ADVICE FROM THE CLASS OF 2025
MANSKE
As the Class of 2025’s time at Allendale Columbia School comes to an end, the soonto-be graduates have learned plenty about how to succeed as an Upper School student. In this article, seven different pieces of advice are shared and explained right from the minds of our seniors.
“Don’t stress out over one bad grade! You can fix it!” - Caitlin S.
Caitlin, who is an extremely strong student, shares that she has learned throughout her years here that one bad grade isn’t the end of the world. She explains that you shouldn’t waste your time stressing about a bad grade. Instead use your time to fix it and communicate with your teachers.
“Pay attention in class! You never know what you are going to miss!” - Jack B.
Jack, who started at Allendale Columbia School his freshman year, has taken challenging
classes all four years. He has strived to take the hardest classes and excels no matter what subject. He stresses the importance of being attentive in classes and that paying attention will pay off in the long run when it comes to tests and homework.
“Take time for yourself. Sometimes self care can be more helpful than an extreme study session.” - Tayler P.
Tayler has worked very hard over her time at AC, and consistently gets good test scores. She attributes some of this to her “work-self” balance. Tayler makes sure to study for her exams, but also takes time to prioritize herself and do things she enjoys. Some of the things she enjoys are horseback riding and reading books.
“Take advantage of the opportunities you have here! Some of these things are once in a lifetime!” - Meredith W.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
SCHOOL: PAGE 1-3
SPORTS: PAGE 4-5
READING + REVIEWS: PAGE 6-9
PROM: PAGE 10-11
ENTERTAINMENT: PAGE 12-15
ADVICE: PAGE 16 MEREDITH WELCH
ADVICE Continued to pg.2
SENIOR FEATURE
AUDRIANA WILLIAMS
It’s finally that time of year for us seniors! Graduation season! We thought it would be exciting to share what we’re looking forward to in the upcoming year.
Caitlin: I am going to Fredonia State and am majoring in Visual Arts/Graphic Design. I’m looking forward to meeting new people and decorating my dorm. I chose my college because it’s close to home, and I like the community feel which I am super excited about. In these last few months I want to continue to have fun with my friends, and enjoy the last few months I have here in high school. My advice is to do plenty of research when looking for colleges!
Marina: I’m going to Kent State and I’m majoring in Graphic Design. I’m looking forward to meeting new people. I am nervous about leaving home, and I am excited about the new opportunities that Kent has to offer. I
Continued from pg.1
Meredith, a student athlete and friend to many, has been at AC since 8th grade. In her time here, she has gone on the exchange trip to France in 2023, participated in multiple varsity level sports, and taken a variety of different classes at AC. Her most memorable class is Physics of Engineering, where she learned how to build a 3D printer. It is doubtful that Meredith would have gotten these opportunities at any other school.
“Work hard - your early years of high school matter just as much as your later ones!” - Oliver R.
Oliver, a student athlete and Grade Representative, is starting at Cornell S.C. Johnson School of Business in the fall. Since his brother started at Cornell in 2023, Oliver has always known that Cornell was the place he wanted to further his education after high school. Oliver worked extremely hard his freshman and sophomore years, focused on his post-graduate goals. Oliver is now the epitome of “hard work pays off.” His success in school and his future at an Ivy League university would not have been possible without his hard work starting his freshman year.
“Everything happens for a reason! College rejection is just redirection!” - Elie S.
Elie has been driven and focused on college ever since her first day of freshman year. At the end of her junior year, Elie had chosen a few top schools, and even decided on applying
THE HOWLER
Early Decision to Vanderbilt University. Since submitting her ED application, many things have changed for Elie. She got rejected from a few of her favorite schools, but also got accepted into Penn State University. She never seriously considered Penn State, but the more she looked into it, the more she began to fall in love with the campus and people. Now as the college admissions process is coming to an end, she is fully committed to Penn State for Engineering and could not be more excited! She can’t imagine being committed to any other school, and thinks that her story is a perfect example of “everything happens for a reason.”
“Put in the work. Teachers and your peers will notice.” - Jerry S.
Jerry has been at Allendale Columbia School for 15 years, spending most of his life in this building. From the playground to the science labs, he has dedicated a ton of time to learning. AC uses a variety of different learning techniques, and Jerry has tried each one trying to figure out what works for him. His academic career has been supported by his teachers and peers, and his hard work doesn’t go unnoticed. His friends say that when Jerry really puts his mind to something, he always succeeds. Teachers notice this too, and can always tell when Jerry is engaged in his work. Jerry is still deciding on colleges, but knows he wants to play soccer and continue his academic career. •
want to finish my year strong, and enjoy every moment. My best advice would be to be kind to everyone!
Maddy: I committed to Elon University, my major is political science and sports management. I am looking forward to rushing. I’m looking forward to the nice weather that Elon has to offer. I am most nervous about the college workload. I am very excited for sports games, and meeting new people. In these last few months of high school I want to hang out with my friends and enjoy my last few days. My advice is to enjoy your senior year of high school, because it flies by!
Thank you for our participating seniors for participating in this interview! •
REJECTING OFFERS?
As a senior in high school, I found myself facing a decision I had dreamed about for years: whether or not to play soccer in college. Since I was a kid, soccer has been a huge part of my life. I spent countless hours on the field, pushing myself through early morning practices, late night games, and weekend tournaments. The sport taught me discipline, teamwork, and how to handle both victory and defeat. So
when a few colleges offered me spots on their soccer teams, it felt like everything I had worked for was finally paying off.
At first, it seemed like a no-brainer. I had always imagined myself playing soccer in college, and now I had the chance, but as I started looking more closely at the schools, I began to feel a little off. The campuses didn’t excite me. The locations felt unfamiliar, and something about the overall vibe at each of the schools just didn’t feel like “me.” It was confusing. Here I was being offered an opportunity many athletes dream of and I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was trying to force myself into something that wasn’t right. I started asking myself some hard questions: Would I be happy spending four years in a place where I didn’t feel comfortable? Would I be okay if soccer started to feel more like a job than a passion? And what
MEREDITH WELCH
Photo by My Profit Tutor on Unsplash
REJECTING Continued from pg.2
THE HOWLER
if, somewhere down the line, I wanted to focus on something other than sports?
The more I thought about it, the more I realized that I needed to choose a school where I could grow in all areas of life—not just as an athlete. At the time, it felt like a huge leap. I had always imagined soccer as a central part of my college experience, and stepping away from that idea felt almost like losing a part of myself, but after taking a step back and evaluating my long term goals, I realized that my happiness and growth as a person should come before everything else. So I made the decision to attend a college that didn’t offer me a soccer spot but did offer something even more important: a sense of belonging.
The first time I visited the campus, I felt at home. I could picture myself walking through the quad, joining clubs, meeting new people, and exploring opportunities I hadn’t even considered before. The academic programs were exactly what I was looking for, and the overall energy of the
campus made me feel both challenged and supported. It was a place that made me feel excited about the future, and that feeling mattered more than anything else.
Walking away from competitive soccer wasn’t easy. It had been a huge part of my identity, and for a while, it felt strange to let go of that path. But in the end, I know I made the right choice for me. I chose a college where I feel confident I’ll thrive—not just as a student, but as a person. Soccer will always be a part of who I am, and I might still play in intramural leagues or kick the ball around with friends, but now, I’m focused on making the most of this next chapter in a place I truly love. The decision wasn’t just about sports; it was about finding a place where I could truly grow, not just as an athlete, but as an individual. I’m excited about the future ahead, knowing that I’ve chosen a school where I can embrace every opportunity and challenge.•
HOW TO STUDY FOR AP EXAMS
JACK BOGUE
For those who are taking AP classes, the AP exams are fast approaching. These can be scary times, but if you are well prepared there is nothing to fear. This article is to give advice on how to prepare and study for the AP exams, so you can walk into the testing room with the confidence of knowing you did everything you could to prepare for that test.
Firstly, here’s an important reminder.
The earlier you start studying, the less cramming you will have to do the days before the exam.
Even if it feels scary and you want to push it off and avoid it, start studying now because it will make studying easier in the long run. Don’t give in to the urge to procrastinate. I think it is a good idea to find some sort of review material that covers every topic from the class that you learned all year. There are many good options for review material, like the Princeton review books, which include several full practice tests. To make the most use of practice tests, study rigorously beforehand. You should read over the review material, and try to actively understand what you read, which is more helpful than only reading
quickly and not taking in as much information. When you take the practice test, try to simulate the real testing environment. Use a timer to simulate how the actual test will be, remove distractions so you can really focus on the test. Do some reflection after taking a practice test. What topics are you good at and have a solid understanding of? What topics do you need to put some more thought into? Put some more time and effort into focusing on the topics you need more work on, and trust yourself to not forget the things you already know. It’s always a good idea
After you’ve done plenty of studying, and took some practice tests, you can
watch some review videos to refresh your memory and keep the ideas in your mind.
You can take notes while you watch if you find it helpful, but I’ve found it helpful to just watch the video and pay attention closely and let myself absorb the information. Also, explaining the concepts to yourself or other people will reinforce your knowledge of the material, so you can better explain the information on the AP exam.
Keep in mind that taking breaks is important too. If you’re constantly studying with no breaks, you will probably end up learning one thing, and then forgetting it once you move on to the next thing. Take your time, relax and take breaks, and give your brain a chance to absorb and comprehend what you learned before bombarding it with more information. Also, keep in mind that the results of the test won’t make or break your life. Higher scores will look good on college applications, and could earn you college credit. But lower scores won’t ruin your college journey, as you don’t even need to submit your AP scores to colleges.•
Photo by Yustinus Tjiuwanda on Unsplash
THE HOWLER
MARCH MADNESS
The Florida Gators are the 2025 men’s basketball national champions. When it came down to the championship game, initially, I didn’t mind who won. My bracket had Houston, and after the first half, I wanted Houston to win. Florida was so good throughout the tournament. I was really excited for the championship game. However, for the first half, Houston definitely shut out Florida with their defense. Alex Condon and Thomas Haugh were amazing in helping bring Florida back alive.
I’ve heard a lot of people were upset that the tournament was too chalky. I had less of a problem with all the number one seeds making it to the final four but what I didn’t like was the lack of a Cinderella. Florida, Houston, Auburn, and Duke making it all the way proved their dominance but it could also be viewed as the effect NIL and the transfer portal is having on college basketball. However, the absence of a Cinderella upset me because schools like Drake, McNeese, and Colorado State all made it past the first round but no one made a run. McNeese
State upset me the most because not only did they upset Clemson (my favorite team going into the tournament), and played an entertaining game, but their manager was one of the closest things to a breakout star this tournament had outside of Walter Clayton Jr. As far as Drake and Colorado state go in my opinion, their path was the hardest and they at least put in an effort. Now I’m going to go over my favorite player from each region. In the East, my favorite player was Mark Sears. In the Alabama vs BYU game he shot 10/16 from three, ending the night with 34 points, in doing so, he led his team to break the record for most threes in a tournament game (25). In the south region, it was tied between Tahaad Pettiford from Auburn and Sean Pedulla
from Ole Miss. In Pedulla’s last tournament game against Michigan State, he ended the night with 24 points shooting 44.4% from beyond the arch. Tahaad however, had his best game in the tournament against Creighton, scoring 23 points and shooting 66.7 percent from deep. Although he isn’t the most consistent player he’s an amazing 6th man and when he’s playing good, Auburn is playing good too. My favorite player in the West was Alex Condon. As much as I want to say Walter Clayton Jr., Alex Condon is a player that needs to be talked about more. He might look outstanding in terms of statistics, but was one of my favorite big men to watch this tournament, because of the way he plays so clean and calculated. My favorite player in the Midwest was Milos Uzan, simply because he’s an amazing playmaker and very fun to watch. His best game was against Purdue where he dropped 22 points and shot 66.7% from deep.
My favorite games from each region were extremely entertaining. My favorite game in the east was Bama vs BYU, although it was a blowout game. Alabama could not stop shooting 3s and I could not stop watching. In the west my favorite game was Maryland vs Colorado State, this game was down to the wire and thrilling until the end which came with a controversial buzzer-beater from Derrick Queen which people either loved
or thought was a travel. My favorite game in the midwest was Clemson vs McNeese. Although it didn’t start or end the way I wanted it to, I was on the edge of my seat throughout the whole second half. Clemson went on scoring only 17 in the first half to cut the game down to one possession, ending 69-67 McNeese. My favorite game in the South was Ole Miss vs Michigan State. Sean Pedulla was lights out and at no point did I know where the game was going.
In the transfer portal era, the landscape of Division I basketball will look completely different next year. To end my article, I picked four of the players I’m looking forward to the most in the transfer portal. I’m most excited to see Bennett Stirtz, Xavian Lee, Jalil Bethea, and Elliot Cadeu. Bennett Stirtz is a breakout star from Drake who came up with his coach Ben McCollum from Division II. Stirtz averaged 19.2 points and 5.7 assists per game this season and is following his coach once again to Iowa next season. Xavian Lee dominated in the Ivy League. He’s on his way from Princeton down to Florida to join this year’s national champions and join his former high school teammate, Thomas Haugh. Lee averaged 16.9 points and 6.1 rebounds. Jalil Bethea was the No. 7 recruit coming out of the class of 2024. He faced challenges at UMiami his freshman season because his coach Jim Larrenega retired halfway through the season over frustrations with NIL and the changing landscape of college basketball sending Jalil and the rest of the UMiami team on a downward spiral. He’s now committed to Alabama and I expect him to do great things with Nate Oats and finally find his rhythm. Lastly, Elliot Cadeu is transferring from UNC to the University of Michigan, which I’m hoping will be beneficial for him. Elliot was a five-star recruit out of high school. At UNC he did not live up to people’s expectations. I just think UNC as a whole was struggling to find its footing but as far as Elliot, every single time I watched his games it seemed like he had a turnover every time he touched the ball. He had a turnover rate of 26.1% this season which was the worst in the ACC. Hopefully, a change of scenery and Dusty May will do him a favor. •
MACKENZIE OPIRA
THE HOWLER SPORTS ROUND UP
LIAM MITCHELL
March Madness finished earlier this month and some have argued that it was a disappointing tournament because of the lack of upsets. This year we only saw one doubledigit seed make the sweet 16, Arkansas, who’s in the SEC, which this year was the best conference of all time. Many believe the lack of upsets are due to the increase in NIL (Name Image and Likeness) spending, where the good players from mid-major teams transfer after a couple years to the high major schools for more money and a better chance of winning a championship. However, we still had all four 1 seeds make the Final Four for the 2nd time ever, the only other time being 2008 in San Antonio, where this year’s Final Four was as well. In this first game of the Final Four Auburn faced Florida in a SEC rematch. Auburn had an 8 point lead at half, and when leading by more than 5 at half this year they were 25-0. Yet, this streak came to an end as Florida, backed by Walter Clayton scoring 20 in the 2nd half, pulled off the comeback to reach their first final since 2007. The Second game was Duke vs Houston in a heavyweight Match. Duke was up 6 at half after a very poor shooting half by Houston, yet Duke maintained control well into the tail end of the 2nd half, as
took a tough fadeaway against Juwan Roberts and missed, so the Final was set Houston vs Florida. Florida trailed most of the game even by 12 with 16:25 to go in the game, but with less than 30 seconds to go, the Gators took the lead and forced Houston into a decision down 2 to either go for the win or tie. Still, Florida had all the momentum and Houston decided to go for the three, but Florida smothered Houston’s Emanuel Sharpe. They didn’t even get a shot off, so the Florida Gators won the 2025 Men’s Basketball National Championship.
HAC
KATE MAY
they were up double digits with less than 10 to go. However, in the final 10 minutes they only completed 1 field goal, and after turning the ball over on an out of bounds play, Duke found themselves down 1 with less than 30 seconds to go. So, they drew up a play to give it to the best player in the country, Cooper Flagg, and he
This month also marks the beginning of the NBA Playoffs. In the East we have the #1 seed Cavs taking on the #8 seed Heat, the #4 seed Pacers taking on the #5 seed Bucks, the #3 seed Knicks facing the #6 Pistons, and finally, the #2 seed Celtics vs the #7 seed Magic. In the East, the Cavs had the 2nd best record in the league with over 60 wins and the Celtics had the 3rd best record also eclipsing 60 wins. These two teams are heavy favorites to face each other in the conference finals, where I expect the Celtics to reach the finals, as they have too much talent, can shoot the 3 incredibly well, and most importantly, can defend. However, The West is much more competitive and unpredictable as we have the #1 seed Thunder facing the #8 seed Grizzlies, the #4 seed Nuggets facing the #5 seed Clippers, the #3 seed Lakers taking on the #6 seed Wolves, and the #2 seed Rockets taking on the #7 seed Warriors. The West should feature a far more competitive atmosphere than the East, since if the Grizzlies played in the East, with their record, they would have been tied with the Bucks for the 5th seed. This shows how much more tightly contested the West is. However, the Thunder should cruise past the Grizzlies as they set the all time record for point differential in a season and had the best record in the league. Yet, the rest of the series should be very interesting.
The Nuggets who just fired their coach facing the Clippers who have won 18 of their last 21 games. We also have Lebron and Luka in their first series against Anthony Edwards and the Wolves, which should be another great series. Lastly, the Rockets against one of the most improved teams in the league following the acquisition of Jimmy Butler III in the Warriors. Therefore, I think we will see an upset in the first round of the West with the Rockets losing to the Warriors then taking on the Lakers in the 2nd round with the Lakers advancing to play the winner of the Clippers and the Thunder. Therefore, I believe the West finals will be the Thunder vs Lakers and the Thunder advancing to take on the Celtics, with the Celtics going back to back. •
CAITLIN SWARTZ
TV Show ReviewAdolescence
Rating - 5/5
Netflix - March 13, 2025
REVIEWS
The TV show Adolescence follows the story of a young boy, Jaime, accused of murdering a fellow classmate. Each episode dives into a different aspect of the case, uncovering the psychological reasoning behind the crime. It may seem that the point of this show is to uncover the murder; however, the director’s intent was for the viewer to understand the challenges that young boys face in today’s society with online platforms spreading ideas of toxic masculinity. If you enjoy learning about the mind of a killer and the reasoning behind it, then this is the perfect show for you.
Each episode is filmed in one shot, creating an intense and unsettling atmosphere for both the actors and the audience. When looking for an actor to play Jaime, the casting director had to look for someone who wasn’t taught in a traditional acting school. The actor they chose, Owen Cooper, had never acted in anything professional before, making him the perfect candidate to act in a one-shot miniseries. Cooper’s performance is, hands-down, one of the best acting performances I have seen from someone his age. The way the audience can feel compassion for his character in one scene and then complete outrage in the same scene is amazing.
The third episode focuses on Jaime’s psychological reasoning behind the murder, and how different online beliefs about how men should act made him capable of this crime. Cooper’s interaction with Erin Doherty in this episode goes to show that finding actors who share chemistry goes a long way. Doherty plays the role of a psychologist tasked with writing a mental evaluation of Jaime for his court date. Her reaction to Cooper’s words and movements throughout the scene is a prime example of her skills in what she does. Every actor in this show took their roles to another level, telling the story of a young boy’s mind, ruined by the toxicity of today’s internet and social media platforms.•
ELLE DILORETO
Recently, I’ve read the book Normal People by Sally Rooney, and I loved it! It was an incredible page-turner, and I would sit around school or my house just reading this book, because I could not put it down!
Sally Rooney is an exceptional Irish author and screenwriter. She’s published three other novels along with Normal People: Conversations with Friends; Beautiful World, Where Are You; and Intermezzo. She’s been a #1 New York Times bestselling author of many of her books. She’s won awards, and many complements have been given to her for her writing, such as;“Sally Rooney is a master of the literary page-turner.” - J. Courtney Sullivan and,“Absolutely Engrossing And Surprisingly Heartbreaking with more depth, subtlety, and insight than any one novel deserves.” - Stephanie Danler
The book Normal People is the perfect book to fall in love with characters, Marienne Sheridan, Connell Waldron, and my personal favorite, Connell’s mom because she always has such wise things to say, and she knows how to put her son in his place. This book takes us through Marianne’s and Connell’s life through high school, college, and young adulthood, with some challenges along the way. There’s no denying that Marianne and Connell like each other. Everyone can see it. Siblings, friends, and parents can see that they feel something for each other, but Connell decides to keep his relationship with Marianne a secret because Connell is the popular kid at school and Marianne is the weird” kid at school.However, this doesn’t stop them from always finding their way back to each other. Through break-ups, other relationships that the two experience, depression, career choices, college choices, and an unloving family, the two always stick by each other’s side, and Sally Rooney leaves a lot of shocking twists for readers in the book.
I know this is going to sound clichéd, but what I loved most about this book was the characters. They all had their own traits and were very real. What I mean by that is, all of their stories and backgrounds made sense, and I never once thought in my head, that this background for this character is slightly far-fetched. They were well developed, and very fun to learn more about as I continued reading the book.
What I didn’t like about this book was how there were such sudden jumps in time, from past to present. It left me wondering what scene I was in at times, or when a certain scene had happened. I got a little lost and confused as I was reading the book due to all of the changes in time.
There’s no doubt I wouldn’t recommend this book to other people! As I said up above, and as someone else reviewed the book, it was a page-turner, with excellent and well developed characters, and a very organized and thought through plot. I would give this book a 5 out of 5 stars and I would definitely read more of Sally Rooney’s books in the future!
Be sure to pick up a copy of Normal People next time you’re at a library, and enjoy the read! •
THE HOWLER
REVIEWS
ACHANTI THONGJANG
I recently finished reading Sunrise on the Reaping, and I loved it! I’m a really big Hunger Games fan, so when I heard the book was coming out, I had to read it. I was really excited to see how Suzanne Collins would reveal more information about other books in the series through this one and see which political theme she chose for the book; as she does for each one.
The book takes place in a dystopian world ruled by a strict, authoritarian government. Every year, the government holds a brutal ceremony known as the reaping, where young people are randomly selected to be sacrificed for the sake of “peace” and “order.” While the story is fictional, it draws strong parallels to the way real regimes use fear, spectacle, and misinformation to control their people.
One of the most powerful things about this book is how it slowly peels back the layers of its world. What starts as a terrifying tradition reveals itself to be a carefully designed propaganda tool. The government doesn’t just want obedience—it wants the people to believe the lies so deeply that they stop questioning them altogether. All their motives are controlled by the fear of their citizens gaining class consciousness, and as the main characters begin to see through the propaganda, the book reveals the consequences
INVISIBLE PART 3
ELLE DILORETO
PHOTO BY DENISE CHAN (UNSPLASH)
Calley watches the video of Dr. Craig killing Calley’s parents.
Dr. Craig pours a the liquid cyanide into a wine bottle. He places the wine bottle into a blue bag, and writes a card that reads, Congratulations on the baby!
Once Dr. Craig finishes writing the card, he sticks it on the bag that holds the wine.
Dr. Craig picks up the bag and walks out of his office.
At this, the screen goes black. The scene is over.
“Why did Dr. Craig kill my parents?” Calley whispers.
Calley thinks about what to do next, when suddenly, an idea comes to mind.
Calley grabs a sticky note, writing Important on it with a black sharpie. She sticks the note on the tape and dashes out of the hospital with it.
Calley drives to the police station. When she gets there around three a.m, she walks through the doors of the station, the tape in hand. No one seems to notice the tape floating in the air, until Calley lets go of it softly, where it lands on the ground.
A police officer from behind the front desk looks over at it, picking it up.
“Bingo,” Calley whispers, and then runs out of the station.
Day, October 15, 2016, Hospital
Calley waits in Dr. Craig’s office for him to come in for the day. In any minute, he’ll walk in and be confronted. The police will arrive at the hospital, and Calley will get her explanation as
to why he killed her parents.
Calley is ready for revenge.
Calley sits in Dr. Craig’s spinny chair, asleep. Staying up and waiting for him got tiring, but suddenly, the door handle jiggles, and it jolts Calley awake. When it opens, Dr. Craig walks in with a brown tote bag that drops to the ground as he gasps and sees Calley.
He tries to make a run for it, but Calley lunges toward him and tugs on the collar of his white lab coat.
Dr. Craig falls to the ground, and Calley locks the door, standing infront of it.
“Why did you kill my parents?!” Calley yells as her voice shakes.
Calley is ready for the truth.
Once Calley has gotten Dr. Craig tied up in his spinny chair, she demands an explanation.
“I need to know why you killed my parents.”
“Or what? You’re just a kid. What are you going to do about it?” Dr. Craig spits.
“If you don’t have an explanation, then what are you going to say to the police once they see that video?”
Dr. Craig scowls at Calley. “Fine, but you aren’t going to like the truth.”
“Tell me!” Calley yells.
“Alright! Alright!”
“You probably know by now that your mom and I liked each other back in college. So much that I got her pregnant afterward, with you.”
“What?” Calley’s voice trembles. ***
Calley’s mom sat Craig down for a talk. They were in a park, on their favorite green bench
Photo by Glen Carrie on Unsplash
REVIEW Continued from pg.7
THE HOWLER
of defying a power oligarchy who strives to eliminate autonomy. The characters are very well-developed. You feel the weight of their decisions, the pressure they face, and the fear of being punished by the government one way or another. Some of them go along with the system because it feels safer than being deviant. Others quietly rebel, risking everything for a sliver of truth, or a chance of showing resistance to the districts across Panem. Toward the end of the book, the theme of propaganda becomes especially clear and powerful. You see how the government controls not just what people do, but how they think.
One scene in the book that really stuck with me was a scene where the main character, Haymitch Abernathy, has a moment with a character
INVISIBLE Continued from pg.7
where they’ve shared sandwiches, and laughed until their stomachs hurt.
“Craig. I need to tell you something,” Amanda whispered.
“Anything,” Craig whispered back, leaning into kiss Amanda.
“No,” Amanda replied, pushing Craig back. Craig looked taken aback by this sudden movement.
“I’m pregnant. You got me pregnant a month ago.”
“Oh my God! That’s amazing! That’s-” Craig paused, scanning Amanda’s face which had worry written all over it. “Why don’t you seem excited about that?”
“Because you know that my parents don’t approve of you. You drink heavily. You live in a run down apartment in a dangerous part of town. You hardly have any money. Whereas Sam is wealthy. He has enough money to take care of me. He-”
“Wait. You’re not talking about Sam Bailey. Like from college.”
“Yes. My parents work with his parents, and he’s a very polite young man.”
“You like him, and your parents approve of him.”
“Yes. I do, and yes, they do. We went on a date a few weeks ago. He was very charming.” Amanda rubs the back of her neck as she thinks about it.
“You’re telling me that you’ve already been out on a date with him even when we were dating.”
“I had hoped you would understand,” Amanda says with no sign of guilt.
“What about the baby?”
named Plutarch Heavensbee, who is one of the many people in charge of managing the games. The conversation happened during a training session before the games; Haymitch is armed and is visibly contemplating attacking a Peacekeeper (a guard). In the end, he doesn’t. Suzanne Collins reveals shortly after that the scene was about class consciousness. Propaganda led the majority to believe that they were weaker than a small few, who weren’t as powerful as they made the majority believe. Reading Sunrise on the Reaping made me think about how important it is to question what we’re told, and to stay aware of the messages that are constantly being fed to us.•
“Well, when me and Sam start dating, and things get serious, I’m going to say that the baby is his and mine. You won’t ever be in my life again. Everything between us will be like it never happened. It’ll be like you don’t exist. Likeyou’re invisible.”
As Craig sat there, broken-hearted, he suddenly got an idea.
“Well, then we have to go out on one more date before this is all over. Like a goodbye. We can share a bottle of wine, and I’ll get you your favorite so you can bring it home to Sean.”
“Sam,” corrected Amanda.
“Sam. That’s what I meant.”
“Alright,” Amanda agreed. “One more date, and then we’re done.”
“Deal,” Craig gleamed, as Amanda sat back and watched kids run around the park, free of any stress. ***
“I poisoned the wine. Your mom and stepdad swerved off the road, but you survived. You were just a living reminder of what you’re mom did to me, and I knew that I had to kill you too, but instead I made you invisibe,” Dr. Craig explains.
“You monster! You deserve to rot in a cell!” Calley yells as police barge in, one shoves Calley away, saying that we’ll take it from here, another two handcuff Dr. Craig, and sudden realization hits Calley. She’s no longer invisible.
She found the reason her parents died, and she took care of Dr. Craig, enough to bring her back to life.
As Dr. Craig is escorted out of the room, she smiles and waves goodbye to him as he scowls at her, and then Calley knows what she has to do.
Calley dashes out of the hospital and hops in
her car, driving to her aunt and uncle.
When she bursts through the door, her aunt and uncle look over to her gasping. They quickly stand up and engulf her in a hug.
“We were worried sick about you!” her aunt yells, then kissing Calley on the head.
“We thought you ran away!” her uncle yells, then giving Calley a squeeze.
“I’m okay! I’m okay, but there is something I want to do.”
Calley’s aunt, uncle, and Calley herself each hold a bouquet of flowers and walk to Calley’s parents’ graves.
Calley sets a bouquet down on her mother’s grave, and her aunt and uncle set two down on her stepdad’s grave.
Calley’s aunt puts a hand on Calley’s shoulder as a tear rolls down Calley’s cheek. “We’ll give you a second,” she whispers to Calley, and then Calley’s aunt and uncle walk away.
Calley kneels down, and begins to talk to her parents.
“I miss you guys. I really do. It wasn’t fair what Dr. Craig did to you guys, but you guys will never be gone. You’ll always be alive in my heart.” Calley sighs as she finishes, and then wind starts to pick up, and Calley knows that it didn’t pick up by chance. Calley knows deep down why the wind picked up. She knows her parents are with her, and Calley whispers, “Hi mom. Hi dad.”
The End.•
SUMMER VIBES
RYAN D’ARDUINI
Spring is here, and summer is right around the corner. Yes, we are all excited and these last few months are going to feel like they are taking forever, but the best thing we can do is think about everything we as students have so much to look forward to and enjoy the summer stress-free.
What Are Your Peers doing?
Some of your peers will be doing a variety of activities on many different topics. For example, Maddy Manske will be working at a camp all summer being a camp counselor. Jack Diehl will be working and life-guarding over the summer. I also know all the seniors will be getting ready to move into college if they plan to do so and getting ready to change their lives. Most of the juniors will be hopefully going to college visits and looking at places they would like to go to school.
What you could be doing?
Over the summer, if you are the type of person who isn’t going to worry about college stuff right now, then you could always go out and go to the beach and go on vacations with friends and family. Some of your peers’ favorite activities involve, going jet skiing, traveling, going to the beach/lake. I know my favorite activity is going to my lake house and riding the jet ski and boat. What’s your favorite summer activity?
What Ms. Nevinger Recommends for sophomores and juniors.
Ms. Nevinger recommends that you take advantage of every little thing you can, whether it’s going on college visits, signing up for summer activities for colleges, and starting to do some major research on schools so you can end up at a place to call your new home for the next 4 years.•
THE HOWLER
APRIL FOOLS
PETER NIU
Let’s be honest: the moment you walk into school on April 1st, all trust disappears. Your friends are acting way too innocent. The teacher has a weird smile. You’re second-guessing every announcement, snack, and worksheet. Welcome to April Fools’ Day—where reality takes a coffee break, and nonsense takes over. From fake tests to missing homework assignments, April Fools’ Day brings a wave of jokes and pranks that make school life a little more exciting.
Every year on April 1st, people around the world celebrate April Fools’ Day with jokes, pranks, and plenty of laughter. The tradition has been around for centuries, though no one knows exactly how it started. Some believe it dates back to the 1500s, when France switched calendars and those who stuck to the old dates were called “April fools.”
Over time, the day grew into an unofficial holiday focused on humor and light-hearted mischief. Newspapers, companies, and even major websites now join in, posting fake news stories and outrageous announcements to trick readers. A famous prank was in 2015, when Google introduced “Google Nose,” a fake feature that claimed to let users smell things through their screens. Some of the most famous pranks in history show how creative April Fool’s jokes can be. In 1957, the BBC aired a fake news report about spaghetti growing on trees. Viewers believed it and called the station, asking how they could grow their own. In 1998, Burger King announced a “Left-Handed Whopper,” claiming it was specially designed for left-handed customers. People actually showed up asking for it.
Today, different countries have their own versions of April Fools’ Day. In Scotland, people celebrate “Hunt the Gowk Day,” sending each other on fake errands. In France, it’s “Poisson d’Avril,” where kids tape paper fish to each other’s backs. In the United States, anything goes—at least as long as it’s harmless and funny.
At school, April Fools’ Day is a chance for students and teachers to have a little fun—as long as it’s all in good spirit. Unpredictable and harmless pranks can make the day just much more memorable. April Fools’ Day isn’t just about pulling tricks—it’s about creativity, quick thinking, and sharing a laugh. In a busy school year full of deadlines, tests, and serious work. Sometimes a harmless joke is exactly what everyone needs. Just remember, the best pranks are the ones that surprise people without hurting anyone. So whether you’re the one pulling the trick or getting fooled, it’s all part of the game.
In today’s world, where everyone moves quickly from one thing to the next, April Fools’ Day is a reminder to slow down, laugh, and enjoy a little harmless fun. It encourages creativity, quick thinking, and even teamwork when friends plan pranks together.
So next time April 1st comes, be ready. Whether you’re the one pulling the prank or the one being tricked, remember the real point of the day: to laugh, to connect, and maybe to think twice before believing everything you hear.•
Photo by Glen Carrie on Unsplash
THE HOWLER PROM FASHIONS
SIENA ARDIZZONE
THE HOWLER PROM FASHIONS
dress shopping
With prom around the corner the main topic on many minds is where to buy a prom dress. People often get flustered because there are so many online and in store places to choose from. Because of this, many usually wait too long to look for a dress and they become sold out. Even though there’s only one month until prom, now is the time to buy your dress. In my experience, I recommend ordering online. Although you can’t try it on in person for sizing purposes, there are more options online that can cater to your personal style. The stores I recommend are: Lucy in the Sky, Princess Polly, Beginning Boutique, and Lulus. These stores offer an array of options, colors and styles. I have purchased prom dresses from Princess Polly and Lucy in the Sky. Both of these dresses have been good quality and true to size. Because there were so many online options to choose from, I could find a dress that matched my style and something I was looking for. This opportunity is not as easy to come by when shopping in person. Rochester specifically does not offer the best prom stores. There is Windsor and Macy’s at Eastview Mall, but there are not many options or sizes there. Since online stores are more customizable and offer more options, I would try to look online. On the previous page I show some examples of dresses from each website to give some ideas on the different types of dresses. •
PROM SUITS
RYAN DARDUINI
SIENA ARDIZZONE
THE HOWLER HOWLARIOUS
YOUNG THUG TIER LISTS
JACK DIEHL AND ARI HAGELBERG
This is my tier list of all the Young Thug projects. As you can see we have the albums JEFFERY, Barter 6, and So Much Fun topping the list due to their importance in shaping the trap game. Under that we have Slime Season 3, SUPER SLIMEY, and Beautiful Thugger Girls. These albums are just as amazing but aren’t as important
to thuggers upcoming as the top tier. The issue with this list is that it did not have great albums such as Punk and BUSINESS IS BUSINESS, which could be even considered a classic or fire. This happened because whenever they made the list, the newer albums weren’t released yet.•
Here is a perfect list of the songs on Young Thug’s debatable best album. JEFFERY was released in 2015 and stands out in his discography. One thing that is very special about this album is that thugger named every song after his role models,
people who he looked up to and was inspired from while starting music. There are some big names that he looked up to such as; Rihanna, Ye, and Harambe. Overall, this is a great album, I would rate it a high 9 to a soft 10. •
HOWLARIOUs
OPINION PIECE: INSTAGRAM NOTES
Instagram notes are a way of expressing thoughts for 24 hours in the DM section of Instagram. You can post for your close friends or all of your followers to see. Some people put their thoughts, others answer questions, and others post their recently listened-to songs. Yet Instagram notes have become a place for people to overshare, answer questions no one wanted to know the answers to, or just spam their thoughts, using it as a diary.
I interviewed Mackenzie, an 11th-grade student, about their feelings on Instagram notes. How do you feel when you see Instagram notes in your feed?
Annoyed, they’re very unnecessary. I don’t need to know all of this information against my will.
Are you an Instagram Notes user? If so, what do you post about?
I am not, but if I were to post, it would be strictly music.
What do you think are the intentions behind Instagram notes? Is it sending a message or just for fun?
I think it depends from person to person, but I think real notes in a journal would be more
impactful.
Do you read people’s Instagram notes because you are genuinely interested, or do you ignore them?
Depends on the day. If I’m feeling nosy, I’ll read them.
My personal opinion on Instagram notes is that they are unnecessary and should be taken off because none of your followers care. The other thing is that the only people who can see your notes are those you follow back. This means that celebrities, especially, are not using notes, and if they are, their fans are not seeing them. I do think it’s a great way to express yourself, specifically if you want to post a song, however, I think Instagram stories are much better because you can make it close friends and include pictures.
After talking to a few more people, the conclusion is that Instagram Notes have gotten pretty mixed reactions. Some people think they’re fun and kinda nostalgic, like old-school AIM messages or when you’d post random stuff on your Facebook status. It’s an easy way to drop a quick thought or joke without making a full post or story, but a lot of people also find them kind of pointless or annoying—like, they just sit at the top of your DMs and don’t do much. Some say it feels like Instagram’s just adding features no one asked for. Overall, it’s a love-it-or-hate-it kind of thing. Some think Notes are a cool way to stay low-key connected with friends, while others think they’re just clutter. Honestly, it depends on your vibe and how you use Insta.•
PUT YOUR WINDOWS DOWN PLAYLIST
SUDOKU
MADDY MANSKE
MACKENZIE OPIRA
HOWLARIOUs
PETER NIU
ACHANTI THONGJANG
ILLUSTRATION BY JACK BOGUE
TAYLER PERKINS
Mother’s Day
HISTORY OF EASTER
The earliest record of Easter comes from the 2nd century, though, it’s said that Easter is based off of Jesus’ resurrection which probably occurred earlier than the 2nd century. The resurrection of Jesus occurred on the third day after his crucifixion. The word Easter is actually parallel to the German word Ostern which Germans refer to as a festival held in spring to celebrate Jesus coming back to life after the crucifixion. Ostern is derived from the name Eostre, a celebration of the spring equinox, marking the renewal of the Earth and the rebirth of life after winter. Eostre is also associated with an Anglo-Saxon goddess possibly associated with spring and fertility. (In the modern era the connection between Eostre and spring has been disputed; she may have been a local protective deity rather than a fertility figure.)
Some common Easter customs include; Ash Wednesday, Lent, and Holy Week. The custom of eating an Easter lamb comes from the appellation used for Jesus in Scripture (“behold the lamb of God which takes away the sins of the world,” John 1:29) and the lamb’s role as a sacrificial animal in ancient Israel. The use of painted and decorated Easter eggs was first recorded in the 13th century. This is because during Holy Week the church prohibited eating eggs, but of course chickens continued to lay
them. So, they instead painted them for decoration instead of letting them become a waste.
Ash Wednesday is the first day of lent and serves as a sole reminder of morality and a call to repentance and spiritual renewal. People go to church and are given a cross on their head using ash. To repent, put simply, means to turn away from sin and turn toward God. They use ashes as an outward expression of our need to begin again. A tradition that came upon lent is people giving up habits or other things as a way to show God that they are dedicated to him. Some give up chocolate, meat, shopping, gossiping, social media, fast food, etc. •
CAITLIN SWARTZ
THE HOWLER
AMORA ASKS!: Mother’s Day
AMORA THONGJANG
Mother’s Day, which originated in West Virginia in 1908, is an annual holiday on the second Sunday of May. This holiday celebrates mothers, grandmothers, or mother-like figures worldwide who support and love us unconditionally. There are several different ways to show your gratitude, such as giving gifts, writing a heartfelt thank you card, or even making them a special breakfast! Here are seven different ways to show someone who you consider a mother in your life that you appreciate all the love and care that they have given you.
1. BREAKFAST IN BED Anyone waking up to a special meal made specially for them would make them feel like they’re loved and admired. Some meal ideas are: Pancakes, Fruit Salad, toast, eggs, or her favorite flavor of tea could be a very sweet surprise. If you think your cooking abilities are not developed enough to make pancakes or eggs, take them to her favorite café.
2. DAY OFF FROM CHORES Another great gift is letting your mother take a day off from all the housework. Whether it be cooking, cleaning, errands, or laundry, letting your mom get a break from the entire year shows how much you value
and respect the work she does around the house.
3. PERSONALIZED GIFTS Personalized gifts can make your mother feel really special. A few examples of these gifts include: A photo album, a piece of jewelry with her name on it, or her birthstone, and a handwritten letter expressing your gratitude and love towards her. Etsy has hundreds of sellers who can make personalized gifts for your mother.
4. SETTING UP SOMETHING TO DO WITH YOUR MOTHER Creating fun memories is probably the most unique way of giving a gift to your mother. Some examples include: A picnic in a park, a spa day, a painting or cooking class, or going to see a movie. If your mom loves art, going to an art class would be a fun way to connect with her about art. If she enjoys nature, hiking at a nearby park could also be fun.
5. VIRTUAL CELEBRATION If you do not live with your mother, planning a virtual celebration is a great alternative. Some ideas include: Scheduling a video call with her, sending her
a meal or dessert via food delivery services, or planning a family video call.
6. FLOWERS If your mother enjoys nature or gardening, buying garden-related gifts can make her delighted. Some ideas include kits, potted plants, or even something as simple as a bouquet. Who doesn’t love receiving flowers?
7. DIY CRAFTS Crafting something unique shows that you care enough to put time and effort into a gift for your mom. Some DIY crafts could be: A scrapbook, a jar filled with notes on why you love her, a custom tote bag, or a keychain with something meaningful to her.
The best Mother’s Day ideas come down to thoughtfulness and effort. You don’t need to spend a lot of money to make her feel special. Whether it’s a simple act of kindness or a detailed plan, what matters the most is displaying your love and gratitude.•
Photo by Toa Heftiba on Unsplash
Photo by Elena Mozhvillo on Unsplash
Photo by Iljana Borodina on Unsplash