The Spoke January Issue 2021/2022

Piece by piece: Robotics team wins state championship qualifier

Page 5 Conestoga High School, Berwyn PA

Volume 72 No. 3

' CONESTOGA

January 31, 2022

Tbh, we gotta build our vocab, like, rn

Page 9

RACKING IT UP: soccer COACH SCROES NATIONAL COACH OF THE YEAR

Page 12

spoke.news

S CUTTHROAT CULTURE

ACADEMICS' IMPACT ON MENTAL HEALTH

Photo Illustratrion by Maya Shah/The SPOKE

By Sophia Pan, Maddie Pulliam and Ben Shapiro, Co-Editorin-Chief, Staff Reporter and Co-Copy Editor Content warning: this article contains discussion of mental health, depression and anxiety.

Editor’s Note: The Spoke is aware that everyone has their own stressors extending much farther than the school building. This article, however, strictly focuses on academic stressors and their relation to mental health. As a privacy measure, names indicated with an asterisk (*) are aliases.

Teenagers are among the most susceptible group to mental health-related issues yet are among the least likely to receive proper care. According to a World Health Organization (WHO) study in late 2021, one in seven 10 to 19-year-olds globally will experience the effects of a mental disorder during their adolescent years.

Conestoga is no exception.

In the fall of 2020, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and the Children’s Hospital Association joined together in declaring a national state of emergency in children’s mental health.

Adolescent mental health has long been an issue, but only re-

cently has national conversation shed light on it.

A 2018 Pew Research Center survey found that 61% of teens ages 13 to17 considered “pressure to get good grades” to cause “a lot” of stress — the biggest stressor, outpacing the second most prominent by 32 percentage points. According to a survey conducted by The Spoke, 74% of surveyed students feel that academics negatively impact their mental health (see Fig. 1). When compared to the effects of social media, friendships, family and jobs, a majority of students consistently rank academic pressure as having the most severe impact on their mental health.

“It is very competitive (at Conestoga), and everyone is al-

ways fighting to be the best. It’s just a normalized culture at ’Stoga,” freshman Ayan Kumar said.

“Everyone is trying to be the smartest, be the best, get the best grades, have the highest GPA and succeed.”

Kumar sees the academic competition at Conestoga as being a problem due to its effect on students’ outlook of school.

Stress and anxiety about classes, tests and grades have the biggest impact on his mental health, and it is not a positive one. This trend progresses across the nation, as the stress levels of high school students continue to rise. Despite national understanding and acknowledgment of the youth mental health crisis, many mental health profes-

sionals see a lack of action to resolve the issue.

While Conestoga has guidance counselors, mental health specialists and school psychologists, some students do not opt to meet with them. Marissa Marschall, mental health clinician and director at Minding Your Mind, an organization that will hold a virtual training to teachers on Feb. 1, emphasizes that both students and school administrators must make the effort to advocate for their well-being.

“I think students are willing to take the help (when schools make it accessible) and acknowledge that they are struggling, but (schools) have to open the door for students to be able to open up (to them),” Marschall said.

Senior Annie Simpson sees barriers to students taking the first step when it comes to getting help.

She recognizes that most mental health guidance relies on students advocating for themselves — an intimidating task, especially one to take on during the school day.

“I feel like kids are scared to (get help at school) because they’ll think, ‘Oh, I don’t want to expose my friend and I don’t want to get myself in trouble,’” Simpson said. “But if you’re trying to help somebody, you should go get that help. I know kids are scared to go to guidance, so (the counselors) can’t help everybody because they don’t know who’s actually in trouble.”

Even when students do reach out for help, however, the

conversation can often unintentionally fall back to academic standing rather than resolving the root issues that affect students. When senior Avery Smith* meets with teachers and guidance counselors to discuss how they are doing, they see the conversation often defaulting to grades.

“There is a lot of pressure on performance, and (conversations about mental health) normally go, ‘Let’s look at your grades and see how we can get those up,’” Smith said. “I don’t feel like there’s a whole lot of, ‘Here’s what you can do to help yourself or get help with (mental health).’”

Continued on page 3.

Addition of seven courses diversifies Program of Studies for upcoming year Aaron Wang Staff Reporter

From the English Department to Business and Technology, students can anticipate seven new courses available during the 20222023 school year. After department chairs met with administration last year to propose and write these new classes and as course selection approaches, students will see widened options for academic growth.

After polling students two years ago, the English Department discovered a keen student interest in Language of Film, a course cut from the Program of Studies more than 10 years ago. Reintroducing the course provides students with a new, semester-long elective.

“As an elective, it’s in place to allow students (who) have a genuine interest in film to study it more deeply and more intentionally,” English Department Chair Karen Gately said. “One of the goals is to expose students to (films) that they maybe haven’t yet seen.”

Basketball is also making its return after more than a decade. For students who enjoy the sport, it will pro-

vide an opportunity to participate in class matches and championships. Additionally, a calmer form of exercise, Mind-Body P.E. allows students to improve both their flexibility and their mindbody connection through Tai Chi, yoga and meditation. The course, providing a physical outlet through which students can relax, aims to expose students to new stress relief techniques and improve their physical and mental health.

“We know that our Conestoga students have sometimes stressful (days),” Jones said. “There’s been a movement in general, especially with the times lately, creating a lot of stress for us during COVID times, and we really feel that this class, MindBody P.E., would help toward (relieving that stress).”

Early Learning Play and Development, the newest addition to Conestoga Preschool, now enables freshmen and sophomores to learn about child care. By emphasizing play-based learning centers and observation, the course aims to improve students’ experience with children in the classroom.

Joining Early Learning Play and Development in the FCS Department is Signature Dish, a course that

allows students to show their creativity while discovering and honing their cooking

style, culminating in a “signature dish” at the end of the course. As the only FCS

course that will meet every school day, students will be able to dive deeper into cu-

Maya Shah/The SPOKE

A steady peruse: Sophomore Sakura Chan looks through the updated Program of Studies. When deciding their 2022-2023 courses, students will have seven new options from which to choose.

linary arts. FCS teacher Michele McMonagle will teach Signature Dish, and believes the course’s style will cultivate students’ creativity.

“My vision is that it would be more student-motivated and I would be more of a facilitator,” McMonagle said. “Students are really trying to come up with their own signature dish. What do they like? What do they like to cook?”

For those more interested in technology, the Business/ Technology Department divided their engineering course in two: Engineering Design and Automated Production, and Architectural Design. Focusing on the production aspect of engineering, the former offers students an opportunity to use 2D and 3D Computer Aided Drafting and Design (CADD) programs. Once students draft their designs, the Fabrication Lab’s laser engraver, 3D printers and other machines create the physical products.

Architectural Design will teach students both the practical applications of architecture through hands-on activities, including drawing floor plans, wiring circuits and linking pipes. Austin hopes Architectural Design as a course will improve stu-

dents’ learning experiences, allowing those interested in architecture the possibility to acquire a base knowledge of the study.

“We’re also going to add depth to the class,” Austin said. “It’s not going to be just a broad brush stroke across the top surface of residential architecture, we’re going to be able to dive into the why — Why is it like that? Why do we design it that way? — so I’m really excited about that.”

In total, Conesotga is adding seven new courses to the 2022-2023 academic year. While some may find the course selection process to be more stressful because of the increased number of courses, sophomore Sachin Blake is excited about all of the new options.

“It’s also really amazing how many programs are offered at Conestoga, and so these new additions just keep expanding it. (People’s interests are) just so varied, (especially) in such a big school, that I think it’s great that we have so many programs (that are) so diversified, because everybody can find a course that really excites them,” sophomore Sachin Blake said. “Sometimes it’s rare that you find something in school that excites you.”

News

2 A BRIEF LOOK

Allied Health feels impact of Brandywine Hospital closure

THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN T/E NEWS

COLLEGE

BOARD RELEASES PLANS FOR DIGITAL SAT

On Jan. 25, the College Board announced that the SAT will go completely digital by 2024. The new test will be one hour shorter than the current paper version, and calculators will be allowed for the entire math section.

The changes come amidst a national trend for colleges to go test-optional, which was prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic and worries about unequal access to testing.

PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSEHOLDS ALLOWED TO REQUEST RAPID TEST KITS

Beginning on Jan. 19, Americans can request COVID-19 tests at COVIDTests.gov.

Costing the federal government about four billion dollars, the program initially limits each residential address to four free tests to preserve broad access. The estimated 500 million tests are expected to ship within two weeks of being ordered.

COURSE

SELECTION OPEN IN FEBRUARY

TO

All course recommendations and selections will be made in PowerSchool again this year, with course selection lessons taking place between Feb. 2-4.

Course recommendations for current CHS students will open on Feb. 7. High school course selections will be due on Feb. 22.

WILSON

FARM PARK RECEIVES MILLION DOLLARS IN GRANT FUNDING

Pennsylvania’s Department of Conservation and Natural Resources awarded over $1 million in grant funding to Wilson Farm Park. Funding will be allocated to general rehabilitation and development, including maintenance of the amphitheater, tennis courts, and basketball courts.

Read more at

NEWS

MIT professor speaks on tech developments

Evan Lu

News Editor

Photo Credit Deb Ciamacca

Comprehensive campaigning: Former Conestoga teacher and state House of Representatives candidate Deb Ciamacca speaks at a March for Our Lives rally. The demonstration promoted direct action to eliminate the epidemic of gun violence.

Canceled candidacy: Former teacher faces redistricting challenge Howard Kim Staff Reporter

During her time as a teacher at Conestoga, Deb Ciamacca always taught her students that “democracy is not a spectator sport.” Now, the threat of redistricting is forcing her onto the sidelines. Since retiring from Conestoga in 2019 and losing the race for a seat in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 2020, Ciamacca has been campaigning for another shot this November. However, because of Pennsylvania’s decennial redistricting, those dreams may be over.

The Constitution of Pennsylvania requires that state representatives be 21 years of age, a resident of Pennsylvania for four years and an inhabitant of their district for a full year leading up to their election. These criteria were not an issue for Ciamacca until the current Preliminary House Reapportionment Map proposed to move Media, her borough of residence, from its current 168th district to the 165th district. If this map is approved in mid-February, the former teacher will have not been a resident of her new district for a year, making her ineligible for candidacy this fall.

“I was very upset (when I heard my district would change) because all the things

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Swim team beats Haverford to continue winning streak

that I cared about (and) wanted to fight for looked like they were dissipating and I wasn’t going to have an opportunity to run for the position,” Ciamacca said.

Created by Pennsylvania’s Constitution, the Legislative Reapportionment Commission assembles every year after each United States Census to adjust the districts’ borders based on the change in populations. Throughout the last eight months, the Commission created and proposed new district lines for the State House and Senate, considering census data from both federal and state governments as well as input from citizens. During the first two weeks of January, the Commission organized four days of public hearings to gather feedback from Pennsylvania citizens. After receiving public comment, they began the following 30-day revision period, which entails reviewing and making adjustments to the maps to secure final approval by the committee.

“There were 11 public hearings (during the plan’s creation) with expert testifiers.

Everything that people shared, whether it was submitted (online) or whether they actually came up to testify, was provided and considered throughout the process,” said Rep. Joanna McClinton, Pennsylvania House Minority Leader.

While her fate is still undecided, Ciamacca could see her situation go one of three ways.

If the Reapportionment Commission’s final map does not change Media’s district, she will be unable to run for state representative this year. If the committee reverses the change proposed for Media, Ciamacca will appear on the ballot this fall. However, it is most likely that lawsuits filed by the Republican Party regarding the maps will not reach a conclusion by November. This would mean that the elections would be conducted on the previous maps, allowing Ciamacca a chance to be voted to the House.

No matter the end result, Ciamacca feels that this experience has made her a stronger proponent for transparency throughout the reapportionment process.

“Most people are just busy working, raising their kids, mowing their lawn and doing all the regular things of life. I would say about 10% of people really understand what reapportionment and redistricting are all about,” Ciamacca said.

“If we want our democracy to survive another 200 years, we’ve got to simplify the process and make it more transparent, so more people become involved instead of standing by and letting someone else draw the lines.”

The Brandywine Allied Health program just lost its home.

On Dec. 9, Pennsylvania healthcare provider Tower Health announced its decision to close Jennersville Hospital and Brandywine Hospital.

The decision came after Texas-based company Canyon Hills, previously slated to purchase the two hospitals, revealed that it was unable to effectively take over the facilities.

Prior to the closures, the Chester County Technical College High School (TCHS) hosted the community health pathway of its Allied Health program at Brandywine Hospital. The community-based program enables students interested in medicine to explore health issues through hands-on experiences that have a positive impact in the community. In October 2021, TCHS Brandywine assistant principal Dave Purdy first heard rumors that the hospital was slated to close.

“We had heard about Jennersville shutting down, but then we heard that everything at Brandywine was fine. We had some preliminary discussions on how to best manage what we would do if these hospitals shut

down and how to find opportunities for students,” Purdy said.

In mid-December, Purdy and his team were suddenly told to move all operations out of Brandywine Hospital by the end of the year. While it is officially slated to close on Jan. 31, the Allied Health students were transferred before Christmas to a new classroom at the TCHS campus. While there was little disruption to the program’s coursework aspects, one of its defining features and biggest attractions for students is clinicals, or days when students shadow doctors and nurses in the hospital. Students are guided by medical professionals and observe real-world operations in the operating and emergency rooms.

“It’s the experience of just being there, of watching (doctors) do what they do and learning how fast they do everything; it’s very, very quick, and they have to think on the spot. I’m like, ‘Wow, they are very fast and very intelligent – I’m going to have to get to that level if I want to do this,” said senior and Brandywine Allied Health student Ragull Arumugam. “Obviously, now we don’t have clinicals at Brandywine Hospital, so we’re trying to get clinicals elsewhere, like

Photo Credit Chris Ramones/The SPOKE

Poking fun: Senior Chris Ramones practices injecting a needle during an Allied Health lesson. Ramones felt indifferent to the closure of Brandywine Hospital, but was sympathetic to its impact on hospital employees.

Chester County Hospital or outside of nursing homes. If it can’t be another hospital, then hopefully it can be a clinical site or something else.”

While students continue the search for new clinicals, most do not harbor resentment toward the situation. Senior Chris Ramones, whose daily commute was shortened by the change, is generally indifferent to the new setup.

“Everybody seemed to be okay with it, and it worked out pretty well. I didn’t really care as much, but at least we’re trying to have new clinicals, which I’m sure aren’t going to go away,” Ramones said. “I kind of now feel bad for a lot of the people who work there, who are losing their jobs.”

Arumugam agrees; he understands that beyond the changes to the Allied Health program, the shutdown of Brandywine Hospital holds greater significance to the surrounding community.

“For us, it’s not the end of the world. We just have to move on and make do with whatever we have. Obviously, it sucks even more for the community. It’s a very small community with a lot of old people, so (Brandywine) was a very pivotal hospital. It’s not the same as here, where there’s a rich community and there are a lot of hospitals and resources,” Arumugam said.

Arumugam recalls fond memories of the clinical experiences, especially the close-up surgeries where the doctors would interact personally with students. While sad that a monumental time at Brandywine is coming to an end, Arumugam views the change as a chance to practice being flexible.

“It was really devastating at first, but this just shows what happens in real life and teaches us a little bit of resiliency,” Arumugam said. “This is a learning opportunity for us. This is a pretty big setback, but we ought to bounce back.”

Health and Safety plan approved: Reactions to an updated proposal Shreya Vaidhyanathan

On Wednesday, Jan. 19, Polina Golland, a professor of electrical engineering and computer science at MIT, delivered a presentation on bio-image processing before the computer science club.

Monday, January 31, 2022

On Jan. 24 the T/E school board voted 9-0, unanimously in favor of an updated Health and Safety plan proposal. Although there is currently no universal mask mandate in Pennsylvania, TESD continues to follow the guidance of various national health officials and local departments such as the Chester County Health Department (CCHD) in keeping universal masking in our district, to the dismay of some community members.

Slightly altered since its first appearance in Aug. 2021, the Health and Safety plan now maintains in-person instruction as a top priority. Because of the CCHD’s statement that “universal contact tracing is an increasingly less effective tool to prevent the spread of COVID-19 within Chester County,” superintendent Richard Gusick announced in an email that “TESD staff will no longer be contacting staff members who are considered close contacts” to positive COVID-19

cases. Staff are to continue monitoring their symptoms and, if symptomatic, get tested. The district is no longer authorized by the CCHD to conduct contact tracing and issue quarantine letters on the county’s behalf which the plan amends accordingly. Contrastingly, the district is upholding the mask mandate which, while not required by the CCHD, is still recommended.

Although public comment was minimal on Jan. 24, some expressed disapproval towards the district and universal masking at the more popular Jan. 3 meeting.

“Since the beginning of the school year — and I think many students would agree with me — (the school board has) made these decisions that make us feel like prisoners,” said junior Hayden McLellan, comparing the district’s masking guidelines to those of a jail.

The lack of choice alarms parent Vanessa Monahan, who expected more freedom after society crossed “hurdles” like vaccine distribution. In light of the district’s redefinition of vaccina-

tion status to include the booster, Monahan was disappointed by the unwavering mask mandate.

“I trust my kid with (the school) every single day, and I’m saddened that you’re not giving them a choice,” Monahan said. “It actually breaks my heart.”

While the CDC, PA DOH and Chester County Health Department (CCHD) all recommend universal masking in schools, McLellan argued that retaining personal freedoms are vital. He urged the school board to amend the Health and Safety Plan, citing the rise of cases as evidence for the plan’s ineffectiveness.

“You guys say that students are having trouble acclimating back to the in school setting,” McLellan said. “Maybe, if you gave people their freedoms, they would get acclimated better and faster.”

Conestoga’s mask mandate reflects the guidance of both the CDC and CCHD, who recommend masking while indoors for schools. Freshman Declan Redmond spoke in support of the mandate, naming misinterpreta-

tions of “what is going on in the classroom” as a reason he shared his own experience.

“I think that everyone and anyone that can, should continue to (wear) a mask to protect ourselves, our friends, our grandparents, everyone in our community.” Redmond said. “Everyone is entitled to a certain level of freedom, but your rights stop where mine begin.”

Parent Matt McKenzie voiced concerns about the mental health of students, and how he believes that wearing a mask takes away from their educational experience. Claiming that masks are ineffective and simply keep up “the appearance of safety,” McKenzie was dismayed at the cancellation of certain activities because of the pandemic.

“The unintended consequence of you being overly cautious about this virus around our children is that their mental health has deteriorated to a point that is inexcusable,” McKenzie said. “It’s time to get over it.”

School board president Roberta Hotinski recessed the

Ben Shapiro/The SPOKE

Emotional moment: Freshman Declan Redmond pauses to regain his composure while speaking at the Jan. 3 school board meeting. Redmond discussed his experiences going to school with face masks. meeting three times due to safety concerns, resulting in the closing of public comment on the Health and Safety plan and the premature adjourn-

ment of the meeting. As of the meeting on Jan. 24, TESD schools follow the guidelines put forth in the updated Health and Safety plan.

The Pioneers dominated Haverford on Jan. 7 at their fourth swim meet of the season. Kallie Whitaker, Adriana Bertolotti, Alyssa Totoro and Delaney Burns placed first in the Girl’s 200 Medley Relay with a final time of 1:57.10. Likewise, the winning time of 1:38.10 in the Boy’s 200 Medley Relay was achieved by the team of Gary Wang, Jake Wang, Ryan McDonough and Stephen Graver.

Girls basketball loses to Harriton at home

The varsity girls basketball game took a tough home loss on Friday, January 21, falling 26-30 to Harriton. The team struggled in the first quarter, only scoring two points, and was 11-22 by halftime. The momentum shifted in the second half, with the Pioneers putting up 12 points and earning several free throws to make it a two-point game.

Ben Shapiro/The SPOKE

Maya Shah/The SPOKE

Showing evidence: Conestoga parent Alicia Geerlings holds her phone up to the camera. Geerlings expressed concerns over the cafeteria air vents.

Taking a stand: Conestoga parent Zahin Maneckshaw points into the air as he speaks to the school board members. The meeting was forced to recess when Maneckshaw refused to wear a face mask.

News

Monday, January 31, 2022

3

Academics at any cost: A culture fueled by stress Continued from Page 1 Why academics negatively impact student mental health For many academically-driven students in the building, comparison and competition over post-graduation plans is rife, acting as a driving force behind their scholastic efforts.

Faced with a selection of 28 Advanced Placement (AP) classes — a number far outpacing the national average of eight offered, according to College Transitions — students commonly pack their schedules with many rigorous, college-level classes. According to the Future Ready PA Index, 76% of Conestoga students are enrolled in at least one AP class, more than four times the national average of 17%, Georgetown University estimates.

Schedule-packing with post-secondary school in mind, however, is not just a common practice for juniors and seniors preparing for after graduation. Sophomore Sanveer Kashyap has noticed that even freshmen enter the doors with the same intent: maximizing their schedules to take the hardest courses.

“You’re encouraged to take as many AP classes as possible, not just by your teachers but by your friends, too. (It seems like) everybody takes an AP class, and it’s very common to see kids taking two or three APs freshman year,” Kashyap said. “You don’t see that anywhere else; it’s just our school’s culture.”

Seeing a similar trend behind AP class enrollment, senior Lavanya Ahluwahlia notes that, much of the time, taking AP classes does not necessarily correlate with having passion for the subject.

Instead, she sees academic peer pressure and a focus on simply taking the highest number of advanced classes as bigger factors in course selection.

“I know that I’ve been affected by the competition to take the most AP classes. And I’m like, ‘Oh, I’m only taking, like, two or three,’ which is pretty good already, but there’s people out here taking six or seven,” Ahluwahlia said. “It’s Conestoga, so it’s competitive. Nobody slows down ever, so it’s always like playing catch up, and that stress can get to you and (force you) to slow down.”

This forward-focused mindset that many academically-driven students possess produces a breeding ground for comparison of students through grades, GPA

and academic standing. Along with the many students who see college as a large stressor (see Fig. 2), Kashyap believes that attending Conestoga, which prides itself on sending a large number of students to top colleges each year, comes with a grades-oriented view of learning that underlies this rampant comparison.

“There’s a lot of tying selfworth to grades, especially in such a competitive environment. If somebody who’s way smarter than you gets a 93 on a test but you can pull a 95, that feels like a big deal,” Kashyap said. “Otherwise, it’s like being 5’ 6” in the NBA.” Simpson has seen the focus on grades and getting into college impact her relationships with many of her friends. As a senior, she wants to go out on the week-

ends and spend time with her close friends before they all have to leave for college, but especially with her academic-focused friends, time away from school and college applications is rare.

“I’ve seen my friends cancel all their plans over the weekend just to do schoolwork,” Simpson said. “Half of them will focus a lot of time and energy doing schoolwork, dedicate their free periods to schoolwork and have all of these extracurriculars to show on their (college applications instead of) focusing on themselves.”

How academic pressure has impacted some students The Spoke’s data found that almost half of surveyed students rated their mental health between “Neutral” and “Extremely poor” (see Fig. 3).

Smith notes that the constant pressure to do more, take one more AP class and get a better grade on the next test creates an unattainable goal of extreme productivity all the time.

They feel that the burden of living in this academic bubble leads to “disaster.”

The stress of schoolwork and the pressure to always do well academically caused Smith to have a panic attack recently.

Remembering the experience as over whelming,

they explained that the constant epectations of high achievement placed on students finally got to them.

“A month ago, there was one day I was completely overstimulated: I had to go to the nurse and then go home. Looking back, I’m not ashamed of it, but (in that moment), I had this intense need for no one to look at me because I didn’t want anyone to see that I was stressed out

FIGURE 1: WHAT IMPACT DO ACADEMICS HAVE ON YOUR MENTAL HEALTH?

academic integrity. If your health is declining, you can’t (expect good grades).

Your health has to come first.”

Sometimes, though, efforts on the part of the student may not be enough to improve their mental health. At the administrative level, the high school can also play a major role by having open communication with the student body about mental health and, specifically, academic stress.

In December 2021, the U.S. Surgeon General released a Youth Mental Health Advisory in hopes of improving the current mental health status quo. The advisory noted that not only do educators and school administrators need to be open to students looking to receive help, but in order to see change, they must actively offer services for students to get that help. Ganesan strongly agrees with the Surgeon General and believes it to be vital for schools to have mental health resources in schools. While Conestoga does provide these resources, she feels that a lack of transparency surrounding them makes students less likely to reach out for help.

*top 4 answers FIGURE 4: Which (if any) of the following options do you think would benefit your mental health?

­

Scan the QR Code below to watch an accompanying video package!

Average: 0.02

to happen after you get reported,” Ganesan said. “And it’s a problem because a lot of people are scared to use the treatment centers. I think the school should do a better job of informing people of what is going to happen.”

Open communication between educators, administrators and students is a huge factor in improving student mental health.

Given a set of factors and asked which, if any, would benefit their mental health, a vast majority of the respondents to The Spoke’s survey chose a break from the constant, fast-paced culture. Seventy-three percent of students feel that re-implementing Work Well Wednesdays, the shortened catchup days instituted every Wednesday last school year, would benefit their mental health. Additionally, 65% of students believe that extending Thanksgiving, winter and spring breaks would improve their mental health (see Fig. 4).

Since the beginning of the academic year, school administration has been implementing practices aimed at improving students’ mental health, such as eliminating midterms and finals and discontinuing the practice of reporting absences on final transcripts. Despite these measures, there has yet to be a conversation in which stu-

FIGURE 3: How would you rate your mental health?

dents openly voice their concerns and potential solutions.

Seeing the pressure students are under academically, the district is planning for a stress committee to convene in the coming years. The committee’s composition of members is still in the works, but it aims to take an open-minded approach to reducing student stress by examining factors like the structure of the school day.

Simpson believes that communication between students and those who are willing to help them, such as via a committee, is vital in supporting mental health.

She notes that there are gaps in administrators’ knowledge of students’ mental health that the students themselves can fill.

“I think (the administration) is trying to do their best, but they don’t know everything,” Simpson said.

By opening channels of communication, administrators can better tailor their solutions to the wants and needs of students. For example, providing a public forum or town hallstyle space for students to directly voice their concerns would allow administrators to base solutions off student feedback. The students have opinions on their mental health — both positive and negative — but the administration must actively seek out those opinions and provide the time and space for students to express them. Taking routes that grant more anonymity, such as open-ended surveys, would incorporate students who might not feel comfortable tying their names to their mental health struggles. School psychologist Dr. Cynthia Knapp has seen firsthand the value of students advocating for themselves and being listened to by the professionals trying to help them.

“I just had a meeting yesterday with a student (where she spoke with our) whole team of staff, and she was heard,” Knapp said. “I think our students’ input is very valuable.”

Students who Have, at some point, wanted to use mental health services but decided against using them for whatever reason

FIGURE 2: How much stress does post-graduation planning cause you?

On a personal level, there are steps students can take to give themselves room to breathe by reducing stressors.

While the school’s social climate may be geared toward taking the hardest classes, students do not have to abide by it; with careful reflection, they can opt to choose courses based on their own best interest. Calculus teacher Paul Poiesz sees how students with a lot going on in their academic and personal spheres can become overwhelmed.

“I think everyone needs to look at their own big picture, realize all of the stressors and all of the pressures that are in their individual lives, and be willing to make sacrifices in some areas in order to make the big picture more palatable,” Poiesz said. “You sit down to a big dinner and look at the dinner table (and think), ‘I want all of it.’

Well, that might not be the smartest thing for you. ‘I want all of it’ is a nice goal in life, but sometimes wanting all of it and then deciding, ‘Maybe all of it right now isn’t a great idea’ is how we have to look at things.”

Agreeing with Poiesz about the value of weighing priorities, junior Asha Ganesan has found that detaching from school when needed has made her more productive.

And when it comes down to it, focusing on mental health only creates a stronger foundation for academic success.

“Letting go a tiny bit has actually really, really helped in

“To a degree, the problem with the school system and how they approach mental health is that when people report you (to mental health professionals), nobody knows w h a t ’s going

prioritizing my health over my grades,” Ganesan said, “because the thing is, if your health isn’t good, you can’t keep maintaining such

A possible solution to the problem

or that I was going through something,” Smith recalled.

While some students, like Smith, feel the pressure as a burst that hits them all at once, others experience a more prolonged sense of dread. Kashyap finds the “nonstop” academic week monotonous and the academic grind he and his peers work at tiring.

“I feel like, every night, I am studying for a test, and then during the day, I wake up, and all I do is go to school; it’s the same thing over and over.

It’s just like how people complain (that) they’re stuck in a system of waking up, going to work, going home and waking up again all the time,” Kashyap said.

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T/E LIFE

Monday, January 31, 2022

Abby Carella

Multimedia Editor Sunlight shines through the glass front of Wayne’s Oasis Juice Bar, illuminating a lush floral display from Main Line Orchids and walls filled with handmade treats and from other small businesses. Oasis owner, Tiffany, stirs a giant pot of chocolate while customers read through the menu to choose a smoothie or granola bowl of their liking from the menu. She pops a hole in their discount card (buy 10 smoothies get the 11th free) and gets to work creating the drink.

Oasis’s expansive drink menu centers around gluten-free, dairy free, soy free and vegan items.

While this may sound off-putting to some, their menu items are to die for.

Alexis Costas/The SPOKE

Stocking up on socks: African American Student Union members hold pairs of socks that students donated to the sock drive. They collected hundreds of pairs to deliver to Youth Services. Inc of Philadelphia.

AASU hosts “sock”cessful donation drive Abbie Preston Staff Reporter

Walking miles to a destination is difficult, especially without socks. This unfortunate situation is a reality for many homeless people across the northeast, which is why the African American Student Union (AASU) and Key Club chose to host a charity event to collect socks.

The drive ran from Jan. 10-21 and they were able to collect 300400 socks. The donations went to the Youth Service, Inc (YSI) of Philadelphia, a non-profit organization that offers support to Philadelphia youth and families.

Christopher Brown, adviser of AASU, chose to work with YSI because of their focus on assisting teenagers.

“The Youth Service Incorporated is dedicated to strengthening the family unit and helping at-risk teens and promoting child safety. Those are some values for our club that align with (AASU),” Brown said.

Since this year is the first time AASU organized a sock drive, they have had to navigate many challenges. AASU reached out to various organizations within the T/E community, and reached their capacity of donated goods. Their solution was to reach out to a larger community and partnering with YSI. Although Brown believes had to manage these difficulties, the benefits outweighed the challenges.

“We are very grateful and gracious to the community that we are able to sup-

port, and we have tons and tons of socks that will go to those that really need them,” Brown said.

The event achieved its goal, gathering enough socks for each person in the homeless shelter to have multiple pairs. Because of its success, AASU will look to host more winter drives in the future. AASU 11th grade executive Jaela Eaton appreciates all the people in Conestoga’s community that were able to donate to the cause.

“It’s great to have a successful soft drive that helps someone that might not have something as simple as socks,” Eaton said. “It was really nice to see that people want to give and that people want to participate in something like this.”

Abbie Preston/The SPOKE

Packing up: Members of AASU box up socks to be given to YSI. The drive ran from Jan. 10-21.

The smoothies are blended right in front of you, without artificial flavors, colors or syrups. If the customer desires milk in their drink, options include oat, cashew, coconut and almond milk varieties. Both the peanut butter (a popular choice) and cashew milk are made in the store. Beyond the smoothies listed on the menu, customers can add more than 10 mix-ins, including bee pollen, chia seeds and coconut whipped cream. While on the expensive side with prices ringing in at $6.75 for a regular smoothie and $7.95 for a large (plus an added credit card fee), the fresh and healthy products are worth it.

The Strawberry Banana smoothie, a classic, is a delicious choice. It’s sweet and free of added chemical flavor featured in drinks from other establishments. A regular 20-ounces drink is a nice option, but the large 24-ounces size is completely manageable as you take one sip and can’t seem to stop. This smoothie is a great choice, especially for those new to Oasis.

The Mocha Chip plant-milk shake is another great pick off the menu. A blend of oatmilk, banana, coffee and chocolate chips make up this energizing drink.

While it has a completely different flavor combination than a classic fruit smoothie, the Mocha Chip shake still hits the spot.

Similar to a regular iced mocha, this drink is sweet but still packs a strong coffee-flavored punch.

The banana enhances the flavor of the shake rather than overtaking it, allowing the coffee and chocolate to shine. It is a nice choice if the classic fruit-based smoothie is too sweet and light for your palette; plus, it comes with an energy boost from the caffeine.

The gluten-free, chocolate-dipped cookies are very similar to Oreos, and handdipped in-store. Covered in sprinkles, the cookies are a perfect crunchy treat, especially for the chocolate-obsessed of the world. The personal-sized banana bread, filled with chocolate chips, is yet another delicious homemade treat; it never fails to be moist, cinnamon-y and filling.

One downfall of Oasis Juice Bar is its hours. It closes by 3:30 p.m. during the week, making it hard for students to stop by after school. On the weekend, it’s only open until 1:00 p.m. on Saturdays and closed on Sundays. While these hours can be a barrier, it is worth it to try and squeeze in a visit for a tasty treat.

Oasis Juice 224 Sugartown Rd, Wayne, PA 19087 Price: $$ Rating: Phone: 610-254-9797 Hours: 8:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Monday -Friday, 8 a.m. - 1 p.m. Saturdays

Jui Bhatia/The SPOKE

Planning phase: Junior Aayma Hamid and sophomore Malaika Hamid discuss their plans for instituting a quiet room in the school in which students can decompress. They first proposed the idea to their school counselor at the end of last school year.

No room to pray: MSA seeks quiet space Jui Bhatia Beats Editor

After a year of virtual meetings, the Muslim Student Association (MSA) is back and ready to tackle their lack of prayer space this year.

Their efforts are directed toward looking for a room where members can pray during school hours. Islamic prayers take place five times a day, and prayer times are determined by sunset and sunrise. Because of the Daylight Savings switch, sunset now falls earlier in the day, causing one of these prayers to fall during the school day, around lunch time. Due to weather and time constraints, Muslim students are often unable to complete this prayer on time.

“We have five daily prayers every day and in the winter time, one of them falls during school,” said junior Aayma

Hamid, president of the MSA. “We miss it often because by the time we get home, the time for it is over.”

The inability to complete their scheduled prayer has sparked the MSA to work with administration to look for a quiet, private room where students can pray. However, the purpose of this room will not simply be for prayer. It will also be open for anyone to use as a space for all students to take a moment away from school.

“One thing that we want to make sure is that we don’t want people to think this space is only for Muslim students; it’s a quiet place available to everyone,” said sophomore and MSA vice-president Malaika Hamid.

“We want to work with other clubs and have a quiet meditation room where people can just come in and take a moment to decompress.”

The path to securing this room, however, hasn’t been

easy. The club president and vice-president have been regularly meeting with Dr. Oscar Torres, T/E Director of Equity and Public Programs, but have been facing logistical issues. Ongoing problems like the lack of space in school and the lack of staff to supervise the room are some of their main difficulties.

“We’re trying to make sure that not only is there a location, but also that there is supervision available. What has made it really difficult is that, in our school, every space is almost being used,” Torres said.

“We’re also in the middle of needing subs, so we don’t have subs and not enough aides.”

In addition, the club and administrators are facing issues with school policies and whether the school is able to permit students to leave their classes for personal matters.

“When things like this are requested, we need to make

sure if they’re going to happen, they’re happening outside of a student’s classes, so that their academics are not impacted by that,” Torres said.

“At the same time, we want to listen to our students and see what ideas they might have, or what needs they might have that we could maybe support within the parameters that are provided for us.”

Despite these problems, the club and administration have maintained a positive mindset and are making steady progress to make this happen for the students.

“When our students are asking for a space to be who they are and to acknowledge their own existence within our schools, our job is to listen to our students and to help them be able to be who they are,” Torres said. “We will try and find ways that it can be done in a manner that is supportive of our students.”

T/E Life

Monday, January 31, 2022

5

Robotics team wins state championship qualifier Howard Kim Staff Reporter

“Three, two, one, go!”

Robots hum to life and begin picking up rings to score points, following code written by the competitors. The match has begun.

This is the match the Robotics club’s A team, 6121A, triumphed in at the Great Valley High School January VEX Robotics Competition (VRC) on Jan. 15. This match allowed them to advance to the Eastern PA State Championship that is set to take place in March. During the initial qualification rounds, the team won six out of seven matches with an average final lead of 127 points.

This performance earned them the third seed in the elimination rounds, where they emerged victorious and qualified for the state championship. Robotics Club adviser Noah Austin attributes the team’s success to its member’s prior experience with robotics.

“It’s like a perfect storm: they have experienced members on that team, (and) three of them were in the robotics club at the

based on how much time and effort they put into improving.

“The more you practice, the better you get. There’s a point where your robot can’t get much better. (However,) your driving can always improve, so I believe that is probably the most important skill you need for (success in) robotics,” Raj said.

To build on his streak of success from last year, Raj has spent more than 150 hours on building and programming since November.

Additionally, he has been spending three hours daily towards practicing driving and controlling his robot.

Even while captaining his team, Raj wants to help other teams at Conestoga Robotics Club adviser achieve the same success as 6121A. He current teammates, juniors has been lending his expertise and Taha and Moiz Chomelawala, advice when other students bring placed among the world’s top in their robots to test at school.

“I’d like to win the state 108 teams at the VRC World Championship by finishing competition and compete in VEX Worlds. I’d (also) like ninth in their division.

Conestoga’s Robotics Club more people to go to States,” provides the same materials, Raj said “If I can, I’ll try to get weekly meeting space and all the teams from (our school) practice area to all six of its to (qualify), and I’m hoping teams, but, according to Aus- that we get at least two or three tin and Raj, their results differ teams into Worlds this year.” middle school before coming to high school. It was a natural progression of their success,” Austin said. “That team is also being led by somebody that made it to the world competition last year.”

That “somebody” is junior Aditya Raj, 6121A’s captain who has been competing with VEX robots for four years and leading his team for two.

Last year, he and two of his

It’s like a perfect storm. It was a natural progression of their success.

Teacher Feature: allison long Rohan Anne/The SPOKE

We are: Math teacher Allison Long holds her Penn State poster in front of a bulletin board displaying items, including a Key Club shirt and Penn State gear.

Long found her passion for teaching after her positive learning experiences with a high school teacher.

Rohan Anne Staff Reporter

By the time Allison Long was cornered by a cow while on a bike ride in the cattle fields of the Virginia Creeper Trail, it was too late to moo-ve away.

“There were cows in a stream on the right-hand side of the trail. The cows stopped drinking and they decided to all come on the path,” Long said.

“I screamed, and I did not know whether to go faster or slow down, but I went faster, and I just missed running into them by just a couple of feet. I was terrified because cows are big animals. I thought I was literally going to get stampeded.”

When she’s not exploring new trails, Long teaches Algebra 1 and Algebra 2 AB at Conestoga. Long’s interest in teaching stemmed from the passion and uplifting nature of her own teachers, especially one teacher, Mr. Franks, who taught her for three years in high school.

“He had a flipped style of

teaching where he would assign us to actually read the textbook and do homework that evening, and then come in with questions the next day,” Long said. “He really actually taught me how to understand math sort of on my own, but still was a vibrant and engaging teacher. And he was also a

Penn State football fans since her husband, oldest son and youngest son also went to Penn State. In the fall months, she likes to go to Penn State to visit friends and family and to watch the football games.

In the future, Long hopes to look for new ways for Key Club to expand its outreach and continue teaching algebra. For Long, the most important and best part of teaching is forming connections with students.

“If you cannot establish a rapport and relationship with your students, you’re not going to get anywhere. They’re going Math teacher to respond to a relationship, and even bunch of clubs rolled into one, when they are struggling, you and I work with the students to will be able to help them and see them finally understand develop them into leaders.”

Outside of school, Long something,” Long said. “I reloves to be outdoors when the alized more with COVID than weather is nice, frequently par- ever when we were not getting taking in family road trips to a chance to meet our students, the mountains, biking on trails, how wonderful it is this year hiking up mountains and vis- to have students in front of us iting national parks. Long and because they really are what her family members are avid inspires us.”

Long also advises Key Club and believes that it provides an opportunity for students to develop their leadership skills.

“It (Key Club) is one of the largest clubs in the school, and this year, we have a record number of kids that are chartered members,” Long said.

“Key Club is pretty much like a

Noah Austin

If you cannot establish a rapport and relationship with your students, you’re not going to get anywhere.”

Allison Long funny guy. He made math fun.”

Long grew up in Tobyhanna near the Poconos and majored in math at Penn State.

After teaching for less than half a year in Massachusetts, she moved back to Pennsylvania and began working at Valley Forge Middle School, where she taught for 18 years before moving to Conestoga.

Aditi Dahagam/The SPOKE

Talented tinkering: Team 6121A captain and junior Aditya Raj works on his robot at a Robotics Club meeting. His team qualified for the Eastern PA State Championship.

Spirit of writing: Library aide works on sixth ghost book Aditi Dahagam Co-T/E Life Editor

The apparition of a woman wearing an old-fashioned blue dress looks out the window at Amstel House Museum in New Castle, Del. This is one of the haunted places library aide Laurie Hull has been investigating for her sixth nonfiction ghost book “Delaweird,” which she is co-writing with Matt Lake, author of “Weird Pennsylvania.” Set to release this summer, the book will be available online and at in-person events, such as paranormal conferences, that Hull attends.

Hull’s previous books can also be found at these events, on Amazon and at local libraries.

Growing up, Hull’s experiences with supernatural events in her home, including unplugged lights turning on and doors opening and closing on

as those by Edgar Allan Poe, to help her understand what was happening in her own home.

“At first, I was scared (of the ghosts). When I got to be 15 or 16, I realized I was going to set the rules for my own house. I just told (the ghosts), ‘You’re not going to scare me anymore,’” Hull said. “You could almost feel a shift in the energy in the room.”

This change in perspective inspired Hull to investigate and write stories about supernatural events. Just like her previous Library aide stories such as “Media Gothic” and “Brandywine Valley Ghosts,” Hull started the research for “Delaweird” by talking to local people and reading newspaper articles about unexplainable occurrences in Delaware.

“When you’re doing research, you feel like you’re on the trail of something and the truth is there and you’re going to find it,” Hull said.

Hull plans to combine the preliminary research with

I want (readers) to take away a bigger interest in the places around them and the things around them that are possibly going on and that they might not be aware of.”

Laurie Hull their own, led her to believe that her house was haunted.

This made her more interested in reading ghost stories, such

info@thedefensivedrivingacademy.com

stories about a cursed bridge, the Dickinson Plantation and more haunted places in Delaware. She likes to write stories about haunted places in this region because she finds that the ability to visit these locations provides an advantage in the writing process.

“I like to focus on local areas because I like to write about places where I’ve been or I could

go to easily. As far as me being able to sell the book, I have more of a vested interest in something that’s more local,” Hull said.

Hull’s friend Beth Ingram who read her book “Supernatural Pennsylvania” believes Hull investigates and researches local places thoroughly. Ingram is excited to read the stories in “Delaweird” because of the in-

depth supernatural history Hull’s books provide.

“It’s crazy to hear all that Laurie has been through. She’s a great storyteller and makes you feel like you’re there sometimes,” Ingram said.

Hull plans to write more ghost books in the future, specifically one about Delaware County since she lives there.

For now, Hull wants to con-

tinue sharing the history of paranormal activities of the interesting places in the area.

“I want (readers) to take away a bigger interest in the places around them and the things around them that are possibly going on that they might not be aware of,” Hull said. “I want them to be aware that there’s more than what meets the eye.”

Abby Carella/The SPOKE

Aditi Dahagam/The SPOKE

Spooky stories: Library aide Laurie Hull looks over her book “Supernatural Pennsylvania” in the school library. Hull’s experiences growing up in a haunted house inspired her to write ghost stories.

Made with care: Girls Inc. For Yemen delivers packages to its customers in decorated boxes with a personalized note. The nonprofit has sold handmade jewelry, such as earrings, to raise money for Yemen.

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T/E Life

6

Monday, January 31, 2022

Sounds o ’Stoga

Student Opinions favorite decade?

“I like 70s music. I used to work in a grocery store and they used to play 70s music. Over time I got used to hearing those songs played all the time and it kind of got an influence on my music (taste).”

-steph ross, 12

k n O a cea r F

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-buddy kennedy, 10

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ideal friday music lineup?

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67%

“I play the trombone. I think it makes me more aware of the music I’m listening to and it gives a different perspective when I’m listening to music.

I think of the rhythms and the notes more than the song in general.”

-charlie susanin, 11

“Music is just really calming and really peaceful. I listen to a lot of classical music too, which is really nice to relax and stay calm. That really helps me a lot, especially when I’m stressed out.

If (I) just put on some classical music in the background, it just helps (me) to relax a little bit. I listen to Chopin, Bach, Beethoven, the classics.”

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why do you listen to music?

a n K . y s e v r 35%

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what does music mean to you?

65%

“(Music is) really just like a form of art. I use it sometimes to entertain me as well. (It) depends on the music I’m listening to. Normally (I listen to) like calm, relaxing music in school.

Bach. Beethoven.”

-harmon stephen, 9

Information was gathered from a pool of 367 re The survey was administered via online form an

T/E Life

Monday, January 31, 2022

of

Written By: Chanelle Ongagna, Raima Saha and Maya Shah Staff reporters and Photography Editor Designed by: Abby Carella, Aren Framil, Maya Shah, Aditi Dahagam and Hiba Samdani Social Media Editor, Staff Reporter, Photography Editor and co-t/e Life Editors

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OPINION

Monday, January 31, 2022

Unsigned: Let our minds heal

There is no doubt that high school is a high-stress environment for students. At Conestoga, with honors classes being the norm, constant competition with peers and the pressure to attend a prestigious university, it is nearly impossible not to be crushed by a wave of stress when walking through the doors of the school.

When students are crippled by anxiety or plagued by a lack of motivation, having a productive day of learning at school isn’t in the cards. So, some students call in sick to recover mentally, but use their limited number of absences to do so.

What can the state of Pennsylvania do to help? Instead of having a slew of absences on transcripts, the state legislature needs to revisit its given number of absences and consider both the mental and physical health of students.

This means setting aside a certain number of absent days for students to use for mental health when necessary.

In June 2021, state senator Judy Schwank proposed Senate Bill 506, which requests for two days of absence for mental health per semester with a parent’s allowance

for students K-12. While two days is a good start, in a school year of roughly 180 days, a mere two days per se-

mester cannot sufficiently aid students’ mental health.

According to “The New York Times,” over the past few years, Utah, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Maine, Nevada, Oregon and Virginia have passed

The Suicide Prevention Research Center states, “Mental health problems can affect a student’s energy level, concentration, dependability, mental ability and optimism, hindering performance.”

These existing problems have only been aggravated by the additional stress caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

As a student, I can see the positive effects of mental health days on both myself and my friends. We lose ourselves in school and extracurriculars, forgetting to check in with one another and isolating ourselves until we reach a breaking point. When I took a day to recharge, I caught my breath — mentally — and reconnected with my friends who had also been running on empty.

A mental health day can mean healing by going for a walk, reading a book, getting some rest or anything else that charges one’s battery. It’s better to have a student who is functioning and actively learning than a Yuting Pu/The SPOKE student who can’t participate or retain informahealth days are crucial, especially in high schools tion because of their struggling like the pressure cooker that mental state. The state of Pennis Conestoga. School is im- sylvania needs to follow the exportant, yes, but students’ ample of other states that have health needs must be prior- implemented legislation allowitized — and that includes ing the mental health days students need to recover. mental health. legislation allowing absences in school for “mental or behavioral health reasons.” This action proves that mental

The Spoke Editorial Board voted 20 in favor of and 1 against this editorial.

Tbh, we gotta build our vocab, like, rn

Hiba Samdani

Co-T/E Life Editor It happens to all of us struggling to think of the perfect word, drawing upon a blank mind and settling for a subpar synonym that doesn’t do the word justice. The lack of vocabulary amongst teenagers largely accounts for these frustrating situations, and our internal dictionary is only deteriorating. According to Jean Gross, a communications expert and adviser, to the British government, the typical 16-year-old employs 800 words, a mere number considering the 40,000 words they should have developed by this age . Even worse, ⅓ of this “800-word-vocabulary” consists of words like “yeah”, “no” and “lol” - what some may say barely constitutes proper English.

Much of this problem stems from the rise of the digital environment and the ubiquity of technology. The reliance on phones fosters an environment in which people are fixated on their devices in times where there would have been conversation. Because of the advent of these platforms, fewer teenagers are reading for pleasure one of the biggest factors for a larger vocabulary.

Because of this limited wordbank, teenagers should take the time to build their inventory of words. With a

stronger vocabulary comes the obvious academic benefits. Generally, a more robust vocabulary leads to a higher baseline score on the SAT and ACT, as students who can recognize a more diverse array of words tend to read faster and process information quicker. The benefits carry over to writing as well.

A good foundation in vocabulary facilitates precise writing

ing, people with strong vocab have greater occupational success because they carry more confidence. They develop the ability to formulate coherent thoughts and conduct meaningful dialogue. Not only will they feel confident, but they also appear more confident to others. Rather than stuttering to find the right words, they have a large bank that can be used at their disposal to create

and allows for more variety in sentence structure.

While vocabulary is often associated with educational achievement, its advantages extend well beyond the academic realm. Beyond school-

smoother conversation. These attributes make them attractive candidates for more prestigious positions.

The benefits are apparent, but as the world moves towards digitization, the need

for vocabulary may become obsolete. Already, software on Google and Word predicts what we are about to type, rendering the need to come up with words ourselves unnecessary. In fact, according to sociologist Donald Hayes, educational institutions are adapting to accommodate the decline in vocabulary - American schoolbooks are using simpler words and phrases. However, a robust knowledge of words provides a strong foundation for effective communication.

Without the ability to read, write, speak and even listen, there is no means for meaningful conversation.

Building a richer vocabulary may be the last task on many of our minds.

However, as abbreviations and simple language become more prevalent, there is a need to reinforce the complex words in the English language. Vocabulary plays a fundamental role in our lives, and it’s time we start acknowledging its importance. We should start expanding our knowledge of words through Quizlets and games like Wordscapes or Scrabble. We need Yuting Pu/The SPOKE to reignite the idea of reading for pleasure, and not out of obligation. Enhancing our verbal intelligence will have a positive impact on our social, professional and cultural spheres of influence for future generations.

The Spoke is published seven times a year by Trumball Printing. It consistently receives a Gold rating from PSPA and CSPA, and is a National Scholastic Press Association Pacemaker award-winning publication. The Spoke serves as a public forum for student expression.

The

Staff

Editors-in-Chief: Katherine Lee, Sophia Pan, Reese Wang Managing Editors: Devon Rocke, Umar Samdani News Editor: Evan Lu T/E Life Editors: Aditi Dahagam, Hiba Samdani Opinion Editor: Aishi Debroy Sports Editors: Abby Bagby, George Zhang Photography Editor: Maya Shah Multimedia Web Editor: Alexis Costas Beats Editor: Jui Bhatia Business Manager: Michael Tierney Webmasters: Nishka Avunoori, Shreya Vaidhyanathan Social Media Editor: Abby Carella Copy Editors: Kate Emmanuel, Ben Shapiro

, Cartoonists: Leon Li, Yuting Pu, Charity Xu, Katherine Zhang Staff Reporters: Rohan Anne, Kaitlin Campbell, Mareska Chettiar,

Brianna Fan, Melissa Fan, Aren Framil, Andrew Franceski, Julia Harris, Oviya Ignaci, Hannah Jamison, Akshita Joshi, Brooke Kennedy, Howard Kim, Shrija Krishnan, Grace Kuryan, Amanda Markind, Caius Michlitsch, Chanelle Ongagna, Abbie Preston, Madeline Pulliam, Ben Reed, Zachary Rejonis, Raima Saha, Zara Samdani, Soumya Sathyanarayana, Hannah Simon, Aashita Singh, Aaron Wang, Mindy Wang, Juliana Yao Faculty Advisers: Cyndi Crothers-Hyatt, Alison Ferriola, Nicole Zakorchemny

Leon Li/ The SPOKE

From the Editor: Letter to William Golding

Katherine Lee

Co-Editor-in-Chief Dear sir, You were right.

When I read “Lord of the Flies” in my freshman year, I thought “phsst this doesn’t make any sense.” There’s no way a group of young boys would turn into bloodthirsty savages who kill pigs and terrorize boys named Piggy and Simon after being stranded on a deserted island in real life. I mean, Jack was the leader of the choirboys! You expect me to believe that he would actually become a villain?

But recent events have made me think back on your book and realize that I owe you an apology. You were right, and your novel is in fact an almost accurate interpretation of human nature. Well, minus the skewered pigs.

It seems that people really do hold a measure of savagery at their innermost core, and certain events or situations draw this vicious nature out of them. In your book, this trigger was the deserted island. For us, it was the pandemic.

Coming back to school after more than a year of virtual learning, I’ve noticed an extreme level of chaos that I don’t think I’ve ever seen before. It’s like there is an un-

restrained impulse running through the hallways, testing every limit, every rule and every boundary. And it’s paired with a complete lack of self-control that’s overturning chairs, destroying furniture, disrespecting teachers Reese Wangand trashing every Co-Managing Editor through (to room it whirls name a few).

This behavior is true in the virtual world, too. While the boys on the deserted island existed before the age of digital technology, it’s the 21st century, and we now have cell phones and social media. I’ve seen the craziest Instagram accounts pop up this year. Some are tame, like those documenting bad parking habits and apples.

Others, however, are borderline stalker-ish, disturbing and freaky. I won’t name them, but they know who they are.

We’ve also been facing a dire need to revisit one of the most important things we learn in kindergarten: clean up after yourself. Graffiti in the bathrooms, bananas being purposely smushed into the atrium carpet, garbage accumulating in places it shouldn’t be at every lunch period — we need to be more respectful of our surroundings and the custodians that work to keep the building clean and stop acting as though this is our jungle and we are the king.

Have you ever considered writing about what would have happened if those stranded on the island were adults rather than a group of young boys? Frankly, I don’t think the plot would have

Non-staff contributions: Non-staff contributions from students, the community, graduates or other interested parties are welcome. Editors will decide which contributions are published based on space and relevance to the community. All contributions must conform to journalistic practices, including accuracy, timeliness, purpose and writing conventions. The Spoke reserves the right to work with the contributor to meet these standards. All outside contributions are bylined.

Letters to the editor: Letters to the editor may be submitted to Editors-in-Chief Katherine Lee, Sophia Pan and Reese Wang, or advisers Cyndi Crothers-Hyatt, Alison Ferriola and Nicole Zakorchemny.

Editorials: Unsigned editorials represent the views of The Spoke editorial board, not necessarily those of the administration, student body, community or advertisers. The opinions expressed in signed columns are those of the writer and not necessarily the opinion of The Spoke.

Paid advertisements: The Spoke accepts paid advertisements. Email hello@spoke.news.

changed much other than the characters just being older.

At a recent school board meeting, if there had been trees and sand and wild pigs, it could have been a scene taken straight from your book. It would be an understatement to say “emotions ran high that night.” Adults speaking over students trying to share their opinions, students having to be escorted to their cars for their safety, people yelling at those they disagree with — there was an inability, or maybe just an unwillingness, to have respectful, diplomatic discussions.

It’s hard to believe that this is reality, but it’s no longer hard to believe the reality of the themes explored in your book. Civilization vs. savagery, order vs. chaos, reason vs. impulse. The instinct to follow rules, live by moral commands and act for the good of the group battling against the instinct to act violently on the desire to gain supremacy and enforce one’s will.

The pandemic and everything that it represents has caused the dam to break, letting the water rush out in a flood of previously suppressed emotions of hate and discontent.

But of course, this isn’t true of everyone — far from it.

We have our Ralphs and our Piggys and our Simons. And yet, look at what happened to them by the end of the book!

The boys on the island in your story were eventually rescued by a ship and brought back to civilization. But I’m not sure when our saving ship will come and what form it would even take.

Charity Xu/The SPOKE

www.spoke.news @thespoke @thespoke /thespoke the_spoke hello@spoke.news

OP/ED

Monday, January 31, 2022

9

Emojis: Source of intergenerational miscommunication

Aishi Debroy Opinion Editor

Recently, my grandmother sent the emoji — unaware of its connotation — to congratulate me. I was shocked. Did she really mean it? Starting to speculate her intent for a fleeting second, I came to my senses and acknowledged that she didn’t understand the ongoing cultural shifts regarding emoji usage. Honestly, she most likely approached sending that emoji from a logical standpoint: a smiley face emoji should probably represent a smiling face.

Wrong. Rather than used for its intended purpose, the smiley face has adopted a sarcastic, even passive-aggressive, connotation.

Due to the constantly evolving political and social environment, generation gaps have existed for centuries: Beatlemaniacs versus

Beliebers, cable watchers versus Netflix viewers and lovers of dad jokes versus memes. But, one monumental misunderstanding overwhelmingly separates the younger and older generations of today: the interpretation of emojis. Our parents and grandparents repeatedly misinterpret and redefine undertones of emoji lexicon.

When asked for an explanation, we can’t help but state: “You wouldn’t understand.” Truly, the mastery of emojis is an innate skill of youth today.

Generation Z’s pessimistic worldview and appreciation for dark humor causes major shifts in the meaning of emojis.

For instance, the emoji with tears of joy is outdated — even deemed “uncool.” (Sorry, millennials). Instead, to express laughter or enjoyment, the

emoji is often used, symbolizing that we’ve essentially laughed ourselves to death. Sending that emoji after a sincere, depressing message will unconsciously encourage

Social media trends — predominantly from TikTok and Instagram — are often the source of emojis’ meanings transitioning.

The emoji portrays genuine

emoji” expresses “excitement and admiration.” But if you ask any Gen Zer, they’ll tell you the opposite, even warning you from using it if your message isn’t intended to

Katherine Zhang/The SPOKE

chuckles from younger people.

Sure, it’s quite morbid, but the ability to transform our cynical outlooks on life into comedic relief unifies youth across socioeconomic, cultural and ethnic lines.

love and affection, but if a emoji is attached to its end, the phrase takes on the complete opposite meaning — one that is caustic and unkind. The dictionary definition of the “sparkly

be sassy. The rapid changes in what Gen Z finds humorous or trendy influences the connotation of emojis that are frequently used, leaving our parents and grandparents completely in the dark.

To give the older generation a break, researchers have found that the misinterpretation of emojis can cross generational lines. In fact, GroupLens researcher Hannah Miller found that people, in general, interpret identical emojis differently. Frankly, the user’s most frequently visited social media sites largely impact their interpretation of a certain emoji.

However, the sheer accessibility of these sites makes it highly unlikely that the average teen won’t be exposed to cultural shifts prevalent in at least one of them.

Sure, bridging the gaps between generations can feel near impossible sometimes.

“Grandma, no, you can’t use the middle finger emoji to refer to the text message above.”

But, preventing older generations’ use of outlandish emojis in incorrect situations requires a simple step: sparking conversations about the different meanings. Discussing the latest shifts in humor offers an opportunity to better understand teen culture today and encourages more intentional and effective application of emojis.

Report Card

A+

Spider-Man: No Way Home

+ CROSS-OVER! All three spidermans and villains in one universe.

- Really trying to break my heart, huh?

A

20-year Harry Potter Reunion + The nostalgia! The feels!

Just them existing TOGETHER! - I didn’t think I could feel old so soon…

M&M Diversity Campaign

D-

+ I guess…I can see myself in a candy now? A ‘win’ for diversity!

- A clear publicity stunt.

Also, what if I liked the green M & M’s white boots!

R.I.P. Betty White “I’d probably say that my favorite emoji is the emoji because I like to use it in any type of scenario. It’s funny to send it at random moments too. It also captures my mood and feelings in situations perfectly.”

Paige Stamatas,

“ is my favorite emoji because when I want to pursue a wicked roast, it adds an unparalleled touch that is distinc distinctive from the other emojis.

Adi Kothari,

-

freshman

-

sophomore

STUDENTS SPEAK OUT

-

Kate Emmanuel Co-copy Editor

Students who menstruate are all too familiar with this situation: Have your period? Walking to class and realizing it’s about time for a new tampon, when it hits: “I forgot to bring one today.”

Now there’s a choice to make, and it comes down to two options: missing class time or leaving in a tampon for too long. Which one’s the best bet?

While on their periods, students are often forced to choose between their health and education. According to a national study analyzing the impact of period poverty on U.S. teenage students by Period.org, four out of five menstruating teens said either they or someone they know have missed class time because they did not have access to period products. Instead of making trips to the nurse’s office, a restroom and

quarter each and pads are often left unstocked, leaving only tampons available. This lack of access to period products at Conestoga discourages healthy sanitary practices.

Megan Fox and MGK’s thorn engagement ring

Euphoria second season released

“The blank, lifeless stare combined with the subtle protrusion of the tongue emits complex emotions that cannot be expressed properly through any other emoji.”

Christine Jung,

Vishnu Menon, junior

products in bathrooms, there would be no need for a notso-discreet slip of a tampon up the sleeve. Period products in restrooms would allow students to focus in class, rather than on planning an unnoticed escape to the restroom.

Some may argue that period products should not be provided for free in school restrooms because they are a luxury. If period products are a luxury, then what separates soap and water from being a luxury too? It’s a federal requirement for public bathrooms to have sanitary products like soap and toilet paper for students, so why is this standard not the same for period products? Yes, having free period products will be a costly goal to reach, but its impact on students will be priceless.

Period products in restrooms aren’t too much to ask for. Just by providing students with basic hygiene products at school, unnecKatherine Zhang/The SPOKE essary worry over periods will be alother student in class takes their backpack with them to leviated. Students should be the restroom, it singles them supported in school to pursue out: everyone suspects they’re the best education they can on their period. If Cones- and periods shouldn’t be an toga offered free menstrual obstacle.

The 2021 State of the Period study found that over half of all menstruating students have worn period products for longer than recommended. Greater accessibility will ensure that students can change their products within an appropriate time frame and reduce the risk of infections like Toxic Shock Syndrome.

Besides discouraging healthy sanitary practices, the lack of period products in our school also makes for embarrassing situations. When an-

- An iconic figure in American television.

You’ll be missed.

c

- Cringey attempt at stirring buzz…

A need, not a want. Period. finally back to class, free sanitary products in restrooms would eliminate this unnecessary go-between, and cause less disruption to learning. By providing period products in restrooms, the school enables students to prioritize both their health and education.

Sanitary products are difficult to access in school because they are only offered for free in a few locations: Dr. Boyle’s office or the nurse’s office. In the restrooms that do have period products, they cost a

F

+ A truly entertaining Hollywood-esque portrayal of love

Q: What emoji do you use most frequently?

“I like the because it’s very expressive, and you can really say a lot with it.”

+ Betty White Challenge donated millions to animal shelters.

-

+ Tackles difficult issues. the pinnacle of fashion. intense character development.

senior

B

- Their self-destructive decision making = second-hand embarrassment.

Let’s do away with textbooks!

Umar Samdani

Co-Managing Editor In modern education, textbooks are approaching extinction.

According to an academic study conducted by Researcher Jake Wakefield, weekly textbook usage in the high school classroom has declined by almost 10% for U.S. teachers. On the undergraduate level, average textbook spending by students declines by 7% yearly. Saving a mean of two hours poring over print material, most students are content with this change.

In an increasingly digital world, there’s good reason for textbook endangerment. With rapid advancements in nearly all fields of academia, it’s nearly impossible for printed material to relay up-to-date information.

There’s also the added cost benefit: an economic survey

by Erin Duffin indicates that, in total, $2.76 billion is invested by U.S. public schools on textbooks.

Reallocating these funds for more modern, capable laptops, districts

of the same publisher are presented to U.S. History students in California and Texas. While the California edition mentions positive effects of the Harlem Renaissance on African American history, the Texas edition makes no such references. Instilling a one-sided perspective to children under the facade of neutrality is not only condoning deception, but also exacerbating political polarization.

Indeed, a shift away from a familiar, comforting textbook seems like a daunting task. In particular, history and social science classes heavily rely on the text for assessments and class discussions. Furthermore, for content-driven AP classes, this dependence is rarely irrational: ensuring preparation for an AP exam requires an organized chapter structure. However, the educational value of an AP course stems from the process (collaborative student effort, intellectual conversation, and enhanced understanding of worldly affairs), not the end result (the single-digit score). By incorporating alternative PowerPoints and Youtube videos, teachers can increase class engagement and promote the value of intrinsic enjoyment.

Instead of actively fighting a nationwide decline Leon Li/The SPOKE in textbook usage, let’s cultural biases. Without a variety of welcome the long overdue transisources, a textbook prejudice may tion with concise note packets and unconsciously translate to student insightful primary sources. With thinking. An article from the “New proper deliberation, ancillary maYork Times” highlights this phe- terials can affect positive academic nomenon, as two separate editions change for years to come. can assist the 82 percent of U.S. students using digital technology to facilitate their studying.

Rather than clinging to the textbook tradition, teachers should primarily utilize crafted notes, presentations and informational videos to run the classroom. With this model, instructors have enhanced flexibility, and can introduce the class to alternate perspectives the textbook overlooks. Armed with a holistic understanding, students can form educated opinions and offer insightful contributions to classroom discussion. A well-rounded class begets well-rounded students.

Contrary to popular belief, textbooks can also have political or

Charity Xu/The SPOKE

Sports

Monday, January 31, 2022

A step in the right direction

10

Camaraderie drives boys squash success

Katherine Zhang/The SPOKE

Andrew Franceski Staff Reporter

Depending on whom you asked, almost everyone would give a different answer to how the Eagles season went: success, failure, pleasant surprise, fluke. A humiliating defeat at the hands of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the wild card round capped a season that defied analysts’ expectations and was full of controversy and COVID. The Eagles regular season however, shocked the league.

With the combination of the number one rushing offense, and a defense that bent but did not break, the Eagles turned a 2-5 start into a 9-8 playoff berth as the 7th seed and geared up for a matchup with archnemesis Tom Brady.

The game was brutal. Tom Brady had his way with the defense and the offense couldn’t even muster up a touchdown until garbage time. But worst of all was Jalen Reagor. Drafted ahead of 2021 Rookie of the Year Justin Jefferson, he played by far the worst game of his career. He dropped two passes and contributed nothing to the offense, but worst of all was his muffed punt in the third quarter. He horribly misjudged where the ball would land and instead let it hit his fingers and then the turf. The drop was recovered by the Bucs and ended any hope of a comeback.

The next few months are crucial for the Eagles. Now freed from Carson Wentz’s contract of $30 million and

with three first round picks, the Eagles have an opportunity to set themselves up for future success. Getting rid of Jalen Reagor and admitting it was possibly in the top 10 worst draft picks of all time should be the first step. However, general manager Howie Roseman tends to try and justify bad draft picks, but the Eagles really need to do away with one Jalen. Hint: it isn’t the quarterback.

Fletcher Cox’s contract needs to be restructured as his output has dropped significantly below his pay level. The Eagles also should not re-sign Derek Barnett and look to trade Miles Sanders. Sanders is very injury prone, and with arguably the best offensive line in the league, many other running backs can be successful. A veteran wide receiver and a veteran linebacker are at the top of the list of Eagles offseason needs, and speculation about Devante Adams wearing kelly green has swirled in recent weeks.

Lastly, the Eagles must draft well. The defense needs help, and with three first round picks, this is the draft to get a generational talent such as Kyle Hamilton, a safety out of Notre Dame, who scouts say may be the next Brian Dawkins. The Eagles cannot afford to not upgrade the talent on both sides of the ball this offseason. The team made strides at the end of the season. We can’t lose that momentum this offseason, otherwise it could spell the start of a long rebuild and years of pain for Eagles fans.

Juliana Yao/The SPOKE

Rapid rotations: The boys’ squash team practices drills at Berwyn Squash & Fitness Club. They won their match against Penn Charter 9-0 on Jan. 21.

Juliana Yao

Staff Reporter The boys’ squash team has an impressive track record, with three Division V National Championship titles under their belt, and a second place ranking in public school programs in 2020. This year, the team is aiming higher than ever, planning to compete in Division I in February.

This years’ A team is arguably the best in Conestoga’s history, with incredible talent and the

New heights: Members of the boys squash team pose for a photo after a win against Penn Charter. The team holds an 8-2 record, with the A and B teams having fallen at Haverford.

They work incredibly hard and are competitive with one another, but at the same time, they respect each other.”

Cameron Hopkins extra motivation,” said senior and co-captain Arjun Arasappan. “When you’re running court sprints and your teammates tell you to push, you get reminded that you’re not just here for yourself, you’re doing it for the team.”

The team’s relationship is not the sole reason behind their strength; coach Cameron Hopkins believes there are a multitude of factors that distinguish this team in his 16 years of coaching.

“They work incredibly hard and are competitive with one another, but at the same time, they respect each other. I’ve had lots of teams that have had these characteristics before. This team just has it a little more pronounced,” Hopkins said. “Plus, post-COVID, they’re special in the sense that there have been a lot of firsts: first match back in two years, first practice back in two years, things like that.”

Coach

The team’s Instagram account has helped draw attention to both boys squash and squash as a sport.

As a humorous documentation of their success, the account has been a way for the team to express their dedication to the sport. Crowd turnout at matches improved this year, building team spirit and pride as a result.

With only one loss so far against Haverford, the boys are hopeful for this season. Debuting the team’s two new classes this year, Tan is confident that the training they’ve put in together is bound to pay off.

“Even though it’s a little bit cliché to say ‘the power of friendship’ or whatever, in essence, I feel like I see that within our team more than any other in the country,” Tan said. “In terms of how long you work with each other, it’s something that I don’t think any other team really has.”

Soccer alumnus drafted to Columbus Crew Staff Reporter

Good Luck to Stoga Squash in Your Upcoming Matches and at NATIONALS!

be there for each other since the beginning.”

The team dynamic is important to the players despite squash being an individual sport. Every player depends on each other to bring their best to the court, and the relationships teammates have with each other helps athletes individually.

“When playing matches, knowing that your team is cheering you on, your teammates — these guys that you’ve known all these years — are there for you just provides

Courtesy Richard Fitzgerald

Zara Samdani

SQUASH

number one ranked squash player under the age of 17 in the country, Rishi Srivastava. The group is relatively young, because many of its athletes have been playing for Conestoga since middle school. So, they have had many years to bond with each other.

“I feel like for a lot of teams, they know everyone, but they are not necessarily as much of a team,” said senior and co-captain Jeffrey Tan. “More so than others, we had the opportunity to actually grow as a team, to

For Chris Donovan, a Conestoga soccer alumnus from the class of 2017, there was no better feeling than getting drafted as a Major League Soccer player.

From earning countless soccer awards to reaching several mock drafts, Donovan felt as if he may have had a chance at getting drafted. He has been working toward his goal for almost his entire life and has always dreamed of playing soccer professionally.

“I was definitely nervous all day, knowing that the draft was going on, we’d been watching since three o’clock,” Donovan said. “So for three, almost four hours, I was sitting there, hoping that my name would pop up, and eventually did, which was pretty awesome.”

Donovan, a former Conestoga student and recent Drexel graduate, was drafted into Major League Soccer’s Columbus Crew with the 68th overall pick on Jan. 11 at 6:45 p.m. During his time at Conestoga, Donovan played on the varsity team for three years and was named the Most Valuable Player. He is a three-time first-team All-Main Line Player and led Conestoga to the Central League Championship in each of his last three seasons. Donovan also won the Gatorade Player of The Year.

Donovan committed to Drexel University before his senior year began, majoring in sport management. The forward scored 10 goals and managed five assists during his playing time at Drexel, and was named to the All-CAA first team and the CAA All-Tournament team.

In 2020, Donovan was named CAA Offensive Player of the Week two times and received an accolade to the United Soccer Coaches All-Atlantic first team.

Donovan attributes his high school and college successes to

his soccer coach at Conestoga, David Zimmerman. Through his encouragement and praise, Zimmerman helped Donovan gain the necessary confidence to become successful.

“With the coaches I’ve had throughout my career, not everyone is just as lucky to have a good string of coaches. Some of my teammates now or in the past, tell me about their previous coaches, and (their experiences) really don’t sound as good as the experiences I’ve had.” Donovan said. “But I’ve had a great experience, and (Coach Zimmerman) was really a mentor for me and someone that I really look up to.”

Zimmerman feels mutual pride and respect for Donovan.

Zimmerman loved how Donovan proved as a role model for the rest of his teammates.

“I know as a player for Conestoga, he was the most in shape player and would win these running tests.

When your star-goalscorer is also your hardest worker, think about the example that sets for the team,” Zimmerman said. “It makes (Donovan) more incredible. He is an all time great. He is probably the greatest player ever.”

Looking forward, Donovan plans to play professionally, either by earning a contract for Columbus Crew’s first or second teams this preseason or through other opportunities. After his playing career, he hopes to coach.

Donovan first coached when he returned to Conestoga as head coach of the junior varsity boys’ soccer team in 2020.

“Coaching is the other thing that I want to do with my career, because obviously, I can’t play forever. So being able to coach the JV team was definitely a great experience,” Donovan said.

“I want to pass my legacy by showing kids who want to play professionally how to win the game.”

Courtesy Nick Maier

Memory Lane: Chris Donovan (lower left #12), class of ’18, celebrates the 2017 District I soccer championship.

Donovan went on to play for Drexel University and graduated in the spring of 2021. He plans to play professionally for Columbus Crew.

Sports

Monday, January 31, 2022

11

Stronger together: Family of rugby players hosts team workouts Julia Harris and Grace Kuryan Staff Reporters

Abby Bagby/The SPOKE

What’s with all the racquet: Freshman Sarah Buchanan winds up to hit the ball at Berwyn Squash and Fitness Center. Buchanan, along with the rest of the team, has practiced there since November.

Girls’ squash team revises program

Hannah Simon Staff Reporter

With a new coaching staff and a fresh roster of players, the girls’ squash team has reinvented itself for the current season.

The team, whose coaching positions changed over the years, is looking to further solidify and build upon the establishment of their program. With the vast majority of the roster consisting of newer players, the team is proving successful against other schools with more experienced programs, maintaining a current 3-1 record.

Returning for his second season, head coach Sunil Desai is a contributor to the team’s morale.

He previously worked as a voluntary assistant coach for George Washington University, “Coach Desai plays at a very high skill level and his expertise combined with (that of) our assistant coach, coach Das, makes them very capable teachers,” said senior and captain Elise Bermingham.

Unlike previous years, Desai began to advertise the team and their mission to try and publicize their efforts. The team’s administration created a website, the home to Conestoga girls squash, to which they make regular updates. Desai believes that teaching beginner players is a pillar of the program and a reason young athletes join.

“Every coach has their own style and personality, and every season is faced with a different situation,” Desai said. “It’s not so much about making changes as it is applying one’s style and personality (and experience) to the new situation.”

Practices consist of several drills ranging from agility and speed to hand eye coordination.

The team utilizes a ranking system, involving structured ladder matches. Athletes play against the person one position ahead and behind them. With a relatively large team this year, more autonomy is provided during practice to adjust drills based on specific areas of improvement.

“I truly think there’s a place for every skill level here due to the ranking or ladder system squash uses. Not many sports can say the same,” Bermingham said.

Freshman Sarah Buchanan enjoys the supportive and amiable environment created by the team and its members. She finds that the practices add balance to her life as a student.

“It’s just something I really look forward to every day after school: if it’s a hard day, or I don’t do so well on a test, it’s like ‘well, you have squash, and that’s really fun!’ It just makes me really happy,” Buchanan said.

Outside of bus shortages caused by the pandemic, the differences are met almost universally with approval, from parents to coaches to players. Nathalie Wetzel, the team’s strength and conditioning coach, is another new addition to the staff. A licensed yoga instructor and graduate of Barnard College, Wetzel supports the athletes’ needs through regimented fitness, supplementing their training.

“I am looking forward to the girls really learning that they can develop as athletes. (Squash) can be a whole other aspect of themselves,” Wetzel said.

Due to the pandemic circumstances, the team could not compete against other schools last season. With many new players, they recently began to navigate the competition circuit.

Nevertheless, coach Desai’s background is an empowering force behind the girls’ betterment. The lesser absence of restrictive COVID-19 protocols has also orchestrated a more organic team environment, which many believe is essential to the team’s progress.

“I’m going to miss playing matches with the team the most,” Bermingham said. “The athletic intensity that comes with playing a match is rewarding itself, but also being reffed and cheered on by your teammates is an invaluable experience.”

At IM Health, a facility that vertically integrates medical and health fitness and performance training, the Cammarata family combines their passions for rugby and fitness in a way that can benefit the entire boys’ rugby team. Rene Cammarata, father of senior Ryan and freshman Roman Cammarata, serves as the director of the performance center at IM Health.

IM Health has an extensive training facility, with all of the same equipment as a Division I college. After the Cammarata sons noticed some personal improvements from training in the facility, they realized it could be helpful to create a program that would include the entire team.

“I think (the workouts) kind of grew organically from the work I was doing with Ryan and his buddies,” Rene Cammarata said. “I think the coaches saw value in what we were doing and didn’t really have the facilities to do it. At IM Health, I had the luxury to be able to pick and choose exactly what I wanted to have as far as equipment goes.”

Training all year long is important for any sport, but doing so as a team has proven to be even more beneficial. Now, the boys rugby players work out

three times a week at IM Health.

For them, it’s just as much about building team spirit as it is about physical strength.

“I like the team camaraderie. You don’t do anything as an individual, you do everything together as a team and it really brings the team together,” junior Peter Miller said.

“Although some people might not be as strong or as in shape as others, we all work together and try to make ourselves the best that we can.”

Throughout the process, both Rene Cammarata and the players have noticed solid improvements in both strength and team bonding.

Some athletes came to IM Health having never trained before, and made dramatic progress in just two months.

When the athletes arrive at IM Health, they see screens for the workout they are going to do that day, and are then coached through the process.

They start with a warm-up, followed by mobility and activation, and then the actual workout. Two days of the week focus on conditioning and one day on speed and agility work.

To combat costs, the workouts are subsidized by the rugby team. Rene Cammarata takes a unique approach to training the athletes; as all of the workouts are individually based.

“They (the athletes) have to earn the right to do certain

HIGHLIGHT REEL The

latest developments in sports.

Awards Senior Peter Detwiler was one of 55 football players in the state of Pennsylvania to receive the Mini-Maxwell award. The award is given to players that show character, academic and athletic excellence and involvement in the community.

Buckets The boys’ basketball team has a strong start to the season with a record of 12-3.

Julia Harris/The SPOKE

Instructing the players: Rene Cammarata coaches junior Charlie Bascome through his workout, describing weightlifting strategies. Afterwards, Cammarata guided Bascome through the lifting process. things. I never add weight or ask them to progress their exercise if they haven’t earned the right to do it,” Rene Cammarata said. “And they’ve earned the right to do everything that they’re doing in the gym, and they do it exceptionally well.”

Last year, the team worked hard at IM Health to foster their goal of making it to the state championships. Sophomore Nathan Kluge believes these training sessions were a main reason they were able to achieve that goal.

“IM Health helped us get to states last year for rugby (for two reasons),” Kluge said.

“Number one: it is a group bonding activity. Everyone knows each other and everyone is really positive about it. Num-

ber two: we all knew that we were doing the right stuff because Rene helps us and guides us through the entire time, and we just feel comfortable knowing that we are doing the right exercises, stretches and weightlifting.”

This year, the full team goal for the year is to win states.

Ryan Cammarata believes that if the team continues on this track, it won’t be far beyond their reach.

“I think the team lifts help us separate ourselves from our opponents. We train speed, power and strength within the three sessions a week,” Ryan Cammarata said. “This season, we could be close to a state title, and the training we are doing now puts us in the best

Honors The girls’ field hockey team received a lot of recognition, with Daily Local News naming Kate Galica All-Area player of the year and naming coach Regan Marscher All-Area coach of the year.

Strokes The boys’ and girls’ swim teams are both undefeated, both garnering records of 7-0.

Scores The boys’ ice hockey program is having a successful season, with varsity sporting a record of 7-3-3 and JV with 8-3.

Fans The Pioneer Pit is back again, with the district allowing 50% capacity for fans indoors.

Julia Harris/The SPOKE

Getting stronger: Brothers, senior Mikey Bascome and junior Charlie Bascome, lift weights during a training session at IM Health. This was just one step in the workout process. They would then go on to do activation exercises.

Wrestling program sees dramatic increase in newcomers Caius Michlitsch Staff Reporter

This year’s wrestling team saw a surge of interest with more than 20 new team members joining the squad, compared to a typical sea-

son’s five or 10. While wrestlers traditionally take up the sport around seventh grade and compete in middle school before arriving at ’Stoga, new recruit participation this year extends beyond just those arriving from middle school.

The large group of new

wrestlers already contributes to the team’s competitive spirit. The experienced wrestlers consistently express positive views of their new teammates.

“There are some beginner guys that are promising, but definitely some good freshmen that have been wrestling

in the past,” junior Hayden McLellan said.

While the newcomers have been assets for the program, McLellan notes that there are both negatives and positives of having new wrestlers.

“It (having new wrestlers) is good because these kids

Ferocious competition: Freshman Charlie Mucklow competes in a “wrestle off” for a spot on the varsity squad. Wrestlers competed for limited spots on the varsity team before practices began.

want to get practice, but the room is a little full sometimes,” McLellan said.

Freshman Gunnar Russo got into wrestling after hearing about the sport from friends and deciding he wanted a new challenge to fill his time. He hopes his wrestling effort will foster a positive view of the freshmen amongst the upper-class wrestlers.

“It (the team) is family-like; we all have a pretty great time.

I think we’ve given some of these upperclassmen a better opinion of freshmen because going into this I know a lot of them weren’t looking forward to having freshmen come.”

Junior Will Cochran looks forward to the team’s progress during his final two seasons at ’Stoga.

“I think it’s good for the program,” Cochran said, “It’s good to see so many new wrestlers showing interest in the sport and joining the team.”

McLellan thinks the team has yet to reach its potential.

He is aware of ’Stoga wrestling’s successful history and knows the team can finish better than it started.

“I mean, Conestoga (wrestling) as a whole has been very good in the past,” McLellan said. “But we still have a full enough line up (this year) to be good.”

Caius Michlitsch/The SPOKE

Wrestling for a spot: Sophomore Jude Cook competes for a spot on the varsity wrestling squad. He chose the “above” position at the time break.

SPORTS

The SPOKE Commitment Corner Page 10

Girls squash revises program Page 11

Soccer alumni drafted into Columbus Crew Page 10

Monday, January 31, 2022 Wresting program has increase in newcomers Page 11

Young talent carries girls’ basketball team forward Akshita Joshi Staff Reporter

Reese Wang/The Spoke

Aiming high: Senior Kate Galica shoots in the game against Harriton. The game ended with a tough loss for the team, though their record remains a strong 9-4.

With altered dynamics, added talent and strong leadership the girls’ basketball team has excelled this season, with a current 8-2 record. The team is propelling forward in hopes of winning the central league game, and have done everything in order to achieve this goal so far.

Senior Katie Faith is leading the girls as one of the captains and seasoned players this year. Faith started her basketball journeys in elementary school playing for the Paoli Wildcats team.

“Basketball has always been in my family,” Faith said “My mom and grandpa played, so I started early in fourth grade, and ever since then I’ve just loved it. Now being captain, for me it’s not just about the sport, it’s about keeping that structure but also being someone the team can come to for other advice or just how to run a play.”

However, Faith isn’t the only one with extensive basketball experience. Sophomore Marisa Francione has been playing since second grade and is adding further development to the team as an underclassmen. This season, she secured the win against Haverford by scoring the winning shot in triple overtime with one second left on the clock. Along with this triumph, she helped greatly in the team’s victory against Lower Merion earlier in the season.

“Last year we lost against Lower Merion to end our season, so this year we made sure not to lose to them,” Francione said. “On the court, I kept thinking of last year and had 20 points that game which I think helped really secure the win that day.”

Along with Francione, freshman Janie Preston displays fresh talent on the team this year throughout the sea-

Reese Wang/The Spoke

Game planning: Head coach AJ Thompson motivates the team during a timeout in the game against Harriton.

The girls suffered a tight loss of 26-30, placing them fifth in the Central League. son. Along with being the tallest member and only freshman on the varsity team, she carries skills that have taken the team one step forward. Captain Kate Galica expresses her feelings towards Janie’s addition to the team this year.

“Experience is huge in a team sport in high school and having talented freshmen definitely is a plus because it adds to that experience,” Galica said. “Janie is a great player because not only is she tall — which varies our team more since our team has been short in basketball terms for many years — she also is very easy to coach and is just so willing to learn that she picks up on all the plays so easily.”

Despite the skill Preston has displayed on the court this year, switching from middle to high school athletics poses its challenges. However, coach AJ Thompson describes Preston’s experience with adjusting.

“Every freshman that comes into varsity their first year has it very difficult and Janie didn’t get to play her last year in middle school because of COVID. So for her to come in and step in as the only freshman on the team with big plays and big minutes, she’s done a nice job and been a big help for us,” Thompson said.

Along with the added talent, changes from last year bridge greater progress this year for the team. Thompson feels that the dynamic shift from last year has had a positive impact this season which he hopes to see the effects of till the end of this season to end strong.

“When we were dealing with COVID last year, we had to keep our JV and varsity team separated, but I usually like to keep them together. Even though it’s a little easier to practice separately, it doesn’t build a program. The younger girls don’t get a chance to

get to know the older girls,” Thompson said. “But this year that has been better since we’ve had practices together which has made the team stronger altogether and we hope to carry that forward until the Central League match.”

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Racking it up: Soccer coach scores National Coach of the Year George Zhang

Co-Sports Editor With tens of thousands of high school soccer coaches in the United States, Conestoga soccer coach David Zimmerman was the one who took home the National Boys Soccer Coach of the Year award for large public high schools.

Organized by the United Soccer Coaches Association, the awards are given to soccer coaches in 23 different categories, ranging from college to youth soccer. The process to win the award starts off locally with a state and regional award, with the winners filling a pool of national qualifiers.

Winning the award was a big surprise as well as a humbling experience for Zimmerman.

“I don’t think anyone would expect to win such an award out of the whole country. It’s ultimately the greatest honor to be recognized by your peers. I was really humbled by the idea that the people you’re competing against and who are in the same positions as you, would choose you,” Zim-

merman said. “I would have never dreamed that I could win an award like this.”

Zimmerman has been coaching boys varsity soccer at Conestoga for twenty years, and has managed to win four state championships during his tenure. While his coaching career has been very successful, his main priority as a coach isn’t actually winning, it’s making sure that all of his players are happy.

“My number one goal in terms of coaching is that the players have had a good experience. That above all else is the most important thing,” Zimmerman said. “That’s what high school sports are supposed to be like: it’s supposed to be great memories that you have for the rest of your life by playing with your classmates and competing.”

Senior Jayce Tharnish believes that Zimmerman is a great coach and an even better person.

Tharnish has been on the varsity team for two years and was a crucial part in the state championship run this season.

“He’s hands down the best coach I’ve ever been coached

by, and I feel like his actions on and off the field reflect on him as a person,” Tharnish said. “He views our team as a family, and he likes to build relationships with each player, which brings us all together and makes us one big family.”

Senior Lorenzo Vargas-Clarke agrees.

“He’s so nice, he cares, he’s always doing everything for his team, he puts so much time out of his day to watch film. He gets to learn each and every single one of our players, and what’s going to fit our formula to get the win. He stays after practice, he gets there before school.

He’s the best coach I’ve ever had, just because he puts so much more effort than any other coach I’ve ever seen,” Vargas-Clarke said.

Being level-headed is another one of Zimmerman’s traits as a successful coach.

Vargas-Clarke believes that the calm and collectedness that Zimmerman has sets him apart from other coaches.

“He does not lose his temper, ever. Even if we’re losing by two or losing by one,”

Vargas-Clarke said. “And he’s like, ‘the way we play, we will still win the game.’ And every single time we followed his rubric, we still won our games.

Senior Alex Kornblatt agrees, saying that Zimmerman never lets his emotions get the best of him.

“I think a lot of other coaches will be very vocal on the field, and not hide their anger towards the game. But one thing that’s super noticeable about (Zimmerman) is he hasn’t talked during the game, and he rarely ever yells at players on the field,” Kornblatt said. “It may seem super simple, but I feel like it has a much deeper meaning. He’s super meticulous, and he has a super detailed plan going in and out of each game. And he has faith in that plan so he’s not going to let his emotions get in the way of it and affect how he’s going to go about winning each game.”

The praise goes both ways as Zimmerman thinks highly of the seniors and believes that they were the one of the greatest senior classes in the

history of Conestoga. One piece of advice that he would like to share to them as they continue on the journey of their lives is to keep trusting the process.

“I take my hat off to (the seniors). They’re a great group

of guys who are incredibly fun to work with and to know as people. They’ll certainly be missed but they’ll never be forgotten,” Zimmerman said.

“While I’m extremely proud of the fact that we won the state championship, I’m more

proud of the way our players behave on and off the field and the kind of people that they are. So I think if I was going to advise them, I’d remind them to not forget that how you do things is just as important as what you end up doing.”

George Zhang/THE SPOKE

Family Man: Soccer coach David Zimmerman shakes hands with a player after winning the state championship at Hershey. Zimmerman is known for building relationships with his players and seeing them as family.