The Leaflet The Leaflet 8. 30.17 | Vol. 4 Issue 1
survival tips issue Hello to the students of SHS! Welcome to all new and returning readers of SHS’s official digital news magazine. We know you are all excited for the new school year. Yet, there is a sense of anxiety in the air. So, we on the staff of The Leaflet have decided to dedicate this month’s magazine to giving everyone good tips and tricks to make this school year successful. Ever want to know if teachers really give pop quizzes or if
that was just a story junior high teachers told you to scare you? Or, what things you should never do while in high school? We have you covered. We will not only be letting you in on senior secrets about how to meander in the halls but still always make it to class on time but also giving you some insight into the different sports and clubs we offer here at SHS. We hope this issue will be a helpful guide for you the rest of the school year.
Taylor Close & Sydney Evans
staff members Jenna Bao Natalie Brinkman Lindsey Brinkman Ally Bonhaus Morgan Brownell Adhiti Chundur Taylor Close Sydney Evans Maya Goldenberg Ben Green
Yasmine Guedira Haritha Kalaiarasan Anisa Khatana Everett Kohinke Hannah Lee Abigail Lefton Emme Loon Jessica Lu Harsimran Makkad Sara Margolis
Leaflet Editors-in-Chief Taylor Close Sydney Evans Executive Editor Jenna Bao Associate Editor Adhiti Chundur Print Editors-in-Chief Nathalie Brinkman Adhiti Chundur
This issue Anne Marsh Lydia Masset Claire Myers Aidan Noble Yvanna Reyes Madeleine Suh Kirsten Thomas Jack Wolfe Sydney Weiss Jay Wright
Web Editor-in-Chief Harsimran Makkad Social Media Director Sydney Weiss Creative Projects Director Taylor Close Yasmine Guedira Anne Marsh Sydney Weiss
p2: Best staircases to take p6: find your sport p8: get to know your teachers p12: be ready for pop quizzes p14: don’t panic p18: what to put in your bag p20: make a schedule for reading p22: Things you shouldn’t do The Leaflet, the official digital newsmagazine of Sycamore High School, serves as an educational tool in the training of student journalists. We provide information and editorial leadership concerning school, national, and world issues. We also provide a public forum for the exchange of ideas and viewpoints and give coverage to newsworthy events directly related to our diverse school population. These viewpoints are purely from the staff of The Leaflet and not the administration.
Sycamore High School 7400 Cornell Road Cincinnati, OH 45242
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Best staircases to take to get to classes quicker Rm 115
Key
The Hub
Good staircases to take
Little Theater Commons
Locker bay 2
Photo courtesy of Anita Pan
“Last year was probably o freshman and sophomore y way to get there quickly is a entrance where seniors com main staircase by the Hub i room and go up that stairca Another good route is if yo turn left out of the chem ha route either, so it’s pretty ha The last route I figured out
Bad staircases to take Gym
Pool
one of the hardest and longest travel routes by far compared to this year and year. So from Mrs. Laura Newton’s class to Mrs. Katrina Smith’s class, a good a staircase near the side entrance of the school (near the front office and the me in from their parking lot). Another fast route to beat the traffic jam by that is to go all the way past the journalism room and past Mr. Andrew Ovington’s ase, which is so empty that you can walk however fast you want. ou're in chemistry class and you have to go to APUSH (AP US History) or AP Psych, allway and take the staircase near room 233. Not that many people take that andy. t was by the French and Latin rooms, or the art rooms. It’s also a staircase that’ll lead to a hallway to the senior locker area. This staircase is almost never used by many people because I often find a person or two reading on the stairs or beneath the stairwell-it’s very quiet there,” said Anita Pan, 12.
Design by Sydney Evans Information by Sydney Evans
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WHICH
CLUB IS RIGHT FOR YOU
Do you like to exercise your body or your brain?
body
Would you rather do something for others or feel centered?
brain
others
world
centered
Yoga C lub
Are you passionate about world issues or issues closer to home?
Would you like interacting with students from other places?
home
Would you rather go to a football game or stay in? top of next page
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Photos courtesy of McDaniel’s Photography, MCT Photo
yeah
Student Council
paint
Would you rather write a report on climate change or foreign affairs?
foreign
go
Would you consider yourself more of an advocate or an artist?
Would you rather debate someone or paint their portrait?
debate
stay in
not really
advocate
artist
Do you care about your effect on the environment?
Memory Project
yes
not really
climate
Do you typically shy away from or debate people with different views?
Environmental C lub
Model United Nations
debate
shy away
Return to first question
Design by Emily Chien Information by Emily Chien
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Find your sport Advice from SHS senior varsity players
“I’ve been playing volleyball since I was in the second grade. My favorite game was definitely sophomore year in our tournament game against Talawanda. We played five games, and in the fifth game had a huge comeback when we were losing 9-14. In general, (especially this year) it’s amazing to spend time with all these girls and get so close with them. They are a great group,” said Alexis Grannen, 12.
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All photos courtesy of McDaniel’s Photography
“I have played football since I was five years old. My favorite moment ever was beating Mason for the second time in the playoffs!” said Benjamin (Tate) Goodyear, 12.
“I have been playing water polo for four years now. My favorite moment was my sophomore year when I was thrown into goalie for a game, and I ended up scoring our only goal from goal,” said Meegan Gould, 12.
“I have played golf for seven years. My favorite high school tournament was at Inverness, which is a course that has hosted previous US Opens. It was a great experience. It’s always great bonding with teammates during the three and a half hour van ride. My best moment, however, was this year on Aug. 22 when I shot a two under par 34, which is a career low,” said Victor Lim, 12.
“I have been playing tennis since I was nine, including all four years of high school. My favorite team activity is probably fun day, which is a day in the season dedicated to team bonding with everyone from Varsity A, B, and JV. It’s really fun because everyone is together in one place as one big team,” said Madison Ringer, 12. Design by Adhiti Chundur, Sydney Evans Information by Sydney Evans
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Get to know a staff member
"Teachers usually become teachers because we care about our The academic stuff is important, obviously, but most of us do wha because of the relationships. I never really developed close relati with my high school teachers (and I now wish I had), but in colleg made a point of getting to know my professors. They were all inter people, and the relationships I built with them helped me personally and academically. I had context for who they and why they cared about what they were teaching m said Mr. Benjamin Vore, English teacher.
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Photo courtesy of Sophia Galyon
students. at we do ionships ge I resting e y were me,”
“When students and teachers connect, it can motivate students to go to school and help make subject matter more interesting. It makes school a more comfortable environment and even less stressful,”said Sophia Galyon, 12.
Design by Taylor Close Information by Taylor Close
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Go to sporting events
Cost of events $6 for adults $4 for students *All events free with Aves Season Pass
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Photo courtesy of McDaniel’s Photography
“By attending school events and supporting your school you are heightening your experience of your time there. Otherwise, school will just become a gloomy place where you study. If you aren’t getting involved with your community, what’s the point?” said Scan here to see full game schedules of all SHS sports
Design by Sydney Evans Information by Sydney Evans
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Pop quizzes “I have learned over the years that if I do not give pop quizzes, students will not do their reading. Now it’s just becoming fun for me to try to keep them on their toes by randomly giving quizzes to different bells. It might be working. My favorite story is that they do not believe I give a different quiz for every bell. So, the best thing is when the answers to bell three’s quiz are on bell seven’s quizzes to different questions,” said Mrs. Valerie Nimeskern, APUSH teacher.
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Photos courtesy of Jenna Bao, Sydney Evans
“Usually, pop quizzes are open note, so if you take concise notes that cover the necessary information, you’ll be fine. I’ve had several teachers give me pop quizzes before, most of them in history. As much as I hate to admit it, they help me stay on top of my notes but can also occasionally hurt my grade when I’m careless. I’ve failed a few pop quizzes before, and it’s just simply my fault for not doing the notes. I don’t usually get stressed over school so I just shrug it off and do better the next time,” said Nikhil Sekar, 12.
Every year the APUSH students have a contest for their t-shirt design for that year. They all wear their shirts to their AP exam at the end of the year to have a sense of solidarity. Last year’s design was created by senior Adam Meller, using a photo taken of Nimeskern during her seventh bell class. Design by Sydney Evans Information by Sydney Evans
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Don’t Pa Don’t: te m ica ur nd Co un h yo er a r m t e wi each ov t go
-Blame your teacher because that will result in more frustration. -Let the grade discourage you- one bad grade does not define who you are as a student.
-Make excuses, just accept that sometimes it happens. -Lead you to think that you are doomed in that class.
You fail a
Forget your
-Waste time freaking out. -Expect to get through your whole routine.
-Let your fear take hold of you (remember you are only as prepared as everyone else).
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You wake
There is a p
anic If... Do:
a test
homework
e up late
pop quiz
F
-Communicate with your teacher and go over your test so you can understand what went wrong. -Make sure you are prepared for future tests by planning out a study schedule.
-Ask your teacher about his/her late policy in hopes that you can bring the hw in the next day. -Learn from this mistake by checking that all of your homework is done and packed away before you head off for school.
-Only the necessary parts of your morning routine. -Know that everything will be okay- but you’ll be marked tardy.
-Let go of your worries about failing and try to concentrate on the task at hand. -The best that you can and remember it is not the end of the world of you don’t do too well.
Design by Maya Goldenberg Information by Maya Goldenberg
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Go to school performances Band and Orchetra 2017-2018 SHS has one string orchestra, three concert bands, and a marching band, all with multiple performances throughout the year. Band and orchestra each has at least one concert in winter and one at the end of the year. Support our music programs and check out sbob.org for a calendar of events/performances!
Experie and ce Tickets
Theater 2017schedule
“A Midsummer N OCT. 27-28TH, 201 “Game of Tiaras” NOV. 10-11, 2017 “Joseph and the Technicolor Drea FEB. 1-3, 2018 “Into the Woods” APRIL 13, 14, 20, 2
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All photos courtesy of McDaniel’s Photography.
ence SEE1, SHS’ unique string ensemble where violinists ellists can play rock and jazz tunes on electric instruments. s will be sold closer to concert date of Fri. Feb. 16.
Orchestra
Band
Theater
Scan here for
-2018
Night’s Dream” 17 ”
e Amazing amcoat”
” 21, 2018
Purchase tickets early for $10 and $12 at the door. Visit avestheater.org for more information. Design by Sydney Evans Information by Jenna Bao
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Pack your backpack for every occasion
18 Photo courtesy of Sydney Evans
n
Helpful items to include Chargers (phone & laptop)
Light sweater
Chapstick
Money
Course material
Planner Plastic bags (for things that get wet)
Deck of cards Deodorant Earbuds Flash drive Gum Hand sanitizer Keys
Post-it Notes Snacks Sunglasses Tissues Umbrella Water bottle
“I always carry gum with me because I find that it helps keep me focused and awake during those classes that are in the middle of the day lull. The only thing I would say is to hide it in a place only known to you so that your friends don’t take any without asking you first. I also always have my phone charger with me now because of the one time that it ran out of battery during the day, and that was the day that I needed it for directions after school,” said Allen Crimmel, 10.
Design by Taylor Close Information by Taylor Close
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Plan out reading assignments in English Breaking up English readings into how many pages you should read each day helps with the following: 1. Time management 2. Reduced stress levels 3. Reading comprehension
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Photo courtesy of Sydney Evans
“The best way to get things done is to plan out the reading and complete a little bit each day. It is important to always read with a pen in hand to be actively engaged in your reading. Reading extensively is the best way to increase your reading speed,� said Mrs. Laura Newton, English teacher.
Design by Sydney Evans Information bySydney Evans
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Things you shouldn’t do in
High School
1 2 3 22
Freshman and sophomore GPAs do matter-do not slack off during your first two years of high school Your first two years of high school are an important foundation for your final GPA and college admissions. By the time you get to junior or senior year, it may be too late to make a significant improvement. Your GPA is long- term, and building a strong foundation during freshman and sophomore year is extremely important.
Do not take classes just because your friends are taking them High school is a time to explore different classes and interests. Besides taking required classes, there are many electives and alternative classes you can take during high school. Do not waste time taking electives you have no interest in simply to follow your friendsuse your short time in high school to explore different interests and potential career paths.
Do not freak out every time you do badly on ONE test Even though a bad grade seems like the end of the world at the time, in the big picture one test in a sea of various assignments is not a big deal. Talk to your teacher, but more importantly, analyze what went wrong. Doing a post-mortem on a bad test or quiz enables you to dig deeper and see what you need to improve on for the next time.
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Procrastinate
“Don’t procrastinate” is perhaps the most ubiquitous piece of advice given to high school and college students. During every spare bit of free time you get in class, work on homework and assignments. Even though it seems like an unnecessary waste of time doing homework during the last few minutes of class when you could be on your phone, every little bit counts, and working on homework during your free time during the school day could be the difference between going to bed at 11 p.m.- and midnight.
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Stop to talk to your friends in the middle of the hallway
It is very annoying and inconvenient for everyone. The hallways are supposed to be an efficient path from one of your classrooms to the next, however, this all falls apart when there are groups of students clogging it up. If you want to talk to your friends move into a class (not in front of the class’s doorway) or move away from the main hallways. If you continue to do this as the year progresses people might get more annoyed to the point where they no longer move around you, but rather they start to shove their way through you and your friends.
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skip class
If you are required to be in school for seven hours a day, just make it count and do the work you are assigned when you are required to be here. Skipping class is (1) irresponsible, and (2) adds more makeup work to the normal workload you get from classes. By disrespecting your teachers, it will be very unlikely you will get extra credit or extensions to makeup the work that you missed.
Design by Adhiti Chundur Information by Taylor Close
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The Leaflet