blue
t he student voic e o f gr a n v ille h ig h s c h ool
prints Volume 12 Issue 1
SCHOOL RESPONDS TO 'DEVIOUS LICKS' TIK TOK TREND
Fall 2021
HOW TO SURVIVE HIGH SCHOOL VILLENEUVE'S REMAKE OF 'DUNE'
FALL TEAMS CAPTURE TITLES AGAIN
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VOL. 12 NO. 1 blueprints 1
MAGAZINE EDITOR
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
Alysha Wallace
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he start of this school year was super exciting. Everyone is back in school together and wearing a mask is optional. We are finally back to regular school and it’s safe to say that the students and staff of Granville High School couldn’t be happier. I don’t think anyone expected the increase in bad behavior to come along with all of this. In this issue, Ella Kunar and I touch on the increase in bad behavior across the country that schools have seen as they get back into school. While there is a rise in bad behavior, our staff editorial talks about how to help underclassmen adjust to high school life after the pandemic. In order to keep things relatable to students, our BluePrints staff also wrote about issues directly affecting us. Ella Mork writes about the number of students that are tardy to class each day. Danielle Varrasso writes about a popular new elective that can be counted as a P.E. credit. Bella Cox added a story about how pandemic life has created a staff shortage and the effects it has had on the high school Along with the more serious stories in our issue, we wrote about more entertaining things going on in Granville. Bella Cox wrote a review on our fall play that the drama department put on in early November. Caden McDermott wrote a review on a remake of the classic 1984 movie "Dune." Other things in our issue include a blast to the past with a feature on 90s clothing making its return written by
ON THE COVER
"Devious Licks" by Sophia Crestale
MISSION STATEMENT
The award-winning staff of BluePrints aims to inform, entertain and inspire readers with stories about Granville High School and the surrounding community.
SPORTS EDITOR Abby Sanders
WEBSITE EDITOR
Caden McDermott
BUSINESS MANAGER Danielle Varrasso
ALYSHA WALLACE Abby Sanders and a high school survival guide written by Bella Cox. Ella Kunar has a sit down talk with 3 sets of twins in our high school and learns what it is truly like to be a twin. Ella Mork writes out a detailed guide on the best clubs to join here at Granville High School. Our fall sports teams put on a show for their fans this year. Abby Sanders covers how each team does in their season. Along with this, Sanders writes a detailed sports column on how targeting protocols in college football should be changed. Our football team this year went pretty far in their playoff run, making it to the state semi-finals. Bella Cox hosts a Q&A session with star senior running back Devon Haley on his take on the season and the pressures of having an undefeated season. We hope you enjoy the issue!
EDITORIAL OFFICE
BluePrints Magazine Granville High School 248 New Burg St. Granville, OH 43023
FIND US ONLINE
www.blueprintsonline.com
SOCIAL MEDIA
GHS BluePrints @GHSBluePrints @granvilleblueprints
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BROADCAST EDITOR Ella Mork
SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR Ella Kunar
PROMOTION MANAGER Bella Cox
ADVISER
Amy J. Tolbert
CONTRIBUTER
Sophia Crestale
EDITORIAL POLICY
BluePrints, Granville High School’s newsmagazine, is published by students in Journalism. As a forum of student expression, the goal of BluePrints is to provide the high school students’ perspective on relevant issues concerning the school, the community and the world. Editorial decisions are based on timeliness, relevance and appropriateness. Opinions expressed in the newspaper are not necessarily that of the entire staff, student body or school. Letters to the editor will be published as space allows. BluePrints does accept advertisements; however, the staff reserves the right to withdraw ads.
IN THIS ISSUE NEWS
NEWS BRIEFS 4 BLUE RIBBON 4 SHORT STAFFED 5 SNOW DAYS 5 COVER STORY 6-7
OPINION
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STAFF EDITORIAL 8 OP-EDS 9 READER OPINION 10
LIFESTYLE
SURVIVING HS 11 SERIAL KILLERS 12-13 FASHION TRENDS 14 TWIN TALK 15 SCHOOL CLUBS 16-17
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SPORTS
SPORTS BRIEFS 18 ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT 19 SPORTS WITH SANDERS 20 STUDENT SECTION 20 TEAM SPORTS 21
ENTERTAINMENT STAFF PICKS 22-23 PLAY REVIEW 22 DUNE REVIEW 23 UPCOMING EVENTS 23
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NEWS
NEWS BRIEFS BY ABBY SANDERS
NATIONAL MERIT RECOGNIZES 7 GHS STUDENTS National Merit recognition is awarded based off of the performance on the PSAT taken during the fall of junior year. Each year, around 1.5 million students enter the National Merit Scholarship competition, with only the top 50,000 in each state earning recognition. This year’s National Merit recognition was awarded to Henry Budd, Lily Gibson Bigson, Isaac Lowry, Nathaniel Miller, Sophia Minton-Fry, Kyle Neeley and Colvin Timmons.
NHS INDUCTS 33 NEW MEMBERS The Anna Cozad Ackley chapter of National Honor Society inducted 33 students on Oct.18. To be selected, each student proved they have been committed to service, scholarship, character and leadership.
VOTERS ELECT MILLER, ODEH TO SCHOOL BOARD This year’s school board election was one of the most competitive elections in school history. With five candidates running for only two spots, incumbent Thomas Miller and Rana Odeh earned the most votes to secure their spots on the school board. Discussions over COVID, masks, critical race theory and school funding have been on the rise in the school board meetings.
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THREE-PEAT
School wins National Blue Ribbon award for third time
BY CADEN MCDERMOTT rincipal Matt Durst and English teacher E.B. Smith attended a ceremony in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 5, to accept the National Blue Ribbon award on behalf of Granville High School. The event began on Thursday morning with an informal networking opportunity. This allowed teachers and principals to get to know each other and talk about different ideas they have been implementing into their school. “Informal was a good word for it,” Durst said. “It was a great way to start everything off.” That afternoon there was a welcoming ceremony for all the schools and Dr. Christopher Willard from Harvard gave a talk on wellness. “His approach was very insightful; he looked at things through his scientific lens while still considering mindfulness,” Durst said. The following day was the big ceremony, where all the schools were recognized for their academic excellence. It started off with a leadership panel and guest speakers. Then schools were called up to accept the award. “It was a lot of fun. Think of it like a high school graduation; there was a lot of sitting and waiting,” Durst said, “but it was very fun. There was music playing and it felt like a celebration.” “Mrs. Smith and I don’t have a dancing style, but some schools even danced across the stage,” Durst said. Granville High School was one out of two high schools in Ohio to win the National Blue Ribbon Award and they are in the elite company of 49 other high schools who also received the award. The National Blue Ribbon Program awards the Blue Ribbon to schools across the nation that show excellence within the school. “It’s fun. It is a really cool honor for us to have,” Durst said.
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Principal Matt Durst and English teacher E.B. Smith accepted the Blue Ribbon award at the ceremony in Washington, D.C. on Nov. 5. Photo courtesy of Matt Durst. This is not Granville’s first time receiving this honor. The school has been awarded three times since the creation of the National Blue Ribbon award in 1982. “The high school has won three times now,” Durst said. “We won in 1998. We won in 2005, my first year in the district. And now we won it again.” The U.S. Department of Education based this award on the school’s overall academic excellence. Durst went through a rigorous selection process; the curriculum, climate, and culture were all judged through essays submitted by Durst, but he did not take the credit. “This was not about us,” Durst said. “We won the award because our students are amazing at things like state tests, AP tests, those types of measurable things.”
NEWS
SHORT STAFFED
District struggles to fill vacant bus, custodial positions BY BELLA COX ome students have noticed that cleaning of the building has not been up to par. “The floors seem to not be cleaned everyday as well as the gym seats where some students eat lunch,” junior Sejal Sutlif said. The problem can not be pinned directly onto the custodians. They are doing their jobs correctly; however, there are just not enough of them doing it. A staff shortage of custodians as well as bus drivers is a causing issues for the district this year The district contracts with ABM Education for custodial services Currently, there are 12 custodial staff team members district-wide when there are typically 18, according to Facilities Operation Account Manager Lori Tubaugh. At the moment, the high school is short four custodial staff members. Staffing is a problem in the bus garage as well. The district started with 19 drivers this year, and has hired three since, according to bus driver Joe Liff. “We currently have 22 full time drivers and one part time sub driver,” Liff said. “On a regular year we would have two or more sub drivers that would come in everyday to drive where needed. At this time in order to cover routes when drivers are absent, the mechanics and the dispatcher and the supervisor will drive. We have had to split routes a couple of times when we had multiple drivers off work.” Industries all over are having troubles related to staff. Principal Matthew Durst said that due to Covid, it has been hard for the district to find more people to work as custodians and bus drivers. “We are also living through unprecedented staffing shortages,” Superintendent Jeff Brown wrote in an email to staff. “Every sector is feeling the lack of employees right now. In the past, education has been at least somewhat immune to these issues. That has changed.”
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Durst said that Covid has significantly impacted by Covid many industries, so they have also had to do some laying off, and some different things with their staff and employees. Cutting back on hours is not a possibility in a school district, however. “Other businesses have reduced their hours/days of operation, but that option is not possible for a school district,” Tubaugh said. “ABM has taken measures to recruit new employees by posting jobs on our website, social media, job boards, and job fairs.” Although this is a tough problem to solve, it seems to some that higher pay for the staff is the only solution. “The only way to get people to work is to pay them more,” bus driver Jeffrey Knott said. Unfortunately, the solution is not that easy. Durst said that the bigger industries are coming out on top because they can afford to pay their employees moreto keep them working. Schools, on the other hand, can not keep up with the need for higher wages, according to Durst. Currently, the night time custodial wage is $12.00 an hour, and the private sector is offering more competitive wages. “Unfortunately, any changes in the wage rate has to be incurred by the district, and at this time they do not have the funding to do so,” Tubaugh said. There are multiple issues that have arisen from the staff shortage. One of the most prevalent one is the sanitation of the schools. Our team is working hard to make sure that we get the buildings and the entire district clean,” Tubaugh said. “Staff has been coming in early, staying late, and working weekends. As such, some of my day staff have been staying over, along with myself, to make sure buildings and the district is clean.”
Granville roads and trees covered by snow. BluePrints Photo by Ella Kunar
SNOW DAYS MAY BE 'SNOW' MORE
Administration ponders eliminating snow days
BY ELLA KUNAR he administration is considering not having traditional snow days this year. Teachers learned taught school remotely last year, so the administrators are deciding if they should take advantage of the access to online school during days that the weather is too harsh to be in school physically. “There has been discussion about continuing the version of snow days we had last year- where a teacher would assign work to be turned in by the end of the day,” Principal Matthew Durst said. The state also has different requirements for how long students need to be in school. The state used to require students to attend school a certain number of days, but now they require students to be in a certain amount of hours. This changes the way snow days will be counted at a state level. “We need to make sure there are certain days that we count as school days because of the minimum hour requirement from the state,” Durst said. Durst is advocating for the students to get some free snow days without work. “What I would advocate for is that the first three calamity days will actually be snow days,” Durst said. “Once we pass three, we would have to assign work to count those days as ‘school days’ for the state.”
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COVER STORY
SCHOOLS RESPOND TO 'DEVIOUS LICKS' TIK TOK TREND
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The ‘devious licks’ challenge encourages students to video themselves stealing or vandalizing school property. BY ELLA KUNAR AND ALYSHA WALLACE oap dispensers ripped from walls, toilets clogged intentionally, bathroom tiles smashed and many other forms of vandalism have occurred across the nation thanks to the ‘devious licks’ challenge prompted by Tik Tok. These new Tik Tok trends have shed light on bigger issues within schools. Due to many students not being in school for a year and a half, schools are having trouble with the overall behavior of students. Licking Heights High School has had several instances where students have engaged in the ‘devious licks’ challenge. In one situation, a sink was ripped from the walls. According to the Columbus Dispatch, Watkins Memorial High School is another school that has fallen victim to the Tik Tok trend. Students pulled soap dispensers off the walls and put them in the toilets, filled toilets and sinks with paper towels and twisted faucets until they broke. The bathrooms have also been sprayed with chocolate milk and urinals in the boys’ restrooms have been filled with fake blood. Because this trend has negatively affected schools, Tik Tok has taken down the challenge. If a user now tries to look up the challenge, they are redirected to other hashtags and challenges; however, the damage has already been done. According to 10 WBNS, Watkins Memorial High School administrators are working to curb the trend by increasing staff sweeps of restrooms, addressing vandalism on announcements and encouraging good behavior, limiting restroom use to one student at a time from a classroom and other adaptations that the students have had to follow. Granville High School has suf-
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fered with this trend as well. Several situations have arisen with students stuffing the toilets with rolls of toilet paper along with boys urinating on the floors of the restrooms. Adminstrators have implemented a sign out sheet in order to limit and monitor students using the bathrooms. Though limited bathroom use will eliminate the problem in theory, Principal Matthew Durst does not want to have to take the privilege of using the bathroom away. He says he has faith in the student body and wants the school environment to be somewhat enjoyable; however, he said he has no issue prohibiting bathroom use for students doing these actions.
"The students right now are not responding like they typically would respond." “I am very comfortable looking at those kids and saying, 'Guess who won't be going to the bathroom this year,'” Durst said. Granville Superintendent Jeff Brown tried to curb Tik Tok vandalism by reaching out to parents. “I am sharing this with all families for awareness and conversations at home because we have seen the impact of TikTok Challenges here in Granville Schools,” he stated in an email. While bad behavior is not unusual at the high school level, bad behavior this early in the year is not typical. “It’s still October, we never see this behavior in October,” Durst said. “Seeing undesirable behaviors aren’t
typically seen until March or May, so to struggle within October is a new phenomenon for us.” According to Chalkbeat, schools across the country say they are seeing an increase in behavioral problems. Some are obvious like trashing bathrooms or fighting over social media. Others are quieter calls for help, like students putting their heads down in class or refusing to participate in discussions. Due to Covid-19, many school staff members feel like there is a need to reteach students how to act. Students haven’t had a proper learning environment since March 2021. “I feel like we are retraining students how to exist in a school environment,” Johnstown Monroe High School Principal Derick Busenburg said. Durst blames most of this behavior on the pandemic. Students are tired of following all of the guidelines set in place and they just want normalcy back. “Maybe it’s just as a student, they are so tired of pandemic life that they are just going to get unhinged a little bit,” he said. Another problem with the issues in the bathroom and overall behavior this year is that students are not cooperating or responding to discipline, according to Durst. “Our students are good human beings, and they typically respond really well to conversational discipline. The students right now are not responding like they typically would respond,” Durst said. Durst claims that the only way this behavior will stop is by students stepping up and stopping it. He needs students to inform him when an issue happens. “I’m inclined to meet with some student leadership people,” Durst said.
VOL. 12 NO. 1 blueprints 7
OPINION
THUMBS UP THUMBS DOWN
'DEVIOUS' BEHAVIOR MUST STOP Upperclassmen must help freshmen learn expectations. STAFF EDITORIAL n schools across the country, students are vandalizing bathrooms, stealing soap dispensers, and some are even stealing whole sinks, all for a few seconds of fame. Although this trend has since died down, the deviant behavior inside schools has continued. Vandalism, fighting and overall disruptive behavior have all increased in schools across the country since our return to in-person learning. But who or what is to blame for this increase in bad behavior? Parents? The school? TikTok trends? The main cause of the increase in disruptive behavior is the stress that has been placed on students from the pandemic. The current freshman class has not had a normal school year since the 7th grade, which creates problems for teachers because they can not point back to established rules since the expectations have looked so different in the past two years. These problems are evident throughout the building: freshmen not walking correctly in the hallways, vandalism in bathrooms, etc. Bad behavior might be increasing in the underclassmen, however, online learning seemed to have the
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opposite effect on upperclassmen. Juniors and seniors have already had the social rules of high school drilled into them. Many upperclassmen were very eager to get back to a normal school year. Some may look to school’s decisions to do online learning as the catalyst for this behavior; however, it is important not to blame the faculty. Staff shortages, quarantines and overall stress have caused many teachers to be overwhelmed. The best approach is to help the students who have missed the important years of high school to learn the expectations in the school by establishing structure and strong social connections. The school can do this through encouraging more underclassmen to join clubs, sport teams and other extracurriculars School events such as pep rallies, which give the student body a sense of community, should also be reinstated. Solving this is not just the responsibility of the school. We, the students, need to be more patient and understanding with classmates who are struggling with the transition into high school. Right now, more than ever, we need to come together to get back to normalcy.
SENIOR LOUNGE STILL CLOSED Seniors need a place to relax and unwind.
NEW ACE PERIOD Shortened classes and an extra study hall. What's not to love?
MORNING TRAFFIC It makes us late and is a hassle.
OPINION
STUDENTS STRUGGLE WITH EARLIER START TIME
Long lines to check in tardy students causes students to be even later to first period
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e all know how busy the mornings can be with how bad the school traffic is. Sometimes it is truly unavoidable whether we are late or not. ELLA MORK There have been days where there are dozens of students tardy and we have to wait in lines so each student can get a pass. By doing this, students end up being even more late to first period. Students should be able to show up a minute or two late without getting punished. According to the student handbook, students who arrive at school after 8:20 without a parent note could receive a two hour Saturday school. Students are allowed two tardies per
semester, and after that, they must an hour earlier than last year. The be present for the whole school day start time change has been a big to be able to participate in a contest adjustment for students, especially that day. for students who were If athletes are late on Zoom last year. They “Students should be never even had to worry by even a minute on game day, they able to go straight to about being tardy. Stuaren’t allowed to dents are not used to all class and not have participate in their of these changes. to wait in a line for a game that day. If the reason there are long time just to get tardies is because adLast year, ada tardy slip.” ministration was ministration doesn’t want more relaxed with students missing out on tardies. Since there was no bussing, class material, students should be everyone had to drive to school, able to go straight to class and not which caused a lot more traffic. The have to wait in a line for a long time entire school was trying to adjust to just to get a tardy slip. the different school year and adjust Instead, first period teachers to Covid. Mr. Durst said there were should be the ones that determine if more important things for adminiswe are classified as tardy or not and tration to deal with than tardies. decide if we should be punished. A This year, however, the administralot of the time, class is just getting tion has gone back to the pre-Covid started and we are not missing any tardy rules. Additionally, school starts content.
STUDENTS ARE MORE POSITIVE THAN EXPECTED
School spirit, class bonding on the rise thanks to a determined senior class
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t is a significant year to be in high school. The 20212022 school year is a lot of trial and error in returning to normal learning. As a community we saw all the negative DANIELLE effects of the panVARRASSO demic. The increase in arguing, disagreements and tension around every decision being made. Will the students have to wear masks? What senior privileges can we allow kids? Is online learning still an option? What are the Covid protocols? The biggest underlying question, though, is how will the students be affected by each decision made? Maybe it is because we were in a constantly changing environment last year and the expectations for this year were already low. Maybe it was because we got used to it, but whatever it was, it made the student body come together.
I have noticed more school spirit out on to the best of our abilities. than ever. Everyone seems to be I am so happy to see this, especialmore involved. This has been seen in ly for my senior year. Our grade has extracurriculars, clubs, and supportcome together and, without a doubt, ing at plays, sporting events, etc. This we have done and will continue to goes against what I originally exdo everything we can to make this pected. After a year year the best it could of online learning possibly be. We have and still not everymade sure to make “Everyone had a thing being back our voices heard shared sense of deter- and make significant to normal, I figured mination to have fun students would just impacts. try to get through We can thank the and bring back what another year. administration for was taken away.” They have done really listening to the the complete oppostudents' voices this site. Students have year and constantly been so positive and instead of letadapting to the new ideas, but we ting all the obstacles bring us down, can also acknowledge the role of we have come together because of it. the students and the positive outI have seen all the grades grow closlook they have had. Everyone had er and make the most of everything. a shared sense of determination to Great examples are Homecoming, have fun and bring back what was Powder Puff and sports in general. taken away. People are excited and want to make things happen. We have made sure to bring back the events that we missed
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OPINION
READER OPINION BY DANIELLE VARRASSO
"The senior class has been extremely spirited and energetic coming back from Covid." Ashton Housteau '22 on his senior year
"The energy was electric game in and game out." Max Rosinki '22 on The Deck
"The underclassman are not mature enough to appreciate the nice things we have." Michael Sarap '22 on bad behavior
"We have great expectations going into the playoffs!" Colden Kadlic '22 on the historic football season 10 blueprints FALL 2021
"I think it is a
huge honor. Especially for a small school." Sejal Sutliff '23 on the Blue Ribbon Award
"Feels good to be back in school and out of a mask." Drew Cottrell '23 on returning to a normal school year
"We came a very long way from the first meet and 2nd in state was a huge accomplishment." Regina Rose '22 on the cross country season
"The shortage of staff is affecting the students as a whole." Emily McNabb '22 on the staff shortage
"We delivered after a year of getting it taken away from us." Dan Nassirharand '22 on the band
"We bonded really well and I think we will be really good next year." Ava Labocki '23 on girls soccer season
"I'm glad to be accompanied by my friends for my last year." Liv Piatt '22
"It was a year full of triumphs and defeats the typical highs and lows of high school futbol." Davis Helman '22 on the boys soccer season
LIFESTYLE
HOW TO SURVIVE HIGH SCHOOL The class of 2022 offers their advice for getting through the next four years. BY BELLA COX t can be pretty intimidating coming into high school. There are so many new faces and higher expectations. It may not get easier as the years go by, but you do learn a lot along the way. The seniors have learned this through out their four years of high school and are ready to share some advice with the underclassmen.
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DON’T STRESS OVER GRADES The first piece of advice comes from senior Avery Koester who says, “do not stress over your grades too much.” Koester did emphasize that it is important to try your hardest in all of your schoolwork, but not to let it bring you down. “Your grades do not define you as a student,” she said. Senior Ashton Housteau gave similar advice. “Don’t take everything so seriously, do your work, but more importantly have fun,” he said. As the years go by, it becomes easier to balance schoolwork. You’ll learn how to get things done, so don’t stress.
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Katie McDonald gives the thumbs up sign after receiving her diploma at the 2021 graduation ceremony. Photo courtesy of Emily McNabb.
GET INVOLVED Try your hardest to attend all the school activities and participate with school spirit. “High school goes by fast," senior Ella Large said. "You only get to do these things once in your life, you’ll regret it by senior year if you don’t." Senior Kaison Durham advises students to “go to every school event and party.” No one should miss out on these fun activities. You should enjoy it while it lasts because, according to Durham, “you only live once."
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MAKE RELATIONSHIPS “Be sure to become friends with the different grades so that you can have more people to turn to,” senior Liv Piatt said. It is “nice to have more familiar faces in the hallway,” she said. Koester agrees with Liv's advice, she thinks that it is important to try to make new friends. “Don’t be afraid to branch outside of your friend group and put yourself out there,” Koester said. Senior Michael Sarap adds that it
is important to “make good relationships with your teachers.” He says this is crucial and will “come in handy” when looking for letters of recommendations your senior year.
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CHERISH EVERY MOMENT Senior Aidan Flaherty said that the best piece of advice that he got as a freshman was to cherish every moment. “When I was a freshman I was told by a senior that high school would go by quickly,” Flaherty said. This can be hard for a freshman to believe. “I didn’t believe it when he told me, but by senior year I realized it was true,” Flaherty said. Take in all of the moments you get in high school because they will all be gone in four short years.
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Gary (top) and Thaddeus (bottom) Lewingdon killed Jenkin Jones in his house (right) on Lancaster Rd in Granville.
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he late 1970s saw many notorious serial killers. Ted Bundy terrorized women in Oregon and Utah, the Son of Sam struck fear into the people of New York, the Zodiac Killer preyed on young couples in California, and John Wayne Gacy gruesomely killed young men in Chicago. From 1975 to 1979 everyone in America was in fear, and few people know that there was a serial killer team threatening our town. Few people in our small midwestern town know that 43 years ago a sibling serial killer team terrorized Granville and the surrounding areas committing ten grisly murder robberies from Dec. 1977 to Dec 1978. They were named the .22 Caliber Killers, this nickname was given because the only evidence the police had were the ballistics of the guns they used: .22 caliber pistols with silencers. The two brothers, Gary and Thaddeus Lewingdon, were born and raised in Kirkersville, Ohio. In 1977, They killed two women outside a
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Two brothers' reign of terror over central Ohio
SIBLING SERIAL KILLERS BY CADEN MCDERMOTT
Gary and Thaddeus Lewingdon were a 1970s American sibling serial killer team who murdered and robbed people all over Ohio including Granville and Newark.
The .22 caliber pistols (above) used by the Lewingdon brothers along with their homemade silencers are on display at the Columbus Police Department. Photos courtesy of Kevin Bennett
Newark café, a priest, a husband and wife, a nightclub owner, his mother, and his girlfriend, and they went on to kill an old wealthy Granville citizen, Jenkins Jones. The murder of Jenkin Jones took place on Apr. 8, 1978, in his home on Lancaster Road. Jenkin Jones, a Denison alumn, became a target when he came into Rockwell Manufacturing, where Gary worked, to buy some sharpening equipment. Jones flashed large sums of cash to Gary, which unluckily was a fatal decision. The brothers went to his house, fired one bullet through the window which grazed the sleeping Jones. He immediately got up and was shot two more times. The brothers broke windows to get in and once inside Gary fired 5 more shots into Jones. While robbing the place, the brothers were interrupted by the four dogs that Jones owned. The dogs were subsequently shot for their loud barks. The brothers feared the barking would cause suspicion so they left before fully searching the place.
They made away with $300, however, they missed $6,000 that the police discovered in their investigation. Much like Son of Sam, another infamous killer during this time, the .22 Caliber Killers did not have a specific type of victim that they went after. This left many people on edge and fearful because they had no way of knowing if they could be next. “The randomness of it really spooked people, there appeared to be no rhyme or reason for what was going on,” long time Granville citizen and former member of the Granville Historical Society Kevin Bennett said. “People were unnerved by it, this isn’t exactly something normal for our town” One would expect that news of a serial killer in a town like ours would spread like wildfire through the news and be talked about everywhere, but this was not the case. Everyone knew about the killings, and yet few talked openly about it. “People whisper about it, but no one wants to discuss it. There’s a feel-
ing that it’s always somebody else who’s going to get hurt, you know? It’s not going to be me,” Arnold Anderson, a local farm equipment salesman, told The New York Times in 1978. Over 40 years have passed since the killings, and the case of Gary and Thaddeus Lewingdon seems to be almost forgotten. During my research for this I found that almost everyone who I had spoken to had never heard of the sibling serial killer team that terrorized Granville and the surrounding areas. Father time is most to blame, according to Bennett. “Time passes, things get forgotten, people pass away,” he said. All of the detectives who worked the original case have since passed away and only a handful of people who lived in Granville at the time still recall the “year of fear” as Bennett called it. “Living in a small town like this we really do not see violent crime like this, and when we do we try to forget it."
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LIEFESTYLE
aggy models b Anna Belt oc D h it ed w pants pair to courtePho Martens. na Belt. n A f o y se
Urban Outfitters at Easton Town Center is full of clothes with a modern take on 90s style.Below, Ava Miller styles oversized an top with flare bottoms. BluePrints Photo by Abby Sanders
BACK TO THE PAST As styles are constantly changing, many are seeing the repeats in fashion trends from decades ago BY ABBY SANDERS or some parents, they are watching as their children become interested in the same clothing they wore back in the 1990s. While some love it, others believe that style belongs in the past. Fashion trends are constantly changing, but for now, it seems a mix of both late 80s and 90s styles is popular among adults and teens. Baggy jeans, biker shorts, platform shoes, sweater vests, scrunchies, and the most popular, oversized shirts and sweatshirts can be seen on students, teachers and celeberities. Stores like Abercrombie, PacSun, and Urban Outfitters are full of clothing that was popular decades ago and for some people, it is transporting them back to the past. The comfortability aspect of 90s style is a big factor for most people, inclduing junior Emery Johnson. “I love flare jeans and mom jeans because they are easy to move around in but also cute,” Johnson said. “I really like being able to style some of my outfits after pictures of my mom when she was my age.” Seeing both her students and daughter wearing some of the same clothes she wore in middle and high school, history teacher Elizabeth Muhlenkamp is confused on why some styles are gaining popularity. “Making the swing from skinny jeans to baggy/baggier jeans has my head spinning,” Muhlenkamp said. “I do appreciate, though, the comfortability factor of the grungy, baggy, 90s style.” The transition in styles of shoes is also very clear.
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The most popular shoes from companies like Converse, Steve Madden and Nike are all platform styles, and over the past few years, Doc Martens, specialising in chunky leather shoes, can be found in almost everyone’s closet. Junior Ella Forni has hopped on the trend of chunky, platform shoes and thinks they will stay in style for many years to come. “You can put platform shoes with almost any outfit and it really takes it up another level,” Forni said. “And they make you a little taller, which is always nice.” Celebrities from the past are continuing to influence style trends and have people buying clothes they never have before just to style a look after them. For Johnson, she loves the late Princess Diana and her casual looks. “I did not realize how cute an oversized t-shirt and a pair of biker shorts would look until I saw pictures of Princess Diana,” Johnson said. “That is now one of my favorite outfits to wear.” As trends are constantly changing, there are always some that do not gain much popularity. Some trends can be questionable but there are definitely some trends from the past that need to stay in the past, according to Muhlenkamp. “I do pray that low rise jeans never make a comeback,” Mulenkamp said.
LIFESTYLE
TWIN TALK
BY ELLA KUNAR ccording to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 32.1 out of every 1,000 births in the United States in 2019 were twins. Here at Granville High School, twins are pretty common. Juniors Matt and Mikey Chaykowski, juniors Bobby and Caroline Otter, and sophomores Gabrielle and Olivia Graves talk about their experiences being twins.
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What it’s like to be a twin Identical twins are when one fertilized egg splits in the womb and produces two babies. They have the same exact DNA, so they have a lot of similarities. Gabrielle and Olivia Graves are identical twins. Fraternal twins, on the other hand, are not identical because two separate eggs were fertilized, so they genetically have the same DNA as siblings. Matt and Mikey Chaykowski are fraternal twins, as well as Bobby and Caroline Otter. The Graves twins said they don’t even realize that they are different from everyone else. “I am just so used to being a twin that I sometimes forget,” Gabrielle said, “I just see her as my sister, not my identical twin sister.” The downsided of being a twin For identical twins, one common frustration is being mixed up with one another. “It’s inevitable, but we have to deal with it and it gets annoying,” Gabrielle said. “A lot of people like to say we are the same person, but if you really knew us that is not true. Being identical twins is tough, and getting confused can feel degrading from time to time. “We get mixed up all the time,” Olivia said. “I would like to have my own identity.” Caroline shares another downside of being a twin.
Since they are in the same grade, they do not get a break from each other during the school day. “I don’t like going to school with him because we have ‘beef,’” Caroline said. “I would rather just have a regular sibling. Best part about being a twin Gabrielle and Olivia enjoy having a best friend who is also their sister. Though they dislike getting mixed up, having a best friend always there makes it all worth it. “I kind of have a built-in best friend,” Olivia said. “She’s like a support system.” The twins enjoy just always having someone there. They never have had to worry about being lonely because they are always together. “You can just do anything because you always have a best friend there. You can just grab your twin and throw the football or play some lacrosse,” Mikey said. Caroline and Bobby stick together, whether it is against their parents or people in their grade. When it comes down to it, they trust each other more than anyone. Bobby says the best part about being a twin is “the bond we have because of the secrets we hold against our parents.” Caroline said the best part of having a male twin is “knowing the ‘tea’ about every single boy in our grade.” Twin Telepathy Twin telepathy is when twins have a sense or connection to the other twin’s thoughts or feelings. Twin telepathy has not been deemed fact or fiction, and can be argued both ways. The Otters and Graves say they do not have telepathy, however, the Chaykowskis are sure of it. When asked to name the first food that they thought of on three, they both screamed, “STEAK!”
MEET THE TWINS
THE CHAYKOWSKIS Juniors Mikey and Matt
THE OTTERS Juniors Bobby and Caroline Fraternal Twins
THE GRAVESES Sophomores Gabrielle and Olivia Identical Twins
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CLUBSC CLUBSC CLUBSC CLUBSC CLUBSC A GUIDE TO THE COOLEST CLUBS AT GRANVILLE
BY ELLA MORK
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here are plenty of ways to get involved at the high school. Granville High School takes much pride in the opportunities students have to join clubs they are interested in. There are clubs for all interests and passions. Read this guide to learn more about some of the coolest clubs offered at the school.
ASTRONOMY CLUB
CROCHET CLUB
PRESIDENT: Sarah Ghiassi ADVISER: Mrs. Fortner MEETINGS: Wednesdays After School Crochet Club started this year because there was interest from former students. Crochet is a craft in which yarn is made up into a patterned fabric by looping yarn with a hooked needle. English teacher Noel Fortner, a crochet enthusiast, is the adviser of the club.“I started my interest in crocheting during the COVID lockdown and have quickly become obsessed with it,” Fortner said. They meet every Wednesday in the library from 2:45-3:45 where they have crafting time and snacks. There are about 42 members in the club and most of them are new to crocheting. “I recommend Crochet Club to students because it has been proven to reduce stress and anxiety,” Fortner said. The repetition of crocheting is proven to help boost seratonin as well.
BluePrints Photo by Ella Kunar
PRESIDENT: Carly Mayer ADVISER: Mr. Bait MEETINGS: Once a month at Intermediate School Astronomy club started last year with the intent for students to learn about different objects in the sky and apply them to the observations. “The main goal of the club is to help people gain knowledge of what’s going on in such a large part of the universe,” senior Carly Mayer said. Her role as president is to work with Physics and Astronomy teacher Mike Bait to bring in speakers to teach and help the students. She also plans observations at the intermediate school once or twice a month. They hope to have more educational speaker meetings in Bait’s room this year. “I started it because my dad always used to take me to look at the night sky, so stars and constellations mean a lot to me,” Mayer said.
BluePrints Photo by Ella Mork
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CLUBS CLUBS CLUBS CLUBS CLUBS A GUIDE TO THE COOLEST CLUBS AT GRANVILLE
CREATIVE WRITING CLUB
SAND VOLLEYBALL CLUB
PRESIDENT: Kaylin Fuhrman ADVISER: Ms. Heinamen MEETINGS: A few times a month at Denison Sand Volleyball Courts Sophomore varsity volleyball player Kaylin Fuhrman started Sand Volleyball Club this year. “I started the club because I wanted to have a leadership position in the school,” Fuhrman said. The first meeting was in October and they will likely continue back in the spring since winter is coming up. They play at the Denison volleyball courts. Meetings will usually be once a month. There are about 100 members that signed up. Mrs. Heinaman is the adviser of the club and posts updates on Schoology for them.
PRESIDENT: Jasmine Robinson & Bryanna Joens ADVISER: Mr. Mullins MEETINGS: Fridays After School Members of the Creative Writing Club regularly meet to have thoughtful discussions and to be free to write whatever they want. “I recommend this club because it is a really fun outlet to learn how to write,” senior Megan Hooper said. There are only about 10 people in the club so it is easy to make connections with other students. “It’s nice to not have to worry about grades and just write and not feel judged,” Hooper said.
BluePrints Photo by Ella Mork
FISHING CLUB
PRESIDENT: Blake Albery ADVISER: Mr. Reding MEETINGS: Friday Mornings Fishing club started four years ago when four juniors in high school were really into fishing and wanted to find a way for their fellow classmates to get involved. Environmental teacher Jim Reding is the adviser of the club. “I wanted to be the advisor because I like fishing and for me, it was a great opportunity to get more students outside” Reding said. They typically meet on Friday mornings before school in Reding’s room where they talk about fishing stories and techniques. They have evening meetings a couple times a months and go to different places to fish, have service projects and tournaments.
Photo courtesy of Mr. Reding
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SPORTS of the doubles courts. They finished up their season in the sectional tournament on Oct. 9.
The girls cross country team pose after winning second place at states. Photo courtesy of HR Imaging.
FALL TEAMS CAPTURE TITLES AGAIN BY ABBY SANDDERS Football (13-1) With 21 seniors this year, the football team had a standout season. They went undefeated in regular season play for the first time since 1998. Over 9 weeks, they scored 336 points, and went into the D3 playoffs as the number 1 seed. With backup QB Tyler Ernsberger, the team continues to make school history. The Aces fell 14-0 against Badin in the state semi-final. Girls Soccer (12-4-3) The girls soccer team was a force to reckon with this season. Led by seniors Kylee Lescas, Julia Tolloty and Madelyn Teich, they beat the reigning state champions, Madison, 4-0. Their season was cut unexpectedly short on the road to states with a 1-0 loss to Bexley in the district final. Boys Soccer (8-5-2) The boys soccer team won their fifth straight LCL title. Led by senior captains Colvin Timmons and Andy Dunham, the boys went undefeated in league play. The Aces clinched their spot in the district final by beating the number 1 seeded team, Bexley, 1-0. To conclusde their seson, the boys fell to Bishop Wat-
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terson 4-3 in the district final. Girls XC Led by their only senior, Regina Rose, the girls cross country team made their thirteenth consecutive appearance at the State XC meet. The girls earned the state runner-up title. Rose and junior Zoee Lehman took first and second at both the district and regional meet and were named all-district runners along with four others on the team. Boys XC Boys cross country competed among some of the top D1 schools in the state this season. Led by senior Dylan Christian and freshman Lane Hannahs, the all-district duo broke multiple records and helped the team to win the LCL Championship for the third year in a row. In a grueling race, the boys finished their season at regionals. Girls Tennis (14-5) The girls tennis team had a successful season led by senior captains Marie Weis and Avery Spiker. For the first time in school history, they won the LCL tournament, sweeping all
Boys Golf (172-86) The boys golf team finished regular season play with a second place finish in the LCL tournament. Led by captain Charlie Tell, the Aces proved to be successful throughout their challenging season. Junior Carter Budreau qualified for districts after shooting a personal best of 72 at sectionals. Girls Golf (97-26) The girls golf team competed among some of the top schools in Ohio and placed third at the LCL championships. Junior Ella Wigal had a triumphant season and concluded her season at the district tournament. Field Hockey (9-9) Anchored by captains Ava Minton and Mallory Lindsay, the girls field hockey team faced a challenging schedule. With a mix of talent from both seniors and underclassmen, the team barely beat rival Bexley, 1-0. They ended their season in the second round of tournament play with a loss to top-seeded Olantangy. Volleyball (7-13) The Blue Aces volleyball team ended their season in the second round of tournament play after handedly beating Utica in the first round of districts. With a new head coach and the loss of many valuable players, captains Gracie Mack and Bella Wildermuth led the team through a challenging season.
BY THE NUMBERS
The Blue Aces have been successful as both teams and individuals. Besides many titles won, here are some standout numbers from the fall season.
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Consecutive LCL titles for the girls XC team.
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Goals scored on London HS in the first game of the girls soccer tournament run, three of those from junior Ella Schneider.
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Total rushing TD scored by Devon Haley through nine weeks.
78
Career match wins for senior Marie Weis.
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Average split in minutes for Dylan Christian to run a mile in a 5K race.
SPORTS
HALEY SOARS AT GREAT SPEEDS
Q: Have you always played running back for Graville? A: I have been playing running back since I was 4, I used to play for Watkins because Granville did not have tackle football in elementary school. Playing tackle football at such a young age has definitely contributed to my success as a running back. Q: What is the hardest part about football? A: The hardest part of football is definitely managing the pressure that your teammates, coaches and fans put on you to win. Q: How have you been handling this undefeated season? A: Having an undefeated season and making history is a great feeling, but there is also added pressure from everyone that expects the team to continue winning and win by a considerable margin. Q: How does it feel to be a senior on the football team this year? A: Being a senior has made me cherish the sport a lot more and it made me realize how much I took football for granted. I work hard to play every game like it is my last because I may never know when the last time I will pick up a football will be. Q: What is the best tradition that Granville football has? A: In my personal opinion, the best Granville football tradition would have to be Coach King’s pregame speeches. They are incredibly hilarious yet they are still able to hype up the whole team.
Devon Haley carries the ball to victory against Licking Valley. Photo courtesy of HR Imaging.
Q
BY BELLA COX
What kind of experiences have you had as running back this year? A: Playing running back this year has been a great experience. Even though we run a passheavy offense, I have had incredible success putting up great yardage and putting points on the board.
Q: Does your football jersey number mean anything to you? A: My current jersey number, 8, pays homage to my favorite and long lasting number, 88, that I used from age 4 up to age 11. Q: What is your favorite football memory? A: My favorite football memory has to be jumping over top of a kid in my first junior year football game. Nobody on the team or in the stands knew that hurdling was a penalty in high school and it caused a huge ruckus that caused the game to delay for like ten minutes. Q: Do you wish to continue playing football after highschool? A: I am torn between playing football and lacrosse in college because they both hold a special place in my heart and I currently have offers to play both. Some schools have offered me to play both at once. Q: What message would you give the underclassmen when going into their upcoming football seasons? A: The one thing that I would like to tell the underclassmen would be to never give up on yourself because you are your own best asset. It would shock you to know how much self-doubt can impact the way you play.
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SPORTS NCAA TARGETING PROTOCOLS NEED TO GO
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ny OSU football fan remembers Joey Bosa being ejected from his last game as a Buckeye for a poor targeting call. Not only was it heartbreaking SPORTS WITH for Bosa, fans were SANDERS outraged. In 2013, the NCAA adopted targeting protocols to discourage players from head-to-head contact to make a tackle. While this is important, most targeting offenses are accidental and the player making the tackle is not leading with the crown of his helmet. Debates over targeting have been going on throughout the NCAA for multiple years, but there continues to be unnecessary player ejections. In the NFL, a targeting penalty does not result in an automatic ejection, just a fifteen yard penalty. The player can still be disqualified if it is determined that they lowered their head to initiate contact with the helmet of an opponent. This needs to be enacted in the NCAA to prevent automatic ejections. Targeting is the most severe penalty in college football and it is unfair for both the player and their team when they must sit out for an entire game. Some argue that by taking away automatic ejections it will result in players trying to target the head of their opponent when making a tackle, but this is not the case. Players do not want to risk injuring themselves or having a fifteen year penalty placed upon their team. Changing targeting penalties will just prevent from avoidable ejections. Players, coaches and fans all support this change. It has worked in the NFL and will work in the NCAA. I am hopeful by the next college football season, there will no longer be automatic ejections due to targeting.
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The student section cheers during Licking Valley game. Photo courtesy of Josh DeVoll
STUDENTS GRATEFUL TO RETURN TO THE DECK BY DANIELLE VARRASSO ou never know the importance of something until you have gone without it. This seems to be a common realization with the impact of Covid. Going to sporting events, family gatherings and normally going to school are no longer being taken for granted. The Deck has been a prime example of this feeling. Football games last year were limited to four tickets per player, allowing mostly family members and adults getting to attend the games. In comparison to this year, however, I think I speak for most people when I say the energy a student section brings is unmatched. The students arrive early and tailgate at the school with music and food. Everyone is wearing the theme for that week, like “Woodstock,” “Beach” and "Blue Outs." Students would buy body paint, accessories and noise makers to make them stand out. The student section adds a lot to the atmosphere of a sporting event. Players are encouraged by all their classmates coming together and cheering them on. It also gets the rest of the fans hype, the cheerleaders, band and parents all feed off the energy and it creates a spirited environment for everyone. The senior class this year takes pride in coming back from no student sections at all to having some of our biggest turnouts at home and
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away games. Students notice the electric atmosphere that is brought to each game and are really happy that everyone is determined to bring back the fun in these school events. Not only are the students happy, the administration is also thrilled to see the stands back at full capacity. We are extremely thankful that the staff has allowed, and encouraged The Deck and helped make this year enjoyable. Sporting events are something that helps bring our community together. Parents, students, teachers and members of Granville love to support our athletes. On the outside looking in, the formation of The Deck is something that can really show the tight-knit community that we live in. Students of all grade levels get excited to cheer on their classmates. It makes it a lot of fun for everyone to be involved. Speaking on behalf of the students who were nervous about what this year might bring with restrictions due to Covid, we are grateful to be able to cheer on our friends, have fun, and enjoy these high school memories before they are gone. The student body has shown incredible school spirit and has really come together, and The Deck is a good example. I hope to see this energy continue for the rest of the year and onto the next!
STUDENTS LOVE TEAM SPORTS
SPORTS
Students are given the opportunity to play sports with their classmates in a laid back setting BY DANIELLE VARRASSO ecess is not just for little kids, Team Sports brings the same fun of recess to high schoolers. This is a new class that was added to elective options for Granville Students in the last three years. It has shown to be very beneficial mentally and physically. Students should be more aware of the positive aspects this class brings. Rex Carr, who also teaches regular P.E and core training classes, started this class to get kids more involved in physical education in a fun way. During this class, students will participate in and learn new and wellknown sports. “Team sports is a great opportunity to physically engage in activity while taking a mental break from the demands of your normal academic classes,” said health teacher Karly Worrall. Endless research has been conducted on the advantages of recess, or just simply taking time to go outside during class. This class is a way to put those studies to the test, and the benefits have not gone unnoticed. “After taking it, I just feel so ready to go into Global issues and I think it’s just because you’re taking all that stress out. My grades for the class after this have gone up," senior Tom Bain said. Another goal of this class was to teach valuable traits that you would not necessarily get in a core class. The students are able to cooperate and communicate with their classmates much more. “Students learn how to help each other out, support each other and build on each other’s strengths and weaknesses,” Carr said. Similar to other electives, team sports teaches students more skills that will help them in their everyday life rather than following a lesson plan and preparing for tests. Team sports brings back the ex-
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citement of being able to hang out One of the many benefits this class and be active with your friends at brings is that it also counts as a P.E school because that slowly gets taken credit. When comparing this class to away as students get older. a regular physical education class “If you are used to playing sports the differences can be seen in how in a high stakes environment this is collaborative it is. a great class for you “We have a lot more to take to bring back fun and there is a lot some joy into physimore teamwork that “There is cal activity,” Worrall goes on,” said Carr. said. something special While P.E can bring a Mental health takes of the same benefits, about playing a lot a toll on high school team sports is centered basketball game around a group aspect students juggling academics along or a kickball game and working together. It with sports and jobs. can teach students a lot with your It is often overlooked about how to work well how taking an hour classmates in a with others and be a out of the day to part of a team, especialfriendly learn a new sport, or ly for those who do not environment.” do some laid back play sports. physical activity can “Why not play difrelieve stress. ferent sports with your friends and “There is something special about receive P.E credit for graduation?” playing a basketball or kickball Worrall said. “Seems like a no braingame with your classmates,” Worrall er.” said.
Liz Piat and Kaison Durham play pickleball during Team Sports class. BluePrints Photo by Danielle Varrasso
VOL. 12 NO. 1 blueprints 21
STAFF PICKS
"It is a good family movie and the soundtrack is great to sing along to."
Alysha Wallace
"Moana”
DRAMA CLUB NAILS FIRST PERFORMANCE
"It is a great show because it is easy to watch and the people are very funny and entertaining."
Abby Sanders
"Everyone should watch the UFC because it celebrates healthy aggression." “Great British Baking Show”
Caden McDermott
“UFC"
The theatre department presented "Ways to Screw Up a College Interview' for the 2021 fall production.
BY BELLA COX ranville High School’s Theatre Department presented “Ways to Screw Up Your College Interview” for the 2021 Fall Play. The play follows the journey of two college recruiters at a prestigious university (Ethan Rich and Ellie Hussey). Their job is to find one more student to accept into their college, but with all the crazy applications that were submitted, this seems to be an impossible task. Their jobs are on the line, for they are being pressured and watched by the Dean (George Turner) to find the last student. Rich and Hussey go back and forth interviewing potential students, but between an Australian Dungaray (Nathan Hunter), a reality T.V. show star (Ava Poling), an amature magician (Gabe Thomas), an old lady (Sebastian Barth), a weak body builder (Coen Cox), and many other odd applicants, they have no luck finding a good fit for the school. Each applicant hilariously demonstrates what not to do at a colDirected b lege interview. Sara Sharp The set was set up in a simple, yet and Stefanie effective way. The set crew, led by ArStanton row Havill, created three rooms on the stage. The rooms consisted of an office for Hussey to conduct her interviews, an office for Rich to conduct his interviews, and a hallway in the middle connecting the two offices. The lights crew, led by Willow Heichel, had a crucial role when making the set effective. The lights would shine back and forth from Hussey to Rich when they were taking turns holding interviews. When one of the college recruiters were not holding an interview their office would be dark. This was a great technique that made sure that all of the audience's attention was on the current interview that was being held. The hair, makeup and costumes of the cast were spectacular. Each look matched the character perfectly and helped showcase their personality. A character whose hair, makeup, and costume stood out to be perfect for the role was Albie, played by Lanie Schott. Albie was
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Ethan Rich (left) and Ellie Hussey (right) played college admissions officers trying to find one more qualified applicant to please their boss, played by George Turner. Photo courtesy of Sara Sharp.
an over-spirited cheerleader. To capture the explosive, happy personality of Albie, Schott was dressed in a blue jumpsuit with her hair in high pigtails. This was a great look for her. Another character whose look stood out was Gertrude, played by Sebastian Barth. Getrude was an old lady who wanted to go to college solely for the experience. Barth had to be completely transformed in order to take on the role of Gertrude. He wore a grey curly wig to imitate classic old lady hair and had his makeup done to age his face. The look was spot on, and so was the costume. He wore a dress and slippers and even used a walker when walking around the stage. This was a great prop to add to his character. The look of the character is very important to capture and the costume and makeup crew led by Ruby Nelson, Lillian Rees, and Delaney Van Onstran captured each character perfectly. The overall performance was exceptional. Each element of the play tied together seamlessly to create and show the full story. The performers held the audience's attention throughout the whole show, for everyone was on the edge of their seats. Job well done to the theatre department. This performance has the theatre goers wondering what they have in store for their next play.
ENTERTAINMENT "'Dixieland Delight' is the best song and everyone should listen to it. It gives off great vibes."
"'Cars' has a great soundtrack and plot, plus it never gets old."
Danielle Varasso
“Cars”
Bella Cox
“Dixieland"
"More people should watch 'Mare of Eastown' because it is very interesting and supenseful."
Ella Mork
"Listen to 'Red' (Taylor's Version) because it is the perfect fall album." “Mare of Eastown”
Ella Kunar
“Red (Taylor's Version”
BY CADEN MCDERMOTT une" is the newest adaption of the legendary science fiction novel of the same name written by Frank Herbert in 1965. The novel’s influence was huge, especially in regards to George Lucas. "Dune" was a big inspiration for Star Wars and shares similar aspects, such as Desert planet people, “the Voice” (Jedi mind tricks), sand worms and so on. The movie is an epic space adventure from director Denis Villinueve. In a galaxy far, far away, a duke’s son, Paul Atriedes, played by Timothee Chalamet, faces his foreboding destiny. He has been prophesied to be the messiah of the desert people of planet Arrakis because of his unique prowess in Dune’s version of the force. His family house Atreides has been sent to Arrakis by the emperor to take over the harvesting of the important mineral spice. Spice allows for interstellar travel. The House that was mining the spice before looms over the rule of House Atreides. While on the planet, much happens, there are massive sword fights, betrayals, heroic sacrifices and visions of a mysterious woman played by Zendaya. The world building of such a unique story takes a lot of time and that's why Dune has so much exposition. Villinueve knows that he can't just throw the audience into such a confusing world as this, therefore, he takes his time setting it up by introducing us to the characters and setting up the conflicts. Although it does hurt this as a stand alone film, once the next parts come out, the world building will pay off for Villinueve. My favorite part of this film was the
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shots. This was one of the prettiest movies I have ever seen. Villinueve uses the same technique he did with his other science fiction films, "Arrival" and "Blade Runner 2049." He works on this tremendously large scale with giant sweeping shots and overheads of the desert, but then he has a miniaturist's attention to detail. For "Dune," this works perfectly, the planet of Arrakis gives the film this monumental stature while the intricacies of the characters give it detail. "Dune" combines the political rivalry of HBO’s "Game of Thrones" with the galactic conflict of the "Star Wars" trilogy all in Villeneuve's unique looking style. The movie has great characters, a great score from Hans Zimmer, and great visuals, however, it is exposition dominant. At the start of the film, part one flashes across the screen, this sets the tone for the whole film. It is enjoyable, but does not stand alone well. It is also troublesome that the Part 2 has yet to be confirmed. Hopefully this series does not fall into Hollywood purgatory, and instead becomes a science fiction classic. But only time will tell.
Photo courtesy of Mrs. Schnabel
CINEMATOGRAPHY DISTINGUISHES VILLENEUVE'S REMAKE OF 'DUNE' UPCOMING EVENTS BY ELLA MORK Turkey Trot November 28 Candlelight Walking Tour December 4 GHS Choir Holiday Concert December 8 at 7:30 pm GHS Band Holiday Concert December 9 at 7:30 pm OMEA Solo & Ensemble January 22 Winter Play ("Midsummer/Jersey") February 4-6 Auditions for Musical February 15 Contest Concert March 1 at 7 pm Musical ("Cinderella") May 6-8 Spring Concert May 16 at 7:30 pm
"Dune" is in theatres and on HBO Max. Photo source: HBO
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