The ORACLE stepping it up
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Pages 6-7
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college advice: pursue your dreams
History in the making: north breaks 30-game losing streak
Thanksgiving-ready outfits
North High School, 501 Holcomb AVe. Des Moines, IA 50313. A public forum for student expression
TOC The
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Stepping It Up
NEWS
Issue
3 Features
North High supports LGBT community, Chrystal Seger What should the role of a police officer be in a classroom? Angelica Reyes
Opinions
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Thanksgiving ready outfits, Jasmine Inthabounh Everyone is thankful: Different cultures celebrating Thanksgiving, Janelle Hill One of Two: How a diverse staff is important for stufents’ lives, Taj Milton
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4-5 Creative_Arts
Upperclassmen in frenzy, Madison Houska College advice: Pursue your dreams, Hannah McNichols Music’s inspiration on the world, Ian McIntire
Middle_Spread
A Journey to Neverland, Megan Bohall The Movement of Movement 515, Chrystal Seger
6-7 Sports
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History in the making: North breaks its 30 game loosing, Aeris Heckman Welcoming Winter Sports, Colt Wyatt
In_Case_You_Missed_It North alumnus anchors news in New York
Class of 1998 alumnus Nikki Rudd shares her story of success Kathleen Tran, Reporter Tackling the role of anchor and reporter can be difficult, but Nikki Rudd, North alumnus of 1998, manages to balance both roles. She usually arrives to work around 3:30 to 4 a.m. depending on what she’s doing that particular day. Then, as soon as she gets there she’s rehearsing lines, to making any editing or line-up changes as well as adding any stories – all this takes place before five in the morning. Whether she’s anchoring or reporting, it’s a busy day. Rudd joined the News10 NBC team in May of 2004 in Rochester, New York, as an anchor and reporter. She mainly anchors for the morning show between 5 to 7 a.m. alongside her co-workers, but she’ll occasionally report and do the news for a local radio station. “If I’m anchoring, I come in at 4 a.m. Our morning show lasts two hours. Then, I also anchor the noon show. My day usually ends at 1 p.m.,” she said. To read the rest of the story visit our website: www.northhighoracle.com
Oracle Staff
Nikki Rudd reports on location at her job in New York City. Photo Courtesy: Nikki Rudd
Executive Editors-in-chief Hannah McNichols Tanna Jones Managing Editor Cheyann Neades Social Media Director Aeris Heckman Copy Editor Kelsey Ambrose
News Editors Angelica Reyes Janiecia McCaleb Sports Editors Colt Wyatt Somerle Rhiner Features Editors Jasmine Inthabounh Nathaniel Cobb
Opinions Editors Taj Milton Kenzie Schnathorst Creative Arts Editors Megan Bohall Daniela Hernandez-Avila Cover Gurus Tanna Jones (Front) Cheyann Neades (Back)
Reporters Emily Acosta-Vijil Amirah Avant Alexis Barnes Julio Delgadillo Jolena Le Janelle Hill Russhaun Johnson Skylar Kilgore
Ian McIntire Chrystal Seger Kathleen Tran Rayshawna Collier Madison Houska Newspaper Adviser Jennifer Dryden
news
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North High supports LGBT community North High Schools GSA Club welcomes all and any Chrystal Seger, Reporter North High School has many after school clubs and programs offered to students, but one in particular that has recently become more popular and well known among North High is the Gay Straight Alliance or better yet known as (GSA). The club was created by students who believed there was a need to be more support for same-sex relations. The goal was to provide a safe and judgment-free zone for those who identified with the Lesbian, Gay, ,Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) lifestyle. Staff leaders are Heather Rosewall, Jenifer Dryden and Jean Schwedau. The GSA student leader is Krystal O’Morrow, junior. The club has come a long way since when it first started, it was officially formed in 2012 and has impressively been growing in numbers and is moving in a positive direction. What is hoped for GSA in the future is that it impacts lives for the better. The club made a mission statement, and is working on how to be a part of the Des Moines Pride Parade in June. Senior Delanie Hawkins said GSA has helped her become more herself.
achieve this year. “I would like to see GSA develop their own personal motto,” said Schwendau. Schwendau explained what she thought her role and the students’ roles were consisted of in GSA. She said being a leader and a member of GSA are equally important. “I think the adults need to be a resource. I don’t want to be equal, I want the kids to be able to say, ‘hey guys, this is what we need, you’re the grown-ups help us Seniors Mikayla Neal and Dalanie Hawkins are current memebers of the GSA Club. Photo Credit: Chrystal Seger find it,” she said. GSA is a safe place to “It’s helped me feel comfortable in my own skin,” she get questions and concerns answered. Schwendau said she said. thought GSA as a safe place. Hawkins now feels she could speak her mind openly in “[It’s a safe place] first of all, the grown-ups in there the club. aren’t going to let anything happen to anybody, and I “[The members of GSA] don’t want you to feel think the core group of students you guys got in there like you’re the only one to want to see something right now are really supportive,” said. change,” Hawkins said, speaking of changing North’s LGBT community for the better. The Gay Straight Alliance is a judgHawkins explains why she joined GSA and what ment-free place where people come her main influence was. “The idea of coming together with other peotogether to learn, create relationships ple, not only gay but also straight, and seeing and support the LGBT community. there backgrounds,” she said. GSA allows students to express themselves, and All supporters are welcome to join, to be comfortable while doing it. meetings are held every Friday after Biology Teacher Jean Schwendau is also one school from 2:45-3:15 in Rosewall’s of GSA’s leaders. She spoke about goals for the organization and what she would like to see GSA room 1322.
The GSA Club Meet Every Friday From 2:45-3:15. Photo Credit: Chrystal Seger
What should the role of a police officer be in a classroom? Video of confrontation between a South Carolina high school resource officer and student spreads fast on social media
Angelica Reyes, Co-News Editor As we have all seen countless times ,social media is a very powerful outlet for information to travel fast, so when the video of a confrontation between a South Carolina high school student and a school resource officer went viralmany the topic came into question if having school police presence was needed or if there are better alternatives when it comes to dealing with misconduct in classrooms. Many on social media expressed shock at the amount of force the officer used and many believe the action he took was unjustifiable and unlawful, while others argued the girl was not complying with the officer’s demands and had multiple opportunities to do the right thing, but the ques-
tion now is what will schools do in order to avoid a problems similar to this from happening in their buildings? In an interview by Michel Martin (NPR) according to Susan Ferriss from the Center for Public Integrity “A lot of judges and psychologists and civil rights attorneys are urging schools and districts to come up with policies for how police should operate in schools, Denver schools have worked on protocols for when police should get involved. In Virginia now, the state has launched a project to offer retraining to all school resource officers”. Very much after this incident schools are now taking that extra step to offer a better and safe environment for students and facility members to avoid situations like the South Carolina confrontation from happening in their schools.
Eleventh grade student Amirah Avant watches the shocking video of the infamous incident. Photo Credit: Angelica Reyes
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opinions
Upperclassmen in Frenzy: Transition from carefree to stressed
Madison Houska, Staff Writer Each year a new batch of juniors and seniors make their way further up on the “high school completion” ladder. This step often reveals a sudden panic and a flood of frustration for many students. Freshman year and sophomore year are fairly easy. Classes are relatively simple and college is still a ways away. However, a month or two into junior and senior year, many students including myself are feeling the panic of figuring everything out. For myself, I feel pressured to figure out what I want to do for the rest of my life. What college do I want to attend? What profession do I want to take on? So many decisions and with no idea what I want to do, I can literally hear the clock tick. Around this time, many juniors and seniors are going on college visits and exploring the overwhelming number of scholarships there are to apply for. Also around this time, many seniors have begun applying to various colleges. If only it was a simple decision, such as “oh hey, im going to be a doctor for the rest of my life and attend so and so college for so and so years and then work at…” Diana Cavan, is a sophomore here at North. Lucky for her, she already has it all planned out. “I definitely plan on going to college, I want to go to Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. But if not there, I want to attend an Ivy League School and begin taking pre-med and eventually do something with medicine,” she said. Brown University is one of the eight most selective colleges in the United States, and also ranks among one of the country’s top private universities.
So it seems as though some people have it planned out, not everyone can say the same for themselves. Unfortunately this so called “simplicity” of figuring your entire life out isn’t always so simple. Although you may be frustrated, this does not mean you are alone. There are many resources around you here at North and in your community to help you. Our counselors, Julie Charikov, and Loretta Martzhal are two very helpful resources. For example, they will help when you are deciding your major, and can also recommend different scholarships that would be beneficial to you. The counselors can assist you in setting up college visits, if you want to visit a college’s campus and see what they have to offer; this is something that would be beneficial to you. As a junior, you get one exempt day to go on a college visit, and as a senior, you are allowed two exempt days for college visits. In the office, you can find various materials such as ACT prep books and information regarding the ACT in general to help prepare whether you are taking it for the first time or even retaking it to receive a higher score. During lunch, in the main hall right outside the gym, colleges from around Iowa set up tables with information about their college and what they have to offer. In conclusion, you are not alone. The amount of resources that are just here at North is countless. Your profession should be something that makes you happy, something you enjoy. If it makes you happy, go for it; and when you do, excel to be the best that you can be, and make it yours.
College advice:
Pursue your dreams Hannah McNichols, Co-Editor-In-Cheif Someone once told me, “You’re wasting your time on a career that will only lead to starvation.” Ouch, right? But before I go on, let me give you some background on the career in question. I want to do something with journalism. Either a journalist or working as a press secretary for an organization. After years of exploring my interests, this is what I have decided on. But I’m still affected by what others say, which led me to consider the other side of the argument. As technology continues to advance with unbelievable speed, print publications are steadily being replaced by websites that update their content practically every time you refresh the browser. More disturbingly, the country is in the midst of an economic downturn, which is leaving people in a perpetual state of uncertainty. And by the time my generation graduates from college, we will be part of a workforce that is highly competitive and most likely incredibly unstable. But I stand firm in my decision to be a writer. Why? For the idealistic, simple, yet powerful reason that it makes me happy in a way that no amount of money ever could. Rarely have I found others who think this way, and it always disheartens me to hear students trying to map out their lives based on factors other than pursuing their passions. Factor number one: parents. Parents definitely have a right to be involved in their children’s lives, but sometimes their words create more stress than encouragement. Instead of trying to make their children happy, as they may have intended, parents can end up squeezing their children’s hopes and desires until nothing remains but the hard, coarse seeds
of a cruel reality. True, being realistic is important, but everyone needs the chance to dream in order to find happiness, and parents should understand this. Factor number two: money. With people worrying so much about how much money they will make a year, which yes, should be a concern to a point, but you shouldn’t be throwing away what you love for money. I strongly believe you will not be happy if you have to go to work every day hating what you do. Naturally, there’s no way to predict where our paths will lead us. In fact, our ideas and plans could very well change down the road. However, at this stage in our lives when so many voices are telling us who we should be, we need to nurture our individual dreams, not stifle them, because they may be the only things left that define us. I have gone through multiple career choices that will make more money than a journalist would. I have thought about business, criminal justice, even EMT and paramedic majors - which doesn’t make sense at all because me and blood are not okay - but I still every time go back to journalism. The feeling I get when I write is something that I don’t think I can find anywhere else. Of course, listen to your parents and consider the financial implications of your choices. But keep in mind, too, that you, and no one else, will ultimately have to live with the results of your decisions. And who knows – maybe that person is right, and I will starve because of my choice to major in journalism. But after witnessing the unhappiness of those who didn’t pursue their passion, I am convinced that the worst suffering of all is to not allow yourself to do what you truly love.
Top 5 Happiest Jobs Hairdressers make approximatly $44,000 a year. A Beauty Therapist’s salary is around $30,000 a year in the U.S. Early Years/Childcare providers make an average of $9.99 per hr. Doctors/Dentists make an average of $170,000 a year. Plumbers make an average of $50,000 a year.
Top 5 Paying Jobs Physician’s average at $137k $186k a year.
Dentist’s average at $105k - $146 a year.
Marketing managers average at $88k - $166k a year.
IT manager’s average at $96k - $156k a year.
Lawyers averae at $75k - $169k a year.
OPINIONs
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Music’s inspiration on the world
“ Music is a great thing to have, whether it’s rap, hip-hop, metal, country, etc. Music is a drug in the world, it’s addicting and compelling.” Photo Credit: Taj Milton
Ian McIntire, Repoter What inspires you? Movies? Games? Celebrities? How about music? Music is known as different things to different people, a stress reliever, a pump up, a relaxer, a drug. The inspiration that music has on the world is huge and when I say the world, I mean kids, teens and even adults. The impact that music has is incredible, you see these teens walking around in their own little worlds with headphones in, letting the music flow through their minds, forgetting about everything else. You even have these young kids listening to music, and some of it they don’t even understand but they still enjoy it. The beat and the way it’s written, and the way it all fits together. What really matters is, what makes you happy and what makes you feel like you’re on top. A very controversial thing that has been talked about for years online, on the news and social media, that is people think that a lot of the music we have, from the past 20 years to now, is the reason for violence in the world, even the killings, gangs, and the reason kids act up and try to be someone they’re really not. Well honestly, music is not the reason for all the violence that has happened. That is one of the excuses that people use because they can’t find a more reasonable explanation. They blame it on the art of history and music. How many times have you heard a criminal say that the music they listened to was their reason for what
they did? Oh, that’s right, never. You can’t say music is the reason for violence, that’d be like trying to say guns should be banned because all they do is cause harm. When really it’s the person with the gun who is doing the harm. “To those who believe that it is music causing violence in teens, ask yourselves this - does reading a suspense novel cause the reader to go out and commit murder? Does watching the news cause the viewer to go out and commit the same crime? No. And this is just as ridiculous, and almost laughable, as the concept of lyrics leading to violence.” Courtney Reiss, a passionate music lover, said. Don’t get me wrong, some of the stuff talked about in music is not the best thing for kids to be listening to. Yes, some of it is violent, sexual and gang related, but what those artists choose to put in their music is their choice, different music inspires different people. If the people like it that’s all that matters. What these artists do is to inspire young kids, teens and adults, because music means something to everyone, even if it’s in different ways. Throughout history, music has thrown inspiration in many lives. That’s even how I get pumped up for a match or a game. Music is a great thing to have, whether it’s rap, hip-hop, metal, country, etc. Music is a drug in the world, it’s addicting and compelling. I need music because music is one of the things that keeps me going. There is a song for every mood. Let the inspiration of music live on and keep coming.
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The North High Polar Bears celebrate at Drake Stadium Oct. 9 on their first win in four years and 30 games. Many students and parents were crying in happiness, and the crowd roared in support. Photo Credit: Ben Graeber
History in the making
North wins first game in four years, 30 games Aeris Heckman, Reporter
September 12, 2012, when the seniors were just freshmen, North football defeated Hoover. Four years and 30 games later... October 9, 2015, at Drake Stadium, the Polar Bears line up to face the Roosevelt Roughriders. The Bears Den is pumped up for the first kickoff of the game, the cheerleaders ready to cheer, parents ready to watch their sons win the game. The scoreboard counting down to the kick off. Finally, the buzzer goes off and it’s time for the game to start. The first touchdown of the game comes from Senior Noah Lane in the first quarter. Then Roosevelt turns around with their first touchdown, making the score tied, 7-7. Halftime comes around and North was trailing Roosevelt 17-7. The game resumes, even though North was behind, our student section was still going strong and our boys never giving up. Third quarter starts with a fumble recovery by Senior Caleb Lara and touchdown by Senior Brad Warren. Roosevelt 17, North 14. The winning touchdown of the night was done by Senior Noah Lane, making the score final of 21-17.
“I felt really excited, but I had to keep focused because there was still time on the clock and I had to make sure if we got another drive to execute and get us the win,” he said. Head Coach Major Sean T. Quinlan said, “Success isn’t always wins and losses, we’ve improved significantly from last year. Our statistics have quadruple in offense and defense. The boys’ confidence has boosted and will carry on next year.” Emotional students stormed Drake stadium, not caring if they got in trouble. Senior Alexis Gruber hasn’t missed a football game from her freshman to her senior year. “Determined” that’s how she would describe our Polar Bears. Some of the players were crying, their parents hugging them. While junior Jared Dollison was hugging his mom on the field he said, “We finally made it, we gave her something to be proud of.” Students were crying because they were so overjoyed our boys did it. They proved everyone who said North could never win a game wrong. Seniors haven’t won a game since freshman year verses Hoover, until this night at Drake Stadium. The Polar Bears didn’t just change people’s views on them, they changed history. North celebrates at Drake Stadium Oct. 9 for their first win in four years and 30 games. All Photo Credit: Ben Graeber
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NORTH HIGH SCHOOL’S VARSITY FOOTBALL STATS
10,080 MINUTES DEVOTED TO PRACTICE 168 HOURS DEVOTED TO PRACTICE 85 HOURS DEVOTED TO CAMPS
OFFENSE (7 GAMES)
DEFENSE (7 GAMES)
Rushing:1,082 Passing:618 Yards:1,700 Points Per Game:13 Total Points:91
Points Per Game:35 Margin Of Loss:22 Fumbles:8 Tackles:296 Sacks:9
SEASON’S TOP 4 SCORERS BY # OF TDs N. LANE
K. BURCH
A. PHILIPS
B.WARREN
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TOTAL NUMBER OF TOUCHDOWNS
features Marisela Aguilar models an easy outfit that could be recreated for family time during Thanksgiving. Her burgundy top from Marshalls, flawlessly captures fall into a shirt. The cut outs near the neckline doesn’t distract too much throughout the outfit and adds just a little touch of edgy-ness but still is appropriate for dinner with the family. Aguilar’s booties from Target, add a subtle hint of army green to the outfit that accommodates well to the autumn season. This style of booties are a statement piece in Aguilar’s wardrobe because of the fact that you can dress them up or down. Aguilar finds the perfect balance to compliment this outfit for the fall time.
Thanksgiving Ready
Cesar Marfal carefully illustrates an outfit that can easily be put together for a casual fall day. Flannels are all the rave even in 2015 for the autumn season, but Marfal puts a different spin on the trend. Marfal wears an inexpensive Hanes heather gray hoodie, that pairs well with his flannel overtop from Uniqlo. Marfal’s jeans will grab your attention right away towards the textured design. These biker jeans from H&M, add a touch of edgy-ness to the look but still manages to have a balance between edgy-ness and being comfortable. Furthermore, his simple all white Nikes sneakers pulls the outfit all together. Marfal’s look captures what fall is about in a stylish yet comfortable manner, which is perfect for a date during the fall or even stuffing your face during Thanksgiving.
Everyone is Thankful
OUTFITS
Jasmine Inthabounh, Co-Features Editor Tina Ho wears an outfit that can easily be transformed from the summer to fall. Ho effortlessly does this by, topping a neutral outfit with an army green utility jacket from Abercrombie Fitch and a pair of combat boots from Journeys. Ho’s outfit is very complimentary to the fall and could possibly be worn for a fall date or thanksgiving dinner with the family. Fall is all about the layers, and the neutrals, and Ho perfectly captures the essence of fall through her style. Akai Thiphavong depicts a perfect outfit for the fall time, especially for Thanksgiving with the family. His color-block flannel, that he thrifted from Salvation Army does an amazing job of representing the fall season colors. Simply wearing khaki joggers from Pacsun, compliments the top well. Thiphavong’s Nike Hyper Dunk Lows tie the look together with an overall comfortable and casual outfit for a Thanksgiving dinner. Thiphavong could easily add a peacoat and be prepared for the colder weather and a more sophisticated approach on his outfit.
DIFFERENT CULTURES, CELEBRATING THANKSGIVING Janelle Hill, Reporter North High is a very diverse and is filled with many different cultures. Although we have a wide range of of cultural backgrounds, when it comes to Thanksgiving, we all celebrate this holiday on common ground with our own twists on it.
Q: Describe yourself in your culture? Ryan: I am Buddhist. I am from Des Moines, Iowa and my family is from Laos and Thailand .
Madison: Well, I’m white and we celebrate thanksgiving. I have a really small family and we just simply get together and we invite my grandpa, and my cousins and we just eat.
Juan: I am from Mexico, and my family is like the type of family that is united and helps everyone out. Odyssey: We’re a deep-rooted black family. We do all of the traditions. We celebrate Hanukkah not Christmas. I am from Des Moines, Iowa but I have family from all over the U.S.
Q: What type of environment does thanksgiving hold at your house?
Ryan: During Thanksgiving, I am with a lot of fam-
ily. It’s always happy and enjoyable. We never argue or anything. It’s just a day to give thanks
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Madison: It’s really a bonding experience, because we get to bond over food, like everybody loves food in my family’s house. So it’s just a time where we all become really close and share things that we don’t normally say.
Juan: Joyful. Everyone is happy to be there together. Odyssey: A cheerful, family oriented environment. Q: What is your favorite part of thanksgiving? Why? Ryan: Seeing family because I haven’t seen them in a long time.
we have pho, and there’s noodles and stuff. Sometimes we have egg rolls, crabrangoons, typical Asian stuff.
Madison: Traditional Thanksgiving food like turkey, and mashed potatoes, and yams, and pumpkin pie, and things like that.
Juan: Mostly tamales, sometimes turkey, tostadas, and posoles.
Odyssey: Greens, turkey and ham, macaroni and
cheese, and like little smokies and other things like mashed potatoes, stuffing, and things of that sort.
What does Thanksgiving mean to you?
Madison: The food and enjoying time with my family Juan: Everyone in the family comes so if I haven’t seen them in a long time they come and I finally get to see them.
Ryan Thammathay, Senior Photo Credit: Janelle Hill
“Thanksgiving to me is giving back to things that my family has been apart of in my life. “
Odyssey: The food, because my grandma can throw down in the kitchen.
Q: What is traditionally on your menu for Thanksgiving dinner?
Ryan: We have the traditional Thanksgiving dinner
food, but there’s green bean casserole, and sometimes
Juan Daniel-Rodriguez, Senior Photo Credit: Janelle Hill
“Thanksgiving to me means something that is joyful to be together with your family.”
Features
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One of Two
How a diverse staff is important for students’ lives Taj Milton, Opinions Co-Editor Walking through the hallways of North “Here at this school we have a significant could make is best abridged High, diversity is something very promi- population who are ethnically similar to by Randy Miller, an author nent within the student body. Students me. I do think that it is useful in an edu- and teacher who is currently from different culthe only black teacher tures, races and ethin his district in New nicities amalgamJersey, as: ated together to “Generally speaklearn within these ing, Black and Latiwalls. Though dino/Hispanic students versity is very apare not educated in a parent through the way that is culturally students, when you responsive or cultake a closer look, turally relevant and that diversity isn’t those students are ofmirrored throughten punished for exerout the teachers. cising their culture in Currently at ways that those who North there are not of their culture do only two black not understand; often teachers. Now you interpreted as poor may think why behavior. For many does that matter? in urban schools the What does race Leola Levy, one of the two black teachers at North High, strategizes her objective for her next class. relationships formed have to do with between faculty, staff Photo Credit: Taj Milton teaching? Well, race and students are ones cational environment for students to have indeed does matter, not only does it matter built on a foundation of symrole models that they can easily identify but it makes a huge impact in high student pathy and empathy rather than with.” achievement. on understanding and compasMr. Hill is actually very much correct. When students can relate to teachers it sion. Hiring a slew of teachers There have been numerous studies excreates a relationship that benefits the stuof color won’t answer all of amining the relationship of students and dent in numerous ways. the issues facing urban stuteachers based on race. What would seem Race is a major factor in that equation dents; however, it can help like a no-brainer is becoming more of a Speaking to the two black teachers at to begin addressing some of rarity. North, I got just how big of an impact race them. Teachers of color, like The startling lack of diversity within edmakes. all teachers, must be supported ucation faculty isn’t just specific to North Leola Levy who teaches accounting, by seasoned administrators but is a national phenomenon. School demarketing and business at North describes and receive quality profesmographics in the U.S. are rapidly changher feelings towards being one of the two sional development. I am not ing as students are becoming more diverse black teachers. “I feel happy and I feel advocating that we remove in regards to ethnicity, spoken language sad,” Levy says “Happy because I still white teachers from urban and race. According to the U.S. Departhave a chance to reach a lot of kids and schools, but what I am saying ment of Education, a predicted historical sad because I am one of the two.” She is that there needs to be more first is here: This fall, a majority of public continues, “I think it’s very important [for of a balance with respect to the school students will be children of color. more black teachers to be represented], If racial composition of teachers At the same time, the teacher’s workforce you look at all the schools in the district, in urban schools and we canremains remarkably stagnant, with little there is a big difference between faculty not just hire black teachers for change in teacher diversity rates over the and the students and I think it needs to be history and Hispanic/Latino past decade, which is majority white. addressed.” teachers to teach Spanish. We The critical entail for more representaHomer Hill who teaches History and need teachers of color in the tion to be reflected transversely throughpsychology, feels similar. “I’m disapmathematics, science and Engout teachers is often looked upon disparpointed but to put a positive spin on it, at lish content areas as well.” agingly but the impactful difference it least I’m one of the two.” Hill continues,
Music Therapy Using music to heal
Nathaniel Cobb, Features Co-Editor Music therapy is a relatively new therapeutic practice that’s used to help people with mental disabilities. Whether it’s through simply listening to music, singing or dancing, to things like making music or playing an instrument, this type of therapy is being used all over with people that have diseases like Alzheimer’s and disor-
ders like autism. It is also used in hospitals to alleviate pain, promote movement with dancing, and to lessen muscle tension.A couple of students at North are interested in studying music therapy in college. Sierra Martin, senior, shares that she’s been working with kids who have special needs for a while now and she also loves music so this is a chance for her to “incorporate the two things I love the most.” She explains that she first realized she was interested in music therapy when she met a child with Down Syndrome whom she bonded with immediately, she
In The Works
A plan to increase club and activity enrollment Emily Acosta, Reporter North staff wants students to get more involved with programs to make their high school years more memorable. Enrollment with clubs and activities went from 23 percent in 2014-15 to 35 percent this fall. They’ve done some changes to make students more interested like hang posters, and adding more motivating teachers. Sports made teams for both genders, clubs like Gay, Straight Alliance, Movement 515 and ROTC that have kids from different schools joining and supporting our students. Lori Bonnstetter, academic interventionist of North, Lori Bonnstetter motivates students to join a club. explains Photo courtesy of: Lori Bonnstetter their goals to get students into participating with clubs/activities. “Find something, try it, and if you don’t like it find something else,” Bonnstetter states. They want students being successful on doing what they’re more passionate about. Melissa Daniels, mentor for Movement 515, welcomes people from North and other students from different schools to come and express their thoughts, and get an opportunity to perform in front of other poets. “Safe place to not be judged but supported 100 percent of the time by 100 percent of the people,” Mrs. Daniels said. With performances and urban leaders reaching out to people in the community to come and join the program, has increased from last year group. These after school clubs and activities allow students to become more involved and they also give students the necessary experience of leadership. Joining a club opens the opportunity to meet more people and can overall benefit a student’s life.
explains that she has “never been able to widespread.” work so closely with a Down Syndrome student, and it changed my life.” She plans to one day open up her own counseling facility or become a teacher to incorporate music and art. Mayte Gomez Cruz, senior, also plans to major in music therapy. She shares that “my sophomore year I took intro to psychology and I loved it, I didn’t want to leave music. With music therapy, I can do both and help others.” She explains how “music therapy Sierra Martin, senior, practices the piano during skinny. has been around for a long time, but it Some patients find comfort and relief by playing the piano or is relatively new and becoming more having it played to them. Photo Credit: Nathaniel Cobb
CReative_Arts A Journey to Neverland Megan Bohall, Creative Arts Co-Editor
Peter Pan is one of the most known stories to children all over, so when North High School decided their winter musical was going to portray this story they knew it was going to have to be big. Like, children from all over Des Moines, Pirates, lost boys, Indians, and flying over the audience big. From Thursday, the 5th through Sunday, the 8th North High put on the spectacular show of Peter Pan. As the lights begin to fade and the bustle of people start to simmer, the Magic of Neverland begins to unfold in front of the packed audience. Now North High is know for having amazingly well done drama productions so I had high hopes for this show and North exceed the expectations. I have to give props to Mark Rixner, Director and Producer of Peter Pan for having the patience, time and putting forth the effort to include students from all around the North Side of Des Moines. Ranging from a preschooler to seniors in high school. Working with all of those kids had to be a little hectic. The musical vocals, thanks to Vanessa Brady, of the cast of Peter Pan made you feel as if your were really in Neverland.
I asked Jake Mentzer, a sophomore who played Captain Hook, how he got ready to play one of the most evil characters in Disney history. “I started by doing all the evil things I could and then multiplied it
“I started by doing all the evil things I could and then multiplied it by 10.” by 10,” Mentzer said. Jayden Snyder, a fifth grader, who played Twin Two really enjoyed being in Peter Pan. After asking Snyder about the play, he goes on to talk about how fun it was to be apart of this production. He says the play was, “worth the hard work.” Flying across the stage has to be pretty difficult. I asked Mercedes Castillo, a junior playing Peter Pan, what soaring was like, “it hurts a lot more than you think,” she said. Another character I would like to shed some light on is Tinkerbell, played by Mika Helms a third grader. Helms had zero speaking lines in the whole play, but that doesn’t mean she didn’t play a huge
role. Helms used, facial expressions to captivate the audience into understanding how Tinkerbell was feeling, even if no words came out of her mouth. Towards the end of the play, Tinkerbell drinks Peter Pan’s “medicine” which happens to be poison. In order to safe Tinkerbell the entire crowd has to believe in fairies by clapping their hands, this was a
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great way to involve the audience. As the curtains draw close and the night begins to end, the cast members are given a standing ovation. All of the cast members give their final bow. Before the night official ends though, Peter Pan flys a few more times over the audience. Sprinkling faith, trust, and a little pixie dust.
The cast of Peter Pan bring the stage to life with the magic of Neverland. Photo Credit: Jasmine Inthabounh
The Movement of Movement 515 feet always kissed the ground once more I was never left hanging cause that’s all my people wanna do these days I never feared you till I discovered my roots people will try to chop down our history but I am only trying to dig deeper.
Chrystal Seger, Reporter Movement 515 is a program where students do poetry, break dancing and writer blocking, also known as graffiti or street art. According to Senior Russhaun Johnson, a member, Movement 515 made its name like its movement - in its own way. “We are Movement 515 because we are moving way around the city like we run Des Moines, we are all together as a movement. Like hip is the mileage and hop is the movement, so like we are always on the move, making our way around the city,” Johnson said. Movement 515 meets every Tuesday and Thursday. On Tuesdays, Movement 515 meets at each individual school in a teacher’s class room. On Thursdays, they meet all together as a district at the Des Moines Social Club downtown. They meet from 2:45 p.m. to 4:10 p.m. Julio Delgadillo, junior participant, described Movement 515 as “a family that shares a lime light between other schools.” Movement 515 is a program where if you love to voice your opinion in a creative way and be a part of a family you would fit in. Johnson and Delgadillo expressed how Movement 515 impacted their lives. Johnson said it impacted his life “because I’m no longer a gang banger, I no
I watch over these bodies like god. / I didn’t mean to kill them I just wanted to be warm again / so I stayed quiet, and watched as summer transitioned to winter, Because what is the point of a fall, When you can’t spring up. my body is a graveyard I was planted in/ I was sinking into myself to find closure yet I only found skeletons in my living room where nothing seemed to stay alive very long. Everything was gasps for air and reaching for freedom that neglected them I seen what they’ve done to a lot of these almond skin colored boys, Poetry brought Russhaun Johnson and Julio Delgadillo together, but blood couldn’t make them any closer. Photo Credit: Angelica Reyes
longer associate myself in the street life where I put myself in danger everyday. Now I’m clam, cool, collected, confident, passionate and resilient. I don’t have to worry about the same things that I did. My pen and my notebook are my weapons that is my gun at this point.” Delgadillo said that Movement 515 impacted his life “through everything that I’ve done. It’s taught me a form of expression that I would never have found in myself if I were to never touch Movement 515 at all. But some lifestyles and some environments do change if you do end up taking this outlet of expressing yourself through poetry or even [graffiti] club.”
Poem By Russhaun Johnson and Julio Delgadillo, Staff Writers
They always knew to come after my trunk, my heart is beating through my grooved & thickened skin, I refused to say anything I just stood there / blood seeping beneath feet that stood in this soil watching a body twitch till it gave / I can’t afford for the pages to flip, I’ve been chopping at this tree for years, and I still don’t know if this tree was born with life, because it’s bruising, like the fruit it carries. I got slashes on my back like a game of slaves and freedom, Except I’m still breathing, But I can no longer feel the sun, I haven’t grown into my barks yet, It takes time to love your surface ... when nobody appreciates it. I remember climbing on trees as a boy my
this axe, Is just a burden, I was born with. I can’t let go, It doesn’t work except worsens. This is the aftermath of anxiety. and it’s becoming hard to branch off, My hands are beginning to crumble, My trunk is beginning to weaken I still feel the pain of my ancestors sins, after all my crimes I have grown with my arms wide open, I don’t know how long I can keep chopping, I just know that some timber does not fall so easily, I know that witnessing so many deaths have changed me, I know that being used for genocide and not seeing no obituary will come for me in autumn. we have stayed through the thickest of snow, heat, fires, slashing. We will only keep growing Until our roots intertwine with others. We will never fall. This is only our nature.
Sports
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Welcoming Winter Sports: Are you ready? Colt Wyatt, Sports Editor
It’s that time of year again. It’s time for the winter sports to come around. These sports are: wrestling, boys and girls basketball and girls and boys bowling. It’s time for the kids that worked hard in the off-season on these sports to shine in what they do best. Wrestling and basketball are both a bigger sports than bowling, bowling doesn’t get much attention. But why? Why does bowling not get the attention and glam like the bigger sports? In the past two years bowling has blown up from where it used to be. This year the girls welcome a new head coach to the team, coach Kevin Wisniewski, replacing former head coach Amanda Dvorak of seven years. Wisniewski is also an assistant coach for the North High Football team. Both the girls and boys bowling teams will be almost all a senior team including seniors Eli Repp and Cameron Hansen. Hansen who has been bowling since he was little, taught Repp how to bowl just under two years ago. “I remember when I first got into bowling, I got my first bowling ball and shoes and a bag. I joined my first league and averaged around 80 pins a game, since then I have grown and now I average almost 200 pins a game. I’ve came a long ways in that short period and plan to keep getting better” said Repp. “Between last season with North and this upcoming season, as we call it the ‘off-season’,
I’ve bowled in three leagues and practiced almost two games every day, and I think that’s part of the reason why I’ve gotten so much better” Repp stated. Cameron Hansen who participates in almost every sport he can, including bowling, football, track and field and baseball. Hansen has been bowling for the Polar Bears for all four years of his high school career, but two years, Hansen’s sophomore year, was his biggest of his career so far. Hansen was the first boys bowler from North to make it to state in 3 years. Hansen went into the districts meet, bowled a 288 and a 235 to be the only boy from North to qualify for the state tournament. Hansen is now a senior bowler for North with one goal, to make it
team, coach Cody Swim. Along side longtime coach Gregory Holland. Holland has been coaching wrestling at North since 1984. As usual North will combine with Hoover High School for the 2016 season. Seniors Josh Rattray and Chase Williams have been wrestling for North for all four of their high school careers, but both have been wrestling for nine years total in their life and plan to go out with a bang for their senior year. “My goal for this year is to win and to place for state” said Rattray. Both wrestlers have been working their butts off during this off-season to get stronger, faster and better. Rattray said after his high school career he plans to wrestle for Grandview College. Junior Shadrach Zarwie has been wrestling for two and a half years but during the pre-season nationals he placed third in the state. The boys basketball team is coached by head coach Chad Ryan. Ryan has been the head coach for
North for nine years. During the 2014 season coach Ryan and his boys had a 20-3 season making it all the way to sub state but stopped short of the state championship. Seniors Ben Hayes and Keon Lowe have been playing for North all four years and getting better every year. Lowe said “who inspires me the most, probably myself, my teammates and my coaches. I want to push myself to my full potential and be the best that I can for my team.” Hayes said “I have been playing since he was in third grade when his parents got him into basketball when they put up a sick hoop in his backyard.” Both Lowe and Hayes have one goal for their senior year and that is to win the metro and to win the state championship. “That would be pretty amazing” said Lowe.
back to state. “I push myself to be great, not just for me but for my team and my coaches” said Hansen. “It felt great to make it to state but it was kind of weird knowing I am one of the few boys to ever make it to state for the boys bowling team” Hansen stated. Wrestling is also Polar Bears student section cheers on their Varsity Boys Basketball team in the Bears Den. Get ready for the 2015-2016 season. welcoming a new The Remember it’s always a great day to be a Polar Bear. Photo credit: Colt Wyatt head coach to the
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