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The official student newspaper of Battle High School
Volume 1, Collection 8
Muriel Williams Battle High School
Tuesday, September 28, 2021
Back to School Students return in-seat
By: Jennifer Pereyra After struggling the past year with virtual classes, hybrid learning, and return to five days a week, Battle is glad to have students back inseat. Many challenges had to be overcome to get to this point and we’re all hoping for a long, safe school year. Although the return to in-seat has been a relief for many, things this year look a lot different to ensure everyone’s safety. Principal Adam Taylor expressed his excitement for the new school year and aspirations. “We’re hopeful that our students and staff will have a safe and engaging school year filled with opportunities to further grow towards their desired dreams and aspirations. We want to help guide and support our students in their pursuit of academic excellence and social responsibility,” Taylor mentioned. Before school opened, a plan had to be established to guarantee everything runs smoothly. Columbia Public Schools acted fast in creating a 2021-22
Coronavirus Plan. From K-12, a back up plan was created to avoid COVID cases from rising. “This document outlines the district’s plan to maintain a safe learning environment and to keep students in school as well as responses should change in learning modes be necessary,” the introduction page of the plan states. Since day one, the school's new normal is wearing masks while inside the school building. Battle will continue to promote healthy habits and put in mitigation strategies against COVID-19 (such as masks, seating charts and contract tracing). Staff and faculty hope students will find a more “normal” school experience. Wearing masks indoors is one mitigation strategy that will provide an additional layer of protection to keep all students and staff safe and in school. Although they’re required indoors and on busses, they aren’t required outside.
Above: Spartans on offense get ready to hike the ball. Photo by Molly Benedict
Homecoming Game Spartans bring home the win
By: Nathan Stever On Friday, Sept. 17, Battle played Hickman in this year's homecoming game in which the Spartans would win 3522. The bleachers were packed with students excited to watch Spartan Football. Coming off a loss from Helias, hopes were
high that Battle would come back with a big win over Hickman for homecoming. Since their first matchup in 2014, Battle has been undefeated against Hickman. This matchup would look familiar since the 2019 homecoming game was also played
against Hickman in which the Spartans would win 67-37. Through the first quarter, teams were getting warmed up. Both teams reached the end zone with the score at the end of the first quarter being tied at 6. Garrett Murray
started at running back for the Spartans. In the previous two games Murray split time with fellow running back and starting linebacker Rickie Dunn. Against Hickman, however, Dunn would see majority time on defense leaving the backfield wide open
Bus Drivers Needed Bus driver shortage impacts transportation By: Jackie Ozanich Every day, thousands of students rely on the school bus to get to and from school. This year, specifically, transportation has become a problem, due to the surplus of students streaming into our schools and the bus driver shortage. We have the buses, and we have the budget for the average cost of ridership per student a semester ($184.89), we just don’t have enough drivers. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), “Generally, they [the average school
Freshman Brantley Cole gets on the crowded school bus. Photo by Jackie Ozanich
bus can] fit three smaller elementary school age persons or two adult high school age persons into a typical 39inch school bus seat.” These regulations are in place to keep kids safe while on the bus. The Columbia Public Schools (CPS) district is experiencing such a shortage of bus drivers because of the pandemic last year, when many bus drivers had to rely on a different job for their income. The district is trying to get more bus drivers, with ads up near schools, a pay of $16.25 an hour, and by offering training to new hires. Yet, the shortage
Look for these Photo Galleries inside!
Spirit Week NEWS & FEATURES LINK CREW/ JUMPSTART by Jennifer Pereyra RETURN TO IN-SEAT by Jennifer Pereyra HOMECOMING DANCE by Jackie Ozanich BUS DRIVERS NEEDED by Jackie Ozanich
Fall Sports SPORTS
IN THIS ISSUE...
FOOTBALL by Nathan Stever HOMECOMING GAME by Nathan Stever SOFTBALL by Nathan Stever
OPINIONS
PHOTO GALLERIES
FALL SPORTS HOMECOMING SPIRIT WEEK by Jackie Ozanich TEEN SHOWCASE by Jennifer Pereyra
PRO-ATHLETES VOICE IN SOCIETY by Nathan Stever
Homecoming ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT DARKROOM TEEN SHOWCASE by Jennifer Pereyra TIK TOK FASHION TRENDS by Jennifer Pereyra KANYE'S ALBUM by Jennifer Pereyra DARKROOM INTERN by Aaliyah Preyer SPIRIT WEEK by Jackie Ozanich
A2 News&Features
Jumpstart
Upperclassman hype up the class of 2025 By: Jennifer Pereyra As the school year started, Link Crew celebrated the arrival of the class of 2025. With lots of excitement and anxiousness in the air, Jumpstart shook the school to a great start. Link Crew is an upperclassmen leadership program that is aimed toward making BHS a more student-led school. The Link Leaders go through an extensive training to run Jumpstart Day activities that involve teambuilding and preparing students for high school and all the obstacles they will face. Link Crew helps freshmen build relationships with role models that help steer them in the right direction as they enter their high school career. “Being a Link Leader comes with a bunch of responsibilities, but it is worth it because I want to become a role model for the freshman this year so they have someone to look up to and ask questions to when they’re confused or lost,” junior Osmar Murillo mentioned. Juniors and seniors must apply to be a Link Leader. The applications go out in the spring, and Link Crew coordinators select students before school is over. At the end of summer, juniors and seniors attend their training and get ready for jumpstart day. Following that, they are placed in a freshmen advisory with the new students to help mentor them through their first year. This year due to COVID-19, things looked a bit different during Jumpstart. Link Crew coordinator Samantha Symonds talked about her excitement
for this year's mentors. “We didn’t get to do our May Training Day due to a large number of people being in space and all the COVID restrictions that were in place. We finally got to do our regular training like we used to and it was a blast! We are excited to be able to mentor in person this year,” Symonds said. For the upperclassmen that were new to Link Crew this year, planning, preparing, and getting started for Jumpstart was a new and exciting experience. Junior Nathan Stever participated this year as a Link Leader. “I had a blast running Jumpstart day. The hours of preparation were all worth it in the end and the freshman seemed to enjoy the day as much as we did,” Stever said. As a freshman, stepping into a new and bigger environment is intimidating and overwhelming. There are longer hallways, more classrooms, and different bell schedules. Attending Jumpstart helps lessen any first day of school anxiety by getting freshmen to know their peers and classrooms. “Jumpstart day was really good, I made some new friends and the Link Crew leaders were helpful with finding classes,” freshman James Kimble mentioned. Link Crew fills in the role of an older sibling, answering questions, helping finding class rooms, and supporting the freshman in any way possible to ensure they’re comfortable with the school.
Bus Drivers Needed Continued from page 1
By: Jackie Ozanich persists due to safety concerns and lack of benefits. Some Battle High School buses have to have students ride three to a seat, and extra students have to sit or stand in the aisles. “I was half hanging off the seat because I'm the last one to get on,” Adrian Gibbs, freshman, commented. Students and parents do what they can to help the problem, but the bus is heavily relied on for transportation, and it can
be challenging. “I drive around several students, so they can avoid that type of situation on the bus. It’s ridiculous,” junior Isabella Dupree said. “I understand it’s not the district’s fault, but it’s just unsafe.” Students are also experiencing late buses and in some cases the bus not showing because of the bus driver shortage. “The bus was late, just like every day,” Gray Meserve, freshman, who rides bus 228, said.
Anne Borgmeyer wore clashing prints.
Monday Mismatch "We're all mad here!"
The CPS district isn’t alone, either. This shortage is felt throughout the nation, with some states like Ohio even considering using the National Guard as bus drivers. In Chicago, some schools canceled in-person school because of the bus shortage. If you know someone who might be interested in becoming a bus driver, they can apply online at Drive4STA.com
Jackie Ozanich and Izzi Dupree matched in pink skirts and black tops.
Tuesday TwinDay
"Tweedle Dee & Tweedle Dum"
Above: Link Crew leaders and coordinators cheered on as the freshman enter the competition gym. "This is probaby the coolest thing I've done at Battle," junior Link Leader Melissa Lindsey said. Link Leaders took their freshmen groups on a tour of the building after team building activities. Photos by Anne Borgmeyer
AP Squared juniors participated by wearing blue for the junior class.
Wednesday Class Colors
Homecoming Spirit Days Spirit days give students and teachers the opportunity to show their school spirit and form connections with their classmates. Susie Adams, history teacher, said, "Spirit days are just so much fun because they bring everybody together!"
By: Jackie Ozanich Student Council named the days this year to match with the Alice in Wonderland theme. The whimsical names gave a unique twist to the traditional spirit days. "It was fun! I liked dressing up!" said Izzi Dupree, pictured above on twin day.
Thursday PJ Day "It was all a dream."
Daz Murray wore florals for PJ day.
News & Features A3
Homecoming dance Battle students dance the night away
By: Jackie Ozanich On Saturday, Sept.18, from 8-10pm, hundreds of students gathered at the entrance of the football stadium to celebrate homecoming. Students brought $5 to get into the dance if they didn’t already buy tickets at the lunch table that sold tickets for only $3 the week before. Homecoming was planned in only three weeks with the help of Student Council (StuCo). Senior Eneidi Hernandez who was a part of the party planning committee talked about the ups and downs of the process. “It felt almost impossible, like we weren’t going to be able to make it, you know? Everything was super rushed and frustrating, but in the end it all turned out great!” Hernandez said. The dance was held on the track this year, instead of the commons or gym, where it had been in the past. Many students were doubtful of the success and potential Student Council saw of the location. Students did enjoy it for the most part, with very few complaints. “It was too quiet in some places, and too loud in others,” junior Jack Hosey commented. Junior Mya Martinez said, “I liked that it wasn’t on the [actual] football field.” The track was decorated with mushrooms and fairy lights to commemorate the Alice in Wonderland theme. Not everyone saw the
correlation, though. “The decorations weren’t that good. I feel like they could have done better,” junior Isabella Dupree said. Also on the track, was a photo booth and DJ, where students made a dance floor, gathering in circles and hyping one another up. Dupree said, “Homecoming was really fun. I really liked the music.” It was a challenge for some students, due to the large number of people in one space after a year of social distancing and isolation. “The line was too long, so I left,” junior Jeff Painter admitted. Students weren’t required to wear masks due to the dance being held outside, but there were precautions taken, for example, students that don’t currently attend Battle High School were not permitted to enter. Homecoming also had drinks including water and punch, and food including candy, chips, cookies, and fruit snacks. “I love the food,” Cameron Watts stated. Other students commented, “The punch was so good!” It was a nice touch that gave students a chance to step away from the excitement and cool down for a bit. Overall, students can agree that this year’s homecoming was a fun one, and will stay in our hearts. We’re excited to see what’s next for court warming!
Back to School By: Jennifer Pereyra
Continued from page 1
This gives some classes the opportunity to work outdoors and take a break from masks. Looking back at last school year, restrictions due to COVID don’t seem to be as harsh. This year, during passing hours, the halls have become crowded, at times making it difficult to get to class on time. Lunch has also become overwhelming for some students. “Sometimes I see people with their mask below their nose or completely off, especially in the crowded hallways. People just like to stand around and sometimes it’s annoying when you’re walking to your next class,” junior Towrie Lem mentioned. Meanwhile in classrooms, teachers are required to document seating charts in order to make contact tracing easier in case someone in the class tests positive for COVID-19. Many teachers have given students the option to
choose a seat for the rest of the year. Students that are caught with a loose mask or none at all are reminded to “pull their masks up.” “We are committed to following all policies and procedures outlined by the district. Our nursing staff is great and will identify close contacts and other measures and protocols that need to be followed. Adults will model what we expect students to do,” Assistant Principal Rachel McCarthy said. Students had many different things to say about the return to school. Junior Brookson McCarthy is happy with the transition back to school. “This year is far more organized than last year, going from virtual to fully in-seat. It’s good to see friends and be social rather than just sitting behind a screen. I feel like I never got to know my teachers last year but this year they can
see us and talk with us," Brookson McCarthy said. "It’s a little weird going back to A and B day schedule from last year's four classes a semester. I liked the four classes per semester more because I was less stressed from homework while balancing practices and sports.” Junior Ainsley Stubbs enjoys finally being able to have a full, collaborative class. “In seat has been easier because you are able to collaborate with others and get more help from your teachers,” said Stubbs. “It’s easier to ask teacher’s questions instead of having to send a long email, and you can ask for other people for help since they’re right next to you.” In order to continue in-seat, everyone must do their part and respect each other’s personal space and keep masks on at all times. We’re in this together.
Spearhead Staff News & Arts Editor: Jennifer Pereyra News & Sports Editor: Nathan Stever Staff Writers: Jackie Ozanich & Aaliyah Preyer
Visit: Room H214A. 4B Click: spartanspearhead.com Email: BHSspearhead@gmail.com Gram: @bhs_spearhead Tweet: @BHS_Spearhead Thank you to The Shield for photo coverage! Photo Editor: Kylie Greer Photographers: Emily Beach, Aailyah Beck, Molly Benedict, Quyncie Greening, Lauren Knight, Kamiya Logan Faculty Adviser: Anne Borgmeyer
Above: Students attended the Homecoming Dance in the shelter of the building near the football field. The unusual location allowed for unmasked dancing and celebrating of the Friday night win over Hickman. Photos by Quyncie Greening.
A4 Sports HOMECOMING GAME By: Nathan Stever
Continued from page 1
Against Hickman, however, Dunn would see majority time on defense leaving the backfield wide open for Murray. “I feel great about the win, but as a team we knew it was just another game we needed to go out and win,” Garret Murray stated. In the second quarter, quarterback Justin Goolsby would throw for two touchdowns and convert a two point conversion, giving the Spartans a lead of 15. The Kewpies broke off on a few good runs to help them march down the field. Right before the red zone the Spartan defense came up with the stop which led to a field goal making the score going into half 21-9. After halftime, both defenses played well. The Kewpies would score first in the third quarter cutting the lead down to just 7. The Spartans gained possession of the ball and would bounce back with
their own score. Wide receiver Donnavan Hicks caught the pass that ended in a score. The play would be featured on KRCG’s Twitter page as a contestant for play of the week. “After missing out last week, that score felt great. It was in a needed moment and it felt good to be a part of the win,” Hicks commented. The fourth quarter was more of the same as the previous three as both teams would go on to score another touchdown. The final score would end up being 35-22. Head Coach Jonah Dubinski stated, “The game went well, we just have to figure out ways to be more consistent. It was exciting. The locker room was full of energy but consistency is our next opponent.” The Spartans will be facing Poplar Bluff at Battle on Friday, Sept. 24, with kickoff at 7 p.m.
Fall Sports Photo Gallery Scenes from the Fall Season Despite a few cancelled or postponed games due to COVID across several fall sports, the season is well underway for many athletes. Pictured, left to right: Jordyn Butler returns a volley in the game against Lebanon (Kamiya Logan). Brooke Nutter hits at the Pink Out game on Sep. 7 (Molly Benedict). The pink out game was a cross-town fundraiser for breast cancer during the RBHS vs BHS game. Soccer goalie Jacob Luectefeld defends the goal against Capital City (Kylie Greer). The volleyball team warms up with a rousing cheer (Kamiya Logan). Aiden Lockett drives in to steal the ball from Helias (Emily Beach). Miraim Tramel plays in a tennis match (Lauren Knight).
Sports A5
Above: Aubrei Roland at bat against Centralia. Right: Ainsley Stubbs on the pitcher's mound. Battle won the game 8-3 on Sep. 2. Photos by Kylie Greer.
Mid-Season Checkin
Softball's record looks promising for district play
By: Nathan Stever The 2021 softball season began on August 27. With a new field, and good opponents, expectations were high going into the season. Districts start in just a few weeks and with only three opponents left on schedule, the Spartans have a record of 14-7. The Lead Off classic would be hosted at Troy in which Battle would face Washington in the first game of the season. They would end up losing; however, they came back to win the following three games of the tournament. Shortly after the tournament, the Spartans faced Capital City but would lose 10-7. After the loss from Capital City, Battle would play their home opener against Fayette in which the Spartans would win 4-1. The Spartans hosted Rockbridge this year as their 2021 pink out game. The game was held on Tuesday, Sep. 7. The Spartans would be defeated 7-1 against the
Bruins. Though the Spartans lost, over $1,500 was raised during the event. Later that week, Battle would go on to beat Rolla with a score of 9-2 and take a win over Bowling Green with a score of 11-1. Center Fielder Chelsea Gleba stated, “I feel our success this season has come from our chemistry. Our team chemistry has allowed us to exceed expectations.” On Sep. 14, Battle would travel to Hickman High School to face the Kewpies in an expedition game. Ainsley Stubbs would start pitching against the Kewpies. Through seven innings the game was tied. Stubbs and the Spartan defense kept the game tied until the ninth inning when center fielder Chelsea Gleba would hit a single allowing Battle to score and win the game. “There was a fair amount of pressure in that but we all
trusted one another’s ability and I think that's what helped us in the end,” pitcher Ainsley Stubbs commented. With districts starting soon, there are just a few games left in the season. During the 2020 season, Battle would end 14-14 and a loss to Holt in a district game. In the 2021 season the Spartans have reached the 14 game win mark and are on pace to finish above the .500 point. Nothing final is set for districts, however pitcher Brooke Nutter commented, “With districts coming soon you can expect us to just keep playing our game and doing the best we can do.” Jeff City will be the Spartans next opponent and the two teams will face off on September 28, at Battle. The final home game will be held on October 11 against Eldon.
Football Season Overview Spartans show promise for the upcoming season
By: Nathan Stever The 2021 fall football season had some expectations different from years past. Fans would be allowed back in seats, a new head coach was introduced, and there would be some new looks on both sides of the ball. The Spartans would travel to Ft. Zumwalt North to play the Panthers for the first game of the season. Since the opening of Battle in 2014, the Spartans have a record of 4-3 against Ft. Zumwalt North. Up until the fourth quarter, the Panthers held a strong lead and were up two touchdowns. Roughly midway through the fourth quarter, Quarterback Justin Goolsby completed a pass to Tay Patrick which cut the lead down to 7. The next drive, the Spartans forced a fumble which was taken back for a touchdown. Battle completed the two-point conversion to secure the win 36-35. Quarterback Justin Goolsby stated, “It was a really good game, real good intensity towards the end, but overall it was a good game. There are a lot more wins to come and it should be a very exciting season moving forward.” The following week, several players tested positive for COVID-19, causing unvaccinated players to be quarantined. The game was supposed to be held against Capital City, though it was postponed due to the quarantining. Battle’s schedule was filled with new and old opponents this year. The next games would be against Helias on Sept 10, and Hickman for the Homecoming game on the 18. Defensive end Andon Arends commented, “We’re a good team and we have a ton of talent. We just have to make sure we do everything right and I think we could make a pretty good playoff run this year.” Since the opening of Battle in 2013, the football program has won districts every year except for the 2019 season. Head coach Attiyyah Ellison left the program in July for another coaching offer at Mizzou. With a short amount of time before the season started, some were concerned as to who would take over. An interview was conducted over the next couple weeks to hire a new head coach. Athletic Director Alex Huck stated, “We knew we had to be quick and efficient and I think the process
was thorough and effective in finding the right candidate for the program.” During dead week Jonah Dubinski was named Battle Football's new Head Coach. Dubinski had previously coached at Capital City High School before coming to Battle. “I feel extremely welcomed and I’m looking forward to leading this program forward. I focus on high effort all the time. I think if we come out and execute early day in and day out we could do well come playoff time,” Coach Dubinski commented. With fans back in the stands, the 2021 fall football season will be filled with excitement. Battle played Helias at home on September 10, but would lose 3522. The following week they hosted the Hickman Kewpies for homecoming.
STEVER ON SPORTS
Athletes Take On Politics
Professional athletes use Twitter to address politics There’s no secret social media is growing larger everyday. Apps like Twitter, Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram, and Tik Tok have given many users a platform to speak on. Some creators use these platforms to dance, promote their own company, make funny videos, or speak on hot topics. Many professional athletes have started to be more active on social media to use their platform to share their own opinions on certain topics. Oftentimes young kids and teens look up to these athletes and watch and listen to what they have to say. With just under 12,000 professional athletes nationwide, LeBron James has arguably been the most influential athlete on social media. After Colin Kapernick began kneeling for the national anthem in 2016, LeBron began to become more active on Twitter. Since then, he has made multiple tweets regarding the Black Lives Matter movement, Donald Trump, police officers, the George Floyd case, and other social justice issues. Many other athletes started to follow in his path and use their platform to voice their opinions as well. During the Derek Chovin trial, Nets guard Kyrie Iring went as far as to buy George Floyd’s family a new house. Trailblazer guard Damien Lillard began to use Twitter and Instagram to promote his support for Black Lives Matter. After the rise of the 2020 protests and riots, many athletes began to kneel for the national anthem. Former New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees tweeted about what was going on. The tweet read: “I will never agree with anybody disrespecting the flag of the United States of America or our country.” This tweet brought much attention to the Saints organization and Drew Brees. Several NFL players as well as LeBron James tweeted back about how wrong Brees was for saying that. The tweet was removed less than a week after Brees posted it. Which brings the question, why can only certain athletes voice their opinion while others get shut down for saying what they think? When athletes make tweets like this, young kids and teenagers who see these can easily become influenced by them and start making these kinds of posts on their own without information. Most conservative athletes are frowned upon when tweeting about something political which is why a majority of these athletes stay silent. There's no question athletes have a different level of influence than other influencers. There needs to be separation between politics and sports. Athletes are more than welcome to voice their concerns on events, but when they bring politics into sports is when issues erupt. Nathan Stever is a third year journalism student and the Sports Editor as well as Co-Editor-in-Chief of The Spearhead.
OPINION COLUMN Left: Von Smallwood runs the ball as offensive linemen hold back Poplar Bluff. Right: Tre Richardson eludes tackle. Battle narrowly lost hte game 22-26 on Sep. 24. Photos by Nathan Stever.
A6 Arts&Entertainment Darkroom Teenshowcase Students perform live at Stephens Park
By: Jennifer Pereyra Where’s that music coming from? From Darkroom Records of course. After skipping a year due to a global pandemic, Darkroom is finally up and running with their first show starring local highschool bands Self Hug, Mudsurf, Effie Lillig, and a small opening band called Drona. The show was on Sept, 2 at Stephens Lake Park Amphitheater at 7pm. Darkroom Records is a free after school activity where students can visit a professional recording studio and record their own music, be an audio engineer, or simply explore the world of music. Having a majority of citizens fully vaccinated against COVID-19. It gave Darkroom the opportunity to finally reopen and organize shows to the public once again. Hence this year’s showcase successfully kicked off. When it comes to selecting bands for the showcase, Darkroom reaches out via direct message to those bands that have already played in past shows or have worked with Darkroom Records before. “We reached out to a bunch of bands and they were the three that got back to us and ones we knew we could rely on,'' faculty sponsor Jordan Smith mentioned. In a typical year, Darkroom interns and interns that aren’t audio engineers whose roles are to be managers and entrepreneurs, do some outreach
and promotions. This year because of the pandemic and the show being at the beginning of the school year, David Aulgur and Smith, who are both sponsors of Darkroom records, put the event together. The Showcase is a collaboration between radio station BXR and Columbia Parks and Recreations. This is Darkroom’s fourth year working with the two. “Five years ago we were contacted by Parks and Recs and they said, we have the amphitheater, we’re doing a summer concert series and we want September to be a High School band showcase. Parks and Recs needed a sponsor and that’s when BXR, a local radio station came in,” Smith said. Singer and Hickman senior Effie Lillig, one of the artists that performed at this year’s showcase, never saw herself playing the guitar until she picked one up. “I learned to play the guitar when I was like 15 because my dad’s been playing guitar since he was 14, so I've been listening to guitar my whole life and I never thought I would have a talent for it because I didn't think my hands were big enough,” Effie Lillig mentioned. One of Lillig's biggest influences was her own father who taught her how to play and gifted her her first guitar which originally had been his. During Lillig’s freshman year of high school, Darkroom
Drummer Danny Saab rocks along with his band Mudsurf during their performance. "I really enjoyed these bands, they're all so unique and talented" Junior Jackie Ozanich. Photo by Jennifer Pereyra
was hosting an Open Mic night at Cafe Berlin and Lillig desperately tried to get onto the ticket and ended up playing a 15 minute opener which was her very first performance. After successfully opening the show at the Open Mic night, Lillig was offered the opportunity to record professionally at Darkroom Records. “After my set I was asked if I might want to record, which was really cool, and so I’ve been doing stuff with Darkroom since my Freshman year and I’m a Senior now. Right now I’m the Darkroom manager for Hickman,
trying to get more concert opportunities and planning new concert series,” Lillig said. Darkroom gives everyone an opportunity to express oneself, if you’re interested in getting involved in the studio, or simply exploring. Contact either Mr Smith, JorSmith@cpsk12. org, located at G214A or Studio Intern, Jennifer Pereyra 23JP01@stu.cpsk12. org.
Tik Tok Fashion Trends
By: Jennifer Pereyra
What's new in this year's fashion
From Cottagecore, E-girl, Grunge, Dark Academia and many other types of aesthetics, Tik Tok has seemed to greatly influence the new generations fashion choices. This is no year to pull up to school with a plain t-shirt and jeans. Every accessory, hair style, and shoes matter greatly to this year's students. For those who aren’t familiar, Tik Tok is a platform used to make a variety of shortform videos, from genres like dance, comedy, and education, that have a duration from fifteen seconds to three minutes. Similar to the Musical.ly craze in 2016, Tik Tok currently has approximately 1 billion monthly active users. Aesthetics are a variety of styles that follow a strict color palette or “vibe”, such as Grunge involves a bunch of greys, blacks, and darker tones. Aesthetics seem to make up people, their identities, and favorite colors. Whether you’re an E-girl, Indie kid, or Soft Boy, the importance of being confident in your own clothing matters in terms of your own self esteem. “I love when people get to express themselves through fashion. It makes me feel better about myself
and gives me a lot of confidence even if other people think it’s weird. Overall I think it works wonders on your mental health and finally coming to terms with your own body,” senior J’Bonae McDonald mentioned. Cottagecore is one of the many types of aesthetics that rose to popularity through Tik Tok. The key components of this aesthetic are bringing natural elements indoors as decorative pieces, such as dried flowers, fresh flowers, houseplants, along with a natural color palette with neutrals and warm tones. Cottageore is a white room filled with natural lighting and long pothos ivy vines. Or as Google defines it, as “living an idealised rural lifestyle in a small cottage home.” “My clothes are something that makes me really happy, and it expresses my love for the culture of the 70’s! I feel at home when wearing my favorite pair of bell bottoms,” junior Melissa Lindsey said. Whether the importance of how each article of clothing looks together matters to you or not. Having the ability to express yourself in a unique way that boosts your confidence and self esteem, even if it’s not through clothing, is fairly important and such an easy and cute way to express and love yourself.
"I love when people get to express themselves through fashion... it works wonders on your mental health and finally coming to terms with your own body." - J'Bonae McDonald
Donda
Kanye West's well awaited album By: Jennifer Pereyra Esteemed artist, director, producer, and writer Kanye West has released his tenth studio album on Aug. 29. This album has been highly anticipated since its tease in 2020 by West on twitter, claiming, "DONDA coming this Friday." To many fans' dismay, the album had not been released as promised. This led to many fans distrusting Kanye since this was not his first time doing this. It would make sense that when it was announced in late 2021 that Donda would drop again, some were skeptical. The name of the album draws inspiration from West's mother, Donda West. It serves as a homage to his mother, who died soon after the release of his third studio album, "Graduation" on Nov. 10, 2007. Donda had passed from a botched plastic surgery, where she would be undergoing many procedures in one session. Kanye had been close to his mother his whole life, even having written a song for her on his record "Late Registration" called "Hey Mama." So it was no surprise that West had taken the death hard, even going as far to claim it was his fault for the lifestyle he had provided for her. The album "Donda" serves as Ye's last goodbyes and promises to his mother, which may have been why it was delayed time and time again... so he could ensure that she would be proud. This record is a mix of many styles that Kanye has explored in the past. It has some of the experimental sounds explored on his 2013 project Yeezus" on tracks like "God Breathed" and "Praise God", some of the poppier sounds that are reminiscent of "The Life of Pablo" on songs like "New Again" and "Believe What I Say."
On top of that, Kanye reinforces the gospel influences and messages seen on his 2019 album "Jesus is King", including triumphant choirs like in the song "24", and bigger than life organs on songs like "Pure Souls" and "No Child Left Behind." Kanye also goes into making songs unlike anything we've ever heard from him in songs like "Off The Grid" and "Moon." I believe that this album is more Kanye flexing his composer muscles, with a total of 33 collaborators on this project, all stretching from different genres and fields. Some of the collaborators include Marilyn Manson, Jay-Z, Ariana Grande, Westside Gunn, Shenseea, and many more. This wide cast of musicians on the project makes you feel like you are being sucked into West's world and seeing all of his influences and collaborators. Although it provides the album with a wide palate, it can at times feel like this is not Kanye's project, with at some points having the feature take up a significant majority of the song and leaving Kanye as almost an afterthought, or at times, the worst part of the song. Some of the highlights from this project include "Off The Grid", "Hurricane", "Junya", "24", "Moon", "Pure Souls" and "No Child Left Behind." Overall, I'd rate this album an 8.7/10.
Arts&Entertainment A7
Marching Band Showcase Scenes from the band performance at Homecoming
Photos by Aaliyah Beck
Recording Studio Open Darkroom Records is open for recording
By: Aaliyah Preyer Darkroom Records has reopened for the new school year and is offering recording opportunities for student musicians and sound artists. What is Darkroom Records? Darkroom is a free recording studio for CPShigh school students to record and produce in a professional environment. Darkroom was closed back in March 2020 because of COVID-19, it just opened back up this September. A Darkroom intern is a student
that helps out with promotions, recording setups, and artist bookings which ensures studio time for those students who want to record their music in the studio. They also help set up showcases for the artists that record in the studio so they can perform live in front of an audience. 2021’s Junior Darkroom Intern, Jennifer Pereyra talked about the learning process of an Audio Engineer. “It's difficult at first because you have to remember a lot of things
but when you get the hang of it you will get used to it,” Pereyra said. The sponsors for Darkroom are Jordan Smith and David Aulgur. If you’re ever interested in becoming a Darkroom intern, contact either Jennifer Pereyra via email 23jp01@stu.cpsk12.org, or Jordan Smith at JorSmith@cpsk12.org. Students interested must be a Junior or Senior in order to get the position. Darkroom is open after school, Monday through Thursday from 4 to 6 pm.
Are you wanting more news about happenings in the Battle community? Look for more stories on our news website www.spartanspearhead.com.
Have a great story idea that you would like to see covered in the next issue? Contact editors Jennifer Pereyra (News & Arts) at 23JP01@stu.cpsk12.org or Nathan Stever (News & Sports) at 23NSS01@stu.cpsk12.org.
Extras A8 This is a student produced newspaper. Are you a Battle student interested in working on the Spearhead? Contact us today! If you are interested in reporting and writing for the newspaper, please contact Ms. Borgmeyer at anborgmeyer@cpsk12.org or stop by room H214A.
Photos by Emily Beach, Aaliyah Beck, and Molly Benedict.
Fall Word Search
Find these autumn-themed words to get in the spirit for fall! By: Jackie Ozanich
Created using Word Search Generator on Super Teacher Worksheets at www.superteacherworksheets.com