Little Hawk Feature Magazine

LITTLE HAWK

4-5

Whit Jury Profile

Esther Puderbaugh

6-7

Roblox Feature

Yomi Hemley, Sadie Bodzin, Kate Meis

8-9

New Jeans: The New Standard

Wisdom Konu

10-11

Q&A with Adam Zabner

Tai Caputo

12-13

UCSB: On the Inside

Hattie Conover

14-15 16

Food feature

Lauren Koch

Spring Word Search

Greta Hayek

Letter from the Editors

What’s up little hawks! Thanks so much for tuning in to this issue of the feature mag. We all put a lot of hard work and effort into making this mag even better than the last! In our first feature story, Esther Puderbaugh writes about the lack of menstrual products in school and how it affects students across the district. In our next big feature story, Matisse Arnone writes about the Bywater family, who has gone to City High for 5 generations! To make this mag even more special for all of you we have included valentines elements and our annual CUTEST couple contest! So make sure to scan the QR on page 20 to vote for -your favorite City High couple. We have a series of CRAZY yummy food features and SUPER fun Valentine’s day activities! Thanks for reading Little Hawks and see you next issue!

-Yomi (he/him) and Hattie (she/her) (Feature Editor? I hardly know her!)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

4-9 10-13

Period Poverty City High: It’s In the Family

14-15

16-17

18

19

20-21

Recipes Ads Valentine’s Day History Valentine’s Day Crossword Cutest Couple

22-23 24

PHOTO BY MOLLY SAVAGE

PHOTO BY LILI MOESSNER

PHOTO BY MOLLY SAVAGE

Letter From the Editors

What’s up, Little Hawks?

Does that sound familiar? It’s probably because your favorite feature editors have been dabbling in the world of meteorology anchoring LH Weather Reports along with putting in our best work in the mag. We decided to do something different for the mag in this issue. We had some of our Little Hawk staff members who would mainly do newspapers, designing some magazine pages. It has been incredible to see the talent of every member of our staff from drafting to final cuts and we are so proud to be able to show you all this issue. Special shout to our opinion/A&E editor Esther Puderbaugh on her incredible feature of

Whit Jury, Wisdom Konu, our culture editor, on his fashion review of New Jeans, Tai Caputo on her great work on a Q&A with Adam Zabner, and finally, Lauren Koch our executive editor on a mouthwatering shrimp and orzo pasta food feature. We want to say thank you to everyone who contributed, and as always, thank you to our readers. And finally, a fun fact, no one knows how eels reproduce and they have no reproductive organs.

Stay safe, Little Hawks

Yomi Hemley (He/him)

Hattie

Conover (She/her)

Avra & Erica Lauer enjoy the second trimester art show.

PHOTO BY ALYSSA MAIERS

Tiffany Jackson speaks to a student audience during author visit.

PHOTO BY DIEGO LORIA-EIVINS

Mamma Mia characters preforming for musical crew.

PHOTO BY ESTHER PUDERBAUGH

Will Ferrell and John Bacon walking City High hallways.

PHOTO BY NATALIE KUHLMANN

Period Poverty

At City

Inside Efforts to Improve Access to and Destigmatize the Need for Period Products

By Esther Puderbaugh

THE CITY CONNECTION

Every other Tuesday morning, City High student Jennie Gidal ‘23 sells baked goods in the main foyer in exchange for menstrual products or cash donations. This

is Tampon Tuesday, which Gidal is head of. It is an effort by students, sponsored by Student Senate, to provide free period products in school restrooms through student donations. According to Gidal, Tampon Tuesday not only exists to provide free menstrual products in the restrooms but also to destigmatize periods.

“[Tampon Tuesday] exists to supply all the tampons and menstrual products in the bathrooms for students who may not have access to them at home or just those people who may have forgotten one at home,” Gidal said. “But [it] also exists to normalize talking about periods and menstrual products and the need for them because it is definitely a necessity.”

Gidal first got involved in the group last year.

“I first learned about Tampon Tuesday my junior year of high school and I learned about it from my friend,” Gidal said. “She was running it and it seemed like such a good cause.”

Gidal had always been curious about where the period products in the school restrooms came from, and has since found a calling being involved in the group.

“I always wondered where the tampons in the bathrooms came from. And when I started helping [my friend] do [Tampon Tuesday], it felt like I was actually making a difference in both ways by supplying the tampons in the bathroom and also just let-

ting people know [about] and normalizing periods,” Gidal said.

According to the 2021 State of the Period, a national survey of American teenage students conducted by PERIOD and Thinx, the pandemic has further exacerbated period poverty among students with 23% of students facing struggles when it comes to affording necessary menstrual hygiene products. And, according to a recent survey of City High students, 57% of respondents said

that they used the period products supplied by Tampon Tuesday, while 60% said they knew students who used the products.

“It’s definitely bittersweet,” Gidal said of the statistics. “It makes me really happy that people are actually using the products that we supply in the bathroom but it also makes me sad that so many people have to rely on [the products from Tampon Tuesday], that it’s our job to make that happen, and [that] the school district isn’t helping.”

In years past students have tried to get district administration’s attention about the issue of period product availability at City.

“Last year, there were a couple of students who communicated with the administration and the school board to [try to] get funding for products for our school directly,” Student Body Co-President Mary Cate Pugh ‘23 said. “They said ‘Oh, they’re provided in the health office’ but that wasn’t really what we were going for. We wanted them in the

menstrual hygiene products or other neces

sities such as food or clothing. Furthermore, according to the same study, almost half of form their best in school because of the lack ing free period supplies in school restrooms is venience. It’s like ‘Oh, I forgot it. Oh, well, I have some at home’,” Pugh said. “But for sue, because they do not have the funds to ing for them at home. Students need to feel like they’re taken care of here [and] we can’t just assume that they have the money to buy them because they’re expensive.”

According to the survey of City students, 9% of respondents have missed school because of lack of products. Furthermore, 58% of respondents have been late to class because of product accessibility issues. This is a large concern of Pugh’s.

“If they don’t have [period products], then students won’t come to school when they’re on [their period], and that causes a lot of absences,” Pugh said.

Overall, Pugh is thrilled that Tampon Tuesday has been successful with consistently providing products to students.

“Students are relying on what they have at school. And I think it’s great that Tampon

products that don’t have access to them. So we thought we would make that our pet project.”

For the first few years of supplying hygiene products in the music wing bathroom, the products were funded completely by Stucky-Swanson and Davenport. The products in the music wing bathroom are now majority funded by donations from orchestra families.

“[The products were funded by us] when we first started and all of last year,” Stucky-Swanson said. “But in the summer, I created an Amazon wishlist for the orchestra program and so I had lots of parents that

products for students who regularly use the Health Office’s products.

“We have some little makeup bags that are full, so if we see it’s the same students [who] come in and get them on a regular basis we’ll say ‘hey do you need some?’,” Wilkes said.

Erin Partridge ‘24 believes that the accessibility of period products at City has been improved by having products in the restrooms.

“I think [access to period products at City is] pretty good but I think most of that is due to the Tampon Tuesday people and not the school itself,” Partridge said.

Partridge believes that for the school to

Tuesday has become so reliable that students know it’s a resource and that they can use them,” Pugh said.

The concern about period product accessibility is shared by City High Orchestra Director Megan Stucky-Swanson.

“A couple years ago, Mrs. Davenport, the old Music Secretary and I thought that the women’s bathroom across our hall had wasted space and we wanted to make a little bit nicer area for the students,” Stucky-Swanson said. “And there’s a lot of women that need

donated.”

Stucky-Swanson has been happy to help provide menstrual products for students.

“Not everybody has access to them so I feel like it’s something that I can do to help make somebody’s day a little bit easier,” Stucky-Swanson said. “So worth it.”

In addition to the district providing products to any student who walks into the Health Office and getting a yearly donation of products from OB-GYN students, School Nurse Suzi Wilkes makes makeup bags with

make menstrual products as accessible as possible it is necessary to provide them in all restrooms.

“I think the school should provide menstrual supplies in all bathrooms and not just in the health office because it can be uncomfortable to ask,” Partridge said. “Emphasis on all the bathrooms because I have friends who don’t feel comfortable going in the women’s bathrooms but need menstrual products.”

ART BY ROSANGEL FLORES-RUBIO

THE ADMINISTRATIVE PERSPECTIVE

The ICCSD School Board has heard concerns from City students about the issue of period product availability in the bathrooms in the past.

“We have [heard from students in the past] and we know that [period products are] an ongoing issue,” said School Board Vice-President Lisa Williams. “We also know that the nurse’s office stocks those products, but it can sometimes be uncomfortable for students to go to the nurse’s office to get those and also [can be] inconvenient. Unfortunately, we also know that when we stock period products in some of the restrooms, some students take them and use them as they’re not intended to be used. And so it’s a difficult line for us to find where to put the products so that they’re accessible but also so that they’re being used as intended.”

According to Williams, the primary concern with stocking products in restrooms is misuse.

“I think misuse is really our primary concern. I don’t think that we have a financial barrier in stocking the restrooms with the products that students need,” Williams said.

Williams believes that lack of access to products shouldn’t be a barrier to learning.

“We’ve heard stories of how difficult the day can be for a student that doesn’t have access to products that they need,” Williams said. “And it’s a priority for us that that not be a barrier to learning.”

School Board President Ruthina Malone shares this sentiment.

“50% of our student population and our workforce would require some type of usage [of period products] at one point in time when they’re in our building,” Malone said. “We should not put students at risk to have an embarrassing moment because they couldn’t have the supplies that they need.”

Williams is supportive of policy change to get period products available in school restrooms.

“Absolutely [I am supportive of policy change],” Williams said. “If we can do so in a way that they’re being used as intended, and part of that may just be an education campaign for students - letting them know that it’s really important, why they’re in the bathrooms, what uses they’re for, respecting the intended use, and not abusing the products that are placed there for the benefit of the people that need them.”

Malone is also interested in addressing this issue in the future.

“[There] needs to be a way that we as a School District and/or community can rally together to take this need off the table for our students because it may sound small, but to someone in need is huge,” Malone said. “We have this huge need that we’re leaving up to our students to take care of other students. So as a district, I would hope that [there’s] a way for us to offset that need because [peri-

od] products aren’t cheap. Definitely something that as a District and as a Board that I would like to see us try and address.”

Looking to the Future

While Pugh is thrilled with the student response to Tampon Tuesday, she is going to keep pushing for district-level action on the issue of period poverty in schools.

“We’re not going to stop trying. There’re a lot of similar programs like Tampon Tuesday that’ve popped up around the state

so this issue has a lot of awareness,” Pugh said. “The Des Moines Register emailed me and I think a couple of other students about Tampon Tuesday, so the awareness is out there. And that’s the first step to actually being able to solve the problem and proving that having these products at our school are not posing any sort of issue.”

According to Pugh, City students have set a really good example of interacting with the products and fundraising for them.

“We are a really good example that students are not going to take these products and make fun of them or destroy them or throw them around,” Pugh said. “It was actually really awesome how respectful City High students were and how we all kind of came together to contribute. It’s a good way for students to come together on an issue that we all know is real, and we all can help.”

Pugh and Gidal are working together on next steps to garner district-level action on the issue. These next steps include mapping out spending and product use to create a cost per student estimate. According to Free the Tampon, an advocacy group that works to implement free period products at the state level, funding products for students would cost an estimated $5-$7 a year per student.

“We’re working to create a very detailed plan of how many tampons or pads we’re using each week, this is how much money we spend,” Pugh said. “[We’re working] to create something to present to the school board that’s very detailed and looks very doable because I think right now it looks kind of murky. Just like showing them that this is an inexpensive problem. It does not take much to supply these products. And if we can show them exactly how much we need, then I think they’re more likely to consider it.”

95% of survey respondents believe that getting funding from the ICCSD for products in City restrooms would be helpful. This sentiment is shared by Gidal. However, she also believes that organizations like Tampon Tuesday still would have a place at City to keep the discussion around periods alive.

“I think [funding from the district] would be very beneficial for making sure everyone gets what they need,” Gidal said. “I do think Tampon Tuesday is definitely necessary to keep periods talked about and the need for menstrual products talked about. Period poverty is real.”

ART BY ROSANGEL FLORES-RUBIO

CITY HIGH:

It’s In the Family

By Matisse Arnone

On Saturday mornings in the months of January and February, Adam Bywater ‘23 typically gets to school before the crack of dawn. He arrives so early on these cold winter days because he is a drummer in show choir combo which performs with the show choirs at competitions across the state around this time of year. Adam participates in several other band-related activities such as jazz band and marching band, and is also a varsity runner for the cross country team. His connections with City High school stretch much further back than his fall of freshman year in 2019.

“I think it’s a lot of fun having a lot of cousins and sisters who went to City High. There’s a lot of stories to share or teachers that we all had,” Adam said. “I had a cousin who was the center snare five or six years ago and a drummer in the combo, and now I’m doing the same thing. “

Back in 1900, City High was not at its current location on Morningside Drive. Morningside Drive did not even exist yet, instead where City High lies was a farm on the eastern edge of town. City High wasn’t even in its previous location located at the now-current Mercy hospital parking lot. Instead, it was a part of a now non-existent building on Market Street that housed junior high and grammar school students with it. It was in 1900 that Bertha Mercer graduated from this original City High school in her class of 54 other students. Little did she know at the time that more than 100 years later the 15th descendant in her family tree would also be graduating from the same high school.

Bertha’s family moved to Iowa City be-

cause her dad bought the Iowa State Press, one of five newspapers at the time-based in Iowa City. Bill Bywater is Bertha’s oldest living direct descendent, and he graduated from City in 1957. The Bywater name came from Bertha’s husband who was a doctor in Iowa City and later left her to move to Oregon. Bill never met his grandmother because as he explained, she died of a burst appendix when his father was 12, but he only ever heard good things about her from his dad’s stories.

“She was very devoted to her church- the First Methodist downtown and she acted in other things locally, but women back then usually stayed at home,” Bill said.

In 1903, City High moved to a new building on the same block that later was turned into Central Junior High. This is the building that Bill’s father Ray Bywater went to as a City High student. He was born in a house located on Summit Street and the eastside Iowa City area was a big part of his life. His grandson David Bywater described him as very approachable and said that he did a lot to support the Iowa City community.

“He was a person who could talk to anybody and strike up a conversation,” David said. “He knew when to tell you a joke and depending on who you were, might be a little inappropriate but at the same time, he could be prim and proper when he needed to be so he could he could meet anybody anywhere.”

Bill was not on a track from elementary school to attend City High. He grew up in the country, but his mom insisted that he attend school in town. His dad Ray would drop him off at the University of Iowa Laboratory school which was K-12 on his way to work every day. The Lab school was founded in 1916 to experiment with curriculum development and was used to create many education standards and textbooks. The school closed in 1972 due to a cutback in state funding. Bill can still remember many stories from his early years in preschool and elementary school at the university school.

“During World War Two I can remember the soldiers marching up and down the street,” Bill said. “The preschool that was part of the College of Dentistry and specifically, had a program to study facial growth. I was one of their guinea pigs.”

After eighth grade, Bill’s dad insisted he transfer to City High because of his fond memories from his time as a student there. Very quickly, Bill was able to find a place for himself at the new school.

“I had a lot of fun. Probably the most fun was being a statistician for our basketball team, and I played on the golf team,” Bill said.

Following his graduation from City High in 1957, Bill attended Iowa State University and then enrolled in the army for 26 months with the majority of his time being spent in Augusta, Georgia. Bill and his wife moved back to Iowa City right after their first daughter’s birth right before Christmas time. Bill came back to Iowa City to work at the family advertising company his great-grandfather Samuel (Bertha’s father) had started in 1896, now known as Bankers Advertising/Tru Art. The idea that their kids could possibly attend City High definitely crossed Bill’s mind as he and his wife looked for a house in Iowa City.

“We bought a house on this side of town and thought that might work,” Bill said.

Bill has enjoyed seeing his children and later grandchildren walk the same halls he did as a high school student, but he says that he has observed a lot of changes to the school since

he was a student there. The class sizes, which were around 150 students when Bill attended City High, have since shot up despite West High opening as the second public high school in town. He even remembers the old rifle range although he never went inside. He also has enjoyed seeing all of the various additions to City High throughout the years.

“I think it’s a very nice and wonderful opportunity, but the deal with any college, university, or high school is that you can

build buildings till the cows come home, but it’s the people inside who make the difference,” Bill said. “I had some wonderful teachers. They were really special people.”

By the time Bill’s son David started at City, the cross-town rivalry with West had already begun. David says during his high school days, the rivalry was treated much differently- in fact, they even shared the same football field for a period of time that he was in high school.

“We’d alternate games when we were away, they would play their home games,

so of course, the City versus West game was a big deal and the challenge was to try to paint the goalposts to match your school colors,” David explained.

Angie and David Bywater did not date in high school, but they have known each other since elementary school after starting kindergarten together at Hoover elementary. Angie explains that they were always involved in the same activities and friend groups throughout their time at City High.

“We were in all the music stuff together and hung out. We did go to senior prom

together, but we didn’t start dating until after college,” Angie said.

David went to attend college at the University of Kansas and worked in Kansas City for three years before also coming back to Iowa City like his father to work at the family company. There he married Angie who had stayed to attend the University of Iowa.

Trips relating to music are some of the things that Angie still looks back most fondly on including a Six Flags trip with the band, Washington DC with the choir, and orchestra director Candice Wiebner’s first-ever student trip to Europe. She has observed lots of changes at City High since her time as a student, from the moving around of the lunchroom and various music classrooms, all the way to larger cultural shifts.

“I think there was a lot more student involvement by being spectators. Everybody went to the basketball game on Friday night, everybody in the school. I mean that you wouldn’t miss that,” Angie said. “We didn’t have social media to keep us connected, so that was our social connection. That’s where we had to go to see each other and cheer on the teams.”

There are similar things that David has noticed that have changed since his time at City High student, among them the addition of 9th graders who previously were a part of the junior high. He has enjoyed watching how sports teams have changed since his time at City High and also the increase in AP classes being offered.

“[City High] has certainly gotten bigger, with more activities and opportunities for kids over the course of the years, not just scholastically but all the extracurriculars that go along with it and so that’s been terrific to watch,” David said. “It’s been fun watching some of the sports teams that have excelled, but it’s also fun to watch that ebb and flow a little bit.”

Even though they graduated nearly 40 years ago, both Angie and David still keep in touch with a lot of their friends they had while in high school. They think a large part of their connectedness comes from the fact that they have both stayed in town, so they could visit with friends who visited Iowa City after moving away.

“For example, Rob Hogg was the managing editor of the Little Hawk and is a good friend of mine who graduated in 85 as well, and he just finished in the legislature,”

David said. “I talked to Rob yesterday, I talked to him again today, and see him at least once a month.”

In Bill’s class of 1957, he also has many friends that he still keeps in contact with via email, however, in more recent years he has increasingly learned of friends from his high school days passing away. His class now has a reunion every year around Memorial Day instead of every five years.

“My friend who had as much to do with me going to City High as anybody died in September,” Bill said. “I would talk to him at least once a week, but I have maintained close contact with a lot of these folks. It seems like yesterday when we graduated.”

The one rule that Bill had for his kids when it was time for them to go off to college was they had to leave Iowa City. Not because he thought Iowa City or the University of Iowa was bad but just to have to get out and explore something else. As David and Angie’s kids were applying for colleges, they kept this suggestion for them too.

“When you’re this deeply connected in Iowa City, I think it’s important to go find something else for a little bit,” Angie said. “Adam’s grandparents are all here. He’s got aunts and uncles here. He’s very rooted in Iowa City, so it’s important to explore some other things.”

Adam Bywater says that he has never really had any objections to that rule during his college search, and that the pressure of having a kid go to City High like the rest of his family is not super huge in his mind.

“I love Iowa City. It’s a great place, but also It’ll be fun to go somewhere new,” Adam said. “[Carrying on the City High tradition] is definitely a thought, but I don’t think that I’ll plan my life around it. With how the family business has been passed down, per tradition, I would go into it, but I don’t feel a lot of pressure to follow in the

exact footsteps.”

His parents mostly want him to focus on doing what he wants to do because he feels like it’s important and he enjoys it, not because he feels like he has to. David relates it to how he felt going into his post-high school life.

“I hope that Adam follows his passion, whatever he wants to do whatever his passion is, and that’s what the advice I was given as well,” David said. “I like what I do, and enjoy it and have fun with it, but at the same time I don’t feel forced to come here it was a choice.”

Angie agrees for the most part.

“I wouldn’t care if Adam’s kids didn’t come back to school in Iowa City but if they come back and go to West High…” Angie said with a smile.

No matter what happens in the future Adam hopes that he can stay connected to his deep family history. His family has had a big influence on the things he does and the person he is today.

“I think I definitely got into Boy Scouts in first grade because my dad and grandpa had done it, and music has always been pretty important in our family. I got into music because of that and then I became a percussionist probably with some influence from my cousin and my sister who were both percussionists,” Adam said.

His grandpa Bill also wishes to continue to spread the rich history that his family has in Iowa City. He loves to tell stories about his great-uncles Willis and Roy Mercer who were brothers to Bertha, the original City High graduate. In addition to participating in the family business, Willis served on the School Board, and his brother Roy served on the City Council. Roy was also in the Iowa Legislature and was mayor of Iowa City three times. It was Roy Mercer who Mercer Park was named after.

“Roy was very all business and didn’t

“When you’re this deeply connected in Iowa City, I think it’s important to go find some thing else for a little bit.”

together, but we didn’t start dating until after college,” Angie said.

David went to attend college at the University of Kansas and worked in Kansas City for three years before also coming back to Iowa City like his father to work at the family company. There he married Angie who had stayed to attend the University of Iowa.

Trips relating to music are some of the things that Angie still looks back most fondly on including a Six Flags trip with the band, Washington DC with the choir, and orchestra director Candice Wiebner’s first-ever student trip to Europe. She has observed lots of changes at City High since her time as a student, from the moving around of the lunchroom and various music classrooms, all the way to larger cultural shifts.

“I think there was a lot more student involvement by being spectators. Everybody went to the basketball game on Friday night, everybody in the school. I mean that you wouldn’t miss that,” Angie said. “We didn’t have social media to keep us connected, so that was our social connection. That’s where we had to go to see each other and cheer on the teams.”

There are similar things that David has noticed that have changed since his time at City High student, among them the addition of 9th graders who previously were a part of the junior high. He has enjoyed watching how sports teams have changed since his time at City High and also the increase in AP classes being offered.

“[City High] has certainly gotten bigger, with more activities and opportunities for kids over the course of the years, not just scholastically but all the extracurriculars that go along with it and so that’s been terrific to watch,” David said. “It’s been fun watching some of the sports teams that have excelled, but it’s also fun to watch that ebb and flow a little bit.”

Even though they graduated nearly 40 years ago, both Angie and David still keep in touch with a lot of their friends they had while in high school. They think a large part of their connectedness comes from the fact that they have both stayed in town, so they could visit with friends who visited Iowa City after moving away.

“For example, Rob Hogg was the managing editor of the Little Hawk and is a good friend of mine who graduated in 85 as well, and he just finished in the legislature,”

David said. “I talked to Rob yesterday, I talked to him again today, and see him at least once a month.”

In Bill’s class of 1957, he also has many friends that he still keeps in contact with via email, however, in more recent years he has increasingly learned of friends from his high school days passing away. His class now has a reunion every year around Memorial Day instead of every five years.

“My friend who had as much to do with me going to City High as anybody died in September,” Bill said. “I would talk to him at least once a week, but I have maintained close contact with a lot of these folks. It seems like yesterday when we graduated.”

The one rule that Bill had for his kids when it was time for them to go off to college was they had to leave Iowa City. Not because he thought Iowa City or the University of Iowa was bad but just to have to get out and explore something else. As David and Angie’s kids were applying for colleges, they kept this suggestion for them too.

“When you’re this deeply connected in Iowa City, I think it’s important to go find something else for a little bit,” Angie said. “Adam’s grandparents are all here. He’s got aunts and uncles here. He’s very rooted in Iowa City, so it’s important to explore some other things.”

Adam Bywater says that he has never really had any objections to that rule during his college search, and that the pressure of having a kid go to City High like the rest of his family is not super huge in his mind.

“I love Iowa City. It’s a great place, but also It’ll be fun to go somewhere new,” Adam said. “[Carrying on the City High tradition] is definitely a thought, but I don’t think that I’ll plan my life around it. With how the family business has been passed down, per tradition, I would go into it, but I don’t feel a lot of pressure to follow in the

exact footsteps.”

His parents mostly want him to focus on doing what he wants to do because he feels like it’s important and he enjoys it, not because he feels like he has to. David relates it to how he felt going into his post-high school life.

“I hope that Adam follows his passion, whatever he wants to do whatever his passion is, and that’s what the advice I was given as well,” David said. “I like what I do, and enjoy it and have fun with it, but at the same time I don’t feel forced to come here it was a choice.”

Angie agrees for the most part.

“I wouldn’t care if Adam’s kids didn’t come back to school in Iowa City but if they come back and go to West High…” Angie said with a smile.

No matter what happens in the future Adam hopes that he can stay connected to his deep family history. His family has had a big influence on the things he does and the person he is today.

“I think I definitely got into Boy Scouts in first grade because my dad and grandpa had done it, and music has always been pretty important in our family. I got into music because of that and then I became a percussionist probably with some influence from my cousin and my sister who were both percussionists,” Adam said.

His grandpa Bill also wishes to continue to spread the rich history that his family has in Iowa City. He loves to tell stories about his great-uncles Willis and Roy Mercer who were brothers to Bertha, the original City High graduate. In addition to participating in the family business, Willis served on the School Board, and his brother Roy served on the City Council. Roy was also in the Iowa Legislature and was mayor of Iowa City three times. It was Roy Mercer who Mercer Park was named after.

“Roy was very all business and didn’t

“When you’re this deeply connected in Iowa City, I think it’s important to go find some thing else for a little bit.”

with bringing the airport to Iowa City. We had an airport before Cedar Rapids, and there were actually scheduled United Airlines flights here.”

The biggest family connector throughout generations has always remained City High. Angie noted that many alumni have come back to work at City High, but doesn’t know of any as deeply rooted as her husband’s family. That has caused the school to hold a very special place in the hearts of all of the Bywaters. Bill values his ability to reminisce about the days when grades were

divisional class.

“We’ve been blessed with a wonderful school from the music concerts for instance, or sports things. The fall of my freshman year they didn’t have a playoff. We were the mythical state champions voted on by sports writers,” Bill said. “The more and more I look back, those were four of the best years of my life. I learned how to manage time, I had a jobs. My class is probably the last one that had nobody with a perfect 4.0.”

In 2002, Bill was inducted into the City

enriched because of the extracurriculars that it offers, but we’re also enriched because of the university, and therefore the diversity of thought in the conversations that we have, and the ways that we can stretch our minds,” David said. “Iowa City is a pretty unique place because of that.”

with bringing the airport to Iowa City. We had an airport before Cedar Rapids, and there were actually scheduled United Airlines flights here.”

The biggest family connector throughout generations has always remained City High. Angie noted that many alumni have come back to work at City High, but doesn’t know of any as deeply rooted as her husband’s family. That has caused the school to hold a very special place in the hearts of all of the Bywaters. Bill values his ability to reminisce about the days when grades were

divisional class.

“We’ve been blessed with a wonderful school from the music concerts for instance, or sports things. The fall of my freshman year they didn’t have a playoff. We were the mythical state champions voted on by sports writers,” Bill said. “The more and more I look back, those were four of the best years of my life. I learned how to manage time, I had a jobs. My class is probably the last one that had nobody with a perfect 4.0.”

In 2002, Bill was inducted into the City

enriched because of the extracurriculars that it offers, but we’re also enriched because of the university, and therefore the diversity of thought in the conversations that we have, and the ways that we can stretch our minds,” David said. “Iowa City is a pretty unique place because of that.”

Raspberry Rice Krispy Treats

By Sadie Bodzin

Ingredients

1. 1.3 tbsp butter

2. bout one bag of marshmallows

3. 6 cups rice krispies

4. 1.25 ounces of freeze dried raspberries

Directions

1. Add butter to a medium or large saucepan on low heat

2. While the butter is melting, crush raspberries into a powder using a food processor or manually

3. Once butter is fully melted, add marshmallows, stirring occasionally

4. Once the marshmallows are melted, turn of the heat and add rice krispies and raspberries and stir until fully combined

5. Using a nonstick spatula add the mixture to a 13 x 9 pan thoroughly oiled with cooking spray

Note: If you want to use your hands, wet them with water and the rice krispies won’t stick

6. Let the rice krispie treats cool, cut, and enjoy!

Vodka Pasta

By Hattie Conover

Ingredients

1. Half a box of pasta of your choice

2. Half of an onion Tomato paste (I personally use yellow onion but you can use Vidalia, or white, or even shallots)

3. 4 cloves of garlic

4. ⅓ cup tomato paste

5. 2tbs olive oil

6. ¾ tsp red pepper flakes

7. ¼ tsp of salt

8. 2 tbs vodka

9. ⅓ cup heavy whipping cream

10. 1 tbs butter

11. ¼ cup parmesan cheese (freshly grated will melt in better)

12. ¼ cup pasta water

Directions

1. Dice half of an onion finely (any sized onion)

2. Put a medium-sized pan over medium-high heat and add tbs olive oil

3. While the olive oil heats mince 1-4 cloves of garlic, you can adjust this to your taste if you like more garlic you can put more, or less garlic you can put less

4. Add the onion to the pan with the olive oil and ¾ tsp red pepper flakes, stir until the onions become translucent

5. Add the garlic and sautee for 2-3 minutes over medium-low heat

6. Add in the ⅓ cup tomato paste and stir over heat for 3 minutes until the tomato paste covers the surface of the bottom of the pan. It will take a minute or so for the onion and garlic to mix in with the paste.

7. Once the tomato paste sticks to the bottom of the pan lower the heat to medium or medium-low add the 2 tbs. vodka and stir

Note: The heat from the pan cooks off the alcohol in the vodka leaving a sharp bite and even a bit of heat but NO traditional effects of alcohol.8. Add the ⅓

cup heavy whipping cream to the tomato paste and stir the cream in until it is fully mixed into the paste. Note: You should always lower the temperature when adding milk/dairy products into a hot pan because dairy can burn rather quickly and throw off the taste of the dish.

9. Mix in a tablespoon of butter

10. Dip a liquid measuring cup into the pasta water and get a cup of water (you wont use all of it just a ⅓).

Note: Pasta water retains the starches from the pasta being an efficient emulsifier, thickening the sauce.

11. Add the pasta water as needed until the sauce is your desired consistency this is also a good time to salt the sauce, again, to your preference

12. Sprinkle parmesan cheese across the top of the sauce letting it melt amd then mix it and let it melt thoroughly. Make sure you mix consistently so the cheese does not stick to the bottom of the pan.

13. Pour the sauce over the pasta and top with parmesan cheese if you would like.

INSTA TIKTOK YOUTUBE

The History ofValentine’s Day!

By Kate Meis

Every February 14th people worldwide celebrate love. The day now known for chocolates, flowers, and love letters has an origin coming straight from the name, Saint Valentine. The holiday is named after Saint Valentine… both of them.

Emperor Claudius II executed two men both by the name of Valentine on February 14th. It’s believed the Catholic church started this holiday to honor the two men, who were said to be martyrs. One of these men was said to have been a priest. He illegally performed marriages for soldiers after Emperor Claudius II outlawed it, leading to his execution. Others believe the holiday was named after Valentine of Terni, a bishop.

More Than One Story

Another Valentine’s day theory is that the saint was killed for helping Christians escape Roman prisons. When Valentine was imprisoned for these acts he sent the first “valentine” to a young girl who would visit him while in jail. He signed “From your Valentine”, a phrase still

used today.

Historians alike recognize the mystery that still surrounds the history and origins of the holiday. No one knows the true beginnings of this day of love, only its ties to Christian and ancient Roman tradition.

Who is Cupid!

The cherub and Roman god of love comes from, and has roots in Greek mythology. Known as Eros the son of Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty, would mess with mortals and make them fall in love. When the Roman era began they turned the name Eros to Cupid - meaning “desire”. The Romans also altered the god’s appearance from that of a young man to a baby

Then to Now

Today Valentine’s Day is less of a feast day for Saint Valentine and more about appreciation, gifts, and date nights. From the 18th century to 19th century with the help of printing technology, Valentine’s greeting cards went from handwritten

to mass-produced. Now the holiday is celebrated between friends, and romantic partners alike with cards often including candy or other favors.

Word Search

Little Hawk CUTEST COUPLE CONTEST

From top to bottom on the right: Holly Rood ‘24 and Miranda Ryfe ‘24, Ty Hall ‘24 and Isaac Miller ‘24. Obed Dominguez ‘25 Reuben Jeremiah, Kaden Varo ‘23 and Adam Bywater ‘23.

Wisdom Thee Stallion (Konu) ‘24 and Princess Diana (Ice Spice) in the lead. Scan the QR in the top left corner to take you to the Little Hawk instagram to vote for cutest couple.

From top to bottom on the left Heith Gallegos and Oak Feijo ‘26, Jack Selemani ‘24 Gaston Kuyu ‘23, Jonas Carpenter ‘24 and Arthur Hall ‘24.

From top to bottom on the left: Cory Frankuenkron ‘24 and Amya Wilson ‘24, Adah Bertling ‘23 and Ashlie Kaufman ‘23, Tom and Ann Braverman.

From top to bottom: Leah Black ‘24 and Henry Smith ‘24, Owen Vanderlinden ‘23 and Abi Lockhart ‘23, Matisse ‘23 and Molly Riepe ‘23, Oliver Booth ‘24 Walter Swanson ‘23 Everett Levine ‘24.

From top to bottom: Arabella Nelson ‘24 and Anya Armknecht ‘25, Jared Moninger ‘23 and Whit Jury ‘23, Rowyn Maas ‘26 and Estelle Ralston ‘26, Laine Forbes ‘24 and Thomas Primer ‘24.

From top to bottom: Alima Mmunga ‘23 and Mourwan Ali ‘23, Ford Washburn ‘23 and Sydney Wilkes ‘23, Olivia Knoche ‘23 and Holdon Clay ‘24, Thomas Ksobiech ‘23 and Sam Rew ‘23.

From top to bottom: David Flores ‘24 and Julia Ortiz Luna ‘24, Chirstian Richmen ‘25 and Natalie Rodriguez ‘25, Ben Kueter ‘23 and Tono Cornell ‘24, Guidance Office Dream Team.

What is your perfect song for Valentine’s day?

1. What is your relationship status?

a. I’ve been crushing on the same person for a while

b. I went through a rough breakup… I don’t want to talk about it

c. I’m in one right now, and very happy

d. I screwed up my last one and am focused on that

e. I’m single and happy to stay that way

2. What’s your favorite subject?

a. English - Shakespeare is my favorite

b. None - I need my free time

c. Whatever class my friends are in

d. Music - It’s my creative outlet

e. P.E. - I can carry my team

3. What’s your favorite thing to do in your free time?

a. Go watch City High sports

b. Hangout and gossip with my friends

c. Go on a date with my s/o

d. Listen to music and cry

e. Online shop for myself

4. What is your dream vacation?

a. Italy - It seems gorgeous there

b. NYC - I’m city person by heart

c. Paris - It’s the city of love

d. Seattle - I love the rain

e. L.A. - The city of angels, like me

5. Which food is your favorite?

a. Chocolate covered strawberries

b. Spicy wings

c. A milkshake (2 straws please!)

d. Ice cream

e. A whole pizza for myself

6. Which color is your favorite?

a. Red

b. Black

c. Pink

d. Blue

e. Gold

7. Which word best describes you?

a. Idealistic

b. Vengeful

c. Romantic

d. Regretful

e. Independent

8. What is your favorite holiday?

a. New Year’s Eve

b. Halloween

c. Valentine’s Day

d. Thanksgiving

e. 4th of July

9. What do you look for most in a partner?

a. I just want true love

b. Someone who’s trustworthy and loyal

c. My current partner is my perfect partner

d. Forgiveness

e. A good listener

10. What movie describes your life best?

a. Romeo and Juliet

b. Jennifer’s Body

c. When Harry Met Sally

d. Call Me by Your Name

e. Moana

By: Sadie Bodzin

11. Why did your last relationship end?

a. Relationship? More like imaginationship

b. My ex cheated on me

c. It hasn’t ended

d. I messed up… big time

e. I’ve never been in one, I’m single and not ready to mingle

12. Are you involved in any after school activities?

a. I’m in marching band

b. I’m involved in sports

c. I’m in drama/theater/show choir

d. I’m not involved in any of these

e. I’m in many different clubs

13. As soon as I get home from school I…

a. Write in my journal/diary

b. Look through social media

c. Call my s/o

d. Cry

e. Do my homework

14. Choose an animal

a. Cat

b. Snake

c. Swan

d. Dog

e. Bird

15. If I had one wish it would be…

a. To find true love

For karma to come to those who’ve

b. wronged me

c. For happiness forever

d. For forgiveness

e. Money

16. Who would you most want to hangout with on the weekend?

a. My crush

b. My BFF

c. My s/o

d. My dog

e. No one, I need my alone time

17. How would you describe your style?

a. Feminine

b. Trendy

c. Casual

d. Comfy

e. Chic

18. Which of the following usually contributes to your bad moods?

a. Just life

b. People

c. School

d. Myself

e. All of the above

19. What type of music do you like the most?

a. Country

b. Rock

c. Pop

d. R&B

e. Hip Hop

Mostly C’s:

You’re Olivia by One Direction. You’re in a happy and loving relationship, whether that be with a friend or a s/o. You aren’t shy to tell people how you feel, and love giving compliments to those you care about. You’re loving, caring, and affectionate. This Valentine’s day, spend the day with the people you love and showcase your affection.

20. Which type of media is your favorite?

a Books

b. Social media

c. Plays/musicals

d. Music

e. Movies/TV shows

21. What are you most likely to read?

a. A tragic romance novel

b. A mystery novel

c. A fairy tale

d. A dystopian novel

e. A comic book

22. What time do you normally wake up?

a. Early. Very early.

b. Around 8ish.

c. 7-7:45.

d. I pull lots of all nighters

e. Right before I need to be at school

23. What do you think is most important in life?

a. Love

b. Trust

c. Family

d. Forgiveness

e. Money

Mostly D’s:

You’re When I Was Your Man by Bruno Mars. You feel as though you screw things up a lot, especially when it comes to relationships and you feel lots of regret for that. You often get scared and end up accidentally hurting those you care about, and only realize your mistake once it’s too late. You’re emotional, smart, and understanding. This Valentine’s Day, take some time to appreciate yourself instead of beating yourself up over things that happened in the past.

Mostly A’s:

You’re Love Story by Taylor Swift. You are often caught in your own fantasy land and are hard to pull back down to reality. When you fall for someone, you fall hard, but are too scared to let them know most of the time. You’re passionate, kind, and eager. This Valentine’s Day, don’t be afraid to go for it and let that special someone know how you feel.

Mostly B’s:

You’re Good 4 U by Olivia Rodrigo. You’ve gotten screwed over in relationships before, so you tend to be cautious around people and find it hard to trust. You still carry some pent up resentment for those who have wronged you and that can show in your mood sometimes. You’re attentive, reliable, and brave. This Valentine’s Day, take care of yourself and have fun with your friends instead of dwelling on past relationships.

Mostly E’s:

You’re Single Ladies by Beyoncé. You are independent, and happy to stay that way. You might not be forever opposed to a relationship, but right now it’s definitely not a priority for you. You know what you want, and are always working on bettering yourself. You’re funny, practical, and strong. This Valentine’s Day don’t forget to have fun and try to enjoy other people’s company, they can be fun to be around sometimes.

City High’s Secret Admirers

To: ??

Your smile means so much to me, thank you for being a beautiful person inside and out

From: your secret admirer

1900 Morningside Dr. Iowa City IA 52245

You always know how to make me smile and I look forward to seeing you every day.

To him, even though we have been through it the last couple years you’ve seen me at my worse and same way around. I have always know how special you are to me and how my feelings have never changed.

You make me feel like one of the little bubbles in carbonated soda. - anonymous

Be my Valentine! love, ??

To the girl in my 4th hour class,

You always talk about the meaning of life... you being in my life gives me meaning.

Sincerely, a Lonely Philosopher

xoxo