Vol. 55, Issue 2 Southwords

October 12, 2018

1111 S. Dee Road • Park Ridge, Illinois 60068

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PHOTO BY MICHAEL FRAZIER

Vol. 55, No. 2

B19 Deal

The class of 2019 keeps the senior win streak alive with a victory over the juniors in the annual powder puff game.

See page 2.

Charity Chosen Pleasant Patches Dup15q Alliance selected for ‘18-’19 fundraiser.

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Southwords visits northern Illinois pumpkin patches.

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Money Money

Senior works for Illinois State Treasurer campaign.

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Hard Knocks

Football starts 3-1 in nonconference play.

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NEWS

| October 12, 2018

Dup15q Alliance chosen as the School-wide Fundraiser

Emma Crosson

News Writer or the past five years, Maine South has raised money for a different charity each year, including $60,320 that was donated to Huntington’s Disease last year. This year, the student body has selected Dup15q Alliance to be the new 2018-2019 school charity.

The choice of the school-wide fundraiser came as the result of a student-led process. Students in the School-wide Fundraiser Club submitted charities to be placed on a Google form, and after two rounds of voting, Dup15q was revealed to be the winner of the vote at this year’s Homecoming assembly.

Dup15q is a syndrome that results from the duplication of genes on chromosome 15 in the region 15q11.2-13.1. Because genes instruct the body on how to grow and develop, having extra genes may affect a person’s physical and mental development.

The choosing of Dup15q was inspired by Brendan Burke, brother of sophomore Mikaela Burke and freshman Alana Burke. According to Alana Burke, “Brendan was diagnosed on July 28, 2008, when he was around 2 ½ years old.”

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PHOTO BY MICHAEL FRAZIER

FUN-RAISER

Seniors Anna Gerbich and Andrea Hassman reveal a poster announcing Dup15q Alliance as the School-wide Fundraiser charity for the 2018-19 school year.

“Something that affects our family is our schedule because he goes to bed early at around 8:00 p.m.,” Burke said.

“This means that we have to eat dinner early, and someone always has to be home with Brendan. We have a gate at the top of our stairs in case Brendan ever gets up in the middle of the night and goes downstairs. We also have an alarm on all of our doors if Brendan were ever to leave the house.”

The money that Maine South raises throughout the year will go towards the Dup15q Alliance to help individuals with the same syndrome as Brendan Burke.

The Dup15q Alliance was founded in 1994, and it became a nonprofit

organization in 2004. The Dup15q Alliance provides family support, promotes awareness of Dup15q, and raises money to go towards research on treatment for individuals with Dup15q.

According to the Dup15q Alliance, “Dup15q is not common; there are around 1,000 known people in the world with this syndrome. Because of this, Dup15q is underdiagnosed.”

The mission of the Dup15q Alliance is to one day find treatments specifically targeted at the genes in region 15q11.2-13.1. In addition, Dup15q Alliance has helped to create clinics located in major medical centers around the United States.

Because Dup15q is rare, it is often difficult for families to find doctors in their communities that know a lot about the disease. These clinics provide thorough evaluations and help.

According to the Dup15q Alliance, common symptoms include poor muscle tone, trouble talking, possible risk of seizures, trouble walking, getting upset or nervous easily, and lack of focus in conversation.

Many individuals with Dup15q experience cognitive delays when they are young, taking longer to learn skills than others. Many have trouble with speech, particularly the reversal of pronouns, often repeat noises or phrases they overhear, and have a hard time communicating how they feel.

The School-wide Fundraiser Club is optimistic about the Fundraiser’s potential for the coming year.

“We are excited to be supporting a lesser-known charity that has strong ties to our community and will hopefully be greatly impacted by our fundraising efforts,” School-wide Fundraiser Club sponsor Mrs. Laura Kirshner said.

She encourages any student with fundraising ideas to share them with the club.

Jack Gorman

News Writer he annual Powder Puff football game was held on Sept. 26 and resulted in a 33-19 win for the seniors.

This year, the junior team had over 70 players, while the senior team had nearly 65 players. Seniors Francesca Faraci, Nicole Scales, and Hannah Schilling and juniors Erin Clark, Julianna Moore, and Sabrina Moore were the dominant offensive scoring players on their respective teams.

Both teams prepared for the game multiple weeks in advance.

“We had about eight or nine practices, some of them in the morning on Wilson Field and some were after school,” senior Nicole Scales said.

Leading up to the game, both teams assembled with various Powderpuff traditions.

“It’s a lot of fun to get our shirts and to make posters for the exciting night to come,” Scales said.

Each team had a pasta party the

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night before the game as well.

The senior team practiced multiple plays prepared by offensive coach Mr. Dave Berendt, defensive coach Mrs. Laura Kirshner, and line coach Mr. Mike McGreevy in order to win this year’s game.

“We made sure we practiced swarming the ball so that we could eliminate the long runs,” Scales said. “Also, the offense learned a well-thought-out play book in a few practices and executed it perfectly.”

In addition to successful plays, a majority of the seniors had experience in Powderpuff from last year’s game.

“The team, for the most part, stayed the same,” Scales said. “We all were excited as seniors to hopefully get a win, and we did just that.”

The seniors took home the annual Powderpuff Competition Trophy, and the juniors became more prepared for next year’s match.

“I feel like no one expected the juniors to get that hyped up about

PHOTO BY ANNA GERBICH

Annual Powderpuff game results in senior victory

FLAG HER DOWN

Junior Amy Strotman pulls the flag of Senior Hannah Schilling during the 9th annual Powderpuff game. Schilling rushed for three touchdowns en route to the senior victory.

the game, but we did,” Moore said. “I am so excited for our team for next year; it will probably be the same, if not more girls, and we will hopefully have our game together because we will all know how and where we play.”

Powderpuff is a no-cut, all female intramural sport offered to all juniors and seniors not participating in a fall sport. The Powderpuff game is held annually during the week of Homecoming.

October 12, 2018

| NEWS

Sonny’s Express opens on Vine Avenue Homecoming

Sofia Veljkovic

News Writer ver a decade after closing Sonny’s on Devon Avenue in Park Ridge, owner Frank Ernesto has opened “Sonny’s Express” on Vine Avenue in Park Ridge.

Ernesto has been in the small business industry for many years.

Aside from the aforementioned S onny’s, he previously owned Ernesto’s Pizza and Subs, James Anthony Hair Salon, and Gumba Joe’s.

Gumba Joe’s opened up in 2007, and closed in Aug. 2017. Gumba Joe’s was a spinoff of the original Sonny’s, but soon made a name for itself after eight years of business. Ernesto’s Pizza and Subs soon opened next door to Gumba Joe’s after its success.

Just like the closing of Sonny’s, many customers were surprised by the shutting down of Gumba Joe’s and Ernesto’s Pizza and Subs.

However, the restaurant closed down because the building was sold to a new landlord and Ernesto no longer had a lease.

After Gumba Joe’s closed, Ernesto planned to reopen James Anthony Hair Salon on Vine Street. The city council voted 6-0 in favor of the salon.

Despite this approval, Ernesto realized that Park Ridge is already dominated by 56 spa, nail, and hair related businesses. Therefore, Ernesto reopened Sonny’s due to its success in

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Mandalay Monday

Mr. McArthur celebrates “Beach Day” from a 20th century historical point of view.

Toga Tuesday PHOTO BY JEN BECK

SONNY WITH A CHANCE OF MEATBALLS

Sonny’s deli counter offers a variety of “authentic” Italian cuisine. Their menu above includes pastas, salads, pizzas, soups, and sandwiches.

the 24 years it was open.

“It was a very smooth opening,” Ernesto said. “All of our customers came back. The first day, there was a line out of the door.”

The restaurant is similar to Gumba Joe’s.

“We have the same menu and about the same number of staff,” Ernesto said.

Sonny’s has a larger dining area

than its original location, but has still run into space issues.

“We have been sold out every night,” Ernesto said. “We can’t keep up.”

Sonny’s Express is open from 11 a.m. to 8:45 p.m. Monday-Saturday at 141 S. Vine Avenue.

For more information on the restaurant, visit www.sonnysexpress. com.

a national business outlet would impact the atmosphere and nostalgia of Uptown Park Ridge.

Pazzi Di Pizza’s owner, Paul Lappo, is the father of Marco Lappo, the restaurant’s general manager. Marco Lappo began working at the Elmhurst establishment around seven years ago, when it opened. Lappo and his family have been in the restaurant business for many years, with their first restaurants being small cafes and pizza restaurants featuring their wood-fired pizza in Italy.

“After being in the business for many years in Italy, we wanted to bring our talent and traditional Italian meals to America,” Lappo said.

“We have seven family dishes and many other delicious recipes which we can’t wait to offer.”

The Lappo family has owned and operated their Elmhurst location for seven years, and their business is continuing to grow. Lappo said that

Pazzi Di Pizza doesn’t have any plans to open any additional locations, but they are “eager to extend [their] business to Park Ridge.”

Yelp reviewers have noted the high quality of the pasta dishes and well-known wood-fired pizza at the Elmhurst location. Another fan favorite mentioned in quite a few reviews was the calamari and octopus appetizer dish.

According to Lappo, the restaurant will offer “a full service dining room, a pick up and delivery counter, and a full catering menu.”

Lappo said that the family chose Park Ridge for their second location because “Park Ridge is hungry for a traditional Italian restaurant to eat at and get delivery from.”

The Lappo family hopes that the new location will attract families, couples, and local teenagers and students. They are eager to meet their new customers.

Pazzi Di Pizza set to move into Uptown corner

Michael Paprocki

News Writer azzi Di Pizza is a family owned and operated restaurant coming to the former location of the Pickwick Restaurant in Uptown Park Ridge in April 2019.

The “authentic Italian” restaurant currently has a location in Elmhurst, Illinois and serves traditional Italian fresh fish, beef, veal and pasta dishes.

The restaurant, however, is most well known for its wood-burning pizza oven.

The Pickwick Restaurant closed in 2015 and was later reopened by new owners as The Pick. The Pick soon closed and the corner has stood vacant since then.

Before plans were made to open Pazzi Di Pizza, a Pearle Vision eye center looked into opening in the space. However, it was met with strong opposition from residents because they were worried about how

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Kai Jones shows her spirit by wearing a toga fashioned from a white bed sheet and belt.

Wacky Wednesday Mr. Nilsen goes all out with his wacky hat and his mismatched outfit.

Hard Rock Thursday

Caroline Tully, Abby Tiu, and Molly Honan rep their favorite bands.

Maine Goes Mad Friday Gia & Nikki Tortorella display their Hawk Pride together.

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NEWS

| October 12, 2018

CTE Deparment changes class listings Stephen Pontikes News Editor

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his school year, Maine South’s CTE department has changed its course offerings, removing Computer Repair from the course list and replacing it with Cyber Security.

This change is reflective of a gradual shift from mechanical classes to technological classes.

“This was to reflect a changing job market,” Mr. Patrick Fonsino, the head of Maine South’s CTE department said. “Cyber Security is one of the high-demand jobs in the IT industry right now.”

As the CTE department is the “Career and Technical Education” department, its purpose is to give students a pathway to future jobs with high potentials for stability and lifelong careers.

“The CTE department currently offers 40 different courses and is composed of three sub-departments: Applied Technology, Business/ Technology and Family and Consumer Sciences,” Mr. Fonsino said. “We teach specific content skills, provide

relevant college-ready experiences and teach direct employable skills.

We continually work with local industry leaders and colleges to provide the most current credentials and certificates that provide our students job-ready skills.”

The CTE Department gauges the current job market with a program called JobsEQ, which checks for local listings and required skills.

While the aims of the department are to give students education which can be put towards potential lasting careers, there is concern for students who may want to make a living in less popular mechanical fields.

Additionally, the other schools in the district (Maine East and West) both have some technical classes that Maine South does not have. Mr. Fonsino acknowledged the perceived shift towards technological classes and addressed the concerns of those who may find more enjoyment in mechanical classes.

“We do not plan on cutting back on mechanical courses in the future,” Mr. Fonsino said. “We are living in a world

that often perceives computer literacy as the key to success. However, all employable young adults regardless of their field should have a background with both technological and industrial applications.”  TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES The Southwords editorial board examines the importance of industrial arts at Maine South.

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Yet another technologic based class added this year was Algebra 1 in Design. It combines a technical application of Algebra with some varying mechanical applications.

“The course is taught by CTE and Mathematics teachers,” Mr. Fonsino said. “Students are applying algebraic concepts to technical and industrial applications. Students learn metalworking, basic machine applications, material manipulation and electronics.”

Mr. Fonsino detailed a future “Eng ine er ing C apstone” class

that the department has in mind.

These courses attempt to combine mechanical and technological skills. “ The objective would be to conceive, design and build a solution to a specific problem,” Mr. Fonsino said. “This may be executed through the creation of a High Mileage Vehicle or Electric Go Kart. This may include the use of basic woodworking, metalworking, welding, Computer Numerical Controlled machines, 3D printers, laser cutters and basic Computer Aided Design (CAD).”

With the addition of new dualskill classes, there will also be changes made to existing classes to fulfill the department’s goal of providing students with an education in both mechanical and technical skills.

“Our CAD, IED, and Graphics courses continually strive to add more application to the design process.”

Mr. Fonsino said. “No longer do students just design something on a computer and turn in printed copy.

Our students learn the computer design skills and then create a model or final product.”

Students take IMTS Convention field trip PHOTO COURTESY VICTORIA PONTIKES

Jessie Beck News Editor

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welve students attended the International Manufacturing Te c h n o l o g y S h ow ( I M T S ) at McC ormick Place in Chicago on Friday, Sept. 14. The students and their teachers engaged in the Smartforce Student Summit, a program with the goal of inspiring young people to explore career paths in manufacturing.

It is estimated that 3.5 million new workers will be needed in manufacturing by the year 2025, according to a recent study from Deloitte and the Manufacturing Institute.

The Smartforce Student Summit at IMTS defines smart manufacturing as high-tech controls connected to devices that allow manufacturers to collect and analyze data. This helps producers improve efficiency and productivity in their production processes.

The show featured many machines with different purposes. One machine, for example, put finishes on tools while another cut out parts for machinery and products. Another

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INVENTION CONVENTION

Twelve engineering students attended the International Manufacturing Technology Show on Sept.14. The students met with manufacturers from around the country while on the field trip.

moved cars using huge robotic arms.

“My f avor ite ma ch i ne w as roughly the size of a refrigerator that could make metal out of dust,” Sophomore Jack Kosciarz, a student who participated in the field trip, said.

“It would have a thin layer of dust and trace out what it was making and then it would use a very powerful laser to turn the dust into strong steel. It would cover this surface with another layer of dust and repeat the process. It would keep going layer by layer until the desired 3-D object was created.”

In addition to student enrichment

on the field trip, CTE teacher Mr. Thomas Krause also gained valuable knowledge from attending the convention.

“Aside from chaperoning, I was able to see the large variety of manufacturers of the tools used to produce countless products,” Mr. Krause said.

Mr. Krause also spoke to several representatives of the industry, gaining information about the availability of new jobs and career paths for young people. They all emphasized the importance of

training and encouraging the next generation to fill these jobs.

Some of the CTE classes offered at Maine South, such as Introduction to Engineering and Design, Auto CAD, and Civil Engineering and Archite c ture, c an b e dire c t ly connected to what students witnessed at this convention. In these classes, students learn to use 3D software for modeling and design. This same software, Auto CAD and AutoDesk Revit, is often used by professionals in the manufacturing industry.

The Smartforce Student Summit hopes to push students in the direction of filling these new high-demand jobs in smart manufacturing.

Regardless of whether or not the Maine South students attending this event are planning to pursue a manufacturing career, Mr. Krause and the other teachers are glad that they learned a lot.

“I hope any student would be willing to explore their career options,” Mr. Krause said. “Sometimes you don’t know something is interesting until you can see or experience it for yourself. It’s those ‘ah ha’ moments that can open doors to alternative career pathways.”

October 12, 2018 | COMMENTARY

STAFF EDITORIAL

There is still a great need for industrial arts

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t has been a trend in recent decades to shift away from industrial career–based courses to more technologically-based classes. Maine South has been no exception to this trend. This year, Maine South has added five new courses within the CTE Department, mostly geared toward technology: Cybersecurity, Digital Marketing, and Personal Autos. Personal Autos is a novice autos class, brought in to replace Auto Service, an advanced-level course.

The gradual shift has corresponded to changes in the American job market, but new technology classes should not mean the loss of technical courses like wood shop and autos.

Students cannot afford for any more mechanical courses to be dropped, and Maine South should even consider bringing some of them back.

For students who are interested in going into a certain trade, it is a great advantage to start learning in high school rather than starting a job without any past experience.

Also, if students have never had any experience with a trade, they don’t know if they will enjoy it.

Most Maine South students were required to take industrial arts and consumer science classes at their

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middle school; however, the classes were too basic to be sufficient for someone who wants to pursue a career in those fields. There are few classes offered at Maine South that reflect the curriculum of industrial arts courses in middle school.

The changes in the CTE Department represent bias in the post-secondary values of Maine South. The school pushes students toward advanced-level core classes, when they may be better served by technical courses in the CTE Department. Students are also pushed toward four-year colleges, even though many students would fit better at a two-year college or trade school.

We must convey to students that blue collar jobs are not only necessary, but valuable and rewarding.

Maine South students are at a disadvantage when compared to their District 207 counterparts because there are certain CTE classes that Maine East and Maine West have that Maine South does not. Higherlevel automotive technology classes are offered, along with Geometry in Construction.

These classes are exactly what students who prefer to take technical courses need. The disparity among the schools is evidence that Maine South tends to push its students toward white collar careers.

As valuable as new technology classes may be, the value of industrial courses must not be forgotten. We should not only hold on to those courses that remain, but also augment future offerings.

My brothers constantly push me to try new things. Patrick has pushed me by trying new foods.

He’s a very adventurous eater, and I am not. Whenever we go out, he is constantly forcing Brian and me to try something that we think we wouldn’t like. Although I find this annoying, it does help me broaden my culinary horizons. One example of this was when we were at a seafood restaurant and he forced me to have calamari.

Although I expected it to be awful, I ended up really liking it.

I’ve also learned to make better decisions and be tough. When I was little, I used to be able to push my brothers and because they were bigger than me, they couldn’t push me back hard. But as I got older and kept pushing them, they started pushing back. This helped me learn how to make good decisions—like when you’re annoyed with someone, it’s better not to push them (especially if that person is bigger than you).

Of course we haven’t always gotten

along, but that’s just a natural part of who we are and our relationship with each other. Our relationships have greatly changed over the years.

We’ve always been close, but as we’ve gotten older, we’ve been able to connect more.

I always ask them for advice.

When I was struggling with math, Brian helped me survive the class, even when he was in college. I’ve learned to stand up for myself and for others, I’ve learned that sarcasm is an important trait, and I’ve learned not to give up, even when others believe that I should.

I couldn’t imagine my life without my brothers. I wouldn’t take back any second of the constant sarcasm, their annoying attitudes or the fights because I’ll always remember playing basketball at night in the backyard, Christmas mornings, family vacations and all the laughs. They’ve had such a big impact on who I’ve become as a person, that I don’t know who I would be without them.

S outhw ord s i s a s tu d e nt - r u n publication designed as a public forum for student opinion and balanced reporting on topics relevant to the Maine South community.

Unsigned staff editorials represent the consensus opinion of the Southwords Editorial Board. Personal commentaries represent the opinion of the author alone and do not represent the opinions of the publication nor District 207.

Stu d e nt p ar t i c ip at i on i n t h e newspaper, whether through readership, submitting articles, or voicing comments or concerns, is encouraged.

Signed letters to the editor can be delivered to the new Southwords office (B115B), given to a member of the editorial staff, or e-mailed to southwords@maine207.org. Southwords reserves the right to edit material for clarity and brevity and to reject obscene/libelous submissions.

Editors-in-Chief Colleen Johnson Kevin McNulty News Editors

Brothers help prepare you for the future

Colleen Johnson Editor-In-Chief

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have two older brothers, Patrick, who is 27, and Brian, who is 22.

This age difference has caused them to be a big influence on me.

Growing up with two older brothers affected me in many ways, whether it was being surrounded by sports my entire life, being exposed to pop culture, or learning actual life lessons.

Because of the extra testosterone in my house, I was introduced to more “aggressive” pop culture. Patrick had an AC/DC shirt and I learned a few songs that I would then sing while we were at the grocery store wearing an AC/DC shirt as a toddler. I did this because I wanted to be like my older brother.

Jessie Beck Charlotte Geier Stephen Pontikes

Commentary Editors Lena Pontikes Julia Uhlig Features Editors

Erin Martin Victoria Pontikes Jonathan Ryser

Entertainment Editors Veronica Espinoza Georgia Fosse Ella Melcher Sports Editors Katie Carmichael Amalia Laskaris Art Editor

Shannon McGreevy

Photography Editor

Jen Beck

Production Editor Michael Frazier Adviser

Mr. Stathakis

SouthwordS 5

COMMENTARY

| October 12, 2018

The teen addiction to caffeine creates issues Victoria Murphy

than they do men. This is also seen in sports at Maine South.

For example, many Hawkettes and female cross country runners have been told they are not allowed to run in just a sports bra, yet many male runners and football players are not given the same regulations, and are allowed to not wear a shirt during their practices.

It is this kind of inequality and double standards that should not continue within sports.

Many female athletes also feel they do not receive the same recognition for their accomplishments.

Yes, at Maine South every fall and spring sport has the opportunity to walk out in our assemblies. Yet, where do we see most of our advertising and recognition? In boys’ athletics.

The inferiority that female athletes at Maine South are feeling,

with all the focus being on football and baseball and other male sports, is the dominant issue at hand.

Maine South is not completely to blame here, though.

Yes, some instances may be specific to Maine South, but the IHSA and the overall attitude toward female athletes in our country continues to perpetuate the presence of sexism in high school sports.

Even though the IHSA sets certain regulations for high schools, the biggest problem with the IHSA is their lack of intervention to establish better equality for high school athletes while knowing that girls’ athletics are often neglected.

For example, in the past, the IHSA has scheduled girls’ volleyball and tennis Sectionals on the same days as big playoff football games, knowing that volleyball and tennis would be overshadowed.

The IHSA should be doing more to combat this issue; they should be advocating more for girls’ sports to change the trend of sexism in high school sports.

Equality is important on and off the fields, and whether it be equality in dress codes or in advertising, these issues need to be addressed in our schools.

If we can stop sexism at the high school level, we should, as this would help us better address it in the world at large.

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t’s hard not to see the hoards of bleary, sweatpant-wearing, sleepdeprived students walking the halls, clutching their steaming travel mugs full of caffeinated beverages. Based on the Starbucks cups piled in the trash after first period, it’s clear that Maine South’s coffee addiction has gone too far.

Late nights and early mornings are the norm for the average student, their exhaustion leading them to crave the caffeine buzz that coffee so well delivers. For students with a busy lifestyle, coffee is the easi-

of sleep requires a pick me up in the morning, there are alternate ways to wake yourself up that don’t involve drugs.

Maine South can create a change by removing the highly caffeinated drinks in our cafeteria.

Caffeine overall is a very dangerous aspect of the morning routines of many high school students. It’s incredibly harmful and can cause many long term effects on mental and physical health.

To avoid the health risks associated with caffeine, Maine South students should try decaf for a change.

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tling an addiction.

According to the Alcohol and Drug Foundation, heavy use of caffeine can cause many detrimental health effects, such as, high blood pressure, ulcers, anxiety, and depression.

One major issue with caffeine consumption in teenagers is insomnia. Students believe coffee is aiding their alertness, when in actuality it is causing less sleep. This can cause a cycle of students consuming more caffeine to feel more awake, while simultaneously causing less sleep.

If students feel that their demanding lifestyle and dismal lack ILLU

Commentary Writer

est and most accessible way to stay awake during the day. The amount of caffeine that students at Maine South ingest each day purely to stay alert, is incredibly concerning.

Caffeine is a natural stimulant that works by triggering the central nervous system. The nervous system adapts to the effects of caffeine and students quickly become completely dependent on a drug to be able to function throughout the day.

Without their daily dose of caffeine, many students say that they feel withdrawal symptoms. These symptoms can include headache, depression, and trouble concentrating. If a student is suffering withdrawal symptoms during class, it becomes incredibly hard to focus on the task at hand. Classes are hard enough to succeed in without bat-

Sexism prevalent in high school athletics Sports Editor ender equality in high school sports has come a long way since the implementation of Title IX in 1972; however, implicit sexism persists in the IHSA and for many high school athletes.

Title IX is a federal law that prohibits sex-based discrimination in education programs and activities.

Since its enactment, opportunities for females to participate in high school athletic programs have flourished.

The number of females playing high school sports nears 3.5 million and continues to increase.

Despite the great strides made in order to provide females with athletic opportunity, discrepancies still exist between boys’ and girls’ sports.

According to the IHSA, Title IX ensures that male and female studentathletes receive equal treatment in regards to equipment, schedules, coaching, and facilities.

These parameters are set to apply to all schools in the IHSA; however, my fellow female athletes at Maine South and I have noticed inconsistencies.

As a member of the volleyball team for four years and heavily

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ILLUSTRATION BY KEELEY FLYNN

Katie Carmichael

involved in Maine South Athletics, I feel that I have been able to see some of the effects of gender inequality in high school sports and how they come into play here at Maine South.

This is not to say I have not had a positive experience with Maine South athletics. I owe so much to the volleyball program at Maine South, it has helped me grow as a player and person.

However, there is room for improvement to advance gender equality in Maine South sports.

The majority of the sexism occurring in high school sports is a product of the way society views female athletes; however, high schools, including Maine South, can assist in resolving issues with sexism in sports.

In general, society judges the way women dress much more harshly

October 12, 2018

| COMMENTARY

More opportunities or higher grades, which should suffer?

Commentary Writer

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sk Maine South students their least favorite things about school, and they’ll tell you about their copious amounts of homework or the test that they haven’t studied for.

Although our problems are easy to blame on the inadequate American school system, we should be grateful for the opportunities that we have and for the aspects of our everyday life that students in places all over the world long for.

Structurally, school systems all over the world tend to follow the common trend of primary, secondary, and higher education. Core classes also tend to stay the same: science, history, language, and math classes can be found anywhere students attend school.

Even though the US doesn’t deviate from these trends, rates of homework and stress here are higher while scores on international tests are consistently mediocre.

We can't help but ask ourselves: what are we lacking that other

exce e ding ly imp or t ant, many American high schools emphasize social and communication skills without even realizing they are doing so. Students in the US are constantly busy after school due to a plethora of extracurricular activities to choose from. Emphasis is placed on school involvement, whether through sports, fine arts, or student government, and this benefits students in the long run.

According to Navine Behrendt, a German exchange student at Maine South currently, European students have limited options to get involved in school-sponsored sports, and most post-school activities are through private organizations. Most of the activities in school are fine arts based.

Participation in after-school activities helps students make friends and develop skills involving socializing, working in groups, and time management. While our test scores could be better, the American school system makes up for its shortcomings with opportunities for student involvement.

Joining clubs and getting involved after school is the best decision I have made so far at Maine South, and has benefited my friendships and productivity.

We are lucky to live in what many consider to be one of the greatest countries in the world, and we should seize the options that we are lucky to have.

it takes around 21 years to pay off a student loan.

When former college students should be starting a family or buying a house, they are engulfed in loan payments to their alma mater.

According to Student Loan Hero, 71% of all four-year college graduates leave their university with some sort of debt. Maine South students, you don’t have to be one of them.

One of the most extraordinary programs available to all Maine South Students is advanced placement courses, otherwise known as AP classes.

These courses could save you thousands of dollars depending on the course and the score on the AP exam.

In Illinois, it is state law that a college must accept an AP credit if the student scored at least a three on the exam.

If a student gets enough acceptable AP credits, they could enter college as a sophomore. An AP exam costs $92 and has the potential to save a student

from drowning in debt after college.

For students that need another alternative for a four year college for a variety of reasons, junior college may be a shining option.

Community colleges can cost significantly less that a four year program, approximately $4,856 per year in state (according to Community College Review). That is 10 times less expensive than a fouryear university. Oakton Community College, conveniently located near Park Ridge, is one of these low-cost options.

If a Maine South student is interested in engineering and does not have the option to attend a four year university, a different program is available, called Engineering Pathways.

A student will attend a community college for their first two years and then have guaranteed admission to the University of Illinois Engineering School.

This will save the student a great

deal of money by attending a low-cost college first and getting a degree from a prestigious engineering school.

A multitude of high school students, including Maine South alumni, find themselves buried by student loan payments 20 years after high school.

This debt issue can be prevented by simple financial planning and taking advantage of the resources provided to a high school student preparing to attend college and further their education.

Mai n e S out h of fe r s m any opportunities in the CCRC that can help students plan and prepare for their lives after high school.

Making a plan is the easy part.

Executing the plan is the most difficult thing to do.

Do not fall into the trap of paying for your school for the rest of your life like so many other eager young adults.

Dare to dream of attending the right school for you, without having to pay for it after college graduation.

ILLUSTRATION BY LYDIA CRUZ

Karolina Bisiak

countries have? It's easy to conclude that students are taught poorly, or that not enough material is covered to provide them with the right skills.

We should realize however, education in the US is far more diversified and individualized than in some European countries. Schools in the US provide students with many of the skills they need for future careers and opportunities, even if they don’t choose to pursue higher education.

Students at Maine South are placed in the appropriate class for their level of skill and learning pace.

This system that we take for granted makes it possible for learning to be customized. For many students around the globe, this customizing of classes is not an option.

Many classes in Europe retain the same group of students and same teachers for many years, and all students are expected to succeed in the same learning environment.

Falling behind is not an option.

Personalized learning means that certain students will know more material than others, but it also encourages students to know their strengths and weaknesses and how to best apply themselves to the task at hand, which is arguably more valuable than having the most knowledge.

Wh i l e a c a d e m i c s k i l l s are

How to avoid student loans at all costs Kristen Kristen Meyer Meyer

Commentary Writer Commentary Writer

B

efore Maine South students make one of the biggest decisions of their lives in where they to go college, they must ask one important question: how do I pay for it?

According to CNBC, on average, parents have only $18,000 dollars saved for their children’s college tuition, and that is simply not enough.

College can cost upwards of $40,000 dollars per year.

Too many high school students do not have a plan on how to pay for their overpriced collegiate education.

44 million Americans are in student debt, and together, their loans add up to 1.48 trillion dollars as reported by Forbes Magazine.

According to U.S News, on average,

SouthwordS 7

Oh... my...gou

ENTERTAINMENT | OctOber 12, 2018

Veronica Espinoza, Georgia Fosse, & Ella Melcher Entertainment Editors

Wagner Farm W

1510 Wagner Road Glenview, IL

agner Farm is the last part of a much larger farm that had been owned and farmed by members of the Wagner family since the 1850s. Currently owned by the Glenview Park District, it serves as a historical museum where community members can come to be educated and have a good time, especially in the fall.

During the fall season, people can enjoy the farm and all it has to offer for free, but people can also purchase pumpkins, gourds, apples, and even more fall items in the Museum Store. Their pumpkins are shipped in from Wisconsin and the staff will help deliver your purchased pumpkins in a wagon to your car for convenience.

They also have fall activities such as the harvest dinner where the community comes together to eat all the food that they have harvested throughout the season.

They have pony rides, tractor rides, bonfires, and s’mores nights.

The farm is a museum and has educational exhibits which are open all year.

These exhibits include the interactive silo that you can walk inside of and many more.

All these educational exhibits are located in the Heritage Center, which can also be rented out for events and gatherings.

Wagner Farm is open every day from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. The fall season started on Sept. 28 and goes until Halloween.

D

Didier Farms 16678 Aptakisic Road Lincolnshire, IL

idier Farms is a family owned business that has been open since 1912.

Families can enjoy “Pumpkinfest,” a Didier Farms tradition, which starts in late September and goes on for six weeks.

During this time, activities such as hay rides, a corn maze, pony rides, a carnival, and other activities are included.

Although the activities are a huge part of this farm, another important component is their food. They’re known for their sweet corn, tomatoes, and apple cider donuts, which are a must according to manager and wife of the owner, Donna Didier. They grow all of their vegetables and plants on site.

In addition, they grow their flowers in their greenhouse starting in April. Besides the festivities and foods they have to offer, one speciality that customers look forward to is their pumpkin patch.

Their pumpkin patch has a lot of variety—besides the normal orange pumpkins, they have green and white ones, and a range of sizes, which are all grown at their farm.

Didier Farms offers a welcoming environment when customers come to visit. “We try to be more kid friendly and definitely family oriented,” Donna Didier said.

Visitors can come between now until Halloween and enjoy what this farm has to offer. Didier farms is open every day from 9 a.m.-6 p.m.

8 SOuthwOrdS

urd!

OctOber 12, 2018 | ENTERTAINMENT

Fall is a time for family, friends, and fun traditions. So grab a hot pumpkin spice latte, and head on over to one of these four autumn gems to celebrate the season.

Kroll’s Farm

K

13236 Townline Road Waukegan, IL

roll’s Farm is a family-owned business that has kept its traditional roots in Waukegan for 25 years. It originally started as a garden and grew into what it is today.

Visitors can enjoy their pumpkin patch which includes the “basics,” as Mrs. Kroll said, such as gourds, different sizes and colors of pumpkins. Besides their pumpkin patch, kids can enjoy their corn maze and animal land, which includes sheep, goats, chickens, and donkeys. They also have concessions, hay rides, and a gift shop.

Besides being entertaining, there can be an educational purpose towards going here as well. Families can learn about the process of harvesting, planting, and the life of the animals here. They also develop a new lesson each year to present to visitors.

At Kroll’s Farm, their main goal is to bring families together to spend quality time with each other. This family business tries to stay away from modern amusements and brings back nostalgic experiences that parents had in their childhood.

Kroll’s Farm is known for the friendliness of their staff. From helping to park when a customer first arrives, to teaching them about the farm, and aiding them in feeding the animals, Kroll’s Farm staff is there to help.

People can make fall memories now until Nov. 1. They are open from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. on Sundays & Mondays, noon-8 p.m. on Tuesdays & Wednesdays, noon-10 p.m. on Thursdays & Fridays, and 10 a.m.-10 p.m. on Saturdays.

Goebbert’s Farm S

40 W. Higgins Road South Barrington, IL

ince 1948, Goebbert’s Farm and Garden Center located in South Barrington has focused on providing family memories during the fall.

Although the third generation currently owns Goebbert’s, they are still focused on continuing the same family-oriented ideals as the first.

At Goebbert’s, they pride themselves in growing all of their pumpkins and produce in order to create a high-quality experience.

Each fall, the signature one-ton, 18-foot-wide pumpkin, Happy Jack, is hoisted in the air to emphasize the importance of Goebbert’s being a must-visit fall destination. In addition to pumpkins, Goebbert’s is also famous for their apple cider donuts, sweet corn, and caramel apples.

Since Goebbert’s main goal is to provide a great experience for all ages, they offer 18 different activities that every guest can participate in during their visit. They have a haunted house appropriate for all ages, different animals, a play area, a jumping pillow, camel rides, pony rides, and wagon rides.

Goebbert’s will finish their fall season on Oct. 31 and is open every day from 9 a.m-6 p.m.

SOuthwOrdS 9

ENTERTAINMENT

| October 12, 2018

V-SHOW: THREE TO KNOW PHOTO BY GEORGIA FOSSE

PHOTO BY VERONICA ESPINOZA

R

eturning this year is a fan-favorite and a

V-Show classic: the drumline.

“It’s a drumline tradition to audition for V-Show,” act leader Emma Lemke said. “Our idea is that we’re going to be sneaking out of camp, wake up, see the drums and then get to our act.”

With drumline’s interesting take on the camp theme, act leaders had to think of something original and creative to surprise the audience.

“Our act is unique because it’s 20 very loud drummers on stage, and we’re playing in a very non-traditional setting,” Lemke said.

To organize a complex act such as this one, members of drumline needed to dedicate most of their time to practicing.

“We have been practicing since about the last week of August—we practice every Thursday morning.” Lemke said. “We like to play our drums, and this show gives us an opportunity to perform in a way that most people don’t get to see. We get to act and perform a little bit more than we normally do.”

S

elect members of the orchestra are stepping away from their classical roots at this year’s V-Show.

“Five other people and I are doing a cover of ‘Float On’ by Modest Mouse,” said act leader Paige Keller. “Last year in orchestra, we had a cover song project, and I did ‘Float On’ with my group.”

While the song is not upbeat, it still retains its alternative charm.

With a song that is more on the rock side, the orchestra had to figure out how to transform it into a purely instrumental version.

“It’s really cool how the song works with the melodies, and to be able to recreate that on string instruments with our only percussion instrument being a cajón is really cool,” Keller said.

What’s special about this group is that five out of the six members are seniors, and this will be their last V-Show at Maine South.

“I’ve participated in V-Show in some way for all four years, and it’s really great.” Keller said.

MICHELLE FEREK ENTERTAINMENT WRITER PHOTO BY VERONICA ESPINOZA

I

n addition to the group acts, there are also people who perform a solo at V-Show.

“My act is two Scottish songs that I’m playing on the piano” Declan McShane said. “Their names are ‘Loch Lomond’ and ‘Caledonia’.”

The unique Celtic style combined with the gentleness of the piano creates an interesting performance.

“I’ve been playing piano for 10 years, ever since I was five years old,” McShane said.

My dad is a songwriter who wrote for a guy who is pretty big in Ireland, so I thought I could make an instrumental out of them.”

Since the original music was sung and played on an acoustic guitar, McShane needed to figure out how to change the songs to suit the piano, while keeping the acoustic vibe.

“I thought it’d be really cool if people could hear these songs on the piano,” McShane said. “I don’t think many people are going to be doing a Celtic song.”

To all the rom-coms I’ve watched before

10 SouthwordS

O

RGAN LATK

en Z kids are no strangers to romance-oriented TV, having grown up on classics like “Pretty Little Liars,” “Gossip Girl,” and “The Vampire Diaries,” to name a few. But in the realm of cinema, we have very few praise-worthy rom-coms to call our own.

We grew up watching flicks like “Sixteen Candles,” “Pretty in Pink,” “Clueless,” and “10 Things I Hate About You.” Sure, these films are undoubtedly classics, but they’re classics of generations past. There are few movies that capture the essence of teen romance in the day and age

ION BY MO

G

ILLUSTRAT

Jen Beck

Photo Editor

of social media. conventional beauty/ In Au g ust of t h is fashion standards make year, Netflix’s teen film her relatable. The girl “To All the Boys I’ve is paired with a boy Loved Before” took our whose kind exterior, computer screens and u n l i kely i ntel l e c t , TV’s by storm. The film, social status, and boyish based on Jenny Han’s good looks make him the novel of the same most eligible bachelor in name, follows quirky the school. Other key teenage girl, Lara Jean, components include as she tries to navigate an absent mother, her confusing love life. unable to guide the The complexity of her love life is female lead through rooted in the private letters that girlhood and the woes she has written to crushes of her of love; a clueless father, past being mailed to each boy barely keeping afloat in she wrote the letter to, although “girl world” as he tries to she never intended to send them. relate to his teenage daughter; The film adheres to the timeand a mean girl, whose looks tested, formulaic teen romantic- and social cred make her the perfectly comedy structure. It features a problematic ex-love interest for the smart, quirky female lead, whose leading male. lack of popularity and adherence to The structure of “To All the Boys

I’ve Loved Before” may be clichéd, but its story and modern humor is relatable and refreshing.

Immediately after its release, “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before” sparked a media circus. I mean, can you really blame them? What’s not to like? The cast is diverse, the story is original, and its stars are lovable on and off the screen. The male lead, Noah Centineo, has even been dubbed “the internet’s boyfriend.”

B ut w hy a re t e e n a g e r s s o enthralled with this film, among the ones we grew up watching like “Legally Blonde” and “She’s the Man”?

We can’t get enough because it is the first film in a long time that feels like it’s ours.

Seeing ourselves and our challenges represented on screen makes us feel like we’re not alone in the tumultuous, fun, crazy years of adolescence.

October 12, 2018 | FEATURES

‘Mental health days’ raising concerns at Maine South Anna Schmeltz & Emily Wolf Features Writer and Contributor

H

2018 school year, qualifying them as “chronically absent” by the state’s definition.

Although taking an occasional day off to recharge may be beneficial when used sparsely, some feel that absences directly negatively impact student learning. According to Principal Dr. Ben Collins, the connection between attendance and academic performance is “very direct. You can’t learn once students begin missing many days.”

Assistant Principal George Dagres was less certain about the link.

“Attendance and academic performance is not as strong of a correlation as one might think,” he said. “It isn’t as simple as that as there are so many other variables that it is difficult to draw a strong correlation. But, I think it is more important as a habit of work ethic for the future.”

Administration sees this as an academic concern, but also a social emotional one.

“I think students are cared for at school and I worry that when they’re not here, they are not learning and that stresses them out more,” Collins stated. “It’s a vicious circle.”

Despite these concerns, some parents believe mental health days are a necessity in light of modern student stressors.

“I think you have to consider the entire health of your child,” one parent, who wished to remain anonymous, said. “If mental health is affecting their physical and daily functions, then they should definitely be able to take a sick day. Thoug h it is sad and alarming that high

igh school students are under constant stress to meet deadlines and stay focused throughout the day. Students not only fret over academics, but also over social media, relationships, and their future. The overwhelming nature of student life has led more and more students to turn towards “mental health days”: days where students take time off from school to help cope with these stressors and escape everyday exhaustion.

Taking time to relieve that stress is important for students to be able to consistently function at such a high level. Mental health days could include catching up on sleep, doing homework and other stress-relieving activities.

“I think that everyone gets stressed between school and just being a teenager, so I feel that it’s important to take a day to yourself,” junior Maddie Lemieux said. “It depends on each person’s individual stress levels but I think that at least once a semester students deserve a break.”

While mental health days may have benefits, guidance counselor Mrs. Krista Clarke acknowledges the dangers of abusing the privilege of time off.

“I see the need for a mental health day on occasion because stress can be a serious thing, but to abuse it to get out of a test you didn’t study for is not okay,” Mrs. Clarke said.

“From a counselor standpoint, missing school too often could result in school avoidance problems, which could snowball into a much more serious situation.”

History teacher Mrs. Durkin expressed similar beliefs.

“I can recognize when my students get stressed and I know that some kids really do need a day to just regroup, but others who don’t need a mental health day could misuse it.”

Many argue that mental health days are in fact detrimental to student health and success. The increasing number of Maine South absences, in part from mental health days, has raised significant concerns.

708 Maine South students were absent 18 or more times during the 2017- ILLUSTRATION BY SHANNON MCGREEVY

schoolers are put under so much stress that they even have to consider taking mental health days.”

Counselor Tim Spiegel, who is analyzing data for the guidance department concerning attendance and performance, understood that individual class absences that add up could inflate these numbers, but said, “excused absences are where the real problem truly lies.”

According to the State of Illinois, illness, religion, and funeral are the only reasons for an excused absence.

Dean Michael McGreevy stated that even parents calling in for vacation or college visits should be unexcused, but that has not been the current practice.

Some students believe a mental health day would only serve to be counter-intuitive, inducing stress rather than relieving it.

“I don’t take days off of school unless I absolutely have to because I don’t like worrying about the work I’ll have to make up,” junior Ariana Faraci said.

Other students have found that mental health days, although intended to reenergize students, actually have the opposite effect.

“The biggest challenge, however, had to be the inability to get out of the cycle,” senior Adam Piton said.

“One day becomes two days, two days becomes three, and so forth. You don’t want to go to school because you’re so used to just not being there.

It becomes an automatic response.”

Still, for some students, missing excessive amounts of school, while unfavorable, is a necessity.

“I missed 22 days primarily due to stress and workload,” one student, who requested to remain anonymous, said. “I was able to keep up for the most part, but my teachers did notice as they questioned why I was absent so much. They tried to help me, but it was difficult to understand what was happening in class.”

Similarly, some parents have

“The biggest challenge, however, had to be the inability to get out of the cycle.”

-Adam Piton

Relationship between absences and GPA at Maine South Absences

GPA

0-8

3.11

9-14

3.07

15-20

2.95

*BASED ON 2017-2018 STUDENT ATTENDANCE DATA SOURCE: DISTRICT 207

echoed the cautionary sentiments of those with a goal of maximizing student productivity and minimizing unwarranted absences.

“It’s not that I don’t think students may need a mental health day—it’s that I think that you shouldn’t be missing school,” said another parent who asked to remain anonymous.

“Mental health days should not be school sanctioned because taking a day off at the student’s discretion adds to their stress when they are making up homework or assessments.”

With the obvious disadvantages of students taking excessive time off, the Maine South administration is working to change this.

“At the District level, we are working to define the problem using the data, examine our policies and procedures,” said Assistant Principal George Dagres. “Personally, I don’t think we do a good enough job communicating to parents our expectations for attendance. I think that would go a long way.”

Dean McGreevy stated that there are some parents of students with high absentee rates who are not enabling absenteeism, but simply don’t know how to stop it.

“I have parents calling me saying they don’t know how to get their kid to school,” he said. “They are doing their best, but have run out of ideas.

In rare cases, I’ve even tried to help by calling on my way to work telling students to ‘get up’.”

Reducing the number of student absences is a challenge that continues to be a school goal, and administrators are looking at a variety of potential solutions.

“We are not having luck with programs [to reduce absenteeism],” Dr. Collins said. “We have some new Tier III strategies like RENEW, Check-In-Check-Out, but we still have a lot more to discuss.”

SouthwordS 11

October 12, 2018 | FEATURES

‘Mental health days’ raising concerns at Maine South Anna Schmeltz & Emily Wolf Features Writer and Contributor

H

2018 school year, qualifying them as “chronically absent” by the state’s definition.

Although taking an occasional day off to recharge may be beneficial when used sparsely, some feel that absences directly negatively impact student learning. According to Principal Dr. Ben Collins, the connection between attendance and academic performance is “very direct. You can’t learn once students begin missing many days.”

Assistant Principal George Dagres was less certain about the link.

“Attendance and academic performance is not as strong of a correlation as one might think,” he said. “It isn’t as simple as that as there are so many other variables that it is difficult to draw a strong correlation. But, I think it is more important as a habit of work ethic for the future.”

Administration sees this as an academic concern, but also a social emotional one.

“I think students are cared for at school and I worry that when they’re not here, they are not learning and that stresses them out more,” Collins stated. “It’s a vicious circle.”

Despite these concerns, some parents believe mental health days are a necessity in light of modern student stressors.

“I think you have to consider the entire health of your child,” one parent, who wished to remain anonymous, said. “If mental health is affecting their physical and daily functions, then they should definitely be able to take a sick day. Thoug h it is sad and alarming that high

igh school students are under constant stress to meet deadlines and stay focused throughout the day. Students not only fret over academics, but also over social media, relationships, and their future. The overwhelming nature of student life has led more and more students to turn towards “mental health days”: days where students take time off from school to help cope with these stressors and escape everyday exhaustion.

Taking time to relieve that stress is important for students to be able to consistently function at such a high level. Mental health days could include catching up on sleep, doing homework and other stress-relieving activities.

“I think that everyone gets stressed between school and just being a teenager, so I feel that it’s important to take a day to yourself,” junior Maddie Lemieux said. “It depends on each person’s individual stress levels but I think that at least once a semester students deserve a break.”

While mental health days may have benefits, guidance counselor Mrs. Krista Clarke acknowledges the dangers of abusing the privilege of time off.

“I see the need for a mental health day on occasion because stress can be a serious thing, but to abuse it to get out of a test you didn’t study for is not okay,” Mrs. Clarke said.

“From a counselor standpoint, missing school too often could result in school avoidance problems, which could snowball into a much more serious situation.”

History teacher Mrs. Durkin expressed similar beliefs.

“I can recognize when my students get stressed and I know that some kids really do need a day to just regroup, but others who don’t need a mental health day could misuse it.”

Many argue that mental health days are in fact detrimental to student health and success. The increasing number of Maine South absences, in part from mental health days, has raised significant concerns.

708 Maine South students were absent 18 or more times during the 2017- ILLUSTRATION BY SHANNON MCGREEVY

schoolers are put under so much stress that they even have to consider taking mental health days.”

Counselor Tim Spiegel, who is analyzing data for the guidance department concerning attendance and performance, understood that individual class absences that add up could inflate these numbers, but said, “excused absences are where the real problem truly lies.”

According to the State of Illinois, illness, religion, and funeral are the only reasons for an excused absence.

Dean Michael McGreevy stated that even parents calling in for vacation or college visits should be unexcused, but that has not been the current practice.

Some students believe a mental health day would only serve to be counter-intuitive, inducing stress rather than relieving it.

“I don’t take days off of school unless I absolutely have to because I don’t like worrying about the work I’ll have to make up,” junior Ariana Faraci said.

Other students have found that mental health days, although intended to reenergize students, actually have the opposite effect.

“The biggest challenge, however, had to be the inability to get out of the cycle,” senior Adam Piton said.

“One day becomes two days, two days becomes three, and so forth. You don’t want to go to school because you’re so used to just not being there.

It becomes an automatic response.”

Still, for some students, missing excessive amounts of school, while unfavorable, is a necessity.

“I missed 22 days primarily due to stress and workload,” one student, who requested to remain anonymous, said. “I was able to keep up for the most part, but my teachers did notice as they questioned why I was absent so much. They tried to help me, but it was difficult to understand what was happening in class.”

Similarly, some parents have

“The biggest challenge, however, had to be the inability to get out of the cycle.”

-Adam Piton

How Absences Affect GPA

Absences

GPA

0-8

3.11

9-14

3.07

15-20

2.95

20 or more

???

*BASED ON 2017-2018 STUDENT ATTENDANCE DATA SOURCE: DISTRICT 207

echoed the cautionary sentiments of those with a goal of maximizing student productivity and minimizing unwarranted absences.

“It’s not that I don’t think students may need a mental health day—it’s that I think that you shouldn’t be missing school,” said another parent who asked to remain anonymous.

“Mental health days should not be school sanctioned because taking a day off at the student’s discretion adds to their stress when they are making up homework or assessments.”

With the obvious disadvantages of students taking excessive time off, the Maine South administration is working to change this.

“At the District level, we are working to define the problem using the data, examine our policies and procedures,” said Assistant Principal George Dagres. “Personally, I don’t think we do a good enough job communicating to parents our expectations for attendance. I think that would go a long way.”

Dean McGreevy stated that there are some parents of students with high absentee rates who are not enabling absenteeism, but simply don’t know how to stop it.

“I have parents calling me saying they don’t know how to get their kid to school,” he said. “They are doing their best, but have run out of ideas.

In rare cases, I’ve even tried to help by calling on my way to work telling students to ‘get up’.”

Reducing the number of student absences is a challenge that continues to be a school goal, and administrators are looking at a variety of potential solutions.

“We are not having luck with programs [to reduce absenteeism],” Dr. Collins said. “We have some new Tier III strategies like RENEW, Check-In-Check-Out, but we still have a lot more to discuss.”

SouthwordS 11

FEATURES

| October 12, 2018

Watters making waves on the dance floor Erin Martin

Features Editor

F

reshman Olivia Watters has been dancing competitively since elementary school. By fifth grade, she had already won a national championship alongside her fellow teammates who were a few years older. Since then she has continued to achieve great success and work with some of the top dance choreographers in the country.

Beginning at the age of 11, Olivia was selected to join Company 22, an elite dance team at Studio 22, where she first began her dance career. She has danced in large groups, trios, duets, and her personal favorite, as a soloist.

“I love dancing as a soloist.”

Watters said. “You really get to show off all of your skills and hard work you put into your dance.”

Dance certainly takes hard work.

Watters practices every day of the week with an occasional weekend off.

She sometimes dances up to six hours.

“It can be hard to manage dance and school,” Watters said. “But with discipline and a schedule, I find time to do both.”

In the past four years in her dance company, Olivia has won multiple regional competitions as a soloist.

Every year, the company attends many competitions around the country.

Watters’ biggest competitions are the Hall of Fame National Championship and The Dance Awards.

This year, Olivia took first place out of over 100 dancers as a soloist at the Hall of Fame Nationals in Galveston, Texas, and brought home

TILTIN’ Olivia Watters demonstrates one of her favorite leg extensions, a tilt.

She spends hours a day perfecting skills like this for her competitions.

five hundred dollars in prize money.

This was her first national win as a soloist. But that wasn’t her only big win this year.

“I took first place this year at a competition called Jump Chicago.”

Watters said, “I would say it was my biggest solo win because there were hundreds of extremely talented dancers.”

Like any champion, Watters’ has a large support team that drives her success.

“My coaches and teachers push me to be the best I can be,” Watters said.

Salty Jenny by Jennifer Nikolic

12 SouthwordS

Each season she works to be better than the year before. “My mentors keep me extremely motivated.”

In addition to Watters’s coaching staff, she also works with the top dance choreographers in the country. Every year, one of her solos is choreographed

by Angel Armas. Armas is a co-owner of the Stars Dance Studio in Miami and is most commonly known for his role as a coach on the TV show Dance Moms Miami.

“Working with choreographers like Angel is a great experience,” Watters said. “I get a sense of their

teaching style and creativity that I can then use to further my dance career.”

Watters has also worked with stars from the TV show “So You Think You Can Dance” such as Ricky Ubeda. Ubeda won the series back in 2014 and then went on to dance on Broadway.

This past July, Olivia traveled to Orlando to compete in The Dance Awards. The Dance Awards is a national dance competition that is one of the most competitive in the country.

“The competition is filled with the best of the best,” Watters said.

In order to attend this competition, dancers must receive scholarships from previous competitions from that season. These scholarships serve as their qualification. Although she didn’t take first, Watters felt honored to have participated in such an event.

With the high stakes and prestige of the competitions she frequents, Watters is always looking towards furthering her skills. But, for Watters, her growth as a dancer in the coming season is dependent on more than simply skill.

“I hope to improve on being more confident,” Watters said.

She is also a new member of the Maine South Varsity Hawkettes this year as one of five freshman on the team.

“I am so excited to be a part of the Hawkettes this season, Watters said.

Watters is eager to work with her new teammates and explore the dynamic of the Hawkettes. She hopes the experiences she gains from dance at a high school level will help elevate her dance career even more.

Not Scary

October 12, 2018 | FEATURES

Carly Swanson gains political experience PHOTO BY LENA PONTIKES

McClain Clancy Features Writer

I

n today’s heated political climate, many high school students often find themselves frustrated at the fact that they are forced to sit on the political sidelines. Unable to vote, students see no way to enact change, and can only hope that their beliefs and values will be recognized and put into play by other voters and politicians.

While most politically-conscious students impatiently count down the days until their 18th birthday, senior Carly Swanson has been able to share her voice and make change in meaningful ways without relying on voting.

Over the past year, Swanson had the honor of working for the Illinois State Treasurer, Michael Frerichs. The state treasurer is in charge of state banks and is the chief custodian of the treasury. First elected in 2014, Frerichs succeeded Republican Dan Rutherford in the office on Jan. 12, 2015.

Swanson was able to find the job through her previous employer, Dan Shamon, who owns a lobbying firm. Lobbying firms run campaigns to persuade the public and to persuade legislators and officials.

Swanson’s strong passion for politics and helping the people of Illinois was apparent when she met members of Frerich’s team.

“I had been working for his lobbying firm since 2017,” Swanson said. “I was attending a fundraiser for Michael Frerichs in June of 2018 on behalf of Dan, and I met the whole Frerichs team there. That night I joined their campaign.”

Swanson was the first intern to work for Frerichs. She worked in the social media and communications department. Even though she was just an intern, Swanson had a large list of responsibilities.

“I have a wide variety of duties, including contacting all sorts of county officials in order to obtain contact info, finding events for Frerichs to attend, and editing his schedule based on our priority counties,” Swanson said.

Swanson’s jobs required organization, determination, and coordination. But the most stressful job, Swanson explained, was driving Frerichs places. In this time, she was able to speak to Frerichs individually, something Swanson had not expected she would be able to due when working in Shamon’s lobbying firm.

Although the thought of working for the state treasurer had never occurred to Swanson, the opportunity changed her life. Swanson described the experience as “amazing” and “once-in-alifetime.”

The internship provided Swanson with the experience she desired and taught her how much work goes into political campaigns. Most importantly, Swanson learned the importance of voting.

“People think that their votes don’t matter, but our campaign cares about every single voter, even in

POLITICAL PRO Carly Swanson stands outside the James R. Thompson Center, where State Trea-

surer Michael Frerichs’s office is located. Swanson traveled to the Thompson Center frequently as she worked for Frerichs’s political campaign. counties that we will most likely not win,” Swanson said. “Working in state government allows you to pay more attention to the needs of individual communities, and it has been really eye opening.”

Swanson’s advice is most directed at fellow Maine South students, some of who will have the potential of participating in the 2020 election.

Votes make a difference; they determine who is representing you, your family, and your views.

Swanson gained a large amount of wisdom through the experience. The connections and privileges of her job allowed her to get an inside look into the political sphere, and she was given countless opportunities to participate in important events, the most memorable being attending the Illinois County Chair Association (ILCCA) brunch in Springfield, Illinois.

This brunch featured a meaningful discussion with notable politicians from all over Illinois, speaking about methods to increase profit within Illinois and successes made throughout the year. Additionally, awards were granted to highachieving politicians.

“I was sitting front and center with some of the most powerful democrats in all of Illinois,” Swanson said. “I got to hear from people like US senators Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth, my boss [Frerichs], Lisa and Michael Madigan, JB Pritzker, Kwame Raoul, etc.”

Swanson takes a great interest in politics and sitting amongst her role models provided her with a sense of importance.

“I had never been so inspired by a group of people before, and to have them sitting literally all around me was incredible,” Swanson said.

It was an important learning experience for Swanson to sit alongside prominent politicians and be able to listen in on their views, debates, and concerns.

The experience of working with the state treasurer is one that Swanson will never forget. She hopes the experience will help her in the future, as she hopes to continue to work with politicians.

“I love working with lobbyists, so I have a feeling I will end up working on the hill or here in Chicago as a lobbyist,” Swanson said.

The memories and experiences she gained will forever stay with her and help her in the future.

Swanson aims to continue her work on campaigns in the future, possibly again with the state treasurer.

However, Swanson could also see herself working in legislative offices as well, or even in the private sector.

Whatever shape her path takes, Swanson plans on continuing to demonstrate leadership in the political world, and her work with Frerichs has enabled her with the experience and confidence to do so.

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SPORTS

| October 12, 2018

Boys’ soccer looks to seniors to lead the way to playoffs Amalia Laskaris

Sports Editor fter losing in the first round of state playoffs last year, Boys’ soccer has been working hard this season to compete for the title. The team has recovered from that playoff loss against Maine West last season and hopes to continue further in state playoffs this year.

With practices consisting of many skill-related drills and scrimmages, it helps create a game-like environment.

“We do some fitness work as well as technical training and some scrimmaging,” sophomore Eamon Brady said.

Additionally, having 16 seniors on the roster this year, provides the team with leadership and gives the teammates determination to finish this season stronger.

With so many leaders on the team, it pushes everyone to their full potential; everyone is held accountable.

As a senior captain, it is Alex Olson’s responsibility to motivate the team.

“I’m hoping to encourage the team so that they put 110% effort every single day," Olson said.

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In addition to motivation, building a strong bond among teammates is key to improving the team’s success. The better the team gets to know one another, the fewer the mistakes made on the field.

Good chemistry creates a positive atmosphere because each player understands what each member brings to the team; it is the team's role to maximize one another's strengths.

“The importance of our chemistry decides how strong we will be as the season goes on, whether we will let a loss put us down or learn from our mistakes and move on,” senior captain John Rozynek said.

A new addition to the team, junior Sam McGinnis, has moved from club to the Maine South soccer program. McGinnis’s teammates have made his experience on this team better.

“Our captains do a good job of keeping us focused and getting us excited to play," McGinnis said. "They all serve as coaches on the field and

offer advice and constructive criticism on the field."

The team hopes to redeem themselves in the playoffs after battling hard in losses against New Trier and Glenbrook South. Coach Dan States has seen significant growth from the boys over the course of the season.

“The guys are getting more cohesive on offense and defense and we hope to be more successful at the regional competition,” States said.

With an overall record of 7-5-4, the team looks forward reaping the rewards of their hard work in the regional finals. Even though the team has not been seeing the results they hoped to have, they are keeping a positive attitude to finish the season strong.

“Our record doesn’t show it, but we are a much better team,” Byron said. “I truly believe that if we stay positive and continue to play well, we will have a better second half of the season.”

The team will compete at Regionals on Oct. 15.

“Our captains do a good job of keeping us focused and getting us excited to play.”

-Sam McGinnis (‘20)

Girls’ volleyball team puts an emphasis on fun Maura O’Driscoll

PHOTO BY JEN BECK

Sports Writer

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irls’ volleyball has brought back seven seniors this year, which has made team bonding very natural and easy this season.

“The team dynamic is really strong this year," senior libero Maddi Werdell said. "We trust each other on and off the court.”

“I’m definitely going to miss my teammates the most," senior setter Katie Carmichael said. "The thing I love most about volleyball is the camaraderie between the team members.”

Coach Kathleen Durkin makes it a priority to make sure the girls have an unbreakable bond.

“My coaching philosophy is to make sure the team has fun,” Coach Durkin said. “The athletes play better on the court when they play loose and have fun.”

The team performs at a higher level when they are enjoying the game.

“We know how to have fun,” senior outside hitter James Keefe said. “Unlike other teams, I feel that whether we are winning or losing, we always have a good time and make the most out of the game that we get to play together.”

When the team gets down,

14 SouthwordS

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Junior Middle Blocker Meghan Quigley goes up for a block against Niles West on Oct. 17. The Hawks took down the Wolves in two games, 25-12, 25-17.

they enjoy dancing or telling a joke to lighten the mood, which gets everyone back into a relaxed mindset.

Coach Durkin also wants the girls to feel relaxed out on the court.

“Some coaches put a lot of pressure on athletes and I try to take it off of them,” Durkin said.

This s e as on, t he te am has a large number of seniors. They

include Carmichael, Keefe, Abbey Kwiatkoski, Alexa Milkowski, Sophie Post, Victoria Stipetic, and Werdell.

Among them are the three captains: Carmichael, Post, and Werdell.

All of the players on the team bring something special and necessary to the court to ensure the girls have a successful end of the season.

“Madisen Werdell has a high

volleyball IQ,” Coach Durkin said.

“Katie Carmichael is our equivalent of a quarterback. Sophie Post adds the light-hearted fun that the team needs and knows just what to say to her teammates if they get down.”

Carmichael and Werdell are both going to play volleyball in college next year. Werdell will be going to the University of Tennessee and Carmichael will be going to Emory University.

The team started the preseason off strong with a win against Rolling Meadows, but fell short to Prospect and Loyola.

In conference play, the Hawks took New Trier, the reigning CSL champions, to three games in their conference opener, but lost. After a loss to Glenbrook South, the team bounced back with three conference wins against Niles North, Niles West, and Evanston.

The Hawks will be competing in the Maine West Pumpkin tournament this weekend and they will be completing conference play next week with matches against Niles West and Evanston.

“One thing I will take with me as from this program is what volleyball is really about, which is playing the game I love at a competitive level while having fun,” Werdell said.

October 12, 2018 | SPORTS

Young talent emerges late in the season for boys’ golf

RNY

JEZIE

LERIE

fter taking home regional championships the past two seasons, this year’s boys’ golf team is looking to keep their hot streak going.

The team, led by senior captains Patchy O’Malley and Connor Buggy, has performed well thus far. Going into Regionals, the team had a record of 3-2 in conference play with legitimate hopes of sending multiple players to Sectionals and qualifying for the state tournament.

After Buggy was injured at the beginning of the season, juniors Brennan Dombro, O’Malley, and senior Henry Hoelscher have led the squad to low finishes in 9-hole and 18-hole meets.

“My surprise for the season has been the consistency of Henry Hoelscher and Brennan Dombro,” Coach Steve Scholl said. “They have performed very well thus far this season.”

Hoelscher has had a low score of 37 at Wilmette Club and drives the ball over 300 yards, providing a big boost to his round every hole.

The team has built momentum going into the state tournaments,

Y VA

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breaking a school you can putt. When I record by shooting score well, it is when I 311 at the putt my best,” Brander Wheeling Invite said. in September.

One thing the team The team can agree on has been the thanks their seasonrise of freshman Myles long success to a few Lahart. different aspects of their “I am really excited game. Dombro, who had for his future, as he has a low nine-hole round of enormous potential,” 37 this season, credits his Hoelscher said surprising success to his of the freshman. irons.

“He has put up “If nothing is working, I some great numbers can count on my irons to save in some of our nine-hole my round,” Dombro said. matches, and he will also be In contrast, senior Tommy a part of our squad of players Brander believes that putting at Regionals and Sectionals.” is the strongest and most Playing at various courses important aspects of their throughout the area, the games. team has gained a lot of Brander, who boasts a experience. Throughout the consistent 280 yard drive summer and this fall season, and a low round of courses like Chevy Chase, 38, feels that he Maple Meadows, and can be successful t h e Par k R i d ge through his strong Country Club have fundamentals and d e v e l op e d e a c h consistency. golfer’s game. Many have credited “No matter how you hit the ball, their well-rounded success to this you won’t be able to score well unless variety of courses.

TO B

Sports Writer

PHO

Tyler Houck

Junior Nicolas George is one of many on the team who visit a swing coach for private lessons. He believes that this has helped him to increase his driving to almost 300 yards. Hoelscher also competed in prestigious amateur tournaments this summer to prepare for a run at qualifying for State.

Their success in the playoff rounds this year will be determined by the veteran leadership of the seniors.

Five low-shooting seniors from last year graduated after the 2017 season, but their shoes have been filled. The team has seen multiple young players play consistently well, and many seniors have been leading the charge. The team believes they are just as talented in past years and can play up to their potential late in the season.

Under the guidance of Coach Scholl, in his seventh season as head coach, along with the strong play of the senior leaders, the boys’ golf team will begin sectional competition with eyes toward State.

The team won Regionals on Oct. 2 and state will be held this weekend on Oct. 12 and and 13 at the Wiebring golf club at Illinois State University.

Girls’ golf utilizes new practice methods to their advantage Katie Roche Sports Writer

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he Maine South girls’ golf team just completed their regular season on Sept. 27. The team was led by senior captains Taylor Gatz and Noreen Daly.

With the guidance of head coach Kayla Hansen, the team effectively worked on technique and consistency during practices at the Oakton Driving Range and Golf Center.

Coach Hansen puts a lot of time and effort into creating a program that benefits every player. “[I coach based] on individual goals and creating coaching plans for each player to maximize their scoring potential,” Coach Hansen said.

In addition to very individualized practices, the team had the opportunity to utilize new technology to help them break down their technique and make tweaks to their skills.

“The coaches continue to use slowmotion video as a tool to analyze player’s swings and review footage

to fine tune their swings,” Coach Hansen said.

Since golf is such a skill-heavy game, the team has really focused on refining those skills.

“We are tr ying to help our players all achieve consistency and playing smart,” Hansen said.“We [use]scenario-based practices where we can help players think through choosing the right shot, club, distance, and approach to many difficult shots.”

At practice Gatz gets to work on her shots from about 100-120 yards in order to perfect her technique.

Captain Noreen Daly works on her chipping shots that are close to the green, which helps her maintain consistency.

Throughout the season, the team held attainable goals that they strived to reach. “[One goal was for] our varsity team to advance to Sectionals and have at least one person make it to State,” Gatz said.

This season, the team beat Vernon

FOCUS

PHOTO BY SOPHIE LAWRENCE

Senior Taylor Gatz putts for par at a meet on Sept. 20 at Canal Shores golf club. With their new practice methods, Gatz was able to fine tune her putting skills.

Hills by a small margin after a 185185 tie.

“Our fifth score was five strokes less than their fifth score… Having such a close match was an eye opener for all players that every stroke counts,” Hansen said.

The team this season is composed

of four seniors, which is half of the team.

“Our seniors this year are very close,” Gatz said. “We are all leaders and make sure everyone is having fun.”

The close-knit relationships in the team help foster positive competition.

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CROSS COUNTRY | FOOTBALL | GOLF | BOYS’SOCCER | GIRLS’ SWIMMING | GIRLS’TENNIS | GIRLS’VOLLEYBALL

Football battles despite losing Inserra and Skoronski to injuries Bailey Chalfin & Katie Carmichael

Sports Writer & Editor

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his year’s football season has gotten off to a successful start despite some unexpected adversity. The team has been plagued with multiple major and minor injuries throughout the the first few weeks.

The team’s starting quarterback, senior Bobby Inserra, led the Hawks to two early wins in August, throwing for one touchdown and running for another in the opener against Glenbard West. He was named the Chicago Tribune Athlete of the Month for August.

Inserra broke his tibia during the Mount Carmel game, but is expected to be back on the field “soon,” according to head coach, Mr. David Inserra.

The quarterback’s injuries have affected the team significantly. As the starting quarterback for the team, not only was his skill set missed, but also his leadership on the field. Players with less experience had to step up to fill the very important role that Inserra plays PHOTO BY ALY TRUNZO on the team.

READY, SET, HIKE The defensive line prepares to make a stand against Niles North on Sept.

27.

The Hawks won the game 42-7 Ultimately, this has benefitted the team because it has allowed for and are now ranked fifth in the state by the Chicago Tribune. more players to gain playing time and Dow began his season at quarterback Other players on the team have such as Mount Carmel and Barrington experience. with a 17-yard touchdown pass to had to step in for Skoronski at times in order to prepare the team for the While this may prove beneficial for junior Ryan Kilburg in the third quarter throughout the season. toughest competition they will come the team in the long run, it created some against Barrington.

Senior defensive back Brian Barry across in the state. difficulty for them as they tried to adjust Besides Inserra’s injury, left tackle believes this year’s team has the “[We] are preparing against teams to players taking on new roles. This and nose guard, Junior Peter Skoronski capability to make their way to the top. we think we will see in the playoffs,” showed in their 23-26 loss to Barrington has been affected by injury. He has “[The goals are to] not lose another junior wide receiver Charlie Greif said. on Sept. 7. been dealing with game, and work our way to state one Maine South started the season very Senior Cole a weak ankle which game at a time,” Barry said. strong with wins against Mount Carmel, Dow took over “[The goals are to] not is not completely Senior running back Danny Wolf 21-13, and Glenbard West, 35-14, and the position of limiting, but he and junior wide receiver Ryan Kilburg then bounced back from the Barrington lose another game, and c a n n o t a l w a y s have led the Hawks’ high-powered loss with three consecutive wins. quarterback and h e l d h i s ow n work our way to State play or play to the offense. Wolf is the team’s leading rusher The Hawks beat Conant convincingly ag ai nst tou g h absolute best of his so far this year and has proven to be an on Sept. 14 with a score of 42-13, they competition. ability. essential member to the team. then beat Evanston with a score of 21one game at a time.”

Encouragement Determined as On defense, senior linebacker Luke 13, giving Evanston their first loss of by his teammates -Brian Barry (‘19) the number one Preston and junior safety Michael the season. The team won again against has helped Dow football dynasty in Velazquez have been key contributors, Niles North 42-7, and they defeated to perform to the the state of Illinois forcing a significant number of Glenbrook South last week, 44-7. best of his ability.

by MaxPreps and turnovers early in the season.

The Hawks look forward to two “We had a good quarterback CBS sports, the Maine South football One reason for Maine South’s elite tough games on Oct. 12 and Oct. 19 competition all year with Cole Dow,” team feels pressure to deliver the results status as a football program is their against New Trier and Niles West before Coach Inserra said. “He has stepped that are expected based on their history. extremely difficult pre-conference the state playoffs begin on Oct. 27. in the last two games and has done a Despite the pressure, the team is very schedule.

The IHSA state semi-final and the very capable job and won us a couple motivated to reach their goals and Coach Inserra strategically plans state final will take place on Nov. 17 and of games.” advance into playoffs. their schedule to face top-ranked teams Nov. 24, respectively.