Cooper Lake Portfolio

Cooper M. Lake

Writing A lack of words During the year I did not do as much writing as I probably should have. I consider myself a good writer, My only struggle is I have issues meeting word counts. I usually feel like I say what I want relatively quickly and find myself stretching out the rest of the article and having it be bad. I wrote a story on the nest leaders and I feel I did a decent job. I found myself struggling to meet the word count as always. I classify this as my “best” work because it is my only work of writing. The reason I chose to write this story is because I am friends with several of the nest leaders. I ended up needing a fair bit of help following journalistic rules for writing and getting the proper amount of quotes. In the end I was happy with how the article turned out but I feel it could have been better. I have been trying to improve my writing skills But every time I get a story I don’t know what to say. I would say the technical side of writing I have done pretty well but the more content oriented side of writing eludes me. The story improved greatly from the first draft. The first draft had a lot of errors and did not have the proper amount of quotes and I did not Interview a teacher. After the first round of edits I was able to get better quotes and interview a teacher.

Nest leader Nest leaders are a handpicked group of students chosen to lead cheers at sporting events to get fans excited and full of spirit.

Nest leaders organize chants and cheers for Students to use at games to motivate falcon athletes. Nest leaders can also assist stucco in the organization and implementation of activities for students in the stands. Nest leaders are often students who like attending football games and showing their school spirit so they are a good example for proper participation at school events.

“Most often, nest leadership has been something students have been thinking about since the first football game they attended their freshman or sophomore year,” said Allison Zilka Nest leaders are chosen by Student Council advisor, Cameron Bender based on who would best represent our school. Bender seeks to ensure nest leaders care about the school and will do what is necessary in the name of school spirit. The kids themselves come to Bender to request to be a nest leader.Nest leaders for the most part choose themselves, a lot of nest leaders have wanted it for a long time. To be a nest leader there are no prerequisites other than being passionate about your school. Despite what most may think you do not have to be in the student council to be a nest leader.

“Any student at this school can become a nest leader as long as you have the passion,” said Matt McGregor, a senior nest leader.

Being a nest leader is a student’s choice but if they make the choice to be a nest leader once it is a commitment. They have to attend most, if not all sporting events. Nest leaders practice and plan for upcoming events with the help of the student council.

“Since there are a lot of games to attend in a year, nest leaders also need to be good at time management and following through with commitments,” said Zilka Nest leaders do what they do because they care about their school and want to help spread school spirit. The kids who become nest leaders are the same students who already attend most sports games and participate in spirit days.

Photography Capturing the Moment

This year I was primarily responsible for taking photos. I consider myself a good photographer but I have struggles in certain areas of photography. My biggest issue is I can get uncomfortable taking photos in public spaces. I also can sometimes focus too much on the technical side of photography and not as much on the artistic side.

I took a lot of photos and frequently had my photo as the front page. I enjoyed being able to get creative with the front page and taking good photos.

I didn’t always get my assignments done on time but I feel I always did get them done in time for production day. I tried my best to show some of the less experienced photographers things but I found it hard to articulate instructions. I also Spent a lot of Time editing photos for the paper.

My editing process has several steps.

I Spent a lot of time lightening and sharpening other peoples photos. It is a relatively easy process but I should not have to to the extent I was. Too many photos that required a significant amount of editing.

I also was able to do more stylistic editing at times. To retain journalistic integrity I was for the most part unable to make photo changing edits. I also helped people cut out photos for the paper as well as teaching others how to brighten and sharpen.

Technical

Technically the Best

So after the first issue I was named “Technical Editor”. This meant I would be in charge of making sure there are no technical errors in the paper. A technical error can be anything from misaligned boxes to missing photos. I also helped out with the photo editing process. On production day my main job was to act as tech support and make sure indesign was running smoothly.

I really enjoyed getting questions from the editors and helping them figure it out. I was new to indesign this year but due to me having lots of experience with adobe programs I was able to catch on quite quickly and swiftly became very proficient.

After production day I would get a copy of the paper to proof over and check for things like the absence of photo credit or miss matched fonts.

Leading

Lead to Victory

I have always considered myself a natural born leader. I not only excel when put into leadership positions but I truly enjoy doing so. I did not have too many opportunities to lead this year but I was able to teach. Teaching is a very valuable skill especially for leaders. I very much enjoyed teaching the editors and photographers as much as I could. I think I could have been better at working with the less experienced editors while making their pages.

I say this referring to occasions where I had to make pages for certain editors, I turned it into my page rather than working together to teach and make it “our” page. I did however do a good job leading the photographers in my opinion.

I went to classes with them to take photos in an educational way, and when editing I showed them what I needed to do and what they could do to limit my work load. I wish I did better with the photographers. In the beginning of the year I gave a presentation on light editing and file management.

I believe the presentation went over well. Obviously nobody was going to remember the photoshop techniques I talked about but it showed them what is possible. This allowed them to come to me more with things they wanted done and I showed them how.

Tear Sheets Bask in the glory

October THE NEWS

4 ● OCTOBER 6, 2021

Improv In Action. Improv team

member Zander Bezotte plays the game Shift Left by pretending to be a rocket ship beside the captain of the improv team, Claire Geare.

October 6, 2021 Volume 13, Number 1 Cactus Shadows High School Scottsdale, Arizona

THE CSPRESS

Key Club provides volunteer opportunities for students This year the club will partner with the Environmental Club to plant trees across campus Peyton Marinelli

spotlight editor

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Volleyball captain Gianna Palma is also a member of the Joker’s Improv team. Participating in both activities is somewhat of a balancing act. SEE more on page 8.

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Mask mandates cause stress Arizona law goes into effect on September 29, barring schools from Peyton Marinelli implementing mask mandates

aCooper Lake

Spotlight Editor

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ESPITE THE INCREASE in Delta Variant cases, many states have eased COVID-19 restrictions. Some, including Arizona, have gone so far as to restrict mask mandates in schools, and to fight the Biden Administration about requiring vaccinations in larger organizations. As of October 27, school districts in Arizona can enact their own mask and vaccine mandates.

While groups spar over the efficacy of masks and vaccinations, medical professionals are speaking up about the need for both.

“A large overarching ban by the state on the ability to require masks takes away the ability for smaller groups to make decisions on the topic specific to their needs and the work that they do,” said a nurse, who wishes to remain anonymous.

Parents need to stay out of the student parking lot. Editor in Chief, Claire Geare, lets loose about this frustrating phenomenon. SEE more on page 8.

Where it Began

Since the Delta Variant hit, the United States has experienced a dramatic spike in positive cases, due to the highly contagious nature of this mutation of COVID19. According to The New York Times, 100,000 confirmed cases were reported

Nike Dunks and Jordan 1’s are rising in popularity. SEE more on page 14.

for the first time since February.

There are multiple reasons as to why this increase occurred. For one, the United States had already lifted mask mandates back in March, making it difficult for people to go back to the original policies. As well as fewer people wearing masks, there are less individuals getting vaccinated. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, clinical trials show all three of the COVID-19 vaccines are effective in preventing serious illness, hospitalization, and even death.

Hitting Close to Home

Doug Ducey, Governor of Arizona, has issued new mask mandates regarding COVID-19. According to the Office of the Governor, Arizona does not permit mask mandates, vaccine mandates, and vaccine passports. While many agree with the mask mandates in place, others are seeing this as the Biden-Harris administration avoiding their responsibilities concerning the pandemic.

While Arizona has become lenient regarding masks, Arizona officials are strongly urging the state to get vaccinated. As of now, 50.9% of Arizona is fully

vaccinated.

“I think that each individual person should be able to decide if they would like to wear a mask or not, especially with the vaccine, so I think suggesting it is better than requiring it,” said Katelyn Wible, a senior.

See Mask on page 2

Travel

THE CSPRESS

OCTOBER 6, 2021 ● 9

Arizona’s famous cliff dwellings Livia Lowe Opinion Editor

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LIFF

DWELLINGS

ARE

ancient houses built in caves. Many Native American tribes used those as their housings for safety from flooding and other weather issues. There are three major cliff dwellings in Arizona: Montezuma, Tonto and Walnut Canyon.

Each has deep histories in how they were constructed and their purpose, much of it still remains unknown.

Montezuma Castle

MONTEZUMA CASTLE. CASTLE a cliff dwelling that has been around since the 12th century, still stands today to be considered a national monument.

4 Cooper Lake

The effectiveness of safety gear Sarah Love

Trending Now Editor

With so much desert surrounding the Cave Creek community, it is no surprise that many member’s favorite pastimes are activities such as motorcycling. However, with a rising accident rate for these vehicles, it’s important to stay safe.

“In my mind the best piece of safety gear you can wear is a helmet because you can scrape up or break an arm and heal, but you can’t always heal an injured brain,‘’ saidZane Kloss, a sophomore.

A helmet is the single most effective way to reduce head injuries and casualties. Helping to reduce the impact and pressure of an accident on the head. When a helmet is not worn, motorcyclists become more at risk for internal as well as external brain injuries.

According to the Center of Disease Control and Prevention, helmets reduce the risk of death by 37% and injuries by 69%, in 2016 an estimated

1,859 lives were saved simply by the use of helmets and an additional 802 lives could have been saved if the motorcyclist was wearing a helmet. More than one billion dollars in economic costs could be saved if all motorcycle riders wore helmets.

“It’s like playing with fire and one day it may be a serious regret, it just takes one little accident, one little thing to go wrong and not wearing proper safety wear just adds on to the chance of injury,” said Cesar Rojas, a motorcyclist.

Safety gear is a necessity.

Motorcyclists are 25 times more likely than the passenger of a car to die in the case of a traffic accident.

In a serious motorcycle crash, a helmet is the best hope of protecting the brain. Arms and legs should be completely covered while riding a motorcycle, even when it is hot outside.

Heavy denim, nylon, and leather are ideal, these materials could possibly save the rider from abrasions and burns. Gloves protect the hands in

case of collision and allow for better grip while the boots keep the ankle covered. Wearing bright colors and reflective clothing allow the motorcyclist to be more easily seen by other drivers on the road. Prevention is the best way motorcyclists can assure the safety of themselves. Wearing the proper gear is a big part of the list of things they can do to stay safe.

“As a motorcycle rider you really have to look four times as much, four times as long as the people driving cars because they can’t always see you,” said Anthony Vergovia, a senior The majority of crashes that occur are not the motorcyclists fault. Despite all the prevention motorcycle accidents do occur. In an effort to keep everyone safe, share the roads, remain alert and be observant. Defensive driving is the practice of actively reading the hazards that may be on the road and being able to predict the moves of the drivers around. A skill that every single person driving a motor vehicle should learn and practice.

Montezuma castle is Arizona’s most notorious cliff dwelling.

Located about 10 minutes outside of Camp Verde, Montezuma is five stories and has 20 rooms. First discovered in the early 1800’s, it was believed to be built by the Aztecs and was named after the emperor Montezuma but that was later disproved.

Sinagua Native Americans were the ones who built the structure around the 12th century. After about 3,000 years they abandoned it for reasons unknown. A small river, named beaver creek sits right under the dwellings to cool off and take a swim.

Unlike some of the other cliff dwellings, Montezuma is easy to access. It is just a half a mile walk from the park entrance and it is a small paved route.

Admittance is $10 per person but anyone under 15 is free. The park also offers free admittance on holidays posted on the park website.

Tonto

The Tonto cliff dwellings are located right outside of Roosevelt lake overlooking Tonto Basin. These dwellings have two parts to them, the upper cliff dwellings and the lower cliff dwellings. Just like Montezuma, Tonto was abandoned before it was finished being built. It was full of life for about 1,000 years and the reason for the sudden departure from the Salado Native Americans, who built the structures, is unknown.

To reach the dwellings, it is a three mile hike round trip.

Unlike Montezuma, a tour guide and reservation is needed to visit the dwellings and there is a $10 entrance fee. Tours are only available from November to April.

K ellen R oyer

a senior

Livia Lowe On September 17, the Cactus Shadows Improv troupe had its first show at the Fine Arts Center.

Improv is a form of comedic theater in which the script is made up on the spot.

The actors will be given a character or prompt on the spot and will have to make up the scene based around these roles.

These prompts are given by the audience which adds a level of engagement to the act.

“It harbors creativity and problem solving so the kids are usually really quick witted and punny so it’s fun to hang out at rehearsals and be creative,” said Andrew Cupo, supervisor of the improv club.

Improv at the school has undergone many changes since its conception.

When it first started, instead of having one big team there several teams made up of four members. The previous drama

a junior

THE CSPRESS

Buffalo Chip Saloon offers many types of fun

Nothing says old West more than this popluar dining, dancing , and entertaining restaurant Hudson Ellis staff writer

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HE BUFFALO CHIP Saloon

and Steakhouse is a restaurant, dance hall, and mini-rodeo located in Old Town Cave Creek. With bull-riding, dance nights, and even church services the saloon provides a plethora of activities for all ages.

“I love that it feels like I’m walking into a completely different world.“It’s a cowpoke’s turf, so giddy up or get out,” said Monet Emry, a frequent patron of Buffalo Chip.

Founded in 1951, the Buffalo Chip originally started as a feed

and bait shop that was set up on the way to the Horseshoe and Bartlett lakes. The Chip has grown to a legendary status among Old Town.

“You get to meet people from all walks of life,” said Shelby Poe, a server who’s been working at the Buffalo Chip for around six months.

Part of what makes the Buffalo Chip so unique is its country theme. The saloon offers free line dancing and couples dancing lessons on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and bull riding every Wednesday.

“Please dress to impress. This means going in with belt buckles, cowboy boots, hats, and a yee-

haw attitude,” said Emry.

Besides the activities offered, the menu offers a wide variety of country style food. The restaurant is known for its barbeque and country sides such as “Cowboy Beans” and “Mom’s Potato Salad” that contribute to the saloons overall theme.

“I love our mac ‘n cheese, and a lot of people love our brisket as well,” said Poe. The Buffalo Chip experienced a fire back in 2015, which swept across the saloon and dance hall, burning it to the ground.

Fortunately, no one was harmed in the fire. Despite this, owner/ proprietor Larry Wendt vowed to

rebuild the restaurant and keep all the staff.

I think it sucks that it burnt down because it’s like a big staple of old town and Arizona culture. It’s a big blow for the people who ride there too, since it was one of the only places I know of for rodeos,” said Annie Bugbee, a senior.

Wendt passed away this year on August 23, aged 65. A memorial was held that Sunday at the Buffalo Chip. Wendt had owned and managed the restaurant for over 20 years.

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Please dress to impress. This means going in with belt buckles, cowboy boots, hats, and a yeehaw attitude” Monet Emry

regular customer

aCooper Lake

Lastly, Walnut Canyon is eight miles east of flagstaff.

Walnut cliff dwellings are composed of 25 different rooms spanning 20 miles but many of the rooms aren’t accessible to the public. It is not clear who exactly built these dwellings but it is believed to be ancestors of the Hopi tribe, the Sinaguan tribe later inhabited these dwellings after the Hopi had left.

The hike to the dwelling is only a one mile round trip but could be difficult due to the high elevation. A tour guide is needed to look at the dwellings as well as an $15 access fee. Tours are only available in the winter months, November through April.

Haunted Houses

“For summer break I stayed out of my house, and I worked on some projects outside the house helping my dad fix stuff and I also went to the water park with some friends” Calin Young

3Will Donegon aCooper Lake

a junior

TERROR NIGHTS HAUNTED HOUSE

Through Nov. 6 7 p.m. - 12 a.m.

Oct 28-30 7:00 p.m.— 10:00

6555 E. Southern Avenue, Mesa

Free

Superstition Springs Center

Jaivon Swecker

groups for games we’re gonna do,” said Lailie Eckman, a senior.

To join the improv team, it is a rigorous process. Members are being judged based on their on the spot creativity as well as being able to work well with the other members.

“Definitely try it’s super fun, come to the workshops.I also highly encourage people to take my theater course because we spend a whole eight weeks learning about improv and the basics,” said Cupo.

Last year because of COVID-19 restrictions, Improv had a couple shows in the lecture hall as well as livestreamed every show but this year they are going back to having all shows in the lecture hall. Improv shows happen once every other month totalling four throughout the year. Tickets are five dollars and the next show is in November, the date is to be determined.

Creeker

10 ● OCTOBER 6, 2021

SANCTUM OF HORROR

“Over the summer I spent most of my time playing football and hanging out with my friends.”

teacher then picked four teams out of the whole to perform at the shows. This was not long lived, however; The next year, it was decided that there would be one team instead.

Members of improv love the family that being on the team creates. It is important for the members to figure out who they work well with for the games to go as smoothly as possible. Being on the team also requires an extreme love for being on stage and making others laugh.

“I like being on stage and I like making other people laugh, I always did it in class so I thought why not do it infront of 200 people,” said Adam Schwartz, a senior and an improv co-captain.

Before shows, it is important for the members to meet to discuss some of the plans for the games.

“About an hour before the show we fill out a form choosing games we want to play and then the captains put us into

Walnut Canyon

Man on the Street What did you do over summer vacation?

“I went to Utah and I drove to California and back and just had some fun.”

Joker’s Improv makes its mark with the first show of the school year staff writer

Black and White

Whether an individual is pro-mask, or anti-mask, there is no question that this discourse has created a great divide not just in Arizona, but in the country. Since the changing of rules and regulations regarding COVID-19, there have been protests in schools, streets, and in the workplace.

In schools, parents have become vocal about what they want for their children, causing certain districts to gain, or lose students. A statewide survey conducted by the Arizona Republic revealed 59% of parents opposed legislation from prohibiting mask mandates, and the other 37.5% supported the measure. As for requiring masks, 57% of parents believe they should, and 40.8% disagree.

ACTUS SHADOWS KEY CLUB, a club for Community Service, is ready to help the community through volunteering.

“So far this year there’s been enthusiasm and it’s been super fun. A lot of good energy at the different meetings with good turnout,” said Danae Sprouse, advisor of Key Club.

Key Club meets every other Thursday after school and is open to every student here on campus. The club is led by advisor, Sprouse, and club President Reagan Fenicle.

Key Club is community service and project oriented. Many opprutunities outside of campus to earn community service hours are provided.

Additionally, every meeting counts as one hour of comClub members munity service.

Club members volunteer volunteer at at Kiwanis, food kitchens, Kiwanis, food and animal rescue facilities here in Cave Creek. The kitchens, and main lessons students take animal rescue away from the club is student leadership, and profacilities here service. in Cave Creek. viding “I decided to become president to bring in other members to share the joy,” said Reagan Fenicle, president of Key Club.

A way the club brings its members together is through its yearly trip. Since Key Club is an international club, students who participate will be invited for a trip with the other members.

“I joined my freshman year from club rush and they swung me because they said it’ll look good on your application and you get community service hours,” said Libby Hord, vice president.

The main goal for the club this year is to become a tree campus. Many trees were wiped out from storms over the course of last year, leaving lots of room to grow more, here, on campus. To accomplish this, Key Club is planning to collaborate with the Environmental Club to help them plant the new trees in a joint club initiative.

Key Club has many goals set and in action for this year all while helping the community and making the campus a better place for its students.

$24 general admission/ $35 fast pass

p.m.511 E. La Donna Drive, Tempe

SCARIZONA SCAREGROUNDS

Places in Cave Creek now hiring Frys Retail Clerk

Oct 8-Nov 1 6:30 p.m.— 10:00 p.m.

1901 N. Alma School Road, Mesa $40 general admission

Chipotle Team Member Dairy Queen Nektar Juice bar

THE BIRD CAGE THEATER

Math instructor at mathnasium

13TH FLOOR HAUNTED HOUSE

Oct 1-31 6 p.m.. — 12:00 a.m.

2814 W. Bell Road, Phoenix Free

Food server at First Watch

Year-round 6:15 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.

535 E. Allen Street, Tombstone

$14 general admission, $25 ghost tour

3Jonathan Geare

3 Owen Taylor

Spotlight

12 ● October 6, 2021

THE CSPRESS THE CSPRESS

October 6, 2021 ● 13

SPOTLIGHT

In With the New

Local reseller Justin Merola making it big Philip Tate

Editor in Chief

Justin Merola is a local reseller who buys sneakers, clothes, and pokemon cards to act as his job and main source of income.

“I bought my first pair of expensive shoes and realized people get them for retail and sell them for more, so I tried doing that and than I actually hit on the snkrs app and sold it for a really good price and I just kept doing that,” said Merola, a Junior When Merola buys shoes, he typically buys the same shoe in bulk for a little more than retail for each shoe. He then flips each sneaker for 20 to 30$ more than he paid. Merola sells his shoes through instagram @ az_hype13, to local reselling shops, such as Wang’s Closet, and on GOAT or Stock X. As of now, Merola is holding 17 pairs of the recently released Jordan 1 Retro Pollens that he purchased off another reseller and is waiting until December to start trying to sell them.

“I usually go to wang’s closet because they give cash, but if I don’t like their price I’ll go to another shop or use GOAT and Stock X, and right now I have 17 of the pollens in my inventory that I’m going to sit on for a few months because the price right now is low, I’ll probably sell in like december,” said Merola Merola’s reselling instagram account is mainly for shoes he only has one pair of. Sales through instagram happen pretty frequently and on each post he gives the name of the shoe, size, says if it comes with extra laces and box, condition of the shoes, and his buy it now price. Each listing also includes a picture of the shoe showing its condition, and the sole showing how much it has been worn.

“I sell pretty frequently on Insta and I usually do the singles that I have instead of all the bulk because singles are easier to ship out the the buyer,” said Merola Justin has fifteen shoes in his personal collection with his favorite shoe silhouette being the Jordan 1 Retro High.

The new leader is taking over a job that has seen many principals come and go Sarah Love

Trending Now Editor

New principal Sarah Barela joined the administration team only about one week before school started this year.

She is the third principal at Cactus Shadows in just four years.

Because of these turnovers, it can be challenging to come in as a new leader, but this does not seem to bother Barela.

“It’s been really good, I like it alot,” said Barela. “The kids are fun, the community is great, you all are passionate about the school, being Falcons, and it’s been a great experience so far.”

Barela was previously an assistant principal at Chaparral High School in Scottsdale, which is larger than Cactus Shadows, with 2500 students. Other than size, the schools are pretty similar when it comes to programs, needs and community expectations.

“I’m excited to see the Nest on Friday to see how it compares to

the Bird Cage at Chaparral,” said Barela. “It’s pretty intense, they have their own instagram.”

As far as the students go, Barela said that so far the students here are “kinder, softer in their approach,” and said she thought the Falcons are better than “those Firebirds.”

When Barela is not being a principal, her family takes up most of her time, although she does like to hike and owns a Peloton that she rides almost every day.

“In my free time, my three kids are kind of my life. My middle child plays club volleyball and my son is getting into baseball and basketball, so we spend a lot of time with that,” said Barela.

Since Barela has only been here a short time, students are just beginning to learn about her leadership style and the relationships she wants to build within the school.

“I really appreciated what she did to honor the victims of the

CATCHING UP Principal Sarah Barela speaks wih senior Christian Manuel about his student-aide position. Barela was hired during the summer to take on the principal job.

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9/11 attacks,” said Sara Patterson, a junior. “Being able to go out in front of the school and stand in front of the flag pole for a minute of silence was meaningful.”

After a year and a half of COVID19, one of the goals Barela has is to build a sense of community. As of now, she is trying to bring back some spirit to campus. Some of the things she plans on in efforts to get the culture and pride increased

Sarah Barela,

the new principal

Man on the Street What stands out to you the most about Cactus Shadows?

What stands out to you the most about Cactus Shadows?

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Cactus Shadows’ athletic program seems to be very involved.”

Compared to elementary school, it takes more to excite the older kids.”

Dara Parsons

Morgan Myrick

art teacher.

4Cooper Lake

The kids are fun, the community is great, you all are passionate about the school, being Falcons, and it’s been a great experience so far.”

English teacher.

MAKING BANK Sopho-

include letting the students do what they can safely, whether that be games, dances, or pep rallies.

“I really hope that we can go back to having dances and assemblies. It just adds to the school spirit when we have events like Homecoming,” said Maya Margarit, a senior.

During all of these tumultuous times, having a principal who is excited to be here can make a difference in the lives of students.

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4Gianna Lazarro

4Gianna Lazarro

Dunking on ‘em

News Editor

Food Editor

An easy way to remove the old parking passes off of any windshield: Before actually removing the sticker there are some items that are necessary to have before starting.

Walmart, Target, and Ace Hardware offer razor blade scrapers that can range from $5 to $15. Any kind of window cleaner such as invisible glass is needed as well.

That can be found also at Walmart and Ace Hardware for about $4. It is suggested to use a microfiber cloth instead of a regular towel to prevent scratching the windshield. Those can be found at Walmart for around $10.

Once all of the materials are gathered, begin the removal process. Carefully push the scraper under the

NEW KICKS. Senior

Will Donegan Staff Writer

THE CSPRESS

How to remove an old parking pass sticker Judy Silva

Philip Tate shows off his new Nike SB X Parra Dunk.

a Cooper Lake

Jordan dunk lows have recently jumped in popularity with students at school.

“I think that they are really hard to get because there is a limited stock of them [dunk lows] when they get dropped,” said Wesley Watkins, a junior.

Dunk lows have been around for about thirty years but have recently jumped in popularity for their use in competitive skateboarding and basketball. Their iconic style comes at a cost however, where collaboration dunk lows, such as the Nike SB x Ben & Jerry’s or the Nike SB x Cactus Jacks, regularly sell for over 1,000 dollars. People often ask, why are they so expensive and hard to get?

Watkins also told us that dunk lows were released on a website called SNKRS, and the shoes are released in a draw. The draw is open for ten minutes, and after ten minutes it closes and the selections are made. The shoes retail price on SNKRS is $110, that price is doubled and even tripled someFor me the times on marketplace apps like shoes are worth Stockx and GOAT. “For me the shoes are worth it, the colorways it, the colorways go so hard, and go so hard, and they’re popping because everythey’re popping one is wearing them,” said Nelson Lee, a junior, who has had his because eyes on the dunk lows and Jordan everyone is lows for a while. wearing them.”

Lee brings up a valid point: lots of people at CSHS are sportNelson Lee ing the dunk low look. School can be a dirty place for shoes and you a junior, who has had his could run the risk of potentially eyes on the dunk lows and damaging your 2-300 dollar shoes.

Jordan lows for a while.

Some do not want to risk getting these shoes dirty.

“I actually won the new Dunk low SB parra’s in the draw and I skate in them daily. I’m not really worried about damaging them because they are made for skating,” said Declan Hill, a junior.

The new Dunk low SB Parras, a shoe that was released for this year’s summer olympics in Japan, goes for 500 dollars and more on GOAT. The Dunk lows and Jordan low’s may be expensive, but with the way the draw is set up one might get lucky one time and snatch a pair.

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Food Editor

FRESH START. Cooper Lake, a senior, uses a razor blade scraper from Ace Hardware to peel off the old parking pass sticker without leaving residue.

a Cooper Lake

Students put a ring on it

The latest fad to come to campus involves finding a ring for every finger. Find out where to purchase the perfect ring.

Travel Editor

Rings have been seen worn by faculty, staff, and most prominently students around campus, as they have jumped in popularity over the recent months.

They aren’t wedding rings, but rather non-marital rings used for style and a way for people to express themselves. Animal, skull, simplistic, and customized rings are all amongst the many styles of rings that are offered.

There are a variety of websites, companies, and businesses that sell these styles of rings. Some of these places include SHEIN, Kohls, and Macy’s.

“I get my rings through online weba Cooper Lake sites as well as Kohls and they range from 50-100 dollars”, said Flynn Cook, a college student at the University of Arizona.

Rings have first jumped up in popularity and became trending during the beginning of the year, however the hype of them has continued to grow as more and more people are seen wearing them. Many social media platforms and influencers promote rings, which could be a reason for their incline in popularity.

“I have been wearing rings for about eight months, and I enjoy wearing them because I feel that they look good

and help improve my style,” said Jacob Harris, a senior.

Some only wear one-two rings maximum, while some also enjoy cluttering their hands with a variety of rings to help express themselves and their style. With rings on every or every finger, it is wondered if having that many rings affects day-to-day life.

“Wearing a lot of rings doesn’t have much of an effect on my life, as I have been wearing them for quite some time and am used to them at this point,” said Elizabeth Cox, a senior.

As options have opened up and more websites have appeared, rings are typically pretty cheap to purchase, ranging from ten dollars up to 30 dollars. There is a ‘high-end’ aspect to rings, like everything else, where the price can exceed 200 dollars or more (without diamonds, etc.). As far as purchasing rings, people decide where they want to buy them from. Due to them being such a light manufacturing cost, companies don’t tend to charge much for them, however when choosing rings it is important to know what material is most durable.

Thin styled rings, or those made of a cheap material have a higher chance of breaking, bending, or decaying, however the material it is made from can have a huge impact on the longevity of the item.

When Donda was released, West has publicly stated that it was not his choice.

According to West, “Universal put my album out without my approval and they blocked Jail 2 from being on the album.”

Jail 2, officially titled Jail Pt. 2 did officially release, however, this begs the question of whether West would have actually released Donda if Universal had not done it for him.

Since the album’s debut, critics have been leaving mixed reviews on the quality of the album. Many criticize the persistence West has to let his religious ideology directly fuel every aspect of his creativity. While religion has always let religion influence his sound, West has dramatically increased the role and effect his spiritual side has played in his creative process.

The album is titled after his late mother, Dr. Donda West who died due to heart failure as a result of a plastic surgery mishap. As a tribute to this, the album opens up with, Donda Chant, a song that repeats the word, “Donda,” over and over again in order to mimic her final heartbeats before dying.

THE CSPRESS

Judy Silva

sticker until one side is completely lifted off the window.

Be sure to scrape away from your body to avoid injuring yourself. Continue that step until all sides of the sticker are peeled off and avoid ripping the sticker. Ripping the sticker will take longer to remove and is more likely to leave behind copious amounts of residue.

The removal process should only take about 2 minutes if it is carefully executed. Make sure to move the blade flat with the curve of the windshield. Once the sticker is removed spray on the window cleaner and let it sit. After a couple seconds, wipe the sticker residue off with a towel. If the residue still remains, repeat the previous step until the window is completely clean.

Jaden Lea

Kanye Wests’ new album breaks internet After three live performances, years of speculations and leaks, as well as a plethora of media attention, Kanye West finally released his tenth studio album Donda on August 29.

Throughout its creation, the album has undergone many changes and rearrangements to meet the rigorous routine of rewriting and reworking songs to meet his level of perfection.

An article from GQ Magazine, a long running publication specializing in style and culture, explained that almost half of the songs originally shown off on July 22 at the first show underwent significant changes over the month between then and the album’s debut.

This is not unorthodox behavior for the rap giant. Since West’s mental health began to decline in 2016 during the tour for his album, “The Life of Pablo,” West has created and scrapped four albums, while only releasing three solo projects.

band director.

Style

14 ● SEPTEMBER 28, 2021

4Cooper Lake

David Lane

The students here definitely have a greater eagerness to get involved with extracurriculars more so than at my previous school. You won’t go to too many schools that have band at 6:15 in the morning and still have kids wanting to show up and do that kind of thing.”

Andrew Geare

4Gianna Lazarro

more Justin Merola has a significant online presence. Merola has been flipping clothes since the eigth grade.

Low rise on the rise

Low rise jeans have been around for decades, with different ways to style and wear them coming into play.

“Kids wore low rise jeans as a nod back to 70’s bell bottoms and wanted a different way to wear denim,” said Elissa Ericson, a fashionable dance teacher.

Between the 1960s and 1970s low rise pants were created and named hip huggers. Young men and women would be frequently seen wearing these hip huggers with belts. These pants exposed the navel to fit into the sexual revolution that demanded for a free, and loose style to express one’s sexuality.

As history moves forward these pants will be seen coming back into fashion on multiple occasions. In the early 1990s, an English fashion designer named Alexander Mcqueen created a line of ultra low rise jeans, and at the time were called dumpsters. The goal of these denim pants were to show off protruding hip bones and rest below the waist.

“I’m heavily inspired by my friends and celebrities such as Britney Spears and Rihanna,” said Maddie Swansiger, a senior.

Throughout the 90s, a multitude of celebrities such as Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, and Mariah Carey, popularized these denim pants. These celebrities were the main inspiration for the Y2K fashion style that includes low rise jeans. Some current celebrities that have hopped onto the trend are Bella Hadid, Ciara, Dua Lipa, and Willow Smith.

Now that low rise jeans are coming back into style many clothing brands are offering their own pairs of low rise denim.

“I love going to Goodwill to find my jeans because it’s cheap and I can alter them if it doesn’t fit,” said Tilda Hanlon, a senior.

Some large brands that offer low rise jeans are Urban Outfitters, Aéropostale, Levi’s, and Hollister. Each pair of jeans can range from $20 to $60 depending on the design and cut. Some jeans can be straight legged, flare, and even baggy.

There are countless ways to style low rise jeans and it all depends on personal style.

Hailey Bieber was seen with low rise jeans on, a colorful tank top, and a matching pair of heels.

Katie Holmes was seen with a long sleeve sweater, low rise jeans, and black boots. Emily Ratajkowski styled her low rise jeans with baggy pants and a matching blazer. These pictures prove that low rise jeans can be styled anyway possible and leave room for creativity.

DARING DENIM. Sophomore Lauren Heideman wears low rise jeans paired with a long top for a cool contrast. a Cooper Lake

“I mean, we’ve seen a pattern from Jesus is King to now Donda, I’m sure he’s gonna follow this route of a little bit more religious themed music for a little bit,” said Caesar Rojas, a fan of Kanye West since his 2007 album, Graduation.

Critics have also been quick to say that the album is very chaotic and directionless, with a lack of higher calling as seen on his more critically acclaimed works such as, The College Dropout, and My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy.

While critics may be mixed right now, West is no stranger to having his album release with a lukewarm reception and gain a steady increase in popularity with time.

Works such as, “808s and Heartbreak,” and “Yeezus,” both received mixed reviews upon release, however, both albums received later praise over time for their influence on the rap genre as well as their unique sounds that were ahead of the curve in many ways. Only time will tell if Donda will follow a similar fate, or fall into obscurity as West has possibly put his best days behind him.

Coming soon to a galaxy near you David Lane News Editor

Disney Plus is ramping up the amount of Star Wars shows exclusive to Disney Plus this Fall. With the upcoming release of shows like Star Wars Visions, as well as The Book of Boba Fett by the end of this year, Star Wars fans everywhere are excited to see what these new shows have to offer.

Star Wars Visions, a 10-part series of anime-style shorts, just released onto Disney Plus as of September 22. It’s use of a Japanese style of animation rather than a traditional western one makes it a unique specimen within the catalog of Star Wars related media.

“I’m excited about the new Star Wars Visions and the effect it will have on future show and movies.” said Calvin Demmit, a fan of Star Wars since elementary school.

While no date has been set for its release, the third season of The Mandalorian has begun filming with an expected release date around October of 2022. This will mark an almost two year gap in between seasons, leading to many fans anticipating the release.

“I am so excited for the third season of the Mandalorian because I’ve been obsessed with the show since it first came out. The long delay in between seasons usually means the next part is gonna be really good since they put more time into it,” said Jordan Jeffers, a senior.

While many are excited for The Mandalorian, Disney has decided to capitalize on its success by making a spinoff show based on the long beloved character, Boba Fett. Since his debut in The Empire Strikes Back in 1980, fans of Star Wars have held him in high regards as an awesome villain.

The spinoff, simply titled, The Book of Boba Fett, is expected to release in December of 2021, however, a definite date is not set.

Another fan favorite making a return in the near future is Obi-Wan Kenobi in his own mini-series sometime in early 2022.

To many fans’ delight, Ewan McGregor will be reprising his role as the Jedi master, and will be joined by other actors such as Joel Edgerton, Bonnie Piesse, and Kumail Nanjiana. The show will take place in between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope acting as a bridge for what the polar ends of the force were up to during this time.

“I am excited for the new Obi Wan show, and I hope it comes out as soon as possible,” said Kristine Zeeb, a fan of Star Wars from childhood.

Disney has clearly made an effort to increase the quantity of Star Wars related content on their streaming service. Star Wars fans everywhere are awaiting these new shows to release to enjoy the vast amount of new content.

Making a statement

SEPTEMBER 28, 2021 ● 15

Livia Lowe

Science editor

Statement pieces are a great way to upgrade personal style by adding pops of color, texture, or shape. These pieces can be accessories, shoes, pants, jackets and tops.

All throughout history there have been many instances of people wearing statement pieces. Ancient Egyptians wore big neck collars, gold rings, and earrings. During the early 20th century, women wore large statement hats often decorated with feathers.

In the 1960s, mini skirts were seen as a statement because of how controversial they were.

Life is all about taking risks and it is no exception with style.

Finding personal style can help with self confidence.

“I like experimenting with style by adding bright colors with dark colors for contrast,” said Aubrey Ozaki, a senior It does get harder and harder to find unique statement pieces as websites like Shein and other cheap fast fashion websites get more popular. These websites not only steal designs from independent fashion designers but also the quality they are produced at is low.

Fast fashion websites tend to promote trendy items but once those items quickly go out of trend, the clothes end up in thrift stores which pushes out the one of a kind items many people go to thrift stores to look for.

“Everybody is getting their clothes from Shein because it’s cheap so all of them are having the same style which can affect your personal style and what you like because you’re influenced by everyone else,” said Kaylee Black, a senior.

Having trendy items isn’t a bad thing. In fact, clothing trends tend to cycle and things that were popular decades ago are becoming trends again. Lots of clothing trends from the 1990s are coming back again like baggy jeans and platform shoes. This phenomenon is called the 20 year cycle.

“I really like the style right now because it reminds me of how I used to dress in high school and there’s something comforting in that,” said Angela Thomas, IB coordinator and government teacher.

Styling statement pieces can be a challenge, especially if someone is unfamiliar with fashion. When getting into styling statement pieces, pairing them with basics can make it easier. When it becomes more comfortable, trying to pair statement pieces with other statement pieces can be a fun activity.

“Usually as a rule of thumb I try to do one statement piece with basics but lately I like doing a bunch of statement pieces together and it works,” said Tilda Hanlon, a senior.

Statement pieces are a unique addition to a wardrobe that sets the person apart from everyone else.

TAKING RISKS. Freshman Jacey Habighorst styles her statement handmade handbag. She used thrfted materials to make something unique to her. a Cooper Lake

THE CSPRESS

OCTOBER 6, 2021 ● 19

Apple Keynote Event Turns Heads as New Products are Unveiled

THE CSPRESS

Good Sports

Golf teams have high hopes for this season

New versions of the iPhone, Apple watch, Airpods and iPads have advanced features previously unavailable.

Will Donegan Staff Writer

Many new products were revealed at Apple’s annual keynote on September 14.

The new iPhone 13 is available starting September 24 in a variety of new and improved colors and updated software. The price of the iPhone 12 Pro Max at its launch was 1,400 dollars, and the new iPhone 13 is significantly less at a starting base price of 800 dollars.

“I’m really excited for the new iPhone 13. I’m really into taking pictures and the new camera looks so cool. I’m also a gamer so the new processing chip is going to make game play way smoother,” said Jack Corning, a junior.

The Apple watch series 7 was also announced, with a 20 percent larger screen and enhanced durability. With 50 percent thicker glass than the series 6, Apple boasts the strongest glass than previous apple watch models.

A new sensor installed for the first time in the series 7, allows the measurement of blood oxygen levels, as well as the ability to take an electrocardiogram whenever desired. The battery in the new series 7 has improved its charging rate to 33 percent faster charging than the series 6.

“I’m looking forward to the new apple watch 7 because I

v

NEW IPHONE The highly atnicipated new iphone was released on Septmeber 24. 4Cooper Lake

New iPhone 13 Shocks the World Max Hancock opinion editor

Apple’s annual release event: “Keynote” occurred on September 14 where several of their newest tech items dropped, including the highly anticipated iPhone 13.

The iPhone 13 is the 13th edition of the original iPhone released back in 2007. The iPhone’s refined and advanced design brings more to the table than any of its predecessors.

Apple released four different models of the iPhone, said to have a little something for everyone’s taste.

These different models include, the base iPhone 13, a mini version, the iPhone 13 Pro, and the iPhone 13 Pro Max. Each of these models not only vary in size, but also technological capability.

The iPhone 13 Pro has a lower resolution to the Pro Max, however both models feature 12000 nits max brightness for HDR. Other features included for all models is the True

iPhone 13. This chip is more efficient than the previous A14 chip. The iPhone 13 Pro models offer 50 percent faster graphics performance, while the iPhone 13 models offer 15 percent faster graphics performance.

Onne of the biggest draws for Apple tech buyers is the camera.

Each iPhone 13 model features three cameras. Each camera serves a different purpose, with the wide angle lens now being able to take photos with 47 percent more light. Photos in low light settings are now possible with iPhone’s “Night Mode” camera setting.

One of the most notable releases of the models was the iPhone 13 mini.

The mini hearkens back to a similar feel of the iPhone 4 and 5. The mini is only 5.14 inches long compared to the 5.78 inch base iPhone 13.

The starting price of the iPhone 13 mini is $699 while the iPhone 13 starts at $799.

Tone to match the color temperature of the display to the ambient light, Wide Color for rich, vivid hues, and Haptic Touch for feedback.

One of the most notable features added to iPhones plethora of achievements is it’s durability and water resistance. All models of the iPhone 13 features a ceramic shield cover glass that is advertised to be Apple’s strongest screen yet. In addition, the phone can withstand submersion six meters down for 30 minutes without any long lasting damage to the hardware.

Coming in colors ranging from graphite, gold, silver, and sierra blue, the iPhone 13 features a new and improved aesthetic design. Similar to the previous iPhone 12, both the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro feature flat edges, a stainless steel frame, a textured matte glass back, but a slight increase in thickness.

Apple is really pushing their new A15 Bionic chip that will be in every

workout a lot, and its new health tracking apps will give me more insight into how my body is responding to intense workouts,” said Thomas Staats, a senior.

Apple also announced the release of its new variation of AirPods, the AirPods 3. The new third-generation AirPods promise an increase in sound quality as well as functionality. The AirPod 3 will have a shorter stem and will fit better in the ear while providing more comfort.

The release date has not yet been confirmed on the new AirPods, but according to an article by cnet.com, it will likely be around mid-October.

The last thing Apple announced was the redesign of the all-new iPad mini, with a 8.3 inch Liquid Retina display that promises ultra-low reflectivity while keeping its sharp and vivid colors. The shape of the iPad has also gone through some major changes as the corners have been more curved out, making it lighter and more protected against screen damage.

The new iPad mini is also compatible with the new Apple Pencil 2. The pencil’s ability to lock onto the side of the iPad ensures that it will remain secure throughout use.

Matt Mcgregor

a senior

a senior

“I think it’s pretty wack on Sony’s part.”

K al Goff

a senior

SPORTS

Jordan Kern staff writer

T

HIS YEAR’S 2021-2022 boys and girls golf team is certainly something to look forward to.

“The goal is to always be playing better at the end of the season than the beginning but I’ll probably have to revamp the goals because these girls are playing great right now,” said Mark O’B ryan, the math teacher and girls golf coach.

sports editor

4Cooper Lake

THE CSPRESS

In June 2021, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), released new rules regarding name, image, and likeness.

According to NBC Chicago, NIL rules for athletes compensation, usually money, that college athletes earn for the use of their name, image, or likeness. Examples of this include being paid for autographs, pocketing registration costs for a sports camp they run, or earning a free meal for posting about a res-

OCTOBER 6, 2021 ● 23

Max Hancock opinion editor

In her first year as captain of the varsity volleyball team, Gianna Palma has made waves as a multi talented student athlete and improv team member.

“I was made a captain of the team because I think I have a good mental aspect around the game and I try to keep the energy up for the rest of the team,” said Palma.

Gianna is not only a captain on the varsity volleyball team, but also a valued member of the Jokers improv team on campus. Being associated with both groups, Palma’s excellence in both athletic and academic fields is showcased.

“I’ve known Gianna for two or three years, not super long, but she’s always willing to make sacrifices for the team and really good at keeping our spirits up,” said Rachel Eastburn, a teammate of the volleyball team.

Cactus Shadows is scheduled to play 23 games this year against various other schools, where they will hopefully have a similar successful winning record to last year. In an interview with Palma, she talked about how she had recently quit softball around 5 years ago and how an empty space had been left in her life. Always being interested in volleyball because of its fast paced and team orientated nature, she joined a team at the YMCA. As time passed and Palma’s skills on the court grew, she eventually joined the Cactus Shadows volleyball team, playing as a freshman and sophomore on the JV team. However, it was not until this year when Palma found herself on varsity and a captain.

“To become captain, it isn’t really about how good you are, it’s about your mental aspect of the game and how you can bring the team together,” said Palma.

Palma plans on making a name for herself on both the stage and the court this year. However, with so much on her plate, she says it can be hard to balance the two. The improv team practices twice a week before To become and after school where they have captain, it recurring shows on Fridays. isn’t really Similarly, the volleyball team practices Monday through Friday about how for two hours with games occurgood you are, ring periodically. it’s about your “Between the two, It’s really hard. There’s practice for one mental aspect while another is going on, someof the game times I have to miss one or the other. For the most part I’ve found and how you a good balance,” said Palma. can bring Balancing school, volleyball, the team improv, and home life while being talented at them all is not for the together,” weary.

Palma jumps for victories

“

GETTING READY. Gianna Palma prepares to spike the ball. Palma is in her third season of playing volleyball and her first on varsity. “I try to keep the energy up for the rest of the team,” said Palma. 4Cooper Lake

Gianna Palma

Paige Hammarstrom,

a junior

READY TO SWING. Mikey Shuler practices for the upcoming season. He has played golf at Cactus shadows for 2 years. 4 Cooper Lake

Cait Bunkers

“We are running out of CPU chips!”

C ooper R oderick

I assume we are going to go to state and perform well,”

The first girls game started Monday, August 23, and they began with a spark and a tie. Despite not winning their first game, they won their second.

The girls team, seven time Arizona state champions, is different from last year due to the exit of a lot of seniors, but that doesn’t take away their determination to perform well.

“I assume we are going to go to state and perform well,” said Paige

Hammarstrom, a junior who has played golf since her freshman year.

Because COVID-19 restrictions are no longer in place, sports teams can play in the events they missed out on last year, have spectators, and play without having to follow social distancing rules.

The boys golf team is entering this season with high expectations.

“We have a really new team, a bunch of young kids, lost a bunch of our seniors and top players, but

hopefully we’ll do well and make it to states,” said Alex Herkamp, the number 9 ranked high school golfer in Arizona.

According to The National High School Golf Association, the boys team is ranked number 12 in the United States. To achieve this, the players and coaches have to take the sport very seriously. Every participant has to floow all rules and regulations in order to maintain their eligibility to play.

The Cactus Shadows web page provides a seven paged handbook for the boys golf team that talks about everyone’s tasks and duties such as the coaches and players.

Additionally, student athletes must follow school regulations in order to be eligible to compete.

With high expectations and strong starts, both teams look forward to a smooth season and hope for success in each tournament and championship.

taurant.

The NCAA changed these rules after a series of states passed laws keeping the NCAA from interfering with athletes earning NIL compensation.

Notwithstanding concerns about the new rules damaging college athletics, these changes will be good for college athletes.

First, many college students are in need of financial aid to attend college. According to americanprogress.org, nearly 11 million American children live in poverty.

Because of this, many are unable to afford college. If they are athletes, being able to profit off of their name, image, and likeness will allow them to pay for their needs, such as textbooks, housing, and food, and support their families.

Second, this provides college athletes an opportunity to manage their finances more independently. College is seen by some as a transition period where people are beginning to take control of their own finances and are receiving less and less help from their parents. If

athletes are given the opportunity to manage their incomes independently, they can learn important skills to use after college.

Some coaches and athletic directors may have concerns about athletes wasting the income they receive from sponsorships. However, there is a solution. Students and professors from the college’s business school can teach athletes tips for money management and how to start savings accounts that will be important to their future, and those from the law

school can educate athletes on how to ensure an agent is credible.

Additionally, some NCAA fans have concerns that sports will become more about the money than the love of the game. However, when athletes benefit off their NIL, they are doing it outside of games and competitions.

Despite concerns about the ethics of looser NIL rules, the new rules benefit athletes and their families and give them more independence, improving their livelihoods.

New NIL rules benefit college athletes financially

MAN ON THE STREET: What are your thoughts on PS5 shortage?

“I recently bought a PC, so it’s not a big worry to me.”

“

OCTOBER 6, 2021 ● 21

24 OCTOBER 6, 2021

Fall sports preview Cross Country

As the team enters their 29th season, they have established the goal of winning the state championship.

“This season we want to win states… I think we can do it,” said Caleb Villegas, a senior.

Photo Essay

Kicking the new school year off in Blue 1 1 PARTY STARTER. Adam Schwartz, a senior, opens the floor for the first pep rally of the year. Schwartz has been a part of the Student Council since his freshman year. “I love hyping up the crowd and getting them all riled up”, said Schwartz. 4Cooper

Football

The football team kicked off their season last month with many goals.

“The goal is to make it to the playoffs, then eventually win the championship,” said Jalen Schneider, a football player.

GolF

While both boys and girls golf had their ups and downs at the beginning of the season, they have high hopes for the remainder of the season.

“I’ve been grinding really hard so hopefully we do very well,” said Alex Herkamp, boys golf captain.

2

Lake

2 IN FORMA-

TION SENIORS. Grace Grabham, Eliya Rogoff, Mackenna Hen, and Jordan Polittz hold up their flyer Hailey Menton, in an arabesque stunt, spotted by senior Shea Nollette. 4Cooper

swim and dive

The swim and dive team look to have a very successful season continuing on from what they accomplished last year.

“Our goal for this year’s team is to win state... we are very confident,” said EllaMcConnon, a senior.

volleyball

With six games played and more to go, the volleyball team looks forward to state championships at the end of their season.

“The goal is to win state obviously, and to get better as a team and as players,” said Kamryn Gibadlo, a junior.

3 1 1

Lake.

3 BRASS BOYS.

Freshman Ben Anderson plays the Sousaphone, sophomore Kai Raibino, and junior Simon Karlin on the trumpet, and junior Ashton Sarrett on the mellophone.

4Hailey Dent

spiritline

Besides cheering at fall football games, Cactus Shadows’ pom and cheer programs compete in multiple tournaments throughout the year.

“I think our competition team should at least get top three in state, but the goal is always first,” said Katelyn Wible, a senior.

3 3Jordan Kern

junior

4 CHEERING IN

THE YEAR Varsity Cheer prepairs to perform their first routine of the school year. The team has been practicing the routine since the beginning of august.

4Hailey Dent

Messi departs from Barcelona for Paris Saint-Germain Owen Taylor staff writer

Lionel Messi, soccer player, recently departed Barcelona to play at Paris Saint-Germain.

On August 10, Messi signed a two-year contract with the option to extend it for a third season.

“It was crazy, I open Twitter and see that Messi had officially moved

to PSG and I couldn’t believe it, we will be seeing him in a different jersey for the first time ever,” said Connor Lund, a senior.

Messi will play alongside Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior, a friend of his.

“Having Messi and Neymar back together on one team will surely help win some trophies and produce some great soccer to watch,

so I am excited to see what Messi can do at PSG,” said Kal Goff and long term Messi supporter.

Messi was not the only new addition to PSG. Gianluigi Donnarumma, Sergio Ramos, Achraf Hakimi, and Gini Wijnaldum all signed with Messi.

With these new additions to PSG, many soccer fans expected

the team to perform strongly this season. Additionally, all eyes are on the team.

Over 20 million people started following PSG’s Instagram in Messi’s first two days as a member of the club.

“I think Messi will play well at PSG, hopefully he gets more minutes, but with Neymar and the rest of the crazy lineup they have he

should excel there,” said Andrew Barab-Shed, a former soccer player at Cactus Shadows.

In a nostalgic move, Messi took jersey number 30, his number during his first two seasons at Barcelona.

In his debut, Messi subbed in for Neymar during the 66th minute in a game against Reims. PSG won 2-0, advancing in Ligue 1.

2

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November The News

2 ● NOVEMBER 5, 2021

THE CSPRESS

Supreme Court takes on Texas laws

Claire Geare editor-in-chief

November 5, 2021 Volume 13, Number 2 Cactus Shadows High School Scottsdale, Arizona

The battle for the bond Cait Bunkers sports editor

T

AXPAYERS WITHIN CCUSD boundaries voted on the bond election on November 2. While the results were not available at press time, there were concerns about whether or not it would pass, as the District has historically been unable to pass bonds and overrides. Currently, according to a video on the District website, CCUSD is the only unified district in Maricopa County without an active bond or override.

HOW BONDS WORK

According to the City Sun Times, education bonds are “voter-approved funds used to purchase technology, school buses, school safety and security, athletic infrastructure, and school facilities improvements.” The bond is worth 40 million dollars, and is planned to be used to purchase technology, STEM materials, buses, repair buildings, upgrade school safety and secu-

rity, provide classroom furniture, upgrade athletic facilities, and pay off the energy contract debt. Every school site in the district will benefit from it.

“The school districts in Arizona ask their taxpayers to vote to approve bonds so that we can have additional money to buy things the district needs,” said Marcie Rodriguez, Chief Financial Officer.

The money will come out of taxpayer dollars. The average value of a home in the district is $557,880, and a home at that value will pay about $94 per year, or $8 per month.

“It’s better to have more money towards the school… sure, it’ll be a little bit more tax money, but that’s not very much,” said Belize Ellis, a sophomore.

When a bond is passed, funds are not spent immediately. For the district to receive funds, it must sell bonds to investors. Then, once bonds are sold, funding is received and purchases can be made.

Taxpayers then pay those bonds back.

“The way the bonds work is the taxpayers say ‘yes, we approve selling bonds, and we will pay those bonds back with our property taxes,” Rodriguez said.

The most recent bond in Cave Creek was passed in 2014.

PLAN FOR THE BOND FUNDS

The district posted information on their website as to what the money from the proposed bond would be spent on. The list includes: “Purchase instructional technology and STEM learning materials, school safety and security upgrades, repair and renovate school buildings, furniture and equipment for collaborative, 21st Century learning spaces in schools/classrooms, school buses, update athletic facilities, and pay off energy contract debt.” A more detailed list is available at ccusd93.org.

According to edweek.org, 21st century learning is an educational philosophy that requires students to “master content while producing, synthesizing, and evaluating

information” from a variety of topics.

21st century learning spaces typically model those of “universities,” said Cort Monroe, Superintendent.

Bond funds are also intended to upgrade the district’s facilities and security. A specific concern is fencing around school buildings. During an audit by the Department of Homeland Security, it was determined that schools need better fences to prevent intruders from gaining access to the campuses. Additionally, better fencing prevents wildlife from entering schools.

Another goal for bond funds is to repair Falcon Field, primarily the turf. If turf is uneven, aging, or otherwise damaged, it poses a safety hazard to players.

Additionally, a new sound system for the visitors’ side and new lighting is needed.

See Bond on page 2

STUDENTS WAIT to be released after a student called in a bomb threat to the school in August. While it turned out to be a false alarm, many students complained that the evacuation to the football field did not work. 4Cooper Lake

Bomb threat response causes concern Chris Alexander

continued from page 1

THE CSPRESS

THE NEWS

NOVEMBER 5, 2021 ● 5

Jordan Kern staff writer

it, schools might have to enforce stricter regulations to contain the spread of COVID-19.

“I feel like Ducey’s proposal makes sense, but it’s within the schools rights to do whatever they want because depending on the location in the state, I feel like different COVID restrictions apply,” said Connor Lund, a senior.

According to the Los Angeles Times, at least 29 public school districts had defied the laws and enacted their own mask requirements. Many people believed that mandating masks was against the constitution and the people’s rights.

In a recent board meeting for the Cave Creek Unified District, angry parents expressed their

beliefs on mask mandates.

“Schools shouldn’t mandate masks because kids should be able to wear what they want and those things suffocate you.

A school shouldn’t tell you what

“

Schools shouldn’t mandate masks because kids should be able to wear what they want and those things suffocate you.”

Jayden Bahoura

you can and can’t do,” said Jayden Bahoura, a senior.

Each school’s decision ultimately comes up to the governing board and whatever new rules or mandates created that are put in place by them have to be followed. If not, students may be forced to go back online or find a different school that has different restrictions.

“They were talking about putting it back on the agenda and it’s not even an agenda item again with our governing board,” said Sarah Barela, principal.

As of now, there is no plan to put in place any mask mandates even though the district still has the option to enforce one.

a senior

Advances in North Korea’s missile program surface Hudson Ellis staff writer

Around this time last year, North Korea released a “Hwasong” series ballistic missile into the pacific ocean. The Hwasong-15 missile is realistically able to hit anywhere in the entire continental United States with a range of around 8,077 miles and an altitude of 2,796 miles. This new ICBM, the Hwasong-16, is even larger; A two-stage missile with multiple warheads.

Additionally, in January of this year, North Korea began implementing a new missile that can be launched from a submarine into their arsenal of weapons.

This missile was proclaimed “the world’s most powerful weapon.”

These recent nuclear developments allow for increased maneuverability and control from the people launching the missiles, giving them the ability to hit targets more accurately.

“I think it definitely depends on what this administration does.

If they want to be more active in foreign affairs I think the threat they pose to our country is more limited,” said Xander Simmons, a sophomore.

Due to the secrecy and tight security of North Korea, the United States does not have all the details on North Korea’s nuclear program. Intel about these missiles are largely left to speculation.

These developments are part

of a much larger arms race between North Korea and the United States. South Korea has responded to the northern threat by increasing its own arsenal, with a new submarinelaunched missile, more aircraft carriers, and an American stealth F-35 jet plane.

“I think considering the gap between the ideological differences between [South Korea] and North Korea, I think there is a good chance North Korea can do some harm to South Korea and to the sphere of influence they have over the area,” Simmons said.

“At the current moment I am not fearful of them. In general, of course, they have nuclear

missiles that we want to get rid of. They are not very fond of us because we have different political ideals,” said Kent Roberts, a sophomore.

However, relations between the United States and North Korea are tense. North Korea has been reluctant to commence any diplomatic meetings due to the United States’ perceived “hostile policies” toward the nation.

The Biden administration has said there is “no urgency” in the denuclearization of North Korea.

“Not being able to get along with nuclear bombs is not the best option,” said Roberts. “The range of those nuclear missiles is definitely a concern.”

After the threats were proven to

be false, the FBI released a statement saying that making a false threats is a federal offense.

“Hoax threats disrupt school, waste limited law enforcement resources, and put first responders in unnecessary danger. We also don’t want to see a young person start out adulthood with a felony record over an impulsive social media post,” said David Bowdich, deputy director of the FBI. Cactus Shadows was not the only school put in this situation this year.

Other schools in Arizona have been experiencing similar phenomenons.

Mesa, Estrella, Canyon View, and Red Mountain high schools were all threatened with explosive devices.

There is no evidence showing a link between the events, however, all of the schools had to go on modified lockdown/evacuation.

Timing

Bond spending is not yet set in stone. In order for community members to have input on what they’d like funds to be spent on, a committee led by the CFO will be formed. The process will begin when site councils at each school talk to the school population to decide what is most important to them to receive funding. Then, representatives from each council will participate in the committee to decide how to use funds.

The law is not enforced by the government, instead empowering citizens to privately sue abortion providers. This prevents abortion providers such as Planned Parenthood to sue the government, as technically there is no government involved to sue.

Citizens who sue do not have to have any connection to the case.

“It’s a way for the government to get around Roe, because they’ve made citizens the enforcing authority instead of the state.

So now it’s not the state violating a right to privacy, it’s citizens. The court could redefine the state’s interests in protecting maternal health. It’s a case where they’re balancing state interests with individual liberty,” said Angela Thomas, a government and economics teacher.

The bill was quickly challenged by abortion providers and members of the public who are in support of the right to access an abortion, coloquially known as “Pro-Choice.” Due to the national Additionally, funds are not meant to be spent all at once. The committee will decide periodically what needs to be purchased and how many bonds need to be sold to cover those expenses. Then, once the bonds are sold to investors, purchases can be made. The goal is to make funds last until at least 2028.

Taxpayers within the district most recently passed a bond in 2014, and one is not currently in place. This puts the district in a unique situation, as many other

attention and public division this bill has caused, the Supreme Court expedited the hearing of the case. Arguments began November 1st.

Proponents of the law argue that since it technically states no government involvement, neither the abortion providers or federal government are entitles to sue in the first place.

Roe v. Wade

Challengers of the law argue it is in violation of the Court’s 1973 decision in the landmark case Roe v. Wade, which prohibits states from restricting abortions until at least the second trimester. If Texas wins this case, Roe v. Wade may be effectively overturned.

A reversal of Roe creates an opportunity for 22 states, including Arizona, to implement preRoe abortion laws following government action. This may almost entirely ban abortion in these states. These are called “trigger laws,” which are laws that are currently unenforceable, but may become enforced following a change in circumstance.

“I think it’s more important to give the kids a chance to make it and be loved by their parents than to give women the freedom to abort a fetus. That being said, I also think the government should invest more money into making it easy for mothers to get money to take care of their kids because a lot of independent women don’t have a good housing situation to take care of a kid,” said Kevin Lopez, a senior.

Important aspects of this case call into question the court’s respect to the precedent set in 1973, as well as the balance of an individual’s right to privacy with the state’s interest in protecting life. With a more conservative court, the decision is likely to turn out differently than it did in 1973. If this decision is overturned, Arizonans will swiftly feel the effects. schools in the area have either bonds, or bonds along with overrides, in place.

Bonds and overrides are similar in that they both are funded by property taxes. However, while a bond is used for physical things and projects that will be useful longer than five years, maintenance and operations (M&O) overrides are used for people, and cover expenses directly related to the classroom, such as teacher salary, class size reduction, and training for staff.

Travel

NOVEMBER 5, 2021 ● 9

Travel Ban Takes Off From the States Peyton Marinelli

Staff Writer

Germany recently had an election in which the Social Democrat Party won the majority. This was their greatest victory in recent years. Angela Merkel, the incumbent Chancellor, chose not to run for re-election. Merkel had been Chancellor since 2005.

“The chancellor is going to step down soon and there will be a new one in December,” said Lucas Clendennen, a junior.

The margin of victory for the Social Democrats was very small with the party winning 206 seats in the Bundestag and 25% of the vote, marking their best turnout since 2005. The Christian Democrats won 196 seats and 24% of the vote, marking their lowest number of seats won to date.

This election had the highest turn out of any German election so far. Out of 61 million registered voters, 46 million voted in this most recent election.

The President of Germany is largely a ceremonial role and does not hold much political power. The real “head of state” is the Chancellor, which leads the main political party in the Bundestag. The most prominent political parties are Christian Democrats, Social Democrats (SPD), Greens, Free Democrats (FDP), Die Linke, and the Alternative for Germany (AFD). “[Germany] has a government building with a glass roof that people can walk over to symbolize that its government is supposed to be transparent and that the people are over it,” said Melissa Marquette, a sophomore.

Local and regional governments hold a substantial amount of power alongside their federal government. Every four years, representatives are elected by German citizens into the Bundestag, which is the national assembly of Germany. Voters cast two votes, one for a specific candidate they choose, and the other for a “party list” which goes to a specific political party.

“The people in Germany are very diverse. There’s not one group of people in Germany. There’s people from all over the world, much more so than the United States,” said Emma Gilbert, a sophomore who lived in Germany for several years.

Since the fall of the Nazis at the end of World War II, Germany has strived to be the pinnacle of freedom and democracy in Europe. Since the end of the war, Germany has become the most powerful economy in the European Union as well as in greater Europe.

“They’re basically completely in control of the EU,” said Louie Vertin, a pilot from Minnesota.

With a new political party in control of the nation, many hope for the continued growth of the German economy, as well as for Germany to continue to be a haven for freedom and democracy.

No evidence

graphics and video, and they allow students to bring devices home to learn with outside of school.

Additionally, the district has to consider the state of Arizona’s standards for purchasing technology. Any devices purchased must be able to run the state’s standardized tests.

“I really think that we could use technology… there’s so much available, [we’d like to have] 1:1 or at least Google carts in every classroom,” Barela said.

THE CSPRESS

Hudson Ellis

MASK OFF. Senior, Zack Eastburn is free to remove his mask on campus due to the lack of mask requirement at school. 4 Cooper Lake

ON MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, a judge rejected Doug Ducey’s proposal to ban schools from mandating masks, which was set to go into effect on September 29. Despite this action by the court, few school districts have instituted mask mandates as a result.

Today, most schools in Arizona do not require masks to be worn, however, they now have the option to implement a mandate if they feel one is needed.

With the cold season coming up, many different viruses are going around in schools such as the flu and the regular cold in which people could see a major outbreak. With students possibly having to skip school because of

Providing more technology to students and teachers is another goal of the bond funds. If funds pass, the goal is to make Cactus Shadows a 1:1 technology school, which is a school that provides a mobile computing device, such as a laptop, for every student. According to PV Schools, having a 1:1 technology ratio motivates students to learn because assignments can be personalized to each student’s capability, devices expand creativity using

With Merkel out, Germany alters course

Most districts do not enforce mask mandates in Arizona

anguage ms under tress

evacuation plan we had in place and worked with the district and police department.”

Barela pointed out that the football field is a struggle to evacuate to because of the distance from the school, which may account for why students felt it took a long time.

However, it is necessary for us to travel that far to be sure everyone is safe.

“We’re trying to fix the evacuation plan because that’s a very small gate to fit lots of kids through.

We’re actually talking about bringing in Scottsdale police, the Sheriff’s office, and Phoenix Police so if there was a major incident on campus we would have all three agencies respond,” said Barela.

staff writer

Battle for the bond

aCooper Lake

Citizen Enforcement

Evacuating to the football field is necessary part of plan but tricky to execute quickly due to the size of the entry points On August 26, Cactus Shadows received a phone call about an explosive device on campus. While the school followed law enforcement-approved procedures, the time it took between when school was first put into lockdown and the announcement that told the students to move to the football field caused many students to feel the school was unprepared.

“It was very scary and we didn’t know what was going on, we seemed unprepared,” said Mika Jones, a junior.

After the event transpired, administration did take note and began a plan for future incidents that might occur.

“We were prepared,” said Sarah Barela, principal. “We followed the

Last May, Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed into law a bill that would ban abortions as soon as an ultrasound can detect a fetal heartbeat.

Commonly known as a “heartbeat bill,” the law limits abortions as early as six weeks into pregnancy. According to Dr. Visha Nerma in an interview for NPR, a fetal heartbeat is the grouping of cells that initiate electrical activity where a heart will develop.

This is especially limiting, since this is before most women even know they are pregnant.

“I think it’s terrible. I think people should be able to get an abortion if they feel that’s a good choice for them. Everyone is at a different place in life and it shouldn’t be up to the government to decide when you have a kid,” said Mia Gullaksen a foreign exchange student.

Spotlight Editor

On Friday, October 15th, the White House announced its plan to lift the travel ban effective November eighth, allowing visitors from other countries into the United States.

“I would feel safe traveling with mask mandates in place,” said Alexis Cavalieri, a junior.

“Since the travel ban has been lifted I would like to travel more than before,” said Lailie Eckman, a senior.

As instructed by the Biden administration, in order to travel to

the United States, travelers must show proof of COVID-19 vaccination status, along with a negative test.

The United States will soon be opened up to people from Africa, Europe, Brazil, along with other countries. Although the ban will be lifted to vaccinated travelers, mask mandates are still strongly enforced. According to the CDC, wearing a mask is necessary on public transportation because often it can be difficult, or even impossible to social distance in such close quarters. Just as since the beginning of the pandemic, anyone who

refuses to follow the guidelines is not allowed to continue their travel.

“For travel to Aruba, the country required a Negative Molecular PCR COVID test within 72 hrs of arriving. This made things a little stressful, because although I took all precautions and isolated prior to my trip, it was a bit nerve wracking to know that I could still possibly be asymptomatic, and the test could be positive. Once the negative results were in, it was exciting to know I’d be accepted into the country when I arrived,” said Jaqui Rivers, a marketer.

The travel ban impacted many

companies and individuals who require traveling for their career negatively, so it being lifted really helps out those who were affected.

Number one being airlines; COVID19 left airlines with fewer people willing to fly, therefore, losing money. Pilots, flight attendants, and airport employees were left without jobs for a period of time, the ban being lifted is predicted to help get them back on their feet.

Gas prices skyrocket in the United States The increase in price causes chaos for everyday commuters across the country David Lane News Editor

Gas prices nationwide have skyrocketed this year, costing an unprecedented $3.39 per gallon. This sharp increase may affect how people plan for their road trips this year.

Since the beginning of 2021, gas prices have gone up by $1.24 since this time last year, according to the Energy Information Administration. The last time gas prices were above three dollars per gallon was in 2014 due heightened tensions in North Africa, as well as in the Middle-East.

“I personally don’t have to pay for my own gas because my mom pays for it, but it’s going to be harder to do things because she’ll have to pay a lot more money. It’s going to be harder for people to find things close by to do over Thanksgiving break if gas stays high,”

said Tyler Stolfuss, a junior.

During periods of cheaper gas, people tend to take longer trips, rather than outright plan new ones. With the increased price of gas, road trip plans may become more bareboned, due to an increased cost to fill up.

“The change in gas prices hasn’t affected me, personally, very much. I still drive to all the same places, but since I drive a truck, prices have made a significant impact on the amount I spend at the pump. It used to be 50 dollars to fill up my truck all the way, but now since gas prices have risen it’s closer to 60 or 70 dollars,” said Alexandra Miller, a junior.

US oil production has not fully recovered since the beginning of the pandemic, even though prices have surged. Despite this, US oil companies are in fact oversupplying the market in an effort to return cash to share-

holders, who have lost millions of dollars during the pandemic, as well as a rise in alternative fuels over the last decade.

“I’ve lived long enough to know that gas prices always fluctuate. So, there’s times where all of a sudden there’s some sort of thing in the world that makes prices spike.

But during these periods where prices spike, there’s still people driving around in their big old SUV’s and so on. Not to mention that there are also people who are driving electric cars now which is making the price of gas have less of an effect on how people who use cars get around,” said Jon Bernreuter, a physics teacher.

While gas prices have increased, the effect they have on travel varies greatly depending on income level, mode of transport, and even the distance of the destination.

Secluded ranch provides refuge for fall visitors Owen Taylor Staff

Located about ten miles north from a small town called Greer, sits a peaceful ranch known as Hidden Meadow Ranch. It is about a three to four hour drive from Phoenix, Tucson or Flagstaff.

The drive to this Arizona private ranch community from central and southern Arizona offers the spectacular scenery of the Mogollon Rim or the Salt River Canyon.

Today, Hidden Meadow Ranch is fam-

MIKE LAKE admires the beauty that Hidden Meadow Ranch has to offer.

4Cooper Lake

ily owned and operated by some seriously people loving, nature respecting horse people. It’s quickly growing, multigenerational membership community, as well as Hidden Meadow Ranch’s dedicated, staff help create the ultimate mountain getaway experience.

As kids roam free between the Tepee village and the clubhouse, and members gather after a day of hiking, fishing, or skiing at Brody’s cafe or the lodge restaurant for dinner by the fire, the pride in ownership is evident. Hidden Meadow Ranch owners are unified in their attachment to this restful nature property.

aEthan Alderfer

Cheap flights available this fall Travelers can expect good deals on cheap flights this coming fall due to the low travel demand.

According to USA Today, airfare prices are expected to drop ten percent in the next few months as the travel demand declines.

Earlier this year, when travel restrictions were temporarily lifted, air travel prices rose 36 percent from March until June. Now with some travel restrictions being put in place again and the new COVID-19 delta variant, air travel demand is low and therefore so are the prices. There is a decrease in searches and bookings due to the new variant, but much of the dip in airfare demand is also in line with the regular seasonal demand.

From September until late November, the average round-trip domestic flight is expected to cost $260, according to USA Today.

Costs are up from fall 2020 but are still lower than pre-pandemic levels.

Though prices are lowering domestic holiday travel is likely to rise 11% from September into December, which will bring prices up to $289 round trip. Prepandemic, in fall 2019, the average round-trip flight cost around $734. Southwest and American Airlines are some places to look for convenient deals on cheaper air travel.

3 Katelyn Pinkham

Spotlight

THE CSPRESS

NOVEMBER 5, 2021 ● 11

Ready to make some changes Student Body Presidents work to make the school a better place.

Peyton Marinelli

ing events, school dances, and pep rallies. The Presidents, as well as the rest of Student Council, have the power Seniors Brooklyn Wilcox and Christian Waters have taken of deciding anything from which charities or community services to participate in, to the homecoming and prom on the role of Student Body Presidents for the 2021-2022 themes. school year.

“Christian and I both went to a couple strategic planning “I have been in Student Council since I was a freshman committees where teachers, principals, community memand I have always been very dedicated to show up and bers, and the superintendent talked about a plan to change do my part,” said Wilcox. the school for the better next year,’’ said Wilcox.

Wilcox was inspired to run for this position when At a strategic planning committee, the Student Body President durWilcox emphasized the importance ing her freshman year mentored of student to teacher relationships, her and believed she could win. Although and how to make the school a better Wilcox was not very confident in winning, place. The main thing Waters wants to gain support she walked around campus Christian and I both to improve this year is the opportueveryday passing out candy and introducwent to a couple nities for all students to have fun at ing herself to students weeks leading up to strategic planning school. Thus meaning school events the election. Along with that, Wilcox also committees where being inclusive for everyone, despite posted campaign posters with the slogan interests or popularity.

“No Sleep Till Brooklyn,” a reference from teachers, principals, “Everyone in Stuco has as much of a hip-hop group called Beastie Boys. community a voice as I do, the only difference “When I ran I was pretty confident I is I can directly communicate to the would win because I was the only guy run- members, and the actual people in power in the disning, and I had a lot of my friends agree to superintendent talked trict,” said Waters. help my campaign,” said Waters. about a plan to change A common misconception about Similar to Wilcox, Waters also passed Student Body Presidents is that they out candy to students, as well as hung the school for the control every decision for the stuposters that read “Vote 4 Waters.” He better next year.” dent council. In reality, their job is made t-shirts for his friends to wear durBrooklyn Wilcox more representative than presidening school hours, switching which people would wear them each day.

Student Body president tial. They provide main communication between Student Council and “Students running for Student Body administration and speak on behalf of the entire club.

President must be enrolled in the student leadership class “The best student body presidents are kind to their and have served as a member of the student council for peers, cooperative, open-minded, responsible, have good a minimum of two solid semesters prior to entering the school spirit, and are eager and able to meet the various race,” said Allison Zilka, Student Council advisor. expectations of their presidency,” said Zilka.

Duties of the position include club meetings, adminWilcox and Waters continue to invent new ways to istration meetings, and strategic planning committees. improve the school, and help make decisions for the better Although not required, it is expected of them to attend of every student on campus. anything Student Council related. This includes sportSpotlight Editor

“

LARGE AND IN CHARGE. Seniors Brooklyn Wilcox and Christian Waters were elected to fulfill the role as Student Body presidents. a Cooper Lake

Leading the Nest to the fullest Nest leaders are there to pump up the crowd during school sporting events Cooper Lake Staff Writer

Nest leaders are a handpicked group of students chosen to lead cheers at sporting events to get fans excited and full of spirit.

These students organize chants and cheers for students to use at games to motivate Falcon athletes. They also assist Stuco in the organization and implementation of activities for students in the stands.

Nest leaders are often students who like attending football games and showing their school spirit, so they are a good example for proper participation at school events.

“Most often, Nest leadership has been something students have been thinking about since the first football game they attended their freshman or

sophomore year,” said Allison Zilka, one of two Stuco advisors.

Each year’s Nest leaders are chosen

by Student Council advisor Cameron Bender based on who would best represent the school. Bender seeks to ensure Nest leaders care about the school and will do what is necessary in the name of school spirit.

The kids themselves come to Bender to request to be a Nest leader. A lot of those who apply have wanted it for a long time, and most of the time, everyone who applies gets the job.

To be a Nest leader there are no prerequisites other than being passionate about school spirit. Students do not have to be in student council to be a Nest leader.

“Any student at this school can become a Nest leader as long as you

have the passion,” said Matt McGregor, a senior Nest leader.

While being a Nest leader is a student’s choice, it is also a commitment.

They have to attend most, if not all, sporting events. Nest leaders practice and plan for upcoming events with the help of the student council.

“Since there are a lot of games to attend in a year, Nest leaders also need to be good at time management and following through with commitments,” said Zilka Nest leaders do what they do because they care about their school and want to help spread school spirit.

The kids who become Nest leaders are the same students who already attend most sports games and participate in spirit days.

Phoenix’s Punk Revival

Max Hancock

Pistols, the Clash, and the Slits were all products of a dismal United Kingdom economy and changing times.

According to Brittanica.com, a British based online encyclopedia, unemployment rates were at an all time high, so the youth of London were out of work and rebellious, birthing a new culture.

“Bands like the Clash, the Damned, and Bauhaus all came from a different period and had a different sound and attitude. As far as why I liked them, most had something to say about the current environment,” said Kip Dent, a punk fan.

Moving forward to the mid 1980s, the punk scene flourished with thousands of people adopting its hardcore and crude culture. Since then, Punk music has evolved into countless subgenres.

Today, cities such as Scottsdale, Cave creek, and Phoenix are seeing a similar revival. Students are starting their own bands, embracing the core breakneck music from decades before.

Bands such as “Skitzoid”, “Fight the Vomit,” and “Wrong Way Out” are perfect examples of student-created bands that draw inspiration from not only each other, but punk bands that came before them.

Opinion editor

Within the past year, Phoenix has witnessed a punk music revival, with teenagers attending local shows and being a part of a returning scene of misfits.

“A lot of younger people have been introduced to alternative music and cultures they previously might not have known about. It’s no surprise that a little scene started to form in Phoenix,” said Hayden Syllaba, lead guitar player of local punk band “Skitzoid.”

Punk music originated in the mid 1970s where it was met with disapproval and shaming from a conservative population.

The origins of punk are highly debated because everyone has a different definition of “punk rock.” On top of such, Punk is considered to have many foundation stones in various countries, so identifying the sole birth of the musical genre is deemed near impossible.

In New York, bands such as the Ramones, Talking Heads, and Blondie became popular because of their shared geographical location and refreshingly original style of music.

However, across the pond, London gave birth to its own legends. Sex

Poll: How much time do you spend each day on TikTok?

news editor

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17

13

From a poll of 100 0 students taken on hours Oct. 25

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9

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1-2 hour

3-4 hour

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Lingerie becoming a popular fashion choice

Cait Bunkers Sports Editor

Wearing lingerie as an everyday piece has become more common recently over a short period of time.

According to The Madame Blue, wearing underwear as outerwear came out in the 1660s, when Catherine de Medici introduced corsets to the French court as a women’s fashion essential, meant to be seen. The trend surged in the 70s when Vivienne Westwood put a modern twist on the style, and was later followed

by Madonna’s Jean Paul Gaultier-designed corset and cone bra combos during her 1990 Blonde Ambition tour.

More recently, the trend has made a resurgence during the pandemic as loungewear has become more socially acceptable to wear in public.

Lingerie tops such as lacy bras and corsets provide much more flexibility than bottoms do, as they provide more coverage than bottoms.

“You should definitely pair it with a bunch of accessories or you will be overexposed,” said Bella Price, a junior.

To incorporate lingerie into an everyday outfit, one could wear a lacy bra under a blazer or partially unbuttoned top and pants. Another pairing that provides more coverage is a corset over a short sleeved blouse.

For a more subtle yet noticeable pop, wear a lacy bra under a shirt with a wide neckline.

Pairing a garter with shorts or a miniskirt is a creative way to wear it as bottoms. Because lingerie is limited in bottoms, fishnets under bottoms are another way to incorporate the style.

“A top over a top… or with fishnets. I also just really like layering,” said Brooklyn Wilcox, a senior.

It is important to mix the right colors together in order to create the perfect look. While white pairs well with black to create a basic pairing, complimentary colors such as green and pink and blue and orange create a bright look.

The trend can still be accomplished at school. While dress codes are more restrictive and provide less flexto explore the trend, there are still ibility to do so. ways “Everything should be covered… no tube tops, and in shorts, covering the bottom,” said Jill Colombo, a security guard.

The trend has served as a challenge to the status quo and demonstrates that people can wear whatever they want with confidence.

On November 12, Taylor Swift plans to release a re-recording of her hit 2012 album Red, this time, however, the album will be much more true to Taylor’s original vision.

Since 2018, Swift has been waging a battle against Big Machine Records in order to secure the rights to her first six albums. Sinceå leaving Big Machine records, Swift has lost the masters and the rights to perform the albums she put out while working for them.

“I think that it’s really messed up that Big Machine took her masters, and I’m really glad she’s doing Taylor’s version so she can make money off her music that she deserves,” said Emma Crum, a junior.

The lack of direct ownership of her own art outraged Swift, causing her to begin the process of painstakingly re-recording, remixing, and remastering her old music “Swift’s actions were major for artists and musicians in the fight

Permanent Decisions Jaden Lea Tech Editor

S

TUDENTS AND TEENS turning 18 have been getting tattoos as a way to express them-

selves as they are finally able to legally get them on their own.

Tattoos are a very controversial topic amongst parents and teens, especially those with strict beliefs. A large majority of parents don’t allow their kids to get permanent tattoos as they don’t think it is a bright idea, however when the kid turns 18 they are able to sign off themselves due to them being an adult.

It has been a common theme throughout highschool students who turn 18 to get tattoos on their birthday or around it.

These tattoos range from small to large, and can be anywhere that the person chooses. There can be meaning behind them, or they just enjoy what it would look like.

“I have a heartbeat on my arm because my mom has AFib (a heart disease). I also have butterflies because my uncle built a butterfly house that was my favorite place when I was younger, and when he passed away all of my family got butterflies,” said Blythe Beardsley, a senior.

Aside from sentimental reasons, many teens get tattoos to exercise their newfound autonomy. As legal adults, they can now make decisions for themselves, including permanent ones. Many parents object to their children getting tattoos because they’ll stick with them forever, but some teens don’t see this as an issue.

“I have three tattoos currently and plan to get a lot more. I don’t regret getting any of them and am excited to continue adding to the collection,” said Zach Tarone, a senior.

A Pew Research Center report said 38% of people from 18-29 said they have at least one tattoo. In a different study conducted by the same company, up to 1 in 4 people experience regret over their tattoo.

“I recently got my first tattoo because I wanted to get something meaningful on my body permanently,” said Ryan Bartholomew, a student at Northern Arizona University.

Students finding their adulthood get tattoos to express their authority and independence.

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Dressing the part for Halloween Students wore their Halloween costumes on campus to show their spooky spirit. 1Tyler Stolfuss, a junior, wears a cat maid uniform for a one of a kind costume ensemble.

2Freshman Emma Adams dressed as Loki from the Marvel universe. She made the costume entirely herself from plastic and other materials. 3 Kayla Muranaka, a sophomore, dressed as the yellow teletubby, Laa-Laa, and is a big fan of the show.

4Gianna Lazzaro

3 1 2 GETTING HYPED Nest Leaders Matt McGregor and Adam Schwartz accompany Floyd the Falcon to greet students as they enter the pep rally. 4Cooper Lake

THE CSPRESS

Science

20 ● NOVEMBER 5, 2021

MOSH

PIT. Punk show enthusiast Flynn Shelmire attending a punk show.

House shows like these are frequently in enthusiasts homes. 4Oliver Rylee

FEAR FACTOR. Zander Bezotte, senior and member of Drama Club, expresses fear as something scary happens behind the camera. 4 coooper lake

“Our band draws heavy inspiration from west coast hardcore, power violence, and beatdown. We have a range of influences,” Continued Syllaba Lately students have been using houses, garages, and backyards to house local shows, with various bands playing. The punk community has come together to create an open invite community to attend these shows in order to not only gain exposure but share a good time.

“Punk music is very loud and aggressive but the shows are very inclusive and welcoming, a lot of the time they are free and allow any age, it’s super easy to be social,” said Flynn Shelmire, A senior.

As time progresses, the scene in Phoenix is destined to grow and evolve as students continue to discover the timeless genre of punk music.

David Lane

NOVEMBER 5, 2021 ● 15

Lazzaro

THE CSPRESS

Medicines: East versus West The benefits of combining both medical traditions when treating illnesses

Cait Bunkers Sports Editor

FEARSOME

A Swift Recovery

34

STYLE

JUNIOR BELLA PRICE chose a lingerie style for her Halloween costume this year. This style became popular in 2020. 4Gianna

Trending Now

18 ● NOVEMBER 5, 2021

THE CSPRESS

for rights to their art. By choosing to re-record her albums, she has created a completely new realm for artists, showing them that they can take control of the rights to their music,” said Aavyn O’Murchu, an aficionado of Swift’s music, as well as a long time fan of her work.

The world was shocked in April when Fearless (Taylor’s Version) was released, topping the charts globally almost instantly. While very similar to the original, Swift has decided to tweak the lyrics in several songs.

For example, You Belong with Me, one of Swift’s biggest hits to date, had one of its lines subtly changed. During the first verse of the original version, the lyrics are, “I’m in the room, it’s a typical Tuesday night,” while the new version goes, “I’m in my room, it’s a typical Tuesday night.”

“I like that Taylor changed the lyrics to be honest. it makes it feel more authentically her.

Taylor has every right to make her feelings heard, even if it’s part of an old classic,” said Reese Kaiser, a fan of Swift’s music.

Following the warm reception of Fearless (Taylor’s Version) she immediately began work on her 2012 hit album, Red. This album contains many of Swift’s most iconic tracks such as the titular track, Red, I Knew you were Trouble, and most famous of all, We are Never Ever Getting Back Together.

“I am very excited about the re-recording of Red, as I believe that was one of her absolute best albums. One of my favorite parts of the re-recordings is that we are graced with the release of vault songs as well,” said O’Murchu.

While the date of release was originally set for November 19, Swift surprised the world again by moving the release date a week ahead of schedule to November 12. This has led to many fans speculating Swift is much further ahead in her rerecordings than initially theorized. This has further been supported when Swift re-released her hit single Wildest Dreams, from her 2014 album, 1989.

A look at how fear affects us, what actually makes it work, and how horror movies play into the science Judy Silva Food Editor

On a daily basis, everyone has to come to terms with their fears.

“When I am scared, I feel a rush of adrenaline that washes over my whole body,” said Natalie O’Neal, a senior.

Is fear psychological?

People argue that fear is a psychological phenomenon rather than something that is able to be researched through scientific investigations.

Scientifically, fear is when the hypothalamus in the brain reacts by releasing a series of chemicals to the nervous system and the adrenocortical system.

According to the website EndocrineWeb, a site addressing endocrine disorders by people in the endocrine field, “The hypothalamus is the portion of the brain that maintains the body’s internal balance”. The hypothalamus stimulates bodily processes such as heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature, fluid and electrolyte balance, appetite, body weight, and many more key functions. When the brain experiences fear, the heart begins to race, fast

breathing and energized muscles start to occur. It creates the well known reaction of fight or flight.

When presented with danger, our body slows down functions that are not necessary for survival, and sharpens functions that may increase survival.

Fears and phobias

Fears can appear in specific ways and those individual fears are called phobias. For example, people can fear thigs that are not likely to occur.

“I am afraid of a tsunami occurring because it’s unavoidable and it can be unpredictable,” said Alana Zajic, a senior.

Phobias are known to be irrational and can have serious effects on someone’s daily life. A phobia is most commonly known to be caused by a traumatic event in one’s life. According to Heathline, a website that talks about health and wellness, “people with ongoing medical conditions or health concerns often have phobias”.

When a phobia has debilitating effects on a person, it is recommended to see a psychiatrist.

Repeated exposure to the event that created the trauma can help the anxiety subside.

For some people, that means seeking professional help from psychologists. Some medications can also help cope with the overbearing effects of someone’s personal phobias. Other people constantly watch horror movies that cover their specific phobia.

That is one of the reasons horror movies are popular in the movie franchise.

People like to be scared because they enjoy the chemicals that are released while watching. This creates the demand for producing mainstream horror movies every year.

Horror movies grant the opportunity to directors to reach into horrifying topics and scare their audience. It gives them the creative liberty to express their deepest and darkest thoughts onto the screen for people to watch.

Some themes are realistic horror, nightmarish imagery, fictional horror, and many more genres. How far can they go when it comes to the scare factor? That is a question that is constantly asked by creators of horror movies.

Eastern and western forms of medicine provide differing methods for accomplishing the same goal.

“It’s a good idea to have a combination of both… they both have their pros and cons, but to me, I think eastern medicine has more pros,” said Ayden Schure, a junior.

According to the National Cancer Institute, western medicine is a “system in which medical doctors and other healthcare professionals… treat symptoms and diseases using drugs, radiation, or surgery.”

Eastern medicine, the oldest system of medicine in the world, originated in Asia. It focuses on not just the illness, but also the patient’s Qi, or an individualized diagnosis of their whole person. It has five major branches: acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, oriental nutrition therapy, tuina, and tai chi.

Acupuncture is a commonly used form of Eastern medicine. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, it is “practice of penetrating the skin with thin, solid, metallic needles” that can be located at any of over 2,000 points in the body believed by traditional Chinese practitioners.

“I did acupuncture to help my shoulder; it stimulates the nervous system. I’ve got-

ten it, like, two times a week,” said Carly Doty, a sophomore.

It is believed that acupuncture stimulates the central nervous system, releasing chemicals into the brain, spinal cord, and muscles. These chemical changes have the potential to boost the body’s natural healing ability.

Combining Eastern and Western forms of medicine can fulfill the need for both preventative and natural medical care. It can also benefit doctors by making them more well-versed.

Despite the benefits, each type of medicine has its risks.

All medications and treatments pose the risk of side effects, and allergic reactions are always possible. Additionally, Eastern medicine occasionally has adverse outcomes, such as nausea, vomiting, fainting, and increased pain.

“My concern whenever I am talking about Eastern medicine is, ‘Is it going to harm them? Is it going to interfere with the Western medicine route?’,” said Jacque Sidoti, an attending physician at St. Joseph’s.

All in all, combining Eastern and Western medicine has the benefits of treating both a patient’s illness and the whole person, making it a well-rounded approach.

Fill in for the sun

Most people have vitamin D deficiencies during the winter season and are not aware of them Will Donegan Staff Writer

Ever wonder why people feel so fatigued during the winter? It turns out that it might not be from a lack of sleep. Vitamin D deficiency is a disease where muscles weaken. Low amounts of vitamin D have been associated with cancer, severe asthma and increased risk from cardiovascular diseases.

According to Mayoclinic, Vitamin D deficiencies are caused by a lack of exposure to the sun. During winter, because the sun goes down sooner than in the summer, people get less Vitamin D during these winter months Why is Vitamin D essential to our health? Vitamin D helps regulate the amount of calcium in the body. Vitamin D is needed to keep bones, teeth, and muscles healthy.

The CDC’s recommended Supplement is Vitamin D3 also known as cholecalciferol. The supplements are actually made from fat of lamb’s wool. The recommended dosage is 400 to 800 IU per day which is 1 to 2 tablets a day. The best time to take the pill is in the morning because later at night your body can actually react very negatively.

“I learned about vitamin D deficiency a couple of years ago and I have been taking supplements ever since,” said Jack Corning, a junior.

People are not familiar with Vitamin D deficiency because it is a relatively new study and there are lots of different supplements. Some people are also against taking supplements because they do not want to run the risk of trying something new.

“I didn’t know about the deficiency and I don’t really take supplement pills so I don’t really care,” said Rico Lopez, a junior.

One side effect of the supplementation is Hypercalcemia, which is an exccess of calcium in the blood.

This directly relates to loss of appetite, diarrhea and consumption, as well as nausea and vomiting. A second and more severe side effect is Kidney damage. Kidney damage in some severe cases causes kidney failure which can sometimes even cause death.

Overall, Vitamin D deficiency supplements help more than they hurt but, it is always a good idea to take the side effects into consideration.

December Across the country students are ...

reaching the boiling point

DECEMBER 10, 2021 ● 11

Hitting the books New book store manager comes to Cactus Shadows to make a difference.

Johnathan Geare Staff Writer

Cactus Shadows has a new resident “bookstore guy”, by the name of Paul Hendricks. While the title “bookstore guy” may not seem to leave much to the imagination, the job requires far more than the average student, who is more likely to need to check out a copy of To Kill a Mockingbird than to ever need to manage the student council’s finances, could ever imagine.

“You need to be very organized and very detailed, because you are dealing with all the school’s money… purchase orders, depositions, and invoices. You need to meet the needs of the clubs and the athletes,” said Paul Hendricks.

Along with dealing with the usual math and science textbooks, the workload can add up. “The only thing I don’t deal with is the lunch money.”

For a workload this hefty, Hendricks is the right man for the job. He has a background in managing CVS pharmacies, giving him the necessary experience for a job like bookstore manager. Even before that, he was in the hotel entertainment industry. “The last hotel I worked for was the Prescott Resort,” said Hendricks.

Both jobs deal with money and managing multiple independent groups (clubs) at a time. Additionally, Hendricks worked at Desert Sun Academy as a ‘specials’ teacher, managing the computer lab.

“The new bookstore guy is really nice,” said Trevor Callow, a junior.

It was this work experience that led Hendricks to pick this job in the district over a similar job. “I was offered another position at another school, and I was offered a position at this school, and I felt like I could

Distressed teens are turning to gun violence to deal with their despair. Schools are searching for solutions.

December 10, 2021 Volume 13, Number 3 Cactus Shadows High School Scottsdale, Arizona

Elizabeth Bennett guest writer

O

N NOVEMBER 30, a shooter took the lives of four students, and injured seven, including a teacher, at Oxford High School in Oxford Township, Michigan. The shooting is startling not just because of the horror it evokes, but also the familiarity. As the nation mourns the loss of more young lives, the pressure to find solutions mounts.

Shootings around the country have resulted in calls for more mental health providers in schools, stricter gun control, and more guns in schools to control potential shooters. While the “guns in schools” debate is highly controversial, the need for mental health services is not.

The increase in school shootings is extreme.

According to research done by Dr. Allison Paolini of Kean University, “School shootings increased from 23 to 179 between the 1980s and 1990s and also increased from 179 to 245 between the 1990’s and 2013.”

shooters who died at the crime scene and found that eight had schizophrenia, seven had other mental health diagnoses, and five had unknown diagnoses. None were receiving appropriate medications.

“Somebody needs to do something, somebody needs to speak up,” said Adam Lane, a freshman.

Before the pandemic arrived in 2020, the number of school shootings were already higher than previous years. In 2020, there had already been 29 shootings during the first two-and-a-half months as compared with 20 in 2019.

Services Lacking

In her 2015 research on school shootings, Paolini found that 99 percent of school shooters were male, with many of them having experienced school bullying, isolation, and problems with the use of psychiatric medicine. Most school shooters have no previous record of criminal justice activities, have access to guns at home, and may have dealt with a recent significant loss in their lives.

Exposure to gun violence in I think the school the media such as violent Mental Health Issues gives decent help…

I video games and films has Research done by Ira Glick, do think it could be a also proven to increase youth from Stanford University’s aggression.

School of Medicine, found little bit better,” said According to Paolini’s study, that many mass shooters Kailin Silbert, a junior. most attacks are premediin America suffered from ‘I think schools should tated, with 61 percent of a mental illness that wasn’t school shooters carrying out being treated when they ask more of how your attacks to “get revenge, and committed their crime. home life is like instead 81% of attackers held a griev“There is a stigma assoance against another person ciated with mental illness,” of just school life.” at the time of the attack.” said Beth Udisky, Social K ailin Silbert Research conducted by the Worker. “This can prevent Centers for Disease Control people from getting the help a junior and Prevention found that they need. A lot of peonationwide about 20 percent ple don’t want the stigma of all students need mental of going to a mental health health services for a variety facility. People are much of reasons. Yet, many do not more willing to get medireceive these services. Also cal care than they are to get according to Paolini, “approximental health.”

Glick’s team studied 35 mass shooting cases mately half of all lifetime mental health disorders that occurred in the United States between 1982 start by the mid-teens, and the onset of all major and 2019. The study revealed that 28 had men- mental illnesses happen as early as 7 to 11 years tal illness diagnoses: eighteen had schizophrenia of age.”

“I think the school gives decent help… I do think and 10 had others that included bipolar disorder, delusional disorder, personality disorders and it could be a little bit better” said Kailin Silbert, a junior. ‘I think schools should ask more of how substance-related disorders.

According to the study published in the Journal your home life is like instead of just school life,” of Clinical Psychopharmacology, none of the 28 Silbert said. shooters with a mental illness diagnosis, were medicated or received other treatment for their see Mental Health on page 3 disorders prior to their crimes.

Glick and his colleagues also examined 20 mass

“

12 ● DECEMBER 10, 2021

THE CSPRESS

Pokémon trading makes a comeback Max Hancock Opinion Editor

A GOOD DEAL. Junior Nelson Lee trades Pokemon cards with senior Matt McGregor during lunch.”My Favorite Pokemon is Ho-Oh,” said McGregor.

4Cooper Lake

Calendar of events WEEZER

Jefferson St Phoenix, AZ January 15 2022

December 11 2021 Mesa Amphitheatre, Mesa, Tickets starting at $50

GUCCI MANE

Celebrity Theatre in Phoenix, AZ Tickets starting at $70 January 15 2022

CSHS VARSITY GIRLS BASKETBALL @ WILLOW CANYON 7:00 PM December 14 2021

BEETHOVEN AND RACHMANINOFF

MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET CHRISTMAS

Sat, 2 – 7 PM The Phoenix Theatre Company, 1825 N Central Ave Phoenix, AZ January 1 2022

7:00 pm Symphony Hall Phoenix, AZ Tickets starting at $80 January 16 2022

DISNEY ON ICE PRESENTS DREAM BIG Sat, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Footprint Center, 201

Spotlight

THE CSPRESS

E

3 Will Donegan

Pokémon trading cards have made a recent resurgence on campus since their initial debut in 1998, with students collecting, trading, and selling them as a testament to their nostalgic acclaim.

“I got a ton of cards, I keep most of mine because they’re a nice thing to flex,” said Nelson Lee, a prominent collector of Pokémon cards.

Pokémon cards emerged in the late 1900s with triumphant sales. However, the Pokemon legacy begins with the video game.

Originally released on the Nintendo Gameboy, Pokémon Green and Red were born.

The Japanese video game was hardly recognized as the phenomenon it is today. It wasn’t until later, when the anime and the trading card game were released when the series took flight to new heights.

Ruling pop culture, childhoods of the 90s were built on the Pokémon franchise.

Undoubtedly, history repeats itself, resulting in hundreds of Gen Z students taking the same interest in the series as generations prior.

“I collected cards as a child, my parents would get them for me. Very rarely would I actually trade them with my friends because I liked my cards, I was one of ‘those’ kids,” said Hoveeg Boyadjian, a math teacher.

The purpose of the Pokémon trading card game is to assemble the best team of 6 Pokémon cards possible in order to knock out the opponents own team of 6 Pokémon.

In order to obtain these rare and powerful Pokémon featured on the cards, players buy packs of pokémon cards for a chance of getting a high value pokémon, trade with each other, and buy/sell to the highest bidder in order to quickly obtain the best cards in the game.

On campus, some Pokémon card holders actually play the game as intended.

However, most students enjoy the collecting aspect of the cards. Because some Pokémon within the game are so rare, getting a hold of such a valuable Pokémon only to trade it with another player is not within the interest of many.

“I’m a collector, I don’t really like to trade mine with anyone else,” said Lonzo Lomeli, a junior and collector of cards.

Contrary, many enjoy selling the cards they have obtained for some quick profit, with some turning their sales into major successful business. Some Pokémon cards can be valued in the hundreds of thousands.

The most expensive Pokémon card ever sold was for $195,000. The card was a rare Pickachu illustrator promo card that dated back to 1998.

Although students are not making as major of sales, some students have been successful in selling the cards they have collected on websites like eBay to other collectors trying to build their Pokémon portfolio’s The configuration of the Pokémon trading card game is unique and unusual, however, it is an industry with limitless untapped money, simply available to the highest bidder.

TV Girl celebrates anniversary

Band celebrates 2014 album, French Exit, on current tour Katelyn Pinkham Style Editor

TV Girl headlined at the Van Buren in downtown Phoenix on November 29 for the six-anda-half anniversary tour of their iconic 2014 album, French Exit.

They have been together as a band for almost a decade, but recently rose to fame when a few of their songs blew up on TikTok. “Lovers Rock” and “Not Allowed” are their two most popular songs, with over 100 million streams on Spotify. The band has an electronic, alternative rock feel to their music, which created a mellow vibe in the venue.

Originally, TV Girl was scheduled to play at the Crescent Ballroom, a smaller venue across the street from the Van Buren. However, the show quickly sold out, and they decided to move it to a larger space. Before the show began, there were separate lines for vaccine cards/negative tests checks and security. Bags were not allowed inside, and they provided COVID-19 rapid tests to those who needed it. Merch stands were inside and had large lines hoping to snag a shirt.

Jordana was the opening act of the show, and

she is actually a guitarist and singer for TV Girl.

Her sound was much more slow and low-energy than TV Girl’s. She played around 6 songs, and interacted with the crowd a ton. She answered a lot of fans’ questions and got the crowd hyped for a night of fun.

At around 9:00 p.m. TV Girl came on stage, and the crowd went wild. They opened up the night with their song “Pantyhose” off of French Exit. This is an upbeat, fun, dance song that was perfect for getting fans excited. The front man, Brad Petering, made a lot of sarcastic and witty jokes in reference to their newfound popularity, but was still very appreciative of all the new fans.

Everyone's phones were up in the air as they were dancing around and screaming the lyrics.

Overall, the band put on a great show and fans seemed to have an enjoyable time.

GETTING ORGANIZED. Bookstore

manager, Paul Hendricks gets book ready for distribution to students 4Cooper Lake

Man on the street

What are you listening to?

“

I’m listening to Playboy Carti, Magnolia,”

4Hailey Dent

“

Ave Maria by Mac Miller,”

4Hailey Dent

make the best difference here versus the other job I was offered,” said Hendricks.

Hendricks’ expertise is put to good use at the bookstore, according to sophomore Kaleb Jack. “For football, I had to drop off some cash. I didn’t know off the top of my head the amount of cash, but I handed it to [Hendricks] and no-joke, he weighs it in his hand and is like, ‘Bam! Five-hundredforty dollars.’ He started counting, [it was] five-hundred-forty-one dollars. He was one dollar off.”

But it is not just his inhumane money management skills that characterise the bookstore guy, making a difference is of the utmost importance to Hendricks with his job as bookstore manager.

From the decorations hung up in the store to his honor system involving bags of Flamin’ Hot Cheetos, Hendricks’ goal is to make his book store “the happiest place on earth.” The ‘Cheetos clause’ in particular is one of the more memorable parts of the store to students.

Hendricks’ rule of law states that any student who is missing their ID card during checkout is in debt to him, a debt that can only be made right by a single bag of Cheetos, no matter the size. The appearance of Chester is enough to put a smile on the book store guy’s face.

Beyond the infamy of such an outlandish system, there are logistic reasons behind the clause. When students use their ID cards to check out books and deposit checks at the happiest place on earth, the process goes much smoother.

Hendricks would like to thank the assistant principal Tandehl Collentine for creating a positive work environment.

“

Notion by The Rare Occasions,”

Alex Hercamp

Emme Toso

a senior.

a junior.

16 ● DECEMBER 10, 2021

Phoenix offers great choices for growing your food

4Hailey Dent

C hristian Manuel

a senior

Foodie

THE CSPRESS

Several growing seasons add variety to what you can plant Paul Wernes Travel Editor

T

HE GROWTH OF fruits and vegetables is reliant on the specific growth periods and seasons.

Mild winters allow for crops that are sensitive to extreme cold, but require cool temperatures to produce the fruit or vegetable.

The extremely hot summers help make citrus sweet, chiles spicy, and dates ripen.

“I love growing my own vegetables during the season. Everything tastes better when fresh, which is why I grow my own stuff,” said Ava Hernandez, a sophomore.

Tucson, Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Flagstaff all have differentiating times where produce is in season. The heat of the desert allows fresh dates to grow and produce fruit that is ready for eating. Water quality and irriga-

tion systems are essential when gardening and may cause issues for the harvest if problems occur.

“I always have a hard time growing because of where my garden is at, but I always find it easy to grow tomatoes and basil,” said Maria Wernes, an aspiring gardener According to Phoenix Gardening, “easy to grow crops include peas, green beans, radishes, tomatoes, herbs, peppers, onions, and carrots.”

Regular seeds are planted between the months of November and March. Unfortunately, the heat makes growth extremely hard for plants during the Arizona summer.

In order to grow the fruits and vegetables to their full potential, they need to survive the whole growing season.

Vegetables in season

BEETS, November through May

October through March

BOK CHOY, October through March

LEEKS, December through July

BROCCOLI, October through March BRUSSELS SPROUTS, December through March CARROTS, October through May GREEN ONION/SCALLIONS,

LETTUCE, October through May PARSNIPS, December through March RADISHES, October through May SPINACH, October through May SWEET POTATOES, December through March

Fruits in season TANGERINES, December through March

LEMONS, December through April

CLEMENTINES, December through March

ORANGES, December through March

GRAPEFRUIT, December through March

1

2

GO TIME. Leslie Ricker rushes to prepare lunch for the hungry crowd of kids incoming. 4

Chris Alexander

School food service challenging Katelyn Pinkham Style Editor

Behind the cafeteria windows and lines of kids, the employees work hard to feed the school.

“I love to cook, and it gives me joy feeding the kids,” said Shirley Fuss, manager of the kitchen.

According to Fuss, the school cafeteria serves around 700 kids a day, which can be a challenge, but she likes the fast-paced work. However, the number of kids being fed each day varies, and sometimes the cafeteria gets more numbers than expected and they can run out of food. Fuss’s main goal is to not run out of food, and ensure that every student who wants a meal gets one.

She loves the craziness of her job and getting to see the kids every day. Fuss has four kids of her own, for whom she has always enjoyed cooking for. She got into cafeteria work through her love for children and cooking, which is a perfect combination of the two.

“The timing is a big challenge, getting the kids fed on time and the food out on time,” said Susie Marsman, cafeteria cashier.

Marsman was in need of a job, and decided cafeteria work was the perfect fit for her. Her favorite part of her job is her co-workers, and she says they have a really close-knit bond. They always have one another’s

3

backs when things get crazy in the kitchen.

When lunch actually begins, it can get hectic behind the counters. Students often cut the lines, which Marsman states can be challenging and is unfair to the kids who have been waiting. Stealing is also a problematic issue at times for the workers, as it messes with their numbers and takes food away from other kids.

“Recently, administration has been helping with the lines and keeping kids in check, which makes a huge beneficial difference,” said Fuss.

As for the actual food, certain criteria must be met by the cafeteria. US Foods states that the meals must have a protein, a meat, a fruit, and a vegetable. It is required to have a minimum of three of these components, but Fuss always likes to have more.

At times, Fuss gets to choose certain meals, such as hamburgers, and alternates this choice from time to time. The food served to kids is high quality and nutritional.

“I get hot lunch almost everyday, I hope the workers are doing well, and I just want to say ‘thank you’”, said Daniel Bloedow, a freshman.

Getting food out to hundreds of students every day can be difficult, but the cafeteria workers love what they do and love the kids.

Tips for building a gingerbread house to decorate your home.

These three did.

1 Try to use the candy that is given for multiple decorations and the frosting is half the battle when making the house.

jjudy Silva

2 Utilize the small circle candies to decorate the roof.jJohnny Geare and Hudson Ellis

ENDING THE NIGHT. Petering and Jordana say their good byes to fans after the show. 4Katelyn Pinkham

3 Make sure that every decoration is put on evenly and try not to crowd too much of 4Cooper Lake

the roof.jChris Alexander

allenging

THE CSPRESS

DECEMBER 10, 2021 ● 17

Trending Now

18 ● DECEMBER 10, 2021

THE CSPRESS

Bratz dolls have returned Claire Geare Editor in Chief

MAKE YOUR OWN Judy Silva Food Editor

Seemingly simple bread has an extensive history and diverse background.

Bread is a food made of flour, water, and yeast, or another leavening agent, mixed together and baked. Other leavening agents that can replace yeast are sourdough starter, buttermilk, kefir and yogurt. These leavening agents are one of the most important ingredients and are used in the longest step when making bread.

Fermentation, also known as the rest process, is the scientific process of yeast feeding on the simple sugars from flour and results in carbon dioxide and ethanol being released. That carbon dioxide is what makes the bread rise and ethanol is important for flavor and the maturing of the dough. This process can last from ten minutes to two or three days. Making bread is overall a long and strenuous activity, but the end results make it worthwhile.

“I enjoy making bread because I love to see the after product of my hard labor,” said Cara Walden, a senior The length of time depends on what kind of bread is wanted. Specific cooking methods and certain ingredients can also affect the outcome of the bread. For some, making bread is a difficult task due to how long the process is.

Nevertheless, making homemade bread instead of buying bread from the store is shown to be

beneficial. “There are less chemical preservatives in homemade bread, and the ingredients you can use are versatile,” said Rebecca Lusk, a culinary arts teacher Some different kinds of breads are rye, whole wheat, sourdough, baguette, focaccia, brioche, and many more. As time has gone on, new ways of making bread are discovered and spread throughout the world. Evidently, bread has been an essential part of everyday life for thousands of years.

Ancient Egyptian civilizations have survived off of bread for decades. They used special types of thick, non-porous bread as containers for other dishes. This bread was easier to bake than leavened flatbreads since it didn’t need a vertical oven. They had excellent trade relationships with the Greeks and exported bread wheat.

Bread has been a traditional food in different cultures and religions for centuries and continues to be used in practice in modern times.

“For an entire day my family and I prepare Challah on Christmas eve, so we can eat it on Christmas Day,” said Haylee Phillips, a senior.

In some religions, bread has a symbolic meaning of the body of christ. It also represents God’s Supreme gift to humankind, eternal life.

There are also numerous cultures that introduce new types of bread. Bolo-Rei, Challah, Julekage, and Panettone are all examples of festival breads.

After a four year hiatus, Bratz dolls are back on the shelves. In celebration of the 20th anniversary, MGA Entertainment has re-released the original four Bratz characters - Sasha, Cloe, Yasmin, and Jade.

The dolls are now available from Amazon, Target, Walmart, and Hot Topic. The packaging is a reissued version of the original 2001 boxes, and the dolls are virtually identical. The brand is aiming to connect with the adult fans that grew up with the dolls.

“I definitely think nostalgia makes the brand more popular. Maybe that’s why they’re rebranding it, since those people are growing up,” said Kennedy Richardson, a senior.

The reissue of the dolls also led to a shift in marketing across social media platforms. Most notably, the brand posted on to Twitter a clip from the teen cult movie Jennifer’s Body replacing the actors with Bratz. This troubled some users, as the movie it parodied portrays Megan Fox turning into

a man-eating demon, and is already a satire on teen culture.

“I think the more mature marketing is crazy. I don’t find it a problem, I feel like they’ve changed their audience now specifically, it’s not random,” said Presslie Hughes, a junior.

The question of who is the audience for Bratz is a long standing one. In its original run, the brand was surrounded with controversy over the doll’s fashion, attitudes, and plot lines.

“I did not have any. I wasn’t really allowed to have them. My mom thought they were inappropriate, like Barbie but more inappropriate,” said Richardson.

In 2007 the American Psychological Association included Bratz in a report on the sexualization of minors. The report stated “Bratz dolls come dressed in sexualized clothing such as miniskirts, fishnet stockings, and feather boas. Although these dolls may present no more sexualization of girls or women than is seen in MTV videos, it is worrisome when dolls designed specifically for 4- to 8-year-olds are associ-

Art on the eyes fluffy rolls, it is important to let the yeast expand overnight.

4 Gianna Lazarro

My baking skills are terrible. The cookies are burnt in some places, too doughy in others, and the frosting is dripping off the sides of every single cookie.

Nearly every cookie is crumbling apart, and the only ones that are good enough to take pictures of are not exactly school appropriate.

YUMMY. Spencer Harris enjoying a handmake sugar cookie 4

So, before I empty my plate of weirdly-shaped cookies into the trash, I want to give a warning to any aspiring bakers out there. Instead of going in blind, learn from my mistakes.

It’ll save you a lot of trouble, a lot of flour, a bit of sugar, a teaspoon of salt, and a whole lot of rage.

Johnny Geare

Mistake #1

Actually read the directions. Anybody can follow the pictures, but what’s important to note is that bakers choose their words extremely carefully when they write their recipes. When they say “large bowl”, that means the largest bowl in your house.

When they say “combine thoroughly”, that means whisk until your arm falls off, and then regret not just buying a stand mixer. After all, that would have been way cheaper than paying to get your arm reattached.

Mistake #2 Baking is a delicate process. You’d think a massive ball of flour would be able to soak up as much water as it wants, but even just half a cup of water is able to turn what was once a flaky, clumpy dough into a soft, squelchy mess. Which is not something you want when too much water means it will stick to the rolling pin, and too much flour means it will crumble into dust.

Mistake #3

Cookies need to stay level headed, just like you do. By the time it came to rolling out the dough, I was just about ready to smash every glass window in a five mile radius.

As a result, the dough was rolled out half-hazardly and ended up varying wildly in thickness. This made the cookies fat and doughy on one end, and burnt to a crisp on the other. So to save you the headache, make sure to take a break from baking if your kitchen window starts to look extra breakable, and take your time with your dough.

The main takeaway from this story should be that anyone can bake, as long as they know what they are getting into. Or maybe it’s the opposite, and you should never trust a random staff writer to bake cookies for an award-winning newspaper. Either way, I hope I could help you bake better cookies than I could.

Tech Tech

THE CSPRESS

DECEMBER 10, 2021 ● 19

Fight stress with Aura Peyton Marinelli Spotlight editor

\Cooper Lake

NFTs rising in popularity David Lane

is no way to officially “vet” collectors since anyone and everyone can trade. Vetting is intended to stop the most speculative buya type of digital asset which have ers from flipping artworks for a quick profit.

“Some artists are now pushing for NFTs, exploded in popularity this year, with the NFT market expanding themselves when they do their single pieces and whatnot, but since it’s just a digital space by billions of dollars.

The current NFT market is made up of all the market is still very volatile and easy to kinds of media such as videos, images, and take advantage of,” said Hoveeg Boyadjian, a music. By having a small piece of block chain math teacher.

A problem still plaguattached to the media, it gives ing NFTs ability to the buyer ownership over the become mainstream original piece of media. This, is the environmental however, does not give the impact they have. The buyer the rights to the media, Some artists are block-chain code necesunless explicitly stated. sary to correctly attriThe NFT market share has now pushing for bute and use NFTs takes risen by more than $2 bil- NFT’s themselves lots of server space, lion since the beginning of when they do their up and those servers use 2021, and has even gained the lots of energy, causing attention of several celebri- single pieces and them to have detrimental ties. A few have tried their whatnot, but since effects on the environhand at selling digital art, ment. notably including Snoop it’s just a digital “If we can find a way Dogg, Lindsay Lohan and Paris space the market Hilton. is still very volatile to reduce the amount of servers needed for the “I don’t think NFTs are block-chain, or even just going to become the next and easy to take power the existing servstock market, because they advantage of ers with clean energy, the are honestly just too niche a Hoveeg Boyadjian NFT market might actumarket and just appeal to redditors and people who want to Math Teacher ally have a substantial presence in the future of feel like a part of an elite comthe global economy,” said Nathaniel Sitto, a munity,” said Trey Barab, a freshman Unlike with physical artwork which relies freshman.

Several marketplaces have popped up on the commercial gallery business model, NFTs do not need a middle man, negating in order to make it easier to trade NFTs. the need for art dealers. This allows artists Popular websites include OpenSea, Rarible, to trade directly online, typically through and Nifty Gateway, as well as many others, specialist sites specifically for trading NFTs. are devoted to increasing the accessibility In contrast to the physical art world, there and value of NFTs. news editor

N

ON-FUNGIBLE TOKENS, OR NFTs, are

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dolls from 2001 are now available for purchase. 4Claire

Squishmallows craze causes commotion among kids Geare

Judy Silva Food Editor

Christmas cookies gone wrong Staff Writer

BRATZ ARE BACK. Reissued

FLUFFY. John Lazarro pulls out traditional rolls from the oven for Thanksgiving. To get

Understanding these common mistakes can help

Johnathan Geare

ated with an objectified adult sexuality.”

“If they’re going to be remaking more mature content with Bratz dolls then it should be directed towards a more mature audience,” said Richardson.

MGA entertainment has long held that the dolls were always meant to reach 10-18 year old girls, and simply mimicked real life trends while upholding lessons of friendship.

“I never thought the dolls were too sexualized, I enjoyed their personalities more than anything,” said Joan Breese, a student at Northern Arizona University.

No matter what audience the brand intends to reach, it’s no question if it’s reaching one. The enduring popularity of the dolls has brought them back in a nostalgia inducing fashion.

Aura is an app designed in 2017 to help people improve their mental health through meditations, coaching, and more.

“What could help is normalizing talking about mental health more and learning signs for when people need help,” said Alexis Cavalieri, a junior.

Since the pandemic, mental health, especially in teens, has gone downhill. This has created a high demand for therapists around the globe, which can be costly. According to healthline, therapists charge between $60 to $120 per session.

To provide help to people that cannot afford, or do not want to spend this kind of money on therapy, Aura offers affordable mindful meditations.

“Aura is a good way to end the week by listening to a story or meditation on the way home from work,” said James Barr, a user of the app.

The Aura app can be downloaded for free from the app store, and offers one free meditation per day. Premium users pay $12.99 a month, or $7.92 a month if paid a year in advance. The premium membership allows users to have unlimited meditations each and every day.

Before using Aura, users take a personality quiz to help the app guide them to what meditations and activities they need. Activities the app offers include stories, music, and nature

3Philip Tate sounds. These tools are designed to help improve individuals’ sleep, emotions, breathwork, and many other scenarios.

“I think having an app to help teens with their health is more convenient for them,” said Trevor Callow, a junior.

According to TechCrunch, a publisher of technology news, the app has over 200 different meditations available at an affordable cost.

Man on the Street: What is your favorite childhood videogame?

“Minecraft, I love Minecraft because it is just a goated game, we all played it when we were younger and back then it was just the perfect game,” said Dylan Lies, a senior.

“Fortnite, because it was full of good bonding moment with my friends,” said Landon Lugo, a junior.

“I love Animal Crossing, my favorite is the mini fishing game because whats a video game if it doesn’t have a mini fishing game?,” said Lucy Raleigh, a senior. aPhilip Tate

aCooper Lake Sarah Love

Trending Now Editor

Statement eyeliner, a technique which emphasizes eyeliner with color and design, is a hot trend, according to beauty bloggers across the internet.

The trend began this summer, with celebrities modeling everything from intense cat eyes to bright colored wings.

Emma Chamberlain was seen with shades of neon liner at the 2021 Met Gala, achieving a 70’s inspired beauty look.

Another trend with eyeliner that has started to surface is where three dots are drawn surrounding the eyes, making a more abstract look.

Singer Zoe Kravitz recently created a winged look that she modeled in her role as the latest face of YSL Beauty.

According to fashion blog site TZR, this is how she achieved the look: She used one of the brand’s inks to create the look, starting by drawing a line across her lid and then bringing it out to a wing before getting to the very interesting part: She takes the liner pen to draw along her crease, and then adds a dainty dot at the tip of her wing. The final result is a much bolder take on a classic cat eye.”

Eyeliner is one of the most popular and versatile beauty products. Mixing and matching colors and designs can add a fun statement to any outfit.

The art of eyeliner can quickly become part of an everyday routine, easily changing the whole mood of an outfit. These are just a few of the many ways to bring a little more spunk and fun into the day.

A famous brand of stuffed animals called Squishmallows makes customers of all ages storm stores.

Squishmallows originated during 2017, in California, by a company called Kelly Toys. These soft plushies come in a variety of sizes from 3.5 inch clip-ons to extra large 24 inch snuggle buddies.

They are a fitting present for any occasion and anyone.

“I love how soft my squishmallows are and they make amazing pillows,” said Reese Smith, a senior.

The marshmallow texture and polyester material allow for these animals to live up to the brand name. For each Squishmallow character design, it is given a name and personal storyline. An example is Autumn the black cat who loves to adventure during the night. There are over 1000 different Squishmallow characters to collect within copious amounts of styles. Some styles such as Hug Mees, Stackables, Mystery Squad, Flip-AMallows and more. Each holiday there are limited edition Squishmallows released that are usually new designs each year, but some familiar faces can be seen on shelves. There are Christmas, Halloween, Valentines Day, Saint Patrick’s Day, and many more holiday Squishmallows. On top of the different styles, Squishmallows can be

found at numerous stores.

“When I am looking for Squishmallows I either get them online or I usually find them at Fry’s,” said Sydney Bentley, a junior.

Other stores that sell Squishmallows are Target, Five Below, Party City, Walgreens, and so many more places.

These soft toys are also sold internationally so anyone can get their own Squishmallows. Unfortunately, Squishmallows are hard to find in stores due to resellers.

“I think it is unfair that people have to buy overpriced squishmallows from resellers who clear stores of their stock,” said Heidi Nickel, an avid Squishmallow lover.

A store being completely sold out of

aClaire Geare Squishmallows is not a rare sight to see. Resellers are known to storm the stores when they hear any news of new Squishmallows being sold. Due to there being no limit on how many Squishmallows can be purchased, shelves will be cleared instantaneously. Limited edition Squishmallows will sell out within a day and can be found online for $50 to $60 when they were originally $20.

Especially around the holidays, people will pay anything to see a big smile on their children’s face.

Fin