April 2019 Leaf by The Leaf

THE LEAF Sycamore High School News Magazine Volume 6 | Issue 7 | April 24, 2019

BEHIND THE COUNTER -23

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CLASSIFIEDS: Over 30 job opportunities for teens

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Canada goose attack

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Retiring SHS staff members

CONTENTS

EDITOR IN CHIEF Anisa Khatana MANAGING EDITORS Lindsey Brinkman Madeleine Suh WEB EDITOR Lydia Masset SOCIAL MEDIA DIRECTOR Henry Loeb COVER Lindsey Brinkman NEWS Allison McElroy OPINION Deeya Prakash FEATURE Charlotte Weiss ENTERTAINMENT Linya Guo SPORTS Madeleine Suh ASSOCIATE WEB EDITOR Grace Zhang BROADCAST DIRECTOR Bhaavya Jha SPORTS BROADCASTER Gabby Khodadad PR TEAM MANAGER Jack Wolfe MUSIC REVIEWER Alex Bullock SENIOR STAFF WRITERS Allyson Bonhaus Ephraim Carlson Alex Jowanovitz

Hannah Lee Abigail Lefton Jessica Lu Sara Margolis Megan Soellner Kirsten Thomas Sydney Weiss STAFF WRITERS Delaney Ciotola Harsitha Kalaiarasan Isabella Magato Chloe Mensch Josh Moore ADVISER Alexandra Frost PHOTOGRAPHER McDaniel’s Photography

Professional Memberships: Columbia Scholastic Press Association Journalism Education Association National Scholastic High School Press Association Ohio Scholastic Media Association Ohio Professional Writers (National Federation of Women Writers) Quill & Scroll International Journalism Honorary

NEWS

20 Dream jobs 21 How SHS works 22 Classifieds 23 Classifieds 24 Work-school balance

OPINION

FUN & GAMES

2 Gender and climate change 3 Prom 4 Mueller report 5 India and Pakistan

6 Staff editorial 7 Ad 8 Ivy league schools 9 Makeup culture 10 Toxic relationships 11 Movie remakes

FEATURE

12 Cincinnati skies 13 Anti-vaxxers 14 Retiring teachers 15 Retiring teachers 16 Changes to SHS 17 Goose attack

COVER 19 Funny job stories

EDITORIAL POLICY Although students work under the guidance of a professional faculty member, the content is ultimately Sycamore High School determined by the student staff 7400 Cornell Road and should reflect all areas of Cincinnati, OH 45242 student interest, including topics on which there may be dissent Covers by Lindsey Brinkman and controversy. Students can not publish material that is obscene, and Anisa Khatana 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.

THE LEAF

25 Spring crossword

ENTERTAINMENT

26 Drugstore mascara 27 New Voices 28 Weezer 29 Spring fashion

FOCUS

30 Andre Harte

SPORTS

31 College recruits 32 Spring sports 33 Baseball twins

Read more on our website

shsleaf.org

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

@SHSLEAF

LETTER FROM THE EDITORS Hello, dear readers! Through this page, I’m gifting you some of the chocolates (and pure coffee creamer) that have gotten us through our deadline for this issue. This is The Leaf’s future editorial board, slumped over our ancient room 115 computers (or on our laptops at midnight), writing to you from the front of the underclass issue—our last issue of this school year. If you’re a faithful Letter From the Editors reader (we see you. Bisous), you know that our editorial board has been transitioning for a while. But this is really it. While some of our incredible senior staffers contributed writing, graphics, and photos to this issue, the senior editors who have been writing to you all year are now hard at work on the Senior Leaf exclusively, which you can (and should) look for at the beginning of May. As underclassmen who have risen through the ranks during our time on the staff of the Leaf, this issue is something we are incredibly proud to present to you as a little transition between the journalistic highs of this year and all that is to come next year. In about a month, our staff will be losing 10 seniors. All of us underclassmen would like to take this opportunity to bid them farewell and thank them for everything they have put into our journalism program, (including the snacks they bought that all of us have since consumed). Thank you for making us laugh, saving us from crying, and reminding us why we do this to ourselves. We wish you all the best. Now! Back to this issue. Our cover story this month is jobs. It sounds... like something you don’t want to think about right now; I’m aware. So before I continue, a direct quote from Cover: “Once, a customer called back after picking up their order and claimed it wasn’t hot enough after driving home...” On the Classifieds pages, you can also find over 30 local job opportunities for the coming months. You pay us 50 cents for a Leaf, we find you a job for the summer... it’s a good deal. In other news, this issue also includes stories on the whistle-blowers in the hallways, prom, retiring teachers, baseball-playing twins, and a riveting narrative of one staffer’s run-in with a pack of angry Canada geese. As always, we’d love to see your feedback and contest entries in our inbox at shsstudentvoice@ gmail.com. Take your time with this issue; trust me—reading it will be a blast (especially in comparison to that geometry homework you saved for ACE bell).

NEWS April 24, 2019

GIRLS ARE STRONGER THAN BOYS, RESEARCH SAYS DEEYA PRAKASH opinion chief GLOBAL WARMING IS causing sea levels to rise. It is making the ocean warm. It is melting glaciers. It is shifting plant and animal ranges. It is causing more natural disasters to occur. Though it may seem that the world blames climate change for the majority of its problems, these issues are supported by hard evidence and research. But now research is focusing on a completely different aspect. Things have gotten extremely interesting. Studies show that climate change could maybe even affect the ratio of girls and boys being born each year. But that is a big maybe. According to a study done by Japanese scientist Dr. Misao Fukuda, there is an increase in females in areas experiencing natural disasters, while more males are being born in places with warmer temperatures. So how? How did they find this information? The team analyzed birth rates after extreme stress events that had occured in the past 10 years in Japan. After extensive research, they concluded that the conception of boys was vulnerable to volatile environments, such as places experiencing droughts or with regular wildfires. Let us check out the numbers. After nine months in an unstable

Sources: cnn.com, earth.com

environment, the proportion of male babies decreased by between 6 and 14 percent from the previous year. Though the reasons are unclear, he believes that this is because of “the sensitivity of male-bearing sperm cells, male embryos, or male fetuses to stress,” according to Earth.com. To further back this up is evidence, Ray Catalano, a professor in the School of Public Health at the University of California, stated that males are “a relatively frail organism” at birth and that “for every society, for every year, the human being most likely to die [prematurely] is male infants. “And that's true for every society that we have data for,” Catalano said, according to CNN.com. So essentially, male embryos are weaker than female embryos, and cannot handle the stress that comes with a volatile environment, or so research expresses. Ms. Julie Haverkos, science department head at SHS, believes that though this evidence seems valid, the high stress events that cause a decrease in males seem to only be local events. Thus, she believes that climate change may have a small impact, but not a significant, more global influence. Now addressing part two of the effect of climate on gender. The team of scientists with Fukuda also indicated that more males were born in areas where temperatures were higher. Samuli Helle, a senior researcher in the Section of Ecology, Department of Biology at the University of Turku in Finland,showed that for every three degrees Celsius increase, there was a 0.18 percent increase in boys, as per CNN. This may not sound like much, but in a

large enough sample size, this could mean thousands more males born. But is climate change even the one to blame? Nowadays, whenever a major change occurs, climate change is the first supposed culprit. But is global warming really the reason behind this data? Helle also detailed that climate change may not be the only reason for this change in sex ratio. With a factor as vast as gender, there could be several influencing components. AP Environmental Science teacher Mr. Ron Hochstrasser also expressed the same opinion. “I’m not sure that climate change is the cause necessarily. There are so many other factors that could influence something like gender,” Hochstrasser said. So although the statistics may seem compelling, there could be countless other explanations for this shift in birth rates. There are aspects such as chemicals in the air, pollution, and even the toxins affecting the estrogen production in women. It may not be solely temperature or environment, but smaller factors that contribute to the overall idea of gender. However, one thing can be said: climate change is changing our world.

NEWS

April 24, 2019

STUDENTS PREPARE FOR PROM KIRSTEN THOMAS senior staff writer

Photo courtesy of McDaniel’s Photography

STUDENTS ALWAYS EXPECT it to

be a fun night. Prom 2019 is taking place on April 27, starting at 8:00 p.m. at the Manor House. This year’s theme is “Night of a Thousand Lights.” Last year’s Prom, held at the same location, consisted of dancing, a posed photo opportunity, and the crowning of Prom King and Queen. Many students go with a date or group to the event, and arrange to take photos and have dinner before Prom begins. Like any other school dance, students make their way out to the dance floor during the event. “I really enjoyed dancing with all of my friends and seeing everyone have fun,” said Claire Bolyard, 12. Following Prom is the traditional After Prom held at SHS, which typically consists of a hypnotist, games, food and raffles. Last year’s raffles included prizes such as a parking pass for the next school year, gift cards, and physical items such as wristlets. Many students, including Bolyard, enjoyed “... seeing the hypnotist performance and receiving the raffle [prizes].” Sources: content.time.com

Students are not required to attend Prom itself to attend After Prom. Tickets for After Prom should be purchased using the Ticket Form, which requires parental consent. Tickets are on sale for $20 each through April 26. This year’s After Prom theme is “Under the Sea,” and the Commons will be decorated accordingly. Although it is only for juniors and seniors, some underclassmen, including freshman Patrick Thompson believe that “Prom should stay for seniors and juniors” exclusively. Although there is no clear reasoning as to why Prom is only for upperclassman, there is some

history behind today’s annual dance. According to TIME, “The word prom is short for promenade, the formal, introductory parading of guests at a party.” Some of the first “Proms” can be traced back to 19th century co-ed banquets that universities in America put on for each year’s graduating class. Prom tickets sell for $35 and were on sale April 10, 11, 16-18, 23 and 24, the 24th being the final day for Prom ticket purchases. Guest forms are available for those who need them in the front and counseling office. All guest forms are to be turned in and approved by April 24.

WHISTLE-BLOWERS ROAM HALLS, TAKE NAMES

Q&A with hall monitors Mr. Wittman and Mr. Fallon ABIGAIL LEFTON senior staff writer

For months now, during Aviator Bell, the halls have rung with the sound of whistles. History teachers Mr. Kevin Wittman and Mr. Brian Fallon form the responsible party, using their whistles to warn straggling students. Q: When did this hall patrol start? A: So Mr. Fallon and I were in charge of the

Hub during Flight Crew, but because that doesn’t need three teachers, Mr. [Kevin] Gutekunst is in there supervising the Flight Crew and then the administration asked us if we would do hall patrol. This started at the... beginning of the third quarter, but we said we needed a uniform because people wouldn’t respect our authority. I asked for a whistle, Mr. Fallon asked for a hoverboard. I don’t feel like I’m coordinated [enough] for a hovercraft board but some people suggested a segway. I didn’t want to blow up the budget, so this is just kind of a pilot program. Q: What is your budget? A: This [whistle] was it right here. $6. Q: What specifically are you looking for in the halls? A: Loiterers. You have to be in Aviator bell or you have to be in the lunch room and if you are not, you have to have a pass. Now, we are just trying to make Photo courtesy of Abigail Lefton.

teachers understand that they need to know where their kids are because there have been too many students that are just roaming around unsupervised, Juuling... The rule of thumb is that if there is more than just one set of legs in a bathroom stall, than there is something occurring. We’ve also had two accounts of people getting in trouble. Q: Is this an everyday thing? A: Monday through Friday. This is an everyday thing. There is another crew that takes over second lunch, I can’t vouch for how good they are but we are efficient. It’s us every time. Q: When you see someone wandering, what do you do? A: I blow the whistle at them. That gets their attention and they come over to me, and I ask them ‘Where’s your hall pass? Where are you supposed to be?’ Most of the time I just push people along because the whistle is pretty intimidating and they don’t want to mess with a whistle in their face.

NEWS

April 24, 2019

EXONERATION OR PROSECUTION? Two charges cleared, more pending ALLYSON BONHAUS senior staff writer

“...THIS REPORT DOES not conclude that the President committed a crime, it also does not exonerate him.” The quote comes from the Special Counsel’s Report by Robert Mueller, courtesy of the U.S. Attorney General William Barr’s summary, which was released on March 24, 2019. The report comes after a 22-month investigation into whether President Donald Trump or certain associates conspired with the Russian government in the 2016 presidential election or if Trump obstructed justice. Trump told reporters in Florida “there was no collusion” and that the report “was a complete and total exoneration” on March 25, 2019. Both political parties have had different reactions to this summary. Democrats have called for the full report, as Barr was appointed by Trump and can be fired by Trump, raising questions about his loyalties. Barr’s summary does not quite match Mueller’s report as well. Mueller seems to have left a few questions in his wake about whether Trump did commit any crimes, though he found

no evidence of such actions, as it appears in Barr’s four-page summary. “Mueller’s team drew no conclusions about whether Mr. Trump illegally obstructed justice, Mr. Barr said, so he made his own decision,” according to The New York Times. This report is a victory for Trump, ending the threat of indictments and search warrants. Impeachment is even further from the horizon than when House Speaker Nancy Pelosi tried to diminish impeachment hopes months ago. Lead Democrats are still demanding for the entire Mueller report to be released, which has only been read by those at the Department of Justice and contains sensitive grand jury information. NPR’s Politics podcast speculates that at least Barr will be called to testify if not more from the special counsel team. Mueller was definitive, through Barr’s summary, that there was no conspiracy between Trump and Russia to undermine the election. However, the special counsel investigation was not and is not the only investigation threatening Trump. Time Magazine put together a list

of the ongoing investigations, lawsuits, and Congressional oversight that Trump still faces personally. Though Mueller found no evidence of conspiracy or obstruction of justice, Trump is under the eye of other investigators for different alleged crimes. The most daunting of the investigations for Trump is proving to be Roger Stone’s criminal trial. Stone was charged with witness tampering and lying to Congress concerning his contact with WikiLeaks about hacked emails from the Democratic National Committee to help the Trump campaign win in 2016. The trial is set for November and lodge allegations at Trump. Other items of significance concern the hush money payments to two women Trump had extramarital affairs with, questions on where Trump’s inauguration funding was from, investigations into Trump’s real estate deals, Trump’s taxes, as well as a myriad of other inquiries. Investigators are not fully satisfied with Trump yet, though Mueller has settled two speculations. *Last updated at press time.*

Sources: nytimes, twitter.com, time.com, npr.com

Photo courtesy of Allyson Bonhaus

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NEWS

April 24, 2019

LONG-LASTING DISPUTES CARRY ON BHAAVYA JHA

broadcast director IS THERE A WAR coming? You have probably heard about the tensions between India and Pakistan. The surgical strike, bombing, and martyred soldiers, all of that. But, what is actually happening? On Feb. 14, which is known to be the deadliest terrorist attack in nearly three decades, 40 Indian soldiers were killed. In an unverified video, shot before the attack, Jaish-EMohammed (JeM) claimed responsibility for the incident by identifying the suicide bomber as Adil Ahmad Dar. JeM is a terrorist group based in Pakistan, which has been doing notorious activities since the 2000s, and has been declared a terrorist organization by India and the United Nations (UN). Junior Devansh Saxena, who is from India, explained his reaction towards the news. He said that he was furious about how these soldiers were trying to come back home to spread the love on Valentine’s Day, but got bombed and killed. He described the situation for their families as “devastating.” Both countries have an intense history of wars and bitter enmity, which sometimes results in a huge loss of lives as a result of wars between them. Some citizens of both countries make the situation even more conflicting due to the extreme nationalism amongst them, which includes hate comments, and even glorification of the rumors of a possible war. Moreover, the journalists and media of both countries seem to show biased news and

reports, which is highly confusing for both the countries, as well as foreign countries. On one hand, Indian news media claims evidence of aiding terrorists and surgical strikes against Pakistan, and on the other hand, Pakistani news media deny all blame and falsify it instead. In such a tense situation like this, when facts are more important than anything else, news media that takes sides loses credibility: Will a non-Indian or non-Pakistani believe the reporting of each country’s news media? Perhaps not, maybe because it’s so tangled and hard to understand. “...If things escalated anymore, India and Pakistan would be [in] a full out war, which isn’t right. I know that Pakistan tried doing that when the Pakistani soldiers saved Abhinandan,” Saxena said. One such example of a confused situation was on Feb.27, when an Indian soldier named Abhinandan Varthaman’s “jet was shot down in what Islamabad called a ‘retaliation’ to India conducting air strikes in its territory,” according to British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). While Indian media claimed that Varthaman has been badly treated and perhaps beaten too, Pakistan defended themselves, saying how they wish for peace and this is a step towards that path. One confirmed fact was that Varthaman was in Pakistan’s hold until, after much diplomacy and efforts put in by both sides, the Pakistani government released him on March 1. Although this incident was seen as a

major setback for India, it also optimized the willingness of the Pakistani government to take a step towards peace. Now, this does not impact one much until they are a citizen of either country, but here is the catch. India and Pakistan both are nuclear powers and the rumors of a possible war between the two means harm, not only for those two countries but for others too. If this were to happen, it would have a huge impact on the whole world, at least on the diplomatic levels. Saxena said that both the countries “have an extremely strong army and firearms” This can cause a lot of damage. According to an article by New York Times, “a full-scale nuclear exchange between the two rivals could kill up to 12 million people immediately and injure up to 7 million.” While the level of conflict may sound surprising to some, freshman Amal Siddiqi, who comes from Pakistan, “saw it coming” and “wasn’t surprised.” However, the matter has seemed to calm down for a now. It was quite evident when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Damodaras Modi greeted Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan Niazi on Pakistan’s Republic Day on March 23. Siddiqi thinks “they should both agree to stop,” and so do many others, but this was not the case when both countries’ people were furious over the disputes initially. As for now, the matter has cooled down, but one never knows when a twist takes place, and things turn upside down. So, keep an eye on any news related to these countries.

HISTORY OF THE CONFLICT •In 1947, India gained independence

from the British Raj, the name for the British government at the time. Many Muslims demanded another country for themselves, which resulted in the partition of India into two countries: India and Pakistan.

• Under the plan for partition provided by the Indian Independence Act, Kashmir had the freedom to join India or Pakistan. The local ruler, Hari Singh, chose India and this caused a two-year war in 1947. • Another war took place between India Photo courtesy of Creative Commons Sources: bbc.com, washingtonpost.com, economictimes.indiatimes.com, nytimes.com

and Pakistan, in 1965, and another small one in 1999.

LEAFING THROUGH THE MASSES:

because of her resilience and ability to keep going despite her struggles. She never gets caught up in the negative aspects of life,” said Mrs. Beth LeBlanc, English teacher.

Photo courtesy of Deeya Prakash

Jobs. Teens may love them or hate them, but they will always exist. For many students, now is the perfect time to begin looking for a job. The days are getting longer, pantlegs are getting shorter, and students are starting ro remember the sweetness of summer days—or, perhaps, how sweet they can be when one has the facilities to enjoy them. Academic responsibilities will be subsiding soon; for many, it will be nice to earn a salary in order to make the most of the summer. But while summer jobs may hold their own special appeal (or necessity), many students also work August through May, balancing both their academics and job responsibilities. Working introduces teenagers to the real world in a way that teaches them to work for positive outcomes. The experiences of interviewing, applying for a job, and learning to cooperate with coworkers can be helpful, and having working experience teaches teens what it is like to have to earn every dollar. According to CBS News, summer jobs can even help teenagers perform better in school. A job can be instrumental in teaching teens skills such as discipline, time management, organization, and accountability beyond what school alone can do. For some students, however, working is more than just a learning experience. A job can mean food on the table, helping to support one’s family. Additionally, for students looking beyond high school, saving money can support college enrollment and fees, fund a gap year, or provide spending money for college. A job could also mean being introduced to the family business that a student plans to lead in the future. The list goes on: jobs undeniably have value. But with the way our world functions today, for some teenagers, the role that jobs once played in teens’ lives is now being filled by other things. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 92 percent of teens who did not have jobs in 2014 cited “going to school” as their main reason. More and more students are loading up on extracurriculars, sports, summer school courses, and rigorous classes. This lends itself to another sector of the workplace: volunteer jobs that teach teens those same life skills simply without pay. Cincinnati-area parents interviewed by WCPO also expressed that, because more parents are supporting their teens financially, the latter group lacks the motivation to work and earn money for themselves. A teen’s employment status reflects their intentions, dreams, goals, limitations, abilities and responsibilities. Modern teens’ relationship with the workplace also defines our generation as a whole.

“I would want Michael Scott to be my coworker because even with his sometimes irritating personality, he would keep things lively,” said “I would want to Grace Larrick, 10. work with Bugs Bunny in coaching the TuneSquad from Space Jam. I think that I could offer some important insight,” said Jack “Probably Jeannette Walls Brownlee, 9.

Photo courtesy of Grace Larrick

Staff Editorial

“Probably Elon Musk. An engineer that prestigious would make working with them so interesting,” said Nate Ritchie, 12.

Photo courtesy of Deeya Prakash

UNDER PRESSURE. Many SHS students are constantly balancing the pressures of their family- or friend-related obligations, schoolwork, and social lives. By bringing money into the picture, jobs can become an overwhelming stressor for teens leading already-busy lives. Cartoon by Anisa Khatana.

Photo courtesy of Nate Ritchie

If you could choose anyone to be your co-worker, who would it be?

OPINION April 24, 2019

SUCCESS IS NOT IN THE NAME DEEYA PRAKASH

happiness. But what about 500,000 dollars? This much in cash is anyone’s dream, the possibilities practically endless. A brand new house. A personal yacht. A limousine. An all-expense-paid trip around the world. A lifetime supply of gummy bears. However, last month, over 500,000 dollars in bribes were paid to college admission officers in order to ensure recruitment of two students. Though the scandal was heavily covered, the celebrities shamed and the college officers arrested for what they did, it is important to discuss their motives. Like any parents, its safe to say that these famous families just wanted success for their children. They wanted them to be highly educated and have sustainable careers with prosperous futures. The Ivy Leagues may be honorable. Prestigious. A symbol of excellence. But is half of a million dollars and dismissing your ethics worth entry into these elite universities? More importantly, is the prestige of your education the only precursor for professional success? The answer to this question is simple: no. Your success is not determined by your education. I understand this may come as a shock. Let us check out the facts. What do the names Henry Ford, John D. Rockefeller, Steve Jobs, Michael Dell, and Ellen DeGeneres all have in common? They were or are millionaires, some even billionaires. Another similarity is that none of these big names ever received a college diploma. Every single one of them is a college dropout. But it is not just these examples. In a book, titled “Where You Go is not Who You’ll Be,” author Frank Bruni looked into the chief executives of the Fortune 500 companies, or America’s highest revenue businesses. At the time of the novel’s release, the top ten were Wal-Mart, Exxon Mobil, Chevron, Berkshire Hathaway, Apple, Phillips 66, General Motors, Ford Motor, General Electric and Valero Energy, in that order. He then compared the universities that the chief executives had attended. In the same order, the CEOs of these corporations went to, for their undergraduate

JESSICA LU

senior staff writer

opinion chief

THEY SAY THAT money cannot buy

column:

degrees, the University of Arkansas, the University of Texas, the University of California Davis, the University of Nebraska, Auburn, Texas A&M, Kettering University, the University of Kansas, Dartmouth College and the University of Missouri St. Louis. Of these colleges, only one is Ivy League. And it is near the bottom of the list. Senior Carolyn Zhang, an Ivy hopeful, agrees that at the end of the day, your success story is written, bound, and published by you, not your college. “No matter where you end up, you make the experience…. If you put in enough effort, you'll… be able to find awesome opportunities and meet distinguished experts no matter where you end up. The name of the school alone is no measure of your future success,” Zhang said. She is right. At the end of the day, your success is based on you. It is your paint. Your pencils. Your ink. Your canvas. Your masterpiece. It is determined on quality, not quantity. If the quality of your success ends up just as good, if not better, at a smaller school, then why is there so much pressure for acceptance into the Ivy’s? Unsurprisingly, I am not the only one frustrated by the common misconception that the more reputable school you attend school determines how successful you are. “I struggled with this for a while and debated if the price tag is worth the school prestige and the promise of success after graduation. But I honestly believe that you are the one that makes you successful as long as you grab every opportunity available and commit to creating your own success,” said Heather Bruck, 12. So for those of you seniors who are still in denial over rejection letters, or those of you freshman who are already stressed at every mention of the word “college,” just know this: in the end, it may not matter if you attend community college or graduate from Harvard as top of your class. It may not even matter if you drop out first semester or earn a PhD. The only thing that will matter is if you take advantage of your opportunities and make your own life. Because if you pursue your own chances, fight for your spot at the table, and accomplish your own success, you not only have won the college game, but you have won the game of life.

*This article is purely satrical and not meant to be interpreted literally. Read at your own risk.* Dear prospective students, We cordially invite you to apply to our highly prestigious university. No need to explain our merits because our name recognition and US News Ranking will be enough justification. You may go into crippling debt, but you can sell one of your kidneys to help pay for tuition. Depending on your blood type, it may cover room and board too. However, our single-digit acceptance rate offers future students a once-in-alifetime opportunity after all. Honestly, you might not amount to anything if you are not accepted. But do not fear! Apply just for laughs. We will gladly take your application fee money. But here are some tips to boost your chances. First: there is no real purpose in having fun in high school. As we like to say, stress is best. We know you have already dedicated your youth exhausting yourself in too many extracurriculars, loaded your schedule with so many AP’s you get three hours of sleep at night, and invested countless dollars in standardized testing. Admittedly, there is still over a 90% chance you’re not good enough. Second: We want diversity—students from all different backgrounds. Examples include but are not limited to: geniuses who cured cancer, worldclass athletes, children of our rich alumni, children of affluent CEO’s, children of the president, etc. Third and foremost: Integrity is a must. In light of recent scandals, we highly discourage bribing your way into admissions (but we won’t say no to a new building if you know what we mean). We wish you the best in your application process. Sincerely, Ivy University

OPINION

April 24, 2019

BEHIND THE BLUSH Makeup presents alternative message HARSITHA KALAIARASAN staff writer

THE TV BLARES a concealer commercial: “Cover dark circles, pimples, and dark spots!” The woman in the Maybelline ad is young and displays a radiant, seamless complexion. The ad ultimately implies that facial imperfections-scars, discoloring, acne, dark spots-- are things that should be fixed. I have never pondered the makeup industry deeply. I personally do not wear makeup, but I recognized that others chose to and accepted it as a form of self-expression. As the self-love and conscious beauty movements gain traction, I concluded that more questions must be asked of the makeup industry. Even as a young girl, I felt the pressure in society to “ease” into makeup. Lip balms, gloss, and nail polish were conveniently marketed in bright, sparkly packaging that inevitably caught my toddler eyes. The dolls I played with, the shows I watched, they all featured girls with long eyelashes, smooth skin, and sparkly lips. It wasn’t long before I was asking to wear these things, but my mom always answered with a resounding “no.” Don’t get me wrong, I am not one to judge anyone for what they choose to do. But as a young woman, I feel compelled to analyze the way in which corporations are utilizing insecurity and unrealistic expectations of beauty. The Renfrew Center Foundation conducted a survey that found that 58 percent of their participants wore makeup and all of them began to between the ages of eight and 13. Young girls should feel free and confident to grow up playing, learning, and living with their bare-face, but essentially the opposite is true. As these young girls grow older, they view a “perfect” face as one free of naturally occurring blemishes, pores, and pimples. Not only does this breed a strict standard of beauty, but it paves the way for girls to judge others for not conforming to that ideal. The bare face is something that we are born

Sources: glossier. com,Affinity Magazine

with, that grew and changed with us, that tells a story about who we are and what we’ve been through. To be conditioned at a young age to cover those things up does not sit right with me, especially imagining that companies are making billions of dollars off of these negative feelings. The makeup and skincare enthusiasts have applauded companies like Glossier for celebrating a more “natural” look. However, even Glossier’s aesthetic endorses the wrong message. They advertise their skin tint as covering “covers everything from dark circles to blemishes and redness, with a dewy, glowy, undetectable finish.” This trend itself presents problems. A young girl views another girl wearing a foundation that covers “imperfections,” but is essentially undetectable. That young girl will wonder why her bare skin does not look nearly as perfect or even, therefore generating an even stricter standard of beauty that becomes practically unreachable. That’s not to say that makeup cannot be used in an empowering manner. Nowadays, makeup is used as a form of artistic expression and requires skill and time to master. Yet, most people do not go to work or school with a smokey eye and red lip, but rather with concealer and foundation. In fact, covering up acne, blemishes, or other “imperfections” has become synonymous with professionalism and workplace culture, further accentuating the unfair and unrealistic ideal that has been subconsciously planted by makeup. At the end of the day, the individual decides what empowers them. But we should always stop and ask questions. Why should pimples be covered up? Why are dark spots something to be embarrassed about? Are you confident in your bare face? We have all been conditioned to think a certain way. To be able to view the systems and structures that control these thoughts can only lead to more empowerment.

Photo courtesy of Harsitha Kalaiarasan Designed by: Harsitha Kalaiarasan

OPINION

April 24, 2019

CAUTION: TOXIC

A teen’s path through damaging media relationships ALLYSON BONHAUS senior staff writer

I GREW UP WATCHING toxic romances. I surrounded myself in what I believed to be epic love stories, ignoring all the instances of weakness and stereotyping in the women I thought were powerful. I fell in love with the “Twilight” series as a young teen. I fawned over the romance between Edward Cullen and Bella Swan—I even grieved with Bella when Edward left in “New Moon” and rejoiced when he returned. Without her man, Bella became suicidal, an adrenaline-junkie, and apathetic without Edward by her side. In my early teens, this was one of my favorite books. I closed my eyes to the misogyny and weak-women-stereotyping, not even admitting to the damage these novels did to the women who loved this book. Flash forward a few years and I condemn the series. I am deep into my feminism phase (the permanent kind of phase) and cannot even look or hear the titles of the books without shuddering to this day. I am angry with myself for not realizing how damaged Bella’s character was. She was pitiful and without willpower, especially in “New Moon.” Yet, I still loved to love the romance. And yet, this is not a problem confined to my preteen days. I still fall into this trap today, as an 18-year-old woman. There are so many love stories out there, and with just a few charms we forget to analyze them critically. We lose ourselves to the words “strong female lead”—it allows us to love the romance. When I first heard someone call Blaire

Waldorf and Chuck Bass’ relationship on “Gossip Girl” toxic, I immediately became defensive—Blaire is a strong woman who commanded her own life. Yet, I could not repress all the cases that memory brought up. I overlook how he sold her for a hotel and their relationship games preying on other women. At the beginning of the series, Chuck even wore the motto “no doesn’t mean no,” insinuating rape culture through a beloved character. I even want to redeem Chuck because of who he became at the end of the series, yet Chuck and Blaire’s romance cannot be considered a win for feminism. I still refused to accept that these heroines were very far from strong or feminist for a while. It was not something that I ever consciously thought, it was ingrained by the assumption that women in media like Blaire Waldorf were strong and independent because we were told she was strong and independent and she looked strong and independent. What shows like this tell us is that feminism is not always feminism. Another stalwart to the teenage girl television experience is “Gilmore Girls.” Not to brag, but I never fell for Jess. Even though I accept how easy it is to get emotionally involved in the characters’ romances, I treated Jess fans with disdain. The first time I saw the series was when it was classified under “Strong Female Leads” on Netflix, however, Jess was the cover photo. He appears in only 39 episodes, according to “Fandom,” of 153 episodes, but he is on the cover. Somehow, I did not let this stop me, and I am glad it did not. The show was a wonderful

one, but we as viewers cannot accept the show feeding us feminism. The label is thrown about but it does not match their relationships. As we follow Rory and her mother Lorelai Gilmore, both have their fair share of toxic romances. Jess sticks out because he is a terrible person to Rory, the classic bad boy that hurts those around him. Yet, Rory is heartbroken when he leaves and still thinks about him years later when he suddenly reappears and wants things to go back to before he left her. However, we do not decide what television show to watch based on feminism. We love to love romances. We love to love blindly, to jump into the unknown. We love to escape. I am not telling you to never watch a romance again. I still fall into love with toxic relationships, even blind to the fact they are toxic. Today, I watch “Pretty Little Liars” and “Scandal” and love to root for the relationships, no matter how toxic. There are also shows that portray strong female leads and healthy relationships like “Legally Blonde,” “Modern Family,” and “Parenthood.” There is a clear lack and I try to support the shows that do role model normal relationships. And so, to keep my feminist identity and reconcile how television portrayals damage relationship expectations, I try to recognize the relationships for what they are: toxic. I keep my eyes open to possible toxic relationships whenever I watch any show, to recognize that these portrays damage our ability to make and maintain healthy ideals of bonds and women.

Photo courtesy of Creative Commons

OPINION

April 24, 2019

THE STALE ART OF MOVIE REMAKES Lack of variety bores movie audiences ANISA KHATANA editor in chief

IT WAS SUN., MARCH 24: the last afternoon of spring break. I was eating a frozen breakfast burrito still hot from the microwave, watching a film on Turner Classic Movies (TCM) when my mother walked into our kitchen and turned her eyes to the TV. I told her about the 1939 comedy-drama movie adapted by two women from a play written by a woman and I told her about the film’s all-woman cast—then I told her its name: “The Women.” She promptly recalled a 2000s film by the same name. It starred Meg Ryan, she said. We compared plots; they aligned perfectly. “Isn’t it funny,” my mother said, “all these movies that are remakes and you never even know it.” Avid movie-watcher junior Rohan Mathur, for one, expressed surprise upon learning that “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels,” a favorite movie of his, is indeed a remake. “I had no idea,” Mathur said. It’s true—many beloved and critically acclaimed films are not completely original, from “Scarface” with Al Pacino (which birthed the iconic line “say hello to my little friend”) to “The Parent Trap” with the recently revived Lindsay Lohan. I will admit that “The Parent Trap” has a few meritable traits, including—but not limited to—Lohan’s outfits in the movie. The Californian twin dresses like she grew up at Sequoia National Park, and the Londoner dresses like Madeline: delightful details that were not present in the original 1961 version. The plot overall may be slightly demented, but, as Man Repeller journalist Haley Nahman puts it in her article, “it’s not afraid to be a caricature of itself and that’s fun.” (Sidenote: Lohan’s “Freaky Friday” was also a remake.) The point is that not all movie remakes are bad. When the right content is in the right hands, inventive, rich interpretations may arise with both personal and critical appeal. For example, my favorite version of “The Sources: editorial.rottentomatoes.com, variety.com, forbes.com, manrepeller.com, imdb.com Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Great Gatsby” is not the original. And the fourth version of “A Star is Born,” directed by and starring Bradley Cooper, won 66 awards, including one Oscar, one Golden Globe, and many more nominations. But every data set has its outliers. Revered film and TV critic site Rotten Tomatoes ranks movies on a 100 percent scale dubbed the “Tomatometer.” The average Tomatometer score of remakes released after 1978 is 47 percent, while the average for movies that have been remade is 81 percent. Less than 10 percent of remakes earned better scores than the original films. I am no expert on the dynamics of the American film industry. But the principles of consumer demand apply. More streaming services means less people are going to movie

theatres, and remakes have a guaranteed audience: fandoms, those who love nostalgia, those doubtful of the remake, those curious about new developments, those excited to see their favorite new actor’s take on an old movie. Cinema is a business. Money matters. So perhaps this is coming from the undyingly impractical nonconformist in me, but I find discovering eccentric film festival stunners and avant-garde film school projects far more stirring than seeing six adjacent remake movie posters next to the double doors of a movie theatre. The issue becomes more complex when movie sequels and movies adapted from books are considered. Personally, most of my favorite movies are either completely original or adapted from books. So in essence, I suppose this is a call for more variety in American cinema. Put your money where you want to. But a film has to be remarkable in some way to inspire a remake in the first place. And how could it be a bad thing to put more of that stunning art into the world?

FEATURE

April 24, 2019

Anti-vaxxers gain followers

FEATURE

Parents use social media as source regarding their children CHARLOTTE WEISS feature chief

ALTHOUGH A STUDY from March 5 states, “MMR [Measles, Mumps, Rubella] vaccination does not increase the risk for autism,” many still believe a vaccination results in autism. Over the past few months, more and more false information concerning vaccines has come to light. But in some cases, the child has believed the true studies, while the parent finds wrong information on social media, including 18 year old Ethan Lindenberger from Norwalk, Ohio. This small city, with a population of around 16 thousand, is only a three and a half hour drive from Cincinnati. Lindenberger went against his mother’s views after he turned 18, and received his vaccinations. He claimed his mother received false information about vaccines from social media, and thus chose not to vaccinate her children.

Junior Stacy Lawrence helps in the special needs classroom at SHS while also working as a tumbling and gymnastics helper for small children. “I work everyday with children with special needs and specifically autism… I do know that vaccinations have helped our society prevent diseases from spreading and creating epidemics,” Lawrence said. Although all states in the United States and Washington D.C. require vaccinations for public schools, such as Sycamore, this is not a federal law, and can easily be avoided by parents. First, every student in all 50 states and D.C. can be exempt from these vaccines because of medical reasons, and only three states do not allow religious beliefs as a reason for one not receiving their vaccinations. Also, 17 states and Washington D.C. allow students to be exempt from vaccinations for philosophical reasons, such as personal

beliefs or morals, meaning if a mother such as Lindenberger’s mother, did not believe in vaccinations, they could not give them to their child, and send them to public school. The Immunization Action Coalition (IAC) is a national leader in immunization education for parents and even children. This organization works to increase the rates of immunization and awareness of the effects of not vaccinating one’s child. According to the IAC, “unvaccinated children can infect babies who are too young to be fully immunized, and can infect people of any age who can’t be immunized for medical reasons.” Some may not vaccinate their children in fear of their child developing autism, using evidence from a 1998 study by Andrew Wakefield, former British gastroenterologist. But these hypotheses have been disproven and Wakefield has been kicked off the United Kingdom medical registry for unethical behavior.

Vaccination by the Numbers

How important do you believe it is for parents to have their children vaccinated?

1 in 10 Americans believe vaccines are not safe for healthy children.

18% Designed by Charlotte Weiss Source: researchamerica.org

of Americans believe vaccinations cause autism Very important

Somewhat important

Not very important

Not important

Don’t know

FEATURE

April 24, 2019

Staff say goodbye to SHS ALLISON MCELROY news chief

Mrs. Susan Helgeson Teaching career: 40 years Sycamore career: 27 years

Best part of your job? I love math, and I have always tried to help students understand it better. Often times that means encouraging them to come in for extra help when needed.

What are you planning on doing after you retire? After I retire, I plan to spend more time outdoors; whether in my yard working, or hiking, biking or walking in a park. Also, my husband and I have a cabin in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan on Huron Bay where I will spend at least 6 months of the year.

Funniest memory of teaching? I cannot pinpoint a ‘funniest memory’ of teaching my students. However, one of my “funnest” memories was years ago when a student of mine and I actually trained for a triathlon together.

Advice to students? Work hard to achieve success, but to also allow themselves time to ‘be a kid.’ They should not overload their schedules with too many AP classes, or work a job too many times during the week. Sleep is

Mr. Phil Poggi

Athetic administration career: 15 years Sycamore career: 4 years

was getting to work with student-athletes and coaches on a daily basis.

Why did you choose to resign from Sycamore and what career are you planning to pursue? I chose to resign because the right opportunity presented itself for myself and my family. I have been named the Vice President of Business Development for G3 ProCamps.

Funniest memory from being an athletic director? There are so many memories to just name one. I would say that the ones that will stand out are those where we saw our student-athletes set and achieve their goals.

Best part of your job? The best part of being an athletic director

important, and they should also learn to ignore their cell phones for a while each day. Other leadership roles at Sycamore? I have been on some committees over the years as well as helping with [Focus for math] and guided study hall.

an honor to serve as athletic director for the past four school years and I will forever treasure the memories and relationships that have been built.

Anything else you want to say to the students/staff? Just a heartfelt ‘thank you’. It has been

Mrs. Margaret Stone Teaching career: 40 years Sycamore career: 30 years Best part of your job? Getting to work with such talented students and colleagues. It is very gratifying to watch students enter my classroom each fall full of curiosity and anticipation and then to see them leave me in the spring having accomplished so much in chemistry.

in chemical demonstrations such as lighting hydrogen gas on fire. I even jump when they scream! What are you planning on doing after you retire? I live on a working farm, so my future is already set for me. However, we may do some traveling in the United States.

knowledge with others to help them grow. Other leadership roles at Sycamore? The District Safety Committee and the High School Safety Committee.

Advice to your students? Approach life’s events for what they can learn about life, themselves and their Funniest memory of teaching It is always entertaining to involve students surroundings and then to share their

Photo courtesy of Phil Poggi. All other photos courtesy of the Sycamore Log.

FEATURE

April 24, 2019

Mrs. Paula Anstaett Teaching career: 35 years Sycamore career: 34 years I have been the district-wide Adaptive Physical Education (APE) teacher for 11 years.

Best part of your job? The relationships I have developed with my students and student mentors as well as having one of my APE students smile or move in a way that they have never moved before. It also makes my heart happy when I see one of my APE students improve and mature from year to year. Seeing where some of my students started with me to where they end up makes me so proud.

Funniest memory of teaching? Not the most humorous event, but most memorable was when teaching a...power Volleyball II class, I had a student go upstairs to get a volleyball from the top of the bleachers, jumped down, and walked away without an injury.

plans will be hiking and exploring as many National Parks that I can as well as spending time with my two sons...and camping. Advice to students? Always do the right thing no matter who is looking. Have integrity in what you do.

What are you planning on doing after you retire? Other leadership roles at Sycamore? I plan on taking the time to take care Coaching girls and boys volleyball. of me again and to enjoy the things I don’t get to do having a job. I will spend some time helping APE students who are homeschooled. Most of all I plan on enjoying some of my hobbies [such] as photography and gardening. Vacation

Mr. Christian Shrimpton Teaching career: 41 years Sycamore career: 40 years

Best part of your job? Kids. I love teaching kids…about American history. Funniest memory of teaching? Everyday is a funny memory when you’re a teacher. The thing about teaching is you never know what each day will bring.

What are you planning on doing after you retire? I’ve been working grounds at the high school since I was in high school myself, and once I retire I will work full-time outside cutting grass...plus, I’ll travel a little bit. There have been Civil War battlefields I’ve never been to, I’m gonna go see them. My wife and I are gonna make a train trip across the country and time with my grandkids.

Best part of your job? My department colleagues and fellow teachers at SHS and Sycamore Community Schools are so talented and so interesting. Working with students and learning about them, what makes them tick, and their interests, that has been great fun. Lastly, I enjoy sharing my passion for the study of people and societies. ” Funniest memory of teaching? My first trip to Europe with the German language class was a great treat. The Cold War had recently ended and Germany

also a basketball coach.

Advice to students? Enjoy high school, it’s the best time of your life, and you can’t be in a better place than Sycamore.

Mr. Kevin Wittman Teaching career: 30 year Sycamore career: 25 years

Other leadership roles at Sycamore? I was the head baseball coach here for 31 years...I was the assistant soccer coach, I was the assistant cross country coach... I was the head coach of the girl’s cross country team when it first started... I was

was unified. The eastern parts still had not fully recovered from WWII, that was fascinating.

to you. Don’t worry about what others are doing or what they think, be confident and be yourself.

What are you planning on doing after you retire? We bought 10 acres on the west rim of the Taos Plateau in western New Mexico. We will be building a passive solar home that is completely off grid. Living there will be a great challenge. After the house gets finished I will probably do handyman jobs and manage vacation/rental properties, but mostly be outside enjoying nature.

Other leadership roles at Sycamore? When I first taught here, I helped coach wrestling and boy’s volleyball. I moved into Co-advising Student Council and class

Advice to students? Get involved and take advantage of all the opportunities provided

sponsorship. My best work was done as the advisor of the Buffet Club.

FEATURE

April 24, 2019

PLANET OF THE GOOSE

My scarring experience with Canada geese EPHRAIM CARLSON senior staff writer

A COOL GUST of wind came streaming

through my hair as John Fogerty sang the beginning to Creedence Clearwater Revival’s hit “Have You Ever Seen The Rain.” The mix of the complex chords and Fogerty’s distinct voice blasted into my ears, giving a euphoric rush and a burst of sudden energy. My bike starts to pick up speed, flying down my street like a Japanese bullet train. Houses passed by, nothing but a vibrant blur as my vision narrowed to the path ahead. I kicked my head back, closed my eyes, and gave two seconds to take in the moment. Then, all of sudden, “EEEERRRRRHHH.” My hand frantically grasped onto the brake with an iron grip. The worn-out spokes could only steadily bring the bike to a stop. I was whipped out of my vivid and spectacular daydream and tossed back into the dull reality. In front of me stood the usual suspects. A ragtag group of jerks that terrorized the neighborhood. The worst part was that they were not even human. They were a highly aggressive pack of Canada geese (not Canadian—it’s Canada). There were three of them, all blocking the road, forcing me to go through rather than around them, and more importantly preventing me from completing my job. Up to this point I had been a paperboy for five years and have had to deal with these slippery wild animals every Wednesday. It has been the same three geese for about five months now. They had damaged property, painted cars a blinding white and the road a nasty hue of green, and had even attacked some of my fellow neighbors. I was on the lucky side of things, having been able to avoid any serious confrontations

with them, but today was the day that it would all go downhill. Fatso, as I called him, stood on the far left of the blockade. He was known for being absurdly obese compared to the other geese. He could pass for a lean turkey. Next to him was Miss Hiss and Barry Allen. Whenever Miss Hiss was around you would suspect a snake was lurking or that there was some sort of gas leak. Barry Allen was the final member. Before the incident, I thought he was just your run-of-the-mill toadie. There was nothing peculiar about him. Average size and quiet, but he was always there with the other two. For a solid 20 seconds I stared down my opponent. I thought of whether I should escape or face the challenge head-on. Like an old fashioned spaghetti western, the tension built up, and I began to anticipate their next move. Nobody moved an inch. Then, the hissing began. Miss Hiss’ neck bowed out forward taunting me. It rained an hour or two beforehand so the grass was still damp and muddied. I did not want to ruin my new shoes; the decision was easy. I was going into the mouth of the lion. I take half a step. Nothing happens. I take a full step, then another step, and another. At that point I had in a subtle stride getting ready to slip through the gap. As I get closer to them the hissing gets more violent. I crack a fake smile that you would give to someone who you see in public, but aren’t friends with. I happen to make direct eye contact with Fatso. I want to show that I mean no harm. Apparently in goose language that translates to

“I will mess you up.” Fatso took a step closer to me. Then let out a constipated “honk.” He proceeded to

do the most exercise he had done in his entire goose existence and charged at me. I gave Fatso the ol’ Irving eurostep and high-tailed it through the gap between him and the still-squawking Miss Hiss. As soon as I was in the clear I hop on my dusty baby blue and yellow bike and turned on the jets. When I had some breathing distance I took a glance back and discover that I was being followed. It was Barry! Fatso had used up all his energy and Miss Hiss remained frozen in time rehearsing her routine for next encounter. What was not frozen in time was Barry Allen cutting through the wind and quickly covering ground. Now I know how criminals feel when trying to evade the coppers; it is close to impossible. Barry’s enormous wings eclipsed the sky as he lowered to strike. “HONK HONK HONK HONK,” Barry screeched. I realized that my effort in pedaling was to no avail. I took another quick glare back and I could now reach out and touch this thing. That was way too close for comfort. I swiftly grabbed my water bottle and started to swing blindly. “Doink.” My miracle swing had landed. Barry spiraled and spun out of the air and crashed into the nearby yard we were passing. My grip on the bike loosened and the front wheel abruptly took a sharp left turn. Before I knew it I was lying in the dirt with a face caked in mud, clothes a wreck, papers scattered everything, and an angry goose ready to peck me into submission. Oh, yeah and my new shoes that I so desperately did not want to get ruined...got ruined. Designed by Charlotte Weiss

FEATURE

April 24, 2019

CHANGES MEET SUCCESS, SCRUTINY LINYA GUO

entertainment chief FROM THE IMPLEMENTATION of a new phone policy to an opportunity of a new learning system, SHS made significant changes in the beginning of the 2018-19 school year. Now, with the end of the year quickly approaching, preparations for the next school year have already started, and this year’s changes have been questioned on whether to continue to next year.

Cell Phone Policy In a recent poll, 44 SHS teachers were surveyed on their views of the effectiveness of the cell phone policy. At the start of the year, 54.5 percent of teachers believed that the cell phone policy would unfold as effective, while currently, 50 percent believe that it has been successful. Teachers who have found success in the policy indicate more attentiveness and focus in class. However, many teachers express their concern about lack of enforcement and support from other teachers, parents, and staff. Some teachers detail in on how administrators do not follow through with referrals, thus making it harder for students to abide by the policy. Others add on how phones should be banned in the hallways, too. Some teachers, including Mr. Pete Muehlenkamp, worry about phone usage not only in school, but in the futures of students as well.

Synnovation Lab In the beginning of the school year, a new learning system, called Synnovation Lab, was implemented in SHS. Synnovation Lab students would create their own schedules and work at their own pace, essentially “learning on their own.” Recently, the Synnovation Lab had a panel where the teachers and students in the Lab were questioned on the overall system and plans for the next year. During the panel, both pros and cons of the learning system were addressed. The Synnovation Lab teachers started off by describing the significant amount of progress in character and maturity from the students. With no “spoon-feeding,” teachers described how they believed Synnovation Lab students “retained [information] at a higher level” and [grew] to take charge. The teachers also stressed on how they “have a lot more communication and understanding of families” than in the traditional classroom, allowing for more bonding and helping the students. Sophomore Marissa Thorp shares how Synnovation Lab has helped her. “I was always really afraid of my grades...if I didn’t have A’s, I was like, ‘Oh, I suck’...but in

“Cell phones are not going away, but there is a time and place for cell phones in school and in life in general. It is unrealistic, particularly when it comes to the workplace, to think that cell phones are always appropriate,” Muehlenkamp said. While there is dissatisfaction, 59.1 percent of the teachers think that the exact policy should be continued next year, while 36.8 percent believe that modifications should be made. Principal Mr. Doug Mader reveals how there have been only 38 cell phone referrals this year, which is considered low compared to previous years. Mr. Andrew Oakes, English teacher, shares his general view of the policy and phones. “Most rules and laws are put in place to correct negative behavior. Phones weren’t a problem for all students, but they were enough of a distraction that wasted time and energy of staff and students and reduced engagement,” Oakes said.

TEACHERS WEIGH IN ON CELL PHONE POLICY

At the beginning of the year, did you think the policy would be effective? No 22.7% Yes 56.8% Unsure 20.5%

Currently, do you think that the policy has been successful? No 18.2% Sometimes 18.2%

Unsure 2.3%

Yes 50%

Mostly 11.4%

Should the policy be continued? [the Synnovation lab], once I got the hang of it...I started going through my courses really fast, so I definitely would say [Synnovation Lab] prepared me for college,” Thorp said. An issue addressed, however, was the availability of teachers with the students. While teachers commented on the students mostly learning on their own with occasional teacher help, some students feel that it isn’t enough. “I don’t think we have enough teachers. I think it’s really difficult to get time with a teacher. When we do get one-on-one time, it’s really nice and we get a lot of work done, but a lot of times there’s a big line to get to a teacher,” said Clover Thielmeyer, 9. With both pros and cons, Synnovation Lab proves itself to be more oriented towards those who are independent and who are not fans of the traditional classroom setting. However, the success of this new learning system can only be told by time. “At this point, it’s hard to just look at one year’s worth and [Synnovation Lab] will really get steam and momentum later, because three years is when Photo Courtesy of Leaf Staff

Unsure 2.3% Yes w/ modifications 38.6%

Yes w/ exact policy 59.1%

it really becomes a trend,” said Mrs. Ashley Warren, Synnovation Lab administrator and developer. Next year, the Synnovation Lab plans on remodeling the room, increasing the lab space, and an adding an art studio.

EMPLOYEES SHARE HILARIOUS JOB STORIES Crazy experiences SHS students have experienced while working MADELEINE SUH managing editor AFTER A WHILE, a job as a high-schooler can become a habit. Going through the motions, clocking in, clocking out, occasionally dealing with a stubborn customer. But regardless, most employees know that they can never predict what will happen in the duration of their shift. These are a few stories from students who have shared their stand-out stories while in their workplace.

“Me and two other girls were trying to close up the store and close fast because there were food trucks near and we were so hungry so I asked one of our coworkers to lock the front door. The other girl and I were wandering around the food trucks when we both thought maybe we should check to see if the door is really closed. We tugged on it and it opened right up. All the alarms were going off and we were freaking out. No one we worked with was responding, so the cops at the park came up and were interrogating us until the manager finally showed up very very upset...” -Senior Katie Good, Nanny Belles “Once, a customer called back after picking up their order and claimed it wasn’t hot enough after driving home...” -Senior Samantha Fernandez, Dewey’s Pizza “I’m a huge Percy Jackson fan and I decided to adapt one of his novels to script because the movies were bad in my opinion. I finished the script and then sent it to Rick [Riordan]’s agent, claiming that I was an intern at Fox Studios so I could get my foot in the door. She forwarded it to Gotham Group who produced The Maze Runner franchise and their CEO called me to talk about the project. I then told him I was not an intern and was not trying to scam him and he instead sent me to Fox’s legal department claiming that I committed fraud.” -Senior Mark Decile, faked a job

“I was at work making sandwiches and all of a sudden there was a loud “bang” and the building shook. We all thought it was thunder until we heard the customers in the store say “a car just ran into the building”. We were in awe but we continued to finish the sandwiches. My youth pastor was in the store getting a sandwich and he went out to get a picture of it. When he came back in he showed us the picture and to my surprise, the car didn’t just hit the building it went all the way in! The Which Wich employees were thankful the crash didn’t happen 2 feet to the left because it would have hit Which Wich and we had many customers in the store that would have been hurt. Luckily, nobody was injured in the crash but it definitely shook up many people!” -Junior Sarah Carr, Which Wich “An elderly customer once called, proceeded to tell me their life story, and hung up without ordering.” -Senior Samantha Fernandez, Dewey’s Pizza “I work in the drive-through and sometimes customers want to stop and talk to me. One time a group of ladies, on their way to a bachelorette party, wanted me to pick between their credit cards.” -Sophomore Shannon Donovan, Wendy’s “I’m a shelver at the library, so I’m constantly aware of what patrons (what we call customers) are doing in the library. There is a man who comes and sits in the adult section every day from

opening to close. One day I turned the corner with a cart into the adult section and heard a series of uneven clicks. I look over and he is clipping his nails.” -Senior Ellie Armstrong, Blue Ash Public Library “My first week at my job this kid threw up everywhere and I had to clean it up, and the parents didn’t end up taking him home because they wanted to continue to eat. The kid ended up throwing up again and my manager had to make them leave.” -Senior Jordan Asch, Montgomery Inn “When I was working as a host at Silver Spring house my coworker was asked by a customer if her table was ready. When my coworker said no the customer proceeded to throw popcorn at my coworker.” -Sophomore Emma Rice, Silver Spring House “I was working alone and trying to work quickly so I turned on and left on the slow drip for some cold brew coffee thinking I would remember to check on it. But I completely forgot and meanwhile there were about 30 people in line. Five minutes later I looked over and there was cold brew everywhere and instead of telling me, the customers were all just giggling. I went to clean it up and forgot the slow drip was still on getting coffee all over me and my hair.” -Senior Katie Good, Nanny Belles

STUDENTS, STAFF PONDER DREAM JOBS BHAAVYA JHA broadcast director

“I would like to be an obstetrician and gynecologist,” said Amias Montgomery, 9.

QUITE OFTEN, as a child grows up, they think of the many things they could become. They could become an astronaut and see the stars, or become a doctor and save lives, or become a scientist and invent something awesome. However, most of the times, these dreams turn into something entirely different. In fact, only 25 percent of employees are working in their dream jobs, according to Fox Business. While for some teachers, teaching is their dream job, others did not originally start out hoping to become educators. After all, who wants to end up in school, again, only this time to teach moody teenagers? Of course we are only kidding. Many SHS students have interesting dream jobs as well. Will they accomplish them? Only time will tell.

“I want to be an engineer because they tend to make a lot of money and the STEM field is easy for me,” said Rebekah Conner, 10.

“My dream job is chemical engineering...I’ve always been interested in the environment and animals, but when I took chemistry this year, I fell in love,” said Cole Henry Kubesch , 10. “I want to be a paleontologist because I have good experience with fossils,” said Jordan Tanner, 11.

“No, I didn’t go to college to be a teacher, I didn’t really know what I wanted to do, so I just majored in English because I liked to read a lot...then, I decided to be a teacher later...so, now this is my dream job” said Mrs Laura Newton, English teacher.

“Since high school, I have ALWAYS wanted to be a teacher and coach as a result of having one special coach who poured into my life. I wanted to have the same impact on other students that my coaches did for me. Because I lived in a dysfunctional home with my Dad and brother being alcoholics, I found comfort, encouragement and motivation to excel in sports since I was a good athlete. In high school I had to teach a gymnastic lesson to my classmates and my teacher (who was also my gymnastics coach) said I have a gift for teaching and should become a teacher. That was one of the best decisions I ever made,” said Mrs. Cindy Zetterberg, Health teacher and Junior High Track Coach.

“I didn’t know what I wanted to be, but I knew what I did not want to be. I did not want to work in fast food or as an usher in a playhouse, because I had done that. I did not want to do lawn care… I tried being a waiter, I was terrible at being a waiter...I kind of liked chemistry and science because I got to get my hands dirty, and I still try to learn new about it...We [My wife and I] met when I was in grad school, so I left with masters and I liked science but I just didn’t want to spend all day, every day in a lab, so this [being a chemistry teacher] is the happy medium... Also, my dream job was to marry my wife,” said Mr. Chad Husting, Chemistry teacher.

HOW SHS WORKS LINDSEY BRINKMAN managing editor

39.9%

7 out of 10 SHS students have or had a paid job

of students got a job at the age of 14

Out of every 10 students that donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t

The average SHS student makes

work, 4 of them have not had a job due to being busy

84.7%

$5 to $10 per hour

Sample size for orange bubble: 161 Sample size for all other bubbles: 329

6 10

students have or have had a steady unpaid job

of SHS students enjoy their job

CLASSIFIEDS

LISTED BELOW ARE over 30 local job opportunities for teenagers. All of the businesses listed are currently hiring and will consider applications from SHS students. Details like positions available, how to apply, minimum age, prerequisites and typical hours are given with each listing.

Dewey’s Pizza Dewey’s Montgomery location Server assistant, pizza maker Call (513) 247-9955 *Not hiring exclusively for summer

JCC Jplay Daycare staff for children 0-5 or 6 and up Call (513) 761-7500

Subway Loveland location Sandwich Artist Apply in-store or call (513) 677-5153

Cincinnati Public Library Loveland location Part time Shelver Apply online *Must be 16; must know the Dewey Decimal System

Fresh Thyme Montgomery location Cashier, deli clerk Apply in-store or call (513) 247-0018 *Must be 18 or older to apply

Rudino’s Montgomery location Kitchen staff Call (513) 791-7833

Fusian Team members including cashier and workers in the back Call (513) 745-9398 or visit fusian.com/careers

Wendy’s Montgomery location All positions Call (513) 530-0163 *14-15 can be a cashier, 16 and over can run anything in the store

Currito Harper’s Station Line worker Apply in-store or online at currito.com

Panera Harper’s Point All positions Apply in-store or call (513) 469-7666

Jet’s Pizza Montgomery location Insider Call (513) 793-4488

Kroger Harper’s Point Cashier, bagger, meat department Call (513) 247-4500 *Must be 18 to work in the meat dept.

Lazer Kraze Mason location All positions Applications ca be found at www.LazerKraze.com. Either bring that in to the store, mail it to 7082 Columbia Rd, Maineville OH 45039, or email it to office@lazerkraze.com,

Bridal and Formal Sales assistant Apply in-store *Must be at least 16

Aglamesis Bros. Montgomery location Ice cream server Apply in-store *Must be 16, and they are not hiring exclusively for summer

Donatos Pizza Blue Ash location Cashier, waiter Call (513) 792-4040

Pet Supplies Plus Blue Ash location Cashier, stocker, animal care Call (513) 745-0756

Kroger

Dairy Queen

Montgomery location Courtesy clerk, Clicklist Apply online at jobs.kroger.com

Blue Ash location Dairy Queen crew Call (513) 794-9740 *Looking to hire sophomores and juniors

Mayerson JCC Counselor for summer day camp Apply online at mayersonjcc.org. Contact info@mayersonjcc.org for more info *Must be at least 16

Barnes and Noble Fields Ertel location Partime Barista/Cafe server, bookseller Apply online

Mad Potter

Kenwood location part time cashier as well as other positions Call (513) 791-3028

All positions Call (513) 561-1888

Envision Cinemas All positions Apply at envisioncinemas.com

Old Navy

Ages 16+: bussers, food runners, host/hostesses. Age 19+ to wait tables Apply in person at 4785 Lake Forest Drive

Waterstone Center Brand associates Call (513) 697-8494 *Must be 16 or older to apply

All positions Apply online *Must be 15 or older to apply

Home goods Harperâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Point Part time help with receiving/unloading truck, full time coordinator Call (513) 247-9700

Teacher at summer camps Call (513) 489-9700 *Racquet skills needed

Fresh Market

Firehouse Grill

Kings Island

Harperâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Point Tennis Club

Petco Waterstone Center No specific position Call (513) 453-5972

Panera Bread Reed Hartman location Almost all positions Apply in-store or call (513) 793-1323 *Prospective applicants must be 16 or older to apply

Tropical Smoothie Cafe Reed Hartman location Part time crew members Call (513) 824-1984 *Have to be at least 16

Wild Hare Salon Light cleaning Text (513) 604-2634

Kung Fu Tea

Smoothie King

Kenwood Towne Centre Cashier, drink maker Email kftkenwood@gmail.com

Montgomery location Team member call (513) 489-2567 *Must be at least 16

Spread designed by Lindsey Brinkman

Finding the balance between work and school APRIL

Have a set work schedule week by week Schedule out your time to do homework and study Look ahead at class schedules to get a headstart on studying and homework Request off of work in advance for the day before a test to ensure you have enough time to study Designed by Kirsten Thomas

HIGH SCHOOL JOBS OVER TIME:

WHAT HAS CHANGED?

T H E N 71% 43%

of teens held jobs [1978)

â&#x2026;&#x201D;

Now, more teens are opting to get of teens have summer jobs [2016] ahead in summer school [2016]

The rise of technology in todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s society has brought on a new generation of

social media influencers

Wha t Makes an Influencer? An influencer is a user on social media who has established credibility in a specific industry. They are usually paid to post marketing campaigns.

Sources: blog.dol.gov, buffer.com, wix.com

of teens got summer jobs [1995]

NOW

Paid for Posts? a typical salary for an influencer

per 20,000 followers (Instagram) per 24 hour campaign (Snapchat) per 250,000 subscribers (Youtube) Designed by Grace Zhang

FUN & GAMES April 24, 2019

Jumping into spring crossword feature chief

? 8

Sudoku

Difficulty Level: Medium

9 4 1

5 6 3

Across 2. April showers bring _____ flowers. 5. After the showers, the ____ comes out. 7. This year on May 12, we will celebrate our moms for this holiday. 9. After the April _______, some may jump in puddles. 10. On this holiday, families gather to hunt for dyed eggs. 12. Every spring, the _______ bloom, creating beautiful landscapes.

Hints

3 9

CHARLOTTE WEISS

5 7

7 4 1

For answers please go to shsleaf.org Crossword created with Puzzlemaker

7 1 5 3 4 6 8 3

2 5

3 1

6 9

7 9 2

Down 1. After it rains, sometimes this seven-color thing will appear. 3. Because of the pollen in the air during spring, some may have _____. 4. In the springtime, _____ pollenate the flowers to help them bloom. 6. In spring, ____ grows back in our yards after dying from the cold weather in winter. 8. During winter, they stay silent, but come spring, they start to chirp. 11. All of the _____ begin to grow green leaves and get ready for summer.

? ?

? 25

ENTERTAINMENT April 24, 2019

TOP FIVE DRUGSTORE MASCARAS

Affordable mascaras impress makeup users DELANEY CIOTOLA staff writer

L’Oreal® Paris Voluminous $6 Extra-Volume Collagen Mascara

RATING:

I loved this mascara; it was definitely one of my top favorites! It applied so well on my lashes and didn’t run throughout the day, which was amazing. It made my lashes look super long and almost look like false lashes. For better results, I recommend using an eyelash curler as well. There is no odor, no clumping, no smudging, or flaking which proves this is by far one of the best mascaras!

$8 NYX Professional Makeup Worth The Hype Mascara RATING:

I liked this mascara but it wasn’t the best mascara I have ever used. When I was viewing the mascara online, it was referred to as the “Kardashian Mascara” so I was excited to try it. After curling my eyelashes, I applied the mascara and it weighed down my eyelashes. This made them actually look shorter, which is the opposite of what the mascara is supposed to do. If you try this mascara, I don’t recommend curling lashes. But after cleaning up my lashes a little bit they looked good!

MAYBELLINE Volum’ Express The Colossal Mascara $7 The mascara is actually one of the best mascaras I have ever worn! I really liked the way it applied to my lashes and I got a lot of compliments at school. It definitely added volume and made my lashes look longer. During the school day, I never had to wipe under my eyes. I even worked out with it still on and it didn’t run one bit.

RATING:

$8.49 Revlon Volume + Length Magnified Mascara I fell in love with this mascara! It didn’t look clumpy, and it lasted all throught the day without running. The brush grabs every single lash to give your lashes a lift and makes them look full. I reccomend this mascara to anyone who wants volumious long lashes!

COVERGIRL Super Sizer Fibers Mascara

RATING:

$5.35

This mascara was terrible! The wand was tiny and not thick enough, which is unusual for a mascara that is supposed to make your lashes longer and more voluminous. It was very clumpy and was so bad that I took it off before going to school and put on the Maybelline Mascara I liked so much!

RATING: Designed by Anisa Khatana

April 24, 2019

NEW VOICES FOSTER CHANGE

ENTERTAINMENT

CHLOE MENSCH staff writer

WHEN WAS THE last time you ventured out into the community and spent time with people from a different walk of life? This is exactly what New Voices students spend each Thursday afternoon doing. New Voices is an annual collaborative program between several SHS photography students and a foundation usually aiming to provide aid to those experiencing homelessness. This year, students are paired with a resident at Recovery Hotel, permanent supportive housing for homeless individuals recovering from substance abuse. Every Thursday, students and residents take photos at various locations in Over The Rhine, with each week bringing a different lesson or aspect of photography such as lighting adjustments, depth of field, and changes in perspective. So far the group has visited spots including Washington Park, Plum Street Temple, and City Hall. The group then returns to Recovery Hotel to choose their favorite photos and view each other’s work. Creating art together becomes both an “outlet and a coping mechanism” for students and residents alike, junior Kelley Kossanyi says. However, the main focus of the program is not the photographs that are generated, but rather the conversation that is created and the exposure to other lifestyles in Cincinnati. Group discussions have centered around the value of diversity, the current political climate, and wealth disparity. In fact, hearing stories from Recovery Hotel’s residents and her peers is junior Matilde Mujanayi’s favorite part of the program. At the end of the eight-week program that begins in February and ends in April, participants create a final project showcasing each member’s pictures taken during the program and their story. This year, the final project will be several frames showcasing each members work with a small biography accompanying it. In May, a reception is held to display the final project and introduce group members to one another’s Color of friends and family. Photography is the means by which students the year and residents initially connect, but by the end of the2019 program, both sides learn more about compassion and empathy for their community members and create lifelong friends in the PANTONE process. “We take a lot of things for granted: our homes, food, just anything actually. And at the end of the day, there are a lot of people missing [the things] we’re complaining about. It kind of

made that seem clear so I’m very grateful for what I have because of New Voices,” Mujanayi said.

NEW VOICES, NEW VISIONS. SHS students involved in the program take about 100 photos each week (like these images by junior Matilde Mujanayi) to be used in the final project. “Something so incredible and something so rewarding is watching the people that we work with feel that they are able to express themselves,” said Kelley Kossanyi, 11. All photos courtesy of Matilde Mujanayi.

ENTERTAINMENT

April 24, 2019

WEEZER RELEASES NEW MUSIC ALEX BULLOCK music reviewer

WEEZER’S NEW ALBUM “Black Album” was released in March, Weezer is a punk rock and grunge band of the 1990’s and early 2000’s. Suspense has been building after going on tour for over a year. Weezer has a unique 90’s early 2000’s grunge punk pop sound that draws fans of all ages in from different generations. Weezer has released 17 albums and 25 singles in total. The band was started in 1992 in Los Angeles. Weezer’s sound is very different and has inspired other artists throughout the years, creating a new genre of alternative rock. The new album is just as crazy as every other album, creating a sound fans love and sing along to. The guitar riffs strumming along to the lyrics with a soft edge to the songs create a perfect story for the album. In the newly released album you can hear the similarity in the songs creating a connection to the past albums. The rough grunge sound the band carries is still there in undertones, keeping true to the roots of the band and how they started. This album is truly one of a kind compared to Designed by Linya Guo

all other albums because it mixes together perfectly to create a sound no one has heard before. The release of the new album is drawing fans in and bringing together new fans. Newer fans are enjoying the album but fans who have been around since the beginning are not enjoying the new sound. According to Weezer’s official website, “this album gives the fan a chance of hearing something new and old at the same time.” The album is being played on the tour they will be going on. Weezer let fans listen to four songs off the album before it was released, using Fornite as a way to hype up the release of the album. According to alternative press, “fans were streaming the released songs hours before the release excited to hear the new album.” Photo courtesy of Creative Commons

ENTERTAINMENT

April 24, 2019

STYLING FOR SPRING

HENRY LOEB

director of social media engagement

Look 1 : Simple but classy, modest and stylish,

this look has it all. A fun patterned dress is paired with matching black leather chelsea boots and a small crossbody bag. This look is great for a day out with friends. Consists of:

Dress - Gap - $79.95 Shoes - DSW - $79.99 Bag - Gap - $39.00

Look 2 : Also from Gap, a navy chinos, a plain 1

grey hoodie and white denim jacket are styled for a cool and fun yet put together look.

Consists of: Chinos - Gap - $46.00 Hoodie - Gap - $40.00 Jacket - Gap - $59.99 Shoes - DSW - $69.00

Look 3 : A trend for spring is definitely

simplicity. This easy, on-the-go look features a pink jumpsuit with a denim jacket and brown booties.

Consists of: Jumpsuit - Evereve - $108.00 Jacket - Evereve - $50.00 Shoes - DSW - $49.00

*Some items were purchased on sale or clearance.

FOCUS April 24, 2019 Junior Andre Harte first found his passion for theatre in eighth grade. Although Harte states that he tends to be more introverted, that does not stop him from performing. Since his debut, he has acted in countless productions such as “Big Fish,” “The Addams Family,” and “Fiddler on the Roof.” “Each show presents a unique opportunity to dive into a new character and embody their values and motivations, which I find fascinating,” Harte said.

Photo courtesy of McDaniel’s Photography Page by Madeleine Suh

SPORTS April 24, 2019

Athletes commit to college teams JOSH MOORE staff writer

Brenden Pelton Sport: Boys Lacrosse College: Capital University Playing Position: Attack Years played: 8 “My fifth grade football coach convinced me to play lacrosse and since then I have fell in love with the sport. I love watching it, playing it, and I love of the community of people it has created. After college I want to play it for the rest of my life, maybe as a career.”

Morgan Bates Sport: Girls Lacrosse College: University of Cincinnati Playing position: Midfield Years played: 9 “I like lacrosse because it just makes me happy. It’s like an escape from the real world and all of my problems disappear for a little once I walk on the field.”

Olivia Anaple Sport: Cross Country and Track College: Akron University Playing position: 3k Meter Run Years played: 6 “I like running because of the team atmosphere and the freedom I feel when I get to run. I love the way God has supported me in my career and I hope to continue to improve in college.”

Lee May Sport: Baseball College: Lincoln Trail College Playing position: Outfield Years played: 12 “Playing with friends is what makes baseball fun. We’re constantly giving each other the energy we need to get through and win games, and it’s been a pleasure to play and travel with everyone on the team.”

Jenna Ridner Sport: Girls lacrosse College: Akron University Playing position: Midfield/Defense Years played: 4 “I started playing lacrosse because my friends played and said it would be fun to play together. Since then I have improved my skills with who I consider to be family, and have made so many memorable experiences along the way.”

Michael Wang Sport: Baseball College: New York University Playing position: Outfield Years played: 9 “Winning the game is very satisfying, and I like the camaraderie aspect of baseball as well and how it’s like an individual game inside a team sport.” Photos courtesy of McDaniel’s Photography, Jenna Ridener, and Michael Wang

SPORTS

April 24, 2019

SWINGING INTO SPRING SPORTS JACK WOLFE PR team

1) HEY BATTA BATTA. Sophomore Harrison Barnes plays against Fairfield. Before he goes up to bat, he swings his bat around, getting ready for his turn at the plate. “I like playing defense because I can take hits away from [the other team],” Barnes said.

2) CRADLING. Senior John Heppler faces off against Fairfield varsity boys lacrosse midfielders. Having played for six years, Heppler owes a lot of his life to the game of lacrosse. “Lacrosse is very fun and competitive, being apart of the Sycamore Lacrosse family is a great experience,” Heppler said. 3) STRIKE, YOU’RE OUT. Senior Mallory Comeford, has been playing softball since the 6th grade. She is currently a third basemen for the SHS Varsity girls team, and recalls many fond memories of the experience. “[The team] always brings a speaker on the bus so that we can jam to music to get warmed up,” Comeford said.

All photos courtesy of McDaniel’s Photography

4) FACE OFF. Junior lacrosse athlete Benjamin Berke, has been playing for eight years, and has been on the varsity team for three years. They currently hold a winning record and hope to advance to the state championships this season. “It’s a fun, exciting, fast paced sport full of scoring and contact,” Berke said.

April 24, 2019

SPORTS

BUILDING UP THE CITY

SEEING DOUBLE

GABBY KHODADAD sports broadcaster

Freshmen twins slide home

FCC makes impactful inaugural season

the beginning of Futbol Club Cincinnati (FCC) for the spring of 2016. FCC was part of the United Soccer League (USL) which was considered a minor league of Major League Soccer (MLS). Just four years later, MLS announced that Cincinnati would join their league in the spring of 2019. The time has officially come, FCC has just begun their first official MLS season. Starting out the 2017 season, FCC had a slight winning record: 12-10-10. In the 2018 season, FCC

The freshman class is known for the astonishing amount of sets of twins in their grade. This year, five sets of freshman twins made the baseball team. Four out of the five sets are identical twins. On the freshman team alone there are four sets: the Whitesides, Acrees, Khodadads, and Christs. Twins account for three percent of the world’s population. On the freshman baseball team, they are 50 percent of the population.

Casey Acree, #33 Position: 1B/3B Height: 5’8” Wants to meet: Mike Trout

Zach Christ, #95 Position: 2B/SS/OF Height: 5’6” Favorite Food: Strawberries

Photo courtesy of Creative Commons

dramatically improved, having a record of 23-8-3. Some of those victories the past two seasons include wins over MLS teams such as the Columbus Crew. “I think having a MLS team in Cincinnati is going to be really cool. When FCC was part of the USL the games were really fun to go to and had a really exciting atmosphere so I can’t wait to go this year now that they are apart of the MLS,” said fan Kyra Fales, 12. This year our local team acquired five players from different MLS teams as part of the expansion draft and also signed 10 players from the 2018 season. FC Cincy used trades to their advantage to acquire players.

FCC has a huge support system. The fans are a huge component as to why the city was chosen to be the next team to join the MLS. Fans broke many attendance records for the USL. This year, the fans set another milestone: selling 20,000 season tickets for their first MLS season. With the success the team has had over the past years, the team has created a winning atmosphere in the city...which has been a long time coming. The futbol team has drawn crowds ranging from all ages, ethnicities, and races. Many Bengals and Reds fans have shifted their time and money to a culture that is worth their attention. The success the franchise has had the past few years is not likely to change; however, things will not be easy. “I think the team will do very well, they have acquired many proficient athletes that have very high IQs for the game,” said soccer player Ava Jackson, 10. We have received many talented individuals from across the globe and we have kept quite a few of those skilled players from the past seasons. The franchise did have some victories against a couple of MLS teams last year. Those achievements should bring confidence to the city that FC Cincinnati will be a victorious team the city has been looking for and bring in a little revenue. “It’s their inaugural season so it will be hard because a lot of the players are coming from different teams but hopefully they have a good season,” said Fales FCC will play at Nippert Stadium down at the University of Cincinnati for the time being. The team is building their own stadium in the West End which is expected to open for the 2021 season. The season is quite lengthy, nonetheless, the games are very fun and enjoyable to see with family and friends no matter the outcome.

All photos courtesy of McDaniel’s Photography

IN 2015, THE city of Cincinnati announced

Thomas Whiteside, #8 Position: 2B/P/OF Height: 5’9” Favorite Athletic Brand: Nike

Cy Khodadad, #10 Position: IF/OF Height: 5’10” Favorite Athlete: LeBron James

Garrett Acree, #44 Position: C/P/1F/OF Height: 5’8” Pump up Song: Lose Yourself by Eminem

Derek Christ, #34 Position: 3B/P/C Height: 5’8” Favorite Sports Team: Cincinnati Bengals

Matthew Whiteside, #38 Position: C/OF Height: 5’11” Favorite Sport to Watch: Basketball

Dar Khodadad, #41 Position: P/1B/OF Height: 5’10” Favorite College Team: Ohio State Buckeyes

WHERE’S HANNAH?

Photo courtesy of Anisa Khatana

Hannah is always disappearing. If you know where in the school Hannah is in this photo, email shsstudentvoice@ gmail.com with your guess! 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 April 28. Winners will be emailed and receive an out-to-lunch pass.

Enter a photo of your promposal for a chance to win two $10 gift cards to Graeter’s Ice Cream! Email your picture to shsstudentvoice@gmail. com along with your name and your date’s name. One entry per couple. The winner will be selected by the Leaf staff. Submissions end at midnight on April 30. Good luck, and be creative!

Photo courtesy of Skye Haruyama

I scream, you scream!