October 2017

Northridge High School 2901 Northridge Road Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35406

est. 2003

OCTOBER 2017

REPORTER

The student est.voice 2003of Northridge High School

Students sample various careers at local exposition EMILY MATTHEWS OPINION EDITOR

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HE SHELTON STATE World of Work expo was held from Oct. 12 -13 and was put on by West Alabama Works.

“World of work is basically where industries in our local community come to advertise their industry and increase awareness of opportunities their companies can provide,” said junior counselor Lauren Wolbach.

Northridge high school attended the new tradition and had the most students and parents to attend, earning the school $600.

“This is our first year organizing a bus and offering transportation,” said Wolbach. “Our buses are full. I think we have 81 students going to Shelton to participate, and we have several students that have asked about driving or having parents check them out.”

The expo housed not only the Northridge student body but also other Tuscaloosa city and county schools along with some smaller school districts around Tuscaloosa.

The event is not only important for students but also for the businesses.

“There’s a huge demand for students as workers and a lot of them have incredible benefits, including some paying for students to go to school in order to increase their abilities and offer career incentives,” said Wolbach.

Students were also able to participate in various hands-

NORTHRIDGE WORKS (Clockwise from upper left) Sophomore Katie Ray looks on to a military demonstration, students speak with members of the Tuscaloosa Police Department, senior Jalen Manassa visits an operating room, and junior Karina Brown sits with a Phifer representative.

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Photos by Emily Matthews.

I learned what’s at stake when it comes to THE CAREER YOU WANT to choose vs. THE CAREER YOU NEED based on your skills.

VOLUME 15 ISSUE 2

on activities for many different occupations and businesses.

“It’s not a traditional career fair,” said counselor Lynsey Vickery. “You can go in, and if you were interested in health sciences, you could go and draw blood. There’s a birthing station where you can go and watch a baby be born. They have modules and simulators where you can actually experience what it would be like on the job.”

The field trip is a great way for students to get in contact and information from representatives to make plans for their future. “Our students are very fortunate to live in this area right now in the next two years because of the job market,” said Vickery. “There will be over 5,000 available jobs with good benefits, a good solid salary, and allow you to get an education and training at the same time.”

The community has many spots open and waiting to be filled by those going to college or straight to work out of high school. “A common misconception is that it’s for people who aren’t going to college and that’s not what this is about,” said Vickery. “It’s about going and partnering with industries.”

Students that went were able to experience many jobs and industries at the event. “I liked the fact that I was able to explore my options no matter where I went both college and career wise and take a chance looking at careers I never knew I would be interested in,” said junior Alex Wilkins.

Some also were able to start thinking about the jobs they like and make decisions. “I learned what’s at stake when it comes to the career you want to choose vs. the career you need based on your skills,” said Wilkins.

ALEX WILKINS, JUNIOR

AT A GLANCE

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POWDER PUFF

page 12

‘ALADDIN’ PLAY

page 7

I thought about posters and art stuff and I was like, ‘what if I started my own club’?

LUKE MARTIN, JUNIOR

See story on PAGE 8

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THE

NORTH RI D GE

www.northridgereporter.wordpress.com

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OPINION

THE NORTHRIDGE REPORTER VOLUME 15 ISSUE 2

OUR THOUGHTS New school atmosphere conducive to proactivity

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he new influx of opportunities available at Northridge High School seems to enrich student life like never before.

There is a new culture of productivity, where students who have a club idea need only approach an administrator and teacher and see it made real. Just a few weeks ago, the lunchroom walls were covered head to toe with sign-up posters for various activities, sure to satisfy all who may be curious.

The school abounds with such sheets (in the office) and interest flyers, advertising competitions and organizations of all sorts. Apart from its literary magazine and newspaper publication, Northridge now has a comic series, set in an alternate universe school, in the works.

Especially commendable is the new peer tutors program, which should be incredibly beneficial for both students receiving help and those giving it.

Touted by administrators as a novel solution to students’ academic woes, the program had already been said to attract large numbers of interested students. Time will only tell how useful the program will ultimately be, but if executed properly, learning should be vastly improved. Still, administrative pushes like the peer tutors serve as an excellent exemplar to students of what can be made possible at their own school. Rather than resigning themselves to a lack of wanted opportunities, students are now creating those opportunities themselves, aided by faculty and staff incredibly conducive to student initiative.

Even if just a few of those student ideas stand the test of time and become established school organizations, their creativity is still something to be celebrated.

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AGREE.....8 DISAGREE.....0

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Want to submit YOUR letter to the editor? Stop by room 109, or contact one of our editors or Mrs. lane!

Art by Rebecca Han and Sara Lang

est. 2003

THE NORTH RI D G E REPORTER The student voice of Northridge High School

est. 2003

Northridge High School • 2901 Northridge Road • Tuscaloosa, AL 35406 • (205) 759-3734 ext. 295 Managing Editor Will McLelland Feature Editor Rebecca Han Sports Editor Mayci Hartley News Editor Will McLelland

Entertainment Editor Sara Lang Opinion Editor Emily Matthews Copy Editors Reshu Chandra

Art Editor Rebecca Han Social Media Editor Mayci Hartley & Sara Lang

Opinion disclaimer: The opinions in The Northridge Reporter are those of the students and not of the faculty or administration of Northridge High School or the Tuscaloosa City Board of Education.

Advertising and subscriptions: Contact The Northridge Reporter at (205) 759-3734 ext. 295 or rlane@tusc.k12. al.us to advertise in or subscribe to our paper.

Icons on cover (clockwise from upper left) by Ben Davis, Kate Maldjian, Maria Villamil, and Rooty all for Noun Project.

Rhonda Lane, Advisor Rebecca Han, Editor-in-Chief Letters to the editor: It is the policy of The Northridge Reporter to publish all non-obscene, non-libelous, signed letters to the editor, regardless of the opinion expressed in them. Submit letters to Rhonda Lane in room 109 or email to rlane@tusc.k12.al.us.

The Northridge Reporter reserves the right to edit letters and verify allegations. The newspaper is distributed monthly.

Visit us online at northridgereporter.wordpress.com Follow us on Twitter @NHSReporter Follow us on Instagram @northridgereporter Visit our Facebook page, ‘The Northridge Reporter, 2015-16’ Check out our YouTube channel, ‘The Northridge Reporter’ See our paper ONLINE at issuu.com, ‘The Northridge Reporter’

OPINION

THE NORTHRIDGE REPORTER VOLUME 15 ISSUE 2

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Roy Moore not the right choice for Alabama

JAMES ANDERTON STAFF WRITER Roy Moore, a former judge on the Alabama Supreme Court, is running for the open senate seat vacated by Jeff Sessions, after being confirmed as the attorney general. Moore faced Luther Strange, who was appointed to the seat in February in the Republican primary which pinned the far-right against the establishment. After an initially close vote in the primary, Moore swept Strange in the runoff.

Moore is never one to shy away from major controversies and has twice gotten him suspended from position on the Court. In 2002, he was kicked off the seat following his refusal to remove a monument of the Ten Commandments. In the First Amendment to the constitution, Thomas Jefferson explicitly wrote that there should a separation of church and

Photo from the Daily Beast

state, meaning Moore cannot use his office to talk about his religious beliefs. Yet again in 2016, Moore got himself in hot water for refusing to allow same-sex marriage to become legal statewide after the ruling in a federal case and got himself suspended again and eventually resigned.

If you’re not familiar with Doug Jones, the Democratic opponent, you shouldn’t write him off for being a Washington insider like Nancy Pelosi or Hillary Clinton.

Jones doesn’t have that many connections and hasn’t held political office before. He’s been busy defending the law and not his

power to speak on his religious beliefs.

Jones is well-known for successfully prosecuting the men who carried out the 1963 Birmingham Baptist Church bombing.

Although Moore was a judge under the United States where he was positioned to uphold the law, everything he did was a stand against the Constitution, its amendments, and basic human rights in the country. Roy Moore’s public statements on same-sex couples, Islam, and race relations show how much of an extremely ignorant, bigoted person he is. While Doug Jones was prosecuting the white supremacists

HERE 16

HOW DO YOU PREPARE FOR THE ACT?

ACT BOOK 24

for the 1963 bombing of a church that killed four young African-Americans, Roy Moore was tearing a mother away from her kids simply because she was lesbian. I don’t know how to explain to you that you should care about people.

Alabama has the opportunity to change and to show that we care about people no matter what they believe. Roy Moore is unfit to ever hold political office. Alabama should step up, and elect a reasonable, caring person. No matter what you think, it is important to get involved go to vote on December 12.

TUTOR 8 ALL PENCILS DOWN 8

SYLVAN CLASS 10

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Information collected by Mayci Harley

SPECIAL THANKS TO DR. APRIL LANE WE APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT OF THE NORTHRIDGE REPORTER

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NEWS

THE NORTHRIDGE REPORTER VOLUME 15 ISSUE 2

CUTS FOR ARTS LEAVES MANY TART Funding cuts for arts programs disappoints teachers RESHU CHANDRA COPY EDITOR

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unding for the arts has been dramatically decreased ever since the state cut a majority of its funding.

Art teacher Suzanne Puzinauskas, commonly known as “Mrs. P,” explained how this will affect her and her classes.

“For years, the art departments have relied on funding for grades six through 12 through the city board,” she said. “Basically we rely on a fund, then we ask our students, each student in our individual art class, to donate $25, and that is how we purchase our expendable supplies, because we are always going through our supplies. It’s n o t like buying a book [that] you can just read and close and reuse. We have to rely on that [donation].”

Puzinauskas explained why they could not directly ask for funding from students anymore.

“Well last year, the city board did some research, and they felt that by asking students for funding, we were contributing to discrimination because some students cannot come up with the funding,” she said. “At some point I believe that students had to pay all of their funds before they graduated, and some students could not come up with the funds. So somebody at the board,made a unanimous vote and essentially said ‘Nope, we’re not going to ask for funding anymore.’ And so, someone like myself with a new department, that’s painful because I have very little money in my account; however, I am allowed to ask for donations from my students and some have been very gracious and have donated funding. We as a high school department need a big budget and so we are always looking for funding. We’re brainstorming all the time, and trying to recycle things. I try to come up with different options to get funding.”

She is relieved, however, that they are trying to make up for this deficit.

“All said, I was in a meeting, and I found out that the city board, the financial department, is coming up with some funding, and they will be g i v ing it to us,” she said.

“Out of this whole research and situation, Ed Levine, the head of finances at the Board of Education, did some research and compiled some data that the city board never had before, because up until this year they didn’t know how m u c h people were spending in their departments, and h e was shocked. We keep r e cords of all of our money a n d he was absolutely blown away when he found out how much m o n e y the visual arts department spends for the city. So all said, it is good news we have data now and we are getting funding, and we can ask for donations and do fundraisers. I spent over $5,000 last year [on art supplies]. We do buy tax-free, but the supplies are still outrageously expensive. For example, one little pint of acrylic paint, which if I’m doing a project, I can go through that in a week, is like $25.”

Art teacher Richard Nowell said that the funding cuts were made to make classes more accessible for all.

“They cut it out of the course of study, and they’ve

made any for “So f i n e j u s t

it to where there aren’t fees for any student any class,” he said. it wasn’t just picking on arts, it was making it more accessible for all classes.

I’m in favor

of free education, we just need sources to come from other places.

A c cording to Mr. Levine, he’s going to try to match with what t h e students would’ve been paying [fee-wise].

From this year forward, there shouldn’t be any class fees. In the past, we were charging $25 a person, and this year we’re asking for donations in any amount b u t we’re asking for $10 or $15 s p e c i fi c a l ly, and hopefully if funding comes through from the central o f - fice, they’ll try to give us $22 per student.”

He explained how his years of experience have prepared him for moments like these.

“If I was a brand new teacher coming in, starting up from nothing, I ’ d be a little scared [of t h e funding cut], but since I’ve been here for years, and have been building supplies, I’m okay… for about a year with donations coming in.

I do use a lot of my personal money, but I think most art teachers do. In a moment’s notice we might think of something we don’t have, and it usually takes a week or more to go through the office to do a purchase order, so it’s just easier sometimes to run out to the store and buy it yourself.”

He says on the bright side, the funding cut makes art more accessible to those who might not have been able to afford it.

“I think the whole block schedule makes it more accessible to have four electives each year instead of three,” he said. “There’s the opportunity to have more art students, but that’s the same for other classes now that they’re not requiring AP tests. You can take the AP class, and they’re not requiring you to pay for the AP test, so that will influence more people to take more AP classes too.”

Senior Maria Potts expressed her disappointment with the funding cuts.

“Cutting the art funding was not a great decision in my opinion,” Potts said. “If you look closely at the art program in this school, you’ll see that we don’t have all the resources we need to do anything past grade level talent. Anything else that’s somewhat high-end comes out of the teacher’s pockets. It’s a good thing the art teachers care enough about their students to provide quality supplies for them, because if they didn’t, then we’d be using crayons and broken supplies to create things. It just goes to show how much this state -let alone the school system -- cares about sports and athletics as opposed to the arts. Don’t get me wrong, I love sports, but the arts are just as important.”

Senior India Woods says the funding cut limits creativity.

“I think the art fund being cut shortens our variety of different art forms and doesn’t let us explore and expand our knowledge in art,” Woods said.

Senior Sabrina Wright noticed changes from her freshman year art class to her senior year art class.

“The lack of funding to the art program at Northridge has limited something meant to be limitless. Having taken three years of art, the difference between my first class and my current one is evident.

Suddenly, clay projects are a rare feat in a class dedicated to three-dimensional art. The students’ artistic abilities are being stifled by busy work due to the cut funds in classes whose purpose is supposedly ‘freedom of expression’,” Vaughn said.

Junior Walker Ferry says art is a good break from reality and thinks funding cuts could take away from teachers and students.

“Art is one of our choices for electives at Northridge and one or two classes are often required to graduate,” he said.

“They also give us a break from challenging core classes and students often find a talent they are passionate about in these classes. With the cutting of art funding and our teachers already not paid enough, the fact that our art teachers are expected to pay for supplies out of their own pockets is absolutely ridiculous.”

Junior Emma Curtner-Smith says funding cuts limits what art students can do in class.

“Having the funds cut for the art program really limits what we are able to do in the class due to lack of supplies,” she said. “It questions the importance of requiring a fine arts credit if the school board doesn’t believe it deserves the funding it needs.”

Senior Meredith Vaughn says funding cuts would be especially hard on people trying to major in the arts in college.

“As I am planning to study within the arts department in college, cutting the arts program would be difficult on those who wish to pursue arts or wish to be a part of the arts department, primarily theatre, as it is a career that I

NEWS

THE NORTHRIDGE REPORTER VOLUME 15 ISSUE 2

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Tuscaloosa mayor runs for governor WILL MCLELLAND MANAGING EDITOR

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n Nov 6. 2018, Alabama will hold another election for the state’s governor. The current governor, Kay Ivey, is running for re-election, along with fourteen other candidates. Of those candidates, Tuscaloosa mayor, Walt Maddox, has put his hat into the ring.

Maddox, 44, is the 36th mayor of Tuscaloosa and has served in the position since 2005. Before becoming mayor, Maddox was both the Executive Director of Personnel for the Tuscaloosa City Schools, and he served on the Tuscaloosa City Board. After 12 years of being the mayor, Maddox wants to serve as the governor of Alabama because he feels that the state is in a state of turmoil, and he feels like he would be a good change for the leadership Alabama.

“It’s time we make a difference in our state,” Maddox said. “The entire time I’ve been here, we’ve either been 46th, 47th, 48th, or 49th in everything that matters. I think it’s time we draw a line in the sand and change the dynamic of this entire state. We need genuine, authentic leadership that’s focused on results and not rhetoric, and we demonstrated in Tuscaloosa [that] we can be a difference maker, and we want to bring that same difference to the state.”

Maddox feels that he is qualified to be the future governor of Alabama because of the work he has done as mayor of Tuscaloosa.

“The last 12 years, I’ve been the Chief Executive Officer of one of the largest cities in Alabama, and I’ve guided this city through The Great Recession, and also one of the worst natural disasters in American history,” Maddox said.

“My experience as an executive, managing during a crisis, I think give me the credentials necessary because our state’s in crisis. When we look at pardons and parole, corrections in mental health, roads, education, healthcare, you can’t name a core function of this state that isn’t in crisis. I believe I have the best qualifications of anyone in this race to make it happen.”

The mayor has had problems with the work of Gov. Ivey, and former Gov. Robert Bentley, but he says that he has more of a problem with the way that they have governed politically, ultimately leading to bad legislation.

“The things that I disagree with the current and past administrations [about have] been more about politics than policy,” Maddox said. “Healthcare is one example. 331,000 Alabamians, most of them working, are without healthcare today because it would have been the expansion of Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, and because they did

not want to do anything that showed the strength of the dents are [leaning towards] Democrats instead of RepubObamacare program, they’ve allowed 331,000 Alabami- licans. Especially in local races and gubernatorial races, you ans to be without healthcare. That’s the type of decisions tend to have more reverence among traditional voters of I disagree with because it’s been about politics instead of either party just to give another party a chance if they feel policy.” like that individual is going to work in their best interests, Among the list of his priorities, including the improve- and I believe we can make that case. In Tuscaloosa, in our ment of the quality of healthcare for Alabamians and im- election back in March, we got 89 percent of the vote. We proving infrastructure, Maddox feels very strongly won every part of this city regardless of [party affiliabout trying to revamp Alabama’s economy and creation] nearly at the same percentage. That’s because ating new jobs that according I believe that people regardless to his announcement video, of where they reside in our city “pay for children’s college.” believe that we’ve done a good “The economy is reshaping job. I think that we can do that itself every single moment of on a much more macro scale in every single day, and it’s rethis gubernatorial race.” shaping itself in this generaOne of Maddox’s ultimate tion quicker than any others goals is to “Make Alabama in the past because of technolProud Again” through his leadogy shifts,” Maddox said. “We ership, and he believes that he have to be steady and focusing Walt Maddox, Mayor loosa. has accomplished that in Tuscaon not only current fields, which we are, we got to be focusing on ‘what are the fields of tomorrow?’

“Our recovery efforts following the April 27th tornaWhat’s the next Amazon? What’s the next Google? For do would be one of our accomplishments,” Maddox said. too long, we’ve been comfortable saying, ‘Well Huntsville “Overcoming [the destruction of the tornado] with only is the NASA city, and we’ll just do that’ and ‘Mobile is a about ten percent of the resources needed to me is one of port city, and we’ll do that’ and in the middle of the state our greatest accomplishments, in terms of the outward, exwe have OEMs and we’ve done a good job of that - but, if ternal view of what you see in managing our city. We took that was all we had to do, why are we still 46th, 47, 48th, on those responsibilities, cash flowed over 44 million doland 49th in everything that matters? And the reason why lars, we never borrowed money, and we never raised taxes, is we’ve never gotten on the cusp of really and truly find- and I’m really proud of that from an administrative side.” ing that new economy that we’ve got to have to make the While he considers the town’s recovery of the 2011 tordifference. That is partly why we as a state have to focus on nado outbreak to be one of his greatest accomplishments, not only in terms of the existing jobs we have today, but the he highlights his other major contributions to the comworkforce development side.” munity.

Maddox is also running for governor as a Democrat, in “The implementation of customer service - 311 is just the mostly Republican state of Alabama. While he under- one of the small things we’ve done to enhance customer stands that it will not be easy for him to win the election, service,” Maddox said. “Creating a robust Pre-K program he does think that he has a path to the governor’s office in that’s now [the] model used across the state is something Montgomery.

I’m very proud of. Getting through the Great Recession “We’re not doing this for any other reason but to win, -[Tuscaloosa] is still one of the fastest growing cities in because I think it is that important to the future of this Alabama. Our leadership has made that difference, and state,” Maddox said. “I believe there is a pathway to victory. that’s results. Simultaneously, look what’s happening in If you look at the voting totals even from the 2010-2012 Montgomery. Montgomery has lost its way. It’s time that statewide races, Democrats came within a whisker of being we elect somebody outside the ‘Montgomery Bubble’ that able to win. I also believe that recent elections have shown actually cares about results.” that people are more independent than they’ve ever been in some time in our state. We’ve seen polling data from other senate races that show for the first time, indepen-

“

Montgomery has lost its way.

It’s time that we elect somebody outside the ‘Montgomery Bubble’ THAT ACTUALLY CARES ABOUT RESULTS.

TAKING THE REINS Tuscaloosa Mayor and gubernatorial candidate Walt Maddox talks to local citizens.

Photo courtesy of: alreporter.com

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ENTERTAINMENT

THE NORTHRIDGE REPORTER VOLUME 15 ISSUE 2

Do you TRICK-OR-TREAT?

YES 63%

NO 36%

FAVORITE Fall FOODS

5%

33%

By clipartxtras

IS HALLOWEEN YOUR FAVORITE HOLIDAY?

YES 81%

NO 19%

62%

DO YOU ENJOY Horror movie brings more laughs than scares SCARY MOVIES? EMILY MATTHEWS OPINION EDITOR

gler (Ruby Modine). As her day progresses Tree gets an odd deja-vu feeling. After being brutally murdered by a killer whose identity is hidden by a mask, she finds “Happy Death Day,” released on Oct. 13, mixes comeherself back in the bed of hipster classmate Carter Dady with “Groundhog Day” horror. When the trailer first vis (Israel Broussard) untouched and unharmed. Her came out it looked like it would be worthwhile; however, unfortunate day will continue to replay itself until she all of the interesting portions of the movie was shown in figures out the face behind the mask. The events of the the trailer. Overall , “Happy Death Day” was more comday vary but end with her death. The film started off edy than horror and was a letdown. with a good concept; however, I found myself bored The beginning of “Happy Death Day” started off as a after a couple of deaths. thriller but then tapered off into a silly and cheesy comIt was not entirely terrible. It had a strong leading edy. The characters were stereotypical and over the top, character, and while it was dumb, it was still fun. I do making the movie unbelievable. Dragging plot holes and not recommend paying for a ticket to go see it at the ridiculous twists drive the film to the ground. theater, but it is a good movie to rent and will please When mean girl college student Tree Gelbman’s ( Jesyounger audiences will sica Roth ) birthday all of its stupid humor. arrives she wakes Director Christoup in someone pher B. Landon has else’s bed hunteased that he wants gover. On her way to continue Tree back to her dorm Gelbman’s story with she encounters an a sequel, one that will ex-boyfriend, her answer why she’s stuck snooty sorority in the horrendous president Danielle time loop. Hopefully, Houseman (Rachel this sequel will have Matthews) and a a better idea and plot sweet gift from her and won’t be sucked Photo by Rotten Tomatoes. friend Lori Spendown the hole of all failed horror movies.

GET UP, SHAWTY Tree Gelbman ( Jessica Rothe) looks on in horror.

Poll taken by Sarah Lang and Gracie Lang. 55 students were polled.

NO 58%

YES 42%

7 A WHOLE NEW WORLD ENTERTAINMENT

THE NORTHRIDGE REPORTER VOLUME 15 ISSUE 2

Students dazzle in local production of classic tale PETRA ZLATKOVIC STAFF WRITER

“Aladdin Jr.,” a play based on the screenplay by Ron Clements, John Musker, Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio, was adapted by the BAMA theatre and shown from Oct. 6. to Oct 8.

Many Northridge students have taken part in the play, including freshman Clark Moman. Although not very experienced, Moman managed to steal the show with his portrayal of Aladdin.

“It was only my second show ever, so being able to play a character, especially a lead character from such a good Disney movie was really cool,” said Moman.

The show was wonderfully adapted, and it took over two months of hard work to prepare it.

“There were certain parts that were easy, but the singing and the dancing were probably the hardest for me,” said Moman.

Some scenes were experiences that the cast would cherish throughout their whole lives.

“I think my favorite scene was the actual flying on the magic carpet,” said Moman.

“Aladdin Jr.” is an adaptation directed toward a young

audience, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be interesting for adults. Those fond of Disney’s animated version of “Aladdin” are almost guaranteed to like the play. It is a show made to entertain entire families, from children to grandparents, and in that, it succeeded. It is fun and enjoyable, the kind of show which makes you want to burst into song alongside the characters. You find yourself wishing and hoping for Aladdin to succeed in his attempt to woo princess Jasmine and when “A Whole New World” starts, you are overwhelmed with joy and happiness.

The special effects and the costumes were amazing and made the show even better. The entire cast gave their best and fantastic performances and showed a true love for theatre. The singing and the dancing were done so well it seemed easy, even though it took months of hard work and preparation to perfect them.

Overall, “Aladdin Jr.” was a wonderful show, giving the fans of the Disney movie a taste of Agrabah, a closer look at Aladdin and Jasmine, Jafar and Iago, as well as Genie and Sultan. Heartwarming and lovely in every sense, it was a play deserving of its long standing ovation, for it made children smile and returned adults to their childhood.

I CAN SHOW YOU THE WORLD Jasmine, played by Olivia LeComte, and Aladdin, played by freshman Clark Moman, sing while riding a magic carpet.

Photo by Petra

All the days of her life SARA LANG ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

Senior Brianna Hyche’s mother, Shawna Moore, is pursuing her passion in theater by writing and producing plays.

Moore produces plays around once a year (although last year there were two) under the name of Mor-Shy productions. They take about three weeks to write and are mostly fiction. Last year, one was about Moore’s life, and it is the only play she has written that follows a true story. The plays are performed at Central High School.

Moore recruits both students and adults to act in her plays. She will usually send out a message on Facebook inviting people to try out. Usually, rehearsals take place for three months before the play is ready to perform.

The first play Moore wrote and directed was in 2012, and she has enjoyed continuing them for five years.

Moore’s main job is a loan officer.

Some of the plays Moore has put on are “A Testament of Faith,” “What is the Color of Love?” and “All the Days of My Life.”

Brianna Hyche says her mother “loves to put on plays” and that she has been wanting to follow her passion for a while. Moore has faced many challenges when writing and directing, including her son being diagnosed with leukemia and her daughter being involved in a car accident. Moore has become a stronger person in her

Photo by Shawna Moore

faith, and represents this in her plays.

“That’s why it’s so important to continue the process, to endure to the end, and to keep your eyes on the prize,” wrote Moore. “That breakthrough you’ve been waiting for, that victory you can taste, that unspeakable joy that you hear about, is almost within your grasp.”

Photo by Petra Zlatkovic

DANGER IN DISNEY Jafar, played by sophomore Samuel Allen, threatens to kill Jasmine.

Strings concert a spooky success

ISAAC SMITH BUSINESS MANAGER On the night of Oct. 12, the Northridge auditorium was a spooky place. Tombstones lined the walls and fog filled the air as the combined high school orchestra put on a Halloween concert. A middle school strings group combining musicians from Eastwood Middle School and the Alberta School of Performing Arts also performed.

The middle school strings kicked off the night with three songs, directed by Matthew Grant. For the fourth and final middle school song, some high school students joined the middle schoolers for a “side by side” performance.

The first high school song, “This is Halloween,” from the movie “The Nightmare Before Christmas” was played by only a portion of the high school players. The rest of the high school musicians joined in on the next song, “Thriller,” which was narrated by Kyle Ferguson. Stephen Finley conducted the high school orchestra.

The third tune performed by the orchestra was “Fright Night,” a medley of many different Halloween songs and the performers’ favorite. “It brings back fond memories of our New York trip,” said Arushi Kotru, junior, who plays violin. “It brings back fond memories of ‘Phantom of the Opera.’”

The next song was “Transylvanian Lullaby,” followed by “Danse Macabre,” which is French for “Dance of Death.”

The orchestra finished up the concert with “Lacrymosa,” a beautiful, slower song. “Each piece brings its own spookiness,” said Esclavon Prewitt, Junior, who plays bass.

The “Strings Spooktacular” was unique in a number of ways. It was the first time that the strings program had performed a concert in October; the program usually puts on a winter concert and a spring concert.

The change this year was motivated by the lack of a field trip for the strings program. There will be a total of four orchestra concerts throughout the school year.

“Rather than preparing for a big field trip, we decided to have a little bit more concert opportunity,” said Finley.

“And this is an opportunity to just throw back and have fun and at the same time learn a combination of goofy literature and also serious literature.”

The strings musicians added to the Halloween atmosphere of the concerts with spooky decor. The auditorium and the lobby were decorated with tombstones of famous composers as well images of skeletons and haunted houses. A fog machine was also in use.

In addition, the performers wore costumes. “We get to dress up,” said Kotru. “I am going to be wearing a unicorn onesie.”

Finally, a projector was used to project powerpoint slides onto a screen above the orchestra. The slides told what song was being played and were especially valuable during “Fright Night,” because there were so many different songs being played.

The next orchestra concert will be at Moody Music Hall on Dec. 10. It will focus on holiday music. “Tuscaloosa is one of the few school districts in the whole state of Alabama that has strings,” said Finley. “I hope that other schools start to look at what we have and start to put that into their curriculums.”

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FEATURE

CLUB EXP THE NORTHRIDGE REPORTER VOLUME 15 ISSUE 2

Number of new clubs at

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REBECCA HAN AND EDITOR-IN-CHIEF AND

HE NUMBER OF NEW CLUBS at Northridge has never been greater, with organizations geared towards interests ranging from knitting to gardening. For students who want to see their ideas implemented, starting a club has never been easier, requiring only approval from Mr. Ferguson, a teacher advisor, and student interest.

Profiled below are just six of the many clubs that are now available at Northridge.

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ULTURAL DIVERSITY

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UNIOR, CHRISSYANNA COLEY, has started a group with her friends known as, The Cultural Diversity Club, to create a better understanding of others backgrounds and unify students’ cultural divide.

The idea for the group came about after a social media post from Coley attracted attention towards the end of the last school year. “[This started because of ] a post that went viral on Facebook,” Coley said. “It was about two girls that are Caucasian, they had on some ‘short-shorts’ and there was a picture taken of it, and we put it on Facebook. [They were] taller, and skinnier, and based off [their] appearance they didn’t get judged or get in ISI or told to get sent home because of [their] appearance. [They] were smaller, and the fact that she wore the shorts, didn’t really bother [anybody], but if their appearance was a little curvier or stuff like that, it would be seen as inappropriate, and they would get sent home or sent to ISI or have to change her outfit, and [the girls] had no repercussions behind it, so I felt it was unfair, and that’s how [this club] came about.”

After this happened last year, Coley wanted to find a way to get students to be more open-minded towards each other, and she thought that this club would be the best way to accomplish that. “[The] goal of my group is to bring around different cultures, different people, their traditions, and that we all learn about it together, so we can better understand each other in an environment like school,” Coley said. “In school, there [are] a lot of different people, races, cultures, religions, and we want to know how to work together to have a good bond.”

Another key member of the group, Brianna Hyche, senior, says that the meetings the group has had so far have been great, but that there are changes that need to be made.

“They’ve [gone] really well,” Hyche said. “We’re trying to bring more people in because right now [the group] is just one demographic, but we’re trying to get more people involved so that it can be more universal. The first meeting that we had was very informative. Even though most of us fit about the same demographic now, we still heard other sides of how people felt, and it helped me to learn a lot. If there are people who want to come and learn about other people’s cultures, it’s a great way to do that.”

Like Hyche, Coley stressed that she wants more people of different backgrounds to attend the groups meetings because the views of the current participants tend to be the same.

“It’s not as diverse, so everybody has the same outlook when it comes to race, politics, cultural appropriation, and things like that,” Coley said. “Our goal is to make everyone feel comfortable at this school. We don’t want anybody walking the halls and feeling ashamed of who they are.

[And we want to help you] to become a ‘better you’ but also have people around you to comfort you in this whole high school experience.”

The group meets every other Tuesday in room 110, and they talk about prominent issues in peoples’ everyday lives.

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ENIORS JACOB STEPHENS, Hunter Harris, Wilbur Charles, Andrew Hinson, and Max French started the camping club after being interested the hobby for a while.

“We all like to go camping now and then,” Stephens said. “It’s a way for us to bond.”

Though they’ve made sign-up sheets in the office, the club has not yet had their first meeting. They plan to do so soon, though. The first time they all went camping together was about a year ago.

“I just like being in the outdoors, laughing and sitting by the fire,” Stephens said.

To join the camping club, sign up sheets are available in the office or contact one of the above officers.

“

Our goal is to MAKE EVERYONE COMFORTABLE at this school. We don’t want anybody walking the halls and feeling ashamed of who they are.

Chrissyanna Coley, Junior

STITCHCRAFT Senior ShaMia Hardy-Furr displays a hat made in knitting club. Photo by Sara Lang.

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ENIORS KAYLEE ATKINS, Sha’Mia Hardy-Furr, and Sonia Muzumdar founded the knitting club out of a curiosity for the craft.

“We just wanted to learn how to knit,” Atkins said. “None of us knew how to knit.”

With winter oncoming, they thought it would be nice to learn how to craft blankets or other apparel.

“Winter was coming, and we all thought it’d be cool if we could knit our own blankets,” Atkins said. “We’re not there yet, but we’re getting there.”

Like other clubs, the founders first had to garner interest by spreading the word, then reach out to possible teacher advisors.

“First we had to find people,” she said.

“We didn’t want to make if we didn’t know if people were interested. Then, we talked to Mrs. Loyd and asked if she would be willing to be the teacher sponsor for the club. We stopped Ferguson through the school and asked him if we could make a real thing.”

At weekly meetings, club members (and Loyd) teach themselves to knit using online tutorials, including YouTube videos. So far, they have crafted a scarf, and plan to knit a hat for Principal Kyle Ferguson.

The difficulty of starting a club?

“The fact that none of us know how to do it,” Atkins said. “Our teacher is YouTube.”

Knitting club meets once a week during zero period. For further information, contact Spanish teacher Lisa Loyd.

AKA liams librar

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PLOSION THE NORTHRIDGE REPORTER VOLUME 15 ISSUE 2

FEATURE

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WILL MCLELLAND D MANAGING EDITOR

WHAM! From left to right: Northridge comic book art by juniors Luke Martin and Sylvia Cervino and sophomore Reagan Christian.

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ARDENING

AME GA KILL Sophomores Jaylen Wils and Dezmond Robinson read manga in the ry. Photo by Rebecca Han.

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OPHOMORES JAYLEN WILLIAMS and Dezmond Robinson hoped to make manga club a reality at Northridge after seeing it become successful at other local schools. After speaking to Mr. Ferguson and finding a teacher sponsor in librarian Neilann Thomas, who was no stranger to the diea.

“Me and my friend were talking about it [manga club], so we decided to go and ask Ferguson and he said to ask Mrs. Thomas,” Williams said. “She said she did it three years ago, so we asked her if we could start it up again.” They placed a sign-up sheet in the cafeteria, and watched the club take off from there.

He was first introduced to manga, a style of Japanese comic art, by his older brother. Today, he’s fascinated by the unique art style, which incorporates large, dramatic eyes and expressive dialogue bubbles.

At meetings, club members discuss books they would be interested in reading, then engage in open discussion.

“We establish what we want to read, read manga, and then talk about it,” he said. “Then, we ask students what they want to read and let them give suggestions on what they want to read. We vote on those choices.”

Currently, they are trying to organize a fundraiser to “get more books for manga club.”

For more information, contact librarian Neilann Thomas.

SENIOR Reshu Chandra started Northridge’s first official gardening club, where members plan to beautify different areas of the school.

Members plan to paint picnic tables and plant flowers in different areas of the courtyard and by the jag.

Vice president Jessie Kate Joiner, senior. was not interested in joining the club initially.

She said that she became more interested after hearing of the club’s plans for the school “Honestly, I joined as a joke at first,” she said. “Then, hearing about our plans to paint the picnic tables and plant flowers by the Jag and in the courtyard, I became really excited to be in the club.”

Though she has no gardening experience, she’s excited to be contributing to Northridge.

Flowers she’s looking forward to planting?

“Daisies.”

Senior Frances Lehman thought joining would be “fun.”

“I wanted to make Northridge more beautiful,” she said.

Her favorite part?

“Our president, Reshu.”

Created by Ates Evren Aydinel from Noun Project

UNIOR LUKE MARTIN was inspired to start Northridge’s comic book club after listening to announcements. Inspired by the new push for proactivity by administrators, he decided start an organization for something he was interested in: comics.

“Ok this is going to sound weird,” he said. “When the announcement for gardening came on, I was like, ‘oh, that’s cool.’

Martin finds tremendous joy in his passions. “When I get excited, I get really excited and start planning head,” he said. “I thought about posters and art stuff and I was like, ‘what if I started my own club?’ I like drawing and reading comics, it’s what I want as a career. I know some nerds who like it too.”

Today, it’s Martin and these “nerds” working to produce comic issues each nine weeks, “sort of like the newspaper publication.”

The story they’re working on takes place in an alternate universe and on an foreign planet...at Northridge High School. It follows the adventures of “four humans in alien Northridge.”

“They fit contrasting stereotypes, like the freshman stereotype, a prep, a jock, and a nerd,” he said.

Martin has been invested in art since elementary school, when he began to doodle “I’ve always sort of enjoyed art and doodling as a kid,” he said. “I don’t know. I vaguely remember having random art contests.”

Later, his inspiration came from established comics such as “Batman” and even musical artists like former My Chemical Romance frontrunner Gerard Way, who now does comic art for DC comics.

“In general, my inspiration comes from a lot of different genres that I like, like fantasy, horror, and science fiction,” he said.

“Sometimes I’ll do concept art for like a weird idea. I really like creating my own characters and universes. ” Another source of inspiration? Nature.

“But nature hates me,” he said. “Still, I enjoy going to the backyard and taking pictures.”

Actually starting the club, wasn’t too difficult - it was resolved with one email to Principal Kyle Ferguson.

“I sent him an email asking about the idea and about any paperwork that I had to complete,” he said. “He really liked the idea and said to just find a teacher to advise over it. Actually starting wasn’t hard, just getting new ideas.”

For now, the comic artists are working on their next issue.

10 SPORTS

MARATHON, NOT SPRINT

THE NORTHRIDGE REPORTER VOLUME 15 ISSUE 2

New volleyball Cross country anticipates excellent season coach brings changes REBECCA HAN EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

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MAYCI HARTLEY ORTHRIDGE CROSS COUNSPORTS EDITOR TRY athletes are looking forward to what they believe will be an exhis year’s volleyball team has cellent season, with several students already a new coach making new imlogging high-ranking times. provements on the time. This Thus far, the team has competed at the Spain Park Cross Country Classic in Hoover, year the team won their first set against the TCBY Invitational in Tuscaloosa, the Oak Hillcrest in four years. “We are havMountain Invitational in Oak Mountain, and ing fun and winning,” Olivia Patridge, the Jesse Owens Classic in Oakville. senior, said. “Our biggest accomplishJunior John Niiler, competing with boys ment is beating Hillcrest. We haven’t varsity, has consistently placed within the top won a set against them since 2013.”

50. This year marks his third on the team.

“I’ve done it since freshman year,” he said. “I The general consensus among the haven’t done it before high school.” team is that their new coach, Lane He has history with the sport; brother Jones, is responsible for their improveJames, now graduated, participated while in ments. “Sophomore and junior year I high school. really wanted to quit, but this year is “My brother, James, was the fastest of the better because we have a new coach,” pack back in his day,” he said. “He inspired me said senior Frances Lehman. “We realto hop on the cross country train.”

Today, Niiler enjoys the sport for its necly like our new coach.” The new coach essary “passion” and drive for success. At the is young, so she has bonded with the Jesse Owens Classic, he ran a season best 5k team very well. “Coach Jones is young at 17 minutes and 49 seconds. so she understands what we’re going “It’s the grind,” he said. “It’s the sensation of through,” said senior Allie Darden. leading your team.”

“She’s the best.” “We have a really good The vigorous and demanding workouts, however, remain exhausting and sometimes CHUGGING ALONG Junior John Niiler keeps up the pace. bond with her,” said Lehman. “She’s Photo by Mayci Hartley. challenging for Niiler. the reason volleyball is fun.”

“It’s 10-mile runs and stuff all the time,” he While the varsity team has had an said. “There’s a lot of tough competition all overall good season with a 7-2 record, over the state, and it’s a big time commitment. the JV team did exceptionally well this After the races, people are sprawled out on the year with a 21-3 record. They have beat court. It’s exhausting. You feel like you’re gonmany teams that they didn’t think posna die.”

He calls the current team “our best in my sible. “Our JV team can beat anyone, exlifetime.” cept us - seriously they can’t beat us. It’s “We’re looking good,” he said. “We have a so funny,” Carol Johnson, senior, said. chance to win sectionals at state.”

The JV team beat a few 7A teams this Sophomore Tristian Abrams joined the year, boosting their confidence. “My team on the suggestion of his track and field favorite part of the season is probably coach. He notes that it’s a far cry from the 800 and 400 meter distances that he’s accustomed when we went to Oak Mountain and to. beat Thompson in the championship, “It’s a lot harder to do cross country, espewhich is a 7A team, which is really big cially if you just start during the school year,” for us,” Grace Waddell, freshman, said. he said.

Other highlights are from winning He enjoys the unique “culture” of cross gold at the Vestavia tournament. “We country meets. beat Vestavia, and we got a trophy,” said “Once you get out here and you’re running, you just can’t wait to get it done,” he said. freshman Kaylie Lake. “We didn’t lose Abrams suffered setbacks through the sea- FORERUNNER Senior Hunter Harris races to the front of the pack.

Photo by Mayci Hartley. a single game that tournament.” son due to injuries, including a stress fracture that kept him benched for “several weeks.” He attributes the wounds to factors like “rain, bad running shoes, and running a lot.”

Though cross country is associated less with team than with individual performance, he finds his teammates to be invaluable in his performance.

“Your teammates are your biggest fans,” Abrams said. “The only way you can be good is if you all push each other.”

Like Niiler, freshman Elizabeth Vise was first introduced to the sport through sibling experience.

“My brother had to do it when he was in seventh grade, so my parents were like, ‘you should do it too,’” she said.

Though sometimes challenging, she enjoys the relative relaxation the sport offers.

“I wouldn’t say it’s painful,” she said. “It’s like a weird type of pain. Whoever invented cross country is kind of dumb because it’s kind of a boring sport. It doesn’t get much recognition.”

Like her teammates, her favorite part of the race? The finish line.

1015 Skyland Blvd E. Tuscaloosa 619 McFarland Blvd Northport “My favorite part is cheering afterwards, 4530 Rice Mine Rd NE. Tuscaloosa 603 15th Street E. Tuscaloosa because the race is over and you don’t have to 5500 McFarland Blvd Northport 125 Wildwood Pkwy Birmingham run,” she said. “I like to yell. Towards the end, 8720 Highway 69 S. Tuscaloosa Corporate Office (205) 752-1000 it’s terrible. I sometimes feel like I’m never gonna finish. But I finally finish, and it doesn’t even matter where I place.”

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THE NORTHRIDGE REPORTER VOLUME 15 ISSUE 2

SPORTS

JAGGY FOOTBALL

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Jaguars barely edged out at homecoming game ISAAC SMITH AND SARA LANG BUSINESS MANAGER AND ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

“GREATEST TEAMMATES ANYONE COULD ASK FOR...” From top to bottom: Sophomore Chris Archibauld blocks Bryant from tackling senior Calvin Street to pick up yards. Sophomore Alex Cull catches the ball for a gain of a few yards, while teammate Will Butler looks on. “They’re the greates teammates anyone could ask for,” said senior Cameron Crouse.

The team went into the Jasper game knowing that they wanted to win no matter what.

“We went into the locker room, and we were a lot more focused,” said Crouse. “We went out there with the mentality that this was the last home game and we wanted to try to win it.”

Photos by Patrick Jacks.

Buy a Large Quarter Pounder with Cheese Extra Value Meal and get a second Quarter Pounder with Cheese sandwich FREE when you bring in this ad! (only available at Rice Mine location)

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ORTHRIDGE’S HOMECOMING GAME ended with a close loss of 2119 to Jasper, even though the Jags were in the lead for most of the game. Out of the final four possessions, however, three were turn overs.

Quarterback Steven Fairburn and receivers Kerry Shepherd and Calvin Street were a good team, and ended up with 53 rushing yards on 14 attempts in the second half. Throughout the whole game, the Jags totaled 144 yards on 29 attempts.

Fairburn threw for a total of 172 yards. “I’m just disappointed that we came so close and didn’t win,” said Fairburn. “We put in a good effort though, and I’m proud of our team.”

The winning touchdown was made by Jasper’s Kendall Holiday Jr. with a 95 yard run after Northridge fumbled inside the 5 yard line. The Jags were able to take the ball into Jasper’s 25 yard line three times, with one time resulting in a field goal, but the other two turn overs. The now 5-3 Jaguars will play Selma on Oct. 5, and Bryant for Senior Night on Oct. 12. Northridge is hopeful to continue to challenge themselves during the season, and increase their record.

Going into the Oct. 6 game against the Selma Saints, the football team was feeling confident. “We’ve got a very high chance [of winning],” said sophmore and nose guard, Zion Binion, said. The team had been working hard, practicing for nearly five hours each day, from the beginning of fourth block to 7 p.m. Binion’s optimism proved to be well founded as the Jaguars crushed the Saints.

Northridge was especially effective in the first half of the game. The Jaguars took an early lead with the help of Calvin Street, senior and wide reicever, who returned a kickoff early for a touchdown. The Jaguars continued to be successful throughout the first half; they scored 20 points and prevented the Saints from scoring at all.

Early in the second half, the tide seemed to be turning, as the Saints made several long plays, thoroughly displeasing Coach Vickery. Selma managed to get within five yards of scoring a touchdown before their drive was halted when they fumbled. Northridge recovered the fumble.

Near the end of the third quarter, Roderick Jones, sophomore scored for the Jaguars, to bring the score to 26 to 0. However, Northridge did not make the extra point.

The last score of the game came just after Northridge’s final touchdown, as the Saints finally scored their first touchdown. They attempted to execute a two point conversion but did not succeed.

No points were scored in the fourth quarter, and Northridge won the game with a final score of 26 to 6. “[My favorite part of the game was] definitely winning big,” said kicker and punter Trey Finison, junior. “That final buzzer sounds and we’re up big, and now we’ve improved our record. We could have played better; we still won big, but there are still some things that we can improve on for this week.”

Their defeat of Selma brought the Jaguars’ record to three wins and four losses.

The team began looking forward to their next game against the Bryant Stampede, which would decide if they made the playoffs. “We win this game we’re in the playoffs.

We are going to be in the playoffs,” said Trey Finison, punter and kicker.

The Friday the 13th game proved to be an unlucky game for the jags. Several players were injured, among them, Trip Daniels, Senior. Daniels was injured particularly severely; his tibia and fibula were both broken, but he is recovering “He’s doing all right...He’s in a cast but he’s been up and walking,” said number 19, wide receiver, Cameron Crouse, senior. Crouse and Daniels are good friends.

Northridge was far behind at halftime, but they made up a lot of ground in the second half of the game. “We went into the locker room and we were a lot more focused...We went out there with the mentality that this was the last home game and we wanted to try to win it,” said Crouse. “Anybody who can come support us at McAdory and at Central, we would really like that...These are our last two games and we would love all the support we can get.”

Though the team did not make the playoffs, they still have the most important things. “[My favorite part of being on the football team is that] the coaches push you to compete and work hard,” said sophomore defensive lineman Braylen Perry. “We are family.”

GO JAGUARS!!

Locally Owned and Operated by Rick & Mary Ellen Hanna 4840 Rice Mine Road NE Tuscaloosa, AL 35406 205-345-0045

Photo credits to T-Town Photos

WALK ON CAPTAINS Seniors Kerry Shepherd, Calvin Street, Cameron Crouse and Centonio Hardy walk on the field.

12 BEAT THE NORTHRIDGE REPORTER VOLUME 15 ISSUE 2

SUGAR, SPICE, EVERYTHING NOT NICE Powderpuff makes comeback during homecoming week

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Every time I touched the football, I knew where it was RESHU CHANDRA going, [to get a] touchdown.”

COPY EDITOR Senior Tyler Salekin served on defense and got two tackles. “Powderpuff is so much fun and a great way to have fun and take a break from school,” she said.

EARING CROP TOPS Defense was lots of fun and we all worked together AND MINI SKIRTS, the and I loved getting to play with all [of ] my friends. I senior boy cheerleaders am glad we got to win [our] senior year.” went wild as the senior girl Senior Emory Grace Edwards was a starter on defootball players dominated the junior girls fense. “Defense was on point,” Edwards said. “We all with a score of 33-14. This popular tradition worked together as a team and knew what had to be where boys are cheerleaders and girls are done.” players was reintroduced three years later. The Senior Henry Cull served as a cheerleader. “I was powderpuff game was composed of junior very disappointed while cheering on our team because girl football players versus senior girl football of their performance,” Cull said. “We should have won players, junior and senior boy cheerleaders, 55-14.” boys who served as the girls’ football coaches Senior Hunter Harris also was a cheerleader. “Powand girls who served as the boys’ cheer coachderpuff teaches men how to look good in a skirt,” es.

Harris said. “I am glad I was a cheerleader Senior Stevan Fairburn served as the offensive and head coach. “I focused on get- CHEER LIKE A BOY Senior Jackson Borak waves because we got to jump around and have fun.” ting the ball to the end zone,” he said. “The a pom-pom in support of the team.

Senior Emma Fisher served as cheer girls did a fantastic job of moving the ball coach for the boys. “The boys had a lot of and executing all of the plays. This win was spirit and [they] killed the Shimmy Shake,” well deserved.” she said.

Senior Wil Charles was the defensive Junior Emma Curtner-Smith was a runcoordinator of the powderpuff team. “It ning back and kicker of her team. “The powwas a lot of fun,” he said. “I enjoyed seeing derpuff [game] was a fun tradition to bring everybody come together and [I] was imback and I am glad it was brought back my pressed by the drive and will to win from junior year so I will have another game [to the senior class. We got out there, executed, play next year],” she said. “It was so fun behit hard and came home with a dub. The cause not only did the girls get really into low man always wins.” it, but especially the coaches for each team.”

Senior Annabelle Beavers and Mary Junior Sarah Pierce served on defense.

Katherine Winfield co-captained the of“Although we lost, it was still a fun expefensive side. “The game was so much fun, rience,” she said. “It was fun to play during but the juniors could work on their defense homecoming week, and I am looking fora little bit,” Beavers said. ward to redemption.”

Senior Madison Goldstein served as The junior team had a total of thirteen running back and scored a touchdown football players, five football coaches, three against the juniors. “I was so excited we got cheer coaches, and five cheerleaders. The seto bring back powderpuff for our senior niors had a total of twenty football players, year,” she said. “I am so happy we beat the four football coaches, four cheer coaches, juniors.” and seven cheerleaders.

Senior Grace Evans was a wide receiver Winfield was ecstatic about the seniors’ and also scored a touchdown against the win. “[Winning powderpuff ] was definitely juniors. “The juniors did not know what hit them,” Evans said. “Annabelle and I had GAME ON! Senior Addie Akins and Junior Kath- the best game of the year,” she said. To get the dub our senior year put the cherry on that connection where she saw me wide ryn Sain look to catch the ball. top.” open and threw me the ball and I scored.

Photos by Caroline Kirkland anddCrosby Thomley

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