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Crown Point High School @InklingsCPHS April 27, 2018 Vol. 82 Issue 8
trauma
emotional testing
Read about the boys’ baseball team’s start to the season on page 13
“Just Region Things”: What’s unique to this area
symptom
work
therapy
ANXIETY
finances
overwhelmed
psychology behavior frustration relationships school
pain
illness
Students find ways to cope with anxiety symptoms BY AUDREY GACSY MORGAN TAYLOR JESSI ALCORTA-ROBLES co-editor-in-chief assistant editor advertising editor
is a symptom of something else, not a disease. There are medical conditions that cause it.” Counselor Jason Quigg sees anxiety as a major problem that’s only getting worse. He feels the rate of anxiety is increasing rapidly. “Anxiety is being diagnosed at an alarming rate and being diagnosed to younger and younger children,” Quigg said. “I believe that anxiety is a legitimate disorder that affects many school-aged children.” Unless it is significantly interfering with life functions such as sleeping, eating, concentrating or socializing, school psychologist Katherine Huls doesn’t believe anxiety should be diagnosed as a clinical problem. “Anxiety is a normal human emotion we all experience from time to time. Anxiety should not be diagnosed as a clinical problem unless it is significantly interfering with life functions, such as sleeping, eating, concentrating or socializing,” Huls said. “My personal opinion is that mild to moderate anxiety is best treated with psychotherapy techniques. If the anxiety is severe, or does not respond to psychotherapy strategies, then I would recom-
Pens and pencils slip with sweat. The hands start shaking. It feels like air isn’t enough. An anxiety attack sets in. Anxiety can be described as many things: a nervous feeling, uneasiness, or a disorder causing apprehension and compulsive behavior. Some students say they suffer from this disorder, however it seems that many of them have forgotten the meaning of the word they have begun to use so frequently. Junior McKinzee Pintsak recognizes this disconnect. “The term anxiety is very overused. Anxiety is overthinking it, and thinking about what could happen,” Pintsak said. “Feeling stressed out is a lot more common than having anxiety.” On a medical level, anxiety is associated with other disorders as a symptom. Dr. Stacy Wright, PsyD, HSPP, sees the word being misused often. “Unfortunately, anxiety is becoming ‘trendy’ for young adults. They are trying to selfmedicate,” Wright said. “Anxiety
Dr. Stacy Wright’s “Tips to Help”
•
Reach out for support. •
Evaluate choices.
•
Discipline yourself.
•
Seek counseling. •
•
Limit screen time.
• • •
Write it out.
Be willing to get help.
Find out what creates worry.
Balance diet, exercise and sleep.
mend someone see a physician for medication.” For Quigg, student anxiety comes in many forms. It is not just seen as an all-encompassing feeling. “There are many different types of anxiety disorders, including separation, social, test, generalized, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and specific phobias, just to name a few,” Quigg said. English teacher Julie Sparks thinks that people are overusing the term anxiety. She suggests people might be stressed but may be using the wrong word for it. “I feel that it has become a catchphrase for anybody who feels stressed out over anything. They just automatically say anxiety,” Sparks said. “It’s become like the term depression. They use it as a crutch.” Teenagers have been accustomed to using the term to their advantage according to Wright. She acknowledges that allowing teens to do this enables them in a negative way. “There seems to be an idea in teens and young adults that they wear their anxiety as a badge. It unfortunately gets used as an excuse sometimes,” Wright said. “The current perception of
Anxiety or Stress? Restlessness Fatigue Muscle Tension Irritability
anxiety is an injustice. It is an injustice to enable people based on their symptoms.” Similarly, Sparks agrees that a change is necessary and feels that anxiety should not be something one determines on their own. The feeling of being anxious does not mean one suffers from anxiety. “I don’t believe that anxiety is something that can officially be self-diagnosed. You need to find out if there is some sort of a chemical issue,” Sparks said. “You know if you’re feeling anxious, but that isn’t necessarily anxiety.” Huls has some differing opinions about self-diagnosed anxiety. She feels that it is possible for one to recognize their symptoms but should pursue medical assistance when trying to get help. “Most individuals recognize when anxiety has become problematic, so in that sense I guess it can be self-diagnosed,” Huls said. “However, if someone is having difficulty managing his or her anxiety, my recommendation would be to seek out professional assistance from a clinical social worker or psychologist to see Anxiety on page 3
Which methods help with anxious feelings?
Medication Insomnia Organizing Headaches Leave Situation High Blood Sleep Pressure Enjoyable Activities Diet & Exercise Skin Rashes Talking to Others
According to Anxiety and Depression Association of America
23.9% 50% 57.6% 63.9% 43.7% 36.1% 67.2%
Statistics based off of 300 CPHS student responses.
page 6
Graduation changes pose new challenges BY ASMAA ABDELDAIEM EMMA FRANK reporters
Say goodbye to the old graduation routine. The 2018 graduating class will be the first to try out the new graduation setup. In previous years, graduation has taken place at the Star Plaza. However, due to the destruction of the building, this year’s seniors will be graduating on the football field. Although it wasn’t principal Chip Pettit’s first choice, he felt it was the best option. “We looked at all our different options in Lake and Porter county. We looked at Valparaiso University, IUN, and even other high schools that could potentially host inside and we just felt that this was our best option,” Chip Pettit said. Being held at the Star Plaza for so long the location has become a tradition. For many families, siblings have been able to graduate in the same place but this tradition will be broken and new ones will bloom. “Honestly I’m a little disappointed that I won’t get the chance to graduate at the Star Plaza like my sister did two years ago. The surrounding was really nice, and the venue worked well for my grandparents who couldn’t stand to be in the heat for too long,” senior Sydney Young said. Taking into consideration comfort of guests and those who are unable to attend the ceremony Pettit has thought of a solution. This solution will make the environment more pleasant for those who do not care for the potential heat and stiff seating. “We are going to offer a live feed which will be streamed into the auditorium in case anyone wants view the ceremony in a climate controlled setting with a more comfortable chair. I don’t know how popular that will be. If we have 50 people that opt to watch in the auditorium, I think it will be worthwhile. There might be some people that don’t want to climb up into the bleachers but still want to celebrate the event with their family,” Pettit see Graduation on page 2
2
news inklings april 27, 2018
Purdue University Glee Club performs with CPHS Chorale Choir members BY ASHLEY REKITZKE assistant editor The voices of acapella arise from the stage and the lights begin to lower. The Chorale Choir began the concert off by singing “My Soul’s Been Anchored” and two other following songs. For junior Kinsey Mason, the overall experience taught her and the choir how to express themselves through their singing while staying professional. “We learned how to express ourselves while singing because they express themselves while singing, but were still professional about it at the same time,” Mason said. Overall, Theatre Director Kit Degenhart hopes the choir and
others can see that music isn’t just a school club, and that it can go beyond elementary, middle and high school. “For anybody, whether they are in choir or not choir, I hope they realize that you can pursue music beyond elementary, middle, high school, and beyond college. I hope they realize you don’t have to major in music to be involved in music,” Degenhart said. “Another thing I want people to realize is how good they really are because they aren’t just an average choir. They are expectational not just in singing, but good at everything like when they stand on stage is precision, the way the walk on stage is precision, the way the talk to each other is precision.”
PHOTO BY ASHLEY REKITZKE The Crown Point Chorale Choir joins the Purdue University Glee Club in singing “Battle Hymn of The Republic” for the audience.
tential complications. “We sent every student that was signed up for those courses a letter to their classroom asking them to make a decision or come see their guidance counselor,” McDermott said. “A vast majority came to see their guidance counselor, talked about the impact of losing those dual credit courses, and then made a decision on what their schedule would look like for next year.” The execution of this change will have an impact on the classes available for students in the upcoming year. This is dependent on the collaboration between the high school and its college of choice. “Personal finance, organic biochemistry honors and sociology are the three courses that we’ve lost because we can’t find a post-secondary partner,” McDermott said. “It is not a Crown Point High School decision to say that a course is dual credit; we
have to partner with a college. IU Bloomington gave Crown Point High School the best dual credit agreement, but they would not accept those classes.” In addition to these subjects, accounting and computer programming II will be removed as well. Though these courses will not be offered at the collegiate level, they will still be accessible at high school intensity. “It will still be the same exact course, we’re not going to change it at all. The only difference is that students taking those courses will not receive college credit,” McDermott said. “That doesn’t mean that in the future we won’t find a partner to take back those courses, it just won’t be for the next school year for sure.” The establishment of this new concept will not only affect students, but will influence teachers’ lives as well. Chemistry teacher Stephanie Harnew is an example of an educator who will undergo
New regulations eliminate Dual Credit class offerings for 2018-2019 school year BY OLIVIA BUDZEVSKI STEVEN KVACHKOFF reporters The structure of a school system is fluid in the sense that it is constantly evolving. Next year, the decision to remove certain dual credit courses will be put into effect. The organization responsible for this change is known as the Higher Learning Commission. “They (HLC) have changed the requirements for high school teachers that are teaching dual credit,” Student Services Principal Robert McDermott said. “One of them is that every teacher that’s teaching a dual credit course has to have a master’s degree. There were a lot of schools who could not meet those requirements and so a lot of the universities ended their dual credit opportunities.” In February, the administration was advised of the final decision regarding the arrangement. Students were notified as soon as possible in order to avoid any po-
the consequences of this decision. Harnew’s organic biochemistry class will no longer be offered for dual credit. “There are students who are non-science related majors who take this class to get college credit for an elective science course,” Harnew said. “Since they will no longer be offering organic biochemistry as a dual credit course, these students will end up having to pay more to take the same class in college.” Senior Brianna Tigner believes that the financial issue is a negative outcome for students. Though Tigner will not observe the aftermath first-hand, she recognizes the way that it will impact others. “I am not going to be affected by the changes because I am a senior and it fortunately didn’t apply for the courses this year, however, it is going to affect the lower/ incoming grades,” Tigner said. “I think it’s unfortunate for (under-
classmen) because they are now unable to have the same opportunities that I did, in being able to pay a cheaper price now for the same class that they are later going to have to take in college.” Different people around the school will be affected by this change in various ways. Although the administration was unable to prevent the execution of this idea, they hope for potential changes in the future. “We try really hard here at CPHS to provide as many dual credit classes as possible because we want our students to go to college with at least a year of credits underneath their belt,” McDermott said. “We’re upset that we lost (the classes) and we’d like to get them back in the future, but it was kind of out of our hands. We did the best that we could and we will continue to try to seek partners moving forward.”
Graduation continued from page 1 said. “We aren’t exactly sure how the livestream will work, but we hope to have the ceremony available online. This would be a nice option for family members that would like to see the ceremony, but are unable to make it to campus.” Each student is allowed four tickets, When factoring in temperatures, more problems can arise, causing the administration to prepare for all outcomes. “I think if it is a hot night that could be a major issue because the graduation ceremony is very long and with so many people packing into the bleachers it will get very uncomfortable for the guests attending the graduation,” senior Evan Georgas said. The seating capacity of the bleachers is 3,328 people, so the administration is
not anticipating any tight seating. In case of inclement weather the ceremony will be held in the gymnasium where the capacity is 2,816 people. 2,800 tickets will be sold and needed to be seated in the auditorium. “I think hosting the ceremony on campus will be a challenge because we haven’t done it before. Anytime you host an event like this for the first time, you learn a lot as you go. If the weather doesn’t cooperate and we have to move into the gymnasium, it will be a real challenge,” Pettit said. “People will feel cramped. When you are sitting shoulder-to-shoulder on a bench seat, people tend to get cranky.” Concessions will be open in hopes to balance the costs, whether the ceremony is held in the gymnasium or on the football
Think Ahead
May 5
Cinco de Mayo This annual celebration observes the Mexican Army’s unlikely victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla in 1862. People celebrate with food, dancing, culture and parades.
May 8
May 4
“Star Wars” day
It’s really quite simple... “May the fourth be with you!” If one has never watched the whole saga, watch it as soon as possible. They are all must sees.
May 23
World Turtle Day A day to celebrate and protect turtles everywhere.
May 28
Memorial Day This day reminds us of the bravery of those who serve. We thank you.
National Teacher Day It is a day set aside to remind us all of the power of education. The time and dedication of teachers nationally is truly worth celebrating. Many schools dedicate a week to celebrate.
field. Renting chairs for the graduates, a stage for the ceremony to be held on and flooring to insure safety are a few of the expenses that are now necessary since these ammenities came with the previous facility. “We are going to have to hire a lot more staff and ushers to help people get seated. When we were at the holiday star that came with the rental agreement,” Pettit said. Even with the switch in location the formality will stay the same. Graduate attire will stay traditional and the occasion will remain as special as it has in the past. “I think the ceremony will be very similar to what we have seen before. The script will be very similar. You’ll see the graduates come in, we will recognize teachers, special
May 30
Last Day of School The day will finally be here. After endless hours of homework and extracurriculars, the bell will ring for the last time this school year. Then off to nearly three months of summer.
guests, students that are being recognized for academic achievement, military service, or honor society. You will see the two student speakers, the faculty speaker, the superintendent will give an address. We’ll say the names and toss the hats which is what the script has been,” Pettit said. Administration is imagining any possible factors going into graduation and how to accommodate them. It is seeming as though it will be a smooth transition from the Star Plaza. “I’ll have a notecard in my pocket. I’ll be writing things down as we go through the ceremony that we could improve on, you learn as you go,” Pettit said. “The first time you do anything like this there is a pretty significant learning curve.”
Think Again
May 13
Mother’s Day
It isn’t everyday that mothers everywhere are treated to breakfast in bed, but they probably wouldn’t mind if that already happened daily.
May 1
“May Day”
The global holiday aims to appreciate workers internationally.
National College Decision Day Last call to choose a college.
The Birth of a President On this day in 1822, Ulysses S. Grant was born in Ohio. He served as the 18th President.
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news inklings april 27, 2018
3
Music department prepares for ISSMA state qualifier competition BY LUKE RAISER reporter
The Crown Point Music Department is competing in the Indiana State School Music Association state qualifiers. ISSMA is known for their judging of statewide music competitions. These competitions consist of separate full band, orchestra and choir events. Band director Johann Sletto hopes that they will go to state. To prepare, Sletto is doing some things he has done in previous years, along with some new things as well. “We’re doing a lot of the same stuff we have done in previous years, which includes people coming in with a fresh set of ears with people to evaluate us. We also went to IPFW (Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne music competition) this year along with bringing in old help,” Sletto said. “Wind ensemble is utilizing a program called smart music more. Wind ensemble is also having many sectionals focusing on one group. We also take the time to listen to professional recordings and listen to ourselves.” All of this preparation is to get ready for the state qualifying competition. As for Sletto’s hopes for qualifying and moving forward to the state competition, he feels confident. “I always have high hopes of making
PHOTO BY ASHLEY REKITZKE The Symphony Orchestra played at their annual pre-ISSMA concert in preparation for state qualifiers.
it, I think that it started being on our radar about seven years ago. Four years ago we actually started having it be a goal, we’re getting closer and closer. It’s not unattainable, and we are always trying to continue to up the bar. As a whole all the programs are getting better and better,” Sletto said. The band feels they are doing a lot to try to make it to the state competition, including having one of the first after-school practices for the band in years. Although, Sletto doesn’t want to just remain stagnant in his efforts to get the band to the state level competition. “I’m not sure that successful programs
are just status quo. I think you need to be constantly trying to figure out what you can do better because there’s always something you can improve,” Sletto said. “Next year we will be adding another performance at the IMEA (Indiana Music Education Association), which will put our foot in the door for getting to a higher level of playing.” To the students who are in band, ISSMA actually means a few different things to them. Senior Marissa Okeley feels proud of the hard work the band has done as a whole and is hoping to do well at competition. “I didn’t understand how hard we had to work to make it to state. I thought that we
had worked really hard, and we still didn’t make it. Every year our music kept getting harder and harder, and then last year we finally made it,” Okeley said. “So this year we are working even harder than last year and it’s making us better musicians. I hope we make it to state this year but even if we don’t I’ll still be proud of what we accomplished.” Some of the band also believed what Okeley said, but to others ISSMA means something else to them entirely. To junior Jared Wood, ISSMA is more competitive. “ISSMA to me is a learning experience and a chance to put myself against others and prove my musical excellence to myself, and other bands,” Wood said. Sophomore Matthew Brei feels it’s more about the music. He enjoys being able to listen to what other schools have been working on all year. “I think it’s really great to go to this big contest with all these great bands and hearing what they worked really hard on and comparing our music to other bands,” Brei said. Regardless of what group they are a part of, CPHS music students have many goals when it comes to ISSMA. All of the groups are getting ready for the chance to make it to the state level competition and are hopeful they will be state bound.
Anxiety continued from page 1 formal diagnosis, rule out any other psychiatric concerns and develop a treatment plan appropriate to your specific needs.” Pintsak views anxiety differently than she does having anxious feelings. She feels that although one can self-diagnose themselves, it will only help if they see a doctor. “There is definitely a difference between feeling anxious and having anxiety. Being anxious is when you’re being overworked by something, but anxiety is how you react to that. Anxiety is very prevalent and you feel it everyday,” Pintsak said. “If you self-diagnose yourself, it’s not going to really help unless you reach out for help. Doctors will help lead to a therapist and give you ways to calm your anxiety.” Pintsak was diagnosed with social and general anxiety. She has a few things she does to help with her anxiety. “When I feel anxious I like to listen to music, play with my dog, sleep or hang out with my friends. Doing this stuff gets my mind off of whatever is making
me anxious,” Pintsak said. According to Wright, the age seen with first signs of anxiety has gotten younger and younger. Huls similarly agrees that it is becoming more prevalent in schools. This can cause students to lose motivation or avoid social situations. “In my work as a school psychologist, I talk with students about anxiety fairly frequently. Many students, particularly those who have to work a little harder at school, have high anxiety about tests and quizzes,” Huls said. “This leads them to avoid challenges and put in little effort. Some students have very high social anxiety, worrying about how they are perceived by others and fearful to meet new people or try new activities.” Students as young as freshman in CPHS are even facing feelings of anxiety. Freshman Matthew Gerona concludes that his chemistry class is the greatest source of his anxious feelings. This is a sophomore class that he is taking as a freshman, so the advanced nature of the class for
him is adding to his anxiety. “Right now, as a freshman, chemistry gives me the most anxiety or worry because of the frequent quizzes as well as some unpredictability with the questions,” Gerona said. Teachers suffer from school-related anxiety as well as students. Quigg recognizes the major stressors teachers face from their day-to-day activities. “I do believe that teachers also suffer from anxiety in school. There is a lot of pressure on teachers as well for student success in their respective classes, passing AP exams, etc,” Quigg said. Sparks feels like her responsibilities do not necessarily cause her anxiety. She thinks what she is going through is not always anxiety, but closer to irritation. “I feel that there are times where we go through things that feel like anxiety, but it isn’t necessarily anxiety. So not really a medical cause, but more frustrating,” Sparks said. A study done by the World Health Organization found
that anxiety disorders are the most common mental disorders worldwide. Even with this in mind, Huls feels there are various methods besides medication that can help the many people suffering. “Good self-care overall is important for managing anxiety: healthy eating, regular meals, relaxing before bedtime and getting enough rest, exercise. Many mild cases of anxiety are helped with relaxation strategies like progressive muscle relaxation, visualization techniques, breathing exercises built into someone’s day,” Huls said. For Gerona, the biggest overlapping issue with anxiety is that Americans have associated it with minor stressors as opposed to considering the bigger issues that may seriously induce symptoms of anxiety. “People do overuse it a lot and I am one of them,” Gerona said. “I feel like this is the case because we take needs for granted and have better access to wants in this country.”
Do you think there is a difference between being anxious or stressed and having anxiety?
21.1%
78.9%
Yes
No
Do you suffer from anxiety?
19.3% 50% 30.7%
Yes
No
Not Sure
Statistics based off of 300 CPHS student responses.
‘‘
Michael Veljko junior
The train company shouldn’t have to choose their safety over speed just because people don’t want to wait.
Jackie Woldt sophomore
There was a shooting at a Waffle House in Tennessee. A bystander that was eating at the restaurant took down the shooter, but he got away. Four people were killed, but the bystander that intervened is okay. After a manhunt that lasted a day, authorities were able to catch the shooter.
‘‘
They should have more security in restaurants to make sure no guns or knives will enter the facility. Christopher Bodnar freshman
Cuba just got a new president, Miguel Diaz-Canal. This is the first time in 60 years that Cuba is not ruled by someone in the Castro family, who started the communist era that left thousands to flee.
World
‘‘
I feel that teachers and security should know their students and where they should be at all times, but it is not necessary.
The Supreme Court of Indiana is reconsidering a law that fines train companies if a train blocks a railroad for more than 10 minutes. Train companies are fighting these laws for safety reasons. Going faster can increase the many risks they have tried to avoid by going at their current speeds.
Nation
Area
Lake Central High School is requiring their students to wear their ID tags all the time, starting next fall. The tags will be on lanyards that vary by grade level. This is supposed to make sure that only people that are supposed to be in the building are.
Student reaction to events in our world
State
views on news
‘‘
That opens up a lot of opportunities for people economically and culturally. I look forward to what the future holds.
Emma Suris senior
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opinion inklings april 27, 2018
column
BY ANDREA JOHN co-editor-in-chief
Upcoming developments are economically positive for CP Crown Point is about to look a whole lot different. As time moves forward, cities must keep up with the growth of their population. The need for more modern amenities, such as restaurants and shops, has increased every year. Families flock to Crown Point for the excellent schools and housing. In turn, the city must provide new infrastructures to satisfy old and new homeowners. Although there is an increase in development along Broadway, the proposed “The Fountains” project will take up the 109 acre plot of land on the northwest corner of I-65 and U.S. 231. Hotels, restaurants, town homes and a bowling alley are expected to take residence. This area will also be getting an outlet mall, and its estimated 100-200 stores could be placed here. The city hopes to start releasing the names of some of the franchises in the next six to nine months. Ground-breaking is expected by developers in two years. City Council has to rezone the land from industrial to business, and the plan also calls
for the widening of U.S. 231, according to The NWI Times. This is an opportunity the community cannot pass up. Numerous jobs will be created with the newest addition to the area. The outlet mall is so far thought to be comparable to other outlet malls found in this area, such as in Michigan City. As someone who grew up an hour away from the nearest mall, I always appreciated the close proximity to Southlake Mall by living in Crown Point. And soon I won’t have to drive 50 minutes to an outlet mall. Bringing amenities people usually had to drive quite a ways for closer to home will increase the appreciation and pride one has for their hometown. I love living here. People who say The Region is boring haven’t lived anywhere else in their lives, so they don’t realize how lucky they are to have so many things to do in their spare time. Tomorrow won’t resemble yesterday, and in order to have an economically successful community we must keep up with the rest of the world.
CARTOON BY MADELYN WHITAKER
Never self-diagnose mental illness; consult professionals editorial
column
BY AUDREY GACSY co-editor-in-chief
Political social media is too dangerous in the current world I believe in the power of words. I’ve dedicated a large part of every one of my school days to the publishing of words into a newspaper. So I can understand why government officials would also want to publish their own words (via social media), but it really isn’t sustainable. Growing up in the boom of the social media era, I have been constantly reminded both at home and at school that what we choose to put on the internet can forever be seen by anyone who chooses to look at it. Is it just me, or does it seem like our government has missed out on the popular messaging? Throughout his time in office so far, President Trump has chosen to make statements, sometimes personal in nature, on his Twitter account. Many members of government have done so in the past, and many others continue to do so today. However, no American President in the past has made such lofty comments about other countries on the internet for all the world to see. On Apr. 11, Trump tweeted in response to a reported chemical attack in Syria, saying that Russia should “get ready,” and that “(missiles) will be
coming.” He also commented that “our relationship with Russia is worse now than it has ever been, and that includes the Cold War.” All of these feelings were deduced before 7 a.m. What bothers me is that if, according to Trump, we are in such a terrible place with Russia, why would our country’s leader threaten them with a planned missile attack on Syria, a country the Russians have vowed to protect from American missiles? It seems like a contradictory, underdeveloped plan, yet it is now on the internet for all to see. During the presidencies that I have both been alive during and can remember clearly, war threats were not so casually made on social media. I remember hearing speeches and watching breaking news segments about military decisions. The public, and other countries around the world, didn’t get the upper hand in knowing first. Nor should they. I get it, we have free speech. And I’m happy that I get to use that right every single day. But when it comes to the stability of our world, some things just shouldn’t be casually posted onto a Twitter feed.
Life at times becomes overwhelming. There’s no doubt that everyone handles the overwhelming times differently, but when the overwhelming times become debilitating, it is time to seek professional help. Too many times we take it upon ourselves to self-diagnose our problems. For some, this may be to “save time.” For others, it might be because they feel embarrassment about the issue. In either case, or in any other case, emotional problems that overtake one’s life can only appropriately be treated with the advice of a professional. Professionals are exactly what they sound like: people who know what they’re talking about and have the resources to give helpful advice. In a serious case of a mental issue, it is worth the time to seek treatment. Too many times, when people try to treat themselves they end up just hurting themselves. There are doctors out there who work everyday to help their patients. If you don’t feel right or are worried about a loved one, take the time to get them help. If finances make seeking professional treatment difficult or impossible, it becomes necessary to self-advocate for mental health. This is the worst thing possible. We’ve seen it on the news where famous celebrities try to handle the problems of fame themselves but actually just end up dying. There are also kids who have felt the stress of school and took it upon themselves to fix a problem they know nothing about. Similar to self-diagnosing, there is a problem with overdiagnosing. Everyone feels stressed out. Everyone gets a slight head or stomach ache every once in awhile. A lot of students believe they have anxiety and give themselves a diagnosis that hasn’t been confirmed by a professional. It is understandable that they are stressed out but there are many people who have a serious problem with stress and those who aren’t diagnosed should not claim they have something they may not. The best thing to do is ask a trusted family member or friend if you truly think something is wrong. Always be respectful and keep yourself healthy. Don’t self-diagnose mental illnesses. These are subjects that need to be taken care of through health professionals.
speakup
Do you think that the term anxiety has become overused and over diagnosed?
Nikola Babic
Isaac Ventura
“I think that anxiety is not overused by people. It is a real disorder that people suffer from so people shouldn’t use it as an excuse.”
“I feel many just use at as an excuse to get out of class or stressful situations. It has started to become too overused.”
freshman
sophomore
Nour Alhaijeh junior
“I think that anxiety has become overused, but sometimes it is real. It is a really important thing, and we can’t just be careless about that.”
Annie Brigham
senior “I feel like people, especially on social media over dramatize their symptoms just to be relatable. They should be getting a real medical diagnosis.”
opinion inklings april 27, 2018
Intheir View
5
ink
Are science, technology, engineering and mathematics classes overpromoted?
LL
. II . NN . GG . SS
Crown Point High School, IN
Vol. 82 Issue 8 - April 27, 2018 1500 S. Main St. Crown Point, IN 46307 219-663-4885 ex. 11349 fax 219-662-5663 inklings@cps.k12.in.us online: www2.cps.k12.in.us/inklings
Leevi Taylor junior
Pro: “I do think
STEM is over promoted. It seems like teachers prioritize your core classes more than they do your extracurricular and not required classes.”
Nibal Fares junior I don’t Con: “No, think STEM
is overpromoted because it leads to better job opportunities and we need more people doing that.”
Sela Ozdemir junior
“I think that STEM classes and STEM majors are important but talked about a little too much. There are a lot of other majors out there that are important.”
Pro:
CARTOON BY DOMINIC THEPHASDIN
of STEM classes does not Pro: Overpromotion allow for fair chance in all places of study BY KIRA SCHUELKA associate editor
College is such a stressful time. You are in a completely new environment and are required to figure out your future. Adding to that stress is the forced promotion of STEM classes. STEM is an acronym for science, technology, engineering and math and has gained a lot of popularity in high school students. Many colleges have curriculums and programs specifically for those interested in the science field. Science is obviously an amazing field to go into but it is overpromoted at the high school level. At our school there are numerous science and math classes. Understandably, these courses are requirements to graduate but there are substantially less classes in other fields of study. Think of a student interested in creative writing. They can take English courses and join a staff but there is not even a class specifically for their major. The same cannot be said for a student interested in biology
since there are numerous classes to fit that field. It is not fair to all kids. Too many students interested in science feel as though STEM is their only option. Those who like science and design give up that artistic interest because they feel as though STEM is the only way forward. Although science is incredibly important, and STEM majors are necessary, they are unfairly promoted. Too many people want to be a doctor when they can’t even pass basic science classes. Those kids may be better fitted in a different career but don’t try anything new because they only think science is a optimal career. Those interested in science, technology, engineering and math are extremely important to our society. There are also a lot more professions that are equally needed. It is unfortunate to think that some kids would only go into a field they don’t care about because of seeing STEM so heavily promoted. Always do what you are interested in, just make sure it isn’t something you are settling on because it has been forced on you.
Con: Availability of STEM based courses allows for success in and out of the classroom
Con: “No, I think it is important for life in general. It is a necessity. You can get by without taking an art class, but you need a basic math class.”
What we Think Pro: 13 Inklings Staffer
Con: 17 Inklings Staffers
Flip the FOCUS
Technology has become one of the main parts of the modern world. Everyday, more and more jobs in the technology field are opened. This is why it is so important for there to be a large devotion to it at the high school. The availability of AP classes at the high school allows students to have an advantage when they enter the college level. Classes like AP Chemistry and AP Calculus allow students to have experience in intense classes so that if they want to get a STEM based degree in college, they are well equipped to do so. Without this type of experience in high school, college classes may seem much harder than they should. Crown Point prides itself on being a school that well prepares its students for college and therefore the increased STEM classes at the high school are an important part of this. Although there are a large amount of STEM based classes at the high school, there are also plenty in other subject areas. Those who want to pursue business can take busi-
Pros
Jordan Spohn sophomore
online editor-in-chief
ness classes and those that want to pursue an English based field can take English classes. Only three science classes are required for graduation so students that are not going to go a science route do not have to take a science class every year. Four math classes are required but so are four English classes, so there is not one favored over another. Another large part of preparatory impact STEM has is on college acceptance. Half of the ACT and SAT tests are entirely based on a student’s ability in math and science. These scores are needed not only to get into a STEM program but almost any college. The accessibility to STEM based courses gives students a better chance to excel in these portions of the test which will increase their scores overall. The future is in STEM. This has caused there to be an increased presence in science, technology, engineering and math based classes. Although some may find this unfair, there are still plenty of options for students who do not want to pursue this, with classes like journalism and foods being readily available to students.
+ 23 school days until summer break + Warmer weather + New businesses opening
Cons
BY ALEXIA WOJCIECHOWSKI
Inklings is a student publication created by the newspaper and advanced journalism students and distributed monthly to students, faculty and staff of Crown Point High School. Opinions do not necessarily reflect those of CPHS faculty, staff or administration. Letters-to-the-editor are welcomed provided they are signed and submitted one week prior to publication and do not contain personal attacks. Inklings reserves the right to edit for space, clarity and legal and ethical concerns. Advertising is subject to applicable rates available by contacting Inklings. Inklings has been recognized as an Indiana High School Press Association Hoosier Star, National Scholastic Press Association Pacemaker, Columbia Scholastic Press Association Silver Crown, and Quill and Scroll George H. Gallup publication.
co-editors-in-chief Grace Cleland Audrey Gacsy Andrea John online editor-in-chief Alexia Wojciechowski associate editor Kira Schuelka assistant editors Lindsey Baeza Tabitha Beishuizen Ashley Rekitzke Morgan Taylor advertising editor Jessi Alcorta-Robles sports editor Henry Withrow assistant sports editors Timmy Abbott Jake McCallister staff Asmaa Abdeldaiem Olivia Budzevski Morgan Cooper Emma Frank Elizabeth Gonzalez Gwyn Isaacs Maria Jeffirs Jacob Johansson Steven Kvachkoff Emmie McConnell Erin Muller Cat Padilla Luke Raiser Ari Setlak Alexandra Sulewski Dominic Thephasdin Madelyn Whitaker adviser Julie Elston
- AP testing approaching - Roadwork - Allergy season
6
i on Iife
feature inklings april 27, 2018
experiencing life beyond the building
PHOTOS BY ASHLEY REKITZKE Twelve Islands Restaurant, located on the Crown Point Square, has become known by locals for their lemon rice soup. The soup is a staple dish served all around the Region at various different local restaurants.
Region normalities unique from surrounding areas BY MADELYN WHITAKER reporter
Accents, foods, hobbies and catch phrases. All regions have their own variances of each, some more notorious than others. To outsiders, the South has its stereotypical cowboy accent while those on the West coast are characterized as loving surfing. Although some may feel that the preconceived notions about these regions are appropriate, others may feel that where they live is put under a false light. From the view of some outsiders looking in on the Midwest like junior Anna Demars, the region as seen as having an abundance of hospitality. “I don’t know if that’s entirely true, but I guess you could say that we can be pretty friendly,” Demars said. Similarly, French and pre-calculus teacher Jolene Smith acknowledged differing attitudes in the area from those of the people that she had previously been around. “I think that when I first moved here I had to get used to people talking behind others’ backs that I didn’t have to deal with growing up,” Smith said. “People are very within their clique here and not wanting to venture out of their clique.” Smith can see differences in attitudes of the people that she grew up with as compared to those in this area. “I grew up in Minnesota which is the most ultimate politically correct, nice state there is so I grew up in the most ideal community, but Northwest Indiana is a pocket,” Smith said.
Often recognized for the abundance of farmland the Midwest holds many farmers, but is also home to many large cities such as Chicago. Similar to Demars, sophomore Zach Gudeman feels that people view Midwesterners based on the agriculture that occurs. “People think that we are a bunch of hillbilly farmers,” Gudeman said. With accents, comes slang words that those in separate regions become familiar with. Demars acknowledges some of the regional slang that can be found in the Midwest that she has noticed. “I say pop a lot, and we say suckers when everyone else says lollipop,” Demars said. Also noticing the regional differences in terminology, Smith saw differences in what she grew up referring to certain things as compared to those that had lived in the region for the duration of their life. “I grew up saying kiddy-corner and you guys say catty-corner and I grew up saying downtown but people around here say uptown so just the little things like that,” Smith said. “Minnesota is a very clean and pretty state,” said. “When I first moved here I wanted to cry because- they’ve done a lot to this area as far as beautification- I first moved here in the 90s and I wanted to cry because it was so ugly. Minnesota is very green and rolling hills.” Narrowing the scope, within the Midwest is the Chicagoland area, which has unique people with their own habits, slangs, and accents. Smith can see regional differences in family relations as well.
Welcome to the
Region
“Wanna play bags?” “Can you come with?” “I’ll take a pop.”
“I think that in Northwest Indiana you have the inner generations that are here so we when go to a party it’s grandma and grandpa and mom and dad and cousins and that’s very unique to this area,” Smith said. Smith lived in California and Minnesota before moving to the Chicagoland area. Smith also noticed a difference in the foods in Northwest Indiana when she lived here. “I had never tried a pierogi before I moved here, and the ethnic food and the last names are different because where I grew up everyone was Johansen and Anderson and I love here that everyone is so ethnic,” Smith said. “I had never been exposed to Polish food before like chachkies, so everything as far as that has been wonderful.” Other foods native to the area, such as puppy chow and bratwurst, have become a staple to restaurants in the region. Also commonly found is lemon rice soup, and freshman Jaelyn Burgos sees its popularity in restaurants downtown. “Lemon rice soup is awesome, especially from Twelve Islands,” Burgos said. “I even got it for breakfast one time. It’s weird because when I went to California they didn’t have it and I got really sad.” Noticing the convenience of the location of Northwest Indiana and the luxuries that it provides, Smith brings light to the many attractions that are more common to those in Northwest Indiana that may get overlooked. “You go to the dunes and you see a little piece of heaven and there are endless things you can do in Chicago,” Smith said.
Lakeside Lingo
“It’s finally shorts weather.”
“Ope, sorry!”
“You guys!”
“I love puppy chow.”
“I need to grab my tennis shoes.”
The region has many attractions such as Fair Oaks Farms, Buckley Homestead, County Line Orchard, Lake Michigan and the Challenger Learning Center. Statistics provided by https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago_metropolitan_area.
INKLINGS FILE PHOTO
By
The
#
40 miles length of Northwest Indiana’s dunes shoreline
Albanese Confectionery, located in Hobart, produces 35,000 pounds of award-winning gummies per 8 hour shift Dr. Scholl, the famous foot doctor, began his practice in Cedar Lake More than
85
million tons
amount of steel U.S. steelworkers produced in 2015 statistics provided by https://www.50states. com/facts/indiana.htm, https://www.southshorecva.com/media/ media-kit/facts/ and http://www.nwitimes. com/business/steel/ indiana-remains-nationalchampion-of-steel-production/article_14832a08eb46-5d10-9e0f-ff6a9b7eb490.html.
feature inklings april 27, 2018
Exchange student’s
7
American routine
6 a.m.
Average wake up time for students.
7:35 a.m. es United Stat t Governmen s and Politic
2:37 p.m. End of the school day. Day trips may go longer than the actual school day depending on location of trip.
Beginning of the school day. Some days the students take day trips or follow with their host student’s normal school day.
PHOTO BY ASHLEY REKITZKE Senior Abby Pitts (left) reads a book in German with her German exchange student Mona Bullmann (right). Pitts hosted Bullmann during her time in Crown Point. While here, the two went to the Sugar Factory in Chicago as one of their weekend activities together. The exchange students visited other places during their stay.
German program hosts exchange students BY GRACE CLELAND ERIN MULLER co-editor-in-chief reporter
3-9 p.m. After school and evening activities depend upon the host family and their plans with their exchange student.
social media screenshot Ava Neal sophomore
“Anything is peaceful from 1,353 feet.” @anveaael
PHOTO PROVIDED BY AVA NEAL The German exchange students and a few of their host students visited the Bean on April 17.
Homes are built with multiple rooms and one is usually a guest bedroom. Sometimes those rooms are filled with family or siblings who have moved out, but now some families have filled it with a German exchange student. Multiple students involved in the German program have had the opportunity to host an exchange student. Through German teachers, Heidi Marek and Candis Carey, the students filled out a profile to match them with an exchange student to host. “They all create student profiles and we sat down and made sure no one had allergies, or were afraid of pets, or anything like that. It’s kind of common that German students are afraid of larger dogs,” Carey said. “Then we look at their hobbies and interests, and we paired them up in November, and they have been in contact ever since then. They communicate using Instagram, Snapchat and even Musical.ly.” After interacting online and communicating with the exchange students for months, the time came to finally meet them in person. “Meeting my exchange student, Lara, for the first time was amazing,” sophomore Ava Neal said. “Before she arrived, I had only messaged her on Instagram, so seeing her in person was pretty unbelievable at first. I was a little scared that things would be awkward since we had never met in person, but she hugged me as soon as she got off the bus, and I knew we were going to be really good friends.” For some students, it is their first time hosting and for others, hosting has become
‘‘
I have personally been an exchange student in another country, and it was simultaneously the most intimidating and most awesome experience of my life. Ava Neal sophomore
an annual tradition. Hosting a German exchange student is nothing new for senior Connor Anderson. “(Hosting) is something that my family has always done. My sister started doing it when she was a freshman like eight years ago now. We have had seven exchange students, so it just made sense to keep doing it,” Anderson said. “They have always been German, but this one that we have now is from a different school than all the other ones.” While Anderson continues to host, other students are experiencing hosting for the first time. They have found it very exciting and beneficial for many reasons. “I have never hosted before, but am so grateful to be hosting now. It took a lot of convincing to get my family on board, but we all love it,” freshman Angelina Valente said. “It’s lots of fun to try new things with Lena and learn about what she does differently. I hope to host again in the future because it is such an amazing experience lots of people don’t get.” Neal got to experience being an exchange student first hand when she stayed with a host family in multiple areas. For her, she found the exchange to be rewarding even in times of doubt. “I have personally been an exchange student in another country, and it was simultaneously the most intimidating and most awesome experience
of my life,” Neal said. “I really think more people should participate in exchange programs. It’s just such a great opportunity that can’t be compared to anything else, and it definitely gives you a different perspective of the rest of the world after living in the same country all your life.” The exchange is a really great experience for both the Crown Point High School students and the German students. It really gives students a look into the lives of others from different countries. “I thought it must be great to see a real American family and how they live their lives and what they do at school,” German foreign exchange student Bastian Schmidt said. “I thought it must be very interesting. So I said ‘Lets go to America.’” Northwest Indiana and its surrounding regions have many activities for the exchange students to visit or get involved in while they are here. “The students will be very busy. Almost every day, they have field trips planned around the area including a trip to Purdue, Starved Rock and Chicago. Most of the trips are just for the visiting students, but host students can join them on the Chicago field trip. There will be a couple of days when they will come with us to all of our classes, and other days they might go to a period or two before their trip,” Valente said. “Outside of the school day, we
have evenings and weekends to do whatever we choose. I’ve enjoyed showing Lena some of the different foods we have here, and we also have a few short trips planned to show her around the area.” The German students have noticed a significant difference in the way American schools are compared to German schools. The most notable difference to the exchange students is the use of technology. “The biggest difference is that in Germany, everything is on paper and you have to write everything down, but in America, everyone has a computer. That’s the biggest difference,” Schmidt said. Technology is not the only difference in American schools. The size of Crown Point High School definitely came as a shock to some exchange students. “I think the students are a bit intimidated by the size of the school and how crowded the hallways can get,” Neal said. “The first time Lara came to school, she said her entire school could fit in our cafeteria.” The differences for exchange students allow for the trips to be beneficial. They are immersed in a different daily culture as they get to attend school as well. The trips are built in hopes that the end results have lasting effects on both the host family and the students. “I hope they build long lasting contact and relationship with someone else,” Carey said. “I hope they are able to build a deeper understanding of another culture and another person and not just superficial, like their food, or their landmarks. I want them to be able to see what they think about and what their ideas and beliefs are.”
8
feature inklings april 27, 2018
Let the good times roll
Updated roller skating rink in Portage offers minors alternative weekend plans BY ANDREA JOHN CAT PADILLA co-editor-in-chief reporter
The sound of rented roller skates against hardwood flooring is once again heard in The Region. The previously longstanding R-Way roller skating rink in Portage opened in 1979, and was no longer in use when it was put up for sale last summer. Cousins Eli Pecoski and Paul Terzioski took on the challenge. “We saw the opportunity,” Pecoski said. “The previous rink shut down and it was really run down, it needed a lot of work. We purchased the building and did a complete six month renovation to get it up to date with all the technology, music, lighting and everything according to today’s standards.” The new roller rink, SK8 World, is looking to bring a new activity to the NWI region other than the movies or shopping at the mall. “We want (SK8 World) to be Indiana’s premiere teen gathering spot,” Pecoski said. “It’s a chance for teens to get out and do something besides stay at home or go to a friend’s house and hangout there. It
Skate
Statistics
gets you out of the house.” The roller rink is expecting to bring people in from every generation, from young to old and in between. “Kids your age don’t understand how it is when we were young and your age. We actually went to roller rinks, that’s where the place was to hangout and a lot of people forgot about that,” Paul said. “Your generation missed on that, so that was one of the things we wanted to recapture and bring back so you guys could experience it.” SK8 World is also trying to create a safe atmosphere for teens and families on the weekends to ease parent concerns of sending their children alone. “We have a police officer every Friday and Saturday,” Paul said. “So that way if your parents let you go they will feel more comfortable because there is a cop on duty.” Sophomore Natalia Terzioski is Paul’s daughter and has embraced her new role at the rink and helps wherever she is needed. “When my parents first told me that they were buying and remodeling the roller rink I was so excited,” Natalia said. “It was honestly a really
The roller skate was invented in 1760s in London, England by John Joseph Merlin.
PHOTO BY MORGAN COOPER Sophomore Ava Dailey laces up a pair of rental skates at SK8 World roller rink located in Portage. SK8 World had their grand opening March 30.
exciting experience being able to watch it transform from how it used to look to how it looks now. I’m still super excited whenever we go there because it’s just a fun place to be.” The cousins have received positive feedback from the community. Locals are embracing the opportunity to have a new hangout for community members of all ages. “We have over 15 messages a day from parents,
rollerskaters and kids of all ages that are thanking us for reopening it and putting 100 percent into it,” Pecoski said. “They’re loving it, and there are repeat customers day after day.” SK8 World will have themed skate nights and are open to the idea of hosting a “Bulldog Night”, which would include reduced roller skate rental prices for Crown Point students. SK8 World is also a venue that can host parties, and offers
more than roller skating for those who have an aversion to it. “On Fridays and Saturdays (SK8 World) is packed with a lot of teens because we have the hottest music playing,” Pecoski said. “I wouldn’t say it’s a dance club, but if you’re not roller skating then you’re hanging out and listening to music with friends. We have video games and tons of other things to do here besides roller skating.”
Skating causes 50 percent less stress to joints than running.
Roller hockey was an exhibition sport in the 1992 Summer Olympic Games in Barcelona, Spain.
There are 400 percent more injuries playing basketball than rollerskating.
SK8 World Hours: Monday/Tuesday - closed Wednesday/Thursday - 5 to 10 p.m. Friday - 5 p.m. to 12 a.m. Saturday - 11 a.m. to 12 a.m. Sunday - 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Location: 3600 Scottsdale St, Portage, IN 46368 Phone number: 219-759-1999 Owners: Eli Pecoski and Paul Terzioski
Information provided by: http://www.rollerskatingmuseum.com/homework.html and http://www.rollerskating.com/pages/all+about+roller+skating/51
Ca
663-6551 211 South East St. Crown Point
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9 Finding heritage through at home DNA test feature inklings april 27, 2018
Decades of family history, heritage found through simple home saliva test BY TABITHA BEISHUIZEN assistant editor
Everyone has their unique and individual DNA that make up their heritage and background. At home DNA tests are on the rise as more and more people become interested in their heritage. Most people know what their heritage is based on what their parents have told them, however the exact percentages often get lost. These at home kits usually range between $79.99-$199.99. The kits require you to submit a saliva sample either though swabbing the mouth or spitting in a tube. When buying a DNA kit, the results end with a report of the heritage of the customer, however, some even offer an additional service with an added fee where they will list and describe any health risks or concerns. These options are only available with some services and of the ones listed 23andMe is one that offers this health service. One thing that comes when having to choose what company to buy from is the research behind it. Each company differs in things from price to the exact service one is getting. “I sent it in and then I started doing the research because it takes months to get it back. So I started doing the research on it and it’s pretty interesting for the processes they have to go through to actually find out where you’re from. It was just a lot of just little interesting stuff,” freshman Aidan Gregg said. AncestryDNA and 23andMe are two of the most common DNA kits, however the two kits are different in many ways. Ancestry DNA is marketed more towards genealogy and 23andMe focuses on genealogy and health related screenings. The prices are also vastly different as 23andMe is double
the price of AncestryDNA. Each of these DNA kits offer a different insight into one’s DNA and each are different from each other even though they are the same product. After the DNA is sent is it takes anywhere from 4 to 10 weeks to get the results back, depending on the company. For some people these DNA kits are gifts that when received spike the interest in finding out more. By taking these tests, they can also lead to making a family tree or just having the knowledge of their own family.
machines that do things like put chemicals and enzymes on it and a heating a cooling process. The DNA can then be put onto a SNP chip that reads the DNA to determine the ethnicity and people within their family tree. Those results are put into raw files that list the different parts of the DNA, adenine, cytosine, guanine, and thymine. For AncestryDNA they need to be able to read 98% of the information from the results or else results cannot be provided. This is done in order to only give their customers results that are the most reliable and correct.
“My friends actually bought it for me for Christmas because they had an ongoing joke that they thought I was Asian-American, even though I’m clearly white,” Gregg said. “They bought it for me to see because I insisted that I’m clearly white. They bought it for me because it was an ongoing joke for a couple of years.” During the lab time there are multiple tests done to the DNA in order to give the results back of the ethnicity and possible DNA matches of the taker. Each company is slightly different, however the process is similar through most companies. For AncestryDNA the process of extracting the DNA from the saliva is with various machines. That is followed by the copying of the DNA and putting it though more
One concern that many people find with these tests, which prohibits them from taking it is the question of what happens to the DNA that is sent in after the results are found. Most companies do own the DNA, however some companies allow for the customer to request for their DNA to be destroyed. “I don’t really care because there isn’t really anything they can do and they’re not going to do anything with my DNA. If they want to make a clone of me, the more the better,” Gregg said. The ethnicity portion of the results is determined by comparing the data from the tests to population data from different global regions. Matches are determined by comparing the DNA to different samples
from their database of others who have taken the DNA test. The wait time it does take to get the results after they are found can cause some aggravation to some customers. “(The wait time) was the only issue with it. It took awhile, I think I got it in early December and I got it back in late February or early March,” Gregg said. There are also DNA kits for pets where you can find out what breed they are. While these are less common than the human DNA kits, they are still on the rise. These tests are taken in a similar way to the human tests with a saliva sample. “I would get (my pets) DNA tested to find out their breeds because you can better understand how they are predisposed to behave and why they do certain things that they do,” sophomore Emma Beckman said. “It would help me understand the background that they came from which is very important to me.” Popular companies for animal DNA testing are Wisdom Panel ($84.99 for the basic DNA package and $149.99 for the health package) and Embark Dog DNA ($199.00 for the identification package). The results tell the breed of the dogs and can even tell you the translated human years the animal is. While the most common animals used and allowed for most of these kits are dogs, there are some kits that do test other pets, such as Basepaws which tests cats. Overall, DNA tests are an at-home way to find out family heritage with only a few steps. While the prices and exact services do vary, most of the kits give similar results that come in within a few weeks. Whether or not the results are exactly what one suspected or completely different that they never knew they were, these tests are something that anyone can take to find out more about their heritage.
Comparing the Companies Ancestry DNA
23andMe
FamilyTree DNA
Price: $99.00 Regions: 150 Database: 5 million Sample Technique: saliva sample
Price: $199.00 Regions: 31 Database: 1 million Sample Technique: saliva sample
Price: $79.00 Regions: 24 Database: 815 thousand Sample Technique: cheek swab
MyHeritage DNA
National Geographic
Living DNA
Price: $99.00 Regions: 42 Database: 1.1 million Sample Technique: cheek swab
Price: $199.95 Regions: 43 Database: 904,224 Sample Technique: saliva sample
Price: $99.00 Regions: 80 Database: none Sample Technique: cheek swab
Genographic Project
10
feature inklings april 27, 2018
FAMILY WITH FACULTY
Students and staff share aspects of integrated home, school lives theKEAVENEYS
theHULSES
theKOSTOFFS
BY LINDSEY BAEZA assistant editor
Due to students only seeing staff members inside their work environment, it’s common to forget that the faculty also have a family, making it not too farfetched that a child of theirs may attend the school they work at. Although this may mean the couple share similar daily environments and schedules, sophomore Grace Kostoff says this poses a challenge for her and her mom. “I used to come with her to school in the morning so I would get up a whole lot earlier to go to school with her because she has to be at school so much earlier. Now, I get a ride. And then she stays after school for track so we’re not really on much of the same schedule,” said Grace Kostoff. Despite dissimilar daily schedules during the school year, special needs teacher Tara Kostoff feels that on breaks such as summer, working as a teacher in the same school system proves advantageous. “It’s wonderful because I used to work in Illinois so we were always on different schedules, and we would have different breaks. And now that we’re together, it’s much better,” Tara Kostoff said. “I’ve always taught so I’ve always had summers off with them, but during the school year it was a little bit difficult, and now it’s much easier.” Another advantage of these family ties for students is being more familiar with teachers or staff due to them also being coworkers and friends with their
Spanish teacher Angie Keaveney senior Jacob Keaveney
parent. For Grace Kostoff, this has made her more comfortable in the classroom. “A lot of the teachers already know me going into the class because my mom knows them, and she talks to them. It’s almost like I can talk to them more than I could a teacher who wouldn’t know my mom if she didn’t work here,” Grace Kostoff said. On the other end, being familiar with teachers or staff also means that as a parent, you are better able to connect with the teachers your child has. “You can have one-on-one contact with the teachers whenever you want to kind of touch base and see how they’re doing. I don’t really see any disadvantages,” Spanish teacher Angela Keaveney said. “Maybe if my kids were trouble, that would be hard because they would be reflecting of me, but I have great kids.” While Angela Keaveney
psychologist Kathryn Huls junior Ezekiel Huls
points out the benefits, Kathryn Huls believes that her being a psychologist at the school can create conflicts. “I think the only disadvantage is me having to be extra careful about confidentiality because I can maybe tell a story about work, but I have to be really careful so that he wouldn’t be able to identify anybody in the story,” Kathryn Huls said. Another disadvantage for a parent is the feeling of being overinvolved in their child’s social life. Principal Chip Pettit says he does his best to avoid hovering his son. “I’m very informed about what is going on at school. This can be tough for your son or daughter because the school should be a place where kids can go and do their own thing and learn how to manage their own lives. To have a parent here can be a challenge for them,” Pettit said. “I try to stay out of my son’s busi-
special needs teacher Tara Kostoff sophomore Grace Kostoff
ness and not look over his shoulder. Kids need room to grow and experience both success and failures. I believe he should be able to go through his school day as if his parent were not in the building.” While Pettit tells of a parent’s perspective on the possible drawbacks of being intertwined in their child’s school life, senior Jacob Keaveney shares a student’s view. “I just have to be more careful in what I do and what I say to teachers and other people here because I know my mom is here, and I don’t want to ruin her reputation,” Jacob Keaveney said. Although the circumstances of a parent working at one’s school can cause occasional stress, Kathryn Huls feels it has given them more quality time together. “I think we were pretty close already, but I think having the shared experiences and kind of knowing the culture and the ac-
tivities that are going on at the same time help us have more to talk about,” Kathryn Huls said. “Like we were able to go to the play together, and I thought that was really neat because he knew some of the kids in the play. We could talk about that and just enjoy things together.” Like Kathryn Huls, Tara Kostoff feels that being apart of the faculty has not made them closer, but given them more topics of conversation. “I know what is going on in school or things that she wouldn’t tell me normally. I know what to expect or what to ask her about. I’m more in the know,” Tara Kostoff said. The double roles as having a job in education and a parent, however, for some does mean that the child will not be able to attend their parent for their educational purpose. “If Zeke ever needed a special education evaluation, I would not be involved. Ethically, we would need to reach out to a different school psychologist. We’re prohibited from having dual roles,” Kathryn Huls said. While having a parent that plays a role in education may seem to add more pressure to do well in school, Jacob Keaveney feels it hasn’t affected him much. “They were always hard on me before, and now it’s just continued since she’s been a teacher. I’d say she’s a lot more understanding with me because she understands more of how a high schooler thinks nowadays,” Jacob Keaveney said.
sports inklings april 27, 2018
extra points
YOUNG COMMITS
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Overall I’m very happy with how our season is going so far. We have a shot at doing something big this year.
Marek Bauner junior
upcoming games girls track
The Princess Relays 4-27
boys track
The Kokomo Relays 4-28
girls softball The Lakeshore Invite 4-28
boys baseball Noblesville Invite 4-28
POLL
Will the Cavaliers return to the NBA Finals?
17 yes 45 no
OUT OF 62 STUDENTS POLLED Photo provided by https://creativecommons.org/
PHOTO BY HENRY WITHROW Freshmen Madi Young, Anna Holloway, and Madi Elish pose on Crown Point’s softball field. Young has committed to Bowling Green, Holloway to Notre Dame, and Elish to Arizona.
Freshman softball players commit early to Division 1 schools BY ELIZABETH GONZALEZ repoter
Waiting the majority of a person’s high school career to find out where they will continue their sport is something most athletes go through. Committing to colleges is something that can be very stressful. However for freshmen Anna Holloway, Madi Elish and Madi Young, this was not the case. Before even entering their freshman year the girls already knew were they would be continuing their softball careers. Holloway will be Fightin’ Irish at the University of Notre Dame, Young will be a Falcon at Bowling Green State University, and Elish will be a Wildcat at the University of Arizona. Picking these universities was a unique experience for each of them. For Holloway, she has always loved Notre Dame. “Every college looks for something different. Even if you are a really good shortstop, they might not need a shortstop so they won’t pick you,” Holloway said. “There is something special about the Notre Dame campus, a feeling I knew I wanted to be apart of it. My sister going there was also a big deciding factor.” Elish related to the feeling Holloway felt. When she stepped foot on Arizona’s campus she knew that was it. “When I first went there it was just the scenery of the whole campus that drew me in. On top of that, the coaching staff was so generous and all the people who go there love it there. Of course the softball, they have such a good soft-
ball team. Their whole organization of softball is so family oriented. It is something I am eager to be a part of,” Holloway said. Making varsity for any freshman is an accomplishment in itself. However these girls have gone above and beyond. Even with all of the limelight being on the girls they choose not to let it get to them.
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It feels great to be able to have the opportunity to go to college and do something I love. Madi Young freshman “It feels great to be able to have the opportunity to go to college and do something I love,” Young said. “As a pitcher I feel less pressure now, but I know I still have to work hard to keep my commitment to the college that I love.” Their journeys in softball is one that is unique to each one of them. Although they all seem to attribute their success to their travel ball teams. “I think my travel team has contributed so
much to my growth as a shortstop and just a player in general,” Holloway said. She and Young both play for the Beverly Bandits, a travel organization centered in Rosemont, Illinois. “It is huge being able to be apart of an organization that allowed me to play to my full potential. To be exposed to all different kinds of colleges, and tournaments from a very young age. I would say I have to attribute everything to my travel team,” Holloway said. While Young and Holloway are on the Beverly Bandits, Elish’s travel team is called the Orange County Batbusters. The Batbusters is a team out of California, Being able to play the different teams and talents out there was definitely beneficial to Elish. Just as the other girls feel, Elish is very thankful for the role travel ball has played in her life. Although travel softball is a huge help for recruitment purposes, playing on a high school team can help just as much. Now in highschool season, the girls have been welcomed with open arms by the varsity team. “The team has welcomed us great. I absolutely love all of the girls and they are amazing both on and off the field. I have gotten to know them very well, especially because Alexis got to play with a few of them last year. I knew most of them prior to the season, but now as I am actually playing with them I realize how lucky I am to be apart of a team such as this one,” Holloway said.
Golf utilizes long off-season to prepare for upcoming challenges BY JAKE MCCALLISTER assistant sports editor
My moment of the month ... “...shutting out Chesterton. Beating a team of that caliber showed what we can really do as a team. Senior Ryan Bolda Baseball
Even though the team is supposed to be a month into the golf season, the boys have not been able to participate in a tournament yet this season due to weather. Until mother nature cooperates, the golfers will remain off the tournament greens and fairways. “The weather has been awful so far and it has really limited us to properly practice and prepare for the season,” junior Bryant Callander said. The Bulldogs cannot catch a break with this year’s weather. Their home course has struggled to hold up with all the rain and poor weather we have had. Yet with all this poor weather the boys have remained optimistic. The delay has made them more excited and more determined to accomplish their goals. “The team is pretty excited to break and the season to start so that we
can get to playing matches and tournaments and the more importantly just get better,” Callander said. Guys on the team have still been able to keep themselves ready. Senior, Yianni Kostouros has been anxiously awaiting for this season to begin. “I’ve been practicing inside all winter and it is very exciting to be outside competing and seeing my hard work pay off,” Kostouros said. It’s fair to say golf has had a slow start this season. But with high expectations and a solid team, the Bulldogs can go a long way. “We want to win the DAC, beat Lake Central at sectionals, and qualify for state,” Kostouros said. There’s a lot of golf to be played. When the weather starts to act normal, the Dogs will have to make up conference matches to get as prepared as they can be before sectional golf begins. Their first match was Tuesday against Merillville and Valpo. Crown Point won the match to finally start off the year.
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sports inklings april 27, 2018
Tennis starts season strong led by senior talent BY EMMIE MCCONNELL reporter
PHOTO BY JESSI ALCORTA-ROBLES Senior Danielle Altpeter preparing to pass Chesterton runner during the 4 x 800m. The Lady Bulldogs lost to the Chesterton Trojans after a hard fought meet.
New talent to fill in for previous point-scorers BY GWYN ISAACS reporter
On track for success, the girls track and field team has been dominating through a challenging season. The team is hoping to improve their performance from their previous season and are striving to achieve personal goals that everyone has set for themselves. Senior Alex McCall ended last year’s season strong, and has hopes of repeating her success. “Last year the season ended with a high as I was the Sectional Pole Vault Champ, and placed fourth at Regionals. This year the goal is to finish my senior year off strong. I also want to give next year’s team a solid foundation to build upon, and for them to continue the tradition of improvement,” McCall said. “As a team we won DAC, Sectionals, and Regionals. The improvement this year is focused on limiting injuries and coming together as one team.” The girls have been trying their hardest to train this year to ensure that they will be strong competitors throughout the season. Workouts are carefully thought out each week to make sure the girls are not too fatigued for their upcoming meets. “Training has been hard but it has really been paying off. Every practice our team puts in effort to ensure that we will make improvements throughout the season,” junior Kirsten Macintyre said. “Hopefully all my hard work will pay off. My main goal is to break 60 seconds in the 400 and to make it to state for my 4x400 relay.” Although practices can be rigorous, the intensive training improves the girls’ chances of achieving their goals. With hard work put in, the girls’ goals are not far from reach. Junior Maddy Donofrio has high hopes of making it to state. “My goals for this season are to qualify for state in at least one of my events and to hit a 25 for my 200,” Donofrio said. Since girls track and field begins in the spring, it is a major
obstacle for the girls when the weather is not in their favor. The team’s meets and practices have been confronted with rainstorms this season, which changes their presumed plans. “The weather has really impacted our times and we have had two meets cancelled, but we are looking to see better weather for better performances,” Macintyre said. The season started on Apr. 19. The girls started strong and are planning on staying that way for the entire season. With a strong sense of determination, nothing can get in the way of the Lady Bulldog’s success. Coach Florek has been making sure that girls are on track to defeat all competition. “It’s been going well. We faced some pretty challenging teams our first few meets,” Florek said. “Overall it has been good and it’s good to see everyone stepping up and cheering everyone on.” Although many talented teammates are gone, Coach Florek believes making sure the girls are healthy will be a key component of their success. “We lost some people last year. But, we have had quite a few people step up this season like our distance group and our 4x8, and 4x4 also has really been stepping up this season,” Florek said. “So the biggest thing right now is taking care of injuries and making sure everyone is healthy at the end of the season.” Not only does the team’s determination help with their success, but the team’s natural bond helps motivate them to do their best. “The bond that we share is one of friendship and hard work. Since December we have diligently worked to improve, and along the way we have all become friends,” McCall said. “The team relies on everyone doing all that they can to make the team better. I hope that at the end of the day everyone knows that they have a valued place on this team.” With a strong motivation to step up, the girls track and field team is on their way to a successful season.
A force to be reckoned with, the Crown Point girls track team is coming into the Spring season with lofty goals. A combination of hard work and dedication has led them to a successful start to the season. Leading the team to its victories so far is the senior class. The number one doubles for Crown Point, senior Caroline Sarbieski and senior Emily Campbell are guiding the team forward and have goals to push even farther. “Our goal this season is to dominate the region in every way possible. Last year we went 8-0 in the DAC and were doubles MVPs and that’s a major accomplishment to me. We always play teams that brag about having the best doubles in the area and Caroline and I constantly go out there and prove them wrong,” Campbell said. “She and I work well together because we’ve been hitting together for years, we share the same passion for the sport, and we’re both equally competitive. We constantly push each other to play our best game and to come out with the win. And we always find ways to laugh and stay loose by having fun and making jokes with one another on the court. I love playing with Caroline and I can’t imagine taking over the region with anyone else.” Coach Brian Elston believes the team’s success started in the offseason and expects to continue getting better after every meet. Being 4-1 along with a 1-0 conference record, the team has potential to have high success. “Our seniors have done a very good job especially in the off-season. Our expectations are the same all the time get better for the next match so that way by the end of the season we will be at our peak,” Elston said. Teamwork is what Sarbieski and the rest of the tennis team live by. For any team, though, a major element to winning games is being able to work as a team and the tennis team takes major pride in that. “We tell our whole team that we are indeed a team. We make sure we cheer and support everyone on the team. We play as a team always even though it looks like an individual sport and always laugh about the vibes we have with each other but this is our second year playing together and we are very comfortable and have a good time. I fire Emily up and Emily calms me down we work well together,” Sarbieski said. The tennis team is heading to the Zionsville Invite on April 28.
Softball continues with their success and remains top dog in region BY JAKE MCCALLISTER assistant sports editor
Last year’s state champions have gotten off to a hot start. They are 11-1 and 9-0 in conference and are ranked 5th in the state. Even with an underclassman dominated roster, the Bulldogs have been dominating their opponents. “Our underclassmen are very mature and hold their own very well considering how they have been very successful so far this year. The leaders have helped them be confident and helping them get to know our opponents,” junior Brooke Manhatton said. The upperclassman have led by example. The freshman and sophomores have done a great job of contributing. Freshman, Anna Holloway, is leading the Lady Bull-
dogs in home runs and RBIs while playing solid defensively at shortstop. Meanwhile CP’s 2 best pitchers this year have been both freshman Madi Elish and Madi Young. Elish has a 1.80 ERA and Young has posted a 2.12 ERA respectively. Caitlyn Phillips leads the team in batting average “We keep them encouraged and determined so that when they get older they can be leaders too,” junior Grace Frazier said. Playing in a lot of big games over the last year, these younger players have had to adjust to playing with nerves. This team makes sure to pick someone up when a mistake is made. “I’m always pretty comfortable out there and even if I make a mistake, my teammates will always back me up,” sophomore Zoie Rettig said.
The Dogs have exceeded expectations this year starting the year ranked behind Lake Central and Kankakee Valley in the area. They beat LC handily earlier this month 13-4 and have KV circled on their calendar. But, the girls are still just trying to take it one game at a time. “Every high school team has the same goal for the end of the year but we are not looking over any team and playing each game like it’s the most important game of the season,” Rettig said. Crown Point is continuing their success. Even though other teams are putting a target on CP’s back. Even though they get their opponent’s best in every game they play, the girls are just focused on having fun together. “We have a lot of fun playing together,” Manhatton said, “Most of us have been
teammates even before high school and have been friends for a long time. Being able to get together and play for our school and being able to play with girls of different ages is awesome.” The Lady Bulldogs look to stay hot in their Mishawaka invite tournament this Saturday. Their next home game is May 3rd against Penn right after taking on Lake Central again at their place May 1.
Team ERA
1.95
Batting Avg.
.403
Homeruns
12
Total Runs
107
sports inklings april 27, 2018
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column BY HENRY WITHROW sports editor
Ben Simmons should win NBA’s Rookie of the Year
PHOTO BY JESSI ALCORTA-ROBLES Senior Kristian Beebe winds up to throw a pitch against the Lake Central High School batter on April 10th. The Dogs took the win.
Baseball focuses on present matchups to succeed BY TIMMY ABBOTT
assistant sports editor
Well into the regular season, the baseball team has a lot to be happy about. With 8 wins compared to only 4 losses, the Bulldogs are in contention for the top spot in the Duneland Athletic Conference. Junior Ryan Fender understands that their upcoming performance could have huge implications on whether or not they will achieve that goal. “These next few weeks are huge for us. We have some really big conference games and some big nonconference competition this weekend. Winning these games would give us a huge boost in confidence because it will put us in a great spot to win the DAC,” Fender said. The Bulldogs defeated Chesterton and LaPorte this week, while also taking a loss to LaPorte in a separate matchup. They played another game against Michigan City yesterday afternoon, but it ended after press time. Coach Steve Strayer feels somewhat satisfied about how the team played this week, but also knows they can’t let off of the gas pedal anytime soon. “We need to have more consistent effort game by game. We played exceptionally well against Chesterton, then had a down first game against Laporte, but then we played better against them,” Strayer said. “We have
to bring the energy every game consistently because we’re gonna have to do that in the state tournament if we wanna win.” While he acknowledges the state tournament as a long term goal, Strayer tries his best to keep his team honed in for each individual matchup. However, not every game ends in a Bulldog victory, so bouncing back after losses has been crucial for the team’s overall success. “After we lose we try not to reflect on it too much,” senior Scot Ferkull said. “We know that baseball is a game of failure so we can’t focus on small mistakes. After a loss we just go to practice the next day and try to simplify things.” Those practices, which have contributed to the team bond that Ferkull calls “the best of any team he’s ever been on,” has fed into the overall morale of the Bulldogs. Fender has been observing the positive attitudes of his teammates since the preseason. “We’re having a bunch of fun this year. I think what has made it so fun is how close our team is. Everyone is great friends with each other and we work together great. This year’s team truly feels like a family,” Fender said. The Bulldogs will play four games next week, the first one scheduled for May 1 in Valparaiso.
During the NBA postseason, typical debates consist of who should win the MVP and what team will win the NBA Finals. Rookie classes in past years have not been incredibly stacked and the Rookie of the Year votings have been fairly easy choices. This year, however, the Rookie of the Year voting is a pretty hard decision. Jayson Tatum. Donovan Mitchell. Ben Simmons. Although the three rookies have had tremendous seasons, two stand out as front runners. Simmons and Mitchell have undoubtedly proven to be worthy of the award, but only one can win, and I believe Simmons should take it home. Yes, the first argument that comes to mind is that he is a “red shirt.” However, many rookies in the past have done what he has done, including Blake Griffin. Simmons missed his entire first season due to a broken bone in his right foot which meant he could still be a “rookie” for his second season. That aside, Simmons has had a phenomenal rookie season. Simmons, through 81 games, nearly averaged a triple double. He scored 15.8 points a night, tacking on 8.1 rebounds and 8.2 assists.
Along with his fantastic statline, he has led the 76ers to the 3rd seed in the Eastern Conference and a first round win against the Miami Heat. In addition, Simmons and teammate Joel Embiid led the Sixers to their franchise record win streak with 15 dubs. During this historic streak, Simmons averaged an astonishing 14.7 points, 10.1 rebounds and 10.9 assists. Simmons has a better supporting cast than Mitchell but has definitely proven that he’s a great leader. Being called the next LeBron James undoubtedly means something special, and not many players get the luxury to be called one of the next greatest basketball players ever. Simmons has many reasons to be the most deserving of Rookie of the Year and has incredible potential. As a rookie, LeBron James averaged 21 points, 6 assists and 5.5 rebounds, which is close to, if not worse than Simmons’ averages this season. Donovan Mitchell has had an incredible rookie season as well. If he were a rookie in any of the past five seasons, the trophy would be his. This year is the year of the process, though, and Ben Simmons will certainly take home the hardware.
Seniors prove to be key members in track team’s early success BY TIMMY ABBOTT
assistant sports editor
The boys track and field team’s regular season is well underway, and they have enjoyed a fair amount of success so far. Their most recent meet took place on Tuesday afternoon, which netted the Bulldogs a win against LaPorte and a narrow loss against Portage. Coach Keith Iddings is very satisfied with how well his team did despite the split outcome. “I think the guys did a great job; we saw some phenomenal performances,” Iddings said. “One of the realities of track and field is that you have no control over how the other teams are going to do. We lost to Portage last night because their guys also had some phenomenal performances and finished barely ahead of us.” Carrying a 3-2 win/loss record, the Bulldogs’ self esteem is collectively very high, as they believe they’re defy-
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ing negative expectations that some had for them in the preseason. “Having some success early on has been a big confidence booster,” senior Josh Whitaker said. “I think a lot of people did not think we would be good this year since we graduated some talent, but we have done exceptionally well with the guys that we still have.” Whitaker, who has experienced plenty of individual success so far this season, credits the team’s collaborative success mainly to his coaches. “Coaching has been the biggest reason for our success so far. I am thankful for Coach Forehand for taking so much time to ensure we are getting the most benefit out of each training opportunity. Overall, every one of the coaches has made it apparent that they care about our success just as much as we do,” Whitaker said. Senior Jason Collins has observed that the team has
been very motivated on off days, which is a very common trait about successful teams across every sport. “The feature of the team that has been most important this season has been our work ethic,” Collins said. “Everyone on the team works hard each and every day to have a chance to make it to state.” Seniors such as Whitaker and Collins, according to Iddings, have acted as a key cog in the team’s system, playing the all-important role of mentor to the younger athletes. “(The seniors) have done a great job; they have the experience and can help the underclassmen understand where they’re supposed to be and when they’re supposed to be there,” Iddings said. “It’s a huge help having them there.” The Bulldogs will look to hold on to their winning record this Saturday at the Kokomo Relays before hosting their Senior Night on May 1.
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arts & entertainment inklings april 27, 2018
inreview
“A Quiet Place” thrills viewers with original storyline BY MORGAN COOPER
“September” Taylor Swift Taylor Swift has released a new cover of the popular song “September” by Earth, Wind and Fire. Many fans of the band were not happy with her remix of the cover. The beat she takes on falls flat to the band’s originality when they first released the song.
“No Tears Left To Cry” Ariana Grande Ariana Grande came back from a two year break of not releasing any music with her new single “No Tears Left To Cry.” From the beginning it is very upbeat, and has an optimistic feel. It is about moving on and getting over a situation. The positive lyrics in this song is what sets it aside from her others.
“Truth or Dare”
reporter
“A Quiet Place,” the new drama/thriller that has received a lot of hype, is everything it promises to be. This movie isn’t the typical ‘scary movie’ that just uses blood and jump scares to scare you, this movie actually keeps you on the edge of your seat, constantly wondering what could possibly happen next. The movie opens with the story about a family trying to survive in a dystopian apocalyptic world in which aliens have invaded Earth. These aliens use sound to hunt so the only way to survive is to live in complete silence. This was accomplished by the main family, although very difficult at first. Giving birth without attracting the creatures is a challenge that they had not had to face up until now. One thing that some people may find irritating is that the movie may leave you with more questions than answers about the origin of the man-eating extraterrestrials. This could also be considered favorable since the movie doesn’t ruin the plot by trying to create some elaborate origin for the aliens. Many movies involving unearthly beings have terrific plots that are ruined by writers
trying to come up with a stretch or spin for how aliens came to be on Earth. “A Quiet Place” leaves that up to the imagination breaking the traditional alien movie cliche. Director and star, John Krasinski, artfully drew the audience in by creating such a sincere family dynamic that viewers fell in love with each and every character. The chemistry was undeniable between the cast which can be contributed to the fact that the stars of the movie, John Krasinski and Emily Blunt, are married in real life. Instead of introducing characters for the sole purpose of killing them off, “A Quiet Place” lets you form a bond with the characters and has you rooting for this family to survive what seems like an impossible situation. This film is also refreshingly original since the cast actually communicates through American Sign Language throughout the film. One of the stars, Millicent Simmonds, is genuinely a deaf actress so there is the authentic use of ASL throughout. Some people may find reading the subtitles during the film annoying, but overall it is a minor inconvenience for the excellent experience that this film provides. A movie with very little au-
dible dialogue and music is not something many people hear about and immediately think they want to see, but it truly shows one
that they don’t need suspenseful music and lots of useless dialogue to produce an amazing film with an incredible story and acting.
A movie based on the popular childhood game ‘Truth or Dare” is brought to life by “Pretty Little Liars’” Lucy Hale and “Teen Wolf’s” Tyler Posey. The movie keeps viewers on the edge of their seats as the five friends find themselves trapped in a never ending life or death version of the game. Throughout the movie the audience learns shocking details about the characters’ lives, showing their true colors.
“Fortnite” continues to gain fans on various devices
“Since I Was Broke” Russ
“On My Block” represents diverse coming-of-age story
BY KIRA SCHUELKA associate editor
It seems as though every teen is playing the game “Fortnite.” “Fortnite” originally came out in July and has since spread to many platforms of game play increasing its popularity. Players can find this action packed game on a PC, PS4, XBOX or mobile phone. Veteran players have their preferred method but the game is much more centered
to team playing. That is the draw of the game, the team aspect. For those who don’t know, the game starts out with all the players on the battle bus. The bus flies around as players jump out and go to the zones they want to play in. There are always 100 players placed into the game and the overall goal is to be the last person left. The fun created from the game is from running around and
using or making whatever you can to stay alive. There are areas in the game where players can find chests that hold loot. Since there is the team atmosphere, everyone has a different strategy that they bring to the game. There are the more aggressive players and those who go around and wait for the numbers to -slim down before they attack. Each strategy has its benefits. Many have compared it to
BY ARI SETLAK
Russ released another single about how he came up. The song talks about how one has to get into the right state of mind in order to achieve their goals. Russ raps about how he always told himself he would make it. The beat is similar to a few of his songs from his last album.
“New Girl” New Season The next season of “New Girl” is being shown on T.V. and the most recent season, season six, is out on Netflix. Jess will most likely continue to struggle with boy problems including her on and off relationship with Nick. Make sure to tune into the new season or binge all the ones that have passed.
reporter
Just like every other comingof-age story, the struggles of everyday life come alive in the new Netflix series “On My Block.” Unlike others, this show displays the hardships of four high school freshmen in an inner city neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. Diversity is key in this series. With little to no shows that actually have representation for the Latin and Black communities, it is fresh and relatable. Although it is only 10 episodes, which is three shorter than the Netflix standard, the individual characters’ back stories and plot lines will take you on an emotional roller coaster. The show follows Monse, Jamal, Ruby and Caesar. The main plot is driven by the four trying to get Caesar out of a gang, in which his brother is in charge. Through many unseen obstacles like a new friend, Olivia, joining their group and love triangles, it really show-
cases the everyday drama that teenagers go through without being overly dramatic. It does not make high school problems and relationships seem as though they aren’t real. It really keeps you on your toes with how many plot twists it includes. There are so many turns that are so unexpected, making the show even more interesting. It will make people that never cry or get emotional become attached, and develop a need to finish the 10 episodes. Even smaller roles, like the many different supporting characters, are really what help
to make it so funny and unpredictable. Jazmine, for instance, is one of the main supporting characters that adds a special touch to the plot with her humor. The last episode was the best. It answers all of the questions that have been going on during the season, and concludes with an ending that will leave everyone shocked. This cliffhanger ensured that the viewers would all come back for season two to find out what happened. With a storyline that intriguing there was no way that “On My Block” would not get renewed for season two. Just
a Hunger Games style since it is built on eliminating the competition. Also, similar to the movie, players can drop into a location they don’t know well and must move around quickly. The game is for the most part free but there are add-ons that cost money. That hasn’t deterred fans as the game has capitalized on revenue from those obsessed. Will you be playing “Fortnite” soon?
as fans were hoping for, it did get renewed for a second season on April 13, almost a month after its release date on March 16. This show is really great for its inclusivity, but it does highlight one of the main problems that go on in Hollywood. The main controversy and criticism it has received is about Ronnie Hawk, who plays Olivia, not being Latin. The character Olivia is a Mexican girl whose parents have been deported. If the show was really trying to make representation a focal point, they should have found a girl that is Latin to play the part, especially because that character’s predicament has become a reality for many. Anyone who loves a show that can tackle real issues while finding a way to make them light hearted would love this show. It is a 9 out 10, I would highly recommend it to everyone. Shows now can be a powerful tool used to educate oneself on current real life situations, “On My Block” is one of them.
arts & entertainment inklings april 27, 2018
High School movies vs. Reality BY MARIA JEFFIRS JACOB JOHANSSON reporters
High school is a place where teenagers can start to discover who they are and what they want to do with their lives. In movies, it is not always expressed that way at all. In high school films, there seems to
column BY GRACE CLELAND
always be the stereotypical jocks, cheerleaders, nerds and theatre geeks. Of course, all movies have some realistic aspect to them, but it always varies from movie to movie.
Mean Girls- Realistic
“Mean Girls” is a popular movie that was a staple for teenage girls living in the mid 2000’s. Although the movie highly exaggerates the struggles of fitting in with the popular crowd, it accurately depicts the feelings and emotions of being a new student in a big public school. The more unrealistic aspects of the movie come forth as physical objects in the script. Things like the granola bar that makes you fat or the “nerd to hot” makeover are over the top and ridiculous, but the ideas and morals of the film still stay within the realm of reality.
The DUFF- Unrealistic “The DUFF” is a film that attempts to show how teenagers feel in high school. A “DUFF” stands for ‘Designated Ugly Fat Friend.’ This movie has the same plot of turning the nerdy girl to a pretty, popular one. Another way this movie is unrealistic is how they constantly use the term “DUFF”. That phrase would never be used in today’s society. In the end, the movie accurately shows how someone would feel after being called ugly or other hurtful terms.
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off- Realistic “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” is one of the most famous films to come out of the 80’s. Despite only a small portion of running time taking place in a high school, Ferris and his friend’s wacky adventures while ditching school is a plot that’s relatable to younger generations who are grasping to ignorance and living in the moment.
High School Musical- Unrealistic “High School Musical” is a movie series that is aimed towards a young audience, so it does not accurately represent the way high school runs. The meaning of “High School Musical” is to do what one loves and love doing it, but in the first movie their secret talents and hobbies are frowned upon. The only true believable high school aspect of it is that teenagers can be involved in one thing, but another thing that is completely different.
co-editor-in-chief
Hollywood love is not unique What is love? Is it a person, feeling, idea, one of these, all of these or none? We look many places to find the true definition of love, but it is all individual. The concept of love has taken a toll on Hollywood couples and the common phrases I have heard since Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan have publicly announced their split have been: “True love is dead” and “Will we ever find love?” Honestly, if you were looking to read about love, I am going to disappoint you. Instead, I want to pose the question as to why do we look at Hollywood love like it is everything? It all started with Brad and Angelina. After their 12 year relationship, the couple called it quits. They had a family of adopted and biological children, but that was not enough for them. This made a statement that Hollywood love is not the end all, be all of love. When Tatum and Dewan got married most thought they would be together for life, but that has since been proved wrong. They claimed they’ll be a family with their daughter of course, but no
One may argue that “The Breakfast Club” is the quintessential high school movie. The simple plot of five students spending a detention in the library is the perfect setting for a film targeted to a younger audience. Although it’s 80’s quirks may make some scenes seem unreasonable and over the top, it’s underlying themes and loving characters makes it a timeless piece of cinema. It doesn’t take itself too seriously, but serious enough for one to get invested and relate to the characters.
Portillo’s Chocolate Cake Shake Portillo’s is known for its legendary chocolate cake and its deliciousness is only increased in shake form. Portillo’s $3.55
The color yellow Now that spring is finally here, the color yellow is the perfect addition to any and every aspect of life.
Pita Pit has vast menu, lacks flavorful choices Healthiness and taste often do not go together. Typically the most delicious food often happens to be the least healthy. Pita Pit strives to combine both into pitas that are healthy and fulfilling, but seems to fall short on any flavor. The restaurant does have an impressive menu with many topping choices for the food. Customers are able to either choose off of the menu, or create their own pita. There are also a wide range of options for people with dietary restrictions, or who prefer vegetarian or vegan friendly foods. Although the option of creativity is appealing, their menu items are lacking. The pitas often have more lettuce than meat, making it nearly impossible to taste the already flavorless meat.
The latest addition to their menu, the thai chicken pita, tastes like nothing but sriracha sauce. The overwhelming spiciness makes it impossible to taste anything else. It is almost like its presence only serves the purpose of hiding the fact that the pita is otherwise tasteless. The actual amount of chicken on the pita is very small, and does not taste much different from plain chicken even though it appears to have seasoning. Another issue with Pita Pit is the price for the quantity given. A small pita costs around $6.50, and a large pita costs around $8. This seems pricey considering that the pitas are mostly filled with cheap ingredients. Their portion sizes are decent, but customers definitely pay for more than they receive. The cost of a meal with more than just a pita would rise rapidly if sides and a drink were added.
Despite the food and price, the overall dining experience is enjoyable. The interior is similar to that of any other fast food restaurant. The employees are friendly and welcoming, and the service was fairly quick, even with a steady stream of customers. Another positive feature of Pita Pit is that is offers easily accessible information about nutrition facts. This may appeal to health conscious people who want to know how many calories they are consuming depending on their choices. Although the good service and welcoming atmosphere make Pita Pit seem appealing to customers, their food lacks flavor and is disappointing for the price. Hungry customers looking for good fast food at a decent price would be advised to find somewhere else to eat.
longer a couple. Good for them. They are making a decision that is healthy and reasonable for the both of them and their daughter. On the other hand, we have Khloe Kardashian and Tristan Thompson. We all thought they were a cute couple, never ending, very happy and excited to welcome their new born until days before she goes into labor and the news breaks of Thompson cheating. I feel as if it would be very wrong for Kardashian to get back with Thompson because of his cheating allegations, but there are more factors to weigh, too. For family and stability reasons to raise their newborn, it would be nice, but if Thompson is going to continue to cheat on her, then no they should not get back together. Nobody deserves to be cheated on. We all talk about looking up to these celebrities and their love life and we want our love to be like theirs, but in reality, we don’t see every part of their life. We only see what E! News broadcasts, the shows they star on broadcasts and their posts on social media.
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The Breakfast Club- Realistic
BY ALEXANDRA SULEWSKI reporter
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Simple necklaces An easy way to accessorize, these necklaces brighten up any outfit. Various retailers $3-20
WE’RE SO OVER
Contaminated romaine lettuce
The outbreak of E. coli linked to romaine lettuce has ruined the ability to enjoy a good salad. Although the source of the infected lettuce is known to come from Arizona, it is still not confirmed making no romaine completely safe to eat. Hopefully it is figured out soon so that salad can once again be enjoyed without fear of illness.
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Just got my hair cut and the barber said “have a good time at prom” and I responded, “thanks you too.” My life is over. @Nmorgan03 junior Nick Morgan im on my fifth cup of straight black coffee today. 2/10 would not recommend. can’t stop shaking.
sophomore Bridget Rayonec
Dote The mall of online shopping, Dote allows its users to shop at several stores at once from the palm of their hands.
@bridgieray
Happy DNA day to Rosalind Franklin only
senior Callan Wichowsky @callangw
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best game HUJI Growing up, disposable cameras were the way to take pictures. HUJI restores these nostalgic picture types.
@apigaday Boasting almost 20k followers, this account adds cute pictures of little pigs to your timeline. Follow to add a bit of brightness to your Instagram experience.
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people inklings april 27, 2018
Walking on the wild side
Torreano brothers spend spring break outdoors while hiking various trails BY AUDREY GACSY ELIZABETH GONZALEZ DOMINIC THESPHASDIN co-editor-in-chief reporters
With chess you need the pieces, in football you need the gear, but for senior James Torreano, all he needs is a pair of shoes to pursue his passion. Hiking, Torrano’s favorite thing to do, has been a part of his life since early childhood. “My parents would always bring me and my brother camping when I was little,” Torreano said. “We would go out west to the national parks and go hiking.” Torreano admits that the biggest influence on his hiking is his choice to participate in the school’s cross country team. “I have always loved trail running. I try to do it as much as I can,” Torreano said. “My longest trail run was probably 15 miles, and that definitely helps you to be able to go a lot longer and it has given me the endurance for hiking. According to Torreano, hiking has given him the opportunity to enjoy the world around him. Every hike provides a new feeling and experience. “At some point I want to hike the entire Continental Divide trail. The continental divide is where all the water either flows to the Mississippi or the other side of the ocean. You are basically hiking on the top of the Rocky Mountains,” Torreano said. Torreano enjoys that hiking helps him loosen up and escape the rigors of society.
PHOTOS PROVIDED BY JAMES TORREANO Senior James Torreano (left) hikes on West Rosebud Trail along with junior Jason Torreano (right). The brothers were on a hiking trip heading to Mystic Lake.
“It is very calming, being able to be self aware with yourself and nature is a great feeling,” Torreano said. “Just being able to connect with nature and observe things is great.” Most recently, Torreano spent this past spring break taking an unplanned hiking trip on his own. “I got bored basically, so I decided to just get up and go. I packed all my stuff and went down to North Carolina and hiked part of the Appalachian trail,” Torreano said. The path Torreano followed
gave him time to both hike, trail run and explore. It also proved to be more challenging than he first expected. “I was expecting the Appalachian trail to be a calming experience, but it ended up being very crowded. There were a lot of people passing people every five minutes it was very stressful,” Torreano said. “I did a half a day the first day, and then I slept on the trail overnight. I think I got roughly 40 miles total. I spent the rest of the time camping and trail running.” While hiking and outdoor
Who
Club Culture
Biomedical The Heart Walk mascot walks around celebrating event’s success.
Co-sponsor Kelly Chevalier says, “The Biomed Club reaches out to those students currently taking any of the four classes aligned with the PLTW Biomedical Pathways classes. They are encouraged to join the club as it adds and builds upon what we do in the classes.”
activities are popular hobbies for many, Torreano has decided to make his love for outdoorsmanship his target career. He has committed to pursuing a college education at Montana State University starting this fall. “I have always thought I would want to be doing something where I am not stuck in an office. I want to be out doing something preferably in a place I love,” Torreano said. “(Montana) is very close to a lot of activities you can do. I also love to hunt and fish so I think it would be cool to have a job that helps protect those activities for future generations.” Torreano’s high school education has also impacted his choice of college. He realized he had a love for science. This love for science as well as hiking helped sway what he exactly wanted to do. “I have always loved science. I loved AP Environmental Science with Mr. Correa and AP Biology with Mr. Elston,” Torreano said. More than anything, hiking has become Torreano’s favorite activity because of the intense emotions he experiences. It allows him to have a once in a lifetime experience. “When you get to the top of the mountain it gives you a feeling of accomplishment and self gratification, like a feeling you are doing something that some other people might never get a chance to do,” Torreano said. “You might not ever be back in that spot for the rest of your life, so you have to stop to take it in and remember it.”
What
“We have hosted the High School Heart Walk in conjunction with the American Heart Association for the school these past two years. This year, we combined this event to include a Health Fair too. It allowed us to include local organizations and their specialties into our students’ lives,” Chevalier said
When
“The CPHS Heart Walk/ Health Fair already took place this year (March 9th 2018). Next year, we hope to move the event back to the spring (possibly late April) and have it either outside on the track again or maybe in the field house,” Chevalier said.
James’
CAMPING Gear
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Food Water Water filter Camping stove Tent Backpack Sleeping pad Sleeping bag Compass Rain gear (jacket, etc.) Warm clothes Camera Phone Walking stick Hiking shoes
Fast five Caleb Kavanaugh
“I would just say to stay organized. I know most people have a system, so don’t fall off that boat because it really helps to keep up.”
-Freshman Elizabeth Leitzel
“Try and stay as focused as possible because being a senior I am definitely suffering from senioritis. Time management helps me get my homework done.” -Senior Anna Biesen
“Just focus on your school work and write out the last few days of school strong. Focus on what you need to do to help your grades stay up.” - Senior Octavio Qrquiza
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What Do You
Think
What is your best tip to get through the end of the school year?
Sophomore
“My best tip would probably be really stay focused . For me it is just pray it through, because I don’t know how else I could do it.” - Senior Ashley Gonzalez
Meet and Greet Kanye West because he is my favorite rapper of all time.
Livin’ in a Pineapple Spongebob, it was my favorite show when I was little.
Money Hungry Food because I am always hungry. “Having the mindset that it’s almost over and that there is only a little bit left that is very important. Slowing down now would ruin what you have done all semester so you have to push through because there is a 3 month break ahead.” - Sophomore Beelal Tebry
That’s Embarrassing I got pantsed this year. Musical Interest The guitar because I feel like it’s a skill that everyone should have. It’s really cool.