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As students, like senior Michaela Sander, enter a new school year, they will be facing a...
NORMAL new
In addition to wearing masks and social-distancing, a new theme, new policies and at least one new teacher will greet students. See stories, page 3
2 September 8, 2020
editorial
ONLINE OBSTACLES
Social media creates unneeded anxiety
O
ne of the biggest forms of communication today is through social media, but are we overlooking the challenges social media can cause? Anxiety is one of the most common mental illnesses, and as someone who has struggled with it for a couple years, I know that stress of things posted and said on social media. According to the Behavioral Health of the Palm Beaches, “People who used social media the most were about 2.7 times more Column likely to be depressed by Olivia than participants who Nunnery, used social media the staff writer least.” While on social media, it is easy to compare oneself to others whether it’s productivity, body image, or how amazing one’s life looks solely based on the pictures posted on other’s accounts. As a teen who is involved in social media, I have struggled with my body image and thinking I’m less than because I don’t meet today’s beauty standards. But I’m not the only teen who struggles with body image issues. According to the National Editor-in-Chief Bailey Graham Managing Editor Emily Kuznar Staff Holli Brus Delaney Buckner Maya Cooper Mia Dickson
Organization for Women, “..at age 13, 53 percent of American girls are unhappy with their bodies. This grows to 78 percent by the time girls reach 17. In a Ted Talk titled “Is Social Media Hurting Your Mental Health,” Bailey Parnell, founder and CEO of SkillsCamp and named one of Canada’s top 100 most powerful women, makes a point that “In social media, we are the product.” Parnell also says, “You know someone or are someone who has taken down a photo because it didn’t get as many likes as you thought it would… we took our product off the shelf because it wasn’t selling fast enough.” By taking a social media post down, we are taking our self worth and diminishing it because we would rather have everyone else’s approval than our own. Another main point of her Ted Talk is that social media can be an addiction. According to the Centre for Mental Health, “Addiction to social media affects around 5 percent of young people and was recently described as potentially more addictive than alcohol and cigarettes.” This is a problem because once someone is in the constant state of checking the number of likes something gets and it does not have Mike Meekhof Olivia Nunnery Grace Opsommer Maddox Schaner-Follett Ali Sewick Samantha Sewick Brady Whalen Adviser Warren Kent III
instant gratification, this can lead to deeper feelings of anxiety and loneliness. Many teens also suffer from body image issues. Constantly seeing one’s Instagram, Tik Tok and other social media platforms being filled with models or people who meet and exceed the beauty standards makes people look for their own insecurities in them and it tears their mental health apart. “The 24/7 circulation of easily viewable manipulated images promotes and entrenches unrealistic expectations of how young people should look and behave,” says the Centre for Mental Health. There are constantly new beauty standards being set daily, and we often find ourselves scrolling through social media then seeing a model or someone who has the “ideal body” and thinking to yourself why can’t I look like that? If someone is ever feeling mentally drained because of social media, consider taking a break from it and distance one’s self from the negativity that comes with it. “There is too much negativity in the world. Do your best to make sure you aren’t contributing to it,” said Germany Kent, an American print and broadcast journalist.
The Sailors’ Log
from the editor New year brings new anticipation Hi all, welcome back to school. This year, I will be the sole editor-in-chief with the help of Emily Kuznar as managing editor. We are all in strange times right now, but The Sailors’ Log staff is excited for this school year and providing all the news and updates to all of Sailor Nation. Hopefully, you have enjoyed your extremely long summer break and are more than excited to get back to school. I am confident that you have gotten all the necessities for surviving school, including pencils, notebooks, hand sanitizers, and, of course, masks. I understand walking through the halls in the middle of a pandemic might be odd, but we will grow closer together as Sailors because that’s what sailors do when the seas get bumpy. I’m not sure what The Sailors’ Log will look like this school year due to the possible restrictions Bailey ahead, but I can promise you, the Graham, staff and I will be working hard editor-in-chief to make sure you get all of your entertainment, reviews, news, and sports no matter what. Copies of our amazing newspaper will be available in the Sailor Center lobby and a multitude of local businesses around Norton Shores like Bigby and Toast ‘n Jams. This year, we have 11 newcomers to our staff. I know the returning staff members and I are super excited to see what these newbies can do and the wonderful variety of stories they will write. We have people who will bring something different to the table for this year. All in all, I’m just excited to see where this year is going to take us all. This is my last hooray as a Sailors’ Log staff member and as a high schooler. I’m going to work hard to give all patrons of The Sailors’ Log the best I can give them. Be on the lookout for all the editions of The Sailors’ Log. I promise you it will be worth your read.
The Sailors’ Log is a public forum for student expression distributed freely to students and faculty of Mona Shores High School. Our Voice is the opinion message selected by the editorial staff of The Sailors’ Log. Your Voice is the letters to the editor section. All letters to the editor must be signed.
How to communicate with the staff: • Email: kentw@monashores.net • Website: www.thesailorslog.com • Facebook: Mona Shores Publications This edition of The Sailors’ Log was printed by the Argus-Press 201 E. Exchange St. Owosso, MI 48867
news
The Sailors’ Log
September 8, 2020
3
Facing A New Normal
Construction Update Sailors face year with split schooling High school work 2020-21 school theme nearing completion By Bailey Graham Editor-in-Chief
and have individual time with a teacher over a subject they For the past 11 years, principal Jennifer are struggling in,” Bustard said. Principal Jennifer Bustard Bustard has applied a motto for each school “(On Wednesdays,) Cohort A knows a new normal is year. Her motto for 2020-21 is “Sailors lead will be 9 to 10 a.m. and Cohort approaching for her school the way, anchored in hope.” B will be 11 to 12. Wednesdays, district and is accepting any “During the beginning of the global students are still expected to challenge with open arms. pandemic, a word that kept floating around my participate in asynchronized Bustard and the staff have mind was hope,” Bustard said. “Among this learning.” been working hard to set out the unrest, we have choices in how we respond, Asynchronized learning is a perfect system to get students and for me, there is only one choice in how I system put in place by the school back into school. respond and that is positivity; that is all I know, board that emphasizes learning “The schedule we are and that is all I will ever preach. Sailors lead when students and teachers are in adapting is a collegiate model the way, anchored in hope, no matter how different places but a connection or what they call a hybrid cohort hard it gets we will have hope for better days.” to learning still exists. model,” Bustard said. “The idea “Asynchronized learning will is for schools in phase four (of the pandemic) that they consist mainly of Google classroom with videos, lecture strongly consider a hybrid schedule where you limit the notes, and assignments every day. This will be very different number of students in each classroom and the building. The than what we did for virtual learning this past spring,” hybrid part of it is that it’s a mix of in-person learning and Bustard said. “This new learning style will help train the asynchronized learning.” kids and teachers what to expect and do if we do have to go This system of hybrid learning will consist of Shores back full virtual.” splitting alphabetically to make two cohorts. This will The school year will be different from past years, but it decrease the number of students in the building and follow was necessary so Sailors can be together, Bustard said. The the pandemic guidelines that the governor has laid out. staff has been working all summer and will continue to find Cohort A (students with last names A-K) will be called ways to address certain situations so students can still make Anchor Team A, and Cohort B (students with last names memories this year just like any other year. L-Z) will be called Anchor Team B. Anchor Team A will “The first week is really going to be about getting attend school Mondays and Thursdays while Anchor Team reacquainted, relationship building, and overall building up B will attend Tuesdays and Fridays. the new normal,” Bustard said. “We, as a staff, are ready to Wednesdays will be days where teachers will have office help students out and make memories for people. There are hours in which they have scheduled times in which Cohort a lot of challenges, but with our creativity and putting our A and Cohort B can come in and get individual help. minds to it, we are going to make this year as amazing as it “This (schedule) gives students the ability to schedule can be.”
By Maddox Schaner-Follett Staff Writer The past two years have been especially busy for construction changes at the high school both inside the building and on the school grounds. Work that has been completed includes renovations to the east entrance, a new fire alarm system, and construction on the soccer and softball complex. As students return to school and enter through the Sailor Center, some may notice that the doors have been revamped with a new set added for security. Many of the other changes made were to sports-related areas of the school. The school had the tennis courts redone, which are available for use. Major changes were made to the softball and soccer complex, leaving the area, as Principal Bustard said, “super gorgeous.” Most other changes to the high school are small modifications, such as the entrance near the auditorium, which has been renovated. The school also updated the fire alarm system. “Over the summer, a team came in and set us up with a whole new fire system (to replace the old one) that was outdated and in extreme need for an update,” principal Jennifer Bustard said. “They redid air duct detectors and light sensors that have been removed. When we have our first fire drill, students will notice that there will be a voice talking instead of the noise alarm.” After the last few projects are finished at the high school, construction will turn to the elementary buildings, Bustard said.
Teacher, coach makes her way back to where it all began at Shores By Delaney Buckner and Brady Whalen Staff Writers After being in the district for 20 years, Tracy Hackney returns to the high school as a business teacher and as the boys’ tennis coach. On the education side, Hackney will replace Judy Hunt, who retired at the end of the past school year. “I am super excited to be back to the building where my teaching career began,” Hackney said. “I am super excited to have seniors in class, many of whom I had for several years in elementary school. I love the staff at the high school and the energy of being with older kids. I know this year is going to be unlike any other, but I am confident that our administration and staff will make it a great year.” Hackney previously taught Information Technology and
Accounting, Web Page Design, and CISCO networking to freshmen. Then, she moved to the elementary level teaching technology to all grade levels in Ross Park and Churchill elementaries. Hackney, who graduated high school from Thornapple-Kellogg in Middleville, said she realized during her accounting class that she enjoyed the subject and wanted to become a teacher herself. “I am so happy that Shores requires senior finance. Fifteen years ago, I wrote my masters thesis that all students should have to pass personal finance before graduation,” Hackney said. “It is important to be armed with those skills and have that knowledge, and I am so proud to continue on what Mrs. Hunt and others started and providing all students with the opportunity to learn such essential skills.” On the athletic side, Hackney
Traci Hackney returns to the high school as a business teacher and the boys’ varsity tennis coach. (Brady Whalen) will be replacing Nate Kunnen, who stepped down at the end of last year. “I’m looking to learn how to live
moment to moment and enjoy the team and the day since the future is so uncertain,” Hackney said. “I hope to help our athletes improve their skills while providing a healthy and safe place to learn and grow in these tough times.” Hackney said her parents introduced her to the game when she was in elementary school, which culminated in a career on the varsity team in high school. “I love how tennis brought my family together and had an impact on our lives,” Hackney said. “It is such a tough mental sport, and there are so many beneficial lessons to be learned on court.” Firmly entrenched within the sport, she began coaching when she was student-teaching at Portage Northern High School. Eventually, she made her way to Shores in 2000, and in the past, she has coached both the boys’ and girls’ at the high school
as well as the middle school team and numerous youth programs. Hackney coached the boys’ varsity from 2002-04, when she compiled a 10-13-8 record, which included a City title in 2004. She spent 2002-05 as the girls’ varsity coach with a 23-11-5 record, which included two City titles and three top 10 finishes at the state tournament. “I have a decent ability to read athletes and get to know them and to help them see their strengths and weaknesses,” Hackney said. “With this, I can help them grow, not only as tennis players, but as people too. ” Hackney said she can’t wait for the transition that she is making. “I am super excited to be back teaching at the high school, where I began my career 20 years ago and to be back on the court sharing my love for tennis with athletes,” she said.
4 September 8, 2020
center section
The Sailors’ Log
The Sailors’ Log
center section
September 8, 2020
THE CHAN G I N G WORLD How We Got Here
History The Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement was at one point out of the public eye. Now, it has taken over nearly every mainstream media platform for the past three months. According to the BLM website, “Black Lives Matter was founded in 2013 in response to the acquittal of Trayvon Martin’s murderer. Black Lives Matter Foundation, Inc. is a global organization in the US, UK, and Canada, whose mission is to eradicate white supremacy and build local power to intervene in violence inflicted on Black communities by the state and vigilantes.” Trayvon Martin was a 17-year-old Black teenager who was killed while walking home from the store, on Feb. 26, 2012. George Zimmerman, a neighborhood watchman and the man who shot Martin, reported Martin to the police after claiming he looked “suspicious.” It was only moments after a verbal altercation that Martin was shot in the chest. Resurface The return of the movement was largely caused by the death of George Floyd, a Black man, on May 25, 2020. Floyd died during an arrest outside of a convenience store in Minneapolis. Police were arresting Floyd over his alleged use of paying with a counterfeit $20 bill. It was in that moment when a police officer kneeled on Floyd’s neck for eight minutes and forty-six seconds, ultimately causing his death, while the other three officers watched. After security footage of Floyd’s death was released to the public, an uproar of frustration, heartache, and outrage swept through the nation. His death sparked protests, events, and a call for change from the public. The BLM movement has now placed an emphasis on the defunding and reform of police departments in the United States. Other Shores Activist Senior Olivia Abraham, who is white, has also made her voice heard in support of reforming the police. “The government should, in my opinion, be actively working to reform police forces across the nation,” Abraham said. “Police are meant to maintain safety and control, not to intimidate and cause unnecessary harm. Human beings, when given even an ounce of power, are likely to abuse it because they enjoy the feeling of being in control. This is exactly the case with law enforcement. In terms of race relations specifically, changing laws doesn’t necessarily change minds. Educating the public is the best route to take.” Info compiled by Emily Kuznar, managing editor
Fighting For Equality Junior uses platform to advocate for racial justice By Emily Kuznar Managing Editor More than ever, specifically, young people are using their voices and social media platforms to urge for a change via the Black Lives Matter movement at both state and federal levels. Junior Cequoia Davis, who is Black, is just one of many students who are actively working for a shift in the way the United States is policed. “Our generation has definitely understood and realized that we are the ones who will ultimately cause change to happen,” Davis said. “It’s up to us to use our voices, and we have to rely on each other to fight this battle together.” While the movement has brought many people of all races together, it has also intensified the partisan divide in the national government. The BLM movement is often criticized, specifically by right-wing politicians. “Some people have perceived the movement to be too violent and overpowering,” Davis said. “What most people misunderstand about the BLM movement is that it isn’t supposed to be a Black supremacy movement. We’re fighting for equal rights for all races, sexualities, and genders. We don’t want to overpower; we just want to be seen as equal individuals.” While the BLM movement seems to focus on the liberation of Black people, Davis said that this is a movement for all. “We aren’t saying that only Black lives matter,” Davis said. “But right now, Black lives matter more than ever before. We never said that we mattered more than any other race. It often feels that we’re preyed upon by people who are just looking to tear us down. It’s hard to go outside and feel safe as a Black person in today’s world. Everything is very uncertain.” Amid the controversy in the national government, people in all states have banded together to show their support for the movement. “While the movement hasn’t made a huge presence in Muskegon, we’re just getting started,” Davis said. “There’s been a couple of protests in the downtown area, along with many speeches given by people to just spread awareness. We did a cleanup of a local park, we put up flyers around the spread our message, and we’re still planning more things. We need to keep up the movement’s momentum.” Davis says that the most important thing we as a nation can do is to educate ourselves and not let the movement die down. “Education is crucial for keeping the movement alive,” Davis said.”The sense of urgency is no longer there. It seems that I get shut down a lot by people when I try to bring it up. All we need is for people to understand our cause. While it may be uncomfortable, change doesn’t come easily.”
A Black Lives Matter demonstration (above), which junior Cequoia Davis (left) attended, was held July 4 in downtown Muskegon. Davis is one of many students who are leading the BLM movement in Muskegon. (Courtesy Photos)
While updates about the movement are still being shown to the public, the energy has declined over the last month. “It feels like the ‘trend factor’ of the movement is going
away,” Davis said. “Part of me feels uncomfortable with the fact that this was a trend to begin with. People’s lives are not a trend that just comes and goes whenever it’s convenient. Even once the energy dies down, the movement still exists.” There are many ways that everyday people can stay informed and active with the BLM movement. “While not everyone has the ability to attend protests, there’s plenty of other things that we can do,” Davis said. “Signing petitions online, spreading information on social media, donating time or money to organizations, and simply just educating yourself and others is how we’re going to keep the movement alive.” While the movement hasn’t been perfect, a lot of good has come from it, Davis said . “I hope that someday we won’t have to live in fear,” Davis said. “I want my younger siblings and young kids everywhere to grow up without having to worry about being deemed as a threat. I want parents to not have to fear their child not coming home at the end of the day. We’re making progress, and we aren’t going to stop now.”
5
New Perspectives
Two seniors share stories about COVID-19 By Maya Cooper Staff Writer
The coronavirus has affected everyone in some way. One day we were taken out of school, sports were gone, and nobody could see their friends. A lot of these things are still gone, and everyone is looking for an end in sight. While not everyone knows somebody who has been diagnosed with the virus, at least two students from Shores have tested positive at one point. Hearing the girl’s story could change anyone’s perspective on the virus. Seniors Kennedy McCombs and Salaihah Andrade were exposed to COVID-19 after hanging with a group of people at Whitey’s Woods at Lake Harbor Park. The girls went Andrade there on the Fourth of July. McCombs said she went with four of her friends, including Andrade. Everyone was just swimming and laying out on the beach. There were lots of people there, but McCombs said she does not know the exact amount. “I never thought I would test positive McCombs because I was at the beach outside when I got it,” McCombs said. “When I first found out, I was very scared because so many people have died, and I didn’t want to give it to anyone.” Andrade said she would not have thought she would ever get it either. “I didn’t think I would ever really get it because I was always with the same people, so I was pretty surprised when I found out that I did test positive,” Andrade said. Even though both the girls did test positive, they had different experiences with the virus. McCombs had symptoms, but they only lasted for one day. Andrade was asymptomatic, which means she tested positive for the virus but she never felt sick. McCombs said she went to bed a couple nights after the Fourth Of July with a headache and woke up the next morning with a fever of 102, chills, cough, really bad body aches to the point where she could barely walk.
“The day I had symptoms I was very emotional because I was scared who else could have had it and what could happen to me,” McCombs said. The positive test results led the girls to follow guidelines and quarantine themselves for at least two weeks. Even though Andrade was asymptomatic she still needed to quarantine since she was a carrier of the virus. McCombs was quarantined July 9-23, and she said she stayed in her room with family members bringing her food. She added that she would wear a mask if she left her room. McCombs said it was difficult not being able to see friends and only talking to people over her phone. “It was hard thinking about not seeing people for so long in the beginning,” McCombs said. “It was really hard not seeing my family and being able to go and talk to them and hangout with them too.” The news spread fast to the community about the two girls getting COVID. Both said some negativity started to appear toward them, but thankfully, they said they had positivity to help them get through it. “Some negative posts were made about me,” Andrade said. “Our closest friends just got tested and were super understanding and just told us to feel better.” When they told their closest friends, they all were scared, but they went and received a Covid test, McCombs said. “All my friends were so nice and praying and wishing that everything would be okay and that I would feel better,” McCombs said. “People who had found out from others were pretty negative toward me and posted on different social media about me having it which was hard.” When the girls got out of quarantine, they both felt perfectly fine and are now healthy. McCombs and Andrade were happy to say none of their family members nor other friends tested positive. “I feel thankful because I wasn’t affected by the symptoms like others have,” Andrade said. The experience of getting the worldwide pandemic changed the way they viewed the virus, and the seriousness of it all. “You just never think it’s real until you or someone you know gets it,” McCombs said. “Your whole perspective on it will change.”
Facing the Facts about COVID-19 • All schools in Michigan were closed due to COVID-19 on March 13, 2020. • As of Aug. 28, the United States has 5,799,046 cases total with 178,998 of those cases resulting in death. • As of Aug. 28, Michigan has 99,200 confirmed cases and 10,280 cases that are probable. • From Aug. 21-28, a total of 292,117 cases have developed in the United States. • As of Aug. 28, The Michigan Statewide Case Fatality Rate is 6.4 percent. Source: Center For Disease Control (CDC)
6 September 8, 2020
profiles Newspaper editor ready after watching program grow
The Sailors’ Log
By Samantha Sewick Staff Writer
Getting to see a program grow and develop is an incredible thing. Just ask senior Bailey Graham, who has spent the past two years writing for the school paper and will become editor-in-chief of The Sailors’ Log this fall. “My priority when I start a new edition of the paper is that I’m going to work with people,” Graham said. “I work for my staff. I need to play to their strengths and personalities.” Heading into her first year in charge, Graham said she knows how to get the newspaper completed and get it done well. “We work with our adviser Warren Kent III to figure out what needs to be covered, what’s appropriate to be covered, and we go off of that,” Graham said. “I
help people come up with story ideas, we figure out how to write those stories, and I figure out how to get the job done.” After learning about the staff from a peer when she was a freshman, Graham took the class the next school year. “I knew I needed to join,” said Graham, who has won awards through Michigan Interscholastic Press Association (MIPA) for her news stories. “This class made me a stronger writer and a better person. It forced me to break out of my shell just a little bit more.” Being a part of such a quickpaced and fast-moving staff, Graham said she learned how to go with the flow of writing. “You never know what can happen with an article,” she said. “Newspaper changed my way of thinking. Everything can evolve.” Becoming a staff writer changed
Editor-in-chief Bailey Graham takes over for the awardwinning school paper. (Warren Kent III) a lot about Graham, including who she is today. “Having to go out and interview people and write about them just really forced me out of what I was comfortable with,” Graham said.
“I’m so grateful for it because it’s made me the outgoing and goofy person that I am now.” Graham said she has learned many lessons from writing for such the paper, one of which is that there is much more than meets the eye to putting the paper together. “It’s not just me that makes this all possible, though; it’s such a team effort,” said Graham, who has a staff of four returners that help her make the behind-thescenes run smoothly. “We all go through everything, make sure everything looks great, and we adjust wherever it’s needed.” Since the paper includes a vast amount of sections, a lot of personalities go into making the newspaper possible. “There’s different backgrounds, cliques and stereotypes, ethnicities and genders; no matter who you are, you can fit in on our staff,”
Graham said. “The minute you join the staff, you become more of a family than anything.” Being a teenager herself, Graham knows the concept of putting together a paper can seem daunting to those looking to join. “Yes, it is writing. Yes, it is building a newspaper. But it’s so much more than that,” said Graham, who encourages everyone to give newspaper a try. “It’s about making a family and creating these connections that last forever.” As Graham prepares to share her final articles with the Sailor Nation, she wants everyone to know how incredible the class truly is and what it’s known for. “It’s the togetherness of it all,” Graham said. “If you find yourself not knowing where you belong, come join. Because no matter what, you will belong here.”
PUBLICATION
POWERHOUSES
Yearbook leader follows sisters’ legacy by becoming editor-in-chief By Ali Sewick Staff Writer
Living up to a legacy can bring pressure to anyone. But trying to live up to a family legacy can bring that level of pressure up immensely. For senior Vaughn Lakatos, that level of pressure is twice as immense. As the new editor-in-chief of Compass Points, the school’s yearbook, Lakatos is not following in the footsteps of just one family member; she is walking the same path as two older sisters, Dava and Coy. “I never felt pressured to join because of my sisters,” said Vaughn about Dava, who was editor-in-chief in 2016, and Coy, who was ENC in 2019. “They said it was a lot of fun, so I felt like it would be a good class to take and try out. I stuck with it because I enjoyed it. It gets better every year.” As editor-in-chief, Vaughn said she has a vast amount of responsibilities to ensure every page of the yearbook reaches its full potential. “I have to make sure all the pages are complete, everyone gets to events on time, people stay on top of their pictures and make sure there are no mistakes in the yearbook,”
The Lakatos sisters (Coy, Vaughan and Dava) share a special bond over their shared passions and love for writing and photography. And all three have been editor-in-chief of the school yearbook. (Courtesy Photo) Vaughn said. “I make sure everything is running smoothly. It can be overwhelming at times, but seeing the end product is worth all I have to endure.” Since this year will look different than previous years, Vaughn, as well as the entire yearbook staff, have to get
more creative incorporating more unique angles of our school. “We have some ideas regarding the theme of the yearbook,” Vaughn said. “The theme, which we are working on, will be mostly based on what is happening during the year, including all the obstacles that we have to face.” Vaughn and her sister, Coy, got the privilege of working together on the publication during her sophomore year. “I enjoyed being in the yearbook together because we get along so well, and it was nice to have a friend in the class,” Vaughn said. “I looked to her for guidance. She made me work really hard and push myself more than others did.” But of course, there are always positive outcomes of sharing a passion with a more experienced sibling. “Being in the class with my sister gave me more confidence in what I was doing,” Vaughn said. “It helped me realize I was capable of doing whatever I wanted to do.” For most people, confidence comes from repetition and time, but for Vaughn, it came from the reassurance Coy gave her and the support her siblings encouraged her with. “If I didn’t have them, I would probably be much more scared and nervous to be in the class,” Vaughn said. “They made it easier.”
features
The Sailors’ Log
September 8, 2020
Return to Normal
Students eager to resume classes
By Holli Brus Staff Writer
Everybody takes things for granted in life. Whether it’s a person, sport, or place, there are things people don't appreciate until it’s gone. Shores students are more eager than ever to return to school this year and are grateful to be going back as little as two days a week. “I would wear a hazmat suit or carry Clorox wipes if it meant I got to walk the halls one last time,” senior Bri Wade said, hoping to be able to cherish her last moments as a high schooler. When COVID-19 hit Michigan back in March causing schools to be shut down, many people were thrilled to have an extended summer vacation. It wasn’t until being without school for six months that Shores students realized what they had. “One thing I appreciate about school that I didn’t realize would be the structure and the social interaction on a daily basis,” sophomore Jake Nana said. “I miss the interactions with my teachers and the daily structure that I didn’t get over online learning. It was sad that my freshman year was cut short. We missed out on life experiences that we weren’t able to get over
Seniors Maddie Mettler, Michaela Sander, Bri Wade, Payton Silk, Mia Bowers, Riley Rosenthal, and Annie Anderson, shown at last year’s Homecoming assembly, are preparing for a senior year, which will be unprecedented. online learning. At first, I was happy for an extended summer, but with regulations in place for so long, I realize all that was taken from us, and now, I have such a greater appreciation for school.” School ended abruptly on March 13, and it didn’t really sink in for most people until a couple weeks into quarantine. “When I found out March 13th was my last day of freshman year, I was surprisingly happy because I was very sleep deprived, so I thought it would be nice to have a break,” sophomore Jala Vorgias said. “My mood definitely changed within a week or two of quarantine from happy to irritated once I realized my
parents wouldn’t let me out of the house. I really missed going to drama class with (teacher Julie) Baker because it was always so much fun and I loved spending time with everyone there.” Students didn't realize that there were so many little things at school to appreciate, and most students would tend to complain instead of being grateful. “I really miss going to choir and socializing with people, hugging my friends, and doing my daily Snapchat vlogs with my friend Jacob-where we had daily special guests,” junior Jakari Carson said. “It’s the little things I wished I had cherished just a little more. If COVID-19 has taught me one thing, it is to
be thankful for what I have.” With society’s “new normal” this upcoming school year as well as part of last year look entirely different than what everyone is used to. “Doing school from home was a completely different world, and I really took going to class for granted,” Wade said. “Getting to go back to school makes the new regulations 100 percent more tolerable. It’s my senior year. I would do anything to go to school even if it’s only for a limited amount of time. This upcoming school year will look different in many ways. Of course, the masks, and the fewer students per classroom, but there will also be a change among Shores students. Shores students will be grateful for every opportunity given to them and will cherish their time in school. “No one wants to wear a mask for a whole school day, but we all have to if we want to keep each other safe,” Wade said. “I feel like I became a senior without fulfilling everything that is supposed to happen my junior year. Everything seems out of order. It still blows my mind because it will always be hard to comprehend everything that’s happening, but I learned to come to terms with it and accept it.”
7
What did you miss most in the past six months? “Seeing my friends all at once while building new friendships is definitely what I miss the most about school.” – Ella Wasserman, freshman “I miss the interaction with the teachers as well as other students for things like group projects and labs.” – Robyn Hunt, sophomore “I miss the daily interactions with my friends and classmates in the hallways. I am also excited to get back to playing soccer with my team, especially my older brother Keegan DeKuiper, who will be a senior this year.” – Jordan DeKuiper, junior “I miss interacting with others and playing football in hopes of defending our state championship title.” – Keondre Pierce, senior
Quarantine time made me miss the little things about school
I
’m not going to lie, come March I was sick and tired of going to school; I was exhausted. Being at school for seven hours, then having the obligation of sports and homework from every class after that, it became a relentless cycle. To be honest, I was hoping for a bit of an extended Spring Break to help me out. Little Column by did I know that a global Grace pandemic would soon make Opsommer this wish come true. So when this first happened, naturally, I was excited. I was looking forward to hanging out with
friends, and well, that didn’t happen. I wanted a break from school, but I wasn’t aware that this would also mean a break from everyone and everything in my daily life that I loved. Once I found out that we wouldn’t be going back to school for the rest of the year, I began to miss it. Being socially distant for so long gave me a chance to notice all of the simple things in my everyday life that I often took for granted. Online school was certainly not all it was cut out to be. I missed the little things about school, like walking the halls with my friends in the morning and seeing them in class. Having family as my only face-to-face social interaction was difficult to say the
least. I’m so grateful that I had other ways to keep in touch with my friends through technology and such that some people didn’t have access to. I also missed my teachers; it was not the same only talking to them over Zoom once a week. Having class under these conditions made learning difficult and getting extra help even more so. I struggle to ask for help in the first place, but now that emailing was the default for asking questions I tended to just keep them to myself. As much as I liked being at home and having the ability to create my own schedule, I missed the structure that school gave me. The “schedule” that I gave myself probably had more breaks
than work time which often proved to be counterproductive. I found myself easily distracted while I was learning at home, which wouldn’t have happened in class. After six months without school, I can’t wait to finally be able to go back to inperson learning. I know that a lot of things will be different, but going back to school (even if it’s only for two days or a week) will give at least some normalcy during a pandemic. I have dreaded school for the longest time and not in a million years did I think that I would be excited to go. I can only hope that going back to school now I’ve learned not to take school for granted because with school goes everything else.
sports
8 September 8, 2020
The Sailors’ Log
MIXED EMOTIONS
Football moves to spring; other sports face challenges By Mike Meekhof Staff Writer Despite every state bordering Michigan electing to play football this fall, the Michigan High School Athletic Association has decided to move the fall football season to the spring. Across the Shores community, the decision was met with mixed emotions, especially since Shores is the defending Div. 2 state champions. Football coach Matt Koziak said he saw the decision coming but still remained disappointed. “Obviously, I was disappointed,” he said. “I can’t say I was too surprised. I thought we would have a chance to play and that the (MHSAA) would let us play, but I wasn’t shocked.” While Koziak and his players have to wait until spring to play, cross country, boys’ tennis and girls’ golf have been playing while boys’ soccer, volleyball and girls’ swimming are on hold and can only practice (as of Aug. 31). Koziak was forced to break the news to players on Aug. 14. “Most players were heartbroken,” Koziak said. “To find out at practice, many seniors were devastated. I think it hits the seniors a lot more then it hits the underclassman just because this is it for seniors.” Senior offensive lineman Bryce Sikkenga was among the most emotional when the announcement was made. “When coach (Koziak) told us after practice, I was very emotional, and I didn’t really know what to think,” Sikkenga said. “I just felt like the MHSAA had enough time to figure it out.” Sikkenga also said he felt like there could be a positive outlook on the situation as well.
Unfortunately, the Shores football team will not be able to defend its state title this fall. Because of COVID-19, the sport has been moved to the spring. (File Photo) “I hope since we are moving it to the spring we can have fans because if we played in the fall, there was no way we were going to have fans at our games,” Sikkenga said. MHSAA Executive Director Mark Uyl posted a video on the MHSAA’s YouTube channel on Aug. 14 discussing the decision to push back football. “At the end of the day, we did everything we could to find a path forward for football this fall, but while continuing to connect with the governor’s office, state health department officials, our member schools’ personnel and the council, there is just too much uncertainty and too many unknowns to play football this fall,” he said. With the season pushed to spring, the defending state champions will face a new challenge in preparing in the spring. “We are allowed 16 practices before Halloween, so we are going to treat that
like we would treat spring practices, but instead of preparing for a fall season, we are preparing for a spring season,” Koziak said. “It’s a new plan for sure. We will still have two practices a week (until Oct. 31) and maintain our strength program in the winter and we will adjust in the spring. We will still do the things to help kids prepare to be successful, but it will be a little bit different when we do them.” While there may be a lot of disappointment and controversy surrounding the MHSAA’s decision, Koziak still has his main priority on health. “I’m super disappointed, but you have to put things into perspective,” Koziak said. “Our players are healthy, my family is healthy. Health for our players and people is our No. 1 priority for sure.” In addition to the football decision, the MHSAA has announced that sports categorized as “low risk” are approved for
competition. Fall sports in that category are cross country, girls’ golf and boys’ tennis. The part that has drawn the most confusion has been the decision sports categorized as “moderate risk,” such as boys’ soccer, girls’ swimming and volleyball. Regions 6 and 8 in Michigan that are currently in Phase 5 of Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s safe start plan have been given the green light for competition in “moderate risk” sports. All other regions are currently in Phase 4 of Whitmer’s plan, and are still on hold for “moderate risk sports.” When asked about the confusing decision in an interview on WOOD TV8 on Aug. 20, Uyl made it clear that he would like to move forward state-wide with “moderate risk” sports but is still waiting for clarification from the governor’s office. “Our board is ready for our kids in these sports to play...the problem is currently executive orders don’t allow for those indoor facilities to be open or for soccer to be played in certain parts of the state,” he said. Across the Shores community, there are mixed feelings as to whether or not there should be a fall sports season. Athletic director Todd Conrad said the final decision for him and leaders at the MHSAA is really out of their hands. He said, “It all depends on the rates of infection and the advice we get from infectious disease experts. While Conrad seemed to err on the side of caution, volleyball coach Kathy Hellmann gave a more positive outlook on the situation. “I feel like with the last couple months, we need to be taking care of kids academically, physically and emotionally, so what better way to have a small group of kids together every day, going for the same goal,” she said.
Athletic teams preparing to head into new OK conference By Mia Dickson Staff Writer Amid all the current chaos and unknowns regarding sports, Shores athletics will return to a familiar home for the 2020-21 academic year. Starting with this fall sports, the Sailors will play in the OK Green conference for all athletics. The Sailors will rejoin the conference they once called home from the fall of 2005 to the spring of 2008. On Oct. 2, 2019, a 35-14 vote was taken by school administrators across the OK conference to realign and change the seven-division conference to six divisions. The vote eliminated the OK Black conference, which the Sailors called home from the fall of 2008 to the spring of 2020.
The Sailors will be joining Grand Rapids Union, Wyoming, Reeths-Puffer, Holland, Zeeland East, Zeeland West, and Muskegon. Former OK Black members Fruitport will be moving to the OK Blue, Jenison to the OK Red, and Kenowa Hills to the OK Gold. “The biggest change is that we are now the biggest school in that division, so we are playing smaller schools,” athletic director Todd Conrad said. “It’s a really good football conference.” Coaches are supportive of the new change, which is consistent with the theme of this year. “The OK Green will definitely be interesting. Holland and the Zeeland (East and West) will really present us with a challenge as they always present solid teams, so we will really have to make sure every time we head south we’re
ready,” cross country coach Kyle Mireles said. “Biggest change for us will be our conference locations...now, we will have a northern site and a southern site for conference meets which will give our athletes some consistency.” For boys soccer coach Michael Apostle, a new conference change will also bring challenges but also serves as an opportunity to grow. “The competition is going to be strong,” Apostle said. “A lot of the new teams in the conference are going to be a good learning experience for our team on how to adjust during the game.” While change is never easy, Conrad said everyone is ready. “Overall, this is a positive move for our athletic department, and we are looking forward to it,” Conrad said.