March 2019 Leaf

THE LEAF Sycamore High School News Magazine Volume 6 | Issue 6 | March 11, 2019

JUULS IN THE PHOTO PROVIDED BY OFFICER PAUL PAYNE’S CONFISCATED COLLECTION. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE LEAF STAFF

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 SLUG PATROL BUSINESS STAFF Alex Bullock Lindsey Brinkman STAFF WRITER Hannah Lee Ephraim Carlson Charlotte Weiss ADVISER Jack Wolfe Alexandra Frost PR TEAM PHOTOGRAPHER Gabby Khodadad McDaniel’s Photography Henry Loeb Professional Memberships: Allison McElroy Columbia Scholastic Press Deeya Prakash Association Jack Wolfe Journalism Education NEWS Association Anisa Khatana National Scholastic High SPORTS School Press Association Madeleine Suh Ohio Scholastic Media FEATURE Association Harsitha Kalaiarasan Ohio Professional Writers ENTERTAINMENT (National Federation of Lindsey Brinkman Women Writers) OPINION Quill & Scroll International Abigail Lefton ASSOCIATE OPINION EDITOR Journalism Honorary Deeya Prakash FUN & GAMES Charlotte Weiss

NEWS

FUN & GAMES

2 Blackface 3 English curriculum 4 Master facility plan

19 Guess the city crossword

OPINION

ENTERTAINMENT

5 Staff editorial 6 Senioritis 7 Toxic masculinity 8 Ads 9 Status symbols

20 Ads 21 BTS 22 Bubble tea 23 Breakfast 24 Orchestra

FEATURE

FOCUS

COVER

SPORTS

10 Spring break 11 Catan 12 Girl Scout cookies 13 Juuling 14 Juul fast facts 15 Juul addiction 16 OPP Q&A 17 SHS staff on Juuling 18 Illegal behavior

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.

25 Kasey Lowe

26 Bengals new coach 27 Athletics experience 28 March Madness 29 Opening day

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 It is great to see you again! Thank you for buying The Leaf, and for supporting us throughout this fantastic year. As mentioned in our previous issue, we are now beginning the process of preparing for next year. This entails many things that we are so excited for.

Thank you for sticking around with us as we get ready for another great year As you have probably already picked up, this month’s issue story focuses on how the Juul has become something so prevalent throughout the nation. While writing this issue we tried to uncover the unknown on the oh-so-popular e-cigarette.

We tried to toe the line between condemning and advocating; our class brainstorms drove us to the best coverage—we even got an anonymous student source.

Through our research we found some surprising facts that might even shock some of the most well-versed users. And, after speaking with Officer Paul Payne (OPP), we learned some of the inside scoop on just how hard the Juul is hitting SHS. However, if discussing the Juul doesn’t give you a buzz, we have lots of other stories to get you hooked. In the opinion section, you can read about everything from Airpods to toxic masculinity; in feature, read about spring break trips; and in sports, read about March Madness and prepare to enter our bracket contest.

On the other hand, if you are just looking to give your brain a little break, fun and games is located on page 19.

And if you find yourself craving for more, our website www.shsleaf.org is always there for you. We update it everyday so make sure to check it for the latest and greatest news.

If you have anything you need to communicate to us or something you want us to cover in The Leaf or online, please send us an email at shsstudentvoice@gmail.com. We look forward to hearing from you!

If you have survived this far, congratulations and thank you! We hope you enjoy this issue and find just what you desire. Now grab a snack and go have some fun with this issue.

NEWS

March 11, 2019

BLACKFACE PERSISTS DESPITE CONTROVERSY One in three Americans say blackface is acceptable JESSICA LU social media director

RESIGN OR FORGIVE? Virginia governor Ralph Northam (right) and Attorney General Mark Herring (left), as well as Florida Secretary of State Mike Ertel (center) and State Representative Anthony Sabatini, are under public scrutiny for their usage of blackface in their youth.

Photos courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

AS BLACKFACE PHOTOS of high

“I think people think it’s funny...In these skits often portrayed African Americans as “lazy, ignorant, superstitious, hypersexual, ranking politicians resurface online, thunderous environments where there’s not a diverse student body, and people aren’t around black and prone to thievery and cowardice.” reactions have taken the media by storm. people and don’t have black perspectives While 200 years have passed since the first Some are outraged; some are appalled. But informing their actions, they think ‘it’s not that minstrel show, the wounds from the blackface some do not see it as a problem. big of a deal; it’s just a costume,’” Ndiaye mockery are still very much open to the African While these American community.

“THEY THINK ‘IT’S NOT said. incriminating The history behind this traditionally In the same survey by Pew Research photos were taken THAT BIG OF A DEAL; offensive portrayal traces its roots back to Center, about 70 percent of African Americans in the politicians’ disapprove of the usage of blackface in teens and early IT’S JUST A COSTUME’” mid-19th century minstrel shows.

These costumes. twenties, the XADI NDIAYE, 12 shows were But to senior Karisa Grandison, usage of blackface, “PEOPLE THINK IT’S a popular blackface is not just a costume issue; it is a or purposely OKAY TO MAKE LIGHT OF societal one. source of darkening one’s skin to resemble African entertainment American is still widespread.

HORRIFIC TRADITIONS “I’m hurt by it because it’s people in the Jim Crow willingly disregarding the history of racism According to a 2019 survey conducted by OF THE PAST” era, where white in America. People think it’s okay to make Pew Research Center, one in three Americans performers believe using blackface as part of a Halloween KARISA GRANDISON, 12 light of horrific traditions of the past,” she painted their faces said. costume is acceptable. black to mock African Americans.

“They try to erase it and redefine it without And senior Xadi Ndiaye says she still sees The National Museum of African American regard to black people’s feelings about it, even blackface “every year” during the annual History and Culture (NMAAHC) reports that though we are the ones most affected by it.” holiday.

REDEMPTION FOR POLITICIANS?

“[Their] actions were racist...[But] I think people change...There is room for people to grow, but I think that they have to put in that conscious effort to make sure that they’re learning from their mistakes and to make amends to the people that they’ve hurt and affected,” said Xadi Ndiaye, 12.

02

“I don’t know if they should resign, but I’m leaning towards yes. Sure, it happened a long time ago when they were younger, but I find it hard to believe that people change at all,” said Ally Landrum, 12.

Sources: newyorker.com, nytimes.com, pewresearch.org, cnn.com, npr.org, chnm.gmu.edu

Photos courtesy of Xadi Ndiaye and Ally Landrum

NEWS

March 11, 2019

NEW PROPOSAL, NEW CHANGES Teachers speak on new English curriculum GRACE ZHANG

How does this impact YOU?

copy editor

English department head

Mrs. Emily Sweeney, English teacher

Staff photos courtesy of Grace Zhang

Mrs. Melissa Wolfe-Izworski,

As SHS students, depending on the receival of the proposals, you may be getting a later school start time. Furthermore, underclassmen will now have debates junior year, rather than the traditional sophomore debates.

Q: Why was the proposal assigned Q: What is the primary purpose to the sophomore English class? of the PBL proposal?

A: Because the English department A: This particular proposal is about is moving some of the required persuading [the] Central Office and curriculum to different grade levels the Board of Education to change [debate moving to junior year], we the high school’s start time to later found the sophomores needing a in the morning based on the myriad new research assignment. We felt research that supports later start that a proposal project was a nice times for adolescents. This proposal transition from the freshman PSA allows students to engage with a topic [Public Service Announcement] that directly affects them, as well as before they move into the new partake in real dialogue with their placement of debate their junior own district staff. year.

Q: While on the topic of curriculum Q: What curriculum changes switches, how does this impact prompted this replacement? each grade?

A: The English department felt it was A: It only affects this year’s necessary to move the American sophomores, and in the end it Literature curriculum to sophomore h doesn’t really affect them because year due the nature and focus of akas ya Pr e e D they will still participate in the the current AIR tests students are sy of urte o co t o h P debate process as juniors. required to take.

Q: What do you hope students can gain from this experience?

A: Project-Based Learning (PBL) is a teaching method that recently has been gaining a great deal of [popularity]. We constantly strive to stay current and relevant in our curriculum and instruction; so, we want all our students to work on a project over an extended period of time that engages them in solving a real-world problem or answering a complex question at each grade level. In the PBL framework, students demonstrate their knowledge and skills by developing a public [presentation] for a real audience.

As a result, students develop deep content knowledge as well as critical thinking, creativity, and 03 communication skills.

NEWS

March 11, 2019

THE MASTER PLAN

District creates three options for holistic future renovations KIRSTEN THOMAS LINDSEY BRINKMAN managing editor

entertainment chief

THE RENOVATION OF the upper science wing has given staff, students, and the community a peek into the future of SHS. As it turns out, many more involved renovations are hopefully going to occur in the district.

The master facility planning process has been in the works for about two and a half years. With support from the community, these plans may start coming to life.

The Master Facility Plan focuses on the district as a whole. Currently, there are three options the district and community are considering.

Option one Cost: $124 million to 130 million Rebuild the Edwin H. Greene School Build a new Sycamore Junior High School Update parts of the elementary schools Build a stadium at SHS Renovate SHS

No matter which plan is selected, SHS can expect renovations throughout the building.

Depending on which option is decided by the school board, some renovations may take place during the school year, not just during the summer.

“With every option, when you talk building new buildings, whatever option it is with a brand new building we could do that and keep kids in the existing buildings, the challenge… is that when we do renovations to the high school, the intent would be to do the majority of them in

the summer but that may not be possible.

So, we’d have to get creative here in the building,” said Superintendent Frank Forsthoefel.

Specifically, renovations to the remaining section of the old science wing are to be expected.

Forsthoefel ensures students, “it’s going to happen, it’s just a matter is it this summer or next summer.”

Although plans are still up in the air, the community can expect changes to our district’s facilities in the upcoming years.

Option two Option three Cost: $124 million to 130 million

Cost: $122 million to 128 million

Create a grade six through eight middle school located on the Junior High lot

Build a grade five through eight middle school on the Junior High lot

Change the elementary schools to being grades one through five

Bring some updates to the elementary schools

Build a pre-kindergarten through kindergarten early childhood center on the Edwin H. Greene School campus site

Build a stadium at SHS Renovate SHS

Build a stadium at SHS Renovate SHS

From the admin: “If we’re lucky enough to go through the process, the end result will be something that everybody can be very, very proud of,” said Principal Doug Mader.

“As we move forward in this process, assuming it’s supported by the community… safety will be a number one priority to us. We will come to the table looking at buildings from a safety perspective,” said Superintendent Frank Forsthoefel.

04

LEAFING THROUGH THE MASSES: Why do you think teens do illegal things?

Sources: forbes.com, juul.com, center4research.org, cdc.gov

Photo courtesy of Keira Millerchip

“I believe teens engage in illegal activities because it serves as a ‘outlet’ from school and peer pressure,” said Daniel Leong, 11.

“They are curious of the illegal activities and are still learning how to make good choices because of the stages of human development,” said Ms. Leah Hunt, French teacher.

Photo courtesy of Charlotte Weiss

A buzz, a pod, a hit: these words comprise the vocabulary of an increasing number of high school students—that is, those who choose to Juul.

A Juul is an e-cigarette that contains nicotine and is sold in flavors varying from cucumber to mango. While the Juul was originally intended to help smokers overcome addiction, it has quickly become prevalent among the teenage population.

The company’s advertising approach has even been blamed for teenage misuse; the fruity flavors and promotion as a smoking “alternative” is often attributed to normalizing teenage recreational use of Juuls.

No matter the reason, the fact remains: a lot of kids are doing it. According to U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in five high school students vapes.

But what the captivating flavors mask are the extremely harmful effects of the nicotine contained in every pod.

Nicotine affects the teenage brain differently and is more likely to leave teens prone to life-long addiction. Unfortunately, the Juul’s recent rise in popularity has also left many long-term health effects and their corresponding severities unknown.

Despite the recent awareness about Juuling’s harmful effects, it seems to have found a niche within the student culture. Bathrooms are jokingly referred to as “Juuling rooms” and taking a hit between classes has become commonplace.

The rise of the Juul is often compared to similar “phases” experienced by previous generations when tobacco and alcohol usage was more widespread. However, the potency of Juuls is what makes the current era such an anomaly.

Some students are unaware of what their pod contains. Some are aware and remain indifferent to the fact.

Some students are casual users while others go through a pod a day and find themselves addicted.

Some students do not use at all but find their environment impacted one way or another by Juuling.

That is not to say that everyone has a Juul in their back pocket. More than that, it is to observe the way Juuling is affecting teenagers and student culture as a whole on a day-to-day basis. Whether you Juul or not, everyone is taking a “hit.”

“I think it’s based on who you’re surrounded by: whether it be your family or friends. We act on what [we’ve] seen around [us],” said Gabriela Pereda, 10.

Photo courtesy of Daniel Leong

Staff Editorial

Photo courtesy of Gabriela Pereda

RESTROOM PASTIMES. Juuling in restroom stalls during and between classes has become a popular and widespread habit among the most dependent of users. Two sets of shoes in the handicap stall, the scent of artificial fruit in the air, and particularly long lines in restrooms are often telltale signs that Juulers dwell nearby. In the administration’s efforts to address this problem, Officer Paul Payne (OPP) is known to go on “Juul patrol” in the men’s bathrooms between bells. Read more about Juul patrol and what OPP has to say about Juuling on page 16. Image by Anisa Khatana.

“I think that teens do illegal things because it makes them feel like individuals. They like to go against what they are told,” said Ethan Masset, 9.

column:

OPINION March 11, 2019

A touch of senioritis

Class of ‘19 is unmotivated, bored SYDNEY WEISS

art & photo managing editor

*This article is purely satirical and not meant to be interpreted literally. All quotes were given in a satirical manner as well.

Read at your own risk.

“Last night, instead of wasting time on homework, I made a flight plan from Cincinnati to Charleston, West Virginia. I call that a time well spent,” said Andrew Lawrence, 12.

We are all familiar with the narrative. Some high schoolers spread themselves too thin. They enroll in AP courses, play varsity sports, and become president of multiple clubs.

Although impressive, high school is grueling for these students.

Eventually, seniors apply to college and are delivered emails and letters containing one very important word: congratulations. With the majority of high school and the college application process behind them, the class of 2019 must figure out what to do with the next three months.

Once seniors get into college, the question is what now?

Most seniors spend their final SHS days suffering from senioritis, an affliction resulting in a lack of motivation or drive. While some seniors notice the symptoms come on naturally, others find they must force themselves to spend less time on schoolwork.

Some students find their senioritis so

06

debilitating that they must sleep in and skip their morning classes.

“Seeing as I haven’t brought my backpack home in a month, I’ve had to find new hobbies to fill my time. I’ve since taken up alchemy and competitive dog grooming as my new crafts,” said Madeleine Weiss, 12.

When asked what he has been doing to occupy his spare time, senior Adam Pelberg shared that he has begun watching YouTube videos of Capuchin monkeys.

“The monkeys are so cute. Some of them are really smart, too. I watch them drive battle robots. It is mostly just a thrill to spend time doing something that I can’t put on a resume,” Pelberg said.

Oftentimes, it can seem like seniors go out of their way to avoid school work. With all of the complaining they do, they might as well channel that energy into getting the homework out of the way, right? Actually, wrong.

Senioritis is a rite of passage. It is a privilege to be able to waste time on activities other than school work.

“My only mechanical pencil ran out of lead in September, and I haven’t found the time to buy any more since then,” said Shayna Kling, 12.

If you may be suffering from senioritis, be sure to get lots of rest, whine when teachers give homework, and make fun of your peers if they try too hard in class.

After all, you earned it.

ABIGAIL LEFTON opinion chief

Iran hostage crisis, 9/11, terrorists with too many weapons who commit or plan acts of terrorism or disrupt peace in the Middle East, narcotic flow from Colombia, vessels in Cuba, Syrian crisis, North Korea’s nuclear threat, Somali pirates, Cyber attacks, Myanmar human rights violation, interference with a U.S. election, and finally, last but not least, wanting $5.7 billion to build a wall at the southern border after Congress already said no.

Those were some of the 58 national emergencies reported by Time magazine that have been declared since the National Emergencies Act of 1976 that outlined how and why a president would declare a national emergency.

Since virtually the beginning of President Donald Trump’s campaign, he promised his base that he would deliver them a huge wall. He knows that he must follow through on this promise sooner rather than later because when it comes around to campaign time, it would look really bad if he did not have that wall.

First, he tried the normal way of getting stuff done in government. He asked for the billions of dollars (which have steadily increased) through the budget bill, which outlines how much money goes where for the session.

However, when the bill was made without his wall money, Trump refused to sign it, creating the shutdown situation because also in that bill was the money needed to keep the government open.

He then utilized the only tool left in his belt as the president of the United States: declaring a national emergency. But the question lawyers, Congress, and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) are asking is if this all is constitutional.

Arizona Central reported that one of the major reasons Trump claims the southern border to be a national emergency is the flow of drugs into our country. In a press conference in January, he said drugs are “pouring into this country,” but that “they don’t go through the ports of entry….when they do, they sometimes get caught.”

This is may not be the entire truth. After looking at statistics put out by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Pacific Standard said that “heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine were all most often found in personal vehicles, or tractortrailers carrying legal goods, at ports of entry...”

Can we call a national emergency based on false reasoning and statistics which will take American tax dollars from a true emergency and may be ultimately unconstitutional? We will find out in the following weeks as we see the lawsuits against the president filed by the ACLU and 16 states unfold.

OPINION

March 11, 2019

THOUGHTS ON TOXIC MASCULINITY

Three student opinions on society’s view of men Toxic masculinity is not as much of a problem as society makes it out to be.

Toxic masculinity stems from society’s stereotype of what “real men” are like.

Toxic masculinity isn’t real for me but it is real for our society.

JACK WOLFE

ALLYSON BONHAUS

RHETT MILLER

What does it mean to be a man? Most people would say that being a little masculine is not a problem. However, others think that masculinity at a certain point can become dangerous or even “toxic.” The term toxic masculinity means that when men conform to the idea of being “too manly,” it can negatively affect men’s physical and mental health.

“I think masculinity if taken to an extreme can be considered toxic; I think anything at an extreme can be considered toxic,” said Mr. Scott Dattilo, math teacher and coach for the Varsity football team.

Since the phrase is showing up in commercials and movies, it becomes hard to ignore what is being said about masculinity.

Is toxic masculinity as big of a problem as people say it is? Personally, I never hear about people suffering from toxic masculinity except from media outlets.

“I don’t see it as a problem. What I view is what I see and I think there are a lot of other factors that can contribute to the term,” Datillo said.

While problems appearing larger than they actually are is nothing new, this could lead to an unexpected and far worse problem. If traditional masculinity is to be considered “toxic,” it might create a major lack of masculine qualities in our society, which could lead to men being worried about acting like themselves due to the risk of being called “toxic.”

Toxic masculinity is society’s standard that, to be a real man, “strength is everything while emotions are a weakness; where sex and brutality are yardsticks by which men are measured,” according to The Good Men Project.

Toxic masculinity is about behaviors society expects, not the male gender itself.

Society enforces an ideal of “real men” by excluding the men who do not show their emotions, do not like sports, and do not display classically masculine behaviors. For the boys and men who do display entitlement, aggression, or a lack of vulnerability, society tells them their offensive actions are acceptable, that they are somehow not responsible for them because “boys will be boys.”

Not all men are violent, misogynistic, and emotionally abusive. But society does push these behaviors on boys. In fact, Psychology Today found that females “may be selecting [partners] for some of the behaviors we label as ‘toxic masculinity.’”

Colleen Clemens wrote in her article on tolerance.org, a project of the Southern Poverty Law Center, that the point of bringing awareness to this toxic stereotype is “not to insult or to injure” but to “give them the space to express their gender in ways that feel authentic and safe for themselves.”

Maybe it is the time that we as a society question again what it means to be a man.

The answer will be long and diverse.

Most young boys have the favorite toy of an action figure, or perhaps they participate in multiple sports. I was not like that.

My favorite toy was a Barbie mermaid doll, actually from the Fairytopia series, which is as far as you can get from a stereotypical boy toy. I loved her and brought her almost everywhere that my aunt and uncle would allow me to.

With boys being boys and kids being kids, I soon discovered that other boys my age were not as entranced with my mermaid doll as I was. This feeling of embarrassment shortly began to overwhelm me and made me feel ashamed in liking this “girl’s toy.”

I found comfort and a solution in a spot where I least expected. It was my uncle who reassured me that it’s okay that I do not have a natural affinity for sports, or that I love mermaids, and that the more feminine side of me is welcomed. My uncle, a nonpolitically-correct man, helped me solidify who I am as a person by saying that he will love me no matter what. By letting me be me and not enforcing this stereotypical image of what a boy is, I am who I am now.

Truthfully, I believe I would not have this confidence that I have now if I never received that talk. Without that talk, I’m not sure whether my personality would ever have developed to its full potential. I can only imagine who I would be if my uncle told me that I needed to stop being so “girly.”

PR team

editor in chief

guest writer

toxic masculinitynoun tak-sik mas-cyu-lin-it-ee

definition:

1. A term used to sum up the general “male energy” 2. Usually references aggression, lack of emotion, refusal to ask for help, and mistreatment of women; can result in domestic violence and sexual assault 4. An idea that limits male psychological development, results in strain and conflict, and is detrimental for the health of males 07 Designed by: Deeya Prakash and Allyson Bonhaus

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OPINION

March 11, 2019

‘I CAN’T HEAR BROKE’

My AirPods came with wires. I paid for the wires.

MADELEINE SUH sports chief

WALKING DOWN THE hallway, there is a subtle feeling that everyone has noticed the “non-Airpods” that I own.

But since when does a $150 wireless product become the social norm? In fact, prior to the release of this new product, not even off-brand headphones would get second looks compared to Apple earbuds.

The fact of the matter is that trends at our school and within our society have gone so far as to only approve of something that less than 30 percent of SHS students owns.* Some have bought off-brand look-alikes, and they get away with it. While others, unfortunately, are left to feel uncomfortable and embarrassed.

Personally, it remains important to realize quality is a very minimal factor as, wire or not, sound is produced.

Maybe clarity or sound quality drastically differs for some but for most this is not the reason behind their purchase. An indirect preconception of a person comes with visible

Photo courtesy of Eddie Wade

short white and silver buds.

And what else has changed? Have customer workers always been this disrespectful? Have you always had to repeat your order more than twice? Or has the simplicity and efficiency of AirPods now made it okay to play music while talking to another? When does it cross the line?

This definitely is not the first time a product craze has been blown out of proportion.

However, with media creating memes and jokes regarding those with and without Apple’s Airpods, this trending product can be seen everywhere you look.

People have gone as far as to cut their wired earbuds to fabricate a makeshift version that, for the record, no longer are able to produce sound.

Remember in junior high when it seemed as if in the span of two days, every girl had UGG boots and North Face fleeces. Those who did not were the minority, those who did not were not “cool.” *Taken from a survey of 326 people conducted on The Leaf’s Instagram account

A BRIEF HISTORY OF GEN Z STATUS SYMBOLS ANISA KHATANA news chief

Silly Bandz

UGG Boots

Nintendo DS How many Silly Bandz does it take to cover an eight-year-old’s arm?

These rubber bracelets (and rings) taught eightyear-olds everywhere how to make trades.

Then, in some schools. they were banned.

Vineyard Vines Short-sleeved logo t-shirts.

Long-sleeved pocket t-shirts.

Brightly-colored gingham button-downs. Quarter-zip sweaters. Baseball caps. The memorable pink and navy blue whale seemed to give all of these garments an elevated air. Founded in Martha’s Vineyard, MA, the brand’s merchandise became a hallmark of preppiness for middle-schoolers, culminating in the opening of a Vineyard Vines store at Kenwood Towne Centre.

From the 3DS to the DSi, the Nintendo DS was a form of gaming that extended beyond habitual gamers and into the world of popular child entertainment.

Well loved games included Super Mario Bros., games in the Pokemon family, Scribblenauts, Kirby, and the Legend of Zelda.

Birkenstock Sandals After being publicly shunned and exiled for most of Gen Z’s existence, these sandals came back around 2014. A trickle-down effect from the fashion world made them a coveted summer shoe for teens (and adults) everywhere.

Over the course of the winter months, Apple’s pricey bluetooth earbuds have become a craze, recognizable in the ears of every proud AirPod owner.

Some students have reported feeling embarassed to be seen with alternative earbuds in, while others avoid wearing them in public for fear of their associations.

Often paired with dark skinny jeans or leggings, these fur-lined boots were a middle-school staple.

Bonus points for boots with satin bows down the back.

AirPods

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FEATURE March 11, 2019

Photo courtesy of Kaitlyn Rines

Springbreakers take flight Spain with Ms. Meredith Blackmore Students on this trip will fly into Barcelona and visit places like Park Güell and La Sagrada Familia cathedral. Later in the week, they will attend Las Fallas in Valencia, a festival where people create sarcastic or satirical structures of political figures. There is one winner, and all others go up in flames.

Photo courtesy of Caroline Skwara

Photo courtesy of David Swift

Rome, Florence & Athens with Mr. David Swift

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One of the activities on this year’s trip to Greece is participating in an evening of Greek music and dance. The trip to Greece and Italy begins in Athens and works its way up through Greece to Delphi, throughout the Meteora region. The students will then board a ferry and sail across the Adriatic Sea to Ancona, Italy. Next, it is on to Florence and, eventually, the trip concludes in Rome.

Belgium & France with Mrs. Lesley Chapman “This trip is unique in that it allows students to get a real feel for ‘real’ France, to practice the French language in real life situations and with a family, to learn about European history as well as current international diplomacy, and to experience some extraordinary beauty, both artistic and natural,” said Mrs. Lesley Chapman, French teacher.

Designed by: Harsitha Kalaiarasan and Megan Soellner

FEATURE

March 11, 2019

German game entices Aviator bell dwellers ABIGAIL LEFTON opinion chief

WHAT STARTED AS a pastime at camp

has now turned into a daily competition and intense 45 minutes for seniors Sam Ruskin and Danny Polasky. The German game, Catan, is a “strategy, skill, and luck based dice game,” which can be compared to a high-level Monopoly.

Ruskin and Polasky have brought the game into the halls of SHS as they compete in their Aviator bell daily with their peers. They discovered the game over the summer, and after becoming avid users, they decided to take the game with them into the school year.

“At our Jewish summer camp this guy was playing and we were like ‘Hey! Can we play?’ and we did so now we play every day in Aviator bell [with] the online version,” Polasky said.

Although the game can be played as a pastime, it also can be taken to the next level.

Polasky had the opportunity to compete in a regional tournament at the Sharonville Convention Center.

“I did not make it to the second round but I did average pretty well. There were only 36 or 40 eligible people. I did better than someone

who went to the world championships two years ago,” Polasky said.

Although Polasky has branched out into the competitive side of the game, Ruskin explains how they mainly enjoy playing with their friends. The main group who has managed to play every day since the beginning of the year are seniors Nick Ross, Jonah Rosenberg, Polasky, and Ruskin in Mr. Mark Steedly’s room.

The game can be purchased at Target, Amazon, or other major retailers as well as major app stores.

Ruskin and Polasky warmly invite any other interested peers to join them in their daily competitions during first Aviator bell for a chance to try and beat the experts.

“This game isn’t gonna be the perfect fit for everyone. I’m

not gonna lie, it’s tough to pick up. It’ll take a few games to understand what’s going on, and it’s easy to get frustrated when you play with the pros, but in the end, the payout will be worth it,” Ruskin said.

Getting Started

1

Understanding the game

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The goal of the game is to be the first player (the game works best with 4-6 people) to win 10 victory points by buying cars, settlements, cities, and obtaining special cards. The game can be described as a relative of Monopoly.

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Materials needed

To make the game board you will need: • 19 terrain hexes (4 sheep, 4 wheat,

The pieces you need to play: • •

4 wood, 3 brick, 3 ore, and 1 desert)

• 6 sea frame pieces • 18 circular number tokens Source: catan.com

•

1 black/grey robber pawn 4 sets of wooden player pieces • in 4 different colors each containing 5 settlements, 4 • cities, and 15 roads 25 development cards consisting of 14 knight/soldier • cards, 6 progress cards, and 5 victory points

Resource cards of each terrain hex except for the desert 4 building costs cards, one for each player “Longest Road” and “Largest Army” award cards 11

FEATURE

March 11, 2019

MAY I HAVE THIS DANCE?

Students, parents groove at Odd Couples ALLISON MCELROY PR team UPBEAT MUSIC BLASTS from the

DANCE PARTY. Students and their adult guests dance at Odd Couples. This year, students had fun dancing together on Sat., March 9.

“Odd Couples was a very fun way to spend extra time with your parents,” said Laura Nordin, 10, who attended the dance the last two years. Photo courtesy of McDaniel’s Photography.

speakers. Students dance in the brightly decorated Commons. This is the scene of a typical dance; however, one SHS dance is special. At the Odd Couples Ball on Sat., March 9, parents were also invited to join in on the fun.

The theme of Odd Couples this year was Boogie Wonderland, advertised as a “celebration of the ‘70s.” Students and parents were invited to dress to the theme, or wear cocktail attire.

“Odd Couples is definitely the best Sycamore dance. It’s put on by the PTO and they do an excellent job. I love it because everyone is totally confident dancing with their parents.

Students have fun, and parents have tons of fun too,” said Peyton Gilhart, 12, who has attended the dance all four years of high school.

Odd Couples is a dance that SHS students attend with an adult, usually one of their parents. The dance includes appetizers, dinner, a live band, a DJ, and photo opportunities.

However, most students probably do not know how much preparation, planning, and painting went into this fun night. The PTO spent numerous months planning the event to make it as enjoyable as possible.

Right after the decorations are taken down

and everything is put away, preparations begin right away for the next year’s dance.

The Odd Couples Committee meets and decides on a theme, then begins to plan for the night. There is a lot of work to be done, including reserving the band, arranging the DJ, and selecting the menu with the caterer.

However, the planning begins to intensify around January as the PTO, along with volunteers, starts working to create fun decorations for the dance. Parents, students,

and board members work together to create backdrops for parents and students to use at the dance.

Students and parents volunteered on Tuesdays and Wednesdays for many weeks leading up to the event to help create backgrounds for photo opportunities and other decorations for the dance.

Odd Couples started in the early 1980s. Since then, it has remained a unique tradition for students and their parents.

Girl Scout Cookie Season B

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1. Thin Mints

Crumbly, minty wafers covered in chocolate f

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2. Samoas

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Source: girlscouts.org

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3. Tagalongs

Crisp cookies, coated in caramel, toasted coconut, and striped with dark chocolaty coating

Crispy cookies layered with peanut butter and covered with a chocolaty coating.

Caramel made in old fashioned copper kettles at 234 degrees

Also known as Peanut Butter Patties

Vegan Were first called Cookie Mints

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Designed by: Harsitha Kalaiarasan

“Juul Labs” controls

of the American e-cigarette market

WHAT IS A JUUL? Juul is a type of e-cigarette that is heated up to create vapor. It contains nicotine and has become wildly popular over the past couple of years.

≈

One Juul cartridge contains roughly the same amount of nicotine as one pack of cigarettes

$38 16x $180 BILLION

High schoolers age 15-17 are 16 times more likely to be Juul users than 25-34 year olds

Value of Juul Labs in 2018

Amount the average Juul user spends on Juul products per month

THE EFFECTS

Nicotine can harm the brain. Adolescent brains are not fully developed until age 25.

Attention, learning, mood, and impulse control can all be affected.

What do teens think is in their Juul?

66%

13.2%

1.3%

Flavoring

Nicotine

Other

13.7%

5.8%

Not sure

Marijuana

What is actually in Juul cartridges?

Nicotine, flavoring, glycerol, propylene glycol, and benzoic acid.

14

Sources: truthinitiative.org healthline.com cdc.gov lung.org

Nicotine changes the way synapses (connections between brain cells) are formed.

Juul products are relatively new, so the full health effects are not known. However, inhaling harmful chemicals like the ones in Juul products can cause lung damage and disease.

Juul and other electronic cigarettes can increase the risk for addiction to cigarettes and/or other drugs.

In 2015, 40 percent of young adults that used e-cigarettes also smoked cigarettes.

Designed by: Sydney Weiss and Chloe Mensch

THE NEW SMOKING: HOW TO QUIT

Anonymous student struggles with addiction DELANEY CIOTOLA

secretary

GET EDUCATED

Knowing the risks of Juuling may potentially motivate you to quit.

Visit truthinitiative.org or cdc.gov to get started.

EDUCATION GET A BUDDY

Nicotine addiction is a medical problem, so you may need the assistance of a doctor or mental health professional. Going to a trusted adult or friend will keep your goals in check. If you do not have someone you feel comfortable going to, join the digital program This is Quitting by texting QUIT to 202-804-9884. The program will allow you to see posts from real quitters and text people for support.

DO NOT GIVE UP

It is difficult to quit addictive substances. Do not expect immediate perfection; quitting can take time.

Designed by: Sydney Weiss

IT STARTED AS a way to help smokers quit, but then turned into restrooms becoming the place for teenagers to inhale a substance that has so many harmful chemicals.

An anonymous source was introduced to Juuling back in seventh grade. He was with his friend and his friend’s older brother, who introduced them to the Juul.

That first inhale changed everything for him.

“The feeling I got the first time was unfamiliar; the more I did it the more I started to like it,” he said.

The feeling people get when they Juul is a “buzz.” It makes you feel light headed. The source shared that there had been times when he had been in the bathroom where they would take some hits. Then they would come out and almost fall over.

The buzz can be related to when smokers smoke cigarettes. Smokers get a buzz from the nicotine, which also comes from Juuling.

The buzz is supposed to make users feel calm and relaxed because it eliminates withdrawal symptoms they get from smoking cigarettes and Juuling, so it fills nicotine users with a sense of calm.

Some teenagers only Juul for the “buzz;” they like the tingly feeling.

“The buzz is a good relaxing feeling,” he said.

From his personal experience, it took him months to become addicted, but for some people, that is not the case. Some people get addicted the first few days after they try it.

The source explained that he went on and off for a while Juuling, but then finally started a routine of Juuling every day. That is how most people's addictions start.

That first moment he inhaled the nicotine and other harmful chemicals, he knew he was setting themselves up to be a “Juuling customer."

Juuling is such a prevalent issue at our school that there have been countless times people have exchanged pods, or even a Juul, in the middle of the hall.

According to a survey by Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, 20.8 percent of high school students and 4.9 percent of middle school students—over 3.6 million youth—were current e-cigarette users in 2018.

Most people who Juul do it in the bathrooms, and sometimes people ask a stranger in the bathroom if they would like to take a hit.

Students who are super desperate use their Juul in class. Some people have developed nicotine addictions to the products and crave worse substances after Juuling.

When asked how addicted he is on a scale of one to ten, the source said “seven and a half.”

The source has gotten to the point where they go through a pod a day. One Juul pod has about two hundred puffs and twenty cigarettes worth of nicotine.

For a pack of Juul pods, it costs $16 dollars “mostly underage people are using Juul products so they have to pay an extra five dollars to pay the person getting them," he said.

The source explained he is “a hundred percent desperate for money for pods.” He has spent hundreds and hundreds of dollars on Juul products. He explained that most of the time it is not even his money. It is usually his sibling’s or his parent's money.

He admitted to being scared long term because of all the studies that have been released.

“Recently I realized I wanted to stop because more studies have been released saying how bad Juuling is for you and how it can stunt your brain growth. This plays a huge role in my life and has pulled me away from more important things,” he said.

He explained how he will sit at home, take a hit, and just think to himself this is getting really bad and hope that he will quit soon. “[At] the beginning of the day I have a new full pod, and by the end of the day, it’ll be gone.

I won’t even realize it and I will just think to myself, ‘this is not good,’” he said.

Some teens who struggle with Juuling desperately want to stop but struggle because of the withdrawal symptoms.

Usually, it starts with cravings, where you have a tingly feeling, stomach aches, and headaches. That is why most addicted teens continue Juuling.

Photo courtesy of The Leaf staff

15

Q&A WITH OFFICER PAUL PAYNE ‘That’s the thing about them: they are so concealable’ ABIGAIL LEFTON opinion chief

Q: Would you say that mango is the most I think it’s where other kids report them [for] popular Juul cartridge? vaping or Juuling.

A: Absolutely, and I can detect that in a Q: What is the Ohio law regarding Juuling/ bathroom when I walk in. If it smells fruity, I vaping? know exactly what flavor [it is].

A: It falls under prohibitive possession of Q: Is possession of a alcohol products under the “SO FIVE MINUTES Juul pod grounds for age of 18. It throws a catch in suspension? when you catch a senior, who’s BEFORE THE END OF A: Yes because it’s nicotine this and is 18, EVERY BELL, I TRY TO HIT possessing and that’s where the policy that violates school policy but A DIFFERENT BATHROOM technically, ‘here’s your Juul really fires up because it’s possession of tobacco back, here ya go.’ So I’ve had EVERYDAY...THEN I’LL products and/or nicotine. a couple times where they SCAN, AND ON THE WAY the They had to change it to say, ‘hey can I get my Juul back?

OUT I’LL YELL, ‘VAPE modify it to that.

I’m 18.’

Q: What if you just see PATROL,’ AND THEY YELL, Q: What are the numbers a charger? Can you like at the junior high ‘REALLY?’ AND I’M LIKE looking suspend someone based for vaping?

‘YEAH, IT’S SHOCKING on that?

A: I don't know the numbers but A: You can push it, but you ISN’T IT? IT’S SAD THAT I know that they are seeing a could [suspend someone]. huge increase in Juuling there.

I’M IN HERE FOR VAPE I could see the school Q: What is the most bizarre PATROL.’” pushing it depending on or craziest experience you what level of cooperation have dealt with regarding OFFICER PAUL PAYNE you get, which that really Juuls? falls on how hard they had to work to find it. But A: When I took a vape away from a kid, here’s the beauty of it: we busted four boys in a he came back and asked for it back or locker room because [the Juul] is magnetized, reimburse him for $50 for his vape. He was so we couldn’t find it on them. And one of the under 18 and a freshman at the time. kids threw it in a P.E locker, so when I walked Q: What is Juul patrol? passed them, I was like, ‘ahhh, there’s your A: What happens is in my phone, I have Juul,’ and they were like ‘uhhh,’ so they conceal it in my calendar at the end of every them because they are metal on the wall. bell. So five minutes before the end Q: When did the increase in vape-related of every bell, I try to hit a different incidents begin? Was there one moment bathroom everyday. And I’m walking when there was a huge increase? in, obviously just the boys, and I'm A: There was. If you look at the history of walking in just like I would to VAPE PATROL. Officer Paul Payne (OPP) Juuling, it’s been out for a long time. Vaping has use the restroom. Then I'll has, with the help of other administrators, been out for a long time. We have really seen scan, and on the way accumulated a large collection of Juuls and other the rise since about 2016, when it really took out I'll yell, ‘vape e-cigarettes such as this Suorin-brand vape. off. I don’t know where the trend came from. patrol,’ and they yell, He says that vaping products are so small and Q: What were the warning signs and the ‘really?’ and I'm like compact that they can be hard to catch. He has first thing you saw?

‘Yeah, It's shocking become an expert and says, “when I walk in and A: The blatant vaping in the hallways, in isn't it? It’s sad that smell watermelon or blue raspberry or cool mist, the locker room, walking to class, walking I’m in here for vape I know that someone’s been vaping in there.” outside. There was no patrol.’ Then I leave.

All photos courtesy of Leaf staff. Vapes in photos concealing it like That is my routine. provided by OPP’s confiscated collection. they are trying to do now.

What is the most common situation that you catch kids in?

16

TEACHERS TACKLE JUULING CRAZE HANNAH LEE copy editor JUULING IS PREVALENT among high schoolers nationwide. It is a legitimate matter many students find themselves facing during their high school years.

But what do the adults at SHS think? SHS

teachers and administrators have diverse views and advice accumulated from both their high school experiences and current positions.

Sometimes, students find it difficult to ask parents questions about such a sensitive topic

without quick accusations, so teachers were asked about their high school experience, advice for teens who feel pressure to Juul, and views on the rising trend of Juuling. They provide realistic insights into this teen trend.

Q: What is your opinion on the Juuling trend?

A: I’m scared by it because I think students are doing it a lot younger than what people know. And when they start younger their likelihood of ending with something much harder is exponentially higher. It’s really easy to hide compared to cigarettes. It is not [a negative odor] so compared to other drugs like marijuana it is a lot harder to track.

So there are a lot of times people are doing it in classes or in parts of the school and adults don’t even know. That’s the scariest part.

Q: When you were in high school, what were people into?

A: When I was here 18 years ago, marijuana was big, kind of how it is now. There wasn’t anything similar to Juuling, but there were people using tobacco products like cigarettes--mostly out of school, with not much happening within school.

Mr. Ashwin Corattiyil Dean of Students

Q: What advice would you give someone who feels peer pressure to Juul?

A: Think about the longer term consequences because there is a lot of research that Juuling is a lot harder to know how much of this drug you are intaking. Also tougher when you are not 18 to know what’s in it and you are not allowed to [Juul legally]. And [it is] also a slippery slope into doing harder things later.

Q: What are the consequences of finding someone Juuling?

A: If we find someone Juuling, or with a Juul pod, or with an insert, or with any kind of juice, or with something empty that somebody else could use, they get an automatic five day suspension and they will receive a criminal citation from the Montgomery Police Department. [In addition,] you might have to do some out of school consequence with the law based on the charge.

Q: What is your opinion on the Juuling trend?

A: From what I’ve read it is one of the most fastest growing drugs. Yes, it is a drug because it has nicotine in it. It is really risky. Nicotine is more addictive than heroin and cocaine. It’s not going to kill you like heroin and cocaine but it is really addictive. And the thing with Juuling is that it has more nicotine than a cigarette. We don’t have any long term evidence on what the impact is, so we don’t really know what is going to happen. Do you really want to run that risk when you know it’s an addictive substance? In addition, teenage brains are way more prone to addiction than adults are because of the developing teenage brain. [Also] I just read that Juuls were not created as gateway drugs, [but] were used actually to help people stop smoking [cigarettes]. The idea was that if you were an addictive smoker you could switch to Juuling to eventually quit smoking.

Q: When you were in high school what were people into?

A: I think alcohol was the biggest issue...that I saw. On the weekends at parties and stuff like that. And people smoked cigarettes.

Mrs. Laura Miniard

AP Psychology Teacher

Q: What advice would you give someone who feels peer pressure to Juul?

A: If you think that your friends will pressure you, plan in advance what you are going to say. Think about it and practice it.

You can make an excuse like “I can’t risk it because I’m going to get in trouble-my parents would kill me.” It is a good way to get out of stuff like that.

Q: Have you ever seen students Juuling?

A: I have never noticed [students Juuling] but I’ve heard of teachers who have noticed it. But I know students do it but I would doubt that they would do it in the plain sight of teachers.

Q: What is your opinion on the Juuling trend?

A: I think smoking and nicotine are extremely hazardous to people’s health and the younger you are when you start, the harder it is to quit when you get older. Juul is marketing to young people, taking advantage of them.

I don’t want our society to be authoritarian towards personal freedoms, but young people need to be protected.

Q: When you were in high school what were people into?

A: I started high school when 18 year-olds could consume low percentage beer. Smoking and drinking were definitely the pursuits of high schoolers. Just like today, we were trying to figure out how to be adults and what that looked like.

Growing up is tough no matter when you go through it.

Mr. Kevin Wittman

AP Government Teacher All photos courtesy of Leaf staff

Q: What advice would you give someone who feels peer pressure to Juul?

A: My advice is to be true to yourself and realize some of the things you do in your teens will be hard to overcome later in life. Not taking school seriously, making bad decisions with who your friends are, engaging in risky behaviors, taking up unhealthy habits, these choices have consequences. Think about it.

17

WHY DO TEENS DO ILLEGAL THINGS? Teens feel pressure to act out SARA MARGOLIS art & photo editor

RISKY BUSINESS IS not a new term for parents of teens.

Monitoring the Future (MTF) conducted a survey among eighth, tenth and 12th graders, and found that “Overall, rates of vaping are second only to alcohol among substances surveyed, with 17.6 percent of eighth graders, 32.3 percent of tenth graders, and 37.3 percent of 12th graders reporting past-year vaping.”

But why do illegal things seem to draw teens in like free food?

Dr. Laurence Steinberg has one of the most compelling reasons. She said that “teenagers sometimes make bad choices because their impulses override their controls. At other times, though, teenagers give real thought to their plans and still arrive at dangerous conclusions.”

Is social media pushing teens to act on their natural impulses, or is it the stage of their developing brains?

With the rise of social media and its allconsuming presence, it is almost impossible to escape Instagram or Snapchat. Teens see almost everything that is going on in everybody’s life at all times.

The Recovery Village found that 75 percent of teens see pictures of their peers participating in illegal activities, and they are then encouraged to do the same.

While this proves that social media can reinforce peer pressure, it is also important to note that human brains are not fully developed until the age of 25.

According to Raising Children, “because the prefrontal cortex is still developing, teenagers might rely on a part of the brain called the amygdala to make decisions and solve problems more than adults do.

The amygdala is associated with emotions, impulses, aggression and instinctive behavior.”

So while teens may not have their best interest at heart at all times, it is important to know that there is scientific backing behind the pressure to act out.

Sources: drugabuse.gov nytimes.com recoveryvillage.com raisingchildren.net Photo courtesy of Leaf staff

18

FUN & GAMES March 11, 2019

Guess the city crossword CHARLOTTE WEISS

?

fun & games chief

?

Hints Across 2. Commonly known as “The Big Apple.�

7. This place is home to Hollywood and the Rams.

8. This city in Egypt is home to Giza Necropolis, a pyramid and the Egyptian Museum.

10. This Australian city is home to the _____ Opera House.

11. This city is home of The Big Ben and Buckingham Palace.

12. This city in France is home to the Eiffel Tower.

?

? ?

1

?

?

3

2

4

6

5

7

8

9 10

Sudoku

11

Difficulty Level: Medium

3

8 1 9 3 6 7 6 9 1 2 6 7 4 8 3 5 2 3 8 5 1 4 9 1 5 2 4 9 6 For answers please go to shsleaf.org Crossword created with Puzzlemaker

12

Down 1. This American city is home to the White House and the capitol building.

3. This city in the west of Italy houses the Colosseum.

4. This Canadian city houses the CN Tower, standing at 1,815 feet tall.

5. This city on the east coast of Spain is home to the church La Sagrada Familia.

6. This city is home to the famous Western Wall.

9. This city is known for Mardi Gras and its music.

? ?

?

?

? ?

?

19

HEY SENIOR AVIATORS: Start brainstorming your...

-Wills & Testaments -Senior Quote -Superlative Vote ...for the Senior Leaf!

SENIOR LEAF Check your email for a survey!

Like us on

f

: Downtown Girl : @downtowngirlmontgomery

2019 Yearbook LAST DATE TO ORDER: 05/31/19

ENTERTAINMENT March 11, 2019

BTS globetrots; ARMY follows HARSITHA KALAIARASAN feature chief

BTS. To the general public, those three letters comprise a simple acronym that means “Behind the Scenes.” To others, especially those more familiar with the international music scene, BTS is the group spearheading the spread of Korean Pop (K-pop) to the western world.

BTS is an abbreviation for “Beyond the Scenes” and is comprised of seven members.

In the past year, BTS has taken the world by storm, thanks to the support of their dedicated fanbase endearingly called “ARMY.” In fact, it is ARMY that allows BTS related hashtags to trend almost daily, most recently during the Grammy Awards in early February.

The hashtag “tearitupbts” was the number one global trend the day of the esteemed awards show, which BTS was asked to attend.

BTS was present at the Grammy’s to present the award for the Best R&B Album of the Year, but by the social media storm and numerous interviews on the red carpets, it was hard to believe they were not performing.

Whether it be because of their fans, globalization, or social media, BTS is doing what no other K-pop group has done. In late January, BTS released a concert film titled “BTS World Tour: Love Yourself in Seoul.”

The film had the biggest worldwide one-day box office earnings ever for a cinema event, raking in 11.7 million dollars worldwide.

In 2017 they received the Billboard Music Award for Top Social Artist. The same year they

appeared on “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” performed at the American Music Awards, and became the most tweeted-about celebrity of the year.

In 2018, BTS was chosen by the United Nations to speak at the 73rd General Assembly for their youth initiative. In 2018 they collaborated with Nicki Minaj, sold out their U.S. tour, and dominated their charts with their album “Love Yourself: Tear.”

While their achievements might be largely noticed by the student body familiar with K-pop, their growing presence indicates a music style that is appealing to western audiences.

Junior Alex Rohr is a devoted Army and shares her insight on the wave of success currently overwhelming BTS. “They are really opening up the world, especially America, to new entertainment possibilities and markets. It is also changing or enhancing how America views the other side of the world. BTS helped give everyone a unique taste of something new,” Rohr said.

With so many accomplishments behind them, it is impossible to know what the new year will hold for these emerging icons.

SHOWSTOPPER. BTS’ most recent movie release was not their first. Earlier in 2018, they released the movie “Burn the Stage,” which broke the box-office record previously held

by One Direction. Photo courtesy Harsitha Kalaiarasan.

BTS by the numbers

BTS AND THEIR SUCCESS

Forbes List of Korea’s Power Celebrities 2018 The highly popular K-pop group made it to number one on Forbes List of Korea’s Power Celebrities in 2018.

#1

“Love Myself” Campaign

By BTS and UNICEF The group highly encourages loving yourself and non-violence.

This is why they, along with UNICEF, launched a two-year campaign. It has raised $1.6 million, as of December 2018.

Top Social Artist 2017 and 2018 BTS broke Justin Bieber’s winning streak in this Billboard Award with the help of their fandom called ARMY.

A Huge Fan Following The group has a lot of fans, and with the size comes lot of love too. BTS has 12 million followers on V Live app and around 18.5 million followers on Twitter.

Most Streamed Song in 24 hours of release Jimin, a member of BTS recently broke the record of the most streamed in a 24-hour period. The solo ballad titled “Promise” was streamed 8.5 million times on SoundCloud, breaking Drake’s record of 4.9 million.

Sources: soompi.com vlive.tv billboard.com Designed by: Bhaavya Jha

21

ENTERTAINMENT

March 11, 2019

BUBBLE TEA

Tea unites students in Sycamore area ALLYSON BONHAUS editor in chief

THIS DRINK GOES by many names: bubble tea, pearl milk tea, boba milk tea, boba tea, tapioca tea, and more. While it was invented in the 1980s in Taichung, Taiwan, its popularity rose in America in 2017.

Is it healthy?

While tea is generally good for you, providing antioxidants, bubble tea may contain sweetened condensed milk. Beginning with black or green tea with additions like tapioca pearls, fruit jelly, and more, the sugar content has been rising. Even just one tapioca pearl can contain 7 grams of sugar, which makes one tea comparable in sugar content to one can of soda. So please drink responsibly.

How to make your own

Photo courtesy of Allyson Bonhaus Only a nine minute drive from the high school, Bread House Bakery offers several types of bubble tea including original, taro, mango, and jasmine.

“The bubbles are perfectly cooked (chewy, but soft and sweetened with honey!) The tea here is really nice, the jasmine tea had a nice floral touch to it,” said Teddy Weng, 12.

While the tapioca pearls are smaller than what one would find at Kung Fu Tea in the Kenwood Mall, the tea is better than Kung Fu Tea or Kidd Coffee. The tea is not nearly as sweetened and the pearls are chewy and have a nice flavor.

“I really liked the bubble tea, and bubble tea isn’t something that I usually get because I find the texture really weird. But it wasn’t when I drank the taro tea. And, the pricing was absolutely amazing! My whole bill (a slice of cake, a medium bubble tea, and a chocolate croissant) was only nine dollars! That’s really cheap for good quality food, so I definitely left feeling satisfied,” said Alaina Delsignore, 10.

Rating: 9/10

Bread House Bakery 11974 Lebanon Rd, Sharonville, OH 45241

Rating: 8/10

7875 Montgomery Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45236

Kung Fu Tea

Sources: bubbletea.com, worldteanews.com, livestrong.com, pri.org, healthynibblesandbits.com, huffpost.com

Kidd Coffee

Next was Kung Fu Tea, located inside the Kenwood Towne Centre, this chain is one of the most prominent bubble tea companies in the U.S. With locations stretching across the country, Kung Fu Tea is also loacted in Australia, Canada, and Vietnam.

“Kung Fu Tea is so good! My favorite order is the Passionfruit slush with mango popping bubbles. Their milk tea is good, but the tapioca balls are too chewy,” said Alia Diushebaeva, 12.

While more expensive than the other locations, Kung Fu Tea offers many more flavors and choices. If the tea is too sweet, there is the option to order it unsweetened. The tapoica pearls are larger and less flavorful than Bread House Bakery but far above those of Kidd Coffee.

“Every time I visit Kenwood mall, I get Kung Fu Tea because their tea is honestly just that good. It’s a little expensive, but their variety and quality are worth it,” said Jenny Lu, 12.

653 Reading Rd, Mason, OH 45040

If you want to go it alone, the recipe is simple, as long as you have the right ingredients. First, boil a cup of water, let it steep with your favorite tea until room temperature, then remove your tea bag/leaves.

Then, add another cup of water with one cup of sugar, stir until it dissolves while it simmers. Boil 3/16 cup of tapioca pearls in water while stirring for about five minutes then rinse in cold water.

Finally, put together the tea, pearls, the sugar mix to your liking, with a dash of milk.

Lastly, here is a look at a few bubble tea locations in the Sycamore area. Chosen for their proximity to the high school, these bubble tea shops have been reviewed by a few SHS students.

While this coffee shop and wine bar in Mason offer multiple flavors (peach, coconut, blueberry, taro, and tea to name a few) of bubble tea, it was found lacking.

The tea had a strong flavor but the tapioca pearls were not as well received.

Senior Nandita Kulkarni “didn’t like the texture of the tapioca pearls,” but approved the tea flavor.

Tapioca pearls are the defining feature of bubble tea, made from extracting the starch from cassava root, which originated from tropical regions and can grow in poor soils.

“The tea is decent, but the tapioca pearls are overcooked; it has an atypical slimy texture,” said Akhila Durisala, 11.

Rating: 6/10

ENTERTAINMENT

March 11, 2019

Breakfast recipes rise and shine EPHRAIM CARLSON LINDSEY BRINKMAN staff writer

entertainment chief

Twisted Bacon Time: 35-45 minutes Ingredients:

5-10 strips of bacon for one-person breakfast 20-40 strips of bacon for family or breakfast event 1 teaspoon of black pepper 1-2 teaspoons of brown sugar 1 pinch of cayenne (optional for optimal flavor)

Everything Omelet Time: 15-20 minutes Ingredients:

2 eggs Shredded American cheese Butter A pinch of salt and pepper Mushrooms, tomato, sweet pepper, lime, onion, quinoa (all optional)

Avocado Toast Time: 6-10 minutes Ingredients:

Sourdough or wheat bread 1 Avocado ½ a teaspoon of lemon juice A pinch of salt and pepper Sources: geniuskitchen.com, recipetips.com

Steps:

-Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

-While the oven heats up, mix your ingredients together in a bowl and dip the bacon strips into them.

-Once complete, twist the strips into a tight twizzler-like shape -When the oven is fully heated place the strips onto the pan with a baking sheet or foil.

-Bake for 15-20 minutes than take out and drain the fat before popping right back into the oven for another 10-15 minutes depending on how crispy you want your bacon.

-Finally once finished let your bacon sit on a paper towel to eliminate the rest of the grease.

Steps:

-First, crack two eggs into a bowl and generously sprinkle salt and pepper over the top.

-Use a whisk to mix the yolks together until it is a light yellowish color -Put a burner on a low heat, and get out a nonstick pan.

-Once the eggs have been thoroughly mixed, pour them slowly into the pan.

-Turn the heat up a little more so that the omelet cooks quicker -Once it begins to become a solid shape, open the omelet to place your ingredients inside.

-Let it cook for 20-30 seconds on this side before flipping.

-After all these steps, continue to evenly cook the omelet to get the texture that you desire, whether that be chewy or crispy.

-Once you feel satisfied take it off the burner, turn everything off, and eat immediately.

Steps:

-First, toast your bread.

-While this happens, cut open your avocados, remove the stone, and scoop the guacamole out into a bowl.

-In the bowl, add your other ingredients and mash everything together gently with a spoon or fork.

-Once the bread is toasted, apply the guacamole mix (maybe cool bread for a minute or two.)

Designed by: Lindsey Brinkman

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ENTERTAINMENT

March 11, 2019

Orchestra program undergoes revitalization ALEX JOWANOVITZ

associate video editor THE SHS ORCHESTRA program has more or less stayed the same since its initial start.

Full orchestra meetings across all grades during second bell have been the norm for a long time.

Orchestra director Dr. Angela Santangelo is seeking to bring changes come next school year.

Starting in the fall, the orchestra program will be split down the middle, literally.

The program will now be splitting into two bells instead of one, with one class playing different material than the other.

Spreading out music programs across several bells is nothing new. Both band and choir have different bells where students prepare music to atone to their skill level, based on what class they are placed in.

Implementing this methodology into the ever-growing orchestra program will give

upperclassmen and other advanced students the opportunity to play music more on their level, with underclassmen playing pieces more at theirs.

This way, no one will be stuck feeling like they are playing something too easy or too hard, and instead, focus on performing music that is mildly challenging and appropriate for their level of playing.

“Having two separate orchestras will definitely improve the individual members, as well as becoming more confident in what they are playing,” said cellist Alice Lundgren, 11.

However, this new format of the orchestra is not without its potential issues.

Students will now have to try out in order for Santangelo to correctly place them in the orchestra she feels suits them the most. Not

everyone is on board with giving an audition and might feel intimidated when considering joining the program.

On the other hand, students who want to audition for the top orchestra class may not be satisfied if they get placed in the other class, and could result in a smaller bottom-tier orchestra.

“Personally, if I don’t get into the more advanced orchestra class, I probably won’t want to go for the other bell,” said cellist Etienne Mueller, 10.

Despite the potential issues that could arise, the majority of SHS orchestra members seem very optimistic about the new change, and could definitely prove to be a benefit for the incoming generations of young musicians.

When you choose to just love yourself: "I Do"- Cardi B ft. SZA When you meet someone special: "All I Want is You"- Barry Louis Polisar When you’re holding hands with someone: "400 Lux"- Lorde When you would rather just treat yourself: "7 Rings"- Ariana Grande When you make a mistake: "Still Beating"- Mac DeMarco When you’re reflecting on your life: "White Ferrari"- Frank Ocean When a relationship is coming to an end: "Passionfruit"- Drake When you’re dreaming of summer: "Magic in the Hamptons"- Social House ft. Lil Yachty When you had a bad day but you’re trying to be positive: "Best Friend"- Rex Orange County When you’re screaming songs in the car with your friends: "I Get Around"- The Beach Boys

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When you’re feeling adventurous: "Sleep on the Floo"r- The Lumineers

Designed by: Lydia Masset

FOCUS March 11, 2019

Freshman Kasey Lowe’s percussion obsession started with concert band in fifth grade. Now, as pictured at a recent competition, Lowe has found her niche playing the vibraphone in drumline.

The vibraphone is a large percussive instrument comprised of tuned metal bars which the vibraphonist strikes with two soft mallets. But for Lowe, drumline is more than just the music. “Percussion and drumline are really fun.

It’s really cool to meet people with similar interests and just play music together. It’s been a great experience for me so far,” Lowe said. “I’ve made so many new friends that I would have never known if I hadn’t done drumline.”

Want to be our next Focus?

Email shsstudentvoice@gmail.com with your talent.

Photo courtesy of Kasey Lowe Page by Anisa Khatana

column:

SPORTS March 11, 2019

Bengals prepare with new coach What to know about Taylor GABBY KHODADAD MADELEINE SUH PR team sports chief

ZAC TAYLOR, 35

Record of 52-44

Coached two seasons with the Rams before accepting his head coach position for the Cincinnati Bengals

He has now coached for six NFL football seasons

Worked as both a wide receivers coach (2017) and quarterbacks coach (2018)

Photo courtesy of bengals.com

Source: cincyjungle.com

Taylor played football for the University of Nebraska (two years) and was named in 2012 the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year

Started his career in the NFL as the Assistant Quarterbacks Coach for the Miami Dolphins Previous Bengals coach Marvin Lewis was hired in 2003

GABBY KHODADAD PR team

The United States Women’s National Soccer Team (USWNT) is just a couple months shy from the World Cup. Is this year going to be the U.S.’s fourth World Cup victory?

The World Cup is an international soccer tournament held every four years. The tournament will be held in France this year during June and July.

24 countries have qualified and will be bringing teams consisting of 23 with a few alternates.

The USWNT is currently ranked number one in the world and have maintained that rank since they won the World Cup in 2015.

In 2015, the USWNT surprised many fans with not just their first place win against rival Japan, but the blowout that came with it. Carli Lloyd’s astonishing hat trick (3 goals by one person) within the first 16 minutes helped the team cap off a 5-2 victory over Japan.

Since the 2015 World Cup, many idols of women’s soccer have retired, such as Abby Wambach, Lauren Holiday, Shannon Boxx, and many more. With that being said, the U.S. is a very young team with a lot of talent.

“The USWNT has so much young talent and I believe they are going to be going far this summer. They did not lose one game last year but they still have a lot of improvement they need to do before June,” said Hannah Bruns, 11.

I believe that the U.S. will be going far in this tournament, I think that the toughest part for them is going to be their first three games.

They are in Group F and will be playing against Thailand, Chile, and Sweden (they beat the U.S. in the last Olympic games).

The women have lots of practice before the prestigious tournament. They just finished the annual She Believes Cup tournament which is held by th U.S. and its top competitors.

They also have a couple friendlies lined up in the beginning of April and May with other competitors who they may see in the summer.

Soccer fan Ariane Clerc said, “I wouldn’t expect this journey for the USWNT to be easy.

They have some really tough games lined up.

“I do think that other teams will give them a run for their money. However, I do think the U.S. will come out on top.”

The U.S. has some work to do; nonetheless, I think they will come home from France victorious once again.

Source: espn.com/soccer

March 11, 2019

How athletics changed my life

SPORTS

My experience with cross country and training CHARLOTTE WEISS fun & games chief RIGHT FOOT, left foot, breathe in, breathe out. Three miles, two miles, one mile, done. A rush, breathing heavily, but smiling.

In seventh grade, I participated in cross country but the team did not feel like a family.

I could not even name half of the students. I simply was not sparked. Little did I know, cross country would become one of my greatest passions.

Cross country at the high school completely changed my life. I have made friends that I hope to keep for the rest of my life; I now have a family. It has also given me a new sense of motivation, something I did not think was possible.

Harvard University psychiatrist John J. Ratey explored the connection between exercise and the brain in his book “Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain.”

According to Ratey, exercising “helps us to

optimize our thinking and learning,” while it also “[speeds] up our ability to make brand new brain cells.”

During the fall season I remember feeling the urge to do my schoolwork ahead of time since I had practice after school every day until 5 p.m.

I learned to prioritize and immediately started my homework in order to go to bed earlier.

After the season ended, I noticed a huge difference in not only my mindset, but also my work ethic. Because I took a break from running, I would get home at 3 p.m. but waited until 6 p.m. to begin my homework.

As a New Year’s resolution, I decided to start running again so I could improve my time for the upcoming cross country season. But I forgot how hard it was to run when I was not in shape.

Since I did not have anyone pushing me such as my coach or teammates, I was lost. But eventually I continued to pursue running, even more motivated than before.

Photo courtesy of Brian Combs

I decided to start with exercising five days a week, doing core workouts daily, while switching between running on the treadmill and the elliptical.

After two weeks I stopped because of the mountains of homework I had, but also because I longed to run outside with my friends, which I enjoyed more.

Now, I try to run whenever I have enough time. Although running is difficult, it is what I love doing: pushing myself towards an end goal, whether it be the end of the mile, the run, or even the week.

I learned that, although you may not want to try out for a team or join a club, you should do it because even if you do not love it, it will make you better as a person.

How Does Your Sport Motivate You? “Cross country is a sport that makes yourself your biggest competitor and motivates you to continue to work harder and get faster,” said Eva Armbruster, 11.

“Personally, when I have a sport or extracurricular activity after school, I feel obligated to manage my time well and get my work done,” said Andre Harte, 11.

“I enjoy cross country because it really pushes me and motivates me to run. The team also encourages me, which in turn inspires me,” said Peyton Harmon, 9.

“I am usually mentally refreshed after a run. Also, the physical workout from sports and mental workout from homework helps me sleep better at night,” said Daniel Leong, 11.

“It motivates me because I like soccer and I like to play at a competitive level. Also, I have to push myself physically and mentally,” said Debanshu Kanungo, 9.

Pictured (left to right): Juniors Grace Mirande, Debasmita Kanungo, Kaylee Combs and Kiri Basher

Tennis is very competitive so you need to be motivated to stay in shape and also focus on your game as well. This motivation tends to carry over to my school work and the rest of my

life,” said Ethan Wallace, 10.

Designed by: Charlotte Weiss and Madeleine Suh

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MARCH MADNESS 9 PLAYERS TO WATCH

CALEB MARTIN Nevada Wolf Pack Height: 6’7’’

2018-2019 REPORT: Points per Game: 19.0 Rebounds per Game: 4.9 Three-Point Percent: 34.0%

KYLE GUY Virginia Cavaliers Height: 6’3’’ 2018-2019 REPORT: Points per Game: 15.4 Rebounds per Game: 4.4 Three-Point Percent: 43.8%

DEDRIC LAWSON University of Kansas Height: 6’9’’ 2018-2019 REPORT: Points per Game: 19.2 Rebounds per Game: 10.3 Three-Point Percent: 36.1%

GRANT WILLIAMS University of Tennessee Height: 6’7’’ 2018-2019 REPORT: Points per Game: 19.1 Rebounds per Game: 7.6 Three-Point Percent: 34.4%

TYUS BATTLE Syracuse Orange Height: 6’6’’ 2018-2019 REPORT: Points per Game: 17.2 Rebounds per Game: 3.2 Three-Point Percent: 29.4%

LUKE MAYE

North Carolina Tar Heels Height: 6’8’’

(Currently on Injured List) 2018-2019 REPORT: Points per Game: 15.1 Rebounds per Game: 9.8 Three-Point Percent: 32.2%

ETHAN HAPP Wisconsin Badgers Height: 6’10’’ 2018-2019 REPORT: Points per Game: 17.9 Rebounds per Game: 10.2 Three-Point Percent: 0.0%

ZION WILLIAMSON

REPORT: CARSEN EDWARDS 2018-2019 Points per Game: 21.6 Purdue Boilmakers Height: 6’1’’ 2018-2019 REPORT: Points per Game: 23.8 Rebounds per Game: 3.6 Three-Point Percent: 35.4%

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Source: sports-reference.com

Rebounds per Game: 8.8 Three-Point Percent: 29.2%

Designed by: Linya Guo

Photos courtesy of Flickr

Duke Blue Devils Height: 6’7’’

SPORTS

March 11, 2019

What to expect for Opening Day GABBY KHODADAD PR team

THE PAST FIVE years have been a very long and tumultuous ride for Reds fans. Ever since 2013 the Reds have not had a winning record.

Is this year going to be any different for these devoted fans?

During the off-season, the Reds officially got a new manager, David Bell, as well as many new players in order to help create a new and muchimproved team.

The biggest change Reds fans should be aware of before opening day is outfielder Yasiel Puig.

Puig is known for his outstanding hitting, especially against right hand pitchers (RHPs).

Last season Puig’s batting average was .267, with 23 home runs, and 63 runs batted in.

“Yasiel Puig has a bat. He has a ton of play-off experience for a 28-year-old. Honestly, anything at this point can help the team,” said Dar Khodadad, 9.

According to Cincinnati.com, during the offseason, Cincinnati improved their starting rotation of pitchers by acquiring Sonny Gray, Alex Wood, and Tanner Roark. These three pitchers have created depth and stability within

SWING. Outfielder Yasiel Puig is up to bat and takes one last swing as a Dodger before becoming a Red. Puig came to Cincinnati this past offseason and plans to turn around the direction of the program. “Puig should bring in some momentum for the team and hopefully gets the Reds to a winning season,” said Dar Khodadad, 9. Photo courtesy of Creative Commons.

the team which will help provide a winning atmosphere.

The Reds also acquired outfielder Matt Kemp from the L.A. Dodgers which was part of the Puig and Wood trade. The Dodgers in exchange took pitcher Homer Bailey, Josiah Gray, and infielder Jeter Downs.

The biggest question right now is who will be the starting center fielder? The Reds have a pool of players to choose from to fill this position, however, none are true center fielders.

At this point, the Reds will most likely turn top prospect Nick Senzel into one.

Mr. Christian Shrimpton, who recently traveled to see the Reds in spring training said, “They will be better this year. [the Reds] bettered their pitching staff and they have acquired Puig who I think is a good player.

[Fans] keep watching because they will be good someday. Don’t give up on your home team.”

There is no doubt that the Reds have a lot of improvement they need to do this year. However, this year should be the year Cincinnati has a shot of a winning season and maybe the playoffs.

Winter guard brightens show with smiles LINDSEY BRINKMAN entertainment chief

Imagine: you walk out on the floor, set your equipment, and get ready to smile until your cheeks hurt. As you take one last gasp of anticipation, the music starts and it hits you. It is time to perform.

Most people never have the chance to experience the thrill and excitement from dancing or spinning in front of a crowd, but to the ten girls in Winter Guard, this is a weekly occurrence.

Every Tuesday and Thursday these girls stretch, dance, and then learn and rehearse their captivating show.

Their theme this year is “Smile” and features a mash-up of the song “Smile” by Nat King Cole, as well as “Happy Days” sung by Barbra Streisand and Judy Garland.

Unlike in the fall season, the Winter Guard show is much shorter. During the regular marching band season, a full show can last as long as ten minutes. The winter guard show will only be as long as three to four minutes: the length of a regular song.

This year has been quite special for the

guard, as it is their second time being much as they once did in the fall, so time is competitive. However, for a large portion of the valuable. group (six out of the ten girls), this is their first Although time is limited, the girls get along year ever competing with Winter Guard. quite well, which can be very helpful during the Although this might appear as a setback, the learning process.

SHS guard has handled it well. In their first Unlike some other activities, practice is competition they scored third, and by their never a hassle. Somehow they can make even second, their score had the most mundane thing humorous.

I LIKE THAT, DURING jumped by more than six “I like that during Winter Guard points. we can form great relationships, WINTER GUARD, WE And, during their second and learn a lot, while still having CAN FORM GREAT to last competition they fun,” said Winter Guard member recieved second place, Koosman, 9.

RELATIONSHIPS AND Kylee only falling a few points Such as folding the floor after short behind first.

LEARN A LOT WHILE every rehearsal. This task is not The guard will continue something most would find fun, but STILL HAVING SO to practice and get better even through this the girls continue until their very last to crack jokes and make it less of MUCH FUN. performance, with their a chore.

KYLEE KOOSMAN, 9 season continuing right up This has tremendously helped to spring break. the girls grow and improve because Each time the girls meet they always have while they are getting better, they are growing smiles on their faces and make sure to use up closer and thus becoming a stronger all of the time they get. They do not meet as team.

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WHAT IS HANNAH UP TO?

Photo courtesy of Megan Soellner

Hannah is always up to something.

If you know what Hannah is participating in in this photo, email shsstudentvoice@ gmail.com! Three people who guess correctly will be randomly selected.

(Each submission is assigned a number and pulled out of a box.) Submissions end at midnight on Sun., March 17.

Winners will be emailed and receive an out-to-lunch pass.

CALLING ALL MARCH MADNESS FANS!

See insert for bracket

Fill out the inserted bracket with your predictions for the 2019 NCAA tournament and drop it off in room 115 by Tues., March 26 for a chance to win

BUFFALO WILD WINGS!*

*varied gift card values for top three winners