Southern Lehigh High School 5800 Main Street, Center Valley, PA 18034 Volume 60 Issue 1
Blue, White, and Orange Pride Homecoming 2016 Sweeps into Southern Lehigh Turn to Page 20 for more Photo Credit: Caitlin Roth
In this
Issue: Australia, New Zealand, and the Cook Islands. Experience the trip on pages 2 -3.
Controversy over the new price of the EpiPen has taken the U.S. by storm. See what SL has to say on pages 6 -7.
Southern Lehigh High School has lots of new teachers! Meet them all on pages 12 - 17.
Page 2
News
The Spotlight
SLHS Theater Brings Literature to Life by Talia Trackim
Seniors Garrison Piel and Daniel Zelenkofske rehearse with sophomore Mary Felix. Photo credit: Talia Trackim
When sophomores, juniors, and seniors hear of “The Crucible,” they immediately picture the old American Lit anthologies and perhaps Mr. Castagna pretending to pull a yellow bird out of his cabinet. For the first time ever, students will be able to see their English lessons come to life with the theater department’s production of the fall play, “The Crucible,” presented from November 3-5. “The play is very dark,” theater teacher and director Mr. Matthew Wehr said. “I think one of the things that is appealing in the play is it presents a very dark side of its themes. It’s almost a worst case scenario. There is no humor in this play. From the moment the curtain opens you have this ominous dread over the characters. It’s probably the darkest show I’ve picked so far.” Written by Arthur Miller in the 1950’s, “The Crucible” is set in Salem, Massachusetts, during the Witch Trials in the early 1690’s. It tells the story of the villainous Abigail Williams who leads a string of lies convicting community members of witchcraft in order to cover up her own dark secrets. The story also centers around John Proctor, a dark and troubled man who has previously engaged in an affair with Abigail and is later accused of witchcraft himself. “I sense the [themes] of lying, of greed, and probably the overarching theme is fear. I think all of these characters are afraid and that’s why they
are motivated to do the things that they do.” Mr. Wehr said. “Let’s face it, teenagers deal with similar situations to these characters. If you look at the core of ‘The Crucible,’ it’s a girl who doesn’t get her way and chooses a very insane form of revenge by lying, and the entire town believes her. There are moments in the play where you feel like the things just couldn’t happen today, and yet, the themes could. It’s very much a parable.” The play features seniors Giuliana Augello and Garrison Piel as Abigail Williams and John Proctor. The cast also includes senior Sloane Sexton as John’s wife, Elizabeth Proctor, and sophomore Mary Felix as their servant, Mary Warren. Seniors Benjamin Becker and Daniel Zelenkofske will play Reverend Parris and Reverend Hale, respectively, while senior Amir Gold will portray Deputy Governor Danforth. “In the past I’ve played supporting characters, but I’ve never been in a lead, so it’s a little nerve-racking, but exciting,” Piel said. “I really enjoy the character. He’s a stern ‘manly man,’ which is the opposite of who I really am. I like to play those sorts of characters, so to be able to have a lead and play a character I connect with is really a blessing.” While the Southern Lehigh theater department has performed period pieces such as “Carousel” and “42nd Street,” “The Crucible” is one of Southern Lehigh’s first plays that is actually based in history. “[‘The Crucible’] requires a lot of research. The whole play is based on the Salem Witch Trials, which is a big part of our country’s history,” Augello said. “The fact that this scenario was real allows for an actor to find a depth in the character that isn’t particularly portrayed through something like a musical.” Not only is “The Crucible” based on real events, but it also takes place over 300 years ago, presenting new challenges for the cast. “‘The Crucible’ is written in 1600’s English, so it’s pretty different than the way we use the words today,” Gold said. “They just scramble the sentences around. It’s like you take the words and put it through the blender but you don’t blend it blend it, you just pulse it a few times. It’s not completely scrambled, but it’s still weird.” Despite the difficulties the show presents, the cast and crew look forward to presenting this dark and twisted tale. “I’m most excited to really see if the audiences are willing to take such deep matter and get it,” Mr. Wehr said. “This demands a lot more [thinking]. There’s an element of the supernatural and horror.”
Pennsylvania Antihazing Policy Hits Solehi by Talia Trackim
This school year, Southern Lehigh School District is enforcing a new policy on hazing. The law comes directly from the Pennsylvania state government, and it strictly prohibits any incidences of hazing affiliated with a Southern Lehigh sport, club, or activity. “Every year in the state of Pennsylvania there are several students who are pushed to the brink from interactions with peers,” assistant principal Mr. Thomas Ruhf said. “When we say students are pushed to the brink, we mean students are pushed to a point where they have no out and often engage in self-harm. Because hazing is in some cases an institutional practice, students don’t feel like they have an ability to stop it. By making it a state law, the state is essentially saying that no matter what, it is considered a violation of the law.” According to the Pennsylvania law, the definition of hazing is, “Any action or situation which recklessly or intentionally endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a person or which willfully destroys, damages or removes public or private property for the purpose(s) of initiation, admission or affiliation with, or as a condition of continued membership in, any organization, club, sport or activity approved by the District Board of School Directors.” In simpler terms, any action that makes a student feel singled out, punished, or uncomfortable in order to gain or maintain membership in a group is strictly forbidden. The punishment for violating this policy at Southern Lehigh is a Level 4 offense, which is a three-day suspension. Days of suspension increase with instances of hazing. “I think it’s a pretty solid policy and it makes sense,” junior Maxim Vezenov said. “They cover more topics than just, ‘Oh they’re harassing a lowerclassmen,’ because now they say that it can cover forced consumption of food or forced deprivation of sleep. I think [the policy is] pretty fair, and the consequences are fair. You hear those stories in the news where it can get pretty serious.” As the new policy specifically targets traditions and initiation ceremonies, several groups at Southern Lehigh are feeling its consequences. One group in particular affected by the new policy is the band, which ended a long-standing tradition to follow the letter of the law. “If you know the drink Moxie, it is this really nasty soda,” junior and band vice president Jillian Werbisky said. “On one of the nights after the football game we would all go outside and say, ‘All new members need to
drink the Moxie,’ but everyone [in the band] would get a can and participate, and we would see who could chug it fastest. If you didn’t want to you didn’t have to -- I always spit it out because it was so gross -- but it was really just a fun tradition.” The administration believes that the new policy will make students feel more secure and comfortable among their peers and in school. “[Because it is a law, the policy] is also related to our relationship with Officer McLaughlin,” Mr. Ruhf said. “If something violates it, then it becomes an issue with the police. The history with hazing in the state of Pennsylvania works to protect students and make sure that students are protected and have a voice. We have to say, ‘Enough!’ for everyone.”
The new policy considers asking someone else to take your trash up as hazing. Photo credit: Caitlin Roth
For more information about the anti-hazing law, visit the Pennsylvania General Assembly at legis.state.pa.us.
October 2016
News
Page 3
Spartans Adventure in the South Pacific by Nicole Schroy
From left to right: seniors Ashley Jann, Caleigh Schmid, Derek Muller, Hannah Herzog. Brad Polek, Justine Groeber, Sloane Sexton, Daniel Zelenkofske, Garrison Piel, junior Scott Polek, seniors Nicole Schroy, Amir Gold, and Dan Flounders enjoyed some beach time in the Cook Islands. Photo credit: Nicole Schroy
On July 13, over 60 Southern Lehigh students along with nine chaperones made their way to the Newark Airport to embark on their journey to Sydney, Australia. Their adventure in the sky went on for over 20 hours, but the memories will last a lifetime. Chaperones included psychology teacher Mr. Matthew Cooper, technology education teacher Mr. Robert Gaugler, resource officer Mr. Brian McLaughlin, English teacher Mr. Michael Fay, French teacher Mrs. Kaytlyn Byers, principal Mrs. Christine Siegfried, school nurse Mrs. Merrilyn Pysher, Spanish teacher Ms. Jessica Swartz, and instructional assistant Ms. Lindsay Horvath. Upon landing, two tour guides named Tiggy and Luke met with the Spartan swarm and began their responsibility of providing the group with culture and an experience like no other. Though the Pennsylvanians were tired, the guides kept them busy. The adventure started with a quick trip to Bondi Beach where the group enjoyed lunch by the ocean. Next, the tour buses stopped for a quick peek at the Sydney Opera House, which the group would explore later. Students were then taken to Darling Harbour where they were given time to explore the area. On day two, the students visited The National Opal Collection where “Nessie,” a pliosaur that lived in the ocean over 100 million years ago, is displayed. Nessie is an opalized skeleton that is longer than 6.5 feet. After looking around the opal museum, the group ventured up the Sydney Tower, which stands over 1000 feet, thus making the building Sydney’s tallest structure. Next up was Wildlife World, a wildlife park within Darling Harbour. Luckily, it was feeding time for the kangaroos when the students were making their way around the zoo, which meant that students had the opportunity to pet them! Later that evening, the travelers cheered on the Rabbitohs at a rugby game. The third day included a tour of the Sydney Opera House and an educational experience at
the Taronga Zoo. The group learned about the instrument, the didgeridoo, and even experienced an up close encounter of some of Australia’s native animals, such as the echidna. On the fourth and final day in Sydney, the group was given the options to go surfing, hang out on the beach, or go for a hike in the morning. After the morning excursions, the students had time to visit the aquarium at Darling Harbour. The next day the travelers flew to Auckland, New Zealand, and then transferred to Rotorua by bus. “New Zealand was my favorite country because I liked being out of the city for a while, being able to do some more adventurous and culturally interactive activities,” Mr. Cooper said. “I thought the landscape was incredible.” Day six consisted of many educational opportunities. The group visited a jade museum where students learned about the symbolic meanings of various jade figures. Next, they toured the living Maori village, Whakarewarewa, where students and chaperones were able to learn more about the Maori people and their culture. After exploring the village, a sheep show at the Agrodome was next on the schedule. The Agrodome presented 19 breeds of sheep and even had a nursery where people were able to pet goats. Next, the group had the choice of going to a spa or an amusement park. HellsGate is a Geothermal Park where the group was able to experience a mud bath, and then rinse off in sulphurous spas. Those who did not attend HellsGate took the more adventurous route: OGO ball and an amusement park. “Basically an OGO ball is a big inflatable ball that [is held] at the top of the hill, and they fill it with hot water because it was about 50 degrees in New Zealand at the time,” senior Justine Groeber said. “You go inside the ball with one of your friends, and then they open a gate and let you roll down a hill in the ball, and then you get out and sit in hot tubs.”
The groups then went to the Tamaki Village for a Hangi feast, which is a method of cooking food such as chicken, fish, and vegetables in an underground pit. The seventh day included a Duck Tour which, believe it or not, did not include very many ducks. The term “duck” actually refers to the type of vehicle that the group traveled on, which can navigate land and water. After the Duck Tour, the travelers made their way to Matamata where the Hobbiton movie set is located. They learned a lot about the set and how the movies were filmed. The next day, the group traveled to their last stop, the Cook Islands. After a quick tour of the resort, the students met up for dinner on the beach, and later played volleyball, searched for sea cucumbers, and ate tons of food before they had some free time to indulge in relaxation. “The Cook Islands reminded me of a father Caribbean Island with a more unique culture, similar to New Zealand culture, but a little more complex,” sophomore Taylor Stehlik said. The next morning, Southern Lehigh students and faculty visited an elementary school in Rarotonga and left plenty of gifts for the young learners. The elementary schoolers welcomed the travelers by performing traditional dances. Afterward, the group boarded the boats and went snorkeling before arriving at Muri Lagoon. Once there, they saw demonstrations on how to crack open a coconut, how to pick a coconut from the coconut trees, and even how to tie sarongs. Upon arriving back at the resort, the group had lots of free time, which many used to relax on the beach. The last day at the Cook Islands included a sightseeing tour of the island. Though it certainly was a trip of a lifetime, students were excited to return home to see their families. “If somebody is thinking about going on the next EF trip, I would definitely suggest it,” Groeber said, “because you get to be emerged in different cultures and it is really interesting to see how other places do things differently.”
Page 4 Opinion Southern Lehigh High School 5800 Main Street Center Valley, PA 18034 (610) 282-1421 x7122 Email: slsdspotlight@gmail.com Twitter: @SLSDspotlight Instagram: @SLSDspotlight Facebook: Southern Lehigh Spotlight Faculty Adviser
Mrs. Marlo Spritzer
Editor-in-Chief Talia Trackim
Web & Mutlimedia Editor Nicole Schroy
News Editor Izza Choudhry
Features Editor Allison Borelli
Center Spread Editor Danielle Alpert
Opinion Editor Emily Oberlender
Our World Editor Sarah Trebicka
Entertainment Editor Jamie Kish
Sports Editor
Townsend Colley
Photographers Maggie Moerder Karin Naktin Caitlin Roth
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. Pennsylvania School Press Association 2016 Gold Rating 2015 Gold Rating 2014 Gold Rating 2013 Silver Rating National School Press Association 2015 First Class Rating
The Spotlight
Staff Editorial: Be Politically Aware This year’s election is simultaneously one of the most important and one of the most intense Presidential elections in the history of the United States. With two of the most controversial candidates our country has seen vying for the Oval Office, many American teens have developed strong opinions regarding who the next president should be. Whether or not you are enough to vote, there are many ways to get involved in the politics of our country.
Utilize Social Media
Both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump are all over social media. You can follow both candidates on Twitter and Instagram, as well as other important political figures such as Barack Obama, Paul Ryan, Reince Priebus, and Bernie Sanders. It is here that you can stay on top of politicians’ latest opinions, statements, and events. Social media is also a great way to connect with other politically-minded citizens by following hashtags such as #Debates2016 and #Election2016.
Read Up on Articles
In the heat of the election, it is easy to get caught up in the flurry of, “Trump said this,” or “Hillary did that.” While social media may show the more emotional side of things, citizens should look to articles for information about candidates’ policies and plans. Whether you are a Republican, Democrat, or somewhere in between, it is important to stay informed on today’s pressing issues. That means getting information from a variety of sources and consuming media from all sides of the political spectrum. Read an article from The Huffington Post and then look for an article on the same topic from FOX News, for example. For unbiased sources, Debate.org recommends Reuters, The Independent, and BBC. It is also a good idea
to visit both candidates’ websites for a full list of their platforms and plans for policy.
Debate with Others
While getting in political fights might not be everyone’s cup of tea, having conversations with others can be enlightening and informative. Discussing politics with someone from the other side of the spectrum might challenge your beliefs, leading you to develop stronger opinions and want to become more informed, as well as open your mind as to why others hold a different opinion. While it may be frustrating, at the end of the day, it will make you a much more informed and well-rounded individual who is able to look at issues from multiple sides.
Remind Others to Vote
Many Americans do not vote. According to Pew Research Center, only 53.6 percent of Americans voted in the 2012 election. Though only time can tell whether the election on November 8 will reflect these statistics, this certainly brings up cause for alarm. If you know someone who is choosing not to vote, or do not want to vote yourself, remind them that it is their fundamental right to vote as a citizen of the United States, and that voting is one of the easiest ways to become involved in politics.
After the Election
Just because the election is coming to a close does not mean you should disengage yourself from politics. Continue reading articles and paying attention on social media to see how the newly elected officials are doing and to stay on top of policies and political happenings. If you are itching for an election, remember that elections happen every year at the local and state levels. No matter what, do not allow yourself to become disengaged, and never give up your duty as a U.S. citizen.
Does Homework Benefit Students? by Sarah Jacobson
The average high school student will do 17.5 hours worth of homework in just one week, according to a survey by the University of Phoenix. This equates to about 3.5 hours a night. I am no mathematician, but if a student gets home at 3 pm everyday, does their homework, and gets about an hour for dinner, this places them at about 7:30 pm. This doesn’t include an hour or two for extra curriculars, chores, outings with their family and other activities. If the student wants to go to bed and get up at a decent time, then they are cutting it close. Research conducted by Stanford University showed that 56 of 100 students consider homework to be a primary stressor, and students reported they were less likely to take care of themselves and deal with greater health issues due to the workload. Homework creates a feeling of helplessness in students due to the sheer size of the workload. Students do not benefit from large amounts of homework, and the workload prevents them from getting proper amounts of social interaction, sleep, and all around taking care of themselves. “I don’t like giving homework for my classes. In terms of English, it is important to do reading in advance; however, I believe we can get a lot done in the context of class,” English teacher Mrs. Lauren Tocci said. “I can’t speak to other courses, I only know what I give for my class. I often hear my students complaining about their workload, which worries me because of time issues.” Unfortunately, this is the reality for students in the American education system. Three and a half hours of homework may not seem like a lot, but that does not include projects or the extra amount of work honors and AP students may get. To make matters worse, recent studies have shown that homework does not benefit students in the long run. In a study conducted by the University of Indi-
ana’s School of Education, there was little correlation between amount of time spent doing homework and better test scores. The study focused on 10,000 sophomores between 1990 and 2002. Whether or not students completed homework, their test scores were the same. “I do notice my test scores going up [when I do my homework], because it gives me more time to study, though I wouldn’t say that’s necessarily from the homework,” junior Zack Campbell said. “There is a difference between homework and studying.” This means that all those hours spent doing grammar worksheets or math problems have little to no impact on test scores and final grades. The study proved that despite the long nights filled with homework, students still are not guaranteed to do any better than if they shirked the work. University of Indiana’s study also proved that teachers may not be giving beneficial homework. Some homework is just used as a time filler for students, and is not really helpful towards a student’s education. “I think some of [the homework] is actually helpful review, while the rest isn’t really necessary,” sophomore Alysia Lee said. “When teachers give something we haven’t gone over that well, then I feel that is important.” While homework may be beneficial if a student is struggling in a subject, wants some extra practice before the test, or needs to do some reading for English, it just is not helpful outside of those areas. Not every student needs practice, and not every student is struggling, yet the average high schooler still gets 3.5 hours of homework a night. Maybe it is time to stop bombarding students with countless hours of homework, and instead take a look at the costs of all those worksheets.
October 2016
Opinion
Page 5
Stop the Stigma: Mental Illness is Not Scary by Caitlin Roth
Mental illness is often mocked in Halloween attractions such as Pennhurst Asylum (above). Photo credit: Thomas James Caldwell (Flickr)
It is that time of year again: Halloween. The leaves are changing colors, the nights are getting cooler, and thousands of haunted attractions will open their doors to thrill seekers and adrenaline junkies alike. However, there is a terrifying trend in some of these attractions: insane asylum themed haunted houses. One such attraction is Pennhurst Haunted Attraction, which once functioned as a mental institution. Now, according to its website, “Pennhurst Asylum [is] a hospital themed walk through attraction featuring many items and artifacts that were part of the original State School.” Scare actors sporting dirty, tattered hospital gowns soaked in blood chase after patrons of the haunted house attraction wielding axes while screaming maniacally. Others stand in the corner of a solitary confinement room, twitching and mumbling to themselves in straightjackets. Many people believe these Halloween attractions are only fun and games that mean no harm. After all, they are just Halloween attractions. They are obviously fictitious, so what is wrong with them? If people with mental illness are uncomfortable with these attractions, why can’t they just ignore it? “I personally don’t think [insane asylum attractions] are offensive,” junior Merry Cuvo said. “I don’t think they’re made to hurt that group of people. They’re just made for fun during Halloween.” Unfortunately for those suffering with mental illness, the answer is not that simple. Unlike the scare actors pretending to be “mentally ill,” they do not get to hang up their costumes and call it a day’s work. When you do not have firsthand knowledge of mental illness, it is hard to understand what someone may feel when they see their own illnesses, or the illness of people they know, mocked in such a public way every Halloween. Mental illness is not a medical anomaly. It is much more common than you might realize, it and encompasses multiple different mood and behavioral disorders. According to the Center for Disease Control, around 25 percent of adults in the United States have a diagnosis of some form of mental illness. Along with this, the National
Alliance of Mental Illness claims that 1 in 5 teens between the ages of 13-18 have a mental health diagnosis. These people are our friends, family, coworkers, neighbors, and people we meet on the streets everyday. You just might not be aware. “Mental illness is highly common in the general population,” child psychologist Dr. Pamela Schippell said. “Approximately 18 percent of adults and 20 percent of children ages 18 and under have experienced a diagnosable mental disorder just during the past year.” While the more unethical treatments from the 1950’s and 60’s are no longer in practice, psychiatric wards and hospitals are not an object of a bygone era. They are fully functioning facilities where some people with mental illnesses go to seek treatment. When you are sick, you visit the hospital to receive care, and this is no different for those who visit psychiatric hospitals. Mental illness is not any different from physical illness. It is the same thing as someone seeking treatment for, say, a broken arm. It is incredibly offensive when a legitimate mental health option for those seeking help suddenly transforms into a house of horrors - with mental patients being the sole object of terror. “I worked at the Allentown State Hospital for three years. I never had direct involvement with the patient care, but I used to go out on the floor and do reports,” former psychiatric hospital employee Jean Roth said. “In general, those committed to the hospital were normal people like you and I, but they had some form of mental [illness]. They always would say good morning to me and were very pleasant to be with. Some even had a great sense of humor.” If mental illness is so common, and psychiatric hospitals are just hospitals, why do we portray them in such a negative light for Halloween attractions? Why do we not portray those suffering with terminal illness, like cancer or dementia, in the same light? The reason is the social stigma surrounding mental health. Society subconsciously categorizes mentally ill people with negative traits such as violence and instability, the same way Halloween attractions paint them. “Individuals with mental illness are commonly labelled as a result of their appearance, behav-
ior, treatment, socioeconomic status, and also due to the negative depiction of mental illness so prevalent in the media,” B.A. for the Canadian Mental Health Association David Whalen said. “Individuals with mental illness are stereotyped as dangerous, unpredictable, and as weak willed.” Offensive Halloween stereotypes further the stigma of mental illness, closing the opportunity for genuine conversation about the state of mental health in today’s society. When people perceive such negative portrayals of mental illnesses in Halloween attractions, it influences their perspective of those suffering with them. It ultimately leads to the creation of an unjustifiable stereotype, causing individuals with mental illness to experience feelings of ostracization, isolation, and, ultimately, a label of something that does not represent them as a human. “Particularly around Halloween season, I feel that people without mental illness don’t think twice about the attractions they’re visiting,” senior Nicole Brintzenhoff said, “whereas if you do have a mental illness, seeing all these attractions that demonize you makes you feel that all you’re worth is to scare someone.” These hurtful generalizations also affect those exhibiting possible symptoms of mental illness. According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, more than 43,000 Americans commit suicide every year, mostly due to underlying, undiagnosed mental illness. Because of the negative stigma, those who truly need treatment are afraid to seek help, for fear that if they admit they have a mental illness, then they will be placed in the category of “crazy, mentally unstable” people. Halloween is meant to be a fun holiday, but our entertainment should not be at the expense of others. Those who struggle with mental illness are people too, just like you and me. They are not monsters, and most importantly, they are not Halloween characters. Instead of feeding into the stereotype these Halloween attractions present to us, we should educate ourselves on the matter of mental health. In the end, there is truly nothing “scary” about mental illness except our ignorance towards it.
Page 6 Our World
The Spotlight
Quarterback’s Protest Sparks Controversy by Sarah Trebicka
Quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s refusal to stand during the national anthem has sparked further protest of police brutality against people of color.. Photo credit: Alisdare Hickson
In support of the controversial #BlackLivesMatter (BLM) movement, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick remained seated for the singing of “The Star Spangled Banner” during almost their entire preseason; he resorted to kneeling after being told his failure to stand was disrespectful to U.S. veterans. Kaepernick’s protest, which he justifies by claiming that he will not show pride in a country that turns a blind eye toward racial injustices, came shortly after the consecutive killings of black Americans Alton Sterling, 37, and Philando Castile, 32, by police sparked outrage amongst civil rights activists. Without providing specifics, the biracial quarterback has promised to donate one million dollars to organizations in “communities of need.” “To me, movements are fantastic, but movement without action is nothing. Communication is first and foremost in anything,” school resource officer Brian McLaughlin said. “It’s okay to disagree and have different views, but so far, I think on both sides people are quick to identify the ‘what,’ but fail to address ‘why?’ Let’s figure out not just the symptoms of the problem, but the cause, and move forward to do something about it.” According to a statement published by the New York Times, the 49ers remained neutral about Kaepernick’s actions. “In respecting such American principles as freedom of religion and freedom of expression, we recognize the right of an individual to choose to participate, or not, in our celebration of the national anthem,” they said. Much like any form of public political expression, Kaepernick’s taking a stand by not taking a stand has attracted both unfiltered condemnation and praise, including Republican presidential nominee Donald J. Trump’s statement inviting Kaepernick to “find a country that works better for him.” “I think Kaepernick, like others, has the right to express discontent with society, and I think it was brave of him to use his celebrity platform to raise concerns about an issue that is so charged,” social studies teacher Mrs. Katie Quartuch said. “I’ve read arguments from veterans who are offended and others who are not. I think veterans sacrifice in a way that most of us can never imagine, and so I can understand why some might be hurt by his actions. I also think that his ability to express his political opinions are part of what makes us lucky to live in the United States.”
“I firmly believe in this country that gives us the right to protest and state our views. I’ve had to protect those rights even when they contradicted with my personal feelings because that’s what America is all about. However, that doesn’t take away my right, or other people’s rights, to disagree,” Officer McLaughlin said. “I think the method Colin used could’ve been done better, and I think that he’s tried to do better because he went from sitting to kneeling. But the controversy here is that he’s disrespecting the military that, frankly, has given him the right to do exactly what he’s doing. It’s not just what you say, it’s how you say it.” As a nod to Kaepernick, gay soccer player Megan Rapinoe, who has openly expressed her belief that Americans should start a “more substantive conversation” regarding the oppression of people of color, took a knee when the national anthem played before her team competed against the Chicago Red Stars. Ever since the murder of unarmed 17-yearold black American Trayvon Martin in 2012, more and more people have been joining the BLM movement in order to express outrage toward police brutality, particularly against people of color. “I am glad that passionate people have come together to express their beliefs about our society and government. I think [BLM] has spurred a lot of important conversations about how people feel that they are treated and how they should be treated,” Mrs. Quartuch said. “I also think that the Blue Lives Matter movement allows us to have conversations about the nearly impossible job that police are asked to do everyday. Both movements force us to consider things that may be hard to face.” As proof of racial prejudice in the American justice system, activists cite the fact that black people are approximately 2.5 times more likely to be shot and killed by police than white people. Furthermore, 13 percent of all black people who were fatally shot by police since January 2015 were unarmed, compared with 7 percent of white people, according to the Chicago Tribune. “When we say ‘Black Lives Matter,’ we are broadening the conversation around state violence to include all of the ways in which black people are intentionally left powerless at the hands of the state,” the BLM website said. “#BlackLivesMatter is working for a world
where black lives are no longer systematically and intentionally targeted for demise.” In contrast, many people who proclaim #AllLivesMatter in response find the BLM movement to be exclusive, alleging that they fail to acknowledge police brutality against other people of color, as well as white people. Others shout #BlueLivesMatter, claiming that police officers do not deserve such harsh criticism for simply doing their jobs, and that BLM has instigated police killings. A petition even surfaced on the White House’s “We the People” platform, aiming to “formally recognize Black Lives Matter as a terrorist organization” and receiving over 141,000 signatures. “You can’t label one person the same as another person just because they’re affiliated with the same group. There are so many organizations in the world you can categorize negatively or positively depending on where you stand” Officer McLaughlin said. “It’s hard because there’s so much good that comes from these conversations, but also the potential for violence on both sides. I also think the media in some respect has sensationalized and gives slanted views and opinions, and then people rely on what’s out there and create more adversity.” “I think that a lot of people aren’t fully grasping what the Black Lives Matter movement is all about. It isn’t saying that only black lives matter or that black people are above all other races, it’s saying that, for whatever reason, people of color in general are seen as inferior,” junior Jill Werbisky said. “Racial inequality has been a part of our country’s history since its founding. I think it’s hard for people to understand that if they haven’t experienced racism firsthand.” As long as unarmed black Americans continue to be disproportionately killed by police, it is unlikely that protests such as Kaepernick’s refusal to stand for the anthem will falter. “We get distracted very quickly by the protests and riots because of emotion, personal views, and stereotypes that the media generates, when we don’t have solid communication,” Officer McLaughlin said. “I’ve met many people who have said that they can’t stand cops. My response to that is, ‘how many do you actually know?’ It’s not about me in the uniform, it’s about the uniform. It’s an exterior. They haven’t challenged themselves to go deeper. That’s what we have to do as human beings: challenge ourselves to go deeper.”
October 2016
Where are They Now? Former Valedictorian Zachary Feldman
by Danielle Alpert
Feldman on vacation in Budapest. Photo credit: Liz Leitner
Each year, all eyes are on the class valedictorian, and everyone wonders what the future holds in store for them. Southern Lehigh class of 2010 valedictorian, Zachary Feldman, became a software application engineer at Workday, a company that builds enterprise software for HCM and financial management. Feldman helps build the Canadian payroll software, uses proprietary software to code solutions written by project managers, and writes automation to test the code he writes. His contributions range from changing tax rates and rules in the system to building out a new web service for tax filing. “I love the perks of working at a tech company. We have extravagant company meetings, competitive salaries, break rooms stocked with snacks, and flexible hours,” Feldman said. “I also enjoy being in the center of all the latest software and technologies.” One his most exciting experiences came from a fourweek work opportunity called “Sprint to Europe,” which allows employees to explore a foreign culture and understand the challenges of working away from home. “It was surreal to be at the beautiful Englischer Garten on the first day of spring with my coworkers for lunch break and then to experience Frühlingsfest,” Feldman said. “It was amazing to be able to live like a local: biking to work everyday in the city, learning a few German words to communicate at the checkout of the grocery store, and trying all the traditional cuisine.” In high school, Feldman was class president, participated in tennis, National Honor Society, Scholastic Scrimmage, band, jazz band, and orchestra. He played clarinet, oboe, and alto saxophone. Feldman now lives for the moment and not for the competition. “Growing up, I’ve always been a competitive person, and I wanted to be the best at whatever I did, whether that was academics, tennis, music, or any new activity I tried,” he said. “Of course, the advice is not to ‘not try,’ but to enjoy more than just the competitive aspect of your activities.” Feldman’s proudest moment was when he delivered his valedictory speech, during which he referred to stuffed animal prizes he won from claw machines. “I was so happy to have overcome my shyness to get up and talk in front of all my classmates. I was proud of all the hard work I had put into high school academics, too,” Feldman said. “I’ve never felt more encouragement from my peers than from the applause that followed my speech.” After graduation, Feldman went off to University of California, Berkeley, where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering and computer science. However, he regrets not having been more adventurous. “I should have branched out even more while I had the chance,” he said. “At college, there are so many resources and people that can help you find your passion, which you can carry with you throughout your lifetime.” Feldman advises high school seniors to spend as much time as possible with family and friends before going to college. “If there was one part of my life that I wish I could do over just so that I could experience it again, it’d probably be the summer between high school and college,” Feldman said. “I had nothing to worry about, and I was surrounded by my favorite people. I’d live through that summer again just to make sure I cherished every moment.”
Our World Page 7
Cost Increase Causes Conflict for Epi-Pen Users by Izza Choudhry
Controversy has recently emerged in the medical world over the gradual high increase of the price of EpiPens. Since 2009, the wholesale prices of this injection have increased nearly 500 percent, making it increasingly difficult for patients to receive and have easy access to the treatment they need. “Millions of Americans with severe allergies rely on their EpiPens,” Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton said in a statement. “When an allergic reaction leads to anaphylactic shock, a shot of epinephrine can literally be the difference between life and death. But now, just as parents are about to send kids with severe food and insect allergies back to school, the EpiPen’s manufacturer is hiking its price to an all-time high.” EpiPens are injections that contain epinephrine, also known as adrenaline, a chemical that narrows one’s blood vessels to opens airways in their lungs. They are to be stabbed into the thigh so the chemical can be placed into immediate effect. EpiPens are extremely important and necessary for patients who suffer from allergies since they are capable of reversing the effects of severe allergic reactions, such as extremely low blood pressure, wheezing, severe skin itching, and hives. “The AMA has long urged the pharmaceutical industry to exercise reasonable restraint in drug pricing, and, with lives on the line, we urge the manufacturer to do all it can to rein in these exorbitant costs,” president of American Medical Association (AMA) Dr. Andrew Gurman said in a statement. “With many parents required to buy two or more sets of EpiPens just to keep their children safe, the high cost of these devices may either keep them out of reach of people in need or force some families to choose between EpiPens and other essentials. The AMA will continue to promote market-based strategies to achieve access to and affordability of healthcare goods and services.” In 2007, when the pharmaceutical company Mylan purchased the EpiPen, the price for one set of two EpiPens was $57. Now, according to prescription drug price comparison website GoodRX, a set of EpiPens costs about $600 without insurance coverage. Since 2009, when the price of a set of EpiPens was about $100, the price has skyrocketed about 500 percent, although the price varies throughout pharmacies. Although the EpiPen company has existed for decades, this extreme price increase has transformed it into a billiondollar business. “There is no reasonable alternative to [EpiPens] for [people who suffer from allergies], who may die if they do not have injectable epinephrine immediately available at home and work (or school) when anaphylaxis occurs,” executive Vice President of American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (AAAAI) Dr. Thomas Casale said in a statement. “Skyrocketing costs for autoinjectable epinephrine products place an unacceptable burden on our patients, and we vigorously support all efforts to address this urgent issue as quickly as possible.” Patients who are unable to afford the expensive injection have resorted to
EpiPens administer the first line of defense to treat anaphylaxis. Photo credit: Caitlin Roth
desperate measures. Many have turned to filling their own syringes with epinephrine, which is a very problematic and potentially dangerous alternative. The price hike is also causing people to split up EpiPen packs, keeping one at home, and one at school, which is not recommended because a second dose may be required in cases of a severe attack. Mylan has attempted to respond to this controversy in several ways. They have introduced what they call a “zero-pay” card that significantly cuts co-pay for those who have helpful insurance. However, it only reduces the cost by about 100 dollars for those with high deductibles or who are uninsured. “The interesting thing is that the state gives schools free medication to treat some types of drug addiction, which is important, but it’s just as important and more common to have to treat kids with fatal allergies,” Mrs. Pysher said. “I would say we’ve been lucky that there are private companies that help us get one EpiPen a year for school. These kinds of programs are really helpful to us, and I think that more companies and more programs need to be offered to help people afford [EpiPens], because allergies are becoming more and more common.” Anaphylaxis is a potentially life-threatening allergic reaction that can occur very quickly, even in a matter of seconds, after exposure to an allergen. EpiPens are extremely important and necessary to anyone who suffers from severe allergic reactions, because a shot of epinephrine is the first line of defense to treat the reaction. “I bring my EpiPen with me everywhere because I depend on it to be there if I do have an allergic reaction,” senior Alexandra Curtis said. “I think the increase in the EpiPen price is wrong, because it makes it harder for those who really need them to have access to them. It’s denying people their lifesaving medication and it’s morally wrong.” Patients and anyone in the medical world are adamantly opposing and demanding a justification to the unreasonable price increase of these life-saving devices. Mylan has not directly responded to the controversy, but they are defending themselves by blaming insurance companies and high deductibles for the sharp price increase. Given how vital EpiPens are to patients’ health, many are hoping that Mylan will decrease their prices in response to public pressure and the dangerous inconvenience of their customers.
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Sports
The Spotlight
It’s ‘Next Man Up’ for Boys Soccer Team by Townsend Colley
Senior Daniel Qian shoots the ball onto the field. Photo credit: Christmas City Studios
“Next man up” is a mantra that has become cliche among the coaching ranks of all sports worldwide. However, cliches become cliches for a reason; at any moment, for any team, it can become all too real. While it can be a nightmare, attrition is inevitable, due to injury or graduation. This is the challenge Southern Lehigh boys soccer coaching staff faced after they lost nine starters from a 2015 team that earned a berth in the Colonial League and District XI playoffs. This is no foreign struggle to head coach Mark Evans and his staff. After stunning Emmaus High School in the class AAA District XI 2014 championship, they lost much of their starting lineup and returned an inexperienced lineup in 2015, which was made up of mostly seniors and juniors. Despite the losses, the Spartans still strung together a nine-win season and consequently, a position in the playoffs. But this past offseason was an entirely new beast for the boys soccer team. Typically, as seniors graduate, the “next man up” phrase comes into play when juniors step up to replace them. This year is different. The 2016 team didn’t have a sufficient number of upperclassmen who were prepared to handle the mental and physical challenges that come with playing a 90-minute match at the varsity level. So with only five senior starters, they had to dig deeper than ever before, into the ranks of sophomores and even freshmen. “There's been a couple matches where we’ve started two freshmen [and] two sophomores,” Coach Evans said. “We’ve never started two fresh-
men, ever, and I’m going back into the history of the program.” The process of preparing a young lineup to meet the demands that would be placed on them under the varsity lights started all the way back in the offseason for the Spartans. “We worked out in the gym and ran three times a week,” senior Joey Minguillon said. “We would practice at the park to practice our foot skills and get our touches back on the ball, and then when tryouts came we went full speed to prepare for the season.” Intense offseason training became essential for a team that stresses defense, soccer IQ, and the ability to seamlessly change tactics. Not only do these freshmen and sophomores have to prepare themselves physically, but also mentally. “I try to make a point to teach them things that maybe when you’re a junior or senior would be instinctual, but when you're a freshmen [or] sophomore, when you haven’t had much time to practice on the JV level, you make mistakes,” Coach Evans said. “We teach these over and over again.” Several young and inexperienced play-makers are stepping up and making a name for themselves early in their careers. Among these new faces to the varsity soccer scene are junior right midfielder Nate Morris, sophomore center-back Max Johnston, freshman striker Marcus Glick, and freshman center midfielder Kyle Hoff. With these new additions to the starting lineup, difficulties showed themselves early on in the season. As a product of an untried lineup and very challenging opponents, the Spartans began with an 0-2 conference record with losses to Notre Dame Green Pond and Palisades. “We’re a young team and we had high expectations,” Johnston said, “but we weren’t really focused and playing to the best of our abilities.” However, after the slow start, the Spartans picked up two consecutive wins before having the misfortune of facing a Northwestern Lehigh Tigers team that is currently ranked second in the state, and returns much of their starting lineup from a championship season. The Spartans lost the tilt 4-1; however, the final score doesn’t tell the full story of the matchup. The Spartans’ lone goal was the only one the Tigers had let up by that point in the season. Also, that very same weekend, the Spartans came away with an impressive victory over Pocono Mountain East in which they displayed the growth required to win a championship in the Colonial League. “We possessed the ball quite well against Pocono Mountain East,” Coach Evans said. “We struggled to do that against Northwestern.” The Southern Lehigh boys soccer team expects to get better and better each week as the team clicks as a unit, and young players develop. With a combination of these factors, the team believes that they could make a run for a Colonial League and then a District XI Championship. “I think now if we keep up the pressure we're definitely gonna have a shot to win every game we play,” Minguillon said. “We're just really clicking together, we’re putting a lot of pressure, we’re scoring a lot of goals, and we’re not giving up a lot of goals either.”
Girls Tennis Coach Earns 500th Career Win by Quinn Schmidt
As Southern Lehigh tennis coach Andraea Drabenstott entered her 18th season with the Spartans, 500 wins seemed like an unthinkable task. But as the final set came to an end on September 20th against Saucon Valley, reality set in for the longtime coach. “I never really had a goal to reach 500 wins, but to just concentrate on having successful seasons and let the wins take care of themselves,” said Drabenstott. Southern Lehigh finished the match with a 4-1 victory, winning both doubles matchups behind the duos of Alex Curtis and Mady Binder along with Kayla Klecatsky and Nicole Britzenhoff. In singles, victories from Danielle Barnes and Keelin McLoughlin boosted the team to a 5-0 start to the season. “[Drabenstott] is a really good coach. She plays to your strengths and helps with your weaknesses,” junior Danielle Barnes said. Drabenstott isn’t new to success. Over her career she has racked up multiple District XI titles on both the boys and girls side. While coaching with the boys team, Drabenstott earned four consecutive titles in District XI, three in class 2A and one in class 3A. For the girls, a class 3A District championship stands as her major accomplishment. However, Drabenstott takes little credit when it comes to her success as a coach. “I have been very fortunate over the past 18 seasons to work with such talented and hardworking player,” Drabenstott said. As well as coaching here at Southern Lehigh, Drabenstott has been working at Winning Touch Tennis Club for four years and also teaches tennis in her free time. At the end of the day, it was all about Coach Andraea. “I’m really excited for her,” said sophomore player Victoria Adams,”It’s a great accomplishment for a great coach.”
This is Coach Andrew Drabsenstott’s 18th season with Southern Lehigh. Photo credit: Christmas City Studios
October Issue
Sports
Page 9
Spartans Bring Spirit to Homecoming Day by Bridgette Lang
For many students, Homecoming is the best part of the start of the school year. The third week of September was filled with festivities, some of the most important being the football game and pep rally on September 23. A lot of preparation goes into creating these performances and activities. For the last few weeks leading up to Homecoming, students and teachers put in countless hours to make these days special. Hosts for this year’s pep rally included seniors Calvin Hurst, Timmy Walter, and Kevin Publicover, who were responsible for introducing acts and clubs before each performed. The varsity cheerleaders started things off with an impressive routine that showcased their talent and got the crowd excited. “There is definitely more pressure when performing in front of the whole school because no one wants to be the person who messes up,” senior Felicity Levy said. Next, the Homecoming court was introduced. All members of the court competed to raise as much money as they could for Four Diamonds, a pediatric cancer foundation. Kevin Publicover raised $948.80, earning him the title of Homecoming King. Student Council adviser Mr. Troy Ruch also revealed that the court raised over $10,000. The dance team performed next, beginning their show with an impressive trick: tossing one of their members into the air. “This year preparing our dance for the pep rally was different than it has been in years past,” junior dance team member Lindsay Beck said. “Since our pep rally was earlier this year than normal, we had to start preparing extra early.” Finally the band and colorguard performed a medley of rock songs by the band Queen. “Performing at the pep rally is different than
on the field,” junior and color guard captain Celeste Tran said. “On the field, we work on keeping our shoulders forward and our faces forward. During the pep rally, we step in place to keep time and we adjust our heads to look at the audience. In the gym, we still have to simulate what we perform on the field,” Members of each class also participated in
Solehi cheerleaders performed for the crowd. Photo credit: Karin Naktin
a dance-off. The sophomores won with their crowd-pleasing Napoleon Dynamite routine. “Each year we try to mix it up and keep it fresh, but the focus of the fall pep rally is the homecoming court and getting a number of students involved,” Varsity Club adviser Mr. Lee Zeisloft said. “We had numerous groups perform and a few teacher and student activities.” To the surprise of the student body, the teach-
ers were victorious in a dodgeball game against the seniors. Only hours after the pep rally, seniors, juniors, sophomores, and freshmen eagerly lined up in the student section as the Southern Lehigh football team faced off against Saucon Valley. A roaring sea of blue formed as they waited for the Spartans to score a point. For the majority of the first quarter, the game was 0-6 with Saucon Valley in the lead. Once Southern Lehigh finally tied it up at 6-6, the rest of the game seemed to bounce back and forth; by the second quarter, Southern Lehigh led 14-13. At halftime the band and colorguard performed for the second time that day, presenting their field show before lining up along the sidelines to introduce the homecoming court. “There was a lot more hype, people, and positive attitude towards the band when we entered the stadium,” freshman band member Xavier Pellegrini said. In years before, the Homecoming queen was chosen based on a student vote, but this year the the girls also had to raise money just like the guys. Senior Justine Groeber was named Homecoming queen, after raising a whopping $2,793.83. In the second half, it seemed like the Spartans had a chance to win, and the last minutes of the game were tense. With 30 seconds left, Southern Lehigh saw an opportunity to score. “We were all thinking, ‘We can do this. We can win.’ We thought we had it, so we decided to take a shot for the end zone and go for the win,” sophomore Logan Edmond said. “But the other team made a great play on the ball and stole the game from us.” The final score was 21-26. Though the Spartans lost, students’ spirits remained high as they looked forward to the dance the next day.
Field Hockey Among the Best of the Best by Townsend Colley Southern Lehigh Field Hockey has grown into one of the most successful programs in not only school history, but in the history of the entire Colonial League. They have won both the Colonial League and District XI championships five times in the last nine years, and they are on the verge of completing their fifth 14+ win season in the last five years. This run of success has been preceded by no other sport in the history of the Southern Lehigh athletics program. The 2016 season began in an unfamiliar way for the Spartans, however, with a 3-2 loss at the hands of a Moravian Academy team that was coming off of a championship season in which they beat the Spartans 3-0 in the Colonial League championship. On top of that, it was Moravian Academy head coach Debbie Bross’s 500th career win. “First game, lots of jitters, first time starting, but everyone knew that Moravian was going to be tough,” head coach Mrs. Adrienne Searfoss said. Southern Lehigh’s’ 0-1 opening record only looked bad until the following game, in which the Spartans went on to defeat the Salisbury Falcons in a 7-0 blowout. “We really just wanted to work hard and get better,” Cyr said, “so when we meet up with [Moravian Academy] in the postseason that hopefully we’ll be on the winning side of things.” After crushing Salisbury, the Spartans built on that success and cruised through their next seven games. During that time they let up only one goal through that stretch and 35 of their own would find twine on the back of the net. “After the loss we knew exactly where we were at with our conditioning and our skills so we knew how to improve ourselves,” senior Ashley Lee said. Despite the success of the Southern Lehigh field hockey program this season, and in seasons past, the Colonial League also has a strong tradition of hosting some of the top flight field hockey teams in the Valley. The Spartans were challenged by another contender -- Bangor -- on the heels of back-to-back-to-back shutouts by the Southern Lehigh at a time where they were flying high.
Field hockey players find success on the field. Photo credit: Christmas City Studios
At the end of September, the Spartans traveled to Upper Mount Bethel Township to face off against Bangor in one of the most anticipated matches of the Colonial League fixtures. The Slaters came into the game with the edge of any home team that hasn’t beat their opponent in five years, and came out on top in an all too familiar way for the Spartans, defeating Southern Lehigh 3-2 in overtime, the exact same result as when the Spartans faced Moravian. In the matchup, Southern Lehigh struggled to move the ball and create offensive scoring chances. “With Bangor I just don’t think that we were as excited or psyched up to be as successful as we needed to be,” Coach Searfoss said. A two-loss regular season is by no means a ticket out of the post season and is a very good record. The Spartans still remain atop the standings in the Colonial League West and are on track to make the Colonial League playoffs. Once in the playoffs, they will have to come up against either Bangor or Moravian Academy enroute to the 2016 championship and a berth in the District XI playoffs where there is a possibility of playing Moravian Academy for the third time this season. “I know it's going to be a great game,” Lee said, “because we [and Moravian] challenge each other and we’re both very skilled on the field.”
Page 10 Center Spread
The Spotlight
Our Favorite Five Hoco Proposals of 2016 by Danielle Alpert
Ian Hundley and Emma Hanssen “I came up with the idea to ask her using a fire truck because I’m part of the fire department. I just thought of the idea and told some of my friends, and they really encouraged me to follow through with it. I was really anxious getting everything ready, but once it all started going down, I actually felt pretty relaxed,” junior Ian Hundley said.
“I knew he was coming over, but I thought it was just to give me some Oreos. When I heard the sirens I looked out the window to see where they were going, but when the truck stopped in front of my house, I realized it was Ian. So, I ran outside to see what he was up to, and then I saw ‘HOCO?’ written on the truck. I was so surprised, but so happy. I couldn’t believe he thought of such an amazing idea all by himself. And he even got me flowers. It was a perfect proposal for the two of us,” senior Emma Hanssen said.
“I was not expecting her to ask me. I thought it was very cute that she asked me because I thought it was implied that we were going. I am on the speech and debate team, so she incorporated it in asking me,” sophomore Alex Becker said.
“I knew I wanted to ask him because it would be our second year going to homecoming together. I came up with the idea because speech and debate is a big part of his life. I was really nervous because I didn’t know if he would like it or not, and I knew he was not expecting it,” sophomore Lizzie Kanzler said.
Alex Becker and Lizzie Kanzler
September Issue
Center Spread
Josh Wentling and Rachel Ziegler “It was so exciting being asked and the sign was perfect,” senior Josh Wentling said. “It was so nice to mix things up and ask him. Watching his surprised face made me so happy!” junior Rachel Ziegler said.
“She got two people to dress up as a horse and she came in holding a sign that said, ‘Stop Horsing around’ and she gave me a carrot. When it was happening I thought, ‘Why was there a horse coming into the classroom?’ It was a complete surprise. It made my day even better,” junior Will Schell said.
Will Schell and Megan James Keenan Knight and Danielle Barnes “It really surprised because she hid it really well. I was still trying to come up with something really creative and was really failing! I was quite relieved that she asked me!” junior Keenan Knight said.
“He said he was only going to ask me if it was going to be creative, so instead of him coming up with something, I did and asked him,” junior Danielle Barnes said.
“I decided to be funny and wanted something creative since everyone has the same kind of proposal. I wanted my friends to be involved, and because I’m excited for Halloween, I wanted to dress up. So I dressed up as a cowgirl while my friends (Lauren and Angela) were a horse. The idea just popped up in my head. I expected people to stare and question ‘What is she doing?’ but everyone knew what I was doing,” senior Megan James said.
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Features
The Spotlight
Mrs. Guock Becomes First Permanent Chinese Teacher at SL by Allison Borelli
Once again it’s that time of the year when Chinese students wait in anticipation to see just who their new Chinese exchange teacher is. However, this year Southern Lehigh has brought on a contracted Chinese teacher, Mrs. Patricia Gouck, in addition to the usual exchange teacher. “My main goal is for students to develop the ability to communicate,” Mrs. Guock said. “For high school students to be able to use Chinese in the real world…[to] leave the classroom and be able to take their skills and use them.” Mrs. Guock is Southern Lehigh’s first contracted Chinese teacher, which means she’ll be a permanent teacher here. She teaches Chinese 1 and Chinese 2, and co-teaches Chinese 3 with one of the exchange teachers from China. Mrs. Guock plans to make use of Southern Lehigh’s abundant technology. “There are very few certified Chinese teachers and Mrs. Gouck was not only certified, but she had some experiences teaching Chinese in a school setting,” high school principal Mrs. Christine Siegfried said. “She also had some cultural experiences relative to the language that we felt would be beneficial for the teaching position.” Mrs. Guock has previously taught Chinese at the elementary level, from kindergarten to fifth grade. The last school where she taught was Lehigh Valley Academy. “I was a teacher before I learned Chinese. I was an elementary school teacher, and I’ve just always loved school,” Mrs. Guock said. “Then I
learned Chinese and became pretty good at it, and I decided that would be an interesting thing to teach.” Originally, Mrs. Guock was a philosophy major at West Chester University. “I actually never intended on learning Chinese all that well,” she said. “It kind of happened to me.” Mrs. Guock actually lived in China for two and a half years, when she moved to China in 1996 because of her husband’s job, and it was where she learned Mandarin. She was driven to learn Chinese by a combination of curiosity and adventure. “I just became very very curious to do a lot of things and go a lot of places,” Mrs. Guock said. Along with a husband, Mrs. Guock also has three children. Her youngest is in high school, and her oldest child is a junior at Cedar Crest College. “Mrs. Guock is really nice and helpful,” Chinese exchange teacher Ms. Wen Dong said. “We have a great time co-teaching.” Mrs. Guock also enjoys quilting and an activity called line dancing, in which dancers line up in a row without partners and follow a choreographed pattern of steps to music. Ironically, Mrs. Guock’s favorite food is Indian food. “I particularly love authentic Chinese food that you get in China, what you get here isn’t typically that good in my opinion,” she said.
Mrs.Guock poses in front of her classroom. Photo credit: Karin Natikin
One of Mrs. Guock’s favorite authors is Pearl Buck, who has written a lot about China. She particularly enjoys Disney’s Mary Poppins as well. And of course she enjoys teaching. “I love watching students go from having little to no knowledge about something to having a lot of knowledge and [the] ability to use the language,” she said. “I just love the learning process and being a part of that.”
Ms. Laney Joins the Southern Lehigh Social Studies Team
by Danielle Alpert
One of Southern Lehigh’s new teachers this year just so happens to be the JV girls basketball coach. Civics and Government teacher Ms. Erin Laney looks forward to being a basketball coach as well as seeing how her students progress throughout the year. “I expect this year to be challenging for me personally, but still rewarding and fun,” Ms. Laney said. “I love the feeling of trying to get a student to understand something.” Ms. Laney grew up in Connecticut and then went to Muhlenberg College, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Spanish and American Studies. She holds her teaching certificate in fourth to eighth grade social studies, seventh to twelfth grade social studies and kindergarten through fifth grade Spanish. “She brings new ideas and lots of enthusiasm to Southern Lehigh,” social studies teacher Mr. David Krial said.
Mrs. Laney poses in her classroom.Photo Credit: Caitlin Roth
Ms. Laney is now taking classes at Lehigh University toward her Master of Education degree with a concentration in instructional technology. She enjoys learning and helping others learn. “I love being able [form] relationships with
the students and to be able to be myself at work,” Ms. Laney said. Outside of school, she likes to run marathons, coach basketball, spend time with friends and cook when she has the time. She also loves to watch “Game of Thrones,” “Orange is the New Black,” and “House of Cards.” Ms. Laney was the student commencement speaker at her graduation from Muhlenberg College, and while there she played every game of basketball they had during her seasons. Her goal is to try to change the way students perceive school. Ms. Laney tries to be as energetic as possible to reinforce that education can be exciting. She never thought of herself as anything but a teacher. “She is very animated and it keeps my attention,” freshman Faith Cameron said. “She does not just make us look at the board and copy down notes.”
Señora Markwich Returns to Southern Lehigh Full Time by Quinn Schmidt
Mrs. Markwhich shows off her nameplate.Photo Credit: Caitlin Roth
After graduating from Emmaus High School in 2005, graduating from Shippensburg University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree, and continuing her education at Western Governors University with a Masters in English Language Learning, Ms. Megan Markwich has finally landed at Southern Lehigh High School -- and she couldn’t be happier. After working as a long-term substitute at Southern Lehigh during the 2012-13 school year, she was excited to return. “I saw that a spot opened here and knew I wanted to come back,” Ms. Markwich said. Ms. Markwich will be teaching both Spanish I and Spanish II. She previously worked with the language program at Roberto Clemente Charter School in Allentown. “Working in Roberto Clemente definitely helped me to become a more patient teacher,” she said. “I had students from all different backgrounds which helped me understand how to solve problems.” While at the charter school, Ms. Markwich’s duties included acting as the Chairperson of the Parent
and Family Committee. In this position she was tasked with many responsibilities, including interpreting and translating Spanish for the school, as well as making announcements in Spanish and organizing PTA meetings. “I love having her as a teacher,” sophomore Alexis Williams said. “She teaches in different ways so I’m always interested.” Ms Markwich also taught 5-8th grade gifted Spanish for a year, and she taught English in Madrid, Spain. She was also the president of Shippensburg University’s Spanish Club, as well as the vice president of the Spanish Honor Society. “She’s very enthusiastic about teaching,” Spanish teacher Ms Swartz said, “so I think the students connect very well with her.” Outside of school, Ms. Markwich can be found spending time with her husband and her two-and-a-half yearold daughter. In the end, Ms. Markwich is all about the students. “I love teaching Spanish and ESL,” she said. ”I especially love seeing my students progress with their own Spanish speaking abilities.”
Features
October 2016
Page 13
Mr. Green Scores a Spot on the Health and Phys Ed Team
by Ben Baca
Mr. Green poses for the camera. Photo Credit: Karin Natikin
If you’re a student in physical or driver education, then you might be attending classes with one of Southern Lehigh High School’s newest teachers, Mr. Andrew Green. He moved to Southern Lehigh because he heard about the excellent reputation of the school district, the technology it offers its students, and its state of the art facilities. “My favorite part of teaching is the interaction I have with kids and teachers and the satisfaction of making a difference in young people’s lives,” Mr. Green said. Mr. Green wanted to be an educator and follow in the footsteps of his mother, who was also a teacher, for many years. He wanted a profession that would make the greatest impact in children’s lives. “I think he’s cool,” freshman Tysha Barone said. “He jokes around a lot and smiles a lot. He’s super nice.” Mr. Green started his career at the Williamsport Area School District, where he taught health, physical education, and mathematics for two
years. He then taught at a charter school in his hometown, Philadelphia, for four years. During three of these years, he taught middle school health and physical education, and last year, he became a team leader, which ensured a productive teaching environment for the student body. “He’s always positive,” physical education and driver education teacher Mr. Ditchcreek said. “He tells me his favorite foods are peppers, mostly pepper breath. His arms are like a cannon, and he’s really good at wrestling, too.” When Mr. Green is not teaching, his interests include watching sports, mostly football, and going to the shore during the summer. “He’ll definitely be a good teacher at SLHS,” wellness and physical education teacher Mr. Hummel said. “He’s very knowledgeable in regard to fitness and the drivers ed program.” So far, Mr. Green has gotten to know the students and teachers and has settled into the Southern Lehigh community.
Say ‘Ni Hao’ to New Chinese Exchange Teacher Ms. Dong by Sarah Jacobson
There are roughly 6,832 miles between Center Valley and Beijing, China. This cross-world trip between the two locations is lengthy and difficult, but new Chinese teacher Ms. Dong Wen made the expedition to teach at Southern Lehigh High School. Ms. Dong is excited to teach Mandarin Chinese to our students and help them better understand her culture. Ms. Dong came to Southern Lehigh from Beijing Normal University, where she is currently working toward her master’s degree in Mandarin Chinese in hope of cultivating a love for the language in her current and future students. She previously attended Zhe Jiang University where she earned her bachelor’s degree. “I wanted to go to America because it represents western culture,” Ms. Dong said. China represents a completely different culture [than America’s].” Ms. Dong is excited to teach about the way of life of the people in China, and is especially thrilled to teach calligraphy to the students. Her
Ms. Dong is working towards her master’s degree in Mandarin Chinese. Photo Credit: Caitlin Roth
expectations for the class include being confident, always being ready to learn, and working hard. “I think [Chinese] is gonna go pretty well this year as long as we study,” freshman Jessica Beltz said. This year, the Chinese program has two teachers: Ms. Dong and Mrs. Patricia Gouck. Together,
they borrow from each other’s knowledge to create lesson plans that combine their experiences with Chinese culture and Mandarin Chinese. “It is really great to work with Dong Laoshi. She is really hard working and dedicated to teaching,” Mrs. Gouck said. “It has been nice to get to know her, and working with her has been fun. I know we are going to have a great year.” On her days off, Ms. Dong likes to cook, ride her bicycle, and sing traditional and pop music. Her favorite American pop singer is Katy Perry. In China, Ms. Dong has her mother, father, and her younger sister, Shuwen. “I miss my parents,” Ms. Dong said. “The time difference is very big, 12 hours. It’s hard to find time to talk.” Despite her homesickness, Ms. Dong is looking forward to an fun-filled year teaching about China and all it has to offer SLHS students. “I treasure the chance to work in a different culture and have a fulfilling and colorful year,” she said.
Ms. Quintana Lends a Helping Hand in Learning Support
by Bridgette Lang
Traveling from class to class, working in a multitude of situations, and showing patience all the time are not the easiest tasks. Ms. Andrea Quintana does this and more as the newest special education teacher at Southern Lehigh High School. “Ms. Quintana is always helping students in my class, and it’s really nice to see someone who cares so much and has lots of experience,” junior Kayle Bringenberg said. Ms. Quintana earned her undergraduate degree at Liberty University, where she received a degree in sports management. She then completed her graduate studies at Lehigh University, where she received a master’s degree in special education. “I knew I wanted to go into special education after seeing my sister and friends struggle in school,” Ms. Quintana said. Before deciding that she wanted to work with kids and teens, Ms. Quintana worked with adults at Prudential Financial for 13 years. There she taught about job skills and new technologies and procedures. The most refreshing part about her job now is seeing students progress while work-
ing with them. “It’s not about how long it takes us there,” Ms. Quintana said. “It’s that we get there in the end.” Ms. Quintana previously worked at Nazareth, Parkland, Saucon Valley, and East Penn school districts. When she first arrived at Southern Lehigh, she was most surprised by the number and availability of MacBooks, as the other schools she worked at mostly had desktops. “Having an extra academic support in the classroom can help both regular and special education students,” business teacher Mrs. Joanne Peralta said. “[Ms. Quintana] has the training and knowledge how to best suit the needs of diversified learners. She brings expertise to the classroom.” In her free time, Ms. Quintana loves to watch the Hallmark channel and “General Hospital.” She’s a big reader, and her favorite genre is crime thrillers. At home, she has three kids and a goldfish. The Eagles have always been her favorite football team, but she also enjoys watching and playing basketball and field hockey. When she gets the opportunity, she likes to work out.
Overall, Ms. Quintana is excited for all the new opportunities that Southern Lehigh has to offer. She can’t wait to see what the year has in store for her.
Ms. Quintana working at her desk. Photo Credit: Karin Natkin
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Features
The Spotlight
Solehi Says Hello (Again) To Mrs. Quartuch by Rachael Borelli
A new school year presents itself, the halls are clean and the classrooms sparkle. New teachers and students are learning the school schematics, but one “new” teacher is simply hit with memories. After a year of maternity leave, Mrs. Katie Quartuch is back not only as a social studies teacher, but also as the gifted coordinator. “It’s great to be back with my teacher friends. I enjoy a lot of our school traditions, and I missed them while I was out,” Mrs. Quartuch said. “I am excited about getting to know students I am just meeting or haven’t met yet…[and] to experience this election with young people, many of whom are passionate about politics.” Mrs. Quartuch attended East Stroudsburg University, where her Human Geography professor helped her perceive her own passion for politics. After this realization, Mrs. Quartuch changed her major to political science and added a second major in secondary education with the hope of creating a positive impact. She joined the Southern Lehigh High School faculty immediately afterward graduating in 2004. “I’ve spent a lot of my adult life wondering if teaching matters and, at least for now, I think it does,” Mrs. Quartuch said. Not only does she aim to help students realize at least one area of policy where they are passionate about, but she also aims to help them realize how dangerous apathy is. “Mrs. Quartuch is unique as a teacher because she is both demanding and caring,” social studies teacher Mr. Matt Cooper said. “She comes up with creative and challenging ways to make students think outside the box. It’s one of her strengths to get students to think differently.” Furthermore, she wants students to think about the issues they are discussing and question their own thinking, even if they become conflicted when they learn more about a previously held belief. Likewise, Mrs. Quartuch loves having meaningful conversations with staff and
Mrs. Quartuch has 3 children, ages 10, 7 and 1. Photo credit: Allison Borelli
students. “She values students’ ideas and input, making sure her room is a safe environment to discuss personal opinions,” sophomore Elizabeth Cassel said. “In general, my best days are when students exhibit their thinking in ways that are unique to me,” Mrs. Quartuch said. “I love being surprised and in awe of ideas and ways of thinking I haven’t heard before or considered myself.” While she was on leave, Mrs. Quartuch worked on her Doctorate of Education degree in Educational Leadership and Administration, and she took classes on adult psychology, leadership theories, conflict resolution, and qualitative and quantitative research methodologies. Mrs. Quartuch cherishes learning and values her course work immensely. “My experience impacted my ideas about
education and leadership in a pretty profound way,” she said. While she was out, Mrs. Quartuch built meaningful relationships with other people in her program due to their shared experience. She started the doctoral program in August of 2012 and has taken 18 credits in the past three years. In addition to her passion for education, Mrs. Quartuch also loves her children. “[My children] bring me tremendous joy and they have been imperative in my evolution as a person,” she said. When she’s not teaching she also enjoys chatting with Sra. Imms and Mrs. Pysher. Her favorite TV show to laugh with is “Scrubs,” while her favorite show to think with is “The Wire.” She enjoys reading books by authors Hemingway and Vonnegut and the novels “Freedom” and “The Goldfinch.”
“I’m on YouTube,” Ms. Saber said, “but I won’t tell you how to find it.” Ms. Saber, who graduated from University of Pittsburgh’s main campus, previously taught at two other school districts in western Pennsylvania. Having majored in natural sciences and minored in chemistry, she was exposed to many different areas of science, and she is certified in biology, chemistry, general science, and earth and space science. “I learned a little bit of everything, so I’ll make references to other sciences in my class,” she said. “I’ll show the overlaps and connections to chemistry.” Ms. Saber’s students can attest for her unique teaching style, as well. “[Her] teaching style gives different perspectives on what she is teaching,” junior Jessica Grossman, an AP chemistry student, said. “It suits individual learning styles.” Fellow chemistry teacher Mr. Jason Donnelly admires Ms. Saber’s wealth of content knowledge. “This knowledge goes a long way in helping the other science teachers engage their students with labs and other types of activities,” he said. Currently, Ms. Saber is teaching two sections of AP Chemistry and four sections of Honors Chemistry. While she has no preference towards either AP or honors, she does reveal that they each have
their own draw. “I love teaching honors because you’re getting that solid foundation,” Ms. Saber said, “but I also love AP because we dive in deep, and it’s good to show students what to expect in college-level chemistry.” Ms. Saber’s love for chemistry extends out of her classroom and into her closet. Her wardrobe consists of five chemistry-themed pairs of shoes, ranging from Bohr’s Atomic Model to the periodic table. “I [also] have organic molecule shoes, I just recently acquired chemistry glassware shoes, and I have constellation shoes,” Ms. Saber said. “The constellation ones glow in the dark.” When she is not standing in front of her class teaching, Ms. Saber is at home playing with her five month old tortoiseshell kitten, Skittles. When they are not playing, they are sleeping or watching Netflix together. “[Skittles] even follows me into the bathroom,” she said. Ms. Saber, who has been everywhere from the Ukraine to Fall Out Boy concerts, says she is happy that her “chipper personality” has brought her to Southern Lehigh. The new teacher is located in Room 214, and is sure to entertain during her chemistry classes. “[Ms. Saber’s] bright and quirky personality will put a smile on anyone’s face,” Mr. Donnelly said.
Ms. Saber is Creating Bonds in the Science Dept. by Emily Oberlender
Ms. Saber enjoys throwing out fun facts from time to time during her classes. Photo credit: Karin Natkin
Southern Lehigh’s new honors and AP chemistry teacher Ms. Rachel Saber may not bring Eastern European folk dancing to mind, but she should. The new teacher committed 11 years of her adolescence to such a group, making her one of a kind among the faculty.
Features
October 2016
Page 15
A New Guide On The Scene
by Rachael Borelli
Along with an abundance of new teachers this year, Southern Lehigh also welcomes a new guidance secretary, Mrs. Amanda Mowrey, is excited to join the us as a long-term substitute. This will be her first year working in a high school, as Mrs. Mowrey previously worked at LifeSpan Daycare and [Elementary] School. “I love working with children and watching them grow,” Mrs. Mowrey said. “I was the director of a daycare at my last job, and I really enjoyed the administrative roles that came with the job as it gave me more time to meet with families and get to know them.” Mrs. Mowrey joined Southern Lehigh because she was looking for a change that would allow her to work with students and also have administrative work. She loves how every day keeps her busy, and the fact that every day is different “The atmosphere here at Solehi is wonderful,” Mrs. Mowrey said. “Everyone seems to be positive and works as a team – I love it.” “She brings fresh ideas, technological experience, a friendly personality and energy [to the table],” guidance secretary Mrs. Melody Davis said. Mrs. Mowrey is looking forward to holding conversations with students about their goals and plans now that she’s working with an older crowd. “As a new staff member to the district, I really want to take the time to get to know the faculty and the students since they are the heart of the school,” she said. Mrs. Mowrey also plans on becoming an integral part of the Southern Lehigh team and is
Mrs. Mowrey posing at her desk in the guidance office. Photo credit: Maggie Moerder
enthusiastic to learn the ins and outs of her new role, the district, and the school building. “She’s reliable, dependable, and very fast at doing everything,” guidance counselor Mrs. Lynne Kelly said. “She’s quite the asset in dealing with students and parents.” Mrs. Mowrey graduated from Penn State University where she achieved a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education and became a certified teacher. In fact, she started as a teacher at her previous job before becoming a family coordinator, then assistant director, and finally the director of their school-age program. Outside of school, Mrs. Mowrey enjoys photography, disc-golf, bowling, hiking, reading, and just hanging out with friends. While she reads a variety of novels, she also takes pleasure in
watching a few TV series including “American Horror Story,” “The Voice,” “Face Off,” and “Ink Master.” She is an only daughter, but she has three other brothers in her family. “I just recently got married to my husband, Steven, in October 2015,” Mrs. Mowrey said. “No children yet, but we are parents to three wonderful and mischievous cats.” A fun fact is that her husband proposed to her in Disney World due to her love for the “most magical place on Earth.” “Disney hits that soft spot inside of each of us, the inner child that we all have no matter how young or old we are,” Mrs. Mowrey said. “I’d like to think of myself as a child at heart, so I think that I could probably relate to each of them on some level.”
Art Teacher Mrs. Bathgate Returns to Alma Mater
by Caitlin Roth
On August 29th, staff and students welcomed a fellow alumni back into the halls of Southern Lehigh as the newest art teacher, Mrs. Courtney Bathgate. “[I’m most looking forward to] change,” Mrs. Bathgate said. “A new school, different kinds of kids. I think this is a very exciting school district.” After completing her high school career at Southern Lehigh in 2009, Mrs. Bathgate continued her education at Millersville University for a bachelor in science and art education. After graduating college in 2013, she went to work as a teacher in North Carolina, teaching art to elementary, primary, and high school students. “[One of my funniest moments teaching is] this one time I taught a kid who hated art. Until one day, something clicked for him,” Mrs. Bathgate said. “He just wanted to come back into class. He made a series of self-portraits with the emotions he felt in my class, including frustration. That was something I will never forget.” In regards to Southern Lehigh, Mrs. Bathgate has fresh ideas for the art students. She also wishes to continue participation in the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards competition. “I have new activities planned different from Mrs. Sikorski-Schneider. Many of my projects will be more student driven, instead of teacher driven,” Mrs. Bathgate said. Mrs. Bathgate is already leaving a positive impression with the students enrolled in her art classes this school year. “Mrs. Bathgate brings a laid back vibe to her classes and has a colorful personality that inspires her students,” senior Quinn Gaughan said. “I think she is very nice and a good change to the art program,” senior Grace Botelho said. Outside of school, Mrs. Bathgate enjoys many
Mrs. Bathgate loves to travel, and her favorite place is Hungary. Photo credit: Caitlin Roth
activities, including traveling, meeting friends for coffee, going to sporting events with her husband, or playing with her dog, Riley. She is a huge fan of the television show “Friends,” and enjoys Will Ferrell movies like “Semi-Pro” and “Step Brothers”. “My favorite line from ‘Semi-Pro’ is ‘ELE; everybody love everybody,’” Mrs. Bathgate said. “I
used to have a poster as a classroom rule saying ELE, but I left it at my old school since the students loved it so much.” Mrs. Bathgate hopes this school year she can inspire creativity in the hearts of the Southern Lehigh students. “I want the kids to appreciate and enjoy creating art,” Mrs. Bathgate said.
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Features
The Spotlight
SLHS Welcomes Registered Nurse Mrs. Smedley
by Aries Baringer
After five years working as an elementary school nurse in the Salisbury School District, Ms. Barbara Smedley was ready for a change. When she saw the open health professional position at Southern Lehigh, she was ready to dive right in. Ms. Smedley earned her nursing degree at Seton Hall University in New Jersey and worked in a hospital for ten years as a labor and delivery nurse. Sometime after, her son’s school needed help in the nurse’s office and she volunteered, which helped lead her along the path she’s on today. “Don’t get me wrong, it was fun working in an elementary school,” Ms. Smedley said. “Little kids tell you way more than you want to know. But after a while, I knew I was ready for a change and wanted to work with older kids.” Ms. Smedley used to work in an office alone, so she is excited to be around people on the daily. She’s met many people in the building and they have all been very welcoming. School nurse Mrs. Merrilyn Pysher is also excited to have an additional nurse with her in the health room this year. “Besides the fact that she is really nice and fun to work with, it’s very nice to have another nurse in our school because we can take better care of kids when there are more of us,” Mrs. Pysher said. “She is a big asset to our health room.” Ms. Smedley’s favorite part about her job is getting to know all the students and being a good resource for them. Many students are just as excited to get to know her. “I get sick very often so I know the nurses pretty well by the end of the year,” sophomore Breonna Giberson said. “I already could tell that she was a very nice person the moment I met her,
Mrs. Smedley is excited to join the Southern Lehigh health department. Photo credit: Karin Natkin
and I’m very happy to have her in the school.” When Ms. Smedley isn’t in the nurse’s office, she is either spending time with her friends and family or watching her 16-year old son, Kyle, and 17-year old son, Jake, play hockey. She also enjoys using her free time to watch her favorite show, “Criminal Minds,” collect sea shells, and go to
concerts. This year Ms. Smedley hopes to keep everybody as healthy as possible. “Every day and every kid is an experience,” Ms. Smedley said. “You learn something new everyday, and I can’t wait to see how much I’ve learned by the end of this year.”
Mr. Ruhf Officially Becomes Assistant Principal
by Emily Oberlender
Mr.Ruhf has been with Southern Lehigh for three years. Photo credit: Karin Natikin
After spending two years as the gifted supervisor for Southern Lehigh, Mr. Thomas Ruhf stepped up in July to the position of assistant principal. This year, Mr. Ruhf is responsible for enforcing discipline, conducting teacher observations, and helping with e-learn (online) classes, as well as working more closely with all the students. He also is responsible for scheduling out his
day minute by minute, so he is constantly doing something. “The days go extremely fast since I’m constantly going from one thing to another,” Mr. Ruhf said. “Everything is so fast paced, so I sometimes don’t have time to do things.” There are many other things that are new and different for Mr. Ruhf as well. For instance, he now has to work in the summers, is in the school
for more hours each day, and gets to work more closely with the teachers and students, rather than working with only gifted students as he did in the past. Plenty of staff members are excited to be able to work more closely with Mr. Ruhf this year as well. “He takes initiative and takes care of his judgement,” English teacher Mrs. Lauren Tocci said. “He cares about his job and has a great sense of humor about it.” Mr. Ruhf has also set a list of goals he hopes to accomplish this year. He wants to make sure he is able to transition into the job, meet everyone’s needs, communicate well, and ensure all the initiatives of the school are fulfilled. “I think what I like best about working with Mr. Ruhf is that he is smart, thoughtful, and very efficient!” assistant principal Mrs. Beth Guarriello said. “He is always working for the best interests of our students and he definitely makes me a much better educator. I value his opinions and have learned a great deal by working with him.” Even though Mr. Ruhf will miss being the gifted supervisor, he is very excited to work in this new position. “In this school, you have a really unique group of kids who are really mature, smart, and really hardworking, and I think the teachers here are really dedicated to their students and working,” Mr. Ruhf said. “I’ve been here for three years and everything has started so much smoother this year. I just know it’s going to be a good year.”
Features
October 2016
Page 17
Mrs. Piascik Joins High School Guidance Team by Emily Oberlender
Mrs. Piascik provides guidance for students with last names beginning with A-G . Photo credit: Maggie Moerder
Southern Lehigh alumna Mrs. Christine Piascik is very excited to return to take the place of guidance counselor Mr. Carl Crouse, who recently retired after working at Southern Lehigh for forty-three years. “[What appealed to me about Southern Lehigh was] coming back and serving my alma mater!” Mrs. Piascik said. “I was gone for five years, but I recently had a baby and wanted to be close to family.” Mrs. Piascik graduated from Southern Lehigh in 2005. While she was in high school, she was in-
volved in field hockey, basketball, track and field, and Spartan News. She graduated from Lehigh University in 2009 with a degree in psychology. “I’m very excited to have [Mrs. Piascik] on our team,” guidance counselor Mrs. Lynne Kelly said. “She’s a great addition, and we’re very happy to have one of our alumni back. My expectations are that she’s gonna be a great addition because of her youth, her great personality, and [her] overall really positive attitude.” Before returning to Southern Lehigh, Mrs. Piascik worked at Garnet Valley High School for
four years, and Strath Haven Middle School for one year. “[Mrs. Piascik] is caring, she’s conscientious,” principal Mrs. Christine Siegfried said. “I think the qualities that she possessed were a very good fit for what we were looking for in the [guidance] department. She came to us with a variety of different experiences in all aspects of a guidance counselor’s position.” In her free time, Mrs. Piascik enjoys spending time with her family, cooking, taking her dog on walks, going outdoors, and doing yoga. “I’m looking forward to staying put and starting a new job and being here for the duration of my career,” Mrs. Piascik said. “It’s fun to see the growth of kids from freshman to senior year. I always wanted to work in education, and I love the process of helping students decide what they want to do after high school and help with the college process.” Mrs. Piascik has a four month old son, and being a mom is her proudest accomplishment. Her older sister inspires her, because she is also a working mom and works in a role where she helps students and somehow manages to get everything done. Mrs. Piascik wants students to know her door is always open. “I’m a really nice person, I’m not scary!” she said. “I’m looking forward to meeting everybody. There is a great community feeling [at Southern Lehigh]. It’s a good place to be; it’s a good place to be back and raise my family. I’m excited about it.”
Senior Teacher’s Advice to SL’s Newest Staff Members Respect your students enough to put in the hard work for them.” - Mrs. Katie Quartuch “Don’t worry when you have a bad lesson. Just forget it cause it will get better. You will get better at it. No need to dwell on it.” -Mr. Tom Beaupre “Be a risk taker, try creatice, interesting ways to try to get your student involved and being able to apply what they’ve learned.” - Mr. Matt Cooper “If you ever feel as if your passion is fading, look around at all the smiling faces in your classroom so you can remember where you invested it.” - Mr. David Dougherty “My advice would be preparation and planning are really important to a successful class. Make sure to take time for yourself, to rest and eat well, stay hydrated. Don’t over celebrate the successes or get too frustrated with the failures. Everyday is a new day.” - Mrs. Joan Imms
Page 18 Arts and Entertainment
The Spotlight
‘Morgan’ Leaves Viewers Wishing for Something More
by Caitlin Roth
Photo credit: 20th Century Fox
Since the dawn of storytelling, a common trope can be found throughout cinema: man creates monster. Monster becomes more powerful than its creator. Monster manipulates and eventually outsmarts and overpowers the creator. You know the story. In a similar fashion, “Morgan” tells the tale
of an artificially created human-like being who’s sick of living in her captive state. Morgan is a highly intelligent, fast developing new type of human species created in a laboratory by a team of scientists, yet she is emotionally incompetent and proves to have a vicious streak because of it. After an incident where Morgan lashes out against one of the scientists, and stabs her repeatedly in the eye, a member from the corporation funding the project comes to evaluate safety. The corporate representative decides that Morgan should be terminated because of her unpredictable violent outbursts, much against the wishes of the scientists who created her. However, Morgan has other plans, and she uses this as a means to escape her confines and embark on a murderous rampage. So is “Morgan” a good movie? Yes and no. There is no doubt that “Morgan” is a well crafted movie with an interesting premise, good pacing, and excellent acting. Up and coming actress Anya Taylor-Joy is perfectly cast as the quiet and naive Morgan, who, at the drop of a dime, transforms into a raging sociopath when she doesn’t get her way. Another highly commendable thing about “Morgan” is that it provides a thought-provoking commentary on the ethical ideals of creating a humanoid creature, and if said creature should have the same fundamental human rights as we do. With the ever-progressing field of science and genetic engineering, we may have the answer to this question sooner rather than later. However, from producer Ridley Scott, director of science fiction classics like “Alien,” “Blade
Runner,” and most recently the Oscar-nominated film “The Martian,” I guess you could say I expected a little more. While “Morgan” is a decent science fiction film in itself, the premise is just too overdone. In fact, a movie called “Ex Machina” shares a very similar concept, focusing on an artificial intelligence android that tries to escape the confines of its cell. Similar to “Morgan,” the A.I. manipulates the scientist and human it interacts with, and it eventually exacts its revenge after escaping from its cell. While watching this movie, my mind kept wandering back to “Ex Machina.” “Morgan” seems to have the same exact feel as “Ex Machina” did, right down to the sets, character development, costumes, plot points, and sometimes even how the characters looked. “Morgan” seems to piggyback off the ideas of this and other similar movies, but, in a way it does effectively create something different. While it is not blatantly retelling the same story, it does leave a familiar feeling, making you say “haven’t I seen something similar to this before?” Would I recommend “Morgan”? I would say yes. To reiterate, it is not a bad movie whatsoever, just know before you go that this is not a “game-changer” in the field of science fiction, and you’ve probably seen something very similar to this movie before. But, if you are a fan of Ridley Scott’s other filmography, or even films like the aforementioned “Ex Machina,” you will without a doubt find some sort of enjoyment while watching “Morgan.”
‘Stranger Things’ Proves to Be Summer’s Biggest Netflix Hit by Ben Baca
If you like movies such as “The Goonies,” then try taking a look at “Stranger Things,” a Netflix original series. Produced and written by brothers Matt and Ross Duffer, “Stranger Things” is a fictional horror and science-fiction series set in 1983 that premiered exclusively on Netflix with eight episodes on July 15, 2016. The first season was well-received by critics and fans alike, and the series has quickly become very popular. The story is about a young boy named Will Byers (Noah Schnapp), who mysteriously vanishes from the fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana. As his mother (Winona Ryder), the Sheriff (David Harbour), and his friends try to find him, they encounter supernatural activity, a secret government facility, and a mysterious girl named Eleven. Without giving away any spoilers, let’s just say
the truth about Will’s disappearance will eventually be revealed. “Stranger Things” is well written and has interesting subplots. The manner in which it Photo credit: 21 Laps Entertainment/Netflix builds suspense and reveals unexpected plot ise with surprising reveals. There are a few holes twists leaves the viewer with numerous theories in the storyline and unresolved plot points, but as to what might happen. All of the characters this can be easily overlooked, as this was a very have very unique personalities, the casting is excellent, and the cinematography is really impres- well-made series. Despite a few problems, viewers will find sive. this to be an enjoyable and suspenseful series. The tone of the series is an homage to 80’s The feedback is so positive that the critically acera pop culture, with various references or simiclaimed series is already renewed for a second larities to other sci-fi and horror films, such as “E.T.,” “Alien,” and “Poltergeist.” Overall, “Stranger season. If you’re a fan of horror, science-fiction, or 1980’s culture in general, this is one show Things” is a very clever show with intriguing you would want to see. I would rate this show an characters, interesting camera angles, amazing 8.5/10. 80’s nostalgia and music, and an engaging prem-
Follow the Spotlight on Twitter! @SLSDspotlight
September 2016
Arts and Entertainment
Page 19
Wilco ‘Schmilco’: Humorous Name, Serious Topics by Jamie Kish
Photo credit: Dbpm Records
Last month, Chicago-based indie rock pioneers Wilco released their tenth studio album, titled “Schmilco.” Yes, “Schmilco” by Wilco. Around the one-year anniversary of their previous studio album, Wilco announced their tenth album and released two tracks, “Locator” and “If I Ever Was a Child” over the course of a few days. In preparation for the September release of the album, Wilco held official in-store listening parties at record stores across the country, including a store called Young Ones Records, in Kutztown. Wilco began in 1994 as an alternative-country band after the split of frontman Jeff Tweedy’s previous band, Uncle Tupelo. Through the years, they have shifted genres often, and they remain one of the most experimental indie bands out there. After the name of their previous album, “Star Wars,” it seems evident that Wilco seems to be on a kick for bizarre album titles. Despite its odd name, the album has a much more straightforward
indie sound, with much less psychedelic influence than its predecessor. A notable track from “Schmilco” includes “Normal American Kids,” a slow, somber song in which Tweedy laments about his distrust of “normal” American society as a teenager, singing that he “always hated those normal American kids.” Although there are a few bursts of energy throughout different tracks, the overall tone of the album is quiet and reserved, while the lyrics tell a story of bitter resentment towards society. Tweedy’s lyrics seem to reflect the distrustful period in history America’s going through, especially with this year’s election cycle. The album, in a way, reflects those negative feelings which have been prevalent throughout 2016. Overall, I don’t think the album is as strong as “Star Wars,” but it still holds a powerful message, especially in this day in age.
Underground Music Spotlight Artist: From Indian Lakes
Label: Triple Crown Records
Album Title: Everything Feels Better Now Genre: Indie pop, indie rock, post-rock Release Date: October 14, 2016
Photo credit: Triple Crown Records
Trivia: Frontman Joey Vannucchi recorded all of the instruments on this album by himself using only analog recording equipment.
Artist: PUP
Label: Royal Mountain Records
Album Title: The Dream Is Over Genre: Punk rock Release Date: May 27, 2016
Photo credit: Royal Mountain Records
Trivia: The Dream Is Over was recorded by PUP with financial support of Canada’s Private Radio Broadcasters.
Artist: Car Seat Headrest
Label: Matador Records
Album Title: Teens of Denial Genre: Indie rock, lo-fi Release Date: May 20, 2016 Photo credit: Matador Records
Trivia: Car Seat Headrest began as a solo project of Leesburg, Virginia based singersongwriter Will Toledo. He began producing his own music in 2010.
Page 20 Odds and Ends
The Spotlight
October 2016
Spartan Spirit: Homecoming 2016
The Homecoming festivities began at the pep rally. Students met the homecoming court, watched a teacher vs. student dodgeball tournament, and participated in a dance-off. The band, dance team, cheerleading squad, and colorguard gave performances to spread Spartan Spirit. Kevin Publicover was crowned Homecoming King. Photo credit: Maggie Moerder
The night continued at the Homecoming Game. Students arrived at the tailgate at 5:30 for face painting, club activities, and food. At 7:00, students made their way into the stadium for the game. The student section cheered on their team and the cheerleaders inspired excitement on the field. The band performed once again during half time, and senior Justine Groeber was crowned Homecoming Queen. Though the Spartans lost 21-26, it was still a great night for Southern Lehigh High School. Photo credit: Caitlin Roth