December 2018 Leaf by The Leaf

THE LEAF Sycamore High School News Magazine Volume 6 | Issue 4 | December 13, 2018

CHEATING pg. 7

How not to study

pg. 22

Soles of Sycamore

pg. 23

Q & A with Varsity Boys Basketball players

CONTENTS

EDITOR IN CHIEF VIDEO Allyson Bonhaus Lydia Masset ART & PHOTO MANAGING ASSOCIATE VIDEO EDITOR EDITOR Alex Jowanovitz Sydney Weiss COPY EDITORS MANAGING EDITOR Hannah Lee Kirsten Thomas Bhaavya Jha WEB EDITORS Chloe Mensch Kirsten Thomas Megan Soellner Sydney Weiss Grace Zhang SOCIAL MEDIA DIRECTOR SECRETARY Jessica Lu Delaney Ciotola ART & PHOTO EDITORS FACT CHECKER Linya Guo Josh Moore Harsitha Kalaiarasan CARTOONIST Anisa Khatana Isabella Magato Sara Margolis CREATIVE WRITING EDITOR BUSINESS STAFF Nehalem Chudnoff Lindsey Brinkman SLUG PATROL Hannah Lee Alex Bullock Charlotte Weiss STAFF WRITERS Jack Wolfe Ephraim Carlson PR TEAM ADVISER Gabby Khodadad Alexandra Frost Henry Loeb PHOTOGRAPHER Allison McElroy McDaniel’s Photography Deeya Prakash Professional Memberships: Jack Wolfe Columbia Scholastic Press NEWS Association Anisa Khatana Journalism Education SPORTS Association Madeleine Suh National Scholastic High FEATURE School Press Association Harsitha Kalaiarasan Ohio Scholastic Media ENTERTAINMENT Association Lindsey Brinkman Ohio Professional Writers OPINION (National Federation of Abigail Lefton ASSOCIATE OPINION EDITOR Women Writers) Quill & Scroll International Deeya Prakash Journalism Honorary FUN & GAMES Charlotte Weiss

NEWS

FUN & GAMES

2 California wildfire 3 Ohio abortion bill 4 Calendar

18 Jumping into New Year’s crossword

OPINION

ENTERTAINMENT

5 Staff editorial 6 Body confidence 7 Satire exam studying 8 Use of words

19 Griga’s masterpiece 20 Soles of SHS 21 Holiday fashion

FEATURE

FOCUS

9 Social media 10 Kevin Schaewe tribute 11 Kevin Schaewe tribute 12 Ice skating

COVER

13 Cheating 14 Cheating 15 Cheating 16 Cheating 17 Cheating

THE LEAF

EDITORIAL POLICY Although students work under the Sycamore High School guidance of a professional faculty member, the content is ultimately 7400 Cornell Road determined by the student staff Cincinnati, OH 45242 and should reflect all areas of student interest, including topics Covers by Sydney Weiss on which there may be dissent and controversy. Students can not publish material that is obscene, libelous, or is likely to cause “a substantial disruption of the educational process.” Content that may stimulate heated debate or discussion is not included in this definition. The views represented in our publications do not represent the views of the Sycamore Community School District or the Sycamore High School administration. Our publications are public forums.

22 Kaila Powers

SPORTS

23 Basketball 24 Chess 25 Winter track

Read more with our website

shsleaf.org

If you would like to submit a story idea, we are ready and willing to write it! Please send these ideas to shsstudentvoice@gmail.com.

@SHSLEAF

LETTER FROM THE EDITORS Hello and welcome to another issue of The Leaf! We thank you for taking this bumpy journey with us this year even if it is just for the crossword (a very justifiable reason for buying this fabulous issue). Ok, ok, we’ll get to the point, you did not buy this to talk about Fun & Games after all. This month’s cover story, or package, is on cheating, not the type that may or may not happen between a couple, but academic cheating. We all are aware that it is prevalent in high schools across America. This was something we wanted to dive into, yet keep it as a frank and honest discussion, not preaching that cheating is bad. So, The Leaf conducted an anonymous survey, with staffers sending the links to their friends and classmates. The number and openness of the responses was astounding to see, and some of those responses are on the following pages. When we think of cheating, the stereotypical kid glancing at another’s test comes to mind. Is that all cheating is? Where is the line? Is asking another person if a concept/event was on the test cheating? We will leave those questions for you to answer, as the package is not in the business of sermonizing. Instead, we deliver into your hands a satire article. And let this be the first warning: it is not a how-to guide. The Leaf remembers SHS student Kevin Schaewe, who recently passed away, in this issue as well. We reached out to his family, friends, and staff members that were touched by Kevin, though we in no means caught all impacted by Kevin. They recount some of their best times with Kevin and speak to his remarkable spirit in the Feature section. This month we also covered some bills going through the Ohio legislative system that may impact the students at SHS. Now, if you are looking to up your holiday game, we have some tips for you. From the best hot chocolate to holiday looks, The Leaf has it all. When you reach the end of this lovely news magazine and cry out is that all, fear not for our website, www.shsleaf.org is updated daily. There you will find such goodies as the answers to the Fun & Games crossword and interactive quizzes. Comments? Concerns? Questions? We’d love to read them all, so send us an email at shsstudentvoice@gmail.com. We look forward to hearing from you! Now we release you to enjoy our latest issue, so sit back, relax, and thumb through some of these pages. Thank you for reading!

NEWS

December 13, 2018

A WORLD ABLAZE

California wildfires: scale of impact ANISA KHATANA news chief

to be going about normal activities while the smoke from people’s entire lives being ruined is infiltrating the air,” said Ela Passarelli, University of Southern California student and South Los Angeles (L.A.) resident. It used to be that California’s infamous wildfire season terrorized residents for a few months every year, from mid-summer through early autumn. In 2018, after years of cyclical drought, climate change, and an influx of residents in fireprone areas, it is longer and more destructive. “We don’t even consider it a fire season anymore. In Southern California especially, it’s year-round,” said Cal Fire deputy chief Scott McLean to the New York Times. The Camp Fire, named, like most fires, for the location where it started (in this case, Camp Creek Road), became the “deadliest and most destructive” wildfire in state history. It was contained on Nov. 25 after consuming 17 traumatic days, 153,336 acres, and 85 victims in Butte County, Northern California, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. As reported by the Chronicle, the Woolsey Fire, which burned through 96,949 acres surrounding Thousand Oaks before being contained on Nov. 21, is the closest significant wildfire to L.A. Several small fires are still burning on the outskirts of the city. “Some of our family friends live in Thousand Oaks, and it’s terrifying to hear on the news what is happening over there when we personally know people located so close to danger,” said

Dahlia Wang, former West L.A. resident and literally) had left: each other. In the face of current Ursuline Academy junior. tragedy, perspectives shift. Winds and elevation variety in the state have “My roommate’s very good family friends also made air quality an issue across much of have had to evacuate because of the fires. California, including in L.A. We FaceTimed a little girl in the family who “Although we aren’t that close to the fires, expressed her immense sadness and fear at the smoke does drift over to L.A. Last Friday having to leave her house, things, and school or so, the smoke was so strong that our behind,” Passarelli said. entire campus smelled like Whether the story of a something was burning,” survivor or an outsider, BEING THIS CLOSE TO California’s wildfires this Passarelli said. As hundreds of deputies, SO MANY PEOPLE’S year have certainly sparked coroners, National Guard realizations of any scale in tens TRAGEDIES MAKES of thousands of lives. troops, and anthropologists work to locate missing Now that the most destructive US ALL VERY persons, identify remains, fires have settled, California CONSCIOUS OF and get survivors to safety, is facing the impact of the thousands who made it carbon emissions as HOW WE TREAT OUR wildfires’ out alive have entered the well as debris-filled flash floods HOME. holiday season with nowhere and potential mudslides due to to go. rain. ELA PASSARELLI Margaret Newsum, for “I think this is a huge lesson one, is a 93-year-old Butte in being careful… Being this County resident who was left without phone close to so many people’s tragedies makes us service or electricity in the face of the quicklyall very conscious of how we treat our home. approaching Camp Fire. “Also, I’d like to call out Starbucks for having Newsum told CNN of her escape story, in the dumbest and most inappropriate… holidaywhich she was rescued by driver Dane Ray themed cups on the planet: cups covered in a Cummings and his garbage truck. After a fivepattern of bright red fire,” Passarelli said. hour drive to safety, Cummings arranged for And unfortunately, as Wang recalls, the cycle Newsum to stay with his childhood best friend, of California’s wildfires is neither new nor Brian Harrison. looking to subside anytime soon. Other evacuees told the Washington “Hearing about the wildfires now reminded Post of the basic gratitude their situation me of the many 2015 California wildfires, and inspired during Thanksgiving as they is just a reminder that disasters like this can showed appreciation for all they (quite happen anywhere at any time,” Wang said. STATE OF EMERGENCY. A fire crew member fights the Poomacha wildfire in California. At the time the photo was taken, on Oct. 26, 2007, the Poomacha fire had burned through 350,000 acres of land in Northern California. The fires this year have impacted both Northern and Southern California. “[The weekend of Nov. 10] I went to the music festival Flog Gnaw, where we were at an elevated height; there, the smoke was thick enough to see in the air, and many people wore surgical masks,” said Ela Passarelli, University of Southern California student and South Los Angeles resident. Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

Sources: nytimes.com, today.com, theguardian. com, sfchronicle.com, vox.com, cnn.com, washingtonpost.com, time.com, npr.org

“PERSONALLY, I FIND it very strange

NEWS

December 13, 2018

OHIO DETECTS HEARTBEAT Abortion bill to change precedent ALLYSON BONHAUS editor in chief

ON NOV. 15, the Ohio House of Representatives passed one of the country’s most restrictive abortion bills. Performing an abortion after heartbeat detection would become a fifth-degree felony; doctors would face a year in prison or a $2,500 fine. A heartbeat can be detected as early as six weeks when most women are unaware that they are pregnant if not attempting to get pregnant at the time. Exceptions may be made in medical emergencies or if the woman’s life is at risk; however, there are no exceptions for rape or incest. In 2017, almost 44 percent of Ohio abortions took place at nine weeks or later, according to Ohio Department of Health data. There were no numbers available for six weeks or fewer. “My issue with this bill is what is a heartbeat? If a person [has] a pacemaker and cannot sustain a heartbeat, should they also be aborted or euthanized? Clearly not, which is why the heartbeat standard is so shaky. And why six weeks? What is the difference between five weeks and six days versus six weeks? Virtually nothing in regards to the development of the baby,” said Jacob Frankel, 12. Women seeking abortions or obtaining them would not be punished; only those who are performing the abortion would be charged. “My opinion is that abortion [should] just be outlawed in its entirety. These six-week lines are pretty arbitrary as once you start drawing lines things get very dangerous. My view is that abortion is similar to murder in most cases, with certain exceptions regarding the mother’s life,” Frankel said.

The bill passed 60 to 35 and was lead by Republican Christina Hagan, who asserted that the bill was crafted as a challenge to Roe v. Wade, a 1973 Supreme Court decision that protected a woman’s right to an abortion. Hagan brought her newborn twin boys to the House during the debate on the bill. “I believe that the mother and her life and choice should be taken care of before anyone worries about the embryo/fetus she is carrying. I do not think that this bill respects that. Roe v. Wade was a monumental case for this country, and it is one of the most important cases in women’s health. I think that Ohio should protect this decision instead of contesting it,” said Anushri Menon, 12. Democrats pushed for amendments to the bill that were overruled on contraception education and free birth control to Ohio women who have been pregnant. Representative Stephanie Howse noted in the debate that out of the 99- member House, only 24 were women, reflecting the trend of male-dominated legislatures in America. Governor John Kasich has stated that he would not sign a heartbeat bill, and did veto a similar bill in 2016; however, Governor-Elect Mike DeWine has expressed his support. The House would require 60 votes to override Kasich, which is the number that supported it initially. The bill is at the Ohio Senate, and President Larry Obhof claims that he has the votes to pass it. There are 33 members of the Ohio Senate, 23 Republicans and nine Democrats.

BY THE NUMBERS: Abortion in Ohio

15.4

Percent of Ohio 2017 abortions in Hamilton County

Total induced abortions in Ohio in 2017 Number of abortions per weeks of gestation in Ohio in 2017

20,893

80.1

Percent of Ohio abortions by women never married

less than 9 weeks: 56.9%

Sources: odh.ohio.gov, nytimes.com, mediamatters.org, cincinnati.com, cleveland.com, nationalreview.com Designed by: Anisa Khatana

Other states have had heartbeat bills, such as Arkansas and North Dakota, but both were voided due to unconstitutionality. Iowa passed a similar law on May 4, 2018; Planned Parenthood plans to challenge the law. “As a young woman, I should have the right to determine whether or not I want to proceed with a pregnancy. I don’t think we fully understand what our bodies go through during the pregnancy and the level of commitment it is to take care of a child afterward,” said Akhila Durisala, 11. Ohio’s current rules for abortions require women to receive state-designed counseling, wait 24 hours, and then return to the clinic to have the procedure. “If a woman decides that she cannot proceed with a pregnancy then that’s her decision. I’m pretty sure pregnant women aren’t getting abortions to murder babies… [Abortion is] a matter of basic human rights and a woman should be able to decide whether or not she wants to raise a child,” Durisala said. There are eight clinics in Ohio, a decrease since 2011 when there were 18 clinics. The decline paralleled the tightening of abortion laws. “I am a firm supporter of choice...abortion shouldn’t be a matter of discussion in Congress or any government. It should [be] a private matter for the mom,” Menon said. Several cases have been pending on similar restrictions’ constitutionality, of which the Ohio bill may join the ranks, as the Ohio bill is expected to pass.

Asian/Pacific Islander 3.8%

Multiracial American Indian 3.6% 0.3%

Caucasian 48.7%

2017 Ohio abortions by race African-American 43.8%

9-12 weeks: 29.3%

21 weeks 13-18 weeks: and on: 11.8% 0.4% 19-20 weeks: 1.6%

NEWS

December 13, 2018

DELANEY CIOTOLA secretary

December One Act Play Festival

December Holiday Luncheon Board of Education Meeting

December End of Second Quarter

DECEMBER

December WinterFest at Kings Island ends

January Band Concert

04 04 Designed by: Allyson Bonhaus, Anisa Khatana

January Choir Solo and Ensemble Recital

January Report Cards Distributed

January Academic Fair

Photo courtesy of Michelle Ciotola

Photo courtesy of McDanielâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Photography

JANUARY

Photo courtesy of Michelle Ciotola

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

January Coffee with the Counselors Jazz Band Concert

January Science Fair

LEAFING THROUGH THE MASSES:

“People used to write answers in the back of their calculator... or they used to store it in their calculator,” said Mr. Daniel Frank, English teacher.

“One time, someone had a slip of paper underneath a fake nail that they could pull off,” said Jozy Allen, 10.

Photo courtesy of Kirsten Thomas

Picture this: you show up to seventh bell English class for an in-class essay. By this time in the day, you have been to six classes, Aves bell, and lunch. You have encountered dozens of people who have written the same essay you are about to begin. You heard people talking about the essay, and you could not help but listen. You heard the prompt. Naturally, you have come up with a thesis. Did you cheat? As long as there has been a school system, there has been cheating. Cheating can be found in elementary schools, prestigious universities, and pretty much everywhere in between. Although schools and universities have strict policies against cheating and plagiarizing, students still cheat. Perhaps more importantly, many students do not get caught. In an anonymous survey conducted by The Leaf, the majority of students surveyed expressed that they believe cheating is wrong; however, most students said that they do not feel a moral obligation to report cheating. A few students said that if they saw someone cheating in an obvious way on a standardized test or something of great importance, they would report it. Otherwise, they said they would probably cast a blind eye. Some justified their bystander nature by saying that they would report it if the cheating got out of hand, leading to one important question: what is considered “out of hand?” Where is the line? It is important to realize that cheating is prevalent at SHS. SHS does not necessarily have huge cheating scandals, but the smaller cheating habits can add up to be just as bad. An overwhelming number of people in the anonymous survey expressed that they do not report cheating because they do not want to be the snitch. While cheating should always be reported, there are ways to reduce cheating without turning in your friends. Do not tell students in future bells what is on a test. If nothing else, this will boost the curve in your favor. Do not ask friends for homework or brag about plagiarizing: this only adds to a cheating culture. SHS remains a school built on integrity and honesty, but we are far from perfect. Cheating in small ways is still cheating. Next time you hear people talking about your essay prompt, just walk away. Your conscience will thank you.

“Someone once wrote down all the answers and methods into the program function of their graphing calculator,” said Emma Brown, 11.

Photo courtesy of Emma Brown

Staff Editorial

“In Spanish, someone handed out slips of paper to everyone with the vocab words and definitions on them,” said Joshua Willis, 9.

Photo courtesy of Jozy Allen

AN ETHICAL DILEMMA. A student cheats on a legal ethics exam using the classic method of writing information on one’s hand. Students have never ceased to cheat through strange techniques, with occurrences across all subject areas and types of assignments. Sometimes the time spent cheating may seem to exceed the time that would be spent learning. Image courtesy of Anisa Khatana.

Photo courtesy of Deeya Prakash

What is a strange way that you have seen someone cheat?

OPINION December 13, 2018

FINDING MY OWN IDEA Teenage struggle for body acceptance HARSITHA KALAIARASAN feature chief

THERE WAS A time when I ate ice cream

regularly, had cookies as snacks, and packed brownies for lunch as a midday pick-me-up. When clothes stopped fitting me, I bought bigger sizes and thought nothing of it. As far as I was concerned, I was fit and healthy, and the number on the scale did not matter. It’s been three or four years since I went through life with that mindset, and my thoughts have taken a surprising turn for the worse. While I know that my weight and daily habits are healthy and normal, I feel extremely guilty every time I indulge in a Kit Kat or a bowl of ice cream. I feel an intense pressure to portray myself as a girl who eats really “healthy” and a weird urge to apologize when I eat “junk food.” Unsurprisingly, I am not the only one constantly burdened with these thoughts. According to the Park Nicollet Melrose Center, 53 percent of 13-year-old girls are unhappy with their bodies. Sadly, that number reaches 78 percent by the age of 17. By adding in the time teenagers spend scrolling through social media sites such as Snapchat, Twitter, and Instagram, the statistics continue to depict negative trends. In fact, a study conducted at the University of Kentucky linked teenagers who spent more time on social media to heightened insecurity regarding their appearance. I had the same problem. Seeing a certain body type consistently throughout my media platforms led me to develop an unhealthy fixation with the “ideal” body. Instead of focusing on my

Photo courtesy of Harsitha Kalaiarasan

qualities as an athlete, friend, and student, I was obsessed with a very superficial part of my existence. I had to take a look at what I was letting myself listen to and who I let myself be around. In order to live my best life, I had to love the skin I had been given. Developing a healthy relationship with my body and food was not easy. And unfortunately, I was the one who had to make the change: I had to spend less time on social media and drown myself in positive self-talk. My friends constantly reminded me of my non-physical characteristics. My family members were willing to help and shut down any self-deprecating comments. From this web of support, I was able to slowly rationalize my thoughts and embrace my own definition of healthy and beauty. Yet, not everyone can make the change themselves. Not everybody finds themselves in the same environment. How much better would it be if the atmosphere itself could change? Society could stop pushing an ideal body type through the media we consume. Teenagers could stop placing such importance on outward appearances. We could stop judging and criticizing others for the way they look. Gaining confidence in oneself is not just the individual’s responsibility. No one deserves to loathe the body they inhabit every day. Through building a supportive community in the space around us, we can all slowly take steps toward loving ourselves.

Sources: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, phys.org phys.org nationaleatingdisorders.org, .macmh.org

OPINION

December 13, 2018

Senior offers exam studying advice ALEX JOWANOVITZ associate video editor *This article is meant to be satirical. Do not actually follow any advice this article may give. However, the quick facts are truthful, honest facts that will help you study.

WITH SEMESTER FINALS

coming up fast, it is important to know how to properly study, especially if this is your very first time taking an SHS midterm exam. This is why I have taken it upon myself, a senior, to give you comprehensible and easyto-follow steps on how to effectively study for those pesky tests so that you can get the grade that you deserve. Before you plan out all that you have to study, you first need to know exactly when to start studying. The answer to that is really simple: the very last minute. You probably do not want to spend a lot of time studying, and why should you? You have very little free time as is, and studying for exams should not get in the way of that. Save all of your studying for the night before, that way you can cram all of the information you need at once, instead of spreading it all out. This is a very efficient way to study more stuff in less time. Studying in advance does not help anyway, as you are just wasting time studying little things when you could study everything all at once. Interesting how no one seems to think about that. Another important thing you need to figure out about your study habits is how much time you should study and what to study for during that particular time. The general public would suggest studying the most for the subjects that you know you are not the greatest at, but I would like to provide an alternative approach. Why bother studying for something that you

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QUICK FACTS FROM “TALK LIKE TED” Students who learn through multisensory experiences- text, pictures, video, etc.always had better recall than students who did not. Studying in three chunks of information is best to ensure memorization. As more chunks are added, your ability to remember decreases. “...a little chemical in the brain... has to be present for a child (or an adult) to retain information. That chemical is dopamine.”

know you will not get an A on? Instead, focus on the easy stuff to make it certain you can get your well deserved one hundred percent. We all know that you are not going to get an A on the tests for subjects you do not like, so is there really any point of studying for them if you know you will not do good? As exams draw closer and closer, many would tell you to obviously study more often. However, since you have already started studying so late, this advice is completely pointless. Staying up late the night before exams may seem cautionary, but when else are you going to find the time to study? You are already saving everything until the last minute, so why even think about going to bed on those nights? Take it from me: pulling an all-nighter is not as bad as it sounds. Because if I can function great after, obviously so can you. Do not even bother eating the morning of the test either; satisfy your hunger with more studying instead. Your appetite can wait, especially when there is studying to be done. With following all of these crucial steps, you are guaranteed a stress-free, no-sweat exam studying process. Utilizing the exact advice will ensure you a painless week of exams. Since I am senior, I know all there is about good exam studying habits, so this guide should be your only one. I hope all of these tips and tricks will help you succeed, and I wish you the best of luck. Trust me, even after all of that studying, you are definitely going to need it.

SATIRE

HOW TO STUDY...NOT

sat·ire noun; irony, or sarcasm used to expose and discredit vice or folly

Open 7 days a week Julia: (937)694-9835 Nina: (513)969-6255

9950 Kings Automall Drive 45249 Suite #5

OPINION

December 13, 2018

WATCH YOUR MOUTH DEEYA PRAKASH associate opinion editor

THERE IS A difference between obsessive

compulsive disorder (OCD) and obsessiveness. There is a line between being depressed and being sad. Then why do teens make it sound that way? Words such as depressed, OCD and the “R-word” are constantly thrown around in everyday conversations. It is time for this to stop. According to the International OCD Foundation, OCD is a mental illness associated with unhealthy and unwanted obsessions or compulsions. Obsessions, just to clear things up, are usually thoughts and images that are out of control, flashing incessantly to the person and making them feel disturbed. Now, what makes obsessions different from the clinical OCD is that an individual with OCD will be forced to take time out of things they enjoy doing to satisfy their obsessions. These obsessions are like another job they

have to do. The second part of the disorder is the compulsions aspect. These are behaviors that a person initiates in order to rid themselves of the discomfort that comes with their obsession. The major misconception with OCD is that people like their compulsions. This is not true. “In most cases, individuals with OCD... would rather not have to do these time consuming and many times torturous acts,” said the International OCD Foundation. Another misused word is depression, which is perhaps one of the most misused words in today’s society. Essentially, depressed individuals experience emptiness, hopelessness, and anxiety to extreme extents, filling them with dread or sometimes even leaving them devoid of emotion. They lose interest in their favorite activities, feel continuously sleepy, and sometimes even lose their will to live.

Does this sound like a word to be used lightly? The gravity of the word “depression” is too great to be flicking the word around. So stop. Finally, other words kids use fraudulently are the “R-word.” People with mental disabilities can sometimes have a hard time learning or developing new skills, communicating, or even taking care of themselves. “It makes me uncomfortable [when people misuse these words] because I know there are people struggling with those things, so I feel like when [teens] say a word like ‘depressed’ or ‘autistic’ in an improper way, they are almost disrespecting those who are struggling,” said Megan Radakovich, 9. Therefore, stop talking the way a typical teen is wired to speak. Stop disrespecting people with mental illnesses. It is time to eliminate OCD, depression, and the “R-word” from conversations, once and for all.

Sources: iocdf.org, nimh.nih.gov, webmd.com, autismspeaks.org

New driving bill affects teens LINYA GUO art & photo editor Teenagers all over the nation eagerly anticipate their 16th birthday, yearning to obtain their driver’s license and experience a whole new world of freedom. But with the pending of a possible new permit law, these teens may have to face much disappointment. Starting last year, Ohio lawmakers have discussed the implementation of the House Bill

293, which will be decided by this month. The bill would charge additional fees, decrease the driving time of an unsupervised driver, and--to the utter outrage of many-increase the required time of holding a temporary permit. However, are these changes as atrocious as they may seem? 16-year-olds have the highest crash rate of

all ages. Within their first year of driving, 20 percent of all 16-year-old drivers have had a vehicle crash. According to the Highway Loss Data Institute, if this new law was instituted and reinforced, there will be around a 39 percent drop in fatal crashes. With more teen driving experience, thousands of lives can be saved.

House Bill 293 Additional five dollar fee to the current $2.25 to $7.25 fee for driver’s license and renewal applications for all drivers under 21.

Requirement of Oh io teenagers to ha ve their temporary instruct ion permit for an entire year before eligibi lity for their driver’s license, increasing the m inimum legal drivi ng age from 16 to 16 and a half.

Restricted curfew from midnight to nine p.m. for non-parental supervised teen drivers.

Sources: www.dmv.org, www.legislature.ohio.gov, patch.com

FEATURE

December 13, 2018

Students debate Instagram, Snapchat stories JESSICA LU social media director WHEN INSTAGRAM STORIES

became a new feature in 2016, users were quick to point out the glaring similarities to the already famous Snapchat stories. And their claims were not without merit. From a first glance, both photo-sharing apps utilize filters, lenses, and last for 24 hours. Many were originally skeptical of Instagram’s

“copycat” feature, especially those who were diehard fans of Snapchat. However, current statistics reveal that attitudes towards Instagram stories are changing. According to CNN Business, Instagram Stories are now twice as popular as its predecessor with more than 400 million active users compared to the 191 million on Snapchat.

Yet, despite the worldwide surge in Instagram stories’ popularity, Snapchat stories still maintain their loyal following of SHS students. The Leaf’s Instagram account put up a poll on its story regarding which app’s stories students prefer. Even though the poll was put up on Instagram, giving a bias towards the app, 52 percent of the 155 participating voters surprisingly still favored Snapchat.

“Instagram stories are better because you can have highlights on your profile that stay longer than 24 hours,” said Jack Brownlee, 9.

“I’m used to Snapchat stories because they were there first, and [stories are] the main thing about Snapchat. I don’t go to Instagram for stories, I go there for the posts,” said Jarron Knaff, 12.

VS “I like Snapchat stories better because they can be up to a minute long and Instagram stories are much shorter. You can see more of a glimpse of what people are doing on Snapchat,” said Megan Long, 12.

All photos courtesy of Jessica Lu

“Instagram stories seem like people put more effort into them and they tend to look nicer. There are also polls and other features that Instagram has to make your story interesting,” said Paige Ellingson, 10.

FEATURE

December 13, 2018

Kevin Schaewe (1997-2018)

Family, students, staff reflect on life of beloved student KIRSTEN THOMAS managing editor

ALLISON MCELROY MEGAN SOELLNER PR team copy editor

BEST FRIEND. Kind, loving person.

Role model. This is a part of the legacy Kevin Schaewe left behind. Kevin, a cherished SHS student and community member who recently passed away, will always be remembered for his many qualities- his “sixth sense,” his ability to bring joy to those around him, and ultimately changing the lives of others. Students remember Kevin for the joy he brought into their lives by being a great friend, and always having fun. “Kevin was such a loving, caring, sweet, amazing and well-liked person. I miss him very much and I know he is in a great place,” said junior Lindsey Stevens, Kevin’s friend. “He has helped me find out what I love to do in my life and what I want to do when I get older, which is help kids with disabilities. “I thank him for making such a big impact in my life.” SHS alumni who knew Kevin still reminisce memories that they made during high school with him, such as 2017 graduate Claire Hallock. “I would consider Kevin one of my best friends. He had a stronger voice than anyone I knew even though he was nonverbal. Kevin never failed to make me laugh and he was always the one who cheered me up when I was having a bad day… “He inspired me to be a special education teacher so that I can be the voice for those who don’t have one… “My favorite funny memory was the first time we went to Skyline together and he stole all of the cheese off of my food,” Hallock said. Stealing food from his friends was a common occurrence for Kevin, and his friends thought it was hilarious.

[KEVIN] HAD A STRONGER VOICE THAN ANYONE I KNEW EVEN THOUGH HE WAS NONVERBAL. CLAIRE HALLOCK, 2017 GRADUATE

“...when the APE class went to Skyline after a field trip and Kevin was still hungry after eating his two 3-ways, he ate mine... “I let him because it was funny and made me smile,” said Kennedy Archer, 11. Many teachers, such as Mr. Michael Kennedy, Special Education teacher, got to know Kevin at school and noted how he always cared for others. “[Kevin] had this sixth sense of being able to tell when someone was upset or stressed out and coming up and giving them a big bear hug and reassuring them that everything would be okay... “He was a great role model for the students in my class and will be deeply missed,” Kennedy said. Kevin was one of the students who led Kennedy to know not only that he wanted to teach at the high school level, but also become an Intervention Specialist. Other teachers noticed the same empathy for others that Kevin had, and noted his kind and loving nature. Mrs. Julia Allspaw, Special Education teacher, experienced this first hand. “[Kevin] saw my emotions without me stating them. Just in the way I presented myself, the way I interacted with him, he wanted me to know I was doing a good job. “Kevin was all about getting the best out of life. He was a lover. He accepted people as they were, even when I was a clueless student teacher... “Meeting a kid like Kevin during my student teaching changed the game for me. I don’t know if I would teach the population that I teach without meeting him,” Allspaw said. Allspaw had the opportunity to interact with Kevin outside of the classroom, and her interaction with Kevin left an everlasting impact on her.

FEATURE

All photos courtesy of David Schaewe

December 13, 2018

“When I was in college, I volunteered for an organization called Young Life Capernaum, which is a Christian organization for high school students with special needs. Kevin joined me at a few of our Bible studies and we talked about God… “We talked about prayer, and Kevin asked me if his prayers counted, since he couldn’t say them out loud… I told him that of course, they definitely counted, because God didn’t care if he said them out-loud or in his head. “Kevin told me about how much comfort that brought him, to know that God could hear him even if he couldn’t speak. I think that moment with Kevin will be one of the most profound moments of my life. “...That’s the kind of stuff that was in his mind. I’m lucky to have had the chance to hear his thoughts. Seriously, so lucky,” Allspaw said. All around, Kevin was a great example of how all of us should go about life each day. “Kevin was the best example you could possibly be of being thankful for what you have and making the most of what you have. “He chose to live a life happiness and enjoyment instead of resentment over what he physically couldn’t do. He was a shining example for all people and one cool guy,” said Mrs. Brittney Billiter, Special Education teacher. Kevin was the source of joy in the life of many, and even was the reason why one teacher, Mr. Mark Porter, enjoyed coming to work every day. “It’s very hard for me to express what my time with Kevin has meant to me in a few short quotes. Kevin was the reason why I loved waking up every morning and coming to work.

“Knowing that I got to opportunity to help better his life, is why I love doing my job... “Kevin was a very special kid with an amazing heart. He wanted everyone he encountered to feel welcomed and loved, because he didn’t always get that in his life. “He deeply cared for the people around him and valued their friendships. He’s the type of friend you felt lucky to have. I was fortunate enough to be able to call him my best friend. “As many of us know, you can never truly replace your best friend. He’s going to be greatly missed,” Porter said. Kevin’s caring traits did not end at school, Kevin was the same lovable, happy person at home. “...his laugh. It was a joyous laugh and if you heard it you knew Kevin was happy. “I [Kevin’s father] also loved that outside of stealing other people’s food he really was a good kid. The best description I heard was that Kevin was a docile teddy bear. “He wasn’t perfect and he could drive his twin sisters nuts but all in all he really was a kind and loving person,” said Mr. David Schaewe, Kevin’s father. Kevin enjoyed interacting with students and teachers at SHS, as well as engaging in activities at school to such an extent that Kevin would look forward to coming to school. “Probably what he liked the most was the monthly bowling field trip with the subsequent trip to Skyline. (Skyline was better but he did like bowling.) “He also enjoyed swimming as well as being around his friends and teachers. At home, there were days he would get his communication device and say ‘I Want School,’” Schaewe said.

Outside of school, Kevin found contentment in listening to videos on his iPad, going on walks to get Diet Coke from the Blue Ash Recreation Center, going to Kings Island to get Skyline, and shopping for his favorite snacks. Kevin was a huge Skyline enthusiast, and it was hard to present other dining options once Skyline was in sight. “It was really hard to direct [Kevin] to another restaurant at Kings Island. He would sometimes run to Skyline as soon as we got past the ticket taker and I would have to run behind him to make sure he was not knocking anyone over,” Schaewe said. Kevin’s perfect day would include all of his favorite things, including his favorite foods, his Ipad, and Kings Island. Kevin’s family would like his friends and teachers to know how much Kevin enjoyed spending time with each one of them. “I’d like to let them know that he was a better communicator at home than at school. He really enjoyed being around his peers as well as his teachers,” Schaewe said. Those who had the opportunity to interact with Kevin can truly speak to the positive impact he left on those around him. Kevin is especially missed in the month of December, as his birthday is December 26. It is clear that Kevin left an impact on SHS students, staff and alumni that is hard to put into words- Kevin gave direction to lives, left individuals with profound moments, created fun memories with his friends, and was loving and caring towards everyone he came in contact with. Kevin has left an impact on the Sycamore community like no other, and his memory will forever be in our minds and hearts.

FEATURE

Ice skating brings fun and fitness ALLISON MCELROY PR team

WITH THE WEATHER getting colder,

options become limited when it comes to physical activity. Students may be looking for an activity that combines fun and exercise, and one that many enjoy is ice skating. After watching the figure skating competitions during the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, SHS students may be interested in trying out ice skating for themselves. Luckily, there are several ice rinks in Cincinnati where individuals can skate.

Summit Park Summit Park has a skating rink that is popular with SHS students. The park opened a skating rink last year, and it is open again this winter. The rink opened on Nov. 17 and will stay open until Feb. 18, 2019. It costs five dollars to skate at Summit Park, including ice skate rental. The hours for the rink are listed on Summit Park’s website.

Fountain Square This ice rink in downtown Cincinnati opened on Oct. 27 and will remain open until Feb. 18, 2019. The admission is six dollars, with an

additional four dollars to rent skates. Hours can be found on the website for Fountain Square.

Indoor Skating Options Sports Plus and Northland Ice Center both have public skate hours. The admission for both rinks is ten dollars with free skate rental. The public skate hours are listed on the rinks’ websites. Northland Ice Center also hosts DJ Northland Skates from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, which includes music, and laser, light, and fog effects.

Benefits So, why ice skate? Ice skating is beneficial to both physical and mental health. Additionally, it is a fun winter activity and a good social activity to enjoy with friends and family. One major skill that ice skating develops is balance. Balancing on a slippery surface is what makes skating difficult for many, however by practicing skating individuals can greatly improve their balance. Skating also helps strengthen lower body and core muscles. It works the quadriceps,

Photo courtesy of Creative Commons

December 13, 2018

hamstrings, and glutes. This can prevent common health problems as well as increase energy by making everyday actions easier. Additionally, recreational ice skating is a low impact activity, therefore it improves joint health as well. Not only is ice skating a great form of exercise, it also benefits mental health. Skating can decrease stress and improve focus, both important necessities for busy high school students. “The mental benefit [is] having fun with friends, and [ice skating] is a good core workout when you are trying to keep your balance,” said Paige Ellingson, 10, competitive figure skater. Many SHS students enjoy going ice skating in the winter, including sophomore Sophie Campbell. “[Ice skating] is so much fun even though I fall sometimes. But after a while of practicing, I get better and don’t fall as much,” Campbell said. Skating is a great option for students who are looking for both fitness and fun this winter. Sources: smskatingrink.com, successfulhealthlifestyle.com

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December 13, 2018

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INTEGRITY. THE WORD was drilled into students’ heads in elementary school as an invaluable character trait in life. However, as years pass and the classes become more rigorous, students seem to lose sight of integrity-well, that is, academic integrity. Cheating is not a new concept. Whether an individual cheats or not, they undoubtedly overhear conversations regarding the topic or even witness cheating taking place. Data shows that the prevalence of cheating seems to be increasing over time. With an abundance of gadgets and the pressure to be first in the GPA race, many students view cheating as a necessary “evil” surviving for high school. But the moral question still claws at the mind. If everybody else does it and does not get caught, is it okay? “Personally, I don’t agree with cheating for high grades. In my opinion, the purpose of high school is to kickstart your basic foundation of knowledge and work ethic to prepare you for the rest of your life, no matter where you plan to end up. “That can’t occur if your work is not your own, and you only learn to sacrifice your integrity for a single letter. I don’t really blame any students that rely on cheating, though, because I recognize the unfortunately strong emphasis that our environment often places on those letters and what they mean for our future, our social standing, and our resume,” said Caroline Skwara, 11. Besides the general dishonesty and unfairness associated with cheating, there can be many gray areas and discrepancies in what cheating consists of. The most obvious scenarios would be having

the answers to an assignment or concealing helpful information in a monitored setting. Yet, some would argue that asking other students from earlier bells about the contents of a test or passing along information could be just as harmful. “I think cheating is anything that gives you leverage to perform better than others. I think the only reason why some forms of cheating seem ‘better’ than others is because some are more common. “Asking a friend what was on a test seems harmless because everyone does it, but you now have more information that will allow you to do better than others,” said Lily Banke, 11. For some, cheating has become a crutch to navigate an arduous course load more than an indicator of one’s moral compass. “As a firm believer in cheating, I think that anything goes. You’ve got to find your own ways to succeed,” said an anonymous source. Maybe the solution to the pressure that often leads students to cheat is in creating an environment where success does not depend on your grade. “Certain classes and teachers, especially this school year, have started to teach me to value actual learning and my own growth over the letter grade in Blackboard. “I do not think the issue of cheating can begin to be solved until more classes are taught in that way and more students are given the opportunity to grow and learn during high school instead of just scrambling through it on the backs of other people’s homework assignments and quiz answers, attempting to get accepted into a college at which they will not know how to do their own work,” Skwara said.

Sources: voanews.com abcnews.go.com npr.org

“ “ “ “

I know cheating is wrong, but that does not stop me and I do not feel the need to report others. I don’t cheat often enough to make me feel super guilty.

I believe cheating is very wrong by my morals. However, I value friendship over these morals. If a close friend were to cheat, I would never think of reporting them. Reporting people in general is anxiety inducing and may result in negative attitude from the cheater.

[SHS] kids are really honest and good people, but sometimes the pressure of parents/coaches makes us do things out of character.

I don’t think cheating is a huge issue, at least in the upper-level classes. People are generally competitive and sometimes view somebody else failing as them succeeding. Therefore, they are less prone to help their friends cheat.

“

Stress influences students to cheat

“

UNDER PRESSURE:

“

Delivered

The Leaf staff conducted an ANONYMOUS survey about cheating at SHS. Here are some of the responses:

“

what was on it

CHEATING: fast facts One out of three high school students has used the internet to plagiarize an assignment.

THE PERFECT GUIDE

Study for exams the honest way

Exam week schedule:

Monday: 7:20-9:10 First Bell 9:15-11:05 Second Bell 12:30-2:00 Makeup Tuesday: 7:20-9:10 Third Bell 9:15-11:05 Fourth Bell 12:30-2:00 Makeup Wednesday: 7:20-9:10 Fifth Bell 9:15-11:05 Sixth Bell 12:30-2:00 Makeup Thursday: 7:20-9:25 Seventh Bell 9:15-11:05 Makeup

1. Weekend before the exam Historically, struggling students were more likely to cheat just to get by. Today, aboveaverage college-bound students are more prone to cheating. REPORT CARD

A+ A+ English A+ Science A+ History

Math

73 percent of all test takers agree that most students cheat at some point. 86 percent of high school students agreed. Designed by: Madeleine Suh Source: web.stanford.edu

• Use the 50/10 rule For 50 minutes, work solidly with no breaks or distractions. After working for 50 minutes, take a ten minute break. • Remove yourself from all distractions Put your phone away and turn it off. Try to avoid other technology including computers unless it is necessary to complete your work. • Make flashcards Try to memorize all material you are not familiar with.

2. Night before the exam

• Get a good amount of sleep Studies have shown that you remember more and perform better after six hours of sleep. • Study the big picture concepts Do not focus on details. This can include reviewing vocabulary and reading chapter summaries.

3. Morning of the exam

• Caffeinate Know your body and how much you need to stay awake and alert without being jittery. • Eat breakfast Have a normal breakfast to prevent stomach aches and avoid heavy foods. • Know when to stop studying Give your brain a chance to rest right before the test.

Cut here to save the guide for later

TEACHER TAKE:

Teachers share their perspectives on cheating ANISA KHATANA news chief

LINDSEY BRINKMAN entertainment chief

Mrs. Laura Newton, English teacher How often do you catch students cheating? I probably catch students a few times each year. Sometimes it is on a quiz, sometimes they use online content when writing an essay in class. Do some classes/groups of your students cheat more than others? It seems like I catch more students in higher level classes, honors or AP, more than other groups of students. Why do you think cheating is so prevalent at SHS today, or would you say cheating is at a low? I would say it is prevalent, mostly due to students having such high expectations of themselves. Often, they enroll in too many AP courses

and become overwhelmed by the amount of work, or they are involved in so many activities outside of school they resort to copying homework, etc. because they could not get everything done. On the other hand, our department has worked diligently to change the sorts of assignments we give in order to curtail cheating. We try and use unique writing prompts to deter students from cheating, and I have moved away from recall sorts of assignments to more application of skills in order to encourage more critical thinking and creating less need to cheat. Have any of your students ever cheated in a uniquely inventive manner?

I remember one student taking a quiz on Greek and Latin roots had the list in his sweatshirt and kept moving his sweatshirt aside to glance down at the answers. I kept watching him to figure out what he was doing! I had another student cheat on an in-class essay for ‘[The Great] Gatsby.’ He pulled things from online and his essay was completely incoherent. It was easy to find his online sources. Students don’t always realize that if I have been reading your writing all year, I have a good chance of recognizing work that doesn’t sound like them.

Mrs. Christel Brown, math teacher How often do you catch students cheating? I try not to give students the opportunity to cheat. They need to know that you are watching them when they are taking a test. Also, I usually try and give two different forms of the test in class so students do not have the same test as the person that they are sitting next to. Sometimes I see students look sideways at someone else’s paper. Maybe they are cheating, but I think that sometimes they just want to see if they are doing something correctly and feel more comfortable if they see another person

All photos courtesy of staff

solving the problem the same way that they are. If I see that, I call the person out and move their desk. Do some classes/groups of your students cheat more than others? I don't really think so. Why do you think cheating is so prevalent at SHS today, or would you say cheating is at a low? I think that when given the opportunity, many students cheat. The pressure to be successful and get top grades in high school and get into a top college... is really

hard on students Oftentimes, they are overloaded academically and if they are unprepared, they may feel compelled to cheat to be successful. Have any of your students ever cheated in a uniquely inventive way? I haven't really encountered that.

Mr. Michael Geyer, chemistry teacher How often do you catch students cheating? I don’t really try to catch them cheating. I’m not looking to catch them cheating. But a couple times a year, for certain. Do some classes/groups of your students cheat more than others? Academic [chemistry] usually cheats on homework. AP [chemistry] cheats on tests and homework. If we take a test and you see someone specifically come to the room in AP, that means I caught them cheating on a test and they have an assigned seat during the test. Usually it’s once, but one year I caught someone cheating twice. The first time, I don’t tell anybody; I just walk over--I’ll watch them for about three or four minutes and then I’ll sneak up behind them and whisper into their ear, ‘Why are you cheating? I’ve been watching you for the past three or four minutes. Meet me after class.’ The second time, we have a meeting with the administration and their parents. [In Academic chemistry classes,] while there’s cheating on quizzes and tests, usually that’s a lot more blatant.

There’s the whole head-goes-down, whispering, back away from the table and look at your lap- that kind of stuff happens all the time. There’s going to be cheating that I’m just not going to catch. And some of that may have to do with noises or clocks or things like that. But with homework, there was so much cheating going on that we now post the answers the night before we check the homework. If they’re going to cheat, I would much rather them copy off of the right stuff than copy off of the wrong stuff. Why do you think cheating is so prevalent at SHS today, or would you say cheating is at a low? There’s more of an emphasis on grades than on learning. That’s what it all comes down to. ‘I want to get into a certain college- I don’t really care if I… am prepared for college, but I have got to go there’ or ‘I don’t want to be in this class; someone’s making me take it. All I really want is the grade. Let me just do whatever I can to get by.’ Have any of your students ever cheated in a uniquely inventive manner? Just this year, a student wrote the

polyatomic ions on the inside of their waistband, so while we were taking the quiz, they were rolling down their waistband and looking at the answers. And the only reason I know that is because a student clued me in. I had to move them to the front of the room and give them their quiz last, and I was standing right there… walking around… Whenever I would turn the opposite way, that’s when the waistband would get rolled down. Another student called me over quietly and they whispered in my ear, ‘he’s got all of the answers written inside his waistband.’ And so I went back behind him and watched it once. I have to catch it on tape for something like that to be proven… people are extremely creative. Some will spend more time cheating than just learning the material.

Mr. Brian Fallon, history teacher How often do you catch students cheating? Quite a bit. And when I say quite a bit, it’s usually once every two weeks. Do some classes/groups of your students cheat more than others? I think some students are lazy, then they rely on cheating to get their homework done. So, yeah it can be per class, some of the classes are a little more suspected to do it. Why do you think cheating is so prevalent at SHS today, or would you say cheating is at a low? It’s easier for students and it’s harder for teachers to monitor what they are doing online; documents can be

shared, especially if you are doing something on Google classroom, or other things like that. Also, students are more willing to help out, so if a student is maybe a little less motivated to get their homework done, they go to somebody in the class and say “Hey can I look off your sheet?”or “Can I copy yours tonight?” And students are more willing to allow them. Have any of your students ever cheated in a uniquely inventive manner? I saw somebody take their water bottle,and cut out the bottom and put a little note with a bunch of definitions on it, then put the plastic back on. They kept on turning it over on the side, and

then copy off of it. I’ve also had a lot of cheating through cell phones, which is why most teachers don’t allow any cell phones out. It’s really easy to take a picture and just send it. Cheating, ironically, is just as hard as studying. To come up with the ideas, to cheat and to be dishonest, you could put that effort into studying and get just as good of a grade. Sometimes it is pretty creative, but, again it is frowned upon. 17

FUN & GAMES December 13, 2018

Jumping into New Yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s crossword 1

Hints

Across 3. At the beginning of the year, most will make one of these to try and better themselves for the upcoming year. 5. After the countdown is finished, most will ____ through the night. 8. While waiting for the new year to start, some attend these to enjoy the company of their loved ones. 9. As a sign of the New Year beginning, most couples do this. 10. At midnight these might go off into the sky to celebrate. 11. When it gets close to midnight, this begins the _____. 12. While standing outside waiting for the ball to drop, be sure to not forget these to keep your hands toasty. Down 1. After the New Year starts, adults might clink champagne glasses and _____ to the New Year. 2. When the New Year starts, this month also begins. 4. When 2018 ends, the _____ will begin. 6. Most begin their celebrating on New Years ____ 7. People gather here before the ball is dropped.

Riddle

I have keys, but no locks. I have space but no room. You can enter, but you cannot go outside. What am I? Answer: A Keyboard

For answers please go to shsleaf.org

18 Puzzle Maker used to create Crossword

4 5

9 10

Sudoku

Difficulty Level: Easy

7 ? ?

9 7

8 1 9

5 8 2

6 8 4 5 4 2 9 5 3 7 1 4 8 9 6 2 7 4 6

Page by: Charlotte Weiss

Griga creates masterpiece

ENTERTAINMENT December 13, 2018

LYDIA MASSET video editor IN OCTOBER, SHS’ very own photography

teacher, Mr. Peiter Griga, had a gallery show opening at the 21c Museum Hotel in downtown Cincinnati. His exhibition features work from his recent book “LIMINALLYYOURS” and will be up for a year. The project centers around reverse searching tweets through the Library of Congress’s archives and then using the geotag attached to the Tweet to visit and photograph the location where the tweet was typed and published. “The process was extraordinarily arbitrary and arduous... not knowing if [the tweet] had geotags, and then learning the technology of reading geotags, and then putting that data into a GPS, and going to these locations- whether they’re a thousand miles away, a hundred miles away, or five miles away,” Griga said. The project itself was as an exploration between social media as a whole and the motivation behind sharing such powerful emotions online. “I think the best way to begin with this is to

think about how human emotions deal with a sense of urgency… or some type of immediate hijacking of emotion that sends you in such a state that you have to use social media as a way to make sure that you’re heard. “Because if there’s no one around that you can actually vocalize something to you’re [going to] turn to this ocean of data, it becomes a message in a bottle, and these intensely personal things get put out it to the world because of a fear of being forgotten,” Griga said. As someone who traditionally uses black and white film photography, the project, which was shot digitally, was also a major learning in many ways. It was also the first of his projects that had been marketed nationwide (mainly in California). “Another thing I learned [through this] is that this that art is so much more than just making something or creating something new, it is a creative entrepreneurship where you have to market yourself and undergo a lot of your own

advertising… “The idea of the artists just painting away in the studio or just out taking pictures is a myth, and I think I’ve finally come to the realization that the 21st century artists has to be very versatile in what they do,” Griga said. Griga’s book is available for purchase through him personally, in the 21c gift shop, and will also be available on his website (peitergriga. net) in the coming months. His photos will be available for viewing in the 21c free of charge for the next year. “The world needs more creative approaches to using the tools that we have, we need to think critically about ethical values and institutions, if we use our ability to be creative students and teachers will be quite dynamic in whatever they want to be. “While art is extremely difficult either to make or understand it’s incredibly rewarding and the world needs more creativity,” Griga said.

‘Tis the season for hot chocolate MEGAN SOELLNER copy editor Winter is here, and what better way to warm up on a cold day than with hot chocolate? You could go out to your local coffee shop or even better, you can make a cup on your own. Making hot chocolate yourself is quick, simple and also affordable. But, with the amount of brands out there how do you know which brand is the best? I’ve decided to test out a few options sold at the grocery store to try and get to the bottom of this. I picked milk chocolate flavoring, and used one packet of hot cocoa for every eight ounces of milk. I decided to use milk because it was recommended for a “richer” taste.

The factors: taste, texture, dissolvability, and calories. Nestle Milk Chocolate: Nestle Milk Hot Chocolate is a classic. The flavor is very chocolaty and is sweet to the taste. However, it did not mix well and I was left with chunks of powder in the mug. The texture was also a little watery and did not have the richness that I desired. However, one huge plus of this warm drink is that it is only 80 calories without milk so you will not feel guilty about drinking it every single day.

Swiss Miss Milk Chocolate: If you like extremely sweet hot chocolate, Swiss Miss is the brand for you. This hot chocolate had a very rich flavor. When combined with milk, it easily dissolved leaving zero chunks. The silky texture and good consistency allowed for easy drinking. The only minus to this brand is the number of calories: 160 calories per package without milk.

Kroger brand Milk Chocolate: The Kroger brand is a great deal if you do not want to spend a bunch on hot cocoa. Sometimes, even the generic brand tastes better than the others. And that was true for the hot chocolate. The amount of calories is also low at only 80 calories for the chocolaty taste that you get when taking a sip. Photo courtesy of Allyson Bonhaus

SOLES SYCAMORE

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SYDNEY WEISS art and photo managing editor

SARA MARGOLIS art and photo editor

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All photos courtesy of Sydney Weiss and Sara Margolis

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Converse Chuck Taylor All Star II High Top

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Nike Presto Fly

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Vans Sk8-Hi Platform 2.0

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them to provide adequate support. Regardless of how or why people acquire the soles they do, they say a lot about the person and allow for self-expression. Here are some of the shoes that are currently strolling the halls of SHS.

SOLES SYCAMORE

in search of the perfect, most fashionable shoes; others purchase a pair for comfort rather than style and wear them until the soles are worn out. Shoes are more than just an article of clothing: unlike sweaters, jeans, or tops, shoes are worn day after day and the wearer counts on

THE

SOME STUDENTS SCOUR the Internet

Sneakers allow self-expression

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December 13, 2018

YCAMORE

ENTERTAINMENT

December 13, 2018

Holiday Insta-ready looks

ENTERTAINMENT

GRACE ZHANG copy editor

December is here and that means holidays! It is officially the party season and that calls for some memorable outfits. Here to inspire, my top festive chic looks will keep you style-ready to rock any party this time of year. The best part? Many of these looks are built from items you probably already have. So with that, open your closet, blast your favorite records and get ready to style.

Look No. ELEGANCE

My absolute go-to, I have dubbed this look as a modern take on classy glamour. When you are really running low on time, put away the razzle-dazzle and take a note from fashion icons Coco Chanel and Audrey Hepburn. Simplicity here is key. A classic red lip, a dash of sparkle and you are ready to go. Magnifique.

Look No. SHIMMER

Parties tend to heat up, so layers will be your best friend. Slip on a sequin staple, layer over your softest knits, and consider grabbing a belt to cinch the look together, all in record time.

Look No. CITY CHIC

Last but not least, who says you can not rock some edge during the holidays? 2018 is all about city chic so grab your favorite black boots, a timeless purse, your sleekest statement jacket and you will be well on your way. Spending less time to flawless will give you more time to party. Models: Linya Guo, Grace Zhang, Sophia Odaka

FOCUS December 13, 2018

Queen City Trampoline and Tumbling (QCTnT) team member and SHS sophomore Kaila Powers has been competing for the last eight years. The sport includes power tumbling, trampoline, and double mini. Team members compete separately, unless participating in synchronized trampoline, and without music or dancing. Powers has competed at the national level and ranked 14th for trampoline. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is really fun, I love the people who are in it; you make a lot of friends. [There are] just a lot of memories. You get to do a lot of stuff like travel with your friends and see a lot of places,â&#x20AC;? Powers said.

Want to be our next Focus? Email shsstudentvoice@gmail. com with your talent. Photo courtesy of Erika Gebele Page by: Allyson Bonhaus

SPORTS

December 13, 2018