FEATURES 1
THE MIHS ISLANDER JUNE 2022
In memory of former teacher, Mike Browne, there is a ginkgo tree in the courtyard with a plaque labeled “M.B.”. Mike Browne passed away in 2012 from suicide. One of his closest co-workers was Curtis Johnston. “He was a super good guy who was just misunderstood and felt like he couldn’t be himself,” Johnston said. “We put the memorial there but without the name because we kind of feel like if we put his name, we had to put that he died by suicide [...] and we dont want kids to think that you can get a tree planted if you die by suicide.”
The Dogwood tree is in memory of Jason Levy, who tragically committed suicide in 2005. One of his closest teachers was Andrea Confelone. “I had him in ninth and tenth grade, before he went to Bellevue and he had a lot of life, a lot of spunk. In some ways, in a good way, he was a troublemaker. He was never the quiet kid in class, he was lively and full of spirit,” Confelone said. “His death was very tragic [...] and [his former classmates] were just celebrating his life.”
Memorials In The Courtyard
The Japanese box flower tree is standing in memory of Ben Shamis. Many teachers enjoyed his liveliness and his love for playing the sousaphone. One of the teachers Shamis connected with often was his band teacher, Parker Bixby. “Ben was an amalgamation of what we can all picture as a connector on Mercer Island high school. He was very much interested first and foremost and his friends and their interests. He likes to make [people] laugh,” Bixby said. “He very much wanted every moment he was in to be as fun as it could be and that was a primary for him.” Shamis tragically committed suicide on April 8, 2005.
Maddie Gaspers
Staff Writer
The Mercer Island High School courtyard holds five memorials, four for prior students and one for a past teacher. Many staff members agree that it is important to remember the former Islanders who passed during their time at MIHS. The crab apple tree is in memory of George Hattermeyer, who passed away in an accident at a summer camp in the Summer of 2005. One of his younger brothers past teachers, Chris Twombley, remembers the impact Hattermeyer made on his class. “I knew him indirectly through his classmates and through the memory of his little brother, Charles. [...] He was just loved by everybody. He didn’t have an enemy anywhere here. He was outgoing, kind, thoughtful, he would always do extra kind things for others,” Twombley said. “There’s an award called the Tyler Cox award and its awarded every year to a senior who isn’t necessarily like, straight-a’s, but more the senior that represents the spirit of the class, and i’m almost positive that his class would have awarded him that because he really was the heart and soul of his class.”
The rock in the courtyard is in memory of Laura Wallace, who passed away in her junior year in a high speed crash after drinking at a party. She became close with one of her teachers, Dino Annest. “[Laura] was really nice and artistic, she was always drawing and sketching stuff [...] she wrote poetry to, that’s why there’s a rock out there in the courtyard. I think it’s an absolute tragedy that anybody has to have their life ended, especially this young.,” Annest said. “I think it ended up being somewhat of a wake up call and precautionary tale for some kids here. But it doesn’t bring somebody back and it’s sad that she’s gone because I think she would have done amazing things and would’ve done something with art in her life.”
Photos by Maddie Gaspers
2 Features
THE MIHS ISLANDER JUNE 2022
Bourguignon huddles with her 2021 MIHSGS Junior Varsity team aftr an exciting victory.
Bourguignon and childhood friend, Mary Hill, sign their letters of intent to play college soccer at competing schools.
keep your bodies strong [and] just what’s really good for you guys as you get older so you have the skills down,” Bourguignon said.
Continue reading one quick scan...
On Friday, March 11, 2022, the MIHS Administration officially announced Erin Bourguignon as the new MIHS Girls Soccer head coach. Bourguignon, however, has an extensive history of incredible success and significance within the MIHS Girls Soccer program that led up to this utmost accomplishment that deserves a spotlight of its own. Bourguignon was a student athlete in the MIHS Girls Soccer program beginning in 2006 as a freshman and ending with her graduation in the summer of 2010. Bourguignon reflects on her time in the program with fondness and gratitude for its short and long term benefits. “It was nice to take a step back from [the club] level of competition and have fun with my friends that I grew up with,” Bourguignon said. “And I just really [valued] having it be from home and taking pride in that.” Bourguignon was immediately recognized as an extraordinary asset to the MIHSGS program when she joined the varsity roster as a freshman and continued on to be a varsity captain for her sophomore, junior, and senior years. She attributes many of her leadershipqualities to her time with MIHSGS and the lessons captainship taught her about mentoring a group of people. “You have to learn so much when you’re playing with people who you only get a couple months with,” Bourguignon said. “Y’all have different levels of skills and you have to work together and be efficient, and that taught me how to be a really great leader because it made me [start] at a really young age [to try to] bridge gaps.” Despite numerous injury-inflicted setbacks, Bourguignon had great success during her four years of high school soccer. After a boating accident near the beginning of her junior year, Bourguignon was injured to an extent that kept her off the field for the latter half of the season. Motivated by lost time and newly acquired skilled players at the start of their senior year, Bourguignon and her co-captains put the team to work with the district, and eventually state title at the forefront of their minds. “My senior year, I wanted it so badly,” Bourguignon said. Regardless of beginning as the firm underdogs in the competition, MIHSGS fought its way to being the 2009 Kingco Champion, afterward moving on to state-level competition. Bourguignon and her co-captains then led their team to the state semi-final. They won, but not without consequence, as five minutes into the game, Bourguignon separated the AC joint in her shoulder.
Regardless, she played out the rest of the semi-final, and then the final that she had worked toward her entire MIHSGS career. Bourguignon scored the game winner of the semifinal despite her shoulder injury. She also scored in the final, but the game ultimately ended with penalty kicks, which the Islanders lost. “It was horrible, and I know that sounds bad, but it was so epic getting there,” Bourguignon said. “I’ve never been more proud of not just the soccer I played, but leading the team with the [other] captains and working with them so well to create this team that fully believed in itself.” “I wish I got the state MVP but I got first all state,” Bourguignon added. “I was the only person to score and assist in every single state game and they didn’t give it to me. I was disappointed, but still making first person all state was really special.” Bourguignon’s recent and current roles in the soccer community are not the only aspects of her life that have benefited from her time as a high school athlete. Bourguignon’s glass art career has also reaped such benefits by convincing her of it’s possibility alongside proper commitment. “If you put the work in, especially on the field, something will come out of it, and learning that at that age really helped me for academics,” Bourguignon said. “But also when I decided to go into my own glass career, that’s kind of how I knew I could do this as my profession as something new, because I’d already done it as a student athlete.” As Bourguignon transitions into the head coach position, she is eager to shift the program’s focus more toward injury prevention. “I really want you guys to know how to Bourguignon poses with her high school team in a local newspaper after winning their state-qualifier (Bourguignon is 5th from the left in the back row).
Katie Friedman
Staff Writer
with
Head Coach Bourguignon: A Success Story Continued
THE MIHS ISLANDER JUNE 2022
FEATURES 3
Revising HiCap: MISD Staff Weigh In Kyle Gerstel
Staff Writer
Starting in the 2023-2024 school year, West Mercer Elementary School will no longer house a highly capable (HiCap) classroom. However, MISD is reforming the HiCap Program, not eliminating it. Seeking clarification, The MIHS Islander asked incoming superintendent Dr. Fred Rundle, MISD Board President Maggie Tai Tucker and HiCap teacher Kirsten Bourke to share their perspectives on the future of the program. Kirsten Bourke, Fifth-Grade HiCap Teacher: I started with the HiCap program in its inception 15 years ago. I taught the first fifth grade HiCap class [at West Mercer]. I am really proud of what the West Mercer Highly Capable team has accomplished over the years. I think for the most part, from the feedback we’ve gotten, parents and students have been happy with the services and experiences we provided. An art project by Bourke’s HiCap class of 2020. “You can literally see how differently their minds worked In the self-contained HiCap program, students and how beautifully they all came together in this poster.” Photo Courtesy Kirsten Bourke. needed to qualify in reading and math. Now, you can qualify in one or the Dr. Fred Rundle, Deputy Superintendent: One of other. The goal is for students that qualify in one or the the shifts that we’re trying to make across the system is to think less in terms of programs and more in terms other to receive those services within their classroom of services for students. As enrollment has declined for that particular subject and my understanding is that in our elementary schools, the need for having two or they’d like to extend it out to other subjects as well down the line. even three classrooms has gone down. I think it’s possible. It definitely takes a concerted We started thinking maybe there is a way we can effort and commitment to meet the needs of all provide highly capable services in all four schools. of the students on a regular basis. Going into the What we’ve landed on is that we actually do have cohorts of students who really benefit from that single transition, my hope is that highly capable students are classroom [and] holistic services, but we also then receiving the materials they need to help them reach realized if students weren’t qualifying holistically, their potential. It’s more than just giving students a then they were either in or out. That automatically packet and having them go work by themselves; they creates polarity and I think that’s where some of the definitely need direct instruction and I think you can do that in a traditional classroom as well, it just takes commentary [that] it’s elitist [comes from]. Sometimes we equate rigor to acceleration and that’s practice. A lot of it boils down to testing students at one way to create rigor. Another way is to go more the beginning of a unit and seeing what they know and in depth, but the idea is that the students aren’t just then making sure students don’t have to sit through in the back of the classroom — they’re getting direct [that] material. I think there needs to be additional education on who instruction [and] then working in clusters. the highly capable student is. It’s not just academics; Yes, we will have a highly capable elementary there’s a lot that goes into the highly capable student classroom, but we’ll also have clusters of [specialized] students. The world is a complex place and when we and classroom in regards to social-emotional growth. get out in the world, we’re included with our fellow Oftentimes, the highly capable student thinks citizens. In school, we try to create those dynamics, differently, they interact differently. They just really need to be understood for who they are and I think but only to the point that it is truly equitable. sometimes those traits are discounted.
Maggie Tai Tucker, MISD Board President: It’s difficult for me to speak on behalf of the Board because this has been treated as an operational decision by the district, meaning that it falls under the purview of the superintendent and the central administration staff and then the individual principals and their staffs who are making it happen. There are differing opinions on the Board about whether that’s how that should be handled. Right now, we make decisions about individual books, but usually by the time a new curriculum gets to the Board, it has already been in development for a couple of years and is pretty much a done deal. Speaking as an individual board member, I think that the changes that have been made address a problem that a lot of people weren’t really aware of. I saw over the years what a gap there was for some of my kids’ friends who were super talented in one area, but they weren’t able to access the appropriate level of education for what they needed and left our district. I have never liked the term HiCap because what does that name imply about students outside of that grouping? There are so many different capabilities and potentials that all students have. It’s kind of like when kids get their eyesight tested — they are tested for acuity only (sharpness of focus), whereas there are actually 20-some different functional aspects of vision. I think the long-term goal is for every student to have their needs met in a truly personalized way, and our knowledge of how to accomplish that has changed a lot. Coming from a very achievement-oriented background, my instinct as of a few years ago would have been that of course you’d want to accelerate in every subject as fast as you can, but having now had two kids go through the college admissions process, I actually think there’s a lot to be said for finding rigor through depth and connection, interdisciplinary thinking, etcetera. What colleges and future employers/ funders are looking for are people who have the socialemotional skills and ability to reach out and work with others and bring ideas from one field into another. This is a national trend and I know that people on Mercer Island don’t necessarily see that, they see this as something very specific and unique, but this is very much the direction that public education in the U.S. is going. I moved to this district because of the HiCap program, but the modern classroom is really different and a lot more humane.
4 Features
THE MIHS ISLANDER JUNE 2022
More Than a Game: Life Lessons Through Sports Jordan Balousek
Staff Writer
players get out of team sports. Photo Courtesy Mercer Island Girls Soccer Players also learn valuable lessons through playing with teammates. Soccer coach Josh Krafsky spent many of his tween and teenage years playing soccer at a variety of youth-level clubs. Krafsky currently coaches at MIHS, Roosevelt High School and at Bellevue United Football Club. “Just playing sports in general Photo Courtesy Brooks Enge growing up has taught me a lot about working with other people,” soccer coach Josh Krafsky said. “Respect is a big [lesson], [and] humility Krafsky coaching a JVC Girls Soccer Game is another. invaluable mentor in the cross country head coach Marsh has learned the importance of Susan Empey, who has been serving as the cross perseverance through her years of sports. country head coach for four years. “[I’ve learned to] not [give] up on a play, “[She’s my] favorite adult mentor… she’s the best especially if something does go wrong, trying coach I’ve ever had and I really appreciate all of the to figure out how to fix it in that moment, or helpful advice about how to take care of ourselves knowing if something isn’t going the way and how to make sure that we’re performing at you want it to, how to switch up, and try to peak level. I think she’s a wonderful coach and an do something else,” Marsh said. “Or [to try] a amazing person,” Koopman said. different play if it’s not working, [and] being Overall, sports are usually seen as a way to stay fit able to just communicate with others on the field and have fun. However, sports also can play a huge or on the court or anything.” part in one’s personal development. In the crucial While friendships are a fundamental part of age where children are growing up and forming sports, coaches can also act as valuable mentors their personalities, sports can be a key factor in the in the lives of athletes. lessons young children hold dear to them. Krafsky, who has been The Cross Country team at their KingCo competition Photo by Maddie Gaspers coaching for three and a half all build, and you get to know a lot of different years, attempts to teach essential people that come from different parts of the school,” life lessons to all those that he Koopman said. “You wouldn’t get to know them coaches. otherwise.” “I mean there’s obvious Freshman Anna Marsh also managed to build a fundamental stuff I want to have community around sports. Marsh has been playing my players learn, relating to soccer since kindergarten and basketball since fifth soccer, but [besides] that, I want grade, and played on the JV soccer and varsity to cultivate a team that respects basketball teams this year. each other, respects the other “I moved in the summer of fifth grade, so I team, [and] respects the game,” moved into the middle school, [and] that was like Krafsky said. “I’ve learned that my first year at Mercer Island, and so I didn’t know sometimes being a role model anybody,” Marsh said. “But in the summer that’s is a bigger priority than being a when I first joined [my soccer club], and that’s how specific sports coach.” I met … my friends [today] and … so when I moved Koopman has been on the in, it actually really helped.” receiving end of those good However, friendships are not the only things that intentions, and has found an Marsh during a varsity basketball game Many MIHS students are also athletes, choosing to spend their time out on the field or court or or wherever they play. However, the love of the sport isn’t the only thing that they get out of the competition– some of the fun lies in seeing their teammates and coaches, as lots of athletes have built valuable relationships through their sports. Senior Ryan Koopman has built many of these relationships through his three years on the track team, and his four years on the cross country team. Koopman also is serving as a cross country captain this year. “It’s a very nice communal relationship that we
THE MIHS ISLANDER JUNE 2022
Features 5
Small Districts: The Positives and Negatives Shannon Rogan
Staff Writer
Photo Courtesy Mercer Island School District
students of LTHS come into their freshman year merging two middle schools. This leaves students with a much larger opportunity to form new friendships and relationships from their years at middle school. “Kids I know in college have friend groups at home that are 40 [plus] people,” Liam Rogan, a former student at LTHS and MIHS said. “I had maybe 8 kids in my friend group on Mercer Island.” Depending on preferences, a smaller district may provide more comfort with smaller, more familiar friend groups. “Your friend group is usually more tight, knit and supportive,” Rogan said. A higher number of students welcomes people from a variety of backgrounds and groups. “There are more diverse crowds,” said Liam Rogan, a former student at LTHS and MIHS. “Your friends could change year to year.” LTHS also has a much larger sports program and therefore much larger competition. “Extracurriculars like sports and clubs are more competitive and rewarding due to this competition,” said Rogan. Looking into a more familiar school, Bellevue School District is an example of a substantially larger district in contrast to Mercer Island School District. According to U.S. News & World Report, “Bellevue School District contains 31 schools and 21,672 students.” In comparison, “Mercer Island School District contains 6 schools and 4,496 students.” All of the highschools feed from one to three middle schools in BSD which poses positives and negatives. The size of the district can also influence its students ability to learn and thrive in academics. “You are rarely ever taking classes with people you know,” Rogan said. “Because of this I think larger schools are harder to maintain good grades.” Attending Mercer Island High School, Rogan found it much easier to nevigate classes and maintain better grades. There is a wide range of factors that contribute to the preference of a smaller district versus a bigger district. The benefits vary person to person so discovering which crowd best fits you is the best route.
Data courtesy U.S. News
20,191
Number of students
Students in the Mercer Island School District advance into high school surrounded by the same classmates since the start of middle school, leaving students physically and socially restrained. For some students, this consistency of classmates can be comforting and eliminate awkward introductions. “With MI I also like that we are all on an island and that we all have that connection,” former SAAS student and current student at MIHS Gracie Hennessy said. Going into a new school knowing a small amount of the classmates you will spend your time with can be challenging, but for some it can open many opportunities for new friendships. “You do meet a lot of different people that you wouldn’t meet going to MI,” Hennessy said. According to the Chicago Tribune, “The middle schools that feed into Lyons Township High School include Highlands Middle School in La Grange, McClure Junior High in Western Springs, Park Junior High in La Grange Park, Pleasantdale Middle School in Burr Ridge, Washington Middle School in Lyons and Gurrie Middle School in La Grange.” Lyons Township also has a total of “4,037” students according to U.S. News & World Report. With a greater number of students and schools, the
4,192
MISD
BSD
6 Features
THE MIHS ISLANDER JUNE 2022
Ms. Miltun Reflects on Her Career on Mercer Island Ashwin Krishnaswamy
Staff Writer
MIHS Orchestra teacher Vicki White-Miltun will retire in June after 47 years in the district. Miltun was largely responsible for creating the orchestra program in the Mercer Island School District. “I was hired by the Mercer Island School District in August 1976 to teach the Lakeridge [elementary] string class and the South Mercer Junior High Orchestra,” Miltun said. “There were 13 or 14 players in the Lakeridge string class and the South Mercer Orchestra.” The orchestra program grew gradually as more students signed up. “In the first year, we doubled our size to about 30,” Miltun said. However, there was still no orchestra at MIHS. “It had to start in the younger grades, and move up into the high school…When I first came here, there were five elementary schools (grades K-6), two junior highs (grades 7-9), and one high school (grades 10-12),” Miltun said. In her third year in the district, Miltun brought the orchestra program to MIHS. “The music supervisor and I brought in four orchestra directors, and we just brought together whoever we could get together, and I played, and we got some [students] to play together. We did four concerts in that year,” Miltun said. “The next year, we did a thing called the BelMercer Orchestra, which was Mercer Island and Bellevue together…we were a pretty big group. So we did a lot of things together for several years.” Over the past four decades, the orchestra has
Miltun receives an ovation during the MIHS Spring Concert 2022.
changed and grown tremendously. “In the early 1980s, I taught three classes in the entire school district, and we now have eight orchestra classes. Across the years, we’ve made a lot of moves,” Miltun said. “One of the changes was freshman orchestra. Then, we had a huge signup from sophomores, juniors, and seniors. 21 of those were cello players. I told the principal ‘we don’t own 21 full size cellos’… so we had to split the class.” Miltun notices that her teaching style has also evolved over time. “I think that now, I’m probably more student-centered than I was before,” Miltun said. “[My philosophy was] always ‘teach students through music,’ rather than just teach music.” Since Miltun has taught the entire MISD Orchestra from grades 5-12, she has the unique experience of teaching the same kids throughout their school career. “It’s a constantly changing relationship,” Miltun said. “In the 5th grade, you have to sort of mother students. In middle school, it’s kind of a different relationship. You move on, once you get to be a senior, then I [ask students] to call Miltun conducts the orchestra in her final concert at MIHS.
Photos Courtesy Bao-Tran Nguyen
me Vicki.” After retiring, Miltun has unique goals. “I plan to write a couple books. One is How to Teach Your High School Orchestra…I’m also going to write a murder mystery,” Miltun said. Miltun will miss teaching orchestra in the MISD. “I get to teach really great kids. Everyday my students walk out and say ‘Thank you Ms. Miltun,’ and for me there’s no greater honor…It’s been a great honor of my life to teach here,” Miltun said.
“I get to teach really great kids. Everyday, my students walk out and say ‘Thank you Ms. Miltun,’ and for me there’s no greater honor…It’s been a great honor of my life to teach here.”
8 Opinions
How to Survive Block: The Top Three
THE MIHS ISLANDER JUNE 2022
Emily Fain
Staff Writer
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Hello Islanders, it’s the end of the year. AKA, the end-of-year push, which is a struggle, especially in Block classes. With ESBAC completed, the focus is on Block. We may be slacking off, but the block teachers, specifically Curtis Johnston and David Willecke are not. The mockumentary, on top of other projects, annotation guides, book readings, discussions and presentations are a lot to handle. Although there has been a lot this year, I have taken notes. I know how Block works. Trying to survive Willecke’s rigorous workload and Johnston’s fast pace book readings, I get it. I am with all of you blockies. Thank me later. This is is how you will survive Block:
Throughout the year, you will learn to love caffeine; it is a savior. Caffeine was not in the picture before this year, but five hours of sleep will not keep you awake through Johnston’s lectures. Whether it be first and second periods, where Blockies are still asleep or six and seventh periods where Blockies’ brains are turned off. It is hard to stay awake. So, here, drink a Celsius. Celsius’ worked well until I found out they were bad for the heart. This is when it was time to move into the Monster realm. Johnston, as a Monster lover himself, walks into class everyday with one glued to his hand. If you simply place a pink guava Monster can right on the top of your desk, that is an instant plus five participation points. In my opinion Yerba Mate’s are at the top of the energy-drink-ladder. They are simply delectable. Anyway, any energy drink will be necessary to survive Block. Drink it in class. It will keep you awake.
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Listen. I would not recommend something that would sabotage you. Sparknotes becomes your best friend in Block. There are nights when 30 pages of readings just does not fly. Sparknotes is there for you. The short, but perfectly detailed summary is a lifesaver so you can get those participation points and ace the pop quizzes. Yes, Jillecke gives pop quizzes. After all, most of the readings are actually pretty interesting. At times, they can be confusing. No matter how many brains remain in your head - some may be lost due to the chemicals in Monster’s but that is a sacrifice worth making - I’m sure without anyone else explaining it, you will not have the components Sparknotes provides. No offense. Additionally, Sparknotes has extremely valuable points that can be contributed to discussions. Even Johnston recommends looking at the Sparknotes to comprehend the text. If you have time, do the reading. TikTok will be there when you are done reading. Just hold off and do yourself a favor.
Photo Courtesy V
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Printers A printer is necessary to survive Block. It is simple. There is no technology allowed in class, unless you are doing research. Therefore. Every. Single. Assignment. Specifically on the history side, is on paper. Invest in a printer. This class has given me the opportunity to inhanse my appreciation for the use of notability in other classes; instead of paper. Paper sucks. Yeah, it is not sustainable. In fact, the amount of printing preformed is awful, specifically for the environment. But, it is either “save the trees” or an A. That is left for you to decide. Let’s be honest, the school printer rarely works and it’s time to invest in your own. Print, annotate and participate. It is that simple and guarantees success.
THE MIHS ISLANDER JUNE 2022
Opinions 9
The 2022 NBA Playoffs Predictions Wyatt Acker
Staff Writer
It’s that time of year again, the playoffs have arrived, it’s time for overpaid underworked athletes to go and try for the first time all year after lazing around and faking injuries for 5 months. This is a genuine prediction and in depth look at what should happy in the playoffs as well as what some other MIHS students think. And as a disclaimer for anyone the playoffs are held in a 7 game series and the phrase “in” refers to what game the series has been won. For example if Atlanta wins “in 4” then they have won the series in the 4th game. Of course though that is a joke because let’s be honest, the one good thing to come from Atlanta is the zoo. First up in the west is Phoenix vs New Orleans, of course this series should go by quickly assuming the suns don’t choke under the pressure, but Phoenix choking under the pressure? We haven’t seen that before have we? There is certainly room for an upset but this series should go to Phoenix, prediction Suns in 6. Next is Dallas vs Utah, assuming Luka Doncic is ok this series should go by quickly however the Jazz could pull out something special with two all star players with Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert. Prediction: Dallas in 6. Next we travel to San Francisco where Steph Curry and Klay Thompson face hopeful MVP Nikola Jokic and Denver. There isn’t really much to say, Curry’s veteran team should have a very easy time against a one man army in Denver. Prediction Warriors in 4. Next to the north where Minnesota takes on Memphis, all in all this is going to be an incredible series, both teams have deep, young rosters with lots of star power. The series could go any way depending on the play of the young ringleader of the Grizzlies Ja Morant but if Minnesota can find a way to stop the dual threat scoring of Morant then they too could win. Prediction: Memphis in 7. Now on to the East where only the Celtics and Bucks are really worth s damn First and foremost is Boston vs Brooklyn, this game should hopefully be close especially with both teams very impressive backcourt
guards. The scoring should be high and close but the Nets have an ace in the hole with everyone’s least favorite athlete crybaby Ben Simmons to tip the scales. Prediction C’s 6. Now to Chicago where the Bulls take on the reigning champions the Bucks. One man should be enough to take out Chicago and his name is Giannis, the Bulls simply don’t have the size to compete with him. Prediction: Bucks in 5. Now to Philly where the star powered 6’ers take on Toronto. The raptors are a young roster and therefore can’t compete with the all star full Philadelphia team. Prediction: Philly in 5. Last and most certainly least Miami takes on Atlanta, let’s be honest Atlanta stands no chance. Miami in 4. Now for the quarterfinal round commencing over
May 1st- May 18th. The first game will be Dallas vs Phoenix, this game should be very fun to watch with two of the best young players in Doncic and Booker who should see a huge amount of work. Of course Dallas’s unrivaled bench talent should propel them forward into what should be a great series. Prediction: Dallas in 7. Next we have Memphis vs Golden state, Memphis is the youngest team in the playoffs with the average age of 22.5 years and that is where they should fall short. Golden state has a significant amount of playoff experience as opposed to the rest of the teams in the competition and therefore they should have a pretty easy time with Memphis. Prediction: S.F in 6. Now to the East where Miami and Philly will duke it out. Miami has a very balanced roster and should be able to do the little things well however Philadelphia’s starting roster is stacked with talent and second only
to the Warriors for teams in the playoffs. Experience wins championships and Harden and Embiid should be able to surge past Miami. Prediction: Philly in 7. The last matchup for the east sees Milwaukee and Boston facing off. Let’s be honest, Milwaukee should win this with ease assuming the roster stays healthy. Prediction: Milwaukee in 6. Now the conference finals, where Superstars choke and NBA script writers have a field day. The first matchup is Dallas vs Golden State, in the season series Dallas won 2-1 however it should be different in the playoffs. Curry and Klay’s dynamic shooting from the back court with young shooting guard Jordan Poole coming into his own should be far too much for Dallas to handle. Therefore: Golden State in 6. Now on the other side of the country is Milwaukee vs Philly, what I truly believe is a battle of giants between MVP candidates Giannis Antetekoumpo and Joel Embiid. In what hopefully will be a 7 game series, the real deciding factor will be the bench players. Both teams are stacked with star power but when those players are off the court who will take over? To put it simply, the bucks. Their bench is one of the if not the most well founded bench and with the playoff experience they have it should be a huge factor in these final games. Prediction: Bucks in 6. And for the game everyone cares about, the finals. The Golden State Warriors versus the Milwaukee Bucks. On the biggest stage two powerhouses will duke it out but the winner should be clear beforehand. Of course the game could go either way and assuming the trajectory the teams are currently at… Milwaukee should take the NBA title. It’s simple really, the Warriors can’t compete with the size of the Bucks, of course the argument can be made that the Warriors can stay out of the paint and shoot from deep however with how excellent Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton’s perimeter defense is, I thinks it is safe to say Milwaukee will win. And with that said, that concludes where I think the playoffs are going to end up. (Photo Courtesy of Jalani Edwards)
10 Opinions
THE MIHS ISLANDER JUNE 2022
Cleveland Makes Fatal Mistake in Signing Deshaun Watson Tiffany Zhang
shipped off multiple first round draft picks to Houston in exchange for Watson while also breaking league records and offering him a contract with $230 million Though NFL quarterback Deshaun Watson is guaranteed— the highest guaranteed money given to now signed to the Cleveland Browns after a year of any NFL player, according to ESPN. not receiving NFL snaps, Watson and the criminal In addition, the structure of the contract Watson was allegations in his wake as well as the controversy given raised eyebrows when looking at the details. of his signing brings shame with him to the Browns The contract the Browns offered to Watson has a base organization. salary of one million dollars— essentially meaning In the 2021 season, where arguments with the that if Watson does ultimately get cut or suspended Texans’ front office and allegations kept Watson off by the NFL because of the allegations against him, the the field, 22 lawsuits were filed against the quarterback financial penalty for the Browns will remain low. claiming sexual assault and misconduct (with an However the civil cases against additional lawsuit being filed in Watson may play out, Watson for the past week). now will continue to play in the After being drafted 12th NFL. If the Browns have an above overall out of Clemson, Watson average 2022 season, the general had a tremendous rookie public will likely brush off the season, throwing for 1,699 allegations made against Watson passing yards, 19 touchdowns and credit him as a major reason and eight interceptions while for the Browns’ success. also rushing for 269 yards and Though the NFL and its two touchdowns. Additionally, viewership has a history of Watson accomplished this in brushing off criminal offenses just seven games (six of which committed by players, cases he started). Many believed like Watson’s highlight the Watson was on track to have NFL’s continuous choice in the best rookie season of any prioritizing talent on the field over quarterback in NFL history, questionable character. before a torn ACL ended his The NFL is certainly no stranger campaign. to bringing back players following Watson recovered well from controversy or suspension. his injury and continued to Tim Benz, a sports columnist impress league officials in the for the Tribune-Review, told CNN following years, making it to Sports, “As far as actions off the three Pro-Bowls and setting field and what priorities are, I think numerous league records. Many Watson leaving a Houston courtroom on March 11, 2022, after failing to be indited by a grand jury. Photo that line was drawn a long time ranked Watson among the top Courtesy The Houston Chronicle. ago with any number of people you ten of NFL quarterbacks. In fact, Pro Football Network put Watson at number four of In the year that followed, countless other sexual could point to that were brought back to help teams their 2020 QB Power Rankings. assult allegations from several different massage win games after various levels of transgression.” Watson should never have been given the opportunity However, in the 2020 off-season, news broke that therapists came to light, with the total reaching 22 at to play for another NFL team— at least not the way Houston’s fairytale was over with Watson requesting the time of Watson’s grand jury verdict. a trade from the Texans. This followed controversy The allegations vary in detail but the core of each things stand as of wwnow. Despite being cleared of his related to the hiring of new general manager Nick of the testimonies remains the same: the massage criminal charges, Watson still faces civil cases and as Caserio. therapists were hired by Watson indivudually and recently as last month was forced to return to Houston Watson had been clear that he wanted more voice during their sessions, Watson engaged in “various for a deposition. Watson’s journey to clearing his and say in who the Texans’ front office hired as the forms of sexual misconduct from groping, fondling to name is long from over, yet many are acting as if his next general manager, yet Texans CEO Cal McNair other [forms] of unwanted sexual contact,” according grand jury verdict is the hard proof of his innocence. In truth, it’s likely no one but the 23 women and and Executive Vice President of Football Operations to Lindsay Jones of The Athletic. Watson will truly know what happened in those Jack Easterby excluded Watson in the search for a Though a grand jury failed to indict him, it is new general manager. It came to light that McNair and important to note that Watson is still under investigation massage rooms. Despite this, 23 accusations against one person is enough to raise sharp character concerns Easterby not only failed to communicate with Watson by the NFL and is at risk for suspension. during the hire but also did not discuss it with him at Despite still having these allegations circling him as if nothing else, and Cleveland should have acted all prior to hiring Caserio. well as the NFL’s ongoing investigation, the Browns differently when confronted with this information.
Staff Writer
For Watson, who had wanted more involvement in team decision making, this was an act of betrayal. Many fans sympathized with Watson’s thoughts, as the organization had failed, time and time again, to make successful choices and decisions to guarantee the future success of the franchise. Despite knowing Watson was unhappy in Houston, the Texans still refused to consider trade offers. However, Watson’s trade market dramatically shifted on March 16, when Houston attorney Tony Buzbee announced that a civil lawsuit would be filed against Watson.
Opinions 11
THE MIHS ISLANDER JUNE 2022
Options Other Than The Ivy League Gracie Hennessy
Staff Writer
We Regret To Inform You... that constant pressure and judgment surrounding college decisions at MIHS causes students to spiral through an already stressful process. The comparisons of peers, a sense of disappointment, and betrayal after understanding the amount of luck involved in the process makes applying to college harder than it needs to be. The average GPA in the US is 3.0 and according to US News and World Report, MIHS ranks in the top 400 Public High Schools in the country with an average GPA of around 3.8 and 64 percent of students taking Advanced Placement exams. MIHS has a rigorous curriculum and high expectations: expectations that manifest themselves into the college process. Despite these rankings, every year the Wall of Rejection’s green construction paper is covered with letters ‘regretting to inform’ applicants of rejection to their dream Ivy League level programs: Columbia, Yale, Northwestern, MIT, Stanford, Harvard, the list goes on. With an average acceptance rate of 7.1 percent, hardworking and qualified MIHS students have a hard and bitter bite to swallow: barely anyone can get into an Ivy. The worst part of the Wall of Rejection is how the applicants’ names posted aren’t statistics on college vine or google, they’re peers. Peers and friends who have worked
Sophie Prock, a junior starting her applications, said, “it only adds to students’ anxiety. My peers and I stress to a point where it harms our health about the college application process. The Wall of Rejection just shows us the worst case scenario, and shows students the hardest part about applying to colleges.” Posting rejections heightens stress for underclassmen who are starting their college application journey and only adds to the high expectations within MIHS. “This culture, where there’s a lot of implied expectations with things like the class page and things like that, as well as an island where there are a lot of parents who went to top universities, you feel towards, at the very least, applying to them” graduated senior Alden Hey said. “It creates a very high pressure environment.” In the book Who Gets In and Why: A Year Inside College Admissions by Jeffrey Selingo, he mentions how “despite admissions at top 20 schools have increasingly become m o r e
competitive and a culture of spending mass amount of money on extra curriculars, test prep, and college counselors has increased, it actually has never been easier to get into college.” The low acceptance rates of schools
deemed appropriate by MIHS and Mercer Island families are relatively rare within the US. As of 2020, “the average four year college in the US accepts 60 percent of their applicants. Only 46 out of neary 1400 colleges accept fewer than 20 percent of applicants” Selingo said. Though it has only become easier to receive an acceptance letter in the mail, the prestige of these top 20 colleges has only risen. However, attending highly prestigious universities is not the path for everyone: MIHS and the overall Mercer Island culture pressures students into thinking it is. “I was on a very fast academic path. I was
very accelerated in math and everyone expected me to go to a top school. I kind of wanted to slow that down and explore what my interests were” Anantika Mannby, a graduated senior taking a gap year, said. “High school [at MIHS] isn’t a period of exploration, it’s a period of preparation for college.” The connections that are possible
from conversations in mahogany furniture decorating Ivy League clubs are extremely beneficial and the education is top tier. However, the high rankings and low acceptance rates of these institutions don’t make highly-capable kids attending other universities or going on other life paths any less successful. Stigma surrounding the college process at MIHS has many effects on students; kids mainly focus on the prestige of a school and aren’t pushed to research which one would truly suit them; students are shamed for the acceptance rates of their colleges; many families sacrifice paying the extremely expensive tuition. Students accepted into Ivy League level instituions are undeniably talented and worked hard to achieve that acceptance. However, more college fairs and time to research colleges in school, stopping ‘traditions’ like the Wall of Rejection, and the overall respect of students’ decisions with their post high school plans no matter their reasoning would lessen this pressure for every MIHS student.
12 A&E
THE MIHS ISLANDER JUNE 2022
Under the Banner: Mormon Ideology Jackson Chang Staff Writer
First released almost two months ago, the FX original series “Under the Banner of Heaven” released its last episode on June 2. Having an air time of only seven episodes, this short series conveys the topic of the Latter Day Saints (or the Mormon Church) history. The story follows detective Jeb Pyre (Andrew Garfield) a devout Mormon and his assistant Detective Bill Taba (Gil Birmingham) as they explore the history of the Lafferty family through the murder case of Brenda Lafferty (Daisy Edgar-Jones). In some aspects, religion can be a force to bring people together. On the other hand, there’s a slippery slope that can tear entire communities, traditions, and values apart; prominent in the Mormon church and their traditionalist ideals. Though it may be a glorified version of the Lafferty family story, many individuals can relate to similar experiences involving religious ideals. Inspired by Jon Krauker’s novel “Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith”, both the series and the book keep accurate to the historical moments of the Mormon’s religious growth. Each covers important moments of the Lafferty family’s history, whether that would be through words or actions. Individually, they both share different aspects of Lafferty family’s history, whether that would be through words or actions. Individually, they both share different aspects of Mormon history. While the book goes into more profound historical moments, the TV series focuses on one family and
Photo Courtesy FXnetworks
their story of religious murder. Being a series with many points of view, “Under the Banner of Heaven” adds an outsides view on the mormon church shown through Jeb Pyre’s detective partner Bill Taba. Not only does this add an outside view but it also adds the Native American view on what the mormons have done with the Natives in the 1900s. The series adds many flashbacks and storytelling aspects of Mormon history and the Lafferty family. Along with a fitting soundtrack, the show does a great job of conveying the overall message of Mormonism and its religious influence within its community. Circling the central idea of struggling faith, “Under the Banner” does a great job of depicting it from many angles. In many instance there is Jeb Pyre’s struggle during his investigation differing from Ron Lafferty’s (Sam Worthington) struggle with religious enlightenment and Dan Lafferty’s (Wyatt Russell) religious approval from his dad and his brothers. This series is great for avid thriller lovers, with an incorporated aspect of religion added to the murder. The eerie soundtrack perfectly fits many high-stress scenes. Along with its relation to many different aspects of religious abuse, many, in those circumstances can see their own story. The last episode left me with a feeling of content sadness. Ending off with everyone moving on from the murder and gathering their life back together it was a great feel good ending.
Lafferty family gathering
A&E 13
THE MIHS ISLANDER JUNE 2022
A Review on the Cast of Netflix’s “Selling Sunset” O h man. When the show first aired, she seemed a bit cuckoo, especially her outfits, but she seemed fine if not a bit attention-seeking. But as the show progressed, the fact that she always plays the victim in any scenario and blames others for her mistakes turned me into an instant Christine hater.
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T h e a biggest thing about Amanza for me is that she always forms her own opinions on people. She is always there when someone needs a favor and while her tough exterior might take a while to fully break through, when its broken you see a whole new side to Amanza thats funny and nice and always there.
Honestly, not a lot to say about Vanessa. She’s pretty much a background character. She seems nice and quiet which is a change from the other women and doesn’t seem to take sides with any drama which is refreshing but when watching reality TV, who wants to watch someone with no drama?
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Although her constant talk about her empanadas gets a little old, in general Emma seems like a good person. She is nice and open to everyone, and no one except for Christine seems to have a problem with her. She also isn’t afraid to call people out on their nonsense, which is always a bonus.
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I love Heather. When I first started watching the show I was hesitant about her, but she is always bright and bubbly and deals with Christine more maturely compared to others, although her laugh does bother me. Also, the fact that she loves love is so lovely. Overall, Heather is one of the best people on the show.
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Here it is, what you’ve been waiting for, a review on the cast of Netflix’s “Selling Sunset”. To give a little background, Selling Sunset is a reality TV series that just released its fifth season and centers on the Oppenheim Group. The “O” Group, is a high-end real estate brokerage in Los Angeles, and revolves around the personal and professional lives of the agents working in the brokerage. Starting in the high lefthand corner and making its way around to the high right-hand corner, I have ranked the agents from best to worst based on my personal preferences.
is the no-dramamama. She stays out of the drama and gets ahead of everyone while they are fighting, which seems to be a good stratagy. The biggest question at the moment is whether or not she is leaving the brokerage to go to Miami to be with her family? Especially with so many kids…
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First impressions? She seems truthful. However, I hate that she has decided to side with Christine. She always talks about how she can form her own opinions and doesn’t need Christine, but time and time again she does what Christine does when Christine says to do it.
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I f Davina were an animal, she would be a snake. She always wants to be friends with the ‘coolest’ people in the room, but will instantly jump ship when something bad happens. Along with this, she bullied Chrishell with Christine at the beginning of season one about Mary’s engagement with in Romaine.
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love Chrishell. She does her work, she’s nice, and, on top of that, the fact that Christine hates her makes me love her even more. Chrishell also always seems genuine, and even though it took her a little while, she now isn’t afraid to stand up to Christine and call her out on her nonsense.
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Mary Photo Courtesy Netflix is a great boss and the way she has consistently handled Christine’s nonsense is very professional and to the point. On top of that, Mary is the designated group mediator and never cares about what negative things people say about her because all she’s a fun time. All in all, Mary is a favorite.
14 A&E
THE MIHS ISLANDER JUNE 2022
Your Best Choice at the Concessions Stand With all the movies coming out recently, I have taken it upon myself to rank popular candies that are often found at the theater, based on recommendations from fellow classmates. The candies are judged on a scale of one to ten, judging the taste and enjoyability of the candies chosen.
Betty Butler
Staff Writer
Nerds
Junior Mints
I have never really had Nerds before, they’ve just never been something that I reach for when choosing candy. The first handful surprised me by how sweet and sugary they are, but as I had more I got used to the sweetness and warmed up to them. Nerds are good, but I feel like I have to balance out how much so the sugar doesn’t overpower me, 7/10.
If I’m being completely honest, I was surprised anyone actually recommended these. Junior Mints are so powerfully sweet that I could only have a few before my teeth began to ache. When I pick out candy from the theater, I want to be able to almost finish the whole box, and I could barely have 6 of these. Do better, 6/10.
Junior Mints
Skittles
I have always been kind of mixed on Starbursts because on one hand, the pink and red ones are great, but the other flavors just taste like sugar to me. They are over-packaged, so you have to do lots of unwrapping but then are just left with a pile of trash. Since Starburst fall all over the board for me, they are just 6.5/10.
There’s so many other options than Skittles. They’re not a crime, but when you go to pick out candy how often do you actually reach for Skittles? However, they are very manageable. Skittles don’t really melt, and aren’t disrupting anyone with excessive packaging, 6.5/10.
M&M’s
Reese’s Pieces
M&M’S are arguably one of the most popular candies ever, and in my opinion that is justified. These are definitely not the best of all time, but they are always good and are very functional for a movie theater setting. They barely melt, aren’t too loud or messy and come in perfect bite-sized pieces. So, depending on whether or not you like chocolate these are a very solid 9/10.
With the bitter aftertaste of Skittles in my mouth, I found myself practically salivating over these. I cannot remember these being this good, but they are virtually perfect in flavor to me . Reese’s pieces are basically the same as M&M’s in terms of size and shape, and likewise don’t really melt, 10/10.
Haribo Goldbears
These are a classic, but yet still taste good every time. Certain flavors are a little bland but overall these are a very good, standard candy. But, the issue that I have with these is they are barely functional for a movie theater because their wrapper is too loud and crinkles with every slight movement. So even though I personally enjoy these, for a movie theater they are annoying so overall they are a 7/10.
KitKat
Photos by Betty Butler
KitKats has always been one of my favorites. The wafers create some variety in the taste–it’s not just a simple, boring chocolate bar. However, KitKats melt very easily, so sometimes you wind up melted chocolate on your fingers. But, these “struggles” are definitely manageable and honestly if getting chocolate on your fingers is the reason you avoid eating candy, I think there are bigger issues for you to worry about, 8/10.