Sept 2021

NORTH HARFORD HIGH SCHOOL

211 PYLESVILLE ROAD, PYLESVILLE, MD 21132

410-638-3650

VOLUME 43 ISSUE 1

October 1, 2021

New assistant principal welcomed to North Harford GRACE FELDBUSH Social Media Coordinator After her previous job as vice principal at Aberdeen Middle School, Ms. Erin Mock has joined North Harford High School as its newest administrator. She explains she feels like she is working with mini adults who know how to walk around and behave rather than children. “I was excited to work with high schoolers over middle schoolers when I moved to the high school,” Mock said. “Middle school to high school is a huge change in general, but my favorite thing is that the high schoolers don’t walk into the cafeteria throwing food like middle schoolers do,” Mock said. “Understanding high school life is important. I went to the football game Friday[Sept 10] which was amazing,” Mock said.

She explained she loved seeing who have been breaking rules as the student pride and how much well as upset parents. “I wasn’t sure what to expect students get involved. at all going from middle to high She added that talking to the school, but I did exkids at lunch and getpect students to ting a warm rework harder sponse to saying “Middle school to here since good morning high school is a huge there is a are things purpose change in general, but my she apto pass preciates. favorite thing is that high classMock also schoolers don’t walk into the es to enjoys get out athletics cafeteria throwing food like of high and the middle schoolers do.” school,” school spirit Mock said. -Erin Mock, shown in the The combrief time she Vice principal munity suphas been at the port has also come school. into play since she had Hall duty, cafeteria duty, and observing teachers and kids heard nothing but good things are her main responsibilities, but from the community around she says her job does not stop just North Harford. “The communithere. She works with students ty assured me it would feel like

home here,” Mock said. Mock believes that it is important to get to know the kids you are working with to see why they might be doing what they are doing. Mock attended an all-girls Catholic school for high school, “I spent quite a few times in the assistant principal’s office for violating the dress code, and sometimes my mouth got me in trouble,” Mock explained. She said there was not a lot of wiggle room when it came to dress code at her school, and she got dress-coded countless times for her socks or skirt. “My high school vice principal was an old lady with a grey bun that sat on her head like a beehive, and she would walk in and just stare at you,” Mock said. She felt like her assistant principal did not care why she was in the

office, and that she just wanted to give her a detention or an in-school suspension. Mock explained that she felt like she never wanted to get to know her as a person, she just wanted to punish her. Mock states she wants kids to understand she will never judge them for their past behavior, and will only take their pressent behavior into consideration when it comes to punishments. She explains she hopes to have the respect of the students here so she can work witht hem to get through their problems. “I will always listen to you, 100 percent, just do not lie to me,” Mock says. She explains she will help you work through it if you are truthful about what you did. The administrator says she hopes to get to know students and get involved at school.

Psychologists work their way into Hawks Nest; Vancampen, McCabe join staff for first year GRACE FELDBUSH Social Media Coordinator

North Harford High School has added two psychologists who have plans to provide support for the Hawk’s community. Psychologist Mrs. Kristen McCabe came from her previous job at a school in North Carolina where she worked as a psychologist at both an elementary and high school. The transition from one state to the next has challenges but she said she is “excited for the opportunity to work with new people and gain new professional skills and experiences.” “I have had to adapt my thinking to fit the environment here,” McCabe said. She explains there are many policies from school to school that need to be followed for students to be able to learn and grow. McCabe added she enjoys learning about other fields of work and getting other input on why students could be struggling and how to help them. She “really enjoys working with other support staff like Speech-Language Pathologists.” “I have more experience working with younger children,” McCabe said. She explains that coming to a high school she must shift her mindset to work with teenagers. She “enjoys talking to students about their plans for the future.”

“I am considered a floater for the county and will be providing support to other psychologists who will be going out on maternity or medical leave,” McCabe said. She will be working with

Sometimes McCabe meets with students to work on emotion regulation, behavior management, relaxation techniques, and coping skills. “We have a wonderful team of

McCabe received her bachelor’s degree at Stevenson University in psychology. She went on to get her Masters of Advanced Study from East Carolina University. She “completed a 1,200-

McCabe and Vancampen are settling into their new office space. They both say they look forward to making their offices feel more homey for students. Photo Credit: Grace Feldbush

a lot of special needs students on their course loads. Her main responsibility is observing students to see how teachers can help them succeed academically and socially.

intelligent and passionate school psychologists,” McCabe said. She explains her expectations of being an HCPS staff member have been succeeded as she has many resources for professional development.

hour practicum placement and a full-time, year-long internship in an elementary school.” “I love school psychology because it’s like being a detectivethere are so many reasons why a student could be struggling in

school and it’s up to me and other educators to get to know the whole student and come up with a plan to help them succeed and meet their full potential,” McCabe states. Mrs. Sheila Vancampen is also a school psychologist. She has been a school psychologist since 1999 and has worked in three other school districts in Upstate New York. Vancampen says the transition here will take her a year or two to get completely settled even though a lot of aspects are similar to this job as her previous job. She “will be spending a lot of time learning the new rules and policies Maryland has.” Vancampen is also employed at Harford Tech meaning her time is split between the two schools. She is in North Harford on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and at Harford tech the remaining days. “Just having a real office is a big step up from my previous jobs,” Vancampen says. To better help her students she explains she tries to reflect on her teenage years to relate to students better. “Sometimes high school can be one size does not fit all,” Vancampen states. Vancampen looks forward to dealing with students one on one and settling into this new environment. She is, “very thankful for this opportunity and the support from the community.”

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Cry of the Hawk

Mass shortage of bus drivers everywhere;

causing ripple of complications EDITORIAL Schools are back, but kids are having trouble getting there since all throughout the country, schools are experiencing huge shortages of school bus drivers. A nationwide survey suggests that “more than half of America’s school districts report their driver shortage is severe or desperate.” After retiring or taking a break from driving because of the recent pandemic, many drivers are facing much fear of returning. This shortage has led to districts having to employ some pretty drastic measures. For example, in Massachusetts, “National Guard personnel were deployed to drive buses, and Pennsylvania is now considering doing the same,” states CBS News. In other districts elsewhere, administrators and other school personnel are get CDL licenses so they can transport kids to and from school There are lots of reasons the

drivers don’t want to return to the road. Some don’t want to work or fear returning to a job that could potentially involve sick children. It might also be that these adults don’t want to have police who are or aren't wearing masks. Either way, it’s putting a huge dent in the ability of school systems to function, not to mention on parents and students. At some point living around a pandemic isn't going to work anymore. Lynette Washington, the chief operations officer for Baltimore County Public Schools says, “when we have to call a family at 7 o'clock, you’ve already planned to go to work at 8 a.m. and to say the bus isn’t coming and they all quickly have to find another option to get their child to school and childcare. That’s a huge problem.” There isn't much hope, to even become a driver, a commercial driver's license is needed, which

involves months of training. That’s to say that there are even people willing to become a bus driver. The Patch states that “some Boston students ended up taking a party bus,” that was equipped with objects that were inappropriate for a school environment, “and neon lights to a field trip last week.” Clearly that is not an acceptable solution. As of right now, a lot of people don’t have the push to work or just don't feel like it. That's sad. This makes finding a decent solution extremely hard. For now, working with what is given is the only option, but finding more help is being adequately put into full effect, so this problem eventually can be lessened, or fully fixed. It should not ever be this much of a challenge to get individuals to drive buses for the school system, pandemic or not.

Overcoming the overthinking; Choices we all need to make JACKIE BULTMAN Video Editor

I can't sleep so I sit here and think. Blond by Frank Ocean flows from my headphones. It is the only album that makes me feel calm no matter how many times I listen to it. The headphones rest next to my head on the pillow, there is something discomforting about this. The noise of the music, just out of reach of muting my hyperactive mind. How many of my nights reach this point? All of them...I think? Night 4: Today was super rough. One of those days where nothing goes right. Over and over I have this nauseating feeling. My heart beats fast. I feel like I can't breathe.

Night 10: I feel as though I'm missing out in life. I'm watching from the outside with no control. Night 23: The more I think about it, I realize how much I intervene. Almost as if I am forcing every motion in my body without letting life carry it itself. Everything seems forced now. No fate. No easy-going. No God's path. Night 40: Life feels like it is passing me by without hesitation and I'm only now watching reruns. Half of my teenage years are gone and I feel like I've missed the fun. I've wasted it. I'll never get those years back. Night 76: I think I’m okay. I think that I’ve got my feet back on the ground. Night 110: No, I am in fact not okay. Now I feel behind because I haven't had those experiences. I'm trailing behind everyone else. Night 232: And then that feeling comes back. Night 377: What am I doing wrong? Why haven’t I done anything I’ve wanted to? But tonight...this time when I sit and think...it stops. No more commotion. Or fear. Or doubt. Or regret. Or spite. What changed? Well, I came to the conclusion that there is

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

no point in overthinking. What does overthinking achieve for any of us? It provides us the opportunity to be violently thrown back into the cycle of further overthinking. A cycle of never ending anxiousness. Do you realize you can wake up one day and decide not to do something any longer? You mean we could just decide to stop re-evaluating, re-examining, and revising? Yes. You mean the noise can stop? And the ringing and the distracting can cease? Yes. It takes one simple step to silence the overthinking. A single choice everyone can make. I promise you, the day you put this into action, you will feel so much lighter. Thus, choose not to overthink, stop those thoughts, and distract them. Your brain needs a break from the ruckus, so do yourself a favor. How do you think I came to this notion, I stopped overthinking for one second, and what a quiet world it opened. So for the first time, the headphones have been on my head for the entire night. The music now comforts my head. And I drift into the rhythm of sleep. No longer do I sit and think.

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

September 27, 2019

SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS NEEDED! Some Requirements: School bus certificate issued by DMV Class A or B license issued by DMV

Statistics:

Physical every 2 years

• Over 218, 619 current employed bus drivers in the U.S

First aid certification every 3 years Proficient driving skills Pass drug and alcohol testing

• Paid an average salary of 34,963 • The average age of school bus drivers is 56

SOURCES: PTCBUS.ORG AND ZIPPIA.COM COMPILED BY: HANNAH KRIZEK

Mask up to avoid shutting down KYLIE REDDING Op/Ed Editor

If you know me personally, then you probably have a pretty good idea of how I feel about the mask mandates and covid vaccinations, but this article isn’t to push my views on you because I’m sure your mind is already made up one way or another. So I’m not going to point out that countless studies have been done that prove masks slow the spread of the corona virus. Nor am I going to remind you that just because you are healthy and might be fine if you contract the virus, that doesn’t mean all of your peers can survive it. Or that many people experience a delay between contracting the virus and showing symptoms, or never get symptoms at all, so even if you feel fine you could spread it pretty easily if you decline to wear a mask. I’m also not going to mention that literally no negative side effects have been found from wearing masks, so even if on some off

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

chance we find out down the line they weren’t effective, you have nothing to lose by complying. I’m not even going to urge you to get vaccinated because it’s fully FDA approved, only around 1 in 5,000 vaccinated people contract the virus, and only about 5 in 100,000 vaccinated people are hospitalized from the virus. Plus it helps you avoid getting sent home for contact tracing so it’d probably be in your best interest anyway-- but I’m not going that point that out. But what I will say, is that we all endured a collective trauma. We lost football games, dances, musicals, parties, clubs, field trips, and so many other memories; and as valid as it is to grieve those lost experiences, we’re being given a chance to have it all back. I’m a senior, and so are many of you—we don’t have unlimited time to make teen memories. If there’s something we can all agree on, it’s that we want to remain in person. As hard of a pill it is to swallow, salvaging the rest of our teenage years comes at a price. Wear a mask over your nose if you’re inside, get vaccinated if you can, and if you’re told to quarantine for two weeks then just stay at home. Even if you can’t do it out of the kindness of your heart, at the very least do it to try and avoid another lock down. I don’t know about you, but if wearing a piece of fabric over my nose is going to raise the chances of us getting a semi-normal school year, then you won’t be hearing any complaints from me.

The Cry of the Hawk newspaper is published 10 times a year by North Harford’s Journalism II/III class. All editorials and viewpoints express the feelings of those on the staff and not necessarily those of fellow students, administrators, or teachers. Please do not hesitate to submit letters to Advisor Jen Chandler in room D207. Letters should be no longer than 300 words, must be signed, and may not contain vulgarity.

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Children suffer from abuse; Detrimental health effects

DANNY GALLO Reporter

Every day, children worldwide suffer from domestic abuse, specifically physical. What are called “punishments” ranging from a small slap to spanking, are detrimental to a developing brain, and can lead to several health issues in adulthood. Many parents try to “correct” their child’s misbehavior through landing their hands, whips, and even sometimes metal rods on them. What is called by many parents “a form of discipline” actually shows a great failure in parenting skills around the globe and can lead to detrimental effects on a child’s well-being. Whether this is a cultural matter or not, it should not be acceptable. What it comes down to is being a loving human being and parent. When experiencing great physical abuse or aggression from their own caretakers, kids grow up with low self-esteem caused by the belief that they deserve such misconduct from loved ones. In addition, there are children who due to the environment they grew up in believe that love equates to violence. According to the American Psychological Association, “children learn to behave like their parents”. Through observing others, those with developing brains intake their first form of education. Whether that education is of kindness and generosity or of violence and cruelty depends on those who are raising them. Parents should be loving, caring, and accepting of their children. The world is already a difficult place in many ways, and this is a universal fact. Why make it more difficult for them? In great importance, the legal cases of parents who continue to mistreat their kids do not represent the entirety of the problem, simply because many children do not report their caretakers’ aggressive behaviors. There are several reasons why they might choose not to, includ-

September 27, 2019

Cry of the Hawk

ing but not limited to their love for their parents, fear of getting hit again, a sense of guilt over the abuse as if they had deserved it, as well as fear of not being believed. This is where the victim begins to feel like the problem, even if they are at no fault for the aggression being projected onto them. Psychology teacher Melissa Winter explains her professional opinion on the matter: “I think some children are scared to tell anyone. The abuser may threaten them if they tell anyone”. According to the National Child Traumatic Stress Network, children of all backgrounds and ages are likely to suffer from physical abuse, however, those who are within the ages of “4-7 and 12-15 are at the greatest risk.” In a positive light, there are ways to give those children a voice. By noticing signs of abuse, many can be of assistance to those in need. According to health care professionals around the United States, children who are being abused often will give off “red flags”, or signs that they are in a dangerous situation at home. Unexplained fractures, burns, injuries, and even bruises could be of concern, as well as injuries that don’t match with the explanation the child/parent is giving. Changes in a child’s behavior such as aggression and hostility are also to look out for since kids are mirrors of their parents. Furthermore, self-harm or seeking suicide by a child are great factors to consider when investigating a child’s background. Signs and actions such as these many times speak louder than words. The children of this world should not feel threatened or scared by those who raised them, but instead the comfort of being at home and the warmth of a parent’s love should be apparent. It is extremely vital that the people of this society protect children who believe they are unsafe even in a place they are supposed to be appreciated. Raise their voices. Love them. Listen to them.

New schedule for new school year

ANDREW HARTLOVE Reporter

North Harford High instituted a new schedule for their students at the start of this year. In a nutshell, instead of A1 days, A2 days, B1 days, and B2 days there are now just A days, B days, and new A/B days. The reactions from students are quite mixed. The new schedule works like this. Throughout the entire year, Mondays and Wednesdays will always be A days, and Tuesdays and Thursdays will always be B days. Where some students find confusion is the Friday A/B day where every class of the day will be had in 30-minute intervals, excluding the B3 block where the cafeteria holds lunch for two hours. On top of that the A/B day will not happen if there is a day off that week. Instead, if the day off is an A day that Friday will be a regular A day to make up for what time was lost on the day off. This change was brought out because the staff at North Harford wanted to incorporate Hawks Soar into the actual schedule for all students, rather than it being a separate entity that can be seen as just

an extended homeroom period. Considering North Harford is the only school in the county that is trying this schedule change it’s no surprise that a complete rework of how school is ran would bring at least some controversy among students at the school. Students from all grade levels are divided about how to think about the new schedule. This was expected considering its intention was more experimental and trying to find a new way of rerouting Hawks Soar into the schedule. Put simply if it works it works and possibly other schools in the county will follow and if it doesn’t staff will drop it the next year Although the new schedule is experimental and may not last long, students are finding positives about the new way of schooling. Senior Erica Otte said she liked the new schedule because the A2 and B2 days were “confusing and unnecessary.” More students agreed with Otte, Sophomore Reece Henkle, Junior Sophia Shull, and Seniors Gavin Lewis, Bella Silvestri, and Dillan Ortman all said they would prefer to not have the A2 and B2 days.

On top of that, Sophomore Ben Steele commented that he “can still get stuff done” despite the shortened eight blocks on the A/B days. Lewis commented that the eight classes on Fridays can be “convenient for those who are behind on their classes.” On the other end, some students are having a hard time with the rework. Ortman also commented about the eight classes in one day, saying it would be “overbearing” because of the number of AP classes some people take and the work that each AP class takes. Freshman Xander Moore would agree with Ortman, saying that he’d “rather prefer the old Hawks Soar” over the new schedule just because the day with all eight classes has the potential to get out of hand. Starting off the year with this new confusing schedule was inconvenient, considering it’s quite the large change, but at the end of the day, it seems whether students like it or not, the rework is here to stay. It’s best for students to get used to it for the time being. Afterall, flexibility is a very good trait to have for the future.

Keep legislation off of women’s bodies; new Texas law restricts access to abortions EDITORIAL

reasons including diet changes, stress, medications, sleep schedule changes, etc. So some women don’t even know they’re pregnant within the six week time frame, and even if they’re lucky enough to catch it in time, they’ll have almost no time to consider their options and schedule all necessary appointments. So while politicians are trying to pretend that But it seems like that’s what Texas

sue the mother for having an unconsented abortion—despite the fact that pregnancy hijacks the woman’s body for 9 months and in some cases risks her life, and the father has literal zero physical affects. There is a simple solution to the abortion debate-- if you disagree with abortions than don’t get one. But no one will be able to understand what’s best for a woman and her family on an in-

This month, women lost a battle in the war for equal rights when a new Texas abortion law took effect. The legislation bans abortions six weeks after someone’s last period, by expanding the standing so any private citizen can sue any person who aids a woman in having an abortion. So technically the patient herself cannot be criminalized for seeking an abortion, but her doctor, Uber driver, financial contributors, etc. are all at risk of facing a lawsuit. In a way, the design of this law is evil genius because Roe vs. Wade prevents the government from excessively restricting access to abortion, but the state of Texas isn’t the one enforcing the law— instead it’s fellow Texans. Which essentially means that as of right now the Supreme Court cannot step in because Texas Texans push back against new abortion ban. Protest to found the loophole. And take a stand was held outside of state capitol on September 1. not only is the state giving civilians the right to reg- Photo Credit: Sergio Flores ulate each other’s bodies, but it’s offering a reward dividual basis, except the woman of 10,000 dollars plus the cost of wants anyway. And to make matters worse, herself. court to any plaintiff who wins a the only implicit exception in the Bottom line, the Texas aborcase. It literally takes just a basic un- law is if the pregnancy risks the tion ban is in principle unjust and derstanding of female anatomy to mother’s life or if it might lead oppressive. The Supreme Court has a clear understand why six weeks is not to “substantial and irreversible nearly enough time for a woman damage.” So in the case rape or in- stance that abortion is a right for to make an educated decision cest, a woman can still be forced women, which Texas has jumped about what’s best for her and her to carry the pregnancy to term through loops to get around. In all cases, legislation does not family. On average, periods hap- despite her trauma. The law also mentions that belong on a woman’s body. pen every four weeks and women can miss them for countless the father of unborn children can Period.

October 1, 2021

Cry of the Hawk

Page 4- Op/Ed

Women fighting for rights; Dress code changed for better Injustices continue worldwide EDITORIAL “Almost half of the women in some 57 countries do not have the power to make choices over their healthcare, contraception, or sex lives.” states a report by the United Nations published in April 2021. Regardless of how low or high this number is interpreted, any number or percentage is still too high to be acceptable and can’t be ignored. It’s impossible to not wonder how and why this is still an issue after human rights have come so far ever since John Locke’s first declaration of ‘unalienable rights’, yet it seems every time change for the better takes a step forward, it takes two steps back. Especially for women. In South Africa, many women and girls are victims of harmful practices including child marriage, abduction for marriage (known as “ukuthwala”), and forced polygamous unions that often lead to a rise of domestic violence. The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) states that out of roughly 144,000 requests for protection orders from 2018-2019 in South Africa, only around 22,000 were granted.

CEDAW also reports that in many cases, the protection orders granted “just called for the abuser to sleep in a different room, in the same house.” It’s not fair that these women believe their cases are being heard and proper action will be taken, only to be let down. Afghan women also continue to endure several challenges and injustices, which are at risk of worsening with the recent departure of US armed forces from Afghanistan. With the Taliban gaining ground and the prospect of an expanded civil war, many donors that fund programs that are vital for women’s rights are withdrawing their support. With their country in peril and an unsure future looming ahead, now more than ever is a crucial time to support these women and make sure they’re not left behind. The world needs to reassure these women that they’re being heard over the violence and politics casting a murky cloud over the dire situation. Although the Taliban claims they pledge to let girls study and women work, they usually follow their statements up with the phrase “as permitted by Islam.” To further growing concerns, there’s been major contradictions between the word of the Taliban

and their actions. Local commanders in recent months and years have sometimes closed down girls’ schools entirely, even at the primary level. Women should not have to keep fighting for their right to a safe education in the 21st century. They shouldn’t still have to wonder if it’s okay for them to pursue an interest. It’s unfair to deny anyone access to something that’s needed to understand the world around them, just because of their gender. Afghan human rights lawyer and human rights watch consultant Fereshta Abbasi states that she has to keep the women she consults with safe and anonymous, due to the fact their families could retaliate against them for reporting their cases. “Afghan women and girls are at risk for so-called honor killings by their families, and these cases are rarely prosecuted.” Even if the full effects of infringements on women’s rights aren’t felt everywhere or by all, the fight must continue until every single group of women is treated as human beings. There shouldn’t be a fight to secure these rights to begin with; these rights should have been granted at birth.

Normalize pronoun use among students, staff DANNY GALLO Reporter

I believe we must start this article with a little English lesson. If you recall from earlier school years- back to middle and even as early as elementary, you might remember learning about pronouns. Pronouns are words that often substitute someone’s name in a sentence. Here’s an example. Instead of saying “Austin went to the arcade,” you can certainly say, “He went to the arcade”. I feel the need to say this because of recent inconsiderate conversations I have overheard when people in this school have talked about pronouns. Pronouns are very important for those who struggle with their gender identity or who do not fit with the gender they were assigned at birth, and who, with the right of human liberty, wish to change it. Comments made by students in this school such as “I don’t have pronouns,” or “My pronouns are nor/mal,” simply sound uneducated and shallow. Because guess what Jeremy?

Pronouns are one of the most normal things in the English language. We use them every day. Talking about your dog? You use pronouns to say HE is a good boy! Talking about your favorite football players? You use pronouns to talk about how good of a kicker HE is! You use them every day. Normalizing pronouns leads to the acceptance and destigmatization of those who do not align with pronouns assigned to their gender at birth as well as create a more comfortable atmosphere for the greater public. Ways that students can help create this is by simply asking someone what pronouns they are most comfortable with. How do you ask someone about their pronouns? It’s as simple as the following: “What are your pronouns? And how would you like me to address you?” “Would you mind telling me your pronouns? Just so that I know I am using the correct ones”. Interactions as such could go a long way to help your classmate feel more at home while being at school. I know many of those who go to North Harford do not feel the need to work on this issue because it is a fairly new concept, even though the history of transgender individuals goes centuries back. All I ask of you is this: be patient and understanding of others’ identities. Imagine it is your sister, brother, best friend, who does not identify with the pronouns they have used and were assigned

with at birth. What would you do? The kindest answer here is to have conversations and try to understand where they are coming from. Another way you can be of help is by doing small things that would mean the world; listing your pronouns on social media usernames, introducing yourself with the pronouns you align with. You can do this by stating, “Hello, my name is ____ and my pronouns are (he/him, or she/her, or they/them, etc).” Little steps like this go a long way. Teachers can also do their part to help make our school environment a safer place. Other teachers can take note of what Creative Writing teacher Michael James has done. At the beginning of the school year, James displays a form for students to fill out on Itslearning which has simple questions about how they would like to be referred to, whether that is a nickname or what pronouns they go by. James explains “Sadly, students who are not cisgender (comfortable with assigned gender at birth) face obstacles and abuse other students do not. Why would I, their teacher, want to add to that by denying them this?” he explains. In addition, the educator’s views on the matter come down to being a decent human being. James proclaims: “Using someone’s preferred pronouns says to someone that I value you as a human being worthy of respect.” Yes. Yes, it does.

VIEWPOINT

Students at North Harford High School, especially girls, have been frustrated by the dress code for years, but luckily a change has finally been made. For the first time ever, tank tops are acceptable for Hawks to wear. The dress code in the 20192020 school planner states “students are prohibited from wearing […] clothing that […] unduly expose or reveal skin such as tank tops, tube tops, halter tops, mesh tops, bare midriff tops, spaghetti straps” etc. However, this year the dress code in the planner states that “clothing must cover the chest, midriff, pelvic/groin area and buttocks” and “all tops must have shoulder straps.” The key difference between these sets of guidelines is that the new dress code doesn’t prohibit spaghetti straps, which opens up so many more fashion options for students. School shopping as a teenage girl can feel impossible because a large fraction of the clothing options in the stores break the school dress code, but by expanding what’s allowed to be worn, the school just made this much easier for students to navigate. The change also offers hope that North Harford administrators are willing to listen to the student body and progress when necessary. It’s no secret that the school has a reputation for being very conservative, but it’s comforting to know that change is possible and student voices can in fact be heard. Shoulders should not be considered distracting, and the new dress code reflects this. Though the updated dress code allowed many female students to sigh a sigh of relief, not everyone is completely satisfied

yet. In the same way that the shoulders of minors should not be considered “distracting,” neither should midriffs or really any normal body parts. The fact that students will get dress-coded for wearing a crop top before they’ll get told to pull their masks up shows the school’s priorities. When it comes down to it, girls do not dress for guys--for the most part they dress for their own comfort. Which means if someone is wearing a crop top, there’s a good chance it’s because it’s hot outside or it makes them feel good about themselves. If a guy can’t focus on class because of what a female student is wearing, that says much more about the guy than the girl. Making female students miss instruction time to deal with a dress code situation, so there aren’t any “distractions,” makes a statement that the education of female students isn’t as valuable as the education of everyone else. Despite the fact that technically both female and male students can get dress-coded for the same things, many Hawks feel like girls are especially targeted for wearing things that guys would get away with. And the reasoning that they’re often told has to do with how their bodies are inappropriate or distracting. So yes, the new dress code change is a great first step that the school can be very proud of and makes many female students feel more comfortable, but the work is far from over. In many aspects, this school could still afford to be more progressive— from further dress code updates, to taking more steps to make LGBTQ+ students more comfortable, to coming down harder on racism, etc.—but for now, lessening the restrictions on what students can wear feels like a win.

Cry of the Hawk

October 1, 2020

Page 5 - News

New CoffeeBar/podcast studio opens on Main Street SUMMER GRACE News Editor

On July 12, a new coffee shop opened on Mainstreet in Bel Air. The CoffeeBar offers a variety of different coffees, teas, and bakery items. The shop also introduces new products seasonally, such as caramel apple cider, harvest iced coffee, and pumpkin muffins. The menu includes other items like bagels, croissants, danishes, and muffins daily. Not only does the CoffeeBar serve coffee and treats, but it is also home to a new podcast recording studio. According to the Nnorthmain Instagram, Bel Air is

“full of history, and [they] wanted to pay tribute to what 5 North Main was long before [them].” “It may look different now but the bones of the building remain and we’re sure if the walls could talk, they would have a lot to say,” they explained on their Instagram. They also note, “we couldn’t think of a better place to preserve it‘s history than in our postcard studio, where the walls can be filled with a lot of stories, laughs, and interesting conversations.” Senior Chloe Romm agrees, and says the CoffeeBar’s interior looks like Pinterest designed it. Senior Grace Herron often goes

to the CoffeeBar to study or work on homework. “I really like the atmosphere, good coffee, and nice interior,” Herron explains. She says the cafe is, “a good place to study or chill with friends.” Herron also notes that the drinks and foods were all “tasty and worthwhile.” According to Herron, the CoffeeBar’s internet connection is very fast and is unlimited. “The wifi makes the cafe perfect for studying or just chilling out,” she says. Herron thinks the CoffeeBar is very quiet and peaceful. “I just want to keep coming back to this place,” she exclaims. Jamie Kavanagh, a senior,

“loved the unique flavor choices like the mochatella.” Kavanagh says the staff was really sweet and the service was great. “Overall, it’s a nice place with an extremely cozy atmosphere,” she adds. Junior Tati Gonzalez is another regular at the CoffeeBar. “It’s such a unique coffee shop to study in and read books,” she says. She continues saying there’s, “no loud noises which will help you a lot to concentrate on what you’re working on.” Gonzalez says they have a variety of food and drinks you can select from. “I honestly love the great interior all over the place,”

she shares. Alumni Kayla Anderson has been working with the CoffeeBar from the start. Although she didn’t have much to do with starting the business in itself, she’s helped by giving her input on different drinks and flavors. “I’ve helped taste different things and decide what we should sell,” Anderson explains. Anderson enjoys the process of brainstorming “different drinks and coming up with ideas of what to sell, then taste test[ing] them.” She says the staff is “really cool and it’s a fun environment, I also love making drinks and talking to customers.”

Math teacher adjusts to The Nest KRIS GRAY Co-News Editor

“I am very happy to be back. It's nice to see all the students in person,” says math teacher Mikayla Corday. As someone whose first year at North Harford High School was spent online, Corday said she is anxious to settle in with the community. The reason why Corday made the switch from Joppatowne High to NHHS was for her mental health. Even though she loved working with the students in Joppa, she feels that she was at a crossroad. After spending her entire teaching career at Joppatowne, Corday “needed a new challenge.” She felt, “stuck in what [she] was teaching and the population that [she] was teaching.” Corday feels as if the change “was hard because [she] didn't know anybody and [she] was

teaching all new classes so [she] had never taught Algebra 2 before. [She] never taught ramp up or computer science so all that was brand new.” The educator says she is already settling in with North Harford, and she feels happy to finally be a part of the community. She commented that when she makes eye contact with students, she questions whether she taught them last year. Even if she did, she “has no idea what they look like. So, that's kind of funny.” According to the Washington Post, “Algebra is the single most failed subject in high school,” so Corday’s goal here is to, “just be as good a math teacher as [she] can for students who don't necessarily love math.” She said she understands that math is not everyone’s favorite subject and is taking measures to improve the experience for others.

The math teacher said “the only negative to moving here was the drive and it wasn't a negative at all last year” due to virtual learning “so that was really great.” Now that North Harford is back in person, Corday is “glad to drive to the school because the scenery is just really beautiful.” Even though the math teacher is new to the students and staff, she “was able to meet all the math teachers ahead of time and they were really helpful.” They made her feel “appreciated” and “welcomed” Corday feels as if she was “right back to where [she] was two years ago,” She is adjusting to being an in-person teacher, “ which [she] thought was going to be a lot harder to catch up to.” She appreciates the idea of being a part of a new family. She thinks “it's nice to see the community back together.”

Voices of Equity inspires change around diversity, inclusion;

Organization challenges thinking at North Harford CAROLINE BARQUIN Reporter Voices of Equity takes problems seen on the North Harford Campus and makes a change through educating students, staff, and administrators on the importance of understanding common issues. Michael James, an English teacher at North Harford, is the leader for Voices of Equity. He explains the big picture purpose of the club as “creating a community where everyone gets what they need to succeed. It is not a political group. It’s about equity; that all voices need to be heard.” Junior Ethan Jourdan adds “it’s a lot of people who collec-

tively believe in social change and equality in general.” One of the most known movements right now is the Black Lives Matter movement. Jourdan believes that “many places talk about change, but the main goal of voices of equity is to actually make that change through attacking the source directly.” These brands' well-intentioned efforts have been inconsistent and confusing to the customers according to a Voices of Equity website. The organization, while it has the same name it is not directly connected to the club although it does stand for similar things. The club meets after school on

Wednesday from 2:05 p.m. to 3 p.m., both virtual and in person. According to James, “We start the meeting with an introduction and follow those with any business plans, upcoming events and those types of things. Then we open the floor to concerns students might have or topics they want to discuss.” Jourdan explains, “we got an understanding of the problems we are facing at the first meeting and brainstormed how we are going to go about making change.” Voices of Equity uses multiple different approaches to making change at school and in the community. In the past, the club presented to all the administrators

in the county about some issues in school that they might not be aware of, as well as the day of silence where participants remained silent the whole day to spread awareness about the effects of bullying and harassment of the LGBTQ+ community. One plan discussed this year is that the club is “going to try and talk with administration and the faculty about things like pronoun usage and issues that students in a minority face,” James says. Jordan’s focus this year is to shed light on what he believes is the biggest problem the club is facing. “People's understanding of difference is a huge problem. People fear what is not normal and

they don’t accept what is not in their definition of normal.” James and Jourdan urge people who are interested to come to a meeting. Jourdan wants to mention that “it’s the type of club where if you sign up and can only come to one meeting it's totally fine. We're very laid back in the commitment area and know other people have other commitments.” Every week, the club reminds James of how strong and powerful students are. He explains that, “the students are focused on wanting to make a change and wanting to make the world better. It gives me hope for the world.”

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Getting into the swing of things;

Virtual Back to School night hosted by Hawks GRACE FELDBUSH Reporter

October 1, 2021

Cry of the Hawk

from doing it virtually. Arist explained multiple parents did not turn on their camerThe annual back-to-school as which disappointed her since night for North Harford high she enjoys putting a face with a school was held from our bedname. rooms once again. Virtual back Mathematics teacher Mrs. to school night was on SeptemShelly Sparks explained she was ber 9 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. glad that parents who Dave Iampieri attended would not normally have back to school night and nottime to get to the school ed “there were definitely less could attend easier since parents at the virtual meet it was virtual. Sparks had than in person in years past.” an average of three to five Iampieri explained that parents for regular classthere were many positives and es, and 12 to 15 for honors negatives to having it virtualclasses. ly. Parking issues, and saving “It was a good opportutime are just a few things he nity for parents to see the liked about it this year. “Negdialogue for the upcoming atives include not being able year and to understand to see the classroom environthe expectations,” Sparks ment or being able to talk to explained. She felt more a teacher privately if needed,” parents attended this year Iampieri said. since it was virtual and Iampieri explains he was would want to do it virtuhappy to avoid leaving the al again in the future. house, however, his wife had Sparks’ main concern different thoughts. “My wife She has loved knowing the students was parents not underwas disappointed not being better since back to school night. standing how to get to able to meet teachers face to Photo credit: Grace Feldbush the meetings. Sparks exface,” he said. plained at the end of the “We care about our kid’s night, everything worked out for teacher Mrs. Larissa Arist also success and want to show that teachers and parents. agrees with Harris, saying they we support the teacher and our According to Harris, she is should make the night later child,” Iampieri states. hoping to be back in person to in the school year. “My young Science teacher Mrs. Kimbermeet all the parents next year. son had a melt down during ly Harris has similar thoughts She explains back to school night back-to-school night,” Arist exon the subject as she wished to gives valuable information and it plained, which was a negative meet the parents in person as well. She explained only about three parents showed up per class. Harris is not interested in doing it virtually again and says, “I wish it were about 3 weeks into school, so we know the kids a little better.” Foreign language

Teen resumes bakery for fall season JACKIE BULTMAN Video Editor

Summer just ended, which means a student owned entrepreneurial business just reopened. Nourished Bakery, an at-home seasonal bakery, is run by senior Julia Birchfield. Last year was the business’ debut year of operation and an

In addition she also introduced dog treats such as puppy pretzels, doggy donuts, and doggy Poptarts. In addition, Birchfield’s newest cupcake flavors are orange creamsicle, PB and J, cake batter, key lime pie, chunky monkey, and peaches & cream. Reflecting back to a year in business, Birchfield’s favorite

Birchfield is in the second year of her entrepreneurial bakery. She added various pastries, dog treats, and various cake flavors.Photo Credit: Dawn Bayer instant hit. But, what makes the business such a sensation? Birchfield said, “my most ordered item on my menu are any of my cakes.” And there is a reason why the cakes in particular are so popular. In the off-season, Birchfield said, “I did recipe development trying to tweak my cake recipe just slightly.” She created a test trial system to see if any of her altered recipes were better than the one she was using in the previous year. Birchfield explained, “ultimately I decided to stick with my original recipe because I was continuously coming back to liking it the best.” And something she wants a lot more people to order are her specialty themed cakes, because they are her favorite thing to make on her menu. Birchfield said, “I love making cakes that are centered around the person who ordered, because these cakes are formulated around their personality.” Birchfield continued, “It allows me to be fun and creative because I am straying from my standard recipes and designs.” But she also noted, “it makes them really happy when they receive it because the cakes are just so them. Her latest themes include a dinosaur, race car, Spider-Man, St. Patrick’s Day, and cat cakes. And new to the bakery this year, Birchfield added a line of pastries including various flavors of macarons, macaroons, and madeleines.

part is not the actual production of her products but rather the behind-the-scenes business and marketing aspect. Birchfield said this interests her the most, “because I want to possibly pursue something in that field in the future.The behind-the-scenes that people don’t normally see of the bakery is the most intriguing part.” Birchfield said, “I love the freedom of starting my own business, because I can grow and develop a brand the way I want.” But being a senior in high school who will go off to college in a year, places limits on the business. “Having to stop after two years when you have so many more ideas and ways to go with the expanding business is frustrating,” Birchfield explained. “It is the difficulty of having aspirations but lacking the time to complete them.” And her focused aspiration this fall includes trying to donate more and give back to the community in some way. In mid-September she dropped off batches of cookies at a local food kitchen. But she also donates gift cards or a dozen cupcakes to silent auctions that help at charities. Birchfield said she does it, “because it ‘bakes the world a better place and nourishes others.’” Take a look at her craft on Instagram and Facebook @nourishedbakery. There you can find her website if you are looking to order or just curious.

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Cry of the Hawk

Summer jobs vs current jobs BELLA ARIST Reporter

According to Feli Oliveros, about 30% of high schoolers have jobs, whether that is during the school year or not. Teens have jobs for many reasons like money, showing responsibility, or having extra time to spare. Seniors are one year away from being independent and potentially living by themselves. Some parents want their kids to experience getting stuff done by themselves. Going off to college is a place they might not have access to their parents for help. Senior Emma Mathios said her “parents wanted me to get a job to work on money management and having responsibilities.” As she is planning on going to college next year, working alone prepares her for upcoming challenges she might face. By getting minimum wage plus tips working as an expo at Silver Spring Mining company, Mathios needs to know how to budget and save. Unlike Mathios, senior Austin Arist was the one who wanted to get a job. He mentions he need money for “gas and other stuff I want to buy myself.” Although the tips are good, working as a hot air balloon crewmember, can have its disadvantages. The weather can impact whether he gets to

work or not, which can cause confusion with his work hours. A senior has a job for different reasons than a sophomore would have a job. Sophomore Abby Averella works at Rita’s making minimum wage. Her reason for working is so that she can “eventually pay for college and gas when I get a car.” Her parents were the ones who asked her to get a job, but Averella says she enjoys scooping ice cream for the most part. As a teacher not having a paycheck during the summer can cause issues for some people. Math teacher Mikayla Corday explains she need a steady income for the summer to use for extra expenses like trips or house remodeling. Working as a high school geometry teacher for summer school causes her to have some positives and negatives during her work hours. Some positives for working for summer school included, “not having the stress of waking up extra early and driving to work.” Since it was virtual, Corday had the pleasure of sleeping in and opening a computer to start her day. Although that was relaxing, she had some struggles with students. As she said, some would “rarely ask questions or show their face.” She also had problems with students not turning their work in on time which caused more stress for her.

Protecting the health of your home and your family. • • •

October 1, 2021

Horrible habits for North Harford community; Pandemic practices that became habitual LAYTON HILLIER Copy Editor As a result of the pandemic, some people are developing new habits, for better or for worse, many of these habits will stay with us for a long time. The pandemic has caused some people to adapt with good habits, like listening to the news and podcasts while driving, instead of songs to productively occupy otherwise dead hours, like former North Harford student Camille Denard who said, “I love listening to podcasts in the car, especially academic journals, I really like learning about new things.” Research is not the only thing Denard enjoys listening to while driving. She commented that “if it’s not dark out, I like hearing about true crime and horror. It’s really interesting, but I usually can’t listen to it when it’s dark because it creeps me out.” Denard isn’t the only person who’s experienced a change in habits since the pandemic started, “My family and I have started to be more active since the start of the pandemic.” Says science

teacher Mrs. Christine Jestel. “It’s helped me realize the importance of exercise and even though I’ve let other things go in return, exercising daily has helped me feel a lot better.” Exercising is an important habit and has helped her develop good habits, especially in the peak of the pandemic according to Jestel A pandemic can change the habits that many people had, new bad habits like social media binging or panic-eating comfort foods, but may appear as breaks in good habits, like frequent workouts and losing touch with a typical day-to-day structure, according to Centre Spring M.D., it is important to change these habits to “avoid having to undo damage after we come out of this pandemic.” Experts recommend that people reexamine their goals, to make sure they are on track to complete them, “it’s easier to act habitually, so we can end up returning to our pre-pandemic habits,” says psychologist Wendy Wood. Psychologists are not the only people who believe this, behav-

ioral scientists such as BJ Fogg agree that “now is the best time to consciously decide what habits you want to keep, and what new habits you want to form.” Denard is taking Fogg’s advice to heart, “it feels like a clean slate, both starting college and going into post-pandemic life, so I’m really taking time to evaluate what I want to do, and how I can get there.” Denard hopes others can follow her lead, “I think it’s important to have good habits, bad ones can really change how your high school experience goes, and how you interact with the world. If you spend your time worrying about one thing, it’s a lot harder to create good memories, even if the memories are focused on something else.” Some experts, such as King’s College London’s Benjamin Gardner, believe that habits associated with the pandemic directly will fade away as the pandemic does. “Most of us will return to our habits from before the pandemic, but I hope that some of the things we learned because of it will stick around,” says Denard.

Young Life, Christ-centered ministry organization, supports Harford County teenagers, community CAROLINE BARQUIN REPORTER Young Life is a ministry organization focused on introducing kids to Jesus Christ and to help grow their faith through friendship and meaningful conversations. According to the Young Life Website, the group was created in 1941 by Jim Rayburn through his efforts to show young people how much God cares about them by coming into their lives. Kevin Maher and Carol Maher are leaders of the Harford County group and describe their job as “basically walking through life with the kids through fun, adventure and real conversations.” Gigi Dellarose, a junior at North Harford and a member of Young Life describes the group as a “a fun place for young kids to go to learn about God and play lots of games.” The leaders of Young Life share their lives with the kids “by attending sporting events and band concerts or stuff like that, so we are able to show high schoolers we care for you.” explains Carol. Although the organization is ministry based, high schoolers that have no interest in religion are their most targeted audience. Kevin emphasizes this point

by mentioning, “The idea is that when you get to school there are people there that you have had real and honest conversations about life with regardless of where you stand with God. But a chance to be honest, real, and be in a community of people that care about you.” Young Life has two main types of meetings; the first type is called Club. Marissa Altenburg, a senior at North Harford High School and a member for around five years explains that “Club is a mix of a big party and fellowship together with the whole community of Harford County. We play a lot of group games and then the leader gives a talk like a lesson.” Kevin adds “Club feels like a party, you never really know what’s going to happen. “At the end of the club, a leader will tell a story about their life and who God is so anyone regardless of their belief can make their own decision of what god is. According to Dellarose, Club is her favorite type of meeting, “it’s a lot more fun and there are more people with their friends.” This contributes to the party-like atmosphere that Club is more focused towards. Campaigners is the second main type of meeting, Altenburg said “it’s a much smaller group

that runs more relaxed than a club, there are fewer games and it’s more of reading our bible and discussion.” Carol notes “Campaigners are a time where high schoolers can have more meaningful conversations.” She describes it as more of a small group atmosphere. Kevin agrees that it is more of a ministry time where people interested in learning more about God can talk. Creating a community of other people that are interested in that as well. Young Life is open to all high school students, “there is no way to “join” just come,” said Kevin. Dellarose added, “Young Life is for any high school student, anyone can come even if it’s just to get a break from school and sports.” Information about the group is mostly spread through people who are involved in inviting other people. Altenburg was introduced “through a friend in 4H who was having a group at their house.” There is an Instagram page @cmwyounglife where leaders post events for people interested. Carol reassures “Although it says CMW it is not just for C Milton kids it’s for kids from all over Harford County.” Kevin encourages kids to get involved with his catchphrase “You just have to come and see.”

Go Hawks!

Water Sampling Mold Inspections & Sampling Radon Testing Visit or call us at our new Forest Hill location.

2216 Commerce Road, Unit 2A • Forest Hill, MD 21050 • 443-819-3804 By Authority: Friends of Chad Shrodes, Taylor Gomez, CPA – Treasurer

Cry of the Hawk

October 1, 2021

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October 1, 2021

Cry of the Hawk

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2021

Cry of t

October 1, 2021

HAIRSTYLE TRENDS What's new with hair this year?

DOHOWYOUR YOUOFTEN GET HAIRCUT?

Everyone is different but the owner of Poiz Beauty salon, Michael Fuzailov, says the average time frame between cuts is “every 3 to 4 months.”

CURTAIN BANGS

Tik Tok was the inspiration behind freshman Claire Moffitt's hair. She's fond of her hair because "it fits my personality and is different." Being able to style it in different ways, curtain bangs are popular at NHHS.

Face of music Rock 15.5%

Rap 30.1% Country 26.2%

103 people polled

Why do people listen to music?

PIXIE CUT

NHHS 2021 SCHOOL PLAYLIST

DYED HAIR MIDDLE PART

Tyler Rote, a freshman, states he "never really liked short hair, long hair just looks better on [him]." Taking only 3 minutes to style, this flow is an easy back to school look. SOURCES Healthline

Compiled by: Bella Arist Compiled by: Bella Arist

Senior Tristan Devoe says, "some people listen because of the beat, but as long as it's sending a positive message within the lyrics, the beat doesn't have to be good." Healthline says music is a powerful way of uniting people.

This year on Spotify, there were total of 365 million users worldwide.

Freshman Chloe Litteral explains she got her inspiration for her hair from her aunt who had cancer. It was when she passed away that she "decided to get it cut in honor of her."

Sophomore Cheyenne Wishoet's hair is blue and red dye layered. Her idea was from her friend. She liked the cut because its "easy to style." All she has to do in the morning is brush it and she's ready to go to school!

Pop 28.2%

Scan

Sophomore Katrina Winkler says, "Music impacts my life because sometimes it's relatable an takes your mind off things." She listens to all types of music at different times of the day depending on what mood she is in.

Sophomore Faith Nevens says her least favorite type of music is country. Coming from North Harford, this was a shock.

Source: News room Spotify

Compiled by: Bella Arist

10-11 - Features

the Hawk

Studying revamped : students return to normal studying MACKENZIE SCOTT Reporter As the school year starts, there are some students who may be struggling to get back into a school routine and need to get back to studying. Here are some ways to get out of procrastination. Since studying might feel new to some of us again, which has a lot to do with the lack of homework from last year’s online situation, and as well from our recent three month long summer break. Finding a way to get back into a good routine may be a bit harder then we realize. According to FNU two things you can do to help establish a positive routine is to avoid social media and also stay away from your phone as much as possible. “ The best thing you can do is either put your phone on silent, turn off the alerts and flip it over...” Being off your phone can cause less distractions so you aren’t constantly checking your notifications

and getting distracted. If possible you could even put your phone in another room so you aren’t tempted to look at social media every time you see it. Another solution you could use which many have found helpful is to listen to music. Sophomore Emily Vaughn says“I go to a quiet place with no distractions and listen to music.” Per the uow.edu.au it says music is better if “It puts you in a good mood, is not too fast or too loud” and ‘if has less words.’ As music is a very good option, it can also be distracting, so go for more instrumental music then music that is heavy on vocals. If you thrive by learning with others in a group type of situation, then a good option for you can be joining a study group with your peers or also by working with your friends. Sophomore Kaylee Scott said “I like working with friends because I get to work with them and they can help me with things I might not know, and I

can help them with things they might not know. By collaborating we can get more accomplished as a group than by ourselves.” While some people can work with friends, some use groups that are strictly meant for studying. According to fnu “Effective study groups can help students learn course material in a deeper, more concrete way. Groups that are effective generate positive energy, encourage active participation, instill discipline, and require commitments from members.” Since this year is starting up like a normal school year, the workload is back up to its normal amount so it’s important to stay on top of it. Using studying tips and ideas that are most accommodating to you is the way to avoid procrastination and keep your grades up.

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October 1, 2021

‘Love On Tour’ entertains fans;

Styles exceeds expectations at concerts ALEXA FALLS Entertainment Editor English singer-songwriter and actor Harry Styles is back on tour. In support of his most recent album, Fine Line, Styles is performing on tour for the first time since 2018. The original tour was supposed to be held in 2020, but due to COVID-19, Styles decided to postpone it until 2021. A tweet posted on July 14 of this year explains why. “As always, the well-being of my fans, band, and crew is my top priority.” Styles is only touring the United States for right now, but he informs his fans that he is excited to see his fans outside of America, “To everyone in the UK and across the world, I can’t wait to see you again, but for obvious reasons it is just not possible at this time […] I’m excited and I can’t wait to see you. H.” So far, Styles has been to six shows, the first in Las Ve-

gas, Nevada on September fourth. He plans to go to 40 cities in total, but recently, his show scheduled for September 13 in Houston was canceled due to weather. All other shows are scheduled on time. Sophomore Brynn Hoffman says she plans on attending the Pittsburgh sow on October 14. She says, “I have never been more excited about anything ever. As for her outfit, she plans on wearing a “fun colored suit with white go go boots or recreating his Grammy’s outfit.” Hoffman’s favorite songs of his are Canyon Moon and From the Dining Table, both on different albums. She says, “Canyon Moon is so pretty honestly, I also have a lot of memories with my best friends where we’re singing that song.” As for From the Dining Table, she says it, “explains the feeling of empty sadness so well and it’s truly relatable.”

Hoffman has been a fan of Styles since he was in the boy band One Direction. Styles’ set list of songs that he’s playing on tour includes a hit song from the band called, What Makes You Beautiful. He has performed his own cover of it at his shows. Sophomore Tatiana Gonzalez recently started listening to Styles’ music and became a fan of him about a year ago. She says, “my friend has been a fan for a really long time, and one day she told me to listen to one of his songs […] it definitely spiraled from there.” Her favorite songs from Styles right now are Two Ghosts, which is a song on his self-titled debut album, and Fine Line. Gonzalez explains, “the slow build up in Fine Line scratches some weird itch in my brain and some of those lyrics are just so beautiful.” She adds, “I also think that Two Ghosts is very relatable.”

Harry Styles and his fans at the first show for ‘Love On Tour’ in Las Vegas. Styles kicks off the tour with an exciting start. PHOTO CREDIT: Anthony Pham

Upcoming Harford County craft shows draw crowds of people; Featuring local artisans, businesses for fall sales opportunities LIORA TOLLIVER Reporter Many small businesses have suffered over the last year with COVID-19 restrictions limiting new customers and halting business. Some of those restrictions have been lifted allowing craft shows, fairs, and festivals to make a comeback. Small businesses and local makers are finally able to sell their products in person again. Sellers at craft shows often have seasonal items, and many one-of-a-kind items. Anyone in the market for fall (or Halloween) themed items should keep an eye out for upcoming events. Most shows last anywhere from a few hours to a few weeks, so even a small show can draw hundreds of people. Harford County has many annual shows, with sellers turn-

ing up year after year. Linda Delbridge has been attending craft shows for over 40 years, most of those years as a vendor herself. “You get to meet people,” says Delbridge, and “get immediate feedback on your products.” “I sell Tastefully Simple,” said Mrs. Elizabeth Martin “Some other friends make stuff. There’s a lot of different ways to find craft fairs. There's Facebook pages, but a lot is word of mouth.” The vendor added it can be difficult to predict what will and will not sell, so making a note on what was popular and adjusting for the next year is key. “Networking with friends can help. Go to shows. Always check it out first,” Delbridge added. Some venues are better suited for selling food, others for décor. Craft and art shows work

similarly to flea markets. Each seller sets out their own booth and products, so one might find a wide variety of items in the same area. “A lot of people only take cash, so make sure you take cash.

“We should always support local, from farms to crafters. You’re supporting someone’s family, rather than a giant company. There’s a more personal level.” -Beth Martin, Ag Teacher

Maybe PayPal or Venmo.” said Martin. Customers don’t know exactly what they’re going to find

but - products like jewelry, art prints, and handmade items are usually the most common. “As a customer, it always helps us if you bring change. We usually can’t break a hundred for you. And bring a cart if you plan to buy something big.” Delbridge said Sellers at art shows are usually very social. Running their booths themselves, talking to customers, offering directions to another vendor they may know. “You’ll make friends with people,” said Delbridge. “As a vendor it’s easy to connect with other vendors who make similar products – and as a customer you’re able to support other locals and put money back into the community.” As far as upcoming events go, some notable events will happen in 2021. The Darlington Apple Festival takes place on October

second. It’s happened nearly every year since 1986, and draws an average of 50,000 visitors annually. The Apple Festival is run by volunteers, and much of the money raised goes directly back into the community. “We should always support local, from farms to crafters. You’re supporting someone's family, rather than a giant company. There's a more personal level,” said Martin “You have a very unique item you can’t find other places.” The Havre De Grace Art Show, in its 59th year, will be October 23-24, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. There are many smaller shows happening year round. Make sure to check community pages, local papers, or even just ask around to find out how to attend. Maybe even set up a table and sell your own items.

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Cry of the Hawk

October 1, 2021

Students prepare for homecoming halftime show;

21-22 school year opening in confidence KIMBERLY EDGAR Reporter

“I am very excited for this school year and marching band season,” said junior Katie Kinhart. Kinhart is a member of the school’s marching band. On Oct. 8 the homecoming football game will take place and the marching band will perform during halftime. This 2021-2022 school year gives the marching band back their opportunity to perform after a two-year break. Kinhart believes that the band is finally starting to get prepared for the football season. The marching band practiced over this past summer to perform a “themed show”, said Kinhart. “We practiced for seven days doing differ-

ent commands, marching basics, and following the drum majors’ commands. We practiced the different fundamentals over the summer by splitting up into sections and section leaders, like myself, taught the underclassmen while refreshing everyone’s minds on different marches.” The different marches included, “forward march, backward march, forward slide, and backward slide.” A marching slide is done by completing a roll step then heel says Kinhart, “backward marching is toe to almost heel, but we do not let our heels touch the ground or else a domino effect might happen.” Kinhart continued, “left and right stepping, similar to forward march-

ing, but our shoulders and upper half are faced towards the stands while our bottom half is faced in the direction we are marching.” The section leaders were also in charge of teaching those in the sections how to follow the different commands the drum majors would give commands such as parade rest, attention, and horns up. “During the last few days of band camp, we started going over the drill for the 2021-2022 halftime show, Motown themed,” said Kinhart. A lot of class time and several after-school rehearsals will be needed to fully memorize the entire show before Oct. 8 according to Kinhart. In addition to the needed practice time, percussion is a separate

class, and after-school rehearsals allow the band to meet as a whole according to the director John Wojciechowski. The use of summertime allows students to concentrate on the marching band show “without interruptions from normal routines at home”, said the South Hill High music program. Kinhart confirms this statement in addition to adding class time and after-school rehearsals to the needed practice time. The full band camp in 2021 took place July 28, 29, and Aug. 2-5. The times for each meeting were 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wojciechowski told students they needed their “instrument, mouthpiece, reeds, neck-straps, sticks, valve oil, marching mu-

sic, a mask, a flip folder and lyre, a pencil, water bottle, sunscreen, and a packed lunch” to each band camp meeting. Wojciechowski also said that “Events during the summer are meant to demonstrate the Band’s support of our local community and to prepare the students for the upcoming Marching Band season.” It was an expectation for all band students to participate in the summer events. Kinhart believes that the band will have 95 percent of the show memorized in time for the homecoming football game. SportsFanFocus said a halftime show typically lasts about 10 to 20 minutes, meaning students will have to memorize a 10 to 20-minute performance for this upcoming game.

NHHS Band Members practicing a performance. They continued to implement these practices for the upcoming show at the homecoming game on Oct. 8. PHOTO CREDIT: Katie Kinhart

Simu Liu makes debut role for Marvel ALEXA FALLS Entertainment Editor

Marvel recruits yet another superhero to join the Avengers, Shang-Chi. The adventure and action filled movie, Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, is about martial-arts master ShangChi and how his past involves him with the Ten Rings Organization Canadian actor, writer, producer, and stunt-man Simu Liu plays the main character in this film who is the first Asian superhero in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). His cast-mates include American actress and rapper Awkwafina, Malaysian actress Michelle Yeoh, Chinese actress Meng’er Zhang, English actor Ben Kingsley, and many more Filming production started in February of last year but was put on hold in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was officially released to the United States

on September third of this year. . In the film, Shang-Chi’s father’s army of magically powered soldiers follow best friends Katy (played by Awkwafina) and Chi. They decide to travel to China to protect Chi’s sister, Xu Xialing (played by Meng’er Zhang) in the hopes that his father will not be able to harm or hurt her. The film heavily emphasized the expression and representation of Asian culture throughout. Sophomore Julia Eakes comments, “I think the cultural aspects of this movie were really great […] the action and fight choreography (were) amazing.” She emphasizes, “The comedy was well-timed, and the soundtrack was phenomenal as well as the visual effects.” Sophomore Sierra Weaver agrees, “I thought it was a really good representation of what a Marvel movie is […] this movie was more on the funny side

rather than the serious side which I liked a lot.” Weaver adds, “(the film) also had a bunch of new and old characters that were introduced into the movie really well.” Eakes mentions, “I liked Simi Liu as the main character in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten the incorpora- Rings. This is Liu’s first movie with the Marvel franchise. tion of ties to PHOTO CREDIT: Jasin Boland, Marvel Studios other movies such as menfights of the older movies with out of ten, “In my opinion, nothtioning the events in Iron Man 3.” better story and character build- ing tops the original three Iron She adds, “Marvel always does a ing of the more recent movies.” Man movies.” Eakes says that this great job of interconnecting movWeaver says she would rate the movie is “definitely a new favories with separate stories.” Soph- film an 8 out of 10, “I don’t think ite because I like it so much […] I omore Domonic Franklin says “I I’d consider it a favorite […] It would rate it a nine (out of ten). think this is one of the best mov- would definitely be close to a fa- I enjoyed it a lot and thought ies Marvel has released.” He adds, vorite though.” Similarly, Frank- it was a great movie overall.” “I believe it combines the great lin rates the film a seven or eight

October 1, 2021

Cry of the Hawk

Johnson explains fun filled summer;

Volunteer work kept her busy MEGHAN KALCK SSC Editor

There are many summer camps to go to within Harford County and there are also many that young people are allowed to volunteer at as well. Sophomore Emily Johnson was one of the young people who was able to volunteer at Harford County 4-H camp that is located in Rocks State Park. Harford County 4-H camp is a private non-profit organization that is run by only volunteers. According to the information provided on deercreekoverlook.com their camp is “100 percent self funded,” and also relies on the income from events and fundraisers as well as the generosity of the public. This camp is “...the oldest 4-H camp in Maryland and one of the oldest continuous use 4-H camps in the country,” and their camp provides many event facilities such as Deer Creek Overlook Center, Rocks Lodge, dormitories, crafts building, pavilions, swimming pool, archery range, athletic fields, and different woodland activities. Johnson had gone to this camp before she had become a counselor, “...I got too old so I became a counselor.” In order to become a counselor at this particular camp you must be 15 years of age. Johnson loves the environment that the summer camp provides and she even said that this is her “...favorite part of the summer.” Some of the specific activities that Johnson enjoyed doing while at camp were ultimate frisbee, swimming, water olympics, paint wars, and doing

tye dye. Paint wars are where everyone puts on white shirts and take sponges full of paint and you basically just throw them at each other. Johnson definitely recommends being a camp counselor at this camp. If you wish to look into this camp for next summer you can go to the website deercreekoverlook.com or contact their office at 410-838-5464 or email them at events@deercreekoverlook.com. The Deer Creek Overlook Center includes a banquet hall for over 240 guests, a conference room at can hold up to 45 people and a commercial kitchen with any caterer of your choice and restrooms. Rocks Lodge is very similar, it includes a “warming kitchen,” and a banquet hall that seats about 150 people and also has restrooms. The dormitories have restrooms and showers that are “adjacent to each,” two of them have a 65 person capacity and one has a 32 person capacity. The pavilions provided are two opensided that are roofed and contain cement floors. 28 picnic tables are provided in each that seat 175 people. “Each has a charcoal grill, electric, and water. Both include Volleyball Courts. One has a Gaga Pit in addition to a Volleyball Court,” explained the website. There are multiple activities to do at this camp Johnson said and she would definitely recommend going to this camp and also volunteering here as well.

Page 14- Students, Society, and Culture

Dress code adjustments making students happy DELANEY O’NEIL Reporter

In previous years at North Harford High School, the dress code included multiple regulations to shirts that students could wear. The straps for shoulders were to be at least two fingers wide, causing many to be dress-coded for thin spaghetti straps on tank tops. For the 2021-2022 school year, the dress code has changed. On page 13 of the school provided planner, it is stated that “all tops must have shoulder straps.” This rule is not specific to the thickness of the strap, giving girls the freedom to wear tank tops with spaghetti straps. Although there is more freedom, there are still rules permitting specific clothing. Shirts must have straps, preventing students from wearing tube tops. Also, the midriff and chest areas must be covered. Will this cause conflict for the many who wear cropped shirts, since it is a large part of teenage style at the moment? Senior Chloe Romm said, “the new dress code changes will be good for the double standard and is more fair.” While the dress code is applied to both males

and females, Romm and others believe the previous regulations were more specific to females and their current trends of clothing. Although Romm believes this change is for the good, she will not participate in changing her attire for this school year. Similarly, freshman Ava Perron said, “I am glad they have changed the rule.” Although not shocked by the change, Perron thinks the rule was changed because so many students violated the dress code to begin with. Even with the punishments for dress code violations in the last years, “no one seemed to care if they got dress-coded,” says junior Lindsey Bittner. These protests against the dress-code and recent social media posts gives Bittner justification over the recent changes. Recently on social media pages, such as Tik Tok, Snapchat, and Instagram, women all over the country have been protesting over their school rules. These students claim the rules are ‘ridiculous,’ giving way to the changes in our school and many all over the country. From a teacher's perspective, the new dress code regulations can also be seen as a positive

change. Math teacher Mrs. Jenny Beigel notes “the change is an advantage because less students are being pulled out of class for attire conflicts.” With the previous attire code, students were being dress-coded during class times, a time devoted to learning. In a building that should be focused on education, dress-coding the straps on tops is taking away from students time in class, ultimately disrupting their learning time in the school building, according to Beigel. As a teacher, the new changes will not affect Beigel’s attire. . Bittner also said “I will probably not wear spaghetti straps,” as this style is not a part of her normal clothing. Beigel said “student, parent, and community complaints” are possible reasons for the recent changes. Many felt that previous code was outdated or even biased to girls who want to wear tops with thin straps. Although the dress code has changed, giving more leeway to wear tank tops, remember there are still rules for this year that regulate what students cannot wear. Shirts exposing midriff and hats are a few examples of what is prohibited for this year.

Students return to school; Some restrictions still in play MEGHAN KALCK SSC Editor

North Harford High School is open for business once again as students return to the building for in-person instruction. Out of all the students that were interviewed, all did not like coming back to school with masks on but they are tolerable and “aren't always fun,” said junior Emilie Frank. Frank likes being back in person because “it’s nice to see some friends,” and seeing people in the building. However, some things that are disliked about being back in school are “the little plexiglass things at lunch,” and also waking up early for school. Freshman Andrew Tagliaferri explained how it was easier to focus within a classroom environment and he also had a “hard time with virtual,” like many others. Students are not the only ones that are glad to be back in the building, Science teacher Ms. Jes-

tel is very much glad and excited to be back in the building. “It is easier to teach students in person,” Ms. Jestel said. Also, she is glad she is able to do all her hands-on activities and also being able to give her students feedback face-to-face. She’s grateful to have communication back and be able to read the classroom and see when her students need help without them having to say it. English teacher Mr. David Orth explained how he is half-and-half about returning to the building. “I prefer teaching in person by far,” Orth stated. He is very glad to be able to see kids in person just as Jestel was and adds that being able to see them physically working is “very fun and rewarding.” On the downside of this, he said that he has “...a son with a serious health issue and another son that's back in school full time, so I hope we can be in person, but also maintain as much

safety as possible.” He said he misses waking up a little bit later as we did with virtual. Orth talked about how teaching in-person and virtual are both very different and can “each be difficult for varying reasons.” Online involves a lot more planning, organizing, and creating resources whole in person, he can verbally explain assignments quickly and easily. “I also like to have discussions, and that's much easier in person.” In-person also brought a lot of classroom complications like behavior management, so he was half-and-half about returning to school. Orth misses the longer breaks between classes and also the shorter class times, “82 minutes seems just a tad long,” he explained. Even though there are still multiple rrstrictions that apply here at North Harford High School, we are still going to make it a fun and safe year.

Page 15- Student, Society, and Culture

Cry of the Hawk

October 1, 2021

New arrival at North Harford; Hola from Mexico

Baby alpaca steals hearts DELANEY O’NEIL Reporter

A new member of the North Harford High School Agricultural program has been added to the barn. Inside of the livestock barn, an all-white alpaca is found being cared for by North Harford students and staff of the Agricultural program. Mrs. Erika Edwards, agricultural teacher, explains that “Auggie was born on August 19, 2021.” At the age of one month, Auggie is living with his mother and another male alpaca. Although he is quite young, no new or unique practices are being used to care for him at this time. Connected to the Livestock barn, Auggie has a pasture where he is accompanied by his mother Zoe. Currently, Zoe and her baby are separated because she and the male alpaca, Bert, are overprotective of Auggie when together. Auggie’s mother, Zoe, came from Pam Purce, the owner of Three Oaks Farm in Forest Hill. Senior Tiffany Williams said, “Zoe was very skinny to the point where her spine was visible,” when she first came to the North Harford barns. With proper nutrition to put on weight, it was then visible that Zoe had been pregnant, which was originally unknown. Edwards said, “Zoe was bred almost a year ago, before she arrived at North Harford last spring.” Alpacas have a gestation or pregnancy period of eleven months. When born, alpacas can weigh anywhere between 15 and 19 pounds. Llamas and alpacas are commonly confused for each other. Although very similar, note

llamas are larger than alpacas and can reach around 400 pounds, according to the 4-H Animal Science Resource Blog. Many students mistake the male alpaca, Bert, to be the father of Auggie. Although Bert is not the father, Williams notes “Bert is protective over the baby.” The protective behavior of both Zoe and Bert means that North Harford students must act carefully

Auggie standing next to his mother Zoe outside of the Livestock barn. Photo credit: senior Teagan Flaherty when approaching and interacting with Auggie. When associating with the baby alpaca, Auggie is described as “very curious,” by Williams. Auggie will cock his head when students approach and attempt to pet him. Other unique characteristics of Auggie include random spurts of energy. Williams also says, “Auggie spontaneously jumps around and

bucks” while being interacted with. Because of Auggie’s young age, students and staff must practice specific methods when associating with him. Williams saidm, “you must approach him subtly to touch him,” otherwise Auggie can be easily spooked. Lowering your body position near Auggie is another way to make humans seem less intimidating to him. While students are caring for the animals in the Livestock barn, they work on socializing with Auggie, so he becomes familiar with people and stays friendly. Coming towards Auggie too fast or aggressively may frighten him, as he is learning to interact with humans. Auggie’s diet consists of breastfeeding milk from his mother and Williams said “grass and hay are available to him while he is in his stall or out in the pasture.” This is a balanced diet for a growing alpaca and as he ages, grain is also another food that can be introduced. A normal day for Auggie involves being groomed and fed while he is in the barn. The alpaca stall opens to a pasture, so Auggie can also be found going “in and out of the stall as he pleases,” says senior agricultural student Caroline McKnight. Students and staff also muck stalls and fill water buckets daily. Auggie can be expected to reach around 150 pounds when fully developed. After around six months of age, he will be able to live without the care of his mother, as this is the average period for nurture and dependency, says Farm and Animals .

Altenberg takes third place GABRIELLE MOXHAM Reporter

Photo Credit: Marissa Altenberg Senior Marissa Altenberg entered a national baking competition last school year known as “The Greatest Baker” competition. Last June she was in fourth place, and although Altenburg did not end up winning the competition, she did pass multiple rounds and smelled victory for a minute, but had a bitter ending. Although she did not end up winning the event, she did take

home some valuable virtues that students could put to use in their own lives. “I liked seeing everyone in the community who supported me, and everyone sharing my information on social media was nice to see.” So maybe she didn’t win this time, but she was a good sport and learned something, and that's can be a valuable tool, she was able to look beyond the unfortunate outcome, and see the moral of the whole thing. Altenburg currently isn’t involved in any kind of cooking class here at North Harford but she says “I’m thankful for all of the people who believe I could take it to the next level because I had thought about baking and opening my own shop as a job but they gave me the reassurance.” Altenburg even commented that she got a few jobs out of it, being asked around the community if she could make people’s birthday cakes. She was nervous at first but then she saw the support from her family and friends and she gained confidence. Despite her

nervousness, Altenburg persevered through and said, “it was worth it.” She says the support of the community ‘definitely helped’ throughout the competition. If you are interested in baking, the senior suggests that you endorse your idea. She says that “you should definitely because competitive baking is the best kind of competition you could be a part of. Not only do you get the reward of making your cake, and eating it too, you can make a lot of friends and the bunch of bakers are so kind and welcoming.” The upcoming baker also explained that the kind of competition between bakers is different than in sports. In baking, it is acceptable to get along with the opponent versus in sports where your one goal is to defeat the opponent. With baking you can be there to meet new people with common interests. Even though she didn't win, the senior said she learned something, she made new friends, and became aware of how much she was supported.

MEKENZIE MCCANN Reporter

Betania Hoyos was a foregin exchange student at North Harford High School, for the 20202021 school year. Hoyos was in America for 10 months, and is now living at home again in Mexico. When she was at The Nest, she was a junior. In Mexico she is a senior. In America she lived with her host family. She said her experience “was really good even though the situation we are in right now,” Hoyos says. “I had a great time with the kids from high school, especially [with the] varsity tennis team and my host family,” states Hoyos. Moving from Mexico to America can be a big and hard change and Hoyos said, “the biggest one [adjustment] was to be able to do things by myself, being more independent.” “[Leaving Mexico was] definitely [hard, I left] my family and friends and literally had to leave behind my life and start a new one” Hoyos stated. Hoyos is a fluent Spanish speaker coming to America and having to learn and speak English was difficult. “My English was not as good the first few weeks I was [in America] compared from the last few months I was there,” Hoyos says. In Mexico there are different foods, cultures, and there are also many more differences as well. “[The biggest difference between America and Mexico is the] food, the weather, the age [of] majority is 18 years, and the minimum wage is seven dollars.” In Mexico teenagers do not work. In Mexico it is considered illegal for teenagers to work if they are under the age of 18. In Mexico there are also a lot of food differences from America, which Hoyos also noted. She said In America people eat out a lot at restaurants and eat fast food, but in Mexico it is much more common that they will make their food in their own homes, and eat

it there. School in America is one of the other big changes that Hoyos had to face as well, “I have to wear a school uniform, I do not move from classroom to another[,] usually the teacher is the [one] going into [the] classroom.” Culture is different in both places according to the exchange student. “Patriotism is very marked in America. “The way to greet [someone] in Mexico is a kiss and a hug,” says Betania. In Mexico they also do not separate garbage and recycling, like how we do here in America. While in America Hoyos played tennis, and played on the high school’s team as well. In Mexico she still does play tennis, but it is a little different. In Mexico it is only to play, no competition and the classes are for one hour each. While in America, tennis has the stretch and the warm-up, that Mexico does not consist of. When her ten months were up she had to say goodbye to her host family and leave her life in America behind, Hoyos says, “I miss everything; the people in America are so kind, the food (especially Chick-Fil-A.)”

Betania Hoyos posing in the snow for a photo while playing with her little sister. This was Betania’s first time ever seeing snow. Photo credit: Joanne Kline

Cry of the Hawk

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October 1, 2021

Healthy habits create lively lifestyles; Unpacking how habits are made Meditating, yoga, time management provide support JESSICA FANNIN Reporter Do you need some ways to keep yourself physically and emotionally healthy? Do you find yourself being drained by the fast paced life of a highschool student? Here are some ways that students at NH are keeping themselves healthy. To deal with things that make him “stress and worry a lot,” senior Griffin Hevsey meditates. This is a habit he learned from his, “mom who uses it to deal with the same thing.” For Hevsey it has helped him, “think things through instead of jumping to overthinking and worrying.” He says he does not practice “meditating on a schedule,” but he tries to be consistent about it and, “do it every night before bed. This can help with getting a better night's worth of sleep.” According to The National Institutes of Health, some research supports the science behind why meditation is a great way to keep yourself healthy by suggesting “that practicing meditation may reduce blood pressure, anxiety, depression, and insomnia,” (NIH). Other ways Hevesy stays healthy is he tries, “to go to sleep on a consistent schedule and drink a lot of water every day.” He believes in the healthy habits he practices because, “healthy habits lead to a healthy lifestyle.”

Some habits senior Megan Mannlein believes will keep you healthy is, “to never overbook yourself, make sure you always have time for yourself, and make sure to do something for yourself.” The senior adds with these habits it will prevent you from, “becoming mentally and physically exhausted.” When it comes to keeping up their “physique, stamina, and flexibility,” junior Maddie Rutch practices yoga. What she said started as something to do in her “spare time,” became a healthy habit that would help her performance as a cheerleader. She claimed that cheer and yoga “compliment each other,” so practicing yoga “just a few times a week,” has helped Rutch gain a sense of, “accomplishment during cheer routines.” According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, “slow movements and deep breathing increase blood flow and warm up muscles, while holding a pose can build strength,” (JHM). This is why Rutch believes she was able to use the strength she gained from yoga in her practices for cheer. Some other healthy habits Rutch keeps up with are, “stretching and conditioning, going to the gym, and learning how to release any negative emotions that have built up, especially since school has started.”

Junior Maddie Rutch started cheer at a young age; She strikes a pose with a fellow teammate. Photo credit: Kaity Grimm For junior Sarah Hardiman to keep up with “physical and social health [she] goes running with a neighbor on the weekends.” Having these kinds of habits is important to Hardiman because they help her, “to be [...] [her] best self and keep doing things,” she loves. She stressed the idea of, “consistently using a calendar, especially during the school year.” This helps her, “set new goals, like trying more intense workouts or getting more sleep.”

Exploring habits throughout history;

GHOST STATES Reporter Everyone has habits, and sometimes we’re aware of them, sometimes we aren’t. They can include things like finger tapping, nail-biting, fidgeting, and more. Mannerisms such as these can be either good or bad depending on what the habit itself is, and how it affects the person or the people around them. But how do these habits even start? And why is it so hard to break them? “You fall into a routine where it feels comfortable and it becomes part of your life,” said former psychology teacher, Mr. Mark Filiaggi. “But I think it’s part of our personal biology that we fall into habits that we individually feel comfortable with.” Psychology teacher Melissa Winter said, “I think habits are formed through learning, repetition, and reinforcement of the habit.” According to The World Counts’s article on habits, habits are how our brains increase productivity and efficiency. Research suggests if we turn everyday activities into mindless patterns, it leaves more energy for our brains to spend on other things like focusing on an important test or remembering a friend’s birthday. Habits can also say a lot about what a person is like. Filiaggi said, “I think what you do says a lot about who you are

and actions speak louder than words. If you say something but consistently do something else, then that can say a lot about how you truly feel. Your behaviors define who you are.” Winter said, “Habits can be good or bad depending on what they are. I think forming habits tells us a little about how efficient someone is and possibly some things about their personalities. Such a more orderly and neat person may have to organize their desk before they leave for the day.” According to The World Counts’ habit article, developing habits is actually a good thing. It means that our brains are working properly. But the type of habits we develop is where it gets concerning. For example, if one were to develop a habit of forgetting to turn in homework or sleeping in, that would then be considered a “bad habit.” Bad habits are hard to break, but it’s not impossible. You can do this by replacing the bad habits with good habits like remembering to write your homework down. Simple routines such as this can be really helpful in quitting bad habits. But why do people even have habits to begin with? Winter said, “People have habits because they have been learned and are embedded into our everyday lives. It helps people save energy and time doing things that you automatically do and not think about.”

Roman hygiene considered taboo today CHLOE WARD Reporter

History is full of a wide variety of human practices and habits that are considered taboo today. From vile hygiene habits to odd remedies to disregarding human rights entirely, historical practices give insight into what the human experience may have been like back in that time. Romans are one group that is infamous for their questionable hygiene habits and cruel behaviors. A typical day in the civilization would include a light breakfast, work, and then they would go to the public baths for socialization. These buildings were grand communal areas with several rooms, all containing baths of different temperatures, according to worldhistory.org. The idea may sound grand and fancy, but in reality, it would allow intestinal parasites and other diseases to spread through the water. However, because visiting them every day was habitual, they continued to go daily. Aside from the Romans, Mrs. Nicole Reimers explains that bathing every day, “is a relatively new habit in our society.” She said, “there was less access to water so it was easier to just wash your face and hands.” An example of this, described by History. com, were the Pilgrims and the Puritans. They thought that sub-

merging their body was unhealthy, and removing their clothing was too immodest. Sometimes if there were bathhouses in a society, only the wealthy would be able to afford using them. However, sometimes cultures didn’t bathe for superstitious reasons. “Some cultures believed that being dirty kept sickness away,” said Reimers. In the 16th century, royals in Europe also had some abnormal habits. “Despite bathing everyday being For example, Hen- a relatively new habit, some cultures ry VIII supposedly had still use communal baths,” said Rehis servants kiss his imers; There are still communal baths linen sheets before bed in places like Saturnia, Italy. to ensure they were not covered in poison Photo credit: Jessica Fannin (historyextra.com). spire people of today. While it was fairly typical Charles Dickens tended to at the time to have tasters try a follow a militaristic and strict king’s food prior to him eating it, schedule, and had a habit of orgathey also became paranoid that nizing all of his pens on his desk poison could kill just from having in order to think clearly (History. physical contact. com). Not all habits of the past were He also only slept facing north, gross or completely distant from as he believed “ it better aligned the modern-day. Many of the him to the electrical currents of great minds in history, Charles the Earth.” Even Beethoven had a Dickens, Beethoven, and others weird habit- he would obsessiveall had very interesting habits, ly count out 60 coffee beans for but they have the potential to in- his coffee nearly every morning.

Do students eat breakfast?

45% - yes 55% - no

154 students polled Compiled by: Layton Hillier

Page 17, IDR

Cry of the Hawk

October 1, 2021

Knocking bad habits; Procrastinating, oversleeping create conundrums JESSICA FANNIN Reporter

Shopping at home; Understanding habits from web surfing LAYTON HILLIER Copy Editor New search. Add to Cart. Quick checkout. Shopping has been done increasingly online in the past few years. According to Invesp, more than half of Americans with internet access have shopped online in the past month. “I like to shop online, it’s quick, easy, and I don’t have to go anywhere. It’s convenient,” says senior Alyssa Ireland. Ireland isn’t the only person who uses online shopping, according to Invesp, 83% of people who have online shopped are satisfied by their experiences. Invesp’s statistics show that 78% of online shoppers don’t look at an item in-store before buying it online, instead looking at the pictures of the item and going off them. “Usually if I buy things online, I don’t go out of my way to see them in-store. If I buy it, I go off reviews and pictures of the item. Community reviews are really helpful because I can tell if a product is going to be good quality based on people who have bought it before me,” says Ireland. In a year of online shopping, a habit dubbed “analysis paralysis” by Psychology Today can leave consumers reluctant to make decisions like going out to eat, or choosing which shirt to add to their cart. Square claims that this stems from, “the fear of making a wrong decision, compounded by the stress of the pandemic.”

“I tend to weigh my options carefully when I buy things, if it has low ratings or very few ratings, I tend to stay away from it, but I don’t have any trouble deciding whether or not to buy things most of the time”, says Ireland. Psychologist Barry Schwartz agrees that having more freedom can cause “paralysis, rather than liberation,” a common concern with the freedom of choice because of increased options from shopping. Even among people who overcome analysis paralysis, there is the possibility that people become “less satisfied,” in their choice, according to Schwartz. Ireland agrees with this, “sometimes I made the wrong choice, either because I chose the wrong size shoes, or because my shirt was a different color than I expected. If it’s a big deal I’ll usually return the item, either to exchange it for the right size or just to get my money back if it was a real dealbreaker.” Usually Ireland purchases items they want enough that they “ don’t mind the inconvenience of having to return things to get it right.” Businesses are attempting to lessen these fears for consumers, making it a point to ask customers for input and simplify displays to prevent customers from getting “stuck” on displays, spending less time contemplating, and more time at the register or checkout screen of their favorite store, according to Square.

Everyone has bad habits that they just can’t break or they don’t know how to. Well, some students at North Harford have you covered when it comes to understanding bad habits and how to kick them to the curb. Senior Grace Herron has often found herself, “being late to a lot of things and sometimes rushing to school.” It all started, “during the summer, staying up till three and four am playing video games and then sleeping till noon the next day.” This habit that “wasted a lot of time,” for Herron was, “really hard to break!” But after having enough of rushing to get to things all the time she found that, “some good ways to get rid of bad sleeping habits is setting alarms and keeping a schedule for the day.” The senior believes that “a lot of habits are formed as a result of over relaxing. Oversleeping during the weekends leads to oversleeping during the week!” Sophomore Collin Morse warned against habits like, “procrastination, having a bad sleep schedule, and not having enough positive interaction.” The consequences of these habits are, “overworking yourself and not being able to enjoy yourself especially when it comes to school.”

“Becoming too stressed out and not giving yourself enough time in the day can lead to you waiting to do your homework or putting other things off.” Morse stressed the idea of, “making a good schedule for yourself and even getting others to help you find the right balance.” “Sometimes bad habits are formed for convenience or to help you lose track of time,” said Olivia Waldsmith. The senior explained how many people have unhelpful habits that consist of, “spending too much time on your phone, staying up really late, or not eating healthy. She feels that “certain habits should be avoided if they don’t help you live a happier, healthier life.” But “being aware that you are picking up habits that have negative impacts on your health and replacing them with healthier ones,” is how Waldsmith leads, “a more stressfree life.” Some examples of replacement habits are, “taking a walk, participating in sports or clubs, and talking with friends who don’t make your habits worse.” Something she used to struggle with was, “nail-biting a lot.” A way she knocked this bad habit was Waldsmith, “started getting acrylics and that prevented [...] [her] from biting them.”

Herron felt drowsy evervy morning when she overslept; Changing her sleep habits has left her refreshed. Photo Credit: Grace Herron According to James Clear, author of Atomic Habits, he believes the best way to identify an unhealthy habit is, “the first step is to pen down a chronological list of your daily habits. Then, you rate each habit as an “effective,” “ineffective,” or a “neutral habit.” This strategy is important for helping you, “discern the relevance of each habit in your personal growth.”

What time do students go to bed?

8:30 - 1O p.m. - 12% 10:30 p.m. - 12 a.m. - 52% 12:30 a.m or later - 36% 150 students polled Compiled by: Layton Hillier

Cry of the Hawk

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October 1, 2021

School nurses face hard times NOEL BAILEY Reporter

The school nurses at North Harford have been working directly against covid and have been dealing with everything that goes into trying to keep the schools safe. Ms. Charmain Bishop is the only school nurse in Harford County to be in school every day. There are kids coming into school every day even though COVID-19, North Harford had “the hub” set up at school for kids who didn’t have access to the internet at home. Bishop was in school every day all through covid with students from elementary to high school coming in to use the internet. “It was wonderful in one aspect” of her being in the school with people since “it was some sense of being normal.” The amount of students that go down to see her or the other nurses have gone up double since COVID-19 hit. “Not seeing too many students with increased illnesses” she’s mostly seeing people come to her office for contract tracing. “Way busier and see a lot

school nurses had to learn because of COVID-19 now. They have a whole system of lists of everyone so they can find people and who they sit next to everywhere. “Contract tracing is very time consuming since you have to track down so many kids.” Staff meetings were made about how contract tracing should be done. “I would like to see 100% of people vaccinated” Bishop says, when you get vaccinated you don’t have to quarantine at all. “I think vacancies are what’s going to make this go away but I think the strategies we have right now for school are the best we can do right now.” “Wearing masks is going to help us a lot right now.” Mandates about the masks were sent out through the whole Harford county board of education system telling all Harford county schools that all students, teachers, and staff have to wear them while being inside the school buildings. The school nurses have been working double with their regular school nurse duties and now with

Mrs. Bishop in the nurse’s office in room B315. She works hard to keep students and staff safe. Photo credit: Noel Bailey

more people, it really is a whole new aspect because of the contract tracing.” Bishop has to be more aware and careful with people who come up to her health suite and tell her they have a stuffy nose or sore throat now since those are symptoms of COVID-19 “we kinda think that into a whole different thing, so we are now being much much much busier.” Contract tracing is something totally new that the

contract tracing and everything they have to do with covid procedures. “I can’t tell you how busy I am right now.” The beginning of school is a very hectic time of year for the nurses since they are getting everyones paper work for the new school year then everyone who plays sports papers “it’s usually really really busy.” The school nurses have worked double this year with all the covid procedures .

Suicide prevention month raises awareness MEKENZIE MCCANN Reporter

Suicide is one of the top five leading causes of death among teenagers. According to the World Health Organization, more than on average every year, more than 700,000 people commit suicide. “Suicide and suicide attempts cause serious emotional, physical, and economic impacts,” states the CDC. Suicide has been a large problem for many years, in the age range of 10 through 34, suicide is the second leading cause of death. “The rate increased on average approximately 1% per year from 1999 to 2006 and by 2% per year from 2006 through 2018,” says the CDC. Suicide is very common for high schoolers, and even adults as well. “The age bracket, and high school, it is from 15 to 18, is the third largest bracket of people that kill themselves, via suicide in the nation.” states health teacher Jacquelyn Williams. The American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry states, “Among teenagers, suicide attempts may be associated with feelings of stress, self-doubt, pressure to succeed, financial uncertainty, disappointment, and loss. For some teens, suicide may appear to be a solu-

tion to their problems.” According to the CDC, “In 2018, the suicide rate for males was 3.7 times the rate for females (22.8 and 6.2, respectively).” From 1999 through 2018, the suicide rate for females was the lowest for the ages 10 through 14, says the CDC. Suicide could happen to anyone, they can look perfectly fine, but have suicidal thoughts and feelings. Suicide happens to people of all ages, race, ethnicity, and economic statuses. “Most suicide attempts are made by people who don’t truly want to die, but they are having trouble coping and need support to learn how to live,” Shelly Sparks. Williams states that there are, “Tons of warning signs that are there to predict, a lot of us just ignore them.” The signs of suicide are commonly as seen as symptoms of depression ,includeing increased anxiety, unnecessary risk-taking, problems focusing, and many more. There are also lots of other warning signs as Williams says, “Giving away things, talking about it, hinting about it, writing about it, idolizing death and talking about that.” Sparks also comments, “People often talk about being hopeless or having no purpose in life.” There are many differ-

ent ways that you should talk to someone that is suicidal, as the Suicide Prevention Lifeline states, “Be direct. Talk openly and matter-of-factly about suicide.” “Be aware of the warning signs and then be willing to do something about it, acknowledge that this is a warning sign and having the knowledge of knowing what to do about it.” said Williams. If you think that you know someone who is thinking about attempting suicide talk to them. Try to get them to talk about it without making them feel pressured into talking. Let them open up as fast or as slow as they want to. Just be there for them. “Show them they have someone in their corner that is there to see them, hear them, and support them!” states Sparks. Sparks commented, “you should reach out to a school counselor, teacher, parent, or another person for assistance.” “Suicides among young people continue to be a serious problem.” states the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. If you know someone that needs help, open up to them and reach out for help. Sparks states, “Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem.

October 1, 2021

Girls volleyball ‘hits’ fall season; Team boasts undefeated 2-0 record RILEY STONEBACK Reporter Varsity girls volleyball has started, and they’ve started strong according to Coach Barbara Matthews. The team this year is coached by Matthews, with three seniors serving as the team captains, Gabby Gast, Tonya Marks, and Laynie Sheahy. There are 14 total games in the season, two of which have been played as of September 21. The team is currently undefeated, with wins against both Harford Tech and North East. There are 12 more games, six at home and six away. The girls have been showing promise since the beginning of the season, according to their coach. Matthews said, “The season has been going well. I'm very pleased with the teamwork that we have and that the players just mesh well together.” COVID has had a huge impact on each of these girls’ athletic seasons. Because volleyball is played indoors, there was virtually no practice or meetings held last season. Matthews said, “They've adjusted very well. They are super excited to have a season, which makes them work harder and get along very well as far as teammates can to have a winning season... Not having a season last year has pushed them to do better this year. They are training very hard, and they want to have practice every day, even if I have to cancel for some reason.” Some players are standing out on the court, whether for their skill or positive attitude according to Matthews. Returning players that have made their mark this season include senior, Morgan Buckland, Marks, junior, Sierra McManus, Gast, and Sheahy. Junior Isabella Singh is also described as a “promising new player that came from another county. She has really gotten along well with our team and is definitely a team leader and has pulled us all together.” The girls on the team say they have been pushing themselves and setting goals for themselves to achieve each practice, whether it be something very important or a small technical problem. Some important and action-packed games of the season are coming up fast. Coach Matthews said, “Cecil County teams are always our tough teams. I don't know what they do in Cecil County, but it is usually a very good competition. Patterson Mill has proven to also be a challenging team. We had a scrimmage against them and lost three to one... So I think Patterson Mill is going to be our tough match of this year.” The team said the student sections at the games have been pumping up the girls and getting them excited for games, whether pumping them up before the game starts or during the games with great cheering. Coach Matthews, along with all the girls, stated that they are very excited for this season and where they might go. They hope to be able to keep up the hard work as well as playing well together.

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Arthur joins cheer team, becomes asset REESE SHOWALTER Reporter “Leah Arthur is such a positive and outgoing person, she brings so much to our cheer team. She is the sweetest human ever.” said Maddie Rutch, junior. Arthur joined the cheer team this year. She is currently a junior and this is her first year on the sideline team, cheering on the Hawks football team. Arthur has always been very involved in school and was very into school spirit. She joined the sideline cheer team this year as another way to be involved in the school. The cheer team has both a varsity team which is considered the competition team and the JV (junior varsity) team is the sideline cheer team. Arthur is on the sideline team this year. She will be cheering on football in the fall and Basketball in the winter. The cheer team will cheer at all five of the varsity home games. The last game they will cheer at is the game against Aberdeen high school on October 15. “She will participate as much as she can during practice. When she can’t she sits and watches us and at the end of the practice she will come over and give us

notes on what we can make better and things we can change,” Kaylyn Shew, senior said. Shew added, “She is so sweet. She always talks to me during prac-

Arthur makes cheer debut during the Perryville game. Arthur is pictured in the top row, first on the left. PHOTO CREDIT: Donna Kropkowski

tice, I think she talks to me the most. She always has something nice to talk to me about. She is such a positive person.” Rutch said she brought a lot of positivity to the team after join-

ing. A lot of the time cheer practice can be very stressful. With upcoming games and for the competition team upcoming competitions and having the routine perfected causes a lot of stress. “She always knows how to make the team laugh and put a smile on our faces,” said Shew. Both Rutch and Shew said that she was an asset to the team and always brings new ideas and new ways to make the practice more fun and enjoyable. “She’s always trying to make practice more fun. We love to hear her critiques and new ideas.” Arthur has always had a positive outlook on everything. This brought a lot to the team. Positivity is so important in playing a sport. No matter if it is cheering, or any other sport having players on your team is such an important thing to have on a team. Arthur is such an asset to her team because of her positive outlook on being on the team. “The cheer team has gained an amazing athlete this year. We are all hoping that she will join us again next year. She is such an amazing person and I love to spend time with her at practice,” Rutch stated.

Field hockey continue positive outlooks;

Tough losses start out season, high hopes for future games REESE SHOWALTER Reporter

so I am looking forward to what we can accomplish.” Fortune has played on the varsity team since her freshman year. Some games the players are looking forward to are Fallston, C. Milton Wright, John Carroll, and Bel Air. Julia Blondell, junior said “it's not always the ri-

were two years ago. But once I saw all my teammates, I comThe varsity field hockey team pletely forgot about it and constarted their season with a tough centrated on team bonding and loss against Hereford by a score hard work,” says Blondell. This of 0-1 Then they took the win is Blondell's first year on Varsity. against Catonsville and their The JV (junior varsity) field third game of the season lost to Hockey team started their season Liberty High School. This season with a loss against Hereford. For the team will play their second game 15 games, eight they took the win home games, and against Liberseven away games. ty High School. Carla Harward, JV assistant the head coach of coach Rebecthe varsity team ca Smith said stated in the Ae“pre-season was a gis “With missing little crazy, with an entire season, getting our squad we are fielding a solidified. We had young team with a scrimmage early very little varsity against ManchesThe Hawks defense lines up for a penalty corner against ter Valley, that experience; howNorth East. Pictured from left to right, Greer Strine (‘22), showed us where ever, some of our Reilly Holmstrom (‘23), Kendall Fortune (‘23), Bella young players are we needed to fovery skilled and Southard (‘23), and Grace Underwood (‘23). PHOTO cus during praceager to learn.” tice.” She also said CREDIT: Rachael Sims Harward also said that the JV team “Our season will “Improvement in be determined by how well the val position that motivates me to the girls game is evident with team works together, and how play. In terms of game play and each game. We have some girls our defense rises to the challeng- technique, both of the squads new to the sport and to watch es of our competitive schedule. [John Carroll and Bel Air] are them learn and grow is exciting. Harward said that the team really good. I’m really looking Bailey said coming back afhas a very hard schedule this forward to see[ing] how we do ter a year she was nervous and year but she is happy with the when we play them.” Sopho- scared she was going to be rusty. group of girls this season. “A more Bailey Smith said she was She said she still isn't sure if hard schedule is good for learn- most excited for the JV team to she has gained back the confiing and growing and getting play Fallston and Bel Air as well. dence of playing yet. Bailey also better throughout the season.” After not having a season last said it “feels great, I feel we will Kendall Fortune, junior said year there was both excitement grow as a team and get better!” “I am super hopeful and con- and nervousness going into the “It feels so good to be back fident for our upcoming sea- new season. “I was a little wor- with my teammates and play son. Our team is super positive, ried going into this season that an actual high school seasupportive, and hard-working my skills weren’t where they son this year,” says Fortune.

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October 1, 2021

NH alumni serves as U.S. Rugby team captain; Reaches quarterfinals before loss to Tokyo BEN SERSEN Reporter The 2021 Olympics featured over 600 American athletes (via USAToday) however, this year’s contest included something much more special for students and alumni at North Harford. North Harford graduate Abby Gustaitis was selected as one of the captains for the United States rugby team. Gustaitis played basketball and field hockey during her time at NH however she planned to drop her athletic career when she attended University of Maryland to focus on her studies as a pre-med student. Gustaitis would go on to join Maryland’s women’s rugby team where she would discover her new passion. “There’s nothing like rugby for women. You can try and play American football, but it’s obviously not the norm. And so to find a sport that was completely equivalent to the men’s version, where rules are

the same, [was important].” why don't you come to rugby prac- minutes however in 7v7, teams "It's relentless. The physicality, tice with me? You played sports,' duke it out for just under 15. the finesse, the speed. You have I'm, like, 'Sure, whatever.' I knew After traveling to gain experito score on one side and then turn you, like, that you tackle people.” ence on the rugby pitch, Gustaitis around was invited and deto the Olymfend. pic training There's center in no hidChula Vista, ing on California, in a rugby March 2015. pitch. The forIt's so mer physh e c iology and tic, but neurobiology it's so major soon fun to left her job watch. in the mediEverycal field and o n e Gustaitis makes a crucial catch in a match against Russia in February. moved across will fall the counThe team would go on to defeat Russia by a score of 33-17. in love try to train PHOTO CREDIT: David Ramos w i t h with the t h e U.S. Womsport," claimed Gustaitis. Gustaitis started her rugby en’s Rugby Sevens team. The Olympian would go on to career playing traditional 15v15 Gustaitis played as the capWBAL news to say “A friend of until she discovered 7v7’s. In tain of Scion Rugby, winning mine in the dorm was, like, 'Hey, 15v15, teams play for over 80 the championship in 2016. Serv-

Lights, camera, action; Student creates hype videos GREER STRINE Sports Editor

“Sports journalism is a profession on the rise,” states sportsencyclopedia.com. This can include such things as writing an article in the newspaper covering a sports team/event, creating artwork showcasing an athlete, or for junior Reese Lynch, creating a video that highlights top moments from a game is her passion. Over the course of the season, Lynch has been filming the football teams, editing the videos, putting music behind the edit, and posting the final product on social media pages. “I wanted to start making sports videos ever since I saw a TikTok of a girl filming her school’s football team. It looked so fun, and now she's making a career out of it,” Lynch stated. According to junior quarterback, Owen Smith “The videos are awesome, they help build up our team motivation. Another huge bonus is that we can also send them to colleges to build our resumes as athletes.” Lynch had said she has been looking into making individualized videos for some of the players to use for their own recruitment since it is such a great way of highlighting the players. Junior Mason Dykeman said, “Reese has been so helpful for our team. The pictures and videos that she produces make the team atmosphere so much better. We are able to re-watch, repost, and really build a platform for the team to show off our highlights throughout each game throughout our season. Whether we win or lose, she is always making a new video to show off our team”

“The filming and editing process can take anywhere from one to four hours. I start by filming the game. I usually only film in sections so I can get different angles, but to also make it easier to edit. Second, I take the memory card from my camera and transfer it to my computer and then to my phone. I then go through clips and edit the music behind the video, to finally post on social media,” according to Lynch. Smith added, “She truly does a great job on them.

and re-watch over and over again.” Lynch had made a video for the JV girls lacrosse team this past spring, but started creating videos for the Varsity football team this year. Her first football video was from the scrimmage where the Hawks took on Perryville on Aug. 30. She also had filmed a varsity boys soccer game recently, which she said, “[Filming] was super fun! I hope to get this opportunity in other sports as well so I can create a variety of videos for all of the athletes to enjoy.” According to varsity soccer player Kian Pucher, “The videos she makes are pretty sick. They are something we all can enjoy watching. Even when I am in the student section, I am still pumped up since I know our support makes the team more excited to play, which can give Reese more content for her videos.” The Hawks football team now has an Instagram account @ nhhawksfootball which Coach Martineck is in charge of, but Lynch said she has access to it so she can post her videos on there. Junior Shane Riley commented, “We like what Reese is doing. She is technically our manager, but she has focused on her photos and videos. She has been getting great responses in regards to the videos, so I hope she will continue with them!” “I would love to come back and film next season. So far it has been a blast! I am so grateful for the opportunity to make these videos, but the responses I have gotten have made it all worthwhile.” Lynch said.

“I love being able to make the team and those in the stands supporting them smile when they watch the videos I produce. I want it to be something they can come back and re-watch over and over again.” -Reese Lynch, junior Reese has a lot of talent when it comes to editing, and the music she selects to go behind the videos, hypes us up even more.” Lynch stated that the responses she receives are the reason she continues making the videos “I love being able to make the team and those in the stands supporting them smile when they watch the videos I produce. I want it to be something they can come back

ing as the team’s flanker, lock, and prop, she would follow the next year by taking fourth place in the 2017 Women’s Rugby World Cup in Ireland. A Norrisville native, Gustaitis graduated from North Harford as a certified emergency medical technician for the Norrisville volunteer fire company “She can still think logically when everyone is dog-tired,” says her teammate and former roommate Kasey McCravey. “She’s the captain of our team for a reason. I can’t think of anyone better to lead us to the Olympics.” “She’s just got this fighter attitude about her,” says head coach Chris Brown, “because she’s had to fight for pretty much every inch she’s gotten.” Emilie Bydwell, the team’s high-performance director, says, “Abby is such a wonderful spokesperson for the sport and the power of women’s sport and really just being who you are.

How rituals affect athletes’ mentality;

Superstition plays role in sports BEN IAMPIERI Reporter

Some of the fall sports teams have pre-game rituals they perform out of superstition. “Right before our games we do a run around the field and touch the hawk statue,” sophomore soccer player Haley Borns, says. “I have to make sure that I have on two different colored shin guard sleeves and that I have to tape the bottom of my socks,” varsity soccer player Austin Smith, junior, says. Senior Vance Haire, is on the varsity volleyball team, “I always put my left shoe on before my right, and once both of my shoes are on my feet, I tie my left shoe before my right,” he says. “Everyone has their own ritual. Mine is just slapping and spinning the ball,” Sierra Wendland, junior volleyball player says. Football player and junior Matthew Chaney says that the team “pray[s] before every game.” “Before games, I always put my socks and shoes on right foot first, and put my hair in a ponytail with a braid, then put it in a bun,” field hockey player Kendall Fortune, junior, says. “The night before a game I always take a good hot shower, relax, and go to bed early.” Some athletes are not as superstitious. James Ortt, cross country captain, says he is more nervous about outcomes. “I like to try and relax my mind, not think about school and stuff that distracts me easily,” he says. While Smith may have a ritual, he says he is “not superstitious. [He] listen[s] to

music up until game time and just focus[es] on the game.” As for junior captain of cross country Sierra Weaver, she likes “to get all of [her] nerves out before running. [She] shake[s] [her] feet and hands around.” When running in a race, Ortt says it isn’t “too difficult especially if you have been conditioning for it. [He] felt fine running... A little nervous at first, but as [he] got into the race [he] was able to adjust and feel comfortable.” “I have felt pretty good in my games so far! I think my team is doing pretty well for just starting the season and have lots planned in the future,” Fortune says. “I think once we polish up our stick work, we will be amazing.” Whether these athletes are preparing or not, they all enjoy their sport. “I do enjoy soccer a lot,” Borns says. “My favorite part would most likely be building the relationships with girls on the team.” “Soccer is probably one of my favorite things to do or play in life and is my passion,” Smith says. “My favorite part of the sport is the hard work you have to put into it, and then seeing the time you’ve spent pay off.” Volleyball has become Haire’s favorite sport. “I feel like it’s less stressful than other sports I’ve played,” he says. “My favorite part about it is serving. I feel like it’s what I’m best at. “My favorite part about playing for school is the home games,” Wendland says. Fortune says that she “love[s] [her] team and enjoy[s] every day of it!”