BA Today - Fall 2018

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Volume 12, Fall 2018

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A Letter From the Editor Taylor Hartley '19, Editor-in-Chief

Students shown wearing gold for Gold Week on September 17-21. [Photo courtesy of Annie O'Neill]

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elcome to the first edition of BA Today for the 2018-2019 school year! This student-led news magazine is a product of the Upper School Journalism class. From layout design to article writing, our team of nineteen students is involved in every facet of this newspaper’s production. From all of us on the newspaper team, thank you for reading our publication.

Changes are always afoot here at Bayside Academy, and the addition of a new recycling system and Gold Week have made a large impact on the student body.

I sat down with the head of Bayside’s foreign language department and advisor of the Service Club, Mrs. Marion Claramunt, to discuss how the new recycling system at Bayside will function.

Mrs. Claramunt said that the members

of the Service Club have volunteered to roll the blue recycling bins from their various locations around campus to the parking lot off of Belrose Avenue. From there, the City of Daphne has agreed to empty the bins and take the recycled material to be recycled.

The system sounds simple, but there is one major restriction: the only material allowed to be put in the bins is plain, white paper. Mrs. Claramunt fervently reinforced the restriction, saying, “No cans, no bottles of water, no cardboard; it becomes an issue because we have to check every single blue box to be sure nothing except paper is inside of them.”

Why the strict constraint? The City of Daphne charges a fee for any recycled items that are not white paper products.

Since Bayside does not pay this fee, we are not allowed to put anything but paper

into the bins. Despite these struggles, Mrs. Claramunt is hopeful that the system will become more efficient as the year progresses.

Another significant addition to Bayside this year has been Gold Week. Planned and presented by our Student Government Association, it was created in the honor of Caroline Berry, a junior at Spanish Fort High School who has been battling cancer for several years.

Gold Week took place from September 17-21, and students were able to order yellow t-shirts with the inscription “Berry Strong” to show support for Caroline. Students were then asked to wear these shirts to various sporting events throughout the week.

The mind behind the idea for Gold Week was Annie O’Neill, one of the senior class co-presidents. I sat down with O’Neill to inquire about how the idea for Gold Week originated. “I was texting Riley McGlasson about it, and I was just thinking it would be really cool if we could do something for Caroline Berry. I knew we were going to play Spanish Fort at home soon in volleyball, and since she’s their manager, I thought it would be really great to have a gold out or a yellow out. Riley said that we had a home football game that week and that we should make it into a week long event. Then, we emailed Mr. Montgomery and Mr. Marine and had a meeting about it, and it just kind of took off from there.”

Gold Week was undoubtedly a success thanks to our hard-working and innovative Student Government Association, and we hope that the tradition can continue for years to come.

Bayside has a long reputation of community service, and these are two examples of how Bayside reaches out to improve our community.

Staff & Contributors Editors-in-Chief Mary Helene Hall Taylor Hartley Layout Editor Student Life Editor Lifestyle Editor Reporters

BA Today is the student publication of the Bayside Academy Upper School journalism class. Any opinions expressed do not necessarialy reflect the opinions of the entire staff, faculty, or administration.

Mary Helene Hall Anna Turner Maggie Davis If you are a student interested in Sophie Akyuz, Anne Sterling Beall, submitting content, email Ann-Margaret Boothe, Camille batodaysubmissions@gmail.com.

Buckner, Mallory Downey, Jenny Bayside Academy Florey, Leah Jha, Ben Lane, Geneva 303 Dryer Ave. Martin, Isabella McCormick, Jessie Daphne, AL 36526 Peterson, Mae Taul, Avery Vosen 251-338-6300 Advisor Ms. Deborah Denniston baysideacademy.org

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On The Covers: Front: Nathan Cook '19 and Jack Hixon '19 shown on September 28, 2018 at Cottage Hill.

Back: Cheerleaders shown with yellow ribbons in their hair for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.

Photos by Dawn Smith.

Editorial Gill Netters Wreak Marine Mayhem

By Ben Lane '20, Editor

57 bull sharks killed by gill netters on the shore of Mobile Bay. [trackingsharks.com]

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he 638 gill netters of Alabama are destroying the environment that many fight so hard to protect. Most coastal residents have seen or heard of these vessels that encircle huge schools of fish. It is a method of fishing in which a large net is released from the back of a boat in order to encircle a school of fish. Gill netting is claimed by some to be harmless to fish populations, but in reality, it is detrimental.

These gill net vessels make frequent passes within a small distance from our pier, which is on the coast of the bay less than a mile from our school. I watch as the boats gather up the fish in mass quantities and see many dead, discarded fish floating in the water after they make their passes. It is shocking to see the freedom these gill netting boats have to go wherever they wish. The only thing keeping them from scooping up the fish right by the shore is a law that requires them to stay 100 yards away from any pier or boat launch.

Beth Lyons, an attorney for the Alabama Seafood Association, wrote a paper defending gill netting. She writes, “There is no scientific evidence of depletion of fish populations by gill netting.” This is a ridiculous argument; the fact that no specific studies have been done on gill netting does not mean that it does not affect fish populations. It obviously makes a big difference as can be seen in the huge schools of fish pulled up in just one catch. With a quick Google search, I found a video of gill netters operating right along the coast within miles from our campus here at Bayside. It features two men circling a massive school of fish, the caption of the video reading “13,000 lbs of mullet.” After observing the school, circling it with the net, and starting to pull it in, the videographer can be heard saying, “We don’t want all these.” It is unacceptable to intentionally catch and kill this many fish only to claim that the fish were unwanted. Even more contradictory to the claim, Florida Today

reported that “fish species-- especially mullet-have vastly improved since voters decided to ban large nets that entangle fish by the gills.”

In July 2016, a reported 57 bull sharks were found washed up on the shore of the Mobile Bay. According to AL.com, “One woman, who is on vacation with her family, reported finding a net with close to 40 sharks inside.” The sharks were caught in a recreational gill net, which was presumably discarded after the catch. Clearly, gill nets are not only dangerous to marine creatures but also have irresponsible operators.

Lyons’s paper also argued that Florida and Texas, which have already banned gill netting, have no true evidence of fish population increases after the ban. She goes on to say that banning gill netting in Alabama would hurt our state’s seafood market. These points completely contradict each other. If Florida and Texas have both banned gill netting and have booming seafood markets, how would a ban in Alabama have any meaningful effects? If these two states, both with massive coastlines, have banned gillnetting, shouldn’t Alabama follow suit? According to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, “Florida ranked seventh among U.S. states in 2014 for fresh seafood production with 99.2 million pounds harvested and a dockside value of $257.7 million. Clearly a ban on gill netting could do nothing but benefit populations of fish.

Gill netting, a practice clearly detrimental to the Mobile Bay, should not be allowed to continue. Our environment must be protected at all costs, as nature is not something easily replaced.

Silencing Social Media

By Jenny Florey '20, Reporter

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ocial media. We live in a world where social media distracts absolutely everyone.

People tend to blame social media for distracting teens, but we have to think about the time in high school before social media was an occurrence. At some point, every student has been in a classroom, sleeping or daydreaming, distracted without the help of Instagram and Snapchat.

In fairness to teachers, social media can take attention away from lessons that are actually interesting and essential to our knowledge.

It's also difficult to compete with an endless stream of posts and Snapchats when you need to teach the periodic table. If students are not engaged in what they are learning, they will almost always find ways to distract themselves with or without the help of social media.

Many teachers work social media into their everyday lessons. This way students

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will be less likely to distract themselves from what they are learning and put social media to use as a valuable learning tool. Most faculty members make use of the Internet for their lessons. It sends a message to students when they are not allowed to use technology and social media, that they’re not responsible enough to choose how they spend their time in class.

We use social media to communicate with each other, learn about the world, and develop our digital identities. For our generation it is increasingly more important to develop our digital citizenship as we are transforming into an extremely digital world.

A digital citizen refers to a person who uses technology to engage in society, politics and government. Blocking social media altogether means taking away a substantial part of our identity and potential. There are an end-

less amount of jobs now completely centered around social media. Students may not learn about potential opportunities in school without social media.

Once students graduate, they’re in a world that does not filter anything. Allowing students to learn how to responsibly use social media on their own makes the learning so much more valuable than having it enforced through a filtering program. Students who learn this in high school are better prepared to enter the real world which ultimately comes with many more distractions.

I understand that for some schools, the continued use of social media is simply not a feasible option. There are other alternatives than implementing a filtering system. Ultimately there will always be students who are distracted. Implementing a system makes the students want even more to use social media.

Behind the Scenes of Beauty and the Beast

By Anna Turner '19, Student Life Editor

Actors and actresses in Beauty and the Beast run through the show during after school rehearsal. [Ashley Suchan]

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hen most people think about Bayside’s plays, they initially think of the lights, actors, costumes, and curtains. However, there is so much work that goes into each production and often goes unnoticed. The cast and crew put in an abundance of time to perfect each scene so that the audience has the best viewing experience.

Hours of work are required to memorize lines, create costumes, master lighting cues, and sound effects, and perform each scene flawlessly. The ensemble meets in the Pilot Center to rehearse for a few hours five times a week. At rehearsal, they run through lines, scenes, dance numbers, songs, etc.

After auditioning in August, sophomore Olivia Counselman was cast to play the lead role as Belle and the Beast will be portrayed by junior, Dyer Lumpkin.

The casting decisions could not have been easy, as a multitude of talented students tried out.

This is Olivia’s second time landing the lead role in a Bayside theater production

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and she could not be more thrilled! “To be honest, I’m excited about the whole production. It’s going to be absolutely amazing, and I cannot express how much I love everything about this show. It is so much fun!” she said.

Memorizing lines can be a very tedious task. Actors and actresses dedicate hours of their time to memorizing each snippet of the script. However, luckily for Olivia, she recalls being such a big fan of Beauty and the Beast that the lines of the play are coming very naturally to her.

Behind the curtains of a Bayside production is just as lively as it is on stage.

From lighting changes and sound effects to moving props in between scenes, the crew works tirelessly to be sure that the production runs smoothly. The stagehands are being led and trained by stage manager and junior, Hannah Johnson.

Hannah has worked on the crew for multiple productions, but she is especially excited about Beauty and the Beast. “I grew up watching this movie, and being

able to work on the play version of it is basically a childhood dream. I am really excited for when it all comes together, and we start to really put the pieces together,” she said.

Leading up to opening night, the cast and crew develop extremely close bonds that they all cherish. According to Hannah, after each show, the cast and crew go out to eat and then sing and dance to songs from the show or to their favorite playlist of throwback songs. Then, in the minutes before they take the stage, the cast and crew gather to do the traditional “show circle.”

Everyone is encouraged to see Beauty and the Beast on Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, November 7, 8, 10, and 11. Evening performances are at 7 p.m. and the matinee is at 2 p.m. The actors, actresses, and stagehands have put countless hours preparing for the shows, and they cannot wait to perform for an audience.

To the cast of Beauty and the Beast, break a leg!

WANT TO GET INVOLVED? Ann-Margaret Boothe '19, Reporter & Jessica Peterson '19, Reporter

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Does getting involved in the school interest you? Are you struggling to find a club or organization at Bayside that sounds fun to you? Well, look no further! Take this fun flow chart based on your interests to see where you would most likely fit in best at Bayside!

Follow the arrows all over the page to the different questions to determine what you should get involved in!

Are you okay with taking risks?

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Are you curious, and/ or are you interested in current events?

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Theater!

BAND! ATHLETICS!

News magazine!

LITERARY MAGAZINE! YEARBOOK! 5 | BA Today

Interested in learning about your result?

Find the advisor, talk to them about getting involved, and get excited about trying something new!

The stage is my home!

Indoors or outdoors?

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Icons Used: drama by Blair Adams, notes by lastspark, Sports by Becris, magazine by Icons Producer from the Noun Project

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Student Life Why The Peer Helpers Are Excited for This Year… and Why You Should Be Too!

By Mae Taul '19, Reporter

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he Peer Helpers on Bayside’s campus are definitely a group that students should look for. This year they are focusing on kindness, new students, community events, school events, and mentoring.

Peer Helpers are a resource for students and a safe place to talk to someone. Of course, everything is confidential.

The Peer Helpers are bringing back many fan favorites from last year, such as bingo at lunch, Red Ribbon week, and so much more.

In addition to mentoring elementary school students, the Peer Helpers will also work with middle schoolers and new students. There will be a lot of grade bonding and activities to help unite the student body as a whole.

Bayside is focusing on social media safety this year, and the Peer Helpers are very excited to help educate and provide awareness. Every year our world becomes more advanced in technology, and Bayside students need to know how to use it correctly!

Stress, anxiety, and suicide awareness are also something you can expect to hear about from the Peer Helpers in the coming months.

The Jennifer Claire Moore Foundation started the Peer Helpers program after Jennifer, a former Bayside student, took her own life at just 16. Her family started the foundation to make sure this would not continue to happen.

Yoga on the bluff at Peer Helper training this summer. [Photo courtesy of Mrs. Frederick] Who are the Peer Helpers at Bayside?

They are a diverse mix of juniors and seniors, and they are all ready to help make Bayside a better place! They include Amalie Beard, Anna Schmidt, Anna Turner, Annie Loper, Audrey Hudson, Ben Lane, Caroline Weller, Cody Smart, Dyer Lumpkin, Geneva Martin, Georgia Brown, Grace Hollingsworth, Grace Weil, Jessie Peterson, Kayleigh Phillips, Killian Kahalley, Laurel Cunningham, Lucy Barnes, Mac Douglas, Mac Gaillard, Mae Taul, Mary Frances Will, Mary Helene Hall, Peterson Jones, Taylor Hartley, and Will Murphy.

To become a Peer Helper, students complete an application process to ensure they are qualified to take on this role. In addition, they complete two days of training. They learned about listening skills, what to do in a crisis, and different coping strategies.

If anyone in the Bayside family is ever struggling with anything or simply needs someone to talk to, they are highly encouraged to approach a Peer Helper, Mrs. Frederick or Mrs. Millsap! They are all excited for another great year at Bayside and are hoping to help the school continue to be an open and safe place.

Students Take On Wall Street

By Ben Lane '20, Editor

Investment Club was created to "help people learn about personal finance." [nycinaday.com]

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ome of Bayside’s high schoolers are preparing to take on Wall Street through the new investment club.

The club, organized by Sam Koby and Lily Radcliff, intends to educate high school students on investing and its strategies. The club has bi-monthly meetings and is located

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in Capt. Montgomery’s room at lunch and welcomes any high school students who are interested.

Club meetings include cooperative activities, discussions, and helpful, educational videos. The heads of the club are also lining up a series of speakers to come to meetings

and give the students advice on investing.

According to Capt. Montgomery, the teacher sponsor of the club, some speakers will be parents who have careers related to investing.

Capt. Montgomery says, “The club will have an online stock game that will allow members to invest virtual money in companies.” This investing game will grant each member 100,000 virtual dollars that may be “invested” however the user chooses. The member with the most gain will receive an undisclosed prize for his/her performance.

On September 17, the vice president of a wealth management group under Morgan Stanley spoke to the club, giving valuable advice for investing and managing finances.

According to Sam Koby, the club was created to “help people learn about personal finance in order to be prepared for the real world. The investment club contrasts from other clubs because it is centered on a valuable, real-world purpose that people can use in the future.”

Student Life Familiar Faces Return to Daphne

By Mary Helene Hall '19, Editor-in-Chief

Mrs. Kolakoski (left) and Mr. Kirby (right) are happy to be back on campus!

[Mary Helene Hall]

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his fall, the Admirals have welcomed a fantastic new group of faculty and staff to campus, and among them are two familiar faces that many Baysiders recognize: Mrs. Laurel Kolakoski and Mr. Tim Kirby!

Both recently left Bayside, and the Admirals were sad to see them go. However, they are glad to be back and excited to rejoin the Bayside family.

“I missed it. I missed the students. I missed the pilot center. So it's very comfortable being back here, and it's great to see the students that are still here,” says Mr. Kirby. Mrs. Kolakoski shares similar sentiments: “I’m thrilled to reconnect...as far as teachers and administrators, but also with students because I know many students and families, so it's like a reunion.”

Mrs. Kolakoski moved back to Bayside from her job at UMS-Wright in Mobile, and she’s delighted to be back. She emotionally

noted that she missed not only the students themselves, but the family dynamic that Bayside students and teachers have.

She also says she missed the progressivism of Bayside. In her absence, the transition from STEM to STEAM was implemented, and that has been very important for her. “I love how art was added to STEM,” she says. “I think that's really neat. And I like what I see as far as application. I think the learning needs to be more and more about application. I love how Bayside emphasizes that. I don’t see that in all schools.”

Although she used to teach AP Literature to seniors before she left Bayside, she is now teaching AP Language to juniors for the first time. She says there is a learning curve, but, “as you hear many teachers say, the reason teachers teach is because they like to learn.”

“AP Lang is a totally different animal,” she says. “It's mostly nonfiction, and so that's new

for me. Even when I taught middle school, we're teaching fiction all the time.”

Mr. Kirby is a Bayside alumnus, class of 1992, and has been teaching at his alma mater for over 13 years.

He says that coming back to Bayside was a “no-brainer.”

Mr. Kirby recently moved from Houston, Texas back to the Eastern Shore after he and his wife realized that Houston didn’t feel like home. “True story,” he says. “We kind of decided within about ten minutes of having dinner one night that we were moving back. She got a promotion job offer, so I said, ‘Why not?

Let's let's go back.’”

With over 35 productions under his belt, Mr. Kirby is starting back strong with the 5-12th grade fall production of Beauty and the Beast. “I love the story of Beauty And the Beast,” he says. “I saw the movie that came out in theaters, and I just love it. I thought visually it would be a very cool show and to be able to include 5th and 6th graders would be awesome to build the youth program.

I thought it was a great choice to include them and also a strong choice for the upper schoolers as well.”

As for the rest of the year, Mr. Kirby has plans to give younger Bayside students an opportunity to act. He states, “There's not really an opportunity to [act] after second grade, and that's what we need to fix. So we will.”

The Bayside Admirals are so happy to have these two familiar faces back on campus, and both have received very warm welcomes. You can find Mrs. Kolakoski in room 102 and Mr. Kirby in his office in the basement of the Pilot Center, so if you happen to see them, be sure to say hello!

The Fellowship of Christian Admirals

By Anna Turner '19, Student Life Editor

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o you want to be part of a small fellowship group? Do you want to connect with other Christians on Bayside’s campus?

Do you enjoy free donuts? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you should consider getting involved with FCA! The Fellowship of Christian Athletes is an international organization with over 100,000 registered student participants and 17,000 groups. Since 1954, FCA has encouraged coaches, athletes, and students of all ages to use their voices to spread the gospel and change their community for the better. The club’s main focus is serving local communities by equipping people to be the best people

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that they can be while leading by faith.

“FCA has brought me closer to God and it made me feel so welcome when I joined the Bayside Family. It also motivates me to constantly spread the love of the Lord,” said senior Grace Hollingsworth.

Despite having “athletes” in the name, members do not necessarily need to be an athlete to be part of the group.

Led by eleven student leaders, FCA invites all students and faculty members to meet in Coach Watson’s classroom at 7:15 on Friday mornings. “We wouldn’t even have FCA without the students. I love to see everyone there and it truly means a lot for people to take time

out of their busy schedule, and wake up early on a Friday morning to hear the truth of God,” Grace said.

Every week a club leader or a guest speaker will speak about a Christian topic that they are passionate about. For more information on the club, you can ask Coach Watson or the leaders any questions you may have.

Leaders for the year include: Grace Hollingsworth, Peterson Jones, Anna Turner, Mae Taul, Alex Cook, Lauren West, Jacque Martin, Steadman Jones, John Coleman Bryars, Jackson Lepere, Will Murphy, and Caroline Chastang.

The leaders are all so excited for a great year of FCA and hope to see all of you there!

Behind Apple’s Trillion Dollar Success

By Sophie Akyuz '19, Reporter

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hen you are asked about the top companies in the world, Apple may be the first or second corporation to come to mind.

Apple’s success since its launch in 1977 has been astronomical, and the technological developments within the recent decade have shot up the company’s value noticeably higher than any other company. As of August 2, 2018, Apple officially became the first trillion dollar company in America.

But the success of Apple hasn’t been an easy path.

Steve Jobs is the co-founder that revived the company when it was rapidly declining in the 1980’s and 90’s.

Steve Jobs made countless changes to the company and multiplied its profits greatly. Apple released its first personal computer (Apple 1) on April 1, 1976, but most of its popularity came primarily after the release of the iPhone 3G in 2007.

Most everyone you know may have an Apple product.

Statistics show that currently there are about 85.8 million iPhone users in the United States alone. The innovation and increasing functionality of Apple’s products have contributed to its soaring advance in profit. Apple world, which makes people question if there will even be a product release at all. There are several factors that contribute to Apple’s ironic decline.

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According to Time Magazine, Apple’s sales have gone down by 16 percent, which is drastic for the company and shows that public interest in the products has gone down significantly. The reason for this is because many phone companies are decreasing their hardware subsidies, which means that consumers are starting to pay full price for their phones. This results in people keeping their phones for a longer period of time, resulting in a decrease in sales.

Another reason why Apple’s success is declining is because the product consumption in China has also been decreasing. This may be because of China’s slowing economy, which affects many products.

With these failures aside, Apple should be coming up with methods of racking up their consumer interest and coming out with more innovative releases. Many have stated that there will be a post-Steve Jobs decline, which is starting to happen. One thing that will also be a concern for Apple is if they stay stagnant at the trillion dollar mark while other companies start to catch up. Amazon, for example, also recently hit one trillion dollars.

Most cell phone users might easily choose Apple over any other brand, and it will be a long time before that changes. Even with all these factors that make us believe Apple is on the decline, there is no doubt that their trillion dollar success says the opposite.

Why Taylor Swift’s Reputation Stadium Tour is Not a Show to Miss

By Camille Buckner ‘22, Reporter

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ans were not “ready for it” as Taylor Swift stepped back into the spotlight in the most extravagant way, opening the show with an emotional performance of her song “...

Ready For It?" After a well deserved break, the “Look What You Made Me Do” singer kicked off her “Reputation Stadium Tour” on May 8 in Glendale, Arizona selling out the Glendale University Stadium with a capacity of a whopping 59,000 people. The performance was one that left fans questioning if the old Taylor really is “dead."

The show could be described as nothing short of astounding with a set list of 24 songs, both old and new, along with at least eight dazzling costume changes. Taylor sang at least one song from every album, including a surprise song that was specific to each concert. This concept gave the overall experience a nostalgic feel to fans who have been around since her start.

Swift also sang each song from her most recent album which appealed to listeners who have been there from the start. Before performing her hit song, “Delicate,” Swift gave a speech on the importance of finding strength through criticism.

She shared the following: “If someone uses name-calling to bully you on

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social media and even if a lot of people jump on board with it, that doesn’t have to defeat you, it can strengthen you instead.” This message is a common theme throughout Swift’s past concerts, using her platform and experiences to help others and encourage fans to stay strong in difficult situations.

Swift never ceases to please the crowd with her urge to be as close to fans as possible. The venue consisted of three stages as well as a platform that moved her through the crowd as she sang. As fans walked into the event, they were handed a light up bracelet, which was pre-programmed to change colors in accordance with the setlist. Swift explained the importance of this bracelet, stating it enables her to see every single person in the audience dance, clap, and singalong. Her interactiveness makes the concert a unique and incomparable experience.

Not only did Swift try to maintain proximity with the audience during her performance, she also hosted a meet and greet before and after the concert where attendants were selected by her mom, Andrea, or Swift’s team in order to attend. Andrea looks for fans who have either dressed to match the snake theme of the album, who are

dancing and singing along, or just having a genuinely good time at the show.

An invite to the “Rep Room” includes an autographed photo of Swift, a professional picture taken with the singer, and some one-on-one time with her.

Swift’s ability to both captivate and amuse an audience of fans in addition to her critics (who once called her a snake and bashed the very reputation she sings of) is truly something to respect and praise.

Her performance was filled with emotion toward her rocky reputation, but Swift also incorporated immense love through her ability to bring people together and find happiness and peace in her own life. Not only is Swift a natural performer and talented artist, but she is also a very influential and brave one. Swift is even accompanied onstage by her opening acts and friends (Charli XCX and Camila Cabello) for a fun performance of her chart-topping song “Shake It Off.” While Taylor has a talented band and fabulous group of dancers by her side, her guitar and piano playing is both astonishing and beautiful.

Swift’s inclusiveness of fans, eagerness to spread kindness, and ability to put on an incredible performance make this show certainly one not to miss.

News A Look at Natural Disasters in 2018

By Mae Taul '19, Reporter

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very year natural disasters occur; however, this year has seen an increase around the globe from Hurricane Florence in the Carolinas to a tropical cyclone in Somalia. Secretary General of the World Meteorological Organization, Petteri Taalas, states that climate change is leading to rising sea levels and more natural disasters.

Hurricane Florence, the closest to Alabama, started making news headlines weeks before it hit. It finally made landfall on September 14th in North Carolina. Expected to be a category 4, it decreased to a tropical depression. Although it was not a major hurricane, it caused a great deal of damage. With 16 rivers at a major flood stage, flooding became the main issue. Basketball star, Michael Jordan, helped bring attention to this disaster. He played high school basketball in Wilmington, NC, which was highly affected by Hurricane Florence, and he donated 2 million dollars to hurricane relief.

Another disaster in the US this summer was the Carr Fire, also known as the Redding Forest Fire, and the 6th most destructive fire in California history. It started on July 23 and made its way all throughout Northern California.

Because California is so dry almost anything can start a fire. This fire started when a vehicle had a flat tire, resulting in the wheel creating sparks when it scraped the asphalt. The fire spread across 229,651 acres leaving 1079 homes destroyed and 8 people dead. This fire was so destructive because it was not fully contained until August 30th, over a month later.

The weather in Greece was similar to California, extremely hot and dry. This year during

Devastation in Indonesia after the tsunami struck. [AFP] the heatwave in Europe, Greece experienced its deadliest forest fires in over a century. Many people actually jumped into the sea to escape the fires. It took 600 firefighters and 250 fire engines to get these fires under control.

In May on the other side of the world, Tropical Cyclone Sagar and Cyclone Mekunu hit Somalia. Sagar came first, and it was very rare as it was the farthest west a tropical system has made landfall in the Gulf of Aden. It killed over 30 people and then a week later hit Tropical Cyclone Mekunu. Between these two cyclones, a year’s worth of rain fell within just a few days.

There was a major loss of livestock and at least 700 farms destroyed.

An earthquake and tsunami in Indonesia are the most recent natural disasters occuring on

September 28th. It was a 7.5 magnitude earthquake, which resulted in a tsunami and almost 2,000 deaths. A tsunami warning was sent out quickly after the earthquake, but since a lot of people lost power, they did not get the message and could not prepare for it.

1,200 inmates escaped from three prisons that fell during the earthquake. Getting people out from under the fallen buildings has been the main priority, but it has been extremely hard, since they have limited machines to help lift the heavy buildings.

Many communities around the world have been devastated by the damage caused by natural disasters. For scientists who study these effects, this year’s events call for climate change awareness.

War on Plastic Straws

By Maggie Davis '19, Lifestyle Editor

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magine going to your favorite fast food restaurant or coffee shop and no longer being given a plastic straw to drink your beverage of choice.

Since 1870, plastic straws have become a norm in our society, that most people don’t think twice about before throwing them in the trash with all the rest of the single-use plastic products.

According to a 2014 study, our carelessness has resulted in approximately 270,000 metric tons of plastic in our oceans with more than seven percent coming from plastic straws and stirrers. Though this research has been around for a couple of years, the movement to get rid of plastic straws has only recently gained traction.

Numerous businesses are moving to transition to paper straws, one of the largest being Bon Appétit, a large food service company. They recently announced their plan to ban straws in all 1,000 of their cafes in 33 U.S. states. By September 2019, the company plans to have completely transitioned to paper straws.

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Though most companies are looking to the most obvious solution of wood, metal, and plastic straws, Starbucks is taking a different approach to this environmental movement.

It all started in 2016: Starbucks asked Emily Alexander, an engineer in their Global Research and Development department, to develop a lid that would be used to highlight their new Draft Nitro and its characteristic cold foam. The lid was only meant to be used for one product that was only being served at one location in Seattle, but with its design came a new solution for the straw crisis, sparking a reform throughout all Starbucks locations.

Alexander’s final design was a sippy-cupstyle lid, featuring a teardrop-shaped opening about the size of a thumbprint. The best part of this new design is that it doesn’t require a straw and is made of recyclable plastic, making it more environmentally friendly than plastic straws.

Chris Milne, Director of Packaging Sourcing

for Starbucks commented, “By nature, the straw isn’t recyclable and the lid is, so we feel this decision is more sustainable and more socially responsible.”

Starbucks has announced that they plan to phase out plastic straws worldwide from their 28,000 stores by 2020. This reform will eliminate more than a billion straws from the trash cans, replacing them with Alexander’s lid.

According to Nicholas Mallos, the director of the Ocean Conservancy Trash Free Seas program, “Starbucks’ decision to phase out single-use plastic straws is a shining example of the important role that companies can play in stemming the tide of ocean plastic. With eight million metric tons of plastic entering the ocean every year, we cannot afford to let industry sit on the sidelines.”

Though replacing plastic straws with more environmentally conscious alternatives is a necessary first step, there are many more improvements that need to be made.

News Advancements in Understanding Alzheimer's Disease

By Taylor Hartley '19, Editor-in-Chief

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s of 2017, Alzheimer’s disease is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States, claiming more than 110,000 lives each year. The disease is also accountable for twenty percent of Medicare spending nationwide, and that number continues to grow with each passing year. Very soon, it is predicted that the sheer number of those afflicted by the Alzheimer’s disease will overwhelm the healthcare industry.

Many ask how, and if, this can be avoided. The simple answer: it cannot. The key to finding the cure for any disease is finding its source, but it remains an enigma as to what truly causes Alzheimer's.

Dr. Keith Fargo, the director of scientific programs and outreach at the Alzheimer’s Association, explained that, “You look at HIV, and that’s something where it’s a virus, and we know the virus that causes AIDS, and so that’s something very simple to link onto and research. With Alzheimer’s disease, that’s not the case. It's probably going to be very multifactorial.”

Multifactorial indeed, with many scientists and doctors claiming that possible factors could include vascular health, inflammation, lifestyle, malformation of proteins in the brain, and viruses.

However, there is one uncontrollable, incurable factor that most agree to be the primary culprit: age. Dr. Fargo went as far as to compare Alzheimer's to cancer commenting that, “It's similar to cancer in that the older you get the more likely you are to develop cancer, but cancer is not normal aging.”

But the question remains, what can everyday people do to decrease their chances of being afflicted by the disease? Unfortunately, the answer is not as black and white as many would hope. Experts agree that keeping up a decent diet, exercising frequently, and maintaining an active social life can slow down the process.

The American Family Physician Association (AAFP) has also reported that therapies involving estrogen, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and vitamin E have shown promise in delaying the progression of dementia.

Multiple clinical trials have been done all over the world in efforts to stagnate and completely prevent the onset of Alzheimer’s, but not a single trial has been successful.

The future remains unclear for patients, caregivers, and physicians. Many project the number of people affected by Alzheimer's to rapidly grow in the coming decades, a theory

that does not rest well with anyone. Naturally, as a greater number of people are afflicted, more pressure will be put on physicians to find better ways of treatment to increase the quality of life for those suffering from the disease.

However, there may be a silver lining to this. In 2010, the United States Congress unanimously passed the National Alzheimer’s Project Act which set a goal that the disease would be totally prevented or at least efficiently treated by 2025. It is projected that around one billion dollars will be raised by 2025 to push towards research and clinical trials.

Many scientists are grateful for the funding, but even many of them have stated that one billion dollars will not be nearly enough to cover the costs for all the necessary research.

Other major medical problems such as heart disease and cancer get five times the funding that Alzheimer’s treatments are estimated to receive, so it is understandable why progress in treatments may be slow until adequate funding is put into place.

The steps being taken towards a cure for Alzheimer’s disease and related diseases are certainly worth funding. The road is going to be long and hard, but, ultimately, worth the effort.

Kavanaugh Confirmed by Senate for Supreme Court

By Mary Helene Hall '19, Editor-in-Chief

Kavanaugh being sworn into the Supreme Court with his family at his side.

[Fred Schilling, Collection of the Supreme Court of the United States]

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n the afternoon of Saturday, October 6th, Brett Kavanaugh was confirmed by the Senate to the United States Supreme Court. The Senate was just as divided as the nation as a whole with the final vote coming to 50-48, with almost all votes along party lines.

There was much controversy with Kavanaugh’s nomination, as three women have accused him of sexual assault when he was

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in high school and college. Dr. Christine Blasey Ford delivered her testimony in Kavanaugh’s hearing. She opened by stating, “I am here today not because I want to be. I am terrified. I am here because I believe it is my civic duty to tell you what happened to me while Brett Kavanaugh and I were in high school.”

The time before the vote meant turmoil for senators. Senator Jeff Flake was met with

emotional protestors begging him not to confirm Kavanaugh. Many senators’ personal addresses and phone numbers were leaked and published to Wikipedia.

As the vote began, "I will not consent” could be heard from protestors in the gallery. Vice President Mike Pence stated, “The sergeant-at-arms will restore order in the gallery” several times until the police forcibly removed the protestors. Along with those demonstrations, over 150 people were arrested while protesting on the steps of the Capitol.

About two hours after being confirmed, Kavanaugh was promptly sworn in by Chief Justice John Roberts and retired Justice Anthony Kennedy in a private ceremony with his wife and children. Both the constitutional oath and the judicial oath were delivered so “[Kavanaugh] can begin to participate in the work of the Court immediately," the court said in a statement.

Kavanaugh began work on the Supreme Court on October 9th, and only time will tell what the conservative majority will bring to the table for years to come.

Lifestyle InstaPoets on the Rise

By Geneva Martin '20, Reporter

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assion and lust are rarely discussed freely, but often considered interchangeable. However passion, unlike lust, is deep rooted in the soul. Lust often wears off and leaves us empty, while passions stays, unfleeting. Poets are masters of passion. They evoke the feeling with just a few words. They can conjure our deepest, truest emotions without saying anything at all.

Through imagery, word choice, and tone, you can be brought to tears, laughs, or feelings of excruciating desire.

Often famous poets in literature such as Shakespeare, Robert Frost and e. e. Cummings, pop into your head as residual of forced English lessons. But there is another, more free and poignant side of poetry that many don’t even know they can enjoy.

There is a new wave of poets that are making great strides in ways our generation can enjoy. We all know it, use it, and love it: social media. Poets are using platforms like Instagram and Twitter to publish their works instead of using traditional publishing methods. It gets their artistic words to the masses without the strict confines of the publishing industry and standard methods of advertising.

Atticus was one of the first and remains one of the most current poets to flood Instagram’s feed. Atticus has about 781,000

followers on Instagram, and a blue check (marking him a public figure), but has managed to remain anonymous.

Atticus arrives to book signings in a glimmering mask, enrapturing his readers in his mysterious grasp. Though his face remains obscure, his presence is often identified by the phrase “love her wild," which is one of his many words that had him voted the most tattobale poet. His style is concise and quippy, masked by a dreamy facade. His words make you feel as though you are in lust with the stars and married to laughter.

Rupi Kaur, on the other hand, takes a much more somber tone. Her stanzas usually cover painful topics such as abuse and self-worth, though it takes a close eye to notice the gravity of her words because her diction is so fluid and light. She often illustrates her own works by signing her poems with a lack of capital letters. Kaur has even topped Atticus with a stunning 2.9 million followers on Instagram, and she too has been given a blue check.

Both poets tour the world, conversing with the people their words touch. So many new

platforms of communication mean opening the doors for many forms of art, such as poetry, to be better celebrated everyday.

So, need to feel empowered? Wistful? Or just that someone else feels those deep feelings about that crush that you would never actually share with anyone? Then InstaPoetry is the way to go.

The 80’s Called; They Want Their Style Back!

Compiled by Anne Sterling Beall '21, Reporter

The 80’s are making a comeback! Vintage is the new modern! So many celebrities and influencers are bringing back trends such as dad sneakers, funky Raybans and sunglasses, vibrant scrunchies, and designer fanny packs.

Liam Payne, singer, 24, wearing a Supreme fanny pack. emma chamberlain, social media influencer, 17, wearing some funky, vintage sunglasses.

Kylie Jenner, entrepreneur and model, 21, sporting some dad sneakers.

Jennifer Lopez, singer and dancer, 49, rocking a colorful scrunchie.

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Lifestyle Maggie's Sweet Treats: Banana Bread!

By Maggie Davis '19, Lifestyle Editor

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ith the holiday season coming closer, everyone is beginning to look for presents to give friends and family. If you are anything like me, you normally don’t have money to buy gifts for everyone and resort to giving people baked goods. Banana nut bread is always a safe bet when it comes to gift giving and can be really convenient when you have some extra bananas that are getting a little too ripe to eat. I personally have been working to master banana nut bread, and this recipe is by far the best and easiest that I have tried.

Ingredients:

Instructions:

• 4 ripe bananas

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and use butter to grease a loaf pan.

can always place bananas on a lined baking sheet and bake them at 325 degrees for 2530 minutes or until your bananas are dark brown/black on the outside and soft to the touch.

• 1 tsp of baking soda

Tip! If you don’t have ripe bananas you

• 4 tablespoons of vegetable oil • 1 egg

2. First, use a fork to mash your bananas in a large bowl.

• ½ cup of sugar

3. Next, add in the vegetable oil, egg, sugar and vanilla and stir until combined.

• 1 tsp of vanilla extract • 1 ½ cup of all-purpose flour • ½ cup of walnuts • 1 tsp of baking powder • ¼ tsp of salt • 1 tsp of cinnamon

4. Then add in flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and the walnuts. Stir until the ingredients are just combined, making sure that you don’t over mix.

5. Pour the batter into the greased pan.

6. Bake for 30-35 minutes. Try not to overbake as it will dry out the bread.

7. Enjoy your delicious banana bread with friends and family!

The Pros and Cons of Homework

By Isabella McCormick '21, Reporter

motivation, build good study habits, and foster the ability to cope with mistakes.

Without homework, how will students learn how to teach themselves or how to manage their time?

However, homework can have negative effects as well. In a study of Australian high school students, results showed that the students with Bayside students' afternoons are generally taken up by home- more homework had work. [Illustration by Anna Schmidt '20] higher stress levels and more mood here are some questions revolving disturbances. Additionally, students who have around the subject of homework which more than three and a half hours of homework can be controversial. BA Today inter- a night are more likely to stop doing activities viewed three teachers — Mrs. Marian Clara- that they enjoy because of the time they need munt, Mr. Sam Small, and Mr. Wade Long — as to do their homework. well as Head of Upper School, Mr. Josh MontWhat is the purpose of homework, anygomery, and Dean of Students, Mr. Steve Ma- way? The general consensus among the rine to get some answers to these questions. teachers interviewed was that homework Homework has been a debated topic should serve as a tool to reinforce the conamong parents, teachers and students since tent that was taught that day. Mrs. Claramunt the early 1900s. While students will most always believes that homework is “valuable to recomplain about homework, there are multiple fresh what you did [in class], so that when upsides to it. According to Janine Bempechat, you come the next day . . . you can move author and assistant professor of education at forward faster.” Homework, according to Mr. Harvard Graduate School of Education, home- Long, is also a way to prepare students for work helps students to develop achievement what college will be like.

T

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But what it definitely should not be is busywork. “Students are going to do better,” says Mr. Montgomery, “if the teacher is making sure that they give homework that is relevant to the lesson.” As Mr. Marine puts it, students should get a “return for their investment with homework.”

So the question remains, how much of a workload is reasonable for students in the afternoon? Mr. Small states that his view on homework has changed since he’s had kids.

He and his family want to spend time with each other in the afternoons, and his kids want to do extracurricular activities, relax, and have some fun before going to bed.

To allow his students a little more freedom, he assigns his homework to do over a long period of time. Some students, Mr. Small says, wait until the last minute to do their homework and end up being punished by it, but that is not the intent.

The classes students choose to take undoubtedly affect how much homework they are going to have. Mr. Long states, “I would always recommend going to the teacher you might have next year and saying, ‘How much time can I expect to spend on your class?’ because it is up to the student to manage that."

With pros and cons on both sides, it is unlikely that a mutual consensus between homework proponents and adversaries will be reached in the foreseeable future. As these Bayside teachers have all emphasized, and the workload from your classes is only as difficult as the schedule that you choose to make for yourself.

Athletics

Peace, the Score of the Summer

By Geneva Martin '20, Reporter

The 2018 FIFA tournament gave people an opportunity to let go of their cares. [FIFA World Cup]

I

n the dead heat of June, the world and all of its chaos seemed to calm for a singular event. Nobody would have thought this could be the case, but as it happens, the nations raised white flags, politicians showed actual emotions, and rag magazines didn’t even look twice at the Kardashians...all in the name of soccer.

FIFA, the Fédération Internationale de Football Association, has held an international football tournament, the World Cup, every four years since 1930. However, the tournaments were cancelled in 1942 and 1946 due to WWII. Sadly soccer was not able to unite people then as is does now.

Much like the Olympics, receiving the bid to be host of the games is a major honor, competed for by all the nations with a national team.

This year’s bid was granted to Russia. Players and fans alike opposed the appointment of Russia as host on the terms of their blatant bigotry towards people of color and the LGBTQ community. Some players even threatened not to play if steps were not taken to create a respectful environment for the tournament to take place. Overall, people have concluded that Russia successfully managed to put on a prejudice free tournament.

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Though the games provided a sanctuary from the world’s incessant turmoil, there was no lack of words flying to create some drama surrounding the competition, such as Nike no longer providing the Iranian team with cleats after the United States employed sanctions against Iran, and England's refusal to allow the royal family or any other minister to attend the games. This did not stop thousands of fans flooding the stadium to cheer on their teams.

Soccer is a full body sport. “Soccer is so unique because you cannot take timeouts. Players have to prepare at practice so that they can solve the problems in the game. It is a player centered game not a coach centered game,” says Jamie Ferguson, Bayside Head Coach. This means that players must be quick on their feet, literally and figuratively. They have to maintain a mental clarity to make quick decisions about a pass or shot, while staying agile and swift on the field.

Quoting one of his own coaches, Ferguson says, “failing to prepare is preparing to fail.” This goes for life on and off the field. Preparation is key to the success of the World Cup. The fact that the tournaments are four years apart makes complacency a very keen enemy to the teams.

It seems that Germany fell right into its grip. But that is one of the things that really set teams apart this year.

Some were prepared to lay it all on the line, and others put in minimum effort.

Another difference that set this year’s World Cup apart from the past few tournaments was the youth of the teams. Many countries, when constructing their teams, decided to go with the riskier, new players. A lot of them made their way on the field which impacted the energy of all the teams. This definitely allowed for the record breaking goals scored.

The energy on the field was not the only thing that set this summer’s tournament apart from its predecessors. The political climate of our world could easily be compared to the pins and needles sensation one feels when the feeling returns to a sleeping limb. The annoyance and ache of the foot is much like the incompetence that floods the news cycle combined with the unwanted stabbing opinions of people on Facebook. The World Cup was the hot rush of blood that once again lends your foot the ability to move.

The 2018 FIFA tournament gave people an opportunity to let go of their cares. Suddenly everybody was united behind one thing. Some may say that everybody was still divided, picking one team to support, but when it came down to it, people were not rooting for a team, they were cheering for a game. When the final two nations faced off, the majority of the fans had previously supported a different team but still were enraptured by the final game.

Dictators cracked smiles and Republicans kissed babies. The non-stop pace of the game and the camaraderie of the fans, players, and coaches alike, made for a show stopping event. People who have never watched soccer before found themselves captivated by the colorful jerseys and darting ball. It was an event to remember.

Hopefully the relief granted by the World Cup will stick around for the rest of this year. Though the anticipation over the next four years is daunting, it is clear the whole world will be waiting for the World Cup’s return.

Athletics Seniors Lead the Pack

By Avery Vosen '19, Reporter

T

Junior Ben Lane and Senior Bradley Schmidt sport their colorful running shorts. [Lauren West]

he cross country season is in full swing, and our Bayside Admirals have been working very hard over the past few months to prepare for this strenuous sport. There are three seniors on the team this year that assist Coach Swagart : Bradley Schmidt, Sam Britain, and Grace Hollingsworth.

“The whole team is really excited for this upcoming season. I would say our goal would be to work hard, try our best, and have fun,” Hollingsworth, the only senior girl on the team stated. “My favorite course is probably Jesse Owens in Danville, Alabama. I think a lot of us really like this course because it is the perfect time of year for running. The course is also hilly and steep in different areas which is different from what we are used to, which makes for a good challenge.”

“I am most looking forward to going to state this year so the whole team will be together and hopefully do well. I am also looking forward to Jesse Owens because we missed it last year due to the tropical storm.

Tradition Matters

By Mallory Downey '19, Reporter

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ne of the most important things about being on a team is creating a unique bond of trust between players. One way the Bayside volleyball team ensures bonding is through their big sister-little sister tradition.

BA Today had the opportunity to sit down and interview Bayside seniors Annie O’Neill and Anna Turner about this tradition. O’Neill stated,“ [Courtesy of Anna Turner] The big sister-little sister tradition is really fun because you get to know someone outside of your grade really personally and learn things about them you may not already know. It’s also fun to look forward to giving them gifts on game days. It’s just something fun to look forward to.”

Annie also commented to BA Today that she has stayed in touch with big sisters she has had in the past. “Yes, we don’t necessarily text everyday, but we definitely have conversations every once in awhile and keep up through social media.” Anna added, “Yes, you get really close with your big sisters during the season. And my big sister is in college now, but we still keep in touch every now and then.”

Each year the big sisters creatively reveal the names of their little sisters. “This year was really fun because we made cupcakes and the insides were filled with different colored icings that matched a color on our shirts.” Annie stated. “We didn’t tell them exactly what was going to happen, so it was funny seeing them try to figure out what the colors meant.”

No matter how big sisters, little sisters are revealed, it is something the team always looks forward to after a summer of conditioning.

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The team is my favorite part of the sport,” commented Schmidt.

The boys and girls teams are coached

by Joe Swagart, the cross country and track and field coach. All courses are about 5 kilometers which is equivalent to about 3.1 miles.

These athletes start training a few times a week during the summer and then start practicing every day once school begins. Their practices range from hill workouts to interval training to long runs.

Britain told BA Today, “I have been running cross country for Bayside for four years.

My favorite race is Jesse Owens near Birmingham because it is an overnight trip, and we get to hangout with the whole team. The weather is also really good up there around that time of year.”

The boys' team recently won 1st place in the 1A-3A division at the annual Jesse Owens meet.

Both Bayside cross country teams are looking forward to competing at the 3A state championships on November 10, 2018.

Is Summer Conditioning Worth It?

By Leah Jha '22, Reporter

E

veryone involved in sports knows about summer conditioning.

For fall sports, the summer is filled with random summer practices at any hour of the day. Football, cheerleading, cross country, basketball, and volleyball all conditioned this summer. But the question is, does summer conditioning truly help the overall performance once the season begins?

Freshman volleyball player Ella Broadhead replied, “Yes, it was effective because one of our coaches, Dave Whiteis, always pushed us to our limits and required us to work together. At the end of the summer, I could definitely see an overall improvement in the team’s mental and physical capabilities.”

Summer lasts about eleven weeks, which gives the fall sports ample time to have many summer practices. Summer conditioning also allows the athletes to participate in exercise during the summer. A teenager eats somewhere between 2,200 and 2,800 calories a day, depending on his or her gender, weight, and activity level. That is about 192,500 calories consumed during the eleven week period, and with the proper exercise required with each sport, athletes can burn more than half of those calories.

Looking at the recent sports events, the fall sports have started their seasons off with a bang. Bradley Schmidt, one of the cross country team’s top male athletes, placed second during the Twilight Invitational, and the volleyball team has won all of their district games.

Furthermore, the football team kicked off their season with solid wins against St. James, Faith Academy, and Flomaton.

The long term effect of summer conditioning seems nothing less than great. It also helps that these athletes spend their summers preparing for the start of the new season. Even though waking up early and having to exercise may seem dreadful over the summer, the conditioning the athletes do strengthens their overall capabilities.

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