Custodial Staff: Unsung Heroes
Thomas Follett staff writer
Sheldon High School is privileged to have a clean school environment. When students look around, it’s pretty difficult to spot a dirty surface or a stain on a carpet. One of, if not the main reasons for this, is the custodial staff. Without them, Sheldon would fall apart.
Sheldon’s community prides itself on respect, and responsibility. The job of keeping our school clean doesn’t completely fall on the custodians. When asked how students and staff at Sheldon can help do their part in keeping the school clean, custodian Ernesto Guinn said, “If you see something on the floor, pick it up. Simple as that.” It really is that simple.
The custodians do a lot to keep the school clean and their hard work doesn’t go unnoticed. When asked about his thoughts on the custodial staff, sophomore Eric House said, “I really appreciate what they do for us. Sometimes, I see the floors and hallways very dirty at the end of the day, and the next day I come to school [the hallways] are very clean, tidy, and well kept. It means a lot that there are people here working to keep our school clean for the students.” House is proof that while some may take what the custodians do
for granted, their hard work doesn’t go unnoticed. The Custodial staff’s duties go beyond just keeping the hallways and classrooms clean. They’re also responsible for the aftermath of school events such as sports games, concerts, and assemblies. Julie Bounds, Director of Bands at Sheldon, sheds some light on this process: “What’s supposed to happen is that [Staff members] fill out a facilities request form that goes on a calendar that everyone can see. That allows the custodians, because they have their own commitments that they have to do in the evening… [and the] head custodian to divvy out responsibilities [for events]. Then I typically try to make sure on my events that I also talk to Ernesto or the other custodians so that we are all on the same page. Especially if someone is going to be sick or something happens, that gives them time to make sure the bathrooms and the theater [or other event spaces] are cleaned. As well as that I try to make sure that my classroom spaces are kept clean so that I can help them in case they have to do an extra thing…I just don’t think it’s the custodian’s job to pick up all this trash off the floor.”
All in all, Sheldon is clean because of the custodians, and it’s important that we don’t take that for granted. They put in a lot of hard work for both students and staff, and it doesn’t go unnoticed. To all the custodians of Sheldon, thank you.
Commentary: Inadequate funding
Benjamin Guldager staff writer
In recent times, teachers have been experiencing some constraints when trying to teach their classes as intended. This problem has been appearing a lot recently in Sheldon High School. One of these problems is that teachers are not able to access funding for teaching materials that the class and teacher need to be able to work as a functioning classroom. Another problem that has been discussed lately in the Sheldon High School community is the lack of timely communication from the 4J District with messages or alerts that concern teachers. The issues having to do with communication in the 4J
District have been noticed by not just the teachers, but the students too. Tobias Janku said, “I have heard teachers complain a lot about 4J.” Some of the complaints that Janku shared were communication with the IT department concerning getting resources and teaching materials for teachers.
mmonly used in education like, “Cisco Packet Tracer.” It took 6 weeks last year to get them approved.”
Many teachers across the school have been using their personal money for classroom resources and teaching materials. This is a result of teachers being unable to effectively get funding in a timely manner. Mrs. Reed, an English teacher currently having trouble with this issue said, ”Books are a pain. You have to request through the department. Each department in the school gets money,
[and] once it’s gone it’s gone. I buy my own colored paper, markers, pens, those sorts of things.”
This raises the question, are the teachers here at Sheldon High School getting the support needed to teach their class as they see most fit? Teachers do not have an easy and accessible way to access funding, and there is a lack of communication from the district to help meet these funding needs. This being said, the 4J district needs to be focusing more on the needs of teachers, and how they can help support them as educators so that they can adequately meet the needs of students.
Commentary: End Sheldon Fights
Clarity Turnage staff writer
Fights. Why do so many people fight at this school? Is it to show dominance or is it to look cool? You know what I think it is, I think it is a waste of time. Over the last few months there have been several fights at or near this school, and in one day there were even numerous fights. People are fighting over food getting dropped on the floor, and getting into fights because people don’t keep their mouths shut. In my opinion the kids at this school need to learn to ignore the haters, because if you let people get under your skin, what kind of person would you be? You would be that person who gets mad at the littlest things.
Fighting just causes people to get even more hurt. If you have an issue with someone don’t use your hands, start using words and grow up. To me, fighting is pointless. There is no point in it. Some boys at this school say they are in gangs and all this stuff, but in reality, they are honestly just cowards. Some girls are fighting because of boy drama, talking behind each other’s backs.
We, as students, need to be there for each other and help each other grow into good people. Fighting isn’t going to get anyone anywhere in life.
Illustration by Brady Rust
Is Cancel Culture Canceled?
Brady Rust copy editor
As media presence has become more ingrained in our society, ‘cancel culture’ has risen alongside it. The permanence of the internet no longer allows people to escape what they have shared in the past, allowing the general public unlimited access to their mistakes. ‘Cancel culture’ is a cultural phenomenon in which some who are deemed to have acted or spoken in an unacceptable manner are boycotted or shunned. As this phenomenon has taken the media by storm, many have begun to wonder whether or not cancel culture has reached a point of unnecessary toxicity.
Senior Aaliyah Franklin said, “Cancel culture highlights people’s mistakes, rather than their growth.” Years or even decades after wrongdoings take place they often resurface and put an end to people’s media presence, without recognizing the growth in mindset that could’ve taken place since that event. This can lead to wrongful cancellations or a significant loss in one’s following, devastating the careers and futures of many who may not deserve it.
The act of deplatforming creators often comes from good intentions, but wrongfully doing so can mentally damage creators and take away from the credibility of the movement. Senior Tilly McNamara noted, “I think that
cancel culture is so toxic because of how some people get canceled for the smallest things, and others for bigger, more reasonnable things. A lot of people make a living from social media and spreading lies or blowing unimportant things out of proportion is bullying and is not productive for anybody involved.” This contributes to the idea that the act of holding people accountable online is becoming less effective and removing opportunities for growth from people.
Senior Ivy Burris highlighted that “audiences often jump to conclusions” before giving people the chance to provide context around or properly address concerns. This hostile nature of viewers has led many to believe that people no longer truly care about educating others, they just want to justifiably attack people. An example of this toxicity can be seen through the red carpet interview in which Rachel Zegler discussed her upcoming portrayal of Snow White, and audiences decided to boycott everything she is involved in, labeling her a “PR disaster.” Media’s quick jump to cancellation often targets women in the public eye, in similar situations to that of Zegler.
In the rare chance that creators come back from cancellation, wrongful or not, they typically are not given the option to move on from their mistakes, as viewers hold onto feelings of distaste through consistently reminding creators of their wrongdoings. Recent examples of creators who have returned to the internet from cancellation, but have not been able to grow their digital presence are James Charles, Matt
The Normalization of Teen Drinking
Alcohol and drugs have always had a presence in a lot of teenagers’ lives for generations. But in current pop culture, the use of alcohol and drugs is represented as part of the teenage experience, adding on to a perception that it’s a rite of passage. As a result, teenagers may find themselves struggling with societal expectations, peer pressure, and the wish to fit in.
Senior Claire Butler feels that the view of teenagers on social media is only realistic for a certain audience: “Most of my friends haven’t touched either and I don’t think they’re missing out on anything. Even though teenagers using drugs are often shown in popular media, it’s pretty common for someone to go through high school without partaking in that culture.” It’s important to recognize
the different contrasts of teenage experiences, with many steering away from the stereotype of high schoolers going to parties and trying drugs and/or alcohol shown through media representations. Representing this audience of teens that go through high school without cracking under the pressure of fitting into images posted on social media would result in teens not having those expectations for themselves going into high school.
Teenage substance use isn’t only related to societal expectations, but also is used as a coping mechanism for mental health issues. Senior Sheah Yi stated, “It’s really disheartening seeing peers who eventually end up being heavily reliant on alcohol due to stress linked to school, family, mental health, etc. I wish there was more that could be done in order to prevent teenage alcoholism, but unfortunately, I feel that a lot of young people who are caught underage drinking are reprimanded horribly and their real
struggles go overlooked.”
Many people believe that whether teen drinking and substance use is considered bad or not teens are going to do it either way and should have a safe space to experiment with it without consequence. Senior Lucy McNutt said, “Most teenagers are going to experiment with substances whether their parents promote it or not. It can be extremely dangerous especially if you do it consistently, but in my opinion you can’t really stop a teenager from doing it.” This perspective shifts the focus off of only prevention, but most importantly,vr on providing informative spaces for teenagers to make these choices responsibly, and prioritizing their health and safety.
Student Experiences with Harassment
Jade Platz staff writer
Bullying has been a problem in our schools for as long as anyone can remember. Anyone can be bullied. Bullies look to take advantage of people and statistically girls are a target most often. Junior Feyara Lyakhovetskiy stated, “As far as I can remember I’ve fallen victim to this because of how I dress, being too feminine or childish. It only started dying down when I changed and let my self-expression vanish.”
Junior Zoe Carsurd said, “I am made fun of mostly because of my appearance and what I choose to wear. It
makes me have feelings of depression and I wish people would respect how I express myself.” Reports on these issues date back far to where the statistics of women being bullied by men are up by 60% on the source “Bullying statistics. com.”
Junior Lux Yamamori shared, “It’s hard not to feel judged when people walk past me and assume I don’t notice them laughing behind my back. We notice all remarks as small as sideways glances.” Despite rates of bullying being high for women it’s still increasingly significant for all genders, indicated on “Frontiers.org.” Women have been exposed to this treatment more than average since many are targeted. Many different students can get bullied but it affects most
people in a similar way mentally. It is important that students in the schools are aware of these rates and causes so in the future it can be fixed for everyone.
graphic by Samiha Ghonaim
Rife, and Colleen Ballinger. Two significant people
Samiha Ghonaim page editor
Kidsports: “a staple in Eugene since 1953”
Micah White staff writer
Kidsports has been a staple in Eugene since 1953. Many kids at Sheldon grew up playing some sort of kidsports activity, as they offer many different types of sports allowing any kid to play and feel active. It’s a great way to teach kids the value of physical fitness, sportsmanship, practice and teamwork through sports and activities. The first sport that Kidsports ever offered was boys basketball, with a ten team league, and now it offers boys and girls basketball.
Sheldon has many students who participate in the high school Kidsports basketball league.
Junior Channy No said, “We are the Taiping Tigers.’’ When asked further about the name, No stated, “It represents the real me. When it’s just me, sometimes I think I’m a tiger. The team is everything. I would die for the tigers.”
A lot of people play Kidsports for a lot of different reasons. Junior Drew Parks has been a part of the Kidsports basketball program for a long time now and said, “I’m just trying to play some ball. I’m all here about team progress and making progress; that’s all I care about. I’m here to make it to the league.”
Junior Kanoa Smith, a member of the Eugene Cougars,
a prominent team in the Kidsports basketball league, claims that his team is going to be unstoppable in the league: “There aren’t rivalries without competition, so I don’t really see the other teams from Sheldon as rivalries. I want the smoke, but if the other teams aren’t going to put up a fight then I’m really not worried.” There are a lot of teams butting heads at Sheldon right now, and even though a lot of the players aren’t going to be scouted in the Kidsports league, it would be wrong to say that it isn’t important to the players. Every player interviewed explained that the Kidsports league is annually their main interest and hobby in the wintertime.
Lacrosse Returns for the 2024 Season
Landon Core staff writer
The Sheldon lacrosse team is a club team, but they work just as hard as all the other sports at Sheldon. The team is excited to start the new season because of their new coach. Senior Seth McEwen is the captain of the team. McEwen and some of the other seniors were running senior lead practices in the off season while they figured out who their new coach was going to be. They would work out in the morning and do field work in the afternoon.
McEwen has played lacrosse since third grade. He started back when he lived in Ohio and has loved the game ever since, and said, “I am most excited to start the season because I love competing with my friends. I have loved competing for as long as I can remember.” McEwen is also excited to play against Marist for the first game of the year: “The number one thing I love about lacrosse is the physicality and running people over. That’s what we are going to do against Marist.”
Senior Marley Bonin is a great midfielder on the team. He plays on the left side and his main goal is to play great defense and clear the field to get people open. Bonin said, “I am a team player. I will be there for my teammates and that’s what’s great about lacrosse. I know they have my back out on the field as I have their back.” Bonin loves to win the face off. A face Off is when a possession starts after a goal is scored. Bonin said, “Face off is the best way to take momentum of the game and score points. If we don’t win the face off we are forced to play defense and give them the upper hand.”
Senior Sam Kline runs the defense on the other side of the field. He has played defense ever since he started lacrosse. Kline is excited for the season because just
like football he is trying to lead his team to a state championship. Kline said, “When we are going against a good offense it is good to run a zone defense so that way if someone gets beat there is always another player there to recover.” Kline also said, “If they don’t have a great offense then we switch to man and play more aggressively. When we can get turnovers, that is what leads to points and that is how we win games.”
Everyone is ready to take on a new challenge and get the season started. No date yet for their first game but all of the seniors are going to rally together and make sure the team is ready for the first game versus Marist. Last year they lost to West Linn in the second round of the playoffs, but everyone is looking to step it up this year and lead the team to a state championship.
Kidsports basketball in action.
photo courtersy of Micah White
graphic by Ella Schmeling
Averie Achim (Jr.) goes in for a shot in the 2023 match against Summit.
photo courtesy of Averie Achim
The boys lacrosse team poses for a photo on the football field.
photo courtesy of Landon Core
graphic by Ella Schmeling
Taking a Gap Year: Yay or Nay?
Lileah Briggs staff writer
On average, around 40,000 to 60,000 American students take a gap year each academic year. A gap year is a year or semester out of school typically after their senior year of high school before enrolling in college or pursuing their career. Students typically choose to do this in order to travel, work, or volunteer to help to discover what they want to pursue later in life or in college. The concept of a gap year has been common in European countries but became more widely known throughout the US in 2016 when former first daughter Malia Obama announced that she would be taking a gap year before attending college.
High school students or graduates considering
a gap year have many reasons, with the two most common being travel and career goals. Sophomore Anna Perez is considering a gap year as she says she would like to “gain skills that I can use in my future career and gain more academic confidence.” She is currently undecided on what she would like to pursue as a career which is what inspired her to possibly take a gap year. She said she is hoping that the gap year will help her “explore more things and gain more skills while providing myself more time to reflect on what I would like to do next in my life.” Her parents are very supportive of this decision as they both took gap years themselves after high school and now currently love their careers.
An immersion gap year is a year spent surrounded by an unfamiliar culture to seek different experiences and perspectives. This typically involves things like living abroad with host families and participating in cultural activities and practices. Sophomore Sloan
Sick with Senioritis
Finley Olsen page editor
Sleep deprivation, lack of motivation, and putting your assignments aside are all symptoms of the common “disease” amongst seniors, popularly known as senioritis. Even though we’re just half way through the school year, people around school have already begun to experience its symptoms. Senior Diego Villada-Youel said, “My workload is kinda heavy and I don’t start it when I receive it which makes me do it all in one day.”
Procrastination is taking over many students’ social lives as well. It’s sometimes challenging to create a balance between school and social activities. With the fun aspects of senior year being promoted, it’s not uncommon for students to want to skip out on the academic aspects. The switch from junior year to senior year can be quite jarring to some students. Senior Julian Eclarinal shared the biggest challenge he’s
faced with senioritis: “Sitting down and being able to finish the assignment in one sitting is really hard for me because in previous years I’ve had a large amount of work so I had to force myself to get it done. Now I don’t have as much so I procrastinate more.” Junior year is filled with hours of homework for many students, so the change to senior year can be difficult when you just want to be done with high school. Making enough time for yourself in times of stress is typically a difficult task. With the symptoms of senioritis comes a stack of work that feels like a chore to get through. Senior Faith Merwin said, “Whenever I’m feeling high levels of stress, especially when it involves school, it always feels consuming. The stress that comes with school feels as though it is never ending, which makes it increasingly more difficult to try to make time to relax and take care of myself.” As things pile up, procrastination increases and motivation decreases rapidly.
After winter break a new mindset sets in of wanting to make it to spring break. Instead of riding the waves of senior year, students are trying to look beyond them in an attempt to make it go faster. It’s hard to imagine the hard parts coming to a close, but they will. We just have to make it through.
Hubbard would like to take a gap year to travel the world and gain a more expansive perspective. Hubbard said, “I want to travel and see things that are outside of where I have lived my whole life.” She is particularly interested in traveling to Mexico to expand her knowledge on Mexican culture. She said that taking a gap year was right for her as she would like “a bigger sense of the world before I start working.”
Many people might be skeptical about gap years as they believe it may be hard to return to school. This is false as 90% of people in the US who take gap years return to college. While a gap year may not be right for everybody, they are certainly worth it for students who want to experience new cultures and ways of life. They also provide time to learn new skills, reflect and focus on your future goals and plans, and help with your overall self discovery.
Class-Colors Assembly
Freshmen, Sophomores, Junions and Seniors wore their class colors and competed in games to show their class pride during a double assembly on Wednesday, January 24. Freshmen wore blue, Sophomores green, Juniors white and Seniors wore black.
Ethan Angeles (Sr.) covering the Class-Color Olympics.
Graphic by Finley Olsen
A typical student’s missing assignments.
Natalee Paul (Sr.) is seen playing “Guess that tune.”
Photos by Shiloh Capiak
Cringe or Binge?
Brody Rust page editor
Cringe or Binge? With the recent success of teen tv shows such as, “Ginny and Georgia,” “Never Have I Ever,” and “The Summer I Turned Pretty,” the media has been flooded with criticisms deeming these shows and others as cringe. While most of these have their cringe moments they have binge-worthy factors, such as a plot or well-written characters, that are received well by those who give them the chance.
While senior Abbie Lee loves cringey shows, she touches on recent teen shows and whether they’re truly cringe or worthy of a binge. She notes “Ginny and Georgia” as binge worthy, as it is “so bad, but so good.” Although the infamous scene where the character Hunter (played by Mason Temple), tap dances in celebration, is considered the cringiest moment in TV history by Lee.
Senior Olivia Gilhuber does not shy away from teen and reality genres, watching shows like “The Summer I Turned Pretty” and “The Golden Bachelor.” While she typically enjoys this subject of today’s media, “Riverdale” and one of its lead actors, KJ Appa, crossed the line into cringey for Gilhuber. Ghiluber mentioned, “Riverdale was written by older people trying to cater to a younger audience,” and how it
failed miserably to do so. However, the summer vibes and the heart-wrenching storyline of Susanah Fisher (played by Rachel Blanchard) in “The Summer I Turned Pretty,” drew Gilhuber in for a binge worthy all nighter.
Aside from teen dramas, doctor and medic shows have been critiqued as repetitive and with that, a cringey representative of medical treatments. Health teacher Rosemary Nguyen enjoys the suspenseful drama and is
currently watching “9-1-1 Lone Star.” Nguyen added, “the drama makes it interesting even if it’s cheesy,” as she reflected on what keeps her watching each week. While the media tends to post those hard-to-watch scenes to generate more buzz, you may miss out on underlying factors that mold the plot into a worthy watch.
Girlbossification of Live-Action Disney Movies
Emily Aguilar staff writer
Magic and imagination are the principal foundations of Disney, and are likely what comes to mind when people think of the Disney brand. No matter how old you are, it is likely that you’ve seen a Disney movie at some point in your life. This brand has influenced a large part of many people’s childhoods, and has grown and evolved over time. Differing drastically in message and tone over the decades. The different eras are a clear byproduct of their time and are different from one another. These differences are most clearly represented by their female characters, specifically Disney princesses.
Disney is known for their animation. However, in more recent years Disney has decided to remake their classics in a live action form. This has garnered a lot of attention from the media. Some people believe that live action remakes are unnecessary and are just a money grab for the company, and also say that the live action remakes fail to capture the same magic as the animated versions. On the other hand, some praise Disney for modernizing and bringing a new light to their previous projects. Sophomore Chloe Littleton is on the more supporting side of the Disney live action remakes and stated “ I think they’re cool. I think they showed a lot of real life problems, even if they aren’t realizing it ... it’s cool and [it] shows how far our world in entertainment has come”
Many people believe that live action movies don’t do as good of a job at capturing the magic that made the original
animations successful in the first place. For example when the live action “Lion King” came out people were disappointed to see hyperrealistic uncanny versions of the characters they grew up with. Who originally were full of life and personality, now lack any form of emotion in their facial expressions, which made it really hard to empathize with the characters. Sophomore Addie Thompson said,“I want to see hand drawn animation come back. I want to leave the theaters like when I was a child and feel the magic again. They have the writers, the money, and the artists. Use what you have to prove what Disney can do. Like ‘Peter Pan’ was remade and nobody cared. Or ‘Lady and Tramp,’ I forgot those existed, the animated ones will just be remembered as superior. I think after the ‘Cinderella’ remake, it all went downhill from there.”
Some people praise Disney for modernizing and bringing a new light to their previous projects. While others don’t agree with some of the changes they made to the characters, they feel as if the live action characters are caricatures of the original that take elements of their original personalities and exaggerate them without being as well-rounded or developed as the original. Sophomore Chloe Littleton said,“I think the changes that they make are really cool and that they make a lot of sense for that movie, but sometimes they do make adaptations that are not necessary and that don’t make sense. I think I can go both ways.”
On the other Hand, sophomore Addie Thompson said, “In ‘Mulan’, they removed the singing, gave Mulan powers and removed the animal sidekicks. If they were going for realism, why did they give her powers? They just feel bland, and I’m tired of Disney not getting more original ideas.”
Sophomore Citlaly Chavez said in response, “So true - the point was that she became better out of her own perseverance and dedication, and also she took her father’s place in the war out of love from her father not because she wanted to prove anything there was no growth” Disney’s live action remakes have had both positive and negative reactions among audiences. While some like the opportunity to revisit beloved stories with a fresh and realistic twist, others argue that these remakes will never capture the same magic and depth as their animated counterparts. Every remake has its own unique qualities, but whether or not people like them ultimately comes down to personal preference. Whether you’re a fan of the animated classics or the live action adaptations, one thing is for certain: Disney continues to captivate audiences with their timeless stories, in whichever form they may take.
Main characters of shows circulating the media that have often been deemed as “cringe.”
graphic by Brody Rust
Khaya Ainis-Michael page editor
When you type “Is Generation Alpha…” in the Google search bar, the autofill suggestion says “Is Generation Alpha doomed?” This question has come up a lot in recent years. Many teenagers and young adults on apps like TikTok and YouTube have expressed their concerns about this new generation. One of these people is Sophomore Cadence Fury. Her sister is eleven and in fifth grade and was only around three years old when she got her first tablet. Fury shared that “She gets on [her phone] as soon as she gets home from school, and stays on it until like 8:30.” Fury feels her sister spends all her time on her screens and is concerned about the affects on her schoolwork and mental wellbeing.
Sophomore Blue Ruvolo has similar concerns with his eleven-year-old brother. Ruvolo guesses that his brother spends around 8-12 hours a day on some sort of screen, stating that “The only time he’s not on a screen is at school, and even then they have iPads.” Doctors recommend that fully developed adults only spend 1-2 hours on screens, let alone children that are still developing.
Sophomore Miley Bartel’s little brother is only seven
Gen Z versus Gen Alpha Winter Fashion at Sheldon
Emily Escobar staff writer
Not many people take winter fashion seriously, including many people around Sheldon. Freshman, Bianca Arnold said “I prefer wearing comfortable clothes than going all out for winter fashion.” As the cold air hits, winter fashion is the perfect time of the year to dress comfortably but at the same time add a touch of style. Many people like having casual outfits, such as hoodies and leggings. People think, how can I dress up comfortably without ruining my outfit? People do matching outfits, wear cute jackets, similar color tones, and most importantly, accessories. Many people use accessories to spice up their style. Some well known
years old. He got his first electronic at four. She feels that this is too young for him to have one, especially because he’s allowed to have unlimited access to the internet and she has no idea what he does on it. She thinks that kids having unfiltered access to social media “is deteriorating their social interactions.”
Bartel also brought up her concerns about the future generation. She thinks that “they’re going to rely too much on social media, not formulate their own ideas, and be lost.”
Many people on social media platforms have expressed their concerns about Generation Alpha. Some feel that they are growing up too fast, while others feel they aren’t growing at all. In December of 2023 YouTube was full of video essays complaining that Generation Alpha was ill behaved and that some of them could barely even read. Teachers were all over people’s TikTok for you pages complaining about their students; all of them were appalled at how badly these kids were acting. They were all very immature and their intelligence was not at the level it should be for their ages. This has been blamed on the fact that they missed part of elementary school due to COVID, which some argue are very valuable times for a child.
More recently, the term “Sephora 10 year olds” has
been very relevant all over TikTok. It refers to the preteen girls flooding Sephora and other makeup stores. They will mess up the testers so badly that others are unable to use them. They will buy expensive, harsh products that are made for adults. Namely Drunk Elephant, a popular skincare brand. Many users on TikTok have recounted their horror stories dealing with these girls. Many of the products they obsess over are not made for their skin, and people theorize that it’s actually doing them more harm than good.
Ruvolo thinks the reason this generation acts like this is that “they were offered too much technology too quickly, and instead of getting introduced to more advanced technology later in their lives they just got it handed to them immediately.” He blames this on their parents, most of whom are millennials, not knowing enough about the technology, since they themselves were not raised with it.
Technology can be a very powerful resource. It can teach people a lot of things. But it also holds a lot of inappropriate content and misinformation. Children raised on technology learn everything from it. Good and bad. Maybe parents’ trust in this technology could be to blame for why Generation Alpha is “doomed.”
brands that are used for winter fashion are North Face, Uggs, Nike, Patagonia, Columbia, Chelsea boots and more. These brands help keep you warm, but at the same time, in a stylish way. These brands are especially good for cold weather.
Uggs are in high demand this year as they usually sell out around the holidays, the most popular uggs amongst Sheldon students are the ultra mini, tasman, and tazz platform.
Something else that is pretty important is the use of the color tones that represent winter fashion. Some color tones that represent winter fashion are usually neutral colors, plus white black and gray. But if you don’t want those colors and want the true winter color palette, the colors are ruby red, sapphire blue, and emerald
green. These specific colors belong to the winter color palette because they are boldhave cool colors, are the undertone of blue, and are highly saturated colors. Now, ruby red is a different case because ruby red is a bright color but it still belongs to the winter palette because it is a jewel tone based color. Another important key for winter fashion is layering. Layering is key because layering clothes keeps you warm. There are different techniques for layering. Some people add a lot of layering to keep themselves warm, some other people do it for style. Arnold said “I sometimes use layering techniques depending on how cold the day is, I usually have around three to four layers.· Some layering techniques are big coats over hoodies. These keys are what make winter fashion be winter fashion.
A Review of “The Mountains Sing”
Abby Kubu staff writer
“The Mountains Sing” by Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai intricately weaves a family’s multigenerational saga, with dual timelines and perspectives against the backdrop of Vietnam’s 20th-century history. Narrated by the granddaughter in the present and the grandmother telling the family’s past, it immerses readers in Vietnam’s rich history through a personal lens. Despite the complexity, the storytelling feels real, more like a memoir rather than typical historical fiction. The author’s deep love for Vietnam is clear throughout, exploring themes of survival, family bonds, community, war’s impact, and the power of storytelling. While the initial introduction of many characters may be
confusing, eventually it becomes easier to understand.
Recommended for historical fiction enthusiasts, especially those intrigued by Vietnamese history, culture, and multi-generational sagas, “The Mountains Sing” captivates with its exploration of beauty and devastation. Trigger warnings: Abandonment, Abortion, Alcoholism, Blood, Bullying, Cancer, Death, Excrement, Fire/Fire injury, Forced institutionalization, Genocide, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, Infertility, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Suicide, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, War, Xenophobia.
This has definitely become one of my favorite books I have ever read. The story telling makes it feel like you’re right there next to them, feeling everything they feel, and seeing everything they see. I honestly had to
keep myself from crying a couple times, it’s just such a heartbreaking story. The story flows very nicely, and it was easy to keep up. My only issue was that because of the dual narrative, sometimes I didn’t know who was speaking in that chapter. There are also a lot of characters with similar names. There is a family tree in the beginning, which I had to reference several times to know who someone was. There are several topics which could be very triggering for some people, so check the trigger warnings before reading(most are listed above). All in all, it was an enlightening, beautifully written book that I would recommend to anyone.
Eugene: A Community Full of Service
Brielle Brown page editor
According to a study, the average American only possesses an estimates four hours and twenty-six minutes of free time per week! Wow! Yet that doesn’t stop a tremendous amount of Americans from volunteering, with a total of around sixty million people per year for an average of four hours each. The determination of the population is often represented through the memories of those they helped, both in the school setting and throughout the community.
The current general manager of Eugene Nissan, Ryan Brown, proceeds with community service projects as a positive thing. Brown said, “I think that [a] portion of the community is often overlooked and it helps [them] gain the confidence they deserve as people and members of our community.” Brown’s work shows willingness to support the community through being involved and sponsoring the Special Olympics Polar Plunge. Brown said, “We are sponsoring the special Olympics
[Polar Plunge]; it’s a program that is completely free for the athletes. [It] starts with a 5k run and [then a] jump in the cold river.” The Polar Plunge has provided year round sports training and competition for the athletes.
Throughout the years, community service participants have discovered inspiration throughout education, the community, and much more. Starting in 2008 a Sheldon High School math teacher Vern Cedarlund became advisor of Sheldon’s Key Club, finding inspiration in the club. Cedarlund continues to remember one memorable community service project he worked on during his ongoing time as advisor. Cedarlund said, “About ten years ago, the group [Key Club] officers wanted to make burritos and deliver them all around Springfield and Eugene. So we did; we met in the school cafeteria and about ten people made them.” Cedarlund remembers this project because of the large number of people who participated. The Key Clubbers would travel in teams offering a burrito to those in need in local areas. Cedarund said, “Most people were just incredibly thankful!”
Community service involvement can
begin at any age and leaves people with great memories. Junior Agnes Verga recommends community service showing that it is something to be remembered. Verga said, “ I started to get involved in community service my freshman year because I wanted to start making a difference in my community. Even though I was a teenager, I believed I [could] make a difference in the world.” The community service projects have made a positive impression on the world and those who have participated.
Community Service Displayed Through Student-Led Clubs
Ella Schmeling photo editor
Sheldon’s Interact Club meets every other Sunday in B14 as they discuss the logistics of their next community fundraiser, with free pizza during lunch, of course! Each member contributes ideas for the upcoming event, and all major decisions are decided democratically with a vote among the group. Other “behind the scenes” preparation before an event consists of “spending days, sometimes weeks, planning. Then we need to research different organizations, and then bring it all together the day of the event,” said the president of the club, senior Bella Brown.
Some Interact Club fundraisers this year include volunteering at the Club Fair, Fall Fest, and selling homemade ornaments and keychains made by women from Guatemala. Brown said that her favorite, and most successful, fundraiser was selling the ornaments: “The ornaments are beautiful and going door to door to sell them really helped us meet new neighbors, and broaden our comfort levels.”
Brown believes student volunteering reigns multiple benefits to both the students themselves and to the community as a whole. “Sheldon is one of the least involved schools in the district. Compared to the other high schools in 4j, Sheldon representation in community events and programs is very minimal. It would be great to have a larger part in the community, so people know
Sheldon is a safe space,” said Brown. Other benefits include providing numerous volunteer opportunities for students, as well as the rewarding satisfaction of knowing that “every second we spend helping, we improve someone’s day,” said Brown.
Key Club Vice President, senior Abigail Lee’s favorite Key Club fundraiser was the staff-versus-student basketball game held in October, which was a fundraising event for Doernbecher Children’s Hospital. Other club events include the Toys for Tots Car Cram fundraiser, food drives, hosting sporting events at Sheldon, and the club’s clothing and sock drives.
Lee believes that preparation is key (pun intended) to a fundraiser’s success. “Trying to spread publicity and get people to come to our events through things like social media and announcements requires a lot of us writing and sending emails, and just a
lot of people to help us facilitate those things. And sometimes you have to buy the decorations, or food, and that has to go through the finance office. It’s a lot of prep for a really small event, but we do it because it’s [for] a good cause,” said Lee.
Lee encourages other students to join Key Club meetings held in C9 during lunch and to bring a friend, not only for the new connections made with fellow club members, but for the life skills you gain as an active member of the community. “It’s something all students should experience. You gain a new level of responsibility, interact with people, and also just help out within the community. Whenever I volunteer I feel a sense of accomplishment, and even if the outcome of the event wasn’t great, I still take pride in knowing I did
something,” said Lee.
The National Honors Society is a widely recognized, student-led organization in which the club’s main values are represented by the four pillars: scholarship, service, leadership, and character. NHS elected President, and senior Neel Nair said, “Each of our members are meant to display these pillars through their commitment to helping our local community. Each NHS member is required to have both community service and tutoring hours. Through the opportunities that our club provides, we hope to not only create leadership skills in our members, but also foster a culture here at Sheldon where every student is mindful of how important it is to contribute to our school.”
Sheldon Key Club gathers in front of a Nissan Of Eugene car for their Toys for Tots Car Cram fundraiser.
Photo by: Abigail Lee
Two Key Clubbers showing school spirit for the Car Cram: (left) Maddison Scanlon (Right) Jacob Bratland.
photo by Brielle Brown
Religion-Affiliated Affinity Groups at Sheldon
Owen Fitch page editor
Sheldon is a school with great diversity of interests, so naturally clubs have spawned to represent these varied values and interests, and to help people connect through shared experiences. One such club is the Good News Club, where Christian students of all denominations are welcome to discuss their faith and participate in activities. It is led by junior Jada Ellis, who said, “[The Good News Club has] been really good so far. It’s been growing as the weeks go on…I’ve gotten to know a lot of people through it…and it’s kept me on track with my own faith.”
But what actually occurs at a club meeting? According to Ellis, “[In a typical club meeting] I usually give a sermon, and we talk for ten or fifteen minutes. Sometimes afterwards we go into small groups and ask questions, or we do activities, like talking about thankfulness before Thanksgiving.”
For Jewish students and allies alike, there’s the Jewish Student Union (or JSU), led by copresident sophomore Anderson Klein. Klein said, “It’s been pretty good so far. We’ve had a lot of students…which we hadn’t really expected.”
But how has Sheldon fostered such a thriving Jewish community? According to Klein, “I think everyone should respect peoples’ perspectives.” This is key to creating an inclusive atmosphere where students can bond over shared beliefs and experiences.
Of course, no club is perfect. In Klein’s opinion, “It could be improved with more help…I feel like it could be a great club [if there were] more people to participate.” Although the JSU started out relatively small, it has the potential to grow quite a bit going into the future as more students discover the club, decide to become Jewish allies, or are incentivised by the friendly atmosphere and fun games.
The Muslim Student Union is still in the process of being created. According to junior Hamzah Nashawi, a member of the Muslim community and aspiring member of the club, “I think it would be a good club; I could see people going to it, because it’s for a good cause stopping racism towards Muslims.”
Creating a Muslim Student Union could help to support and provide a community for Muslim students who experience bullying or discrimination, whether inside or outside the school. Nashawi said, “[Racism towards Muslims has] always been a thing; people have always been racist and made fun of me for being a Muslim. It’s a thing that I probably won’t be able to stop, and sadly is happening all over the world.” Sheldon has a great diversity of beliefs and views, with an ever-growing number of clubs to represent them.
Checkmate!: Sheldon Chess Club Ends
Mei Long staff writer
At the beginning of the school year, freshman Jiro Plaunty decided to start a school chess club. The club started out going well, but as it went on students have become uninterested. From the lack of members, funds and overall competition with other clubs, former president Plaunty decided to call it quits.
The chess club was in need of various things for it to become an official chess team. Jiro said, “We needed a chess coach and some sort of transportation to get to chess tournaments.” Jiro said. A coach would help members gain experience and transportation was needed so they could drive them to local chess tournaments. But, without any funds or a lot of experienced players, it was difficult to find a chess coach for the club. It is necessary that the chess club raises money for it to continue. Jiro suggested, “A treasurer could’ve helped to raise funds for tournaments.” Unfortunately, the chess club couldn’t find any member who was interested in helping. As much as they wanted a wellrunning chess club, there wasn’t a lot to motivate them to keep going.
Freshman Micheal Fromm, a former chess club member, thinks that there are things that could help improve the club and help bring more people in. Fromm said, “Advertising would help bring new people into the club.” There was a lack of announcements for the club, which may have been a factor of the overall downfall.
The club was a great experience for members, but improvements may have been needed.
“Enough chess boards for people if lots of people participate in the club,” Fromm suggested. If this and other improvements have been taken into consideration, the club could have taken a step in the right direction.
Overall, the Sheldon High School chess club was a great addition for fellow chess members to have somewhere to practice their chess skills, but the removal of the club might’ve been for the best. With all the problems and things that needed to be done, it was too much to keep it running. Ms. Day, the adult advisor of the club, said, “Well, I mean for me it should be based on student interest. So if there’s interest we should have the club. But I also think that student clubs should be student led. I was just providing a safe space for it.”
It doesn’t seem like the club is going to come back, unless the group comes up with ways to fix the problems and to take possible improvements into consideration. Ms. Day said, “I’m not sure [what could be done to bring the club back] because my understanding is that there was a lack of interest. So, if more people were interested or if they were to find people that were more interested, I’m happy to host.” It’s up to the chess club participants to decide if they want a well-running chess club at the school. All students who play chess can, in the future, decide if they want to create a new and wellrunning club.
Sophomore Lucien French shows off his raffle prize won at a group meeting.
Photo by Owen Fitch
Sheldon Students Share Winter Traditions
Bella Reniff staff writer
Waking up early, making cinnamon rolls, and opening presents on Christmas morning make up senior Rylan Vaughn’s favorite winter family tradition. Despite his distaste for Christmas music, the holiday season provides a lot of family time for Vaughn, including “annual ski trips and vacations to Portland.” They have spent many of their winters in Mexico, because his mom loves it there. Decorating the house with lights and enjoying festive foods creates an enjoyable winter experience for Vaughn, as his mom goes all out.
Sunbathing in Costa Rica offered junior Ava Pineda a nice contrast to Oregon’s cold winters. Pineda’s mom goes all out every Christmas, transporting her family and their home into a “winter wonderland” with “a huge tree, intense decorations, and her love of Christmas music.” Spending the holidays out of town cut down on the time Pineda typically spends with friends to celebrate festivities, but the warmth of Costa Rica made up for it greatly, bringing her back to feelings of the summer sun.
Centering the holidays on
Students’ Winter Recipes
Ulises Ruiz-Lopez staff writer
As winter sets in and temperatures drop, some students at Sheldon are turning to the kitchen to whip up some delicious and comforting recipes to warm their hearts and satisfy their taste buds. These recipes are not only delicious but also reflect the diverse cultural influences and individual stories of the students. Whether it’s a cherished family recipe passed down through generations or a bold experiment born out of curiosity, each dish tells a tale of exploration and discovery. Senior Abbie Kidd shared her goto winter recipe that never fails to bring warmth on chilly days. Her Creamy Tomato Basil Soup is a delightful blend of ripe tomatoes, fresh basil, and a touch of cream. Kidd emphasizes the importance of this dish since it’s a family recipe that has been passed down by her great grandparents. “It’s a simple recipe that brings a taste of comfort to the table,” Kidd said, “I find a ton of enjoyment in making this; it takes time and care.”
Senior Neel Nair has a cheesy and wholesome winter recipe. His Cheesy Broccoli Casserole is a crowdpleaser, combining the goodness of broccoli with a rich and gooey
spending time with family and turning her home into a festive environment, sophomore Jordyn Hopkins forgoes the common practice of vacationing in order to fully embrace the familial side of the winter season. Hopkins looks forward to decorating her fake tree: “It’s all white, and I love our tree.” Opening advent calendars and exchanging gifts with her sister creates the perfect holiday experience for Hopkins. Every student’s winter season looks different, but many find common ground in the fact that it should be spent with family and friends.
cheese sauce. “It’s a dish that brings everyone together, and the cheesy goodness is hard to resist,” said Nair. This dish has a significance for him: it really shows how good of a dish he can make, which brings joy to his family during the winter season.
Senior Reza Zarlons shared his twist on a classic winter beverage. His Peppermint Hot Chocolate adds a festive touch to cold winter nights. “It’s a drink that I like to make during the winter. It warms you up and brings a touch of holiday spirit,” said Zarlons.
The winter recipe submissions not only serve as a delightful gastronomic exploration, but also foster a sense of camaraderie. These students have not only demonstrated their cooking skills, but also their ability to bring people together through the universal language of food. As we savor the warmth of these winter recipes, it is evident that the students have not only embraced the season’s flavors but have also contributed to the collective culinary consciousness of our community. This initiative not only celebrates the creativity of our youth, but also encourages a shared appreciation for diverse tastes and culinary traditions.
Behind the Scenes of Sheldon Theatre
Chloe Battin page editor
From lights to sound and costume to vocal rehearsals, many factors go into producing a showstopping musical in Sheldon Theatre. Every year, actors, advisors, volunteers, and crew members work together for months to put together a show worthy of a performance in front of hundreds of people. Sheldon’s production of “Mama Mia!” commenced in early January, just after winter break. Pre-production is crucial during rehearsals as actors learn their lines, blocking, and music. The early stages of pre-production are slow for most crews, but there is always something that needs doing.
For Sheldon’s lights crew, this includes taking inventory of bulbs or replacing lights and planning when lights should go on or off. “We decide where the spotlights are going to go… We also do something called ‘cues’ on the lightboard which basically… preplans the lights for the show,” said lights crew member and sophomore Rosemary Ruiz. She is a “lights librarian,’’ or someone who takes inventory of all the bulbs that lights crew has and which lights they go to. Ruiz was also in charge of running one of the spotlights during Sheldon Theatre’s production of “The Addams Family.”
While rehearsals for “Mamma Mia!” began earlier this year, auditions were held the week before winter break. Auditions were held over three days during which student actors sang pieces by
Ruiz (So.) practices spotlighting the stage during a rehersal.
ABBA, and acted out various scenes from the musical. Junior Lux Yamamori shared her experience during the audition process: “I think I overestimated how prepared I would be… I have bad audition anxiety… My throat … [got] very tight… [so] I [was] unhappy with the first musical performance.” Yamamori explained she could loosen up during acting auditions because she was auditioning with other people onstage, which allowed her to perform better on day two.
“I have the small [but] fun role of Father Alex who will be [officiating] the wedding at the end of the musical… I am excited because it’s the climax of the show and it’s… fun to have a part in that,” Yamamori said.
Many crew members and actors have stories or urban legends from their time in theatre. There is a common superstition never to say “Macbeth” while in theatre as it’s supposed to be bad luck and curse the production. “Last year, someone said ‘Macbeth’ twice, and then two mics when out, and two of our spot[lights] went out!” shared Ruiz.
Sheldon Theatre strives to create a community full of student actors and technicians who encourage one another to grow and learn. Ruiz mentioned, “My favorite part [about being on lights crew] is the other people because they’re just so fun!... I really like the community [aspect] of it!” Adults in Sheldon Theatre have noticed this as well. “It was neat to see people take on leadership roles who might not have a leadership role in school… [There was] a lot of growth,” said tech crew Advisor Chris Emmick; “Learning how to lead people isn’t about yelling the loudest, it’s… about leading by example.”
Sheldon families and faculty can see Sheldon Theatre’s production of “Mamma Mia!” during the last week of April. As Emmick said, “Come support the theatre! The more people the better!”
Environmental Club Composting Off to Slow Start
Shiloh Capiak editor-in-chief
A palpable indifference hangs over the air of Sheldon’s Environmental Club. As club presidents senior Maizie Goodpasture and junior Celena Bajracharya talk to the room, members whisper amongst themselves, evidently disinterested. Rich Bowden, the club advisor, seems to be the only one truly engaged in the implementation of a composting system at Sheldon.
Composting reaps countless benefits. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization found food waste to be one of the largest sources of pollution worldwide. Composting is one method of reducing organic waste. Additionally, composting is proven to be cheaper than landfill disposal, proving the economic benefits.
Throughout the 4j school district, several high schools have already started composting programs, including Churchill High School and South Eugene High School. Goodpasture proposed the composting system, hoping to “give the club some direction,” which she admitted felt “kind of aimless.”
Bajracharya said, “Getting people involved has been a real challenge. When we talk about [composting], people don’t really have anything to say. Joining a club should be fun, and we don’t mean for it to feel like a drag, so we’re trying to find a way to make it more enjoyable.”
One of those ways has been through external involvement. Senior Katryn Gilbert, a Regional Leader, or RL, representing local organization Our Future, recently began to help promote the club project: “There’s been a lot of discussion about compost among RLs across the district. Churchill has a system fully in place, but they struggle with student involvement,” underscoring the universal challenge of rallying troops for the cause.
informational video to be presented during Advisory, which Bajracharya hopes will “bring some fun to the club.”
“I think students will only take charge if they know how good composting is,” Gilbert clarified; “The cafeteria staff is ready to get everything up and running, but they can only do that with student involvement.”
The Environmental Club is currently working on an
To combat student detachment, the club is reaching out beyond its membership to community service groups like National Honors Society, Key Club, and International High School, also known as IHS, whose graduates need Creativity Activity Service hours to receive their IHS diplomas.
As the club moves forward, they hope to
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