Spotlight - December 2022 Print Issue

SLHS Angel 34 club gives back for the holidays

by Christiana Lycette

For the first time, Southern Lehigh’s Angel 34 club received the opportunity to plan the nonprofit’s annual Christmas party for families with children battling cancer.

Angel 34 is a nonprofit organization that supports families with children who have cancer. Southern Lehigh’s students support the organization by giving monthly goodie baskets to the children and helping with exciting planned events for the families to attend. The annual Christmas party allows the families to have a festive and fun day, hopefully taking a break from their troubles.

“The party allows them to enjoy the magic of the season while temporarily distracting them from the difficulties of a cancer diagnosis,” co-advisor Mrs. Lauren Schiffer said.

The party took place at Premise Maid on December 10, 2022. Southern Lehigh’s Angel 34 club set up various festive activities to entertain the children of the families, in addition to a generous $125 to spend at Premise Maid, crafts, and photos with Santa. The families were also presented a charitable $200 to eat at a restaurant after they left the event, along with $400 in gift cards to spend for the holiday season.

“The event was an amazing experience to interact with the children

as I had the pleasure to put smiles on these children’s faces,” co-president Sophia Lycette said. “At the end of the day, they are still kids and deserve a fun event.”

The Christmas spirit for the kids doesn’t end there, because most of the families at the event signed up to have student elves from this club deliver Christmas gifts for the kids. First, the Sassy Massey Foundation–a nonprofit that supplies toys to children fighting against cancer–is sending gifts for this club to wrap for each child. The families associated with Angel 34 gave the club a list of interests and toy preferences of their children. Each child’s likes allowed the club to select a gift that hopefully would spread a joyous smile on the child’s face.

“I am excited to hear stories from student volunteer experience [because] the relationship that will be created will be incredibly impactful for the families,” said Mrs. Schiffer.

Even though it was Southern Lehigh’s first time organizing these Christmas events, expectations were high as the club supervisors, and even the organization’s founder believed Southern Lehigh did a fantastic job executing the Christmas Party.

“I am really proud and happy how the Christmas party turned out this year,” founder Doug Sheriff said. “I am always so impressed with Southern Lehigh students’ initiative to help Angel 34 and their community in general. I have no doubts that the students will do nothing less than great when delivering presents to the kids’ homes on Christmas Eve.”

With around 120 students involved in this school club, the spirit appears lively to help the kids. This whole-hearted group created a party that gave these families an escape from the heartbreak of cancer, at least for a couple of hours. These strong kids have no choice but to fight their diseases. Therefore, Southern Lehigh students’ ability to help instill a smile on a child’s face and support them will truly make a difference.

“This organization really allows students to give back,” said co-advisor Mr. Troy Ruch, “not just by raising money, but with the time and experience of interacting with the kids.”

Angel 34 members crowd around with Santa for a heartwarming photo.

Photo Credit: Angel 34

Angel 34 volunteers help prepare for their Christmas extravaganza.

Photo Credit: Raegan Besido

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The

Rifle team warms up this winter

by Zoey Robinson

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Kishore Annambhotla

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As Southern Lehigh’s second oldest sport, the rifle team has started back up for another winter season. Mr. Robert Gaugler, the rifle team coach, confirmed his plans to continue their five-year streak as state championship contenders.

During weekly relays and practices, students compete in teams of around eight under the advice of four team captains. During Spartan periods, captains help plan out schedules for upcoming competitions.

The team practices at the Hellertown Sportsmen’s Association, a short ten-minute drive from the high school. However, members expressed frustration with scheduling their times to shoot, since Southern Lehigh shares

the same range and with a much larger Salisbury team.

Mr. Gaugler has overseen the rifle team’s rise in popularity. After last year’s success and the loss of ten senior shooters, Gaugler is looking to fill his team with driven and focused members.

There are a total of 10 teams in the league, consisting of club and school teams, like Southern Lehigh’s.

While it is not as traditionally popular as other sports, the rifle team is a place for students to form tight-knit communities that promote determination and safety. Team bonding, senior Darren

Woodruff said, includes anything from team pasta dinners to movie nights and snow-tubing.

“From a leadership standpoint, it’s given me more confidence,” Woodruff said. “It’s made me have to be more organized.”

Rifle is one of a select few co-ed teams at Southern Lehigh, and is far more mentally demanding than one might think.

“It’s not just using guns, it’s more about accuracy, precision, and doing things perfectly.” Mr. Gaugler said. “It’s not only hitting a target the size of a quarter but hitting the eye of the eagle on the quarter every time.”

The team looks forward to perfecting their craft, and hopes to prove themselves in upcoming tournaments.

Upcoming Events at Southern Lehigh...

- January 6th: LCTI & Penn State Emerging Health Applications are due

- January 9th: Two-hour delay schedule for graduation project presentations (buses run at normal times)

- January 13th: Teacher In-service Day (no school for students)

- January 16th: Martin Luther King Jr. Day (no school)

- January 19th: End of 2nd marking period

The rifle team is aiming for gold this season. Photo Credit: Darren Woodruff

Boys’ basketball team swings into season

by Jack Steckel

After a heartbreaking loss in the championship game last year, the Spartans are back and firing on all cylinders for this upcoming season.

Graduating five seniors, “We lost a lot of size, physicality, and leadership from those graduates,” head coach Ryan Wehr said. “That will be difficult to replace.”

However, the court remains deep this season with top scorer senior Max Pristas returning and senior point guard Jonah Shaw back in action from injury. The Spartans are ready to run it back to the championship with returning seniors such as defensive beast Christian Gordon, floor general Quincy Brunner, sharpshooter Robbie Allen, scrappy Corey Trump, and big man Dawson Kauffman.

“The coaching staff hopes that getting a chance to play in those environments helps us. We’re hoping coming up short motivates our players to go further,” Wehr said. “And to make that next step to try and be champions.”

According to Pristas, the team has come together nicely since the summer ended.

“We’ve definitely progressed as a team since summer,” Pristas said. “It was a struggle.”

He credits the team’s progression to the off-season work that they have put in since the school year started.

“Since we’ve started practicing at the beginning of the school year, we’ve come

a long way as a team,” Pristas said. “Being able to find out what works and what doesn’t is really beneficial.”

Coach Wehr agreed with Pristas about the team’s progression, and has high hopes for this season.

“We’re hopeful that this year we will be a bit quicker, be able to play faster, and shoot

the ball more consistently,” Wehr said. “We want to be playing our best basketball at the end of the season and put ourselves in position to play for championships.”

With a quick and agile lineup, coupled with experience as well as high aspirations, this Spartans squad is shaping up to be an ominous threat to the Colonial League.

Girls’ basketball team fires onto the court

by Jack Steckel

On the opposite side of the court, the Lady Spartans are gearing up for what hopes to be a successful sophomore year for second-year Coach Sydney Slone.

“It’s an honor to come back and coach Southern Lehigh,” Slone said. “I hope to bring the program to what it was and teach the girls how it doesn’t come easy. It takes a lot of hard work and dedication to have success.”

Slone says the Lady Spartans have come together quite well.

“The team has done a great job of coming in strong and excited for this season,” Slone said. “I’m excited to coach this new group of girls; every team is different and changes the strategy and what I’m looking forward to each season.”

That seems accurate as this year’s group of girls seem excited and ready to go after a disappointing 5-14 recording in the 20212022 season.

“This year, we have knowledge and speed working for us,” senior captain Danika Lewis said. “There is a connection between us that somehow is always getting stronger.”

With this connection and new speed working for them, the Spartans have high levels of excitement blooming for the season ahead.

“We have a lot of great talent coming up with the freshman class,” junior captain Tessa Seagreaves said. “I am excited to play with this new team.”

Coupled with the new team’s chemistry and speed, Coach Slone has high aspirations for her squad.

“I would say the goals are to have a successful season on and off the court,” Slone said, “making it to postseason play and having the girls accelerate in the classroom.”

With blistering speed coupled with a desire and hunger to be successful, these Lady Spartans are primed to be a dangerous threat to the Colonial League.

Girls basketball stands united as one listening to the National anthem before the game.

Photo credits: Tessa Seagreaves

Last year’s Senior Spartans Matt Tankred and Liam Lorio embrace each other during the national anthem along with Juniors Max Pristas, Robbie Allen, and Christian Gordon. Photo credits: Jacqui Gordonww

Ms. Yaghi joins the social studies staff

by Alexis Behrens

Johri addresses how Ms. Yaghi’s attitude towards teaching benefits her classroom.

“She came in with a lot of intention and motivation. It shows that she has a willingness to actually help us understand,” Johri says. “Though we’ve only had her for a few weeks, she brings it up to the standard of a really rigor

ous course.”

Ms. Yaghi only arrived at Southern Lehigh during the last weeks of October due to her contract with her previous employer, Emmaus High School. While there, she taught Psychology, Sociology, Multicultural History, and Family Consumer Science. She taught these same classes previously at Central Dauphin High School in Harrisburg.

Additionally, as the first member of her family to attend a U.S. college, Ms. Yaghi holds education in high esteem. She feels that the influence of strict and supportive teachers made her who she is today.

“[I have] a lot of gratitude in regards to having the opportunity to learn anything I can about any topic,” Ms. Yaghi says. “I’m also really grateful to be here and learn more from students than I could ever teach them. I’m excited to learn, and listen, and grow as a person.”

Ms. Nicole Yaghi, a new Civics and Government teacher at Southern Lehigh High School, is on a mission. Beyond education on typical book-smarts, she works to instill positive values in her students, which she feels refine citizen engagement to benefit the country as a whole.

“[Civics] is a special topic because students can really figure out how they want to be involved in society,” Ms. Yaghi says. “Everything they say and do will impact others, so we want to leave a positive impact.”

The Civics and Government course focuses on how citizens interact with their society. As such, she feels that interpersonal skills are among the most important lessons for students to absorb.

“Students should learn to be kind to everyone and be empathetic and compassionate; to accept and value who they are as well as who others are,” Ms. Yaghi says.

Freshman Avantika Johri feels that this message is clearly communicated through the class.

“[Ms. Yaghi] said recently that her class is like a life class,” Johri says. “We learn about empathy and how to be a better person. She’s always saying that if we ever have to talk to her we can go to her, which is really encouraging.”

Besides the values of citizen engagement, her teaching has comprehensively addressed the factual side of Civics and Government.

Upon moving, Ms. Yaghi chose to teach at Southern Lehigh for the school’s reputation as supportive and close-knit. She affirms that her coworkers and students live up to this standard.

“This is the first time I’ve been in a smaller school,” Ms. Yaghi says. “It’s very community based and you really get to know students and staff; they have been beyond kind.”

Ms. Yaghi’s life outside of the school environment is closely intertwined with nature. She enjoys exploring in general, and national parks are among her favorite destinations. She has recently traveled to Yosemite, the Grand Canyon, and Hawaii, with many more to come.

But here and now, Ms. Yaghi’s philosophy towards teaching invites students to have a hand in their own enrichment.

“Students are always figuring out who they are, and I’m only there to support them,” Ms. Yaghi says. “I want students to be involved in their learning in ways that empower them to be more engaged--in whatever way they see fit.”

Ms. Yaghi aims to provide interpersonal lessons on top of the civics class material.

Photo Credit: Alexis Behrens

Ms. Yaghi is excited to positively impact students through civics class. Photo Credit: Alexis Behrens

Antisemitic rhetoric must come to an end

by Kishore Annambhotla

Litvak sees these developments as a step in the right direction.

“I think it’s best to not give time, money, and attention to these people who purposefully spread antisemitism,” Litvak said. “That includes Kanye West.”

Unfortunately, West is not the only public figure to express such hateful opinions. NBA player Kyrie Irving recently endorsed the Black Hebrew Israelites, who believe that black people are the real Jews; an idea often accompanied by strong antisemitic sentiments. Locally, Pennsylvania Republican gubernatorial nominee Doug Mastriano has come under fire for payments made to Gab, a far-right social media platform known for extreme antisemitic commentary. This created additional tension in an already heated election season, since Mastriano’s competitor, governor-elect Josh Shapiro, is Jewish.

them.”

For centuries, antisemitism has been swept under the rug and treated as a lesser evil than other forms of discrimination. During the Civil War, Union General Ulysses S. Grant expelled Jews from his military districts, as he believed they spread corruption in the army. Even before the late 19th-century influx of immigration and World War II, antisemitism had already rooted itself deep into American culture.

Finding solutions for an issue as deeply rooted and complex as antisemitism in America is no easy task. The FBI has designated teams and committees to investigate and disrupt hate crimes, but it remains to be seen if these efforts can quell the surge. To Mr. Beaupre, solutions must start in schools.

On October 8, 2022, prolific rapper and producer Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, tweeted an incoherent and disturbing message attacking Jewish people, specifically those fitting the close-minded stereotype of the wealthy, “all-powerful” Jew.

I’m a bit sleepy tonight but when I wake up I’m going death con 3 [sic] On JEWISH PEOPLE,” West said. “You guys have toyed with me and tried to black ball anyone whoever opposes your agenda.”

In a career laden with controversy, these antisemitic ramblings broke the dam. In the following days, companies such as the Gap and Balenciaga terminated lucrative relationships with Ye. Meanwhile, his separation from Adidas caused his net worth to plummet by nearly 75%.

SLHS senior and Jewish student Boris

Nationwide, antisemitism is on the rise. According to an audit by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), 2,717 antisemitic incidents of “assault, harassment, and vandalism” took place in 2021, the highest count on record since 1979. On average, seven such incidents occurred every day. When looking at these reports, one question becomes abundantly clear: why does America struggle so much with antisemitism? The answer to this lies in our country’s often painful history.

“Antisemitism has a long history here in the United States. People believed that, with the success of civil rights and womens’ rights, it was something we’d left behind or overcome, but the realization is it’s still very much a part of American culture,” social studies teacher Mr. Thomas Beaupre said. “There’s still this whole group that [holds] these beliefs and [promotes]

“We always talk about education as an important way of getting people real information, factual information, rather than misinformation,” said Mr. Beaupre. “We have to work as a nation to speak out against that kind of stuff and promote acceptance.”

Thankfully, there is work being done to end hateful misinformation in schools. For example, in 1985, the ADL created No Place for Hate, an “anti-bias program” implemented in schools that seeks to combat and address prejudices in classrooms and communities. More recently, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) pledged its support for schools in addressing antisemitism as a severe problem.

These actions have proven successful, but we must forge on in addressing and abandoning antisemitism. It is clear that more work must be done to end antisemitic hatred and leave behind the Kanye Wests, Kyrie Irvings, and Doug Mastrianos of society.

Gender differences impact autism diagnosis and support

by Rory Reigle

that those who are AFAB are less likely to be born with ASD.

“Autism tends to be more male-oriented,” said Mr. Cotie Strong, SLHS school psychologist. “There is a genetic component to it, which can sway the odds.”

Autism is a broadspectrum disorder, it is not best represented by a

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is often misunderstood or not understood. There could be many reasons for this. For one, perhaps there isn’t enough information being spread about it to the masses, especially correct information. Also, neurotypical people may see the disorder through their own lens, not considering that at times others have a completely different way of looking at things. Could this be why many autistic individuals have gone undiagnosed? Those assigned female at birth (AFAB) are particularly likely to go undiagnosed.

There is a lot of heated discussion about whether there is a social or genetic reason that more individuals assigned male at birth (AMAB) are noticed as autistic. AFAB people can be autistic. It’s just a matter of whether their symptoms are noticed and evaluated.

In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), one in every 42 AMAB individuals while one in every 189 AFAB individuals are diagnosed. So, if you think about this in terms of the diagnostic process, It could be possible

In an analysis of fifty-four studies, a report published by the National Libarary of Medicine shows that among 13,784,284 participants, 53,712 had ASD, including 43,972 boys and 9,740 girls. Overall, it seems that AMAB people present symptoms of ASD much more than AFAB people. Less than 22% of those in these studies were AFAB.

This brings up another idea entirely: what if those born female are not less likely to have ASD, but more likely to be overlooked or fly under the radar?

“When I say I’m autistic, I mean it,” senior Brianna Willits said. “Just because I was assigned female at birth doesn’t make [my autism] any less valid.”

Of coure There are ASD diagnostic assessments, but as science moves forward, we only realize more and more how far the symptoms stretch in all directions, and how wide the variety of this disorder is. It could be possible that one side of the spectrum is more talked about than the other.

Think of the phrase “if you meet one person with autism, you’ve met one person with autism.” Not all people with ASD are the same; there are nonvocal and vocal autistic individuals, autistic people who self-stimulate more or less than others, individuals who struggle terribly with sensory issues and others who barely

do at all. The spectrum isn’t a line. There’s no such thing as being more or less autistic. ASD isn’t one dimensional, and there are many ways that someone might deal with it.

“People need to realize that autism isn’t linear, rather it’s a whole color wheel of symptoms and ranges,” Willits said. “I’m not ‘high-functioning’ because I excel in communication and perception, I still have meltdowns and sensory issues. In the end, the terms ‘low-functioning’ and ‘high-functioning’ don’t make sense because everyone is different; my color wheel just so happens to have some categories filled out more so than others.”

So what if the explanation, in part, is exactly that? Those born female may just cope with their symptoms in a whole other way, or have differing symptoms that remain in the dark, perceived as symptoms of other disorders or not perceived at all.

We must work together to make this system better and make things work for everyone and not just the majority. Then, perhaps no young girls (or otherwise identifying children) will have to feel like they’re outcast somehow, different but still not different enough to be diagnosed.

“It is important as educators and staff to keep our eyes and ears open,” said Ashley Reigle, an instructional assistant in autistic support at East Penn. “That way we can provide resources for our autistic students to help them feel more comfortable in their bodies and environment and help them push themselves forward to successful outcomes. This goes for all students with ASD, including girls and boys alike.”

Antisemitic rally participants gather in Charlottesville, Virginia. Photo Credit: Wikipedia Commons

single line. Photo Credit: Wikipedia Commons

SLHS offers variety of alternative academic programs

by Alaina Patel

Over the years, Southern Lehigh has expanded opportunities for students to gain valuable educational experiences outside of school before pursuing paths after graduation. The most prominent of these programs include Emerging Health Professionals, Lehigh High School Scholars, Lehigh Career and Technical Institute (LCTI), and Diversified Career Occupations (DCO).

Emerging Health Professionals

High school juniors interested in the healthcare field are eligible to apply to the Emerging Health Professionals program for their senior year. The program focuses on providing students with valuable skills for continued education and careers in the healthcare field.

“One of the most valuable things that I learned while enrolled in Emerging Health is [that] you need to take each problem step by step and identify what you already know,” senior Jillian VandeBunte said. “Nine times out of ten you’re not going to know a diagnosis or solution to a problem right off the bat. It takes work.”

The program is a partnership between Lehigh Career & Technical Institute (LCTI), Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN), Penn State Lehigh Valley (PSULV), and Lehigh Carbon Community College (LCCC). Students in the program spend half of each day at Southern Lehigh, and the other half at the aforementioned locations, participating in classes and hands-on activities.

“Because I chose Penn State Lehigh Valley, on Mondays and Wednesdays [I leave] SLHS and eat lunch, then go to class there. On Tuesdays, Thursday’s, and Fridays, I go all the way to LCTI for class there,” VandeBunte said.

In addition to the classroom material students learn in Emerging Health, the hands-on field experience provides students with background on how to conduct themselves in a professional environment.

“While involved in the program, you are given so many opportunities whether it is learning something new, interacting with patients, or building relationships with people who already are in the health field and listening to them as they talk about their career,” VandeBunte said.

Lehigh Scholars

At the end of their junior year, Southern Lehigh students qualify to apply for the Lehigh High School Scholars program. Each year, Lehigh University selects a maximum of three Southern Lehigh Students to participate in this program, where they attend the university two days a week for classes.

“My class is after all my high school classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays so I never have to leave school in the middle of the day,” senior Sophie Wen said. “For anyone who does want to apply in the spring, scheduling shouldn’t be that much of a concern.”

After acceptance into the program, students select course preferences from a list. Although their preferences are taken into consideration, students aren’t guaranteed entrance into their top choices.

“I was hoping to take Linear Algebra but it wasn’t available so I ended up taking a neuroscience course instead,” Wen said.

As a whole, the program serves to enhance the educational experience of high school seniors by providing them with the opportunity to experience college before enrolling the following year. This approach gives students the chance to adapt to both the academic pacing and overall feel of life as a college student.

“I like to joke that this class at Lehigh is a free trial of the college experience for me. I’ve tried different styles of taking notes for my reading every time we take notes,” Wen said. “I’ve also learned what the vibe is like and that libraries are fantastic.”

Overall, Wen believes that the program is a valuable addition to her high school experience. She highly recommends applying for the program, but has a word of advice for future applicants.

“Don’t put off your essay until the last minute. I think I wrote a kind of crummy personal statement for the Lehigh application and I’m glad I had that preparation before I wrote my actual personal statement,” Wen said.

The Spotlight is published in print and online by the student members of its staff. Its purpose is to present news concerning Southern Lehigh High School and the Southern Lehigh School District, as well as to provide a forum for student opinion. Editorial content of The Spotlight expresses the view of the paper and not necessarily that of the Board of Education, administration, or faculty of the Southern Lehigh School District. Bylined editorial content and letters to the editor represent the opinion of the writer only. All contents are copyrighted by The Spotlight. Advertising and subscription rates are furnished upon request.

The Spotlight staff welcomes letters to the editor from its readers. If you would like to respond to an article, please send your letter to the editor of the Spotlight at slsdspotlight@gmail.com. The editorial staff of the Spotlight reserves the right to deny publication of any letter to the editor deemed inappropriate in an educational setting for any reason.

LCTI

Lehigh Career & Technical Institute (LCTI), a staple of Southern Lehigh’s course offerings, enables students to gain valuable experiences with industries in the Lehigh Valley. The program aims to prepare students for their future career pathways.

“This program can only help me with experience and knowledge,” freshman Tucker Jayne said. “I want to get the best job I can out of high school and eventually own my own business.”

When enrolling in LCTI, students choose six programs from LCTI’s five areas of study: arts and humanities, business and communication technology, engineering, health and human services, and industrial technology. After sampling the chosen programs, students eventually select one area of specialization.

“I chose to do welding at LCTI because I know that I can get a good job right out of high school and LCTI’s program is one of the best in the country,” Jayne said.

LCTI also offers many options for scheduling. Students may choose to attend for a half day, taking academic classes at their sending school and technical classes at LCTI. All 10th to 12th graders also have the option to attend LCTI for a full day, where they take academic classes that supplement their chosen field of study in addition to their program-specific courses. The final option is flex-time enrollment, where students may choose to attend LCTI for one or more periods a day for one or both semesters.

“I leave Southern Lehigh at 10:50 and go to LCTI, where I eat lunch, go to my lab, and work on projects,” Jayne said. “I don’t think I’ll transition to full days at LCTI, but it would be more convenient to do a full day there.”

With LCTI’s ability to supply students with hands-on experience in real-life scenarios, the program provides amazing opportunities to prepare students for life after high school.

“I’ve learned that everything I do now, both at LCTI and in general, will help me later in life to reach my goals,” Jayne said.

DCO

Another standout program of Southern Lehigh is DCO, which allows students in 11th or 12th grade to work a paid job for half of the school day. The part-time work students conduct serves to help them gain experience in their field of interest.

“It’s a program in which you can go to your normal classes up until a certain time -depending on your schedule- and then you are able to go to work and earn credits for it as if it is an actual class,” senior Jayla Douglas said.

Students in the program are required to work at least 15 hours a week and meet weekly with a certified school-to-career counselor from LCTI. In addition, students are given a supplemental assignment each week to complete.

“We get weekly homework assignments that vary. So we have a workbook that we have to complete small sections of, or we get online assignments,” Douglas said. “Then, every Monday at some point throughout the day we have a meeting with our instructor who goes over what we’re missing and the next homework assignment.”

Applying for the program is a multi-step process. Students are required to fill out an LCTI application, a training agreement, and complete any supplemental materials for the job. Further preparation involves communication with the student’s guidance counselor about the necessary schedule changes.

“Depending on the classes and amount of credits needed, a different person's schedule will vary,” Douglas said. “I have any core classes or electives in the morning and then I am able to leave as early as 10:23 am.”

On top of the relevant job experience that students obtain in order to gain exposure to and make decisions about their future career paths, DCO students also learn important life skills.

“My future goal career-wise is to be an American Infantry Army Soldier. I've already enlisted and I'm leaving in June,” Douglas said.

“Proper safety, emotional control in the workplace, and how to conduct myself appropriately won't only be used for civilian jobs, it can be applied in the military as well.”

The impacts of the program are beneficial, providing valuable time-management and communication skills that expand on the high school curriculum. Douglas encourages students to apply to the program for the unmatched opportunities it provides.

“I would say this program is one of the most helpful in terms of teaching responsibility and basic job skills,” Douglas said. “In reality, no one will pay you based on how many As you got on your report card. It’s based on your efficiency and ability to maintain your work.”

‘Wakanda Forever’ releases following Boseman’s death

by Brandon Verna

On November 11, 2022, the highly anticipated sequel to the “Black Panther” film was released. “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” is the final movie of Phase 4 of the MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe). Say goodbye to the relentless advertisements – the film has finally arrived!

On August 28, 2020, Chadwick Boseman, the star of the critically-acclaimed “Black Panther” movie, passed away from colon cancer. Following the tragic death of the Oscar-nominated actor, Marvel fans were skeptical about how his role in the Black Panther series would be accounted for. Leading up to the film’s release, many fans theorized how the Black Panther character would be represented, and many producers didn’t want to replace Chadwick’s portrayal of Black Panther, out of respect. However, director Ryan Coogler, who directed both the original “Black Panther” film, and “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” cleverly navigated Boseman’s devastating passing.

Coogler has directed other notable films, such as “Creed,” “Creed II,” “Creed III,” “Fruitvale Station,” and “Judas and the Black Messiah.” Commentary on Black people’s experience in society is prevalent throughout all his films. These themes spill over into his work with the Black Panther films, which focus on Black empowerment. Coogler has received the NAACP Image Award four times, and has been nominated at the Academy Awards for Best Picture.

The film, starting Letitia Wright, Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira, Winston Duke, Angela Bassett, Tenoch Huerta, and Dominique Thorne, is centered around the people and governing body of Wakanda, an African nation with direct access to the most powerful resource in the world: Vibranium. The leaders of Wakanda try to fend off foes who are after

their Vibranium, fresh after the death of their leader, King T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman).

The most formidable opponent of Wakanda comes in the form of the fish-people of Talokan, an underwater nation who also have access to Vibranium. The Wakandans developed a device that detects Vibranium–the entity responsible for detecting the presence of the Talokan people, despite residing deep under the ocean. Their leader, Namor, gives Wakanda an ultimatum: give them the scientist who created this powerful device, or they will attack Wakanda.

I have always been a big fan of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and this is my favorite Marvel film in recent history. It brilliantly introduces a never-before-seen tribe of char -

acters, the Talokan people, in a breathtaking manner. The aesthetics of this film are unrivaled in comparison to other Marvel films, especially with the introduction of this dazzling underwater kingdom.

The cultural impact of this film and its predecessor has been extremely powerful. People all around the world can be seen doing the “Wakanda Forever” motion with their arms, where the arms are crossed and rested on the chest, and the fingers are balled into a fist. In the original film, this is a salute to the kingdom of Wakanda. Athletes, social media influencers, video games, and even actors on the red carpet have been seen using this salute. With the introduction of this new Black Panther film, we can expect to see a resurgence of celebrities using the salute to show solidarity with the community surrounding the films.

According to Variety, “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” had a production budget of $250 million. According to The Direct, this massive budget makes this film the most expensive movie with a Black lead.

Both the original “Black Panther” and “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” are outstanding films. The sequel hones in on the best aspects of the original: the aesthetics are excellent, the emotional involvement of the community is very present, and the cultural significance cannot go unnoticed. The films have bolstered Black representation in the MCU, giving children all across the globe heroes to which they can relate. I also really like the addition of Namor and the Talokans into the MCU, they differ vastly from the typical Marvel antagonists in their abilities and their habitat.

Get your popcorn and snacks, and be sure to check out “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.” It’s in theaters now!

DC’s ‘Black Adam’ subverts fan expectations

by Kylie Baker

The character of Black Adam, also known as Teth Adam, debuted in 1945 by Otto Binder and C.C. Beck; this supervillain was created in direct opposition of the hero known as Captain Marvel, more modernly known as Shazam. Teth Adam was the original holder of the powers of ancient Greek heroes that Shazam wields, but was sealed away by the Wizard for becoming power-hungry.

Director Jaume Collet-Serra, however, takes a different perspective of the villain. Black Adam’s actor, Dwayne Johnson, worked closely with Collet-Sera to push an anti-hero narrative.

Originally, Black Adam was never going to have a solo movie, and was instead featured in “Shazam!” (2019), but DC wanted to build up the rivals individually in order to have a more impactful fight.

modern times.

“Black Adam” uses this location to provide commentary on imperialism in the Middle East and Africa, displaying the resource stripping and slavery of Teth Adam’s time, to the oil drilling and military presence in the modern era. Intergang, Kahndaq’s occupiers, serve as an allegory to Western occupation techniques in their brutality towards citizens, their destruction of land and monuments in the pursuit of rare ores, and the lack of global organizations stopping them.

In the face of Marvel Studios’ wild success, DC fired back at its rival with its newest movie featuring a superhero that very few had ever heard of: “Black Adam.” This latest film was an instant hit at the box office, smashing through with nearly $140 million on opening weekend. Even with a crushing 39% score from critics at Rotten Tomatoes, fans rushed to the theaters and were not disappointed.

Not only does Black Adam himself face a narrative change, but his backstory and the importance of his character do too.

The original iteration of Teth Adam was a crude caricature of ancient Egyptian stereotypes, something Johnson and Collet-Sera agreed had to go. Collet-Sera reimagines the narrative with fictional country Kahndaq, a nation facing colonialism in ancient and

Casting director Rich Delia took steps to create a diverse cast full of LGBTQ+ and BIPOC stars. Many characters that have long since been portrayed as white were cast instead based on raw talent, such as Dominica-American Aldis Hodge who delivers a stoic and witty performance as Hawkman, or African-American and nonbinary actor Quintess Swindell blowing the audience away as Cyclone.

All in all, despite critics’ outcry, “Black Adam” is an instant hit for DC and has propelled them back into the spotlight.

(Oh, and make sure to stay through the credits for a very exciting cameo!)

Academy Award-Nominee Ryan Coogler returns to direct the sequel to ‘Black Panther’ Photo Credit: IMDb

Dwyane “The Rock” Johnson stars as anti-hero, Black Adam, in the newest edition to the DCEU (DC Extended Universe).

Photo Credit: Warner Brothers

‘It Starts With Us’ fails to represent abusive relationships

by Sarah Lockley

On October 18, 2022, Colleen Hoover released her latest book, “It Starts With Us”— a sequel to her ever popular novel, “It Ends With Us,” released in 2016.

“It Ends With Us” tells the story of Lily Bloom and her problematic relationship with Ryle Kincaid as she learns how to navigate various forms of abuse and love. Although Lily and Ryle’s relationship starts out picture-perfect, Ryle’s truly toxic tendencies are quickly revealed after they get married. Lily must then make vital decisions regarding how to deal with his behavior.

“It Starts With Us,” however, merely focuses on the progression of Lily’s newest relationship. The majority of the plot revolves around her going on a date or two, all the while ensuring that Ryle does not find out and grow jealous.

Colleen Hoover wrote these books with the intent of expressing the struggles of an abusive relationship, and, to an extent, she accomplished this with her initial novel. It is easy for readers to understand the struggle that Lily endures when it comes to her relationship with Ryle; however, in an attempt to maintain romantic tones within her book, Hoover tries to write Ryle’s character in a way that makes his maltreatment excusable.

While Ryle abuses Lily multiple times

throughout the book, he does not remember doing so due to traumas from his past. Hoover specifically wrote his character to be the ideally “perfect” man, and she reduced any abusive tendencies he had to be something that he was not entirely accountable for. Readers were left trying to find a way to excuse his battery for the sake of romance when they should have been experiencing the full effects of abuse with Lily.

Now, this isn’t to say that Hoover completely failed at representing an abusive relationship— they come in many shapes and sizes, and one type of abuse is not made to be worse than another. That being said, it is clear that Hoover was more concerned about flooding her book with romance than revealing the true pain of domestic violence to her audience.

With the release of “It Starts With Us,” Colleen Hoover completely disregarded any ounce of acknowledgement towards abusive relationships she had previously made. The only thing Lily is concerned about throughout the entire book is preventing Ryle from becoming jealous as she dates someone new. Hoover had ample opportunities to reveal how difficult it is for people to recover from abusive relationships, but instead painted a story about a love triangle, nearly erasing any

trace of pain and abuse she had written about prior.

Overall, Hoover’s sequel failed to uphold any themes of abuse that she had managed to portray within “It Ends With Us.” Readers who lean toward an easy-yet-long read might enjoy these novels, but if they’re looking for a story to represent traumas endured from abusive relationships, they’re out of luck.

‘I Am Glad My Mom Died’ uncovers child star

Jennette McCurdy’s traumatic upbringing

by Haley Hendricks

confetti streaming out of it, like a celebration of her mom’s untimely death.

The memoir is about McCurdy’s career as a child actress and her relationship with her abusive mother, who died in 2013 after losing her battle with breast cancer. Throughout her memoir McCurdy highlights events from her childhood. She talks about her home life, growing up with her siblings, her parents’ relationship, and her introduction to acting.

“I’m Glad My Mom Died” sold out within 24 hours of going on sale. That same month, it became a New York Times Best Seller for non-fiction, selling over 200,000 copies across all formats in the first week of its release.

McCurdy uses dark humor to tell the story of her relationship with her narcissic mother.

Jennette McCurdy is an early 2000s child star who had the perfect life according to the tabloids. McCurdy and her mother Debra, could be seen at many red carpet events holding one another and smiling brightly for the paparazzi; flaunting off their “perfect” mother-daughter relationship.

McCurdy, known for playing Sam Puckett in the Nickelodeon show “iCarly” and its spinoff “Sam & Cat,” is now back in the public eye after retiring from acting a few years ago. She’s an actor turned author following the release of her best-seller, published on August 9, 2022.

McCurdy titled her new memoir, “I’m Glad My Mom Died.” She poses on the cover with a smile while holding her mother’s pink urn with

The memoir begins with a young Jennette starting her acting career and struggling to make it. McCurdy’s mother was very involved with the start of Jennette’s career. McCurdy had little time to balance her work life and social life. She spent hours auditioning and taking acting classes, before catching up on homework when she got home – all while being the young age of six. It was shocking how she was able to put in all these hours without someone with authority questioning it.

In the book, readers find out McCurdy’s acting career was all a result of her mother’s decisions. McCurdy’s mother claimed that she was giving her daughter “the life she never had.” This part of the book did not sit right with me, especially since McCurdy was against the idea from the get go.

It was obvious from the start that McCurdy’s mom had issues. She was a deranged hoarder who liked to control every aspect of her child’s life and career, a career that she never even wanted.

At one point in the memoir, McCurdy told

her mother that she did not want to act anymore. She hated having to go to auditions and experience the anxiety that went with them. It didn’t help that she was struggling with an eating disorder at the time either. Her mother proceeded to have a breakdown and cry about how this was their chance. This was all a facade to manipulate McCurdy, being that she immediately stopped crying once her daughter changed her mind.

It disturbed me how her grandparents and father never helped Jennette. They were all frequently present in her life, and they could have done something, but instead they just watched this abuse pan out.

“I’m Glad My Mom Died” also highlights moments on the set of “iCarly” and “Sam & Cat.” It was interesting to hear about what goes on behind the scenes, and how McCurdy put on a happy exterior for her fans.

In the memoir, McCurdy talks about her close relationship with her co-star Miranda Cosgrove, and her not so close one with Ariana Grande. McCurdy was jealous of the privilege that Ariana had on set. Grande was able to call out and take up other job offers, while McCurdy didn’t have these privileges.

This memoir was absorbing to read: I didn’t want to put it down. It was sad, yet funny in many aspects.

I’d recommend this book to someone who wants to get an inside look on the life of a child actor. “I’m Glad My Mom Died” is a depressing yet amusing read. Jennette displays her childhood in an honest way, with a humorous twist to show how she’s grown from all of her experiences. Without this memoir, I couldn’t imagine what she went through behind the scenes.

Colleen Hover’s sequel fails to measure up to “It Ends With Us.”

Photo Credit: Atria Books

Jennette

Photo Credit: Simon and Schuster

LCTI threats expose school safety concerns

by Gianna Cusumano

After recent reports of bomb threats against Lehigh Career and Techology Institute, school safety is on the minds of Southern Lehigh community members. The threats at LCTI cost attendees several instructional days starting in the week of November 8th.

Southern Lehigh High School students have the option to attend Lehigh Career and Technical Institute (LCTI) for vocational courses with a skill-based curriculum.

The bomb threats were first reported on November 8 and Pennsylvannia State Police immediately began investigating the case. Officers conducted a formal search of the building, but found no evidence that the school was in physical danger.

Students were evacuated from LCTI after word of the threats, but families were not notified of the cause until later that night. Following news of the threats, morning LCTI school buses were turned around, often midway, and brought back to Southern Lehigh High School where students sat in the auditorium for about two and a half hours, the time they would usually attend class.

“While LCTI’s curriculum works best with in-person instruction, the highly effective virtual tools we developed early on in the coronavirus pandemic allow our teachers to easily share assignments online,” LCTI repre -

sentative Ms. Precious Petty said.

Following the threats, LCTI implemented several temporary safety measures including adding state police officers on campus and the use of metal detectors at building entrances. “Bringing officers in and metal detectors helped,” sophomore Raven Martinez said.

“My only problem with [the metal detectors] was half of us had to take our stuff out of our bookbags and the other half was stuck outside waiting to walk through. So now that they are gone I feel like we can start to go back to normal.”

On November 16th, LCTI students returned to in-person classes with the new changes. Although many students are committed to returning to LCTI to finish out their studies, parents were apprehensive. Martinez explained that her parents were close to unenrolling her over concerns of the rumors and LCTI’s response to the threats.

According to a study from Gallup, American parents’ concern about school safety is the highest recorded since 2001. 44% of the K-12 parents surveyed feared for their child’s physical safety at school.

“A lot of students are hesitant about going to [LCTI],” sophomore Ariana Ramos said. “A lot of people are scared that something will actually happen, especially with the rumors of

what was going on.”

The study from Gallup also surveyed American parents about their school-aged children’s own apprehension towards attending school and 20% admitted that their child has expressed concern. The numbers provided showed that this statistic edged closer to a record high of 22% in 2001 and shot up steeply from the 12% collected in August of 2019.

To combat the impact of the threats, LCTI administration urged students to see their guidance counselor or teachers if they are struggling with their transition back to school. “Doc M [Heather Mariotti, a LCTI teacher,] was very understanding that the whole situation was traumatic and we talked as a class and kind of went on a rant about how we felt” sophomore Aurelia Fernandes said. “The school work that we missed was just pushed back until everything went back to ‘normal.’”

The bomb threats were initally reported anonymously through an app called Safe2Say. Safe2Say is a violence prevention program run by the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General. The program runs an app that connects law enforcement with anonymous tips from users to notify schools of issues.

“Safe2Say was designed to be safe for you to say: ‘this is the information that I heard and I am going to put it out there,’” Allentown detective Mr. Alex DeIglesias said. “That being said, there’s a caveat: if there’s a lot of unfounded stuff that keeps coming through and through and through, it is probably somebody that is using the site with malicious nature than it is actually giving a tip.”

DeIglesias offered insight on how the police could potentially investigate the case.

“Anytime you send a message through the internet, there is trackable information that we could use to figure out what computer it came from,” DeIglesias said. “It gets a little convoluted when it comes to the forensic world for that, but you could still usually track them down.”

When “unfounded” information such as this is reported, it can actually cause issues instead of preventing them; consider how LCTI has had to cancel classes for the unsubstantiated bomb threats.

LCTI does not currently have answers to who is behind the threats, but law enforcement has communicated that they do possess several leads.

Lehigh Career and Technical Institute (LCTI) has recieved multiple recent bomb threats. Photo credit: LCTI

Music industry violence highlighted by Takeoff murder

by Karansher Sidhu

In the wee morning hours of Tuesday November 1st, 2022, Kirshnik Khari Ball, also known by his stage name of Takeoff, was fatally shot. Takeoff was a member of the hiphop group Migos, along with his cousin Offset and uncle Quavo. According to the Houston PD, the shooting occurred at 810 Billiards and Bowling in Houston, Texas, after a fight broke out.

Although unconfirmed, rumors have circulated on multiple social media platforms that

the argument broke out after Quavo, a fellow member of the Migos, lost a game of dice. The ensuing shooting killed Mr. Ball, and non-fatally injured two other bystanders. Multiple memorial services have been planned, as law enforcement begins to investigate the shooting.

Quavo, a fellow member of the Migos, was present at the shooting. Quavo and Takeoff were lifelong friends, releasing their debut single “Versace” in 2013. To commemorate

Takeoff’s death, Offset and Quavo hosted a memorial service at State Farm Arena in Atlanta Georgia. Famous artists such as Drake and Justin Bieber attended the service. The memorial, according to numerous twitter posts, celebrated the amazing work of Takeoff, and how sorely he will be missed.

Unfortunately, this tragedy is a common trope in America, particularly American musicians. With violence in America on the rise, many point to the shooting as a wider indication of senseless violence in our culture. Some suggest that trends like these originate from the pandemic, as violent crime has risen by 31% according to FBI statistics. In the case of Takeoff’s shooting, Texas is the 11th most dangerous state according to FBI data. This violent trend in America isn’t just present in the context of the pandemic, but also the tragic deaths of musicians. A study by the University of Sydney in collaboration with Dianna Theadora Kenny states that over 50% of hip-hop musicians’ deaths are murders. Whether it be Tupac or John Lennon, American musicians have suffered from violence in particular. The rate at which artists tragically succumb to such conditions is perhaps an indication of a wider cultural problem.

As we come to grips with the Takeoff’s death, we as Americans reflect on the amount of senseless violence that grips our country. Whatever the cause of such violence, many look forward to a future with less of it, and more music.

2022 World Cup kickstarts excitement

by Elizabeth Monroe

Every four years, the dreams of nations rest upon their best athletes in the World Cup. Though it only happens once quadrennially, it’s the biggest sporting event in the world. It may be overlooked in the U.S. due to the hype over American football and basketball; however, soccer remains to be the most popular sport on earth.

The tournament consists of 32 qualifying national teams divided into eight round-robin groups. Within each group, only the two highest achieving teams will advance to the round of 16. From there, teams face off in a knockout bracket until the last two face off in the finals.

The World Cup allows people to display pride and support for their country, something that unifies the population for a common interest. In the U.S., avid soccer fans and those who don’t typically follow the sport come together to show of support for our national team—which is remarkable, considering soccer is not exactly America’s forte. Students at SLHS displayed this enthusiasm, chattering throughout the halls about their predictions for which team will win, or whispering during class about a recent Cup shock. Lurking throughout the entirety of the school was talk about the Cup.

A lot of discussion about the World Cup roots from the many upsets that have occurred throughout the tournament this year. Saudi Arabia beating Argentina—a highly skilled team—astounded many students. Perhaps even more astonishing was Morocco’s

success as the first African nation to advance to the semifinals, following key victories over favorites such as Portugal and Spain.

Some teachers put the World Cup on for their class to watch while doing independent work. French teacher Madame Farley felt that putting the Cup on was advantageous for her

self and students.

“It promotes languages and global spirit,” Mrs. Farley said. “It [also] helps me build unity with my students. I’ve had great conversations with my students that never would have happened without football.”

Sophomore and passionate soccer fan Jordyn Harper also relishes the quadrennial event, and enjoyed witnessing a strong performance from the Americans.

“This World Cup is so fun to watch for me because it’s the first time in years that the U.S. made it past the group stage, which is amazing to see,” Harper said. “Their improvement and achievements are just amazing to see overall and I can say a lot of people here are proud of them.”

The U.S. team advanced alongside England in Group B to the round of 16, but later suffered a 3-1 loss against Netherlands.

After a great deal of improvement in the US’s rankings compared to past years, the team hopes to expand their skills and contin

ue improving. The team’s star player Christian Pulisic spoke on the subject at a December 2nd Fox News press conference.

“I’m really happy with just the team spirit, what this team has shown, the way we’ve

fought through all the challenges that we’ve seen. To get out of the group [stage] is an unbelievable accomplishment,” he said.

Pulisic, the 24 year old winger, received the nickname “Captain America” due to his skills as an American soccer player—giving the U.S. hope for a better future in the sport.

“Overall, the Cup this year has been unfolding really well,” Harper said. “Many of my friends and classmates, and myself, are really looking forward to seeing how the rest plays out—and for next time in the U.S. in 2026!”

The murder of hip-hop rapper Takeoff evidences the violence common to his music industry.

Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

Brazil’s Richarlison de Andrade scores his first of 2 goals against Serbia in the group stage with an impressive scissor kick. Photo Credit: 433 via Instagram

SLSD introduces free breakfast for all students

by Katherine Monroe

In October, Governor Tom Wolf’s plan to provide universal free breakfasts went into effect. The 21.5 million state-funded bill will provide free school breakfasts for 1.7 million students across the state. The breakfasts will run until the last day of school, without a promise of it returning the next school year, according to Southern Lehigh High School principal Mr. Joshua Miller. The school breakfasts are available from 7:15 to 7:30. It typically consists of an entree, which can be anything from cereal to waffles, a choice of fruit juice, and a choice of milk. To get breakfast for free, you must get fruit or

juice. What the school serves must follow the federal mandate for what counts as healthy food. Therefore, the schools can’t just serve sugary, unhealthy food. It also needs to be quick.

“.When we were working with food services, we wanted things that we could easily manage, get ready in a short time period because it’s early in the morning,” Mr. Miller said.

The school breakfast program’s main goal is to ensure kids get breakfast, the most important meal of the day, in the morning. Some people wake up too late, are too busy to get

breakfast, or forget to eat it, and it’s beneficial for a school environment for students who have eaten breakfast. It boosts brain power and energy and is proven to improve academic performance. And as long as students keep arriving on time and cleaning up after themselves, the school breakfasts will continue without a problem.

“So far, it’s been really good. We have seen the amount of students getting them go up every week we increase by almost 30-40 kids each week,” Mr. Miller said. “I actually see a lot of students a little bit happier in the morning because I know they’re eating something.”

Southern Lehigh reestablishes Powder Puff after two years

by Isabelle Johnson

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Southern Lehigh High School held an annual Powder Puff football tournament, where girls from different grades play against each other, and the high school football players coach them. Finally, this 2022 school year, students brought this tradition back to life. By incorporating all grades, the tournament makes for a hugely entertaining activity.

“The coaches did a good job and put in a lot of time and effort,” junior Genevieve Fry said. “They made us very confident in our spots.”

The Powder Puff game is run in a tournament like style, where teams are eliminated after a loss. Those who win each game then play against each other, and that game determines the winner.

This year, the freshman team unexpectedly took the lead and ended up winning the tournament. With persistence, they battled the seniors

to obtain their first win. After winning that game, they played the sophomores, who previously beat the juniors, gaining a triumphant victory over them as well.

“I was shocked when we won the first game since I was doubtful that the freshman would win against the seniors,” freshman Zoe Vezenov said. “When we won the championship, I was so excited and happy!”

To be successful, the different teams held a variety of practices to improve their skills and learn the plays.

“The team aspect, like the pasta party and the practices, were the most fun,’’ junior Elizabeth Vezenov said. “We were really close as a team.”

In order to make the Powder Puff game occur smoothly, the Varsity Club and their advisor, Mr. Zeisloft, were heavily involved. The officers helped ensure that everything from

signing up for games to providing the necessary equipment went well.

“I liked the way it was run and organized,” sophomore Alexis Hoyer said. “I don’t think there is really anything that needs to be changed for next year.”

Powder Puff allows students to come together on the field and in the stands. Students show support for their grades by wearing the color of the team they are rooting for. Along with that, there were a variety of spectators, even beyond students at SLHS.

“With the stadium renovations in place, we weren’t sure if we could actually have the event in the stadium, so we didn’t do a ton of advertising, ‘’ Mr. Zeisloft said. “I think that as the event becomes more of a tradition each year, we will naturally get more students to come and support.”

The state of Pennsylvania requires that breakfast food served in schools must be considered healthy, including fruits and yogurts. Photo Credit: Natalie Fauzio

The Powder Puff football tournament returned to Southern Lehigh this year for the first time since 2019. Photo Credit: Haylee Graham