The Omniscient gets to know Northwood’s french teacher MADAME KOLMAN in an exclusive interview.

MADAME KOLMAN

County’s Sole French Teacher

BY GRACE LEONARD EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Madame Kolman is Northwood’s only French teacher who teaches four levels of French with students from all grades. After a decade of being at Northwood, Madame Kolman has lots of insight to share on teaching and la culture française.

Q: How long have you been teaching French and how many of those years were at Northwood? A: This is my 10th year at Northwood. Back in the early 80s, I taught for 2 years at J.F. Webb High School in Granville County, and I was an assistant teacher at Chapel Hill High for one semester. My first position was a temporary one at Jordan High in Durham, just for one term during another teacher’s pregnancy leave. Between 1983 and 2012, I primarily taught adults in the healing arts.

Q: What is your favorite thing about being a teacher at Northwood and/or what does Northwood have to offer that makes it special to you? A: I have really appreciated being a part of Northwood. The administration has been totally supportive, and I have felt completely backed by the principals and assistant principals, colleagues and office staff during my years here. I enjoy teaching in a rural setting, surrounded by trees and trails. I feel very proud and lucky to be part of a school that has such an excellent arts department. As a musician and artist myself it has been delightful to support and attend events and to have many artists and musicians in my French classes. I have thoroughly enjoyed and appreciated my World Language department teachers and other colleagues. We have some incredibly gifted teachers here at Northwood! And I have learned so much new technology!

Q: What makes French so special (to you or in general)? A: My father taught me my first French phrases as a child (“ouvrez la porte s’il vous plaît”) but I think Madame Wilson instilled in me a special love for all things French. When I was in high school, my closest friends were all in Madame’s classes. We spoke French all the time, in class, at parties and concerts, driving places, shopping. We somehow made the language work for us even when we didn’t have the exact words. I had the opportunity to study in the south of France my junior year at UNC-CH, at Université Paul Valérie in Montpellier. I spent time in Paris and fell in love with this beautiful city. I studied in Angers in a graduate program after I began teaching at Northwood. The more I learn about all the different incredible places to visit in France, the more I want to spend time there. And I want to visit many other French speaking places in the world! Such beauty, culture and variety! I appreciate speaking the French language, in particular. I love the way it feels rolling off my tongue. The first year I was back in the classroom, in 2012, I delighted in being able to speak French all I wanted and getting paid for it! French is a beautiful, musical language. I love the appreciation of beauty and art that the French have. I really appreciate how France has protected its food from genetic modification and values its farmers and takes pride in their products. Food in France is so delicious! In addition, the French people are interested in repairing their things rather than throwing them away. They have huge stores that support and supply this hobby. I love how the different regions keep their original languages and keep their traditions alive. The café culture expresses the French “joie de vivre” and the importance of taking time to enjoy time with friends, time to enjoy life. I have dear friends who are French, and I value our special connection. I appreciate being able to communicate with people from all over the world who speak French.

Q: Why do you think students should enroll in French? A: I think people have resonances with different languages and cultures. People are drawn to particular languages for mysterious reasons sometimes. Some students just have an inclination toward French. Learning any language will broaden one’s perspective and make one more of a global citizen. It also creates new neural pathways and keeps our minds healthy and growing. It is recommended to prevent dementia in particular. Each culture is reflected in the language of the people there, different ways of thinking, of viewing life. We all benefit from learning about and understanding differences. There are many French owned companies and businesses in the US, and French is spoken in many different countries; almost half of Africa is French-speaking. It has been estimated that French may become the #1 spoken language in the world eventually because of the population growth in Africa. Our neighbor to the north, Canada, has a huge population of French speakers, and we have our own little pocket of Cajun French in Louisiana. We want to keep French alive in the US!

Q: Do you think your teaching has an impact outside of the classroom? If so, why/what? A: There is a saying: “A teacher’s influence never ends.” I can see how this can be true from my own experience with my teachers and students. Some students excitedly report travelling to French speaking places, conversations with native speakers, placing out of language classes in college, deciding to double major in French, deciding to pursue a career in Africa as a physician with Doctors without Borders. More important than these exciting things, however, is the influence of encouraging respect and support among people in my classroom; of encouraging a broader perspective about people and life in general, of supporting tolerance and compassion for all people, and, I hope, of instilling a life-time appreciation for French-speaking people and cultures. It means so much to me for former students to stop by to converse in French or to drop me a line to let me know how their lives are progressing. I am lucky to have students with me for 3-4 years sometimes, so I really like to know how they are realizing their dreams as they travel their life path.

Read the full story at nhsomniscient.com

SPORTS

The Northwood Girls Volleyball Team ended the regular season with a 22-5 record. The girls on the team have worked together both on and off the court to make this a standout season. “Volleyball goes beyond a skill and can really help shape someone as a person,” senior Kaylee Atkins said. “It’s also a great opportunity to make some amazing life-long friends who will have your back no matter what.”

Read the rest of Staff Writer Ivy Latta Brock’s feature story on the girls volleyball team at nhsomniscient.com

The Northwood Girls Tennis Team were the 2021-2022 conference champions, finishing the season with a 10-6 record. Members of the tennis team cited mental toughness and a suportive team atmosphere as some of the reasons for their success. “A strength the tennis team has is being able to focus on mental and physical aspects of the sport,” junior Mattie Holland said. “Tennis is the most mentally difficult sport, so having your teammates cheer you on and encouraging words from our coach is super helpful. We are all so good about being there for one another.”

Read the rest of Social Media Editor Nellielou Errett’s feature story on the girls tennis team at nhsomniscient.com

Junior Lily Jordan is a member of the Northwood Girls Golf Team. The team is in a new conference this year, something Jordan says they have “done a really great job of adapting” to. “In most of our tournaments we have ranked in the top three, and in [the tournament] at Indian Valley, we came in first which is really exciting,” Jordan said. “So I’m really excited to see how the team does in the future and to build better relationships with the girls on the team.”

Listen to Assistant Editor-In-Chief Lily Kate Witcher’s podcast about Lily Jordan on Spotify at @nhsomniscient or read the transcript at nhsomniscient.com

NORTHWOOD EMBRACES SCHOOL SPIRIT

BY LILY KATE WITCHER ASSISTANT EDITOR-IN-JUNIOR

Schools everywhere are trying to embrace school spirit for the first full school year since the start of the pandemic, and Northwood is no exception. This school year already has the potential to be a busy one as many events and activities are set to return after a long hiatus. Senior Student Body President Kennedy Poston says that promoting school spirit is one of the main goals of the student council for the 2021-2022 school year. “Our theme this year is ‘Let’s Get Fired Up’ which goes with the subject of getting excited and pumped for the school year,” Poston said. “We thought that because we did not see much school spirit last year that our theme and goal should be about unifying the student body and celebrating our school.” Several other students confirmed that they also felt a lack of school spirit during virtual school and the return to Plan A last year. “I would say that school spirit was lacking during virtual school, but I think that was normal given the circumstances,” senior Bentley Brooks said. “With the return to school this year, I think students are starting to value the importance of school spirit. I know I am.”

Some of the first events from this year took place during Spirit Week. Spirit Week spanned the school week before the big homecoming game where both students and staff alike were invited to dress according to a different theme each day. Spirit Week was planned by junior student council senators Savannah Matthews and Airryn Wharton, both of whom stepped up for the task as a creative way to help the student body. “I volunteered to co-chair spirit week because I thought it would be a fun committee to be in charge of, and I [could] help come up with ideas for the spirit days,” Matthews said. “I always look forward to seeing what people create.” Monday’s theme was ‘Tacky Tourists,’ Tuesday’s theme was ‘70’s Throwback’ in honor of Northwood’s founding in 1972, Wednesday was ‘Formal Wear,’ Thursday was ‘Teacher-Student Swap,’ and Friday was ‘Class Colors’. On Friday, freshmen wore white, sophomores wore yellow, juniors wore green and seniors wore black. Many teachers and students noticed an increase in participation for this year’s spirit week, especially compared to those in previous years. Wharton wanted Spirit Week to encourage students to let loose and to uplift the mood of the student body. “I want students to participate and take the time to realize that having school spirit is not a bad thing,” Wharton said. Nearing the end of Spirit Week, the pep rally also took place on Friday, Sep. 24. Senior Student Council Senator Bentley Brooks and junior Student Council Senator Ava Lyons planned the pep rally to get the student body excited for the homecoming game that occurred later that night. “If I’m being honest, I was so nervous about chairing the pep rally,” Brooks said. “I definitely underestimated the amount of work, communication, dedication and organization it takes. However, I [had] an amazing committee and support system, and I’m so glad I took this opportunity.” The pep rally included several contests, including a football throwing contest with the fall sports teams which the cross-country team won and a game of tug-of-war between the students and the teachers. Both the dance teams and cheerleaders performed for the crowd, and the football players did a cheerleading routine of their own. Both sophomores Luiz Ziemke and Ryan Brinker say that student section at Northwood games has played a big role in the amount of school spirit they have seen so far as compared to their first year at Northwood. The student section, better known as the Nuthouse, is a club at Northwood that many students are involved in, with Poston calling it “probably the biggest testament to school spirit [there is] at Northwood.” Junior Sally Dillon describes herself as an active member and also gives the Nuthouse credit for raising school spirit levels. “The Nuthouse is doing such an incredible job of increasing school spirit this year,” Dillon said. “The club has an awesome Instagram page that features all of Northwood’s sports in a super fun and supportive way. The Nuthouse is also hosting collective themes where people dress up to show support. We truly go all out with clothes, flags, cowbells, face paint and anything else students can get their hands on to show spirit. Everyone in the stands during games are just shouting, laughing, smiling and having so much fun. You can look around and see that we all, in that moment, are sharing a memory together.” Many students cited school spirit as one of the things that is making their school year special. “I think school spirit is important because it’s something that has the potential to change the entire atmosphere of a school,” Poston said. “It’s a way to get people excited and proud of our school and all the things that we accomplish. Having a shared thing in common can create an incredibly strong sense of community, which I think is really important.”

Read the full story at nhsomniscient.com

MENTAL HEALTH: A STRUGGLE FOR TEENS

BY IVY LATTA BROCK STAFF WRITER

According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) website, close to 50 percent of adolescents in the U.S. have some form of mental disorder. This can make it hard for those people to make friends and be happy, healthy kids. Some children with mental disorders hide them from the people around them in fear of being made fun of. People that haven’t been taught about mental health may not know how to help friends through their difficult times, and others might even think these rough patches are just their friends being irrational. “Most of the time it’s just the being there for them that counts,” one anonymous student said. “Having someone say that they’re there for you... can be really helpful.” People with mental disorders say that being kind to someone and just listening to them can have a major impact on their well-being because it can make their day a little better knowing someone cares. School is a good place to put this into action. Many students find school to be their safe place. According to the Child Protection Services (CPS) website, a report of child abuse is made every ten seconds. This could happen anywhere and to anyone, even people students pass in the hallways every day. Some people being abused or neglected might try to hide it for fear of getting in trouble or getting their abuser(s) in trouble. “I support them, I would say, just being mindful and just being sensitive to any problems [a friend] might be having,” one anonymous student said. Being kind to everyone regardless of their background can make you feel better about yourself and make the people around you feel better about their situation. If you or someone you know has feelings of being down, depressed or suicidal, you can call (800) 273-8255 for help. If you or someone you know is being mistreated at home, you can call (800) 422-4453 for help.

Graphic by Staff Writer Ivy Latta Brock

MEET THE NEW NORTHWOOD BY CAROLINE MURRELL STAFF STAFF WRITER

At the start of a new school year--especially after a global pandemic--it’s fun to see familiar faces, but it’s also important to meet new ones, too. For the 2021-22 school year, Northwood has the pleasure of welcoming six new staff members to the team.

Mr. Parham

Q: What subject and grade do you teach/ work with? A: I am teaching CTE family and Consumer Science, specifically Food and Nutrition 1 this year.

Q: What previous teaching/work experience do you have? A: This is my first year as a school teacher. I bring 30+ years of experience in food service management and food production to this job. I spent the last 16 years as the house chef for a sorority at UNC Chapel Hill.

Q: What made you decide to teach/work at Northwood? A: I found myself after a long career of working in the kitchen in the position of needing to make a career change partially because of the effects of the pandemic. Teaching has been an idea that I have long thought about. Time and opportunity came together, and here I am.

Mr. Carlson

Q: What subject and grade do you teach/work with? A: American History I and AP US History - mostly 11th graders in both courses.

Q: How has starting school full-time after the pandemic affected you? A: It’s exciting being back with students, but the uncertainty of how COVID will progress does make things more challenging for students, families and staff. I do like being back though!

Q: What are you looking forward to most this school year? A: Class discussions and seeing if students can connect their own experiences to our country’s past.

Mrs. Keener

Q: What subject and grade do you teach/work with? A: I work within the Exceptional Children’s Department. I work with all grade levels and subjects, though I mainly support English and Math classes.

Q: How has starting school full-time after the pandemic affected you? A: I am much happier teaching in person versus virtually. I won’t lie; I am not a huge fan of being masked up as it makes it harder to hear some students, but if that is what it takes to remain in-person, I will gladly keep wearing a mask!

Q: What has stood out to you the most at Northwood? A: The teachers are so welcoming and helpful. Also, there are so many more students here than I am used to!

Q: What subject and grade do you teach/work with? A: I teach agriculture; grades 9-12

Q: What made you decide to teach/work at Northwood? A: A big move! My husband and I are building a house on our family farm here in Chatham County.

Q: What is one fun fact about yourself that your students and colleagues don’t know? A: I love designing, creating and building things, be it home decor or furniture pieces.

Mrs. Cecchini

Q: What subject and grade do you teach/work with? A: I teach 9-12, Art 1 and Photography.

Q: What previous teaching/work experience do you have? A: I have taught for 18 years, first at Myers Park High School in Charlotte (12 years) and then at Durham School of the Arts (6 years). I have taught an abundance of different art classes (Art 1-4, AP 2D/3D and AP Art History, Graphic Design, Media and Design, Crafts and probably a few more I forgot to mention). I also have been an assistant softball coach, worked with the National Art Honor Society and been the advisor for a screen printing club since 2007.

Q: What made you decide to teach/work at Northwood? A: I was looking for a block schedule, a smaller/closer community and something closer to home.

Ms. Latta

Q: What subject and grade do you teach/work with? A: I teach Civics and American History, and my students are in 10th and 11th grade.

Q: What made you decide to teach/work at Northwood? A: I wanted to work at Northwood because everyone is so passionate about their education and activities, and it seemed like a fun and positive environment.

Q: What is one fun fact about yourself that your students and colleagues don’t know? A: I used to work at the Smithsonian!