Vol. 57, Issue 1

March 18, 2021

1111 S. Dee Road • Park Ridge, Illinois 60068

Vol. 57, No. 1

REFRESH THE

NEST Hawks return to in-person learning in a vastly different building than they left last March.

See page 2

(S)no(w) Days

Masked Up

Should snow days exist Pandemic promises new in virtual learning age? business opportunities.

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Music Mania

New year brings new music.

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Springing it

Boys’ basketball plays abbreviated schedule.

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NEWS

| March 18, 2021

BOARD(S) OF EDUCATION

Construction on the front hallway has begun. The new walls are going up in preparation for window replacement. The new windows will look like the windows that were replaced in the east hallway.

Construction update: cafeteria, culinary labs, and A-wing progress Jake Snyder News Writer

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n addition to going down as the year consumed

by COVID, the 2020-2021 school year will also be known for its massive construction project.

Recent renovations include the student cafeteria, culinary labs, and A-wing classrooms.

One of the biggest projects was the new student cafeteria, which is larger, modernized, and more open than the previous cafeteria. The new space was put to use on Feb. 23.

“The new student cafeteria is now open, and we’ll be moving in furniture very soon,” Principal Dr. Ben Collins said. “There are two zones right now, one with the high ceiling that used to be the courtyard and one with the lower ceiling that used to be art and CTE classrooms.”

Along with the cafeteria, the culinar y classrooms also underwent significant renovations.

The culinary rooms have been relocated near the

cafeteria.

“Each station has a giant stainless steel island for students to do most of their prep work on,” culinary teacher Ms. Pamela Melinauskas said.

“There are also eight brand-new stoves, each of them with dual ovens.”

To improve student learning, the space also features more technology, including monitors that students can view from anywhere in the room.

“There are four giant TV monitors to project anything from the computer or the document camera,” Ms. Melinauskas said. “The computer can project anything from videos to learning targets to recipes.”

By the start of the next school year, the A-wing, B-wing, and C-wing projects will be complete.

However, minor renovations have already proven to be impactful.

“The construction removed the old A/C units in the room, which has freed up some space, but more importantly the room is a little quieter without the

constant hum of the units,” biology teacher Mr. David Fermanich said.

The next project is the students services hallway, which houses the tutoring centers and other academic supports. This space is expected to be completed by August.

“The biggest area that you’ll notice changing very soon is the area from the student services hallway to the library and all the way across the school from east to west,” Dr. Collins said. “That entire section will be under construction from March to August, so it will be a few more steps to get places.”

The old cafeteria will be replaced with a new athletic facility. It will offer an indoor training space for teams and physical education classes.

“The new areas for PE and athletics where the old cafeteria is now will be finishing up in August as well,” Dr. Collins added.

Front hallway construction including new walls, and window replacements is the next step.

E-learning capabilities cause uncertain future for snow days John Biagi, Lilli Bresnahan, & Beth Kosiorek News Editors

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s e-learning has become commonplace, many wonder if snow days will be replaced by e-learning days in future years. Maine 207 does not currently have a plan for the future of snow days.

“We haven’t figured [snow days] out yet, but I’m sure it will be a major discussion this summer,” principal Dr. Ben Collins said. “I do think it will be much easier to adjust everything now that we’ve spent so much time virtually and have more tools.”

Administrators understand that the spontaneous excitement surrounding snow days is a tradition that students look forward to every year.

“I do think there is something about an

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unexpected day off that can be really fun, especially when you’re of the age to go play in the snow,” Dr. Collins said.

Losing the unexpected surprise of a snow day isn’t the only concern that students have, should snow days be eliminated.

“I believe that virtual learning is equivalent to normal, in-person stress, and I think snow days are an awesome way to relieve that stress,” senior Maryanne Nguyen said.

Teachers acknowledge the desire for snow days but understand the operational complications accompanied by the days off.

“I do think students should have the chance to get out and enjoy the snow, especially little kids, and it was always nice to have a day to catch up on things,” science teacher Ms. Amy Capps said.

“[However, snow days] really threw a wrench into the works with our A/B schedule or even the hybrid schedule we had the previous two years.”

Replacing snow days with online learning might resolve some scheduling issues that snow days impose.

“You’d miss a day with a group of students, or [administrators would] have to change the schedule around for the week, which would lead to having to scrap lesson plans,” Ms. Capps said. “E-learning does allow teachers to at least meet with their students to cover the information remotely.”

But still, students favor the day off they get because of snow days.

“Even though I’m older, I miss having snow days and would prefer it over a virtual learning day,” Senior Brooke Shannon said.

March 18, 2021

| NEWS

In-person learning increased to four days

John Biagi News Editor

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p o n re t u r n f ro m s p r i n g break, all A and B classes will combine, allowing all students who are interested to attend four full days of school. To promote safety, students will now be required to wear two masks.

To help with teacher planning and consistency at school, students who opt into in-person learning are expected to attend all of their classes in the school. Exceptions include student illness, quarantine protocols, or other individual circumstances.

“We’d like [students] to be here as much as possible because we think this is the best environment for them,” principal Dr. Ben Collins said. “When teachers don’t know how many students are going to be in the room, it’s next to impossible for them to plan some of the activities, especially with some of the classes that require a lot of equipment.”

Contact tracing will be affected by the predicted influx in attendance.

Because six feet of distancing might not be attainable in some cases, more students may be required to quarantine when a positive case is found.

C-Team wins State Natalia Bartela

News Writer fter winning the We the People State Championship on Jan. 15, the Maine South Constitution team will represent Illinois in the National Convention along with two other teams.

The Constitution team has been running for 15 years under the management of Mr. Andrew Trenkle and Mr. Kevin Hansen.

“We learn the curriculum for the competition, which is mostly like an AP Government level curriculum, but a little more research, a little more writing, and a little more speaking,” Mr. Trenkle said.

This year, due to the Covid-19 Pandemic, researching, writing, and making presentations are taking place online. The number of questions asked has also been adjusted to two.

“The day of the competition, the students give a four-minute prepared

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Dr. Collins realistically expects no more than 1,000 students to opt for in-person learning, but hopes that all students will return to school. The average 600-square-foot classroom could potentially host 30 students with around three feet of space between them, which is the minimum recommended distance according to the new ISBE guidelines released on March 10.

Concerns and frustrations about the double mask requirement are being reviewed. However, with high travel rates expected and the lack of an enforced quarantine or adaptive pause, administration decided that wearing two masks will provide a safer on-campus environment. Double masks also provide more protection given the closer proximity of students.

“We want to keep moving forward with school, and if things go really well the first few days or maybe the first week or two, then we can probably pull back the requirement and go back to single masks,” Dr. Collins said.

S o cia l s cience te acher Ms. Rachel Santucci believes that extra safety measures are worth it, even if inconvenient.

“Masks have been shown to prevent response to the questions. Then a panel of judges has six minutes to attack what they shared, and then the students have to think on their feet and work together to answer the questions in an appropriate way,” Mr. Trenkle said. “Then they are judged on a rubric based on how well they answer.”

While the State Championship took place over Zoom, Constitution team members still tried to make the best of the situation.

“They had a student schedule of which zoom link which unit would go in,” senior Nicole Causevic said.

“We all went in the main one as Maine South and we all cheered each other on...preparing each other and joking around to ease nerves.”

The Constitution team will compete in the National Convention, held at the end of April. Practices still occur as frequently as possible.

“Nationals is online, which we’re very disappointed about because we were very excited to compete in person, but the situation hasn’t changed,” Causevic said.

PHOTO BY KELLY CROKE

KEEP YOUR DISTANCE Students in Ms. Schanou’s class socially distance as much as they can. After spring break, space between students will be less than six feet.

the spread [of COVID-19] and we have to trust the guidelines, even if it makes us a little uncomfortable,” Ms. Santucci said. “As long as everyone continues to take the precautions they’ve always taken, it seems like school has been a safe place. There’s always concern, but that’s why you take precautions.”

Administrators and teachers agree that bringing life back to campus will rejuvenate the learning environment.

Athletics and fine arts have started up again, more students and a few teachers who have been fully remote are coming on campus, and end-ofyear senior traditions will take place.

“This year’s senior class is going to

Daily videos spotlight Black History Molly Shanahan

News Writer hroughout February, Maine South posted daily Flipgrid videos talking about prominent black figures in order to celebrate Black History Month. This was a new way to celebrate the achievements of black writers, actors, activists, poets, and others.

Junior SOAR member Meris Kraja noted the importance of educating students about influential black figures.

“The purpose was to spread awareness about prominent black figures in society that we might not be aware of due to the media often overlooking black celebrities or POC in general,” Kraja said. “This exposes

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get to have, I think, the closest we can possibly do to a normal graduation, some resemblance of prom, senior tailgate, senior breakfast, and the other things that seniors look forward to as a rite of passage as they leave the building,” Dr. Collins said. “I feel like when there are students and staff back in the building, it fills the building up with joy, and we haven’t had that as much,” Dr. Collins said.

“I think [students] are just going to be so happy to be sitting in a classroom and for things to feel a little bit more normal again,” Ms. Santucci said. “Just being back in the building and hearing the chatter of a classroom is going to be so heartwarming.” the student body to a wider range of representation in culture, history, and modern life.”

Many students and teachers helped make the videos.

“Each department was working on a Black History Month video, and felt it would be helpful to get some student assistance, as we might know some more modern, prominent influencers,” Kraja said.

“It was something the faculty had come up with regarding the work of SOAR. Black History is not always a topic that gets enough attention in the curriculum, so I think that the videos were a step forward.”

The videos have had a positive impact and response.

“I know I’ve gotten praise for my video from people who recognize me,” said junior Molly Bowe, who contributed to the World Language department video. “ The video centered around Bilal Hassani and Stromae, two French musicians of color. I think we are making strides towards becoming a less prejudiced student body.”

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NEWS | March 18, 2021

Implementation of No Grade policy District 207

lowers graduation credits and adds Financial Literacy class

John Biagi

News Editor Originally Published Nov. 11, 2020

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tarting this school year, if a student fails a class, the student’s transcript will record an NG (No Grade) as opposed to an F (Failure), and GPAs will not be affected by the failed attempt. District administrators decided upon this change to bring the district closer to a competency-based grading system. “[Previously], any student who had any grade could have retaken a course for a higher grade, and [the original grade] was replaced by the higher grade on your transcript,” Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Innovation Shawn Messmer said. “From that standpoint, moving to the NG is just that. There wasn’t a big change, other than not negatively impacting the GPA.” The role of the GPA and other traditional grading protocols are put into question with a competency-based grading model, where grading reflects understanding and ensures that students can learn concepts at a more personalized pace.

“The purpose of the GPA should be to communicate what the student knows and can do and at what level,” Mr. Messmer said. “If that means that a student fails a class but then can come back later and get a C and actually has a C level of knowledge, what we’re really penalizing them for is, ‘you didn’t get it the first time.’”

Jake Snyder

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Changes to learning and teaching styles and other difficulties students face as a result of the coronavirus pandemic have accelerated the urgency for remediation.

“I do think something that the pandemic has done is make people a little bit more forgiving because kids are having a tougher time,” Mr. Messmer said. “Most times in life, you do have a time to recover. We think it’s really important, especially in high school, to give students an opportunity to recover.”

Students recognized as National Merit Scholar Finalists Amelia Mital News Writer

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en Maine South seniors have earned the title of National Merit Scholarship Finalist. The senior finalists include Jessica Beck, Eric Biedke, Eamon Brady, Elizabeth Compton, Alexander Heinz, Joseph Kinnavy, Monica Milanowski, Mia Pomilia, Jonathan Spychalski, and Anna Wapner.

“We are so proud of [the finalists’] tremendous accomplishments, which go well beyond their PSAT scores,” Career and College Admissions Specialist Robyn Moreth said.

Receiving a National Merit Scholarship Finalist title recognizes students’ academic abilities, accomplishments, and potential for success and qualifies them to apply for the National Merit Scholarships.

“Many people don’t realize that scholarship offers for finalists are based on more than just their PSAT scores,” Ms. Moreth said. “Before they are named finalists, students are designated semifinalists and must then complete an application to become a finalist that includes submission of their academic record, list of extracurricular activities, honors received, an essay, and a letter of recommendation.”

The National Merit Scholarship Corporation awards a total of 7,600 National Merit Scholarships.

There are 2,500 National Merit Scholarships of $2,500 each, 1,000 corporate-sponsored Merit

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GRAPHIC BY MILLIE DIAZ

Scholarship awards, and 4,100 college-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards. The amounts awarded regarding the corporate-sponsored and collegesponsored scholarships vary. About half of the 15,000 finalists will earn a scholarship. Students will be contacted between March and June if they have been selected for an award.

“It meant a lot to earn this recognition after having spent so much time working towards my academic goals over the years,” senior Eamon Brady said.

News Writer Originally Published Feb. 9, 2021 istrict 207 made changes to graduation requirements in 2021. The most significant changes are that Communication Arts and Driver’s Ed are no longer required by the district.

In addition, a Financial Literacy class is now mandatory for all students.

“We want all students to understand what they want to do beyond high school, and we want them to know how they are going to pay for it and what long-term impact financing their education will have on them,” Mr. Shawn Messmer, Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Innovation for District 207, said.

Under the changes, students no longer need to retake Physical Education if they do not receive a passing grade. Also, the new credit requirement is now 22.75, one credit lower than the previous 23.75 credits needed to graduate.

The decision to update the requirements at this time came as a direct result of the pandemic.

“As we seek to ensure that all seniors are on track to graduate, we felt removing certain impediments, like repeating a failed PE or Consumer Arts course, should not wait if we could make the move now,” Mr. Messmer said.

While the changes came during the middle of the school year, students shouldn’t worry about adjusting to these requirements.

“These go into effect now, but they will not harm any student,” Mr. Messmer said. “For example, if you took Consumer Education or a course to satisfy that requirement, you will not have to take Financial Literacy to graduate.”

While the changes are not expected to have an effect on the students, the enrollment numbers for the classes will be affected.

“From what I am seeing with the registration numbers to date, the enrollment [in Communication Arts] has drastically declined at Maine South,” Ms. Teralyn Keith, Department Chair for Fine and Performing Arts, said.

Despite the decrease in students enrolling, Ms. Keith expressed the importance of the course, now known as “Communication for Careers.”

“We try never to close a class,” Ms. Keith said. “I really hope we have more students interested in taking Communication for Careers.

It is a phenomenal course with incredible teachers teaching it.”

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March 18, 2021

| COMMENTARY

The shortcomings of the Electoral College Christo Maheras Commentary Writer

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lection after election, we celebrate the ceremonious coloring of the states as a pillar of our democracy.

Among the red and blue, Democrat and Republican, some gray swing states capture media and voter attention. State colors have long encouraged political posturing.

Candidates solely focusing on the states that will bring them to the allcoveted 270 electoral college votes is one of many reasons why the electoral college is unethical, undemocratic, and should be replaced as the means by which our nation elects its presidents.

Before explaining the shortcomings of the electoral college, one must understand its origins.

The electoral college emerged as a compromise during the 1787 Constitutional Convention among other ideas such as the popular vote and the vote of Congress. It was decided that states would be designated “electors” who would award their electoral votes, equal to the number of its congressional members, based on how their states voted for president.

One would assume that the electors would award their votes proportionally to the popular vote of the presidential candidates within their states, but this only applies in Maine and Nebraska. Instead, most electors award all of their state’s votes in a winner-takes-all format, a practice that has engendered perennial calls for its replacement.

The electoral college faced criticism from its inception by Founding Fathers like James Madison, who asserted, “The popular vote is the fittest way to elect a president.” There have been 700 attempts to replace or alter the electoral college, which begs the question: why are people opposed to this system?

Our analysis begins at the swing states. With many U.S. states being considered “locks” for a certain party, the media and the candidates divert their attention to the swing states.

According to NPR, the Biden and Trump campaigns spent in excess of

IMAGE CREDIT WIKIPEDIA

$104 million in advertisements in 10 swing states, compared to the $59.1 million spent on all other states.

The inequity in spending between states finds many forgotten voters, encouraging politicians to take votes for granted. This often carries over into a president’s term, illustrated

by Donald Trump. According to Factbase, Trump neglected to visit a total of eight states during his presidency, instead visiting swing states a total of 288 times. Of the eight states that Trump did not visit, he lost

of the population, our government would run with more consistency.

When debates about the electoral college arise, a common rebuttal is: “America is not a democracy.” While our Constitution does not say the United States shall be a democracy, it outlines an overall use of democratic procedure.

The way we introduce and pass laws in Congress is through a majority-rule system where 51% of votes are needed to pass a law, excluding executive orders. In the Supreme Court, a 5-4 majority is needed to " If th e Un i te d State s overturn or w e re to re p l a ce th e uphold a ruling.

Additionally, in el e c to ra l co l l ege w i th congressional a s yste m th at a cco u nt s e l e c t i o n s fo r th e m aj o r i t y v o te and judicial confirmation o f th e p o p u l at i o n , o u r h e a r i n g s , go v e r n m e nt w o u l d r u n congressmen w i th m o re co n s i ste n c y ." and justices are

subj e c te d to a majority vote an average of 237,000 votes, indicating from constituents and from the that candidates should garner support Senate. With the three branches of from the people. At the moment, the government having “checks and vote of the people does not matter, balances,” why is the executive branch as candidates only seek to gain the immune from a majority-rule system? necessary 270 electoral college votes.

The only reasonable conclusion is If the United States were to replace that the electoral college is blatantly the electoral college with a system undemocratic. Some states have taken that accounts for the majority vote steps to mitigate the electoral college

through the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact (NPVIC). The 15 states that have signed this compact, 36% of the electorate, have promised to allocate their electoral votes to whichever presidential candidate wins the national popular vote once enough states sign to guarantee that outcome.

So what other options do we have in electing our presidents? The first option is the popular vote. It is completely viable from a standpoint of democracy and fairness as it takes into account the majority of the population. Moreover, according to Time, city growth is stalling and suburban populations are booming, rendering the rebuttal that cities would decide elections through the popular vote obsolete.

The second option has picked up tremendous steam in the past 10 years: ranked-choice voting. The first and second choices of every voter are recorded so that if their first choice drops out, they still have representation. Many cities have used this method, including San Francisco, the 16th-most populous city in the United States.

If the United States is to serve as a bastion of democratic values, a leader among world nations, we must take measures to ensure the longevity of and participation in democracy.

Addressing the faults of the electoral college would be a critical first step.

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COMMENTARY

| March 18, 2021

Maine South High School 1111 South Dee Road Park Ridge, IL 60068 http://www.southwords.org

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GRAPHIC BY MILLIE DIAZ

STAFF EDITORIAL

We must do more to stop hate in schools Originally published Dec. 11, 2020

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ince the beginning of the school year, several hateful incidents, including bathroom graffiti, the hacking of the district website, and an assault, have occured within the Maine South community. Whether the behavior is a result of the isolating pandemic or societal conflicts, any form of hate negatively reflects on the school community at large.

Although the school has acted quickly in response to these incidents, to further develop a more inclusive community, students would benefit f rom more cl ass dis c ussions, curriculum reform, and student involvement and voice.

By devoting class time to discuss pressing and possibly uncomfortable issues occurring within the school and community, teachers can transform the school’s culture. Classrooms are safe spaces for students, and these welcoming forums can not only make a student more aware of the issues, but can also inspire them to share their beliefs and experiences with others.

In order to raise more awareness, these topics should be implemented into the curriculum as well. While Hawk Pride addresses issues of

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inclusion, we need to see these modern issues in our coursework as well.

Furthering students’ knowledge of racial justice and LGBTQ+, BIPOC, and marginalized communities can give them more insight into current issues and debates. Students can then utilize this information to become more aware of other people’s backgrounds, making students more open-minded and less likely to participate in or tolerate microaggressions.

“As students, it is our responsibility to hold friends accountable for their actions, rather than actively contributing to hate Through emails and prepared statements, these events become generalized instead of personal.

Conversations between students, whether they occur within or outside of the classroom, inspire accountability among a group of students who may not initially care.

It is important to communicate the consequences of hateful actions before another incident occurs.

Students need to understand that there are consequences for the crimes they commit, and those consequences must be clear.

As students, it is our responsibility to hold friends and peers accountable for their actions, rather than actively contributing to the hate with our silence. Students need to actively work to “re-sensitize” their peers, in order to prevent more hateful actions and allow Maine South to become a more welcoming, safe space for everyone.

As a result of the worldwide pandemic, full time in-person learning has been suspended, and students find themselves with more free time and less accountability from teachers and peers that they no longer see face to face. The isolating nature of the pandemic can contribute to feelings of loneliness and seclusion, which could be a further reason for students to act in a hateful manner for attention.

As a Maine South community, we must stand firmly against hurtful behavior and take preventative measures to protect our students and staff.

S outhword s is a stude nt- r un 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 icip at ion in t he newspaper, whether through readership, submitting articles, or voicing comments or concerns, is encouraged.

Signed letters to the editor can be 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 Amalia Laskaris Ella Melcher Kristen Meyer News Editors

John Biagi Lilli Bresnahan Beth Kosiorek

Commentary Editors Darin Cheng Adam Ferraro Lexi Stacy Features Editors

Lily Niziolek Elizabeth Ryser

Entertainment Editors Jenna Marchuk Andrea Smith Julia Gryczko Sports Editors

Emma Crosson Wilson Sitkiewicz

Production Editors

Millie Diaz Isabel Gibson Aly Trunzo Ana Zrnic

Editorial Assistant Adviser

Jessie Beck

Mr. Stathakis

March 18, 2021

| COMMENTARY

Should snow days be gone for good?

YES

Darin Cheng

Commentary Editor

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he brutal Midwest winters that we all endure have always had one redeeming quality: waking up to the snowfall outside, checking the news to see the forecast, and finding out that school has been canceled.

However, with the rapid development of online-learning infrastructure since COVID-19 closed schools in early 2020, teachers are now prepared to instruct even during inclement weather. Considering the benefits of online learning, snow days may slowly become obsolete.

Schools in Illinois typically prepare for five days of missed instruction per school year. With online learning as an available option and weather conditions being the largest cause of school closures, there are no incentives for administrators to provide schools with as many emergency days. Additionally, the conditions leading up to closures are stressful for schools, who must convene, consider all the factors, and make last-minute decisions. When schools exceed their closure limits, students bemoan the encroachment into summer vacation by tacked-on school days. Switching to online learning significantly reduces the worries of both schools and students towards having to prepare for unexpected curriculum changes.

While many students would argue that snow days provide pleasant mental breaks and opportunities to form memories, they fail to consider that the majority of parents with fulltime jobs rely on schools to supervise their children. Even though virtual education does not alleviate parents’ worries completely, it provides an element of structure and supervision to students’ days. Phasing out snow days offers common-ground incentives for both parents and school administrators.

Vir tual education provides schools with more flexibility for

school closures, especially in regards to students who rely on public transportation. The factors inhibiting public transportation extend beyond snowfalls, negatively affecting student attendance and performance. A study conducted by the National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP) in 2015 confirmed that eighth-graders who missed school three or more days a month before a test scored 0.3 to 0.6 standard deviations lower on a mathematics test compared to those with perfect attendance. By removing most external obstacles to attendance, online learning prevents students from missing school. When schools can implement virtual days to ensure all students an equal opportunity to participate, then the necessity of a snow day becomes difficult to justify.

Despite the benefits of online learning, some schools are continuing traditional snow days and providing students with unexpected one-day vacations. Proponents argue that replacing snow days with online

learning would take away a common c h i l d h o o d experience spanning ge ne r at i ons . S cho ol s should consider easing into their eventual obsolescence by providing longer vacations or more opportunities for students to ma ke me mor i e s .

Alt houg h nost algia has value, the tangible b enef its of v ir tu a l education outweigh the temporary joy of a snow day.

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Vardah Khan

Commentary Writer

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he two words that every student in the Midwest dreams to hear during the winters are “snow days.”

These days have become an integral part of American culture. Schools all over the country prepare for emergency days every year; however, due to the growth of electronic learning with the rise of the COVID-19 pandemic, students and teachers are prepared to continue learning and teaching from home. As a result of this development, many students fear that this long-lived tradition of the snow day will

vanish.

Although there are benefits to e-learning, there are also many benefits to maintaining the snow day.

The first benefit of a snow day is that they allow students to take a break.

School can be stressful, and s now d ay s provide pleasant mental

ILLUSTRATION BY EDEN WENING

breaks and opportunities to catch up on life.

They help relieve stress by allowing the students to engage in fun activities, including indoor and outdoor activities like sledding and baking. Students deserve a refreshing break because they work diligently everyday to become better learners and to achieve their goals.

Another benefit of the snow day is that they allow students to spend quality time with their family. Often, due to conflicting schedules, parents and children are unable to spend time together. Due to the brutal weather conditions, many parents are also able to stay home and spend time with their children. A family can enjoy a movie night or meal together.

According to a study by Michigan State University, family mealtimes help children build communication skills and self-esteem. Spending time with family will not only help students, but also parents in managing and reducing stress.

Many educators would argue that schools should replace snow days with e-learning since snow days interfere with students’ learning by delaying the curriculum.

These educators fail to understand the importance of providing breaks and the positive i mp a c t s of s n ow days on one’s life.

According to a recent NPR poll conducted in partnership with the Harvard School of Public Health and Wood Johnson Foundation, 40 percent of parents claim that their child is experiencing significant stress from school. In the majority of cases, the stress is caused by academics. Providing small breaks through snow days can increase the number of opportunities these students have to relieve stress.

Ending the snow day tradition due to the development of online learning would take away an important childhood experience that has existed alongside the modern education system. This tradition gives children a chance to make valuable memories and organize their lives. While virtual learning is beneficial, we should not dismiss the positive effects that snow days have on children.

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COMMENTARY

| March 18, 2021

A new administration calls for new expectations Editorial Assistant Originally published Feb. 23, 2021

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he inauguration of the 46th President, Joseph R. Biden, on Jan. 20, represented much more to the people of the United States than the election of a new president. The arrival of this administration has ushered our country into a new era. With goals of unity, recovery, progress, and justice at the forefront of the minds of citizens and government leaders, there is hope for the future.

If the noteworthiness of the events at and surrounding the inauguration are any indication of the changes to come, we can look forward to greater diversity, representation, and cooperation. Kamala Harris represents a few “firsts” in this administration: first female vice president, first African-American vice president, and first South-Asian vice president. Dr. Jill Biden will be the first First Lady to continue holding a paying job outside of the White House. Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff is the first Jewish spouse of the president or vice president. Even

our last president may see President Biden in the same light, the reality is that the Biden presidency cannot even begin to impose the same danger and fears resulting from the Trump presidency. Painted by the other side as a radical leftist, Biden’s policies reveal his actual tendency towards the center. There is no doubt that it will take much longer than four years for the deep wounds of our country to heal. Still, this should give us hope for Biden’s ability to bridge the gap between the left and right and work towards greater progress and unity.

That being said, we must take the last four years as a lesson to never blindly worship a political figure; Americans need to hold Biden accountable for his campaign promises and condemn any inappropriate uses of power. If Americans can help to uphold our expectations of a good leader, this emerging era of American history will be restorative of trust in the government and faith in democracy. We can continue to ensure we elect leaders with integrity and the commitment to improving the lives of Americans.

passing periods would bring chaos.

Passing period in the A-wing hallway still haunts me. Not only would I be late to my next class, but I would also get pushed and pulled going down the stairs. When the day was over, we had homework from nearly every subject due the next day. I remember how people disliked the introduction of the block schedule, afraid that the change would make school days more difficult. It was not until the next year that we realized how wrong we were.

That next year, 2018-2019, was our first experiment with the block schedule. At first, we were all confused and going to the wrong classes, something that I have done more times than I would like to admit. In the end, we all figured it out, and many students began to look forward to the less-restrictive block days. My junior year, 2019-2020, had different days designated as blocks.

Instead of Tuesday and Wednesdays, it was Wednesday and Thursdays.

Additionally, we had a semi-open campus towards the end of the year.

If you had a free period and signed a form, you could leave. This was a great bonus for students, allowing them to go grab lunch or go home and de-stress. However, this schedule had its own problems. Lunch periods in particular were confusing because we had X, Y, and Z periods, and everyone would always mix them up.

This year has had a few different schedules, but has been consistent in having an eight-period day on Monday, and four block periods each of the other four days. Not only does this schedule allow classes to have in-depth lessons, but it also allows homework to be spread out.

Furthermore, with COVID-19 and hybrid learning, it works better to socially distance when you only have half of your classes per day. We still have one day with all of our classes, Mondays, but we also start the school day later. Studies have shown that

starting school days early in the morning and assigning too much homework is counterproductive.

In the long run, it is better to pay attention to students and give them more time to learn.

Hopefully, in the interests of future students, Maine South is done experimenting with the schedule.

However, I am still glad they did these past four years, because it worked surprisingly well to figure out the optimal schedule for students. Block schedules are not only good for high schools, but they also better accurately model college schedules. If school does return to all in-person classes next year, Maine South should use the same schedule they did this year.

With schedule changes and building changes, Maine South could at least maintain a consistent schedule. Keep the schedule the same and let the students enjoy some normalcy with the planned return to in-person school next year.

WHITE HOUSE PHOTO

Jessie Beck

beyond the presidency and vice presidency, there were additional “firsts” in the swearing-in of some congressional representatives.

Diversity and inclusion in the United States have taken a huge leap forward. For the last several years, controversial topics regarding race, sexuality, gender, and religion have been at the forefront of American politics and social justice issues. If we leave historically-marginalized groups out of the conversation, we will never make any progress. We need new and bold ideas which require people who think differently.

It is essential that our representatives in government truly represent the diversity of our country.

The inauguration of this administration also means four years of healing. Over the last four years, our country became more divided than ever before under the leadership of a president who sowed hate and division into the fabric of our political conversations. While Trump will take his hateful speech, lies, and manipulation with him as he leaves office, the violence and extremism inspired by his leadership will prove dangerous to America if we don’t welcome the mending that our country needs.

While some staunch supporters of

BACK TO WORK

Joe Biden and Kamala Harris discuss plans for the country. The 46th president was inaugurated Jan. 20.

A four-year hunt for the perfect schedule ends in success Lexi Stacy

Commentary Editor s a senior at Maine South, I have experienced a different schedule every year—including some years with multiple schedules in the same year. Although having a different schedule every year confused students, it was an optimal way to test-run all types of schedules.

We have evolved considerably over these past four years, and for the better. Going through each schedule has taught us what works and what does not.

Looking back, my freshman year, 2017-2018, was the worst year—but at the time it felt normal. Since elementary school, most students have had the same schedule. Even then, the schedule had flaws: the school days would drag on and the

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March 18, 2021 |FEATURES

Crowned for charisma: Emily Russack named Junior Miss of America Caroline Barker Features Writer unior Emily Russack was crowned The Junior Miss of America in the American Pageant System on Nov. 28, 2020. A combination of her community service, confidence, and hard work on her application helped pave the way for her national win.

“There is a lot of time and energy and effort that goes into this,” Russack said. “My pageant system is solely based on achievement, confidence, and helping others. It’s really not a glitz pageant like ‘Toddlers in Tiaras.’”

These profound achievements, which are based on intellect rather than appearance, are often overlooked in the media.

“Our system looks for more than a pretty face but a smart and confident woman,” Russack said. “They [the media] only cover the negative side... which I feel is incredibly disappointing because the majority of queens are passionate about helping others and put forward a great amount of time and effort into serving others.”

In entering a highly competitive pageant with minimal previous experience, Russack was not expecting such favorable results.

“This was my first pageant ever,” Russack said. “It was kind of crazy going into a national pageant with a ton of other girls who had done a lot of other pageants…and winning the whole thing.”

Ms. Heidi Russack, Russack’s mother, was proud of her daughter’s ability to compete without prior experience.

“I thought that she had the ability to win, however not having the experience of the others, I thought that she might be a runner up,” Ms. Russak said. “I was thrilled that she won.”

PHOTO COURTESY EMILY RUSSACK

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Confidence was key in overcoming her lack of experience in comparison to her opponents.

“You have to be pretty brave to compete in these pageants. You are really putting yourself out there and putting in a lot of effort; it is a lot of work,” Russack said. “It’s very impressive to see everything all these other girls are accomplishing in one year: helping others and bettering themselves.”

Russack started organizing for the pageant almost a year in advance, first on an introspective level.

“You prepare for pageants by getting to know yourself,” Russack said. “It’s really important to sit down and think about all the things you want to do and are planning to do in the future, along with things that you need to work on.”

Mental preparation is a necessary component in assembling interview responses; however, tangible service is essential in setting a contestant apart from the rest.

“Not only are you prepping with mock interviews and practice questions, but you are also out in your community serving a lot,” Russack said.

This preparation was seen by some of Emily’s friends, including junior Maddie Yourell.

“Emily, on the daily, showed that she was preparing by explaining her responsibilities and how she enjoyed doing them,” Yourell said.

“She constantly showed that she was putting a great amount of time into getting ready.”

The judging and applications comprised four main sections.

“There were a lot of categories but the mandatory ones were resume, interview, poise and projection, and personal introduction,” Russack said.

SUCCESSFUL SMILES Russack walks across the stage after being

crowned. This success wouldn’t have been possible without her hard work and preparation.

PHOTO COURTESY EMILY RUSSACK

PAGEANT PALS

Russack and fellow crowned contestants spend time together post-competition. These girls grow together, strengthening their similar passions and values.

All of her hard work before competition day was showcased in the first section, the resume.

“My resume categories included community service and hours logged, clubs, sports, grades, achievements, awards, and hobbies,” Russack said.

The second part of the judging process was the evening gown walk called “Poise and Projection.”

“They score us based on how we walk, if we look confident, if we feel good about ourselves in the dress,” Russack said. “You don’t have to be the prettiest girl or have the most expensive dress, but if you have the confidence in yourself, it really radiates on stage.”

Next, Russack presented her core values and aspirations to the judges, giving them more insight on her stage presence.

“For the personal introduction, you give a 30-second statement about things you are interested in and your dreams,” Russack said. “That is a way the judges can tell how you talk on stage and how fluently you speak.”

Judges look for a contestant that can present her responses with ease and conviction.

“They want someone who is bright and can conversate with others effectively,” Russack said. “Also, someone with charisma, personality.”

On top of these qualities, Russack struck the judges as a favorable contestant with responses that emphasized her friendly relationships and uplifting spirit towards the girls.

“I think that one of the things that stuck out to the judges was that they noticed I like to talk about others in a positive light,” Russack said. “I walked into my interview and they [the judges] asked ‘So how has your week been so far?’ and I said ‘It has

been great. All of the girls here have been so supportive.’”

Russack noted how valuable the experience was with these girls from all over the nation.

“It is very rewarding because even if you don’t win, you still come out with a lot,” Russak said. “You make bonds and come out looking at all the hard work you put in and all the people you helped.”

Junior Lucie Imhoff sees the beneficial results this competition has had on Emily’s character.

“I feel Emily has learned a lot about how to work with other people as well as work on improving herself,” Imhoff said. “She has grown as a person because of how many people she has met and learned about through pageants.”

Following competition day, the impact of Russack’s title of Jr. Miss of America will continue to have a positive impact on Russack’s character and the greater good.

“I think that Emily will learn valuable lessons throughout the year of her ‘reign,’” Ms. Russack said. “I think that she’s continuing to learn about commitment to her platform and learning from her sister queens, their platforms, and how much they’re helping help others.”

Even after months of preparation and dedication, Russack’s hard work is not complete, as she plans to utilize her platform to continuously help others and expand her outreach.

“Winning Junior Miss of America gives you a bigger platform for community service and to help others, while also being able to have really fun experiences, like travel, grow, bond with sister queens, encourage others to be confident, and guide others to success,” Russack said.

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FEATURES

| March 18, 2021

PHOTO COURTESY GWEN MARAMBA

PHOTO COURTESY KAROLINA BISIAK

PHOTO COURTESY LEILA TANNOUS

SEW SICK!

Gwen Maramba (left) and Leila Tannous (right) model their mask designs while Karolina Bisiak (middle) demonstrates her sewing techniques. These young entrepreneurs aim to benefit not only the consumer, but also the greater community.

Unmasking the faces behind student-run mask businesses

Merisa Kraja

Features Writer Originally Published Jan. 5, 2021 n an attempt to fight Covid-19, some Maine South students have taken safety matters into their own hands by starting their own mask companies. These students are motivated by a variety of factors, from improving mask fit, to donating profits to charity, to promoting a healthier community.

Junior Leila Tannous, along with her younger brother, started a mask-selling website, mgs.masks. com, over the summer to redirect her free time towards fulfilling the need she saw for public safety.

“My brother and I were encouraged to help the community and have something to do during quarantine,” Tannous said. “We wanted to provide what we could in COVID-19 prevention… and also wanted to collaborate on a project for the experience.”

In order to please all customers and maximize potential profits, Tannous has integrated numerous designs.

“The first mask is called the ‘OG’, a classic two-loop mask,” Tannous said.

“Our second design is called the ‘aerodynamic mask’, which has one band that goes around the head and sits high on the nose for a more stylish appeal.”

Along with these two, Tannous created another mask, with a unique focus on safety standards for high-risk circumstances.

“Our third design is called the ‘surgeon mask,’” Tannous said. “There is a layer of chiffon fabric, which has certain properties that increase the prevention of COVID-19.”

Seeing the potential to do more with her profits, Tannous allows her customers to choose a charity to receive a portion of the profits.

“A portion of our profit goes to one of three

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charities chosen at check-out: Greater Chicago Food Depository, Illinois COVID-19 Response Fund, and COVID-19 Solidarity Response FundWorld Health Organization,” Tannous said. “We chose these charities because they range from city, to state, to world.”

Tannous and her brother are confident in the impact that their business has made on those around them.

“We feel we have made a difference,” Tannous said. “We want to continue to make a difference during this time by producing and selling more masks.”

Senior Gwen Maramba started making masks for herself, as store-bought masks failed to meet her expectations in comfort.

“I started making my own masks because I was tired of wearing masks that didn’t fit me,” Maramba said. “I found a pattern and I used trial and error until the mask fit perfectly.”

Unexpectedly, an opportunity for a business arose when others started to express interest in her creations through social media.

“When I put pictures of the masks I made on Snapchat, people expressed interest in buying them,” Maramba said. “ I didn’t expect to sell my masks when I first started making them, so I am very happy about the success of my business.”

When August rolled around, Maramba saw a shift in her sales.

“I would say the peak of my sales were in August, when everybody was preparing to go back to school,” Maramba said. “They are starting to rise again now because of in-person learning.”

The design and fit of Maramba’s masks has attracted many customers.

“All of my masks are contoured to the face and made of two layers of 100% cotton,” Maramba

“Making masks is a lot of work...It’s great to see people wearing masks and being safe.”

-Gwen Maramba ‘21

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said. “They are also reversible, which makes them cute and versatile.”

Ensuring the safety and wellbeing of her customers, Maramba is able to reap the benefits of her dedication to her business.

“Making masks is a lot of work, but it is so rewarding,” Maramba said. “It’s great to see people wearing masks and being safe.”

Senior Karolina Bisiak, another student hoping to benefit the greater community, put her costume-making experience to use to start her mask business.

“In August, I finally got a sewing machine,” Bisiak said. “I’ve been sewing forever as a costume crew head, and I was so excited and inspired when I finally got one.”

Bisiak has been able to lure customers with her low price point.

“My 100% cotton masks are $4, generally much cheaper than what I’ve seen in stores,” Bisiak says.

Her business is currently tailored to a smaller group, with sales mostly publicized to friends over social media platforms.

“Right now I’m running off of my Snapchat and only post mask drops periodically,” Bisiak said.

“Sales have mainly been to my friends and people close to me.”

With the stress of college applications beginning to come to an end, Bisiak is looking for ways to expand her visibility.

“My business is very small right now and I have just barely made a profit,” Bisiak said. “I hope to grow it enough that I can donate at least a portion of my profits to COVID-19 relief funds or Black Lives Matter-aligned charities like Color of Change.”

Bisiak recognizes the positive impact something as simple as a homemade mask can have during these unprecedented times.

“I’d like to think that I’m making a difference,” Bisiak said. In a time where so much is out of our control, I think a cute, affordable mask that you design yourself can help brighten people’s lives and especially slow the spread of the Coronavirus.”

March 18, 2021 | FEATURES

Divergent discourse: politically-charged discussion in the classroom Features Editors ducation is typically centered around topics found in textbooks, hardly straying from the lesson plan; however, in a time with increasing political polarization, there is value in implementing nuanced conversations and self-expression in the classroom.

Junior Christo Maheras notices that the existence of political tension makes controversial discussions all the more necessary.

“I think that, in the United States, where politics is the main catalyst for disagreement between people, we must have uncomfortable conversations about political views, because if we shield ourselves from people who have different perspectives than us, we’ll never learn anything,” Maheras said. “We’ll never be able to be empathetic or accepting of people who have different views.”

Ms. Anna Serrano, a Maine South Foreign Language teacher, still recognizes the benefits of having these conversations in the classroom despite there being no direct correlation to her typical lesson plans.

“Students need to learn how to articulate their thoughts on important matters that are actually going on in the world,” Ms. Serrano said. “School is not a place to simply learn through a textbook; it is supposed to be a safe place where we can all learn from what is truly happening around us.”

M s . S e r r a n o a c c e p t s t h at controversial ideas may surface in discussions, so long as the class handles them respectfully.

“What I do expect is for [students] to be able to express themselves in an appropriate manner and give other students the opportunity to express their opinion, even if it is different from their own,” Ms. Serrano said.

Junior Tatiana Glisovich, a student of Ms. Serrano’s AP French 5 class, appreciates the power these open conversations can have on a classroom dynamic. “[Ms. Serrano] has created such a friendly and safe environment,” Glisovich said. “All of her students, myself included, feel as if we can talk to her about anything, whether it be in class or privately. She has gone to great lengths to make sure that her

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students aren’t feeling overwhelmed at this time.”

Maine South Principal Dr. Ben Collins acknowledges the benefits in holding vulnerable conversations to allow students’ opinions to be heard.

“It’s really important that students have a place where they can vocalize what they’re going through,” Dr. Collins said. “They can bring up the emotions and the feelings and knowing that those emotions and feelings can change, they can change based on what you’re hearing from your other classmates who maybe think differently than you or had different experiences.”

The value in these conversations can be derived from hearing and welcoming others’ beliefs.

“By discussing current events in the classroom, students are able to learn from each other,” Ms. Serrano said. “The beauty of discussing is that they [the students] are also able to learn from one another and consider things that they may not have before.”

Maine South Social Science teacher Ms. Megan Smith wants to create a classroom environment which fosters open communication without judgement.

“I hope that by engaging in a courteous, respectful dialogue with their peers they are able to gain new insight into the subject matter,” Ms. Smith said. “Being exposed to different points of view helps you become more accepting of those who have different opinions.”

Ms. Serrano allows time for the discussion of timely events as they are on the forefront of many students’ minds.

“Current events affect all of us,” Ms. Serrano said. “Students need to know that they don’t need to ever feel silenced, least of all in the classroom.”

Evolving to the needs of her students,

Ms. Smith guarantees that each of her classes is given enough time to share their thoughts and feelings, which differs from class to class.

“When discussing the Capitol riots, some of my classes wanted to engage in lengthy conversations about what happened, while others did not want to spend as much time discussing it,” Ms. Smith said. “It is really up to the individual personality of the class. As long as the dialogue is courteous and respectful, I am fine with it taking whatever amount of time is necessary.”

W h i l e students are encouraged to share their beliefs in entirety, the role of the staff looks different.

“Teachers have to remain unbiased,” Ms. Smith said. “As teachers we need to encourage our students to listen to and respect other opinions and we need to lead by example.”

Glisovich argues the importance of teacher objectivity, allowing the class to state their uncensored beliefs without catering to their teacher’s bias.

“I do think that this [teacher neutrality] is a good thing because not only does it allow students to think for themselves, but it also avoids unnecessary tension and drama between the students and the teacher that could lead to problems down the road,” Glisovich said.

Maheras drew a connection between teacher objectivity and journalistic objectivity.

“I believe teachers remain neutral when discussing politics, because the role of

teachers is like that of the news: to display all viewpoints surrounding a topic without bias toward a particular ideology,” Maheras said. “With this being said, I think teachers staying neutral is a good thing, but they shouldn’t let the fear of presenting bias, from both sides, discourage them from giving the entire view of a situation.”

Ms. Smith integrates various perspectives in her lessons to give students an opportunity to form their own opinions on historical debates.

“One way that I try to stay neutral is by playing devil’s advocate,” Ms. Smith said. “I try to bring to light multiple viewpoints or ideas to get the students thinking.”

Exposure to differing perspectives allows a student to not only hear new ideas, but to also further develop and strengthen their own opinions.

“That does mean that you’re going to hear things said that you might disagree with, and you’re going to hear things that you’ve never thought about in that same way,” Dr. Collins said.

In an attempt to educate and update the District 207 staff, there was an all-staff meeting concerning freedom of speech in the classroom with a district lawyer from the Franczek Law Firm.

“It was just a good update on what you can and can’t do and how you should handle some situations that arise,” Dr. Collins said. “It’s a complex topic with lots of nuance, and people want to do the right thing, but there are issues that can arise and how things are handled can change.”

Knowing how to properly apply concepts of freedom of expression in the classroom is essential in our current political climate.

“The world is charged right now and we still need to be able to have a place where people can share their viewpoints and listen to others,” Dr. Collins said.

“Being exposed to different points of view helps you become more accepting of those who have different opinions.”

-Ms. Megan Smith

ILLUSTRATION BY EDEN WENING

Elizabeth Ryser & Lily Niziolek

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March 18, 2021| ENTERTAINMENT

Winter play ‘Puffs’ presented online for the first time

Jenna Marchuk & Andrea Smith precautions have actually improved Entertainment Editors Originally Published Feb. 26, 2021

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his year’s Winter Play, Puffs, was not performed live, but was instead available to stream digitally, similar to the Fall Play. Unlike the Fall Play, however, the Winter Play presented unique production restrictions that prevented the play from being filmed like a movie, with many cuts.

“The filming decision was two fold,” director Mr. Brennan Roach said. “One, we were contractually obligated to shoot the show as a play and not a film because of our agreement with the rights holder.

Second, with the school year moving closer to full steam, there are a lot more active projects on the table for WMTH and the broadcasting classes, and it wouldn’t have been equitable to put such a massive undertaking on the table.”

With the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, many adaptations had to be made in order to safely film the play.

Along with masks, participants are practicing distancing both on and off stage. Additionally, crew members were required to divide into smaller groups while completing projects in order to ensure safety. The necessary

relationships, despite distance difficulties and requirements.

“We have b onded together even more than normal,” junior construction head Adeline Bateman said. “We had less time to work on the set, so that meant more time helping each other get stuff together, and since there were smaller crews, we all became really close.”

Social distancing challenges forced the cast and crew to be even more proactive and make changes.

“We had full cast zoom rehearsals throughout the adaptive pause for the two weeks after winter break,” senior student director Erin Weiss said. “We really wanted to get a head start so that we could jump right into rehearsing and deeper level works as soon as we get to be in-person.”

As a result of social distancing guidelines, it wasn’t just rehearsal that was affected; the process of completing the cast’s hair and makeup also changed dramatically.

“Hair and makeup heads are working hard, as usual, to design concepts and looks for the cast, but they won’t actually be doing any of the hair and makeup,” Weiss said. “Each of the actors will be doing their own hair and makeup at home before the shows to avoid contact.”

Puffs follows Wayne, an English

PHOTO BY ALY TRUNZO

“PUFF”ECTION

Senior student director Erin Weiss is one of the few people who gets to watch the winter play live in the Watson Auditorium this year. Due to Covid restrictions, the play was presented online.

schoolboy who finds out he’s a wizard.

Wayne is sorted into the Puffs, where he learns how to navigate the ways of being a wizard, and how to avoid the evils of wizardry. This play is a spinoff of Harry Potter, with similar characters. Many characters resemble Harry Potter characters such as Blondo Malfoy (Draco Malfoy), Bippy (Dobby), and more.

“I think a challenge about this show is meeting the pacing,” senior cast member Jodi Podolski, who plays Leanne, said. “The show runs 90 minutes and has to go through all 7 books. Something Mr. Roach kept

reminding us was that magic is earned and under a time crunch, we all had to do a lot of our own work to meet the high expectations with our energy and commitment.”

The pro duc tion challenges presented in this new environment h av e e x p a n d e d t h e a c t or s’ performance skills.

“It’s definitely a bit of a challenge acting with masks and distance but we’ve made it work,” junior Taylor Truckenbrod, who plays Sally Perks and Blondo Malfoy, said. “I’m used to it now and I think it’s just a different way to perform theatre.”

HBO Max, which has a price of $14.99 a month, and also includes many popular shows exclusive to HBO Max, such as “Euphoria.” Also, “Friends” moved from Netflix to HBO Max. Junior Gianna Capesius is one of many who chose to unsubscribe from Netflix after these shows were removed.

“Since ‘The Office’, ‘Friends’, and ‘Gossip Girl’ were all taken off of Netflix, I have no reason to use it anymore since those were my favorite shows,” Capesius said.

Capesius also unsubscribed from Netflix due to the increased price, and now subscribes to HBO Max. “HBO Max is a much better deal than Netflix, as you get many exclusive shows and you get ‘Friends.’

Capesius said. “I am also considering subscribing to Peacock as I am a huge fan of ‘The Office.’

However, hope still remains

for Netflix because of its original programming. In 2020 alone, Netflix had many original hits such as “Outer Banks,” “Tiger King,” and “Ozark.”

All of these shows were very popular this year, and many spent time during lockdown watching them. To keep the service alive, Netflix will have to continue its success with originals, or buy back some of their most popular lost shows.

Although Netflix has been able to have seemingly everyone bingeing their new releases, with competition from other streaming platforms, it is no longer the one-stop-shop it used to be. Now customers will have to weigh their options, as subscribing to every streaming service can be costly.

The future of streaming services will come down to making tough decisions about which service has the most entertaining content for each subscriber.

The beginning of the end for Netflix Jenna Marchuk

Entertainment Editor Originally published Jan. 25, 2021 etflix has long reigned as the biggest and best streaming service. With entire series of many popular shows on its service, millions subscribed to the ad-free streaming service to watch these shows. Over the last year, Netflix has taken many shows off of its service and created more original content. This has led many to unsubscribe from its service and could ultimately be the beginning of Netflix’s downfall.

This year, Netflix removed many of its most popular shows such as “The Office.” Last year, “Friends” was taken off Netflix, which got backlash.

With all of these shows being taken off Netflix, many are left wondering if it is worth the cost.

Another factor that led many to unsubscribe from Netflix was the increased subscription cost. The

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premium subscription increased to $18 in late 2020. With this price increase, many subscribers are opting for other services.

Peacock is one of the most popular streaming services that many have switched to from Netflix, mainly because “The Office” is now on it, and because of its lower cost. “The Office” is such a popular show, Peacock’s entire pricing strategy is based on it. According to Slick Deals, The basic tier of Peacock is free, but it only includes the first two seasons of “The Office.” The next tier is Peacock Premium, which allows you to watch the entire series, including extended cuts of episodes featuring never-aired footage, for $4.99 a month. This is a great strategy because fans of “The Office” will be incentivized to pay for the service in order to get these added benefits.

Another popular alternative is

March 18, 2021 | ENTERTAINMENT

Best new music releases of the new year Jenna Marchuk & Andrea Smith Entertainment Editors

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nly a month into 2021, there have been many great music releases. From whole albums to singles, artists have been producing quality content to keep us entertained as we spend more time than ever in our homes.

Lana Del Rey’s New Single “Chemtrails Over the Country Club” “Chemtrails Over the County Club” is the lead single from Lana Del Rey’s upcoming album of the same name, which is set to be released on March 19. The song was released on Jan. 12.

This song is mellow and dreamy with a stunning music video. With Del Rey’s unique style of music and voice, this song is appealing to fans of all ages, as many of her songs have a similar sound to them.

The music video features striking visuals and has a vintage vibe to it, as Del Rey drives an older car and wears vintage clothing and pearls. The video takes a dark turn and includes clips of Del Rey being swept into a tornado and images of wolves.

With lyrics such as “Baby, what’s your sign?

My moon’s in Leo, my Cancer is sun,” Lana references astrology, which has gained an amount of popularity recently due to social media platforms such as TikTok. The song also shows growth in Del Rey’s life with lyrics such as, “Like when we were kids under chemtrails and country clubs,” and then transitioning to “Wearing our jewels in the swimming pool, me and my sister just playin’ it cool.” These lyrics show Del Rey’s view of attainment of wealth and material items throughout someone for the first time and also promises being broken about staying together forever. her life and how it is changed.

This song is emotionally evocative and very Overall, the song gives off a youthful and vintage vibe and combined with Lana Del Rey’s unique and well written. amazing vocals, it is a great song.

Mor gan Wallen’s New Album Olivia Rodrigo’s New Single “Driver’s “Dangerous - The Double Album” Wallen’s album debuted on Jan. 8 and has an License” “Driver’s License” has been one of the most impressive 30-song tracklist. The lead single on the popular songs released in 2021 thus far. This album is “More Than My Hometown.” Seven other song debuted on Jan. 8 and was instantly a hit on promotional singles were also released before the the social media platform TikTok. Additionally, album dropped: “7 Summers,” “Cover Me Up,” “This Rodrigo’s single hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 Bar,” “Somebody’s Problem,” “Still Goin Down,” “Heartless,” and “Livin the Dream.” and Top 100: Global on Apple Music.

“7 Summers” was released in April of 2020 and At only 17 years old, Rodrigo experienced early success with this song. “Driver’s License” is one of broke the record on Apple Music for the country two singles she has released in her music career, song with the most streams.

Wallen released his last album in 2018 and it was following her Jan. 2020 single “All I Want.”

This song appeals to young adults and talks very popular, making this album highly anticipated. about a romantic partner breaking promises and Wallen released the song “Whiskey Glasses” on his choosing someone else. Rodrigo writes, “And previous album in 2018. It was one of the biggest you’re probably with that blonde girl, who always country songs of 2019, and it is still a very popular made me doubt, she’s so much older than me, she’s country song. After this song’s growing popularity, everything I’m insecure about.” Rodrigo also writes: he had a quick rise to fame while simultaneously “And I know we weren’t perfect but I’ve never felt growing his fan base.

This album appeals to young adults and teens this way for no one, And I just can’t imagine how you could be so okay now that I’m gone, Guess you who are fans of Wallen and had been waiting for didn’t mean what you wrote in that song about me, new music. Top songs on the album include “Sand ‘Cause you said forever, now I drive alone past your in My Boots,” “Wasted on You,” and “Somebody’s street.” These lyrics describe feeling love towards Problem.”

This album has a variety of sounds including country-pop and slower songs. On this album, Wallen broke out of his comfort zone and included more slow songs than usual. Many of these songs include feelings of nostalgia and heartbreak as Wallen reminisces on past relationships.

Ariana Grande’s Single “34+35” Remix Featuring Doja Cat and Megan Thee Stallion “34 + 35” is a track off of Grande’s most recent album “Positions.” The original song was a hit, and the remix peaked at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song debuted on Jan. 15 and was popular among many.

The three of these artists together are powerful, as they all have a large fanbase. Ariana Grande is a household name, and Megan Thee Stallion and Doja Cat are newer artists. Both Megan Thee Stallion and Doja Cat have become very popular throughout 2020 and 2021.

This song became a hit on social media platform TikTok and appeals to young adults. Being a pop song, it has radio status and it is very catchy.

Although loved by many, this song is poorly written as it does not have very meaningful lyrics. It is clear that Grande has better-written songs.

These three artists together do have the capability to write and perform a hit song, and hopefully, they collaborate again in the future.

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SPORTS

| March 18, 2021

Hawkettes place second in state competition Emma Crosson

Sports Editor rom an inconsistent schedule, to virtual competitions, to an unfamiliar style of dance, the Hawkettes had to adapt greatly this year.

“This season has been unexpected in various ways,” junior Katie Yesko said. “Our season started virtual, then progressed to in-person, then went back virtual, then went back in-person.”

Because of social distancing policies, the Hawkettes also were not able to perform their specialty.

“Due to Covid guidelines, we were not allowed to compete with a kick routine,” Coach Casey Gibbons said. “Instead, this year, our focus has been our pom routine. This style, however, is not usually our priority, nor did we ever think we would be bringing this style to State.”

The state competition was filmed in the Spec Gym on Monday, March 1. The Hawkettes were one of two pom routines competing in the state series.

“A lot was at stake this year and we were expected to perform as well as we would at any normal competition,” junior Mia Murasecu said.

“It was a wonderful privilege to be dancing in these times, given the circumstances, so we tried to make every day worth it.”

The Hawkettes achieved their overall goal for the season by placing second in state.

“Our goals for the season included making it to IHSA State and placing in the top 3,” Gibbons said. “Our top priority is usually our kick routine and winning a national championship, but due to covid guidelines, we were not allowed to compete with a kick routine or attend nationals.”

On Wednesday, Feb. 24, the Hawkettes competed in-person at the CSL Conference Invite at Glenbrook South and took first place.

“Competing at the CSL conference was exhilarating,” Yesko said. “To actually go on a bus, walk into GBS in our two single-file lines, say “Good luck!” to surrounding teams, and perform in front of judges and parents was something I took for granted last year. The crowd cheering, the teams watching, and of course the adrenaline rush

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PHOTO BY EMMA CROSSON

LAST DANCE

Senior Anna Wozniakowski perfects a toe touch while filming their last performance, the State competition, in the Spec gym. This is Wozniakowski’s fourth year as a varsity Hawkette.

were all factors that differentiate an in-person competition versus just filming one in the Spec Gym.” The team also competed in two virtual IHSA invitationals and placed first in each respective competition. At Wheaton North, the Hawkettes received first place out of 28 routines.

At Stevenson, they received first place out of 27 routines.

Additionally, the Hawkettes entered a UDA Midwest virtual competition and placed second in the pom division.

Because these competitions were virtual, the team was required to record their routine and submit the video rather than performing it live.

“A unique element about virtual competitions is that teams can film as many times as they

want before submitting the video of their choosing,” Coach Gibbons said. “With a team of perfectionists, I knew filming multiple times for one competition would be a slippery slope. As a team, we decided that for each competition, we would only film the routine once.”

Another aspect of virtual competitions that differs from a live competition is not having a live audience present.

“The best part about competition season is feeling the energy of the audience while performing, and it was definitely unfortunate that we weren’t given that opportunity this year,” Murasecu said. “Although the adrenaline was not always present, we were able to efficiently bring the same energy by motivating ourselves throughout the routine.”

Boys’ swimming places fourth at conference Declan Colleran

Sports Writer he boys’ swimming and diving conference meet took place this past weekend with the team earning fourth place overall.

“The team swam really well,” Coach Don Kura said. “We’re a young team, but in a normal year, we would have qualified individuals for the state meet in two or three events.”

Even more important than the results, however, was the experience.

“Swimming in our conference is invaluable,” Coach Kura said. “It not only gives the team a sense of where they are at, but also a sense of how far they have to go to be among the elite.”

It was a long road getting to the conference meet. Just as the team neared the beginning of their season late last fall, the IHSA put the brakes

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on winter sports. This news left Coach Kura’s team two seniors, looks a lot different than it did before with nowhere to swim and a season on pause. swimmers needed to be six feet apart on the pool During the prolonged hiatus, Coach Kura deck. held virtual practices on dry “Last year, I think we graduated land for his swimmers, and by “We have had success so nine seniors,” Coach Kura said. “So, January, they were allowed to far; however, most of our it’s like a complete 180, but that was get back in the pool. expected; we knew that was going For junior Timmy Wilcox, championship meets are to happen. Now, this group will be he found these practices to be yet to come.” a group that we will carry through helpful, but not the same as an the next two to three years.” in-person practice in the pool. -Zachary Chapovalov (‘23) Despite the youth of this team, “I was absolutely better off they have managed to be successful with virtual practices rather than nothing, be- and make progress this year. cause it kept our muscles moving and our brains “We have had success so far; however, most of on the topic of diving,” Wilcox said. “But as you our championship meets are yet to come,” sophomay guess, it was not quite as great as being on more Zachary Chapovalov said. “I have definitely the diving board during those times.” made improvements myself because I have been Coach Kura’s team, which consisted of only swimming on my own time with a club.”

March 18, 2021 | SPORTS

Badminton team overcomes low turnout Boys’ soccer begins

Maria Egan

Sports Writer s winter sports kick-off at Maine South, the girl’s badminton team has taken the court.

In order to have a season, the players are following all of the guidelines required by the IHSA. “We have been wearing masks during practices and have socially distanced on and off of the court,” senior Maddie Lenzini said. “It’s been nice seeing everyone again and having a relatively normal season.”

With a record of two wins, three losses, and two ties, the varsity team plans to play at their best and do what they can to improve in order to prepare for Sectionals at the end of March.

“It has been a great start of the season, so far, and the girls have been very competitive with the other schools,” Coach Eve Muir-Wilson said.

Covid has had an impact on the number of students involved in athletics, and badminton was no exception.

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“I had fewer sophomores through seniors trying out compared to previous years, but I had just enough players to fill both rosters so that I did not have to make any cuts for those teams,” Coach Muir-Wilson said. “There were a couple of seniors who chose not to come out this year because of jobs, but no more than typical.”

In addition, with remote learning significantly impacting the typical recruiting processes, only seven athletes joined the freshmen team.

“My freshman team had a very low turnout,” Coach Muir-Wilson said. “Part of this is due to the fact that our season suddenly got switched to the winter season and being remote with school the two weeks after break, it was hard to communicate to the freshmen class about tryouts. I did have the help of the freshmen PE teachers and signs up in the school to advertise tryouts, but still only had four players at the time.”

The next event for the team will be Conference on Friday, March 19, at Glenbrook North.

“It’s been nice seeing everyone again and having a relatively normal season.”

-Maddie Lenzini (‘21)

Gymnastics places fourth in conference meet

Originally, the meets were streamed due to a restriction on spectators; however, that ban was eventually lifted.

“It wasn’t until our last couple meets that we were allowed to have spectators, so during our competitions it was just our team in the field house,” junior Bridget Pistorius said. “Competing with no crowd can be even more intimidating than competing with a crowd because of how quiet it can get, and your nerves can really get to you.”

While this experience was very different from previous years, they were able to find a positive side.

“Having competitions recorded instead of live with the other team there benefitted me personally as a gymnast because there was less stress for me to deal with,” sophomore Silvia Buti said. “It was also

Emma Crosson Sports Editor

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PHOTO BY EMMA CROSSON

he girls’ varsity gymnastics team has finished their season with three wins and three losses overall. In addition, the team placed fourth in the conference. Gymnastics did not have a state meet.

The team started off the season as they normally would; however, their season was halted to a complete stop in November just after tryouts.

“We actually had tryouts at the beginning of November and then had three days of team practice before our season was put on pause,” Coach Tessa Robinson said. “We had about the same number of girls try out as usual. We had 25 girls try out and decided to keep everyone–not make any cuts.”

The team was permitted to return to practice in January and followed strict precautions the entire season. nice to be able to go “We were practicing Monday through Friday back to the recorded video from 3:30 to 6:00 P.M.,” Coach Robinson said. and watch certain skills.”

“Everyone wore masks at all times, used their On the other hand, many own chalk bin for bars, and sanitized their hands of the gymnasts noted how one before and after each event, in addition to trying major drawback between this year to stay socially distant as much as possible.” and previous years was not being in the Another aspect of the season that has same place as their competitors. changed this year is the process of competitions.

“It was very weird not being able to This year, all competitions were still judged see the other gymnasts in person,” junior live, but no other schools competed in the Annie Middendorf said. “Going to invites same place. and to different gyms is part of what makes the “We competed at Maine South with season so fun because I can see my friends who one judge, and the other school’s team go to different schools. It was disappointing to performed at their school with the other not be able to do that this year; however, we still judge,” Coach Robinson said. “We recorded made the best of it.” each meet, and it was live streamed on YouTube LIFT OFF Junior Claire Lewis performs on the so that parents could watch from home.” uneven bars during the last meet of the season.

Emma Crosson

Sports Editor fter having their typical fall season pushed back to March, the Maine South boys’ varsity soccer team has had a successful beginning to their season. With just eight games left until Conference, the season is off to a quick start.

On Tuesday, March 9, the team won their first game of the season 1-0 against Vernon Hills with a last minute goal by junior Stefan Iricanin. Two days later, the team won again, scoring 4-1 against Maine East, improving their record to 2-0.

Despite the early success, the boys have experienced many setbacks this year due to the pandemic.

“Normally, we have a full summer of training and competitions to prepare for a fall season,” Coach Dan States said. “Unfortunately, this year has been a perpetual waiting game for the covid levels to decline and for the state to allow for our season to proceed. In the end, we have been presented with a mini-season from the state made up of conference opponents and no state playoffs.”

Even with these challenges, the team still has high expectations for the remainder of the season.

“Our goals are to relish the opportunity to be around each other and to play the game again,” Coach States said. “Winning the CSL-South is certainly a worthy goal that we also have, but truthfully we are just enjoying our time together and the opportunity to compete.”

One particular aspect that may affect the boys’ season is the short time frame that the games will be played in.

“I anticipate that the most difficult part of this upcoming season will be trying to play all of our games in a shortened time span,” senior Drew Burgis said. “It will be really important for us to stay healthy and fit because we are playing more games in a shorter amount of time.”

An effect of this short season is that there is not enough time to consistently practice.

“The shortened season is going to have a significant effect on most of the schools within the CSL who have also been confronted with the shutdown,” Coach States said. “We are likely to see some inconsistent play from most teams, including Maine South, at the beginning of the season due to the lack of preparation and training time.

Nevertheless, there are some very good players and coaches throughout the Central Suburban League that will create some very competitive contests, particularly as we head into April and the teams catch up with their training.”

The Maine South team has prepared for this season by utilizing contact days effectively.

“I’ve found that these practices have been critical for us as a team to be able to continue to develop and play together despite the difficult circumstances that the pandemic has created,” Burgis said. “I also just really enjoy playing and spending time with everyone on the team, so that has been great.”

The boys’ next game will take place on Thursday, March 18 against Highland Park.

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HAWKETTES | BOYS' SWIMMING | BADMINTON | GYMNASTICS | BOYS' SOCCER | BOYS' BASKETBALL | GIRLS' BASKETBALL

Boys' basketball ends season on a high note

Kelly Carroll

Sports Writer he boys' basketball team’s season was condensed into twenty-three games within five-and-a-half weeks, requiring them to play about four games a week. They finished the season with a record of 13-10, capping off the season with a 55-53, lastminute win against Saint Viator.

Due to the tight schedule, the team had to make the most out of every chance they had to practice.

“We even practiced and worked on specific things within our games due to the limited number of practices,” Coach Tony Lavorato said.

Because of the low number of practices, one method that senior Marko Anderson found beneficial when working towards

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PROTECT THIS HOUSE PHOTO BY EMMA CROSSON

Sophomore Ryan Leyden shoots a free throw in the March 2 game against Highland Park. The Hawks won 59-39.

improvement was watching film from previous games.

“The big thing that helped us out during games was watching film,” Anderson said.

“Just knowing your opponents’ plays and how they play the game was a big advantage and was able to help us down the road. It also helped us maximize our own game, as we could see what worked and what didn’t.”

The season was characterized by hardfought battles against tough conference opponents, most notably the game against Evanston Township High School.

“After our triple overtime game with Evanston, we were hanging our heads a little bit because we were so close but we couldn’t pull out the win," Anderson said. "However, I think that game made us a stronger team and helped us get more mentally and physically prepared.”

Overall, the team had an impressive season, and Coach Lavorato credits it to the bonding of the players.

“Day in and day out, we were getting better

as a group, and we were becoming closer as a team, which is the most important thing,” Coach Lavorato said. “I am very proud of how the team did this season. I’m really most proud of how our team improved and how our chemistry really came together on the court.”

The team also played better than their record shows, with five of their ten losses coming within three points, and two of those five games ending in overtime.

The boys saw immediate success in nonconference games, starting off 4-0. The Hawks finished 10-3 in non-conference play, with big wins against Libertyville High School and Notre Dame College Prep.

With no state playoff on the horizon, the Hawks finished with a 13-10 record in a very unique season. Despite not having a state game, the boys are grateful to have had a season at all.

"I was just really excited to finally be able to play with my teammates again and to finish out my senior year on a high note," senior Sean Gallery said.

Girls' basketball finishes season 10-0 in conference Wilson Sitkiewicz Sports Editor

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ith no state series to look forward to, the Hawks finished their season with an impressive 14-3 record.

Coach Jeff Hamann credited the team’s thorough success to the their continuous hard work, even when they were unsure of the season’s chances.

“They still worked extremely hard even when we couldn’t practice in person," Coach Hamann said. "They did a virtual camp over the summer and all worked hard on their games individually."

One detrimental aspect of the shortened season was the lack of available practice time. The team had to play seventeen games in about a month, which resulted in the team having more games than practices.

Since this situation was the same for every team in the state, Coach Hamman said that the Hawks had an edge due to their great adaptability.

“We weren't able to practice as much, so we had to make more in-game adjustments, and we had really done well with that,” Hamann said.

Ma i n e S o u t h d o m i n at e d i n

conference games, going 10-0 this season. This conference sweep earned the Hawks first place in the conference.

Their only losses came to tough, outof-conference opponents, including a heartbreaking 62-64 loss to Simeon Career Academy, ranked 17th in the state.

While the girls had a great season, their season got off to a late start. After months of uncertainty and reversed IHSA decisions, the girls’ basketball season finally was underway in January.

On Nov. 19 of last year, just three days before practices were supposed to start, the IHSA Board of Directors decided that basketball, among other winter sports, would be postponed for an undetermined amount of time.

Players were left speechless and saddened after the possibility of playing a season looked grim. These emotions were strong for senior Niki Manolis, a guard on the team.

“When I heard the news, I tried to stay hopeful and waited for things to play out,” Manolis said. “It’s always hard to think about what this year could’ve been, but we’re lucky to have a season at all and it’s more important that we all stay healthy and safe in these times.”

PROTECT THIS HOUSE

PHOTO BY EMMA CROSSON

Senior Niki Manolis defends her territory during the game on March 2 against Highland Park. The Hawks won this game against Highland Park 62-18.

After more than two months of growing doubt, the silence was broken on the morning of Jan. 22 by Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike.

Dr. Ezike stated that basketball could resume if the high school’s county reached Phase 4 of COVID-19 protocol.

With Cook County in Phase 4 at the time, the Hawks were able to return to the court.

The team immediately started practicing, as their first game was scheduled for Feb. 5.

While there unfortunately aren't playoffs for the team to prove their mettle, the team recognizes that there is still a lot to be proud of.

“We’ve known this group was going to be special for years,” Coach Hamann said. “Since their freshman year, we knew this team was going to be great.”