The RHS varisty dance team has overcome adversity and challenges this year. However, they were able to persevere to find success at their National competition. Read more about the RVDT on pages 8-9.
THE
TALON ROCHESTER HILLS, MI // FEBRUARY 2019 // VOL. 81 ISSUE 5
Photo courtesy of Kaitlyn Arnold.
PAGE 2 || NEWS
THE TALON || FEBRUARY 2019
NEWS BRIEFS: 4.
3.
1. j
1. RHS
Photo courtesy of Bianca Mow.
Photo courtesy of Addison Curtin.
RHS hosted The Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association District XVI Solo and Ensemble Festivals on Jan. 19 and Feb. 2. Junior Zoe Olson is active in the RHS choir. She received a 1 in both of her performances at the solo ensemble competition this year. “[I performed] ‘Silent Noon’ by Ralph Von Williams,” Olson said. “[I also played] ‘Longing for Spring’ by Mozart.” Mr. Uhrig shared that the band department takes great pride in hosting the event, which has taken place at RHS for the better part of the past 30 years. “All seven chamber ensembles from RHS earned a superior 1st Division Rating. 22 soloists and 7 duets from RHS also earned superior 1st Division Ratings,” Mr. Uhrig said. “All of the events that earn a 1st Division Rating qualify to perform at the State S&E Festival on March 16 at Stoney Creek High School.” Junior Addison Curtin performed a solo, duet and played in the clarinet, saxophone and mixed clarinet choirs. “I’m so proud of everyone who participated in Solo and Ensemble this year,” Curtin said. “All events got a Division 1 rating and did very good overall.” Brief by Elizabeth Bulat
2. RCS
Members of Rochester Community Schools will gather to celebrate Founders Day on Feb. 28. The PTA organized this event to honor the past and all those who have influenced the Rochester community. “We support parent and community involvement and work on behalf of all children and families,” PTA member Ms. Joanne Deys said. “It is important to recognize those that help and continue to pave the way and support the successful development of children.” The event’s theme this year is TEAM, which stands for “together everyone achieves more.” “Music will be played by Reuther's Orchestra and RHS PEP band, while we will have singing from McGregor’s Choir,” Ms. Deys said. “There will be over 40 raffle baskets, a ‘54 card deck’ raffle for four tickets to for Universal Studios in Orlando, FL, and food.” The Founder’s Day celebration will also acknowledge over 60 students, parents and teachers with awards. “Receiving this award and even being considered for it is such an honor,” junior Alex Glaspie said. “I never expected this to happen, but I’m beyond happy it did. This opportunity means so much to me and I will forever remember this.” Brief by Violet Resh
3. STATE
On Jan. 29, Governor Gretchen Whitmer declared a state of emergency due to the dangerously low wind chills that were predicted to be as low as -50 degrees fahrenheit. “Michiganders are encouraged to stay inside as the temp continues to drop,” Governor Whitmer tweeted. “If you must leave, layer up, wear the warmest clothes you have.” Due to the high demand for natural gas, Consumer’s Energy asked people to lower their thermostats to 65 degrees fahrenheit on Jan. 31. This demand came after a fire at Consumers Energy’s Ray Natural Gas Compressor Station. “As a result of an unexpected incident at a Gas Compressor station this morning in Southeast Michigan, we are asking customers to temporarily reduce natural gas usage at this time,” Consumers Energy tweeted. On Feb. 6, an ice storm hit Michigan, making the roads slippery and the commute to work dangerous. “Ice storms are caused by ice form[ing] when freezing rain accumulates on surfaces and the ground,” the Weather Channel said on their website. “Then, as the rain droplets fall into the shallow layer of subfreezing air, the droplets freeze upon contact.” Brief by Mariam Hanna
4. COUNTRY
Photo courtesy of Creative Commons.
5. WORLD
The New England Patriots gained their 6th Super Bowl win since 2002 after beating the Los Angeles Rams at the Super Bowl LIII on Feb. 3. The Patriots and the Rams went into the 4th quarter 3-3, only for the Patriots to pull ahead 10 points and win the game. The final score of the game was 13-3, Patriots. This made the 2019 Super Bowl the lowest scoring Super Bowl in history. Some fans found the game to be boring due to its lack of offense. “[I’m] low-key still mad,” sophomore Ben Morin said. “I think the most interesting part of the game was none of it.” However, others found enjoyment watching the game. If it wasn’t the game that drew fans to tune in, the halftime show starring Maroon 5, Travis Scott and Big Boi, or the popular commercials served as entertaining factors for some. “It was a good game, very entertaining,” RHS football coach and economics teacher Mr. Eric Vernon said. “A lot of people like offense opposed to defense in that aspect, but I thought that it came down to a 1-2 score at the end. I enjoyed the aspect of defense where any score or mistake matters. Better than the commercials.”
There has been animosity and political confusion between previous President Nicolas Maduro and political leader Juan Guaidó on who is the rightful winner of the recent election in Venezuela. In Venezuela, the elections are based on the popular vote. Currently, however, both candidates are claiming the win, and trying to convince the people they are the correct choice. Guiado is importing food and medical aid for those who did not have these benefits under Maduro. “Venezuela’s economy is very poor, medicine and food is scarce, inflation of prices are making everyday items too expensive for citizens,” Current Events teacher Mrs. Kay said. After President Trump declared he would recognize Guaido as president, Maduro immediately severed all ties with the U.S. and gave dignitaries and diplomats 72 hours to leave the country. “The government in Venezuela believes it could be a cover from a possible attack/ invasion from the U.S,” Mrs. Kay said. Some fear this split election could weaken the country and divide it. “I think that the split election harms citizens because it also leaves people without their opinions represented,” sophomore Kate Breitschuh said.
Brief by Connor Arsenault
Brief by Sharan Shibu
PAGE 3 || NEWS
THE TALON || FEBRUARY 2019
STATE OF THE UNION RECAP President Trump adresses the country WYATT ANNESS
OPINION EDITOR
Students’ thoughts on the issues Trump covered:
$ $ $ $ $ $
Trump’s second State of The Union barrier, or wall, to secure the vast areas comes at a time in U.S. politics following the between our ports of entry. In the past, most longest government shutdown in history, of the people in this room voted for a wall— and with political polarization being tense, but the proper wall never got built. I’ll get it the Feb. 5 speech was an important one. built.” Trump’s eighty-two minute speech was one Infrastructure was a topic President of the longest State of The Unions given. Trump spoke about in his previous State Trump focused on a key theme of unity and of The Union, and he brought it up again bipartisanship and promoting an “American in this one. He expressed supporting an agenda.” Infrastructure bill proposed by Congress, Trump focused on the economy and how important it is to get one passed. early on in his speech, speaking about “I am eager to work with you on economic growth the U.S. has had under his legislation to deliver new and important administration. infrastructure investment, including “In just over investments in the two years since cutting-edge industries “This is the time to reignite the the election, we American imagination. This is the time of the future,” Trump have launched an said. “This is not to search for the tallest summit, and an option. This is a unprecedented set our sights on the brightest star. necessity.” economic boom, a boom that has This is the time to rekindle the bonds of Prescription drug rarely been seen love and loyalty and memory that link cost has been a key before. There us together as citizens, as neighbors, issue for Trump. He has been nothing described a plan for as patriots.” like it,” Trump how costs should be said. “We have lowered so prescriptions Pesident Donald Trump created 5.3 million are more available new jobs, and to Americans. This importantly, added is another bipartisan 600,000 new manufacturing jobs, something issue both Democrats and Republicans have which almost everyone said was impossible expressed interest in fixing. Trump described to do, but the fact is, we are just getting how Americans spend more on prescription started.” drugs than other nations. He also spoke about unemployment in “In many other countries, these drugs the U.S. cost far less than what we pay in the United “Unemployment has reached the lowest States,” Trump said. “That is why I’ve rate in over half a century,” Trump said. directed my administration to make fixing “African-American, Hispanic-American, the injustice of high drug prices one of our and Asian-American unemployment have all top priorities. Prices will come down.” reached their lowest levels ever recorded.” Later in his speech, he outlined how Immigration was an issue Trump focused exactly the price of prescription drugs would on heavily during the speech because of be lowered. the recent goverment shutdown, which was “It is unacceptable that Americans pay caused by a debate in Congress over border vastly more than people in other countries wall funding. for the exact same drugs, often made in the Trump called upon Congress to end exact same place,” Trump said. “We should illegal immigration and mentioned that also require drug companies, insurance another migrant caravan is on the way to the companies and hospitals to disclose real southern border. In response, Trump said he prices to foster competition and bring costs has ordered 3,750 troops to “prepare for the down.” tremendous onslaught.” Trump ended the speech by calling He also called upon Congress to take Americans together. action stating, “My administration has sent “This is the time to reignite the American to the Congress a common-sense proposal imagination. This is the time to search for to end the crisis on our southern border. the tallest summit, and set our sights on the It includes humanitarian assistance, more brightest star,” Trump said. “This is the time law enforcement, drug detection at our to rekindle the bonds of love and loyalty and ports, closing loopholes that enable child memory that link us together as citizens, as smuggling, and plans for a new physical neighbors, as patriots.”
WALL
“If our economy is doing so well, how come 80 percent of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck, 40 million Americans can’t afford a $400 emergency expense, 30 million Americans don’t have healthcare, and 50 million people are uninsured? Jobs are being sent away to China. Our trade deficit with China and Mexico rose over $100 billion under Trump. This is not a good economy and is only benefiting the wealthy.” - Zaaki Mandwee, junior.
“I do support President Trump’s Border proposal. We have a problem with illegal immigration within our country that is costing the U.S. taxpayer over $100 billion dollars annually. Gang members and cartels come over from the southern border. People should come to the U.S. legally, and not think they can take advantage of our justice system.” Dean Raciti, senior “Trump’s approval rating has never been over 50 percent, so the people have never really been behind him. The senate is still a Republican majority and infrastructure is definitely not their focus. I think it’s definitely possible, but a little unlikely. Trump has not shown us the ‘Art of the Deal’ and I would like to see him pull off a bipartisan bill.” Alex Kuron, senior.
“Time has proven that the pharmaceutical industry is one unlike any other. Competition already exists and yet costs for drugs continue to increase. History is the best predictor of the future, and so it seems that we need to find a different way to address the issue of high-cost medications. I would love to tell you a simplistic answer to this pressing problem, but I hate to break it to you... I don’t have one. It’s better to do something right, than to do something quick and ineffective.” - Sailor Mayes, senior.
PAGE 4 || FEATURE
THE TALON || FEBRUARY 2019
CHANGE COMES TO MR. ROCHESTER
ROCHESTER TAKES ON A NEW THEME: BACHELORETTE EDITION POOJA PATEL STAFF WRITER
Mr. Rochester is an event all grade levels, from freshman through seniors, can attend, and has been a tradition at RHS for eight years. As the years went by, Mr. Rochester’s theme stayed the same. However, this year’s Mr. Rochester took a turn, with changes coming to the event. While the previous eight years of Mr. Rochester followed the same format, many people had their minds set on making this year’s show unique and different. Rochester High School’s senior class advisor, Mrs. Miesch, took on the role of organizing this event. “[It was] on Valentine’s day and we just wanted to try something different,” Miesh said. “You gotta constantly keep changing and reinventing [and] can’t just keep it the same.” To change up the show this year, Mr Rochester was modeled on a popular TV show. “This year’s [show] is ‘Bachelor’
themed, and there’s going to be a bunch of new segments this year,” senior Vincent Guerrieri, one of the contestants, said prior to the show. “It might impact on how smooth the show runs, but we are working very hard on making it right.” Mr. Rochester is important to many contestants because of all the hard work that goes into making the show perfect. “It can get stressful at times,” Guerrieri said. “However, we are working really hard every day to perfect everything.” Being a part of this year’s Mr. Rochester was a great experience for many of the contestants. The boys said they learned a lot about themselves going into the competition and created many memories. “If I won, I would be really happy because I would be widening my experience here at RHS, but whoever wins, wins, and I’ll be happy either way,” Guerrieri said before the show. “I’m just happy to be a part of the whole thing.”
Mr. Rochester contestants take the stage. Photo by Pooja Patel.
AND THE WINNER IS....DRAKE REID A Q&A with the newest Mr. Rochester What was your most memorable part of the night? “It was either the dance scene that we did together or just being in the room backstage with all the guys before we were all nervous getting out on stage.” How did you feel when they announced you as the winner of Mr. Rochester? “It was cool. I was excited.” What was it like rehearsing with the other guys? “It was a lot of fun. It took a lot of time because of all the snow days we had, so the rehearsals were really shaky.” What led you take part in Mr. Rochester? “Just knowing how big of a deal it is to the school and carrying on the tradition.” How did you feel during the competition? Were you nervous? Excited? “I was nervous before I went on stage, but after the first five seconds, it’s like the feeling just shook off because it’s just you up there.”
THE TALON || FEBRUARY 2019
PAGE 5 || FEATURE
STUDENT TEACHERS AT RHS
Meet the student teachers hoping to kickstart their careers SANYA GUPTA STAFF WRITER
Ms. Pegi Kalaja is currently studying at Oakland University. She teaches with Ms. Phillips, Mrs. Slomka and Mr. Duffy, who have helped shape her into the teacher she is today. She hopes to teach science in the future. Making sure students are learning is her first priority. “I start with looking at what the learning goals are and what I want my students to learn,” Ms. Kalaja said. “I try and think of creative ways to get students engaged and participating.” While her experience at Rochester has made her realize how hard teaching is, Ms. Kalaja was surprised to find how fast she was able to live up to the expectations. Another hard part she believes comes with the job is learning how to manage time and many classes, and not being able to get to know all students. “The most difficult thing is not having enough time to get to personally know each and every one of my students,” Ms. Kalaja said. “It is always rewarding because I love what I do and all the dynamics each student brings into the classroom.” She likes teaching at RHS because of the environment. “I enjoy how active RHS is as a community,” Ms. Kalaja said. “In my short time here, the staff and personnel have welcomed me and made me feel like family.”
Mr. Robert Johnson is studying at Oakland University, and wants to be a high school English or History teacher. Along with student teaching, Mr. Johnson is also the JV boys basketball coach. Mr. Johnson knew he wanted to become a teacher from an early age. “I had some inspiring teachers in high school that left a big impact on my life,” Mr. Johnson said. “Since then, I wanted to be a teacher and I want to try and make every one of my students’ high school experience memorable.” He is learning how to be ahead of the game, and is continuing to adjust to a teaching life. “Teaching has made me more appreciative of how hard teachers work,” Mr. Johnson said. “Their days don’t end when school does.” A positive part of his day includes working with his students. “It’s been rewarding to develop relationships,” Mr. Johnson said. “There’s no better feeling than gaining trust with your students.” As he completes his time at RHS, Mr. Johnson shares that the culture surprised him, and compares it to one big family. “My time has been memorable,” Mr. Johnson said. “I couldn’t ask for better mentors, colleagues and students. I’ll never forget my time here. Thank you, Falcons!”
Ms. Courtney Jacobs studies at Oakland University, and wants to be a high school science teacher. The job inspired her, and she wanted to share that with others. “I observed a high school science teacher and I was in awe,” Ms. Jacobs said. “Seeing students so engaged was incredible. The more classes I took, the more I knew it was right for me.” Her constant communication with people of all ages makes her perfect for the job. Mrs. Rosell, her mentor teacher, has also helped guide her (along with coffee). “Mrs. Rosell is amazing,” Ms. Jacobs said. “Every day I learn something new, and she inspires me to be the best teacher I can be.” Ms. Jacobs also values the relationships she’s built here. “Getting the opportunity to help someone understand a concept and watch their understanding ‘click’ is great,” Ms. Jacobs said. “Building rapports with students, and being able to be a student’s role model/go-to adult is rewarding.” Given this opportunity, she has learned how much teachers do. “Student teaching is one of the hardest things I’ve ever done,” Ms. Jacobs said. “Teachers do so much for their students. It’s not just a job, it’s a lifestyle.”
Mr. Curt Carson is a student teacher from Central Michigan University. He’s been working with Mr. Fox in PE and special ed. Mr. Carson can relate to what kids feel from his own experience, and it’s what made him want to be a teacher. “I raised havoc in school,” Mr. Carson said. “Being at that level, and knowing where kids are coming from is beneficial in teaching. It made me want to come back and teach those students.” Just like himself, Mr. Fox is also a CMU grad. “He has been very supportive,” Mr. Carson said. “...He had a lot of the same professors as I did. It’s really cool to see what’s changed.” Mr. Carson grew up learning about the teaching lifestyle, but he didn’t know exactly what it was like. “My mom was a teacher, so I knew the profession growing up,” said Mr. Carson. “It’s a different ballgame; you can prepare for it in a classroom, but when you’ve jumped in and gotten your hands dirty, it’s completely different.” When one of his lessons is a success, he feels accomplished. “There’s this feeling that I get hearing students say ‘that was a great class’ or ‘I can’t wait to come back tomorrow’,” said Mr. Carson. “Seeing the difference that I make in their lives makes me so excited.”
Ms. Aleksandra Luchin is studying at Oakland University and would like to be an English Language Arts teacher in any secondary grade. Ms. Luchin has been exposed to many opportunities by working and learning under Mrs. Cusmano and Ms. Honeycutt. One of her favorite experiences was being able to go on a leadership conference with Student Government at Little Caesar’s Arena, and seeing how they work together during different activities and to solve problems. As for working with both teachers, Ms. Luchin describes this as a rewarding experience. She learns from the freedom she is given to teach, while still allowing the students to learn everything they are expected to. “My experience with Mrs. Cusmano and Ms. Honeycutt has been incredible,” Ms. Luchin said. “I couldn’t have asked for a more fitting placement. They share a lot of admirable qualities that make their classroom a great place to be.” Working with students is a reason Ms. Luchin wants to be a teacher. “I want to become a teacher to help students realize they have the ability to succeed,” Ms. Luchin said.
PAGE 6 || FEATURE
THE TALON || FEBRUARY 2019
GOING TO COLLEGE ALONE Students discuss going to college blind ALEX GLASPIE
FEATURE EDITOR After leaving high school, newly graduated Stefani Jackson began to prep to leave to a place she did not know well: Munsie, IN and her college of choice, Ball State University. Little did she know, her experience at BSU would be short lived, and she would soon be spending her days in North Carolina with her family. After high school, many students will head off to their college of choice, which are usually close to where they grew up; however, it is possible that when students go away to college, they go alone, with no familiar faces from their past schools. “[Moving away] was positive,” Jackson said. “It was almost refreshing seeing new faces and having to remember how to make friends from scratch again. It also pushed me out of my comfort zone which I needed.” However, Jackson felt that her major wasn’t the right fit and chose to drop out of college in order to figure out her future.
“There are times I wish I would have stayed, especially when I think about how much I loved the independence.,” Jackson said. “I could have just changed my major to undecided and stayed there. But, I decided that because it was on the expensive side, it would be best for me to come home and figure out what I want to do in life and then go from there.” Senior Nicollette Jaye was planning on heading out of state for college, but for her, the drawbacks of going away outweighed the benefits, and, ultimately, she decided to stay in Michigan at Oakland University. “I had ideas of going to college out of state, but I realized that I’m not ready to leave home,” Jaye said. “I was planning on moving to Los Angeles and going to UCLA, but I didn’t have much of a reason because I’m still undecided on my major.” Jaye decided to stay in Rochester in order to be close to home, which can help students feel a sense of security. “I chose that school [Oakland University] because it’s right by my house, so I can still live at home,” Jaye said. “I’m
very familiar with the places and roads and I can always travel to somewhere farther anytime.” Originally from Michigan, Superintendent Robert Shaner voiced his opinion about going to college alone by elaborating on his own personal experience. “I went to college alone,” Dr. Shaner said. “I didn’t know anyone and didn’t have any experience on campus until I went to orientation. It was exactly what I needed at that time in my life and I was able to keep my friends that went to other schools as well.” Not all students can feel as secure in leaving home as Dr. Shaner did, and many choose to stay close to home. Senior Rayan Rawashdeh had no plans on leaving Michigan. “I always wanted to stay kind of close [to home] for my bachelor’s degree,” Rawashdeh said. “I did not want to go far away.” When considering leaving home for school, it’s common for many students to question if the college they chose is
the right choice. Dr. Shaner believes that students should follow their passion, which should drive them to find the right fit. “My biggest concern when students are choosing their path after high school is that they follow their passion regardless of where you go or what you do,” Dr. Shaner said. “If it includes a student taking a unique path, I would encourage them to do so.” When students follow their dreams, it can lead to hard decisions, like Jackson determining if she wanted to drop out of college. Even though leaving was the right move for her, it is not what is best for everyone, and many students feel that four or more years of college is the perfect fit for them. “To anyone out there on the fence about a certain school because none of your friends are going, just do it,” Jackson said. “Go. It’s good to have change or else you can’t grow as a person.”
PAGE 7 || FEATURE
THE TALON || FEBRUARY 2019
TALON THROUGH THE AGES The evolution of RHS’s student newpaper ELIZABETH BULAT EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Every month, The Talon’s writers and editors work to create a paper that allows those in the community and around the school to see into the everyday lives of Falcon students and staff. Today, The Talon takes form in a monthly, color-print newspaper and a modern website to tell stories about the ins and outs of student life, but it wasn’t always that way. If a student were to travel back to The Talon in the 1980s, he or she would find a very different world. This can be seen in early editions of The Talon, which featured black and white pictures and an occasional colored cover. Former editor-in-chief and current RHS English teacher Mrs. Jennifer Schrems shares her experience with the early Talon. “It was literally like a workbook almost,” Mrs. Schrems said. “It was not at all newspaper print, newspaper sized pages or anything, and we always had someone draw the front cover. It was like a piece of art that depicted what was going to be in the issue.” In addition to images, The Talon in the 1980s physically looked much different that it does today. The present newspaper is printed on thin newsprint paper, while in The Talon’s early years, it would be on a thicker cardstock. Also, the size of The Talon’s pages have gotten much larger over the years, while the number of pages in each issue has been reduced. “This might sound silly, but the fact that it looked like an actual newspaper is really kind of cool,” Mrs. Schrems said. “When I was on The Talon it was more like a book of paper stapled together.” During this time, technology, like computers, was still in its infancy, and this meant that Talon staff writers had to rely on very basic programs like Macintosh Adobe to lay out their pages. This process was much more time consuming and contributed to The Talon being published on a less frequent basis than it is now. “We used Mac Adobe,” Mrs. Schrems said. “We would then print the pages one at a time and then take them to the board office downtown, and the board office would run the copies for us.” With the emergence of the modern computer, The Talon changed its format into something much more similar to what readers know today
NOAH PETERSON WEB EDITOR
with the adoption of some color pages and newspaper style sheets of paper. “The format is obviously completely different,” former editor-in-chief from 2008 to 2010 and current Reuther Middle School teacher Ms. Jordan Hubbard said. “We were strictly a print paper with an 11 x 18 if I’m remembering correctly monthly issue that had an 11 x 11 insert called ‘The Hatchling.’ While we had quite a few stories an issue, we couldn’t publish them as frequently as the current Talon staff can as we were limited to that monthly publication date.” In addition, with the advent of the internet, knowledge of events outside Rochester and even the United States was available. This allowed for Talon writers to cover a much larger range of topics while allowing for more detailed coverage of news happening across the country. “We covered the H1N1 virus, which for some reason that one sticks out,” Mrs. Hubbard said. “In addition to [H1N1], natural disasters, the privatization of district employees, prior review, and of course the usuals – sports games, musicals, band concerts, etc.” Mrs. Julia Satterthwaite was The Talon’s advisor from 2005 to 2016. She witnessed the Talon undergo significant changes, including its transition from a simple issue with minimal color, to its modern format and functioning website. “In the time I advised The Talon, it evolved from a small broadsheet with one splotch of spot color on the front page to a larger broadsheet, later with a magazinestyle insert called ‘The Hatchling’, and then finally to its current magazine format,” Mrs. Satterthwaite said. “Every year we added more color and our designs got better.” Mrs. Satterthwaite’s efforts also helped propell The Talon to become a competitive and acclaimed newspaper. The Talon won multiple Spartan awards and Mrs. Satterthwaite was awarded
MIPA’s Golden Pen honor. “I was able to turn The Talon from a bronze newspaper to a multiple year Spartan Award winner, and even a two-time National Scholastic Press Association award-winner,” Mrs. Satterthwaite said. “I saw the biggest growth of the publication when students were regularly attending the MIPA Fall conference, One-day workshop, summer journalism workshop and attending the JEA/NSPA Fall Convention.” The website, which was also developed during Mrs. Satterthwaite’s time as adviser, appealed to a more technological group of modern readers and helped provide more timely content. Social media platforms including Twitter and Instagram have also strengthened The Talon’s news coverage and reader accessibility. “Technology has significantly impacted the way people consume news, which means it’s up to publications to continue to adapt. We started the website as a way to include more digital coverage, and then added social media accounts to cover school events,” Mrs. Satterthwaite said. “When we first started with digital content, Talon staffers still preferred to write for the newspaper because there’s something really special about seeing your name in print on a physical copy of the paper, but in all honesty, if you look at what teenagers do in their spare time, they’re not flipping through a paper — they’re scrolling on a phone.” In 2016, Mrs. Satterthwaite moved to California and present Talon adviser, Mrs. Aleah Facca took over. Class of 2018 editorin-chief, Lauren Karmo, experienced the change in adviser from her sophomore to junior year. She agrees with Satterwaite that digital media platforms are important in the future of journalism. “The website always needed work when I was on staff. It has so much potential, and if it’s used properly, it can gain a lot more attention for the publication” Karmo said. “Before there was such a heavy emphasis on the print, what things will look like on the page in your hands, but I think The Talon is in a transitional
period where the website and social media is that much more important, especially for the audience.” Mrs. Facca has advised just over two years, and The Talon has still maintained its reputation, earning a Spartan in 2017 and a Gold MIPA in 2018. Today, many Talon subscribers prefer the digital copy of the newspaper, rather than the traditional physical print. “We upload each edition of The Talon to a website called Issuu,” Mrs. Facca said. “Then, we email subscribers a link to the latest edition.” Although The Talon works to improve and emphasize their use of technology, it has continued to print a physical copy of the paper on a monthly basis. Therefore, today’s Talon writers need to be able to use layout applications like InDesign while being proficient on social media platforms. “I think that to learn the basics of InDesign, it’s not too difficult,” Talon sports editor Bianca Mow said. “Although it does the job, it’s harder for new students to pick things up.” The Talon has changed in many ways over the years, beyond making use of new technology. Administration also instituted prior review and reads each paper before it is published. Even with these changes, English teacher and former Talon adviser Mr. Chuck Kowal points out that much has stayed the same. “The production was probably a lot like it is today,” Mr. Kowal said. “We would brainstorm story ideas, assign stories, we had deadlines and meeting with the editors to go over the story and revise them. Not every story would run, so we would have a little bit of competition.” Overall, the experiences of Talon writers and advisers writing for one of the oldest and decorated student newspapers in Michigan has impacted them and their futures. “Writing for the Talon was always one of the most fun things I did in high school,” Karmo said. “It was stressful at times, but I loved the versatility and I now have a well rounded portfolio because of it.” Mrs. Satterwaite offers advice to future and present Talon journalists. “Empower the students to do the work, from hatching the story ideas to sending pages to the printer and everything in between,” Mrs. Satterthwaite said. “The beauty of scholastic journalism is that students get to be in charge of their own education entirely, with coaching and encouragement from the adviser.”
THE TALON || FEBRUARY 2019
PAGES 8-9 || SPORTS
DANCE DANCE REVOLUTION The dance team ' s bumpy road to success MARIAM HANNA
LIFESTYLES & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR At 4 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 1, sophomore Eliza Farrell woke up to her alarm clock blaring. It was the day she and the rest of the Rochester Varsity Dance Team (RVDT) had been waiting for since tryouts back in June- the Dance Team Union National Competition (DTU) in Orlando, Fla. Although Farrell had not gotten a full night of sleep in order to catch her early flight, she was surprisingly energetic and not at all tired. On the car ride to the airport, Farrell could not stop smiling. She was enthusiastic and eager to get on the stage and show all of her team’s hard work after this difficult season. At the beginning of the season, the RVDT had not been doing as well as they wanted in competitions. They attended multiple local events throughout the school year, but they did not place highly. To add to their struggles, the team did not have an official coach halfway through the season, which was especially stressful for them, since Nationals were just over a month away. “We still had one regional competition and Nationals left, and we didn’t have a coach,” captain and senior Kaitlyn Arnold said. “We said ‘okay, this is interesting’, and we [had] been placing last at all of our competitions leading up to that point. We hadn’t been doing so well this season.” Things started to look up for the girls at the beginning of January. With the help of a few others, the dancers were able to get back on their feet and work harder than ever for that Nationals title. “What ended up happening was my mom stepped up and became our temporary coach just so we could have someone to coach us, just so we could still run as a team,” Arnold said. “And then, there is a mom at my dance studio who choreographs for dance teams, and she has been judging for some of the competitions we had gone to, so she volunteered to help step up and help us re-choreograph some of our dances so we could do better. She got us back on our feet and helped us keep going.” With the new choreographer’s help, the team was able to re-choreograph and clean up their jazz and pom dances for Nationals. “She choreographed both of our dances and made it to
benefit our strengths,” Farrell said.“Before, it was not even a dance that we should do.” Another issue the RVDT faced at the beginning of the season was a lack of connection as a team. “Prior to Christmas Break, we had kind of weird dynamics. We never really fully clicked,” Arnold said. “We all have to be able to work with each other and get past our differences. That really helped us come together as a team.” Not only did the ladies on the RVDT bond by having to try their hardest to figure out how to work together without a coach, but the extra time they spent practicing also brought them closer. “It brought all of us together a lot more, and we all got more motivated,” Farrell said. “So all of us decided to put in an extra effort. We became much closer because of the extra practices and everything.” Only a month after learing their new routines, the team wen to Nationals in Orlando, where they went straight through to finals in both their jazz and their pom dances, making RVDT history. They placed 8th in jazz and 11th in pom. “This year compared to last year, the competition doubled in size,” Arnold said. “So fourth place last year really could’ve been a 20th place compared to this year’s competition, and the first year, there were probably around a quarter of the teams.” This surprised the dance team, because unlike other teams and in previous years, they only had a month to prepare for Nationals. The rush to prepare the competition made Farrell nervous. “You generally start learning your competition dance around the end of July or August,” Farrell said. “Some teams even do it earlier
than that, but that’s how you should start practicing.” Because the RVDT did not have an official coach when they went to Nationals, Principal Neil DeLuca and Assistant Principal Casey Wescott accompanied them to the competition. “I felt like it was important to have a school representative accompany the dance team to Florida with [Mrs. Arnold] at Nationals,” Mr. DeLuca said. “They needed a school representative- someone who was employed with the school district.” By attending Nationals and becoming more involved with the RVDT, the administration was able to get to know the dance team and better understand what they do. “Going with them and seeing them perform and compete, I recognize them as a team,” Mr. DeLuca said. “The value they put into their work and dance is amazing. It’s truly more than an activity. It is a sport, and I appreciate them even more now that I’ve seen them in person.” Although the principals have always respected the dance team, they were able to understand more about what it really means to be on the RVDT through this experience.
“I think I just always respected dance or cheer or football, baseball, performing arts,” Mr. Wescott said. “...There is a certain craft and an art form in all of it and athleticism to it, that’s for sure. I think this just gave me a little more insight into the nuances and the little pieces or bigger pieces and types of competitions that they have. So, it’s just a nice opportunity to learn more, but I think my level of respect for that they do, similar to other clubs, activities, sports, performing arts, it’s always there.” Many members of RVDT liked having Mr. DeLuca and Mr. Wescott get more involved with their team. “It was actually really nice because [Mr. DeLuca] came to practice,” Arnold said. “We were in the cafeteria and he said to my mom ‘Wait, you guys dance in here? This can’t can’t be good for you guys’ with the floor because my friend happened to fall right then, and we were like, ‘yeah, you know it’s really not the best...’ So it was just really eye-opening for them for them to come and see things and realize that change does need to be made...” Mr. Wescott was surprised to see how big the DTU
From left to right: Juliana Tasevski, Kaitlyn Arnold, Eliza Farrell and Megan Kabel
Nationals competition was, and he was able to gain insight into how dance works as a sport. “It was very exciting to go to Nationals,” Mr. Wescott said. “I was very happy for the young ladies that made it there and worked so hard to get there. It was a great opportunity for them to showcase their talents and showing that all their hard work paid off, so that was kind of the big piece. I was amazed at how big Nationals was and how many other teams were there and the level of competition was very impressive.” After such a difficult season and a lot of doubt that they would be successful, hearing “Rochester High School” being called out to go on to the finals for two different dances was an indescribable feeling, according to freshman Chloe Murray. “When I heard our name as finalists, I was over the top excited,” Murray said. “I knew my family, school, and our rival teams were watching and I wanted to do good so bad. I felt so relieved, we had finally put something out on the floor that we were all proud of.” Farrell felt overjoyed and excited because her team placed high enough to go to finals, and she also felt relieved that she did not have to go through the second chance round of the DTU Nationals Competition. “For the Nationals competition, there are multiple rounds,” Farrell said. “First, there are prelims, [and] there are around thirty different teams from around the country that compete, and from those teams, they are split up into two groups: group A and group B… If you were not picked, then you would have to do second chance, which you do not want to do.
It’s awful. Second chance [is when] the remaining teams that did not make finals first try to get to go again and compete for two more spots to make it to finals. Then, the teams that are left go to finals and compete again on a separate day.” Through all the hardships the RVDT has had to overcome, Murray learned a lesson she will take with her through her next few years on the dance team. “I learned that everything happens for a reason and to love what you do,” Murray said. “The team’s passion for dance helped us reconnect with our goal throughout the season. Things in life don’t go as expected, but if you treat your losses as lessons, you’re never losing.” Because the dance team went straight through to finals, they made a deal with Mr. DeLuca and Mr. Wescott to go down whichever waterslide the girls chose. “My favorite memory was when [Mr. DeLuca] said that if we made it to finals in both competitions, that they would have to go down the waterslide, along with Kaitlyn Arnold’s mom,” Farrell said. “They promised that we would have to go down to the waterpark area of our hotel and they had to do what we wanted. We decided to send them down a trapdoor waterslide that’s very high up, so they all did it, and it was very funny.” Mr. DeLuca acted like he did not want to go down the waterslide, but he was secretly excited to do it. “It’s one of the times I think students at Rochester High School get to see that we’re people,” Mr. DeLuca said. “It’s nice for students to say ‘even though they’re our principals, they’re just normal dudes having fun.’” Although the RVDT faced many challenges throughout their season, they were able to get back up and work harder than ever to do well at Nationals, and it ended up working. “Doing well at Nationals is an amazing feeling,” Farrell said. “For me, the most special moment at Nationals was when we found out that for both of our dances, we made it straight through to finals. It was the best feeling of my life. I just felt so overwhelmed, so happy, and I couldn’t believe we did it. We just felt so accomplished. Many of us started crying because we were so happy, and so it was such a good feeling.”
Photos of the RVDT courtsey of Kaitlyn Arnold.
PAGE 10 || OPINION
THE TALON STAFF Adviser: Mrs. Facca Editor-in-Chief: Elizabeth Bulat Copy and News Editor: Violet Resh Feature Editor: Alex Glaspie Entertainment and Lifestyles Editor: Mariam Hanna Sports Editor: Bianca Mow Business Manager: Noah Peterson Opinion Editor: Wyatt Anness Photo and Design Editor: Kari Eickholdt Staff Staff Staff Staff Staff Staff Staff Staff Staff Staff Staff
Writer: M. Conner Arsenault Writer: Sanya Gupta Writer: Collin Kilpatrick Writer: Holly McDonald Writer: Pooja Patel Writer: Summer Rawashdeh Writer: Maggie Rhymstett Writer: Raghda Romaya Writer: Israel Rosas Salinas Writer: Sharan Shibu Writer: Devin Toma
THE TALON POLICY The Talon is the official student publication of Rochester High School. We are now available both in print and online editions. Check out rochestertalon.com, @rhstalon on Twitter, @falconsofrhs on Instagram and like The Talon on Facebook for more great content. The print edition of The Talon is issued monthly during the school year and is devoted to the interest of the student body, parents and alumni of RHS. The Talon strives to create a publication that is informative, entertaining, accurate and professional. The mission of The Talon is to accurately, truthfully and professionally report on events and issues that are of interest to the student body, entertain readers and serve as a valuable archive of the happenings of the school. The views expressed in The Talon are those of the staff or individual staff writers and do not necessarily represent the views of the administration. The editors encourage communications and reactions from students, alumni, parents and friends of the school. All communications must be signed, but signatures may be withheld from publication upon request. The Talon values feedback from the community on its articles and other media. However, we maintain the right to censor inappropriate dialogue in comments.
MEMBERSHIPS
THE TALON || FEBURARY 2019
STAFF EDITORIAL:
Does using social media harm mental health? Social Media use is almost everywhere. Chances are most sutdents have checked Twitter, Instagram or Snapchat sometime during the day. This is backed up by data from the Pew Research Center, which says that 78 percent of 18-24-year-olds use Twitter, 71 percent use Instagram and 45 percent use Twitter. In an unbiased and anonymous poll conducted by The Talon, 12 staff members agree that social media has a negative impact on mental health, while 3 disagree. Even with the postitives that social media can bring, there is still a negative impact on mental health when using social media platforms. Although social media has benefits, like providing instant information and different ways to connect with friends, there are negatives that affect users’ mental health. A clear example of this can be seen through a research study done by University of Copenhagen that coined the term “Facebook Envy,” where users of Facebook reported more dissatisfaction with life compared to non-users. When people are looking at a timeline and seeing a photo or tweet by someone they follow, comparing their lives to someone completely different could lead to feelings like their life experiences aren’t as valuable or as important to others. Mental illnesses like depression can be linked to the use and non-use of social media just like “Facebook Envy” can. In a study published in the Journal of Clinical Psychology, results showed that the less time a participant spent time on social media, the less depressed they felt compared to people who spent more time on social media. Now, saying that social media use alone causes a mental illness like depression is a bold claim, but saying that social media use can contribute to depression-like symptoms is fair. To prevent feelings of depression or loneliness caused by the use of social media, using features from phone manufactures can help. Apple recently introduced a “Screen Time” feature in the Settings App of the iPhone. Users can set limits and see how often they are on apps like Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. The data provided from Screen Time can help users know when it’s time to put the phone down, which based on research, can make people happier. Features like “Screen Time,’ along with finding ways to reduce social media consumption, like sleeping without a phone in the room and turning off notifications, can help people reduce feelings of unhappiness and depression. Though the negatives of social media exist, there are still positives that should be mentioned. Ironically, social media can bring attention to its own problem of causing mental health issues. Recently, a picture of an egg broke the record for most liked picture on Instagram. The account later posted another image talking about how social media affects mental health. Events like this can create positive dialogue on serious issues like mental health which wouldn’t have been started otherwise. Social media is a good pipeline for campaigns like #BellLetsTalk, which helps discuss the stigma surrounding mental health. People should be aware of potential harm to mental health when using Instagram, Snapchat and Twitter. Phone companies providing tools to limit time on social media apps is a good first step, but more needs to be done by manufactures to get users to put down the phone. Along with phone companies, users themselves should be able to recognize their own mental health changes when using social media and be able to self-regulate time spent on social media.
”Social media harms mental health depending on how people use it. It can go either way.” Violet Resh, senior
“I just think that there are a lot of people out there that like to use social media to make fun of others... If you weren’t to use it, you’d be happier.” Devin Toma, senior
“I think social media can be harmful if you use it in the wrong way. If people cyber bully, that could affect your mental health.” Alex Glaspie, junior
PAGE 11 || OPINION
THE TALON || FEBRUARY 2019
GYM CLASS
Why Rochester students need more physical activity ELIZABETH BULAT EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
I was surprised last spring when my 5th grade sister came home with her scheduling card for 6th grade. What struck me was that gym class was not a required course for 6th graders, and instead was an elective. Being a competitive and talented athlete, my sister naturally chose gym as one of her electives, but I couldn’t help but wonder how many middle schoolers in our district were going to be absent from a physical education class the next year due to it being loosely required in RCS’s secondary education. Physical activity plays an influential role in physical, mental and emotional health, and should be more strictly mandated in RCS’s secondary education. In RCS, 7th graders are required to take half a year of gym class and high schoolers are required to take one semester of a physical education course. That totals one school year’s worth of required physical activity over the course of seven years. High school students also have the option to opt out of their gym credit by participating in a season of a school sport or a semester of marching band, contributing to even fewer students taking gym class each year. There is no doubt that Americans don’t get enough physical activity. The United States is the leading country in the world for childhood obesity. To combat this issue, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans recommend that all children and adolescents get at least 60 minutes of exercise a day. However, the majority of children in the United States do not lead lifestyles that lend to this. In this day and age, the use of technology is climbing dramatically. Common Sense Media reports that American teens spend nine hours a day using digital electronics, and tweens (children between ages 8 and 12) spend six hours a day. This is especially troubling since as hours rise using technology, hours spent doing physical activity drop. It is proven that establishing healthy habits at a young age increases the probability that a person will continue to lead a healthy lifestyle later in life. Therefore, if students are stationary during the entire school day, then again at home, they have a very low chance of exercising regularly as an adult. This would further contribute to America’s current obesity problem. Being physically fit is important for people of all ages, but especially teenagers. In elementary school, students have gym class twice a week and at least one recess a
Students Ellie Collins (12), Eliza Ferrell (10) and Megan Kabel (10) working out during gym class. Photo by Elizabeth Bulat. day. These parts of the day are there mostly there to let the young kids get out their energy and get exercise. However, when students are growing into adults and their bodies are developing and changing, exercise plays a new role in their lives that is beyond energy release. The mental and emotional aspects of exercise are even more important for teens and pre-teens than they are for young children. As school gets more intense and pressures from parents, colleges and teachers rise, it is ridiculous to remove gym class requirements from schools, as this course may very well be their only positive way for students to relieve their stress. The John Hopkins Health Review states that in the past decade, clinical depression and anxiety in children aged 12 to 17 has risen. Meanwhile, in a biennial survey of high school students in the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that half the students had no gym classes in an average week. In the same CDC report, 20.5 percent of New York City high school students did not have gym class in an average week, when 10 years earlier, 14.4 percent of students weren’t in gym classes. The correlation between higher depression rates and lower emphasis on exercise in schools is clearly evident. The Anxiety and Depression Association of America states that exercising can reduce stress, anxiety, relieve depression, strengthen self-esteem and improve confidence. This
illuminates that not only will gym class alleviate America’s obesity problem, but will work to improve the mental health crisis our country is faced with as well. Many children participate in organized sports, but a study by the National Alliance for Youth Sports revealed that 70 percent of American kids quit sports by the age of 13. Whether this trend is because of time, money or loss of interest, it reveals that the overwhelming majority of teens are simply not getting the exercise that they need outside of school. Therefore, it should be the responsibility of American public schools to ensure that all students are physically healthy. Gym classes have been stereotyped to be an embarrassing and degrading experience for students who don’t have natural athletic abilities. The reality, however, is that RCS offers a variety of physical education courses for students. From aerobics to team sports, students have many options to pursue their physical activity. Furthermore, the gym teachers at RHS are also acclaimed varsity coaches and certified health teachers. Therefore, they can provide information and advice to students who are seeking to lead a healthier lifestyle. Some students enjoy physical activity, but choose to not take gym class because of college pressure to take more advanced core classes instead of multiple years of gym. There are only six hours in the RCS school day, so it is natural for students, especially
in high school, to choose courses that will look stronger and more serious to colleges. However, if the district and the state chose to require gym class, more high schoolers would be keen to participate, since it would even the playing field among their peers when applying to college in that sense. Sacrificing an hour of the school day to be in a gym class may be more beneficial than taking yet another rigorous course for some students. This is because National Center for Biotechnology Information states that physical activity improves academic performance. Their statistics also show that even a singular session of physical activity can increase brain activity, focus and cognitive skills, especially in adolescents. For instance, The National Center for Biotechnology Information states that 11 of 14 correlational studies of physical activity during the school day demonstrate a positive relationship to academic performance, so they therefore suggest that students are given frequent physical activity throughout the day to enhance their academic pursuits. Clearly, gym class is a very important aspect of the school day. It positively contributes to physical, mental and emotional health for students. Gym class also serves to help some of America’s problems, including obesity and depression. Meanwhile, it prepares students to lead a healthy lifestyle in the future. Therefore, it should be more strictly required in RCS’s secondary education.
PAGE 12 || LIFESTYLES
THE TALON || FEBRUARY 2019
WHAT’S SIZZLIN’? THE EGG THAT CRACKED THE INTERNET Photo by Conner Arsenault and Kari Eickholdt.
KARI EICKHOLDT
PHOTO AND DESIGN EDITOR The internet was cracked on Jan. 4, 2019, when the @world_record_egg Instagram account was created. The account uploaded a simple photo of an egg with a caption stating, “Let’s set a world record together and get the most liked post on Instagram. Beating the current world record held by Kylie Jenner (18 million)!” Many people around the world thought of the post as a challenge without much meaning behind it. Yet, this was not the case when the egg started to crack. The egg post surpassed the world record set by the Jenner with 52.7 million likes and growing, but it did not end there. The account started to post photos that showed the egg progressively cracking more and more without a caption along with it, leaving followers in wonder until the hidden message of the cracking egg was finally revealed. On Feb. 4, 2019, the account posted a video revealing that the egg had been a message of awareness for mental health the whole time. Within the video, the egg is shown completely cracked with the subtitle, “Recently I have started to crack, the pressure of social media is getting to me, if you’re struggling too, talk to someone, we got this.” Social media has been a popular platform to promote conversation of mental health and the popular phrase, “It’s ok to not be ok.” Yet, many people blame social media for the intense effects on individuals’ mental health. For instance, there is a business that
promotes their products on the Instagram platform by the name of @urbansophisticationtm. If the link in their bio is clicked on, it will transfer to another page, which is the online store that they have created. One item that has gained extreme popularity from the online business @urbansophisticationtm is the simple clear phone case with a sticker on the back saying “Social Media seriously Harms your mental health.” Many well-known public figures are seen with this case on their iPhones, such as models Kendall Jenner and Gigi Hadid. These products are seemingly used as propaganda to promote a message, but do they do their job? People’s lives are presented on the internet in personal profiles to share moments of their lives with their peers and the rest of the world. Often, people argue that others only try to show their best qualities and attributes online, which could potentially result in social isolation and depression, which are considered to be a problem among heavy users of media. “I believe that certain images of models that appear on social media are portraying unrealistic body images with the aid of photoshop,” junior Ava Van Vleck said. “People who view these images, especially a younger audience, could develop eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia as they strive to obtain these unrealistic beauty standards.” Many people rely on social media to
communicate with others and show off their so-called perfect lives that, in reality, are not usually obtainable for an average person. The profiles are sometimes masking any troubles in life as well. According to a British Psychological Society, about 90 percent of teenagers are on social media on a day-to-day basis, which has been shown to affect mental health. The increased amount of time spent browsing social media platforms can run the risk of poor sleep, low self-esteem, and increases in depression and anxiety. When teenagers are seeking advice about certain issues, they have become more reliant on peer input, rather than parents or professionals. Then comes the new forms of bullying and instigated fights on social platforms, which teens sometimes use to negatively communicate with others without a filter, due to a lack of face-to-face communication. In the depressive aspect, teens strive for the “perfection” of life through the skewed imagery that is portrayed on platforms. If they feel as if they can’t reach that level of perfection, young people can lead themselves into a more depressed setting and mindset. However, many teens are also using social platforms to promote societal goodness and to make positive changes in the world as communications between others from across the globe has allowed growth in that aspect. But, for people of all ages, being aware of extensive social media usage might be helpful.
WAYS TO CUT DOWN ON SOCIAL MEDIA USAGE - Turn off your notifications for at least a few hours each day (which you can gradually increase); put your phone in “Airplane” mode or “Do Not Disturb”. - Delete apps that contribute to uhealthy body image or other feelings of inadequacy. Add apps that help you feel better about yourself or inspire you to engage in healthy behaviors. - Use an alarm clock instead of relying on your phone as an alarm to prevent you from using your phone the minute you wake up. - Take a day off from social media to focus on other things. Sunday is a good suggestion, since it is a day when you probably aren’t in school or at work. - Consider putting your phone in grayscale. This makes your phone less enticing to look at. With the colorful apps and notifications changed to gray, they may be easier to ignore. - Set boundaries or only certain times when you can check your notifications. Start a habit of placing your phone near the door when you come home to get your mind off of other stresses.
THE TALON || FEBRUARY 2019
PAGE 13 || LIFESTYLES
SPRING BREAK TRAVEL TIPS
Simple ways to make your trip as stress-free as possible BIANCA MOW SPORTS EDITOR
ROLL YOUR CLOTHES This is a helpful tip for travelers who tend to overpack. By rolling your clothes, you can save space in your suitcase and also help to eliminate wrinkles in your items.
MAKE A LIST This tip helps with the part of your trip you might dread most: going home. If you make a list of every single thing you are bringing, then packing up to go home will be easy. This way, you don’t have to worry about forgetting something because you can just read the list.
PACK ESSENTIALS IN CARRY ON Pack a few essentials in your carry on so that if something happens to your luggage, you will have everything you absolutely need. If it’s delayed, missing, or you need something before your luggage arrives, you will have the essentials.
BRING FLIP FLOPS Always bring flip flops to wear around your hotel room, in the shower, or when you need to quickly run out of your room. You never know the cleanliness of the place you are staying.
MARK YOUR LUGGAGE How many people have the same black suitcase as you? How do you know it’s yours? How can you make your bag stand out on the belt? Mark your bag! Whether it’s a bow, duct tape, or a sign with your name on it, it will stand out.
Airplane pictures from Creative Commons. All other graphics made by Bianca Mow.
THE TALON || FEBRUARY 2019
PAGE 14 || ENTERTAINMENT
HOLLYWOOD’S HIGH SCHOOL
The evolution of high school movies from the 80s to today VIOLET RESH
COPY AND NEWS EDITOR Ever since John Hughes paved the way in the 80s with iconic movies such as “Pretty in Pink”, “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off ” and “The Breakfast Club”, movies about the challenges and expectations of high school have been echoed again and again throughout the years, where they have continually been in high demand, even today. “High school movies are so widely known and loved because for many teenagers, it is a chance to see themselves reflected in stories in ways they hadn’t been before,” film and English teacher Mr. Chris Guyor said. “There weren’t many movies made prior to the 80s that really reflected, in an honest way, some of the stresses and pressures that teenagers experienced.” These movies did not become an unprecedented phenomenon just because of their fresh take on teen life, but also because of their humor and drama. Many other shows today often parody ideas of these early originals because they are so beloved and well-known. “I think there’s a lot of iconic moments that people remember too in a lot of these classic movies that helps them stay popular,” senior Abbey Reed said. “Sometimes people reference them in conversation or something because it’s something almost everybody
knows.” The high school craze maintained popularity with films like “10 Things I Hate About You” and “Clueless” in the 90s, but began to lose ground in the early 2000s. However, in recent years, a variety of new high school content has emerged and received plenty of positive feedback. Movies such as “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before”and “The Hate U Give” have spearheaded a kind of rebirth of the adored genre. “That type of reflection of reality is also present in the movies that have the most impact today,” Mr. Guyor said. “Reality is a very powerful lure, even when it’s humorous, like in ‘8th Grade’, ‘Easy A’ and ‘The DUFF.’” While many movies today have several connections with popular movies in the past, there are significant changes, one of the most prominent being the much more serious focus on social issues today than in the past. “Homosexuality was never the central part of a story as in ‘Love, Simon’... if there were to be a gay character, which was rare, they tended to be side characters and fairly stereotypical (Like Damian in ‘Mean Girls’ from 2004),” Mr. Guyor said. “The struggle
faced by that type of character was rarely, if ever, shown.” Similarly, racial conflicts and challenges are also highlighted more today than in the past with some diverse casts and movies like “The Hate U Give,” which highlights the struggles facing the African American community. “[Movies in the 80s] were less serious and featured simple stories compared to movies about high school today,” Reed said. “There’s more movies that focus on actual social issues or serious matters today than before.” While drawing attention to the various hardships all teens face in high school, movies today also take drugs and alcohol seriously. In past movies, they provided some comedic purpose, but now they are much more looked down upon. “Drug and alcohol usage tends to be less glamorized now than before, adding to the more serious tone in current movies,” Mr. Guyor said. Despite these differences between early high school movies and those today, they do follow a central story that students can really relate too. “The need to be accepted, to find friendship or romance, dealing with drugs, school pressure, pressure to excel in sports
or other activities, conflicts with parents... these are all part of teenagers’ lives,” Mr. Guyor said. “So are some of the random, funny events that occur.” The actual big picture plot of these movies usually surrounds an outcast trying to fit in or find themselves, which is something many teens today identify with. They can turn to these movies as a reminder that they are not alone and that most people don’t know what they are doing either. That’s the reason why these movies are so admired and have sustained such a presence among the teen population. “Of course some parts are very dramatic and exaggerated to make the story fit the Hollywood mold,” said Reed, “but for the most part, they show how crazy high school is.” The steady demand among high schoolers keeps this genre alive, continually expanding the perspectives and issues the youth come face to face with. “You never know what will be the next ‘Breakfast Club’/‘Clueless’/‘Mean Girls’... films that parents can watch with their kids,” Mr. Guyor said, “and have both generations take something from it.”
80s
Longlasting Classics “Say Anything” “The Breakfast Club” “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” “Sixteen Candles” “Some Kind of Wonderful” “Pretty in Pink” Graphics courtesy of Creative Commons.
THE TALON || FEBRUARY 2019
PAGE 15 || SPORTS
Left: Players in the Falcon Friendship Game of 2018 pose for a photo. Right: Students reach for the ball during the game. Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Bulat
FALCON FRIENDSHIP GAME
Special needs students take to the basketball court for school fundraiser HOLLY MCDONALD STAFF WRITER
Students at RHS cheer on fellow classmates as they play a basketball game. But this isn’t just any basketball game. It’s one of a kind. The Falcon Friendship Game gives special needs students at RHS an opportunity to play in a basketball game, while members of the community cheer them on. “They’re always the ones watching in the gym,” special education teacher Mrs. Amy Cosentino said. “This is their opportunity for them to be out there and participate.” On Monday, March 4, the Falcon Friendship Game will be held in the RHS main gym. A $5 donation is recommended, and the funds go to the special needs programs at RHS. “The game was very successful last year,” junior Alicia Perkins, who helped run the game last year, said. “We had many people cheering in the bleachers and we raised over $500 for the special needs programs at RHS.” Along with Perkins, Senior Elizabeth Bulat helped to run the game last year. Perkins explained how they came up with the idea for the game. “My friend and I served at a camp called Cran Hill for a week during the summer,”
Perkins said, “and that inspired us to plan the game.” The game was successful last year, and because of this, they are able to have the game again this year. “It was unbelievable. I could not believe we had stands packed with people and all of the cheering for our students,” Mrs. Cosentino said. “It was overwhelming with so many people who came. I anticipate this year being even bigger and better.” The game is not only exciting for the players, but for the audience, too, according to senior Scott Russell. Viewers get to cheer on their classmates and enjoy watching the students have a special moment. “It’s an opportunity for the kids on the court to be able to have some fun and have the chance to have their time to shine,” Russell said. “For the viewers, it’s a chance to root for your school and brings the school spirit to another level.” While the students play, Mrs. Cosentino believes they not only have fun, but learn to believe in themselves. “I feel that my students gain selfconfidence because they’re able to play in the big gym with all the excitement,” Mrs.
Cosentino said. “They love sports and they love to have activities, so it’s nice that there’s something they can do in the evening.” Rochester students who want to become involved in this event can help even in the simplest of ways. “RHS students can help out by coming to the event and cheering on their peers to create a fun and exciting environment,” Perkins said. Sophomore Emerson Teats played in the game last year. Teats shared his favorite thing about the game. “I just like playing in the game,” Teats said. “I like being on the court and shooting.” Junior Kanaa Alford also played in the game last year and enjoyed being able to play in the main gym with a crowd watching her. “I like the cheerleaders,” Alford said. “It’s really nice to have them supporting you, and all of the people there helping you to be safe.” Senior Saige Morgan not only enjoys the game, but also the process that comes with it. “We get to have a practice before the game,” Morgan said. “It’s very fun.” Sophomore Steven Eberline likes to be part of a team. He enjoys being on this team
for a special reason. “I’m excited to play basketball because the teammates are all your friends,” Eberline said. “You can enjoy yourself and have fun with it.” Sophomore Tarana Qureshi is not only excited to play, but to encourage her teammates while they play, too. “I like basketball because it’s very entertaining,” Qureshi said. “You can even motivate someone else.” The students want to prepare before playing the game. Alford plans on eating healthy and taking a nap, while Teats also plans on practicing. “Workout, practice and take a nap,” Teats said. “You can practice at home if you have a basketball hoop. I try to get better and better.” Mrs. Cosentino feels very special to be a part of this game. She knows that her students have fun while playing, and she experiences even more joy watching. “It has really made me feel so blessed that I work at Rochester High School with such amazing students,” Mrs. Cosentino said.
THE TALON || FEBRUARY 2019
PAGE 16 || TALON LOVE QUIZ
Talon Love Quiz Find your Talon soul mate!
IF YOU GOT MOSTLY “A”s, NOAH P IS YOUR MAN! HE LIKES KHAKI PANTS AND SAYING SORRY.
FIND YOUR GUY: FIND YOUR GIRL: WHAT IS YOUR DREAM DATE?
A. POLITICAL RALLEY B. SKYLINE CHILI C. DRIVE-IN MOVIE D. GOING TO SALVATION ARMY E. GOING OUT TO AN EXPENSIVE RESTAURANT IN A LAMBORGHINI IF YOU GOT MOSTLY “B”s, WYATT A IS YOUR MAN! HE PLAYS IN A BAND AND WORKS PART TIME AT A HARDWARE STORE.
IF YOU GOT MOSTLY “C”s, DEVIN T IS YOUR MAN! HE LIKES DOGS AND CARS.
A. RUNNING A MARATHON B. A NICE DINNER C. GOING TO THE DIA D. ROCK CLIMBING OR CLIFF DIVING E. CANDLELIGHT ROOFTOP DINNER
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE VINE?
CELEBERTY LOOK-ALIKE (THEIR CELEB CRUSH)? A. BOBBY KENNEDY B. MIRANDA COSGROB C. CAMILA CABELLO D. YOUNG CARRIE FISHER E. ARIANA GRANDE
CELEBERTY LOOK-ALIKE (THEIR CELEB CRUSH)? A. PATRICK DEMPSEY B. SHAWN MENDES C. YOUNG COLIN FIRTH D. TIMOTHEE CHALAMET E. JAMES FRANCO
WHAT DOESN”T BELONG ON PIZZA?
WHAT DOESN’T BELONG ON PIZZA?
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE NETFLIX SHOW? A. PARKS AND RECREATION B. TIDYING UP C. DEXTER D. THE OFFICE E. I DON’T LIKE NETFLIX
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE NETFLIX SHOW? A. GOSSIP GIRL B. YOU C. STRANGER THINGS D. BATES MOTEL E. YOU
A. FISH B. MUSHROOMS C. ANCHOVIES D. EVERYTHING BELONGS ON PIZZA E. PINEAPPLE IF YOU GOT MOSTLY “D”s, CONNER A IS YOUR MAN! HE LIKES WEST COAST RAP AND THE 90’S.
WHAT IS YOUR DREAM DATE?
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE VINE? A. I DON’T LIKE VINE B. WELCOME TO PIZZA HUT C. FRE-SHAVOC-ADO D. ROAD WORK AHEAD E. I LIKE YOUTUBE INSTEAD
GUILTY PLEASURE? A. WATCHING THE BATCHELOR B. NOT USING TURN SIGNAL C. BINGE WATCHING IFPhotos YOU GOT SHARAN S IS YOUR D. FORGETFULNESS by MOSTLY Elizabeth“E”s, Bulat. MAN! HE LIKES VIDEO GAMES AND FRIENDS. E. CHEATING IN MONOPOLY
IF YOU GOT MOSTLY “A”s, ELIZABETH B IS YOUR GIRL! SHE LIKES RUNNING AND ICE CREAM.
A. BRING THE BEET IN B. I DON’T LIKE VINE C. HURRICANE TORTILLA D. ZACH STOP! E. DANIEL, YOU’RE ON PRANKED
IF YOU GOT MOSTLY “B”s, BIANCA M IS YOUR GIRL! SHE LIKES SHOES AND CLOTHES.
IF YOU GOT MOSTLY “C”s, VIOLET R IS YOUR GIRL! SHE LIKES HIKING AND THEATRE.
A. EVERYTHING BELONGS ON PIZZA B. NOTHING BUT PEPPERONI C. PINEAPPLE D. PICKLES E. ANCHOVIES
GUILTY PLEASURE? A. ICE CREAM B. PEOPLE WATCHING C. COOKIE DOUGH ICE CREAM D. ANYTHING WITH CHOCOLATE E. JOURNALING
IF YOU GOT MOSTLY “D”s, KARI E IS YOUR GIRL! SHE LIKES ADVENTURE AND MUSIC.
IF YOU GOT MOSTLY “E”s, ALEX G IS YOUR GIRL! SHE LIKES PIANO AND WRITING.