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TALISMAN a student-edited newspaper
Football and Patriotism page 3
New Spanish Teacher page 5 Sheldon High School
Phone Policy page 8 vol. 53│iss. 1│October 12, 2017
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October 12, 2017
High School
the Talisman
: s p i h s n o i t a l e R l o o h c S h g i H ? t i h t r o w y e h t e ar Jaiden Cook and Marissa Rinen staff writers
Are relationships worth having in high school? Sophomore Maddy Jordan said, “I think high school relationships are worth it, because it’s fun to have one when growing up and you’re meeting new people, making connections, and you learn a lot from them. She thinks that everyone should have a high school relationship at least one point in their high school years, because it’s exciting to have and there could be a good connection.
don’t take the relationship seriously. Urbide said, “There would be no point if you’re not going to take it seriously.” Uribe also said, “Having a high school relationship could get you distracted from school work.” Especially if they go to a different schools, because you would go hang out with them instead of doing your homework. If at the time Uribe has a boyfriend, she said she would most likely do long distance as long as they had time to see each other.
Jordan thinks that having a high school relationship is a good learning experience. She’s been in a high school relationship so she has experienced a lot of these things. Jordan said, “It depends on who you are and the person you are dating. Some people focus on the relationship, but also some people won’t care about the relationship and just focus on their own lives.”
Juniors Chole Fulp and Sriyani Gunarathne said they think high school relationship are worth having. They don’t really have strong opinions about high school relationships other then they don’t think they last. Gunarathne said, “High school relationships could last if your relationship is strong enough to go through all four years of high school.” Fulp said, “ It’s sad because once you get through the honeymoon stage and you are both happy, you start having problems. “
She thinks that high school relationships will work if you are loyal to each other and you have a lot of trust. In terms of how long a high school relationship lasts, Jordan said, “It could last a few months; sometimes it doesn’t. It all depends on the foundation of your relationship.” Jordan said, “My biggest pet peeve about high school relationships is when some people are petty when the relationship doesn’t work out. You should grow up and be mature about it. Move on, and learn from the experience. Or you can do the opposite. I feel like a lot of high schoolers do the opposite.” She said that PDA (public displays of affection) don’t bother her. Some PDA is okay, such as hugging and holding hands, but making out in the hall way is a little too much for school.
They both think throughout the four years, a long high school relationship is six months to one year. Fulp said, “My biggest pet peeve of a high school relationship is when you get so stressed out in school and you take it out on your partner.” Gunarathne said, “My biggest pet peeve is when a couple is standing in the middle of the hallway and making out. They should go somewhere private.“ They both think that a certain level of PDA is okay such as holding hands, hugging and kissing.
On cheating, Jordan said, “I would cut off all ties if someone cheated with a high school friend. You shouldn’t waste your time crying over a boy or girl if they cheat on you. High school relationships are fun, but they’re not worth that much heart break. You don’t need someone like that in your life.” Sophomore Raven Uribe said, “I believe that everyone has a high school relationship at least one time, because you have four years to have a relationship with someone.” Uribe said a long high school relationship to her is two out of the four years. Uribe thinks that a high school relationship would last, but it depends on who is in the relationship, their goals for the relationship, and if they only want the high school relationship to last longer. Her biggest pet peeves of a high school relationship is when people
50 Sheldon students surveyed
Football
the Talisman
October 12, 2017
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National anthem kneeling Laura Mladenich and Ben Bratland page editors Across the nation, from the NFL to small town high schools, athletes are beginning to kneel during the national anthem to bring awareness to the racism that they have witnessed. Junior Michael Johnson, who plays football at Sheldon is one of the only students interviewed who stated he would support and respect other students or NFL players who kneel during the National Anthem. Johnson stated, “Yes I would support those who kneel at the games because everyone is entitled to their own opinion.” According to Johnson, his view on standing for the Anthem is that everyone should stand for the Anthem to show respect for those who died for the flag. A senior at Sheldon, Jadon Spike, also shared his opinions on the standing vs. kneeling debate. When asked if he has lost respect for any NFL players who kneeled during the National Anthem, Spike stated, “Yes, I lost all respect for NFL player Von Miller.” Spike also stated that
if students choose to kneel during the National Anthem, they should not be supported by other students or staff. Senior Sydney Hutson said she would kneel during the National Anthem if she was given the opportunity to. When asked why, Hutson stated, “For social and racial justice.” Hutson also states that she will respect and support anyone who does choose to kneel during the anthem and she hopes that other students and staff will feel the same way.
Photograph by Hadley Jellesed
Sheldon football’s Coach Line takes over Hadley Jellesed and Kenneth Mitchell page editor and staff writer A football coach, a teacher and a father are all words you could use to describe one of Sheldon’s newest family members: Mr. Line. Line enjoys spending time with his family, and doesn’t have many hobbies anymore outside of spending time with his wife and kids. He teaches freshman World Geography and Honors Modern World History. Mr. Line’s coaching philosophy is to “treat the kids like young men and always try to push them to the absolute limit of what they can accomplish.” When asked how he feels coaching Sheldon compares to other coaching jobs, he said, “Well, it’s just really fun to be coaching in a program that’s so competitive, at such a high level, but the football is just football. You know you want to work hard and do the right things.” Sophomore Natalie Schnoor has Mr. Line as her Honors Modern World History teacher. Schnoor said, “He could give us harsher deadlines.” However, Schnoor also said, “He’s a really good teacher.” Other students in the class agreed that Line is one of the most easy-going Honors teachers they have ever had. Schnoor continued, “Compared to Youngblood’s class it is very easy, but it still has difficult topics.” Line focuses a lot on current events and keeping his students informed through daily news sights like CNN. Most students in his class agree with Schnoor that he is a good teacher, and the class he is teaching has furthered their knowledge. Sophomore Collier Campbell is a player on the JV football team and is really enjoying Mr. Line’s coaching style. Campbell said, “He’s a great coach, and I really like what he’s done so far with the program. He expects us to not only be good players but positive role models to younger players. He also expects us to give it our all in practice and school.” Even though Mr. Line pushes them to their limits and expects their best, Campbell said, “He is a really nice guy and a great coach.” Even though Mr. Line has just joined the Sheldon family, many seem to respect him, on and off the field. Photographs by Hadley Jellesed
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October 12, 2017
Trending
the Talisman
Parking passes are a hot commodity Tyler Coombs staff writer This year Sheldon has over-sold parking passes to the parking spots we have available, but less so than in previous years. Over selling can cause some serious problems as overcrowding in the parking lot makes it near impossible to find a spot. This can also create problems for underclassmen as they are not allowed to buy a parking pass. Freshmen may not see a problem with this as most do not drive, but some sophomores rely on their cars to get to school every day. Campus supervisor Darin Henry said, “Part of the parking passes issue is that more kids than ever are driving. Also, Sheldon’s enrollment is up, making parking passes even more limited.” He suggested that more students should walk or ride bikes especially the ones who live close by. There are 338 student parking spaces in the parking
lot and there was a total of 352 passes sold to students. Now if you have done your math correctly you will notice there are more passes than spots. This was not an accident. Sheldon over sold passes on purpose, as not all students are here at the same time. If you are a student with a pass and you find that there are absolutely no parking spaces left, finance secretary Julia Girod said, “Come to the office and tell us your situation and we’ll make sure to find a parking place for you.” Campus supervisors will also be monitoring the parking lot more carefully than past years to ensure there are no students without passes taking up valuable spaces. So far this year it hasn’t appeared that the parking lot has had any major issues. Students haven’t complained and when asked, senior Alex Winstell said, “I haven’t had any problems with trying to find a parking spot; I think the office did a great job taking care of it and it’s spot.” As long as only students with passes park in the parking lot there should not be any problems with overcrowding. The Sheldon main parking lot after school.
Photo by Grace Foltz
Sarahah: social media friend or foe Lauren Englet staff writer Social media has a powerful effect on the way we live our lives. While it has given us the power to connect with others no matter where they may be, or stay aware of what is happening in our world, it also has the ability to go negative. Over the summer, an app by the name of Sarahah became extremely popular. Originally designed for businesses to receive and share feedback, individuals were able to comment anonymously on the pages of those who shared the link on any various social media platform.
Sophomore Hannah Owens said, “I’m familiar with the app. Every time I see it, people are always negative.” Owens also said, “It’s one of those things that people tend to misuse, just because they can.” Sarahah however, isn’t necessarily the only place you find individuals trying to hurt one another. Other apps, such as Instagram and Snapchat, are commonplace for it as well. “Social media definitely increases the chances for bullying,” added junior Claire Greatwood. “You can be shady behind
people’s backs.” Many things follow students as they further their academic careers, including tests, quizzes, and more freedoms as they get older. However, for many, the same can be said for bullying. Before the massively popular cell phone era and the push to “go digital,” the problems students faced were often left in the halls. Now, they follow them home. Textbook specialist Carrie Mertz said, “I don’t know if we’re required [to teach students about bullying prevention], but it’s something worth discussing.” Mertz also said,“Kids have killed themselves over harassment online. It’s important to talk about.” With apps such as Sarahah, Instagram, and Snapchat, along with the power to say whatever we want about someone at any time, we are forced to recognize the very real issues that social media can cause. When it comes to having an anonymous username and things that are better left unsaid, we are able to type things we would never say out loud, and definitely not to the person we are commenting about. In conclusion, we find ourselves in a world so heavily reliant on cell phones and apps. We need to start working on what that means when it comes
Illustration by Grace Foltz
Classes
the Talisman
October 12, 2017
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¡Hola Señora Delgado-Vazquez! a different way,” Delgado-Vazquez said. Her advice for Spanish learners is to be proactive and completely immerse yourself in the language and culture.
Grace Foltz page editor
There has been an influx of new staff this year at Sheldon. One of these new additions is Elena Delgado-Vazquez. She is one of the new Spanish teachers. This term she is teaching freshman immersion and Spanish 2A. However, DelgadoVazquez is not just a typical Spanish teacher; she is a native speaker. Delgado-Vazquez grew up in Spain in a household with no books. As a child, her dream was to become an archeologist. She had always been curious about learning and exploring. Eventually, she realized that education was her way out. She became the first in her family to graduate high school and go to college. Teaching is Delgado-Vazquez’s way to share and spread her knowledge. Sophomore Eva Snyder, one of Delgado-Vazquez’s students, said, “[Delgado-Vazquez] is a good teacher and she makes sure everyone understands everything.” Snyder enjoys learning Spanish and hopes she will be able to utilize her Spanish communication skills in future jobs. In Spain, Delgado-Vazquez taught English as a second language (ESL). She moved to Oregon and became a graduate employee instructor. She didn’t get paid much, but she got her major in Spanish literature. After applying for her work visa, she found her position here at Sheldon. However, this isn’t the
Photo by Mr. Cantwell
only place she teaches. In her spare time, she teaches at a nonprofit called Downtown Languages. The program works with Latino families and teaches them the basics, like filling out forms. Delgado-Vazquez loves teaching in the program. It makes her really happy. She believes that learning a language is important because it broadens your perspective of the world. Delgado-Vazquez said, “You have to understand language to understand culture well.” She thinks that learning a language requires the student to put in a lot of work. Just coming to class for one hour a day won’t cut it. Working on the challenging things, though tedious, is important. Delgado-Vazquez has observed that English-speakers have the most trouble with grammar and conjugations. “English works in
Our own cultural norms are often hard to distinguish unless we are faced with an opposing view. For Delgado-Vazquez, the most shocking difference she found when she moved here from Spain was eating speed. In Spain, she reports that people eat very slowly and a meal includes an entire ritual of talking and hanging out with family and friends. There is even an expression, “sobre mesa” that refers to the conversation that takes place after a meal. That conversation can last for hours. Here in the United States, we eat much faster and don’t spend nearly as much time talking afterwards. DelgadoVazquez points out our particular affinity for eating while walking, which she never saw before she arrived here. Students here at Sheldon want to broaden their experiences just as Delgado-Vazquez has broadened hers. For many, traveling to another country, like a Spanish-speaking one, is a dream. Sophomore Elisabeth Clark said, “I would like to travel to Spain because it looks very pretty there.” Learning a language in school is one way to open up doors to traveling abroad in the future, and Delgado-Vazquez understands that and wants to encourage her students to broaden their horizons culturally. Delgado-Vazquez is an amazing person with an inspiring story. In the years to come it is for certain that she will continue doing an excellent job of pursuing her passion of spreading knowledge to all who are willing to listen.
Shop class would be welcomed back Cass Egbert staff writer Years ago, Sheldon offered a shop class. In the class, students would work on cars and learn how to fix them. Do you think Sheldon should have a shop class? Senior Haley Bergstrom said, “Sheldon not having a shop is a downside to our school.” Bergstrom stated that if a shop class was offered she would take it. Bergstrom also wishes they had never taken out the old shop class they once held in the building next to the tennis court and suggests that the same room would be a perfect place to have a shop class in the future. Bergstrom said, “If there was a shop class at our school, I would look forward to working on my
own car.” Many students seem open to the possibility of shop class becoming an option once again at Sheldon. Learning a trade is a useful skill in the real world and having free instruction would be monumental. Hopefully, shop will become a class again in the future.
Illustration by Grace Foltz
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Sheldon
October 12, 2017
How to get on dance team Paulina Nunez and Jampal Gohler staff writers Sophomore Olivia Randall is on the dance team. She has been dancing since she was little and decided to try out for the Sheldon Colleens. Randall said, “The try outs are super intimidating but you will make friends.” Some of the requirements of the dance team are to have good grades, be respectful and kind to your teachers, and to “not get lit,” as Randall said. The dance team allows all to try out so you need no background knowledge to have a chance to get on the team! There are lots of fundraisers to help pay for the many expenses of costumes, performances, and just general fees. To sign up you need to go to the Sheldon Colleens website and put in your information, and you must have a physical on file. Being on the team is an extremely good workout because to be a dancer you must have total control of every single part of your body, every muscle and every limb. Being on the team will make you more flexible over time. For Randall, she can now hit her over-splits. Taylor Brown, a freshman at Sheldon high school, has been
dancing in the mirror for as long as she can remember. When she was a little girl she had huge dreams of being an amazing dancer. Brown said, “When I was six years old I wanted to dance. I watched Cinderella and I had to dance as gracefully as she did.” Brown tried out for the high school dance team and she was so excited. Brown said, “I was so nervous; there were so many people watching us at tryouts. I was just hoping I didn’t fall on my face in front of all those people.” Now she is exceeding everyone’s expectations and is an amazing dancer. photo by Mr. Cantwell The dance team performs to “It’s the Hard Knock Life” at the homecoming assembly Oct. 9, 2017.
What kids wear now versus before Alyssa Mathews staff writer When Science teacher, Mrs. Buckson, was in high school she had the total 80s style, even with Farrah Fawcett hair. She chose her clothes based off whatever the popular girls were wearing. Mrs. Buckson definitely dressed herself upon her friend groups. Throughout her school years Buckson noticed that all the groups would dress differently than she would.
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Back then she didn’t coordinate what she wore as well. Guess jeans and Gunny Sack dresses were just a couple of the brands she wore because it was what was popular. Shoes were Buckson’s favorite thing about clothing and she had lots of them. Buckson’s favorite outfit to wear to school was a cute skirt, high heel shoes with lacey socks, shoes were always an essential to her outfits. 9 West shoes was one of the many brands she wore in her days. Molly Ringwold, from Pretty in Pink and The Breakfast Club, was Mrs. Buckson’s fashion icon. Mrs. Buckson described her personal style as cute, sassy, and lacey. Many trends are coming back today and she notices head bands because they were very popular to her and denim skirts. Her favorite trend going around today are leggings, but shhh don’t tell her I told you. Junior Erin Jang, said her style is skater like. Jang picks anything out that is comfy to her. She dresses herself upon friends because they like to share and have the same kind of style. Erin Jang coordinates what she wears sometimes but she said, “I like to just grab N’ go.” She thinks that everyone is different and dresses differently than she does. Jang loves to buy from Zoomies because of their good quality tees and sweaters. Everything she picks is comfortable for everyday wear, is Erin’s favorite thing about clothing. Jang’s signature look is a large tee shirt with no pants or a pair of skinny jeans and a pair of vans. She also definitely votes a yes to shoes being an essential to her outfits. Vans are her favorite and only shoes to wear. Erin has noticed that the laid back, hippy look is coming back into style, but her favorite is the 90s skater look. She described her personal style as comfortable, cute, and skater-ish. When, science teacher Mr. Bowden was in high school his style was the nerdy popular, but with no beard. He admired what the seniors wore and chose his clothes based off them. It’s what the “Preppy group” wore back in his time. Bowden coordinated what he wore big time! He can’t remember what brands he wore back then, but then again it was 30 years ago. Everything he wore though was just what was popular. Bowden’s favorite thing about clothing was that he got to show up to school looking nice. Pastel colored shirt, slacks with suspenders, and crazy hair was Mr. Bowden’s favorite look. Shoes were also an essential to Mr. Bowden’s outfits. He wore a popular brand called Bass. He didn’t really have any fashion icons other than the groups of seniors. Bowden likes to call his personal look as “Pastel – Preppy.” He noticed that school is just hoodies and sweats as a trend going around, but his favorite trend is a pair of jeans and a tee. A little fun fact, Bowden likes to let loose and wear a fun science tee every Friday, so go check him out.
Sheldon
October 12, 2017
Gum chewing: should it be banned? Michael King staff writer Some believe gum chewing should be banned at school, while others believe it is helpful and fun to do. Students tend to mooch off of other students rather than buying gum themselves. This can breed an unhealthy environment at school. Many people chew gum every day, mostly because they like the taste. Gum can be used to freshen the breath. As junior Sriyani Gunarathne said, “Some people have stanky breath” can also be used to help students concentrate in class. Both junior Chloe Fulp and Gunarathne seem to agree on this. Fulp stated, “I think gum chewing is fine as long as you don’t smack your gum.” While gum chewing can be annoying to hear, one student, junior John Bates stated that students should just suck on the gum as it doesn’t make the gum sticky but you can still get the taste you need. Bates believes it is aggravating to hear people chew gum. He is in support of the banning of gum. Students like Fulp express their agreement that students and staff should not smack their gum. Other students show disinterest at the issue, stating that they “do not care”. Students like Fulp believe students should be allowed to bring gum to school. Students who chew gum often spend from two to ten dollars of gum per week, which can lead to a pretty expensive lifestyle. Some students have suggested alternatives if gum if banned. Some students say that mints would be an excellent alternative choice because it maintains fresh breath and does not make annoying smacking sounds. Some claim that gum chewing can cause vandalism. Such vandalism as sticking gum under desks, which is both irritating and disgusting for people who accidentally run their hands under their tables. Students who stick gum
under the desks ought to be punished, the most likely punishment would be scraping gum from under the desks, however that punishment does feel a bit draconian. Students should be urged to get up from their seats and put gum in the trash and not be lazy and stick it under desks. Many debate whether the current gum policy should be changed so that gum would be banned. Gunarathne and Fulp express support for maintaining the current gum policy while others like Bates believes gum should be banned from Sheldon.
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Bates believes that gum will cease to exist from the tables of the school if gum is banned. Fulp claims that maintaining the current gum policy will help kids do well in class, as she does. Some students have a strong belief that gum will not be banned so they don’t worry themselves with this issue. However, in some parts of the school, a war is waged whether gum should be banned or not. Bates thinks his beliefs will help this school while others like Fulp think a change of sound would be necessary.
Gum under desk
photo by Ben Bratland
Students appreciate teachers helping Beau Niemi staff writer
Sheldon high school has some great teachers. They all help as much as they can in any way they can. They try their best to offer any kind of help with anything the students need help on. They are there for their students as a teacher and as a mentor. They are there for them before, during, and after school. Freshman Morgan Wagers says that her favorite teacher, Mr. Gallo, is very expressive with the way that he teaches. Wagers says that the way he teaches really helps the students remember the material, and helps them pass his class. One of the biggest things that Mr. Gallo does to help the students is, “He is always open to talk outside of class,” Wagers said. He frequently tells the students that he is available for them. He makes sure that the students have everything they need. He will even walk up to students and start one-on-one conversations with them. Mr. Gallo
offers help with assignments every day. He is always open to talking to students outside of class. He only offers homework help before school. He allows students to come in between 7:30 and 8:30 a.m. Though he does not teach Spanish class he offers help with student’s Spanish work, during his class. He is also open to talking to students outside of class if they want to talk about personal things. He also tries his absolute best to prepare students for life. Sophomore Brentt Jackson said his favorite teacher Mr. Lawton has a great way of teaching, which is with humor. He talks about what he teaches a lot and is funny about what he teaches, and is very good at explaining things in his class. Jackson said, “He tells his students that he is always open to talk.” He helps students any time they need help but only in his own class. He does not offer help with other classes. He will help students with his class before and after class. He also offers homework help before and after school. Anytime in the mornings and only directly after school. Mr. Lawton is open to talk to students about personal things and other things important to them. Jackson said, “He would sit down with you, listen to what you have to say, and talk to you.” He prepares students for the future and gives a lot of assignments to help with that. He
often checks up with students about how they are doing inside and outside of school. He gives up free time very often (before class, after class, before school, after school, etc). Freshman Jasage Blackwell said his favorite teacher is Mr. Supon. Blackwell likes Mr. Supon because he helps with everything that he, as a student, needs. Blackwell says that the most useful thing that Mr. Supon has to help the students succeed is his tests. Blackwell thinks that they really help him understand the material and help him ask questions. To help students with what they need Supon asks them what they need, instead of giving them anything specific. He helps students with their work as much as he can, which is every day. If a student needs help with work, Blackwell said that Supon will “put the work or assignments into steps.” He offers homework help, but only before school, as far as Blackwell knows. Mr. Supon helps students (of course), but especially with personal and important things to the student. He will sit down and talk to the students about whatever they need. Mr. Supon also “provides motivation” for career success, Blackwell said, and gives up almost
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October 12, 2017
School Changes
the Talisman
New phone policy seen throughout school Cade Higgins staff writer
This year, Sheldon has a new phone policy, of this policy, junior Spencer Antone said, “I do not agree with their choices.” Spencer thinks that Sheldon should change its phone policy because phones can be used to contact parents or guardians. They can also be used as a learning tool like a calculator. Spencer thinks that teachers should only be allowed to take your phone if you’re abusing it during class, but they should only take your phone for the remainder of the class. It’s not too long to not take it then not give it back for a period or more. Although Spencer doesn’t agree with Sheldon’s phone policy, he still thinks that the teachers should make the rules, but let the students have some input on what’s going on. Spencer thinks that
students should also be able to listen to music during class; he thinks it can make some students more productive. Senior Bretton Lloyd agrees with Antone about teachers making the policies on phones. Although Lloyd thinks that “students here at Sheldon might just be addicted and obsessed with their phones, ha-ha.’’ Lloyd also thinks that the phone policy here is very relaxed and easy going. He likes the policy and doesn’t want to change anything about it. Lloyd does feel that each teacher should make their own phone policies for their classroom, because some classes may involve tools that your phone has but in other classes you would have no use for your phone and shouldn’t have it out. Lloyd thinks that students should be able to listen to music as long as it does not distract anyone.
teachers should be able to take student’s phones for however long they see fit as long as it is not ridiculous. He also thinks that students should have more input on the phone policies because it would make students feel like they have a voice that’s being heard. Harms does think that individual computers should replace school computers because “it could save some money, and with the money saved we could update school books and other out-of-date equipment this school has.” Harms also feels that the school shouldn’t use the dead zone because it cuts out communication with parents or guardians.
Junior, niel Harms thinks the policy all a little too extensive and that it should be more relaxed. Harms thinks that
Track improvements nearing completion Brayden Smith and Devante Allensworth staff writer
years, many say it is about time the track gets replaced. With practices nearly every day and grueling workouts, some track participant were concerned with the damage to their legs. Shin splints were a concern for some on the
team and now that the track has been changed, many are excited purely because of the fact that their legs will be saved from the tension. It seems the track changes benefits all and surely the team will prosper this upcoming season.
Sheldon is currently undergoing one of the most dramatic changes in its long history. The original track that was built along with the school is finally being replaced and students are ecstatic to see change after countless years of complaints. Senior Yuriy Rigby said, “The old track didn’t have any cushion when you ran and it would hurt your legs after a while and gives you shin splints.” The changes are well underway and are even almost complete. Development only started a few months ago and already the new track has been laid and new pits have been dug. All that is left is to add the finishing touches such as paint and bleachers. Senior Wyatt Seidel said, “I hope they add larger bleachers because many parents attend and don’t have anywhere to sit.” It seems his hopes were answered as it is projected that there will not only be larger bleachers but also a visitor section. After stepping on the new track it is obvious the quality is greatly improved. The original black color has been replaced with a vibrant orange. Seidel said, “I like the changes. I’ve been on the track and I can already tell that the track is going to be many times better than before.” New sand pits are also being dug along with a brand new pole vaulting area. With the track team’s constant success over the past photo by Jared Godin
High School Life
the Talisman
October 12, 2017
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High school realities not like TV and movies Alyssa Elledge staff writer High school can be a scary place for incoming freshmen, especially when there are so many misconceptions about what high school will be like. The transition can come as a shock to many if there isn’t proper preparation, and misleading TV shows and movies don’t help. Senior Audrey Thomas went to Monroe Middle School, and has been at Sheldon all four years. She feels like she was not prepared for high school because she did not know how to do fractions or division. Thomas got a lot of information from her older sister. One of her biggest fears coming into freshman year was that she would fail all her classes. She feels like the show Ned’s Declassified School Survival Guide painted an unrealistic picture. She thinks reality is better. Thomas wishes high school was more like High School Musical. “Everyone got along with each other and it seemed so carefree,” Thomas said.
she said, “Yes, I do still have fears, like about my future and what’s going to happen.” She’s very happy that all of the stress of high school will be over soon, so all her fears about it won’t matter anymore.
Nickelodeon shows she watched as a child. Like most students, she watched High School Musical, and later came to find out that this was far from an accurate depiction of reality. She went to Monroe Middle School, so her level of preparedness is similar to the other students. Phillipo is glad that she knew so many people who have shared her experiences, so there weren’t too many big surprises. One of her worries was surrounding the size of Sheldon. “I was really scared that I would get lost,” she says. Being in IHS, she has many concerns surrounding her senior paper, and whether or not she will have all her requirements in time to graduate. It’s very stressful for her, but she knows what to expect.
Katie Dobberthien is a senior as well. Before Sheldon, she went to Cal Young Middle School. She did not feel prepared at all, mainly because the environment is so different. Most of her information came from her siblings and her parents. One of the things she did not expect was how many options for English classes there would be. The movies that she felt mislead her were “High School Musical and just about every other movie with a high school in it.” Dobberthien was scared as a freshman because the school seemed big and crowded. She still fears Film and television has the ability to influence common thinking, and high school is no exception. What people failing her classes and not getting into classes. view in the media is easily accepted as true, even if it isn’t Unlike many students, Dobberthien did not hear any logically a reliable source. One key purpose of middle rumors in middle school, therefore there was nothing to school is to prepare students for the next educational level. believe. One of the biggest things she wished she was Although individual grades do not matter until high school, warned about was “the amount of money spent on off the skills and learning habits developed are extremely One of the rumors Thomas heard when she was in campus lunch… because that’s where all my money goes.” important to future success. If school systems do not middle school was that no one that she started with in high Most of her initial concerns have passed, but the fear of the paint an accurate picture of what is ahead, students’ only school would be there by the time she finished. She did future it still there. information will be from what they see on TV, as well as not believe it until it happened. One thing she wishes she rumors they hear from peers. Proper education is the key were warned about was that she needed to start planning Monica Phillipo, another senior, also felt unprepared. to less anxiety among incoming freshmen. When external for her future right away. She would have liked to have Luckily, she has two older sisters who came through fears are eliminated, students can focus on performance been warned because now she feels stressed about having Sheldon, but there were still a lot of mysteries surrounding within classes, instead of worrying about irrelevant aspects not done anything. When asked if she still has any fears what to expect. She was influenced by a lot of Disney and of high school life.
Lunch rush is a daily ritual for businesses Chase McCord and Paityn Miller staff writers Every day at Sheldon, students are allowed to go off campus for lunch. This makes the restaurants and stores around the school extra busy at this time, aka lunch rush. The lunch rush starts at around 12:00 p.m. and lasts until about 1:00 p.m. The lines are out the door with people everywhere. Dairy Queen worker Cade Benson said, “During the lunch hour about ten times more money comes in, but you get a free lunch for working it.” There is a process that goes into preparing for lunch every day at Dairy Queen. Dairy Queen’s general manager Jessica Cotes said “Lunch rush makes you focus a little more and work a little harder.” In order to prepare every day, all workers are told to help and it’s all hands on deck. Chicken strips, fries, and burgers are cooked as everyone gets ready. When people start to come in it starts to get a little crazy and can be stressful for new employees, but after a few days, it becomes easier. When lunch rush is over and everything has settled down, a few hours later is dinner rush. According to DQ worker Kai Kelley, “Lunch rush and dinner rush are very different.” Dinner rush lasts for longer, but isn’t packed the whole time. During lunch rush it’s way more chaotic and brings in more business. Lunch rush impacts restaurants around Sheldon in both good and bad ways, but overall it brings in more business.
Dairy Queen photo by Jared Godin
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October 12, 2017
Freshmen
the Talisman
Middle school to high school transition Sophia Calevi and John Trefethen staff writers Middle school and high school can be very different. To some people, there isn’t a huge transition, but others disagree. To freshman Nevaeh O’Roy, high school has a negative effect on her time. She has sports after school and then homework. Free time can be very limiting during the school year. This is one of the many common thoughts about high school, and why some kids in middle school get nervous about transitioning into high school. O’Roy believes that kids get nervous because high school is what counts. She commented on the fact that if you do well in high school, you will be set up for a good future. In her opinion, it can be intimidating to go to school every day with much older students. O’Roy said, “In fifth grade, I was scared about going into middle school. Now I know that I had nothing to worry about.” She hopes that she will feel the same way about high school.
is not one, at least for Mace at Sheldon High School. Unfortunately, kids all around the world are made fun of based on stereotypes. Mace hopes that stereotyping will end someday.
When kids think about high school, they think about grades mattering and homework. Freshman Kenzie Kincaid has opinions that agree with the belief. Kincaid said, “Homework increases a lot. I am in International High School (IHS), and I have at least two to three hours
of work each night.” She said that in middle school, she would have little to no homework. Kincaid believes that since high school is an important step to your future, students can build up anxiety and stress. As you can see, high school can be a rollercoaster of emotions. Students’ stress levels tend to soar, they get tired, but they also know how to have fun in after-school activities. In high school, students can play sports and make new friends. High school is a very different place than middle school, but it can be an experience that students will never forget.
In TV and movies, high school is represented as a stereotypical place. Kids at Sheldon High School disagree. Freshman Jordan Mace believes that there are not as many stereotypes as people think. Mace said, “There is no stereotype usage at Sheldon that I can think of.” Being Latino, Mace said he has never experienced any stereotyping towards him in his nine years as a student. Throughout the challenges of high school, stereotyping
Freshmen at Sheldon Jasmyn Jensen and Jared Godin editors
She has concluded that there is a lot more homework, but more lenient due dates. Personally, she prefers the longer and fewer classes schedule over shorter with more classes because she feels she can learn more at a time. She enjoys the sport atmosphere at Sheldon because her teammates also help her with school. She is currently playing soccer for Sheldon and plans to try out for basketball. She admits that she uses the ability to go off campus for lunch, which is not available in middle school. Freshman Allie Persinger has been enjoying the freedom of high school more than middle school. Persinger said, “If you fall behind in middle school you get nagged and yelled at, but in high school you are responsible for your own stuff.” Persinger shared her opinion on high school compared to middle school. She says that the homework
Photo by Mr. Cantwell
Going from middle school to high school can be a big change for some people. Freshman Samantha Bateman had some strong interesting opinions on her limited time in high school so far. In terms of whether she likes middle school or high school more, she replied, “High school, because there is more freedom.” She stated that high school classes are more challenging than middle school classes and her favorite class is geography. Her favorite teacher is Ms. Buckson who teaches freshman science classes. She feels that teachers are about the same level of strict, but the expectations are much higher.
load has not been very high and she feels as though her teachers are not that much stricter than Cal Young teachers. Her classes seem to challenge her about the same compared to her middle school classes. Persinger stated that her favorite teacher is Ms. McChesney, the yoga teacher here at Sheldon. Sometimes the school layout can get confusing for anyone no matter his or her grade. Persinger relates to this, “It can get slightly confusing every once in a while,” she stated. She also she enjoys having less and longer class
periods because it makes it seem like the day goes by faster. Persinger also said there is not anything she would change about Sheldon. Freshman athlete Richard Cobb had a few words about his experience at Sheldon so far. He claims that “The sport atmosphere is fun and diverse.” His favorite teacher is Mark Supan who teaches Math. He feels that the layout of Sheldon is easy and good because you can get to classes easier. One change Cobb would like to see at Sheldon would be that there are more and different types of clubs.
Opinion
the Talisman
October 12, 2017
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Are lunches overpriced around Sheldon? Austin Yancey staff writer Sheldon High School has a great variety of food choices around the campus for the students when they go out for lunch. Sophomore Jerry Chiang said, “I think that the best option for students when it comes to prices is either Dairy Queen or Market of Choice.” More Sheldon students go out to another place for lunch on a daily basis instead of just staying at the school. That might be because the restaurants and shops have better quality food than the school’s food. The food at Sheldon costs less than three dollars for students, which is low compared to almost all the places around Sheldon. The main reason people eat at other places instead of the school is because of the quality of the food. Most students would rather have a shorter lunch period to walk to another place and eat there instead of at the school because of the way the food tastes, and if people don’t enjoy food, then why would they buy it?
The big deal about going out to other restaurants is how the food compares to the school’s food. Sophomore David Lewis thinks that the food at other places is better is better than the food here and said, “I eat out because the food is better than the food at the school, and I can hang out with my friends.” The food at some places is still a bit overpriced, though. At Ron’s Island Grill, a student special, which is a small box of rice and chicken, cost $5.50, when at Dairy Queen, a lunch with three or four chicken strips and a load of fries, plus a small sundae, costs less than that, at only $5.00. Prices of lunches is definitely influential of how many customers buy food there. The food at restaurants definitely outsells the lunch at the school. The reason that the food at other restaurants is better than the schools food is because of the budget of the food contents. The food at Sheldon might be lower quality because of the
Why you should practice Meghan McMahan and Zoelle Ranstad staff writers
Yoga is a practice for the mind and body that can relax students when they have a lot of stress and a lot on their minds. Nanci McChesney, the yoga teacher at Sheldon, started her yoga practice when she was in college. She found a yoga book that interested her and seemed cool. McChesney then realized it was an activity she wanted to do every day. She and her husband attended a class to get certified to teach yoga and she later started teaching at Sheldon in 1996. Yoga can help with all types of problems associated with the human condition. It can quiet the mind, free the spirit, reduce stress, sharpen concentration and center attention. These mental benefits are really good for students because it teaches them to focus. According to McChesney, “The ability to focus is the number one predictor of success.” There are not only mental benefits, but yoga also provides many great physical benefits as well. These include increasing circulation, encouraging weight loss, relaxing the nervous system, increasing stamina, and strengthening muscles. Yoga is different compared to other physical activities because it inverts
the body with poses such as headstands, handstands, etc. This can bring blood and oxygen to areas that are in need of nourishment and it also relaxes the muscles that are overworked. Yoga includes a variety of different types of breathing that can help you become more aware of your breath and your body. The practice of Pranayama breathing releases the mind from its continuous stream of unnecessary thoughts. Pranayama contains and balances the vital air and energy in your body as well. Breathing in yoga is important because it can calm the mind. Freshman Lily Zeller said, “I have anxiety, and yoga is really relaxing; the breathing techniques help a lot.” Yoga students tend to really love yoga. It can take away all the stress and problems you have to deal with by centering your body. Freshman Kiara Pearson said, “I love taking yoga because it makes me feel more calm and relaxed. It really prepares me for the rest of my day.” All students should try out yoga because it is a healthy and calming way to build your strength and focus your mind. It can teach you how to really love and appreciate yourself and your body.
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budget that the district has for the food. Quality of food has to do with how much money the company gets for that food. If the restaurant doesn’t get as many customers as they need, then the food quality would go down, or the restaurant would go out of business. If the restaurant was doing well on income, and had lots of customers every day, then the food would get better in health and taste quality. Sophomore Taylor Parker said, “If food was cheap, I would buy it if it was healthy for me, but if the food tasted bad, then I would expect the restaurant to go out of business.” Lunch should be a reasonably cheap price, but still have enough food and healthy contents for students.
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Hadley Jellesed Laura Mladenich Grace Foltz Grace Foltz Ben Bratland Jared Godin Jared Godin Jasmyn Jensen Jasmyn Jensen Greg Cantwell
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