November 2021 Norse Star Issue

Serving Pancakes and Opportunities

T he Norse Star Stoughton High School November 2021

Table of Contents C ov er by Gab e Ro u sseau

T O C by A u t u m n Ev en so n

News Pg . 3

Sports Pg . 6

Cover Story Pg . 8

Enterta inment Pg . 13

O pinions Pg . 15

Fea tures Pg . 18

Ed i tor - i n - Ch i ef - A n ja Roy ko Cover Stor y Ed i tor - A n ja Roy ko

N ew s Ed i tor - D el an ey Gau th i er

O p i n i on s Ed i tor - D el an ey Gau th i er Sp or ts Ed i tor - Gabe Rou sseau

A ssoci ate Ed i tor - i n - Ch i ef - Ava Par r En ter tai n m en t Ed i tor - Em m a Ph i l l i p s

H ead A r ti st - Em m a Ph i l l i p s

Gr ap h i cs Ed i tor - M ad i son L u i ck

Featu r es Ed i tor - Av a Par r

Cop y Ed i tor - Cl ar e Bor ch ar d t

Bu si n ess M an ager - L au r en A m stad t

D i str i bu ti on M an ager - Au tu m n Even son

Soci al M ed i a Ed i tor - Ava Par r

Staf f W r i ter s - L au r en A m stad t, Cl ar e Bor ch ar d t, Au tu m n Even son , M ad i son L u i ck , M ad el i n e M on th i e Fr eel an ce W r i ter s- Bh oom i Patel , L au r a Per r y, Sam Ross, Bel i n d a A k al e, Em m a Far l ey Ad v i sor - L au r a Str ey l e

Ed i t or i al Pol i cy : T h e N or se St ar str i ves t o p r esen t t h e n ew s i n a f ai r an d u n bi ased m an n er . A n y col u m n , ed i tor i al , or l etter to th e ed i t or ex p r esses t h e op i n i on of t h e au t h or an d n ot n ecessar i ly t h e en ti r e staf f . T h e N or se St ar i s a p u bl i c f or u m w r i t ten an d p r od u ced by t h e stu d en t s at St ou gh t on H i gh Sch ool , an d th ey ar e sol ely r esp on si bl e f or i t s con t en t . Stu d en t s, staf f , f acu l t y, an d m em ber s of t h e com m u n i ty ar e w el com e to su bm i t l et t er s t o t h e ed i t or of 30 0 w or d s or l ess. L ett er s m ay be ed i t ed d u e to sp ace l i m i tat i on s, obscen i ti es, or l i bel con cer n s. N or se Star w i l l ver i f y t h e au t h en t i ci t y of an y l etter s sen t on beh al f of sch ool or gan i zat i on s or gr ou p s. A l l l et t er s m u st be si gn ed an d em ai l ed to sh sn or sest ar @gm ai l .com .

news

Supporting Stoughton by Shopping Small B y Av a Par r Associate Editor- in- Chief & Features Editor tou gh t on 's M ai n St r eet w i l l be h ost i n g th e el even th Sh op Sm al l Satu r d ay on N ov. 27. T h e even t w i l l be al l d ay, ad h er i n g t o t h e i n volved bu si n esses? h ou r s.

T his even t i s r i gh t af t er Bl ack Fr i d ay an d i s a l ocal equ i val en t to th e w el l - k n ow n sh op p i n g h ol i d ay. Sm al l bu si n esses h ave been h i t h ar d d u e to t h e p an d em i c, an d th i s even t i s a w ay t o sh i n e a l i gh t on Stou gh t on 's l ocal sh op s an d cr eat or s.

One l ocal bu si n ess f eatu r ed i n t h e even t i s Gr assh op p er Good s, a St ou gh ton bu si n ess th at r esi d es at 171 W M ai n St an d sp eci al i zes i n cu r at ed good s by l ocal cr eat i ves.

Cr eati ve D i r ector of Gr assh op p er Good s Jen n i f er Z u tter d escr i bes w h at th e even t m ean s t o h er . ?Sh op p i n g Sm al l is t ech n i cal ly a on e- d ay even t , bu t f or m e an d ou r m i ssi on

S

at Gr assh op p er Good s, i t i s a w ay of l i f e. I t m ean s ch oosi n g to su p p or t i n d ep en d en t r etai l i n stead of bi g- box or ch ai n stor es w h en ever p ossi bl e.

T he p ay of f i s an i n d i v i d u al ly u n i qu e sh op p i n g ex p er i en ce th at's fun, i n sp i r i n g, an d r ew ar d i n g,?

Z u tt er say s.

photo by kelsey stokstad Gr assh o p p er Go o d s sp ecal i zes i n p r o d u ct s by l o cal ar t i si an s.

One of th e m an y d ed i cated com m u n i ty m em ber s i n volved w i th p l an n i n g th i s even t, Sar ah Eber t, th e Pr esi d en t of th e Stou gh ton Ch am ber of Com m er ce, ex p l ai n s h ow sm al l bu si n esses ben ef i t Stou gh ton . ?T h ese bu si n esses ar e a p ar t of w h at m akes Stou gh ton su ch a d y n am i c an d cr eati ve com m u n i ty,?

Eber t say s. ?[St ou gh t on Ch am ber of Com m er ce r ecogn i zes] ou r sh op s to r em i n d con su m er s on e of th e best w ay s th ey can su p p or t th ei r com m u n i ty i s by sh op p i n g l ocal ly.?

T he Stou gh ton Ch am ber of Com m er ce w i l l be h an d i n g ou t m ap s of d ow n t ow n an d f r ee "Sh op Sm al l " tote bags i n th e Stou gh ton Ci t y H al l p ar k i n g l ot at 20 7 S For r est St. f or th ose w h o ar e i n t er ested i n th e even t bu t d on 't k n ow w h er e to star t.

Z u t ter sh ar es h er

photo from stoughtonwi.com

f avor i t e p ar t of t h i s even t as a bu si n ess ow n er . ?M y f avor i t e p ar t of Sh op Sm al l Satu r d ay h as t o be th e el ect r i ci ty i n t h e ai r as f ol k s com e i n t o t h e sh op w i th th ei r f am i ly an d f r i en d s,? Z u tt er ex p l ai n s ?W h en th ey sp ot som eth i n g th ey l ove an d h aven 't seen bef or e, or t h ey l au gh abou t som e of th e h u m or ou s an d si l ly i tem s w e car r y, t h at's w h en I k n ow I 've d on e m y job w el l . I h ave h el p ed cr eate a sp ace w h er e sh op p i n g i s f u n agai n an d con n ecti n g w i t h p eop l e i s a p r i or i ty.?

The Shack is Back T

h e Sh ack , a ch eap an d ti m e- sav i n g f avor i te, h as r etu r n ed t o SH S. T h i s St u d en t Sen at e- l ed ser v i ce i s back u p an d r u n n i n g af t er a l on g h i at u s over m an y h ecti c, CO V I D - 19 af f ect ed m on th s.

T he st an d , w h i ch cu r r en tly sel l s a v ar i et y of h ot bever ages, st ar t ed ser v i n g st u d en ts an d ed u cator s at t h e begi n n i n g of N ovem ber .

K at h l een K asber g i s t h e ad v i sor of St u d en t Sen at e, an d sh e i s gl ad th e ser v i ce h as been r eop en ed . ?I t's a gr eat w ay t o ju st br i gh ten p eop l e's d ay,?

K asber g say s. ?I t 's been a good w ay ju st t o con n ect an d h op ef u l ly st ar t p eop l e's d ay of f w el l , becau se i t 's been a h ar d y ear .?

CO V I D - 19 ch an ged m an y p eop l e an d t h i n gs, i n cl u d i n g Stou gh t on ?s l i tt l e Sh ack . T h i s y ear , t h i n gs m i gh t l ook a l i t t l e d i f f er en t t h an bef or e. the norse star, november 2021

B y C l ar e B o r ch ar d t Staff Writer & Copy Editor Accor d i n g to K asber g, w ay i n t o th e bu i l d i n g. th e bi ggest ch an ge h as been Som e stu d en ts h ave u si n g a m obi l e car t n oti ced th at an ol d f avor i t e ou t d oor s to sel l d r i n k s i s cu r r en tly m i ssi n g f r om r at h er th an th e cl assi c th e Sh ack . T h e ser v i ce sel l s i n d oor cou n ter l ocat ed i n h ot cof f ee, h ot ch ocol ate, th e ex h i bi ti on h al lw ay. an d a var i ety of teas, al l f or ?T h e m ai n r eason [th e $1, bu t i t d oes n ot cu r r en tly sh ack i s n ow ou t si d e] i s d u e of f er i ced cof f ee or to th e ti m e con str ai n t s w i th Stou gh ton m er ch an d i se. stu d en t s w ai ti n g ou tsi d e to M an y ar e w on d er i n g i f com e i n bef or e sch ool i n th ese w i l l r etu r n . th e m or n i n gs,? K asber g say s. ?W e'r e p l an n i n g on T h e l i tt l e car t can be sel l i n g m er ch d u r i n g th e sp ot ted i n th e ar eas w h er e l u n ch p er i od s tw i ce a stu d en t s con gr egate bef or e m on th . [...] M y gu ess i s th at th e d oor s op en at 8:15 a.m . w e'l l star t th at i n D ecem ber ,? ?M on d ay s an d Fr i d ay s, K asber g say s. A s f or i ced th er e's th r ee stu d en ts i n th e cof f ee, ?I ?m n ot op p osed to f r on t of th e sch ool sel l i n g i t [...] Keep an ey e ou t.? d r i n k s,? K asber g say s. ?O n Sen i or N ad i a O lved a, a T u esd ay s an d T h u r sd ay s, Stu d en t Sen ate m em ber th er e's th r ee [st u d en t s] i n r esp on si bl e f or sch ed u l i n g th e back .? oth er m em ber s to w or k at Accor d i n g to K asber g, th e Sh ack , of f er s h er th e Sh ack gen er al ly r u n s p er sp ect i ve on br i n gi n g f r om abou t 8:0 5 a.m . to back on e of th ese bel oved ar ou n d 8:15 a.m ., bu t w i l l i tem s. som eti m es stay op en l on ger ?B r i n gi n g back i ced d ep en d i n g on h ow l ate cof f ee w ou l d be am azi n g! I stu d en t s ar e m ak i n g th ei r th i n k [i t] w ou l d i n cr ease th e

am ou n t of stu d en ts bu y i n g cof f ee i n t h e m or n i n gs,?

O lved a say s.

As th e w eath er con ti n u es t o steer i n t o w i n ter , Sen at e an d t h e Sh ack w i l l si m p ly be f l ex i bl e to best ser ve t h e sch ool . ?I f stu d en ts ar e w ai ti n g ou tsi d e, w e'l l be t h er e f or th em ,? K asber g say s. ?I f stu d en ts star t com i n g i n si d e, w e'l l ad ju st an d ju st w or k w i th t h e sch ool t o see w h at's p ossi bl e.?

photo by clare borchardt Sen at e m em b er s sm i l e by t h i s y ear 's m o b i l e Sh ack .

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2+ Returns at SHS B y B h o o m i Pat el Staff Writer

A

s of O ct . 25, 2+ i s back an d w i l l r em ai n i n st u d en ts? sch ed u l es f or th e r est of th e y ear . D u e to v i r t u al an d h y br i d l ear n i n g f r om l ast y ear , 2+ w as d eem ed u n n ecessar y at th e t i m e. H ow ever , w i t h th e h el p of th e Stou gh t on H i gh Sch ool d ep ar tm en t l ead er s an d ad m i n i st r at or s, 2+ r et u r n ed .

H ow w as i t p ossi bl e, t h ou gh ?

Accor d i n g to SH S l ear n i n g st r at egi st an d bu i l d i n g d ep ar t m en t l ead er Er i c Sm i th , t h e p r ocess w as p r etty si m p l e. H ow ever , i t t ook ti m e an d ef f or t t o ad d t w en ty ex t r a m i n u t es t o th e sch ed u l e w i t h ou t d r ast i cal ly ch an gi n g t h e st ar t an d en d t i m es of th e sch ool d ay.

A s r ep or t ed by Josh u a T h om as, L an gu age Ar ts t each er an d bu i l d i n g

d ep ar tm en t l ead er at SH S, 2+ w as i m p l em en t ed by th e h i gh sch ool to l et stu d en ts h ave th e op p or tu n i ty to get th ei r w or k d on e d u r i n g th e sch ool d ay. I t w as al so a w ay f or stu d en t s to becom e m or e ad ju sted w i t h th e n ew i n - p er son l ear n i n g en v i r on m en t th i s y ear .

photo illustra tion b y b hoomi pa tel N at al i e N el so n (l ef t) an d H el en a K o h l h o f f (r i gh t), f i n i sh u p h o m ew o r k d u r i n g 2+. ?Som e stu d en ts h ave h ad a l i tt l e m or e d i f f i cu l ty r ead ju sti n g to th e r egu l ar

?I t h i n k [ 2+ i s] a v al u ab l e asset i f u sed p r o p er l y."

- Jo sh u a T h o m as, L .A . T each er an d B u i l d i n g L ead er l i f e of th e sch ool , i n stay i n g on top of th ei r gr ad es an d so f or th , so w e r ei n stated 2+ i n th e h op es of h el p i n g stu d en ts r egai n som e acad em i c su ccess,? T h om as say s.

Accor d i n g to Sm i th , 2+ ben ef i ts stu d en ts an d teach er s al i ke. ?[2+] su p p or ts th e stu d en ts? n eed s, esp eci al ly i n sp eci al ed an d i n r egu l ar ed u cati on . A s a l ear n i n g str ategi st, ju st w or k i n g i n th e sch ed u l e th at w e h ad at th e begi n n i n g of th e y ear ,

th er e w asn 't a t i m e f or stu d en ts to get w or k [d on e d u r i n g th e sch ool d ay ]. I t ben ef i ts th e t each er s, as i t al l ow s th em t o d o som e r eteach i n g f or st u d en ts w h o n eed acad em i c su p p or t,?

Sm i th say s.

T h om as m en t i on s t h e val u e of 2+. H e states t h at 2+ i s a ti m e t h at sh ou l d be w i sely an d r esp on si bly u sed , an d w i th ti m e, st u d en ts can becom e bet ter stu d en ts. ?I th i n k [2+ i s] a val u abl e asset i f u sed p r op er ly. [2+] i s a [ti m e w h er e] st u d en ts w ou l d h ave t o be abl e t o u se [th ei r ] ti m e w i sely an d m ake su r e th at t h ey ar e d oi n g ever y th i n g t h at t h ey n eed t o d o, to be su ccessf u l [...] I t w i l l h el p th em t o gai n m or e con f i d en ce i n ever y th i n g an d u l t i m ately be a m u ch m or e con f i d en t st u d en t,?

T h om as say s.

Chocola tes, Cheeseca kes, a nd Ca nd ies, O h My D isclaimer: Farley is a music student participating in the fundraiser.

F

or m an y y ear s, th e m u si c d ep ar t m en t at SH S h as h el d an an n u al f u n d r ai ser w h er e st u d en t s sel l a var i et y of i t em s to r ai se m on ey f or a t ou r i n t h e sp r i n g. Each y ear , a d i f f er en t br an ch of th e d ep ar tm en t p ar t i ci p ates.

T h i s y ear ?s t ou r i s d i f f er en t f or ever y on e, h ow ever , becau se r at h er t h an each secti on of t h e d ep ar t m en t t ak i n g i n d i v i d u al tr i p s during th ei r d esi gn ated y ear , al l t h r ee su bsect i on s p l an to go on t ou r t oget h er . ?[O u r l ast t ou r ] w as can cel ed due to th e p an d em i c [? ] W e w er e su p p osed t o go t o N ew O r l ean s over sp r i n g br eak t w o y ear s ago, bu t i t w as can cel ed t h e w eek bef or e w e w en t,? Rach el L am , th e or ch estr a d i r ector at SH S, say s.

T h i s y ear , ch oi r d i r ector 4

B y Em m a Far l ey Freelance Writer Ry an Casey, ban d d i r ector stu d en ts. T h i essen h as been D an Sch m i d t , an d Rach el i n ban d al l f ou r y ear s of L am d eci d ed to d o a h i gh sch ool an d i s cu r r en tly col l ecti ve tou r to m ake u p th e f l u te secti on l ead er as f or ti m e an d ex p er i en ces w el l as d r u m m ajor f or l ost d u e to CO V I D - 19. T h i s m ar ch i n g ban d . m ean s a sh or t er tou r , w i th abou t 30 0 stu d en ts? th r ee ti m es th e ty p i cal n u m ber .

D ue to th e l ar ge n u m ber of p ar t i ci p an ts, com bi n ed w i t h over n i gh t an d tr an sp or tat i on f ees, al l m u si c d ep ar tm en t tou r s ten d to be m or e ex p en si ve. ?[A p r ev i ou s] N ash v i l l e photo b y emma fa rley [t ou r ] cam e i n at ar ou n d $1,0 0 0 , an d th e N ew M er ed i t h T h i essen (l ef t) O r l ean s on e w as a bi t p o ses w i t h B ar r et t N el so n p r i ci er ,? L am say s. (r i gh t) b ef o r e m ak i n g a T he f u n d r ai ser s sal e. con d u ct ed in th e f al l sem est er gi ve m u si c ?For m e p er son al ly, I ?m stu d en t s a ch an ce to r ai se str u ggl i n g a bi t to sel l m on ey, bot h f or th e m u si c th i n gs,? T h i essen say s. ?I d ep ar tm en t an d f or h aven ?t h ad th e op p or t u n i ty i n d i v i d u al tou r costs. to f u n d r ai se bef or e; th i s i s St u d en ts can sel l ch ocol ate m y f i r st y ear [...] T h i n gs ar e bar s, ch eesecakes, bu tt er ju st h ar d to sel l ? br ai d s, an d Bu ck y Book s.

D u e to th e m ajor gap Sen i or M er ed i th betw een m u si c tou r s an d T h i essen i s on e of th ese th e l ar ge n u m ber of sen i or

m u si c stu d en t s gr ad u at i n g th i s sp r i n g, m an y st u d en ts f eel th at t h i s t ou r h ol d s m or e i m p or tan ce t h an p r ev i ou s on es. ?I th i n k t h er e h ave been a l ot of th i n gs t h r ou gh t h e p an d em i c t h at st u d en ts h ave m i ssed ou t on i n som e w ay s, an d t h i s t r i p p r ov i d es th at op p or tu n i ty [...] t o h ave th at ex p er i en ce w i t h t h ei r f el l ow m u si c stu d en ts,? L am say s.

Ch ocol ates will con ti n u e t o sel l u n t i l st ock r u n s ou t, an d bu tt er br ai d s sal es w i l l l ast u n t i l t h e begi n n i n g of D ecem ber , so th er e?s sti l l t i m e t o bu y f r om a p eer i f y ou ?r e i n t er est ed i n con tr i bu ti n g t o t h e t ou r p r of i ts th i s y ear , accor d i n g to T h i essen . ?T h i s f u n d r ai ser i s so cr u ci al becau se [on t h e t ou r ] i t?s ou r ch an ce t o see t h e w or l d an d i n t er act w i t h m or e m u si ci an s,? T h i essen say s. ?H av i n g t h at ex p er i en ce is su p er i m p or tan t.? the norse star, november 2021

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O ct. 25 Active Threa t Sca re Principa l Kruse d escrib es timeline a nd pla ns moving forwa rd B y A n j a Roy k o Editor- in- Chief & Cover Story Editor

O

n O ct . 25, Stou gh ton H i gh Sch ool ?s A L I CE p r otocol w as i n i t i ated i n p l ace of a l ockd ow n . W h i l e a m ajor i t y of st af f an d st u d en ts h el d i n p l ace, t h ose t h at w er e abl e t o escap e th e bu i l d i n g t ook th e op p or tu n i t y t o d o so.

W i th st u d en ts scat t er ed on an d of f cam p u s, com m u n i cat i on betw een ad m i n i str at i on , staf f , st u d en ts, an d t h e p ol i ce d ep ar tm en t becam e n ear ly i m p ossi bl e.

Stou gh t on H i gh Sch ool ?s p r i n ci p al M i ke K r u se d escr i bes t h e t i m el i n e of even ts on t h at M on d ay m or n i n g. ?O n th e 25th of O ct ober at abou t 10 :17, I f i el d ed a p h on e cal l f r om t h e p ol i ce d ep ar tm en t . T h ey sai d th ey w er e i n p u r su i t of a su sp ect i n th e sch ool ar ea, an d th at p er son cou l d h ave i t em s on t h em th at w er e n ot saf e,?

K r u se say s.

K r u se ex p l ai n s th at w h i l e on t h e p h on e, th e of f i cer ap p ear ed t o be r u n n i n g an d w as ver y ad am an t abou t l ock i n g d ow n th e sch ool . K r u se u n d er stood t h e u r gen cy of t h e m atter an d act ed as h e w as tol d . H e p r om p t ly ex i ted h i s of f i ce, gave th e or d er to l ock t h e sch ool d ow n , an d t h en r et u r n ed to h i s d esk t o or d er st af f an d st u d en ts to h ol d i n p l ace. ?I w en t back [i n to m y of f i ce] to do a PA an n ou n cem en t , an d t h en I h ear d th e au t om at i c A L I CE al ar m ,? K r u se say s. ?O n ce t h at th i n g goes, t h er e i s n o sh u tti n g i t of f . I t ju st goes. I t goes f or al m ost a m i n u t e.

T h at?s w h y I i m m ed i at ely got on th e PA an d t r i ed to ask stu d en t s t o st ay i n th e cl assr oom .?

K r u se?s an n ou n cem en t w as abl e to r each a m ajor i ty of th e staf f an d st u d en t s, h ow ever , m an y h ad al r ead y l ef t th e bu i l d i n g at th i s p oi n t, l eav i n g t h em u n aw ar e t h at A L I CE w as i n i ti ated acci d en t al ly. the norse star, november 2021

T h e r ecor d ed A L I CE an n ou n cem en t i s n ot th e p r ef er ed m et h od of al er ti n g staf f an d stu d en t s of a th r eat i n th e bu i l d i n g.

th e i n d i v i d u al to be gi ven to staf f an d stu d en ts, al l ow i n g al l to m ake a m or e i n f or m ed d eci si on as to w h et h er th ey sh ou l d

Accor d i n g to K r u se, on e of th e on ly ti m es th at m et h od sh ou l d be u sed i s i f th e ad m i n i str at i ve team i s u n abl e to get to th e PA sy st em becau se th e th r eat i s l ocated n ear th e m ai n of f i ce. T h at w ay, at l east stu d en t s an d staf f ar e al er t ed th at th er e i s som e sor t of th r eat n ear by.

T y p i cal ly, A L I CE is i n i ti at ed l i ve over th e PA sy st em . T h i s al l ow s f or m or e i n f or m ati on on th e l ocati on an d ap p ear an ce of

bar r i cad e or escap e th e bu i l d i n g. I f th er e i s ever a si m i l ar si t u at i on i n th e f u tu r e, K r u se h op es th at th e staf f w i l l be abl e to al er t ever y on e of th e n ecessar y d et ai l s an d i n f or m ati on . ?W h en p eop l e h ear [th e al ar m or th e an n ou n cem en t] ? stu d en ts, staf f , w h oever i s i n th e bu i l d i n g ? th ey h ave to k n ow th e d i r ecti on of th e th r eat. W e?r e goi n g to tr y to m ake i t as cl ear as p ossi bl e,?

K r u se say s.

T he su sp ect w as ap p r eh en d ed ar ou n d t h e ti m e of th e al ar m ?s i n i ti ati on at an al t er n ate l ocat i on .

Accor d i n g to K r u se, w h i l e t h e i n d i v i d u al h ad been cau gh t , t h e sch ool n eed ed to r em ai n in l ockd ow n f or a l i tt l e w h i l e l on ger .

T h e su sp ect w as on cam p u s p r i or to th e i n i ti ati on of an y al ar m s or p r ot ocol s. ?T h at p er son w al ked al l th e w ay f r om t h e back p ar k i n g l ot t h r ou gh ou r cam p u s an d t h en ou t t h e f r on t p ar k i n g l ot an d t h en w as p i cked up by som ebod y,? K r u se say s.

A l th ou gh t h e St ou gh ton Pol i ce D ep ar tm en t w as con tacted an d asked t o gi ve a statem en t on t h e m att er f or th i s ar ti cl e, t h ey d i d n ot r etu r n a cal l or of f er an y com m en t.

K r u se ack n ow l ed ges t h e em oti on al t u r m oi l t h at cam e f r om t h i s even t. ?I t w as a h ar d t h i n g f or ever y bod y. I t w as a h ar d th i n g f or m e p er son al ly,?

K r u se say s.

I n th e f u t u r e, K r u se h op es to m ake th e an n ou n cem en t s an d d r i l l s m or e cl ear an d r ou t i n e, gi v i n g stu d en ts th e k n ow l ed ge t h at t h ey n eed t o execu te th ese p r oced u r es i n a w ay th at i s saf e an d ef f i ci en t . H ow ever , K r u se w an t s to assu r e t h at t h ese staf f an d st u d en ts m ad e t h e r i gh t d eci si on w i t h t h e i n f or m ati on t h at w as gi ven to th em at t h e t i m e.

K r u se h op es t h at by r ev i ew i n g t h e p r oced u r es an d u p d at i n g ou td ated sy stem s, st u d en t s w i l l be abl e to r egai n a sen se of secu r i ty i n t h ei r sch ool . ?I k n ow som e p eop l e ar e sti l l ap p r eh en si ve, an d I k n ow th ey ?r e sti l l u n easy, an d I w i sh I cou l d t ake t h at aw ay, bu t I can ?t. H op ef u l ly over ti m e [t h at w i l l go aw ay ],? K r u se say s. ?I ?ll d o w h atever I n eed t o d o t o h el p an d su p p or t t h at.?

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Weighing In With The Wrestling Team B y D el an ey Gau t h i er Opinions & News Editor

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t ?s com m on k n ow l ed ge t h at St ou gh t on h as a d ecor ated h i st or y of su ccess i n th e h i gh sch ool w r est l i n g p r ogr am . W i t h over 50 i n d i v i d u al st at e ch am p i on s, t h e SH S w r est l i n g t eam h ol d s th e st at e- w i d e r ecor d , an d th e team h op es t o bu i l d on th at su ccess i n th e u p com i n g season .

Sen i or Joh n H ar m an l ook s f or w ar d t o h i s f i n al season on t h e t eam . H e joi n ed th e w r est l i n g t eam h i s sop h om or e y ear i n or d er to tr ai n f or f oot bal l . ?At f i r st i t w as becau se I h ad a f ew f r i en d s w h o w er e on th e team al r ead y. I ?m a f ootbal l p l ay er . T h at ?s m y f avor i te sp or t, so I w an ted t o tr ai n m y bod y f or th e f ootbal l season . T h at w as m y th ou gh t w h en I f i r st joi n ed , bu t t h en i t t u r n ed i n to so m u ch m or e. I t t u r n ed i n t o a t eam , an d I ?m en joy i n g th e sp or t of w r estl i n g r at h er t h an ju st u si n g i t as a m od e t o get bet ter at ot h er sp or ts,?

H ar m an say s.

H ar m an say s th at w r estl i n g h as h ad an u n ex p ected i m p act on h i s l i f e. ?W r estl i n g h as i m p acted m e i n a h u ge w ay w h en i t com es to m y w or k et h i c an d bei n g d i sci p l i n ed , becau se bei n g a w r est l er , i t t akes a l ot of com m i t m en t . M on d ay [an d ] W ed n esd ay m or n i n gs y ou ?r e w ak i n g u p r eal ly ear ly i n th e m or n i n g, y ou ?r e con d i ti on i n g f or an h ou r , an d th en y ou h ave p r acti ce af ter sch ool ever y d ay,?

T h e t eam co m es t o get h er t o su p p o r t each o t h er af t er a m eet .

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H ar m an say s. ?[T h er e?s] p r obably a m eet or tw o d u r i n g th e w eek an d th en tou r n am en t s on th e w eeken d , so i t ?s [...] n ot f or ever y bod y. Bu t i f y ou f i n d th at y ou can be d i sci p l i n ed , i t ?s a r eal ly gr eat ex p er i en ce.?

A goal th at H ar m an sh ar es w i t h h i s team m ates f or th e u p com i n g w r estl i n g season i s to w i n t h e team stat e ti tl e, an accol ad e th e team is f r equ en tly in con ten t i on f or .

T w o- ti m e state ch am p i on an d sen i or N i col ar Ri ver a f eel s th e sam e w ay. O n e of h i s p er son al goal s f or th e season i s to w i n t h e team stat e ti tl e an d to get m or e p eop l e i n volved w i th th e w r est l i n g team . A f ter h e su f f er ed a l oss d u r i n g th e l ast w r est l i n g season , Ri ver a say s h e w an ts to h ave a com eback of sor t s. ?So l ast y ear , I beat th i s k i d , an d I th ou gh t I cou l d beat h i m agai n , bu t w h en I w r est l ed h i m ou t of state, I w r est l ed h i m a w ei gh t cl ass u p . I w asn ?t cu t t i n g an y w ei gh t, h e w as 132, th er e w as a 3- p ou n d w ei gh t al l ow an ce. I w ei gh ed i n at 129 [...] I l ost m y f i r st tw o m at ch es ever in h i gh sch ool ,? Ri ver a say s.

Ri ver a say s th e i m p act w r est l i n g h as h ad on h i s l i f e h as been m on u m en tal , an d th at h e w ou l d n ?t be th e sam e p er son h e i s tod ay w i t h ou t th e sp or t (an d th e 13 y ear s of h i s l i f e sp en t d ed i cated to i t). H e ech oes H ar m an ?s stat em en t abou t w r est l i n g bei n g h ar d w or k . ?[B ei n g a w r est l er i s] ju st l ook i n g f or w ar d to a h ar d p r acti ce at th e en d of th e d ay. W e d o d r i l l i n g, l i ke p r acti ce ou r m oves, l i ve w r est l i n g, th at?s l i ke p r acti ce m at ch es, an d th en con d i ti on i n g at th e en d ,?

Ri ver a say s.

Sop h om or e Col e Sar backer h as al so been w r est l i n g f or u p w ar d s of a d ecad e, th ou gh th i s i s on ly h i s secon d y ear w r estl i n g f or SH S. ?L ast y ear w as m y f i r st

photos sub mitted b y cole sa rb a cker

Pi ct u r ed ab ov e i s t h e 20 20 - 20 21 t eam sh o r t l y af t er t h ei r st at e r u n n er - u p p er f o r m an ce l ast seaso n . y ear w r estl i n g on var si ty.

I ?ve k i n d of been ar ou n d th e p r ogr am m y w h ol e l i f e, ju st alw ay s l i v i n g i n Stou gh ton an d w atch i n g al l th e d u el s w h en I w as i n el em en tar y an d m iddle sch ool ,?

Sar backer say s.

A n otabl e m om en t i n Sar backer ?s w r estl i n g car eer w i th SH S h ap p en ed l ast y ear , w h en th e team w en t to th e i n d i v i d u al state f i n al s. ?W e h ad a p r ett y good squ ad of a l ot of sen i or s, an d I w as [on e of ] th e on ly u n d er cl assm en th at m ad e i t to state, bu t i t w as a p r ett y cool op p or t u n i t y becau se w e h ad qu i te a f ew gu y s i n th e state f i n al s th at y ear . I ?d say th at w as p r ett y f u n ,?

Sar backer say s.

T h e p an d em i c h i t th e w r estl i n g team h ar d at th e star t of l ast y ear ?s w r estl i n g season , an d th e team f aced ch al l en ges th at cam e al on g w i th str i ct CO V I D - 19 gu i d el i n es th at m ad e i t d i f f i cu l t to com p ete.

H ow ever , th e team h as h op e f or th e f u tu r e.

Co- h ead Coach B ob Em p ey, w h o w as al so a h i gh sch ool w r estl er , h as been w i th th e Stou gh ton w r estl i n g team si n ce 1997, al on gsi d e D an Sp i l d e. ?I th i n k i t?s ever y coach ?s d esi r e to [...] sh ar e th e ex p er i en ces th ey h ad w i th th e sp or t w h en th ey w er e y ou n g, to sh ar e th at ex p er i en ce w i th oth er s, bu t m ake i t better . To be p ar t of th e jou r n ey of a stu d en t ath l et e as th ey go th r ou gh sch ool ,? Em p ey say s.

A s f or w h at ?s i n st or e f or eager w r estl i n g f an s i n t h e u p com i n g season , H ar m an say s th at w h i l e t h e t eam i s com i n g of f of a d i f f i cu l t season d u e t o t h e p an d em i c, good th i n gs ar e ah ead .

Ri ver a an d Sar backer agr ee. ?W e?r e a sch ool t h at?s i n D an e Cou n t y, so w e?ve h ad a l ot ti gh t er r estr i ct i on s t h an m an y oth er sch ool s, so i t m ay be a l i tt l e m or e d i f f i cu l t f or u s t o get i n t o ou r gr oove, bu t I k n ow w r estl i n g f an s ar e r eal ly su p p or ti ve of ou r p r ogr am an d th ey k n ow w e h ave a w on d er f u l coach i n g staf f an d th ey ?r e goi n g t o p u t u s i n th e best p osi ti on p ossi bl e to su cceed ,? H ar m an say s.

Em p ey is l ook i n g f or w ar d to t h e u p com i n g w r estl i n g season an d ever y th i n g t h at?s i n st or e f or Stou gh ton ?s t eam of w r estl er s, as w el l as t h e av i d su p p or ter s of t h e w r estl i n g p r ogr am , an d say s t h e t eam h as been ver y f or t u n ate t o h ave th e op p or tu n i ti es t h ey did. ?En joy th e op p or t u n i ti es t h at d i d n ?t ex i st l ast y ear , t o com e an d su p p or t on e an ot h er .

Atten d , th at ?s t h e bi ggest th i n g. W e al l w i sh ed w e cou l d l ast y ear , an d n ow w e can , so att en d . I ?m sp eak i n g f or al l sp or t s: en joy i t . T h er e w as a ti m e w h er e w e d i d n ?t,?

Em p ey say s. ?W e k n ow th er e?s gon n a be bu m p s al on g th e r oad , bu t h el p each oth er ou t. Be k i n d . Say h el l o [to p eop l e]. W e d i d n ?t get to d o t h at l ast y ear .? the norse star, november 2021

sports

A Glimpse Into Club Sports B y L au r a Per r y Freelance Writer

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H S ath l et es ar e gear i n g up f or t h ei r w i n t er season . For st u d en t s i n cl u b sp or ts, h ow ever , t h e gr i n d f r om th e f al l con t i n u es.

N u m er ou s sp or ts, i n cl u d i n g t en n i s an d sof tbal l , ar e of f er ed t h r ou gh or gan i zati on s i n t h e D an e Cou n ty ar ea, an d el sew h er e, gi v i n g at h l etes op p or tu n i t i es t o i m p r ove t h ei r sk i l l s y ear r ou n d .

Ju n i or Teagan Pi ckett i s a season ed at h l et e both at SH S an d bey on d . Pi ckett p ar ti ci p ates in sof t bal l , basketbal l , an d vol l ey bal l t h r ou gh sch ool d u r i n g th ei r r esp ecti ve season s, bu t al so can be f ou n d i n al t er n at e setti n gs w h en i t com es to sof tbal l . ?I p l ay f or Team H eat .

I t 's an or gan i zat i on ou t of Jan esv i l l e,? sh e say s. ?I st ar ted p l ay i n g sof tbal l w h en I w as abou t f ou r p r obably, [...] an d I st ar t ed p l ay i n g cl u b sof t bal l i n

ei gh t h gr ad e [...] I h ad a sp r i n g com bi n ed season w i t h Team H eat, so I d eci d ed to go th er e.?

A f ter bei n g d r aw n to cl u b sof tbal l , Pi ckett n oted th e d i f f er en ces i n h ow th e team op er at ed in com p ar i son to h er en d eavor s th r ou gh sch ool .

"I 'd say cl u b sp or t s ar e d ef i n i tely a l ot m or e com p et i t i ve, an d th er e's a l ot m or e w or k th at goes i n t o th em ,? sh e say s. ?Sch ool sp or ts ar e ver y i n ten si ve d u r i n g th e season , bu t ou t - of - season sp or t s p r acti ce y ear r ou n d , an d d o tou r n am en t s y ear r ou n d as w el l .?

T h i s i n cr eased v i gor ap p eal ed to Pi ckett , al on g w i t h th e con cep t of p l ay i n g m or e of t en . Ad d i ti on al ly, sh e en joy s sp en d i n g m or e ti m e w i t h at h l et es w h o sh ar e h er p assi on f or sof tbal l . ?W h en y ou get i n t o cl u b

sp or t s, th er e ar e d ef i n i tely a l ot of p eop l e th at h ave a l ot of d r i ve to keep p l ay i n g. So th er e's a l ot of m oti v ati on p r esen t, w h i ch i s a good atm osp h er e,? Pi ckett say s.

Cl u b Sp or ts ar e al so a good w ay to m eet ath l et es f r om n ear by ci t i es an d to f oster f r i en d sh i p s w i th stu d en ts w h o y ou m ay n ot h ave m et oth er w i se.

photos sub mitted b y tea g a n pickett Pi ck et t r u n s b ases. ?I en joy gett i n g to k n ow p eop l e f r om oth er p l aces.

T h er e ar e som e p eop l e on m y cl u b team th at ar e f r om I l l i n oi s, [...] th er e ar e som e p eop l e th at ar e f r om Sp r i n g Gr een ,? Pi ckett say s, n oti n g h ow m em ber s of Team H eat com e f r om m an y p l aces.

Pi ck et t i s w i t h h er t eam .

Pi ckett h i gh ly r ecom m en d s st u d en ts con si d er i n g joi n i n g cl u b sp or t s to en r ol l . ?I 'd say i t 's a r eal ly good op p or tu n i ty t o get better an d con ti n u e t o i m p r ove y ou r sk i l l s,? sh e say s, ?esp eci al ly i f t h er e i s a team or goal t h at y ou h ave f or a Stou gh t on H i gh Sch ool team .?

Sh e al so en su r es t h at th ese gr ou p s ar e n ot l i m i ted to ser i ou s at h l etes. Pi cket t say s, ?T h er e ar e d ef i n i t ely m an y d i f f er en t l evel s of or gan i zat i on , so i t cou l d be a f u n op p or tu n i ty based on w h atever sk i l l l evel or com p eti ti on l evel y ou w an t to p u r su e.?

The Future of Masks in SHS Winter Athletics B y L au r en A m st ad t Staff Writer & Business M anager

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u bl i c H eal th M ad i son & D an e Cou n ty will d eci d e on N ov. 27, 20 21 i f D an e Cou n t y w i l l con t i n u e or can cel i t s cu r r en t m ask m an d ate or d er . T h e cu r r en t or d er i s Face Cover i n g Em er gen cy O r d er # 4, w h i ch r equ i r es m ask s t o be w or n i n d oor s by al l p eop l e ol d er t h an 2 y ear s ol d at an y p u bl i c l ocat i on i n D an e Cou n ty.

W h i l e a l i f t i n g of th e cou n ty - w i d e m ask m an d at e i s n ot gu ar an t eed at th i s d at e, i t i s a f ai r ly l i kely ou tcom e accor d i n g to Pu bl i c H eal t h M ad i son & D an e Cou n t y.

Even i f t h e m an d at e i n D an e cou n t y i s l i f t ed , i t i s st i l l up to Stou gh ton l ead er s, i n col l abor ati on w i th th e l ocal p u bl i c h eal t h d ep ar tm en t , t o d eci d e w h at t h e sch ool an d i t s st u d en t s an d staf f w i l l p r act i ce f or CO V I D - 19 saf ety. ?[T h r ou gh ] h av i n g h ar d the norse star, november 2021

con ver sat i on s w i th M r.

K r u se an d th e d i st r i ct of f i ce ad m i n i st r ati on , w e can al l com e to a con sen su s of w h at i s best f or St ou gh ton , an d I th i n k th at's h ow w e'r e goi n g to p r oceed th r ou gh ou t th i s d eci si on - m ak i n g p r ocess,?

Ath l et i c an d Acti v i t i es D i r ect or A n d i e A l ex an d er say s.

A l ex an d er d oesn ?t see CO V I D - 19 m an d ates becom i n g an y m or e r estr i cti ve af t er N ov. 27 ei th er . T h i s i s exci ti n g n ew s to m an y at h l etes i n cl u d i n g sen i or , boy s sw i m co- cap tai n O w en L eh m an . ?I t 's al m ost obsessi ve to p u t [a m ask] on an d of f con stan tly becau se y ou 'r e w et , so y ou r m ask gets soaked i m m ed i ately,?

L eh m an say s.

O ver al l th ou gh , th e sen i or sw i m m er i s ju st h ap p y to get a f ull 20 21- 20 22 sw i m season af t er l ast y ear ?s sh or ten ed

an d r estr i cted on e.

A l ex an d er al so h op es th i s season can be d i f f er en t f r om l ast y ear s?. ?M y goal i s to su stai n th e season ,? A l ex an d er say s. ?I w an t th e k i d s, p ar en ts, an d f am i l i es of Stou gh ton to ex p er i en ce a f u l l y ear of th e w i n ter p r ogr am s an d to h ave i t be a saf e an d f u n en v i r on m en t .?

U n t i l N ov. 27, accor d i n g to th e Stou gh ton Sch ool d i str i ct , saf ety w i l l be best m et at SH S by stu d en ts an d staf f f ol l ow i n g th e m an d at or y m ask m an d at e i n d oor s, n ot on ly at SH S bu t at an y sch ool m em ber s m ay v i si t. ?W e f eel l i ke w h at h ap p en s i n D an e Cou n t y sh ou l d be con si st en t acr oss th e boar d . Regar d l ess i f w e go to a d i f f er en t cou n t y, w e sti l l com e back to D an e Cou n t y,? A l ex an d er say s.

L eh m an u r ges ath l et es w h o ar e h esi tan t abou t th e

cu r r en t m ask m an d at e t o con ti n u e i n t h ei r w i n t er sp or t w i th a p osi ti ve at ti tu d e an d a m ask becau se t h at?s w h at?s ad v i sed . ?I d on 't t h i n k [t h e m ask m an d ate] w i l l be goi n g on f or ever , so I 'd say com p et e an y w ay s. You on ly h ave f ou r season s,? L eh m an say s.

I n f o r m at i o n can b e f o u n d u n d er t h e C O V I D - 19 D at a D ash b o ar d o n t h e SA SD w eb si t e.

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Serving Pancakes and O pportunities A look into the story of Pa nca ke Ca fe O wner Drew Ghelfi a nd the b usiness tha t keeps g iving B y Gab e Ro u sseau Sports Editor

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h en Pan cake Caf e cam e t o Stou gh t on i n 20 18, i t seem ed t o be y ou r t y p i cal br eak f ast r est au r an t , an d f or tw o y ear s, i t w as ju st t h at. Gar n er i n g a r ep u t at i on f or p oor ser v i ce, f ood qu al i ty, an d m or e; by w i n t er of 20 20 i t w as t i m e f or a ch an ge. N ear ly t w o y ear s l at er th at r ep u t ati on h as com p l etely sh i f ted . Fr om i m p r ov i n g t o a 4.1 star r estau r an t r at i n g on Googl e, t o r u n n i n g a f ood d r i ve d u r i n g th e ear ly st ages of t h e p an d em i c, t o bei n g i n volved w i t h v ar i ou s l ocal f u n d r ai ser s an d y ou th p r ogr am s, Pan cake Caf e h as d evel op ed a st r on g an d d ep en d abl e r ep u t at i on w i th i n th e Stou gh ton com m u n i t y. T h e qu est i on i s, w h o ar e t h e p eop l e th at cou l d be r esp on si bl e f or su ch a d r ast i c ch an ge i n ju st a sh or t am ou n t of t i m e?

Pan cak e C af e cam e t o St o u gh t o n i n 20 18 an d i s k n ow n f o r t h ei r w i d e sel ect i o n o f b r eak f ast f o o d .

T h e an sw er t o th at qu esti on st ar t s w i t h th e r estau r an t's ow n er , D r ew Gh el f i . St an d i n g 5?4" i n st atu r e, w i t h a h ead of cu r ly d ar k h ai r , an d an i n f ect i ou s sm i l e, h e an d h i s st af f h ave br ou gh t a n ew an d p osi t i ve en er gy to St ou gh t on . W h i l e Gh el f i 's ti t l e an d p r i m ar y d u ti es ar e bei n g t h e ow n er of Pan cake Caf e, h e k n ow s t h at h i s p u r p ose an d goal s f or th e r est au r an t go m u ch f u r th er t h an ju st th e 8

k i tch en .

"I 'm som ebod y who f ocu ses on p r ov i d i n g val u e an d i m p act i n ever y r oom I 'm i n . I ?m som ebod y th at tr u ly bel i eves i n bu i l d i n g an d d evel op i n g ch ar acter [an d ] r el ati on sh i p s. I 'm al l abou t em p ow er i n g oth er p eop l e,? Gh el f i say s.

Si n ce tak i n g over as th e ow n er , h e h as d on e ju st th at.

H ow ever , th e jou r n ey to get to th i s p oi n t w as an y t h i n g bu t easy.

Gh el f i w as bor n i n M ad i son , W i sc. i n th e l ate 1980 s an d h as l i ved th er e ever si n ce, w i th th e excep ti on of a tw o y ear sti n t i n Jan esv i l l e d u r i n g h i s m i d d l e sch ool y ear s. Gh el f i w as an on ly ch i l d r ai sed by h i s si n gl e m oth er . W i t h ou t a f at h er f i gu r e an d tr u e r ol e m od el i n h i s l i f e, Gh el f i w as l ef t to f i gu r e ou t a l ot of th i n gs f or h i m sel f , i n cl u d i n g cr eati n g h i s ow n p at h .

Gr ow i n g u p , h e sp en t h i s ti m e goi n g to sch ool , h an gi n g ou t w i t h f r i en d s, p l ay i n g f oot bal l an d basket bal l , an d oth er acti v i t i es th at y ou r ty p i cal k i d w ou l d d o. A f ter m ov i n g back f r om Jan esv i l l e i n 7t h gr ad e, h e f i n i sh ed m i d d l e sch ool i n M ad i son w h er e h e th en at ten d ed M ad i son East H i gh Sch ool . At f i r st gl an ce, Gh el f i m ay h ave seem ed to be an or d i n ar y h i gh sch ool stu d en t . I n r eal i ty, h i s teen age y ear s w er e f ar f r om or d i n ar y. ?I h ad m y f i r st d au gh t er ei gh t d ay s bef or e m y 16th bi r t h d ay ; I h ad m y son bef or e I w as 19. Goi n g i n t o m y col l ege y ear s, I w as w or k i n g th r ee or f ou r jobs.

I t w as sch ool , go to w or k , th en see th e baby. T h er e w as a l ot of sacr i f i ce,? h e say s.

A f ter gr ad u at i n g h i gh sch ool , Gh el f i m ad e th e d eci si on to at ten d M AT C to stu d y m ar keti n g.

T h ese col l ege y ear s p r oved to be ch al l en gi n g f or Gh el f i .

¨I w asn 't h ap p y at al l . I w as m ask i n g m y p ai n , m y i n n er tr au m as by bei n g i n sch ool 20 h ou r s a w eek . 120 h ou r s a w eek , I w as occu p y i n g m y ti m e f i l l i n g voi d s, an d th en [...] ei gh t h ou r s on a Su n d ay I 'd sp en d w i th m y k i d s,?

Gh el f i say s. ?A l l of m y val u es w er e ju st si gn i f i can tly m essed u p . M y p r i or i ti es w er e n ot con gr u en t w i th w h o I w as."

photos sub mitted b y d rew g helfi D r ew Gh el f i (p i ct u r ed ) t o o k ov er Pan cak e C af e i n Feb 20 20 an d h as si n ce t u r n ed t h e r est au r an t ar o u n d .

T h i s w en t on f or si x y ear s. I t w as th en w h en h e d eci d ed th er e n eed ed to be ch an ges m ad e i n h i s l i f e.

Pr obably abou t ten y ear s ago, I m ad e a d eci si on to becom e h ap p y an d to be m or e al i gn ed w i th my val u es, an d I m ad e a d eci si on th at ever y d eci si on goi n g f or w ar d w i l l be based on m y val u es an d based on m y bel i ef s. I w ou l d n 't accep t n egati ve en er gy or n egati ve p eop l e or p eop l e th at w an t m e to com e ou t an d d r i n k an d d o th i s an d d o th at. I val u ed con f i d en ce an d r esp ect an d i n t egr i ty an d em p ow er m en t. A l l th ese th i n gs th at l ed m e to w h o I am tod ay," h e say s.

W h i l e, at th e ti m e, th er e w asn 't a cl ear p at h to w h er e

al l of th i s w ou l d l ead h i m , h e k n ew h e w as t ak i n g step s i n t o th e r i gh t d i r ect i on .

Gh el f i 's jou r n ey i n t o th e r estau r an t i n d u st r y w asn ?t over n i gh t. H e st ar ted at a p l ace cal l ed Bon ef i sh Gr i l l i n M ad i son back i n 20 16 an d w or ked t h er e u n t i l 20 19.

"I w as a gr ou p an d even t m an ager , d i n i n g m an ager , k i tch en m an ager , bar m an ager ,? Gh el f i say s. ?You n am e i t, I d i d i t .?

A l on g t h e w ay, Gh el f i say s i t w asn 't t h e job i t sel f th at gave him th e i n sp i r ati on t o t ake over h i s ow n bu si n ess, i t w as on e of his cl ose f r i en d s an d m en t or s th at p u sh ed h i m i n th at d i r ecti on .

"I h ad an i n cr ed i bl e m en t or by t h e n am e of Ch ef Rod L ad son . H e w as a f ath er to m e. H e w as a f r i en d to m e. H e w as som ebod y t h at t au gh t m e f or - p r of i t bu si n ess. H e w as som eon e th at t au gh t m e n ot f or p r of i t bu si n ess. H e w as som ebod y t h at r eal ly i n sp i r ed m e t o t r u ly get a firm bel i ef an d u n d er st an d i n g of w h at a r el ati on sh i p i s,? h e say s.

Gh el f i (t h i r d f r o m r i gh t) r eci ev es t h e N ew B u si n ess o f t h e Year Aw ar d f r o m t h e St o u gh t o n C h am b er o f C o m m er ce I t w as af t er a t each er ap p r eci at i on even t t h at Ch ef Rod an d Bon ef i sh Gr i l l h osted w h er e D r ew l ear n ed th e i m p act of gi v i n g back to oth er s.

"W e r af f l ed of f t each er ap p r eci at i on bags. W e h ad the norse star, november 2021

cover story k i d s th er e t al k i n g abou t w h y t h ey ap p r eci at e th ei r f avor i te t each er s. I t w as am azi n g. I d i d n 't r eal i ze h ow p ow er f u l t h at even t w as u n ti l i t con cl u d ed . I f el t so f u l f i l l ed . I t ol d [Ch ef Rod ], ?I k n ow m y cal l i n g. I w an t to em p ow er p eop l e. T h i s i s i t .?

A n d h e tau gh t m e h ow to d o t h at,? Gh el f i say s.

C h ef Ro d L ad so n (p i ct u r ed ) w as a w el l k n ow n an d r esp ect ed m em b er w i t h i n t h e M ad i so n co m m u n i t y w h o h ad a p r o f o u n d i m p act o n m an y.

Ch ef Rod p assed aw ay Ju ly 13, 20 18.

Gh el f i m en ti on ed h ow t h e i m p act of h i s d eat h ch an ged h i m an d p u sh ed h i m t o t ake th e n ex t step i n h i s jou r n ey. ?I r em em ber l i ke i t w as

y ester d ay, an d i t br oke m e, cr u sh ed m e, an d sh atter ed m e [...] A y ear af ter h i s p assi n g, I l ef t B on ef i sh Gr i l l .

I m ad e th e d eci si on an d I sai d , ?H ey, I 'm goi n g to h ave an i n vestm en t team . I 'm goi n g to ei th er cr eate a bu si n ess or take over a f ai l i n g bu si n ess, an d I 'm goi n g to r ebu i l d th e br an d .

I 'm goi n g to em p ow er th e com m u n i ty th at w e'r e i n becau se w e'r e goi n g to be v al u abl e an d i m p actf u l to ot h er s,?? Gh el f i say s.

T h en , i n ear ly 20 20 , a y ear af t er l eav i n g B on ef i sh Gr i l l , Gh el f i got h i s ch an ce.

St ou gh ton ?s Pan cake Caf e w as l ook i n g f or n ew ow n er sh i p .

H av i n g ex p er i en ce w or k i n g at th e M ad i son Pan cake Caf e l ocati on , Gh el f i w as abl e to u se h i s con n ecti on s to l an d h i m sel f th e op p or tu n i t y. ?[T h e p r ev i ou s ow n er s] w er e ei th er goi n g to cl ose th e r estau r an t or sel l i t, an d I w as l i ke, ?I 'm i n ,? so I br ou gh t m y Si ci l i an an d M ex i can beh i n d ou t h er e to St ou gh ton ,? Gh el f i say s.

O n Feb. 1, 20 20 , Gh el f i 's jou r n ey as a r estau r an t ow n er began . Ver y qu i ck ly af t er tak i n g over , Gh el f i w as f aced w i t h th e ch al l en ges th at bei n g a sm al l bu si n ess ow n er br i n gs.

"I t ju st so h ap p en s th at si x w eek s af t er w e t ook over th e r estau r an t, th er e w as a gl obal p an d em i c, an d , to say th e l east , i t k i n d of i m p acted m y f i n an ci al p l an n i n g. N ot p ay i n g y ou r sel f f or 20 con secu t i ve m on th s w as p r et ty d etr i m en t al ,? h e say s.

D u r i n g th e ear ly stages of th e p an d em i c, w h en al l sm al l bu si n esses an d r estau r an t s w er e f or ced to cl ose i n Stou gh ton , Gh el f i star ted to w on d er h ow h e cou l d m ake an i m p act.

"T h e p an d em i c h ad ju st star ted , an d I r em em ber cal l i n g u p [m y f r i en d ] T i f f an y l i ke, ?H ow can I be val u abl e an d i m p actf u l an d u se th e p l atf or m th at I h ave to h el p oth er p eop l e? N o on e i s com i n g to th e r estau r an t .

Peop l e d on 't w an t to go i n t o stor es. W h at i f I r an l i ke som e ty p e of f ood p an tr y,?? Gh el f i say s.

T h e on ly p r obl em w as, Gh el f i w asn 't qu i te su r e w h o h e cou l d d o i t w i th . H e w an t ed to p ar tn er w i th som eon e th at h ad a p osi ti ve voi ce i n th e com m u n i ty an d al r ead y h ad th e p l atf or m to be i m p actf u l . T h en , a f r i en d of h i s r ecom m en d ed Ji m m y B r ook s at Pr i m al Str en gth an d Fi tn ess. B r ook s h ad star ted h an d i n g ou t sack l u n ch es i n br ow n p ap er bags ou t to f am i l i es th at n eed ed i t, an d Gh el f i w as i m m ed i ately h ooked .

"I w as l i ke, m an , [B r ook s] i s su ch a w on d er f u l h u m an bei n g, an d h e's l i ke m e. I 'm l i ke, 'l et's d o i t,'" h e say s.

Gh el f i set u p a m eeti n g w i th B r ook s an d th ei r p ar t n er sh i p began .

T he p an tr y w as set u p ou tsi d e th e f r on t d oor of Pr i m al Str en gth an d Fi tn ess. T h er e w as a sh el f f or var i ou s cr acker s an d sn ack s, an d cool er s f u l l of sack l u n ch es.

T h e "Pr i m al Pan t r y " r an f r o m M ar ch - M ay 20 20 an d f ed ov er 2,0 0 0 f am i l i es.

Gh el f i an d h i s staf f w ou l d get to th e r est au r an t as ear ly as 3 a.m . t o p r ep ar e f r esh san d w i ch es an d ot h er m eal s f or th e d ay. A f t er on ly a sh or t p er i od of t i m e, t h e p an tr y becam e som eth i n g m u ch bi gger t h an Gh el f i an d B r ook s cou l d h ave ever i m agi n ed . ?W e ju st kep t gr ow i n g an d evolv i n g. W e got som e d i f f er en t sp on sor sh i p s f r om l ocal com m u n i t y m em ber s.

M or e p eop l e w er e gi v i n g.

T h e m or e p eop l e gave, t h e m or e w e d i d . You k n ow, w e en d ed u p bei n g on CBS ch an n el 30 0 0 . I 'm l i ke, ?w e h ave th e f u n d s t o t ake car e of 5,0 0 0 p eop l e,?? h e say s.

At th e sam e t i m e, Gh el f i an d B r ook s p ar t n er ed w i t h oth er sp on sor s t o p r ov i d e over on e h u n d r ed br eak f asts f or m ed i cal staf f an d f i r st r esp on d er s. T h e p an tr y en d ed u p l ast i n g u p u n ti l th e or i gi n al stay at h om e or d er en d ed on M ay 26, 20 20 . I n t ot al , t h e p an tr y f ed over 2,0 0 0 f am i l i es d u r i n g i t s t w o m on th sp an .

Gh el f i an d h i s st af f w o u l d p r ep ar e an d p r ov i d e m eal s f o r f r o n t l i n e w o r k er s an d em er gen cy r esp o n d er s d u r i n g t h e p an d em i c. T h ey w er e ab l e t o p r ov i d e ov er 10 0 m eal s d u r i n g t h at t i m e. the norse star, november 2021

9

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Pan cak e C af e Par t n er ed w i t h si x n o n p r o f i t o r gan i zat i o n s, b u si n esses, an d 37 v o l u n t eer s t o h o st t h e St o u gh t o n C o m m u n i t y B r at Par t y o n Ju n . 5, 20 21. T h e ev en t r ai sed ov er $6 ,0 0 0 t o d o n at e t o v ar i o u s o r gan i zat i o n s T h e f ood p an t r y w as ju st th e begi n n i n g. Si n ce t h en , Gh el f i an d Pan cake Caf e h ave gon e on to p ar tn er with d i f f er en t p r ogr am s an d bu si n esses to d o as m u ch as t h ey can f or t h e com m u n i t y. At a r ecen t even t, Pan cake Caf e p ar tn er ed with si x n on p r of i t or gan i zat i on s an d a d ozen bu si n esses t o r ai se m on ey f or p r ogr am s th at n eed ed i t. T h e even t sol d br ats, h ot d ogs, h ad a f ace p ai n ter , bou n cy h ou ses, an d an obstacl e cou r se, an d t u r n ed ou t t o be a su ccess.

I n total , th e even t w as abl e t o r ai se over $6,0 0 0 to d on ate to v ar i ou s or gan i zati on s.

Gh el f i say s t h at on D ec.

18, 20 21, Pan cake Caf e w i l l be h osti n g an even t f or k i d s t o con n ect w i t h on e an oth er an d com e t oget h er d u r i n g t h e h ol i d ay season .

"W e al so ju st p ar t n er ed w i th Toy s For Tot s, U n i t ed W ay, ST A RT , an d B ack 2 Basi cs, to h ost a San t a's W or k sh op . W e ar e cal l i n g i t K i d s Sh op f or K i d s. T h er e w i l l be p i ctu r es w i t h M r . an d M r s. Cl au se, a gi f t w r ap p i n g st at i on , D I Y H ot Ch ocol ate, [an d ] k i d s w i l l ch oose toy s t o gi ve t o oth er k i d s," Gh el f i say s.

T h e even t i s op en to an y ch i l d r en an d f am i l i es t h at w i sh to at ten d .

A s f or f u t u r e p l an s, Gh el f i say s t h at h e i s f ocu si n g on bu i l d i n g p osi ti ve r el at i on sh i p s w i t h 10

th e y ou th in th e com m u n i ty an d con ti n u i n g to be a l ead er f or ot h er s.

"N o m at ter w h at's goi n g on , w e'r e goi n g to be

th e p osi ti on s sh e h as n ow.

T h i n gs w er en 't alw ay s easy, th ou gh .

"W h en I f i r st star ted , I r eal ly h ad i ssu es w i th m y

T h e Pan cak e C af e St af f at t h ei r San t a's W o r k sh o p ev en t i n 20 20 v al u abl e an d i m p actf u l . I t an x i ety. I t w as cau si n g d oesn 't m at ter y ou r r ace, i ssu es w i th m e gett i n g col or , cr eed , or w eal th . I t's tabl es, an d I w ou l d get ju st w h o w e ar e,? h e say s. over w h el m ed ver y easi ly.

W h i l e Gh el f i m ay l ead , D r ew w ou l d coach m e an d h e takes a ton of p r i d e i n h i s coach m e an d coach m e. staf f an d al l th ey d o to m ake T h er e w er e m an y ti m es h e th i n gs p ossi bl e. O n e of ju st w an t ed to be l i ke, th ese p eop l e i s Sh el l i e ?Sh el l i e, I 'm sor r y, th i s i sn 't B i l od eau , w h o i s a team w or k i n g f or u s. [ W e] ar e l ead an d m an ager at goi n g to h ave to l et y ou go,?

Pan cake Caf e. Sh e star ted bu t h e saw som eth i n g i n m e w or k i n g th er e i n D ecem ber th at I d i d n 't even see, an d 20 20 an d h as r i sen th r ou gh I 'm gl ad th at h e d i d . [...] th e r an k s qu i ck ly to ear n One d ay som eth i n g

sn ap p ed , an d i t 's been u p ever si n ce,? Bi l od eau say s.

B i l od eau say s t h at i t i s th e atm osp h er e t h at h as m ad e th i n gs so en joy abl e d u r i n g h er t i m e t h er e. ?I t i s a su p er p osi ti ve en v i r on m en t. I get al on g w el l w i th ever y bod y. I actu al ly l ove al l th e teen ager s t h at w or k t h er e. I tr eat th em l i ke m y ow n k i d s. I f eel t h at i f t h ey n eed to tal k to m e, t h ey 'r e abl e t o be op en an d t al k t o m e abou t an y th i n g. I t d oesn 't h ave to be w or k- r el ated . I t cou l d be abou t t h ei r l i f e or an y t h i n g p er son al .

I 'm th er e f or t h em ,? Bi l od eau say s.

B i l od eau m en t i on s t h at h er goal s ar e t o con ti n u e i m p r ov i n g at h er p osi ti on an d to w or k t ow ar d s m ak i n g th e cu stom er ex p er i en ce as good as p ossi bl e.

Gh el f i say s t h at B i l od eau i s h i s r i gh t h an d w om an , an d t h ei r p ar t n er sh i p i s on e t h at h e i s ex tr em ely p r ou d of .

Ky an n a W i l l i am son i s a Ju n i or at St ou gh ton H i gh Sch ool an d i s al so a cook at Pan cake Caf e. Sh e st ar ted th er e i n sp r i n g of 20 20 an d h as d on e v ar i ou s jobs f r om h ost i n g, to w ai tr essi n g, an d n ow to cook i n g t h r ou gh ou t h er ti m e th er e. W i l l i am son m en t i on s th at f r om t h e get go, i t w as a ver y i n cl u si ve en v i r on m en t.

"Ri gh t aw ay, i t becam e a secon d h om e f or m e. W e?r e the norse star, november 2021

cover story

Fam i l i es gat h er ed at Pan cak e C af e f o r t h e "EGG- C I T I N G East er Ex t r av agan za" Ev en t o n A p r i l 3, 20 21. T h e ev en t h ad an egg h u n t , gam es, sn ack s, p r i zes, an d p i ct u r es w i t h t h e East er B u n n y al l so i n volved w i t h each oth er . W e al l h an g ou t t ogeth er , i t 's l i ke [w or k i n g w i th ] f r i en d s r at h er th an ju st p eop l e t h at I w or k w i th . Fr om t h e st ar t i t w as ver y l ov i n g,? W i l l i am son say s.

H ow ever , w i t h th e p osi ti ve en v i r on m en t com es a l ot of bu sy d ay s.

"I t's a ver y f ast p aced [ job]. I t goes f r om zer o to on e h u n d r ed , t h en back d ow n to t h i r t y, t h en back u p to on e h u n d r ed r eal ly r eal ly f ast . L ot s of m ov i n g

the norse star, november 2021

ar ou n d ,? sh e say s.

Sh e say s th at Gh el f i u ses a go get i t at ti tu d e to p u sh h er an d th e oth er w or ker s to be at th ei r best. "[Gh el f i ] i s ver y m u ch l i ke, ?You got i t ? Go! Ru n w i t h i t ,? bu t i f h e w er e to see y ou star t to si n k , h e w ou l d m ake su r e y ou d on 't ,? sh e say s.

W h i l e i t h as taken y ear s of h ar d w or k an d set back s to get to w h er e h e i s n ow, al l of i t h as al l ow ed Gh el f i to get to a p l ace w h er e h e can u se h i s

val u es, bel i ef s, an d cook i n g sk i l l s to i n sp i r e an d cr eate better op p or t u n i ti es f or oth er s.

He say s th at th e com bi n ati on of h i m sel f an d th e p eop l e ar ou n d h i m ar e w h at w i l l al l ow th e r estau r an t to r each n ew h ei gh t s.

"I str on gly bel i eve i f y ou w an t to r u n f ast, y ou r u n by y ou r sel f . I f y ou w an t to r u n f ar , y ou r u n w i th th e team ,? Gh el f i say s.

As th e bu si n ess

con ti n u es to gr ow, Gh el f i say s th at th e bu si n ess w i l l con ti n u e to d o m or e an d m or e f or th e com m u n i t y an d m ake as m u ch of an i m p act as p ossi bl e. M or e th an an y t h i n g, h e say s h e i s exci ted f or on e t h i n g i n p ar t i cu l ar .

"I 'm ju st exci t ed t o be abl e to p r ov i d e op p or t u n i ty f or ever y bod y th at w e w or k w i th ."

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Gi f t gi v i n g W or d s of af f i r m ati on Q u al i ty ti m e Acts of ser v i ce

C h ar l i e B r ow n

Go o d gr i ef ! I f y o u ch eck ed m o st l y A?s, t h en y o u go t C h ar l i e B r ow n !

You p u t ever y on e el se?s n eed s above y ou r ow n , an d som eti m es p eop l e t ake ad v an tage of t h at . You u su al ly h ave t h e r i gh t an sw er s, bu t p eop l e r ar ely l i sten to y ou . You ?r e p r ett y i n secu r e, an d y ou d on ?t f eel l i ke p eop l e ap p r eci at e y ou , bu t at th e en d of t h e d ay, p eop l e ar e t h an k f u l f or y ou an d al l t h at y ou d o. the norse star, november 2021

A. B. C. D.

L an gu age A r ts Ar t H i stor y Psy ch ol ogy

6 . W h at i s y o u r f av o r i t e sp o r t ?

A. B. C. D.

3. W h at k i n d o f co f f ee d o y o u l i k e?

A. B. C. D.

5. W h at i s y o u r f av o r i t e su b j ect i n sch o o l ?

B asebal l N o th an k s Ch ess Footbal l

7. W h en d o y o u st u d y f o r a t est ?

A. B. C. D.

I tr y to cr am th e n i gh t bef or e.

W e h ad a test ?

I stu d y th r ou gh ou t th e en ti r e u n i t .

I d on ?t n eed to stu d y.

8. W h at i s y o u r f av o r i t e co l o r ?

A. B. C. D.

Yel l ow Pi n k Red Blue

Sal l y B r ow n

L i n u s Van Pel t

L u cy Van Pel t

I f y o u ch eck ed m o st l y B ?s, t h en y o u go t Sal l y !

Sassy an d sw eet , y ou ?r e alw ay s l ook i n g ou t f or ever y on e?s best i n t er ests (w h i l e m ak i n g th e occasi on al sn ar k y com m en t, of cou r se). W h i l e y ou can be a bi t of a d r am a qu een , y ou r r ad i an t sm i l e, ad or abl e d em ean or , an d com p assi on ate acti on s m ake u p f or i t .

I f y o u ch eck ed m o st l y C ?s, t h en y o u go t L i n u s!

You h ave a w ay of br i n gi n g p eop l e togeth er . You ?r e w i se bey on d y ou r y ear s y et sti l l a ch i l d at h ear t . You ?r e n ot af r ai d to str ay f r om th e cr ow d , even i f th at m ean s y ou sp en d som e ti m e al on e.

You r k i n d w or d s an d p osi ti ve att i t u d e m ake f or a better w or l d ar ou n d y ou , an d w h i l e y ou get p u sh ed ar ou n d ever y n ow an d th en , p eop l e gen er al ly r esp ect y ou an d y ou r i d eas.

I f y o u ch eck ed m o st l y D ?s, t h en y o u go t L u cy !

You ?r e alw ay s l ook i n g ou t f or n u m ber on e. You k n ow w h at y ou w an t , an d y ou k n ow ex act ly h ow t o m ake oth er p eop l e get i t f or y ou .

You ?r e stu bbor n an d st r on g an d a l i ttl e bi t i n t i m i d at i n g.

H ow ever , y ou ar e l oy al , an d y ou sh ow u p f or t h e p eop l e th at y ou car e abou t , even i f y ou d on ?t w an t t h em t o k n ow.

13

arts & entertainment

SHS Students Give Thanks B y C l ar e B o r ch ar d t Staff Writer & Copy Editor

W el l f ol k s, H al l ow een ?s sp ook i n ess i s n ow beh i n d u s, an d D ecem ber ?s f est i v i ti es l i e ah ead . T h i s m on th , w e f i n d ou r selves i n t h e cen t er of th e h ol i d ay season . T h e p ean u t bu tt er an d jel ly of th e san d w i ch , i f y ou w i l l . T h e cen ter of t h e O r eo. T h ese cl u m sy m et ap h or s ar e to say, i t ?s T h an k sgi v i n g season , h om e to th e h ol i d ay d u r i n g w h i ch w e sh ar e a var i ety of y u m m y d i sh es an d som eti m es- aw k w ar d d i scu ssi on s w i th f am i ly ar ou n d th e d i n n er tabl e. O n e of t h e bet ter t h i n gs to com e ou t of th i s w i d ely - cel ebr at ed h ol i d ay i s th e tr ad i ti on of gi v i n g th an k s.

M an y of u s ch i l d r en w h o gr ew u p i n th e A m er i can sch ool sy stem can l i kely r ecal l cr eati n g T h an k sgi v i n g car d s an d cr af t s i n ou r ear ly sch ool y ear s, p u t ti n g th e m an y th i n gs ou r l i ttl e m i n d s w er e th an k f u l f or on to p ap er . M essy h an d w r i t i n g, m i ssp el l ed w or d s, an d r ou gh ly - tr aced h an d tu r key s d on n ed col or f u l sh eets of con str u cti on p ap er , an d w e br ou gh t h om e ou r w on d er f u l T h an k sgi v i n g p r ojects w i th p r i d e.

A s w e?ve gr ow n ol d er , gi v i n g th an k s h as n ot ceased to be associ ated w i th th i s N ovem ber h ol i d ay, an d com e each T h an k sgi v i n g season , w e f i n d ou r selves i n th e p osi ti on of p on d er i n g, p er h ap s a bi t m or e d eep ly th an w e w ou l d t en d t o d o on an y ot h er d ay of th e y ear , w h at w e?r e tr u ly th an k f u l f or . T h er e ar e cer tai n ly m an y r eason s to be th an k f u l both d u r i n g t h e h ol i d ay season an d y ear r ou n d . T h i s y ear SH S stu d en ts vol u n teer ed to sh ar e som e of th ei r ow n .

?I ?m gr at ef u l f or m y f r i en d s. T h ey ar e r eal ly su p p or t i ve an d I can alw ay s t al k t o t h em , an d [...] t h ey d on 't m ake y ou f eel l on ely.?

?I ?m r eal ly th an k f u l f or m y m om . Sh e's alw ay s been m y su p p or t sy stem an d alw ay s k n ow s ex actly w h at to say.?

- Ch l oe K ap u sta (10 )

- Ky ah T r i bu n e (11)

?M y ar t f or m , m an .?

- Gr ace L eBeau (12)

?T h e th i n g I am m ost th an k f u l f or th i s y ear i s th at th e w or l d i s f i n al ly star ti n g to becom e n or m al agai n .?

- Con n or Ly on s (11)

"I 'm t h an k f u l f or m y f r i en d s.?

- L i l ly Tal ber t (11)

?I ?m th an k f u l f or n ot h av i n g to d o cal cu l u s over T h an k sgi v i n g br eak .?

?I ?m th an k f u l f or al l m y teach er s w h o ar e w or k i n g to ed u cate u s to th ei r best abi l i ty th i s y ear , as i t h as sti l l been so d i f f er en t f r om ever bef or e.?

- K al en a W i n t er (12)

?I ?m gr atef u l f or m y op p or tu n i ti es.?

- A n on y m ou s (9)

?I ?m th an k f u l f or n ot [h av i n g] a l ot of tests.?

- Pi p er Gr an t (10 )

- A n n i e Tan gem an (12)

14

?I am gr at ef u l f or m u si c [...] I l i ke t o l i sten to m u si c, bu t I al so l i ke to p l ay m u si c. W h en ever I p l ay m u si c, I f eel r eal ly h ap p y.?

?I ?m gr atef u l f or m y f am i ly becau se th ey p r ov i d e m e w i th f ood , an d th ey p u t a r oof over m y h ead .?

- M y l ah H al l (10 )

- Sh el by H ol d en (11)

a rt b y emma phillips the norse star, november 2021

opinions

Rethink Retakes B y M ad el i n e M o n t h i e Staff Writer e h ave al l f el t th at over w h el m i n g an x i ety w h en r ecei v i n g a t est back , h ow cr u sh i n g i t f eel s to see an u n f avor abl e scor e. M ost of u s h ave sat t h er e, cal cu l at i n g h ow m u ch t h i s aw f u l t est scor e w i l l af f ect ou r gr ad e. W e?ve con si d er ed ou r op t i on s, accep ti n g t h e f at al scor e or r et ak i n g th e t est al t oget h er .

Retakes ar e, of cou r se, t h e f avor ed op t i on , bu t

W

a rt b y emma phillips

th ey ?r e n ot as ap p eal i n g as th ey seem . Retakes of f er a n ew ch an ce, a f r esh star t on an u n f avor abl e test scor e, bu t th ey ?r e n ot al l th at p r om i si n g.

Retakes al l ow y ou to h ave a secon d op p or t u n i t y on a test, su r e, bu t at th e cost of on ly ear n i n g u p to an 80 %. T h i s p ol i cy h as been i n p l ace f or y ear s. I t seem s l i ke an an n oy i n g, y et com m on , p ar t of acad em i c l i f e, bu t w h y i s th i s th e case?

D oes i t h ave to stay l i ke th i s?

St u d en ts sh ou l d be abl e to r ecei ve u p to 10 0 % on r etaken tests. I t seem s i l l ogi cal th at th i s even h as to be ar gu ed . St u d en ts w h o h ave to r etake tests ar en ?t gi ven l ess qu esti on s on th e r etake tests, n or ar e th ey gi ven easi er qu est i on s. I f th ey ar e tak i n g a si m i l ar test, w h y sh ou l d n 't th ey be al l ow ed to r ecei ve a si m i l ar scor e?

Som e ar gu e th at th e

r eason th i s p ol i cy i s i n p l ace is to h ol d stu d en ts accou n t abl e, bu t I th i n k th er e ar e oth er w ay s to d o so. M an y teach er s h ave th e p ol i cy i n p l ace th at stu d en ts can n ot r etake th ei r test u n ti l al l of th ei r assi gn m en ts f r om th e ch ap ter ar e tu r n ed i n , an d I th i n k th at th i s i s a val i d p ol i cy. Si n ce we al r ead y h ave an accou n t abi l i ty p ol i cy, th er e i s n o n eed f or tw o.

Stu d en ts can al so f eel an x i ety on test d ay s, l ead i n g to l ow er scor es. Ear n i n g u p to 10 0 % on r etaken test s i n stead of on ly u p to an 80 %, th e cu r r en t p ol i cy, can al l ev i ate th at str ess.

M an y teach er s ar gu e th at i t?s u n f ai r to th em , an d to stu d en ts w h o stu d y f or th e test , f or stu d en ts to be al l ow ed to bom b th e test on test d ay an d r etake i t f or a better scor e af ter stu d y i n g.

Per son al ly, I th i n k th i s ar gu m en t i s w eak . D on ?t

teach er s want t h ei r st u d en ts to r ecei ve good scor es on test s? I f an ex t r a d ay i s w h at th e stu d en t n eed s, sh ou l d n ?t th ey be abl e t o h ave i t ? L i f e of ten get s i n t h e w ay.

Stu d en ts ar e bal an ci n g a l ot: si ck n ess, ex t r acu r r i cu l ar even ts, an d m u ch m or e.

Stu d en ts sh ou l d be abl e to r ecei ve 10 0 % on r et aken test s, n ot on ly u p t o an 80 %.

T h ey ar e d oi n g t h e sam e am ou n t of w or k , som eti m es even an ot h er assi gn m en t al on g w i t h t h ei r r etake. T h ei r r et aken t est d oes n ot con tai n easi er or l ess qu esti on s t h an t h e or i gi n al test. St u d en t s al so can ex p er i en ce st r ess an d test an x i ety, l ead i n g t o l ow er test scor es. L i f e of ten gets i n th e w ay, so som eti m es stu d en ts m ay n eed m or e ti m e an d p r ep ar at i on f or test s. T h e p ol i cy of on ly bei n g abl e t o r ecei ve an 80 % on r etaken t est s i s i l l ogi cal an d sh ou l d be r em oved .

Keep a n O pen Mind for O pen Notes B y B el i n d a A k al e Freelance Writer

C

on si d er t h i s si t u at i on : a n ew t op i c begi n s i n y ou r cl asses an d y ou d o y ou r best t o p ay at ten t i on .

I t?s a n ew st ar t an d y ou 'r e gi ven a cl ean sl at e t o d o y ou r best. You d o th e h om ew or k , ask qu est i on s, an d even col l abor at e w i t h ot h er stu d en ts t o l ear n f r om on e an ot h er . Soon er th an y ou k n ow, t h e t i m e f or y ou to ?d em on st r ate y ou r u n d er stan d i n g? on a test cr eep s ar ou n d t h e cor n er , f or ci n g y ou i n t o a stu d y m ar ath on t h at u su al ly goes p ast m i d n i gh t i f y ou 'r e l i ke an y oth er A m er i can stu d en t. H ow of t en d o y ou find y ou r sel f in th i s p osi ti on ?

W i th th e en d - of - qu ar t er t est- tak i n g- ex t r av agan za t h at h ap p en s ever y cou p l e

the norse star, november 2021

of m on t h s, m an y over ach i ev i n g stu d en ts f i n d th em selves str essed abou t th ei r gr ad es. H ow ar e th ese stu d en t s, w h o ar e d oi n g th ei r best to p r ep ar e th em selves f or th ei r su m m ati ves, sti l l f i n d i n g th em selves u n easy ?

T he w ay we d em on str ate ou r u n d er st an d i n g i s ou td ated an d on ly cau ses str ess i n al r ead y bu sy, an x i ou s stu d en t s. W e can ?t el i m i n ate tests com p l etely, as th ey ar e sti l l a gr eat w ay to sh ow u n d er st an d i n g, so w h at ar e th e sol u t i on s?

SH S sh ou l d m ove tow ar d s m ak i n g al l test s op en n ot es.

Stu d en ts, esp eci al ly during th e p an d em i c, ten d to h ave l ot s of an x i ety su r r ou n d i n g tests. T h e l ast th i n g w e n eed

to ad d to th i s i s cl osed n ote test s. Stu d en ts sh ou l d be gi ven th e op p or t u n i ty to u se th ei r r esou r ces to d em on str ate th ei r u n d er st an d i n g.

T h ou gh m an y ed u cator s bel i eve th at op en n ote test s d on 't p r ov i d e an accu r ate gau ge of u n d er st an d i n g, on e SH S cou r se p r oves oth er w i se.

B i otech n ol ogy is a p op u l ar sci en ce cou r se at SH S th at of f er s op en n otes.

W i th i ts var i ed cu r r i cu l u m an d h an d s- on ex p er i en ces, i t h as becom e on e of th e m ost p op u l ar sci en ce cl asses am on g SH S stu d en ts. T h e cl ass con si st s of m u l ti p l e l abs p er w eek an d an op en n ote u n i t test at th e en d of each top i c.

T he cl ass i n str u ct or , A n n ette VanVegh el , h as been teach i n g

a rt b y emma phillips

bi otech n ol ogy f or 23 y ear s an d ar gu es t h at op en n ot e test s w or k f or th e bi otech n ol ogy sett i n g. ?U n i t t est s ar e op en n otes an d h ave ap p l i cati on - based qu est i on s based on l abor at or y acti v i ti es,? VanVegh el say s. ?I h ave f ou n d t h at st u d en ts l i ke h av i n g al l t h ei r cl ass m at er i al s kep t i n [t h ei r ] n otebook an d bei n g abl e t o u se i t ever y d ay.?

T h e 20 20 - 20 21 sch ool y ear w as on e f i l l ed w i t h l ots of u n cer tai n t y.

W ith stu d en ts att en d i n g both i n p er son an d on l i n e, t h er e w as n o w ay t o m on i t or th ose at h om e. W i t h al l t h e str ess i n h i gh - sch ool er s' l i ves th ese d ay s, h av i n g t h e tool s n eed ed t o su cceed on test s h el p s stu d en ts p er f or m th ei r best.

15

opinions

Should I Travel For Thanksgiving?

B y Sam Ro ss Freelance Writer

T

wo st ap l es of th e tr ad i ti on al Ross f am i ly T h an k sgi v i n g ar e f ood an d f am i ly.

H ow ever , on T h an k sgi v i n g of 20 20 , th e l at t er w as n ot a p r i or i ty f or u s. D u e to CO V I D - 19, m y f am i ly, al on g w i t h m an y ot h er s i n A m er i ca, op t ed to t ake p r ecau t i on ar y m easu r es t o p r ot ect ou r h eal th , i n cl u d i n g, bu t n ot l i m i ted to, m ask s an d soci al d i st an ci n g.

N ow i t ?s N ovem ber , a f u l l y ear si n ce t h en , an d t h i n gs h ave ch an ged .

T he cu r r en t CO V I D cases ar e abou t on e t h i r d of t h ose f r om l ast N ovem ber , an d v acci n es ar e n ow av ai l abl e f or an y on e i n t h e U n i ted St at es t h at i s age f i ve an d u p . H ow ever , CO V I D i s st i l l sp r ead i n g, an d p eop l e ar e st i l l d y i n g.

W i th T h an k sgi v i n g d r aw i n g n ear , m an y f am i l i es ar e f aci n g th e qu est i on , ?Sh ou l d

I tr avel f or T h an k sgi v i n g??

T he th i n g i s, th i s qu esti on n eed s m or e th an a y es or n o an sw er , as th er e ar e m an y th i n gs th at m u st be taken i n to con si d er at i on .

O n e i m p or t an t f act or i s th e v acci n at i on stat u s of th e h ost s an d th e gu est s.

W h et h er or n ot y ou an d y ou r l oved on es ar e v acci n at ed cou l d be th e gr eatest r eason w h y y ou sh ou l d or sh ou l d n 't tr avel f or T h an k sgi v i n g, as i t n ot on ly d ecr eases y ou r ch an ces of con tr act i n g CO V I D , bu t i t al so p r otects ot h er s an d l essen s an y p ossi bl e sy m p tom s of th e v i r u s.

W h et h er or n ot th e p eop l e i n volved ar e w ear i n g a m ask i s an oth er el em en t th at sh ou l d be p on d er ed bef or e m ak i n g th e d eci si on to tr avel . W ear i n g a m ask w h i l e soci al i zi n g i s on e of th e si m p l est w ay s to p r even t

th e sp r ead of CO V I D , an d i f w or n cor r ectly, th ey p r ov i d e a f ai r ly saf e an d easy w ay to p r ot ect y ou r sel f w h i l e sti l l h an gi n g ou t in p er son .

B ef or e tr avel i n g, y ou sh ou l d al so take i n t o accou n t h ow at- r i sk y ou r l oved on es ar e f or CO V I D . Even th e saf est p eop l e can sp r ead v i r u ses, so it i s i m p or tan t to con tem p l ate th e n egati ve ef f ects th at m ay bef al l oth er att en d ees. For ex am p l e, i f y ou or an y on e el se att en d i n g T h an k sgi v i n g h as a com p r om i sed i m m u n e sy stem , y ou sh ou l d take p r ecau ti on s to en su r e th ei r saf ety.

a rt b y emma phillips

I ?m n ot goi n g t o tel l y ou w h et h er or n ot y ou sh ou l d v i si t y ou r f am i ly f or T h an k sgi v i n g. I u n d er st an d t h at i t i s an i m p or tan t p ar t of m an y A m er i can f am i l i es, m i n e i n cl u d ed .

H ow ever , I str on gly u r ge y ou t o t h i n k abou t th ese f actor s t h at m ay i n f l u en ce y ou r ch oi ce.

W h atever y ou d eci d e t o d o, I h op e y ou h ave a saf e an d en joy abl e T h an k sgi v i n g!

2+ is 2 Much 2+ isn't the most efficient wa y to improve stud ent sched ules B y Av a Par r Associate Editor- in- Chief & Features Editor

S

H S h as m ad e m an y sch ed u l e ch an ges th e l ast f ew y ear s, f r om ch an gi n g l u n ch t i m es to t ack l i n g v i r t u al sch ool . T h e n ew est d evel op m en t i n th e SH S sch ed u l e began th i s qu ar ter , br i n gi n g back 2+, a 20 m i n u te st u d y h al l af t er secon d h ou r t h at w as i n tr od u ced bef or e th e p an d em i c. H ow ever , i s th at 20 m i n u tes r eal ly d oi n g th at m u ch to h el p ou t SH S st u d en ts?

Per son al ly, I bel i eve w e ar e u ti l i zi n g t h ose 20 m i n u tes i n a w ay t h at i sn 't h el p f u l . I k n ow m y sel f an d m ost p eop l e en d u p n ot get ti n g m u ch d on e i n 2+ becau se th at sh or t p er i od of t i m e d oesn 't r eal ly al l ow st u d en ts t o com p l et e a su bstan ti al am ou n t of w or k .

I f SH S i s goi n g t o ad ju st th e sch ed u l e t o i n cor p or at e an ad d i ti on al 20 m i n u t es, I f eel l i ke i t w ou l d be bett er to i n cor p or at e i t i n t o th e sch ed u l e i n a m or e ef f i ci en t 16

w ay.

I n st ead , th ose ex tr a 20 m i n u t es cou l d be r em oved f r om th e sch ed u l e an d r ew or ked , al l ow i n g stu d en ts to get ou t of sch ool at 3:15 i n st ead of 3:35.

M an y stu d en t s ar e i n volved w i th cl u bs, sp or ts, or w or k obl i gati on s th at th e l ater en d ti m e con f l i cts w i th . T h e l ater en d ti m e th i s y ear h as been an i ssu e w i th som e SH S stu d en t s, an d th i s w ou l d gi ve stu d en ts m or e ti m e to get ou t of th e bu i l d i n g.

T h ose ex tr a 20 m i n u tes cou l d al so be ad d ed on to l u n ch , so stu d en t s cou l d go of f cam p u s an d h ave som e ti m e to r el ax . Cu r r en t ly l u n ch i s on ly 35 m i n u tes i n cl u d i n g p assi n g ti m e, so stu d en t s d on 't h ave th at m u ch ti m e to get f ood or go h om e. A 55 m i n u te l u n ch cou l d be ver y ben ef i ci al f or stu d en t s' m en t al h eal th an d gi ve th em a br eak d u r i n g sch ool . T h en , si n ce l u n ch

w ou l d be l on ger , i f stu d en ts d o n eed to d o assi gn m en ts or m ake u p a test , th ey cou l d go to th e sch ool an d f i n i sh th em som eti m e d u r i n g l u n ch .

2+ i sn 't tr u ly ben ef i ci al or a l on g ter m sol u ti on f or th e w or k l oad i m p osed on stu d en ts. Accor d i n g to th e W ash i n gt on Post, stu d en ts sp en d an aver age of 2.6 h ou r s on h om ew or k , so 20 m i n u tes ad d ed on to secon d h ou r m ay n ot h el p stu d en ts m ake a su bstan ti al am ou n t of p r ogr ess on th ei r h om ew or k .

T h er e ar e m an y w ay s f or th e sch ed u l e to be r ew or ked to h el p stu d en ts m an age th ei r h om ew or k l oad i n a m or e ef f i ci en t w ay, as w el l as th e i ssu e of h ow

m u ch h om ew or k i s bei n g i m p osed on st u d en ts. I bel i eve th at t h er e ar e bet ter sol u ti on s th an 2+.

art by emma phillips

the norse star, november 2021

opinions

Masking For It B y D el an ey Gau t h i er Opinions & News Editor

E

ver si n ce w e r et u r n ed to i n - p er son l ear n i n g l ast sp r i n g, th er e?s been a str i ct set of r u l es i n p l ace t o m ake su r e stu d en t s ar e saf e an d p r otected f r om CO V I D - 19 ? at l east t h er e w as su p p osed t o be.

W i th a n ew sch ool y ear f u l ly u n d er w ay, t h ose saf ety p r otocol s seem t o h ave t aken a back seat . Ru l es th at w er e su p p osed t o keep SH S st u d en ts saf e ar e n ot t h or ou gh ly en f or ced , an d m an y stu d en t s f l au n t t h em al t ogeth er . I n or d er t o keep ever y on e i n sch ool saf e, both staf f an d st u d en t s n eed t o d o m or e.

T h e p r obl em h er e i s si m p l e: th e en f or cem en t of CO V I D - 19 saf ety r u l es ar en ?t con si st en t acr oss th e boar d , m ad e n o easi er by t h e am ou n t of st u d en ts w h o d i sr egar d saf ety. W h y i s th e m ask l ess st u d en t bod y al l ow ed to cr am i n t o th e Cel ly Sect i on t o w at ch a f ootbal l gam e? Even i f i t ?s ou tsi d e, th er e?s n o excu se f or th e cl ose qu ar t er s.

Stu d en t s n eed t o si t tw o p eop l e at a t abl e i f th ey w an t to eat i n si d e. T h er e si m p ly i sn ?t en ou gh r oom i n t h e caf eter i a f or ever y on e w h o w an t s t o eat i n si d e to be abl e to. W i th t h e h ar sh w eath er of t h e u p com i n g w i n ter m on th s, t h er e w on ?t be en ou gh sp ace t o h ou se ever y on e w h o w an t s t o eat i n si d e. M or e eat i n g ar eas sh ou l d be op en ed to p r even t th is p r obl em .

O th er w i se, w e w i l l h ave to com p r om i se st u d en t saf et y.

Ever y t i m e w e w al k i n to t h e bu i l d i n g, w e?r e at r i sk of get ti n g CO V I D - 19, f r om p eop l e w h o d on ?t w ear th ei r

m ask s r i gh t , to p eop l e w h o ar e u n v acci n at ed , to an y ot h er n u m ber of r eason s.

W e?r e i n cl ose qu ar t er s w i th ou r p eer s f or seven h ou r s a d ay.

W i th th e i n tr od u ct i on of th e CO V I D - 19 v acci n e i n l ate sp r i n g of 20 21, i t seem ed as th ou gh th i n gs m ay f i n al ly be r etu r n i n g to n or m al . Som e w er e eager to get v acci n at ed to go back to n or m al l i f e, bu t m an y h ad th ei r d ou bts. B ecau se of th i s, th e p er cen tage of W i scon si n r esi d en ts w h o h ave been p ar t i al ly or f u l ly v acci n at ed i s on ly 58.8%, as of N ov. 20 21. T h i s n u m ber i s n ot n ear ly l ar ge en ou gh f or stu d en t s to f eel saf e at sch ool , esp eci al ly becau se th e n u m ber of v acci n ated stu d en t s i s u n av ai l abl e f or p u bl i c access.

U n cer tai n t y su r r ou n d i n g v acci n e statu s of p eer s d oes n oth i n g to ease stu d en t s? w or r i es, ei th er . Becau se th er e i s n o v acci n e m an d at e f or W i scon si n p u bl i c sch ool s, i t ?s u n l i kely th at m an y of th e p eop l e w e si t n ex t to i n cl ass ever y d ay ar e i m m u n i zed agai n st th e v i r u s. T h i s m akes i t d i f f i cu l t to tr u st th at I ?ll be saf e w h en I com e to sch ool ? even w ith my ow n f u l ly - v acci n at ed statu s, i t?s at i t s m ost ef f ect i ve i f th e p eop l e ar ou n d m e ar e v acci n at ed too.

Com bat i n g CO V I D - 19 i n a h ost i l e en v i r on m en t f u l l of stu d en t s w h o d on ?t f eel th e n eed to w ear th ei r m ask s r i gh t an d get u p set w h en r ep r i m an d ed f or i t i s u n d en i ably d i f f i cu l t. Su r ely ad m i n i st r ator s ar e d oi n g al l

th ey can to en su r e saf ety, bu t u n f or tu n ately, i t i sn ?t en ou gh .

T h er e n eed s to be str i ct er con sequ en ces f or th ose w h o br eak CO V I D - 19 saf ety p r ot ocol i n th e cl assr oom . L ast y ear , stu d en ts w er e sen t h om e i f th ey w er e r ep eated ly r ep r i m an d ed f or w ear i n g th ei r m ask s i n cor r ect ly.

T h ese d ay s, y ou can w al k th r ou gh th e h al l s of SH S, an d i n th e th i r ty secon d s i t?ll take y ou to get f r om on e cl ass to an ot h er , y ou ?d r u n ou t of f i n ger s by cou n t i n g on y ou r h an d s ju st h ow m an y ou t w i t h p eop l e ar en ?t w ear i n g th ei r f r i en d s, bu t I w ear m y m ask m ask s r i gh t. Su r ely, th e staf f r i gh t. I ?m vacci n at ed . I t ?s n ot i s d oi n g th ei r best to h ar d to d o, an d t h e f act t h at r ep r i m an d th ose w h o w ear s maan y lliptake i t as su ch a p hi m th ei r m ask s i n cor r ect ly,a rtbubty emp er son al of f en se, a v i ol at i on i t?s n ot en ou gh . I f stu d en ts of th ei r r i gh ts an d l i ber ti es, d on ?t l i sten w h en th ey ?r e i s u p setti n g. tol d to p u l l th ei r m ask back Ru l es con cer n i n g t h e up, th ey sh ou l d f ace saf ety of stu d en ts n eed t o be con sequ en ces. I t?s a m at ter car ef u l ly t h ou gh t ou t an d of p u bl i c h eal th an d saf ety. sh ou l d be u n i ver sal .

T h e cu r r en t att i t u d e of CO V I D - 19 saf et y d oesn ?t a good p or ti on of SH S ju st f al l on t h e sh ou l d er s of stu d en ts tow ar d s CO V I D - 19 th e ad m i n i st r ati on , t h ou gh . saf ety i s scar y, to say th e I t sh ou l d be a joi n t ef f or t l east. W e ar e sti l l i n th e betw een staf f an d stu d en ts, m iddle of a gl obal an d m or e n eed s t o be d on e, p an d em i c, an d I ?m su r e I ?ve n ot ju st f or t h e saf et y of been n o sai n t w h en i t com es staf f an d stu d en ts, bu t f or to bei n g saf e an d h an gi n g th e com m u n i t y as a w h ol e.

g ra phic b y emma phillips the norse star, november 2021

17

features

A Yearbook Called Yahara B y M ad i so n L u i ck Staff Writer & Graphics Editor

B

u y i n g a y ear book i s a tr ad i ti on t h at h as been n ear an d d ear t o m an y St ou gh ton H i gh Sch ool st u d en ts f or t h e p ast 10 5 y ear s. O n ce t h e st u d en t s get p ast th e i n i t i al p er u se t h r ou gh th e sh i n y f r esh - of f - t h e- p r ess p ages, h ave a l au gh at t h e sen i or su p er l ati ves, an d r ef l ect back on th e m em or i es th ey m ad e th at y ear , t h ey can ad d i t n ex t t o t h ei r oth er y ear book s. Each ed i t i on of th e y ear book , f or m al ly n am ed Yah ar a, st an d s as sati sf y i n g p r oof of an oth er sch ool y ear com p l et ed an d p r om i ses n ew begi n n i n gs ah ead .

T h i s bel oved t r ad i t i on w ou l d n ot ex i st i n i t s stat e of au th en t i ci t y i f i t w er e n ot f or th e h ar d w or k i n g con tr i bu tor s of t h e SH S y ear book t eam . D esp i t e n ot bei n g abl e t o col l abor ate f u l ly i n p er son d u e to CO V I D - 19 set back s t h e p ast y ear an d a h al f , t h ey h ave m an aged to p r od u ce qu al i t y y ear book s t h at cap tu r e th e l i f e, th e st r u ggl es, an d th e sm i l es of t h e SH S st u d en t s, t h r ou gh scr een s an d beh i n d m ask s.

Ad r i en n e St ah l , th e ad v i sor of th e SH S y ear book , ou t l i n es th e i n tr i cate p r ocess beh i n d th e cr eati on of t h e p u bl i cat i on .

Bef or e d i v i n g i n t o cou n tl ess em ai l s an d a sea of p h ot os, St ah l an d h er t eam cr eate a w el l or gan i zed act i on p l an an d com p i l e a r ou gh i d ea of t h e book ?s l ay ou t . ?T h er e ar e d i f f er en t t em p l ates t h at y ou can u se.

You m i gh t go w i t h a ch r on ol ogi cal [t em p l at e] or y ou m i gh t d o a season al [t em p l ate] or ch u n k i t i n to secti on s based on al l th e sp or ts [...] acad em i cs, [...] cl u bs an d so on ,? St ah l say s.

Ju n i or M egan A n d er son , w h o h as on e f u l l y ear of ex p er i en ce on t h e t eam , d i scu sses t h e u n i qu e w or k f l ow th e y ear book t eam ex p er i en ces at v ar i ou s t i m es t h r ou gh ou t th ei r p u bl i cati on p er i od . ?M ost of t h e w or k , th e h eav y l oad , i s at th e 18

begi n n i n g an d at th e en d . At th e begi n n i n g y ou 'r e gett i n g ever y th i n g si tu ated an d at th e en d y ou 'r e tr y i n g to w r ap ever y th i n g u p ,?

A n d er son say s.

T h e r eal m agi c begi n s on ce th ese v i su al l ogi sti cs h ave been sor t ed ou t. W i th p l an s i n p l ace, th e y ear book team begi n s to gath er th e cou n tl ess p h ot os, even t d etai l s, an d n am es to br i n g th e y ear book toget h er .

To or gan i ze th i s p r ocess f u r th er , r ol es ar e assi gn ed w i t h i n th e y ear book team .

T h ese r ol es i n cl u d e a ch i ef ed i t or , bu si n ess m an ager s, p h ot o ed i t or s, l ay ou t ed i t or s, cop y ed i t or s, an d m or e.

p er m i t ted u n ti l Febr u ar y.

Sen i or I sabel W ol l an gk , th i s y ear 's ch i ef ed i tor , d i scu sses h ow th ose cl u b an d sp or t s sh or tages h ave af f ected th e y ear book . ?B ecau se of ou r p u bl i sh i n g d at e, w e ar e f i n al i zi n g bef or e sp r i n g sp or t s even star t, an d i t h as alw ay s been l i ke th i s, excep t f or l ast y ear . D u e to [CO V I D - 19] h i tti n g in M ar ch of 20 20 , w e m i ssed gath er i n g [som e] con ten t th at y ear becau se sp r i n g sp or t s w er en ?t h ap p en i n g," W ol l an gk say s.

T he y ear book team th en h ad n o sp r i n g sp or t s i n f or m ati on to i n cl u d e i n th e 20 21 y ear book . T h ey

photo sub mitted b y a d rienne sta hl T h e y ear b o o k t eam gat h er s f o r a gr o u p p h o t o .

T o p , l ef t t o r i gh t : L i l y T u t t l e, D o m i n i c M o l i t o r , A d r en Sch o t zk o , K i r st en H o l m , I sab el W o l l an gk , Ri an a Paq u et t e, A d r i en n e St ah l B o t t o m , l ef t t o r i gh t : Ev an M aso n , K i o n East , T ay l er K eo , A b i gai l A d am s, M egan A n d er so n , H an n ah O v er m o n N o t p i ct u r ed : El si e A st l e D esp i t e th ese assi gn ed r ol es, ever y on e on th e y ear book team con tr i bu tes to th e w h ol e; ever y on e i s a p h ot ogr ap h er , ever y on e i s an i n ter v i ew er , ever y on e i s a w r i ter , an d ever y on e i s an ed i t or .

Col l ecti n g an d or gan i zi n g ei gh t m on th s? w or t h of i n f or m at i on f or al l sp or ts, sch ool cl u bs, ex tr acu r r i cu l ar s, an d oth er acti v i t i es i s n o easy f eat. I t d i d n 't h el p th at w h en CO V I D - 19 h i t i n M ar ch of 20 20 , y ear book staf f w er e at a l oss f or con ten t, sp eci f i cal ly sp r i n g sp or t s, w h i ch d i d n ot h ap p en . T h i s l oss p ar ti al ly bl ed i n t o th e 20 21 sch ool y ear , as i n - p er son ed u cati on an d acti v i t i es w er e n ot

ad ap ted to th i s i ssu e by p u sh i n g th e 20 21 y ear book d ead l i n e back to i n cl u d e 20 21 sp r i n g sp or t s.

O f cou r se, w i th l ar ge scal e p r ojects, sm al l er ch al l en ges ar e al so bou n d to p op u p . T h e y ear book f aces i ts f ai r sh ar e of m i scel l an eou s str u ggl es, su ch as m eeti n g d ead l i n es an d keep i n g al l th e p h otos an d i n f or m ati on f or th e i ssu e or gan i zed , bu t w h en th e en d of th e y ear r ol l s ar ou n d , stu d en ts r ecei ve an or gan i zed an d w el l p u t togeth er y ear book , w h i ch sh ow s h ow i m p or tan t i t i s to h ave m an y m i n d s w or k i n g togeth er .

T h e y ear book is a p er f ect ex am p l e of h ow team w or k i s th e key to

p er sever an ce. Team w or k i s th e f ou n d ati on f or l ar ge, m u l ti l evel p r ojects l i ke th ese an d seem s t o be a f avor i t e asp ect abou t t h e y ear book . ?I r eal ly l ove t h e p eop l e [...]

I l ove my t eam m em ber s [...] i t ?s su ch a good en v i r on m en t. I t 's on e of th e h ap p i est cl asses I h ave. I 'm n ever i n a bad m ood w h en I 'm t h er e.

Ever y on e's i n t h er e t o h el p ou t i f y ou 'r e f al l i n g beh i n d or [i f ] y ou can 't m ake i t t o an even t.

Ever y on e's ju m p i n g on boar d ,?

A n d er son say s.

Stah l h as si m i l ar th ou gh ts w h en i t com es t o th e en v i r on m en t of t h e y ear book . ?H av i n g a good sol i d team th at 's en t h u si ast i c an d h as th at m i ssi on i n m i n d of cr eati n g t h at p or t al an d tr y i n g to i n cl u d e as m an y stu d en ts as p ossi bl e m akes su r e th at t h e y ear book tou ch es al l f ou r cor n er s of w h at ou r stu d en t bod y i s,?

Stah l say s.

I t's th e st r on g t eam of stu d en ts t h at m akes t h e y ear book gen u i n e.

A n d er son bel i eves th is stu d en t d r i ven d y n am i c m akes th e y ear book m or e tr u st w or t h y. ?I t's m or e i m p or t an t th at th e stu d en ts ar e t h e on es i n ch ar ge of i t becau se th e stu d en ts ar e act u al ly w i th th ei r p eer s al l d ay, ever y d ay, an d l i ke, t h ey k n ow w h at 's goi n g on . T h ey k n ow th e i n si d e st u f f , an d th ey k n ow w h at i t 's l i ke, so r ep or ti n g on t h i n gs f r om a stu d en t's p oi n t of v i ew i s a l ot m or e ben ef i ci al t h an a teach er 's p oi n t of v i ew,?

A n d er son say s.

A n d er son say s t h at th ose w h o ar e i n t er est ed i n joi n i n g th e y ear book t eam sh ou l d si gn u p f or i t w h en ch oosi n g t h ei r cou r ses f or n ex t y ear . T h ey sh ou l d t h en ex p ect an ap p l i cati on t o be sen t ou t i n t h e su m m er an d an i n t er v i ew t o f ol l ow.

Stah l say s t h at y ou can su p p or t th e y ear book t eam ?s h ar d w or k an d d ed i cati on by p u r ch asi n g a 20 22 y ear book t h r ou gh t h e l i n k sen t ou t i n t h e w eek ly n ew sl et ter s. the norse star, november 2021

features

Who is...Señorita Nagel?

B y A u t u m n Ev en so n Staff Writer & D istribution M anager

S

eñorita Nagel opens the door to her new classroom and maneuvers her way to the desk in the corner of her brand new room. Setting down her things, she walks to the whiteboard and starts writing.

As she moves away, the board reads, ?H ola Classe!?

Stou gh t on A r ea Sch ool D i str i ct h as w el com ed a n ew Sp an i sh t each er th i s y ear . You can f i n d Señ or i t a Tay l or N agel i n r oom 30 2 h er e at t h e h i gh sch ool d u r i n g th e m or n i n g. Com e af ter n oon , N agel m akes h er w ay over t o Ri ver B l u f f to t each Sp an i sh O n e t o th e m i d d l e sch ool er s.

N agel i s exci t ed t o be t h e n ew f or ei gn l an gu age t each er th i s y ear . Sh e r ecal l s t h e f i r st t i m e m eet i n g h er cow or ker s as t h e r eason beh i n d h er accep t an ce of t h e p osi ti on . ?I m et t h e col l eagu es i n th e w or l d l an gu age d ep ar tm en t an d M r s.

Sch oem er , ou r assi stan t p r i n ci p al , an d I k n ew. I cal l ed m y f am i ly r i gh t aw ay af ter th at i n t er v i ew, [an d ] I sai d ?I w an t t o w or k h er e.

T h ese p eop l e ar e am azi n g.? [...] I f el t l i ke i t w ou l d h ave been a r eal ly good f i t , an d I f eel l i ke i t i s,? N agel say s.

Feel i n g at h om e i n th e SH S W or l d L an gu age d ep ar tm en t i s on ly on e p i ece of th e p u zzl e, t h ou gh .

N agel p i ct u r ed w i t h h er f r i en d A m i e af t er t h ey w en t w ed d i n g d r ess sh o p p i n g.

the norse star, november 2021

N agel h as al so been en joy i n g teach i n g h er cl asses. Accor d i n g t o N agel , h er f avor i te p ar t of th e y ear so f ar h as been h er stu d en ts. ?I h ave a l ot of r eal ly tal k at i ve k i d s, bu t th ey ?r e r eal ly f u n n y. [I en joy ] h an gi n g ou t , ju st tal k i n g to m y stu d en t s, seei n g th ei r th ou gh ts. Ever y bod y i s so d i f f er en t, so i t ?s k i n d of cool to see h ow on e m i n d w or k s ver su s th e ot h er . I get to see al l of th at as a teach er , w h i ch i s n i ce,? N agel say s.

T h i s i s N agel ?s f i r st y ear teach i n g, an d i t i s d i f f er en t f r om w h at sh e h ad ex p ect ed . ?I d i d n ?t ex p ect to r eteach stu d en t s h ow to [...] f ol l ow d i r ect i on s [an d ] stu f f

h ave to say r i gh t n ow i s ju st , cl assr oom m an agem en t- w i se, gett i n g k i d s to k i n d of r eal i ze w h y w e?r e i n sch ool . You k n ow, w h y d o w e d o th ese th i n gs?

I t m i gh t seem p oi n tl ess r i gh t n ow, af ter th e p an d em i c. I th i n k th at a l ot of k i d s ar e h av i n g a h ar d ti m e com i n g back an d f u l ly si t ti n g f or ei gh t h ou r s.?

A l l i n al l , teach i n g w as a good ch oi ce f or N agel .

Teach i n g h as been a d r eam job f or h er si n ce sh e w as l i ttl e. ?I ?ve alw ay s w an t ed to be a teach er ever si n ce I w as p r obably f ou r y ear s ol d . M y m om w as a teach er . I al so ju st r eal ly l i ke p eop l e. I ?m p r ett y soci al . I ju st r eal ly photos submitted by taylor nagel

N agel p i ct u r ed w i t h h er y o u n ger b r o t h er (l ef t) an d h er b oy f r i en d (r i gh t). l i ke th at. I d on ?t m i n d r em i n d i n g th em . I ju st th i n k i t ?s a w ei r d r ou ti n e th at w e w er e i n [d u r i n g] th e p an d em i c, an d n ow w e?r e tr y i n g to f l i p f l op i t back to n or m al ,? N agel say s.

T h i s y ear h as al so cau sed N agel to ch an ge som e of th e goal s sh e h ad i n m i n d f or h er stu d en ts. ?I th i n k bef or e bei n g an actu al teach er , m y goal s w er e to h el p stu d en ts f i n d th e l ove f or th e l an gu age an d be en cou r aged to p u r su e it ou t si d e th e cl assr oom ,?

N agel say s. ?T h at ?s sti l l m y goal , an d I f eel l i ke i t ?s h ap p en i n g, bu t an oth er goal I th i n k I w ou l d

l i ked th e or gan i zati on of i t.

I ?m a ver y or gan i zed p er son . [...] I k i n d of get th e best of both w or l d s. I get to soci al i ze, bu t I al so get th e p l an n i n g si d e of i t, w h i ch i s n i ce,? N agel say s.

H ow ever , teach i n g w asn ?t th e on ly op ti on th at Señ or i ta N agel h ad i n m i n d .

D u r i n g h er ti m e at U W Steven s Poi n t, sh e m i n or ed i n Bu si n ess Ad m i n i str ati on so sh e w ou l d h ave m or e op ti on s. ?I th i n k th at I w ou l d ei th er tr avel i n t er n ati on al ly [or ] m ay be ex p l or e th e bu si n ess w or l d a l i t tl e bi t .

M y d ad ow n s h i s ow n com p an y, an d i t?s ver y

i n t er esti n g t o m e. [I ?ve al so con si d er ed ] soci al w or k . I w an t to w or k w i t h p eop l e. I w an t to d o som eth i n g p osi ti ve w i t h m y l i f e, an d I th i n k th at soci al w or k cou l d be a p l ace t h at r eal ly n eed s p eop l e r i gh t n ow,? N agel say s.

N agel h as h er d egr ee i n Sp an i sh Ed u cati on , an d sh e bel i eves t h at l ear n i n g a l an gu age, esp eci al ly Sp an i sh , h as cou n tl ess r eal - w or l d ben ef i t s. ?I w ou l d say Sp an i sh , i n th e U n i ted St ates, i s m or e com m on ly u sed . I t h i n k th at l ear n i n g an y l an gu age i s gr eat an d ver y ben ef i ci al , bu t I th i n k t h at Sp an i sh h as a w i d er p op u l at i on of Sp an i sh sp eak i n g p eop l e i n th e U n i ted St ates,? N agel say s.

To th ose w h o k n ow N agel , an d t o t h ose w h o h ave y et to h ave h er as t h ei r Sp an i sh teach er , sh e h as th i s to say. ?I h ave a l ot of en er gy, an d I ?m l ou d . I h ad a stu d en t w h o cam e i n ; h e sai d , I can h ear y ou al l t h e w ay d ow n th e h al lw ay. W el l , w h en y ou t each f r esh m en , y ou [h ave] got t o be en er get i c. You [h ave] got t o keep th em en gaged ,? N agel say s.

I t's cl ear t h at St ou gh ton h as gai n ed a val u abl e t eam m em ber f or SH S's w or l d l an gu age d ep ar t m en t . W i t h h er goal of t each i n g t h e n ex t gen er ati on of Sp an i sh sp eaker s to f i n d t h e l ove of th e l an gu age an d h er ow n l ove of Sp an i sh , Señ or i t a N agel h op es h er st u d en ts w i l l go f ar .

Señ or i t a N agel 's Favor i t e T h i n gs Fav o r i t e B o o k ?

"El T u n el . I t 's abou t t h i s gu y w h o m u r d er ed t h i s w om an t h at h e w as i n l ove w i th , an d t h e book i s k i n d of t r y i n g t o d eter m i n e i f h e [p l an n ed ] i t or w as i t a cr i m e ou t of p assi on ? A n d i t 's al l i n Sp an i sh ."

Fav o r i t e Q u o t e?

"I p r ef er t o l i ve an d l ose th an to n ever l i ve at al l ."

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features

Q uali-Tea Boba A Look into the Trendy Tea Cafe at 430 State Street B y Em m a Ph i l l i p s Entertainment Editor & H ead Artist p op u l ar t r en d d u r i n g th e p an d em i c, as w el l as a stap l e d r i n k i n Tai w an , boba ? al so k n ow n as bu bbl e tea ? h as sw ep t th e n ati on with i t s sw eet , caf f ei n ated , an d aesth eti cal ly p l easi n g sty l e.

I f y ou ?r e ou t w i t h f r i en d s or ju st l ook i n g f or a r ef r esh i n g p i ck- m e- u p , Sen ch a Tea B ar i s th e p l ace t o go, l ocated on 430 St at e Str eet i n M ad i son .

Fi ve of t h e N or se St ar staf f m em ber s ven tu r ed ou t i n t o th e ch i l l f al l ai r l ook i n g f or th i s cool d r i n k . O n ly a 25 m i n u te d r i ve f r om Stou gh ton , Sen ch a w as w or th th e w eat h er . O n th e d ar k str eet , Sen ch a l i t u p t h e n i gh t w i t h i t s w ar m , i n v i ti n g at m osp h er e. T h e f r on t w i n d ow w as f i l l ed w i th ad or abl e an d u n i qu e f er n s an d al oes, as w el l as a l ovely w at er f al l of f ai r y l i gh ts. En t er i n g t h e caf e, th e f i r st th i n g w e al l n oti ced w as th e ar om a. W i t h th e cozy scen ts of br ew i n g tea m i xed w i t h t h e sw eet scen ts of w ar m baked good s, th e staf f w as exci ted t o t r y som e of Sen ch a?s si gn atu r e d r i n k s. For som e, t h i s w as a n ew ex p er i en ce an d f or ot h er s, i t w as n ot .

T h e m en u at Sen ch a of f er s a w i d e v ar i et y of si gn atu r e d r i n k s f or th e m or e ad ven t u r ou s t ea- d r i n ker an d f or th e h ap p i ly com f or t abl e on e, as w el l . T h e m en u al so al l ow s cu stom er s t o cr eat e th ei r ow n d r i n k s w i t h a w i d e ar r ay of t ea f l avor s an d ad d - on s su ch as boba p ear l s, f r u i t , p u d d i n g, ch i a seed s, an d m or e. T h e sm al l d r i n k s r an ged f r om $3.99 to $4.99, th e m ed i u m s ar ou n d $4.99 an d t h e l ar ge d r i n k s r an ged f r om $5.99 t o $6.99.

T h e d r i n k s w e or d er ed

A

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i n cl u d ed a sm al l T h ai M i l k Tea w i t h boba p ear l s an d a l ar ge w i t h ou t boba p ear l s, a St r aw ber r y W ater m el on Cool er w i t h boba p ear l s, a sm al l Van i l l a Sh ake, a sm al l i ced Gr een Tea w i th h i bi scu s an d l em on , an d a sm al l T r an qu i l i t y El i x i r w i th boba p ear l s.

A s f ar as f l avor goes, th e T h ai M i l k Tea w as a f avor i t e w i t h i t s n u t ty taste an d i n v i ti n g f al l col or s. T h ai m i l k tea i s a stap l e Sen ch a drink an d a p er son al f avor i te. T h e tea w i th or w i t h ou t th e gu m m y boba p ear l s i n cl u d ed w as sti l l r at ed 5/ 5 star s f or th e n i gh t.

T he St r aw ber r y W at er m el on Cool er , or d er ed by an oth er staf f m em ber , w as com m en d ed f or i t s r ef r esh i n g t aste an d str i k i n g p i n k col or . T h ou gh , si n ce th e boba p ear l s i n si d e of i t w er e sti ck i n g t ogeth er , p er son al p r ef er en ce l ed u s to ch oose a r at i n g of 4/ 5 star s. T h e Van i l l a Sh ake, th ou gh r ef r esh i n g an d sw eet i n th eor y, d i d n ot l i ve u p to th e stan d ar d s of th e staf f . I t w as over al l ju st m ed i ocr e, so i t r ecei ved a r at i n g of 3/ 5 star s. T h e Gr een Tea drink w as beau t i f u l i n col or an d r i ch w ith its ear th y scen t.

H ow ever , th e tast e i tsel f w as too bi tter f or th e l i k i n g of th e staf f m em ber s, so th e r at i n g w as 4/ 5 star s al l

ar ou n d . L ast, bu t d ef i n i tely n ot l east, th e T r an qu i l i ty El i x i r , w i th i ts d eep or an ge h u e an d sw eet h on ey com b taste an d l em on scen t r ecei ved 5/ 5 star s.

O ver al l , th e staf f cam e to th e con cl u si on th at th e tea w e d r an k scor ed 4/ 5 star s f or th e n i gh t as w e f el t th e d r i n k s w er e a bi t too p r i cey f or th e si zes w e or d er ed .

T h e caf e i tsel f w as d i m ly l i t, bu t h ad a cozy, al m ost sch ol ar ly atm osp h er e as th e r oom w as cover ed i n h eal th y p l an ts an d beau ti f u l ar tw or k , m ak i n g a stu d en t f eel r i gh t at h om e i n th i s p er f ect stu d y sp ot . A s th e staf f en joy ed th ei r tea, w e n oti ced th at h an gi n g on th e w al l s of Sen ch a w er e d ozen s of or i gi n al p ai n ti n gs an d d r aw i n gs, al l su bm i tted by asp i r i n g ar ti sts. T h er e w as a

si gn n ex t t o t h e p ai n t i n gs th at asked cu stom er s t o su bm i t th ei r ar t w or k t o be d i sp l ay ed i n t h e caf e.

O ver al l , t h e am bi en ce of th e caf e con tr i bu t ed t o ou r h i gh r at i n g as i t w as cozy an d w el com i n g. I t w as as i f com i n g h om e af t er a l on g tr i p aw ay.

T he w on d er f u l w or k s of ar t cau gh t ou r at ten ti on an d gave u s a good con ver sat i on top i c.

A l on g w i t h t h at, t h e staf f h ad t h e p l easu r e of m eeti n g th e bar i stas w h o ser ved ou r d r i n k s. M ot h er an d d au gh ter d u o H ol ly an d A l l i son Gal e w el com ed u s w i th k i n d n ess an d sm i l es.

T h e Gal e w om en m ad e su r e th e d r i n k s w er e u p t o Sen ch a?s stan d ar d s as w el l as em br aced t h e p r ocess t h e staf f w en t t h r ou gh to p r op er ly r ev i ew t h e caf e.

T h ey w er e l ovely p eop l e an d even bet ter bar i stas, an d th e N or se St ar staf f can w h ol ly agr ee t h at t h ey h el p ed m ake th e caf e atm osp h er e as w el com i n g as p ossi bl e.

Even t h ou gh t h e boba tea an d oth er d r i n k s w er en ?t a f u l l 5 star r at i n g, i t w as sti l l a w on d er f u l caf e an d a t r i p w e w on ?t f or get an y ti m e soon . Sen ch a caf e r ecei ves 4/ 5 star s f r om t h e staf f .

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T h e st af f get s t o get h er f o r a gr o u p sel f i e i n t h e t ea caf e w h i l e en j oy i n g t h ei r d r i n k s.

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the norse star, november 2021