TRI NGLE THE
EDITORS-IN-CHIEF
Alexa Lanam
Cecilia Gutierrez
Stella Gaylord
Annie Green
PHOTO AND COVERAGE
EDITOR
Lois Guest
IN-DEPTH EDITOR
Cassie Osburn
IN-DEPTH TEAM
Colin Amini
Bella Herbert
Maddie Williams
Claire Rawlings
COPY EDITOR
Owen Grimes
BACK PAGE
Sarynel Barbosa
STAFF
Lou Briand
Jay Challatur
Chloe Feliciano
Gabe Manning
Gabe Marsh
Indi Meshberger
Vivian Munger
Rue Payne
Allorah Purtlebaugh
Aldo Ramos-Sato
Levi Tobias
Noah Weidman
ADVISERS
Roth Lovins
Rachel McCarver
IN-DEPTH 9-11
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Editorial Policy
Education Stagnation
BCSC staff and students reflect on why academic achievement among high schoolers appears to be declining
The Triangle is the designated forum for student expression at Columbus North High School. The student staff chooses all content.
Signed columns published in The Triangle express the writer’s personal opinion and not the views of The Triangle, student body, BCSC, administration, board of trustees or faculty of Columbus North.
The Triangle practices ethical journalism by providing balanced and fair coverage as determined by community standards. The Triangle strives to achieve 100 percent accuracy by checking sources, spelling, and quotes and attaining multiple sources.
The Triangle encourages letters to the editor, but reserves the right to reject them for reasons including but not limited to lack of space, multiple letters of the same topic and personal attacks contained in the letter. The Triangle will not edit for content, but reserves the right to edit for grammar and length. Letters should be submitted to room 1507 or sent via e-mail to administrator@ cnhsmedia.com. All Letters much be signed by all persons involved in writing the letter, which the staff will check for validation. A letter sent via e-mail must be validated with a signature from the writer before The Triangle will publish it. If responding to a publication, letters must be turned in within one week of that publication’s distribution.
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In cases when a source’s information may bring ridicule or incrimination upon himself or herself, the editorial board reserves the right to cite the source as anonymous. The Triangle will never use composite sources and pass them off as anonymous sources.
KIDS COMMONS ANNIVERSARY
As the Kids Commons celebrates its 20th anniversary, students who work there talk about their experience working and plans for the future
by Chloe Feliciano
Through the heart of downtown Columbus lies the Kids Commons, a place where kids can play to their hearts content. Oct. 3, the Kids Commons celebrated its 20th anniversary with an event. Juniors Alyssa Maddox and Sebastian Hartwell talk about the event, their experience working and their plans for the future.
Hartwell is also the owner’s son and gave more information regarding the event.
“Kidscommons teamed up with a bunch of groups and businesses around Columbus to make it an absolutely great event,” Hartwell said.
The milestone event also allowed the owners to look back and see if they stayed true to their original goal.
“It was originally created as a place for kids to both learn and play,” Hartwell said. “[And 20 years later] it still definitely sticks to their original idea.”
Both Hartwell and Maddox are going to be working the event, with the job being to walk around and make sure the guests are alright among various others. This is similar to what they do on an average work day.
“The work is pretty easy,” Maddox said. “A lot of it is just small chores and lots of arts and crafts. I will probably either be running an activity table or walking around the floors to make sure everyone is safe and following the rules [during the event.]”
A main part of the job is working with kids, and that happens to be Hartwell’s favorite part.
“My favorite part of the job is being able to do programs with kids, I love knowing that they’re having fun,” Hartwell said.
Maddox has a similar but more emotional reasoning for the best part of their job.
“My favorite part is obviously making a difference in kids’ lives, but also how many friends I have made working there and how all of my coworkers are so close,” Maddox said.
During the work week, they work relatively similar hours of 4-7 depending on the day and what is needed. Hartwell works during the week after school, and is still able to complete his schoolwork.
“The job is super easy and fun, with very forgiving hours, so it’s honestly pretty easy to finish work, then go home and do homework,” Hartwell said.
However, Hartwell doesn’t have extracurriculars, and Maddox does. Maddox only works the weekends because of their school life.
“I am able to balance the hours by only working weekends during the school year,” Maddox said. “That helps to keep my weekdays a little more free.”
For her, its even more tricky when her extracurricular activities start demanding more attention. Despite this, the managers are able to schedule her appropriately.
“It gets a little tricky during competition season for show choir because I can only work one day a week. But, my managers always find a way around it and make it work,” Maddox said.
The experience from working will aid them in their future careers. Both Maddox and Hartwell want to work with children when they are older.
“I plan on becoming a middle or elementary school teacher,” Maddox said. “Working here is giving me a lot of experience working with kids’ emotions and finding out what strategies work the best for me.”
JOBS KIDS COMMONS CAN PREPARE FOR
Teaching requires you to know how to handle children’s emotions, and discussing situations with children is one of the many tasks given.
alt copy text
Babysitting requires for people to be able to know how children have fun. Workers at the Kids Commons play arts and crafts with the kids.
photo by Lois Guest
N O M A
D
Student vendors, performers, and attendees describe the Nomad experience by Gabe Manning design by
Live music, teenage vendors, and puppies. Nomad exposes teenagers to a variety of creatives all around the city. Senior Ayla Glick shares what it is she does to help prepare for the event.
“I have helped with many different aspects of planning Nomad. I have mainly done talent/ vendor acquisition and Social Media Marketing. Meaning that I reach out to invite artists and creators to the event,” Glick said. “I also have access to the social media accounts to inform people about our events.
Glick refers people to the stage for performance. Recurring Nomad performer Finn Cauble describes the expression of his creativity: performing.
“I’ve performed original songs because I like to share my own music, and I also perform some more popular songs that people will know, to be able to get people’s attention & increase audience participation by having them be excited to hear songs they know,” Cauble said.
He also described the other kinds of music he has performed at these events and why.
“I’ve played ‘Good Luck Babe’ by Chappell Roan because I know a lot of people were big fans of her & her music,” Cauble said.
While Nomad is notorious for their live music and thrifted clothing, some vendors offer more than just clothes. Recurring Nomad vendor Adalyn Summers shows the
“Selling at Nomad is definitely
Indi Meshberger
a lot more casual than a normal business. Usually, I have a conversation with customers, whether they buy something from me or not and it is always a nice way for me to meet someone new,” Summers said. “I try to keep in mind that my target audience is teenagers when I price the things I make, so I’m usually not making much of a profit, but to me it’s more about getting to have fun making something and getting to see someone also enjoy it!”
Apart from being involved in Nomad, recurring Nomad attendee Noah Johnson, spells out his overall feelings for the event.
“What draws me to Nomad is that it is completely ran by teens and made for teens, allowing for a great environment,” Johnson said.
Summers decodes the materials she uses in making her famed jewelry for sale.
“I use lots of different beads and things from lots of different places. A lot of the beads I use are from different craft stores. I sometimes reuse beads from old jewelry that I find or that someone gives me,” Summers said. “I also sometimes make bleach t-shirts by using bleach to paint designs on clothes.”
When asked how to make her jewelry, Summers gave a detailed step-by-step.
“I use wire and string, clasps and chains, to make necklaces. To make them, I usually lay out all of the beads I want to use, then string them together. Once it is all strung
together, I use pliers to add all of the finishing touches,” Summers said.
Nomad can bring a lot of nerves and excitement to new vendors, experienced vendors, new performers and experienced performers.
“I get nervous before I start because I’m not sure of the audience reaction, but they always end up being lovely, and by the end, I’m super excited and my nerves melt away,” Cauble said.
Apart from the nerves and the excitement, Summers details the environment Nomad has to offer.
“I think Nomad does help foster a positive environment for teens in Columbus. Nomad is a safe space for teenagers to share their music, art, and passion, whether they sell clothes, play music with their band, or just come to hang out with their friends,” Summers said. “I can’t think of a lot of events where teenagers can play their music or have a business and so I think Nomad is a very important event, especially because it encourages teenagers to be themselves and be more creative.
Glick summarizes what really draws her to this event and why she keeps coming back.
“I am drawn to Nomad by the opportunity to create a safe space for teenagers to have fun and express themselves,” Glick said. “I hope to be able to inspire the next generation of Nomad goers to continue to support the organization.”
photo by Cecilia Guitierrez
since September 2022
HOMECOMING HIGHLIGHTS
Homecomecoming game and dance highlights
2 3 5 4 1
by Lois Guest design by Nolan Sparkman photos by Lou Briand, Lois Guest, Nolan Sparkman
7 9 8
2. Homecoming queen Payton Morris and her escort Myles Buckner posed at the Homecoming game.
3. Freshman Danny Breeden, Blake Means, and Aldo Espejel rode on the Homecoming float.
4. Sophomore Homecoming court Jackson Netser, Thomas Tessolin, Emerson Dunlap, and Indigo Meshburger ride the Homecoming float.
5. Homecoming king Noah Palmer accepted his crown at the game.
6. Students danced at the Homecoming dance.
7. Student enjoyed games provided by the student assembly on the dance floor.
8. Students dance to music at the Homecoming dance.
9. Senior Cora Tregoning showed off her dance moves in the dance circle.
1. Junior Homecoming court Liam Glyn Jones, Margaret Rayburn, Kiara Athaide, and Graham Pumphery rode the Homecoming float during the parade.
EFFICIENTLY EDUCATED
Triangle staff discusses the factors that go into how students perform academically.
Education and how it should be approached has been a widelydebated topic in recent months, with many factors going into how it’s run and how it’s been handled. One concern for education are the results from standardized testing, and how test scores define how well students are learning and retaining information. Test scores have been steadily fluctuating over the years, with a steady decline in the past years, but have been increasing in recent years, with a historic five percentage point jump in Indiana IREAD scores, as according to wfyi.org. IREAD is a test taken in third grade that measures reading and comprehension skills, and often one of the scores taken
into account to measure how students are doing.
However, test scores are not the only way to determine students’ success; success is determined by multiple factors, including things that happen outside of the school building.
According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), there are other, more complex factors that go into the effectiveness of an education, such as “gender, socio-economic status, mobility and fluency in the majority language used at school.” Found in the same article, school effectiveness has been measured since the 1960s into 1970s, as concerns grew surrounding how well students were retaining information. ISTEP (later ILEARN) first began in 1988, measuring how
well students were performing. While the ISTEP testing results yielded important information surrounding student performance, the test scores did not tell the full story. From the same article mentioned before, key factors in education “include effective school leadership, a positive school culture and a focus on meeting the needs of diverse students.” The article goes on to mention that along with leadership from the school and teacher, digital literacy plays a big factor in how efficiently and effectively a student learns. The article stresses how beneficial technology in the classroom can be, but mentions that teachers are often undertrained when it comes to technology in the classroom, leaving room for error
due to the quick technological advancements.
Within a learning environment, it has been a gradual progression of types of materials to learn from. A student now has the option to learn through visual aspects, audio aspects, reading and writing passages and kinesthetic (or hands-on experiences) to learn from. Different learning styles, also known as “VARK” can help students learn more effectively in their own way. Reported by Very Well Mind, they stated, “Using your preferred learning style is the key… Not everyone’s brain is wired the same, and that’s why some people may find different strategies work better for them.”
COMICS BY CLAIRE
Junior Claire
Rawlings doodles about public education issues
EDUCATION STAGNATION
BCSC staff and students reflect on why academic achievement among high schoolers appears to be declining
by
Cassie Osburn, Claire Rawlings, Colin Amini design by Bella Herbert, Maddie Williams
Tic tic tic. A student nervously taps their pencil against their desk as they stare, overwhelmed, at the book open in front of them. After stumbling over unfamiliar words and long, drawn-out sentences, what had seemed like a simple reading assignment soon turned into a daunting task. They’re not the only one struggling. The recently released NEAP National Report Card, a performance review of the nation’s public schools, showed that just 35% of eighth and 12th graders are at or above grade level in reading. The scores for math and science are even lower, at 31% and 22%, respectively. Both are record lows. Amidst falling test scores, Americans are becoming increasingly aggrieved with the state of public education—according to an August Gallup poll, a mere 7% of American adults reported being completely satisfied with public education. Another record low. These numbers, among others, have exposed a fragility in the American public education system that has become “impossible to ignore,” according to elevatek12, a private educational institute based in Chicago. According to English teacher Kelley Culp, these cracks have been present for some time.
on standardized testing to evaluate student success in school,” Culp said. “This push for standardized testing led to a focus of teaching to the test.”
Culp details how that teaching philosophy harmed students.
“In all of that policy we began to lose sight of what was important in the classroom - making sure our students were able to read texts, comprehend what they were reading and then write effectively about those texts and other ideas,” Culp said.
Superintendent Chad Phillips further believes that up until recently, teaching methodology had been widely varied.
“For decades in this country there’s been a conflict and an argument over how we should teach reading,” Phillips said. “And generally it’s the difference between phonics learning sounds, breaking down words into sounds and sounding things out— what they call the whole language model.”
Phillips goes on to explain the impact this variance had.
The 2025 school year in Indiana
25.2% of SAT takers passed the the math section
with focus.
“My motivation starting senior year just crashed I felt like I had already used up all the fuel that I had,” senior Maria Gaggiano
The average SAT score in 2000-01 in Indiana for mathematics was 501
“We probably have to look back at a series of policy changes beginning in the 1990s in education that began a focus
“Those students who are in those high school grades may have, particularly if they struggled with reading, they may have received reading instruction and some interventions in a way that were not the best way to learn how to read,” Phillips said.
Director of Secondary Education Charles Edwards explains how as the years of schooling progress, student control can become an increasingly impactful issue.
“I think it has something to do with you are not in control of what you think you would rather be doing. Simple as that,” Edwards said.
“I think once students start to understand the relevance or the role that school plays in their lives or, how does this connect to life, we talk about finding your spark,” Edwards said. “If we can get students to a place where they’re making a connection between what they’re learning now and what they want to do, then it makes all the difference in the world.”
According to Phillips, students that struggle with making this connection are nothing new.
“There will always be kids who struggle with motivation, have distractions, you know, have different things that their environment impacts them,” Phillips said. “In the 1960s, it was social turmoil, political turmoil, and you could probably say that’s pretty close to where we are today.”
An additional factor to this lack of motivation is pure stress, according to Gaggiano.
“Everyone has a different experience when it comes to balancing stuff there’s some people who actually like homework and other people you need more time,” senior Aarush Mahato
The average SAT score in 2024 in Indiana for mathematics was 480
“If we had been able to focus on the basics instead of all the changes then we would be in a better place now,” teacher Kelley Culp
In 2025 54.5% of SAT takers in Indiana got above readiness in reading & writing
from College Board, Indiana Capital
Phillips further extends the importance of control in a student’s academic career.
“If a student, regardless of their background, first of all feels like they have some control over their future [they’ll feel like], ‘if I make these changes, if I make these improvements, if I work hard now, then in the future it will work out well for me,’” Phillips said. “I don’t think there’s anything more important than that for a student.”
Edwards goes on to describe the importance of connecting school and real life for such students who are struggling
The average SAT score in 2000-01 in Indiana for reading & writting was 499
“I think right now we’re at a peak of college pressure,” Gaggiano said. “Seeing it in everyone around me, there is stress and pressure to get fantastic grades in order to get into increasingly competitive colleges.”
Another source of a lack of motivation can come from a poor sleep schedule, according to senior Aarush Mahato.
“My freshman year and my sophomore year, I was terrible at getting sleep,” Mahato said. “I’d get like two, three hours and then just do my day. It wasn’t good. So I would kind of have this thing, it’s like I have to sleep by like this time. I didn’t really care if my homework didn’t get done.
According to Mahato, this lack of motivation only got worse throughout his sophomore year.
The average SAT score in 2024 in Indiana for reading & writting was 489
“Sophomore year, after going through freshman year, I definitely think my confidence was the lowest and my mental health was objectively lower, because of personal issues but also I’ve done a sport, I’ve done schooling for a year, I understand what it’s like, and I understand it’s hard,” Mahato said.
Gaggiano shares how careful time management aided her in combating such issues.
“Getting home can be a decision of scrolling on your phone or taking care of homework, showering, eating, and going to bed early,” Gaggiano said.
Edwards believes a similar behavior of discipline is crucial to success in every student.
“Number one indicator of student success is the ability to do hard things for a sustained period,” Edwards said. “I would also say resilience, how many times you can get knocked down and keep moving forward, is critical.”
Principal David Clark agrees that not only is resilience a factor in academic success, but in real life success.
“Academic performance is not, for me, the key indicator on how successful you’re going to be,” Clark said. “[It’s] how persistent are you? Do you show up and do work, or how often are you actually doing something meaningful, valuable?”
In addition to resilience, Clark believes that nurturing a love for learning is invaluable.
“I look at my teachers and I say, you’re not leading them to an academic subject,” Clark said. “You’re making them thirsty for that knowledge. They’ll take it from there. If you’re interested in something, you spend time on it. Every student is that way. If they find interest in a topic or a subject, we can facilitate that so that it’s interesting. [We can] be kinder to each other. Be nicer to each other. Treat each other with respect. Be responsible. The Bull Dog way.”
Conversely, Phillips describes some of the behavior that has led to failure, some of which he has borne personal witness to.
“When I see students who aren’t successful, I realize that they, because of their personal experience, the things that they’ve had happen in their life, they truly believe that their hard work won’t pay off,” Phillips said.
Phillips describes how BCSC works to prevent such disbelief in one’s self.
“Regardless of whether or not their family has a lot of resources or does not, when we hold everyone to high expectations, that says, ‘I believe in you, I believe that you can achieve this and that it matters for your future that you reach this standard,’” Phillips said.
Similarly, Clark believes that incubating better relationships within the school would greatly aid both students and teachers.
“Every student could study more. Every student could do a little more homework,” Clark said. “We could always be a little more intentional about that, but if we were kind to each other, if teachers are kind to students, and students are kind to students, and students are kind to teachers, and this whole environment here would be one which learning would be…we’d enjoy it.”
Edwards reflects back on the NAEP National Report Card, with these ideals in mind.
“What do stats like those in the national report card not really show about the education system?” Edwards said. “I think you need guidance, and I think you need the right people in your lives telling you these things over and over again.”
Phillips believes that these “right people” can mean everything.
“An impactful educator or an impactful education system is one that creates those emotions in you,” Phillips said. “Even if that’s an emotion that ‘I didn’t think I could accomplish this thing, but then this teacher helped me accomplish this thing that I didn’t think I could do, helped me believe in myself.’ It’s an emotional response to that. The most impactful parts of your life, they’re all going to come back to the emotional.”
Despite challenges like burnout, stress and distractions, there is a sense that the next generation has enormous potential, according to Clark. He feels that with the right guidance, encouragement and opportunities, students can develop the resilience that Edwards described, and the belief in themselves that Phillips finds so crucial.
“I still believe in the youth of today,” Clark said. “I think they have a lot to offer and I’m excited about what the future brings for us.”
Of students think teachers take extracurriculars into cinsideration when decided workload
photos by Maddie Williams and Bella Herbert
Of students feel like you’ve struggled with motivation in high school
OPINION MAKING A COMEBACK
After Endgame, Marvels quality in movies declined, but it seems to be making a comeback
by Chloe Feliciano
The tension and excitement from Endgame was something that I remember during the buildup of its release. Once in theaters, people were doing everything possible to avoid spoilers. I haven’t seen this type of excitement since. After Endgame, Marvel couldn’t recreate the hype.
The original movies were like the renaissance period for Marvel.
From the beginning, leading up to Endgame, there was a good lineup of movies being released. There were some that didn’t live up to expectations, but overall they were quality movies that were true to the universe. For example, the entire Captain America trilogy. Every single one has held up with time to be regarded as a good movie. Personally, Captain America: the Winter Soldier is my favorite movie of all time. They seemed to prioritize quality over quantity in their movies, leading to better produced and meaningful stories.
But it seemed that after Endgame, the movies began to decline in quality. They
released movies such as Eternals and Thor: Love and Thunder, and dare I mention the TV show She Hulk. They felt rushed, unoriginal, and overall not like the other movies before them. There were ones that stood out still, such as Guardians of the Galaxy III. I will give credit where it’s due, most shows were a lot better than the movies. Not great. Loki was great and I really enjoyed watching Falcon and the Winter Soldier.
But suddenly, something has changed. With the release with Captain America: Brave New World, followed by Thunderbolts* and The Fantastic 4, a new era of Marvel has begun. A line of movies that are high quality, entertaining, and feel like Marvel has been made! Not to mention, the excitement of Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars are being produced!
Overall, I’m very optimistic about the future of Marvel and the route the Cinematic Universe is going to take, and can’t wait to go see the movies in theaters when they come out.
George Straight, Reba McEntire, Garth Brooks, Willie Nelson, and Toby Keith. The latter are some of the most influential country music artists in the States. Most of these artists are musicians of the past or have been outdated by newer music, but are never forgotten. The next artist to join their ranks should be Chris Stapleton. He has a very unique sound to his music and voice; you can pick him out of any mix, radio, or playlist. His songs are known for their amazing storytelling components, telling the stories of deep love all the way to powerful sorrow. Aside from his beautiful music, he has won many awards, including 11 Grammys, 11 ACMAs, and 15 CMAAs. Chris Stapleton is an amazing country singer.
In a genre steeped in tradition, he has emerged as one of the most authentic and influential voices in modern country music. Known for his soulful voice, masterful songwriting, and genre-bending style, Stapleton has proven that he is more than just a talented artist. He is a force reshaping the sound of country music itself. Because his sound resonates with many genres, Stapleton has demonstrated that country music can be expansive and inclusive without losing its core
COUNTRY MUSIC
Chris Stapleton isn’t just today’s country
by Rue Payne
identity. He managed to bring the world back to the authentic ways of country music through his raw vocal delivery and honest, emotional storytelling that resonated with audiences who wanted less polish and a more “real” sound. Stapleton’s breakthrough started with his debut solo album, Traveller, in 2015, which won him multiple Grammy Awards and instantly established him as a standout. His gritty, heartfelt delivery and ability to blend country, blues, rock, and soul created a sound both timeless and fresh. Unlike many artists, Stapleton prioritizes raw emotion and storytelling, a true tell in country music’s greatest artists. Beyond his solo work as an artist, Stapleton has written dozens of hit songs for other hit artists like George Straight, Kenny Chesney, and Luke Bryan. His ability to write and perform songs put Stapleton in a unique position within the genre.
With a devoted fan base and a reputation for electrifying live performances, Stapleton carved out a unique place in country music. His artistry, humility, and dedication to the craft make him a natural fit among the ranks of top country music icons, including Willie Nelson, George Jones and Reba McEntire. Chris Stapleton isn’t just participating in country music’s future: he is defining it.
Stephanie Lynn Nicks. Lindsey Adams Buckingham. The creatives that you are. These two have captivated the music industry for centuries, which feels like. Their almost six decade long music career has been nothing short of legendary. Starting in 1966 as a local high school band, Fritz was Stevie and Lindsey’s first music runin. In San Francisco, they opened for music’s own Janis Joplin, Jefferson Aeroplane, and Jimi Hendrix.
Their now-famed album Buckingham Nicks, released in 1973, was at first a fluke. It sucked. There was really no public reception from the record. The album had very low sales, and their label would, soon after its release, drop it completely. It was “too folky for the label”. People refused to accept change at the time. They refused to accept this album as a folk-rock record, which it is classified as according to Rolling Stones magazine.
The people of the 1970s were so used to folk-rock sounds from The Mamas and the Papas, Bob Dylan, and Simon and Garfunkel that they refused to accept such a polished, experimental album as this one. I mean,
THIS IS WHY WE CLASH FROZEN LOVE
The new generation gets insight into the situationship that is Buckingham Nicks
by Gabe Manning
what’s so special about Bob Dylan? Other than his wicked penmanship, there’s really nothing special there.
A critic in The Pittsburgh Press claimed that the blend of their voices was “pleasant, albeit a whiny”.
Now, in 2025, the album has peaked almost 50 years after its release, since the pair have recently reissued the renowned pre-Fleetwood Mac album. The record is nothing short of a masterpiece. With 10 songs that will melt your soul and over 35 minutes of listening time that pulls you into a trance.
This legendary work really shows their craftsmanship and respect for their craft. The album, for its time, was very advanced and well thought-out. The folkrock record, as I’ve said before, was very polished and “pristine” with its production.
Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks have had a very rocky relationship over the years, so the resurgence of their duo album is very unusual, given the circumstances. No matter the circumstances, though, this album is a work of art and is worth listening to. It’s been out for 50 years, and if you haven’t listened to it yet, where have you been?
Big, flashing red words cover the screen, letting the players know that there’s less than a minute remaining. The game pace speeds up suddenly as players go into double elixir mode, both sides desperately trying to break the other team’s defense. This is Clash Royale, one of the most popular mobile games of all time, which recently saw a resurgence in popularity.
Clash has gone through some pretty significant changes, including the introduction of evolutions, which give cards special abilities every couple of times they are placed on the battleground if you unlock them. Some evolutions have been pretty controversial, as some believe that they can be overpowered and make the game unfair, which often leads to certain cards getting “nerfed”, or changed to make them fairer. Significant changes also include the introduction of new champion cards, which are rarer and come with a built-in special ability that can be used if you have enough elixir for them. Supercell, the company behind Clash, introduced Goblinstein and Boss Bandit within the last year, both which were considered extremely overpowered upon release.
How Clash Royale climbed the ladder of popular mobile games yet again
by Noah Weidman
Changes alone won’t repopularize a game. A couple of months back, popular content creator and streamer Jynxzi livestreamed himself playing Clash, and this ended up getting a significant amount of views. He then decided to stream Clash more, bringing old players back and new players as well. Supercell saw a resurgence in popularity and decided to increase their advertisement, and creators all over the Internet started to post more Clash content to TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube.
The last thing that makes the game so popular is the challenges, which give players the opportunity to climb the ranks and make their decks more powerful. Clash offers a couple of different challenges in-game, including Trophy Road, Clan Wars, Grand Challenge, and the recently added Merge Tactics game mode. My personal favorite mode is Trophy Road, because I want to reach 15,000 trophies, which would unlock ranked modes.
Clash Royale is certainly an extremely popular game right now for good reason. With constant updates and additions, there’s no telling how long it will stay relevant, but it definitely has the pieces to be big for a long time coming.
COLLECTION OF CULTURE
A look into Maria Ramos’ senior project
by Owen Grimes design by Jaidheep Challatur
Tomorrow, from 5 to 7 p.m., senior Maria Romos’s senior project makes its debut with art, food, fun activities, and the opportunity to learn about different cultures presented by organizations in Columbus. Ramos goes into detail about her project.
“I’m hosting a student art show at the Ellipsis installation for Exhibit Columbus. Since the exhibit pays tribute to Black and Indigenous cultures,” Ramos said. “I plan to raise awareness for various local cultural organizations. So I’m setting up different tables of information so people can come enjoy the art and learn more about organizations in Columbus.” To give some background on what a senior project entails, the senior project coordinator, Erin Miller, explains how a senior project impacts the host and the community. “A Senior Project provides students with an opportunity to showcase their strengths and build on skills such as leadership, organization, communication, and time management. It is a way to give back to something that has meant so much to the senior. It is self-led and really encompasses the growth that a senior has gained during their high school experience,” Miller said. “Many times, a senior will learn new skills and strengths that they did not know they
photo by Rue Payne
Senior Maria Ramos, organizing her art collection for her senior project.
had. A Senior Project can help to give confidence and further expand on a student’s interests and sparks.”
Ramos describes her opening thoughts regarding her project.
“First, what I wanted to do for my senior project was something related to art. So I thought of doing an art show,” Ramos said. “I’m also interested in architecture, and I already had a connection with my mentor, because I did a design camp in the exhibit, the Columbus design camp for kids, during the summer.” Ramos’s mentor for the senior project, Abigail Flout, clarifies why she chose to tackle this project alongside her. “I was approached by Maria to be her mentor
The Collectors’ Workflow
1 2 3
“My art teacher would give students an interest form to fill out for art she thought would be a good fit for the show.”
“Collecting all of the art and materials from Ms. Randazzo’s room”
for this project, and it was an immediate yes,” Flout said. “Over the summer, Maria was a camp counselor for the 2025 Exhibit Columbus Design Camp, and she did a fabulous job.” Even with such success, there are always challenges that are lurking around the corner. Ramos elaborates on the hurdles throughout the project. “ Some challenges in the beginning, like two or three weeks into the project, I hadn’t received any art or anything, and I was still unclear on exactly what I wanted to do, the kind of materials I would need to get it done, and who I needed to contact, for the cultural aspect of my project,” Ramos said.
“We would prepare them to be displayed by taping the artwork on black pieces of paper and also taping a paper with the artist’s name, grade, and artwork name.”
4
‘Presenting the paper artwork on metal stands that I’m borrowing from my art teacher, and then ceramics and canvases will both be on a table, and easels for the canvases”
FESTIVAL FEAST PREP
Forty Years of Tasty Traditions
by Noah Weidman design by Cayden Chandler
This weekend, the area around City Hall will be filled with food smells from across the globe and vendors selling handmade items. This year marks the 40th year that people gather in Bartholomew County to display their cultures and to get a little taste of other cultures at the Ethnic Expo. Behind the scenes, there’s a list of tasks to get done in preparation for the hungry crowd.
getting his senior project done.
“I started getting information, materials, and food orders ready in late August and early September, so about a month and a half out from the event itself,” Hotell said. “It takes quite a while to organize everything.”
Experienced vendors know how to predict busy times down to a science.
JAPAN
Different Foods at Ethnic Expo INDIA
Japanese Stir Fried Noodle ($6.00)
Japanese Beef Rice Bowl ($8.00)
Tandoon Chicken Combo ($14.99)
Fresh Sugarcane Juice ($4.99)
The months leading up to the Expo can be a pretty stressful time for vendors. Between figuring out how many ingredients will be needed, estimating when the busy times will be, and figuring out how many people will work and at what times, they have a lot on their plates. Our German Club is sponsoring the German booth this year. German teacher Amelia Shaw, the Club sponsor, gives us a little insight into what goes on
“I take the numbers of what we sold from the previous year to figure out ordering (ingredients) for this year,” Shaw said. “A lot of it is weather dependent, so if the weather is not very good, people don’t come, and we don’t want to be left with a lot of stuff left over.”
Figuring out who is available to work the different shifts can make planning complicated.
CHINA USA
Chicken Kabob ($6.00)
Fried Rice ($5.00)
Orange Chicken ($6.00)
Chow Mein ($5.00)
Rib Dinner ($15.00)
Jumbo Pulled Pork
Sandwhich ($10.00)
Mac & Cheese ($2.00)
Switzerland Mexico
Soft Pretzel ($7.00)
Cinnamon Twist ($5.00)
Pretzel Dog ($6.00)
Donuts ($3.00)
Chicken Tacos ($2.00)
Quesadillas ($9.00)
Burritos ($11.00)
Chicharron ($8.00)
“Leyton Hottell is running this as his Senior Project, and he and I will be there the whole time. We have two-hour time slots where kids sign up,” Shaw said. We like to have eight students working at a time; two on grills, people prepping food, people taking orders, and then people running the cash register.”
Hottell had to have a timeline on
“Normally on Friday the busiest time is lunch because we get a lot of people from Cummins and offices coming downtown during their lunch break. On Saturday, if the weather’s good, it’s just crazy all day long,” Shaw said.
The exact number of vendors is not yet confirmed. Last year featured almost 40 food vendors and over 20 market vendors. Accompanying the food and market vendors, there were 15 entertainment acts to watch during the festival.
Hottell has some recommendations for booths to visit.
“The food stand serving gyros and the other serving kebabs was very popular and I heard really good things about them,” Hottell said. “Maybe this is a little biased, but I will stand by German Currywurst from the German food booth.”
Though Hottell doesn’t normally have time to explore Ethnic Expo he has advice for people who are attending the event this weekend.
“I would whole-heartedly recommend going with a group of friends,” Hottell said. “It makes the experience enjoyable because your friends might try other foods from different cultures and you can share some food and drinks with them.”
YOUR PSAT SURVIVAL
GUIDE
An easy guide to the PSAT near test season
by Lou Briand design by Gabe Marsh
As testing season approaches, students took the PSAT on Oct. 7, but what is the PSAT?
The PSAT assesses knowledge and skills for college career readiness, providing practice for the SAT and a chance to qualify for the National Merit Scholarship Program. The test has two main sections, which are reading and writing, and math. It lasts around two hours, where the two sections are split into four modules. The reading and writing sections include 54 multiple-choice questions, short passages, and written responses, and are split into two 32-minute modules. The math section is 74 minutes long and contains 44 questions divided into two modules that cover algebra, geometry, and trigonometry. The PSAT uses adaptive testing, meaning performance on the first module influences questions on the second module. Junior Ava Burbrink took the PSAT last year and found it was a helpful preparation step before the SAT.
“The PSAT is a great way to see where you are doing academically and prepare for the SAT,” Burbrink said.
There are numerous different reasons to take the PSAT, as sophomore Idhika Shetty will be taking the PSAT this year and plans on using it to her advantage.
“I feel like now is a good time to get started, just to be prepared for the future,” Shetty said.
The PSAT is considered one of the most effective ways to prepare for the SAT.
“I learned what the SAT will be like, along with problemsolving skills, as the questions fit themselves to your abilities. I learned good test-taking strategies, and it was a good way to not get overly nervous for the
SAT,” Burbrink said.
Although the PSAT is not mandatory, according to the Indiana Capital Chronicle, approximately 80,000 students choose to take it statewide.
“I do not think it should be mandatory, but I do think it should be highly encouraged. With not going to college being more popular in this generation, it shouldn’t be forced on people,” Burbrink said.
It is a public resource that, according to the Indiana Capital Chronicle, 48% of high school sophomores and juniors use the test as a studying tool that doesn’t harm scores and doesn’t affect college applications.
“I think the PSAT can be helpful for anyone, and you can put as much or as little work into it as you want,” Shetty said.
Students prepare for the PSAT differently, as some prepare, while others take the test without studying to see where they place naturally.
“I am not really going to prepare for the test because I want to see where I am,” Shetty said.
Every student is different and uses a different approach towards tests, and while some students choose not to study, there are useful resources to prepare for the test.
“There are many online resources to look at to be prepared for the PSAT,” Burbrink said, “It’s good to know where you’re at with math and English to better prepare.”
There are also resources available here at school to help you prepare. Junior Brooklyn Donner took the test last year and used a range of study tools.
“My English teacher also helped me a lot,” Donner said.
Taking the PSAT allows students to practice and better their skills before the SAT, with a good idea of where they need to improve to earn a higher score.
“I plan on reviewing the
sections that I scored low on, as well as going in with a positive mindset,” Burbrink said.
Students can focus on specific areas to improve their scores, depending on their individual needs for the test.
“I will read more books, especially things from my APUSH textbook. Just reading and comprehending those helps with improving the reading on the test,” Donner said.
EXPECTED STATS THIS YEAR FOR THE PSAT
Information from Miyuki Sato
33%
Percent
67%
Percent
photo by Lou Briand Ada David studying in the library
SEASON OF SUCCESS
A dive into the heart behind every victory
by Levi Tobias design by Rue Payne
As the pair position their racks into the hitting position, a player throws the ball up in the air and hits the ball with a hearty twack. The Tennis season has had a very successful season so far, after coming off of their 15-1 season with a perfect 5-0 sweep in conference. Senior Jaishal Padmanabhan goes into detail about his season and his work during the off season.
“During those two months, we just went out every day, hitting for at least two to three hours,” Padmanabhan said.
Hitting isn’t the only thing they do, conditioning is also a part of their out of season practices. “We did running drills and then hitting drills, the things to get us better and get us prepared for the season,” Padmanabhan said.
Padmanabhan would go on to say that the summer work outs are detrimental to the season, usually helping prepare for the inseason practices.
“Yeah, they definitely do. Without those summer workouts, I don’t think we would be as strong of a team as we are right now. Those summer workouts helped us survive and prepared us for the games that were close,” Padmanabhan said.
The day before is pretty important as well, with what you eat and drink, and how you take care of your body and mental state being important.
“Eat good food, get a good night’s rest, do your daily stretches and maybe listen to some good music.” Padmanabhan said.
As the regular season approaches, the players get ready for the incoming season at practice.
“We warm up, just do some stretching and running, then we warm up hitting, and then do a lot of competitive stuff where we’ll play against each other,” senior Jace Branaham said. “We try to keep the intensity high, especially in challenge matches, so that we are ready.”
These in season practices are quite necessary for determining who is on that varsity roster, especially with the challenge matches that Branham talks about.
Branham goes on to talk about the team aspect of the tennis team. “It’s pretty buried because we’re kind of separated a lot by skill level,.” Branham said. He said that the varsity works well together.
Team culture is a big driving force of the team’s success,
“I would say that it is, especially like the doubles,” sophomore Cale Fitzimmons said. “You have to work with your partner and overall on varsity you are working together with your team.”
Even though there is a split between the varsity and jv teams, the two still work together nicely, cheering on each other while they play.
“We all have good chemistry together, we are all friends on and off the court,.”
With the season well underway, junior Vihan Garg talks about the rest of his season and his predictions for the rest of the season.
“They have gone pretty good, there is still more that I can improve on, but I think that overall, I’m really pushing through it and it’s playing out really well,.” Garg said.
Garg thinks that the rest of the season will go well,
“I think we’ll get decently far, not as good as previous years, but I think it’ll be a good turnout.”
Fitzimmons said.
Tennis is the most played sport world wide
The boys tennis team rallys together for a quick team meeting before their match vs Columbus East.
Senior Jaishal Padmanabhan prepares to serve in his singles match against Columbus East.
photos by Lou Briand
HITTING THE
MARK
Sophomore Mikah Staples shares her sport, archery
by Vivian Munger
Release situated, deep breaths taken, and eye patch adjusted, sophomore Mikah Staples prepares her shot before letting it zip down the archery range.
“It’s definitely something that is very mental and you have to think about what you’re doing,” Staples said.
Her journey with the sport began with family.
“The summer of 2022 we went down to a dude ranch for my brother’s last big vacation before he went to college,” Staples said. “One of the days, they had archery set up where you could try it. And when we came back I was like ‘I think I want to do that’, I really enjoyed it.”
Archery has gone beyond a novelty for this athlete.
“I do compete. I do it individually, but I do go every Tuesday to an archery shop down in Greensburg where I know a lot of people. And then usually once a month we have competitions,” Staples said.
While competitions look different each time, Staples can expect some aspects.
“It’s definitely popular, but it’s more of a male-dominated sport, so there’s not very many girls there,” Staples said. “The only time I really see people around my age is when I go to state competitions.”
Like many sports, archery competitions compete in divisions.
“There’s two competitions that I compete in; indoor and outdoor,” Staples said. “Depending on the type of bow you shoot, your age, and gender is the class you’re put in.”
Archery combines elements of
practicality and creativity.
“[In outdoor competitions] there’s these 3D foam targets which are set up like animals. It’s for hunting, so it shows you where the arteries are and you want to hit that spot,” Staples said.
Establishing herself as an archer, Staples looks to the future.
“Right now, it’s more of a hobby, but I have had a college talk to me about it,” Staples said. “So maybe, possibly, going to school for it.”
Staples recognizes the investment archery is.
“It definitely is [an expensive hobby]. For a lot of people, they buy multiple bows, especially if you don’t buy them used; they can be really expensive,” Staples said.
Although essential, bows are not always the biggest expense.
“Arrows can get really expensive, because if you trash arrows then you’re spending a lot of money,” Staples said.
“When you’re shooting outdoor competitions, it’s definitely really easy to lose them because if you miss the target then they’re just out in the woods somewhere.”
Staples compares this to indoor competitions she has attended.
“Indoor, you don’t use them as easily. When you’re shooting indoor, usually you’re shooting at the same target, you can Robin Hood your arrows, and once you do that you’ve trashed the arrow,” Staples said.
Staples has now learned several techniques for her personal performance.
“I like to listen to music when I do it because it keeps my mind off of everything. You want the same shot every time so you have to sit there and you have to go through it in your head,” Staples said.
Ultimately, the mental
component of archery is one Staples focuses on.
“What my dad tells me is, after a shot’s done, forget about it, because if you let what happened affect you, then it’s gonna mess up everything else,” Staples said. “So I try and just not really think about what’s already happened and keep going forward.”
Staples competes in an outdoor competition.
photo for The Triangle
FLAWLESS ON THE FAIRWAY
Checking in with the girls’ golf team
by Owen Grimes design by Indi Meshberger
As the Girls Golf season comes to an end and the last drives onto the green are pummeled from the tee box, the head coach, Alexandria Weisheit, who is coaching her first season for the team, breaks down a few of the values that she holds close to ensure the group of golfers can get the most out of every season.
“I really value that the girls enjoy their time on the golf course,” Weisheit said. “While being great teammates, show great sportsmanship, and overall fight through the adversity and challenges that golf brings.”
Sophomore Caroline Crawford adds some context to how people in her life motivate her to strive for her best in practices and matches.
“I’d say the other girls on the team, they’re all really nice and supportive, and they always encourage me to get the best score,” Crawford said.
A teammate of hers, freshman Brooklyn Hatton, shares her opinion on what motivates her to have a great game as well as perform well for the team.
“I would say having friends
to cheer me on or just say positive things when I’m struggling,” Hatton said.
There is always room for improvement in every category of whatever sport we might play. Weishiet develops a goal for the whole team for them to further upgrade their skills.
“We need to continue to work on swing development and gain experience on the golf course,” Weishiet said.
Crawford reflects on what she needs to do to refine her methods on the topic of golf.
“Probably practice more outside of practice and focus more on my technique,” Crawford said.
Hatton takes time explaining how she could improve her techniques as well.
“Usually, sometimes a coach comes up and I just ask for advice, and there are multiple matches, and so I can get better each time,” Hatton said.
Role models are people who shape our character and behavior by inspiring others to be their best selves. Hatton shares her role model, who keeps her going, and why this is.
“Harper Andresen cheers
BIRDIE
One stroke under par
Freshman Reese Psota swings her club at golf match.
by Maddie
BEYOND THE FAIRWAY
FAIRWAY
The part of a golf course between a tee and the corresponding
photo
McCarver
FALL BUCKET LIST
Students share their favorite activity to do during fall season by Sarynel Barbosa
STAY COZY
“Watching Gilmore Girls every year.”
freshman
Carmen Dieter
INDOORS OR OUTDOORS?
STAY ACTIVE
“Picking pumpkins in the pumpkin patch.”
freshman
Sylvie Hurst
“Going to haunted houses.”
freshman
Sarah Laverty
“Going to the pumpkin patch.”
sophomore Maya Cox
9 like to staying indoors
27 like to being outdoors
FALL CHECKLIST
Activities to do during Fall season
Visit a Corn Maze
Do a pumpkin carving contest Make Fall treats
Visit a Pumpkin Patch
Make s’mores
Visit an Apple Orchard
Watch your favorite Halloween movie
Go on a camping trip
Tell ghosts stories
Visit a haunted house