Northwood staff DEBUTS NEW SLOGAN: ‘ALL IN’ for the 2021-2022 school year.

NEW NORTHWOOD SLOGAN DEBUTS: ‘ALL IN’

BY ALESSIA IACONO STAFF WRITER

After over a year of an abnormal school experience, Northwood has kicked off its first full year of in-person teaching with a new slogan: ‘ALL IN’. The slogan is featured on the main lawn, in classrooms and on teachers’ shirts. “‘ALL IN’ is to be fully committed; fully committed to this school and fully prepared to do whatever is necessary to meet the needs of students,” Principal Bradford Walston said. The idea originated from an in-depth meeting regarding efforts to make the 20212022 school year a positive one after Northwood’s hybrid learning semester last spring. The phrase ‘ALL IN’ suddenly came to Walston, and from there it took off. The new catchphrase, displayed to students and families for the first time at the fall open house, soon became the official slogan for the 20212022 school year. After a year that many faculty and students agree was not ideal, there was a sense that an emphasis on inclusion and commitment was vital this school year. Many events not held during the pandemic have started up again around Northwood’s campus, and the community is starting to settle into a year that they hope will not be cut short again. For some staff, ‘ALL IN’ means things besides just student academic growth. “It’s extremely important to take into consideration that we have so many different students that come from so many different backgrounds at our school, but we all have a common goal, which is to work together for the common good and the improvement of society,” Spanish teacher Christopher Lupoli said. For others, ‘ALL IN’ may be about trying to acclimate to the idea of working well with different people or making every school day count towards a quality education. Walston and Northwood’s administration want the school’s culture to promote unity among students and staff, led by the “Charger Way,” an acronym that promotes a positive attitude amongst students. Having all students be welcomed and appreciated regardless of their differences and getting to come in to make each day important and memorable is a goal that Northwood is constantly working towards. “I don’t think our faculty has had a slogan for the whole school, so I really like it,” senior Caroline Murrell said. “I feel like it’s fitting since we’re all back together this year after COVID, so we’re all trying to make the most out of our year.” Northwood’s new slogan not only speaks to a school setting but also the outside world. With the increase in in-person events and more establishments starting to open up, going the extra mile has been on the minds of many this school year. The Northwood community has experienced an increase in attendance at football games, senior events and after-school activities. There was even a formal tailgate at one of the Northwood’s earliest home football games where attendants were able to get in for free. To Dr. Walston, this school year is about making every second worthwhile. “What are the big memorable moments [for students?]... Going to homecoming? Go-ing to prom? These things that we’ve been missing out on [during remote learning]. These big, elevating moments that you’re going to remember from high school...How do we do that in a classroom, where we create a moment that you remember when you look back on school 20 years later?”

Northwood High School staff poses for the annual photo in new ‘ALL IN’ merchandise.

Dr.Walston displays the new ‘ALL IN’ slogan. Graphic by Alessia Iacono

PUFFS: NORTHWOOD’S FIRST PLAY IN OVER TWO YEARS

BY LIAM SOVEREIGN STAFF WRITER

Northwood’s Drama Club’s pick for the fall play was Puffs. Puffs is an unofficial spin-off by Matt Cox of the popular Harry Potter book and film series. It focuses on the House of the Puffs, a parody of the Hogwarts house Hufflepuff. Potter fans will know that the young wizards chosen to join the Hufflepuff house are often stereotyped as not being very special or interesting. The play includes several characters that are brand-new to the Puffs house as well as Harry Potter classic characters like Harry, who is given a completely new personality in the play. Many students played multiple characters in this play, giving them the opportunity to show off their acting skills with quick character changes. Northwood Theatre Director Kayla Sharp directed the play. The cast consisted of 19 students with masks on and is the first Northwood theater performance in two years. The cast members included freshman Carter Crisp-Sears as the lead of Wayne Hopkins. “This is the first play I’ve ever been in, so it would be really interesting to go and learn how it’s done,” Crisp-Sears said. “When I first found out about it, I thought it was a mistake. I thought that Ms. Sharp had made a typo. Then I thought about it. I’m like okay, maybe this is what it is. Maybe I actually have the lead role. And then I got very, very worried because I would have to memorize a ton of stuff. Then I got very, very excited excited that I got the lead in my first play. All my friends were congratulating me on it and it was just, I felt very excited. me. I felt like I had proven myself in a way.” Junior Abi Dasher played the secondary lead of Megan Jones. This is Abi’s third year at Northwood and their second production at Northwood. They are an active member of theater and are involved in many extracurricular activities that relate to the performing arts. “I’m really excited to do, like, a full comedy performance,” Dasher said. “It’s been a long time since I’ve been able to do something as funny as I think this show is. I think it’s going to be a fantastic, funny and great show. I’m just excited to be able to do something fun and lighthearted with the times we’re in.”

Puffs was performed Oct. 21-23 in the Northwood Auditorium. Next on the drama club docket is the spring musical: The 25th Annual Putnam Spelling Bee by Rachel Sheinkin.