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ON CAMPUS PAGE 4 Alumni reunite for annual luncheon Thursday, Dec. 21.
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Young appointed interim assistant principal
By Sofia Ketels, Katelynn Mulder & Emily Widgren PAGE EDITORS & STAFF REPORTER
by a long-term substitute for the rest of the school year. Salisbury described hearing about Young’s new position as bittersweet. “I am happy for him that he has a great opportunity, but it is a bummer for me as a student because I think he is a great teacher, so I will be missing that class,” Salisbury said. “I'm sure whoever they will bring in will
teacher. According to her, a concern among Hill and her classmates is the fact that they are in an AP class could possibly complicate things for them as they prepare for Going from English teacher to assistant principal their AP test in May. seems like an unlikely jump for someone to make in one "I feel like it’s going to have a large impact on my semester. But in anticipation of Tom Beach's retirement, class because we’re getting a new teacher. So, adjusting Geoffrey Young is preparing to do just that and take the to that new teacher and that new teacher adjusting to us," interim position Jan. 22. Hill said. "The AP test is very important, Young’s position for the rest of this year and changing teachers in general is kind is temporary, and the district will hire a of stressful." permanent replacement this summer. For Young said that the transition will bring the time being, Young sees the position as a lot of change for his students, and that an opportunity to interact with the school the biggest change for him in the transition in a different light and give him a different will be his relationships with them. While perspective from the 18 years he has spent he said that not seeing his five classes at North as a teacher. every day will be a big adjustment, he also “I think I get to see a different aspect said that he will continue to be present and of the school. I get a chance to support a involved with both the long-term substitute different vision,” Young said. “Not just and his classes in order to minimize any my own classroom vision, but the vision of distraction to learning as much as possible. the school as a whole. That means I get to “I’ll make sure I’m around for students work with teachers in a different way and so that they won't feel like I’m absent from work with students in a different way. I'm their world, and neither will I feel that excited for the challenge of that newness.” absence from them,” Young said. To sophomore Nia Crutcher however, While he feels it was a bit of a seeing Young take the role is more than just disappointment to change teachers at the an uneventful transition. Seeing a minority semester, Salisbury also believes that it take the position of assistant principal was will be a nice change to see somebody surprising for her to see. She believes that more students are familiar with in the Young’s new job title is a momentous event main office. He said that he doesn't know to watch happen during her time at North. many people in the administration and Young said he hopes to be both a role now with Young there, it'll be welcoming model and example to students of any race to see a recognizable face. at North, and that it can be motivating to “It will make the administration for see people from one's background succeed. some people less scary with Mr. Young,” “I think it's always important to have Salisbury said. “They will see him and representation, whether it's a matter of they will see a familiar face.” race, gender or any of the other things that Despite her concerns about transitioning sometimes define us. When you see other between teachers at the semester, Hill people who look like you who belong to is looking forward to Young becoming your group succeeding, it really can be interim assistant principal. She believes inspirational,” Young said. “So if I can that the qualities he showed as a teacher SOFIA KETELS serve that role, I also look forward though will have a positive influence on the school MOVING UP | English teacher Geoffrey Young sits at his desk in his classroom. Young will be to being a good example for any other interim assistant principal starting Jan. 22. coming from an assistant principal. student who would like to be in that sort of “He always tries to do the best he position regardless of color.” be great, but they will obviously have a different teaching can to find a good solution to something without just Many other students such as juniors Sam Salisbury style then Young does, so I think this will just have to be completely disregarding somebody else’s opinion,” and Monica Hill, who are both in Young’s AP Language a chance for us to adapt to a new person coming in and Hill said. “I think he will make a really good impact class, agree that the transition will be anything but teaching us.” on the school as an assistant principal.” ordinary. Because Young will be taking the position Hill agrees with Salisbury, saying that she expects the just after midterms are over, his classes will be taught transition to be a little bit stressful because of the new
Senior wins international design contest
TO DO AND
JUST NOT ENOUGH TIME TO PREPARE." PAGE 2
"IT'S IMPORTANT
MANAGE STRESS RATHER "GET THAN INFORMED STARTING AND MAKE BAD YOUR VOICE HABITS, LIKE HEARD. WE ESCAPING, CANNOT AVOIDING OR AFFORD BECOMING OVERLYTO LOSE ANXIOUS." ." THEM PAGE 7 TO
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FRIDAY, JAN. 12, 2018
ADAM WEINKAUF
BEST OF SHOW | Senior Adam Weinkauf's first-place-winning poster design in the North American International Auto Show contest. His poster will be displayed at the show, and Weinkauf will receive a cash prize of $500 and recognition at the auto show.
@thenorthpointe www.northpointenow.org
VOLUME 50 | ISSUE 8
News Briefs
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Editorial On Campus
By Lindsey Ramsdell & Michael Hartt EDITOR-IN-CHIEF & STAFF REPORTER Every year, art teacher Michael Lamb has his Computer Graphics students enter the North American International Auto Show poster design contest. In the past five years Lamb and his students have participated, one student has earned an honorable mention, but no winners. This year, however, senior Adam Weinkauf won first place. “I was really surprised (when I won). I just turned in the assignment and kind of forgot about it, but a week or two after Mr. Lamb told me I won which really shocked me,” Weinkauf said. The contest requires applicants to digitally design a poster that promotes the NAIAS, which will be held at the Cobo Center Jan. 14-28. Designs had to include certain elements such as: Cobo Hall, the year and the show’s official title or acronym. Weinkauf’s poster was chosen out of 826 applicants, according to Lamb, and will be displayed during the show. First place also earned him a $500 cash prize, free Auto Show tickets and a spot in the official brochure. Throughout his childhood, Weinkauf always had a passion for art and later pursued an interest in graphic design during his high school career. “Initially I started drawing on paper for as long as I could remember,” he said. “In high school, the Computer Graphics course caught my eye and that helped me explore digital drawing.” The contest combined several of Weinkauf’s interests. He would like to go into automotive design in the future, and said he will put the cash prize towards his education. 3 4
Life Reviews
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Lamb encourages his entire Computer Graphics class to enter the contest by making it a class assignment. It is something he has presented to his classes every year. “It’s really an excellent chance for kids in my Computer Graphics classes to do a real-world assignment,” Lamb said. “They’re not just doing an assignment for me, it’s actually out there being judged by professionals.” Senior Emily Cherry is also in the class and participated in the contest. Her design consisted of a white car with a background of the Detroit skyline. Overall, Cherry liked to think of the contest as a learning opportunity and a chance to have fun while using her creativity. “I think the experience was good for me because it pushed me to create something I maintained pride in even though I knew others would be judging me,” Cherry said. “And it helped me learn to have more confidence in my art.” The class spent about three weeks of their time perfecting designs. Throughout the process, Lamb said that most of his students had fun and gained valuable skills from the experience. Although Weinkauf and his friends say they were surprised by the results, Cherry feels differently. “When Adam won, I wasn’t surprised, but I was very proud,” Cherry said. “He’s really talented when it comes to graphic design, so when I heard he won, it made sense. I’m glad he won because I know he put a lot of work into his design, and he’s a good representation of the talented art students at North.”
In-Depth Sports
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NEWS
2 – Friday, Jan. 12, 2018 – North Pointe
IN BRIEF High school information night held Jan. 10 At the annual high school information night on Jan. 10, counselor Jennifer Sherman expected at least 100 visitors to attend. The orientation is for eighth grade students and their parents who will join North in the coming year. While the informational meeting is set to begin inside the PAC at 7 p.m., visitors have the chance to see the rest of the campus, including some of the classrooms. These guests listened to the department chairs about classes, course curricula and the experiences provided through school. “Mrs. (Kate) Murray gives a presentation about what makes GPN an exceptional place to learn and grow,” Sherman said via email. “She will also highlight unique opportunities that students have both in and out of the classroom.”
Students perform at solo and ensemble festival For the upcoming Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association (MSBOA) district solo and ensemble festival, trombone player junior Katie LoPorto hopes to win the highest award with her groups. According to www.msboa-xvi.org, the performances will occur Jan. 20 at Rochester High School. Those that plan on playing must be involved in the instrumental program. The event tests performers on their musical abilities by the songs that they have chosen and practiced out of a selection of pieces. LoPorto will play with three different groups, including a quintet, a trombone choir which features eight other trombone players, and a quartet. She also said that they rehearse once a week. “We’ve been working really hard, and we’re hoping for a first division, which is the highest, but we’ve been really dedicated to it,” she said.
Cheer team participates in competition North’s Competitive Cheer team is prepping for the MAC Gold competition Jan. 10. Their score at this competition will count towards finals at the end of the season. The team competed against many different schools at the meet, including rival Grosse Pointe South. The meet took place at Marysville High School. Cheer Captain Olivia Martin said she is excited for future meets, as she and the team are currently planning and practicing lots of different stunts and is working on something special. “We won't do our new stunt on our next competition, but we all feel very confident we might be able to use it for our second one,” Martin said. The team has three competitions left.
Increase in required school days leads to earlier midterm exams By Syeda Rizvi PAGE EDITOR This year, as required by state law, the district increased the number of school days students are required to attend from 174 to 180. As a result, one week of winter break was removed, and midterm exams are being held earlier than have been in the past. To put into perspective, last year winter break lasted 12 days, from Monday, Dec. 26 to Friday, Jan. 6, while exams were from Tuesday, Jan. 24 to Friday, Jan. 27. This year, break was shortened to nine days (Monday, Dec. 25 to Tuesday, Jan. 2), and exams will be Tuesday, Jan. 16 through Friday, Jan. 19. This decision was made by surveying teachers and members of the community, and majority voted to remove one week of winter break, according to Greg Johnson, treasurer of the Grosse Pointe Education Association. The other options included removing midwinter break and having school extend into summer vacation. English teacher Alyssa Sandoval said she felt that removing one week from the winter break was the right choice because during mid-winter, students tend to feel “burnt out” again, giving them an opportunity to recharge instead of having a long period of time without any break. One of the main reasons exam week was bumped up earlier because of the way the calendar dates fell. Since students are returning from break earlier, it was easier to justify starting exams sooner because students will have a similar amount of “prep” dates as they had in the past. Johnson, a math teacher at North, agrees and said that exams moving up shouldn’t make too much of a difference. “It’s still basically the halfway point,”
JAN. 16 JAN. 17 JAN. 18 JAN. 19
By Colin Haroutunian & Taylor Mitchell
Johnson said. “There's no perfect way of going 90 (days) and 90 because the 90th day of school is during the middle of the week. We can’t have exams during that time, so the date simply had to move.” “Having exams earlier in the year adds a bit of pressure on both students and teachers. While teachers have truly been preparing their students all year for the midterm exams, teachers still need to ensure that their midterm preparation materials are prepared to decrease student anxieties,” Sandoval said via email. “Similarly, the lack of an additional few days to prepare may weigh on students. Many students have an increased amount of anxiety around exam time to begin with, so losing a few extra days may cause a raised sense of stress." Sophomore Sophia LaRose believes that this decision has its pros and cons, but says most of her peers aren’t in favor of this new law to begin with. “I do think break should be relaxing, and with having exams a little closer, the pressure builds over break to begin studying,” LaRose said. “However, I also think that having break closer will help because you have all day to study and the exams being closer after may help the information stay in your mind more than if you just had the weekend before to refresh your memory. I do think it’s a little unfair that our break is being cut short by three days, but it also helps because that is three more days of review and chances to ask questions before we go into the midterms.” LaRose said she appreciates that teachers hand out midterm review guides before break because even though the break is meant for family, she believes that completing them is an option. To her, teachers don’t force students to complete them: they are an option for anyone who chooses to prepare
beforehand, and this break gives students ample time to study. Unlike LaRose, sophomore Abigail Gretkierewicz is completely against the idea of cutting break and having earlier exams. To Gretkierewicz, this impeded her vacation in Florida, limiting her personal time that she dedicates to her family and to her diving team. Gretkierewicz is taking AP U.S. History, and she said exams moving closer is taking a toll on her. “The AP class I take makes things a lot more stressful. There is a lot of information to memorize and writing to do and just not enough time to prepare,” Gretkierewicz said. “I mean we are talking about an entire semester of information.” Being on vacation, Gretkierewicz said she has no time to do the reviews, making it unfair for teachers to give them out. Sandoval said she realizes that exams being moved up may cause many people to be frustrated by the lack of an extra vacation week, but in the end, she said it’s just something they had to do. Her advice to students is to take things slow. “I was a relatively anxious student growing up, so I get why some students might be feeling a significant amount of stress around this time of year, especially with the exam dates being moved up a week. To those who are feeling affected, I'd like to remind them to slow things down, take a deep breath and remember that, at the end of the day, the scores you receive on these tests do not define your worth,” Sandoval said. “As long as you have been paying attention in class, completing assignments when you are requested to do so and studying a bit every week, you have been prepping for this test since the beginning of the school year. A few days won't change much. You'll receive the grade you earned.”
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EDITORIAL
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POINTE
“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.” BOARD OF EDUCATION POLICY Abbey Cadieux EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Lindsey Ramsdell EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Caitlin Bush MANAGING EDITOR
Alex Harring MANAGING EDITOR
Anna Post EDITOR-AT-LARGE
Michal Ruprecht EDITOR-AT-LARGE
Allison Lackner Sonny Mulpuri BUSINESS MANAGER WEB MANAGING EDITOR
Sofia Ketels PAGE EDITOR
Zoe Graves Syeda Rizvi PAGE EDITOR PAGE EDITOR Our editorial represents the opinion of the North Pointe Editorial Board consisting of the editors above and staff reporter Rory Angott. Members who have a conflict of interest with an editorial topic do not partake in that meeting or vote.
ANNA POST
OUR EDITORIAL
Building global citizens requires diverse leaders
Throughout the years, school systems across the United States have made efforts to introduce minority faculty. But, as the student population continues to become more diverse in terms of ethnicity, religion gender and sexual identity, the education system and its faculty must accommodate this shift. Naming English teacher Geoffrey Young as interim assistant principal is a step in the right direction, but it’s just a start. As the demand for diversity within school faculty increases, the racial and ethnic makeup of the teaching staff throughout our school system doesn't reflect the growing trends. In the 2011 Schools and Staffing Survey — a nationally representative survey of teachers and principals — done by the U.S Department of Education, 82 percent of public school teachers identified themselves as white. In a similar survey conducted by the DoEd in 2000, 84 percent of public school teachers identified as white. While a more diverse group of applicants have entered the profession in recent years, their numbers have not kept pace with the perpetual K–12 student demographic shift. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, 45 percent of students are minorities, and only 17.5 percent of teachers with differing racial and religious backgrounds are present in the educator workforce. In fact, according to a report by the DoED, every state has a higher population of students of color than teachers of color. The statistics reveal drastic, yet predictable imbalances in the education system across the United States — imbalances that have in turn, caused tension amongst minority students, their fellow classmates and teachers. For students with mixed backgrounds, representation is important, especially within the classroom. With strong representation in our staff, students can relate to and establish a deeper connection with a professional that looks like them or even shares a similar life story. Teachers are role models for the youth, and students seek inspiration from those who have the ability to positively influence their lives. North is 30 percent AfricanAmerican, and as Young says, seeing people “who belong to your group succeeding, it really can be inspirational.” At North, we’re a cultural melting pot that consists of numerous ethnic and religious backgrounds, one which has been growing more diverse in the past decade. Nationally, as the percentage of minorities continues to increase at the current rate, researchers predict minority students to makeup 56 percent of the student population by 2024. With all of these statistics in mind, the resolution seems easy: make a conscious effort to introduce varying minorities into the workforce. However, when delving deeper into the matter, the issue at hand becomes more concrete. According to the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education, out of all people getting into the education field, is it made up of more than 80 percent of whites, while 15 percent of students are black and the remaining five percent come from other racial or religious backgrounds. Similar to the bachelor degree recipients who majored in education, those who went on to teach and those who were certified to teach were also predominantly white. While schools push for a diversified environment, there are very few individuals with different racial and religious attributes. This issue only adds to the social divide, making underrepresentation in the workforce a detrimental problem with no immediate solution. The limited number of minority educators makes this cultural shift extremely difficult. However, despite the statistical proof, these broken bridges within our school system — whether they are broken by race, ethnicity, religion, gender or sexuality — can be mended over time. By creating a welcoming learning and working environment, it will allow professionals from all ends of the minority spectrum to become more involved with today’s youth. This positive reinforcement not only would promote a welcoming and productive professional and educational environment, but can also inspire students from all backgrounds to pursue education in their future. Through extensive outreach to colleges and high schools, educators will be able to spread awareness in regards to the importance of diversity and collaboration.
North Pointe – Friday, Jan. 12, 2018 – 3
Affirmative actuality
I’ve just finished applying to college. And like every newly enlightened senior who’s navigated the fiery hellscape that is the application process, I’ve made a few observations. There’s obviously the cliché realization EDITOR'S DESK that I should’ve started AMBER BRAKER my essays sooner and the obligatory angst of impending rejection. But overshadowing all of that is the sense that I’ll only get into college because I happen to be half black. Well at least that’s what I’ve heard. I’ve endured jealous peers’ congratulations on winning the genetic lottery, the grand prize being a free pass to any college I choose. I’ve stomached jokes from well-meaning classmates about how my personal essay on my struggle with identity is me playing the “race card.” I’ve even been preached at about the unfairness of it all. “Why should a less accomplished person get in over me just because of their race? That’s discrimination,” a close friend once told me. For the most part, I’ve held my tongue, in part because of an insecurity that they might be right. But looking back through history, I’ve come to accept that they’re wrong. African Americans have consistently and systematically been denied the educational, financial and even geographical opportunities available to white students. Under the legal concept of “separate but equal” established in 1896, black children were forced to attend segregated schools. These were overwhelmingly inferior to the neighboring white schools, receiving a fraction of the funding and having fewer supplies and less experienced teachers. This remained legal until the 1954 Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education. The Court ruled that schools must be integrated with “all deliberate speed.” But it would take 34 years until just 45 percent of black students attended majority white schools. Because, once
segregation was no longer the law of the land, people found loopholes to continue it. This included refusing to rent houses and apartments to African Americans in certain areas and practicing redlining, a racially biased policy enforced by the Federal Housing Administration. The FHA would not insure mortgages in or near African American communities. Meanwhile, the government was subsidizing the construction of whole neighborhoods in white areas. And though these practices were eventually outlawed, the damage has been done. The result is a cycle of poverty that few ever break free from. I would know, as my mother was one of the lucky few to make it out. The course of my grandmother’s life was determined by systematic oppression. But she wanted more for my mom and aunt. So she worked and sacrificed to send them to private school and give them every possible advantage. Both my mom and her sister attended college and went on to have successful careers in engineering. But they are the exception, not the rule. The reality for most minority students is the opposite. Blacks and Hispanics are still largely underrepresented at the nation’s top colleges, even after decades of policies aimed at eliminating this disparity. According to the New York Times, in 2015 blacks and Hispanics made up a total of 35 percent of the college-age population. However, only 19 percent of the freshman classes of elite schools came from these ethnic groups. This trend goes back as far as the 1980s. Popular opinion states that affirmative action gives minorities — or half minorities like myself — a magical competitive edge against more qualified non-minority students. But this is not what it does nor was meant to do. Affirmative action policies were put in place to rectify the wrongs of earlier generations. They don’t give minorities an advantage over white students. They help us catch up to them.
"I'm a freshman, and I've never had him, but I feel like it'll affect his students because he's going to be vice principal, and the students will get a new Abaigeal MacDonald
"Mr. (Tom) Beach is a nice guy, but when he's dealing with stuff, he always feels the need to act very forcefully, so I feel like Mr. Young will a better contrast." Naudia Skye
"He's a good person, but I actually think the English department will suffer because he is such a great teacher, and he's going to be vice principal halfway through the year." Natalie Wietecha
FRESHMAN
SOPHOMORE
JUNIOR
YOUR TURN: How do you feel about Mr. Young as the new interim assistant principal? By Emily Widgren
"I'm really happy because I love Mr. Young. I've had him for two classes, and I just think he's a really good guy, and he'll be good for the school."
“Mr. Young is an awesome teacher and a great colleague to have in the English department. I know he's going to make an enormous difference as the assistant principal.”
"I'm very excited... Mr. Young is an outstanding teacher and advocate for all students and an instructional leader, and I think he's going to be a great addition to our team."
Illeana Barragan
Charles Crimando
Kate Murray
SENIOR
ENGLISH TEACHER
PRINCIPAL
NORTH
POINTE
EDITORS-IN-CHIEF: Abbey Cadieux, Lindsey Ramsdell MANAGING EDITORS: Caitlin Bush, Alex Harring EDITORS-AT-LARGE: Anna Post, Michal Ruprecht BUSINESS MANAGER: Allison Lackner WEBSITE MANAGING EDITOR: Sonny Mulpuri WEBSITE EDITORS: Erin Kaled, Billy Steigelman PAGE EDITORS: Rory Angott, Elizabeth Ballinger, Amber Braker, Zoe Graves, Sofia Ketels, Katelynn Mulder, Syeda Rizvi, Katie Thomas STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS: Marina Gabriel, Jillian LaPere, Rachel Malinowski, Alyssa McLarty, Ashley Sexton, Nya Tatum, Kennedy Williams STAFF REPORTERS: Nick Asimakis, Arzoo Chhaya, Jordan Craighead, Michael Hartt, Sophie Kehrig, Mariah Loper, Brooklyn McWhorter, Taylor Mitchell, Abi Murray, Amelia Nowicki, Adam Schwartz, Cairington Stahl, Benjamin Uram, Emily Widgren, Hannah Zalewski INTERNS: JoAnna Alexander, Charlie Bernas, Aundrianna Boles, Savannah Burguron, Maggie Carron, Nadia Fama, Colin Haroutunian, Donald Hightower, Raven Jason, Cheryl Knorp, Emily McCloskey, Preston
Rossignol, Katlyn Rood-Ballard, Amelia Schock, Sydney Semack, Sarah Shanley, Jonathan Smith, Cordy Wettstein The North Pointe is edited and produced by 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. Readers are encouraged to write letters to the editor. Letters are edited only for length and are screened for libel and obscenity. 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. The North Pointe is printed on 100 percent recycled paper. CONTACT US 707 Vernier Road Grosse Pointe Woods MI, 48236 Email: gpnnorthpointe@gmail.com Phone: 313.432.3248 Twitter: @TheNorthPointe Website: northpointenow.org FACULTY ADVISER: Shari Adwers, MJE
MY TURN RORY ANGOTT
Save our schools I wish I could say I remember my first day of school, but I definitely don’t. Considering the nature of such an occasion my mom probably took about 500 pictures. Knowing myself, I probably took it like a champ, no tears shed — but my mom says I cried the entire day. At that point I was in kindergarten. Five years old, and I probably wasn’t really sure what was going on. Well, now I’m a sophomore. Fifteen years old, and I’m still not sure what’s going on. One thing I do know is that education is broken. Teachers are dissatisfied, as are students and parents across the country. Yet no one — especially politicians — is talking about it. The weariness surrounding education is rooted in low salaries for teachers, pure boredom in students and unsatisfactory test scores. Scores are falling, some students have no desire to learn and some of the people who are quite literally shaping the future of America are struggling to make ends meet. Something needs to change. For over a century, classrooms have been the same with the exception of some advancements in technology. Regardless of these admittedly significant progressions, learning happens in essentially the exact same way. Students still sit in straight, rigid rows of desks exactly like they did a century ago, while society has moved out of those rows into something more natural. So-called technological advancements, like the model classroom here, are in brutal honesty, jokes. It’s a representation of what things could be. Keyword: could. Why are we wasting resources and money on something that is no more than a model? It could be said that we live in an immensely wasteful world, and we do, but when we are talking about the future of society, like in this case, we cannot cut costs or waste money on pointless things. Our teachers need to be paid more because, like I’ve said time and time again, without them, I wouldn’t be able to write this and you wouldn’t be able to read it. Our educational budget needs to be drastically increased, and the use of that money by school districts needs to be smart: placing students and teachers at the highest priority. Our curriculum needs to be modernized — less of “The Crucible” and more of “Between the World and Me.” Lesson plans need to be created in the context of the modern world and have every student and learning style considered. Our classrooms need to be changed to be made more human and make learning more inherent and natural. Countries like Finland that continue to get better every year in terms of their test results don’t have the rows or the formalities that are hallmarks of American classrooms. There, your math teacher’s name isn’t Mrs. Smith, it’s Lauren. Maybe what we call our teachers isn’t the biggest determining factor of our educational amelioration, but less formality creates an environment where we are more comfortable, more at home and more willing to learn. Don’t believe what you see on the internet about Finland having zero homework, that’s not true. But the homework it does have is minimal and it’s actually productive, unlike the 75 pages of reading, 50 algebra problems and whatever else you might be assigned night after grueling night. Finland’s education system is what ours should be. In the end, our teachers won’t be paid what they deserve and we won’t be learning a curriculum that looks like 2018 in classrooms that look like 2018 until society steps up and demands change. When the quality of schools rise, nations rise with it. Although our politicians may ignore it, making our country — and world — a better place starts with education reform.
ON CAMPUS
4 – Friday, Jan. 12, 2018 – North Pointe
There's no place like home
FACES IN THE CROWD
Class of 2017 alumni return for the annual luncheon Madeline on Thursday, Dec. 21 Winsininski Sophomore Madeline By Cairington Stahl & Halle Pepper STAFF REPORTER & INTERN
ALL PICTURES BY HALLE PEPPER
HAPPY REUNION | Gowri Yeramalli hugs a former classmate. Class of 2017 alumni had the opportunity to see and friends at a luncheon dedicated to their class provided by the school, and many dropped by the Union during the two hours the luncheon was going on. “I miss how easy (high school) was, and how everyone had classes together,” alumna Stephanie Roy said. “I miss how small this place is because in college, you don’t really see people as much, and it’s hard to meet and form relationships with new people.”
Winsininski has a deep passion for listening to music. Throughout her entire day, she relaxes herself with it — especially during hockey season. Hockey is a large part of Winsininski’s life, but when it gets stressful she turns to her favorite songs. “I love to listen to music. It’s my favorite thing to do,” she said. Winsininski’s favorite musician is the late Kurt Cobain, the former lead singer of the rock band Nirvana. The unique raspiness of his voice is one of the many factors that drew her to the band. “I’ve always been obsessed with his music every since I can remember,” Winsininski said. “I just like him as a person. I thought he was really interesting. I’ve read all the books out there on him.”
Catie Ekin
Similar to many others, freshman Catie Ekin isn’t 100 percent sure what she wants to do with her life. She dreams of writing science fiction books, but in whatever career she settles on, happiness is her main goal. “I struggle with getting everything done so I can do well in life,” Ekin said. “I want to have a good job, obviously. One that does not take up too much of my time, and I want to be happy with a million pets.” Despite not knowing what the future holds for her, Ekin is living her life and having fun with it. “I've thought about it and I honestly don't really know (what my purpose in the world is),” Ekin said. “I'm here, and I'm trying to make the most of it.” She says she wouldn't have gotten to this point in her life without the help and support of her cousin and her friends. Specifically, her cousin was close with her growing up, and helped her navigate life as a kid. “She taught me how to live and we were really close growing up and were still really close now.”
A WELCOME BACK FEAST | Jack Nelson eats during the luncheon. The event provided the Class of 2017 not only the chance to revisit with old friends but also with their old teachers. Nelson planned to walk around and reminisce. “I try to keep in contact with all my friends, but it’s still nice to see everything and everyone,” he said, “especially catching up with all the teachers.”
ROARS OF LAUGHTER | Alumni Grace Sexton and Ben Sliwinski joke with each other after a long time apart. Alumna Carmen Castronero enjoyed the chance to reconnect with the people she grew up with and went to school with her whole life. “I miss seeing people because I used to see these people like every single day for the past four years, some of which I’ve seen since kindergarten,” she said. “So it’s weird not seeing them all the time and not seeing the teachers I love. But, it’s good to come back here.”
SMILES FOR MILES | Alumnus Giuseppe Parison sits with former classmates Zion Golden and Malik Jones as they enjoy complimentary subs. Parison felt nostalgic when he came back to North. “It’s the time where all of us alumni get together for a reunion and just kind of reminisce, and meeting up with people we haven’t seen in a little while,” he said.
Maria Zaki
Traveling around the world is one of junior Maria Zaki’s dreams, and she is slowly exploring places in different countries with her family. “Our most recent trips were to Egypt and Spain. We go to Egypt because that is where our family is from, and it finally became safe enough to go visit them,” Zaki said. “I have also been to Costa Rica and Aruba.” There are many things that Zaki loves about traveling, but her favorite is being able to watch and take in how other people live. “I love to go to different parts of the world and see how other people live outside the U.S.,” she said. “It opens my eyes and makes me realize how glad I am to have what I have here and how thankful I am and should be.” Through her experiences, Zaki knows that she wants to continue traveling and exploring in the future. “I would love to help people around the world or do something with traveling and communications,” Zaki said. By Donald Hightower, Ray Jason & Nadia Fama
FIVE MINUTES WITH
Security Guard Matthew Muczynski By Erin Kaled WEB EDITOR
MATTHEW MUCZYNSKI
A MAN IN UNIFORM | Security guard Matthew Muczynski worked as a Detroit cop for eight months before becoming a security guard. "Working in Detroit was the most insane thing — shootings, what I did undercover. I did buys, I raided dope houses, we did stolen car units," Muczynski said.
Security guard Matthew Muczynski is no stranger to traveling, or the west side of the country. Two years ago, Muczynski got an all-expenses-paid vacation with his friend. Four-wheeling everywhere, he loved seeing the scenery and spending time with his friend. “He flew me into Arizona and he spent about ten thousand dollars on me,” Muczynski said. “My wife put me on the plane and got my clothes ready. So when we went to Vegas, he was throwing hundreds and letting me gamble. He was saying ‘I don’t care.’ It was just a blast. It was awesome.” Besides driving through Arizona and Nevada, Muczynski and his friend drove through California and spent time in a highrise that looked over the Pacific Ocean and mountains. At times, the weather was so warm that Muczynski
said the car’s air conditioning didn’t work. Besides the weather, he says that the locals are the nicest people he’s met. He was intrigued by the salt water pools that most people have as well. “Out west, they don’t use chlorine in their pools. Instead, it’s salt water. They would invite you into their house,” Muczynski said. “We went out two nights at the bars and they all invited us to their houses after the parties right on the beach. It was unbelievable — nicest people in the world.” Besides L.A., they drove through Compton. Driving back, he and his friend took Route 69. After a week and a half of driving through the southern states, such as Texas and Oklahoma, they arrived back in Michigan. “We drove Route 69 all the way up to Texas, through Mexico, Oklahoma, up to Missouri, and then from Missouri to home,” Muczynski said, “It was a great, great time. It was amazing.”
FAVORITE FOOTBALL TEAM I love and I always will the Detroit Lions. My uncle played for the Detroit Lions, but I will never love them more than Penn State College ... My uncle played football for Penn State, then he got drafted for the Lions.
FAVORITE MOVIE I love "Goodfellas." It’s my favorite movie. It’s with Ray Leona and Robert De Niro. I love all mafia movies, gangster movies. I love them all.
FAVORITE THINGS TO DO OUTSIDE SCHOOL I like to do everything with my kids and with my wife. We just watch movies — we love movies. We love going to restaurants. It's our main thing we do. Our kids love steak, so we hit the steak restaurants. Greektown, we go everywhere.
DO YOU HAVE PETS No, but I did have pets. I want a boxer and german shepard, I want them both.
LIFE
North Pointe – Friday, Jan.12, 2017 – 5
Sophomore juggles school and raising child By Zoe Graves & Audrey Boles PAGE EDITOR & INTERN
COURTESY OF ANDRIANA WILLIAMS
A LIFE IN HER ARMS | Sophomore Andriana Williams’ mother, Yolanda Williams, holds Andriana’s daughter, Skylar, who is now 10 months old. In the future, Andriana wants to be more than just a mother. Andriana’s goal is to be a Spanish and sign language interpreter. “One of the main reasons I got inspired was at church when I saw a person translating for my pastor,” Andriana said.
Although the Nickelodeon classic “Spongebob Squarepants” is not typically considered a memorable family bonding experience, it’s one of sophomore Andriana William’s favorite things to watch with her daughter. In February of her freshman year, Andriana gave birth to Skylar Michelle Williams, who is now almost 11 months old. Andriana said finding a name was a struggle, but once she saw Skylar, it felt right. “I went on the internet and looked up names, and I found that,” Williams said. “I got her middle name from my mom, and my little sister — (they’ve) got the same name. And then her last name is my last name, and that part was easy.” Some of Williams’ favorite things to do with Skylar are the small things — singing to her, watching TV and trying to teach her to walk. “I want her to be in a lot of activities and stuff — make sure she’s not lazy like I am,” Williams said. “And I want her to be interactive with a lot of stuff, be friendly.” Andriana’s mother, Yolanda Williams, said that despite initially finding it hard to accept that Andriana had Skylar at such a young age, she thinks it’s important for her to completely support both her daughter and Skylar. “She’s doing a really good job. She handles everything she can. I handle everything financially, but everything else she has under control,” Yolanda said. “I feel like it’s brought us closer because she needs (me) more than she ever needed me before.” Since Andriana had Skylar, Yolanda has noticed many significant changes in her daughter. She said she’s seen her mature and become more responsible. One of Andriana’s biggest supporters outside her family has been her closest friend, sophomore Taniya Jones. The two have known each other since fifth grade, but Jones said she realized they were best friends the summer before they started high school. “She was comfortable enough to walk in my house without permission,” Jones said jokingly. “Who does that if we’re just associates? She basically was treating my house like it was her house.”
When Andriana’s family can’t babysit Skylar, Jones pitches in. Andriana said that normally either her mom or her grandmother will watch Skylar when she’s at school, but Jones will sometimes babysit after school. Although being a mother at age 15 wasn’t necessarily what Andriana had in mind, she’s not letting it stop her from going after what she wants in terms of her future and her education. Her mother hopes for her to complete her education so she can be successful and give Skylar the life she deserves, which is exactly was Andriana plans to do. “As of now my purpose in this world is to provide a successful life for my daughter Skylar, and to graduate from high school and work my way up to college,” Andriana said. “I want to have a Spanish major and study to be a sign language interpreter.” Languages and being able to travel and speak to new people have always interested Andriana, and seeing how f luently her own teachers speak Spanish inspired her to pursue a career in Spanish. The motivation to learn sign language came from watching the Freeform show “Switched At Birth,” which centers around two girls, one of whom is deaf. Her interest was fueled further when she saw someone interpreting for her pastor at church. “I feel bad for people that can’t hear,” she said. “It would make me feel good to know that my profession is helping people.” Although taking on Spanish, sign language and motherhood is a lot, Andriana said this experience has made her stronger and helped her realize she can do anything she sets her mind to, whether that’s in school, professionally or as a mother. Jones has been supportive in this way since she found out Andriana was pregnant, encouraging her to keep the baby and stay in school. “It was a struggle when it first happened … then as (Skylar) got older, I kind of got used to it, and it became easier,” Andrianna said. “It made me realize how much of a hardworking person I am, and I can actually get through tough times and stuff without breaking.”
Students partake in Bitcoin’s rise By Michal Ruprecht & Savannah Burguron EDITOR-AT-LARGE & INTERN Instead of working at a restaurant or shop, sophomore Charlie Ramsdell goes to www.coinbase.com to make money. Since September, Ramsdell has invested in digital currencies like Bitcoins and doubled his money. Bitcoin is the first decentralized digital cryptocurrency, meaning it’s not controlled by a government. It is a digital cryptocurrency that allows users to transfer money via the internet without any middlemen. Since its creation in early 2009, one Bitcoin has grown in worth from less than $1 to over $20,000 on Dec. 7, 2017, according to the New York Times. The exponential growth started in 2017, with Bitcoin processing $2 billion worth of transactions every day, a 10-fold increase in 2017, Forbes Magazine reported. Since the supply of Bitcoins has remained the same, business teacher Dennis Koch said their value is increasing because of the increase in demand. “Bitcoin is, in a sense, the new phenomenon,” Koch said. “(It) involves really a lot of speculation on behalf of American people and the world to invest in a new currency.” According to www.coincentral.com, the Coinbase app and website is one of the most popular exchanges that sells Bitcoins because the interface is beginner friendly. However, trading fees on Coinbase are higher than on other exchanges that Ramsdell uses like Poloniex. Because Bitcoin isn’t backed by any government, it echnically has no value. Koch said people accept Bitcoins because others accept and trade it. He added that the cryptocurrency is reconfiguring the investing world because more students like Ramsdell are getting interested in Bitcoin and investment. “I think it’s great for students because it has aroused interest in investing for them, albeit it’s a little bit risky, but at least students are talking about investing,” Koch said. “It’s giving students some exposure to the world of investing and has them interested in learning more about business and learning more about stocks and their futures, which in a sense to me are all good things.”
Although Bitcoin has dramatically increased in value, senior Daruk Garlapati said Bitcoin is too volatile. He did a project on the currency for AP Macroeconomics and is interested in investing, but said he wouldn’t invest in Bitcoin because of its fluctuating price. He added that if students are properly experienced and know how to invest in stocks, they should invest in the currency. “Investing in it can be very risky. It could either go very high in a day, or it could crash, or the price could go very low, and that could be very harmful to interact with,” Garlapati said. “It’s very risky, and it could possibly make students lose a lot of money.” Koch hasn’t invested in Bitcoin either. He agrees with Garlapati and said student and intermediate investors usually cannot establish enough research about an investment like Bitcoin, so they should avoid buying it. Koch said he teaches his business classes about Bitcoin and added that in class, students compete in an online stock market game called MarketWatch where the goal is to invest $100,000 in any stock. He said this experience allows them to have exposure to Bitcoin and other stocks. Even though Ramsdell said he won’t buy more Bitcoins, he plans on continuing to invest in lesser-known currencies like Nav Coin. He added that though it’s a currency, he only uses Bitcoin as an investment and enjoys the volatility of it. “I think students are some of the best people to invest in Bitcoin because they don’t really have any financial risk at the moment,” Ramsdell said. “They would probably be the most practical people to invest.” Even if students don’t invest in Bitcoin, Koch said investing is important early on. He added that he’s interested in the outcome of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. “It’s going to be an interesting ride. It’s so new and so different,” he said. “The world’s greatest economists and investors still don’t have 100 percent of their finger on top of it, so stay tuned month-bymonth to see what’s going to happen. I’m curious. I’m excited about it.”
SOPHIE KEHRIG
REVIEWS
6 – Friday, Jan. 12, 2018 – North Pointe
'Lady Bird' soars in success By Sophie Kehrig STAFF REPORTER
Five teenagers packed into an aging Buick and warily navigated the slur r y of salt and slush that frosted the midwinter Michigan roads. We traveled at a snail’s pace, and I couldn’t help but count down the time: We’ll be there in 10 minutes, 20 minutes late. Later: Five minutes away. There’s no way we’re going to make it. We f inally ar rived, practically threw our money at the cashier, and r ushed into the theater in the nick of time. Within a moment, the f ive of us were plunged into darkness and then washed in the glow of the beginning scene: Laurie Metcalf and Saoirse Ronan as mother and daughter respectively, on their way home from a college road trip. Ronan plays Lady Bird, a uniquely welldeveloped, loveable ingénue seldom portrayed in Hollywood. With a haphazard, peachy dye job, she wields all the plucky, unwar ranted conf idence usually reserved for male leads. Set in Sacramento, Califor nia, the stor y takes place in the short period between adolescence and adulthood when one is expected to have already found oneself. Predictably enough, Lady Bird has not, and subsequently str uggles with her identity. She grapples with the discover y of her parents’ f inancial problems while attending a private school with peers in tax brackets towering over hers. She maneuvers the t u mult of both fam ilial and romant ic love. Despite the six-year age gap between Ronan and the 17-year-old she plays, there is never a glimpse of character break, never a moment viewers could doubt they were witnessing Lady Bird in the f lesh — though this is unsur prising given her impressive track record. First nominated for an Oscar at 13, Ronan has gone on to be nominated for a grand total of 119 f ilm awards and won a whopping 50.
That said, this couldn't have been a more exquisite debut for the talents of writer-director Greta Ger wig. The stor y f lits from mishap to celebration seamlessly. It seems Ger wig has managed to move a nar rative in the same organic fashion that reality progresses, except here, ordinary is not nearly so dull. In a memorable scene, Lady Bird and her father (Tracy Letts), sit on a r umpled comforter in her bedroom. Untouched acne scars dot the hollows of her cheeks and wor r y lines her face. He father reassures her, despite the water y uncertainty in his own eyes. She doesn’t quite believe him. Days after watching the f ilm, this image remains tattooed on my memor y in full detail. At f irst glance supposedly pedestrian, it was one of the most striking scenes of the entire movie. It was not particularly beautiful scener y nor profound dialogue, but the raw si n c e r it y b e t we e n ch a r a c t e r s t h at m a d e t he s c e ne ex t r a or d i n a r y. The cinematography throughout the f ilm is exceptional. Ger wig transforms the mundane landscapes of thrift shops and school assemblies into enchanting tableaux. Subtle color symbolism infuses nearly ever y scene, subconsciously setting emotive tones to match the dialogue. After what couldn’t have been more than 15 minutes (but was indeed 94), Sairose’s mascarastreaked cheeks faded from the screen, and the credits began to roll. My friends and I sat slumped in our seats, steeping in the f lickering light, dazed. Perhaps once or twice in a decade does a tr uly candid, honestly human f ilm come to fr uition and fame. I don’t think it would be speaking too soon to say that “Lady Bird” is that f ilm.
"Lady Bird" (2017) R
APP
TV SHOW
ALBUM
MOVIE
DRIFT IT!
BLACK MIRROR: SEASON 4
REVIVAL
JUMANJI: WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE
Drift It! is an app that requires players to have careful precision and accurate timing to succeed. It is a racing game where the users ITUNES have to increase their scores by following the given path in correct order while avoiding getting off track with the car. The most difficult part of this game is deciding when to turn the car, as the user has to have the car drive at an angle at various points in the game. Drift It! is a game of concentration. When it’s time to move the car on an angle, the gamer can’t tap too quickly or too late, otherwise the car will veer off of the course it is supposed to follow. If the user can keep up with the fast pace, then it will impact the user’s score in a positive manner, the player’s score will start to increase with the difficulty of the level. There are many incentives that this game offers. The more gamers continue to play, the more the levels will increase. Reaching a new level means obtaining a prize box which can be anything from a different type of car to improvements on wheels or the motor. Players can seek out “The Garage” as the customizing zone of the game. This is where a basic vehicle can be turned into a fancy and hardcore race car. It allows every aspect of the car to be changed, ripped apart and designed into a totally brand new and fancy version in whatever way the user wants. This game is a test of player stealth and timing. Drift It! offers many challenges with keeping up with the pace but offers many rewards with the design of a car. The user gets to design a car in a way that is unique while also showcasing the prizes ear ned along the way. It will also test the patience level of users as repeated failure tends to lead to increasing frustration. This app is free to download from iTunes and will keep the audience on a wild car ride with its many angles. "Drift It!" 2017; By Kathyrn Ormsbee
Vanilla latte with skim milk, anyone? Netflix’s “Black Mirror” brings its audience into the depths of the tech world, and shows the consequences and horror that can NETFLIX come along with it. In its fourth season, which was released on Dec. 29, 2017, each episode is a story within itself. Ranging anywhere from 41-89 minutes long, each individual story exhibits “tech paranoia” in a unique way. The first episode, “USS Callister,” follows the story of Robert Daly, a man who takes his anger out on virtual clones of people in real life. Daly — co-founder of Callister Inc. and lover of vanilla lattes with skim milk — is more introverted in the real world but takes DNA samples of co-workers who have somehow “wronged him.” He then takes the samples home and makes digital clones in a video game mod he created for himself to abuse and manipulate them. Nanette Cole, the newest member of “Captain Daly’s Crew,” refuses to bend to his will and doesn’t give up trying to escape. This episode brings the audience classic “Star Trek” vibes, while in the meantime keeping up with the modern theme. The sometimes scary power abuse from Daly keeps up with the basic idea of the show: technology can be dangerous. This also remains true throughout the season and is truly exemplified in the final episode: “Black Museum.” In this episode, young Nish visits a mysterious museum that apparently houses criminological artifacts while she’s waiting for her car to charge. In that time, the dorky tour guide and former neurological research recruiter, Rolo Haynes, walks her through and tells her the stories of each artifact in the museum. As the episode progresses, Nish, as well as the audience, realizes that Haynes is mostly at fault for each occurence. He was testing products on people that ultimately led to an unhappy ending each time, whether it’s the destruction of a man or power-driven insanity because of formerly untested technological advances and devices. In all, the new season has relevant, yet haunting messages in each episode, and that’s what gives “Black Mirror” the feeling of a modern-day “Twilight Zone.” "Black Mirror"; 2017; Available on Netflix; TV-MA
Detroit native Marshall Bruce Mathers, otherwise known as ‘Eminem,’ released his ninth studio album, "Revival," Dec. 15, 2017. The raproyalty’s latest ITUNES project debuted on the Billboard Top 200 chart at number one, making this his eighth album to do so. This album brings a lot of great collaborations, among them Beyoncé, Ed Sheeran, Alicia Keys and the X Ambassadors. As a whole, this album takes a departure from his previous albums, as it’s more about his conflict with society rather than himself. The music consists of an anti-Trump song and a song battling police brutality. This album shows a lot of maturity and displays his growth over the years. He also opens up a new, raw side of his personality that listeners haven’t seen much of before. His track with Beyoncé, “Walk on Water” highlights his struggles with receiving hate as an artist and exposes his vulnerability of not feeling good enough. We see a weaker side, a more exposed version of the rap sensation “Slim Shady,” an alter ego he created for his audience. He remains defiant however, and ends the song claiming that he will not succumb to his fears. Mathers teams up with Ed Sheeran on “River” in an unexpected collaboration about a broken relationship. This track reminds one of “Love the Way you Lie,” his collaboration with Rihanna on his album “Recovery.” The apologetic track “Bad Husband” featuring the X Ambassadors is an ode to Mathers’ ex-wife, Kim Scott, whom he previously dissed in “Kim,” which was featured in his album “Marshall Mathers EP.” In this mature track, Eminem takes blame for the issues in their relationship. The music, as usual, is catchy and unique to each track — but somehow fits with every lyric. There is no doubt about the talent Mathers possesses. He raps with overwhelming emotion in this album. "Revival" is the perfect combination of angst and acceptance. Eminem has once again, proven that he deserves his career and accomplishments. "Revival"; 2017; Available for $11.99
There was a lot of speculation when it was announced that cult classic “Jumanji” — which starred the late Robin Williams — was being remade. In 1995, the original IMDB movie lured in a crowd with the advanced technology used in its making. However, the 2017 remake “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle,” starring Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Karen Gillan and Jack Black, brought people in for one reason: to reminisce. The movie did an effective job at sticking to a similar story but not recreating the original. Although the idea was the same, both films have different characters and storylines. In the newest version, writers took the original plot, making it more appealing to today’s audience while also catering to those who love the original movie and giving them a second taste. Unlike the original movie in which the main characters are playing a board game, they take a 21st century twist by making Jumanji a video game. Four students are stuck in detention and forced to clean out an old room with a bunch of old junk, when they come across the video game and decide to play. The characters are then pulled into the game as avatars and have to complete the game to get out and survive. Staying true with the original, “Welcome to the Jungle” has more of a comedic feel than a true action movie. Showcasing Hart's witty remarks helped break up the consistent action throughout the movie, and allows the viewer to catch their breath. Each actor’s individual comedic style helped shape the chemistry between characters and made their personalities more believable. Throughout the film, there were subtle yet tasteful references to the original movie, and both stories aligned in the sense that characters have been stuck in the game and if they lose, they die. During one part, they reference a man named Alan, which many people recognized as Robin Williams’ character from the first movie. This tribute to the late star stood out to the audience without being obnoxious. This movie was action-filled and kept viewers on their feet the entire time. It wasn’t too long, and at points where it seemed that the movie started lagging, it was revived by oneliners and continuous banter between the actors. "Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle"; 2017; PG-13
By Adam Schwartz By Amelia Nowicki
By Arzoo Chhaya
By Sydney Semack
IN-DEPTH
North Pointe – Friday, January 12, 2018 – 7
ANNA POST
How to handle the stress of midterms MANAGING EDITOR & STAFF REPORTERS
Midterm week is upon the student body once again, and with that comes test anxiety. According to the American Test Anxieties Association, about 16-20 percent of students have high test anxiety, making this the most prevalent scholastic impairment in our schools today. Another 18 percent are troubled by moderately-high test anxiety. According to the school psychologist, Christine Kuhl, the most common issues that students have with test taking comes from anxiety. “Many times students struggle with test anxiety it is due to a lack of good preparation. A smaller portion of students with test anxiety experience more generalized anxiety that is heightened by tests,” Kuhl said via email. Kuhl suggests that students study with friends because it will result in getting more work done and also allows for a chance to connect socially at the same time, which can help relieve stress.
Friends may also help to hold you accountable and ensure you follow through with your study plans. “It’s important to manage stress rather than starting bad habits, like escaping, avoiding or becoming overly-anxious,” Kuhl said. Senior Charlotte Duus, who has dealt with test-related stress in the past, feels confident that she has developed an efficient system to help her tackle midterms. Along with breaking up studying into chunks and staying hydrated, Duus said that using essential oils and doing yoga during the days prior to testing have helped her deal with her stress. “I’ve been (in) more, like, a better sense of mind, I guess you could say, for instance when I use my oils, they are really calming,” Duus said. Kuhl recommends many strategies to help reduce test anxiety like: breaking up studying
into manageable chunks and doing a bit every night, having good nutrition and hydration, getting plenty of sleep and reducing
“
is a constant in most people’s lives and the sooner you can create effective and healthy ways to cope with it, the better,” Kuhl said. Duus agrees with Kuhl’s methods and particularly finds that preparing far in advance and asking teachers questions will result in less stress and higher midterm grades. “Ask for help with teachers and things because teachers are such a great help and they’re just like encouraging and like motivating to get your work done,” Duus said. According to the UCLA Newsroom, procrastinating until the night before has worse results in the end. Not only do students have less time to remember information, but it’s accompanied by a lack of sleep. Previous studies have shown that students who have a regular, healthy sleep schedule tend to be more successful on assignments and exams.
If your stress does become overwhelming, which happens to everyone from time to time, seek help from a trusted adult. If you do not have a trusted adult at home, remember that there are many here at school.
“
By Caitlin Bush, Amelia Nowicki & Hannah Zalewski
Christine Kuhl SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST
screen time. “Stress is an opportunity to practice problem-solving. Stress
“Make sure you are getting appropriate amounts of sleep,” Kuhl said. “Teenagers often get less than the recommended nine hours of sleep per night.” If none of the methods help reduce stress, North offers many resources students can take advantage of. Students can make appointments with counselors, the school social worker and the school psychologist who are available to help. “If your stress does become overwhelming, which happens to everyone from time to time, seek help from a trusted adult. If you do not have a trusted adult at home, remember that there are many here at school,” Kuhl said. “We are all available to talk with you and help you through difficult times. If you need additional support outside of school, we are able to refer you to mental health professionals in the community.”
5 Tips
To Prepare for Midterms
Get a full night's sleep Going to sleep at a normal time for a few days prior to exams helps focus and reduces stress levels.
Get a routine Putting together a study routine or schedule will help organize your thoughts and help you prepare. Make sure that you get into this routine a few days prior to your exam to get into the flow.
Eat a good breakfast The morning of your exams, make sure that you have a nutritional breakfast to boost your energy and concentration.
Take breaks Find what works for you Knowing what type of learner you are can help determine the most beneficial way that you can study.
Know when to take a break. Trucking through flashcards without mercy can be hurting rather than helping. Don't overwork yourself. AMELIA NOWICKI
SPORTS
8 – Friday, Jan. 12, 2017 – North Pointe
Hockey team dedicates pucks to show staff appreciation
By Sofia Ketels & Savannah Burguron PAGE EDITOR & INTERN
Boys hockey coach Joe Drouin had a list of goals for his team when he started coaching this year. Most of these goals related to hockey itself, but watching football players give their jerseys to teachers at senior night gave him another idea. Inspired by what he saw at that football game, he decided to begin a game day tradition that is good for both the players and staff: dedicating hockey pucks. Since the beginning of the season, after each game individual players on the team have been able to pick a teacher or person in North’s community to dedicate a game puck to. According to Drouin, the goal of this was to express gratitude and respect to people in the community who have been supportive and helped out players on the team. “I’ve had a couple ideas for different things to really connect athletics to community,” Drouin said. “I think part of being a student athlete is being a student and having some sort of connection to the North community. It’s important, and as a staff we say thanks.” According to senior Tim Bowers, because Drouin is also a teacher, he knows how it feels when students reach out in such a personal way. When he
gave his game puck to his counselor, Jill Davenport, he had received an email from her as a thank you. According to Bowers, the team has had other similar responses from people within the North community. Still, he believes that giving his puck to Davenport was equally gratifying for both of them. “She’s just helped me along the way for the past four years,” Bowers said. “When Mr. Drouin brought up the idea of it, I instantly knew that I’d want to give mine to her, just because of how much she’s helped me out and the positive impact she’s had on me.” Counselor Brian White was a recipient of one of the hockey pucks at a game earlier this season. Though he wasn’t at the game to receive it, White said he found it very touching, like Davenport, to receive that kind of recognition from a student. “(I was) very happy and surprised … I felt warm inside,” White said. “It’s very concrete, and it’s specific and just cool.” On a personal level, the hockey pucks have had a positive impact on teachers and student athletes alike, even Drouin himself. In starting a tradition that he hopes to continue for seasons to come, he wanted to help connect the team back to the school. Since the team both practices
and plays outside of the school, Drouin says he sees some disconnection that he hopes this will correct through personal acknowledgement of community members. “We have a really strong culture with our school — this is what we do here,” Drouin said. “Everything we do at school has meaning. I’m trying to translate that over to the hockey team and really bring that educational philosophy into athletics and connect academics and athletics.” Counselor Milissa Pierce, who was also a recipient, believes that the hockey pucks are a tradition that goes above and beyond acting as a recognition of teachers who stand out within the North’s community because it isn’t exclusive to just teachers. Players can choose to recognize anybody within the North community, whether it be a counselor or a janitor or even a parent. Pierce said this is something student-athletes like Bowers can take off the ice and into their lives outside of hockey to create a larger sense of community. Drouin agrees. “We’re not the best team, we don’t have a winning record, but it’s our effort that shows there is a connection,” Drouin said. “It also helps the team members realize the teachers and the parents that they appreciate, because the more we talk about it the more positive it is.” KENNEDY WILLIAMS
UPCOMING GAMES WRESTLEING Norseman Classic on Saturday, Jan. 13 at 9 a.m.
GYMNASTICS
Fraser Invitational at Fraser on Saturday, Jan. 13 at 10 a.m. GIRLS HOCKEY Match against Walled Lake Central High School on Saturday, Jan. 13 at 12 p.m. at Walled
BOYS HOCKEY
MAC Show Monday, Jan.15 at 12 p.m. at Romeo High School BOYS SWIMMING Meet against South on Tues. Jan. 16 at 4:30 p.m. GIRLS BASKETBALL Games against South on Tues. Jan. 16 at 7 p.m. SYNCHRONIZED SWIMMING Figure meet at Ann Arbor Huron High School on Friday,Jan. 19 at 6:30 a.m.
Students who specialize The rise of the one - sport athlete By Sonny Mulpuri & Billy Steigleman WEB EDITORS
Every athlete dreams about playing under the lights at a professional sports stadium. However, they have to make a decision on whether or not to single-mindedly pursue the sport they have had such a passion for since their childhoods. Many widdle their focus down to one sport, but others also like the variety that comes with competing in multiple sports. Junior Hunter Levick has been playing basketball since he was four years old and baseball since he was five. Just this last season, he decided to hang up his cleats and lace up his gym shoes. His ambition to play Division I basketball is what prompted him to make the decision to direct his attention to basketball. “It really hit me last summer that I had to focus all my attention on basketball because I wanted to go to college for basketball, and I know if I’m distracted with another sport during the offseason instead of training for basketball, I would not meet my goal in the end,” Levick said. Coach Jason Hill, who has coached football, basketball and baseball for the past 20 years supports both sides of the spectrum. He knows the demand for being a two or three sport athlete is very timeconsuming, and if that athlete has hopes to play in college, playing multiple sports may not be feasible. Hill also believes if a student has the time, they should try and play as many sports as possible, as the skills developed in other sports can be translated into success in another. “It’s becoming more difficult but I think (being a multisport athlete) is beneficial from an athletic standpoint but also from a time management perspective because people who play multiple sports tend to have to learn how to manage their time,” Hill said. “I think each sport gives you a different kind of athletic skill set. Baseball has a lot to do with hand-eye coordination while football and basketball or more physical and pure athleticism. I think those different skill sets are good to have and help in feed of each other in different seasons.” While Levick and Hill see why the focus on a single sport can be important for athletes, especially in high school, others do not. Senior Brendan Bergeron grew up playing multiple sports. Even though he has stopped playing some, he continues to play soccer and lacrosse for North and club teams year round, as well as recreational basketball. He says that the main reason he decided to play multiple sports all throughout high school was due to the fact of friends being on his teams and wanting to grow himself as an overall athlete. “I believe people who play multiple sports are more wellrounded athletes and are less likely to get injured because they are using several muscles instead of a chosen few,” Bergeron said. “I am glad that I grew up playing several sports because I love having a variety. I love being able to be a part of several teams.” Levick’s decision to give up a sport that he had been playing for such a long time was a difficult one. But, he knows that to make his goals of becoming a starter on varsity this year and eventually to play
HEADS UP| Senior Brendon Bergeron heads the ball during one of his games for North. Bergeron plays soccer for both North and Eastside FC, a travel league, in addition to lacrosse. “I take both sports equally serious.” he said. “I like playing the one that’s in season. I probably give at least 3-4 hours per week playing both sports.” Division I basketball possible, he will have to focus solely on one sport. “It was hard to just drop baseball all together,” Levick said. “But I feel like if you focus on one sport you can get a lot more accomplished in that one sport and actually develop your game more compared to if you are distracted by another sport.”