North Pointe Vol. 49, Issue 6 - Dec. 16, 2016

NEWS PAGE 2 Faculty meets for Professional Devolopment Day on Wednesday, Nov. 7.

ALL PHOTOS BY HANNAH SPINDLER

change FACE

GROSSE POINTE NORTH HIGH SCHOOL

FRIDAY, DEC. 16, 2016

SI NC E 1968

A

in

By Alex Harring, Josie Bennett, Abbey Cadieux & Anna Post EDITORS

real world with Down Syndrome.

“We have a long way to go, and you know the biggest obstacle is coming up with creative ways to change the While shopping for clothes for her daughter, perspective of how people Jennifer Munson, chair of the Grosse Pointe view disability,” Driscoll said.

Public Schools Parent Advisory Committee on “Right now, when people look Inclusion, realized that none of the models looked at the disability community like her daughter, who has Down Syndrome. and don’t have any exposure to “I began poking around to see if there was anyone in the community, a lot of someone who was an advocate for students, times the first thing they think of well, children with any impairments, physical or is pity. And because of that, it really otherwise, to try and get them in the public eye,” limits the (disabled) community Munson said. “The millennial market is growing, and a great deal. They’re not being they’re telling advertisers that they want to see more looked at as being human, and authentic advertising, more inclusive advertising, that’s a problem.” advertising that includes According to the models and actors that look CTFOB website, only 17 like the people that are in the percent of disabled people real world. It’s an auspicious are employed. time to push for this.”

The movement is This led her to Katie trying to change this Driscoll, president and founder through two different of Changing the Face of Beauty, mediums: employing an organization that advocates people with disabilities in inclusion of people with the advertising industry disabilities in the advertising Jennifer Munson and increasing awareness market as well as in communities PARENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE about what having a and schools. With the help of ON INCLUSION CHAIR disability really means.

Munson and Driscoll, GPPSS is Munson’s daughter in the process of partnering with CTFOB. is currently in kindergarten. She said she hopes the “I feel like that's a good thing because they buy the partnership between GPPSS and CTFOB will promote clothes, too, and they shop there, so seeing themselves inclusion throughout the community at large. on the ads would makes them feel more normal and “They can work in the workforce, and they deserve like they belong,” sophomore Helen Michaelson to have higher expectations of them—higher than just said. Michaelson is member of Kids Need life goals. And the way we do that is by advocating Opportunities to Socialize. for their right to be seen and their right to be heard,” When Driscoll started the project three years ago, Munson said. “People with disabilities have a she wanted to see the disabled community represented role within our community. They don't need to be in every aspect of life. She saw marketing and working in special workshops after they graduate advertising as a first step in spreading awareness and from high school.” increasing interaction.

In Grosse Pointe, inclusion can be a controversial Driscoll understands the lack of exposure non- topic. While Munson sees positive changes being made, disabled people face on a personal level. Like her roles as both a mother and an advisory committee Munson, she has a daughter with Down Syndrome. member have shown her the fight doesn’t start and end When she heard her daughter’s diagnosis, the only with pre-school programs. familiarity she had with the disorder was from a She understands it can be hard for people to see “Glee” character—she didn’t know anyone in the students with disabilities as equals. Munson said general

“

People with disabilities have a role within our community.

Grosse Pointe Public Schools to partner with Changing the Face of Beauty, promote inclusion in education, advertising

and special education students interacting throughout their educational careers is beneficial for all. But, she said she notes a lack of resources in the district to incorporate them into mainstream education.

“It’s been very antiquated for some time. There are still some aspects of special education in Grosse Pointe that need to be brought into the 21st century, but its been progressing,” she said. “We had an amazing first few months of school, and I think that’s in large part due to a new emphasis on inclusion.”

Munson said exclusion is a problem that doesn't have a creator.

Some people, i n clud i ng teachers, are against it.

But, she do e sn' t blame them for thinking her daughter and other disabled children don’t belong in their classrooms.

She credits the lack of acceptance to a lack of understanding.

She knows from research and experience that inclusion takes time. That is why she supports the partnership between CTFOB and GPPSS. She also notes that students with disabilities are usually at one of a few schools in the district, rather than going to the school assigned to the student’s neighbors. Munson said this is a problem because it doesn't promote inclusion and impedes other schools from obtaining the resources to educate both general and special education students in one building.

The Parent Advisory Committee on Inclusion will continue working with the Board of Education and Superintendent Gary Niehaus, whom Munson said has been helpful and encouraging.

Meanwhile, Driscoll will continue to collaborate with businesses such as Nordstrom to promote inclusion of people with disabilities in advertising. CTFOB has recently hosted headshot clinics so people with disabilities can get photos to send to talent agencies.

The official partnership between GPPSS and CTFOB is in the works, Munson said. She is hopeful that it will help expose general education students who may not interact with special education students on a normal basis as well as expand inclusion in the district.

“Changing the Face of Beauty is bringing the acceptance and inclusion of the people who are different. We will include them, like my child and other people with disabilities, in our country and elsewhere,” Munson said. “Inclusivity in society can be increased not just by physically including students with disabilities in educational settings, but representing them in the media at a normal percentage ... and the more we reflect that diversity, and the beauty of it back to our communities, the easier it is to push for inclusion in education. They help each other.”

PHOTO FROM CHANGING THE FACE OF BEAUTY

Contributing: Elizabeth Ballinger, Zoe Graves, Sofia Ketels, Lyndsay Kluge, Jacqueline Squillace

“

Election season, aftermath spurs rise in 'fake' news readership

By Ritika Sanikommu, Katelynn Mulder & Amber Braker EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, EDITOR & STAFF REPORTER

“FBI Agent Suspected in Hillary Email Leaks Found Dead in Apparent Murder-Suicide.”

“Wikileaks CONFIRMS Hillary Sold Weapons to ISIS... Then Drops Another BOMBSHELL! Breaking News.”

“BREAKING: PROOF SURFACES THAT OBAMA WAS BORN IN KENYA - TRUMP WAS RIGHT ALL ALONG...”

These are just a few examples of headlines from fake news stories that have become more prominent on social media websites and even in major news outlets in recent months.

Any story that purposefully spreads propaganda, hoaxes and misinformation is fake news. Commonly used sites, including Facebook, have displayed false information by bloggers and other opinion writers who publish their stories as “news” for the clicks and shares.

People have begun to rely on the internet for their news because of its convenience. It’s much easier to read an article online than to sit down

and watch the news on TV every night or read an entire newspaper. And since people already spend about 20 percent of their time online on social media, according to Business Insider, it makes sense that they should be able to find their news there as well.

Nearly 40 percent of all adults acquire their news online, according to Pew Research Center.

The virtual world plays a major role in people’s lives and as a result, fake news spreads rapidly.

Senior Elizabeth Lemanske finds most of her news on Twitter and Facebook. She prefers it for the convenience and cross references her news with reliable primary sources.

“Not everything on the internet is 100 percent accurate, so using it for knowledge on certain things can always be risky because you can be getting false information without even realizing it,” Lemanske said. “You can almost always tell what news is fake or not depending on the supporting evidence that is provided.”

The issue of fake news headlines has become so severe that it fools American adults 75 percent of the time, according to a survey that Ipsos conducted for Buzzfeed News, published

FA K WWW.AMERICANFREEPRESS.NET

Tuesday, Dec. 6.

Junior Sophie Kehrig said that fake news is a problem and that those who read online articles need to be conscious of where they get their information.

“I think fake news is really dangerous because obviously, that’s how people inform their decisions politically,” Kehrig said.

IDEAS - PAGE 9

SPORTS - PAGE 12

Tradition has always been in the hoilday equation, but it doesn’t matter what you do, as long as you are with people who love you.

Sophomore Julia McLellan plays for North's boys hockey team to pursue her dream of playing professionally.

“When you read that stuff and don't fact check or don't look at the source, and you talk to other people about it, you're just perpetuating lies, and I feel like that's never a good way to be part of the government.”

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

LIFE - PAGE 5 “It kind of broadened my view of the world. It made me more accepting of other cultures.”

COURTESY OF JULIA MCLELLAN

@thenorthpointe www.northpointenow.org

VOLUME 49 | ISSUE 6

News.......... 2 Calendar... 3

E

On Campus... 4 Life.................... 5-6

On Pointe... 7 Reviews.... 8

Editorial..... 9 In-Depth.... 10

Sports...11-12

NEWS

2 – Friday, Dec. 16, 2016 – North Pointe

Fake news CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 A Buzzfeed investigation published Wednesday, Nov. 16 found that the top 20 fake election stories earned over eight million shares and comments, while the legitimate stories received only a little over seven million.

Social studies teacher Dan Gilleran said that fake news has become a danger to society, and although it should be a priority to fact check their sources, most people don’t.

“It takes time and effort, and the vast majority of people are just too busy. They don't have the time and effort to do it, which is sad because they end up repeating and saying things that are untrue, when clearly they are not, and that is dangerous,” Gilleran said. “It plays into people's preconceived notions, and it just reinforces ideas that many times they want to believe.”

Gilleran said that people inadvertently flock towards fake news

because of an innate nature to seek out information to reaffirm one’s own beliefs.

“I think (the stories) confirm what people want to believe, is what they do. I don't think if somebody is searching out a story, and when they seesomething, they may look at it because it seems suspicious,” Gilleran said. “But if you are not skeptical going in as a news consumer, you can easily fall for that, and that's a real issue."

Recently Melissa Zimdars, an assistant media and communications professor at Merrimack College, created a list of fake news outlets for the students in her media class. The list went viral and includes tips on how to spot a fake news site. One tip is that domains that include .wordpress or .com.co are a red flag.

North alumna Emma Puglia works as a copy editor for the “Michigan Daily”, University of Michigan’s student paper. Her job entails fact checking every story that is about to be published.

Puglia said one way she gets her news is by reading stories that she is asked to look over.

“It was really nice how they taught us to just go in and check only the reliable sources and basing it off the ‘New York Times’ and specific educational data bases to make sure that these things

actually exist,” Puglia said. “The amount of fact checking is beneficial to me, and it's also really beneficial to be exposed to the amount of information that I know is reliable.”

The internet’s convenience has helped allow fake news to spread, as many social media users aren’t even reading the articles they share. A study conducted by Columbia University and the French National Institute concluded that nearly 60 percent of all links shared on social media have never been clicked on. With just a catchy and seemingly legitimate headline, anyone can spread a fake story.

Puglia found herself relying too much on social media for news and recently downloaded theSkimm, an app that condenses daily news from reputable sources. This allows for the convenience of the internet with the added advantage of receiving reliable news.

“If I trusted Twitter more with it, then I would definitely rely on it for more news information, but I don't necessarily trust it as much because facts and opinions can get blended so easily.,” she said.

“There's a fine line between the two,”

GPFPE awards grants to North, other schools

By Mora Downs EDITOR

On Nov. 28, the Grosse Pointe Foundation for Public Education presented the School Board with over $84,000 in grants for the district. Of that, $9,900 went to North.

One of the groups that received a grant is Gearheads, the combined North-South robotics team. Senior Ben Sosnowski leads the business section of the robotics team along with Ponette Rubio, a junior at South.

“Many of our mentors help with purchasing less costly materials such as the mill bits we use to machine parts for the robot. Grants are a huge help in tackling required funds, but they alone are not enough,” Sosnowksi said via email. “Our team is constantly on the lookout for donors, both companies and individuals.

The team also has multiple fundraisers, including cooperation with restaurants and collecting returnables.”

Sosnowski said the robotics team requires a lot of money to conduct their season. The $2,000 grant will help the team pay for their essentials for the year.

“The district covers $2,000 out of our $33,000 costs but most of the fundamental support we get from the school comes in the form of the district allowing us to use the school after hours in order for the team to meet and build a robot under the school insurance,” Rubio said via email.

Gearheads must allocate their money to different expenses such as competitions, a registration fee and the robot itself.

Rubio was thrilled after receiving the grant.

“It means that the robotics team, Gearheads, will be able to move forward and have a successful season because we will have the resources to do so,” Rubio said. “Any Gearhead will tell you how much it matters that the team will be able to compete and get the most out of the experience. The grant is a step toward

making this vision a reality this season.”

While Sosnowski believes this grant was beneficial to the team, he does not think that the money will automatically make this season superior to previous ones.

“It all depends on the individuals on the team,” Sosnowski said. “Each year when members graduate and leave, younger members of the team are required to step up and accept more responsibility to maintain a (well-

functioning) team. So each year the team has a different potential.”

Students were not the only ones to receive grants. The learning spaces Professional Learning Community composed of North staff accepted $4,400 for the model classroom.

This money will be used to purchase Chromebooks for the room.

“We didn’t receive the whole amount we asked for from the Foundation because we wanted

request on behalf of the department.

She sees a plethora of uses for the Chromebooks in the counseling center.

“When we have a student-parent meeting, we always get up and give the students our computers so they can go onto Naviance and try applying and see what they application process looks like. And we said, ‘wouldn’t it be nice if parents and students could sit together on their own computer and do the same thing?’

And then we could be on our computer talking them through it and they could be doing things on the computer, and that led us to other ideas about what we could use the Chromebooks for,” Skelly said. “Sometimes kids need some help with homework, or they sit here and do some homework. Maybe they’re looking up colleges and they can sit on their own computer and we can talk through what they’re doing. So we can see a use for it for every grade level.”

Skelly also said that using the Chromebooks in the counseling office will foster independence in students. They will be able to figure out how to do things like research colleges by themselves.

“They can sit right here with me, and I think getting students to use the Chromebooks and learning the skills to seek the information out is very helpful, so I’m here to guide them through it, and they’re doing the research, which I think is a skill that we want kids to have,” Skelly said.

All of these groups submitted their proposals by the Tuesday, Nov. 1 deadline.

ALEX HARRING The Foundation has a Wednesday, March 1 maximize their impact on learning spaces in deadline for grants as well. To learn more the school.

“We are really invested in the research about the grants and learning that went into building the and GPFPE, use the model classroom,” she said. “It’s exciting barcode one the right that the community is also supportive of the to go to their site. space and the ideas behind it.”

The counseling center also applied for a grant in order to purchase chromebooks.

Counselor Barbara Skelly wrote the grant an entire set of chromebooks, but we are really excited about the 15 we are going to get,” math teacher Catherine Vernier said via email. “The model classroom is really set-up for learning through collaboration, so 15 computers will be perfect for group work.”

Other donations for the model classroom have come from Parent’s Club and Student Association.

As their research continues, Vernier said the group will apply for more grants so they can

Faculty meets for Professional Development Day

By Michal Ruprecht EDITOR

While many students slept in on Wednesday, Dec. 7, teachers, classroom assistants, administrators, secretaries and central office staff came to the Library Media Center at 8 a.m. for Professional Development Day. According to Maureen Bur, the director of secondary instruction, PD gives staff an opportunity to engage in learning that is meaningful and relevant. PD is also used to the reinforce the school culture that administration is trying to emphasize. “(PD) was definitely a success,” Bur said via email. “Staff (members) were actively engaged and reflective on today’s professional learning and how it will positively impact instructional practice in the classroom.”

PDs occur throughout the year for elementary, middle and high schools while district PDs happen in August and November.

North’s most recent PD was Wednesday, Dec. 7 and the next is scheduled for Thursday, April 27. The district-wide event has been around for more than 20 years.

Last year, the district adopted a strategic plan with the message “One GP.” Through this message the school system is able to highlight the idea that at Grosse Pointe Public Schools everyone learns every day. After experiencing PD for the first time, English teacher Emma Huellmantel found she was able to immerse herself in the learning process more than on a regular school day.

“It’s a really nice way for us to connect with each other, to reinforce some of the values we share, to be inspired by each other and then also to talk about and celebrate our kids and the experiences we’re having in the classroom,” Huellmantel said. “We usually come away with some sort of task or challenge to bring back into the classroom after PD, so it’s something that we all leave thinking, ‘alright I have to do this in my practice tomorrow or next week so that my students have a better time learning.’”

Junior Kitty Clark agrees. She sees PD as a benefit not only because of the time off school, but also because of the new skills and ideas teachers bring into their classrooms from it.

“I do think PD is important for the school. I think it illustrates new techniques to the teachers and gives them kind of a better idea of how to run classrooms in different ways for the different students,” she said. “Every student learns in a different way, and I think that (PD) days help find new techniques to kind of work

with the different variations of our student body.”

During the day, participants can choose subject-specific sessions, including Coaching Culture, Culturally Responsive Teaching, Intro to Design Thinking, Authentic Assessment, Unconscious Bias, Creating a Classroom of Engagement and Connecting Classrooms to the World. Last November, the staff was able to pick from 144 sessions. According to Bur, about 95 percent of the sessions were facilitated by Grosse Pointe staff members, while the other five percent were led by people like school quality consultant Jay Marks.

On Wednesday, everything began as it normally would: Principal Kate Murray managed the activities and exercises and talked about the day to come. However, in the afternoon, Murray passed the torch to Marks. In his two-hour long presentation, Marks discussed unconscious bias, microaggressions, classroom culture, race and equality in schools.

“He was really focusing on reminding us to look at our students as individuals and not to make assumptions about them because we know that everyone has some sort of background that leads them to maybe have biased views about people,” Huellmantel said. “It was a reminder for us that we need to make sure that we get to know our students more and that we’re not making those assumptions.

On top of that he was just really fun and so I enjoyed hearing from him and learning from him and being reminded of these concepts that we know as teachers but sometimes we need someone to come in and give us a refresher.”

In addition to Murray’s and Marks’ presentations, Huellmantel learned about the relationship between the brain and challenges through the sessions she took. She said she wants to make sure that her students are challenged because that’s when they’re learning.

Huellmantel plans to implement some of the strategies she learned about in her own classroom. She hopes that she can have a chance to talk with more teachers than she did at this PD during future ones.

“One thing that might be helpful would be to talk to more teachers in PD because we were at a table with three other people and we didn’t have as many opportunities to branch out and talk to a different group of people,” she said. “The overall effect is to reinforce the values that we have at this school, what we do here in this building to inspire each other as teachers, remind each other really why we got into this profession and what matters most in the classroom. But ultimately the effect is to provide better learning experiences for our students.”

DEVELOPING | English teacher Kristen Alles focuses on a task along with her colleagues. “Professional Development enhances professional learning which is directly tied to classroom instruction and student learning,” director of secondary instruction Maureen Bur said. “Our district believes when all staff and students embrace a lifelong-learner mindset, we are able to maximize our potential as a learning community.”

HANNAH SPINDLER

SPEAKER | Jay Marks addresses North faculty. English teacher Emma Huellmantel said she wanted to hear more. “I found him to be really entertaining, he was an awesome speaker, so if he came back, I would be happy to listen to him, even if he did the exact same thing,” Huellmantel said.

NEWS

North Pointe – Friday, Dec. 16, 2016 – 3

North, South combine efforts for holiday String Extravaganza, Band-o-Rama

CALENDAR HOLIDAY CHOIR CONCERT

Friday, Dec. 16 at First English Lutheran Church at 7 p.m.

North and South High School’s band and orchestra programs are helping the Grosse Pointe community get into the holiday swing with their annual Band-o-Rama and Strings Extravaganza concerts.

The events will be held in the gym Tuesday, Dec. 20 at 7:30 pm. Donate $1 or more for admission.

Band-o-Rama will start the show, followed by the Strings Extravaganza.

“We’ll be just about going on Christmas break at that time, so we play a lot of holiday music in this concert,” band director David Cleveland said. “We’re doing a wonderful arrangement of ‘The Polar Express.’ It’s a really good orchestration. It’s really difficult for our top band, but I think they’re talented enough to pull it off very nicely.”

Both groups are expanding their song choices beyond just Christmas music.

“We do a mix of classical repertoire and repertoire built around the holidays and different religions,” strings director Noah Zogas said. “We’ll be doing some Christmas selections, we’ll be doing a Hanukkah selection, we’ll be doing general winter selections, and then we’ll have some classical pieces.”

The orchestra will be performing full orchestra pieces such as the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel’s “Messiah,” and the band will play songs such as “Santa’s Journey” to open up the show. “Santa’s Journey” will feature North alumna Frannie Florence playing the harp.

“I love seeing so many students on one concert from fifth grade to 12th grade,” Cleveland said. “It’s amazing how many students play an instrument in our school system. We’re very fortunate to have a school system that has such a marvelous instrumental music program.”

Junior Caitlin Magnan has been playing the viola since fifth grade and is looking forward to performing in this year’s Strings Extravaganza.

“I’m excited about getting together with South and just getting to play together and to see all the progress we’ve made,” Magnan said.

Junior B.J. Marie Gerengaya has been playing the flute for seven years and loves performing in Band-o-Rama each year.

“You make new memories with new people, and you get to see the same people and directors as you have in past years,” Gerengaya said.

Band-o-Rama includes concert, symphony, jazz and pep bands.

“It goes by very quickly because each group just does one or two pieces, and everyone’s sitting in the middle of the gym, so you’re not waiting for groups to come on stage and leave the stage,” Cleveland said. “It gets done usually within an hour.”

BAND-ORAMA

Tuesday, Dec. 20 from 7-11 p.m. in the gym

STRING EXTRAVAGANZA Monday, Dec. 21 in the gym at 7 p.m.

2016 ALUMNI REUNION

Friday, Dec. 23 at 11:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m. in the Union

WINTER BREAK

ALLISON LACKNER

By Jacqueline Squillace

Cave reopens, offers new lunch options After shutting its doors last spring, the cave has finally reopened, offering students a quick fix for their snack cravings once again.

Sodexo didn’t have enough workers to work and maintain the cave last April, forcing it cave to close for until they could find new employees. Chartwells School Dining Services, which has took over food services this year, was able to hire new workers to keep it running.

The cave serves as a mini lunchroom with shorter lines and similar food items as the main hot lunch line. Freshman Abi Murray buys her lunch in the cave frequently because of its convenience and is grateful for the reopening.

“It’s quicker than the lunch line, so I usually go there if I need to buy lunch,” Murray said.

“I think that it’s just an easier way to get my lunch.”

Yogurt parfaits and sweet treats such as the ice cream and fruit snacks are favorite items from the cave. It also offers fruit, salads and hot meals, similar to the food choices that the main lunchroom offers. This has the small lunch store seeing more customers than ever.

“I really like the yogurt, like the parfaits or the ice cream, obviously,” Murray said. “They are really good and make me ready for the rest of the day.”

Food offerings differ from last year, with more snacks than meals. The staff has also worked to provide healthier and fresher options, according to Erin Sees, a Chartwells employee who works in the cave.

Sees said the cave reopening increased money the school receives from food sales because it is another location where students can purchase food, and prices are pretty close to last year’s. She hopes the cave stays open as popular lunch buying destination.

“I think it’s really good for the school,” Sees said. “It brings in a lot more money, in hopes that kids will get more snacks.”

No school Dec. 26-Jan. 8 School resumes Monday, Jan. 9

BAND & ORCHESTRA BOOSTER MEETING

Tuesday, Jan. 10 at 7 p.m. in room C101

NO SCHOOL

Monday, Jan. 16

PARENT CLUB MEETING Wednesday, Jan. 18 at 7 p.m. in the Union

By Lyndsay Kluge

SPORTS BOYS VARSITY BASKETBALL Friday, Dec. 16 at 7 p.m. at South High School

ALYSSA MCLARTY

GYMNASTICS Monday, Dec. 19 at 6:30 p.m. against Troy High School at North

ALYSSA MCLARTY

OPEN FOR BUSINESS| After the cave closed last spring, its reopening excites many students.“It’s quicker than the lunch line, so I usually go there if I need to buy lunch,” freshman Abi Murray said.

FIGURE SKATING

Sunday, Dec. 18 at 4 p.m. at Suburban Ice Rink

BOYS VARSITY SWIM MEET

Tuesday, Jan. 10 at 6 p.m. against South at North

GIRLS HOCKEY

Thursday, Dec. 22 at 4 p.m. against Northville at ESH rink

WRESTLING Saturday, Jan. 7 at 9 a.m. at Rochester Adams High School

ON CAMPUS

4 – North Pointe – Friday, Dec. 16, 2016

North, South choirs combine for annual Holiday Tea

By Asia Simmons, Dajai Chatman & Jala Daniel STAFF REPORTERS & PHOTOGRAPHER

FACES IN THE CROWD Nicole Fazekas

Intricate colors and complex shapes combine to make an unexpected portrait right in front of senior Nicole Fazekas’ eyes. For Fazekas, painting has been a hobby ever since she was little, and she is taking a class to help her improve on her skills.

“I didn’t intend to take an art class because I didn’t feel like it was necessary, but I didn’t have any choice but to take it since that was the only class available,” Fazekas said. “I’m taking Figure Drawing, so I think it’s good that I’m taking an art class to improve my technique skills.”

Fazekas uses her painting skills as a coping mechanism in tough times.

“I paint when I’m upset or need to clear my mind. I’ve had a lot of roadblocks in my life, so painting just helps me cope and clear my mind and helps me think clearly. It makes me feel better,” Fazekas said. “I just start to paint and it turns into something that I did not intend to make.”

JALA DANIEL

READY FOR ACTION | From back: Choraliers senior Kennedy Stewart, juniors Charlotte Duus, Marcella Staricco, Lilly Reinhard, sophomore Megan Thuma, juniors Maria Larose, Amani Hall, sophomores Elizabeth Torakis, Rachel Sexton, Noelle Conrad, seniors Taylor Hicks, Whinter Townsel, sophomore Henriette Lada, juniors December Robinson, Haley Rozycki and McKinley Fradeneck sing holiday songs. “My favorite thing is being with friends, and I love hearing the music when it comes together,” Rozycki said. “It puts me at peace.”

DAJAI CHATMAN

GETTING INTO COSTUME | Sophomores Nikolina Leggett and Bella Welke apply their makeup for the show. “Choir is a place where you can go and be yourself and have fun,” Leggett said.

SINGING INTO THE HOLIDAYS | Junior Chase Warren performs “I’ll Be Home for Christmas.” The idea of the song came from Warren’s voice lesson teacher. “I think it’s just like a really nice song, and it’s a classical song that a lot of people know,” Warren said. “I like to make everyone feel, like, comfy and warm inside.”

JALA DANIEL

DAJAI CHATMAN

PREPARATION FOR THE TEA | Senior Mackenzie Simon helped set up for the holiday tea for National Honor Society. “The school has been part of my life so far,” Simon said. “It’s nice to give back to it.”

JALA DANIEL

CHRISTMAS SPIRIT | Sophomore Sam Salisbury sings “The Christmas Song” while playing the piano. Salisbury also performed with the Grosse Pointe Chorale. “I honestly liked spending the day with my friends in choir and bonding with them more than anything,” Salisbury said. “Being able to perform with them at the end was a lot of fun.”

FIVE MINUTES WITH

Biology teacher Erika Reed

By Elizabeth Ballinger INTERN

ERIKA REED

SMILES FROM THE SEOUL| Biology teacher Erika Reed poses with kindergarden students from South Korea. “I used to teach english in South Korea,” Reed said. “It was a great opportunity for me to see the world and meet a bunch of different people from all over.”

Biology teacher Erika Reed is no stranger to a change in plans. From working in South Korea in a subject that she didn’t intend to pursue, to ending up at North, Reed has spent her time working in many places. The common thread that connects them all is education.

“I had gone to college to study biological anthropology and forensic science and when I was done with grad school, I wanted to travel, but I didn’t have any money,” Reed said. “They were hiring English teachers in China and South Korea and Japan, and so I chose Seoul to interview for, and I got a job there.”

Even though she wasn’t a teacher at the time, or even studying English, Reed was still able to get the job and would encourage people to try it out.

“I would highly recommend it to anyone who graduates college and isn’t sure what they want to do, and they might have student loans or they want to travel,” Reed said. “I didn’t have to be a teacher

to go. I just had to be a native English speaker with a bachelor’s degree.”

Reed said she had a great experience with the culture and enjoyed her time there. Reed met many different people, some of whom she still talks to.

After her experience in Seoul, Reed relocated to Michigan (from California) with her husband and 3-year-old daughter.

“We just felt like Detroit is going to see a big resurgence in the next like 10 to 20 years.” Reed said. “We wanted to be part of the comeback because we feel like it’s happening. It’s coming soon, and it just seemed like an exciting time to move here.”

Now that she lives in Michigan instead of California, she is closer to some of the Englishspeaking colleagues she had in South Korea.

“One of the girls who I was really close with was from Toronto and, living in California, we were really far apart,” Reed said. “Now we’re talking about meeting up in London, Ontario because it’s like a halfway point, and it’s not that far now.”

Adam Schwartz

Signatures on a paper may only be ink on paper for some people, but for freshman Adam Schwartz, it means much more, as he collects Major League Baseball autographs as a hobby.

“Collecting MLB autographs is a way for me to stay connected to baseball,” Schwartz said. “I enjoy the experience in addition to getting the autograph.”

Schwartz began this hobby about three to four years ago because of his love for baseball.

He usually collects with friends.

“The experience with friends is the best part. I get to hangout with one of my best friends who I met while trying to get autographs,” Schwartz said. “We are always waiting for someone from any team to come over and sign—that’s the fun part.”

Even though Schwartz doesn’t play baseball anymore, he plans to stay involved with the sport in the future.

“I would like to be able to do something with baseball,” Schwartz said. “Whether it would be broadcasting, journalistic baseball writing or being a Spanish translator, I somehow would like to do something in my career that involves baseball.”

Sydney Agius

Seeing a young, small girl lead a big choir is unusual for most people, but freshman Sydney Agius is rewriting that norm.

Despite her age, Agius leads a large church choir.

Agius has a love for cantering, the act of leading a church choir in song, which she picked up in fifth grade.

“I started cantering because my mom did it.

The people at school needed help with it, so I decided that it would be fun,” Agius said. “I did it with one of my friends, so we started doing it together. It was good.”

Agius canters at her church, Our Lady Star of the Sea, on the weekends. She enjoys serving her church.

“It’s nice to be able to serve your church and be able to lead other people in worship and to be up there singing,” Agius said. “I enjoy that.”

By Gowri Yerramalli

If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?

I’ve traveled quite a few places but I have not been to Peru and I would love to see Machu Picchu. It’s definitely on the top of my list.

What’s your favorite movie?

There’s a movie with Leonardo DiCaprio that’s called “Inception.” It’s an interesting movie because it’s like, you’re trying to figure out exactly what’s happening. It kept me engaged the whole time.

What’s your favorite thing to do outside?

We’ve got a little one now, so we can’t really do long hikes, but we used to do really interesting hikes, like through Joshua Tree, which is a national park out in California. There’s a lot of bouldering and boulders and things like that. But now that we have a little one, we usually keep it pretty short ... it’s something we can do where she’s excited and gets to play outside and run around and have fun.

What’s your favorite book?

I just started reading the “Game of Thrones” series, and I’m pretty enthralled by it. It’s a lot. It’s very intense in a lot of different ways, but it definitely is a page turner.

LIFE

North Pointe – Friday, Dec. 16 – 5

Barcelona: the city of

DREAMS SIGHT SEEING | Senior Mackenzie Simon and OFF TO THE MARKET | The Mercat Boqueria in Barcelona that Simon Laura Rehm from Belgium hang out in Tibidabo shopped at. together.

ENJOYING THE VIEW | Simon tours around Park Güell with her fellow study-abroad students Anna Winkoop, Romy Jansen, Camille Wille and Emily Derie from Belgium.

Architecture and Design | Arts and Sciences | Engineering | Management

SEEING COLORS | Simon participates in a color run in Barcelona.

Senior Mackenzie Simon spent the semester abroad studying in Barcelona, Spain

By Emma Brock & Montana Paton DESIGN EDITOR & EDITOR

While the average North senior spends seven hours a day in different courses. But Mackenzie Simon spent her first semester in intense, four-hour Spanish classes in Barcelona, Spain.

She was able to do this through a foreign language program called Education First. The program offers cultural exchange and academic programs around the world. Simon’s parents encouraged her to take part in the EF experience.

“Since I started high school, my parents have kind of been saying I should do a study-abroad kind of thing, and I didn’t really think anything of it until junior year,” Simon said. “First, I wanted to go to this science school, but they don’t accept seniors.

And then my friend ended up going to Madrid with EF, so she told me about it.”

Having never taken a Spanish class or experienced the language, Simon initially had some trouble understanding her host family.

“It was so bad the first day,” she said. “I walked in, and the guy just kept speaking Spanish, and I didn’t know anything and was just standing there in the doorway like, ‘Oh my god.’ It wasn’t that hard at the beginning. He would do a lot of hand signals, and that’s kind of how we communicated. But towards the end, I was able to—I mean obviously I’m not fluent—but I was able to talk.”

Simon’s sister, sophomore Camryn Simon, said that after her sister came back, it was very interesting to see how in only three months Mackenzie had learned so much Spanish.

The two things Mackenzie missed the most because of the change in lifestyle were being able to cook her own meals and the ability to drive. Most meals were given to her by her host mother who, ironically enough, owned a Chinese restaurant.

When trying to get around, Mackenzie had to use the Metro, an underground subway, or her own two feet. While she didn’t favor either option, her experience with the subway stays with her in the halls today.

“At certain times of the day, it was so busy that people were all over you, and a big thing in Barcelona is pickpocketing, so you have to hold your bag,” she said. “Now I’m walking around with my bag and holding it, even though I know no one’s going to take it.”

THINKERS, HIPSTERS, AND GAME CHANGERS. Lawrence Technological University isn’t for just anyone.

We want the future designers, engineers, scientists, and entrepreneurs who will create the innovations of tomorrow.

Watch LTU students share their college experiences at ltu.edu/StudentStories.

5th 12:1 88% in nation for boosting Student/faculty ratio Students employed or graduates’ earning potential

Southfield, Michigan

Possible is everything.

registered for graduate school at commencement

800.225.5588

admissions@ltu.edu

100+ Academic programs

Mackenzie’s close friend, senior Meghan Bessert, supported her during her 12-week adventure. However, Mackenzie’s absence for the first part of senior year didn’t dull Bessert’s excitement for her.

“It was our last year being together, and I was sad that she wasn’t here for the beginning parts of it, but we have so much more time before we all leave,” Bessert said. “I’m happy she’s back now, but I knew that’s what she likes to do, so I was happy for her.”

Aside going to class, Mackenzie was able to explore more of Spanish culture by visiting cities like Girona, Tarragona and Valencia. Her favorite part was being able to see all the different parts of Spain, especially The Sagrada Familia, a large Roman Catholic church, and Casa Mila, a modernist building.

“We only traveled to different cities in Spain, but we went to Gerona, which had this big (Salvador) Dali museum,” she said. “We went to Tarragona, which is this city on the coast, and it had these ruins, and then we went to the beach.

And then, we went to Valencia, and we got to tour the city and see a Flamenco show and make Paella (a Valencian rice dish).”

Mackenzie’s experience changed not only her, but also her family. Both her mom, Anne Simon, and Camryn said the whole experience made them closer as a family and has helped immerse them into the Spanish culture.

Mackenzie said she learned the importance of language in a global society.

“I’ve kind of realized how important knowing more languages is. When I was in class one day, we were saying how many different languages we knew, and we went around the room, and every single person spoke three or more languages, and I was just like, ‘uhhh.’ It made me want to learn more languages.”

She also came home with an enlightened sense of the world and a realization that the American culture is not the only one that exists.

“It kind of broadened my view of the world,” she said. “I think it made me more accepting of other cultures, not just of Spanish culture, but just because I was with so many people from other countries, and they have different quirks and weird things. I’m just more aware of that.”

IN-DEPTH

6 – Friday, Dec. 16, 2016 – North Pointe

REVIVAL

A look at the revisions of the Detroit borough

By Sarah Wietecha & Sofia Ketels EDITOR & STAFF REPORTER

ALL PHOTOS BY SARAH WIETECHA

Art displayed at the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit.

After graduating from North, Class of 2012 alumnus Alex Michaelson moved to Midtown Detroit. At the time, the area was empty, slow and dangerous at night.

Four years later, Midtown has evolved into what he calls a beautiful and bustling borough of Detroit.

Part of the reason for this revival is the number of shops and restaurants that have popped up throughout Midtown over the past few years. In 2016 alone, 125 have opened there, attracting more people, particularly younger adults. Senior

Danielle Bennett believes these small businesses will attract high schoolers to see what new things Midtown has to offer.

“It’s just really fun going down there,” Bennett said. “There’s shops that we don’t have here in Grosse Pointe.”

Restaurants have been particularly appealing to many visitors and residents.

Cities can develop reputations based on their food standards, such as Chicago’s deep-dish pizza. According to freshman Abbey O’Connor, Detroit has yet to disappoint.

“I love all of the interesting restaurants in Detroit just because they’re all so different,” O’Connor said. “There’s Korean food and diners and breakfast places, and they’re all in the same city.”

In addition to the area’s economic growth, surrounding neighborhoods have gained more young adults and families.

As a result, the area has become safer.

Michaelson said there is a misconception that Midtown is still dangerous, hampering its reputation. However, the presence of Wayne State police officers,

along with the new businesses and the population growth, have made the area much safer and secure.

For Michaelson, moving to Midtown Detroit amid the growth has been a gratifying experience, and he encourages other young adults to do the same.

“It’s a really inspiring place after college to move and find yourself and build on the growth that is going on and build even more, so that Detroit can come back,” Michaelson said.

Roasting Plant coffee shop in Midtown

Roasting Plant coffee shop located near Campus Martius

Detroit Water Ice Detroit Water Ice is unlike any ice cream shop a Michigander can experience, mostly because it’s not quite ice cream.

The so-called water ice served inside the shop is a combination of ice cream and sherbet. It contains no fats, dairy or cholesterol. With over 20 flavors offered in the shop, it’s sure to have something that appeals to all tastes.

Another unique aspect of Detroit Water Ice is its philanthropy. Since author Mitch Albom opened it last year, 100 percent of the proceeds have gone to his charity, S.A.Y. (sports, academics, and youth) Detroit. The organization helps those in need and provides meals, health care and child care.

Located at 1014 Woodward Ave., Detroit Water Ice is a popular treat, earning 4.6 out of 5 stars on Yelp.

Art located outside the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit

The Detroit Water Ice Factory downtown Detroit

Another museum art piece

The Roasting Plant Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit

Calling all coffee lovers, the Roasting Plant is sure to intrigue and delight any customer. This futuristic coffee shop is an urban science lab dedicated to achieving the perfect cup of coffee, right in the center of Campus Martius.

Raw, green coffee beans purchased from around the world are sent to the store, roasted and ground in-house and brewed for each cup. Throughout the store are clear tubes that run along the ceiling, and every so often, customers can hear the whoosh of roasted coffee beans as they run through the tubes into the Javabot on the floor.

The Javabot allows a customer to look at the beans’ roast dates and pick which flavors to have in a cup or bag to take home to brew.

Construction being done on the new Little Ceaser’s stadium downtown

Located near the Detroit Symphony Orchestra on Woodward Ave., the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit (MOCAD) is a hidden gem within Detroit’s museum district.

With its continuously changing exhibitors and layout of the galleries, MOCAD offers modern art that will please everyone’s tastes. MOCAD’s bread and butter is taking complex ideas, like race in society, and mixing them with modern and unique materials like video, music and textiles.

Another fun piece to the museum is its in-house cafe, Cafe 78, which has different food vendors throughout the year, so visitors never experience the same thing twice. Currently residing at Cafe 78 is SuperHappySushi, serving highend sushi amid the ambiance of the art.

Additional art located outside MOCAD

North Pointe – Friday,, Dec. 16, 2016 – 7

IDEAS

ON POINTE 2 1 What we're talking about this week

By Bella Lawson EDITOR

Game SUPERMARIO RUN

TV

25 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS

Nintendo’s first Mario related iOS game, Super Mario Run, is to be released December fifteenth on iOS devices and a later date for Android. Its similar to all other Nintendo Mario video games, but now you can play it with one hand. The app will be available to download and play on the App Store for free, for a limited time only.

Freeform is celebrating its twenteith year in a row of their TV special programming, 25 Days of Christmas.

The airing scheduled features popular Christmas movies played daily. The special started Dec. 1 and the last movie, “Scrooged,” begins at 9:55 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 25.

WWW.PLAY.NINTENDO.COM

25 DAYS TO CHRISTMAS FACEBOOK

3

Based off the original novel by Jean Shepherd, “A Christmas Story”, the musical, will be performed at the Fox Theatre on Tuesday, Dec. 20 through Friday Dec. 23. Tickets start at $70.

Musical A CHRISTMAS STORY

4

The Detroit Pistons, ranked sixteenth in NBA Power Rankings will be facing the Memphis Grizzlies, who are ranked eighth, on Wednesday, Dec. 21 at 7:30 p.m. at the Palace of Auburn Hills. Tickets start at $45.

Sports PISTONS VS GRIZZLIES WWW.NBA.COM

A CHRISTMAS STORY ON TOUR FACEBOOK

5

Performance THE NUTCRACKER

6

“Moscow Ballet's Great Russian Nutcracker,” the quintessential holiday performance for all ages, is coming to Detroit’s Fox Theatre Dec. 18.

Performances are at 12 p.m., 4 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Concert TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA

TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA FACEBOOK

@MOSCOWBALLET TWITTER

7

Fundraiser VARSITY DANCE TEAM SIGNS

The well-known American progressive rock band founded in 1996, the Trans-Siberian Orchestra will be playing at the Palace of Auburn Hills on Friday, Dec. 30 at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. Ticket prices range from $56 to $369.

8

The Varsity Dance Team is holding a sign-making party Monday, Dec. 19 at 7 p.m. as a fundraiser for new uniforms.

These handcrafted wooden signs will be personalized by the maker and are unique home décor pieces. 4” x 24” signs are $25 each, and $8 will go to the team. 4” x 12” boards are $18, with $5 going to the team.

“La La Land” comes to movie theaters Dec. 9 and is set in modern day Los Angeles. Mia, (Emma Stone) a young aspiring actress who falls in love with Sebastian (Ryan Gosling), an aspiring jazz musician together they pursue their dreams of success. It is rated PG-13.

Movie LA LA LAND WWW.IDBM.COM WWW.LALALAND.COM

GROSSE POINTE NORTH HS VARSITY DANCE TEAM FUNDRAISER FACEBOOK PAGE

At the Edsel & Eleanor Ford House on Dec. 16 and 17 from 5 to 8 p.m., enjoy fire pits, holiday carolers, hot cocoa and the chance to meet Santa while strolling under thousands of Christmas lights. Tickets bought in advance are $10 and $15 at the door.

9 10

Attraction WINTER WONDERLAND

Album AWAKEN MY LOVE

WWW.FORDHOUSE.ORG

Actor, comedian, writer and musician Donald McKinley Glover, better known as Childish Gambino, released his third album “Awaken My Love” Dec. 2. The rapper’s album surprisingly doesn't feature rap songs, instead it consists of the genres R&B and soul. Buy it now on a regular CD, but it also came out as a limited edition ‘virtual reality’ vinyl.

HTTP://C.DIRECTLTRICS.COM

Upsetting fans MY TURN ERIN KALED

Upsetting millions of fans, Kanye West, influential rapper, designer and record producer is the latest celebrity to check himself into intensive care. Suffering a nervous breakdown following Kim’s recent Paris robbery and the anniversary of his mother's death, Kanye entered UCLA hospital voluntarily.

Just prior to the breakdown, West went on a rant calling out Jay-Z and Beyoncé while praising president-elect Donald Trump. Afterwards, West abruptly ended his concert in Sacramento, California and canceled the rest of the tour.

With all the difficulties surrounding the West/Kardashian empire lately, it’s no surprise the 9-1-1 call released involves his doctor telling the dispatcher that West will definitely need to be hospitalized.

Being upset about being unable to see West perform or how Kim is out of the spotlight is understandable, but being angry about the fact that they’re getting the help they need is not.

The couple is understandably taking a break following the turbulent year. This has upset their fans, however boycotting his music or her (Kardashian’s) app is useless and overall offensive. Mental illness is often worse than it appears and can be more troubling than a physical injury. Suffering with mental illness is difficult enough but it’s even more troubling in the spotlight.

Since 2009, Kanye West has brought his fans crazy quotes, memes and interesting views of the world. From interrupting Taylor Swift to announcing he’ll (probably) run

for president in 2020, West has captivated the world's attention in both good and bad ways. His seemingly strange behavior has always raised red flags about his underlying problems, so it’s no surprise that in the midst of the past two months, the tough wall that West was trying so hard to keep up, has fallen.

Now being with his family while he recovers, he has a chance to slow down and get the help he needs. Maybe the world will finally see how mental illness can break a man who seemed that he could never be broken. Even celebrities, who have it all, can fall prey to their inner struggles and illness that you can’t physically see.

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) nearly one in five people suffer from mental illness, yet it’s the least talked about. Other celebrities like Charlie Sheen, Brooke Shields, the late Robin Williams and Heath Ledger have

or struggled with mental illness, but West is the biggest pop culture name to date.

West’s breakdown is certainly tragic but could also be made out to be a good thing.

It forces people to get rid of the negative stigma around mental illness and actually talk about how such diseases affect over 42 million people. Besides that, the fact that celebrities and seemingly well-off people can have their own internal struggles can be humbling as well. Knowing that everybody is subject to being emotionally unstable from time to time makes it a bit easier to seek help.

So, while the world will wait to see when Kimye will make their reappearance, the other Kardashian siblings can soak up their own attention in the limelight.

And when the couple—worth millions of dollars, are ready to reemerge, their loving and adoring fans will be ready to shower them with adoration once again.

REVIEWS

8 – Friday, Dec. 16, 2016 – North Pointe

"A Christmas Carol's" legacy rings on

By Ritika Sanikommu & Josie Bennett EDITORS

“A Christmas Carol” is a mainstay in the holiday season.

The classic novel by Charles Dickens has been adapted into multiple musicals, b o t h on and off Broadway. The annual showing of “A Christmas Carol” at the Meadowbrook theatre located at Oakland University has

carved its own niche and has become a critically acclaimed musical in Michigan. This year marks the show’s 35th year running and is definitely worth watching.

The locale, which is no bigger than North’s PAC, and the theatre’s atmosphere are welcoming and immediately set a comfortable and cheery ambiance for the show.

One of the ways in which the theatre set up for the show, along with its Christmas decor, was the signature pre-show caroling. While the audience were locating their seats, the soulful and melodic carols resonated throughout the theatre.

There were also a few moments where the cast members walked by the isles, interacting with the audience, immersing viewers into the performance.

For such an intimate production, the quality was surprisingly high. It takes the audience directly into the heart of London city in the 1800s. First-

“A Christmas Carol” Meadow Brook Theatre, 2016 Tickets available starting at $54

Must-see holiday classic hits the stage at Meadowbrook Theatre for 35th year

time viewers may go in with a respectably low expectation for the performance but will end up being pleasantly surprised.

The performances were also something to behold as well.

Most musicals implement an excessive use of theatrics, which can be a tricky thing to master without going over the top. The cast for the show successfully found that balance and did not go overboard with their production.

The performances of the actors were the backbone of the musical with each character portrayed justly. One actor to note was Thomas Mahard who played Ebenezer Scrooge. He was everything Scrooge should be: a cold, heartless man turned joyous and compassionate after he was visited by his deceased business partner and the infamous ghosts of Christmas of Past, Present and Future. Mahard’s experience was visible in his eighth year portraying Scrooge and his 31 year in “A Christmas Carol.”

He delivered his lines with ease and maintained a charismatic presence throughout.

The rest of the cast was equally talented in carrying out the performance. Sarah Catheryn Wolf was captivating as the Ghost of Christmas Past. Even the professionalism of the child actors was impressive. The cast was also relatively diverse.

The clever set design is something to be mentioned as well. Every set piece and prop was designed with extreme detail. The transitions were seamless in part to the musical interludes. And for the amount of space that the stage had, the props were used in an efficient way that portrayed every event within the play.

The many moving parts within the show were surprising as well with the mobile house props, the trap doors and other working household items. The trap doors were especially clever in the fact that viewers didn't expect them. They were used for the ghosts’ entrances and exits.

It was quite a sight to see when a ghost suddenly appeared from the floor.

There really was nothing unsatisfactory about “A Christmas Carol,” it was a very well-done show that all ages can appreciate. The performance was memorable and it is clear why families make a tradition of watching it annually. The show runs until Dec. 23 and tickets are available at the starting price of $54.

MEADOWBROOK THEATRE FACEBOOK

MOVIE

APP

ALBUM

BOOK

MOANA

TOMB OF THE MASK

STARBOY

MAGNUS CHASE AND THE HAMMER OF THOR

From the minds of Ron Clements and Don Hall, the creators of “Aladdin” and “The Little Mermaid,” comes Disney’s “Moana.”

Because it was COLLIDER.COM Disney’s first musical since “Frozen,” it came with high expectations.

However, it only partially delivered.

Set in ancient Polynesia, the story begins when demigod Maui (voiced by Dwayne Johnson) steals the stone heart of Te Fiti, the goddess that created life, and releases a curse. Soon after, Maui loses the stone in a fight with a demon and disappears forever.

One thousand years later, the ocean chooses Moana (voiced by Auli’i Cravalho), daughter of the island chief, to return Te Fiti’s heart. It is forbidden for anyone to leave her island. But when the curse strikes and causes a food shortage, Moana sets out to find Maui, restore the stone to its rightful place and discover who she truly is.

This is where the movie falls flat. The plot is little more than that of a typical Disney princess movie. Princess-heroine that feels trapped in her situation? Check. Search for her true identity?

Check. Reluctant male companion? Check. Animal sidekick? Check. Moments of self-doubt? Check.

There are more clichés, but the point is made.

Unlike the lackluster plot, the characters in this movie stand out. Moana’s courage and determination are admirable. On the other hand, Maui is arrogant and selfish. Their personality clash makes for enticing and sometimes comedic interactions between the two.

“Moana” also struggles a bit as a musical. With the help of “Hamilton’s” LinManuel Miranda, the soundtrack is a general improvement over “Frozen.” However, Clements and Hall fail to create natural transitions between dialogue and song, so most of the songs seem to come out of nowhere.

Although the creators struggled to integrate music into the story, their animations were spot on.

From beginning to end, the film stuns the audience with its beauty and realism. Every detail, down to the motion of Moana’s hair, is technically sound.

From a visual perspective, the movie is a home run.

Overall, despite its cookie-cutter plot, “Moana” manages mediocrity through its charming character interactions, catchy music and wonderful animation.

"Tomb of the Mask "is a fast-paced puzzle game heavily inspired by classics like Pac-Man. Gameplay consists of the player guiding a pixelated creature ITUNES.APPLE.COM through a series of procedurally generated levels, picking up powerups and coins along the way. As the player swipes left, right, up or down, the creature will hop to the nearest wall in that direction.

The puzzle aspect comes in the form of getting as many coins as possible in the level while on a time crunch. The bottom of the level has a wall that perpetually scrolls up. If the player fails to stay ahead of the wall, it will result in a game over.

Players must also contend with obstacles in the levels themselves, navigating twists and turns as well as avoiding enemies and sides of the level that happen to be traps. Making quick decisions about how to optimize the number of coins the user can get with the time allotted is the main point of challenge.

Art style is the game’s strong suit.

Beautiful pixel art shimmers and pops with color. Animation is fluid and adds to a high level of production quality not found in many other free-to-play iOS games.

Although the game has no traditional soundtrack, the audio design is exceptional.

Sound effects have crisp eight-bit tones that evoke nostalgic titles like Galaga or any other retro video game from the 1980s. Picking up power-ups produces satisfying clicks while crashing through the ending barrier of a level creates a wonderful cacophony of digitized breaking glass.

This game also has a fair business model.

Rewards are given daily which prompt the player to spin a wheel, whatever reward is landed on gets received by the player. These can range from currency used to unlock power-ups and costumes to temporary augmentations for a character.

"Tomb of The Mask" is an addicting and well-polished game full of engaging mechanics that challenge a player’s reflexes and problem solving techniques. The spartan art style means a small file size, so it’s not a game requiring any sweat from the user on phone space either.

When he chopped off his signature dreads and changed up his sound, listeners didn’t know exactly what to expect.

But even with all ITUNES.APPLE.COM of these changes, The Weeknd once again flaunts his talent in his new album, “Starboy.”

Abel Tesfaye, more commonly known as The Weeknd, dropped his album on Nov. 25 and instantly took over the No. 1 spot on the charts.

As his success has grown, so has his style of music. In his three previous works, “Trilogy,” “Kiss Land” and “Beauty Behind the Madness,” his sometimes dark and messy journey through fame is evident in the lyrics.

“Starboy” differs in content and sound, however. Tesfaye seems to leave the darkness behind and gladly opens to a new chapter of his life. The tracks showcase a different celebratory phase of fame, confidence and success, which can be heard throughout.

From pop songs that have garnered comparisons to Michael Jackson, like the lead single “Starboy,” “Rockin’” and “I Feel It Coming,” listeners hear the dance-based, upbeat tunes of the album.

The artist doesn’t completely ditch his older sound. Familiar, low-slung R & B tunes such as “True Colors” and “Attention” take listeners back to his previous style. In “Six Feet Under,” featuring Future (which sounds uncoincidentally like their hit collaboration “Low Life”), and the emotionally heavy “Sidewalks” featuring Kendrick Lamar, The Weeknd’s vocals are accompanied charmingly by hip hop-based beats.

In “Stargirl,” Lana Del Rey’s lends melancholy vocals in one of the most meaningful songs.

The 18-track project is pleasantly versatile, which is fitting for The Weeknd’s broad spectrum of vocal ability. However, the singer doesn’t need that many tracks to showcase his skills.

Deeper into the album, songs such as “Nothing Without You” and “Ordinary Life,” while being decent tunes, begin to sound repetitive and almost unnecessary.

But in through most of the tracks, the artist strikes musical gold. Despite his evolving musical style, listeners can rest assured that the Weeknd’s vocal flair isn’t going anywhere.

“Magnus Chase and the Hammer of Thor” is a dynamic and entertaining read for anyone who loves mythology and adventure.

Author Rick Riordan's humor paired with an WWW.GOODREADS.COM ending that will have fans of not only “Magnus Chase and The Gods of Asgard” series, but of all of Riordan's works, anxiously awaiting the next book.

In this sequel to “Magnus Chase and the Sword of Summer,” main characters Samirah alAbbas, Magnus Chase, Blitzen and Hearthstone are tasked with finding Thor’s lost hammer. With the clock ticking and a new child of Loki named Alex joining Valhalla, nothing is as it seems.

From a talking sword to gods that are transfixed on social media and selfies, readers will find themselves laughing as they follow Magnus’s sometimes-serious-but-often-hilarious adventures. Riordan still manages to create a humorous adventure that is both serious yet endearing, much like his previous works, such as the “Percy Jackson” series.

However, the story is not only funny. Riordan's characters are realistic, with weaknesses and personalities that allow the reader to empathize and relate with them. The setting of the story is still unique and the concept allows itself to be set apart from his other books. For example, most of the heros in this story have died and gone to Valhalla instead of surviving their first encounter with enemies. This seemingly small change has allowed this series and Riordan's writing to not become tedious and repetitive, which would have been inevitable otherwise.

While the characters are relatable, they aren’t fully developed. Many characters introduced and made to seem important earn only a few pages while others such as Otis the talking goat appear several times, even though they only play minor roles. Having seen some development between Magnus and his fellow warriors of Valhalla would have made the story more interesting and coherent.

“The Hammer of Thor” will please both returning and new fans of Riordan's works as he continues to slowly connect each series with each other and mythology. Readers will find themselves anxiously waiting for the sequel and finishing the light hearted yet meaningful book.

"Moana"; 2016: DISNEY; PG; 113 minutes

“Tomb of The Mask”; 2016; HAPPYMAGENTA ; Available for Apple and Android

“Starboy”; XO; 2016; 68 Minutes; Available for $11.99 at Best Buy

“Magnus Chase and the Hammer of Thor”; Rick Riordan; 480 pages, 2016; Available for $12.18 at Barnes and Noble

By Billy Moin

By Guiseppe Parrison

By Katie Thomas

By Katelynn Mulder

EDITORIAL

North Pointe -Friday, Dec. 16, 2016 - 9

EDITOR’S DESK ALLISON LACKNER

“Grosse Pointe Public School administrators and teachers are responsible for encouraging and ensuring freedom of expression and freedom of the press for all students, regardless of whether the ideas expressed may be considered unpopular, critical, controversial, tasteless or offensive.”

Out with the old

BOARD OF EDUCATION POLICY Lindsey Ramsdell EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Mora Downs MANAGING EDITOR

Billy Moin MANAGING EDITOR

Ritika Sannikommu EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Alex Harring WEB MANAGING EDITOR

Gowri Yerramalli BUSINESS MANGER

Caitlin Bush NEWS EDITOR

Abbey Cadieux IDEAS EDITOR

Anna Post SPORTS EDITOR

Katelynn Mulder ASSISTANT EDITOR

Sonny Mulpuri DIGITAL EDITOR

Our editorial represents the opinion of the North Pointe Editorial Board consisting of the editors above. Members who have a conflict of interest with an editorial topic do not partake in that meeting or vote.

EDITORS-IN-CHIEF: Lindsey Ramsdell, Ritika Sanikommu MANAGING EDITORS: Mora Downs, Billy Moin WEBSITE MANAGING EDITOR: Alex Harring SECTION EDITORS: Josie Bennett, Caitlin Bush, Abbey Cadieux, Anna Post DESIGN EDITOR: Emma Brock BUSINESS MANAGER: Gowri Yerramalli DIGITAL EDITORS: Erin Kaled, Sonny Mulpuri, Sarah Wietecha ASSISTANT EDITORS: Allison Lackner, Trevor Mieczkowski, Katelynn Mulder, Montana Paton, Michal Ruprecht, Billy Steigelman, Tommy Teftsis PHOTOGRAPHERS: Veronica Albo, Bella DeSandy, Nicole Fazekas, Marina Gabriel, Katie Link, Erinne Lubienski, Rachel Malinowski, Alyssa McLarty, Lauren Sexton, Nya Tatum, Kennedy Williams STAFF REPORTERS: Amber Braker, Dajai Chatman, Sofia Ketels, Lindsey Kluge, Bella Lawson, Nathan Lonczynski, Giuseppe Parison, Syeda Rizvi, Asia Simmons, Jacqueline Squillace, Katie Thomas, Addison Toutant INTERNS: Rory Angott, Elizabeth Ballinger, Zoe Graves, Mariah Loper, Tarun Sanikommu The North Pointe is edited and produced by Advanced Journalism students at Grosse Pointe North High School and is published every two weeks. It is in practice a designated public forum without prior review.

Comments should be directed to the student editors, who make all final content decisions. The views expressed are solely those of the authors or the student editorial board and do not reflect the opinions of the Grosse Pointe Public School System.

We are a member of the Michigan Scholastic Press Association, Columbia Scholastic Press Association, National Scholastic Press Association and Student Press Law Center.

We subscribe to McClatchy-Tribune Information Services and iStockphoto.com.

One copy is available free to all community members.

Additional copies may be purchased. Our editorial policy and advertising rates are available online at northpointenow.org.

The North Pointe is printed on 100 percent recycled paper.

OUR EDITORIAL

RITIKA SANIKOMMU

Letter from the Editors While writing the front-page story on fake news, we received an alert that the Washington Post is admitting their “Russian Propaganda Fake News” story may be fake.

As journalists, it is disheartening to learn that one of the biggest news corporations has strayed from the ethics we hold at the core of our profession.

It seems that recently, fake news has been consuming the media. Now, not even the most reliable sources are safe.

There are websites created for the sole purpose of producing propaganda, hoaxes and disinformation. There are thousands of them looming, publishing absurd, false content. Yet the common reader is not able to discern between fact and fallacy. Americans are virtually unable to differentiate between real and fake headlines.

Fake news is hurting journalism. If a story has been published, read and shared thousands of times on social media, and the publisher has to admit it’s false, this creates a significant trust gap between the media and its readership.

It mars journalism’s reputation and brings us away from the standards we try to—and should —uphold.

Since the age of yellow journalism, a type of reporting common in the early 1900s based on sensationalism, scandal and exaggeration, journalists have been working to reform the profession. Since then, journalism has improved dramatically, but the rise of fake news is a step backwards.

But even greater than its effects on journalism as a profession is its effect on people.

One of the responsibilities of good reporting is to provide readers with accurate, honest, unbiased and fair information. Journalism is a service to the public that helps them formulate opinions and make informed decisions.

When even the most respected publications are not doing their jobs properly, then the public can’t expect to receive what they deserve.

During the past election cycle, there was a surge of fake news that began to circulate the web about both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, as well as their supporters and aides.

Gripping headlines caught readers’ eyes,

and misinformation went viral. But, journalists give readers the information, and readers make their own decisions, like whom to vote for, based on that, so tainted or biased messages can sway voters in a direction they may not have gone in if there weren’t fake news.

Fake news isn’t just leading people to make misinformed decisions. It has also created dangerous situations.

On Monday, Dec. 5, ABC News published a story about Edgar Maddsion, a 28-year-old man who went into a pizza shop armed because he wanted to investigate a conspiracy theory regarding Hillary Clinton that spread during her campaign.

That is why fact checking is so important.

This is just one example of the collateral damage that fake news has done. And the fact that false statements were published by The Washington Post means its reporters were not doing everything in their power to verify the information they received.

This leaves it up to the readers to be the judges of whether or not what they’re reading is true—a task that usually falls on the reporter.

Since the North Pointe publishes news only after we’ve verified it through multiple sources, you can rely on us for accurate reports. All community and school news is also backed by knowledgeable sources—administrators, teachers, students and outside experts.

We talk to our sources in person or over email and avoid using anonymous sources to ensure the knowlege we receive is not being fabricated. We wish we could say the same for all news providers.

So, we urge you to be wary of what you read, especially if it’s found on social media. Crossreference other news organizations for a story you think doesn’t ring true.

While it’s sad to think that we can’t rely on the publisher themselves to do the fact checking for readers, a basic principle of good reporting, we can’t let fake news continue to go viral.

For more tips on how to check what you’re reading, see “How to be news literate” on page 10.

Lindsey Ramsdell & Ritika Sanikommu CO-EDITORS-IN-CHIEF

CONTACT US 707 Vernier Road Grosse Pointe Woods MI, 48236 Phone: 313.432.3248 Email: northpointe@gpschools.org Twitter: @thenorthpointe Website: NorthPointeNow.org FACULTY ADVISER: Shari Adwers, MJE “It doesn’t really matter, like when I first read it, I thought the fake news was real news.”

“I feel like the people who do that just want attention or to mess with people, but it could cause a lot of paranoia and problems. The news should only be reported if it’s true.”

“I think it is ridiculous. There are people out there who need help. There is real news out there, so this fake news causes fake fear.”

Terence Clemons

Brian Veneri

Abby Kanakry

FRESHMAN

SOPHOMORE

JUNIOR

YOUR TURN: How do you feel about fake news?

By Trevor Mieczkowski ASSISTANT EDITOR

“They need to stop that because it is wrong. People don’t want to hear false information about the world.”

Kayla Byrom SENIOR

“I think that fake news can definitely be a problem, and it is up to the consumers of this news to decipher fake from real.”

Eric Vanston MATH TEACHER

“I would cross-reference anything that maybe seemed like it is iffy ... Dig deeper, and do your own research.”

Tamara Shepard SPANISH TEACHER

Traditions. You’ve had them as long as you can remember. Whether they have been in your family for generations or for two years.

Family is such an important part of the holidays, but think about what always ends up happening. Every year you go to your aunt’s house to binge-watch all the Christmas classics, or for New Year’s you head to your neighbor’s house or have a sleepover to watch the ball drop in Times Square.

These staples are a reminder of the fun times we had the year before or simply of the time of year. Traditions can be something you have started and keep on doing year after year, like watching “Elf” while putting up the Christmas tree. Or they can be something passed down from grandparents to parents, things you will do one day in your own home. For me, Christmas Eve is watching “The Christmas Story” with my family.

If you skip out on a tradition, it almost feels like you didn’t accomplish that holiday. And once you miss it one year, can it still be called a tradition?

My whole entire life, my family has gone two places.

Every Christmas Eve, we’ve had dinner at my grandma’s house— my mom’s mom. We have the same Swedish meatballs, then we go to church. After that, we head to my grandparents’ house—my dad’s parents’—to spend the night to wake up to presents there.

But this year we are staying in Grosse Pointe.

With everyone in my family getting older, it’s not practical to leave Grosse Pointe. I honestly am excited to be in my own bed for Christmas and be in my house to do whatever I want.

But by not doing my usual tradition, will it still be Christmas? Will Christmas still have the same impact?

I’m nervous to see how it goes.

Having the freedom to do whatever my family and I want will allow us to build new traditions for the Lackner family. Whatever we decide to do, will that happen next year?

With new Christmas traditions, will that mean new rituals in 2017? Will we be here or there? I am one of those people who don’t like that much change in my life, so I don’t know how I’m going to handle it. I’ll need time to adjust to any newness, whether that’s reverting to our previous routines after a oneyear break or if this new way of celebrating will be the start of the new way we do things.

A new year is the perfect time to start new traditions.

Why should I worry about what has happened in the past, when I can just forward to the future?

It will open the door for new opportunities, which might lead to a new hobby or a new friend. Anything could turn into a new tradition. Maybe I need to to stop worrying and just let things happen. And if it doesn’t happen, it’s not the end of the world.

Tradition has always been in the hoilday equation, but it doesn’t matter what you do, as long as you are with people who love you. It can’t always be the same throughout your whole life. That would be boring.

This holiday season and new year, let’s consider who we’re with and the time we do have have together rather than worrying about checking off that one activity off an old list.

10 – Friday, Dec. 16, 2016 – North Pointe

IN-DEPTH

How to be news literate

How to identify, recognize and prevent the spread of fake news

By Lindsey Ramsdell & Ritika Sanikommu EDITORS-IN-CHIEF

What it is:

Fake news is clickbait, rumors and sensationalized information backed by little or no truth but passed off as news. Producers of fake news want you to visit their site so that they generate advertising revenue. Or, they may try to evoke a reaction out of readers whether it’s anger, disgust or disbelief to sway their opinions

Where you’ll find it:

Websites with credible-sounding titles, politically affiliated blogs, social media and click baiting websites. Fake news is often reblogged and shared on social media, especially Facebook and Twitter.

How to avoid it:

Use a variety of reputable news sources such as the New York Times or The Wall Street Journal. When a story seems strange or unreliable, try and trace it back to where the original story came from.

What to do with it:

Read beyond the headline. You may have just read a scandalous headline and be eager to reblog it to shock your followers as well, but read further. Often the actual story has little to do with the headline or contains many of the red flags that will instantly tell you that it is a fake.

- Fact check. If trustworthy news organizations are reporting the same information, then it could be true.

- If you have any doubt of its authenticity, don’t share it.

SPORTS

North Pointe – Friday, Dec. 16 2016 – 11

Tackling the "Flutie Effect" ANNA POST SPORTS COLUMN

New season, new look

ERIKA BENOIT

Varsity girls hockey and boys basketball team recieve new jerseys for the season

By Katie Thomas & Sofia Ketels REPORTERS

For junior Erika Benoit, her old hockey jersey was comfortable. But, with the help of school funding, the team now hits the ice in a brand-new batch of green-and-gold uniforms.

Most student athletes only see one set of jerseys throughout their high school career. With some teams not having replaced jerseys in up to five years, funding plays a significant role. Among the few teams receiving new jerseys for the 2016-17 school year, hockey and basketball players are the most recent.

Benoit said the new jerseys have had a positive impact on the team.

“I think it was one of those things where it helps build the team’s confidence, and so they all get their own jerseys,” she said. “The seniors get to take their jerseys, so that way we all have new ones that no one else had.”

Athletic director Brian Shelson controls the athletic budget and decides when teams will get new uniforms or equipment, which he said should be done as fairly as possible.

“We try to do a rotation kind of thing, so if you said you want new jerseys this year, and you haven’t had them in like three, four or five years, then we’ll cover that for at least one of the home or the away, and we’ll see what we can work with,” Shelson said. “If it’s the next year, you want another jersey, then I'm going to say, "no," and you’re going to have to look at a custodial account.”

Custodial accounts are a common way for teams to seek funding beyond what they receive from the athletic department budget. Through events such as fundraisers, sports teams can place their profits into an individual account and put that unshared money towards anything they want. Between the custodial accounts and parent booster clubs, some sports receive new

equipment or uniforms more frequently than others.

Varsity basketball player Steven Levick said the new jerseys are a pleasant change for the team.

“I think that the new jerseys are really cool and I'm excited to get them,” Levick said. “We haven't gotten the jerseys yet and probably won't until a couple games into the season, but I know our coach had a connection with someone.”

The boys basketball team is the most recent to get new uniforms this year, which they bought through both individual funding and the athletic department budget. The teams received “Jumpman” logo jerseys from Nike’s Michael Jordan collection.

“We wanted to make sure that if we were gonna go for the top brand, that the program also helps to pay for some of that,” Shelson said. “They’re going to get both home and away, part from the custodial account and part from the athletic account.”

The athletic department recognizes that all teams have different needs, and Shelson’s goal is to make sure that every sport and athlete is treated fairly.

While the football team, for example, has every part of their uniforms provided to them by school funding, North’s golf team only has their shirts provided to them in addition to their green fee.

Shelson stresses that this is an entirely need-based system.

“There’s obviously more people on the football team than there are on the golf team,” he said. “So it depends on the number and the needs of the team, and we try to make sure that it’s fair for everybody.”

NIKE.COM

JUMPMAN | The varsity boys basketball new away jerseys. " We’ve had our old jerseys for a while and I think it's just time for a change," senior Steven Levick said.

NIKE.COM

FRESH LOOK | The varsity boys new basketball home jerseys.

In a 1984 football game against the University of Miami, the tensions were high. The score was tight.

It was the last quarter with only a couple seconds on the clock and the fate of this matchup rested in the hands of former Boston College quarterback Doug Flutie. After he threw a last-second 48 yard “Hail Mary,” the ball was remarkably caught, resulting in a 47-45 victory for the Eagles.

Two years after this miraculous game-winning touchdown, BC’s applicants skyrocketed 30 percent.

Aside from the school’s reputation, it wasn’t the exceptional academics or campus appeal that reeled in the majority of the new applicants, it was a six-second play.

Students were inspired by the miracle throw. They saw the school’s athletic successes and wanted to be a part of the hype they witnessed on their television screens. Today, people continue to engross themselves in the accomplishments of their favorite collegiate sports teams. What they see on the court or the field influences their decisions when choosing a place to pursue their education.

In a study conducted by Harvard professor Douglas J. Chung, he found that when college sports teams have a successful season, undergraduate applications for that particular school increase significantly. The 1984 “Flutie Effect” supports Chung's claim and is proof that one play can transform an athletic program into a collegiate powerhouse.

We gravitate towards the flashy NCAA Championship trophies and Top 10 leaderboards. But just because athletics influences the decisions of many undergraduates doesn’t mean the student’s choice wasn’t a smart one.

Sports at the college level not only generate revenue but also make the college more popular. A university becomes more academically selective as more applicants bombard the office of admissions. As the demand for admissions increases, students begin to look at the other opportunities the school can provide. Undergraduates begin to not solely base their decision to attend the school because they are obsessed with the university they enjoy watching.

Athletics open the doors for more opportunity.

What Chung’s study proved was that the better an athletic program is, the better the school becomes. Universities with an impressive winning streak allow students to explore the options a school can provide them.

More students want to be a part of a university that supplies them with the tools to succeed academically while allowing them to be a part of the stimulating environment.

Sports are the spark that ignites one’s desire.

Sports consume us. For some American families, sports are a part of us. We live and breathe Sunday night football in the fall and indulge ourselves in America’s pastime in the summer. It's hard to not get wrapped up in the Big Ten titles and rankings when athletics have been woven into our everyday lives for as long as we can remember.

Growing up, sports have fueled my interests. If it weren’t for the University of Nebraska in Lincoln's first NCAA national volleyball championship title last season, I probably wouldn’t have looked into the college or the opportunities that it provides. Sports provide general awareness, they don’t determine where I want to attend.

Just because the University of Alabama’s football team is currently top ranked as of week 14 doesn’t mean that I would choose that college solely based on its current 12-0 record. The ongoing chatter regarding the Crimson Tide’s phenomenal season is enough to get people talking.

A school’s athletic rankings and trophies resting in a dusted showcase play no role in my decisions. I want to be a part of a university that is not only successful academically but one that has a camaraderie that I want to be apart of.

Girls freshman basketball returns Increased interest adds team back to sports roster

By Sonny Mulpuri & Tommy Teftsis EDITORS

MEGHAN GALLAGHER

BALL OUT | Meghan Gallagher driving to the hoop. "We're pretty good considering our size, but we need to work on accuracy of shots." Gallagher said.

Having a girls freshman basketball team has been every team’s allotted time closer together. in limbo every year as the number of students trying “It’s a sport that the numbers have gone down all out fluctuates. But as the winter season begins, the over the place. I wouldn't say it's a struggle, but it's girls basketball program has eight players. Freshman more difficult for a sport that has a bigger number,” Madalyn Durkee is one of them.

Shelson said. “I looked into the JV-B team like we did “It’s been a lot of fun and a lot of hard for soccer. There's enough interest in the area that they work at the same time,” Durkee said. “There's have enough freshmen so that route might not have less players so you get more playing time.” worked as well but we did look into it.”

2013 was the last year the freshman girls team played One of the former basketball players that didn’t a full season and started to improve the girls’ skills have the experienceof playing on a freshmen team into that of the JV and Varsity levels. They originally was junior Eva Ciaramitaro. Even though she learned had a team in 2014, but there were from the older and more experienced not enough players, and a few quit. players on JV, she wishes that there Even though some freshmen could’ve been more than three played on JV in the past years freshmen girls on her team. because there weren’t enough “We would've been more able to girls to form one, Durkee thinks focus on ourselves and we would’ve that it's more beneficial to play on been able to practice more,” the freshman team.

Ciaramitaro said. “I think we really At the moment the sport is noneeded to focus on our basics more, Madalyn Durkee cut because they are trying to like dribbling, passing, making FRESHMAN draw a higher number of girls to layups, just making sure we had the come and try out. Athletic director basics down before we went on to a Brian Shelson said that each year higher level.” if there are enough girls to form a Durkee has an opportunity freshmen team, they will. that Ciaramitaro didn’t have when she played, “I hope it impacts (the freshmen) in a positive way but she expects to take full advantage of the because you get more people out, you get more people unique situation she has been presented with. to see them play, and when you get revenue for the The season is still young and Durkee has seen one sport itself, which is awesome,” Shelson said. thing they could improve on by the end of the season.

Even though the team is new this season, their “We’re a small team. so there are only eight of us. jerseys are passed down from former varsity and JV Most of us are close, but others are kind of distant," teams. As the varsity receives new uniforms, their Durkee said. Hopefully by the end of the season there jerseys from the previous season gets passed down will be a better relationship.” the JV, and JV’s jerseys from the previous season get passed down to the freshmen.

The jerseys are one of the easier things to get for the freshmen. Scheduling games and gym time for practice creates more work for Shelson and squeezes

“

It's been a lot of fun and a lot of hard work at the same time.

“

EVA CIARAMITARO

EYE ON THE PRIZE | Junior Eva Ciaramitaro shooting a free throw at South during a JV match in 2014.

SPORTS

Spreading school

North Pointe – Friday, Dec. 16, 2016 – 12

spirit

KATIE SNOW

Students collaborate to plan sporting event festivities throughout the year

representing as many as possible, so we’re trying to pull from multiple sports, not just a few.”

Meetings are scheduled for once a month. The council does a lot of community service such as EDITOR & ASSISTANT EDITOR participating in Student Association’s annual Adopt-a-Family. They also plan to go some elementary Volleyball and softball player Rebecca Alway divides her time between athletic and academic schools and do some reading to the younger kids.

The council plans to do a fundraiser in January or February for the American Legion Veterans pursuits. She’s also recently added athletic council to her schedule to help spread sportsmanship and Administration Hospital and also wants to help with the field days in spring at the elementary schools. promote leadership at North.

Alway doesn’t have as much experience as Murray does on the council, but she has already started One way the the council encourages this is participating in activities like Battle of the Fans, a to get accustomed to what sorts of things the council does and the way it operates.

Michigan High School Athletic Association contest that highlights the “We talk about how we can get more people at our games and what charity we can best student sections across the state. do or what themes we can do for the student section, like U.S.A. or tie dye,” “You make a video of our cheer sections at one of our really big Alway said. games and send it in and win,” Alway said. “We really just try to come The council attended a summit in Mount Clemens last year along with a up with ways to get everybody at the sports games and pumped up for sportsmanship meeting in Ann Arbor this year. At these meetings, they learned some it.” of the things other schools do, talked about sportsmanship and how to be respectful Senior Max Murray was selected to the athletic council at the towards other schools, the referees and the community. beginning of last year. The athletic department selects the six girls and The athletic council does more than just talk about sports or sportssix boys. Murray represents boys soccer when the council meets. related events.

“I know that lacrosse isn’t there or swimmers, but the majority is They help out the community and make the atmosphere in the school more inviting, represented,” Murray said. “I don’t think it’s all of (the teams), and the members of the council strive for this in their respective sports. but most are.”

“We’re just focusing on getting good student sections at events, and then it The council dates back to the tenure of former athletic director Max Murray translates to the players on and off the field,” Murray said. “It’s just trying to get our Carmen Kennedy. After she left, her replacement, Ben Banfield, didn’t SENIOR athletics to promote good and respectful sportsmanship to other teams and around actively pursue it. the community.”

Then, two years ago, when Brian Shelson replaced Bandfield as AD, athletic secretary Teresa Alway said she sees it benefiting the North community.

Bennett suggested reviving the council, and the staff started to involve the student body more in it.

“Personally, I’d like to get to more sporting events that you wouldn’t normally attend,” she said. “I Since the MHSAA has a sportsmanship and leadership program, Bennett thought that rejuvenating think we’re doing a really good job helping to win battle of the fans for the upcoming years because the council would be a good idea to promote leadership within the school at sporting events.

“We formed a group based on recommendations from coaches of juniors and seniors,” Bennett that would be really exciting and just setting a good example for younger kids that are going to feed said. “We have six juniors and six seniors, so we try to find kids that are in multiple sports so they are into North.”

By Sonny Mulpuri & Billy Steigelman

“

We’re just focusing on getting good student sections at events, and then it translates to the players on and off the field.

“

Sophomore goaltender shoots for success McLellan strives to improve her game as starting goalie on boys varsity hockey team

By Anna Post EDITOR

Growing up, sophomore Julia McLellan would do anything to put on a pair of skates.

When she was 5, her father, John McLellan, would take Julia and her brother to play ice hockey at the Grosse Pointe Woods Lakefront Park. It became her favorite hobby.

From beating up the walls with her father’s oversized hockey stick to slap-shooting shoes, Julia has loved the sport as long as she can remember.

Her passion for the game spurred from those memories at the rink, and the game quickly became more than playing around with her dad’s equipment in the basement.

It has translated into a major part of her life and inspired her to want to play at the college level.

“I want to play college hockey. Division I to be exact,” Julia said. “That’s my dream—to go play—and I got a lot of work to do, but I also have a couple more years to do that.”

When Julia began playing for AAA hockey teams, she realized that being a part of a travel team takes up too much time. She wanted to find a team that would provide her with the necessary tools to improve in the sport she loves without having to commit to a grueling travel schedule. After playing on a girls travel team last year, Julia wanted to find a team that was able to fulfill these needs.

With the help of position coach Nicolette Franck, Julia and her family thought that playing for the North boys hockey team would allow her to focus on her academics and other sports without having to commit to a grueling travel schedule.

“Talking through with the family, they looked at boys varsity hockey (as) a viable option mainly because it’s close to home, and they skate every day, so in terms of training, she gets the best training that she could ever get just from being on the ice everyday,” Franck said. “The training that she is getting at this time in her career is ideal.”

Last year, Julia practiced with the boys hockey team during the winter and decided to try out for the team this year.

Under North’s athletic regulations, female athletes are allowed to play on a boys team.

According to the MHSAA rulebook, “While the MHSAA does not have the authority to promote specific interpretations or to rule on compliance issues regarding federal and state laws, it does believe that all concerned should take steps to promote the spirit and intent of gender and ethnicity equity.” This allows any high school to chose their own policies regarding this matter.

Athletic director Brian Shelson stated that Julia is allowed to play for the boys team.

“The rule allows any female student to play any male sport,” Shelson said. “I had (a similar case) at another school. I was an AD where we had a girl that chose to swim with the boys team. That’s an example where it is the exact same sport. I guess hockey is the same, as well. And they are allowed to with no penalty. The thing is, she needs to compete at only the boys level.”

As a member of a boys sport, this means that Julia must only compete in boys high school matches. Every match Julia plays in is recorded in the boys stat book.

For example, if Julia had broken a previous record by a female athlete on the girls hockey team, she wouldn’t be able to have the new record recorded because she plays for the boys team.

When Julia walked into the first boys varsity practice, the thought of being the only girl on the team wasn’t something that worried her. She looks at this opportunity to play at a higher level and improve her skills.

Julia admires the team’s competitiveness and sees their mental and physical edge on the rink as a way to strengthen her abilities.

“Right now, I am in a more positive environment where everyone wants each other to succeed,” Julia said. “The guys do like to shoot more often, where on the girls team, they try to make the best shot that they can. The difference in play just makes me a better defender because I’m able to handle different situations better, and I’m able to grow not only as a goaltender, but as a person.”

John is pleased with his daughter’s accomplishments so far this season.

JU LI “I’m very proud of her,” he said. “Playing with the A M CL boys is a faster and stronger game, and she really likes the EL LA competition level, and I’m very proud about how she has N been playing.”

Franck has seen tremendous improvements in Julia’s play after watching the boys hockey team play against Cranbrook Schools on Nov. 18. Although the team lost 0-4, she sees a difference in Julia’s confidence and leadership on the ice.

“I think that this is the best time in her development to be playing this level,” Franck said.

“She’ll develop confidence, mental toughness and just from the regular routine, it’ll let her develop as a player.”

As Julia continues to play at the boys level, she expects to not only improve her skills, but also gain recognition from colleges.

“Playing with the boys team, I’m gaining more experience as a goaltender and facing more challenging play,” Julia said. “I’m preparing along with developing myself to play college hockey in the future.”