The C&G | Volume VII | Issue 1 | Fall Edition

Volume VII, Issue 1, Fall Edition

Fundamental to Learning | pg 12

October 2018

CONTENT STAFF Editors-in Chief Olivia Martin Ethan Mullen

Managing Editors Jaylee Davis Miller Reid Production Editor Matthew Raeside Associate Editors Tiana Momon Shea Fleming Columnist Annie Sager Feature Writers Maggie Belenky Omari Foote Grace Kelly Katie Little Maddie Poch Staff Writers Mikey Bennett Zak Kerr Isabelle Skid Contributing Writers Sam Aiken Melody Cannon Rick Martin John Taylor Allison Olim Contributing Photographer Libby Malcolm Advisor Danielle Elms

LIFESTYLE | 4

PEOPLE | 18

Reviews | 4

Golden Bear Questionnaire | 18

Music | 5

18 Under 18 | 20

Fashion | 6

A Tale of Two Seniors: Part I | 26

From the Editor’s Desk | 7

OPINION | 30

NEWS | 8

The Importance of Us | 30

News Briefs | 8

Roundtable: Scheduling

Column: Let’s Talk | 9

Community | 32 Time to Uncover | 34

FEATURES | 10

Work the Max, Eat the Min | 36

Georgia’s Race for Governor: Demystified | 10 Fundamental to Learning | 12

PHOTO ESSAY | 38

Virtual Education Is Reality | 16

People of MARTA | 38

TS

MISSION STATEMENT

LETTER FROM THE EDITORS It’s already October, which means it’s time for the first issue of the C&G. Fitting with the school’s theme for the year, many of our stories deal with wellness-related issues. Mental and physical health should be a priority for everyone: teachers, students, and parents, included.

In order for conditions to improve, we must first bring these issues into the light instead of hiding behind walls of shame and the boundaries of stigma.

Especially in the articles Fundamental to Learning (page 12), Scheduling Community (page 32), and Work the Max, Eat the Min (page 36), the well-being of our community takes the forefront in this issue of the C&G. As a publication, we are always excited to discuss the issues that matter to members of the HIES community. In this particular issue, we’re also excited for you to meet some of our community members, especially those highlighted in pieces 18 Under 18 (page 20) and A Tale of Two Seniors (page 26).

As co-editors-in chief for the 2018-2019 school year, we are excited to continue to push the envelope, investigate different topics, and hear from new voices. We’re excited for you to read, look at, or flip through our fall issue, and we can’t wait for you to see what the C&G has to come.

Ethan Mullen Olivia Martin Editor-in-Chief Editor-in-Chief

The C&G staff aims to be honest, accurate and accountable as they convey news, ideas, events and opinions that are relevant to the Holy Innocents’ community, including but not limited to students, faculty, staff, parents, administrators, and prospective families. C&G aspires to publish complete and accurate coverage through journalistically responsible, ethically reported and edited content that values diversity of perspectives.

EDITORIAL POLICY The C&G is a student-run, quarterly magazine published by the Crimson and Gold journalism staff at Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School of Atlanta. All opinions expressed in this publication are those of the individual author, and do not necessarily reflect those of the entire staff or those of Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School. The magazine is written and designed as part of the journalism curriculum, and contributing writers can be included. The C&G values inclusivity and would appreciate any feedback or contribution. The staff strives to publish a diverse set of writing and perspectives while maintaining a standard of excellence. Please contact thecrimsonandgold@gmail.com for more information. The advisor and the editors have the ultimate say on content and have permission to edit contributions for grammar and taste. The staff will only publish legally protected material and keeps the privacy of individuals included in mind.

AFFILIATIONS CSPA // GSPA // JEA // NSPA

Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School 805 Mt. Vernon HWY Atlanta, GA 30327

*Omari Foote not pictured

4 LIFESTYLE

THE BELTLINE

AMERICA TO ME

Diversity does not mean equality. The 10-part Starz documentary series, America to Me, makes this evident. This dramatic and intriguing docuseries airs every Sunday and takes place in one of the country’s most “diverse and successful” public high schools, Oak Park River Forest (OPRF), located outside of Chicago.

However, it does a remarkable job of capturing each side of the story. Up close camera time with each of the students and faculty paints a dramatic yet real life portrayal of what it means to be in the OPRF community. Scenes of teenage angst and awkwardness provide a refreshing break from the otherwise weighty nature of the documentary.

This controversial documentary series zooms in on the lives of a few black and biracial students.

Each student has a different experience, but all relate in the same way; in the supposedly inclusive community of OPRF, they feel out of place. As I sat in my living room watching, my preconceptions of life at OPRF high school were wiped away. The only word that can embody the problems that plague the school is scandal.

America to Me is a must watch for anyone and everyone, no matter your political stance, race, or role in the educational environment. It exposes hidden biases and stereotypes. Astonishing and groundbreaking, the series provides insight into the effects of race and social class on education like never seen before. While the series is not yet complete, America to Me will make students and educators alike question how they approach diversity

REVIEWS

and equality at their own school.

TIANA MOMON, associate editor

MUSIC

THE QUEEN OF SOUL, ARETHA FRANKLIN May 25th, 1942 - August 16th, 2018 ZAK KERR, staff writer

RESPECT

I SAY A LITTLE PRAYER

WILLING TO FORGIVE

R

R

I

Truly a Legendary Single -E-S-P-E-C-T. It was a word heard round the

world in 1967 following Aretha Franklin’s hit remake of Otis Redding’s original song. Fiftyone years later, as I turn on my record player, and echo the lyrics of “Respect” all throughout my room and house, I can’t help getting caught up in the bold words and powerful instruments of the song.

As I begin to tap my foot uncontrollably, the rumbles from the bass completely alters the climate of the room, the instruments transform the originally empty room into a packed concert hall, and the iconic voice of Franklin produces more energy than that capable of Red-Bull.

Remade Into a Timeless Masterpiece eleased on the album The House That Jack Built in the summer of 1968, “I Say a Little Prayer” became, if not the best, one of the best singles hits of Aretha Franklin’s music legacy.

While Burt Bacharach and Hal David originally wrote the song, Aretha Franklin was able to transform it from being a good song to a legendary one. Soul music is something that is commonly synonymous with loud and resonating lyrical meanings, Franklin was able to redo “I Say a Little Prayer” in such a way that it stayed true to the roots of Soul music but also served as simply a song to pop-open the legs of a reclining chair and drink a favorite beverage to.

No matter the struggles of the day, “Respect” drives my entire being into a mode of strength and revolutionary thought. The song shapes the narrative in me that no matter the circumstances and the failure associated with yesterday, tomorrow I will have all the strength in the world. “Respect” by Aretha Franklin will forever stand the test of time; it is a song I will still be listening to fifty years in the future.

Whenever tossed one of life’s many curve-balls, I crank on “I Say a Little Prayer” and am allotted a genuine moment of peace from which I can escape the constant hustle and bustle of my thoughts.

While “Respect” is truly a soulful and seemingly uplifting song, it was also used in serious capacities to make a bold and clear statement. Using the powerful melody of the song and striking lyrics, “Respect” was once used as an anthem for the civil rights movement, later a response to the turmoil caused by the war in Vietnam, even as a weapon in the battle of social change in the United States, and finally as a love song.

The song reached number ten on the Hot 100 chart and number three on the R&B singles chart. Not only was the song a major hit in the United States, but it also was a success in Europe scoring number twelve on the French singles charts and number twenty-nine on the German singles charts.

Respect. Something we should all have just a little more of in today’s world.

In addition to the songs harmonious and relaxed nature, it also serves as a message of devotion applicable in multiple facets of life such as relationships, work, or even devotion to a cause.

I Say a Little Prayer has most certainly established a permanent position in the world of ageless music and is a song I predict will remain prominent in the future.

Genuinely 90’s yet, a Standout

n May of 1994, “Willing to Forgive” by Aretha Franklin topped the R&B charts at number five and scored the twenty-sixth slot on the Billboard 100 singles chart.

Most artists from the 60’s and 70’s were unable to survive throughout the 90’s and early 2000’s.

However, this was anything but the case for Franklin.

“Willing to Forgive” was intended to keep the Queen of Soul atop her mighty thrown in the music world, and it was able to accomplish just that.

In contrast to her original compositions, “Willing to Forgive” has a much fresher and a genuinely 90’s R&B sound to it. Taking a glance at the lyrics, one will discover an, otherwise, typical story of a relationship filled with faults and infidelities. To my recollection, throughout all of the existence of music, there have been thousands of songs written and performed with the narrative of a crumbling relationship, and if anyone but Franklin sang “Willing to Forgive”, it indeed would just be another “one of those songs.”

But Franklin was able to convey this seemingly monotonous narrative through a song with such a fantastic beat and rhythm to it that it compels you to sing along. Unfortunately, singing most certainly is not my forte so on the occasion I listen to this song, I opt for humming the tune instead (something I wish many of today’s bad singers would do too, off our stages and televisions).

Never the less, the catchy beat, the vibrancy of the bass, the harmonics and frequencies of the instruments, combined with Franklin’s rich and captivating voice, “Willing to Forgive” is a song I am okay with having stuck in my head.

6 LIFESTYLE

Pictures from Malcolm’s Instagram page, @thriftedbylib

How did @thriftedbylib take off?

How do you choose where to shop?

How do you choose cost?

“I posted about it on my main [Instagram] account, and within one day I had three hundred followers and that was pretty crazy.” Along with publicizing her thrifting on her main account, Libby also posts some “risky” items as ‘buy it now’ pieces “which also attracts people to tune in at 7:30 because they know there are some items that they have to get there for”.

“I look for places where I know I’ll find unique items that people would still want that go along with trends, but are still unique items. I also look for places where, of course, I am buying them for less...in the end if you search really hard you can find better deals.”

“To me if it’s something I really would want to keep, it’s something I definitely price at more. Those are the items I really was pursuing before i turned it into a business. But with bidding ... it’s definitely based of how much I paid for it in the first place. But I do try to keep it low because that’s the whole point of thrifting.”

SHEA FLEMING, associate editor MILLER REID, managing editor

How many hours a week do you spend thrifting?

What is the hardest part of thrifting?

“I go to the thrift stores once every three weeks and try to find three weeks worth of items and that takes me about four hours and then I organize all that out and price them which is another hour so that’s five. And then pictures are another hour. So I’d say i take about six hours dividing that up into three weeks of preparation.”

“I have a lot of people who will bid and back out and then it falls on me to find the next person if there is one. It’s just so hard to keep up with [shipping], especially with all the addresses coming in through my instagram DMs and making sure they pay me before I send it. Definitely the hardest part is that I want to keep what I find, and it’s so hard to let go. But, I really enjoy doing it.”

FASHION Out With the New

IN With the OLD A Q&A with HIES senior Libby Malcolm, known as @thriftedbylib on Instagram

From The

READING EDITOR’S DESK OLIVIA MARTIN, co-editor-in-chief

1.1. On the Road by Jack

2.2. The Devil in the White City by Erik 3.

3.

Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli

Kerouac

Larson

On the Road, Jack Kerouac’s cornerstone novel of the Beat generation, holds immense value for those who find themselves infected with wanderlust. As Sal Paradise and his crew of friends traverse the American continent, readers will want to do the same. Though the details of these cross-country road trips can be a bit crude, the novel reflects poignantly on the postwar counterculture, and it will set fires in adventurous readers’ hearts forever.

Following the true story of America’s first serial killer, H. H. Holmes, as he murdered during the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair, Devil in the White City seems more fiction than fact in its storytelling. In spite that all quotes in author Erik Larson’s work come from historical letters and documents, the story of Holmes flows off the page and into the imagination like the most interesting and descriptive of fiction novels or accounts of modern true crime.

1.

Set in a generic, average-seeming Atlanta public high school, Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda tells a universally compelling story of young love and coming out as a teenager.

Using realistic characters that feel like real high-schoolers, author Becky Albertalli brings the story of protagonist Simon’s experience navigating high school to readers of all ages. The book is a quick read and could be described as a “feel good” story, whether readers are personally familiar with Simon’s situation or not.

4.

2.

3.

4.4.

Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders Using pieces of historical texts and ghostlike characters, George Saunders paints a macabre, deeply affecting picture of Abraham Lincoln at a hard point of his presidency. Though Saunders introduces characters with strange supernatural attributes, the story, at its most simple form, regards the aftermath of the death of Lincoln’s son Willie. Through his use of fact to create fiction, Saunders provides a fragmented, and, frankly, strange lens on history in Lincoln in the Bardo, mimicking Lincoln’s turbulent emotions at the time of the setting.

8 NEWS

News BRIEFS What’s going on in the HIES Community

MAGGIE BELENKY, feature writer

DEMERIT SYSTEM

O

n the first day of school, change was to be expected. With a new principal comes new rules. From Brookstone High School, in Columbus, Georgia, Mr. Manning Weir comes to HIES, introducing the new demerit system which continues to confuse students.

Demerits serve as punishments for minor infractions: forgetting your chapel shirt or showing up a few minutes late to class.

“It’s basically when a student does something that’s, let’s use the word ‘irresponsible’,” said Weir.

In his experience at previous schools, such as Stratford Academy, the demerit system worked well. He explained that after the second or third demerit, the

I

couldn’t be more excited to be back,” said Coach Tony Watkins.

Over his two years away from HIES, Watkins served as the Executive Director at the Northside Youth Organization which provides organized athletic opportunities for children all around Atlanta. In that role, he managed the organization, led the six sports (baseball, boys and girls basketball, cheer, fastpitch, and football) that NYO provides at Chastain Park, and worked with the community leaders and partners to raise money. Previously, he was a faculty member for eight years at HIES, teaching in the middle school and coaching the girls’ basketball team. “I wanted to come back here to the students with the goal to implement our mission through athletics here to create a first class athletic experience for our kids,” said Watkins. With his experience as a coach, Watkins wishes to improve upon the HIES athletic department’s strengths.

“We are going to strive to maximize our potential, in the fields, on the court, in the classroom. We are a

premier school here in Atlanta, and we’re a young school compared to some of the others in town,” said Watkins.

Specifically, he wants to instill what he calls the five core values: integrity, positive attitudes, best efforts, the willingness to compete, and, what he considers to be the most important, being a good teammate. “The best compliment that anybody can get is that they are a great teammate,” said Watkins.

He wants to revitalize the athletic department by improving wellness, focusing on good nutrition, and ensuring that students nourish their bodies with healthy food. Watkins also intends to make mental wellness a priority and to improve the overall well-being of students, athletes, and faculty.

“You kids go to an amazing school,” Watkins said, “That is a reason to be happy and is something to be proud of.”

students corrected their behavior to avoid the third or fourth demerit which results in detention. “They like the freedom so they’re going to do whatever it takes to keep their freedom. And that’s really what it comes down to,” said Weir. He believes that by leaving fate in the students’ hands, it teaches them responsibility. “For me, it’s just about helping students learn responsibility,” he said. Furthermore, Weir said that the demerit system corresponds with this year’s theme of wellness because he, “kind of equates someone who is well, [to someone who] is responsible for themselves.”

Though it is too early to tell, Weir has “high hopes that the system will work here too.”

SPORTS

Welcoming Back Coach Watkins

NEWS 9

COLUMN:

L et’s talk

I

get news notifications on my phone; that’s where this began, at least, for me. Round-the-clock work at a summer camp, where phones are not allowed, left me out of touch with the rest of the world. So, when National Geographic notified me of the new heights global warming’s effects have reached, my stomach dropped, and I started researching what I’d missed. What I’m about to write about is not a direct effect of global warming, rather, of the way we treat the environment.

Sometimes, we look at the world as though it belongs to us, but Earth is something we are meant to share with the past, present, and future. The environment is not ours to destroy, and yet here we are, doing just that, only to gain a little economic advantage on other nations. The state of the environment is already past the point of no return, yet the United State’s government still prioritizes the economy over environmental considerations.

I suppose now is about the time when the subject of this column is to be stated in fine print: Trump’s environmental plan or seemingly lack thereof. In my opinion, Donald Trump is first and foremost a businessman; he wants to bolster our economy with his support of the coal industry by cutting the costs of decidedly illegal demands made by former president Obama’s Clean Power Plan (CPP) with his own Affordable Clean Energy (ACE). If the goal is to help the economy, then this new plan is absolutely

on the right track. The impact analysis according to Breitbart (my right-wing source) is as follows:

The EPA projects that the new plan could provide $400 million in annual net benefits to Obama’s plan, all the while reducing CO2 emissions compared to current levels. In fact, roughly 12 years from now, the CO2 emissions could be reduced by 1.5 percent from the projected levels without the CPP. ACE could potentially cause American energy sector emissions to be 33 to 24 percent below that of the 2005 emission-level.

I admit this analysis sounds pretty good, but it misses the whole picture. To start, its projected conditions are compared to the year 2005, back when scientists were still fighting one another on the existence of global warming, and nothing was being done to remedy the problem. How do Obama’s CPP and Trump’s ACE compare? The only time that the CPP is mentioned is to compare a 1.5 percent change in emissions to an America without its implementation. (Note: you can’t compare ACE’s projected emissions to the current because the CPP was never able to fully be put into effect) From what I’ve gathered, President Trump’s plan is desirable simply because it is better than nothing.

I know it sounds rather harsh, but we are capable of doing so much more to help, yet we’re not. ACE is actually setting us back: 46 rules have been overturned, 76 total rollbacks, and 30 are in the process of being rollbacks as of August of this year. How does ACE benefit the environment or our health when the policies that would have helped are being taken away or reduced? Is the plan economically better? Yes. Environmentally? There’s a reason ACE was only compared to 2005 and projected emissions without the CPP: it creates the illusion that despite all the cuts and rollbacks, the situation is being helped.

The rules that have been cut are not ones to be taken lightly; I believe them to be quite practical. To name just a few: the prevention of coal company’s ability to dump into local streams, systems designed to reduce harm of oil and gas on sensitive landscapes (national parks), the water pollution regulations for fracking on Indian lands, several animals on the endangered species list, an order to protect the ocean, coastal and the Great Lakes’ waters, and about 71 others.

The lack of care we give to the Earth shows, and the effects will only worsen as time passes under the new plan. Most of us are already aware of the world’s current way of life’s contribution towards global warming in some shape or form, but what gets left out of the mix is health. Perhaps our indifference stems from a lack of tangible evidence; one doesn’t walk down the street in Atlanta and see global warming. That is not the case with the change in air quality. Our lack of care will show in the death count.

The projected health problems from ACE are backed

by Harvard University researcher’s most recent analysis published in the New York Times: the rollbacks could lead an addition of 80,000 deaths per decade and cause respiratory problems for over one million people. Furthermore, the Trump Administration’s own analysis predicts an addition of 1,400 premature deaths to the annual death count related to lung and heart disease, 15,000 new cases in upper respiratory problems, an increase in bronchitis, and a dramatic rise of missed school days for students.

Personally, I don’t want higher risks of myself or my hypothetical children being touched by any of that. In an impending situation such as this, it doesn’t matter whether you value the economy or the environment, we all value health, and with both Harvard and the Trump administration predicting such a detriment in health, something has to change. Priorities have to change. No matter where you fall on the political spectrum, we need to be talking about this and stop putting the environment second when our well beings depend on it.

ANNIE SAGER, columnist artwork, ANNIE SAGER

10 FEATURES

Georgia's

Race for

Governor:

DEMYSTIFIED

Here are the candidates, the controversy, and the conversation.

JAYLEE DAVIS, managing editor

I

n Georgia’s Nov. 6 gubernatorial election, voters will choose from among three candidates: Stacey Abrams (D), Brian Kemp (R) or Ted Metz (I). The University of Georgia’s School of Public Affairs recently conducted a mock poll of 1,020 potential voters. The survey results showed that 45 percent voted for Brian Kemp, and 44 percent voted Stacey Abrams, leaving independent Ted Metz with only two percent and an undecided group of 7 percent.

Georgia’s “most watched” and “costliest” race, as described by the Atlanta JournalConstitution, seems deadlocked between two diametrically opposed candidates: Stacey Abrams and Brian Kemp.

The candidates have equally contrasting views, opposing campaign strategies, and roots in two different political movements. Both candidates are also mired in a flurry of controversy and debate.

Who are these candidates? What are their plans and promises for the future of Georgia? And more importantly, what sense can be made from the constant controversy and conversation surrounding them?

Stacey Abrams When her parents decided to pursue graduate degrees in Divinity from Emory University, Mississippi-born and -raised Stacey Abrams transferred to Avondale High School as a junior. Graduating as valedictorian of her senior class, Abrams went on to earn a bachelor’s degree from Spelman College, a Master’s of Public Administration from the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs of the University of Texas, and a Juris Doctor from Yale Law School.

Abrams first stepped onto the political stage when she was appointed the Deputy Attorney of the City of Atlanta in 2002. Thereafter, Abrams was elected to the House of Representatives in 2006 and became House Minority Leader in 2011.

On Tuesday, May 2, 2017, Abrams set her eyes on a higher position than legislator,

formally declaring her candidacy for governor. After winning a “landslide” victory against Stacey Evans in the Democratic primary, Abrams said that she is striving for a Georgia in which “no one is unseen, no voice is unheard.”

Abrams’ message is multifaceted. She promises improvement for Georgia in three different areas: education, healthcare and economy. Hoping to “turn Georgia blue” this fall, Abrams campaigns on specific plans to implement universal pre-K, provide affordable and widespread access to healthcare and diversify the economy Nevertheless, several impediments may prevent Abrams from achieving that goal, considering the variety of controversies surrounding her and her gubernatorial campaign.

The most buzzworthy controversy surrounding candidate Abrams is undoubtedly her debt. Opponents have continuously attacked her for her debts: the money she owes to the IRS, which totals to a whopping $50,000, and an additional student loan balance and credit card debt of $170,000. Abrams has explained that her credit debt is a result of needing a way to pay for basic necessities as a student at Spelman and that her tax debt is a result of several family crises.

In an Op-ed for Fortune addressing the assertion that her debt renders her unfit for candidacy, Abrams writes, “I am in debt, but I am not alone. Debt is a millstone that weighs down more than three quarters of Americans. It can determine whether we are able to run for office, to launch a business, to quit a job we hate.

But it should not—and cannot—be a disqualification for ambition.”

Another point of contention with Abrams’ campaign stems from her actions as a state senator during the 2008 legislation period. Abrams has been viscerally attacked by Republicans for her decision to reject Senate Bill 1 and House Bill 908 which both limit the rights of sex offenders. Senate Bill 1 prevents sex offenders from photographing minors, while House Bill 908 prohibits sex offenders from working, living, or loitering in areas within 1,000 feet of places where minors are likely to gather such as schools, churches and playgrounds.

FEATURES 11 Because of her rejection of this bill and her previous silence as to a reason why, in a recently released advertisement, the Georgia Republican Party has accused Abrams of voting to “allow predators to work next to schools and child care facilities” and “allow predators to take pictures of children without consent.” This Republican advertisement ends with a resounding message: “She [Abrams] is too extreme for Georgia.”

daughter, compelling “Jake” to repeat Kemp’s campaign messages by affirming his respect for the Second Amendment.

Abrams claims her motivations of voting against the bill were not to proliferate the rights of sex offenders. She explains, “I opposed these specific pieces of bad legislation because they were quick-fix, band-aid bills that did nothing to improve the safety of Georgia communities. I have a strong record of working to protect Georgia’s children, and I’ve always been a strong supporter of survivors of sexual assault and abuse.”

When contacted about the purpose of Kemp’s often divisive campaign advertisements, there was no reply from the campaign staff.

In addition to her controversies, Abrams has been the main attraction of the Georgia’s governor’s race. As the first black woman to be nominated Democratic candidate for governor, Abrams has not only made history, but sparked conversation about race and gender in southern politics everywhere from the cover of Time Magazine to the front page of The New York Times.

Regarding how her race has affected her candidacy, Abrams said, “Race plays a critical role in our nation and society, and I’m honored by the opportunity to become America’s first Black female governor,” but she insists that she is working for all Georgians, regardless of race.

“I am running for every Georgian who would be lifted up by leadership dedicated to debt-free college, continuing progress on criminal justice reform, and highwage jobs. These are issues that impact all communities, and as governor, I am committed to bettering the lives of all Georgians.”

BRIAN KEMP Brian Kemp, Georgia’s Republican candidate for governor, has his roots in Athens where he lives with his wife Marty and his three teenage daughters, Jarrett, Lucy and Amy Porter. Kemp had humble beginnings as a Clarke Central High school graduate who then earned a bachelor’s degree in Agriculture from the University of Georgia. Fresh out of college, Kemp says he started his fi­­­rst business with only a shovel and a pickup truck.

His campaign site reads, “From digging ditches to starting a community bank, he’s created hundreds of jobs in construction, manufacturing, farming, and agribusiness for hardworking Georgians throughout our state.”

Kemp’s history in politics started in 2002, when he was elected as a state senator representing District 46 after beating Doug Haines. In 2010, he was appointed to the Office of Secretary of State which he currently holds.

The self-named “politically incorrect conservative” has a four-tiered plan to improve the state of Georgia, specifically focusing on “issues that matter to Georgia’s families.” The plan consists, broadly, of putting small businesses first, reforming state government, strengthening rural Georgia, and putting Georgia first. Kemp is confident that the turnout of Georgians who are “tired of special interests” will propel him to the Governor’s mansion. However, several controversies may prevent that goal.

First and foremost, people associate Kemp with his provocative and inflammatory campaign ads. Kemp has issued several campaign advertisements for which even members of his own party have admonished him. In one of the most infamous ads, titled Jake, Kemp points a shotgun at a high schooler who intends to court his

In another ad, Kemp is presented alongside a chainsaw to “rip up [government] regulations,” explosions to represent how he “blows up government spending” and a pick-up truck to “round up criminal illegals and take them home.”

Kemp’s ads are not the only source of campaign controversies; he has been reviled also for his actions as Secretary of State. As Secretary of State, Kemp is “responsible for the administration of secure, accessible, and fair elections; registration of corporations; regulation of charities and securities; and oversight of professional license holders.” One organization, The Lawyer’s Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, believe that Kemp has not upheld the responsibilities of his office.

In June, The Lawyer’s Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, filed a lawsuit against Kemp and several other Georgia counties, accusing them of violating the National Voter Registration policy with the “exact match” voter registration policy. The “exact match” policy is Georgia’s current voting practice which requires that voter registration information match the voter’s Social Security and state records in order to be considered valid. Any voter whose registration is flagged is allotted a twenty-six month period to correct any mistakes. Until mistakes are corrected, the status of the registration is considered pending.

Citing 40,000 pending registrations, the lawsuit states that the policy violates the National Voter Registration Act and disenfranchises minority citizens.

In a statement responding to the lawsuit, Kemp says, “Not a single voter [as opposed to a single vote] whose status is pending for failure to verify will get rejected this election cycle.” Note that he says the “voter” is not rejected; he does not say that the “vote” is not rejected. He continues by saying, “The twenty-six-month period affords any pending applicant [the voter] plenty of time to participate in a federal election–when expected turnout is highest–so the applicant has the best opportunity to provide the necessary information and move to active status.”

The verdict From only this short overview, in which countless nuances and perspectives are omitted for the sake of brevity, certain things are clear. In the era of fake news where “bipartisanship” holds the equivalence of a swear word, politics are crazy.

Politics are messy. But politics are important and worthwhile at every level of government and in every branch of government. When voters show up to the ballot, they must be able to think critically and consider the candidates holistically and thoroughly through the lens of reliable information.

These candidates, along with their respective controversies and the conversations surrounding them, will ultimately determine the future of Georgia and the direction of the country as a whole. They will do this through the votes cast for them on election day.

Who will Georgia's next Governor be?

The answer is for the voters to decide.

Funda 12 FEATURES

To

O

n a day ten years ago, HIES Director of Enrollment Management, Dr. BethSarah Wright, found herself beginning her morning as any other. She made breakfast for her children, kissed her husband goodbye, and left for work to teach a class at a college in Atlanta.

“All was normal, except for one thing,” Wright said. “That one thing was that I wanted to die.”

As Wright drove herself to work, she found herself overwhelmed by her thoughts and contemplated ending her life by swerving off the road. Ultimately, she checked herself into a mental hospital, where she became a part of a community of individuals who faced struggles with mental health, such as clinical depression or anxiety.

“I was in complete denial about depression,” Wright said. “But when I came to understand that it was an illness, that it wasn’t my fault, that I didn’t bring it on myself, that it was not a reflection of some sort of failure in me, I realized I need to tell my story.”

During her time at the mental hospital, Wright noted that sharing her story was as central to others’ recovery as it was to her own.

“We were all suffering, but we didn’t want to tell our stories,” Wright said. “And it was only when we began to tell our stories that the healing truly began.”

Upon realizing the power of sharing her personal experiences, Wright has touched many lives by offering advice, giving speeches, and publishing books about her emotional and spiritual journey. Within the HIES community, Wright began the school year with the goal of normalizing mental wellness issues by speaking at the faculty pre-planning meeting.

“Recognizing that mental health is often struggled internally is an important reminder about the difficult nature of dealing with other people and the importance of caring for others, even when signs of struggle or happiness are not apparent,” Upper School History teacher Kevin Lewis said after Wright’s touching account.

Wright, by sharing her story as an example, hopes to create a culture in which more people feel comfortable

mental FEATURES 13

Learning

A look into how HIES plans to lift the stigma surrounding mental health MADDIE POCH, feature writer

discussing their wellness issues. Her effort and the efforts of others will be essential in lifting the heavy stigma that shrouds mental health.

“The prejudice and discrimination of mental illness is as disabling as the illness itself,” Patrick Corrigan, Illinois Institute of Technology psychological scientist, said. “It undermines people attaining their personal goals and dissuades them from pursuing effective treatments.”

People often see mental illness as a self-inflicted problem, and people struggling with their mental health have sometimes been told by society that they should be able to overcome their issues without professional help.

“America thinks mental illness is something that can get self-corrected,” Joyce Burland, PhD, from the National Alliance on Mental Illness, said. “And that is a vast misunderstanding.”

Mike Plant, HIES AP Psychology teacher, said that attempting to heal a mental illness without professional help would be “like trying to cure a disease on your own.”

Plant also commented on society’s tendency to associate weakness with mental health problems, saying, “All people, even more so men, have been told that anybody who needs help, especially for something that’s so misunderstood or stigmatized, is weak in some way, which is obviously not the case.”

In an effort to create a culture that promotes dialogue around wellness, HIES has named wellness a priority during the 2018-2019 school year. Both the student body and the faculty will be included in new initiatives, as mental health is inseparable from all aspects of academic achievement.

“Holy Innocents’ focuses on the whole student,” Upper School Counselor Katie Cruce said. “We care about our students as people—not just as academic beings—so we have to think about… our minds, our hearts, and our spirits as well as the academics and performance piece.”

14 FEATURES

Student Wellness Board

At the end of the 2017-2018 school year, a handful of students with various passions for mental and emotional health applied to be members of the Student Wellness Board. Led by Cruce, this board serves the student body by promoting the discussion of wellness-related issues.

“Students should know they are not alone in their mental struggles,” Mary Evelyn King, a sophomore on the Student Wellness Board, said.

By recognizing specific areas of concern for the high school, Cruce hopes this board will result in speakers, education, and activities more fitted to the needs of the HIES community.

“I want the Student Wellness Board to help me identify what it is that students want,” Cruce said.

The Student Wellness Board began the year by placing posters in the hallways and bathrooms to spread awareness for World Suicide Prevention Day on September 10. An interactive art display in the Sophomore Commons was also incorporated for reflection and inspiration throughout the day.

self-criticism, Heads Up for Harry, a group of Marist alumni who shared their stories of losing Harrison Willingham to suicide, and Gentle Yoga and Breathing, an immersive workshop that included meditative exercises to reduce stress.

By hosting different speakers on campus and ending the week with a Self-Care Fair, the Wellness Board intended to start a conversation about mental and emotional health that will continue throughout the school year.

Mental Health Committee

In addition to being the faculty advisor of the Student Wellness Board, Cruce will also serve on HIES’ newly formed Mental Health Committee. Twelve to 15 staff members, including Wright, clinical professionals, alumni, and parents make up the committee.

“We are forming the committee to look at ways in which we can ensure the wellbeing and wellness of our community, our students, the faculty, and the parents, so we can create an environment in which we can talk about and address certain issues around mental health,” Wright said.

Through their efforts, members of the committee will work to shift the cultural

“If we can create an environment here at Holy Innocents’ where issues around mental health can be talked about and addressed in a safe way without stigma and without stereotypes, then it can create an environment where people can thrive, be healthy, and live abundantly.”

- Dr. Beth-Sarah Wright, HIES Director of Enrollment Management Two weeks following, the Student Wellness Board worked to create HIES’ first ever Mental Health Week. Upper School faculty members Chris Yarsawich and Stephanie Reiss, alongside senior Ellie Rousseau, began the week by sharing their experiences with mental health and illness. By recounting their struggles, the speakers were able to begin the process of normalizing these issues.

climate of HIES and promote discussion around all aspects of wellness. Goals for the group include evaluating how the school currently addresses concerns and makes resources available, researching mental health issues and practices, and understanding how other schools in the Atlanta area promote holistic wellness.

Personal accounts continued throughout the week as Wendy Best, mother of HIES alumni, spoke during Thursday’s chapel. She gave a moving recollection of her son’s life with mental illness before he died by suicide.

“If we can create an environment here at Holy Innocents’ where issues around mental health can be talked about and addressed in a safe way without stigma and without stereotypes, then it can create an environment where people can thrive, be healthy, and live abundantly,” Wright said.

Those who shared their stories made themselves vulnerable, and students and faculty alike benefited from learning how mental health affects members of their own community.

The Mental Health Committee will work to emphasize emotional, mental, and physical aspects of wellness as part of HIES’ Episcopalian identity.

“Their stories and the emotions that came with them shed light on how often we fail to address the issue of mental health in a society that views physical health as being more important,” Andrew Keller, HIES sophomore, said. “In fact, the two are inseparable.”

As an additional activity, students had the opportunity to select one of six different breakout sessions, each tailored to a different aspect of mental or emotional wellness. Options included Mindful Self-Compassion, a workshop encompassing internal dialogue and conscious efforts to reduce anxiety and

“That is heavily rooted in who we are as an Episcopal school and who we are as a community that is focused on the well-being of each member of our community,” Wright said.

txtAboutIt

While the Student Wellness Board and the Mental Health Committee work to create an environment that is more conducive to the discussion of mental health concerns, the stigma that surrounds these issues remains pervasive.

FEATURES 15 “Coming to the counselor’s office can often feel like you’re putting a stamp on [an issue], like ‘something’s wrong with me,’” notes Cruce. “I think everyone just sometimes needs someone to listen to them, they need a little extra support.

And there’s absolutely nothing wrong, weird, or weak about that.”

To better connect students to their support systems, HIES will begin to use txtAboutIt, an app that allows students to select a teacher or staff member from a panel and anonymously message them their concerns. The faculty member of the student’s choice will respond in a timely manner, creating an outlet for issues and expressions that may be too difficult to introduce in a faceto-face setting. Should a student using the app express an inclination to harm themselves or others, their identity can be revealed in the case of an emergency.

Carter Myers, founder of txtAboutIt, notes that texting over the phone is an immensely personal method of communication, especially for teens today.

“Ultimately that is success, in our definition, where we’re helping affect a climate change where speaking up becomes much more the norm than it was prior to our being in the school.”

A Cultural Shift

As individuals, HIES students and faculty alike can take steps to reduce the stigma surrounding mental illnesses. Understanding the reality of disorders like depression and anxiety is essential for their normalization. “Educate people,” Plant said. “Educate yourself.”

Cruce also recognizes that mental disorders are “part of the human experience,” and those who need help with their mental health owe it to themselves to seek it out. Help of all forms is accessible and readily available in the HIES community.

“We’re tapping into really an already very intimate form of communication for kids,” Myers said. “You ask each other out, you break up [using your phones.]”

“Any students seeking mental or emotional support are welcome to contact or meet with myself, the Upper School Counselor,” Cruce said. “Students are also encouraged to utilize the TxtAboutIt service for additional support from deans and other teachers.”

Myers also notes that the messages the faculty receives through txtAboutIt are of a wide variety, and they oftentimes consist of concerns beyond expected problems.

Acts of self-expression, such as writing, drawing, or speaking, can be cathartic in their completion and should be considered effective outlets for concerns of all natures, such as worry and stress in relationships.

”You end up hearing from students you never otherwise would have heard from,” Myers said. “We’ve also seen you’re hearing from students who you’ve heard from before, but you’re hearing from them different concerns that they’ve never spoken about in person.”

Additionally, Myers encourages people not to be afraid to “assume that a lot of people, probably some portion of every human on the earth, struggles with mindfulness, wellness, and healthy mental fitness.”

The broad range of issues from which students can select to talk about includes academic concerns, sexual harassment, stress, worry, anxiety, and friendship and family problems.

Acknowledging that imperfect mental health is valid and acceptable empowers those who are struggling to seek out the assistance they need and creates an environment in which they are able to start a conversation about their experiences.

Though txtAboutIt functions as an anonymous platform, communications through the app generally result in an in-person meeting. After using txtAboutIt for three years, one school reported a decrease in the number of messages through txtAboutIt, coupled with the most face-to-face interactions between students and counselors in the school’s history.

“A school’s usage might drop dramatically after several years of use because more students aren’t as reliant on the service as they used to be,” Myers said.

Wright is optimistic about the emphasis on wellness, and she has hope that the new climate HIES is working to create will positively benefit every member of the HIES community.

“The mere fact that we are addressing [mental health] and raising it up as something that is valuable and important––that is already a cultural shift,” Wright said.

“We’re helping affect a climate change where speaking up becomes much more the norm than it was prior to our being in the school.”

- Carter Myers, Founder of txtAboutIt

16 FEATURES

www.virtualschoolbecomesreality.com/14/article

VIRTUAL EDUCAT

When the address of your school begins with www.

MAGGIE BELENKY, feature writer

M

y mother and I decided to do online school because we thought it would be a good change for me,” said HIES sophomore, Rebekah Glover, who made the transition from virtual school to traditional school in the ninth grade.

But, Glover is not alone. In fact, the largest school in the state of Georgia is the Georgia Cyber Academy (GCA). With roughly 14,000 students enrolled, GCA utilizes an online curriculum. According to their website, GCA’s mission is “to provide and support an interactive virtual learning environment to support individualized and differentiated student-centered educational experiences serving students from kindergarten through [twelfth] grade.”

Of course, there are differences between an online school and a traditional school. Most obviously, one exists in cyberspace, while the other is in a physical classroom setting. Still, there are some similarities. Students have lessons, homework, tests and quizzes, and projects, like they would at a traditional school.

“I would wake up at six, like I do at Holy Innocents’, and then I would of course come downstairs and have breakfast,” said Glover. “Then I would start on whatever assignments that were due, or any tests or quizzes that I had.”

How do online schools attract students?

GCA advertises that when taking online courses, students can move at their own pace. Since virtual schools combine scheduled classes with self-paced work, deadlines, and activities, students can enjoy a more individualized education that suits their needs.

According to the National Dropout Prevention Center, “individualized instruction provides the opportunity for students to learn at their own pace, in their own way, and be successful.”

GCA capitalizes on this individualized education model. “Our children can see their entire semester, so they can pre-plan their schooling around upcoming events,” said GCA Headmaster Angela Lassetter. “We record every one of the classroom deliveries, and students can go back and watch them if they can’t be there for a live session.”

Another significant way GCA attracts students is through its frugality. Due to its public school status, the cyber academy is completely tuition-free, as are all of the supplies and curriculum materials. The Academy makes available a computer and all necessary resources at no cost to the students.

“Supplies are actually delivered to the doorstep of all of our students,” said Lassetter. “For instance, if you’re in fifth grade, and you’re taking science and you need graph paper, you will receive it, and if you are taking art, you get clay and everything else.”

How can traditional schools compete?

HIES Director of Enrollment Dr. Beth-Sarah Wright emphasizes that many of the traditional school benefits would not be available at a virtual school.

“We have personalized teaching, face-to-face ... our teachers are so well equipped and so fantastic that we feel that what we do

FEATURES 17

ATION IS REALITY here is very important and unique,” said Wright. HIES values social and emotional development and maturity growth. “We do feel that this holistic education that we provided only in essence is an optimal environment to maximize wellness,” said Wright.

HIES offers ways for students to capitalize on the benefits of online teaching for classes that aren’t provided here.

“What I have understood is that there are some classes that are beyond say an Advanced Placement level,” said Wright. “Some of our students are so advanced, that they want to be able to take those courses, but there are few of them, so to create a whole class for them may not be that easy.”

Some students prefer traditional school for that social component “because an online education typically does not have that social aspect to it,” said Wright. “Perhaps students do not have the opportunity to really thrive in a social setting. So the transition from an online education to a brick-and-mortar situation like our school may impact or challenge their ability to connect with other people.”

How do students at an online school maintain social connections?

The traditional high school is often associated with clubs, conversations, and field trips, but online schools can offer this, too.

At GCA, for example, there are monthly events for students to meet up with each other throughout Georgia in all 159 counties.

“The middle school and elementary [school] have lunch once a week, or they come together at a monitored lunch time, a lot like a cafeteria,” said Lassetter. “The high schoolers have get-togethers once a week too. We might have, or your school might have, one field trip or two field trips per semester or quarter.”

GCA clubs include chess club, student council, different national honor societies, game design club, and Fellowship of Student Athletes. For these clubs to meet, students typically use Skype or other forms of video chat.

Glover said that for class discussion, they had “synchronous sessions, which had a voice chat, so we could all see what other students were saying.” She also explained: “In sessions we would sometimes exchange numbers from other people on the chat, and we could also chat [online].”

Glover sees the positives and negatives of online school. She enjoys traditional school because she “like[s] interacting with other people.” But, she also likes online school because “it also helps you focus more on school subjects.” said Glover. “You have to do a lot of things for yourself and it really helps you to be more independent.”

18 PEOPLE

GOLDEN BEAR QUESTIONNAIRE Get to know two fresh faces at HIES.

Manning Weir

MIKEY BENNETT, staff writer

Upper School Principal Hometown?

Memphis, TN Preferred Campus Shop Snack?

Peanut Butter Clif Bars. I usually have some on my desk.

What is your most marked characteristic?

I’m a big believer in identifying our strengths.

Psychological studies have shown that the best life lived is focusing on your strengths and thats your best life lived. My top 5 strengths are kindness, humor, creativity, love of learning and fairness.

If you could spend three days anywhere in the world, where would it be?

I’ve always wanted to go to Hawaii. I know that’s probably a cliche answer, but I’ve always wanted to go to Hawaii.

What is your favorite motto/saying?

I’ve always liked this quote. It’s been attributed to like ten different people: “The harder I work, the luckier I get.”

What is your most treasured possession?

I don’t know if I’ll ever have an answer for that. I’m not really that much of a possession guy. I try not to focus on stuff. I’m more focused on relationships.

Who is your favorite fictional hero?

Batman, he’s my favorite hero. This thing about Batman is that we all could be Batman. We can’t be Superman, we can’t be The Flash, but we could be Batman.

Who is your favorite hero in reality?

Theodore Roosevelt. He was our best president. He was just a guy who lived life to the fullest.

If you could die and come back as somebody else, who would it be?

It’s going to sound so conceited, but me! I don’t think like that. This is it, this is my life. But come back as someone else, my brain just doesn’t work like that.

What natural talent would you like to be gifted with?

I always wanted to learn to juggle 5 balls. I can juggle 3 already.

What is your favorite smell?

Fried chicken. My mom’s fried chicken.

What would your last supper be?

There is a pizza in Memphis, that is my absolute favorite. It’s called Pete & Sam’s Pizza. Its an Italian restaurant, but they make these pizzas. They have the best Italian sausage pizza. I actually figured out to cook Pete & Sam’s pizza. We had it last night.

Do you have any superstitions?

There’s nothing I have to do every time, but when I hear a good song on the radio on my way to work I always get this feeling it’s going to be a good day.

And then there’s those day where its a bad song, or it’s no song at all and just people talking.

What is your biggest quirk?

I have a collection of over 200 hippos. I have a January birthday. So obviously in December of ‘71 my parents knew I was arriving soon, so even though I had not been born yet, Santa brought me a gift. It was a stuffed hippopotamus. Then it kinda became a tradition that Santa would bring me a stuffed hippopotamus every year, so that stuck even when I got to be y’all age. So eventually I caught on, and started buying hippos and people started buying me hippos for gifts.

Do you have any superstitions?

There’s nothing I have to do every time, but when I hear a good song on the radio on my way to work I always get this feeling it’s going to be a good day.

And then there’s those day where its a bad song, or it’s no song at all and just people talking.

What is your biggest pet peeve?

The misuse of the word “literally”. It drives me absolutely crazy. It’s misused like 90% of the time.

PEOPLE 19

Mackenzie Weir HIES Junior Hometown?

Columbus (GA) Preferred Campus Shop Snack: The poppyseed muffins.

What is your most marked characteristic?

I’m outgoing when I meet new people.

If you could spend three days anywhere in the world, where would it be?

I really want to go anywhere in Italy. It seems really pretty there, the landscape and all the flowers and buildings and people.

What is your favorite motto/saying?

Psalms 118:24 “This is the day the lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it.”

When was the happiest moment of your life?

Probably when my brother was born. I was three, but I remember sitting in the hospital and I was looking out the window, then I was in the waiting room, then we went all the way in there, and I remember being able to hold him.

What is your most treasured possession?

My computer.

Who is your favorite hero in reality?

I had a teacher at my old school, her name was Mrs. Highnote, and she taught me my freshman year AP Human Geography. Anytime I was having a bad day I would go to her and she would just cheer me up every single time and not even focus on the bad things and say all this positive stuff.

What quality do you value most in your friends?

That they’re just really sweet and always bringing me up when I’m down, and always there for me.

If you could die and come back as somebody else, who would it be?

Probably Alex Morgan, cause when I was little I always wanted to play professional soccer.

What natural talent would you like to be gifted with?

I’ve always wanted to be able to sing.

What is your greatest fear?

I’m really scared of snakes. Whenever I run in the woods, that’s all I can think about, whether or not I see a snake.

What is your favorite sound?

Rain. Whenever it rains.

What is your favorite smell?

Honestly like any type of food, but probably like cookies or something.

What would your last supper be?

Probably any type of pasta. Pasta with Alfredo sauce is so good.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

A professional soccer player.

What is your biggest quirk?

I have a fear of people touching my throat or neck, like if someone even gets near me I freak out.

What is your biggest pet peeve?

When people talk really quietly, and I’ll have to say “what” more than three times, and I’ll just have to be like “yeah!” and pretend like I know.

What is the last text you sent?

I texted my mom and said “I figured it out”.

20 PEOPLE

18 UND

PART O

PEOPLE 21

DER 18

T ONE

KATIE LITTLE, feature writer TIANA MOMON, associate editor MILLER REID, managing editor

22 PEOPLE

We’ve all heard or felt the effects of negative peer pressure.

But what about positive peer pressure?

In 18 under 18, The C&G will showcase students pursuing their passions, talents, and hobbies at a young age. Instead of merely shouting out these accomplishments, this continued feature serves as a call to action for the HIES community. When we read about our peers that sit next to us in class or pass us in the hallways, we feel an invisible push to reach outside of our limits and make new discoveries about ourselves.

Let’s join these six students in breaking down our limits.

PEOPLE 23

ANN KALLIS

DEDICATION FLUID COORDINATION

T

hree-year-old Ann Kallis fell in love with ballet the moment her instructor uttered the words “Plié! Now rest”. Ten years later, Kallis, a dynamic eighth grader at HIES, has mastered pointe, a classical ballet technique, and continues to thrive in the discipline.

Practicing the strenuous art of ballet four times each week, Kallis is a dedicated dancer. The fluid, but structured movements and “the challenging aspects of practicing ballet” are what keeps Kallis so attracted to it. In an attempt to recount the feeling of performance, she described, “it’s like an adrenaline rush but in a good way,” and after all these years she still experiences the “indescribable” feeling of dance.

Kallis draws support from her mom, a retired dancer, and her sisters, but she finds her true inspiration from dancer Misty Copeland. Copeland motivates Kallis not only because of her graceful dancing, but also the standard she introduced in “the strict dance world,” that a dancer does not have to fit the “really thin and beautiful” prototype but that “you can be whoever you want and still dance”.

As her love of dance grows, Kallis hopes to continue dancing and someday incorporate dance into her career.

“Dance, ballet, will always be a passion of mine,” she said.

ALDEN GYENING

E

A NATURAL FEELING

veryone as kids wants to be able to fly. I always wanted to do that,” Gyening said. Unlike most other children, his dream became reality.

Gyening’s passion for all things flying began at a young age. “I was always into science fiction,” Gyening said. He was influenced heavily by the epic space scenes of Star Wars. He remembers “everyone watch[ing] Star Wars and see[ing] the guys zooming around, and I was like that’s me right there.”

His aunt, an aerospace engineer, also inspired him to pursue his passion of flight. She bought him toy planes when he was younger and has worked on projects with him. “She’s the reason I got to fly the plane in the first place,” he said. Though Gyening has only flown once, he felt comfortable in the pilot’s seat, describing it as “a natural kind of feeling”.

Gyening’s lifelong fascination with flight has led him to pursue aerospace engineering, hoping to follow in the footsteps of innovative engineer Elon Musk.

“I think he is so cool because he is a true innovator,” Gyening said. He loves to design and build things, currently enjoying creating model planes to fulfill his passion.

Passion: it’s the perfect word to describe Gyening’s relationship with all things planes.“It seems like I’m not doing work. I’m doing it purely because I’m enjoying it.”

24 PEOPLE

ALEX NEWBURG

M

IN THE ZONE

any HIES students have had the fortune of witnessing some of HIES Freshman Alex Newburg’s show-stopping magic tricks at school, who has been mastering his passion for ten years and counting. It all started with some childhood birthday presents: two simple magic kits, which “went to five magic sets to where we are now with walk-in-closets full of magic,” he said.

For him, magic isn’t just a hobby; he’s performed at birthday parties, corporate events, and fundraisers. His passion for magic has also allowed him to serve others.

“My parents have always taught me that giving back to the community is one of the most important aspects of life,” Newburg said. This childhood lesson has influenced his decision to donate 50 to 80 percent of his magic performance profits to Camp Sunshine and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.

To Newburg, the satisfaction isn’t in the mastery of magic, but in his viewers’ reactions. He loves to see his audience crack a smile or burst into laughter at any of his tricks.

When you see a group of entranced students crowding around a single person, that person is likely Newburg. If you stop to watch, you’re in for a treat.

KAMRYN HARLEY

T

EXCITED HAPPY AGGRESSIVE

he strum of the bass guitar begins the song as her fingers glide across the strings. Kamryn Harley stands on stage, instrument in hand, attitude as fierce as ever.

“Ever since I was little, I have always had a passion for music,” she said.

By the age of 9, she was playing regularly in a band around Atlanta, and now, as a teen, she has toured the West Coast and is a paid bassist.

Initially beginning her music career on the piano, Harley hated music, but, one day, she picked up the bass and has “been in love with it ever since”. To Harley, playing bass is a form of therapy. She relishes in the feeling of “getting to let go of the outside world and letting everything flow onstage.” Uniquely enough, she even goes as far to say music touches her to the point of transforming her into a “completely different person.”

Finding such success in music is not easy, though. “I try to practice around 2 hours a day every day,” Harley said. Bass is a pivotal part of her life, and “I don’t know what I would do if I didn’t play bass,” she said.

With the help of her parents and her drive, Harley’s future in music is bright, so look forward to hearing Harley’s music everywhere in a few years.

PEOPLE 25

ERNEST GEPHARDT

S

I FEEL PROUD

ign raised, surrounded by strangers sharing a common cause, HIES 5th grader Ernest Gephardt marches for progress with the crowd. Which march, you ask? “There are so many that I can’t keep track of all of them,” Gephardt said.

Participating in political events, most importantly marches, sprouted Gephardt’s interest in politics when he was nine. Among his favorites were the March for Our Lives in Atlanta and the anniversary of the march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama. “You’re walking with all of these other people that are so nice,” Gephardt said. “You ... meet a lot of people … and you get to do something great at the same time.”

Beyond socializing with like-minded activists, Gephardt feels connected to a greater purpose. “I feel like I’m setting a good example for a lot of other people,” he said. As his inspiration, he looks toward John Lewis, who he’s met three times.

In fourth grade, he dressed up as Lewis for a wax museum project. “He’s done a lot of stuff to make sure that everybody gets all these rights so that everybody can be equal,” he said.

The young activist plans to continue on this path. “I want to keep doing it. It’s a great way to socialize and to protest”

SARAH ROSS PAOLUCCI

I

SPECIAL PURPOSEFUL UNIQUE

ntroduced when she was very young, Sarah Ross Paulucci has had a relationship with Scottish Highland dancing for most of her life. Her mother is a Highland dance teacher and her family has a dance studio in their basement.

“I would always try and sneak down to watch dance class, but she would never let me. So, she told me either you have to come to class as a student or not be able to come,” Paolucci said.

And so, her dancing career began.

Since then, Paolucci has enjoyed the international aspect of the sport. “I have been fortunate enough to travel all over the country but also go to Canada, and this past summer I got to go to Scotland for a month and a half. I’ve been everywhere for it,” Paolucci said.

With this travel she loves to meet new people and build relationships all over the globe. “All of our cultures are so different, but we combine through highland dancing. It’s so amazing,” Paolucci said.

Scottish Highland dancing is not a common pursuit, but Paolucci is comfortable in being a little different than everyone else. “I love how unique it is and how you say it and people don’t really know what it is. I think it’s a good thing to kind of separate yourself from the crowd,” she said.

M

libby malcolm/CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER

MEET HIM a tale of two seniors*

*

In this four-part series, The C&G will follow two seniors through their highs and lows of the senior experience.

A

culture and the language,” he said. In his first years of taking Mandarin at HIES, he got an immersive experience with small class sizes and Mingyuan Zhou, his favorite teacher.

Of course, the entire HIES experience was not as simple as recess by request.

Baugus also remembers the PACER test, part of the fitness testing program HIES uses to measure its students’ physical well-being and ability.

But these classes were too small. The school stopped offering Mandarin due to low interest in taking the language, but Baugus continued studying it independently with the help and guidance of Caroline Catts-Xie, one of the college counselors.

“One time we were doing the PACER test…I was competing for the top spot, and I just got incredibly sick and ended up throwing up,” he said.

“Mandarin is the best class I’ve ever taken, and it just kind of sucks that it had to be cut short like that,” he said.

However, most of his hard work does not end in physical illness. Maybe he left that behind in sixth grade PE class. What it does consist of, though, is passion.

Soon a freshman, Baugus walked through the doors of the Upper School with some notion of what he wanted to study in college, and his involvement in and observations about activities like debate and political clubs have only strengthened his interest in political science as a field of study.

Beyond his academic endeavors, Baugus is known as the bassist for a student band, No Can Do, along with his bandmates Wyatt Griffith, Gracie Stovall, Madeleine Rojas, and Blake Dobbs. He played at and won the Battle of the Bands last year. Music is a true passion for him, and thus, he spends the weeks eliminating homework to focus on playing bass when the weekend comes.

OLIVIA MARTIN, co-editor-in-chief s a second grader in Susan LaRue’s class, Bennett Baugus began his HIES career as a little kid who loved asking questions…about recess.

“Since [the teacher] liked me, I could always ask, ‘can we have recess right now?’ and she’d always say yes,” he said.

After his initial interest in politics was piqued by his affinity for asking questions of those around him and dinner-table debates, he realized that he held a passion for politics, one that stuck with him through all of high school.

“Especially in the Southeast, you grow up in a household that’s super partisan to one side. In my case it was Republican,” he said.

But, he did not take his parents’ opinions and run with them, instead thinking for himself on the issues at hand. “I was just asking my dad these questions as he was watching Fox News,” he said. “I would just sit down and watch and not accept it blindly.”

This, in turn, led to hour-and-a-half long post-dinner debates between Baugus and his father. Baugus’ particular interest is in economics and fiscal policies, and he and his father tend to have differing views on the issues that fall into these categories. However, that is just what Baugus is looking for. “I feel like just sitting down and talking with the other side is so helpful,” he said.

Though political science has been a fruitful academic path for Baugus, as he is taking AP Government this year, he has a love affair with other academic interests as well, namely his keen interest in learning Mandarin. or freshman year, Baugus chose to take Mandarin for two reasons. First of all, his friends were taking it. But, he also harbored a “sincere passion for the

“I shut myself down during the week so I can accomplish all the actual school stuff, and then on the weekends I can do whatever I want,” he said.

During the week, though, he gets to follow his passions, too. Namely, he attends AP US History teacher Bill Dickey’s Friday jam sessions, playing music with a large group of students in hootenanny form. Plus, senior year provides him the opportunity and freedom to do “whatever he wants.”

“I think [senior year] is more suited for college because it’s less like ‘I’m coming to school and I’m going to spend the next eight hours here’…senior year you can dip in, dip out, get food,” he said. “You make more choices.”

To Baugus, another difference between senior year and his previous experiences is the college search and process, which has not been as stressful as he thought it would be, in part due to his strong rapport with his college counselor, Laura Sensenig. He checks in with her frequently to ask questions or just to chat.

“Maybe I just haven’t gotten there yet, but, with the whole college system here, I think [the college process] is really nice,” he said, and his advice to himself as a freshman would follow a similar theme of using resources wisely.

“Make friends with the faculty, because me being good friends with Mrs. CattsXie and Ms. Sensenig has made the [college] process so much easier,” Baugus said.

MEET HER

a tale of two senio In this four-part series, The C&G will follow two seniors

*

through their highs and lows of the senior experience.

T

OLIVIA MARTIN, co-editor-in-chief hree-year old Katie Leonard arrived for her first day at HIES. Now a senior, Leonard remembers little from her first few years here—she was just so young—but she does remember her experience in lower school, especially with her third-and-fourth-grade teacher, Mary Ellen McReynolds.

“Whenever we had free time, other classes would go to recess, but she was like ‘nope, we’re going to have a reading time.’ So, she would read some of my favorite books I’ve ever read to us.” Leonard said.

high school as well, starting sophomore year.

“Actually, in my college essay I spoke to [change] a little bit. I talked about how I’ve always been someone who is curious and genuinely loves school, but sometimes that can get kind of squashed by ‘oh, I have to get an 100, let’s focus on the grade instead of what I’m learning,’” she said. “But I think especially senior year...my desire to learn and take classes I’m interested in has overpowered grades.”

Of course, Leonard was an avid reader, and she spent time discussing the Harry Potter books with McReynolds outside of the reading that she did in class.

This year, she has really had the chance to take those interesting classes. She has the choice of which classes she wants to be a part of, with a myriad of options in classes in each subject. History and English are two that she is taking advantage of opportunities in, doubling up on each.

“She was just one of those teachers that really wanted you to get excited about something that would help you learn...I’ll always remember her being so excited about reading,” Leonard said, and she sees that quality in many teachers she has had at HIES, from lower school through upper school. She notes Maria-Louise Coil, Gary Klingman, Amie LaPorte-Lewis, and Kevin Lewis.

“Senior year everyone figures out what they really love,” she said. “And it’s exciting to see that everyone in your class chose that class because they really love it, and then everyone loves it together.”

Another integral piece of Leonard’s lower school experience was the Accelerated Reader, or AR, program, led by Susan Rapoport. In the lower school, AR means competition; whoever reads a certain amount gets prizes and glory. But, for Leonard, it was more that just that. “If I hadn’t had the AR program...I wouldn’t have been such a big reader,” she said. “And reading has had such a big impact on my life.”

The sense of community that she feels at HIES, overall, is how she would characterize the HIES experience. She also feels a general passion at HIES in the activities, sports, clubs, arts, academics, and every aspect of this community.

“You can definitely go through high school and not participate and you can graduate,” she said. “But I feel like there’s really this environment where everyone feels like they have something they can be passionate about.”

To her, HIES is a place that “wants everybody to be excited about something.” Her senior year has only increased that excitement and passion. “I feel like [senior year] has kind of been the end of this long race,” she said.

As a freshman, Leonard joined clubs like Model UN and Rhyme and Reason. On the “quiet side,” she joined Model UN to gain public speaking skills. According to her, Kacey Michelsen, the Model UN advisor, probably expected her to drop the club, but she stuck with it. Now, instead of looking up to the leaders of Model UN and other organizations like Rhyme and Reason, she is the leader.

“I have been in the seat in the classroom, looking at the leader explain it, and now I turn and I’m talking and facing all of these new freshman and getting to guide them,” Leonard said. Her viewpoint on academic achievement has developed throughout

Going into senior year, Leonard had heard about the need for two free periods— specifically, the need for two free periods to work on college applications—but she has not had too much trouble with the Common Application and the supplement essays for her respective schools. Right now, she is applying to five schools, and she has filled out all her extracurriculars, personal information, and similar pieces of the Common Application.

“At this point, all I really have to do is finish the supplemental essays, which are the 200-300 word ones,” she said. “They’re questions that make you really reflect on high school. One of them was like, ‘if you could teach a seminar about any topic, what would you do?’”

Recently, she finished her personal essay for the Common Application, which means it will be sent to all of the schools she is applying to. “It’s hard to think of an experience that can sum you up in 650 words,” she said.

Of course, she has been working on the college process for longer than just this year. To Leonard, the process begins the day you first walk through the doors of the Upper School.

“I feel like when you’re a freshman, you start that process,” she said. “You start building your extracurriculars.” Her advice for these freshmen is to “find something you’re interested in.”

“I feel like that’s what I did, and that’s what I would tell freshmen to do,” she said.

“Because the things on your application are what you spend your time doing, and if you just start your application when you’re a senior, you don’t have time to start all these clubs.”

ER

niors*

libby malcolm/CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER

30 OPINION

THE IMPORTANCE OF

US

S TA F F E D I T O R I A L

O

n August 16, 2018, nearly 350 news organizations across the nation published pro-press editorials in protest of the president’s recent attacks on mainstream media sources. Spearheaded by The Boston Globe, this movement grew awareness of journalists’ first amendment rights and support of free press. Each editorial, although unique in its voice and approach, shared a common message: we will not back down.

Inspired by The Boston Globe’s efforts, The C&G sent a letter to high school NSPA Pacemaker Finalists around the nation, encouraging each staff to compose and publish a staff editorial confirming the importance of journalism. This editorial you are reading now is hopefully just one of many printed in high school publications in correspondence with our own movement: the importance of us.

Fake news has always opposed honest publications, yet in today’s connected culture, the relative ease for any individual to post fake news poses an even greater threat to the integrity of many media sources. Now, a minor rumor sparks into a raging forest fire of panic and gossip before honest journalists smother the lies. Not only does fake news weaken the public’s trust in reliable news sources, but also journalists face fire from frustrated politicians as we expose their truths. Therefore, now more than ever, journalists must remind everyone why we matter.

First, journalists highlight courage and uncover corruption. Journalism is comparable to a play: we provide a stage for all stories and experiences to be brought before public attention, regardless of consequence. This stage allows the silenced to speak because a silent democracy is no democracy at all. To uphold a democratic platform, we must protect journalists’ first amendment rights. You cannot suppress us.

The president declares war against our “fake news”. He claims that journalists are public enemy number one, posting, “[Journalists] are out of control - correct reporting means nothing to them. Major lies written, then forced to be withdrawn after they are exposed...a stain on America!” His attacks follow a common trend: he scapegoats journalists responsible for exaggerating the consequences of a poorly executed action, while criticizing them not reporting a job well done. Many followers support these wild generalizations, regardless of their basis in actual truth. Their anti-press attitudes harm our credibility, and we must remind them of our freedom of press.

“Freedom of the Press, if it means anything at all, means the freedom to criticize and oppose.” – George Orwell The freedom of press is the right to publish and print without government censorship. Granted with the first amendment of the Constitution, our Founding Fathers placed great emphasis on the freedom of press. It remains apparent, however, that our current president and other citizens no longer cherish such freedom because of their blatant disrespect for truthful reporting. “When the media reveals internal deliberations of our government, it truly puts the lives of many at risk! Very unpatriotic! Freedom of the press also comes with a responsibility to report the news accurately,” wrote our president. Our Founding Fathers understood the necessity of an influential body of journalists who could confidently challenge authority and present revolutionary ideas throughout their

{

}

75% of the staff wholly agree with the editorial 25% of the staff do not agree with the editorial

OPINION 31

quest for independence. Then and now, repression of our freedoms only pushes society closer to oppression.

“When the speech condemns a free press, you are hearing the words of a tyrant.”

– Thomas Jefferson Americans have always opposed governments with little individual freedom and representation that so greatly contrast with our own principles of democracy.

These governments, such as Russia and North Korea, have varying degrees of state censorship of media. In North Korea, the state-run Korean Central News Agency controls all media outlets , which the Kim Dynasty often uses as a front for political propaganda and promotion of political leaders. Russia, a government that twists state censorship differently, silences journalists of independent sources for their exposés of government actions. Oppressive nations regulate those who stand as the catalysts of change and justice. To fall victim to state censorship is to take steps backwards in the progression of equality.

“Freedom of the press is not just important to democracy, it is democracy.”

– Walter Cronkite OUR PRESENCE OF THE PAST Combat reporters who covered the Vietnam War, a war fought from 1955 to 1975 between communist and anti-communist forces, stand as testament to the courage and commitment of journalists today. These journalists, usually disguised in military uniform, risked their lives and well-being as they ventured into the jungles of Vietnam to reveal the true horrors of the war. In unfamiliar and hostile surroundings, these men and women joined the frontlines to present Americans with an accurate report of unknown atrocities.

These journalists defied censorship efforts of the United States by capturing powerful images of the self-immolation of a Buddhist monk and of executions of Vietnamese citizens. Throughout this war, 63 American journalists perished, including Bernard Fall after stepping on a hidden land mine. Their detailed reporting transformed the opinion of the American public who found the war cruel and unjustified.

OUR TRAILBLAZERS OF TODAY Throughout the current MeToo movement, journalists listened to the pain and suffering of courageous women sexually abused by men. Founded in 2006 by Tarana Burke, the MeToo movement provided women around the globe with a safe platform to share experiences that they had kept quiet for so long. These women, scared into silence for fear of what society would say or fear they would lose their jobs, finally had an opportunity to speak out. In October of 2017, actress Ashley Judd described Harvey Weinstein’s sexual misconduct to the New York Times, and her testimony influenced other women abused by the same man to reach out to publications. Together, their commanding message accomplished something greater than each individual could have done alone.

Journalism clearly has a profound effect on American culture and society.

Therefore, the public must support our freedom of press in order that we continue to highlight courage and uncover corruption. There still remains the importance of us.

SIGNED,

32 OPINION

SCHEDULING

COMMUNITY

ETHAN MULLEN, co-editor-in-chief

It’s something that influences every hour of our day but becomes a background on which our high school experience is written—the class schedule. In our fourth year of the current eight-day rotation, it seems that everyone has an opinion. In a survey of HIES student body, 79 percent of students stated they did not want a change. However, with the current schedule, teachers have 25 percent less time than in previous iterations. Our class time is always subject to change, and though nothing has been suggested yet, we asked 6 community members to offer their reflections.

Sam Aiken, student Ethan Mullen, student

M

y freshman year was the first year with the current schedule, and I can say that having 4 classes a day has positively impacted by high school experience. In the beginning, it took time to adjust. Although teachers modified some of their curriculum, for example, cutting a book in English or consolidating quizzes and tests in math, I think we covered all the necessary content; I didn’t find myself behind in classes that built upon previous ones.

During the past three years, the class schedule has given me time to flourish: it’s convenient to have time for clubs, time to meet teachers, and time to go into depth on certain topics. Teachers can dedicate inclass time to discussions and lectures while I can take the time out of class to write essays or do problem sets. In addition, with the same beginning and end time every day, easy to remember class times, and a (mostly) alphabetical order, the block schedule makes staying organized easy.

Having four classes a day (instead of six in middle school) spreads out each class so that students only have it every other day. This allows the classes to be spread out, which reduces stress. For example, if one class is really content-heavy, I know I won’t have it every day, and if another class has a lot of homework, I know I won’t be inundated with homework every night. Though I understand the reduced class time, overall I believe the schedule contributes to a positive learning experience.

A

h, the block schedule, the most convoluted mess of entropy this school has to offer. In my opinion, having a class a mere two times out of a five-day school week is ludicrous, and moreover, I see many flaws with this schedule from both a teaching and learning perspective. As a student, the block schedule promotes and perpetuates procrastination. How many times have you gotten a homework assignment towards the last leg of class on a Monday and thought, “Legit, no homework tonight; I’ve got until Wednesday to do it”?

If you happen to be anything like me, I’d guess it’s quite frequently. However, this is the fatal flaw of the block schedule. On Tuesday of that same week, the block schedule prevents you from having the class you were assigned homework in. Now on Tuesday night, the night you planned to do Monday’s homework, you find that those freshly taught concepts have left your mind. And no, it’s not because you “zoned out at the end of class” or “just didn’t get it”, it’s because you made the conscious decision not to practice while the concepts were still in your mind. Even though that miniscule gift of reprieve is pure unadulterated bliss, I humbly believe it must be forgone because of the block schedule’s Machiavellian wiles.

And because of this iniquity, teachers are scorned with maligning remarks such as: “He/ she is such a bad teacher” or “You never taught us that” or my personal favorite “You pretty much have to teach yourself outside of class”. By having every class every day, you not only receive constant reinforcement and exposure when learning new subjects, but also have the opportunity to continue to build upon mastered concepts, all with the added bonus of a study hall or free period to knock out any assigned homework. Let’s take back our afternoons and nights, let’s use time at home to relax and study rather than stress over completing copious amounts of homework, and most importantly, let’s start by abolishing the block schedule. Now I know what you’re thinking, “Aiken, you uninspired hack, anyone can complain about school and its shortcomings; it’s easy. Are you at least going to provide an alternative?” Well of course I am you faultfinding critic, you. What kind of sporadically contributing journalist would I be if I didn’t? But sadly, dearest reader, that piece is for another time.

OPINION 33

Melody Cannon, teacher

S

ince the inception of our current schedule, the major disadvantage that has been discussed is the decrease in actual class time, which is particularly difficult for AP classes that are required to move through a given body of work. However, there are distinct advantages to the current schedule for both teacher and student. For students who carry a challenging course load and have two to three hours of practice or rehearsal after school (not counting away games and meets), the schedule ameliorates the frantic pace and enables students to prepare for fewer classes each day.

Personally, the schedule allows me to meet with colleagues, grade papers for faster feedback to students, and not miss classes due to off campus appointments.

As scheduling options are reviewed and discussed, my hope is that we can get creative and keep the advantages while eliminating the major disadvantage. For example, I would love to see the blocks extended to 90 minutes and eliminate the advisory study halls, making up for lost time and allowing in-depth exploration to happen in the classroom. This would prevent some students from having more than two study halls a day. Also, we could preserve two days out of the rotation for chapel and advisory.

When the current schedule was proposed, a selling point was that it would enable students to master the skill of time management required for collegiate success. However, we did not provide students with any training; therefore, if we keep this schedule, or one similar, I hope that for freshmen and sophomores, we provide strategies to make their academic experience successful and rewarding.

Allison Olim, parent

T

his is our second year in high school and while we only know the block schedule, it has been highly successful for my student. The later start (8:30 a.m.) along with the 3 p.m. dismissal allows time for extracurricular activities, time to do the homework and the ability to get 8-9 hours of recommended sleep for teenagers.

Planning the day as well as the week is much simpler when looking at 8 classes but only 4 classes each day to do homework, write a paper or study for a test.

For example, if you know Tuesday afternoon you will be home late, you can get the work done earlier, knowing that afternoon will be free for Thursday’s classes.

Organizing school materials is also easier and better for the back since you don’t have to jam 7-8 classes of books and notebooks in your backpack each day.

From what I understand, the actual class time has allowed for most teachers to get more in depth in their teaching as well as use different types of teaching methods during each period. Group work, labs and projects now have more classroom time to research, create and reflect in more real life learning rather than the boring traditional lecture.

While I understand there are different types of scheduling, I hope HIES continues to work with the current schedule and make minor adjustments rather than go back to the old traditional way of all 8 classes meet each day for a shorter period of time. I remember my high school schedule very well and think I would have had a better experience had I had the school schedule offered now.

Rick Martin, parent John Taylor, teacher

A

s a mathematician and scientist, I am a problem solver, so when it comes to things like the daily schedule, I find it a fascinating problem.

Through my tenure at Holy Innocents’ I have experienced two different schedules personally, so that is what I can best compare it against.

I do not see each individual class enough. In particular, I teach two of the densest AP courses and one of my goals is to help students prepare and pass the AP test so they can earn college credit. I move at a very quick pace and have to assign a lot of homework. If I had more class time, I would not add more content to the class but would be able to slow the pace slightly and give much less homework.

Additionally, I’m not a fan of 70 minute periods. It’s an odd stretch of time often for me. I would rather it be shorter (~55 minutes) or longer (~90 minutes).

In favor of the schedule, I really like study halls and think they have been very beneficial for students. I also like not seeing every class in a single day. The old schedule had days where every class met, and I taught fine on them, but my mental fatigue at the end of the day is better now. I imagine it is similar for our students.

Overall, the schedule is fine, but I do think there are modifications that can be made that could greatly benefit the students wellness and academic performance.

I

’m far from being highly organized. (Yes, we have boxes in our basement from our 2011 move back to Atlanta that have something in them. I’ll find out someday what they contain...) Organization is a learned skill, so each of us must find what works best in our life.

The current Upper School class schedule allows students to begin developing organizational skills that they will use for college and in the workplace. Attending classes every other day more closely mirrors a typical college schedule, and gives the student a chance to spread homework over a few days. In the workplace there will always be deadlines, but there is normally a time horizon for projects that’s days, if not weeks, away. I believe the student who is given the chance to plan their work pace for classes in high school is better set-up for success. The current schedule rotation allows students to develop a better plan of attack for managing their time.

Preparing for class has many pieces. Students read or study to get ready for a test, while teachers find the best way to present new topics or “flip the classroom” to allow for more hands-on time. I realize that a lot of work goes into planning for each of the 70 minutes that equals one class session - by both teacher and student. By rotating class every other day, this schedule enables both teacher and student the chance to come more prepared to each class, setting a productive stage for learning. Success in learning has more pieces than being prepared and organized but these skills, once applied, build a basis for our Upper School students to thrive.

TIME TO 34 OPINION

UNCOVER: MY BARESKIN CHALLENGE

AS SOMEONE WHO WEARS MAKEUP ON THE REGULAR, I WENT #BAREFACED FOR A WEEK AND HERE’S WHAT HAPPENED...

ISABELLE SKID, staff writer

M

akeup. Some love it, some hate it.

Some wear it everyday, while others only reserve it for special occasions.

Some simply cannot live without it.

Whether you incorporate makeup into your everyday routine or not, you have to admit that its abilities are transforming.

Within the last few years, the #BareSkinChallenge, also known as #IWokeUpLikeThis campaign, has popped up throughout the entertainment world as singer Alicia Keys and actress Mila Kunis are the faces behind this movement. The two celebrities have helped to redefine the purpose and conception of makeup, helping women of all ages feel more confident in their own skin.

I personally wear makeup on the regular because I love the artistic side of it, rather than feel the need to cover up. On the other side, pimples happen and sometimes adding some concealer can raise a girl’s self-confidence more than you could imagine, while someone else is just more comfortable being in her natural skin. Do what makes you happy, not what you feel you need to do based on the stereotypical rules of society.

Picture someone you know that always wears makeup. Have you ever even seen them without it?

I full force took on the #IWokeUpLikeThis challenge for five days and here’s what happened…

DAY 1: BARELY STARTED, YET ALMOST FAILED It’s the end of day one, and this morning I originally started going through my normal routine as if it were any given day. To be one-hundred percent truthful, I originally forgot about the challenge and added a few swipes of my go-to friend, the L’oreal’s blackest of black Voluminous Lash Paradise Mascara, to my eyelashes before heading out for a cross country meet, not remembering that I was supposed to be going makeup free until I was already in the car. The challenge barely even started and I already failed myself. Actually, I failed when I started two days later than originally planned because yearbook pictures would have fallen in the middle of it, and when it comes to yearbook pictures, I want my eyelashes to be popping! Once I got home from the meet, I took off my always dependable and trusty mascara, proceeding throughout the rest of my day without wearing any makeup. See you in five days mascara, you’ll be truly missed!

Most days, I wear a tinted moisturizer, a little bit of concealer if needed, some blush and bronzer, and mascara. I know what you’re thinking because it sounds like a lot, but honestly, I would be fine with just wearing some good ole mascara. Who can go wrong with mascara? For the rest of the day, something felt off. I was more aware and self-

conscious of the few almost invisible pimples on my face and the tiredness under my eyes. I didn’t feel like my usual-self, I didn’t feel very put together, almost as if I forgot something. Well, one day down and four more to go — ­ it can only go up from here, right?!

DAY 2: WHAT CHALLENGE? On any given Sunday, I normally just wear — oh wait, you guess this time — mascara! Sundays are typically more laid-back than Saturdays and I spend them sleeping in, catching up on school work, and spending time with friends or family.

Nothing too busy, so mascara is usually the go-to.

This Sunday was different because I am on Day 2 of going barefaced. Honestly, I didn’t even really notice that I wasn’t wearing makeup, since I spent most of the afternoon working on school work. I was slammed with school work all day since I will be missing tomorrow for Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. I didn’t give any thought about makeup or my appearance once. Well, at least I didn’t until I thought about going to Rosh Hashanah services tomorrow at my temple — that is going makeup free.

DAY 3: NOT LIKE I SAW A LOT OF PEOPLE OR ANYTHING...

Today is Rosh Hashanah, one of the most important Jewish holidays of the year. As I prepared for services

OPINION 35

DAY 5: THE FINISHLINE It’s the last day… I am almost surprised I have lasted this far successfully expect for the first day, but shhh… we’ll keep that on the down low. My skin has not looked this clear since summer, when I only wear mascara. I even wore my hair down and naturally curly, which never happens… ever. But since today was the last day of the immersion, I really wanted to just go for it and go out with a bang! Rather than concentrating on the bags under my eyes from getting little sleep the night before due to studying for two tests and not having the typical mascara “eye popping” eyelashes, I focused on taking the day head on with confidence and security.

WHAT I LEARNED...

WHO CAN GO WRONG WITH MASCARA? this morning without putting makeup on, I thought about seeing so many people later and hoping they wouldn’t think that I didn’t just not put any effort into my appearance or that I look “not put together”.

My family belongs to Temple Sinai, along with over fifteen-hundred other families, meaning I saw a LOT of people. Because I would see so many people, I went out of my way to straighten my naturally, very curly hair, so at least it would appear that I put some effort in. Later on, I came to realize that people don’t notice the huge things that you would expect them to. The concerns that may bother you don’t make an impact on the people around you, not because they don’t care, but rather because a slight superficial difference does not make an impact on the way they picture you as a whole.

DAY 4: SCHOOL DAYZZZ...

This morning, I noticed that today was the first day I

did not wear any makeup to school since the middle of seventh grade, when I, along with many other girls, first started wearing mascara. There is a hidden side to it that helps raise my self-confidence, and I’m not the only one that feels this small, yet powerful boost. In a 2008 study done by the Dove Self-Esteem Fund, it is said that “78 percent of teenage girls with naturally low-esteem, admit that it’s hard to feel confident in school when you don’t feel secure with how you look, referring to how makeup is used as a self-confidence booster”. The small blemishes that drive us daily makeup-wearers crazy, make truly no effect on the people whom we interact with on the daily. To my surprise yet again, none of my friends mentioned anything about my “all-naturale” bare face, until I told them about this immersion, and their response was that they wouldn’t have even noticed.

Hey, maybe this immersion isn’t so bad after all. Plus, getting to sleep in five minutes later each morning is a MUCH added bonus… every minute counts!

From this initially intimidating immersion, I came to the understanding of makeup’s real purpose: to beautify and enhance features we love about ourselves, while also having the ability to cover up the slight blemishes that drive us crazy. Being completely comfortable in your natural skin is extremely important because it is the true YOU. Don’t feel the need to constantly cover up each individual flaw because they are what make us genuine, real, and beautiful.

The goal is not to change your overall appearance, which society has helped enforce by putting “rules” on makeup, causing women of any age to feel more insecure than ever. The stereotypical so-called rules of society are “if you always wear it, then you are not comfortable in your own skin, however if you never wear makeup, then you don’t care about your selfimage”. These rules don’t even make sense.

On the other hand, makeup is an art that expresses yourself to the world around you. If you love experimenting with it or just wearing it in general, girl I do too! But, wear it because you want to wear it, not because you feel pressured to. Instead of using makeup as a mask to create society’s definition of beauty, embrace the natural beauty you have and use makeup as a way to “highlight” those features even more. Makeup should be a fun accessory you can put on when you feel like it—not something so baked into your everyday routine that you don’t even recognize or like yourself without it.

WORK THE MAX, EAT THE MIN: 36 OPINION

OMARI FOOTE, staff writer design, MATTHEW RAESIDE

I

t was a Tuesday, and I was walking into the HIES cafeteria. The savory smell of lunch filled my nose, evoking a feeling of excitement. Not only did this mean the day was almost over, but I finally got to eat. Quickly making my way past buzzing freshmen and anxious seniors, I began to make my plate.

I included all of the necessities and then some, finally venturing back to my seat. Students scarfed down food and enjoyed conversations while I mindlessly prepared for the feast.

Then I began to think of my grandmother. Hundreds of miles away, she lives in a city made up of hardworking people who keep companies and workplaces afloat, but aren’t paid nearly as much as they work. I remembered stories from my grandmother, of catching buses and walking miles, of trying to get affordable food in a place with limited grocery stores and resources for a healthy diet. In a place where it’s cheaper to walk to a corner store and get more for less. My grandmother had three growing children – and sacrifices were made.

“It wasn’t always the best, but we had to get something,” she told me. My uncle Omar was growing quickly, my aunt Khaliah wanted to keep up with fashion trends, and mom was thinking of prom around the corner. So, when bills were due and the fridge was empty, you fill it. Even if the health effects can be detrimental in the end.

Rather than just reminiscing on my grandmothers storytelling, I wanted to live it. After some extra motivation from watching Inequality for All, a documentary on the dangerous cycle of poverty and low wages, I decided to turn my thoughts into action. For one week, I was going to eat as healthily as I could on minimum wage.

To begin, I looked into what the government suggested a person on minimum wage should spend. Unfortunately, all I initially came up with was living wage calculators that were much higher than minimum wage. After some research, I found that there were many people who did what I was set to do, and there were budgets constructed by the federal government and National Debt Relief to guide someone who is living as I would be for the week. In the end, I decided to choose a median number based on governmental suggestions, and real stories.

From a Senator in New Jersey who lived like this for a month, to the woman who worked at McDonald’s and told her story to Forbes, I tried to collect diverse and real accounts. This left me at a whopping $60.

With $60 to spend and a week’s of groceries to purchase, I landed in a local Kroger. As I looked through the aisles I began to think with excitement, Is this much cereal really that cheap?

I looked at all of the food I’d discovered with pride. That was, until I realized all I had was sodium-filled snacks, no protein, and not even a solid thought for dinner. I also realized that stores with better produce and nutritional options are not nearly as common in low income neighborhoods. By the time someone drives out of their way to a Whole Foods or a Fresh Market, the money they may have saved and the nutrition they could have received isn’t worth it.

Overall, the experience was surreal. I had never taken the time to study prices or experience a miniature heart attack as I watched my total jump with the addition of a chicken breast. As I wrapped up my Kroger selections and stared down the suddenly intimidating conveyor belt, my anxiety reached an all time high when I realized my total was more than $60. I ran out of money, I thought to myself with embarrassment. Fortunately, that moment quickly passed after I remembered my handy Kroger Plus Card. The lifesaver brought me down to $55.64 and saved me the embarrassment of putting items away.

This trip was just the beginning to a long week, though.

WITH $6 SPEND A WEEK’S OF G TO PURCH LANDED IN KROG

On the first day, I was sure that the week would be a breeze — until I realized I made some calculation errors during my shopping trip. The first bump in the road was my lapse of judgment as to how much of each thing I really needed, not what I wanted because it was there. For example, rather than buying 50 cookies for $2,

My week of eating on minimum wage which seemed like a great deal, I should have invested in some better seasoning for my chicken. And, I just completely forgot to buy bottled water. Planning and preparation would almost become a second job, between couponing and shopping for deals.

Ultimately, the planning and preparation did not stop after shopping. I had to wake up earlier and stay up later preparing meals for the day.

I couldn’t get a Four-for-Four from Wendy’s, or splurge at a Chick-fil-a, so packing sandwiches became a must.

By the middle of the week, the french toast sticks my mother make every morning smelled better than they ever have, especially while I was eating a soggy bowl of tasteless cereal. My fruit never tasted so...canned. And the fruit next to Ms. Shunnarah’s desk never tasted so refreshing and...free. On a positive note, my greed dwindled.

$60 TO D AND A F GROCERIES RCHASE, I IN A LOCAL OGER.

Previously, whenever a teacher gave us a “break” that was a subtle reminder that it was snack time and that I just needed a snack. Now, the temptation wasn’t even there because I knew there wasn’t anything to eat, or money to use. As far as nutrition goes, I was doing well. Eating healthier meant I ate a lot less than I would if I would have just eaten the cheapest food at the store, but I still ate pretty well. Though my meals were small, they were intentionally balanced due to the “Choose My Plate” guidelines I followed.

I stuck to low fat milk and yogurt, stayed away from carbs, ate wheat bread, and made sure to at least have a fruit or vegetable with every meal.

For the first few days, I didn’t have a lot of protein, and as the days went

OPINION 37

on I could definitely feel a decrease in my energy. Throughout the week, my patience grew and I was able to hold out without food for longer periods of time.

However, I wanted to know what life was like for those who spent more than a week in, so I chose to speak with some professionals.

“It is really sad,” Donnay Abernathy, a woman who worked with Division of Family and Children Servies (DFCS) for over 30 years said. “You could be working a minimum wage job and still may not receive benefits”.

This was shocking to me, so I decided to do some more searching. I found that the Georgia poverty line was $12,140, which would mean that as a single working person, you would have to make below the federal minimum wage to receive government assistance. Even though, in Fulton and surrounding counties, the living wage is about $26,260, according to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology living wage calculator.

In short, even though to live well in this area you would need around $26,000, you will not receive government assistance until you are 53% below that. This leaves a large group of people barely scraping by, with not even a chance at getting help continuing an endless cycle. Furthermore, even though there are budgeting tips online, they often don’t include savings. So, those little bumps in the road, like car accidents and sickness, become huge roadblocks when you have just enough to get necessities.

Though I like to view myself as a socially aware, down-to-earth person, this does not and will not take away from the fact that I am privileged and that this week is just a week. I have never experienced this and likely never will, but my immersion and experience allow me to do my part in starting a conversation. In the end, it reminded me there is a mother or a father, just like my grandmother, telling their child, “There just wasn’t enough money.” No matter how hard they work, their best just isn’t enough.

Now, I am not telling you to spend a week in someone else’s shoes. Nor, am I telling you to start a hashtag on Twitter. I am telling you to look into your fridge and appreciate that it is full, to eat the food at lunch with appreciation, and to know that someone’s plate, somewhere here in America, will never look like yours.

38 PHOTO

PEOPLE OF Marta SHEA FLEMING, associate editor

In the style of Humans of New York, Associate Editor Shea Fleming set out to capture the stories of Atlanta over multiple rides of MARTA.

“I stayed in bed all day, til it was time for me to get ready and go to work. I am a customer service agent at Southwest Airlines. It’s a lot of attitude all day. I deal with different peoples attitude all day. We have to check in bags.

So, I had to check in ten bags in one time and I got to weight them, and tag all the bags, and if the bags are too heavy I have to give them back so they can remove something. I want to be a flight attendant. I’m working on getting to be a flight attendant at Delta Airline. Right now, I’m just trying to get experience with the airlines because i want to work on Delta Airlines.”

“I’m from New York, you know? I’ve just been chilling in Georgia for about a year.

Right now, we about to go downtown and just skate. I love life, I rep my state. I’m a city kid. I’m not used to the suburbs, man. I’m adjusting to it. It’s cool you know. I’m just chilling and skating though. I’ve been skating for about five years. I saw this pro skater named Neen Williams, he had this move called the Chicken Bone Nowison. He had this crazy heel flip and it was so sexy. And i was like ‘damn I’m going to start skating.’ So, he’s gonna be my favorite skater, Neen Williams.”

PHOTO 39

“Saudi Arabia did give me a lot of opportunities to travel, I would say, because the country did not have taxes so you kind of saved up a lot of money, so you could take trips. But I think the biggest thing that it gave me was that you start appreciating the freedom and the privilege you have that you take for granite because they’re so many people in the world who don’t. Like literally just your basic human right, they don’t get that. So now that I’m here, I tend to be a little more patient with things and a little more appreciative of things versus a couple of my other friends because they don’t realize watching a movie could be a privilege.”

“I really regret getting these tattoos. I’m from Atlanta, you know what I’m saying? And I got all this shit when i was young, excuse my language but i really regret getting these tattoos. I was fascinated by tattoos. Life was moving to fast at a young age. To be honest about my life, i was in a lot of trouble. I went back in fourth being in and out of jail. I’m 28 now and I’ve learned from my past. I mean i would get in trouble and like basically be in and out of jail.”

What caused you to change your life?

“I got two little girls. I got kids. Definitely my kids...Best day of my life was when i had my first little girl. She’s gonna be nine September 12. My second one will be six in May.”

“I’ve been coming to work and accomplishing everything i need to accomplish. When I clean the station it’s to help what people breathe in. I’m not just coming to work for a paycheck. It’s to help the air and clean the air and i love what i do.

What was the best moment of your life?

“The best moment was having my daughter. I have one child...Antionette. And I got six grandbabies. I know I don't look it either. Fifty four years old honey."