October 2021

Top 10 Halloween movies p.13

BACK TO “NORMAL” p.7

A more conscious Halloween p.6

Communiteen Read p.4

Athlete profile: Lyse Bates p.11

Homecoming p.10

THE NORTHERN LIGHT 1000 Idaho Avenue, Portage, MI 49024

Volume 52 Issue 1

FROM THE

EDITOR Dear Readers, It has been such a journey to get this edition in your hands. During the 2020-21 school year, the Northern Light staff worked hard on digital editions, social media posts, and our website to continue to bring you the news. This edition will be our first in-print edition in over a year, and we hope it means as much to you as it does to us.

For this edition, we chose the theme “Back to Normal.” For many students, this year represents the long-awaited return to a normal mode of instruction. However, there are many things that are still different. Between students who have chosen to continue with virtual classes and the growing number of students in quarantine, many people are wondering if we will ever be back to normal. We wanted to explore student’s and teacher’s thoughts on this topic, as well as share our own opinions in the staff editorial “Normal but not quite.”

Finally, thank you all so much for reading! The NL staff could not have gotten through last year without the support our readers, and we have been so excited to share this edition with you.

Sincerely, Astrid Code Editor in Chief

NL POLICIES

The Northern Light in print and online is the student-produced newspaper for Portage Northern HS. It is an open, designated public forum for student expression, and the newspaper provides staff members with independent reporting opportunities and individual evaluation. Writing is based on a wide variety of research for a broad and diverse audience and topics of coverage are decided by the staff and editorial board with consideration to what is timely, relevant, compelling, educational, and important to the student body.

In accordance with best practice for student media, the Northern Light is not prior reviewed by administration. Building and district administration do, however, reserve the right to oversee the paper if necessary to ensure that the mission and vision of Portage Public Schools and the safety of students and staff are maintained.

As a MIPA, JEA, and NSPA publication, the Northern Light adheres to the highest standards of journalistic integrity. Photos, art, and other visual elements are created by Northern Light staff, formally designated for free use, or part of the public domain. In rare circumstances, we may use other media with the owner’s written permission.

It is our desire that our readers join the discussion on our published work. We welcome letters to the editor and guest contributions, and the Northern Light will publish online all pieces received provided that they include the author’s full name and are appropriate for publication in a school setting. Letters to the editor are limited to 150 words in length and guest contributions are limited to 350words in length. Pieces can be delivered to Amanda Thorpe’s room, 3.129, emailed to pnhsnorthernlight@gmail. com, or mailed ATTN: Portage Northern Light to Portage Northern High School, 1000 Idaho Avenue, Portage, MI 49024.

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About

Design by Astrid Code

Portage Northern Light

IN THIS EDITION CONTENTS 4

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STAFF Roua Algahtani Mitchell Barnard Annabelle Bartz Jaclyn Brubaker Madison Campbell Mariana Delgadillo Zade Elrod Temperance Guyeska Abigail Hosler

Spencer Kadlec Alexia Keene Benjamin Knight Kayla Malaski Ella Morofsky Jericha Root

Communiteen Read selection The 57 Bus by Dashka Slater is the 2022 Communiteen Read. Have a look into this year’s decision making process and why you should read this book!

Normal but not quite Throughout the past year, we’ve had to adapt to so many changes, and in the process, the pandemic has changed us. The NL staff shares our answer to the question, “Are we back to normal?”

A more normal homecoming This photo story shows the many ways homecoming made school feel normal again, with a dance, game, parade, hallway decorating, and pep assembly.

Athlete profile: Lyse Bates Senior Lyse Bates has been playing volleyball since she was in 5th grade and plans to go to Oakland University for D1 volleyball. Her coach and teammates share what makes her unique.

Top 10 Halloween movies Get your popcorn and blankets ready for a spooky movie night as Assistant Editor Brie Quick shares her top 10 must-see Halloween movies.

book[ish] Associate Editor Avery Bogemann reviews Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe

by Benjamin Alire Sáenz in the first installment of her new entertainment collumn.

N L STAFF EDITOR IN CHIEF Astrid Code ASSISTANT EDITOR Brie Quick ASSOCIATE EDITORS Miles Slocum Avery Bogemann Jackson Barnard

October 2021

Design by Astrid Code

Contents 02

PN unveils new natatorium

By Avery Bogemann

On September 7th, 2021, excitement filled the natatorium as the clock ticked closer to the grandopening. A sleek, modern design was what greeted swimmers and visitors as they walked through the brand new doors. A huge pool could be seen at the entrance, already being used by swimmers.

Swimmers and their parents are feeling relieved that this project is completed after 2 years of construction on Northern’s campus. “I’m so glad it’s finally done and that we

can finally swim in our own facility,” said Calli Hincher, a parent of junior swimmer Megan Hincher.

Athletes on the traditional swim teams aren’t the only ones that will benefit from the new facility. “I’m excited, mainly because I won’t have to be carted to Central everyday for water polo during spring,” said junior Morgan Nappier, a member of the water polo team.

Staff are also very excited about the new building added to campus. “I

think it’s very exciting for our entire community to have this beautiful centerpiece of our campus,” said PN communications director Brenda Marsh, who adds that some perks to the new natatorium will be, “bigger swim meets, conference meets, and all sorts of things.”

After the building opened for tours, there was a ribbon cutting ceremony followed by speeches and the first home swim meet, where PN defeated Battle Creek 155-53.

All photos by Miles Slocum 03

News

Design by Miles Slocum

Portage Northern Light

The 57 Bus by Dashka Slater is the 2021 Communiteen Read novel

By Astrid Code

The 57 Bus by Dashka Salter was selected for this year’s Communiteen Read. In 2018, it won the Stonewall Book Award and was a finaist for the YALSA award for young adult nonfiction. Photo by Astrid Code.

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very year, Portage Public Schools, Portage District Library, and Bookbug/this is a bookstore collaborate on a Communiteen Read, a book that students and community members can read and discuss together, culminating in a visit from the author.

This year, the book chosen is The 57 Bus by Dashka Slater.

The 57 Bus is a true crime, nonfiction book that tells the story of Richard, a Black teen and Sasha, a gender nonconforming white teen. Both were high school students in Oakland, California, but had very different lives.

One afternoon, Richard lights Sasha’s skirt on fire, a crime that changes October 2021

both of their lives forever.

In order to decide on the book for this year, the Communiteen Read selection committee (consisting of two Portage high school librarians, two librarians from Portage District Library, and a representative of Bookbug/this is a bookstore) surveyed students, staff, and other participants at the end of last year’s Communteen Read presentation to see what themes the community would be interested in reading about.

“Criminal justice, mental health, and LGBTQ+ were some of the top themes identified, so our committee read books all spring and summer about those

topics,” says PN librarian Lisa Miller. “We had already decided that we’d like to focus on a nonfiction book, if possible, so The 57 Bus just fit what we were looking for. As a journalist, the author of The 57 Bus, Dashka Slater, uses details from news reports, interviews, and social media to paint a complex, welldeveloped picture of both characters. This book reads like a novel even though it is a true crime story.”

“When I first heard we were reading the book, I was really hesitant about it because I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, it’s a hate crime against our community’ and I got really protective of the students,” says teacher and GSA leader Kaitie Paynich. “The book is so much more than that. From that, it goes into this whole discussion of gender and race and what does that look like in the justice system. It goes into this whole big discussion of forgiveness because Sasha, the genderqueer teenager whose skirt

Design by Miles Slocum

was lit on fire forgives Richard … It goes into this whole idea of what is restorative justice, what does forgiveness look like, so I’m really excited.”

Senior Joe Clark plans to read the book. “I’m actually very excited,” he says. “I think it’s a very good thing that we are reading it because there’s hate crimes that happen and I think people should learn about the hate crimes and how to educate.”

Copies of the book are available for students and staff to check out from the library. There will be opportunities to discuss the book in GSA club and some English classes. Then, the author will give a presentation at PN on March 14 and a community presentation (free and open to the public) on March 15.

“We hope that students, staff, and community members will appreciate reading this story about identity, tolerance, justice, and forgiveness,” Miller says.

News 04

Normal but not quite We’re back to school in person and we’ve returned to normal more so than not.. . on the outside, anyway. Perhaps the pandemic has changed our generation so much that we can never truly be back to the old normal.

Photo by Roua Algahtani; illustration by Kylie Clifton.

At the beginning of the Covid-19 school to limit the amount of kids pandemic, none of us realized how actually in the building for safety. truly earth-shattering this disease This year, the majority of us are would be in any way. For a long back at school in person, but it’s not time, a lot of people believed that the same as before the pandemic. this all would end soon, and our This generation has also become lives would be “back to normal,” extremely dependent on online but we are entertainment, n o w COVID has changed all of our social media realizing lives, and none of that is going to connect that that peers, away, especially not as quickly with will not and online be the as many people had hoped. resources for c a s e . school, and Covid has being isolated changed all of our lives, and none of for so long has only exacerbated that is going away, especially not as that dependency. quickly as many people had hoped.

Coming back to school has led The division of the people and the to a grueling adjustment period. fears that Covid has brought will Students are struggling with time never heal. management and organization to The pandemic changed a lot of a point some are already lost in things. It’s changed the way we are the daze of being back in person. and the way we think. We’ve had Looking at how this year has to adapt and change things for our started, many people have late safety. Last year, we had virtual assignments because they are not 05

Editorial

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back into the groove yet.

The divided belief on the issue has prevented society from returning to normality. The most obvious thing that isn’t back to normal is masks, but step into any store and you’re sure to find people who aren’t masked. Like it or not, Covid has not gone away yet, and it’s up to everyone to stay extremely cautious in order to ensure we are able to return to something resembling normal.

Even if Covid is eliminated, the scars courtesy of this experience will still be with us. Some people have lost family members because of this disease, or have caught the disease themselves. Every day, there are more empty desks in each class. It’s a reminder that we arent as close to the old normal as we thought, and instead of going back, we need to go forward and find a new normal.

Portage Northern Light

This Halloween, don’t just be spooky... be thoughtful

By Annabelle Bartz

Halloween: nothing beats an excuse to eat as much candy as you want, dress up by yourself or with your friends, or an excuse to make your friends watch scary movies. That is without mentioning pumpkin carving and haunted houses.

Halloween has been known to be spooky, gory, and downright terrifying.

And for a lot of people, that is okay.

It sends a chill down your spine and leaves you a bit shook, but that is the end of it. Unfortunately, that is not the case for everyone. Halloween can be a very triggering holiday for some people.

It can trigger PTSD within soldiers and veterans when walking towards a door triggers a speaker to play a blood curdling scream. The trauma of having to find someone, you know or don’t, having hung themselves, used in decorations without a second thought. People with severe injury have to see people walk around with the makeup verison of their injury.

All of that can trigger a physical or emotional reaction that isn’t always obvious to other people but is extremely detrimental to the person in question, something that is unfair considering they are just trying October

to have a good time as well.

Another aspect of Halloween is costumes. Dressing up by yourself or with a group of people is a lot of fun.

I just want to address a certain kind of costume and give a friendly reminder that other people’s culture is not your costume. It is not okay to dress up as a Mexican, hula dancer, ninja, or Native American. Those are just a few examples. Cultural appropriation is very harmful and shouldn’t be taken lightly. As can continue stereotypes or disrespects a cultural practice.

So maybe think twice about the costume you are choosing and doing your research to make sure that it isn’t cultural appropriation. Also be conscious of the decorations that you decide to put up on the outside of your house. People should not have to worry about reliving a traumatic event when trying to take a walk down the street. These are just some things to keep in mind this Halloween to make sure that everyone can have a good time.

Design by Miles Slocum

Opinion 06

We’re back. Back to the building, back to the grind, but still not

Back to Normal

by Astrid Code, Abigail Hosler, and Temperance Guyeska

On August 30, the students of Portage Northern High School walked into the building for the first day of school, some of them for the first time in almost 18 months. Throughout the past year, this has been everything students and teachers were waiting for, but many were quick to discover that being back together doesn’t necessarily equal being back to normal.

Back in person

A majority of students - 97 percent started the year masked up and back in person. Though the halls and classrooms are once again filled with students, there are some aspects of school that aren’t fully back to normal. “Usually we get to travel more for things,” says junior Alexis Loparo. “It’s not really bad, but [the difference] is noticeable.” Science teacher Colin Killmer also noted that things cant be fully back to normal because, “even if we were to run school, and run our behaviors as if we were back to normal, the way we are feeling and the way we are recovering isn’t normal.”

Instead of focusing on what normal used to be, some are focusing on what the new normal is. “I think the new normal is trying to be what we were before,” says English teacher Celia Weeks. “But there are so many things getting in the way of that, like students basically missing a year and a half of school, masks which totally get in the way of properly communicating

October 2021

and reading facial expressions.”

Still, students and teachers are glad to be back and in the school atmosphere, and while some things are different, many core things are still the same.

“Going back face-to-face, I knew that it was going to be a little different than our previous definition of normal,” freshman Clara Kim shares. “But the aspects of going into class, taking notes, tests, quizzes, feels like muscle memory to me.”

Weeks states that there are also plenty of benefits to being back in person, like “just having students and student energy back in the classroom.”

Despite the palpable joy in being back together, there is still an undercurrent of worry and fear that comes with inperson schooling. “I was a little worried for a while with all the anti-masking and anti-vaccine people that we would have had an outbreak by now,” Weeks admits.

“But fortunately, science has prevailed and we are fairly protecting ourselves.”

“Going back face-to-face, I knew that it was going to be a little different than our previous definition of normal.”

-Freshman Clara Kim

Together online

For some students, school still isn’t anything like it was pre-Covid. PPS virtual is a year-long online commitment that combines Portage Northern and Portage Central students into classes with teachers from both schools. ........“I chose to continue with virtual learning because I find that I manage my time well and do not really need the ‘school setting’ that most students do,”

Design by Astrid Code

Feature 08

“Staying at home was a choice I made for the safety of myself and others.”

-Senior Zoe Wilder

says senior Zoe Wilder. “Virtual school this year actually has less Google meets and more use of self-paced websites like MSVU and Edgenuity for other classes.

The classes that do have Google meets are similar to last years set up.”

Senior Ashly Randhawa also felt that virtual school would be easier logistically.

“I wasn’t sure how everything was going to go regarding cases of Covid, and I felt I would benefit from saving some time and being able to work from home so I can make it a bit easier with balancing work, school and outside studies,” she explains.

Senior Bailey Carlson agreed: “I chose to continue online this year for my mental health and my KVCC classes,” they said.

“I don’t like school settings and it stresses me out severely, so staying at home in the comfort of my room is perfect for me to relax and focus. It’s also perfect to get to my KVCC classes easier and have more time to spend working for my passions rather than waste it.”

With so few students choosing this mode of instruction, this year’s virtual experience has been much different than last year. “I wasn’t expecting there to be such a small handful of students who chose to do virtual, that was a bit surprising to me,” Randhawa says.

“Overall, I feel that my virtual experience has gone pretty well, and has been

beneficial in helping me to stay up to date with my schedule outside of school.”

One reality of the virtual program is that limited students resulted in limited options. “I was shocked to see all of my course options drop lower and lower as a virtual student. I was previously in the IB program, but could no longer continue because it was not offered as a virtual option,” said Wilder. “It is my senior year, and unfortunately I cannot take the classes that I’d most benefit from being that I am college bound. Staying at home was a choice I made for the safety of myself and others.” Carlson agrees: “We aren’t taking the easy way, we are taking the way that would be better for us as individuals, and to help with the pandemic,” they said.

Moving forward

Students and staff still have a long bumpy road ahead back to “normal.”

Portage Northern and other schools in the district have started with their first baby steps back in that direction, even if some days it is more difficult than others.

Maybe returning to normal shouldn’t be the goal: “Normal would imply that we haven’t been suffering for the past year and a half,” said Killmer. Maybe, just maybe, there’s something even better.

The Northern Light extends a sincere thank you to Rathco for their continued sponsorship, support, and encouragement for Portage Northern students.

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Design by Astrid Code

Portage Northern Light

Toward a more

By Brie Quick

Homecoming Heading into Homecoming weekend, on Friday Septemeber 24th there was a pep assembly... the first one PN has had since winter of 2019. “My favorite thing about putting the pep assembly together was planning it then seeing the final outcome of it,” said junior Avery Phelan. Members of the PN Senate worked together to plan, put on, and help with this year’s homecoming pep assembly. To end out, the seniors won the first ever PACK cup.

The annual Portage Northern homecoming parade was at 6pm that night, right before the kickoff of the game. “That was my first time being in a parade but it was unique having fans,” said sophomore JV football player Adrian Pantoja. The parade had many student groups involved, sports teams, homecoming court, band, color guard, actual huskies and their owners, elementary students, clubs, and many more.

Following the parade was the homecoming football game against Mattawan. Students pack the dog pound to come support the boys.

“The energy from the students was great, everyone enjoyed watching the teams succeed after struggling at the beginning of the season,” senior Connor Lane said. “Fans are getting more involved as the season goes on and it’s helping motivate the players and helps us win.” The Huskie football team ended the night with a 24-7 victory over the Wildcats.

To end off this exciting homecoming week was the dance. This year’s dance was held outside to keep everyone safe. “My favorite part of the dance was being with my friends,” sophomore Nora Kucinski said. “It was fun to have the highschool experience again like seeing everyone dressed up finally talking to everybody it was all just a real good experience,” Sophomore Abbey Slyker added. “It was good and a lot of fun, just different.” said junior Kai Williams. All photos by Brie Quick.

October 2021

Design by Brie Quick

Feature 10

Senior Lyse Bates hustles, hits, and never quits

By Abby Hosler Senior Annelyse “Lyse” Bates has been playing volleyball ever since she was in 5th grade, when she instantly fell in love with the sport. “I like the team culture and the team competitiveness,” she shares.

Classmate Alia Mastromatteo has been playing with Bates since the two were in 5th grade together. “Lyse is a great leader and she brings a lot of encouragement and positive reinforcement,” she says. “She is just a great teammate and really smart with where to place the ball,” she said. Their coach, Erin Onken, couldn’t agree more, adding: “Annelyse is THE leader on our team. She does a great job of setting the expectations for practice and competition.”

Bates has been playing on the PN varsity volleyball team since she was a freshman. “It was definitely a new experience,” Bates said. “But I think the family atmosphere and the supportiveness of the team just helped being a freshman on varsity.”

Bates has several attributes that make her an elite volleyball player. “Her Volleyball IQ is off the charts, but that doesn’t stop her from wanting to learn more each day,” Onken explains, “which in turn allows her to elevate her game as she understands each player’s role around her.”

Bates started out volleyball as an outside hitter, then moved into a more defensive role, with the position she is currently playing—libero—being her favorite. Libero is a highly-specialized position that is reserved for players with impeccable ball control skills because the player in that role is responsible for passing the ball to her teammates to help them run the offense well.

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Sports

“As competitive as she is . . .

Lyse is witty, sarcastic and kind and I have enjoyed every minute of getting to know her better as a person,” said Onken. “She will leave behind a legacy of determination, passion for the game and for the kind demanding way she leads.”

The countless hours Bates has spent practicing and perfecting her game have paid off, allowing her to play volleyball at the next level. A year from now, Bates will be sporting black and gold as a player for Oakland University, a D1 school in Rochester, MI.

“I like the team culture and the team competitiveness.”

-Lyse Bates

Senior Lyse Bates volleys the ball to the opponents. Photo courtesy of Lyse Bates.

Design by Miles Slocum

Portage Northern Light

Portage Northern Light

Design by Spencer Kadlec

Advertising 12

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Entertainment

Design by Brie Quick

Portage Northern Light

This book feels like a rainy summer afternoon, running out in the backyard and smelling the outdoors. It feels like childhood.

Aristotle is this book’s main character, and it’s his coming of age story. Ari doesn’t see himself very highly; he’s a depressing boy in a small town. His Mexican heritage is very important to the story because it shows how socially set apart from the rest of the town he is. He’s 15 at the start of the novel, and he’s headed to the pool alone. There he meets his first friend, Dante. During the summer they get closer and closer, yet never crossing a certain point. You can feel the gap they refuse to cross, and it’s frustrating but understandable.

Dante is much more cheery; he’s also of Mexican descent, but looks more white. This shows how he fits in with people more on the outside, but on the inside, he’s hiding what truly sets him apart. Dante is gay, and he knows that, similar to Ari, he is an outsider as well. In the middle of the book, he starts to show Ari this part of himself, which starts the chain of events to bring Ari closer to him.

Aristotle’s journey is a long one.

He feels set apart from his family, with his brother in jail and no one telling him why or why they expect more from him. No one explains anything. As the story progresses, you see Ari and his parents open up to each other, and slowly the secrets October 2021

Ari was never able to hear are revealed to him and he gets to understand and digest why and how his whole life was the way it was.

Ari also never seemed to understand romance. At the start of the story, he and Dante have some chemistry, but it’s never acted upon because neither knows how to develop said emotions. Ari has a short romance with a girl that goes horribly wrong, but he gets over it pretty quickly. His romance with Dante is a long one, a slow burn if you will.

As they grow together and start to understand how to deal with their emotions, they realize the romance they have and how it affects them.

Ari and Dante understand each other, and that’s why it took so long for them to be together. They understood that they couldn’t handle the love they had for each other just yet. By the end of the book, they’re mature and stable enough to take it head-on and finally confess.

Everything Ari complained about not having at the beginning of the book, he has by the end. A best friend who loves him, his soulmate.

His parents understanding him and speaking about his brother.

The bittersweet feeling of his childhood coming to an end, and a new, happier chapter of Ari’s life finally beginnin Ari also never seemed to understand romance. At the start of the story, he and Dante have some chemistry, but it’s never acted upon because neither knows how to deDesign by Brie Quick

velop said emotions. Ari has a short romance with a girl that goes horribly wrong, but he gets over it pretty quickly. His romance with Dante is a long one, a slow burn if you will.

As they grow together and start to understand how to deal with their emotions, they realize the romance they have and how it affects them.

Ari and Dante understand each other, and that’s why it took so long for them to be together. They understood that they couldn’t handle the love they had for each other just yet. By the end of the book, they’re mature and stable enough to take it head-on and finally confess.

Everything Ari complained about not having at the beginning of the book, he has by the end. A best friend who loves him, his soulmate.

His parents understanding him and speaking about his brother. The bittersweet feeling of his childhood coming to an end, and a new, happier chapter of Ari’s life finally beginning.

I give this book 4.5 out of 5 stars and recommend it to anyone seeking more representaiton in novels.

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DO YOUR PART Illustration by Spencer Kadlec

By the staff

We all want to be back to normal, but we can’t do that if we don’t all do our part, and the biggest way that we can do that is by following the school protocols: only taking mask breaks at approved times, maintaining social distancing, and wearing masks properly. A quick glance around the school reveals that our wanting to be normal might not be equaling our effort to get back there. Lots of discussions happen in the hallways and classrooms: how students don’t need to worry about Covid because they’re vaccinated, or how they just want to get it and get it over with. When we talk like this, we’re really just looking out for ourselves and not looking out for the bigger picture. There’s still a lot we can do: stay home when we feel ill, get tested as necessary, wipe down surfaces, and the most basic, keep our masks above our noses: all of those things make a difference. It can be a drag wearing a mask all day, but masks have been proven to reduce the spread of Covid-19 when worn properly, and it’s important to understand that just because a student is vaccinated doesn’t mean that they can’t still get - and spread - the virus. We are better together, we are PACKstrong, and we all have to do our part at Northern to get on the other side of this and back to whatever parts of normal we enjoy the most.

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