TheBlazer: The Voices of Change

timberline high school’s student run publication l june 2022

the NTPS Black Student Union has a mission to change the way we talk about race and rape

TheBlazer staff superlatives:

An uncomfortably personal introduction to TheBlazer 2021-2022 staff

Ahna Rader

Cooper Smith

Most likely to eat an entire jar of Nutella unprompted

Most likely to listen to Fortnite music unironically

Olya Tsvilyuk

Isela Brown

Most likely to become an oldfashioned business tycoon

Most likely to become queen in some foreign country

Izayah Ramos

Caitlin Grygorcewicz

Most likely to run a Paul Dano fan blog

Most likely to send a long, well-written love letter to Mitski

Editor-in-chief

Staff writer

Staff writer

2 | contents

Assistant editor

Staff writer

Staff writer

4

rolling to victory

timberline's star bowler

5

spring sports

a walk through spring sports

6-7

defining sexual assault the voices of change

contrasting assault and harassment the power of NTPS Black Student Unions

where is the class of 2022 of to?

post-graduation plans

Mamma Mia: behind the scenes

a recap of the spring musical

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10-11

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16-17

the societal disease

the presence of eating disorders at Timberline

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the "r" word

it's time to stop

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all about angel

it's deeper than dressing up

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CONTENTS CONTENTS

being a ukrainian exchange student

slava ukraini

table of

Follow us on Instagram @theblazernews to stay up-to-date with TheBlazer publications! contents | 3

Slava Ukraini Timberline’s tie to the invasion of Ukrane

by Assisstant Editor Cooper Smith

It can be hard to grasp the gravity of events until it hits home. February 24th seemed another monotonous Thursday for Timberline, but for the residents of Ukraine it was a life changing disastrous day.

Ukraine and Russia have been in conflict ever since the mid-1500s. In 2014, Russia invaded the Crimea Peninsula, and Russian-backed separatists seized some of the south-eastern regions of Ukraine. But on Feb. 24, Russia started a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

And for Timberline juniwor Olya Tsvilyuk, it hit home.

Tsvilyuk is an exchange student from Ukraine as well as a member of TheBlazer staff.

Ukrainian exchange student Olya Tsvilyuk gathered for a rally in support of Ukraine in Seattle.

Tsvilyuk is from a town called Bucha that she describes as “a little comfortable green town.” It is located in the suburbs of Kyiv, capital.

“It’s like Lacey, there’s 50,000 people in my hometown,” she said. Lacey and Bucha are both relatively similar towns, they have a similar population size, and a similar small town feel. But the news tells a horrifying story about the residents of Bucha. They have been massacred, hands tied behind their backs and shot dead in the streets of their hometown.

Tsvilyuk is familiar with war in Ukraine. For most of her life there has been a struggle with Russia. “I would never hear the war. I would never see the war. But in our school we would make nets for tanks to help soldiers in eastern Ukraine,” she said. “We would go to hospitals, where we would meet injured soldiers, talk to them and give them pictures of angels.”

When the invasion started, it didn’t feel real to her and her family. “I called my dad and he didn’t believe me. He literally said, to not listen to fake news and go to bed,” she said. But the invasion was real. “In a few hours, they called me back. And I heard my mom crying and saying that russians are bombing an airport near my house,” Tsvilyuk says, “I knew everything was going to be different.”

And to Tsvilyuk the war still does not feel real. “I can’t really realize that it has happened, I can’t believe that my hometown is destroyed, it’s like some kind of movie or a history book about World War II,” she said.

Tsvilyuk’s sister and mother had to flee the country, luckily Tsvilyuk’s connections were able to help them out “I have a really close friend exchange student here,” She explained. “She’s Spanish, and my mom and sister are at her house in Spain right now. Her family suggested to host my family for as long as needed… I got to know how kind and caring so many people are.”

Ukraine has been through a horror that we never, and hopefully may never experience. It’s hard for us bystanders to grasp the weight and suffering of this foreign war. But Tsvilyuk experiences this suffering, “A lot of people died. People that I knew died. A lot of them have lost their homes, and that is the reality of our beautiful world.”

Some people may have a hard time grasping this because many have moved on. Some see the pain and hardships in Ukraine, sympathize, and then move on to the next big topic. Tsviyuk says it’s to do with the mindset of U.S. citizens.

“It’s not even about this war, but it’s about the ways some Americans see the world. A lot of Americans limit their knowledge to only America.” Tsvilyuk also believes the media should not move on either: “It should be pushed by the media, not to move on but focus on problems around us and help to solve them.”

Tsvilyuk wanted to leave us with a now common Ukrainian saying “Slava Ukraini,” which means “Glory to Ukraine.” A person then would reply: “Heroyam Slava” meaning “Glory to the Heroes.”

“A lot of people died. People I knew died.

Olya Tsvilyuk

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Tsvilyuk pictured left of the FLEX flag, poses with her fellow Ukrainian exchange students.

Rolling to Victory

Courtney Cahill stikes out!

By Assisstant Editor Cooper Smith

Photos by Timothy Rogers

Timberlines star bowler Courtney Cahill rolls her ball down the lanes of Westside Lanes When you think of sports, bowling probably isn’t the first one to come to mind. It doesn’t have a Super Bowl like football, and it’s not popular worldwide like soccer. But Timberline has seen success in this under-recognized sport. Student athlete Courtney Cahill placed 4th in state for women’s bowling this year.

But her success didn’t just magically happen. She has been practicing and competing for years.“I’ve been bowling for four years now,” She said. “I’ve come a long way.” She hasn’t taken this journey alone. Mentors have guided and aided her along the way. “My dad helped me a lot. And then in freshman year, there was an assistant coach, Mr. Wilson, who used to be a teacher here, also helped me a lot.”

Coach of the bowling team and social studies teacher Kelsi Rees calls Cahill Timberlines “clutch player” she would play last as the team depended on her putting up points. “She would pull up the spares and strikes,” Rees said. “It was really fun to watch. So she was our anchor player, meaning they go last. And she was just so consistent.”

glimpse of that. “It seemed like she always wanted to do a little bit better,” he said.

This year Wilson visited some of the bowling practices and saw the growth of Cahill from freshman to senior year, “I could look at her and say, ‘boy I wish I could do that.’”

Both Wilson and Rees have seen Cahill’s tenacity, in both her playing and her character.

“Yeah, she’s really a focused person. She’s paying attention. She wasn’t distracted on her phone. I think she always had goals in mind for postseasons. She’s like a quiet leader.” Rees states.

There are two parts to a student athlete, there’s the athlete which Cahill has shown to excel in but there is also the student part.

She excels in that as well. “She’s very poised. She’s just her academics are just straight A’s all the time. She’s just a solid student athlete” Rees said.

Cahill has a cumulative gpa of 3.9, and since she does running start, she will graduate high school with an associate’s degree in art.

Cahill plans to attend the University of Washington in the fall, they do not have a bowling team but she plans to play in a bowling league near the U.W. Cahill is one of the best Timberline has to offer. Both extraordinary in sports and academics. But she is also a role model for others and a “silent leader”, or how Rees puts it. “She’s someone who smiles.

She’s someone who cheers on other girls. She doesn’t need attention.

She just does her thing and people pay attention to it.”

Courtney Cahill is in mid release of her bowling ball against Capital High School

“I could look at her and say

”

‘boy I wish I could do that’ John Wilson

Cahill wasn’t always the anchor player, everyone has to start from somewhere, but the hints of Cahill becoming the anchor player was there from the beginning. “My first impression is that Courtney’s really quiet, but she’s observant of others and their ability so I would watch her watch other bowlers that were varsity and she would pay attention to what they were doing.” Rees said.

John Wilson, now enjoying the retired life, reminisces on his time coaching Cahill. “Some players are just fluid with their movements, she was that. She made everything with one smooth move.”

He coached Cahill for only her freshman year but he got a good grasp of her as a person. “She wouldn’t get distracted during practice,” he said. “She was always focused.”

Her determination shined through, and Wilson caught a

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Spring Sports Run-through 4

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6 1. Etan Hamlyn prepares to take on the javelin 2. Charolette-Ann Boyer runs in a race 3. Peyton Willard reaches the end of the race 4. Noah Deligeannis throws the ball on-field 5. Jackson Brown competes in the long jump 6. Ivan Li guards the ball against Yelm players photos provided by Ahna Rader, Hugo Ennis, Caitlin Grygorcewicz, Cooper Smith and Timothy Rogers

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7. Romeo Brown fights for the ball 8. Jasmyn Polanco pitches the ball 9. Ashley Nyguyen hits the ball up the fairway 10. Kathy Tran and Nghi Do warm up before a tennis match 11. Maylania Mikaele readys her racket

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Difference Between Sexual Assault & Harrasment The hidden stories of Timberline Youth

By Staff Writer Isela Brown

No. A simple word that is interpreted as the disapproval of something, and is the one word we use to prevent our bodies from being taken advantage of. But a simple “NO” only has meaning, instead of action to protect oneself. Students at Timberline had their innocence stripped away from their hands, and were beaten down by verbal assaults to keep quiet. And when they turned to the warm embrace of our districts’ safety, they were broken down slowly with no actions to bring them justice.

What is Sexual Assault?

Sexual assault is an extremely heavy topic, and can be identified as unconsential advancements as well as being forced or guilted into performing sexual acts.

Jaylyn Jones, a senior at Timberline High School, reprised their experiences of assault and explained how it affected them. “I hated myself,” they said, “I did not like looking at myself in the mirror, I felt disgusted with my body.”

Any form of harassment or assault has been shown to create a decline in mental stability, and lower an individual’s self worth. Another Senior, Maia Ayuso-Robles, details her heartbreaking experience with assault and gives insight on the emotional effects of it. “What had happened has left me with horrible trauma, depression, PTSD, and even worse anxiety” she said, “I definitely act as if I’m still 14 and more childish even after this long.”

The psychological effects this crime holds against people is terrifying as people use various coping mechanisms to forget and move past their experiences.

What is Sexual Harassment?

Sexual harassment can be identified as inappropriate sexual remarks or physical touching without the consent of the individuals.

It’s crucial to remember that not everyone experiences the same form of harassment as another individual would, and the same goes for the accounts of assault. Some will often downplay the idea of this form of harassment, but it should be treated just as serious as assault because if these actions go unchecked, it can lead to rape or some other form of assault. Nic Swan, a senior, said that “I’ve only ever been harassed,” before adding that “I wouldn’t say it affected me as terribly as other cases I’ve heard about, but it’s definitely left me with some thoughts about how people treat others.” Swan, who had recounted their experience with this form of harassment, completely downplayed the seriousness of the situations, and compared the extremities to those who have faced assault cases. But others, along with Swan, continue to struggle with other forms of trauma that affect the way they interact with others. A student who wished to stay anonymous, due to the inclusion of personal experience and fear of more harassment from others, relents that their experiences left them feeling like it “really violated my own point of view on myself and it took awhile to get over” they said, continuing with “it still bothers me from time to time when someone touches me in a certain way even if they’re being playful or friendly.” No matter how many times a student denies and downplays their harassment, it is still a crime committed and should not be taken lightly.

Why should you care?

After asking the district for public records regarding cases that have started at the beginning of the 2021-2022 school year, the 8 | news

Graphics by Kaelyn Premo data reveals that only one high school published a sexual harassmentcase out of the 22 that were published.

There was one high school, one elementary school and the rest were middle school; None of which were Timberline cases. Although not many information was presented due to safety concerns for the students who reported, all of the offenses committed were sexual harassment cases. With the protests that happened towards the end of January, a ton of students had come out about their sexual assault and harassment experiences, some of which who reported it to the school.

How do you report it?

A frustration that Timberline students have expressed, as well as other students in North Thurston County, is the lack of records regarding the reports of sexual assault and harassment, which has led some individuals to think that they don’t care at all. Jones later expresses that “I feel like the district or state should be able to implement a process that makes student[s] able to get into contact with the police,” she said, “There should be a safe place for those students who are reporting it.”

Right now, Timberline High School, mirroring the same actions as North Thurston Public Schools, states that students should report these crimes to a trusted adult or Human Resources Executive Director Charles Burleigh. Timberline provides a resource to students who have experienced forms of sexual miscondict in the form of Safeplace Olympia. Safeplace Olympia is a resource that Timberline High School provides to students, and they are an advocacy group that helps with crisis intervention. They provide various help, as well as a 24/7 hotline for immediate options. Another major concern is students who are afraid to report. Ayuso-Robles expresses to students that she “knows it’s hard to speak up about [assault or harassment], but it truly does help,” she said, “You are valuable and deserve kindness and to get the help you need.”

The Voices of Change North Thurston Public School’s Black Student Unions are tired of waiting on the district to acknowldge the prescence of racism and rape culture in our schools. A week-long student strike in early February made that clear.

The Voices of Change NTPS Black Student Unions are at the forefront of the student-led struggle for equity.

Written by Editor-in-Chief Ahna Rader

On January 31st, the front lawn of River Ridge is alive with “Good mornings!” and seven a.m. yawns. Students park or jump out of their parent’s car and pull their heavy backpack over both shoulders.

First bell rings. Most students head to class, bumbling down familiar halls and walkways. However when the warning bell rings, declaring the start of the day, a considerable group of students remain on the sidewalk in front of the school. These students, about 100 strong, make up the River Ridge Black Student Union. Ever since a River Ridge student named Ahmari Steplight was called a racial slur by a Capital High School student at a basketball game, the BSU was discussing a strike. This Monday was only the start of a week long student strike in the name of ending racial injustice and rape culture in North Thurston Public Schools.

“We’ve been talking about a protest for years,” River Ridge BSU member Laila Markland said. She’s been a part of the BSU for almost 4 years. The incident with Capital certainly sparked public debate about racism and accountability in our schools, but such themes have a longer history in NTPS. “In the middle of planning the MLK assembly, we were watching all of these things unfold and then there was a new administration and changes in our principal, “ Markland explains, “All these were happening and nothing was being done to address the harassment and racism. Why would we plan an assembly to build community and collective when there really is no community right now because it’s so unsafe?” Students of color and those who have been sexually assualted feel unseen and unheard by the current adminstration in NTPS schools. “If we want to build community, it doesn’t happen by remaining in the system that oppresses and harms us. We have to go outside of that,” Markland said. Instead of preparing a traditional Martin Luther King Assembly, the River Ridge BSU began organizing for an academic strike.

So what was the meaning of these protests? “At the heart of the protest was being heard, to get some kind of change to happen,” Timberline junior Levi White explained. Students of color and sexual assualt victims have made it clear that much of the ignorance they encounter comes from their school’s administration.These students feel

10 | cover

as though their school administrations are working against them and not in their best interests. River Ridge sophomore Serenity Sharp said, “As a group, at first it [our goal] was to really get the attention of our administration. They were acting like these things weren’t happening. I had some friends who had personally had some bad incidents and I wanted to show them support and show them that we’re willing to fight for them. Our goal ended up being to get an investigation on our current administration.” In our schools, a distrust between the “higher ups'' and the student body has become extremely apparent.

“I kind of avoid administration because of all the stories I’ve heard. I never went to them, I didn’t feel safe doing that,” Sharp shares.

The BSU insists that this rift can be overcome by open communication.“As you progress through the K-12 system, you automatically defer to the one voice in that classroom, the teacher or the principal, and you stop questioning,” River Ridge Art educator Christie Tran said. “You're trained to do that at such a very young age.”

Tran believes that we could all benefit from democratizing education.

Democratizing education is a belief based upon giving students greater autonomy in school. It happens when the administrative hierarchy is dismantled and students have a say in the way they are educated.

“There needs to be student-led things. Not adding students to a superintendent's council but like having councils and committees that are led by students,” Markland said. Rather than the limited opportunity for how and when students can share their thoughts like student boards and action counsels, the BSU is seeking spaces in which students can directly interact with administrators and staff.

“They need to hold spaces for students to come to them, to let them know what’s going on,” Sharp says.

BSU students are also pressing for student advocates who can speak for and represent peers in meetings with staff. Sharp believes there needs to be distinct changes in administration personnel as well, “I’m looking for administrators who are more involved with the students and who show that they actually care and want to build community with the students that have been hurt in the past.”

Since coming back to school, equity demands have been met by opposition claiming Laila Markland - senior at the timing is off. COVID-19 has decimated TimRiver Ridge High School berline student morale. The 2021-22 school year has introduced unforeseen challenges like physical fighting, theft and arson. These challenges "It was all of these are often used as reasons why addressing rape students coming together culture and racism are not prioritized. Instead, to create the we have a new lunch detention system to discourage tardies and the “Character Strong” community that they advisory program. Currently the administration didn’t have." is focused on rebuilding what we lost during COVID-19 -- and little else.

Ironically, the community that our administration is seeking may be exactly what the BSU’s reform demands can offer. Students at the academic strike claimed they found greater Serenity Sharp community within the week-long, student-led sophomore at River protest than they’ve found in their schools all Ridge High School year. “It was all of these students coming together to create the community that they didn’t have.To be a part of this and watch the students "I’m looking for like to connect and share their stories and be administrators who are very open and vulnerable in a way that they don’t get to be because nobody listens to them more involved with the inside that building,” Markland said. students."

Timberline’s Levi White described the protests as a “good experience.” Sharp said, “It was beautiful to see, out of so much hurt, a nice community be built with the protests.” There is clear significance in a student-led event fostering a strong student community.

Levi White - junior at Tran was one of the few adults present Timberline High School at the protests. “Given the opportunity to create programs for themselves, they weren't just out there, you know, waving signs. They were quite "At the heart of the organized,” she said. “They went through safety protest was being heard, procedures, emergency procedures. They had to get some kind of agendas [and] processed hurdles that were thrown at them. These young people are just change to happen." engaged in so many levels, high levels of learning and growing, that they don't receive enough credit for.”

The River Ridge BSU released a series of demands following the protests. These demands outline “changes that they felt needed to take place in order to create a safer school environment.” The demands range from protections for students exist in those communities and are underserved in the education that chose to strike to a full investigation of NTPS by the Washingsystem. There is a need for student voices because no student “or ton State department of Justice. At the heart of the list is a hope human being” should have to be in an environment where they’re for negotiation. “The district and administration doesn’t see us as a expected to perform and not given the same resources [as others],” student-led movement. They see it as like ‘we’re taking orders from Markland said. the BSU advisors’ rather than coming to the table and having a conversation,” said Markland, “It’s really about normalizing converThe students involved in the protests have made it clear sations about race and sexual assault in schools and classrooms that they want collaboration with the district, rather than passive because it’s not talked about.” Conversation between the district listening. “I know the students are willing to put in the work to and the BSU is ongoing, “We’ve experienced a lot of stalling from collaborate. I think the rigidity of the system is getting in the way, them. They’re showing promise, that they want to change, but there needs to be a way to work through it,” Tran said. we’re not seeing results yet,” Sharp said. Between meetings with In order to address harm toward black students and sexual assault the district, the River Ridge BSU discovered that all of the demands survivors, the districit will be forced to redesign the way that stu“were already written in district policy”, but unimplemented. “We dents and administrators interact. To put it simply, in the words of are pursuing a class action lawsuit,” Markland said.

Laila Markland, “We need to see change.”

The BSU is not acting out of spite. Levi White is seeking change. Serenity Sharp wants justice. Laila Markland believes in equity. “This system was built for certain people. It was not built for people of color, women or people of the LGBTQ community and other marginalized communities so there are a lot of people who cover| 11

Staff Editorial

TheBlazer staff discusses the failures of the North Thurston Public Schools distirct during and following the BSU protests The protest against racism and rape culture back in late January, early Feburary, was a grim insight to the failures of North Thurston Public Schools. Brave students were protesting the injustice they saw, and what did the district do? They tried to silence them.

Student voice and activism is an integral part of learning. It was present in the Civil Rights movement with the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), and in the opposition to the Vietnam War in the late 1960s, early 70s which was championed by students. Both movements showed the will of the people who fought against oppression and for their rights, which is exactly what students of our district did. So why in the present are schools trying to prevent that?

The demands were simple. They wanted an investigation into incidents of racism and rape culture in the past, and measures for racial equity. But the district failed to address these straightforward demands. Instead they ignored them or put them off to the side for a long time.

From an onlookers view the image of the North Thurston Public Schools is not a good one. There have been serious issues surrounding racism in the district, back in November of 2020 the district made national headlines for lumping White and Asian students together in their equity report. This is not something the district should make the news for, and what does the district do to improve racial equity? They failed to act upon their own commitments to equity such as hiring a staff that reflects their student population This is what NTPS affirmed in their “Equity Resolution,” but their staff does not reflect the student population. According to the district’s Report Card 45.9% of the student body is white while 54.1% of the student body is people of color. But the educators of NTPS are predominately white, with a staggering 87.2% of them being white. And in Timberline alone 85.7% of teachers are white. So they fail to follow up to these commitments.

The voices of the youth are the strongest in the world, they

inspire change, and they create change. And when the district hears these voices they try to silence them. When the protests at River Ridge were happening the protesters were experiencing threats, they were being harassed, and the administration was actively trying to stop them. In the Equity Resolution the district promised the implementation of restorative practices. These are practices and steps to build community, however instead of building community they try to break it. They ignored what the protesters were saying and played it off as them trying to skip their finals. With emails from principals around the district before the protests saying “we can not excuse absences related to this reported ‘strike,’ which during finals week could impact grades.” What actually happened is that these students were speaking out against injustice, and risking their grades to do so.

Learning has and will always be the focus of school, but that definitely does not mean schools should ignore the rights of students.

The district said that these protests were disrupting learning, but isn’t a core part of learning to challenge ideas? So if the district emphasizes the pursuit of education but goes against these values, aren’t they hypocritical?

What we saw in the protests against racism and rape culture were brave students who risked their grades to exercise their right to protest, and to bring change in the district. What we saw in the district was a lack of care for what the students need, a lack of change, and a disappointing follow up after the protests.

Where are our Blazers off to?

From East to West, the class of 2022 is surely going places

U.S. Forces

Trades/ workforce PNCA

WWU

Evergreen

PLU

SMU

SPSCC

WSU UW

Bellevue College

UWT Shoutout to our Blazers recieving athletic scholarships: - Mackenzie Camus - Tyler No - Ryan Damitio

EWU

CWU Out-of-state schools

Pierce College

Graphics by Editor-in-Chief Ahna Rader

(Out of a sample of about 100 timberline students) around 19% of the student body around 10% of the student body around 4% of the student body around 0.02% of the student body A&E | 13

Let's get opinionated...

The staff of TheBlazer discusses the state of abortion rights and shares their thoughts on observing cultural history months at school.

The Threat Against Roe v. Wade riter Caitlin

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What is the importance of Roe v. Wade and what does losing it mean?

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Abortion has become a controversial topic, time and time again. It has been considered to be a form of healthcare for hundreds of years, but it is now being threatened in the United States. Roe V. Wade was introduced in 1970 in a Dallas courtroom. Roe argued it was against the First, Fourth, Fifth, Ninth, and Fourteenth Amendments in the U.S Constitution.

Abortion is defined by Oxford as “the deliberate termination of a human pregnancy, most often performed during the first 28 weeks of pregnancy.” The U.S Supreme Court ruled in 1973 that restrictive rights on abortion were unconstitutional. Why is a settled case from the ‘70s coming up again? The U.S currently has one of the most conservative Supreme Courts in recent history which is bringing many laws to the table that haven't been talked about for a while.

I believe that people should have the right to make their own choice. Having access to abortions can save a woman's life. It sometimes is medically necessary for someone to get an abortion with complications from the pregnancy itself, the mother's medical history, or the fetus's quality of life. With these risks you aren't saving a life, you are taking one. These remarks are commonly made by men who don't have to take on the burden of carrying a child.

Having to fight for healthcare is a crazy reality. One of the most common arguments is that abortion is considered murder and that life begins at conception. People think that fetuses can feel pain and need to live because it's the "Will of God.” The Supreme Court decisions are not the place to discuss these concerns. Lawmakers must separate church and state. People also believe that it's the woman's fault that they got pregnant and it is now their responsibility to take on a child. The hypocritical opinion that these men think that they can decide to choose what one does with their body is insane. What about an example were, a 12-year-old girl was assaulted and as a result, became pregnant. Are you going to force a child to take on this burden of their own?

Another consequence of overturning Roe V. Wade would be the ban on safe abortions. According to the U.N (United Nations), around 25 million unsafe abortions happen every year around the world and those numbers would jump much higher if these restrictive laws were put into place.

Another thing to address would be the disarrayed foster care system in the U.S. Around 75% of foster kids are abandoned and around half are abused and taken advantage of, but you hear no one speak up for those kids. These babies that they are trying to save are most likely going to end up in these systems or abortions will never truly stop. What's so "pro-life" about letting these kids live in horrible situations? With the number of people now having to take on a child, the financial struggles will be a huge burden. The struggles can mean the child has no means to get food, clothes,

or shelter. Not being able to pay for the child should be a good enough reason to not have one as it is. If you want to ban abortion, why not set up a better childcare system or make maternity leave available? What about making the medical bills for giving birth less than they are now?

Making one's body a political statement has caused women, including myself, to grow tired. We are fighting for basic rights in this country but we have to continue because it's what we believe in. I don't want a future where a political figure gets to decide what happens to my body. Simply, if men are uncomfortable talking about their bodies in a court of law then you have no business talking about ours.

A woman waves a flag at the pro-choice rally in downtown Olympia

Have opinions? Reach out to us at @theblazernews to suggest columns topics for future issues of TheBlazer or volunteer to guest write an opinion piece!

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Should federally designated heritage months be celebrated in schools?

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Most months of the year are tied to honoring the cultural heritage of a specific group. February is Black history month. March is women’s history month. June is LGBT pride month. The list goes on. These months are nationally recognized due to the Equal Employment Opportunity and Civil Rights Program.

They are called Special Emphasis Programs or SEPs. Each month, social media blooms with infographics and celebratory posts. Book readings, talks, night markets and more are advertised in the community as a place to honor each month’s given observance. Yet, at Timberline these months are hardly observed or even recognized. Our school is filled with students that belong to the marginalized groups represented in heritage months. Not only do these students deserve to be celebrated, but all students deserve to be culturally educated. The staff at Timberline have a responsibility to embrace cultural heritage months and implement special coursework that will properly celebrate diversity.

The only time in which I have encountered heritage months being recognized at Timberline is in Mr. Burkhart’s class.

In the months of February and March, Mr. Burkhart would begin each class by highlighting an esteemed Black or female (or both) scientist. We learned about Alice Ball, who developed a treatment for leprosy and George Robert Carruthers, a NASA space scientist.

I appreciated that Mr. Burkhart chose to dedicate time to honoring these select scientists. I wish we could’ve incorporated further learning of black and female scientists during our time in class. This was the only class, besides briefly in government, when heritage months were mentioned.

Now, of course, heritage months should not be the only time when we talk about marginalized communities. Conversations about Indigenous history should not stop once November comes to a close. In an ideal world, all groups of people would be equally incorporated and represented in education. But this is not the case. Many of our textbooks are outdated and white-washed.

Currently, what we learn in class does not authentically represent and honor all cultures. So, it is necessary to observe these federally designated heritage months in an attempt to move closer to equal representation and exposure to all cultures. It may not “fit” perfectly into every class's coursework, but it is important to take the time to celebrate specific groups. White and typically male mathematicians, scientists, artists, and writers are ever present in our classrooms.

Celebrating heritage months in schools is an effort to broaden the types of people we learn about and give proper recognition to all sorts of academics and creatives.

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Celebrating Cultural History Months

At Timberline, there is hardly any recognizable talk about the significance of these months and the history behind it. The main goal of these holidays is to bring awareness to these cultures and teach students about marginalized groups in our student body. But what is frustrating is that students see these as just titles for the month, instead of spending the time to learn about these marginalized groups; That is where the schooling system fails to bring in the educational aspects into our history and our learning.

Oftentimes, when these holidays are celebrated, it's usually by teachers who choose to add it to their curricular teaching. In Spanish class, some teachers teach about Hispanic Heritage Month, while others entirely neglect to speak on these matters. Some U.S. History teachers choose to also include Black History Month into their teachings because of how much that type of history influenced the development of the country, while others decided to only stick to what the schooling system provided. As a student, I have yet to encounter these months being recognized at Timberline. To me, it is important to learn about diversity in our country, and it's our school's job to teach us such important cultures..

But there are other holidays that are never mentioned by students like Asian-American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Indigenous Heritage Month or Sexual Assault Prevention Month.

Everyone is affected by Sexual Assault, but marginalized groups are far more likely to experience assault without getting the justice that they deserve. And when discussing the topics on heritage months, people often just turn to Black History Month and Hispanic Heritage Month because they are the most recognizable. All cultures should be celebrated, recognized and taught.

Honoring a group of people should not come with negativity and should be celebrated in a way that is appropriate. These heritage months were created for a reason, and schools should embrace these ideas in order to teach their students a variety of topics and cultures. Although the curriculums in history classes paint a picture on various groups like Indigenous people, it isn’t enough to truly honor what makes these groups of people a part of our lives.

But honoring these months should not be the main focus.

In fact, the goal should be to include these marginalized groups into our curriculum as America is made up of different cultures, religions, and people; They all helped to shape America for what it is today. These heritage months should transition into always being recognized, and upheld in everyone's learning. Taking this away prevents students from broadening their knowledge on what makes up our history.

MAMMA MIA: Behind the Scenes

By Staff Writer Isela Brown

Actors rush to get in place, the curtain slowly opens to reveal

their shining faces. The spotlight centers the actors, and shields the

audience.

Although auditions were held to figure out the size of the

anxiety built up over 4 weeks of rehearsals. The assistant director

cast, rehearsals were the time for the chosen students to refine their

light cues to set the stage.

Shaw chose 35 ensemble cast members with careful consideration.

rushes people out the door, and the manager corrects sound and Danni Swan, Swan, a sophomore who is the sound manager and

technical assistant stage manager, stated that they “put blood, sweat

and tears into this show, and it's been tiring but rewarding.” Swan had worked to correct any sound mistakes that come out of the actors

“I think I’m particularly good at problem

One problem that the crew ran

into, which required deep problem solv-

worn out” she said. “You have to do it right each time.”

their weaknesses when it came to the overall production of

w and Cat Sha e E the show. During rehearsals, scenes were often repeated n we e because of dance moves not being done correctly w rs O in the correct time frame. However, the movement was finalized and corrected under the

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Swan said.

about her position was “doing it over and over again because you get

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solving. That’s just how my brain works, if I see

An ensemble member, Lillian Bowers, Bowers, expressed the hardest part

A lot of members stated that memorization was one of

while they sing and dance with hidden mics, a complicated task that eventually paid off.

skills. Theater director Robin Tuckett and musical director Terrance

ing, was figuring out how to move the

set given that ther was limited time and actors were the only ones capable. The solution to this, the tech crew assigned

male actors to help push and pull the set

guidance of Kendell Tuckett, Tuckett, who served as choreographer.

At the center of the set, a painted blue

bar separated the actors from the musi-

cians who brought the music into the show.

Amongst the band was Issac Coulson.

Coulson. The

freshmen had offered to help Shaw by using

his skills with guitar, which eventually proved

into the correct position during set changes.

to be challenging. Coulson states that they were

These assignments stayed the same through

“learning the music in three weeks.” He began learn-

the remainder of the show. Working together,

ing the music just before March rolled around, but says

the crew backstage was able to figure out how to pull

it off and made it visually appealing to look at, under the guidance of the crew members who were looking down from the booth. But crew

the overall experience was his favorite.

“[The musical] was a lot of fun and you met a lot of great

members were not the only driving factors of the show.

people and great music,” he said.

also needed to sing and dance. Out of the 66 students who tried out,

start of the pandemic and it is said to be the best return-to-the-

the elegant Tanya, brings enthusiasm and charm to the character

director for the show. The serene atmosphere that was created by

her part through “dedication, hardwork and practice.” A lot of the

‘together’ they were, crew members said. And even with the prob-

Experienced actors not only had to express emotions, but

Mamma Mia was the first musical at Timberline since the

13 students were chosen to be the leads. Emma Frost, Frost, who plays

theater production, according to Jeremiah Tuckett, Tuckett, the technical

throughout the various scenes she's in. The senior said that she got

the actors and technical crew members happened because of how

leads expressed that they faced several challenges that ranged from

lems with sound feebback and a moveable set, the actors stood their

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scenes. However, their noticeable struggles were embraced by the

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Photos by Caitlin Grygorcewicz, Graphics courtesy of Free Creative Commons usage

MAMMA MIA! Review

By Staff Writer Izayah Ramos

After two years of silence since the last performance before the pandemic closed the curtains, they finally reopened for a new show called Mamma Mia! Yet, when those curtains are drawn open, they reveal no one on stage! The only object that greets the audience is a mailbox at the right side of the stage. Moments later a young woman wearing an old-fashioned light blue dress enters the quiet stage. She carries three white envelopes and holds them against her chest.

Afterwards, the curtains are briskly drawn open to reveal an outdoors Taverna bar on the Mediterranean Island. The beach bar seems laid back and enjoyable enough to book a vacation to the island for the weekend. I was surprised to find out later in the play that the staircase wheels around to transformed into a bedroom! I thought it was a creative option.

Those two total opposite objects don’t seem the type to easily form into something completely new.

Donna, who is played by Emily Morse, is a self dependent mother who owns the Taverna bar on the beach.

Back in her youth she was a famous singer and dancer. But she Taylor King dances in the ensemble. left all of the excitement in the past to raise her daughter and run the bar. Yet deep inside her she is still the fun and free woman she was in her youth. The daughter named Sophie, played by Natalie Eckroth, is a 20 year old who dreams of having an elegant wedding with her fiance Sky, played by Etan Hamlyn. If only her father was there to fit the missing piece of her lifelong puzzle. After reading a few pages of her mother’s journal she listed three potential candidates.

Then, she secretly invited all three of the men. Sophie believes she will find her father at first sight. The three men who travel to the wedding are Bill, played by Owen Shaw; Sam, played by Caden Blackhurst; and Harry, played by MJ Dizon. Placing bets with the people seated next to me, was anyone’s game to find out who her real father was. Donna was greeted by her two best friends Tanya, played by Emma Frost, and Rosie, played by Isabelle Coulson. Together the three musketeers were known as Donna and the Dynamos, an all women band.

I was surprised to see a dozen ensembles in the play. Because there were a lot of ensembles I thought they would overcrowd the stage and distract the audience from the story. However, they actually tied perfectly together.

Singing wasn’t their only role. They played and danced. Despite having a large ensemble, the performers were organized and in sync with the main cast. The ensemble’s singing builds up a lot of passion and strong emotions during scenes throughout the play such as "Lay All Your Love On Me" where Sophie’s fiance tells her to give all her love Cate Ewers dances in ensemble. Isabelle to him alone and to not Coulson and Emma Frost are cast members. share it with anyone else.

The ensemble circles around Sophie and Sky as they sing together, mimicking the fiance’s lines “Don’t go wasting your emotions. Lay all your love

on me.” If they weren’t singing or dancing, they would be playing as background characters. Some of them would be lying on the beach towels, others would be having small conversations and a few would be sitting up on the rooftops. I also enjoyed the colorful outfits they wore.

It definitely made the play feel like I was taken back to the '90s.

I noticed the color choices for stage lights had a huge impact on the passion for scenes that are supposed to be really hyper and energetic versus scenes where it’s supposed to be sorrowful and gloomy.

For example, when Donna was singing "Slipping Through My Fingers" where she sings about letting her only daughter go off to live in the world as an adult the lights dimmed to an ocean blue color. The color lighting forced the audience to feel a mother’s heartbreak.

The play was romantic, comedic and full of surprises. Out of all the memorable moments that happened in the play, the one that stood out most was Sam breaking the fourth wall. No, I don’t mean he looked towards the audience and waved at them. As he was talking to the two men who were invited to the wedding he turned his attention to The Pit. He walked up to the musician that was playing the guitar and took it from him. He pretended to portray himself playing the electric guitar. To everyone’s surprise when he started strumming the strings an actual electric guitar sound was blasted out. Then, he strummed the strings of the guitar to portray a loud, Etan Hamlyn and MJ Dizon as cast members. electric guitar sound.

I thought it was creative and very hilarious.

As the final act is played out, Sophie was never able to identify her dad. But she doesn’t mind. To everyone’s surprise, she canceled the wedding. She decided it wasn’t the right time and wanted to go explore the world a little more before being married. Everyone was supportive of her decision and the play ended with one more song. To be honest, I was surprised she didn't marry Sky. But I’m not complaining. If Sophie isn’t going to marry Sky then I would gladly sweep him off his feet and marry him, why let the dress go to waste?

Overall the cast, ensembles, dancers and musicians were fantastic. They put a lot of emotions and expression into their performance.

Also shoutout to the backstage crew who helped structure the show by working with the stage lights, paint and build stage props and overall ensuring the play ran smoothly. Mamma Mia was the best play to watch after nearly two years of being quarantined.

Photography by Caitlin Grygorcewicz A&E | 17

The Societal Disease of Today: Eating Disorders With body positivity movements it seems like eating disorders should not be an issue anymore, however, they are.

By Staff Writer Olya Tsvilyuk For one of Timberline sophomores an eating disorder led to the hospitalization. The same challenge made another student feel like they lost themselves in constantly looking into the mirror and trying to achieve perfection. “I’ve always wanted to look muscular, have abs, have a good jawline and I achieved it but this led to serious food problems and extreme body dysmorphia and eventually led me to a mental hospital,” said a freshman who wants to remain anonymous.

These stories are only two of the 72 gut wrenching anonymous accounts the Blazer received from Timberline students about their experiences with the modern societal disease – eating disorders.

Eating disorders, including anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating, are some of the most dangerous threats to mental and physical health.

Carin Christy is an art therapist, who works with body and food concerns, as a certified Body Trust Provider. It is a healing modality that works with folks around unpacking their biases about their own bodies.

For many years in her early 20s, Christy struggled with eating disorders. That became a reason for her to dive into the topic for her own healing and to help others, “It’s a really hard issue to recover from when we live in such a culture that perpetuates food and body issues all the time.”

Therapist says it’s possible to recover with support from the community. It’s very beneficial to have people around who listen, and respect your boundaries, particularly about talking about food and body concerns.

However, Christy mentioned that everyone needs to consider their own clean eating habits and all those sorts of things to be able to support someone in recovery.

“Don’t restrict your own eating around [those in recovery].

Carin Christy

Age and gender of T-line students who struggle/ ed with EDs (results from the poll in Canvas in January 2022) Junior Celeste Ward mentioned that some people face the challenge of multiple diseases. “Eating disorders usually aren’t restricted to only one kind, [those] struggling with it jump from one to another depending on the level of stress or other push factors.”

Eating disorders can mean people skip meals, frequently check the mirror for changes in the body, constantly diet, eat too few or too many calories, self-induce vomiting and overexercise. Then, the results are dry skin/hair, feeling cold all the time, weight fluctuations, menstrual irregularities, extreme mood swings, dizziness, fainting, and muscle weakness.

However, for some the eating disorder is consuming excessive amounts of food, or things that should not be eaten, like paper, rubber,etc.

Ward decided to share her story as a way to help those who struggle with this disease. Her fight with eating disorders began in middle school, when her friends started skipping lunches as the way to “look better” and she caught up with them. Peer pressure is one of the most frequent reasons for teenagers seeking the beauty of social standards.

Ward mentioned social issues with all beauty standards, however, “The body positivity movement has already made a great change for people to feel more comfortable in their skins and showed to the world that beauty has different shapes.” She also highlighted that social media does not talk about medium shape, but still romanticizes the “fixing” the body by virtue of eating disorders. In her opinion it is one of the most dangerous “traps” of social media.

The point in her life, when Ward realized a problem, came with a movie about a girl who struggled with anorexia, “I got goosebumps. If I would not stop, I could go through the same as she did.” In the end of the movie the main character goes through the hardships of treatment that usually aren’t shown in the social media “Pictures and videos on the Internet do not show the reality of starving yourself, not being able to eat, and receiving nutrients through Intravenous Therapy,” said Ward.

18 | news

”

Help goes beyond moral support, asking individuals about their needs and trying hard to provide it is one of the best ways to bring comfort to those in recovery. “Buying kinds of groceries they would like to eat or if they want to overcome a particular food they’ve feared in the past, you can support them in doing that,” said Christy, and the most important in her opinion, “Don’t restrict your own eating around them.”

Some families practice restrictive behaviors, such as food policing.

Naming foods as good or bad is harmful for those in recovery because it triggers the thoughts about eating in a negative light.

If you have any of the symptoms, or realize that your relationships with food are not healthy, consider talking to a therapist, ideally, a therapist who has an experience with eating disorders.. Sometimes it is difficult to share your thoughts and negative experiences, however, in the long run, it is a decision that will help you to build a healthy and successful lifestyle.

One of the students, who wishes to remain anonymous, shares that the first step could be sharing with your loved ones if you are not ready to meet a psychologist, “My mum found out what was going on with my eating habits, however, she has never blamed me for that. She has helped me to climb out of the never ending hole with her support with healthy food in our fridge and gym membership.”

Contact for the Body Trust Provider Carin Christy: (360) 338-1302 / carinchristy@icloud.com Celeste Ward( left), Carin Christy ( right)

It’s Time To Drop The R-word

A guide to understanding the harmful effects of abelism and offensive words towards people with disabilities

By Staff Writer Izayah Ramos

It’s no surprise to overhear conversations drop the R-word. In the hallways, lunchrooms and in the back of the classroom the R-word is dropped. Whether an intentional insult or just casual use, some believe the word causes harm.

The R-word is a derogatory form of speech that stands for retard or retarded. “Any word can be a weapon if you use it as a weapon and I think when people use the R-word oftentimes they’re weaponizing it and that becomes a weapon to people who have heard that word thrown at them in a derogatory measure,” English Support teacher Rebbeca Hogan said.

In 1961, mental retardation was originally a medical term for people with intellectual disabilities. Overtime, the word has lost its meaning and was reformed into a slang term towards people with disabilities and used to replace degrading terms like stupid or slow.

Saying the R-word continues to hurt people with intellectual disabilities.

Using the R-word is the same as using any slur against a person or community. So why do people still use the offensive word?

“Unfortunately there’s students who were raised that way by the way their parents talk, it’s much harder to change their behavior that is encouraged or normalized at home,” American Lit and AVID Educator Jennifer Tate said.

Environments where the R-word is normalized easily influences people to believe that it’s okay to say offensive words or behave in an ableist manner. The influence of social media has also kept the word around” “Social media definitely is a big influence because there’s no restriction,” freshman Milo Lamar said. Social media plays a huge role in people’s lives. We use social media daily and consume every media information presented to us. Because it’s such a huge platform it’s no surprise to see people post, tweet or say something that involves the use of the R-word.

Where in school do people say the R-word? The word has been known to be used in both the hallways and in classrooms.

“Occasionally, I would hear it in the hallways and it’s often male underclassmen who use the word with each other,” Tate said.

Saying the offensive term in the hallways is easy to get away with because it’s crowded by students and it’s difficult for teachers to enforce rules.

If you hear someone use the offensive word don’t be a bystander Tate advises. Educate them and tell them it’s not okay to say the offensive word. The theory is that by speaking up you will make a person think twice before using the offensive word and might inspire others to do the same.

“What’s great about our school is that we have inclusion classes and that means that a lot of our classes are a mix of general and special Billy Robertson is celebrating Earth Day by making dirt cups. education,” Hogan said.

Timberline High School has inclusive classrooms where students with special needs and students who do not have special needs are placed in general education classrooms. When students with special needs hear people say the R-word or behave like an ableist in a

space where they’re supposed to feel safe, it makes them feel like they don’t belong.

In many situations, people will try to defend the offensive word.

“It’s really upsetting to me to hear the R-word and it’s really upsetting when people try to defend the R-word by saying ‘it means slow look it up in the dictionary.’ Well, the F-slur means ‘a bundle of sticks’ and that’s still an offensive word itself,” Hogan said.

Some people defend the word and Billy Robertson and Brendan Acuff end the claim it has a different school day by dancing to music. meaning in order to normalize it. Hogan explains when she was in highschool it was common for students to make fun of themselves or other people by calling them or themselves the R-word.

She also explained how they would bend their arm to their chest and rapidly swing their hand to mimic someone who has an intellectual delay. You don’t need to say anything to be ableist. Mimicking body language and motions from people with disabilities is just as harmful as saying the R-word.

Special Educator Lisa Lal shares her experiences with people expressing ableism. “‘Those students are wasting space in my class,’ ‘Those students need to be institutionalized,’ ‘Those students will never learn anything.’ When our students hear those things, they know, they know they’re not wanted. And then they use their behavior or whatever else they communicate with to express their discomfort and feeling rejected.”

When students with disabilities are called offensive words or are faced with ableism it makes them feel unwanted in a school environment where everyone should be treated equally.In order to reduce discrimination against people with special needs it’s encouraged to educate oneself. “If you don’t know anyone personally or haven’t had an interaction with somebody who has special needs then you don’t have the sense of awareness and that creates a separation that makes you feel like their ‘other’ or ‘different.’ If you don’t have interactions with something or someone different from yourself then it’s hard sometimes to have that compassion or understanding,” Tate said.

In order to educate oneself people are encouraged to communicate with people who are different from themselves. It’s better to form your own perspective of someone when you get to know them.

If not, there’s no way someone can judge someone else based on how they present themselves or what others said about them.

So how exactly can you interact with people who are different from yourself? You can talk to the people in yow=ur classroom or get permission from your teacher to hangout with Ms. Lal and her amazing students.

“Come join our classrooms in the mornings, we do lots of fun activities and play music in my room. We like to start our day with music and dancing to start our mornings off fun and end our day with music,” Lal said. news | 19

All About Angel: Self-Expression Mode “At the end of the day, who cares?” - Angel Izuagbe’s go-to.

By Staff Writer Olya Tsvilyuk The quarantine was a new start for Angel Emoshoke Izuagbe.

Izuagbe.

She’s a junior in Timberline High School who discovered her passion for fashion during COVID-19. It opened the gates to self-expression and greater confidence. The new hobby did more than help her discover her own styl, it also took her out of her depressive episode.

Being stuck at home for such a long period without much to do, resulted in apathy and depression for many people. Changing the routine and participating in new activities, along with finding new hobbies, saved some from falling into a deep hole of stress. This was the case for Izuagbe.

On one of those days, when Izuagbe was stuck in her bed without the desire to do anything, she decided to make a change, “I just told myself, I’m gonna dress up.”

“I looked at my closet, I started making outfits, doing makeup, my hair, and doing a little show for my mom,” Izuagbe remembered, “I really liked the process and started doing it every single day.”

Self expression was not easy for her at first, so she decided to take little steps. Her first outfits were seen only by her mom, but later Izuagbe started creating outstanding looks for short walks with friends at shopping malls, parks, and grocery stores. Eventually, she built up her confidence to express herself through dressing up at school.

“I think many people are scared of being made fun of and making that jump to the unknownness of standing out.”

Even though she overcame the fear of others’ opinions, episodes of fear sometimes come back. One of them happened the night before the first day of school. Izuagbe was not sure about her outfit and was scared of people making fun of her. She made the decision to call her friend for advice. “At the end of the day, who cares?” she was told and this phrase became her go-to. “There will be people who appreciate it, there will be people who don’t and there’s nothing you can do about it,” said her friend.

Izuagbe has not only found her way of self-expression but also inspired others to overcome their fears. One of Izuagbe’s friends Leah Barrett became inspired by Izuagbe’s different ways of self-expression. She mentioned that Angel’s fashion is not limited by one style, it is a collection of many different kinds that create her identity. Izuagbe

inspires the people around her to try new hair styles, new outfits and make-up. “The fact that I’ve influenced some of my friends to feel more comfortable expressing themselves has honestly given me the feeling of genuine happiness and accomplishment,” comments Izuagbe about the number of positive feedbacks from her friends.

Izuagbe’s unique style is bolstered by thrifting finds and vintage clothing. She matches her hair and make-up with distinctive pieces of clothes and loves shopping second hand. “Thrifting is my favorite thing to do because you find the most unique pieces of clothing,” she said, “But honestly, one thing I want to say is that I don’t think it depends on what stores you go to, it depends on your set of mind and how you put pieces together.”

“

Don’t be afraid of those who laugh at you,

”

there are people who are inspired by you.

Angel Izuagbe

However, Izuagbe still highlights her preferred store and it is “Dumpster Value,” a vintage clothing store in downtown Olympia.

Developing your creativity through observing others’ aesthetic is one of the ways Izuagbe recommends for those who want to improve their outfits.

Angel’s one true inspiration is herself. She finds pride in realizing where she used to be and who she became after facing her own fears. There is a message that Izuagbe wishes to share with the world, “Don’t be afraid to express yourself through clothing. Don’t be,” she said “Don’t be afraid of those who laugh at you, because there are people who are inspired by you. At the end of the day, who cares?”

Angel’s week in outfits Monday

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Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Photo Credits: Olya Tsvilyuk, Caitlin Grygorcewicz

Pitch Perfect

A deep dive into Timberines award winning Chamber Choir

By Staff Writer Caitlin Grygorcewicz A stage full of sound, people flowing into the room waiting for the showcase to begin. The theater lights shine on empty bleachers waiting to be filled. Two girls step up to sing in perfect harmony, the passion in their voices hard to ignore. With smiles across their faces they take a final bow together as one.

Seniors Isabele Coulson and Emily Morse celebrate after their duet In March, the choir had its first open performance after the Covid-19 shutdowns. “The students who are in there work really hard every day and they come prepared and when they don’t come prepared they all know it,” said the choir director Terry Shaw. Shaw has been working in performing arts for 25 years now and is still going strong, leading his choir to win competitions left and right.

One group that sticks out is the award winning Chamber Choir who are on a 16 year streak winning state championships left and right. One member of this choir is Isabelle Coulson, a senior this year who is an award winning soprano. When performing, the emotion in her face really brings out her personality. Acknowledged by her peers she is seen as a leader with a positive influence. She talks about Shaw leadership and how it’s a huge part of keeping the choir together. “He pushes you individually as well as a whole to be better and to create that system of having a family and there being different roles, you know?” Coulson reflects on her time in the choir being one of many seniors graduating and stepping away from the choir. “It’s crazy as you go through highschool [and] people who you thought were gonna be great will sometimes drop out of choir and then the unexpected people step it up.”

There are younger members of the choir like sophomore Natalie Eckroth, who is an award winning alto and a noted individual among her fellow members. She brings a whole new feeling to the stage while performing. She expresses the dedication and family setting of the choir, “I think there’s a lot of pressure put on us and a lot of the time we rise to it and a lot of the time we don’t”. Eckroth describes how the choir is emotionally close thanks to Shaw’s influence, “If you mess up you’re disappointing the people like it’s not just a choir or a class it’s like your family”.

At the most recent state competition, Chamber choir scored all superior which is the highest possible score you can achieve. Like any other team, they work with each other to create an experience that sticks with the audience.

It is best summed up by their director who says “Our students take a enormous amount of pride in the choir I mean as you have probably seen from being in the show (Mamma Mia) all of them trying to recruit everybody, and you don’t do that unless you really love what you are doing.”

Jaiden Killcup, Natalie Eckroth, And Emma Frost preform along with Chamber Choir

Choir director Terry Shaw celebrates a soloist

Isabelle Coulson sings her solo in front of her choir A&E | 22

shower

Bath

shower or bath?

wheat sourdough

Whats your favorite bread?

Happiness?

What Goldfish flavor are you?

Crippling Debt

What is your graduation pathway?

Twitch Streamer

Yes...

save it

SoundCloud Rapper

waste it

What do you spend you’re money on?

YES.

I’m evil

Do you have strong morals?

don’t have money to spend

Do you like minecraft?

YES!

cry.

What do you do on Friday nights?

I’m not 12 lol

Do you eat the gummy vitamins? no...

NO

Are you over 10?

What..

Try not to cry

a & e| 23

*These photos were taken from the creative commons

The mission of TheBlazer is to provide the students and staff of Timberline High School and the surrounding community with a quality, thoughtprovoking publication. We aspire to print a publication that adheres to professional journalism standards, including sincerity, truthfulness, accuracy, impartiality in reporting news events, and equal representation of Timberline High School. theBlazer will serve as a public forum for the free exchange of information, opinions, and artistic expression in a civil and constructive manner.