The Wooster Blade, Volume XXII, Issue 5

Inside the Dec. 10, 2021 Issue

p. 3 - WCSD administrative changes

p. 3 - WHS class rank system

p. 6 - The psychology behind giving thanks

p. 12 - Role models in sports

ON CAMPUS

THE WOOSTER BLADE | DEC. 10, 2021| PAGE 2

Looking back on important WHS events of 2021

February

January The second semester of school resumes in person or all online as a result of COVID. WHS students had the option to be all online or return to in-person for a hybrid, in person two day a week schedule.

March

Five Speech and Debate students earn spots at the national speech and debate tournament at the NSDA qualifying tournament.

Alex Mallue is hired as the assistant athletic director.

April

Austin Holter becomes the head varsity football coach.

Drama Club performs tthe musical Footloose, amidst COVID-19, with all three performances sold out. WHS returns to a five-day school week.

Sixteen-year-olds and 17-year-olds are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine.

May

June

July

The girls lacrosse team advances to the sweet 16.

Austin Spinder is crowned Prom king and Lauren Crum is crowned Prom queen.

Gabe Tudor is approved as the superintendent of WCS for the 2021-2022 school year.

Jimmy Lyons, Joey Lyons, Ben Haven and Sylvie Shaya are named as the valedictorians of the 2020-21 class.

Cassidy Brown places fourth in pole vaulting at the state track and field championship t.

Dr. John Deuber is approved as the interim principal of WHS for the 2021-2022 school year..

WHS Drama Club performs the production of Clue after the previous production, slated to be performed in March of 2020 was cancelled. Many original cast members and alum of WHS were able to perform in the summer production.

August

September

On Aug 16, an anti-mask rally is held outside of WHS. Elyse Mason starts as the WHS choral instructor.

Cornerstone Elementary celebrates the fifth anniversary of the PlayLab.

All sports information was provided by the Wooster General Athletics Twitter account. All drama club information was obtained from the woosterhsdramaclub Instagram. All COVID-19 information was found on the cdc.gov website. All other information was found in BLADE articles from 2021, and the Daily Record.

November The WHS Football team wins two playoff games for the first time in 30+ years.

The Drama Club performs Mamma Mia. Joe Rubino becomes the interim associate principal at WHS, Alex Mallue takes over as the WHS interim athletic director.

Masks became optional at WHS.

October In person Homecoming happens on Oct. 2..

The boys soccer team earns the sectional championship for the first time since 2005.

Tennis doubles Ava and Sophia Mathur make it to states.

The WHS boys cross country team places first in in the Ohio Cardinal Conference meet, the boys’ first title since 2006.

WHS welcomes Coach Reid Delaney to the boys lacrosse team.

December Dr. John Deuber announces his mid-year retirement and Cornerstone principal Eric Vizzo is named as his interim replacement.

Blurbs by Olivia Hiner

THE WOOSTER BLADE | ON CAMPUS | DEC. 10, 2021 | PAGE 3

Cell phones restricted in District updates COVID-19 bathroom during lunch exposure and masking policies periods, prompting discussion on usage ASHTON DUNLAP

MAYA GALINDO-BENSON staff writer At the end of November, WHS started placing restrictions on cell phones for students during lunches.

These new restrictions prohibit students from entering restrooms with cell phones during lunch hours in order to reduce the amount of people in the restrooms.

People have mixed opinions on whether or not cell phones should be allowed to be used in school, as well as when they should be prohibited.

Some people believe cell phone usage should be up to the teacher's preferences. Richard Lee, teacher of Economics and Financial Literacy, said cell phone usage or prohibition should be up to each individual teacher.

“I think in the classroom it [cell phone usage] should be up to the teacher's discretion,” Lee said.

Lee also stated he does not have issues with phones in the hallways, but they can be an issue in some circumstances.

“In the hallways, I don't have an issue with it at all, but then you have the problem with videos of fights… you have phones being used in the restrooms to video things,” Lee said.

Some also believe cell phones should be restricted during specific times.

Heather Pea (12) says cell phones should be restricted during class time.

“I think it [cell phones] should [be restricted], like during class, just so kids focus more and they are not having those distractions,” Pea said.

According to Joe Rubino, Interim Associate Principal at WHS, phones can have both positive and negative behavioral effects on students at school.

Rubino also states cell phones are often associated with disciplinary issues.

“There haven't been very many discipline instances that are not connected to a phone... including skipping class,” Rubino said.

Although policies on phones at WHS have not changed for years, Rubino has no idea whether or not they will change in the future.

Graphic by Grace Brownson

co-editor-in-chief On Nov. 1, WCSD implemented a new mask optional policy within the district, allowing students and staff to wear a mask, reversing their previous mask requirement policy.

With this new policy, the district also implemented new COVID-19 exposure policies as set by the Ohio Department of Health.

WCSD Superintendent Gabe Tudor says the school district simply followed the advice of the Ohio Department of Health and the Wayne County Health Department in making this decision.

“We have followed the ODH quarantine guidelines from the beginning. We haven't you

know, obviously we not we haven't done everything exactly from a protocol standpoint that ODH has recommended, but from a quarantine standpoint, we 100 percent have,” Tudor said.

According to the Ohio Department of Health’s “Mask to Stay/Test to Play Option,” exposed students may remain in the classroom and participate in extracurricular activities if they follow a specific set of rules.

The Mask to Stay section of the policy states students may stay in school as long as the exposed student remains masked for 14 days after exposure, monitors their symptoms and isolates if they experience COVID-19 similar symptoms.

The Test to Play sections states that students may participate in

extracurricular activities as long as the exposed students wear a mask when able, and test both on initial notification of exposure and between days five and seven after the initial date of exposure.

Tudor says the school district will continue to follow the guidelines of the Ohio Dept. of Health and the Wayne County Health Dept. in the future.

“I would say the exposure policies, the quarantine policies will continue to be dictated by the Department of Health and the Wayne County Board of Health... It would probably not be in our best interest to go away from what those organizations are telling us first.

More information can be found under the COVID-19 Dashboard section of the WCSD website.

Eric Vizzo set to replace John Deuber as WHS principal for second semester MOLLY SNYDER feature editor On Dec. 3, Dr. John Deuber announced his retirement from his position as WHS principal after this year's winter break.

Deuber's resignation serves as a follow up to previous administrative changes in the district.

Former principal Tyler Keener left WCS to join State Support Team Region 9, an educational organization in Stark County, according to a Daily Record article by Linda Hall on June 19.

Recently, Sarah Crooks was moved from her position as WHS assistant principal to fill

the district's Curriculum Coordinator position, with Joe Rubino, the former Athletic Director, taking over as assistant principal at WHS. The Athletic Director position has been filled by former Assistant Athletic Director Alex Mallue.

After winter break, Deuber will be replaced by Eric Vizzo, who has served as the principal at Cornerstone Elementary and has previously worked at WHS as an assistant principal. Vizzo is not currently a permanent substitute for Deuber, but is filling the position while the hiring process continues.

“Once the application process begins… I will need to determine whether I would like to

pursue WHS Principal for the long-term... Much of this decision will be determined by the level of impact I feel I can have for students and staff,” Vizzo said.

Deuber’s resignation comes after almost 40 years in education as a coach, teacher, assistant principal, principal and athletic director, according to Deuber.

Although his time as principal at WHS was short lived, Deuber said his time at Wooster was well spent.

“I was glad to take this opportunity to work at Wooster...

My regret is that I'm not seven years younger to be part of this team conquering the challenges ahead,” Deuber said.

FOCUS

THE WOOSTER BLADE | FOCUS | DEC. 10, 2021 | PAGE 4

Students reflect on religious affiliations LUKE POMFRET co-editor-in-chief According to National Today, an agency that uses data to track important holidays and celebrations, there are 51 religious holidays celebrated worldwide.

Sometimes Christiandominated holidays, such as Christmas, appear in advertisements and resonate with most of the United States.

Still, sometimes people may fail to recognize that not everyone celebrates those same Christiandominated holidays.

Dr. Joan Friedman, Professor of History and Religious Studies at the College of Wooster, describes the importance of understanding the history of how the United States celebrates holidays.

“Let’s think about population.

Jews currently constitute 2 percent of the U.S. population today. One hundred years ago, Jewish people were about 4 percent… One hundred years ago, the United States imposed very restrictive immigration laws in the wake of about four decades of massive immigration from southern and eastern Europe, including about 2.5 million Jews from the former Tsarist Russia… The resurgence of the Ku Klux Klan in the 1920s was not only directed domestically at Blacks but also at Catholics because many of the immigrants were Catholic and Jewish, and the KKK was very anti-immigrant in general… German immigrants brought the idea of Christmas and Santa Clause, and it became a kind of cultural trope showing that this is something we can all do. Until the 1970s, Jews were the only nonchristian religious group in the United States,” Friedman said.

Friedman explains the United States has become more

WHS students read to elementary students ALEXANDRA PARSONS

GRAPHIC BY LUKE POMFRET

A breakdown of the student religious affiliation at Wooster High School. multicultural and diverse and that the United States now has religious holidays that come at all times of the year.

“I believe it is crucially important that we acknowledge peoples religious holy days whenever they are… Think about holidays in terms of birthdays. For example, I’m going to wish you a happy birthday on my birthday because it’s too complicated to remember when your birthday is, but now we have half a dozen people with half a dozen birthdays,” Friedman said.

The public sector can get somewhat confusing when all religious holy days are recognized and brought into the school.

Then, people need to accept celebrating the idea of pluralism and being willing to say that we are all celebrating each holiday, and it is all equally valid, Friedman says.

Casey Lin (12), senior class president, explains the importance of using a more secular system for recognizing religious holidays.

“I do believe it is important that we recognize all of them [religious holidays], but due to the high popularity of specific holidays such as Christmas,

it might be difficult because holidays overlap… I think the best way we can recognize all holidays is that we get rid of the specific religious aspect and go more secular on them,” Lin said.

Lin says that since there are so many holidays, we do not have a specific understanding of those holidays, and unintentionally we do not know why they exist, “I do understand that some of my friends who practice other religions [feel as if] their holidays have been neglected because of the rarity of their beliefs,” Lin notes.

According to a blog written for the Workplace Opportunity Services, an organization that aims to help companies cultivate diverse and inclusive workplaces, say the best way to recognize all religious holidays is to get a basic understanding of each, decorate with equality, and invite cultural and religious celebrations into the various sectors.

a & e editor There are many opportunities for the younger students in the Wooster City School District to be connected with the older students. The Smart Cookie Reading Program at Cornerstone Elementary School is another opportunity of the sort.

The Smart Cookie Reading Program, according to NHS adviser Lauren Stover, is designed to incentivize young students at Cornerstone Elementary to read to Wooster High School students for positive feedback and “cookies.”

The program is run through NHS and Karen Linch, the Title I reading instructor at cornerstone.

Stover has only good things to say about the program.

“I think the Smart Cookie Reading Program is a great way for young students to improve their independence and confidence in reading. For older students who volunteer, it is a great way to give back to their community and possibly the elementary school they attended.”

Stover notes the purpose of this program is to offer opportunities to young readers to practice their skills in reading, allowing them to have new listeners besides their teachers. This program promotes independent reading skills and developing their social skills.

The program was originally only offered to participating NHS Students but is now also available to non-NHS students, according to Stover.

Connor Rotolo (12) said the program has a positive impact on the students.

“I think it’s a great way for high schoolers to not only interact with younger kids but also set an example for them,” Rotolo said.

Deah Bresson (11) finds the opportunity as a good experience for a future career, “I want to be an elementary school teacher, so it’s a good opportunity to get experience in a classroom.”

This program is run during specific time slots on certain days.

Any students who may be interested in volunteering can email Karen Linch at wstr_ klinch@woostercityschools.org

THE WOOSTER BLADE | FOCUS | DEC. 10, 2021 | PAGE 5

Unlocked: Escape Room Wooster

Alice Noble Ice Arena

A large group and interactive activity to do this winter is going to Unlocked: Escape Room Wooster. Escape Room Wooster offers four different escape rooms, including a holiday themed room, “Who stole Christmas?” Each room can have anywhere between two and ten players. It costs $20 for individual admissions and $180 to book a private room.

For an indoor taste of the winter, Alice Noble Ice Arena is open for public skating sessions for the entirety of the winter season. Don’t know how to skate? That is not a problem, classes are available for all ages, including specified classes for both hockey and figure skating. Lessons cost $90 for a month-long session which comes in at $18 a class.

6

Wayne Lanes A good thing to do over break with a group of friends is taking a trip to Wayne Lanes. Wayne Lanes is a bowling alley and indoor mini golf course located in Wooster. If you have a group of friends and enjoy a bit of friendly competition, consider signing up for the 15 annual Andy Dye Memorial Scholarship Tournament which is scheduled to take place Dec. 21.

Cleveland Zoo

things to do during holiday break If you are staying in and around Wooster this holiday season, there are various options for ways to entertain you, your family and your friends.

Blurbs written by Hannah LoGiudice

Located farther away from Wooster is the wild winter light display at the Cleveland Zoo. The light display features more than 1 million lights and has both a walk-through and drive-through section, carousel rides, costumed characters, model train displays, and more.

Tickets are $18 for Cleveland Zoo members and $20 for nonmembers.

Wayne County Tuba Christmas

Ballet Wooster’s The Nutcracker

Looking to support the school? Then look no further than the 22 annual Wayne County Tuba Christmas and pancake breakfast. The breakfast is scheduled from 8:30 a.m. through 12 p.m., with the concert occurring at noon. Concert admissions are free and the breakfast is $5. Proceeds from the concert will support the WHS Music Department.

If you are looking to support the arts, Ballet Wooster is putting on a production of the Nutcracker Dec. 18 and Dec. 19 at the WHS Performing Arts Center. The performance includes over 80 ballet Wooster students and performers and costs $15 for adults and $10 for seniors, students and children. Tickets are available for purchase on the Ballet Wooster website.

COVER

THE WOOSTER BLADE | DEC. 10 2021 | PAGE 6

2021 examined through five unique perspectives BRITTANY WACHTEL staff writer

The year 2021 was one engulfed by new multimedia.

With the emergence of new musical artists, as well as the return of previously retired artists, all genres of music have drastically expanded.

The film industry has also boomed after being previously halted due to COVID. New

LUKE POMFRET co-editor-in-chief

In January 2021, economic experts began to see a new side of the COVID-19 pandemic and were hoping for a positive year as the stock market hit an all-time low in March of 2020, according to economic journal The Balance.

Richard Lee, Economics and Financial Literacy teacher

shows, movies and music videos have taken viewers by storm.

To determine the most popular music and films of 2021, 30 individuals were polled via Instagram.

Those polled were asked to anonymously submit their personal favorite songs, artists and albums.

Overwhelmingly, ten respondents, out of the 30 polled, mentioned Donda by Kanye West as their favorite album of the year, with their favorite song from the album being “Hurricane.”

Red (Taylor’s Version) also

received a lot of love, with many mentioning songs such as “Nothing New,” “I Bet You Think About Me” and “All Too Well.”

Lil Nas X made a splash this year, with seven individuals saying his album Montero was their personal favorite.

Other artists and albums mentioned included Adele and her newest album 30, Conan Gray, SZA, Arctic Monkeys and Playboi Carti.

Those pulled were asked to also list their favorite films, music videos, or TV shows of 2021.

Fifteen out of 30 polled

mentioned the hit Netflix drama You as one of their favorite shows.

Outer Banks also received some recognition, with six citing it as their favorite.

Above all, Taylor Swift reigned supreme with her short film for All Too Well, with 20 mentioning the impact of the 15 minute film.

New films such as House Of Gucci, Dune and Cruella were also mentioned.

Although not included in the poll, Spotify released a list of the top streamed songs of 2021, and Olivia Rodrigo took the number one spot with “Drivers

at WHS describes the stock markets performance over the past year, “The year has been defined in two parts. In the first half of the year, the market did great. Since about June, the markets have been flat to negative,” Lee said.

Lee says that for investors, this year was considered a success.

“For your long term investors, it was a great year for the people who invested in the reopening stocks, and it was a bad year for people who held onto COVID-19 stocks,” Lee said.

Those reopening stocks include companies that involve travel, such as Airbnb and American Airlines.

COVID-19 stocks include companies involved in the making and/or distributing of

the COVID-19 vaccines, such as Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Novavax, and Dynavax Technologies.

For those who did not invest in the stock market over this past year, Lee describes what they missed, “The beginning of the year gave a great buying opportunity for your value stocks, like Microsoft, Apple, Amazon.”

In terms of changing the economy, Lee said he hopes the supply disruptions go away and, therefore, help lower the inflation rate in the United States. Lee also says he would like the United States to use our oil instead of relying on the OPEC Countries.

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries

is charge of coordinating and unifying the petroleum policies of its member countries and ensure the stabilization of oil markets to secure an efficient, economical, and regular supply of petroleum to consumers, a steady income to producers, and a fair return on capital for those investing in the petroleum industry, according to the OPEC official website.

Going into the new year, Lee offers advice for first-time investors.

“Don’t get caught up in the get rich quick ideas that are out there… Invest in your strong United States companies that dominate their particular industry and ride them over time. It’s how you build longterm wealth. You can accomplish

“THE YEAR 2021 WAS ONE ENGULFED

BY NEW MULTIMEDIA.”

License.”

Also reported by Spotify, urbano latino artist Bad Bunny was the most streamed artist of the year.

all of your wealth goals at about a young age if you slowly invest and buy high-quality stocks.”

In order to get started in investing, all economists agree that paying attention to current events is a great start.

“FOR INVESTORS, THIS YEAR WAS CONSIDERED A SUCCESS.” LEE SAID.

THE WOOSTER BLADE | COVER | DEC. 10, 2021 | PAGE 7 DELANEY WILSON on campus editor Politics in 2021 picked up where 2020 left off.

Chaos, division and misinformation continued even as a new administration was sworn in, and vaccines became

available for more people.

Social Studies Dept. members Philip Klein and Paige Arnold were asked the most important political moment of 2021 and both agreed that the Jan. 6th Capitol attacks take that spot.

“It’s not only a political moment, but an historical one as well. We haven’t seen a physical attack on the United States government like that since the War of 1812, ” Arnold said.

Dr. Angie Bos, political science professor at the College

of Wooster, agreed that the Capitol attacks were the biggest moment of 2021, adding, “Wide public acceptance of Donald Trump’s false claims of election fraud in the 2020 presidential election.”

When asked how 2021 will influence future politics, Bos said, “Unfortunately, it’s really long, hard, and slow to come back from a democratic backslide - and it would take the will of the people and our leaders to commit to it. That doesn’t seem to be happening.”

Arnold responded to the question, saying, “I think the attack has caused political divisions in this country to become more severe as it has added an element of danger or fear to conversations that used to be more cordial.

Americans on both sides of the political aisle feel threatened by the other. This may result in politicians themselves becoming more extreme in order to appeal more to the voters they are targeting.”

When asked what to look

for in 2022, Klein stated, “We should all be more savvy about the information we consume.

Always consider the sources, keep our own perspectives and biases in check on the first reading, and not immediately look to emotionally invest in every political story that crosses our various feeds. If every story you read provokes an emotional reaction from you, consider your media consumption habits and reevaluate your political media diet.”

LUCIA PERFETTI The past year has g re a t l y affected how people interact with one another.

Bryan Erhlinspiel, Social Studies Dept. member, commented on 2021, stating: “The pandemic is the main event of the past two years. I seriously think everything was born out of the pandemic; from

the social changes we had to go through, to the election and employment issues.”

Ehrlinspiel believes the past year could have been used as a way to come together, saying, “We had a rare opportunity to come together as a global community, help each other out, push for positive change, and we blew it.”

There are several other defining social moments from 2021, says English Dept. member Kristi Hiner, “The BLM movement over the summer had such a huge

impact and reflected so much of what’s been going on in our culture.”

Both teachers spoke about understanding one another with Hiner saying, “I would hope that we have learned how to better appreciate individual rights. I would hope that we have learned how to address inequities in a number of areas.”

Social Studies Dept. member Philip Klein talked about what society learned over the past year.

“People (have been) trying to

re-evaluate their relationships with their jobs, trying to spend more time with family, (and) making career changes to align these goals.”

When asked what the future holds, Ehrlinspiel commented: “I hope, long term, we are moving forward. When we talk about the social issues we have experienced this year, with inequities in education, BLM, The #MeToo movement, ”It’s time for us to move forward now. I would hope that we’ve put an action plan in place,” Ehrlinspiel said.

have noticed the shifting of the seasons.

The trees are blooming and losing leaves later.

The snow falls seem to occur later than what I remember as a student.”

Science Dept. member Matt Knight spoke of recurring problems in the economy.

“This is not a problem specific to 2021, but I do believe we need to transition away from fossil fuels and invest in more renewables. It is so incredibly

complicated and multifaceted that it is very difficult to even begin to address. Yes, fossil fuels contribute to global warming and have other negative health effects but without them, we don’t currently have a system in place to replace them without sacrifice.

We rely on fossil fuel power for our electricity, transportation, and plastics.

We are a long way away from having an infrastructure in

place able to replace fossil fuels. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be building and implementing new ways, we should.”

For students who want to help the environment, Science Dept. member Erin Petruzzi said: “There is going to be an Environmental Science Club here at Wooster High School. It is being headed by Lucia Perfetti, Marin Dixon and Pierce Duong. Lucia is starting

the club as part of her IB project [Creativity, Activity, Service}.

These students are motivated to educate others and inspire them into action. They have a wealth of ideas for student involvement in addressing environmental concerns.

The environmental club ties into the community aspect of Wooster, with students creating an environment best for their education.

cover editor

SHERIDAN SCHAUER focus editor With the changes caused by global warming, the environment is constantly changing.

Science Dept. member Troy Worth said of the changes in the Wooster environment: “I

“POLITICAL DIVISIONS..(HAVE) BECOME MORE SEVERE,” ARNOLD SAID.

“THE PANDEMIC HAS SHOWN US THE WORST OF SOCIETY, AND MY HOPE IS THAT PEOPLE WILL SAY ‘I DON’T WANT TO BE THAT’,” EHRLINSPIEL SAID.

“WE NEED TO TRANSITION AWAY FROM FOSSIL FUELS AND INVEST MORE IN RENEWABLES,” KNIGHT SAID.

THE WOOSTER BLADE | DEC. 10, 2021 | PAGE 8

Sondheim leaves impactful legacy LAURA RAPPORT a&e editor

On Nov. 26, legendary Broadway composer Stephen Sondheim died at age 91.

In his nearly 70 years of work, Sondheim worked on the music of over 15 major musicals.

Stephen Sondheim was born March 22, 1930, in New York City to a Jewish family. He wrote his first musical, By George at age 15. Sondheim attended Williams College and graduated magna cum laude and received the Hubbard Hutchinson Prize, a twoyear music study fellowship, according to Meryle Secrest’s biography Stephen Sondheim: A Life. Sondheim came out as gay at the age of 40, and in 2017, he married Jeffrey Scott Romley, according to an obituary published by The Guardian on Nov. 26 by Mark Lawson.

Although Sondheim wrote music and lyrics for many shows during his decadeslong career, his most notable works include: West Side Story, which he wrote with Leonard Bernstein and was adapted into a movie in 1961 starring Natalie Wood, Richard Beymar and Chita Rivera, and remade in 2021; Gypsy, which was made into a movie in 1962 starring Natalie Wood;

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, which was made into a movie 1966 starring Zero Mostel; Company, a revival of which is currently running on Broadway; A Little Night Music; Sweeney Todd, which was made into a movie in 2007 starring Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter; Merrily We Roll Along, a movie version starring Ben Platt, Beanie Feldstein, and Blake Jenner is currently in production; Sunday In the Park With George; Into The Woods, which was made into a movie in 2014 starring James Corden, Anna Kendrick, Emily Blunt, and Meryl Streep; Assassins, a revival of which is currently running at Classic Stage Company; and Road Show, according to “Critics, Performer, and Fans on the Bard of Broadway” a 9 page feature on Sondheim published by the New York Times in March of 2020.

Sondheim worked with many notable composers and writers throughout his career, including Oscar Hammerstein II, Richard Rodgers, and Jule Styne.

Sondheim also served as a mentor to composers Jonathan Larson, best known for writing Rent and Tick Tick Boom (the latter was recently released as a movie on Netflix starring Andrew Garfield), and Lin

Manuel Miranda, best known for writing In The Heights and Hamilton.

During his career, Sondheim received eight Tony Awards, eight Grammy awards, a Pulitzer Prize, an Academy Award, a Laurence Olivier Award, a Kennedy Center Honors lifetime achievement award and a Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Obama in 2015, among others.

Stephen Sondheim’s death is a tremendous loss for the theater world. He is often called the “Father of the American musical.”

In the words of Lin Manuel Miranda, via his Twitter account, “Future historians: Stephen Sondheim was real.

Yes, he wrote Tony & Maria AND Sweeney Todd AND Bobby AND George & Dot AND Fosca AND countless more. Some may theorize Shakespeare’s works were by committee but Steve was real & he was here & he laughed SO loud at shows & we loved him.”

In his lifetime, Stephen Sondheim wrote nearly 20 musicals, and inspired many other composers, writers, actors and fans. Through his many works and accomplishments, Sondheim changed musical theater for the better and he will be missed.

What Others Have to say...

ARTS

WHS students vote on their favorite holiday movies

47%

46%

3.9%

On Dec. 3, 76 WHS students were polled. The movies were nominated via an Instagram poll distributed on Dec. 1.

2.6%

THE WOOSTER BLADE | A&E | DEC. 10, 2021 | PAGE 9

Adele triumphantly returns with 30

STELLA POWERS staff writer On Nov. 19, Adele released her fourth studio album, 30.

After six years without new music, this became her first album since 2015.

It is entirely worth the wait.

In its 58 minute runtime, the heartbreaking mix of jazz, pop, and soul includes 12 powerful tracks, including her hit single

“Easy On Me.” The album starts off with the song “Strangers By Nature,” making the opening lyric, “I’ll be taking flowers to the cemetery of my heart / For all of my lovers in the present and in the dark.” This opening is a good reflection of the impactful metaphors the artist uses throughout the duration of the album, while also providing a strong introduction to what she will be sharing with the world.

Adele stated that this album is incredibly personal to her. In her interview with Oprah Winfrey for the prime time special, Adele One Night Only, she shared that she was worried that she might be including some moments that were too personal to share in the album.

“There were moments when I was writing the record or I

would listen back to something and be like ‘That might be too private, that might be a bit too about myself to put out,’” the artist told Winfrey.

However, this is not the case.

If anything, the personal stories she shared through the album help the fans to connect and relate to it even deeper.

Adele has stated multiple times that this album is about her divorce with her former husband, Simon Konecki, as well as motherhood and an attempt to explain everything to her son.

This album became a form of self reflection for the artist.

Overall, the album gives a strong and powerful message involving learning to accept yourself and where you are, as well as not losing hope during difficult times.

Upcoming Movies: Spider -Man: No Way Home: “For the first time in the cinematic history of Spider-Man, our friendly neighborhood hero’s identity is revealed, bringing his Super Hero responsibilities into conflict with his normal life and putting those he cares about most at risk,” according to the Spider-Man No Way Home official website.

The Matrix: Resurrections: “From visionary filmmaker Lana Wachowski comes The Matrix Resurrections,”the long-awaited fourth film in the groundbreaking franchise that redefined a genre. The new film reunites original stars Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss in the iconic roles they made famous, Neo and Trinity,” according to The Matrix: Resurrections official website.

Graphics from The Wooster Blade archives

Encanto enchants viewers

House of Gucci impresses audience

MOLLY BYRNE staff writer The real story of the Gucci family and the empire they built has not been told until now, with the recent release of House of Gucci. This story is more than just fashion and leather goods, the real story includes billions of dollars, scandals, cover ups and death.

The Gucci empire was founded in Florence, Italy,

in 1921 by Guccio Gucci.

His sons, Rodolfo and Aldo, soon took over once he died in 1953. In the film, Rodolfo Gucci is played brilliantly

by Jeremy Irons and Aldo is played by Al Pacino. Rodolfo Gucci went on to have one son, named Maurizio Gucci (played by Adam Driver).

In 1972, Maurizio married a woman named Patriza Reggiani (played by Lady Gaga), who soon became a large part of the family business.

The casting for this film has been executed very well, as they chose Lady Gaga to play a strong female role that demonstrates how large of a role Patriza played in the family business. While this file includes drama and affairs, it also touches on larger issues that are hidden in the film, such as how women are viewed

in the business world. This film brings light to a large company and its darker history. Many may not know the true story behind the family name and brand, Gucci.

This film is classified as a crime/drama, which is very accurate because, while the film is a fictionalized version of the real story of the family empire, in my opinion the director had some liberties in adding drama to the film in order to illustrate how dramatic the upbringing of the empire was. Driver and Lady Gaga playing a married couple has been cast well, as their chemistry in the film is very real looking and the fights that they have are also very realistic.

I would highly recommend this film to anyone that enjoys crime or drama movies with a strong female role.

ANIKA ELLIS staff writer On Nov. 24, Disney and Pixar released their new movie Encanto. When I watched it in theaters, I was pleasantly surprised by the story and overall considered it an enjoyable time.

Set in a Hispanic-style culture, the film tells the story of Mirabel Madrigal, who is an average girl from a family gifted with magic.

Even her house is enchanted by the “miracle” that has blessed her family. Each member has a room built to fit their gift, except for Mirabel.

Despite the miraculous powers given to her family, Mirabel is completely normal. This causes an inner conflict for her and also causes an external conflict with her judgemental grandmother.

As the magic begins to falter,

Mirabel is sent on a mission to revive the miracle and save the family.

This film features a number of characters with strength and emotional depth.

Encanto provides multiple complex female characters that suffer from issues most women can relate to. We are introduced to Lucia, a woman blessed with super strength, who also has her own musical number about the stress associated with carrying the weight of the family on her back, literally and figuratively.

This movie contains eight songs, all with beautiful vocals and well thought out lyrics.

Though it could use some work when it comes to plot development - explanations behind where and how the magic piece existed at all - the movie, as a whole, is fun for the whole family.

With moving themes and realistic metaphors surrounding family and living up to expectations, this movie gives kids of all ages the courage to find their own specialty, even if they feel less than special.

All in all, Disney’s Encanto is a colorful display of family love and bonding.

THE WOOSTER BLADE |ARTS | DEC. 10, 2021 | PAGE 10

Ballet Wooster performs after hiatus JHON FAJARDO sports editor

Ballet Wooster’s production of The Nutcracker is right around the corner.

After a two year hiatus since their last production of this ballet, the performances will be held Dec. 18 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., as well as Dec. 19 at 2 p.m.

Persis Yoder (12), is a six year member of the Ballet Wooster studio and will be performing in her third Nutcracker production. She has the roles of Snow Queen, the Maid, and a Flower. She said she considers the coming together of the show as her favorite part of the production.

“It’s a lot of rehearsal time and it’s very hard. My favorite part is when it finally comes together, and all the work that

you’ve been doing in separate rehearsals and stuff you finally see all the costumes on stage and all of a sudden everything.

And you can do it with everyone,” Yoder said.

Yoder also mentions the previous show that was to be performed in April of 2020 by Ballet Wooster was Beauty and the Beast, but it was canceled due to COVID-19.

Lauren Segura (12) has been part of five Nutcracker shows and for her sixth and final show she has the role of Clara.

Coming back onto stage to perform is her favorite part of the production.

“My favorite part of the production is Land of Sweets.

It’s in the second half of the show and you get to see a few different styles of classical ballet which is always really fun. I’m also very excited to

be dancing with my friends on stage again after 2 years off,” Segura said.

Lanie Meyer (11) is a lifelong dancer and has been with Wooster Ballet since the company’s beginning back in 2015. The Nutcracker is performed biannually by Ballet Wooster.

This will be Meyer’s last Nutcracker performance and she said she enjoys her peers’ hard work and determination.

“I like the energy that everyone brings to the studio during classes and rehearsals.

Everyone there pushes themselves and each other to work harder and do better and that’s something I enjoy a lot,” Meyer said.

Tickets for The Nutcracker performances are $15 for adults, and $10 for students and senior citizens.

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THE WOOSTER BLADE | DEC. 10, 2021 | PAGE 11

WHS staff members clear confusion surrounding cryptocurrency and NFTs JHON FAJARDO sports editor

The 21st century is considered the era of technology. All aspects of our day-to-day lives are becoming digital. One of the most recent transfers into the digital world are artworks, trading cards, and sneakers in the forms of NFTs. NFT stands for non-fungible token. Unlike other cryptocurrencies, it is non fungible, or not exchangeable with other tokens of its type.

One NFT is not equivalent to another NFT. A recent survey of 79 WHS students found that about 33% of students polled have heard about NFTs, but only 25% of those students knew what they were.

Eric Heller, Science Dept. member, explains what an NFT is, its different forms, and where it is stored.

“A non-fungible token is basically a piece of data. That data could be a picture, a meme, a piece of artwork, a baseball card that is basically

stored on a digital ledger.

But, where it is stored is a blockchain,” Heller said.

Heller also explains that to purchase an NFT, the process would involve converting cash money into a cryptocurrency like Bitcoin.

Then using cryptocurrency to purchase NFTs through websites like Binance.

One surveyed student explains NFTs as, “a picture that can be screenshotted.”

Heller explains that while this is true, a screenshot of an NFT is not the same as the original.

Most NFTs are artwork, so Heller explains this fallacy through a tangible artwork as a metaphor to a digital artwork.

“So, I could screenshot a picture of the Mona Lisa, but does that mean I own the Mona Lisa? No, it’s in the museum.

But now, the museum is a digital museum and it’s part of the blockchain. So, I can take a picture of the Mona Lisa with my phone. But, that’s worth nothing because it’s not the original artwork. So, the true original artwork should be

stored on the blockchain. And if it is, then you actually own it,” Heller said.

Some of the students polled claimed that NFTs are bad for the environment.

Computer science teacher Nathan Greene explains how different resources to power crypto mining can impact the environment in both positive and negative ways.

“We have energy uses on many different levels.

[Environmental impact] depends on where they’re getting the power from. If it’s a renewable resource, like wind energy or solar energy that they’re utilizing to mine, then I don’t necessarily have a problem with that. Those renewable energies; we’re not wasting so to speak. I would be okay with that. But, if it’s somebody that’s not helping to provide energy, while just completely using and draining the energy then what’s the point? I don’t understand why we would waste resources on something like that when it could be better served,” Greene

said.

One NFT called “Everydays: The First 5000 Days” by digital artist Mike Winkelmann

(Beeple) sold for over $69 million dollars, making it the highest single purchase of an NFT in the world.

Do you know what NFTs are?

Graphic by Grace Brownson

Polls were distributed to students between Dec. 1 and 2. A total of 79 responses were received.

WHS students reflect on various 2021 fashion trends MATTIE DUNLAP staff writer For a long time, fashion has been a way for humans to express who they are or who they want to be.

As stated by Frances Corner, a University of London professor specializing in fashion, “Fashion has the ability to change and shape lives through its personal connection to us all.

We all have to wear clothes and

every piece of clothing we buy represents a personal choice.”

Students at WHS also feel that fashion is important, especially in 2021, as an outlet for people to express their ideas.

Laynee Eslich (9) says her favorite 2021 fashion trends are clothes that date all the way back to the 1960s and were brought back to the 21st century.

“I am so glad that flared jeans are coming back… there’s just so many varieties of flared

jeans. I also love bootleg jeans...

I really like different types of hats and extravagant coats,” Eslich said.

Eslich additionally states that sweaters are another one of her favorite trends in fashion in 2021.

Maia Krain (9) says her inspiration for the clothes she wore this year came from music, especially clothing from the ‘90s. Krain continued by saying she also enjoys fashion trends that are from the past

but returned for the 2021 year.

“I really like plaid...or wearing big baggy stuff. I like the ‘90s grunge fashion trends that some people wear today,” Krain said.

As for Andrew Dellafave (12), it is not only a particular piece of clothing that was his favorite fashion trend from 2021, but rather a clothing style.

“Thrifting is becoming popular because it’s a good way to find vintage clothing as well as bringing friends with

you and goofing off, while trying different types of unique brands you have never seen or heard of before. My favorite type of clothing is vintage because I like the old fashion customs that I get from it, that makes you different from people and it’s also a good way to stand out and show people that it’s acceptable to be diverse,” Dellafave said.

For WHS students, 2021 has been a year for fashion from the past.

FEATURE

THE WOOSTER BLADE | DEC. 10 | PAGE 12

Family Holiday Recipes

Garlic and Rosemary Studded Strip Roast MICHAEL OLLIER guest writer

Graphics by Grace Brownson

Italian Ricotta Holiday Cookies moistness that is usually lost in holiday cookie recipes. I often color the icing red and green for the holiday season, but these are a year round treat and always a hit.

BEN STAVNEZER staff writer This unique recipe comes from my grandmother’s Italian lineage. The unusual ingredient of ricotta cheese adds the

Italian Ricotta Cookies: 2 cups sugar ½ lb. butter (2 sticks) 15 oz ricotta 3 eggs 2 tsp vanilla 4 cups flour ½ tsp salt 1 tsp baking soda Cream Cheese Icing: 4 oz. cream cheese

2 tsp. Butter 2 cup powdered sugar ½ tsp vanilla Cream sugar, butter, ricotta, eggs and vanilla. Mix flour, salt and baking soda together.

Add dry ingredients to the creamed mixture. Drop by full tablespoon onto a tray lined with parchment paper. Bake at 350F° until light brown on bottom, around 8 to 10 minutes.

To make the icing, mix the cream cheese and butter, then add powdered sugar and vanilla and mix until light and airy. If using, add food coloring until desired color. Cool cookies completely before icing.

The Ultimate Cinnamon Rolls MARLENE BOYER guest writer

I have been making cinnamon rolls since I was a teenager and still make them now on snow days or for special occasions, like on Christmas morning.

One memory I have of making cinnamon rolls is when I was in my first year of college. My brother and I attended the same college in a different state and when we got home for spring break late that Friday evening, we sat around the kitchen with our four younger siblings, talking and laughing and just having fun being together again.

At around midnight, someone suggested we make cinnamon rolls, so we did! They came out of the oven at 4 a.m., just in time for morning chores on the farm.

This recipe is one I have made with students in the foods lab with great success. It is easy to do and really tasty. I hope you’ll give it a try when you are in the mood for a sweet treat.

EASY HOMEMADE CINNAMON ROLLS Dough: ½ c. water (warm water) 3 T. sugar ¼ c. milk 1 tsp. salt

3 T. butter, melted 2 to 2½ c. all-purpose flour 1 egg, beaten 1 pkg. yeast (2 ¼ tsp.)

Put the butter into a large glass bowl and microwave for 20 to 30 seconds, or until melted. Add the water, milk, sugar and salt to the butter. Sprinkle the yeast over the liquid mixture and allow to sit briefly to dissolve.

Then stir in the beaten egg.

Using a wooden spoon, stir in 2 cups of flour. Gradually add the extra ½ half cup of flour until a soft dough forms. Gently knead dough, adding more flour if necessary. Knead for a couple of minutes until it becomes smooth and soft.

Cover the dough with a clean

Michael Ollier is a Senior Corporate Chef, at Certified Angus Beef. Ollier studied in France and trained in Cleveland’s fine dining establishments, according to Certified Angus beef.

INGREDIENTS: 4 pounds Certified Angus Beef ® strip roast 3 cloves garlic, minced 1 teaspoon dried rosemary 3 teaspoons kosher salt, divided 1 teaspoon ground black pepper 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil 10 cloves garlic, split in half lengthwise 4-5 fresh rosemary sprigs, cut about 1-inch in length, to yield 20 pieces 1. Mix minced garlic, dried rosemary and 1-teaspoon salt

kitchen towel and let it rest for 10 to 15 minutes. While the dough is resting, make a paste with the filling ingredients.

Filling: 3 T. butter, softened ¼ c. granulated sugar 1 T. cinnamon Grease a round pie plate or cake pan. Roll dough into a 14” x 8” rectangle, about ¼-inch to ½-inch thick. Spread the cinnamon paste on the dough, using a spoon or spatula to get it to the edges. Roll dough into a log starting at the long side and cut the roll into 1-inch thick slices. Place rolls side-by-side in the greased baking pan.

Cover loosely, and let rise for 1 hour (or overnight in the

in small mixing bowl. Cut approximately 20 slits evenly spaced around roast, about 1-inch deep using a paring knife. Rub mixture evenly all over strip roast and refrigerate overnight.

2. Preheat oven to 450°F. Remove roast from refrigerator and wipe clean with a paper towel. Rub roast with olive oil and season all sides with pepper and remaining salt.

Place fat side up, in roasting pan fitted with rack.

3. Place roast in oven for 15 minutes. Remove from oven and reduce temperature to 325°F. Insert halved garlic cloves and rosemary sprigs evenly into pre-made slits.

Place roast back in oven and continue cooking about 1 hour and 15 minutes for medium doneness (135-140°F).

4. Remove roast from oven, place on cutting board and loosely tent with foil. Allow to rest 15 minutes before slicing roast across the grain.

refrigerator. Bring to room temperature before baking.)

Bake at 350 degrees F for 15 to 20 minutes or until lightly browned.

When rolls have cooled, with following frosting :

top

BUTTERCREAM FROSTING: 2 T. butter, softened 1 tsp. vanilla 1 c. powdered sugar 1 T. milk (or more for desired consistency) Stir all frosting ingredients together in a mixing bowl until smooth. Spread on top of cinnamon rolls. Delicious!

SPORTS Lionel Messi In this year alone, Lionel Messi won Copa America with Argentina, Copa del Rey with Barcelona, and a seventh Ballon d’Or; setting a world record for most Ballon d’Ors won.

Tom Brady Tom Brady won his seventh Super Bowl this past year, and was also named the Super Bowl MVP for 2021, increasing his MVP count to five.

THE WOOSTER BLADE | DEC. 10, 2021 | PAGE 13

Most Influential Athletes of 2021 Champion: Naomi Osaka

Lionel Messi Brady and Messi are both greats in their respective sports. However, Messi’s performance for his age and competition outweighs Brady’s seventh Super Bowl title.

Messi has been considered the best in his sport seven times throughout his career.

Sha’Carri Richardson After winning the United States Olympic trials, she tested positive for marijuana.

She was suspended from racing and brought up questions about non-performance enhancing drug use in sports.

Naomi Osaka Both Biles and Osaka made impactful statements regarding mental health of athletes.

However, Osaka’s openness about her struggle with depression was eye-opening.

Lionel Messi Naomi Osaka

Caeleb Dressel In the Tokyo Olympics, Caeleb Dressel won five gold medals and set a world record in the 100-meter butterfly.

Simone Biles

Sha’Carri Richardson While Dressel’s performance in the Olympics is amazing, it does not outweigh Richardson’s impact on sports as a whole.

Her removal from competition raised controversy over which drugs should be banned in sports.

Selections for the bracket were based on athletic performance as well as global influence in 2021.

The criteria for athletic performance was based off accolades, and global impact was based off our own best judgement.

Pairings and decisions were chosen by sports editors Theo Ollier and Jhon Fajardo. Tell us who you think is the most influential athlete of 2021 on Dec. 10 on our BLADE instagram: @thewoosterblade.

Simone Biles withdrew from the gymnastics team final in the Tokyo Olympcs, promoting awareness for mental health of athletes.

Naomi Osaka Naomi Osaka won the Australian Open. Afterward, she withdrew from the French Open, because of her own mental health. Her withdrawal raised awareness of mental health.

Giannis Antetokounmpo

Giannis Antetokounmpo Obtaining bronze, silver, and gold medals in the Olympics at the age of 18 is an impressive feat.

However, in 2021, Antetokounmpo is at the top of all aspects of his sport. For this reason, Antetokounmpo surpasses Lee.

Giannis Antetokounmpo won NBA Finals MVP, regular season MVP, and Defensive Player of the Year Award. He was the first Greek player to win any of these awards.

Sunisa Lee Sunisa Lee, after filling in for Simone Biles, won bronze, silver, and gold medals for gymnastics in the Tokyo Olympics.

Graphic and blurbs by Jhon Fajardo and Theo Ollier

Richardson vs Messi

Osaka vs Messi

Richardson’s struggle with her mother’s death through the use of marijuana brings up important questions about mental health and coping.

Because of her use of marijuana, she was unable to compete in the Tokyo Olympics.

Lionel Messi, on the other hand, won his first international cup for Argentina. Accomplishing this, alongside his 7th Ballon d’Or, Copa del Rey Champion and being awarded MVP for the Copa America tournament makes him the more influential contender between these two athletes, getting him a finals position in the bracket.

Lionel Messi has established himself as the best soccer player in the world countless times, winning countless trophies and individual awards since 2005. His career is admirable and his personality only complements his achievements.

But, 2021 has brought about a new trend in sports: mental health and person before player.

Naomi Osaka best represents this trend through her tribulations. As the embodiment of supporting mental health through focusing on herself before her sport, she deserves the title as Most Influential Sports Athlete of 2021.

Osaka vs Antetokounmpo

Although both Antetokounmpo and Osaka have dominated their individual sports in 2021, Osaka made an impact on the world beyond her sport. She raised worldwide awareness for the mental health of professional athletes and showed that they are human. Athletes are constantly in the spotlight, having to keep up their public appearances, and they deal with the same mental struggles as everyone else.

THE WOOSTER BLADE | SPORTS | DEC. 10, 2021 | PAGE 14

Seniors sign to continue their academic and athletic careers at the college level NORA LEVY staff writer The class of 2022 began signing for college athletics this winter with two WHS athletes signing their National Letter of Intent and one additional athlete signing this December.

Emmaleigh Allen and Ravin Morgan will be continuing their volleyball careers in college and Grahm Dixon will be continuing his football career.

Allen will be going to LenoirRhyne University in North Carolina and said she did so, “because of the competitive atmosphere and the talented coaches.”

Allen also referenced her desire to grow as a person.

“Lenoir-Rhyne puts a lot of emphasis on the importance of being involved in the

community, so I am excited to have those opportunities to become a more well rounded person,” Allen said.

Morgan, another standout on the court, will join Walsh University’s volleyball team in the fall of 2022. The campus atmosphere stood out to Morgan and so did the coaches’ transparency.

“They were very kind and honest with me and that was very appealing,” Morgan said.

For Morgan, there is much to look forward to on the court as well.

“I am looking forward to the relationships I will make with my teammates and coaches…

I am also very competitive so I can’t wait to play in college,” Morgan said.

Dixon will be competing on the gridiron for St. Thomas University in Minnesota. He

will officially sign to play football on Dec. 15. Dixon said, in signing with St. Thomas, he values the winning tradition and the coaches in the St. Thomas football program.

“The coaches and players each show the qualities of those who are respected and hard working, which is what I strive to do everyday,” Dixon said.

Dixon also emphasized his excitement for new challenges ahead in college.

“I’m looking forward to the challenge of playing in a brand new Div. I program,” Dixon said.

Dixon said he is ready to compete with an underdog mentality and bring leadership to his new team.

The signing period for Div. I and II continues on Aug. 1. of 2022 with specific signing periods for basketball and football.

E-Sports gains interest at first meeting BAILEY MESSNER staff writer For the first time, E-Sports will be available as a club at WHS. The club was set to have its first meeting during last school year, but the creators of the club were informed that they needed to be approved by the board of education before they were able to become an official club.

E-Sports adviser and Social Studies Dept. member Brian Ehrlinspiel, notes that the club recently got its board approval.

“We got our board approval in October,” Ehrlinspiel said.

Following that approval, a discord server was established for all members wanting to attend the club.

The server is currently sitting at roughly 70 members who have

shown an interest in joining.

Once the club begins to meet in person, they will also be able to start playing in tournaments.

Ehrlinspiel outlines the plan for the club moving forward. “...to join E-Sports Ohio, which is where we’ll be competing,” Ehrlinspiel said.

Logan Brown (12), club creator, lists the games offered through E-Sports Ohio.

“There are eight games offered for E-Sports Ohio. There’s Super Smash Bros Ultimate, Overwatch, Fortnite, League of Legends, Valorant, Rocket League, and Smite,” Brown said.

Brown came up with the idea for the club and was the one who approached principal Dr. John Deuber about creating the club. He says he got the idea from another school.

“I found out that Triway had an E-Sports club, then I figured Wooster High School should have one,” Brown said.

A fellow student, Samara Bush (9), says her favorite game to

Ravin Morgan signs her National Letter of Intent to attend Malone University in the fall of 2022.

Emmaleigh Allen signs her National Letter of Intent to attend LenoirRhyne University in the fall of 2022.

Photos courtesy of the WHS Athletic Dept. play is League of Legends.

Bush states her favorite part of the club is finding new people to play with. “[It is] fun to find other people who play the same games as me,” Bush said.

As the club is getting established, Ehrlinspiel is also working on what their competitions and tournaments will look like.

E-Sports is becoming recognized throughout the country as a sport and colleges are starting to offer scholarships for participants; however, students in the club are also able to play video games leisurely as well.

The club will meet in Ehrlinspiel’s room at 7:25 a.m. once they begin in person meetings in the coming weeks.

VIEWS

THE WOOSTER BLADE | VIEWS | DEC. 10, 2021 | PAGE 15

Early grad reflects on how photography has influenced his identity

RUMEN ZDRAVCHEV head photographer Photography has influenced my identity through my life challenges and experiences.

Behind the lens, I feel safe from judgment.

As a photographer, I do not feel like an outsider or a racial stereotype, but simply as a person.

In middle school, I began to feel challenged to understand my Asian American identity.

I felt inspired to document protests of racial injustice

through my photography and play a large role in communicating a message of diversity through the power of social media.

Photography allows me the unique opportunity to influence my peers through my work, feel a sense of connection to my community and have a greater purpose through my involvement in the school newspaper, The Wooster Blade, and Wooster Weekly News.

The first time I picked up a camera at the age of 15, it changed my viewpoint of the world.

Travel experiences have also shaped my vision and allowed me to see diversity in many different forms.

I feel whole and look at the world from a different perspective.

I see the environment around me, through an artistic lens.

I imagine the objects, shapes, colors, and patterns as they

might appear in a photograph.

As I have matured, I have learned to use my photography as a safe haven and as a platform to express myself nonverbally.

When taking photographs, I allow the image to speak for itself and convey an emotion to motivate the viewer.

This powerful connection gives me the incentive to continue to grow as a photographer and become a better artist.

In the future, I want to continue telling my story and conveying a message through “pursuing my” photography.

I want to thank Mrs. Hiner for her support and for allowing me to use my photography as a platform to express myself. I am thankful for all the special friendships and meaningful experiences that I have had during my time working on BLADE staff. I want to give special thanks to my friends Theo Ollier, Ashton Dunlap,

Grace Brownson and Luke Pomfret for their friendship and support. Lastly, I want to thank my parents who have helped me become who I am today.

Photos by Rumen Zdravchev

(Left) Zdravchev uses a self portrait to capture his Asian American heritage.

(Right) Zdravchev uses a self portrait to capture his passion for photography.

Rittenhouse and Arbery trials continue fight for racial justice

LUCIA PERFETTI cover editor It has been 24 weeks since the conviction of officer Derek Chauvin in the George Floyd murder trial.

Since then, there have been legislative wins and losses for the Black Lives Matter movement. Most recently are

the trials of Kyle Rittenhouse, who was charged of the murder of two (white) men involved in the civil unrest following the shooting of a Black man, Jacob Blake, in Kenosha Wis., and that of Travis and Gregory McMichael and their neighbor William Bryan who hunted down and killed Ahmauhd Arbery, a Black man, under the guise of carrying out a citizen’s arrest in February of 2020.

Rittenhouse was acquitted of all charges. Arbery’s killers were convicted and face life in prison Both trials were important to the BLM movement, yet among my peers,the same people who had been posting on social media nonstop surrounding Chauvin’s trial, there was mostly silence. Why? Were the

deaths of these three men not as important as that of Floyd?

Or, is it that people have lost interest, and moved on to the next pressing issue?

When Floyd was killed, newspaper outlets, Instagram feeds, and even yard signs reflected the anguish people felt and their desire for change.

Once Chauvin was convicted, there was a universal sigh of relief, as if the world had been waiting to see whether or not the justice system would change.

Since when has one example marked a trend toward change?

Not even two years later, and there is plenty of proof that although “activists” have long since moved on, the injustices have not. Just

because Derek Chauvin was held accountable does not mean that racially charged violence is not happening. Just because Derek Chauvin is in jail does not mean that killers like Kyle Rittenhouse are guaranteed a spot next to him.

One thing that is similar throughout both trials is the defense’s argument: self defense.

Why is it that when one feels threatened, whether that be by riots in the streets or by a Black man walking down the street- the first response is to pull out a deadly weapon? The normalization of weapons has gotten to a point that when 17 year old Rittenhouse decided to leave his own town to provide “medical assistance”

at a protest (Rittenhouse was hoping to train to become a nurse), he first must grab his AR-15 on the way out of the door. At one point during his trial, Rittenhouse said, ”I didn’t want to have to kill anybody that night.” But, nevertheless, he was prepared to.

The mentality that guns, which are one of the top five leading causes of death in the United States, are the first defense when feeling unsafe is one that needs to change. The battle against gun violence is going to be a long one, and in order to secure real change, activists need to be fully committed.

If these trials have taught us anything, it is that we are far from close to victory.

THE WOOSTER BLADE | VIEWS | DEC. 10, 2021 | PAGE 16

OUR VIEW

New Year’s resolutions create conflict amongst board PROS It is widely known that most New Year’s resolutions are failures.

According to a 2018 Psychology Today article, 80% of resolutions fail by February.

However, instead of dismissing resolutions as pointless, a modification to the mindset surrounding them is needed.

Often, people will make New Year’s resolutions that they plan to never break.

As an example of this point, one board member illustrated that last year, they made the resolution to meditate every day and quickly found that they hated it; mainly because there was a responsibility to do it every single day. Thus, the student stated that the resolution lasted until June.

New Year’s resolutions are not pointless; they are extremely helpful.

Setting goals is a way to reset and reflect on all of our

priorities; and doing it at the beginning of the year provides a starting date and a time in which we can measure our progress and growth.

What is pointless in making resolutions or setting goals is the mindset that taking a break equals quitting.

We need to allow ourselves to take breaks from our goals and allow ourselves some grace if we are not able to steadfastly hold to these goals or resolutions, as long as we remind ourselves of the original intent of the resolution, which should always focus on bettering ourselves as people and improving ourselves, personally, whenever we are able to do so.

In the end, setting goals for ourselves is never pointless, nor is it a futile exercise for any of us to undertake We do not have to be great to start, but we do have to start to be great.

Most Common New Years Resolutions 1. Doing more exercise 2. Losing weight 3. Saving more money 4. Improving diet 5. Pursuing an ambitious career 6. Spending more time with family.

7. Taking up a new hobby 8. Spending less time on social media 9. Stop smoking 10. Renovating

CONS Every year, people around the world make New Year’s Resolutions, promising to change an aspect about their life.

Oftentimes people pledge to work out more, be kinder, or to stop procrastinating.

However, even though these resolutions have good intentions behind them, people rarely stick with them.

It is easy to say the promises will be kept, but actually effectively and consistently changing habits is another question.

According to a 2018 New York Post article, only 8% of people follow through on their resolutions by the end of the year.

These broken promises often become a stem for insecurity and being self critical.

If someone does not meet a goal it can hurt their self esteem, especially if others

criticize them for not following through. This mentality is extremely damaging, especially if someone has had the same resolution over multiple years and has failed to achieve their goals.

There is also the problem of people purposefully putting off self improvement in the name of making it their resolution.

If people want to change aspects of their lives, they should be able to start that change at any point in the year and not constrain that starting point to the first day of the year.

New Year’s Resolutions are not malicious in nature, but the emphasis people put on them is not warranted and is often meaningless.

Across the board, resolutions are rarely kept and usually serve as a game on New Year’s Eve rather than an actual plan to improve a part of someone’s life.

According to Statista.com

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THE WOOSTER BLADE | VIEWS | NOV. 19, 2021 | PAGE 17

THE

THE VOICE OF WOOSTER HIGH SCHOOL

WOOSTER

BLADE

Editors-in-Chief Ashton Dunlap, Luke Pomfret Webmaster Ashton Dunlap Graphics Manager Grace Brownson Business Manager Delaney Wilson Head Photographer Rumen Zdravchev A & E Editor Lexxe Parsons, Laura Rapport Cover Editor Lucia Perfetti Feature Editor Molly Snyder, Grace Brownson Focus Editor Sheridan Schauer, On Campus Editor Hannah LoGiudice, Delaney Wilson Sports Editor Theo Ollier, Jhon Fajardo Trends Editor Olivia Hiner Views Editor Brittany Wachtel Staff Writers Mattie Dunlap, Molly Byrne, Chloe Frichtl, Ben Stavnezer, Nora Levy, Sophia Mera, Stella Powers, Trent Kuzma, Grace Kostohryz, Anika Ellis, Maya Galindo-Benson, Bailey Messner Artists Grace Brownson Cover Artist Charlotte Kille Photographers Grace Brownson, Hannah LoGiudice, Rumen Zdravchev, Ashton Dunlap, Ben Stavnezer, Brittany Wachtel, Nora Levy, Delaney Wilson, Sheridan Schauer, Molly Snyder, Maya Galindo-Benson, Molly Byrne 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 Wooster Blade is designated as an open forum and follows publishing guidelines as established by 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 rights 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. Letters and inquiries should be addressed to The Wooster Blade, 515 Oldman Road Wooster, Ohio 44691. The Wooster Blade can be contacted at 330-3454000 ext. 3210.

The newspaper can also be found at thewoosterblade.com

OUR VIEW

Students and staff advocate for re-evaluation of first semester exams and testing schedule With midterms coming up the week of Dec. 13, many students have raised the question of why we still take midterms.

Accompanying that question, the fact that exams are worth 10% of the semester grade, leads us, as students, to also wonder why these assessments are weighted so heavily.

Last school year, because of the hybrid learning and online model, coupled with the sheer amount of assessments within Edgenuity, midterms were waived.

So, the question of whether or not midterms should happen every year is important for us to assess this semester and this year.

To answer all of these questions, getting student and teacher perspectives helped make possible responses and positions more clear.

In looking at our perspective, as students, exams have more negatives than positives. While exams are a way for us to evaluate our retention of information over a semester, they also provide large amounts of culminating stress.

A semester is a long amount of time-18 educational weeks at WHSand a multitude of information is learned over this relatively short time period. Exams over this amount of information often evaluate rote learning and not the learning process.

Students who understand the processes of their classes, but struggle memorizing information could fail the exam while students who excel at quick memorization may do well.

According to a poll of 82 WHS students, distributed by BLADE staff members on Dec. 7, 80.5 percent of WHS students polled feel that exams do not adequately evaluate learning over a semester.

Especially after a year away from major exams and evaluations, most students expressed that they feel a considerable amount of stress over looming semester exams.

The new midterm schedule provides a new set of challenges for teachers as well.

Originally, excluding last year, the midterm and final exam schedule split exams into two days: the first day of testing included first, third, fifth and seventh periods, and the second day included second, fourth, sixth and eighth periods.

This year, the midterm schedule is a normal bell schedule for the Thursday and Friday before break, noting that now, exams can be given over multiple days and multiple exams can be given in one day.

History Dept. member Michael Sullivan said using the normal bell schedule for midterms disrupts a student’s readiness to take a test.

“What I’m struggling with is it [the schedule] is going to make it more challenging for students, especially if a teacher like me has to divide up the test. Now, instead of the student preparing for Thursday, say AP Psychology test. Now, a student has to be prepared to take half of it on Thursday and half of it on Friday. So that’s the challenge that I’m more concerned with is for the student’s [challenges] that it’s created. Anxiety as they mentioned to me,” Sullivan said.

Most teachers discussed that the main benefit of taking semester exams is that it prepares students for college.

English Dept. member Jill Coppola, who teaches CCP Comp, said that “If we don’t present students with the opportunity in high school to experience what it’s like to have exams and they walk into college, they’ll suffer for it.”

Coppola also brought up the point that freshmen this year have never taken exams before.

Coppola said if WHS were to get rid of exams, “We would have seniors acting like freshman,” because students would not quite know how important evaluating learning is. Having midterms helps

prepare students for what is to come after high school.

To see how exactly midterms benefit students after high school, COW chair of philosophy Dr. Elizabeth Schiltz provided some answers to how exactly they help students after high school.

Schiltz said that “Almost all college classes will have end-ofsemester activities, and most of those will be exams. So, in taking midterms, you are in a sense ‘practicing’ how to prepare for and take the kind of tests that you will see in college. You can learn what works for you in terms of organizing and reviewing a full semester’s worth of content, drawing the bigger conclusions about the topics you have studied, and getting ready for test day.”

After looking at this, she discussed that stress levels for exams are really high.

Schiltz said that she wonders, “what could be done to move toward making them seem less like make-or-break tests, and more like opportunities to review and draw conclusions about all of the interesting things you have learned over the semester.”

After taking all of these things into account, it is evident that both teachers and students are stressed and concerned about the upcoming exams and exam schedule.

While they may help prepare students for life after high school, it is clear that some students and teachers believe they do not adequately evaluate learning.

The exam schedule this year is creating even more anxiety for test days.

Like Schiltz noted previously, it is time for us evaluate exams.

We need to consider why we have midterm assessments and also evaluate the best schedule in which to take them to decrease the amount of stress and worry surrounding them, for both teachers and students.