Must Read Issue by NHSOracle

Volume 112, Issue 4, April 2017

north_high_school_501_holcomb_ave._des_moines,_ia_50313 a_public_forum_for_student_expression

The_Oracle:_The_Must_Read_Issue Volume 112, Issue 4, April 2017 Arts_&_Entertainment 3: Go Big or Go Home/Houska

oPINIONS 6: More guns are found at school, now what?/Alexander

7: DMPS Potential Time Change/Inthabounh

NeWS 4-5: Guns on Campus Spark Questions on Lockdown Policy/ Petersen

fEATURES 8-9: Something something Scavo/B. Petersen 10-11: Daniela Espinosa-Gonzalez Bellolio/Reyes 12-13: Education Travels Far/Inthabounh 14-15: Carters in Columbia/Schnathorst 16: Away from Home/Neades 17: Extending the Family/Roark 18-19: Home is Where the Heart is/Lee

fEATURES-Continued 20: We Are All the Same/Primrose 21: Battling Crohn’s/Bohall 22-23: You Are Not Alone/Vorel & Stegall

spORTS 26: North’s New All-Star Coach/Christensen 27: The New Basketball Stars of Tomrrow/Thomas

24: #TeenSummit/Alexander 25: North Students Drill to the Top/Nguyen

Cover_Credit: Front: M. Alexander Back: K. Schnathorst

Second_Semester_Staff: Mya Alexander, Megan Bohall, Laura Christensen, Daniela Hernandez-

Avila, Madison Houska, Jasmine Inthabounh, Yer Lee, Cheyann Neades, Harry Nguyen, Breana Petersen, Abigail Primrose, Angelica Reyes, Micky Roark, Kenzie Schnathorst, Kennedy Stegall, Nathaniel Thomas, Kathleen Tran, Maluhkai Van De Boe, Vanessa Vorasith & Olivia Vorel. Table of Contents

Design: C. Neades

Madison Houska, Co-Editor in Chief

Hannah Johnson in her Fiona costume rehearses the song “I Know It’s Today” the Friday before opening night of Shrek, The Musical. Picture Credit: Madison Houska

Arts & Entertainment

Design: M. Houska

On January 27 and March 21, concerns were brought up when guns were found on campus and no lockdown was put in place. Many parents, students and staff have questions about the saftey of the school. Photo Illustration: Breana Petersen

Breana Petersen, Reporter On two separate occasions, January 27 and March 21, there were incidents with multiple guns on North High School’s campus. Most of the North High School students and staff had no idea such an incident was happening on either occasion because no lockdown was put into place and an email was sent out after. Many people wonNews

dered how guns could be present and yet no lockdown procedure activated. North Principal, Michael Vukovich and Des Moines Public School communication director, Phillip Roeder both cite the reasoning being “no immediate threat” to North High. Vukovich said the incidents on January 27 started while he was looking on the cameras for an unrelated reason when he saw something suspicious, a student out of class, at a locker. He

watched the student get into a car for a while, come back, and put a backpack into another locker. Some staff went to question the student and the student lied. “So then we said basically ‘take us to the locker’, [he] tired to take us a to a different locker [than the one we saw on the cameras]. So then when we finally got the student to the locker and opened up the locker, the student grabbed the bag and took off,” Vukov-

ich said. The staff pursued the student out of the building, where he threw the backpack in question and ran off. They confiscated the backpack, searched it, and found drugs and the gun. When that happened Vukovich decided to “get back on the cameras”. After tracking the cameras back, Vukovich said he noticed more suspicious activity with exchanging backpacks. He made an announcement over the radios, to watch out for certain students and detain them. Those students, jumped in a car, did not comply and School Resource Officer Jason Sims pulled them over. Again on March 21, a student saw a gun in a classmate’s backpack and alerted the administration. After confiscating the gun and questioning the student, Vukovich said the student didn’t know the consequences in relation to having a gun on school campus. In both cases, students brought guns to school for community protection, not to use for threats against anyone in the building. “In every instance that we’ve had the rational from the students that have had them have been around feeling unsafe on their walks home, in their neighborhood, having runs in with people in their neighborhood. So it’s really hard to communicate that, because we take it seriously, but none of the incidents were having guns here with the intent of harming students or staff or anything of that nature. Doesn’t make it okay, but in every case they were saying it’s for protection in the community,” Vukovich said. Many people’s questions were about why there wasn’t a lockdown. The pro-

cedures for lockdown are written in the school’s policy and procedure handbook, and Roeder explained, “The school decided not to go on lockdown because there was no immediate threat being made to anyone in school or on school grounds, nor were the weapons displayed to anyone in school,” For a lockdown to occur there needs to be an immediate threat. Many wondered what that would look like. “Anything that is going to cause either harm to a person or destruction of property,” Officer Sims said. Vice Principal Edward McCulley explains a little further, “I think an immediate threat would be like literally if there was an active threat involved, if like someone was wielding the gun. Or had a knife out. If there was an over act of aggression...When I say it’s an immediate threat it means I need to deal with it immediately”. In order for the school to stay safe the students also have to help keep the school safe. Communication director Roeder has a message for the students of Des Monies Public Schools. “It is always important that if people see or know anything that may pose a threat or danger at school, they say something. While the school district invests in everything from security cameras to school resource officers to help keep our schools safe, it is also important that if students are aware of someone who has a weapon or who may harm themselves or others that [they] let an adult they trust – a teacher or counselor or coach or SRO – know of the situation,” Roeder said. Since this has happened more than once there have been questions about what the solutions are to stop guns from being on school campus.

“Several people have talked about metal detectors and all that does is, really, makes a school feel like a prison and it doesn’t make it an environment [we want], and kids can get around metal detectors very easily... So if somebody wants to get something in for bad intentions they’ll get it in even if you have metal detectors... The best way to keep a school safe is to have kids that trust administration and their teachers, [and] kids who look out for each other,” Vukovich said. The administration has been talking about doing an educational piece during the skinny block, a daily 40-mintue block that most students have. “Putting together some information for students to realize what carrying a gun has consequent wise. Not only law wise... but here’s what it does for your education because you won’t be back here... If you bring it on to the property, that’s a felony,” Vukovich said. Principal Vukovich has a message for anyone concerned about the school’s safety. “I think we have an extremely safe school... When we have a community in Des Monies schools where you have gangs in the community, you have criminal elements in the community. Our kids are not immune to being a part of those things...,” he said. “Each one of them said they were obviously upset that it happened but they were also like, ‘I’m scared when I walk home’. I don’t downplay that, it’s obviously no excuse to bring a gun on school property, you never should or never will that be tolerated… I just think that it’s the real world, I don’t know how else to put it,” Vukovich said. Design: B. Petersen

Mya Alexander, Co-Features Editor Within the past 3 months there have been two unrelated instances where guns were found in a students backpacks during the school day at North. On Monday, March 21, one student suspected another student to have a gun in his bag and immediately notified the teacher. The teacher then told administration and the school resource officer, the administration took the student and the backpack away from the classroom and in a secluded area.

National Statistics:

• 5 percent of students reported carrying a weapon on school property at least 1 day during the previous 30 days in 2016 - National Center for Education Statistics • 4.1% reported carrying a weapon (gun, knife or club) on school property on one or more days in the 30 days preceding the survey in 2016. Center for Disease Control and Prevention • From August through mid-June 2016, there were at least 269 incidents in which elementary, middle, and high school students were caught with guns on school grounds. (Some incidents involved multiple students and multiple guns.) - The Trace Opinions

That is when the gun was found. “The is a probbag was searched and a small handgun lem bigger was found. The student was taken into than North High custody,” said a newsletter that went School and involves out to North High faculty and families. the entire Des Moines metMuch like the previous incident, no ro area. What we need to do as a comlockdown was put into place. When I munity is find a way to make sure that heard about this I was really frustrated the youth are safer walking home from as to how there are so many guns in the school and don’t have to look over school but the school never went on their shoulder throughout the streets. lockdown. When the possible threat There are many reasons students feel is voiced within our school I thought unsafe in their community, and if we that was when a lockdown should’ve can help with just one at a time it could gone into place. After those concerns make a difference. My idea would and thoughts were expressed, I was be to have something almost like an told that the reason a lockdown wasn’t Uber. How it would work is North in place this time was for two main would provide transportation home reasons: students could tell a teacher a for qualified students after the school lie any day to trigger a false alarm, and day is over. Students that have been once the gun was confirmed, it was al- approved by the principal would proready in safe hands. vide transportation and those students Another thing to pay attention to is will earn volunteer hours through the the fact that so many young adults feel Silver Cord Program. This is definitely the need to carry guns to be safe. It’s still an idea and nothing is set yet. not that students don’t feel safe in their Principal Michael Vukovich exschools among their peers, it’s that they plained what his next step is after the don’t feel safe in their community. It is recent gun findings. He’s been talking my understanding that students carry about “putting together some inforguns on them for the walk home and mation for student’s to realize what after school to protect themselves. This carrying a gun has consequent wise,” is the problem. Vukovich said. In this presentation As a community and as a school he wants to cover the actual types of we have worked really hard to make charges that will go on a students reschools safer and forgot about how the cord and how it will affect their life imcommunity we live in is still unsafe. This mediately and in the long run. Design: M. Alexander / Graphic: J. Inthabounh

Design: J. Inthabounh

Scavo, DMPS’s alternative high school, offers many opportunities

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9 Breana Petersen, Reporter Richard Blonigan is the principal of Scavo High School, an alternative high school, which offers opportunities to students who may need it. They have been undergoing some changes, which include construction on the fourth floor of the Central Campus building, where the high school is located, as well as recently adding a community center and clinic. Scavo is an alternative school that is a bit smaller than the home schools to help students who may need it. The largest class they have is 18 students, so they can do things flexibility wise that the other schools can’t. “In some cases we do a lot of collaborative teaching, or co-teaching, where maybe it’s an English teacher and a history teacher are co-teaching U.S. history and English III for example… A lot more opportunity to teach more one on one,” Blonigan said. A lot of the Scavo students are there for credit recovery, where a student has taken a class but hasn’t passed. Scavo does things a bit differently so the students who need to bring their credits up can. “Our approach is different. Ninety plus percent of our students are behind in credit. So our balance is really about how do we catch students up, so that’s kind of our mindset. Where at North, or the home high schools, you invert that to 10 percent of the students are credit recovery… the work is the work; at the end of the day you still have to finish this amount of work. Or pass 23 credits to graduate,” Blonigan said. Mostly their high school is made up of juniors and seniors trying to get on

the right track to graduate, whether it’s from Scavo or their home high school. Recently, Scavo has opened up to younger students, 9th and 10th graders. They want to provide the 9th and 10th graders with opportunities to get back on track, so they can graduate on time. “In theory if we wait for those 9th and 10th graders to get behind as 12th graders, it’s a lot more difficult to credit recover, to get them back on track, and then still have them graduate in that four year time period … So the whole idea is those 9th and 10th graders when we start to see that they’re falling off track or slipping, is ‘hey, let’s intervene, let’s interject here and let’s get them to Scavo,” Blonigan explained. Students who go to Scavo are given certain interventions in order to help them in school and in other areas as well. Some of them really enjoy Scavo and turn their life around. “It does seem like a lot of times when they first come to us, they have lots of walls up, they don’t want to talk to anybody, that they don’t like school, that there’s been reasons why they weren’t attending in the first place, that they have negative kind of feelings towards school,” Michel Schmida, Scavo’s art teacher, said. Many Students come in guarded. Teachers are the ones who bulid those relationships and help students adjust to becoming successful. “It really helps once they know that this isn’t just any other school, that this is a little different, that there’s other things available to them that will help them with all their needs and not just their education. A lot of them just real-

ly transform. They might come in just kind of more negative about school and then they leave wanting to go to college,” Schmida said. Scavo almost two years ago added a community center and clinic. They have a doctor and a dentist open to the use of students from any school, not just Scavo, and students of any age. “If a student, or family, has insurance they will bill insurance. There is no copays and if you don’t have insurance there is no billing. So at the end of the day there is no cost to the student or family… There is a way for students and families to make appointments and also can do it through the school nurse at your home high school… So students would have an appointment to come in. One of the things we work on, especially with elementary, is transportation… there’s multiple ways that students can [get here],” Blonigan said.

What are the hours and services the community center offers?

Primary Health Care Hours: Mondays 9 am to 1 pm Thursdays 9 am to 1 pm Services: They provivde basic healthcare for students by caring for kids with illnesses, conduct athletic physicals, give immunizations and other basic primary care services. Dental Hours: Wednesdays 7:30 am to 1 pm Thursdays 8:30 am to 5 pm Services: They provide basic dental health care like preventative dental care and treatment for all ages. Design: B. Petersen

DANIELA ESPINOSA- GONZALEZ BELLOLIO PROUD AFRO - LATINA PURSUES ENGINEERING

s her senior year is drawing to an end, Daniela Espinosa- Gonzalez Bellolio has already accomplished so much. From the time she flew an ER Coupe plane in the Young Eagles program, to the time she visited the NASA Kennedy center and presented her project “Testing the Viscosity of Nutritional Supplements in Space.” Through all her success she has managed to persevere and be optimistic about the future in science. Espinosa- Gonzalez Bellolio says her family has been the biggest support system of hers. “My grandpa in Ecuador has visited before. He is 90 years old. I talk to him on the phone all the time I actually talked to him last night, he told me to keep following my dream and go to University. Yeah, he was ‘like fight hard…’ he always talks about how proud he is of me and he is always like ‘Abby just keep working hard don’t even listen to the people from the streets you keep doing you. Your going Features

Angelica Reyes, Editor to help your mom one day.” Espinosa- Gonzalez Bellolio said. Espinosa- Gonzalez Bellolio passion for science began from an early age. Her active work in the community and appreciation of nature is what drives her to want to become an engineer. From her internships at the Iowa State lab, she says she has learned so much and became even more driven to become one of Iowa’s Afro Latina Engineers. Espinosa- Gonzalez Bellolio sees herself doing amazing things like scientist Norman Borlaug. She says, “Norman Borlaug fed a million people using his scientific ideals and ideas.” After she graduates from Iowa State University, Espinosa- Gonzalez Bellolio future plans are to work at DuPont Pioneers,“ I see myself working at DuPont Pioneers… Hopefully make a cool inventions and study in labs… travel aboard to somewhere like India and visit a small village and help build a sustainable engine” Said Espinosa- Gonzalez

Bellolio. In era where more women of color are pursuing careers in Science, Technology Engeniering, Mathmatics, or other wise known as STEM, Espinosa- Gonzalez Bellolio believes it’s an amazing thing to be apart of. “ I hope everyone goes into Stem. Stem can never have too many people and through stem you can really discover who you are and how far you can go” Espinosa- Gonzalez Bellolio said. She hopes through her journey in science she will grow even more as a person. “I feel like I’ve shed a good light [At North]. I’m over here, I’m driven doing all these good things and being an Afro- Latina at North perusing STEM I feel like I’m really killing it. Representation is very important… I feel like at ISU I am definitely going to be remembered as I am remembered here at North if not even more, because I am going to make something super crazy and everyone is going to be like Abby did that ” EspinosaGonzalez Bellolio Said.

Daniela Espinosa- Gonzalez Bellolio placed second in the 2017 District Science Fair. Photo Credit: Angelica Reyes

Design: A. Reyes

EDUCATION TRAVELS FAR.

Jasmine Inthabounh, Editor Many students dread early mornings, long nights of studying and all the commitment it takes when you’re a full-time student. Often the education that is offered to students in countries as fortunate as the United States is taken for granted. When sophomore Huong Le stepped foot onto U.S. soil at the age of eight, it was her dream to seek the education that she couldn’t believe was offered right in front of her. “I cherish this opportunity because I know that people in Vietnam don’t get the chance for education,” Le said. When Le traveled to the United States from Vietnam, it not only gave her an opportunity to pursue her dreams but it allowed her mother to give her children what she never had the opportunity to have, an education. Le spoke about Vietnam as a place that wasn’t as fortunate to have such a need for education in comparison to the U.S. “My mom’s dream was to go to school and have an education but in my country, it was poor so she didn’t have an opportunity to,” she said. According to Le, when she attended school in Vietnam for first and second

grade she had to pay to be enrolled in school. Yet, to this day, students mock the importance of education but Le is motivated by her mother and never hesitates to challenge herself because of the new beginnings moving to the U.S. managed to give her. As a sophomore, expecting to graduate in 2020, Le is enrolled in five AP classes, such as AP U.S. History and Pre Calculus, alongside many juniors and seniors. As first rank in the class of 2020, Le has the goals and aspirations where some upperclassmen have just now been considering before their graduation date. In the future, she hopes to be studying business administrations and marketing at the University of Iowa. Already ahead of the game as usual, Le has already submitted an application to attend the University of Iowa Booksbound program where a high school student gets the opportunity to experience college life and college classes while completing high school classes as well. In fact, her older brother Phuc Le, senior sparked her interest when he

got the chance to be enrolled into this life changing experience this year. She hopes to follow in her brother’s footsteps since he has set the bar so high for her. It was just a matter of time, until Le was granted the #1 rank in her class. For Le, it took dedication to reach to the top especially with all her classmates having the same ambitious mindset. Le talks about how she worked her hardest to take the #1 spot during the first semester of her sophomore year. ”This student in my class had a higher rank than me, so that motivated me to be better. This year I tried harder and got my GPA up so I could get first rank.” But right now, it is just the beginning for Le, constantly enrolling for AP classes, hoping to acquire a 4.5 GPA by her senior year and planning her future far before it arrives is what is setting her up for success as North High. Many students can learn to appreciate how great the opportunity of education is from Le and her story.

Design: J. Inthabounh

Two freshmen grow up in South Africa for their p

Kenzie Schnathorst, Editor Makayla and Jackson Carter are both freshmen at North High School, but they are not twins like some might think. Makayla was bumped up a grade after her and Jackson were homeschooled while in foreign countries for eight years, causing Makayla to be a year younger than her brother and her friends. “It’s intimidating being so young and in High School. I’m just younger than everybody else and it’s a new environment,” Makayla said. They have been homeschooled for almost their entire life. They had started public school last year for 8th grade at Harding Middle School. But they only went for half the day, every day. This year is the first year they’ve had a full year of going to public school. “Having Makayla in the same grade is a little weird sometimes, since she is younger than me. But at least we don’t have any classFeatures

es together,” Jackson said. They say that they like public school better though because there are more opportunities and it is easier to make friends. But they aren’t your average freshmen. Not only were they homeschooled for most their lives. They were homeschooled because they have been living in and out of the country since they were both toddlers. They have gone from living in the states to living in Costa Rica, then to living in Colombia. They’ve moved in and out of the states because their parents, Scott and Laura Carter, are missionaries. Missionaries are people who believe God sends them on a religious mission, especially one sent to promote Christianity in a foreign country. Scott and Laura have been involved with the missions’ field since 2003. “Honestly, we knew that it was something God was calling us to do. To go serve other people in need and tell them about the forgiveness

that can be found in Jesus,” Scott Carter said. While involved with their missions, the Carter’s started a church while living in Santa Marta, Colombia. Every Sunday Makayla and Jackson would walk to their parents’ church for the Sunday service. They were also involved with their parents’ bible study and helped them set up and clean up every day. Their dad, Scott, was a camp director of a Christian camp; he also trained youth pastors and youth workers. While their mom, Laura, was involved in teaching in schools and teaching many children and adults English. But outside of the missions’ field, the Carters are just your average family. They would start their day with homeschooling where their mom taught their lessons. They would work on their schoolwork for the entire first half of the day until it was time to eat lunch. After lunch they would finish up

whatever schoolwork that they had left for the day. “Every other day we would go to the beach to do our school work, so that was really fun and cool, especially with the scenery,” Makayla said. They then would go outside and climb up a mango tree that they had in their front yard and pick the ripest mangoes. After that they would either play outside with their friends or they would go into their only airconditioned room of their home and watch TV together. Then they would end their day with going to the city to shop and buy fruit and other foods. Most days they would go to the beach to swim and have fun with family and friends. “One time it was really hot out, and an iguana had ran into our house and was running around everywhere, that was really fun. But we ended up throwing a towel over it and putting it back outside, it was cool,” Jackson said.

ir parents’ missions trip, end up at North High School. “There are mountains everywhere. It’s really beautiful.” -Makayla Carter Age: 14 Grade: 9th Hobbies: ->Soccer: 3 years ->Guitar: 3 1/2 years ->Piano: 3 1/2 years

In 2004 the Carters left Ohio and went to Costa Rica.

3In 2009 the Carters left colombia and returned to the U.S. and lived in Oskaloosa, Iowa for three months.

In 2005 the Carters left Costa Rica and went to Bogota, Colombia.

Makayla Carter, dressed up in colombia colors while in Santa Marta, Colombia.

5 The Carters then left

Dayton, Ohio and went to Philadelphia, New Jersey for another three months.

The Carters then left Oskaloosa, Iowa and went to Dayton, Ohio, for another three months.

7 In 2013 the Carters left Santa

Marta, Colombia and went back to the U.S. and lived (and still live) in Des Moines, Iowa.

Then the Carters went back to colombia. but this time they went to Santa Marta, Colombia until 2013.

“When we moved back to the states, it snowed. So the first thing we did was bundle up, and run outside.” -Jackson Carter

Age: 15 Grade: 9th Hobbies: ->Tenor Saxaphone: 2 years ->Alto Saxaphone: 1 year Jackson Carter, holding Red Tailed Boa while in Santa Marta, Colombia.

Design by: K. Schnathorst

Jennyfer Villarreal has always made studying a priority on both the beach in Mexico and in the North student center. Photo Credit: Cheyann Neades

Middle school, the three years of school considered “awkward” and known for the “growing pains”, but freshman Jennyfer Villarreal struggled much more than the full effects of becoming a teenager. From being born and raised in Des Moines, Iowa, Villarreal was familiar with the typical Des Moines Public Schools standards and system as a whole. Her everyday school life changed at the end of her seventh grade year. Due to family problems, Villarreal traveled to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, to attend Escuela Secundaria Técnica (technical high school) to essentially begin high school. “There [Puerto Vallarta], elementary is first through sixth grade, middle school is seventh through ninth, and high school is tenth through twelfth,” Villarreal explained. However, Villarreal quickly realized that the higher the grade level, the stricter the school became. “I think [Puerto Vallarta] was really weird because I was wearing eyeliner, my makeup, I had my nails Features

done and my hair was dyed; as soon as I got there, [teachers] told me to take off my makeup and that the next day I could not go to school if my hair wasn’t natural,” Villarreal said. Not only were natural characteristics required in Escuela Secundaria Técnica, but also standards students were held to. “I had to wear a skirt and a polo, with some really long socks with flat shoes,” she explained. Villarreal was required to wear the uniform every day in order to attend classes. Along with appearance restrictions, Villarreal was warned about her interactions with others within the school. “My friends would tell me that if you had a boyfriend or girlfriend, you would get a level 3 or 4 [referral], which is really bad… there’s a report, then they call your parents, and then they have a parent meeting, you can even get kicked out,” Villarreal explained. Whether Villarreal was studying, cleaning the classroom with other

Cheyann Neades, Co-Editor in chief students, or enjoying the “free hour” when a certain subject teacher was absent, she took full advantage of her time outside of the United States. Living with her cousin and having free time after school led Villarreal to many sights and things to experience. “[Puerto Vallarta] was really, really pretty; I lived in the city. I went to the beach a lot to study,” Villarreal said. After her eighth grade year and time on the beach, Villarreal returned to Des Moines to begin high school as a polar bear. “There’s a lot of freedom to express your personality at North,” Villarreal said. She advises other public school students to “be happy with the freedom you have because other people would love to have it.” Although Villarreal enjoys her Des Moines education more than her eighth grade year, her experiences in Puerto Vallarta give her more perspective for the future. Design: C. Neades

Extending The Family Micky Roark, Reporter Being adopted you sometimes think that your family didn’t want you, your old family had issues, or they were bad people. Sometimes relationships don’t work out for families and they think of your needs before theirs. They want your future to be better than they can provide for you. And that’s where foster-parents come to help out. John Kerr, math teacher at North, met his wife Judy 27 years ago, married one year later. They currently have six children in total, three of them being adopted. It started with the decision to help out children in the community, but have reached much greater beyond their own community. “We have helped many, many children over that time and in the process found three that were a fit for our family and adopted them through the state,” Kerr said. Mr. Kerr and his wife Judy have opened their home to foster kids of Iowa for the past 15 years. Helping more than 100 kids with temporary homing and counseling. While their family sorts out issues, Kerr and his wife help the child in any way they can. “We’ve had children from different countries in our home; we’ve had children that were dealt pretty bad hands, we have had some that still call us Mom and Dad that still keep in touch, and others we’ve lost touch with,” he said. John and Judy try to make the children feel comfortable in any way they can. According to Attachment. Features

Kerr Family Fosters Iowa’s Children

compassionate to other people. “I think when you are a person that has been hurt by things that you cannot control I think it’s very powerful for you to experience giving without expecting anything in return and through that process you actual get more than what you gave, and I think that Illustration by: Micky Roark makes a huge difference on their org, a website supporting parenting outlook of life,” Kerr said. and adoption, being raised by various According to an article about health people throughout their childhood, benefits of volunteering from the children often obtain reactive attach- American Sociological Association, ment disorder, which is caused by not volunteering has positive effects on having enough bonding time with psychological well-being and self-retheir parents. ported health. In other words it makes “I think that probably every foster people feel better. and every adopted child has a drive on When asked, what do you hope to the inside of them on wanting to un- accomplish by providing children with derstand why. As a foster adoptive par- a temporary home, John responded ent there’s nothing you can do about with, “I hope I made their lives better, that. It’s going to be there and some- well I hope I did, I mean it’s my belief where in some point of time they need I did, but I guess they’re the only ones that why to be answered, there’s just no that can answer that when they reflect way to love that why away,” Kerr said. back on their life, but I hope and pray Kerr and Judy make it their job to that I made their lives better and I hope make sure that the child has every- they’ve all taken love away from us.” thing they need. They speak with the biological parents for anything that will help them adjust to the new environment. Whether it’s a blanket a toy or a movie, anything that makes them feel at home they ask for. John and Judy try to make a mission trip with every child that they receive through the state to build churches in other countries. They believe it Kerr family, pictured above, has fostered more than one hundred helps make the children children over the past 15 years. Photo Courtesy: Kerr Family Design by M. Roark

Home Is Where the Heart Is

Alumnus Dartanyan Brown reconnects with the youth of North High Yer Lee, Editor

Many high school students go out and accomplish many things after they graduate. They’re on the next leg of their journey through life; yet, even after they’ve walked off the auditorium stage, worn their wedding rings, shopped for diapers late at night, or have said goodbye to those who have moved on too soon, these students don’t come back to reconnect with the teachers and staff who have set them on the course that had made their lives change forever. It’s within these bricks and concrete that a student builds their character and identity. Dartanyan Brown is an alumni of North who graduated from the class of 1967, and in his academic years at the school, he found his passion for music and journalistic writing. Features

Being born and growing up in the mid 1900s, times weren’t what you could say, civilized. Despite this however, Brown managed to find peace and fun as he grew up. Through all the racial tension, he stilled remained as the young and innocent child similar to what we see in children today. “We had Jewish people who lived directly across the street from us, and we had Hispanic people two doors down, seriously!... Russian Jews, Hispanic people, black people, Polish, there was a lot of German and Polish people here always. So the neighborhood I grew up in was actually pretty diverse, it wasn’t a rich neighborhood, but it was very well-represented with almost every kind of person... and they all respected each other,” Brown said. Transitioning to high school, it was all a surprise for Brown. In 1963, the city came and took over his family’s home and property. There was a plan for a new highway to be built, interstate I-235. The family ended up moving close to Harding Middle School where Brown then entered into North High School instead of East High School, where he would have gone otherwise. “I mean it was my own kid neighborhood and then they came through in 1963 and said, ‘you gotta move.’ They made us move y’know and it was like ‘what?’… it was a traumatic thing for me cause I had all my friends and then we ended up having to move over here,” he said. However, what Brown also stated about this transition was, “the thing I thought was gonna be bad actually turned out to be one of the best things that ever happened to me.” During his time at North, Brown was involved in many activities. He was on North’s

swim team where he went all the way and placed 12th in state, but most notably, he favored newspaper and band. The Oracle, back in his time, was looking for more reporters and Brown sought the opportunity to join. He became a reporter for sports, then by his senior year, he became an associate editor. Printing newspaper articles was a very difficult task. Unlike today where we see digital printers and copy machines, in order to print a newspaper, one would have to go through a time consuming task of cutting and pasting stories for print. Yet, Brown enjoyed every moment of this process. From writing stories, to page designs and the late night sessions. By second semester of his senior year, he had already became a reporter and photographer for the Des Moines Register. Being a good reporter who delivers honest news can be very hard to find. Brown believes the journalist and writers who provide good media coverage to be very noble. Especially when protected by the First Amendment, he thinks reporters should be doing their best in delivering the news so that it may cover both sides of the story and inform the audience to the full extent, without bias. This was one of the motivating drives that aspired Brown to become a reporter himself. Growing up in the 50’s and 60’s, the only way society was properly informed was through the reporters. But where were the honest reporters at? As a kid, he aspired to one of those. “When I was a kid for the first week of school, I didn’t want to be Superman, I wanted to be Clark Kent” he said. In addition to writing stories, Brown also played for the North High band.

It wasn’t until late 2000’s when Brown He played the clarinet and although he came back to Iowa. Fifty years later, might not have been very good at it, he Brown had come back after touring enjoyed it very much. “In ninth grade I got in the band the nation and working with amazing room for the first time. I’m in the band people. He says his decision to purplaying clarinet, my little clarinet that I sue music has “changed my life.” If he learned how to play not very well over had turned down all his opportunities, at Hiatt, then I come here and we go to Brown might have ended up working football games and “When I was a kid for for an “insurance company” he said. we march and we the first week of school, Currently, Brown is wear uniforms and involved with afterit’s loud and everyI didn’t want to be one’s going crazy. It Superman, I wanted school music programs at Harding Middle was pretty cool,” he to be Clark Kent.” School and North High said. Being the fourth person in his fam- School for kids who love to play music. ily’s generation to have a passion for Just like him, he realized there are kids music, Brown had to choose between who graduated and missed being in someone who wrote about musicians, the classroom, and so, Brown ofor becoming one himself. He joined fered to be the person to play the band Chase, a Grammy-nominat- along side them after school. ed jazz-rock band led by the trumpet Every Tuesday he and the star Bill Chase, after working for the kids meet so they can Register from 1967 to 1970. Together, jam together, and the band traveled all over the nation just like where offering the world their music. Chase came to an abrupt end in 1974 due to a tragic incident. Despite this, Brown continued his passion and moved to San Francisco to further his musical experience. From there he met many famous and inspirational people, including a chance to work close with George Lucas, creator of Star War’s. While in California, Brown had is own family and children who also pursued music.

19 he started his passion for music, Brown encourages that the kids of today will learn from him and pursue their music careers as well. It was within these walls and hallways that built the person he is today. It was the place where it all began.

Students spend their time after school on Tuesdays to play their instruments with Dartanyan Brown. Here, they play jazz arrangements and explore their way around a synthesizer.

Design: Y. Lee

We Are All The Same

North teachers share about life with autistic children Abbie Primrose, Reporter There are many different kinds of people. Maybe someone doesn’t talk the same as you or walk the same. That may be because they have a disability. A disability is something that makes think or see a different way than someone without a disability. One of the most common types of disabilities is autism. Autism is a condition that makes you have a harder time making relationships, or it makes you not be able to understand things at a normal pace of someone who doesn’t have the condition. A certain few of students at North have this condition and there are also teachers with children who have this condition. Take Mrs. Lori Bonnstetter, for example she has a little boy named Griffin and he has autism. They started him in school at two and a half years old, and of course any mother would have worries. “Sending your child who has always been by your side since day one at such a young age to school can be frightening, but my husband and I knew it was something we had to do so Griffin can learn and be the person we know he can be,” Bonsetter said. Griffin has been learning so much at school and making a big Features

differences in his education. “It’s the little things that mean the most, Griffin is now starting to learn his ABCs, he can’t talk yet but he can point to the letters, and now with us knowing that he is capable of learning. We know he is going to go to college and have a job and six months ago we never would have thought that he could be capable of doing these things, but now we know if he tries hard he can do anything he puts his mind to.”

are also things that make it difficult to get the help he needs because there are a lot of doctors visits and the help he receives isn’t covered by insurance. “Iowa is one out of six of the 50 states the doesn’t receive insurance from the government to help support autism, but this year it is looking like the legislature is about to pass a law to cover it, which it’s about damn time!”, Mr. Jordal says.

Caleb with his older brother and younger sister. Photo Courtesy: Sara Steiler

Graham cheesing for the camera. Photo Courtesy: David Jordal

Griffin learning his ABCs at preschool. Photo Courtesy: Lori Bonnsetter

Mr. Jordal also has a sonwith autism, and his name is Graham. He is in kindergarten, he has a lot of people who help him along the way such as the AEA (Area Education Agencies), and therapy there have helped him be to be able to communicate with the people around him and able to tell his feelings if something is wrong. He is also very literal with his words and feelings and getting to the point with whatever he says, but has a way of putting a smile on your face when he says it. There

to get excited when we go pick up his brother and sister from daycare. He used to have no reaction at all but now he gets excited when he knows we are going to pick them up.” Steiler said.

There are also more diverse cases such as Mrs. Sara Steilers son Caleb. Caleb is eight years old, but he is non-verbal and can’t write. Caleb goes to a regular public school, but is in a special program that helps him learn at his own pace, but a struggle is he doesn’t have any friends. “ Its not that he doesn’t like to play with other kids but it’s the other kids who never really notice he is there, so the other kids just kind of overlook him and not realize he is there. Caleb is making progress in communicating and is even starting

With these kids and all of their stories each one is different, but they have the same condition. They have all had different experiences and all have different wants and needs, but still have the emotion and feelings that everyone has. Even though a person may not be able to talk or make relationships the same way as someone else or even understand things as quickly, they all deserve to be treated the same way. So the next time you see someone in the hall who may be a little different than you, don’t judge them, Just say hi and talk to them and get to know them and maybe you’ll see that even though they may be a little different they each have an amazing personality. Design: A.Primrose

Battling Crohn's Megan Bohall, Editor

rohn’s disease. Most people have no idea what it is, but in fact several people suffer through this non-curable disease. Denise Wicker, photography teacher at Central Campus, has a lot of experience with the disease. Her husband has been battling it for over 20 years, with 12 years of in and out hospital stays. Within this past year, Wicker has been informed her daughter, Sarah, has Crohn’s. “Crohn’s is an autoimmune disease, meaning that one’s overactive immune system attacks healthy tissue. The disease causes an inflammation and the body attacks itself in attempt to heal it. But instead of healing, the disease re-attacks the same area and a cycle of healing and scarring occurs,” Wicker said. Although Wicker and her family were very shocked and scared at the news, they try to stay positive. “Our experience with Crohn’s gives us a good perspective to keep going and that things do get better,” Wicker said. According to crohnsandcolitis.com, 700,000 people have been diagnosed with Crohn’s in the United States. To-

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day there have been many outbreaks in new medication and treatment; Wicker discusses what was available for her husband when he was diagnosed. “Back then, there were no medications

found Crohn’s because her symptoms were so different from what we knewno terrible pain, discomfort after eating and cramping for her,” Wicker said. There are many negative thoughts

“Our experience with Crohn’s gives us a good perspective to keep going and that things do get better,”

to ‘tether’ the disease, so it did a lot of damage. Occasionally, his only option was to have surgery to remove the damaged sections,” Wicker said. Some families don’t have the preparation for getting this type of news, but with already dealing with her husband’s diagnosis it madewthe news slightly easier. “We are more knowledgeable about the disease than people new to it and can offer our daughter advice on what works to get through it. We also can show her that she can still do anything she wants to do in her life,” Wicker said. Symptoms for Crohn’s is different for many people, the pain ranges from severe to mild. “She had an upper and lower GI where they look with a camera. Then she drank contrast and they took a series of x-rays that showed a five-inch narrowing in her small intestine. We were shocked when they

and emotions associated with Crohn’s, but Wicker and her family try to keep positive. “I think it [Crohn’s] has brought us closer. Our daughter has her dad and she is grateful to have someone who really understands first hand her fears and frustrations. We all talk about it openly, her brothers too, so she can deal with it as it comes and just be a kid,” Wicker said.

Denise and Sarah Wicker spending quality time together. Photo Courtesy: Denise Wicker

Design by: M.Bohall

You Are Not Alone: Depression is not a stigma Olivia Vorel & Kennedy Stegall, Reporters His name is Sheldon Oliver. Some of you may know him, and some of you may not. He’s a Junior here at North. He’s only 16 years old, yet he is one of the many students who suffer from depression at this school. Students like Sheldon Oliver also have trouble talking to therapists or counselors due to a lack of trust in adults. This makes staff members like Montez Anderson important. Anderson is a campus monitor at North and he is beloved by many of the students. There isn’t anywhere he can go without someone knowing his name. It isn’t uncommon for students to go to him for advice or just to talk. Oliver suffers from depression, anxiety, dyslexia, ADHD and OCD. He was diagnosed with dyslexia and ADHD in elementary school and then went on to develop depression and anxiety in middle school. “When you’re having an anxiety attack or are really depressed and

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someone says or does the wrong thing, it becomes hard to focus. Occasionally you even have to leave class,” Oliver said, referring to how hard it can be to focus in class when your mental illnesses are pressing down on you. According to the organization website of a mental illness hospital called Orchard Place, one in five teenagers suffer from clinical depression. Even with this number on the rise as more and more teens develop mental illnesses, there is still a decline on mental illness hospitals. An article called “Not Enough Beds for the Mentally Ill” on MSNBC’s website states that between 2002 and 2011, the number of hospital beds in freestanding psychiatric hospitals has dropped by 13 percent. “Parents who try to admit their mentally ill

North High marquee shows the Polar Bear Way. Photo Credit: Olivia Vorel

children often get turned away, and most of the time the child ends up committing suicide,” it reads. This is an extreme problem, as mental illnesses often take more than just medication you can take at home to cure. The lack of funding in these hospitals can cause people to lose their lives, but yet they still continue to defund them. “In the aftermath of the 2008 recession, states were forced to cut over $4 billion in public mental health funding,” according to the New York Times’ article called “We Need Better Funding For Mental Health Services.” “Several times the mental health industry has been promised

“You are not alone, someone cares.” -Sheldon Oliver

Symptoms of Depression -Feeling of withdrawl. -Becoming grouchy or moody for an unknown reason. -Suicidal thoughts or actions. -Loss of interest. -Increase or decrease in sleep. -Low energy or restlessness. -Poor concentration. -Weight loss or weight gain. -Excessive worrying. -Sulking. -Feeling of being sick. -Feeling misunderstood. -Clinging to a trusted person

Bariture Ibaakee, freshman, and Keirra Martin, freshman, show support for each other in motion of mental illnesses. Photo Credit: Olivia Vorel

more funding that hasn’t been received,” the Times article said. Even with all these stats and numbers, there still remains the problem that most teens with depression don’t talk to anyone about it. They close up to everyone and not even their friends can see that they need help. Julie Charikov, a school counselor at North High, is another trusted adult at this school. “There are lots of causes for mental illnesses, some are just genetic and they are in your family makeup. Some are just caused by stressful life events and can cause anxiety or depression, and some are caused by substances,” she said. “There’s a stigma with mental illness that you should be able to control it and you should be in charge of your mental health and it’s silly because if you were to get cancer you would go to the hospital and get treated because you were sick. A

mental illness is just an illness of the brain and you just can’t control it,” she added.

U.S. Help Hotlines Suicide- 800-784-2433 Child Abuse- 800-792-5200 Sexual Assualt- 800-223-5001 National Domestic Abuse- 800-799-SAFE Runaway- 800-231-6946 Teen Dating Violence- 800-992-2600 AAA Pregnancy Center- 800-560-0717 Crisis- 800-233-4357 Suicide & Depresison- 800-999-9999 National Youth Crisis- 800-448-4663

Source: Orchardplace.org www.Psychcentral.com Design: O. Vorel / K. Stegall

Mya Alexander, Co-Features Editor The chant above is one of the several to help out chants yelled throughout the day at Des Moines youth the fourth Annual Teen Summit. Teen is a big deal for students. Summit is a student-led and student- At last year’s Teen Summit, Joshua based event where both poetry per- Bennet, a nationally recognized poet, formance and writing skills will be came as the special guest. sharpened with the help of a nationally “Joshua Bennet walked in the room recognized poet, Denice Frohman. and I was like ‘whoa’ and then I shook For two months the students of Ur- his hand and then he smiled at me and ban Leadership at Central Campus then I was in his workshop and then have been planning Teen Summit, one he remembered my name so that made of them being Karriem Muhhamed, me feel very, very special,” Muhammed sophomore at North High School. In said as a smile spread across his face. class he was told about the opportuniSame as the featured poet last year, ty to perform at Teen Summit and he Denice Frohman held a workshop immediately started writing his poem. for invited youth on Friday, and perPerformformed ing in front for the Follow the North Movement 515 of a variety public on See Miss. page, Daniels in of crowds is Saturday. @NHSMovement tough but room 2423 During Karriem is the workready for the shop she Tweet at the Talk to your Attend Movement journey. taught counselor workshops account with Having a how to about joining questions, at the Social @movement515 UL Club famous poet enhance come perfor-

How do I get involved in movement 515?

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Muhammed is seen performing (Left) and photographed by Jamie Miline for her collection “Layers” , a photoshoot designed for the students of Urban Leadership(Right).

mances and better connect with an audience. “It helped me because with some poems you have to make the audience feel a different way,” Muhammed said. Muhammed used those same skills the next day during the public showcase. With friends and family in the audience, he performed the poem he wrote for his sister. “My sisters smile is leaving for college soon, and I’m afraid her voice might be going with it,” Muhammed said in one of his lines. While Teen Summit was a great experience for Muhhamed, it is most definitely not his last performance. Now the only thing left to do is get ready for BNV (Brave New Voices, the national slam poetry competition) and put everything learned from Teen Summit into place. Photo/Design: M. Alexander

Hary Nguyen, Editor

North High School is home to the Junior ROTC program for many students. But beyond that program is the North High Drill Team. Students such as sophomore Sydney Krejci and senior Rodger Griffith take pride in this extra-curricular activity that encompasses the values of discipline and teamwork. In JROTC, drill is a marching unit that performs routines based upon military drill. They spend time during and after school to perfect their proficiency in order to compete with other schools around the nation. Krejci has been active with the drill team for two years. In the curriculum of JROTC, students are taught citizenship, civics, social skills, fitness and more. Features

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1st Place and 2nd Place (Feb 10-14: Camp Perry, Ohio Eastern Regional Marksmanship)

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3rd Overall Finish (March 19-22: Anniston, Alabama JROTC Marksmanship National Championships)

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2nd Place Armed and Un-Armed Drill Team (April 2: North High School)

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2nd Place out of 48 Teams (April 2: Marine Corps Physical Fitness Regional National Championships)

“Drill teaches you structure and leadership,” Krejci said. Programs like the drill team tend to be perceived as an activity fit for just boys in society. But from Krejci’s experience, she is able to tell us that the program does not treat her any different than the boys, they treat her as another part of the team. The JROTC program contains about 104 students and not even half of this number are females. Krejci encourages more girls to consider joining JROTC because only six girls are on the drill team. “It would not only say that males can do this since in the military the traditional mindset is: only males can do this. It would show that females are equal to men and that we have the same abilities,” Krejci said.

In their first competition of this school year, they placed first in unarmed IDR (Intense Drill Regulation) and third in armed IDR. An achievement that most of the student body is unaware of. Senior Rodger Griffith has been on the drill team for two years. “Drill teaches you discipline: learning how to move from point A to point B in unison, to work as a team and to work as one,” said Griffith. Members of this program practice every A day during third block with the exception of some Fridays for meets that typically happen on a weekend. Their meets take place every month, given that their most recent meet took place on Saturday, February

11, 2017, in Topeka, Kansas. The reason why most meets are so far is because “We have to travel to different high schools within our region,” Griffith said. “Back then, about the 1980’s they would even travel to New York for competition.” But since the drill team program now is just restarting, they plan to keep meets closer to home and work their way outwards for other regions of the U.S. The drill team is just like any other activity or athletic here at North. They come to dedicate, to compete and to win through consistent practices and passion for their program - one of the reasons why their achievements speak upon the hard work. Design: H. Nguyen

North has hired a new softball coach that was an all-star pitcher Laura Christensen, Editor

that news, Grove states in always keep improving and ence tournament and went onto Nationals. I also loved Brittanee Grove who was a college paper, “I wouldn’t getting better,” Grove said. Grove has been playing the feeling I got hitting each an all-star softball player accept that fate. I worked the game since she was six of my 17 homeruns. Nothhard and changed my grip, and currently a fourth grade teacher at Willard Elemen- and a year later I was back years old and played her last ing beats the feel of the ball game at the age of 23, play- hitting your bat on the sweet tary is the new softball coach on the mound.” ing about 17 years of soft- spot and sending it 200 feet After she recovered, not of the upcoming season of over a fence.” 2017 for the North High Po- only did she pitch again ball. With being the new soft“Since I was 10 years old but the next year she made lar Bears. I practiced every day. In ball coach she plans on Grove grew first team Allthe summer I would bringing her love for the up in Run- A m e r NAIA first team All-American hit 300 balls off sport and passion she has nels, Iowa, NFCA First team All-American the pitching for it into North and “wants but gradu2 time MCC Player of the week machine and to bring my knowledge for ated from In2 time 1st team All Region dianola High William Penn April 2015 Player of the Month pitch for an the game into the program School. Once Midwest Collegiate Conference Player of hour before as well as my passion for alBrittanee Grove I did any- ways improving.” she graduated the Year Grove tells her goals for thing like she moved on to play and at2 time 1st team All Midwest Collegiate her new team, “We plan on swimming tend at Creighton UniversiConference ty for one year, University of Holds the homerun record at William Penn or golfing. getting better every day. My From there whole coaching philosophy Iowa for two years and lastly for most homeruns in a season at 17 I continued is that you improve every William Penn University 1st team Academic All-American to practice my day and you either get better for two years but redshirted CoSida winner way through high or worse; you never stay the a year due to an injury and i c a n school. I played year same. The more we improve and hit 17 surgery. round on a Kansas City soft- the more fun we will have On August 22, 2012, no homeruns. and winning will come.” ball team,” Grove said. Throughout her life she one knew her life would She decided to start coachchange for a small period of has had two main role moding because she felt as if it els, her mom and her dad. time. “They have both taught me was the only way she could Grove wrote in a memoir essay, “So, with anger so much but they especially get back in the softball comI forcefully tried to open taught me how to never give munity. Grove has also been my window, but instead of up. When things get rough the assistant varsity softball opening it, my hand went in life and don’t go my way, coach for two years at PleasI can hear their voices tell- antville. through the thin glass.” She spoke on her Six months after the ac- ing me to keep on keeping favorite moon. I wouldn’t be where I am cident had happened, she didn’t have feeling in three today without them. They of her fingers and the doctor t a u g h t me to ment as an all-star player had told her she wouldn’t be n e v e r be satisfied with being, “In college was when able to pitch again. where I am and that I can we won the MCC conferBut she did not believe Sports Design: L. Christensen

Nathaniel Thomas III, Reporter At North High School we have two standout star athletes on the varsity basketball team, Jal Bijiek and Tyreke Locure each one on their way to college stardom. That’s great for them but what about what happens to North when they’re gone. What about the junior varsity players that are going to be moved up to varsity? Will they be ready to take over or will they just crash and burn? With a record of 10-11 there is definite room for improvement for this freshmen team. Gore Pout, forward, said he and his team weren’t focused” resulting in them doing worse than they normally would .Being a freshman there are going to be challenges with focusing on different things. One of them being your first year of high school. That could really change the way a player thinks and acts. With only a few distractions in middle school the transition to high school might as well double those distractions. That’s where Pout thinks the team messed up. Gore Pout

Makhia Duncan

Imajai Lee

Makhia Duncan, guard, had a different opinion on how the season went. Duncan said that the there were two reasons why they didn’t win. One reason he said was that the team played a lot more offense than defense, meaning that instead of playing defense and trying to steal the ball from the other team, they would try to score as many points as possible while not playing defense.“If we scored every time then we would win, but we don’t,” Duncan said. For example, let’s say a player instead of passing the ball to a teammate he will go for a lay-up that he would miss. Then it will start a chain reaction causing everyone on the team to start arguing and cursing. Duncan also thinks that these problems will be gone when they reach varsity. “I think we’re going to mature by then,” he said. Imajai Lee, center, said even after losing more games then they won. he thinks that they were still in a way successful.“I represented [Polar Bear Nation] well,” he said. But he still knows there is a lot to improve on before he can even think about varsity. He says he wants to “improve on my three point shot.” He really thinks that if he was able to do more, they would have won the games that they lost. His mindset is that if he improves his personal game that soon others will follow suit, and once other people have improved then they will be ready to play together as a team.

With these statements it is safe to believe that these players have an open mind about this season. Even with all the challenges that they have faced they still find a way to know where they messed up and where to improve. With 10 seniors in varsity leaving, only time will tell if this group of freshmen will mature and be willing to take over their spots in a few years. Design/Photos: N. Thomas III

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