October 2021

NORTH HARFORD HIGH SCHOOL

211 PYLESVILLE ROAD, PYLESVILLE, MD 21132

410-638-3650

VOLUME 43 ISSUE 1

OCTOBER 28, 2021

Homecoming Court sees lack in participation this year;

Dudok, Brundridge take crown in annual event MARISSA ALTENBURG H/S Editor Seniors Jessica Dudok and Solomon Brundridge were announced as the 2021 Homecoming Queen and King at the dance on Oct 9.

Due to Coivid precautions, each member walked alone, unlike previous years where members were escorted by another member of the court. This year’s nominees included Alyssa Alford, Hope Conrad, Jessica Dudok, Andi Fetter, Tonya Marks, Madison Quick, Madalyn Rhoades, Kaylyn Shew, Alexis Wood, Douglas Barker, Solomon Brundridge, Zachary Cornman, Sean Gibbons, Luke Phillips, and Joshua Woods.

The queen Jessica Dudok says, “I joined Hoco court because I felt like it would be a fun experience and some of my other friends were running too so I wanted to do it with them.”

Competitor Mady Rhoades add- ple signed up there wasn’t a true ed that she joined because she ‘competition.’”

Dudok said she thinks the lack thought it was a fun way to be involved in her senior year especial- of interest stems from a lack of ly with this being the first dance ability to get the information out there to people. after Covid.

Solomon Brundrige said, “I wasn't originally planning on “...Knowing that joining. I didn't even know there were people in how to sign up for it, [but] my peers had persuaded me this school that believed in to join. I thought it would me enough to vote for me was make Homecoming more interesting and I believed relieving as well as surprisI had a good chance of ing.” winning, so I went for it.”

-Solomon Brundrige, To become a part of the court, the members had to fill senior out and application and in prior years, the NNHS faculty picked Rhoades the final 10 boys and 10 girls on which the upperclass students adds that “I feel like Homecomcould vote. This year there was a ing court could be seen as a populack of volunteers, and the court larity contest, discouraging some ended up with only six boys and people from joining. The fact that ten girls. Tonya Marks adds that there is a Homecoming outside “Since there weren't a lot of peo- of school also may have caused

people to not come to the school Homecoming.”

Marks said that she believes most people see it as a popularity contest as well, however that is not true adding that “in reality it is based on your academics and basically you as a person.”

The contestants said that they all took part in traditional getting ready activities. “I did what I did every year before homecoming, hair, makeup and taking pictures with my friends,” said Rhoades.

Brundridge adds that “quarantine was a hard time for everyone, coming back from such an isolated period affected our mental [health and confidence.”

Marks mentioned that there were less people that attended the dance than past years.

She said that this aspect was fun, however, because she could mingle more, “combining friend groups and dancing and talking

with people I don’t talk to on a regular basis.” Rhoades said that it was easier to dance than years past due to the fewer number of attending students which she enjoyed.

Brundrige describes the crowning moment by adding “I felt confident in myself as they crowned me, knowing that there were people in this school that believed in me enough to vote for me was relieving as well as surprising.”

When Dudok won she said, “I was a little overwhelmed when I won because there were a lot of people watching.” She added that iIt's kind of weird when people congratulate her because she feels like she “didn't do much to win and anyone else deserved to win just as much as me.”

Dudok also added that she feels like “Solomon break dancing during the slow dance will go down in history.”

Gender-neutral bathrooms are newest addition to school KYLIE REDDING Op/Ed Editor

Students came back to school to discover two new gender-neutral bathrooms across the hall from room D104. According to principal Bryan Pawlicki, the decision to add the bathrooms this year was because “we have more students now than we’ve had before that identify themselves as either a different gender or multi-gender.” He stated, “[the bathrooms] were gender-specific, so we just made them both so anyone could use them.”

Pawlicki further explained that “it was only because of the [need] we have” this year and commented that he’s “sure” many other schools are “handling it the same way based on population [of transgender students].”

After students saw this change, some took to social media to share their opinions—including a photo of the bathrooms that circulated Snapchat reading “you gotta be kiddin’ me.” One of the new signs were also taken down, but Pawlicki stated, “I think it was because of the TikTok challenge [devious licks…] not because of the gender-neutral bathrooms.”

Senior Maggie Mullins feels that “they were kind of unnecessary and [the school] would’ve save themselves a lot of trouble

if they would’ve just called them family bathrooms.” She added that transgender and nonbinary

and I think that’s kind of difficult for gender-neutral students like myself.” They continued to say,

[bathrooms] in the media center that aren’t locked [and] in other classrooms that aren’t locked—it

Some bathrooms were changed from single-gendered to gender-neutral. They provide new options for transgender and non-binary students.

Photo Credit: Kylie Redding students should just be able to “use the bathroom [they] identify with.” And Junior Ren Kramer commented that “I heard you need a teacher to unlock them,

“it’s kind of inconvenient—you know what I mean—if I just need to use the bathroom.”

However, the principal explained that “we have other

just happens that [the new ones] have locks on them and can be used by mostly staff.”

Junior Deane Conway said that previously they had to use the

nurse’s bathroom so the new gender-neutral bathrooms will be “very convenient.” They added “I think that having a gender-neutral bathroom is beneficial for everyone” and explained that they would be helpful “if you feel nervous changing in the [locker] rooms, feel ill, or just want some privacy.”

While Kramer feels that “a lot of the nonbinary community at this school are “not really known about” and “a lot of people are known as their original gender,” Conway feels that “North Harford has a solid support structure in place for transgender students.”

Conway elaborated that “the general attitude towards the LGBTQ community has increased in acceptance very quickly in the last couple of years.”

But they also added “I know that some students might not have the same level as support as I do.” They acknowledged that the school was willing to work with their needs “because [they] campaigned for those accommodations, not because they were offered to [them].”

Conway commented that “making sure every student knows that it is possible to make changes within the school that will improve their experiences should be a priority.”

Cry of the Hawk

Page 2/ OP/ED

October 28, 2021

Eating disorders don’t only affect girls EDITORIAL Why has the media stigmatized the prevalence of eating disorders in girls but has completely left out that a large portion of boys that struggle with this mental health issue as well?

There are multiple different types of eating disorders, the common are Anorexia nervosa, Bulimia nervosa, Binge eating disorder, Pica, Rumination disorder, and Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder. All these affect girls and boys but can be caused by different reasons and be presented in different ways.

A quarter to a third of those struggling with eating disorders are male. Unfortunately, many of those men do not get the help they deserve because of stigma from the media. It is a huge issue for men who may not want to be associated with a problem that primarily affects women, according to the Child Mind Institute.

Boys are typically undiagnosed and untreated; they are more likely to gain these disorders at an earlier age than females. A

huge cause of an eating disorder in males are sports, especially wrestling where weight is a constant factor. Coaches who put an emphasis on body weight, body shape, and the pressure to win can cause extreme stress. Which potentially could lead to an eating disorder to combat these issues, according to Capital Area Pediatrics.

In a research article about the impact of the media on eating disorders in children and adolescents there were limited mentions of boys compared to girls who struggle with these issues.

Repetitively in this published research article there was the mention of “girls,” “females,” “young girls,” and “women.” Where is the information regarding the impact of media on the male children and adolescents?

In a separate research article

by Kristine Wright, it was found that although social media is not the cause of these eating disorders in males it does play a part in creating these body image issues. Through unrealistic images and content on these platforms

the kids are creating unrealistic body image standards. In order to appease these standards, they are using hazardous methods to their well-being According to Center for Change.

Most eating disorder treatment centers are targeted for young girls leaving boys who are struggling with limited resources. Parents and doctors are less likely to notice these in young boys because the differing signs of them in males compared to female signs. “Boys don’t always lose a lot of weight, they just become focused on getting lean and increasing muscle tone. And that’s not necessarily perceived in our culture as a troubling sign.” Explained Healthline.

Eating disorders in the media need to be destigmatized. Greater information needs to be distributed to parents in school and in doctors’ offices. On the main signs of eating disorders in girls and boys. If not, there are health consequences like damage to muscles, joints, and tendons from over-exercising, according to the Child Mind Institute.

Is consent not clear enough?

SUMMER GRACE News Editor

A boy once told me that his worst fear was being falsely accused of sexual assault. Ironic, isn’t it?

Consent, as defined by Google, is permission for something to happen. In terms of sex, it’s an agreement between participants to engage in sexual activity.

To be clear, consent is about communication.

Miraculously, some people consider manipulation a form of consent. It isn’t. Repeatedly asking someone to sleep with you until they cave is not consent.

There’s no surprise women are scared of men. Having our drinks spiked, being drugged, and later sexually assaulted is an around the clock worry. Yet, some boys say, “not all men are bad.” Notice how I said boys?

I’ve reposted many Instagram stories to spread awareness about certain cases of rape in the press.

Several boys have commented

saying it’s ridiculous to believe the victim first. Why? Just at this school alone, I’ve spoken to several women who have felt immense pressure to sleep with a boy. That is not consent.

When it comes to having a conversation about rape, boys get uncomfortably defensive. Maybe it’s just their puny consciousness actually at work, or maybe they are those boys that continuously make women uneasy.

For example, many boys revert to saying “but she said yes,” in conversations about sexual assault. Yeah you’re right, after you begged for an hour to the point where she was too emotionally exhausted to say no.

In case you missed it before, that is NOT consent.

To put it plainly, I’m not talking about the men who are genuinely aware of their actions and are respectful to us. Thank you for that.

However, I’m talking about the actual perpetrators of sexual assault who carry on with their life regardless of how miserable they’ve made their victims.

Why are boys worried anyway? Let’s say a boy was falsely accused of rape. According to RAINN.org, out of 1000 sexual assault reports, only 50 cases lead to arrest.

And because said accusation was fake, the chances of being arrested are even lower. Not to mention that only 25 out of 1000

Cry of the Hawk 211 Pylesville Road Pylesville, MD 21132 (410) 638-3650

offenders are incarcerated for their actions.

Why are the repercussions of fake claims more important than the real ones?

Aside from our notoriously unjust criminal justice system, actual victims of sexual assault never receive the justice they deserve.

How much they take from their victims is immeasurable.

Have you ever heard of the saying, “read the room”? That’s my response to boys uncanny fear of false sexual assault allegations.

The amount of thought some boys put into worrying about inaccurate claims is ignorant and insensitive towards all victims of sexual violence.

How come the offenders are so oblivious? I’m sure if it involved your Ford F-150 then you’d be all ears, Tom. In case you haven’t caught on, this isn’t an article about Tom’s Ford F-150. This is about sexual assault.

Maybe mentioning a car once will trigger some sort of reflection or thought from the type of boys I’ve been talking about.

Maybe not.

Maybe sexual assault will always be a topic boys neglect and ignore. Because regardless of the unending, countless news stories spreading awareness about these issues, there’s still not a change.

Be that change, I beg you.

If this offends you then you ARE the problem.

News Editors: Summer Grace, Kris Gray Opinion/Editorial Editor: Kylie Redding, Hannah Krizek Features Editor: Evan Kuzemchak IDR Editor: Jessica Fannin Society, Students & Culture Editor: Meghan Kalck Video Editor: Jackie Bultman, Andrew Hartlove, Silvia Martinez Copy Editor: Ben Iampieri, Layton Hillier Social Media Coordinator: Grace Feldbush

College application season brings distress VIEWPOINT College application season is in full swing, and so is the enormous amount of stress that comes with it. From writing supplemental essays to submitting the “right” test scores, thinking about the process alone is sometimes enough to make some high schoolers feel like they don’t stand a chance and are often left clueless.

It’s no secret that most teenagers don’t even know what to do yet, and end up picking a major or college just for the prestige or because they think they’ll make a lot of money post-graduation.

According to a survey done by the Hillside Atlanta Foundation, only around 45 percent of high school students feel ready for college and careers. This begs the question as to why students have to pick a college at 18 years old when they’re still finding out more about themselves and discovering who they really are.

Of course, there’s many ways to work around this problem.

Colleges have become increasingly flexible due to the pandemic and have held virtual tours, webinars, and meetings with regional advisors to help students find the right fit--but this doesn’t fix the detrimental mindset many students carry: trying to find a college that will accept them instead of finding a college they’ll accept.

When a student builds a high school resume tailored to a specific vision or dream, they start to feel as if they can’t turn back

on that if they discover they’re passionate about something else.

This can also make them more vulnerable to the thought of failure--they can’t see themselves anywhere else other than their dream school even if there’s a better college out there that meets criteria they didn’t even know mattered to them.

This is reflected in the number of students that drop out.

In 2020, around 40% of undergraduate students dropped out, 30% being freshmen according to EducationData. EducationData also reports that some of the most common reasons undergraduates drop out include being “under-prepared for the challenges of college studies, academic or structure wise” and enrolling in college “only to meet the expectations of others such as family, a spouse, and teachers”.

Although many colleges are going test-optional and stress that their holistic admissions process won’t be impacted by whether a student chooses to submit test scores or not, many students still feel the need to submit a 1600 or 36 in order to even have a chance at their dream school. It shouldn’t have to be this way.

The process of applying to colleges shouldn’t feel like having to meet expectation after expectation and deadline after deadline. It should be a time where students feel empowered and completely informed about the different steps they can take to shape their future into what they want--not what everyone else wants from them.

“College application season is in full swing, and so is the enormous amount of stress that comes with it.”

Health and Science Editor: Marissa Altenburg Entertainment Editor: Alexa Falls Sports Editors: Greer Strine Business Manager: Kensi Boyanich Reporters: Noel Bailey, Kimberly Edgar, Danny Gallo, Matthew Ledford, Reese Showalter, Liora Tolliver, Chloe Ward, Lillian Weatherman, Bella Arist, Caroline Barquin, Mekenzie McCann, Gabrielle Moxham, Delaney O’Neil, Brookelyn Priebe, Mackenzie Scott, Benjamin Sersen, Ghost States, Riley Stoneback Announcements Tech Victoria Hanna

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.

Page 3/ OP/ED

Cry of the Hawk

October 28, 2021

What is left for us? It should be socially acceptable for LAYTON HILLIER Copy Editor

Humanity is stupid. Really.

Whether you believe in Adam and Eve’s apple or Pandora’s box, humanity is responsible for the chaos of the world.

The hubris of humanity is well documented, even in the current age. From world-altering bombs, to ignoring climate change, humans have tried to ignore it, simply hoping that over time it will get better, and doing nothing to change our trajectory.

It’s no wonder this lack of humility exists; humanity is now, more than ever, the center of the universe. Even the geological age shows this lack of humility.

The Anthropocene, the current geological era indicates this socalled age of man. It is commonly believed to have begun at the start of the Industrial Revolution, according to National Geographic. A mere 221 years ago was the earliest start of the Anthropocene. Others consider the 1945 atomic bomb tests and bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki to be the start of the Anthropocene.

Only 76 years ago.

76 years isn’t even a full lifetime. The average life expectancy in the U.S. is 78.99 years, according to macrotrends.

To put this into perspective, I bring your attention to the epoch before this. The most recent recognized epoch by the International Union of Geological Sci-

ences is the Holocene. The Holocene began 11,700 years ago. Over eleven thousand years ago.

But here we are, at the beginning of a new era. Whether you believe the start of the Anthropocene was the Industrial Revolution or the utilization of the atomic bomb, it happened on a minute scale, compared to the history of the billions of years old planet we call home, in a galaxy more than twice its age.

Less than a lifetime ago people believe was the start of the Anthropocene, the age of humans.

The era of history is categorized by our stupidity and our disregard for other life. Even among our own species, we are responsible for the deaths of millions at Nagasaki and Hiroshima, deaths of citizens, and complications of radiation among soldiers on the quote-unquote winning side.

Countless “once in a lifetime” disasters, both from Mother Nature who turned against us and because of our own hands.

If we don’t change our course of action as a species, the Anthropocene will die with us, and in its place will be the next era of history, one without us in it. An epoch with no historians to document it, and no humans living to tell our stories.

The world is a fascinating place, and as the subjects of it, we must protect it better than we have. From one epoch to another, catastrophic events mark the beginnings and ends. Thousands of years of history, passed in a few sentences, a change in the geological makeup of the land.

What will be our mass extinction event?

Or are we already in it?

Is the Anthropocene the death of man, or the creation of a new era for us?

Only time will tell. And unless we put ourselves to the side, the universe will not be kind to us.

high school students to trick or treat VIEWPOINT

As spooky season is arriving, we start to think about trick or treating, decorating, haunted houses... Most high school students no longer trick or treat because at ages 14 to 18 it is no longer accepted.

Most people would say that trick or treating is something that most kids do around elementary school and maybe even early middle school ages. Although there is no set age to stop trick or treating a survey done by parents.com says many stop at ages 12 to 17.

Most high school students would be with friends or spend the night having a Halloween party or have a horror movie marathon with family, because what is not that much else that they can to do.

Many high school students would love to still trick or treat because who does not want a bunch of candy and to dress as anything you want.

Someone may suggest just buying a bag of candy from the store but there’s isn’t much fun in that.

What some may want is to still experience the fun of the holiday and going door to door to get their candy.

The only thing is most people look upon it as something you are not supposed to do once you start to get older. Once we get older it’s considered weird to still trick or treat and dress up in a costume. And most adults think so too, many saying to their kids they’re too old for it, or when a group of teenagers knock on their front door on Halloween night they assume they’re up to no good.

It should be more accepted for teenagers to trick or treat, if it be with their family or younger siblings, with their friends or just by themselves, because there is no harm in trying to keep having fun.

One thing to keep in mind is, Goodhosuekeeping.com says “[you] should dress the part.

You can continue to trick-ortreat into your teen years as long as your teenage Halloween costumes gets proportionally better as your age increases.”

As a teenager you should at least try to dress in a costume if you want to go out and trick or treat because not wearing a costume and just walking around with your bucket is mostly pointless.

Let us make it socially acceptable to trick or treat once you are in high school for the fun memories with friends, look so ridiculous in a costume to make people laugh when you walk up to their front door, scare some little kids, and overall, just have fun with it.

There is a point where you should stop trick or treating but why make it now? Make it last while you can because there is no reason that society should make you feel like you are too old to trick or treat or do other Halloween activities because you are a teenager.

Be courteous, not conceited KRIS GRAY News Editor

Is there a secret portal to Disney World in the toilet bowls?

Are the soap dispensers filled with chocolate syrup? Are the toilet paper rolls full of twenty-dollar bills? They must be.

They have to be. Why else would mobs of students commune by the stalls?

Or maybe it’s something else entirely. Among youth, e-cigarettes are more popular than any traditional tobacco product.

In 2015, the U.S. surgeon general reported that e-cigarette use among high school students had increased by 900%.

We don’t even fully understand the effects of the chemicals

used in e-cigarettes. So, for teens to knowingly take that chance on their life is immature and ignorant. What’s even worse is that they feel okay subjecting others to that experience.

One day, I was casually going to the bathroom, and there was this group of sophomores standing in front of the stalls talking.

At this point, I didn’t think much of it because that’s pretty normal and they weren’t bothering me.

Now, what really bothered me was when I opened the door to wash my hands and found myself in a cloud of smoke.

The peach-scented “death cloud” hovered over my head and then settled onto my hair, skin, and clothes. This made me furious because how disrespectful and selfish do you have to be to take a public area (especially a stinky restroom) and use it as a smoking lounge?

And while we’re at it, let’s talk about masks.

Yup. That’s right. All you people who STILL have not figured out how to wear your mask correctly (or at all), you are putting me and everyone around you at risk.

So, not only am I subjected to dangerous chemicals including nicotine, you are also subjecting me to the chance of disease.

And while we’re at it. How about not skipping class. Your 19 visits to the same bathroom in just one class isn’t suspicious at all. Nor are your echoing voices as you try to hide under the stairwell. And did I mention cameras?

You’re on them.

Vaping is not worth the effects it will have on your health. Keeping your mask down is not worth the chance of contracting an illness.

Skipping class will only make your high school experience harder in the long run.

All these things are shortcuts to disaster.

The easy way is not the best way. The most comfortable thing to do is not the best thing to do.

There are consequences for every action you take. Make the right decision.

This is high school, and the next step we will take is attending college or getting a job. So, we must stop acting like irresponsible kids and start acting like young adults who actually have some ambition and respect.

Open top secret information to wandering eyes VIEWPOINT A navy engineer and his wife seemingly had a perfect life. A nice home, good jobs, and a big secret.

42-year-old Jonathan Toebbe, who had been involved with the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program, and his wife, 45, Diana Toebbe, are accused of sharing sensitive, top secret information.

The couple is facing allegations that include attempting to “sell secret design information for

nuclear-powered submarines to a foreign nation,” stated Kevin Johnson Diana was “accused of serving as a lookout during clandestine drops of data cards concealed in a peanut butter sandwich and a chewing gum wrapper,” said Kevin Johnson.

Investigations took much time, for good reason, and while the information continued added up on this couple, finding them in more and more trouble.

While this sounds like the next

big-screen spy movie hit, the reality is it’s real life and the consequences have to fit the crime.

This couple had access to top-secret information and they were prepared to hand it over to a foreign nation.

Clearly that’s not ok.

Since then the couple has qualified for court-appointed lawyers, after having separate hearings in a West Virginia federal court.

The couple was charged “with conspiring to communicate re-

stricted data and communicating restricted data,” Johnson states.

Restricted data makes it sound like this is no big deal. But it is.

Information being taken into the wrong hands is not only dangerous to Americans but all people.

Years ago, in the old days, treason was punishable by death.

While this is probably unlikely in the 21st century, the punishment should be more than simply jail time.

Johnson says, “the charges car-

ry a maximum punishment of life in prison if convicted of violating the Atomic Energy Act.” More than the time they will serve for this crime, this is not an issue we can turn a blind eye too.

We must be aware. We must know their names. Know their faces.

Because here’s the scary thing.

If this very normal couple can do this sort of thing, others can too.

And that should be concerning to everyone.

Bad guys cannot win.

Cry of the Hawk

October 28, 2021

Stop planning trips in advance JACKIE BULTMAN Video Editor

In the last four years my family has not planned a single trip in advance.

Read that again.

That means no booked hotel, no planned activities, no pre-bought tickets.

Read that again.

After taking one spontaneous trip to the New England area over New Years Eve 2018-2019, we have never looked back and neither should you.

We have been to Canada, the Carolinas, every major metropolis up and down the East Coast, the border states of Maryland, and many more places to say the least.

But not one of those trips did we plan more than a possible flight in advance.

So what do you do then Jackie, when nothing is planned. I know you are asking me this.

Ask the locals what their favorite spots are.

Like that time we got lost in West Virginia without service, so we stopped at a deserted town to ask what direction to head in.

Then we were told about one of the most charming natural parks filled with massive boulders, that was a county secret hidden down a dirt path.

Ask the locals what food the area is known for.

Like that time my dad and I stumbled into the single-greatest restaurant in Michigan. A hole in the wall place where the owner took the time to make us meals catered to our personalities, and on top of that, gave us a free cannoli and told us anytime we would venture into the area again, he would gladly make us another meal for free.

Ask the locals if there are any hidden secrets or treasures about the area.

Like that time the girls in the family, found the hidden haunted wing of the Grove Park Inn in Asheville. And got to explore the vintage untouched decorated hallways, as if we were taken back in time.

Do not flock with the crowd because, who really wants to stand in lines all day.

Like that time my sister and I accidentally wandered into a French fort in Old Quebec and got shooed out by the guards, just because we were trying to avoid

the crowds.

Do not fear the weather and let it prevent your plans.

Like that time my dad and I went to Kaaterskill Falls in the pouring rain. Not a single soul around on the miles of slippery trails, a truly magical experience.

Not only during the seasonal changing of the leaves, but also during a glistening rainy time.

Do not feel obligated to follow the rules.

Like those times where we’ve snuck into numerous luxury hotels like The Plaza in New York, The Homestead in Hot Springs, The Grand Hotel in Mackinac Island, and Sagamore Pendry in Fells Point. Acting like you belong or fake it til you make it, like I like to say, will become your best friend. Because boy do you deserve to feel like a luxury.

Let me tell you, spontaneity leads you to find the most unexpected gems in the most common of places. You are forced to use your resources to figure out where and what to do next.

Just ask more questions, engage in more conversations, and take more risks.

Some of my favorite memories have come from traveling by these all of these principles. Now it is your turn to go make those favorite memories too, do what you love, but do it with a needless heart, go with the flow. It never fails. You wont regret it. I promise.

Mandatory vaccines in work environments;

Loss of employment caused EDITORIAL

companies who are starting to require vaccination or else be terCurrently the world as we minated from their job. currently know it is undergoing Currently, according to the many changes due to the Corona leadingage.org, six states inVirus pandemic known to us all cluding Colorado, Maine, New as Covid-19, making some people York, Oregon, Rhode Island, and unable to work due to manWashington all curdatory Covid-19 vaccinarently have mantions in many different dates for healthfields of work. care workers Employers may As the Covid-19 where its pandemic rages “vaccination wish to focus on on, many placterminasteps they can take to ortion.” es are requiring Acencourage and incen- cording to proof of vaccination and/ tivize employees to get a poll of 156 or a negative North Harvaccinated.” covid test to be ford Stuable to attend ~ Society for Human dents, 75% various types believe you Resource Manageof social events should not ment such as, concerts, be required to school events, and be vaccinated to even some colleges and work and the othschools. er 25% believe you Many are finding issues should. with vaccine mandates against While some employers are Covid-19 due to loss of employ- trying to enforce this mandate ment. Some are choosing to not “[they] must comply with the be vaccinated due to pre-exist- Americans with Disabilities ing health issues or simply not Act (ADA), Title VII of the Civwanting to be vaccinated, age, il Rights Act of 1964 and other religion, etc. workplace laws, according to the While these are all valid rea- EEOC” , says the Society for Husons for not wanting to be vac- man Resource Management. cinated, some people are dealing While most people in the govwith terminations and devas- ernment and health care field tating loss of income from their are pushing the notion that it’s

a good idea to be vaccinated, trying to mandate and enforce a vaccination requirement on all your employees can cause many issues, especially for people with underlying health conditions or other various reasons where they cannot get accommodation for this mandate.

One way to avoid this is “Rather than implementing mandates that could lead to such difficult decisions, employers may wish to focus on steps they can take to encourage and incentivize employees to get vaccinated” Society for Human Resource Management says.

This can help with far less people being worried about being fired for not being vaccinated.

While Covid is still a major issue that we will face for the foreseeable future, vaccinating as many people as we can, should help limit the numbers of potential new cases. We cannot force people to get the vaccine.

A solution for people who cannot be vaccinated is to administer regular Covid tests and by wearing a proper face covering.

As of now the best solution we can do currently is get tested for Covid-19 if you are not feeling well, and do not go to school or work if you are showing symptoms to help prevent a mandatory vaccine or mass shut down.

Page 4- Op/Ed

Little gestures go a long way,

Treating others well VICTORIA HANNA Studio Manager

I believe we should start this off with a lesson on kindness.

The most cliche topic, which is to treat others how you want to be treated.

This goes for service workers too, and in extension, food servers. Before starting my first job as a waitress at Waffle House, I had no idea of the impact tipping and just overall being nice to your server has.

I would go out to a Red Robin with my friends and leave $2 on the table, after all, I didn’t have much money and servers already got an hourly pay, right? $3.63 how much servers make in Maryland. Not much right.

I don’t want to greedy, but I don’t think its really asking that much, or asking to much.

Say you stay at a restaurant for two hours. In that time, the server will have brought you menus, gotten your drinks, taken your order, delivered food when it’s cooked, and then taken your plates and cleaned them, when you were done. That’s not including refilling any drinks or bringing you sauces if needed.

Seems like no big deal, right? $7.26 is the amount they’ve made during that time.

That’s not even enough to buy a chicken sandwich at McDonalds, let alone pay a phone bill or car insurance. Even if it was a

ten-hour shift, that’s only $36.30.

That’s why tipping is so important.

That’s only part of it though, if a table of mine was nice and treated me like a human being (which I’m now realizing is the bare minimum), I wouldn’t really mind if they only left two-dollar bills under the napkin holder, or even didn’t tip at all.

You never know what someone has in their bank account, and who am I to complain when not every table tips me 20 percent?

What really irks me though is when a table is entitled or disrespectful. You are their servant, not a human being, and are here on Earth for the sole purpose of attending to their every need at every second, while not being too attentive and risking the possibility of annoying them.

What. A. Joke.

I didn’t get this too much at Waffle House, except for the occasional teenage boy who would come in asking for a free waffle or climbing on the counter before being kicked out.

But now being a server at a country club, it happens a lot more. More than half the time, members at the club are totally disgusted any time you cannot read their mind and automatically know they wanted ketchup with their French fries.

Now it may sound like I’m exaggerating but working in an upper-class place such as a country club, people act entitled because of the seven-digit number they have in their bank account.

I don’t believe in treating people any less just because of their money, race, or anything they cannot control or change within five minutes.

However, you can control the words that come out of your mouth so use kind ones while talking to servers. Despite the name of the occupation, we are not actual servants.

Cry of the Hawk

October 28, 2021

Page 5 - News

Black Student Union creates sanctuary for students at NHHS CAROLINE BARQUIN Reporter Recently The Black Student Union was made to create a safe space for the minorities who attend North Harford High School.

According to the International Baccalaureate of North America, the student body at NH is 91.7% Caucasian.

Junior TJ Femi-Falodun is the president and founder of the Black Student Union (BSU), and she said she created this group to make “a safe space for black students, somewhere they can fully feel comfortable. If a student has a problem or issue that’s bothering them that a teacher or counselor may not understand, they can come to us.”

Yoyin Ogunyemi, the second president of the club adds, “the goal is to make a comfortable

space for all black students at to Femi-Falodun. “We want more North Harford because there is black students to be comfortable and open an extreme lack of diversity and about want everyone to have a place to go if they need help.”

“Students should feel comSome upcoming plans for the fortable at school and by creatclub include ing the BSU, now there is the hope visiting Morgan State that students will be more comfortUniversity, a able and make friends who underhistorically black college stand them” in Baltimore, -Yoyin Ogunyemi, Maryland. The group is planJunior ning to visit the National Museum of African American Hiscomtory and Culture in Washinging to this school.” She addton D.C. as well.

Having a BSU at North Harford ed that there were a lot of people is incredibly important according who told her before applying to

this school,“that they wouldn’t apply because they didn’t want to feel racially marginalized.” The organization wants to change this by having the BSU create a positive presence here.

“Students should feel comfortable at school and by creating the BSU now there is the hope that students will be more comfortable and make friends who understand them.” Ogunyemi explains.

The club does this by organizing field trips, activities, fundraisers, study groups, help for homework and tests, SAT study groups, and by encouraging black students to attend North Harford.

The meetings are typically held on Friday Hawk Soar days during the second lunch in D300.

“Allies are welcome to the Black Student Union, all people

Yearbook staff produces book against all odds SUMMER GRACE News Editor ANDREW HARTLOVE Video Editor It’s a tradition that all schools share, its pages can tell a story that only a school and its students can tell. Through a global pandemic and virtual learning, the 2020-21 yearbook team put it together in “spectacular fashion” according to senior Matthew Holste.

We all know that the world shut down in early 2020. Schools, restaurants, businesses, all down or altered in some way.

When it came down to schooling, staying at home gave almost zero opportunities for events or funny moments that a normal school year would normally supply.

Last year, English teacher and Field Hockey coach Mrs. Carla Harward and her yearbook team worked around the clock trying

to get interviews and pictures from students in a virtual setting.

Senior Madison Winn said “it was a pain to make” based solely on student participation and overall student inclusion.

According to Winn, students would respond to an email and not include a picture, forget to answer a question, or flat out not respond at all.

She also said that the team tries to “include every student three times” in each book but they could only include a few students a few times.

Senior Elaina Huffman was another member of the ‘20-21 yearbook staff. Huffman says yearbook was “really fun but also had its challenges.” Her biggest challenge was obtaining students' responses when she was writing or designing a page. “I’m sure it’s not that bad this year since we are all

back in school but, virtual learning presented a new challenge for creating the yearbook,” Huffman explains.

On top of the student participation and the inclusion hurdles, the difficulty of the book's creation was increased because the yearbook team “couldn’t be together in person” Harward said.

She’d rather make the book in school to make peer reviewing easier and opening the door for new ideas.

The book was finished though, and the team is “pretty proud of it” according to Winn. The English teacher said that they produced a very “unique book” and “they [the staff] did an amazing job [making the book].”

Students' reactions to the book were positive. Holste gave props to the book saying, “for what they had to work with, it’s a miracle it

was made and even more so because of the quality.”

Huffman says the designs and colors were unique from what she’s seen through the past couple years of being a high school student. “I enjoyed getting to design something that is a really big part of our school,” she shares.

Huffman says, “I think that’s the most inspiring part, being able to create something together without actually being physically together.”

Currently, the team is working on the next issue of the year book for the 2021-2022 school year.

According to Harward, the team wants to try new things and have a “new approach” to how they cover events such as the homecoming pep rally, the past summer, clubs, and other traditional activities taking place inside and outside of school.

JVFC holds annual open house;

Jarrettsville community being educated on fire prevention MARISSA ALTENBURG H/S Editor On Sunday, Oct 10, the Jarrettsville Volunteer Fire Company held their annual open house.

The event ran from 12 p.m. until 3p.m.

Senior and JVFC volunteer Abbey Huneke said, “We had many booths, such as a radio station (100.7), the Harford County Sheriff's office, we had someone doing cartoon portraits, balloon animals, we had our fire prevention table, and much more.” She added that there were also “two car fire demonstrations, where the firefighters did a real life scenario, and demonstrated how they handle that situation.”

Huneke says that it was estimated that around 500 plus people attended the event throughout the allotted time period.

“This event was important because it was our annual fire

prevention event, which we use to help teach not just kids, but the whole community about fire prevention and what to do incase

Oct 3-9 was National Fire Prevention Week. Across the nation fire companies were encouraging the community to be active participants in fire prevention.

For Jarrettsville specifically they show kids basic fire prevention through this fun event.

They do live demonstrations to show what a real active fire Senior Eric Huffman demonstrated to situation would public how they respond to car fire. Photo look like. The Credit: Aden Harvey goal of the week is to spread awareness of of an emergency. The goal of the basic fire hazards such as electrifirehouse when we put this event cal issues, unattended flames, and together is to spread awareness flammable chemicals. The timing for what you should do in the case of this event is to remember the of an emergency,” adds Hunecke. Chicago Fire.

“The community gets the opportunity to learn about gore safety, kids get the opportunity to see the inside of the ambulance and fire trucks, and learn that they shouldn’t be scared if we show up to their house. They learn what they should do in the case of an emergency, and how to react if something bad were to happen,” stated Hunecke The JVFC is continually trying to share a community feeling. They are holding several events monthly including “every Wednesday we have food trucks from 4-8:30, but they end on Halloween, when we will have our big “finale” food truck night, with Aladdin the Camel in our presence.” She added that JVFC will also have our train garden open again this year, because “we didn’t get to have it last year due to Covid, but the dates are TBD for that.”

despite their race, ethnicity, culture, gender, or sexual identity are invited to join us.” Femi-Falodun explained. They would love to have anyone be a part of their community and learn about black culture. To be updated about club meetings and other activities join the remind @nhhsbsu or follow the Instagram page @nhhs_.bsu.

Femi-Faldon wants students to take away that “we are not here to start anything, we are not here to protest, riot, or condemn racists.

This is a place to celebrate black culture and to help the school in our own way.” Ogunyemi adds “everyone is accepted here; we all are just trying to make the school a more diverse place for students.

As well as the kids who are interested in the magnet program but are afraid to come here because of the lack of diversity.

?

? ? u o y d i D

know? ?

?

?

On October 7, new compost bays were added to the NHHS ag parking lot.

According to teacher specialist Mr. Gregory Murrell, teachers and students recognized about 7 years ago that there was a need to better contain the amount of compost being generated from the barn waste and potential from cafeteria food waste.

In addition, “the large piles presented a concern for the barn walls as moving piles began to encroach on the northeast facing walls of the barn,” describes Murrell.

These new bays allow for containment of the piles and a buffer for the barn.

The Harford County Soil Conservation District, along with NRAS Students, and HCPS Facilities developed a plan to help prevent the erosion from happening.

“The plan was approved last year in partnership with Vulcan Havre de Grace Quarry, and Williams Crane Service,” Murrell explains.

The construction occurred on Oct 7 and was completed by Vulcan, Williams and HCPS Facilities.

Murrell says this project was a great example of the partnerships that have been developed by the NRAS, HCPS and local businesses.

Compiled by: SUMMER GRACE

Page 6/ NEWS

October 28, 2021

Cry of the Hawk

New organization at Hawk’s Nest; Wellness Day features healthy opportunities for students Knitting Club meets Thursdays CHLOE WARD Reporter

LAYTON HILLIER Copy Editor Cast on, knit, purl, and cast off. A few skills students of the new Knitting Club will learn, thanks to math teacher Mrs. Kimberly Evelyn, the advisor for the Hawks’ Nest’s Knitting Club.

The Knitting Club had an informational meeting on October 7 and will continue to meet Thursdays from 2-3 p.m.

For beginners, it is recommended to use wooden needles, as the common metal needles can cause frustration because “for less experienced knitters, metal knitting needles can be too slippery,” but luckily, there are many other options for beginners, “bamboo knitting needles are great for beginners or for anyone who wants to learn to knit,” according to Knitfarious.

The project that the Knitting Club will be starting with requires a pair of US. 15 knitting needles, which are 10 millimeters in diameter, as well as two skeins of bulky yarn, says Evelyn.

The shape of knitting needles also come into play in how a project turns out, straight knitting needles, known as Straights are “best for smaller projects where there is no excessive bulk on the needles while you work, such as scarves, baby blankets, wraps or projects that are knitted in sections and then sewn together” says knitting site Create for Less.

Circular needles (circulars) can

knit flat, like circulars, or joined into a circle, and come in a variety of sizes and cord lengths.

Circulars can also come in an interchangeable variety, where the user can modify the cord length based on the project. “Interchangeable knitting needles have a lot more functionality than fixed circulars,” Knitfarious says.

Evelyn is “excited to have these students who don’t know how to knit find the joy and relaxation from learning to knit,” and for good reason, believes senior Alyssa Ireland. “I know how to crochet but I have a lot of extra knitting needles that I would like to put to use, and a knitting club is a great place for me to learn how to do that.”

Students who do know how to crochet, like Ireland, are welcome in the club, “as well as those who already know how to knit” says Mrs. Evelyn.

Evelyn believes in the benefits of knitting, finding it relaxing.

“One study found that the act of knitting lowers heart rate by an average of 11 beats per minute,” she mentions. “I’m looking for [students] to be happy by knitting the way I was when I first learned to knit.”

Students will be pleased to know about the benefits and stress-reducing qualities of knitting and will find that “knitting is a useful craft you can enjoy for years to come, well past high school graduation,” says Evelyn.

“As part of the school improvement initiative this year the team determined a focus on wellness was a priority,” says Mrs. Nancy Green, one of the coordinators of Wellness Day, a recent event at North Harford to encourage such.

The free event occurred on Wednesday, Oct. 13, behind the barn, prior to an extended weekend. It was sponsored by various clubs, school psychologists, counselors, students, and teachers, with a professional dance instructor as a special guest! The collaboration allowed for students to learn about new club opportunities, with Drama and Voices of Equity new ways to involve themselves in the school, and to create new connections with students of all grade levels.

Attendees participated in three wellness workshops, all carefully selected to “promote wellness as a school community to the larger student body,” according to Green.

The first activity was a Pound class hosted by the dance instructor to improve physical wellness and get students and teachers active, while being able to have fun and dance along to music. Each attendee was given a pair of Ripstix--exercise drumsticks--that they hit together on the ground to the beat of the music.

Students then interacted with service animals, including the two horses, and were instructed to move them using anything in the

Students and staff participating in Pound Class during Wellness Day. Around 30 people attended the event held outside after school. PHOTO CREDIT: Jennifer Chandler field. The service animal interaction was designed to allow participants to spend time outdoors and distress with the friendliness of the animals.

The final group activity was yoga, led by health teacher Mrs. Jacque Williams. The attendees were to follow an audible instructor as well, which told them to do various yoga poses to relieve stress and relax the muscles.

Green believes the event “was a great way to come together, meet new people, and try some new things that we could never get to do anywhere else!” She believes it is not only a good opportunity for drama students, to “promote a healthy lifestyle so our performers can meet the physical and mental demands for performing,” but it is a beneficial experience for all, and she encourages stu-

dents to participate in the future.

Senior Alyssa Sparacco participated in the event, appreciating the “wholesome atmosphere,” but does give some ideas for future improvements. She hopes more people recognize how beneficial this event can be to mental wellness so more attend in the future.

Sparacco also wishes there had been more “focus on the arts and theatre.” She suggests theatre games, singing, or even freely dancing.

As the event came to a close, students were provided with resources and information, including “where to get help if you are struggling, the resources available for support at N.H.H.S and in the community including Upper Bay, and tips on making healthy lifestyle choices,” according to Green.

Senior citizens, community celebrates Haunts at Highland SILVIA MARTINEZ Video Editor On Oct 29 from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m., a free Halloween event hosted by the Mason-Dixon Country and Highland Community Association was underway at the Highland Commons. The event was free and open for everyone, allowing the community to celebrate together.

The event has been held every year since 2017, having originally started as a community give back. Ms. Kelly Rose, program director for the Mason-Dixon Country states she reached out to the North Harford High School Drama Club for helpers and performers, and received a great response. Approximately 30 drama students signed up to volunteer.

“Students will decorate, help run games for the community, and perform in a haunted hallway,” states Mrs. Nancy Green, the Drama Club advisor. Other

activities at the event included trunk-n-treat and a costume contest for all ages. The halloween festivities also featured a live DJ and Highland’s resident ghost, Ms. Wright.

“It’s such a great feeling to see the seniors, kids, and community come together to celebrate Halloween,” comments Rose.

Her and the seniors most looked forward to seeing the kids in their costumes, walking through the Haunted Hallway students performed in. Green feels the seniors at Highland will certainly be cheered by “the fun, the costumes, and the presence of such awesome young people.”

Rose believes that the seniors at Highland are also a huge help.

They helped decorate, hand out candy, and served food as well.

“They are just so happy to see the kids have a great time,” said Rose.

Green notes that the drama community at North Harford

has a long standing tradition of working together with Mason Dixon for food drives and helping them with fun events like the Halloween party. She feels that it’s important as individuals, performing ing together with Mason Dixon for food drives and helping them with fun events like the Halloween party. She feels that it’s important as individuals, performing groups and clubs like drama, and just in general to “give back to your community and form strong community partnerships for the benefit of all.”

The students that have attended the Halloween parties in the years past love to joke about Ms. Wright making an appearance on the night of the Halloween party, further comments Rose. They also like to dress as her. Green believes the drama students that attended this year had fun scaring the younger attendees.

Festivities will continue at the Highland Commons in the future.

Rose and the organizations involved in hosting the Halloween party are planning to have a Tractor Parade on December 4. She hopes that students will attend and help with the tractors, as well as parking.

Highland Commons was decorated for Haunts at Highland. Drama club members helped decorate for the event. PHOTO CREDIT: Mason Dixon Country Facebook page

Page 7/ NEWS

October 28, 2021

Cry of the Hawk

“Addicted” film released in November Student explores haunted experience; EVAN KUZEMCHAK Features Editor

“The whole concept is that you go into a trailer and watch a designated character go through the process of addiction,” says junior Ethan Jourdan about the new Addicted film. The film stems from the original Addicted play directed by school psychologist Christle Henzel, who is also the director and writer of the CORE project.

Jourdan says that “at the end, you are given the opportunity to go back and make different choices throughout the storyth,” and he adds the choices can “drastically change the outcome.”

Jourdan says that Henzel “is approaching the subject as being really intuitive and new.” He believes that Henzel is “showing teens how saying no is not as hard as it seems in a new light.”

Jourdan states he’s “very grateful to be a part of the project.”

Agreeing with Jourdan, senior Elle Saulsbury says,“We are all very excited and grateful to be part of the show this year.”

When Saulsbury found out about the show she said, “Henzel came to [her] Drama 3 class and asked if anyone wanted to audition” for the film. Saulsbury auditioned with the Cara monologue [Henzel] provided.” Saulsbury said she also read “some lines from Jennifer as well.” Jennifer and Cara are two of three main characters set to star in the film. Cara, the lead in the prescription pills film, is set to be played by one of the original actresses from the first Addicted show.

After that Henzel asked Salsbury to “officially audition” at Henzel’s of-

fice in Bel Air. After the audition, Saulsbury was informed that she “got the role of Jennifer, the lead in the short film.” The cannabis film is one of three stories, along with a story of an alcoholic and a girl addicted to painkillers.

Henzel chose to “travel to different middle schools instead of a play,” says Saulsbury due to Covid restrictions. By travelling around middle schools and filming, the production crew hopes to try and “abide to Covid restrictions without having restrictions in the content or acting.”

Saulsbury says “being able to be the first ones to test out this new method may come hand in hand with some pressure.”

According to Saulsbury, the audience should “expect to understand how different substances can affect your life negatively, even if you thought you knew what you were doing.” Saulsbury thinks the show will “impact viewers” due to “the content of the films,” which have “very heartbreaking and eye opening scenes that emphasize the topic.”

NH drama teacher Mrs. Nancy Green says that she is “so grateful” to Henzel for “bringing Drama 3 on board for another one of her amazing theatre projects- this time the movies!” Green is especially proud to “see how well [the] drama students did auditioning for an outside director, for a professional and meaningful project.”

Green’s drama class was able to “do the first table reads of the scripts,” meaning the students, “got to have a say in the final product and helped Henzel in places where dialogue would sound more authentically ‘teen’.

General manager gives details on attractions KIMBERLY EDGAR Reporter

“It wasn’t that scary, but we still had fun interacting with the scarers,” says junior Abby Giannini. Giannini spent Oct. 8 going to Legends of The Fog, a place where visitors can, “explore an imaginative world of scares.

With our legendary haunted hayride, haunted hotel, haunted maze, and our new walkthrough attraction, slaughterhouse,” according to the attraction’s website.

General manager and co-owner Patrick Barberry says that this year’s setup for Legends of The Fog was mainly the same with only a few adjustments. “We made two major changes this off-season,” explains Barberry, “we started the first phase of a new “Slaughterhouse” attraction, replacing our 10 season long “Sinister Circus”. The Slaughterhouse is an outdoor attraction this year in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the future we hope to move the attraction indoors.”

Barberry continues, “the second big project is the midway area and line orientation. The midway received a major facelift and dynamic lighting. We also separated the attraction into two lines, one for the hayride, and the other for the 3 walk-thru attractions: the “Farewell Hotel,” “Cornstalkers” corn maze, and “Slaughterhouse’.” According to Barberry, the “in-your-face nature” of the experience that guests must wear their masks, regardless of vaccination status, in the lines and when they are in the attractions. Giannini confirms that the

scarers got really close, “the alien [one of the scarers], tall and got right in your face to talk.”

Giannini attended the haunted hayride and described the experience as not that scary because, “the acting, in my opinion, is usually more convincing but they were also short staffed which is out of their control.” The junior also recommended Legends of The Fog as a “good place to start” when it comes to haunted attractions. “I would probably go to

long friendships with staff, and we enjoy coming together for a short time every year to run the event. Third, I love to sit back and watch guests interact with the environment that we create at the attraction.”

Barberry suggests that if visitors aren’t “crazy” about waiting in long lines that it is best to come on Fridays and Sundays, but if visitors can only stay a short amount of time that the Saturday fast pass might be the better op-

Scarers are in action for this year’s Legends of The Fog experience. Ben Davis dressed up as a pig butcher.

PHOTO CREDIT: Mike Davis Field of Screams [instead], only because that one is a little bit bigger and more scary,” describes Giannini.

Barberry explains that working and owning Legends of The Fog is rewarding, “First, I get to run this business with my parents, Mike and Charlene, and my wife Robyn. Second, I have made life-

tion. “Wear comfortable shoes, you will be moving around outdoors and on gravel, so you won’t want to wear flip flops...Bring your friends, haunted attractions are very much a group activity.

See who screams the loudest, or who doesn’t even flinch. And be respectful to other staff and guests on the property,” adds Barberry.

First school dance of the year draws sizable crowd despite covid accommodations REESE SHOWALTER Reporter

Juniors Maddie Rutch, Valorie Radel, Reese Showalter, Seniors Grace Feldbush, and Tori Hannah dress up for homecoming, taking pictures before the dance on October 9.

PHOTO CREDIT: Catherine Showalter

The annual North Harford Homecoming dance took place on October 9 with a theme of Under the Sea. After not having the event last year, new accommodations were made so the students were able to attend the dance this year.

In order to attend the dance, students had to wear a mask and either provide proof of being vaccinated or take a school-provided Covid test the Monday before the dance. There were also no outside guests allowed at the dance again due to Covid restrictions.

After speculation about where the event was going to be held, the dance was held inside the cafeteria like in year’s past.

Some students were hoping for the dance to be outside so they would not have to wear a mask.

Some students were unhappy with the accommodations that

were made this year. Due to these accommodations some students decided to not attend the school dance and only attend the parent homecoming. Junior Piper Wright did not go due to the requirement that needed to be met to go to the dance “I am not vaccinated and did not want to get tested nor did I want to go to a dance where we needed to wear a mask the whole time.”

Some student athletes were encouraged not to go to the dance by their coaches who feared that attending the dance might unnecessarily put them or their team at risk.

Jackson Schocket said, “I was told not to go by my football coach. He was concerned that someone at the dance would end up getting Covid and then me and other people that went on the team would have to quarantine.

He did not want us to miss out on

our season.”

After last year other students were happy to attend the dance.

They wanted to have a fun time with friends and enjoy having a normal high school experience.

Junior Cole Younger said, “I wanted to go and my friends asked me to go so why not. I wanted to have a good and fun time with my friends. It was a lot of fun to hang out during the dance.” Junior Elijah Brown added, “I decided to go because I was going with my girlfriend along with a few of my friends. I enjoyed hanging out with my friends and seeing all of them during the dance.”

Some others went because it was something to do and an event where they could dress up. Junior Rileigh Crawford said, “Freshman year was a lot of fun, and it was just something to look forward to. I just enjoyed being there with my friends and dressing up.”

Go Hawks!

By Authority: Friends of Chad Shrodes, Taylor Gomez, CPA – Treasurer

October 1, 2021

Cry of the Hawk

Page 8 - Advertisements

October 1, 2021

Cry of the Hawk

Page 9 - Advertisements

Cry of t

October 28th, 2021

Compiled: Grace Feldbush

Sophomore Mackenzie Dunaway likes the Pumpkin Pie ice cream at the Jarrettsville Creamery the best.

Fav Fall Recipes

Mrs. Laura O’Leary’s favorite fall recipe is her grandmother’s Pumpkin bread recipe which was made in coffee tins.

Mrs. recip ies b simp

Senior Julia Birchfield’s favorite is pumpkin cookies. The recipe she likes is from Butternut BakJunior Alyssa Dunn’ ery on pinterest and is called recipe is also pumpk chewy pumpkin cookies with brown butter and maple.

Falling apart in school, life; Coping with stress, anxiety LIORA TOLLIVER Reporter Life can be stressful and it can be overwhelming for even the most level-headed of people.

According to national reports, 50% to 75% of students report a decline in their grades in the past year.

The suicide rate has increased by over 25% since 1999, making it the 10th largest cause of death in the United States, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.

Anxiety can lead to depression, and for some students like Mason Kirby or Trex Armiger, this can mean grades often drop, relationships become strained, and people can feel lost.

When faced with mental illness, many individuals may choose to hide it instead of seeking support.

“I just sit alone and stress,” said sophomore Mason Kirby. “It doesn’t help.”

Some common ways to calm down anxieties are taking deep breaths, sitting somewhere quiet, or relaxing your whole body.

Other research suggests one popular method to relieve stress called progressive muscle relaxation. It can be done anywhere and takes less than five minutes.

All you have to do is tense your muscles as you breathe in, and slowly release them as you breathe out. The physical relaxation from the exercise should help to calm your mind, according to the University of Michigan Health.

Some people cope through mental exercises, others through physical actions.

When it comes to sophomore Kaylee Scott, “Music is helpful.” Others have different coping strategies.

“I usually go back to old media that comforted me when I was younger,” said sophomore Trex Armiger. “Like Undertale or other games.”

Armiger has struggled with anxiety, and their favorite games and music are often a go-to to help. “They make me feel better,” Armiger said.

Trying to stay in a positive mental state is important to many things, school included. “It feels very hard to do work,” said Scott.

Sunlight, physical activity, and social interaction have been proven to lessen depression in many, according to the National Center of Biotechnology Information. It can be difficult to feel motivated to do such things, but the benefits shine through. “Have healthy habits,” said Kirby.

The only way to get help is to let someone know you’re struggling. No one can offer help if they don’t know about the problem in the first place. In a school setting, one can turn to authority figures like teachers and counselors, who are required to offer assistance and point you in the direction of help. The school psychologist has many resources for helping in many different situations. Crisis numbers can be found on the Itslearning counseling page. The Maryland Suicide and Crisis Hotline can be reached at 1-800-422-0009, and the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline can be contacted at 1-800-273-8255.

Fallin

int

10-11 - Features

the Hawk

Spooky costumes create thrilling fun;

Students preparing for Halloween My grandma’s ghost at her house is named Herman, he’s friendly most of the time but there have been a few incidents where he hasn’t been. He terrorized my dad when he was younger and still lived with my grandparents, and he seems to only dislike my dad, but he likes to slam doors and stomp up the stairs. He’s also ripped a lamp out of the wall, when my aunt was still in high-school.

Compiled by: Evan Kuzemchak

. Fries favorite fall pe is pumpkin cookbecause they are ple yet fun to make.

’s favorite fall kin cookies.

There’s a ghost woman in the attic, and i visited the house about 5 months ago just to go back after so many years. i went into the attic and as soon as i hit the top step i felt her in the left hand window. she had a super strong presence and i saw her sitting in the window looking out. i was alone in the attic, and went and sat the way i saw her sitting in the window. i felt her put her hands on my shoulders and felt her behind me. it was super crazy but she felt like a hug, she was super peaceful and loving, so it was a really amazing experience.

ng

to Autumn

RILEY STONEBACK Reporter Spooky season has officially begun.

Students are preparing for an action-packed holiday, whether that includes decorating, finding costumes, or making plans for the 31st.

Junior Haley Stone is very excited for the upcoming season. “Costume-wise I’m being a pirate this Halloween... I already have everything planned out on Amazon and I have my Pinterest board set up, so I know what to do for makeup, hair, and anything else.” Stone also said that she was excited to decorate her house and go to friends’ houses for parties to celebrate.

Claire Johnson, junior, also agreed that Halloween was going to be great this year. “I’m going to be a fairy this year, kind of like Tinkerbell. We decorate with a lot of candles that have fall scents and lights that we put up. My family is also going to be painting pumpkins.” Johnson also agreed that she was going to be hanging out with friends and family for the holiday.

Juniors Sierra McManus, Lillian Duffy, and Colette Rodgers are very excited to show off their costumes this year. Duffy said, “I think we’re all really excited to show off our group costume this year. We took a lot of time to pick everything out and coordinate what each of us wanted to do. We were planning on going to a party or having a get-together with friends to show off our costumes.”

The girls were also thrilled to put decorations up and carve pumpkins. Mc-

Manus said, “My mom gets so excited about decorations, she puts them all over the house. She usually gets pumpkins that my brother, sister, and I carve the day before Halloween. It’s honestly just such a great tradition that we have that I hope we do for a long time.”

These students aren’t the only ones getting pumped for Halloween.

Junior Isabella Southard said she was planning on dressing up as a character from Golden Girls. Maggie Dawson, freshman, said she was planning on possibly doing a group costume with some of her friends and being funny clowns.

Freshman Katie Jones said she was going to go trickor-treating in onesie pj’s.

When students from North Harford were asked whether they were planning on doing anything for Halloween this year, 75% of voters voted that they were and 25% voted that they were not. While the majority of students said that they were going to parties or hanging out with friends, a few others said trick or treating or game night traditions.

In another poll, 66% of students from North Harford answered yes when asked whether they were dressing up for Halloween this year, and 34% said they were not dressing up. Some students had no clue what they were dressing up as, but a few students have already come up with ideas.

Halloween is on Sunday, October 31st this year, and we hope to see people dressing up and having a good time!

Music Teacher, John Wojekowski “Both my wife and I went to Mansfield university English Teacher, in Pennsylvania. We actually met in a marching Megan Neyens band. SHe was a flute player in a marching band and I played saxophone because that’s my instrument. We had mutual friends that we had made friends with. They introduced us to each other.

Then we started dating and now we’re married.”

“We met at MaGerks the restaurant in Bel Air and Mrs. Dallam [English teacher] came with me as backup. She and her husband also went on a date so in case my first date went horribly wrong she planned to save me from the awkwardness. But we ended up playing pool and having a lovely time and obviously it must’ve gone well since we got married.”

Cry of the Hawk

Page 12/ ENT

Video games recieve seasonal fun KENSINGTON BOYANICH Business Manager With the spooky season upon us video games are getting updates to fit the new season and spirit. From games like Call of Duty: Warzone a first-person shooter game to Grounded, a small-scale indie cartoon style survival, adventure game.

Nintendo has joined in on the creativity with updates to their newest Animal Crossing game, ‘Animal Crossing: New Horizon’s.’ Cheatsheet.com describes the new update will include, “Spooky items and Halloween costumes.” The article also states that the game will hold a celebration for Day of the Dead, a traditional Mexican holiday. The update will also include more fall items including acorns and pinecones.

Freshman Kavin Carter, an Animal Crossing player talks about the new spooky updates and features being added. “I love picking on Tom Nook and I'm excited to try and find new ways to do it,” he states.

Carter talks about how he is more into saving his bells, which is the in-game currency, but he still plans on buying new items and decorations that may be coming to the shops to spice up his island. “I want to be an architect, so I love being able to create my own island and area.” Carter also talks about how he already has purchased a dinosaur outfit for his character.

Another popular game getting

new features is, Fortnite. This first-person shooter game developed by Epic Games named this event, “Fortnitemares” and is adding new skins that players can purchase in the item shop. These skins include classic movie monsters including, Frankenstein’s monster. This update will include “new maps, games, experiences, and cosmetics,” says PCGamesN. Epic Games also announced that they will be wrapping up the event with a “Short Nite film festival.” This will feature short films based on the “ghoulish and sinister.”

Sophomore Donovan Beck says he is, “excited for the new season.” Beck is looking forward to the new season, especially the return of the “cube, named Kevin.” Fortnite fandom describes ‘Kevin’, as a “Storyline object first appearing in Season 5. It is a main part/antagonistic object of Seasons 5,6 and Chapter 2 of Season 8.” He states that the new season is also introducing a gold cube named, Glevin.

When asked about the new skins that are coming Beck says he is most likely to purchase ‘Willow.’ “It looks creepy, so I am probably going to buy it.”

He says he may watch the film festival event but isn't sure yet.

When asked why he enjoys the game Beck states, “I like the events and the storyline that the game has.”

Other students have shared their favorite horror games including, Dead by Daylight, Resident Evil, and Outlast.

October 28, 2021

Candyman sparks flames;

Viewers compare new film to predecessor KIMBERLY EDGAR Reporter

the sequel ‘Candyman’ seems to be on hiatus in the beginning as it is in a present setting, “as the blood begins to gush and the body count rises, the story takes shape, as does the somewhat tense domestic life of the painter.”

“I think the main star [Yahya

II is great as is Parris. Bringing the baby back from the original “I originally really wanted to as our new protagonist was also a see it [Candyman] but I wasn’t so great idea. Indeed, Vanessa Wilexcited when I went to see it beliams returns as McCoy again.” cause I heard that it wasn’t that Joliffe continues to explain great,” states junior Alyssa Dunn, the differences between the “plus, after seeing it, it wasn’t two movies, “the story [the new better than the Candyman] original.” Candyrings differman 2021 is the ently to the “spiritual sequel” reality of to the 1992 horror the first film classic starring Vir[the original ginia Madsen and Candyman].

Vanessa Williams, This plays says Odie Henderon the noson of Roger Ebert. tion of old Candyman folwives tales lows an artist who and backis researching the street horsuperstitions surror stories.”

Yahya Abdul-Mateen II starring in the new Candyman. rounding the myth The sequel continued the mythology behind the violence in “Overall, about blades being 2021.

I think the out in children’s new one PHOTO CREDIT: Universal Pictures candy. The artist did was good. not realize that by I just don’t doing so he starts to unravel his Abdul-Mateen II] did an amaz- think the hype equaled the reality sanity and unleash a shockwave of ing job, as well as the rest of the of how good it was,” states Dunn. violence. “I liked that this sequel cast,” says Dunn. The cast was Joliffe confirms Dunn’s statefocused more on the myth behind better in the sequel but the new ment, “it didn’t have a lingerit all, but it was more of a remake one wasn’t as scary as the first, ing nightmarish feel like Rose’s than a sequel,” says the junior. elaborates Dunn. “Bernard Rose’s film [the original]. We also have “The original “Candyman,” writ- horror classic, adapted from a a little too much going on and ten and directed by Bernard Rose, Clive Barker story, essentially side plots that don’t often lead is more icky than scary, but it has had every element needed to cre- anywhere.” Dunn explains that a real sting,” states Manohla Dar- ate an iconic horror film,” says she also didn’t like to see so gis of The New York Times, “the Tom Joliffe of Flickering Myth. many side plots that led to nopain wasn’t exquisite, as Candy- Joliffe also emphasizes that the where, “a lot of the additions man promised, but it had its mo- cast and character choices were to the movie’s plot didn’t acments.” Dargis describes that in “superb choices”, “Abdul-Mateen tually contribute to the story.”

Fans love new Korean drama Squid Game; Netflix original topping charts worldwide ALEXA FALLS Entertainment Editor

Lee Jung-jae as Seong Gi-hun in the first episode of Netflix’s Squid Game. The Korean drama is being raved about globally.

PHOTO CREDIT: Netflix *SPOILER WARNING* The action filled drama; Squid Game, is stacking up views quickly. Around 62 million Netflix subscribers have watched the series globally, according to Fortune News.

The show is set in Seoul, South Korea, and is from the view of the

main character Seong Gi-hun, played by actor and model Lee Jung-jae. Gi-hun is a poor middle-aged man, and wants money to provide for his mother and daughter. Him and 455 others were recruited to play a set of children’s games to win a large amount of prize money, around

40 million dollars. Although, winning that money comes with many risks, including death.

There are many twists and turns throughout the nine episodes, and people love them.

Junior Brynn Hoffman says, “I loved it. I like how it was super psychological and I’m a suck-

er for dystopian shows.” She adds, “I think it’s a must watch, it’s really intriguing and if you’re looking for a binge series, Squid Game is perfect.”

Some characters in Squid Game are getting lots of recognition, such as police officer Hwang Jun-ho, played

by Korean model and actor Wi Ha-joon, and player Kang Sae-byeok, played by Korean actress and fashion model Jung Ho-yeon. Byeok is Hoffman’s favorite because, “she was resilient and confident, which are traits that I admire.

Her character was the powerful girl character the show needed.”

Junior Ian Calhoun’s favorite is also Byeok because “she’s the character that doesn’t do anything to make you dislike her.” He adds,” halfway through the show she has a moment that makes you feel for her.”

Another character that many people feel for is Ali Abdul, played by Indian actor Anupam Tripathi.

Senior Grace Herron says, “he was a very kind and caring char-

acter in the game, and he played true to his morals. I loved him.”

Junior Jessica Bowling’s favorite character is also Abdul, “mainly because he joined the Squid Game not for his own financial reasons […] also because throughout the show you can definitely see his character growth.”

Rumors and conspiracies have already been thought about by fans as well, but Herron hopes that “there’s not another season [since] shows like this blow-up and then Netflix tries to milk out more plot.” She adds, “They kinda ruin the show in the process.”

Calhoun mentions, “I think there will be a second season and my prediction is [that] Gi-Hun will be higher up in the game.” He adds, “I have a lot of theories.”

Similarly, Hoffman says, “I think he’s [Gi-hun] going through the game again but I’m not sure what will be different, because the show has so many twists.”

Bowling also says that she thinks there will be a second season and comments, “I think the show is a great way to introduce non-Korean speakers to K-dramas since not a lot of people watch them now.” She adds, “I’m glad they [Korean actors and actresses] are getting the recognition they deserve.”

Page 13/ ENT

Cry of the Hawk

October 28, 2021

Netflix thriller You attracts fans GRACE FELDBUSH Social Media/Event Coordinator

Season three of Netflix show You premiers October 15, 2021. Students predict results for the upcoming season.

“I thought the end of Season two was extremely thrilling and made me look forward to the next season,” Senior Sara Puig says. She believes main character Joe will fall in love with a different psychopath in the next season once he kills season two love interest Love.

“I love Love and Joe together and thought they worked so well together,” Puig states. As much as she shipped Love and Joe, she ships Beck and Joe together much more and thinks “Beck should have never been locked up like she was,” she says.

Puig thinks she relates to Love because she is “Optimistic and oblivious a lot of the time.” She explains she never expected Joe to kill Beck in season one, and wonders if it will happen to Love as well. She does not think Love will

stay around much longer because a new beginning, I was sur- think. “I feel like the person of Joe’s history with murder. prised to see them spying on through the fence in the back“I feel the most sympathy for people already,” Stewart says. yard could be someone who had Senior Vance Haire also enjoyed a connection with Beck,” Haire Joe because I think he needs help states his prediction. and doesn’t know how to Haire believes that if reach out,” Puig states. this mystery person does Junior Riley Stewart have a connection with explains she did not exBeck, this will cause pect the end of the last Joe to see Beck’s ghost season, with Joe looking even more than he did in into somebodies’ yard, but season two. “This could “It definitely fit because be Joe’s life at jeopardy what else would Joe be since they might know doing.” She explains she is a thing or two about Joe excited for the new season killing Beck in season and hopes Love and Joe do one,” Haire explains. murders together. “Maybe Haire thinks Love and they will even have a kid Joe are the perfect match that can tag along on their because of their perfectmurders,” Stewart says. ly aligned personalities.

“I am obsessed with Season three of ‘You’ cover photo showing “I also like, weirdly, Joe and Love together, I actors Penn Badgley and Victoria Pedretti. how they are both psylove how they are both sick and twisted and I Season four has been confirmed on the ‘You’ chopaths, the fact that Love killed somebody think they are such a good social media platforms. for Joe’s safety shows duo,” Stewart says. She PHOTO CREDIT: Gordon Correll how much she cares says she loved Beck from for him,” Haire says. season one, but Joe needs, Even though Haire was a “A chaotic psychopath like Love.” this show. Haire says he loved the “I thought in the end they end of season two and thought fan of Love and Joe, he had his would turn over a new leaf with the cliff hanger let the audience doubts with Beck. He believed

People rave about new homemade BBQ BELLA ARIST Reporter

friends who came together on September 11, 2011, to officially open the doors to Mission BBQ. Mission BBQ is a restaurant They said, “Every day we strive owned by two friends passionate to serve you authentic BBQ made about barbeque. Serving home- from the freshest, most delectamade food like chicken, salmon, ble ingredients, and serve it to pork, ribs, fries, and obviously you.” (Mission BBQ Website). the barbeque sauce. If you want You can tell the founders are some comforting food, head over good-spirited and open to everyto the brand-new Bel Air Mis- one. Serving only the freshest insion BBQ, opening October 25! gredients, you can tell they love As for food, having a kid’s what they put out to everyone. menu, sandwiches, salads, and As well as having so much meat market, this restaurant is passion, they are also very a good place for evgenerous.

With eryone. Mission giving “more BBQ has food than $10 for a family million “Every day we strive to outing or dollars serve you authentic BBQ a friend’s a n d p a r t y made from the freshest, most countwith the i n g delectable ingredients, and wide vah a s riety on been serve it to you.” their menu. donated You can also for nacall ahead and tional and -Mission BBQ have pounds of prelocal charitable made smoked meat ready organizations. It’s the for your party of said people. right thing to do, and we really As for the servers, freshman believe in these missions below.”

Poppy Smith says, “they are al- (Mission BBQ Website). Guests ways so friendly and know what can tell these men are good peoto recommend.” Having wel- ple who want to help/serve others. coming servers can increase the Depending on what time amount of people wanting to go you want to eat the delicious and eat there. The workers you BBQ food, the restaurant has interact with reflect on the restau- good hours for weekdays and rant as either a place where peo- weekends. On Monday to Satple don’t care about you, or where urday opening at 11am and you feel welcomed and safe. closing at 9pm, and on SunHaving friendly workers day’s opening at 11:30am then is amazing, but you also must closing at 8pm. These hours make sure you have a clean are good for a quick lunch, or a space. Smith also mentions their nice, relaxed sit-down dinner. “clean tables and good food preIf you want quality meals sentation.” Even if the food is with a good atmosphere, go to mouth-watering, the presenta- Mission BBQ in Bel Air opening tion is just as important. Sitting on October 25. If more informadown at a clean table then getting tion is needed go to the Mission your food on a presentable plate, BBQ website or call 833-217makes guests want to come back. 8680. Don’t miss out on the deAs for the owner, they are two licious homemade BBQ food!

Beck and Joe’s relationship and connections were artificial. He is glad that chapter for Joe is behind him and thinks that Joe and Beck’s relationship could be a reason for Joe’s psycho behavior worsening into season two.

“What stuck out to me was when Joe and Love first met Joe was trying so hard to stay out of relationships and talk to nobody, but Love was clinging to Joe and he enjoyed that,” Haire says. He believes Joe and Loves relationship was authentic and enjoyed watching them blossom as a couple.

Haire states the most surprising plot twist was “definitely when Love killed Delilah.” He was surprised first, that Delilah was killed in the cage. Second, Love did it and he “expected Joe to do it but the fact Love killed Delilah for Joe’s sake showed me how perfect they are together.”

Haire hopes for Love and Joe to remain together in season three.

He believes there will be plenty of conflict between them but hopes they work it out together.

Certified Lover Boy release; Opinions vary on Drake’s new album DELANEY O’NEIL Reporter

On September third, the well-known Canadian artist, Drake, released a new album called Certified Lover Boy. This is Drake’s sixth album and consists of 21 different songs.

The meaning held within these songs has to do with commitment in relationships. The idea between marriage and being a ‘player,’ is presented in Drake’s lyrics, according to Distractify.

Sophomore Mason Adelhart notes that the title fits the album’s songs because “most are about relationships with women.” Similarly, junior Dylan Hoban said, “it’s one of the best titles I’ve seen from modern music artists.”

The album starts off with the song “Champagne Poetry” which discusses the topic of marriage and committing to lifelong romance. Drake then switches his lyrics around, closing with the song “The Remorse.” Unlike his first, this song incorporates ideas about short dedication in romance.

The cover photo of Certified Lover Boy features the emojis of twelve pregnant women with different colored skin tones and shirt colors. This album was also delayed in release by nine months, giving influence into the design.

British artist Damien Hirst created this cover, which has gained much controversy after the album was released. According to CNN Entertainment, various memes have arisen from the ‘ridiculous’ cover. Some even critique the image, questioning why a redhaired emoji was not included.

Within this album you can find various other artist features.

‘Certified Lover Boy’ released September third of this year.

Drakes new album becomes a hit.

PHOTO CREDIT: Insider Junior Jaylen Gencel notes “21 Savage and Travis Scott are featured.” Lil Baby, Lil Durk, and Jay Z are also popular artists found singing in Certified Lover Boy. North Harford students have varying views on which songs are their favorite. Both Gencel and freshman Alayna Shrodes note that the best song is “Knife Talk” featuring 21 Savage and Project Pat. Shrodes said “this song is the most catchy,” while Gencel said “Drake works harder in this song than any other song.”

On the other hand, Adelhart says Knife Talk is his least favorite song because “there are too many features.” Because of Lil Baby’s feature in “Girls Want Girls,” this is Adelhart’s favorite song in the album.

Compared to Drake’s previous

albums, students claim that this album is most preferable. Gencel says “Drake’s other albums are more depressing, this one is more upbeat.” Gencel also notes that some of his other songs in previous albums are extremely repetitive, such as “Money in the Grave.”

Adelhart says that “this is one of Drake’s better albums,” and likewise Shrodes said she likes this album the best because it is more “catchy and appealing.”

Although this album is thought to be one of his best, Adelhart mentions that Drake’s 2016 album “Views” is even better, containing his favorite song “Hotline Bling.” Adelhart also mentions that Certified Lover Boy would have been even better if “Drake included more songs with Lil Baby and YNW Melly.”

Page 14- Student, Society, and Culture

Cry of the Hawk

October 28, 2021

Students graduate early; Starting life in real world DELANEY O’NEIL Reporter

Within the North Harford High School walls, some students are graduating with three years of high school under their belt. Graduating a year early is an option for those wanting to pursue their lives and careers a year earlier.

Two senior students, Tia Gay and Andi Fetter, are taking this opportunity and graduating with the class of 2022. Both of these students were originally planned to graduate with the class of 2023, but wanted to start their adult lives early.

After Covid hit, Gay notes “high school was not the same.”

She wants to start her life early, and an extra year of high school became unnecessary. Similarly, Fetter said “the earlier I can get into college, the earlier I can work in helping people and living my life.”

High school feels tedious and unchallenging, according to Fetter. Taking classes with the University of Maryland in firefighting, feels much more fitting for Fetter. For these reasons, starting college a year early is more appealing.

For those interested in taking this route in high school, reaching out to school counselors in tenth grade is necessary. Gay said “I went to Mr. Johnstone and told him what I wanted to do” and from here, Gay’s teachers were notified.

Fetter also notes “you must be approved by the board of education” and already have determined what classes to take in the final year of high school.

Doubling up on English classes and taking courses with HCC during senior year can be expected. Students may fall short in credits when graduating early, so dual enrollment and getting credits from middle school are ways to reach graduation requirements.

How stressful will this kind of year be? For Gay, “It’s a bit stress inducing,” as you don’t want to fall behind in classes that are necessary to pass senior year. Although it feels like a regular year, Fetter said “I’m more stressed about proving myself as a senior.”

This stress is mental, rather than physical, says Fetter.

For these two students, planning for life after high school includes looking at colleges and taking the SAT and ACT tests

early. Fetter has looked at several colleges and is planning to apply to The Johns Hopkins University in November.

Due to affordability of colleges, Fetter states “I will move in with my fire department, while attending community college,” if not able to pay for college. On the other hand, Gay plans on attending Harford Community College for two years after high school and then transitioning to The University of Aiken South Carolina. Here she will work on receiving a business degree.

Because both students are planning on attending college, SAT and ACT tests must be completed a year earlier. Fetter has already completed her SAT on Oct. 2. and recommends taking the ACT. Fetter said the tests are “important for people like me, who have less classes underneath my belt and less teachers that can recommend me.”

Gay has not yet taken either test, but said “I am taking the SAT and ACT this year.”

Good scores on standardized tests will be important in helping college applications and proving oneself intellectually, as stated by Fetter.

Similarly, North Harford alumni Anna Fitzhugh graduated a year early due to her mom being promoted to colonel in the army. Fitzhugh said “we moved away during my senior year and I also wanted to pursue a career in horses.” Graduating early and having a gap year was the perfect situation for her.

In Fitzugh’s senior year she had to “take an extra gym credit and complete a pathway.”

To finish off her high school credits Fitzugh says “I took a double block of journalism as well as English 11 and AP English 12.” She also took her gym credit with HCC and participated in weight lifting.

After graduation Fitzugh worked for Skyler Voss, an advanced level event rider for six months. She then attended Wilson College and eventually switched to Frederick Community College “to be near my parents' new house, while working with my horses.”

Now Fitzugh is located in Ocala, Florida where she is working for Olympic gold medalist Leslie Law. Here she is finishing her associate’s in business and pursuing a bachelor’s in psychology.

Tia Gay, senior Photo credit: Tia Gay

Andi Fetter, senior Photo credit: Delaney O’Neil

‘Scout’ing out Maine;

Shenton canoes Allagash River GREER STRINE Sports Editor

Senior Kyle Shenton, who is a part of Boy Scout Troop 265, went on a camping trip to canoe the Allagash RIver in Maine from July 18-27.

Over the course of the 9 days, they had planned on canoeing only on 7 days, Shenton says that hE and his troop, canoed 82 miles of the river all the way up to the U.S.–Canada border.

He added that they intended on doing 92 miles, however the water level was too low for the canoes to float through, therefore they did not complete the other 10 miles.

“My troop has gone on this trip before, but I have never gone up until this year and I would definitely go again. I think it would be a little better if it was shortened a little bit and we had a rest day in between, but despite how long it was, I still had a really good time,” the scout says.

During his time in scouts, Shenton has ranked up all the way to his Eagle Scout, where he will be working towards getting that honor soon.

“I have already planned my project and we are actively fundraising, to be able to make it all happen,” according to Shenton.

He then adds, “This trip definitely helped me get closer with my friends and they will either help me complete my project or help donate to make the project hap-

The members of troop 265 canoed a total of 82 miles on the Allagash river in Maine. Averaging 12 miles per day, Photo credit: Linda Shenton pen.”

The scout stated that there were 10 kids and six adults that attended this trip. To make it more COVID-safe, Shenton commented, “Since we had over 12 people within our group, every

now and again, the Park Ranger would make us split up to keep us more distanced.”

In the mornings, Shenton said, “[We] woke up at six o’clock to clean up camp, [we] took down tents and made breakfast and had to be on the river by half-past seven.”

Leading up to the trip, the scouts partook in something called ‘shakedown’. Shenton described, “For months leading up to the trip, [we] had to canoe a certain number of miles each day, which would correspond with our canoe schedule at Allagash, in order to prepare ourselves for the trip.”

The senior explains, “The food we had was all dehydrated, so all we had to do was add cold water for breakfast foods, and hot water for dinner. For lunch, we usually just ate snack foods like Chex Mix and Oreos.”

Each day, the scout stated that they canoed around 12 miles, and at most, they canoed 16. He added, “The other people on the trip and I both concluded that if we ever did this same trip again, we would need more breaks, especially a designated day to rest.

The distance we covered was really far, which was cool, but we were really tired.”

Shedding light on experience with learning English, discrimination KRIS GRAY Reporter

“There’s a lot of people willing to teach people who don’t know English,” sophomore Elian Ortiz says. Learning English opened many doors for the student, including a warm welcome to the North Harford community.

The Ortiz family is quite ethnic according to the student. The dad is native to Puerto Rico and part Taino, and his mother is “from the European side” Ortiz explains. According to the Black History Month newsletter,The Taino were an Arawak people who were the indigenous people of the Caribbean and Florida. At the time of European contact in the late 15th century, they were the principal inhabitants of most of Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola (the Dominican Republic and Haiti),

and Puerto Rico.

Since English is not the football player’s first language, he “kind of picked it up” in elementary school. As the years went on, he learned more and is ultimately “good with it now.” On the other hand, the sophomore says, “my mom doesn't speak English very well so sometimes I have to translate stuff for her.” Because of this, Ortiz faces discrimination and bullying. North Harford is considered rural as reported by Harford County Public Schools. As of a poll from 2020, there were 1,138 white students and 32 Hispanic students at NHHS. This is a challenge for the student because he feels “alone” when it comes to his ethnicity. “When I’m on a call with my parents, I have to speak Spanish and people make fun of me.”

There are also perks to being a bilingual individual like Ortiz.

“It opens up a lot of new cultures.

You can travel places [and] it's easier to get around and stuff,” he remarks. He continues to speak Spanish and English, along with taking French II here at North Harford High School. He says learning various languages and different dialects is “one of [his] passions.” One of his more humorous moments is when he “gets mad [he] speaks in Spanish.” Sports has also been a positive thing for the 16-year-old, as he feels “a part of the team” and like “people respect [him].” Ortiz says he is “playing JV football right now [as] number 64 [and] starting center.” As a team captain, he feels a sense of pride toward his fellow teammates or as he calls them, “brothers.”

October 28, 2021

Cry of the Hawk

Page 15- Students, Society, and Culture

Making jewelry her whole life; Best, worst Halloween candies

Lynch creates her way into business world BELLA ARIST Reporter

Junior Reese Lynch has her own jewelry business as a high schooler called Reesespeaceandlove.

She has been making jewelry her whole but started this business during quarantine. There have been positives and negatives that came out of her experience.

From the beginning, Lynch has always had a love for making different kinds of jewelry.

She started this new business because she “wanted to find a way to make money over quarantine.”

This was also a way to fill her time, as students were in virtual school for a while.

Jewelry is a way to get creative and make new things, which is entertaining to people who don’t have a lot going on.

Wanting to do something like this might require some support back from home.

Lynch says, “both of my parents were super helpful throughout the whole thing because they would always try to supply stuff for me.”

Starting off a business with little income and having to supply the materials needed could be an issue.

With people from your personal life being supportive and ready to help, its easier to get the supplies you need.

Speaking of income, Lynch mentions the amount the materials cost compared to what she was selling for was about t h e

“Good quality and trendy accessories, it only had good reviews!” ~ Reese Lynch, junior same.

N o t overpricing items can result in more people wanting to buy.

As she does have different types of jewelry, it will take more materials to buy in the end.

The different types of jewelry she puts out include rings, necklaces, and earrings.

With rings costing $5, necklaces $7, and each pair of earrings are $8. She says she gets her inspiration from either “Pinterest or keeping an open-mind with seeing the new trends people like.”

It can be challenging trying to

figure out what people would be interested in based on new trends that occur.

Having a business as a teenager involves taking time out of your busy schedule to work on what needs to be done.

Lynch brings up that depending on the type of jewelry it can either take up to 5 or 40 minutes.

She also needs to come up with new ideas to keep buyers interested.

With school starting this year, she doesn’t have enough time to be updating her business as much as she did during quarantine.

Lynch uses Depop @reeselynch or her Instagram @reesespeaceandlove.

She has pictures of all the different jewelry so it’s easy for buyers to know what type of jewelry is sold.

With “good quality and trendy accessories, it only had good reviews!” says Lynch.

Having a small business as a high schooler can be a way to take up free time and get creative.

It also takes time and money to put out items for people to buy/ enjoy.

Supporting small businesses can be a way to spread positivity throughout the school and throughout the community as well.

Student spends free time training,

Volunteers to teach dogs KIMBERLY EDGAR Reporter

“The place I volunteer is positive reinforcement, which means we show the dog what to do instead of teaching them just what not to do,” says junior Stephanie Erisman. Erisman volunteers at Polite Pooches, which is run by a certified fear free trainer, Kathy Forthman.

Erisman explains that negative reinforcement includes but is not limited to, “shock collars, prong collars, smacking the dog, yelling or scaring the dog.” Erisman adds that negative reinforcement can cause behavior issues and even physical injuries to the dog. According to The Spruce Pets, “Positive reinforcement allows you to communicate clearly with your dog. You decide what you want your dog to do and let it know by offering rewards when the dog does the desired action.”

At Polite Pooches if Forthman cannot help your dog, she will recommend a behaviorist or anyone else that can help. “She [Forthman] has group classes and private, the group classes are puppy class (for 10-16 weeks), basic obedience (any non-reactive dog over four months), and intermediate obedience (any dog that has successfully completed basic obedience),” says Erisman.

The puppy class teaches dogs their name, sit, down, come,

touch, all the early stuff according to Erisman. Gallant confirms that these commands are the most common and easiest commands to teach a dog. “There is also off leash play time based on the size and play style of the

Junior Stephanie Erisman posing in her volunteer uniform for Polite Pooches with her dog Harper. Erisman volunteered at Polite Pooches because she loves dogs and considered dog training for a future career.

Photo Credit: Stephanie Erisman puppies. At the end of each class, we work on different things like

grooming, interactive feeding or discuss topics such as potty training,” says Erisman.

In the basics class, dogs will learn things like sit, down, come, and loose leash walking according to Erisman. The intermediate class practices items for the CGC (Canine Good Citizen) test and on the last day an evaluator can come in to test the dog if they wanted. “The AKC (American Kennel Club) is an organization that sets standards for dog breeds, they give out the CGC awards,” says the junior. On the CGC test there are 10 things that the dog needs to be able to do in order to pass. Things like being groomed, walking on a loose leash, supervised separation for three minutes, coming when called from 15 feet, stay while the owner walks away 10 feet, states Erisman.

“I first went here [Polite Pooches] when I first got my golden retriever last year, we did the puppy class, basic and intermediate.

During the basic class, Harper, my puppy, was doing so well Kathy asked me if I would want to help with classes,” describes the junior. Erisman is considering being a dog trainer in the future, and she said she “ began helping with puppy classes in Oct. of 2020, a couple weeks ago I started helping with intermediate classes instead of puppy classes.”

ANNIE FINHOLM Reporter

Hershey. Nestle. Sugar-filled treats galore.

Junior Emily Cassidy says her favorite candy “is Swedish Fish.”

This sweet appeals to her because she likes “the flavor,” in addition to the fact that “gummies are just [her] favorite kind of candy.”

She adds that her least favorite sugary treat is “Good & Plenty.”

The junior describes the flavor of these as “just absolutely awful.”

Junior Riley Stewart disagrees with Cassidy, stating that Snickers are her favorite because they are “just the perfect combination of everything.” On the flip side, Stewart comments that her least favorite candy is “definitely the banana flavored [taffy].”

According to Cassidy, the most popular candies are “more of the artificially flavored candies like Sour Patch Kids, Swedish Fish, or Skittles” in comparison to “your basic chocolates like Kit Kats and Hershey’s.” She believes that “chocolate just isn’t as popular anymore.” The junior says that she feels that because of the industries “having the ability to develop these artificial flavors, it makes people more curious to try them out.”

However, the Candy Industry has revealed that the top ten Halloween candies in the year 2021 are “Reese’s Cups, Skittles, M&M’s, Starburst, Hot Tamales, Sour Patch Kids, Hershey Kisses, Snickers, Tootsie Pops, and Candy Corn.”

The least popular sweet, says Cassidy, is “Whoppers.” She adds that “people just don’t get them, and they get stale pretty easily.”

Spoon University states that

some of the worst candies are “Laffy Taffy, Tootsie Rolls, Raisinets, Dots, Everlasting Gobstoppers, Red Vines, Dubble Bubble, Good & Plenty, and Circus Peanuts.”

Stewart believes the worst candy is “Almond Joys.” She acknowledges that there are a lot of people who enjoy the combination of coconut, chocolate, and almonds, but she finds them “yucky.”

Cassidy has discovered that she believes “Sour Patch Kids” are the best sweet. She particularly enjoys that “they’re sour and sweet at the same time.”

When it comes to overrated candies, Cassidy is adamant on sharing that Twizzlers are the most overvalued. She describes them as being “waxy” and not having much flavor. She simply “[doesn’t] know why people like them.”

According to Cassidy, “without being introduced to candy by [her] brothers, [she’d] probably be leaning more towards chocolate-based candies.” She remembers that when her brothers would buy something, she would ask “can I try a piece?” and then end up enjoying it.

Stewart recalls a time when she was around 8 years old when she “got a big bag full of Halloween candy but wanted to save it.” She ended up “saving and saving until the next Halloween when [she] had to throw out [candy that was a year old].”

Cassidy reminisces on a time when she was “trick-or-treating [and] the lady was handing out mouthwash instead of candy.”

She adds that the experience was “pretty upsetting.”

Cry of the Hawk

Page 16/ IDR

Investigating true crime stories; Looking inside criminal’s minds JESSICA FANNIN Reporter There is a select audience that can handle the stories of the most spine-chilling individuals who only come out at night. But there are a few people in NH who enjoy the studies behind the most cold-blooded killers who make you lock your doors at night.

Science teacher Mrs. Kristian Jones-Knoll, is a part of the audience who finds herself watching true crime shows to pass time.

Jones-Knoll claimed she, “enjoy[s] watching TV shows that show serial killers and murder stories just to see the psychology behind their actions.”

Senior Hannah Holcombe finds, “the role detectives play in true crime stories is the most interesting.” She stated that it is, “fascinating and honestly impressive the way they think and how they work through the puzzle of solving the crime.”

Some of Jones-Knoll’s favorite shows to watch include, “some forensic shows like Criminal Minds and the 1st 48.” She explained that some of these criminals get away with their crimes, “because a lot of them are highly intelligent.” Senior Claire Priebe also claimed it can be hard to catch the killer because, “the case cannot always be solved and there’s a lot of factors that go into solving the crime.”

Jones-Knoll said her Forensic students can learn many of the skills displayed in crime show by, “practicing solving murder mystery cases in class and watching crime shows.”

Some skills they have gained from these cases according to Priebe are, “identifying different kinds of evidence and which is more reliable.”

Priebe also explained how they

do things like “practicing fingerprinting,” which is how a crime is sometimes traced back to the culprit. When solving a case there can be many factors that go into understanding the events that led up to the scandal, Priebe says, “investigators will use specific evidence called individual patterns.”

What scares Jones-Knolls the most about true crime stories because she thinks, “it’s very scary that some people lack empathy and are capable of that kind of stuff.”

Priebe says the most chilling stories are the ones where, “the woman is the murderer because that is not very common, it’s usually a man. It is so shocking and unexpected.”

The story Jones-Knoll finds the most interesting is the story behind American serial killer, “Jeffery Dohmer.” According to the science teacher, the 1990s criminal took, “over 13 years to catch.”

One story that haunts JonesKnoll is the story, “of the beltway sniper in 2002.” According to an article about the criminals, during the month of October, “ten people had been randomly gunned down and three critically injured while going about their everyday lives.”

After “23 days of killing in the Washington D.C. area, John Muhammad and Lee Malvo were captured.”

The reason this case resonated with Jones-Knoll is because, “it happened around Maryland, and it took multiple police departments to catch the killers.”

A true crime story that surprised Holcombe the most was, “a woman who befriended her victims and then murdered them before stealing their identities. The police couldn’t find her at first.”

October 28, 2021

Page 17, IDR

Cry of the Hawk

October 28, 2021

Debunking serial killer myths

VICTORIA HANNA Studio manager

A serial killer is someone who kills two or more people in separate events. There’s many misconceptions and myths about these killers that need to be debunked.

1. Serial killers kill for fun Tim Morrow, sophomore, believes that serial killers are “crazy” or maybe they “kill for love.”

While Tiffany Williams, senior, thinks that serial killers kill because “they have a really bad childhood, and it ends up mentally traumatizing them in the wrong way.”

There are many different reasons why serial killers end up how they are, for example, according to writers for The Week, serial killers are made from a combination of genetics and experience.

“Research shows that certain genes can predispose people to violence,” such as the “warrior gene” which is present in about 30 percent of the population and has been linked to early separation from their mothers.

“As a consequence, from trauma or separation, scientists believe they learned to suppress empathy or suffered damage to the areas of the brain that control emotional impulses,” The Week writes.

2. Serial killers are all middle-aged men

Logan Ford, sophomore, says that when he pictures a serial killer, he sees “a guy in his 20 or 30s,” and Evan Juarez, sophomore, says he pictures a “male and pretty old.”

Williams also mentions that she’s only seen male serial killers, and Tim Morrow, Sophomore, says, “I picture a male in his 20s with a ton of scars.”

However, according to Scott Bonn, a writer and psychologist from Psychology Today, nearly 20 percent of all homicides in the U.S. are committed by women.

“Although there have been many more male serial killers than females throughout history, the presence of female serial killers is well documented in crime data.”

3. Serial killers can’t change and will never stop killing Morrow believes that “serial killers can’t change, once they get to killing, they keep going,” but others interviewed are a bit more optimistic.

Mrs. Jenny Beigel, says “I’d like to think they can change, but it’s tough to say,” and Juarez believes they can change “if they get the right help.”

In some cases, Cheryl Eddy, a writer for Gizmodo says, a killer who committed their crime as a youth, gets released and starts over. Some of these killers include Nathan Leopold, Caril Fugate, Juliet Hulme, Pauline Parker, and many more.

TRUE CRIME WATCHERS 59% of students watch true crime 41% do not watch true crime 161 students polled Compiled by: Layton Hillier

Chilling stories capture students’ interest ALEXA FALLS Entertainment editor True crime has been a popular topic and genre for many years, starting during the 20th century. These stories dive deeper into the minds of a criminal. The psychological aspect of the genre has students hooked.

Junior Haley Ferran says, “I absolutely love true crime because I find it very interesting. It gives me a new perspective of people and how they think and act.”

She adds, “It also showcases how they [criminals] may act one way but think [in a different] way.”

Ferran says that her favorite case is of Luka Rocco Magnotta, “There is a great documentary about it on Netflix. It definitely had [shaken] me up because everything he was doing was for attention.” She comments, “He ended up getting caught looking up himself on the computer and the manager had recognized him from the news.”

Junior Domonic Franklin also loves true crime, “I like to see the darker side of humanity and the heinous things people do.” He also says, “I believe it’s scary, not

necessarily for the actual crime itself but more of what our own human mind can cause people to do.” Franklin adds, “For example, [murderer] Ed Gein was so mentally deranged that he had killed people and kept ‘trophies’ from everyone.”

Gein’s case is not his favorite though, “I think my favorite case is the case of JonBenét Ramsey because it is still an active and unsolved case.”

He adds, “She was reported missing by her parents with a ransom note for around 118,000 dollars which was very specific considering it matches the bonus her father had recently gotten from [his] work.”

Ramsey was eventually found in the basement of her own home, and the scene showed that there were cords around her neck and wrists, specifically the right.

Ramsey was only six years old when she died, and her murder is still being openly investigated, according to ABC news.

Junior Genevieve Sudbrink says, “I just love delving into cases and understanding the psychology behind murderers and how a human being could com-

mit something like that.” Along with Franklin, an interesting case to Sudbrink was the Ed Gein case and the Madeleine McCann case, “that one was really tough.”

McCann was a British toddler who disappeared on May third of 2007, 14 years ago, in a Portuguese apartment at the age of three. Her case is one of the most famous missing persons cases in the United Kingdom and in Portugal according to Biography news.

Her favorite case is the “Columbine case because it really goes into the psychology behind the killers.”

She adds, “I read a whole book on it and it’s so close to home which makes it even more interesting. The case was of a highschool shooting that occured at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado.

The massacre happened on April 20 of 1999. The two shooters, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, who were seniors at the school, had injured 21 people and killed 12 others. They ended up killing themselves after the violence had ended, according to History news.

Cry of the Hawk

October 28, 2021

Intriguing investigation: Muscles, tendons fascinate college student, NH alumna MEGHAN KALCK SSC Editor Have you ever held a human heart? Maybe touch all the muscles and tendons in a human body? Well you maybe haven’t, but Cassidy Chandler, North Harford class of 2019, has.

Chandler is studying to be an athletic trainer at Messiah University, and in order to fulfill her major, students have to study muscles in the body, along with tendons, organs, etc. “...So far we have studied the upper body and are going over the lower body now...” Chandler stated, in her class they particularly look at the origins and insertions of each muscle or tendon in the body and see how those relate to action in a human.

Formaldehyde is a strong smelling, colorless gas mainly used in building materials, household objects, and as a preser-

vative, and in Chandler’s words the smell was “pretty gross.”

“It was super interesting to touch the muscles and tendons,” said Chandler.

She added the muscles were pretty strong and durable when she was touching them. For example, they would pull different muscles on the hands and the fingers would actually move.

Chandler explained how the body will still be stiff but you can still move all the limbs in the body.

One of the cadavers arms was cut off by the anatomy class in her school where it was completely removed.

“The eyes, eyebrows, eyelashes, nails, and hair and all of that was still intact which was interesting,” said Chandler but the most interesting part for her was the heart, even though that is not what she is studying.

The cadaver was also wear-

ing a pacemaker due to age and she could see the metal coils inside of it and thought that it was amazing how it looked.

Chandler had a mix of emotions about doing this in her class. “I was a little nervous at first...” she said.

Chandler really struggled with looking at the body’s face because it “...looked less human than I expected, it [almost] looked fake, like something the science department made.” A good way she deals with this nervousness is just thinking about the whole thing scientifically.

Chandler was explaining how this made her think about the “hope of heaven,” and how “death is not my end!”

She explained how “my earthly body will someday rot as well, but my eternal body in heaven will be perfect without weakness or imperfection.”

Finding ways to filter our pond MATTHEW LEDFORD Reporter The North Harford campus is home to various animals and nature areas, including the pond, which is located on the backside of the school behind the barn.

The pond is in a high state of nitrification. Scientists report that this happens when there is a surplus of nutrients contributed by decaying leaves and animals, causing ammonium to get changed into nitrates by the bacteria, says science teacher Mrs. Laura O’Leary.

“When a plant or animal dies, decomposers like fungi and bacteria turn the nitrogen back into ammonium so it can reenter the nitrogen cycle. Nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, occur naturally, but most of the nutrients in our waterways come from human activities and sources fertilizers, wastewater, automobile exhaust, animal waste,” states Khan Academy.

Examples of this organic debris is leaves, lawn clippings, and dead fish or insects which will break down, forming ammonia as a byproduct, starting the

cycle of de-nitrification again.

Reducing the amount of plant debris in your pond by using a skimmer filtration system and removing plant leaves and debris before it enters the pond.

According to scientists, in many cases, the amount of nitrate in the water is what limits how much plants and algae can grow. If there is an excess level of nitrates, plants and algae will grow excessively. An excess in the growth of plants and algae create an unstable amount of dissolved oxygen.

Scientists report mussels feed on the nitrification that forms in these waterways. Mussel is the common name used for the members of several families of bivalve molluscs, from saltwater and freshwater habitats.

O’Leary questions whether the nitrification levels have a role in the kill off the muscle population in the pond? Thus leading to the idea to place what looks like four laundry baskets with pool noodles holding them up. If there are muscles left in the pond, these devices will catch them.

The science teacher states that both her and a group

of her students are working with a mussel lab gentleman to improve their study.

Another problem with the pond was later found and it is called Eutrophication.

“Eutrophication sets off a chain reaction in the ecosystem, starting with an overabundance of algae and plants. The excess algae and plant matter eventually decompose, producing large amounts of carbon dioxide. This lowers the pH of seawater, a process known as ocean acidification”, as explained by O’Leary.

Biology Libretext reports “Nitrification is extremely energetically poor leading to very slow growth rates for both types of organisms.

Oxygen is required in ammonium and nitrite oxidation; ammonia-oxidizing and nitrite-oxidizing bacteria are aerobes.”

With these factors it makes it extremely difficult for wildlife to survive in these environments.

But on the other hand Nitrification is a very important part of the nitrogen cycle, because for most plants nitrate is the preferred chemical form of nitrogen uptake from soil or water.

Page 18/ H/S

Backpacking adventures in Wyoming

MEKENZIE MCCANN Reporter

Senior Grace Tabeling took a 30day backpacking trip in the Wind River Range, in Wyoming. On her trip the group changed the route, ended up summiting Mount Geikie, and faced some difficulties on their way back down.

Tabeling took the backpacking trip to Wyoming with the National Outdoor Leadership School, with an 11 person crew.

The trip took 30 days to complete the course, the trip took place from July first to July 31, 2021.

While climbing they found out that Mount Geikie was near the route, so the group decided that they were going to summit it for fun.

The group had to wake up at 5 a.m. and had to leave at 5:30 a.m. to begin the climb. Tabeling and the rest of the group packed light and took just the things that they needed.

According to Peak Badger the elevation of Mount Geikie is 12,378 feet. The climb is “very steep and rocky,” says Tabeling.

It took the group about two hours to complete the climb and it was a 2,500 foot climb all the way to the top of the mountain.

Grace comments “When we got to the top it was pretty indescribable, the view was unreal”.

By the time that Tabeling and the rest of the group made

it to the top of Mount Geikie it had taken them 12 days.

“We had come so far the past 12 days and summit[ed] our first mountain” Grace comments.

While Tabeling and the other 11 people she climbed with were at the top of the mountain it began to snow and become windy.

When these conditions began they had to start making their trip back down the mountain.

Making their way down the mountain was “honestly harder than going up”, says Tabeling. The conditions continued on and the mountain became “slippery and steep”, said Grace.

Grace says that going back down the mountain was the “biggest challenge” of the whole climb.

While Tabeling and the rest of the group were on their backpacking trip they also submitted an unnamed peak on the Continental Divide, “We did climb a lot of mountain passes[,] though which were honestly as tough as summiting sometimes” states Grace.

On the trip Tabeling “learned a lesson of facing hardship and pushing through even when things were hard” comments Tabeling. The group passed by famous peaks such as Gannett Peak and Wind River Peak.

Tabeling did not just summit Mount Geikie on her trip, but it was a highlight of her whole backpacking trip that she took.

Senior Grace Tabeling went hiking with NOLS Rocky Mountain group. The whole trip took 30 days to complete.

Photo Credit: Sydney King

Anticipation for college leaves seniors lacking motivation SUMMER GRACE News Editor According to Google, senioritis is a decline in motivation or academic performance that supposedly afflicts some seniors in high school, especially in their last term.

Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) academic advisor Abby Tincher observed that senioritis is a real thing people experience. “I would describe it as seeing the finish line and realizing you don’t necessarily have to work as hard anymore to reach it,” Tincher explains.

According to SNHU.edu, “the loss of momentum and motiva-

tion leaves students hoping they and now [he’s] not rushing to get lege.” can float through to the end.” In to col“I addition, the New York Times says would deseniors, “coast through their last semester in high school in anticiscribe it as seeing the pation of college entry in the fall.” finish line and realizing Senior Josh Woods has recently been personally experiencing you don’t necessarily have senioritis. “I want to cry because to work as hard anymore to I have to be an adult and do reach it,” adult things,” Woods shares. He says he’s also been experiencing a Abby Tincher (SNHU) lack of motivation with his schoolacademic advisor. work.

“Before I thought senior year he never wouldn’t come soon enough,” Woods says thought that graduation and growWoods explains. He says he’s “excited and happy with where [he is] ing up would happen so soon but

now that he’s a senior, he’s had to make big decisions. “I’m now kind of wondering where my next step is but I’m ready for my new chapter,” he comments.

Senior Aaron Huth says the virtual school year added to his lack of motivation. “It feels like I missed a whole year of school,” Huth comments. “Spending a majority of my junior school year at home made me think that I didn’t really have a school year,” he describes.

Since Huth was only in the building for one quarter his junior year, time flew by. He says, “this year doesn’t feel like my last year yet.”

Senior Greer Strine agrees and says

she’s wanted these past few years to go by slower. “I’m just ready for a new chapter,” Strine shares.

“When Covid hit, we were all thinking we had so much time left,” says senior Lahela Thomas.

Covid first hit during Thomas’s sophomore year, she went in thinking it wasn’t going to be a big deal.

“Covid has definitely changed my perspective,” she says.

“I’m just pretty tired of school,” explains senior Maggie Sadiq. Because Sadiq’s junior year “threw her for a loop,” she’s gotten to the point where she “[wants] to get [her] stuff done and get out,” she says.

October 28, 2021

Page 19/ Sports

Cry of the Hawk

Getting major wins against challenging teams Football overcomes adversity of cancellation Field hockey bangs out goals GREER STRINE

JESSICA FANNIN IDR Editor

The ball flies from player to player, the audience struggling to track it. Tension in the air rises as the ball gets dangerously close to the goal. The field is buzzing with the sound of excited fans cheering louder. One last sweep of the stick and the ball is in the goal before the goalie and stop it.

According to senior forward and midfielder Hannah Krizek, “The game against Notre Dame Prep (NDP) was super exciting for the team.” She explained that, “Coming off a few tough losses, when the buzzer sounded [...] they were all relieved that [...] [they] held the two to zero lead for an entire second half.”

Sophomore midfielder Korynn Sims, “Believe[s] the difference about the NDP game was the mindset.” Sims believes that some players went into the game thinking they “were a lower skill level than NDP, which was not true.”

The sophomore believes they were able to play and offensive game because the girls “played more as a team than individuals.”

Senior Annika Peterson agreed that they, “All came out playing like a team.” The center midfielder explained that after the win they “ran over and hugged the goalie because [...] [they] were so proud of each other.”

Krizek believes that the win against NDP has encouraged the team to hold their “heads high.”

Because they beat a team they did not expect too, they realized they “can beat any team face.”

Even though the schedule after the NDP game “gets no easier,” Krizek knows they “can do it.”

Apart from getting pumped for games like these, Sims likes to, “prep for a game by listening to music and focusing on warmups and how to improve from the previous game.” Defender, Bella Southard is a junior who gets fired up by listening to, “All of the Lights by Kanye West.”

After a win, Southard loves when they get “off practice the next day and can hang out with my friends to celebrate.”

Along with wins, there can also be injuries. During a game against Liberty Peterson said, “a ball rebounded off someone’s stick and hit the nose of a girl on the opposite team.”

After the injury was sustained, it was “difficult to tell how serious her injury was and both teams were really worried for her,” according to Peterson. Senior defender, Greer Strine, “after the girl left the game to go to Upper Chesapeake Hospital, it was determined that she sustained a broken nose in two places.”

Peterson described that after the incident the team was, “pretty shaken up but [...] [they] refocused and played with intensity the second half.”

Krizek explained that despite them “feeling bad,” they had to “finish the game,” and not let it be a distraction. From their wins against their recent opponents the field hockey team as a whole, realized they, “can beat any opponent.”

Sports Editor BEN SERSEN Reporter

To prepare for games, during practice the team, “We start During the middle of their by doing cardio first to help us season, the North Harford varbuild our endurance, then we sity football team stands with a go into position groups, then 3-3 record, following their most into a whole team practice. It recent game, when they faced a helps us at first getting better in tough loss against Edgewood. our own positions and learning According to counour spot as well as we can, then tysportszone.com, NH faced the we go into a whole team pracAberdeen Eagles on Oct. 15 at the tice where we can apply what Hawks Nest, Harford Tech on we learned and help each othOct. 22 at Cobra stadium, and to er improve,” Battaglia stated. end the season, the Hawks will As a team, the football team face rival, Fallston High School, decided to give their jersey to on Oct. 29, at the Cougars Den. a teacher to wear before their Thus far, the Hawks have faced game. This was for a teacher Perryville, winning 14-6, C. Milthat they appreciated and that ton Wright, winning 23-15, Bel has helped them off the field.

Air, losing 6-28, Elkton, losing Devoe decided to give his jersey 16-30, Edgeto Mr. Mcwood, losing Cormick.

0-44, winDevoe statning against ed, “He’s the Havre genuinely de Grace one of my Warriors by favorite forfeit, and teachers beating AbI’ve ever erdeen 19-6. had. Mr. Senior, McCorwide receiver, mick is Dillon Battasuch a fun glia, said, “The teacher games have and I realbeen fun to ly enjoyed play and be his class.” alongside all JuThe Hawks face their opponent at the line of scrimmage. The team of my other nior Marprepares to make an attempt for another Hawks first down. PHOTO teammates. quis Porter CREDIT: Meghan Devo Some of the spoke on hardships his exand adversity perience has brought us closer together.” It brings us together forcing us to with handing out his jersey The Warriors called in a can- want to work even harder to en- claiming “Mrs. Seigel got my celation of Friday, Oct 8th’s com- sure we come out stronger in the jersey [and] it was a great expetition versus the Hawks. The next game. Especially with inju- perience, I got to share a moWarriors held a 5-0 record before ry, [the injuries] have taken down ment that not a lot of people having to take a loss after for- some of our teammates, and we have been able to with a teachfeiting the competition bringing just have to wait for them to heal, er I care about. It was special” them down to a 5-1 after COVID but in the meantime, bring the Senior Luke Reinecke exaprotocols took out majority of next man up to fill their spot.” laimed, “ I gave Mrs. Stanmyer my the team due to a contracted case According to Devoe, “Some- jersey and it was awesome. She of the virus amongst the team. one that really stands out to me looked so happy when she got it!”

For senior running back and is first year varsity player, LuBattaglia said that he, “Gave linebacker Tristan Devoe, “I’m kas Smithson a.k.a. “Pimp”. He [his] jersey to Mrs. Chandler. She excited to play against Aber- is only a freshman and his kicks was one of my favorite teachers deen because it will be my and have just kept getting better and and has helped me a lot througha lot of my other teammates' better through the season and out the years, so it just felt right last game at the Hawks Nest.” he has become a team favorite.” that I would give her my jersey.”

In response to the cancellation, the players organized a scrimmage against their own teammates green versus white. This included dividing up players from both the varsity and JV teams and placing them on either a green or white team. They invited students to still come and support on Oct. 7. To end the game the green team took the victory, 20-18.

“There are a couple tough games coming up but if we work hard we can win them. I’m not entirely sure what our postseason holds for us, but I am excited for the ride,” Devoe added.

According to Battaglia, “After any sort of tough game, we all come together and bond over it.

Sideline supporters; Hawk’s Nest team managers

GREER STRINE Sports Editor

Teams are constantly moving forward with practices, games, and scrimmages. The players and coaches all do their part to keep the team together. However, some additional teammates work alongside the athletes who make things happen as well. These people are the team managers.

For the fall, there are multiple teams with and without managers. For JV field hockey, sophomore Lily Evans, and varsity, junior Alexis Trzeciak. Varsity football, junior Reese Lynch. For boys varsity soccer, senior Lydia Jones. For girls varsity volleyball, senior Abbey Huneke.

JV girls soccer, freshman Abby Podowski, for varsity, sophomore Emma Quick. For cross coun-

try, senior Evan Kuzemchak.

Huneke explained, “Every sports team is different, and every team has different preferences as to what they like their managers to do. However, for the most part, I keep score in the book, and on the scoreboard. The book is more my specialty, and I honestly prefer doing that over the scoreboard, which people tend to think is weird (especially since the book is kind of hard to understand at first). I go to both home and away games, and score keeps for both JV and varsity teams.”

“I would consider managers as a part of the team. We go to all the games, some practices, and we get recognition at the banquets, just like the players.

No, we don’t play, and no, we don’t do any physical activity

during the games or practices. However, we still put a lot of time and effort into these sports,” according to Huneke.

“For the team,

“I felt like I was a part of the team just as much as the players.”

-Bailey Smith, freshman managers keep stats during the games and help the coaches with scorekeeping and record keeping. Typically, coaches do not require manag-

ers to come to all practices, but usually I still do,” stated Huneke.

Freshman Bailey Smith had been a manager for the JV field hockey team for two years before coming into high school to help assist her mom, assistant coach of the JV field hockey team, Rebecca Smith.

Smith currently is a member of the JV field hockey team, but was able to learn the ins and outs of high school level sports, as well as getting to become tight-knit with the current upperclassman, and varsity players.

Smith stated, “I was always willing to listen to each girl no matter the topic. I would be there for them and give them my honest opinion or any advice. I noticed that the girls felt comfortable coming to me, but also

they became closer with me.”

Trzeciak added that she was a member of the JV field hockey team her freshman and sophomore year, but after suffering an injury in softball, she was not able to participate this year, , but just being there for their support as well as an extra set of hands to assist the coaches.

According to Smith, “I felt like I was a part of the team just as much as the players. I came to all practices, scrimmages, team dinners, games, etc. I would even play, pass, and run with the girls to show how much I loved them and loved spending time with them. The girls truly welcomed me with open arms and allowed me to become a part of the team, sometimes I even felt like a mini coach.”

Page 20/ Sports

Cry of the Hawk

NH golf team has record of 14-1, win UCBAC tournament CAROLINE BARQUIN Reporter North Harford High School has been one of Harford County’s top teams throughout the fall season.

For its 27th year the team has bounced back strongly after COVID has caused a year off.

Nick Panos, the head golf coach, is joined by Mitch Vocke, the assistant coach, and seniors captains Zach Wilcox and Aaron Bach.

“The team is 14-1 in matches, and they have won the Upper Chesapeake Bay Athletic Conference (UCBAC) golf tournament at Bulle Rock Golf Course,” Panos explained. Junior Johnny Manzari, a member of the team said, “The team practices everyday at Geneva Farm Golf Course right down the road directly after school.”

Manzari described the team this year to be “going good, we have a lot of good golfers on the team that make it fun to practice and play.”

COVID caused the golf team to not have a season last year, according to Manzari. “We could have been really good last year

because we had a lot of upperclassmen, but we didn’t practice as a team last year so we are not as good as we could have been.”

Panos agrees that they would

ers played through COVID and into the summer, so we didn’t miss too much,” described Panos.

C. Milton Wright’s golf team finished second in the UCBAC

the UCBAC and then they barely beat us in the regional tournament. They have been our only losses in the individual matches.”

The 2021-22 state tournament will take place on October 26th and 27th where senior Zack Wilcox has qualified to go. “States are a big deal, not many people get to go to states, '' explained Panos.

Wilcox in the UCBAC tournament won first place out of about 50 golfers. He then went to get second place in the regional tournament out of 56 players to qualify for states.

Coach Panos mentioned the top five golfers on the North Harford team are, “Zach Wilcox, Aaron Bach, John Manzari, Jimmy Calland, and Members of the North Harford golf team won the UCBAC golf Coulter Parsons.” These playtournament with a score of 307. Beating C. Milton Wright’s golf team ers have great prospects in by 17 points and Fallston’s golf team by 23 points. PHOTO CREDIT: the sport and are consistently Johnny Manzari showing good sportsmanship.

Manzari describes his favorite part of being a part of the have had a very successful season tournament, a couple shots be- gold team is heading to “Golden last year because of the seniors hind North Harford’s team. Corral after practice.” Panos said who were good players. “The Panos said that C. Milton Wright he enjoys seeing his players push team is right where we would is the biggest rival component to themselves to be great every day be last year because a lot of golf- his team. “We barely beat them in and genuinely enjoy the sport.

Team dinners bring teams together From sidelines to competitions; RILEY STONEBACK Reporter

a week after practice or a game.

Junior Autumn Tagliaferri said, “We usually have team dinners to There are many different astake the stress off us after a pracpects to a team and getting tice or stressful game. It’s a way to know each other is an imfor us to bond and have fun.” Their portant part of working todinners are usually organized by gether on and off the field. team moms.

Each volunteered Our North Harford teams parent has a night, and they bring have been very busy with team food.

Small games are usually bonding during team dinners. organized for the girls to play.

Senior captain Clare Cum“My favorite part is seeing mings said that the girls’ soccer team has already done a and learning things about others few team dinners this season. that I don’t get to see on the field.

“We usually do team dinners the One of my teammates is a really night before or week of a big game. good singer and I would've nevThey’re usually organized by the er known that had we not had captains of the team or whoever team dinners. I also really like is hosting that particular time,” the activities we get to do, like tie dye, pin C u m the tail m i n g s on the said. The donkey, girls usuor Minally eat, ute to talk, and Win It hangout games.” as team The outside of c h e erthe school leading and soccer team is setting. At The Hawks varsity field hockey team organiztheir last ing their carved pumkins at one of their team dindinner, the girls ners. A few days prior almost all games, f i r s t got ready there is a dinner to help the team bond. d i n n e r for this for spir- PHOTO CREDIT: Paige Mullhausen Saturit week d a y , by paintand senior captain Kaylyn ing T-shirts for class colors day.

Shew said she is very exCummings said, “I think team cited for their team dinner. dinners are really important in Shew added, “We usually have improving the team’s commudinners once or twice a season... nication on and off the field.

The team loves doing dinners My favorite part of the dinners because it brings everyone closis the dumb inside jokes that er together.

Being close with come out of them and just being your teammates is very importwith my teammates without the ant so that we work together pressure of a game or practice.”

The field hockey team has also at competitions, at practices, been busy with team dinners once and on the sidelines at games.”

Gearing up for upcoming new challenges REESE SHOWALTER Reporter The varsity cheer team has spent the last several weeks getting ready for their first competition of the season held on Oct 15. Currently in practice the team was perfecting their routine while also practicing sideline cheering for the football team.

Both captains said that they are nervous for the upcoming meet but also excited. They haven’t had a competition since last year so the nerves were high for this competition.

This year's captains are seniors Kylie Testerman and Kaylin Shew.

They were both very excited for the upcoming competition. Testerman said “I am feeling pretty confident this year with competitions, everything is hitting consistently and we are working hard as a team to get better.”

Both team captains are very happy with the team dynamic this year. Shew said, “I think everyone on the team is close. I love everyone on the team and we all get along.” Testerman said “The team works really well together and we help motivate each other to do “The better. It is fun to be surrounded by friends” said Shew. amount of injuries Testerman we’ve gotten from that spar ai cdt ti che es team usually wrestling room.... it’s not times a at least four week. fit for our routine” The practices are usually not full mat practices. Due to other indoor -Valorie Radel, sports, the cheer team rarely junior gets to do full mat practices.

“They say we can use the gym but realistically it’s way too hard with mats and volleyball,” said junior Valorie Radel. “We are actually planning on talking to Pawlicki to try and get the cafeteria, but due to COVID, they will not let us use the cafeteria for practice,” said senior Julia Harris The team practices in the wrestling room most of the time. The ceilings are too low and there are not enough mats. Radel said, “They are almost never mat because the school won’t give us the space.”

The cheer team has been frustrated with not having room to practice especially with their upcoming competition. “The routines are difficult and need to be practiced and it is impossible to do the full routine in the wrestling room,” said Radel. They want the room to be able to practice full mat, especially with the upcoming meet and the meets that are coming up soon after.

“The amount of injuries we’ve gotten from that wrestling room.... it’s not fit for our routine,” said Radel. Radel among others have been struggling with a shoulder injuries as well as bruises and soreness from practices.

October 28, 2021

Pink-outs in full effect for

Hawks athletics GREER STRINE Sports Editor During the month of October, 74 percent of North Harford athletes said that they participate in supporting Breast Cancer Awareness by wearing something pink during games.

Varsity field hockey player Kaley Mullhausen states, “We wear green and gold ribbons for every game, but during the month of Oct., we wear pink ribbons. Also, our warm-up shirts have pink lettering on them.”

Mullhausen, a junior, is on the varsity team for her first year, but stated that they still had Breast Cancer traditions take place on the JV team.

Junior Emilie Moore plays for Northern Elite Soccer Club (NESC). “We have a long sleeve jersey with the breast cancer ribbon on the side and we have a jersey that we wear in Oct. which has pink lettering on the front. We also wear pink socks,” according to Moore.

The soccer player said breast Cancer awareness seems to be something that the nation really contributes to. Many pro-athletes and teams do their part to show support for the cause She adds, “I think that we do it at the high school level to show support as well. Some of us have family members or just someone we know fights against breast cancer, so we love supporting this cause!”

Mullhausen commented that she knows her teammate, Kendall Fortune uses pink prewrap as her headband during games and a few other people on the team wears pink spandex.

“We not only support [breast cancer] by wearing pink, but other teams such as Fallston and Dulaney have done it too. When we played Fallston, they had pink warm-up shirts, wore pink shin guard covers, and even painted pink breast cancer ribbons on their arms. Dulaney did some of the same things, but they had pink tie-dyed warm-up shirts,” according to the field hockey player.

In the NFL, the Chicago Bears released a shirt this year with the phrase, “Real Bears Fans Wear Pink” that is displayed alongside their logo.

According to chicagobears. com, “Proceeds from the t-shirt sales, benefit Bears Care and help fund local programs which provide care, assistance and support services to breast cancer patients and their families, including helping facilitate timely access to critical breast health services for low-income women.

Over the last 13 years, the shirt campaign has raised nearly $1.4 million to support breast cancer patients and their families.”

Mullhausen stated, “I think it is super important that we continue this tradition because it honors those who are searching for a cure, actively fighting cancer, or anyone who has lost their battle to breast cancer.”