Vol. 8 No. 2 (February 2018)

GRANVILLE HIGH SCHOOL • GRANVILLE, OHIO • FEBRUARY 2018• VOL. 8 ISSUE 2

BLUEPRINTS The Heart Edition

Inside:

How to tell someone you love them Heart problems among athletes Distict earns heart healthy school accredition blueprintsonline.org

1

CONTENTS

Letter From the Editor

I

NEWS

3 District earns heart healthy school accredition

OPINION

8 Valentine’s opinion 10 Reader Opinion 11 F{aces} in the crowd

SPORTS

6 Heart problems among young athletes 12 Teams we love 14 Why increasing your heart rate is key in getting the best workout

FEATURES

16 Cute couples 17 How to tell someone you love them

ENTERTAINMENT 16 Romantic movies to watch this Valentine’s Day 20 Hearty recipes

BLUEPRINTS STAFF

editor-in-chief Emma Naille @enailleBP news/opinion editor Kenzie Chesrown @kchesrownBP sports editor Elijah Smith @esmithBP entertainment/features editor Riley Vradenburg @rvradenburgBP staff Alyssa Christian @achristianBP Cam Crouch @ccrouchBP Josie DeCaro @jdecaroBP Kylee McFarland @kmcfarlandBP Jack McGonagle @jmcgonagleBP Sara Mills @sarakmillsBP Hannah Musick @hmusickBP Keegan Van Meter @kvanmeterBP adviser Mrs. Amy Tolbert 2 FEBRUARY 2018

(Photo courtesy of Jacquelyn Arora Photography)

n this wonderfully wintery, blustery holiday season, people love to warm up by the fire with their friends and focus on the what’s most important. This is why, for our second issue, the BluePrints staff chose the “Heart” theme.

The Heart Issue will feature everything from opinions on Valentine’s Day to exploring athletes and cardiac arrest.

You’ll find out how to get the best workout by incorporating your heart rate and will see which fitness classes in the area

to try.

You’ll read about how the Granville School District became heart healthy certified, the cutest couples, teams we love and the teams we love to hate.

You’ll learn how to tell someone you love them what “hearty” recipes and romantic movies to try out in preparation for Valentine’s Day. We’d love to hear from you with any opinions or recommendations you have for us. Feel free to email us at ghsblueprints@ gmail.com or reach us through any of our social media sites.

You can follow us on Instagram @granvilleblueprints; Facebook at GHS Blueprints; or on Twitter, @GHSBluePrints.

The BluePrints staff also created personal BluePrint twitters, so make sure to check those out to stay updated on articles we’re working on, to vote in polls, or to see live tweets from events.

Keep an eye out for our Editor-in-Chief upcoming food and childhood themed issues.

Emma Naille

ON OUR COVER

(BluePrints Photo/Emma Naille)

FOLLOW US GHS BluePrints GHSBluePrints @granvilleblueprints @ghsblueprints

news

District earns heart healthy school accredition

Health teacher Karly Worrall demonstrates to students how to use an AED using a model. She teaches this every year as part of the health course that is required for high school students. (BluePrints Photo/Cam Crouch)

T

BY KENZIE CHESROWN (‘18) he school is heart certified through the SADS foundation.

This entails an assessment sent out to parents to determine student’s risk of cardiac death.

Any student who has a cardiac diagnosis has health plans by the school. Per year, the school must perform three medical emergency drills.

“We do four, and one is a joint drill with GMS,” school nurse Ann Varrasso said.

The school has an Emergency Response Team, an eight member team including Matt Durst and Scott Carpenter.

Varrasso said her duty on the Emergency Response Team is to “lead the team since I have a medical background.”

She also gives feedback depending on how a drill goes.

“If a real event were to occur, I would be the first responder to assist the person who is need of medical attention,” Varras-

so said. “Although the team does a great job when I am not here and emergencies happen.”

All members of the Emergency Response team are certified in AED/CPR

“I feel we are extremely lucky to have access to the mltiple AED’s we have in the building,” training, according to health teacher Karly Whorrall.

“I feel we are extremely lucky to have access to the multiple AED’s we have in the building,” Worrall said.

AEDs are located in the building, and can be reached in under 90 seconds from

any point in the building.

“My hope is we would never have to use them, but in the event we would have a situation that involved cardiac arrest, we would be prepared,” said Worrall.

For every 50 students, there must be one staff member certified in CPR. However, the school tries for 100% staff certification, according to Varrasso.

In health class, a mandatory course to graduate, CPR is offered to all students.

“It is really helpful to learn,” senior Annie Penland said. “It is nice to know that in an emergency you can make a difference.”

The school tries it’s best to prepare all members of the high school in case of an emergency.

To watch a video on how to use an AED, check out the GHS BluePrints YouTube Channel blueprintsonline.org

3

Heart Healthy School Accredition Checklist Screening/Risk Assessment

(all students take home an assessment form)

Care Plans

(for students with a cardiac diagnosis)

Emergency Medical Response Drills

Automatic External Defibrillators (AED)

CPR Training for Staff

CPR Training for Students

Sudden Cardiac Awareness Activity/Event/ Fundraiser Info source: SADS Foundation 4 FEBRUARY 2018

This is one of the several AED’s throughout the building. This one is by the main office.

(BluePrints Photo/Emma Naille) Ann Varasso leads the team with her medical experince, Mrs. Cramer is in charge of the information; she can accounce the lock downs, calls 911, or directs people. The other members perform the roles as they arrive to the scene. If the person required CPR the first responder would start this as the person with the AED would hook up the machine.

Another member would be informing the person’s family while someone retrieves the Emergency medical form. A member would also wait to direct the EMS crew to the scene. The Emergency Response Team would take turns preforming CPR. All members are capable of preforming any of these tasks.

What you didn’t know about your heart...

We refer to our heart as a representation of our feelings, but our actually heart, the muscle, is pretty amazing too. Here are some facts about your heart that you probably didn’t know.

TEXT BY EMMA NAILLE (‘18) AND ARTWORK BY CARLEY NAILLE (‘19)

Your heart pumps 1.5 gallons of blood every minute.

The largest heart weighs over 1,500 pounds and belongs to the blue whale.

The opening and closing of your valve leaflets is what makes the sound of your heart beat.

The average male heartbeat is slower than the average female’s by about 8 beats per minute.

The highest number of heart attacks occur on Christmas Day.

Your heart beats 100,000 times a day.

The further you go in your education, the lower your risk of heart disease.

Info source: Cleveland Clinic

blueprintsonline.org

5

sports

Heart problems among young athletes Difficult Signs to Read

Sudden Cardiac Arrest, SCA, is very difficult to diagnose, leaving young athletes at risk.

BY ELIJAH SMITH (‘18) n 2001, a former Granville student, Conner Senn, collapsed during a soccer match. He was a freshman on the soccer team at Ohio State University, and while playing a match against the University of Akron, he suddenly collapsed to the ground. The trainers at Ohio State University said that Senn had no signs of any heart problems prior to the accident. They diasgnosed Sean with Sudden Cardiac Arrest, SCA, and sadly he died that day.

A problem among many young athletes today is called. Sudden Cardiac Arrest.

This is a serious condition that happens when athletes incerease their heartrate or put more stress on their heart. Some states have attempted to put in place new laws to protect athletes from putting themselves into danger.

One in 50,000 cases of cardiac arrest comes from young athletes, according to WebMD. The state of Ohio has put in place Lindsey’s Law, which requires all athletes to watch a video with their parents informing them on dangers of SCA. Many young athletes were simply uninformed, and the state of Ohio wanted to change that. Most of the cases of SCA are in sports such as basketball and soccer that require lots of cardio work and pressure on the heart.

College basketball player Hank Gathers is one of the most well-known cases of SCA. He was a forward out of Loyola Marymount University. On March 4, 1990, while playing a televised game against Portland University, he collapsed after dunking the basketball. The video shocked thousands of people and led to a growth in research over cardiac problems in sports.

“It’s definitely scary because many people just don’t know if they have a heart condition,” senior basketball player Jack Lonzo said.

“I think it is important for young athletes to make sure that if they feel any signs to get checked out by their doctor or

I

6 FEBRUARY 2018

Granville High School placed a statue titled “Soccer Boy” in memory of Conner Senn in front of the soccer fields. (Blueprints Photo/Elijah Smith).

trainer,� Lonzo said.

It can be very difficult to tell if you have SCA, with such a wide variety of symptoms. If you are experiencing fatigue, blackouts, dizziness, chest pain, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, or sudden vomiting, you might have SCA. The reality is that most times sudden cardiac arrest comes with no warnings or signs. Either way you should be regularly checked out by your doctor.

The scariest thing about SCA is that heart problems lead to more deaths than anything else. The facts of this disease released by the American Heart Association are truly scary. Twenty five percent of all cases of SCA show no warning signs prior to the actual event. Also, there were 420,000 cases of SCA in the year 2014, and that number is expected to continue rising.

With the passing of Lindsay’s Law and other movements by specific states to try and warn their young athletes about the signs of SCA, it is clear that the world is trying to do something about heart problems. To help learn some of the signs, we have created a checklist (right) to inform of some signs that you may have SCA.

Overall, eating a good, balanced diet, while maintaining a healthy weight can help with SCA. Also, it helps to regularly engage in cardiovascular activities such as, running, swimming, biking and kickboxing.

SCA Checklist Info Source: Mayo Clinic

Talk to your family members to find out if any relatives have heart problems, if so you should check with your doctor to see what you can do to prevent the conditions.

If you are feeling light headed, or are experiencing any chest pains while working out you should immediatly go see your doctor.

If you are experiencing shortness of breath or increased heart rate you should immediatly go see your doctor.

If you vomit or feel nauseus while working out, that might be a sign you have a heart condition.

You should see a doctor immediatly.

Granville High School aslo created a wall to provide awarness for SCA, and in partnership with The Ohio State University created a plack for Conner Senn at the top of the main stairwell. (BluePrints Photo/Elijah Smith)

If you play competitive sports and have never gotten an EKG check, you should immediatly do so before continuing to play. blueprintsonline.org

7

opinion

The Issue:

IsValentine’s Day a valid holiday?

V alentine’s Day has long been heralded as a day of romance and love. People in the United States first began giving eachother handmade Valentine’s cards in the early 1700s. However, written Valentine’s have existed since around 1400. In fact, the oldest one in existence was written by Charles Duke of Orlean in 1415. Esther Howland, called the “Mother of the Valentine,” popularized and mass-produced Valentine’s, forever tying the holiday with commercialism. According to the Greeting Card Association, about 1 billion Valentine’s Day cards are sent each year today.

Today, people have begun to resent the focus of the holiday on romantic love, and have taken to coming up with their own celebrations. People celebrate “Galentine’s Day” with friends, or partake in “Anti-Valentine’s Day” to protest the commericialism and overally romantic aspect of Valentine’s Day. However, couples and others continue to celebrate the holiday with cards, gifts, chocolate and romantic dates.

Info Source: History.com

(Artwork by Carley Naille and Emma Naille)

YES V

alentine’s Day is one of the best ways to express to the people around you how much you love them. The holiday is all about expressing your love and appreciation for the people in your life that mean so much to you. The day is often celebrated with gifts, dinners, and quality time with the ones that you love.

It is a lovely excuse to take a break from the everyday hustle of life. Although the holiday should not be as focussed on gifts as it has recently become, we as people who celebrate the holiday, can change the future of Valentine’s Day. The best way to potentially spend your holiday is with all of the people around you that you love, without buying any gifts. Often times your loved ones will appreciate these times more than anything else. Homemade gifts or no gifts at all is often times much more meaningful to your loved ones. This not only shows how much you care about them, but also how meaningful they are to you and their life. The holiday is also a great excuse to put your pink and red clothes to good use with purpose. Everyone has at least one vibrant red or pink shirt or other article of clothing that might be a little too much for the late winter months, but is perfect for the holiday.

Valentine’s Day can be celebrated in so many ways. With a holiday that can be personalized, you and your significant other or loved ones can decide exactly how to spend it among yourselves to maximise time spent together.

8 FEBRUARY 2018

“The holiday is all about expressing your love and appreciation for the people in your life that mean so much to you.”

-RILEY VRADENBURG (‘18)

STAFF EDITORIAL

S

ome people love Valentine’s Day, and the chance to express their admiration for their loved ones while others are turned off by the commercial and couple-centered aspect of the holiday. The BluePrints staff is not strongly opposed to the holiday, though no one particularly favors it either. Valentine’s Day is usually viewed as a day just for couples, but it really can be celebrated by anyone to show their love for others.

In recent years, “Anti-Valentine’s Day” has gained popularity as an option for those who dislike the holiday. These people usually view the holiday as too commercial, or are single and dislike that it is traditionally celebrated for couples. Still others are simply turned off by the “lovey-dovey” and cliche nature of the holiday. The BluePrints staff suggests that those who are single celebrate Anti-Valentine’s Day, or Galentine’s Day, made popular

by TV show “Parks and Recreation,” with their friends.

Though Valentine’s Day is usually aimed at couples, and the emphasis on romantic relationships makes people feel left out, celebrating Valentine’s Day with friends or family is another way to experience the love of the holiday. One can do so by exchanging gifts with friends, or Valentine’s like kids do in elementary school and going out to a meal together.

The BluePrints staff acknowledges that commercially, Valentine’s Day is about couples. However, we also assert that it does not have to be so for everyone.

(Editorial cartoon by Brielle Bait) 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.

NO V

alentine’s Day sounds nice in theory; a day set aside to show your loved ones your appreciation. However, in today’s society this holiday has been transformed into praying on the hearts of consumers. Now, one showcases their amount of affection by celebrating Valentine’s Day through extravagant, unnecessary gifts. Chains pray on one’s desire to express their love and promise that their overpriced product is the way to do so. This has created pressure to spend more and more money as the years go on. People have lost sight in true connection, rather opting to have their gifts speak for themselves. Valentine’s Day has been molded into a retail paradise. One does not need to spend a plundra of money in order to say ‘I love you’ yet the media supports the opposite. During the month of February, chocolates, jewelry, and other gifts are all but perceived necessary to buy. This holiday is based on material value rather than true love, and consumers are fed adds that only encourage them to follow this pricey mindset. One cannot buy love so there is no reason why they should have to spend an insane amount to prove their feelings.When the majority of people go out and buy gifts, everyone else follows suit. There is no reason why monetary gifts are a necessary addition to proving love, yet this day and age strives to prove there is no better way. Valentine’s Day should be a personal celebration that values genuine connection rather than how deep one’s wallet is.

“Valentine’s Day has been molded into a retail paradise. One does not need to spend a plethora of money in order to say ‘I love you’” -KENZIE CHESROWN (‘18)

blueprintsonline.org

9

Reader Opinion “It’s really the same as any other day for me. I don’t really notice it and I don’t dislike it because I have no reason to.”

Sophomore DAVID BRADEN said in response to whether he likes Valenitne’s Day or not.

“I like Valentine’s Day because it’s a good excuse to buy lots of chocolate.”

Junior BEN BLANCHARD said about whether he likes Valentine’s Day or not.

What do you like to recieve on Valentine’s Day?

42% Chocolate

21% Jewelry

21% Flowers

16%

Stuffed Animals Results of our TWITTER POLL on December 7, 2017

COMPILED BY KYLEE MCFARLAND (‘18) AND JACK MCGONAGLE (‘18) We asked a few random students whether they were fans of Valentine’s Day or not. Here are some of their responses.

“I think it has good intentions, however, I feel that if people need a certain day to express love then they aren’t loving the right way.”

Sophomore CONNOR BUSH said about whether he likes Valentine’s Day or not.

“I love Valentine’s 50/50 Day because I al- The amount of people from our sample vs. didn’t ways get the best, wholikeliked Valentine’s Day. most random gifts that become my “I don’t like absolute favorite.” Valentine’s Senior REBECCA HIRSH said in response to whether she liked Valentine’s Day or not.

(Artwork by Emma Naille)

“I like Valentine’s Day because it allows me to have a special day to appreciate the people and pets in my life.”

Freshman JENNA UNKEFER said in respone to whether she’s a fan of Valentine’s Day or not.

10 FEBRUARY 2018

Day because it reminds me that I’m lonely and probably will be for the foreseeable future.”

Senior AUSTIN CAREY said in response to whether he likes Valentine’s Day or not.

CHRISTIAN SAMS (‘18) “If I could go anywhere on a date with anyone, I would choose Jennifer Lawrence. Our date would be in the middle of the desert, where we would fight to survive with other young adults. Once it is just her and I, I would have a nice, romantic picnic arranged for us to enjoy together.”

ALEXIE MCFARLAND (‘18) “I would go to Thailand to see a lot of the biodiversity, nature and animals they have to offer. In my mind, there is nothing more romantic than nature in the whole world. I would definitely take Leonardo DiCaprio as my date because he’s a conservation activist and he also happens to be really cute.”

REILLY ZINK (‘20) “If I could choose anywhere for a date on Valentine’s Day, I would choose Australia because they have kangaroos and dolphins and other awesome stuff to see while you’re there. I would for sure have to go with Ansel Elgort as my celebrity date because he is just amazing in every way.”

F{ACES} IN THE CROWD

BY JACK MCGONAGLE (‘18) AND KYLEE MCFARLAND (‘18)

Valentine’s Dream Dates

ROSIE LAMB (‘18) “If I could go anywhere for a date on Valentine’s Day, I would go to New Zealand because one of my friends went there on a trip and said it was the most amazing place she’d ever been to or experienced. I would bring along Liam Hemsworth as my celebrity date because he’s really hot.”

RILEY BRUCK (‘18) “If I could go anywhere for a special date on Valentine’s Day, I would go to Bora Bora because it is a beautiful and exotic location that not many people visit. My celebrity date to take along with me would have to be Emir Sensini because he is a Spanish god/legend.”

RACHEL LILLY (‘18) “If I could go anywhere for a date on Valentine’s Day, I would go to Bali because it’s beautiful and pretty much everything to do there involves nature. My date would be Matthew Mcconaughey because I love him and every time I suggest something I get to listen to him respond with “alright alright alright.”

(BluePrints Photos/Jack McGonagle and Kylee McFarland)

blueprintsonline.org

11

sports

Teams we love

This is a list of teams that fans adore.

An Ohio State football game at Ohio Stadium, affectionately called “The Shoe.” (BluePrints Photo/Keegan Vanmeter)

BY KEEGAN VANMETER (‘19) OHIO STATE How can you not love a team that has won eight national titles, 38 conference titles and has an overall record of 897 wins, 324 losses and 53 tied games? Living in the state of Ohio, the Buckeyes gives people something to be proud of, which is why it is hard to find someone that doesn’t love a saturday night with the Buckeyes out on the field.

CAVALIERS The Cavs used to be a team with little hope that was just taking up space in Cleveland until around 2003 when Lebron James was drafted to the Cavs. He gave some hope to a team with no hope. Then, Lebron decided he wanted to win an NBA title, so he left and went to Miami, leaving the Cavs with no hope again. In 2014, Lebron made his way back to the team he truly loved, the Cavaliers. In 2016 The Cavs finally brought home a championship to the city of little hope, Cleveland.

This is why everyone loves the Cavs.

12 FEBRUARY 2018

COWBOYS The Dallas Cowboys are considered to be “America’s team.” The Cowboys have won five Superbowls, however, these came 1970s-1990s. When Ezekiel Elliott and Dak Prescott were drafted to the Cowboys, not many people thought they had a shot at having a good year. However, despite the odds, these two rookies took the game over and had some of the best selling jerseys ever. The Cowboys now have some of the best fanbase in the world, with Zeke coming from The Ohio State University.

UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA UCF is an interesting team. Its first season was in 1979, and their overall record is 244 wins and 211 losses. In 2015, this team was a zero win team. With a new coach coming into the picture, they turned their 2017 season into an undefeated season, ending twelfth in the college football rankings. How can you hate a great comeback story like that?

TOP TEAMS

We surveyed our readers to find their favorite teams.

1

Ohio State

2

Cowboys

3

Notre Dame Surprisingly, a lot of people are Notre Dame fans within the school.

4

Cavaliers

Almost the majority of the people we interviewed chose the Buckeyes.

Ezekiel Elliott, former Ohio State running back, is a fan favoriteamong many Ohio natives.

Everyone loves watching LeBron James posterize opposing players.

NOTRE DAME Notre Dame is a very well established football team; their first season was in 1887. They have an incredible resume, with a record of 905 wins, 324 losses and 42 tied games. They have also won 11 National titles, and have a total of 22 National championship appearances. A team like this is easy to love because they are always winning, despite a few down years.

PACKERS The Packers are a professional team inWisconsin, and have always had a winning tradition. The dynasty was founded by Earl Lambeau who went on to win multiple super bowls, and now has the stadium named after him. The tradition this team is most known for is the Lambeau leap.

This happens nearly every time after a Green Bay player scores a touchdown.

The player who scored jumps up into the stands and into the crowd. This act truly engages the crowd which is why this team is so loved.

Teams we love to hate

This is a list of teams that fans cannot stand to watch.

BY CAM CROUCH (‘19) MICHIGAN Who doesn’t hate The Team Up North?

The majority of Granville is hardcore Ohio State Buckeyes fans, and I say this with the upmost of confidence. Although, there are some Michigan fans seeded throughout the hallways. That’s right, I’m looking at the Hobens, Mr. Schwaiger, Will Shieber, and Joey Moorehead.

ALABAMA I can already hear the boos and the jeers toward this team. Alabama barely squeaked into the College Football Playoffs. Twitter was bombarded with tweets and aggressive personal opinions ripping into the playoff committee, saying that Ohio State should have made it instead of Alabama.

The Michigan Unviversity Football stadium is referred to as “The Big House.” This was taken at the Michighan vs. Ohio State game of 2017. Part of being an Ohio State football fan is hating Michigan Univeristy, making this rivalry game an ordeal every season.

(Photo courtesy of Laney Naille)

ILLINOIS This one is a personal favorite for me, due to the fact that I am blood-related to one of the players. I get an earful from everyone I know if he doesn’t perform well, or how bad Illinois is, and this and that. But what can you do? Not much, but keep a strong anad loyal faith to the Orange and Blue.

Go Illinois.

CLEMSON Buckeyes fans were begging for a rematch with the Tigers this year, especially after getting completely shut down last season, losing 40 to 0 in a playoff game. Sounds embarrassing, right? Fans are going to have to be left with a bad taste in their mouth, as the Buckeyes have missed the College Football Playoffs for the first time ever since they were created.

CLEVELAND BROWNS I wish this team would just figure it out, and so does the rest of the population of Ohio. No matter if you are a Browns fan or not, you just get sick of watching them. They suck. Bad. With the long and saddened season coming to an end, fans are praying for a win. A Granville alumni, who is very popular on twitter, has created a petition for a parade for the Browns Perfect Season 2.0. This means that if the Browns lose all 16 games, he is going to hold a parade within Clevelend, Ohio.

Furthermore, there is, one thing to hold onto as a Browns fan, and that is the loyal Josh Gordon. He’s the only positive that this team has left, so keep praying that he doesn’t get busted again. Because when he is on the field, he can do some damage to opposing cornerbacks.

WARRIORS Every single Cavalier fan HATES the Golden State Warriors. The Cavs lost the NBA Finals to the Warriors in 5 games (4-1). The Warriors consist of Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Draymond Green, Klay Thompson, and Javale McGee. They have a plethora of bench players who can score at will also. Cavs fans added some new additions to the team this season to compete with the Warriors in the finals, as they are hoping to change the outcome from last year and bring home their second title in franchise history.

blueprintsonline.org

13

Why increasing your heart rate is key in getting the best work out There are many ways to raise your heart rate while exercising.

T

BY HANNAH MUSICK (‘18) here are so many things that can get your heart rate up when working out. Running, cycling, swimming or lifting are all ways to get your heart rate up. If you are trying to get a good workout in and make your heart rate go up, it is always good to do a high intensity workout.

According to livehealthy.com, A common misconception is that low-intensity exercise burns more fat. While a greater percentage of the calories you burn come from fat when your heart rate and intensity are low, you burn more calories and fat overall when keeping your heart rate and intensity high.

Before working out, you should always stretch before and after a workout, especially one that gets your heart rate up. You should specifically stretch the muscles that will be used during your workout.

According to spafinder.com, And while starting off easy is important so you don’t overdo it, your ultimate goal should be to keep your heart rate up. “It improves your cardiovascular health and strengthens your heart by processing oxygen and blood to the working muscles,” continues Ford.

“Not to mention it also helps you burn 14 FEBRUARY 2018

Football players run sprints at TAD Sports to get their heart rates up. (BluePrints Photo/ Keegan Van Meter) calories when working towards weight loss or maintenance.”

This means that even though you should not go full out when first starting out, you should work to the point your heart rate is up and you know that because your breathing has changed and you are sweating more.

“Not just running and hard core workouts are always the most efficient, for instance jump roping, or circuits of training which is performing multiple workouts in a short amount of time are also ways to get your heart rate up,” said Lee Montgomery, a personal trainer.

There are many benefits to increasing your heart rate while workout out. When you are working out and getting your heart rate up, it benefits your long and short term health effects. According to livestrong.com, health benefits do not only help people with fitness and getting in shape but, it also helps psychologically. Eating better and working out is a great way to make you feel better and happier.

Another great benefit from working out and getting your heart rate up is it helps you lose excessive weight from your body. Doing extracurricular activities help you produce energy and burn calories,

the more you workout or the harder the workout is the higher your heart will be allowing you to lose more weight.

Another benefit is it helps your health when you start to age. Even though many young people do not think that far into the future, it is good to realize what you could prevent from just working out and being more healthy. For example, Mayo Clinic recommends doing aerobic exercises because it helps fight colesterol. Another benefit from aerobic exercise is it raises your healthy cholesteral and lowers the bad. Another great benefit is it helps your immune system. Having a strong immune system is needed in order to fight viruses and colds.

Some great workouts include: jumping jacks, burpees, high knees, and step ups.

Any of these workouts are great ways to get your heart rate up and live a healthy more efficient life.

There are so many benefits and important needs when it comes to being healthy.

Increasing your heart rate is just one of the many ways to become healthier and to help live a longer, more efficient life in the future. Not only will being healthy make you healthy it will make you feel good about yourself and more motivated.

The best places to get your heart pumping Phlex Fitness

Cardio Kickboxing

(Text and photos by Emma Naille and Riley Vradenberg)

Fun: 4/5 Sweat Factor: 3/5 Difficulty: 3/5 Cost: 3/5 This class is located at VO2 fitness and costs $10.00. Sally Studer, the instructor, keeps the class very upbeat while continually motivating the participants. Studer explains the exercises and what muscle groups each exercise is working throughout the class and also gives modifications for those who are not ready for the full movements.

The class starts with a warm up of cardio and pilates, then you head to the bag for the kickboxing portion, and ends with weights and core. The intensity of the class of the whole is really up to you because you can go your own speed.

The kickboxing section consists of repeated punches, including jab, hook, and uppercut, and roundhouse kicks on a boxing bag, intermixed with planks and pushups. You don’t need any previous knowledge of kickboxing to participate because she explains the movements and comes around to help people with their form.

You also don’t any equipment as gloves, weights, and yoga mats are provided.

There are lots of different people there, men and women, old and young, so you don’t feel like you have to compete, you can just be there for yourself and go your own pace.

You can view the class schedule online and just show up, no scheduling or reservation is needed, which also means if you skip a class, there is no cancellation fee.

The hip hop fitness class by Phlex Fitness is located at TAD and is on Thursdays at 7pm. Michelle Riley, the instructor, is very upbeat and motivational and encourages the dancers to keep up the intensity and spunk. She frequently yells out “Yeah, Ladies!” and “Let’s go!” to keep the energy up.

The class was a lot more intense than we expected it to be. It was like Zumba, but faster and more advanced. There were mostly moms there, but there were a few daughters there with their moms.

It was difficult because it is all cardio and you are dancing hard the whole time.

There are some boxing moves and squats mixed in with the dance moves, but for the most part, it was completely hip hop dancing. It is definitely difficult to pick up the movements if you don’t have any rhythm, but after a few classes, you learn the routines and it gets easier.

The energy of the class was very high and all of the moms were breaking it down, which helped us feel more comfortable and less self-conscious. This is a great class for anyone looking for a fun way to get in a great workout.

Fun: 5/5 Sweat Factor: 5/5 Difficulty: 4/5 Cost: 5/5

Gentle Yoga and Meditation

Fun: 3/5 Sweat Factor: 0/5 Difficulty: 1/5 Cost: 4/5

The gentle yoga and meditation class is located at Breathe Yoga behind River Road Coffeehouse. Although the ratings might seem low, the class was actually very enjoyable and relaxing. The gentle yoga and meditation class we went to does not exactly fit the fun, sweaty and difficult scale that we have set and is more focused on getting rid of “mind chatter” and matching your movements to your breathing, rather than getting a good workout.

The instructor, Christine Plaugher, explained the movements really well and spent a little bit at the beginning explaining what yoga is about and how she wanted us to focus on letting go of expectations and focusing on “just this.” All of the materials used in the class, a mat, blocks, and a blanket, were provided. The lights in the room are dimmed and soft music plays from a speaker.

She leads the class through a series of movements and gives modifications so participants can find what feels right for them. At the end, Plaugher led the class in saying “ohm” but gave participants the option to say “home” or to just listen if they did not feel comfortable saying it, and also explained that “ohm” is a non-religious word that just refers to everyone being connected. She then said “namaste” and bowed her head, explaining that it means the light in me sees the light in you.

blueprintsonline.org

15

features

Cute Couples...

BY JOSIE DECARO (‘19) A series of four couples in the school were intwerviewed. Each person in the relationship was asked the same questions.

Keirston: A)We’ve been dating for almost two and a half years.

Questions for each person:

A) How long have you been dating for?

B) How did you first meet?

C) What do you like most like about being in a relationship?

Georgia and Cooper...

Maggie and Grant...

(Photo courtesy of Georgia Bain)

Maggie: A) Three and a half months.

B) I don’t really remember, I think we met at a soccer game.

C) He’s funny and he never stops talking.

B) He claims that we first met in the fifth grade in Mrs. Rapp’s class. We sat at the same table. We first got close when we were in the eighth grade when we were in Mrs. Dauge’s Art Two class.

C) He makes me laugh, he is very funny. He seems quiet and shy, but he is actually one of the funniest people I have met.

Cooper: A) Two years.

B) In eighth grade.

C) She really makes me happy.

Emily and Patrick...

Emily: A) It will be eight months on December 6th.

B) We actually dated in eighth grade for a solid month, he broke up with me because he got cold feet and wasn’t used to being in a relationship.

C) Definitely his money….just kidding. Probably because he makes me a better person, and he is super outgoing.

Patrick: A) December 6th will be the great day of eight months

Georgia: A) We’ve been dating a little bit over two years.

(Photo courtesy of Grant Porterfield)

Grant: A) Three and a half months.

B) At a soccer game at Big Walnut, she drove by herself just to come talk to me.

C) I just enjoy spending time with her and going to get food.

B) Well I walked into Mrs. Esh’s class on a beautiful wednesday afternoon in eighth grade and it was the first day of school. I sat down and it just happened to be directly across from Emily’s pretty little face. Then I said to Justin Steffeny, ‘Oh my gosh, look at her.’ Then he looked and said, ‘What.’ Then I just said, ‘Dang.’ Then months later I finally got to ask her to go out with me.

B) I first met him through Snapchat when I was in the eighth grade and he just randomly started talking to me. I thought he was weird and was like, ‘What the heck.’ Then we hung out once after that and it was so awkward and I was so nervous, and it still makes me embarrassed to this day.

So then he stopped talking to me after that because he liked someone else...

C) My favorite thing about dating him is everything, but most importantly I love how he understands me. I can just talk to him about anything and he will be able to make me feel better. I don’t know… he’s just normally really thoughtful and stuff.

Elijah: A) Two and a half years.

B) Well, we first met through a mutual friend...Then we talked for a little bit when I was a freshmen and she was in eighth grade, then we stopped talking that summer. Then the summer going into my sophomore year we started dating.

C) There are too many things that I love about her.

C) I would say her dogs, and her dads cooking. But I do enjoy the fact that there are very few people that are willing to go on spontaneous adventures at any time, that’s nice about her.

(Photo courtesy of Emily Stachler)

16 FEBRUARY 2018

Keirston and Elijah...

(Photo courtesy of Elijah Smith)

How to tell someone you love them

BY SARA MILLS (‘19) hat are three words that are said too often, yet not enough? I love you. It is how these three words are said that can define a moment or relationship forever. We say these three words all the time; to family, friends, and even pets. But how does one tell their significant other for the first time?

I have not had the fortunate experience of telling someone I am in a relationship with I love them, however I have watched enough movies and read enough books to earn a degree in romance.

Depending on the kind of person you are, you might slip in the phrase while cuddling up to a good movie with popcorn and pizza, or you might prefer some grand elaborate flash mob to portray your innermost feelings.

If you are shy, and being open makes you feel vulnerable and uncomfortable, do something small. But get out of your comfort zone. By getting out of your comfort zone and openly admitting your feelings, your significant other will realize the effort you put forth making the moment even that much more special.

Something small could be anything involving the phrase. SInce its hard for you to be open, the words will mean enough standing alone. Whether it be a whisper in a tight hug, a simple ‘I love you’ while looking at them across the dinner table, or simply anything as long as it is said, and said meaningfully.

For the open books out there, try something big and elaborate. Because your significant other already knows how comfortable you are in sharing your feelings, the grand gesture will make the moment seem unique and special compared to the other significant steps in the relationship you have taken.

Grand gestures representing this feeling you are trying to reflect could be a romantic dinner cooked by you, flowers, a poem, a song, anything that incorporates ‘I love you’ with a description of how this love is unique in your relationship.

To make the gesture that much more grand, pay attention the the small things your significant other says, things in which they expect you to forget. By bringing up these little things it shows them you listen and observe. This will make them feel important and special making the three

W

If words are not enough, matching onesies will do the trick this holiday season! Junior Corinne Sutliff and senior Bob Compton shared this photo of their couple Christmas spirit. (Photo Courtesy of Corinne Sutliff) words that much more impactful.

He or she is just a friend you say and you don’t know how to spill the beans?

Well, this scenario is obviously more complicated. Nerves are to be expected, so if you feel doubt and fear camping out on your shoulder, ignore them.

In this circumstance it can be hard because you don’t want to loose them as a friend but you also can’t bare to just be friends anymore. In this situation you need to use the scale, weigh out whether the friendship or potential relationship is more worth it.

Because you are just friends as of thus far with this person, the options vary from how you tell them. Depending on who you are and where the friendship is, you could be doing anything from a Ross

sprinting through an airport to tell Rachel in “Friends,” to a interrupting blurt out of the phrase like in “He’s Just Not That Into You.” Oh no! He or she is in a relationship!

Well, in this circumstance there’s a lot more feelings at stake and a lot of people could get hurt. If he or she seems happy with the relationship, ignoring your feelings is probably the best way to show you love them, for you value their happiness more than your own.

Whomever the person, whether it be family, friends, pets or a significant other, telling someone you love them never goes unnoticed. Many need reassurance, you’ll never know how much the simple phrase could mean to someone. blueprintsonline.org

17

entertainment

Romantic movies to watch this Valentine’s Day

(Source IMDb)

BY ALYSSA CHRISTIAN (‘19)

“Titanic” The second most popular movie that students tended to lean toward was “Titanic.”Based off of a true disaster that occurred in 1912 due to the sinking of the ship that resulted in the death of over one thousand people, the movie, “Titanic,” moves many to tears.

“Basically Jack sacrificed himself in the cold water even though there was room for two,” freshman Jenna Unkefer said.

Although the movie is more about the 18 FEBRUARY 2018

romance between Rose, a wealthy woman belonging to first-class, and Jack Dawson, a poor member of the lower-class, the reality that people aboard the ship had to go through those hardships strikes the hearts of those who view the film.

“Anyone who thinks ‘Titanic’ is not romantic is stupid,” senior Anna Kieffer said. “It’s such a romantic movie. Everyone who watches it cries.”

Others liked the movie solely because it

was the only romance that they had truly watched. The most romantic movie that senior Daniel Bellofatto had watched was “honestly probably “Titanic.” I don’t really watch any romantic movies,” Bellofatto said.

Either way, the movie “Titanic” is most definitely one of the most romantic ones out there.

(Source IMDb)

(Source IMDb)

“The Notebook”

For many, “The Notebook” was the first romantic movie that came to mind.

“It’s a Nicholas Sparks film and he is very well known for the romance genre,” sophomore Allison Moore said. Starring Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams, the movie encompasses the story of two people who desperately fall in love with each other.

“It’s kind of like a sad romantic story. It’s just cute because it shows them throughout their lives,” junior Peyton Heatwole said.

Not only is it well-liked among students,

but it has also been given high ratings by IMDb and iTunes. IMDb gave the movie a rating of 7.9/10 while iTunes gave it a 4.4/5.

“It’s sappy and sentimental,” freshman Max Taylor said.

The ending also seems to strike some in the heart when they reach it “because they die together,” sophomore Abby Burkholder said.

“It’s very emotional,” junior Colin Freeman said. “I cried. Like the ending where they meet up. It gets me in the feels.

It’s about love.”

“The Fault in Our Stars” “The Fault in Our stars” will bring tears to the eyes of the audience.

“It’s about a girl who has cancer, but she really likes this boy so with her final months, they spend all of their time together,” freshman Charlie Wilson said.

Hazel Grace Lancaster and Gus Waters are two people who both either were or are suffering from cancer. This movie will keep the audience interested throughout the entirety of the film.

“Dirty Dancing” “Dirty Dancing” was a popular movie among the student body as well. “‘Dirty Dancing’ is pretty good,” sophomore Reilly Zink said. This is most likely because of the romance that encompasses the movie. When dance partners Johnny and Baby fall in love, the movie begins and the audience is able to follow the romance through the ups and downs of their relationship. “‘Dirty Dancing’ is also well-liked because “Patrick Swayze is in it,” senior Ashley Reed said.

Patrick Swayze was a popular actor in the 1980s and is well known for his acting in “Dirty Dancing.”

Vampires and werewolves? Who wouldn’t want to be one? “Twilight” brings to life these two creatures and inserts them into the lives of normal people.

“It has attractive actors and a very interesting love story. You kinda want to be Bella and be dating a vampire and a werewolf. That’s pretty cool,” senior Carly Pay said. The Bella she is referring to is Bella Swan who moves to a new town that has a mysterious family that few know much about. The audience follows her journey as she gets to know thesee mysterious people only to find they are not really human at all.

(Source IMDb)

(Source LionsGate)

“Twilight”

“Beauty and the Beast” “Beauty and the Beast” is another romantic movie. Starring Emma Watson, “Beauty and the Beast” brings to light the idea of accepting those who look different in an attempt to see their hidden qualities.

“It’s about loving people for more than just what they look like,” junior Anna Dunham said.

Meant for both younger children and older adults, “Beauty and the Beast” is a heartwarming romance that will be sure to make the viewer smile.

(Source IMDb)

blueprintsonline.org

19

Hearty Recipes

Oreo Truffles

BY RILEY VRADENBURG (‘18)

There are a lot of recipes that are perferct for the Valentine’s Day season, but these recipes are some of the easiest and most popular around.

I

attempted to recreate a heart-shaped Oreo truffle.

I chose this treat because it seemed fairly easy to make and is something I have had before.

To make this dessert you need 24 oreos, 5 oz of softened cream cheese, a heart shaped cookie cutter, and melting chocolate to dip the truffles in at the end. First, you crush the oreos as much as possible, and combine the crushed Oreos with the cream cheese. Once combined, flatten into a lined baking pan in an even layer.

Freeze this for 45 minutes.

After freezing, use the cookie cutter to cut your heart shaped oreo truffles. Unfortunately, I was unable to find a heart-shaped cookie cutter small enough for this treat. I had to freehand cut my truffles, so each of them are a little different in size and shape.

However, they still turned out alright.

After you cut your truffles, dip them in the white chocolate and then put them in the refrigerator to cool.

(BluePrints Photo/ Riley Vradenburg)

(BluePrints Photo/Riley Vradenburg) 20 FEBRUARY 2018

(BluePrints Photo/Riley Vradenburg)

Chocolate Covered Pretzels

A

chocolate covered pretzel is a fan favorite, and a super basic recipe to create and repeat.

For this treat, you only need pretzel rods, melting chocolate, and sprinkles of your choice.

I chose to use pink melting chocolate to make the recipe more festive.

I dipped an entire package of pretzel rods, and covered the chocolate in sprinkles. I found that it was important to allow the pretzel covered in chocolate to dry a little over the melted chocolate before covering it in sprinkles in order to get the best results.

The chocolate covered pretzels were also a very big hit among classmates and teachers. These are also very easy to customize and change according to what the treat is for.