ROUGHRIDER roundup December 2020
In this issue... Eating Disorders: How Covid /stress in making things worse!
Covid - 1 Roosevelt Athletics- 0 Long Distance Relationships: Worth the wait?
Lonely Lockdowns
Hazard Pay: Staying safe while making that $$$ And More!
The Rider Roundup The Roosevelt Roundup is published by the newspaper staff of Theodor Roosevelt High School and exists to serve as an open forum for the students, staff, administration, and community. All state and federal laws regarding the publication of student materials shall apply, and the Rider Roundup will nor publish materials which also fall under the guidelines established by the Des Moines Public School system, and are deemed libelous, obscene, or a material and substantial disruption to normal classroom activities. The views expressed are not those of the Des Moines Public Schools faculty, staff, or administration. All articles are researched, written, edited and designed by the staff, and are the result of editorial decisions made by the entire staff. Any student, faculty, staff or community member can contribute materials within the deadline restrictions; however, final publication is at the discretion of the staff and must be 255 words or lesser length and signed; letters may be edited for length, grammar, spelling etc. Every attempt will be made to verify the authenticity of the author, and no anonymous letters will be published Advertising will be accepted for all products or services that are legal for minors to possess or unitize. Establishments wishing to reserve space should email advisor Nicole Crawford.
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Class advisor Nicole Crawford nicolecrawford@dmschools.org Co-Editors-In-Chief Emmaline Scott Jordan Bohn-Wright Assistant editors Lily Anderson Willem Lindstrom Reporters/staff Quincy Adli Keila Almerendarez-Rodriguez Sloane Feathers Roda Gang Lena Grohe Keke Hall Adrian Hanson Jack Harrington Zarai Hernandez-Hernandez Benjamin Jones Asher Larsen Jennajiha Lee Kevin Nguyen Alex Knoel Mays Perlowski Ja’mya Robinson Alashia Silliman Connor Smith Hanan Jama Ethan Udrovich Neicy Walker
Covid 19 virus picture at left has disrupted worlds daily life in the world 2020.
Life Interrupted
By Ethan Udrovich
Covid Impacting People’s Daily Lives
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ovid outbreaks have had a huge increase in numbers recently, causing even more of a switch up to people’s day to day lives. These increases in numbers occurred around mid-October and have had been happening because people haven’t been too precautious of this whole pandemic, so it’s been spreading throughout the whole world. The covid 19 virus has had a huge impact to people’s day to day life’s, interfering their work, school, hanging with friends, or seeing family.
him.
Remember when we were able to wake up and just go to school and play sports or do whatever activities anyone wanted to do.
People say that virtual school can get students a bit carried away and off task with you being in either your room or any room with potential distractions. However, with this whole being quarantined and staying virtual, some people reflect on themselves by improving something physically or mentally during the start of the pandemic to now.
“We were having school every week, we were having baseball practices, and going out to eat every weekend,” said Ryan Clark, a sophomore at Theodore Roosevelt High School. Now, with this whole pandemic, people are very limited to whatever day to day. “You don’t get to hang out with people as much, family, friends, you don’t get to go to the movies or baseball games, you know it’s pretty boring,” said Clark, we know those are his thoughts because we quoted
“Hybrid was 100% way better than virtual, I was way more focused, and it was easier to learn,” this is what Xavier Bailey another, sophomore.
“My life wasn’t to impacted but I’m very limited to what I do now” -Ryan Clark
“Surprisingly, I’ve been more active because I got really bored and so I started to work out,” said Bailey. Now let’s talk about jobs. With this whole pandemic, the unemployment rate has increased due to people losing
jobs because their business had to be closed, something happened in their family, or they just didn’t want to be in risk of catching Covid. However, most places like offices or business jobs have had to either work from home or take precautions in their designated buildings. “It’s such a fun house and I like working from home, but it would be easier if I were to have just a little less of distractions, different kinds of less distractions, but I still stay pretty focused and on task, and I don’t have to go back and forth. Like I can finish something that night and not go back to the office.” This was said by Anthony Udrovich, a graphic designer at Delta Design. Give everyone in our family props for working hard and staying on task during these hard times, employed or not, reach out to family or friends and tell them that you love them and are thankful for them. Virtual or not, make sure we are staying safe and precautious and make sure you are staying sanitized and social distancing with that masks on. Stay safe everyone and make smart choices.
On June 15 at Prinipal Park the roosvelt baseball team is kneeling for the national anthem to silent protest against racial inequality, being the first state to resume high school sports.
Kneeling for the National Anthem I
By Mays Perlowski
t was August 26, 2016 in a National Football League game between the Packers and the country that oppresses black people and people 49ers. The game was nearing the kickoff, but of color.� Meaning his action was not intendthere was one more pregame event that had to ed to offend anyone, but it was a simple act of take place, the national anthem. The stadium freedom of speech. began to come quiet; fans and officials removed Kaepernick continued to do this for games to their hats and the national anthem started. All follow. He later decided to kneel rather than sit spectators were awestruck when they saw during the national anthem. While Kaeperevery player except for Colin Kaepernick continued his act, he was receiving nick standing. He remained sitting Principle massive amounts of hatred. His fans on the 49ers bench while the rest of supporters started to dislike him Kevin Biggs has and his teammates and opponents were as he continued to kneel. People restanding with their right hand over been the principal fused to understand him for the real their heart. he was kneeling. The reaction at Roosevelt for ofreason the football community became No one could believe what he had so bad he was cut from the 49ers and eight years. done. The amount of disrespect he was rejected by the NFL due to his silent had shown to the American soldiers protest. After that, pro athletes started fighting for his freedom. After the game, following Kaepernick in his tracks, some of his Kaepernick spoke out and stated, “I am not teammates and even people from other sports going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a began kneeling.
Kneeling during the national anthem was spread across the U.S. The act spread to Roosevelt High School where the school’s baseball team organized the idea to kneel during one of their games. Sam Nicolino a former starting player for Roosevelt’s varsity baseball team spoke about his team’s act. Nicolino was asked if he came up with the idea to kneel. “Our coach brought it up to us as a team and asked us to talk about it and decide what we wanted to do. We all talked and aid that the first game we should come together as a team and all kneel and then it was everyone’s choice if they wanted to kneel or stand after that.” Nicolino said. Nicolino and the rest of his team decided to kneel to peacefully protest systematic racism and racial inequality that has been occurring in the United States. When the team did this, they received mainly support and respect. However, since the act gained so much traction Nicolino and his team received quite a bit of backlash from people on Twitter, Instagram, etc. The principal of Roosevelt, Kevin Biggs gave information about the students kneeling and his point of view on the act. When asked if he contributed to the idea of the students kneeling and how he found out about it, he quoted, “I was not aware that the baseball players were going to kneel before the game. I found out from the news, which was just fine. This decision was 100 percent from the baseball players themselves,” Principal Biggs said. “I was very proud of the kids when I heard they decided to kneel. They were united in their belief and supported a cause that needs to be addressed. They were using their voice, in a peaceful way, to promote change and raise awareness to racism in our country...I love that,” Biggs said. Following his quote, Biggs was asked what he thought about the national coverage of the event. “That certainly surprised me, simply because our team wasn’t the only or first team to kneel during the anthem. Nonetheless in the end, their actions accomplished their goal, which was to bring awareness to this issue. The national coverage proved that their efforts worked,” Principal Biggs said. An interview took place with Satchel Perlowski, sports communication major at Bradley University. When he was asked regarding how he felt about pro athletes kneeling during the national anthem, He stated, “I feel that it is exciting that professional athletes are using their free speech in a way that has never been used before. I think they feel that they need to use their platform to support what they believe in
and we are seeing an increasing number of athletes kneeling for the national anthem,” Perlowski said. I than questioned him about whether or not he thought kneeling for the national anthem was disrespectful to American soldiers? He quoted, “No not at all… players have made public comments saying they kneel for social justice…they’ve made it clear that kneeling is not a negative gesture towards American troops.” Perlowski said.
Kaepernick’s act changed the pregame ceremony we as sports fans have known for so long. It did not change in a bad way it just introduced a new point of view for people. Next time you are watching a sports game look around and see if anyone is kneeling, because your favorite player could be silent protesting in honor of racial inequality.
This event Was in the national news and many popular news networks coverd the story such as CNN and NBC News.
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trust in a system that should student athletes and coaches; support them. It was a failure ot a day, an hour or even a the seasons were over before from top to bottom.” minute goes by without hear- they began. Roosevelt High School For the volleyball team, they ing of or being impacted by ended with a home match and its athletes and coaches COVID-19. COVID-19 has against Fort Dodge. In a were also forced to deal with changed our lives near empty gym of saddened the ramifications of COVID. tremendously. Every day we coaches, student-athletes, see the impact of COVID as it Fall sports: football, and parents along with an volleyball, girls swimming, affects people’s health, social impromptu and cross-coungatherings, human contact, “Ever since my season senior night delivery of goods and services, try seasons were was cancelled my mental ended the online vs in-person education, halted abruptly, health has continued to season. leaving those as well as its impact on large decline. Volleyball was Senior volinvolved to deal venue entertainment like my escape, my second leyball player with the fallout. concerts or sporting events. home, where I got to be Tabitha Keith, Head Varsity Professional, college, high a completley different “The hardest Football Coach, school, and youth sports person. Since seaon was part about our Mitchell Moore, programs have been affected cancelled, I’ve had a spike season responds to by COVID. Limited crowd in my depression and anx- being the frustration numbers, scheduled delays, iety. I lost the one coping of the season cancelled mandated masks, and even mechanism I’ve had all was losing ending decision, were placed in the bubble to four years of high school” everything play. For some, like Theodore “the negative - Tabitha Keith I’d worked impact it has Roosevelt High School fall for the past had on the kids sports programs, the impact 3 years. The ability to be a from COVID was hard work and dedication that disappointing and devasting to team, stay active, and have
Seasons
Lost By Adrien Hanson and Staff
I put in, in order for my program to succeed only for it to be taken from me in my last moments.” The decision to cease activities was not only frustrating but had a huge emotional toll on both athletes and coaches. “Ever since my season was cancelled my mental health has continued to decline. Volleyball was my escape, my second home, where I got to be a completely different person. Since season was cancelled, I’ve had a spike in my depression and anxiety. I lost my coping mechanism I’ve had all four years of high school” states Keith. The objective of school sports is the enrichment of the high school experience. Sports are about teamwork, citizenship, respect, fair play, and fun. Losing these experiences left a huge hole in coaches and
athletes’ hearts. There is grieving involved due to this loss. “I have had the full run of emotions.” Head Volleyball Coach, Mark Steinbach says. “It was an emotional rollercoaster,” Coach Moore states after being asked the emotional impact of COVID and the cancelation to their season. For senior student-athletes, the ending of the season was even more disheartening because there is no “next year”. For seniors wanting to play beyond their four years at TRHS, the opportunity to do so has its own challenge. Senior football player Asante Scott states, “A lot of us needed more film, more exposure for college coaches to see and make fair judgments of our abilities.”
Players may have lost scholarships or never given the chance to receive them due to limited play. “It has cost some of them an opportunity to further their education and the opportunity to play football at the next level” Stated Moore when asked about the effects of the season being cancelled. Hopefully, one day COVID will be a memory; our lives will return to “normal.” However, there will be long-term effects, both negative and positive from the time during the virus crisis. Will there be an impact on the future of football, volleyball, cross country, and swimming at TRHS? Des Moines Public Schools has always had to work harder to earn respect from suburban opponents and ending these seasons is just another setback for DMPS and
ability to better at football without playing games.” There are those who say TRHS. its just sports or offer up an When asked both head adult perspective, life is full of football and volleyball coach disappointment and missing agree that there will be a a season will not matter in ten long-term effect to their years. Well, it does matter. It programs. matters to those who coach, it Stein states, “Yes. We had a matters to fans, and it matters varsity to the athletes. Its more than player transfer that was only a just sports, it is missing the 9th grader. The other four 9th camaraderie of teammates, graders on our varsity will also its missing cheers and school be behind developing with a pride, and its missing the, full season of experience of what could have been. games and practices.” Memories, especially for Moore also states, “Absolutely. senior student-athletes, will be We have lost athletes, lost time of disappointment, anger, and in the weight room, lost sadness. opportunities to continue building our culture, and lost
Why play sports in high school? People who played competitive sports in high school demonstrate more confidence, leadership, and s] elfrespect. They are better at setting goals and managing their time. They have a better appreciation for diversity and a more developed sense of morality. They are better at setting goals and managing their time.
Thanksgiving
and
By Lily Anderson and staff
Covid-19 I
For some people, like Lucia Randazzo, Megan n our society today, we have lots of Heilskov, Ellie Campbell, Abby Crozier, and restrictions. The most important one for the Zadie Hoff, they spent thier “friendsgiving“ out taking pictures in downtown Des Moines holidays is Covid-19. As everyone knows, covid-19 is highly contagious. Covid-19 Iowa! (Names listed from left to right). spreads from one person to another by breathing the same air as someone who is infected. With that knowledge there are some families who are very worried about getting sick. It is very important that families take the necessary precautions especially before gathering in groups larger than 10. Some families are quarantining before the holidays. Others are wearing masks while at their gatherings. Some families don’t have anyone who has bad health, so they don’t feel the need to worry about Covid-19 and some families just aren’t celebrating. Here is what some students and staff at Roosevelt High School are doing for the holidays! Sarah Galluzzo, a senior, said “my family is cele-
brating together with our inner circle. We are doing a zoom call with our family in Missouri and we are doing a lunch with my Iowa family. We usually go to my grandparents’ house and all my cousins and uncles and extended family comes, and we have a big feast, and everyone brings a signature dish.”
Alex Coats, a junior at Roosevelt, stated “I will be doing nothing just like everyone else should be doing and usually I just eat dinner with my family anyways so not much is changing.”
Sydnie Greer, a sophomore, said “Well me and my family usually drive down to Missouri and see family down there, but we can’t this year with covid. We’re sad about it but we’ll probably just have a little dinner here instead and maybe zoom call them.”
One teacher at Roosevelt, Mr. Sosnowski, said “Well... On the one side of our family, we chose to get together much earlier this year when there wasn’t as bad of a COVID issue. Normally we would spend several days together, but this year was a much shorter visit, only one day. We still had dinner together and allowed our children to play with their cousins, but we told them no hugging this time. As for the other side of the family, we chose not to go to see them for Thanksgiving since they are in Illinois near Chicago. With the pandemic reaching increasing levels of issues here and in Chicago, we thought it would be best to just talk online instead of going in person. Also, my father has some underlying conditions that would cause serious issues with COVID. It’s been rough not seeing my side of the family much since COVID, but I know it is the best for both of us.”
Football Season Canceled? By Zarai Hernandez and Staff Roosevelt playing against Valley high school. Number 2 Jamison Patton getting ready to pass the ball to another teammate.
“I think it is unfair because these other or blue and suburban schools get a white! Fight! Fight! season when we can’t Remember that? The even play.” stated Roosevelt fight song everyone would chant at sophomore Jamison the football games. Due Patton who is a quarter back on the varsity to COVID-19 the football team. football season was canceled this year and affected everyone from coaches, football players, and students who would attend the games.
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Governor Kim Reynolds didn’t let DMPS schools play any sort of sports since school was all virtual but did let schools who were using a hybrid schedule or going to school all week play sports. This is what DMPS thought that was the best way of keeping people safe in the district since the COVID-19 cases were still going up.
3 Ways To Stay Safe During Future games - Wear a mask - Try not being too close with other people - Stay home if feeling sick to aviod getting anyone else sick
Not getting to play this season was hard for Canceling the Assistant coach the players and coaches football season may Todd McGhghy stated since some other schools that he “hated it for our have been good for the were getting to play players safety but not kids. As frustrating as which isn’t really fair. getting to play it was, it appears that For the few games they DMPS officials may have affected some of the did play, players. “Some of my made the right Patton stated he most teammates depend on decision”. McGhghy enjoyed “being out there thinks that DMPS may sports to go to college with my and get scholarships have made the right and it keeps them out of teammates and decision but stated actually getting to play”. trouble” stated Patton. he would of “looked around at other schools Since COVID-19 is and probably have our new normal, mistakenly let them hopefully the football play”. team will be able to play this upcoming year. Although there might be a few changes, Patton “I enjoy just being out states “It will be there with my different and difficult at teammates and actually first, but we will adjust getting to play”. and be fine”. Everyone is - Jamison Patton just hoping for the best for 2021.
Top 10 Artists By Kevin Nguyen, staff
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hile in quarantine, we have all had lots of time to discover new artists. Here is a review of my top 10. If you are interested in some new music, keep reading.
This is my top 10: G herbo, Durk, Sofia Mills, Tay K, Chief Keef, Mike Sherm, Von, Kodak, and 21. Then I interviewed other Roosevelt sudents about it. Kevin Diaz, junior, and I had similar taste in music except Sofia Mills, and Bkthrula, he doesn’t like R&B music. Here are Diaz’s top 10 artists, he said his top 10 are “Polo G, Lil baby,Tee Grizzly, 42 Dugg, NBA Young Boy, Shoreline Mafia, Durk, Juice WRLD, GUNNA, Mike Sherm” and his favorite artist is Polo G because he said “His lyrics have a lot meaning to it, he talks about real stuff, he’s really humble and a lot people relate to his music”. Diaz prefers rap over R&B because he likes the beat, the rhythm of everything. He likes how the rapper talks about real life stuff. Music makes him happy, he uses music as motivation to get his homework done at school and at home. Nobody put him on with these artists, he found them on YouTube when he was browsing on it. He likes Rap, He also likes to listen Spanish music, and he likes to listen to old ROCK music. He won’t make music in the future because he said wouldn’t take off with his music. Diaz’s favorite song right now is Trenches by Tee Grizzly. His older brother got him into music. He used to always play West Coast Rap music and it got Diaz to rap music. “You have a good taste of music and got a lot of variety in your music choice”- said junior Jonathon Rojas. Rojas top 10 artists are Lil Baby, King Von, Polo G, G herb, Shoreline Mafia,
Trench MOBB, Pop Smoke, Durk, Rod Wave, $tupid Young. “He doesn’t have any bad songs; he has a lot inspiration songs.” said Rojas, who prefer rap over any type of music because he grew up listening to it. His cousin Cristian Ramirez put him on with these artists. Rojas also listen to Latin Rap like Bad Bunny and Anuel. Rojas listens to music because helps him concentrate in school and when he is not in school it helps him stay in a good mood. He listens to music on Spotify because he can share his account to his family and friends. He would not make music because he said “you have to be passionate about it to be success in the music career, and I am not passionate about making music”. Many Roosevelt students also love these artists. Ashley Nino, junior, says her top 10 artists are J Cole, Summer Walker, Jhenel, Joey Badass, Frank Ocean, Kehlani, Kendric Lamar, Brent Faiyaz, Aaron May. Her favorite is J Cole. “He has good lyrics and he talk sabout important subject.s” Nino prefers R&B over Rap because “I like singing instead of Rapping” said Nino She put herself on with these artists because no one in here family listen to her type of music. She listens to music on Apple Music because she said it is easy to use and she knows where everything is so it’s easy. She would not make music because she says she doesn’t have large vocabularyand she said she is not good at singing. She sometimes listens to rap and oldies like R&B oldies. What you guys should expect from these artists in 2021 is that they are making more music, more R&B music, more rap music etc. Best track I recommend to listen to is Where I Reside by G herb. Let look forward to lots of new music from these artists in 2021!
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hat drinks do you like in the winter, something that warms you to the heart or burns your tongue.? Have you ever tried hot chocolate bombs? It’s a milk chocolate ball filled with marshmallows, peppermint, and hot cocoa powder. You drop it into hot milk and watch the milk chocolate melt then the marshmallows pop to the top of the chocolaty drink. They are easy to make too! All it takes is milk chocolate, hot cocoa powder, and any extras such as peppermint or marshmallows. Starbucks has some winter drinks to accompany the new season. The winter drinks are the peppermint mocha, the toasted white chocolate mocha, the caramel brulee latte, the chestnut parline latte, and the eggnog latte. They also have a new reusable cup the changes from green to red when hot. All are very tasty in their own ways and seem to make the holiday season for a lot of customers. I was able to interview Parker Feathers a former Roosevelt High School student. I asked what is your favorite holiday drink and why? they responded, “My favorite holiday drink is the peppermint mocha from Starbucks because I love coffee and the peppermint and chocolate makes me feel very festive.” I asked how often do you go to Starbucks to get holiday drinks? They said, “I go every so often, I have a Starbucks at my work, so I like to get drinks on my break, but I don’t go every day because they’re kind of pricey.” I asked If you could get Starbucks to make any holiday drink what would it be and why? They said “I think a gingerbread drink would be really good! They might already have something like that but if
Winter Drinks:
Burn your tongue but warm your heart.
they do, I have never tried it.” Finally I asked If they had gotten a holiday drink last year, they responded “last year was my first time getting the peppermint mocha. I got it when it was really cold, and I had to wait for the bus, and it felt really good to have a hot drink while I waited. there has been great reviews for these holiday drinks so get them before they are gone!
By Sloane Feathers
The Pros and Cons
By Neicy Walker, Staff
C
ould you be in love with someone who lives miles away? You can’t see them. You can’t touch them. But the connection is still there. Could you handle the distance? Or not?
emotions. In an interview with Deontre Stigler, a senior at Bossier High School in Bossier City, LA, he said “You get to know the person, and you get to love them for them and not their bodies.”
of physical reasons”?
When getting into a long-distance relationship (LDR) there a lot of things you need to consider. Can you maintain trust and confidence? And can handle not seeing each other 24/7? In relationships, more specifically an LDR, you must weigh the pros and cons.
In a LDR you are more capable of getting past the physical and putting your focus straight to their mind and soul since you can’t see them in person. If you and the other person have strong enough connection, then the physical doesn’t matter. You can easily tell how they feel about you without asking yourself “Are they only in love because
Young people don’t really think about the heart, that’s why most long-distance relationships don’t work. But when two like minded people have this raw connection, the physical is furthest away from your mind.
One thing about LDR’ is that there are raw uncut
Especially with this generation, physical attraction is mainly the first thing people think about when they are in a relationship.
Although some people can experience all these amazing emotions, Trust is a major player
in long distance Relationships. . In an interview with Princess Walker, a sophomore at DMACC, she said, “Not knowing what your girlfirned or boyfriend is doing is hard”. It is the biggest con for her and many young people ion a long distrance relationship. Trusting someone is hard in general. But with an LDR, there’s almost no way to confirm anything that they say. Now they could give you their social media passwords but there is always going to
of Long Distance doubt in the back of your mind. More often then not, it’s just you overthinking the situation. Being in any type of relationship, people constantly question their partners fidelity. To get over this concern, you must get past your own insecurities. If you and the other person connect, you have nothing to worry about. Whether you’re in a relationship with someone who’s two miles away or 2,000 miles away, all relationships require trust and patience.
In relationships, especially in an LDR, you must have fun. The reason most LDR’ don’t work out is because people can’t trust each other. Doubt is why they never turn out right. If people let go of doubt and start trusting more, then most of all relationships will never end. I’ve told you a major pro, and a major con. Your job is to decide do the cons out way the pros?
e v o L Top Tips for Long Distance Relationships
Focus on quality communication. Don’t put your life on hold.
Let yourself trust — and earn that trust yourself.
Being a retail worker during a pandemic W By Quincy Adli, staff
ith the holiday season approaching and tons of people flooding into retail stores you might be wondering what retail workers face. From tons of “Karen’s” demanding to speak to the manager to the kids whining and screaming all the way through, it can get overwhelming to the workers at the store. But now with the Coronavirus pandemic it brings a whole other set of challenges to these employees. The coronavirus may be on the decline with news of a possible vaccine being available, but the danger is still there. From anti-maskers to the super health conscious it can be even more of an obstacle course to navigate through to help every single customer who needs it.
Online shopping has increased for every age group. From rand.org, people between 35 and
55 have all increased their online shopping in the face of the pandemic. Although those people are shopping online, they also shop in stores. Online sales are predicted to make 14.6% of all sales this holiday season still leaving a big chunk of sales happening in stores.
I for one am not excited for this holiday season. I work in retail and deal with whining kids and upset adults in every way. Don’t get me wrong I love the holidays but constantly telling people to put masks on and being confronted by adults as to how the Coronavirus is a hoax tires me. I work at Scheels, a huge retail store that sells guns and other hunting gear, which is filled every day by people who live in the country and don’t believe this pandemic is serious. I am someone who is considered high risk to get Covid-19 and to suffer serious symptoms because of it, and I also need this job to save for college
An Opinion Piece
so I need to work when I can. Having people not wearing masks angers me because I think it to be inconsiderate and people talking about mask mandates and social distancing is dumb makes me want to scream. People high risk like me understand this struggle and the holidays bringing more people into stores makes it even more of a concern.
Retail workers including myself would really appreciate it this season if people would be more considerate of others, including retail workers by wearing a mask and social distancing or even shopping online like the other hundreds of people to avoid spreading a disease that has affected and, in some cases, killed so many people this year. Please be safe and have a happy holiday season.
Roosevelt girls swim team poses with full masks. Meets had less spectators due to COVID.
Roosevelt studnets mask up to get together without speading germs.How COVID 19 Effects the everyday: It might surprise you!
Friends who mask together stay healthy together.
EVERYDAY COVID I
How COVID-19 effects the everyday: It might surprise you!
n mid-November 2019 the covid-19 virus seemed to be nothing more than a new-age flu, everyone in America shrugged it off as something that would die out a few days. Now it has been 11 months, and as of November 2020 there have been 55.6 million reported cases. And over 1.34 million deaths. As you probably know by now, Covid has affected the way that we live our lives quite a bit. But how much has it really affected the way that people work? The way that people live? All aspects of life have been altered by the virus. The virus has affected the way that you go to school and your life at home, but the question is, has the coronavirus affected the way that certain people work? people of different occupations answered this question, and both said that the pandemic has affected the way and rate that they work exponentially, specifically, for Lacy Brittenson, a nurse practi-
By Asher Larson, Staff
tioner, the answer to this question is different, she said “my work has increased, coving other staff in quarantine at a moment’s notice, and putting in an extra time planning to keep the clinic safe for both patents and staff ”. Steve Hanson, a contractor, stated “we have had some customers that wanted us to postpone their jobs until Covid wasn’t as big of a problem. We have also had to change the way that we are in contact with another staff ” On the other side of things, How are kids in the lower grades handling Covid? When asking Evy Lee, a sixth grader, she said “school has gotten a lot harder, before Covid we didn’t know how to use the computers very well so learning new subjects and learning how to use the technology at the same time had made everything harder. it has also been a lot harder to get help from a teacher if you needed it.” do people think that Covid is being handled the best way possible? When I asked the with a medical
background, she said “I feel that the U.S. isn’t taking it as serious as other countries and putting business profits above people’s wellbeing” when when asking the person that works as a contractor, he said “I think that the way the virus is being handled now is a result of the country not taking in seriously in the beginning. I think that if we don’t have a serious lock down it is only going to get worse in the future.” In conclusion, it is no surprise that the pandemic has been making the everyday lives not only more stressful but also more complicated. This is why it is very important that we work hard to keep ourselves and others safe. Because while the world may never go back to the way it was. We do have an effect on the way life will go on in the future.
Its okay to need help.. By Keila Almendarez and Staff TW : Anorexia Nervosa opinion piece
T
he end of the world. That is exactly what it feels like when you are struggling with an eating disorder such as Anorexia Nervosa. Its unsettling how the hair loss, weight loss, weak nails, tiredness, mood swings, bruising, and struggling to stay warm even in the hottest weather, all seem like mere speed bumps compared to going over the daily calorie limit. Many teens struggle with Anorixea Nervosa 30 million Americans according to Single care.com with now the third most chronic illness among teens around ages 15-19 according to Americanaaddictioncenter.org Anorixea Nervosa is a deadly mental illness and poses a hazard to many teens this article will focus on what to look out for and where to get help. This behavior should not be the
norm and counting calories can deprive those inflicted by Anorixea Nervosa of happy memories and the ability to produce energy to complete even the simplest task. All are also signs you or a loved one may be struggling with an eating disorder such as anorexia nervosa, a mental illness that rob an average of 0.3%- 0.4% of women and 0.1% according to national eating disorder. org this disorder sucks the joy and happiness out of a life, where fitness pal isn’t the only place you feel safe where you google the calories in a piece of gum to make sure it fits with your ‘’daily calories’’ where you don’t feel you are sick enough, but you hide from family events and turn away help because you aren’t ‘sick enough’ society needs to strive to do better, not encourage weight loss for perfectly healthy bodies and counting calories society has to stop normalizing replacing meals with coffee and obsessing over the scale and how you look in the mirror. You deserve better.
Anorixea Nervosa steals many young men and women every year with unrealistic beauty standards. Anorexia is not about being small, but a coping mechanism for many. Men and Women alike see the disorder as having a safe place to go when dealing with depression, anxiety, and many other health issues. Therefore, it is extremely important to actively look for the signs that you or someone you love is struggling. Sudden weight loss, hair thinning, guilt around food, restriction, tiredness, bruising, mood swings are some of the main signs you will see a person with Anorixea Nervosa exhibiting. Along with an anonymous source close to this reporter says ‘’Loose clothes was a huge thing for me to hide my body as well as saying I had already eaten every time; I was offered food.’’ Just a simple lie and can turn into what feels like a trap. Therefore, it is so important to seek help! There are many places to get help along with amazing staff like school nurse, Nicole Cable who actively helps struggling students seeking aid. Cable offers an amaz-
‘‘Wrestlers who tend to cut weight.’’ -Nicole Cable.
ing support group at Roosevelt High School. Her best advice is to notice when a pattern of rigid eating methods presents itself, even if the child has “always been skinny.” Eating disorders are a mental illness and they come in all shapes and sizes Any sudden weight loss, calorie obsession, or intense workout can be a major sign especially in athletes as Cable said, “Especially in wrestlers who do tend to cut weight. ’’but this behavior should not be normalized after meets and should be watched closely the earlier we catch anorexia nervosa the better it is to reach recovery. Recovery is worth it! Some students who are reading this article may feel lost and are wondering how to seek help. It is okay to ask for help it makes you so strong! Find a dedicated support system or a trusted adult and talk about your struggles with food. Be honest about unhealthy habits such as purging, hiding food etc. Some tips from an anonymous source are to “Do weekly challenges I know it’s hard, but it’ll expose you to start to feel comfortable with those fear foods.’’ if you feel you are struggling some local hotlines you can reach out to are (855)-249-9992 as well as inpatient in University of Iowa. You deserve recovery!
A COVID Th W
ith the dramatic rise of covid-19, everyone knew this thanksgiving would be a little bit different, but with multiple states going into lockdown just weeks before thanksgiving, many families are left wondering how to make this a safe and enjoyable holiday season. With states shutting down everything, a lot of families won’t be able to see extended family, and with that being said, people may need some ideas on how to spice up this thanksgiving a little bit. Here are some ways to have a blast and stay safe on Thanksgiving 2020. Doing something such as a contest or playing some sort of
game is a great way to make this thanksgiving much more enjoyable. Thanksgiving Day is known for many exciting things. For example, the food, the dessert, and football. Thanksgiving is notorious for the giant feast, meaning there is a lot of food to be made. With that being said, there is a lot of room for competition. Something you could do to make thanksgiving 2020 more enjoyable is do some sort of food making or dessert making competition. “Every single year my family does a pie baking contest and the winner gets a prize� said Jack Gostomski. Another thing families could do is spend the holiday quarantined with each other inside your city.
hanksgiving Although extended family most likely will not be able to travel for all of the thanksgiving feasts, family that lives close by is always as important to see if it is safe to do so.
To make sure the family gatherings are Covid free, family members should practice social distancing, wearing a mask when not eating, and most importantly make sure everyone attending has been quarantined to prevent Covid-19. “The most important component of thanksgiving this year is simply being smart. If everyone is staying away from the virus and taking every precaution, they can too prevent the virus, then it would be a great idea to go see some family within the state” said Mercy Hospital nurse
Michelle Jones.
On Thanksgiving Day, many families watch the NFL football games on T.V, but this year families could get more involved. Instead of just watching the football games, family members could be more active during the holiday and play a football game. Playing a short game of low contact football can be a great source of fun and even exercise. By splitting it up into even teams and putting down cones that set boundaries, this could get really competitive. “I like watching football every single year on Thanksgiving, but actually playing it sounds like a great idea. Our whole family is athletic so this should be interesting” said football fan Matt Jones.
By Ben Jones
THE DOWNS TO LOCKDOWNS By Connor Smith, Staff
A
s of today, 250,000 people have died from Coronavirus, but with a vaccine just on the horizon, the question on everyone’s mind is why states are going back into lockdowns. With the first round of lockdowns, the economy crashed, unemployment skyrocketed, and people were forced to isolate themselves, which goes against instinctive human nature to be with other people. With surgeries being missed/medical appointments, divorces rising, drug addictions increasing, and students failing at the online school setting, the nation needs to realize that the Coronavirus is a temporary issue that will be solved within a few months. What cannot be solved are things like missing a year as school or missing something as important as chemotherapy. It is terrible how many people have died from Covid, but things like heart disease, obesity, and cancer(which have each individually killed more people than Coronavirus) have not kept Americans from living their lives, so why should Coronavirus. Myrna Smith is a 76-year-old resident of Per-
ry, Iowa, who has been around long enough to have a gotten polio shot, had more than a few things to say about Covid. Mrs. Smith’s husband died earlier this year from heart disease, and when asked about living alone during a lockdown, she said “Not much fun. You know people don’t even come for coffee and stuff anymore.” The elderly population is the most affected from this pandemic, not just with the disease, but isolation in the nursing home, or people like Mrs. Smith who live alone. It is not fair or right to lock them away and waste the few years they may have left. When asked about not being able to see her grandchildren go to school, she said “I was president of our local public-school board for five years, so I know the value of education.” She is heartbroken to see kids lose out on valuable education by not being in the classroom. April Wright, a teacher of 28 years, who is a literacy helper at Rock Creek in Ankeny was ecstatic to have been able to go back to school this fall. She was concerned for her students, and stated “I work with are struggling readers, so when they are away from school that long,
This is a picture displays the statstics of how many Americans have been struggling with durg abuse and mental health issues during Covid-19, and shows how drastically those numbers have changed post-lockdowns. they’re done taking notes. I just can’t tell if they fall farther and farther behind. So, when students understand, I can’t even tell if they’re the kids came back to school, they were not only one grade behind, but two to three grades there.” Even someone in favor of lockdowns can agree that it is easier to teach in person, behind.” With 37 percent of the nation’s kids and that kids should be in the classroom, even in remote learning right now, questions must if it is small groups of kids. be asked if the country can handle losing the education of its youth and the future leaders of the country. Unfortunately, Ankeny is going More than 600,000 people in the United States are expected to die of cancer this year, and back to 100 percent online on Monday Nov. almost 650,000 from heart disease. By compar23, and Mrs. Wright expressed apprehension. ison, more than 250,000 have died of covid-19. “Teaching remotely is extremely difficult bePeople have delayed things like chemothercause you can’t’ always see what the students apy, dialysis, and surgeries in fear of Covid. are doing, and you can’t hear what they’re doing.” Teachers like Mrs. Wright fight to keep 40 percent of U.S. adults reported struggling with mental health or substance abuse in June. students in the classroom, and hopefully not Kids are failing at school, and people are livlose a year of learning. ing in fear. Lockdowns do not cure; they slow Ms. Nichol, an educator of 5 years, who is a US the spread. Lockdowns are not going to help History teacher at Roosevelt is in favor of lock- anyone and will hurt people in the long run. downs. She stated, “I think a lot of our students People should live their lives the way they want to. The cost of what people are giving up is so live with their grandparents, and I think that puts them in danger of losing their guardians.” much greater than the potential gain of locking She was in favor of staying online, but she also down. said how hard it was to teach online. “It’s easier to be in person because I can read kids’ faces and tell if they understand, and I know when
The Good, The Bad
and The Fun ...
Smells
By Jack Harrington and Staff
R
oosevelt has a lot of different scents, to say the least. Some of these smells are good, some bad and some are fun. In 2020, there hasn’t been much time at Roosevelt due to Covid-19, which has caused the world to start wearing masks everywhere people go. While these masks may keep us from getting the virus, but it doesn’t stop people from smelling things around them. Although that is true it seems as if some people have made personal hygiene less of a priority, it seems like people have stopped caring about it. Everyone has bad days and that’s perfectly fine, but at times it seems like it is much more common during these crazy times. Personal hygiene has definitely taken a dip these past few months. While talking about hygiene over Covid-19 Mr. Biggs, the principal at Roosevelt said, “I know that I myself wore a lot of sweats, but I enjoy being clean. So I would do my normal routine of taking a shower in the morning and night. But I honestly don’t know about others, I would assume yea maybe if they’re
This picture shows Isasac Garcia Giving a fac of disgust towards George Williams, possibly due to scent.
home all day they’re not worried so much about their hygiene.” Mr. Biggs said a few things there that seem to apply to a lot of people. The issue that has been arising is that some people aren’t being like that when they go out, they might not be keeping up with their hygiene.
there’s nowhere to go.” The fact that nobody has had much to do, especially at the beginning of this, is a very big aspect of this situation. Hygiene is a somewhat difficult thing to obtain at this point. Really there seems to be very little reason to care, but there are a few reasons to care. One is that there are others that you might want to worry about who has to be around that. The other big reason, arguably more important, is for health reasons. It is much better for you to keep good care of yourself and find a good routine.
Many people have been understandably given a little less thought into maybe their daily routine over the past many months. Grace Smith a Junior at Roosevelt said, “I think during quarantine there were more people who people, in many ways it seems like what’s the point to try anymore with all this. On the other hand This isn’t that big of a situation and though if you are going out that is a considering what everything looks like right now people will be stuck different story completely. not living a normal life for a lot For most people, there hasn’t been longer. Basically, this comes down a ton of reasons to go out and do to people who may have made their stuff. That has probably affected usual schedule a little more lenient people’s want to get ready for a and that is perfectly fine because day when there’s nothing to go do. really who cares because it doesn’t Sophomore Olivia Cook said, “I matter that much and most people don’t think people have lost their are working and doing school from understanding of the importance of home. In the end, people may be hygiene, I just think the motivation giving less time to their hygiene to get yourself ready and feeling because no one has anything to do good isn’t there as much because very often.
From
Quotes Roosevelt “ I Students d o n ’ t
judge, we’re all stinky at some point.”
“I think it’s “Well sh*t very serious problem stinky people just kinda how many teenagers just ruin my day I don’t know what else to say. It’s just uncom-think they produce no -Leo Gaukel body oder and therefore foratable being around people “I don’t think that smell but like you would nev-choose to smell like sh*t people have lost their all day.” er say anything cause you don’t understanding of the -Maya Lint know the situation” importance of hygiene, I just -Megan Helskov think the motivation to get yourself ready and feeling good isn’t there as much because there’s nowhere to go.”
“Y’all need to “They take a shower need to take a for real.” shower and learn -Gus Beirman personal hygeine” -Greta Jenson
“One time during a tornadoe drill in middle school we were all down on the ground and iI was next to this one guy and he stunk so bad I had to try to hold my breath the whole time”
-Olivia Cook
A Small
Example
Of The Problem.
Omg, Whats is that smell?
“Put some -Drew Dicker deoderant on and take a shower.” -Maddy Lohmeier
Smelly perrson
Person Fored to be around smelly person
Stay SAFE
Roosevelt teachers working from home!
Stay HOME
We miss our students and can’t wait to see you!
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By Jack Harrington and Staff
2020
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Since We Last Saw Each Other
Trump Does Nothing About Covid DMPS Superentendant Dr. Tom Ahart vs. Goveror Reynolds about returning to school New Supreme Trump Suggests Injecting Court Justice Yourself With Bleach