Vol. 60, Issue 4

! e ds ag or ack p hw —­ b u t a tio n Soplic in ff Ap Joe Sta

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Feburary 2, 2024

1111 S. Dee Road • Park Ridge, Illinois 60068

D DRIVING

Vol. 56, No. 4

F FORCE Senior Meegan Fahy leads the 25-1 girls’ basketball team into the playoffs.

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY LILY GIAMBARBEREE

See page 12.

12.

Final Flex

Snow School Family Faculty

District cancels flex days Emergency days shouldn’t for next year. require e-learning.

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Attending school where a parent works.

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Stickin’ to It

Girls’ gymnastics thrives on consistency.

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NEWS | Feb. 2, 2024

News in Brief Snow brings back virtual learning Charlotte Chapman

Editor “Calls typically lasted five to ten minutes, with Winter Formal canceled Newsuring the recent winter weather, District 207 ten minutes being on the longer side,” senior An-

Charlotte Chapman

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called an emergency day on Jan. 12 and a thony Benbenek said. remote-learning day on Jan. 16.

After attending these brief calls, students were Initially, it was announced that Jan 12. classes often assigned material to complete on their own. would be online, but due to “All we did was check in for the intense snowfall, many lost attendance and then received power and were unable to parwork to do asynchronously,” ticipate.

Bordini said.

“On Friday, before the disDespite many students feelof students attended the trict canceled the day, I had ing unenthusiastic, attendance virtual learning day on several students who were unwas still relatively high.

Jan. 16. able to login due to weather “I attended all of my calls The overall attendance conditions,” English teacher on the E-learning day, and a rate for the 2023-2024 Mr. Jim McGowan said. majority of my classmates also school year is 94%.

After 12 minutes of e-learndid,” Benbenek said. ing, the remote day canceled.

Instead, the challenge was “Due to the power outages in the area, District translating instruction from a typical classroom 207 is calling an emergency day,” the district an- environment to a virtual one. nouncement read.

“E-learning is tiring, frustrating, and does not The later remote learning day on Jan. 16 was allow us, the students, to gain as much underthe first time classes were online since the pan- standing and knowledge as we would inside of the demic ended. classroom,” Benbenek said. “[Remote learning] felt really nostalgic to COWhile the occasional virtual day may be necesVID,” junior Madi Pierski said. sary, the most recent experience created compliSome students felt that the work completed cations for many. during the virtual day didn’t “The most challenging, justify the change. and most important, aspect  SNOW MORE FUN “While it was nice to finish The Southwords editorial board of teaching right now is orall of my schoolwork for the weighs in on snow days shifting from chestrating the various levels day in a short period of time, free time to work time. of differentiation required in I felt like we were just doing Samara Lefler See page 5 all classrooms by the teacher,” busy work” junior Elizabeth Mr. McGowan said. “This News Editor is difficult to do well in the istrict 207 recently had visitors from DaeG- Bordini said.

The time students spent on virtual classes var- traditional classroom, and the virtual classroom wang High School in Seoul, South Korea. compounds this.”

While in the United States, the students will ied, but most online calls were relatively short. visit many schools to learn about the American education system.

The visit was first organized by District 207 Samara Lefler “The change does not affect the end-of-theNews Editor Board member Jin Lee. semester schedule, since the classes will meet up “Jin Lee helped facilitate the visit through his he District 207 calendar has been set for the until the last day of break,” Ms. Colleen Hatch, contacts in Korea after previously securing an 2024-2025 school year, with one of the most a member of District 207’s calendar committee, MOU (memorandum of understanding) with notable updates being the removal of the flex day. said. “[There is] no difference, just the extra work DaeGwang High School,” Superintendent Dr. Ken In recent years, the day prior to winter break day has been removed.”

Wallace said. has been a flex day, where students are not reMany students appreciated the opportunity To provide the students with a place to stay, quired to come in unless meeting with a teacher. flex days offered.

Maine South families volunteered to host students Those who attended were able to make up tests “I thought the flex day was a pretty good idea during their trip. and complete any outstanding work. overall,” Szulczewski said. “Students who have lots “I chose to host because we had an exchange “I came in during the flex day because I had of tests during the last week of school can have student last year and loved the experience,” senior an orchestra concert which caused me to skip two one extra day to be able to spread out when they Mia Pearl, a host student, said. tests,” junior Walter Szulczewski said. want to take those tests, or if they want to comThe visiting students were in District 207 for Teachers used the day for planning and grad- plete a retake to help boost their grade.” one-and-a-half days. On Jan. 23, they were able ing when they were not with students.

In contrast, some teachers don’t find them as to tour classes at Maine South with their host stu“[I spent the time] planning for next semester,” beneficial as students. dents.

English teacher Dr. Richard Jones said.

“No, [they are not helpful]— we should revert “My favorite part was just seeing how excited However, next year there will be no flex day. to the single, professional development day for [the visitors] were to see things in our school like “[The flex day] simply did not fit into first se- teachers to plan for semester two with kids on the theater and pool,” Pearl said. “Also, it was fun mester,” Ms. Jennifer Sarashinsky, a member of holiday,” Dr. Jones said. to learn some Korean and their culture.”

District 207’s Calendar Committee, said. “Due to Despite these differing perspectives, many feel The experience was equally enriching for the the start date, the addition of a no attendance day that they will miss the extra planning time provisiting students and the District 207 community. in November because of the election and needing vided by the flex day.

“We are honored to be able to share an Ameri- to provide enough instructional days, the flex day “I think I am most likely going to miss flex can high school experience with the students was not possible to include. ” days,” Szulczewski said. “For students who need from South Korea,” Dr. Wallace said.

Despite the shift, the change will be minimal. to retake a test, it is a great opportunity.”

News Editor fter planning the “Snow Ball” winter formal, Junior Class Council (JCC) was forced to cancel the dance after a lack of student interest.

On Jan. 17, 10 days prior to the planned date of the dance, an email was sent out to students announcing the cancellation.

This decision was made jointly between JCC and Maine South administration.

“Ticket sales were nowhere near where they needed to be in order to fund the cost of a dance,” JCC sponsor Mr. Joseph Greguras said. “By cancelling the dance when we did, we were able to minimize the financial loss.”

Despite the eventual challenges with student support, JCC spent months organizing the dance.

“In terms of preparing, discussing and promoting the dance, there is nothing that we would change,” JCC sponsor Ms. Amy Kladis said. “JCC worked tirelessly to come up with, promote and plan a Winter Formal.”

Going forward, JCC will keep serving the Maine South community.

“We will continue to run service hour activities, fundraisers, and social events for the Junior Class,” Mr. Greguras said. “Of course, we will also begin planning and preparing for Junior Prom.”

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South Korean students visit 207

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207 removes flex days in 2024-2025 schedule

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Feb. 2, 2024 | NEWS

District 207 hires next superintendent News Editors he search for District 207’s new superintendent has concluded with the hiring of Dr. Tatiana Bonuma.

Dr. Ken Wallace, the current superintendent, is set to retire at the end of the 2023-2024 school year. Since this announcement, the Board of Education has been reviewing candidates to fill his role.

During a Dec. 20 special meeting, board members selected Dr. Tatiana Bonuma for the job.

“Dr. Bonuma brings skills and a perspective to the superintendent role that we think makes her ideally suited to make key decisions about the future of District 207,” Board of Education President Carla Owen said in a district press release.

Currently, Dr. Bonuma works in

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systems, human resources and work directly with the superintendent,” Dr. Bonuma said.

Dr. Bonuma worked in District 212 for 17 years. Along with her experience as deputy superintendent, she was also the principal of West Leyden High School for four years and assistant principal for seven years. Overall, Dr. Bonuma has been working in education for over 20 years.

Once she begins, Dr. Bonuma aims to improve the student experience with the help of the community. “[I’m looking forward to] being able to immerse myself in NEW YEAR, NEW JOB Dr. the culture of each building and of the community to be able to really Tatiana Bonuma was selected as the next superintendent. Dr. Bonuma will start on July absorb everything that we’re doing 1, 2024, according to a district press release. and what we can continue to do to Leyden School District 212 as the improve the opportunity for our deputy superintendent. students,” Dr. Bonuma said.

“I oversee all of the operations, As Dr. Bonuma joins the Maine CREDIT DISTRICT 207

Charlotte Chapman & Samara Lefler

administration, she will be working closely with fellow administrators, teachers, and students alike.

“I’m really planning to learn a lot from our teachers, our staff, and our students,” said Dr. Bonuma. “[I’ll be focused on] understanding the programs we have in place, the things that we are currently working on, why we are working on those things, and where the needs are coming from.”

Dr. Bonuma will officially join District 207 on July 1, 2024.

Once she begins, Dr. Bonuma plans to immediately take part in the Maine community.

“To be able to have that opportunity to really be engaged in the curriculum, the student life, and be a part of the school community and the larger community that Maine is a part of, is just an amazing opportunity,” Dr. Bonuma said.

New Team White APSS hired Romero awarded for service PHOTO BY CEYLAN YILDIZ

News Editor

News Writer

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ith the start of second semester, Team White hired new Interim Principal for Student Support (APSS) Mr. Shamoon Ebrahimi to fill the vacancy created when Ms. Dara’ Fenner resigned.

Mr. Ebrahimi began working in the Chicago Public Schools as an interventionist.

After earning his administrative degree, Mr. Ebrahimi looked to expand into a new role.

“I was doing counseling for 15 years,” Mr. Ebrahimi said. “I didn’t hate it, but I had this itch to try something different. I thought I could totally be an assistant principal of student support.”

As a new staff member, Mr. Ebrahimi is excited about meeting the students at Maine South. “[I’m looking forward to] getting to know the community,” Mr. Ebrahimi said.

While at Maine South, Mr. Ebrahimi plans to form meaningful connections within the building.

“I think in order to really do well in this job and succeed, you have to build relationships with your students and staff members throughout the building,” Mr. Ebrahimi said.

The role of an APSS focuses on aiding students struggling with attendance and behavior issues. Mr.

Lucia Fuentes

PHOTO BY CEYLAN YILDIZ

Charlotte King

SUPPORTIVE STAFF Mr.

Shamoon Ebrahimi is the new Team White APSS. His experience as a counselor has prepared him for the role.

Ebrahimi plans to use his experience as a counselor to succeed in this role.

“Whatever mistakes they’re making, I’m helping them try to learn from it almost from a therapeutic counselor kind of lens,” Mr. Ebrahimi said.

The school plans to keep this interim position until the end of the school year. Then, interviews will be held to fill the position permanently.

In the meantime, Mr. Ebrahimi is looking forward to taking on this leadership role.

“I really like having a role of helping develop somebody, training and working closely with them, and seeing somebody grow over a long period of time,” Mr. Ebrahimi said.

his year, senior Ava Romero was awarded the 2023 Golden Community Impact Award. She was recognized by the Park Ridge Youth Commission (PRYC) for her work as the president of Key Club.

The award was first conceived of by senior Dylan Sarsany, who presented the idea to the PRYC. The award honors students who have participated in an abundance of community service.

“Last February, I thought of this award and brought a proposal to our commission meeting,” Sarsany said.

Academics are not a factor in choosing the recipient. Instead, the committee focuses on qualities such as constructive behavior, leadership, and positive influence on Park Ridge youth.

Romero was first nominated for the award by her Team White counselor Mr. William Milano. At the time, Romero wasn’t aware that she was being considered for the award.

“I was very surprised,” Romero said. “I was very honored and it felt nice to know that [my work] doesn’t go unnoticed.”

Mr. Milano nominated Romero mainly due to her work in Key Club.

“Ava stands as one of the most active volunteers in Maine South history,” Mr. Milano said.

SERVICE STAR Ava Romero

received the 2023 Golden Community Impact Award. Her work as Key Club President earned her this recognition.

Being president of Key Club, Romero organizes service opportunities for club members. These opportunities include donation drives, trips to Feed My Starving Children, volunteering at the Park Ridge Public Library, and more.

“She has helped create opportunities for the 300 members in the club, totalling around 2,200 hours,” Mr. Milano said.

Romero hopes to continue her work in community service in the future.

“This award will mean that community service will always be a part of my life,” Romero said. “It has made such an impact and I love to be a part of my community and help those around me.”

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NEWS | Feb. 2, 2024

Beyond the blueprint: construction project engages students Katelyn Whitlock News Writer

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uilding Trades students ended first semester with a major project, working to construct either a bench or adirondack chair.

“We started off with a couple of smaller projects, less angles, less cutting, less planning, and less preparation,” Building Trades teacher Mr. Cray Allen said. “Then, we kind of built up to this [project]. These two projects were a good opportunity for [the students] to use everything that they have learned.”

Many students found they enjoyed the project, appreciating the opportunity to apply the skills they learned throughout the semester.

“I thought the project was pretty nice,” sophomore Michael Duca said.

“I liked working with my hands and using the tools, and I learned a lot.

This overall was a fun project that I would definitely do again.”

However, the project was not without challenges. Along with gaining experience, students had to problem-solve and persevere.

“It was challenging, but we got through it,” senior Gavin Janvier said. “[The biggest challenge was] the angles, trying to make sure I cut both pieces to the same exact size and length.”

In addition to learning skills, students were given creative freedom.

Left to work on their own, some students chose to customize their projects.

“I think it’s starting to evolve where kids are really starting to do some custom things to each bench,” Mr. Allen said. “We have blueprints, so most of the kids’ benches and chairs are very similar. But then, as time allows, kids are doing a little bit different customized cuts, adding some cool labeling, and maybe even getting to the point where we do some laser cutting on a piece of metal or copper, and actually label the benches.”

As for the benches and chairs, they are donated or taken home by students.

“We’re actually going to donate two or three different benches to the fire department,” Mr. Allen

PHOTO BY CEYLAN YILDIZ

NAILED IT Benches created by students in the Building Trades course can be found in

the C-wing hallway. This project gives students both hands-on experience and an outlet to apply their skills.

said. “Frost Academy is going to be given a couple of different benches and chairs. And then we have some teachers that are still interested in taking some home.”

Just as the project is evolving, the Building Trades course itself is also evolving. First offered for the 20222023 school year, the class originally focused on blueprint reading. But this year, students are learning how to use CAD software to create their own designs before building them in the shop.

“Instead of just reading blueprints, [students are] starting to understand the ‘why’ behind it,” Mr. Allen said. “The design aspect—I think that’s the next level. When they get to college, in construction management, they’re going to have to take some of these CAD courses [and] they’re going to be ahead of the game. That’s what gives you confidence as a student. And I think that’s just going to motivate [students] to go even further with their degrees and certifications.”

Marketing class project transforms classrooms to boardrooms Alanna Gu News Writer arketing classes are delving into a semester-long project that allows students to work with real-world clients. Throughout the project, students form groups, create their own agencies, and navigate various steps to develop a marketing plan for their company.

Ms. Elizabeth Terpstra, CTE Business Education Teacher, works with the Park Ridge Chamber of Commerce each semester to determine the most suitable local businesses for the assignment.

“This is a really awesome opportunity for students to start to build a portfolio that they can show colleges or potential employers when they interview,” Ms. Terpstra said. “Not many high school students can say they’ve had actual, real-world experience.”

The marketing students have the opportunity to meet with their client on two occasions, which provides them with a better understanding of the company and its objectives.

Using independent research and insights from class, each group creates a marketing plan of how the business can utilize its budget, work-

PHOTO COURTESY MS ELIZABETH TERPSTRA

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REAL-WORLD READY First semester marketing students senior Marjie Roberts, sophomore Reagan Gatz, sophomore Maeve McGovern, and junior Abby Kladis (left to right) give their final presentation in B12. The project is judged by a local business and a winning group is chosen from each class.

force, and systems to reach its target market and promote economic growth.

“My group was awesome,” junior Claire Petruso, a first-semester Marketing student, said. “We bounced ideas off of each other, allowing for our project to reach its full potential.”

Additionally, this project prepares students for real-world situations by improving their comprehension of marketing concepts.

“I’ve gained more skills with learning how to identify the different aspects of a target market, as well as identify forms of promotion and product placement a lot better,” junior Larissa Kurtovic, a former Marketing student, said.

Designing a proposal for a company provides students with practical experience, as opposed to just a conceptual understanding. “[Project-based learning] allows me to be more creative and gain a deeper understanding of the course material,” junior Irene Kostov, a semester-one student, said.

Students have the unique opportunity to work independently and take creative liberty, with teachers providing guidance instead of strict instructions.

“What is great about the marketing plan project is that Ms. Terpstra and I get to facilitate rather than dominate class discussions,” Marketing teacher Ms. Amy Kladis said.

“Our role in the project is to act as a consultant. We’re not there to tell groups what to do.”

Many students have expressed appreciation for their experience during the marketing plan project.

“I enjoyed the project,” Kostov said. “It was a good way to tie together all of the marketing concepts that we had learned throughout the semester, and it was fun to make and present.”

At the end of the semester, each agency assembles a slideshow highlighting the main points of their strategy and pitches it to the business owner; then, the client evaluates each presentation based on their criteria.

Beyond the grade and the fun experience, this project offers students the chance to dive deeper into marketing, helping them decide if it resonates as a viable pursuit for the future.

“By the end of the semester, [students] have a much, much better understanding of everything that falls under the umbrella of marketing in business,” Ms. Kladis said. “[The experience] helps students make good decisions about whether this is a field in business that might be a career interest post-high school.”

Feb. 2, 2024 | COMMENTARY

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

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STAFF EDITORIAL Snow days do not require remote learning S EDITORIAL CARTOON BY ANNA PAPANASTASSIOU

now days can be a magical surprise that provides students with a break from the gloom of Chicago winter and offers a chance to return to the freedom of childhood.

The excitement of waiting for that phone call declaring the cancelation of school for severe weather was simply unmatched. These days were filled with late mornings, building snowmen, sledding, and more.

However, following the extensive remote learning of the pandemic, District 207 announced that any emergency days would become remote days, and students would be responsible for following their regular schedule in a virtual setting.

On Friday, Jan. 12, for the first time since this change in policy, Disctrict 207 called for a remote learning day due to the predicted snowfall.

Ultimately, school was canceled during first period after significant power outages made remote learning impossible.

Then on Tuesday, Jan. 16, another remote learning day was implemented due to a wind chill warning. This time, the school day was completed remotely in its entirety.

Despite the fact that we have the technology to engage in remote learning, that does not mean that we should. As the Friday emergency day proved, unpredictable weather does not make for an environment conducive to learning.

Furthermore, most students found that their online school day consisted of brief Google Meets and an assignment to complete before the next class, if the teacher chose to assign anything to begin with-hardly a necessary educational experience.

Many felt as though this day of remote learning was unnecessary and they would have gotten the same experience if it was held asynchronously or not at all.

When emergency days are called, most students are not home alone.

High schoolers are often called upon to babysit younger siblings or clear snow, meaning attending class is not their first priority. Also, having siblings and parents around can make for a chaotic household and diminish focus on a video call for class.

It is understandable that some districts must be cautious about calling an emergency day, as they have to add

an extra day to the end of the school year to make up for it.

District 207, however, already has five emergency days built into its calendar. This was specifically done so that in the event of severe weather, the school still has the required number of state-mandated student attendance days.

In the event of an extreme emergency with numerous missed days, remote learning would certainly be an appropriate way to prevent learning loss. However, for one-off days, like snow days, it is best to return to learning when everyone can be back in the building.

Snow days are near and dear to children/students throughout the Midwest, and it’s important to realize not only their benefits for student mental health, but also for those whose learning can be impacted by unpredictable factors.

Having a completely asynchronous school day or the day off entirely in the event of severe weather can help relieve stress for students and teachers alike. It also provides the opportunity to spend time with loved ones or enjoy a brief return to childhood.

Southwords is a student-run 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.

Student participation in the 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 Madison Basquin Elizabeth Handley News Editors Charlotte Chapman Charlotte King Samara Lefler Commentary Editors Eliza Goldwasser Jacob Mascort Emery Yates Features Editors

Ava Jurek Lilien Schirazi

Entertainment Editors Sayde Feeley Grace Halpert Caitlin Vengazo Sports Editors

Kyra Demeros Brianna Giustino Thomas Hurley

Production Editors Rohan Cham Lily Giambarberee Anastasia Musyakevich Ceylan Yildiz Adviser

Mr. Stathakis

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COMMENTARY | Feb. 2, 2024

Teenage culture is spending money Commentary Editor

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ccording to CNBC, teenagers, on average, spend $2,600 a year on food and clothes. And if I’m being honest, this number seems surprisingly small.

Most of the time when I am out with my friends, we go to Panera or Starbucks, and when I get home, I have significantly less money in my wallet than when I left.

While previous generations of teens cycled through a variety of popular activities, it seems that our generation has one defining pastime: spending money.

I’ve seen it time and time again with my peers, especially with those who have jobs.

Teenagers with jobs have disposable income that is not fully under their parents’ control.

Because of this, teenagers will often spend most of their money frivolously when they first get their paychecks instead of putting it aside to save for bigger occasions.

Towards the end of their pay period, though, teenagers will often tightly budget their money.

Yet, once they get paid again, the cycle repeats itself.

We will go from having no self-

together at someone's house and just hang out there; they will often wind up at some type of restaurant or store.

It’s time that we come up with other things to do that either don’t require any money or require very little money.

You could stay in and watch a movie, go on a walk in a nature preserve or local park, or bake something.

Another way to help solve this would be to create a budget for your spending.

You could have a certain amount

for everyday spending and still have some left over to save.

In doing so, you would have a set amount of money that you would be allowed to spend, and you would have to make it last until you got paid again, or until your parents or family members gave you more money.

There is so much in our world that is attempting to lure us into spending money.

Teenagers need to learn to be smart about how they spend so that later in life our irresponsible habits don’t stay with us into adulthood.

what I want to do with my life, so I often turned to the lives of fictional characters and story lines. After I had convinced myself I was going to become a surgeon because of “Grey’s Anatomy,” I switched career aspirations to becoming a teacher, because of “New Girl.”

Later, I was convinced acting was the path for me. (I chalk that up to the overall increase in television content I consumed during COVID.) These examples only scrape the surface of the career paths I explored.

However, after looking back at myself from where I am now and having a better understanding of myself, I noticed none of these aspirations were “real.” It was more me trying to think of anything I could to give

myself some stability, and for me, that happened to be the shows and movies I turned to for comfort.

I’m not trying to invalidate my interest in these careers, because part of it was real, but it was how I came upon these paths that was flawed. I was never really thinking of myself in these positions but myself as these characters and the lives they were living.

It is never easy when you are young to fully decide or commit to a future path for yourself to take.

The countless number of options can be overwhelming and lead you to approach the situation the wrong way.

Ultimately, I needed to step away from the fictional realities I was observing to truly figure out my own

genuine interests.

I am not the same as the characters I adore—I am a real person with unique values and interests. Taking time to explore those personal interests is the only way I can truly settle on one career path, so that is what I did. I have finally started to focus on the things I currently enjoy doing and am quite skilled at and have based everything on that.

Taking my love for the newspaper, my ability to speak to anyone, and my overall opinionated look at things, I realized that it could all be turned into a real career in marketing. I may not be pursuing the medical path I had once thought I was destined for, but I am pursuing something catered to me, not the characters on TV.

ILLUSTRATION BY ANASTASIA MUSYAKEVICH

Emery Yates

control to having an incredible amount of self-control in just a matter of days.

The fact that we can budget once we start to run low on money shows that we can be smart about our spending; we just have to do it sooner rather than later.

This is not something that only affects those with jobs.

It has become the culture of American teens to go get food or go to the mall whenever they want to hang out with friends.

We often spend money on things we don’t need just to have something to do.

Additionally, there is a certain pressure that comes with hanging out with friends who are all spending money.

If everyone else is buying something, you might feel more influenced to buy something to not feel left out.

I cannot count how many times I’ve bought Starbucks for myself just because I was there picking up my friend’s drink.

Every teenager has a fear of missing out: they want to fit in with their friends.

Buying what your friends are buying, even if you don’t need it, is just another way to do that.

It's perfectly natural to cure boredom by going out and doing something.

But it doesn’t always have to mean spending money.

It’s not often that teenagers will get

Separating yourself from the characters on TV Madison Basquin

Editor-in-Chief t took me an embarrassingly long time to realize that watching and enjoying “Grey’s Anatomy” did not mean I should be a doctor.

As someone who has consumed excessive amounts of television, I thought that just because the made-up characters in a show had seemingly interesting and exciting lives, it meant that pursuing the occupation would bring me the same joy. Unfortunately the characters were written for those jobs, but I wasn’t.

I have never been passionate about

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Feb. 2, 2024 | COMMENTARY

Class performance trumps AP exam results Amelie Tapia

Commentary Writer hen I took AP World History my freshman year, I was made well aware of the fact that I needed to do well in the class in order to maintain a high GPA, and score a four or five on the AP test in May. Doing my own research and having conversations with my father, a college advisor at Oakton Community College, helped to prepare me; however, I quickly discovered that not many students had these same resources.

Often, students opt to take AP classes because they are the only option for increased rigor, as Maine South has removed many non-AP accelerated classes.

When I talked to my friends about their experiences in AP classes, I learned that many teachers were putting more emphasis on the AP test rather than the overall class.

I realized many students are misinformed and don’t place enough

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importance on the AP class itself and how it can affect their overall GPA. This is problematic, as universities look primarily at your GPA before AP scores when considering you for their school.

Between the two, prioritizing GPA may be more beneficial to students than the AP test.

Most competitive and well-known universities, like the University of Chicago and Duke University, only grant college credit to students who score a four or five on their AP exams.

Because of this, AP teachers should first focus on helping their students achieve a good grade in the class by emphasizing the curriculum more than test prep, especially as not all students will even take the AP exam at the end of the year.

According to the released 2023 College Board AP exam results, 36% of students who took the AP Environmental Science exam scored a four or five, which is similar to the 32% of students who took AP 3D Art and Design and scored a four or five.

Likewise, 38% of students who took AP Calculus AB scored a four or five, and 43% who took AP English

Literature and Composition reached that same threshold.

These figures illustrate that, often, less than half of the students who take these AP exams score well enough to gain college credit.

Because score submissions to colleges are optional, many students do not feel as though they need to put full effort into the AP exam.

Conversely, it is mandator y to submit your grades for college applications, yet teachers often stress the test above the class itself.

There are many reasons why some students choose to not participate in AP testing.

With the average price for a single AP exam being around $100, it can get quite expensive if you are taking numerous APs. For families that have multiple students in high school, it can be a financial burden to have their children take an AP exam.

Another reason that students might not choose to take an AP exam is due to the high stress they feel with dealing with second semester cumulatives, demanding end-of-year events and activities, and for upperclassmen, the

college application process.

Whether you are taking one AP test or five, it is incredibly difficult and stressful to retain an entire year’s worth of information for one test.

Although the AP exam is important and can be helpful, teachers need to stop glorifying the AP test and instead help students understand the importance of learning all the material that the class covers.

AP teachers should work on not only emphasizing doing well in the class itself, but also explaining to them that developing a strong understanding of foundational concepts and earning a good grade should be the primary focus.

For students who opt out of the AP exam, the AP curriculum is still important, as it will prepare them for college-level classes in the future.

Maine South should also offer more accelerated courses for students who are seeking to challenge themselves, but don’t want to take the AP test.

We need to stop putting the AP exam on a pedestal, and instead ensure that students and teachers recognize the importance of AP classes when it comes to learning and GPA.

Maine South students and staff share their answer to the question, “What is more important, the AP test or the AP class?”

“If the focus is too much on the AP test, then you’re not really considering that some students have other values, not just a number that you get in the summer.”

Annamarie Milazzo Class of ‘25

“I honestly think that the AP Exam is way more important than the actual grades you get in the class because the test better reflects your skill in a specific subject, not just your GPA.”

Jeric Clerigo Class of ‘25

“What I think is most “100% the test. To me, important is giving it’s not even close. In rigorous curriculum to fact, I don’t think that students. The students you should take the sign up for an AP class without taking the class—they’re expecting test. The test should be themselves to reach a very closely aligned high standard.” with the course.”

Mr. Trevor Fritz Social Science Dept.

Dr. Richard Jones English Dept.

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FEATURES | Feb. 2, 2024

Doroshkevich fences on the world stage Maggie Sheehan Features Writer

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hen junior Vika Doroshkevich was ten years old, her father’s goal was to find her a sport that would get her a college scholarship. Now, she is a nationally recognized fencer, graduating from high school in three years, and an aspiring investment banker.

Her success is the culmination of years of assertive determination that serves as an example of perseverance to those around her.

Doroshkevich became involved in fencing because she was drawn to the intense nature of the sport and the opportunities it presented.

“Fencing seemed to stand out because, let’s be honest, not that many people do fencing,” Doroshkevich said. “It’s a very competitive sport— it’s small, but it’s very competitive.”

Doroshkevich took this competition to the highest level, traveling the world to prove her skill. Most recently, she competed in a National competition in San Jose, California.

“I got 10th place in the U20 event out of 230 people,” Doroshkevich said.

This past fall, she also had the opportunity to compete in a World Cup in Peru, which was a long-time goal of hers.

“I had the whole USA uniform, and it was so cool,” Doroshkevich said. “It was like, ‘Look at me, I’m fencing for team USA.’” Doroshkevich’s drive comes from a genuine love for the sport. Her coach, Bakhyt Abdikulov at Fencing Center of Chicago, noticed that this was a key to her accomplishments.

“Vika has a lot of passion for fencing; she loves it and is very dedicated,” Abdikulov said.

Although she has fulfilled many of her goals already, Doroshkevich’s aspirations don’t stop there. She aims to continue competing in high-level settings, as well as fencing at the Division 1 level next year.

“My next goal is to go to the World Cup in Europe,” Doroshkevich said.

“That’s in February. It’s going to be in France, so I’m just hoping that I qualify.”

Fencing led Doroshkevich to athletic success as well as academic success. Just as her dad dreamed of when she began, her skill and dedication helped Doroshkevich achieve nearly a full ride to college.

“I got recruited, and I signed with

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PHOTO COURTESY VIKA DOROSHKEVICH

DON’T FENCE HER IN Junior Vika Doroshkevich (left), representing Team

USA, fences against her opponent in the January North American Cup in San Jose, California. Doroshkevich placed 10th out of 229 competitors in the juniors division of women’s epee.

PHOTO COURTESY VIKA DOROSHKEVICH

PHOTO COURTESY VIKA DOROSHKEVICH

SIGN ON THE LINE Doroshkevich commits to Temple University (left) to

compete on their Division I women’s fencing team. Doroshkevich plans to major in finance and enroll in Temple’s investment banking program as well. Doroshkevich proudly holds her 7th place medal (right) from the November North American Cup in Fort Worth, Texas.

Temple University,” she said. “They offered me an athletic scholarship.”

She hopes to major in finance and enroll in Temple University’s investment banking program.

As with any success, Doroshkevich’s victories were not without hard work and sacrifice.

Abdikulov speaks to the qualities Doroshkevich possesses that have gotten her through challenging moments.

“She is an extraordinary person, a hard worker, always ready to help people, very kind, and has a very good sense of humor,” Abdikulov said.

These qualities have proved vital to Doroshkevich’s resilience, even as she faced difficulties. From a young age, she learned to persevere through challenges to attain her goals.

“I’ve always been a determined person, because we actually immigrated from Ukraine,” Doroshkevich said. “I went to kindergarten in

Ukraine, and then when we moved to the US, I was told that because I didn’t know English, I was going to have to go to kindergarten again, so I had to repeat a grade.”

Since she faced this setback early in her education, Doroshkevich was always a year older than her classmates.

When she reached high school, she realized she wanted to graduate as soon as possible with peers who were her age.

“I took summer classes and extra credits—everything that could get me enough credits to graduate early,” Doroshkevich said.

Ms. Erin Sanchez, Doroshkevich’s counselor, acknowledged Doroshkevich’s drive to graduate early and the proactive steps she took to achieve this.

“She made an appointment with me during her first month as a Maine South freshman to explain her goal

of graduating in three years,” Ms. Sanchez said.

Doroshkevich quickly realized how difficult it would be to juggle her sport and her rigorous academic path, yet she refused to let go of her ambitions.

“I have practice Monday through Friday, three hours per day, from 6:309:30,” Doroshkevich said. “Once I get home, I don’t really go to sleep until like 1-2 AM because I have to get all my homework done.”

Doroshkevich acknowledges that her dreams would not have been possible without the unwavering support of her coach, parents, and friends.

From covering the financial costs of fencing to helping her balance school and sports, her parents’ assistance helped Doroshkevich get to where she is today.

Doroshkevich feels overwhelming gratitude for their support, and wants to give back to them to acknowledge their years of endless assistance.

“I’m not set on the Olympic team—I’m set on getting a well paying job,” she said. “I feel like my parents put in so much just to get me into the sport. I want to pay them back for everything they’ve helped me through.”

Ms. Sanchez also attributes many of Doroshkevich’s positive qualities to the example set by her parents.

“Vika is self-motivated and very driven,” Ms. Sanchez said. “She has a strong sense of her goals and values.

She’s aware of how much her parents sacrificed to bring the family to the U.S., and as a result she has high expectations for herself.”

Her personal coach also contributed greatly to her achievements. Because he saw her potential and helped her cultivate her skills, Doroshkevich was able to compete globally.

“My coach chooses specific students that he focuses on, and he helps them grow into better athletes. He chose me and said he’d help me out.

He told me I’d need private lessons, practically every single day,” she said.

Ultimately, it was Doroshkevich’s own determination that made her who she is today.

Despite facing adversity, she never shied away from her goals and accomplished everything she dreamed of and more.

“Vika makes me proud,” Abdikulov said. “She is a fighter to the end no matter what, and she always has a goal to win and finish successfully.”

/ Bring your kid to work day

/

Feb. 2, 2024 | FEATURES

Students and their parents share the experience of spending their days in the same school building.

Emma Militaru

y a d y r e v e

Features Writer

PHOTO BY CEYLAN YILDIZ

or most students, school is a place where they can escape the watchful eyes of their parents.

For some, however, this separation doesn’t exist; their school and home lives merge as they pass by their mom or dad in the hallway.

While many students can rely on a sibling to help them get through high school, a select number of students have an even greater role model nearby: their parents.

Counselor Mr. Timothy Spiegel has had three children attend Maine South over the past eight years. His daughter Emily Spiegel (‘20), and son Alex Spiegel (‘22) have since graduated, but his son George Spiegel is currently a junior.

Working in the building his children have spent so much time in has given him the unique opportunity to witness firsthand their accomplishments.

“I have been quite proud of all of their contributions to the Maine South community during the years they attended,” Mr. Spiegel said. “It has been a true honor to be able to share in their growth and development through high school.”

Social worker for Team Black, Ms. Lisa Buckley has two children currently at Maine South—senior Emmy Buckley and sophomore Alex Buckley—but because she spends a lot of her time in the SST office, she rarely sees her kids.

“In general, we don’t see each other much at all,” Ms. Buckley said. “Maine South is a big place.”

Ms. Julie Dickinson is a social science teacher and her son, freshman Tommy Dickinson, is benefiting from having a parent around to help him ease into high school. Ms. Dickinson does not teach any of Tommy’s classes; however, since they are both

FAMILIAR FACE Freshman Tommy Dickinson

(left) stops during his passing period to visit his mom, social science teacher Ms. Julie Dickinson (right). Since starting high school in the fall, Tommy has benefitted from having her around to help him adjust to high school.

PHOTO BY CEYLAN YILDIZ

PHOTOBY BYCEYLAN CEYLANYILDIZ YILDIZ PHOTO

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DYNAMIC DUOS Although both junior Evelyn Hansen and social science teacher Mr. Kevin Hansen (left) have

busy schedules, they still find time to check-in with each other. After having helped thousands of Maine South students, counselor Mr. Timothy Spiegel has enjoyed helping his son, junior George Spiegel (right), navigate the high school experience.

frequently in the A wing, they often see each other.

“I usually only see him in the hallway on odd days, so it’s a nice little highlight of the day to get a little wave,” Ms. Dickinson said.

Tommy realizes that there are some added benefits to going to the school where his mom teaches.

“I always have a ride home from school,” Tommy said. “I’ve also forgotten things like my AirPods at home, and my mom can bring them for me since she arrives after me.”

However, students are not the only ones benefiting from this unique dynamic.

“It makes life easier when it comes to rides to and from school, especially when Alex needs to come in early since I have to be here a lot earlier than him,” Ms. Buckley said.

Social science teacher Mr. Kevin Hansen’s daughter, junior Evelyn Hansen, also attends Maine South. They both agree that being in the same building during the day brings a lot of unique opportunities.

“It’s such a big school, there are many days when I don’t see Evelyn at all, but it’s nice to see her when she wants to drop off a bag, needs lunch money, or is looking for a ride,” Mr. Hansen said.

Because Evelyn’s dad is both a teacher and the head boys’ wrestling coach, Evelyn is able to look up to her dad for guidance in both academics and extracurriculars.

“He has worked at Maine South for so long, so he knows a lot about the school, courses, and extracurriculars,” Evelyn said.

English teacher Mr. Paul Bellisario has two

daughters, Milla and Sophia Bellisario (‘23). They are now both freshmen in college, but having their dad with them throughout high school was immensely beneficial.

“I really enjoyed it,” Mr. Bellisario said. “For me, it felt like a one-of-a-kind experience that [my family] shared. Although I felt very connected to their lives, I made sure to give them enough space so they could fully enjoy their high school years without feeling like I was intruding.”

These one-of-a-kind experiences have created conversation starters they can use for the rest of their lives.

“I believe it was a positive experience because now it’s fun to talk about in college,” Sophia said.

Although it’s unique to have someone you can trust in the building, it is not totally advantageous.

“At the start of the year, it was a little stressful,” Tommy said. “I felt pressure to get good grades because my mom is a teacher here.”

However, the occasional stress is alleviated by the benefits of having your parent nearby at all times.

“Occasionally, Alex will stop by my office with his friends for candy, money, or a signature on something,” Ms. Buckley said.

Students with their parents as teachers have adapted to these circumstances and have come to learn just like their peers. Although this is a unique situation, the overall high school experience is ultimately dictated by numerous other factors.

“For me as a parent, I have always felt that my children benefited from the true professionals that work so hard for all students at Maine South each and every day,” Mr. Spiegel said.

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ENTERTAINMENT | Feb. 2, 2024

With a smaller cast than usual, actors, directing staff, and crew collaborate on a unique take on “Little Women” Lyn Brush

Entertainment Writer

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very year, the theater department presents the Winter Play, and this year’s “Little Women” incorporates unique elements, such as a more collaborative than usual directing process and music by cast members who learned how to play piano specifically for their roles.

Adapted from the classic novel by Louisa May Alcott, “Little Women” follows Jo March, a determined young woman who feels constricted by social norms, and her sisters from childhood through adulthood as they learn about love, loss, and the importance of family.

The play is directed by Mr. Nicholas Mugnolo, who previously worked as a world language teacher at Maine South. Now, he teaches English, Spanish, and theater at Niles North High School, and he’s returning to direct his second South production after last year’s “You Can’t Take It With You.” “‘You Can’t Take It With You’ was so different because that show was a bunch of wacky characters, and it was a comedy,” Mr. Mugnolo said. “This show is more realistic, and it’s allowed me as a director to really dive into each character. It’s a small cast, but that has really lent itself to ensemble building.”

Cast members have also enjoyed

bonding over the nature of a smaller cast than usual.

“This has created such a unique, rare, and loving space for us to work,” senior lead cast member and music captain Courtney Miller, who plays Meg March, said. “We are able to try new things without any judgment and have closer relationships together. I look forward to rehearsal everyday.”

The rehearsal process has been unique yet exciting due to its freeform nature.

“We were given little to no instruction for each scene and we just had to go with our gut instincts and feel it out,” Miller said. “Later, we revisited every scene and solidified and possibly changed things to work better for our show. I think this has led to a more organic end product because it was a collaborative process between the cast members and the directing staff instead of a strict directional process.”

Backstage, crew has enjoyed taking a creative approach to other aspects of the production.

“The crew process has been a lot of fun for us,” senior props head Elle Barruffi said. “We are able to be creative with the props for this show, and it’s been a lot of fun for our crew so far.”

People who aren’t involved in theater may not know it, but the Spring Musical and Winter Play timelines overlap, posing a scheduling issue for many students who are involved in both.

“Because of this, we had to take almost a week off of rehearsal for auditions,” junior lead cast member Eve Hinton, who plays Jo March, said.

“It makes the process a little more hurried, but we get the job done.”

The hard work of both groups pay

PHOTO BY ANASTASIA MUSYAKEVICH

Winter Play brings 1800s classic to life

(OUT)FIT OF RAGE Rehearsing in their hoop skirts, sophomore Sam Hill

(right), playing Amy March, shows intense emotion towards junior Ava Klehr (left), portraying Beth March. Throughout the play, the March sisters teach the audience valuable lessons about the importance of family.

PHOTO BY ANASTASIA MUSYAKEVICH

off in tech week, which occurs right before opening night and solidifies the collaboration of cast and crew.

“You really get to see the creative choices brought to life with the show and see everything come together,” Barruffi said.

Although it was written in the 19th century, “Little Women” remains relatable and appealing to all generations.

“This show is unique because it’s a classic, but it’s also timeless,” Mr. Mugnolo said. “Its themes are just as relevant today as they were in the 1800s. That’s why there are new versions of it being made all the time.”

Even for those who have already experienced the story of “Little Women,” Maine South’s production breathes new life into it, incorporating new and unique elements into the show.

“We are adding an element of music to this show,” Miller said. “Two of the characters, Beth and Laurie, are pianists. However, both of the actors playing these characters had no piano background. As the music captain, I was able to work with them together and one-on-one so that they could learn how to play and be successful onstage.”

Learning to play an instrument during rehearsals proved to be enjoyable for cast members despite DON’T SCREW IT UP Senior Angie Guercio (left) and freshman AJ Jareczek the challenge.

“I particularly struggle with (right) sort hardware to use in the construction of a turntable. Students and community members can see “Little Women” on Feb. 8, 9, and 10 at 7:30 p.m. in the Watson Auditorium. reading music, but I’ve loved every

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minute of getting to experience it and learn something new,” junior Eddie Malling, who plays Laurie March, said.

“Little Women” portrays themes and characters that audiences will identify with and learn valuable lessons from.

“I think this show does a beautiful job at showing family dynamics and persevering through issues that may arise,” Barruffi said. “It also highlights the importance of doing things for yourself, taking care of your needs, and trying your hardest persevere through your hardships. It’s a story of recognizing your weaknesses but not letting them infringe on your own personal strength.”

Through the production, cast members and audiences will come to appreciate the real-world applications of the themes presented in “Little Women.” “‘Little Women’ is based on real girls in a real struggling family in a real time period,” Hinton said. “We highlight how extraordinary our seemingly ordinary relationships can be. There is such a theme of family and love in this show that I feel is easy to look over through the rush of everyday life. The March family invites you to take a moment to escape into our world.”

“Little Women” will run Feb. 8, 9, and 10 at 7:30 p.m. in the Watson Auditorium. Tickets will be $10 for students at the door.

Feb. 2, 2024 | ENTERTAINMENT

Symphony Orchestra performs at Midwest Clinic

their improvised solos on electroacoustic instruments during “Purple Rain.”

“It was fun to play on amplified and distorted instruments for the first time,” junior violinist Sammie O’Leary said. “I had the most fun when performing. It’s hard to describe, but getting to play for . and teachers is thrilling, and people I look forward to it.”

Symphony also witnessed a performance by “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band.

In their free time, students explored workshops, saw other performances, and visited the exhibition hall, which featured businesses, organizations,

and institutions in the music education industry.

“The most enjoyable part was walking around the exhibits at the convention with friends,” junior cellist Ollie Tiu said. “It was fun talking to different vendors and college representatives.”

Clinics like these are a way for music educators to learn new perspectives and ideas to incorporate into their own classroom curriculum.

“I enjoy presenting my work as a music educator, and that of my students, to fellow music educators,” Mr. Park said. “It’s fulfilling giving back to the field, and I learn so much in preparing. I also enjoy involving my students. We didn’t have much time to prepare, but they delivered in a musically mature way. Everyone I spoke to in attendance was thoroughly impressed by Symphony, and so was I.” Though this was Maine South’s first time performing, it may not be the last.

“I would consider submitting another presentation proposal in the future,” Mr. Park said. “And if the presentation topic is such that a demonstration ensemble is necessary, I would ask Symphony to join me.”

For instance, Paul King’s 2023 In addition to economic fac“Wonka” grossed 507 million dollars tors, the effect of reboots on beloved in its first box office month, while original films demands scrutiny. the original “Willy Wonka and The For instance, Tina Fey’s cult-classic Chocolate Factory” has produced a “Mean Girls’’ premiered in 2004 and similar 622 million dollars across the was widely received as charming, past 53 years. hilarious, and insightful. Soon afMeanwhile, the 2024 Paramount ter, “Mean Girls 2” in 2011 and the Pictures reboot Broadway musiof “Mean Girls” cal in 2018 were “By consenting to in musical format created in hopes has grossed over of building off the reboot ploys of 33 million dollars the success of the the media industry, as of Jan. 16, just original. consumers only harm four days after its Both reboots themselves. ” release. Already, were met with the reboot has harsh criticism as earned almost a they simply refourth of the approximate 130 mil- hashed the “be yourself ” archetype lion dollars generated in the past presented by the original while lack20 years by the original 2004 “Mean ing its humor and depth. Despite Girls” movie. these failures, the merit of the “Mean The disappointing monetary Girls” franchise has been called into intentions behind such reboots are question once more with the recent clear, and unfortunately, consumer premiere of “Mean Girls” the musical support undermines the originality movie. The new film is very similar and creativity that makes movie to the broadway adaptation, featurmaking an important art form. ing many of the songs from the show.

How many times can a movie franchise be “reimagined” before it diminishes the charm of the initial product?

Ultimately, the primary goal of the media industry is to generate profit. Executives only care about consumer opinion because the money they spend is what lines their pockets and pays their bills.

This being said, by consenting to the reboot ploys of the media industry, consumers only harm themselves.

In fact, facing this issue with naïveté may result in the downfall of the creative marketplace as we know it.

The solution is to reframe our perspective of box office tickets. The tickets we purchase do not serve merely as entertainment, but also as a vote of confidence for what we desire as consumers. Reviews are not the sole factor in determining the success of a production. We have the unique ability to protest lousy, cash-grab reboots and advocate for innovation.

PHOTO COURTESY MR. DAVID HUTTER

Entertainment Writer

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ymphony Orchestra showcased their skills among various schools during a field trip to the annual Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic at McCormick Place in Chicago on Dec. 20.

In addition to just performing, typical of the previous clinics orchestra has attended, this was also a presentation for other music educators conducted by orchestra director Mr. Leo Park with Symphony Orchestra. Mr. Park and Symphony demonstrated how they incorporate creative modern-day music concepts into music classrooms.

This rare opportunity came about when Mr. Park submitted a proposal to present before being hired at Maine South.

“Until early October, I planned to present without an ensemble since I was going to feature my former students,” Mr. Park said. “But by mid-October, it dawned on me that Symphony could manage to prepare for the presentation after our earlyNovember concert, so I invited them to join me.”

Symphony played “Allegro in D” by Antonio Vivaldi, “Mountain

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT Mr. Park conducts Symphony Orchestra members during a quick rehearsal prior to the presentation. They performed “Mountain Spring,” “Allegro in D”, and “Purple Haze.”

Spring” by Dean Marshall, and “Purple Haze” by Jimi Hendrix.

However, the majority of the presentation was on improvisation, which was a challenge to prepare for.

“I prepared by recording myself with the piece to get used to how it would sound with the orchestra,” junior violinist Suzie Jakubski said.

“Mr. Park showed me a Google Doc with different exercises in the same key of the piece. It took lots of experimenting to figure out what notes, patterns, and rhythms sounded best for the style and arrangement, especially because it was a rock song.”

Several students performed

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY KYAN GUZMAN-PIWKO

Ella Cedeno

Reboot or redo: is Hollywood beating a dead horse?

Lydia Zweifel

Entertainment Writer ecently, the entertainment industry has been crammed with Oscar-hungry advertisements for familiar names, such as “Wonka” and “Mean Girls” as the market is flooded by reboot productions that re-create or re-use an established fictional universe in a new storyline.

Via the production of reboots, the film industry is able to generate large amounts of income for films lacking in both innovation and creativity.

Consumers need to recognize the role they play in reboot productions.

How long will patrons continue to fund franchise films that recycle the shining exterior of movies to assemble a lackluster “reimagining” of past glory?

It comes as no shock that the rate of media consumption dictates the consumer threshold for quality.

If consumers continue to settle for half-baked reruns of merited movies, half-baked reruns of merited movies they shall have.

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SPORTS | Feb. 2, 2024

Girls’ basketball ranked third in Illinois Mia McNeill

Sports Writer fter defeating Evanston last Friday, Jan. 26, 64-55, the girls’ basketball team clinched the CSL South title for the fourth year in a row.

After finishing their last season having made it all the way to the Super-Sectional, the team is striving to go even further.

“A big goal our team has this season is to go all the way to State,” sophomore Amelia Fernandez said.

“This is a very hard goal to achieve, but we came very close last year and I think we are all anxious to get there this year.”

The team is currently ranked third in the state, behind only Bolingbrook, who handed them their lone loss this season, and Loyola.

Despite the team being small number-wise and only having two seniors, they have done extremely well. They have turned their small number of athletes into an advantage.

“One thing that makes us unique is that this season we have a smaller team than in the past,” junior Katie Barker said. “We only have 12 players, but that has allowed us to become so close and have such a good relationship with everyone.”

A

“The bond that we have is very special and our ability to get along so well allows us to play really well together, especially this season,” junior Victoria Marchuk added.

Since their first time stepping into the gym for the season, the Hawks have been working hard to improve their game play and their results. They have been doing this both as a group and individually.

“We always play one game at a time and we never look over any opponent,” Barker said. “We always walk into games ready to play our best no matter how the other team is doing that season. This keeps us locked in and always ready to play the way we practice.”

Regardless of their competition, the Hawks aim to maintain a high level of effort throughout every practice and game.

“We always give one hundred percent in practice and never stop working as hard as we can in games until the buzzer sounds,” Fernandez said.

“We continue to focus on one game at a time—we focus on going 1-0 every single game,” junior Ally Pape said.

This focus has yielded impressive

PHOTO BY LILY GIAMBARBEREE

BALLTERCATION Junior Caitlin Leyden reaches for a jump ball in the game against New Trier on Jan. 17. The Hawks went on to beat the Trevians 63-44.

results, as the team’s 25-1 record indicates.

In addition to maintaining an impressive record, the team has earned many other accolades. They won the Dundee Crown Tournament for the second year in a row, as well as three shootouts.

The team has continued to defend their outstanding record by finding ways to win close games. Against Evanston and Kenwood, senior

Meegan Fahy scored the game-sealing baskets to clinch the win.

Against Kenwood on Dec. 12, she grabbed an offensive rebound and put it back up at the last second to secure the 54-53 win. During their Dec. 17 game against Evanston, Fahy hit the game-tying three to send the game into overtime where the Hawks pulled away and beat the Wildkits 64-53.

Playoffs will begin on Saturday, Feb. 10.

ly scored her 1,000th varsity career point.

“When Meegan hit 1,000 points, it was such a special moment for her and I’m so proud of her,” junior power forward Caitlin Leyden said.

Her teammates are overjoyed to have such a committed athlete as their leader.

“It’s really cool to see all she’s done this year, especially with the two buzzer beaters she’s made—one against Kenwood Academy and the other against Evanston to send us to overtime,” Leyden said. “She’s just the core of our team and to see everything she’s accomplished this season is really amazing.”

Along with all of Fahy’s personal accomplishments, her teammates acknowledge how much she does for their team as a whole. Her positive mindset has motivated and uplifted the team throughout the season.

“I think as a team overall, we are

definitely really proud of what she has accomplished throughout her three years on varsity,” junior shooting guard Victoria Marchuck said.

Not only is Fahy impressive on the court, but she also brings lots of energy to practice, which benefits her teammates.

“She comes to practice everyday and makes us laugh and alway uplifts the team with her positive attitude,” Marchuck said.

“Her energy is great on the court and off the court, and over the years, I’ve grown so close with her and she’s one of my best friends,” Leyden said.

“I’m so proud of her.”

The players and coaches are very appreciative of the leader that Fahy is.

“She’s very special,” Coach Hamann said. “We’re very lucky to have her both on the basketball floor and in the classrooms and in our hallways.

She’s one Maine South’s best.”

Fahy will continue to play basketball after she graduates at Southern Illinois University this fall.

Sports Writer enior Captain Meegan Fahy is leading the girls’ basketball team through a very successful season.

Fahy herself has put up some impressive stats throughout the season and the entirety of her varsity career.

Some of her accomplishments include being a two-time All-CSL Conference player, and 3rd Team All-State last season.

This season, she was named AllTournament and Dundee Crown, All-Tournament at Buffalo Grove, Player of the Game at the Chicagoland Showcase, and Player of the Game at the Kipp’s Hoopsfest. She was also nominated for the McDonald’s AllAmerican Basketball Games.

“She’s going to be in the record books in multiple categories,” Coach Jeffrey Hamann said. “One of them is of course scoring.”

Fahy has scored the seventh most points in school history, and if she continues on her current track, she could end up in fourth by the end of

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the season.

“She’s a big time competitor,” Coach Hamann said. “She is not going to back down from anybody.

When she’s out there, she’s playing at her pace.”

Fahy’s pacing helps push the team to play faster.

“As a team, we are very fast, but a lot of that is because of who she is and the player that she is,” Coach Hamann said. “She’s not afraid.

She’s not the biggest player out there, but she rebounds. She just does so many things for us, that a lot of times don’t even show up in the stat sheet.”

Ev e n s o, s h e scored the eighth most points for a single season in program history.

Fahy also recent-

PHOTO BY LILY GIAMBARBEREE

Athlete spotlight: Meegan Fahy leading with skill and passion

Ava Kontuly

SHOT TOPIC Fahy takes a jump shot in the game against New Trier on Jan. 17.

She earned 14 of the team’s 63 points, as well as 5 rebounds and 2 steals in the game.

Feb. 2, 2024 | SPORTS

Girls’ gymnastics gains momentum towards end of season Kathleen Noone

Sports Writer fter the success of the girls’ gymnastics team in the 2022-2023 season, the girls were looking forward to carrying the momentum into this season.

The girls worked hard in the off-season and they were ready for the tough competition in the conference as they looked for their next challenge.

“We’re looking to qualify for Sectionals and have the seniors finish strong in their last season,” Coach Heidi Bowbin said.

The main goal for varsity this season was to score 136 points per meet. However, in the beginning of the season, the team wasn’t achieving the scores they aspired to.

“Our team was struggling early on with reaching our goal of 136 points in the meets because of little mistakes,” senior Abby Rice said.

But with correcting little details and determination the team has been improving and refining their skills with each competition, achieving the point totals they’re aiming for.

“With working hard every day in the gym and focusing on the little details, our skills have been improving in these past few meets,” Rice said.

In order to achieve their point total, each girl had to score over an eight on a 10-point scale for the events they compete in. Their routines have to be sharp and balanced to receive these scores.

The team strives to form friendships as well as work on their routines at practice. These team friendships allow the girls to build their team com-

PHOTO COURTESY EYRIE

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AIR APPARENT Senior Anastasia Gritsonis jumps between the uneven bars during her routine on Jan. 16. The Hawks defeated Deerfield in this meet, 138.15 to 131.25.

munication skills.

“This season has been one of our best yet,” sophomore Bella Buenaventura said. “We’ve been having so much fun. Each meet keeps getting better and better and our team is extremely close.”

Developing friendships has created stronger bonds for the team and it makes the girls’ gymnastics program feel more supportive.

“We’re in the gym a lot so bonding is really necessary for our team’s success,” senior Madelyn Rutherford said.

When each girl competes in their event, whether it’s floor, bars, vault, or beam, they receive lots of

cheers from their teammates.

“Our team cheers louder than other schools, and we always bring a lot of energy,” senior Jenna Simandirakis said.

This support helps encourage the girls and gives them confidence while competing in events.

As for the rest of the season, the team is looking forward to finishing strong with their final meet at the IHSA Sectionals on Feb. 5.

“We have been on a grind lately as our season comes to an end, so I have high hopes we will go out and do our very best to deserve these sectional and state spots,” senior Anastasia Gritsonis said.

Sports Briefs: Conference wins Boys’ wrestling Cheerleading Hawkettes

Thomas Hurley and Briana Giustino Sports Editors

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n Jan. 10, the cheerleading team took first place in the conference competition.

The team only had two full practices before Conference together coming off of winter break.

“We had some practices over break, but with people out of town, we couldn’t practice to a full extent,” senior Maddie Parrino said. “We had to focus and execute all elements of our routine to perfection in two days.”

At the competition, the team prioritized having fun, not just being competitive.

“Instead of focusing on winning, we focused on doing a perfect routine for ourselves and our teammates,” Parrino said. “When we did this, we ended up successful because the routine we put out there is one we’re proud of, ultimately leading to first place.”

The team has found the key to success to be prioritizing self-improvement over the pressure of winning at competitions.

“We always focus on ourselves and being the best we can,” Coach Stacy Pater said. “When we support each other and feel like a family, that is when we do our best and all the success comes after that.”

Most recently at Sectionals on Saturday, Jan. 27, the team placed second. This placement qualifies them to compete at the state tournament.

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he Hawkettes are continuing to compete through their last month of their season. On Friday, Jan. 12 the Hawkettes attended their CSL conference competition where they placed first.

“We work really hard in practice so that we are ready for our competitions,” junior Juliana Careaga said. “In practice we run full outs and clean our routines.”

The team practices five days a week, with their competitions on the weekends. At their performances they compete with the goal in mind to make it to state.

“Our competitions are filled with really skilled teams, but we practice really hard and show up to do our best and every competition we go to,” junior Maeve Staunton said.

At the conference competition, the team performed their kick routine.

“Conference is a great opportunity to showcase our routines and get corrections from judges before we go to Sectionals,” Coach Casey Fritz said.

On Jan. 20 the team attended IHSA Sectionals where they placed third, behind the defending state champions, Lake Park.

“We are always striving to improve through practices, and changing our routines,” Coach Fritz said.

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or the first time in the program’s history, the boys’ wrestling team has won the Conference tournament two years in a row.

A number of individuals stepped up to give the team the advantage it needed to scrape out a close win against Deerfield. They were the Hawks’ top competitor throughout the season, as well as in the tournament. In the last match, senior Leo McDonald, who placed third overall, led the Hawks to defeat Deerfield.

This year, Deerfield was a new addition to the South division of the CSL, and had previously held a 16-year streak of winning the North division.

“The atmosphere was very tense and exciting,” junior Luke Morrison said. “The whole time, we were neck and neck with Deerfield.”

The excitement builds with consistent standards, set by their past achievements and future potential.

“Every year our goals are the same,” Coach Kevin Hansen said. “Win the CSL South dual title, the Conference tournament, Regionals, and get the team to the IHSA State dual team championship.”

While the Hawks are excited about their recent win, the season is far from over.

“We’ve got to get back to work—we still have the State series to prepare for,” Morrison said.

SouthwordS 13

SPORTS | Feb. 2, 2024

Swim and dive upperclassmen lead Hawks Katie Johnston & Kyra Demeros

Sports Writer & Sports Editor he boys’ swim and dive team is already halfway through their season, but they have not yet lost a meet. At press time, the team’s dual team record was 3-3.

Head Coach Donald Kura is proud of the boys, but has also emphasized that the team has yet to reach its full potential.

“Overall, we are placed around sixth to eighth, but there is always room to improve,” Coach Kura said.

Beyond being ranked in the top ten in the state, the team also has two athletes continuing their swimming careers at Division I schools.

Senior Sam Sacor will be attending The University of St. Thomas and senior Dominic Mazurek will be going to Purdue University.

Being able to play the sport you love at the D1 level presents both obstacles and opportunities.

“Going D1 is challenging, but it’s going to help me in the long run,” Mazurek said.

This season, the boys’ team has employed various new techniques to constantly motivate themselves.

However, not all of these strategies are conventional.

“Sometimes I have to think that a shark is behind me to swim faster,” Sacor said.

This technique helps Sacor avoid thinking about the pressure of the meet environment and solely focus

PHOTO BY KATIE JOHNSTON

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DEEP DIVE Junior Jacob Drone dives into the pool during the during the 500 Freestyle in the meet against Glenbrook North on Friday, Jan. 26. The Hawks defeated the Spartans 95-90.

on swimming as fast as possible.

These unconventional mental strategies are not the only new technique the team is implementing.

This season, Coach Kura is working on creating a program with a mindset rooted in improvement.

“Those guys have been training a long time and we want to build on the accomplishments of the boys before them,” Coach Kura said.

“They see alumni when they come back to visit and have a bond, but they always want to do better than the boys before them.”

This competitive environment has proven to inspire future advance-

ments in the swimmers.

“We have not broken any records yet this year, but more than likely if we swim well, we will break some records before the end of the season,” Coach Kura said.

However, breaking records are not the only important matter to the team. The boys’ also strive to positively represent their team.

“I want to be a good person and to be known as someone that is a friend to all,” said Mazurek.

Through this mentality, the two seniors have been able to become role models for the team. They have shown the boys the importance of

staying on top of challenges and becoming leaders on the team.

“We are always trying to push each other,” Sacor said. “It is really cool to see how everyone has improved.”

The coach recognizes how large of an impact the seniors have had on the whole team.

“The big thing that has changed from last year is how the younger guys have been stepping up for the team and performing well, and being able to get ready for their turn to swim at the varsity level, whether that is next week or next year,” Coach Kura said.

The team is looking to build on the program’s early success and find ways to gain a mental advantage on the mat.

Junior Lotus Alhyasat’s motivation during competition initially came from an unexpected place.

“I was afraid to lose and disappoint my coaches,” Alhyasat said. “I wouldn’t even think about winning or performing well.”

While this happens with many athletes in different sports, wrestling especially requires players to be able to continue playing through the tough times.

The intense mentality in the wrestling room is a quality that has been instilled in the wrestlers to allow

them to grow as players.

“My mindset has completely changed since my first year wrestling,” Alhyasat said. “It went from: ‘Is it over yet?’ to ‘what’s next?’ A champion doesn’t have time to celebrate as much because all they are worried about is how they can get to the next level.”

This mindset has had a noticeable impact, which can be seen through the improvement in scores this season.

“I think I went from 4-19 last year to 17-10,” Alhyasat said. “I try not to focus on records and rankings because, at the end of the day, it’s how you perform that determines how good of a wrestler you are.”

Becoming a better wrestler is more important than winning.

“We build confidence and try to push past our comfort zones every day,” Coach Juan Diaz said.

Being able to change emotions and attitudes in the middle of a match is a crucial skill in wrestling.

“Wrestling teaches discipline and hard work like no other sport, and that has changed me as a person,” Alhyasat said.

While coaches do their best to train their players physically, it is up to the players to mentally train themselves for difficult situations.

“I told myself to trust my coaches, and now I’m slowly starting to trust myself,” Alhyasat said.

Girls’ wrestling focuses on changing mindset Katie Johnston Sports Writer

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he girls’ wrestling season culminated in the team competing at the first-ever regional meet, with freshman Aphrodite Gineris placing sixth and qualifying for Sectionals.

“After the match, I was really tired, but I could not believe I won,” Gineris said. “I knew I would have a lot of training to do before Sectionals, but I didn’t care because I made it.”

This ground-breaking success will hopefully raise awareness of girls’ wrestling.

“The short-term goal is to get more girls involved in the program,” Coach Diaz said.

14 SouthwordS

What does it take to be on the Southwords staff ?

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he back page of this newspaper is the application for the 20242025 Southwords staff. Please look below for a job description for each position on staff.

The Southwords staff consists of editors-in-chief, news editors, features editors, entertainment editors, commentary editors, sports editors, production editors, graphic designers, artists and photographers, as well as several staff writers for each section.

It is necessary for editors to have strong proofreading and collaboration skills. Editors must always be approachable and never condescending. Editors will develop proficiency with the Adobe software suite. As part of the Southwords editorial board, editors will come to a consensus on a topic in one well-written opinion piece that represents the newspaper’s view as a whole.

Editors must be enrolled in Newspaper Practicum for the entire year, because this is where the paper is created. Other staff members are NOT enrolled in this class.

Writers must have a good grasp of grammar and be able to write concisely. Because writers aren’t in the Newspaper Practicum class, it is important that writers communicate frequently with editors. Staff writers should have the time to devote to completing their articles; they need to be consistent and dedicated to their work.

All positions require enthusiasm and consistent contributions; students applying must be willing to spend time and put forth a great deal of effort into their work. Also, staff must also be able to work in a timely manner, as meeting deadlines is vital to being on a newspaper staff.

For more information on any staff position, feel free to e-mail an editor-in-chief or the faculty adviser, Mr. Stathakis.

InDesign and Photoshop.

This position is also responsible for writing “Property of the Editors,” a column in Commentary section.

The editor-in-chief is also responsible for designing the cover page, so they must be familiar with the published content in all sections of the paper.

The editor-in-chief must be in attendance at all extra paste-up hours and offer assistance in any way possible.

News The News section covers developing stories about timely issues that directly affect students, both inside and outside the school.

News writers need to be informed about school and national issues.

Additionally, they must be able to develop interview questions and be comfortable interviewing people.

Editors must also be able to write objectively and with finesse, as well as fact-check articles.

News editors must be organized and demonstrate flexibility, as news frequently occurs right before publication.

Features The Features section contains the widest variety of articles. Features focuses on issues of student interest, both inside and outside of school.

Features articles are usually longer in nature, and delve more deeply into topics than news articles would.

Furthermore, these articles are less reliant on timeliness and instead focus on relevance and interest.

Features writers must be inventive; finding an interesting topic to report about can sometimes be challenging, as the most interesting topics are often ones that have not been previously covered.

Features editors must be wellrounded and able to create interesting angles for stories. Fact-checking Editor-in-chief is necessary, but the most emphasis Editor-in-chief is a position is placed on relevance. only open to returning editors. The editor-in-chief ultimately guides the Entertainment vision of the entire paper and must The Entertainment section conbe familiar with the editing process, tains reviews and articles related to as well as Adobe products, such as art, music, video games, literature,

restaurants, and anything else that might be considered entertainment.

Entertainment writers must be well-informed of the school’s fine art events. Unique to the entertainment section, writers specializing in a specific genre (music, TV, etc.) are welcome.

Entertainment editors need to be knowledgeable about popular events and recreational activities (including restaurants, concerts, festivals, etc.) and open to writing and reading about different topics.

Commentary The Commentary section is the voice of the students at Maine South.

Commentary writers need to be creative and opinionated. They must be able to present an issue about which they are passionate, avoiding ranting and remaining professional.

Commentary editors must be extremely thoughtful, because editing opinions can be problematic. Editors must also be open-minded, because a wide variety of opinions will always exist in their section.

Sports The Sports section covers all sports at Maine South.

Sports writers need to be aware of all sports at Maine South. Sports writers should be creative in their reporting on events. Accurate reporting is crucial.

Sports editors are responsible for making sure that each sport is covered once during its season.

Sports editors must be aware of varsity sports news, as well as other sports included at school. A deep knowledge of sports—both within the school and outside of the school—is a necessary component of being an editor for the Sports section.

and offer help whenever necessary.

The production editors should attend every paste-up—when the final components of the paper are added together—to provide the editors with technical assistance.

Graphic Designers Graphic designers are responsible for improving the layout of the paper and assisting the editors-in-chief and section editors with the aesthetics of the paper. They should be familiar with Photoshop and/or InDesign software.

Artists/Cartoonists Artists and cartoonists should be able to produce realistic and creative illustrations to accompany articles on a variety of topics. It is helpful for an artist to be familiar with Photoshop software, scanner software, and InDesign (or be willing to learn the software and hardware). Often, illustrations must be produced quickly and on-demand to meet paste-up deadlines.

Photographers Photographers should be comfortable with taking photos and skilled in doing so. Photographers must be ready to take pictures at any time and to take specific pictures by a set deadline.

Photographers must also have flexible schedules, since they may have to attend events that take place outside school. Owning a digital camera is preferred but not required.

If you or anyone you know is interested in joining Southwords, visit http://apply.southwords.org

Then, if you are a new staff member or would like to be an editor, sign up for an interview at tinyurl.com/SouthwordsSignUp by Production To help with the technical aspects Monday, February 5. of putting together a newspaper, Interviews begin Monday, Februa production editor must be well- ary. 5 in the Southwords office, versed in the operation of PC com- C28 (around the corner from the puters, a Windows operating system, bookstore in the cafeteria). as well as InDesign and Photoshop.

Most importantly, production editors must be willing to learn to use these programs more proficiently

Due Monday, Feb. 5

ALL STAFF MUST SUBMIT AN APPLICATION Staff

Application

PLEASE NOTE: See the reverse side of this sheet for job descriptions, and feel free to contact Mr. Stathakis or any current editors with any questions.

ONLINE: APPLICATION

Please visit http://apply.southwords.org or scan the QR code to the right. Your application will not be processed until you have also signed up for an interview at https://tinyurl.com/SouthwordsSignUp.

Staff positions:

Editorial positions:

Current staff members do not need to sign up for an interview unless applying to move up to an editorial position.

Open to current and prospective staff members. Use this work- Open to current and prospective staff members. ALL editors must take Newspaper Practicum (likely 6th period), which will earn you sheet to rank your interest in the following positions: ­­_____News writer ­­_____Features writer _____Entertainment writer _____Commentary writer ­­_____Sports writer ­­_____Photographer* ­­_____Artist/Cartoonist* _____Graphic Design team*

an elective English credit.

­­_____News editor ­­_____Features editor _____Entertainment editor ­­_____Commentary editor _____Sports editor ­­_____Production/Design editor _____Editor-in-Chief*

*For returning staff members only. All Editorin-Chief candidates must contact Mr. Stathakis.

*Please bring portfolio/samples to interview

CHOOSE YOUR FIGHTER: SOUTHWORDS EDITION! PRODUCTION TEAM

STAFF WRITER

Art Photography Graphic design

News, Commentary, Features, Entertainment, & Sports

EDITOR

your you’re

If you have any questions, please see Mr. Stathakis in C28 (the Southwords office).

TO COMPLETE YOUR APPLICATION, YOU MUST SIGN UP FOR AN INTERVIEW at https://tinyurl.com/SouthwordsSignUp by MON., FEB 5