Arrow 2021 Issue 4

February 26, 20214Volume 914Issue 4

ARROW Utica High School447255 Shelby Road Utica, MI 483174www.uhsarrow.org

2020 CSPA Silver Crown Award Winner & MIPA Hall of Fame Inductee

news feature sports

3 5 9

HIT THE SLOPES

COVID restrictions lead to spike in skiing and snowboarding.

Stay connected. connected.

Follow our online news.

PAGE 2 3TABLE OF CONTENTS 3ARROW 3FEBRUARY 26, 2021

CONTENTS 3

4 6

mackenzie olmstead photo

MEDICAL LABS NURSING STUDENTS RETURN TO rsing students nu , rk wo ed nc sta di d an al du ivi ind r Afte develop skills hands-on.

COVID DISINFEC TING take other Custodians spray the school and de nts safe. precautions to keep staff and stu STUDENTS TAKE ON SKIING d snowboarders hit Experienced and new skiiers an the slopes.

8

MUSIC THEN VS. NOW g to during their See what the staff enjoyed listenin students enjoy. high school days and what current

9

BOYS SWIM SEASON IS HERE g the pandemic, Athletes return to the pool durin following strict restrictions.

CHECK THIS OUT

NE

O

I L N

FIND EXPANDED COV FROM EVERY PRIN ERAGE T EDITION, NEW STORIES, RE CENT SPORTS SCORES AND MORE AT WWW.UHSAR ROW.ORG.

NEWS

WHAT’S HAPPENING

FEBRUARY 26, 20214ARROW4NEWS4PAGE 3

CHIEF CONNECTION CHECK OUT THE ONLINE SCHOOL STORE, LED BY DECA STUDENTS, TO ORDER MERCH.

Nursing students return to medical lab “I was a little nervous to be working with people again, but I really appreciated that Mrs. T helped us make face After nearly an entire year of students working indi- shields to be better protected,” senior Brooke Budd said. vidually and distanced, the students in Lisa Tancredi’s As well as wearing face shields, the students are getNursing Assistant class have finally returned to the lab ting temperature checks and using hand sanitizer before for hands-on learning during the pandemic. and after entering the work area.

The medical science teachers ap“Once we returned to in-person proached Principal Tom Lietz in learning,” Tancredi said, “we wanted November with the idea of allowing to be able to work on the skills we their students to return to the medteach in Nursing Assisting.” ical lab. They explained all of the With procedures ranging from safety equipment and procedures the moving dummies around the lab to students would wear and follow, and simulate transporting patients in difit was readily agreed upon that the ferent lying and sitting positions, to students were ready. taking temperatures and vital signs, “I think those kids are probably Tancredi is doing everything possithe safest in the school right now,” ble to prepare nursing students for Lietz said, “because they’re following the education they’re missing out on what would be an expected medical from working in real hospitals. protocol if they were working in a

“Simulation is a common hospital, or any other working envi- Students learn CPR with practice dummies. mode of learning in nursing schools,” ronment.”

Tancredi said, “but we do not have mackenzie olmstead photo All of the safety procedures were the fancy mannequins you would established months before students even returned to the find at colleges and universities.” building, so administration was more than comfortable Utica’s nursing students are quickly catching up on with allowing students to return to the lab for practical time missed by safely practicing in small groups, and distraining. tancing while in the lab.

OLIVER GAMEZ

COPY EDITOR

Students resist cameras during remote learning Sobak said, “with in-person and remote.”

Even though most students understand that it would More than half way through the year, and attending be beneficial to teachers to keep the cameras on, some school both in-person and virtually, some students think students still don’t like to have their cameras on. that cameras aren’t important, while other students don’t Some students don’t have any strong feelings toward mind. keeping their cameras on or off.

Regardless of students’ Sophomore Nadeen Rashed thoughts on the issue, teachis a student who doesn’t mind if ers believe that cameras should their camera is on or off remain on still throughout the “I don’t really care about class meeting, and principal Tom keeping it on virtually,” Rashed Lietz agrees. said, “because it helps me be “Reacting tells me if someone come more engaged.” is learning or dozing off,” Lietz Most students can relate with said. “We often forget that 70 Rashed when she says it helps percent of what we communicate her stay focused. is not in our words; it’s in the way “But when I’m having a bad that we say them and what we’re day or I don’t feel good,” Rashed doing with our faces and our During a press conference with principal Tom Lietz, said, “I don’t want to turn it on.” students keep their cameras on. arrow news screenshot bodies.”

Nadeen also agreed, however, Having a camera on while learning virtually really that it will benefit teachers if students turn their cameras on. helps teachers identify how students are reacting to cer- “Because,” Rahed said, “they know they are talking to tain material. the students.”

Sophomore Alyxa Sobak is one of the students who “I don’t think the people who go in school have to turn prefers to keep their cameras off while learning virtually. it on,” Rashed said, “but I think the people who go virtu “I really don’t like having my camera on,” Sobak said. ally do have to still turn it on.”

“It invades privacy, for me at least.”

Even though cameras may be an inconvenience to Many other students can also relate to Sobak, where some, they’re still beneficial to teachers. they feel less private now that everyone can see them.

“I completely understand that some students aren’t “It benefits teachers,” Sobak said, “so they can under- comfortable turning on their cameras,” teacher Stacy stand or see if we understand what their talking about.”

Smale said. “Teachers recognize, however, that some stu While Sobak doesn’t like keeping her camera on she dents are having difficulty staying on task, and we can’t acknowledges that it is beneficial to teachers. help them stay focused if they walk away from their com “No, I don’t think it’s necessary to have cameras on,” puters.”

JOSHUA RHODES

REPORTER

Socially distanced, students sit in their assigned seats in the cafeteria, while others sit in the auxiliary gym. Instead of three lunch periods, as in previous years, five periods were implemented during the pandemic, which equated to ten with the two separate rooms. emanuel dedi photo

CARES act provides free breakfast, lunch for students ETHAN SMALE

BUSINESS MANAGER

With school back in session, it’s important that students understand what kind of food is available to them, and how they will be able to get the food while following COVID-19 restrictions and guidelines.

“It’s going to be a lot simpler and more efficient,” principal Tom Lietz said. “This will hopefully eliminate all of the issues that we would have that weren’t considered issues before.”

Luckily for students, the school has made sure the distribution of food is safe, making the students stay distanced the entire time they are waiting in line.

“It will be very similar to the past,” principal Tom Lietz said. “Except we will have line-ups and six feet distancing put into place.”

The school is also making it clear that there will be multiple options for students in line, primarily to give options to people with allergies, but also to make sure people are happy with the food they are getting.

“There will be a much more limited option for students,” principal Tom Lietz said. “They will have three options, one is non-allergenic, they will have a vegetarian option, and a meat option.”

While these are some good concerns to be resolved, people are still concerned about other issues that will be a problem while eating.

“I’m not sure how well everything in the lunch room is going to work,” junior Antonio Capelj said. “With everyone spaced out it won’t be fun, and with everyone not wearing masks it could also be pretty dangerous.”

Sitting in the lunchroom could be a problem with everyone having their masks off, in an enclosed area, so the handling of that could be bad for some people.

The school has lots of regulations put in place to keep the students safe. Students hope the rules put into place are enforced and limits the amount of COVID transmission spread within the lunchroom.

The main three meals for students are pizza, cheeseburgers, and Asian bowls. This is not as many options as the school would normally have, but because it is paid for, it limits the options as the school didn’t decide what to purchase. These free lunches are available during all of the lunch periods, as well as free breakfast.

PAGE 4 3FEATURE 3ARROW 3FEBRUARY 26, 2020

SCHOOL SPRAY DOWN Extra precautions taken to clean and disinfect the school building to protect students and staff from COVID-19 ALTMANN RAYMOND

MANAGING EDITOR

Stations were put up in the weight lifting room to help the fight with Covid-19. The stations are meant to be used after every use of the weight lifting equipment. raymond altmann photo

With the return of students comingcoming back into With the return of students back into school, the staff has school, the staff has been findingbeen ways to fight Covid-19 finding ways to around fight Covid-19 from from spreading Utica and keeping students safe. spreading around Utica and keeping One way they have been fighting this students safe. One way they have been is with the Victory Electric Static Sprayer.Electric The Victory sprayer fighting this is with the Victory Static Sprayer. is like a a backpack is a device thatThe getsVictory carriedsprayer around device gets carried around like ashoots out a disinbut hasthat a sprayer attached to it that backpack fectant. but has a sprayer attached to it that shoots out a disinfectant.

Classes also have boxes of face masks to give out to students that forget a mask or don’t have an opportunity to get their own. Every person in the school is expected to wear a face mask to help reduce the spread of Covid-19. raymond altmann photo

A hand sanitizing station is installed on the second floor, above the cafeteria. In addition to having sanitizer available throughout the school, alcohol wipes are given before and after each class for students to wipe down their area to kill any pathogens that may have been left behind. Every student is expected to wipe down their area when they finish class. raymond altmann photo

“The Victory is better than a spray bottle because it can get into more spots than a spray bottle can,” custodian Valerie Hogan said. “It also can hold more disinfectant than a regular bottle, and not to mention it’s comfier and easier to use.”

The Victory sprayer uses a chemical disinfectant called ‘Virex’.

Virex is commonly used in everyday disinfectants and in hospitals.

Virex is a “ready-to-use, quaternarybased, disinfectant,” according to virexdisinfectant.com, “that provides excellent cleaning and deodorizing in one step. Bactericide, tuberculocide, virucide, fungicide.”

Teachers have been having trouble with this spray though, after school almost the entire school is sprayed down, and this includes classrooms and any papers that stay out. Although Virex evaporates quickly, it still leaves papers curled up.

“I’ve been told that they disinfectant dries quickly after it’s been sprayed, but I haven’t seen it firsthand,” teacher Stacy Smale said. “The only issue I have with it is that it makes paper curl up. I’ve learned to adapt, though, and just place books on top of any papers in my room, such as my seating charts. It’s a small price to pay for a virus-free classroom.”

It is important that the custodians are wearing the proper equipment while spraying down the school, because these chemicals are not good for your body. The custodians are equipped with surgical gloves, a mask, and eye protection to help prevent the spread of COVID and also from Virex getting into

the body.

“It definitely isn’t the most comfortable outfit,” custodian Liliana Djonovic, “but I would much rather be equipped with the correct uniform rather than something happening to me and getting hurt.”

Many students do not know about all the extra work custodians have been doing around the school.

“I didn’t know about all the cleaning the school has been doing, especially with the sprayer backpack,” senior Spencer Fagan said. “It really makes me comfortably and happy with how far the Utica staff has been going to keep us safe from COVID-19.”

Utica can afford these extra protections from Covid-19 through a grant of money called the CARES Act. “It wasn’t quite enough funding for what needed to be done,” principal Tom Lietz said, “but it certainly is incredibly helpful and it made a big difference. It is the reason that school districts haven’t sunk.”

SEE IT IN ACTION

Scan the QR code to see Custodian Liliana Djonovic wearing a Victory Electric Static Sprayer, using it to disinfect surfaces throughout the school. raymond altmann photo and video

FEATURE INTERESTING STUFF

FEBRUARY 26, 20214ARROW4FEATURE4PAGE 5

FEATURE STORIES CHECK OUT ARROW’S ONLINE FEATURE STORIES

Science labs return

Students step away from laptops for hands-on learning KAI DAWKINS

REPORTER

Senior Ethan Jackson logs into Schoology, accomplishing his schoolwork on the computer while in-person, while half of his class is working from home. cassidy eskew photo

RETURN TO SCHOOL Hybrid learning brings half of the school’s population back into classrooms in cohorts, with plans underway for a full return

closer, students were informed that lots of rules were put in place in order to follow COVID-19 guidelines. Some The idea of returning back to school full time, and with students support this decision and think it works well. full attendence in classes, mid March is getting mixed re- “I think being back in person is going very well and actions from students.

I’m liking it a lot,” sophomore Sophia LaBrecque said.

However, with how it has been, all students have been “Everyone seems to be following directions in the halls.” putting in their work while protecting each other and be- Others aren’t so sure if they’re liking how things are ing safe. running.

“I expected everything to go wrong coming back,” “If I had to describe being back in one word, I’d say principal Thomas Lietz said, “But largely, people are ‘disappointing,’” sophomore Daniel Waterstradt said. masking up, people are wiping down desks and chairs, One of the rules put in place is one directional hallpeople are washing their hands. I ways. Students can only walk in think it has gone incredibly well one direction – no turning around. and I am very pleased about that Many students aren’t fans of it. because I am happy to have kids “If I could change anything back.” about how school is running, I’d Staff and students have gotten remove the hallway arrows,” Waused to half capacity and only goterstradt said. “They literally serve ing to school two days throughno purpose.” out the week, and some are ready The school has no plans to to see an end to cohorts. eliminate the one-directional halls, “I think it is a good idea to however, to ensure less crowding. go back to school full time,” se “With the one-way halls, it’s nior Matthew Gaereminck said. Students at lunch cleaning up and wiping down their not really going to help much with “COVID rates are down and we spot before having to return back to class. brooklynn anything,” sophomore Jenna Zions have to get back to normal. So hathcock photo said. “It’s not like bacteria is also lets try our best to bring back the going to follow the one-way halls.” regular block schedule, and if COVID rates go back up, Others have a problem with the online aspect of the then we all will quarantine then come back to school.” hybrid schedule.

While many students are looking forward to a full re- “I firmly believe it is still difficult to for everyone to turn, others are apprehensive, and acknowledge coming adjust to online learning,” sophomore Stacy Keehn said. back comes with some worries.

“Many people have had issues with the technology.”

“With coming back to school full time, I worry about Despite these restrictions, some students are optimishow much things will change again,” junior Heaven Hicks tic about school and where we’ll go from here. said. “Like, how would lunch look? Would classes be able “Even though there’s a pandemic, we still managed to to have every seat filled? There are many things us stu- make it into school without another major shutdown,” dents do not know, and that is worrying.”

Keehn said. “There will always be a few setbacks, but we As the date for returning to in-person learning got are making progress with each passing day.”

SHEA HATHCOCK

REPORTER

&

ABBY WILLIAMS

REPORTER

In a first step toward labs, teacher Clinton Davis knew that some kids would have a better understanding of bonded atoms if they had a visual representation.

“The balloons were to represent bonded atoms and the molecular structure they create,” Davis said. “The idea behind the balloons is that they show the repulsion of electrons from each other really well.”

With the balloons, Davis demonstrated that when they are pushed together and out of shape, they bounce back to the shape they want to be in, which is the shape with the least amount of stress on each other, or at their lowest potential energy.

Teachers were met with many challenges during remote and hybrid learning.

“The biggest challenge of hands-on teaching in science class,” Davis said, “is trying to make sure all students can see the demonstration in the class and at home.”

Davis was determined to make it work.

“For this demonstration, I set my iPhone up on a tripod and used that as a better camera angle to show the balloon demo,” Davis said.

“That seemed to work really well.’’

COVID protoTeacher Kelly Kujat’s class did a lab about cols are making it harder polar and non-polar molecules. All tubes for teachers to do labs had different properties. marissa barch and experiments with photo students.

“We have taken data from demonstrations, but the students have not performed a lab yet,” Davis said. “It is the plan to start doing some and we have some COVID lab protocol that we have written up as a science department. But I think with some preparation and attention to detail it can be accomplished.”

As teachers prepare for labs, students appreciate visual models.

“The balloons helped me understand the bonded atoms and the molecular structure they create because it was so visual,” junior Dylan Junkin said. “You’re able to see all the ways that they can connect or do connect.”

Students preferred learning with the visual.

“The balloon model helped me because it was a visual model with a representation, so it gave me a better understanding of how they connect,” junior Zoe Doyle said. “It’s not a model online, which I find to be harder to understand than a live 3-D visual model.”

The science department plans to resume labs as soon as possible, and some have already begun.

“We did a lab with water bending in my science class,” junior Ashton Hill said. “It was so nice to get away from the laptop and do something real with my classmates.”

PAGE 63COVER STORY3ARROW3FEBRUARY 26, 2021

Seniors Brooklynn Hathcock and Annie Droelle, and alumna Gina Sa first time at Pine Knob. brooklynn hathcock photo

“I went to Mt. Holly over break with my friends and I went snowboarding. I have been snowboarding for four years and I go a lot in the winter,” senior Garrison Nicks said. “I always have fun because I go with my friends.

The best part is rushing down the hill and feeling the wind blow in your face.” garrison nicks photo

“My favorite thing about snowboarding is the fact that there is always new things to learn,” sophomore Alyssa Divozzo said, “so you are always working toward something. alyssa divozzo photo

“I went skiing over Christmas break three times at Mt. Holly. I have been skiing since I was in third grade,” senior Emma Lelito said. “It was so fun because I went with some of my friends and it was interesting because I taught my friend how to ski, too.” emma lelito photo

I have been snowboarding for five years now. It’s something that I just love to do. I love snowboarding with my friends; it’s always a good time.

Senior Turner Tomatti

“My friend, Ava, goes snowboarding, so I really wanted to try it,” sophomore Alyssa Divozzo said. “I wasn’t really nervous my first time, because I was determined to be a pro after the first time I went.” Divozzo’s first time on the slopes was ten years ago. alyssa divozzo courtesy photo

FEBRUARY 26, 20214ARROW4COVER STORY4PAGE 7

apino went skiing and snowbparding over their mind-winter break for the

STUDENTS HEAD TO THE

BROOKLYNN HATHCOCK

DIGITAL EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

“I have been skiing and snowboarding a couple times this year. I went to Mt. Holly with my friends earlier in the winter. I have been skiing since I was in third grade, but I recently switched to snowboarding,” senior Dylan Lelito said. “I would have to say, it is one of my favorite things to do in the winter. I have taken a few hard falls in the time I have been on the slopes; I just get up and laugh it off.” ava denton photo

Students from Utica have tried new hobbies, new hair styles, and new sports throughout quarantine. One thing that it seemed everyone tried over their Christmas break was skiing and snowboarding.

Many Utica students went to Mount Holly, Tree Tops or Pine Knob to try out skiing or snowboarding for the first time.

Others aready knew how and have been doing it for years, and were there to support their friends.

Students like Annie Droelle, Gina Sapiano, and Kyle Campbell all went skiing at Pine Knob a couple times over break.

“I initially tried it out with my friends the day after New Years. There was a ton of snow from the night before and it was so much fun,” senior Annie Droelle said. “We all loved it so much and went again later that week, but they put out fake snow and it made it so icy; everyone was falling and I ended up falling so much, too. It was super fun, though. I saw a lot of my friends from Utica there, too. I'm hearing that the weather is supposed to get super cold soon and we are supposed to have a ton of snow. That will be the perfect time to go skiing again with my friends. The fake snow is very icy and I wouldn't go again if it was icy.”

Even the two friends, Sapiano and Campbell, had such a fun time at the slopes.

“I saw on a lot of people’s Snapchat stories that they were going skiing, and I’ve been snowboarding my whole life, so I’m really happy that my friends and I all went because it was so much fun,” alumna Gina Sapiano said. “Seeing all of my old friends from Utica was so weird,; I didn’t think that everyone would be out skiing, too.”

“Going to Pine Knob with my friends Annie and Gina was actually the first time I ever went snowboarding. I was so bad at first; it was so funny. We all were falling, we would wipe out and just laugh with each other. It was so much fun. The falling didn’t bring me down at all. In fact, after that day, I knew that I wanted to keep going,” alumnus Kyle Campbell said. “Now, I go almost every weekend with all of my other friends. We all go early in the morning, but an “all-day pass” and snowboard all day long. I have gotten so much better at it; I can even go on the Black Diamond hill.”

Other students from Utica decided to go skiing and snowboarding with all of their friends over break, too.

“I went skiing and snowboarding over break a ton. I went to Mt. Holly with some of my friends, too. I have been skiing since I was in the first grade,” senior Alessandra Vitale said. “I love skiing, I have so much fun doing it, and I have always really wanted to go skiing in Colorado.”

Even though all of these students went together and some didn't know how to ski or snowboard at all, they all had a great time at least trying something new with their friends.

“I went skiing with my friends for the first time this year.

We all went to Mt. Holly. All of my friends have been skiing or snowboarding for years, so they had to teach me,” senior Alex Pulaski said. “I had so much fun. When it was later at night the snow got icy and it was hard for me to slow down, and I couldn't turn. I ended up not following the path of now and ended up in ice and dirt. My friend, Emma Lelito, was behind me, and she followed to make sure I was okay. We were both fine, and it was so funny after it happened.”

For some students, they have been going their whole life, but for others, it was their first time on the slopes.

Many think that it would be scary or dangerous to just go out the a ski resort with their friends and try to do it for the first time, but it actually isn't scary at all.

There are multiple hills you can choose to ski or snowboard down, but the easiest would be the "bunny hill."

The bunny hill isn't steep at all, and it is easy to learn how to put your balance in your feet and legs when you are going down the hill and how to change directions, too.

For others that have had more experience, there are hills called "black diamond," which are extremely hard. with lots of turns and a ton of steepness to the hill, too.

“I went to Mount Holly with a few of my friends over Christmas break. We all had a lot of fun and I have been snowboarding since I was 6 years old so in total it has been 11 years,” senior Julia DeHondt said. “I always look forward to the winter months because of snowboarding, I always enjoy spending time with my friends and family.”

A lot of the times, students will go out with their friends for the day, buying a day pass when they first arrive.

If you don't have any gear, skis, snowboards, boots, you don't have to worry at all. You can rent those at the ski resort's rentals.

On top of that, at the ski resorts there is also food and drinks to buy. Many people's favorite would be hot chocolate.

“My friends and I went to Mt. Holly and we were there for a couple hours. It was so much fun. Some of us are beginners and some of us have been skiing or snowboarding longer. I have been snowboarding for three years now, but I have only gone like six times total and I am still trying to get the hang of it. I love the drive with my friends there and back because we blast music and get some fast food so it is super fun,” senior Ava Denton said. “I wish it wasn’t so expensive, otherwise I think even more of my friends would have come. I usually don't go snowboarding because it is during basketball season and it is very easy to get injured. However, since Corona has been pushing the season, I took the chance and went and everything turned out okay. Next year I will be attending CMU which is a very popular place to snowboard, and since I will no longer be playing any sports I plan on going a lot.”

Now it's time for those hesitant to head to the slopes, too.

Grab all of your friends and try learning how to ski or snowboard this break or over these chilly weekends.

PAGE 8 3FEATURE 3ARROW 3JANUARY 29, 2021

PARKING LOT DECISIONS Various lots, spaces give students options for parking The senior parking lot is located directly behind the school. Teachers have designated parking spots right in front of the office doors and ECC, but the rest of the parking lot is for Let’s be honest with ourselves: it just has to be the worst feeling when you get up late in student parking. the morning, you are rushing around to get ready, you get to school a little bit later than you “I like to park in the junior lot because I get out of school before the busses and everyone usually do and you don’t get to park in your usual location. else,” senior Raymond Altmann said. “I really don’t think that the walk is that bad at all. It The parking spots at Utica fill up quickly in the mornings due to the fact that students are only takes two minutes and I’m in the school. Another reason that I like it is because everyvery passionate about getting the parking spots they want. one goes for the senior lot more, so that means the junior lot is empty. Makes it easier for This year is a lot different, as COVID has me because there is no line to wait to park, the changed a lot of rules in the parking lots. senior lot always has traffic. From the parents Whether it is right in front of the band dropping off their kids, staff getting in school door, in front of the office doors, or even the and trying to park, everyone is trying to find a junior lot--students have their favorites. spot. It is so hectic.”

“For me, I honestly cannot stand parking In addition to the junior and senior lots, there in the junior lot,” junior Jack Droelle said. “It is one other parking spot that many students is such a far walk from the behind the footstrive to get. ball stadium, across the street, behind Uti This coveted spot is located in front of the ca, and all the way up to the office doors. I main office doors, in the middle of staff parking, feel like parking in the junior lot is the same so there is little traffic for these students at the thing as if you are just asking to be late to end of the day. first hour. The best spot that I usually park in Every month, this spot is given as an award would be right in front of the band doors, in to the Class Act Chieftain. Many students are the front row. At the end of the day, I always nominated for this award through their recogcome out to be the first in line and I’m right nition of hard work by either other students or behind all of the busses, so that helps me to staff members.

Students arrive to school early to park in their favorite spots. oliver gamez photo avoid all of the parking lot traffic.”

“I got nominated as the Class Act Chieftain Because students didn’t return to school this month and it was honestly such a time savuntil February due to COVID, drivers were not required to pay for a parking pass. All ju- er,” senior Clarissa Rose said. “I could wake up late and not have to worry at all because I had niors and seniors who want to drive had to fill out an online parking form. a single spot, right in front of the office doors, just waiting for me when I arrived at school.

The junior parking lot is located behind the football stadium, which is across the street Nobody else can park there, but me, for the month. This changed to be my favorite spot to from Utica. If students park there, they must walk across the street and head toward the have, but when I normally park, I would go to senior lot. I think it is so much better than doors on Shelby Road. junior lot, but I do show up late sometimes, so I have to park in the junior lot.”

BROOKLYNN HATHCOCK

DIGITAL EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Staff vs. students’ favorite music throughout their high school years MACKENZIE OLMSTEAD

Nankervis said. “Not for a specific reason, I just love the beat and the flow just makes me really happy.”

From the start of freshman year, to the end of senior year, many Principal Tom Lietz was a big Pearl Jam fan when he was in albums are released and many new and old artists cycle through. high school, mentioning “Ten” as one of his favorite albums.

Many of these artists become students’ new favor “Pearl Jam’s ‘Ten, ‘top five album ever made,” ite artists and their albums become their favorite Lietz said. “Until Mumford & Sons it would’ve albums. been my number one album of all time. I still This is nothing new. However, the popular mulove that album, I love every song on it, I love sic genres, and the bands and artists, are what has the remastered version. I strolled into that one changed. So what are the students of Utica High’s when I was like in the summer between eighth favorite albums and artists, and what were the and ninth grade, and converted all my friends staff ’s when they were students? into Pearl Jam nuts, went and saw them in con Senior Kadia Kustarz is a big music fan, but cert a bunch--they were definitely my band. I tends to listen to less modern day music. was kind of a music nerd a little bit so I listened “Some of my favorite albums are ‘Unknown to stuff that was out there. I love The CranberPleasures’ by Joy Division, ‘The Bends’ by Radiories.” head, ‘Earth A.D.’ by Misfits, and ‘Stadium ArcaLietz liked a lot of local bands, as well as more dium’ by Red Hot Chili Peppers,” Kustarz said. known 90s bands.

“Some of my favorite artists are Joy Division, Red “I like grungey stuff,” Lietz said. “I like NirvaHot Chili Peppers, Misfits, Fleetwood Mac, Dena, I like Soul Asylum, I like 10,000 Maniacs.” peche Mode, The Zombies, Dead Kennedys, The Teacher Lacie Smith, however, liked more of Cure, The Front Bottoms, and Radiohead.” the boy band, pop scene.

However, fellow senior Morgan Nankervis typ “I liked Backstreet Boys and NSYNC,” Smith ically opts for more current music. said. “I for sure still listen to them.”

Dolores O’Riordan of The Cranberries, “Some of my favorite artists are Mac Miller, is a favorite of principal Tom Lietz. O’Ri- Smith is not a fan of this new era of music, Iann Dior, and Juice Wrld,” Nankervis said. “Some ordan passed away in early 2018 at 46 but knows not everyone was a fan of her favorof my favorite albums are ‘Hollywood’s Bleeding’ years old. yui mok/tns photo ite music, either.

by Post Malone, ‘Goodbye and Good Riddance’ by “It’s terrible,” Smith said. “I think people probaJuice Wrld, and ‘Melodrama’ by Lorde.” bly felt the music I listened to was terrible at the time so I just try “My favorite song right now is ‘Just What I Am’ by Kid Cudi,” to understand it, but I don’t like it.”

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Juice Wrld seems to be a popular artist amongst teens. He even won an American Music Award for Favorite Rap/HipHop Artist. allen j. schaben/tns photo

Pearl Jam, led

by Eddie Vedder, performs at the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival in 2016. Their album, “Ten,” is one of principal Thom Lietz’s top five favorite albums. daniel desolver/tns photo

PAGE 94SPORTS4ARROW4FEBRUARY 26, 2021

SPORTS ATHLETES, COACHES, FANS, AND MORE

GET UP-TO-DATE SPORTS INFO MISS A GAME, OR PLANNING ON GOING TO ONE? FIND ALL OF THE INFORMATION ON OUR SITE

Utica-Ford Unified hockey team practices after school. jonathan cunningham photo

Winter sports get the green light to begin season JONATHAN CUNNINGHAM

SPORTS EDITOR

After outrage and many protests and Facebook posts calling for leading health officials to “let them play,” Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, along with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, announced that winter contact sports such as Ice Hockey, Wrestling, and Basketball may start with strict restrictions set in place to prevent the spread of COVID 19. It is unsure if these protests caused Whitmer and the state to change their minds.

Wrestlers must have COVID tests before competition days to ensure that while they are competing without a mask, they are safe from COVID. Hockey and basketball must wear masks while competing.

As athletes began practices, they acknowledged the difficulty in running and skating while wearing a mask.

“It’s hard to wear them, they’re super annoying, and after a little while it gets difficult to breathe and super hot and

sweaty, especially when we’re on the bench after just getting off and catching our breath,” Utica-Ford Unified hockey captain, senior Ethan Gherke said. “It’s just super difficult to play with masks.”

Although it is tough to deal with, he says that the team is just happy to be playing again.

“It’s awesome,” Gherke said. “A lot of the boys didn’t see us playing at all especially with how strict our governor and her administration has been with all this, we’re just thankful for her opening us back up to be able to play.”

The announcement was very relieving for the seniors, most of which will not play at a level above high school.

The athletes feel lucky that it seems as if no senior will miss their senior seasons. If someone on a team gets COVID, however, it would put that team out for at least 10 days, no matter what sport it is.

So far this season most sports have been a success, and most of the sports have run very smoothly with no hiccups.

BROOKLYNN HATHCOCK

DIGITAL EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

With Coronavirus causing a delay to many sports this year, swim is taking safety protocols seriously to keep their season up and going.

“The season is going pretty good so far, the whole team is being really safe with all of their actions and I do believe that we can finish this whole season,” senior Zachary Gillespie said. “Before practices and meets, we all have to individually take our temperatures and self screen, going through all of the symptoms for COVID, making sure that we aren’t spreading the virus.”

Lots of changes were brought into their season this year, one of which is the use of masks. The swim team is keeping a positive attitude, and was willing to make any change if that meant that they could keep their season.

“When we show up to a practice or meet, we have to keep our masks on up until the point that we go into the pools,” sophomore Michael Greene said. “I feel very safe when I’m with my team or when we have meets, Every single swimmer takes this protocol seriously and I really think that we are all being as safe as we can be. Plus, it’s not just our team, all the other schools that we have meets with are just as safe as

Unfortunately, the Utica-Ford Unified hockey team had to quarantine for a week after there was least one positive test on the team. They are eligible to return to the ice next Wednesday, March 3.

Wrestling has gone well even with the testing regiments needed for the athletes to be able to compete in matches and tournaments without a mask on. No positive tests have been reported from wrestling thus far, and everyone is hoping it remains that way so they can fnish out their season during this difficult pandemic.

Everyone around the sports world is hopeful that we can stay on the field, ice, court, or whatever surface they play on. Especially this year, while everything else is so difficult for many.

Spectators are limited to two per athlete, and all must wear masks. Winter athletes are wearing their masks and keeping their circles small so they are able to complete the seasons they have been longing to play.

we are. Everyone is getting used to COVID, like now instead of fighting the masks, we all want to wear them to keep doing the things we love.”

When swimmers get into the pool, the way that socially distancing stays in place is by making sure that all swimmers stay in their own lane all throughout the duration of being in the water.

The team has had no positive cases this season so far, but with keeping up with the protocols and respecting the new rules; swimmers will most likely have no pushbacks in their season.

“I have always loved swimming, and this year I think we have a really solid team,” Gillespie said. “We are all doing really good so far. Nobody has had to take time off to quarantine, there is one hundred percent attendance at practices, and we kill it at our meets. This is a strong group of guys we have this year, even with what COVID has thrown at us, We all are working through it, and the outcomes so far have been amazing.”

All the boys on the swim team can agree that they all take each and every precaution that they can in order to keep swimming.

“We are all doing so well so far,” sophomore Cole Belisle said. “I know that we all can finish this season out strong.”

Sophomore Michael Greene competes in the butterfly event. lifetouch photo

Swim team perseveres during COVID restrictions

VIEWPOINTS STUDENT VOICES AND OPINIONS

O N LI N E

PAGE 103VIEWPOINTS3ARROW3FEBRUARY 26, 2021 Want more news?

None stop school coverage available online.

www.uhsarrow.org

STAFF EDITORIALS CHECK OUT OUR STAFFS’ VOICES AT WWW.UHSARROW.ORG

STAFF EDITORIAL

COVID Protocols. Not following the rules, such as self screening and wiping surfaces, may result in spread of cases.

Being back at school is a mix of different emotions. saying that it’s “stupid” and, “It won’t help, anyway.”

Some students are happy to be back. They feel safe in We disagree. Everyone should wear their masks corschool and they love to finally see all of their teachers and rectly. It will make a difference. friends. Others, however, aren’t as excited. In fact, they are It is a requirement to clean off your desk, lunch seat, disappointed to be back. laptop, and wherever you have been before you get there Why would students be disappointed? Aren’t we all and after you leave. This is to keep students safe and will happy to be back in school, face-to-face? Well, not really. help stop the second-hand contamination that goes on.

Unlike most students who follow all of the protocols However, some students will walk out of their classrooms that were set out for everyone to keep safe with COVID, and the lunchroom and will forget about this new rule. some don’t care at all.

On top of that, there is also a new rule that students Last year, students would conand staff should self-screen in stantly hear the teachers complain the mornings before they get to to the students and tell them to school. “put your phone away” or to “pay This includes taking your attention and not fall asleep during DO YOU SELF SCREEN IN temperature, seeing if you have a class.” But now, students hear “Put cough, a fever, if you’re feeling ill, THE MORNING BEFORE your mask on right,” or “Put your and if you have any symptoms of mask over your nose.” Sometime YOU ENTER THE SCHOOL? the Coronavirus. you’ll even hear, “Where’s your In reality, not many people do mask?” this. Students just go with their YES NO Students aren’t taking the pronormal routines and get to school, tocols seriously while they’re in not taking time out of their mornschool and it puts others in distress. ing to take their temperature. We admit we are culprits.

Students have family to come home to, and they are This puts everyone at risk because anyone could be asscared of getting their families sick. ymptomatic to COVID and have no clue that they are car It is very hard to try and stay safe during school hours. rying it into the school, giving it to their peers, teachers, In some classes it’s easy, because you only have four or and everyone else that is at Utica. five students in a classroom. In other classes, every seat is Students and staff need to be more strict with themfilled. selves to take the time to make sure that they don’t have While most wear their masks correctly, others do not. COVID, or any symptoms of COVID. We all need to take And it makes us nervous. While sitting in class, some of all of the protocols seriously, too. our peers don’t know how to wear their masks, and they To be “back to normal” means we all need to start dohave thems sitting right under their noses. Even some ing our part when it comes to the school’s protocols. If teachers do the same. we don’t, instead of just having to clean surfaces and wear Many students complain in class to the teachers about masks correctly, we will be in quarantine instead of attendhow they “can’t breathe” while they wear their masks, or ing school with no cohorts, no cleaning, and no masks.

EDITORIAL BOARD VOTE

0

12

BROOKLYNN HATHCOCK ILLUSTRATION

PERSPECTIVES

Do you self screen for COVID symptoms every morning before school?

“No, as long as I feel good, I come to school just like normal. I don’t take my temperature or go over any of the symptoms before I come to school in the morning.”

“No, I honestly just wake up and come to school. If I feel sick, I’ll stay home, but other than that, I just do my normal routine and come to school like usual.”

“Yes, my mom makes me take my temperature in the morning before I come to school. She wants me to make sure that I’m safe and I’m keeping everyone else safe, too.”

“Yes, well, I have to. I would do it, anyway, because of the protocols that are set and just for the safety of not just myself, but all the other staff and students, too.”

“Absolutely. I think it is very important to do this every morning before I come in. Doing this keeps everyone safe, and I think everyone should do it, too.”

Matthew Kavanagh

Anthony Chirco

Elizabeth Mulvaine

Jennifer Allore

Michelle Eubrueck

SOPHOMORE

JUNIOR

SENIOR

TEACHER

STAFF

FEBRUARY 26, 2021 4 ARROW 4 VIEWPOINT 4 PAGE 11

OPINION MACKENZIE OLMSTEAD, PRINT EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Music makes the world go ‘round

When we’re little, a lot of the things we grow up to use on a daily basis were taught to us through song; the ABCs, the days of the week. I strongly believe music can be found or used in just about everything you do. You just have to get imaginative and look at life like a poem, or a movie, like it’s art. If you look deeper at life and how magical it is, you might come to find that the emotions you experience throughout it can be accompanied by a playlist full of songs that all invoke a specific image.

Accepting life for the good and the bad, and understanding that life isn’t forever, but a minuscule blessing in the grand scheme of things can change your perspective on everything. Looking at things from a different point of view can make you see what a good playlist can really do; make you feel like the main character in a film, walking around with your very own soundtrack. You have to cherish every moment experienced, lesson learned, and feeling felt before your movie ends.

Have you ever woken up in a bad mood and then heard a fun song that made you do a little happy dance?

Music has the ability to change your mood. It makes you feel something. It’s so important to unplug from the outside world and just feel. Music can help you do that, usually in less than a mere four minutes.

Music is more than just background noise or a jingle you hear in a commercial; it can be fun if you want it to be, but it’s also a form of art.

Every instrument in a song, tempo change, beat of a drum, strum of a guitar, or slap of a bass can change how your feeling. For example, one verse played a fret too high on a guitar will be deeper, completely changing how a song might make you feel or picture if it were played from a lower fret. Now, put a combination of verses played on different frets, with different strings, together with several instruments that use different patterns and beats, and it completely changes the course of everything.

Watching artists work on mastering their craft is an experience that makes me appreciate music even more, and I think it would for anyone. I’ve watched people I know play instruments and mix things together, as well as seen numerous videos or documentaries of professional musicians in a studio. Writing, producing, or creating music is a form of therapy for many, a lot of artists can confirm. An audience can really connect with the story of a song and it can be really healing, not only for them, but for the writer as well.

Seeing an artist create makes you notice things in a song, that you’ve never noticed before. Search for a video on how a song you like was made. Next time you hear that song, focus on the audio instead of the visual of how it was created, and you’ll be able to see their vision better. You

Music has the ability to change your mood. It makes you feel something. It’s so important to unplug from the outside world and just feel. can notice a trumpet or a violin or a harmony in places you didn’t hear them any other time you listened to it. Not to mention, a powerful voice and great lyrics can tell you a story if you picture what they went through or what they imagined when they were creating their tune.

Nina Nesbitt is an artist I’ve known of for a couple years, but it wasn’t until I watched her TikToks showing her song making process, that made me listen to them differently. She uses a beat pad to record audio of things like water dripping out of a faucet, and in the end product of her songs, I have to sit back and see the beauty in the fact that her instruments are the world around her.

If you only like one genre of music, I recommend you test the waters a bit; there could be a great song out there, just waiting to be heard by you.

READER RESPONSE

Response to ‘Capitol Hill Riot’ My response or personal thoughts to the topic of the article is that I am disappointed at how these people rioted without masks and also, for their opinion, no other reason, that really was uncalled for. Also, Trump did show how racist he was the day that he told the white supremacists he loved them and it was the fact that the treatment for the BLM movement was so different to the point where we wanted our way in this world and those white supremacists wanted an opinion. But, I also enjoyed this article as it shows how many people care for this situation and are not afraid to express their opinion on it.

This article does make me want to see another topic covered, which is the BLM movement. This is because I’ve seen so many people on social media and talk shows talk about how BLM is a joke and how we shouldn’t have all the the attention on ourselves when we just want the world to be right, not all about blacks and whites or a police officer beating a black man or woman just because they dislike blacks. The BLM movement wouldn’t have to have been started if it wasn’t for the fact that the world could be normal but we know that could never happen.

Gamarion Pitts Sophomore

UHS Arrow Newspaper

Contact information

Arrow Utica High School 47255 Shelby Road Utica, MI 48317 phone: 586.797.2305 fax: 586.797.2201 e-mail: uticapublications@gmail.com website: uhsarrow.org

Staff policy

Arrow is published monthly by the newspaper class of Utica High School and is funded by advertising. Our main purpose is to (1) inform the students, faculty and community of school-related news; (2) broaden the range of thinking of staff members and readers; (3) provide a forum for readers; (4) train the students in the functions of the press in a democratic society; and (5) provide entertaining features of interest to the students.

All editorials without a byline reflect at least two-thirds opinion of the Arrow staff but are not necessarily the opinion of the administration.

Letters to the Editor are welcomed and must be signed; however, names will be withheld for valid reasons.

Letters may be dropped off in room 205, and electronic submissions will be verified. All contributions are subject for restrictions of libel, defamation, slander and obscenity. Arrow staff reserves the right to edit letters without changing the meaning, and also reserves the right to reject letters for reasons of limited space, untimely material, or unbalanced coverage.

Arrow is a member of the Columbia Scholastic Press Association, Quill and Scroll, National Scholastic Press Association, Michigan Interscholastic Press Association and the Student Press Law Center. Some photos courtesy of American Society of News Editors/Tribune News Service. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, print copies are distributed digitally,

@UHSArrow

Tom Lietz @uticaprincipal Utica High School’s yearbook named among the best macombdaily.com/ news/local/uti... via @macombdaily

Editor-In-Chief Mackenzie Olmstead Digital Editor-In-Chief

Brooklynn Hathcock Managing Editor

Raymond Altmann Copy Editors Oliver Gamez Ethan Smale

Social Media Editors Aspen Halbhuber Simmi Singh

Sports Editor Jonathan Cunningham

Reporters Kai Dawkins Kaitlyn Hanna Shea Hathcock Joshua Rhodes Alex Schmidt Abby Williams

Business Manager Ethan Smale Editor Grace Leonardi

See the article at: https://www.macombdaily.com/news/local/utica-highschool-yearbook-named-among-the-nations-best/ article_437cb7b8-504c-11eb-9d66-03488ea563e7.html

@UticaArrow

Adviser Stacy Smale

@UHSArrow

@uhs_arrow

Cover by Mackenzie Olmstead Photo by Brooklynn Hathcock

PAGE 123SPOTLIGHT3ARROW3FEBRUARY 26, 2021

SPOTLIGHT

WHO SHOULD BE IN THE SPOTLIGHT NEXT? TWEET YOUR IDEAS @UHSARROW

HIGHLIGHTING UNIQUE TALENTS & ACCOMPLISHMENTS

CULTURE SHOCK

After her family’s move from China, junior Jiaqi Wang adjusts to her new life in America

clarissa rose photo

SIMMI SINGH

SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR

From a small town called Hebei, junior Jiaqi Wang moved to America with her family last year. Wang has found that it’s a little bit of a struggle adjusting life in America, with different cultural and social barriers. She has spent her time here trying to adjust her daily routine to fit in with her new lifestyle.

From her hobbies to the food she eats every day, Wang is adapting to the changes she faces coming to the United States.

“It has been a struggle adjusting in America,” Wang said. “Everything is so different here from what I’m used to back in China; it’s going take some time getting used to.”

What she enjoys most about moving here are all the big malls there are to go shopping in. In China there weren’t many clothing stores to choose from, but now she loves to go to all the different malls and see many different types of stores with a variety clothes to choose from. One of her favorite malls to go to is Oakland,

“It has a lot of stores that I like to shop from,” Wang said, “I like to go and walk around just to see what is going on around the mall.”

The mall isn’t the only thing she enjoys, Wang also has found a love for tacos.

They didn’t have tacos back in China, and so she had tried them for the first time when she first arrived to America and she loved them. This shows how normal food to us may not be so normal to those that are from a different country and how everyone has a different.

Some things that she was not a fan of when she moved to Michigan was how the weather is so bipolar compared to where she grew up. It was unexpected to her when the weather here got down to even the negatives.

“It was very weird to see all of the weather changes happening over a small amount of time” Wang said. “In China it used to be constant and when it was winter time the temperatures stayed very steady.”

Another thing that had come to a shock to her of how different America’s fast food is compared to what she is used to in China.

The foods are very different, for example, in China they have foods like egg tarts and even boba tea compared to the food that is served here like cheeseburgers or nuggets.

Moving to a new school can be very difficult, especially when coming from another country. The language barrier makes it even harder to adjust to a new school. But Wang has made many new friends over the past year at Utica.

“Jiaqi is such a loyal and helpful friend,” junior Martina Gojcevic said. “She is genuine and so nice to everyone.”

Wang has also made connections with her teachers, always being so open to answering questions and participating in class.

“Jiaqi is a wonderful student,” math teacher Tammy Hilliard said, “She is very smart and a pleasure to have in class.”