and choices that will set the path for the next course of their lives. Whether they are going to college, to the workforce, or staying at home, these seniors are excited to create new memories and experiences.
Lal Mang signing into the National Guard
“Senior year has been the best year of high school so far, but it would be better without COVID,” senior Lal Mang says. Having a senior incentive is one of the highlights of senior year since it gives him more freedom. Before college, he plans on doing basic training for the National Guard. Training with the National Guard helps him earn a full scholarship to all public col colleges and even private colleges. They can help pay up to a master’s degree. Luckily since he’s in school, they can’t
deplo him so his academics won’t be disrupted. “I decided to join the military so I can learn discipline. They’re very strict so it will help me out in the future.” This experience will help him as a real estate agent because it’ll take a lot of perseverance and dedication, which he is lacking. “I can’t wait to start the next chapter of whatever is waiting for me, it can only get better from here on.” Senior Kaitlin Gwin has a similar experience as Mang but has different plans after high school. “Senior year is going great so far, and I am hoping that we get the rest of the year semi-normally,” Katilin Gwin says. She loves the option of having a senior incentive and being familiar with the place. After high school, she plans on going to ball state to study pre-med and play softball. Although she will miss the unique events at Perry that have made her years here more enjoyable, she is ready to be exposed to new places and people. Sharing the same senior fever as Mang and Gwin, senior year is going well for senior Ashton Smith. He only has three classes and a lot more responsibility, but he’s sad that it’s his
“ I don’t know about you but I’m feeling ‘22.” - Taylor Swift
last year in high school and how close it is to end. After high school, he plans on going into the union, which is a group of people that work for people that do numerous jobs. An example is the local 440 for plumbers, steamlifters amd pipefitters. A benefit of going into the union is that he won’t have to pay for school He’s ready to move on and start something new in his life. It’s a little frightening since it will be a big change but he knows it’s time for him to work toward building his future. One thing he will miss most about high school is sports. Knowing that he
Kaitlin Gwin committed to Ball State
will never compete in another sport in high school is disheartening but he is also looking forward to seeing where life will take him. A word of advice he has for underclassmen is to enjoy the time they have because it really does fly by. It is a phrase almost everyone says getting ready to leave high school comes faster before one realizes.
7 | COMMUNITY
What will 2022 entail ?
Bawi Len Zing With a new year comes a new opportunity to make changes. With the new year Staff Reporter
underway, many students and teachers alike, set goals for themselves in order to find success. Why are goals important, and what goals do people have this year?
Stafford, a mother of two, poses with her eldest daughter during a football game.
Van Mawi ‘22
Teacher: Kim Stafford
“I am more hopeful than last year,” stated science teacher Kim Stafford. The conclusion of 2021 marks the end of the year that brought forth new adversities and challenges. The commencement of 2022 allows for new opportunities to come forth. Setting goals greatly helps set up your success for the new year and for your long-term goals. Especially for students, “if you have a goal then you know what you are striving for, then you care more about it and can take pride in it,” expresses Stafford. Like many students, Stafford has set her own goals for this year, her most exciting one being biking 82 miles in five hours and 19 minutes in celebration of her 40th birthday on May 19. The miles represent her birth year, 1982, while the hours and the minutes stand for the month and day of her birth.
“As a senior, there’s a lot coming this year that will impact the rest of my future career as a PA, so I need to work extra hard to meet my goals to guarantee that I will find success,” senior Van Mawi states. What she is most excited about this year is her graduation and being given a new opportunity to grow through college. In order to help her grow as a person and a student, she has set goals to work on her work ethic and procrastination. She has also made goals to meet new people and start a new journey of finding herself in college by being more social and Mawi poses in the yearbook open to exploring new ideas. room. She is a part of the staff and enjoys creating pages.
Carson Woods ‘24
Sports have been affected immensely due to COVID in the previous year, and whether it will affect this year is still a question left unanswered. That lack of clarity on how sports will play out this year has been a concern for sophomore Carson Woods, who is currently a baseball player on the junior varsity team whose goal for this year consists of starting for the varsity squad. He says this is a step toward his long-term goal and aspiration of potentially playing in college. “Setting smaller goals keeps me on track,” Woods responded. He is excited and worried about this year yet has Woods focuses on hitting the confidence that setting a goal will baseball as his friends and famhelp him keep focused. ily watch in support.
Matthew Patterson ‘22
Senior Matthew Patterson has goals that involve different elements and aspects of his life, including academic success in high school and college , being more involved in his community, more specifically his church, as well as more personal goals like going to the gym. There are a plethora of different goals Patterson wants to tackle this year. “My main motivation for achieving these sorts of goals is to realize my future if I don’t achieve them, ” Patterson states, adding that achieving this year’s goal will have an immense impact on his long-term goals. “It is a time where everything is going to rapidly change,” Patterson Patterson is out with his family. concludes. “Instead of being Patterson’s family is one of his terrified of it, I like to be excited biggest inspirations. about what could come.”
Vancer Mang ‘24
“A goal keeps me on track and helps me to improve,’’ sophomore Vancer Mang says. Mang further explains that although she is unsure about what exactly will occur this year, she is feeling quite excited because “when a new year comes, I can start a new blank page of a chapter in my life.” Halfway done with high school, her goal this year is to be engaged, focused in school, and explore her opportunities that she can weather they are oppertunities inside of school or having to do with her community, faith, and culture. Mang strives to keep growing as a person. Mang, Lieutenant Governor of the district Keyclub, snaps a photo after being finished with her monthly meeting with Indiana Keyclub.
8 | SPORTS
Athlete of the Issue: Zoe Rahrar
Winter sports are back in action! As individuals and teams progress toward an exemplary outlook on the season, many are showing off their talents. This member of the swim team is not only successful, but a leader as well. Senior Zoe Rahrar has been swimming since the first grade. She got into the sport through her mom and a friend. She loves improving her time and achieving her goals each time she competes. “My favorite events are the 200 IM and the 500 free,” Rahrar says. “I say the 200 IM because you get to swim a mixture of all strokes, and the 500 free is a distance event and you really get to relax a little bit and focus on the pace work.”
Even though Rahrar loves to overachieve, she puts the team before the individual and aims to set an example for underclassmen on the team. “My favorite memory is from my freshman year when I was introduced to our swim team traditions,” Rahrar says. “My goal for myself this season is to be a role model for the underclassmen on the team and to set an example for the new seniors for next season.” Rahrar has proven to be a leader in the pool and out. When showing off her talents, Rahrar pushes her teammates to be better, which is just another reason why Zoe Rahrar is deserving of Athlete of the Issue.
Ian Miles
Staff Reporter
Zoe Rahrar swimming in the 500 free against Southport on 1/12. Photo By: Audrey Cochran
Unified sports prepares for new Special Olympics Tanisha Downer Staff Reporter
Going into its fourth year, Perry’s unified basketball program is finally up and running after a year of being postponed. In addition to the programs it already provides, unified sports will participate in a new special Olympics basketball event next year. This comes from recent discussions among the IHSAA, Special Olympics, and Unified Coaches Association. “Next year we plan to start practicing in the early November’s and adding more competition,” special education teacher Maggie Cooper states. Currently, practice takes place once a week from 4-6 p.m. On January 28, the unified basketball team will hold its first official game during the boys’ varsity
game at halftime. “Really excited for the event, the practices are going very well, the students are very excited to show what they have learned in the practices,” Cooper states. The new event will continue to grow friendships and open many opportunities for the unified sports program to develop. “I love having the opportunity to be a part of this association,” senior Rayvin Birdwell states. “The practices are so much fun. It’s great having to meet new people and build friendships.” Once basketball season ends in March, unified bowling and track will begin. Bowling will only contain weekend practices, how-
“This year is going to be great for the program and the upcoming years as well.” - Maggie Cooper
ever, track will feature three to four practices a week and will contain a sectional, regional, and state meet, located in Bloomington, Indiana. “Starting my first year, we only had track in the unified athlete program,” Cooper says. “This is my ninth year, and over the years we’ve seen so many sports added to the list, which is wonderful because it provides an exclusive environment in the building at PMHS. This year is gonna be great for the program and the upcoming years as well.”
9 | SPORTS
early in the seaThe girls basketball team struggled around, beating son but have started turning things recently, Terre Greenfield Central 54-48 and most 4-13 Haute South 49-26. Their record is
The boys swim team sta rted strong, winning the Cardinal Invite . Their record is 22-11. The girls team fin ished 3rd at the Cardinal Invite and have a record 17-17.
The wrestling team so far has had a promising season, finishing 1st in the Mid-State confrence. The team has high hopes for individual and team state this year.
The boys basketball team had a rough start to the season with several injuries and Covid-related issues. They’re still recovering with a record of 4-8. Photos taken by Audrey Cochran and Elly Kimbual.
10 | FEATURE
HONDURAN REFUGEES
Anna Blackburn and Synthia Davis Displacement after Hurricanes Iota and Eta. A change in Honduras presidencies. COVID. Gang terrorism. Honduran citizens have seen it all in just a few years, and a large number are currently living on the streets and have a short supply of nutrients, clothing and, most importantly, safety. Honduras is currently being terrorized by gang Mara Salvatrutcha (MS 13), leaving a drastic toll. Since the major establishment of MS 13 in Honduras in 2016, after a presidential switch in 2014, there has been nonstop violence within the country. The violent, organized crime primarily focuses on drug peddling, extortion and the terrorization of citizens. In 2018, Honduras was ranked fourth in the world for the highest homi-
cide rate (38.93 per 100,000 people). Their government has little to no control over the crimes taking place and many Honduran children are seeking refuge. Perry Meridian has welcomed 15 Honduran refugees over the last couple of months, most unaccompanied minors on political asylum. Despite this crisis, many students have spoken about wanting to return to Honduras after the violence has settled down. It is their home country and holds great familial importance. After noticing this on the transfer sheets, Spanish Four teacher Brenna Macias created a project that allowed her students to learn about Honduras, make personal connections and also improve their Spanish vocabularies. Each group worked in partners to
interview a Honduran refugee and write a short bio on them in Spanish, later translated into English. “The reason behind it [the project] is that we have a ton of students and their parents have had similar stories who have come from Burma,” Macias elaborates. The trauma that these students have endured correlate to that of those from many students in the building, making Macias’ motivation behind this project was not only to shed light on the tragedies taking place in Honduras, but also to bring students together through shared experiences, allowing them to realize that they are not alone.
HONDURAN REFUGEE FINDS HOPE BY FREDERICK SEDDON & CHANZA LIAN, Spanish 4 Guest Reporters In Honduras, many families are struggling. In November 2020, Hurricane Eta and Iota landed, bringing destruction to many areas within the country. Many families were displaced, and more are struggling to live normal lives. Crime, especially from the Maras Salvatruchas and corrupt government, runs rampant. Much of the country is in poverty, and jobs are very difficult to find, a side effect of Covid-19. Many families are struggling to live, and they have been forced to abandon their country. Perla Solórzano, a new student from Honduras, left the country for similar reasons. “There is little work in the country… and they need it,” says Solórzano. “There are many people that live in the street, people without homes and without clothes.” She left Honduras for more opportunities in her future, especially for school and work. “For being able to study, to work and my family,” she states. “[I left] with my cousins… My mom is in Honduras.” However, the journey was not easy. She traveled more than 1,700 miles. Other than her cousins, she was travelling with strangers. “[I traveled] by car and bus,” she says. She passed through Guatemala and Mexico. Crossing the border was a hazardous endeavor because she could have been sent back to Honduras. She was scared. She crossed the border “by foot… there were about thirty people” in her group because crossing with more people is safer. After an interview from immigration control in the United States, she went to foster care. She lived in a “foster home. I was in California… for 19 days,” Solórzano says. Then, she took a plane to Indianapolis, where she now lives. She has been in the United States for 6 months, since July. Solorzano would like to return to Honduras in the future if she could.
En el país de Honduras, muchas familias están luchando. En 2020 de Noviembre, huracán eta y iota aterrizaron en Honduras y muchas familias fueron desplazadas y lucharon por volver a vivir una vida normal. También, el país es muy peligroso porque las acciones violentas de las Maras Salvatruchas y porque el gobierno es corrupto. El país es muy pobre y los trabajos son muy difíciles de encontrar, un efecto secundario de Covid-19. Muchas familias están luchando por vivir y por ese motivo, muchos abandonaron su país. Perla Solórzano, una estudiante nueva de Honduras, salió del país por razones similares. «Hay poco trabajo en el país… y lo necesitan», dijo Solórzano. «Hay muchas personas que viven en la calle y gente sin hogar y sin camisas». Ella salió Honduras para más oportunidades en su futuro, especialmente para la escuela y un empleo. «Para poder estudiar, trabajar y mi familia», declaró. «[Salí] con mis primos… Mi mamá está en Honduras». Sin embargo, el viaje no fue fácil y viajó más de 1,700 millas. Aparte de sus primos, las personas eran extraños. «[Viajé] en coche y en bus», dijo. Pasó por Guatemala y México. Pasar la frontera era una acción muy peligrosa porque podría haber sido regresado a Honduras. Tuvo miedo. Pasó la frontera «a pie.. Éramos como treinta personas» en su grupo porque es más seguro con más personas. Después de una entrevista del control de inmigración en los Estados Unidos, fue mandada a cuidado de crianza. Vivía en una «casa hogar. Estuve en California… por diecinueve días», dijo Solórzano. Luego, tomó un avión a Indianápolis, donde ahora vive. Ella tiene en los Estados Unidos seis meses, desde julio. Solórzano quería volver a Honduras en el futuro si pudiera.
11 | FEATURE
RECIEVE A VOICE THE STORY OF ALBERT JUAREZ ANTUNEZ
BY LILY SMITH & CALLIE DAVIS, Spanish 4 Guest Reporters At Perry Meridian High School, we have much diversity within the student body. Some of those students are from Honduras.They take classes that help them learn more English, as well as make new friends with similar backgrounds at the school. Many of them had to endure difficult journeys to get to America. Albert Juarez Antunez, a Honduran student here at Perry Meridian, was willing to share his story. Juarez Antunez is fifteen years old, and he does not speak much English. He currently lives with his uncle in America. However, in order to travel here, he had to leave behind his other family in Honduras, and he misses them very much. Despite these hardships, Juarez Antunez has dreams for the future. “I want to learn English and provide for my family,” he said. The education system in Honduras is extremely poor. The students in Honduras often stop their education before reaching high school because of the high cost. In America, education is very different, with many more benefits. Here, Juarez Antunez attends new classes and enjoys math. “My favorite class is math,” Juarez Antunez said. The school is quite different, and so is the culture. In America, there is more diversity than there is in Honduras from race to beliefs. Juarez Antunez has friends that he misses in Honduras, but he also has new friends in America. He says the most surprising thing about America is that he is in school. “There are lots of different people [in America],” Jarez Antunez said. It is very challenging to adapt in a different environment with different cultures and languages. It can feel like a completely different world. Albert Juarez Antunez had a tough journey, but he has many good things in America. Someday, he will be with his family again and achieve his dreams.
En la escuela secundaria de Perry Meridian, tenemos mucha diversidad entre los estudiantes. Algunos de los estudiantes son de Honduras. Ellos toman clases para aprender más inglés, y hacer amigos nuevos. Sus viajes fueron difíciles y emocionales. Albert Juarez Antunez es un estudiante hondureño de Perry Meridian, tiene una historia interesante. Juarez Antunez tiene 15 años. Tiene familia en Honduras, pero en los Estados Unidos, vive con su tío. Extraña a su familia en Honduras mucho, y no sabe mucho inglés. La educación en los Estados Unidos tiene muchas oportunidades, y Juarez Antunez tiene sueños para el futuro. <<Quiero aprender inglés y sacar adelante a mi familia>> dijo. En Honduras, el sistema de educación es muy pobre. Muchas veces, los estudiantes en Honduras interrumpen su educación antes de la escuela secundaria porque la escuela secundaria es muy rica. Es muy diferente y afortunado en los Estados Unidos. Aquí, Juarez Antunez tiene clases diferentes, y le gusta la clase de matemáticas. <<Mi clase favorita es la clase de matemáticas>> Juarez Antunez dijo. La escuela es muy diferente, pero la cultura también. En los Estados Unidos, hay más diversidad que Honduras. Juarez Antunez tiene amigos en Honduras y también tiene amigos nuevos aquí. Y la cosa más sorprendente para él es que está en la escuela. <<Hay muchas personas diferentes [en los Estados Unidos]>> Juarez Antunez dijo. Es muy difícil adaptarse a una cultura y mundo diferente. Albert Juarez Antunez tuvo un viaje duro, pero tiene cosas buenas en los Estados Unidos. Algún día, volverá a su familia y logrará sus sueños.
ALL STORIES WRITTEN AND EDITED BY MRS. MACIAS’ SPANISH 4 CLASSES
This map depicts the distance between Honduras’ capital and Indianapolis.
12 | Feature By Ella Bennett
Social media complicates school days
From Myspace to Instagram, teenagers have been raised alongside the rise of social media. The constant stream of news and pop culture allows people to submerge themselves in a world that exists entirely online. Social media connects people globally as well as creates the instantaneous travel of information. However, with this ability, teenage users must be mindful of safe communication methods while exploring the internet. Online activity outside school hours can lead to chaos within the walls of PMHS. Team 2022 assistant principal Lauren Buesking provides her insight regarding school supervision surrounding social media. “We’ve gotten lots of situations this year and over the last few years where students make really bad choices and impulsive choices to post things that not only hurt other kids but can impact the learning environment and make other people feel unsafe,” she explains. One example of social media negatively affecting PMHS is the September 2021 Tik Tok trend, which encouraged students to vandalize school bathrooms. “It put a lot of people in a bind because not only did we have to shut down some bathrooms just for the safety aspect, but it kept our custo-
dians really busy throughout the building, and it took away from their normal jobs,” Buesking elaborates. “It cost the school a lot of money to replace all of those pieces.” A major reason for students’ online misconduct is the disconnect between their phone screen and reality, resulting in an increased willingness to act imprudently. “I call those students the keyboard warriors,” Buesking says. “They feel a little looser and freer to say some things that they might not ever say to somebody’s face because there’s not a lot of immediate response.” Additionally, misuse of social media can stem from a lack of self control or understanding of online etiquette. “Kids will have a charged cell phone more than they will have a charged chromebook,” Buesking says. “It’s really hard even for adults to be able to balance their time and keep away from the cell phone. There’s pros and cons, but when we are 14, 15, 16 years old, it’s really hard to know how best to use that.” While not all social media disputes enter the school doors, anything that is considered disruptive to any student’s learning is managed by administration. ”If there is a conflict here at school or something becomes viral here at school, if a lot of kids are talking about it, if it’s impacting a students ability to get through their day, that’s when we can intervene,” Buesking states. Many social media related conflicts are small disagreements, yet the school still
faces more malicious threats made online. “We have great relationships with our Perry Township police officers, and they don’t take any threat lightly,” Buesking assures. “We investigate every avenue, every person that’s commented on any kind of threat, and we won’t go home until that’s done. Sometimes, we increase security. If we think it’s necessary, we’ll add additional police officers.” Threats made to PMHS are handled urgently and seriously. “If and when somebody does post it, they’re not infallible,” Buesking says. “There are laws that protect school environments and students if there are threats made online.” Despite the fact that the increasing presence of social media has generated a myriad of new issues, it has also assisted the school in communicating with students innovatively. “We have a team Twitter page, PMHSco22, and I think that there are a couple of Instagram accounts that our STUVO uses,” Buesking says. “We know students are on it and we want to get information out to them as quickly as possible.” Most importantly, students should educate themselves of the dangers that come with social media. “Don’t post anything that you don’t want the world to see because the second you post it, somebody can screenshot it and it never goes away,” Buesking advises. Remembering to be conscientious of what they post will ensure students’ safety as well as the safety of their peers.
13 | Feature
A day in the life of Perry’s protector By Nicole Ni
Perry Township Resource Officer Antwain Steward has always loved serving his community and putting others before himself. And what better way to help the community and kids than to serve as a school resource officer? His path started in high school when one day, in his junior year, he was in trouble and in the dean’s office. A sergeant with the IPS Indianapolis School Police Department walked in and questioned him. According to Steward, the sergeant said, “You got Ds and Fs and you have a year until you graduate, and you mean to tell me that you don’t want to graduate? You’re still getting up and coming to school every day–why?” Steward recalls he wasn’t able to answer that question. “That made a lot of sense because it’s like, why did I attempt to put all this work in when I’m not going to do anything with it?” he says. “And that sat with me.” The sergeant would ask him about his grades and correct him when he made mistakes.After a while, Steward understood that it was for his own good, and years later he still appreciates that influence. “It just kinda got me thinking in my head, that could be me,” Steward says about the sergeant, who served as a role model and made an impact on him.
According to Steward, there are many young adults who are going through challenges and sometimes just need someone to understand and lead them in the right direction in life. “From my background, I can relate to a lot of things, and at the end of the day, the students in this building, but also the students all over the state, all over the country, are the future,” he says. Steward went on to earn an associate’s degree in criminal justice. “When I go back and I think about just being younger and coming from where I was then to where I am now, I am absolutely happy right now,” he says. “It’s all good.” And right now, that happy place is Perry Meridian High School. While his daily routine is never exactly the same, it does include some consistency. In the morning, he makes sure that everyone gets off the bus and into the school safely and then does the same at the middle school and after school with releases. After his morning rounds, he checks in with administrators to see if they have anything for him or anyone else in the building. The choices he makes are based on the situation. For instance, sometimes the school might not have the authority to make certain decisions and needs law enforcement, such as in case of a fight. “If the kids have an injury, that is battery injury,” he says. “So that is something the police would be notified about.” One of the more notorious incidents he had to handle was at Arsenal Tech High School in Indianapolis, where he handled what started as a food fight that broke out among close to 100 kids and ended in nearly 30 of them going to jail. That isn’t an everyday
occurrence, but Steward reinforces how important accountability is to his job. “We look at the totality of the situation,” he says. “When you start to put other people in harm’s way because of bad decisions and the conduct you want to present, then you are going to be held accountable.” Most recently, this has included conflicts connected to social media. “Normally, when we have a social media threat, we want to look at the account that it came from,” Steward says. “We have ways that we can look into the account, and they have IP addresses and stuff that are specially assigned to certain computers and certain people.” And often, students are key in investigating social media incidents. “If a student comes in and reports, we’ll talk to them, and then if any other students know, we’ll see and talk to them,” he says. “Nine times out of ten, when a threat is made, another student probably knows the student that is behind it, and we just gather as much information as we can.” Inspired by those who helped him when he was younger, Steward, who’s also a husband and father, enjoys his work at PMHS. “You know I can’t help everyone,” he says. “I can help the ones that want to be helped, and I’ll attempt to help the ones that don’t want to be helped because I am never going to give up. 100% I’ll always stick with it.”
14 | OPINION
Perry must mask up to halt Covid, prevent virtual learning Elly Kimbual
O
n January 10, coming back from winter break, the IndyStar reported that Indiana schools set a new record for COVID-19 cases among students in a single week-- a staggering amount of 6,500 students testing positive. Due to this rise in cases, I fear that sooner or later virtual classes will once again become the norm. Most of the student body would probably agree that they prefer in-person learning to virtual classes. In order to avoid this, Perry needs to mandate masks at school events during non-academic settings.
Since masks are not required at events outside of the school day, those who participate in extracurricular activities are at a greater risk. There is also concern that the virus may spread among spectating parents which can lead to PMHS students contracting the virus. This consequently falls onto students, teachers, and the community outside the walls of Perry to make a personal choice -- wear their masks properly. Senior Anna Miles is involved in theatre, choir, National Honors Society, STUVO, and CWC. With her involvement in several
something that the administration and individual students would want to see. As of January 20, the COVID-19 Positivity “It’s the right thing to Rates feature on the PMHS home page was at 2.3%. It is do,” Miles says. “ Vir- unclear what percentage will necessitate students going tual learning is hard on both teachers and back to hybrid or virtual learning. students.” Admidst this uncerLast year, students tainty, if not wanting to wear struggled to keep up with a mask is prioritized over the their virtual classes. Cheating needs of fellow peers and was also a rampant problem. coworkers, virtual learning The ineffectiveness of virtual seems inevitable. Requirlearning was highlighted early ing masks at outside events into the school year when would be a step in the right 50% of our student body direction. had failing grades. This pattern of failing grades isn’t extra-curriculars, she emphasizes the importance of wearing masks so that she doesn’t have to miss them if virtual learning happens.
New Spider-Man film spills nostalgic webs into theaters Ciera Street
W
hen Peter Parker has his identity leaked that he is Spider-Man to the public by his late enemy, his life is put in danger. He asks a favor of Doctor Strange to erase the memory that he is Spider-Man from the world
PMHS rates “No Way Home”: 0% 2% 2% 26% 70%
with a spell, which in turn goes wrong and unleashes multiple villains into their world that know of his identity. Spider-Man is always saving the world, one web at a time, and the most recent addition to the film franchise is no exception. Released Dec. 17, 2021, “Spider-Man: No Way Home” incorporates a nostalgic feel while foreshadowing the future of Spider-Man. It was very well crafted and included big stars, such as Andrew Garfield and Tobey Maguire, from earlier in the film franchise, which contributes to the sentimentality from the previous Spider-Man movies.
A thrilling ride, the fighting scenes had me on the edge of my seat, wondering what will happen next. The obstacles that were put into place had me contemplating what Spider-Man will do to succeed. Rated PG-13, and with a 93% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, my expectations before watching the movie were fairly low. The preceding film, “Spider-Man: Far From Home,” was a big let down, which led me to believe that “No Way Home” was going to be another disappointment. Upon watching the movie, however, I was surprised to see such a big improvement. While the movie was two hours long,
I enjoyed every second of its action, humorous dialogue, and suspense.. It checked every box in my criteria for a good movie. Full of plot twists and turns, IMDb rated it an 8.7/10, just below my personal rating of a 9/10.
15 | ENTERTAINMENT
Valentine’s Day
Gift Ideas for Your Valentine 1
Chocolate Covered Strawberries 2
Jewelry (Necklaces/Bracelets) A Stuffed Teddy Bear
3 4
(The Classic) Roses 5
Chocolate
Top Nicknames:
Babe/Baby -73% Honey -20%
----------------- Sweetie -2% ---------------- Love -2% ---------------- Dear -3%
Itinerary Stay in and watch movies Take a tour at Newfields Walk along the Canal Listen to love songs at the Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana History Center