The Wooster Blade, Volume XVIII, Issue 8

THE WOOSTER BLADE

WOOSTER HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT NEWSPAPER • 515 OLDMAN ROAD, WOOSTER, OH • JAN. 26, 2018 • VOLUME XVIII, ISSUE 8

Style and fashion in WHS:

how students express themselves

Index: On Campus 2-3

A&E 4-5

Sports 6-7

Cover 8-11

Feature 12-13 Focus 14-15

Views 16

ON CAMPUS

Littlest Generals aims to assist low income students CLARA LEE Wooster Littlest Generals Preschool aims to prevent an achievement gap at an early age by ensuring equal opportunities for low-income students.

According to Jessica Cardinal, Littlest Generals Preschool teacher, 70 percent of Littlest Generals Preschool students are from low-income families.

Littlest Generals offers a sliding scale tuition for lowincome students.

According to Cardinal, depending on income and family size, low-income families can come for free up to $90 a month.

Additionally, the preschool admits these students first.

Karen Arbogast, Director of Elementary Education, says the poverty level guidelines for the preschool differ from the guideline for free and reduced lunches, which is used to define the poverty level for WCSD. “For the preschool, we use the Federal Poverty Guidelines to determine eligibility for grant funds…all of our students fill out a tuition form, so that we receive information about family income and then, based on those poverty level standards, we can determine some families will qualify on our sliding scale fee,” Arbogast said.

Littlest Generals prioritizing low-income families provides the families with many benefits.

“Our program fills up very quickly, as we are a five-star

highly rated preschool program [by the Ohio Department of Education]… our policy ensures that we can serve a large amount of low-income students and give them the same opportunities,” Cardinal said.

WCSD Superintendent Michael Tefs emphasizes that low-income families come first in the Littlest Generals program.

“That’s our mission, that’s our vision: our poverty-based families,” Tefs said.

Tefs explained that investing in high quality early care and learning is crucial to mitigating the achievement gap for lowincome students, particularly because it is more difficult to reverse the gap at an older age. “[From] a low socioeconomic

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family, a preschooler can come into kindergarten anywhere between three and 18 months behind a typically developing peer or a family that does not live in poverty, and our whole goal is to try to close that achievement gap before they get into kindergarten… if you can’t close that gap by the end of kindergarten, the chances of closing that statistically… it’s almost impossible,” Tefs said.

Tefs says that equitable access to an education also provides children with essential foundational skills. “...sometimes, with generational poverty, family members don’t always feel confident about their experience with education, so we want to develop that love for learning, we want to create

the social, emotional comfort and skills to be successful in a classroom, how to work with other students, what those systems and protocols look like,” Tefs said.

The skills students obtain at the preschool level prepare them academically and socially to succeed alongside the rest of their peers when they enter kindergarten.

“We have heard, over and over from the kindergarten teachers, that the students that come from the Littlest Generals program are kindergarten ready,” Cardinal said.

The program will begin accepting applications Feb. 1. Applications can be found on the Wooster City Schools’ website or at the Board of Education office.

Tutoring program begins GINA VAN LIEU The WHS to EWMS Academic Assistance Program is being implemented at Edgewood Middle School with the help of WHS students.

The program helps seventh grade students with homework. “[WHS students] are paired one-on-one with a seventh grade student each week to help them with homework completion, organization skills and test preparation,” Juliana Hamad, WHS guidance counselor, said.

Hamad wants the high schoolers to be high-achieving, responsible and committed role models to younger students.

“The goal of the program is to dual as both an avenue to provide additional academic assistance to seventh grade students while also being a role model to them,” Hamad said.

Bradley Warner, Edgewood principal, wanted to create the

program because he recognized a need at EWMS and felt that WHS students were good resources.

Warner sees the program as a “The impact of this program is to improve academics, encourage positive outlooks, and help students with the transition to Wooster High School,” said Warner.

Lexi Nolletti (11) is one of eight volunteers from the high school.

She volunteers once a week during eighth period.

“I wanted to mentor a seventh grader because I had a lot of great role models when I was younger, and I want to provide that same opportunity to younger kids,” Nolletti said.

Nolletti hopes to impact the student by inspiring them to keep working hard and to manage their schoolwork better.

The Academic Assistance Program is being implemented until the end of April.

THE WOOSTER BLADE | ON CAMPUS | JAN. 26, 2018 | PAGE 3

WCSD school board members

Stavnezer, Carroll, Gantz begin terms JOHN GORMAN views editor

On Jan. 10, new Wooster City Schools Board of Education members Hilary Carroll, Bill Gantz and Dan Stavnezer were Additionally, Gantz was sworn in as the president of the board, taking over for Dr. Michael Knapic, who now serves as vice president, according to the district website.

In looking at the new perspectives and board members, Gantz said he is optimistic in the board’s ability to continue serving the WSCD to the best of its ability.

“The board has two new members...replacing two former

education experience...

It will take some time for new members to get up to speed, and Hilary making a smooth transition,” Gantz said.

Stavnezer explains that while he does not have board experience, he is looking forward to being able to better both the WCSD and the greater Wooster community.

the process and learn as much as I can. It is important to me to be a good steward to the board and the community,” Stavnezer said.

Additionally, at the Jan. 10 meeting, board members were assigned to committees throughout the community ranging from the Business

Advisory Council, to serving as the International Baccalaureate Programme Liaison.

Carroll, who is a representative on two committees, is looking forward to being able to serve the WCSD through these councils.

“I have served on the Business Advisory Council’s Finance Committee this past year as the parent representative, so I am excited to serve on it as the board’s representative. I will also be the International Baccalaureate Programme Liaison, which I am currently getting up to speed on,” Carroll said.

The next board meeting will take place Feb. 27, in the WHS LGIR, according to the district website.

Kiel, WHS IB director, retires included will be missed greatly.

“Mr. Kiel has made a real

JOHN GORMAN views editor

International Baccalaureate director Andy Kiel is retiring after two years in the position.

While he has greatly enjoyed his 30-plus years spent in education, with the majority of those years at WHS as a Social Studies teacher, Kiel explained to end his career as an educator.

IB senior Julien Lubell (12) commends Kiel on his performance as director.

“During his term as IB director, he performed his duties to the best of his abilities, given he only served two years without prior experience,” Lubell said.

Fellow IB Student Dominique Nguyen (11) explains Kiel’s work to make everyone feel

welcome and comfortable in IB, and I think I can say that we’re all pretty grateful,” Nguyen said.

IB Junior Lexi Nolletti explains that Kiel’s absence will atmosphere.

“Mr. Kiel is a staple of the IB program. He’s the smiling face that greets us every morning, and he always knows what’s going on. Things will certainly around,” Nolletti said.

Kiel’s favorite part of the job was always working with the students, but he is looking forward to spending time with his family, traveling and adding to his book, J. Edgar Hoover, the Father of the Cold War.

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

THE WOOSTER BLADE | JAN. 26, 2018 | PAGE 4

Artists offer products and services to community Marianne Garey Marianne Garey began her Etsy jewelry company, Gracefully Wrapped, in April 2016.

The company originally began through Garey creating jewelry for friends and family years earlier before it was suggested to her that she should begin selling her creations. Garey began selling from Surehouse Coffee Shop in downtown Wooster, but now sells most of her items on esty.com.

Garey uses pressed and dried flowers to create her jewelry, which includes necklaces, earrings and rings. Flowers can come from a bridal bouquet, a special flower from a garden or artistic pieces.

The two collections, Faith and Rooted, promote Gracefully Wrapped’s motto of, “Wear your faith with joy and flowers,” which encourages Christians to be rooted in their faith.

Custom orders are Garey’s personal favorite creations because of the meaningful stories behind each purchase. The most popular items bought are the mustard seed jewelry, particularly the mini mustard seed necklace, which she says is, “Plain and powerful.”

Garey plans on launching a personal website soon and is currently selling in a couple of small boutiques, as well as on Etsy at Gracefully Wrapped.

Nancy Franck Nancy Franck is one of the many local artists who makes handcrafted and unique products for the community.

Franck makes unique jewelry out of a range of materials. The N.E.wear Facebook page explains she makes, “Innovative jewelry made from acrylic paint skins, leaves, insect wings (not hunted), kumihimo, recycled bicycle spokes and guitar strings.”

She explains, “I started selling at art/craft shows and now have refined my sales to one show, online and storefront sales.”

She said her inspiration to start making jewelry sprouted from her interest in decorative and wearable art. She explains that “N.E.wear was born out of a Christmas decoration workshop. We poured paint into clear glass balls, swirled it around a bit then let the paint drain out. What drained out was more interesting to me than what remained in the ball. The drained paint dried into a ‘skin,’ I cut it into a shape and attached findings.... N.E.wear was born.”

Franck said her most memorable moment was last year when she began to make bracelets out of Kumihimo and puzzle pieces to represent autism.

She describes her most memorable moment, “Last year I created bracelets using Kumihimo and puzzle pieces, representing autism. As word got out and orders came in, I also received personal stories. I learned the puzzle piece is surrounded by conflicting emotions about its meaning. I have gained a greater appreciation and sensitivity to how symbols are not always as they appear.”

Franck’s jewelry can be found at Local Roots for purchase.

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Katherine Putka, a member of the WHS Art Dept., has created art independently for the past three years.

Putka enjoys making bows and bow ties for people.

Additionally, she creates needle-felt artwork.

“It’s kind of like painting with wool. You felt it together to make a picture,” Putka said.

For Putka, working independently to create art is a relaxing getaway from the daily stress of her job.

“It’s just quiet work. I really enjoy sewing, and the needle felting is very stress relieving,” Putka said.

Putka graduated from the University of Akron with a degree in Art Education. According to her, this degree exposed her to a wide array of different types of visual art.

“Art Education gives you access to a lot of different classes such as sculptures, metals, photography, printing and painting,” Putka said.

Putka accepts commissions for artwork through Instagram and Facebook.

Additionally, she displays her work at craft shows.

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THE WOOSTER BLADE | A&E | JAN. 26, 2018 | PAGE 5

Highlighting artistic entrepreneurship in Wooster Lorie Rico

Wooster resident Lorie Rico has worked as an artist since she graduated from Ohio State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts.

Rico enjoys creating abstract art to portray her surroundings. “It is interesting to interpret what I see in nature and the environment surrounding me. I want to give viewers something they can relate to, whether it be through color or form,” Rico said.

Rico says that she enjoys working with a variety of different materials, mainly acrylic paints, but also oil pastels, graphite and ink. “It is fun to experiment with different materials and techniques,” Rico said.

Rico has worked as an artist off and on since she graduated, as she also has had to make time to raise her family. In the past few years, however, she says that she has had more time to focus on her work.

Although she mainly has her work displayed in galleries, Rico also does commission work for businesses and individuals.

Blurbs by Evan Doan

Susan Riedner

Susan Riedner is a Wooster-based artist who sells her work at both local shops and in other places along the East Coast.

Riedner says one of her specialties is creating flower photo-collages.

“For the photographs, I take a number of photos of plants and plant arrangements from different angles and distances. I have the photos printed, then choose the few that seem sufficiently interesting and artistic for cards and framed items,” Riedner said.

Riedner said she uses a variety of technology for her collage work, including her iPad, a small digital camera and even her phone.

For her drawings, Riedner says she enjoys using her imagination to create her work.

“I enjoy the creative process, based on my imagination, for the drawings,” Riedner said.

Riedner’s work can be found in Wooster at places such as Local Roots.

SPORTS

THE WOOSTER BLADE | JAN. 26, 2017 | PAGE 6

Wooster wheelchair basketball continues to thrive MADDY NACCI feature editor

The WHS wheelchair basketball team became the first school wheelchair basketball team in Ohio in 2015.

The state now has five teams, and the Wooster team is undefeated this year.

The Adaptive Sports Program is a program that has both a community and school branch that provides opportunities, training and equipment for those with primary physical disabilities.

Lisa Followay is the executive director, and the school wheelchair basketball league is run through this program. She advocated to the state that people with disabilities deserved to participate in sports like other students do.

“Sports are so powerful for anybody to be engaged in them. They teach so many important things, but people with disabilities have not had access to those opportunities in the past. I knew of other opportunities in the country that were school based wheelchair basketball programs for 20 years and I wanted to see that happen here in Ohio,” Followay said.

The program received funding from the Ohio Dept. of Education in 2015 to start the wheelchair basketball team at WHS and since then, Massillon, GlenOak, Austintown and Tallmadge have joined the league.

The district wide team is coached by Brett Followay and includes boys and girls ranging in age from first grade to twelfth grade.

The season runs from November to the end of February. The Wooster team plays 12 games and practices twice each week.

Evan Heller (10) is the point guard of the team and has been playing for four years.

He says that wheelchair basketball is a lot like basketball with the same positions and rules.

“It is very fun and active and I get to play with other kids that have the same disabilities that I do,” Heller said.

This is the first year the league will be holding a State Championship in Ohio between the five teams. The championship will be held at WHS on March 10.

The school-based league was modeled off the league in Georgia.

“It would be great to use

Georgia and Ohio as a great example that you can do this. It does take some work and some effort but obviously the benefits outweigh the amount of work you have to do,” Lisa Followay said.

Followay said the team has social benefits, as many students with disabilities are socially isolated, and the program allows them to be part of a team.

The team also has academic benefits.

“There is a lot of research that shows that students who are involved in extracurriculars do better academically...We know that students with disabilities struggle academically.

They have a lower graduation rate and learning can be difficult for them, so if we know there is power behind sports for improving academics, why not

offer them for these students too,” Followay said.

Hailey Hines (10) joined the team this year and loves being a part of it.

“It means a lot to me because I am a part of something. It is my first team sport and it helps me stay active,” Hines said.

The student body is encouraged to attend wheelchair basketball games and cheer on the team.

“Wooster has not had the best crowds for our games. We have been to Massillon and Tallmadge and they have packed the place...Seeing the student body come out and support their classmates would be awesome,” Lisa Followay said.

The teams next game, against Tallmadge, is on Jan. 31 at 6 p.m. in the Wooster gymnasium.

2017-18 Schedule

Photos courtesy of Lisa Followay

WHS Wheelchair basketball team point guard, Evan Heller (10), dribbles the ball down the court. Heller has been an member of the team for four years.

Home vs. Tallmadge Jan. 31

6:00 p.m.

Home vs. Massillon Feb. 7

6:30 p.m.

Away vs. Austintown March 3

6 p.m.

Away vs. Tallmadge March 3

7 p.m.

State Championships

TBD

March 10

Matthew Nielsen skates to silver at regionals

THE WOOSTER BLADE | SPORTS | JAN. 26, 2018 | PAGE 7 THOMAS MATTHEW To get to this competition, Nielsen won in the intermediate men’s event at this year’s U.S. Figure Skating Eastern Great Lakes Regional, held in Antioch, Tenn.

After this experience, he advanced to the U.S. Figure Skating Midwest sectional competition in Minneapolis, where he received a silver medal. The top four qualifiers at sectionals advance to the nationals competition.

Over Wooster’s winter break, the national skating competition was held in San Jose, Calif. Nielsen placed second in the intermediate men’s level.

“My most recent competition was Nationals. I did well,

receiving a silver medal,” he said.

Nielsen practices out of the Strongsville Skating Club. He began skating a few years ago when a friend recommended the sport to him.

“I started when I was 14.

Lindsey Despoy invited me to try it, and I just kept going from there,” Nielsen said.

In looking toward his future in skating, Nielsen hopes to become a part of Team USA. “I hope to get on team USA, and get an international assignment,” he said.

Nielsen’s coach, Christian Martin, started working with him in 2009 and said he is glad to see him do well.

“I felt confirmed, myself, and absolutely thrilled,” Martin said.

Nielsen’s next competition will occur in two months.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MATTHEW NIELSEN

Alice Noble advances in “Light Like The Pros” contest HOLLY MILLER Alice Noble Ice Arena, Wooster’s local ice rink, has been selected as a quarter finalist in “Light Like The Pros” contest to receive $50,000 Ephesus LED sports lighting system according to www. lightlikethepros.com.

Alice Noble is now one of the 33 ice arenas nationally in the running to receive this equipment.

Alice Noble provides many programs to the community, including learn-to-skate programs, hockey leagues, after school programs and also public skating.

Recently, the arena has provided six weeks of skating lessons free of charge to every first through third grader in the

Wooster City School District.

In order to advance to the next level in the “Light Like The Pros” contest, Alice Noble is asking for the community’s help by voting for the rink online at www.lightlikethepros. com.

Alice Noble’s Community Outreach Coordinator, Penny Vanata, is actively asking for the community’s support in receiving this new equipment.

“Alice Noble Ice Arena is a true gift to our community and it would be wonderful for the rink to receive this lighting system so we can continue to shine bright,” Vanata said.

Voting is now open and continues through Feb. 3.

To receive this equipment, Alice Noble has to make it to the next round of the contest by receiving the community’s votes.

MADDY McCULLY

THE WOOSTER BLADE | JAN. 26, 2018 | PAGE 8

“I always say to myself, ‘what would happen if a famous person saw me?’ Yeah, I want to serve looks all the time,” is Madison Cox’s style mantra.

Cox (12) finds fashion inspiration everywhere, serving, what she calls, “Saint Laurent realness” and “Ralph Lauren type looks.”

Cox is known throughout the school for her cutting-edge looks.

Sid Chamberlin (12) says of her, “I really admire her originality. Every day she wears something totally different from yesterday and it always looks perfect.”

According to Cox, her most common looks include “‘70s vibes,” “preppy and put together” and “sporty chic.”

Locally, Cox finds inspiration from Corinne Wiles (10) and admires her boldness in everyday wear.

Style:

COVER

, starting Jan. 16, embarked on a journey to find some of the most stylish students at WHS. Writers started by asking Madison Cox (12), who recently signed to a modeling agency and will be pursuing a career in fashion, “Who do you think, in WHS, has a unique personal style?’ Then, writers followed a chain of people who were named, asking each of them to explain their own style and answer the same question. This process continued until had six people in our fashion chain.

Corinne Wiles (10) prides herself on her ability to make a plain outfit unique and wear her style confidently.

“I really like to take my plain pieces and make them more unique or cool by embroidering on them or painting a decal,” Wiles said.

Drawing inspiration from urban fashion icons A$AP Rocky and Simone “Slick Woods” Thompson, Wiles has discovered her fashion niche: what she calls “SoHo street style,” described as a trendy spin on classic pieces.

On a local level, Wiles finds outfit inspiration from Julia Hootman (9). Wiles says she admires the classic, simple and timeless nature of Hootman’s style.

Julia Hootman (9) draws her inspiration for her style from different decades, including the ‘80s and ‘90s. She enjoys dressing in the color black, paired with something red or dark maroon.

Hootman said her go-to outfit is a long sleeve collar shirt buttoned up with a sweater layered over top, with jeans and boots.

Hootman has a unique style.

Hootman describes how she strives to stand out, “I like being able to express myself in a way that is noticeable to other people,” Hootman said.

Hootman said being able to express herself through her style makes her really happy.

Blurbs written by Melina Mera, Erin O’Donnell and Alexis Florence. Photographs taken by Maddy McCully and Hannah Knapic. Graphic by Matthew Lorentz.

THE WOOSTER BLADE | COVER | JAN. 26, 2018 | PAGE 9

Style represents individual interest MOLLY SCHNEIDER Style can be defined as how people choose to express themselves through their clothing choices, according to President of the Fashion Student Organization at Kent State University, Serena Shroge.

The terms “fashion” and “style” are often confused with each other, according to senior lecturer and president of the student organization at Kent State University, William Perrine.

Perrine said style is an individual’s way of making an outfit and fashion is style’s broad picture.

According to Shroge, fashion describes a trend worldwide and style defines one’s personality.

“Fashion is something that exists everywhere whereas style is a characteristic that is unique to one’s individual self,” Shroge said.

Shroge added she learns much about people by what they choose to wear.

Shroge said she chooses to wear concert t-shirts from her

Fashion Chain Cont.

Meghan Crouser Meghan Crouser (11) said she draws style inspiration from Billie Eilish, an indiealternative American singer, as well as Enya Umanzor, a YouTube star.

Crouser described her favorite combination of clothes to wear as a solid color shirt or a black turtleneck, high waisted jeans, vans and weird socks. Crouser takes pride in her style.

Crouser expresses herself through what she wears.

“I wear what makes me happy and I don’t care what other people think of it,” Crouser said.

Crouser said she prefers to wear darker colors.

favorite artist, so people can know what music she enjoys.

Shroge said she enjoys creating a certain style that can be worn and enjoyed by an individual.

“I love the concept of designing a garment, sourcing production, purchasing orders, merchandising product, creating visual displays and ultimately selling that garment to someone who falls in loves with the piece,” Shroge said.

Shroge encourages students who want to pursue a career in fashion to volunteer locally and to join a student organization.

Emma Yost Emma Yost (11) is the next person in this style line-up.

Yost describes her style as casual, comfortable and fun.

“I pick whatever I feel comfortable in,” Yost said.

Meghan Crouser chose Yost because of her interesting, similar take on fashion.

“I like Emma Yost’s fashion, it’s similar to mine, but has a different twist that I really like,” Crouser said.

Yost said she draws fashion inspiration from advertisements and clothing store displays.

When asked who else in WHS has a special personal style, Yost chose Lindsey Adams (11).

Lindsey Adams Lindsey Adams (11) is the final student to be chosen for The Wooster Blade’s style chain.

Adams does not think of herself as a stylish person.

She used three words to describe her style: plain, easy and simple.

Emma Yost, who chose Lindsey, said that Adam’s style is similar to her own and that it is both subtle, but noticeable.

Adams said she does not have a specific inspiration for her style; she wears whatever she feels good in.

When asked who she thinks has unique personal style, Adams pointed back to Julia Hootman’s pick, Meghan Crouser.

THE WOOSTER BLADE | COVER | JAN. 26, 2018 | PAGE 10

Sarah Hider opts for non-

in

E A

The Wooster Blade catches up with WHS alumnae who have pursued careers in the fashion industry.

CATE STRONG Sarah Hider is a 2009 alumna of WHS and is the Miss Ohio 2015 titleholder.

Hider began competing in pageants when she was nineyears-old after receiving a promotional advertisement in the mail.

“I’m not really sure I knew what it was other than the advertisement showed girls in fluffy white dresses and pretty crowns, and that appealed to me,” Hider said.

Hider said she competed in a pageant system called National Miss America for six years until winning Miss Ohio Junior Teen 2006.

She then went on to compete in the Miss America Teen program and won Miss Ohio Outstanding Teen 2008.

After competing for Miss Ohio for two years then taking a four year hiatus, Hider won Miss Ohio in 2015.

Hider competed in the 2016

Miss America pageant.

“Although the girls are extremely competitive, the Miss America system truly creates a family environment. There’s no doubt that the stress and nerves of competing can cause tension between competitors, but we spend so much time together throughout the year that we truly have each others backs,” Hider said.

Hider received her Bachelor of Science in Journalism at Ohio University.

After graduating, Hider interned at Versace in New York City.

“After working in the fashion industry in New York City, I knew the cut-throat fashion scene wasn’t for me. I ended up going back to school to get my Masters Degree in Public Administration, so that I could work in non-profit,” Hider said.

Hider currently works for the Kendra Scott Company in Atlanta, Ga. as the Community Relations and Events Manager.

Hannah Peters follows passion in the style industry RACHAEL SCHMIDT

Hannah Peters is a 2010 WHS graduate who has pursued a career in the fashion industry by creating her own beauty business, HP Beauty.

In high school, Peters was very focused on her projects in fashion class. “She put her nose to the grindstone,” family and consumer science teacher Marlene Boyer said.

After graduating high school, Peters said she studied fashion design for two years

at Kent State University before transferring to the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles.

In Los Angeles, Peters earned her degree in merchandise product development.

Peters’ interest in creating HP Beauty came about through her beauty education and her passion for working with clients.

“I love being creative. I worked at Sephora in Los Angeles through college and met so many beauty gurus that sparked my interest in this

industry,” Peters said.

Peters has faced challenges through the process of creating HP Beauty, but the rewards outweigh the difficulties faced.

“It’s the greatest feeling to see your clients smile after their big makeover reveal,” Peters said.

Along with her beauty business, Peters also works at Lane Bryant.

Her coworker, Megan Flynn said, “Hannah is an extremely hard worker. We work long hours at Lane Bryant, and she still finds time to do her beauty business on the side.”

As a beauty client of Peters, Flynn also said, “She is very talented, and I would definitely book her again for my next event.”

Peters stated she loves how fashion and beauty are always changing.

“It’s a career for those who love keeping up with trends, expressing creativity, and making connections. It’s a career full of determination and drive and always keeps you on your toes,” Peters said.

Peters’ work can been seen on her website, hpbeauty.net.

Alumna Anna Qu pursues fashion studies

THE WOOSTER BLADE | COVER | JAN. 26, 2018 | PAGE 11

RHEANNA VELASQUEZ An early love for drawing led 2017 WHS alumna Anna Qu to chase fashion to New York.

“I want to do something I love,” Qu said, who recognized fashion as a career choice with drawing as a big component.

“High school is definitely when it settled in. Your parents tell you all your life you want to do something practical, but our high school taught sewing classes and stuff, so I was like, why don’t I just take advantage of that? How much harm can it be?” Qu said.

Qu took WHS’ Fashion Design class, taught by Family & Consumer Science Dept. member Marlene Boyer.

“Mrs. Boyer knows when a student has the skills to take it a step further. There were times where I had radical ideas and

she would say, ‘I don’t know about that, but why don’t you try it out?’ That trust in me definitely helped me explore and turn into a better creative thinker,” Qu said.

Boyer described Qu as a focused, independent and very creative student.

“She was a visionary, really...

Anna took what was in her mind and created it with fabric,” Boyer said.

Visual Art Dept. member Tricia Taggart remembers Qu as a dedicated, detail-oriented student. Taggart said Qu possessed an amazing ability for looking outside the box.

Despite her concentration on art, Qu described working hard during her high school career on grades and standardized testing.

“It was always about proving more that I had the ability to work hard and get somewhere,

CORINNE WILES

WHS offers fashion classes

WHS provides a Fashion Design class taught by Marlene Boyer, a Family & Consumer Science Department member.

Boyer has been teaching the Fashion Design class for 25 years out of her 31 years as an educator at WHS. Although there is only one title to the class, Fashion Design, students have the option of continuing in the class after they have completed one semester.

According to Boyer, “Students can take it multiple times because they just build on their skills from the time before.”

This option allows students to expand their knowledge of

as opposed to necessarily having the skill set before everybody else,” Qu explained.

Qu also noted artistic careers, from acting and theater to film and photography, are often considered a dead-end.

“A lot of kids are discouraged from going that route because they’re told it’s not practical.

And, while I don’t say that it should be necessarily your first choice every time, I think people don’t realize how many careers there really are in the creative field. Creativity is... it’s its own kind of luxury commodity. It’s something there will always be a demand for,” Qu said.

Currently studying at Parsons The New School for Design in New York, Qu hopes to branch out from fashion design to product design, exploring fitness wear, streetwear and shoe design.

fashion design and improve their ability to make their own garments, Boyer added.

Senior Taylor Courson decided to add the Fashion Design class this year.

“I heard good things about it and thought it would be fun,” Courson explained as to why she took the class.

Throughout the span of the course, students acquire many important skills.

“They learn the skills that they need to create garments,” Boyer said.

While attending this class, students will master the basics of fashion design, such as operating sewing machines and working with fabrics.

Eventually, they will use these

important steps to create a 3D garment, Boyer said.

After learning how to design and create, students participate in several projects where they get the opportunity to make articles of clothing, such as lounge pants, peacoats and even Prom dresses, Boyer said.

Among the students taking the semester course, Logan Kotulock (10) said the project which he looks forward to the most is making a handbag.

Boyer says her favorite aspect of teaching Fashion Design is helping students to learn the art of garment construction.

Throughout the entirety of the class, Boyer hopes that every student will have developed a skill in life and even utilize the knowledge in a future career.

Lacey

Dalton

Hunter

FEATURE Moo

Jet

Humane Society continues service to animals CATE STRONG The Wayne County Humane Society is a non-profit animal shelter that takes in surrendered animals, strays or animals from overpopulated shelters, according to Stephanie Long, the events coordinator at the shelter.

“We take in owner surrender dogs and pull dogs from other shelters that are overpopulated.

We also adopt out cats that come to us as strays and small and furry companions such as rabbits and guinea pigs,” Long said.

All animals adopted from the shelter are spayed and neutered before they can be

Charlie

adopted. Spay and neuter costs are covered by the shelter.

In addition, the WCHS has a “Trap, Neuter, and Return” program set up to spay and neuter feral, stray or barn cats from all over Wayne County in order to reduce numbers of stray and feral cats in the population, according to the WCHS website at wchs.org.

The WCHS Fourth Annual Spay and Neuter Fair will be held Feb. 10 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Wayne County public library, according to wchs.org.

The WCHS does not use the label “no-kill” because there is no widely accepted definition for a “no-kill” shelter, according to wchs.org.

“We will maintain a strong

stance on humane euthanasia.

It is not our population control, it is a humane last resort to end animals’ suffering or to ensure public safety and welfare,” as stated on wchs.org.

Lacey (pictured above) is a five-month-old tortoiseshell cat pulled from a home in Wooster along with 47 other cats.

“Of the 47 cats that were pulled, there are only seven more looking for a home,” Long said.

Lacey would enjoy a quiet home where she can lounge around, according to Long.

Her adoption fee is $33, which covers the costs for spay surgery, certificate of health from the vet, wormer, a feline leukemia, FIV, FVRCP and Rabies vaccines and a

Dasher

heartworm test, according to wchs.org.

Dasher (pictured below) is a one-year-old great dane and coonhound mix, according to wchs.org.

“Dasher is a very sweet dog that would love a nice active home,” as stated on Dasher’s adoption profile on wchs.org.

The cost for Dasher’s adoption is $126, which covers the costs for neuter surgery, certificate of health from the vet, DA2PPvL, wormer, bordetella and rabies vaccines, a microchip and a heartworm test, according to Long.

For more information on adoptable animals, visit the Wayne County Humane Society at 1161 Mechanicsburg Rd. or go to wchs.org.

Anna

Olaf

June

THE WOOSTER BLADE | FEATURE | JAN. 26, 2018 | PAGE 13

Wayne County Dog Shelter

Katie

provides temporary home for dogs CATE STRONG

Chance

JACOB GOOCH

The Wayne County Dog Shelter and Adoption Center is a county operated dog shelter for Wayne County, according to the shelter website, waynedogshelter.org.

The shelter provides temporary care for stray, abandoned, neglected or injured dogs until they are adopted.

“Most of our dogs are strays.

Anything out running loose gets picked up by the Dog Warden or by the public.

You can pick up a dog you find running loose and bring it here,” Kaitlyn Lehman, director of the Wayne County

Thank you to Broken Rocks for donating a work night meal to our Jan. 22 work night.

Dog Shelter, said.

The shelter will hold dogs for a set amount of time and wait for an owner to claim the dog.

Lost dogs are posted on the shelter’s webpage.

If no owner claims the dog, a temperament test is run, the dog is vaccinated and microchipped, then goes up for adoption, according to Lehman.

“The quickest adoptions are always your small, fluffy dog, whether it be your poodle or lhasa apso, maltese, anything like that. They’re in and out of here the same day,” Lehman said.

The shelter is currently home to five adoptable pitbull mixes.

“The media has a lot to do with the stigma around pitbulls. When they come to

the shelter, people assume that there’s something wrong with them as to why they’re here. It’s kind of this never-ending cycle that makes it very difficult,” Lehman said.

Previously, the WCHS served as the dog pound in Wayne County, according to wchs.org.

The Wayne County Dog Shelter has been open since September 2015, according to Kaitlyn Lehman.

The shelter is funded by the county, but is primarily funded by the profit from the shelter selling dog licenses, according to the facility’s website.

For more information on the Wayne County Dog Shelter and Adoption Center visit the facility on 5694 Burbank Rd. or go to waynedogshelter.org.

Shelter stresses importance of adopting senior pets ANNA NACCI

THE WOOSTER BLADE Staff

Hugs for Kenya Student-led charitable organization

@hugsforkenya

For more information visit www.hugsforkenya.org

While older dogs and cats may not be as lively as puppies or kittens, they can still be man’s best friend.

“A lot of times older dogs are house-trained...and they tend to be more laidback. Puppies are a lot of work and tend to be very hyper…,” Wooster resident Ryan Helms, an owner of 7 year-old pitbull mix, said.

While puppies and kittens are commonly more energetic than senior pets, this does not make them better than other pets.

“I have had a puppy before, they are a lot of work and training and constant hands-on, where a[n] older dog has already been through that stage and is more laid-back and relaxed ready to snuggle and just chill with you,” Helms said.

Katelyn Lehman, director of the Wayne County Dog Shelter, explained that senior pets need loving homes just as younger pets do.

“The biggest thing to say about senior dogs is that they need something...Senior dogs can be perfectly fine, happy, loving dogs,” Lehman said in an interview with Wooster Blade staff writer Cate Strong.

To adopt a senior pet, the Wayne County Humane Society and Wayne County Dog Shelter have many options from which to find anyone’s future best friend.

FOCUS

THE WOOSTER BLADE | JAN. 26, 2018 | PAGE 14

The Boys and Girls Club increases in membership ESTELLE SHAYA co-editor in chief

Walking into the Boys & Girls Club of Wooster as Edgewood Middle School ends the school day, a visitor is immediately met with a brightly lit, colorful space.

A line of the club’s many members stretches down the hallway to the club’s front desk, where each child receives a friendly greeting as they sign in and put away their things.

The Boys and Girls Club has been in place at Edgewood Middle School for several years, but has experienced a huge increase in membership in the last one to two years.

Christine Lindeman, Executive Director of the club, said the numbers in daily attendance have risen from under 35 students to over a hundred.

Several factors have helped lead to this increase, according to Lindeman. The first is the staff of the club.

Lindeman said the staff members are positive influences and role models for students who join the club.

A second factor, according to Lindeman, is the space the club has been given.

In a Dec. 6, 2015, issue of Wooster Weekly News, Rhonda Beckett reported the club received a $350,000 grant from the Ohio Attorney General and another $50,000 in private donations to build an expansion to Edgewood for the club.

Lindeman said the space, “really makes club members feel like it’s their own.”

In addition to this added space, Lindeman said the club has incorporated more opportunities for students. Two

PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB

As seen in both of the photos above, members of the Boys and Girls Club of Wooster participate in various activities organized by the group. the photo on the left, the club members pose after enjoying a Cleveland Indians game as part of the Boys and Girls Club’s summer program. full time program directors help develop the specific opportunities that are offered.

Brian Lenox, Educational Program Director, said the club has added special interest programs like Culture Club, Computer Coding Club and Language Club, in addition to a tutoring program.

Lenox added that the club offers programs on important life skills not taught in school, such as SNAP-ED which teaches nutrition.

Mark White, Teen Program Director, said he currently oversees Torch Club. White described Torch Club as a

leadership club within the Boys and Girls Club that helps students develop good character and integrity.

For all the programs in the Boys and Girls Club, White said, “Programs in our club provide a space where young people develop leadership and communication skills, responsibility, respect for others, decision-making, and self confidence to name a few.”

The club’s leaders work to make it available to all students at Edgewood Middle School.

According to Lindeman, the membership fee for the club is $15 a year so families can better

afford it.

Additionally, there are no barriers with grades or discipline to joining the club, so any student can have access.

The programs are also designed to be all-inclusive.

“We currently have over a third of our Edgewood students registered, so we have a very wide range of academic needs. I try to make sure our programs are inclusive and beneficial to all of those students,” Lenox said.

Many businesses in the community have partnered with the club to help raise funds for it. Lindeman said

these community partners include the City Square Steakhouse, Flex Yoga and Buehlers.

However, the club also works to give back to the community.

According to Lindeman, members of Torch Club have volunteered for the Humane Society and for Salvation Army bell ringing.

Lindeman hopes the club will continue to grow, both in the middle school and beyond.

She said at some point, the club would like to expand to the high school and continue to offer its opportunities for students there.

THE WOOSTER BLADE | FOCUS | JAN. 26, 2018 | PAGE 15

#POWERTOTHEPOLLS: HENRY GAMBLE Almost exactly a year after the Women’s March, Wooster hosted a Power to the Polls rally centered on environmental rights, poverty, immigration, gerrymandering, women’s rights and the #metoo movement.

Mandy Parkinson, a member of the local group named Wayne-Forward, emphasized the importance of the rally, saying, “We’re trying to get young people to come out and vote.”

Sister demonstrations were held in many other cities and towns across the country, including Washington D.C., where thousands of demonstrators showed up at the Lincoln Memorial.

Several organizations were present to share their concerns, including the local group Wayne-Forward, which formed as a reaction to the election of Donald Trump.

Barbra Norris, a member of

Community members gather to unite against controversial issues

the Wayne-forward group, said, “Our goal is to talk about how to move forwards.”

Another group, Indivisible, helped organize the event.

According to their website, indivisiblewooster.org, the group’s mission is to, “promote a progressive and incluthrough the political system at all levels of government.”

Robin Schar, a professor of English at the College of Wooster and a nationally award winning poet, read her essay at the event.

Schar said this rally is important because it, “demonstrates the power people have in shaping the country.”

Schar’s message addressed the objects and ideas people carry with them to protect themselves.

This rally also attracted younger members, as another College of Wooster employee, Ryan Ozar, brought his children to hear the speakers.

Ozar said it is important for his kids to, ”hear what locals feel about women’s rights.”

PHOTOS BY HANNAH KNAPIC

VIEWS

THE

WOOSTER

BLADE

Editors-in-Chief Estelle Shaya, Amber Swigart Webmaster Jacob Gooch Graphics Manager Matthew Lorentz Business Managers Matthew Lorentz, Jacob Gooch On Campus Editor Spencer Dilyard Focus Editor Chris Roche Sports Editor Hannah Knapic A & E Editors Nick Cosmo, Evan Doan Trends Editor Chelsea Patterson Cover Editors Alexis Florence, Erin O’Donnell Views Editor John Gorman Feature Editors Holly Miller, Maddy Nacci Staff Writers David Cheng, Ambrea Dellafave, Henry Gamble, Emily Jewell, Skyy Khounborin, Clara Lee, Emma LoGiudice, Thomas Matthew, Maddy McCully, Melina Mera, Alexa Mitchell, Pauley, Avery Ross, Rachael Schmidt, Molly Schneider, Cate Strong, Gina Van Lieu, Aleesha Vaughn, Rheanna Velasquez, Devika Walia, Kyle Ward, Corinne Wiles Head Photographer Hannah Knapic Photographers Ambrea Dellafave, Spencer Dilyard, Jacob Gooch, Emma LoGuidice, Maddy McCully, Reece Mitchell, Chelsea Patterson, Molly Schneider, Aleesha Vaughn Artist Cate Strong Adviser Kristi Hiner The Wooster Blade is a biweekly student publication printed every other Friday by the Newspaper Production classes at Wooster High School. The paper is designated as an open forum and follows publishing guidelines as established in a district-wide publications policy protecting students’ freedom of expression. All copy, art and photography are property of The Wooster Blade and cannot be reproduced without permission. Letters to the editor are limited to 300 words and The Wooster Blade reserves the right to print and edit as per length and content. The Wooster Blade is a member of Quill and Scroll, National Scholastic Press Association and Columbia Scholastic Press Association. The Wooster Blade is printed in cooperation with Wooster’s The Daily Record.

Letters and inquiries should be addressed to The Wooster Blade, 515 Oldman Road Wooster, Ohio 44691. The Wooster Blade can be contacted at 330-345-4000 ext. 3210.

The newspaper can also be found at the woosterblade.com

THE VOICE OF WOOSTER HIGH SCHOOL

THE WOOSTER BLADE | JAN. 26, 2018 | PAGE 16

OUR VIEW

Shutdown signals government failure At the beginning of 2018, due to the immense amounts of government gridlock, the federal government shut down for three days.

WHS AP Government teacher Phil Klein explains that a government shutdown occurs when Congress does not approve a discretionary spending budget for the year.

A Washington Post article titled “House votes to end government shutdown, sending legislation to Trump,” from Jan. 22 explains that Congress has passed a bill to allow the government to reopen for a short time to solve the legislative standstill.

However, The Wooster Blade Editorial Board believes that the occurrence of a shutdown is troubling and is indicative of a larger problem.

According to a Jan. 19 Time article entitled, “What Is a Government Shutdown? Here’s What Happens Now,” when a government shutdown occurs, all non-essential government workers are out of work and without pay until Congress comes to an agreement.

Non-essential government workers are those in positions not directly

responsible for national security, basic government services and not imperative to the function of agencies.

A Financial Times article titled “Blame game intensifies over US government shutdown,” on Jan. 21 underscores the skullduggery that occurred within Congress.

Instead of negotiating a resolution to keep the government afloat, Congresspeople on both sides of the aisle resorted to asinine attacks against their adversaries.

Klein furthered, explaining that both parties were in part to blame for the shutdown, as Democrats and Republicans alike failed to immediately compromise and take actions that would allow the government to move forward as a functioning and efficient institution.

The Wooster Blade Editorial Board believes budgeting our nation’s resources should focus less on political squabbling and more on the well being of those directly affected by the appropriations process.

Klein emphasized that politicians have been doing just the opposite, as for the past few years, parties

within Congress have been holding the budget hostage until unrelated legislation is given attention.

The Wooster Blade Editorial Board urges representatives to shift their priorities from partisan gamesmanship to that which actually benefits American citizens.

Even those within Wayne County are subject to the debilitating effects of the government shutdown and the looming possibility of another.

Just outside Wooster sits the Ohio State University’s Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center.

According to the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance and oardc. ohio-state.edu/seeds, federal appropriations sponsor seven different research projects and with each project a different team at the OARDC. During a government shutdown, all those working in those projects are out of work and without their primary source of income.

The Wooster Blade Editorial Board implores all of our representatives in Congress to ignore the politics in the budget and opt instead to do what’s best for the American people.

Letter to the Editor As a loyal reader and supporter of The Wooster Blade, I was disappointed to read an article attacking last year’s Winter Formal. As one of the students involved with planning last year’s dance, I admit that events did not unfold as planned, but my fellow class officers and I feel that the causes of student complaints were not properly investigated or discussed.

The article in question stated “student concerns from last year’s Winter Formal” included “the power outage, bad music, and the fact that the dance took place in the gym.” While student disappointment regarding the dance is understandable, several of these

factors were beyond our control and neglected in discussion of the event.

A committee of students spent hours the morning of the dance decorating the commons, which was the intended location of the dance. The power outage, however, forced us to relocate the dance to the gym, which administration deemed the only illuminated space in the building large enough to host the event. Furthermore, our music selection was limited by the power outage, due to our inability to access the internet and we were unable to use colored lights as planned, due to our move to the gym.

While I fully intend to continue

reading and supporting The Blade, I hope the paper will begin investigating further into issues before discussing them and communicate with all involved parties. Last year’s Winter Formal did not go as planned, and while I sincerely hope this year’s dance will be better, I am disappointed with The Blade’s analysis of last year’s event.

That being said, I highly encourage everyone to attend this year’s Winter Formal. This dance is an important fundraiser for future events and will likely be a positive experience for everyone in attendance.

Lexi Nolletti Junior Class Vice President