September 30st Issue

THE

FOCUS Working with a Passion Ian Andridge’s career in photography

page 6

page 8

Self-supporting students

pages 12-13

Chromebooks

page 15

The Quinten Award

CONTENTS

volume 39 issue 1 SPORTS

OPINION 3 Chromebooks:

Pros and cons of integrating technology into the classroom.

14 Dual Sport Athletes:

FEATURES

Freshman Tyler Prichett participates is both vasity cross country and tennis

7 SHARE Program:

15 Quinten Award:

Over the summer, students worked with underprivledged children with the salvation army day camp

The cross country team honors Quinten Griner with the Legacy Award

8-9 Self-supporting Students

16-17 Sports zone:

Nick Norris is Midland High’s newest cheerleader.

Teens pay for their own cars, phones, and save for their college by working multiple jobs.

A&E

NEWS

22 New Choir Director:

10 Campus Pride Project:

New choir Daniel Farison will be leading the choir and meisters.

Students work to clean the MHS and .

Parkdale PArkdal campus.

23

11 New Phone Policy:

Students are now required to put their phones away before class

Peter and the Starcatchers: The fall play for drama will be featuring gender bent characters

Chromebooks: One-to-one is implemented in the curriculum

New Art Teacher: The two new art teachers will be . adding pottery and 3D printing

12-13

24

ON THE COVER Passion for Photography

Senior Ian Andridge has been co-opping Ten16 Recovery Network as a media specialist and worked at SpringHill over the summer, also as a media specialist.

Andridge has also taken senior pictures for students.

EDITORS

8-9

F

OUR MISSION

ocus, established in 1977, previously Editor-in-Chief Ella Colbert the Vic Tribune, established in 1936, is Managing Editor Maddy O’Callaghan the official school newspaper for Midland Photo & Design Editor Kayla Graham High. Focus is published monthly by the Features Editor Sonja Anderson journalism classes at Midland High and is News Editor Gwynne Ozkan distributed free of charge. It is a member Sports Editor Kady Volmering of the Michigan Interscholastic Press A&E Editor Hope O’Dell Association (MIPA). Adviser membership Opinion Editor Ellie Jensen also includes the Journalism Education Ads Coordinator Hailey Surbrook Association (JEA). Focus is designed as Exchange Editor Hayley Russell a forum for student expression and as a Adviser Jim Woehrle Printer Midland Daily News realistic lab experience. Focus, however, reserves the right to contest the challenge of an administrator who attempts to censor and/or remove an article or graphic element.

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22 23

17

Editorial

OP/ED

Chromebooks: we must find a balance W ithin the last few weeks, high school students in the district have received Chromebooks to be used in school that they are also allowed to take home. The technology was issued after the passage of a bond proposal about two years ago. It is the first one-to-one, or one device per student, technology to be implemented in the high schools.

The Chromebooks were issued to every student at MHS on September 16, after students and parents signed an agreement that outlined rules and regulations of the technology. According to the agreement, any damage to the computers will be completely covered for the first time, and students will have to cover additional fees each time the device is damaged. Teachers are not required to use the Chromebooks for every lesson, but are encouraged to use the technology where it might fit with the lesson plans. The Chromebook does does offer services such as Google Classrooms and Google Docs that teachers have been incorporating into their curriculum.

The Focus believes that students will

find it difficult to transition to doing certain activities online. For instance, it is more difficult to test, do math problems, and read online.

Some classes do not lend themselves to the use of technology and it may be difficult for them to integrate the Chromebooks without forcing a lesson.

The technology is also new and it will take time for both students and teachers to learn how to use it, which will disrupt learning.

When learning online, students lose the face-to-face time with teachers and other classmates. There is less opportunity for collaboration, and an increased disconnect from human interaction is encouraged. The sense of community and comradery of a classroom setting would be lost.

Also, there are a number of technical issues with the Chromebooks. For example, there is a chance of computer malfunctions, wifi connection problems, and low battery issues. The technology is unpredictable and cannot be completely relied on.

The Focus recognizes that replacing textbooks with the Chromebooks

would be more convenient for students and more cost-effective, but believes that reading on hard-copy is more familiar and easier for students. We also understand that issuing every student a computer would benefit students who do not have one at home.

Although the Focus acknowledges the trend towards technology in education, we do not believe that technology should completely replace classroom learning.

Instead, we would like to see a blended classroom setting, where the teachers instruct for half the time, and the computers are used for the other half. Activities such as essay writing, research projects, and review activities could be done using the Chromebooks, while instruction, group projects, and tests could be done in the traditional classroom style.

The computer should not take over the classroom, but should be used as a tool to expand educational opportunities.

The combination of both learning styles would be most beneficial in maximizing educational potential and moving towards a more advanced school system.

Student Opinions

Senior Fletcher Loose

“It’s very convenient to have all your assignments in one place, it’s helpful to research, and a good resource.”

Junior Luke Pajk

“I think it’s too big of a responsibility for kids and it’s going to cost the school more harm than it is beneficial.”

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THE BULLETIN @jordan_patty “Hawaiian night was lit Camera Creds: @ iian_andridge

Album: blond Artist: Frank Ocean Date Released: August 20th Rating: An R&B parallel to Adele

@abbymavery11

“Tried to be positive going into school but honestly just don’t want to go at all”

5 THINGS TO MAKE YOU FEEL SMART 1. Brown eyes are actually blue underneath, surgery can be done to turn brown eyes blue.

2. A bolt of lightning is six time hotter than the sun.

3. Your nose can remember 50,000 scents 4. In the U.S., if you find a bald eagle feather on the ground, you need a permit to pick it up.

5. Nudiustertian (noun) the day before yesterday.

WHAT WE’RE LISTENING TO

NEWS BRIEF:

via Instagram

Song: Closer Artist: The Chainsmokers featuring Halsey Date Released: July 29th Rating: A chill contribution to EDM

Moment of the Month

Seniors Ian Andridge and Riley Hazen were crowned homecoming king and queen at the pep assembly on Friday, Sept. 23. Ian Andridge | Photo Courtesy

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Gavin Archbold kicks the winning fieldgoal with 4.2 seconds left during the Mount Pleasant football game.

OP/ED

NETFLIX ORIGINALS The Focus reviews the best of Netflix.

Maddy O’Callaghan | Managing Editor

T

Stranger Things

his nostalgic sci-fi show set in the ‘80s follows members of a small town on the hunt for a missing child. The vintage feel is a tribute to the Steven-Spielberg style alien storyline that everyone knows and loves.

The show goes beyond the surface level, and takes a darker and more serious tone towards the last episode, with outstanding performances by the young cast. The characters, although archetypal, are interesting and diverse, making the cliché plot feel more original. The special effects can get cheesy, but the performances by Winona Ryder and Matthew Modine, as well as an outstanding young cast, creates a more serious tone that draws viewers of all age groups in. Top secret government experiments, alien abductions, and telepathic children is a story we’ve all heard before, but Netflix is able to bring and immersive and emotional experience for its viewers.

Narcos T

he nefarious Netflix original follows the true story of Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar. This intense and unnerving series keep viewers on the edge of their seats with the realistic re-telling of the rise of cocaine trafficking. The show’s use of Spanish dialogue creates a more authentic feel, but also makes it occasionally difficult to follow. The characters are developed and intriguing, but most have the same unsympathetic and wicked personality and motives. The use of actual photos and documents does a good job reminding viewers that the events occurring in the show happened in real life, creating an even more unsettling feeling towards the graphic and violent scenes that occur. Overall, the show’s dark and twisted true story doesn’t disappoint, and will leave you both captivate and haunted.

Orange is the New Black

T

his gritty, funny, and sometimes heartbreaking story of Piper Chapman’s year in prison has been a fan favorite since 2013. The diverse cast each has a fascinating backstory that forces you to love the rich supporting characters even more than the central ones, and the multiple plot lines creates constant action and interesting scenes.

Despite the show being based on Piper Kerman’s true memoir, the plot can be ridiculous and over the top (unnecessary deaths and trips to heaven). But more serious topics, such as racism and sexual harassment, are also dealt with. The show often adds graphic scenes for nothing more than shock value, detracting from the overal plot and making it difficult to take seriously. With each new season comes new characters and more drama. But the combination of potent humor and social commentary makes for one of the best shows Netflix has produced.

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Young and Employed

FEATURES

Senior Ian Andridge pursued his love for photography by working as a media director for SpringHill this summer, and now is a media specialist for Ten16 Network. Lauren Curtis | Staff Writer & Fischer Genau | Staff Writer

WORKING WITH A PASSION B

Senior Ian Andridge captures the excitement of a Friday night at the stadium using his latest camera, a Canon 5D Mark II. Lauren Curtis | Photo

y incorporating his passion for photography into a seemingly mundane

schedule, Andridge said he has created an environment where he can truly thrive.

“It’s fun, but it’s more than fun, and I’m not doing it for myself,” Andridge said. “I’m doing it to make people happy and to glorify God. I want to show people how far my camera can go, or how hard can I work to demonstrate what working for God’s glory is.”

Working as a media director and camp counselor at SpringHill for nine weeks in the summer, Andridge dedicated nearly every waking minute to his job. His position there included traveling all over Michigan to different churches every week, hosting day camps with a team of coworkers.

An average day for Andridge began at 6 a.m. to prepare for the chaotic swarm of campers at 9 a.m. The next seven hours were consumed with taking photos and videos, while simultaneously caring for children. He would also oversee large group time, working behind the scenes to make sure sound and music were executed correctly. The program concluded at 4 p.m., leaving staff to tear down and debrief

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before heading to their host homes at 7 p.m.

At these temporary residences most counselors would relax and decompress, while Andridge was left to edit roughly 200 of the 800 plus pictures taken that day.

“It was probably the hardest thing I’ve ever done.” Andridge explained. “It was a lot of tedious work and a lot of time on the computer, but a lot of fun.”

These photos would appear online for parents to view and purchase every day.

Andridge would also create a slideshow with pictures and videos to show families at the end of the week.

After an emotional goodbye, the counselors would tear down, pack up, and head for a new city filled with new faces, new experiences, and new challenges. Andridge’s love for

his job kept him enthusiastic and driven.

“Ian’s positive energy was always at a constant high, which was always an inspiration when staff, including myself, became tired,” coworker Olivia Giammalva said.

“He not only knows how to do an incredible job at what he does, but he knows how to have the best time doing it.”

Andridge stated it was rewarding “just to get out of my comfort zone and throw myself out there to see what I can do with a new community of people and different work I’d never done before.”

Andridge has come a long way from when he was in sixth grade, picked up his sister’s camera, and started to shoot. He would simply document the moments that meant the most: a day skating at Midland High or a week spent camping.

Eventually, a day wouldn’t pass where

“I love how Ian’s creativity, nature, and passion for life shine through in the photographs and videos he captures,” Mother Kassie Andridge

he didn’t pick up his camera, saying he was “always trying to get the sickest shot.”

When asked what fuels this drive, Andridge said it was “capturing the raw moments of life to show other people, this is my life, this is what I love to do.”

His most recent pursuit of his passion takes the shape of his co-op job at Ten16 Recovery Network. As a media specialist, Andridge devotes his mornings to creating brochures, fliers, and event videos.

“It’s going to be a sweet learning opportunity and experience to get going and take a step forward in what I want to do for the rest of my life,” Andridge said.

Whether he’s capturing the energy of a football game, or spending hours behind a computer bringing life to a promotional video, Andridge’s passion and purpose are constant and undeniable.

“I love how Ian’s creativity, nature, and passion for life shine through in the photographs and videos he captures,” his mother Kassie Andridge said. “The lens he views the world through is pretty sweet and he wants to share that view with others.”

Young and Employed

FEATURES

SHARE THE LOVE

Midland High School students worked in the SHARE Program o v e r t h e s u m m e r. S o n j a Anderson | Features Editor & Kaylee Zariski | Staff Writer & Matt Olenczuk | Staff Writer

S

enior Laura Lange and Junior Micah Carroll aren’t working a typical high schooler’s minimum wage job. funding.

They spent their summers counseling with She said that the the Salvation Army’s SHARE Program, where program is offered to children they mentored underprivileged children, full- and their parents as a resource when public time. According to Lange, though the work is schools are not in session, and the effect of that challenging, it has benefitted her much more is two-fold.

“Because of the critical role of school in the than scanning groceries ever could.

“It’s just completely changed me as a person, life of a child, a substantial void is created to be honest,” Lange said. “Growing up in during the summer break,” Smith said. “This Midland, we’re really ignorant to domestic is especially true of the many low to middle abuse, and poverty, and a lot of things that we income families and the participants who think aren’t here. Working at SHARE, I see a qualify for free and reduced priced lunches lot of that, and it changed me. I don’t think you at school. The program meets immediate get those kind of experiences working other needs [like food] while preparing children for tomorrow. They are guided to develop healthy summer jobs.” habits and avoid dangerous The SHARE program choices.” is a local day camp for Smith employed many moderate-to-low income “Growing up in Midland, Midland High students in families and children who we’re really ignorant to the SHARE program this would be considered atdomestic abuse, and past year as counselors and risk, run by the Salvation poverty, and a lot of things site directors. She said that Army during the summer. that we think aren’t here. hiring young people is more It operates from June 27 until August 25 every Working at SHARE, I see a lot effective than hiring adults of that, and it changed me.” for this type of work. year, and sessions are held “Because the staff is every day at four different comprised of high schoolers sites throughout Midland, Senior Laura Lange and young adults, it allows including the Salvation them to serve as mentors Army building on Waldo.

The camp offers practical character building, and to connect with the children of SHARE in role models, lunch and snacks, and regular a way that adults would not be able to,” Smith field trips. As it is run through the Salvation said.

The SHARE program boasted an attendance Army, SHARE is also focused on spreading of approximately 300 children this past summer, the Christian message.

Nicki Smith, Community Engagement and and employed 40 teenagers and young adults Development Director at the Salvation Army, to work with them, who were recommended oversees the entire SHARE program: hiring and financially supported by local churches. employees, planning, and securing grants and Smith said that SHARE has maintained a

synergy for many years because their supporters recognize that what they could not do individually, they can do together.

Lange is one of SHARE’s 40 student employees, and she has worked there for two summers now as a camp counselor and site director. The job takes up just about the entire summer: one week of training beforehand, then about eight weeks of camp with a weeklong break in the middle.

The program takes the campers on various field trips: to the Roll-Arena, the spray park, Sanford Beach, and a petting farm. Lange said that those activities and interactions allow the kids to find ways to better themselves and form bonds with other campers and counselors.

Carroll worked for the program for the first time last summer, at the Salvation Army building, like Lange. He said that the program’s affordability allows kids who need guidance access to role models, and he liked getting to know the kids personally.

“It was such an eye opening experience,” Carrol said. “I gained a bigger perspective of Midland.”

Smith said that Carroll, though inexperienced at first, was able to quickly get the hang of the program.

“He was very respectful to everyone involved in the program, took direction very well, and was a hard worker who the children and staff enjoyed being around,” Smith said.

Smith said that Lange possesses similar leadership skills, and that she had a great passion for the program and was wonderful with talking through the children’s issues. Those assets helped Lange bond with many different children as a camp counselor, but one boy stands out in particular.

“There was one kid who just really opened up to me a lot,” Lange said. “I knew him for both years, and he tended to get in trouble a lot [at first], but by the end of the summer he had changed, and was willing to talk about his problems instead of lashing out.”

Experiences like this with the children of SHARE have reinforced Lange’s desire to pursue a career that involves working with kids, like a social worker or pediatrician.

For now, though, both Lange and Carroll plan on returning to SHARE in summers to come, and Smith hopes to continue employing students like them to counsel with the program.

“We are able to capture many highly intelligent and talented young men and women during their summer break,” Smith said. “They are able to obtain meaningful summer employment that allows them an opportunity for income while also giving back to the community.”

Photos: Seniors Ashley Phillips, Anna Wright, and Laura Lange all worked as counselors for SHARE this past summer. Lange also served as a site director. Micah Carroll |Photo Courtesy

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FEATURES

Young and Employed

SELF-SUPPORTING STUDENTS

Many students are working multiple jobs in order to pay for their belongings, and have to deal with the struggles of balancing academics, a job, and a social life. Kady Volmering|Sports Editor & Hannah Smith|Staff Writer & Shelly St. Louis|Staff Writer

Senior Lydia Ferreira teaches younger kids at her job with Engineering for Kids, centered around the STEM program and runs through the Learning Center.

Engineering for Kids is one of two jobs Ferreira is currently managing, and has been working for the program since September 2015. Maddy O’Callaghan|Photo

B

efore Megan Greer had even entered high school, she was already working her first job as a newspaper carrier. Now as a senior, Greer works at both Panera Bread and Glover’s Rexall Pharmacy to earn a solid paycheck. She uses this money to pay for her car, a trip to Europe, and any extra spending she needs.

“Glover’s is a work and study kind of job,” Greer said. “I just wanted something where I could make money throughout the school year, and then be able to put it away or use it for something else.”

Greer started working at Glover’s in August of 2014, when she was 14 years old. She got the job because of a friend who turned in an application for her on a whim. Greer said it’s a good job to have during the school year because shifts are only three hours on weeknights, and six hours on weekends.

Greer is one of many students that actively pays for their car and other expenses, and found

that her Glover’s paycheck wasn’t covering all of her payments.

“Doing anything with a Glover’s paycheck crippled me,” Greer said.

In May of 2016, Greer began her job at Panera, working her hours around the time she still spent at Glover’s.

A s G r e e r wa s m a k i n g more money, she was able to apply for a loan, where she is signed as the primary owner. Along with co-signing a Speedway credit card that she shares with her mother, she is able to make the payments on time. She is already earning herself a high credit score.

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“Each member of the team needs to bend and grow as they work alongside others that may be different than they are.”

Meegan Delaney

“The hours Panera gives me is beneficial and helps support income so I can pay for my Europe trip, my car, and any other expenses I have,” Greer said.

Senior Carson Clark is in a similar situation as Greer.

He got his first job at Independence Village Retirement Home when he was a sophomore, and has been working t h e r e e ve r s i n c e .

Clark is responsible for paying for his car payment, car insurance, gas, the

up-keep of his car, phone bills, and any extra spending on the side. He works nearly five days a week, working about twenty hours total.

Working a minimum wage job, Clark sets out a two-week budget plan for each paycheck. He transfers nearly one fourth of the paycheck into his savings account for extra spending, and the rest will go towards bills he has to pay. Clark said that learning to budget his own money at such an early age will benefit him later when he’s done with college and will have to pay his own bills.

“He is much more mature than some kids his age,”said his mother, Amy Clark. “He has learned to manage time, money, and responsibility while still having a social life and keeping his grades up.”

Meegan Delaney, Clark’s supervisor at Independence Village, works alongside teenagers at her job. She said that the biggest lesson students should learn when working while in school is responsibility, and the

FEATURES

Employment Among Youth in the U.S.

The number of youth employed from April to July increased from 1.9 million to 20.5 million Students who work over 20 hours a week tend to have a lower grade point average Senior Carson Clark works at Independence Village Retirement Home to pay for the bills his parents leave him responsible for. Maddy O’Callaghan|Photo sacrifices that are made along with working.

“They took the job, and sometimes there are sacrifices to be made,” Delaney said. “But each member of the team needs to bend and grow as they work alongside others that may be different than they are.”

Having a job at age 16 herself, Delaney understands the struggle of balancing several different commitments at a time.

“My best advice is to put home, school, sports, and family first at this time in their lives, and working last,” Delaney said. “It will be soon enough that work as to come first in their lives to support themselves and their families.”

In order to keep up with his bills, senior Ethan Getgood also works two jobs. Getgood works as a children’s teacher at Engineering for Kids, which is a STEM program that teaches children of various ages a whole spectrum of engineering and an additional weekend job working as a referee at the Midland Area Youth Football League. Getgood says the biggest struggle of working two jobs, plus going to school and playing sports, is finding free time to spend with friends and family.

“A lot of my friends make fun of me because they’ll ask to hangout, and before I even answer, they’ll say ‘You have to work, don’t you?’,” Getgood said.

Having two jobs allows Getgood to pay for his car payment, car insurance, gas, food, and is currently in the process of paying off a motorcycle. With all of his payments, he finds it hard to make time for his social life, and other activities.

Greer agrees that finding time for activities outside of work is somewhat of a struggle.

“I just have to know how much I can handle,” Greer said.

Over the summer, Greer made sure to take time out of her work schedule to make time for friends, though the task was quite difficult.

In a span of two weeks, combined with Panera and Glover’s, she worked over 100 hours this summer.

“Getting home in time to make sure I can get all my homework done is the biggest struggle I face when working during the school year,” Clark said.

Working as a Children’s teacher at Engineering for Kids, as well as a team member at Dairy Queen, senior Lydia Ferreira has found that her health has been hindered from the amount of time and stress that goes into working. Ferreira said that between Engineering for Kids and Dairy Queen, she worked three 12 hour shifts in a row suffering from lack of sleep, and even developing a cold.

Though working is stressful and time consuming, Ferreira said there are also several good attributes to having a job, including having spending money and not having to always depend on her parents for money.

Getting prepared for the real world, Ferreira uses her paychecks to save for college, oil changes, and some clothes.

Ferreira has found that the biggest lesson she’s learned from working two jobs is being able to manage time between school and work and gaining responsibility.

Getgood also believes that it is an important step in high school to get a job.

“Having a job makes me realize that this is how it’s going to be for the rest of my life,” Getgood said. “A lot of kids push it to the side when they’re in high school and college, but everyone is going to have to work every day of their life.”

Labor force participation was 62.4% of men compared to 57.7% women childtrends.org www.bls.gov

Changes in Michigan minimum wage $8.15

2015

$8.50

2016

$8.90

2017

$9.25

2018 www.michigan.gov

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NEWS

PRIDE AND PROGRESS Junior Hannah Bartels is watering the flowers in front of the Midland High sign. The group recently planted the flowers at the Kick-Off Clean Up. They plan to keep the grounds of Midland High looking nice throughout the school year. Quinn Cox | Photo

The Chemic Pride Campus Project was created to make the outside of Midland High look better through various group projects that people volunteer for. Hayley Russell|Exchange Editor & Quinn Cox|Staff Writer & Hannah Kohtz|Staff Writer

L

aurie Witt walked into Midland High said. “So if you drive past it’s like, ‘I go to that last year and noticed how lovely the school!’ not ‘Ugh that’s my school.’ ” flower pots at the entrance were.

The committee members are in charge of She appreciated whoever planted looking around the campus and deciding what the flowers there and made it her mission to needs to be updated to improve Midland High maintain the beauty she saw. She then started School’s exterior. They walked around the the Chemic Pride Campus Project. school’s campus with Witt and talked about “I thought about how great it would be if we what projects could help clean up the school, could all work together and make it possible to and how the volunteer sheet was going to work make more of these beautiful things to make for the future events. the school the best it can be,” said Witt, a 1991 The project members will report upcoming graduate of MHS and mother of three current events over the announcements for any students. volunteers who are interested in helping out.

Witt created the project this past summer in Currently, the committee wants to have the order to make the outer campus of Midland old Parkdale lot renovated to be up-to-par with High look more fitting for the new school year. the rest of the campus. The project members She contacted businesses and people who hope to do this by adding more landscape, had the authority to allow for these aesthetic picnic tables, and Chemic banners on the light changes to see if they were interested in her posts throughout. idea. Her goal was to put the project on their “Some ideas are adding flowers and a radar. garden.” Bartels said. “We want to try and Once this was done, the next step was to walk incorporate where Parkdale used to be more around the campus and see what needed some into our campus.” Bartels said. work. Witt went to the Kick-Off mentor training Senior Riley Hazen came to the Kick-Off Clean meeting, told the youth about the program, and Up and volunteered to be on the committee as invited them to come and volunteer. well. Hazen immediately had a passion for the “I was so thrilled to have 27 students project and said it would be nice to have the volunteer only with five minutes notice,” Witt school look nice for the incoming freshmen. said. “Seven people also volunteered to be on “I am volunteering to better the school. I the committee.” thought it was a great program and a great It was dubbed the ‘Kick-Off Clean Up,’ and idea,” Hazen said. “I also thought it was a really was organized to get the school in tip-top shape good idea to put my time towards.” for the first day. Juniors Hannah Bartels, who Witt has big dreams for the project. She would is now a part of the project’s committee, and like to have a half brick wall on the corners of Jerry Bringard both volunteered. They swept Eastlawn and Washington, saying ‘Welcome the parking lot, picked weeds, painted, and to the Home of the Chemics,’ and a sign on the planted flowers. corner of Eastlawn and Swede, saying ‘Midland “It just makes everything look clean around High Campus.’ Witt believes that because there the school so people have more pride,” Bringard is such high visibility in those area, it should be 10 | FOCUS | SEPTEMBER 30, 2016 | mhsfocus.com

more obvious for people to know that it is a part of the school.

As of now, the project is relying on donations of time, food, and materials. For the Kick-Off program, Kroger and Home Depot decided to sponsor the event.

They donated yellow chrysanthemums to go with the blue and gold color theme that the club had already started.

The project will eventually need professionals involved to help with some of their new ideas, but the group needs more money in order to follow through with their plans.

“My goal is to apply for a grant that would be used to allocate for different projects on campus,” Witt said. “The committee would decide which projects we should use the grant money for first. That is the goal, but it hasn’t been reached yet.”

Witt realizes that not everyone has time to come to work days. She does say however, “It takes a village to make our campus what it can be.”

She wants people to know that if they can’t contribute by coming to work days, they can always donate food or water to help beat the heat.

Students can get involved in the Chemic Pride Campus Project by volunteering for the different clean-ups, or going to businesses to discuss the program and elicit some donations.

“This project really appeals to the whole student body and community that has an affiliation with Midland High School to come forward and donate any time, talent, or treasure that they have,” Witt said. “It would all be appreciated. I think if we all work together as a Midland Chemic community we will accomplish great things.”

Pride Projects

The group planted flowers and picked weeds in the front of the school.

They scraped the old paint off the bleachers and repainted them.

T h ey wo u l d l i ke to incorporate Parkdale’s campus more.

NEWS

HUNG UP ON PHONES A

With a new school year, students must adapt to a new policy regarding phones, which administrators hope will benefit the learning environment and make the school safer.

Kayla Graham|Photo & Design Editor & Alli Grumbley |Staff Writer

s the phones sit in the holders during the entire class period, students get aggravated and anxious because they feel they are missing something dramatic on social media. Students have never been detached from their phones longer than five minutes, but a new policy has changed that.

“First, informally we have seen many more issues in recent years with phones being used in classrooms during instructional time. There has been an increased frequency of phone violations being sent to the attendance office,” Principal Jeff Jaster said. “Second, teenagers consider their phones as an extension of their social network and mainly use them to talk to their friends. We wanted to take something that was working for some of our staff [take phones from students during class] and make it consistent through the whole school. Third, safety was also a factor.

In the event of an emergency we want to have the ability to send out accurate information in a timely manner to parents rather than 1,400 kids sending random messages to parents with inaccurate information.”

Although many students have voiced aggravation with having to place their phone in the phone holders, the policy is being strictly enforced. Some students, such as senior Jordan Gonder support the policy.

“I think students at Midland High are responsible and trustworthy when it comes to phones in class,” Gonder said. “However, with the new policy, I feel that students have one less distraction in front of them. Now, students can get the most out of their classes each day.

This will help students focus and understand material more than in the past. I also think test scores will increase as well.”

In contrast, Junior Haley McGovern has expressed an opposite opinion regarding the new policy.

“I feel that the new policy is not needed, students know when they should be on their phones and when they shouldn’t be,” McGovern said. “The kids that were on their phones all the time in class are the ones that ruined it for the whole school.”

Teachers have had difficulties in the past regarding students signing a pass to leave class and playing on their phones. With the new rules, fewer students will have access to their phone during the class period.

“One of the problems that led to the policy was that students leaving class to meet their friends during class instruction,” science teacher Alan Chapple said. “Phones are wonderful

pieces of technology, but we need to learn how to be good consumers with them. Although, the new policy has beneficial aspects, as to students paying attention in class more.”

As the policy is strictly enforced to all teachers and students, if students do not follow the rules, consequences are taken into consideration.

“Inappropriate use or having it out during instructional time it will be a warning,” Jaster said. “Once a teacher gives a warning they will email an assistant principal and they will keep track of how many warnings that particular student has. Second offense, an assistant principal will talk to the student and strictly explain the policy to them one more time and hopefully that will eliminate any future issues.

If there are any other problems, in a severe case, it could lead to suspension.”

With this being the first year of having the new phone holders, teachers, students, and administration have been keeping a close eye on how to improve in future years. Consistency with the teachers will be important, Jaster said.

Although the policy is new, there only been two issues that came to their attention.

“One of the holders was not very secured on the wall and it fell, resulting in damage to a student’s phone screen was damaged, so we are the administration is working with the family on fixing the damage,” Jaster said. “Second, two students phones looked identical and one student grabbed the wrong phone, but it only took an hour to figure out the problem and swap them back. So really there have only been two minor cases, but I expect that there might be other issues that we will need to deal with this year.”

Gonder feels that problems will arise in the future, which may or may not be solved.

“One major thing that I look at is if there is a family emergency,” Gonder said. “I have been told by my teachers that they will work with us in the event there is one, but me personally, I would feel better if I was able to see what was happening as soon as I hear any news.”

Although the new policy is a work in progress, Jaster understands that this new policy will only benefit Midland High as a whole and hopes students will be able to better their education and eventually see the positive aspect.

“I think this policy is the safest way to go about keeping kids off their phones,” Gonder said. “This way, the phones are up in the front of the room and out of reach so students aren’t tempted or distracted during instructional time.”

As the dismissal bell rings to go to the next class, students rush to go pick up their phones before they head out to go to their next class period. Alli Grumbley |Photo

Students’ opinions

Why?

How do you feel about putting your phone in the holder during class?

1. Less phone distraction during class

I do not follow this

I am indifferent

2. Treat phones as an educational tool 3. Safety. Administration wants to send

21% 25%

46%

8%

correct information to parents.

Consequences First Offense:

Inappropriate use: Warning.

Second Offense:

Discussion with assistant principal: Closed lunch or detention.

Third Offense:

I do not like it Out of 120 students

More than two incidents: Suspension.

I approve 11 | FOCUS | SEPTEMBER 30, 2016 | mhsfocus.com

NEWS

Students received their Chromebooks from the m e d i a c e n te r d u r i n g their English courses.

P r i n c i p a l J e f f J a s te r instructed students on the handling and regulations of the computers.

Fischer Genau | Photo

TECH TAKEOVER

Administration, teachers, and students discuss the trend of technology in education and the new Chromebooks.

Ella Colbert|Editor-in-chief & Gwynne Özkan|News Editor & Theo Rammidi|Staff Writer

S

enior Austin Cochran leads a busy life. He the good and bad of that. I would say now we’re often finds it difficult to balance the time ready to issue some of that in high school and between his schoolwork and his extra- send home.” curricular activities, such as marching Students at the middle school level have band and a Delta math course, especially already received one-to-one devices, although because he does not have a laptop at home. With they chose the more traditional laptop rather his new school-issued Chromebook, Cochran than the Chromebooks provided to the high will be able to better manage his busy schedule. school students. Chromebooks were selected “I’m all over the place, out and about at by the district because of their many different various places, doing a variety of things,” capabilities compared Cochran said. “It will give me a lot more to the laptops given to flexibility on when I can actually get stuff done middle schoolers. These because my desktop at home does not move services offered include around with me.”

Google Docs, Google The Chromebooks are the newest addition D r i v e , a n d G o o g l e of “one-to-one” learning, or one device for Classroom. Cochran said each student, technology to the Midland Public that some of his teachers School System. Students were issued the devices have started using the on September 16th, after nearly a two year Google classrooms. process of bond proposals. Not only do students “It’s pretty similar to now have a personal device for at school work, Moodle in that you can but they are able to take them home as well. take quizzes and submit “We are trying to level the playing field so assignments on it and everyone has equal access to a device,” Principal your teacher can also Jeff Jaster said. post announcements or In February of 2015, a bond proposal was leave a calendar view of passed that led to the purchase of Chromebooks assignments,” Cochran for every high school student in MPS. said. “It’s pretty useful.”

Superintendent Michael Sharrow led the Sharrow said the movement towards the new technology after Chromebooks were also selected due to their receiving feedback from the community about rising popularity among other public school the one-to-one pilot program attempted in systems around the country. elementary schools.

“Believe it or not, Chromebooks are the “I spent significant time talking to the number one selected device in schools today,” community,” Sharrow said. “We talked about Sharrow said. “Chromebook today is simply the the iPad projects and how they were working, easiest thing that works.”

12 | FOCUS | SEPTEMBER 30, 2016 | mhsfocus.com

According to Sharrow, one of the most popular textbook publishing companies, Pearson, recently announced that they would stop printing hard-copies of their textbooks in the next few years. Sharrow plans to use the Chromebooks as a replacement to textbooks, since there is already a major move towards online books. Technological advances like this have changed the education system; students have access to more resources and teachers are able to communicate better with students. Sharrow describes the technology as, “an avenue to better personalize education.”

G i ve n t h a t e a c h student has different learning strategies, Sharrow said that it is difficult for a teacher to cater to every student’s needs. Without students’ needs being met, he finds that they become uninterested in school and are more likely to drop out of high school altogether. Sharrow said that the technology is the best way to reach the most students in a personalized, effective way, and give them the greatest chance to succeed.

“The new challenge in schools today is that we have to engage 100 percent of students,” Sharrow said. “We have to get 100 percent

"We are challenging teachers to find a way to improve efficiency or figure out better ways to use the device for instruction."

Principal Jeff Jaster

of them successful, ready to go on to some post secondary education, and eventually be successful, educated citizens of the world.”

As a student, Cochran is conflicted about the use of Chromebooks in the classroom and the progression towards more technology in education.

“On one hand, I find it’s a lot easier to pace yourself and it gives you more flexibility in both the location that you can do your work and how fast you can do your work,” Cochran said. “But without the actual physical activity of writing, and without the interaction that a classroom setting gives you, I don’t think you absorb the material as much online as you would in a classroom.”

Ultimately, Sharrow would like to see a system of blended learning in the classroom.

The blended learning style combines online educational activities with the face-to-face interactions of a teacher. He believes the system would be most efficient in incorporating the technology without losing the quality of instruction by teachers.

As an instructor of a course that doesn’t typically require the use of a laptop, math teacher Kay Rogers views the technology as a large change. Although she does not plan to base her Algebra lessons on computers, she acknowledges that the online book and online review activities would be helpful resources.

Rogers does not want to force the computers into her curriculum, because she believes math cannot be dominantly taught through the Chromebooks properly.

“I think the biggest issue will be making sure

it’s being utilized,” Rogers said. “I’ll have to change the way I think and it will be hard not being stuck in the past.”

Similarly, Jaster does not believe that the technology should be used in every circumstance. Jaster has- not required that the computers be used in daily-lesson plans, and instead said that he encouraged teachers to use the device where it makes sense.

“We are challenging teachers to find a way to improve efficiency or figure out better ways to use the device for instruction,” Jaster said. “A lot of it is efficiency driven.”

History Teacher John Mulvaney remains optimistic about the new technology, although he is uncertain how it will fit into his curriculum.

He said the use of the Chromebooks would maximize time learning with the teacher.

“Chromebooks are an overall good thing in classes because they allow students to access in an instant, research, and have current events at their fingertips,” Mulvaney said. “It saves paper because students and teachers can reach assignments instantly online.”

Mulvaney stressed the necessity for students to know the rules and regulations of the technology.

"It is important that students know what the district is allowed to do regarding their Chromebook," Mulvaney said.

Jaster understands that the technology is new, especially to the generation that has not grown up with it as most students have. He accounts for teachers struggling with using the technology, but does not think it will be an issue.

“We don’t expect teachers to be technology experts,” Jaster said. “We expect them to be the teaching experts who are able to use technology as a tool or resource during class.”

At roughly 249 dollars per device, the Chromebooks are far less expensive than typical laptops and tablets Sharrow said. The cost of the Chromebooks is less than the cost of providing multiple textbooks for each student.

“The device is an equal to your textbooks,” Sharrow said. “It’s not costing us any more.

If you lose it, you’re responsible, just like a textbook.”

Although the technology is a replacement for textbooks, it is not a replacement for teachers.

“It’s a powerful tool,” Jaster said. “It doesn’t replace a teacher, but it’s a resource just like a textbook used to be. A laptop is really the most powerful textbook you could have.”

In the next five or six years, Sharrow plans to fully transition the district to the 21st century in terms of technology.

However, Jaster does not want technology to completely take over teaching, but said it is important for students to be proficient in using it. He believes that in the future, students will come in contact with components of technology on a regular basis.

“Having all these devices, while it’s a huge benefit, it’s about modeling proper use,” Jaster said. “If we’re not doing our job to educate kids on how to use technology then we aren’t doing our jobs.”

NEWS

Useful Apps

Classrooms

Google classroom allows teachers to assign online homework and post reminders or links for students to use.

Play Music

Google play plays music instantly while giving users the option to listen to the top charts, new releases, and music on playlists according to your mood. The App is similar to Pandora, but better.

Google Keep

This app can replace the traditional planner. Users can type notes and set up a date and time for reminders.

Students may also share reminders with other students.

Dell Activity Light This app has three buttons that signal blue for a raised hand, red for ask question, and yellow for the discussion icon. Pressing the icon illuminates the light on the front of the computer to signal the teacher.

1. Settings: In the settings toolbar, you can choose from computer generated images or upload a photo from your Google drive to set as your background. Users can select "surprise me" for a dynamic background.

2. People: Users can click on the person icon to change the icon on the home screen of the computer. Users have the option to take a picture using the computer camera, upload a photo from their Google drive or use a computer generated photo.

3. Web Content: Users can customize the size of the font ranging from very small to very large. Users can also change the font style and have an option of various serif and sans serif fonts. Using the page zoom option, the view of the page can be adjusted.

13 | FOCUS | SEPTEMBER 30, 2016 | mhsfocus.com

SPORTS

TWO-IN-ONE

Freshman Tyler Pritchett is the first student to take advantage of the dual sport policy, participating in cross country and tennis.

Paige Murphy | Staff Writer & Annaliese Hohner | Staff Writer

C

ones were lined up all across the tennis courts. Freshman Tyler Pritchett sprinted through the bright orange cones doing split steps inbetween. Back and forth, the varsity boys tennis team sprinted to the nets.

But tennis practice wasn’t all that Pritchett had to do that day. After a long day of tennis, he adds on 5 miles of running for cross country practice. Pritchett is able to particapte in both sports during the fall season because of the dual sport policy. Even though he’s balancing two sports at once, he is still able to be in the top five for both sports.

“This is the first year that the policy started,” athletic director Eric Albright said. “The idea has been around for some time. Many of our league opponents allow dual sporting and some do not.”

Pritchett is the first student to take advantage of dual sporting. Not only is he doing two sports this fall, but he also plans on playing hockey in the winter and possibly track and golf in the spring. Choosing to dual sport was an important decision for him.

“I like both [sports] and just couldn’t pick which one I wanted to do more,” Pritchett said.

Albright said that the biggest problem with dual sporting is the conflict between practice times. Pritchett said that he has not dealt with too many conflicts between cross and tennis practices.

“For practices, I have to go to an hour of tennis and then the rest of cross country,” Pritchett said.

In order for a student to be able to dual sport, there is a long process and many factors that contribute to deciding if the student should be allowed to.

“Each coach, the principal, the athletic director, and obviously parents all have to agree on the plan,” Albright said. “Each individual athlete will be treated differently based on their academic record and the sports that they play.

This isn’t for everyone. It won’t fit every sport, every situation.”

Pritchett had no problems with both the cross country coach and tennis coach in allowing him to participate in both sports.

“The coaches are fine with [dual sporting],” Pritchett said.“They both support it pretty well.”

The student has to choose one sport to be their primary and the other to be secondary in the beginning of the season.

“If there is ever any events, the primary sport is going to be the one that takes precedence.”

Albright said. “If there is a conflict on Tuesday night, both [sports] have meets, you are going to your primary. That’s set in stone.”

In Pritchett’s case, he chose cross country as his primary. He made that decision because he thinks personally that he is better at it and it is his favorite out of the two.

Even with the conflicts between practice times and meets, there are still many advantages for student athletes to dual sport.

“That student might n o t h a ve t o c h o o s e , ” Albright said. “You get to play all the things that you really like to do.

Teams could benefit from the skill of a particular athlete; We might be able to showcase some talents that we’ve not been able to previously.”

Albright used the example of a player on the soccer team also being the kicker on the football team.

“That kicker could be on the team and might be the best kicker in the school,” Albright said.

“Why wouldn’t we want him representing Midland High?”

For Pritchett, the advantages he receives from running cross country and tennis are more personal to him. He also believes that doing both sports at once helps him improve in the other sport. Cross country gives Pritchett better endurance, while the conditioning and sprints that he does at tennis practice make him faster for cross country.

“You get more exercise and you get to meet more new people,” Pritchett said.

“I think it is great to have kids participate in sports whenever possible; as each sport helps build character and athleticism in a different way.”

Tennis Coach John Telfer

14 | FOCUS | SEPTEMBER 30, 2016 | mhsfocus.com

Although Pritchett also got to meet new people through dual sporting, he also said that one of his disadvantages was that he no longer had as much time to hangout with friends.

Varsity boys tennis Coach J o h n Te l f e r wa s o n c e a student at Midland High and wishes that they had the dual sport policy when he was there.

“I love the dual sport policy,” Telfer said. “I think it is great to have kids participate in sports whenever possible; as each sport helps build character and athleticism in a different way.”

Telfer is a supporter of the policy and is glad that Pritchett is able to be apart of the team even if cross country is his primary sport.

Telfer cares more about students being more involved rather than how many practices that he may miss.

“My goal is to help as many kids participate in and enjoy high school tennis as much as possible,” Telfer said. “I would rather have Ty participate in tennis whenever he is able than not have him on the team at all.

As both the athletic director and varsity boys baseball coach, Albright can see the challenges that would arise from a student balancing two sports during the same season.

“I worry about practice time and getting repetitions,” Albright said. “Some of the spring sports can be very challenging. They’re more team oriented.”

Knowing how involved the spring sports are, Pritchett is not sure whether he is going to dual sport again with track and golf. Another factor of Pritchett attemping it again has to do with how hard his classes are.

“I’m not completely sure [about dual sporting in the spring],” Pritchett said. “You have to miss a lot of school.”

Pritchett emphasized school being a factor in dual sporting. He suggests that students should take that into consideration if they are thinking about doing dual sporting.

“Make sure you know that the coaches are okay with [dual sports],” Pritchett said. “Make sure that school comes first.”

Freshman Tyler Pritchett participates in both tennis and cross country. Pritchett has been running cross country for three years and tennis for two and a half years. Fischer Genau | Photo

SPORTS

LEAVING A LEGACY

Q

uinten Greiner was a fanatic about training. After preparing all year, he was ready to win the dune race at his senior cross country camp. Winning the race meant a great deal to the athletes on the team, and Quinten was determined to achieve his goal. Halfway up the hill, he saw a child who was notably distressed, and refused to budge. While in the lead, Quinten decided to stop and talk to him. After a few moments, the boy was calm, and Quinten put him on his shoulders, finishing the race with the child on his back and giving up his first place finish.

“That wasn’t something that he did for attention, it’s how he was,” Quinten’s father Bill Greiner said. “He wanted to serve.”

Quinten, a 2014 MHS graduate, passed away in a car accident on June 5. To honor the legacy he had left both at cross country and in the community, coach Marty Hollenbeck created a legacy award to be given to a senior at the cross country banquet in November.

“A lot of people were devastated with his death,” Hollenbeck said. “We decided to focus on his legacy, and talk about all the good things he did as a person. He taught us about being in the present. We’re taking the philosophy ‘Work hard, be successful, and then you’ll be happy’ and flipping it to ‘Work hard and be happy, and then you’ll be successful.”

The award will be given to a senior who embodies both the loving spirit of Quinten and his desire to leave a legacy. Throughout the cross country season, the team will be nominating teammates they believe are creating that culture of encouragement.

Senior Hanbyul Johnson is a captain on the team this year, and feels that the award is a good way to honor Quinten, while being beneficial to the team.

“It’s a good way for everyone to keep an eye out for how others are helping contribute to the team and give back,” Johnson said.

“It’s a good reminder to seniors that they should be leaders and role models for the underclassmen.”

The award was funded

by Saginaw Heritage High School. When they heard about the tragic death of Quinten, their cross country team raised $160.

The money will be going towards purchasing the plaque for the award.

“Quinten wasn’t one of our best runners, so the fact that a team from across the district was willing to raise money

The cross countr y team has created an award to be given to a senior runner to honor the legacy of Quinten Greiner, who touched the lives of many. Maddy O’Callaghan|Managing Editor & Josh Danielson|Staff Writer & Holly Stauffer|Staff Writer (Above) Senior Jacob Krueger waves the MHS flag at a Midland High home football game with a “Q” painted on his back in remembrance of Quinten. Ian Andridge|Photo Courtesy. (Below right) Quinten Greiner participated in track and cross country all four years of high school. Bill Greiner|Photo Courtesy for this speaks volumes as to who he was as a person,” Hollenbeck said.

Hollenbeck and Greiner agree that Quinten was a dedicated athlete who sought to see the success of his teammates over the success of himself. He would challenge others to push themselves harder, not for his personal glory, but for the satisfaction of seeing them reach their potential. The recipient of the award will have a similar mentality.

“They have to understand that to serve is to take the lower position, so as to be elevated,” Greiner said. “Those who want to gain their life must give it away.”

“We decided to focus on his legacy, and all the good things he did as a person.”

Coach Marty Hollenbeck

Jacob Krueger, a senior who knew Quinten, said that he was a mentor to him, as well as many others on the team. Krueger echoes what was said by both Hollenbeck and Greiner, saying that Quinten was a team player and would not only push his teammates to train harder, but also push them as people outside of cross country.

“He would always be going out and doing stuff, making the most of every day,” Krueger said. “Whereas people like me, who are more of an introvert, he pushed out to do more with each day.”

Hollenbeck reiterated that even at age 16, 17, or 18, students can build a legacy. He hopes his team carries this lesson throughout the season and their high school career. The legacy Quinten left serves as an example for the cross country team, but was not always as evident as it is now.

“We heard a lot of things,” Greiner said.

“We saw things in his character that were growing, but we didn’t know a lot of stories that we heard. You leave a legacy and you don’t where the roots of that legacy reach out to.”

15 | FOCUS | SEPTEMBER 30, 2016 | mhsfocus.com

The Sports Zone Wounded warriors Hannah Smith

O

ver the summer, the roaring noise of a boat engine and water splashing became very familiar sounds to me.

Every time I went to my cabin, our family went out on the boat and tubed the entire afternoon away. Although I love to tube, one particular moment still leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

One cloudless afternoon at the lake, we decided to go out on the pontoon. This day didn’t feel different than any other day, but it ended differently. As we tediously poured the gas into the tank of the boat, a wave of excitement arouse among my cousins and me.

As if I was performing on stage, every time I went tubing the butterfly feeling came and

circulated in my belly. The competitive nature among my cousins and me did not help my pre-tubing stage fright.

With two tubes going at one time, we had a competition to see which team would fall off the most. Along with each team came a cliché name. Team names ranged from “The Splash Sisters” to “Shirts, Mugs & More.” We then began to battle for the bragging rights of winning that day's tubing challenge.

As the boat’s motor fired up, we instantly were tugged forward, signifying the battle had begun. Our game faces were painted on as we glared at our opponents.

Possibly the calmest day on the lake, it ended

Upcoming Events Football:

Sep 30, @ Davison, 7:30 p.m.

Oct 7, Saginaw High School, 7:00 p.m Oct 14, @ Lapeer, 7:00 p.m.

Oct 21, Dow High, 7:00 p.m.

Girls’ Swim:

Oct 6, @ Powers Catholic, 6:00 p.m.

Oct 13, @ Bay City Western, 5:00 p.m.

Oct 17, Dow High, 7:00 p.m.

Volleyball:

Oct 4, @ Saginaw High, 7:00 p.m Oct 11, @ Bay City Central, 7:00 p.m.

Oct 18, @ Dow High, 7:00 p.m.

Boys’ Soccer:

Oct 3, Davison High School, 7:00 p.m Oct 10, @ Saginaw Heritage, 7:00 p.m.

Oct 13, @ Dow High, 7:00 p.m.

16 | FOCUS | SEPTEMBER 30, 2016 | mhsfocus.com

ironically in a fashion. The water became When I came up for fresh air, the only thing choppier, and the waves extended to a new I could feel was pain. As I floated in the deep height. What appeared to have been an ocean waters of Secord Lake, my instant reaction was wave sent us in the air, and sprung us off the to grab my mouth. I reached for my lip, feeling water like a gymnast on the vault. the blood beginning to drip down my chin.

As time went by, the water became more Looking at my arms and seeing a rope burn brutal. I began to form calluses from grasping helped me come to the realization that this was the handles on the tube in my desperate effort more serious than I imagined. When my mind to keep from falling off. started to process information again, I heard Our uncle began doing my cousin crying bloody one of his signature murder. As the boat swung “As if I was ‘donuts’, a trick that I could around and grabbed me out usually handle with ease, the water, I felt extremely performing on stage, of but the condition of the dazed. water made it extremely When we got back in the every time I went difficult. As we turned the boat, we all looked at each tubing the butterfly corner, the gravity pulled other, waiting for someone down on us, sliding our to say something. As words feeling came and bodies like wet, slimy started to roll off my tongue, sardines in a can. Using circulated in my belly” my Uncle looked at all of us every bit of arm strength and said, “It’s time to go in that I had, I tried pulling now. We don’t need anyone myself up to stay on the else getting hurt.” tube.

If tallies were being kept, the boys would’ve With our tube inching toward the other one, won that day’s challenge. But in the end, no one I began to wonder what was about to happen. had won. Because we used two tubes at once, As the ropes intertwined, the only thing I our safety was at risk. could think of is “how is this going to end?” At Although rope burns and bloody mouths one point, the other tube was on top of ours, really stink, I still love to tube during the ultimately leading to a lousy ending. summertime.

Athlete of the Month Julia Gross Grade: 12 Position: Defensive Specialist Favorite Memory: “My favorite memory is having a dance off with another team at our Cadillac tournament.”

Record: Undefeated in the SVL Coach’s Take: “She’s really gotten good at knowing what to look for on the court. Her passing is also primo, she’s leading the team in passing right now.”

NEW KID ON THE SQUAD Sophomore Nick Norris is participating in his first cheerleading season at Midland High. He is currently the only male on the team, he is a stunter and a base for the squad. Ellie Jensen | Opinion Editor & Jonah Dykhuizen | Staff Writer

(Above) Sophomore Nick Norris acts as a base at the home football game against the Mount Pleasant Oilers this month. Lauren Curtis | Photo (Below) Norris cheers on the football team from the sideline alongside the rest of the varsity cheer team Friday, Sept. 16. Lauren Curtis | Photo

S

ince he was little, sophomore Nick Norris was encouraged to try everything. So in addition to sports like flag football and baseball, he took his first tap dancing class at Dean Black. Soon after he began dancing hip hop, jazz, and ballet as well as taking gymnastics classes, and he has been dancing ever since.

When searching for a fall sport, cheer seemed like the most logical fit. Norris is currently the only male on the team. Norris said his dance background has really helped in his cheer career, so when going into the tryouts, the stunts were not a huge leap.

“I went into it [tryouts] without any expectations because I was so unprepared, I really just winged it honestly,” Norris said.

“Everyone looked at me like ‘Are you in the right place?’”

Norris did not expect to have to learn so many cheers, but he feels like he is able to

do everything that has been put in front of him; something Cheer Coach Jennifer Hallman would be quick to agree with.

“He’s got that strong personality where he won’t let anyone push him around,” Hallman said.

Hallman believes that Norris has brought positivity to the cheer team, and a great amount of credibility in a sense. Hallman had previously had Norris in a dance class at the Community Center.

While Norris is the first male that Hallman has coached, he is not the first male cheerleader to walk the halls of Midland High. In high school, Coach William Luzar was a male cheerleader. Luzar joined with his group of seven or eight football players their junior year when asked by the female cheerleaders to act as the bases of the stunt group.

“They didn’t make fun of us because they were jealous, we were holding up beautiful girls,” Luzar said

When starting, Norris was worried about the stigma associated with male cheerleaders but found he fit in quite well with the team and that others were very accepting of this. Norris explained that after it was revealed that he made varsity, there were other guys in the school who showed interest in trying out for the sport.

Because of his dancing ability, the girls on the team chose him to be the featured dancer at Chemic Idol. When he landed in the splits, the crowd roared Both Luzar and Norris enjoyed their experience and agree that more males should get involved with the sport.

Norris plans to continue fall cheer throughout the rest of his high school career, hoping to draw in male participation.

“I hope that me doing this makes it obvious that it’s not an all girl thing,” Norris said. “I hope to see next year another guy try out because it would be cool if I could be an influence.”

17 | FOCUS | SEPTEMBER 30, 2016 | mhsfocus.com

Make Mexico Great Again Maddy O’Callaghan

A

t the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America youth gathering I went to last summer, Reverend Alexia Salvatierra spoke on immigration reform during one of the nightly programs. She told us the story of one of the boys she helped from Mexico, Jose. At 15, he witnessed the local gang in his city turn into an international mafia that forced young men to join, and young women to become sex slaves. When the gang came for Jose’s initiation, his father, a local bus driver, went out to the street and declared that they could not have his son. Jose’s father was shot dead in the street.

Fearing for his life, Jose took his mother and three younger sisters and ran, fleeing to America. The Reverend explained that Jose was just one of 65,000 youth from Central America who illegally crossed to border to find safe haven in the US. This story stuck with me, and changed the way I viewed immigration as both a Christian and an American.

Now, with Donald Trump’s immigration style ‘red scare,’ immigration has had more spotlight than it has in years. A picture is being painted of millions of drug lords and rapists flooding the border to burn down our cities. And while some criminals are entering, many of the 11 million illegal immigrants currently in the US are families who are trying to escape unsafe and poverty stricken areas.

American citizens are terrified of immigrants entering and taking jobs out from us. But the problem is being made out to be much, much bigger than it actually is.

First off, illegal residents wouldn’t be here if American’s weren’t offering them jobs.

Thousands of farm and factory owners are taking advantage of cheap labor, and many are encouraging foreigners to come

without documentation.

They’re not just parasites who are taking advantage of our system because they’re lazy freeloaders.

Illegal immigrants aren’t costing us tax dollars in welfare, healthcare, etc., because they don’t have access to it. They don’t have a valid social security number. Some of these benefits aren’t even available to legal immigrants until they’ve had a five-year residency. And while they illegally receive other benefits, some still pay taxes. The Institute on Taxation reported in 2012 that illegal workers paid almost 12 billion in tax dollars.

The fear of immigrants, legal or illegal, is not new. But this ‘us against them’ mentality that the recent election has created needs to stop. Diversity and cultural mixing is as American as apple pie. We are a nation of `immigrants. We are a country made up of millions of people who decided to leave their homes and make something of themselves in a nation of seemingly endless opportunity. Embrace that.

Be proud of that.

Illegal immigration is a problem. I understand that. But the way it is being handled is not working. We have been spending billions on border security, and it’s continuously proven to solve nothing. Despite the increased spending on border control, the number of illegal residents entering the city has stayed practically the same since the early 2000’s. There is a deeper lying issue that many politicians don’t want to address.

Donald Trump’s ‘plan’ is to have Mexico, a country that is currently in serious financial trouble and dealing with the issues of high trafficked organized crime, pay for a wall costing anywhere from 4 to 25 billion dollars. Wow, thanks Donald! You’re really helping us out here with that forward thinking!

I find it incredibly difficult to

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believe that people actually buy into this crap, because anyone with half a brain and a calculator knows this is a stupid, stupid idea. Even the conservative ranchers who live by the border, and want it secured more than anyone else, know it is a stupid proposal that will not work.

Building the wall is like putting a band aid on a broken bone. It won’t fix the actual problem. There isn’t an easy solution. There never will be. But there sure are stupid solutions that will cause more harm than good. And until the situation in Central America improves, there will always be people who find a way to cross the border. Always.

He plans to somehow wrangled up all 11 million illegal residents and deport them, separating thousands of families and adding to the chaos that already exists.

This isn’t 1950. Operation Wetback solved nothing, and it’s a shameful capture of our history. Are we really trying to repeat that?

Legal status should be offered to those who follow the law, rather than immediate deportation. A fine or some sort of punishment can be issued to encourage people to enter the legal way, but citizenship should still be offered. Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, and Jeb Bush support this idea. They’re intelligent men who have been dealing with immigration politics for years. They recognize this is the most humane and logical way to do it.

It’s easy to dehumanize an entire demographic of people. We’ve always been pretty good at doing that. But we can’t forget that they’re humans, many of whom come from impoverished and crime heavy cities that have become overrun by drug, gun, and human traffickers.

There is a reason so many families are desperate enough to risk their lives crossing a border. America is great. We don’t need to make our country great again. We need to make Mexico great again.

Take It or Leave It Do you want the good news or the bad news first?

TAKE IT According to the Truth

Campaign, the percentage of teenagers who smoke is down from 23% in 2000 to 7% today.

TAKE IT

LEAVE IT The amount of national student debt is currently about $1,382,000,000,000, and rising $2,726 every second.

LEAVE IT

The animal welfare organization Four Paws International rescued fifteen animals from the “World’s Worst Zoo” in the Gaza Strip.

Brangelina announced their divorce after twelve years as a couple and two years of marriage.

Naturalization Fee has increased by 69%, with the 2007 fee of $400 increasing to $675

$400

$675

One in five undocumented immigrant adults have a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident spouse

Celebricession Sonja Anderson

H

ere’s what I learned while in line at the grocery store: Taylor Swift and Kim Kardashian and Kanye West are engaged in the feud of the century.

Also, Ben Affleck has apparently finally offered a long overdue reconciliation with Jennifer Garner (unnamed inside source reveals), and Kelly Ripa has grossly exposed some disgusting cellulite (how dare she?) while on a beach vacation in Hawaii.

Oh, and guess what? Jennifer Aniston also goes to the grocery store, just like you.

I used to want to be famous when I was little. I daydreamed of becoming a pop star, HannahMontana-esque, with millions of fans and sold out shows and the money to buy whatever I wanted.

Now, seven years later, I think I would sooner dig my own grave than become famous.

Because I enjoy being able to walk outside my house without twenty people flashing cameras in my face.

I enjoy not seeing myself on the covers of tabloids that read, “So and so walks to the park bearing no makeup and a homeless person’s clothing! The real her, exposed.”

Especially lately - with the social media, the tabloids, the stealing of photos from the cloud - it seems that fame in modern society is not about the appreciation of people’s talents. Acting, singing, or modeling. We, the audience, need to know about their entire lives. We need to know who they’re dating, who they exercise with, where they live. Celebrities are on a stage for us to examine, to pick apart, to worship.

They aren’t real.

How can they be? Most of us have never had a conversation with them. Most of us have never shaken

their hand. We have never even seen them in real life.

It’s a completely one-sided relationship. There are the celebrities, and there are the fans.

And it’s so bizarre how personal that relationship can get, while holding no meaning. Most of the time, we know where they are, what they’re doing, who they’re with.

I mean, have you ever thought about how weird it is that upon Googling “Taylor Swift leaves gym,” over 1000 photos come up from dozens of situations? Isn’t that strange? How can one population of people care so much about a person

“We don’t care about Syria’s refugee crisis, and we don’t care about the Zika virus. We care about ‘What Gigi Hadid eats in a day,’”

walking out of a gym?

That is what we live off of. We don’t care about Syria’s refugee crisis, and we don’t care about the Zika virus. We care about “What Gigi Hadid eats in a day,” and “The Complete Timeline of Kylie Jenner and Tyga’s Love.” I didn’t even make those up, those are two titles of Snapchat magazine stories.

Verbatim.

I think that says a lot about us. As a nation, as a humanity. We are so interested in these people, and we feel so closely related to them, but

in reality, they don’t know most of us exist.

When Harry Styles keeps his relationship a secret from you, you are betrayed. You listen to his music, you watch his interviews, you support him. He owes you his personal information, right?

The fans, they say they are in love. I’ve seen the internet posts.

They say they are in love with these people. One Direction, Dylan O’Brien, the 1975, whoever. They say they would risk their lives for them. They love a person they’ve never touched, whom they’ve never had a conversation with, who regards them as just another blank face in a crowd. Just one more fan Niall Horan has to take a picture with before he can go home.

Most celebrities have said in interviews that if they could have one wish fulfilled, it would be to have a different face for a day. To have just a few moments of peace.

An outing to a coffee shop without being asked by 15 separate groups of people for pictures, so that they can prove they saw a celebrity in person. To maybe be able to go to dinner with a friend without rumors of engagement spreading.

I don’t blame them.

Famous people don’t have any privacy. They are constantly exposed, like zoo animals. Because we feed off of their lives. Because we care so much.

Why is our entertainment business like this? Maybe some are role models that we can look up to, but not even that is for sure, as we only know about them what they’ve said in interviews. Maybe we want to live vicariously through them, the scandals filling a void of drama in our lives. Maybe we’re aspiring to be them.

Maybe we’re just bored.

@HumansofMidlandHigh A feature of students who have a story. Follow our Instagram for more.

Kaitlyn Hutchinson

“

Around 8 months ago, I discovered I have a rare form of synesthesia called Ordinal Linguistic Personification. It’s basically when your brain gets your senses all jumbled up, like seeing the color green while hearing a brass trumpet play. For me and others with OLP, we give numbers, letters, months, and even weekdays different personalities. I’m postive that at least half of all high schoolers have struggled with finding that one special thing that takes you from average Berenstien Bear, straight to Yogi Bear status. Finding I’m one of the few peole with OLP has definately contributed to me feeling like a big, beautiful, bold Yogi Bear.

”

19 | FOCUS | SEPTEMBER 30, 2016 | mhsfocus.com

The Soccer Boys

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Jonah Dykhuizen This fall I decided to make a major life change; after twelve long years, I decided to retire from my time spent as a soccer player in lieu of a blossoming career as a tennis star. Surprisingly enough, I have had no regrets.

My soccer career began humbly, playing U-6 soccer at the Midland Soccer Club. I remember vividly, our team of kindergarteners was an unstoppable conglomerate pulled in by the gravity of the ball. We won every game. To commemorate our incredible soccer season, each team member was awarded a massive trophy to cherish forever. Most impressively, the trophy was engraved to order, and on my plaque was “The Dolphins, Spring 2004 Soccer, Jonah Dykhuizen.”

Unfortunately, due to a communication error, the title, “League MVP” was not engraved.

From the Dolphins, I graduated to the more intimidating Sharks for the fall of ‘05. All through elementary and middle school, I moved up the ranks from aquatic predators to vicious land animals, and all the while soccer kept me engaged. It was not until I reached high school, when the level of play advanced, that I lost interest in the sport.

The first season of JV soccer was a dream. I met the greatest group of friends through collective suffering.

The daily routine of ladders, passing drills and keep away slowly killed our souls, making us hate the prospect of practice and pray for rain. But that only strengthened our bond. The senior JV soccer cast consisted of the biggest group of

jokers to come through the Midland High, with Joey Howse at the helm.

Most practices would not pass without someone’s pants falling down–voluntarily or otherwise– accompanied by Coach Campbell’s understandably extreme admonishment.

Freshman year soccer season will forever go down as the favorite sports season of my life. I shall never forget the end-of-year party in my basement with Fifa, Gatorade pong (because soccer boys get crazy) and the main event: Shaolin

of freshman year, the sophomore and junior seasons left no lasting memories. The whole season felt like a chore and I stopped applying myself to the sport. It was no surprise that when I caught wind of the legendary exploits of the JV boys tennis team and awed the Chemic Idol performance of “Hooked on a Feeling,” I was hooked.

Junior year was the perfect opportunity for me to jump ship and join the tennis hoopla, but alas, I did not. I experienced a pressure from my family, my friends, and especially myself to stick to soccer. The familiarity to the activity, the familial pressure to follow in my brother’s footsteps, and my allegiance to my soccer friends hindered me from taking the leap.

When it came this summer, there was no longer any question in my mind what I should choose. Soccer had a great run, but it was on to bigger and better things.

Tennis has been nothing but fun; from singing Miley Cyrus on the bus–much to coach’s discontent–to swimming in Lake Michigan after a match, this season of tennis introduced me to an entirely new group of friends and a fresh set of experiences that I wouldn’t change for the world.

While I do not regret my time spent playing soccer, I am grateful that I took the leap out of my comfort zone and onto the tennis courts. This tennis season was a blast and the friendships that I have gained are priceless, but I owe so much to my soccer boys and they will not be soon forgotten.

“It was no surprise that when my ears caught wind of the legendary exploits of the JV boys tennis team and awed the Chemic Idol performance of ‘Hooked on a Feeling,’ I was hooked.”

Soccer, the greatest indie soccer movie ever made. The show was more than a mere movie, but a cinematic masterpiece centering around the “Mighty Steel Leg’s” quest to apply his shaolin expertise to the sport of soccer. With a budget of what must have been only a couple hundred dollars, the special effects and poor English dubbing created an immersive viewing that kept Reese Bartos rolling on the ground laughing from the first scene til the final shot.

Despite the magical experience

20 | FOCUS | MARCH 23, 2016 | mhsfocus.com

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Find Your Niche Gwynne Özkan

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his fall marks the first year I’m a big bad ‘upperclassman.’ I have a free pass to prom, reserved seats at football games and a backpack big enough for IB classes and soccer cleats. Two years deep in Midland High curriculum has shaped who I am today. It’s filled my camera roll with photos, made family dinner bearable with stories of my escapades, and surrounded me with some of the greatest people I’ve come to know.

‘Junior’ also gave me seven mentees and a t-shirt with the familiar, ‘failure is not an option for my freshmen’ printed on the back.

I told them you can’t miss more than ten days of school and ,no it’s not cool to disrespect teachers. I told them the secret behind high school, which I’m going to reiterate now: Be involved.

That is undoubtedly the best decision I’ve made. Take a second and think about what interests you.

What makes you tick?

If it’s athletics, figure out a schedule. Each sports program at Midland High has a passionate coach willing to work hard as long as you do, and a team that becomes a family. The sweet sixteens and suicides I’ve run are horrid at best, game day means homework doesn’t start until 10:30, and practices mean cancelled plans. However, a little bit of suffering is but a scratch to the SVL Championship trophy. It doesn’t take anything away from rowdy bus rides, personalized Chemic gear, or unity dinners before rival games.

If the thought of running a mile makes you queasy, I promise

you aren’t alone. Take pictures of athletes doing their thing in Photography club, write about your vendetta against volleyball in journalism, or join programming and code virtual bowling instead.

It’s almost liberating; ‘geeking out’ about something you love surrounded by people who love it as much as you do. Take it from me, Secretary of the Parliamentary Procedure team of BPA. I know geeky. I also know the gratification I feel when my team runs an agenda perfectly. No one in the entire school but Mrs. Jozwiak may know what we mean, but we feel accomplished just as well.

Midland’s a small town, but big enough to make you feel lonely.

Binge in extracurriculars because if you like chess, and you join chess club, you’ll be comfortable and welcome. I promise. You’ll be amazed at how many people you don’t know, but you should know.

Basketball open gyms introduced me to Jayden Williams: she shares my stubbornness and loathing of losing, and I never thought I could meet someone louder than me. I was wrong.

Without soccer tryouts, I never would’ve had the opportunity to play on a team with a captain as talented as Marle Bringard, attend her graduation party and see her sign to a division one school for the sport we both love.

States for BPA in Grand Rapids showed me Jonah Dykhuizen’s love for fedoras and Nate Rapanos’ obsession with dress pants.

KIVA club made me love Spenny Houle’s body positive attitude with his many features in the Men of

KIVA Calendar.

I do carry around a touch of bias though when it comes to room 345. The Focus Family holds a reserved, red carpeted area with flashing lights and signs. I love everything about the journalism program. I love even more that I’m a part of it. If I would’ve followed my friends in years past and taken electives they cared about, I never would’ve found my seat on staff. I never would’ve spent the week in my purest form, working with Mr. Hawthorne at MIPA. I wouldn’t have been there to congratulate Mr. Woehlre on his Golden Pen award, knowing whole-heartedly it’s more than deserved. I found my niche.

Go to football games and yell out the cheers. If you don’t know them, then just yell out. No, you don’t get cool points for ‘skipping homecoming.’ Take the excuse to dress up and embarrass each other on the dance floor. Take a million pictures with your friends. Make signs for the swim team because they don’t get nearly enough recognition, and keep updated on the robotics team standings. Yes, Midland High rocks at robotics.

You don’t get anything from saying, “No, I really don’t want to go,” or “That’s lame.” Hey, it’s not lame.

Let yourself leave your mark at Midland High, and be thankful you attend a school with such a wide to pick in the garden of opportunity grown for you from those past.

Whether it be in the yearbook room, or on the baseball diamond, or in the band hall, four years of memories will be made here. Make them purposefully, and make them happily.

@HumansofMidlandHigh A feature of students who have a story. Follow our Instagram for more.

Quinn Seeburger

“

Mitchell Reid and I were up north at our other best friend Drew Gandy’s cottage for the weekend, and this particular weekend fell on Mitchell’s birthday. We were talking to Drew’s grandparents, and his grandma came up to Mitchell and told him happy birthday and gave him a hug. As Mitchell was going in for the hug he said, ‘Happy Birthday,’ right back to her, but it wasn’t even close to being her birthday. Drew and I started losing it and I was in tears laughing on the floor. I didn’t stop laughing all dinner long, and for the rest of the weekend we would walk up to each other and hug the other person saying, ‘Happy Birthday.’

”

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A & E

A SOUND START

Choir Director Daniel Farison recently transferred from Elkhart, Indiana, and he has a lot in store for the Meisters and choir.

Hailey Surbrook| Ads Coordinator & Emma McLaren| Staff Writer & Devin Alexander|Staff Writer

Meet the officers

What new things are you expecting for the choir program with Mr. Farison?

Choir Director Daniel Farison takes a break from intense rehearsal to enjoy a few laughs with his students. Farison replaced the last choir director, Jennifer Breneman after she moved to Texas at the end of last year. Josh Danielson| Photo

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alking into the choir room there are students hard at work trying their best to improve their singing abilities, and practicing “That’s Christmas to me” by Pentatonix vigorously for their next performance. There would also be the new choir and meister director, Daniel Farison, dancing, flashing some animated facial expressions, or even singing with the soprano girls of the choir.

Farison was a teacher at Elkhart Central High School in Elkhart, Indiana. He transferred with his wife, Megan Farison who is now the new choir director at Dow High. Farison replaced the previous vocal director, Jennifer Breneman who moved to Texas at the end of last year.

Farison was very impressed with his students when he first met them.

“When my wife and I came and interviewed here, we were so impressed by how polite everybody was. They were really wellmannered and intelligent.”

The Meisters were dispirited to see Breneman go.

“I was crushed,” Junior Drew Spencer said.

“I ended up crying in class when she told us she was leaving.”

The beginning of the school year came with some trepidation and sadness for the choir students and Meistersingers because of Breneman’s absence, but they soon realized they had nothing to fear from their new director.

“My first impression of him was that he was fun and jolly and an all-around good guy,” Spencer said.

Junior Hannah Bartels said she and her classmates have quickly come to like Farison “He’s a blast to work with so far and it’s only been a week and a half.” Bartels said.

“He has a really, really strong background in choir and he’s going to work to help us be better -Junior Emma Brown The Meisters also met with Farison over the summer at some fundraisers. Bartels said that Farison’s energy level matches the Meisters’ and the students think he will do a great job at directing this year.

“He has a really, really strong background

22 | FOCUS | SEPTEMBER 30, 2016 | mhsfocus.com

in choir and he’s going to work to help us be better,” Junior Emma Brown said.

This year, Farison plans on adding more music theory to the vocal curriculum so that the students will learn more about how to read music and other material that will allow the choir and Meistersingers to grow as musicians. He plans on focusing on more in-depth musical topics like phrasing and technique. He also plans on collaborating more with Dow High School’s choir.

“Basically, I expect us to continue the same excellence that this program is known for and perhaps even more,” Farison said.

“I’m coming into a program that’s already strong, and I also have a lot of experience and was successful in my last job.”

Farison is taking the choir and Meistersingers to the Midland School Vocal Music Association (MSVMA) competition, along with Dow High. Neither school has been there in several years.

At the MSVMA competition, the students sing for a series of judges and are given a 1, 2, 3, or 4 rating, 1 being the highest rating someone can receive and 4 being the lowest.

“There was a change in the way they did the scoring that was honestly not great. But they changed the scoring back this year, so we’re going to return.” Farison said. “Coming into a program that’s already successful with a teacher who knows how to be successful, I feel like we have a good combination.”

Josh Danielson, President “I expect for the choir to know more [musical] theory and for us to achieve more musically.”

Hannah Bartels, Vice President “We’re going to a different festival in the spring that I haven’t been to in the past and I’m excited to see what new things we learn at it.”

A&E

This fall show will feature gender-bent characters due to a lack of male participants. Hope O’Dell| A&E Editor & Jasmin West| Staff Writer & Bitsy Mammel|Staff Writer

THE

LOST BOYS

Sophomore Nick Alfano runs through lines with Junior Emily Thomas. Alfano is cast as Peter Pan, the lead role. Quinlan Cox|Photo

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enior Madeline Morgan is no stranger to a genderbent role; a role meant for one gender, but played by the other.

Morgan has been cast as a man multiple times before. In the fall show, Peter and the Starcatchers, Morgan is once again playing a man, the character Captain Robert Falcon Scott.

“Typically in my experience guys actually have better roles,” Morgan said. “They’re more fun to play and they’re less stereotypical most of the time.”

In the show, approximately half of the main roles are being genderbent. In this case, it’s females playing as male characters. Morgan said this method works well with the play because the show starts with the characters telling the audience that they are going to put on a play for them. Morgan said it is possible that costuming will be done so that it is obvious that the male characters are being played by females.

Drama director Megan Applegate said that characters were genderbent to provide an equal opportunity for the boys and girls auditioning for the show.

There are only nine boys in the show compared to thirty girls. This show does not differ from the rest in this aspect; generally girls participate in theatre more than boys do.

Stage manager Ethan Tuck, who is a junior, said he has noticed that there has been a history

of fewer males in theatre compared to females.

“It has been worse before, but we have had to cross cast, or put girls in boy’s roles,” Tuck said. But the lack of boys isn’t just a recent drop.

“It’s a very popular trend that there are less guys in theatre,” Morgan said. “It’s very interesting because theatre is very male-heavy [character-wise].”

Drama club members said there is often a stigma around boys who choose to participate in theatre, which can contribute to the lack of boys.

Sophomore Nick Alfano is one of the males who auditioned for the play, and has been cast in the role of Peter Pan. “There’s always a low number of males who choose to audition,” Alfano said. “I think this is because theatre gets a bad rap. Lots of people think that performing is ‘girly’ and ‘lame’.”

Boys tend to gravitate towards sports, and dismiss theatre as a viable option.

“There is that sort of social expectation still

that guys are more athletic and that plays are gay, I guess,” Morgan said.

Still, the drama program is working hard to fight against the stigma of boys who participate in theatre.

“We want to show that theatre has something for everybody,” Applegate said. “Often boys don’t join theatre because of old stereotypes that are outdated. Stereotypes we ’r e w o r k i n g t o disprove.”

Applegate said this show is already showing progress, and there are members of this year’s cast who are newcomers to theatre; athletes who were recruited to be in a show and decided to stick with it.

There are also boys working behind the scenes on the crew.

“I honestly think that everyone would really like theatre. Morgan said. “It’s just about getting them to do it once. And I guess for that it has to be kind of them. A lot of people either you recruit them for a specific reason, tell them like, ‘Yeah you’re going to be a basketball player’ or

“We want to show that theatre has something for everybody”

Drama Director Megan Applegate

Senior Madeline Morgan makes notes on her script at rehearsal. She is one of the genderbent roles. Quinlan Cox|Photo you just befriend them and drag them to the auditorium.”

Morgan also said that a decline in males could affect the type of plays in the future, moving towards plays with less male roles so the need of genderbending would decrease.

But if that action had to be taken, interest in the plays could go down.

Morgan said that Applegate is not the biggest fan of genderbending, so it’s not likely that more shows with mostly male characters will be chosen in order to avoid having to gender-bend again. So to ensure that more wellknown productions with male characters are performed, more males would have to become involved. If more knowledge about theatre gets out to people, more males will be likely to join.

“I think more people seeing shows and being encouraged to audition would help,” Alfano said. “Lots of people don’t understand the time and effort put into each show. When audience members watch their friends or family perform on stage, it can show that theatre is open to everyone and not for one group of people.”

The show will take place at the Bullock Creek High School auditorium on October 27-29 at seven p.m. and student tickets will be six dollars.

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A&E

ART REDEFINED

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New art teachers Jacob Scherzer and Kelli Waun have created a new art program and will begin doing new and exciting projects with students of all levels. Olivia Barber|Staff Writer & Danielle Julien |Staff Writer & Lillian Mohr | Staff Writer

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h i s ye a r M i d l a n d H i g h S c h o o l work to be created in this year’s course. While welcomes former Northeast Middle digital work may be deemed as difficult, School teacher, Kelli Waun as a new Scherzer has full faith in his students. art teacher. Waun, who plans on increasing “You’ve got to have purpose because the interest of art class by mixing pottery into advanced can be crazy, spontaneous, and the art program, began to do pottery back in chaotic yet strategic; when we apply that to 2007 as a hobby. She is happy to bring pottery a setting, it depends on the person working,” into the art program and is hopeful that it will Scherzer said. blossom throughout the year.

Both Scherzer and Waun believe that their “It’s not fair that Dow High has pottery and students are reacting quite positively to the Midland does not,” Waun said. changes.

In order to provide the students with “I feel that the overall reaction has been everything they need to very positive and it’s get started on pottery, very enjoyable and I Waun purchased four look forward to get to new pottery wheels know the students and over the summer and is get working with new hoping to receive more possibilities,” Scherzer within the year. said.

While pottery is being Scherzer plans on introduced in the art having the students program, it certainly leave their mark on the isn’t the only new school by painting a feature. mural somewhere in the 3-D printing is also school. The art students being introduced into will get together and be the class this year, as able to show off their Wa u n b r o u g h t t h e artistic ability and along 3-D printer over from with their ability to Northeast Middle work as a team.

School when she “The opportunity to transferred. Waun hopes collaborate with new to accomplish many projects with the 3D artists and getting all different artists together printer. to achieve something we will all become proud Another new aspect of the class is the of,” Scherzer said. “We will most likely be addition of jewelry making. Over 3,000 various painting by the locker room areas or inside ring molds were donated to Waun over the the locker rooms. There are some benefits of summer, and they purchased more advanced working with new people and being a part of technology to help make the jewelry. something so great like having pride for the “I really like it so much more,” Sophomore community and to be a part of it.”

Aubrey Chambers said. “I’m excited for jewelry making and the pottery wheels.”

1. Kelli Waun works on new ceramic pots after Waun has high hopes for her students and school. The art programs will be selling many of wishes for them to create their own collection their creations at the Holiday Art Fair later this of online art portfolios and websites. At the end year. of the year, students will be expected to have 2. Waun has been practicing pottery for nine a working blog website filled with works of years and continues to work on her skills. It their own art. Other students will have access started as a hobby and she is happy to be bringing to these portfolios and have a chance to critique them on their artwork. it into the classroom.

Art teacher Jacob Scherzer, another new 3. Waun’s fourth hour Advanced 3-D class jokes addition to the Midland High School staff, also around while they work on their clay projects. This has big plans for the art program. is one of the many clay projects Waun has in store Scherzer plans on taking a large step for them. Danielle Julien | Photos forward by adding opportunities for digital 24 | FOCUS | SEPTEMBER 30, 2016 | mhsfocus.com

“You’ve got to have purpose because advanced can be crazy, spontaneous, a n d c h a o t i c ye t strategic.”

A r t Te a c h e r J a c o b Scherzer

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