September 2017

Sports: See how the Boy’s XC team is going to continue the legacy of success in their upcoming season. Page 4

Student Life: See restaurant suggestions for the upcoming Homecoming season.

Page 8

Entertainment: See the end-of-summer album releases from artists Lil Uzi Vert, The Script, and Fifth Harmony.

Page 10

The Echo

» Read more: Learn about the varying perspectives on the increased use of technology in our school. Read more on page 6

Neuqua Valley’s Student Newspaper

September 29, 2017 Volume 20 Issue 1

Neuqua Valley High School

2360 95th St. Naperville, IL 60564

@NV_ECHO nvecho.com

A new chapter has begun for the valley and athletic director Mr. Adkins

Athletic Director, Branden Adkins, reflects after the Wildcats made an incomplete pass during the second quarter of the September 22 home game versus Thornwood. Photo by Ella Estopare.

Madeline James Staff Writer

Traditions. Pride. Legacy. These are just a few of the words that come to mind when new athletic director Branden Adkins speaks about his new career at Neuqua. Adkins’ 22 years of experience as a coach and mentor has led him to his

largest position yet, with a new district, school and community. The largest factor for his decision to come to Neuqua was a perfect combination of opportunity and appeal. Being able to join “the culture and traditions within [the] building” at Neuqua as well as the “success rate both academically and athletically” paved the way for Adkins’ arrival.

As with any transition, change is a

guarantee. Before being hired by District 204, Adkins was the head men’s basketball coach at Plainfield East High School. He established a tradition of success, even at a school that is just over ten years old.

Under his leadership, Adkins led his 2012 team to the school’s first ever regional title, a year in which they dominated with a 27-2 record and sent two players to play Division I ball. When asked about the largest difference between the two schools, the size of the buildings and the “strong work ethic culture” at Neuqua led the conversation. Plainfield East, which is a member of the Southwest Prairie Conference, has around 2,100 students, compared to Neuqua’s 3,800.

With a larger student body comes more opportunities for success, which is a prevalent tradition held at Neuqua.

To continue on with success, the athletic board is planning on several changes for the 2017-2018 school year. For starters, lacrosse has been approved by both the district and state athletic boards to become an official sport. Lifeguards will now be on duty for swim practices and meets. Among these, the largest is the conference changes that are occurring across Naperville; the DVC conference will be reduced to five schools for next year, including just Neuqua, Waubonsie, Metea, Naperville Central and Naperville North. While nothing has been confirmed yet, there are talks of other

schools joining for the upcoming year.

Mr. Adkins says that while there are some concerns, “the DVC is not going away… that is a misnomer.” Also in effect for this year is the implementation of new coaches for several sports. For wrestling, Coach Mucha is replacing retired Coach Rueteger, for girl’s cross country, Coach Ameling, and for girl’s gymnastics, Coach Novorolski. Adkins says that he is excited for all three, and the “young, vibrant, enthusiastic mindset” that they bring.

Sports have been a part of Adkins’ life for as long as he can remember. Now, to be able to do it as a part of his job, is a dream. Being able to build relationships with student-athletes and assist young coaches to build success are among a few of the things that he gets to be a part of. Adkins strongly believes in the importance of high school sports and the “lifelong skills” that are learned. Watching young freshmen grow into young adults is a transition that Adkins has had the pleasure of being a coach. No matter how much he grows in his career, first and foremost, he says that “I am always a coach”. The support and commitment that a coach can give to individuals is one of the most important things that Adkins has experienced thus far. His love of sports has followed him for a lifetime, and now his journey to the Valley is a new road ahead for the district, students, and himself.

Neuqua’s new bathroom Twitter trend rolls into Naperville: Echo eats goes policy welcomes all genders to Munchies Sofia Mayhew Staff Writer

As usual, another twitter trend is being passed around, accumulating thousands of favorites and retweets, most of them not living up to the hype they receive. Almost everyone who has a Twitter account is familiar with the video of super cold ice cream being rolled into little cylinders that went viral a few months ago. Recently, a small shop called At Munchies has opened up in Downtown Naperville, giving us a chance to try this Twitter phenomenon.

At Munchies is located at 22 E Chicago Ave in Naperville. Walking into the small shop, I didn’t know what to expect. The atmosphere was dry, the smell was a little weird, and the overall look of the establishment was a bit shabby. As well, as serving their main draw, rolled ice cream, they also serve

other comfort foods such as tornado potatos, bubble waffles, and roasted chicken wings - foods not traditionally served with ice cream. Personally, the waffle-ice cream combo wasn’t bad, but the potato-ice cream combo was definitely for a different palate than mine. Despite all this, I am happy to say the rolled ice cream definitely lived up to the millions of retweets it got on twitter. Sure, the process of watching someone roll frigid ice cream is a little gimmicky and a little pointless - why not just eat the ice cream in its regular shape? Surely the rolled up version isn’t going to make it taste differently.

But I have to admit, it is extremely satisfying to watch the ice cream curl into perfectly round cylinders, and although the shape didn’t make the ice cream taste better, the tempature sure did. see more of ROLLED ICE CREAM on page 8

Katya Brovkovych News Editor

In order to fulfill the needs of transgender students, Neuqua now has two gender neutral bathrooms to accommodate students with different gender identities.

“District 204 is participating in the national conversation on how to help transgender students feel comfortable in expressing themselves,” says social worker Pamela Witt. Waubonsie Valley was able to transform a staff restroom near the gym into small, gender-neutral locker rooms. Metea Media wrote “Opinion: LGBT education should be implemented in school,” an article explaining how the school should be more educated on the rights of LGBT students. Even though Trump’s Administration repealed Obama’s rule on transgender students’ bathroom use, District 204 is still showing their acceptance to transgender students.

“Trumps policies have not affected Neuqua, we just fight for our student’s rights and respect their wishes,” said Mrs.

Witt.

However, transgender students still face day to day issues with the public lack of acceptance. Gender Spectrum found that 75.1 percent of transgender students feel unsafe at school because of their gender expression. The National Center for Transgender Equality found that 12 percent of transgender people were verbally harassed in public restrooms, 9 percent said someone denied them access to a bathroom, and 1 percent were sexually assaulted within the previous year.

Adding another bathroom at Neuqua will certainly help transgender students to feel more comfortable and welcomed.

Nonetheless, the location of the new bathroom is not common knowledge for the protection and privacy of transgender students. The students are welcomed to use the nurse’s bathroom and talk to their social workers in order to use the new see more of NEUQUA WELCOMES ALL GENDERS on page 3

2 Editor’s Note EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Kayla Monis Emily Oh

EDITORIAL BOARD Emeli Brewer

Sana Khadilkar Alya Khan

Katya Brovkovych

STAFF WRITERS Madeline James Ella Estopare

Emma Wightkin

Abigail McArthur-Self Anika Haridas Arti Rathore

Rianna Panergalin Presley Polvere

Cristina Rodriguez Adrian Lindell

Ava Pellegrino Orion Elrod

Sofia Mayhew Grace Huff Ashley Liu

SUPERVISOR

Allyson Cagney OUR MISSION STATEMENT

The Echo is a student-run publication, fueled by the dedication of the students that make up the staff to bring credible, cogent news to the rest of Neuqua Valley. Any student is welcome to join our staff of writers, reporters, and photographers. A student editorial board is responsible for story assignments, story selection, and story publication along with the designing of the paper itself.

Letters to the Editor are accepted only if accompanied by a name and signature. Submit them, along with any stories or tips to our email Any material submitted to The Echo is subject to editing for content and space.

September 2017

Importance of unification when facing change in a new season

The Echo

Editorial Board

A little over a month ago, walking up to Neuqua’s doors again was like slowly clicking up to the top of a rollercoaster.

You can’t help but feel jitters even though you’ve been doing the school thing for quite some time now. Now, you’ve adjusted to the loop-de-loops and the late nights spent writing English essays.

The months ahead are full of the usual scented candles and Halloween decor, but they also hold events that are still unknown.

Our lives are bombarded with change.

Changes big and small. Changes that we had time to prepare for and some that we never saw coming. As we are settling into the new school year, which now feels like a freshly broken-in pair of shoes, there will be adversities we face that can have a multitude of outcomes. Wildcats, take on this fall season with the mindset of an opportunity to grow.

Google seemingly took over our school lives, the presence of technology in the classroom is discussed in this issue’s Centerpiece. Discover statistical evidence and pros and cons on this issue on pages 6 and 7.

Naperville’s bustling downtown is going through some major changes as well. The beloved Moser Carillon Tower may face demolition, page 2. Echo Eats reviews At Munchies Rolled Ice Cream which was recently opened in downtown Naperville, page 1.

When you go to the gym, try mixing up your usual workout playlist by adding new releases. The newest Lil Uzi Vert, Fifth Harmony and The Script albums are reviewed on page 10.

New teachers are bringing fresh ideas to the classroom and new coaches are creating vibrant cultures for their teams.

Profiles on page 9 takes a deeper look into these Neuqua staff members. The new athletic director, Branden Adkins, continues to familiarize himself with the

Independence masked by the stigma of loneliness

The Echo

Editorial Board

As the infamous homecoming approaches, students in every grade level are scrambling to get ready, all in a frantic panic about dresses, groups, dinner, pictures and especially dates. In fact, one of the main conversation starters in these beginning months is “Who are you going to homecoming with?” While some reply with the name of a romantic partner, others shrug off the name of a friend and then there are those select few who hang their heads with shame while whispering, “no one.”

This stigma about being alone transcends the context of high school dances. There is this warped misconception that being alone equates to being unwanted or undesirable. Being alone is somehow worse than being surrounded by people that weigh you down.

But to be on your own means that you have the luxury of figuring out what you love, how you are and who you are.

You have the time and space to figure out parts of yourself without the sound and pressure of those around you. The societal insecurity to be constantly surrounded by people is blurring out

distinct personality traits and ultimately wiping out the practice of the essential life-skill of being self-sufficient.

In the future, there is going to be a level of independence you need, and it’s a level that can only be reached when you go through certain times of your life alone.

And though having external support systems are beneficial, you learn more profound lessons and strengthen the confidence and appreciation you have for yourself when you exercise self-reliance.

Again, this is not to say friendships, relationships or even acquaintances are not important, in fact community is necessary for human survival. But it’s the degree of reliance on others in relation to yourself. To lean on yourself during adversity does not make you arrogant, it makes you independently resilient.

There is also a certain kind of admiration for people who are comfortable with who they are alone, showing that loving yourself is more important than the judgements it will quite often pass. And when you have acquired that comfortability, you realize that the saying that someone is your ‘other half ’ or ‘better half ’ is only a cliche, but to be whole one your own is one of the most powerful and beautiful things one will ever accomplish.

wildcat way, page 1.

Several natural disasters brought the most horrific destruction to US cities, Puerto Rico, Central Mexico, and Japan that our generation has experienced. It will take years to rebuild the physical and emotional wreckage that the hurricanes and earthquakes created. Efforts have come together to bring financial, medical, shelter, and unemployment aid. Neuqua’s Service Club is uniting to help with hurricane relief. We as individuals and as a school must come together in this time of devastation to provide for our neighboring cities and countries.

Wildcats, when you are faced with adversity, big or small, how do you react?

Consider changing the way you scroll through your feed and make small talk.

Focus on being intentional with the change that surrounds you, take it head on.

Whether it be advancing in playoffs for your sport or acing your theater show, live out this autumn season purposefully.

CONNECT WITH US: Twitter: @NVHS_Echo Website: www.neuquamedia. org

Email: nvhsecho@gmail.com Instagram: nvhs_echo

The Echo wants to hear from you!

Submit your letters to the editors to: nvhsecho@gmail.com or visit neuquamedia.org for more information

A glimpse of a student’s mental state after summer

By Jacqueline Enty

Illinois Welcomes Immigrants

Abigail McArthur-Self Staff Writer

Senate Bill 31 - the Illinois Trust Act - was signed

by Governor Rauner on Aug. 14. The bill restricts law enforcement from arresting illegal immigrants.

Unless someone has an outstanding federal immigration warrant, they cannot be detained without committing a non-immigration related crime. It also creates safe places, such as schools and hospitals, where people will not be arrested for immigration.

Officer Leon is Neuqua’s school resource officer.

He explained the bill’s effect on schools. Under the Trust Act, schools are safe places. If a law enforcement agency - federal or otherwise - comes to the school for a student, Officer Leon has “the ability to intercept that and talk to them.” Schools gain control over situations where, previously, a student could have been taken out of school.

Proponents of the bill believe it will help immigrants safely receive an education, medical attention and police aid. Previously, if an illegal immigrant reported a crime, they could be arrested with the person they were reporting, so cases of domestic violence often went unreported.

Illegal and legal immigrants were afraid of reporting crimes and being profiled. The Trust Act protects victims from being arrested. This should aid law enforcement, as more crimes will

be reported. Ultimately, the law was passed to increase cooperation and trust between police and immigrant communities.

Andrea Smithers, a Neuqua teacher, immigrated legally at age twenty. Of the Trust Act, she says, “Right now, that’s the best option.” She notes racism is on the rise and says, “Knowing that there’s gonna be a place where kids and families are protected … it’s great.” She explains that some immigrate illegally to escape violence, poverty or social unrest, and the government needs to “see what’s going on in their lives, and why they’re choosing to leave everything behind.” Smithers agrees the law is a positive step for immigrants, allowing them to feel safer and seek police aid.

Opponents of the bill argue illegal immigrants have already broken a law; Illinois shouldn’t need other reasons to arrest them. The law could make Illinois a “sanctuary state” - a state that protects certain people even if the federal government declares their actions illegal. Some believe allowing more illegal immigrants to stay in Illinois will increase the burden on Illinois’ struggling economy, as an increase in workers could drive down wages. However, economic immigration data is highly contested.

Debate about the legality and effectiveness of the act continues. Many celebrate the bill’s signing.

Others fear going against federal laws means risking federal funding. For now, the law remains in effect.

End of Budget Crisis Moser Bell Tower Orion Elrod

Presley Polvere

Staff Writer

Staff Writer

After almost three years, the Illinois public school budget crisis has ended. On Aug. 31, Governor Bruce Rauner signed Senate Bill One, creating an adequacy and evidence based school funding formula for all public schools in Illinois.

If implemented as promised, this bill will ensure equality throughout all school districts.

Schools have been placed in four tiers, based on their financial need, with tier 1 needing the most and tier 4 needing the least. According to Dr. McBride, “District 204 is projected to be in tier 2”. This means that there will not be an increase or a decrease in funding.He said all programs that the district currently offers, such as music and athletics, will remain in place.

During the three years that the bill was being debated, Neuqua Valley did not receive funds promised by the state for resources such as transportation. Because the district was unsure of its future financial status, Neuqua held off repairing such items as the pot-holes in the parking lot, the cracks in the sidewalk, and the leaks in the roof over the B-D wings. Now that there is relative financial certainty, the district can plan to make all of the repairs that are necessary, the most immediate at Neuqua being the repair of the roof after the 2017-2018 school year.

Although the bill seems promising, some controversy has arisen over one of its clauses.

Senate Bill 1 sets aside $75 million a year for people who make donations to private schools.

Organizations such as the Chicago Teachers’ Union have been saying that this allocation of funds takes money away from public schools, which is what they believe to be the state’s main responsibility.

When asked about his opinion on the topic, Dr. McBride believes that, “the state’s main responsibility is to provide a public education.

With that being said, compromise is necessary to make progress.” This clause was the main reason that Senate Bill One was on the floor for the amount of time that it was, even being initially vetoed by the governor. Though there has been much dissension, the bill has been passed and Illinois public schools, including Neuqua, can now properly plan for the next decade.

The Moser Tower has been standing for 17 years in the center of Downtown Naperville.

The tower has been protecting the famous 64 bell Carillon that can be heard throughout much of the Downtown area. The Moser Tower will have to face either demolition or reconstruction due to corroding of the structure even with its young age.

Last year, “the Riverwalk Commission had a structural assessment performed so they would have a baseline of the tower’s structural condition. The assessment indicated much more deterioration than would be expected in a 17 year old structure,” said a Riverwalk Commission councilmen and Transportation, Engineering and Development leader, Bill Novack. The assessment showed that there was weather related incidents to the structural steel in the tower. In order to make repairs, the city of Naperville will have to pay $3.75 million dollars. The repairs would include fixing the structural issues and enclosing the bottom of the tower. These improvements to the tower could take anywhere from five to ten months.

However, there is another option. The entire tower can be taken down for 660,000 dollars.

The city of Naperville has hired a group of professionals to assess both possibilities for the tower. According to Bill Novack, “a Task Force is being assembled to look into all of the details. The Task Force will advise the Naperville Riverwalk Commission which will then provide a recommendation to the Naperville City Council who will make the final decision.”

The Moser Tower’s need for a fix forces the council to think about what money can go to funding the repairs. Novack stated, “the community, through private donations and city dollars, already has over seven million dollars invested in the Carillon and tower. The costs of the repairs and the additional years those repairs will provide to the tower will determine whether it is a quality investment or not.” With options spinning around inside the Naperville Council, there is a long wait until any official announcement will be presented to the public.

Neuqua Welcomes All Genders CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

In addition to opening a gender neutral bathroom, Neuqua has The Neuqua Valley Gay/ Straight Alliance. “Neuqua is, in general, a very accepting place when it comes to sexualities, gender identities, or race. Of course there is always

an outlier, but in general, the student body is very accepting” says GSA advisor, Christina Jakubas.

The mission of this club is actually to combat homophobia and transphobia in our school and to help achieve equality for all people.

News 3

World News Briefing: September

North Korean Missle North Korea has a missile test over Labor Day weekend in the US because it happened to fall near the anniversary of the North Korean government’s founding. North Korea is known for conducting weapons tests with far-reaching geopolitical implications around its national holidays to create disruption and confusion. Then North Korea’s missiles flew over Japan on August 29, many US analysts predicted that a sixth nuclear test could be coming in the next few months. North Korea’s actions are firmly in violation of United Nations Security

Council resolutions, and leaders from around the world strongly condemned the nuclear testing.

Philippine’s drugs

war

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte told police on August 28th that they could kill “idiots” who resist arrest, as the campaign against drug dealers continues in the country. “Your duty requires you [police forces] to overcome the resistance of the person you are arresting… [if] he resists, and it is a violent one… you are free to kill the idiots, that is my order to you,” Duterte said during a speech at the Hero’s Cemetery outside of Manila.

The announcement came two days after hundreds of Filipinos went to the funeral of a slain

A graphic illustrating what places North Korean missiles can reach. Photo courtesy of BUZZFEED.

against

teenager, Kian Delos Santos, to protest against Duterte’s deadly war on drugs.

President Duterte holding a machine gun to support using more police brutality in the war against drugs.

Photo courtesy of Aljazeera NEWS.

Sudan: Reporter Killed

In South Sudan, at least 19 people were killed, including Christopher Allen, a U.S. journalist, amid fighting between South Sudanese forces and rebel soldiers in the southern town of Kaya on Saturday. Christopher Allen was well known for his reports of the civil war in Ukraine. Photo courtesy of NBCNEWS.

In South Sudan on August 26th at least 19 people were killed, including U.S. journalist Christopher Allen, in the fighting between South Sudanese forces and rebel soldiers in the southern town of Kaya. He was reported to have covered the civil war in Ukraine and joined the South Sundanese rebel forces a week before his death. Allen is the 11th journalist to shot dead in South Sudan since 2012. The fighting in South Sudan has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced more than a million since 2014.

Mexico Earthquake Disaster

The Mexico City earthquake killed over 319 people and was categorized with a 7.1 magnitude earthquake. More earthquakes followed one hitting closer to the capital, and the 8.1 magnitude quake that struck September 8 off the southern Pacific coast, near Chiapas state. 30 children perished at the Enrique Rebsámen school after it collapsed in the earthquake that devastated Mexico and 60 children were rushed to the hospitals for medical attention.

Search dogs were sent out to Information compilied by Katya Brovkovych

find survivors trapped under the rubble and the police’s number one priority is rescue and humanitarian aid for the victims.

Soldiers remove debris from a partially collapsed building in Juchitan, Mexico, September 8. It was the strongest earthquake to hit the country in 100 years. Photo courtesy by CNN.

September 2017

4 Sports

Remaining Bring on the A-Game: DVC teams A closer look into intramurals Presley Polvere Staff Writer

In 2015, the Three Valleys were newcomers to the DVC. In 2018 the Valleys will only be accompanied by Naperville North and Naperville Central.

Starting in the 2018-2019 school year, the DVC will be a five team conference due to the departure of Wheaton North, Wheaton Warrenville South, Lake Park, and Glenbard North. The four high schools announced in 2017 that they were going to leave the conference. According to Mr. Adkins, Neuqua’s new athletic director, “they feel that it is a better fit for them regarding their attendance, how many students they have in their building, and the level of sports they have.”

Athletic directors from the remaining five schools have reached out to local conferences to see if any schools are interested in a mega conference. The athletic departments have also looked to add other schools to the DVC. However, conference alignments are a part of a two year process, resulting in the DVC staying with five members. Amidst the exit of the four, the five remaining schools of the DVC will have to battle over conference scheduling. The high schools could possibly play each other more than once in one season. However, the athletics of each school plan on adding non-conference matches to the schedules in order to keep the athletic teams playing different competition.

The search for non-conference games will depend on the IHSA classes and school sizes. Neuqua Valley is an 8A football participant, making schools in the lower classes non contenders for the non-conference football games.

“The issue that we run into is our size.

With having nearly 4,000 students, there are some schools that don’t have that.

They only have 1,500-2,000 students and don’t want to play a school with our size because there’s a fear of a possible safety issue,” explains Mr. Adkins. With the removals and changes, the Dupage Valley Conference hopes to add more schools to the conference starting in the fall of 2019.

Ella Estopare Staff Writer

If you’re considering bringing your impressive ball game skills to a new level, consider joining one of the many intramural sports Neuqua has to offer. Whether it’s football, basketball, cheerleading, or tennis, the athletes are a giant part of what pushes Neuqua Valley to the top of the Valley school pyramid.

While there are many competitive IHSA sports to take part in at Neuqua Valley, many students are unaware that there are also intramural sports at Neuqua.

The question is, what are the differences between IHSA competitive sports and these intramural sports here at the Valley?

Student Olivia Cook, who has participated in both IHSA and

intramural sports, explains what she thinks the differences are. “What I like about intramurals is that you can sign up, you don’t have to tryout. It’s a fun environment. Everybody’s with friends.

There is competition, but it’s still lighthearted.” For students who are looking for more time playing , they may want to consider intramurals. For school teams, there are daily practices and games.

Conversely, there are only a couple days per week when intramurals meet. On these days, the teams will play games and work on their techniques. Head Badminton Coach, Ms. Valente, also described the difference between intramural sports, “there’s a lot that’s demanded of the players physically and time wise, versus intramural where they aren’t looking to improve their skills; there’s definitely a competitive gap.” When asked what

the girls do doing their practices, Coach Valente replied, “I personally plan our practices down to the minute.”

With the seemingly large competitive gap that diversifies intramurals and IHSA sports, either one does not seem to particularly attract one type of student.

Competitive or not, there is always something that a student can do to have fun and participate in Neuqua Valley’s wide variety of activities. Even if the competitivity of intramurals and IHSA differs, both can agree on one thing; “The relationships that they do build is the best part” says Coach Valente.

For students that are unable to meet the time commitment of IHSA school sports, intramurals is the route to take. Athletes can play the sports they love, create their own team of friends, and have loads of fun.

Neuqua Valley students brush up on their badminton skills after a long summer and prepare for an intense competition. Being the first practice of the intramural badminton season, students have a chance to get to know their fellow peers and form their teams. Photo by Ella Estopare.

Continuing the Legacy: Boys Cross Country preview

Kayla Monis

Editor-in-Chief

After placing first in the IHSA state competition last year, Neuqua’s boy’s cross country team is diving head first into this coming fall season even though only one of the seven state runners are returning this year. The team’s top seven, as of now, consists of four seniors and three juniors including the only returning state runner, Zach Kinne. The team’s first race over Labor Day weekend, the Hornet Red-Devil Invitational, was very successful as they placed first overall.

They victory was led by Zach Kinne who became the first Hornet-Red Devil champion for Neuqua since Aaron Beattie in 2009. Other notable runners included Ryan Kennedy and Tyler Bombacino had finishes under 15:30.

Comparing last year and this year’s team, there are many differences outside of the personnel. Although this year’s team

September 2017

has experienced early success, head boy’s cross country coach Mr. Vandersteen describes that they lack the experience the state team had last year. Even though the collection of runners step into this year’s season lacking some of the strengths of last year’s team, Coach Vandersteen adds that he sees a new toughness and drive to compete. “This year’s group is very tough and they don’t back down.”

These qualities are sure to aid the team in competitions as they will be going against some intense competition including York High School, Downers Grove North, and Wheaton Warrenville South. The team will face off with the other DVC teams on October 14th at St. James Farm.

This Saturday, all levels of cross country will take on the Lockport Invitational and the annual Naperville Twilight Invitational next Wednesday at Naperville North High School. As the heart of the cross country season approaches Coach Vandersteen is making sure to do everything to prepare

Neuqua’s varsity runners prepare for the their first invitational of the season the Hornet Red-Devil Invitational. They are lined up next to schools such as Naperville North, Wheaton Warrenville South, and Hinsdale Central. Photo courtesy of Neuqua Boy’s Cross Country.

his team towards the end goal which, surprisingly, isn’t the outcome in the state series. He explained, “The longer I coach the more I’ve really understood that it’s more about the process and you can’t worry about the outcome. You can’t control the outcome. You just have to

do everything you can the be the best at being the best.” Keeping this mentality, the team will hopefully run on Friday, November 3rd at the conclusion of the IHSA state series.

Opinions 5

Take them down:

Dishonorable relics of the Confederacy Arti Rathore Staff Writer

Though confederate statues represent a time in history, they lack value. The statues are emblems of a war fought to segregate. They are a remembrance of the inequality and incommensurate thoughts that once plagued several American minds. They honor a backward idea that goes against everything our Constitution stands for.

In the 1900s we entered an era where we defined our founding fathers’ wish for a united America and fought. We fought for rights. In the 20s it was women’s rights and in the ‘50s and ‘60s, it was racial rights. We fought for gender equality, racial rights, the right to identify as who you want to be and we are still fighting. In July 2013, the Black Lives Matter Movement had officially begun. In 2015, a church in Charleston fell victim to by a white-supremacist. In 2016, NBC News found that the election fueled hate crimes and caused them to go up by 20 percent. Finally, on Aug. 12, 2017, a white supremacist rammed his car into the protesters who were gathered in Charlottesville for the removal of confederate statues The Confederate statues in the south have provoked many similar acts of violence and harsh debates from supporters on both sides of the spectrum. Some people think that the statues represent hate and are degrading symbols of a divided America while

others believe that offensive or not, these statues are a part of history and removing them would be removing a part of history that teaches us all an important lesson.

Others, of course, are just blatant racists who look at these people as heroes.

The problem with these statues is not that people are removing history, it’s that no lesson is being learned. Statues are symbols of honor and were originally erected to show respect. Most people who walk past statues think, “That dude has a statue, he must have been a great guy!” Donald Trump spoke on this issue by stating, “Who’s next? Washington?

Jefferson? So foolish!” The problem with this statement, however, is that these people did more good than bad. Lincoln owned slaves and wasn’t wholeheartedly against slavery, but in the end, he signed the Emancipation Proclamation and ended slavery.

Of course, at the end of the day, this is a matter of opinion which everyone has a right to have. In our own small community, Principal Bob McBride of Neuqua Valley High School has also taken precautions to both protect the rights of freedom of speech while also ensuring that all the students go down the right path of expressing these opinions. He says, “I think history is important, but all confederate statues should be examined to see when they were erected and under what context. A lot of those symbols honor men who led a bloodied path and that’s a fact.” In the small community

This statue of Stonewall Jackson in Charlottesville, Virginia was first erected in Otober 1921.

Currently, the statue is being removed. This decision was made little more than a month after the Charlottesville attack, where white supremacists and anti-racist protestors clashed. Photo coutesy of the Richmond Times.

of Neuqua, we have organizations and diverse classes to help make everyone feel comfortable in their own skin.

They say people aren’t born racist and though that may be true, it is something that will never stop being taught. The Confederate statues that still stand have no lesson or significance other than the fact that they honor horrible people who

Trump’s Transgender military ban A step back for humanity Anika Haridas Staff Writer

On July 26, Donald Trump, the president of the United States, stated in a recent tweet about his intentions in banning transgender service people from serving in the army, claiming that the army must be focused on victory and cannot be burdened by the “tremendous medical costs” the transgender community would entail.

This statement dehumanized the transgender community by referring to them as a burden. He said in the announcement, “Our military must be focused on decisive and overwhelming victory.” His goal may have been to increase military productivity, but

ultimately, he did nothing but break the spirits of a large community within the United States. According to Glaad.org, there are more than 1.4 million people in the US alone that identify as transgender.

And now, all those individuals have a president who turned his back on them when really, he should be accepting them and pushing for a unified nation.

The effect of the ban has gone past a quarrel between different-minded adults.

Transgender kids in schools far from Washington are feeling just as attacked and unsafe as some of the transgender service people. Across the nation, transgender students and workers suffer from bullying or harassment. The Williams Institute of Law found that 60 to 64 percent of all transgender workers and 63 to 78 percent

of transgender students have experienced some level of physical and sexual abuse.

This new ban has just made their challenge 10 times harder. Trump's ban now gives the impression that it is acceptable to mistreat people of the LGBTQ+ community. According to Glaad.org, 19 percent of individuals said someone denied them medical service because of their gender identity. While the numbers must seem low, this does not account for the undocumented cases of abuse and discrimination.

Our forefathers had one goal for this nation: unity. The ban is not just a step, but a massive leap backward for mankind. I can’t even begin to imagine the heartbreak of the 1,320-6,630 service people who will be affected by the ban.

harmed others based on their own opinions. They should be taken down because they represent a time in which we, as a country, were segregated from one another and are a portrayal of hate and violence being honored and respected.

The statues may be historical, but at the end of the day, they have always been horrible relics that celebrate death.

They, as a community, were so willing to serve our country and Donald Trump thought they were less eligible just because they are transgender. He should be worried about how to protect our country rather than slandering members of the LGBTQ+ community and stripping them away from basic human rights. A fight is a fight, regardless of how someone identifies their gender as long as our country is being protected by the people who do it best.

Care to respond? The Echo wants to hear from you!

Submit your letters to the editors to: nvhsecho@gmail.com or visit neuquamedia.org for more information

If you could have any superpower, what would it be?

“Teleportation.”

-Ben Coffey Grade 12

“Flying.”

-Maddison Grade 11

“Invisibility.”

-Teigan Grade 10

“Omnipresence”

-Mrs. Kinast Teacher

September

6 Feature

Chromebooks: Neuqua’s Newest St

After the 1:1 chromebook trial last year, the administration has authorized a new implementation of chromebook usage in classrooms this There has been much discussion about the benefits and drawbacks of the increased use of technology in our curriculum. The Echo investig the new use of chromebooks and provided varying student perspectives on this new resource.

Asked and Answered:

Chromebook FAQS

What happens if we lose our chromebook?

If you lose it in school, and have checked where you left it, it is possible that someone returned it to the LMC. The library is the lost and found for chromebooks and they will find a way to get it back to the respective student.

What happens if you break it?

If it breaks by accident, administration will look at each situation individually. On the other hand, if it was the student’s fault, the student and their family will be responsible for the necessary payments.

How about charging or other technical issues?

Since the chromebooks are still under a warranty, most physical issues, like a broken key or trackpad, will be covered. For technical issues, with items regarding how to open certain programs or things on the Google apps, the Student Tech Team is available before and after school and during most lunch hours.

How strong or capable is the ‘g-network’?

Over the summer, Neuqua did have another company come in to examine the wifi of the school. Issues regarding connectivity and delays in the system can be attributed to the number of students on at any given time, the type of work trying to be opened, and the number of users on one assignment or project at a time.

How will the misuse of a chromebook be handled?

Disciplinary action, like any type of misuse of school property, is the go to answer. If, by mistake, a student clicks on a website known for viruses, the district restrictions will kick in and lock the chromebook out of the internet as it tries to erase any virus and check for damages. In most cases, the chromebook is back to working order after roughly ten or fifteen minutes.

Is the school or district planning to purchase air printers (printers that work with chromebooks)?

As of now, the district and school have no plans to purchase air printers, in an effort to make NVHS less paper dependant. The plan is to go as paperless as possible and to have both teachers and students adjust to the idea of turning in everyday work online and try to limit the number of assignments turned in on Information provided by Mr. Bodwell.

Interview conducted by Alya Khan.

September 2017

How they got here and where they’re going: An Interview with Dr. McBride What was the initial plan, even before the test run last year, for the chromebook implementation into our curriculum?

“Planning for chromebooks at the high school level has been years in the works. The planning has involved, not only the buying chromebooks, but upgrading all of our infrastructure in our big high school buildings to make sure the wifi has as much capacity as possible and working with our staff to make sure that our staff are ready to use those as an instructional tool. You have to find a good middle ground of use for it.”

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How did the test run go last year for the students who were chosen? What were some of the glitches? How were they dealt with?

“The pilot had a lot of predictable results. Everything from charging, to not being able to get on the wifi- I would probably say that over the course of last year, we worked all of that out so that those eleven pilot classes were very smooth. But, it took a year to figure out what were some of the bumps and problems and troubleshooting them and be done. We had a company called Advent in here over the summer increasing the bandwidth of our wifi for more users. We have the tech desk, manned by our student tech team. There’s a lot of small things that happen with a chromebook that can be very quickly fixed with just a little piece of advice.”

In what other aspects of our school could we see changes based on the chromebooks?

“The library has a very different look to it, a lot of new furniture, a lot of new seating, and seating that implies work with a chromebook, with other people. The new work space right outside of the commons, which is a more informal seated place that’s really designed to be much like what you might see at a Starbucks where you have some private work space in a public area. We have an investment as a school in removing desks and adding tables. Cause we think that tables are just better for collaborative structures, individual structures rather than desks on carpet.”

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What will be the new policies for students whose grades are being affected by their inability to remember their chromebook? Likewise, what will be the policy for students who can not print at home and do not have the choice at school either?

“We have to navigate individual teachers who have different standards. Usually, that is tied to what you do in that class. Within weeks, the whole culture of the school will norm to what teachers expect. That also works backwards too, because teachers begin to say ‘Is it really worth it? Is my expectation realistic?’ and teachers begin to norm to what works. Students and teachers will figure it out, just like everything. That is a problem. … That is an issue. We still do expect some things in paper. There’s no doubt with that. You would hope that there are workarounds, and that one of the workarounds would be to be able to say to teachers ‘I do have it right here on my chromebook, can you give me a day to print it out? Can I submit it through google classroom?’”

“Things get easier with time, and there will be a time where having a chromebook will be no different that having a book. But, it’s bumpy along the way and what everybody needs to do is say ‘Let’s fix it, let’s figure out a way to work with this.’ There is no device that is going to replace good teaching and learning. It helps, it enhances, makes us learn in maybe a deeper way, or engages us in a deeper way, but there’s no replacement for someone who’s just a really good teacher and students who are just really eager to learn.”

Interview conducted by Alya Khan.

Students’ Opinions on their Chromebooks Here are a few students’ opinions on the addition of the new technology at Neuqua.

Interviews compiled by Arti Rathore.

“In some ways it’s helpful and in some ways it’s just annoying.”

-Imaan Ahmed, sophomore

Information collected by Orion El

Sources: https://www.nationsrep http://www.chicagotribune.com http://www.chicagotribune.com https://nces.ed.gov/pubs2010/

“Pretty useful, they work f class and if the compute taken I can pull it out bu are annoying and I don’t l touch pad.” -Ben Coffey,

Feature 7

tudent Resource

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Technology in School?

PRO

Emeli Brewer Student Life Editor

Classrooms equipped with up-to-date sources and materials that enhance learning capabilities are classrooms that Neuqua staff have generously established for their students. Of course during syllabus week- and every other week- phones and personal devices are threatened to be confiscated, but the programs Neuqua provides, such as Google Classroom, elevate the idea of a classroom to a whole new level.

98% ls have one of more

This year’s addition of Chromebooks allows teachers to plan lessons that require internet access without booking a computer lab or cart. Students can access their accounts and files more quickly. It helps students grow into more responsible characters. Most chatter regarding the Chromebooks is negative: non-school related sites are inaccessible, they are easily scratched or broken, it’s a hassle to troubleshoot. Yes, these little things may be bothersome, but our district is blessed to have such technology.

onal computers ed in classrooms

58% of schools have laptop carts

While many students use their personal laptops at home, Chromebooks are lifesavers for those that had to trek to the library for computer access. “It has made doing homework a lot easier. I don’t have a computer at home so I would use my phone. A lot of the time I wasn’t able to, so I would have to go to the library and finish it there instead,” explains Nathalia Hohep, Senior. Although Chromebooks limit access to certain sites due to district policies, the laptops are able to get the job done. For many, the technology invasion is overwhelming. Google may be slowly consuming our everyday lives, but there is no way we can stop it. The increasing integration of technology we are experiencing now is beneficial to our educational careers.

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71% merican population

Orion Elrod Staff Writer

The recent distribution of Chromebooks on Neuqua’s campus has created heated debate on whether or not the implementation of technology in schools is beneficial. Personally, I am not against the idea as a whole because I know that, if utilized properly, technology can be a powerful educational tool. I do however believe that the current methods of technological integration are not the most equitable.

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84% of schools have high speed internet available in their buildings

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portcard.gov/tel_2014/ m/suburbs/naperville-sun/news/ct-nvs-203-digital-learning-st-0520-20150519-story.html m/suburbs/naperville-sun/news/ct-nvs-naperville-district-203-parcc-results-st-2011-20151210-story.html /2010034.pdf http://www.statisticbrain.com/technology-computers-in-classroom-statistics/

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The main issue that I have with the implementation of technology is the digital divide that is created by progress in one district over another. In 2015, District 203 converted to 1:1. That year, 68 percent of D203 students met or exceeded the standards in the English category of the PARCC test. In contrast to those results, only 38 percent of students statewide met those standards. While technological advancement was proven to be good for the students of District 203, it created a disadvantage for many other students in the state because the PARCC test was administered online and thus, students of D203 had more experience with the devices.

Now that District 204 is 1:1, this divide is not a personal issue for Neuqua students, but it does present an issue of a larger scale. Now that both Districts 203 and 204 have progressed, students that attend less affluent districts are falling even farther behind in technological exposure and capability. The introduction of Chromebooks to more and more schools changes the curve and leaves behind those who do not have access to these resources.

In the future, my hope is that there is a more ubiquitous solution so that all students in all districts are on a level playing field when it comes to technology. This should be a priority for local and state governments.

“I do not like the Chromebooks.”Maddison W., junior “I think it’s a convenient way to access the internet without going to the library or computer lab.”

-Dean Dudzik, junior

September 2017

8 Student Life

Equation invasion: Chem Combiner app created by NV Students

Emma Wightkin Staff Writer

An At Munchies worker rolling sheets of ice cream. Photo by Sofia Mayhew.

ROLLED ICE CREAM CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 In order to make the ice cream roll, you have to get it to an extremely cold temperature - much colder than your typical vanilla scoop.

The icy temperature of the ice cream transcended it from weird a twitter fad to being comparable to the quality dairy queen. If you’re like me, you enjoy more savory things them sweet, and ice cream

isn’t always for you, then you’re in luck.

The almost frozen temperature of the ice cream, according to author and scientist Lorraine Heller, restricts your taste buds and doesn’t allow you to taste the full sweetness of the ice cream. To the typical person, the rolled ice cream wouldn’t be tasteful because of its lack of sugariness, but to me, the toned down, mellow kind of sweetness paired with the smooth texture of frozen ice cream made for an ice cream experience like no other.If you’re the typical ice cream lover, maybe this place isn’t for you. But if your sweet tooth is lacking a little, I really recommend At Munchies.

If you’ve ever struggled with chemistry before, you are not the only one. Many people find the subject difficult especially when it comes to solving chemical equations. However, two current Neuqua seniors, Matthew William and Ishaan Patel, have found a way around this problem with their app Chem Combiner.

Matthew William and Ishaan Patel programmed their app to solve a chemical reaction equation when it is imputed into the app. Ishaan Patel says a big reason why he wanted to create this app is because he wanted a quick way to check his equations. Patel says, “It would take a long time, like probably half an hour, to find the right equation.” Both William and Patel enjoy chemistry and this passion fueled the process of creating the app. Williams said that another main inspiration for their app was that his friends, who did not like chemistry as a class, said chemical reactions were, “really tedious for them, and it took too long, it was too repetitive, and they couldn’t check their answers so they didn’t know if they were doing it right.” Because of all this, the two embarked on finding a solution.

When developing the app, the duo was not planning on going as far as getting it on an app store. Matthew William and

Ishaan Patel began experimenting on the computer,“Once we saw how useful this was to us we thought that many others can use this as well,” adds Ishaan Patel.

This is what sparked the three month long process to get Chem Combiner on the app store. They were able to spread awareness about their app by word of mouth. Due to the program the app was created on, it is currently not available for iOS. The two did get lots of positive feedback about the app from all other phone users. The two are currently busy with school work and applying for colleges and do not plan on creating any more apps anytime soon. Overall, the two have had lots of successful in their endeavor to create an app to benefit students everywhere. Best of luck to these two in the future.

Matthew Williams and Ishaan Patel, seniors, in the library. The two are discussing their app Chem Combiner. Photo by Emma Wightkin.

The people saving Twitter: Reviving memes one tweet at a time Grace Huff Staff Writer

From The Bee Movie to Harambe, 2016 was the year of memes, but once 2017 rolled around, “the flood” of good memes plummeted, dragging the quality of Twitter down with it. We were left with fidget spinners and bad stock images to amuse us for a short while until the next subpar meme rolled around.

One Neuqua student in particular is making a name for herself on Twitter and is leaving us entertained each time.

Maria Mayhew, a senior at Neuqua, has been known to have some pretty memorable and popular tweets since she joined twitter in middle school.

When asked how she comes up with her famous tweets she said “They just come to me. Sometimes I just tweet random

thoughts and they actually turn out into good tweets.” One tweet in particular of her decked out in Adidas gear, gained attention from the actual brand’s verified Twitter, acknowledging her tweet by saying “We’re honored.” Although Maria is already popular on Twitter, she remains optimistic about her future on the media site, even when asked if she was worried about this being her peak on Twitter, she responded “Sometimes it haunts me at night, but I am hopeful that I will have more famous [tweets] in store.”

Though it seems that there are no more good Twitter accounts, there are still some favorable ones that you should check out.

If you are just looking for some funny tweets, Christine Sydelko has gained her fame on Twitter with her parody of “Closer” by The Chainsmokers where instead of real lyrics, every word is replaced

with the words “bing-bong”, starting the commonly used phrase “shooketh”, and even getting a tattoo of the image of a Croc on her arm. Another account to check out is Drew Phillips, who started

eat. But have no fear because I am here to give you the scoop on the best places to dine before the dance for any type of budget or group.

If you are looking for a nicer Italian restaurant with a classy ambiance and comfortable seating as well as an assorted menu of Italian dishes, Biaggi’s Ristorante Italiano is a good option for you. You can enjoy their chicken parmesan, which Tricia, a Biaggi’s employee, says is one of their most popular meals. Another great option is their unique black fettuccine with lobster, wild mushrooms, and lobster cream sauce with chili flakes. However, Tricia says they already have some reservations booked for homecoming and they fill up fast so make sure to book a spot for your group soon! Biaggi’s is conveniently located near AMC Showplace 16 which is a short drive away from Neuqua.

If Biaggi’s sounds too sophisticated

for your taste, Olive Garden is a perfect alternative. It offers many Italian dishes and much more including their amazing breadsticks or crispy parmesan shrimp.

It is located at 215 S. Weber Road in Bolingbrook and 620 South Route 59 in Naperville. This restaurant is a great substitute if you want something that is much more inexpensive and lowkey.

If you’re searching for a restaurant that is even more relaxed and inexpensive, consider going to IHOP because as Ron Swanson puts it, “There has never been a sadness that can’t be cured with breakfast food”. It has a fun, laid back ambiance and offers a variety of delicious breakfast items along with a lunch menu. Enjoy their extremely large list of pancakes which includes red velvet and cupcake flavors. Just make sure not to get syrup on your dress! The closest location is at 583 S Route 59 in Aurora.

If you’re not interested in either

“We were left with fidget spinners and bad stock images to amuse us.”

off on Vine, but once Vine infamously “died” he still continued his social media career on Twitter with his weird, yet funny sense of humor. Although it may seem as if the world of Twitter and it’s memes are dwindling there is still hope in the few good accounts to make Twitter a fun and enjoyable site to go on.

Maria Mayhew and sister posed in Adidas gear outside their home from the tweet that went viral.

Photo courtesy of Maria Mayhew.

Restaurant suggestions for your homecoming dining dilemma

The beautiful outdoor balcony seating overlooking Naperville’s Riverwalk at Blue Sushi Sake grill, great for a nice dinner with friends. Photo by Emma Wightkin .

Emma Wightkin Staff Writer

The start of school brings homecoming season and with it comes the stress of planning dates, dresses, and where to

breakfast or Italian food, sushi from Blue Sushi Sake Grill might be a good option for you. This fairly new place opened in the summer and is located in downtown Naperville at 123 Water St. This restaurant has a modern, chic ambiance with a grand selection of fresh sushi. They also offer outdoor seating that overlooks the river

“A modern, chic ambiance with a grand selection of fresh sushi.”

walk, perfect for photos.

Hopefully some of these suggestions can help you figure out where you want to dine before homecoming. Remember, in the end it doesn’t matter where you go before homecoming or what you wear, all that matters is that you have a great night.

September 2017

Profiles 9

New Year, New Teachers at the Valley

Mr. Dicken went to Illinois Central, Bradley, then Fort Hays State University for college. He then went to do teach at Dunlap and Huntley High School 3 years each before coming to Neuqua. Photo courtesy of Mr. Dicken.

Mr. Dicken: Math Teacher

Describe your high school self in one sentence?

“I would describe myself as introverted, “outdoorsie”, and a workaholic. I had quite a few jobs during high school. I was a groundskeeper and for quite a while I worked in a movie theater and that was super fun.”

What are you most excited about the new school year?

“Being in a new school and the people to come here and people work really make it enjoyable to be her.

I’m just excited to get rooted down here and sticking around here for awhile.”

What drives you to be a teacher?

“In college my intention was to be in engineer but I wanted to interact and help more people so teaching seemed sensible. And also in college I had my math credits so teaching really made sense.”

Has your teaching now been influenced by any teachers when you were in high school?

“My senior year I had this one teacher, Mr. Weston, he was a Literature teacher and I don’t like reading too much but in his class we were reading William Shakespeare and he was a really goofy guy and he called Shakespeare Billy Shakes, and he really made books like Macbeth really fun and just made the class fun in general.”

An Ohio native, Kralovic is a long time veteran of the Chinese language and high schoolers, teaching at Whitney Young in Chicago. If he’s not enjoying some comedy action films, he’s spending time with his son at their hockey and baseball practices. Picture courtesy of Mr. Kralovic.

Mr. Kralovic: Language Teacher Is this your first year here at Neuqua?

“Yes, first year at Neuqua. I only teach one section of Chinese I. I also teach Chinese 2-4 at Naperville Central. (first year there as well)” What did you do before teaching (at Neuqua)?

“I taught in Columbus, Ohio for 7 years. We relocated to Illinois in 2014. After getting my Illinois teaching license I taught Chinese for a little over two school years at Whitney M Young Magnet High School in Chicago Public Schools. We live in Naperville and my two sons are students in 204 so I was very excited to start teaching in the two districts that serve Naperville this year.​” Even though it’s just the beginning of the year, how’s the experience so far?

“The Neuqua students are great! They are engaged and enjoy learning.”

What’s a notable moment so far?

“Students’ passion for the culture and Chinese pop music.”

How long have you been speaking Chinese for?

“Started learning in 2000, around 17 years.”

What are you doing when you’re not being a teacher?

“Spending time with family taking my sons mainly to play hockey and baseball.”

What would you say to a student who is thinking about taking Chinese?

“If you have an interest in a language and would like to learn it, take that language. Chinese is not difficult if you are willing to learn. Being interested in what you learn is important.”

Ms. McQuaid: Social Studies Teacher

Ms. Many: Math Teacher

What is something motivational you want high school students to know about high school?

“Take advantage of the opportunities that this school gives you like trying different things like clubs and activities, it really helps you direct you to your goals for your future and it will help you build character and meet new teachers and students.

What are some of your memorable moments so far with some students or teachers?

“With the teachers, before school started we had a break from the institution day and got to watch the solar eclipse and I had to borrow glasses from someone so it didn’t hurt my eyes, so that was fun. With my students, I had fun analyzing psychological celebrity problems. They really taught me a little bit of pop culture.”

What’s one thing you want your students to know that you haven’t/have mentioned on the first week of school?

“I want my students to know that if they feel discouraged because of a grade from a test or from a homework assignment, as a new teacher, I know what’s it’s like to struggle. Also I want them to know that they still have time, and that’s it’s okay for them to ask for help from a teacher because I know it feels like you don’t want to ask too much questions or might feel awkward to ask a teacher, but really just ask us for help it will get easier.”

When you were a kid, what was one strange thing that do now as an adult?

“I still love disney movies, especially Pixar movies.

My favorite disney movie is Lion King, I love the Lion King the music is so good. But I can’t choose a favorite Pixar movie, all of them are so good.”

What was your most embarrassing high school moment?

“My high school friends had a tradition of going over to each other’s houses on the morning of their 16th birthday and dressing them up in embarrassing outfits.

That was probably the worst.

You had to wear whatever they picked for you.”

Since your mom was a teacher, has she ever gaven you teaching advice Ms. Many graduated in the 204 or have you built your own teaching district but now she teaches here skills by yourself? at Neuqua and coaches the girls basketball team. This is her 6th “I’m sure it’s some of year of teaching and she taught bother. But I definitely built at Iowa City West High School my our teaching style and in Iowa City. Photo courtesy of Ms. Many. learned many skills of my own. But my family is filled with teachers, my uncle, mom, aunts, cousins, sister. We overall give advice and discussion when we all get together.”

How is teaching now different from the teaching when you were a kid/teen?

“The biggest difference is the increase in technology in the classroom. We weren’t even allowed to have our phones out or it was an automatic detention! So obviously, that’s a big change. I also think there is much more active teaching that happens now, actually involving your students in their learning.”

What was your motivation throughout high school?

“I think my parents had just set the expectation that school was very important so I was always motivated throughout school. I also knew I wanted to go to a good college to become a teacher so that was a motivating factor as well. My older brother was also always very supportive and encouraged me to do well in classes or ask if I ever needed help.”

Anne Kasprzak, she’s worked with Neuqua before but this is her first full time in the Choir classes. A lover of The Wizard of Oz, when she’s not being a teacher, music and kids find their way into every aspect of her life. Picture courtesy of the Mrs. Kasprzak.

Ms. McQuaid (far left) in Scotland with her family this summer but before she taught here at Neuqua she taught English to students in Japan. Ms. McQuaid also taught at Metea as a student teacher.

Photo courtesy of Ms. McQuaid.

Mrs.Ameling: Cross Country Coach How is coaching this XC team different from any other teams you coached?

“This team is massive than I am used to coaching. There’s a lot of different bodies that has to be focused on. Also figuring out the logistics of everything and the delegation factors of the Mrs. Ameling graduated team.” from Neuqua and now Do you have past experience with cross coaches Girls’ XC here at Neuqua. Mrs. Ameling country or running before? also went to middle “I actually graduated from school here in the 204 Neuqua so I ran for Neuqua, district, Gregory. then I ran for Gregory, that’s Photo courtesy of Mrs. where it all started for me, then Ameling.

I ran in college where I ran post collegiately for a year.”

What motivates you as a coach?

“What motivates me as a coach is having a role for being their for their athletes and seeing them be determined and achieve their goals. When they start having doubts about their abilities it motivates me even more to help them. And also just providing a fun environment where they can believe in themselves.”

One movie/song that really motivates you?

“A movie would be Miracle, I have chills every time [Coach Brooks] gives the speech, but I don’t really have a motivating song, but I really enjoy listening to Kanye and Kid Cudi when working out.”

Mrs. Kasprzak: Choir Teacher How long have you been teaching at Neuqua?

“I’ve taught part-time at Neuqua for three years.

I taught the Freshmen Girl’s Choir but then I had a baby, so I decided to stayed home with my children during the day but continued to do Chamber Singers, a co-curricular choir that meets outside of the school day. This is actually my 14th year of doing the Chamber Singers.’

‘So I taught at Neuqua 11 years ago, doing the Freshmen Girls, and then I stayed home for a little bit... but now I’m back full time and am happy to be here.”

What is your advice for someone who wants to pursue music/ singing as a career?

“It’s hard work, but if it’s something you really love go for it., just know that it definitely is a path that takes a lot of dedication and perseverance. There will be lots of times where you audition for things and things work out. But there will be times where you audition for things and they don’t work out. ...You can use all those things to help you grow as a person and reflect on your experiences and where you are to get ahead in life.”

What would you say to a student who is thinking about taking Choir?

“I would say choir is a wonderful place to express yourself in a unique way and a way to meet a lot of people that have a common interest. It’s a way to find a home in a big school. If you’re thinking about it, give it a try [be]cause if you never give it a try you might miss out on the best friends you’ve ever made. You’ll learn things about yourself and grow in confidence and selfesteem in ways that are different from other classes.’

‘In choir we work as a team, if you don’t want to sing a solo, you don’t have to. The support that you gain from singing in an ensemble is remarkable and you can find your place. Some people can be a bit more strong while others may be more shy but the experience of working together really does help that bond.”

Interviews compiled by Rianna Panergalin and Ashley Liu.

September 2017

10 Entertainment

Disney breathes new life into old classics like Aladdin Sana Khadilkar Entertainment and Opinions Editor

Walking into the Cadillac Palace Theater’s auditorium, there are hordes of people anxiously anticipating the Disney musical remake of Aladdin. As the lights dim, a hush falls over the audience and people take their seats. Flourishing his hand wildly, the conductor starts off the musical with a melody of Aladdin songs.

The curtains open, the genie appears, and the show begins.

A Disney adaption at its finest, the “Aladdin” musical’s exceptional casting and eye catching, glittering sets make for a wondrous show. Although the musical lacks everyone’s favorite feisty monkey Abu, it makes up for it by introducing three hilarious friends named Kassim, Babkak, and Omar to accompany Aladdin while he steals from others and runs from the palace guards.

The musical also includes songs that didn’t make the cut for the 1992 movie like “Babkak, Omar, Aladdin, Kassim,”

“Proud of Your Boy,” and “High Adventure.” “Proud of Your Boy” references Aladdin’s parents, exploring an earnest side of the character that was not developed in the original movie.

When watching remakes like these, the familiarities of the stories feed nostalgia, while entertaining script and character changes keep people engaged. While you may groan when you hear the news of a new remake, these classics are the foundation of Disney.

Remakes capture the Disney magic while updating classic stories for modern times.

In the “Beauty and the Beast” remake, Emma Watson decided to alter Belle’s character, making her the inventor rather than her father. In the musical “Aladdin,” the script includes much more humor than the original movie, evident when the Genie accidently pulls out a Cubs hat instead of the magic lamp that Agrabah is so famous for.

Although these Disney adaptations are amazing to see, why does Disney continue to make remakes as opposed

to creating new stories for a younger crowd? According to financial numbers for “Beauty and the Beast” in 2017, the movie’s worldwide box office profits crossed $1 billion, making remakes extremely profitable for Disney.

Additionally, revisiting classics can appeal to both adults and children due to the universality of fairy tales. But as much as those remakes are loved, Disney should produce more unique movies to build upon the magic that is its signature.

Some upcoming Disney remakes are introducing new stories like Rose Red, sister of Snow White, and others are redefining immensely popular movies such as “The Little Mermaid” or “Aladdin.” The entire list includes “The Lion King,” “Mulan,” and even Cruella De Vil’s solo story. Although Disney gets rave reviews on adaptations like “Aladdin,” it must continue creating- then maybe a new Disney movie today will be considered a classic by future generations.

It may even get its own musical remake, entailing more cheering crowds, flashy dancing, and magnificent singing.

The musical Aladdin played at the Cadillac Palace Theater while in Chicago. Its North American tour continues with Minneapolis, MN as the next location. Photo by Sana Khadilkar.

Harry Potter and the sequel no- “You Get Me” An unoriginal Netflix Original one asked for: A review Adrian Lindell Staff Writer

Nine years after the last “Harry Potter” book was released, fans all around the world were delighted when the play “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” was published. Although it was based on an original story by J.K. Rowling, the play was written by John Tiffany and Jack Thorne.

The story begins where the “Harry Potter” series ends, following Albus Potter through his first year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

During his first year, Albus realizes that even though they are related, he will never live up to Harry Potter’s legacy or be able to match his skills.

Albus overhears a discussion about Cedric Diggory, a student who was killed many years ago. Cedric’s father wants Harry to bring Cedric back to life using a time-travelling device called a TimeTurner. Cedric has no importance in Albus’s life at all, but he still decides to go back in time to save Cedric. As Albus and his new friend Scorpius Malfoy travel through time and attempt to keep Cedric alive, their unwarranted actions affect the

present day world, showing them that Cedric’s death was necessary, unlike this lengthy section of the plot.

After Albus and Scorpius realize that their adventure was useless, another character steals their Time-Turner, so they are stuck in the past. Albus’ brilliant idea is to write a letter to the future Harry Potter. In order to do this, he decides to burn the message into the blanket that is incredibly important to his dad, ruining Harry’s only possession from his parents.

Thankfully, it just so happens that Harry Potter and his friends conveniently are able to read the message and have another Time-Turner to save the day!

The plot of “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” was a constant stream of disappointments including inconsistencies with the original series and unresolved conflicts. There is no conclusion to Harry and Albus’ feud, Rose Granger-Weasley isn’t even mentioned in the last half of the book and dedicated “Harry Potter” fans still have no idea how the characters managed to make Polyjuice Potions without hair, the most important ingredient. Hopefully, Albus Potter, John Tiffany, and Jack Thorne have learned that messing with the “Harry Potter” world leads to devastating effects.

Netflix has come out with many of its own original shows and movies like “You Get Me” this past year to help the company make more money from subscriptions. This Netflix Original movie came out this past summer in June.

“You Get Me” is a teen thriller movie written by Ben Epstein and directed by Brent Bonacorso, both of whom are not well known in the entertainment industry.

For this movie, they casted Bella Thorne, Taylor John Smith, Halston Sage, and Nash Grier as the main characters. All of these actors, except for Bella Thorne, haven’t been in any very successful shows or movies. Most Netflix Originals star new actors who will hopefully get more recognition, like the cast of “Stranger Thing” did last year.

This movie was about Tyler, a popular California teen, happily in love with his girlfriend Ali. All was going well for them until Ali’s past catches up with her at a party, which leads to Tyler and Ali’s fight and sudden breakup. Tyler, upset and distraught, rebounds with a new mysterious girl, Holly. They spent

a romantic weekend together trying to help Tyler get over the love of his life.

After a weekend in paradise, away from all of his problems, Tyler meets up with Ali and they make up, even though Tyler was keeping his past fling with Holly a secret. Things get out of hand as Holly misinterprets Tyler’s intentions with her.

Holly loses it and tries to get between the happy couple. The rest of the movie is about Holly and her slow spiral to insanity while trying to get with Tyler.

I thought this movie was very predictable.

I was constantly bored and distracted during this movie. I saw every ‘plot twist’ coming and was never left shocked. It was not a very original movie and the basic plot has been written multiple times before. The movie “Swimfan,” released in 2002, has more or less the exact same plot as “You Get Me.” Overall this movie was poorly written and casted. Bella Thorne, the main star, was a big let down, with her acting skills still at the Disney Channel level. The characters weren’t well developed which did not make this a thrilling movie. I would give this movie a 2 out of 5 stars and would only recommend to people who like low budget remakes.

this album is too pop-based to truly showcase The Script’s trademark rock sound and talent, but “Freedom Child” has a few catchy songs that reach out to a broader group of people.

Up-and-coming rapper Lil Uzi Vert dropped his newest album on August 25.

“Luv Is Rage 2” features his hit single “XO TOUR Llif3,” which topped charts upon its release earlier in the year. The rawness of the song shows a darker side to Uzi. The song is upbeat, but the lyrics are a stark contrast. The lyrics “Push me to the edge/ All my friends are dead” show its deeper meaning. Other songs on the album, like “X,” are a little more fastpaced and simple. Neuqua Valley senior Jaime Sienko says, “I like his new album a lot… ‘Luv Is Rage 2’ didn’t disappoint.”

The variety and versatility that Lil Uzi Vert portrays on “Luv Is Rage 2” shows the Philadelphia rapper’s talent and

passion for music.

Almost one year ago, all-girl band Fifth Harmony lost valuable member Camila Cabello to a solo career. This August, the band released their first album without her, titled “Fifth Harmony.” It kicks off with the single “Down” featuring Gucci Mane. The song did well, making it up to #42 on U.S. charts; however, it sounds strikingly similar to their hit “Work From Home.” “Fifth Harmony” isn’t an album that stands out to me, and I expected more from a group trying to prove their worth. Fifth Harmony is still getting comfortable with being down to four members, so hopefully they will start to show their talented vocals more in the future instead of hiding behind tired melodies and overused lyrics. Overall, Fifth Harmony and The Script did not deliver on their albums, but Lil Uzi Vert hit it out of the park.

Cristina Rodrigues Staff Writer

Bops and flops: New album releases Ava Pellegrino Staff Writer

Lil Uzi Vert’s “Luv Is Rage 2” quickly rose to the number 1 spot on the Billboard 200 chart.

The rapper’s newest album showcases fun, exciting beats with deep, hard-hitting lyrics.

Photo courtesy of iTunes.

September 2017

Several artists recently dropped new albums that they hope will be the next big hit. Artists like Lil Uzi Vert, The Script, and Fifth Harmony came out with albums that made it on the top charts, but they might not all deserve a spot at the top.

Popular Irish band The Script released “Freedom Child” on September 1. The new record strays from their original rock sound; instead, they turn to mainstream pop. Frontman Danny O’Donoghue says this change in sound was made in an effort to connect with a younger audience.

The single “Rain” previewed their sound change when it debuted in July. Although the lyrics preach of love and heartbreak, the background music is upbeat. I think

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September 2017

12 Focus

Get Involved ASL Club ASL Club is a way for people who enjoy learning American Sign Language and Deaf Culture to get together and learn more about the language and culture. Join to practice what you learned in class or learn new signs.

Some events will be with Metea and Waubonsie’s ASL Clubs! Visit www.mslaskowski.weebly.com for the meeting schedule.

Student Council

to join Student Everyone is welcome become can Students Council! e. Come to class members at any tim various topics meetings to discuss nces, fundraisers such as upcoming da or charity events. tcouncil.weebly.

Visit www.nvhsstuden ation. com for more inform

Star Raiders

Are you lookin g for a great way to get involved in the community?

Join Star Raiders Cl ub to particip ate in community serv ice, promote a po sitive lifestyle, help w ith homecoming week and raid the elem entary schools in the spring. Students from all grade le ve are welcome. ls Visit www.nvh sstarraiders.wee bly.com for more inform ation.

German Club Are you interested in German culture? Come to German Club to celebrate holidays and traditions of German-speaking countries, cook traditional food, play soccer and eat lots of gummy bears. You do not need to be taking German or speak any German to attend. It is flexible—come to one meeting or all of them!

For more information, contact Frau Calvert at Karen_Calvert@ipsd.org or text @nvgerclub to 81010 to get meeting information!

e

Literary Magazin

ning arly, award-win ye a is ” ce en ss “The E tirely by ion produced en at ic bl pu y ar er are lit ts. All students en ud st y le al V Neuqua staff! aged to join the ur co en d an e m welco showcase to publish and Our mission is art. If t writing and en ud st of st the be ated for ed in being celebr st re te in e ar u yo prose, poetry or of ks or w al in ig your or sions to onderful submis w ur yo nd se art, .org. theessence@ipsd

Graphics and information compiled by Adrian Lindell

September 2017

Black Student Alliance for Black Student Alliance (BSA) is a club munity students who are looking for a smaller com ect within the larger Neuqua community to conn of goal socially, emotionally and culturally. The to BSA is to allow students an opportunity ces, explore social issues related to their experien d buil s, ught freely express their ideas and tho n from relationships, find their voices and lear omes one another. It is an open club that welc n and and accepts all students willing to lear the grow from others. Join us in C200 on from second and fourth Tuesdays of each month 2:45-3:30!

Coding Club—beginner

ll skill levels Students of a gether n come to ca — rt e p x e to programming s u o ri a v rn to lea s and nt tech new e rr u C s. ge a ll langu cussed as we is d e b l il w the products speakers in st e gu g in st as ho at field. can be found n io t a rm fo More in m. des.weebly.co co a u q u e .n w ww

Interact

Interact Club is dedicated to help ing communities loca lly, nationally an d internationally. We strive to serve th ose in need through co mmunity service th at promotes goodwill and service to all.

W e do this through partnering studen ts with local events, fundraisers, and ot he r initiatives which impact the world on several scales. Visit www.nvhsinteract. org for more info rmation.