2025 FEB 28
The HOWLER
SPEAK UP RETURNS
ANGELICA DAVIS-BERNARD
A Call to Action for our third annual SPEAK UP FORUM, which will be Wednesday, April 9. For the past two years, the SPEAK UP Forum has been a space where students have voiced their concerns, shared their experiences, and offered thoughtful suggestions for improving our school community. Yet, many of you have told us that despite speaking up, change has been slow—or worse, absent. You felt unheard. You felt ignored. You felt that nothing has changed.
Let’s be real—a lack of action erodes trust. It fosters apathy. It makes people wonder, why bother? We hear you. And this year, we are committed to doing better.
Building a Community of Accountability
Our theme this year, Building a School Community of Accountability, was not chosen at random. It emerged from a deep dive into last year’s forum data—where a recurring frustration was the feeling that voices were not being met with action. Students shared that they needed to see real followthrough, not just conversation. Accountability means owning our words, decisions, and actions, and ensuring that promises lead to meaningful change. Without accountability, equity, belonging, and inclusion become empty commitments instead of guiding principles. That’s why, this year, we’re changing how we do things:
• Students are involved early. You’re not just participants—you’re part of the planning process. Your voices are shaping the discussion questions and conversations before the SPEAK UP forum even happens.
• Support beyond the forum. It doesn’t end when the event does. There will be concrete
action steps, follow-up meetings, and transparency about what’s happening next.
• Shared responsibility. Change isn’t on students alone. Adults and students must work together to make AC a better, more inclusive, and more accountable community.
Accountability in Action
Accountability isn’t just about calling out big issues—it’s about the small, everyday choices we make. See something, say something. Your courage to step up and advocate for someone being targeted or harassed is powerful and can be life-changing. You may never fully know the impact you are making on a peer’s behalf, but that moment of courage creates real change. That’s accountability in action. It’s about taking responsibility not just for yourself but for the well-being of others, ensuring that our school is a place where everyone feels safe, affirmed, and heard.
So, What Are We Going to Do?
We’re not saying we can improve everything overnight. But we can commit to continuous improvement. We can hold each other—students, faculty, staff, and leadership—accountable for making this school the place we say we want it to be.
So, what are you going to do? Will you show up? Will you challenge the status quo? Will you hold us, and yourself, accountable?
The SPEAK UP Forum is your platform. Your voice is your power. Now’s the time to use it.
This is a school day and attendance is expected.
See you there,
SPEAK UP Planning Team
TABLE OF CONTENTS
SPEAK UP: PAGE 1
BLACK HISTORY: PAGE 2
ENTERTAINMENT: PAGE 3-7
ADVICE: PAGE 8
2K25 REVIEW
NBA 2k25 is a game that has its flaws but also its ups. I believe that the format of the open world city is actually good for the game and needed to happen for the development of the 2k franchise. I remember the days before and during quarantine when 2k was just the park. It was good but when a game has the same concept every year you need to change and expand it. Now, this is not me saying I think that 2k25 is better than the 2k20. I still think the game is fun.
The community in 2k is a major part of what really keeps the game going and fun for everyone. On the other hand, part of the community can make it less enjoyable for the casual gamer. Some people, who are either students or employed, don’t have the time to play the game like other people. Some people play the game a lot and get very good at it. It’s not fun when you play them, because you know you’re going to lose. When you play someone and the game is close, it’s an instant flow-state moment. When you play one of those games, the open chat can get pretty toxic. People saying things like, “you smell” and, “you’re a loser,” are just scratching the surface of what can be said. At the end of the day I’m a big fan of the game, but it does have its issues.
ARI HAGELBERG AND RYAN D’ARDUINI
THE HOWLER
BLACK ATHLETES
BLACK HISTORY MONTH PLAYLIST
Kylian Mbappé
A French soccer superstar, Mbappé rose to global fame after playing a pivotal role in France’s 2018 World Cup victory at just 19 years old. Known for his speed, skill, and finishing ability, he’s become one of the most exciting talents in soccer, playing for Paris Saint-Germain, (PSG), and winning numerous league titles. Mbappé’s influence extends beyond the field as he uses his platform to advocate for social causes and inspire young athletes worldwide. He now plays for Real Madrid alongside other star forwards: Vinicius Jr. and Jude Bellingham.
Lewis Hamilton
A British Formula 1 driver, Hamilton is regarded as one of the greatest drivers in motorsport history, with seven World Championships to his name under Mercedes and McLaren. He has shown his dominance on the track, including breaking multiple records for pole positions and race wins, and he has reshaped the sport. Off the track, Hamilton is an outspoken advocate for racial equality, environmental sustainability, and diversity in motorsports, making him a trailblazer both in and out of the car. Lewis also has a strong passion for fashion and likes to express himself through his clothing!
Simone Biles
An American gymnast, Biles is widely considered one of the greatest gymnasts of all time, with a total of seven Olympic medals, including four golds, and numerous World Championship titles. Known for her unparalleled skill, strength, and grace, she has redefined the possibilities in gymnastics with her groundbreaking routines. Beyond
her athletic achievements, Biles has been an advocate for mental health awareness, particularly through her courageous decision to withdraw from events during the Tokyo 2020 Olympics to prioritize her well-being. Biles has proven that she is a resilient athlete and has bounced back several times to reach the top.
Coco Gauff
An American tennis prodigy, Gauff made headlines at just 15 years old, with a stunning run to the fourth round at Wimbledon in 2019, defeating Venus Williams. Since then, she has quickly become one of the brightest young stars in tennis, winning multiple WTA titles and competing at the highest level in Grand Slams. Gauff is also recognized for her advocacy on social justice issues, using her platform to speak out against racial inequality and promote education and empowerment for youth.
Tyreek Hill
Known as, “Cheetah,” for his lightning-fast speed, Hill is one of the NFL’s most dangerous wide receivers. After an impressive career with the Kansas City Chiefs, where he helped lead the team to a Super Bowl win, Hill continues to be a key player for the Miami Dolphins. His speed and playmaking ability have changed the way offenses approach the deep pass, and he is considered one of the most explosive players in football today. Beyond his on-field success, Hill has used his platform to support charitable initiatives and promote mental health awareness.
Each of these athletes has not only achieved greatness in their sport, but also used their influence to inspire change, and positively impact their communities.
THe power of our stories: why african american read-ins matter
According to NPR’s recent article, African American Read-Ins: A Black History Month Tradition, read-ins celebrate Black voices and preserve our rich history. The read-ins ensure that Black voices remain heard and celebrated, even as book bans attempt to erase certain social identities.
As the article powerfully states, “Trying to take our stories is not going to be the way to silence us, because it’s just impossible.” Black history is American history, and remembering our past is essential for learning, empowerment, and progress. When voices are silenced, truth is erased—who benefits from that? Whose stories are deemed unworthy?
At AC, our African American Read-In is a commitment to honoring Black authorship and voices. I hope we all reflect on our 2025 ReadIn and lean into any discomfort you may have experienced. We can amplify all the essential stories and promote justice for all.
AUDRIANA WILLIAMS ACHANTI THONGJANG AND MACKENZIE OPIRA
ANGELICA DAVIS-BERNARD
THE HOWLER
INVISIBLE PART 1
ELLE DILORETO
It was a day like no other until it wasn’t.
The confident, narcissistic, teenage Calley Bailey, who was always followed around in school by the other girls who were too afraid to speak up for their rights, became invisible to everyone around her, and things like that don’t just happen on a day-to-day basis in Bakersfield, California.
Calley had gone from being a leader to being no one, which is every narcissist’s worst nightmare.
Little did Calley know that the blood test by the doctor she thought was helping her diabetes, wasn’t an actual blood test. Instead, it was a substance intended to kill her that makes her invisible. Little did Calley know, that the doctor who did that test wasn’t a doctor at all, but the murderer of her parents.
Why did the doctor want vengeance? No one knows. No one even knows that it was murder. That it was poison that caused the Baileys to swerve off the road and hit another car.
Let’s go back a little though.
October 13, 2016
A group of girls follow Calley around the school halls to Calley’s locker as she exclaims to Sandra, “Oh my God. You won’t believe what happened at my party!”
“It was priceless!” Olivia exclaims.
“Wait. You had a party?” Ellie asks.
Calley, Olivia, Sandra, and the rest of the crowd behind Calley turn to her in unison.
“Oh. Sorry. Did I forget to invite you? I’m so sorry. My dog just died, it was a lot to cope with.” Calley pretends to cry as she says this.
“You don’t have a dog, and you know what? I’m glad you didn’t invite me because you’re a pain to be around!” Ellie shouts, and other kids in other little huddles laugh as she walks away. Calley turns her attention back to the crowd around her. “Anyways…where was I…?”
“So, Calley, you ready to get your insulin test?” Dr. Craig asks.
“You betcha!” Calley exclaims through clenched teeth, though she isn’t ready at all. Calley hates needles, and Dr. Craig knows that from all of the blood tests he had to do for her in the past.
She sits in a blue foam seat, shifting a little out of anxiousness.
“Alright,” Dr. Craig says. “It’s just going to sting a little.”
‘Okay,” Calley winces as Dr. Craig ties a rubber band around her arm. Once he sees the vein, he cleans off the area and inserts the needle into her arm.
Suddenly, Calley’s world begins to spin. Everything blurs before her eyes as she falls to the floor, banging her head against the cold tiles. The last words she hears before she blacks out are, “She’s knocked out!”
the nurses. “Hello! I’m right here! Can you hear me?”
The nurses continue to talk, and then Calley looks over the nurse’s shoulder at a chart with all of her health information. All the blood tests she’s taken are there. Every appointment she’s had is there.
“Hello?!” Calley yells, but she still doesn’t get a response. “What’s ha-” Calley starts when suddenly she gets a cold chill, and the room starts to spin. She walks sideways, banging into a wall. She rubs her hand on the back of her head and sees blood. Calley’s eyes widen. “What’s happening to me?”
Suddenly, Calley sees a familiar face. “Dr. Craig,” she whispers.
Calley rushes out of the room, chasing him down the hall.
“Dr. Craig!” she shouts.
Morning, October 14, 2016, Hospital
Calley’s eyes slowly flutter open as she takes in what surrounds her. White bright lights, machines beeping, and two nurses in light blue scrubs.
Calley quickly sits up, saying, “Where am I?” But she doesn’t get a response. Instead, she listens to the two nurses’ conversation.
“We brought her here last night. Where did she go?”
“I don’t know. No one has seen her.”
“Maybe someone else has seen her?”
“Seen who?!” Calley asks, but she still doesn’t get a response. She gets up and walks over to
Dr. Craig turns around and gasps at the sight of Calley. He points his hand out at her which sends a blast of air towards Calley, making her fly backward and bang into the wall at the end of the hall.
Calley screams in pain and shakes her head as she closes her eyes. When she opens them, she sees Dr. Craig point his hand at two metal carts filled with plates that once had food on them and cups that once had water in them. He pushes his hands forward at the carts and they rush in Calley’s direction.
“No! No, no, no!” Calley throws her hands up to shield her face, and it sends the carts rushing in Dr. Craig’s direction.
Dr. Craig jumps out of the way and turns down a different hall.
Calley shakes her head, getting up, and chasing after him.
“Get back here!” she shouts, as he pulls the fire alarm, and suddenly many nurses make their way out of hospital rooms, helping patients out of their rooms, too.
“Damnit!” Calley shouts, and stops, looking around her, when she sees a staircase.
She runs toward it and pulls the door open
Invisible Part 1 continued from page 3
to find people filing down the staircase. She pushes through the crowd, saying, “Sorry! Excuse me!” but no one says anything back.
“Strange,” she whispers when suddenly she realizes a man is in front of her. She tries to stop, but instead runs through the man, stopping on one of the platforms of the stairs.
THE HOWLER
She turns around, and people walk right through her, not hitting her, and not paying her any attention.
“What’s happening?” she whispers.
She shakes her head and decides to ignore the question.
Calley runs through people and down the stairs, finally exiting the building as she sees Dr. Craig zoom down the road in his car.
“No!”
That night Calley went home to find her aunt and uncle crying and talking to each other, saying that they wanted her to come back and wondering why she left, but Calley was confused as to why everyone was acting like she was…invisible.
To Be Continued…
INDOOR TRACK
The Indoor track season is ending, with sectionals approaching on February 28th. The indoor track team had a great season, scoring the past two meets. The Division 2 championship meet was on February 1st with the boys in 5th place and the girls in 2nd place. This past weekend, on February 8th, was the league championship with the boys coming in 5th again, and the girls coming in 4th. This weekend at league championships there were six new school records set. Jess Chapados and Katie Chapados were part of a 4x800 that was a new HAC school record with a time of 10:48.8.
Here are some pictures from sectionals taken by Ben Feeley and Monica Acevedo.
Congratulations to our Boys and Girls
Indoor Congratulations to the indoor track teams for WINNING the Class B4 Sectional Championships! Below are the results from the championships.
Girls Class B4 Sectional Champions
3000M Sectional Champion: Jessica C
55m Hurdles: 5th Zhia W
55M: 3rd Sarai C
1000M: 2nd Katie C, 5th Caroline D
1500M: Race Walk Sectional Champion: Charlie D
600M: 2nd Robin K
1500M: Sectional Champion Jessica C, 5th Heba E
300M: 2nd Robin K
4x800M Relay: Sectional Champions
4x400M Relay: 4th
4x200M Relay: Sectional Champions
Boys Class B4 Sectional Champions
3200M: 3rd Hatcher M, 4th Devlin R-C
55M Hurdles: 6th Mateo B
55M: Sectional Champion Chris C, 4th Wagso O
1000M: 4th Hatcher M, 5th Jahdeil M
600M: Sectional Champion Chris C
300M: Sectional Champion Chris C
4x800M Relay: 2nd
4x400M Relay: Sectional Champions
4x200M Relay: 2nd
Shot Put: 3rd Gabe L
Weight Throw: Sectional Champion Gabe L
Triple Jump: 2nd Leo D
Long Jump: 2nd Wagso O
Congratulations to all of our indoor track athletes on their impressive performances. Special shout out to Coach Deckman and his coaching staff on all of their hard work and dedication to our track athletes! Go Wolves!
THE HOWLER HOWLARIOUs
SPREAD CREATED BY SIENA ARDIZZONE
THE HOWLER HOWLARIOUs
SPREAD CREATED BY CAITLIN SWARTZ
THE HOWLER HOWLARIOUs
AMORA ASKS!
AMORA THONGJANG
Hey hello readers! In this edition of the Howler, a freshman seeks advice. Freshman year can be challenging for many students. Adjusting to a new environment, managing a heavy workload, and trying to meet high expectations from teachers can be quite stressful. The freshman requested guidance on various topics, including finding a valentine and handling stress.
Two readers sought advice regarding Valentine’s Day, asking, “The day of love is approaching. What should a lonely soul like me do for the holiday?” and “How do I ask someone out for Valentine’s Day?” If you don’t have a Valentine, you can spend the day with those who care about you, like friends and family. For instance, “Galentine’s Day” is a fun gathering with friends that includes decorating your space with Valentine’s decor, watching movies, and enjoying a fancy dinner. As for advice on asking someone out, I would say just be yourself!
The next two individuals inquired about managing stress and staying organized. One reader asked, “I am unorganized. I always procrastinate until the last possible moment before a deadline, and usually, I don’t get the work done. What should I do?” and “How do you manage stress?” As someone who tends to procrastinate, I find that using a planner has significantly helped me. It reminds me of what assignments I need to complete, and I can plan when to start working on them, especially for longer tasks like essays. Whenever I feel stressed, I make sure to take time to unwind and relax. It’s important to dedicate time for enjoyment because when stress builds up, it can impact you both physically and mentally.
That’s all for this edition of the Howler. See you next time!
VALENTINE’S DAY
PETER NIU
On February 14th, the air carries the scent of sweetness—chocolate, fresh roses, and a hint of vanilla—while little pink hearts seem to bloom everywhere, a gentle reminder of love in the air. Valentine’s Day is a day full of romance and love.
People nowadays celebrate Valentine’s Day in various ways. For instance, some people go to a fancy restaurant or make a lovely meal together with their loved ones. Others exchange gifts and give flowers to their family and their other half.
However, Valentine’s had a different name and meaning. Before Valentine’s Day, Romans celebrated Lupercalia, where men and women were paired through lottery, sometimes leading to marriage. Later in 496 CE, Pope Gelasius I declared February 14 St. Valentine’s Day, likely to replace Lupercalia with a more “Christian” holiday. At that point, the holiday had nothing to do with romance.
By the 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, an English poet, linked Valentine’s Day with romantic love in his poem “Parliament of Fowls” (1382). This was when people began exchanging love letters and considered February 14 a day for lovers. By the 17th century, Valentine’s Day became popular across Europe. The holiday expanded to include chocolates, flowers, and jewelry as traditional gifts.
Today, the celebration has evolved beyond just romantic love, including friendships, self-love, and even pets.
Hope you had a Happy Valentine’s Day!
MASTHEAD
COPYRIGHT FEBRUARY 28, 2025
PUBLISHER
ALLENDALE COLUMBIA SCHOOL
COPYEDITORS
Vincent Bissonette, Elle DiLoreto
LAYOUT AND DIRECTION
Amy Oliveri
STAFF
Caitlin Swartz, Mackenzie Opira, Elle DiLoreto, Tayler Perkins, Jack Bogue, Peter Niu, Jeremiah Strader, Kate May, Amora Thongjang, Audriana Williams, Siena Ardizzone, Jack Diehl, Ari Hagelberg, Evan Krenzer, Ryan D’Arduini, Achanti Thongjang, Maddy Manske, and Meredith Welch
thehowler@allendalecolumbia.org