The Wooster Edge, Volume II, Issue I

the

EDGE literary & news magazine January 2017

The Wooster Blade production staff | vol. 2 | issue 1 515 Oldman rd. Wooster, OH Photo by Madison Culver Lee Graphics by Matt Lorentz

1-3 4 5-8 9-11 12 13-16 17-26 27-33 34-41 42-47 48

Front & Index

Letter From the Editors Student Art Submissions Creative Writing Submissions

New Writing System

2 | index | January 2017

Cornerstone Narratives Montessori Collaboration Post Secrets “When I Grow Up�

A year in review Collaborations

In

d

E

x

January 2017 | index | 3

A Letter From The Editors

P

roducing this magazine was a daunting task. There were plenty of days when things were not going as planned and deadlines were put on the line. However, together, as co-editors-in-chief we wanted the third ever issue of the magazine to showcase various talents and organizations that may not get as much attention as deserved, and we believe this issue has done so.

We would like to thank those who volunteered their time for The Edge, and also offer thanks to the Montessori School of Wooster for letting us interrupt classes and for graciously allowing their students to participate in our various activities. Another thank you goes to Morgan Foster and her class at Cornerstone Elementary School for allowing us to publish some of their writing.

The ultimate goal of this magazine was to shine light on the various talents from different artists, photographers and writers this school has, to the pure, and energetic young students with whom we were so lucky to have the chance to work.

We are so thankful for everyone who has volunteered their time, and we wish all the best to the promising students who will hold this position in the future.

Finally, we would like to thank our wonderful adviser Kristi Hiner who has helped make this publication into a success. Without her enthusiasm and dedication this magazine would not have been a possibility. We are truly grateful to have such a wonderful adviser, as without her, none of us would have unlocked our full potential.

She will always hold a special place in our hearts.

Thank you.

and

4 | letter from the editors | January 2017

student submissions “MUSIC CONSUMES MY SOUL”

“WE ALL BELIEVE IN FAIRY TALES AT SOME POINT IN OUR LIVES”

“IT IS TIME FOR ME TO LEAVE THIS PLACE”

WHS ARTIST SUBMISSIONS

CREATIVE WRITING SUBMISSIONS

CORNERSTONE NARRATIVES

Artwork and photography submitted for publication by several different WHS artists and photographers.

Pages 6, 7 and 8

In the creative writing section, writers from WHS of all grades submitted some of their completed works for publication.

Pages 9, 10 and 11

grade classes sent narratives written under the Lucy Calkins writing system for publication in the magazine.

Pages 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16

January 2017 | student submissions | 5

Anna Qu 12

WHS Emily Wallace 9

Summer Miller 11

Artist Submissions

Catherine Strong 6 | student submissions | January 2017

10

1

1 2

10

Summer Miller 11

Evan Rice 12

5 2

12

Catherine Strong 3

4

Evan Rice

Summer Miller 11

3

4

5

January 2017 | student submissions | 7

If your friend has ice powers... Take the chance!

Evan Rice 12

Ellie Vojtkofsky 8

Summer Miller 11

8 | student submissions | January 2017

Elise Kern 11

Musical Escape Rebecca Di Scipio (9)

Every day’s the same To make an escape.

Music consumes my soul

Untitled Sydney Wright

(9)

What do I do?

When there’s nothing left to lose?

I’m tired of pretending

you categorize something that is living

Yet the mask is still there.

Who I really am And disappear once again.

January 2017 | student submissions | 9

Doomsday Prevented James Nielson (11)

“The reactor’s gonna blow!”

Screams of fear erupted. The world’s most prestigious scientists ran around in terror as they tried frantically to cool down the reactor. The core required constant cooling in order to prevent overheating.

Unforeseen by all, the cooling mechanism shut down unexpectedly. While struggling to find the cause of the shutdown, everyone scrambled to find solutions.

These brave scientists had been developing an ultra-reactor; a nuclear power plant capable of powering an entire continent for years and based on new scientific developments. The massive project overseen by the United Nations and built in the United States would be the end of human-caused climate change. Millions would be lifted out of poverty’s grip with the nearly endless, clean energy. While the project was designed to be flawless, it was headed for titanic doom. Without the cooling mechanism, the reactor would overheat and explode. That would result in the end of all life on earth.

The explosion itself would instantly destroy everything in a hundred mile radius, but the resulting radiation would quickly spread. Life would last for less than a second in the toxic, irradiated environment.

“Johnson, what are our options?” said Schmidt, the world’s top nuclear physicist.

Johnson was the lead engineer in developing the core’s cooling device.

“I’m not sure what we can do at this point, we have about 20 minutes before this thing goes,” Johnson said.

“If that core isn’t kept cool, I really don’t know what we can do.”

“Good Golly Johnson, we’ve got to do something, anything!” Schmidt said.

“Sir, our options are none, unless we know the cause of the coolant f…”

“Sir, we’ve found the source!” Two scientists interrupted as they arrived by Johnson and Schmidt.

“Well what is it then?” said Johnson and Schmidt unanimously.

The scientists placed a box in front of them, inside lay a mixtape, submerged in ice. Steam arose from the box as the mixtape boiled the ice on contact.

“Whose mixtape is this?” Johnson asked.

“We’re not sure. All we know is that it’s so hot, it destroyed the cooling system on the reactor.

We like listening to music while we work, and someone tried to play this. That guy is dead now, the heat killed him,” one of the scientists said.

10 | student submissions | January 2017

“Good golly,” Johnson said. “The only thing that can save us now is something so cold, it would counteract the effects of this mixtape.”

“Yes, but what is cool enough? We’ve tried everything,” said a scientist.

“Have you contacted James Nielson?” Asked Schmidt.

“We didn’t think about that. Everyone knows that James Nielson is the absolute coolest person on the planet. No other person is as cool and awesome as James Nielson,” said a scientist.

“Get him on the phone now! If James Nielson gets here quickly enough, he can use his coolness to get the reactor to just chill out!

That should buy us enough time to repair the cooling system,” said Schmidt.

Johnson quickly pulled his phone out and punched in the numbers. He knew that only one person was cool enough for this job, and that person was James Nielson. He listened desperately for James to answer the phone, and it seemed like the ringing was growing louder. Each ring seemed closer and closer until, suddenly, James was standing right in front of them.

“What in the world? How did you get here?” all asked, while gazing on James’s coolness.

“I teleported here. It’s one of the perks of being ultra-awesome. Also, I know what’s going on here, and I can stop it. Don’t ask how I know, I’m just cool like that,” said James.

All rushed to the reactor in hopes of saving it before it became too late.

“Alright people, when James cools the reactor; we have to be ready to replace the cooling system immediately,” Johnson said.

The world’s top nuclear experts stood ready.

Many began to tear up, having had the chance to see James. James turned to the reactor, all were tense as James spoke: “Ayo reactor, whaddup my dude? Yo, you gotta chill out mang, you’re getting too hot fam. You’re gonna explode and kill, like, everybody. Time to chill out.”

The reactor immediately cooled down. All instruments read that the reactor was stable. The scientists quickly reset the cooling system to function again properly. Cheers of ecstasy rang throughout the power plant. Many scientists called their families while in tears of joy, exclaiming that the world was saved.

Among all the commotion, Johnson noticed that James had disappeared once again.

“Where did he go?” Johnson said.

Schmidt responded, “Oh, don’t worry about that. He’ll be back again eventually. When the world needs him.”

Isabelle Smith (9)

First, I should probably introduce myself. I am Catherine. I am an ordinary girl from an ordinary town, and this is my not-so-ordinary story.

We all believe in fairy tales at some point in our lives. Early on, I stopped believing in the things most people believed in, like Santa Claus. But the “fairy tale” I held on to longest was the dream that I could be whatever I wanted. I had the dream of being an actress.

I never though there was anything that would stop me from being an actress. In middle school, I never once doubted that this “fairy tale” would come true. I worked hard to pursue this dream. I was in every school play from sixth to tenth grade. But when I reached eleventh grade, my friends began making fun of me for wanting to be an actress. They all wanted to be doctors and lawyers and what they called “practical jobs.” They pressured me so much that I would cry at night about it. Eventually, I let go of my “fairy tale” and never thought about it again.

My time has come. It is time for me to leave this place, oh this beautiful place. I’m laying here now, seeing my life Vince Fiorita (9) go by. I have been here for so long, seen so many things, and now it is all gone. I lived in a great time. This world started to change in many ways as I got older. People changed, ways of living changed. It became a very different environment. So I am laying here now, in my bed, glad to say it is my time. I have seen enough of this world and I am ready to move on to a better life. I am now just waiting for the right time, for death to show himself and take me by the hand and take me to my new place. I feel a rush of cool air, he is here. Everything is bright. I’m ascending now. As I look around me, I see familiar faces. It looks like the world I knew before, but perfected. I gaze at it in wonder—not because it was awful, but because it was beautiful.

May 2016 | student submissions | 11

Estelle Shaya Co-Editor-in-Chief

B

eginning this year, the Lucy Calkins writing system was implemented in the Wooster City School District.

Lucy Calkins is the author of a series of grade-by-grade reading and writing books, Units of Study for Teaching Reading and Units of Study in Opinion/Argument, Information and Narrative Writing, according to her biography on the official web page of

New

L ucy C alkins Writing System Implemented Heinemann, her publisher.

Calkins founded the Teachers College Reading and Writing Project at Columbia University and directs it today, states the group’s official web page.

The same source states the project’s mission is, “to help young people become avid and skilled readers, writers and inquirers.”

Cornerstone began use of the Lucy Calkins writing system this year.

According to Karen Arbogast, the director of elementary education for Wooster City Schools, when deciding upon the program, “ a Literacy Committee composed of teachers and administrators in grades PK-4 was established.

The committee’s vision was to create a culture of literacy in our schools and throughout the Wooster community.”

In Cornerstone Elementary’s 2016-17 Ohio Improvement Process Implementation plan, found on woostercityschools.org, the Lucy Calkins Unit of Study for Writing was stated as an action step to help implement Ohio’s Learning Standards and ensure full engagement of students.

Indeed, the use of Lucy Calkins in Cornerstone classrooms has shown high engagement of students in writing.

Morgan Foster, a first grade

12 | feature | January 2017

Cornerstone teacher, described a regular lesson using Lucy Calkins in its narrative unit.

In her classroom, she usually has a 10 minute mini-lesson to introduce a subject to students, independent writing for 40 to 45 minutes, then a five minute sharing period to discuss stories.

Foster stressed the flexibility of the system: it opens room for breaks during the writing period for short lessons, individual work with specific students or small group lessons.

Cornerstone students have been working on narrative writing this past semester. Foster said, about her students’ writing, “Typically in first grade, they’re writing a new personal narrative every day.”

Foster said she has seen a great amount of growth among her students as the year has progressed.

Although students began with single sentence narratives to start the year, they now understand having multiple parts in a story and making characters talk and move.

Arbogast said that general feedback from teachers has been positive and parents have enjoyed seeing the work completed by their children.

Although only in its first year at Cornerstone and throughout the district, the Lucy Calkins writing system has shown itself to be engaging and positively received.

By Branden:

“ I went to the pumpkin patch.”

“I saw a weird crow; it look like Jack Skeleton, his scarecrow.”

“ I went home.”

PHOTO FAIR USE VIA FLICKR CREATIVE COMMONS (STEFAN)

January 2017 | student submissions | 13

PHOTO FAIR USE VIA FLICKR CREATIVE COMMONS (GAINESVEGAS)

14 | student submissions | January 2017

No name

“I wish I could surf board with my dad.”

By Codie:

PHOTO FAIR USE VIA FLICKR CREATIVE COMMONS (EDMUND GARMAN)

January 2017 | student submissions | 15

16 | student submissions | January 2017

By Meira:

“One day I wanted a watermelon.”

“Then I ate some of it.”

“Then I got juice all over my face.”

PHOTO FAIR USE VIA FLICKR CREATIVE COMMONS (HARSHA K R)

By Ari:

“Me and my sister made cookies for her birthday, but...”

“The badest thing happened to us because the cookies...”

“The cookies splashed on us!”

PHOTO FAIR USE VIA FLICKR CREATIVE COMMONS (PATRIK NECKMAN)

January 2017 | student submissions | 17

Montessori Collaboration A feature on how the students at Montessori learn and the different techniques the teachers and staff use to teach them.

Lower elementary students describe the person who they want to be.

Lower elementary students were asked to draw a portrait of themselves with a creative twist.

An explanatory blurb on the project and an overall view of what was similar to the students perfect utopia.

18 | Montessori collaboration | January 2017

Graphic by Spencer Dilyard.

Montessori Collaboration MONTESSORI LEARNING TECHNIQUES

A feature on how the students at Montessori learn and the different techniques the teachers and staff use to teach them.

An explanatory blurb on the project and an overall view of what was similar to the students perfect utopia.

Pages 19-21

Page 22 and 23

THE PERSON I WANT TO BE

CREATIVE SELF PORTRAITS

Lower elementary students describe the person who they want to be.

Lower elementary students were asked to draw a portrait of themselves with a creative twist.

Page 24

Pages 25 and 26

18 | Montessori collaboration | January 2017

Graphic by Spencer Dilyard.

Montessori’s founder: Maria Montessori Maria Montessori was an Italian physician and educator who developed an educational method that builds on the way children naturally co-editor-in-chief learn, according to an article entitled “Maria Montessori Biography” on amshq.org.

Maria Montessori was born Aug. 31, 1870, in Chiaravalle, Italy, with well to do, upper-middle class parents, according to an article entitled “Maria Montessori” on biography.com.

Amshq.org states that because of her class status, Maria received a great education, which was unusual for that time period.

Biograpghy.com states that after defying her parent’s rules, and graduating from medical school, Montessori became the first female doctor in Italy.

This website also states that after graduating, Montessori became the director of the Orthophrenic School for the mentally disabled in 1900.

It was here that she started researching child development and education.

According to montessori.org.au, Montessori opened her first school in 1907 called Casa dei Bambini in Rome.

Montessori realized that students who were placed in an environment where activities were designed to support their natural development had the power to educate themselves, according to montessori.org.au.

With this new found teaching method, Montessori was able to build over 22,000 schools in at least 110 countries worldwide, according to amshq.org.

Isabelle Cannon

The Montessori learning system

PHOTO FAIR USE VIA GOOGLE IMAGES CREATIVE COMMONS (ANONYMOUS)

Portrait of Maria Montessori

Amber Swigart cover editor

The Montessori School of Wooster provides a unique curriculum that emphasizes students’ autonomy and individuality to create an environment of peace, respect and compassion in which each student can thrive, according to the American Montessori Society official website.

The five core foundations of the Montessori schooling system, created by Doctor Maria Montessori, define a Montessori education; properly trained Montessori teachers, multi-age classrooms, use of Montessori materials, child-directed work and uninterrupted work periods are the primary characteristics of Montessori’s method, according to the same source.

The Montessori School of Wooster follows these hallmarks and, along with content that meets the Ohio Department of Education’s standards, offers peace curriculum based on Montessori’s belief that education can help one to live a more harmonious life, according to Joe Edinger, Head of School.

Edinger also asserts the Montessori style of teaching prepares students to be compassionate and respectful individuals.

“At the Montessori School of Wooster, we are dedicated to the Montessori philosophy, and to the fostering of self-confidence and creative thinking in an environment of peace, respect and compassion. The teaching staff provides an individualized, hands-on approach to education, helping each child to progress at her/his own rate. Children learn to respect each other, their environment, and to begin to understand the importance of peace,” Edinger said.

The popularity of the Montessori method is continuously increasing, with at least 4.000 Montessori schools in the United States and 7,000 worldwide, according to the “Frequently Asked Questions” of The International Montessori Index webpage.

Above all, the Montessori School of Wooster offers an education catered toward student ability and focused on providing students with knowledge about the world in addition to an understanding of how to act respectfully and peacefully within it.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY JOE EDINGER, HEAD OF THE MONTESSORI SCHOOL OF WOOSTER

A Montessori classroom within the Montessori School of Wooster.

January 2017 | Montessori collaboration | 19

THE WAY OF

PHOTO FAIR USE VIA FLICKR CREATIVE COMMONS (VLADIMER SHIOSHVILI)

EMMA STRONG

submissions editor

MONTE

Graphic designed by Evan Rice

20 | Montessori collaboration | January 2017

n Montessori schools, multi-age classrooms are utilized as a form of learning. At the Montessori School of Wooster, the lower elementary is composed of students ages 6 through 9 according to Kelly Kearney, a lower elementary teacher. The purpose of multi-age classrooms is for older children to set an example and be role models for younger children. Younger children can also look forward to be in the position of those older than them, according to Kearney.

I

In addition to a multi-age learning environment, classrooms at Montessori schools are not set up traditionally, with desks in rows and the teacher giving a lesson at the front of a room. “One of the biggest differences we have is not having a traditionally set-up classroom‌ we let kids work in a manner that is comfortable for them,â€? Kearney said. Additionally, students may do their work in any order they want; independent learning and work time is something frequently encouraged.

Instead of consequences in the form of detention or having a name written on the board, consequences are in the form of redirection. According to Kearney, if a student is misbehaving or having a conflict with another student, the student is asked to move to a different area or work on another task that will dissolve the issue.

Students also resolve conflicts amongst themselves whenever possible. The peace table, according to Kearney, is where students can listen to each other and work out any issues they may have with a classmate.

Experiential learning is integral to the Montessori curriculum. According to April Gamble, an upper elementary teacher at the Montessori School of Wooster, outdoor experiential learning has always been important to Montessori educators.

In Wooster, the Montessori School has a six acre nature preserve where students are learning how to become stewards of the land, according to Gamble. Students do anything from planting wildflowers to studying invasive species to documenting the age of trees. According to Gamble, each class goes outside for at least an hour a week, rain or shine.

ES SORI

January 2017 | Montessori Collaboration | 21

MONTESSORI IMAGINATIVE ART SUBMISSIONS: u·to·pi·a ’ noun a place of ideal perfection especially in laws, government, and social conditions First graders at the Montessori of Wooster were asked to draw their perfect future utopian world

22 | Montessori Collaboration | January 2017

2

1

4

3 5 6

1: Lots of animals 3: No one being 5: No fire, in Australia mean to me smoke or trash 2: Aliens

4: Giant bed

6: Gymnastics land January 2017 | Montessori Collaboration | 23

I wa

nt t o be

A prince

ss.

When I grow up, I want to be:

a te

ach

Good at karate, g

er.

ood at climbing.

Vet, good at math, a cat for a pet. . m o m , e ic n , y p p a h , y Gymnast, funn tler.

wres E W W a o be

W

ant t w I , p u w hen I gro

. r o ent

v n i n a be o t t n I wa

t n a Iw

n o e to b

24 | Montessori collaboration | January 2017

. d l r o w e

h t f o p o t

ILLUSTRATION BY LEAH SIM.

SELF PORTRAITS:

Montessori students were asked to draw a picture that they believe represents themselves.

January 2017 | Montessori collaboration | 25

26 | Montessori collaboration | January 2017

cover POST SECRETS

POST SECRETS RESPONSES

Students share secrets anonymously through writing them on cards submitted for publication.

Pages 28 and 31

Editors write responses to recurring themes in the Post Secrets section.

Pages 32 and 33

Photo by Maureen Mckeown Graphics By Matt Lorentz

January 2017 | cover | 27

P S

28 | post secrets | January 2017

Estelle Shaya co-editor-in-chief

In 2005, a new idea, PostSecret, struck the internet.

According to its official webpage, “PostSecret is an ongoing community art project where people mail in their secrets anonymously on one side of a postcard.”

These postcards are then published on the web forum.

PostSecrets has allowed millions to share their secrets in any form they wish.

In a 2012 Ted Talk, entitled “Half a Million Secrets,” PostSecret founder Frank Warren said, “Secrets can take many forms...They can connect us with our deepest humanity or with people we’ll never meet again.”

In this section of The Edge, the same opportunity to share such secrets for publication was opened to WHS students in their English classes.

Following are some of the secrets received and commentary on some of the issues that our staff saw arise within these secrets.

January 2017 | post secrets | 29

“Lying about a grade to seem smart.”

“I’ve cheated on so many tests.”

30 | post secrets | January 2017

January 2017 | post secrets | 31

Post- Secret Response: MEDICATION memories ANXIETY falling BLOOD PRESSURE feeling REACTION veterans RISK trigger ACUTE insecure PANIC ATTACK cognitive EMOTIONAL traumatic experience PROBLEM CONCENTRATING fear IRRITABLE detection NUMBING disturbance ASSAULT development OVERWHELMED people CRITERIA biochemical HEALTH PROBLEMS pessimistic LESS horror GUILTY illnesses AVOID loose COMBAT behavioural DRUG ADDICTION threats DISTRESSING DREAMS MEDICATION memories ANXIETY falling BLOOD PRESSURE feeling REACTION veterans RISK trigger ACUTE insecure PANIC ATTACK cognitive EMOTIONAL traumatic experience PROBLEM CONCENTRATING fear IRRITABLE detection NUMBING disturbance ASSAULT development OVERWHELMED people CRITERIA biochemical HEALTH PROBLEMS pessimistic LESS horror GUILTY illnesses AVOID loose COMBAT behavioural DRUG ADDICTION threats DISTRESSING DREAMS MEDICATION memories ANXIETY falling BLOOD PRESSURE feeling REACTION veterans RISK trigger ACUTE insecure PANIC ATTACK cognitive EMOTIONAL traumatic experience PROBLEM CONCENTRATING fear IRRITABLE detection NUMBING disturbance ASSAULT development OVERWHELMED people CRITERIA biochemical HEALTH PROBLEMS pessimistic LESS horror GUILTY illnesses AVOID loose COMBAT behavioural DRUG ADDICTION thre Graphic by Matt Lorentz. at

STRESS

How to deal with stress in high school amber swigart cover editor

According to the American Psychological Association article, “Teens and Stress: How to Keep Stress in Check,” a large portion of teenagers experience a significant amount of stress in their daily lives.

This trend is exemplified in the Post-Secrets gathered by The Edge, as students expressed concerns over their significant others and parents, in addition to how they are perceived by their peers.

Stress can originate from a number of sources, especially for teens in a changing environment.

Furthermore, The John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health article, “The Teen Years Explained: A Guide to Healthy Adolescent Development,” defines “stress” as “the body’s reaction to a challenge, which could be anything from outright physical danger to asking someone for a date or trying out for a sports team.”

The article continues to state that while stress among teens is most commonly directed toward school and making decisions that affect life after high school, teenagers also experience stress related to their relationships, their friends and their home life.

According to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry page, titled “Helping teens deal with stress,” teens should seek creative ways of relaxation, including physical activity, spending time with a pet or drawing.

In any case, students who experience an amount of stress that they no longer can control should consult a medical professional in order to learn how to cope with stress effectively.

32 | post secrets | January 2017

Post- Secret Response: Graphic by Matt Lorentz.

Coming out in high school:

Advice to students on opening up about sexuality Hannah Knapic cover editor

Coming out as part of the LGBTQ community in high school, or other times in life, can be a scary and confusing experience.

Our Post-Secret study in this issue of The Edge showed an outcry of some WHS students who were unsure how, or afraid, to come out as gay to their friends and family.

Writers at kidshealth.org, in an article called “Telling People Your Sexual Orientation- Or Not,” advise teens to first talk to a trusted adult, such as a counselor, teacher or therapist, to become comfortable with talking about their sexuality.

Other advice offered to students, from Wayne Dhesi at ditchthelabel.org, in an article titled “Top 11 Tips for Coming Out as Lesbian, Gay, or Bi,” includes talking to one person first, such as a teacher, not labelling yourself right away, and ensuring that negative aspects of coming out are recognized, but not feared.

Another way to make coming out easier would be to find an interesting presentation.

BuzzFeed published an article on Oct. 7, 2014, titled “41 Awesome Ways to Come Out to Your Friends and Family,” in which they described interesting, lighthearted ways to tell families about sexual orientation.

One of these interesting ways to discuss orientation to a family include: “Make Rice Krispies treats with rainbow sprinkles. While you’re handing them out to loved ones, say, ‘Just an FYI, I’m super bisexual.”

Overall, coming out is a personal experience that can only be done when people are naturally ready.

If you, or someone you know, is struggling with how to come out, websites such as www.glbthotline.org, www. lgbt.foundation, or www.ostem.org/crisis-hotlines offer professional, non-judgmental support for teens.

January 2017 | post secrets | 33

F e a t u r e I n d e x

TOY NOSTALGIA

THE EFFECT OF TECHNOLOGY

The Edge looks at the toys of our childhood and some of the history behind them.

Page 36 and 37

Page 35

EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING

MOST IMPORTANT LESSON

The Edge staff

What is the most SCHOOL

that embrace it.

learned so far?

Page 39

Page 38

WHAT I WISH MY PARENTS TAUGHT ME

THE POWER OF PLAY

The Edge takes a look at

The Edge looks at how learning among children.

them about the world

Page 41

Page 40

January 2017 | feature | 34

Graphics by Matthew Lorentz

A toy that has withheld the test of time is the iconic LEGO. Danish Carpenter, Ole Kirk Christiansen, and his son, Godtfred Kirk, invented small interlocking bricks later called LEGOs, according to an article entitled “Ole Kirk Christiansen and the History of the Lego” from August 10 on Inventors.About.com.

This website also states that the name “LEGO” was adopted in 1934 formed from the Danish Word “LEg” and “GOdt” meaning “play well.”

In 1961, LEGO first debuted in America, according to a timeline “For the LEGO Group History” on LEGO.com.

Lego has become so widely popular that there is even a theme park based around legos called LEGOLAND in Florida and California.

GO

s

The Slinky

Classic toys:

Yo Yo-

LE

The YoYo is a The Slinky was developed in 1943 on accident by meclassic chanical engineer Richard James. toy that He was trying to invent a spring that could help makes its keep ships steady, when he accidently knocked way into the one down and watched in marvel at how it lives of children “walked down” the steps,according to an still to this day. It article entitled “Slinky” on the National Toy is believed to have Hall of Fame website. originated in China.

Sales of Slinkies were originally slow, However, the first however sales boomed in 1945 once historical mention of the Gimbels Toy Store in Philadelphia, toy was in Greece in 500 Penn. sold 400 Slinkies.

B.C., according to an article entitled “History of the Yo-Yo”

by Valerie Oliver on Yoyomuseum.com.

Donald F. Duncan first encountered the Yo-Yo on a trip to California in 1928.

A year later, he returned and bought the company selling the toys, according to Yo-Yo history on the website Idea Finder.

This simple toy is sure to bring countless smiles.

Lincoln

Blurbs by Erin O’Donnell and Isabelle Cannon

Logs

d

ea

oH

at

Toys fondly remembered from childhood

Mr .P ot

ie

Barb

The iconic doll, Barbie was invented in 1959,

by American businesswoman, and inventor Ruth Handler, according to an article entitled A “Nostalgia Alert! Classic Toys part From Your Childhood” on msn. of many com. best toys However, Handler did not release ever lists and on the doll until 14 years later, acthe toy market for cording to “History” on Barbieme64 years and counting, dia.com.

Hasbro’s Mr. Potato Head This website also states that toys have truly stood the test Handler came up with the idea of time and impacted America’s of Barbie, after watching her play. daughter play with paper The National Toy Hall of Fame website Though dolls, but pretending they states that in 2000, 48 years after his introtechnological adwere teenage girls. duction to the toy world, Mr. Potato Head vancements cause the toy After generation was inducted into the Toy Hall of Fame, market to adapt to children’s new and generation, an honor that only 62 toys have ever interests, Lincoln Logs have remained Barbie is still a received. He stands among the greats: a prevalent toy for children, and children popular toy marbles, balls, crayons and checkers, at heart, as 2016 is the 100 year anniversary with little to name a few. of Lincoln Logs’ invention. girls toOriginally sold as only plastic facial Lincoln Logs are log-shaped pieces of wood day. features to be jabbed into a real powith divots that allow them to hold together, which tato, inventor George Lerner got the prove perfect for building model cabins and villages. idea for Mr. Potato Head from the This simple and timeless toy was invented by John Lloyd idea of playing with one’s food, Wright, son of world-renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright, according to TIME magazine’s in 1916, according to a mentalfloss.com article entitled “Lincoln “ALL-TIME 100 Greatest Toys.”

Logs’ Famous Inventor-- and How Much He Sold Out For.” Mr. Potato Head is available for Lincoln Logs are available at stores such as Walmart and Target, as purchase at retailers such as well as specialty toy stores, and sets sell for anywhere from a simple Walmart for less than $10, ac$10 cabin set to a $140 collector’s edition set, according to walmart.com. cording to walmart.com.

January 2017 | feature | 35

aged

using

Media Sources Media Consumption Statistics... www.parenting.com

of children

Under 5 at least

use technology

80%

once a week

Media Consumption Statistics... www.parenting.com

36 | feature | January 2017

Media and

Children

each day

8 hours

8-10

Spend about

Children

The

The increase of technology in today’s youth

Teenagers and Social Media of teens

94%

go online daily with a mobile

device “Teens Social Media use: How They Connect and What it Means for Their Health” www.hhs.gov

sends

a typical teen

30

texts a day

24% of teens admit to going online almost

constantly

67%

of U.S. Teenagers own iPhones “Facts About Today’s Teens...” Business Insider

January 2017 | feature | 37

Experiential Experiential learning in learning in Montessori Nick Cosmo school systems collaboration editor

Experiential learning, a way of teaching that focuses on directly involving students with hands- on experience, is a core part of the Montessori method, and is being implemented in the Montessori school of Wooster.

According to woomontessori.org, a hands-on approach is taken to learning in order to help students progress a their own rate The overall goal of the Montessori method is to foster creativity strategy is meant to help foster these qualities.

Graphics by Spencer Dilyard and Matt Lorentz.

experiential learning

STEM programs

While learning in a traditional classroom certainly has its merits, hands-on, or experiential learning, feature editor provides unique benefits as well.

According to an envisionexperience.com article titled “The Benefits of Experiential Learning,” the benefits include real world experience, better opportunities for creativity and reflection and accelerated learning.

In another envisionexperience.com article, titled “How the Brain Learns,” the act of practicing a skill strengthens neural connections in the brain, in effect, making us smarter. Therefore, the increased involvement coming from experiential learning classes accelerates learning and retention improves.

The Association of American Colleges and Universities corroborates the Envision Experience findings ,in an article titled “The Power of Experiential Learning,” finding that “transfer of knowledge requires deep understanding. Recall and reproduction of material taught in the classroom do not constitute understanding.

For knowledge to be usable, it has to be acquired in a situation. Otherwise, it is segregated from experience and unlikely to be remembered or transferred to new experiences.”

WHS offers a wide variety of experiential learning classes, including Newspaper Production, Yearbook Production, TV Production and a myriad of art and music classes, according to the district website.

In 2015, the idea of dedicating education to certain subjects arose with cover editor the creation of the STEM program.

STEM focuses on science, technology, engineering and math, according to the U.S. Department of Education website, www.ed.gov.

The idea for STEM originally came from President Barack Obama.

Obama stated, “Science is more than a school subject…

It is an approach to the world, a critical way to understand and explore and engage with the world, and then have the capacity to change that world.”

STEM has been implemented into schools across the nation, including WHS. Classes at Wooster such as Biomedical Science and Engineering are taught by Erin

John Gorman

38 | feature | January 2017

Hannah Knapic

woostercityschools.org.

Other programs, such as STEAM, which includes the arts along with the aforementioned curriculum, are currently trying to push their way into the education system as well, according to steamedu.com.

The arts in STEAM include a broad spectrum of subjects including physical and musical arts, language arts and social studies, according to steamedu.com STEAM would include all of the STEM curriculum, the courses would be taught in a way that would make them applicable to everyday life.

Graphics by Matthew Lorentz, Sam Schoenfeld and Evan Rice.

10

0

ES AT A ST RIC ED E IT AM UN OF

- Henry Nebesky (9)

1 3 8 2 0 9 6 8

0

B

10

A

“As long as you have grit, you can get through anything.” - Sophia Davis (12)

E

TH E

“Watch out for snakes.”

- Tyler Foster (11)

“Always be nice to everyone; you never know what people are going through.”

-Breydan Hann (10)

“Spend your money wisely.”

- Avery Ross (11)

What’s the most important thing you’ve learned this year?

“How to serve others on Veteran’s Day.” - Morgan Schmidt (6)

“Cells.” - Tristan Plotkin (6)

“Always put the most isn’t your best sport.”

- Chloe Frichtl (6)

“Probably how to be a better writer from my language arts teacher” - Rylee Polak (6)

“Probably how to write a paragraph, an analysis essay and a poem” - Jamie Ogle (6)

Quotes collected by Maureen McKeown and Olivia Sleek.

January 2017 | feature | 39

Wh at

“To always be happy with the little things in life.” - Hannah Sanchez (12)

do yo

“How to shave my face, I had to teach myself how and it did not end well.” - Joe Macchetta (11)

uw ish

“How to do bills.” - Stone Nicholson (10)

“Not everybody thinks like you do” - Cheryl

ur

yo ts

ren

pa

“Goodness and justice do not always prevail in the end” - Jill Coppola, English Dept.

“That it was okay to be myself and have my own beliefs, and to not feel like I had to follow a crowd.”

- Kaylee Hysell (12)

?

“How to drive a stick shift.”

- Eric Heller, Science Dept.

ou

40 | Feature | January 2017

ty

Quotes compiled by Jacob Gooch and Tracy Morgan

gh

“How to play the piano” - Mackenzie Doup, Science Dept.

au

dt

ha

“Forgiveness. I don’t tend to do this easily if at all.

Once I have been betrayed or heavily disappointed by an individual, I am pretty much done with them.”

- Misty Bisesi, History Dept.

The Power of Play Rachel Wood

student submissions editor In the past two decades, the average American childhood has changed greatly. During these years, child technology consumption, involvement in organized activities and parental wariness about unsupervised play However, recent research shows these societal changes may be stunting child development in one key way: reducing the amount of unstructured play. In his book The Power of Play, David Elkind, Ph.D., notes that children have lost about 12 hours per week of free time over the past 20 years. This trend is disturbing because of the importance unstructured play has for children.

Through self-initiated exploration of the world around them, young children build their imaginations, develop problem-solving techniques and learn basic math and science principles, according to Elkind’s May 1 2009 article, “Learning Through Play.” In addition, he notes that informal play with other children such as creating games and role-playing teaches social skills and cooperation.

Another factor restricting children’s time for unsupervised play is the push for earlier formal education requirements for young children.

The Common Core requires kindergarten children to read, “emergent-reader texts with purpose and understanding,” and other state requirements have raised educational benchmarks for young age groups, according to Joan Almon’s January 7 2014 article, “Let them play!” This phenomenon causes parents and teachers to reduce playtime for children and to focus on teaching formal reading, writing, and math skills for which the children may not be ready.

However, Elkind notes that teaching young children these concepts when they are not ready to learn them results only in young children more time to engage in play where they can build creatively and explore independently, children will develop the solid foundation for later formal learning. In “Learning Through Play,” Elkind states, “…the more children learn from their own play when they are young, the better prepared they are to learn from academic instruction when they are older.” such as television, and loosening early education requirements, today’s children will have the opportunity for developmentally crucial unstructured playtime. As a result, they will be more likely to develop the creative and academic skills they need to be happy and successful later in life.

Graphic by Spencer Dilyard.

January 2017 | feature | 41

news GEOLOGY IN WOOSTER

TIMELINE OF 2016

Editor digs up

From swimming scandals to the NBA Championship, these pages reminisce on the headlines of this past year.

Pages 44-47

within northern Ohio.

Pages 43

PHOTO FAIR USE VIA FLICKR CREATIVE COMMONS (JON S)

42 | news | January 2017

Northern Ohio’s past:

Drosos Kardulias staff writer

geology and archaeology in the region Though the region around Wooster lacks grand monuments and world wonders, one would be remiss to ignore its rich history, which grows with every year.

Wayne County, as it appears today, was shaped long ago by a series of glacial events, according to Dr. Greg Wiles of the College of Wooster.

Wiles states that these glaciations occurred over the course of two million years, and are ultimately responsible for the landscape of today.

The last ice sheet was at its maximum 20,000 years ago and left 15,000 years ago. Since that time, streams and through erosion and deposition, the landscape,” Dr. Wiles said.

As a result of these changes, Wiles states that Northeast Ohio’s geology is composed of stable sedimentary rocks, which is a result of the glaciers piling up sediments.

This glacial deposition of sediments contributed greatly to the region’s current agricultural wealth, as Wiles states that much of the soil in the area is less than 15,000 years old, and thus young enough to still be rich in chemicals which aid plant growth.

However, Wiles states that global climate change will alter the geological state of the region. He states that as

that the area’s land being mostly rural and undeveloped beyond simple farming has allowed a great number of sites to be preserved to the present day. damage, the majority of the land is privately owned, and these owners are often willing to allow their property to be excavated.

A vast amount of material lies unexcavated in the area, organic remains like bone and charcoal.

Pleistocene megafauna, such as mastodons, can also be found. These various types of remains help paint a clearer picture of what life was like for people in the past, and can be used to piece together the unrecorded history of the region.

However, despite this rich history, Brush admits that “Finding funding or institutional support for excavation was a focal point of archaeological interest in the 1800s and early 1900s, but no longer,” Brush said.

Lack of support is a serious problem for Brush’s excavations, as he previously used teachers in need

altered precipitation levels could lead to increased

education standards and the advent of easily available

As human developments continue, this problem will

gaps.

However, he said that as his volunteer group is aging, he has not been able to generate much interest among younger demographics.

ever larger amounts of water. Additionally, the harms to landscape as well, putting at risk not only agriculture and nature, but the history of the region itself.

Dr. Nigel Brush of Ashland University has excavated in Northeast Ohio for many years. From excavating the remains of Mastodons to studying ancient rock shelters, Brush has worked to discover the history of the area.

Brush states that the region of Northeast Ohio has long been ecologically rich, with a wealth of plant and animal life which attracted hunter-gatherer societies for centuries. Additionally, he states the physical landscape of Ohio made it attractive to these native peoples.

Due to the common exposure of sandstone outcrops natural rock shelters are numerous in the area, providing convenient habitation sites. was readily available from hillside outcrops. Lithics from the region can be found throughout Ohio, and are present in surrounding states.

In fact, Dr. Olivia Navarro Farr of the College of Wooster has found that studying the Maya in Mesoamerica comes Navarro-Farr states that the environment in which she works often makes excavation a struggle. rainfall, and humidity are a great detriment to material preservation. However, unlike in Ohio, Central America’s “The rainy season in Petén, Guatemala, can prove tremendously challenging for getting vehicles through areas for basics like food and water. Any truck absolutely needs a good wench to get it through the muck after the daily heavy rains set in,” Navarro-Farr said.

Northeast Ohio contains a treasure trove of knowledge about the past that Ohioans would do well to pursue.

January 2017 | news | 43

David Bowie passes away Ziggy Stardust, Major Tom, David Bowie. One of the most beloved singersongwriters worldwide died on Jan. 10, 2016.

Bowie began his musical career with his first hit song “Space Oddity” in 1969.

He then revealed to the Performing Songwriter magazine, in an interview in 2003, that the song was inspired by when he went to see the film 2001 A Space Odyssey.

Bowie said, “It was really a revelation to me. It got the song flowing.”

Bowie finished his career with a total of 27 studio albums and 121 singles.

David Bowie once said, “The truth is of course is that there is no journey. We are arriving and departing all at the same time.”

Graphic by Evan Rice.

2016: A year in review January

February

David Bowie dies at the age of 69

Britain leaves the European Union

Peyton Manning ends football career on top Peyton Manning, two-time Super Bowl champion and highly acclaimed football talent, retired from the National Football League March 7, 2016, according to onthisday.com.

Prior to his retirement, in the 2015-16 season, Manning helped his team, the Denver Broncos, take down the Carolina Panthers in a hard-fought 24-10 victory, championing them a Super Bowl 50 title.

Manning ended his career in football with an array of records, including the all-time passing recording, according to a forbes.com article, entitled “The World’s Highest-Paid Celebrities”.

Britain votes to leave EU In February of 2016, Prime Minister David Cameron announced Britain would be withdrawing from the European Union.

A referendum held on June 23 in Britain determined whether Britain would be exiting the European Union. Britain is expected to have left the EU by the summer of 2019, according to article 50 of the Lisbon treaty.

An article from Bloomberg, entitled “EU Referendum: Final Results,” showed the majority of British voters voted to leave the EU. According to an article by BBC News, David Davis has been appointed to be Secretary of State for Britain exiting the European Union.

March Peyton Manning retires from football

MANNING

Graphic by Matthew Lorentz.

44 | News | January 2017

Blurbs by Christopher Roche & Matthew Lorentz.

Release of the Panama Papers On April 3, 2016, The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists released a series of over 11.5 million documents that would have widespread impacts on many individuals.

These papers, dubbed the “Panama Papers,” implicated government officials, famous sports players and many others in using shell companies in Panama.

According to The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, as a result of the release of the Panama Papers more than 150 investigations have been launched in 79 countries and more than $110 million has been reclaimed by governments.

Two days after the release of the papers, the Prime Minister of Iceland, David Gunnlaugsson, resigned, according to a New York Times article entitled “Iceland’s Prime Minister Steps Down Amid Panama Papers Scandal,” dated April 5, 2016.

Iceland is not alone, the Prime Ministers of England, Pakistan and close associates of other world faced questions of ethics as a result of the Panama Papers.

April Panama Papers prompts questions across the globe

Cavaliers dominate The 2015-16 Cleveland Cavaliers won the NBA Finals on June 19, according to onthisday.com.

Rebounding from their 2014-15 season, competing against the Warriors in the finals for an NBA title, the results reversed.

The Cavaliers defeated the Golden State Warriors four to three, becoming the first NBA team to ever overcome a three game to one game deficit.

Cleveland’s championship team ended their season with a 57-25 record and a monumental NBA title, the first of which has ever been brought to Cleveland.

May NASA’s telescope makes massive discovery

1

June Cleveland Cavaliers win NBA title

NASA’s telescope enlarges view of space May 10, 2016, marks an important day for the discovery of space and its features.

On the aforementioned date, NASA verified the existence of 1,284 planets, according to a press release from NASA, entitled “NASA’s Kepler Mission Announces Largest Collection of Planets Ever Discovered.”

The Kepler Mission utilized a space telescope to track discrete variations in light.

Additionally, there are 1,327 more objects that are thought to be planets, but according to an analysis conducted by a team, led by Princeton researcher Timothy Morton, “These worlds don’t reach the 99 percent probability threshold - so more study will be needed to adequately confirm their existence” This discovery was the result of the Kepler Mission, which started in 2009.

Graphics Matthew Lorentz and Evan Rice Blurbs by Ryan Miller & Matthew Lorentz

January 2017 | news | 45

Lochte is indicted for vandalism in Brazil following fabrication of events Ryan Lochte is an American Olympic swimmer, who was at the center of a controversy during the 2016 Rio Olympics.

During the events of the 2016 Rio Olympics, Lochte alleged that he was mugged. According to a CNN article titled “Ryan Lochte: ‘I over-exaggerated’ Olympics robbery story” by Azadeh Ansari, Lochte fabricated the story that involved him and a few of his friends getting robbed while in Rio to cover up the truth.

The truth, according to the CNN article, was that Lochte and a few other Olympic athletes urinated on a wall behind a gas station and vandalized a gas station while under the influence. In an interview with NBC, Lochte admitted he lied by saying, “I over-exaggerated that story and if I had never done that, we wouldn’t be in this mess.”

According to an article titled “ Two U.S. swimmers apologize for gas station incident, paint poor picture of Ryan Lochte’s actions,” in The Los Angeles Times, Lochte came forward with an apology about the night of the vandalism by saying, “First and foremost, I deeply regret the trouble and embarrassment this event has brought to the people of Brazil and Rio de Janeiro, and the distraction it has caused from the achievements of my fellow Olympians.” According to another article titled, “Ryan Lochte and three U.S. swimmers receive penalties for lying about Rio robbery” in the The Los Angeles Times, Lochte has been suspended from swimming for 10 months as a result of his actions in Rio. Blurbs by Christopher Roche and Ryan Miller

July Pokemon Go is released in the App Store

Pokemon Go is released One of the biggest phenomenons to occur in 2016 was the release of the wildly popular game Pokémon Go. Pokémon Go was released in early July and was a huge success. According to an article in Forbes magazine, the game had an estimated 7.5 million downloads only days after its release.

The game allows people to explore outside and catch Pokémon on their phone.

The app uses the camera and gps to create a map of where you are and place Pokémon that you can see through the camera function of most smartphones.

Pokémon Go has blown up in popularity in 2016.

46 | news | January 2017

August Olympic Athlete Ryan Lochte receives 10 month suspension for vandalism and lying

September $185 million due to Account Scandal

After the use of controversial business practices Wells Fargo was fined $185 million by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the Los Angeles City Attorney and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.

In light of the accusations, according to an ABC News article entitled “Wells Fargo Fires About 5,300 Workers in Unauthorized Account Scandal, Officials Say,” Wells Fargo terminated 5,300 employees.

Those same business practices spawned investigations by the House of Representatives’s Financial Services Committee, the Senate Banking Committee, the U.S. Department of Labor and multiple other organizations.

Many critics called for the immediate resignation of former Wells Fargo CEO, John Stumpf, who did so after a month of prompting on Oct.12, 2016 according to an NPR article entitled “Wells Fargo CEO John Stumpf Resigns Amid Scandal.”

WELLS FARGO

Graphics by Matt Lorentz and John Goreman

Blurbs by Christopher Roche and Ryan Miller

Cubs make baseball history

Fidel Castro died Nov. 25 at age 90.

One of the most controversial world leaders’ death brought both heartache and bliss.

According to an article by CNN, Castro’s death came with both sorrow and joy.

The infamous leader’s death was celebrated in Little Havana, a small part of Miami, where many Cuban exiles took refuge. Some signs held in Miami read “Satan, Fidel is now yours.”

While celebrations took place in Little Havana, the people of Cuba held a much more somber mood. In a CNN interview with one Cuban woman, she said, about Castro’s death, “Cuban people are feeling sad because of the loss of our commander in chief Fidel Castro Ruz.”

The year 2016 made baseball history with the World Series.

The Chicago Cubs faced off against the Cleveland Indians in an intense seven game saga.

At the final game, the Cubs came out on top. The Indians gave up a 3-1 lead. According to MLB.com, at the end of the final game, the score was 7 for the Indians and 8 for the Cubs.

According to an article by ESPN, this marked the first time the Chicago Cubs have won the World Series since 1908, the fifth World Series game to be held.

Many Indian fans were disheartened by the loss, but the last seven games provided fun and entertaining games.

October

Fidel Castro dies at age 90

November

December

Cubs win the World October Series

Fidel Castro dies at November age 90

Terrorist attack in December Berlin

Cubs win the World Series

Fidel Castro dies at age 90

Terrorist attack in Berlin

Terrorist attack on Berlin Last December, a Christmas market in Berlin, Germany, was the target of an attack carried out with a semi-truck.

According to a Bloomberg article, entitled “German Police Investigate Probable Terror Attack in Berlin,” 12 people were killed and 48 were injured as a result of the attack.

The original suspect in the attack was a Pakistani Refugee who was released after there was no evidence he was inside of the truck used to perpetrate the attack and due to the fact ISIS asserted their role in the attack, according to a New York Times article published on Dec. 20, 2016, entitled “Germany Releases Berlin Attack Suspect as ISIS Claims Involvement.”

Subsequently, the man responsible was killed in a police shootout in Milan three days after the attack, whilst trying to rendezvous with his allies, according to an Independent article, entitled “Berlin Christmas market attacker killed while trying to reach accomplices.”

Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany, has called for a tightening of security in response to the attack.

January 2017 | news | 47

the

EDGE contributors About Us

The Edge is a literary and newsmagazine hybrid that showcases the creative work of our students. Our staff consists of many of The Wooster Blade staff members. We meet every day during Newspaper Productions classes throughout the entire year. Editors were chosen based on their demonstrated interest in the magazine and in their production of featured work.

Editorial Policy The Edge Letters and submissions should be addressed to the editor, with a limit of 400 words or less.

Submit letters by email to thewoosterblade@gmail.com. If published, the meaning of the work will not be altered, however, we reserve the right to correct grammatical errors, punctuation and spelling. The opinions expressed in the publication are those of the individual writers, and do not represent the opinions of the staff as a whole. We reserve the right to amend this policy at any time.

Co-Editors-in-Chief Isabelle Cannon Estelle Shaya

Faculty Adviser

Valerie Anderson Emma Strong Rachel Wood Maureen McKeown Erin O’Donnell Olivia Sleek Nick Cosmo

Matthew Lorentz Amber Swigart Jacob Gooch Sam Schonfeld John Gorman

48 | contributors | January 2017

Christopher Roche Evan Doan Ryan Miller