Spotlight - October 2022 Print Issue

Mr. Joshua Miller joins SLHS as new principal

by Sarah Lockley and Isabelle Johnson

challenge and is looking forward to many new experiences.

“There is no amount of training that can ever prepare you for this role,” principal Mr. Miller said. “I think one of the greatest [parodoxes] of working in education is that, while you always try to cling to tradition and try to cling to things that work, it is the most fluid and ever changing environment there is.”

Throughout his first years as principal at the high school, Mr. Miller has many goals and ideas that he would like to incorporate into the lives of the students. One of these goals is to better prepare students for their careers in the future. It is important to Mr. Miller that students know what the field they are going into entails.

“I would like to work with the central office to bring college pathways to high school earlier,” Mr. Miller said. “Colleges are reaching out now about how to get involved.”

Although taking on the role of principal is very serious, it is important for the students to know that Mr. Miller has interests outside of school, many of which they can relate to. In his free time, he can be found working out at the gym, coaching his kids’ sports, or even watching “Star Wars: Rogue One.” He is very passionate about football, as he was a member of his high school and college teams.

phone usage and the dress code. It’s no secret that this enforcement was met with major backlash; however, Mr. Miller is adamant that they will be highly beneficial to the student body.

“So it’s really about hopefully getting students… to not grab their phone and be focused on it,” Mr. Miller said.

Some of these newly-enforced policies focus less on student growth and more on student safety. After acknowledging that hats do not affect learning habits, Mr. Miller explained the difficulty of tracking people during a security threat, especially when their heads are covered by generic hats and hoods. He made the deliberate decision to push against these head coverings with hopes of better protecting his students.

“We’re unfortunately in a really tough time in education where school safety is one of the highest things that are asked of school administrators,” Mr. Miller said. “From all of my training, one of the most important things that I have always heard is, when you have your security cameras up in the hallways… are you actually able to identify an individual’s face? So in my eyes, wearing a hat in a building impedes that safety concern.”

This fall, Southern Lehigh High School welcomed a new principal, Mr. Joshua Miller, who filled the position of Mrs. Beth Guarriello upon her resignation. Having previous experiences as an assistant principal at both Upper Perkiomen and East Penn, he was ready to take a step up to the next level and become a leader for Southern Lehigh. With this substantial move in his career, Mr. Miller is willing to accept the

“I got the nickname of ‘Blitzer’ because my dearest and deepest friends said I ran about a thousand miles a minute and I’m always going, so the Blizter nickname has stuck forever,” Mr. Miller said.

With the addition of a new principal, there has been an increase in the enforcement of various school policies, specifically regarding cell

Two decades ago, much younger Joshua Miller took his first steps into a notoriously difficult calculus class at Moravian University, only to be greeted by a Socrates quote written roughly on the blackboard: “The secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new.” Mr. Miller accepted the advice that this quote offered when he was a student, and now that he is a principal, he wishes to pass it down to his students so they may succeed as well.

Mr. Miller replaced Mrs. Beth Guarriello this year.

Photo Credit: Southern Lehigh School District

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Faculty Adviser

Mrs. Marlo Spritzer

Editor-in-Chief

Kishore Annambhotla

News Editor Christiana Lycette

Our World Editor

Alexis Behrens

Sports Editor

Sophia Lycette

Center Spread Editor

Mack Morgan

Opinion Editor

Morgan Downing

Entertainment Editor

Gianna Cusumano

Features Editor

Alaina Patel

Social Media Manager

Isabelle Johnson

Web Editors

Elizabeth Monroe & Kelcie Wagner

Staff Reporters

Kylie Baker

Haley Hendricks

Sarah Lockley

Sophia Massini

Katherine Monroe

Natalie Perrelli

Lorelei Reigle

Zoey Robinson

Nolan Sargent

Karansher Sidhu

Jack Steckel

Brandon Verna

Evelyn Wang

Students react to new schedule changes

by Alexis Behrens

factors.”

The first reason, attendance inaccuracies, could be linked to the open campus style homerooms attempted last year–which is one of the aspects now discontinued. During the short block, students were expected to check in with their teachers for attendance and were then free to roam the school. This system could have also led to the “excessive lateness to school” if students chose to squeak in at the last moment rather than arrive early just to walk the halls. The fact that this relatively unstructured setup led to organizational issues even then is likely part of why it’s ended now, though some students and teachers miss the downtime.

Mr. Miller considered these conversations intrusive and uncomfortable for students.

“When I was doing my interview process to be your principal, the central office made the decision to make sure that I met with students,” Mr. Miller said. “And I heard from everyone and kept hearing the same message: that Advisory had a benefit, but it didn’t outweigh the cost… There were discussions that people didn’t want to have and they felt a little threatened by personal information that was supposed to be shared.”

Sophomore Ella Scheinler agrees that the change was for the better.

Among the many changes at Southern Lehigh High School this year are those made to the scheduling and purpose of its homeroom classes. For the past three years, these advisory groups consisted of students from all four grades meeting for a short block each morning and a half-hour discussion time every six days. Now, they’ve been shortened to ten minutes between first and second period.

“The reason and rationale for this new schedule was based on a few factors,” principal Mr. Joshua Miller said in the August 2022 newsletter emailed to parents. “Attendance inaccuracies from homeroom attendance that led to inaccurate robocalls home, excessive lateness to school by students, LCTI students missing a portion of 3rd block, and a few other

“There was a lot more freedom last year and I feel like that freedom was taken away,” sophomore Wyatt Hartenstine said. “It was a good start to our day last year, and with that being taken away was a bit disappointing and annoying.”

“I personally didn’t have a whole lot of attendance issues, because my homeroom was kind of conditioned to check in, though I see how it could be a problem,” visual arts teacher Mrs. Stephanie Donald says. “But I do miss the free ten minutes in the morning for walking the halls, last minute prepping, or just getting my mindset for the rest of the day.”

Secondly, homeroom groups no longer meet during the Spartan Period six-day rotation for “Spartan Advisory.” In previous years, this small block had theoretically been a time for diverse students of all grades to discuss everything from short-term motivation to life plans. However,

“I didn’t like advisory very much,” she said. “I thought it would be a better use of Spartan Period to just have a normal club meeting, since most people just did homework anyway. But I did like having homeroom with a group of people from different grades.”

Junior RileyAnn Brett agrees that a benefit of eliminating the Spartan Advisory program is allowing students to pick clubs for all six days of the rotation.

“I like the change so that we can have all of our options [for Spartan Periods] because not many people did the activities in Advisory anyway,” she said.

Mrs. Donald felt that the changes as a whole were positive, though she found herself missing the students she’d mentored in homeroom for the past few years.

“In some of the homerooms there was a great connection in the past,” she said. “I’m sure we’ll develop those same connections in time.”

A look inside the upcoming fall play, ‘Mother Hicks’

by Natalie Perrelli

in its production progress.

The play occurs in Ware, Illinois, in late 1935 during the Great Depression. It tells the tale of three main characters, Girl, Tuc, and Mother Hicks, trying to guide themselves and each other through troubled times.

Girl is an orphan who cannot seem to stay in one home for very long. Tuc is a young deaf man who others look down upon because of his lack of hearing. Mother Hicks is a midwife with unconventional practices, convincing everyone that she is a witch.

“Even though it’s set in 1930s Illinois, there are a lot of remnants of the Salem Witch Trials,” senior Allie Ranton, who plays the role of Mother Hicks, says. “[Mother Hicks] gets blamed for basically everything.”

minimal words.

Even with the difficulties, the play is evocative and moving, with some actors even tearing up a bit in their first read-through.

“It’s a very different experience than anything I’ve ever done before,” Ranton says. “It’s really really heavy.”

Southern Lehigh’s theater department has also welcomed a new director, Mr. Jarad Benn, after music teacher Mr. Matthew Wehr stepped down from the role. With over 20 years of experience teaching theater to all ages, Mr. Benn is confident that the play will be fabulous.

Southern Lehigh’s talented theater students are excited to open the curtains for the upcoming fall play: the poetic “Mother Hicks.” Cast members spend multiple hours almost every day after school perfecting the depiction of the story, and students are confident

American Sign Language is the majority of expression in the play. The part of Tuc is played almost entirely silently, besides his narration scenes. The actors say it is a challenge to learn a different language for a part, and something they will need to push through to make scenes impactful and get the message across with

“It’s going to be a great first show for me and the students to get back into the normal routines of doing two shows a year,” Mr. Benn says. “I’m excited to have a chance to show the community and student population what theater can do.”

“Mother Hicks” will hit the stage on November 9th, and will run until the 12th. Ticket prices range from eight to ten dollars and are available now.

Mr. Miller made the controversial decision to eliminate the “open campus” system.

Photo Credit: Alexis Behrens

“Mother Hicks” features a deaf character, and the play prominently features American Sign Language.

Photo credit: SLHS

New policies roll out at Southern Lehigh HS

by Christiana Lycette

dent section name caused more students to get involved in supporting the student-athletes of Southern Lehigh. Students feel this defines the “identity of Southern Lehigh.”

“Bringing back Big Blue Wrecking Crew was a simple and positive change I was more than happy to give to the students this school year,” Mr. Miller said, “as I think it brings significant unity within the student body.”

forward to the open campus time in the morning to collect myself and enjoy a cup of coffee with my friends before the start of my stressful day ahead,” junior Genevieve Fry said.

FBLA students run the morning coffee stand.

Photo Credit: FBLA Club

Every administrator influences a school in their own way. As the new principal, when Mr. Joshua Miller stepped into his role at Southern Lehigh High School, he started the year by making decisions that immediately affected policy and procedure for students and staff.

Mr. Miller has started the year by bringing back the name “Big Blue Wrecking Crew” for the student section at all the sporting events. The traditional name had been discontinued several years ago to the disappointment of the student body. Bringing back the popular stu-

Last year, the school permitted a short “open campus” period at the beginning of the school day, allowing students to roam freely around the school as they settled into the school day, rather than sitting in homeroom for ten minutes. During this time, the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) club created a coffee house in the cafeteria where students could purchase coffee and food before the start of school or during the Spartan Period. This coffee house showed FBLA members the operations required to run a business.

“Last year, the goal was to provide an entrepreneurial, fun experience for the FBLA members along with the goal to donate ⅓ of our profits to the Southern Lehigh Food Bank charity,” business teacher Mrs. Peralta said. “Last year, we raised over $3000. It really grew into a positive benefit for all students.”

The FBLA coffee house and open campus gave students an essential socializing period before rushing into the full day of classes ahead.

“In the parts of the school year that were very stressful last year, I honestly really looked

“After talking to staff, secretary, teachers, and select students, we were seeing that the morning open campus contributed to the biggest infractions with students not being on time,” Mr. Miller said. “While it’s a great concept, it just was not the best opinion in terms of safety, sercury, and attendance purposes.”

While Mr. Miller has no plans to reinstate the open campus policy, he has not ruled out reopening the coffee house.

“We did not cancel the FBLA coffee house,” Mr. Miller said, “as we actually put it on hold for the time being until the rush of the beginning of school calms down.”

The students overwhelmingly vocalized their positive opinions on the benefits of the open campus and coffee house. Students are excited to see if those privileges return or if there are any new privileges that Mr. Miller will introduce to the students as he makes his mark at Southern Lehigh.

“I feel as if the coffee house was a big part of everyone’s morning routine and gave everyone a fresh start to the day,” vice president of FBLA Jack Johnson said. “Though I understand Mr. Miller’s policies to move homeroom after the first block and hope he instills policies of discipline, yet encourages students to enjoy their high school experience.”

Class of 2026 elects new student officers

by Katherine Monroe

Following the results of the elections, the freshman Class of 2026 officers are President Payton “PJ” Clauser, Vice President Avinash “Avi” Shah, Secretary Evon Kamel, and Treasurer Avantika Johri. Last year, being in the Student Council influenced many of them to decide to run for their positions.

“I was president of the Student Council last year and I really enjoyed it. It was fun. I enjoyed making sure people’s ideas were heard,” Clauser said.

The Class of 2026 advisor, math teacher Mr. Casey Cooperman, is thrilled to be guiding the officers in their new roles. A former intermediate school teacher Mr. Cooperman has stuck with the Class of 2026 since they were in fourth grade. When the freshman class needed an advisor, he decided to take on the role, because he enjoyed teaching this class. He believes organized, allaround good students who can put in extra time and juggle everything thrown at them make the best officers.

“I obviously know them from previous years and knew I was going to get good candidates,” Mr. Cooperman said.

New student officers do not have many ideas for prom and fundraising just yet. They’ve seen a lot of clubs doing fundraisers currently, and they want to do something unique and are taking time to come up with ideas.

“The main idea is to do something new,” Shah said.

The ninth-grade student body has a largely positive opinion of the student officers even though they were just elected.

“They’re amazing,” freshman Jake Burtt said. “Our president is the best.”

As the Class of 2026 begins their last four years of high school, the experience should be something to positively look back on. The Class of 2026 student officers hope to make the years memorable and have an excellent high school experience.

“I’m really excited to embark on this journey and watch this class grow,” Mr. Cooperman said.

From left to right, the 2026 class officers are Vice President Avinash Shah, President Payton Clauser, Treasurer Avantika Johri, and Secretary Evon Kamel.

Photo Credit: Katherine Monroe

SL Student-Athlete Leadership Council brings unity to SLHS sports

by Kishore Annambhotla

Once a month, representatives from every sport at Southern Lehigh High School gather in the board room to discuss leadership and individual development. These representatives comprise the SLHS Student-Athlete Leadership Council, led by Athletic Director Mr. Marc Zimmerman, and the Positive Coaching Alliance.

“The formation of the council has given our student-athletes a forum to work with each other and bounce ideas off of each other,” Mr. Zimmerman said. “It’s been a great opportunity for me to be hands-on with student-athletes, and it’s been a great experience.”

Several years ago, Mr. Zimmerman led a student-athlete leadership program in his former position at Emmaus High School. Pleased by the program’s success, he founded the SLHS Student-Athlete Leadership Council in 2018, his second year as athletic director. However, the involvement of the PCA was a result of sheer coincidence.

“One of the [PCA’s] sales representatives, Brandon Whiting, was a linebacker for the Eagles. He lives in Coopersburg,” Mr. Zimmerman said. “So, he cold called me because he lived in the community, and it all just kind of happened

at the same time.”

The Positive Coaching Alliance is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to teaching student-athletes about sportsmanship and healthy coaching relationships. Through online workshops and presentations, the council allows students to speak with experienced coaches and athletes about various topics, including emotional maturity, inclusivity, and positive communication. However, to Mr. Zimmerman, the most significant selling point of working with the PCA was its wide-reaching target audience.

“It was a program that worked with all stakeholders. It provides a kind of a common language for everyone to work with,” Mr. Zimmerman said. “A lot of the things that are talked about with athletes are talked about with parents and coaches when we have those meetings as well. It just gives everyone a common vision.”

The Student-Athlete Leadership Council consists of over 40 student-athletes representing every sport at SLHS. However, students are also allowed to rise among their peers and become, in Mr. Zimmerman’s words, the

“leaders of the leaders.” So far, two students have stepped up to lead the council’s monthly meetings: junior swimmer Brianna Wasem and senior lacrosse player Elias Dunham.

For these students, the most essential aspect of the leadership council is the universal concepts it teaches.

“Regardless of the sport you play, the concepts and the goals are still the same. For example, we have all experienced a tough loss in a game,” Wasem said. “We talk about coping strategies on how to handle that loss and how we can handle it better in the future.”

Mr. Zimmerman hopes to continue appointing council leaders and expanding the program, transforming the SLHS Student-Athlete Leadership Council into a fully-fledged, student-led organization. The process is a work in progress, but Mr. Zimmerman is confident in his students’ skills.

“They are certainly dedicated to their academics and athletics side of things,” Mr. Zimmerman said. “The purpose of high school sports is to be better athletes and better people; that’s why they are where they are.”

The council is made up of over 50 student-athletes representing every sport at Southern Lehigh. Photo Credit: Kishore Annambhotla

Southern Lehigh students race to the polls

by Kylie Baker

get things organized, set up, and get the new volunteers out the door; then I go out and canvas with them!”

Canvassing is a campaign tactic where volunteers go door-to-door in various locations to express support and convince residents to vote for their candidate of choice. Corvino spoke highly of her time working on the incumbent Congressional Representative Wild’s campaign, sharing her passion for working with a specific candidate.

“She’s very practical [and] down to earth,” Corvino said.

opportunity to change the House to Republicans, which would be crazy for everybody.”

Behrens isn’t the only one who’s excited for the potential weight of this midterm. Sophomore Jaclyn Bossert has been hard at work, making calls and campaigning for Democratic candidate John Fetterman, who is currently running for U.S. Senate.

This election cycle, Pennsylvania finds its most important seats up for grabs. After incumbent Governor Tom Wolf and Senator Pat Toomey’s decisions not to run again were released, the 2022 midterm cycle is hotter than ever. Every American is getting ready for the election, and Southern Lehigh is no exception.

Senior Eleanor Corvino, vice president of Democrats of Southern Lehigh, is hard at work for Election Day.

“I am a fellow on the Susan Wild campaign, so I’m also part of the Southern Lehigh action team which means at our canvassing events,” Corvino said. “I help run training,

However, some students struggle with finding a candidate they associate with. Senior Jonathan Behrens, president of Young Conservatives, expressed his frustration over difficulty in finding a candidate’s real platform.

“It’s either an ad attacking the opponent or accusing them of being a crony for some party leader,” Behrens said.

However, Behrens was still enthusiastic about midterms and voiced his support for students who care about the election.

“While we cannot vote right now, we’re going to be able to. It’s important to know that even though in the midterm you’re not choosing the president, it can still really define the legislature, which is huge,” Behrens said. “The president has little to no power compared to the legislature. We have the

“We’re seeing so many battle states being determined. Specifically, of course, is Pennsylvania. The Senate is so split right now because we would really flip it with people like Fetterman,” Bossert said. “We also have governor races, which is so important in PA because we really aren’t sure if it’ll flip red [or not].”

Though a majority of students cannot vote this cycle, there are a few who will be voting for the very first time. Social studies teacher Mr. Thomas Beaupre offered advice to firsttime voters.

“We’ve lost some of the appreciation for voting because people often believe that their vote doesn’t really matter and in the end it won’t make a difference. But we should remember how hard many people fought for this right in our past and how many people throughout the world still don’t have this right,” Mr. Beaupre said. “So I would say, just make sure you do it and have pride in what is an important milestone in your life. You will always remember it.”

New statue commemorates the history of Coopersburg

by Haley Hendricks

This past June, the Coopersburg Borough welcomed a new addition to the community. The former cattle county is now living up to its name with the installment of a large cow statue that sits in the middle of the town square’s new amphitheater.

From 1900 to 1931, cattle auctions drew hundreds to thousands of people from all around to the Cooper estate at the southern end of the borough. Coopersburg’s new statue was constructed with the intent to pay tribute to the town’s past Memorial Day cattle auctions. The borough, who constructed the statue and amphitheater, leases the property from the Coopersburg firehouse for $1 a year.

Although many residents say that the cow

is nicely placed in the newly made amphitheater, some aren’t too happy about its orientation to the street. Instead of pointing towards the street, the statue faces away from it, so passing cars and civilians only see its backside.

“I think the cow should be looking at main street. It’s the history of the borough; the cattle came through the street, not the amphitheater,” Coopersburg resident Jerry Snyder said.

Despite the amount of negativity regarding the statue’s position, people still have positive remarks.

“I think it’s a great idea for another community space. However, I don’t know if this is the exact community space that people really wanted,” Southern Lehigh math teacher and

Coopersburg resident Mr. Casey Cooperman said. “I would like to see them upgrade one of the playground areas behind the Turkey Hill.”

The Coopersburg Comprehensive Plan, adopted in 2010, states that the borough would eventually like to place cow statues at regular intervals on the town’s main streets. These statues would be painted with creative designs by local artists around the community, with the intent of calming traffic and serving as a visual reminder of Coopersburg’s community values.

“I think it’s a good idea because it represents the history of Coopersburg,” freshman Sofia Nardozza said. “I want to see a cow with stripes and some polka dots.”

Among Southern Lehigh students able to vote this midterm cycle, some feel very passionate about certain candidates and embracing civil engagement. Photo credit: Keith Ivey, Flickr.com

The new Coopersburg bull statue has received polarizing reception. Photo Credit: Maryann Hendricks

Political advertisements plague media

by Rory Reigle

Political advertisements can be stressful and overwhelming

Picture this: you’re watching a YouTube video on your phone. You’re at peace, relaxing in your nice, comfortable bed. Everything is picture-perfect. Then, bam! A political ad, the same one you’ve seen about four times already.

Once it’s over, you move on and forget about it. A lot of people see it as a minor annoyance at best, but what if it’s more than that? What if - albeit unconsciously - those messages stick in your mind, changing and shifting your beliefs without you realizing it? It’s possible that these ads are more effective than people think.

With the Pennsylvania Senate Election coming up on November 8th, political advertisements have been running rampant, taking over the internet. On the surface, it seems that the two current U.S. Senate candidates, Republican Mehmet Oz and Democrat John Fetterman, are just trying to get their names out there, but this isn’t the case.

First, consider the foundation of this issue. These advertisements have a simple purpose: to gain more votes. When a candidate is running for office, the largest ambition is to win. However, it’s the lengths some go to gain that victory that should be examined.

“I believe the goal of most political ads is to be attention-grabbing and convincing in a very short period of time,” psychology teacher Ms. Laura Schiffer said. “I recall learning that the average consumer attention span is somewhere around eight seconds. That does not leave much time for explanation and instead relies on sensationalized information to gain the viewer’s attention.”

These displays are much more than just commercials to be skipped. Often, candidates go right for their opponents’ throats, digging up dirt and twisting words. It can get incredibly nasty, and definitely has thus far when it comes to Oz and Fetterman. But it’s what’s seemingly necessary to gain the public’s attention.

All of these advertisements have an agenda. Those aimed at devaluing Fetterman misquote him, painting him as a deranged fanatical leftist who wants to let all murderers free from prison. By doing this, the advertisers use people’s short focus time against them. They’ll just believe it and move on with their day, thinking themselves good Samaritans for disliking a man who would supposedly do something that no one could possibly want.

“Unfortunately, these [political ads] are quite effective. I mean, we see how successful organizations such as Fox News, the Daily Wire, One American News, Breitbart can be while pushing out the same old bigotry-filled rhetoric,” sophomore speech and debate club member Jocelyn Bossert said. “They do that by appealing to common sense. By twisting the argument to say something nobody will disagree with, then acting like the opposition would disagree, you create incredibly convincing propaganda.”

And propaganda it is. Bandwagon, among other techniques, is incredibly effective. By making John Fetterman out to be some sort of hooligan against basic laws and judicial processes, it makes the viewer feel insane for wanting to vote for him. No one could possibly agree with this man, right?

When the media says Mehmet Oz pushed mira-

cle cures and crawled his way up the social ladder or that he doesn’t belong in Pennsylvania, you believe it because it’s easy. The same goes for hearing about Fetterman’s plan to let homicide slide. It doesn’t matter that there aren’t any sources.

Who wants to waste their personal hours researching? People just want to vote and go. Deep down, it could even be that society is just disillusioned with democracy, faced with constant choices between two seemingly unlikeable candidates. With politicians, there’s always something to dig up, something to expose. But that doesn’t mean that every single piece of information is credible.

By just going with the flow, allowing yourself to be swayed without skepticism, you feed into a destructive system. A system where hurling insults at an opponent helps you win. Where lying and blurring the lines of truth get you where you want to be. By giving into this propaganda, you perpetuate the rumors that put undeserving politicians on pedestals they built from falsehood.

“I have fact-checked ads and feel that it is my responsibility to be an informed and knowledgeable voter,” Mrs. Schiffer said.

The responsibility falls on your shoulders. If you’re able to vote and want to, you should take the time to look into candidates yourself. Don’t be led on by the words of political advertisements and propaganda. Exaggeration and deception shouldn’t get anyone anywhere.

Remember this the next time you see one of these ads: Find the truth for yourself.

Photo Credit: Morgan Downing

Much anticipated ‘Midnights’ is a Swift success

by Ellie Monroe

similar approach to this in past albums with the song, “Dress” in the 2017 album “Reputation”. Titled “Lavender Haze,” this first track brilliantly opens the album, all the rest to follow with smoother, yet just as enjoyable rhythms.

Her variety and elasticity in her wide range of music presents timelessness and allows for it to transcend among generations—something very few artists have been able to accomplish. Her lyrics are as timeless as they are clever, and in “Midnights,” they have returned to real-life ideals rather than the fantastical-like themes taken in previous studio album “Evermore.”

guided tour throughout all the things I tend to hate about myself.”

Swift’s “guided tour” provides a phenomenal lineup of versatile tracks for people of all ages and backgrounds. Each song provides something new, a different mood or energy than the tracks prior.

Swift continues the unpredictability of each new song with the release of seven tracks from the vault. These bonus tracks are made available to listeners on all major platforms, titled under “Midnights (3am Edition).” This pleasant surprise of supplemental music provided an additional plethora of satisfying and passion-rich songs for fans.

Throughout her career, singer-songwriter Taylor Swift has found success in a wide array of genres. Following the re-release of 2012 album “Red” last year, Swift returned with yet another powerful album on the midnight of Thursday, October 21: “Midnights.”

The tracks begin with a bold, electric-like song that takes direction into modern R&B with a sweet falsetto and four-on-the-floor rhythm. Swift has taken a

Look

Such ideals are addressed in the third track, “Anti-Hero.” The celebrity discussed her ordinary, human issues—namely heartbreak, anxiety, and self-consciousness. Lyrics such as “Did you hear my covert narcissism I disguise as altruism like some kind of congressman…” and “I’ll stare directly at the sun, but never in the mirror” highlight the insecurity and imposterism that she struggles with.

Through a video she released on Instagram, Swift delved a bit deeper into this topic. “I just struggle with the idea of not feeling like a person,” she said. “This song is a real

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“Midnights” has already broken records. Swift advances in her trend of her albums topping the charts instantaneously as they release. According to Mashable, it broke the Spotify record for most streamed album in a day. Moreover, she broke first-day records on Apple Music as well as Amazon Music.

“Midnights is a collage of intensity, highs and lows and ebbs and flows,” Swift wrote via Twitter. “Life can be dark, starry, cloudy, terrifying, electrifying, hot, cold, romantic or lonely. Just like Midnights. Which is out now.”

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December 16, 2022

Barbie July 21, 2023

Death Cab for Cutie rediscovers their sound on ‘Asphalt Meadows’

by Xander Romendio, contributor

pop friendly arrangements with lackluster lyrics were significantly less introspective than their past work. Fortunately, “Asphalt Meadows” took these criticisms and turned them on their head.

The signature sound of guitar harmonies, reserved yet powerful drum grooves, and emotional lyrics all return on “Asphalt Meadows.” The album is reminiscent of previous albums such as “Transatlanticism,” “Plans,” and “Narrows Stairs,” bringing back their punk rock sound mixed with a delicate alternative twist.

story of a man who observes the world in fear and anxiety:

“For what is a funeral without flowers, but ten thousand tombstones reaching for the sky,” Gibbard sings.

“Foxglove Through the Clearcut” continually builds to an emotive post rock exhibition that leaves the listener with melancholic hope and fear for the future.

With the release of their tenth album, Death Cab for Cutie continue to find something new and exciting with their sound. Their newest album, “Asphalt Meadows,” released Friday, September 21st, not only demonstrates the band is nowhere near slowing down, but they have no intention of becoming anything they are not.

After facing a massive blow with the departure of guitarist Chris Walla, Death Cab was left with a spot that new guitarist Dave Depper and pianist Zac Rae hoped to fill. Unfortunately, their last album, “Thank You For Today,” did not promise that they would find a solution. Although it wasn’t necessarily a departure from the band’s essence, the basic,

The opening track, “I Don’t Know How I Survive,” serves as an early sign that this album is different from their last. The song opens with a bouncy guitar riff as Benjamin Gibbard relays his experiences with panic attacks. The riff continues to go on as drums and bass join the mix, then, all of a sudden, a wall of sound erupts. Distorted power chords ring loud and proud, ushering in an already iconic chorus. The second verse and chorus follow the same structure with a crunchy guitar solo courtesy of Dave Depper. While the angst of past records seems to have evaporated from this song, the frustration of age and reflection are more present than ever, which seems to be the best route for the band.

The rest of the album is filled with these moments of reflection, but the album’s centerpiece, “Foxglove Through the Clearcut,” is the best example of this theme. Gibbard takes a new approach to lyrics and delivers lullaby-esque spoken word verses that tell the

The one low point of the album is the song “Pepper.” While not a bad song, it simply doesn’t match the heights of the album’s other songs. The instrumental arrangement is akin to “Thank You for Today” and lacks the importance or weight that the other songs carry. Gibbard’s lyrics are still rich and emotional, and the production from John Congleton is clean and glittery. Unfortunately, these factors aren’t enough to save the song from idle appreciation.

All in all, “Asphalt Meadows” is an album that didn’t try to be anything it wasn’t. It perfectly encapsulates what Death Cab has been and what they will continue to be in a subtle and beautiful way. The theme of reflection is so expertly portrayed throughout the album, and songs like “Rand McNally,” “Here to Forever,” and “Foxglove Through the Clearcut,” add a tinge of melancholy to this reflective process.

Coming off the heels of “Thank You For Today,” many fans somewhat doubted the band’s current direction, but “Asphalt Meadows” dashed those fears away and taught us that it’s okay to let go.

“Midnights” brings fans 13 new tracks and 7 additional albums from the vault.

Photo Credit: Taylor Swift via Instagram

Death Cab for Cutie returns to their punk rock and alternative roots with new Album, “Asphalt Meadows” Photo Credit: Atlantic Records

Photo Credit: Disney Studios

The Way of Water

Photo Credit: 20th Century Studios

Photo Credit: Warner Bros. Studios

Homecoming week promotes school spirit

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With homecoming season in full swing, Southern Lehigh High School’s Student Council worked hard since the first week of school to ensure all finishing touches were in place before the dance on October 15th.

Student Council advisor Mr. Troy Ruch has been working with students planning Southern Lehigh’s homecoming dances for many years.

“I’ve been doing it for so long that there’s a level of familiarity that I kind of have an expectation of what we’re going to do,” Mr. Ruch said. “If the students have any other ideas they can bring them up, but ultimately it runs itself.”

With fewer COVID-19 restrictions, the homecoming dance was indoors this year for the first time since the lockdown. This allowed the opportunity for more students to come to the dance and more activities available for them to enjoy, such as cornhole boards and ping-pong..

“The dance is the biggest activity, but we’ll have some other activities for students to do,” Mr. Ruch said. “Just something [so] if people want to step away from the dance, they have the ability to do something else.”

A variety of food and drinks were also

Spirit Week Snapshots!

available to students to enjoy when they needed a break from dancing.

“There’s desserts, pizza, a variety of soft pretzels, probably some different candies, which is generally the food that we get every year,” Mr. Ruch said. “And then water and juice boxes.”

Many students are curious about the policy that does not permit outside students at the Southern Lehigh Homecoming Dance. This rule has been in place for quite some time.

“For one, we’ve had issues in the past with students from other schools, which are challenging for us to deal with,” Mr. Ruch said. “It’s really a capacity thing, that’s the biggest problem. We’re at a point where we have to use the gym and the cafeteria because of capacity. We don’t want to prevent Southern Lehigh students from coming because we [were] over capacity when we allowed students from other schools.”

Many students had an incredible experience at this year’s homecoming dance.

“Homecoming was super fun,” sophomore Christy Nguyen said. “Especially screaming Taylor Swift [lyrics] with my favorite people.”

For their class dance, sophomores recreated a famous scene from “Mean Girls.” Photo credit: Zoey Robinson

Cohen Resch and Haylee Graham

Nathaniel Lycette and Kelly Krasley

Ben Maund and Lana Hughes

Avery Koser and Jillain Vandebunte

Quincy Brunner and Elizabeth Maund

Photo cred: Natalie Fauzio

Photo credit: Natalie Fauzio

Photo credit: Cohen Resch

Photo credit: Natalie Fauzio

Photo credit: Cohen Resch

Photo credit: Dominic Cirocco

Photo credit: Larissa Myers

Photo credit: Dominic Cirocco

Photo credit: Larissa Myers

Nicholas Ventresca and Kaitlyn Howie

Photo credit: Shannon Gordon

Zoey Robinson

2022 Homecoming in full swing

by Sophia Massini

The days leading up to homecoming are just as important to Southern Lehigh as the game or dance. First-time participants in outlandish spirit days learn the value of school pride, while upperclassmen get to treasure and reflect on their experiences. Students and staff say they are grateful for the opportunities to develop positive connections and memories in the days leading up to the Friday night lights.

Spirit days are an excellent way for students and the occasional faculty member to show off and create a sense of community through slightly awkward shared embarrassment. The celebrations before homecoming are famous for sharing enthusiasm between grades leading to better morale and a louder student section.

“I do think there’s something nice about students, staff, and faculty getting involved and doing things in the school,” social studies teacher Mr. Lee Zeisloft said.

“The fact that we have students supporting their peers is just good for the high school experience. I think it’s a great opportunity for students to buy back into the school.”

members waited in anticipation as the entire student body was asked to vote for their choice.

This year, Cohen Resch was voted Homecoming King and proudly accepted his crown at the pep rally while waving peace signs to the cheering crowd. Later in the evening at the football game, last year’s queen, Maddie Zeidenberg, crowned an enthusiastic Haylee Graham as the newest Homecoming Queen.

The crowd dances the night away during the 2022 homecoming dance.

Photo Credit: Sophia Massini

Students hoist glowsticks thrown into the crowd.

Photo credit: Madelyn Loghmani

Music blasts as the dance circle slowly gets hotter.

Photo credit: Madelyn Loghmai

Senior Honesty Jean dances as a circle of students look upon.

Photo credit: Madelyn Loghmai

Say cheese! A group of students pose for a nice pic.

Photo credit: Madelyn Loghmai

A group of girls show some love to the camera.

Photo credit: Madelyn Loghmai

SLHS boys’ soccer snatches keys to victory

by Sophia Lycette

With the fall sports season well underway, the Southern Lehigh High School boys’ soccer team has made it clear that they are here to stay.

The team has worked together and put their leadership to the test, bringing their season record to an impressive 13–1–6, where both strong defense and offense were represented.

“Last year, we lost key role models for our team,” junior Chris Venezia said. “However, our senior captains this year, Jack Johnson, Ethan Hoang, and Landon Bealer, have all stepped up to the plate and are actually teaching others how to become leaders for next year.”

With the smooth transition of new leaders,

the team is playing strong and is expecting to do great things throughout the rest of this season. Each player is committed to focusing on their opponents and showing their best efforts on the field.

“Northwestern is our biggest rival, but we are doing our best to prepare and see them in the playoffs,” senior Jack Johnson said. “Every day, we are preparing for the playoffs, though we know we will be ready when the time comes.”

Even though leadership and perseverance have launched enthusiasm into this season, the Spartans recognize that to bring future victories home, it is crucial to mentor the JV team.

“Southern Lehigh places a huge emphasis on upper-level students being mentors for the JV team,” senior Ethan Hoang said. “This development is a huge part of Southern Lehigh’s many years of success.”

Developing the soccer team as one community has put Southern Lehigh steps ahead of other schools, and the Spartans hope it will be enough for them to win the league tournament. Every player on the soccer team participates because of their love for the sport, but better yet, they love the people involved.

“We are a family,” junior Will Wenrich said. “Family on me…family on three…one, two, three, family!”

Girls’ soccer team fosters an environment for success

by Alaina Patel

eight or nine games.”

Although a formation change is no minor adjustment, the team has taken it in stride, gaining a 12-2-4 record and a spot in the Colonial League playoffs. Many of the players attribute this quick adjustment to the overall team atmosphere.

“As a team, we’re really unified, we have great teamå chemistry, we have a lot of team bonding, and a lot of players don’t feel left out,” senior captain Annefloor Fooij said. “Team chemistry in soccer is so important, and I feel like it’s really high this year. That’s what has led to a lot of our success and our goals this year.”

With the bolstered spirit, the team has accomplished many amazing feats, such as coming back from four goals behind to defeat Saucon Valley 5-4.

summer season and throughout preseason.”

The team also fosters their positive environment through spirit days. One of the most popular days is Neuman Day, where the team dresses like one of the assistant coaches.

They are looking to continue building this environment into the postseason. With their hard work on and off the field, the girls hope to improve upon their season’s successes in league and district playoffs.

Pasta parties, late nights, and spirit days are cornerstones of a typical season for the Southern Lehigh girls soccer team. But this year has brought about multiple changes on the field.

“Last year, we played a four-four-two formation,” Head Coach Andrew Filler said. “Based on some early results in the year, and talking to some of the captains and upperclassmen, we decided to play a three-five-two formation, and that’s been working for us for the last

“[Senior] Kendall [Zuk] is our vocal leader and she encouraged us all,” freshman Haley Fluck said. “She believed in us even when we were down goals, and I think she was the one that kept us going and kept us reaching for another goal.”

Off the field, the girls continue to emphasize the positive team atmosphere. Team bonding activities, which encourage unity among the team, make this possible.

“We did a lot of team sleepovers,” Fooij said. “We did a lot of team activities throughout the

“For the rest of the season, our goals are really to come out and play hard with intensity for the rest of the postseason,” junior Meghan Conron said. “Right now we’ve had a difficult time scoring goals, so I think as a team if we can collectively score more goals and get more numbers on the charts that would be an improvement for us.”

As the 2022 season draws to a close, the girls look back on their favorite moments. Collectively, one particular team favorite was the Saucon game.

“It really showed how we could work together as a team since we got back from four to nothing,” Fluck said. “When we won that game, I had a lot of hope for our team moving forward and I just looked up from that point.”

Boys’ soccer won the Colonial League championship against Northwestern Lehigh High School. Photo Credit: Julia Finney

Senior Kylie Painter dribbles the ball towards the goal.

Photo Credit: Alaina Patel

Spartan football team blazes through fall season

by Jack Steckel

After a disappointing 2021 football season, the Spartans are off to a blazing start for 2022. Currently boasting a 7–1 record, the team has truly shown what they can do on the field –stomp down opponents on the backs of senior team captain Ryan Dematto, senior quarterback Avery Koser, and junior running back Cade Sawyer.

“In the off-season, we really put in a lot of work; we really wanted to grind,” Dematto said. “Everyone was all-in from the jump.”

This preparation is what a lot of players consider the catalyst of their success.

“Once we got to doubles week, the off-season work really showed. It was easy to install things during that time,” Captain Kain Boyle said “We were able to hit the ground running and didn’t have to shake the rust off.”

Another key aspect contributing to this early Spartan success is the continuity of staff.

“You know, keeping the same staff, and this

quality staff at that, is not easy,” Head Coach Phil Sams said. “It’s nice to have continuity…. I think it helps a lot.”

Unfortunately, nothing lasts forever. After the last season, the Spartans took a big hit, losing impact players such as 2022 graduates Blaze Curry and Alex Schaefer, both third and fourth year starters for the Spartans who now play at the Division III collegiate level for Muhlenberg College. However, the Spartans have found new leaders within their ranks.

“I think we’re more experienced this year. We have linemen returning such as Kain Boyle, Mikey Fluck, and Ryan Dematto,” Coach Sams said. “To have a good team, a good offensive line is important.”

With this experienced offensive line, exciting and explosive dual-threat quarterback Avery Koser becomes even more dangerous. Coupled with a calm, cool, and collected demeanor, he is truly exciting to watch.

“You know, I think Avery has really stepped up. He’s done everything we’ve asked him to do,” Coach Sams said. “He understands how to run the ball, and…he’s been very confident in himself.”

With a 7-1 record at the time of publication, the Spartans are not yet content, and have high expectations of themselves moving forward.

“We don’t plan on stopping anytime soon,” Boyle said. “We could make it far…win districts and go a couple rounds in states and hopefully win. We always have those goals.”

It appears the Spartans aren’t pumping the brakes on this winning streak anytime soon. After a 42-7 statement win over Saucon Valley, all players are full throttle at this juncture, with their minds set on eliminating any obstacles in their path. The Spartans’ peaking talent, coupled with an experienced and aggressive offensive line, makes this football team a dangerous threat to the Colonial Schuylkill League.

SL cross country teams boast impressive fall records

by Evelyn Wang

Coach Justin Kocis was met with a pleasant surprise at the beginning of the cross country season. Despite losing several seniors, including two of the program’s best runners in Alex Kane and Dominik Lisicky, the boys’ cross country team has continued to impress and joined the girls’ team in maintaining success in the Colonial League. At publication, the boys’ team possesses a 16-1 record, while the girls extend their four-year-long undefeated streak.

Part of this success can be attributed to hard work and dedication. The teams started their preparation early in the summer and did not slow down when the season began.

“We started in June and we run five, six days a week,” senior Will Kane said. “It’s a lot

of miles, about 40 to 45 miles a week, and obviously we do some different training for different people in the team. We each have a certain job on the team, and if we can successfully complete that job, we can successfully win.”

Additionally, the teammates have worked to bond with one another and create an uplifting environment. They make buddy bags for each other, where teammates swap names and bring each other gifts. They also hold pool and pasta parties, stretch together before meets, and cheer each other on during races.

“I feel like everyone supports everyone, no matter how fast you are,” sophomore Greg Rubino said. “We all want to see everyone succeed and do better than in the past.”

The teams channel this support to overcome the many obstacles they face. With opposing teams, injuries, and empty spots to fill, success is not guaranteed.

“We’re pretty young, we have a lot of new incoming freshmen, and some injuries are always something that I think are there,” senior Maura Lenhart said. “We’re just working hard and trying not to get complacent.”

Despite these challenges, the teams are ready to compete for league and district success.

“It’s the closest the league has been in a while,” senior Drew Bruck said. “There’s lots of teams that can take the league title – Northwestern, Wilson, Notre Dame, Palmerton – but we’re definitely one of them, so we just have no room for error.”

As the postseason approaches, Coach Kocis believes his teams’ goals are within reach. He hopes that they will use their ambition and impressive start to find success at the very top of District XI.

“We haven’t lost in four years. Every time we race, you know we have an ‘X’ on our back because teams want to beat us,” Coach Kocis said. “It would be great to qualify to states on the boys side. It’s going to be very hard, but everyone has an opportunity. On the girl’s side, maybe [we’ll] even win the district, but our goal is definitely to go back to states.”

Senior Spartans Nick Ventresca, Avery Koser, Ryan Dematto, and Kain Boyle stand await the coin toss. Photo credit: Nicole Fluck

Varsity Spartans sprint towards the finish line. Photo Credit: Nolan Sargent

Girls’ field hockey team builds strength from within

by Isabelle Johnson

The Southern Lehigh girls’ field hockey team took on the fall season with a positive outlook and hasn’t let go of it since. At the time of publication, their record is 9–2–1 and they continue to practice daily in hopes of success for the remainder of the season.

“The season has been going well,” head coach Mrs. Adrienne Searfoss said. “The girls are working to improve.”

In addition to qualifying for Colonial League playoffs, the team has their sights set on playing at the district and state competitions.. To do so, the team aims to win their last five games successfully, putting them in a favorable position to achieve their aspirations.

“Our main goals are to score, work hard, have fun, and be there for the people next to us

on the field,” sophomore Macey Reese said.

This year, a challenge has been reestablishing the strong team bond after losing many driven, determined seniors from last season. Although the team dynamic has changed, the new seniors have risen to the occasion and are working to strengthen connections daily.

“Honestly, it was a little bit scary losing a bunch of our seniors, but I think a lot of people stepped up,” senior and captain Savannah Giannattasio said. “The more we play together, the more we are connecting and creating a bond in our team that helps us in the games.”

The freshmen have proven a great new addition to the team. While inexperienced, they work hard each practice and contribute their skills regularly.

“The freshmen have fit in really nice,” said Mrs. Searfoss. “There is a big group of them, so they have fit in well with each other and then fit in well with the group.

The devoted players and their coach contribute to the success of the team. Each day, they continue to strive closer to their goals for the rest of the season. As the team works towards greatness, their bonds also become closer.

“My favorite part of being on the team is just being with them and having built-in best friends,” said Macey Reese. “I always have a place to go after school where I know I can be myself, have fun, and [play] the sport that I love.”

Golf team swings for states at District XI finals

by Gianna Cusumano

shot the best score in the tournament, the top five players’ whose scores counted towards their ranking finished third.

“I think we played well, but I know we could have won,” sophomore Maddie Hagens said. “I think it was disappointing, especially for the seniors. So it is kind of a tough loss.” The Spartans were shocked at the close point differential between them and Moravian Academy. Although Southern Lehigh did not move on as a team to district competition, Head Coach Matt Greenawald is proud of the supportive dynamic they maintained throughout the season and the opportunity secured to play in leagues.

“Every stroke is important, but you cannot dwell on bad ones. But yet, you also need to keep in mind that every shot you hit is a stroke and therefore, important,” Coach Greenawald said. “I wish I knew the perfect combination of taking each shot seriously, but also not stressing.”

the team. District championships include not only team qualifications but also individual opportunities for the top ten qualifiers. Because of this, the Spartans were able to send five of their players to compete in the District XI match, including Hagens and Resch, along with sophomores Frankie Boensch and Colin Sarnoski, and senior Blake Greenawald.

Leading up to districts, Coach Greenwald focused on preparing his players for the competition by familiarizing themselves with the course and developing strategies.

“You know, the goal is to get them prepared as much as possible,” Coach Greenawald said. “We play practice rounds up the course. We talk about how best to manage the course because there’s a lot of course management involved in golf.”

None of the Spartans moved forward to the state competition, but each of them got the chance to experience greater challenges.

Coming off a nearly undefeated season, the Southern Lehigh golf team headed into the Colonial League Championships with their heads held high and minds set on first place. T he team wrapped their regular season with a record of 13-1, the best record for Southern Lehigh golf since 2018. With young talent on the greens and the guidance of veteran seniors, the team was ready to fight for their Leagues title.

Southern Lehigh was seeded second overall in the Colonial League Championships, with Palmerton first. After losing by only a few strokes to Palmerton in the regular season, the team knew they had a shot at first place. Despite their best effort, Moravian Academy snuck up from behind the Spartans and took second place. Although the team as a whole

With numerous close matches this season, Coach Greenawald hopes to advise his players on how to adjust their mentality for the future. Mental strength proved to be just as important as physical skill as the team dealt with the growing stress of playoffs.

“I think, naturally, older players do better in the postseason just because they have more experience,” senior Cohen Resch said. “For a lot of players, it was their first time at leagues and that undue pressure on their shoulders doesn’t allow for the best performance.”

With many promising underclassmen on the team, Resch is excited for the success coming their way as they learn to manage the nerves that come with playing the game.

The results of the league tournament did not mark the end of the season for everyone on

“I think the sophomores that competed learned a valuable lesson and that’s one more year under their belt where they did compete,” Resch said. “Then they have the chance to improve next year and the year following.”

Beyond trophies and titles, Coach Greenawald prioritizes reinforcing the life skills that golf teaches. Unlike many other high school sports, players compete on courses with adults. Coach Greenawald feels that this experience helps his players learn the important skill of professionalism.

“It’s one of the only sports out there, certainly in high school sports, where you actually are your own official,” Coach Greenawald said. “You call your own penalties. You call your own mistakes. You keep track of your own score. So there’s a lot of honesty and integrity.”

From left to right, sophmores Frankie Boensch, Colin Sarnoski, David Tervalon, Wyatt Adams, and freshman Caleb Walsh, gather between swings at a dual match.

Photo Credit: Dominick Cirocco

Junior Reese Macintosh runs to rescue the ball from Parkland’s possession. Photo Credit: Madalyn Persing

Mr. Anthony becomes new business teacher at SLHS

by Morgan Downing

This fall, Southern Lehigh welcomed busines teacher Mr. Michael Anthony to the high school. He replaces retiree Mrs. Bonnie Organski in room 113 where he teaches several classes including CTA, Intro to Business, and Marketing. Mr. Anthony is excited to begin the year with a positive impact on his students.

“My favorite part about teaching is interact-

ing with students and getting to know them,” Mr. Anthony said. “I want to make sure that my class is an enjoyable experience for all my students.”

Mr. Anthony earned his bachelor’s degree at Penn State University where he studied secondary education with a concentration in social studies. Before obtaining the job at Southern

Lehigh, he taught social studies at Pottsville School District for four years.

Since his hiring, Mr. Anthony has become the co-advisor for the Future Business Leaders of America organization (FBLA) alongside fellow business teacher Mrs. JoAnn Peralta. He says his involvement in FBLA has been very enjoyable so far, seeing that many students have joined the club this year.

“Mr. Anthony has been a pleasure to work with,” said senior FBLA secretary Felicity Parrish. “He makes a great addition to the club and enhances the business atmosphere.”

Parrish says that although it is still early in the year, Mr. Anthony already offers a new perspective and insights to the club which will contribute to their future success.

Outside of the classroom, Mr. Anthony enjoys attending Southern Lehigh sporting events and supporting his student-athletes. He is also a devoted fan of both Penn State and Philadelphia Eagles football. In his free time, he is an avid golfer and enjoys spending time with his family and his dog named Roxy.

Mr. Anthony is looking forward to the rest of the school year as he is introduced to Spartan traditions, such as pep rallies and Friday night football games. Through his teaching, Mr. Anthony encourages a positive mindset and offers a helping hand to those around him.

“Always be yourself and don’t worry about what other people think,” he said.

Students say ‘Bonjour!’ to new French teacher Madame Farley

by Brandon Verna

ern Lehigh students. She holds an interesting perspective on the importance of learning a foreign language, as English was once a foreign language to her.

While she is a new face in the eyes of the students, Mrs. Farley lives in the area and appreciates the proximity to major cities like New York City and Philadelphia.

“My husband attended this school. I purchased a house in this school district because he recommended it,” she said. “[When] they told me there was a job opening, with no hesitation, I applied.”

Mrs. Farley studied Japanese language and civilization at the University of Paris, with dreams of eventually moving to Japan. After her studies in France, she moved to America, where her interests were redirected.

Madame Farley is eager to teach students about French.

This August, Southern Lehigh welcomed its new French teacher, Mrs. Leila Farley, with open arms. A native French speaker, she is eager to share her knowledge with South-

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“When I came to America 17 years ago, I didn’t know exactly what to do…I had to go back to college and redirect my education.” she said. “I decided to become a French teacher because it just [made] sense, and I have no regrets to [this] day.”

She earned a bachelor’s degree in Adolescent Education at SUNY Cortland, and later a Master’s of Education from SUNY Cortland. “I started [teaching] in upstate New York where the standards are very high,” she said. “I believe

it prepared me to teach French comfortably.”

Mrs. Farley has very ambitious goals for students’ accomplishments. She looks to teach her students French through storytelling, an innovative method that aims to greatly improve students’ vocabulary.

“We are trying to teach language using mostly vocabulary in context, using lots of gestures,” she said, “not so much using vocabulary lists and grammar-oriented tasks.”

She wants students to acquire French in fun, natural ways. Mrs. Farley wants to see her students grow and succeed in her first year here, and is excited to see the impact her teaching technique has on students’ knowledge.

As the school’s only French teacher, Mrs. Farley has lots of flexibility with her teaching, and she is willing to readjust and accommodate her students’ needs. She is also the French Club advisor, helping motivated French students further their studies and love of the language.

Having attended high school in France, Mrs. Farley provides an interesting perspective on high school here in the United States.

“In France, there is no spirit in school, we are not trying to build a community…there are no sports, no teams, nothing extracurricular,” she said. “So when we watch your movies we are obviously envious.”

at Southern Lehigh High School

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Mr. Anthony is excited to work with students in business classes this year. Photo Credit: Morgan Downing

Photo Credit: Brandon Verna

Mrs. Schiffer joins the social studies staff

by Kelcie Wagner

Among many staffing changes at Southern Lehigh High School, this fall the social studies faculty welcomed Mrs. Laura Schiffer to their department. Located in room 188, Mrs. Schiffer is excited about the opportunity to teach at Southern Lehigh.

“I’ve always been impressed by the school district; the students are outstanding,” she said. “I really love the size of Southern Lehigh. I feel like it has a big school feel to it, but it’s still a smaller school.”

Mrs. Schiffer is a 2011 graduate of East Stroudsburg University where she obtained a degree in political science and secondary social studies education. She then taught economics and social studies at Lehighton High School for nine years.

Mrs. Schiffer also worked in the corporate world for several years. She unconventionally found her way to education by teaching summer camps, Sunday school, and horseback riding lessons.

“I always felt I was a natural teacher,” she said. “It felt very natural to me.”

This year Mrs. Schiffer had the opportunity to get involved in clubs such as Angel 34 and Student Council. Previously, she was the Student Council advisor at Lehighton for many years, so she was familiar with the process. Mrs. Schiffer said she enjoys participating in different activities at school.

“It’s a great experience for me to see students outside of my classroom and being able to advocate, create policies, look at areas of improvement for the school,” she said. “We also put on some really fun events as well.”

Angel 34 is an organization that is very near and dear to Mrs. Schiffer’s heart. Her daughter was diagnosed with pediatric cancer three years ago and Angel 34 supported her family.

“When I had the opportunity to be involved with the student-run organization at Southern Lehigh, I was thrilled,” she said.

Outside of school Mrs. Schiffer enjoys spending time with her seven-year-old daughter and her husband. She also enjoys competition horseback riding.

Mrs. Schiffer is excited to see what her future holds at Southern Lehigh High School.

Señora Markwich leaves Southern Lehigh High School

by Sarah Lockley

At the end of September, Southern Lehigh Spanish and ESL teacher Mrs. Megan Markwich made the decision to resign from her position. In her new position, she will be teaching Spanish to elementary students at Bethlehem Area School District.

“I’ll miss the connections I’ve made with my students,” she said, “but I love teaching little kids and would like to just focus on Spanish.”

Mrs. Markwich began her time at Southern Lehigh as a substitute teacher. After one year, she was hired to teach both Spanish and English as a Second Language (ESL) – a position in which she remained for the following seven years.

The pursuit of language-learning has always been an important part of Mrs. Markwich’s life. As a child, her grandfather took the time to teach her Portuguese, which they often spoke together at home. It was during this time that Mrs. Markwich fell in love with the art of learning and teaching.

“I used to teach my stuffed animals with a blackboard and chalk,” she said. “I guess I just knew since I was five.”

Upon her resignation, Mrs. Markwich had sixty days notice until her last day at Southern Lehigh, with her departure to fall around the time of Thanksgiving. Despite the sudden nature of her resignation, the staff of Southern Lehigh were quick to wish her well during her journey.

“The administration was very supportive,” Mrs. Markwich said. “Mr. Miller wished me luck and congratulated me.”

Mrs. Markwich admitted that she will deeply miss all of the connections she has had the pleasure of making, with both her students and her fellow staff members. Though she must leave her students and colleagues behind, she wishes to leave them with a few words of advice:

“Just be yourself with your whole heart,” Mrs. Markwich said. “Those who love you for it will support you.”

World Language Word Search

Señora Markwich will deeply miss all of her students.

Photo Credit: Southern Lehigh School District

Mrs. Schiffer encourages her students to work hard and do their best. Photo Credit: Kelcie Wagner

New clubs bring cultural awareness to SLHS

by Nolan Sargent

This year, seniors Brandon Verna and Boris Litvak founded the Italian Club and German Club, respectively. These new clubs seek to bring increased cultural awareness to the high school.

“I started this club because I am part Italian, I am very interested in Italian culture, and I speak the language,” Verna said. “I think they have a beautiful culture, and I would like to try to share that with other people throughout the school.”

Verna likes to vary the club’s activities day by day. On the day we spoke, the group viewed a presentation on the election of Italy’s new prime minister, Giorgia Meloni. In the future, Verna hopes to incorporate several new aspects such as authentic Italian food and media such as film and television.

The Italian Club is also looking forward to the arrival of a new student who could make a great addition to the club as well as the student body as a whole.

“We have an Italian exchange student coming in and she’s very eager to join the club and teach us even more than I would be able to, as a native Italian,” Verna said.

The German Club has focused more on learning the German language, but takes time to introduce students to German culture as well. Litvak, who is fluent in German, wanted to make up for the lack of a German course at the high school. German was previously offered,

but was discontinued several years ago.

“I was thinking I would bring the German culture and German language back and see how people would take that,” Litvak said.

Members of this new club have taken it quite well, owing in large part to its charismatic founder.

“I thought it would be an interesting club and I thought Boris was the only person who could really pull this one off,” sophomore Nick Humphrey said.

Litvak greatly appreciates the passion of the club’s members and is excited for the future of the club. He hopes to harness this passion to organize events and teach the broader community about the German language and culture.

Both clubs meet during Spartan periods, with the Italian Club meeting on Day 2 and the German Club meeting on Day 1. Students seeking to join Italian Club or German Club should email advisors Mrs. Sheryl Ciotti or Mr. David Krial, respectively.

Those involved in these new clubs recognize their broader importance. They view cultural awareness as an essential element of education. “[Italian Club] gives a different perspective from a different part of the world,” Verna said, “and I think that’s very important, for Southern Lehigh students to be worldly and understand what’s going on not just in their immediate community but what’s going on in the world community.”

ASL Club signs a future at Southern Lehigh

by Mack Morgan

A few new clubs have been formed by Southern Lehigh High School students this year, including the German Club and the Italian Club to name a few. Now, for the first time in Southern Lehigh High School history, there is an American Sign Language (ASL) Club.

Sophomore Jaclyn Bossert, founder of the ASL Club, began preparing for the new group last year. Jaclyn has known ASL since she was younger due to her aunt being deaf; this is just one of several reasons why Bossert wanted to get the club approved.

“I’ve known ASL my whole life. So, ever since I was little, all my friends wanted to sign their names and I would teach them on the bus,” Bossert said. “That interest continued, so after overhearing the process on how to start a

club I thought, ‘neat, I should do that.”

To achieve her goal, Bossert first needed to create a description of the club and present it to former principal Mrs. Beth Guariello. After that, the last step for approval was to find a willing teacher to advise the club. Fortunately, math teacher Mr. Louis Skrapits was willing to back Bossert and the ASL Club.

“Jaclyn Bossert already knows sign language so she is pretty passionate about it,” Mr. Skrapits said. “I have never been in charge of a club so I thought it would be nice to be involved with a club with a good cause.”

The ASL Club was originally set to include only about 20 to 22 members, but ended up drawing a whopping 30 interested students. Bossert hopes to teach others about the deaf

community and give students the opportunity to talk with guest speakers and their interpreters regarding their experiences with deafness.

“The biggest goal is to do some community work because there are deaf people in our community and they make a pretty big impact,” Bossert said. “[If you] put effort beyond the bare minimum you’re going to get a lot out of this club.”

So far, Bossert believes the club is successful. The students in the club are slowly learning how to sign the alphabet, which is the foundation of ASL. The hope by the end of the school year is that seniors graduate with a basic understanding of ASL, and underclassmen end the year striving to learn more.

Senior Brandon Verna leads the Italian club discussions during Spartan period. Photo Credit: Nolan Sargent

Sophomore Jaclyn Bossert teaches ASL club members how to sign basic letters and words during a meeting. Photo Credit: Mack Morgan

SLHS Spirit Week!

Students dress up as Soccer Moms and Barbecue Dads.

Decade Day allows students to experiment with a large variety of styles!

Bright colors and nylon; it’s definitely the 80s!

Fashion club members wear their Decade Day garb.

Winners of the competition for best Decade Day outfit await their prizes!

Photo Credit: Dominick Cirocco

Photo Credit: Dominick Cirocco

Photo Credit: Larissa Myers

Photo Credit: Dominick Cirocco

Photo Credit: Mrs. Lauren Tocci