The InvestiGator

InvestiGatorthe

Green Valley High School 460 Arroyo Grande, Henderson, NV 89014

see pages 14-16

Gain insight to the severity of plastic waste and the toxins they produce.

Violet LaMela

After a much needed break, our staff was eager to begin gathering all the latest news and get working on our third issue of the year. The main focus of this magazine highlights microplastics and the negative impact they have had on marine life, human life and the environment. In order to write this story reporters had to do very strenuous research on an epidemic that affects each and every person on our planet, despite the fact that very few people even know what is happening. The article itself helps educate the reader on the severity of microplastics and allows students and staff alike to express their personal opinions and thoughts on the topic and the steps they will take to reduce plastic use and intake in their personal lives.

In the news section, we were sure to cover several major events around campus. From the theater program’s production of “Annie” to the numerous members of the band making it into all state and even students from the debate team winning competitions left and right.

In sports, we took time to acknowledge the final victories of winter sports as they begin to come to a close. As well as shining light onto prospective additional sports CCSD could consider adding to high schools throughout the valley.

Our feature section recognizes a particular staff member’s devotion to the school- and her signature golf cart. Along with a group of sibilings who all excell in and outside of the classroom.

Arts and entertainment was mainly directed toward the new films coming out this year- along with some that have already been released. Opinion covers some more controversial topics like determining the fine line between where an artist should be separated from their work. Lastly, students and staff debate on whether or not New Year’s resolutions should be taken seriously or if they are just something that should be worked towards year-round. With only two issues left in the year, our staff is working hard to continue making improvements. With that being said, we hope that this one is worthwhile. Happy New Year Gators.

News: Bradley Geiger

Reporters:

Joshua Berson

Ameya Naduvalath

A&E: Sports:

Brysan Wilson Harrell

Opinion: McKenzie Shelton-Lott

Co Editors-In-Chief: Violet LaMela

Liliana Burke

Advisor: Eric Johnston

Stormy Byrne

Olivia Patai

Laycie Taylor

Delia Waring

Kennedy Milton

Feature:

Elyse Gamiao

Kinsley Priebe

The InvestiGator is a student-run and operated news magazine. All opinions and views expressed within are those of the author and not of the student body or staff of Green Valley High School.

Letters to the editor or staff may be delivered to room 825 to Mr. Johnston or emailed to him at johnsem1@nv.ccsd.net

Green Valley High Scxhool 460 Arroyo Grande Henderson, NV 89014

Danneisy Ochoa, Isabella Pupo, Violet LaMela

largest number of school buses, at a total of 1,924 vehicles that transport 125,000 students daily, unveiled their first electric school bus. After receiving the maximum grant of $9.8 mil lion from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Clean School Bus Program,2 CCSD was able to purchase this bus and in an effort to reduce the amount of greenhouse gasses emitted into the environment. In the upcoming spring, it is predicted that the district will purchase 25 more electric buses that will be able to hold 72 students at a time and travel 100 miles when fully charged. It is predicted that over the lifetime of one replaced bus, nearly one ton of harmful nitrogen oxide releases will be decreased. On a daily average, $60 will be saved on the cost of diesel fuel to power buses, to fully charge one bus costs $10 a day. On a national scale, grants just like this one will help districts purchase over 2,400 new buses that will expedite the transition to cleaner, zero emission vehicles for schools.

Speech and Debate has begun their competition in the annual Lions Club completed the first round. This organization essentially ships to different students around not only the district but nationally. This competition begins locally and as students progress through, it builds up to the national level. Each year, there is a new topic that the speeches are supposed to be about. This year it is “How can the United States find unity during polarizing times?” “It is essentially different groups that are full fledged and donate money to students,” senior Brandon Anderson said. After each round, although the topic remains the same, speakers consistently revise their speeches to strengthen their chances at moving forward at the next highest level. The second round is to be held

May The Sadie’s Be With You. Dating back 85 years, the original idea for Sadie’s came from a 1950’s comic strip titled Li’l Abner. In modern day, it is known as a traditional highschool event where non-traditional gender roles are customary. Girls ask out the boy, rather than the typical vice versa. This year's Sadie’s spirit week is being held over Feb. 13 through the 17. The theme is Star Wars. For the first time in years, there will be a Sadie’s Under The Stars: Bash held on Friday the 17 from 6pm - 9pm in the cafeteria. Tickets will be sold by the banker from Feb. 7 through the 15 for $10 a piece. There will be no tickets sold at the door. The week will be kicked off with “The Force Awakens,” Pj day. Followed by “Lightsaber-stoplight day”. Students wear different colors based on their relationship status; red is taken, blue for single and purple, meaning complicated. Next is “Clone War,” where students match with another. After “Luke I Am Your Father,” dress like a dad day. On Friday, the week will end with “Somewhere Far Far Away” day, where Star Wars or Sadie’s shirts are to be worn.

Butting heads

Students debate against schools around the county

By Stormy Byrne

When it comes to school activities, one thing is for sure. The Speech and Debate class stands out. From winning fourth place in the policy debate challenge at the National Speech and Debate association in 2017 to placing second just this year at the Golden Desert Speech and Debate Leagues first tournament in the novice original oratory. It’s clear that debate never stops.

Despite how easily Debate teams appear to win tournaments, a lot of hard work and preparation goes into preparing for competition. Speech and debate writing is different from regular English classes in many ways; it requires skills that can be difficult to learn on one’s own.

“The difference in debate is that rather than having one claim

to counter, you face multiple different claims that you will have to counter,” Captain of Speech and Debate senior Brandon Anderson said. “I have to realize that they might say this and I have to counter that but that they also might say these five other things that I will have to counter as well.”

Not only must a student write well, but they also need to present their ideas convincingly in a presentation. This requires professional attire, confident body language and speech and the ability to seamlessly shift between speaking passionately about topics and remaining calm under pressure.

“We do so many different practices that it gets down to every last little detail.” Anderson said. “If you only know word for word what is written, you can’t really expand on that. So, it’s more important to be aware of your content.”

It can be difficult for students to excel in Speech and Debate classes, as they require a lot of skills. For example, being able to argue effectively and write clearly. Many opportunities arise during speech contests which allow the more talented students to shine; it takes dedication on their part to succeed. However, even those who do not possess these skill sets can still benefit from taking this class if they work hard enough.

“My experience in Speech and Debate so far has been nothing but positive. I’ve learned so much about public speaking, answering questions and just writing in general,” At-Large Representative senior Kaci Rohrer said.

While tournaments, achievements, and placements are important in speech and debate, it also improves the teamwork of those involved. Students work together in constructing their

speeches and debates.

“Our team is really supportive of each other. So, that means you have a really good support system to help you learn more about speaking publicly and to help you grow that skill,” Rohrer said.

If you are interested in honing your writing skills and developing leadership qualities, taking Speech and Debate classes is a good idea. This course offers many opportunities to participate in tournaments throughout the year. Seven tournaments have already been held this year, as well as seven more upcoming events that will provide even greater opportunity.

“We have a rich history of debate here and we are constantly putting ourselves in the position to succeed.” Anderson said. “At the end of the day, it’s about doing our best and being a team that will make others want to beat us.”

Gator Joe brews it up Club begins morning drink delivery service

By Cherie Franklin

Coffee is an essential aspect of many teachers’ lives. It provides energy for the coming day, as well as creating a routine in their hectic and, most often, very stressful environment.

This was the driving force behind Gator Joe, a service put on by the Special Programs department. First, an email is ent out who are ordering coffee for that day. After responfing with their order, teachers get coffee delivered to them by Best Buddies as frequently as once a week to every day. The service, spearheaded by teachers Judy Rossetti and Brandi McElhaney, gives students a chance to learn life skills and learn business aspects they will use later in life.

“A lot of times when they graduate, they don’t have job skills. So they graduate and then they’re just sitting at home. Mrs. Rossetti and I were thinking, “We have to give the

skills that they can take into the real world.” Even if they’re not going to work at Starbucks or Dutch Brothers. So that when they finally leave Green Valley High School they are going to do something and not just sit around,” McElhaney said.

Inside the Gator Joe program itself, its manager senior Chad Maldonado organizes tasks for students to do from delivering to making the coffee itself. Maldonado became the manager a few weeks into the service’s infancy after taking a leardership role and showing qualities that later landed him the position.

“We decided about a month into it that one of our students was doing really well. [He] was doing such a good job, and was taking a leadership role. So now, he coordinates what jobs students need to do, and sends out the email that reminds teachers to put in their order through the Google form. So he does the main part, and other students are given roles around him,”

McElhaney said.

Getting exposure to help provide a service to others is especially important for some Special Programs students who may have trouble interacting with others in an everyday setting.

“Just interacting with the kids is really great. They may be shy at first, starting their freshman year

off here at GV. If I help them, they’ll be more active and able to interact with more people rather than be quiet and stay behind closed shutters,” Maldonado said.

As the school year continues, Gator Joe hopes to continue to deliver a variety of coffees every day to teachers and staff around the GVHS campus.

Villamil

Sebastian

Sophomore Rylee Lucas delivers English teacher Michael Lamb his morning coffee.

All-State Band Students participate in extracurricular music group

By Joshua Berson

With a new semester starting, events for different ranges of groups also start up. One of these events is AllState Band. The Nevada Music Educators Association holds auditions for students across the city to be a part of this high achieving group.

The process started off with auditioning and if you got accepted, the next step was to practice at home and fine tune parts of the music in rehearsals all the way up to concert day. With rehearsals starting Feb 1, students only have a couple days with others to be prepared and ready for the performance. The preparation and effort that goes into this can be difficult and time consuming but ultimately can produce a great result.

“What you do is you get a little excerpt of a piece, and you go into a room, and someone just records you and sends it off to a higher up. You play specific scales and the chromatic scale specifically, and then you’ll play that tune; then they have you sight read,” sophomore Paige Brown said.

Once a student get accepted into all state band, they have an opportunity to work with other students from other schools. Although there is a possibility of working with classmates you already know, All-State band participants now must work some people they may have never met.

This can influence a lot of factors when it comes to making music. Within this blended group, there is a different environment, different conductor and could even produce a different mindset.

Teachers across schools have

expectations for their students, but not all teachers have the same views for the final piece of work. In a big group, bigger expectations may also come with. Especially, since an outside organization is putting all of this together.

“I think there’s a lot more expectation, so people are more inclined to try harder in it because they want to put more effort into it,” Brown said.

Molding the Future

Ceramics holds annual fundraiser

By Kristel Alfaro Borbon

The ceramics department will be having a fundraiser on Wednesday, April 26 in the cafeteria. All of the proceeds will go to Project 150 in order to help homeless teenagers in the Las Vegas area.

People will be able to come to the ice cream social, pick out a bowl and get ice cream for $10. Students in the ceramics class are currently learning how to make the bowls in order to be able to sell them to the public.

are other high schools that are going to be donating bowls, we also have partnerships with local ceramists and we’ll have a couple bowlathons.”

Before the pandemic hit the ceramics department had donated all the proceeds to Catholic charities for the homeless. However, after the pandemic they will be donating 100% of the earnings to Project 150.

With great expectation, intensive preparing is also bound to be necessary. Students only have three rehearsals all together which means practice at home must be extensive. Along with this, the All-State band season can bring a lot to someone’s plate from school work, to learning music for band at school and the music for the All-State concert.

The concert was held on Feb 3 at 10:30 a.m. Tickets costed five dollars a piece. The venue for this years event was Central Christian Church in Henderson.

“Rehearsals are cramped, I’m really productive,” senior Dorian Villa-Barrios said. “That’s what I enjoy the most about All State; we’re always practicing long bits of music rather than short bits, and it’s always like everybody’s really prepared for it.”

“We didn’t want to do empty bowls because it has a lot of history to it and it ends up being really big, so instead we’re doing an ice cream social,” ceramics teacher Melinda Stendor said. “It will still be the same thing where people come and pay $10 to pick out a hand made bowl and then they get ice cream.

The students in ceramics classes will be making bowls and local ceramists will also be donating bowls in order to contribute towards a good cause. The department has a goal of having 700 bowls for sale and earning around $5,000 total.

“We decided we wanted to change it because we wanted to get to pick what charity it goes to, but we wanted it to benefit high schoolers. So we’re going with a homeless teen foundation called Project 150,” Stendor said. “We’re hoping to make around 700 (bowls) because we have ones that we’ve made, there

Project 150 is a non profit organization that aims to help disadvantaged high school students stay in school and finish high school by providing them with free hygiene products, clothing and food.

“In previous years Green Valley has hosted the empty bowls benefit which always benefited mostly catholic charities and it was for the homeless,” Stendor said.“But right after the pandemic hit the people that used to organize it ended up moving to Washington so we ended up canceling the event here. Now that we’re back to more normal we wanted to have another event like it.”

The ice cream social has been a tradition for several years. After a long awaited comeback, the ceramics department hopes for a good turn out and outcome.

“Green Valley has a big history of this so I think we’ll get a good turn out so if we do 700 bowls I’m hoping we get 500 or 600 and so if it’s $10 each that will be like between $5,000 or $6,000,” Stendor said.

“

People are more inclined to try harder in it because they want to put more effort into it.

PaigeBrown, 10 ”

Annie steals the show

Theatre department debuts new musical

By Laycie Taylor

The theatre department hosted the production “Annie” the musical from Jan. 25-28.

The Broadway musical “Annie” debuted in 1977 and ran for nearly six years, inspiring numerous productions all over the world as well as national tours and winning seven Tony Awards, including the award for Best Musical production. The show has built a reputation with many different takes in show business years later.

“I was a little nervous at first because “Annie” has a reputation for being a kid’s musical. Some people were kind of put off by it, but I have grown to really love it,” senior Lily Wolfe said.

Auditions for Annie were held just before the showing of the student run “Artist Retreat” show

in mid-October. Due to overlap, some actors had to work on two shows at once for a short amount of time. The cast and crew had been completely dedicated to the show since the beginning of November, with the lead role of Annie being given to sophomore Alyssa Schwartz.

“It’s definitely really cool to be the lead. I would say it’s kind of silly because Annie is eleven years old and I’m a little older than that, but overall it’s a really fun experience,” Schwartz said.

“It’s definitely different from the other plays that I have done.”

Fine arts teacher Anthony Coffield directs “Annie” along with a student assistant director, junior Emily Ellenson. This year the department had to adapt to a different direction as Coffield took over the program in August.

The transition to a new person in charge has appeared to run

smoothly in the development of the show.

“Mr. Coffield is incredible. We have learned so much from him this year,” Wolfe said. “If you ask me he is one of the nicest teachers I have ever had.”

This year, the theater returned with its first big musical production since the COVID-19 restrictions, focusing on more dance and music than lines.

“I like how dance heavy it is and how much music is involved.” Schwartz said. “There are not a whole lot of lines, which is fine because I definitely enjoy the musical side more than just talking.”

The cast itself is small, however, the production has involved members of the dance team as well as a live orchestra and band. The musical is not just about who is on stage, it also includes behind the scenes effort and timing that

allows the whole show to flow as one piece.

The technicality of the performance goes beyond the actors playing their parts. The effort from lighting and sound continues to play a major contributing role in the complexity of the show.

“Every day after school we practice for two and a half to three hours, along with the practice I do for an additional hour or two when I get home. On Martin Luther King Jr. day that we were off, we were all here for about six hours,” Schwartz said.“It increases every day as we get closer to the performance.”

“I love being a part of theater and musicals and performances and all that,” Wolfe said. “We have been working on the play for quite a while now and we are all really excited to show off what we got.”

NEW YORK CITY - The Annie cast performs NYC during their performance on Jan. 26. Rehearsals for the musical began in Oct. and the show was performed a total of five times.

Isabella Pupo

Fine Arts Week

CLEAR PIPES - Junior Andree Gomez empties the spit valve on his trombone in perparation for Jazz Band’s performance. The band performed on Jan. 27.

TUNNEL VISION - Senior Sarah Doebler focuses on the music while playing the cello. The symphony showcased popular songs from the past few years.

SPOTLIGHT - Senior Jazz Donaby plays the clarinet on the cafeteria stage. Donaby soloed in the song “Tattooed Bride” by Duke Ellington.

STRINGS - Senior Amador Guerrero follows Director Sarah Mamula’s conducting while playing the violin. The orchestra performed during both lunches on Jan. 26.

BATON - Director Sarah Mamula conducts Symphony Orchestra. The orchesta practiced during their class periods for this performance.

Elyse Gamiao

WINTER SPORTS overviews

bowling

By Ameya Naduvalath

The bowlers closed up another season of smooth matches. In the fall, about 40 athletes had shown up to try out for the men’s team, which was a great turnout. Many of those who tried out for the bowling team regularly play other sports.

“I had football players, softball players, volleyball players and a lot of other athletes. It’s a nice winter sport because if you’re not doing basketball, if you’re not doing wrestling, you are still doing

something,” head Coach Brandi McElhaney said.

A unique aspect of the bowling program compared to other school sports, is that the team did not hold official practices every day, so the only time they play was during official matches.

“You have to be somewhat self driven because we can’t have practices,” McElhaney said. “So if you want it to improve, then you had to practice on your own.”

Even still, many of the bowlers

planned unofficial practice sessions among the themselves in order to prepare for their matches. As they spent this extra time independently practicing, they were able to build not only a team relationship, but also a friendship.

“They did not ever speak negatively [about each other,]” McElhaney said. “They wanted to do well for themselves and they wanted to do well for their team. It’s a good atmosphere.”

Danneisy Ochoa

Danneisy Ochoa

Junior Eric Red

Senior Alfredo Rodriguez

men’s and women’s

The men’s and women’s basketball programs finished a season of thrilling games and lively tournaments. The major accomplishments for the men’s team this season included their third place finish in the Holiday Shootout tournament and finishing with the most wins in the last ten years.

“I most enjoyed seeing individuals with their own personal goals and aspirations, and helping them come together as a team,” head coach Ezra Irvin said. “At the end of the season, it’s always fulfilling to reflect on

the achievements, growth and development of our guys as they become better players, better teammates, better students and [as I become a] better me.”

Similarly to Irvin, women’s head coach Reynaldo White stressed the importance of team chemistry and addressed it as one of the major highlights of the season.

“We had a team that had a great attitude,” White said. “We didn’t win a lot of games this year, but we had a lot of fun and we still worked hard and got better.”

Wrestlers had a great season filled with hard work and dedication. Two seniors even collected individual state titles: Gavin Blondeaux in first place and Nathaniel Richter in third. Many of the players this year were athletes from other sports in their off-season.

“We have a couple of kids that wrestle in a club, but for the most part none of them did anything before,” head coach Michael Almodovar said.

wrestling basketball

The interesting thing is that almost anyone can try it out, as weight classes are implemented. Someone who consistently works towards their goals in a single season can improve drastically.

“The team we have now is night and day from what we saw in the beginning of the season,” Almodovar said. “Some of these kids were just barely starting off and now they’re looking like they can possibly compete in state, so [seeing that] is rewarding”

flag football

Flag football walked off the field ending another successful season filled with passion, commitment, and community. The team participated in multiple tournaments around the region and performed well.

“We started up to Mesquite for the Lady Bulldog Invitational, which is a pretty tough tournament that a lot of the playoff teams from the prior year go to,” head coach Kellen Bush said. “We won, which was really good because last year we lost that tournament and the champion-

ship.”

This was the fourth time the team had won this tournament which was incredible, as many of the players were new to the sport.

“I can’t give you an exact headcount, but more than half the kids that played have probably never played football before,” Bush said. “Get out and try things. Join clubs. Join sports teams. Join these things so you can make friends that don’t look like you but have the same interests as you.”

Isabella Pupo

Isabella Pupo

Violet LaMela

Freshman Daniel Leal

Junior Tatiana Buono

Senior Collin Cooper

Variety in sports

How adding athletic programs affects participation

By Stormy Byrne

With the shortage of student athlete participants, the lack of school spirit has started to exceptionally decrease despite high school sports being an asset to all schools. The lack of participation from students is due to the lack of options that are available. Many students want access to other, not so popular sports in their schools. This includes sports such as hockey or even gymnastics.

With the rise of hockey in the state of Nevada we see an increase in the amount of students who would either like to play or even attend these games. After the loss at the 2018 Stanley Cup Final, one thing was certain. That was that hockey had become a trademark in Las Vegas despite the loss. The Golden Knights see an average of 18 thousand people in the audience at every home game. The attendance of the Golden Knights minor league team, the Silver Knights, sprouted by 30 percent after the introduction of its new arena. By far, hockey is now the most popular sport in Las Vegas. So, why is it not offered at high schools all around? Instead, students are required to spend anlarge amount of money to participate in the sport that interests them.

“It costs $50 dollars to even try out and you have to hope you get on a team,” Junior Nick Pellegrino said. “I want to play hockey in High School, especially without having to pay thousands of dollars.”

The statistics do not lie, despite the fact that it would be surprising to learn that hockey is more popular in a desert town than more conventional sports like basketball or football. Seventy-five percent of the current student body responded positively to the poll question on whether or not our school should provide hockey. Others have mentioned that they would want to see sports like la-

crosse, rugby, and fencing added to our list of options. The issue is not lack of interest but lack of offerings.

Many students have an interest in sports that they have to play outside of their school. Sophomore Kimarra Echols is a gymnast with many accomplishments such as qualifying for nationals in 2022. However, due to the lack of a gymnastics program, she has to compete in a club team.

“Gymnastics is really expensive. Having access to that equipment at school could really help cut the cost.” Echols said.

The offering of more sports can also help to improve grades and test scores. With a sport come grade requirements that many athletes have to push themselves to meet. By offering a wider vari ety, more students would become athletes leading to a significant increase in grades.

“If we have bad grades we can’t play soccer, and I think big factor in why I my grades up.” Fresh Hailey Lobanoff said.

It would be con nient to be able to attend school that offered a wide variety of sports; yet, intro ducing a new activity into the curriculum involves a number of steps. First, they need to get the necessary funds for it; then, they need to complete the necessary paperwork and obtain authoriza tion from the school board; and so on. The process is tedious and expensive, and so many sports that would capture the attention of students cannot be offered. This is not the only reason why we have seen a drop in student participation, un derstanding the reasons why stu dents are not attending is the first step to solving this problem.

Engagement is a huge part of getting students to attend and with events such as homecom ing and senior nights do just that.

Themed nights such as ‘White lie’ or ‘Pink Out’ also help with attendance, it gives students a fun reason to attend. A student-run Instagram account known as the ‘InstigatorsGV’ put together these events through social media posts. They planned nights that encouraged students to attend sporting events and cheer on the students playing. Themed nights helped encourage attendance, the lively environment that is the student section helped as well. However, the lack of knowledge about the student section and what it offers might be a key factor in students choosing to go elsewhere on their Friday nights.

“The student section and the atmosphere is amazing, if they promoted that more I am sure

less, it is up to the students to seize the opportunity. The majority of students have maintained the reclusive personality they established during quarantine, despite the fact that the Covid guidelines that prevented students from attending these gatherings were lifted in 2020. Jasmine De Leon, a writer for 74 Million, claims that there has been around a 49 percent decline in the amount of energy that students show outside of the classroom. Students either don’t understand what all the excitement is about or they don’t have the social batteries to go.

“I think if students got out some more there would be more people going to football games,” Carter said.

Super Bowl Sunday

Students predict who will win championship game

By McKenzie Shelton-Lott

Touchdown! As football season comes to an end and the 57th Super Bowl approaches many have begun to speculate who they will see at the Super Bowl and who they believe will win. The information that is confirmed about the Super Bowl is that it will take place on February 12, 2023 in Glendale Arizona at the State Farm Stadium. Rihanna will be making her return to the stage as the halftime performer and there will be many new commercials (previews currently available on the nfl website).

While nothing is confirmed until the ball drops, the NFL season is officially down to its final four teams. The Kansas City Chiefs and the Cincinnati Bengals will play in the AFC Championship Game and the Philadelphia Eagles will play the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship Game. This match-up aligns with many people’s beliefs that the Chiefs and the Eagles will be playing against each other in the Super Bowl this year.

“I think that the Eagles and the Chiefs will be going to the Super Bowl,” senior Quamir Cordona said. “The Chiefs’ offense is unstoppable. They have [Patrick] Ma-

homes and [Travis] Kelce meaning they have one of the best duos of all time. The Eagles have a good defense and a good quarterback. They have Jalen Hurts and AJ Brown and they also have a good offensive coordinator.”

Many have even begun to speculate who they believe will win and what the score will look like by the end of the game.

“I believe it will be a high scor ing game with the Chiefs ultimately winning over the Ea gles due to their of fense,” Cordona said.

With the Bengals and 49ers also being involved this match-up, some think that the 49ers will be playing the Bengals.

“I believe the Bengals will be playing the 49ers,” sophomore Jake Kolman said. “At the start of the playoffs I created a bracket and I believed that the 49ers were going to be going against the Bills in the Super Bowl but since the

Bills just got eliminated, my beliefs have changed.”

Similarly to those making predictions on what they believe the score will be and who will win, many have also begun to make predictions about the future of the players on the teams.

“I think the 49ers are going to win. I believe that Brock Purdy has a great story and he’s going to be the next Tom Brady. He started half way into the season and he could lead his team to the Super Bowl just like Tom Brady did,” Kolman said.

With so many opinions surrounding this momentous event, many forget the “small” parts of the game that make it memorable for each individual.

“My favorite part of the game is when there is two minutes left, especially if it is a close game, and getting to see the game winning drives,” Kolman said.

Due to the politics of the game,

many also forget the fun parts of the game such as the commercials and the halftime performance. People may even use previous years’ entertainment as a way to anticipate what is to come from this years’ performing artist during the Super Bowl.

“My favorite Super Bowl performance from the past was the 2016 performance from Bruno Mars and Beyonce. I really enjoyed seeing them on the stage together,” Givens said.

This years’ performance will feature Rihanna. Many are excited to see her make her return to the stage for the first time since her last public performance at the 2018 Grammy awards. “I am honestly very excited to see what Rihanna has in store for her performance. I really enjoyed her new song and I hope that she is able to somehow incorporate that tribute to Chadwick Boseman into her performance for the Super Bowl,” Givens said.

In all, this season has been a memorable one for many. Somehow, 262 players divided into 32 teams have been narrowed down to the top two for one epic game that will ultimately be played between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles. and with that, the 2022-23 season has come to an end.

Microplastics: A Major Problem

Students fear how plastic waste will affect them

By Bradley Geiger

The biggest epidemic is one that isn’t visible to the naked eye.

It is something that the majority of people do not even know exists, despite the fact that it affects almost every person on Earth. While many people are focused on the pollution they see around them, the most dangerous is the things that people can’t. From drinking water, to fish, and even applesalmost everything around us contains something called microplastics.

With its many uses and applications, plastics are found in almost everything we own. Reusable plastics are found among a wide range of things that are a staple for many, such as clothes and tires. Single-use plastics, such as disposable water bottles and candy wrappers, provide convenience for a versatile mix of things that billions of people consume on a daily basis.

However, what some may not consider is what happens to these plastics when they are done using them. Margaret Osborne of the Smithsonian Magazine reported that every year over four hundred million tons of plastic is discarded into our landfills worldwide.

That translates into over eight hundred and eighty one billion pounds, or roughly the weight of eight Great Walls of China. With only 8.7% of plastics being recycled, the waste con-

tinues to grow at a staggering rate.

While that fact may be shocking, the real concern is what happens to these plastics when they reach the landfill. Over time, large chunks of plastic start to erode and wear away into smaller pieces. These tiny flakes are microplastics. Microplastics are classified as being five millimeters or less in size. Along with being invisible to the human eye, they can easily travel through the wind and water.

Because of this, one simple gust can blow thousands of particles into our oceans, where they accumulate in the current or on the ocean floor. From there, fish and other marine wildlife can consume and digest the microplastics, leading to tissue damage along with a slew of other negative effects.

Despite this, the damage done to our aquatic ecosystem is only a small fraction of the problem. Microplastics are notoriously difficult to clean out of the water due to their microscopic size. So difficult, in fact, that even standard water treatment facilities all over the world can’t filter them.

The result? The water that we consume on a daily basis contains microplastics. The water and feed that pigs and cows consume contain microplastics. Even fruits, such as apples and carrots now absorb microplastics from the water through their root system. They are everywhere.

With this in mind, it is no wonder that the

average human consumes and inhales up to seventy-four thousand microplastic particles per year. That averages out to about a credit card sized chunk of plastic per week. While it is true that most of this is filtered out through our natural waste systems, many still are concerned about the effects of the particles that linger within our bodies.

While research is currently being done on microplastics, it’s still a relatively new topic in the medical community. Their small size, combined with the wide range of plastics and their compositions, makes research a challenge.

On top of this, control groups are staggeringly hard to find. In evaluations, every surface seems to already be contaminated, from our food, our water, and even our bodies. Early tests, such as one taken at The Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam in The Netherlands, have shown that up to eighty percent of people have traces of microplastic in their blood.

Another recent study done by Stanford University found that some microplastic particles can cause damage to human cells in our blood, leading to risks of asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and even cancer. This stems partially from the fact that many of these particles make contact with harmful chemicals before entering our bodies, due to a deadly combination of prolonged exposure to the sun and poisonous materials in our landfills.

Many haven’t even considered the possibility that microplastics could be affecting them.

“I never even knew that microplastics existed,” sophomore Dylan Munoz said. “I always see things about recycling to protect the animals living in the ocean and stuff, but I’ve never seen anything telling us to protect each other from plastic.”

The staggering list of medical effects may get people to think twice about the risk.

“I think that getting cancer or lung issues is what really scares me. I’m not sure what we can realistically do though. Even if I change, I doubt everyone else will,” Munoz said.

He’s not alone. It’s easy to think that microplastics are inescapable. From Antarctica, to even Mount Everest, they truly are found everywhere. Our overflowing landfills can’t handle all the trash that we throw away. However, there are some things we can do to help curb the future spread of microplastics.

For starters, easy steps such as recycling and not littering can allow plastics to be reused instead of wasted. Other simple contributions include using reusable water bottles, food containers, and coffee cups instead of single use plastics.

No one person can tackle this task alone. Efforts to stop the rise of microplastics require everyone’s participation- a challenge due to the low visibility of the issue. Some feel that there isn’t enough concern for there to be a change. Many locations, including schools, parks and stores, do not even offer options for recycling.

“I don’t always see the choice to recycle when I go out. I think it’s more of a convenience thing for people- like if they see it, they’ll do it,” sophomore Riley Laentow said. “If there were more options instead of just trash cans at Green Valley, I’m sure students would recycle.”

Another major hurdle in the epidemic of microplastics is an unlikely one- the oil industry. According to the 2021 Plastic Waste Makers Index, the top twenty oil firms in the world produce 55% of our world’s plastic waste. Exx-

onmobil, topping the list, produces over 5.9 million tons of plastic waste a year.

One major reason behind this is the profit found in single use plastics, and the essential component of fossil fuels to form them. What is left behind is plastic waste that piles in landfills and fragments out into our ecosystem. With the oil and gas industry making billions a year off of plastics, it is no wonder that they show no sign of reducing their ecological footprint.

“It’s really scary,” senior Alexandra Allen-Fogle said. “It seems like all these big companies really care about is money. I worry about what we are going to do in the future when we see all the damage that they did.”

(who) said. Companies are unwilling to change when it cuts into their profits, and governments are uneasy to set regulations and restrictions without definite proof that microplastics are harmful. Scientists, such as Albert Rizzo, the chief officer of the American Lung Association, think the situation draws parallels to that of the fight to convince the U.S. government that smoking was linked to cancer.

“By the time we got enough evidence to lead to policy change, the cat was out of the bag,” Rizzo said. “I can see plastics being the same thing.”

Major changes seem slow to happen, and many are starting to fear we will soon reach a point of no return.

With this information in mind, is it time to go into a panic? Not necessarily. Dr. Maria Niera, director of the World Health Organization, found that most microplastics being ingested by humans are larger than 150 micrometers and unlikely to be absorbed in the human body. However, this doesn’t completely absolve the problem. There just simply isn’t enough testing at this moment to have a definitive answer. While it seems that most of these microplastics can safely travel through the body, tests show that there are risks related to the plastics that stay. The unknown drive scientists such as amara Galloway, an ecotoxicologist at the University of Exeter, UK, who works diligently in search of more information.

She believes that learning more about them sooner rather than later is important. If they do pose a serious risk to our health, it’s important we attempt to circumvent it. More tests must be done before the answer will be certain.

While some share the same sentiment, a lot must be done before a change will be made.

“I’d like to hope that if we all came together and took a stand against the industry, a change would happen. More people just have to understand how serious the problem is,”

Microplastics may be invisible to the naked eye, but they are all around us. Yet with so many unaware of the major risk, some feel that a change is unlikely. All over our planet, billions have unknowingly consumed plastic on a daily basis. We still don’t know how microplastics fully affect us. Is that a risk we really want to take?

“

”

I worry about what we are going to do in the future when we see all the damage that they did.

Alexandra AllenFogle, 12

On the mat Student helps family run Jiu-Jitsu studio

By Ameya Naduvalath

The roots of Jiu-Jitsu lie in Asia, where it was developed by Buddhist monks to defend themselves during their travels. Over time the practice found its way to Brazil, where it developed into the strand of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ), the most popular form of jiu-jitsu today. For instance, Senior Alexandre Cipili has been practicing BJJ throughout his childhood. “Jiu-Jitsu is completely self defense, so there is no punching or kicking, it’s mainly just takedowns and submission,” Cipili said. “It’s used for situations where somebody is coming at you, and you need to defend yourself.”

The defensive aspect of the practice is likely what earned it its name, as Jiu-Jitsu directly translates from Japanese to “gentle art.”

But even though it was created as a practice of defense, it has developed into a sport as well.

“Competitions for jujitsu are actually a mix of judo and jujitsu, because Judo is all takedown,” Cipili said. “Both [competitors] begin standing, and a judo competition starts, as each attempts to take down the other to the ground first, then it becomes a fight of jujitsu.”

Nation-wide competitions are held, and academies, established to teach the art, prepare their students to participate in them. Cipili’s family runs a business called Gracie Humaita, a series of BJJ studios across the nation.

“The guy who brought it from Brazil, to the United States, was the guy who made progress here too,” Cipili said. “He ended up teaching my uncle, which led my uncle to open up all his [studios].”

Over the years, BJJ has become a significant aspect of Cipili’s family and their identity. They currently run four Jiu-Jitsu acad-

emies in the Las Vegas Valley, and Cipili as a result has participated in BJJ throughout his childhood, even participating in competitions.

“I did it for 12 years, and then I stopped three years ago to focus more on highschool sports, but I’m gonna go back to it soon,” Cipili said. “I was on the competition team and actually won nationals twice.”

Not only does Cipili’s family run the business but they all enjoy staying active. The family’s athletic personality gave way to a natural transition to the martial art.

“My family has always been sports oriented, I can’t think of a single person in my family who doesn’t do it.” Cipili said. “All you need is arms and legs, and you can play the sport. You don’t really need any special skills to do it because everything you learn is simpler [than other sports].”

The lower skill demand allows a wider range of people to join the sport, evident from Cipili’s family. In fact, unlike many other sports, many people begin their training during adulthood rather than as a child.

“There’s people from all different ages, but I think most generally range from 20 to 30,” Cipili said.

However, since Cipili has been involved in BJJ since his childhood, it enabled him to excel in other sports. Cipili took a break from BJJ at the start of highschool, but would go on to join many other sports in school.

“I’ve [participated in] almost every sport,” Cipili said. “I’ve been on a swim team, football team, wrestling team, track, cross country, Jiu-Jitsu, bowling even.”

For many students, joining one new sport is intimidating. By the sound of it, Cipili has played every sport in the book. However, Cipili also employs a different mindset

than most others when trying something new.

thinking that I want to be better than other people doing it. I know it’s a cocky thing to say, but that’s my goal for a little bit,” Cipili said. “If I like it and I’m actually serious about it, then I start doing it more for myself.”

has developed has allowed him to excel in multiple sports, in fact Cipili plans to con tinue with soccer and track into college, along with Jiu-Jitsu.

Cipili’s BJJ involve ment has grown to become a signifi cant piece of his identity.

me to be more connected to my fami ly and it’s a great way to stay in shape, but it’s also a passion that you fulfill,” Cipili said. “It’s like playing any other sport: if you love to do it, why stop playing?”

Violet Lamela

Staff member competes at the highest level

By Kinsley Priebe

It is not everyday that someone casually mentions they have competed in the Olympics. Typically, when someone hears such an out of the ordinary thing, they are astounded that the person they are talking to has been a part of one of the largest, international multi-sport competitions. This was the case for administrative secretary Agnes Kolos-Furman. She began gymnastics as a small girl, following in her mothers footsteps.

Having grown up in a small town in Hungary, there was a designated school for highly skilled, young athletes where their main focus was improving their performance. These students studied all that was required for them to graduate and did not have to take any extra, elective style classes.

“It was tough because basically you do not have any youth life, so we were able to go in the morning at around 6:30 or 7 o’clock to the gym, start practicing and then we had to go to school,” Kolos-Furman said.“Then after school, we went back to the gym again.”

Instead of doing leisurely activities on weekends and holiday breaks like a typical high school student, the gymnasts of this group had regular competitive events and camps. When it came time to begin training to months.

village” where these gymnasts would stay to gether and their sole focus was practicing and perfecting their skill for competition.

you,” Kolos-Furman said. “Our special village was far from Budapest which is our capital

and another 60 kilometers from home. That was nothing but we stayed there and we just trained. Parents were able to visit us on the weekend and they were tutoring us.”

Competing in the Olympics is a large feat in itself. It was especially difficult the summer of 1984 when the games were to be held in Los Angeles. Due to recurring political differences, Russia and allied countries retaliated against America’s boycott of the 1980 games in Moscow.

“Hungary had to boycott it because Russia boycotted. So we were not allowed to come to Los Angeles. But as I mentioned, I was the second one on the team towards getting ready to come to Los Angeles,” Kolos-Furman said.

The team had prepared as they would, with full intention of competing together until plans changed for many countries.

“We had all these outfits, for when they were doing the opening ceremony and closing ceremony and at the last minute they said ‘oh sorry, we are not going to participate,” Kolos-Furman said. “If Russia does not go, we are supporting the political agreement.’ But I had to prove to the United States who I was and what I did. I had to submit all this information and I got my Green Card for extraordinary ability.”

Although Kolos-Furman did not medal, she was proud of her achievement.

was the best at the balance beam.”

Because of its freshness, there were still many changes to be made to the nature of the sport. Kolos-Furman and her fellow competitors were right in the middle of this as they were in the games merely six years after its introduction.

“I think my generation was between the one that is now and before us. Before us were like older ladies around 16, 18, 20 and they were ladies already and it was not this hard,” Kolos-Furman said. “My generation was the one who separated uneven bars and started to do all of these men’s types of routines. Whenever you see double backs or triples or stuff like that, it started with us.”

Gymnastics is not only a physically taxing sport but it also can take a large toll on an athlete’s mental health, especially at such an elite level.

“Honestly, back in the days I had to go through in my mind and see others on the TV,” Kolos-Furman said. “When they were doing that [gymnastics routine] that is why I kept doing it too.”

Typically in most of everyone’s life, there comes a point when they have to stop doing something they have pursued for a long period of time and move on. After she competed in the games and was ranked 2nd overall for the Hungarian team, this was true of Ko -

instead of furthering.”

After attempting to pursue a law degree and becoming an elementary gymnastics coach, Kolos-Furman signed a 3 year contract to be an acrobatic performer in the Bahamas. Her background in gymnastics provided her with a solid foundation for what was to come in her career. She performed in Nassau Paradise Island, at a casino and hotel company called Resorts International. Following that,

she became a headliner for the Harris hotel industry.

“It paid off. But it was like you were able to travel and actually see the world because when we went to competitions or other countries, you were in and out and did not even see anything,” Kolos-Furman said. “This time you actually live there and enjoyed it. You get to see the feedback from the audience and they wait for you and they want your autograph

and they recognize you in the small islands.”

After years of gymnastics, it came time for Kolos-Furman to close this chapter of her life and begin anew.

“You burn out very quickly and it is a great thing. It is awesome but you pay a good price,” Kolos-Furman said. “When those people are standing in the middle and they start crying it is because they are exhausted. You have to be a special person. Not everybody can do that.”

The InvestiGator

Agnes Kolos-Furman

IN POSE - Agnes Kolos-Furman balances on the beam and strikes a pose. At 16 she was required to compete in all four events.

What is EHAC?

Early Heart Attack Care (or EHAC) education teaches you to recognized the early signs and symptoms of a heart attack. Why? We want you to become an active bystander so you can save a life - even if it’s yours.

• About 750,000 people in the U.S. have heart attacks each year. Of those, about 116,000 die.

• Many of these patients experienced early symptoms

Learn the EARLY SIGNS & SYMPTOMS

Someone might have one or more of these common symptoms. When they start, they can be mild or come and go. Over time, the symptoms and pain become more intense. Stay alert and always pay attention to chest pressure.

DID YOU KNOW?

Chest pressure, squeezing, aching or burning

Shortness of breath

Back pain

Most heart damage can occur within the first two hours of a heart attack. EHAC encourages you to know the subtle signs of a heart attack and act on them - BEFORE HEART DAMAGE OCCURS.

What are the RISK FACTORS?

These are the general risk factors. Discuss your risk with your doctor.

• Chest pain, pressure, burning, aching or tightness - it may come and go

• A family history of cardiovascular disease

• High blood pressure

• Overweight or obese

• Sedentary lifestyle

What is the difference? MEN vs WOMEN

Feeling of fullness Pain that travels down one or both arms

Jaw pain

Excessive fatigue or weakness

Anxiety

• Using tobacco products

• Metabolic disease, diabetes or other illnesses

• For women it can also include birth contral pills, a history of pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes or having a low birth weight baby

Some heart attack symptoms can be different between men and women. Why does it matter? Women may be less liely to seek immediate medical care which can cause more damage to the heart.

• Men normally feel pain and numbness in the left arm or side of chest, but in women, these symptoms may appear on the right side

• Women may feel completely exhausted, drained, dizzy or nauseous.

• Woman may feel uppper back pain that travels up into their jaw.

What are ATYPICAL PRESENTATIONS?

• Women may think their stomach pain is the flu, heartburn or an ulcer.

In an atypical presentation, the signs and symptoms are different. How? The patient may not complain about pain or pressure in the chest. Be alert for the following:

• A sharp or “knife-like” pain that occurs with coughing or breathing

Two steps to save a life:

• Pain that spreads above the jawbone or into the lower body.

• Difficult or labored breathing.

How to use an AED

2

Person may look like they are having a seizure, gasping for air, or may appear unconscious or nonresponsive.

STEP 1

Call Right Away

1 Push Hard & Fast in the Center of the Chest!

Get the AED. Turn on the AED by pressing the “ON” button.

STEP 2

Once the AED in on, voice prompt will direct you to place the pads on the person.

STEP 3

The device will analyze the person’s heart and determine if a shock is needed. NO human decision making is needed.

Liu Legacy Sibling trio does it all

By Laycie Taylor

The Liu siblings carry their legacy by participating in an abundance of extracurricular activities and aiming for excellence at GVHS throughout the years. The oldest, Sherry Liu, leads the example with her younger siblings Amy and Troy following in her footsteps close behind.

Junior Amy Liu already has an active schedule with her many extracurricular activities in and outside of school. She runs a nonprofit organization called “Second Touch” where the goal is to collect used soccer equipment or jerseys from teams in the valley to redistribute in areas around the world to those in need. Additionally, Amy also continues to participate in modeling, volunteer work at a local library, painting classes, computer science coding and Speech and Debate.

“I definitely don’t regret choosing Green Valley, It was between that or Clark. I feel like the student and teacher relationships here are way better than you would find at Clark or really anywhere else, the quality of teachers themselves is extremely high,” Amy said. “All of my AP and IB teachers have been amazing. They’re very knowledgeable and they love to help out, which is very valuable to me as a student.”

The youngest of the siblings, freshman Troy, continues to carry on the same path with goals similar to his older sisters.

“Even though I’m still just a freshman I’m definitely going to be going into IB, but for now I will probably just take the classes like science and math that I need and then I might go into some stuff that I find more interesting like psychology,” freshman Troy said.

So far, Troy participated in Science Olympiad and Science Bowl with even higher goals for his following high school career.

“Right now I think my brother and I are ranked top of our classes. I know he is going to get more serious extracurricular activities

as he goes on but I think we are all following in kind of similar footsteps as Sherry in terms of school and our academic schedules,” Amy said.

When Sherry attended the school, she was valedictorian and an IB student. Sherry was accepted to several Ivy League schools after graduation and is now enrolled at Harvard. Her siblings follow just behind her with similar academic achievements and interests.

“Of course, [Sherry] graduated as valedictorian and went to Harvard which is kind of high standards to meet but she has really put in her time here at Green Valley,” Amy said.“She comes back every year to say hi to teachers and she still has a bunch of high school friends that she keeps in touch with. I know she really liked Green Valley as well.”

The Liu siblings have healthy connections with each other, and they are often inspired by each other’s goals. Although, they each try to have their own personal identity to keep them different from their siblings.

“I would say I look up to my older sister. “Personally, I do want to achieve some of the same levels of academic success that my sister has but that’s my own personal goal. It’s not something that my parents pushed on me or designed for me,” Amy said.

According to theories of social learning, humans are more likely to model our behavior after someone who they perceive to be powerful, kind, and caring. Any one of these three characteristics is an indication that a sibling, particularly an older sibling, will most certainly have some level of influence.

“I feel like there’s not a lot of pressure for us to compete with each other, there’s just pressure for us to do well,” Amy said.

It has been demonstrated numerous times that parental involvement in a child’s educational process is consistently connected with an improvement in that child’s academic performance. There is an increasing

body of research pointing to the significance that genes play in the link between the educational attainment of children and that of their parents.

“My parents expect me to get into a top twenty school at least, but more specifically they would like me to get into the biggest schools like Harvard, Princeton, and Yale so as long as we’re doing something to get us there then we’re fine,” Amy said. “They don’t really push a competitive dynamic between us because I feel like that kind of harms a lot of sibling relationships.”

Recently, researchers have found evidence to suggest that older siblings may have an influence on the scholastic attainment of younger siblings. In other

words, having siblings increases educational attainment on top of the genetic relationship you would expect to see between members of the same family. This is something that you would expect to find between members of the same family. It’s possible that this is due to the imitation effect, in which younger children try to model their behavior after that of their older siblings.

“I wouldn’t say it’s competitive, but my parents definitely want us to do as well as Sherry. Things like getting into a good college and participating in similar things but I wouldn’t say it’s that competitive,” Troy said. “I don’t really feel the need to be better than them but I feel like I should at least be on par with them.”

courtesy of Amy Liu

SMILE- The Liu siblings pose for family pictures while on vacation.

Gators on the Clock

Behind the scenes with Green Valley’s spirit squad

By Kennedy Milton

Green Valley’s sports teams are often the face of school spirit, but behind the scenes classes like Student Council and Gator Pride are working around the clock to put on events such as spirit weeks or First Friday. Students in these groups have to work in school and out of school on decorations that are displayed around the school.

The goal for these groups is to reach the entire student body, they spend days on meetings deciding which theme or ideas will get the most attraction.

“We vote on it as a council to best represent the student body

and what they would want and then we go into action putting it together in class, after school, or coming in on the weekends,” senior Eva Powell student body president said.

Student Council is also working towards awards throughout the year, they have many requirements they have to meet. Every year they are working towards the NASC national awards. It requires a certain amount of community service events, spirit weeks, and many other requirements.

“We have three different awards that we work for. One is Southern Nevada, one is the State of Nevada, and one is through the National Association of Student take a few weeks to plan,” Powell said.

Council,” advisor Amanda Ruth said.

Although putting on events takes lots of work, they still have many opportunities to have fun. They partake in many team bonding activities as well as interactive leadership lessons that incorporate games. They also enjoy the class when they get to work at events such as riding on homecoming floats or working the car washes.

“I would say our class is fifty-fifty work fun because we have a lot of fun while getting work done with our friends but also while working First Fridays,” senior Sage Reed gator pride president said.

Preparing for events can take many days, sometimes even weeks or months. The time to put everything together varies on what the event is. They start planning each event with a meeting. The groups will brainstorm ideas and then vote on which theme will appeal to the student body the most. They then split into teams and divide the work up.

“Homecoming, we work on that over the summer and the first few months of school. It takes a lot of planning because there are multiple aspects, but events like the school blood drive only

Each person plays a role to have a successful event. No matter what their position is they have to contribute somehow. Some people may cut paper, some may paint, and others will trace. There is also the banking aspect of paying for supplies or getting tickets.

“We have got Zone coming up, which is a conference so it takes a little more time because you’re doing registrations , payments, and planning for that and then we also have a state meeting in a few months as well,” Ruth said.

A few students from the Green Valley Student Council were chosen to attend the zone conference. They met with councils across the school district to discuss new ideas for the school and council. At the event Green Valley’s Student Council was also awarded the Southern Star.

Although the Student Council and Gator Pride’s main goals are to bring spirit to the student body, they have many other jobs they are working on simultaneously. Every member puts their time in for an event that really stands out and is enjoyable.

“There are a lot of things going on that aren’t necessarily visible to the school,” Ruth said.

Kennedy Milton

BRUSH IN HAND - Junior Kaylee Montalvo and senior Sandy Leon paint Sadie’s decorations on Jan. 23. This years theme is Starwars.

Cruising

since ‘91

By Olivia Patai

Miss Phyllis Lackie, mainly referred to as “Miss Phyllis”, is widely known among students and staff at GVHS. She rides her infamous golf cart, catching students wandering the halls and trying to ditch school. She is often found zooming through the hallways and around the school, keeping an eye out. Anyone on campus probably has a story or two about her; however, these stories are often misleading or biased. As Miss Phyllis starts her 32nd year at GVHS, the big question comes up; “Who is Miss Phyllis?”

Before entering the school district, Lackie used to work in the casino business; she was originally the Director of Security and moved her way up to Operations Manager. She worked at O’Shea’s, the Horseshoe and the Dunes. After spending many years in the business, she transferred to the school district and started working at GVHS.

“I was working at O’Shea’s, and they laid all the management team off. I started looking for jobs, and I originally applied to be a school police officer,” Lackie said. “Instead, they offered me this job, as campus security manager, and then I just stayed as a security manager.”

Lackie is one of two staff mem-

bers still working at GVHS since it first opened. The other staff member is choir teacher Kimberly Ritzer. Many students do not realize how much the school has changed over time, and how Lackie has been here to witness the change. She has seen many different principals run the school, and the school itself change over time. Lackie’s dedication to keeping the school organized and efficient has served as her motivation to stay at GVHS.

“I enjoy my job because I feel I am keeping the kids safe by keeping them on campus,” Lackie said. “They could be laying out there hurt, and nobody would know for 8 hours. I think I am doing the parents a favor by making sure their kids are here, safe, on campus.”

Lackie has a pretty time-consuming job; she gets up earlier than most staff members at GVHS and prepares for the day. She then spends the day making sure everyone is in class and no one is breaking the rules. She sometimes stays after school to help out in the Student Success office and even stays for sports or other events on campus. On top of that, Lackie sometimes has had to work another job.

“I get up really early in the morning, and I get here at 6:00 because the buses start coming in around 6:30,” Lackie said. “I get

my coffee made and get ready to come out to either hot weather or cold weather. I am out there waiting for the buses, then I start my 8-hour shift.”

Lackie still plans to work at GVHS but questions about retirement have risen.

“It’s hard to say what I would do after retirement, I’ve always been active my whole life. Even when I was younger, I’ve been working two jobs. And it’s hard to say that I’ll just now sit back and watch TV all day. But who knows, maybe I will. I might even enjoy it,” Lackie said.

Because students often sneak out during class Lackie keeps a watchful eye, catching anyone who skips. She catches around 8 students per day, with her highest count being 16. Some of the students she had previously caught are now teachers here at GVHS. Matthew Harrison, a Special Education teacher, remembers her from when he was in school.

“I think Miss Phyllis remembered me obviously from when I was in school. She would come to a lot of my baseball games. It’s just nice getting to chat with her and not get in trouble,” Harrison said.

Because of this, Miss. Phyllis and the alumni get the unique experience of working together.

“It’s nice to know that the kids I used to see at school accomplished something in their life.

I see so many kids that end up without decent educations and have to deal with it through harder living conditions,” Lackie said. “So when I see them come back here as teachers or whatever they decide to do, it makes me feel good.”

Sydney Venable, an International Baccalaureate Language, Literature and Philosophy teacher, is also an alumnus at the school.

“She was the same as she is now. Kind of beloved by all students on campus, but also equally feared. When we were sneaking out for lunch, which we only did every now and then but we did. You always had to make sure that Phyllis wasn’t there because she was going to catch you and get you in trouble with your parents,” Venable said. “I didn’t have too many run-ins with Miss Phyllis, but I just remember that we all loved her. We all thought she was great.”

Students who were caught by Lackie often have a negative story or two about her. However, these stories don’t show Lackie’s true personality and dedication to the school.

“I enjoy my job,” Lackie said. “I enjoy making sure that kids are in school, doing what they are supposed to do. Most importantly, I know that they are safe on campus.”

RIDING THROUGH SCHOOL - Miss Phyllis in her golf cart in the front of the school. She has been here since GVHS opened in 1991.

Olivia Patai

Staff member reflects on three decades on campus

Return of the Na’vi Breathtaking scenes from James Cameron are back

By Elyse Gamiao

Reading new waters, the beloved 2009 film “Avatar”, returns to the big screens. “Avatar” caught the attention of millions after showcasing advanced computer-generated imagery (CGI). Not only did the first film display impressive visual effects, but it also struck the hearts of the now long-term fans. Set on an alien planet called Pandora, the natives, or Na’vi, struggled to fight against the human colonization brought by military personnel that sought to seize the cherished resources provided by Pandora. This kind of conflict, although alien, makes a nod to human history; since many viewers are familiar with these issues, they can identify with the plot. After 13 years the highly anticipated prequel, “Avatar: The Way of Water” encounters similar conflicts with the same human trespassers.

Throughout the film, the audience dives deep into the lives of the Sully family after familiar faces return to Pandora to stir up trouble for the Na’vi. The threehour film begins with a reintroduction of the hero, Jake Sully, a conflicted US Marine played by Sam Worthington. He has remade

his life among the Na’vi with his wife Neytiri (Zoe Saldaña). The two of them are raising a group of biological and adopted children whose arguments and antics infuse the occasionally heavy, fantasy narrative with youthful vigor. As a personal fan of the “Avatar” franchise, I was eager to see what James Cameron (The movie’s producer) had in store for this film. This update on Jake and Neytiri’s life in Pandora was tastefully satisfying, to say the least.

There are two sets of brothers and sisters among the four Na’vi children. While Lo’ak (Britain Dalton), the younger brother, is a rebel and a hothead who frequently finds trouble, Neteyam (Jamie Flatters), the older son, walks obediently in Jake’s valiant shadow. Their sisters are the young Kiri, whose birth mother was the admirable human scientist Grace Augustine, and the fresh-faced Tuktirey (Trinity Jo-Li Bliss). Because of the incredible technological effects and intricately rendered digital images, Sigourney Weaver, who played Dr. Augustine in the first film, was able to play Kiri in this one; her distinguishable face digitally de-aged and hued blue.

This is an excellent illustration of the kind of CGI that Av-

atar admirers were hoping to see, especially after the first film exceeded expectations for what all movie enthusiasts should anticipate from the industry. Spider (Jack Champion), a rascally human boy left behind by Quaritch (Stephen Lang), Jake’s former Marine commander and one of the antagonists in the first “Avatar”, completes Jake and Neytiri’s household.

With a new order to colonize the planet, Coronel Quaritch and a team of fighters have undergone Na’vi transformations to complete the task. Quaritch has a lengthy personal vendetta against Jake, so “The Way of Water” is primarily about personal dramas of loyalty and betrayal rather than grand territorial ambitions. As the movie progresses, the Sullys flee their home to protect the Omiticaya clan and take refuge with the Metkayina clan. The oceanic ways of this new tribe challenge the land-bound family as they hide from the Coronel’s pursuits.

With such high expectations, it is obvious that many fans have been eager to see whether “Avatar: The Way of Water” lived up to its predecessor. However, some say that with its repetitive plot and long running time, even the inventive and innovative James

Cameron falls short of what a renowned award-winning movie should include; I would have to agree. With three hours on the clock, I was hoping to be hit with a flood of unexpected narratives and plot twists, but instead, I was met with the same breezy pushand-pull story I have seen a dozen times before. That being said, the underlying moral of the film may persuade me to overlook this storyline.

In an interview with CNN, James Cameron mentions that his purpose for the movie was to bring attention to the suffering of our natural world. He focuses on the issues of ocean pollution and the species extinction of ocean creatures. He hopes that viewers will be able to enjoy the action and emotion of the movie, but end it wanting to be less destructive and more connected to the natural world.

Although Pandora’s sea life was refreshing to see, I was hoping Cameron would intertwine new villains into his films to address this issue. However, after seeing the cliffhanger of “Avatar: The Way of the Water” and knowing the next film in the franchise is already filmed, I can say my expectations of seeing a fresh antagonist may never be satisfied.

Full of

Addam’s family takes over Netflix

By Joshua Berson

As a new series hits Netflix on November 23, it surpasses “Monster: The Dahmer Story” with more viewed hours becoming the third show to pass 1 bil lion views in its first month. This super natural horror comedy di rected by Tim Bur ton, star ring Jen na Ortega as Wednesday, gives a twist to the classic character.

ams, daughter of Morticia Addams, portrayed by Cath erine Zeta-Jones and Gomez Addams portrayed by Luis Guzmán, transfers to Nevermore Acad emy as a conse quence of expulsion her last school. She soon realizes that her psychic abilities passed down by her mother will help solve a murder mystery in the town of Jericho whether it is a human or monster killing spree. views and popularity has gotten high ratings on various websites. It has brought its audience to love the character for her creepy stare and mischievous doings as she protects her brother and tries to enjoy her free time solving the case. The scene that got released

on YouTube-- Wednesday putting piranhas in the swimming pool to hurt her brothers’ bully --shows what type of character she can be

The number of episodes seems appropriate to Netflix’s format of their original shows. The story fits well with the time frame of an hour for eight episodes. It does not rush the story, it gives time to show other characters and shows how the investigation is affecting

With the spotlight now being on Wednesday, she may not always be the favorite character.

There are other popular characters like Enid Sinclair (Wednesday’s upbeat, colorful best friend), Bianca Barclay (Nevermores’ best student and rival to Wednesday), Tyler Galpin (A “normie’’ in Jericho, the sheriff’s son and love interest to Wednesday) and of course The Thing (He is just a hand sent to spy on Wednesday, but threat from her, the sidekick for her). The Thing is hysterical even though he does not talk. He tries to help out Wednesday but messes up like everyone else. He is a

With all these other characters added to the story, one question remains, who is the killer? At the start, the audience was led to believe it was Principal Weems or Xavier Thorpe, but throughout the show; it is shown repeatedly that the killer could be a monster. It is revealed later that a creature called the Hyde Monster (a human-to-monster with bulging

eyes) is the murderer.

Prediction after prediction can be made, and at first, I did think it was Xavier. He seems nice, but it looks like there is a dark side to him. Also, with evidence framing him to be red-handed, I believed that he was killing to protect Wednesday.

As Wednesday is focused on finding out who is killing all these people and why, she also has a lover in her life. The barista at Weathervane (Jericho’s popular cafe and bakery), Tyler Galpin starts feeling more affection toward her. She tries to balance going out with Tyler and investigating. Good thing there is Thing to help out; Thing goes to Tyler saying that Wednesday wants to go to the Rave’N (a dance put on by Nevermore). However, Tyler’s friendly nature may not be what it seems.

This is where fans of the show keep recreating a scene on social media. Jenna Ortega’s most famous Wednesday dance to “Goo Goo Muck” by The Cramps. Except, influencers and fans have been doing the dance to “Bloody Mary” by Lady Gaga. Even Lady Gaga has done the dance to her own song.

How did the dance come about though? Jenna Ortega has spoken out about this in multiple interviews. The time she spent on it, how the choreography came about, and how she even had covid while filming the scene. It is amazing to see how fans are enjoying the show.

With the final episode can come sadness, but as dead people can come back to life in Nevermore, so can the show. Wednesday is back for season two, and I can not wait to see it. Hopefully, it lives up to the hype of the first season. netflix.com

Violet LaMela

By McKenzie Shelton-Lott

This year will be a cinematic year to remember. With so many new films, twists on old tales and even sequels to films dating back to 1976, this year will definitely go down in the books. Plenty of new stars will be rising to the scene and even some stars making their return to the big screen.

Out with the old, this new film puts a total twist on the classic 90’s film by the same name“House Party” (2023). This film follows two friends who decide to throw a, you guessed it, house party in a mansion belonging to Lebron James in order to raise some money. The movie shows all the wild adventures they endure and all the new people they meet along the way. Some students are excited to see this spin on an original.

“I think I am going to see “House Party” first. It looks like it is going to be really funny and I see a lot of famous people that I recognize in the movie so I think it will be cool to see some of those people act, especially Snoop Dogg and Anthony Davis,” sophomore

Demaria Green said.

Films like “House Party” open the discussion on whether or not these movies should follow the exact plot of the original or if they should stray to create their own legacy.

“I think it is okay for movies to follow their own path because sometimes when you create a remake it creates an expectation that the movie sometimes cannot live up to,” Green said.

Speaking of continuing a legacy, this installment in the 1976 “Rocky” film series will focus on a new character. While still starring Michael B. Jordan, “Creed 3” will show his character, Adonis, in a new light when his old friend, and former boxing prodigy, Damien returns from prison and old feelings begin to resurface. In the film, the two will face off in order to heal old wounds. Viewers are anticipating the match between the childhood friends.

“I am honestly the most excited to see “Creed 3” in May. I love Michael B. Jordan and I have loved all of the Creed movies so far so I am really hyped about this one,” sophomore Cherish Frazier said.

New installments in older film series may even be a reason for

many to go back and watch the original films.

“I have never seen the Rocky movies before but I do think I will watch them before seeing the new “Creed” movie because it may help me gain a better understanding of the movies,” Frazier said.

While many are finding comfort in the familiar, others are ecstatic about single standing films such as “Knock at the Cabin”. This film is about a family that is vacationing at a cabin in the woods when they are taken hostage by strangers who demand that they choose one member of their family to sacrifice in order to avert the apocalypse. The action film will test the family’s morality as well as their hope. Many are anxious to see what the family decides to do.

“I want to see “Knock at the Cabin.” I think that would be a scary decision to have to make to I am interested to see what they decide to do,” sophomore Kelly Dawson said.

Movies such as this one often leave people wondering what they would do in this situation and if others around them would do the same.

“If I were the parent I would choose to save my child and probably sacrifice myself and if I was the kid in this situation I would want to save my parents but I would hope they would want to save me as well,” Dawson said.

Many production companies are finally returning to normalcy after years of having to adhere to COVID procedures that made it difficult to film a movie such as having to wear a mask while filiming, having to be a certain amount of feet away from people.

This is not only allowing directors, producers and actors to be able to live up to their full potential and comfortably do their job, but it is also allowing viewers to be able to comfortably return to the theaters in order to view these cinematic masterpieces. There are even more films being released on streaming platforms so the audience can view them from the comfort of their own home.

While only a few were mentioned, there are many films coming to the big screen (and the living room TV) in 2023 of all genres. Whether someone enjoys action, comedy or romances there will be a movie for everyone to enjoy.

McKenzie Shelton-Lott

His ugly dark twisted reality

Ethical issues surrounding contoversial artists

By Ameya Naduvalath

Adidas had finally done it. On Monday, Oct. 4 2022, the company officially terminated its partnership with Ye, formerly known as Kanye West. After months of controversial statements via social media, the artist still believed Adidas “couldn’t drop him” no matter what he said, but after verbalizing these sentiments online, they did just that. The whole situation saddened many of Ye’s fans, because although he had spouted questionable dialogue throughout his career, it had become increasingly worse in the past year. Many of his listeners wouldn’t support him anymore.

The phenomenon of fans feeling conflicted after their favorite artist has been exposed for their abuses is not a new one: examples include R. Kelly and Micheal Jackson’s alleged crimes against children, Chris Brown’s domestic violence against women, but also the reckless party and drug filled lifestyles of the rich and famous that have existed for decades.

These negative perspectives always beg the questions of whether it’s morally right to keep supporting these artists by listening to their music and sporting their merchandise, and whether listeners will be perceived negatively by their peers for associating with these celebrities. The answer lies in individual preference of whether we need to base our music taste on our morality.

The answer varies person-to-person, but the choice is similar to that of purchasing clothes from sustainable businesses, or from fast-fashion corporations. Many people who shop from unethical corporations are aware of said unethical practices, but simply cannot afford to consistently shop ethically-sourced

products. Many of the people who preach that others should only shop sustainably are speaking from a generally more privileged standpoint.

Although the analogy isn’t exactly the same since music isn’t something people need to pay for the way they do for clothes, people who demand that entire fan bases cut ties with an artist are not taking into consideration these fans’ personal connections to the music. Often-times the individuals calling for “cancellation” of an artist were never fans of said artist’s music.

The vast majority of fans do not know the artists personally, and they have solely interacted with them through their music. Furthermore, if they have been listening to a discography for years and suddenly it comes out that the artist did something hor rendous in their personal lives, it puts the fan in a tough position. Although some fans may be com pletely put off by the artist after their negative actions have been exposed, many listeners still feel a deep connection to the music.

For example, I have been a big Travis Scott fan ever since the release of his album Astroworld. Every November since the re lease, Scott performed at his own music festival –Astroworld mu sic festival, often referred to as Astrofest– in his hometown of Houston, Texas. Astrofest 2021 was his first performance back af ter the COVID-19 pandemic. The large crowd at the concert fatally crushed eight people and injured hundreds more, due to lack of safety regulations by security and alleged negligence by Scott himself in regards to crowd control.

When this news came out I took it very personally. I had multiple people who knew me come up to me at school and ask whether

I would continue to listen to his music, and ultimately I felt embarrassed. I hadn’t done anything wrong, but my guilty conscience knew that I wouldn’t stop listening to his music even after seeing the news, going through witness accounts of Astrofest attendees, and seeing statements made by the loved ones of those who lost their lives at the festival.

Although Scott’s intentions weren’t bad, the situation gives me a common ground with the fan bases of the aforementioned artists. If someone listens to a musician, it’s not a given that they share the same opinions as the artist or support their every action. However, there is a difference between listening

should be aware that openly promoting artists may cause their peers to associate them with said artist.

It is a personal decision of course, but I have no interest in wearing any merchandise for any celebrity since the 2021 Astrofest catastrophe because I don’t want to give people a reason to make judgements on my character.

To sum it up, you do not need to base your music taste around your morality as a human being. However, it is important to be mindful that openly supporting artists involved in controversy may subject you to judgment by your peers. That being said, it is also important to keep an open mind when analyzing other peoples’ music tastes. Just because someone listens to Kanye West does not equivocally agree with his ry statements; they may just

Netflix -- Monster?

Streaming service profits at victims expense

PBy Violet LaMela ublicity. Money. Ignorance.

The three key components that drive streaming platforms to glorify murderers and serial killers alike.

When it comes to true crime, it is almost always messy- morally at least. On one hand it showcases the real stories of killers, their victims and the families of their victims. This can be argued as an educational asset used to understand the motives, actions and consequences that come along with committing a crime as serious as a murder.

However, in reality when streaming platforms create dramatizations based around the offender and not the effects of their crime, they begin to promote the glorification of the killer.

Unfortunately, the film industry as a whole is no stranger to this concept. This is repetitively demonstrated through their familiar pattern with role as-

signment. For whatever reason, directors have a tasteless habit of casting heartthrobs to fill the roles of killers. Because of this, several teens have begun romanticizing killers solefully due to the fact that their celebrity crush was reenacting the vicious acts.

So the question arises: why is something as disturbing as true crime leaving such a significant impact on our generation? The answer is simple - sensationalism. Humans are born to be curious, and they crave knowledge and understanding so much that even the most disturbing things can be found fascinating.

The use of true crime stories allows for a form of entertainment that does not leave producers worried about whether or not people will want to watch it - they will.

One way the film industry continues to propagate true crime is through shows like the new Netflix limited series Dahmer--Monster, which is a prime example of what producers should not do

when it comes to taking the victims into account. With a mixed reaction from everyone of various ages, the show was immediately a hit. As a matter of fact, within the first two weeks of its release the series has engrossed over 300 million hours in watch time. Earning its place as number 1 most streamed on Netflix, surpassing Stranger Things 4. While it can be easy to get swept up in the intrigue and mystery of these cases, viewers must not forget the real people and families affected by them. As viewers and creators of true crime content, it is a responsibility to approach these stories with sensitivity and empathy, and to honor the experiences and perspectives of those involved.

In a recent essay for Insider, Rita Isbell, whose brother, Errol Lindsey, was one of Dahmer’s victims, recounted the emotional experience of watching a portrayal of her brother’s experience with Jeffrey Dahmer in the Netflix series “Dahmer--Monster.”

“It brought back all the emotions I was feeling back then,” Isbell wrote. “I was never contacted about the show. I feel like Netflix should’ve asked if we mind or how we felt about making it. They didn’t ask me anything. They just did it.” Lindsey said.

Isabell is not alone. There are several others who have been traumatized time and time again with each new dramatization of crimes against their family members or even themselves. There is no excuse for the lack of empathy displayed by netflix to these people and their families.

In conclusion, while true crime can be an important educational tool, it is crucial that streaming platforms and producers consider the impact on victims and their families before creating dramatizations. Sensationalism should not be the driving force behind these shows and a balance must be struck between providing educational value and respecting the privacy and dignity of those involved.

Violet LaMela

From the bottom It is the thought that counts

By Delia Waring

of my heart

It is nearing the end of January, and that means Valentine’s Day is right around the corner. When discussing Valentine’s Day, the image of hearts, gifts and the color red come to mind. People often get so wrapped up in trying to get their significant other the perfect gift and making the day special for the one that they love, that they forget the true meaning of the day. Should people really use monetary value to measure the depth of someone’s love for them?

While the holiday’s origins are widely unknown, many believe the holiday stemmed from a Christian feast by the same name or the Romans whose culture has played a large part in the way Valentine’s day is celebrated today. Cupid, who many may know as the face of Valentine’s Day, originated from Roman mythology as the son of Venus who is the goddess of love. Although not originally associated with Valentine’s

Day, the heart shape also came from the time of the Romans as it is the shape of a now extinct plant that the Romans used in love potions.

While many give thanks to the Romans for Valentine’s Day, others believe that Valentine’s Day was a government made holiday due to the sales made during this time. Statistics show that in 2022, approximately 24 billion dollars was spent in the US for Valentine’s Day. According to Hallmark, 145 million cards are exchanged each year on Valentine’s Day, not including cards given during classroom exchanges or grams sold at schools.

During this time, many can also expect to see films and television shows depicting society’s ideas of what romance is. In the media there are representations of people going on game shows, turning into animals, starting surf and turf wars, buying crazy and extravagant gifts and so much more all for the sake of love, but more often than not this is not a reality. The media’s portrayal of these unrealistic views of what

love should look like often skews the view of the reality of love.

For many, love is not just a gift or a trip, it can be washing your laundry if you do not have time or making you a playlist of your favorite songs. How one expresses their love comfortably is called a love language. The five main love languages are physical touch, quality time, words of affirmation, acts of service and gift giving. Most people have two to three main love languages that they are able to express. Gift giving/receiving is the least common love language to have while quality time is the most common amongst both men and women.

The immense amount of pressure put on the holiday makes many wonder why it is so significant to romantic relationships specifically and what significance it can hold in other relationships. While the specific reasoning for why Valentine’s Day is the day representing love is unknown, the day is commercialized and promoted in a way that is catered specifically to romantic relationships, and a large emphasis on

getting the perfect gift your significant other which most likely played a large role in why so many couples put pressure on eachother (or themselves) to make it the perfect day for one another.

In many platonic and familial relationships there are gift exchanges, playing games with one another full day plans and “Gal-entines” days where the pair will go out and have fun together. Some may even decide to spend the day alone practicing self care by watching their favorite movie, eating their favorite foods and overall just enjoying themselves. Many simply view this day as a day of love and honoring the ones you love, not just romantic partners.

Although Valentine’s Day is meant to be seen as a day of love, many confuse it for a day of materialistic gain. It is a day meant to be shared doing things you enjoy while enjoying heart shaped foods and watching romance movies and enjoying your loved ones rather than just gifts wrapped in a pretty box.

McKenzie Shelton-Lott

& McKenzie Shelton-Lott

Breaking a sweat

Experiment with new forms of excercise

By Kennedy Milton

Movement exercise practices have been shown to have numerous benefits for both the physically and mentally. Regular physical activity and movement can improve overall health, reduce the risk of chronic diseases and improve mental well-being.

Exercise is essential for maintaining physical health. Regular physical activity can help to improve cardiovascular health, build muscle and bone strength and promote weight management. It can also help to improve overall fitness and reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes and heart disease. Exercise has been linked to improved mood and reduced symptoms of anxiety and depression.

Dance is growing very popular among many audiences, young and old. It is a form of exercise that allows people to express themselves. It can act as an escape

mechanism allowing you to get lost in the music. There are many different styles to indulge in. A few include ballet, contemporary, jazz, hip hop and tap.

“Dance has really allowed me an escape from school and let me forget about all my worries and stress in the world and I can just have fun and get a nice workout instead of only focusing on the bad, plus it gives me something to look forward to,” senior Alex Golda said.

There are many options of movement exercises excluding dance. Yoga, Zumba, Pilates, Jazzercise or Barre. Although all have similar qualities they each have unique features. Yoga for example focuses on balance, flexibility and mind-body connection with meditation.

Yoga has been found to improve flexibility, balance and strength. It also improves respiratory, cardiovascular and immune systems. Exercise and mental health work together. Yoga has

been found to be a powerful tool for mindfulness and self-awareness, which can help to promote feelings of calm and inner peace.

Awareness of mental health has grown tremendously in the past few years. It has been found that having good physical health can improve your mental health. It can be a stress and anxiety reliever. People have their own ways of dealing with mental health but if a bit of physical movement may help prevent mental illnesses, there seems to be no harm in trying something new.

“I think exercise is something that is beneficial to everybody because if you’ve ever seen Legally Blonde, she says exercise brings you endorphins and endorphins make you happy,” dance teacher Alexandra Harrison said. “So I think even for my first classes, even though it’s super early they know that by coming in and stretching and getting their bodies moving get them ready for the day and make them feel so much

better.”

Movement exercise has many benefit factors. Not only does it improve your well being overall but it can open up new opportunities. Joining classes or groups allows you to meet new people with the same interests. Being able to connect with one another can bring people joy and bring them together.

Some may argue that dance or other types of movement exercise may be draining or leave you exhausted. However when participating in physical activities it is important to listen to your body and mind. You should never push yourself too much, it could lead to injury or burn out.

Movement exercise is a new way to stay fit and is highly beneficial to anyone and everyone who takes the time to try it. There are many ways to participate so people can find the one that fits best for them. Excercise is very flexible, so do not knock it before you try it.

Kennedy Milton

Is there a perfect

A new year means new beginning

By Brysan Wilson

ANew Year’s resolution is like hitting a reset button for past mistakes. This process is important because it offers people a

to improve the quality of their life. When we set a New Year’s resolution we are instinctively acting upon self care, which means that a person is taking action to preserve or improve one’s mental health. Anyone has the opportunity to have a new year’s

likely to succeed in that goal after six months than those who did not make a resolution but were interested in changing a problem later.”

“As a student I try my best to have a resolution every year because I know that reflecting on what I did the past year will help me know what I need to improve on since most of the time I use my free time for something else,” junior Jacob Villablanca said.

Most students in high school go to class from 8 am to 3 pm. They also have sports practice or other activities after school, on top of that have homework. In addition the American Academy of Sleep Medicine states that teenagers 13-18 years old should have at least 8-10 hours of sleep per 24 hours to fully function. Therefore making it hard for students to fully be able to reflect and make goals within the year, with little to no free time to spare.

This being the case, waiting for the new year gives teenagers the oppurtunity to take a moment and reflect on past decisions and make new ones for the new year.

A tradition dating back to the seventh century A.D in china. Bringing in the new year means a lot more than setting goals for yourself. As an athlete myself I struggled a lot with school and cheer but what kept me going was knowing that as soon as January 1 hit I could be a different person and make better decisions for my well being when it comes to my mental health and physical as well. The new year brings you luck and prosperity for the upcoming months. It’s like a sign of hope when your year didn’t go the best.

When the clock strikes 12, making a goal or wish brings people all the luck and hope of a better year. That is why making a new year’s resolution is so important.

Some people argue that a New year’s resolution is ineffective when you can just make a goal or resolution at any given time.

In Goalscalling.com it provides evidence claiming, “Only 20% of people set goals for themselves throughout the year.” Considering that no one is delaying anyone from achieving a goal in the middle of the year it could quite possibly be that middle of the year goals are set due to feeling in the moment and often not possible.

A new year’s resolution is not just about the goal. It is about

Year’s resolution were 44% more

Fireworks are set off at midnight to begin the new year and scare off bad luck, a sign of a fresh start. So any bad spirit in the past year will stay in the past year.

hope that you are doing everything in your power to help yourself be the best version of you. A New Year’s resolution gets rid of the feeling that you are forever helpless, and overall improves the quality of your life. People may even set a goal for the new year and not accomplish it but even setting a goal is a step further than you were in past years. It doesnt hurt anybody to manifest a good year with a good attitude.

“I believe that the making a new years resolution is a great solution for the many road blocks in one’s life,” senior Bryce Pugh said.

Elena Ramos

Start working towards your goals and aspirations.

Bryce Pugh,12

Do not wait for the right time, create it time for change?

By Oliva Patai

New years resolutions have been a tradition since the Babylonians, continuing to be cultivated today. Although it is seen as a step towards a positive year, in reality, these resolutions are detrimental to mental health and set people up for failure. Instead of waiting until the end of the year to set a big goal that will most likely not be achieved, people should start setting smaller goals and benchmarks that lead to their main goal.

Around New Year’s time, sayings like “New Year, New Me” come along, inspiring people to take on their goals. The idea of this saying is to improve on yourself from last year and take the time to self-reflect. While this is a great way to set personal goals, too many people set the bar higher for themselves, making their goals unrealistic and hard to achieve. According to UAB News; “10 Secrets of People Who Keep Their New Year’s Resolutions,” less than 8% of people who set New Year’s Resolutions actually follow through with them. This shows how quickly people lose interest in their goals, all because they had high expectations for themselves starting the year.

Another problem with New Year’s resolutions is how easily they affect our self-esteem. Studies have shown that when a resolution is not achieved, it increases the person’s stress and sadness. These resolutions damage self-image as well, especially if the goal is focusing on major flaws. Because so many people set unrealistic goals, these feelings of low self worth are amplified. It’s all just a snowball effect, each problem associated with resolutions getting worse and worse.

A New Year’s resolution in itself is unrealistic; Many argue that resolutions provide a chance for a

fresh start; a chance to start the year with a clean slate. However, it takes time to be able to start working on goals and to change overall as a person. Someone cannot just abruptly change their ideals and habits once the clock strikes midnight. Goals and resolutions should take time, and they can be

of this. In the article “The Science of Why New Year’s Resolutions Don’t Work”, written by Susan Weinschenk, Ph.D, on Psychology Today, explains that one of the main behaviors influencing New Year’s resolutions and their success rates are habits.

Taking a little time out of your

Years resolutions is by following a set of steps; start by first choosing a goal that you are confident you will accomplish, and something that you are interested in. It is important to have a goal you are interested in, otherwise it will be harder to achieve it.

Next, your goal has to have a timeline; planning it all out reduces the stress from your goal and allows for flexibility. Flexibility is also a major part of goal setting. You have to achieve goals at your own pace so it is important to allow yourself to have room to grow. Having flexibility towards your goal decreases stress and allows you to plan ahead if you may not have time to work on it every day. This ties into monitoring your process, the next step to reaching your goals.

It is important to focus more on how much you have accomplished or improved in, instead of worrying about how much is left that still needs to be done. This process also allows you to give yourself awards during your journey to accomplishment. It’s important to give yourself a break and celebrate your accomplishments so far. Rewards increase self-esteem and encourage you to keep going towards your goals.

started at any time, not just at the beginning of the year.

While it is good to set goals, there are better ways to do so than through resolutions. There is a whole goal-making process, starting off by taking smaller goals to reach the main, larger goal. Habits are a good example

day to practice habits is a good way to start achieving your goals. Once you are acclimated to performing these habits everyday, you can move on to more habits related to your goal and reach it that way.

Another way to achieve your goals other than through New

This goal setting process is a better method to achieving goals, rather than New Year’s resolutions. New Year’s resolutions are shown to have worse results than following a step-by-step goal process. It is also important to keep your mental health in mind, and do not exceed your limits.

Elyse Gamiao

Ages of TikTok

Should popular social media platform be used by adults

By Lily Burke

Every source of social media has one purpose. That is to entertain but in different ways. Twitter and Facebook have been stereotyped as platforms for older generations, reserving Snapchat, Instagram and others for the younger audiences. However, formerly known as Musical.ly, TikTok is one in particular that has received a lot of attention for the large age span of users.

Many people think that TikTok is too young for parents or older people to use. This is partially due to the fact that Musical.ly rang in a younger crowd with its dancing, lip-syncing music videos posted by users. On the flip side, others enjoy hearing and seeing the older generations participate in these activities that they also enjoy.

The thing is, social media has changed greatly. It is no longer just entertainment for certain demographics of people but instead can include ads for major companies, promotions of peoples business, life events and so much more along with the entertainment. With this development, TikTok should not be limited to anyone under the age of 18.

For a content site that pulls 689 million active users monthly, there is bound to be a wide variety of all types of people. While a majority of the users are still younger, 21% of TikTok users are 40 and up. TikTok is aging up a little more as it includes content for many different types of users or creators.

Social media has been changing and continues to change as time goes on, leaving more room for the demographics of users to change with it. For example, many people on TikTok post videos that show home renovation, cooking, life hacks and fitness. This type of content should not be limited to younger crowds, especially since many adults do these activities or might wish to.

However, this does not necessarily mean that the adults will not enjoy the plethora of entertainment videos

on the platform as well. Similar to Vine, AFV and other entertainment platforms, TikTok contains content made to amuse and entertain viewers. Most people, if not everyone, loves to laugh and be entertained whether it is from someone slipping on ice to someone pulling a harmless prank.

While there are differences between users, this only strengthens the argument that there should not only be a specific age group not shamed for using TikTok. If more people use this app that spans across so much of the world and so many different ages, then there is a greater chance to connect with other lifestyles one may have never seen or thought of before.

It allows people of all types to share their experiences, knowledge and interests with people who may be more similar than at first glance. In turn, there can be a greater understanding between the age groups that bridges the gap between all that makes us different.

Ever since social media was first created, it is well known that it has enlightened so many people to what the other side of the world is going through. The same can be said with age. The more widespread the age range is, the more of a community a viewer can see, from possibly someone on a different continent to maybe even someone who is a five minute drive away.

Some people may still argue that the content will not appeal to the older audience. However, this is not the case because of the For You option TikTok has. This allows the viewers to get shown content that is similar to what they have liked in the past. This makes it to where content can be different for anyone and is based on your interests, making the app enjoyable for virtually anyone.

Another thing is that restricting TikTok and saying that adults should not use it is like saying they should not use Youtube either. After all, both provide videos whether short or long created by users for their audience. Both of these platforms also suggest videos similar to what was watched and searched for in the past.

The only noticeable difference between these two is that TikTok is more comprehensive and easier for anyone to make content and share it with others. Therefore, people with less social media experience, including older generations, can more easily enjoy the social media app and all it has to offer.

Furthermore, something that needs to be considered is that unless everyone who had this app throughout their teenage years suddenly deletes the app once they turn 18, 25 or 30, the age group will get older as TikTok develops. This means that eventually we will be the older generation on TikTok- so who are we to say that the adults now should not have that opportunity.

In addition to this, there is a more specific group of adults that would benefit from using TikTok. This group would be parents. Parental usage of this app would not necessarily

only bridge the gap and help a parent understand their child more and vice versa, it would also help the parents be aware of what is influencing their child. Some parents let their children get social media and technology at a younger age but still wish to limit some of what is entering their brains.

If parents were to use and watch TikTok as well, they could better see what is going on, monitor and understand what their children are viewing and taking in. It can help them control their influences and better understand their child’s thought process. This moderation could also prove better than restricting the app all together because of uncertainty of content.

As social media changes, demographics will change and so will the content. There is such a wide range of content posted on TikTok especially that there is really no need to restrict viewing to any one age group.

Lily Burke

The Synthetic Truth

By The Investigator Staff

ust flush it down the drain, it should be fineIt will get filtered out anyways. However, a quick glance at any research will show that this is not necessarily the case. Microplastics are small particles of material that cause a huge issue. A microplastic is defined as any particle of plastic or fiber that spans less than five millimeters in diameter. To put into perspective, that is approximately .2 inches. This is a danger that becomes evident as these tiny particles flow into our oceans, plant and/or animal life and consequently, us.

The exact source of microplastics is an even scarier truth. Microplastics can originate from just about anything. The seven

contain up to 90% of plastic particles. This includes facial cleansers/ products, beauty products and even toothpaste which get flushed down the drain into our waterways. As the US is one of the many major countries of this consumption, approximately $49.2 billion is generated by cosmetics sales in the United States each year.

Scarily, that is from cosmetic products alone. Another major source is synthetic material. Roughly 9,000,000 pieces of microfibres are released in a single load of laundry containing synthetic material such as polyester, nylon or fleece. All of these materials make up a good portion of the clothes everyone wears on a daily basis. Along with this, particles of paint account for more than half (58%) of all the microplastics that end up in the world’s oceans and waterways every year, according to a new study.

What are you most excited for in the New Year?

Grade 9

“I can’t wait to visit my grandparents because I really like them.”

major sources are tires, synthetic textiles, marine coatings, road markings, personal care products, plastic pellets and city dust. However, it is not limited to this listthink of something you use everyday and there will most likely be microplastics coming from it.

A well known fact is that matter can never fully disappear; therefore, plastic can not either. Instead, it erodes away from natural elements such as wind, sunlight and waves until it is nearly an undetectable danger. Now some people may deny any part in the consumption of microplastics and the waste of them likewise but the truth is that essentially every human is capable of contributing to this widespread issue. Cosmetic products can

So in light of the terrifying truth of how easily and unhindered these particles can pass through the “filters” meant to keep our waterways clean, comes to the topic of a solution. This is not something that can be a simple fix especially since it is so widespread and nearly unavoidable to live life without all the products that contain this. Microplastics affect each and everyone of us, making it equally important that everyone tries to reduce this issue.

If one were to decide to make a change, all it may take is reading an ingredients list or checking for a plastic-free label. It can be as simple as volunteering once in a while to help clean up some of our environment. It would be extremely difficult to cut out plastic products because of how they are in nearly everything; However, if one chooses to try and save the ecosystem, volunteering to clean up plastic waste is one great and simple way to make a difference. While there is not some big shiny solution to solve the problem of this pollution, there are still manageable ways to help reverse some of this extensive damage.

Grade 10

most looking forward to jazz festival because it’s really fun.”

Grade 11

“I am most excited to finish my CTE Course. During the summer I will apply to a theater event, I am hoping to show off my new

Grade 12

“I’m excited to graduate high school and begin a new chapter of my life. I’m looking forward to attending college and seeing what opportunities come my way.”

Microplastics can get through filters unhindered due to the miniscule size of them.

Isabella Pupo

“I’m

Bruce Truelove

ON THE MAT

Junior Chasen Stephen pins his opponet at a dual meet. The event took place vs. Las Vegas High School on Jan. 25. DANNEISY OCHOA | PHOTO