NORTH HARFORD HIGH SCHOOL
211 PYLESVILLE ROAD 21132
410-638-3650
VOLUME 44 ISSUE
OCTOBER 30, 2020
Approved plan enables Hawks return to Nest ANNIE FINHOLMReporter As the students of Harford County Public Schools enter a new virtual school year during the midst of a pandemic, a proposal has been authorized to re-enter the building and resume in-person teaching. With lower numbers of Coronavirus cases confirmed daily, according to The New York Times, public schools in the county have put into action their reopening plan. Monday, October 12 marks the date on which staff will return to work sites and on Monday, October 19, limited smallgroup activities will begin. As for the date of student return, HCPS has deemed Monday, November 16 the appropriate date. In order to track and limit the number of students and staff that come into contact with the virus, school nurses will monitor and observe symptoms of individuals to prevent any possible
spread of germs. HCPS reports stations, masks, or fabric face covthat “In the event that a student erings, will be required in school or staff member becomes ill with and on buses. Harford County COVID-19, school nurses will ad- Public Schools will promote here to the latest Maryland De- physical distancing by, according to HCPS, “Rearrangpartment of Health guidance ing furniture and regarding isolation and desks to move quarantine procedures.” students farThe latest guidther apart” ance from the state “HCPS will be and, to and local health observing cleaning maintain department will and sanitation proto- or obtain determine school cleaning and cols provided by MSDE physical health, closing decisions, states the and the Harford County will “rereopening plan. Health Department. ” q u i r e frequent The plans - Harford County h a n d also includes that washing Public Schools “HCPS Health Serand cleanvices will collaboing of high rate with the Harford touch surfaces.” County Health DepartThe American ment to assist with appropriSchool and University ate contact tracing measures.” Like the active protocol in reports that 26 million students many public places such as gro- take the bus to school. The HCPS cery stores, restaurants, and gas reopening plan includes explic-
it details regarding the usage of this form of transportation. They write, “In order to maintain reduced capacity guidelines, school bus seating will be limited to one student per seat.” The guidelines proceed by stating, “Siblings may sit together. If necessary, some seats may remain unoccupied. Students will be required to wear a face covering.” Because of the reduction of persons per seat, more buses will be needed to accommodate. To ensure germs are not spread between groups of students taking the bus, “HCPS will be observing cleaning and sanitation protocols provided by MSDE and the Harford County Health Department. Sanitization and Disinfection All HCPS school buses will be sanitized in the morning and afternoon, after dropping students off at their school buildings. High touch surfaces are sanitized between each route.” This plan has been imple-
mented by all HCPS principals, including Mr. Bryan Pawlicki, principal at the Hawks Nest. Pawlicki said that “support[s] the reopening plan as it has been written” and has made it a priority to “provide students and teachers with the safest environment [they] can.” In regards to the effectiveness of online classes and hybrid learning, the second year principal says they are “watching the data to see how the delivery of virtual instruction is [affecting] the learning progress.” Plans will be adjusted according to the data and how efficient the learning process is. Assistant principal Mrs. Megan Lewis reports that she has many goals regarding the work rate of the school year, as well as the safety of student and staff physical wellness. Lewis claims she wishes for “all students and staff to have a healthy and productive school year.”
New School Resource Officer assigned to The Nest; Deputy Norman joins staff at NHHS EVAN KUZEMCHAK Social Media Coordinator James Norman, also known as Deputy JJ Norman, just landed his first School Resource Officer assignment at The Nest. Norman has been a deputy at Harford County sheriff’s office for 11 years now and also serves as a volunteer firefighter. Norman says he uses his skills to “communicat[e] with people in stressful situations and report writing.” According to the MCSS (Maryland Center for School Safety) and SRO is a “career law enforcement officer with sworn authority who is deployed by an employing police department or agency in a community-oriented policing assignment to work in collaboration with one or more schools.” Currently, due to Covid-19 restrictions, Norman duties look different. His day for virtual learning starts “by bringing the surveillance cameras up and checking to make sure they are working properly.” Next, Norman “make[s his] way to the bus ramp where students are coming in for school
to help[s] monitor the area.” After Norman checks in with the students, he goes to “check-in with the principal’s and custodians to see if they have any issues that need [his] attention,” and “check[s] to make sure all on the exterior doors of the building are secure.” The low number of students “in the building at this time and due to Covid-19 safety guidelines [Norman] ha[s] not had many interactions with any students.” Since Deputy Blottenberger has left, the Outdoors Club, an organization known for its fun field trip opportunities, was transferred over to Norman, who says he is a very outdoor person. He said that he enjoys “golf, riding four-wheelers, mountain biking, kayaking.” Norman’s favorite part of his job is “is the interaction [he] get[s] to have with a diverse group of individuals daily.” Norman also likes to think about the “fact that [he] may be able to change someone’s life for the better as a result of [the] interaction.” When not in work Norman is “an avid golfer and love[s]
to be outdoors.” him and his family “I love hiking, kayaking, [and] riding ATV’s.” In addition to being a very outdoors family and ready for an adventure Norman and his family “love antique tractors and farm equipment.” Norman even has a tractor of his own “a partially restored 1973 International 1066 Tractor that [he] bush hog[s] with to help maintain our property.” Norman’s son shows his skills when he “recently rebuilt an old hay wagon to be pulled behind the tractor for hayrides during family get togethers.” When the SRO program started gaining attention after school shootings happened across the country, Harford County implemented its own program. According to their website, “they made their decision “ in an effort to protect our most precious resource, our children, Sheriff Gahler and County Executive Barry Glassman Harford County Government committed to placing a School Resource Officer in every Middle and High School, by January.”
Deputy Norman is current School Resource 0fficer at the Nest. He fills the position vacated by Deputy Blottenberger. Photo credit: Kim Iddings
Cry of the Hawk
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Trick or treating COVID style borhood and rings people’s doorbells in hopes of getting as much candy as they can. Looking back, now being extremely germ aware due to lovely Miss Rona, Halloween is very unsanitary. All those icky germy children's hands reaching in the same bucket and infecting all the candy. Bleh, sends chills down my spine. Also think about how crowded the night gets with everyone walking around the same neighborhood. That won’t pass the COVID health guidelines with maintaining six feet apart and a certain amount of people in one area. When handing out candy you wouldn’t want to personally hand each kid a piece of candy because let’s be honest, there’s going to be a Karen who says you aren’t being cautious enough. We hope that the parents who freak out about those types of things will just keep their kids home this year, but like I said, we can only hope. ‘All Hallows Eve’, I hope you understand the Halloween ref-
KENDALL SCHUBERT Business Manager
Halloween. The one day a year anyone can dress up as anything they desire. Little kids telling their parents what they want to be. But have you ever thought about how germy and unsanitary Halloween really is with everyone reaching into the same candy bucket? If you don’t know the workings of Halloween night, I’m a bit disappointed. Everyone dresses up as somethingwhether it's cute, scary, or funny- and walks around a neigh-
erence from Hocus Pocus, can be a spooky special spectacular for all the little munchkins wanting to stuff their body with as much candy as possible. But accommodating with the health guidelines currently in place may be a bit difficult. Getting every single parent and child to cooperate is not logical, because we all know there’s going to be that one parent or kid that isn’t going to keep their mask on. But I don’t think that we should put out the excitement of the night just because of a few selfish people. While wandering around trying to fill your pillowcase up, be aware of those around you. Special parts of this year have already been taken away or dwindled because of people lacking the desire to keep themselves and others safe. Encourage those who will be spending their October 31 evening out and about, whether it’s ding dong ditching, or filling up their bellies with sugar, to be smart and safe while wearing their masks.
Plastic ban spreads; Legislation benefits environment EDITORIAL In only one year, 2017, 26.8 million tons of plastic were received at landfills. That makes up 19.2 percent of all municipal solid waste landfilled, according to the EPA, showing the importance of using less plastic in our daily lives. Fortunately, some states have started to ban single-use plastic bags in stores recently. Along with this, a tax on plastic bags has also been put into effect or making plastic bags cost a very small amount of money in other places to deter buyers from using them as often or at all. Eight states have already enacted statewide legislation regarding the ban for single-use plastic bags. These states include California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, New York, Oregon, and Vermont, starting in 2014 with California being the first state to have this ban. In addition, many cities, such as Washington D.C., have a tax on plastic grocery bags, encouraging shoppers to bring their own reusable grocery bags. The Baltimore mayor has signed a ban for single-use plastic bags
forcing stores, like Shoprite, to no longer offer plastic bags and forcing the customers to bring their own reus- able ones. A l -
“In only 1 year, 2017, 26.8 million tons of plastic were received at landfills. That makes up 19.2 percent of all municipal sold waste landfilled.” -EPA though the single-use plastic bag ban in Shoprite stores had to be suspended temporarily due to the corona virus and cashiers are also not allowed to bag the customers’ reusable bags for them, bringing your own reusable bags is still encouraged. Baltimore City and other cities that do this have large populations and influence over their surrounding areas, possibly setting a precedent for other cities/ towns.
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Considering the number of plastic bags used in stores every day, this ban could reduce that number by an incredible amount, therefore influencing the amount of plastic litter whether that litter is in the ocean or on land. Plastic takes a very long time to decompose so hopefully this ban could slowly remove the plastic from the landfills and another material could replace our use of plastic in everyday life. While some say that paper, a renewable resource which is easily attained, could easily replace plastic altogether, reusable bags would be able to help the environment and save more resources. Paper is biodegradable and paper bags are a valid option in stores, however, using reusable bags would last longer and hold more items while cutting down less trees. Ultimately, this ban on plastic could have many great environmental effects, including less litter, cleaner streets, cleaner oceans, and more landfill space in turn! These effects could have an even greater effect on our environment if the plastic bag bans continued and if the number of places banning it increased!
October 30, 2020
Gen Z making a difference;
Using TikTok to spread message KYLIE REDDING Op/ed Editor
It’s no secret that Gen Z gets a bad rap; I mean we’re all uneducated, undedicated, and rebellious, right? Wrong. In reality, Gen Z is a generation of change and social movements. Think about it, we’re the generation of Malala and Greta Thunberg, of Black Lives Matter and Love is Love. But it’s 2020, and you don’t need to be a famous activist to have a platform anymore. Anyone can pick up their phone and start spreading a message; which is exactly what millions of TikTok users do on a daily basis. More specifically, over 200 TikTok users with large platforms came together to make a joint account called @tiktokforbiden. With this account they educate viewers about the upcoming election, spread information about how to vote, and campaign for presidential candidate, Joe Biden; all while dancing, doing makeup, performing comedy skits, and more. Young adults are
News Editors: Health and Science Editor: Ellie Evans, Caitlyn Allen Rachel Keeney Opinion/Editorial Editor: Entertainment Editor: Lauren Seco, Hannah Krizek Charlotte McElwain Features Editor: Sports Editors: Zoe Milkes Tori Gay, Abbey Kroener IDR Editor: Business Manager: Aleah Bikle Kendell Schubert Society, Students & Culture Editor: Reporters: Hailey Deares Maura Chaney, Addy Dean, Grace Feldbush, Madison Video Manager: Fetherston, Lily Greco, Leah Hillier, Zach Jackson, Emily Green Leigha MacBurney, Kierstyn McManus, Greer Strine, Copy Editor: Marissa Altenburg, Lauren Brandis, Jake Gay, Summer Emily Iampieri Grace, Hannah Scheide Social Media Coordinator: Announcements Tech Evan Kuzemchak Victoria Hanna
known to vote less than any other age group in America, however the goal of this page is to encourage anyone from seniors in high school to college graduates to get out to the polls, (or cast a mail-in ballot), and change that. We have a say in who runs the country, but only if we take it. The @tiktokforbiden page isn’t a small account either. The runners of the account have a combined following of over 80 million people, which is more people than voted for Trump in the 2016 election, and they even made the news. Having a reach that large is definitely a good sign for when it comes time for people to cast their votes this November. And though spreading awareness about important issues is always good, it’s the actions following your awareness that really counts. Which is a concept that the runners of the account seem to understand. Part of the @tiktokforbiden page is also a link to buy merchandise designed completely by a 16-year-old TikToker, named Caitlyn Mourek. Majority of the merch reads “Gen-Z For Biden” but the website has a large variety of choices. The best part is, 100% of the proceeds go either to Biden’s campaign or organizations such as Black Lives Matter. I know it might be tempting to feed into stereotypes about teenagers, but the truth is that many of us are sick of the way things have been, and we’re done patiently waiting for change. We’re speaking up, we’re getting involved, and we’re starting movements.
The Cry of the Hawk newspaper is published 10 times a year by North Harford’s Journalism II/III class. All editorials and viewpoints express the feelings of those on the staff and not necessarily those of fellow students, administrators, or teachers. Please do not hesitate to submit letters to Advisor Jen Chandler in room D207. Letters should be no longer than 300 words, must be signed, and may not contain vulgarity.
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October 30, 2020
Cry of the Hawk
Autumn brings mood changes; Mental health starts to decline CHLOE WARD Reporter
Beginning journey of hope HANNAH KRIZEK Op/ed Editor
Hi. To be completely honest I have been staring at my computer screen for 10 minutes trying to figure out how to put my thoughts into words, so I’m just going to type what I can. I hope it makes sense to whoever is reading. I hate to bring up something so heartbreaking, and a topic that can come extremely hard to talk about, but I genuinely believe that it is so important. In fact, I think there are probably a lot of
people who would agree. Ever since I was younger, I have always wanted to change lives. I don’t really know how, or what that means exactly. I get it, it sounds crazy. I’m 16. Changing lives doesn’t seem like much of an option. When someone says changing lives, it’s always assumed to be something so big. Yes, it could most definitely be something big, but it could also be as simple as putting a smile on someone’s face who was having a rough day. You were their hope that day, that is what matters. To me, that is changing lives. There is this quote, and it says something along the lines of, “Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about.” It’s true. You never really do know. Someone could have a smile ear to ear every single day they wake up, but each day they go to bed and have tears running down each cheek. There are too many people who give up because they feel like it won’t get better, nothing will fix
it, the struggle isn’t worth it. But my message to those people: It is worth it. Every. Single. Day. A feeling of overwhelming thoughts, sadness, depression, mental illnesses can be a lot to deal with. But the good news, there is help, there is hope. Reach out, open up, ask for help, get help, and don’t be afraid of judgment, the right people won't judge you. There is not a greater sign of strength than being the person that asked for help. Asking for help is NOT a sign of weakness. You might not relate to a single thing I am saying, truthfully, I really don’t either. But even if you don’t directly relate, you probably know someone who does. That matters just as much. Check in on your friends and family, surround yourself with people who will check in on you in return, don’t take anything for granted, and love at any chance given. You matter. So much.
Chilly air and sweaters are finally here after a summer that feels like it lasted years. For many, this is a happy time of family bonding and pumpkin spice coffees. However, not everyone feels that joy when the first leaf falls. If you feel your heart sink, and the cold air seems to freeze you down to your bed even further, it is okay, and you are most definitely not alone. Being stuck in the house through the months when we should be on vacation has been difficult for everyone. Mental health has been a large, and for some, a new issue. However, with these complex feelings, or sometimes lack thereof, it is very common for some seasons to be worse than others. Autumn is one of the toughest to get through for people who experience Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). School begins in the dawn of the season, which may feel like trying to keep yourself warm with a blanket made from thumbtacks. It is not always the most exciting thought, going back to socializing and doing homework
that never feels like it will end. If you experience this feeling, please express that to your friends or parents, even teachers. If you are too afraid to do so, there are ways to ease the stress. It may sound simple but take each assignment at a time. For me, keeping an organized planner helps tremendously. Assign each free hour with something simple. Or give yourself a small treat, like two m&ms after each task. It sounds elementary, but I assure you, you will feel so much more confident in your abilities by the end of it. Or maybe school is no issue for you. Autumn is a month that has a lot of pressure on family activities. Not everyone likes being around family for their own reasons, or even feels motivation to get up and eat with them. You should never have to be pressured to partake in anything that makes you feel anxious but do take into consideration their feelings as well. Maybe they miss you. Maybe try organizing a game night of some kind every week to get closer with them. They really are going to be around you for the rest of your life, remember that. This season, for even more reasons than those few, can be difficult to get through. I hope this article will touch a few people, and that those people find each other so they have someone to talk to if they experience Seasonal Affective Disorder. Try to treat yourself this spooky season. You will get through it, and I hope you will be proud of yourself for doing so.
VolunTeen serves community; Donates desks to those in need VIEWPOINT VolunTeen Leo Club has stepped up to help those that need a little extra push. Not all students doing online school have the best setup to be able to work efficiently or have everything they need given to them at home. “Three groups of 40 kids each came through to build the desks to donate to children in Harford County who didn’t have a designated school space,” states the Baltimore Sun. VolunTeen put in the work they needed to, so some of these kids could have a space to work at home. In order to do so they partnered with, “Caruso Homes, Bel Air Lions, Southern Harford County Rotary, ChickFil-A, Pat’s Pizzeria, Home Depot, Yorktown Sports, and Sleep in Heavenly Peace.” The places that the desks were later donated to consisted of, “students at Halls Cross Roads, Magnolia Elementary Schools, The Boys and Girls Club of Edgewood, George Lisby School, Harford Family House, and Catholic Charities,” lists the Baltimore Sun.
As a volunteer organization, they are always promoting doing good for others. Brook Hopkins discussed that, “this project promoted concentration and productivity, while also promoting physical, emotional and social well-being.” How hard can it be to want to help others? Volunteering should come as more of a want to people. This is an example of one thing that was done... but this is not even close to the only thing that has been done by volunteers in general. These teens are helping, not hurting. They are not making money, but that is not what matters at all, the feeling in return after working hard to positively impact someone else’s life, is worth it. That’s why volunteering is so important. It’s giving back, but for no price other than someone’s time. Ways to volunteer, where, when, how, is not put out there enough. If there was more talk about it, there might be more action taken upon it. A lot of bad can happen in the world, but it is important to put good into it as much as possible. Organizations like VolunTeen make that possible.
Cry of the Hawk
October 30, 2020
HCPS implements new hybrid plan;
Some students return to school VIEWPOINT As the risk of the coronavirus decreases, more schools have started to reopen gradually. Some schools chose to reopen all at once while others chose to have a “hybrid” schedule where students are partially online. Harford County Public Schools chose the latter. However, HCPS made this new schedule optional for students so students can keep learning online without going inside the school at all if that is what they choose. This optional in-person schooling causes the teachers to have to multitask between teaching the students in the classroom and those that are online since it would be very difficult to be able to pay attention to both, let alone see and answer all questions. These teachers also need to find a way to teach where the lesson could be seen by both in-person and online students. In addition, teaching with a mask on while not being near the computer, depending on the computer, could make the sound quality worse for online
students. These provide more limitations to the ability to talk to teachers than before as well as distractions for both the teachers and students. On the bright side, this partial reopening leads to some possible mental health benefits. For example, students that have not been able to see many people
“There is a greater risk of spreading the coronavirus in classrooms, bus rides, and unsanitary materials, especially with younger kids.” a r e given the opportunity to socialize with friends and classmates in person. Students will also be able to escape the confines of their homes more often. Furthermore, students may be able to ask teachers for individual help if needed. Students could finally get to know their teachers outside of the internet and vice
versa while students can start to establish a healthy morning routine again. There is a greater risk of spreading the coronavirus in classrooms, bus rides, and unsanitary materials, especially with younger kids. Harford County still has cases of the coronavirus and there are plenty of individuals in a school environment with weakened immune systems or something else that could increase the chances of long-term damage with the coronavirus, like asthma. Along with that, many individuals also live with people that could have long-term damage from having COVID-19, so people like this should not be forced to risk getting the virus. The health of the community should be top priority. In-school learning should not be required unless a vaccine for COVID-19 is widely available. But the partial and optional inschool learning seems to be a very confusing learning environment. Even if the in-school students just go on their laptops to see the lesson, that could create sound issues among other problems.
Page 4- Op/Ed
Vote for change GRACE FELDBUSH Reporter
Are you thinking about throwing away something that matters? Why? The people who aren’t voting for our president this November are not going to help with changes that need to be made. If you are 18 or older, you could vote for our president, which only happens every four years. This Is a big deal, it’s not often this happens, and it will most likely affect everyone for the next four years. Voting is a serious thing; you can’t just pass it up. After all, we had to fight for women to have these rights in the country. If you can, you should be because it will benefit you and everyone else. Educating yourself on politics is important, even when you are not old enough to vote. Staying educated makes you know what you want in a president, and what you don’t
want. Being educated means keeping up with everything that is happening with the people running. If everybody who says they will not vote, decides to, maybe they will make a change. It’s not hard to educate yourself and go for what you believe in. If you aren’t because you are embarrassed of what you believe in, you probably shouldn’t be supporting those things for those reasons anyway. Educate yourself on both sides, don’t pick one side to favor when seeing what is out there, find things where the people writing them don’t have an opinion, when they are just stating the facts. A lot of young people vote for one side because it is the “in” thing with their group of friends or family. Don’t feel like you must settle for someone just because everyone else is, support for who and what you believe in, not anybody else. In conclusion, take the extra step for our country, don’t be scared to go out and do something new. Take a stand for what you believe in by supporting or voting for what you think will make the country a better place. Everyone can make a difference, whether it’s big or small. Every vote counts.
Scaring away summer KENDALL SCHUBERT Business Manager
Photo Credit: Reinhard Krause
Indigenous People’s Day replaces Columbus Day VIEWPOINT Every year on the second Monday of October, we’ve celebrated Christopher Columbus; the hero who discovered America. Except, he didn’t actually discover this land, and many American’s are beginning to decide that Columbus isn’t the hero that we once deemed him as. In reality, Columbus arrived on land that was already occupied by the Native Americans, and though his expedition began the exploration of the Americas, he never stepped foot on American soil himself. Instead, he found nearby islands such as the Bahamas. Upon discovering Indigenous people in both the Americas and the surrounding islands, the Europeans proceeded to use violence and slavery against them, force them to convert to Christianity, give many of theme diseases from Europe, and in general, make their lives much harder.
It’s these reasons that Columbus Day turned into a controversy, and ultimately led Montgomery county to get rid of it all together. The resolution that was released on July 28, 2020, was spearheaded by Nancy Navarro; however it was unanimously approved by the Montgomery County Council. Not only will this resolution update the name on all future official calendars, but Montgomery County Public Schools are also being urged to update their curriculum to better educate students on the “histories, narratives, and cultures of the country’s Native Peoples.” The Montgomery County Council is also calling on the Maryland General Assembly to recognize Indigenous People’s Day as an official holiday as well. Doing so would honor the eight recognized tribes native to Maryland, including the Accohannock Indian Tribe, Assateague
Peoples Tribe, and many more. And though only eight tribes are recognized, there’s a very large Native American presence in Maryland that’s made up of other tribes as well. Montgomery County isn’t alone in this movement either, six entire states, two of which are Hawaii and Alaska, have already made Indigenous People’s Day an official holiday, while most states have at least a few counties that observe this day as well. And the rest of the county should follow suit. For most Americans, Columbus Day is a day off of work and fun holiday sales, but for Native Americans, it’s another cruel reminder of what was stolen from them. As Navarro put it, “This is not about erasing history, but instead elevating traditionally silenced voices as part of our historical narrative. Our Native American Tribes deserve to have their stories told and their cultures celebrated.”
Once September hits, it’s fall. Not actually, but it’s still fall. With the beauty of this season also comes haunted attractions, houses, horror movies, and doing your best to spook people. Yet some people don’t do super well with those sorts of things. I don’t know about you, but I love all things scary, but I get scared easily. I will watch any scary movie made even though I know I’ll be hiding behind the person I’m watching it with. I just love the thrill it gives me and yelling at all the stupid people in it. There are the gruesome movies that make your stomach churn like Saw and Hereditary. The movies that keep you up at night because you see a dark figure floating in the corner of your room like in The Conjuring. But we can’t forget the classics with Freddy Krueger, A Nightmare on Elm Street, and Jack Torrance in The Shining.
Haunted attractions like Legends of the Fog and Field of Screams are good smaller scale places to go with friends, especially the ones who aren’t so scare tolerant. They satisfy the spook factor but aren’t so terrifying you’re peeing your pants running away from someone...or something. If you want some real bone chilling hair raising scares, go to an actual haunted attraction like an abandoned insane asylum or hospital. Test the limits of your inner scaredy cat. There are also attractions that have warning signs of electrical shocks, suffocation, claustrophobia, and you must sign a waiver and be 18 years or older to get into. Imagine the panic someone who is easily scared would go through in one of those. For others though, the slightest bit of noise in the dark makes them hide under the covers. Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing wrong with that. But October is not the month for those people. There are simpler scare tactics for those who like to make their friends squirm. Put some fake spiders in their bed or jump out from behind a door. It just wouldn’t be right to not scare at least everyone once during the freakiest month of the year. Scaring and getting scared is different for everyone, and it’s important to respect the boundaries of those around you. Don’t get too carried away and upset somebody you care about.
Cry of the Hawk
October 30, 2020
Alumnus finds his home in media; Broadcast journalist works in Iowa CAITLYN ALLEN News Editor
claims he is “having the time of his life!” In Greene’s role as an anchor, he 27-year-old alumnus James, comes in around 3 a.m. every day or Jay, Greene once attended to read through the stories that NHHS, but has made his way his producers have written and across the county to Colorado sometimes he helps write them. first, and then to Cedar Rapids, Greene “looks over them to make Iowa, where he works as a broadsure they make sense and that cast journalist. Recently, Greene the facts are correct.” Adapting was a guest speaker in a Journalto getting up this early, Greene ism I class at The Nest. adds he can “loves coffee and As a kid, Greene said has alcan never have too much of it.” ways watched the news and was His broadfascinated cast studio about how goes live at fast paced 4:30 a.m. evit and how ery morning they put it and ends at 7 all together. a.m. but the The journews process nalist first is “far from started his over” and “in journey by fact it never attending really ends.” North HarMany of the ford High stories in School. He the morning then gradhave quesuated and tions that attended need to be Harford answered Community 27 year old James Greene is an alumni from North Harford. He and updated College for now lives in Cedar Rapids, Iowa pursuing his broadcast journalist as the day two years career. goes on. The and finished next show his last two Greene has starts at 11 a.m. so he collegiate years at Towson Uni- wildfires, presidential elections, “has to make sure the stories are and anything else you can think versity. up to date and correct.” Greene claims as soon as he got of. Greene’s favorite part about Greene spent two years at this out of college, he applied to jobs being a broadcast journalist is sending out about 50-60 applica- job before being promoted to the “providing the viewers with the tions to new managers. He only anchor position. After another information that they need in heard back from 4-5, “Wasn’t I year at this job, the journalist order to make an informed degood enough? What was I doing claims he was “ready to start cision about the world around wrong?” The journalist adds, “it looking for the next step up in them.” He claims it’s “not my is a tiring and stressful process, my business.” job to give people recommenIn November 2018, Greene but determination is key and dations or opinionated, biased that is something I have learned moved to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, reports. But rather how we can to become a digital reporter and throughout this process.” use this information to help The set back did not stop web producer. In April 2020, people make decisions of their Greene. The following November Greene was promoted to the own.” he got a call from a colleague with morning anchor position and an opening as a reporter and web producer. Greene had to move 1,200 miles away to Grand Junction, Colorado to start his job at KKCO/KJCT, the NBC/ ABC affiliate. Greene claims it was “tough moving away from home right before the holidays” however it soon came to be his “home away from home.” The journalist got to cover all kinds of stories including high-profile court cases,
Page 5 - News
Tech office provides support SUMMER GRACE Reporter
learning. King shares that at a time Mrs. Alyssa King is one of when the world has been cripthree teacher specialists who pled by COVID, in terms of not work for the Office of Instruc- being able to “see each other” in tional Technology, which is now safer, face to face environments, part of Organization Develop- Microsoft Teams video conferment in the Department of Cur- encing (virtual learning) has alriculum. According to King, her lowed teachers to interact with team “supports district leadtheir students live. ers, staff, teachers, and “Once we get the school commu- “Many teachers are through these nity at large in barriers, the live giving students ex- teaching and the access and instructional tensions to complete interactions use of district between our work, or following technology teachers and up with students in platforms.” students are At the giving us the small groups in order start of the best possito catch them up if year, King says ble scenario the district had needed.” for learning hoped that all when face to face ~Alyssa King students would school cannot be given a laptop. happen,” she expressed. “Because of the nationwide deAccording to King, screen time mand and delay in delivery of can produce “too much cognitive Chromebook laptops, HCPS load” on learners who can only had to start the year with many take in so much information families opting to have their stufrom the screen before learning dents use personal devices,” King can be hindered. “Our system states. The remaining devices are PD has provided guidelines for expected to arrive at schools and teachers and curricular offices will be issued to any student still about quality digital design that in need of a school laptop within reduces cognitive load,” King the next month. stated. Many curricular offic“Itslearning is a full LMS, es and instructional leaders are where the curriculum is built encouraging breaks from screen and housed, and scheduled time when class isn’t in session. courses with rosters are pubAnother concern about virtual lished to and periodically updatlearning is the possibility of stued for the teacher,” she explains. dents missing an entire live class All of the resources and feedback as a result of network issues. As tools have been built for persona solution, King describes that alized learning, feedback, and re“‘many teachers are giving stuporting, according to King. dents extensions to complete Benefits of virtual learning work, or following up with stuinclude the ability for students dents in small groups in order to revisit curricular resources to catch them up if needed.” She anytime, states King. In addition, reports that some teachers are students can work at a more inrecording themselves outside dependent pace, and data about of synchronous virtual learning Gen Z students indicate that sessions and curating videos in they prefer more independent itslearning.
Haunted attraction fundraiser allows FFA organization to expand ANNIE FINHOLM Reporter Haunted houses. Carved pumpkins. Ghost stories. Trick-ortreating. As October begins, according to CNN news, 172 million Americans start to think about Halloween and the events that coincide with it. This year, like previous years, the FFA will be hosting a fundraiser event at Legends of the Fog. This attraction includes a possessed hayride, a haunted house, a cursed corn maze, and a ghostly circus. Due to COVID-19, the experience will mainly take place in a personal vehicle. Audio connection and a smartphone/device are required this year to ensure both public health and a positive encounter that simulates the in-person version. The FFA, according to senior Megan Thomas is “a national student organization that focuses on leadership, public speaking, and
Despite minor changes from past years, the only difference agricultural knowledge.” Thomas career success to students to continues this thought by add- grow leaders, build communi- previous years such as newly en- this year is that safety precauing the money from the Legends ties, and strengthen agriculture,” forced protective measures, there tions will take place.” Health safety, especially of the Fog fundraiser will go to- says Teagan Flaherty, junior. will be numerous continuities in wards the FFA’s chapter, which This event will assist the FFA in the way the pledge drive works. during this unprecedented time, allows them to “hold social accomplishing their goal by en- Flaherty explains this further by has been at the forefront of many events, fund community service abling the expansion of the pro- stating “we have used a promo peoples’ minds, says The Loncode for Legends of the Fog in don Sport. Thomas elaborates on gram. activities, and more.” this statement by adding, The total cost for “with customers in their participation in the vehicles, social distancing event may vary dewill be enforced. Masks pending on the date are only required if you are on which you attend. leaving your vehicle for any Since Legends of the reason. Legends of the Fog Fog is hosting a driveis asking people with a fethrough experience, ver, suffer from COVID-19 the vehicle as well as symptoms, or have come the persons per autointo contact with someone mobile will be charged. who has tested positive” to Thomas explains that stay home. it is “$25 for one vehiThe FFA chapter, accle with the driver and cording to Flaherty, has then $10 for each other been “a safe environment occupant.” for students to join and The society-driven have fun along with giving organization’s comback to the community mon purpose and amThis year, Legends of the Fog will be hosting a drive-thru experience. This event through community serbitions are to “provide was previously a series of haunted attractions that one would walk through. vice events and fundraispremier leadership, Photo credit: Legends of the Fog ers.” personal growth, and
Page 6/ NEWS
Cry of the Hawk
October 30, 2020
D o n u t s , c o f f e e p e r k i n g u p ; Halloween thrills, COVID-19 chills Potential Dunkin’ planned for Jarrettsville KENDALL SCHUBERT Business Manager
think it’s a great idea for some of the locals that may not want to travel into the more populat-
Air.” The building and land would ‘America runs on Dunkin’ and be leased out by Keene Dodge now it’s in the works who owns the site that Jarrettsville will where the new busibe running on Dunkin ness would go. The sometime in the coming potential Dunkin’ months. News of this will be located just addition to the commuup the road from Jarnity has received mixed rettsville Creamery, emotions from those all which doesn’t sell over the area. coffee, the JarrettsSources announced ville Grille, a small that a new Dunkin’ Dorestaurant, and other nuts would be put into small businesses. the vacant building of a Senior Jamie Baformer bank on Norrisgrosky said, “I’m a big ville Road, Jarrettsville, coffee person, I drink MD. it every day. My mom Comments on the lives right by the one Jarrettsville Communiin Forest Hill and I alty page suggest a split ways get it when I’m about the possibilistaying with her. My ty of a new Dunkin’. dad lives here in JarSome comments said, rettsville so getting “bring it in” and “I’m a Dunkin’ that is five The vacant building once octired of driving to New minutes away will be Freedom and Bel Air” cupied by a bank. Dunkin’ Donuts great.” while others were sayThe location is in ing “there will be traffic potentially being moved in. a spot where there issues” and “DD sucks, Photo credit: Jennifer Chandler aren’t many high put something else demand businesses there.” or franchises. The The people of Jarclosest Dunkin’ to rettsville and its neighJarrettsville is in Forboring towns do have a say in ed areas. The place they are lo- est Hill, about 15 minutes away the matter by joining in the discating it is a more popular place from where the new one could cussions of what may be hapfor business and it will be a lot be placed. This would be the first pening and express their opineasier for them to go to that one Dunkin location to be placed in ions and questions as decision vs being stuck in traffic to get to Jarrettsville. The closest three are makers wrestle with the issue. the other one in different loca- located in Bel Air, Fallston, and Junior Lexi Gainey says, “I tions such as Forest Hill or Bel Forest Hill.
Band, chorus face roadblock with concerts EVAN KUZEMCHAK Social Media Coordinator
does “hope that [he is] able to put something together. [he is] Band and orchestra teacher exploring options for how [he] Mr. John Wojciechowski and might be able to put on a concert newly employed Chorus teacher this year.” Hemling who is just as conMs. Katelyn Hemling were faced with a challenge at the start of fused as Wojciechowski at this this school year, teaching kids time. “All I know is that I want to make them happen as soon as music virtually. Wojciechowski comments it is safe and we get the ‘all clear’ that “virtual learning presents from the county and state.” Even though virtual learning is stopa whole new set of chal“All I ping us from the full school lenges for teaching music [..] It just know is that experience Hemling makes it clear that “[Her] top requires a lot of flexibility, cre- I want to make priority is making sure ative problem them happen as that all [her] students feel they are getting to solving, and determination to soon as it is safe.” experience choir while also feeling secure and work through -Katelyn Hemsafe in this environthose challengling ment.” Both Wojcieches and find soluowski and Hemling have tions.” Hemling agrees. “Virtual no word for the musical this year learning has definitely thrown either. Wojciechowski ends by sayus some curveballs and every day presents a new challenge.” ing he “would just like to thank She adds that it has made it [his] band, orchestra, and guitar too difficult at all! If anything, I students for being such awesome think we will come out of this students so far this school year. stronger because we have had [They] have had to get creative to form a strong team to get our on how we set up and organize work done.” By working togeth- the class.” Hemling closes with er Hemling has formed a strong “how proud [she is] of [her] students. Their ability to adapt and team already. When it comes to school con- work through this has kept [her] certs, Wojciechowski says that going and even though [she has] concerts were one of the biggest not met anyone in person [she] challenges and “that [he is] still feel[s] like [she] already know[s] working on a solution for it.” He them.”
COLBY CRISS Reporter
family decides to trick-or-treat does not mean the other families With COVID-19 “increasingly have to. It allows people to stay infecting American children and comfortable as only the people teens in a trend authorities say who want to go out are the ones appears fueled by school[s] re- going out, and the people who opening” according to APNews, are not comfortable to stay in Halloween seems to be getting their homes. affected too. “Three towns in Beigel notes “we all come from New Jersey announced trick-or- different situations and have treating will not be allowed this different needs. I think the most year due to the COVID-19 important piece of advice is pandemic” ABC 7 NY to be respectful of each reported. other’s decisions.” “We all come Winter also notes However, some are deciding to go from different sit- “I would say that against the precuations and have whatever [other edent of the New peoples’] choice Jersey towns. different needs.” is, there is no - Jenny Beigel Math teacher Mrs. wrong answer. Jenny Beigel said They need to do that “Before any neighwhat is best for themborhoods or towns were makselves and their chiling decisions about Halloween, dren however they see fit. But a close friend was already set- if they are going – I would tell ting up a trunk-or-treat / fall them to wear masks and social fun event for some family and distance as best as they can.” friends. We already committed COVID-19 is still a risk to a to that as a family.” Psychology ton of people, especially youngteacher Mrs. Winter also wrote er children, as according to the that she “do[es] plan on taking Centers for Disease Control and [her children], and I do plan on Prevention, “the symptoms of taking all of my kids.” COVID-19 are similar in adults Beigel noted that “trick-or- and children and can look like treating will vary by town and other common illnesses, likes neighborhood. I do not believe colds, strep throat, or allergies.” there is a one-size-fits-all deci- ABC 7 NY also notes “The CDC sion. Like every Halloween, fam- has determined that traditional ilies have the choice whether [or trick-or-treating is a high-risk not] to trick-or-treat and house- activity.” holds have the choice to pass Many teachers and students our or not to pass out candy,” have different plans but it is imBeigel noted. Just because some portant to remain safe.
Page 7/ NEWS
Cry of the Hawk
October 30, 2020
Supreme Court justice dies;
Students reflect on RBG’s impact EMILY IAMPIERI Copy Editor On Sept. 18, 2020, Supreme Court justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg passed away at the age of 87, from complications of metastatic pancreatic cancer. Bader Ginsburg was confirmed to the court in August of 1993 by a vote of 96-3 in the Senate. Appointed by Bill Clinton she took judicial oath on Aug. 10 of that same year, making her the first ever Jewish female to serve on the Supreme Court. According to Ballotpedia, an encyclopedia for American politics, Bader Ginsburg is famously known for her liberal stance on women’s rights. In 1996 she wrote the majority opinion for United States v. Virginia, a case questioning the constitutionality of a women’s only versus a men’s only military academy in Virginia. In a 7-1 decision, the court decided that it was unconstitutional. Before she served the Supreme Court, Bader Ginsburg graduated top of her class at Columbia Law School (1956), became the second female law professor at Rutgers and had to fight for equal pay (1963), co-founded the first law journal on women’s rights (1969), became the first tenured female law professor at Columbia (1972), and co-founded the Women’s Rights Project at American Civil Liberties Union (1972). When senior Elise Snyder first heard about the justice’s passing, she “felt [her] heart drop.” She continues saying “I know how much RBG has done for women’s, reproductive, and LGBT rights. Having her seat empty is scary, especially in our current political climate.” Fellow senior Caroline Ulmer had a similar reaction saying “I was hoping it wasn’t real.” Both Snyder and Ulmer describe Bader Ginsburg as a
Photo credit: Creative Commons “role model” for them. “She was a strong woman who always stood her ground,” Ulmer describes. “She battled sexism in everything she did and cared for her cancer ridden husband,” Snyder added. The two seniors have worries regarding people’s rights with her seat now being available. “I’m worried about taking several steps back in terms of LGBT inclusion and reproductive rights,” Snyder says. Both students express nervousness regarding Roe v. Wade, a Supreme Court case from 1973 that gave women the right to an abortion. According to Bader Ginsburg’s granddaughter, RBG said “My most fervent wish is that I will not be replaced until a new president is installed.” Both Ulmer and Synder hope that this wish is granted for the late justice. Snyder adds, “there was a precedent set clearly by the republican party in 2016 when there was an empty seat under Obama. [The Senate] refused to even hear his nomination with nine months until the election. With a little over a month until the election now, it would be such a double standard. Ulmer concludes, “I’m happy she got to live a long life and make such a difference, her legacy will live on forever.”
Voices of Equity attendance booms CAITLYN ALLEN News editor Students looking for an opportunity to get involved at NH, have another club to consider. Though a similar club existed last year, its name has been changed to the Voices of Equity Club this year, and all are welcome. English teacher Mr. Michael James is the organization’s advisor and he said they changed the name of this club for two reasons. The first is to make it clearer what the purpose of the club is. “We want to be a voice of equity and social justice at North Harford and beyond.” Second, he added the group plans on pairing with similar groups in other schools in Harford County. “This allows us to work together for Harford County Public Schools and
Harford County in general.” James claims he wanted to be a part of this group because he “sees such a strong and wonderful community here at North Harford.” James adds, “I also know that many students feel isolated and in some instances attacked.” As America battles through our world today and its past, James “wants to look forward to our future” and to get there means we “have to be aware that how we treat one another matters.” James adds “most importantly, we have to learn to address our prejudices and biases so that we can achieve what our founders saw in this American experiment- liberty and justice for all.” The club virtually meets every other Friday. James says that each time the group meets they “get a little closer to understanding
what we need from the group.” James adds that they plan on making some smaller and larger plans and projects however, they are “just getting off the ground” so they “do not know what they will be yet.” James states that he is inspired by each member of the group because they are “open and nonjudgmental.” He adds that they “give him hope for a better tomorrow because they are willing to work for it.” The teacher’s biggest fear is that “people see the club as a threat of some sort and undermine the idea of justice.” James hopes to `` build a movement and a community that is welcoming enough that those voices start to change.” James adds that the club members have “doubled in the past week” and if “anybody would like to join” please contact him directly.
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Cry of the Hawk
October 30, 2020
October 30, 2020
Cry of the Hawk
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September 27, 2019
Cry of t
Music brings back memories
Memory and Nostalgia
Drive
by Allen Jackson “I like listening to this song because it reminds me of when I first got the Bronco (my first car). My dad and I would spend a lot of time outside fixing it up and this song was always playing.” - Lucas Sexton, senior
Clarity
by Zedd
“I have blasted this song since I was little. Whenever it came on my family would roll all of the windows down and scream sing together. Whenever it comes on, I think about all of the good times I had when I was little.”- Autumn Tagliaferri
Mr. Brightside by The Killers “It was my freshman year, and it was our first away game of the field hockey season. Someone turned on Mr. Brightside and the whole bus started singing.” - Emma Moffit, junior Locked out of Heaven by Bruno Mars “This song reminds me of when I was younger, and my mom and I would drive around going to parks and stores together. She would also bring me into her work.”Compiled by: Zoe Mikles
Human memory works in stages;
Scientific explanation on how brain processes information ZOE MIKLES Features editor
Everyday people across the world are making new memories and recalling them. According to Harvard science professor Bill Anderson, memory “makes up the very framework through which we make sense and take action in the present.” Anderson explained that, at the base level, “memory operates according to a “dual-process” where more unconscious, more routine thought processes (known as “System 1”) interact with more conscious, more problem-based thought processes (known as “System 2”).” Anderson added that, “system one is characterized by its fast-unconscious recall of previously memorized information while system two is characterized by analytical thinking.” There are three processes of memory, “encoding, storage and recall”, according to Anderson. Saul McLeod, a psychology professor at the University of Manchester detailed that, “information is processed from sensory input into the brain by a process called encoding.” McLeod added that there are three different categories that information is encoded into, “visual (how something looks), auditory (how something sounds), semantic (what something means) and, tactical (how something feels).” According to Anderson, “the principle coding system for short term memory is auditory and the principle coding system for long term memory is semantic.” Memory storage refers to how information is stored and for how long. Anderson explained that, “memory is stored in two sections, short-term memory and long-term memory.” According to McLeod, information is “first stored in short term memory then, if needed, it is moved to long term memory.” Researcher George Miller conducted a study in 1956. Miller concluded that most adults can store between five and nine chunks of information in their short-term memory at any given time. According to McLeod, “Miller’s findings led the way for researchers finding ways to chunk increasing amounts of information together to expand the short-term memory.” Anderson detailed that, “long term memory has a vast capacity and information can stay there indefinitely.” The final aspect of memory is retrieval. According to Anderson, “retrieval is the process through which individuals access stored information.” Short-term memory and long-term memory and recalled differently. McLeod explained that, “information is recalled in the order that the information was stored, and long-term memory is retrieved through association.” There are ways to improve a person’s memory recall. “retrieving information repetitively over a period of time can help retrieval in the future.” An example Anderson gave was recalling how to balance chemical equations. If the class learns how to do this on the first day of the month and they have a test on it at the end of the month, the students should be practicing periodically throughout the month to make recall easier on the test.
Gavin Moxley, sophomore
Teachers recall their first days of teaching
Nancy Green, Drama teacher “I was only 23, so not much older than my senior English students. That was challenging. I don’t think drama HAD a curriculum back then. The entire English curriculum was 3 pages. The rest was up to you to figure out so that was a challenge then that is better for teachers now.”
David Orth, English teacher “It was crazy. Literally in every sense of the word. I taught five different classes and floated between six different classrooms. I was working insane hoursTrying to learn how a school functions on the “back end”. On the other side, it was such a fun, memorable year.
Charles Selfe, Social studies teacher “There were no computers yet!! It was such a complete contrast to now. I worked long hours and spent time hitting my head on my desk….nothing I had learned in college really prepared me for what I was experiencing in the classroom. College paints a much rosier picture.”
Richard Peddicord, English teacher
“Students can always tell when you are a rookie teacher, and they test you every chance they get. The first few months were tough; I even had two students fight in my room. Fortunately, my room was in between two awesome veteran teachers who helped get me through those months.” Compiled by: Summer Grace
10-11 - Features
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What age would you go back to?
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back “I would want to go when I to 10 years old. It’s and got got my first Xbox iends to play with my fr hool.” while I wasn’t at sc
30 years old
20 years old arris, H y l r e Kimb e teacher scienc o
Larissa Arist, Language teacher “I would like to go back to 20 years old. That’s the year I lived in France. It was a really exciting time in my life and I would love to relive it.”
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Emily Johnson, senior
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“Choir is my favorite memory of high school overall because I met so many different people and we all formed a little family that I know I can always count on”
Andrew Patton, senior “My favorite memory at a school related event was when we clutched the win against Patterson Mill in football. No one in the stands was expecting to win so when we made that last touchdown the student section went wild.”
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Comp
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Lina Goetz, senior “My favorite memory from all of high school was for sure my sophomore year field hockey season. It has been our best season and I loved the seniors.”
NHHS seniors recall their favorite high school memory
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Cry of the Hawk
October 30, 2020
Enola Holmes added to Netflix; Millie Bobby Brown stars in mystery film ALEXA FALLS Reporter On September 23, Netflix released the new Enola Holmes movie. Directed by Harry Bradbeer, the film is based on the Enola Holmes book series made by Nancy Springer. The movie and book series are both about Sherlock and Mycroft Holmes’ sister, Enola, whose mother goes missing on her birthday. Enola’s mission is to travel to London to find her and outthink her famous detective brother, Sherlock. The story takes place in England during 1884. Mainly known for her role in the Netflix series ‘Stranger Things’, Millie Bobby Brown plays the main character Enola Holmes. Some of the other characters in this story are played by Fiona Shaw, Louis Partridge, Henry Cavill, Sam Claflin and Helena Bonham Carter. Shaw is Miss Harrison, Partridge plays Viscount Tewkesbury, Cavill rep-
resents Sherlock Holmes, Claflin is Mycroft Holmes and Carter plays the part of Eudoria Holmes. The film is a part of the mystery genre. It is also considered to be an adventure, crime or drama movie. It is rated PG-13. The movie is two hours and
“Enola Holmes is an absolutely beautiful movie with captivating cinematography, location, and especially our most loved, lovely Millie Bobby Brown.” ~Vikas Joshi
three m i n -
utes long. The film got a 91 percent tomato meter score on Rotten Tomatoes as well. On Common Sense Media, the movie was rated four out of five stars. Jennifer Green from Common Sense Media says that the film is, “entertaining
period mystery has feminist messages, violence.” According to Google, 94 percent of users said they liked the movie. Google user Vikas Joshi says Enola Holmes is an, “absolutely beautiful movie with captivating cinematography, location, and especially our most loved lovely Millie Bobby Brown. This Netflix’s lovely & talented kid prodigy Millie bobby stole the show with her beauty & acting skills.” Joshi rated the film four out of five stars. Sophomore Samina Dhani said that the movie was, “so good,” and that she would recommend it. Dhani said that she would watch it again because, “it is not a predictable movie, it keeps you on your toes.” Dhani rates the movie an, “eight or nine because it was a good movie and not predictable like most movies.” Her favorite character is the main character Enola Holmes because, “she was so strong and was not scared of anything.” Dhani added, “she even saved a boy’s life [who] she didn’t know.”
Reopening fun: Amusement parks welcome thrillseekers MAURA CHANEY Entertainment Editor Since the announcement across the nation that amusement parks can reopen at a certain capacity, famous parks have taken advantage of the opportunity and have created fun while staying safe. Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida reopened to the public in July 2020, just four months after the initial closing due to COVID-19 pandemic. The park has given a much different experience than what it was before the strike of the pandemic. USA Today says that there are many new safety precautions in place, including visitors having their temperature taken before entering, and wearing face masks throughout the park. Only two of the four parks Walt Disney World had reopened, Magic Kingdom and
Animal Kingdom, with a combined crowd of just 16,000 visitors. In many cases, park employees have chosen to wear face-shields, which has grown in popularity in the hot areas. Social distancing is still greatly encouraged, even when waiting in lines for rides. Hershey Park of Hershey, Pennsylvania, introduced new efforts to safely welcome back their guests. These efforts include the usual face masks requirement and guests having their temperature taken before entry, multiple sanitizing areas throughout the park, and even social distancing on rides. Rides with many seats will have empty seats scattered through the ride to ensure that guests are not breaking the sixfoot distance rule, according to MSN News. Another popular Pennsylvania based amusement park
is Knoebels, which welcomed their guests back in July. An attempt at staying safe while having fun that is different from other parks is Knoebels’ newly installed sneeze guards at food stands, gift shops, guest services and handstamp stations. Knoebels has made aware the possibility of extended lines due to social distancing not only in wait lines, but also on the ride. In a poll conducted with 120 students, 42% said they had to cancel a trip to an amusement park, and 58% said no, they did not. Senior Nicole DeAtley didn’t let anything restrict her fun. She says, “everyone was civil about wearing [masks] and you didn’t have to wear one in the waterpark, so I felt iffy about going there but they sanitized the tubes and everything so it made me feel better at least!”
Compiled by: Ben Sersen
Fore! New Pleasant Hills mini golf MADISON FETHERSTON Reporter After two years in the making, Mountain Run Mini Golf opened their doors in August, offering the people of Fallston fun for all. The course shares a parking lot with Earth, Wood, and Fire restaurant as well as other businesses. Tim Conder, co-owner with Brian Hartlieb, shares that the idea for a mini golf course came from Wyatt Hartlieb, Brian Hartlieb’s son. Mountain Run Mini Golf is actively taking precautions during the times of COVID-19. All attendees are required to wear a mask upon arrival and to keep it on for the duration of their visit. Masks are also available at the sales counter. The course’s focus is nature, Mountain Run Mini Golf features a waterfall, four ponds, and two rivers. The original intent of this area was to build a water feature across from the patio of Earth, Wood, and Fire restaurant for folks dining outside. Not only has this course been described as scenic by visitors, but unlike other mini golf courses, eight out of eighteen holes are handicap accessible. Fallston High School’s PTA has already taken advantage of the new mini golf course, as they held a fundraiser on September 23. While Mountain Run Mini Golf limits 5 players to a hole, parties/events can be booked online to reserve a time at the course. Locals have supported the
mini golf course, sharing their experiences on websites such as Yelp and Facebook. The course has even drawn the attention of members from communities such as Baltimore City, Glen Burnie, and Columbia. The course has multiple water features, due to the layout of the course each hole either has a water feature or a view of one of many. Players are greeted at the third hole by a waterfall and fountain, throughout the course a variety of plants and trees decorate the landscape. Ryan Webb, senior and member of North Harford’s golf team enjoyed the new local mini golf. “It was enjoyable and has a good location because it was next to Rita’s.” Webb shares that he would go to Mountain Run Mini Golf again due to the friendly staff, the convenient location, and the excitement of the new course. Mountain Run Mini Golf is open 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Fridays, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturdays, and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sundays. As for rates, one round for players 13 years or older is $10. Children from ages 5 through 12 play one round for the cost of $7 while children under 5 play for free. As for military/first responders, one round cost $6 for those who present valid identification. Players over the age of 65 also play one round of mini golf for the cost of $6.
Mountain Run Mini Golf welcomes mini golfers after their opening in July. The new attraction continues to draw crowds. Photo Credit: Mountain Run Mini Golf
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Cry of the Hawk
Sony and Microsoft release newest generation of gaming BEN SERSEN Reporter After 7 long years, the wait is finally over for gamers around the world. Sony and Microsoft have both unveiled their attempts at the next generation of console with the long awaited PS5 and Xbox series X. The consoles were leaked to the public on December 12, 2019 (Xbox series X) and June 11, 2020 (PS5) respectively. The release date has just been publicized and Microsoft’s flagship for the next generation of gaming will be released to the public on November 10. Sony will be releasing their console just two days after on November 12. Sony announced the price of $499.99 for the Playstation 5 and $399.99 for the Digital Edition. Microsoft released their pricing at $499.99 for the Xbox series X and a much cheaper $299.99 for the Series S model. When asked about the price tag of the new models, Junior Aaron Huth said, “I think it’s worth the price. At base value PS4 was around $400 so it makes sense for something more advanced [to be] worth more money.” Aaron claimed “Hopefully the rest of my friends also purchase it [The PS5] in the future.” The price tag is only one of many factors in choosing a console, another being the internal technology. The Xbox Series X just edges out the PS5 with its 1TB internal storage card while the Playstation sits with a custom 825GB SSD. The Xbox also shows strength in its 8x Zen 2 Cores at 3.8Ghz as opposed to the Playstations 8x Zen 2 Cores at 3.5GHz. The Input/Output Throughput on the Playstation gives it the edge in download speeds with 5.5GB/s raw and 8-9GB/s compressed. The Xbox sits at a 2.4GB/s raw I/O and 4.8 GB/s compressed. These technical terms and fancy numbers may seem off putting however they can be a large factor in a gamer’s choice of console. With more storage and a lower framerate, the Xbox shows to be a better choice for that on an entertainment system, For the extensive gamers however the Playstation’s strong I/O throughput and 2.23GHz GPU push it past it’s competition. While games like State of Decay 3 and Forza Motorsports are exclusive to the Xbox Series X, The Playstation 5 has its fair share of exclusives with games like the newest title of God of War and Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales headlining the list Junior Garrett Reinecke claimed, “I’d say Xbox might have a few better exclusive games.” “The exclusive games are a good deal with the console but since I’ve switched to Playstation I definitely think I’m going to stick with it,” the junior responded.
The brand new Xbox Series X is set to release for pre orders starting November 10. The series X will be set at $499.99 and the series S model priced at $299.99. Photo credit: Microsoft
Horizon Cinemas drive-in: what you should know MADISON FETHERSTON Reporter While the COVID-19 outbreak caused an abundance of businesses to temporarily shut down in March, movie theaters are one of many businesses that have not re-opened at their fullest. Recently, Horizon Cinemas has taken a classical approach to provide their community with the movies they know and love while still encouraging caution during the times of a global pandemic. During the month of October, Horizon Cinemas presents a variety of films to get into the Halloween spirit, ranging for Disney’s “Coco” to Stanley Kubrick’s “The Shining”. Rain or shine, Horizon Cinemas open their parking lot at 6:15 p.m. allowing movie guests to find their spot and hit the concession stands inside the theater lobby. The first featured movie begins after sunset at approximately 7:00 p.m. A parking spot can be reserved on Horizon Cinema’s website for as low as $25, which the locally owned family business encourages.
COVID-19 policies such as masks and social distancing are enforced upon arrival to ensure the safety of staff members and viewers. When indoors, customers over the age of five are required to wear a mask, which would include the theater lobby, restrooms, and the concession area. Staff members are always required to wear their masks and continue to follow CDC guidelines as they ensure their facilities meet the highest standards. To provide the best possible experience, Horizon Cinemas recommends that if possible, viewers arrive in smaller vehicles. It is also recommended that viewers with larger vehicles park in the back row to avoid obstructing the views of other movie goers. Customers are expected to do their part by respecting their surroundings. While movie viewers are welcome to bring outdoor chairs, Horizon Cinemas asks customers respect their surroundings and respecting the space of other customers.
Since reopening in July, Horizon Cinemas drive-in has received ample positive feedback. Viewers of all ages have expressed how much they have enjoyed their drive-in experience. Horizon Cinemas temporary drive-in has brought back the opportunity for film fanatics to resume their support of the local business, while bringing back a viewing experience that isn’t seen as frequently as in past decades. Bob Wienholt owns Horizon Cinemas with his wife and two sons, as well as colleague Ira Miller. He and his staff members have hope for the future of the business thanks to the support they have received from their community. Senior Megan Carter visited Horizon Cinemas Drive-In with her family to get into the Halloween spirit. “While I was disappointed with the view we had of the screen, the audience was polite and overall, it was a good experience. Masks were worn and it was nice to go and see a movie again, even if it wasn’t in theaters.”
October 30, 2020
Performing while in isolation: Artists utilize virtual concerts MAURA CHANEY Entertainment Editor Since the news regarding the COVID-19 outbreak across the globe, many musicians have postponed their tours, or overall canceled them. However, some artists have utilized virtual concerts to give their fans an at home concert experience. Since March, artists have announced their cancelation of shows, and since then, the list has grown. Artists including Def Leppard, Harry Styles, The 1975, Louis Tomlinson, Kesha, Little Mix, Niall Horan, and more have taken it to social media to let fans know their tours for the year have been postponed or canceled completely. Although the decision was a seemingly tough one for the performers, an experience growing in popularity is virtual concerts. Virtual concerts offer an experience not only for fans, but for the performers, allowing them to safely perform a concert from wherever their location may be, and fans can watch from home after purchasing a virtual ticket to the show. Miley Cyrus, All Time Low, John Legend, and Liam Payne have given their fans multiple virtual concerts since the cancelation of tours,
and there are more to come. All Time Low has given their fans five different dates in which they can purchase tickets for virtual concerts from October to December. The band took it to Twitter to share their gratitude after the first show on Oct 9, saying “Genuinely felt so good to connect with you all last night. Wherever you are in the world, thanks for being part of something uniquely 2020 with us. Stuff like this lets me know we’re all gonna be ok.” The band also offered an upgrade on tickets that allowed fans to have a short virtual meet and greet before the show. Liam Payne has now done two virtual concerts, a third occurring Oct 31, called the LP Show, where fans can see him performing songs from his debut album, and some classic One Direction songs. The first show in July, the second in August, the third on Halloween. All money raised from tickets will be going to charities. Senior Caroline Ulmer, a two time attendee of the LP Shows, had this to say about her experience. “Virtual concerts are so fun! It is such a good way to see your favorite artist and get content while still being safe and not spending as much money!”
Page 14- Student, Society, and Culture
Cry of the Hawk
October 30, 2020
BOO! Did I scare you? MEGHAN KALCK Reporter
Halloween is just around the corner and you know what that means, time for the spooky stuff. One of the most popular things that has started this year is the “ghost photoshoot.” This photoshoot consists of someone putting a white sheet on them and putting on sunglasses or just glasses and taking aesthetically pleasing pictures. Freshman Abby Sersen was one that attempted to do the photoshoot. When questioned Sersen stated that she did this photoshoot with one of her friends, but she was not happy with the results. “It is better to do it in a group of friends” Sersen also stated and that also you need a “good setting” in order to get good quality pictures
that are Instagram worthy. No one knows exactly who started the trend but whoever did made it viral, pictures of this trend have been all over different kinds of social media. Freshman Kaese Asbury also tried to do this trend and was happy with the results and how it turned out. Unlike Sersen, Asbury did this photoshoot with a group of her friends. “We got to go to abandoned places” Asbury stated, when they went to take the pictures her and her friends found multiple abandoned places that were close to them and decided to take them there in order to make it more spooky but also aesthetically pleasing. Asbury was very proud of the results and “for sure would do it again” because it was worth all the driving around and the hard work
that was put into it. Halloween is coming, which means, time for the spooky stuff. This is just one of the trends that has been started to fit the Halloween theme, a similar trend to this is people carving pumpkins and deciding to put those on their heads while taking pictures. Some people find this disgusting but other find it rather creative. Another trend is carving pumpkins, but these do not go on your heads but rather people will put colorful smoke bombs inside to make a colorful smoky pumpkin that also looks good in people. Taking these pictures is a really big thing especially around the fall times, it shows creativity and originality, if you want to tap into the trends, you can see these kinds of pictures on Tik Tok and Instagram.
Halloween candy fun facts
EMILY GREEN Video Editor
1. The most popular halloween candy in America is Skittles. 2. During the eight weeks leading up to Halloween, consumers spend $4.6 billion on confectionery products. 3. Donna Arnett, head of the department of epidemiology at University of Alabama’s Birmingham School of Public Health, estimates the average American kid eats anywhere between 3,500 and 7,000 calories. 4. Candy corn used to have a different name, Wunderlee Candy Com-
pany, began mass-producing the sweet in the early 1900s, originally calling it Chicken Feed. 5. In an animal study, University of California-Los Angeles researchers found that fructose—a key ingredient of sugar and high fructose corn syrup, found in almost all Halloween candy—can interfere with communication between neurons and affect memory after an injury. 6. The candy manufacturer Mars started distributing mini candy bars in 1961, specifically targeting trickor-treaters, and coined the phrase “fun size” in 1968. 7. Tootsie Rolls were in-
cluded in soldiers field rations during World War II to give American troops “quick energy.” 8. Kit Kat bars were introduced in Japan in 2000, and now more than 350 flavors of Kit Kats are sold in that country. 9. Chocolate can stay good for six to eight months past its expiration date if it’s kept in a freezer. 10. Halloween candies such as Brach’s Dem Bones, Chicken Dinner Candy Bar, Hershey’s S’mores, Cookies-n-Cream Twix, Astro Pops, Nestle Wonder Balls, and almond and dark chocolate M&Ms have been discontinued.
This photo is showing a load of candy coming out of pumpkins to show all different kinds for the fall season. Photo credit: www.goodhousekeeping.com
Earth-shattering: what would happen if the earth stopped spinning? LILLI GRECO Copy Editor
2020 has been a year full of unexpected occurrences. A year ago, if you asked anyone about the future, none of them would have predicted a national pandemic, or widespread protesting across the country. Things seem pretty bad. But in reality, things could be a lot worse. What would happen if the earth stopped spinning? Or the sun didn’t rise again? Or if the moon had never existed at all? “If the Earth stopped spinning suddenly, the atmosphere would still be in motion with the Earth's original 1100 mile per hour rotation speed at the equator. ... this means rocks, topsoil, trees, buildings, your pet dog, and
so on, would be swept away into the atmosphere.” (nasa. gov). If the sun didn’t rise, there would be no light. It would seem like midnight all the time. Without sunlight, plants aren’t able to make food, meaning slowly, all the plants would die. Without the heat from the sun, everything would freeze over as well. (isequalto.com). “If there was no moon, then the water might spread across the planet equally and reduce the amount of friction. This means that the earth would not slow, which then means that the hours of our days would change. ... since the moon affects the altitude and movement of Earth's water, our ocean tides would shrink.” (nine-
planets.org). Physics and astronomy teacher, Douglas Heeter, has some expertise on the subject matter. “If [the
“If the sun didnt rise again, it would get cold pretty quick.” -Doug Heeter
earth c a m e to] an abrupt stop, recall Newton's 1st Law of Motion (Inertia): An object in motion, stays in motion... so
since everything on the surface of the Earth is basically moving at 1000+ mph as the Earth spins, they will continue to do so. Picture in a car when you slam on the brakes, you lurch forward, so would everything else on the planet as Earth stopped moving. I don't think a seatbelt will hold you back in this case.” “If the sun didn’t rise again, it would get cold pretty quick.” Heeter said. “Also, with no light, plants would die off too... no plants, no base of food chain, and oh yeah, no oxygen production (we kind of need that too!). The deep freeze would probably get us before no food or oxygen though.” “[If the moon didn’t exist] #1, no tides, or at least a pret-
ty big drop in them (the sun's gravity has an impact upon them too). We all know the moon is the biggest impact on the tides with its gravity and since it is closer to us, it has a more pronounced effect. This would definitely cause an issue with a lot of life in the oceans that rely upon the cycles within the oceans and could impact all life on Earth.” Heeter explained. “Good news, that although there are quite a few bad outcomes from any of these scenarios, none are very likely to happen so enjoy your days and nights, sunrises and sunsets, and looking up at the moon!” Heeter said, leaving things on a more positive note.
October 30, 2020
Cry of the Hawk
Page 15- Student, Society, and Culture
Among Us: New online game gains popularity KENSI BOYANICH Reporter The uproar of the new free mobile game, Among Us, is nearly impossible to escape. Out of 67 students surveyed 50 have played the game (75%). The game is about doing tasks while one or two people are trying to kill you. You are giving short amounts of time to talk out who you believe is the murderer and vote them off, much like the popular party game Mafia. Among Us is an online multiplayer game developed by American game studio, InnerSloth. The game was released on June 15, 2018 but lately has gained traction as well-known influencers have started playing it and streaming their gameplay. Many popular Twitch streamers including Ninja and XQC have given the game momentum with their large audience watching. The game allows players to either play online with random people or with friends using a private code. It has a chat option if you are online and you can have a voice call in the background talking with your friends. Players must mute themselves and not talk to others while the game is going and can only have a short amount of time to try and determine and vote out who they think the imposter is. The people who are dead cannot talk to the others and say who killed them so you must use evidence you have and try to figure
out through people's voices who the imposter is. Many students have also hopped on the bandwagon of this popular game playing it with their friends. Sophomore Michael Allen says that, “my friend told me to get it and play with them.” Allen says it reminds him of other games he plays like “terrorist town.” Sophomore Riley Campbell has also started playing it she says, “I played it because everyone was talking about it and made it sound really fun. What makes it fun is that you're able to interact with different people or your friends while you play. It also makes you second guess everything when trying to determine the imposter.” The game has a feature to customize the character you play allowing you to choose the color you want and a hat to wear. Players can also purchase an outfit and a pet that follows them around during the game and sits where they died. This allows users to be more interactive and create a bond with a certain style of character they want to make it feel more like them. The game has also been popularized on the trending app TikTok with users drawing their characters, creating plushies, and even cosplaying as the characters from the game. The game has peaked at a time where people are thinking about Halloween, so players have decided to dress up as their characters, wearing a one-color jumpsuit and a helmet that matches.
Attractions way back when;
Origin of haunted places MALINAH JERSCHEID Reporter With the month of October among us, haunted houses and escape rooms have become a favorite weekend outing for students at North Harford. But have you ever wondered where they came from? The idea of a haunted house is unique, rooms upon rooms of scenes only imagined in your worst nightmares. According to Behah McKendry of America Haunts, haunted houses date all the way back to the time of the Egyptians. It was used as a mechanism to keep thieves out of pyramids. Elements such as traps, mazes, moving walls, and self-opening doors were mechanisms used to scare off intruders. It has also been discovered that live snakes and insects were used inside of the pyramids. The “haunted houses” displayed in Ancient Egyptian times did not have lines of people standing outside with building anticipation of what is to come, however many of the elements that are used as scare tactics today can be
seen in some fashion long ago. In addition to the Egyptians, Ancient Greeks and Romans also planted the seed of haunted houses today. A key component of Greek and Roman folklore is monsters, and it was displayed using theater. These groups were masters of special FX on stage. “[They] pioneered a number of theatrical devices that would evolve into the spooky elements used in haunts today, including fog, trapdoors, ghostly images and even fake blood and gore.” says McKendry. This ideal evolved over thousands of years, branching to Christian Europeans acting out biblical stories in order to frighten people into following Christian teachings throughout the Dark Ages. Haunted Houses eventually became what we know of them today with the opening of Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion in 1969, followed by the opening of thousands more local attractions. Escape rooms are a newer concept in comparison to the idea of a haunted
house. In an article written by Lock Academy, escape rooms originated from a Japanese video game in which players manipulated characters through mysteries inside of rooms to reach different levels. According to Lock Academy, this concept was made into a reality when the Japanese company SCRAP founded the first ever escape room in 2007. Players were fully immersed in the game and had to manipulate different tasks in each room to escape. Escape rooms became increasingly popular throughout Asia and took some time to make its way to Europe. Hungary later developed their own version of escape rooms without the knowledge that they had already been created in Asia, and in 2013 the installment of the first escape room in the United States was made by the original SCRAP company. Escape rooms continue to become more popular as they continue to pop up around the globe. Be sure to visit both of these attractions this season.
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October 30, 2020
The 2020 Election
Role of Vice President COMPILED BY ADDY DEAN
Election day is Tuesday, November 3rd. Check out all of the options you have for casting your ballot!!
The first priority of the vice president is to make sure they are ready and able to take over office for the president. Whether the president dies, resigns, is temporarily incapacitated, or if the cabinet deems the president unfit to serve our country the vice president must be prepared. After election he or she will also serve as president of the U.S. senate. This means he or she casts the deciding vote in the case of a tie, however during tie breaking votes the vice president will rarely preside over the senate. In addition, the Senate’s official website also says “the office has become more associated with the duties and responsibilities of the executive branch, while maintaining its ties to the legislature through (his power in the senate)” Their role is also flexible, in the modern era of vice presidents each individual vice president has shaped the office to meet his interests and the needs of the president. Some vp’s take on a specific policy portfolio, while others take on the role of simply serving as a top adviser to the President. The vice presidents do not live in the White House with the president. Instead they maintain an official residence at the United States Naval Observatory in Northwest Washington, D.C.
Role of the First Lady
****No founding document exists that explains the duties of the first lady. Hostess of White House Organize and attend official ceremonies Advocate for an issue of their choice, typically one not politically divisive Advisor to the President Can act as a trendsetter in fashion Compiled Emily Iampieri
Top 5 states with highest voters Compiled by: Rachel Keeney
Source: usnews.com
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Cry of the Hawk
October 30, 2020
Presidential election nears; Candidates’ journeys continue
BEN IAMPIERI Reporter
The presidential election is a long, expensive process in which candidates participate for over a year, hoping to become the leader of our country. Starting with campaigning, candidates will start as early as a year before primary events. According to the Washington Post, the 2016 election, Donald Trump spent over 300 million dollars, which was under half of what Hillary Clinton spent. This money goes into things such as salaries for their staffers, media advertising, rallies, polling, and more. Now comes the caucuses. This is where local members of a political party gather to openly vote for their preference of candidate to be represented in running for office. A caucus requires the voters to be pre-registered as their voting party. ForeignAffairs reports that “turnout in caucuses tends to be lower than in primaries.” The turnout percent for caucuses in 2012 was less than half the turnout for primaries. Held at the same time as caucuses, primaries are stateheld elections for determining a preference of candidate through ballot voting. FindLaw explains the different types of primaries. A closed primary, similar to a caucus, requires you to be registered as a particular party--no independent voters. A semi-closed primary is when open to both party members and independent voters. An open primary allows anyone to participate in
voting. Lastly, in a semi-open primary, anyone voting must request a party’s specific ballot. The first of the caucuses and primaries starts on February 3, going all the way through to the end of August 11. Next are the Presidential Conventions. According to The Atlantic, they are political conventions in which political parties pick who is the best to go onto the general election. Tracked by 270towin, the Democratic Convention goes from August 17 to August 20, and the Republican Convention goes from August 24 to August 27. Nearing the end are three Presidential Debates. These debates provide much needed “exposure,” McAuliffe, a CNN reporter says. These debates happen at different intervals throughout September and October. At last, on November 3, is the General Election. If you are a U.S. citizen over 18 who is registered to vote, you can vote for who you want to be president. However, you are indirectly voting for them because of the Electoral College. When you vote, your vote is counted in the state. If the person you voted for wins the state, electors for the party in which you chose represent in the Electoral College, the National Conference of State Legislators explains. This is how Clinton won the popular vote, but never became president in 2016.
u o y d i D ? ? ? w o n k
Source: Fact Retriever
The oldest presidential candidate to be elected is Ronald Reagan at 69 years old. The youngest is John F. Kennedy at age 43. The United States is ranked 139th out of 172 countries in voter participation. Actress Roseanne Barr once attempted to run for president and got as far as filing with the Federal Election Commission under the “Green Tea Party Ticket.” In 1845, Congress decided that voting day would be the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November, which was after the fall harvest and before winter conditions made travel too difficult. The first woman to run for U.S. President was Victoria Woodhull in 1872, nearly 50 years before the 19th Amendment allowed women to vote in presidential elections. Her running mate, Frederick Douglass, was the first African-American ever nominated for Vice President. Over 200 women have run for President of the United States; however, this list includes nominees of many minor parties and candidates who ran for president before women won the right to vote in 1920.
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October 30, 2020
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Focusing on mental health; What teachers feel during virtual instruction SILVIA MARTINEZ Video Editor Online learning has posed several drawbacks for students and families. For teachers, the altered environment came with both benefits and disturbances to their well-being. A study done by Science Direct found that spending time outdoors can improve mental health, as going outside can help ease feelings of time pressure and mental stress. Due to the modified schedules because of online instruction, teachers can have more time to themselves they normally wouldn’t get, which opens up the opportunity to unwind. French teacher Mrs. Larissa Arist enjoys the longer lunch break at home and being able to go outside, reporting that she feels “More relaxed and productive.” Furthermore, Arist notes that teaching online isn’t more stressful than teaching in person, and says her French classes are managing well. Arist has always incorporated technology into her lesson, which didn’t make teaching too difficult from the planning aspect of things.
According to a survey done by They felt the need to help which the Pew Research Center, 92 per- made it hard to set boundaries, and cent of teachers said technology were often willing to answer beimproved their abil- cause it provided some sort of engagement with their students. Arist I also feels like she’s constantly checkdo need ing emails, texts, and ItsLearning messages; as well as making a lot of to set boundarscreencasts to help explain things ies and often won’t to students, but could’ve easily check school stuff told them to her students if they during the weekend so were together in the classroom. “I do need to set boundaries and ofI can have time with ten won’t check school stuff during the weekend so I can have time my own family,” with my own family,” says Arist, -Larissa Arist finding communication the most tolling aspect of teaching virtually. The French teacher wishes more ity to access and distrib- students would turn their camerute content, resources, and mate- as on, believing it builds a sense of rials. Technology has also been community and would help overshown to improve relationships come communication problems. between students and teach- She says she misses the converers, as well as their colleagues. sations that would happen in the On the other hand, in a study classroom, saying “When students done on a group of teachers by are behind a screen (and muted) Psychology Today, teachers re- it’s much easier to remain silent.” ported an unhealthy work-life The same group of teachers from balance, mostly induced by the the study by Psychology Today also increased presence of technology reported a sense of worry and conthat allowed students and fami- cern for their students, describing it lies to contact them at all hours. as if students had turned into ghosts.
Honey bees face new potential threat PAIGE WEBSTER Reporter The year of 2020 has brought several difficult challenges to both the United States and the world that has tested the integrity of communities and countries alike. Amongst the growing changes of environments, hurricanes, and wide-spread fires comes a new uninvited guest from the East known as the murder hornet. As stated by Karim Vahed, a professor of Entomology at the university of Derby, the term “murder hornet” is a media given name and are known in the scientific world as the Asian Giant Hornet. Most Giant hornets measure to about two inches in body length and about three inches in wingspan. The Japanese giant hornet is referred to as the “great sparrow bird” as it resembles a small bird while flying past. The Seattle Times newspaper reports that the first 2020 sighting of the ‘Murder hornet’ was near Birch Bay, Washington state on or before July 14 close to the Canadian border based on the report from Entomologists of the state Department of Agriculture. Sven Spichiger, managing entomologist for the department, stated that “This is encouraging because it means we know that the traps work…But it also means we have work to do.” Officials say that it is impossible for the hornet to have flown all the way across the ocean and most likely arrived in Washington via a cargo ship. Murder hornets get their nickname due to their aggressive way that they attack honeybee swarms. According to many reports and research on the attack habits, when a murder hornet
encounters a swarm the hornet will sting and decapitate all the worker bees and gradually make its way inward of the nest and eventually kill the queen. Once the bees are taken care of the hornet eats the larvae. Asian honeybees through many years of evolution have worked out a defense against the Giant hornets called a bee ball. “They will surround a single hornet, beat their wings as fast as they can, and raise t h a t hor-
“This is encouraging because it means we know that the traps work…But it also means we have work to do.” -StevenSpichiger entomologit for the department of ag net’s
b o d y t e m perature to the point where, essentially, they cook it” says Coyote Peterson, famous wildlife educator. European honeybees, however, have no way to protect against Giant hornets. If Murder hornets did become a constant presence, beekeepers will have to be very vigilant. There are about 2.5 million colonies of bees in the U.S, according to the extension service at Penn State. A small portion of said bees belong to Megan Thomas, a senior student who cares for her own beehive, stated that “Right now, the queen should start laying less...so I am feeding them a 2:1 sugar water ratio to ensure that
they are strong going into winter.” Another senior, Lina Goetz, keeps a similar routine with her beehive, making sure to “...go through the boxes every couple weeks to make sure that their queen is laying eggs.” As of October 3, 2020, six new sightings of these murder hornets have prompted the urgent search for a possible nest. At least 15 hornets have been found in the state of Northern Washington over the last year, according to the state Department of Agriculture’s Asian giant hornet dashboard. Recent studies vaguely suggest that these hornets may thrive and become more active in the early winter months, encouraging entomologists to quicken their search. Both Thomas and Goetz said that they are not concerned with the murder hornet presence in the United States as it is relatively staying isolated in Washington state, however Thomas shared her plans of defense should they reach the east coast. “I would use what’s called a mouse guard...a metal entrance reducer [that] has small holes only a honeybee can enter into. According to Coyote Peterson, the Youtuber famous for withstanding multiple animal and insect stings, ranks the Asian giant hornet sting to be the second most painful sting in the world, second only to the Execution wasp. These giant hornets are reported to be responsible for an estimated 30 to 50 deaths per year in Japan, however experts and records say that death usually occurs as a secondary allergic reaction to the venom and not by the sting itself. Entomologists say the odds of being swarmed or stung by a single or group of giant hornets is virtually impossible.
New frog species hopping into spotlight;
Diamond Frog sparkling in public LEAH HILLIER Copy Editor The first thing that comes to mind while thinking about Madagascar is likely not the biodiversity of the amphibian species. However, there are approximately 244 amphibian species on the island, and there is a projected increase of these species that would almost double the population- between 377 and 465 new species would be discovered on the 226,658 square mile island, according to the Proceeding National Academies of Science- North America. The genus Rhombophryne, with the proposed common name of “diamond frog,” has at least 23 of these species- many of which have been discovered within the past decade. Although the first frog in the genus was discovered in 1880; and for a long time remained the only in its genus for almost 100 years. The frogs are fossorial and terrestrial, meaning they burrow inside the earth, as well as they live on top of it. However, some members of the genus are fully fossorial, according to Dr. Scherz in the open-access journal titled Zoosystematics and Evolution. Junior Alyssa Sparacco-Ireland says, “[They] feel as though with discoveries about new species in general, it opens up a whole new world of possibilities with anatomy and biology.” The most recent species of frog in this genus is Rhombophryne ellae. It’s characteristic orange flash-markings on its hips tipped the researchers off immediately, Dr. Scherz, who discovered the frog. “You can literally study a whole new species of frog,
how cool is that?” Ireland asked. The specimen was collected while the research team was in Montagne d’Ambre in December 2017, and genetic studies on the individual specimen indicated that Scherz and his team found a female member of Rhombophryne ellae.This species is distinguished from others in its genus by its orange coloration, as well as its lack of spines in its eye region, and because of its smoother skin. Some of the closest members “do not have flash-markings, indicating repeated evolution of this trait within Rhombophryne.” Says Dr. Scherz. Despite the significant biodiversity among amphibian species, issues are facing them, especially man-made problems such as deforestation and climate change, “conservation is an important aspect of learning about new species, and it is incredibly important that we take care of the species we share the world with,” says Ireland, “when we find out what this type of frog consumes we can make sure that it has access to it in the wild so it can continue to live undisturbed for as long as possible.”
The female Rhombophryne Ellae specimen discovered by Dr. Mark Scherz sitting on a leaf. Photo Credit Dr. Mark Scherz.
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Cry of the Hawk
October 30, 2020
Showing flexibility in more ways than one;
COVID impacts local dance companies SUMMER GRACE Reporter
The climb to becoming a good coach JESSICA FANNON Reporter When it comes to becoming a qualified coach for a sports team there are many steps that come with that process. Just knowing how the sport works and winning games is just part of what it takes to be a capable coach. Mr. David Orth is an English teacher along with a coach for the boys soccer team. He said he began coaching when he “was about 12 years old.” He explained how “I got my start helping my neighbor coach his little kids who were on a U-6,” soccer team. According to Orth, knowledge of the sport is not the only key to being a good coach. He says, “I think it is getting harder and harder to demonstrate the sport because now everyone is an expert and has a club coach or some other person giving them advice that's sometimes contradictory.” Being “able to rip a kid apart (not literally) for doing the wrong thing, yet also build them back up and make them feel confident and capable,” is another skill Orth finds important to be a coach. Orth’s personal success story in soccer includes winning “a state cup” and making a “division one soccer team” which gave him the knowledge of the sport he needed to create his own teams. He stated that “athletes that play together and work for each other is what makes a good team. You could have a star, and it would help, but it wouldn't guarantee anything. The field's just too big. Every player contributes from the starters to the last guy on the bench.” Mr. Orth also revealed that he is “a big believer in the "leave it on the field" approach.” This means that you give the game everything you got. The team “might lose, but they better go down fighting.” When it comes to the values, Orth is “adamant about kids who are coachable.” Orth “would rather have a team of kids that will listen to the coach and work hard than a bunch of players who may
be more skillful but won't listen.” One of Orth’s biggest struggles as a coach is that “the team is always changing,” and “you just don't have the time to fully develop and implement things before it's time to start over and rebuild.” He also talked about the fact that NH has a smaller number of people going out for the sports teams. This almost guarantees players a spot on the team and gives them the freedom to not give the sport their all when they know the coach cannot afford to put them on the bench. Orth, “firmly believe[s] that competition breeds success, and without that, it's hard to stay motivated.” Along with winning “a regional title for the first time in several years,” Orth said, “one of my favorite parts of coaching though is just getting to know kids outside of the classroom and watching them grow and mature as people.” Mr. Orth also explained how, “I started [with] completing my coaching badges or certifications and have continued to read books, take classes, study and so forth.” It was also mentioned that “there were some classes we had to take that deal with concussions, heat illness, those sorts of things. I have a background check and have been fingerprinted.” Mrs. Tara Beugel, the girls’ junior varsity softball coach, says that the key to being a good coach is being available for her players and letting them know she cares and believes in them. Beugel explained how “I love laughing with the players and having fun little inside jokes.” She also enjoyed an “impressive motivational speech that rallied our team back together,” when their spirits were down and “team bonding.” There are rules and regulations set out by Maryland to become the instructor of high-school athletes. For Beugel, she was required to “take a mandated course through the county that met for several weeks. It even had a makeup class on Valentine's Day!”
to dance in their living rooms which “lacked space.” She says this made it very difficult to see what the teacher was doing. “My internet would always go out, so it was frustrating,” she expressed. The squad is currently back in
to Smith, her teachers didn’t have enough space at home, so they didn’t want to practice. Smith went almost 6 months “At first when it hit [the without dancing, even though Covid-19 virus] we were doing there were options for online classes over Zoom and it was classes from other studios. Lack terrible,” shares of space in junior Jessica Duher house to dok. Dudok has perform the been dancing for routines was 9 years, howeva contributer, this year has ing factor. looked very differOn October ent from the rest. 4th her “stuShe dances for dio opened Ragebox Dance again but Center typically [they] have two days a week. a maximum “We start learnof 8 students ing our dances in in each class October and our and we have first competition designated is in February,” spaces in the Dudok explains. room to make They compete Dancers return to the studio with new precautions in place. sure everyone about once a Dudok posed with her teammates at Rage Box Dance Comis 6 ft apart.” month until May. Smith states pany. PHOTO CREDIT: Jessica Dudok According to that everyone Dudok, the dance has to wear troupe travels to a mask the entire time as well. a variety of conventions from the studio, but they have to wear Another dancer affected by January through May in order to masks. “It’s better that we’re all the pandemic and having to improve their abilities as dancers. together, but I get out of breath make alternative plans for dance Also, they have the opportunity trying to do everything,” Dudok is Junior Lauren Richardson. to take classes given by profes- shares. She is hopeful that everysional dancers. Over the sum- thing will be back to normal soon. She’s been dancing since she mer, Dudok and her fellow dancSenior Mackenzie Smith is was 3 and currently dances for ers have only a few weeks off another dancer who has had to the International Academy of and then their training resumes. change her dance routine and Dance. She’s been able to creDuring classes, they “either work practice at home. She explains, ate a space in her basement that on their dance technique, or in “My dance studio closed the she uses as her practice area. “As of right now I haven't heard hip hop [they] battle each oth- same week as school did when anything about reopening yet er, which is fun,” she describes. the COVID cases started to rise, since we have a lot of little kids in When COVID forced the and my teachers didn’t want our studio,” she shares. Her stutroupe to begin practicing at to do Zoom, so we didn’t get dio occasionally hosts Zoom calls home, many problems arose. to do online stuff.” According and then dancers submit videos of Dudok and her team were forced
Students saddle up for riding VICTORIA HANNA Reporters
cording to O’Neil. However, O’Neil is far from being the only student here at North Harford who does horseback riding. Junior Emma Mathios began riding in 5th grade, but she “wasn’t serious about it until about 7th grade.” Mathios’
Here at North Harford, it’s not too much of a stretch trying to find someone who does horseback riding, but what about students who compete with their horse? Sophomore Delaney O’Neil has been horseback riding since she was five years old. O’Neil says she “loves the challenges it presents and there is never a dull moment.” O’Neil goes horseback riding with many of her friends at school, “actually,” she says, “most of my friends ride.” O’Neil says that the best trophy she has received would be the “2019 number one Junior young rider for PHOTO CREDIT: EMMA MATHIOS modified.” O’Neil has eight horses at her house but her favorite thing about horseback favorite to ride is the “Irish sport horses and warmbloods, “my riding is “the people I have met and the relationships that we main horse is Iris,” she explains have.” “I love riding him so much.” Mathios also explains that For anyone looking into starthorseback has brought her closer ing to ride and compete, O’Neil to people that would have nevsuggests for them to “find a beer been in her life if she hadn’t ginner-friendly farm to take lesdecided to give riding a shot. “I sons from,” this is the best way have met some of my best friends, to become exposed to riding, ac-
who I know will always have my back,” Mathios says “I love the family atmosphere the barn gives you, it’s just a wonderful, easy, relaxing place to go when life gets stressful or school starts to overwhelm you.” With the pandemic, Mathios explains that it’s been hard to get practice time in. However, before all this started, Mathios competed at Maryland State Fair and ended up getting 3rd out of 13 people, according to Mathios.“I was beyond proud, especially with all of the rides and distractions going on around us,” she adds. According to Mathios, horseback riding isn’t just jumping on a horse and shouting “go”. Mathios explains the hardships of the sport, “it’s being able to work with a team, a team who can’t communicate with words to each other and using your body to help aid and guide them to choose to do the right thing.” Mathios also adds, “horseback riding takes a lot of patience when you are riding, you work on the same tedious thing day in and day out to just see a tiny improvement.”
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Cry of the Hawk
Catching wind with competitive sailing VICTORIA HANNA Reporter
the wind is doing, what boats around you are doing, and what Who knew students and you want to be doing. With all alumni from our very own of that occupying your mind can school sailboats for sport? Com- be a very hard thing to do, it’s a petitive sailing is much like lot of multitasking,” he adds. track, two or more boats race However, Kozak is not the around a course, and the first only NHHS student who particone to reach the finish line wins. ipates in this sport. Sophomore Graduated student Derek Brooke Bogdan started sailing Kozak continued on to St Mary’s when she was only five years College and started competi- old and started racing at seven. tive sailing at the school. Kozak Bogdon’s last competition was a started competitively sailing Frostbite, but Bogdon says that the summer before his junior she would be participating in year of college, “I sailed small high school sailing if it wasn’t boats when I was 13 or 14 but for Covid. “Frostbite consists of a didn’t pick it up again once a week competition and switch to kneel on Saturdays,” she exboats until 2019.” plains.“420s, lasers, According and F Jays are to Kozak, the all allowed to “I’ve most enjoycompete in this never been in a sport regatta where able part of sailing is the where my competitors your total of people and all your ractheir experi- have offered to help me es are added ences. “Your up and whoso much.” competiever has the tors are a lot lowest score in - Derek Kozak of times close your class would friends and if win,” she explains. you’ve never met Bogdon says she them before, on land, would have competed they are always the nicest this season, “the last regatand most helpful people around,” ta I have attended would be the Kozak says, “I’ve never been in Frostbite, but it isn’t completed a sport where my competitors yet.” During her 2 years of sailhave offered to help me so much.” ing lasers, Bogdon says that the Kozak also adds that the best placing she has gotten is sport takes a lot of mental and third overall. Bogdon’s meaning physical energy spent. “The of sailing is “racing other boats knowledge to race, let alone sail, but it’s not just about that,” effectively can be a lot to learn she explains “it’s also about for somebody new,” he explains. racing yourself.” According to “How you sail and what deci- Bogdon, once started, sailing sions you make depends on what is a sport you can never stop.
October 30, 2020
Flipping through meets; Gymnasts compete online GRACE FELDBUSH
Reporter
new rules to follow while in the gym. Grimm says, “We have to wear masks the whole practice except when we are doing stuff, we use hand sanitizer every 45 minutes, and at the end of practice they sanitize
is one of the best parts and that is one of the things that Ever had a virtual meet? These was taken away from them. “I girls have. They've been flipdon’t like all the new rules that ping around for years now, yet it much because it makes pracis their first time doing it online. tice kind of less fun and even Sophomore Kaity Grimm more strict, but we have to competes with Hardo it to stay safe.” ford Gymnastics Quick says one as a USAG (USA of the advantagGymnastics) level es to virtual meets seven gymnast. She is that athletes get is looking at it as to use the equippositive as possible ment they’re used and states, “It might to from the gym be less stressful if instead of using you're at your gym different equipment and not competat other gyms that ing right in front of they don’t practice the judges’ face.” on. “I practice with Senior, Kylie my gym equipment Bomhardt competes most of the time, with ACPR Gymso I think it is a big nastics as an USAG advantage to be level eight, gymnast able to use it for a has a different way meet,” Quick states. of looking at it. She “I hope we go says, “I think these back to the way it meets will not be used to be because good for me because this is my last year I usually do better and I want to get when I have peoa senior ceremoBombhardt cruises through her routine. She is ple cheering me on ny like most other and an audience.” hoping to get a regular season this year as a senior. seniors before me Freshman Emma PHOTO CREDIT: Kylie Bombhardt have gotten, but I Quick competes am afraid I won’t with ACPR Gymthe whole gym. During pracget one,” Bomhardt states. nastics as an USAG level sevtice, we have to stay six feet According to Bomhardt, she en gymnast, and she is only apart unless you have a mask just wants a normal season worried “about if the devicon and are getting spotted.” for her senior year to finish es glitch and the judge can’t According to Grimm, meets out her gymnastics career, alsee part of your routine.” won’t be as fun as they used though she doesn’t believe that With the global pandemto with all the new rules. She with COVID, she will be able ic going on, these girls have thinks traveling with your team to compete her final season.
Pushing sports into cyberspace; HCPS athletics schedule allows seasons to begin GREER STRINE Sports Editor This fall, HCPS has decided to start a new way of participating in athletics. Starting the week of Oct. 12 through Nov. 6, each fall sport athlete has the opportunity to still practice their skills while staying at home virtually. Students who participate in athletics virtually will have the opportunity to participate in conditioning once a week, but also can do the weekly challenges provided by HCPS. Each Harford County public high school is ‘competing’ against each other to receive points according to the HCPS athletics plan. Along with the challenges to be submitted each week, athletes have the opportunity for in-person conditioning with their coaches. According to HCPS, students must be returning to school for the once a week in-person attendance to be eligible for this conditioning opportunity. Although students cannot scrimmage or partake in the normal practices and gameplay with their coaches, there are activities designed for each sport to focus
on a different skill each week. from the seven-yard line, running partake in virtual sports, Junior For example, HCPS states “Week drills, and putting aerial shots soccer player Luke Phillips has one, cross country will partici- into a bucket five yards away. chosen not to take part in virtual pate in a virtual 5k race, athletes Blondell believes, “I think all of sports this year. Phillips had been are given two weeks to com- the challenges are all attributes playing on the soccer team for both plete and results will need to be a field hockey player must adopt freshman and sophomore year, emailed in.” Every sport has new t o b e but not virtual sports this year. challenges each week, putting a Although, in his off time, Philnew spin on the virtual playtime. lips has been “hitting the gym Sophomore field hockey almost every day to stay in “I am player Julia Blondell has shape and gain as much muspleased with the situation decided to take part in the we are in, that the schools and cle as I can.” Virtual sports virtual athletic season. She aren’t made to be appealthe state are making stated, “I decided to take ing to everyone, HCPS outlets for student-athletes to part because I thought it released the plan so stuwould be a great way to continue their sports even through dents can “gain some keep up with the sport normalcy back,” even the times where we can’t attend that I love so much but if it means it's online. school... to also stay in touch with Phillips stated that he my amazing coaches.” did not like the concept of - Julia Blondell, To participate, athletes the virtual soccer season that sophomore must record themselves doing was ahead of him. He addthat week’s activity. Blondell ed that he did not believe there states that she believes recording isn’t anything that can be taken is needed to allow their coaches to s u c c e s s - away from it that he couldn’t be see progress but also to keep the ful in gameplay.” She added doing at home. His time at the feel of the team going, by seeing that each skill had a given pur- gym has been something that their players come together, even pose and even if they do not has “significantly benefited” him during the hardest of times, and directly use that skill in a game, as well as continued his passion still play the sport that they love. practicing the motions can lead for the sport he loves to play. Some of the virtual tasks for to more success on the field . However, Phillips is not alone, field hockey players include However, not many students when 150 NH students were maintaining an air dribble, shots have taken up this opportunity to polled 95% of 150 students said
they didn’t like the concept of virtual athletics. Students were also asked to defend their stance, and they stated that they didn’t feel motivated to participate in the opportunity simple because they could do the same thing and even more at home and some athletes, didn’t see a factor that was compelling them to have a drive to do the weekly activities. Although students recognize that there are some perks with these activities, a ton of athletes have decided to play in a rec. league instead this season, to get direct gameplay. Even with those not taking advantage of the activity, those participating have a set schedule to follow with different challenges and conditioning drills each week, for them to complete and submit to their coaches . Blondell stated, “I am pleased with the situation we are in, that the schools and the state are making outlets for student-athletes to continue their sports even through the times where we can’t attend school. Of course, it's optional, but I care so much for this sport that I’d completely dedicate my time to an opportunity like this.”