Spotlight Print Issue - December 2018

THE SPOTLIGHT December 2018

Southern Lehigh High School 5800 Main Street Center Valley, PA 18034

Volume 62 Issue 2

Girls Basketball Heats Up See how the team is preapring for the upcoming season on page 6.

Photo Credit: Lori Mobley

In This

Issue:

2

The Healthy Living Expo provided a wonderful experience for students and staff. Read more on page 2.

4

Learn about the new biweekly school podcast on page 4.

10

Does the percent grading system need to change?

Turn to page 10 to read more.

Page 2

The Spotlight

News

Southern Lehigh High School 5800 Main Street Center Valley, PA 18034 (610) 282-1421 x7122 slsdspotlight@gmail.com Twitter: @SLSDspotlight Instagram: @slsdspotlight Facebook: Southern Lehigh Spotlight

Healthy Living Expo Educates Students of the Lehigh Valley

By Sarah Jacobson

Faculty Adviser

Mrs. Marlo Spritzer

Editor-in-Chief Sarah Jacobson

News Editor Kennah Salvo

Features Editor Saskia Van’t Hof

Opinion Editor Bridgette Lang

Our World Editor Bridgette Lang

Entertainment Editor Quinn Schmidt

Sports Editor Quinn Schmidt

Social Media Editor Grffin Schmoyer

Staff Reporters Breana Grabowski Marc Ramson Quint Hansen Aisha Durrani

Photographers Jonathan Lee Rhea Kalsi

Pennsylvania School Press Association 2018 Gold Rating 2017 Gold Rating 2016 Gold Rating 2015 Gold Rating 2014 Gold Rating 2013 Silver Rating National School Press Association 2018 All-American Rating 2016 First Class Rating 2015 First Class Rating

Students enjoyed the Robotics Team’s booth at the Healthy Living Expo. Photo credit: Sarah Jacobson

On November 20, Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) hosted the club’s annual Healthy Living Expo in the high school gymnasium. The expo featured a variety of booths from student clubs, neighboring schools, and local organizations.

For over 20 years, Lehigh Valley students have enjoyed the Healthy Living Expo, which was started to help better educate the community about the benefits of healthy living. Southern Lehigh has hosted the expo for several years.

At the expo, school clubs and outside organizations each host a booth that promotes some aspect of healthy living. The booths can include an activity, game, or other informational component.

“The whole purpose of the Healthy Living Expo is to have students see different options for healthy living,” SADD secretary Lauren Unger said. “It’s not just eating healthy but working out and...making healthy decisions.”

This year, six other schools from the Lehigh Valley were in attendance. The SADD clubs from each of these schools were invited to share their thoughts and ideas with SLHS students. Ten organizations from around the

Lehigh Valley, such as the Center for Humanistic Change and Valley Youth House, were also in attendance.

The activities at the expo included education about the effects of smoking, the benefits of stress relief, and the impacts of texting and driving. All the activities were geared towards leading a healthy lifestyle, and promoted both physical and mental health. “[The Healthy Living Expo] is for Lehigh County, so all SADD club in Lehigh country are invited,” SLHS SADD adviser Mrs. Justine Viola said. We try to coordinate it for Southern Lehigh SADD clubs to network and share our experiences.”

Southern Lehigh’s SADD club is part of a national organization that promotes responsible behaviors for young adults. All of the club’s activities are meant to deter students from making destructive decisions and lead a healthy life. “[The expo] is fantastic,” assistant principal Mr. Thomas Ruhf said. “It’s a great opportunity for people to come here and interact [with one another].”

December Holidays from Different Cultures

By Sarah Jacobson and Kennah Salvo

This December, there are many holidays being celebrated around the world. The students of Southern Lehigh come from various diverse backgrounds, and because of that, they celebrate all different kinds of holidays. Read on to learn about some of the cultural celebrations from around the world.

Photo credit: Sarah Jacobson using canva.com

December 2018

News

Page 3

Mix it Up Day Breaks Down Cliques

By Kennah Salvo

Mix It Up Day took place during all three lunches. All students were encouraged to participate. Photo credit: Bridgette Lang.

Mix It Up at Lunch Day is a campaign run by Teaching Tolerance “that encourages students to identify, question, and cross social boundaries.”

Teaching Tolerance is a program that aims to assist educators in promoting diversity and tolerance in the youth of America.

This day of breaking out of boundaries was planned by Mr. Dow and his Contemporary Issues class as their final project for the course.

“My goal, first and foremost, was just to have fun. Its a change. We get so used to our social boundaries in schools. I thought it would be fun way to cross those social boundaries.” social studies teacher Mr. Brian Dow said.

Mr. Dow’s Contemporary Issues class was broken up into committees to help plan the event each taking an aspect of the day. For example, one group was responsible for the scientific randomization of the tables, another took to social media to advertise, and a third got the event onto the morning announcements.

“It was a course project that [my students] could really take ownership of. It made them feel good. They had a sense of accomplishment,” Mr. Dow said.

During lunch time, students were randomly assigned to a cafeteria table and encouraged to get to know their peers better and break out of cliques.

The cafeteria is decorated the morning of Mix It Up Day by Mr. Dow’s Contemporary Issues Class. Photo credit: Kennah Salvo.

Activities were planned to bring students into discussions with one another.

At Southern Lehigh High School’s version of Mix It Up Day, activities included icebreakers, a Quizlet live trivia game, and a dance battle. The icebreakers allowed to students to learn each other’s names, grades, ad a few other assorted facts. “[I think that] sitting with our own class would have been less awkward, so that freshmen weren’t stuck with upperclassmen,” freshman Sophie Poirot said.

In the back of the cafeteria, there was a DJ station taking music requests from students, resulting in a diverse soundtrack consisting of everything from Justin Bieber to “Baby Shark.”

“I think some students felt uncomfortable; they didn’t like being forced.

Some students were receptive, some weren’t,” Spanish teacher Mrs. Jennifer Jaen said, “Those who did not like it, though, seemed to be able to offer some constructive criticism.”

After the fact, however, the reaction was very positive. Mr. Dow tentatively plans on doing Mix It Up Day again next semester or next year.

The students were sorted to tables as they entered the cafeteria.

Photo credit: Mr. Thomas Rupf.

Page 4 Features

The Spotlight

The Spartan Life Kicks Off to a Lively Start

By Saskia Van’t Hof

Mr. Joseph Castagna (far left) and Mr. Ryan Haupt (far right) interview two teachers, Mr. David Dougherty and Mrs. Lauren Tocci, on The Spartan Life. Photo credit: Saskia Van’t Hof

A podcast may not be something you’d expect from a duo consisting of a high school English teacher and a math teacher, but you’d be wrong.

Since its release in September, the new podcast “The Spartan Life” has taken over Southern Lehigh High School.

The idea originally sprung from English teacher Joseph Castagna and math teacher Ryan Haupt’s mutual interest in listening to podcasts.

Two years ago, the two teachers came together and brainstormed ideas for making their own.

Making a podcast stemmed from their shared love of talking to new people, so it seemed like a natural step for a new extracurricular.

However, taking on the production of a podcast proved to be no easy feat. As scheduling conflicts arose and the idea struggled with getting approval, the podcast was put on the backburner.

“There was a lot going on in the building last year. We were focused on other priorities and we didn’t get the support we were hoping for to get it off the ground,” Mr. Castagna said, “so we’re really happy that we were able to get everything up and running this year.”

With strong support from the administration, Mr. Castagna and Mr. Haupt were finally able to begin production at the beginning of the school year. The first episode was released on September 21. Since then, episodes have been released twice a month.

A lot of time and energy goes into the production of the podcast. According to Mr. Castagna, each episode takes about six hours to produce.

Once they brainstorm ideas and set a theme for the podcast, they schedule interviews. Each interview with an individual guest can last anywhere from 20 to 40 minutes. “[The hardest part is] deciding what goes on.

What you’re hearing on the podcast is not necessarily even the same order that we ask the questions in,” Mr. Haupt said. “Editing the interviews so it doesn’t sound like we’ve cut parts out [is

difficult]. It has to have a logical flow to it.”

With the podcast only a few months into production, the format is still undergoing changes.

Most notably, the length of each episode has steadily increased from under 30 minutes to about 45 minutes long.

“At the beginning, we said in the intro that we were going to ‘get through all this in 30 minutes or less.’ I think we have succeeded at that exactly one time,” Mr. Castagna said. “We just follow the story wherever they go, no matter how long it takes us.”

In an effort to get the school more involved, Mr. Castagna and Mr. Haupt are also expanding the podcast to include new, student-made segments. Starting in the second semester, students will be able sign up for a “Spartan Life” spartan period and audition.

Auditions are open to all students, no matter their level of experience. To apply, they have to submit a fully edited sample of a new segment or interview. If it is approved, the students will have the freedom to continue making content for the podcast alongside Mr. Castagna and Mr. Haupt.

“I’d like to see students involved in new segments, interviewing their peers and having the same wonderful experience that Mr. Haupt and I have been having, which is just to getting to know people on a deep, human level,” Mr. Castagna said.

The two teachers believe that media forms like the podcast have the potential to bring the school communities together. Since the audience of “The Spartan Life” is almost entirely Southern Lehigh students, creating episodes that focus on stories of their classmates and teachers gives the podcast a unique perspective.

Each episode typically features at least one student and one teacher guest. Although each podcast has a broad theme or message, Mr. Castagna and Mr. Haupt give their guests freedom to share as much as they’d like. Looking into the

future, they aim to tell the interesting stories of as many students and teachers as possible.

“I loved doing the podcast,” junior Marissa Harley, who was recently interviewed about her role in the fall musical, said. “It was so fun to be able to talk about about doing something that was so close to me. It was such an amazing experience.”

Mr. Castagna’s favorite part about making the podcasts are the moments of natural conversation with high schoolers he experiences through the interviews. He looks forward to working alongside students to grow the podcast into something that accurately reflects the positivity in the school.

“I really love falling into someone else’s story, to get to know that person as a person and finding the common allies that make us all human,” Mr. Castagna said. “I just love putting that all together to figure out what is the human experience. That’s a really exciting.”

The Spartan Life is available through the SLSD website.

Photo credit: The Spartan Life

December 2018

Features Page 5

Food Committee Stirs Up Conversation

By Bridgette Lang

Students eat and converse during their lunch period.

Photo credit: Bridgette Lang

After principal Mrs. Beth Guarriello asked administrators about ways to empower students, assistant principals Mr. Thomas Ruhf and Ms. Jennifer Brinson suggested the creation of a committee to evaluate the cafeteria and propose new ideas and solutions. Over the summer, the Food Committee evolved with the collaboration of Southern Lehigh High School’s administrators.

“It’s not just about food; it’s about the whole environment,” Mr. Ruhf said. “There was not a lot of movement before [Mrs. Guarriello became principal], but this summer, Ms. Brinson and I asked.”

Mr. Ruhf drove the formation of the committee based on his experiences in college. While completing his undergraduate degree, he participated in a committee that focused on meeting with food vendors and reshaping the dining hall.

Mr. Ruhf valued his involvement at the collegiate level and wanted to see a similar group at Southern Lehigh High School.

After Mrs. Guarriello sent out a sign up sheet, interested students volunteered their time to help make SLHS lunches better. The first meeting included freshmen Nicole Oviedo, Alex [still trying to find last name], sophomore Rhea Kalsi, juniors Kennah Salvo, Nina Hamersley, Gavin DeMars, and seniors Sarah Jacobson and Thomas Hummel.

The District Coordinator of Food Services Mr. Greg Martin, lead cafeteria worker Ms. Melcina Chontofalsky, and the three SLHS building administrators joined this group of students in the boardroom to open up discussion.

“While I’m the Coordinator of Food Services and a representative of the administrative team, as part of the [SLHS] Food Committee, I offer data and information to help students understand the rules and regulations our department must follow regarding the school lunch program,” Mr. Martin said. “I also take suggestions from students and help institute those suggestions, when possible.”

Southern Lehigh is in a unique position. Compared with other schools in the region, students can have more impact in the food options and preparations, because our district does not contract cafeteria employees from another company.

The majority of other school districts hire outside companies to prepare food and provide staff.

Mr. Ruhf described Southern Lehigh’s setup as more “flexible,” compared to outsourcing.

Southern Lehigh High School is also the only school in the region to offer a Food Committee where students can be involved with making decisions about the cafeteria. At the LehighNorthampton principal and vice-principal meetings, which Mrs. Guarriello, Mr. Ruhf, and Ms. Brinson attend every month, they found that no other local schools have created a program like the one in SLHS. Under this particular group of students and

advisers, the SLHS Food Committee has mostly been concerned with health, the environment, and the quality of the food. A number of students proposed ways to limit plastic waste in our community.

“For me, I really wanted to include [ideas] with using less plastic straws,” sophomore Rhea Kalsi said. “We have little to no recycling bins. We are not only trying to make the cafeteria better, but also the rest of the school and the community.

One of the ways [our group hopes] to achieve this is by paper straws.”

Aside from making healthy choices for the environment, the Food Committee has also discussed how to make meals healthier for everyone. Currently, there are not many options in the cafeteria for vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free diets.

“A lot of [food options] are blended together to try to fit [everyone’s needs], but sometimes, there are individual needs,” Kalsi said. “We are trying to make some of the foods more kidfriendly, so that students enjoy their lunches more.”

Another growing trend that was suggested is Meatless Mondays. Founded by Sid Lerner in association with the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Meatless Mondays has since encouraged participants to consider their health as well as the environmental impacts of raising livestock. “[We proposed] healthier lunch alternatives and healthier snacks,” junior Nina Hamersley said. “I know everyone liked the options of wraps, because it’s customizable. I think that [the administration was] very receptive.”

The administration is working hard to make these changes possible. In future meetings, students will be able to propose more ideas, and the school district will report back on the status of previous suggestions. If you are interested in having your voice heard and participating in the next Food Committee meeting, keep an eye on your email inbox for more sign up information.

JSA Members Hold Mock Midterm Election

By Aisha Durrani

When people think of politics, the first thing they think of are presidential elections. However, with the majority of high schoolers being too young to register, the enthusiasm for voting tends to decline – especially for midterm races.

At Southern Lehigh High School, the Junior State of America, or JSA, aims to solve this problem with the recent mock election.

During lunch, students from all grades were able to vote in the mock election. To make the voting process as realistic as possible, JSA set up cardboard dividers in the front of the cafeteria for students to fill out their ballots privately.

There, students voted on senate, house, and governor seats using replicas of the official ballots.

“I wanted to use a legitimate ballot to show them that the voting process is not intimidating, it’s not too complicated, and it’s not hard,” said JSA advisor Mr. Brian Dow. “It’s something that can actually be fun and engaging.”

Compared to the national election, the results from the mock election differed slightly. The winners at Southern Lehigh were overwhelmly democratic candidates: Bob Casey for US Senate, Susan Wild for US House, Tom Wolf for Governor, Mark Pinsley for PA Senate, and Andy Lee for PA House.

JSA is a club committed to encouraging political involvement and dialogue in high school students. By hosting this election, JSA hoped to

Teacher Mrs. Caryn Bronfenbrenner shows a student how to cast her ballot. Photo credit: Hannah Grim

inform students about the voting process, and encourage them to eventually vote in real elections.

Eventually, their goal is to increase voter turnout in young people.

“Getting the student body excited about vot-

ing really helps open their eyes about how accessible it is to vote,” said JSA co-president Hannah Grim. “It also shows [students] how important voting is.”

This year, JSA has set up stands at several locations, including the Healthy Living Expo, the freshman club rush, and the homecoming tailgate. In their club meetings, they hold heated debates on issues such as gun rights and immigration. They also host many other politically charged discussions, creating open communication between students. This encourages students to play an active part in American democracy as they venture through life.

When asked whether introducing political parties would encourage divisiveness, most members disagreed. Since politics are a nationwide topic, they felt that it could bring people together. They hope it will prepare students to be engaged in bigger conversations in the real world.

“Civic involvement and civic engagement are huge pillars in society, and in life,” said JSA officer Cameron Hines. “The younger we can start ingraining those values in our children, the better.”

If you are interested in joining JSA and want to learn more about how you can me more politically involved, the club meets during Spartan period on Day 3. Contact Mr. Dow for more information on how to become a member.

Page 6

Sports

The Spotlight

With a Strong Starting Five, Spartan Girls Basketball Ready to Contend for State Title

By Quinn Schmidt

This years JV/Varsity team poses for a photo: (left to right) Riley MacIntosh, Holly Walter, Kaya Mobley, Steph Schmitt, Jeanne Rautureau, Kiera Wilkins, Ellie Cassel, Olivia Snyder, Alyssa Rice, Lauren Conron, Taylor Moncman, Caroline Bennett, Delaney Lewis. Photo Credit: Lori Mobley.

As of December 4, Southern Lehigh is shockingly ranked second to last on the overall Colonial League girls basketball standings, only because the letter “S” is pretty far down the alphabet, and the season has yet to begin. Check back on the Colonial League website in a month or two, and it’s almost certain that Southern Lehigh will be number one in the rankings, most likely with the number zero in the loss column.

Anyone who follows girls basketball knows just how dominant Southern Lehigh has been.

The last time they lost a league game was in 2015, when Northwestern squeaked by with a four-point win in the playoffs. Since then they have hammered every Colonial League team that stepped on the court with them, burying every league foe with a combination of dynamic offense and tenacious defense. The Spartans have conquered District XI and the Colonial League three years in a row, and the expectations are just the same as last year.

“We want to win the Colonial League championship, [the] district [championship], and we are trying to make a run in States this year,” senior guard Olivia Snyder said.

Snyder is the reigning Lehigh Valley Live Girls Basketball Player of the Year and a Georgetown

University commit. Since her freshman year, she has terrorized defenses with her unguardable jumpshot and smooth dribble moves. Couple Snyder’s talent with fellow senior Ellie Cassel’s post presence, and opposing coaching staffs end up clueless.

Cassel and Snyder are both four-year starters on the varsity team, and averaged 7.7 and 17.3 points per game last year, respectively. Where Cassel thrives in the paint, grabbing rebounds like the defense isn’t even there, Snyder tends to dismantle defenses with her pull up jumpshot, soaring over defenders with her 6’0” frame.

Joining them in the starting five are the vital role players: junior Taylor Moncman, who averaged three points per game last year as a starter, and senior Alyssa Rice who averaged 3.7 points per game coming off the bench. Blending the defense of Moncman with the physicality of Rice will be key if the Spartans want to win the big games on their schedule, most notably Archbishop Carroll, Northampton, and Parkland.

Last year, Carroll was able to edge out the Spartans in a battle of state ranked teams by a score of 48-45. The Philly powerhouse stands out on the schedule in comparison to the other Colonial League foes slated for the winter months.

Every year, the Spartans’ kryptonite is their weak schedule. Having to play unskilled, small teams in the regular season and then jumping to perennial powerhouses in the playoffs proves to be a difficult mountain to climb.

For the past three years, the season has ended in the state playoffs. In 2016 and 2017, it was in the Elite Eight, and last year they were only one game away from the state championship before losing to Archbishop Wood.

Making the road to Hershey even more difficult this year is the loss of Rider University com mit Amanda Mobley. Mandy’s 2018 graduation separated the virtually unstoppable threesome of Mobley, Snyder, and Cassel. She was an first team all-state point guard who took on most of the ball handling responsibilities for the Spartans, controlling the offense with her ability to see the entire floor and flick passes through defenders with ease.

Thankfully for head Coach Matthew Cooper, Mobley’s younger sister Kaya logged some varsity minutes last year along with talented point guard Jeanne Rautureau. These two sophomores play far beyond their age, a necessity for a point guard looking to facilitate the offense. Although she doesn’t have the offensive firepower of her sister, Kaya Mobley’s three point shooting and defense will likely earn her a spot on the starting lineup this year.

“Kaya has done a good job stepping up being the point guard,” Cooper said, “but everybody has to play a slightly different role when you lose players like Mandy.”

Coach Cooper, Morning Call’s Girls Basketball Coach of the Year in 2016, has done a phenomenal job creating the dynasty here at Southern Lehigh. He dedicates most all of his free time to the team, creating competitive foul shooting games at practice as well as decorating his room with records of Colonial League opponents and newspaper clippings of girls basketball articles.

“We hang up articles about the girls because it lets them know we value their efforts,” Cooper said, “I think it’s important for other people to see their achievements and hopefully it inspires them to keep going and to be as successful as possible.”

This year, Cooper, along with everyone else at Southern Lehigh, hopes to see a different article hanging outside of his room. An article with the Southern Lehigh girls basketball team picture front and center, gold medals hung around their necks, smiles on their faces, and a headline reading “State Champs!”

See Your Spartan Sports Teams During Winter Break Track and Field Bob Burdette Meet Lehigh University December 26

JV Girls Basketball Jack Bennet Easton Rotary Holiday Basketball Tournament Easton Middle School December 27 & 28

Wrestling Christmas City Classic Bethlehem Catholic High School December 28 & 29 Varsity Girls Basketball Jack Bennet Easton Rotary Holiday Basketball Tournament Easton Middle School December 27 & 28

JV Boys Basketball Jack Bennet Easton Rotary Holiday Basketball Tournament Easton Middle School December 27 & 28 Varsity Boys Basketball Jack Bennet Easton Rotary Holiday Basketball Tournament Easton Middle School December 27 & 28

December 2018

Sports

Page 7

Kullen Yurchak: Southern Lehigh’s Karate Kid

By Griffin Schmoyer

Senior Kullen Yurchak was awarded a black belt by his Shotokan Karate instructor. Photo Credit: Patricia Yurchak.

Normally when people think of sports in high school, they think of football, track and field, basketball, and field hockey, to name a few. You may not expect someone to be highly trained in a martial art. Senior Kullen Yurchak is, and he happens to be a black belt in Shotokan Karate.

“I started Shotokan Karate- that was my first [martial art] - when I was in fifth grade, so it’s been almost seven years now, and then a couple of years into training that I picked up kickboxing for about a year and then Jiu-Jitsu for a summer and then probably eight months after that,” Yurchak said, “But lately it’s just been Shotokan.”

Shotokan is a Japanese discipline of karate

founded in 1938 by Gichin Funakoshi, and is developed from many martial arts into the tough, hard-hitting style it is today.

“Korean arts tend to focus more on kicks, Chinese arts [really flow], with big motions rather than hard, fast, rigid strikes and Shotokan, within the Karate umbrella, is more technical, deep stances, more power sort of things. It’s called a ‘hard style,’” said Yurchak.

Yurchak has been competing with Reality Martial Arts for about five years now, and while he doesn’t compete much at the state or national level, he has plenty of competitive experience under his black belt.

“We don’t really go to big events...but in the fall or spring we’ll have two or three tourna-

ments, and I’ll try and go to as many as I can,” he said. “We typically do pretty well.”

Yurchak said that he prefers the Shotokan tournaments, which are a lot more fun because it’s people that train like he does, so it’s a lot heavier competition, a lot more hard hitting.

“Then there are open tournaments where you fight more Korean styles, which is more mainstream nowadays, a lot more kicks, so you have to adapt differently,” he said.

But that still begs the question, why martial arts over more popular high school sports like football, track and field, or basketball?

“I tried out a lot of stuff when I was younger,” Yurchak said. “I tried lacrosse, I sucked at it, soccer, I tried out all sorts of things. But for some reason, I never could stick with anything.”

It was after a DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) karate lesson in fifth grade that martial arts sparked his interest, so he did some research around the area, and it brought him to Reality Martial Arts in Quakertown.

“I like how it’s less focused on you in a team and more focused on yourself,” he said.

“You can go there and do your own thing, make some friends, but work on improving yourself rather than worrying about the team and ‘oh, am I gonna let my team down?’ It’s always just up to you.”

While it seems like something that may take up a lot of time, Kullen still manages to balance his karate endeavors with school and his social life.

“We train like three times a week for about an hour each time, and then I go in earlier on Saturdays to help teach beginners, so it’s about four and a half to five hours a week,” he said.

“It offers that outlet for me...this time that doesn’t take up too much of my day which is nice, some quick physical activity that I can set my mind to and get myself away from school and other things.”

Congratulations to our Athletes who Signed their National Letters of Intent in November!

Janik Wing Lehigh University (Swimming) Olivia Snyder Georgetown University (Basketball) Bryn Hughes La Salle University (Field Hockey)

Four Southern Lehigh Athletes signed their NLI in November: (left to right) Janik Wing, Olivia Snyder, Bryn Hughes, Kristen Cocozza. Photo credit:

Kristen Cocozza Fordham University (Soccer)

Page 8

Center Spread

The Spotlight

Southern Lehigh Cooks Up Tradition With the holiday season well under way, the kitchens of many staff and students become filled with homemade foods of all kinds. The following delicious recipes are some favorites that some Southern Lehigh families prepare year after year for their holiday feasts.

Lumpia (Photo credit Bisayan Lady on Flickr)

Half and Half Cookies (Photo credit Josephine from allrecipes.com)

Latkes (Photo credit Wikimedia Commons)

December 2018

Center Spread

Page 9

Page 10 Opinion

The Spotlight

Southern Lehigh’s Grading System Must Change

By Saskia Van’t Hof

As students reach the middle of the school year, their frustration over grades echoes through the halls. It’s not just Southern Lehigh – all across the country, teens’ anxiety over school is becoming an epidemic. A survey from October 2018 by the American Psychological Association finds that on average, teenagers during the school year report their stress levels to be higher than those of adults.

Unsurprisingly, most of this anxiety derives not from social issues or bullying, but from academics.

Pressure for academic success is only worsened by Southern Lehigh’s enforcement of the percentage based weighted grading system in classes. This system groups points given for all assignments, tests, and homework into categories that are assigned a certain weight, or percentage of the total grade. The sum of all the categories makes up 100 percent.

For the past four years, teachers from all departments have been required to use weighted categories. This method of calculating grades, intended to establish consistency for teachers and students, has proven to be counterintuitive in the classroom.

To start off, the percentage based weighted grading system can be very confusing. Unlike point based systems, where every single task is assigned points that count toward the overall grade, percentage based grading relies heavily on weighted categories. For example, in one class tests could be worth 25 percent, while in another class tests could be worth over 70 percent.

“I think it’s confusing for students to understand exactly where their grade is coming from with the weighted categories,” English teacher Mrs. Lauren Tocci said. “Even though it’s something I review with my students, I still think they get frustrated by assignments that affect only one category rather than their overall grade.”

Another major criticism of weighted grading is how homework and classwork have almost no effect on the overall grade in some courses. If the homework category is worth only a small percentage, then completing all of the homework does not significantly affect a person’s overall grade. For example, if a student already starts the marking period at 100 percent in the homework category, then continuing to do well in homework does not improve the overall grade at all.

And homework is no easy task. According to a survey of K-12 teachers by the University of Phoenix, high school teachers assign a total of about 3.5 hours of homework each night. For students who already have sports, extracurriculars, familial obligations, and a social life, carving out hours every night to finish homework can become a significant stressor.

Yet, homework may amount to almost nothing in the gradebook. In many honors classes, for example, the weight for homework and classwork falls under 15 percent. In advanced world lan-

The current grading system can make classwork and tests unbalanced. Photo credit: Saskia Van’t Hof

guage classes like Chinese, French, and Spanish V, homework amounts to only five percent. Such little weighting of homework makes students question: “Why even bother?”

“I definitely think [the weighted grading] didn’t benefit the kids,” social studies teacher Mr. Thomas Ruch said. “I feel there is a possibility of help, but I also feel that in a way it damages kids’ ability to truly feel that every assignment is worthwhile for them to do.”

On the flip side, the weighting system can also be very frustrating for its overwhelming majorities in a singular category. In many classes, categories like assessments carry significantly more weight than the others. This system creates an all-too-common scenario where one bad quiz or test could detrimentally affect the grade of the entire quarter, regardless of how many points the assessment is worth.

“It’s kinda hard because if you get one bad test grade then it tanks your whole grade. Trying to recover from it is almost impossible because the assessment category is so much more valuable than the homework category,” senior Alyssa Bolden said, “So it’s really disappointing if you do all your homework, but then still get a bad grade.

It drops everything.”

The only benefit of enforcing the weighted categories is that it provides consistency. It gives teachers of all subjects the freedom to assign different assignments, while still having a similar format in the gradebook.

But is it worth it? Grading systems are not “one size fits all.” Different classes

teach content in a variety of ways, and enforcing one style forces teachers to mend their curriculum around the format. In the end, sacrificing the best interest of students and teachers in an attempt to establish “uniformity,” only hurts the school more than it benefits it.

For many electives in the arts, separating projects into distinct categories can be challenging. Music, Art, Yearbook, and Newspaper courses, which are not taught like a traditional class, are more difficult to group into multiple categories.

Applying weighted categories to classes who suffer from it only makes teachers’ jobs harder.

Revisiting different systems, such as point based grading, may be in the best interest of Southern Lehigh students. Unlike weighted categories, determining a student’s grade based on their total points offers a clear, objective way for students to be graded. Each assignment, from a five point homework grade to a 30 point project, counts toward a student’s final grade. It’s a system that almost everyone is used to, and provides a much more straightforward alternative to the system currently in place.

If nothing else, the weighted grading system needs to be revisited. Like any policy, it is worth asking whether or not it is truly beneficial for teachers and students. Just like not all students learn in the same way, not all classes can be graded the same way either. Revising the current grading system could not only make classes simpler, but relieve some of the stress put on high school students.

Did you know?

The Spotlight has a Twitter.

Follow us at @slsdspotlight.

December 2018

Opinion Page 11

Students Burdened by the College Board

By Bridgette Lang

If you are a sophomore, you may be planning to take the PSAT or an AP test in the near future.

As a junior, you may register for the PSAT, SAT, AP tests, or even some SAT subject tests. Seniors can take a final round of SAT and AP tests. All of these exams are administered and created by a single organization: the College Board.

The SAT, and standardized tests in general, are an important application component for any college-bound student. Most colleges require freshman applicants to submit SAT or ACT scores, and 87 percent of schools say that test scores play at least a considerable role in their decisions, according to a National Association for College Admission Counseling study.

Even though students dread spending hours of their Saturday mornings taking these tests, it has become a fact of life. Generally speaking, many college-bound students find it unfair that a single test can have so much clout in the admissions process.

Founded in 1899 as the College Entrance Examination Board, the College Board has built up a reputation for itself over the past century.

Most recently, its repute has been negative, due to alleged reuse of tests, a poorly designed June 2018 SAT, and the creation of a monopolistic market.

In 2015, the College Board had $77 million in profits and $834 million in net assets, according to Reuters. Despite the large amount of revenue, the College Board says it intends to reinvest all profits.

According to their website, the College Board is a “not-for-profit” organization. This wording diverts from what one would normally call a 501(c) organization, a nonprofit. Though nonprofits and not-for-profits may file their taxes the same way, it is generally understood that not-for-profits are run by volunteers, who do not have a salary.

Aside from what money is already being “reinvested,” their executives benefit from the extra revenue. From the most recent data available, College Board’s president made nearly $900,000 in salary, benefits, and perks. A dozen executives made more than $300,000 in salary and benefits, according to CNN. With these enormous salaries, the College Board is by no means a not-for-profit organization, because higher-up administration makes excessive amounts of money. Because the College Board hires and pays individuals, the institution is more of a nonprofit by nature. The company itself could never run with volunteers only, but is it really necessary to pay someone just shy of $1 million a year?

The patrons of this business are undoubtedly students and their families. By paying for these services, we are funneling money into the College Board staff’s gargantuan pay checks. “[Taking AP Tests] has become a dilemma for a lot of students because they want AP classes on their transcripts, which is great because the courses really challenge students,” AP social studies teacher Mr. Thomas Beaupre said, “But it has

Based on geography, there is limited competition between the SAT and ACT. Photo credit: Wikipedia

become a cat and mouse because a lot of schools don’t want to accept the scores. Colleges require a [score of] four or five. It creates a lot of financial issues for students.”

I conducted a survey, in which I sent out questions to all seniors to see how many tests and other College Board services they took advantage of from January 2018 to November 2018. On average, of the 30 seniors who responded, they took two SAT tests, one Subject test, two AP tests, and sent two Score-Sends and two CSS Financial Aid profiles to the colleges of their choice.

In just under a year, the average Southern Lehigh High School senior paid $429 to the College Board. Unfortunately, this does not include the price of transportation costs, study books, and test preparation courses all associated with the SAT. Only 15 percent of SLHS seniors surveyed view the College Board positively, while 60.7 percent had a negative view. The remaining 14.3 percent reported their view as “other.” “[Unless you pay,] the College Board won’t even let you have access to which questions you got wrong, junior Jessica Beltz said, “I want to know how to do better, but I don’t want to have to pay the extra money.”

Test preparation courses create another uneven playing field. Though there are free options, such as Khan Academy and YouTube videos, in-person tutoring is often an effective investment for students and their families. Prices from private companies vary dramatically, but the College Board offers their own SAT book for around $20 and an online prep-course for $70. That’s more money going to the same people.

The AP Tests assess students on courses taught by high school teachers, and therefore

provide a higher level of fairness than the different preparation options for the SAT Tests. All students sit in a classroom for approximately the same amount of time with a real teacher. Even though this method benefits all students, money is still a factor, because the College Board sells AP Test prep books.

“I would say that AP Biology has changed. [The College Board] made a move away from factual information and have gone for a more thematic approach, which benefits students,” AP science teacher Mr. Edward Sinkler said. “Personally from teaching AP Biology here [at Southern Lehigh], I don’t get enough time. There’s not enough class time [to prepare for the test]. It’s hard specifically for the sciences.”

In order to lessen the overpowering control that the College Board has, American institutions of higher education should encourage and accept both the SAT and ACT. The ACT is the only competitor to the SAT. In the past, the SAT has been taken by more students on the East and West Coasts; the ACT holds reign of the Midwest and South. Encouraging competition between these two organizations will better the quality and management of both tests.

“The College Board is a monopoly because they don’t compete against other [testing services] at all,” senior Ryan Sheats said. “All the students are negatively affected, because there isn’t a free market. The College Board has both AP Tests and [SAT] Subject Tests, but they are the same thing.”

Unfortunately for students, there are no other competitors for the SAT Subject, AP, and PSAT Tests. Only time will tell when a smaller company will challenge the monopoly of the College Board in these fields.

The College Board administers SAT, AP, SAT Subject, and PSAT tests to college-bound high school students. Photo credit: Wikipediamedia Commons

The Spotlight is published six times annually by the student members of its staff. Its purpose is to present news concerning Southern Lehigh High School and the Southern Lehigh School District, as well as to provide a forum for student opinion. Editorial content of The Spotlight expresses the view of the paper and not necessarily that of the Board of Education, Administration, or faculty of the Southern Lehigh School District. Bylined editorial content and letters to the editor represent the opinion of the writer only. All contents are copyrighted by The Spotlight. Advertising and subscription rates are furnished upon request.

Page 12

Our World

The Spotlight

Who Represents You in the Government?

By Marc Ramson

The midterm elections took place on November 6, 2018 nationwide. Southern Lehigh is located in the 7th congressional district for federal congressional elections and the 131st district for state elections. The Pennsylvania congressional districts were recently redrawn due to gerrymandering. Keep reading to see who the people elected to represent them.

Tom Wolf PA Governor Tom Wolf is a Democrat that has been re-elected as PA governor. Previously, Wolf was a business owner, and because of this chooses to receive no salary as governor. Wolf focuses on environmental conservation regulations and restoring funding to Pennsylvania education. He also plans to expand medicare coverage in the state.

Photo credit: ttnews.com

Justin Simmons PA State House Southern Lehigh alumni, and Republican incumbent Justin Simmons has been re-elected as the Representative for District 131 for PA State Congress. Simmons has been a member of the PA House since 2011 and will be up for election in 2020. Simmons works to keep property taxes low and cut regulations for oil and drilling.

Susan Wild US House

Photo credit: LehighValleyLive.com

Bob Casey Jr. US Senate

Photo credit: PennLive.com

Photo credit: thedp.com

Democrat Bob Casey Jr. has been re-elected as one of the two senators representing Pennsylvania. Casey has represented PA as a senator since 2006. Casey serves on 4 committees and is the ranking member of the Committee of Aging. He highlights the role of bipartisanship and works with Republicans to accomplish goals pertaining to raising wages, providing healthcare to senior citizens.

Susan Wild, a Democrat, was elected to represent the 8th District of Pennsylvania in The United State House of Representatives.Wild was previously a lawyer and was appointed the first female Solicitor of Allentown in 2015.

She works to reform healthcare to ensure it is affordable for everyone.

Wild lives in the Lehigh Valley and is the mother of two children.

Pat Brown PA State Senate Pat Brown, a Republican, has been re-elected State Senator for the 16th District.

He was born and raised in Allentown, and has represented the district since April of 2005. Brown works to reform the pension system in the PA state government as well as lowering corporate taxes as a part of job creation initiatives.

Photo credit: senatorbrowne.com

Our World Page 13

December 2018

Yellow Vest Protests in France Raise Questions about Climate Change Policy

By Bridgette Lang, Kennah Salvo, and Sarah Jacobson

The protests in France have lasted over a month and have influenced other countries to protest against climate change reforms. Photo credit: ABC News

A little more than a month ago, French citizens took to the streets to protest the increase in fuel taxes, which hit nearly 20 percent. French drivers are required to keep a yellow vest in their cars, a safety measure if they end up in an accident and need to be visible. Working class commuters wore these vests to protest the high fuel taxes and unite the movement against French President Macron.

Macron installed the new tax to help protect the environment and aimed to reduce carbon emissions by 40 percent by 2030. He hoped that with the higher costs, drivers would choose public transportation instead or buy electric vehicles.

Long-distance commuters from rural areas were most affected by this new hike in fuel prices, because the availability of new, greener transportation was not an investment they were able to make.

“The gas tax is the straw that broke the camel’s back. A lot of other things are going on in France, kind of bubbling under the surface,” French teacher Madame Kaytlyn Byers said. “I think they’re taking the gas tax as like the chance to be like ‘let’s just wreak havoc until we can solve a lot of problems that are happening.’”

Anger with the new president didn’t start or end with the fuel taxes. Overall, middle class citizens are concerned about their financial situation.

Many feel as if they are too wealthy to receive the majority of government benefits but too poor to afford necessities that they need.

The protesters organized the demonstrations through social media communication. With no official leaders, the protests widely expanded to encompass different causes and different methods of dissent. Most recently, protesters have broken down windows of shops, hurling missiles, and torching cars. “ I think [the protests] are justified because these extra taxes make it harder for lower income families to support themselves,” senior Gianna

Griffith said.

Along Champs-Elysees Avenue, luxury stores have boarded up their windows. People have completely torn down the plywood and broke through to throw fire into the shops. French police have tried to counter the violence with tear gas and water cannons.

French protests are very different from American ones. In France, protests are commonplace, something expected. Striking is not uncommon in France, but what sets the yellow vest protests apart is scope, anger, and violence.

“When I lived in a city in the south of France, probably every month the transportation would go on strike. It’s just something that you cope with and you deal with,” Madame Byers said. “Anything and everything can go on strike. On [France’s] Labor Day, everybody goes on strike. They just find what issue they wanna talk about that day.”

Macron’s gave a televised address in the end of November, where he said he would not be pressured into changing policy by “thugs.” Despite his words, his actions proved to be different. Firstly, he vetoed his plan to raise fuel taxes in order to appease the public, but the protesting has continued. Macron then promised to raise the minimum wage and raise savings pensions this week.

“Macron is already working towards a solution, that but he needs to revisit the policies that started the protest in the first place,” sophomore Lucas Zhang says. “In general, I think that it’s more about the economy and less about France itself.”

Similar protests have emerged in Sweden, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Canada. Since the start of issues in France, Egypt has banned the sale of yellow vests, in fear that they might also experience a similar revolt.

In America, there are similar calls for environmental regulations by the Democratic party.

The current president, Donald Trump, belongs to the Republican party. The platform for this party

claims that climate change poses no immediate threat to the people. Because of this, Democrats are outraged and want regulations put in place to limit fossil fuel consumption among other environmentally friendly policies. “[Protesting is] more individualistic in America, because people usually protest for themselves,” senior Mariama Sohna said. “But [in other countries,] it’s a movement. In America, it’s a moment.”

However, there are currently no plans in either the House of Representatives or the Senate to enact such legislation. Unlike France, America has no current plans to curb the infamous climate change that many environmental scientists have been concerned with. Instead, President Trump has stated that he doesn’t believe in man-made climate change.

“[Protesting is] more individualistic in America, because people usually protest for themselves. But [in other countries,] it’s a movement. In America, it’s a moment.”

-Mariama Sohna

It remains to be seen whether Democrats will be able to push through any national legislation that will limit the man-made climate change. Although, it is clear that the two parties are divided on the issue, and a situation like the one France is in is not likely to happen anytime soon. The main question that American politicians face now is whether or not climate change policy in the U.S. would result in similar protests and financial devastation.

Page 14 Arts and Entertainment

The Spotlight

Read Dead Redemption Wins Plenty of Awards While Shattering Expectations

By Griffin Schmoyer

After much anticipation, “Red Dead Redemption 2” is finally here, and it lives up to the hype. Rockstar Studios’ prequel to the first “Red Dead Redemption” delivers a Game of the Year quality experience that will make you want to grab some boots and spurs and ride your horse off into the sunset.

At the Video Game Awards on December 7, Red Dead Redemption 2 came home with 4 awards and plenty of nominations. The game won the award for Best Narrative, Best Score, and Best Audio. It was nominated in categories such as Game of the Year, Best Game Direction, Best Art Direction, and Best Action/Adventure Game.

The story takes place in 1899, and after a botched heist in the town of Blackwater, the main character Arthur Morgan and the Van der Linde gang are forced to flee. To survive in the heartland of America, the crew must rob, steal, and fight to escape the federal agents and bounty hunters on their tail. At the Video Game Awards, Roger Clarke won the award for best performance as the character of Arthur Morgan.

Right from the start, the player is thrown right into action engaging with the rival gang known as the O’Driscolls. As you try to come to grips with the game, the opening scenes are very cinematic. One of the first things I noticed were how stunning the graphics were. The game looks unbelievably realistic, with every step in the snow, the sound of the crunching snow and howling winds, it made me actually feel cold. From the majestic landscapes, all the way down to the wool lining your jacket, the graphics look as close to real life as you can get.

The gameplay is also extremely enjoyable, and at times realistic. You actively have to manage your hunger to keep up stamina and health regeneration. The gun combat feels much like GTA V, where you essentially auto-lock to enemy AI. However, the enemy AI is actually well scaled to not be like a Star Wars Stormtrooper. They land their hits and en masse can provide a tough challenge to the player. AI gave me game overs a little bit more than I’d like to admit.

There is also a mechanic in the game known as “Red Eye,” where you slow down time and can aim at multiple enemies and fire off multiple rounds, very similar to the RADS system from the Fallout series of games, except for the fact that you can’t target certain body parts like in the Fallout games. It is difficult to master, but pulling it off successfully is very rewarding. Like stamina and regeneration, Red Eye is also managed by items.

Most importantly, seeing as they are your mode of transportation, horse mechanics were very solid, but at times could be a bit wonky. Like the player, horses have stamina and health that must be managed. Over the course of the game, you get to bond with your horse, and it’s a very heartwarming touch to an otherwise ruthless game.

The hub of the game is whatever town or settlement your group of outlaws happen to be terrorizing. The group acts as a community, and everyone has a job. One guy is the butcher, one guy is the stableman, and so on.

As the main character, you have to help provide for your group. One major aspect of that that I got to experience was hunting. Hunting was taken very seriously in this game, as you have to track your prey extremely carefully and quietly. My first hunt was for deer, and by using the “Eagle Eye” tracking mechanic, it made the hunt easier, and kept me from wandering around like a fool. It doesn’t direct you right to the animal, which I appreciate, as the player still needs to scan the area to find their prey,

Red Dead Dedemption 2 took home plenty of hardware at the Video Game Awards on December 7,2018. Photo Credit: Rockstar Games.

Adding to the community feel, you can talk to anyone in the settlement at any time, and especially coming back from missions, these little tidbits add a lot to the story and development of the main characters in the group.

Having thrown you right into the middle of the game, it helps to provide a backstory of how the whole group came together. Conversations like these influence your morale, you play either the law-abiding citizen or the rowdy, no holds barred outlaw. Like in most story-driven games, the choices you make in the dialogue tree affect this meter, and the world around you. You can make your money by selling pelts or learn the train patterns and become an infamous train robber.

After taking part in one of those missions, I think I’d choose the train robber path. Robbing the train is a really exciting gameplay sequence, as you catch up to the locomotive, hop on, and work your way to the front, taking out anyone that stands in the way of the riches that await. It was definitely my favorite mission from what I was able to play.

Overall, the game is top quality. The storytelling, the fine details, and enjoyable gameplay create an extremely cinematic and action packed experience. The only problems I could find in the game were a significant amount of unplayable cutscenes all across my playtime with the game, and some dynamic cutscenes glitched out and actually got me stuck. During the first train heist, you have to get into the train after you’ve stopped it to collect the loot. The AI of one of my allies pushed me off of the train and it treated me like I was in the train car, but it was rare that there were issues with these dynamic cutscenes in the game. This is a must-buy for players who enjoy shooters, who have enjoyed games like GTA in the past, and who are looking for an exciting adventure of a game. Red Dead Redemption 2 is available on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.

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December 2018

Arts and Entertainment

Page 15

Sage Alley Not the Best for Those Under 21

By Quinn Schmidt

Driving down Main Street in Coopersburg, you might miss the lively brewery jammed between two homes. To be completely honest, Sage Alley Brewery doesn’t look like anything special from the street. Couple the generic appearance with tricky parking, and most people will want to turn the car around before entering the restaurant. Once you find yourself a spot in the cozy parking lot, an outdoor dining area and a seemingly inappropriate food truck greet you before walking in the back door.

Choose-your-own seating allows customers to opt for a seat at the bar or at the high chairs surrounding. My party and I were immediately greeted with speedy service. The menu is only one page predominantly consisting of bar food. A dozen or so gluten free options are scattered throughout.

However, the most prominent issue is the limited array of beverages. As implied in the name, Sage Alley Brewery’s claim to fame is the beer: not the ideal option for a high school student thirsty for soda. But with the long bar being the centerpiece of the dining room, Sage Alley makes it clear that their restaurant is meant to be inhabited by adults.

Along with the menu, customers are given a mission statement, where Sage Alley owners Russell and Heather really drive home the target age range. In all bold letters dead center of the page reads “Sage Alley is an adult setting.” They follow that statement with instructions for how children must be dealt with while inhabiting the restaurant.

When our waitress came back to take our food orders, she enlightened us on the even more interesting kitchen on wheels. The food truck on the patio serves as the kitchen for the entire restaurant. I opted for loaded nachos with ground beef priced at a reasonable $11.99. My dining partners ordered beer infused mac & cheese and a cheese burger, priced at $5.99 and $12.99, respectively.

Utensils, napkins, and condiments must be retrieved from an assortment placed near the front of the restaurant, adding to the unique feel. After some surprisingly speedy service from the food truck our orders came in take out boxes with average sized portions.

My nachos never lost their crunch, and I enjoyed my meal piled high with guacamole and salsa. The cheeseburger satisfied, but did not exceed any expectations. However, the mac & cheese was a different story. The menu did not lie, the dish was infused with beer, and lots of it. In hindsight,

Sage Alley is located at 213 N Main Street in Coopersburg. As pictured above, the brewery looks very similiar to a typical house in Coopersburg. Photo Credit: Sarah Jacobson.

I was not terribly shocked that the brewery used beer as an integral part of their food, but for teenagers expecting standard mac & cheese, the beer taste came as a shock. Maybe it would be more appealing for an older, more experienced palate, but I left most of the mac & cheese on the table.

Overall, I would stray away from taking friends out to Sage Alley. Although the food was reasonably priced, generally mediocre, and served in a unique environment, it is clear that this place is not meant for anyone under the age of 21.

Jedidiah Jenkins Moves Mountains with His Memoir ‘To Shake the Sleeping Self’

By Aisha Durrani

Jedidiah Jenkins’ autobiography explores the raw emotions he felt throughout his journey across the U.S. Photo Credit: Convergent Books.

It’s a feeling teens know all too well. The feeling of being stuck, the fear that you’re being dragged into a life you didn’t choose. This conflict is the driving force behind Jedidiah Jenkins’ heartfelt memoir, “To Shake The Sleeping Self.” It tells of a captivating bike journey from Oregon to Patagonia, in order to reclaim an excitement for life.

This book will undoubtedly leave readers hanging onto every word, and is sure to satisfy the wanderer in all of us.

While working at a law firm he despised, Jed became restless, frustrated, and mentally, physically, and spiritually lost. As he was slowly entering his 30s with nothing to show for it, he decided an action-packed journey was the only solution. So on his 30th birthday, he set off to begin the expedition with no preparation. The memoir follows Jenkins and his radically nonconformist friend Weston, as they trek through wooded terrains and deserted mountains alike.

Although “To Shake the Sleeping Self” may appear to portray purely physical struggles, Jed’s mental and spiritual pressures do not take a backseat. The story occasionally dips into Jenkins’ past as well, alluding to his struggles with his religion, sexuality, insecurity, and self-identity.

These mental, physical, and spiritual conflicts weave effortlessly through the work, guided by Jenkins’ gregarious, reflective writing style. Jenkins, a generally shy, introspective person, broke countless boundaries, from trying magic mushrooms, to nearly collapsing from the smoldering heat in Mexico City.

That said, at some points, this memoir feels too introspective. His self-reflection often distracts from the journey itself. Some chapters, toward the end, barely focus on the physical journey, and more on his distressing past. He also spends an outrageously long time discussing his hidden disdain for Weston’s lack of planning and “go with the flow” nature. These irritating sidetracks make the story seem weak and repetitive at parts.

However, this is flaw is quickly redeemed by the way Jenkins describes the things around him in ethereal detail, from the way the light breaks through the mountains, to the gracious, endlessly generous people he meets. His touching and personable writing makes this a book that will find a familiar friend in all of us.

One of the most interesting parts of this story is Jenkins’ family history. His parents had also gone on a similar adventure, as they walked across America over the course of five years in the 70s. Due to a different set of circumstances, yet similar resolutions, Jenkins ends up following loosely in his parent’s footsteps. He discusses this in his book, bringing up thoughtful questions about his own legacy, and what it meant to grow up just like his parents.

Overall, “To Shake the Sleeping Self” is an absolutely delightful read. If you are in desperate need of a lifestyle change, this book is for you. I would rate this book a solid 9/10, and genuinely enjoyed sharing the journey with him. The book’s beautiful detail and thought-provoking messages will stick with you for years to come.

Page 16 Odds and Ends

The Spotlight

December 2018

Holiday Cross Word Puzzle Try to complete this Southern Lehigh themed holiday crossword puzzle. Check our website, slspotlight.com, for the answers!

ACROSS 5) Lots of students and staff bake these during the holiday season.

7) This popular coffee destination in Southern Lehigh boasts high prices and festive drinks.

9) 450 of these were hidden around our school.

12) This is lit during the 8 day festival of lights known commonly as Hanukkah.

13) You might be exchanging joke gifts in this fashion.

14) On the first day of holiday spirit week, students and staff were encouraged to wear this.

DOWN 1) This phrase is used to wish others good fortune during the holiday season.

2) You can buy this sugary hot drink at the coffee house in the morning.

3) Our first day back after the break.

4) This nearby city hosts Christkindlmarkt.

5) Mrs. Spritzer’s birthday is exactly 10 days before this widely celebrated holiday.

6) You can find the biggest Christmas tree in Center Valley here.

8) Many students will likely want to participate in this activity during the break.

10) Some people wish for this during this holiday season.

11) You might be doing this to see family and friends during the winter break.

Have a fun and jolly winter break!

Crossword created at puzzle-maker.com