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TALISMAN a student-edited newspaper
School Spirit page 3 Sleep Schedule page 5 Sheldon High School
Food Critic page 8 vol. 55│iss. 2│November 27, 2019
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November 27, 2019
More Than Just a Turkey
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Celebrating Thanksgiving Carsten Konyn page editor
Thanksgiving is a holiday widely celebrated by many people in the US, a time to get together, and as Junior Hunter Laws puts it, “just about celebrating the holiday season with your family.” Thanksgiving is sometimes celebrated slightly differently by different people, but the core concept of eating good food with family stays the same. Thanksgiving is most well-known for its food, such as turkey, potatoes, stuffing, dumplings, etc. Senior Belia Martinez particularly likes the combination of ham and mashed potatoes, remarking that it, “melts in your mouth.” While the classic foods of Thanksgiving are loved, some people have different food that they eat during Thanksgiving. For example Senior Karen Vuong has family that originates from foreign countries, such as Vietnam and other countries. Her family eats food from those countries at Thanksgiving. Most students that celebrate Thanksgiving celebrate it with their family. Some celebrate it with only close family members, while others celebrate it with their extended family. Vuong goes to Portland every year to meet with her family for Thanksgiving. She loves it because a lot of the family there she only gets to see once a year at Thanksgiving. Vuong’s favorite thing about Thanksgiving is, “seeing faces you don’t see normally, and getting to catch up with them.” Thanksgiving is a special time that many people cherish. It is a time to get together with your family, connect with them and eat good food. Some people change how they do that a bit from the standard, but family is always put first and foremost. Happy Thanksgiving Eve! drawing by Tawny Thomas
Black Friday Jordan Bolden staff writer November is almost over and it’s not too late to plan ahead for Christmas. It’s about that time of year for crazy deals and discounts for the year. Low on cash? Well that’s ok, because Black Friday customers are guaranteed to find something reasonable for their shopping list prices. Black Friday is also a perfect opportunity for people to take advantage of. For example, if customers want a computer that was previously priced at 3 thousand dollars, it may be bumped down to 1 thousand dollars which will influence customers to buy it. The same price change may go for televisions or any other type of electronic item. Black Friday does not come every day so it wouldn’t hurt to at least see what the offers are online. A good thing to keep in mind is holidays are the time of year when Black Friday arrives.
illustration by Tawny Thomas
Student Expression
the Talisman
November 27, 2019
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How students show school spirit at Sheldon Michaela Kearney page editor Does Sheldon have school spirit? High school culture loves to glorify school spirit, whether it be pep rallies in coming-of-age movies or Friday night football games. It can create a community and a supportive atmosphere for those being represented…but is everyone being represented? Senior Anne Hoffman said, “I wish Sheldon had more spirit for a greater variety of Sheldon activities.” Many students, especially those in the underrepresented activities, feel the same way about student turnout. There is a visible difference in support between differing programs at Sheldon, and many students have taken notice. Several programs at Sheldon feel a lack of support, and have voiced that they hope student turnout increases. One of the more widely recognized spirit activities at Sheldon is the Homecoming Spirit Week. The week before the homecoming football game and homecoming dance, students are encouraged to dress up for the daily themes selected and advertised by the ASB. Senior Zoe Sanderson said, “My favorite themes are the ones that everyone dresses up for.” There are some students who commit to dressing up for all of the themes, and some that, on the other hand, don’t feel very connected to the school or spirit activities. The participation levels can vary based on grade and relationship with the school as well. Participation may also depend on the themes that ASB chooses. Some favorite themes are pajama day, beach day, and jersey day, among others. For many students, this week is a good chance to show their school spirit, feel like part of a community, and be creative with their outfit choices. For some, the outside view of Sheldon spirit may appear to reside in the upperclassmen. Instagram is filled with pictures of senior buddies supporting the football team while clad in costume and decorative makeup, and glittery prom photos with their friends
or dates. Senior Camille Leach said, “When I was a freshman I felt like the majority of people with school spirit were the upperclassmen.” Whether it be because the seniors are getting nostalgic and want to take advantage of their final spirit activities or the upperclassmen enjoy feeling like part of a larger community, they tend to represent a lot of Sheldon spirit. The nostalgia felt in saying goodbye to a monumental four years of your life can be intense, but it encourages students to step out of their comfort zones
and connect with their high school experiences. Whether it be a cheesy teen movie stereotype or dressing up with friends to cheer on the sports teams, school spirit can be seen in many different facets of a student’s high school journey. Even if some students don’t feel very connected to Sheldon activities, there are many ways to plug into the school that cater to an individual’s interests. It is worth it to step out of your box and try new things. We only have four years, so it’s a good idea to start making the best of them.
Photo by Callie Lininger Seniors Celia Sluga, Makayla Young, Kenady Leighton, Zoë Sanderson on November 15, 2019, for the football game dressed for the theme “Welcome to the Jungle.”
People express themselves through fashion Alayna Hughes staff writer Self-expression is considered a very important factor of a person’s sense of identity and uniqueness, and can provide confidence and pride throughout his or her everyday life. One of the ways many people choose to express themselves is through their fashion choices. For many people, what they wear and how they wear it is a great source of confidence, and can make them feel comfortable in their own skin. Sophomore Briseida Sanchez feels this same way. Sanchez said, “I just try to wear whatever feels like me, because that’s how I feel comfortable and confident in myself.” Sanchez also believes that fashion choices can show a person’s individuality and his or her unique way of thinking and believing, and that fashion is a great way to express oneself “because there are a variety of clothes and looks you can wear and choose from to show how unique you are, and to show how everyone is unique in their own
way.” People’s fashion choices can also reflect parts of their personalities, and how they want to be perceived. Sophomore Maggie Fountain, said she believes that her style reflects her personality well, and that she sees it as showing that she is “someone who likes to stand out and express how intricately I think through my outfit choices with color coordination and such.” Style is also a good way to express your interests and values, and can be a good way to show what you like, don’t like, or what you believe. Fountain said that, in some ways, you can infer things about people through their fashion, like “what kind of music they like, or what kind of a person they are. I like to base my style off of music artists and people of that sort that I look up to because it shows what’s important to me.” Fashion can also help bring people together, Fountain said, and that she finds herself and
others “gravitating towards people with similar styles to me because I can infer that we have things in common.” Fashion is considered a good way to share your unique sense of self with the world in a more comfortable and natural way. Sophomore Claire Walter believes this, and said that she finds it to be very important to her to use fashion as a means of self-expression: “For me at least, when I am wearing something I like, and feel like myself in, my entire mood is better.” Having the ability to reflect your personality through fashion can be relieving and can help people feel that they are at home in their own skin. Fashion is also a good way to show how your sense of self and personality develops, and how it influences how you dress. Walter said she definitely believes her style will further develop “I make changes all the time, I think it represents my growth as a person. I don’t want to be the same forever, and neither should my clothes.” Having fashion as an outlet, not only for self-expression, but also to reflect and share your personal growth, can prove to be very important to one’s sense of self, and the confidence that comes along with being comfortable in your own skin.
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Opportunities outside of school
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Driving around Keira Collier staff writer
Most teens older than freshmen at Sheldon High School can drive. Driving is a very crucial part of life for Sheldon students. Teens feel that driving provides a sense of freedom and independence from their parents who control many aspects of their lives. This is usually why students have such a hard time following the rules which say students are not allowed to drive their peers until six months after having their license. Most juniors and seniors at Sheldon High School drive to and from school and even to lunch. Sophomore Jorryn Phelps said, “I have to drive to school because I don’t live close enough to walk.” Only juniors and seniors can get parking passes for Sheldon, so sophomores end up having to park in the neighborhoods around Sheldon or at Market of Choice. There are more teen crashes per year than for any other age group. For seventeen year olds, the crash percent is 4.4 and for 18 year olds it is 4.7 percent. A lot of factors go into a car crash. For teens the main factor of crashes is being on their phone, drunk
driving, and speeding. You can’t legally go over the speed limit, but many people do it anyways, usually five miles over. On the topic of speeding, senior Jacob Oester stated, “Technically, I speed every day, but only about 4-6 mph above the speed limit.” Some people even consider going the speed limit being too slow. The driver’s test includes the written and the driving portion. Some people say it is extremely hard and don’t pass the first time. However, there is Drivers Ed, which if you pass then you do not have to take the driving portion of the test. Once you get your license you have to wait six months to drive anyone but family around. If you don’t follow this rule and get pulled over with someone in the car, you can get an extra ticket just for that. Some teens, on the other hand, do not follow this rule. They usually end up driving their friends around. For example, some people at Sheldon drive their friends to and from lunch. Sophomore Braiden Miller stated “I did not wait the six months.” Overall, many students look forward to getting there license but many don’t realize the responsibility it comes with.
Balancing school and work Marilyn Luna staff writer
would believe it’s all mindset. You could feel sorry for yourself about what you’re missing out on, or take the work as personal experience that’ll help you in ways such as communication, patience, and learning more ways to interact with others. Hence, what Students can agree on the fact that working while in high school can cause matters to most teenagers in high school won’t matter in the future, referring to partying stress. Knowing it was your hard work that earned you the money can give a more or keeping up with social statuses. rewarding feeling. Some people enjoy their job more than others. Senior Christian Some kids are need to work due to family situations. This being said, the full high Visctonti, said “I don’t think about quitting often. I quite like my job, although at times when my personal life is stressful my work can be degraded.” Many seniors can school experience can feel overwhelming. Some schools give credit for working, which is indeed a plus to it all. “My sleep schedule varies I can get little to no sleep or a decent also agree on this. It can be hard focusing on your job when stress hits at times. amount it all depends,” said senior Citlalli Salgado. Lack of sleep also inhibits wanting Working while in school can also lead to feeling left out of the “full” high school to do stuff one enjoys. Continuing with the whole high school experience talk, students experience. Senior Maslyn Nguyen said, “If I didn’t have to change my schedule as for it works with everything all around, I’d been able to go to more football games or can agree that tiredness holds them back from experiencing new things. Although everyone has his or her own high school experience. Some would say it’s all dances the school held.” It can be pitiful watching your friends getting experiences how you perceive yours. you wish you had if it wasn’t for the necessity of working. However, some seniors
Where to volunteer Sofia El-Shammaa page editor Volunteering is something many students do, whether to get a special diploma, be a member of the National Honors Society (NHS), or just to help the world grow and thrive. A good place to look is www.unitedwaylane.org, which lists volunteering opportunities all over Lane County. At Sheldon, along with many other schools, we have clubs dedicated to volunteering such as the Key Club or the Interact Club. Junior Caitlin Booth is the secretary of the Interact Club, the eleventh grade ambassador for Key Club, the Rotary district representative for Interact Club, a member of the Environmental Club, and a member of the NHS. She has completed over 120 hours of community service. Booth said that volunteering, “Is something I’ve always been into… I like doing things I’m passionate about, and being able to help people that don’t have the means to help themselves.” Booth wants to be an elementary school teacher. Being a leader in so many volunteering clubs, she is in the position to plan many events at elementary schools. Recently, she planned for the Interact Club to volunteer at Prairie Mountain, a kindergarten through eighth grade school, during their Harvest Party. But looking at primary or middle schools isn’t the only place you can help students- recently, a new program here at Sheldon has been developed. Peer Buddies allows students in the TEN program to have a person looking out for them who is part of the comprehensive, IHS, or honors programs. There is an application and a
teacher recommendation necessary. Autism Specialist Katherine Baumgarden has additional information in room A-10. If you’re not interested in the environment, another place to look is the Eugene city website. It also has openings in everything from helping at the library to cleaning up ponds. Junior Anya Maruschak is an IHS student who helped remove ludwigia, an invasive aqua-plant species, from the Delta Ponds: “It felt good to get a new perspective of a place I loved since I was a child,” said Maruschak. “I was out of my comfort zone, but I liked it. I experienced something I wouldn’t normally have… When I’m looking for a place to volunteer, I look for the cause- I like animals and the environment. I’m in the Green Club.” Maruschak plans to finish her service hours required for the IB diploma by the beginning of her senior year. Senior Bethany Wilson worked with the organization Campfire, which is a youth development organization focused on outdoor activities such as camping. Wilson stated, “[Campfire] was a good organization. I did it for most of middle and high school. It was fun; I met a lot of good people.” Wilson no longer is a part of Campfire, but she fundraises for the school band. She said, “It feels good to help people… I’m a senior, and I’m busy, so I don’t do Campfire anymore.” Plenty of seniors and juniors have a lot on their plates that prevent them from doing service work; but it’s important to remember that helping others can be as simple as donating to charities, whether it be old toys to Goodwill or a check to St Jude’s, or as complex as starting a much-needed organization in your community. No matter how small the action or organization, you’re making an impact on someone else’s life that could be huge to them.
Common Effects on Students
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Celebrities and influence Lily Nopp photo and page editor
There are many ways that celebrities can influence people, whether it be through social media, lyrics, speeches, or what the celebrities say or wear. Teenagers are often influenced by people they admire and many teens admire celebrities in one way or another, so celebrities are main influencers for teenagers worldwide. Knowing how people admire them and often try to be like them in some way, many celebrities try to spread positive messages and be strong role models. Many celebrities feel a lot of pressure because, as freshman Elyse Wright put it, “They have to be perfect 24/7; one mistake, and their career could be over.” Other celebrities don’t seem to take their position seriously and just do whatever they feel like, and that behavior can have detrimental effects on how their fans behave. IHS Global Health teacher Lisa Joye said, “Teenagers tend to replicate people whom they admire. Sometimes they talk and dress like their idols;
some become interested in the same things. The imitation can have positive or negative effects depending on various factors.” Some of the factors may include the celebrity, the teen, and how far the imitation goes. The celebrities who do use their fame to have positive impacts can do amazing things. For example, Wright remembers the worldwide famous music group BTS pairing with UNICEF for the Love Yourself campaign. Love Yourself is a series of three albums (along with speeches and social media presence) that has (and continues to) help people all over the world learn about self-love, and learn to love themselves for who they are. It made such an impact that BTS made a speech about it in September of 2018 at the United Nations. One of the memorable quotes in the groundbreaking speech from Kim Nmajoon is: “Maybe I made a mistake yesterday, but yesterday’s me is still me. Today, I am who I am with all of my faults and my mistakes. Tomorrow, I might be a tiny bit wiser, and that will be me too.”
Finals: will you survive?
Beatrice Walton social media and page editor
It’s the final countdown; the last day of the term is today! Finals are hard and stressful, but it can be helpful knowing everyone else is going through the same thing. As the years go on, students have reported feeling more stress and anxiety during finals week. Everyone around them is putting extra pressure on them to do well. Sophomore Kendall Smith said, “My parents put a lot of pressure on me to do well on finals, and it really doesn’t help me focus at school.” She also thinks finals puts added stress on students whose goal is not a regular four year college. Overall, during finals week she is always exhausted,
and it puts her in a terrible mood. Other students say the same thing about finals ruining their mood. With teachers piling on work the urge to fall behind and procrastinate is strong, but it is important to push through and grind it out. During finals week some high school students say they get sick, and have increased headaches. This is likely due to lack of sleep and increased stress. In some severe cases high school students have intense headaches that make it impossible to focus, or do anything. Sophomore Jorryn Phelps is one of those people who suffers from this. During a recent unit final she got one of these debilitating headaches: “My head really hurt and I didn’t know what to do because this test was really
November 27, 2019
Phones cause sleep issues Gabriella Rodriguez staff writer Phone used by students affect their sleep schedule. Senior Jade Joilet said, “It affects my schedule, because I use it as my alarm clock so that’s how I get up in the morning.” Most students use their phone as their alarm clock because it is the most convenient way. Joliet said, “I usually get five or six hours of sleep a night.” She also said, “I’m usually on it up until I fall asleep, so if I got off of it earlier then I would get more sleep, but I usually just lose track of time.” Many people agree that it is very easy to lose track of time while on your phone, especially at night, when that is the only thing you are focused on. Turning your phone off an hour before bed or setting a time limit for yourself could help with improving your sleep schedule. Phones aren’t the only electronics that can distract you from going to bed. Junior Tyler Turchetto said, “I watch Netflix or TV before I go to bed, usually, and sometimes I don’t realize how much time I’ve actually been watching something for, so then by the time I actually pay attention, it’s already super late.” The most common electronic blamed for affecting sleep schedules are important and I couldn’t leave but my migraine was throbbing.” The pressure of these high stakes tests seems to be hurting students more than helping them. Some students even question the necessity of finals, but others also seem to find value in being in an environment similar to one that college students face. Although students find finals stressful they think finals can also prepare them for college. Strategies for staying calm and not stressing can also help your performance on finals, and can improve your mental health throughout that anxiety-filled week. Junior Ahnwyn Bowden said, “What helps me is to set a study schedule, spread out all the work, and to make sure to set aside break time to do activities that let you relax.” For her personally, it is stressful having to balance going to Sheldon High School and South Eugene High School simultaneously. She attends both to be able to do IB biology. Another tip
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phones, because you can do anything, including watching Netflix, playing games, and using social media. Turning off electronics at a certain time can help you keep your sleep schedule more regular and ensure that you are getting enough sleep every night. Some students are better at not letting their phone affect their sleeping habits. Senior Julia Flores said, “I turn my phone off at the same time every night, because if I don’t, then I know I would spend too much time on it and I wouldn’t get the sleep that I need.” Having self-control is a big part of not letting your phone distract you. Being able to put it away so that you can ensure that you have enough sleep so that you can focus in school in the morning is important. If you aren’t getting enough sleep, then focusing in school is even harder. To help with that, you could put your phone on do not disturb so that your notifications don’t pop up, and you aren’t tempted to open them and go on your phone. Getting an alarm clock could help as well, so you are not relying on your phone and you can keep it somewhere other than your bed or nightstand so it is out of reach.
from her is to put away your phone because as we all know they can be super distracting. From analyzing why students are stressed, to learning how to apply study strategies, everyone can agree finals week is a very stressful time.
photo by Beatrice Walton Audrey Bivens studies in the library.
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Musical Mania
November 27, 2019
Marching Band Sheldon offers a wide variety of clubs, sports, and other electives, one of which is the Sheldon Marching Band. Although practice usually takes place during the school day, there are also many practices that take place outside of school, including a two week camp during August. The band is featured at school events such as football games, basketball games, and even assemblies. Sophomore Connor Thorn, a member of the Sheldon Marching Band, said he felt the band added to a positive school atmosphere: “It can get really loud in the gym during assemblies, but it’s always fun to be included in school events and other people seem to enjoy having the band perform as well. Having the band there also seems to make people excited when they walk into the gym or onto the field for games.” While supporting the hard-working sports teams, the band also maintains their own competition schedule. The band is always looking for more support and involvement, but it can be difficult for people to do if they lack experience. Sophomore Shae Harper said, “Maybe if there was a band club that taught students at Sheldon about the program or how to play an instrument, there could be more students who could get involved. There could also be more advertisements for the program, including color guard, because I feel like a lot of students have no idea how to join.” These ideas could bring more awareness to the program and give students an extra opportunity to join band. There are also many other ways to get involved in the program without actually being in the band, such as joining color guard. Talking with band members or the band director is a great way to start if you are interested. Currently, marching season is over, and the band is transitioning into
Alexa Zitterkopf staff writer
The band rocking and rolling all night long!
their concert season. They will play a variety of music across several different ensembles for the rest of the year. Overall, the Sheldon Marching Band had an incredibly successful season and will continue to get better as the years go on. Junior Meghan McMahan said, “My sister has dedicated a chunk of her life into the marching band program, so I have to support her in that. It is nice watching her practice and do something that she really enjoys. She gets pretty excited about it.” It takes a lot of work and dedication to be good at something, and the band put in many hours to improve this year. Now it’s time for everyone to get settled into the rest of the year and continue getting better!
New club: Rock Band Club If you can sing, play bass, drums or guitar, you should try out for Sheldon’s Rock Band Club. Club meets from 3:45-4:45 in the multi-culture room every Monday. Joining a band is a good way to meet new people and build musical skills. Chesh Jones, the singer and guitarist of Scared Of The Dark, has been in bands for about four years. He said “Being in a band is an incredible experience” He also said “It’s
Illustration by Nathan Byers
Photo by Callie Lininger
Cayden Hatcher staff writer
important to work together and have good chemistry when working with others’ creativity.” Joining the club is simple. The first meeting is auditions (only basic knowledge of your instrument is required). If you miss the first audition you can always try out another time. Playing music with others can make you smarter, teach discipline, increase confidence and help you be more social. When joining the Rock Band Club, you should think about if you can work creatively with other musicians. Sheldon sophomore Sariah Thrapp (club co president) said “Joining a band is very exciting. You get very close to the people you make music and play with!” Compatibility and communication are important when working with others. Showing up to practice on time is also important. If one day you hope to be a musician, starting in a band is a great way to learn to work with others and practice playing in front of other people When asked if he would ever consider joining a band, freshmen Liam Cottle said, “It sounds like a fun experience. You get to make new friends, learn and make music. I’d definitely consider joining a band.” So if you can sing, play bass, drums or guitar, consider trying out for Sheldon’s new Rock Band Club.
Student Interests
Esports is growing Videogames are everywhere. According to The ESA 164 million adults in the United States play videogames and 70 percent of high school students play videogames in one form or another. This is on par with the 69 percent of high school girls who play sports and the 75 percent of boys who play high school sports. Despite this, videogames rarely see a competitive format within high school, and only recently found a place in college. With colleges now offering scholarships for various games, and players at the professional level making millions alongside streamers and content creators, the world is due for change and acceptance. The environment associated with videogames has many preconceptions about it. Some of these assumptions are based around how people have seen some individuals interact or react while playing games. However, these interactions and reactions are not only subject to individuals who play these games. Senior Noah Natt said, “[we could] create a good environment especially considering we have a gaming club. Many students play games there so why not take it up a notch and make teams?” The true questions lay with society and school culture, and if they will accept gaming as a legitimate competitive facet of sports. Some individuals believe that we are very far from living in a community that will accept gaming as a sport. Senior Taylor Parker said, “I don’t think we have enough progressive thinkers in the school office to understand gaming as a sport so I don’t think a legitimate team would be something they’d take seriously.” This belief stands strong within the community, despite the facts that attendance for the League of Legends 2015 Worlds event
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Nathan Byers editor
had 36,000,000 unique viewers as compared to the 2015 NBA Finals which only had 19.94 million, the NHL Finals only had 4.077 million, and the 2015 World Series only had 25.5 million viewer. This community is continuously growing. The University of Oregon has just become involved with collegiate Esports, boasting five varsity teams that compete in Call of Duty, League of Legends, Rocket League, Hearthstone, and Overwatch. Esports is currently considered to be a club sport like men’s lacrosse, rugby, and hockey. David Gugliotti is the director of Esports and graduated from the U of O with an MBA in sports marketing. He is currently talking to Siuslaw, Springfield, Pleasant Hill, and Florence high schools about helping kick start Esports programs. David Gugliotti said, “Gaming was my escape, it was how I relaxed, and it was a very positive thing in my life. Honestly, I thought we were a few years away from this.” As the collegiate scene progresses; so does the high school scene, and Esports can help students find a place in and after high school, and possibly even college. With the rise of Esports comes a new industry with a professional scene that pulls enough viewers to provide prize pools with millions of dollars, scholarships, high quality production, and a sense of community that many love and adore. This scene is safe, inclusive, it offers more equal opportunity and a wide variety of games that cater to all sorts of people. As it further develops and high schools implement programs, the world will change, and Sheldon will change with it.
Illustrations by Nathan Byers
Boys and girls basketball Professional men’s basketball is one of the most popular sports in the whole world with roughly 800 million fans all across the world making it a popular sport for high school students to play. Sheldon over the years has had a respectable boys’ basketball program winning state in 1992 and making deep playoff runs in past seasons. This year there has been change to the team with a brand new coaching staff coming from Springfield High School with deep roots in Oregon high school basketball. Sophomore Louis Gaines said in regards to the new coaching staff “I’m really excited for the start of next year with our new coaches. I really think we’ll do well this year.”
Josh Lamberson staff writer
Sports are competitive and take a lot of passion to succeed and improve individually. The best of the best are always the hardest workers like LeBron James and Michael Jordan and were always the first one in the gym and the last one out. Sophomore Nate Kokkler said “My favorite thing about basketball is the competitiveness of the sport it pushes me to get better.” Nate also said “You need passion to win. You need to want it one hundred percent to get it and if you want it that bad you’ll get it.” Passion and competitiveness has been fuel always to winning basketball championships.
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Opinions
Advice from Tawny
What’s been scratching at you lately? Something you just simply can’t decide on your own, or need help with and absolutely can’t figure out where to begin? Everyone finds themselves at a loss or in need of a helping hand, and outside perspectives can be truly refreshing. Asking someone you trust for advice on your crush, how to feel about other’s opinions, and how to improve your GPA can really make a difference in the choices you make. I am Tawny Thomas, a sophomore here at Sheldon High School, and I’m hoping that some of my words of wisdom can help those of you who might need a little direction. Why is my advice any more valid than any randostranger? The answer to that is not that my own thoughtprocess is any more valid, but instead, sometimes advice can be far and few. I hope my words can send you on an eager path to resolve your troubles. “I think he’s out of my league but I don’t know. He’s so cute. What do I do?” First of all, to anyone who is thinking that someone is out of your league, think again. Remember that everyone has a unique type and things they like. You might be exactly the person that other dream person is looking for. If you sit back and do nothing to even try to woo your person of interest, you definitely won’t get far. There’s nothing wrong with trial and error. Even rejection isn’t going to kill you. I want you to ask yourself, “What’s the worst that could happen” I’m sure you’re thinking along the lines of, “They could stop talking to me or things could get weird,” and yes, that is a possibility. Now, think to yourself, “Is someone who deserves me going to drop me because I tried to shoot my shot?” Someone who would be a good addition to your love life is going to value your courage in making a move.
Having thoroughly enjoyed my experience reviewing Chipotle Mexican Grill (last issue), I have decided to continue my reviewing of restaurants. This time I will be going somewhere nearer to Sheldon. In fact, I will be going right across the street. Bangers and Brews replaced the longtime student favorite Ron’s Island Grill, and while it has been in place for nearly a year, I have yet to try it. Many students may be hesitant to try “Bangers,” so I went to a fearless teacher who has. English teacher Andrew Cabrera said, “I went there once; they had a cool menu… I had the Hungarian sausage. I left underwhelmed.” His words were few but enough to grab my interest. A cool menu? Hungarian sausage? I have to go there. Shortly after talking to Mr. Cabrera, I met senior Sean Darasuriyong who wanted to share his experience at Bangers and Brews: “The fries were really good. The Mountain Dew was excellent. It was pretty cheap as well. I liked it a lot!” Darasuriyong’s input on Bangers and Brews increased my desire to visit. While there was a positive response from Darasuriyong, others may disagree with his views on Bangers and Brews. According to senior Ian Gilchrist, “[Bangers and Brews is] bad. The mashed potatoes were cold and the hot dogs felt undercooked.” Gilchrist shared this (specifically the part about the mashed potatoes) with such emotion, it made me perplexed; how does such a restaurant get mixed reviews? So I went to Bangers and Brews. The lighting was dim and relaxed, oldie but goody music played in the background; definitely a hangout for parents. However,
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“Lately school has been really difficult for me because I struggle with studying. Any advice on how I can improve my studies?” Everyone feels overwhelmed An effective way of making more subtle moves in order to sometimes, and it’s stressful to look from an alternate ease into that big question: “Would you want to go on a date perspective in order to resolve a problem, especially sometime?” Try offering them to share a snack with you, something as black and white as school. Teenagers seem to complimenting something about their style casually, or even get so caught up in the midst of things with everything on giving them a personal, flirty compliment if you’re feeling their plate, and end up forgetting the simplest of strategies. confident enough. So be confident and do your best! For example, one thing I always try to do when I’m low “I’m so worried what people are thinking about me all on time and high on homework is record myself repeating the time. How do I get over myself?” A better question to my notes. Later, when I’m headed somewhere in the car, or ask yourself would be, “Why do I care in the first place?” doing a chore, I listen to my recorded notes over the blue You should contemplate what it is about you that fiends for tooth speaker or even my own headphones. It’s a super easy another’s approval. In order to give up the habit of trying to way to retain the knowledge you need while multitasking. please others more than yourself, you must embrace your Another simple task you can add to your study skill set is emotions and feelings. How do you feel about the things to rewrite notes. Yes, the job at hand is a pain, but it’s like you do and like? How do you feel about your strategy to re-learning the things you’ve gone over in class, except satisfy your emotional, mental, physical and social needs? If on your own; you can look up any questions you have any of your answers to questions like these revolve around along the way and avoid the lengthy in-class explanations your thirst to please someone besides you, try out some soul teachers usually give out. This method also allows your searching. Put energy into finding the things that do bring mind to let the information sink in and resonate. Though you comfort, joy, and excitement. You are the one living your there’s so many study tips, my personal favorite is to ask life, therefore your overall wellbeing should come before the teacher a million questions in class or outside of school someone’s “approval.” Being in touch with the real you can hours. It’s not necessarily a joy to take your time out of be difficult when it feels like that person has been buried away class or to stop the class while your teacher is speaking to for so long, but you can do so much to encourage the innerask a question, but it’s better than being oblivious come the you to grow and thrive into becoming your exact, authentic day of the test. Self-advocating is the most effective way of self. The soul searching is worth it. Get out of your comfort receiving the knowledge you need. zone and work on becoming who you’re really meant to I am Tawny Thomas, a sophomore at Sheldon High be, because someone else’s idea on your future, status or School, and my two cents is the best I can do to help the whatever it may be, may not be your idea for yourself. Do peers around me. Never feel ashamed to reach out for what feels good. advice, for even the strongest people need a hand at times.
Tawny Thomas staff writer
Food critic Peter Saisslin page editor
when I went to the front to place my order, I received a friendly greeting from the cashier. She informed me of a student special, which is eight dollars, consisting of one banger, one side of fries and a drink. For my student special, I ordered a classic banger with ketchup, fries and water. It only took about five minutes for my order to come, which is nice- especially when there’s only forty minutes for lunch. While I waited, a small plate of bread and sauce was delivered to my table as an appetizer. It was simple and a nice way to prepare for the meal ahead. When the waiter returned to my table, he was polite and asked if I would like the fry sauce, which was delivered seconds later. As I glimpsed over my tray, I felt slightly underwhelmed; there was a good amount of fries, but the banger was smaller than I expected. Hesitantly, I started into the fries. The fries were thin, but so great in both quality and quantity that it didn’t matter. Crispy throughout with a good amount of salt and filling, these fries are among some of the best I have ever had. To complement their basic greatness, the fry sauce provided a spectacular amount of sweetness to the savory fries. Fry sauce tends to be too sweet, unbalancing the flavor of the fries they are intended for, but Bangers’ fry sauce manages to walk the line between too sweet and not sweet enough. I kept wanting to dip the fries into the spectacular sauce, and I was able to! Bangers and Brews put more fries on the side of my order than a large order at McDonald’s.
The banger itself was smaller than I thought it would be; the bun it was on surrounded it entirely. However, as bit into the banger, I realized that size would not be an issue. The bangers and its toppings were filled to the breaking point, and combined for a savory, yet filling experience. The size of the bun also solved a common hot dog problem I have. Sometimes the ketchup escapes the bun, and gets either on the table or one’s clothes. Because the bun was so big, there was nowhere for the ketchup to go. The bssanger was also placed on a neat custom pedestal, which contributed to the cleanliness and organization of the meal. Overall, Bangers and Brews is a neat, new experience. It’s a little pricey, and can seem like too much for too little, but it does satisfy the consumer. If you are tired of your normal lunch spots and are looking for a new place to try, I’d recommend Bangers and Brews.
Photo by Peter Saisslin
The student special at Bangers and Brews
Student Support
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November 27, 2019
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Menstrual product availability in 4j schools Posey Chiddix page editor In the words of Nadya Okamoto, co-founder of the nonprofit PERIOD, “Menstrual hygiene is a right, not a luxury.” Menstrual products are necessities for people across the globe, yet many school bathrooms continue to lack these products, including schools in the 4j district. The Eugene chapter of the organization PERIOD is working to change this by providing period products for menstruators in need, educating communities about periods, and pushing for a policy that will get free menstrual products in schools. About the work this group does in Eugene, sophomore Nabikshya Rayamajhi said, “Currently we’re working on having free menstrual products in schools in women’s bathrooms, but also gender-neutral bathrooms as well. And for schools that already have these products, we’re trying to improve the product quality.” Their most recent initiative is to appeal to the school board to get free menstrual products in 4j schools. 4j School Board member Martina Shabram said, “We have a practice of providing such supplies, and I would like to see us enshrine this formally in policy either by creating a new policy or amending an existing one.” This kind of policy about menstrual products in school bathrooms is critical not only because low-income students sometimes don’t have access to basic hygiene products, but also because school districts should be tackling the issue of period stigma. As to why the school board should consider this, Shabram said, “First, it
ensures that future administrations will continue to provide these services. Second, it’s a demonstration of our values, which I think is sometimes the most powerful thing that school board members can do.” With the support of school board members, including Gordon Lafer and Martina Shabram, Eugene’s PERIOD chapter hopes to get menstrual product policy passed soon in 4j. Representatives of PERIOD gave public comments at the 4j School Board meeting on November 6 alongside students from Churchill High School’s Women’s Empowerment Club. While Sheldon provides menstrual products for free in dispensers in many of its bathrooms, the only place one can get pads and tampons at Churchill is from the office. Churchill sophomore Violet Neal said, “At Churchill currently, the only menstrual products we have are in the office. Since joining Women’s Empowerment Club, I actually learned that they were there for the first time.” Period poverty is another reason why menstrual products need to be made readily available to students. Churchill senior Kira Elliott said, “If they don’t have the comfort of a steady roof over their head, then they don’t have the comfort of putting down $14 for Playtex Sport [tampons].” At the school board meeting on November 20, a policy was passed that requires all secondary schools in the 4j District to provide free menstrual products in their women’s and gender-neutral restrooms. The student activists who made this happen are ecstatic about the decision and are already looking forward to making
change elsewhere in Eugene and beyond. People who are interested in being a part of Eugene’s PERIOD chapter can follow @period.eugene on Instagram and Facebook or email period.eugene@gmail.com. PERIOD is dedicated to achieving menstrual equity, which is why chapters across the country are pushing for period product policies just like this one.
Photo by Posey Chiddix Churchill senior Kira Elliott giving a public comment at a 4j School Board meeting in support of menstrual product policy.
Formal wear drive Destiny Gates staff writer Do you have a dress or any homecoming or prom dress attire, but don’t know what to do with it? Donate it to the Sheldon formalwear drive! Transition Coordinator Jackie Owens and members of the Economic Justice League club set up a formalwear drive for all of the students who don’t have access to homecoming/prom attire. The Drive started November 18 and ended November 22, but they are still accepting donations. You can donate any size clothing that is school appropriate, but it has to be either homecoming or prom attire. There are two bins, one by
the front office and one by the care closet rack. If the clothing item has major damage then its not acceptable, but if the clothing has slight damage then it’s acceptable. If the clothing item doesn’t provide the size, then please add a sticky note with the size on it. Before donating, please wash the clothing item(s). If you have donated an item, you will not be able to get the item back, so make sure you’re ready to let it go before donating it. “Any donations would be really appreciated, and will help someone in need!” Owens said. If you have any questions you can ask J Owens, or a member of the Economic Justice League!
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Miscellaneous
November 27, 2019
the Talisman
Earthquake preparedness
Callie Lininger staff editor
Supposedly, a big earthquake will hit Oregon, but how big will it really be and what can we do to prepare? Something that is commonly believed is that this earthquake is supposed to be the “big” one. According to Oregon.gov, “Oregon has the potential for a 9.0+ magnitude earthquake caused by the Cascadia Subduction Zone and a resulting tsunami of up to 100 feet in height that will impact the coastal area.” This earthquake would greatly impact our lives, and it is crucial to be prepared. But how prepared are we really? Science teacher Ike Sanderson said, “ [We’re] not well prepared [for an earthquake]. I can’t speak for the infrastructure… but all I can talk about with any knowledge is that a vast number of people don’t have enough water, [or] enough resources. The resources that we don’t have put graph by Callie Lininger 167 peoples disaster plans away scares me.” While it’s uncertain if this earthquake will even happen in our lifetime, Rich Bowden said, “To prepare for this earthquake you should store food people should be as prepared as possible, because for up to three weeks, store supplies like maybe a tent, sleeping bag, stuff the aftermath could be catastrophic. for sleeping outside, or stuff for the winter or rain. That’s the minimum and There are a number of things you can do in there will be about three weeks without power, and without water.” With anticipation of the aftermath. Science teacher
such a tremendous threat it’s important to prepare a place where to store materials in case of emergency. You never know when an earthquake could hit, or what the weather will be, so always plan for the worst case scenario. Better safe than sorry. Another good idea is a family disaster plan, so families have a better idea of what to do in case of an earthquake. Freshman Nalani Angeles said, “We have an emergency no red bag that we keep under our stairs, that has a map of our neighborhood and yes it has a location we will meet if we get separated. There’s also an emergency whistle, and we all know where the [meeting] location place is.” Since the time and date of earthquakes are unpredictable, it’s smart to have a safe place to go to if one occurs. Also,, there is a large chance that the cell towers won’t be working and won’t be available so communicating via phones could be useless. Oregon as a whole is not well prepared for a magnitude nine earthquake, but it’s not too late for preparation. If you want to survive, take every action to ensure safety.
Security cameras in halls
You may have found out by just looking around and noticing, that cameras all around the school this year. Senior Isaiah Stevens said, “The reason I think they put cameras in the school is to catch students doing something they’re not supposed to be doing.” Some people are saying that they think the cameras are fake. Stevens said, “I don’t think they’re fake; I just don’t think they look at them.” Stevens also said that he “Doesn’t think they’re a good idea for school because the students are just going to get sneakier with things.” Lots of people think the cameras are a good idea, and many other people don’t think they’re a good idea. Stevens thinks another reason that the cameras were put in the school is to catch kid’s juuling because students have been caught with juuls before, and the cameras help them figure out
who is vaping. Sophomore Maiya Hatcher said “I think the cameras were out into Sheldon because many students have been caught doing things they’re not supposed to be doing and the cameras will help catch them.” Some people have said that they don’t think anyone ever looks at them. Hatcher said “I don’t think they look at them all the time because no one has gotten caught with something yet and I feel like someone would.” Talking more about how some people think they are fake or not, senior Lucas Wilkinson said, “I definitely believe they are real because they wouldn’t spend all that money just for fake cameras.” The cameras were put in Sheldon to make sure students are following the rules and doing what they are supposed to be doing. Wilkinson said, “I think they were a bad idea for school because kids are just going to get better at hiding things.”
Hairdo or dye If you have ever wanted to do something different with your hair, but have had trouble knowing where to start, then you are not alone. Evenly distributing dye and bleach is difficult. Many people change their hair color. The LS salon and spa owner Elisha Sechrist said she dyes her hair because “it’s fun [and] it changes my personality.” Dying hair is tricky; lots of people have trouble knowing where to start and what colors to do. Cheap hair dye and bleach can damage hair so, make sure to use professional hair dyes. Professional brands in the salon are best. “Sally’s Beauty Supply” carries the second best brands. When bleaching hair it’s important to be very careful.
Allie Davis staff writer
Keeping an eye on things
photo by Kenneth Mitchelll
Sariah Thapp staff writer
Bleach can ruin hair very easily if it’s done wrong. Part your hair in four sections. Start in the nape area and apply a half inch off the scalp. Then, apply the rest of the bleach throughout the rest of the hair in thin strips. When it comes to applying hair dye one can be less careful than with bleach. Apply the dye to thin strips at a time. Rub the dye really well into your hair. Hair dye isn’t like shampoo. Be careful or it will come out patchy. Make sure to wear a color proof cape and a shirt you don’t mind getting messy. Asking a friend to help is a useful tip. If you drop the dye anywhere else besides hair, clean ASAP so it doesn’t dye anything else.
Picking a color can be difficult. Don’t worry about other people’s thoughts. Dying your hair is meant to express yourself, so pick a color that will best suite you. People with blue and green eyes usually have a cool color tone in the skin, which work best with violet, icy blonde, and blue based colors. Brown and hazel eyed people have warmer skin tones, which work best with copper, red, warm brown, and blond colors. In the end it’s always best to spend a little more money to get your hair professionally done at a salon. LS Salon and Spa is a great place to get it done.
Student Experience
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T.E.N. program provides opportunities Maya Nair staff writer Did you know that Sheldon has a program for kids who have special needs? It’s called the TEN Program. TEN stands for Transition Education Network and has a staff composed of three main teachers: Megan Sullivan, Katie Hansen, and Kwasi Diehl. They have other staff members, including a program coordinator, educational assistants and other specialists. Student Services Director Kat Lange said, “The TEN program is a program at Sheldon High School that focuses on assisting students to develop skills to assist with their post secondary goals. The focus of the program is to cover all aspects of learning for a student which includes functional academics, independent living, community and transition. The students also have the opportunity to engage in classes that are part of the regular schedule at the high school and participate in activities and clubs associated with Sheldon.” The program helps students prepare for living in the community as independently as possible. Sheldon TEN offers many different classes, and one of the most popular is cooking. Junior Gabby Candelas said, “My favorite class is cooking class because we get to choose the recipes and learn to cook a variety of food.” In cooking class, students search for a recipe and vote on which one they want to cook. Once they have a recipe, they go shopping for items needed. Then, they cook and eat it. Candelas also said, “Another thing I like about the cooking class is we get to eat the food we make.” Many of the TEN students go to general education classes in addition to the TEN classes. Lange said, “I absolutely believe that all TEN students should have a chance to engage in general education classes at Sheldon. TEN students are part of the community at Sheldon and should be afforded the same opportunities as every student. Sheldon has some wonderful classes that many of the TEN students could benefit from and this gives them a chance to be included with their peers.” There are many amazing things about the program. TEN teacher
Megan Sullivan said, “My favorite part of the program is how creative I get to be as a teacher. One of the classes I teach is cooking and we have a lot of fun!” Educational assistant Jill Rainer said, “There are many things I like about the TEN program, but one of my favorites is the family-like community the students and staff have with one another.” As a student in the TEN program, I have been able
T.E.N. students in A2, including article writer Maya Nair (front)
Applying to colleges Jasmyn Jensen editor-in-chief With senior year comes applying for college and deciding what you want to do with your future. Although we are only a term into senior year the clock is already counting down. Many students are stressed about the idea of having to make the big decisions right now. English teacher Kate Tierney said, “Don’t put so much emphasis on making the right decision and choosing the right college; most students feel their choice will make or break them, and it won’t.” There is a large group of students who know exactly what they want to do once they graduate, whereas, there’s another group that has no idea and that brings a lot of stress. The big thing for many people is early admissions, because you don’t have to wait as long for an answer. Getting things done can save a lot of stress, like for
to take general education classes in English, geography, health, science, music appreciation, and Talisman/ newspaper. My favorite thing about the TEN program is that it is part of Sheldon High School, which is my community school. I get to attend general education classes and participate in school activities and clubs along with my schoolmates, whom I have grown up with since elementary school.
senior Kaelyn Knapp, who said, “I did do early admissions because I wanted to submit it and not have to worry about it for longer.” Other students feel the same way as Knapp. For instance, senior Kenneth Mitchell said, “I started applying over the summer so I had lots of time and wouldn’t be stressed.” There have been quite a few people who have already received their acceptance letters from colleges they’ve applied to because they went through the early admission process. Once acceptance letters come in it’s time to choose what to do. Knapp said, “I plan on majoring in something that makes me happy and something that doesn’t involve calculus; sorry Ms. Sitton.” More often than not, seniors aren’t sure exactly what they want to do. Although there is a large group of people who don’t know exactly what they want to do, there is the other group which knows what major they want to pursue. Mitchell said, “I’m going to major in mathematics,
photo by Nathen Byers
and probably get my PhD in math.” Knowing what you want to do can be a bonus going into college, but there is always the chance you will change your major so don’t stress. Tierney said, “If you don’t like where you end up in college, just transfer.”
Run by students, for students. Frontpage Editor More Than Just a Turkey pg.2 Editor Student Expression pg. 3 Editor Opportunities Outside of School pg. 4 Editor Common Effects on Students pg. 5 Editor Musical Mania and Student Interests pg.6-7 Editor Opinions pg.8 Editor Student Support pg.9 Editor and social media editor Miscellaneous pg.10 Editor Student Experience pg.11 Editor and photo editor Backpage Editor and editor-in-chief Staff Adviser Staff Writers Jordan Bolden Maya Nair Destiny Gates Sariah Thrapp
Joshua Lamberson Allie Davis Tawny Thomas Alayna Hughes
Nathan Byers Michaela Kearney Callie Lininger Carsten Konyn Sofia El-Shammaa Nathan Byers & Jasmyn Jensen Posey Chiddix Beatrice Walton Peter Saisslin Lily Nopp Jasmyn Jensen Greg Cantwell
Keira Collier Gaby Rodriguez Cayden Hatcher Alexa Zitterkopf
cover - Sheldon Colleens dance team performs at football game on Friday, November 15, 2019. photo by Callie Lininger backpage photo by Greg Cantwell
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