The Lion's Roar 38-6

VOL. 38 ISSue 6

Real-world work experience offered by WISE and college programs help students prepare for life beyond high school page 12

Newton South High School · Newton, MA Est. 1984 · February 15, 2022

R AR

the LION'S

GAINING EXPERIENCE

By Ahona Dam and Julian Phillips Graphic by Julie Wang

Senate Promotes Ethnic Inclusion

04

An Open Letter to High School Couples

12

Gaining Life Experience

12-13

A Diploma to Serve

15

Making a Splash Both On and Off the Field

21

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February 15, 2022

NEWS issuu.com/thelionsroar

Volume 38, Issue 6

February in Review photo courtesy of South Stage

by Lily Zarr

Members of South Stage rehearse a scene in Kitzis' play

"Leap of Faith" “Leap of Faith,” a play written and directed by senior Mason Kitzis, was performed in the Lab Theater on Feb. 11 and 12 to both an in-person audience of parents and a virtual audience via YouTube livestream. To make the play accessible for everyone, South Stage adjusted its set design and learned how to film the play while students performed in front of a live audience.

The play centers around Eliza, a high school senior who must navigate tumultuous friendships and first love while preparing for college.

Mason Kitzis class of '22, writer and director of "Leap of Faith"

‘Leap of Faith’ is told in a much better way on camera because it allows [the audience] to really see the emotions on people's faces even if we have masks on. … We love a live audience, but this also works.

Sara Tomas class of '24, Beth in "Leap of Faith"

photo courtesy of NewTV

The Newton Schools Foundation is going to give Newton Public Schools the most money [it has] ever had before. … It's great that we're getting more funding.

That truly is special to me, to be able to go from something that I'm just typing out of my computer to then have something that hundreds and thousands of people hopefully will see.

Jane Shen class of '22 Principal Tamara Stras shares an update during the meeting

The revisions to the point totals assigned to each full course make tracking credit towards graduation easier … [and] eliminate the need for fractional points and different weighting for different class types.

During its Feb. 7 meeting, the Newton School Committee voted to accept a $175,000 donation from the Newton Schools Foundation to fund grants for teachers to improve teaching practices and training that aims to address inequity. The committee also discussed a revision to the high school graduation requirements that would weigh each full-year class as 12 credits instead of the current five, with a new total of 243 credits needed to graduate instead of the current 100.

photo courtesy of CBS

Toby Romer Assistant Superintendent for Secondary Education

School Committee Meeting

Tom Brady Retires

graphics by Emily Cheng

After 22 seasons, Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady announced his retirement on Feb. 1. He spent his first 20 seasons with the New England Patriots, where he quickly became one of the most accomplished football players. Among his many achievements, Brady holds the record for total games won, at 243, including his seven Super Bowl victories, another record.

He's the greatest quarterback of all time, and everyone in New England will appreciate the six Super Bowls he brought [home].

Benjamin Rishikof class of '23

He picked a great time to retire. He was still good, but the league's changing. The modern quarterback is very different than what Tom Brady originally was and still is.

Will Freudenheim class of '23

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news | page 3

Omicron came to South.

Luckily, South was ready.

South maintains low case counts due to high vaccination rates and adherence to district policy

By Eva Shimkus

A

s national COVID-19 cases skyrocketed throughout January as a result of the Omicron variant, the virus hit closer to home for South students, many of whom had never previously experienced COVID firsthand.

Junior Jaray Liu, who tested positive during winter break, said he has noticed a shift in students’ perceptions of the virus due to its prevalence.

“When I got COVID, at first I was like, ‘Oh wow, now I'm going to be known as the COVID boy,’” he said. “But now when people get COVID, it's definitely not as big of a deal as it was three months ago.”

Following the spike of cases in Massachusetts, concerns regarding the safety of in-person instruction in schools led to protests in Boston, with students at Boston Latin petitioning for online school despite Gov. Baker’s mandate for 180 days of in-person instruction for K-12.

Moreover, many districts have faced staffing issues due to widespread infections among faculty and staff. According to data reported to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education by school districts, 27,472 staff tested positive for COVID between Dec. 23, 2021, and Jan. 26.

In relation to case surges in neighboring school districts, Newton Public Schools (NPS) as a whole has largely remained COVID free, a result that many have attributed to high vaccination rates of 100% in teachers and over 90% in students.

Wellness teacher and “COVID Coach” Patrick Jordan Quern, who reports COVID cases in the athletics department, said that this success is also largely due to health-conscious families maintaining close communication with

school officials.

“This year, when people are feeling the slightest bit ill, they're buying more into that social norm like,‘Hey, I don't feel well, I'm staying home whether it's COVID or not,’” he said.

While North has experienced higher rates of COVID compared to South, North Vice Principal Amy Winston said that she noticed the “dramatic” effect vaccinations have had on cases.

“In our January surge here, we really saw an impact of boosters and that many of our cases were ninth graders who weren't yet, or just had become, booster-eligible because of their age,” she said.

Additionally, masking, ventilation and testing, all measures recommended to NPS by the Medical Advisory Board, have been essential in Newton’s success in combating the virus. Dr. Ashish Jha, Dean of the Brown University School of Public Health and a member of the Board, said that NPS has been a model for many other school districts in terms of COVID protocols.

“The major things that are most helpful are getting people vaccinated, improving indoor air quality through ventilation, filtration, getting people to mask up particularly during surges and then deploying testing, both for identifying infections as well as for test-to-stay. Newton's been doing all of that right,” he said.

“In the Omicron surge, we've got a problem because infection numbers are so widespread, and the time period between when somebody is infected and symptomatic and contagious has gotten so much shorter that we have to make certain modifications.”

These modifications, reflected in NPS’ decision to reduce contact tracing in high

schools and make the student COVID testing program optional, have raised concerns from parents, Winston said.

However, South Vice Principal Jason Williams said that following the post-winter break surge, it became unsustainable for the district to maintain contract tracing.

“We are aware that the classroom notifications are on the less detailed side and that they don't say too much information. The unfortunate reality, though, is that we really can't give any identifying information about the students at all. … We're really trying to protect everyone, including the student, because it's not their fault that they got infected and they need to go home and take care,” he said.

“The most we can do is, as a courtesy, let people know, ‘Hey, there was someone in your class who was at school during their infectious period and did test positive, just so you know’, so it serves as a strong reminder … to do the daily health assessment and to make sure that you're not experiencing any symptoms.”

NPS’ decision is supported by Jha, who said that with Massachusetts’ high infection rates, mandatory pool testing and contact tracing would be futile.

“We still have all the other tools, including very high vaccination rates, good ventilation and masking. That combination keeps Newton Public Schools very safe. Certainly, I feel very comfortable sending my daughter to South,” he said. “In the middle of a pandemic, whenever you have a surge, you have to be able to make certain accommodations, and once the surge is over, … we can go back to putting more testing in place.”

History teacher and South parent Rachael McNally, who missed five days of school

after testing positive, said that while she would feel more comfortable if students were regularly tested, she believes the South community is adequately following COVID protocols.

Williams said that he has seen an already high compliance for COVID policy increase among students since winter break.

“Sometimes I do have to remind the students,‘Hey guys, make sure your mask covers your nose,’ … but people want to be more vigilant and the announcements are working and helping out with people,” he said. “It really does take the whole village to make sure that we're all safe.”

In regards to the future of the variant, Jha said that he is expecting a reasonably good spring and summer with declining case numbers in February and March, assuming no new variants emerge.

“Every variant has had the same strategies to fight against it — vaccines, masks, testing [and] ventilation ... If we keep doing those things, new variants will come as they will.

They will arrive and we will manage our way through it,” he said. “Over time, this thing will dissipate, but I don't think anybody should be predicting that it's going to be over in three months, six months or a year.”

Winston said that it’s essential that Newton remains prepared and vigilant to respond quickly in times of emergency.

“COVID has taught us that we never quite know what's coming next. We always have to be ready for the next thing and we have to be rapidly able to respond. That's something that high schools have done really well,” she said. “The more that we can do that, and we can make decisions quickly in response to the time and the moment, the better off we'll be.”

A Steady Decline in Positive Cases 100

Report positive cases to the school nurse at 617-559-6575

Positive Cases at South

75

Families can opt in to an at-home rapid antigen testing program through Aspen

Data from NSHS Records

50

25

0

91.68%

Week of Dec. 20

Winter Break

Week of Jan. 3

Week of Jan. 10

Week of Jan. 17

Week of Jan. 24

Week of Jan. 31

of eligible Newton high school students have recieved their first dose of the vaccine graphics by Julie Wang

page 4 | news

the lion's roar

Senate clauses promote ethnic inclusion Sarah Wei News Editor

To promote cultural inclusion and representation for ethnic minority groups, South Senate introduced two clauses in 2021— the Praying Space Bill and the Holiday Recognition Bill.

Currently, only five religious holidays are recognized with a recess from school; as a part of the Holiday Recognition Bill, which has already been passed, the Senate is proposing that holidays of Diwali, Lunar New Year and Eid al-Fitr also be observed by the district.

The bill came after a student survey indicated strong support for observing a more diverse range of holidays, junior senator Wasan Rafat, the Senate committee leader for both bills, said. She said that time off would not only benefit those celebrating, but also emphasize the district’s commitment towards cultural diversity.

graphic by Em ily

Cheng

“If students who celebrate these holidays are not required to do homework, they will be able to spend their holidays celebrating [and] spending time with loved ones,” she said.“More importantly, [these bills] will hopefully indicate to students that their culture is valued.”

The Senate’s recent efforts have been supported by campaigns from student organizations such as the Asian Student Organization (ASO), which is leading the movement for the observation of Lunar New Year.

ASO Senior Officer Evan Zhu said that the holiday is important to many Asian students, who, according to the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education website, make up 20% of the student body in the Newton Public Schools — the second-largest ethnic group in the district.

Junior Lyanna Tran, Co-President of the Amnesty International Club, led a petition in 2021 calling for the observation of Lunar New Year. Tran said that attending school during the holiday has left many struggling to balance celebrations with their academic obligations.

This pressure to keep up with school leads to a disconnect for Asian students from their cultural identity, K-Pop Dance Club Co-President Amy Cheu said.

“Lunar New Year holds deep cultural and historical value and meaning. … For countless generations, [it has allowed] us to be free from school or work

obligations, spend time with family and friends, reconnect with our roots and take pride in them.

Not only is this day important to [our history], but we feel like a part of our cultural identity is incomplete without it,” she said. “[Asian students] miss out on the most important day out of the entire year to celebrate their identity, making them feel more and more distant from who they are as Asians as they continue to live in the United States.”

Similarly, attending school interferes with the celebration of Eid al-Fitr, the end of Ramadan fasting for Muslims. Sophomore Danny Aldehneh said that the Senate bill would help balance his religious commitments with his academics.

“It's a holy time that we have to spend with family, and school can get in the way of that because we have to often choose to go to school and miss hanging out with family, or hang out with family and miss multiple assignments for school,” he said.

The implementation of these holidays, however, faces logistical obstacles. School Committee Vice-Chair Kathleen Shields said that observing more holidays is difficult due to the length of the school calendar and the population of minorities.

“It's going to be a big hurdle to add any more days out of school,” she said. “The issue is how many people are affected by the holiday.

What's the impact from a percentage of enrollment perspective, and how do you balance that against the need to meet our time and learning requirements?”

Along with the observation of ethnic holidays, students are advocating for the inclusion of in-building prayer spaces. The Senate’s

This is not a single movement; this is more of a chain reaction ... [about how] our culture and traditions should be valued just as much as the next one.

Amy Cheu class of '22 proposed Praying Space Bill would set aside designated areas in the building for students to pray during the school day.

Rafat said that the room’s addition would be a step in the right direction towards ensuring religious equality for Muslim students.

“The ability to safely practice your religion is a human right. Providing access to a praying space is crucial to ensure that student needs are met,” she said.

Campaigns for holidays and prayer spaces are elements in the movement for diverse cultural representation at South. Cheu said that for Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) students, the fight to observe Lunar New Year is greater than just the holiday.

“This is not an individual action or a sudden burst of spontaneity,” she said.“This is more of a chain reaction among AAPI students and faculty [about how] our culture and traditions should be valued just as much as the next one.”

Newton celebrates Martin Luther King Day Bella Ishanyan & Alex Zakuta News Editor, News Reporter

On the third Monday of January each year, Americans observe Martin Luther King Jr. Day to recognize and honor King’s courage and perseverance, leadership throughout the Civil Rights Movement and beliefs in equality and human rights for all.

This year, Newton held its annual Martin Luther King Jr. celebration in a Jan. 17 webinar hosted by the Harmony Foundation, Newton’s foundation for racial, ethnic and religious harmony. The celebration reflected on the city’s progress towards greater racial inclusion.

Black Student Union Co-President Junior Gianna Burgess was one of four student speakers at the event. She said that when honoring King, it is important to recognize how far we have come and consider the next steps in achieving racial and social justice in Newton.

“It's very important that we not only celebrate, but thank [King] because though we have progressed, we need to look at where we go from here and what we can do to continue moving forward,” she said. “The whole point [of the event] was looking at that message and seeing how that applies to today and how it really still rings true.”

The event centered around King’s final book, “Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community?” Broadcasted from North’s auditorium, the event included musical performances from South METCO Counselor Katani Sumner; North’s gospel choir, The Troubadours; and a North student choir group, The Jubilees. In addition to these performances,

What is our dream?

Expanding the spaces we have ... to make all affinity spaces feel safe enough for all of their members, [and] to feel like we belong here as much as anyone else does.

Ashlynn Saint-Preux North class of '22 Mayor Ruthanne Fuller, Superintendent David Fleishman, Newton Public Schools Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Kathy Lopes, Assistant Pastor at Myrtle Baptist Church Reverend Alicia Johnson and several high school students spoke.

Following a video compilation of commentary from Newton Area Council members and a performance by Sumner, Fuller took the stage. She said that racism and prejudice are still alive in Newton but that she hopes to “sever the chains of discrimination” and form “a community where our varied and divergent paths don’t tear us apart, but instead bring our rich traditions together to build a better society with beauty, love and justice.”

Burgess then performed her original

poem, “Changes. The streets have seen it all,” which was inspired by King’s final book. “[King] was highlighting the trials and tribulations of the Civil Rights Movement,” she said. “What happens here will be the deciding factor in whether or not we'll go into chaos or whether or not we're going to prioritize community and continue to move in a certain direction.”

Other student speakers included North seniors Tiana Lugo and Ashlynn Saint-Preux of the Monologue Project, a program in conjunction with the Newton Theater Company where students of color discuss and share personal experiences. Saint-Preux spoke about her feelings of isolation in Newton schools and her hopes of greater inclusivity.

“What is our dream?” Saint-Preux said.

“Expanding the spaces we have to more students

feeling drowned out in white spaces, to make all affinity spaces feel safe enough for all of their members [and] to feel like we belong here as much as anyone else does.”

Rev. Johnson closed the event by delivering the keynote speech, a sermon in which she emphasized the importance of protecting human rights, one of King’s most notable points of advocacy.

“We live in a world struggling to breathe. … There are still those in this country who have never been able to fully expand their lungs, yet there are so many of us who hoard clean air,” she said. “Don’t allow others to suffocate around you because you have hoarded the clean air of your gifts … but allow someone else to breathe freely again, to breathe freely possibly for the first time, because you have used your breath, your voice, your space in this world.”

photo courtesy of Ruthanne Fuller

Speakers from the "Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community" webinar

news | page 5

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Upcoming Black Culture Day hosted by BSU Grace Dempsey, Ella Hurwitz & Sarah Wei News Reporters, News Editor Throughout the month of February, the United States celebrates the triumphs of the Black community and recognizes the struggles it has faced. Since 1976, every U.S. president has recognized Black History Month with a focus on a specific topic: this year’s theme is “Black Health and Wellness.”

At South, efforts are being made to extend celebrations of Black history beyond just February to the rest of the year.

On March 9, South will commemorate

Black History Month with Black Culture Day, an annual event consisting of seminars and lectures hosted by the Black Student Union (BSU).

History teacher and South Human Rights Council (SHRC) co-director Robert Parlin said that in the past, the programs have not only educated participants on African American culture, but have also addressed pressing issues facing the Black community.

Similar to previous years, the day will be dedicated to highlighting Black heritage and obstacles through multiple presentations, BSU co-president Chimazuru Ibebunjo said.

photo courtesy of Katani Sumner

Members of South's Black Student Union (BSU) posed for a group photo in May, 2021

“We're bringing in people from different cultural backgrounds who are Black and … willing to share more about their culture, whether it's food, dance or other aspects like that,” he said. “We're also going to be talking about medical disparities in health care and childbirth for women.”

The event will likely also include a performance from an African dance troupe.

Ibebunjo said that ultimately, Black Culture Day draws attention to the influence of the Black community on everyday American life.

“Everyone should make the time to appreciate all the Black figures who have served our country and impacted the way our country is shaped,” he said.

Sophomore South senator Taban Malihi said that attending last year’s seminar on the appropriation of Black music raised her awareness about the typically unacknowledged Black impact on mainstream culture.

“It was really awesome to hear people discuss subversive ways that racism and class impact our subconscious understanding of Black history and culture in the U.S.,” she said.

“I hadn't realized that there were so many instances of appropriation that many of us were blind to until they brought it to our attention.”

Junior Dylan Yee said that the presentations, in general, provide necessary information that is not taught in classes.

English teacher and SHRC co-president Joana Chacón de Entwisle said that the day is essential to revisualizing the dominant narrative by which African Americans are commonly depicted.

“Oftentimes, when we as a school address

communities of color, whether it's in our curriculum or in our policies, it's always negative.

[If ] there's a problem that needs to be fixed or we're talking about awful things that happened in history or really sad stories in English, it's constantly trauma and tragedy,” she said.

“These festivals provide a celebration and put a spotlight on really cool things, people, initiatives, culture and tradition that bring joy to the community. [It also] creates bonds and strengthens ties between our communities of color and the school.”

Celebrating Black History Month is certainly valuable, but it cannot be the extent of education on Black culture and history, METCO counselor and BSU faculty advisor Katani Sumner said.

“Black history is every day, not just February,” she said. “[We should] incorporate it in everything we do and incorporate it in all of our history units and our program overall.

It's not like we pause to notice significant contributions by Black Americans, but instead, we're incorporating it into everything else,” she said. “Things like that are meaningful and sustainable versus,‘Oh, let's just pause and talk about a couple of Black people.’”

Parlin said that Black heritage deserves greater recognition by the school beyond just one tokenized month.

“It’s an important reminder that we need to have an inclusive curriculum [that represents] everyone,” he said. “If having a separate month or a day of activities works to [encourage] people to take action, then great, but I see it as an intermediate. Ideally, every month is Black History Month.”

NPS seeks change within School Committee Justin Liu & Bella Ishanyan News Reporter, News Editor

educators along with students.

"I believe that good teachers make good students. The School Committee should not only focus on student learning, but also think about the best way to support teachers and to keep them satisfied, which sometimes has to do with salaries and working conditions [or] things like school schedule or time requirements,” he said.“A strong school committee, a successful one, is thinking about the mental and emotional health of teachers in addition to the emotional and academic health of students."

Co-president of the Booster Club and South parent Teri Ginsburg said that she is hopeful that the new committee will make steps in the right direction with this new term.

“There's always opportunity for improvement and that's also what elections are for, that's why we run our government the way that we do,” she said. “But I would say that School Committee members have an opportunity to use the people who are on the ground and in the schools as a resource. We're not only constituents, [but also] a resource for them, so they do best when they are in touch with us.”

graphic by Emily Cheng

Four new School Committee members began their term on Jan. 1. Rajeev Parlikar (Ward 1), Christopher Joseph Brezski (Ward 2), Paul F. Levy (Ward 6) and Cove J. Davis (Ward 8) won their November elections and brought new perspectives to the policy-making aspect of the Newton Public Schools (NPS).

The School Committee’s responsibilities include evaluating the superintendent, negotiating labor contracts with the teachers union and preparing the budget for the school system.

Despite the committee not having a direct role with what happens in the classroom, Levy said that a major responsibility of his position entails holding the superintendent accountable and keeping the district on track with plans.

This election comes at a time when many parents, like South parent Shara Ertel, are feeling frustrated with the inadequacy of communication between members of NPS and the School Committee since the arrival of the pandemic. “[During the pandemic], there was a lack of a lot of things that one would typically use to gauge the effectiveness of any organization,” she said. “There was a lack of rigor, a lack of accountability and a lack of transparency in decision-making, … there were no real forums where [community input and] discussion could occur … and the other thing that were really frustrating to me was the lack of nuance and creativity in [the one-size-fits-all] policies that were implemented.”

Levy said that the committee is prioritizing improving their relationship and transpar-

ency with the Newton community.

“In the past, the level of communication between the School Committee and the community has not been as strong as it should be, so I'm in favor of improving that,” he said.“Not only communication in terms of what we're doing, but communication in terms of why we're doing it and how we're doing. We're all elected officials, and we should be held accountable by the public for being in touch.”

Vice-Chair Kathleen Shields said that the onset of pandemic-induced issues has continued to affect School Committee priorities and put members of NPS in a delicate situation.

“This school year, we have not left the pandemic behind us,” she said. “A lot of people are dealing with a lot of leftover and ongoing stress and anxiety that the pandemic has caused, and so [a challenge is] being able to adapt to those stresses and changes and to try in the best way we can to support both students and staff and our faculty.”

Aside from COVID-19, issues regarding the intensity of South’s academic environment remain on the committee’s radar.

"There's a lot of tension around high school and what opportunities students have. Are they being pushed hard enough?

Are they being pushed too hard? Do they have enough chances to kind of be pushed academically?” Davis said. “Some people think that the standards are not as good as they used to be in the high schools, but some people think things are too stressful for the high schoolers because there's a lot of stress and social-emotional issues."

English teacher Alan Reinstein said that the committee should also prioritize their focus on the welfare of

page 6

February 15, 2022

EDITORIAL issuu.com/thelionsroar

Volume 38, Issue 6

The reality of South's pressure cooker After a semester of the first fully in-person school year since the pandemic started, complete with a new schedule and administration, it came time for a reflection. Yet, even in this new normal, South’s notoriously stressful atmosphere has remained.

Stressful, overbearing and competitive: these words frequently come to students’ minds when they picture South.

Walking in the hallways, you don’t have to look hard to overhear a conversation regarding how many AP courses someone is taking or sometimes even a simple, “What did you get on the test?” This culture has been ingrained in South’s atmosphere for years; students constantly compare themselves with their peers to gain academic validation.

When the world shut down and students were forced to grapple with a new reality of virtual learning, they were also able to get away from South’s high-strung environment. In the midst of adjusting to a scary reality, many struggled to stay academically motivated with no structure in place.

Due to a myriad of reasons, grades (defined by a shifted A/B/Pass/Fail system) temporarily served a different purpose during distance learning; much of the work we received was based on completion and effort, translating to less gradeimposed pressure. Further, with an extra barrier of an online screen, the conversations about grades dimmed. In a way, the toxic environment was partially dismantled.

But, as the initial shock of the pandemic faded and teachers became less lenient about deadlines and workloads returned to levels more reminiscent of pre-pandemic times,

the normal that many students had gotten used to — joining a Zoom class from home, the ability to keep one’s camera off and a relaxed grading system — quickly changed, yet again. For many, the transition this September felt jarring, like a bucket of cold water to the face.

As school returned fully in-person, the School Committee finally implemented a new schedule that had later start and end times, in some ways a continuation of the online school schedule. One of the new schedule’s goals was to tackle the immense amount of homework and stress so constantly associated with Newton’s high schools. In addition to four academic classes most days, What I Need (WIN) blocks were created in hopes of giving students a built-in time to get help from teachers, make up for missing work and de-stress by engaging in communitybuilding activities with peers and faculty.

Theoretically, this new schedule should directly correlate with lowering student stress levels: even when students take on a challenging course load, the fewer number of blocks per day means less homework due and less potential of having consecutive tests the following school day.

However, the design of the schedule failed to account for the biggest factor in student pressure: the students. There's only so much that can be fixed with our current circumstances, if we are not willing to change our actions and values when engaging in conversations regarding academic-based achievements. While the new schedule helps students cope with personal grades-related stress, our environment, bombarded

Editorial Policy

The Lion’s Roar, founded in 1984, is the student newspaper of Newton South High School, acting as a public forum for student views and attitudes.

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with societal values and family-imposed expectations, primes us for a continued cycle of being focused on defining learning and self-worth through grades.

With the abundance of resources and familial support that many Newton students have access to, there is a hidden expectancy to “succeed” in return. Surrounded by parents and peers who collectively define“success” as getting into a prestigious college, students can get trapped in a vicious cycle of conforming their intellectual aspirations with societal ideals. We can all agree on the admirable spirit of a student striving to use their education to better themself and have a positive impact on others, but to desire “education” for an institution’s reputation is a corrupt mindset (see Reinstein’s column, page 14).

This isn’t an issue that can be easily solved by our changed block schedule or by the school administration; regardless of how much we blame it on external factors, the truth is that we are a part of perpetuating this stress: by engaging in a conversation about what you got on your latest paper or “sulking” about how little sleep you received last night, you are aiding the preservation of our school’s sense of competition.

As we head into another season of course registration and college results, it’s important to confront our habits of focusing on what we don’t have instead of avoiding them; whether it be through honest conversations with the mirror, taking well-needed breaks, staying focused on what motivates you or designing a realistic schedule, learning how to cope with this stress is a crucial step in cultivating a healthy lifestyle.

Volume XXXVIII The Lion’s Roar Newton South High School’s Student Newspaper 140 Brandeis Road Newton, MA 02459 srstaff@thelionsroar.com

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Emily Schwartz

Section Editors Opinions

News

IMAGINE Your Ad Here businesses, events, student clubs send an email to srstaff@thelionsroar.com for more details

Eva Shimkus

Bella Ishanyan Jaesuh Lee Sarah Wei Lily Zarr

Features

Centerfold

Ahona Dam Julian Phillips

Sanjana Deshpande Sarah Feinberg Emma Zhang

Photo Managers Maureen Caulfield Becky Dozortsev

Danielle Berdichevsky Matan Josephy Melinda Yung

Sports

Joyce Lee Rebecca Stotsky Clare Tourtelotte

Media Manager Aidan Lieberman Ari Gordon

Faculty Advisor Ashley Chapman

Graphics Managers Emily Cheng Dongyuan Fu Julie Wang

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editorials | page 7

From the EDITORS' DESK News

Opinions

Bella Ishanyan

Dana Berdichevsky

We now know you haven't started driving yet — a lesson learned in the hardest (and most embarrassing) way possible! (Sorry about that, again.) We know you'll be amazing when you do start, but we can’t promise we’ll say “hi” in case one of us — cough cough Siya — is still chronically blind.

Thank you for getting us premium invites to the #SoylentDrinkingFanClub conversations. Slightly off-topic, but your curtain bangs look amazing?! Every day, all day?!?! Take us under your wings please!

Jaesuh Lee

Your abilities of lightening up any room that you walk into and becoming friends with someone who is the complete opposite of you are impressive. You're the best Roar recruiter we could ask for!

Sarah Wei Intense vibes, but immaculate nonetheless.

Just wait for the joys of senior hall-loitering!

You'll feel like you're in photography class every day :)

Matan Josephy

Sports

Features

Melinda Yung

Joyce Lee

Sanjana Deshpande

Even though you may be misidentified because of your keychain, we will never not support your art. Lead the way when we have a Roar bonding for arts and crafts!

Speedy queen! We apologize on behalf of all ailments caused by Senior Staff bumping your car. Thank you for letting us adopt Pluto! Your clay dog/cat/coyote is heard, loved and already slightly shattered.

(It's okay, I've got some E-6000 at home!)

We appreciate your dedication, even if it means calling from backstage! You are so incredibly talented, whether it be on stage or in room 1201, laying a page.

Becca Stotsky

You have such a kind-hearted soul, and we couldn't be more grateful for your gusto!

Your ability to respond in milliseconds well-past 3 a.m. never fails to amaze us!

We will be back to visit your positivity and eagerness!

Photos

You're one of the most hardworking and focused people we have gotten to know.

South Spots is in good hands!

Maureen Caulfield

Ahona Dam Thank you for your consistent hard work and grit despite last-minute detours! Thanks for being so thoughtful and easy to work with.

We're so grateful to have had you on Fold.

You always manage to pull things together while giving your 100%!

Your easygoing personality makes taking a posed photos feel natural, and your sweatshirt sacrifice for the 38-2 front (and your iconic double Facebook accounts with sister kittens) won't be forgotten!

Becky Dozortsev In addition to always taking the extra step in getting the best shots — from fakeZooming to laying on the wet grass — your photography skills are unmatched, and we're so grateful we had you on staff this year.

Julian Phillips Your commitment and flexibility is unparalleled. We will always be impressed with your dedication to biking miles and miles to Roar bonding and for your willingness to go with the flow. We truly can't think of a better winner for "most paste-ups attended."

Advisor Ms. Chapman Thank you for making advisory the highlight of our week! You always give us the best book recommendations, tips for the perfectly curated Sweet Greens order and trashy TV, the only acceptable genre.

You're here for us no matter what, and Roar (and we!) genuinely couldn't function without you!

As the time comes for us to say goodbye, we wanted to thank you, our amazing staff, for all of your hard work and dedication in creating this paper. We will forever carry with us our four years on Roar and all of the great memories we have made with you guys.

Each issue, you all never fail to impress us with your passion and willingness, and we are so proud of each and every one of you.

Although you somehow have a knack for choosing the hardest pages to lay, it seems it's well-balanced with your driven work ethic. We can't tell you how many times your random remarks have made us laugh!

Lily Zarr

Centerfold

Dear Volume 38 Staff, Thank You

Senior Staff Emily Schwartz

You might as well be a magician, because we've never seen anyone pull together proofs as quickly as you do! Thank you for the positivity you bring to paste-ups! We (and Roar) are beyond lucky to have you, and although you just figured out the ropes of WORDLE, we believe in you!

Clare Tourtelotte

Sarah Feinberg

Emma Zhang

Look behind you!

Just kidding. Did we get you?

Your energy brightens any room. We apologize for holding up your 5 day early proofs (your timeliness is impeccable) We admire both your optimism and motivation to always try something new whether it be zag zags, crazy fonts or random shapes!

Stay creative!

Thank you for making the most aesthetic pages! We have so much to learn from your color palettes!

Media

Emily Cheng

Ari Gordon

Our Easter egg has finally hatched! What a good year. Thank you for being our moral compass and making sure we don't strangle each other when we're all delirious at 3 a.m.

Let's be honest — you would be the one to survive an apocalypse out of the four of us. All while listening to Taylor Swift, of course. Iconic.

Thank you for realizing Roar's long-time dream of hosting a podcast. And we love your jeans and necklaces — teach us your ways! Your fits are still appreciated despite your appearance on Fit Check Friday — I guess Roar can't hoard your well-dressed talents. Totally not salty that Denebola thought of that first... No, not at all!

Eva Shimkus

Aidan Lieberman

TECH BOY! Thank you for introducing us to your bestie bassoon. We know we'll be lifelong friends with Oboe thanks to her constant — CONSTANT — appearance :) Thank you for being the 10 a.m. wine-drinking mom of the group. Side note: your fits are amazing — we must go shopping altogether sometime!!

We love the energy you bring to the podcast and we admire your determination.

No matter what section you work on, you always give your enthusiasm, top-notch creativity, and best effort. We will miss working with you!

Graphics Your line-drawings are jaw-droppingly beautiful. You never fail to design out-of-the-box graphics! Keep us updated on any Starbucks© drama (and feel free to hit us up with pumpkin frappachinos) any time of the year!

Dongyuan Fu You are genuinely one of the sweetest people we have gotten to know! Thank you for your uplifting spirit and creativity at the seemingly endless graphics meetings — your presence makes them bearable :)

Julie Wang From the smallest of details to the overall color scheme, you never fail to blow us away with your graphics! Thank you so much for your hard work and dedication; we know we can always count on you!

page 8

February 15, 2022

OPINIONS issuu.com/thelionsroar

Volume 38, Issue 6

It's Gogh Time photo courtesy of Time Out

Boston's Van Gogh Immersive Experience, which is open until Feb. 24, has recieved praise for its unique displays of classic paintings, but is the exhibit living up to the hype?

By Yana Kane

V

Starry Night photo courtesy of Axios Charlotte

Sunflowers photo courtesy of Artnet News

Wheatfield with Crows photo courtesy of Van Gogh Exhibition

an Gogh: The Immersive Experience is more than a way to admire art. At the gallery in Boston, colors and scenery consumed me, allowing me to experience the art. Instead of displaying physical, framed paintings like most art museums do, the exhibition projected Van Gogh’s art onto the walls of an empty room. His renowned pieces, including my personal favorites — “Almond Blossom” and “Bedroom in Arles” — were brought to life with modern technology.

Although displaying art originally intended for a canvas through a projector lens may appear to take away its depth, I believe it revives Van Gogh’s work. He was known for his uniqueness and eccentric personality. He was never mentally stable, but that’s part of what contributed to the greatness of his art.

He was able to create in any space, even in the Saint-Paul asylum, where he channeled his strong emotions and memories into his paintings. He drew from his feelings of boredom and loneliness and painted an escape where he didn’t feel that way; one of his most well-known paintings, “Starry Night,” was the outcome.

Art is all about taking risks, and the Immersive Experience embodies such a fundamental concept through this unorthodox method to display Van Gogh’s paintings in an imaginative and original way.

In 2008, digital artists Massimiliano Siccardi and Luca Longobardi began to design the Immersive Experience. They both lived in Provence, France, for 15 years and were mesmerized by its beauty. Hoping to share such scenic landscapes, which Van Gogh often painted, Siccardi and Longobardi came up with the exhibition, so that people all over the world could discover the landscapes of South France, learning about its history while appreciating Van Gogh’s artistry. The exhibition had a great response from the public as it quickly attracted popularity.

The gallery itself spans two rooms. The first room includes information about Van Gogh’s life and the inspiration and backstory of the exhibit. An extensive color-coded timeline describes the various locations that Van Gogh modeled his paintings after, as well as details of what influenced his art.

Knowing the context of both the exhibition and Van Gogh enhanced my experience because I was primed to go through the gallery with a more personal outlook: I started to feel as though I understood what he was trying to portray and how he was able to do it.

When I walked into the second room, it immediately felt like stepping into one of his paintings. Every surface, including the floor, of the vast room was covered in his art. The stars of his landscapes lit up the room, and the eyes of his self-portraits seemed to stare at me. A giant column in the middle of the room

mirrored the same image as the one projected on the walls.

This created a very compelling visual effect as it reduced the amount of empty space and made the room seem more compact, which further added to the feeling of being inside of the picture. Dimmed lights helped to spotlight the painting. Some of the paintings were animated, as the images on the walls slid into the floors. This was mostly used on his seascapes, which made me feel like I was sinking into the water.

The image then transitioned into still-lifes such as the “Vase with Twelve Sunflowers,” “Vase with Oleanders and Books,” and my favorite, “Vase with Pink Roses.” I got a chance to admire them without having to squint into a small frame. In addition to the great display, benches were stationed in different corners of the room, so viewers could sit and relax, simply taking everything in. The Immersive Experience did an amazing job at presenting Van Gogh’s art in a way that made me not just see it, but feel it.

Virtual art shows are either hated or loved. Some claim that they cannot compare to traditional museums, while others say they are an innovative and effective method to appreciate art.

I think it depends on the genre of art being displayed. Art forms like cubism or surrealism, I’d prefer seeing as a regular painting, because putting art with multiple figures and shapes in a large space would make it difficult to discern the big picture, which would instead be fragmented into individual pieces.

Meanwhile, still-lifes or self-portraits that involve only one subject are more straightforward, so are better presented on a larger surface because the characteristics of the object of focus can stand out more.

The concept of paintings being presented as an immersive experience is relatively new, perhaps a reason for its quick criticism. I have read a few negative reviews on the Immersive Experience and other digital shows, calling them “diluted” and “predictable.”

Although I agree that the exhibit was simple and that regular museums have the quality of timelessness, I think that regardless, the two are quite similar in the sense that both are meant to display art — they differ only in the approach to this goal. The original is traditional and fundamental to artistically educate oneself, but this new method can engage the younger generation into learning as well. This exhibition gives people the opportunity to understand Van Gogh’s vision in a more engaging way.

The Immersive Experience puts a new twist on Van Gogh’s art, which allows people to admire it from a new angle, quite literally. This new way to experience art immerses the viewer into the painting, as if they were in the beautiful French countrysides that Van Gogh’s made into such iconic pieces.

issuu.com/thelionsroar

opinions | page 9

"Ready Player One": the Book vs. the Movie Ernest Cline's 2011 novel "Ready Player One" was adapted to the screen by Steven Spielberg, garnering immense box office success. Now, we take a close look at this film, answering the age old question: is the book better than the movie?

By Elad Racin

M

ore than $580 million. That's how much money the movie “Ready Player One” made at the box office. In the past few decades, Hollywood has widely embraced the idea of movie-book adaptations; the combination of a great story and a pre-existing fan base seems to be the perfect recipe for cinematic success.

Some notable book-to-movie adaptations include “Harry Potter,” “Jurassic Park” and “The Lord of the Rings.” Although some cinematic adaptations tend to be smash hits, the book version is often more well-received than its movie counterpart, and “Ready Player One” was no exception.

Set in 2045 Columbus, Ohio, “Ready Player One” explores a world burdened with poverty, war, governmental instability and climate change, where people escape their mundane lives through the OASIS. The OASIS is like the metaverse promises to be, a virtual reality where you can be or do anything that you dream of.

When James Halliday, the creator and owner of the OASIS and its parent company, Gregarious Games, dies, a contest to select his successor culminates in a series of three main tasks: finding three keys, unlocking three gates and getting the golden egg.

With a prize of approximately half a trillion dollars, the competition initially gains immense engagement and popularity; however, even five years after the competition’s commencement, there is no progress in completing the challenging tasks and only a few people

graphic by Denise Chan

who still care about the competition remain, now referred to as “gunters” or “egg hunters.”

One of the only similarities between the book and the movie versions of “Ready Player One” is that the plot follows Wade Watts, a teenage gunter who lives in the slums of Columbus, as he navigates seemingly impossible tasks on his journey. While the book takes on a

mature story geared towards an older audience that focuses more on Halliday’s intentions and life, in comparison, the movie is censored and more mainstream, focusing more on Halliday’s persona and his love interest.

In my opinion, the inconsistencies between the book and movie weren’t well executed. The faster pace of the movie led to a

rushed storyline, and the overall plot fit better in a book form, which allowed for more interesting and well-developed scenes. The movie’s rushed scenes made it difficult to understand the characters’ intentions, and the movie scenes based on the novel were half-baked compared to the book’s original scenes.

All in all, the movie’s generic dialogue and one-dimensional characters hindered my interest in the movie, and I found myself getting bored easily.

I do want to give the movie some credit, though: its incredible computer-generated imagery portrayed the characters with just enough realism so I could see their expressions while still preserving the feel of video game characters.

Spielberg's movie also included many ‘80s and ‘90s references. This touch didn't undermine the plot and seemed natural considering that the contest was based around James Halliday, someone who grew up in and loved those decades. Finally, even with its inferior storytelling, the movie’s plot still proved interesting at times, and I can understand why some people love the film.

Despite its downsides, I still believe that the movie should have been made, as it allowed many who didn’t read the books to enjoy an action-packed film. I'm sure that those viewers enjoyed the movie much more than I did. The movie depicts a scarily realistic story that is now, more than ever, prevalent.

In all, while I did not enjoy watching “Ready Player One,” it was an all-around decent movie, but I would not recommend it.

teacher superlatives!

Ms. Ledig

Ms. Fitzgerald

(History)

(Math)

Most likely to both start AND end the class off with a joke

Most likely to bring in meaningful crystals catered to each student's spiritual need

Ms. Bernhard

Mr. Normandin

(English)

(Math and Physics)

Most likely to rock new kicks every day with no repeats and obviously cutest dog

THE Sigma Male

page 10 | opinions

the lion's roar

AT THE HEIGHT OF THE OMICRON SURGE, SHOULD SCHOOL HAVE MOVED ONLINE? NO

YES

By Annika Engelbrecht

By Noa Racin

O

ftentimes, I find myself scrolling through the news, desperately looking for a light at the end of the pandemic’s tunnel. What I find is reassuring: many news sites are hopeful about the pandemic’s direction. Yet, when I come to school, I hear about so many new COVID-19 cases — it’s overwhelming.

It seems like everyone is a close contact for the virus. Not only that, but some scientists caution against the relaxed COVID policies, like lack of mandatory pool testing and social distancing.

While it is reassuring to think that the days of lockdown are behind us, the unfortunate fact of the matter is that COVID is still a large part of our lives. Feeling as though the end of the pandemic is near or that COVID will become “just like the flu” are hopeful thoughts that ignore many overlooked issues; therefore, I think school should be online.

With the Omicron variant’s prevalence and Massachusetts’ average of 20,000 new daily COVID cases, actually having the virus has become de-stigmatized. However, the decreased severity is not an excuse to relax mask mandates and other prevention measures, especially as the virus is still mutating.

Rather than taking the variant seriously, I continue to see more relaxed safety measures implemented, especially at South. This includes limited in-school testing and the continuous usage of large indoor spaces such as the cafeteria, as mask-free eating places. Additionally, South’s response to incorrect mask-wearing is subpar.

Yes, it’s true that many students blatantly refuse to wear masks, but the lack of punishment suggests that mask-wearing is simply to please parents, as opposed to actual personal safety.

Although Omicron is less severe, there is no evidence to prove that the other longterm effects of COVID besides a mild illness will occur.

According to NPR, long COVID —

caused by an infection of COVID — is still a major risk factor. Symptoms include acute muscle pain, fatigue and brain fog. As this virus is still relatively new to the scientific community, treatments for this condition are still unknown.

Despite Omicron being a lot less severe than its cousins, there has been no data so far to prove that long COVID isn’t a possibility.

Long COVID isn’t the only risk associated with getting the virus. Forbes magazine has reported a decline in male fertility has been found, while the CDC published a study on an increased risk of diabetes in children following the infection from COVID. Even though many are having less severe cases, Omicron has still caused more cases of COVID. Therefore, a greater number of people have been flooding hospitals, causing medical workers to be overwhelmed, burnt-out and in short supply. This uptick in cases makes it difficult to obtain treatment for other conditions such as a heart attack or stroke. If people begin to give up crucial infection-preventing measures such as masks, the hospital overload will drag out and hinder care to others.

In short, I understand that being back at school provides a sense of normality, as though the pandemic never happened. It’s a freeing thought; however, online school will drastically lower the risk of getting COVID by reducing the number of people we’re in contact with daily. Even if this transition isn’t feasible due to Gov. Charlie Baker’s in-person school mandate, a hybrid option would be preferable to an in-person one, or even a temporary online school during a surge.

South encompasses a diverse population of students, many of whom have various health issues and family members who are at varying risks of infection. It is impossible to assume that everyone at South is healthy and low-risk. Many of us have close contacts who are at-risk, and keeping loved ones safe should be a top priority.

M

y alarm clock rang, but I had no desire to get up. After grappling with online school for almost a year, forcing myself out of bed each morning became a daily struggle by March 2021. Once finally out of bed, I would drag myself over to my desk and get ready for yet another day of mind-numbing migraines, faulty connections and endless classes on Zoom.

By 1 p.m., I was ready to call it quits, for the cacophony of my household echoing constantly throughout the day prevented me from focusing on my schoolwork. My dad’s discussing with his own students the velocity of someone jumping out of a plane with a skateboard wafted up from our kitchen and definitely didn’t help me focus on my French grammar lesson.

Such memories shared by our generation of students serve as constant reminders for why reverting to virtual learning isn’t the best option for students’ learning and mental health.

When I think back to the material I learned last year, my mind goes blank. While I generally remember the concepts we covered, my recollection lacks specifics. According to a Washington Post article detailing a study by McKinsey & Co, students lost anywhere from one to five months of education in mathematics from March to June 2020.

Going back to online learning would only add to the learning loss that so many students have experienced. South can’t replace the education lost from online school, but it can prevent a greater decline by staying in person.

Retention levels weren't the only thing that suffered during the pandemic; students’ mental health did, too. After learning over Zoom for a year, I felt completely burnt out.

Every day I would stare at a screen and sit in one place for hours on end. This monotonous routine not only made me unable to pay attention in class, but caused me pain physically.

The very nature of online school con-

tributed to a lack of interpersonal connections between students, yet another way our mental health declined. Despite teachers’ attempts at encouraging group work through breakout rooms, the awkward online environment only felt more isolating. No one ever spoke, had their cameras on or even attempted to do the group work together. Zoom lacked the capabilities to strengthen student relationships and promote socialization among students, which is essential in fostering a connected community.

According to the American Psychological Association, in-person classrooms are more conducive for student motivation and overall social development. Without in-school interaction and student bonds, it was hard to connect with others, which created months of social isolation. However, once back in the building, I could finally reconnect with people I hadn’t seen since my freshman English class. After months and months of mute buttons, silent breakout rooms and blank screens, I learned how important socialization was for my wellbeing, which pre-pandemic me took for granted.

Despite all of the benefits to keeping schools open, there are still ways that South can improve their safety measures. The lack of mandatory COVID testing is a problem that needs fixing. Even though weekly pool testing was planned originally for high school students, Newton Public Schools never implemented it at the high school level. The 73 and 99 positive cases that South recorded over December break and during the first week back to school served as a reminder that variants are still rampant.

Being back has incredible benefits which, with the proper safety measures, greatly outweigh the risk of spreading COVID. I feel as though I’ve learned and retained more in the past five months than I did all of last year, and being able to laugh and talk to my classmates has helped renew my desire to go to school.

Although COVID is still prominent, it’s possible to stay in person and combat the virus.

photos by Becky Dozortsev

issuu.com/thelionsroar

opinions | page 11

An open letter to high school couples

By Risha Sinha and Irene Gonzalez de Las Casas Valentine’s Day is upon us. As the air fills with love, affection and romance, one must take a moment to hear the perspective of the most significant players in the world of highschool dating: two painfully single, fairly nerdy freshman girls. From both us and our extensive experience, you will learn exactly what you and your significant other need to do to make this Valentine’s Day (and all high-school relationships) a total success.

First off, ditch the excessive PDA (I’m looking at you, couple-that's-always-makingout!). PDA is awful. The next time you are overcome with exhibitionist urges, remember these guidelines: 1) No canoodling in the cafeteria! You should be eating your food, not each other's faces. The rest of us are trying to refuel, but it’s a struggle because looking in your direction makes us want to hurl. 2) Keep the productions in the auditorium PG! We’re trying to eat lunch, talk or get work done. If I wanted to watch thinly veiled pornography starring high schoolers, I’d tune in to the newest season of Euphoria. 3) Don’t get handsy in the hallway.

As incredibly rom-com-like kissing against a locker is, you are not pulling it off. You don’t

look like Jack and Rose; your version is akin to Addison Rae’s version of She’s All That — vapid, inelegant and tough to watch (and rated a generous 23% on Rotten Tomatoes). Everyone’s just trying to get to class, not see a horrendous display of affection.

While sloppy smooching is the worst, some other things are still pretty bad. Please abstain from tickling or rubbing noses with each other. I mean, why? Just why? That is just about as cute as a TikTok couple channel (so, not at all). Although seemingly innocuous, there are terrible consequences to holding hands: namely, the mental health of single people schoolwide.

As soon as I walk out of class, I don’t need to be reminded of how lonely I am. It’s a lot to deal with after failing a math test! We’re not jealous, just conscious of others’ feelings. We are definitely not jealous. No way! Us, jealous?

Never. We just don’t need to see your beautiful “love” all around the school; it only brings up the trauma from when our 3rd-grade boyfriends abandoned us after a week.

If you really want to show off your partner, feel free to tell your friends — but please refrain from gushing about your lovey-dovey

plans for the evenings. Although we appreciate getting to live vicariously through you, it is hard not to gag at some of the amorous details.

However, subjugating your friends to your fanciful tales is better than posting about them on social media. Do not go and post on Instagram about how your partner is the “apple of your pie” or the “sparkle in your eye.” It hurts us all to see such posts. Rule of thumb: if your caption sounds like a Hallmark card, it’s not good.

I love receiving gifts, but I don’t love seeing happy couples carrying heart-shaped balloons and parading their relationship around the school. It’s a gross reminder of the commercialization and corruption of this idyllic holiday. Please, save your cents. Don’t buy into the cult of meaningless gift-giving! Save your gifts. Don’t give them to your partner, for they will be disappointed in you for putting a monetary value on your unique connection. But what should you do with the gifts you’ve already purchased? Give the roses and chocolates to me. I will appreciate it without questioning your judgment. If not, I am not above stealing stray chocolate off of the ground; if I don’t get chocolate, no one else does.

Other agonizing sights are matching clothes, excessive compliments and sickly-sweet nicknames. Some of the language used by couples is so flowery, it could be misconstrued as Shakespearean prose from Romeo and Juliet.

However, these pseudo-poets misunderstand the moral of the play: being in love makes the people around them miserable and eventually is the cause of their death. In order to evade such untimely demise, stay away from poison or daggers and try to find other means to express yourselves.

We’ve talked a lot about what not to do on the most romantic yet depressing day of the year, but what should you do? To avoid PDA, you should keep 6 feet apart at all times; after all, leave room for Jesus and stay away from Omicron. Break up with your s/o, preferably in public, so we can all get a good laugh. In summary, love is fake, unless you ask me out, in which case love is totally real, and we’ll have a whirlwind romance where we break all the rules listed above. When we (mutually!) break up, you should take my red scarf, so that I can write a powerful song, become the next Taylor Swift and rule the world.

Becky photo by

photo b y Becky Dzort

Dzortsev

sev photo by Mia D'Souza

Ways to Cope with Your Chronic Loneliness graphics by Julie Wang

Cry! It's okay. We've all been there. Get some tissue boxes, lock your door, turn on some loud music, and now, you’re finally all set to cry your eyes out (definitely not speaking from experience).

Run to the nearest Star Market to buy some chocolates! Get yourself some delicious Godiva, Lindt or Ferrero because if you can get these, you can definitely get love. Definitely.

Watch some movies! Go and get some popcorn and relax. Pretend you're a part of that rom-com you’re watching, and when you realize you're not, no one can fault you for sobbing!

rtesy of Five cou Be o t l o

ow

ph

Although Valentine’s Day is supposedly a glorious day for many, others often experience pain, sadness and horror. If your Valentine’s Day was great, good for you! If you’re still licking your wounds (or discounted CVS candy), like us at The Lions Roar, here are some recommendations for single people, by single people, to treat yourself in the aftermath of this wonderful holiday.

Have you heard of this latest invention? Head to Five Below and invest in a water-filled bucket and a “grow your own boy/girlfriend” figurine. Now, you don't have to roam the halls alone.

GAINING A

fter a few minutes of compulsively reloading the page, ‘16 South graduate and '20 Cornell University graduate Nighat Ansari saw in dismay that she had gotten a C — her first since high school. After studying for weeks, she had just taken one of her hardest college exams yet. After her experience in South’s rigorous academic environment, Ansari said she went into Cornell expecting to perform just as well in a similar atmosphere.

“I had a very narrow mindset because being a kid in high school, I felt like the world was going to end if I didn't get this GPA or if I didn't get a five on my BC Calc AP,” she said. “When you get to college, it puts you through a lot of different challenges and failures. It taught me to care more about the important things in life, and it made me very okay with failure.”

Ansari’s experience is representative of the grade-based attitude many students have toward education in high school. While stress can be essential to academic growth, many factors, including familial and self-imposed pressure, lead students to become fixated on the college application process while failing to plan for the possibilities of life after high school.

To help with this, resources like those in South’s WISE Individualized Senior Experience (WISE) Program, at community colleges and in specialized college programs provide experience-based opportunities that set students up for a successful postsecondary life.

L I FE

EXPERIENCE

Real-world work experience offered by WISE and college programs help students prepare for life beyond high school

By Ahona Dam and Julian Phillips Graphics by Julie Wang Senior Jake Levy said that while some programs may help students prepare for life beyond high school, students must first reflect on their goals in life. He said that by defining success based on a numerical scale, students can lose sight of their end goal.

“You might have people that got 4.0s and 1600s. That's great for them, but that's not all [of ] who you are,” he said. “What else do you do? Who are you as a person?”

The Price of Success As senior Olivia Wong got ready for one of her most important dance performances, she thought about the satisfaction she would feel after adding it to her college resume. Then, guilt kicked in as she realized that her motivation behind succeeding was the pressure to reach high standards to boost her chances of admitted to a prestigious college.

“My love for dance faded away, and it was more so that I was dancing because of college. The pressure that college put on me to get into an Ivy League school ruined what I used to love,” she said. “I felt a lot of times like, ‘Am I good enough?’ or, ‘What can I do to try hard?’”

According to a study from the American Psychological Association, young people are more overloaded with pressure than their parents, with a steady increase in stress levels from the late 1970s to today. Psychologists Thomas Curran and Andrew Hill found that unhealthy perfectionism and self-criticism has increased among teenagers, both directly attributed to the high expectations that parents have of their children. Junior Hanna Liauchonak said that much of the South-specific pressure is not caused by the school, but rather by parents.

“It's less so Newton South than the upper-middle-class community associated with South, in the sense that parents put a lot of pressure on us to succeed,” she said.

While students like Wong may feel as though they need their futures immediately sorted out, South’s College and Career Counselor Kathleen Sabet said that learning through experience can open doors to new career opportunities.

“A lot of people think that as long as they have the most prestigious [school], that it doesn't matter, and we know that's not true,” she said. “With more information that you have about yourself and that you gain through exposure to different careers or through courses, the trajectory of where you see yourself can sometimes change.”

WISE-ing Up When ‘21 graduate Jocelyn Wong filed into her first accounting class at Bentley University, she felt prepared for the class, despite its notoriously difficult tests and overbearing homework. In her senior year at South, Wong completed an accounting internship for WISE, a program that allows seniors to participate in and earn credit for large career-oriented projects during their second semester. She said that WISE helped prepare her for more challenging courses, like her foundational General Business 112 accounting class, without feeling overwhelmed.

“I had a better basic foundation than everyone else,” she said.

“They're cramming all this basic accounting knowledge into you because they have to build that foundation within one semester of college before you go on. If you don't know this stuff, you can't build up to learning more about accounting and all the other industries of business, but WISE gave me time to learn about accounting before I came to Bentley.”

Beyond the academic and personal growth that comes from designing your own project, WISE also helps with cultivating important relationships: Wong worked with her mother, building off of their existing connections, which enabled a prime environment to foster growth; however, Jessica Engel, a WISE Program Coordinator, said that it is important to assist students that lack these connections.

“In terms of equity not only between schools but within schools, internships tend to be something that people often get out of connections,” she said. “We've worked to both foster the connections students already have and to make sure that students who don't have connections already are getting opportunities to have internships.”

Senior Jessie Traxler said that when she begins her WISE project this semester, she hopes to form connections in a structured environment.

“Within WISE, the built-in support system allows you to do something more independent that maybe you wouldn't be able to figure out on your own,” she said. “It's about networking and practicing these skills of getting an internship that will be beneficial.”

In addition to WISE’s support in building foundational knowledge and connections, Engel said that students can benefit from its grading strategy, which encourages experience-based rather than grade-based learning.

“It's more about the experience itself and less about what comes out of it. In school, we're often so focused on the project or the test or the grade, and it's all about the outcome," she said.

"For WISE, it's focused on the moment and the experience that students are having and what they're gaining from the experience.”

College Opportunities While WISE serves as a resource in the realm of secondary education, many colleges also provide students with a variety of opportunities that encourage career exploration and experience, helping them to gain skills that they can transfer to their postcollege life.

‘20 graduate and MassBay Community College sophomore Abishek Seelam said that he has found unique opportunities at his college, through which he's been able to discover his interest in the STEM field.

“There’s a STEM mentorship program where a STEM leader assigns you a mentor from pharmaceutical companies or college professors,” he said. “My mentor right now is the head of a pharmaceutical company in New York, and I wouldn't have gotten that connection without my community college.”

‘19 Sharon High School graduate and current junior at Northeastern University Krishanu Datta said that he has been able to work at different technology companies through the Cooperative Education Program, otherwise known as a “co-op,” at Northeastern. The program runs for six months in two different cycles, allowing students to have a school-year internship.

“My first co-op was at Wayfair, and I worked on the Com-

petitive Intelligence Team. Currently, I'm working at Akamai, a technology company in Boston, and I'm on their data science team working on bot detection,” he said. “When you're in a coop, you don't pay for tuition, and on top of that, you get paid for work. Most people can pay off at least a semester and maybe two semesters, depending on what major and what job they're doing.”

Like Seelam, ‘18 Northern Essex Community College graduate and Regis College freshman Josue Matias said that he found both foundational and advanced resources at his community college that helped advance his career in social work. In a college that is 42% Hispanic, he said that Northern Essex supported him as an English-Language Learner coming from a Spanish-speaking background.

“They had a writing tutor that could help you with writing and grammar, and the professors let the students know about those resources,” he said. “With English not being my first language, I was there a lot of the time not just trying to get good grades, but trying to understand the subject. I was there as much as I could afford to be there, and now I’m in a master's program.”

Academic Adaptation Resources from WISE and in college prepare students like Matias for life beyond academics, helping to bridge the immense gap in life experience between secondary education and adulthood; however, some degree of unease during the transition is unavoidable. ‘21 graduate and freshman at University of Massachusetts Amherst Stephanie Tian said that academically adjusting to college was generally straightforward, but new factors like large class sizes were major adjustments for her.

“My psych class this semester is 500 people, which I personally like, but that's really different because at South, I felt like I was always with the same kids,” she said. “It's harder to make friends in bigger classes because you're not sitting next to the same person every time. It's easy to meet people, it's just hard to stay connected with them.”

As a first-generation South Asian immigrant, Ansari said that attending Cornell, where 43% of the student population belongs to a racial minority, she felt seen; however, she said that Cornell’s academically rigorous environment made it easy for her to compare herself to her peers.

“When I finally did go back to an environment where there were people from all over the world, I strived in that [environment where] people could say my name properly and everybody understood where I was coming from,” she said. “It was like a double-edged sword because it was a difficult environment to succeed in. I was in a place where the imposter syndrome was the worst I've ever experienced in my life.”

The stressful environment in college is inevitable, but Matias said that a student’s experience largely depends on their goals going into college. He said that while there isn’t a singular path a student must take, students should use their resources to achieve “success,” no matter how an individual may define it.

“People have to have the right mindset and worry about their education. You can still have fun, party and play around, but it should be a balance,” he said.“Surround yourself with people that have the same goals as you, people that want to make it in their industry or want to make it in their profession, and stay consistent.

If you can't do full-time at a college, try to do part-time. Those years are going to pass really quick.”

page 14 | media

the lion's roar

CAMPUS CHATTER Julia Nasisi

I dreamed that I was Woody from "Toy

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I watched the show "Squid Game," and I

Story," and I had to go into the "Wizard

had a dream that I was in a huge ware-

of Oz." I walked through a hallway and

house with other teenagers. It was scary

opened a trap door. When I went through

because the masked people from the

the trap door, the alligator from "Toy

show had guns. When each of us went

Story" electrocuted me, and I went to jail.

class of '2 2

The Lion's Roar Pawdcast asked...

What was your weirdest dream?

The weirdest dream I've ever had is when

cl a ss o f ' 2 3 Andrew Hill

down the stairs, we got shot.

One time I had a tracker spider living

I was in my house and I thought I woke

inside of me, and it was really scary. Then,

up. I was looking around my house and

I found out that a creepy man was the

then I randomly saw a guy staring at me.

owner of the tracker spider. He placed the

I was really concerned and scared. The

spider in me so that he could get informa-

guy proceeded to lunge at me.

It was a sleep paralysis dream. I dreamt

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tion for his lab.

I was swimming in a pool, and it col-

that Demi Lovato was constantly hitting

lapsed. It turned into a fluorescent white

me in the face. Every time they hit me,

room. I was strapped in a chair, and I

they would sing. I think this dream hap-

couldn't breathe. Then, the chair turned

pened because I watched a video of them

into the pool again, and I frantically tried

beforehand.

c l a s s o f ' 25

getting out of the pool.

Want to hear more?

Join Ari Gordon and Aidan Lieberman on the Lion's Roar Pawdcast!

Core Values

Alan Reinstein

English teacher

College and Reputation The college applications are in for seniors, and the waiting period for acceptances won’t reach its zenith till March and April, so as Senior Slump begins, I’d like to take a moment to consider an important element of the choosing-a-college process: reputation.

For many of us here at South — for faculty as well as students — an infatuation with the status or renown of a college or university can cloud the clearer thinking that should go into choosing a healthy place to study after high school. This infatuation, in my opinion, mistakes education for image, matter for manner, and misleads students to value themselves

by where they study and not by what they do with what they study.

Of course, there is a reason that prestigious schools are so reputable: exceptional thinkers and scholars both teach and study there, and professors and students alike till their institutions’ fertile soil to grow rich discussion and learning, which then catapults everyone involved towards discoveries and accomplishments that enrich us all.

I get this, and if this — enlightened discussion, intellectual growth and breakthroughs that benefit the community — is the motivation for students applying to Ivy League colleges and their cohorts throughout the country, then these students and parents are choosing and thinking well. To seek intellectual growth to benefit either oneself or one’s community is an admirable and worthwhile pursuit.

The pursuit of reputation, however, that yearning for the applause from others, as in the excitement of that college-acceptance announcement that will impress the neighbors, is a false promise and, although this comes from a hunger natural to many of us, an unhealthy

ambition.

As a schoolteacher, my feelings are mixed: I should celebrate a tradition in our school that elevates both scholarship and the students who are ambitious to attend institutions that trade in this; yet, the distorting lens that focuses on the institution’s name and reputation for its symbolic value of personal worth is not only misguided by directing students away from the valuable path of intellectual growth, but also dangerous in that it promotes an elitism that restricts the very opening of the mind that higher academic learning is meant to foster.

In my case, my college acceptance to the University of Wisconsin in Madison — a school with its own good reputation, yes, but not quite Brown or Bowdoin — could mean that my complaints about a fixation over the prestige of a college admission might just be sour grapes — which may be true, I can’t say.

But I can’t help thinking that applying to an illustrious college to satisfy an appetite for the respect and admiration of peers and outsiders, rather than to learn from specific educators who teach there or within a special course offered

only there, will engender a misunderstanding of the larger value of being educated. Focusing on reputation over authentic learning steers both students (and their parents) away from the very serious lessons that their top school is poised to offer them.

It’s true that we are all susceptible to the pull of others’ respect and admiration for us; I understand this craving as well as or more than others. Many South students, vulnerable to seeing themselves foremost through the eyes of others than through their own, convince themselves that the name of the college they attend will carry attributes of intellectual strength that they can then attach to themselves: Duke, the thinking goes, sounds better to the world than Duquesne.

And yet to be pulled toward this connection between personal identity and college acceptance is to be pulled away from judging oneself internally, from measuring oneself according to one’s own aspirations and not those of others. It’s a tricky business that — for me, at least, at fifty-eight — is still easier to write about than to master.

page 15

Februrary 15, 2022

FEATURES # A Diploma to issuu.com/thelionsroar

graphic by Emily

Cheng

Volume 38, Issue 6

Serve #

Newton alumni share their paths going into the military following graduation

By Sarah Feinberg, Ellie Jolly, and Feiya Wang

A

fter several months of intensive training for the National Guard,‘17 North graduate Gregory Mitelman is now a senior studying mechanical engineering at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and finishing his sixth year as a National Guard.

“It's done me good. I've met very interesting people, and I have access to a sphere of jobs that can be difficult to get into if you don't have prior exposure,” he said.“I have almost no debts for four years of college and haven't had to work outside of the army.”

As one of many Newton high school graduates who joined the armed forces before attending college, Mitelman said that his experience in the National Guard equipped him with specialized skills that will set a strong foundation for his future career in engineering.

“I do night vision goggles and satellite receivers, which is really cool. We learn to take it apart, identify the issues, fix it and learn how the manuals are set up,” he said. “For people in the artillery route, it was more of sleeping in bays and running around outside, while I was sitting inside working at my table with my tools, so it differs greatly depending on what you do.”

‘20 South graduate Kate Taylor also took a non-traditional route. Rather than attending a traditional university as she intended, Taylor enrolled in Virginia Military Institute. She said that schools and families should have more conversations about post secondary education options.

“Students can have this sense of right and wrong in terms of what [they] want to pursue.

We need to be reminded that there isn't a right answer to what you do after [high school],” she

photo contributed by Nicolas Fernandez-Cote

said.“These large and difficult conversations are important to start to make sure students don't feel pressured to attend college just because it's what everyone else is doing.”

College and career counselor Kathleen Sabet said that despite the pandemic preventing military recruiters from coming into the building to speak to students, she has found additional ways to inform students about military careers.

“As a counselor, I want to be sure that students know all their options, so I have conversations with them about the military,” she said.

Senior Bob Taylor, Kate’s brother, said that after realizing the conventional path of going directly to college was not best for him, he began pursuing his interest in the Marines.

“It's going to give me more time before going to college to learn about myself a little bit better in terms of what I want to do in school,” he said.“I'm not too much of a fan of office jobs, but everything military related interests me.”

As the military offers a wide range of branches, including the Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, Navy and Space Force, it can be difficult to choose which path to pursue.

Financial advisor James Cote, a former Marine and Vietnam War veteran, helps students and their families navigate the process.

“It depends on where the child wants to go, but you can generally pick the service based on their personality,” he said.“If you don't want to do combat, there are a lot of fields you could be in and there's no way you would ever be in the field. Your skills are needed, so there's a lot of occupations, and it's a world for everybody.”

While the recruitment process can be

Fernandez-Cote with his parents at his Massachusetts Maritime Academy graduation

overwhelming, head of guidance Dan Rubin is also available to help students choose a path. He said that many students of all areas of interest choose the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) — a program that allows college students to do basic training for the military during summers and throughout college to pay their tuition.

“ROTC gives students many opportunities in exchange for military service after graduation, so that’s a pretty common option among students,” he said.“A lot of students who consider becoming police officers, firefighters or different types of first responders also learn that preference is given to veterans because they've demonstrated that they can withstand the stress that first responder roles bring.”

Cote’s son and ‘17 Arlington Catholic graduate Nicolas Fernandez-Cote took the ROTC route. After completing several months of preliminary drills, he attended college at Massachusetts Maritime Academy while serving in the National Guard before enlisting as a field artillery officer.

“My main drivers were definitely to get my education, to still be in the military and have a civilian job and [to] graduate college,” he said. “It was something that I took a long time to think about, but the National Guard was definitely one of the things that allowed my multiple goals to be met.”

While military training can be a lot to handle for some, with hard work and a strong support system, Mitelman said that it is possible to succeed.

“It was physically hard, but it was mentally more difficult because you get three hours

photo contributed by Gregory Mitelman

of sleep sometimes or you'd be walking for miles, and if you start to feel or to think that this isn't going to end or that any sort of negativity, you're gonna have a lot of trouble,” he said.

“People will be there to support you, but you have to make sure that you have your goals set and that you know why you're doing it so that when things get difficult, you don't just despair and instead you end up learning a lot.”

Fernandez-Cote said that the values he embraced as a military officer have helped with his job at an oil trades company in Panama.

“While I may not use all the technical terms used in the military, I am using the core values that the military has built inside of me and then applying that to my profession, like with my clients and other traders,” he said.

Mitelman said that in addition to acquiring technical skills that will help him with future professions in engineering, being part of the military as a National Guard has allowed him to develop lifelong connections.

“I have friends that live in Korea, Germany, Hawaii [and] Florida, and your network of people that you encounter and their experiences is vast. It gives you a lot of personal experience, too,” he said.

Fernandez-Cote said that as the path to the military can be overwhelming as a high school student, it is vital to research options.

“Ask questions, not only from your recruiter, but ask questions from someone that you may know has been in or still is in the military. You want to get a full perspective on any kind of action before you take it by getting more information, especially,” he said.“Everyone has been in your shoes at one point.”

Mitelman wears his uniform to commemorate his completion of honor guard training

page 16 | features

the lion's roar

Putting the "sweet" in Sweet Tomatoes Molly Johnson and Chloe Yu Features Reporters

If you walk into the Newton Centre location of Sweet Tomatoes, a beloved local family restaurant, you’ll find a framed note hanging from the wall. It has been there for years, placed among photos and newspaper clippings by owner and South parent Hedy Jarras after a customer walked into the restaurant with the note one day. Jarras said that the index card serves as a reminder of the restaurant’s significance in the community.

“I didn't know who this woman was, but she wrote me this note that said something along the lines of: ‘the pizza’s always so good, but today, my slice was exceptional,’” she said. “[The customer] just made [the experience] so much more special not because she wasn't a regular, but because she knew me and I didn't necessarily know her and she just loved the pizza so much.”

Jarras has managed the family business with a food truck and locations in Newton Centre, West Newton and Needham for 23 years. She first fell in love with Sweet Tomatoes one summer, when she worked at the original Cape Cod location. When the previous owner decided to leave, Jarras saw the opportunity to bring Sweet Tomatoes to Newton Centre.

“Something just clicked,” she said.“I just fell in love with it."

Jarras opened the Newton Centre location in 1998, expanding to West Newton in 2003 and later opening a third location in Needham in 2007 as well as a pizza truck with her husband, Brian Canty. Now, the couple

manages the three locations together.

“It's just always nice to have each other to bounce ideas off of,” she said. “Having a support system like my husband, I felt like I became stronger.”

Jarras’s daughter, freshman Emma Canty, said that another benefit of a family business is being able to pick up food anytime.

“You can get food whenever you want,” she said.“If you don't want something at home, it's so easy to just say, ‘Oh, let's get Sweet Tomatoes.’”

Junior Usha Berger said that the friendly environment and delicious pizza always has her coming back.

“Whenever I’m craving pizza, I can always go and get Sweet Tomatoes, especially because I live half a block away,” she said. “Everyone there is so nice, and it’s a great place to go with my friends. Their pizza always puts me in a better mood.”

While COVID-19 has been a challenge for many businesses, Sweet Tomatoes was fortunately able to keep their doors open.

Masks are mandated for customers and staff, and testing for COVID, along with thorough sanitization, remains a priority.

Canty said that curbside deliveries on Friday nights have been some of her happiest memories amidst the scary reality of COVID. “My closest friend, my mom and I would go and we would deliver,” she said.“On the way, we would get dinner, and we made a playlist. It was just really fun.”

Canty said that another exciting part of her family owning Sweet Tomatoes is the occasional famous clientele.

“It's always cool when Bruins players order,” Canty said.“We get a lot of orders from the goalie, Tuukka Rask.”

For employees, working at a family business is a unique experience, Abby Betzalel, a cashier at the Newton Centre location, said.

“I've also worked at TJ Maxx, which is obviously very different,” she said. “I like it here better just because you get to know everyone closely and so you always know who you’re working with. At TJ Maxx, it was just very impersonal, like there'd be a new manager [who] you would never know.”

Adam Obeid, who has primarily worked at the Newton Centre location for three years, said that Jarras is very welcoming and friendly with the staff.

“My manager really likes to get to know her coworkers and her employees so she's always

saying, ‘even if you're not [working], stop by, say hello,’” he said.

For Jarras and her family, the Sweet Tomatoes staff have become an extended family.

“Some of my staff have been with me for 20 years,” Jarras said, “I'm happy that I could employ them all this time and [I love] the family connection and the dynamic that we have created.”

Working at Sweet Tomatoes is one of the things that brings Jarras the most joy in her life. She said that the business has become somewhat of a second child to her.

“This business kind of defines who I am and I love it,” she said.“There's something about saying that every morning [I] wake up [and] I'm happy to go to work.”

In the words of Canty, “who doesn’t love pizza?”

photo courtesy of Sweet Tomatoes Instagram

Sweet Tomatoes' Newton Centre location has been open since Dec. 18, 1998

abSENT: Cancelled classes at your fingertips Michael Sun

Features Reporter Every morning, there is one thing that can either make or break a student's day: the absence list. Though the absence list system has been around for as long as anyone can remember, sophomores Kevin Yang from South and Roshan Karim from North have made an app to revisualize the Schoology postings.

“One thing that I hate is having to check Schoology to get absent teachers,” Yang said.

“Sometimes, I feel like a clown walking into a room, only to realize that no one's here because a teacher is absent.”

After coming back from Thanksgiving break, Karim and Yang were at a LigerBots meeting and found they had coincidentally come up with the same idea: an app to help Newton students better plan for the day by notifying them if their teachers are absent.

“I thought he was pulling a prank on me because I spent that weekend working on the exact same thing,” Yang said.“Roshan and I had worked on the same projects simultaneously without knowing about each other.”

They soon teamed up to create an app called abSENT, and more students joined them. Sophomore Leah Vashevko, who helped work on the most recent version of abSENT, said that the school’s technology needs to be modernized.

“Nobody is really satisfied with the state of the platforms our school gives us like Schoology and Aspen,” she said. “The upsetting thing is that the stuff that we have is actually state of the art. I have a family friend who works in the tech industry, and she says that Aspen is

photo contributed by Kevin Yang

Yang (left) and Karim are LigerBots teammates

honestly one of the better systems, which is crazy to think about because it looks like it was built in 1960.”

Yang and Karim set to work on the project in Python. Karim said that they used an application programming interface (API) to make their program work.

“Schoology uses what's called a REST API, and basically what this allows us to do is communicate easily with Schoology and get data from Schoology,” he said. “That allows us to pull every single update inside of this and just get that text into our program.”

Karim said that the project would not have been as enjoyable as it was if it weren’t for his strong friendship with Yang.

“We were able to help each other a lot and fill gaps in each other's knowledge,” he said. “It was much more enjoyable to talk to someone about a project rather than just doing something alone.”

While developing the platform, Yang spread the word about the project by campaigning on social media.

“I created an Instagram and started following everyone I know, and then I clicked on their profiles and followed everyone they knew,” he said. “Now we have around 500 followers and we continue gaining followers.”

Sophomore Spencer Solcoff, one of the initial testers for abSENT, said that he can foresee the program’s success after witnessing its overwhelming support.

“I definitely see this becoming a mainstream thing at school, based on the fact that it was only marketed by making an Instagram account,” he said. “I'd say it's already well off due to the fact that it has a couple hundred followers on Instagram already.”

Karim said that they had initially intended to set up abSENT through Text Now, a free SMS service, but that came with its own set of challenges.

“We did not expect that there would be over 100 people within the first hour of launch that attempted to sign up, and that volume just overwhelmed the SMS provider,” he said.

“I wasn't exactly surprised, but it happened.”

Undaunted, they shifted their efforts to an application that will be released in the next few weeks, Karim said.

“Now the path is going to be slightly different,” he said. “We're going to release an application, which we've already started developing. You can just get push notifications from that application,” he said.

Yang envisions abSENT to not only become widespread at North and South, but in other schools as well.

“We've made it modular, so we have specific portions that do specific things. What high schools can do is they can use our entire codebase, and then they can write their own version that will just grab [the list of ] absent teachers in their own format from whatever platform they use,” he said.“My grander goal of abSENT is to have more high schools being able to use it, and so that fewer kids can be a clown.”

Sophomore Michael Chang, an early tester for abSENT, said that the efficiency of the app will be convenient for students everywhere.

“If it's useful and it's easy to use, then there's definitely going to be widespread usability,” he said. “It lets you know the specific teacher that's missing right away and it only lets you know if your teachers are actually missing.”

Yang and Karim have already started thinking about ideas for new apps, including an automatic South newsletter and an app that will allow users to compare schedules and lunch blocks with their friends. Ultimately, Yang hopes that his efforts will have a positive impact on the South community.

“I hope that me doing abSENT has inspired other kids who can program or other kids who are interested in programming that can help out,” he said.“I know one of my friends has plans on making a trivia app now because of seeing the success of abSENT, so I hope perhaps it's a beacon for South.”

photo courtesy of abSENT Instagram

issuu.com/thelionsroar

features | page 17

REGENERON RECIPIENTS Annually, 300 students nationwide are named Regeneron Science Talent Search Scholars for their original research. The Roar spoke with two South recipients.

Joshua Guo Features editor Emma Zhang spoke with the Regeneron 300 scholar about his research

Frank Liu

By Alyssa Chen and Emma Zhang

T

he second that virtual classes let out last winter, senior Frank Liu rushed out the door, grabbing his bag and coat on his way to catch the next bus to Boston. With excess time during the online school year, many students turned to new hobbies, independent projects and quality family-bonding time to fill their after-Zoom hours; Liu’s version was working at a science lab, where he spent four to six hours every day after school harvesting bacteria and purifying proteins. Over the course of a month, Liu created antimicrobial spider silk, which may have applications in preventing surgical site infections.

The inspiration for this undertaking originated from a team project Liu worked on during the summer after his freshman year that ultimately didn’t pan out. After years of reflecting on the idea, Liu finally decided to pursue his research on antimicrobial protein and created antimicrobial spider silk.

With the support of biology teacher Siana LaForest, Liu contacted LabShares Newton, a lab sharing company with which he was

photo contributed by Joshua Guo, graphics by Julie Wang

able to secure necessary equipment. Above all, LaForest said that she was most impressed when witnessing Liu’s independence and initiative.

“He's just genuinely excited about it and clearly passionate about doing science and experiments. He's intellectually interested and engaged with the material,” she said.“When he did his experiments last year, the school was shut down, so he had to find a different place to do his experiments. I didn't make any phone calls for him. He did it all himself. The independence and the confidence of being able to do that is really one way that I saw him change.”

Last summer, Liu participated in the Research Science Institute, a six-week-long program at MIT where 50 seniors nationwide are paired up with a professor to pursue a one-on-one research project. Although the pandemic turned this experience remote, Liu said this time turned out to be of valuable self-reflection.

“I learned a lot about what I actually wanted in academia. I did like the science aspect of it, but I realized just how important having

photo contributed by Frank Liu, graphics by Julie Wang

a social aspect to science really meant to me, like being able to communicate with other students,” he said. “My love of science is very much intertwined with the people I’ve met while doing it.”

Sage Widder, senior and science team co-captain, said that Liu, both as her co-captain and friend, helped foster inclusivity on the team and has had a positive impact on her personally.

“He's done a lot to make sure that people on the team have resources and are able to participate in competitions,” she said. “Also in my personal life, he's been a great friend. It's always good to have [both fun and serious] conversations with people, when you can connect about a feeling and also understand how someone else is feeling about something.”

Liu said that despite initially focusing his interests in the humanities, he ultimately became passionate about science because of the support he received at South.

“There was a transition in middle school where I was more into history and the humanities. I was really lucky in high school, as I was able to have multiple really great experiences with actual lab work and doing research,” he said. “From that, I learned a lot more about science than I used to, and that convinced me that maybe I‘d want to do science slightly more than writing, which I still do on the side.”

Liu’s junior English teacher Deborah Bernhard said that in addition to his science interests, he is a phenomenal and passionate writer.

“He's really talented in things other than the sciences in vast fields,” she said. “He was able to express poetic feelings, not only in poetry, but in prose.”

Jordan Kraus, advisor of the science team and Liu’s AP Biology teacher, said that she hopes more people will recognize him for more than his intellect.

“He’s really an interesting person to talk to, and he can be someone who can support others. Just because he's smart, one shouldn't be intimidated,” she said.

Senior Aeden Kamadolli said he is grateful that Liu has always been there for him since they met in sophomore year.

“He's been a really stable friend in my life. During the pandemic, everyone realized who actually cared about them,” Kamadolli said.

“Frank has been a person who always makes sure that he checks in. He makes an effort to interact with me. He's always been present and really supportive as a friend.”

Considering all of the initiatives Liu has taken on in his high school years, Bernhard said that he has great potential to fundamentally impact society.

“People often use platitudes, and we say, ‘Oh, they're going to change the world,’” she said. “However, I can genuinely think that about Frank. He’s just the most capable person I've ever met.”

You were named one of the 300 scholars in the Regeneron contest. What was your research about?

The research I did most recently was about the Gauss-Epple homomorphism. The GaussEpple homomorphisms are a large family of mathematical objects. Each of these objects is a group homomorphism. They convert the elements of one mathematical group to elements of another group while preserving the group-theoretic structure. It's an algorithm where you put in a blade, which is a bunch of strings that tangle around each other from top to bottom. Then you get a series of complex numbers, and I showed that this object has nice mathematical properties.

What was the Regeneron contest like?

It's this giant form which looks extremely similar to a college application. I filled that out and waited a little, and I was sent a letter of recognition. I got invited to a virtual event called the "Regeneron STS Scholar Gathering." There, I attended some remarks by Maya Ajmera, who is the CEO of the Society for Science, and George Yancopoulos, who is the Co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer of the Regeneron company. After that, we went into breakout rooms and spoke about who we were as people and what our projects were about.

Why do you enjoy math?

I like how math is unambiguous. Like the fact that when you have a question like one plus one, the answer is always two. I also think I really like to think about things from a logical, analytical point of view.

Do you plan to pursue math in the future?

I am not going to be just a mathematician. One thing I know about the world of math is that the demand for people who just are familiar with math is very small, but the demand for people who can combine the understanding of math with other subjects is very high. In particular, computer science is both an exciting field and a field that is very related to math. So speculatively, I think that I am likely to do something related to math and computer science.

THE COMMON APPLICATION

page 18 | features

the lion's roar

The Roar follows three seniors with different interests as they navigate the college application process and will reveal their identities and college plans as they make their decisions

By Sarah Feinberg

graphics by Emily Zhang

After weeks of packing and practicing pieces for in-person auditions across the country, Zoe* completed over 16 auditions, each involving monologue, dance, interview and singing portions.

With Baldwin Wallace, Pennsylvania State and Syracuse Universities as her top choices, Zoe said that she enjoyed learning about the schools through auditions.

“The energy of the room [was] a blessing. It's nice to see people that I've only met on Zoom for the past two years in person at auditions,” she said.

While theater programs release rejection letters over the next several months, acceptances aren’t sent until mid-March.

Zoe said that although the waiting period can be discouraging, it’s important to maintain a strong mindset.

“It’s a mental game of not letting rejections get you,” she said. “It's [about] not attaching your hard work, your personality or your talent to rejections and focusing on the schools that care about you.”

When balancing applications and school work becomes overwhelming, Zoe said that prioritizing is vital.

“There's so much to do at this stage in the process, especially for [Bachelor of Fine Arts applicants], so think about what's most important and take the time you need to be mentally okay.”

Evan* was accepted to the Art Institute of Chicago, Northeastern University, Parsons School of Design and Pratt Institute and was deferred from the University of Michigan. He said that he appreciates connecting with peers going through similar roller coasters of emotions.

“It's nice to talk with my fellow seniors and know that they're all going through the same thing,” he said. “In senior commons, there’s a rejection board where you can put up your rejections and give support to people who have gone through that as well. It's nice to be in the same boat as others.”

After completing around 15 pieces for his portfolio, Evan said that he creates his best work by remaining true to his identity.

“I hit my stride in terms of what I wanted to express,” he said. “Don't look at what anyone else is doing because you're going to be the most creative if you follow your interests.”

As Evan approaches the end of his college application journey, he said that he’s excited to expand his creativity in a college setting.

“These schools have a lot more equipment and resources as well as like-minded people who want to major in this subject,” he said. “I'm excited to learn a lot of new things and push myself in that interest.”

Jared*, accepted to the University of Colorado Boulder, Worcester Polytechnic Institute and University of Massachusetts Amherst, deferred from the University of Michigan and rejected from Georgia Institute of Technology, will hear from Carnegie Mellon and Cornell Universities and Rochester Institute of Technology in April. Although rejections are discouraging, he said he is excited about his accepted schools’ offerings.

“Boulder has a beautiful campus. There's hiking and skiing all year round, and the big mountains that you hear about are only an hour and a half away,” he said. “On top of that, their engineering program has a lot of research and development.”

After completing several college interviews, Jared said that it is important for students to stay genuine to themselves.

“Remember that you're just having a conversation with another person so that they can get to know you better.”

As students receive their college admission decisions, Jared said that despite the stress that comes with the anticipation, maintaining a positive attitude is key to enjoying senior year.

“Try to stay relaxed,” he said. “We'll all end up in a good spot no matter which way we go.” *names changed to protect students' identities

Twins at South: A "built-in best friend" Alyssa Chen

Features Reporter Telepathic, identical, and able to finish each other’s sentences — there are endless misconceptions about twins. Seniors Jasper and Theo Datta said they are often surprised to receive strange questions.

“I don't know if this is a big misconception, but four people this month have asked if me and Theo sleep in the same bed, and I don't understand that. We’re both over six feet tall,” Jasper said. “I don’t know what bed would fit both of us and I don’t know why people would assume that we would sleep in the same room or bed.”

In other respects, there are many challenges that arise from having a built-in best friend, especially in terms of individuality.

For juniors Addie and Dylan Shanahan, being a twin has emphasized the importance of being able to work both together and apart in different situations.

“I feel like we build off each other in a positive way,” Addie said.“We have a symbiotic relationship.”

Though the unbreakable bond that comes with being a twin may seem like a dream come true to many, freshman Aoba Fujita said that people tend to not see her for herself.

“When I'm with somebody that I just met, they think that we’re one person [rather than] two different people,” Aoba said.

Theo and Jasper said that twins often have to change aspects of themselves in order to avoid being grouped together.

“When you're twins, there's always that instinct to differentiate yourself from the other person so that you have your own lived experience,” Theo said.

“You have this weird right to differentiate yourself even when it's unnecessary,” Jasper said. “[Sometimes] it creates a lot of conflict or self-doubt.”

Even when twins are recognized as individuals, the comparative focus of conversation can be divisive. Natsumi said that the ongoing clash caused by such language in academic settings has been frustrating.

“Teachers and parents always compare us,” Natsumi said.“In the parent-teacher conferences, my English teacher said I am suffering in English, [while Aoba is] not.”

1

On top of that, Aoba said that the challenges of being a twin can extend to additional financial challenges that stem from having a sibling who needs the same things at the same time. “[Say] you have to buy a computer or something,” Aoba said.“If you're not a twin, then your parents [see it as] one computer. When you’re twins, [you] gotta buy two computers.

So money wise, it can sometimes get kind of complicated.”

On a more personal scale, the dynamics between twins isn’t perfect all the time; Jasper

From left: 1. Natsumi and Aoba Fujita 2. Jasper and Theo Datta 3. Dylan and Addie Shanahan

photo contributed by Aoba and Natsumi Fujita

3

2

photo contributed by Jasper and Theo Datta

photo contributed by Addie and Dylan Shanahan

said that he and Theo have not always gotten along.

“We've had rocky patches, especially in middle school because everyone's a menace.

Everyone hates everyone else and themselves,” Jasper said.

He said that since he and Theo had to rely on their immediate family for social interaction during the COVID-19 lockdown, they got a chance to grow closer in different aspects.

“Over quarantine and high school, [our relationship] has deepened a lot because we've worked with each other in a lot of areas and we've also figured out how to support each other,” he said.

While he and Theo have common friends, Jasper said that their close friends and social groups differ.

“As people, we've developed different groups of friends,” Jasper said. “We're both friends with each other's friends, but the people who we are closest to are different as time has grown on. We want different things in terms of socialization.”

Still, no matter how much they may change, Addie said that nothing can change the fact that she and her brother have spent the majority of their lives together.

“We do everything together. When I tell family stories I always say ‘we’ instead of ‘I’ because I’m always with [Dylan],” she said.

In that sense, there’s a fine balance between individualism and being a package deal, Theo said.

“Recently, I was talking to people that [I] hadn't talked to for almost all of high school … and when they talked to me [they were like] ‘you're one of the Dattas,’” Theo said. “Maybe we are understood as different people, but we're still the Dattas together.”

page 19

February 15, 2022

SPORTS issuu.com/thelionsroar

Volume 38, Issue 6

Nordic Ski : A family Nordic Ski team fosters an accepting community for athletes of all levels

By Marisa MacDonald

A

pproaching the final turn, cross-country skiers strain their muscles for one last push, and for some, giving up feels likely.

However, with one look at the huge crowd cheering their names, it’s easy to push through to the finish line knowing that there are teammates waiting on the other side.

That community is the best part about Nordic Ski, junior Oona Helenius said.

“This is so cliche, but people get surprised about how supportive it is,” she said. “While you're skiing, whenever you pass someone, you always cheer each other on, no matter what.

That’s a community that you just want to come back to.”

The team has recently seen a dramatic increase in membership, doubling in size in merely two years. Captain junior Ben Modiano said that this could be due to the quick-to-learn nature of the sport — many who join have little to no crosscountry skiing experience.

Modiano said that three days a week, the team travels to a ski track in Weston for practices and races, where experienced skiers help teach the inexperienced skiers the basics.

On Nordic Ski, the decision to race and at which level is entirely up to the skier. Junior Sylvie Nguyen said this allowed her to compete in her first race just two weeks after learning to ski.

Sophomore Gabe Lieberman said he began participating in more competitive varsity races a few weeks into the season, a stressful choice that the team made easy.

“I was having a tough time deciding what I wanted to do because I felt nervous about the varsity race,” he said. “But a lot of my other teammates were really supportive of me and made sure that I knew that I would do well and that they would be helpful either way.”

Captain junior Mariel Shapiro said that rather than encouraging her teammates to reach a set mileage or exact time,

she emphasizes dedication and effort, especially during dryland endurance training, a pre-season workout that combines running, core and weight training.

“Some people love running, and some don’t. We just try and ask everyone to do what they can and give us what they have, and people usually do and get better,” she said.

The team’s judgment-free environment rooted in its diversity of skill levels allows for students at every point in their athletic journey to feel respected, Nguyen said.

“Even though I don't like running, Mariel made it fun,” she said. “[She] let us know when she didn't want to run and then we could feel comfortable telling her the same.”

There’s truly a space for everyone: for full-time runners, Nordic offers a break from intense running seasons, integrating that same heavy cardio and endurance into different types of workouts to prevent overexertion injuries.

Helenius said that Nordic’s relaxed atmosphere was the selling point for her and many of her track teammates. Last year, she tried Nordic during the Fall II season and returned this year, foregoing her indoor track season.

“I needed something to do after school and one of my friends just suggested, ‘Hey, let's join a sports team,’ and so we joined Nordic,” she said.“It's nice to take a little bit of a break for injury prevention, but it was mainly the team dynamic, especially since I found that the team was so captivating.”

Junior Abby Kutin previously competed on the indoor track team, and she said that the constant positive environment sets Nordic Ski apart from other teams.

“It doesn’t have the same cutthroat competitiveness that I'm used to. Everybody's really happy and always wants to cheer me on,” she said.

Helenius said that it’s the races that stand out to her, when the entire team is proud of each other for finishing, no

matter the places.

“Everyone just congratulates each other after every single race. If someone races better than you, you really feel happy for the other person. There are no harsh feelings ever,” she said.

No one embodies this Nordic ski spirit more than its leader, coach Jeff Riklin, who joined the team 12 years ago without much knowledge on how to coach or compete in the sport. Many attribute the build-up of Nordic Ski's community to Riklin.

By ensuring that every person on the team understands that they are valued members, regardless of their race times or league standing, Riklin said that his priority will always be for his athletes to have fun skiing and being with each other while developing confidence in themselves.

“People say to me, ‘Riklin, you don't put any pressure on us. All you really want us to do is ski and have fun,’ and I think that's why people come out,” he said.

Kutin said that Riklin’s dedication to connecting with each and every skier completes the team. “[He] makes sure that he knows something personal about everyone,” she said. “While I'm racing, he always tells me that I should be smiling and having a good time because that's what's most important.”

Riklin said that his favorite moment from his Nordic coaching career occurred last season, on a random weeknight at the end of practice.

“We were skiing down the moguls and scoring each other on our [jump] scores,” he said. “One of the other coaches from another school came up to me and said, ‘Riklin, what are you doing?’ And I said, ‘We're going down moguls and we're having fun.’ She goes,‘That's skiing practice? That's what's important to you?’ And I said, ‘Yeah, that's what's important to me.’ Because that's what we’re all about.”

Teammates cheer for junior Sebastian Grob during a race

Coach Riklin gives junior Lily Paltrowitz pre-race tips

Juniors Jackie Holt and Clare Tourtelotte are all smiles

photos courtesy of Margot Madison

page 20 | sports

the lion's roar

COLLEGE COMMITS

Sports Editor Joyce Lee spoke with three athletes who have committed to playing sports in college

Elisabeth Nesta Denison University, swimming

Garrett Jacunski Denison University, track & field and XC

Sylvie Spitz Harvard University, rowing

“[The Denison coach] gave me an offer in our conversation that we had when we were first meeting face-to-face. The next day I called, and I was like, ‘I want to go here, I want to go here, I want to go here!’ … Knowing that I'm going to love a school and also being able to continue my athletic career and continue to strive towards my goals, academically and athletically, has been really exciting for me.”

“Once I applied early decision, I knew I was in, and that was a big stress reliever. That aspect of running and being on the team was definitely a big help for me when it came to the application process. … Some advice would probably be not to really overthink it. At least for track athletes, as long as you run the times you want and get the goals you want, you're going to be fine.”

“One thing that really helped me that I couldn't have gotten recruited without was making connections with coaches. … It kind of had a domino effect. One coach is friends with another coach, and they all talk. … In the future, when I really want something, I’ll just be consistent about it, even when it gets hard. …

If I hadn't done that, a lot of stuff would have fallen through.”

John Madden's legacy: More than a game Zach Rhein and John Timko Sports Reporters

I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve sunk into the couch, controller in hand and eyes narrowed at the screen as “Madden” loaded. The National Football League (NFL) video game transports me to a virtual football world where I can stand proudly on the field as a player for the New England Patriots, my team of choice. If it’s a good day, I lead my team to victory as a head coach, or build a lineup of superstars as a general manager.

We, as players, focus on Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes’ glowering stares on its cover, but forget about the legend for whom the game is named: John Madden.

Madden, arguably the most influential figure in football, passed away on Dec. 28, 2021. He may be gone, but his years as a coach and broadcaster, as well as his video game, have left

a lasting impression that spans generations.

Madden spent nine years as the head coach of the Oakland Raiders, where his team won 75% of their regular season games.

In 1969, after his very first season, Madden won the American Football League Coach of the Year award as the youngest head coach in the league. He went on to coach his team to six American Football Conference Championship Game appearances and a Super Bowl victory in 1976.

Despite having coached only 10 seasons, a tenure incomparable to the likes of other legendary NFL coaches, Madden was the youngest to reach 100 regular season wins, and he recorded more wins than losses in every season. Nearly 45 years later, he still holds the Raiders’ franchise record for the most wins as a head coach.

It wasn’t just Madden’s coaching accomplishments that made him the icon he was and still is. Over his 30-year career as a broadcaster, he lent his infectious energy to moments on the

photo courtesy of NBC News

Madden gives a speech at his enshrinement ceremony and induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2006

Madden’s dedication to making the most realistic experience for video game players is a large reason for the continued popularity of "Madden" field and was the first American sports commentator to utilize the Telestrator. This technology allows one to sketch on top of a video or photograph, and thanks to Madden’s pioneering mind, it is now commonplace in sports reporting, making complex plays more accessible to the audiences following along at home.

He called games for ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC, calling at least one Super Bowl for each network. He won 16 Emmy awards from 1982 to 2009, and his record of legendary calls has turned his voice into one of the most celebrated in broadcasting history, recognized by football fans of all ages.

In 1984, Electronic Arts (EA) Sports founder Trip Hawkins approached Madden, seeking the Hall of Fame coach’s support in the production of an NFL video game. Madden had some notes, demanding that EA Sports change their plan for 7 vs.

7 gameplay to the typical 11 vs. 11 structure of real NFL games.

Madden wouldn’t put his name on any game short of authenticity; the game even featured his actual 1980 Raiders playbook. Madden’s dedication to making the most realistic experience for video game players is a large reason for the continued popularity of “Madden,” with versions released annually since 1990.

Madden is one of the most beloved figures in football history. From old-timers who remember his coaching days, to our parents who remember his legendary broadcasting career, to us and millions of children around the world who turn on their Xbox, PlayStation or iPhone every day to play along and learn about the game of football, it is safe to say that few people have impacted as many people as Madden did.

So next time you pull out your console to play “Madden,” think about the man behind this game and the way you view football. Think about the impact that one man had on the game of football, and appreciate his greatness.

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sports | page 21

Later end times impact student-athletes Tate Slater

Sports Reporter After practice, student-athletes grab their belongings and head outside. They have different ways of getting home: some drive themselves, some take the bus and some get a ride from a friend or a parent or guardian. Those who wait do so in the dark during the winter months, and many gather near the breezeway.

With the school day’s later start time and irregular practice end times, sports practices and games are ending later, subsequently causing athletes to get home later than ever before. In past years, many arrived home from practice around 5 p.m., but this year’s 9 a.m. start time, as compared to the 7:40 a.m. start in previous years, has shifted arrival times to around 6-7 p.m.

For many athletes, the late end time has impacted their personal lives and presented transportation challenges.

Wrestling coach Alan Rotatori said that the school’s current schedule has added complexity to the bus schedule.

“Our school schedule has been pushed later, which pushes the transportation for most of our competitions in the middle of rush hour traffic,” he said. “So any away competition that we have, we have to keep that in mind and add more time to that commute because we're going to be getting stuck in traffic,” Rotatori said.

Paxton Boyd, a sophomore on the boys

basketball team, said that it is difficult to plan around bus schedules. The junior varsity team practices at Brown Middle School, so Boyd has a tight window of time to get back to South to make the late bus.

“I usually have to run back over to South in order to catch the 6:45 p.m. bus because my practice ends at 6:30 p.m.,” Boyd said.

In some cases, buses just are not convenient enough. Rotatori said when the wrestling

team had a tournament in Woburn, it was easier for everyone to get their own ride there than to organize a bus.

Freshman swimmer Sara Volpe said that because practices take place at North and the school does not offer a bus, she has to rely on her family to drive her. Transport to daily practices requires much of her family’s free time and irregular practice end times adds to the general inconvenience, Sara’s father Greg Volpe said.

photo by Rebecca Dozortsev

Senior Savannah Bell, member of the track and cheer teams, waits in the breezeway

“If I drive her twice, it's an hour, so I’d say [it’s] about two hours per week [of driving to and from sports],” Volpe said. “It's inconsistent for me to take her all the time, at different times.”

When Caroline Hoban, captain senior of the girls basketball team, gets home, it's already 8 p.m. and she hasn't even begun her homework, which often keeps her up until midnight, she said.

She is not alone in this experience of having limited free time. Freshman cross country and track runner Alex Friedman said because practices end late, he doesn't often get a lot of time to himself during the season.

The later end times also make it harder for athletes to eat dinner with their families, Rotatori said.

“It's not convenient at all, for any of these kids,” he said.“These days, by statistics, only one in four, 25% of our population, actually have sit down dinner with their families on a regular basis. That's a terrible statistic,” Rotatori said.

“I’m a big fan of having kids be able to do their extracurricular activities after school and still be home to have dinner with their families.

I think that's important,” he said.

Looking ahead to the spring season, Rotatori, who will be the assistant coach on the boys lacrosse team, said that even with longer days, the late end time will still impact field availability as he plans for the season.

“In the beginning of April, it's still going to be dark at 6:15 p.m. … We're gonna have to go to the only field that we have lights on,” he said.

Making a splash both on and off the field Rebecca Stotsky Sports Editor

If you had asked me four years ago at the start of high school what I would be doing as an extracurricular or hobby, I would have likely told you my plan consisted of trying all the available sports at South, from the familiar — soccer and basketball — to the new — track and tennis. But I soon learned that sometimes, what you expect in life does not always go exactly as you plan.

For some context, I’ve played sports for a large part of my life, mainly soccer and basketball. I don’t know exactly why these sports in particular, but I always felt a certain pull to the field and the court, a place where it was just me and the ball, and my only concern was to score the most points. I played soccer and basketball for 12 and 11 years, respectively.

It was through playing soccer and basketball after school that I made my first friends — close bonds formed through shared experiences, as well as our shared love of sports. Whether it was playing five to six days a week or watching the Premier League on the weekends, sports effectively took up my entire life.

On my teams, I pushed myself hard; being the smallest player on every one of my teams, I always wanted to prove myself and showcase my skills. Ultimately, I pushed myself a little too hard and injured my knee in 2018. I healed my injury by going to physical therapy where I worked on strengthening my knee and body.

Upon returning to soccer my freshman year on the junior varsity team, my knee pain returned. I went back to physical therapy and repeated the same process of healing my knee, but after two years of this back-and-forth

physical therapy, I was tired of being injured and of not having a resolution.

Not long after, I saw a surgeon and was scheduled for an operation and had knee surgery in 2019. I spent the next few weeks hobbling around on crutches and within a few weeks, I was back at physical therapy. After four months of going through the process of building up my knee strength once again, I had recovered.

I found myself at a crossroads between returning to sports or finding new interests.

Following my recovery, I began to reflect on my recent years of playing soccer, thinking about the time I’d spent recovering, the highly competitive nature of the sport and my intentions with the sport in the future. I finally realized that it was time to let it go.

Now posed with the task of finding new interests, I tried as many clubs as I could. I continued to apply myself with the same dedication as I had with soccer and basketball, but I struggled to connect to the topics of the clubs and feel the same joy that others had for these clubs, so I continued to seek a space where I could be passionate and involved.

For years, a friend had been telling me about The Lion's Roar, and during lockdown, I decided to give it a try. It was an opportunity to improve my writing skills, reach out to new people and see my work printed in a newspaper.

As I looked through the sections, only one sparked my interest: the sports section.

My first article was a collaborative piece with my section editor on the new stadium lights, and ever since that Sept. 2020 issue, I haven’t stopped writing. I could at last combine my passion for sports with my interest in writing, and I was excited to explore sports from a much broader lens, meet new people and hear unique stories from countless peers, coaches

and community members.

Rather than just focusing on one sport or team at South, I could engage with several.

I have gotten the chance to write articles about former student-athletes who continued playing sports in college, teams live-streaming their games and even recaps of sports seasons.

After a year of writing as a reporter, I became an editor for the sports section and for the past year, I have helped manage the section with two co-editors, writing and overseeing articles and designing pages for the paper.

As I now finish my last issue and look back on my experiences, I am so grateful for my time writing for Roar these past two years.

Though evidently with some challenges of deadlines and perfecting designs, the welcoming community, enduring friendships and shared memories from paste-ups and meetings have added a splash of joy and purpose to my time in high school. I don’t know where my interests and writing will lead me next, but I know I will always have a place in the sports section and at Roar.

photo contributed by Rebecca Stotsky

Stotsky dribbles the ball down the field for her Newton Girls Soccer team in 2014

the lion's roar

sports | page 22

grap hic b y

Julie Wan g

Bing Dwen Dwen is the mascot for this year’s Games. “Bing” has several meanings, though the most common is ice. The word also symbolizes purity and strength, while “Dwen Dwen” means robust and lively.

Beijing 2022 The Winter Olympics started on Feb. 4 and will end on Feb. 20.

By Julia Lee and Grace Grabowski

Athletes to Look Out For

A

photo courtesy of Sports Illustrated

Women's monobob is a new event

photo courtesy of Channel News Asia

Eileen Gu wins gold in big air freestyle skiing

New Events to Watch

T

he 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, held 102 events. This year, seven new events were added: women’s monobob, mixed team aerials in freestyle skiing, men’s big air in freestyle skiing, women’s big air skiing, mixed team relay in short-track speed skating, mixed team event in ski jumping and mixed team snowboarding cross. According to the Olympics website, “To increase gender equality at the Games, mixed events have become a core element of the Olympic program.”

Four of the nine mixed team events on the program are new to the Olympics. The snowboard cross mixed event began on Feb. 12 and was the first event to feature teams of one man and one woman. The men raced the course first, and once they passed the finish line, their partner’s gate opened at the top of the course,

midst the many precautions China has implemented in hopes of curbing the spread of COVID-19, one thing remains: the abundance of incredibly talented athletes.

Shaun White, the iconic 35-year-old snowboarder who won gold in the last Olympics, has returned to Team U.S.A. to defend his medal in his fifth and final Olympics.

In an interview with Good Morning America, he said that his last Olympics feels bittersweet: “I’ve got this last dance sort of glow to it.”

Joining White on the United States snowboarding team is 18-year-old Dusty Henrickson, who is competing in the slopestyle event. Henrickson brings with him experience to his first Olympics with a gold medal finish in the 2020 Winter Youth Olympics.

Also competing for Team U.S.A. is figure skater Timothy Leduc, who is the first openly non-binary athlete to compete at a Winter Olympic Games.

In a press conference with CNN, Leduc said,“My hope is that the narrative shifts more to queer people [being] open and successful in sports. We've always been here, we've always been a part of sports. We just haven't always been able to be open.”

Leduc is competing in the pairs free-skate event with partner Ashley Cain-Gribble. This is the duo’s first Olympics.

Formidable opponents to Leduc and Cain-Gribble are China’s Sui Wenjing and Han Cong, who have been competing together for 15 years since the ages 12 and 14.

The pair currently holds two gold and three silver World Championship medals and is looking for a comeback after losing by just .43 points to settle for a silver medal at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games.

Keep an eye out for these athletes, who are just a few of the thousands of athletes from around the globe, representing their home countries in Beijing with hopes of bringing home the gold.

Shaun White, a snowboarder for Team USA, won gold at the 2018 Olympics. This will be White's last Olympic Games. photo courtesy of All Time News

creating a staggered start. The course consisted of bumps, sharp turns and jumps.

Monobob is another new event, where a single woman pushes, drives and breaks her sled during her run. In previous Olympics, men competed in both four and two-person sleds, while women competed in only two-person sleds. This year, the Olympics has added the monobob event exclusively for female athletes.

On the other hand, freeski big air will be an event for both men and women. Similar to the snowboard big air event, which made its debut at the 2018 Games, athletes go off a big jump while completing tricks.

The Beijing Winter Olympics looks different this year due to COVID-19, but it is a focal point to watch as these events make their historic debuts during the ever-changing social and political state of the Games.

This is 18-year-old Dusty Henrickson's first Olympic Games.

Henrickson is a rising star in the snowboard slopestyle race. photo courtesy of Unofficial Networks

Wenjing and Cong perform their program photo courtesy of Business Insider

photo courtesy of NBC News

Leduc and Cain-Gribble represent U.S.A.

issuu.com/thelionsroar

fun | page 23

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Fun fact: the first crossword puzzle ever was published in the New York World in 1913

ACROSS

DOWN 1. Famed American football coach and sports commentator who passed away in December, John ____ 3. Signed into law in Dec. 2019, this force is the most recent branch of the U.S. military 4. More commonly used word to describe dizygotic twins 6. South senate recently introduced a bill for more ______ Spaces 9. _____ Tomatoes. Pizza chain with connections to South. Its antonym is Sour Potatoes 11. One of two South ski teams, this sport competes in cross-country skiing

1. Which famous Civil Rights Activist is honored on the third Monday of January?

(Name abbreviated) 2. Legendary NFL footballer who recently retired. Tom ______ 5. Bing Dwen Dwen, the mascot of the 2022 Winter Olympics, is what type of animal?

6. Greek letter after Omicron. An irrational number celebrated on March 14 ______ 7. First name of the famous Dutch artist whose work is currently on display in Boston 8. New app that texts you when your teacher is out 10. Frank Liu and Joshua Guo were both named top 300 scholars of this prestigious award, the ____ Science Talent Search

Answers: Down: Madden, Space, Fraternal, Prayer, Sweet, Nordic Across: MLK, Brady, Panda, Pi, Vincent, abSENT, Regeneron

Editors work hard during a Feb. 6 pasteup. Photo by Becky Dozortsev.

Behind the Scenes An exclusive look into the mysterious workings of room 1201

Ellyssa and Siya being quirky and silly and goofy on Eva's phone

Siya and Lily getting in those last minute proofs

Today's Roaroscope Look to the stars!

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Pro tip: buy a flamethrower if you want a quick and easy way to clear up the snow in your driveway.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20): It's almost your birthday — get mentally prepared to relive the most embarrassing photos of your awkward middle school phase on your friends’ Instagram stories.

k l a b

Aries (March 21-April 19): Didn’t get the Wordle today? That’s embarrassing.

Taurus (April 20-May 20): Slayboss your bio class and pull up in your best Euphoria High School fit :))))

c d e j

Gemini (May 21- June 20): Today you will be blessed with a chocolate chip muffin in your muffin meal.

Cancer (June 21- July 22): Get on that sigma grind! No, not the sigma male grind, you silly goose! I mean get onto your sigma notation math homework due last week.

Leo (July 23- Aug. 22): The season of carrying around a gigantic puffer jacket with you all day will soon be replaced by the season where it's simultaneously too hot to wear a hoodie and too cold to wear short sleeves Virgo (Aug. 23- Sept. 22): Looking for a furry friend? Robert the Rat is lonely and lurking in the hallways.

Libra (Sept. 23- Oct. 22): Tomorrow morning you’ll be blessed with finding that one seat on the bus behind the heater. Prepare for a toasty butt.

Scorpio (Oct. 23- Nov. 21): You're the type of person to take selfies on Photomath.

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Sagittarius (Nov. 22- Dec. 21): Looking for a bit of exercise while you eat lunch? Sit in literally any hallway and you’ll be guaranteed to get kicked out!

Capricorn (Dec. 22- Jan. 19): Feeling down about not having a Valentine?

Turn to page 11 for a few giggles and a little less heartbreak.

The League of Women Voters of Newton (LWVN) is offering two $1,000 scholarships to any graduating High School senior who will pursue post-high school education, and is either a resident of Newton, MA or attends school in Newton, MA. Successful applicants will have a strong interest in civic engagement.

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/ m a r g o r p ip h s r a l Visit: o h c s vn w l / g r o . n to w n! e o i N t a V m r W L o f / n i / : ht tps for more