Spotlight January 2019 Print Issue

THE SPOTLIGHT January 2019

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

Volume 62 Issue 3

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Read about the improvements to the school’s recycling habits on page 2.

Photo Credit: Saskia Van’t Hof

In This

Issue:

4

Read about the Angel 34 club and their volunteer work on page 4.

6

Spend a day in the life of a wreslter on page 6.

15

Turn to page 15 to read about the new “Mary Poppins movie.

Page 2 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

The Spotlight

Changes to Recycling Protocal Coming to Southern Lehigh

by Saskia Van’t Hof

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 Richard 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 2016 First Class Rating 2015 First Class Rating

Many of the items tossed in cafeteria recycling bins are not recyled Photo credit: Saskia Van’t Hof.

“Reduce, reuse, recycle.” Those three words have been nailed into the heads of every student since kindergarten. All around the school, bright blue recycling bins can can be found in classrooms, hallways, and in the cafeteria. On the surface, it would seem natural to assume that Southern Lehigh has the issue of recycling under control.

However, the lack of recycling in the school was brought to light during a student advisory meeting in early December. According to head custodian Mrs. Shannon Faleski, almost everything in the school recycling bins gets put in the trash.

In previous years, most of the recycling was picked up by Charles Chrin Hauling company, the business in charge of collecting the district’s trash. However, since the beginning of the school year, the company has cut back on what they accept as recycling.

“Everything was getting mixed up. They were getting dirty recycling...cans that were still half full, that kind of stuff,” Mrs. Faleski said. “So they pretty much said

nothing can go in the recycling bins anymore unless it’s clean and empty.”

Custodians, for both health reasons and for a lack of time, are not allowed to sort through the trash.

Therefore, the contents in all of the bins in school -- even the blue bins meant for recycling -- must be thrown away. Thus, the amount of trash has skyrocketed in 2018 alone.

In addition to the stricter rules regarding the condition of the materials, the company has also restricted the kinds of recyclables they’re willing to accept. Materials such as styrofoam, shredded paper, napkins, coffee cups, and plastic bags are not recyclable.

“It really surprised me that a lot of paper isn’t recycled,” sophomore Fotoula Kokolas said. “I didn’t realize that throwing away things like tissues is such a big problem.

A lot of recycling in our school gets thrown away because people put things they think are recyclable like tissues and it just all gets thrown away.”

Currently, the only things

that are being recycled are cardboard boxes and some food shipping containers from the cafeteria.

Mrs. Faleski hopes that with student involvement and awareness around the school, more things can be recycled.

“If we could just get a hold of what we have in the cafeteria during lunches–the water bottles, the juice bottles, and the soda containers–if we could get a handle on people just emptying those and throwing them in the recycling, that would be a great start,” Mrs. Faleski said. “If they’re empty, even if they’re not technically clean, I think we could get away with throwing those in the recycling and not have an issue.”

Following the student advisory meeting where the issue was raised, a group of eight students met with Mrs. Faleski in early December. Together, they discussed solutions to increase recycling in the school.

“I think it’s really good that we’re finally talking about it,” sophomore Jack Ziets said. “Recycling is really important, and it surprised me how little we’re doing right now.”

In addition to short-term methods, the group is looking into expanding the recycling committee to involve more students and teachers. Other suggestions included creating competitions between homerooms for the most reusable water bottles, or setting up volunteer hours to help collect recycling.

“This is only the beginning,” Mrs. Faleski said, “but if we could just spread awareness overall, that’s a big step in the right direction.”

Many of the items tossed in cafeteria recycling bins are not recyled Photo credit: Saskia Van’t Hof.

If you have any questions or are interested in joining the recyling committee, please email Mrs. Faleski at faleskis@slsd.org for more information.

January 2019

News Page 3

Program of Studies Updated for 2019-2020

by Kennah Salvo Recently, Southern Lehigh High School made several new and exciting changes to next year’s program of studies. These include several new courses, renamed courses, changes to prerequisites, easier to follow deadline calendars, and career planning information.

New courses this year include an academic level calculus class, a second level of the Multicultural Foods class (Careers in Food Service), a second level of Portfolio (Portfolio II), and a course called Intro to Engineering Design (IED).

“The intro to engineering design class is particularly exciting because it’s an honors level course,” principal Mrs. Beth Guarriello said. “This gives those LCTI superstars and kids who are good with their hands a chance to take an honors course where they wouldn’t normally because they’re not necessarily ‘literature people’ or what have you.”

This class is a substitute for the required Foundations of Tech class, which is merely an overview of concepts, according to the program of studies. The new IED class is a more practical and hands on approach. IED incorporates into the curriculum Project Lead the Way (PLTW), a nationwide program that is very well respected within the engineering world, endorsed by educators and alums alike.

Careers in Food Service will be taught by Mrs. Danika Wall, who also teaches Parenting the Young Child, Clothing Concepts, and Multicultural Foods.

“Careers in Food Service is pretty much what it sounds like,” Mrs. Guarriello said, “It’s an extension of the Multicultural Foods class.”

The purpose of the class is to further ex-

You can view the program of studies on the school’s website. Photo credit: Southern Lehigh School District.

plore culinary arts and apply them to real life food service career service occupations. Each unit will cover a different type of food service career, such as baking and pastry making, food trucks, and lifestyle blogging.

Portfolio II will be taught by Mrs. Courtney Bathgate, who also teaches Portfolio I, Computer Graphics, Drawing and Painting, and Photography.

“This class is primarily for students who have already been accepted into a[n art] program,” Mrs. Bathgate said, “so most likely seniors who have already taken Portfolio I.”

The course will expand on concepts introduced in Portfolio I for the first half of the year, and by the second semester it will be a fairly independent class.

Renamed elective courses this year include Child Development, formerly Parenting and Young Child Development, and Computer Graphics, now called Graphic Design.

In the English department, there is a change in prerequisites. If a student would like to move from college prep to honors level English, a grade of 90 or above is required in the previous year’s English class. If an honors student would like to continue in the honors track, a grade of 80 or above is required.

The beginning of the program of studies provides several resources for students.

A deadline calendar for the course selection process outlines what changes may be made and when.

A college planning calendar outlines what processes a student must go through each year in order to be most successful in the college application process.

A school overview can be submitted along with an application to any college or university.

Lastly, there is career pathway information detailing which courses may be beneficial for certain careers, along with a list of careers in each of the four pathways, organized by level of post-secondary education required.

To view the 2019-2020 Southern Lehigh High School Program of Studies online, visit slsd.org, go to High School, then Guidance, then Course Selection. Or you can visit www.slsd. org/Page/1535

Important Upcoming Events at SLHS 1/28

2/1-2/6

Registration for AP exams open. Registartion is open until April 19, but waiting that long will incur a late fee.

Current 9th, 10th, and 11th grade students choose classes for next school year.

2/21

2/28

College planning night for current juniors at 6:30 pm in the auditorium.

Science fair in the gym and cafeteria at the high school.

The event starts at 7:00 pm.

2/15 and 2/18 President’s day weekend; no school for students.

Visit the district webpage, slsd.org, to see more upcoming events, or follow @ slhspartans on Instagram or Twitter to stay updated.

Page 4 Features

The Spotlight

Angel 34 Wraps Up Season of Fundraisers

by Bridgette Lang

Angel 34 members, dressed as elves, make crafts with elementary school kids during the club’s annual Christmas party. Photo credit: Southern Lehigh School District Instagram

Nearly three years ago, Southern Lehigh High School decided to join Angel 34, a local, nonprofit organization that helps families and terminally ill children in the Lehigh Valley.

Under the advisement of social studies teacher Mr. Troy Ruch, the club regularly meets on Day 2 Spartan periods and after school for community events.

The mission of the Angel 34 Student Board is for every child to have their own angel during their battle with cancer. Students are expected to volunteer time at Angel 34 events, help create events for the children and families, and raise much needed funds to help families directly.

“I have been involved with Angel 34

Senior board member Emma Scattergood helped organise the Christmas party. Photo Credit: Emma Scattergood

since the beginning of [my] freshman year,” sophomore student board member Kaitlyn Keller said. “I decided to join because I really enjoy helping others in our community, and I liked how with Angel 34 you get to personally interact with the families we are helping.”

The student board is composed of student-athletes from high schools in District XI. Every year in April, graduating seniors are replaced with new board members. Seniors who would still like to remain involved may join the Angel 34 board as an adult.

“We work with students from six or seven other schools,” Mr. Ruch said. “There are three or four events each year that are planned

by Angel 34.” ` What sets Angel 34 apart from other organizations is that all the proceeds and activities directly benefit community members of the Lehigh Valley, making it more of a personal experience for students involved.

“I decided to join because at the time our school was forming a group for the student board, my grandpa was diagnosed with cancer,” senior board member Emma Scattergood said.

“He’s in remission now. It was really hard for my family and a lot of things changed, so we could support him and make sure he got everything he needed. After seeing what happened to my family, I wanted to be able to help other families going through similar things.”

Scattergood also serves as the secretary for the student board, where she plays a key role in organizing events and helping other officers.

“My job is to record notes throughout the meetings, just keep our upcoming plans organized, and keep track of important dates for the entire student board,” Scattergood said.

“I also am in charge of keeping track of attendance at our meetings, and ordering all the

food. I get to work closely with the co-presidents and the founder of Angel 34 to make sure we are keeping true to our missions and goals.”

Every year, Angel 34 hosts multiple events during different holidays. The annual Christmas party is by far the most anticipated event.

In preparation, the student board runs a toy drive and plans activities for the kids, including cookie decorating, crafts, and carriage rides.

On the day of the event, the students all dress up as elves and spend time with the kids.

The end goal of the Christmas party is to relieve the financial burden placed on families with high medical bills by providing their kids with presents for under the tree. The party also serves as a distraction from everything else going on in their lives.

During the fall, the SLHS Angel 34 club also ran a Thanksgiving meal fundraiser. The fundraiser was very successful, and the club was able to raise enough money to buy one family an entire Thanksgiving meal.

“We provide Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners that they otherwise might not be able to make or buy,” Keller said. “We also work on making bags and things for the kids who are sick that will help them in the hospital when they have to quickly get there. Overall, the mission is to not help cancer research, but to help individual families in our community who have children with cancer.”

Even with all of their accomplishments, Angel 34 is hoping for an even better year in 2019. They have already planned many unique activities and fundraisers for the second semester.

“We are planning to do something in the spring...where kids who are diagnosed with cancer will get backpacks,” Mr. Ruch said. “The high school is sponsoring a couple of backpacks.”

Features Page 5

January 2019

Sunshine Club Boosts Teacher Morale

by Sarah Jacobson

Throughout the school year, there are plenty of activities around the school to boost students’ spirits and keep them motivated. Students need these activities to help them stay happy and involved during the ups and downs of the school year. However, many students don’t consider that teachers need these same encouragements. That is where the Sunshine Club comes in.

“The Sunshine Club is for trying to cheer people up,” club leader and learning support teacher Mr. Matthew Miller said. “We have some monthly socials. In the winter we have a hot chocolate social out in the courtyard. We do an egg hunt in the spring, we’ve had piñatas.

We’re just trying to get teachers out of their classrooms and interact[ing] with each other a little more.”

The Sunshine Club was previously run by former family consumer science Mrs. Linda Gross, who retired in 2016. Originally, the club was designed to provide emotional support for teachers. For instance, if there was a birth or death in the family, the teacher would receive a card or some flowers.

However, when Mr. Miller took over, the role of the club evolved to focus on improving morale. Now, the teachers have monthly socials and seasonal activities in order to encourage them to mingle and socialize with one another.

“I remember around Easter, [the club] did an easter egg hunt and they filled the easter eggs with little messages that were kind of funny and there were a couple of them that had gift cards,” Chinese teacher Mrs. Patricia Gouck said. “I thought that was really fun.”

For Mr. Miller, the main goal of the club

Teachers participated in an impromptu faculty choir, the Spartairs, during the holidays. Photo credit: Mr. Thomas Ruhf

is to provide teachers with a good time. The communication between teachers is the most important part of the club. During club gatherings, teachers have the chance to talk with fellow educators that they might not normally have the chance to connect with.

In the past, the club has hosted hot chocolate gatherings for the teachers as well as other food oriented events. Not all of the club’s activities are teacher exclusive; before the winter break, some teachers got together to perform holiday songs for the students before the school day started. “[The caroling] made me feel good. I thought it was a different change of pace from

previous years,” junior Michael Karol said.

“They absolutely should [do something like that again] because it made the hallways feel more welcoming and more festive.”

Although students might not be a part of the Sunshine Club, they still benefit from the club’s activities. The monthly socials and considerate cards let teachers know that someone cares about them, and in turn, they are able to repay that kindness to their students.

“I think [students] maybe don’t see their teachers and how they interact outside the classroom. We’re trying to lighten the mood and do fun things,” Mr Miller said. “[Students] might see teachers as more human.”

Course Selection: Advice from Students

Interviews and photography by Saskia Van’t Hof

Sophmore Sooyeon Jung

“Take a good mix of hard and easy classes. My advice is to save some fun, easy classes like Mulicultural foods and Piano 1 for senior year. I think it’s important to plan ahead when you’re choosing your courses so you don’t have to cram credits in your senior year.”

“Sometimes I feel really overloaded.

I would suggest if you have an idea of what you are and aren’t good at, don’t take a hard class that you don’t like just for the prestige. For me, I took APUSH because it was an AP, but then I realized I struggle a lot in history.”

Senior Lauren Malecki

“My advice would be don’t take too many easy classes your senior year because you’ll feel unmotivated. But at the same time, if your schedule is really hard like mine, make sure to take a study hall. It’s all about finding the right balance.”

“Always take a study hall. Especially in your junior year, take a study hall. If you do other activities, junior year can get really busy, so having a class to get some work done is super helpful.”

Senior Max Johnson

Junior Tess Stoudt

Senior Daulton Rupell

“In general, challenge yourself sophmore year. If you’re thinking about taking an honors class instead of on level, just do it. If I could do it over again, I would probably take honors version of geometry. Really think about which classes would be a good fit.”

“Last year, I took CP wold instead of AP World because the Seniors I talked to said it was really hard. I wish I would have taken the class anyway. The takeaway is don’t listen to seniors–they complain a lot. You should take the course you want to take.”

Sophomore Courtney Bridges

Page 6 Sports

The Spotlight

Southern Lehigh’s Six-Minute-Man Nick Colasurdo Leads the Spartans Into Battle

By Quinn Schmidt

Every high school athlete has their fair share of grit, determination, and sacrifice needed to prosper. Football players practice until their entire body aches, basketball players shoot free throws until their arms feel like jello, and soccer players run sprints until their lungs beg for mercy. As painful as all of these exercises sound, there is one sport that combines all of them into a single athletic endeavor. This sport requires a combination of mental toughness and physical superiority unheard of by any other student athlete.

With an intense dietary regimen and vigorous training, wrestling places stress on the body and mind for months at a time. Take Southern Lehigh wrestling senior captain Nick Colasurdo as an example.

It all begins the day before a match, after a “light” practice consisting of mostly sprints and drills. When he gets home at night, he watches his family eat dinner, while occasionally spoiling himself with a glass of water. The following day is spent in starvation: no breakfast or lunch. His meal times are spent in a more useful way.

“Sometimes if I’m a few pounds over, I’ll put some sweats on and run on the treadmill during lunch just to drop some more pounds,” Colasurdo said.

Around seven o’clock, Colasurdo steps on the mat with no food in his stomach. Wrestling at 138 pounds, he typically faces one of the opponent’s best wrestlers. After exerting all his energy on the mat, he finally sits down at the dinner table 26 hours after his last meal.

As mad as it sounds, Colasurdo’s struggles aren’t unique to a Division I talent like himself.

Although he pushes his body to the extreme end, many wrestlers partake in starvation tactics.

Those wanting to drop a weight class before a match employ some bizarre methods to shed some pounds.

“We put on our sweats and we run for a little bit,” junior Richie Gilmore said. “While we’re running, we chew gum or something and spit into a trash can to get excess weight off. That normally works.”

Needless to say, wrestlers must have plenty of mental willpower to undergo the crushing diet restrictions their sport places on them. The real pain, however, is brought on physically.

Whereas many sporting events take hours to complete, a duel on the mat only lasts six minutes. But six minutes can feel like hours when your body is in the midst of succumbing to exhaustion. In wrestling there’s no teammate you

Nick Colasurdo wrestles an opponent from Lehighton at a home match on January 4th. Althoguh Colasurdo would go on to win his duel 7-2, Southern Lehigh would lose the match 47-16. Photo Credit: Juan Garcia.

can blame for your failure. Once the lights are dimmed, the spotlight shines down on you and your opponent, and the battle begins. There is nothing to rely on but brute strength and instinct.

“You’re going out there tired and exhausted and you have to light your own flame; you gotta go,” Colasurdo said. “Everyone in our area that you wrestle is trying to hurt you; there’s no mercy.”

Colasurdo has had quite a remarkable journey from a freshman wrestler with more losses on his record than wins, to a highly prized Division I recruit. Four spinal fractures and a spur in his back debilitated him for the entirety of his sophomore season. A period of agonizing rehab ensued as Colasurdo attempted to build back up all the muscle loss from wearing a brace for five months.

“It was tough, it took awhile to get my strength back. But even though that injury was bad, that’s what helped me become the wrestler I am today,” Colasurdo said, “ If I can get over that I can do anything that I want.”

But his injury refrained from holding him back for too long. He won 25 matches his junior year on his way to a Northeast Regional tournament berth.

For ordinary athletes, all this talk of injuries, starvation, and training begs the answer to one obvious question. Why wreak so much havoc on your body? Why torment yourself with hours on the treadmill, no no food in your stomach, and too many bruises on your body to count? The answer, Colasurdo says, is the isolation.

“Even though your tired and beat up you just gotta get yourself fired up,” he said. “I think that’s

why I like it. It’s just you by yourself out there.

You don’t have anyone to rely on.”

Colasurdo has been a phenomenal asset for the Spartans so far. He’s the head of the Southern Lehigh snake hoping to slither it’s way into the conversation of best team in the Colonial League behind the powerhouse Saucon Valley.

This year’s senior class has built the foundation to a respectable program at Southern Lehigh.

Head coach Matt Gorkos has used this years senior class to rally the troops after moving up from the assistant coach position three years ago, when the team finished the year with a meager 11-12 record.

Since then, the Spartans have become a dark horse in the Colonial League. Other than Saucon Valley, many teams lack a solid lineup. Although flawed in some weight classes, the Spartans fill every spot and avoid forfeiting many weight classes, where they dropped most of their points last year.

They look to build on their 15-10 record from last season, but so far they have jumped out to a mediocre start, hovering around 0.500. Other than Colasurdo, few wrestlers have been able to churn out consistent wins.

So even though wrestling isn’t the sport for everyone, it deserves a high level of respect in the athletic realm. The wrestlers don’t draw the crowd the football team does, but they sure do deserve it. Countless hours of training and fasting pours into only six minutes on the mat. The least we could do as a student body is show up to witness their incredible sacrifice pay off when their hand is held up in victory.

Meet Some of Southern Lehigh’s Finest Clues:

ACROSS 1) When he grows out his beard, this school record triple jump holder looks a lot like Wolverine 5) Her last name is delicious when broiled; she set a new school record in the 200m race at the Ursinus meet 6) This senior swimmer rocked a flamingo suit at last year’s prom 7) A senior who could pin you in a few seconds, or serve you some ice cream

https://www.puzzlemaker.com/crossword_Design.cgi

DOWN 2) This three sport senior athlete clearly isn’t afraid of heights, as long as there’s water below her 3) The best girls basketball manager in the Valley 4) A boys basketball player who doubles as an allleague quarterback

January 2019

Sports Page 7

Fastest Fish in the Sea: Southern Lehigh Boys and Girls Swim Team Dominate

By Griffin Schmoyer

Both the girls and boys swim team have asserted their dominance and are looking to make some waves in Districts against stronger opponents. Photo Credit: Christmas City Studios.

Last year was one of dominating performances as the boys swim team finished the season undefeated 8-0 for the second year in a row, with a fourth place finish at the District 11 Class 3A Championships. This season, the team hopes to continue the incredible performances into a potential hat-trick of perfect seasons.

“Unfortunately we lost a lot of talent last year,” senior Janik Wing said.

“About half the guys team were seniors, but there is still a lot of momentum, and we’re going to try to keep the team spirits high and see if we can continue the tradition of excellence.”

The team lost a multitude of crucial swimmers: Kyle Reyes and Raahi Klar-Chaudhuri to name a few. Despite this year’s roster being slightly thin, it’s time for the newest school of seniors to make some waves.

“As seniors we have to step up to how they were last year for us,” senior Logan Rittenhouse said. “They were all great people, they were all great swimmers, they were great teammates for us.”

While the seniors from last year may be gone, this year’s team still has plenty of strong swimmers ranging from freshmen to seniors. The team has very much stuck to the “next man up” philosophy, relying on this year’s batch of swim-tastic athletes to keep the team afloat.

Anchoring the team is the senior class, lead by Janik Wing (100 yard butterfly, 400 yard freestyle relay, 100 yard individual medley), Caleb Munoz (100 yard backstroke), and Logan Rittenhouse (100 yard breaststroke), followed by juniors Aiden Johnson (100 yard freestyle, 100 yard backstroke) and Matthew Wentling (200 yard individual medley).

Sophomores Hunter Smith (50 yard freestyle) and Jon Lee (200 yard freestyle) have also made a splash in the varsity pool, along with freshman prospects Andy Wentling (100 yard fly) and Eric Camden (100 yard backstroke). Perhaps the Spartans can credit some of their success to the lightning-fast times the underclassmen are putting up.

“I really have to stay on my toes, because [Eric] is so fast,” Munoz said.

The girls swim team is in a very similar situation to the boys. They also have a talented pod of young swimmers attempting to pick up the slack left

by the graduation of star swimmers Gwen Kylish, Samantha Taleki, Vanessa Oviedo, Julia Baringer, and Tia Schiaretta.

“I think we’ve definitely all, the whole team, stepped up, and kind of taken the place of the older girls,” said junior Sydney Hess (500 yard, 100 yard fly). They were such good role models for us that we wanted to take their place and represent them in a good way and make sure that we carry on all the traditions and the things that they carried on with us.”

Not only is there a void left by the seniors, but there was a vacancy in the coaching department, now filled by the trio of head coach Nick Pirocco, Alexandra Preston, and Mike Owens, who have all begun to gel with the team.

“I really like them,” senior Alysia Lee said. “How I see it is that one of them is very logical, the others more like pressuring kind of, but they all work together really well.”

As the only senior female swimmer on the team, Lee, who competes in the 50 yard freestyle and 200 yard relay, feels some pressure that comes along with that intimidating role.

“It’s kind of rough, but the juniors, they help a lot and try to advise everybody,” Lee said.

The upperclassmen will be key in integrating freshmen phenom Sophia Hoyer (swims all events) and sophomore Meghan Inglis (100 backstroke, 100 free) into the varsity pool.

With all of these pieces falling into place, the girls team has a “Jaws”esque focus on districts.

“Districts is a goal for everyone,” said junior Nicole Cesanek (500 yard, 100 yard fly), “Especially since it’s one of the highest places you can go, so definitely districts and winning dual meets as much as we can.”

Overall, this year’s boys and girls team is about quality over quantity.

With a favorable schedule not containing many major opponents, another incredibly successful year is in the cards. But what’s been the key to all of this success? Is it their spirit days? Is it the annual hair dying and subsequent shaving tradition? What’s the secret? Munoz has the answer: “Stoyle, buddy.”

Pre-Playoff Winter Sports Update

Girls Swimming

Girls Basketball

Photo Credit: Marc Zimmerman

Photo Credit: Lori Mobley

Record: 5-0

Record: 14-3

Wreslting

Boys Swimming

Photo Credit: Marc Zimmerman

Record: 5-0

Photo Credit: Christian Colasurdo

Record: 6-12

Team records may have changed since the date of publication.

Boys Basketball Photo Credit: Alex Fillman

Record: 9-8

Page 8 Center Spread

The Spotlight

2019 Reading Suggestions For many students, reading is a treasured past time. However, the hustle and bustle of the school year can make it difficult to focus on hobbies. That is why we have decided to make reading a little easier by putting together a list of books that students and staff have read recently. This list features five books whose genres range from action to drama. If you finish one of these books, or even the whole list, let us know what you think on Twitter or Instagram @slsdspotlight.

‘Becoming’ by Michelle Obama “The entirety of her book is raw and real, much different from what we know from her being First Lady. She’s still poised and confident through her writing, but her words make her more vulnerable than she’s ever been. She lets readers walk through her life from her early years in Chicago, through her educational path and her early adult years and forming political interest. It’s an interesting read regardless of what preconceptions about her or her views you may have.”

- senior Erin Noneman

Photo credit: Crown Publishing Group

‘Turtles All the Way Down’ by John Green “I think[‘Turtles All the Way Down’] was a solid representation of relationships and anxiety. The main character’s friendships could be rocky sometimes due to her anxiety and she took romance slow when it came to her love interest. She imagined her anxiety as a spiral, in which once it starts she can’t get out of [the spiral], which is a good analogy. And the characters were all unique and different; none of them felt bland or generic. The whole book was tied together with a missing person mystery that affected the characters in different ways which was super cool.”

- junior Michael Karol

Photo credit: Dutton Publishers

January 2019

Center Spread Page 9

‘My Sister’s Keeper’ by Jodi Picoult “I like Jodi Picoult . She writes a lot of powerful and controversial books. One of my favorites is called ‘My Sister’s Keeper’. Its about a girl who was genetically formed to save the life of sister with a kidney problem. Another one of hers [books] that I finished recently was about abortion.”

- junior Asha Bhatt

Photo credit: Simon and Schuster Publishers

‘Bridge of Clay’ by Markus Zusak “I just finished Markus Zusak’s newest fiction novel, ‘Bridge of Clay’. The story is about a family of five brothers, the Dunbars, whose father left them when their mother passed away. As the oldest boy tells the story of the fourth brother, Clay, the reader connects to the stories of their parents’ love for each other and the minor details that can mean the world to Clay. Filled with laughs, especially from the brothers’ mule Achilles, heartfelt moments, and how the family deals with grief, this is an emotional story that takes a look at what one boy is willing to do to keep his dysfunctional family afloat.

- junior Emma Herceg

Photo credit: Random House Publishers

‘The Big Miss’ by Hank Haney “Over Christmas break I wanted to read something light, so I read the book called ‘The Big Miss’. The book is

by Hank Haney and describes his time coaching Tiger Woods. I’m a big fan of golf, and a big fan of Tiger (the golfer, not the dad/husband) so I really enjoyed reading this book. I learned a lot about Tiger and after reading the book, I really wish Tiger would go back to Haney to have him coach Tiger again.”

- social studies teacher Mr. Lee Zeisloft

Photo credit: Random House Publishers

Page 10 Opinion

The Spotlight

Mind, Body, and Soul: The Importance of Self Care

by Sarah Jacobson

Some options for self care include journaling, taking a bath, reading, or exercise. Photo Credit: Sarah Jacobson

The busy schedules of many high school students inevitably lead to one thing: stress. We often spend so much of our day completing homework, writing essays, and studying for tests that we forget to spend time on ourselves. One of the best things we can do for our mental health is set aside a little bit of time everyday to assess how we feel mentally, and then address any negative emotions.

Oxford Dictionaries defines self-care as, “the practice of taking an active role in protecting one’s own well-being and happiness, in particular during periods of stress.” Self-care is any activity that helps improve a person’s mental health. This activity is completely up to the individual, and can be anything, from running to reading. In order for the activity to constitute as an act of self-care, it only needs to positively impact your mental state. “[Self care is] taking care of yourself and making sure… that you’re staying healthy and that you put yourself first sometimes because that’s really important,” sophomore Michelle Li said.

The mental health benefits of self-care are extensive. The whole purpose is to provide yourself with a mental break from your day-to-day stress.

According to the National Alliance of Mental Illness, stress can cause headaches, low energy, gastrointestinal issues, and insomnia. In addition, chronic stress can lead to mental illness, and is an overall negative component of a person’s life.

Taking regular breaks from stressful situations is important. To reduce the chances that your stress will lead to mental illness, you should plan some breaks throughout the school or work

day, so that you can practice meditation, read, or do something that takes your mind off of your troubles.

“I value self care,” senior Alyssa Kovacs said, “because just like you would care of yourself when your body is physically sick, you should take care of your body when you’re not feeling well mentally.”

The physical health benefits of self care are not quite as plentiful, but they do go beyond just reducing the physical symptoms of stress.

While self-care doesn’t always directly affect any particular aspect of your body, you benefit from a phenomenon called the relaxation response.

Mosby’s Medical Dictionary describes the relaxation response as a protective mechanism against stress that can cause decreased heart rate, lower metabolism, and decreased respiratory rate. This response can be triggered through activities like yoga and meditation.

Self-care can be positive for physical health in more ways than just initiating the relaxation response. For example, if you rarely do stretches for physical therapy, then taking some time out of your day to do those stretches will not only provide a mental break but also some positive physical benefits.

“I practice mindfulness which means to grow an awareness of how our body communicates. I have learned to recognize what anxiety feels like in my body or what anger feels like in my body,” said science teacher Mr. David Dougherty, who advises the “Finding Peace Within” club during

Staff Editorial: A Stinky Situation This year, Southern Lehigh High School has encountered a new and frustrating problem: locked bathrooms. Students have been vandalizing the bathrooms, as well as flushing various items down the toilets.

Though this has mostly been an ongoing problem in the boys’ bathrooms, the whole school has felt the effects of repeated vandalism.

While walking down the hallway or at the start of classes, we have all heard the adversity students have faced in order to relieve themselves.

Students may feel the short term effects of running to the second-closest restrooms, but the custodial staff in our building has faced a series of extra tasks resulting from this repeated ignorant behavior. When a student decides to flush objects down the toilet that aren’t supposed to be there, someone has to clean it up, and that job usually falls on the custodial staff.

Unfortunately, the perpetrators of these frustrating misdemeanors are ignorant to the burden placed on others as a result of their messes. Custodians have to clean up over flow after overflow, and when the bathroom stalls are vandalised, they’re the ones who buff out the writing on the walls.

Not only do these actions affect the custodians, but they also affect the the school as a whole.

Broken toilets are a massive and unnecessary expense for the school, and while they are being fixed, the bathrooms are often put out of commission. This negatively impacts the students that have to walk further from their classroom than normal to use the bathroom, as well as the teachers who have to wait for those students to get back.

While the students miss class time, the custodians are on constant clean up duty, and

Spartan period. “When I recognize the experience, I stop and simply notice my breathing and focus on breathing and relaxing. It is a wonderful practice.”

When life gets stressful, sometimes the things we should be doing, like laundry, gets pushed aside in favor of work. Taking the time to make sure that your personal affairs are in order is just as much an act of self-care as doing a facemask.

For some people, doing some chores or taking care of one’s physical health is more relaxing and beneficial.

“I make sure to take a few breaks between studying, and read a book or something to ease my mind, so I don’t have to think so much about everything that I’m stressed about,” Li said. “I make sure that I have specific routines during the evening to make sure that I’m not stressed out.”

Many people are often skeptical of self-care because they view it as selfish. This raises the question of whether or not it is selfish to put yourself first in some situations. In my opinion, it is absolutely not selfish. Sometimes you need a break from the fast-paced world around you, and it’s okay to recognize that and act upon it. In fact, self-care can, in some ways, be seen as a selfless act; if you’re not putting 100 percent into all that you do, then you are doing those around you a disservice.

Self-care is wonderful for everyone’s mental and physical wellbeing. Taking a break and making the time to assess and manage your mental health helps ensure that you are able to put your best foot forward no matter what life brings.

the school is paying for the whole mess. Those who decided to vandalize or destroy parts of the school bathrooms negatively impact so many people school wide. These ignorant and rude individuals are making a seemingly simple aspect of day to day life much harder than it needs to be, and costing valuable time and money.

These actions have also contributed to less student freedom in the hallways. Now, teachers must strictly enforce passes throughout the day, especially during Spartan periods, which limits students who have to see another teacher for a quick question or help at the last minute.

If you see any suspicious behavior in the bathrooms, please tell a teacher or administrator as soon as possible. Of course, the best way to prevent these incidents is to not commit them in the first place, so if you’re thinking of ruining school property, please reconsider.

January 2019

Opinion Page 11

Money Corrupts Local and National Politics

by Marc Ramson

In 2010, the Citizens United Supreme Court Case made it legal for businesses and unions to donate unlimited amounts of money to influence campaigns via advertisements and other political activities. The case viewed certain regulations on campaign finance to be unconstitutional as they restrict one’s rights of freedom of speech.

How can limiting corporations ability to influence elections be unconstitutional? There are laws made against spending money on other things like illegal drugs and firearms, but the courts don’t claim these restrictions to be unconstitutional.

Based on a 2014 Princeton study, the United States government functions more as an oligarchy than a Constitutional Republic. The study concludes that those with money influence, things like businesses, economic elites, and independent groups, have a substantially greater impact on policy than an average citizen.

From an analysis of polling, there is a direct correlation of how much money one makes and how likely their views are to be represented in government. For instance, while 94 percent of Americans support universal background checks for purchasing firearms, the regulation is not in place due to the financial backing of the large gun lobby in congress .

“The one issue that you’re passionate about could get looped in with their overall policy agenda,” social studies teacher Ms. Erin Laney said. “But in reality, they could be getting funding from a group that is completely opposed to the issue that you care about or the direction that you want that politician to take.”

When talking about the money in politics, it’s hard not to point out the controversy surrounding the Koch brothers. These two brothers, who have a net worth around $40 billion, own seven parent companies largely involved in industry and fossil fuel operations. According to the IRS, they have contributed over $100 million to state and local campaigns, and over $400 million federally in the 2018 midterms.

They are not donating money to candidates out of the goodness of their hearts; there are clear financial benefits to this, keeping those who oppose their lucrative ideology of environmental deregulation out of office. Though politicians who receive money from Super PACs or political action committees are at a clear advantage economically than those who do not, it does not come without a cost.

In return for this money a politician has to “sell” their votes, not literally of course, but if a legislator wishes to expect the same type of financial backing next time they run for re-election, they better vote in line with their big-donor’s ideology.

In the US House, in over 90 percent of elections, the candidate who raised more money ended up on top. This is why most elections are seen as the lesser of two evils, because the candidates have a

Wolf PAC aims to limit money in politics and create a 28th amendment. Photo credit: Public Library of Bookline

clear incentive for working in favor of the corporations and elite class, not the average worker. It’s no surprise that Congress usually hovers around a 20 percent approval rating Getting money out of politics is a bipartisan issue, meaning both Republicans and Democrats all across the country are generally in favor of it. Take Pennsylvania for example. We have two elected senators: one happens to be Republican, the other a Democrat. Neither is without their share of money influence.

In 2016, a bill was introduced to the Senate that would allow for the United States to lower drug prices by negotiating prices with Canada.

According to his website, Senator Bob Casey (D) wishes to diminish the burden of overwhelming drug costs to his older constituents, yet he voted against the bill even after saying good things about the idea. This may have something to do with the over $800 thousand he received from the health and pharmaceutical industry that year, that would benefit from continuing the monopoly they have in United States drug industry.

In July 2017, Pat Toomey (R) voted for a bill that would lower the threshold to receive medicaid funding, a program that provides impoverished families with subsidised health insurance. It wouldn’t be illogical to think the $974 thousand he received from private health insurance companies for this years midterms made an influence in that decision. These are only a few of the countless examples of elected officials voting for political favors.

Many Americans today are discouraged and feel hopeless when it comes to being involved in our political system. It has been ten years since the voting rate was above 50 percent on a national level. Thoughtful discourse on ideology has been drowned out by the everlasting flow of money being poured into Washington. Debate on policy positions have been put to rest by corporate greed and lobbyists, and our democracy is in distress from the control that wealth has in the American political system.

Though this type of corruption may seem disheartening, there is hope. Several advocate groups work to make significant change to the way campaign finance affects legislation. Justice Demo-

crats, for example, is a grassroots political action committee that helps subsidize politicians who don’t accept big money contributions and hope to reform corruption within the Democratic party.

Each Justice Democrat is required to pledge not to accept corporate PAC money and follow certain criteria of a more progressive, populist agenda.

Currently 26 Justice Democrats hold office, including new New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio Cortez.

Wolf PAC is a bipartisan movement attempting to revolutionize the way campaign finance is organized. They are calling for a 28th amendment to the Constitution, one that would overrule Citizens United, increase transparency, and limit the effect money has in elections. Their initiative to amend the Constitution requires signing on three fourths of states to call for a constitutional convention and avoiding Congress all together, a strategy that has never been used. They currently have five of the 38 states they need, including California, New Jersey, Vermont, Illinois, and most recently, Rhode Island.

Creating an environment of more informed, educated citizens is the most effective way to make change. If everyone understood how campaigns are run and operated, it would greatly change the state of politics in America; more and more people each year are turning their backs on traditionally-run campaigns.

“The lawmaking process really is stomach churning, if we were to know the backroom deals, and the special interest influence, and the campaign finance influence. If the general public got to peel back the curtain and see how these laws are made and the different groups that influence the process, there would be a change.”

- Mr. Dow “The lawmaking process really is stomach churning, if we were to know the backroom deals, and the special interest influence, and the campaign finance influence,” civics and government teacher Mr. Brian Dow said. “If the general public got to peel back the curtain and see how these laws are made and the different groups that influence the process, there would be a change.”

Americans historically are disgusted when faced with elements that affect the legitimacy of democracy. Now more than ever is a time to revolutionize monetary impact on sovereignty in the

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Page 12 Our World

The Spotlight

Will Britain Be Able to Break Away from the EU?

by Marc Ramson

In June 2016, a referendum in the United Kingdom resulted in a decision for the country to leave the European Union, a union of 28 member states that connect the region on the economic and political fronts. The move to leave was nicknamed “Brexit,” a combination of the words Britain and exit. Just over two years after the vote, discussion over the action is approaching an all time high as officials have been unable to successfully negotiate a deal to leave. The referendum was controversial to begin with, and the vote to leave was won by only a small margin.

British conservatives have brought up many points for their abandonment of the European Union. Many circulate around the legislative powers the larger government. The EU policy trumps national level law, making some feel as though those who are governing them are not those who were necessarily directly representing them. The larger government creates an environment where some feel as though they are burdened by more regulations and a much harder pathway to create change.

Some predict leaving the EU will bring economic benefits to Britain. With being attached to the Euro, instead of their own currency, when economic downfall occurs, it affects all of the Union, not just those who are necessarily at fault. Also, the membership dues that the each country owes are a point of concern. According to HM Treasury in 2017, 13 billion dollars of British taxpayer money went toward the EU, an amount that Brexit supporters would prefer to keep.

“I think there’s also a sense of nationalism. The UK wants to make it clear that their the greatest European Nation and can support themselves as economically independent.”

- JD Frederick

“I think there’s also a sense of nationalism,” senior JD Frederick said. “The UK wants to make it clear that their the greatest European Nation and can support themselves as economically independent.”

Immigration is another topic at the heart of Brexit’s approval. Supporters push for fewer immigrants; currently, anybody currently any resident of the Union has the right to migrate to another with little issue. In 2018 an estimated 273,000 immigrants moved to the UK, which some feel threatens the employment of current residents.

With 46 percent of current residents wishing to remain in the EU, according to recent ESRC polling, Brexit does not come without its opposition. Having been a member of the Union for over 40 years, some citizens fear pulling out will cause

For over a year, Britain has remained divided over the issue of Brexit. Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

much economic instability as the British Pound is highly tied to the Euro. Economists anticipate a level of uncertainty will cause the stock market to suffer, house prices to rise, and an overall recession of the economy.

Oppositionists claim it to be safer to remain in the EU, as unified military action is much easier in the current system. The agenda for counterterrorism is seamless as the member nations work together as allies.

The current British Prime Minister Theresa May implies staying in the union will cause more problems than it solves, though she has yet to come out with a clear stance on the issue.

“I think if we were not in Europe, there would be firms and companies who would be looking to say do they need actually to develop a mainland European presence rather than a UK presence,” Prime Minister May said in a leaked recording

published by The Guardian.

Currently, May is in charge of negotiating a deal for Brexit, and a vote is currently scheduled to be held January 15.Where Britain goes from here is completely dependent on that vote.

If they vote to leave, the United Kingdom will officially leave the EU in March, triggering a two year transitional period where more deals and negotiations will take place.If a vote turns out as a “nay” for Brexit, well, nobody really knows what happens next since the vote would have gone against the people’s referendum of 2016.

Only time will tell as activists and protests continue surrounding this two-year dispute over the state of the United Kingdom. As time goes on, more and more citizens are unsure of their stance on the issue, and just 15 percent of polled Brits don’t know how they would vote if the referendum took place again.

A vote in the near future will determine Britain’s path. Photo Credit: BBC

Read more interviews from “Saudis Studying in States” on page 13 by scanning the QR code or by going to slspotlight.com.

January 2019

Our World Page 13

It’s Time to Consider the Dark Side of Fast Fashion

by Gianna Griffith, Student Contributor

According to Merriam Webster, fast fashion is defined as fashion that works quickly to capture the latest trends as they happen, moving them quickly from catwalk trends to pieces that can be worn by the everyday citizen. However, the creation process behind these easily available clothing styles has been hidden from the public eyes in first world countries like the United States.

Unaware of the human exploitation that is used to create these readily available styles, many of people in the United States are buying these items every day, both from online retailers and in popular stores, like Forever 21, H&M, Zara, and Primark.

“I think that some are aware [of how their clothing is made] and some aren’t,” junior Alyssa Milan said. “Some people look at the tags on their clothing to see what types of products are in [the clothing] I also think...if they find something that they really like, they won’t care. That, or people just don’t care in general and will just buy what they want to buy.”

Companies are able to charge such low prices for their products by depending on extremely low production costs in lower income countries.

According to The U.S. House Education and Workforce Committee, They will promise higher employment rates in such countries before moving to new locations. This leaves previously employed people jobless.

However, these jobs are exploitative. The Guardian found that workers are being paid around one Euro per day for long and tiring days of up to

Forever 21 is one of the most popular fast fashion chains. Photo Credit: southbeachcars on Flickr

sixteen hours of labor. Often, these employees are not given lunch breaks, and are shamed for even taking short and necessary bathroom breaks. Workers have even been locked inside of the factory in order to finish producing orders. “[Fast fashion] is definitely wrong,” senior Cassidy Garza said, “[Workers] should be paid a lot more than they are now because of the working conditions.”

These kinds of conditions aren’t just limited to sweatshops across the seas. According to the United States General Accounting Office, sweatshops are defined as any factory that breaks wage, health and labor laws on a regular basis.

A 2017 investigation of 77 Los Angeles clothing factories proved that exploitative conditions also exist in our own backyards. The Department of Labor discovered that labor laws were being violated in 85 percent of the factories that were visited, as reported by The Los Angeles Times.

The popular cheap clothing company Forever 21 was found to have lower than average prices, suggesting that the workers were being paid below the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour, and well below the Los Angeles minimum of $12 per hour.

“They should paid be the same minimum wage [as everyone else in the United States], because without them, we wouldn’t have the necessary items needed in everyday life,” senior Drew Sofranko said.

Pay that is less than what is necessary is not the only issue with the factories where fast fashion items are produced. Workers are faced with less than safe conditions on a daily basis, and sometimes these conditions can be deadly. In 2013, a 13-story building in Bangladesh that housed five clothing factories collapsed.

According to NPR, over a 1,000 people died and many more were injured, making it the most deadly garment disaster in history. Workers were reportedly forced to enter the factories day after day, even as a visible crack was forming in the building.

Unsafe conditions aren’t always so obvious, however. The Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences found that sweatshop employees in China were losing or breaking about forty thousand fingers per year due to the unsafe conditions.

“If you’re working, you should know that you are safe,” senior Emily Hartz said. “You shouldn’t have to worry about dying or being injured.”

The fast fashion industry is one that many consumers in the modern age are still in the dark about. The cheaper prices of the items make them more appealing to the average customer, but the low prices come at a cost to the people involved in the process of creating the garments.

Saudis Studying in the States

by Alexa Spinosa, Student Contributor There is discourse over the role of Saudi Arabian immigrants, but what a lot of people don’t know is that many Saudi men and women come to America for higher education. While some are hesitant to let foreigners into the country, these students have earned scholarships and hope to further their education.

One of the many colleges admitting international students is Cedar Crest College in Allentown, which is ranked in the top 50 percent of the Overall Most Popular U.S. Colleges & Universities for International Students. About 9 percent of Cedar Crest’s student body is made up of international students, all of which are undergraduates.

Over the last five years the total international population of students on campus has grown at an average rate of 215.1 percent, with the largest contributor being Saudi Arabia with an estimated total of 135 students. Cedar Crest ranks as the best college for students from Saudi Arabia. I spoke with a few of these students to get their take on America’s culture.

Although their lives back home are different than the traditional life for Americans, there were a lot of similarities involving family dynamic and responsibilities.

Coming to America for higher education was a great opportunity for these students.

What has been the greatest conflict in living here?

Muhannad: “To face the new culture was really tough for me.”

What are some improvements you think we could make as a country?

Yara: “In my country even if the king died or something happened, we don’t get affected because the country is stable by having another king at the same time doing the same roles for the country.

However, in America, I feel after having Trump, the country is not stable because of the new roles and changes.”

What part of your culture do you miss the most?

Yara: “I miss hearing Athan (a call for prayer from mosques in Saudi Arabia) and my family. In addition, I miss the private places for women, where we can take off our Hijab and practice our daily regularly but without men, because here, the places have both men and women not separately. But in my country, we have everything separate, so we don’t have to wear the hijab all the day.”

Have you felt discriminated in any way since coming to America?

Saleh: “No, because I don’t look like Saudis [Most people think he looks more Spanish].”

Cedar Crest College is located in Allentown, PA. Photo Credit: Give Campus

Page 14 Arts and Entertainment

The Spotlight

Steve Carell’s ‘Welcome to Marwen’ Flops

By Aisha Durrani

Every good movie seems to have one common factor: a genuine connection with the audience.

That connection is what keeps viewers captivated and interested in the storyline right up until the credits roll. It’s often challenging to convey a balance between captivating viewers and appearing genuine. Unfortunately, “Welcome to Marwen” misses the mark in both of these categories.

The movie, based on a true story, follows Mark Hogancamp (Steve Carell), who had been attacked and nearly beaten to death by five males (presumably Nazi-sympathizers) at a bar.

Mark barely survived, but suffered brain damage and lost all memories of his previous life. In order to cope with this, he channels his pain and healing into creating a meticulous model town called Marwen, where he finally can be the hero.

He takes photographs of the scenes and ends up becoming an esteemed artist in the area.

In the town, Mark becomes “Captain Hogie”, a high-heels fanatic who fights Nazis in World War II. The town is populated entirely by female dolls, dubbed, “The Women of Marwen,” modeled after the real women in his life. In fact, much of the movie reflects the mental psyche of Mark through the dolls, which become animated in surprising detail, to tell the story from Hogie’s view. The movie is clearly eccentric in its story of shame, pain, and healing.

Trouble inevitably arises when Mark is expected to face his attackers at their hearing, in order to ensure they get the maximum sentence.

Mark’s PTSD is debilitating, and this makes him terrified to attend, while his lawyer becomes increasingly adamant that he show up. This

challenging conflict is the driving force behind the movie.

The director, Robert Zemeckis, is well-known for several unique and critically-acclaimed movies, such as “Back to the Future,” “Forrest Gump,” and “Cast Away,” among others. However, this

“Welcome to Marwen” is expected to lose around $50 million for partners on the film. Photo Credit: Universal Pictures.

movie disappointed audiences, earning a measly 29 percent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and is set to lose 50 million dollars at the box of-

fice. Unfortunately, its only claim to fame might eventually be that it’s Zemeckis’ worst movie to date.

The movie toes the line with drama and comedy, but sadly, most of the jokes fall flat on their face, as they are ill-timed, or just tragically unfunny. The comedy appears to cater to a younger audience, while some of the darker themes and suggestive scenes seem to cater to the more mature, and consequently doesn’t work with either audience.

Aside from the tone, the story was convoluted to say the least. While chasing so many different strings to create meaning, it backfires on itself, and none of the story lines stick. Many characters, both men and women, are also painfully one-dimensional, lacking any depth whatsoever.

Even the ending (no spoilers) seems to chase after the wrong problem.

Although the movie doesn’t meet expectations, it does earn some points for sheer ambition and unique ideas. The animation of the dolls was undeniably spectacular. It helped bring another dimension to Mark’s condition, adding much-needed depth to the movie. Steve Carell and Leslie Mann were wonderful, as well as believable, but even the acclaimed cast couldn’t resuscitate this movie.

Overall, critics and casual moviegoers alike can agree that “Welcome to Marwen” is severely underwhelming. It’s storyline is clumsy and often fell back on itself without reason, motive, or significance. The movie has definite potential, but blunder after blunder destroy what could have been a very thought-provoking and sentimental movie.

Meet the Cast of the SLHS Production of Les Misérables!

WORD BANK Nate Gordon Mr. Wehr Colette Curry Mckenzie Hagenbuch Orlando Crooms Makayla Schmid Jake Finkbeiner Dean Pellegrino Christian Clausnitzer Lizzy Kanzler

Clues: DOWN

1) Last year’s beautifully evil queen of the sea, and this year’s wonderful queen of the court 2) This royal red head has a passion for four-legged, furry animals 4) His skills on stage are only matched by his skills with a racket 6) If you’re interested in a man who can skate AND sing, he’s your guy

ACROSS

3) If she’s not on the stage, she might be getting some shots on goal 5) You might want to head down to Florida upon hearing his name 7) When he isn’t waving around a baton, his fingers effortlessly flow over piano keys (not a cast member, still involved, though) 8) You can catch her at halftime shows during the home basketball games 9) His voice is deeper than the ocean 10) This read head is considered the Steph Curry of CYO Basketball

January 2019

Arts and Entertainment Page 15

An Abrupt Change Works Out for The 1975

By Bridgette Lang

The 1975 began across the pond in Manchester, but their sound is slowly integrating into the playlists of pop rock enthusiasts in the U.S. Photo Credit: The 1975.

Switching from one genre to the next can kill an artist’s fanbase and general appeal. It’s not very often that bands choose to go through selfinduced periods of musical alteration, but change is something that The 1975 has welcomed with opened arms. For The 1975, releasing their third studio album, “A Brief Inquiry into Online Relationships,” marked their third era.

The Manchester quartet was formed in 2002, when lead singer Matty Healy, guitarist Adam Hann, bassist Ross MacDonald, and drummer George Daniel met in high school. Previously performing under the name Drive Like I Do, the band experimented with covers.

Before releasing the newest album on November 30, 2018, the band ventured into the pop, bubblegum pink realm of “I Like It When You Sleep, for You Are So Beautiful Yet So Unaware of It” and the first era of their self-titled album.

When the band initially entered the charts with their debut, they were known by critics for their darker, edgier sound. The 1975 gained masses through the social media site Tumblr for their unique synth rock and 80’s pop fusion.

For their second release, “I Like It When You Sleep…,” they eclectically amped up the 80’s pop factor. It was certified as Platinum in the U.K. and Gold in the United States.

“A Brief Inquiry into Online Relationships” (ABIIOR) was teased during July 2017, when The 1975 used their Instagram page to post a video.

In the video, the pink lightbox, associated with their previous era, flickered out. Fans immediately knew that change was upon them.

Nearly two years after releasing “I Like It When You Sleep…,” the new album was officially announced in April 2018. It wasn’t until a year later that they released their first single from ABIIOR, “Give Yourself a Try.” ABIIOR is completely a concept album. The tracks dive into the problems that modern society faces with a hint of ridicule. Compared to The 1975’s previous work, the new sound varies with each track, but the majority of songs retain pop, rock, and jazz influences. Overall, the album explores deeper themes than the previous.

The first single off of the album, “Give Yourself a Try,” did not seem promising to me at first. Infact, it was really hard to even give the song a try.

Five seconds in, I was distracted with the overlyrepetitive guitar riff in the background that washed out all the lyrics and other instruments.

After listening repeatedly, I learned to tune out monotonous noise to hear the lyrics. Healy recalls the struggles of growing older (well, not elderly-old, but agingthrough-your-20’s type of old): “I found a grey hair in one of my suits / like context in a modern debate I just took it out.”

Out of the five singles released, I was the most

impressed with “Love It If We Made It.” Though I find it slightly unimaginative to say that a single is my favorite song off of the album, “Love It If We Made It” is without a doubt the song of 2018.

It spins the tale of the political environment abroad, and then hones in on the United States and our presidency.

The lyrics use direct quotes from President Trump: “’I moved on her like a b----!’ / Excited to be indicted / Unrequited house with seven pools / ‘Thank you Kanye, very cool!’” If you are confused by any of the cultural references, the music video goes through pictures and film that inspired the named grievances.

“Love It If We Made It” was named the number one track of the year by The New York Times and Pitchfork. Overall, the album received mostly positive reviews from critics and was named “Album of the Year” by NME. Pitchfork described ABIIOR as, “similar to its predecessor in its boundless sense of style, swerving from Afrobeats to brushed-snare jazz balladry to one track that sounds like a trap remix of a Bon Iver ayahuasca trip.”

“TOOTIMETOOTIMETOOTIME” was the only track on the album that relied on an additional outside producer: No Rome. Before announcing that he would open for their tour, No Rome was busy at work collaborating with the band.

It is evident that “TOOTIMETOOTIMETOOTIME” was heavily influenced by Rome Gomez’s experimental use of bass and drum kits. No Rome, who is now signed to the same record deal as The 1975, also helped to write the track and provided backup vocals.

In an interview, Healy explained that this third era that included ABIIOR would extend to their next album, “Notes on a Conditional Form.” The next album is scheduled to release in May 2019.

‘Mary Poppins Returns’ Fulfills Expectations

By Kennah Salvo Sequels rarely live up to the glory of their predecessors, and Disney’s “Mary Poppins” is so iconic, I couldn’t see how its sequel could possibly live up to the original. I walked into the theater to see “Mary Poppins Returns” with low expectations, but high hopes. In the end, my expectations were blown way out of the water and all but a few of my hopes were fulfilled.

The plot is based on the now-adults Jane (Emily Mortimer) and Michael Banks (Ben Whishaw), the children from the original movie. They are struck with money troubles after Michael’s wife dies, and the siblings must find a way to save their childhood home. In the midst of this, their childhood nanny Mary Poppins (Emily Blunt) reemerges to care for Michael’s children; Anabel (Pixie Davies), John (Nathanael Saleh), and Georgie (Joel Dawson).

While the new movie carries the same feel good family themes as the original, it surpasses the former in terms of overall success. There is suspense, a mystery, and interesting conflict that was missing from the original.

I also appreciated all of the musical numbers in “Mary Poppins Returns” that were nods to music in the original film. For example, “Can you Imagine That?” parallels the classic “Spoonful of Sugar” song performed by Julie Andrews years ago.

In addition, Dick Van Dyke, who played both

Bert and Mr. Dawes Sr. in the original, returned for a role as Mr. Dawes Jr. Although he only appears for a few minutes at the end of the movie, the scene ends the film on a comedic note, and leaves the audience something to laugh about on the way out.

The Balloon Lady (Angela Lansbury) is also a tribute to the original film, portraying the Bird Lady to whom Michael tries to give a tuppence as a child. The Balloon Lady is present in the closing scene of the movie which parallels the closing scene of the original.

I was only disappointed with the lack of an equivalent to “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious,” the most iconic musical number of the original score, and the personality of Mary Poppins herself. While she is definitely the same character, she seems changed, slightly stricter and even a little jaded. Part of Mary’s magic is that she stays forever young, so the changes were a little disappointing. All in all, the movie’s strong points far outweigh its weak points.

This is definitely a must see movie. Whether you’re a die hard fan of the original and the books, or have never seen hide nor hair of the magical nanny before, there’s something in this movie for everyone. I recommend it due to the excellent plot and nostalgic adaption executed by a first rate cast.

Even though sequels usually are inferrior to the original, “Mary Poppins Returns” has shattered the stigma.

Photo Credit: Walt Disney Pictures.

Page 16 Odds and Ends

The Spotlight January 2019

New Year, New Spartans What is your New Year’s resolution?

[My news year’s resolution] is to allow myself more time for self-care.

What is your New Year’s resolution?

My new years resolution is to get fit and healthy.

How to you plan to accomplish this?

Scheduling out times over the weekend to actually relax and no do anything.

How to you plan to accomplish this?

I will accomplish this by eating healthy and exercising like a gymnast.

Why did you decide to make that your resolution?

Sometimes, in life you need to remind yourself to slow down, and take time to take care of yourself.

- sophomore Kayla Howie

What is your New Year’s resolution?

My new years resolution is to get good grades.

Why did you decide to make that your resolution?

Well, college applications are coming up, so it’s really important right now.

How to you plan to accomplish this?

I’ll try to spend more time doing my homework.

- junior Krishna Annambhotla

Why did you decide to make that your resolution?

I feel like I want to get healthier. And I love myself.

And it’s a free country.

- freshman Olivia Harley

What is your New Year’s resolution?

My new years resolution is to lift more, and make it into a habit.

Why did you decide to make that your resolution?

I just got a new set of dumbells for Christmas, and I want to make good use of them and improve myself.

How to you plan to accomplish this?

Hopefully, I want to lift at least 3 times a week.

- senior Kullen Yurchak

What is your New Year’s resolution?

I want to spend more time with my family and focus on bettering myself as a person.

What is your New Year’s resolution?

I want to become a god at playing hockey.

How to you plan to accomplish this?

I’ll make time in my schedule everyday to spend time with my family.

How to you plan to accomplish this?

I will accomplish this goal by working hard and trying to play hockey more often.

Why did you decide to make that your resolution?

It’s easy to get caught up in schoolwork and extracurriculars; sometimes you lose track of what’s really important.

- senior Alex Becker

Interviews and Photographs: Aisha Durrani

Why did you decide to make that your resolution?

I chose this because hockey is cool and I want to get better at it.

-senior Dyani Hernandez